NFP Prospect Grading System

Here’s a detailed look at how the National Football Post evaluates and grades NFL draft prospects:

NFP ALPHA GRADING SCALE

A: Rare athletic ability and rare production in college. Has minimum height, weight & speed grades of 8.0. Examples: John Elway and Eric Dickerson. Round 1.

B: Rare athletic ability, but limited college production due to system. Has minimum height, weight & speed grades of 8.0. Example: Irving Fryar. Round 1.

C: Rare athletic ability and rare production in college. Height/weight grade is lower than 8.0 but higher than 6.0. Examples: Barry Sanders (height) and Terry Glenn (weight). Round 1.

D: Outstanding athletic ability and outstanding production in college. Meets minimum height, weight & speed requirements for the position. Examples: Tony Boselli and Fred Taylor. Round 1.

E: Inconsistent players who do not play up to their talent level. Rounds 3-7.

F: Limited athletic ability and good college production. Over-achieving type. Meets the minimum height and weight requirements, but usually lacks speed and burst. Rounds 2-7.

G: Very good athletic ability and very good college production. Does not meet the minimum height requirement for his position. Examples: Sam Mills and Antoine Winfield. Rounds 1-7.

H: Player who is switching to a new position that he did not play in college. Rounds 3-7.

I: Player who meets the height, weight & speed requirements of his position. Players that play to the limit of their athletic ability. The “middle class” of the NFL. Most NFL players come from this grouping. Rounds 1-7.

J: Very good athletic ability and very good college production. Does not meet the minimum weight requirement for his position. Examples: Terry Glenn and DeSean Jackson. Rounds 1-7.

M: Player who meets the height, weight & speed requirements of his position. He either lacks the instincts for the position of has trouble learning. Rounds 3-7.

Z: Major character question marks limit players draft status. Only can be drafted in the seventh round or signed as an undrafted free agent.

NFP NUMERICAL GRADING SCALE

8.5-9.0: Pro bowl player, a true difference maker. Top-10 selection.

8.0-8.4: Highly productive starting player. First round selection.

7.0-7.9: Very good starting player. Second round selection.

6.5-6.9: Very good starting player. Third round selection.

6.0-6.4: Solid starter/very productive backup. Third round selection.

5.5-5.9: Very good backup and very good special teams player. Fourth round selection.

5.0-5.4: Quality backup and good special teams player. Fifth round selection.

4.5-4.9: Backup player/special teams player and project players. Sixth round selection.

4.0-4.4: Backup player and special teams player and project development players. Seventh round selection and high priority free agents.

3.9: Priority free agent.

3.7-3.8: Players with one or more limitations. Backup/special teams-type player. Solid free agent.

3.6: Not recommended as draftable or should only be considered as an adequate free agent signing.