2012 NFL Combine: A Look Inside Tight End 40 Times

Forty-yard dash times have become an extremely important stat for NFL teams evaluating tight ends at the 2012 NFL combine.

The position is drastically evolving in the NFL, so much so that tight ends nowadays have essentially become wide receivers who just happen to be good blockers.

Being fast is important, as is being able to run crisp, clean routes.

Just look at some of the best tight ends in the league—Vernon Davis, Rob Gronkowski, Jermichael Finley, Jimmy Graham—they essentially have the speed and catching abilities of elite wide receivers, but they just so happen to be in the bodies of elite tight ends.

That makes them arguably the most explosive players on offense. They are too big for corners and safeties to handle, and far too quick for linebackers.

Speed is going to be key for this years batch of tight ends, so let's take a look at their 40 times to see who really stood out and impressed at the combine:

40 times, via NFL.com:

• Dwyane Allen, Clemson: 4.89
• Charles Orson, Georgia: N/A
• Drake Dunsmore, Northwestern: 4.64
• Michael Egnew, Missouri: 4.62
• Coby Fleener, Stanford: N/A
• Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette: 4.53
• James Hanna, Oklahoma: 4.49
• Cory Harkey, UCLA: 5.11
• Emil Igwenagu, Massachusetts: 4.83
• David Paulson, Oregon: 4.93
• Deangelo Peterson, LSU: 4.76
• Nick Provo, Syracuse: N/A
• Beau Reliford, Florida State: N/A
• Evan Rodriguez, Temple: 4.58

Who Helped Themselves?

Anybody in the 4.5 range has to be feeling pretty good about their time, so guys like Rodriguez and Green are most likely ecstatic about notching that stat. It will look really good on their scouting reports.

The most impressive time came from Hanna out of Oklahoma though. That, plus the name recognition of his school just might make him the most popular tight end in the draft.

Who Hurt Themselves?

The one glaring time on this list that isn't an N/A comes from Cory Harkey out of UCLA. To put that into context, there were offensive lineman that ran faster 40 times than Harkey.

Perhaps he can spin that and make his name as more of a blocking tight end, which is still important in the league, mind you. But with the way the NFL is evolving this doesn't look good.

What Does This Mean?

Some scouts put a ton of stock in the 40 time, while others just see it as yet another measurable. In the end, these players will still be evaluated on how well they can catch, block and perform on special teams.

Teams are going to take everything into account, but running a good 40 time certainly won't hurt.