40-yard dash↓ lower is better
n 218 (69% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.89s
- 25th
- 4.73s
- Median
- 4.63s
- 75th
- 4.55s
- Top 5%
- 4.44s
Drafted 4.59sUndrafted 4.73s
Best: 4.38s — Shaquem Griffin, 2018
Off-Ball Linebacker
The bar for an NFL off-ball linebacker
- Athletes
- 315
- Classes
- 2017–2026
- Drafted
- 192 (61%)
Typical NFL LB, 2017–2026 — the middle 50% of the group
- Height
- 6'1" – 6'2"
- Weight
- 229 – 239 lb
- 40-yard dash
- 4.55 – 4.73s
Drafted off-ball linebackers vs undrafted (medians)
- 1" taller
- 0.14s faster forty
- 0.10s faster shuttle
The benchmark table
Tiers are vs off-ball linebackers at the NFL Combine, 2017–2026, who tested that drill. Timed drills are already flipped: a faster time is a higher tier.
| Build | Typical range (mid 50%) | Median | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heightn 312 (99% tested) | 6'1" – 6'2" | 6'2" | n 312 (99%) |
| Weightn 312 (99% tested) | 229 lb – 239 lb | 234 lb | n 312 (99%) |
| PPIpounds carried per inch of framen 312 (99% tested) | 3.12 – 3.25 | 3.19 | n 312 (99%) |
| Performance | NFL medianbeats 50% | Top 25%beats 75% | Top 10%beats 90% | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-yard dash↓ lower winsn 218 (69% tested) | 4.63s | 4.55s | 4.48s | n 218 (69%) |
| Vertical jumpn 222 (70% tested) | 34.5" | 37" | 39.5" | n 222 (70%) |
| Broad jumpn 222 (70% tested) | 10'0" | 10'4" | 10'8" | n 222 (70%) |
| Bench press (reps)n 167 (53% tested) | 21 | 24 | 26 | n 167 (53%) |
| 3-cone↓ lower winsn 132 (42% tested) — fewer than half tested | 7.09s | 6.96s | 6.88s | n 132 (42%) — fewer than half tested |
| Shuttle↓ lower winsn 138 (44% tested) — fewer than half tested | 4.32s | 4.25s | 4.15s | n 138 (44%) — fewer than half tested |
| Power Index√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body powern 220 (70% tested) | 89.4 | 93.3 | 96.6 | n 220 (70%) |
Top 10% = better than 90% of Combine off-ball linebackers who tested. n = athletes with a recorded value.
† Fewer than half tested. Skipping correlates with top prospects — a biased sample.
Every measurable, in full
Better is always to the right. ▌ drafted median ┊ undrafted median
n 222 (70% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 30"
- 25th
- 32"
- Median
- 34.5"
- 75th
- 37"
- Top 5%
- 40"
Drafted 35"Undrafted 33"
Best: 43.5" — Sonny Styles, 2026
n 222 (70% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 9'3"
- 25th
- 9'8"
- Median
- 10'0"
- 75th
- 10'4"
- Top 5%
- 10'11"
Drafted 10'2"Undrafted 9'10"
Best: 11'4" — Willie Gay Jr., 2020
n 167 (53% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 14
- 25th
- 18
- Median
- 21
- 75th
- 24
- Top 5%
- 27
Drafted 21Undrafted 20
Best: 31 — Drue Tranquill, 2019
3-cone↓ lower is better
n 132 (42% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 7.40s
- 25th
- 7.25s
- Median
- 7.09s
- 75th
- 6.96s
- Top 5%
- 6.80s
Drafted 7.03sUndrafted 7.18s
Best: 6.64s — Dorian O'daniel, 2018
Shuttle↓ lower is better
n 138 (44% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.57s
- 25th
- 4.40s
- Median
- 4.32s
- 75th
- 4.25s
- Top 5%
- 4.13s
Drafted 4.27sUndrafted 4.37s
Best: 4.00s — Tyler Coyle, 2021
Power Index
√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body power
n 220 (70% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 83.2
- 25th
- 86.7
- Median
- 89.4
- 75th
- 93.3
- Top 5%
- 98.1
Drafted 90.8Undrafted 87.1
Best: 103.1 — Joseph Ossai, 2021
n 312 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 5'11"
- 25th
- 6'1"
- Median
- 6'2"
- 75th
- 6'2"
- 95th
- 6'4"
Drafted 6'2"Undrafted 6'1"
n 312 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 222 lb
- 25th
- 229 lb
- Median
- 234 lb
- 75th
- 239 lb
- 95th
- 250 lb
Drafted 235 lbUndrafted 232 lb
PPI
pounds carried per inch of frame
n 312 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 3.03
- 25th
- 3.12
- Median
- 3.19
- 75th
- 3.25
- 95th
- 3.37
Drafted 3.19Undrafted 3.18
About this data
- 2021 numbers are pro-day results — no combine was held that year (about 14% of this group).
- Missing values aren’t random: top prospects skip drills. 3-cone: 42% of off-ball linebackers tested.
- LB includes pre-2018 OLBs under 245 lb (documented heuristic).
- Full mapping rules, metric definitions, and provenance: Methodology