The 40 yard dash is maybe the single most important event for how dominant players will be in Madden for their entire career.
Madden developers have confirmed that speed ratings are based just about 100% on 40 yard dash times.
Players who run fast 40 times become Madden favorites for years even if their NFL careers never pan out.
Players who run slow 40 times become an afterthough. They will be saddled with a low speed rating, not only in Madden 21 but for every Madden game for the rest of their careers.
With the NFL combines just finishing up this past weekend, we have the raw data to make some very informed predictions on the speed ratings that EA Sports will give incoming rookies in Madden 21.
Let’s take a look!
The fastest 40 yard dash at this year’s NFL combine belongs to Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. He ran it in 4.27 seconds.
That puts him in a pretty elite class of runners.
In 2017, John Ross ran a 4.22 40 and came into Madden 18 with a 98 speed rating. Since then, his speed rating has been adjusted 1 down since then and he sits at 97 speed in Madden 20.
In the 2013 combine, Maquise Goodwin ran a 4.27 40 and he has a 98 speed rating in Madden 20.
Because of a very small sample size, there really isn’t too much precedent for players running sub 4.3 second 40 yard dashes, this prediction isn’t as precise as we’d like to be.
It won’t really matter in the end because Henry Ruggs III will be one of the top 5 fastest players in Madden 21.
Prediction: Henry Ruggs III Speed Rating = 97
The only other player to run a sub 4.3 40 time in this year’s combine is Utah defensive back Javelin Guidry who ran a 4.29.
The best comparisons for around that 40 time from last year are Andy Isabella who ran a 4.3 40 (95 speed) and D.K. Metcalf who ran a 4.31 40 (95 speed).
That should be the floor for his speed rating, but it could go as high as 96.
Prediction: Javelin Guidry Speed Rating = 96
One of the most impressive 40 times relative to a player’s size was Clemson lineback Isaiah Simmons. I know a lot of Madden gamers can’t wait to play with this guy.
Simmons is 6’4″ 230 pounds and delivered a 4.39 40 time at this year’s combine.
The best comparisons we have for him are Montez Sweat who ran a 4.41 (91 speed) and Devin White who ran a 4.42 (92 speed).
This guy is going to be one of the best user defenders we’ve ever seen in Madden 21.
Prediction: Isaiah Simmons Speed Rating = 92
Another guy that has made his way into the news after the combine is Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Beckton.
Beckton is 6’7″ 364 pounds and ran the 40 yard dash in 5.10 seconds. For a man of that size, it is absolutely an amazing time.
The best speed comparison we have for that is Bengal’s rookie offensive lineman, Jonah Williams who ran a 5.12 40 time. He came into Madden 20 with a 69 speed rating.
Since Beckton ran slightly faster (while being over 50 pounds heavier), we expect him to have a slightly higher speed rating.
Prediction: Mekhi Beckton Speed Rating = 70
There were hundreds of players who ran at the NFL combine and a huge chunk of them will find their way into Madden 21.
Going through each one individually isn’t realistic but the next best thing we can do is provide a reference so you can self-predict your favorite rookies’ speed ratings in Madden 21.
We’ve included the 40 yard dash times below from the 2019 NFL combine along with the speed ratings they received in Madden 20.
You get grab the 2020 NFL Combine results here and compare them to our reference below to figure out what the speed ratings will be.
Check it out below!
- Andy Isabella – 4.30 – 95 speed
- D.K. Metcalf – 4.31 – 95 speed
- Parris Campbell – 4.31 – 94 speed
- Greedy Williams – 4.37 – 93 speed
- Montez Sweat – 4.41 – 91 speed
- Devin White – 4.42 – 92 speed
- Myles Boykin – 4.42 – 92 speed
- Sheldrick Redwine – 4.44 – 90 speed
- Trayvon Mullen – 4.46 – 90 speed
- Myles Sanders – 4.49 – 89 speed
- Noah Fant – 4.50 – 89 speed
- N’Keal Harry – 4.53 – 88 speed
- Damien Harris – 4.57 – 87 speed
- Rashan Gary – 4.58 – 86 speed
- Irv Smith – 4.63 – 85 speed
- Foster Moreau – 4.66 – 82 speed
- T.J. Hockenson – 4.70 – 82 speed
- Nick Bosa – 4.79 – 79 speed
- Quinnen Williams – 4.83 – 78 speed
- Jerry Tillery – 4.93 – 75 speed
- Dexter Lawrence – 5.05 – 71 speed
- Cody Ford – 5.21 – 65 speed
- Greg Little – 5.33 – 61 speed
Which rookies are you most excited to use in Madden 21? Let us know in the comments section below!