40-yard dash↓ lower is better
n 452 (88% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.99s
- 25th
- 4.85s
- Median
- 4.75s
- 75th
- 4.65s
- Top 5%
- 4.52s
Drafted 4.72sUndrafted 4.83s
Best: 4.37s — Matt Jones, 2005
Tight End
The bar for an NFL tight end
- Athletes
- 512
- Classes
- 2000–2026
- Drafted
- 335 (65%)
Typical NFL TE, 2000–2026 — the middle 50% of the group
- Height
- 6'3" – 6'5"
- Weight
- 247 – 258 lb
- 40-yard dash
- 4.65 – 4.85s
Drafted tight ends vs undrafted (medians)
- 0.11s faster forty
- 0.14s faster 3-cone
- 2.6 higher Power Index
The benchmark table
Tiers are vs tight ends 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 509 (99% tested) | 6'3" – 6'5" | 6'4" | n 509 (99%) |
| Weightn 509 (99% tested) | 247 lb – 258 lb | 252 lb | n 509 (99%) |
| PPIpounds carried per inch of framen 509 (99% tested) | 3.23 – 3.38 | 3.30 | n 509 (99%) |
| Performance | NFL medianbeats 50% | Top 25%beats 75% | Top 10%beats 90% | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-yard dash↓ lower winsn 452 (88% tested) | 4.75s | 4.65s | 4.58s | n 452 (88%) |
| Vertical jumpn 388 (76% tested) | 33.5" | 35.5" | 37.5" | n 388 (76%) |
| Broad jumpn 379 (74% tested) | 9'8" | 10'0" | 10'3" | n 379 (74%) |
| Bench press (reps)n 354 (69% tested) | 20 | 23 | 26 | n 354 (69%) |
| 3-cone↓ lower winsn 308 (60% tested) | 7.15s | 7.03s | 6.90s | n 308 (60%) |
| Shuttle↓ lower winsn 316 (62% tested) | 4.37s | 4.27s | 4.18s | n 316 (62%) |
| Power Index√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body powern 388 (76% tested) | 91.8 | 94.6 | 97.0 | n 388 (76%) |
Top 10% = better than 90% of Combine tight ends who tested. n = athletes with a recorded value.
Every measurable, in full
Better is always to the right. ▌ drafted median ┊ undrafted median
n 388 (76% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 28"
- 25th
- 31"
- Median
- 33.5"
- 75th
- 35.5"
- Top 5%
- 38.5"
Drafted 34"Undrafted 32.5"
Best: 45.5" — Eli Stowers, 2026
n 379 (74% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 8'10"
- 25th
- 9'4"
- Median
- 9'8"
- 75th
- 10'0"
- Top 5%
- 10'6"
Drafted 9'9"Undrafted 9'6"
Best: 11'3" — Eli Stowers, 2026
n 354 (69% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 14
- 25th
- 17
- Median
- 20
- 75th
- 23
- Top 5%
- 27
Drafted 21Undrafted 19
Best: 35 — Orson Charles, 2012
3-cone↓ lower is better
n 308 (60% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 7.55s
- 25th
- 7.34s
- Median
- 7.15s
- 75th
- 7.03s
- Top 5%
- 6.84s
Drafted 7.12sUndrafted 7.26s
Best: 6.72s — Dennis Pitta, 2010
Shuttle↓ lower is better
n 316 (62% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 4.59s
- 25th
- 4.46s
- Median
- 4.37s
- 75th
- 4.27s
- Top 5%
- 4.11s
Drafted 4.34sUndrafted 4.41s
Best: 3.98s — Ben Hartsock, 2004
Power Index
√(weight × vertical) — mass-adjusted lower-body power
n 388 (76% tested)
- Bot 5%
- 83.8
- 25th
- 88.7
- Median
- 91.8
- 75th
- 94.6
- Top 5%
- 98.6
Drafted 92.6Undrafted 90.0
Best: 104.3 — Eli Stowers, 2026
n 509 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 6'2"
- 25th
- 6'3"
- Median
- 6'4"
- 75th
- 6'5"
- 95th
- 6'6"
Drafted 6'4"Undrafted 6'4"
n 509 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 238 lb
- 25th
- 247 lb
- Median
- 252 lb
- 75th
- 258 lb
- 95th
- 269 lb
Drafted 252 lbUndrafted 251 lb
PPI
pounds carried per inch of frame
n 509 (99% tested)
- 5th
- 3.13
- 25th
- 3.23
- Median
- 3.30
- 75th
- 3.38
- 95th
- 3.53
Drafted 3.30Undrafted 3.29
About this data
- 2021 numbers are pro-day results — no combine was held that year (about 6% of this group).
- Missing values aren’t random: top prospects skip drills. 3-cone: 60% of tight ends tested.
- Full mapping rules, metric definitions, and provenance: Methodology