Being able to go up and get the football at its highest point is a skill all teams look for in a skill player. But, as you will see below, having a huge vertical jump at the NFL Combine doesn’t always lead to a successful NFL career or even being drafted.
We take a look at the highest vertical jumps in NFL Combine history, along with where those players were drafted, and how their NFL careers turned out after recording such insane numbers.
T-1. Chris Conley
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 45.0
College: Georgia
Draft Recap: Round 3 – Pick 76 – Kansas City Chiefs
In his rookie season, Chris Conley caught 17 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown for the Kansas City Chiefs.
T-1. Donald Washington
Year: 2009
Position: Cornerback
Height: 45.0
College: Ohio State
Draft Recap: Round 4 – Pick 102 – Kansas City Chiefs
Donald Washington played three seasons with the Chiefs, recording 25 tackles and one pass deflection. He now plays in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
3. Byron Jones
Year: 2015
Position: Cornerback
Height: 44.5
College: Connecticut
Draft Recap: Round 1 – Pick 27 – Dallas Cowboys
The world record holder in the standing long jump, Jones made 66 tackles and had eight pass deflections in his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys.
4. A.J. Jefferson
Year: 2010
Position: Cornerback
Height: 44.0
College: Fresno State
Draft Recap: Undrafted
Before playing in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts in 2015, Jefferson recorded 109 tackles and two interceptions in his short NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.
T-5. Dorin Dickerson
Year: 2010
Position: Tight End
Height: 43.5
College: Pittsburgh
Draft Recap: Round 7 – Pick 227 – Houston Texans
Dorin Dickerson has played sparingly, catching 11 passes for 151 yards so far. He has been with the Texans, Steelers, Patriots, Bills, Lions, and now the Titans.
T-5. Kashif Moore
Year: 2012
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 43.5
College: Connecticut
Draft Recap: Undrafted
Kashif Moore has bounced around from team to team, and he’s currently with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has yet to see game action.
T-7. Eric Berry
Year: 2010
Position: Safety
Height: 43.0
College: Tennessee
Draft Recap: Round 1 – Pick 5 – Kansas City Chiefs
One of the best stories of the 2015 season, Eric Berry returned to the field after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December of 2014. Now cancer free, he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl (his fourth trip) and was named the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
T-7. Darius Butler
Year: 2009
Position: Cornerback
Height: 43.0
College: Connecticut
Draft Recap: Round 2 – Pick 41 – New England Patriots
Darius Butler has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week twice, and he’s spent the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He has recorded 253 tackles, 12 interceptions, and has four touchdowns in his seven-year career.
T-7. Christine Michael
Year: 2013
Position: Running Back
Height: 43.0
College: Texas A&M
Draft Recap: Round 2 – Pick 62 – Seattle Seahawks
A part of the Seahawks Super Bowl XLVIII winning team in 2014, Christine Michael has not seen the field much, rushing for only 497 yards with no touchdowns in three seasons. After a brief stint with the Dallas Cowboys, Michael is now back with Seattle.
T-10. Ameer Abdullah
Year: 2015
Position: Running Back
Height: 42.5
College: Nebraska
Draft Recap: Round 2 – Pick 54 – Detroit Lions
Used in a variety of different ways, Abdullah rushed for 597 yards and had 1,077 kickoff return yards along with three touchdowns in his rookie season for the Detroit Lions.
T-10. Jarett Dillard
Year: 2009
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 42.5
College: Rice
Draft Recap: Round 5 – Pick 144 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Playing three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and one with the Detroit Lions, Jarett Dillard made 34 receptions for 390 yards and one touchdown before retiring and going back to law school at the South Texas College of Law.
T-10. Virgil Green
Year: 2011
Position: Tight End
Height: 42.5
College: Nevada
Draft Recap: Round 7 – Pick 204 – Denver Broncos
A member of the recent Super Bowl 50 champions, Virgil Green has caught 29 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns in five seasons.
T-10. Roger McIntosh
Year: 2006
Position: Linebacker
Height: 42.5
College: Miami (FL)
Draft Recap: Round 2 – Pick 35 – Washington Redskins
Roger McIntosh played eight years in the NFL, six of them being with the Redskins, and he racked up 530 tackles, nine sacks, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles.
T-10. Davis Tull
Year:2015
Position: Outside Linebacker
Height: 42.5
College: Tennessee-Chattanogga
Draft Recap: Round 5 – Pick 148 – New Orleans Saints
Davis Tull signed a three-year contract and earned a spot on the 53-man roster before being placed on injury reserve early in his rookie season.