As the NFL Draft approaches, dedicated fans often find themselves immersed in mock drafts, striving to predict which players their preferred teams might select. However, these forecasts tend to become outdated rapidly as the real draft unfolds and predictions often fall short when unexpected choices are made before their team’s turn.
The NFL’s NextGen Stats team recognized this issue and devised a more dynamic solution: a new draft site that merges the clarity found in traditional draft preview magazines with the flexibility needed to update in real-time as the draft takes place. “The draft magazine provided information in a very concise format,” explained Mike Band, the senior manager of research and analytics at NFL NextGen Stats. “As mobile experiences have advanced, we’ve lost some of that streamlined, dashboard-like feel. Our aim with this project is to recreate a digital magazine that updates in real-time, offering a dynamic and enjoyable experience for draft enthusiasts.”
Earlier this month, the NFL Draft IQ site was launched, aiming to serve as a second screen for fans during the draft, which kicks off Thursday night. The platform offers an array of team-specific information including picks for the upcoming two drafts, offseason moves, draft targets for each day, a mock draft tracker, and the draft tendencies of each general manager.
Conceived and created within a three-week window, Draft IQ was developed with input from Amazon QuickSight. This new platform builds on the team’s prior success with Combine IQ, which provided analytical insights and comparisons for data gathered during the annual scouting combine. Mike Band has spent the past six years predicting potential first-round targets for various teams and boasts a success rate where approximately 75% of teams have chosen one of the targets he suggested.
His analysis draws from team needs, previous draft decisions, mock drafts, pre-draft meetings, and additional insights. This comprehensive analysis feeds into Draft IQ’s predictions, adjusting throughout the draft as player availability and team needs evolve. “Matching teams with players based on pre-draft interests and strategic needs is an intriguing challenge,” Band noted. “Many teams use smoke screens, so understanding the nuances is critical.”
Each team page on the site includes trends of general managers, highlighting patterns such as the frequency of trades, targeted positions in critical rounds, and player attributes like size and age. For instance, Houston GM Nick Caserio has drafted almost exclusively from power conferences with 31 out of 32 picks reflecting that choice. Similarly, every Bengals pick in the first two rounds since 2014 has come from power conference schools. Additionally, Philadelphia’s Howie Roseman often prioritizes the trenches in the first round, while the picks under Detroit’s Brad Holmes reflect high athletic scores since his tenure began in 2021.
“If you want a basic rundown of recent picks, the NFL draft tracker is available,” Band explained. “But if your goal is to delve deeper into each selection as it occurs and get ahead of the game at a draft party without insider tips from experts like Ian Rapoport, Draft IQ is your go-to resource.”