Las Vegas Raiders: Which 2022 NFL Combine drills to watch per position

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Running back Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin runs a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2020, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders: Which 2022 NFL Combine drills to watch per position

RB: Broad Jump & Vertical jump

There are a variety of styles when it comes to running backs, so depending on what type of back you have, there are some drills that are more important than others. However, one common trait is that most of the top backs in the league have is great to elite explosiveness.

If you look at the top running backs like Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley, and Nick Chubb, they all possess this. Even Dalvin Cook, who bombed the combine for reasons I still don’t understand clearly, has elite burst and explosiveness when you watch him play.

Besides Cook, each of these players posted a broad jump in the 70% percentile or above, along with a vertical in the 80% percentile or above. Hence, there is a decent correlation among the top performers. 2021 NFL leading rusher Jonathan Taylor can also be mentioned though his percentiles were actually flipped.

Only two of these guys ran a sub 4.4 in the forty-yard dash, Taylor and Barkley. So even though elite speed is an excellent trait, explosiveness seems more vital.

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