The NFL Scouting Combine has turned into a must-see event with enormous marketing potential for the league. But at the end of the day, it’s about gaining more data and information about the prospects so the teams can properly evaluate them ahead of the NFL Draft. Part of that process is seeing how the prospects stack up against their peers throughout Combine history.
Which wide receivers recorded the fastest 40-yard dash times, and who holds the record?
Fastest Wide Receiver 40-Yard Dash Times in NFL Combine History
Xavier Worthy (2024) — 4.21 Seconds
The 2024 NFL Draft featured a number of high-level athletes at the wide receiver position, but Texas star Xavier Worthy separated himself as a cut above with his 40-yard dash time.
Worthy has always been a superlative speed threat, and his 40-yard dash was heavily anticipated. It’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint.
Worthy officially ran a 4.21 40-yard dash on his second attempt, breaking the record previously held by Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick John Ross.
The Kansas City Chiefs liked what they saw, selecting him with the No. 28 pick in the first round. As a rookie, Worthy totaled 638 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Then, during the 2024 playoffs, he led all players in receiving yards (287) and recorded three touchdowns. In the Chiefs’ Super Bowl 59 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Worthy had 157 yards and two touchdowns — the most receiving yards by a rookie in Super Bowl history.
However, Worthy did not have a great sophomore season. According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, the Chiefs receiver finished the season as the 59th-best wideout in the league with an impact score of 73.1.
John Ross (2017) — 4.22 Seconds
John Ross had the NFL world buzzing in 2017 when he ran a 4.22 in the 40. He played his college career at Washington and showcased great speed. However, nobody could have seen what he did at the NFL Combine coming.
Ross was taken with the No. 9 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL Draft. He had one solid year, as he had 21 catches for 210 yards and seven touchdowns in his second season.
However, he wasn’t able to sustain that, and he had short stints with the New York Giants and the Chiefs before ultimately retiring. One fascinating note about Ross being taken No. 9 overall is that Patrick Mahomes was drafted right behind him.
Rondel Menendez (1999) — 4.24 Seconds
In 1999, Rondel Menendez ran the 40-yard dash in a then-record 4.24 seconds. He was tied with Chris Johnson before Ross broke their record in 2017.
Despite his impressive speed, he wasn’t a high draft pick. He was selected No. 247 in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
He flashed some big-time potential early on, as he returned a punt for a touchdown in a preseason game. However, he tore his meniscus in another preseason game and was eventually released.
He played with the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington. He briefly retired from the NFL to take care of his mother after she had a stroke. Once he returned, he ended up in NFL Europe and then retired again.
Jerome Mathis (2005) — 4.26 Seconds
In high school, Jerome Mathis was a six-time state champion in track, and he won the 2001 national indoor 200m title.
Mathis played his college football at Hampton, where he made his mark as an elite returner. He held the NCAA record for both kick return average (26.6 yards) and kick return touchdowns (six).
KEEP READING: NFL Combine Records — 40 Time, Bench Press, Vertical, More
At the 2005 NFL Combine, Mathis turned heads by running a 4.26 time.
Mathis was drafted with the No. 114 pick by the Houston Texans in the 2005 NFL Draft. Mathis had an impressive rookie year, as he had 54 kick returns for 1,542 yards and two touchdowns. His longest was for 99 yards, and he went to the Pro Bowl that year. In 2006, he suffered a fractured foot injury and was never able to get back into the NFL.
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.
Players To Watch Out for on Saturday at the Combine
The wide receiver group is where the most first-round movement could actually happen Saturday. USC’s Makai Lemon arrives as a projected first-rounder. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., who spoke to the media this week, is generating interest from teams searching for proven production at the college level. The receiver class is deep enough that a blazing 40 time can vault a player two or three spots in a board, and teams with early picks know it.
Among quarterbacks, Alabama’s Ty Simpson is expected to throw. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Miami’s Carson Beck, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, the Heisman runner-up, are also slated to work out.
Pavia brings an unusual profile, a dual-threat who revealed at Combine media availability this week that he has been getting advice from Johnny Manziel during the pre-draft process, and carries genuine upside as a mid-round wild card.
On the running back side, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love has been mentioned repeatedly by evaluators as the most complete offensive difference-maker in the class. Love’s testing numbers will carry weight, since teams increasingly look for backs who can contribute as receivers and in pass protection, and his combine showing gives them a formal baseline before pro days scatter the evaluation calendar.
