NFL Hall of Fame coach Al Davis once famously said that “speed kills.” Well, for former Washington defensive lineman Anterio Thompson, speed might instead give life to an NFL career. Thompson wasn’t invited to last month’s NFL combine, but he gave his draft stock a major boost during Monday’s UW Pro Day when he ran the 40-yard dash in an eye-popping (and unofficial) 4.73 seconds.
6’4 306 lbs DT running a 4.73 40. Best athlete at the DT position in this 2026 NFL Draft. 📈 30 reps 225 💪🏼
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) March 17, 2026
I see you @ThompsonAnterio https://t.co/sOoV6h5TAo
It may not be official, but it’s a faster time than any recorded by the 15 defensive tackles who attended the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. The time, which is ludicrously fast for someone like the 6-foot-4, 306-pound Thompson, could go a long way towards getting the Huskies defender an opportunity at the next level.
Anterio Thompson’s draft stock should rise following a strong Pro Day showing.
Prior to Monday’s Pro Day, Thompson’s odds of being selected during April’s 2026 NFL Draft were relatively low. He’d started only three games as a senior after transferring in from Iowa and finished the season with a modest tally of 30 total tackles (17 solo), 1.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.
As a result, Thompson hadn’t been receiving much attention in the pre-draft process. At time of writing, he’s not among the 447 college football players on Pro Football Focus’ (PFF’s) 2026 Big Board. However, Thompson’s 4.73-second 40-yard dash time could change that.
Thompson’s time appears to make him not only the fastest interior defender in this year’s class, but one of the fastest defensive linemen in recent memory. According to NFL.com, only three defensive linemen, including three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, have ever officially run a sub-4.73-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
When talking to reporters in attendance at UW’s Dempsey Indoor Center, Thompson asserted that such speed will come in handy should any NFL teams come calling:
After his Pro Day, former Washington DT Anterio Thompson spoke to how his quickness can help translate his skillset to the next level: pic.twitter.com/hgktSUsVyI
— Nick Lemkau (@nicklemkaucfb) March 16, 2026
Everyone will focus on Thompson’s 40-yard dash time, but he performed well in other drills, too. He reportedly achieved 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, which would have tied for the second-most reps among five participants at this year’s combine.
Thompson’s 29.5-inch vertical leap would have placed in the lower half of this year’s combine bests for defensive linemen, but it’s not likely to hold him back much given the obvious explosiveness he displayed in the 40-yard dash.
Will Thompson’s excellent Pro Day showing be enough to get him drafted? We won’t know for sure until April 25, when Rounds 4-7 will mark the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Thompson’s got to be feeling better about his draft odds, especially considering there were scouts from 29 of the NFL's 32 teams present at Washington’s pro day.