NFL Combine 2013: 15 Fastest 40-Yard Dash Times for Wide Receivers

Teams looking to add a little speed on the outside of their offense are in luck. This is one speedy group of receivers. 

Last year, three tied for the fastest time among wide receivers in the 40-yard dash at 4.36 seconds. This year, three players posted a time of 4.34 or lower. 

Marquise Goodwin posted the fastest time of the group, and it is no surprise considering he was a member of the United States Track and Field team at the 2012 Olympics.

In fact, his time wasn't just the fastest of this group, it was one of the fastest the combine has ever seen. The Titans' Chris Johnson has the record with a time of 4.24

In all, there are five players in this group to break the 4.4 mark, and that is just flying. There are 14 who toppled the 4.5 mark, and that is still good NFL speed for a receiver. Check out the fastest for yourself in the list below.

*All times via NFL.com.

Top Times in 40 for WRs at the 2013 NFL Combine

Pos.	Player	School	Time
1.	Marquise Goodwin	Texas	4.27
2.	Tavon Austin	West Virginia	4.34
3.	Ryan Swope	Texas A&M	4.34
4.	Josh Boyce	TCU	4.38
5.	Kenny Stills	Oklahoma	4.38
6.	Cordarrelle Patterson	Tennessee	4.42
7.	Corey Fuller	Virginia Tech	4.43
8.	Denard Robinson	Michigan	4.43
9.	Justin Hunter	Tennessee	4.44
10.	Markus Wheaton	Oregon State	4.45
11.	Lanear Sampson	Baylor	4.46
12.	Mark Harrison	Rutgers	4.46
13.	King Tavarres	Georgia	4.47
14.	Ryan Spadola	Lehigh	4.48
15.	Tyrone Goard	Eastern Kentucky	4.50

Most Notable Performances 

Of course, not every receiver ran at the combine, and that is just as notable as running. Here are the wide receivers who skipped the 40: Keenan Allen (California), Kiko Alonso (Oregon), Marion Brown (Georgia), Aaron Dobson (Marshall).

Marquise Goodwin

Anyone who watched Goodwin blow bast Oregon State defenders in the Alamo Bowl knew speed was not going to be an issue, but he still managed to impress with his blazing run.

Goodwin is just 5'9", but at 185 pounds, he has decent mass. He caught just 26 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns last season, which aren't the kind of numbers that point to NFL success.

However, with this kind of speed, teams will look for ways to get the ball in his hands.

Tavon Austin

Tavon Austin is another guy whose elite speed was never really in doubt. The 5'8" West Virginia product has been flashing his speed his entire career. 

Posting a great 40 time was vital to Austin's draft stock. Austin could see his value rise as teams looked at the type of production Randall Cobb put up in his various roles with the Packers last year. It is easy to envision Austin in a similar role, and he needs elite speed to excel there. 

Cordarrelle Patterson

Unlike our last two prospects, Cordarrelle Patterson has no questions surrounding height, or lack thereof. 

He is 6'3". Combine that height with the 4.42 speed he flashed at the combine, and you'll have teams and quarterbacks dreaming of endless deep-ball opportunities. 

With this nice 40 time, Patterson cemented himself as one of the most intriguing prospects at wide receiver in this draft.