Chip Kelly was a fan of SPARQ during his time in Philadelphia. Will this influence Trent Baalke's draft strategy?
Drafting players is a wholly inexact science. Bill Polian and Mike Reindfelt estimate teams hit on just 40% of their picks. Even the best general managers can’t sustain home-run draft classes year after year. Teams constantly hunt for competitive advantages in talent acquisition strategies. Trent Baalke’s preferred method involves drafting injured players. It’s a way to maximize the value of your picks by getting more talented players than your draft position should allow.
Division rival Seattle derives value from the draft using another philosophy; a philosophy centered on athleticism.