40-yard dash↓ lower is better
n 607 (90% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 5.38s
- 25th
- 5.19s
- Median
- 5.08s
- 75th
- 4.97s
- Top 5%
- 4.83s
Drafted 5.06sUndrafted 5.14s
Best: 4.67s — Calijah Kancey, 2023
Interior Defensive Line
The bar for an NFL interior defensive line
- Athletes
- 677
- Classes
- 2000–2026
- Drafted
- 478 (71%)
Typical NFL IDL, 2000–2026 — the middle 50% of the group
- Height
- 6'2" – 6'4"
- Weight
- 296 – 315 lb
- 40-yard dash
- 4.97 – 5.19s
Drafted interior defensive linemen vs undrafted (medians)
- 0.08s faster forty
- 0.06s faster shuttle
- 1.2 higher Power Index
The benchmark table
Tiers are vs interior defensive linemen at the NFL Combine, 2000–2026, who tested that drill. Timed drills are already flipped: a faster time is a higher tier.
| Build | Typical range (mid 50%) | Median | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heightn 675 (100% tested) | 6'2" – 6'4" | 6'3" | n 675 (100%) |
| Weightn 677 (100% tested) | 296 lb – 315 lb | 306 lb | n 677 (100%) |
| PPIpounds carried per inch of framen 675 (100% tested) | 3.95 – 4.21 | 4.08 | n 675 (100%) |
| Performance | NFL medianbeats 50% | Top 25%beats 75% | Top 10%beats 90% | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-yard dash↓ lower winsn 607 (90% tested) | 5.08s | 4.97s | 4.88s | n 607 (90%) |
| Vertical jumpn 504 (74% tested) | 29.5" | 31.5" | 33" | n 504 (74%) |
| Broad jumpn 483 (71% tested) | 8'10" | 9'2" | 9'5" | n 483 (71%) |
| Bench press (reps)n 462 (68% tested) | 27 | 30 | 34 | n 462 (68%) |
| 3-cone↓ lower winsn 396 (58% tested) | 7.70s | 7.50s | 7.34s | n 396 (58%) |
| Shuttle↓ lower winsn 411 (61% tested) | 4.66s | 4.53s | 4.41s | n 411 (61%) |
| Power Index√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body powern 504 (74% tested) | 94.7 | 98.0 | 100.9 | n 504 (74%) |
Top 10% = better than 90% of Combine interior defensive linemen who tested. n = athletes with a recorded value.
Every measurable, in full
Better is always to the right. ▌ drafted median ┊ undrafted median
n 504 (74% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 24.5"
- 25th
- 27.5"
- Median
- 29.5"
- 75th
- 31.5"
- Top 5%
- 34.5"
Drafted 29.5"Undrafted 29"
Best: 37" — Al Woods, 2010
n 483 (71% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 8'0"
- 25th
- 8'5"
- Median
- 8'10"
- 75th
- 9'2"
- Top 5%
- 9'7"
Drafted 8'10"Undrafted 8'9"
Best: 10'4" — Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, 2025
n 462 (68% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 20
- 25th
- 24
- Median
- 27
- 75th
- 30
- Top 5%
- 36
Drafted 27Undrafted 27
Best: 49 — Stephen Paea, 2011
3-cone↓ lower is better
n 396 (58% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 8.18s
- 25th
- 7.90s
- Median
- 7.70s
- 75th
- 7.50s
- Top 5%
- 7.28s
Drafted 7.69sUndrafted 7.72s
Best: 6.85s — Chris Hovan, 2000
Shuttle↓ lower is better
n 411 (61% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 5.00s
- 25th
- 4.78s
- Median
- 4.66s
- 75th
- 4.53s
- Top 5%
- 4.36s
Drafted 4.65sUndrafted 4.71s
Best: 4.10s — Craig Terrill, 2004
Power Index
√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body power
n 504 (74% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 86.6
- 25th
- 91.6
- Median
- 94.7
- 75th
- 98.0
- Top 5%
- 102.2
Drafted 95.2Undrafted 94.0
Best: 107.6 — Chris Baker, 2009
n 675 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 6'1"
- 25th
- 6'2"
- Median
- 6'3"
- 75th
- 6'4"
- 95th
- 6'5"
Drafted 6'3"Undrafted 6'3"
n 677 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 285 lb
- 25th
- 296 lb
- Median
- 306 lb
- 75th
- 315 lb
- 95th
- 335 lb
Drafted 306 lbUndrafted 304 lb
PPI
pounds carried per inch of frame
n 675 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 3.78
- 25th
- 3.95
- Median
- 4.08
- 75th
- 4.21
- 95th
- 4.49
Drafted 4.08Undrafted 4.08
About this data
- 2021 numbers are pro-day results — no combine was held that year (about 5% of this group).
- Missing values aren’t random: top prospects skip drills. 3-cone: 58% of interior defensive linemen tested.
- IDL includes 2019–2021 generic DL at 285 lb or more (documented heuristic).
- Full mapping rules, metric definitions, and provenance: Methodology