While playing the cornerback position at a high level in the NFL generally requires exceptional hip fluidity, agility, and ball skills, being able to run stride for stride with some of the best athletes in the league is certainly an important part of the equation.
This begs the question, who put up the fastest cornerback 40-yard dash times at the NFL Scouting Combine, and did their incredible performance in this event translate to sustained success in the pros?
Fastest CB 40-Yard Dashes of All Time
The NFL game has become faster and faster over the years. Speedy pass catchers like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Chris Olave will quickly expose cornerbacks (CBs) who don’t have the top-end speed to deter opposing offenses from simply taking vertical shots after vertical shots.
As a corner, it’s always advantageous to have excellent straight-line speed. If you can get out of your breaks, follow the receiver anywhere on the field, and end up running side-by-side downfield with them, that speed is going to come in handy.
T-1) Kalon Barnes, Baylor (2022) | 4.23
Kalon Barnes holds the record for the fastest cornerback 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine history.
Any 40 time that breaks the 4.25 threshold is in elite company for the entire event. This wasn’t just the best time for CBs, but it was the second-best time in the history of the NFL Combine at the time (behind only WR John Ross).
While Barnes was an absolute burner, and his electric 40 time likely helped him get drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, his speed never translated to success on the field. Barnes was cut after short stints with the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.
T-1) DJ Turner II, Michigan (2023) | 4.23
In 2023, Michigan’s DJ Turner II recorded the second-fastest cornerback 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine history.
Turner’s 4.23 time in the 40-yard dash while playing at 6’0” and 180 pounds certainly caught the eyes of NFL scouts across the league.
MORE: NFL Combine Records: 40 Times, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, More
This time helped solidify Turner as one of the premier corners in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals were encouraged enough by his collegiate production and performance at the Combine that they ultimately decided to invest the 60th overall pick in the talented prospect.
3) Tariq Woolen, UTSA (2022) | 4.26
Speaking of NFL careers off to a promising start, Seattle Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen has quickly established himself as one of the best young corners in the league. After turning some heads with an overly impressive number of 4.26 with a 6’4” 210-pound frame at the 2022 NFL Combine, Woolen was drafted by Seattle in the fifth round.
Woolen made an immediate impact in Seattle and was an important player in their Super Bowl-winning campaign.
4) Stanford Routt, Houston (2005) | 4.27
The Houston Cougars have put plenty of impact players into the NFL over the years. Stanford Routt certainly generated a ton of buzz after posting, at the time, the fastest 40-yard dash at the cornerback position in the event’s history at 4.27 seconds.
Routt excelled as a member of the football program and track team at the University of Houston, running both indoor and outdoor track for the Cougars.
He was selected by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Routt had a seven-year career with the Raiders and helped form a talented duo alongside Nnamdi Asomugha.
After his time in Oakland, Routt had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans before his career ended after the 2012 NFL season. He compiled 265 total tackles, two sacks, and 12 interceptions, but never made it to a Pro Bowl over his nine-year career.
2026 NFL Scouting Combine Schedule by Position Group
Thursday, Feb. 26 (3-8 p.m. ET)
Defensive linemen, linebackers, and specialists.
Friday, Feb. 27 (3-8 p.m. ET)
Defensive backs, tight ends
Saturday, Feb. 28 (1-8 p.m. ET)
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
Sunday, March 1 (1-5 p.m. ET)
Offensive linemen
A total of 319 prospects received invitations to this year’s event, with names like Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, running back Jeremiyah Love, linebackers Arvell Reese, and Sonny Styles headlining the field.
How to Watch the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Fans can attend on-field workouts inside Lucas Oil Stadium by registering through the NFL OnePass app. The event airs on NFL Network across all four days of drills, with streaming available on NFL+, which includes live press conferences, drill analysis, and insider breakdowns on connected TV and mobile devices.
No cable? DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV all carry NFL Network for cord-cutters looking to catch the action.
