But the greatest QB of all-time<\/a> was forced to overcome a horrible NFL Combine that almost ruined his pro career. <\/p>\n Tom Brady used his poor NFL Draft combine workouts to fuel the rest of his career[\/caption]<\/p>\n The combine is must-watch TV for football fans across the globe.<\/p>\n Patrick Mahomes<\/a> and Travis Kelce<\/a> first made their pro names at the event, which features multiple athletic drills in the pressure-packed build up to the annual NFL<\/a> Draft.<\/p>\n But over the years, the combine has also become known for its misses<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brady lasted until the No. 199 overall pick in 2000, mostly because his combine drills were so poor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here is talkSPORT\u2019s look at the most famous NFL Combine disappointments \u2026 that didn\u2019t matter in the long run. <\/p>\n Boldin went to a big college (Florida State) and eventually made three Pro Bowls while winning a Super Bowl<\/a>.<\/p>\n But he wasn\u2019t drafted until the No. 54 overall pick in 2003, mostly because of a 4.73-second time in the 40-yard dash that ranked next-to-last among eligible wide receivers.<\/p>\n Speed is important in the NFL but it can be overvalued.<\/p>\n Boldin was a possession receiver who showed up big on pro stages, catching 1,076 balls for 13,779 yards and 82 touchdowns in a 14-year career.<\/p>\n The NFL overlooked Boldin in 2003.<\/p>\n Two decades later, it\u2019s obvious he should have been an early first-round pick, and Boldin almost cracked the list for football\u2019s all-time greatest wide receivers<\/a>. <\/p>\n Anquan Boldin was a tough possession receiver who exceled on the real football field[\/caption]<\/p>\n Suggs was the No. 10 selection in the 2003 draft but the Baltimore Ravens<\/a> had to take a chance on him.<\/p>\n The fiery linebacker put up huge numbers in college at Arizona State, including a staggering 24 sacks in a season.<\/p>\n That should have been enough to make Suggs a top pick in the draft.<\/p>\n But he was slow at the Combine, running the 40 in just 4.84 seconds.<\/p>\n A lack of bench-press repetitions (18) also hurt Suggs\u2019 pro stock.<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n One story headline even proclaimed that \u201cSuggs fails to improve times.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Cardinals, who have been looking for a pass-rusher, appeared to be the most interested team in taking him with the sixth pick, but his poor time may make that less certain,\u201d an ESPN article said.<\/p>\n Suggs shook all off all the outside noise, making seven Pro Bowls, winning two Super Bowls, and turning T-Sizzle into a household NFL name.<\/p>\n Brees had the talent and inner drive to be a No. 1 overall pick.<\/p>\n But the former Purdue quarterback was a classic case of being underrated during the Combine.<\/p>\n Brees was also a test case for size early in his career.<\/p>\n He measured 6 feet, which isn\u2019t tall by NFL standards.<\/p>\n That\u2019s partly why the future pro record setter wasn\u2019t drafted until the second round in 2001, despite ending his superb pro run with 13 Pro Bowl selections, a Comeback Player of the Year award and a Super Bowl MVP.<\/p>\n If Brees had been a couple inches taller, he would have towered over the draft.<\/p>\n The Combine isn\u2019t all about statistics and measureables.<\/p>\n The difficult-to-define term \u201ccharacter\u201d is often used during the build up to the draft.<\/p>\n When it\u2019s publicly attached to a player, it\u2019s normally because they supposedly have character issues.<\/p>\n Burfict wasn\u2019t a perfect citizen during his NFL career but there\u2019s no reason he should have gone undrafted.<\/p>\n He recorded 171 combined tackles in 2013 and made the Pro Bowl.<\/p>\n The combine and pre-draft process clearly worked against Burfict, which means the NFL missed on a strong pro defender.<\/p>\n For all of the hidden gems discovered during the draft process, there are also serious misses.<\/p>\n Brown acknowledged that he had the \u2018worst\u2019 Combine in NFL history.<\/p>\n But coaches, general managers and scouts still should have been able to see a future four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.<\/p>\n Brown was a big name at Oklahoma and projected first-round pick.<\/p>\n His father also played nine years in the NFL. <\/p>\n But Brown slogged through the Combine, appearing out of shape and unmotivated.<\/p>\n He fell all the way to the third round and 82 players were taken before him.<\/p>\n Brown had the last laugh, signing a $64 million contract and playing for three Super Bowl contenders in the AFC.<\/p>\n Orlando Brown was better than his forgettable combine stats[\/caption]<\/p>\n The most famous Combine miss of all-time will never be topped.<\/p>\n It\u2019s still unbelievable to think that the greatest quarterback in NFL history lasted all the way until the No. 199 pick.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must have had horrible results,\u201d one fan tweeted. <\/p>\n Brady ran a slow 40 (5.3 seconds) and couldn\u2019t leap worth a darn.<\/p>\n His 3-cone drill time (7.2) gave a hint at a potential NFL future.<\/p>\n But every other measurable about Brady was off, overshadowing a solid college run at Michigan.<\/p>\n Immeasurables \u2014 heart, desire, focus and intensity \u2014 defined Brady and he was soon leading New England to an NFL dynasty.<\/a><\/p>\n In many ways, Brady would have been better off skipping the Combine.<\/p>\n His poor scores also internally drove him the rest of his career, as his No. 199 pick status became a daily reminder of just how wrong the NFL can be. <\/p>\n Brady never forgot his poor combine[\/caption]<\/p>\n Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our\u00a0talkSPORT Facebook page<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0Endzone YouTube channel<\/a>\u00a0for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/12-new-england-patriots-yells-877607124-1.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
Getty<\/figure>\nAnquan Boldin<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/wide-receiver-anquan-boldin-81-882754779.jpg?strip=all&w=736\")
Getty<\/figure>\nTerrell Suggs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"PITTSBURGH,](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/e57324e3-3c28-4ff1-8f7d-a633de219625.jpg?strip=all&w=722\")
Drew Brees<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/c1f04a47-9b75-44d0-86b3-7fc0c9daf082.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
Vontaze Burfict<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"OAKLAND,](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/Vontaze-Burfict.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
Orlando Brown<\/strong> Jr. <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/NINTCHDBPICT000290097417.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
Getty Images – Getty<\/figure>\nTom Brady<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/brady_28059b.jpg?strip=all&w=598\")
x@nflnetwork<\/figure>\n