No one said you had to be smart to play football, that’s been proven time and time again. However it certainly helps if you have a good head on your shoulders when it comes to the book and street smarts.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, top WR prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft Cordarrelle Patterson and Tavon Austin both scored significantly low Wonderlic tests at the combine last month.
According to several teams, Patterson wasn’t impressive during interviews at the combine. He also scored 11 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test, which caused more consternation.
Austin’s test score was even lower at 7, but the majority of scouts expect him to learn a playbook without a major hitch.
“He’s not a quick study and it will take him a little time,” another personnel director said. “He will work at it. He cares greatly about it.”
As mentioned the test is based off 50 questions and is a popular exam used by employers to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving. The average score overall for an NFL player is 20 while receivers typically averaging out at 17. Also in no way does this test determine whether or not someone is stupid (I was joking earlier) or if they’re going to be a bad NFL player. We’ve seen guys score low and have fine careers and guys score high and have poor careers. Last season Morris Claiborne who was drafted 6th overall by the Cowboys scored an embarrassingly four on the test and has turned to be a really good player for Dallas thus far. Meanwhile Blaine Gabbert who has struggled in his NFL career scored a 42 which was eight points off of a perfect score. The same can also be said for Ryan Fitzpatrick who scored a 48 and reportedly finished the test in just nine minutes.
But on the other end of the spectrum, scoring high doesn’t mean you’re going to have a tough NFL career either. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers scored a 35 while Matthew Stafford who has had a decent career with the Lions thus far scored a 38.
If anything the test is going to give coaches and general managers a possible indication on just how quick said player can learn the playbook. And despite the low scores, Patterson and Austin will still more than likely go in the first round on Thursday.