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With NFL Draft season upon us, it means it’s time for the NFL Scouting Combine. It’s your chance (and the final chance for front office personnel and coaches) to see draft hopefuls in action before the big day. It’s an exciting time for players, their families and friends, and fans of the NFL. With the combine kicking off this week, we decided to take a look back at the five best NFL Scouting combine performances of all time (really since 2000, because that’s the furthest back the records are accessible) by Buffalo Bills draft picks.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that vertical leap measurements were absolute, rather than relative to a player’s height and reach. 32 inches is 32 inches, regardless of if a player is 5’10” or 6’4”.
5. DT Leif Larson, 2000
Larson was born in Norway and wasn’t drafted until he was 25 years old. He only had a one-year stint in the NFL after the Bills selected him in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft. Even though his career wasn’t great, his combine showed his brute power. Larson beats all other Bills draft picks in the bench press by 9 whole reps (45). He also is the second-best DT in the broad jump, coming in at 110 inches.
4. S Donte Whitner, 2006
Sure, we all love to hate him now, but after his combine performance, Bills fans were clamoring for a piece of Whitner. The DB posted solid numbers across the board including a 4.40 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical, and a Bills draftee-best of a 132-inch broad jump. His athletic ability is beyond apparent, although he just never was able to put it all together in Buffalo.
3. CB Ron Brooks, 2012
The DB out of LSU posted a quick 40-yard dash time (4.37 seconds), as well as a 38-inch vertical jump. Brooks also had a solid broad jump of 120 inches.
2. CB Ronald Darby, 2015
The Florida State product and recent Super Bowl champion had an eye-popping combine in 2015. Darby posted a Bills-best 41.5 inch vertical jump. The CB also posted blazing times in the 3-cone drill and shuttle run to pair with his fast 4.38 40-yard dash.
1. WR Marquise Goodwin, 2013
His nickname is “Flash” for a reason. Goodwin posted a blazing 40-time of 4.27, which is the best ever by a Bills draft pick by .07 seconds. Goodwin also tied Whitner for a Bills-best 132-inch broad jump. Having the best times ever for the organization in the only two on-field events he participated in is good enough to land Flash as the best Bills performance at the Scouting Combine.