2022 NFL Combine: Worst Combine performances of all-time

The Washington Commanders currently own the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, so they’re pretty much guaranteed to get their hands on a touted prospect, whether it be a quarterback, linebacker or wide receiver.

Given all the stars who figure to still to be on the board, it might be best for Washington to adopt the best player available strategy.

Whatever direction they go in, though, you have to think they’ll end up with a player who turned heads at this week’s combine. Over 320 players were invited to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to showcase their athleticism and football prowess.

While there figures to be some record-setting performances, the list of participants is too long for there not to be some nightmare outings. Taking that into account, let’s reminisce on some of the worst combine showings of all-time.

What are some of the worst NFL Combine performances of all-time?

Orlando Brown Jr. (2018) 

It might be fair to call Brown’s performance at the 2018 Combine as the worst in recent memory. A former lauded prospect coming out of Oklahoma, Brown had the potential to cement himself as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. However, any chance of that happening vanished once he took the field.

At 6-foot-9 and 345 pounds, Brown managed just 14 bench press reps and crawled through the 40-yard dash to the tune of a 5.85-second finish. His 6-foot 10-inch broad jump and 19.5-inch vertical weren’t much better. Those tallies finished last among all OL that year and he fell to the middle of Round 3 as a result.

To Brown’s credit, he didn’t let this woeful showing define his career, as he’s been named to three Pro Bowls in four seasons.

Terrell Suggs (2003)

For a huge Combine disappointment, Suggs enjoyed a fantastic NFL career, but you wouldn’t have guessed it given how he fared at the 2003 showcase. In many ways, Suggs is the poster child in terms of why teams don’t view the Combine as a make or break determination of a player’s NFL outlook.

The former Arizona State phenom ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.84 seconds and his 18 bench press reps left scouts skeptical of his ceiling. Fortunately for the Ravens, they still invested a high first-round pick in Suggs and he went on to become one of the finest off-ball linebackers of his generation.

Vontaze Burfict (2012)

Burfict is such a polarizing player (some might say dirty) that fans will enjoy seeing his name featured in this article.

Back in 2012, the then-Arizona States star posted a 5.09-second 40-yard time, 16 reps on the bench and a 8-foot, 8-inch broad jump. Those are still regarded as historically bad numbers and they forced analysts to ponder whether Burfict could adjust to the speed of the NFL.

Like Brown and Suggs, though, Burfict went on to prove that one event shouldn’t determine a player’s career. He played eight NFL seasons (seven with the Bengals) and even made a Pro Bowl in 2013, but the reputation he had as a “dirty” player overshadowed both his career and combine performance.