NFL Wideout Valuation: Go Faster

In 1968, Rocky Bleier joined the Pittsburg Steelers.  After the season, once drafted, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam.

When he came #price to the team camp in 1972, he posted a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

With part of his right foot blown off.

His previous best was 4.8.

What’s the value of added speed for veterans?  If we remove the rookie contracts and draft halo effects by looking at pros in the league for six or more years (thanks, Jem Anderson!), we can find out.  A shows us the total compensation for NFL wideouts goes up with receptions per game.  At the same time, their value falls dramatically with age.  Speed plays a role too. A 28-year old receiver with 4 catches a game running a 4.65 40-yard dash is worth about $6 million per year (note the equation forming surfaces A and B has P-values of 6.43E-07, 0.41%, and 3.6% for catches/game, age, and 40-yard times, in that order, and 2.32E-06 for the entire equation).

In B, we take another 28-year old with 4 receptions/game, but this one runs the 40-yard dash a quarter second quicker.  The extra speed adds another 2/3 to his compensation, bringing it to $10 million.

It’s hard to improve speed.  But if you can do it in the NFL, it pays off.

#value #valueproposition #generalmanager #worth