NFL Draft by Position

Continuing my series on the NFL draft using Pro Football Reference's Approximate Value metric, this post looks at positional rankings from 2000-09. PFR assigns every draftee 1 of 15 positions, I combine guards, tackles, and centers into offensive linemen, while defensive linemen comprise ends, defensive tackles, and even three nose tackles. The remaining positions are what you would expect: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends on the offensive side; linebackers and defensive backs opposite, and punters and kickers on special teams.

Using PFR's Total Career Approximate Value and dividing by the number of picks over the decade, you get the career value for each position. Dividing that by the total number of games played, you get the effectiveness at each position, by which the list is ordered. As you would expect, quarterbacks generate the most value by far, but next are the all important and often overlooked offensive linemen. After all, QBs can't do much if they are not protected. Running backs follow, then defensive linemen and linebackers. Fullbacks are the least valuable position, which is not that surprising, given their responsibilities will not generate a lot of measurable stats. The table is below:

Pos     Picks   NFL   Pct    Avg   tCAV/G
QB       130    103   79.2  26.47   0.602
OL       420    350   83.3  25.56   0.402
RB       197    176   89.3  20.66   0.358
DL       427    386   90.4  23.28   0.340
LB       316    294   93.0  21.79   0.328
WR       334    286   85.6  16.97   0.319
DB       494    459   92.9  18.59   0.281
K         25     22   88.0  16.72   0.182
TE       153    135   88.2  11.51   0.165
P         21     20   95.2  19.19   0.158
FB        34     34  100.0   3.88   0.057

The number of picks includes players who did not make the NFL, so I have included the number of those that actually did play at least a game in the league. The average tCAV does include players who failed to play a game, though it doesn't make a difference in the order. Ignoring the low numbers for punters and fullbacks, 93% of linebackers made the league, followed closely by defensive backs. Surprisingly less than 80% of quarterbacks actually played a game, by far the smallest percentage. And by play, I mean play, carrying a clipboard does not count.

How is this information useful? Like everything else on this blog, not very. But if you happen to be an NFL scout or GM, you might want to pay attention to the guys battling it out at the line of scrimmage rather than focusing on defensive backs and tight ends.

Best,

Sean