There’s something thrilling about watching a player fly down the field at breakneck speed. Those big plays with breakaway speed always add another level of excitement to the game. Whether it's breaking away down the sideline, cutting through the middle of the defense and scoring, or dicing up a coverage unit on special teams, we love to watch the fastest footballers. And there are a few players in the league who can rip through defenses with their speed.
There are various potential techniques to determine who the fastest player in the league is, and each one will most likely yield a different result. For example, certain guys pass the eye test, where their speed appears to be higher than that of other players. We won't use that strategy because our eyes aren't perfect, and it's pretty subjective. What about the game's fastest recorded times? In the game, a lot is going on. Players must run routes, evade tacklers, carry the ball, and catch it. We can also look at 40-yard dash times, in which athletes are challenged to run as fast as they can in a straight line. We thought we would use a combination of the above. So, let's get started.
Melvin Gordon – Denver Broncos
A real-life Flash Gordon on the field, Melvin Gordon III is the quickest player on our list, with a ball-carrying speed of 21.52 mph. Gordon is also alarmingly swift, almost as if he has an engine linked to his calf, thanks to his early athleticism as a track and field athlete. With a fast pace comes a high level of responsibility. Gordon, on the other hand, has inherited the mantle to a tee. In addition, he has a six-year NFL career in which he has waltzed past multiple defenses and left innumerable opponents in the dust.
Gordon has a long list of accomplishments in his professional life. Melvin Gordon is also a name that reverberates affectionately through the ranks of lightning-quick NFL running backs, having won nine individual career honors.
Eric Stokes – Green Bay Packers
The NFL Draft this year featured a slew of lightning-quick rookies. Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes was one of the first players picked. With the 29th overall choice in the draft, the former Georgia Bulldogs player was taken. Unfortunately, Stokes was an afterthought on draft night owing to the unfolding Aaron Rodgers issue.
Sammy Watkins – Baltimore Ravens
Samuel Benjamin Watkins IV is the league's second-fastest player so far, with a ball-carrying speed of 21.05 mph. The former Kansas City Chiefs player is a one-of-a-kind talent. Watkins has also produced remarkable moments on the NFL field, having won a Super Bowl ring. Watkins began his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills before moving to the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Baltimore Ravens on April 2, 2021. Watkins has seven years of experience under his belt and has no plans to slow down physically or psychologically.
After playing a vital role in the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory, Watkins has been pushing himself for more of the same. It's also apparent in his on-field performance, as the outstanding wide receiver has repeatedly produced when called upon.
D. K. Metcalf – Seattle Seahawks
We couldn't compile a list of the NFL's fastest men without including Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. Last season, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound wideout made international headlines when he chased down Cardinals cornerback Buddha Baker. Metcalf ran down Baker at a top speed of 22.64 mph, according to Next Gen Stats. He went on to compete in a 100-meter sprint competition in May, clocking a timing of 10.36 seconds.
Devin Duvernay – Baltimore Ravens
Devin Duvernay is a wide receiver with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The Ravens selected the 24-year-old in the 2020 NFL Draft. Devin Duvernay, Kyler Murray's cousin, is playing a more prominent role this season. Due to the injuries to Miles Boykin and Rashod Bateman, Devin has a chance to earn a permanent spot in the starting lineup. Devin Duvenray, who runs at a mind-boggling 21.01 mph, is bound to rush past defenses and add to his meager touchdown totals in the NFL.
Troy Pride – Carolina Panthers
Punt returners in the NFL are among the league's fastest players. Last season, cornerback and special team player Troy Pride of the Carolina Panthers demonstrated his speed. In Week 3, when chasing a punt against the Los Angeles Rams, the 23-year-old was clocked at a peak speed of 22.50 mph.
Teams compete for a devastatingly quick athlete on their squad, and the NFL celebrates athletes with tantalizing speed. So, it's no surprise that we see blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments in the NFL year after year. To summarise, the players described above give their squad the ability to be swift and direct. As a result, they strive to be the fastest on the field, allowing us to see the 2021 NFL fastest players.
