Jonathan Taylor made some money on Friday night during the NFL scouting combine.
Taylor’s college resume is impressive but NFL scouts were curious to see how he would work out during the NFL combine and how his numbers would compare to the other top running backs in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Any questions they may have had about Taylor were put to rest when he blazed an impressive 4.39 40-yard dash. Taylor’s time in the 40-yard dash was the fastest among the running backs.
In addition, Taylor’s 40-yard dash time is the fourth-fastest in Wisconsin football history at the NFL scouting combine according to Brian Mason who works in the Football Communications department for Wisconsin. Chris Chambers 4.33 40-yard dash in 2001 is the fastest by any former Badger.
Taylor is competing to be the first running back off the draft board when the NFL draft opens on April 23rd in Las Vegas.
The other top running backs in the 2020 NFL draft are Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Boston College’s A.J. Dillon, in addition to Taylor are considered the top five running backs in the draft. According to draft experts, Taylor generally ranked third among the top five running backs with either Dobbins or Swift being rated as the top back in the draft.
But thanks to Taylor’s 40-yard dash he could now be seen as the top running back in the NFL draft if not in the top two.
Taylor entering the combine was seen as a second round draft pick but due to his 40-yard dash time, he now realistically could hear his name on the first night. Swift ran a 4.48 40-yard dash while Dobbins isn’t working out at the NFL combine.
Taylor posted a 36-inch vertical jump and a 10’3″ in the broad jump too.
Outside of the running backs working out in front of all 32 NFL teams offensive line also competed on Friday.
Tyler Biadasz was measured at 6’4″ and 314 pounds but isn’t partaking in any of the combine drills. The reason is Biadasz elected to have his AC joint in his shoulder scoped.
The NFL draft will be held from Thursday, April 23rd to Saturday, April 25th in Las Vegas.