NFL Teams Using AI to Crack Draft Mysteries

NFL teams are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to evaluate draft prospects, with computer vision technology now able to generate speed ratings from college game film. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who skipped the 40-yard dash at the combine, is one example where AI provides objective data traditional scouting cannot. Teams access AI through the NFL's Microsoft partnership and private platforms, using natural language queries to analyze years of combine data. Executives see AI as an evolution beyond analytics, one that not only gathers information but interprets it, potentially reshaping how players are deployed at the next level.