5 NFL stars who overcame terrible Combine performances ft. Tom Brady

NFL players with terrible NFL Combines

#3 - Terrell Suggs

Oakland Raiders v Baltimore Ravens

Legendary defensive end Terrell Suggs didn't let a below-par Combine stop him from dominating in the NFL.

Suggs ran a 4.84 40-yard dash and amassed 18 bench press reps, which didn't impress scouts.

The Baltimore Ravens didn't flinch, though, taking Suggs in round one of the 2003 NFL Draft. Suggs was voted into seven Pro Bowls, won two Super Bowls, and is the Ravens' all-time leader in sacks.

#2 - Maurice Clarett

Maurice Clarett carries the ball

Running back Maurice Clarett was one of the most productive backs in college, but his career spiraled downhill after the Combine back in 2005.

Clarett ran a 4.72 40, was slow for a running back, and declined to partake in more drills. It remains unknown whether he was unfit or the moment was too big for him.

The Denver Broncos selected him in round three of that year's Draft, but he was released before ever playing a down in the NFL.

#1 - Tom Brady

NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Dallas Cowboys v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The best player of all time had one of the worst NFL Combine performances ever.

Tom Brady bombed the 2000 edition, running just a 5.3-second 40-yard dash. He also had a 24.5-inch vertical and came across to scouts as rather unathletic. Brady was the seventh quarterback selected after this, falling to 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft.

That didn't matter, as Brady went on to win seven Super Bowl rings and three MVPs and is widely regarded as the GOAT.

Brady hung up his cleats for the second and final time after the 2022 season at the age of 45.