Scientific grades for Day 3 selections: Cowboys closed out strong?

NFL draft grades are always a controversial topic. On one hand they are necessary prognostications used to measure the value of the prospect. On the other hand, they are wildly assumptive and based more on scouting reports than the decision-making process.

That’s why every year I grade the picks focused on more objective factors , adding context and applying it to the Dallas Cowboys’ decision-making process. While so many other grades are focused on predicting the success or failure of a player, this looks at things more high-level using the Scientific Grading Method. Looking at consensus value, we can determine if the Cowboys got the right bang for the buck.

Consensus boards are consistently more trustworthy than even the best team or media scout. It removes peaks and valleys by eliminating wild takes. Positional and surplus value weigh positions based on importance as well as compensation.

For instance, a quarterback is going to score higher than a tight end in both categories because it adds more value on the field and it gets paid considerably more. A high performing quarterback can save a franchise tens of millions per year playing on a rookie deal while a highly drafted tight end offers little to no savings. Also to be factored in are team-specific needs.