Worth noting is Worthyâs 40 time from the 2024 combine, when his 4.21-second effortâafter an initial 4.25 and a controversial second readingâsolidified him as a top draft prospect and helped Kansas City Chiefs executives trade up to select him 28th overall. That performance ultimately stood as the benchmark until last year, when the fastest reported time at the combine was 4.28 seconds by Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston.
Thompson, ranked among the fastest players in college football, has demonstrated elite acceleration and top-end speed. He has logged speeds reaching 23 mph in live game action and earned Bruce Feldmanâs âfreak listâ recognition for his speed profile. In high school, Thompson posted a 10.22-second 100m dash, underscoring his explosiveness, though analysts remain divided on whether he can translate that into a sub-4.30 combine time.
Projections place Thompson as a Day 3 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, with some analysts suggesting a potential Top-50 impact in the wide receiver class. Teams including Cincinnati and Los Angeles (Rams) have been noted as potential fits, given Thompsonâs speed profile and ability to stretch the field, though landing spots remain speculative ahead of the draft.
Analysts emphasize that even shaving a few milliseconds off Worthyâs all-time mark would create a marquee moment at Indy and significantly impact Thompsonâs draft stock. Thompsonâs performance at the combine will be closely scrutinized as scouts evaluate how his game-day speed translates to the 40-yard dash under combine conditions.
