Alabama Football: Slade Bolden runs slowest 40 time among WRs

Alabama football’s Slade Bolden has some catching up to do.

Slade Bolden is looking to make some money after four years with Alabama football, but the receiver needs to shine with the remaining drills. He ran a 4.66 official 40-yard dash time. That was solid for the slot receiver, but he still ran the slowest out of every receiver to run. Over 30 receivers participated in the drill.

According to Sports Reference, only 20 receivers have displayed worse times at the NFL Combine since 2000. Most went undrafted, but some historically great receivers also had slow runs. Chris Carter and Anquon Boldin are prime examples.

Also, Bolden doesn’t win with speed. He’s a gritty receiver who uses his change of direction and awareness to make plays. He’ll never be a straight-line speed receiver in the NFL, but he can still be effective in the slot.

Alabama football’s Slade Bolden will look to boost his stock with the rest of the workouts. He can show his agility in the short shuttle and the three-cone drill, and he’ll have more chances to do receiver drills throughout the week. Regardless, he also has a chance to boost his stock with the Tide’s Pro Day.

At the end of the day, Slade Bolden has a low ceiling. Everyone knew this before he ran his 40. He won’t be taken on the first two day of the NFL Draft, and he may go undrafted. He’ll have to improve as a punt returner to prove himself on special teams. That will give him a chance to remain on an NFL roster, and he can grow from there.

Bolden was the only Alabama football receiver to athletically test. Both Jameson Williams and John Metchie are recovering from ACL injuries in the season, so their draft process has been more rehab than anything else. We’ll see where they go in a few months.