Could You Be Drafted in the NFL? Study by Docsports.com

by Docsports.com - 8/5/2025

Have you ever wondered if you could make it onto an NFL roster? While skill and dedication are crucial, the modern NFL also demands a rare combination of height, weight, and body composition.

A new report by Doc’s Sports explores how the physical requirements and body types of NFL players have transformed over the past fifty years, contrasting these trends with those in the general U.S. population.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

Key Takeaways

Do you fit the mold? The average NFL player today stands 6'2" and weighs about 241 lbs—up 20 lbs since the 1970s.
While the U.S. population’s average height has recently declined by 0.5 inches over 24 years, NFL heights have slightly increased (+0.12 inches since the 1970s).
Specialized roles mean extreme variation. Wide receivers average 6'1" and 198 lbs (BMI: 26.3), but offensive linemen are the true outliers, with a massive +58.6 lb weight gain since the 1970s—the steepest of any position. Only a tiny fraction of the population naturally matches these role-specific physiques.

Overall NFL Trends (1974–2025)

NFL player size and body measurements have changed noticeably over time.

Height Evolution

1970s average: 73.95 inches (6'1.95")
2020s average: 74.07 inches (6'2.07")
Total change: +0.12 inches over 50 years

Weight Evolution

1970s average: 220.92 lbs
2020s average: 240.78 lbs
Total change: +19.9 lbs over 50 years

Position-Specific Evolution

There are big differences in how player sizes have changed depending on their position.

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Greatest Weight Increases

Offensive Line: +58.6 lbs (256.3 → 314.9 lbs)
Defensive Line: +34.3 lbs (254.8 → 289.1 lbs)
Tight End: +19.0 lbs (229.4 → 248.5 lbs)

Greatest Height Increases

Offensive Line: +1.18 inches (75.8" → 76.9")
Tight End: +1.04 inches (75.6" → 76.6")
Special Teams: +0.96 inches (72.3" → 73.3")

Unexpected trends that go against the main pattern

Running Backs: Height decreased by 1.3 inches (72.1" → 70.8")
Defensive Backs: Minimal weight gain (+6.6 lbs) and slight height decrease (–0.15")

Current Position Characteristics (2020s)

Largest Players

Offensive Line: 6'5" height, 314.91 lbs (BMI: 37.4)
Defensive Line: 6'3.5" height, 289.11 lbs (BMI: 35.7)

Smallest Players

Running Backs: 5'10.8" height, 212.69 lbs (BMI: 29.8)
Defensive Backs: 6'0.1" height, 196.18 lbs (BMI: 26.5)

Speed Positions (WR, DB, RB): Average BMI = 27.5
Power Positions (OL, DL): Average BMI = 36.6

Complete Position BMI Rankings (2020s):

Offensive Line: BMI 37.4 (6'5", 314.9 lbs)
Defensive Line: BMI 35.7 (6'3", 289.1 lbs)
Linebacker: BMI 30.5 (6'2", 239.1 lbs)
Running Back: BMI 29.8 (5'11", 212.7 lbs)
Tight End: BMI 29.8 (6'5", 248.5 lbs)
Special Teams: BMI 27.5 (6'1", 210.2 lbs)
Quarterback: BMI 27.4 (6'3", 216.9 lbs)
Defensive Back: BMI 26.5 (6'0", 196.2 lbs)
Wide Receiver: BMI 26.3 (6'1", 197.5 lbs)

Comparison with the General Population

Critical differences emerged when comparing NFL trends to general population changes:

Height Comparison

NFL trend: +0.0024 inches/year (increasing)
Population trend: –0.0138 inches/year (decreasing)
Difference: NFL trend is 0.0162 inches/year higher
Interpretation: NFL height increases are purely sport-specific

Weight Comparison

NFL trend: +0.40 lbs/year
Population trend: +0.85 lbs/year
Difference: General population gaining weight 0.46 lbs/year faster
Interpretation: NFL demonstrates relative resistance to societal weight gain

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Sport-Specific Effect Analysis

Expected 2020s NFL weight (following population trend): 263.6 lbs
Actual 2020s NFL weight: 240.8 lbs
Sport-specific moderation: –22.8 lbs

BMI Analysis

Body Mass Index calculations reveal important health and performance implications:

2020s NFL average BMI: 30.9 (Class I Obesity)
2023 Population BMI: 28.2 (Overweight)
Difference: +2.7 BMI points

However, this difference has remained relatively stable over time, suggesting consistent selection pressures rather than accelerating divergence.

The most significant finding is the divergence between NFL and population trends. While the general population has experienced substantial weight gain (+40.1 lbs over 47 years) and slight height decreases (–0.65 inches), NFL players show the opposite pattern: modest height increases and substantially smaller weight gains.
Despite the current average NFL BMI of 30.9—formally in the “obese” range—this label is often misleading for professional athletes. BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat, so players, especially linemen, may have high BMI due to increased muscle mass rather than body fat, making standard risk categories less accurate when applied to athletes.

Full Result by Decade and Position

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Methodology

Data Sources

NFL Player Data:
This study utilized the comprehensive NFLverse database, which provides standardized player statistics and biographical information across multiple decades. The NFLverse project aggregates official NFL data from various sources including NFL.com, Pro Football Reference, and team records, ensuring consistent formatting and quality control.

Population Data:
General population anthropometric data was sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). We used mean weight and height measurements for 19-year-olds, representing the typical age of entry into professional football pathways.

Sample Characteristics

NFL Sample:
24,505 unique NFL players spanning 1974–2025.

Includes all players who appeared on active rosters during the regular season
Excludes practice squad and injured reserve players without game appearances
Position classifications standardized across eras using NFLverse taxonomy

Population Reference:
CDC NCHS anthropometric data for 19-year-old Americans

Provides baseline comparison for typical physical characteristics at football recruitment age
Accounts for secular trends in population growth patterns
Represents the demographic pool from which NFL players are selected

Position Classification

Players were categorized into nine primary position groups based on NFLverse standardization:

Offensive Line: Center, Guard, Tackle
Defensive Line: Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, Nose Tackle
Linebacker: Inside Linebacker, Outside Linebacker, Middle Linebacker
Quarterback: All quarterback designations
Running Back: Halfback, Fullback, Running Back
Wide Receiver: Wide Receiver, Slot Receiver
Tight End: Tight End, H-Back
Defensive Back: Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback
Special Teams: Kicker, Punter, Long Snapper

Players with multiple position designations were classified by their primary listed position in the NFLverse database.

Measurements

Height and Weight:
Extracted from official NFL combine measurements and team-reported statistics.

Heights recorded in inches, converted to feet and inches for presentation
Weights recorded in pounds

BMI Calculation:
Body Mass Index calculated using the standard formula:
BMI = (weight in pounds / height in inches²) × 703

Temporal Analysis:

NFL data aggregated by decade (1970s–2020s)
Population data aligned with corresponding time periods
Trend analysis conducted using linear regression models

Data Quality and Limitations

NFL Data Strengths:

Comprehensive coverage from NFLverse standardization
Official measurements from NFL combine and team records
Consistent position classifications across eras

Limitations:

Some early-era players may have incomplete anthropometric data
Position classifications evolved over time, requiring standardization
Combine measurements may not reflect in-season playing weights

Population Data Considerations:

CDC NCHS data provides robust population baselines
19-year-old reference age represents typical football recruitment demographic
Secular population trends accounted for in comparative analysis

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Start:	August 6, 2025 @ 7:15 PM
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Could You Be Drafted in the NFL? Study by Docsports.com

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