40-yard dash↓ lower is better
n 154 (73% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.95s
- 25th
- 4.80s
- Median
- 4.70s
- 75th
- 4.62s
- Top 5%
- 4.51s
Drafted 4.67sUndrafted 4.75s
Best: 4.39s — Kenyon Sadiq, 2026
Tight End
The bar for an NFL tight end
- Athletes
- 212
- Classes
- 2017–2026
- Drafted
- 135 (64%)
Typical NFL TE, 2017–2026 — the middle 50% of the group
- Height
- 6'4" – 6'5"
- Weight
- 245 – 253 lb
- 40-yard dash
- 4.62 – 4.80s
Drafted tight ends vs undrafted (medians)
- 1" taller
- 2" more vertical
- 0.08s faster forty
The benchmark table
Tiers are vs tight ends 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 209 (99% tested) | 6'4" – 6'5" | 6'4" | n 209 (99%) |
| Weightn 209 (99% tested) | 245 lb – 253 lb | 249 lb | n 209 (99%) |
| PPIpounds carried per inch of framen 209 (99% tested) | 3.20 – 3.32 | 3.26 | n 209 (99%) |
| Performance | NFL medianbeats 50% | Top 25%beats 75% | Top 10%beats 90% | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-yard dash↓ lower winsn 154 (73% tested) | 4.70s | 4.62s | 4.55s | n 154 (73%) |
| Vertical jumpn 156 (74% tested) | 34" | 36" | 37.5" | n 156 (74%) |
| Broad jumpn 150 (71% tested) | 9'11" | 10'2" | 10'6" | n 150 (71%) |
| Bench press (reps)n 115 (54% tested) | 20 | 22 | 25 | n 115 (54%) |
| 3-cone↓ lower winsn 105 (50% tested) — fewer than half tested | 7.15s | 7.03s | 6.91s | n 105 (50%) — fewer than half tested |
| Shuttle↓ lower winsn 115 (54% tested) | 4.38s | 4.27s | 4.20s | n 115 (54%) |
| Power Index√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body powern 156 (74% tested) | 91.9 | 94.3 | 96.7 | n 156 (74%) |
Top 10% = better than 90% of Combine tight ends 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 156 (74% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 28.5"
- 25th
- 32"
- Median
- 34"
- 75th
- 36"
- Top 5%
- 39"
Drafted 34.5"Undrafted 32.5"
Best: 45.5" — Eli Stowers, 2026
n 150 (71% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 9'2"
- 25th
- 9'7"
- Median
- 9'11"
- 75th
- 10'2"
- Top 5%
- 10'8"
Drafted 10'0"Undrafted 9'9"
Best: 11'3" — Eli Stowers, 2026
n 115 (54% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 15
- 25th
- 17
- Median
- 20
- 75th
- 22
- Top 5%
- 26
Drafted 20Undrafted 19
Best: 32 — CJ Dippre, 2025
3-cone↓ lower is better
n 105 (50% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 7.50s
- 25th
- 7.28s
- Median
- 7.15s
- 75th
- 7.03s
- Top 5%
- 6.83s
Drafted 7.15sUndrafted 7.23s
Best: 6.76s — Mike Gesicki, 2018
Shuttle↓ lower is better
n 115 (54% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.59s
- 25th
- 4.45s
- Median
- 4.38s
- 75th
- 4.27s
- Top 5%
- 4.18s
Drafted 4.37sUndrafted 4.42s
Best: 4.08s — Darnell Washington, 2023
Power Index
√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body power
n 156 (74% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 84.5
- 25th
- 88.8
- Median
- 91.9
- 75th
- 94.3
- Top 5%
- 99.4
Drafted 92.4Undrafted 90.3
Best: 104.3 — Eli Stowers, 2026
n 209 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 6'2"
- 25th
- 6'4"
- Median
- 6'4"
- 75th
- 6'5"
- 95th
- 6'6.5"
Drafted 6'5"Undrafted 6'4"
n 209 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 238 lb
- 25th
- 245 lb
- Median
- 249 lb
- 75th
- 253 lb
- 95th
- 264 lb
Drafted 249 lbUndrafted 250 lb
PPI
pounds carried per inch of frame
n 209 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 3.14
- 25th
- 3.20
- Median
- 3.26
- 75th
- 3.32
- 95th
- 3.43
Drafted 3.25Undrafted 3.28
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: 50% of tight ends tested.
- Full mapping rules, metric definitions, and provenance: Methodology