Skip to main content
Advertising

How NFL Prospects Stack up versus Current 49ers

The NFL Scouting Combine is over. The data has been collected. The time is right to compare it.

Three hundred-plus prospects participated in seven drills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis over the past week.

At 49ers.com, we took a look at how some of the potential first-round draft picks compared with their predecessors on San Francisco's roster.

We set out to answer questions like, "Is Colin Kaepernick faster than Johnny Manziel?" and "Is Quinton Patton faster than Sammy Watkins?"

Enjoy perusing the answers.

In italics below, NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock describes each event.*

40-yard DashThe 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10-, 20- and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static *start.*

49ers cornerback Eric Wright – 4.36(2007)

Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert– 4.37

49ers tight end Vernon Davis – 4.38 (2006)

North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron– 4.6

49ers linebacker Joe Staley4.51 seconds (2007)

Cal linebacker **Khairi Fortt** – 4.7

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick – 4.53(2011)

Texas A&M quarterback **Johnny Manziel** – 4.63

49ers linebacker Corey Lemonier – 4.6 seconds (2013)

Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack– 4.65

Three-cone DrillThe three-cone drill tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes five yards to the first cone and back. Then he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the 'L,' changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

49ers safety Craig Dahl – 6.69 seconds (2007)

Alabama safety **Ha Ha Clinton-Dix** – 7.16

49ers running back Kendall Hunter – 6.74 (2011)

Kent State running back Dri Archer– 6.86

Vertical JumpThe vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.

Davis – 42 inches (2006)

Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro – 33

49ers wide receiver Jon Baldwin – 42 (2011)

USC wide receiver Marqise Lee – 38

49ers safety Eric Reid – 42 (2013)

49ers safety C.J. Spillman – 41.5 (2009)

Louisville safety Calvin Pryor – 34.5

Clinton-Dix – 33

Broad JumpThe broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.

Reid – 11 feet, 2 inches (2013)

Clinton-Dix – 9, 11

49ers safety Donte Whitner – 11 (2006)

Pryor – 9,8

Baldwin10, 9 (2011)

Lee – 10, 7 inches

Davis10, 8 (2006)

Ebron – 10 

20-yard ShuttleThe short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodse out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.

49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton – 4.01 seconds (2013)

Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins – 4.34

Davis – 4.17 (2006)

Amaro – 4.3 

60-yard Shuttle

Dahl – 11.03 seconds (2007)

Spillman – 11.27 (2009)

Clinton-Dix – 11.63

Bench PressThe bench press is a test of strength – 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last three to five years.

49ers tight end Garrett Celek – 31 reps (2013)

Amaro – 28

49ERS.COM SUGGESTS:________

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.
Advertising