In a lot of ways, age is becoming more relative in our society. With advances in medicine, nutrition and training, people seem to age at different speeds despite their biological age being a set factor.
For the upcoming NFL draft, age is an interesting discussion. Due to COVID-related issues, many players entering this year’s draft will be a little older than in the past.
While age is only one factor in evaluating a player, it can be an important one. While most teams are hoping to get production from a draft pick for at least the first four years, they are planning for the second contract possibilities. Prospects who are already 23 would be 27 or 28 when up for their second deal.
Age also gives front offices an idea of a player’s upside. A 21-year-old prospect is assumed to have more room to grow physically than a 23-year-old one.
When it comes to age, for Andrew Berry it isn’t just a number but has seemed to be a very important part of his decisions. Over the last few years, Berry is an outlier when it comes to drafting young players:
Here is another look at the #NFLDraft history of NFL GMs this time including #RAS data courtesy of @MathBomb pic.twitter.com/PUkRHSOHpP
— Felix Zurek (@felixzurek) April 25, 2022
Berry, by far, has the youngest group of drafted players and values athletic testing in the top half of the league, at a similar level to former GM John Dorsey.
While age information is sometimes difficult to find for fans and media, teams have all the information. For the upcoming draft, assume age will help decide who the Browns add.