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Honest NFL Draft analytics. The model's receipts against actual NFL teams live on the track record.

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Data + sources
RAS by Kent Lee Platte·Consensus Big Board (Arif Hasan)·nflverse·PFR·CFBD·All sources & credits·Methodology
Career-value model, live
Privacy·Terms·Press ⌘K to search·Draftanomics2026
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Side-by-side comparison

Backtest

3 prospects · 2018 draft

Each spoke: percentile within the prospect's own position (RB)
JK
John Kelly
RB · Tennessee
21.6 yo · 5'10" · 216 lb
MW
Mark Walton
RB · Miami (FL)
21.1 yo · 5'10" · 202 lb
KB
Kalen Ballage
RB · Arizona St.
22.3 yo · — · —

Headline metrics

The four numbers a GM checks first.

John Kelly
Predicted pick
#105
range #88–#122
Bust probability
63%
0%0/4 comps
Consensus rank
#90
on 6 boards
Career arc
Starter
tier · Day 2
2nd-deal AAV
$1Mmodel
Mark Walton
Predicted pick
#155
range #148–#162
Bust probability
57%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
#99
on 5 boards
Career arc
Starter
tier · Day 3
2nd-deal AAV
$3Mmodel
Kalen Ballage
Predicted pick
#68
range #43–#93
Bust probability
0%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
#130
on 7 boards
Career arc
Bust
tier · Day 2
2nd-deal AAV
$2Mmodel

Feature radar

Each axis is the prospect's percentile among prospects at his position (0–100). Bigger shape = stronger across the board.

ProductionAthleticismAgeConsensusPer-play impact (PPA)Breakout ageWorkloadRAS × production
Prospects
  • John Kelly· RB / WR / TE
  • Mark Walton· RB / WR / TE
  • Kalen Ballage· RB / WR / TE
Axis leaders
  • ProductionJohn Kelly47
  • AthleticismJohn Kelly47
  • AgeJohn Kelly81
  • ConsensusJohn Kelly25
  • Per-play impact (PPA)John Kelly50
  • Breakout ageJohn Kelly50
  • WorkloadJohn Kelly100
  • RAS × productionJohn Kelly0

Comp overlap

Top five historical comps per prospect. Shared comps highlighted.

Shared comps
  • Jordan HowardRB · Starter→ shared byJohn KellyMark WaltonKalen Ballage
  • David CobbRB · Bust→ shared byJohn KellyMark WaltonKalen Ballage
  • Wendell SmallwoodRB · Starter→ shared byJohn KellyMark WaltonKalen Ballage
  • Paul PerkinsRB · Starter→ shared byJohn KellyMark Walton
John Kelly
  • Jordan Howardshared
    RB · #150
    Starter
  • Kelvin Taylor
    RB · #211
    TBD
  • David Cobbshared
    RB · #138
    Bust
  • Paul Perkinsshared
    RB · #149
    Starter
  • Wendell Smallwoodshared
    RB · #153
    Starter
Mark Walton
  • Jordan Howardshared
    RB · #150
    Starter
  • Paul Perkinsshared
    RB · #149
    Starter
  • David Cobbshared
    RB · #138
    Bust
  • Alex Collins
    RB · #171
    Starter
  • Wendell Smallwoodshared
    RB · #153
    Starter
Kalen Ballage
  • David Cobbshared
    RB · #138
    Bust
  • Jordan Howardshared
    RB · #150
    Starter
  • David Johnson
    RB · #86
    Franchise
  • Josh Robinson
    RB · #205
    Bust
  • Wendell Smallwoodshared
    RB · #153
    Starter

Risk and opportunity flags

Top three concerns and top two upside signals from the model.

John Kelly
Risks
No major risks flagged.
Opportunities
  • Strong comp group
    3 of 4 closest comps with NFL outcomes became Starters or Franchise players: Jordan Howard, Paul Perkins, Wendell Smallwood. The historical neighborhood overwhelmingly produced NFL contributors.
Mark Walton
Risks
No major risks flagged.
Opportunities
  • Consensus says higher
    6 boards have him at mean rank #79; model has him #155 — a 76-spot fade. Analysts converging this much above the model is a tell that the model is undervaluing him.
  • Strong comp group
    4 of 5 closest comps with NFL outcomes became Starters or Franchise players: Jordan Howard, Paul Perkins, Alex Collins (+1 more). The historical neighborhood overwhelmingly produced NFL contributors.
Kalen Ballage
Risks
  • No athletic testing
    No Combine drills or Pro Day numbers on file while most of the class has tested — the athletic part of the grade is unmeasured.
  • Comp group has bust risk
    2 of 5 closest comps with NFL outcomes ended up backups or busts: David Cobb, Josh Robinson. Mixed signal from history.
Opportunities
  • Promising comp group
    3 of 5 closest comps with NFL outcomes hit Starter-or-better: Jordan Howard, David Johnson, Wendell Smallwood.

Career trajectory forecast

Projected share of his team's snaps across the first four NFL seasons. Solid = seasons already played, dashed = the forecast.

0%25%50%75%100%Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5Y6Y7Snap share
John KellyMark WaltonKalen Ballage· solid = actuals, dashed = forecast

Verdict

The model's plain-English read.

John Kelly

Draftanomics projects John Kelly (age 21.6 at draft) as a third-round / early Day 3 pick at #105 (range #88-#122, wide band). Bust probability sits at 63% — scary. The comp set is strong: 3 of 4 closest comps with known NFL outcomes became starters or better. Closest comps: Jordan Howard (Starter), Kelvin Taylor, David Cobb (Bust). Ceiling is Paul Perkins (Starter); floor is Kelvin Taylor. The call is a lean fade: the model sits 20 spots below the room's consensus #85 — don't pay sticker price. A 63% bust probability backs the 20-spot markdown.

Mark Walton

Draftanomics projects Mark Walton (age 21.1 at draft) as a mid-round flyer at #155 (range #148-#162, moderate band). Bust probability sits at 57% — elevated. The comp set is strong: 4 of 5 closest comps with known NFL outcomes became starters or better. Closest comps: Jordan Howard (Starter), Paul Perkins (Starter), David Cobb (Bust). Ceiling is Paul Perkins (Starter); floor is Alex Collins (Starter). The call is a genuine fade: the room's consensus prices him around #79 and the model won't take him before #155 — a 76-spot markdown. A 57% bust probability backs the 76-spot markdown.

Kalen Ballage

Draftanomics projects Kalen Ballage (age 22.3 at draft) as a third-round / early Day 3 pick at #68 (range #43-#93, wide band). Bust probability sits at 0% — low. The comp set is strong: 3 of 5 closest comps with known NFL outcomes became starters or better. Closest comps: David Cobb (Bust), Jordan Howard (Starter), David Johnson (Franchise). Ceiling is David Johnson (Franchise); floor is Wendell Smallwood (Starter). No Combine drills or Pro Day numbers on file while most of the class has tested — the athletic part of the grade is unmeasured. The call is a value lean: #68 against a consensus #92 is a 24-spot edge — enough to move him up the queue, not enough to reach a round early, with comp group has bust risk the tax on that edge.