Montez Sweat Runs Fastest 40 by Defensive Lineman

Montez Sweat is making a name for himself at the NFL scouting combine. NFL general managers have repeatedly said prior to the workouts beginning at the scouting combine that there was a deep group of defensive lineman in this year’s draft. The group has been called athletic and talented and has drawn a great deal of attention from NFL teams.

The defensive linemen made an even bigger statement on Sunday with the on-field workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium with the biggest made by Montez Sweat from Mississippi State.

Montez Sweat is 6-foot-6 and weighs 260 pounds. The fleet-footed defensive lineman ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash. The result was the fastest 40-yard time since 2006 at the combines.

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Sweat’s amazing time ended up being faster than all but two of the 23 running backs that ran a 40 at the combine this year.

In 2018 for Mississippi State, Sweat posted 14 tackles for a loss with 11.5 quarterback sacks. In 2017, his numbers were very similar with 15.5 tackles for a loss and 10.5 quarterback sacks.

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The last defensive lineman to raise eyebrows at the combine with a fast 40 was Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney in 2014 ran a 4.53. Clowney went on to be selected as the overall No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft by the Houston Texans.

Not to be overshadowed, Quinnen Williams the 303-pound defensive tackle out of Alabama posted a 4.83 in the 40, which was the second fastest since 2006 by any defensive player weighing 300 pounds or more.

In comparison, Tarik Cohen a running back for the Chicago Bears ran the 40 in 4.42 during the 2017 combine, yet weighs just 179 pounds. Odell Beckham Jr. the star wide receiver for the New York Giants, who weighs in at 198 pounds, ran a 4.43 in 2014.