Under third-year general manager Brian Gutekunst, the Green Bay Packers have prioritized acquiring big, fast and explosive athletes in the NFL draft. Both the 2018 and 2019 draft classes were littered with elite athletes, including first-round picks Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage.
It’s no wonder the Packers often pick players with high “Relative Athletic Scores,” a measure developed and tracked by Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb).
Now that the combine is finished, picking out the best overall athletes – factoring in height and weight into all the tests and drills – becomes easier, especially with the weaponry of RAS at our disposal.
Here’s a look at some of the highlight players with elite RAS (9.0 or above on a 10.0 scale) coming out of the combine:
QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
RAS: 9.69
Even at 6-6, Herbert posted great speed and elite explosiveness at the quarterback position. He has a big arm, 10″ hands and terrific all-around athleticism, solidifying his status as a first-rounder.
QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
RAS: 9.62
Hurts did what was expected, producing elite speed and explosiveness numbers at the combine. He ran under 4.6 and finished in the top five among quarterbacks in both the vertical and broad jumps.
QB Jordan Love, Utah State
RAS: 9.11
Love posted poor agility scores, but he kept a top RAS with elite finishes in the speed and explosiveness categories. His vertical leap (35.5″) and projected 10-yard split (1.6 seconds) were particularly impressive.
QB Steven Montez, Colorado
RAS: 9.23
Montez combined great size (6-4, 231) with elite speed (4.68) and a great broad jump (9-9), although his agility was poor.
QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii
RAS: 9.16
He proved both fast (4.54) and explosive (36″ vertical, 10-1 broad), but he’s smaller (215 pounds) and not very agile.
RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
RAS: 9.84
Even at 6-0 and 247 pounds, Dillon produced top marks in the jumps – giving him an elite explosiveness grade – and a rather incredible 40-yard dash time (4.53). He fell short in the three-cone drill but everything else was great for the big back.
RB Darrynton Evans, App. State
RAS: 9.59
Evans had great explosiveness numbers and elite speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at 203 pounds. His 40 time was the second-best among running backs.
RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
RAS: 9.57
Taylor quieted all doubters, running the best time among backs (4.39) and receiving an elite speed grade even at 226 pounds. He was explosive in the jumps and good enough during agility drills.
RB Cam Akers, Florida State
RAS: 9.32
Akers ran 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, produced a great speed score at 5-10 and 217 pounds and had two good jumps.
RB Rico Dowdle, South Carolina
RAS: 9.68
Dowdle has the size (5-11, 213) and speed (4.54), but he’s also an elite jumper (38″ vertical, 10-7 broad), proving his lower-body explosiveness.
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
RAS: 9.83
Jefferson killed his workout, showing off unexpectedly elite speed (4.43) and great explosiveness (37.5″ vertical, 10-6 broad) at 6-1 and 202 pounds. The burst and straight-line speed likely cemented him as a first-rounder.
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
RAS: 9.78
One of the standouts of the combine, Mims ran under 4.4 (4.38), had elite explosiveness in the jumps (38.5″ in the vertical, 10-11 in the broad) and produced the top time in the three-cone (6.66 seconds), all at 6-3 and 207 pounds. Only a poor short shuttle time stopped him from having a workout for the ages.
WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
RAS: 10.0
He didn’t participate in agility drills, but everything else Claypool touched turned to gold. He had elite grades in size, speed and explosiveness. The 6-4, 238-pounder ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds and hit 40.5″ in the vertical.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
RAS: 9.84
He’s one of the greatest jumpers ever at the combine, touching 44.5″ in the vertical and 11-7 in the broad. He even ran under 4.5 (4.48). Impressive stuff from the 212-pounder.
WR Henry Ruggs, Alabama
RAS: 9.65
Ruggs is hurt by being smaller, but his workout was still incredible. He ran 4.27 and hit 42″ in the vertical and 10-11 in the broad. His 10-yard split was projected under 1.5 seconds.
WR Michael Pittman, USC
RAS: 9.22
Pittman has elite size (6-4, 223) and good explosiveness, speed and agility. He ran 4.52 in the 40 and finished the three-cone in under seven seconds (6.96).
WR Tyrie Cleveland, Florida
RAS: 9.52
Cleveland ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and hit 39.5″ in the vertical and 10-6 in the broad at 6-2 and 209 pounds.
WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis
RAS: 9.45
The 228-pounder finished the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, and RAS loves big guys who ran fast. His explosiveness testing numbers were underwhelming.
WR Joe Reed, Virginia
RAS: 9.64
The 224-pound receiver ran 4.47, put up 21 reps on the bench and his 38″ in the vertical.
TE Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech
RAS: 9.32
Keene (6-4, 251) graded out in the great range in speed, explosiveness and agility at the tight end position. He broad-jumped 10-5 at 251 pounds.
TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
RAS: 9.22
A really poor three-cone finish (7.44 seconds) was offset by two elite jumps (37″ in the vertical, 10-3 in the broad) and a strong 40-yard dash (4.7). He’s 6-5 and 262.
OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
RAS: 9.73
One of the big winners of the combine. Wirfs (6-4, 320) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds and had arguably the most impressive pair of jumps from an offensive lineman in combine history (36.5″ in the vertical, 10-1 in the broad).
OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville
RAS: 9.76
The 6-7, 364-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 5.11 seconds. That’s flying for a man that size.
OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
RAS: 9.93
Cleveland posted elite speed and agility numbers and finished in the great range in terms of explosiveness, all at 6-6 and 311 pounds. His speed (4.93) and agility (7.26 in the three-cone) were particularly impressive.
OT Austin Jackson, USC
RAS: 9.37
The 322-pounder did 27 reps in the bench press, finished the 40 in 5.07 seconds and broad-jumped 9-7.
OL Danny Pinter, Ball State
RAS: 9.64
Pinter ran under 5.0 (4.91) at 6-4 and 302 pounds, while compiling good numbers in the vertical and broad jumps and short shuttle.
OT Terence Steele, Texas Tech
RAS: 9.37
The 6-5, 312-pounder did 27 reps in the bench press and finished the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds.
DL Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
RAS: 9.4
He’s lighter (275), but Strowbridge still produced elite marks in the 40 (4.89) and finished in the great range in both explosiveness drills and both agility drills, making him one of the most athletic defensive linemen in the class.
DL Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
RAS: 9.17
He’s undersized at 6-2 and 295 pounds, but his speed (4.83), strength (31 reps) and agility (7.37 in the three-cone) will open eyes.
DL Carlos Davis, Nebraska
RAS: 9.61
The 313-pounder ran the 40 in 4.82 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.52 seconds, both great numbers at his size.
DL Khalil Davis, Nebraska
RAS: 9.56
He’s short (6-1), but he’s strong (32 reps in the bench) and fast (4.76) for a man weighing 308 pounds.
LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
RAS: 10.0
He’s an alien. That’s all.
LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
RAS: 9.94
He didn’t run agility tests after pulling up on his final 40 attempt, but Murray still had elite scores in both the speed and explosiveness departments. He ran 4.52 in the 40 and hit 38″ in the vertical and 10-9 in the broad.
LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State
RAS: 9.56
The former Buckeye had great size (6-2, 245), great explosiveness (36″ vertical, 10-2 broad), an elite three-cone time (6.83) and good speed (4.66).
LB Carter Coughlin, Minnesota
RAS: 9.87
Can Coughlin play off-ball linebacker? He’s big (6-3, 236), fast (4.57) and explosive (36″ vertical, 10-6 broad).
LB Willie Gay, Mississippi State
RAS: 9.7
What a workout. The 243-pounder produced elite speed (4.46), elite explosiveness (39.5″ vertical, 11-4 broad) and good agility (7.08 three-cone).
EDGE Casey Toohill, Stanford
RAS: 9.41
He’s big (6-4, 250) and explosive (39″ vertical, 10-6 broad), with good enough speed (4.68) and agility (7.08 three-cone).
EDGE Jabari Zuniga, Florida
RAS: 9.74
The 6-3, 264-pounder ran 4.64 in the 40, had an elite broad jump (10-7) and put up 29 reps on the bench.
LB/S Tanner Muse, Clemson
RAS: 9.97
Even at 6-2 and 227 pounds, Muse ran the 40 in 4.41 seconds, benched 225 pounds 20 times and hit 10-4 in the broad. He’ll be considered a linebacker by some teams.
CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
RAS: 9.56
The likely top-five pick killed the combine. He has elite size (6-1, 205) with explosiveness (41″ vertical, 11-3 broad). Oh, and he ran 4.48.
CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
RAS: 10.0
Elite size (6-0, 204), elite speed (4.39), great explosiveness (37.5″ vertical, 10-7 broad) and great strength (20 reps). Freaky good.
CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa
RAS: 9.74
At 6-0 and 205 pounds, Robinson ran the 40 in 4.44 seconds, hit 11-0 in the broad jump and benched 225 pounds 20 times, although his three-cone (7.09) was disappointing.
CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
RAS: 9.69
He has the length (6-1) and elite speed (4.42), and his broad jump (10-9) was one of the best.
CB Michael Ojemudia, Iowa
RAS: 9.5
The former Hawkeye combined great size (6-0, 200) with great speed (4.45). He was considered good in both agility and explosiveness testing.
S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
RAS: 9.99
That sound is Chinn’s draft stock rising. He put together a combination of elite size (6-3, 221), elite explosiveness (41″ vertical, 11-6 broad) and great speed (4.45).
S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
RAS: 9.87
One of the best jumpers in Indy (42″ vertical, 11-0 broad) had elite explosiveness and great speed (4.49) while standing almost 6-1 and weighing 217 pounds.
S Daniel Thomas, Auburn
RAS: 9.44
The 215-pounder put up 24 reps on the bench, ran 4.51 in the 40 and hit 10-5 in the broad jump.
S K’Von Wallace, Clemson
RAS: 9.41
He produced elite explosiveness (38″ vertical, 11-1 broad) and great agility, finishing the three-cone in 6.76 seconds at 5-11 and 206 pounds.
S J’Larius Sneed, Lousiana Tech
RAS: 9.55
He received a poor size score (6-0, 192) but also ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds and jumped out of the stadium (41″ vertical, 10-11 broad).