The NFL Combine is the ultimate showcase for draft prospects, featuring a variety of athletic tests, measurements and skill position drills. The testing isn't limited to just the playing field, however.
NFL Combine 2015: Everything you need to know about the Wonderlic
Johnny Manziel reportedly scored a 32 on the Wonderlic test last year. What does that mean?
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Perhaps the most scrutinized and talked about event takes place in the classroom, where the combine participants complete the controversial Wonderlic test. The NFL has been using this Wonderlic test to assess cognitive ability as part of its overall athlete evaluations since the 1970s.
The Wonderlic is a standardized intelligence test that consists of 50 questions and that has to be completed in 12 minutes. The exam is designed to test a person’s capacity for problem-solving and learning, in a high-pressure environment with a ticking clock. It does not directly measure whether a player can read, do math or spell; neither is it designed to examine their motivation or personality.
Scores range from 1 to 50, with 20 being an average score for a football player and 30 considered well above average. According to Paul Zimmerman's The New Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football, the highest average scores are by quarterbacks (24) and offensive lineman (22-26), while wide receivers (17) and running backs (16) generally have lower scores.
Although the players' Wonderlic scores are supposed to be confidential, every year a bunch of them get leaked out, and there's always a fun debate about how important the scores are as a predictor for NFL success. The biggest headline from last year's known scores was the 32 by Johnny Manziel, the highest reportedly among draft-eligible quarterbacks in 2014. Given his erratic off-field behavior and maturity issues, you know that Jameis Winston's score will be a major topic at the water cooler and on Twitter when the test results are inevitably revealed in the coming days.
Some of the more notable active players who have received above-average scores include Aaron Rodgers (35), Tony Romo (37), Matthew Stafford (38), Colin Kaepernick (38), Eli Manning (40), Calvin Johnson (41) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (48). There is only one documented perfect score on the Wonderlic: in 1975 by punter/wide receiver Pat McNally, a Harvard grad who played 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1976-85.
While the buzz around a player’s Wonderlic score is good fodder for the media and fans, the biggest part of the scouting and evaluation process remains a player’s college game tape, draft measurables and drill work.
Want to test your skills? You can take a sample Wonderlic test here. Good luck!
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