During the NFL Combine, the NFL’s top draft prospects will take The Wonderlic Test which is meant to measure cognitive ability as well as the test taker’s aptitude and potential problem-solving ability.
According to The Wonderlic’s own Web site, in the 1970s: “Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys begins using the WPT to forecast player performance. The test is still used today by the NFL in their annual Combine as a pre-draft assessment of player mental skills. Only one NFL player has scored a perfect 50: punter Pat McInally of Harvard.
Here’s the average of NFL previous players’ scores, by position (source: Paul Zimmerman’s The New Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football): Offensive Tackle 26, Center 25, Quarterback 24, Guard 23, Tight End 22, Safety & Linebacker 19, Cornerback 18, Wide Receiver & Fullback 17, Halfback 16.