The NFL Draft is BOTH art and science, like many other things. The science is driven by the numbers/data, while the art is human interpretation and contextualization of that data. This is why there are so many differences of opinion – we all have different experiences (I call them context layers) for our individual art of decision making. This is also true when it’s fourth-and-3 from the 50. The numbers provide baseline; humans add to it to make decisions.
Sorry, but I can’t handle a nuanced, reasoned, deep-thinking comment like that (context layers?!?) with the draft barely more than two weeks away. That doesn’t work here. Another one and I’ll have to ban you. I suppose you like to wait at least a few years before you grade a draft class, too? Sheesh, who invited this guy?
Has there ever been a prospect who didn’t have the athleticism coming out of college, but once given the resources and fitness technology of an NFL team, was able to, I don’t know, “level up”? Maybe a “high-motor” or “high football IQ” guy who was able to gain the physicality to match?
He’s not an exact match to your description, because there was nothing wrong with his college program or athletic ability, but the guy who came to mind when I read your submission was Aaron Kampman. He was a fifth-round pick out of Iowa in 2002 who was quiet for a few years while steadily developing his body and his game. Suddenly, over a three-year span (2006-08), he racked up 37 sacks and was named second-team All-Pro twice.
Kenton from Rochester, MN
IMO a big reason why some draft picks succeed while others fail (even though their “talent” seems comparable) has to do with attitude. If player A’s attitude is “I’ve made it to the NFL, game over, time to enjoy my success,” while player B’s attitude is “I’ve made it to the NFL, game just begun, time to ramp up the effort,” guess who’s more likely to succeed? The main problem is, how does a GM tell which attitude a potential draftee will come in with?
That’s what the…