ATH
Athleticism
Speed, explosiveness, agility and functional size. Calibrated against per-position RAS percentiles when official testing exists; film-estimated when it does not.
← Back to home
/ methodology
How we evaluate the 2027 class
Draft Sickos does not make up names or recycle rumors. Every profile is built from verifiable sources, a consistent scale and a transparent editorial process. Here is what lives under the hood.
01 · Scale
The 0–100 scale, no noise
Every prospect gets a numerical grade from 0 to 100 that maps to one of five bands. The band is what matters when projecting where a player fits; the number is for comparing inside the same band.
95ELITE
Elite
90–100
Potencial All-Pro, impacto inmediato.
85R1
Primera Ronda
80–89
Titular inmediato con techo de desarrollo.
75D2
Día 2
70–79
Rondas 2-3. Contribuidor sólido camino a titular.
65D3
Día 3
60–69
Rondas 4-7. Proyecto o jugador de rol específico.
30UFA
UFA
0–59
Talento marginal, potencial para squad de práctica.
02 · Categories
Five categories. Per-position weights.
A QB is not evaluated through the same lens as an edge rusher. Each position weighs the five base categories differently. The categories below apply to everyone; the weighting shifts.
TEC
Technique
Position-refined mechanics: footwork, pad level, hand fighting, drop mechanics. What a coordinator can polish vs. what is already polished.
IQ
Football IQ
Pre-snap reads, coverage and protection recognition, in-the-moment adjustments. Mental processing under pressure.
PROD
Production
What actually happened on the field: snap volume, advanced metrics (PFF, EPA), consistency against elite competition.
PROJ
NFL Projection
How fast and how high they can climb. Floor (realistic minimum), ceiling (believable upside) and a likely comp in between.
E.g.: QB weighs IQ (30%) and Technique (25%) more; Edge weighs Athleticism (20%) and Projection (25%) more.
03 · Process
How a profile gets built
- 01
Big board intake
We cross Tankathon's global top with scoutinggrade.com and lock an initial pool. If a name doesn't appear in at least one verifiable source, it doesn't enter.
- 02
Class verification
Every prospect is validated against their real academic year. Caleb Downs, Drew Allar and others are 2025 seniors — they don't get mixed into the 2027 class no matter who hypes them.
- 03
Film + metrics
Position-specific notes based on cut-ups (minimum three representative games) plus advanced metrics. Each category demands evidence, not impressions.
- 04
Comps and bands
We close with three NFL comps (high / low / likely) and the final band. Everything is published with the update date and the games watched.
04 · Sources
Sources behind every grade
Big boards come and go. These are the houses we open every week and why.
Tankathon
NFL 2027 big board — primary reference for global and positional ordering.
↗ tankathon.com
Scouting Grade
Position grades and projection bands from independent scouts.
↗ scoutinggrade.com
Ourlads
Official depth charts refreshed every week.
↗ www.ourlads.com
RAS · Kent Lee Platte
Relative Athletic Score: per-position athletic percentiles since 1987.
↗ ras.football
05 · Principles
Three non-negotiable rules
Rule 01
Never invent names
If a prospect doesn't show up on a verifiable big board or a D-I depth chart, they don't exist for Draft Sickos. Zero filler.
Rule 02
Evidence over narrative
A good story doesn't push a band up. Only film, metrics and official testing move the needle. The narrative stays in the copy.
Rule 03
Band > number
The gap between 78 and 81 is noise. The gap between Round 1 Lock and Day 2 Starter is prospect identity. That's why we publish both, but defend the band.