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[beachcomber]

They are correlative. Not definitive. Metrics matter, c'mon, bro.

If you ask google AI what RAS is...it's answer:

"RAS is a popular NFL scouting tool developed by Kent Lee Platte that grades a prospect's combine/pro-day performance from 0.00 to 10.00, comparing them to historical data at their position based on size, speed, explosion, and agility."

If you want to say film is 3-4 times more important than measurables...sure I'd probably agree. Let's get real, though. If two highly productive WRs come in...one guy runs a disappointing 4.6 forty and the other hits a 4.39...do you think that doesn't matter with NFL evaluators?

measurables is much broader than a player's RAS score, and again.... different measurables/variables correspond and vary by position.

[Boltjolt]

Again RAS scores are taken from the combine numbers, minus everything else that happens there.

And no, the guy that runs a 4.6 isn't necessary losing out to the 4.39 guy.

The good scouts know a 40 time isn't the most important thing to being a WR, CB, or RB ... In or any skill position.
It's not the only thing that makes a great reciever. The receiver with the most receptions in a season in history had a RAS score of 5 and ran a 4.62. but he is great at setting up receivers and is a good route runner. That won't show on a RAS score.

Yes, tape is king. It isn't 3-4 times better. It is 95% better. Some guys think RAS scores matter but like everything else. I have also shown it isn't true for many players. It's pretty meaningless when you have everything at your disposal to watch and see from the combine and their game tape.

I take bits from their times scores and the important one from their position to ,e maters more. They discounted Denzel's score for instance for his weight which was 236. That isn't something that is real negative.
He is like only 5 lbs heavier now and they discounted his height.
Sam Mills is a HOF LB who was 5'9" and no he isn't from the 70s. He was just disregarded until he got on the field and they saw he was a football player.

So like everyone else about every aspect of football measurables...some love RAS scores, some don't. Imma don't.

I never look at them as a generated RAS score. I watch tape, games, and look at their timed results depending on their position without how much they bench or or how tall they are. Bench you say matters and it does to a degree but 20 reps vs 35 reps doesn't make the 35 rep guy is better and for us we have Ben Herbert.

For WRs and RBs i do not prefer the smaller, lighter guys because of injury concerns but like everything.....it doesn't hold true for everyone. But most it does lol.


Sproles RAS score was 7.28.....dude was amazing.
Achane 5.73 has been electric
Keenan 7.23 fastest WR to 600,700 , 800, 900 receptions and 585 yards from a Charger career record.
Tee Higgins 4.23
Josh Jacobs 5.66
Stepan Diggs 5.66
Honey Badger 4.32
Let my show a reverse of these....Chase Claypool had a RAS score of 9.98...dude busted.

I could go on and on and on...........on top of the scores I've already posted. RAS is no better a tool than what we have had for years. It's just combine numbers formulated by some guy to make us think it matters,..... that he took from the combine that's been around for decades that we all watch and and can watch the tapes of them again.

You are shocked I'm not on board with it like I am how others thinking it's some amazing thing lol
That guy you posted with some RAS scores......WTF is he? A writer for Lockedoncowboys and fansided which are just fan sites. You can go there and write if you want.

[Chargers8491]

RAS is another tool to help evaluate a player. It should match what the evaluator sees on the field and if it doesn't then the evaluators to find out why. There are plenty of players that have had high RAS scores and have flamed out and there are others who have lower scores and went on to become pro-bowlers. It's not the end all be all. It just another evaluation tool.

[Critty]

A few players who's 40 times was less than desirable.
Terrell Davis 4.7
Jerry Rice 4.7
Terrell Suggs 4.8

Another player who's combine performance was lackluster.
Tom Brady.

A player who won the underwear Olympics but sucked at football. Tony Mandarich’s 1989 pre-draft workouts produced legendary, historic numbers for an offensive lineman, featuring a 4.65–4.69 second 40-yard dash, 39 reps of 225 lbs on the bench press, a 30-inch vertical jump, and a 10’3” broad jump at roughly 308–330 lbs. These results solidified him as a top prospect, with height listed at 6'6.

Playing football and winning the underwear Olympics are two very different things. Now if they can do both you may have a very nice talented prospect to draft.

[Topcat]

Why would the league even have its combine? Why the pro days? Why measure anything if athletic metrics are irrelevant.

Sorry, but that makes no sense at all.

I asked ChatGPT, framing my question like this:
"I heard someone today say that RAS and measured sports metrics don't matter when evaluating NFL players...should be disregarded. I disagree, but want an unprejudiced opinion."

The reply:

Your instinct is closer to the consensus among serious evaluators.

Evidence: athleticism absolutely correlates with NFL success

Across many studies (including by teams internally):

High-RAS players hit at higher rates.

Teams know this — which is why players with elite athletic traits routinely rise during the combine process.

Athletic testing alone produces tons of false positives.

RAS absolutely means a lot. It is, not however, definitive.

^ This...RAS is one of several tools used to evaluate players...not the ONLY tool, but one of many, along with, as u point out, the combine, pro days, etc. I think game film, stats and level of play are the prime tools to be used...but RAS, combine and pro day can many times benefit a Sammy Small Schooler to raise his stock for when draft day comes...think of someone like Quinn Meinerz...played in the ultimate Sammy Small School: Wisconsin-Whitewater, a Division III college. But at the combine, his performance got the attention of a lot of scouts that may have overlooked him...and now, he's a two-time All-Pro...does it happen a lot? No, but smart scouts use ALL the tools to make an informed recommendation on a player...

[YAC]

Little puzzle for you Critty, BoltJolt & BeachComber,

Georgia's Monroe Freeling was viewed as a mid-to-late round prospect a month ago. His tape was usually-good-never-great. Then the combine happened. He posted a monster RAS score--amongst the best ever for his position.

He is now projected in the first round, 13th overall on the consensus big board. Daniel Jeremiah projects him at pick 25 overall.

If his composite athletic measurements (RAS) didn't cause him to sky-rocket up the draft boards...what did?

Help a brother out. What did?

[Critty]

Little puzzle for you Critty, BoltJolt & BeachComber,

Georgia's Monroe Freeling was viewed as a mid-to-late round prospect a month ago. His tape was usually-good-never-great. Then the combine happened. He posted a monster RAS score--amongst the best ever for his position.

He is now projected in the first round, 13th overall on the consensus big board. Daniel Jeremiah projects him at pick 25 overall.

If his composite athletic measurements (RAS) didn't cause him to sky-rocket up the draft boards...what did?

Help a brother out. What did?

You are correct.
The measurements will move prospects up the draft board. This happens every year.
Why do you think Mandrich went #2 overall? Was it pure gametape or did his combine matter?

[electricgold]

Little puzzle for you Critty, BoltJolt & BeachComber,

Georgia's Monroe Freeling was viewed as a mid-to-late round prospect a month ago. His tape was usually-good-never-great. Then the combine happened. He posted a monster RAS score--amongst the best ever for his position.

He is now projected in the first round, 13th overall on the consensus big board. Daniel Jeremiah projects him at pick 25 overall.

If his composite athletic measurements (RAS) didn't cause him to sky-rocket up the draft boards...what did?

Help a brother out. What did?

The fact that Freeling did well coupled with most importantly He's 6'7 315 physically perfect to play OT, and pretty close to what Joe Alt is physically! His size height and weight is what everyone sees first! What he posted at the combine showed that he has the physical abilities with his prototypical OT size!

[YAC]

A few players who's 40 times was less than desirable.
Terrell Davis 4.7
Jerry Rice 4.7
Terrell Suggs 4.8

I question the accuracy of old combine numbers, but that aside...

The draft is dark voodoo. Every GM is going to make stunning whiffs, then hit on some complete surprises. That's why you need every tool available.

I suggest as a general rule, something approximate like this:
75% tape/eval/college production
25% athletic measurables (measured by RAS or other composite grading metrics)

Rice was going off for 4700 yards and 50 TDs in college. His tape was electric. His measurables would have pushed him down a tick, but he's still a very high pick.

[Critty]

If you liked a player pre combine,.you should still like that player regardless of combine. If you didn't like them, you should still not.
However if you like two or three players about the same and one had the much better combined you should rank that player above the others.

[Critty]

I question the accuracy of old combine numbers, but that aside...

The draft is dark voodoo. Every GM is going to make stunning whiffs, then hit on some complete surprises. That's why you need every tool available.

I suggest as a general rule, something approximate like this:
75% tape/eval/college production
25% athletic measurables (measured by RAS or other composite grading metrics)

Rice was going off for 4700 yards and 50 TDs in college. His tape was electric. His measurables would have pushed him down a notch, but he's still a high pick.

I question the accuracy of your takes.
Voodoo.

[YAC]

You are correct.
The measurements will move prospects up the draft board. This happens every year.
Why do you think Mandrich went #2 overall? Was it pure gametape or did his combine matter?

I very much suspect Tony Mandarich was taking 3x the steroids those lady East German swimmers were doing in the 70's/80's Olympics, LOL. Quick story: I was a grad student living in Dallas the year he was drafted. My roommate wanted the Cowboys to pick him over Troy Aikman w/ Pick #1. Dude, I said: you are out of your frikkin' mind. As I increasingly came to find out: that roommate was out of his mind in numerous ways. The dude blew out the woofers on my high fidelity speakers, amongst other mischief. Alas.

So you justifiably and cordially concede: "The measurements will move prospects up the draft board. This happens every year."

While I have you under congressional scrutiny, Sir Critty , with your oath sworn ...my follow-up question:
Are the league's decision-makers fools for letting measurements (RAS) wildly slide a player up or down the draft board?

The witness is obliged to answer the question :
Are the league's decision-makers fools for letting measurements (RAS) wildly slide a player up or down the draft board?