Jalen Reagor doesn’t seem concerned about his 40-yard dash times

TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor turned heads during the early portion of his NFL Draft Combine workout over the weekend, recording a 42-inch vertical jump and adding an 11-foot-6-inch broad jump that even had other prospects in awe.

That excitement soon turned into disappointment, however, when Reagor toed the line to run the 40-yard dash. Many fans and scouts expected Reagor to land in the 4.3-second range, but were left confused when he recorded unofficial times of 4.47 and 4.50 seconds.

Most of us at home would dream to run a 40-yard dash this quickly, but for a wide receiver aiming to become a first-round draft pick? Any marginal deficiencies will be highlighted during the combine and Pro Day process. But are Reagor’s times really a big deal?

It doesn’t seem that many scouts are overly concerned, and for a few reasons. Most importantly, TCU has its Pro Day later this month, which will give the Horned Frog standout another chance to clock in with a faster time. Secondly, scouts are quick to point to the tape when examining Reagor’s speed on the field.

It’s also a little unfair to let these times overshadow how well Reagor tested physically during the weekend’s combine drills. Not only did the 5-foot-11, 206-pounder tie for second in the broad jump with Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, but he took second individually among wide receivers in the vertical jump and tied for seventh with 17 reps on the bench press.

Reagor’s agility and speed drills may have been underwhelming, but let’s stop and compare his performances to some recent athletes who went through the combine process. When we take a closer look, Reagor’s times reflect those of some of the elite athletes in the NFL, even one who took last year’s combine by storm with his freakish physique.

Ultimately, the consensus seems to be that Reagor tested as well as expected in the physical drills, but fell a little short in the speed and agility drills. Overall, however, Reagor’s combine performance still keeps him among the top 10 wide receivers to come off the board during the draft, and Reagor himself doesn’t seem very bothered about his 40 times.

Interestingly enough, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill replied to the above tweet, which may not be surprising given that Reagor compared himself to two NFL receivers during his combine interview, with one being Hill. Both are physically gifted, and both are dynamic athletes who can not only shine on offense, but special teams as well.

While it’ll be extremely tough to catch the cheetah, a faster 40 time from Reagor at the TCU Pro Day could make the comparison even more valid.