Jaryd Jones-Smith wins ‘Pterodactyl Award’ at NFL combine

Former Pitt offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith participated in drills at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, and although he put up respectable numbers in several categories, it was his sheer size rather than his performance that drew attention.

Jones-Smith’s measurements were taken on Wednesday, according to the combine schedule, and his wingspan came in at a staggering 88.5 inches. Chase Goodbread of NFL.com noted that Jones-Smith not only won the combine’s “Pterodactyl Award” for longest wingspan, but he also set a record for the longest wingspan ever recorded at the event.

Goodbread noted that the combine’s wingspan data only dates back to 2011, but despite the brief amount of time that the measurement has been tracked at the event, Jones-Smith’s is still truly impressive, as it happens to match 6’11” NBA center Dwight Howard’s.

Jones-Smith also officially checked in at 6’6 1/2” and 317 pounds, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, and his arms notably measured 36.25 inches.

While the former Pitt lineman clearly possesses the size necessary to pique the interest of NFL scouts, what went relatively unheralded was the solid showing he put on during Friday’s drills. Jones-Smith was a top performer among offensive linemen in two categories, as he posted the eighth-best broad jump (109 inches) and the 11th-best 40-yard dash (5.22 seconds).

With that said, his 8.10-second three-cone drill and 16 bench-press reps left something to be desired, but he also performed well in the vertical jump landing just outside the list of top performers with a 27-inch effort. Considering all that, it seems as if Jones-Smith has at least given NFL teams something to think about with the draft just under two months away.