How do you stack up against some NFL players in the Wonderlic test?

By Gavin Porter | Posted 2/28/2018

Every year, more than 200 pro football hopefuls attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis look to impress coaches and general managers. This year's combine began Tuesday and continues through Monday, with workouts scheduled for Friday through Monday.

For 12 minutes, whether the players are hulking defensive linemen or swift-footed wideouts, all of them sit down on equal footing for the Wonderlic test.

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry was the first to apply the test to the NFL in the 1970s. The Wonderlic measures cognitive ability and is used to gauge general intelligence.

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The test operates on a sliding scale, with 50 a perfect score. Former Cincinnati Bengals punter Pat McInally, a Harvard University graduate, is the only player in NFL history to record a 50 on the Wonderlic.

SEE ALSO: Take a sample Wonderlic Test

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While it is often stated that the scores remain confidential, they are just as often leaked to the media.

Some scores of notable players are:

  • New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: 48
  • Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson: 48
  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz: 40
  • New York Giants QB Eli Manning: 39
  • Cleveland Browns QB Kevin Hogan: 38 (U.S. National Team alum)
  • Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck: 37
  • Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Jack Mewhort: 36 (National Team alum)
  • Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: 35
  • Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly: 34
  • New England QB Tom Brady: 33
  • Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt: 31
  • Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs: 31
  • Seattle Seahawks offensive guard Ethan Pocic: 29 (National Team alum)
  • Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: 28
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston: 27 (National Team alum)

The average score of an NFL player is around 20. Check out the average Wonderlic scores of other professions here.

While the test may provide scouts with a general idea of an athlete’s math, English and problem solving capabilities, the Wonderlic does not indicate if a player will be successful on the field. For example Adrian Peterson scored a 16, A.J. Green scored a 10, and Ryan Leaf scored a 27.

The Miami Dolphins, however, have taken a different approach to looking inside a prospect’s brain. The Dolphins, for the second straight year, have brought their custom siQ test (sports IQ) to the NFL Scouting Combine.

That assessment consists of 20 questions for shorter interviews and 50 questions for in-depth one-on-ones. Athletes are given football scenarios, including some freeze-frame screenshots of Dolphins footage, and are expected to answer quickly and efficiently.

The highest score that the Dolphins awarded last year was 93 percent, and that player was the fastest to respond as well, answering in an average of just 3.4 seconds.

Here are a few examples from the Dolphins’ 2015 test, which were provided to ESPN.com:

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Formation

Regardless if it's the Wonderlic or the sIQ test, prospects will have to bring their A games in order to score high with the scouts.

This is an updated version of a blog that originally published Feb. 25, 2016.

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