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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 · 2020 draft

Each spoke: percentile within the prospect's own position (WR)
VJ
Van Jefferson
WR · Florida
23.7 yo · 6'1" · 200 lb
JP
James Proche
WR · SMU
23.6 yo · 5'11" · 201 lb
JH
John Hightower
WR · Boise St.
23.9 yo · — · —

Headline metrics

The four numbers a GM checks first.

Van Jefferson
Predicted pick
#131
range #85–#177
Bust probability
0%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
#122
on 23 boards
Career arc
Contributor
tier · Day 3
2nd-deal AAV
$4Mmodel
James Proche
Predicted pick
#224
range #205–#243
Bust probability
0%
0%0/5 comps
Consensus rank
—
no boards yet
Career arc
Bust
tier · Day 3
2nd-deal AAV
$3Mmodel
John Hightower
Predicted pick
#138
range #115–#161
Bust probability
57%
0%0/3 comps
Consensus rank
#128
on 4 boards
Career arc
arrives after the combineThe forecast needs his measurables first.
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
  • Van Jefferson· RB / WR / TE
  • James Proche· RB / WR / TE
  • John Hightower· RB / WR / TE
Axis leaders
  • ProductionJames Proche70
  • AthleticismVan Jefferson37
  • AgeJames Proche8
  • ConsensusJohn Hightower20
  • Per-play impact (PPA)Van Jefferson50
  • Breakout ageVan Jefferson50
  • WorkloadVan Jefferson100
  • RAS × productionVan Jefferson0

Comp overlap

Top five historical comps per prospect. Shared comps highlighted.

Shared comps
  • Jakeem GrantWR · Contributor→ shared byJames ProcheJohn Hightower
Van Jefferson
  • Charone Peake
    WR · #241
    Contributor
  • ArDarius Stewart
    WR · #79
    Bust
  • Amara Darboh
    WR · #106
    Bust
  • Marcell Ateman
    WR · #228
    Contributor
  • Javon Wims
    WR · #224
    Contributor
James Proche
  • Jakeem Grantshared
    WR · #186
    Contributor
  • Jaleel Scott
    WR · #132
    Bust
  • Justin Hardy
    WR · #107
    Starter
  • Trent Taylor
    WR · #177
    Bust
  • Jordan Lasley
    WR · #162
    Bust
John Hightower
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling
    WR · #174
    Starter
  • Da'Ron Brown
    WR · #233
    TBD
  • Vince Mayle
    WR · #123
    Contributor
  • Dylan Cantrell
    WR · #191
    TBD
  • Jakeem Grantshared
    WR · #186
    Contributor

Risk and opportunity flags

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

Van Jefferson
Risks
  • Older prospect
    Age 23.7 at draft. Slightly older than the cohort median (~22.5); upside ceiling is trimmed.
  • Comp group bust rate
    2 of 2 closest comps with NFL outcomes washed out: ArDarius Stewart, Amara Darboh. The neighborhood in feature space is dangerous.
Opportunities
  • Consensus says higher
    24 boards have him at mean rank #87; model has him #131 — a 44-spot fade. Analysts converging this much above the model is a tell that the model is undervaluing him.
James Proche
Risks
  • Older prospect
    Age 23.6 at draft. Slightly older than the cohort median (~22.5); upside ceiling is trimmed.
  • Athletic profile below NFL threshold
    RAS 2.63 (26th percentile vs WR prospects in a 435-yr Combine population). Below the 30th-percentile bar that most NFL starters clear.
  • Comp group bust rate
    3 of 4 closest comps with NFL outcomes washed out: Jaleel Scott, Trent Taylor, Jordan Lasley. The neighborhood in feature space is dangerous.
Opportunities
  • Consensus says higher
    1 board have him at mean rank #164; model has him #224 — a 60-spot fade. Analysts converging this much above the model is a tell that the model is undervaluing him.
John Hightower
Risks
  • Older prospect
    Age 23.9 at draft. Slightly older than the cohort median (~22.5); upside ceiling is trimmed.
Opportunities
No standout upside flags.

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%Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5Y6Snap share
Van JeffersonJames ProcheJohn Hightower· solid = actuals, dashed = forecast

Verdict

The model's plain-English read.

Van Jefferson

Draftanomics projects Van Jefferson (age 23.7 at draft) as a mid-round flyer at #131 (range #85-#177, very wide band — too little on him yet to project tightly). Bust probability sits at 0% — low. The comp set is dangerous: 2 of 2 closest comps with known NFL outcomes washed out as backups or busts. Closest comps: Charone Peake (Contributor), ArDarius Stewart (Bust), Amara Darboh (Bust). Ceiling is Javon Wims (Contributor); floor is Charone Peake (Contributor). 2 of 2 closest comps with NFL outcomes washed out: ArDarius Stewart, Amara Darboh. The neighborhood in feature space is dangerous. The call is a genuine fade: the room's consensus prices him around #87 and the model won't take him before #131 — a 44-spot markdown. The discount is earned — older prospect leads the case against.

James Proche

Draftanomics projects James Proche (age 23.6 at draft) as a Day 3 dart throw at #224 (range #205-#243, wide band). Bust probability sits at 0% — low. The comp set is dangerous: 3 of 4 closest comps with known NFL outcomes washed out as backups or busts. Closest comps: Jakeem Grant (Contributor), Jaleel Scott (Bust), Justin Hardy (Starter). Ceiling is Justin Hardy (Starter); floor is Jakeem Grant (Contributor). RAS 2.63 (26th percentile vs WR prospects in a 435-yr Combine population). Below the 30th-percentile bar that most NFL starters clear. The call is a genuine fade: the room's consensus prices him around #164 and the model won't take him before #224 — a 60-spot markdown. The discount is earned — older prospect leads the case against.

John Hightower

Draftanomics projects John Hightower (age 23.9 at draft) as a mid-round flyer at #138 (range #115-#161, wide band). Bust probability sits at 57% — elevated. The comp set leans young — most of his closest comps haven't played enough NFL snaps yet to be confidently graded. Closest comps: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Starter), Da'Ron Brown, Vince Mayle (Contributor). Ceiling is Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Starter); floor is Da'Ron Brown. Age 23.9 at draft. Slightly older than the cohort median (~22.5); upside ceiling is trimmed. The call is a lean fade: the model sits 22 spots below the room's consensus #116 — don't pay sticker price. The discount is earned — older prospect leads the case against.