As the 2024 NFL Combine continues, social media is filled with heights, weights, hand size, 40 times and much more. There’s video of players being interviewed answering legit football questions and sometimes weird questions. Those who follow the NFL draft religiously will watch some or all of the NFL Network’s coverage. If you’re a fan, you’ll also see RAS scores posted for each player. What is RAS? It’s defined as, “Relative Athletic Score (RAS) is a metric that combines the various categories measured at the NFL Combine — height, weight, wingspan, drill exercises — into one aggregate number that’s then contextualized against other athletes of the same position.” RAS was created by Kent Lee Platte (http://@MathBoob.) to give draft nerds like me an easy one through ten score for the players participating in the combine. It takes into consideration all the players attributes by using a numerical ranking as well as color coding to highlight strengths and weaknesses. However not every measurement is the same for every position. A player’s 40 time is more important for a running back and a wide receiver than it is for an offensive lineman. The vertical and broad jump could show a player’s explosiveness.

Can this easy-to-use grading system be a predictor of an NFL players potential? Looking at Browns GM Andrew Berry’s last draft, the players had the following scores.

WR Cedric Tillman, 8.67.

DT Sika Ika, 2.75.

RT Dawand Jones, N/A.

DE Isaiah McGuire, 9.53.

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, 7.72.

CB Camerion Mitchell, 8.87.

C Luke Wypler, 9.31.

The only three players on this list who saw significant playing time in 2023 were Tillman, Jones, Thompson-Robinson and Mitchell. Dawand jones didn’t take part in the combine last year but had a great Senior Bowl week. Ika had a low score, but the Browns had him in for a personal workout. As for the other players, McGuire and Wypler, they might see an increase in playing time in 2024.

How does this relate to which round a player will be drafted? It’s still a roll of the dice. McGuire had a second-round grade and Wypler had a first-round grade. In my opinion, interviews and personal workouts still carry more weight. Watch social media for which players the Browns have interviewed and who they invited to Berea. The best thing about Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) is it’s a great topic of conversation.