40-yard dash↓ lower is better
n 725 (88% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.91s
- 25th
- 4.77s
- Median
- 4.68s
- 75th
- 4.60s
- Top 5%
- 4.49s
Drafted 4.65sUndrafted 4.75s
Best: 4.38s — Shaquem Griffin, 2018
Off-Ball Linebacker
The bar for an NFL off-ball linebacker
- Athletes
- 823
- Classes
- 2000–2026
- Drafted
- 542 (66%)
Typical NFL LB, 2000–2026 — the middle 50% of the group
- Height
- 6'0" – 6'2"
- Weight
- 231 – 242 lb
- 40-yard dash
- 4.60 – 4.77s
Drafted off-ball linebackers vs undrafted (medians)
- 0.10s faster forty
- 2.7 higher Power Index
- 4" longer broad jump
The benchmark table
Tiers are vs off-ball linebackers 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 820 (100% tested) | 6'0" – 6'2" | 6'1" | n 820 (100%) |
| Weightn 820 (100% tested) | 231 lb – 242 lb | 237 lb | n 820 (100%) |
| PPIpounds carried per inch of framen 820 (100% tested) | 3.15 – 3.30 | 3.22 | n 820 (100%) |
| Performance | NFL medianbeats 50% | Top 25%beats 75% | Top 10%beats 90% | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-yard dash↓ lower winsn 725 (88% tested) | 4.68s | 4.60s | 4.52s | n 725 (88%) |
| Vertical jumpn 622 (76% tested) | 34" | 36.5" | 39" | n 622 (76%) |
| Broad jumpn 628 (76% tested) | 9'9" | 10'2" | 10'5" | n 628 (76%) |
| Bench press (reps)n 565 (69% tested) | 22 | 25 | 27 | n 565 (69%) |
| 3-cone↓ lower winsn 458 (56% tested) | 7.14s | 6.99s | 6.88s | n 458 (56%) |
| Shuttle↓ lower winsn 474 (58% tested) | 4.29s | 4.20s | 4.09s | n 474 (58%) |
| Power Index√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body powern 620 (75% tested) | 89.7 | 92.9 | 96.0 | n 620 (75%) |
Top 10% = better than 90% of Combine off-ball linebackers who tested. n = athletes with a recorded value.
Every measurable, in full
Better is always to the right. ▌ drafted median ┊ undrafted median
n 622 (76% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 29.5"
- 25th
- 32"
- Median
- 34"
- 75th
- 36.5"
- Top 5%
- 40"
Drafted 34.5"Undrafted 33"
Best: 45.5" — Cameron Wake, 2005
n 628 (76% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 9'0"
- 25th
- 9'5"
- Median
- 9'9"
- 75th
- 10'2"
- Top 5%
- 10'8"
Drafted 9'11"Undrafted 9'7"
Best: 11'4" — Willie Gay Jr., 2020
n 565 (69% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 15
- 25th
- 19
- Median
- 22
- 75th
- 25
- Top 5%
- 30
Drafted 22Undrafted 20
Best: 41 — Terna Nande, 2006
3-cone↓ lower is better
n 458 (56% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 7.54s
- 25th
- 7.29s
- Median
- 7.14s
- 75th
- 6.99s
- Top 5%
- 6.80s
Drafted 7.09sUndrafted 7.21s
Best: 6.56s — Ben Taylor, 2002
Shuttle↓ lower is better
n 474 (58% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.55s
- 25th
- 4.39s
- Median
- 4.29s
- 75th
- 4.20s
- Top 5%
- 4.05s
Drafted 4.27sUndrafted 4.35s
Best: 3.83s — Kevin Bentley, 2002
Power Index
√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body power
n 620 (75% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 83.1
- 25th
- 86.9
- Median
- 89.7
- 75th
- 92.9
- Top 5%
- 97.6
Drafted 90.5Undrafted 87.8
Best: 103.6 — Cameron Wake, 2005
n 820 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 5'11"
- 25th
- 6'0"
- Median
- 6'1"
- 75th
- 6'2"
- 95th
- 6'4"
Drafted 6'1"Undrafted 6'1"
n 820 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 223 lb
- 25th
- 231 lb
- Median
- 237 lb
- 75th
- 242 lb
- 95th
- 250 lb
Drafted 237 lbUndrafted 235 lb
PPI
pounds carried per inch of frame
n 820 (100% tested)
- 5th
- 3.05
- 25th
- 3.15
- Median
- 3.22
- 75th
- 3.30
- 95th
- 3.41
Drafted 3.23Undrafted 3.21
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: 56% of off-ball linebackers tested.
- LB includes pre-2018 OLBs under 245 lb (documented heuristic).
- Full mapping rules, metric definitions, and provenance: Methodology