With the 2019 NFL Combine set to open for business on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, we ask the question:
Who are the current Jets with the most impressive Combine performances before they put on the green and white?
This year's candidates all hail from the defensive side of the ball. And the one player batting leadoff for us didn't get a lot of flash for his fast dash at last year's workouts.
Take a look back at current players as they competed in the NFL Combine.
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tulane defensive back Parry Nickerson runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU defensive back Jamal Adams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 6, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC quarterback Sam Darnold runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Miami tight end Chris Herndon participates in the Bench Press at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida State defensive back Terrence Brooks runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
UTEP tight end Eric Tomlinson runs the 40 yard dash during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
California quarterback Davis Webb throws a pass during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah Mcguire runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Friday, March 3, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Nebraska wide receiver Quincy Enunwa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
South Carolina offensive lineman Brandon Shell runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Stanford defensive lineman Henry Anderson runs a drill during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Alabama State running back Isaiah Crowell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Florida offensive guard Jonotthan Harrison runs field drills at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
LSU defensive back Rashard Robinson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Montana defensive back Trumaine Johnson runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Colo State Pueblo defensive lineman Mike Pennel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
SMU offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
California University of Pennsylvania defensive back Rontez Miles runs the 40-yard dash at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Fort Hays State defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Citadel's Andre Roberts runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse makes a catch as he runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee Chattanooga defensive back Buster Skrine runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LSU defensive back Morris Claiborne runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Second-year CB Parry Nickerson was clocked in 4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was tied for the top time among all participants, regardless of position, with fellow corners Denzel Ward of Ohio State, who was the fourth overall pick of last year's NFL Draft by Cleveland, and Donte Jackson of LSU, who went to Carolina in the second round. Nickerson, out of Tulane, was tabbed by the Jets in Round 6.
The significance of Nickerson's time extends beyond just last year's workouts. Forty times are always unofficial but nfl.com has been listing top performers using the same standards for the last 13 Combines. Their database shows that Parry's time is tied for the eighth-fastest among all corners since 2006.
It's interesting to note that the Jets have had flirtations with many of the fastest Combine players in the last quarter of a century:
- RB Chris Johnson, whose 4.24-second time in 2008 had been the Combine standard until John Ross' 4.22 in 2017, played in all 16 games for the Jets in 2014.
- RB Dri Archer (4.26 in 2014, third-fastest Combine time since 2006) was with the Jets in the 2016 offseason.
- WR Jacoby Ford (4.28 in '10, tied for fifth-fastest) was on the training camp roster in '14.
- RBs C.J. Spiller (4.37 in 2010) and Knile Davis (4.37 in '13) spent a month and a day respectively on the Jets' active roster in '16.
- And Michael Vick, who by some stopwatches turned in the fastest 40 time ever by a QB (4.33 in 2001) was also a Jet in 2014.
LB Darron Lee
One reason Lee, out of Ohio State, was the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2016 was his Combine showing. His 4.47 seconds in the 40 was the best among all LBs that year and comes in tied for 11th among all outside 'backers at all Combines from 1987 through last year, according to nflcombineresults.com. Perhaps more impressive was his 11'1" broad jump, which is fifth among all OLBs from 1987-2018.
LB Avery Williamson
Williamson, the Kentucky product who lined up next to Lee for 12 starts last season, had a nice Combine in 2014, with his best workout coming in the 20-yard shuttle — his 4.07 seconds there was No. 3 among all LBs that year and is tied for ninth-fastest among LBs in the last 10 Combines.
DL Henry Anderson
Anderson, who had a career year with seven sacks in his first Jets season in 2018, gave a hint of his game at his 2015 Combine. His 20 shuttle was most noteworthy — his 4.19 time is tied for 12th-best among all D-linemen in the last decade.
CB Buster Skrine
We've mentioned Buster's 2011 Combine performance a few times over the years. His starring event was the 3-cone drill, for which he turned in a 6.44-second time that is second-best among all Combine participants from 1987 through last year. He also had standout times in the 20 and 60 shuttles.
