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These former Washington players had historic performances at NFL Combine

By Jerry Trotta

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Trent Williams (R) of the Oklahoma Sooners poses with NFL Commissoner Roger Goodell as they hold a Washington Redskins jersey after Washington selected Williams #4 overall during the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Trent Williams (R) of the Oklahoma Sooners poses with NFL Commissoner Roger Goodell as they hold a Washington Redskins jersey after Washington selected Williams #4 overall during the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

Vernon Davis (2006)

Another former Washington player, Vernon Davis is viewed as one of the most physically-gifted tight ends to ever grace the NFL.

To put his unfair 2006 Combine into perspective, he is one of two players since 2003 (Saquon Barkley is the other) to weigh north of 230 pounds, run the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds or faster and record a vertical jump of 40 inches or higher.

In terms of his 2006 ranks, Davis’ 40 time finished ninth among all players, his 4.17 short shuttle and 42 bench reps finished third, his 42-inch vertical checked in second and his 10-foot-,8-inch broad jump ranked 16th.

Like we said: unfair.

Aaron Donald (2014) 

We’re not sure why Aaron Donald’s Combine outing doesn’t get more love. After all, a 285-pound defensive lineman shouldn’t be allowed to run the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds. Like Davis, Donald’s athleticism defied science.

Perhaps even more impressive is the eight-time Pro Bowler’s 10-yard shuttle run, vertical jump and broad jump were all superior to the numbers Rams teammate Cooper Kupp (a wide receiver) posted at the 2017 Combine. Just absurd.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (2009) 

Most of the players featured thus far are household names, so why not finish with a forgotten man in Darrius Heyward-Bey, right? The Maryland alum proved to be a bust despite lasting a decade in the NFL, but he put forth a performance at the 2009 Combine that won’t soon be forgotten.

The Raiders were chastised for drafting Heyward-Bey seventh overall, but can you really blame them? After all, he had just finished running a 4.25 40-yard dash, which was the second-fastest ever at the time behind Chris Johnson.

Heyward-Bey clocked out a 23.4 miles per hour and posted a a 4.18-second short shuttle run, a 38.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump. Despite that, he never logged more than 1,000 yards or five touchdowns in a single season, proving that being a world-class athlete doesn’t always transition to NFL success.

Honorable mentions: Deion Sanders, Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson, Matt Jones, Saquon Barkley,  Shaquem Griffin. 

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