This is a draft grades article, but since it’s retarded to give grades to drafts before players even play a single NFL down, this article will grade a past draft. It takes time, several years before a draft can be properly evaluated and graded.
Four years of playing time is probably the most appropriate since most picks will be on their second contract or out of the league by this time. The only exceptions to this will be those first rounder’s with their 5th year options picked up, but that is also a good indicator of success.
The grading will be relatively simple, but all rounds cannot weigh the same. A first round pick is obviously not equal to a seventh, and percentages won’t work since a team could have multiple picks in a round or none at all.
Each round will be given points. For example, the first round will be worth 30. The pick for that round will then be graded based on status in league and performance over first contract. The player will then be able to earn a max of 30 points, but may earn less. The following rounds will be worth less points and players graded accordingly. At the end, all points are added up and divided by possible points to give a percentage grade. It will not be curved (sorry SF), so a team gets 0.63, that’s a D.
This grading will take into consideration that a 6th round pick is not generally worth much. However, if a team does its homework and hits an absolute home run in the 6th, it should not be limited to earning only 2 points for that pick. Instead, a maximum of 30 points will be available for every pick meaning that if a 6th rounder has been an all-pro during his four-year stint, the pick will be awarded up to 30/2 points. This ensures teams that draft well late are rewarded, while missing on a 6th does not greatly negatively affect the overall grade.
Example:
Round 1: 25/30
Round 2: 18/20
Round 3: 17/15
Round 4: 2/10
Round 5: 3/5
Round 6: 5/2
Round 7: 0/1
Total: 70/83 = 0.84
Grade B
Will be using an excel spreadsheet because fuck you, it’s easy. Column headers will be labeled to see what criteria is being used to grade. By the way, if you don’t like the grades don’t hate the grader, hate your teams drafting ability.
*Note* Better Player column is the best player at the position taken 32 picks or less later. Only done for first three rounds. WR taken at 22 in first round will be compared to WR’s taken between picks 23 and 55.
*Note* Contract & Rank is current per year contract and its rank among players at position. 6mil/7th means 6 million per year and 7th highest contract at pos
CARDINALS
RAMS
NINERS
SEAHAWKS
*** Over the cap has him ranked as LB and only has 37 other players ranked as such
So, to recap the grades
AZ: 93% A-
LA: 74% C
SF: 26% Failure
SEA: 132% A++++++
I was surprised that AZ did so well and LA only got a C. LA was hit and miss, either good player or flop. Pead really hurt the grade. Probably graded Floyd higher than I should have, but Bethel really killed it for AZ. SF had one of the most pathetic drafts in recent memory.
Will probably get some argument about Seattle’s grade, but 2012 was a hell of a draft. Took a peek at 2013 and they will be looking at probably a C at best. But, it would be hard to argue with RW, and Wagner’s success. I could see some debate with Irvin, but he did lead all rookies in sacks as a DE and has shined as an OLB. Throw in a 7th round DE that became a starting guard and is now one of the best paid ones in the NFL, how could you not give that a huge bump in grade? Really it should be in the mid 20’s because the fucking scouting to see a college DE as a future guard and then make it happen. We should all be in awe. When is the last time that happened? Better yet, has it ever happened? Plus Lane in the 6th who has been a very solid player for us when healthy.
Just for fun, taken from business insider 2012 post draft grades article, they did the leg work of averaging some of the major guys draft grades (Kiper, NFLN, etc). Here is what they had in 04/2012
AZ: B-
LA: B
SF: C+
SEA: C
Bad Hombres™
Thirst