The 2023 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and all eyes are on the top prospects who will be selected by NFL teams to start their professional careers. But how exactly do teams go about selecting their picks?

The draft process is a complex and intricate one, with teams conducting extensive research and analysis to identify the players they believe will best fit their needs. This process involves a variety of techniques, including scouting, analytics, and interviews.

Scouting is perhaps the most traditional method of evaluating prospects. Teams will send scouts to games, practices, and even the players’ homes to gather information about their performance, behavior, and character. Scouts will also look at game film to study a player’s technique and skills, looking for strengths and weaknesses.

Analytics, on the other hand, involves using statistical analysis to evaluate a player’s performance. This includes metrics such as speed, agility, strength, and accuracy. Teams will also use advanced analytics to look at a player’s performance in specific situations, such as third-down conversions or red-zone efficiency.

Interviews are another critical part of the evaluation process. Teams will sit down with prospects to get a better sense of their personality, work ethic, and character. These interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone, or even via video conferencing.

Once a team has identified its top prospects, the draft itself involves a series of selections made by each team in order of their record in the previous season, with the worst-performing team selecting first. Teams can also trade picks with each other to move up or down in the draft order.

But the selection process doesn’t end with the draft. Teams will continue to evaluate their picks throughout the offseason and into training camp, looking for the best way to utilize each player’s unique talents.

Of course, the draft isn’t always a sure thing. Highly-touted prospects can fail to live up to expectations, while lesser-known players can go on to become stars. It’s an unpredictable process, and one that is often subject to second-guessing and criticism.

But for the players who hear their names called on draft day, it’s the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. And for the teams that make the right picks, it can be the start of a successful run toward the ultimate goal: a Super Bowl championship.