INDIANAPOLIS -- As they did in 2016, the defensive backs closed out this year's NFL scouting combine with a double-take-worthy presentation of speed.
Of the 49 defensive backs who chose to run inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday, 22 blistered to at least one 40-yard dash clocked under 4.5 seconds. Minnesota cornerback Jalen Myrick led the way at 4.28, followed by UCLA cornerback Fabian Moreau (4.35) and Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore (4.36).
"There's a ton of fast guys in this group," LSU safety Jamal Adams said late Sunday afternoon as he looked ahead to the 40. "I think they're going to show it."
Myrick's time tied the fastest by a defensive back since 2006. Thanks to Myrick and new 40-yard record-holder John Ross, this was the first time in the past 12 combines that two players broke 4.3, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Monday's results also kept the players who will be asked to cover wide receivers in an increasingly pass-happy league slightly ahead of the rookie pass-catchers, at least in terms of timed speed.
However, it should be noted that this year's crop of receivers invited to the scouting combine ran far better than their 2016 peers. Ross, who set a combine record with an official 4.22 in his only 40 on Saturday, led a group of 18 wide receivers who ran at least one 40-yard dash under 4.5. That was 35.3 percent of the 51 receivers who ran at the combine this year; 58 receivers were invited overall.
A year ago, just 10 of the 37 receivers (27 percent) who ran in Indy went sub-4.5 in at least one 40-yard dash.
