When it comes to which prospects Indianapolis Colts' GM Chris Ballard might target in the 2025 NFL draft, pay attention to those with high Relative Athletic Scores (RAS).
But before we dive into why we should make note of a prospect's RAS, what is RAS?
This metric was developed by Kent Lee Platte and allows us to compare the athleticism of players within their respective position groups. The RAS formula takes into account the player's height and weight measurements, along with how they perform on the field, and turns all of that info into an easily digestible figure that falls on a 0-10 scale. In short, the higher the RAS, the better the athlete.
This RAS scale does factor in historical results and is not only based on the current year’s draft class. It is also important to note that it is position-specific, so a guard and a cornerback can have the same RAS because it is relative to the position group.
So now, what does this have to do with the Colts?
Platte recently posted on X the number of prospects each team has selected since 2021 who have posted a RAS of 8.0 or higher. At the top of the list was the Colts with 29 selections. In second was the Packers with 26, followed by the Commanders with 22.
In terms of sheer volume, here are the number of players each team has drafted over the last four seasons, from 2021-2024, with a #RAS over 8.00
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 15, 2025
Colts-29
Packers-26
Commanders-22
Cardinals-21
Ravens-21
Rams-20
Chiefs-20
Giants-19
Eagles-19
Bills-19
Saints-19
Bears-19
Cowboys-18…
During the 2022 and 2023 NFL drafts, Ballard constructed two of the most athletic draft classes around the league. Over that two-year span, the Colts' average RAS for their draft picks was 9.56, and the lowest selection was at 8.48.
In 2024, six of Ballard's nine picks had a RAS over 8.0, including four with at least a 9.0.
With all of that said, a prospect's RAS obviously isn't the be-all-end-all when it comes to who Ballard is going to select. But given the strong connection over the last four drafts, it is something to be mindful of.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Colts draft trend emerges in recent years
