The last time Ja'Wuan James played more than 3 games in a season was 2018 with the Dolphins BUT that season he finished 5th among tackles in pass block win rate. He was 38th in run block in rate. (ESPN / Next Gen Stats)

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics17d ago

The Eagles are hiring Zachary Steever as a quantitative analyst, per sources. Steever previously, as a Ph.D. student at the University of Buffalo, was part of a research group that worked with the NFL to produce a more fair league schedule.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics38d ago

The Jaguars are hiring Dolphins director of personnel analytics Eugene Shen as VP of football analytics, per sources. Shen is an analytics veteran who worked for the Ravens prior to his stint in Miami.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics41d ago

The Patriots are the only team in the league that will face three teams coming off a bye. They have the worst net rest differential compared to their opponents in the league at -15 days.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics43d ago

The Panthers have a +13 day rest differential compared to their opponents. That's tied for the most rest relative to opponents among all team schedules since 2002. (Note: there's an extra game to build up that differential this year, obviously).

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics43d ago

Frank Ragnow has agreed to a four-year extension with the Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. In 2020 Ragnow ranked 4th in run block win rate and 7th in pass block win rate among qualifying centers. (ESPN / Next Gen Stats)

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics49d ago

New Ravens OT Alejandro Villanueva ranked 7th (out of 65 qualifying tackles) in pass block win rate in 2019, but dropped all the way to 58th (out of 62) last season. He ranked 18th in run block win rate in each of the last two seasons. (ESPN / Next Gen Stats)

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics51d ago

The Saints' trade up with Denver in the third round is more expensive than the last few trades. The value of the picks the Broncos received are worth 50% more than what it gave up, according to ESPN's draft pick valuations. Denver gained the equivalent of a late fourth-round pick in value.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics54d ago

Does it feel like analytics folks never praise a trade up? Never say never, because the deal the Browns made with Carolina in the second-round was justifiable and then some. Cleveland paid just a 5% premium to move up -- the cheapest trade up of the day thus far -- in order to take a Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Entering the draft, the Draft Day Predictor gave Owusu-Koramoah a 97% chance to be selected in the first round. Strong move.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

According to the Draft Day Predictor, Aaron Banks is a reach. Going into the draft we gave him only a 3% chance to be selected at pick 48 or earlier.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

Panthers gain an equivalent of an extra 5th-round pick in second-round draft pick deal with the Bears. The picks Carolina received were worth 23% more than what it gave up. But in Teven Jenkins, Bears get a player the Draft Day Predictor thought had an 85% chance to be selected in Round 1.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

Pricey trade up by the Patriots in the second round. The Bengals gained the equivalent of an extra third-round pick's worth of value here. Picks Bengals received were worth roughly 60% more than what they gave up, according to ESPN's draft pick valuations.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

The picks the Falcons received were worth 23% more than the picks they gave up in their second-round draft pick trade with the Broncos, according to our draft pick valuations. Atlanta gained the equivalent of a 5th-round pick's worth of extra value in the deal.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

Matt Rhule is the first head coach in the Common Draft Era (since 1967) to use his first eight career draft picks on defense.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

Christian Darrisaw feels like a steal for the Vikings. There was only a 22% chance he would still be available at pick No. 23 entering tonight, according to ESPN's Draft Day Predictor.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

The Vikings received the equivalent of an early third-round pick's worth of extra value in their deal with the Jets. The picks the Vikings received were worth almost 40% more than what it gave up.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

Given no discount for future year picks and assuming next year's picks are 16th in their round -- the Giants added the equivalent of a first-round pick's worth of value in its deal with the Bears. The picks the Giants received were worth almost double what it gave up.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

Could the Panthers have traded down and still landed Jaycee Horn? A few picks later, probably. At time of his selection, Horn had an 87% chance to be available at pick No. 11 and 71% chance at pick No. 12, per ESPN's Draft Day Predictor.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics55d ago

BPI gives Gonzaga a 55% chance to win tonight. Prior to its pause due to COVID-19 Baylor was No. 1 in BPI. If BPI ignores the first two Baylor games after the pause, BPI would give Baylor (!) a 51% to win. (espn.com/BPI)

Paul Sabin, ESPN Analytics80d ago

Based on ESPN's draft pick valuations, the Dolphins gained the equivalent of a mid-first round pick in extra value through its two trades today. That's working under the assumption that future picks end up as the 17th pick in their round, and without discounting the value of future selections relative to this year. And it’s also despite Miami actually giving up more value than it got back in its trade with the Eagles. Altogether though, Miami was a clear winner in terms of value today.

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics90d ago

With the other high seeds in the Midwest region cleared out, Houston has just nudged past Baylor to be the second-most likely tournament champion, per BPI. Top four heading into Monday's games are: Gonzaga 25% Houston 18.3% Baylor 18.2% Iowa 10%

Seth Walder, ESPN Analytics94d ago