Joe Haden's 40 time was slower than expected. (Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Scouting Combine did not start out the way Florida’s Joe Haden probably would have liked. The player many consider to be the best defensive back in the draft, including NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, who has him ranked first among all cornerbacks, posted one of the slower unofficial times in the 40-yard dash.

He was unofficially clocked at 4.57 in his first run and 4.60 in his second run, numbers that are not typically associated with the very best defensive backs.

That said, NFL.com analyst and former pro scout Bucky Brooks cautioned against reading too much into the slow 40 time, because Haden’s tape and credentials are so impressive.

Brooks did note, however, that the time will force scouts to re-evaluate Haden’s college tape and look to make sure he did not struggle with speedy receivers in the Southeastern Conference.

On the other side of the equation, Wake Forest’s Brandon Ghee blazed an unofficial 4.37 40-yard dash, the fastest among all group 10 defensive backs. Tennessee’s Eric Berry unofficially came in second with a 4.40.

– Jason Feller

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