Tag: RAS

Which first-round prospects meet Packers’ athleticism and age tendencies?

Highlighting which top prospects in the 2022 draft meet the Packers’ tendencies in the first round on age and athleticism.

We have only four years of draft data on Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, but a clear trend has emerged within his five first-round draft picks. Gutekunst likes his first-rounders to be both young and elite athletically.

Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, Jordan Love and Eric Stokes have all been 22 years old or younger with a Relative Athletic Score of at least 8.0. Four of the five picks were 21 years old; three of the five had a RAS of 9.0 or higher.

It’s not hard to ascertain why Gutekunst and the Packers would target the youngest and best athletes. Younger first-round talents likely dominated the college level at a young age. And elite athleticism is typically a foundational trait of the league’s best players. Mix the two ideas together, and the Packers are probably maximizing the chances of hitting on a top player in the first round.

Year Player Age RAS
2018 Jaire Alexander 21 9.54
2019 Rashan Gary 21 9.95
2019 Darnell Savage 21 8.35
2020 Jordan Love 21 8.46
2021 Eric Stokes 22 9.38

So which likely first-round picks fit the Packers’ age and athleticism tendencies? Let’s take a closer look.

How athletic is the Chargers’ 2021 draft class?

Athleticism has been coveted by the Los Angeles Chargers in recent years.

Teams draft player that they believe will help put them in the best positions to win football games.

However, one of the key traits that has been highly coveted as of late when determining who is brought in is athleticism.

For the Chargers, it has been a priority in recent years.

How did they fare with this year’s haul?

According to Relative Athletic Score (RAS), a measure created by Kent Lee Platte, Los Angeles’ draft class averaged a RAS of 6.94 (out of 10).

RAS uses a combination of size and athletic testing numbers to produce a composite score for each player.

A player must have a total of six recorded metrics from any of the following: Height, Weight, Forty yard dash, Twenty yard split, Ten yard split, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, Short Shuttle, 3-Cone.

Note: These numbers were recorded from each player’s perspective pro days because the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Of the past three draft hauls, this year’s RAS was the lowest. The 2019 draft class averaged a RAS of 8.63 while the 2020 class averaged a RAS of 7.38.

Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, tackle Brenden Jaimes and linebacker Nick Niemann were the only three players that had great RAS scores. The rest of the class had average scores, with the exception of running back Larry Rountree III who had a poor score.

The higher the RAS score does not mean the player will have better chances of being successful in the NFL, but the athleticism does come in handy as the game is only getting faster by the year.

Falcons rookie center Drew Dalman gets elite Relative Athletic Score

Regardless of the position they play, NFL scouts are always trying to find players with elite athleticism.

Regardless of the position they play on the field, when it comes to college prospects, NFL scouts place a premium on athleticism over almost all other traits.

One way to measure a prospect’s athletic profile is by looking at their Relative Athletic Scores. This metric, which goes by “RAS” for short, was created by Kent Lee Platte as a way to combine all of a prospect’s relevant testing data into one composite athletic score from 1-10. Some of the Atlanta Falcons’ draft picks from this year aren’t just among the best in the class, but some of the best to ever grade out in terms of RAS ratings.

Stanford center Drew Dalman (9.90), Texas DL Ta’Quon Graham (9.68), TE Kyle Pitts (9.66) are the team’s highest-graded rookies in terms of Relative Athletic Score. Dalman’s RAS is the sixth-highest grade a center prospect has gotten since 1987.

Take a look at the RAS cards from all nine of the Falcons’ 2021 NFL draft selections below. Plus, make sure to follow @MathBomb on Twitter for some great insight into this year’s draft class.

How athletic is Chargers’ draft class?

Was athleticism a priority for Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco in this year’s draft?

Teams draft player that they believe will help put them in the best positions to win football games. However, one of the key traits that has been highly coveted as of late when determining who is brought in is athleticism as the game is getting faster.

For the Chargers, it has been a priority. Last offseason they possessed the most athletic draft class out of all 32 NFL teams.

How did they fare with this year’s haul?

According to Relative Athletic Score (RAS), a measure created by Kent Lee Platte, Los Angeles’ draft class averaged a RAS of 7.38 (out of 10). For reference, last year’s class averaged a RAS of 8.63.

RAS uses a combination of size and athletic testing numbers to produce a composite score for each player.

Based on the chart, it’s clear that athleticism wasn’t favored as much as the previous class, especially with the final two picks in the draft with safety Alohi Gilman and wide receiver K.J. Hill. Gilman and Hill tested poorly because they’re both lacking speed, but that doesn’t mean they’re not great players.

First-round selections quarterback Justin Herbert (9.70) and linebacker Kenneth Murray (9.89) had fairly similar scores. Herbert’s athleticism is evident when he scrambles, while Murray’s is apparent when going from 0-100 in a second, no matter the direction.

Running back Joshua Kelley (7.61) isn’t the most athletic, but he is still quick on his feet to make cuts and runs with vengeance to win yardage. Wide receiver Joe Reed (9.35) tested out extremely well. That athleticism shows on the field when accelerating to turn short gains into big ones with burst and top-end speed.

How athletic is the Chiefs’ draft class?

Looking at the Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of Kansas City Chiefs’ 2020 draft picks.

The Kansas City Chiefs have always valued athleticism in the NFL Draft. There’s been an even larger emphasis there lately, with the speed the Chiefs have acquired on the offensive side of the ball. The 2020 draft class is no exception, bringing a new wave of elite athleticism to Kansas City.

Kent Lee Platte, the creator of Relative Athletic Score (RAS), has the Chiefs landing one of the most athletic classes in the 2020 NFL Draft. RAS is basically a composite grade given to players based on their official athletic testing scores ahead of the draft. The RAS average for the Chiefs’ 2020 draft class sits at 8.2, which is considered above the “elite” range.

Check it out:

Of course, three players the Chiefs drafted didn’t test at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine or Pro Days ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. Those players don’t qualify for the average. It’s still impressive that the Chiefs managed to grab two players with “elite” RAS outside of the top-50 picks in the draft.

The three players that do qualify are RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LB Willie Gay Jr., and CB L’Jarius Sneed.

Edwards-Helaire’s size and 40-yard dash time are what really bring down his scores. He did, however, record an elite explosion grade.

Gay Jr. posted the fourth-best RAS by a linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft, narrowly behind only Isaiah Simmons, Kenneth Murray and Carter Coughlin.

Sneed is an interesting one. He’s in the system as a free safety because that is where he played at Louisiana Tech in 2019. We’ve learned that he’s making the switch back to corner in Kansas City. Plug Sneed’s numbers in as a cornerback and I suspect you have a player with a perfect 10 RAS or slightly under it. His scores are remarkably similar to that of Marshon Lattimore, who landed a perfect 10 RAS in 2017.

This draft class is certainly as athletic as advertised, and I suspect that players like Lucas Niang, Mike Danna and BoPete Keyes wouldn’t have brought the average RAS down that much had they tested. Danna, in particular, is a player with a reputation as being a very good athlete but was snubbed from the combine.

For the players that we have RAS scores for, it’s hard not to be excited about their potential in Kansas City. Top-notch athleticism combined with some of the best coaches that the NFL has to offer is a recipe for success.

Evaluating the Relative Athletic Score for the Lions 2020 draft class

The Detroit Lions 2020 draft class have some elite athletes, but overall they measured as an average athletic class

Now that the 2020 NFL draft has concluded, we all can take a breath and reflect on the draft class. This is the time where we can further analyze each prospect and see what they can bring to the table. One particular method that is used to assess the athletic potential of prospects, and there is no better place to start than Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS) measurements.

The draft class measured out as an overall good athletic class highlighted by first-round selection Jeff Okudah and fifth-round selection Jason Huntley, who measured as great athletes in their corresponding position.

Okudah’s speed didn’t measure well, but he makes up for it in size and explosion, giving him the tools to be an elite shutdown corner.  Where Okudah missed on speed, Huntley has it for days. Even though he is tiny for a running back, his speed and explosion make him a hard target to tackle.

D’Andre Swift, Jonah Jackson, and Logan Stenberg measured out as good athletes in their respective positions. Swift size is in question, but he measured overall as a good athlete with no notable standouts outside of his 40 time.

The sore thumb on Jackson’s record his atrocious shuttle time, but his broad jump helped raise is explosion score, but overall he measures out as a good athlete. Stenberg has excellent size for a guard, and his speed and explosion doesn’t move the needle towards his athleticism, but coupled with his nasty streak could make a fine guard.

The lone draft pick that measured out as a mediocre athlete was wide receiver, Quitez Cephus. Cephus’ size and explosion athletics can help him win contested catch, but his speed is a significant concern. If it wasn’t for improvement with his 40 time at his pro day, he might not have been drafted.

With no pro day or combine numbers to measure, Julian Okwara, John Penisini, and Jashon Cornell did factor into the Lions’ overall athletic score.

The Lions might not have had the most athletic draft class out of the bunch, but they have intelligent players who will fit the scheme and look to make an impact where they are needed.

 

50 most athletic NFL draft prospects coming out of the combine

The Packers, who value height/weight/speed, should know these top athletes coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine.

Under third-year general manager Brian Gutekunst, the Green Bay Packers have prioritized acquiring big, fast and explosive athletes in the NFL draft. Both the 2018 and 2019 draft classes were littered with elite athletes, including first-round picks Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage.

It’s no wonder the Packers often pick players with high “Relative Athletic Scores,” a measure developed and tracked by Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb).

Now that the combine is finished, picking out the best overall athletes – factoring in height and weight into all the tests and drills – becomes easier, especially with the weaponry of RAS at our disposal.

Here’s a look at some of the highlight players with elite RAS (9.0 or above on a 10.0 scale) coming out of the combine:

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
RAS: 9.69

Even at 6-6, Herbert posted great speed and elite explosiveness at the quarterback position. He has a big arm, 10″ hands and terrific all-around athleticism, solidifying his status as a first-rounder.

QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
RAS: 9.62

Hurts did what was expected, producing elite speed and explosiveness numbers at the combine. He ran under 4.6 and finished in the top five among quarterbacks in both the vertical and broad jumps.

QB Jordan Love, Utah State
RAS: 9.11

Love posted poor agility scores, but he kept a top RAS with elite finishes in the speed and explosiveness categories. His vertical leap (35.5″) and projected 10-yard split (1.6 seconds) were particularly impressive.

QB Steven Montez, Colorado
RAS: 9.23

Montez combined great size (6-4, 231) with elite speed (4.68) and a great broad jump (9-9), although his agility was poor.

QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii
RAS: 9.16

He proved both fast (4.54) and explosive (36″ vertical, 10-1 broad), but he’s smaller (215 pounds) and not very agile.

RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
RAS: 9.84

Even at 6-0 and 247 pounds, Dillon produced top marks in the jumps – giving him an elite explosiveness grade – and a rather incredible 40-yard dash time (4.53). He fell short in the three-cone drill but everything else was great for the big back.

RB Darrynton Evans, App. State
RAS: 9.59

Evans had great explosiveness numbers and elite speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at 203 pounds. His 40 time was the second-best among running backs.

RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
RAS: 9.57

Taylor quieted all doubters, running the best time among backs (4.39) and receiving an elite speed grade even at 226 pounds. He was explosive in the jumps and good enough during agility drills.

RB Cam Akers, Florida State
RAS: 9.32

Akers ran 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, produced a great speed score at 5-10 and 217 pounds and had two good jumps.

RB Rico Dowdle, South Carolina
RAS: 9.68

Dowdle has the size (5-11, 213) and speed (4.54), but he’s also an elite jumper (38″ vertical, 10-7 broad), proving his lower-body explosiveness.

WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
RAS: 9.83

Jefferson killed his workout, showing off unexpectedly elite speed (4.43) and great explosiveness (37.5″ vertical, 10-6 broad) at 6-1 and 202 pounds. The burst and straight-line speed likely cemented him as a first-rounder.

WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
RAS: 9.78

One of the standouts of the combine, Mims ran under 4.4 (4.38), had elite explosiveness in the jumps (38.5″ in the vertical, 10-11 in the broad) and produced the top time in the three-cone (6.66 seconds), all at 6-3 and 207 pounds. Only a poor short shuttle time stopped him from having a workout for the ages.

WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
RAS: 10.0

He didn’t participate in agility drills, but everything else Claypool touched turned to gold. He had elite grades in size, speed and explosiveness. The 6-4, 238-pounder ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds and hit 40.5″ in the vertical.

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
RAS: 9.84

He’s one of the greatest jumpers ever at the combine, touching 44.5″ in the vertical and 11-7 in the broad. He even ran under 4.5 (4.48). Impressive stuff from the 212-pounder.

WR Henry Ruggs, Alabama
RAS: 9.65

Ruggs is hurt by being smaller, but his workout was still incredible. He ran 4.27 and hit 42″ in the vertical and 10-11 in the broad. His 10-yard split was projected under 1.5 seconds.

WR Michael Pittman, USC
RAS: 9.22

Pittman has elite size (6-4, 223) and good explosiveness, speed and agility. He ran 4.52 in the 40 and finished the three-cone in under seven seconds (6.96).

WR Tyrie Cleveland, Florida
RAS: 9.52

Cleveland ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and hit 39.5″ in the vertical and 10-6 in the broad at 6-2 and 209 pounds.

WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis
RAS: 9.45

The 228-pounder finished the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, and RAS loves big guys who ran fast. His explosiveness testing numbers were underwhelming.

WR Joe Reed, Virginia
RAS: 9.64

The 224-pound receiver ran 4.47, put up 21 reps on the bench and his 38″ in the vertical.

TE Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech
RAS: 9.32

Keene (6-4, 251) graded out in the great range in speed, explosiveness and agility at the tight end position. He broad-jumped 10-5 at 251 pounds.

TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
RAS: 9.22

A really poor three-cone finish (7.44 seconds) was offset by two elite jumps (37″ in the vertical, 10-3 in the broad) and a strong 40-yard dash (4.7). He’s 6-5 and 262.

OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
RAS: 9.73

One of the big winners of the combine. Wirfs (6-4, 320) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds and had arguably the most impressive pair of jumps from an offensive lineman in combine history (36.5″ in the vertical, 10-1 in the broad).

OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville
RAS: 9.76

The 6-7, 364-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 5.11 seconds. That’s flying for a man that size.

OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
RAS: 9.93

Cleveland posted elite speed and agility numbers and finished in the great range in terms of explosiveness, all at 6-6 and 311 pounds. His speed (4.93) and agility (7.26 in the three-cone) were particularly impressive.

OT Austin Jackson, USC
RAS: 9.37

The 322-pounder did 27 reps in the bench press, finished the 40 in 5.07 seconds and broad-jumped 9-7.

OL Danny Pinter, Ball State
RAS: 9.64

Pinter ran under 5.0 (4.91) at 6-4 and 302 pounds, while compiling good numbers in the vertical and broad jumps and short shuttle.

OT Terence Steele, Texas Tech
RAS: 9.37

The 6-5, 312-pounder did 27 reps in the bench press and finished the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds.

DL Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
RAS: 9.4

He’s lighter (275), but Strowbridge still produced elite marks in the 40 (4.89) and finished in the great range in both explosiveness drills and both agility drills, making him one of the most athletic defensive linemen in the class.

DL Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
RAS: 9.17

He’s undersized at 6-2 and 295 pounds, but his speed (4.83), strength (31 reps) and agility (7.37 in the three-cone) will open eyes.

DL Carlos Davis, Nebraska
RAS: 9.61

The 313-pounder ran the 40 in 4.82 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.52 seconds, both great numbers at his size.

DL Khalil Davis, Nebraska
RAS: 9.56

He’s short (6-1), but he’s strong (32 reps in the bench) and fast (4.76) for a man weighing 308 pounds.

LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
RAS: 10.0

He’s an alien. That’s all.

LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
RAS: 9.94

He didn’t run agility tests after pulling up on his final 40 attempt, but Murray still had elite scores in both the speed and explosiveness departments. He ran 4.52 in the 40 and hit 38″ in the vertical and 10-9 in the broad.

LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State
RAS: 9.56

The former Buckeye had great size (6-2, 245), great explosiveness (36″ vertical, 10-2 broad), an elite three-cone time (6.83) and good speed (4.66).

LB Carter Coughlin, Minnesota
RAS: 9.87

Can Coughlin play off-ball linebacker? He’s big (6-3, 236), fast (4.57) and explosive (36″ vertical, 10-6 broad).

LB Willie Gay, Mississippi State
RAS: 9.7

What a workout. The 243-pounder produced elite speed (4.46), elite explosiveness (39.5″ vertical, 11-4 broad) and good agility (7.08 three-cone).

EDGE Casey Toohill, Stanford
RAS: 9.41

He’s big (6-4, 250) and explosive (39″ vertical, 10-6 broad), with good enough speed (4.68) and agility (7.08 three-cone).

EDGE Jabari Zuniga, Florida
RAS: 9.74

The 6-3, 264-pounder ran 4.64 in the 40, had an elite broad jump (10-7) and put up 29 reps on the bench.

LB/S Tanner Muse, Clemson
RAS: 9.97

Even at 6-2 and 227 pounds, Muse ran the 40 in 4.41 seconds, benched 225 pounds 20 times and hit 10-4 in the broad. He’ll be considered a linebacker by some teams.

CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
RAS: 9.56

The likely top-five pick killed the combine. He has elite size (6-1, 205) with explosiveness (41″ vertical, 11-3 broad). Oh, and he ran 4.48.

CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
RAS: 10.0

Elite size (6-0, 204), elite speed (4.39), great explosiveness (37.5″ vertical, 10-7 broad) and great strength (20 reps). Freaky good.

CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa
RAS: 9.74

At 6-0 and 205 pounds, Robinson ran the 40 in 4.44 seconds, hit 11-0 in the broad jump and benched 225 pounds 20 times, although his three-cone (7.09) was disappointing.

CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
RAS: 9.69

He has the length (6-1) and elite speed (4.42), and his broad jump (10-9) was one of the best.

CB Michael Ojemudia, Iowa
RAS: 9.5

The former Hawkeye combined great size (6-0, 200) with great speed (4.45). He was considered good in both agility and explosiveness testing.

S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
RAS: 9.99

That sound is Chinn’s draft stock rising. He put together a combination of elite size (6-3, 221), elite explosiveness (41″ vertical, 11-6 broad) and great speed (4.45).

S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
RAS: 9.87

One of the best jumpers in Indy (42″ vertical, 11-0 broad) had elite explosiveness and great speed (4.49) while standing almost 6-1 and weighing 217 pounds.

S Daniel Thomas, Auburn
RAS: 9.44

The 215-pounder put up 24 reps on the bench, ran 4.51 in the 40 and hit 10-5 in the broad jump.

S K’Von Wallace, Clemson
RAS: 9.41

He produced elite explosiveness (38″ vertical, 11-1 broad) and great agility, finishing the three-cone in 6.76 seconds at 5-11 and 206 pounds.

S J’Larius Sneed, Lousiana Tech
RAS: 9.55

He received a poor size score (6-0, 192) but also ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds and jumped out of the stadium (41″ vertical, 10-11 broad).