Usain Bolt received offers to play receiver in the NFL

Before the conclusion of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Usain Bolt prepared the world for his retirement as a track and field superstar, So what’s next for the Jamaican speedster? Could it be an NFL career?

How many times have you heard one of your friends say “If that receiver was just a little bit faster, that play could have been a touchdown?”

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If all receivers were as fast as Jamaican Olympian Usain Bolt, you’d never hear that excuse again.

During his most recent interview on the Dan Patrick Show, Bolt told the world that the NFL has contacted him to play wide receiver. Unfortunately he has declined the invitation.

While some might find this hard to believe, others are simply wishing that he had taken the league up on their offer.

The fastest man in the world would take the top off of every defense in the NFL, and his combine numbers would be off the charts.

At 6-foot-5, Bolt stands six inches taller than the average NFL defensive back at 5-foot-11.

While his vertical jump have yet to be recorded, it’s safe to say that someone with his speed and explosiveness would jump anywhere from 42-45 inches.

When combining that assumed vertical and his actual height, Bolt would be just shy of ten feet in the air minus the length of his arms. The thought of him not coming down with the ball against any defender in the league seems far-fetched, but what’s even more astounding is his speed.

If you take Bolts fastest time in the 100 meter, and break it down to measure his time in the 40 yard dash, he would clock in at 3.97 seconds. With speed like that there isn’t a defense in the league that could stop him.

The fastest 40-yard dash was recorded by Bo Jackson. He ran a blazing 4.12, although unofficial because it was not at the combine.

At the still-young age of 30 years old and being in the incredible shape that he is, he would have no trouble carving out a career of at least five to six years.

However, while it’s fun to think of him on your respected team making defenders look silly, you have to consider the obstacles that he would face as an NFL superstar.

For starters, Bolt cruises past his competition like he’s wearing rocket powered skates, but in an NFL game, it would be almost impossible to run as fast as he does play after play. And if he was able to continue running at such a blistering pace then his body would fall apart for sure in no time at all.

Not to mention the hits that he would take from the safeties and corners in every secondary. Of course they would have to catch him first.

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Regardless of the challenges he would face transitioning to the prototypical wide out, there isn’t a quarterback in the game that wouldn’t love to toss him the deep ball as time expires.

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On the other hand, NFL receivers have to feel relieved that Bolt declined the offer. Because with his size and would-be statistics, he would be a tough act to follow. In fact, if scouts used him as the standard, off-season conditioning would be even more rigorous.

It’s certainly fun to think of what could have been for any team had they been the ones to land Bolt on their roster. Too bad for fans, they will have to imagine the possibilities instead of seeing it for real.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.