Speed at the tight end position doesn’t get talked about the way it does for wide receivers or defensive backs. But the players who have run the fastest times in Combine history tell a story beyond pure athleticism; they reveal how the position has evolved and what scouts are actually buying with a fast clock.
Vernon Davis Still Owns the Fastest 40 Time Among TEs
Vernon Davis ran a 4.38 at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine, at 254 pounds coming out of Maryland, and that time has never been matched at the position. He backed it up with a 42-inch vertical and 33 reps on the bench press, putting together what remains one of the most complete individual Combine performances ever recorded.
The San Francisco 49ers selected him sixth overall. He made two Pro Bowls, co-led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 2009, and won a Super Bowl with Denver. The 4.38 wasn’t just a number; it was a blueprint for what an elite receiving tight end could look like physically.
What competitors covering this topic consistently underexplore: Davis’s 40 time wasn’t just the fastest for a tight end.
2. Dorin Dickerson, Pitt (2010): 4.40
Dickerson ran the second-fastest tight end 40 ever, a 4.40, and went in the seventh round to the Houston Texans. He bounced around the league, spending time with the Texans, Steelers, Patriots, Bills, Lions, and Titans, but last appeared in a regular-season game in 2013.
A torn Achilles suffered during a 2015 minicamp formally ended his career. His story is a reminder that speed at the Combine alone doesn’t guarantee a roster spot, let alone a career.
3 – Evan Engram, Ole Miss (2017): 4.42
Engram ran the third-fastest tight end 40 ever and went in the first round, 23rd overall, to the New York Giants. The time mattered because it confirmed what his tape already suggested: he was closer to a wide receiver than a traditional in-line blocker. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection as a senior in 2016, he has earned two Pro Bowls and is currently with the Denver Broncos.
4 – Devin Culp, Washington (2024): 4.47
Culp played wide receiver in high school before being recruited to Washington as a tight end, and his 4.47 reflected that athletic background. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him in the seventh round. He made five receptions as a rookie, and his path to significant playing time remains narrow. A fast clock alone doesn’t guarantee anything.
5 – Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri (2020): 4.49
“Albert O” ran a 4.49 at the 2020 Combine and went to Denver in the fourth round. Injuries derailed what looked like a promising career. After stints with the Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders, his long-term NFL future remains uncertain. His story is a reminder that speed is the entry ticket, not the contract.
2026 NFL Scouting Combine Schedule
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine runs from Feb. 26 to March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On-field workouts are available on NFL Network and streaming on NFL+.
- Thursday, Feb. 26 (3–8 p.m. ET): Defensive linemen, linebackers
- 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
