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Who is the fastest cornerback in the 2022 NFL Draft?

Now that pro days are complete, Kalon Barnes remains the fastest corner in the draft following his 4.23 second 40 yard dash at the combine.

Along with the combine data that everyone knows, we’ve also collected data from all pro days in the 2022 cycle.

We now have verified 40 yard dash times from 207 cornerbacks in the 2022 class, including athletes from every level of college football.

As with every other position, a few notable safeties didn’t run a 40 yard dash at either the combine or their pro day. These players will not be considered in this post, most notably Andrew Booth, Marcus Jones, and Josh Jobe.

1st – Kalon Barnes, Baylor
40 Time: 4.23
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 6 bench reps, 40″ Vertical, 133″ Broad Jump, 7.44 cone drill, 4.58 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: NFL Combine

2nd – Tariq Woolen, UTSA
40 Time: 4.26
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 205 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 12 bench reps, 42″ Vertical, 131″ Broad Jump, 7.10 cone drill, 4.30 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: NFL Combine

3rd – Benjie Franklin, Tarleton State
40 Time: 4.32
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 175 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 2 bench reps, 33.5″ Vertical, 124″ Broad Jump, 6.81 cone drill, 4.33 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FCS
Measured At: Pro Day

4th – Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston State
40 Time: 4.33
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 200 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 15 bench reps, 39.5″ Vertical, 132″ Broad Jump, 6.48 cone drill, 3.94 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FCS
Measured At: NFL Combine

5th – Josh Blackwell, Duke
40 Time: 4.34
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 11 bench reps, 37″ Vertical, 130″ Broad Jump, 6.75 cone drill, 4.31 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: Pro Day

6th – Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
40 Time: 4.36
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 200 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 14 bench reps, 34.5″ Vertical, 128″ Broad Jump, 7.08 cone drill, 4.25 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: NFL Combine

T-7th – Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska
40 Time: 4.38
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 195 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 33.5″ Vertical, 119″ Broad Jump, 6.93 cone drill, 4.13 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: NFL Combine

T-7th – Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
40 Time: 4.38
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 14 bench reps, 37″ Vertical, 131″ Broad Jump, 7.05 cone drill, 4.06 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: NFL Combine

T-7th – Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
40 Time: 4.38
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 11 bench reps, 36″ Vertical, 117″ Broad Jump, 7.02 cone drill, 4.40 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FCS
Measured At: NFL Combine

10th – Kaiir Elam, Florida
40 Time: 4.39
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 pounds
Other Athletic Measurables: 10 bench reps, 37.5″ Vertical, 6.98 cone drill, 4.21 shuttle
Division of Football: D1 FBS
Measured At: NFL Combine

Fastest Cornerbacks Visualization

The chart above shows all the corners in the 2022 draft class. The most well known cornerbacks are depicted by their school’s logo, including Tariq Woolen, Zyon McCollum, Alontae Taylor, Cam Taylor-Britt, Tariq Castro-Fields, Kaiir Elam, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarri Mathis, Ahmad Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., Trent McDuffie, Roger McCreary, Jack Jones, Jaylen Watson, Kyler Gordon, Mario Goodrich, Cordale Flott, Martin Emerson Jr., Joshua Williams, Coby Bryant, and Derion Kendrick.

The further to the top left, the better. As is indicated by the green and red shading. You can easily see the athleticism of Tariq Woolen, Zyon McCollum, and Alontae Taylor. You can also see the obvious problems with Derion Kendrick.

Just like my fastest safety post, the top cornerback prospects are so athletic that it inverted trend line. You’d expect that as weight goes up, 40 times gets slower. That’s generally the case, but with so many low level prospects who are both small and slow, the trend line is negative.

Every red dot is a prospect other than the traditional top prospects.

Click here to check out our official 2022 draft cornerback rankings.