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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 (EDGE)
AK
Arden Key
EDGE · LSU
22.0 yo · 6'6" · 238 lb
AB
Andrew Brown
EDGE · Virginia
22.3 yo · 6'4" · 296 lb
CT
Chad Thomas
EDGE · Miami (FL)
22.5 yo · 6'6" · 281 lb

Headline metrics

The four numbers a GM checks first.

Arden Key
Predicted pick
#70
range #56–#84
Bust probability
0%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
#53
on 18 boards
Career arc
Starter
tier · Day 2
2nd-deal AAV
$9Mmodel
Andrew Brown
Predicted pick
#235
range #186–#284
Bust probability
65%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
#88
on 5 boards
Career arc
Starter
tier · Day 3
2nd-deal AAV
$3Mmodel
Chad Thomas
Predicted pick
#224
range #175–#273
Bust probability
55%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
#127
on 3 boards
Career arc
Starter
tier · Day 3
2nd-deal AAV
$6Mmodel

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
  • Arden Key· EDGE / DL / LB
  • Andrew Brown· EDGE / DL / LB
  • Chad Thomas· EDGE / DL / LB
Axis leaders
  • ProductionArden Key53
  • AthleticismArden Key48
  • AgeArden Key78
  • ConsensusArden Key20
  • Per-play impact (PPA)Arden Key50
  • Breakout ageArden Key50
  • WorkloadArden Key100
  • RAS × productionArden Key0

Comp overlap

Top five historical comps per prospect. Shared comps highlighted.

Shared comps
  • Noah SpenceEDGE · Starter→ shared byAndrew BrownChad Thomas
  • DeForest BucknerEDGE · Starter→ shared byAndrew BrownChad Thomas
  • Anthony ChickilloEDGE · Contributor→ shared byAndrew BrownChad Thomas
  • Jihad WardEDGE · Starter→ shared byAndrew BrownChad Thomas
  • Za'Darius SmithEDGE · Franchise→ shared byAndrew BrownChad Thomas
Arden Key
  • Kamalei Correa
    EDGE · #42
    Contributor
  • Carl Nassib
    EDGE · #65
    Starter
  • Shaq Lawson
    EDGE · #19
    Starter
  • Emmanuel Ogbah
    EDGE · #32
    Starter
  • Joey Bosa
    EDGE · #3
    Starter
Andrew Brown
  • Noah Spenceshared
    EDGE · #39
    Starter
  • DeForest Bucknershared
    EDGE · #7
    Starter
  • Anthony Chickilloshared
    EDGE · #212
    Contributor
  • Jihad Wardshared
    EDGE · #44
    Starter
  • Za'Darius Smithshared
    EDGE · #122
    Franchise
Chad Thomas
  • Noah Spenceshared
    EDGE · #39
    Starter
  • DeForest Bucknershared
    EDGE · #7
    Starter
  • Anthony Chickilloshared
    EDGE · #212
    Contributor
  • Jihad Wardshared
    EDGE · #44
    Starter
  • Za'Darius Smithshared
    EDGE · #122
    Franchise

Risk and opportunity flags

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

Arden Key
Risks
No major risks flagged.
Opportunities
  • Strong comp group
    4 of 4 closest comps with NFL outcomes became Starters or Franchise players: Carl Nassib, Shaq Lawson, Emmanuel Ogbah (+1 more). The historical neighborhood overwhelmingly produced NFL contributors.
Andrew Brown
Risks
  • Missed entire rookie season
    Drafted #158 by CIN in 2018 but recorded ZERO regular-season NFL snaps. Year-1 absence is one of the strongest single-signal bust predictors we have.
Opportunities
  • Consensus says higher
    6 boards have him at mean rank #81; model has him #235 — a 154-spot fade. Analysts converging this much above the model is a tell that the model is undervaluing him.
  • Strong comp group
    4 of 4 closest comps with NFL outcomes became Starters or Franchise players: Noah Spence, DeForest Buckner, Jihad Ward (+1 more). The historical neighborhood overwhelmingly produced NFL contributors.
Chad Thomas
Risks
No major risks flagged.
Opportunities
  • Consensus says higher
    4 boards have him at mean rank #104; model has him #224 — a 120-spot fade. Analysts converging this much above the model is a tell that the model is undervaluing him.
  • Strong comp group
    4 of 4 closest comps with NFL outcomes became Starters or Franchise players: Noah Spence, DeForest Buckner, Jihad Ward (+1 more). The historical neighborhood overwhelmingly produced NFL contributors.

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%Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5Y6Y7Y8Snap share
Arden KeyAndrew BrownChad Thomas· solid = actuals, dashed = forecast

Verdict

The model's plain-English read.

Arden Key

Draftanomics projects Arden Key (age 22.0 at draft) as a third-round / early Day 3 pick at #70 (range #56-#84, wide band). Bust probability sits at 0% — low. The comp set is strong: 4 of 4 closest comps with known NFL outcomes became starters or better. Closest comps: Kamalei Correa (Contributor), Carl Nassib (Starter), Shaq Lawson (Starter). Ceiling is Joey Bosa (Starter); floor is Kamalei Correa (Contributor). The call is a hold at slot: the model's #70 sits within 10 spots of the room's #60 — no market edge to chase, so take him where he sits, and let the 0% bust probability break ties on draft day.

Andrew Brown

Draftanomics projects Andrew Brown (age 22.3 at draft) as a Day 3 dart throw at #235 (range #186-#284, very wide band — too little on him yet to project tightly). Bust probability sits at 65% — scary. The comp set is strong: 4 of 4 closest comps with known NFL outcomes became starters or better. Closest comps: Noah Spence (Starter), DeForest Buckner (Starter), Anthony Chickillo (Contributor). Ceiling is Za'Darius Smith (Franchise); floor is Anthony Chickillo (Contributor). Drafted #158 by CIN in 2018 but recorded ZERO regular-season NFL snaps. Year-1 absence is one of the strongest single-signal bust predictors we have. The call is a genuine fade: the room's consensus prices him around #81 and the model won't take him before #235 — a 154-spot markdown. The discount is earned — missed entire rookie season leads the case against.

Chad Thomas

Draftanomics projects Chad Thomas (age 22.5 at draft) as a Day 3 dart throw at #224 (range #175-#273, very wide band — too little on him yet to project tightly). Bust probability sits at 55% — elevated. The comp set is strong: 4 of 4 closest comps with known NFL outcomes became starters or better. Closest comps: Noah Spence (Starter), DeForest Buckner (Starter), Anthony Chickillo (Contributor). Ceiling is Za'Darius Smith (Franchise); floor is Anthony Chickillo (Contributor). The call is a genuine fade: the room's consensus prices him around #104 and the model won't take him before #224 — a 120-spot markdown. A 55% bust probability backs the 120-spot markdown.