Just when it seemed Harold Perkins Jr. had already rewritten the linebacker athletic standard, he went back to the stopwatch — and shattered expectations once again.
At his Pro Day, Perkins clocked an unofficial 4.33 forty-yard dash, officially taking the linebacker speed crown and elevating his draft stock into territory rarely — if ever — occupied by an off-ball linebacker. After already posting one of the fastest combine 40s in linebacker history, this new mark may be the data point that forces NFL front offices to completely rethink positional value at the top of the draft.
From Historic to Unprecedented
The numbers now read like something pulled from a created Madden prospect:
- 40-yard dash: 4.33 (Pro Day)
- 39″ vertical
- 6.92 three-cone
- 4.36 shuttle
- 6’1″, 221 lbs
Those agility drills are still cornerback-level. The explosion is still elite. But now the straight-line speed has crossed into a tier that no traditional linebacker occupies.
At this point, Perkins isn’t just fast for a linebacker. He’s fast, period.
Top-5 Talk: Rare Air for an Off-Ball Linebacker
Off-ball linebackers simply don’t go in the top five anymore. The league has trended toward prioritizing quarterbacks, edge rushers, and elite cover corners early. But Perkins is no longer fitting neatly into the “off-ball linebacker” box.
With a verified 4.33, teams are now viewing him as:
- A matchup eraser against modern tight ends and backs
- A weapon against RPOs and perimeter run games
- A blitzer who closes space like an edge rusher
- A coverage defender with DB-level range
That’s how top-5 conversations start — not because of tradition, but because of outliers. Perkins is now firmly in that category.
Patrick Willis & Luke Kuechly Comparisons Aren’t Hyperbole Anymore
Player comparisons often get thrown around lightly during draft season, but in Perkins’ case, the names surfacing carry real weight.
Patrick Willis
Like Willis, Perkins brings rare explosiveness, closing speed, and violence to the position. Both were tone-setters — defenders who erased mistakes with range and punished ball carriers when they arrived. Perkins’ speed exceeds even Willis’ testing profile, but the impact potential feels familiar.
Luke Kuechly
While Kuechly won with elite instincts and diagnostic ability, Perkins brings a similar ability to control the middle of the field. With his athletic traits, Perkins doesn’t just read plays — he ends them before they develop. If his processing continues to evolve, the comparison becomes even more compelling.
The common thread?
Defensive centerpiece. Franchise cornerstone. Every-down dominance.
The Modern Linebacker, Perfected
At 221 pounds, it still feels impossible that Perkins can run like this. Historically, players this fast either played defensive back or struggled to hold up physically in the box. Perkins breaks that rule. His frame, explosiveness, and play strength allow him to survive inside while still threatening offenses horizontally and vertically.
In today’s NFL — where space is everything — Perkins might be the perfect antidote to modern offenses.
Draft Stock Watch: Momentum Is Everything
Combine dominance put Perkins in the top-10 lock conversation.
A 4.33 at Pro Day may push him even further.
Now, teams picking in the top five have to ask themselves a dangerous question:
Can we afford to pass on a defender who might redefine an entire position?
That’s the kind of question that gets general managers fired — or remembered forever.
Final Word
Harold Perkins Jr. is no longer chasing history.
He’s creating it.
With the fastest speed ever recorded for a linebacker, cornerback-level agility, elite explosion, and a skill set built for today’s NFL, Perkins has officially moved into uncharted draft territory. Top-five picks aren’t supposed to be off-ball linebackers — unless they’re once-in-a-generation.
And after a 4.33?
That’s exactly what Harold Perkins Jr. looks like.
