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Data + sources
RAS by Kent Lee Platte·Consensus Big Board (Arif Hasan)·nflverse·PFR·CFBD·All sources & credits·Methodology
Career-value model, live
Privacy·Terms·Press ⌘K to search·Draftanomics2026
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Side-by-side comparison

Backtest

2 prospects · 2021 draft

Each spoke: percentile within the prospect's own position (LB)
NB
Nick Bolton
LB · Missouri
21.1 yo · 5'11" · 237 lb
CM
Cameron McGrone
LB · Michigan
20.9 yo · — · —
Tiebreaker
High confidence
Take Nick Bolton over Cameron McGrone.

Decisive factor: a bust risk 65 points lower. Reinforced by a stronger historical comp arc, $13M/yr more in projected second-deal AAV and 13-pick gap on Draftanomics projection.

Headline metrics

The four numbers a GM checks first.

Nick Bolton
Predicted pick
#48
range #4–#92
Bust probability
0%
0%0/4 comps
Consensus rank
#56
on 23 boards
Career arc
Bust
tier · Day 2
2nd-deal AAV
$17Mmodel
Cameron McGrone
Predicted pick
#61
range #24–#98
Bust probability
65%
0%0/3 comps
Consensus rank
#91
on 8 boards
Career arc
Bust
tier · Day 2
2nd-deal AAV
$3Mmodel

Feature radar

Each axis is the prospect's percentile among prospects at his position (0–100). Bigger shape = stronger across the board.

ProductionAthleticismAgeConsensusPer-play impact (PPA)Breakout ageWorkloadRAS × production
Prospects
  • Nick Bolton· EDGE / DL / LB
  • Cameron McGrone· EDGE / DL / LB
Axis leaders
  • ProductionNick Bolton0
  • AthleticismCameron McGrone19
  • AgeCameron McGrone82
  • ConsensusNick Bolton28
  • Per-play impact (PPA)Nick Bolton50
  • Breakout ageNick Bolton50
  • WorkloadNick Bolton100
  • RAS × productionNick Bolton30

Comp overlap

Top five historical comps per prospect. Shared comps highlighted.

Shared comps
  • Cameron SmithLB · Bust→ shared byNick BoltonCameron McGrone
  • Shaquille LeonardLB · Franchise→ shared byNick BoltonCameron McGrone
Nick Bolton
  • Emeke Egbule
    LB · #200
    Bust
  • Bobby Okereke
    LB · #89
    Starter
  • Deshaun Davis
    LB · #210
    TBD
  • Cameron Smithshared
    LB · #162
    Bust
  • Shaquille Leonardshared
    LB · #36
    Franchise
Cameron McGrone
  • Anthony Walker
    LB · #161
    Bust
  • Vosean Joseph
    LB · #147
    TBD
  • Raekwon McMillan
    LB · #54
    TBD
  • Cameron Smithshared
    LB · #162
    Bust
  • Shaquille Leonardshared
    LB · #36
    Franchise

Risk and opportunity flags

Top three concerns and top two upside signals from the model.

Nick Bolton
Risks
  • Athletic profile below NFL threshold
    RAS 2.55 (25th percentile vs LB prospects in a 35-yr Combine population). Below the 30th-percentile bar that most NFL starters clear.
  • Comp group has bust risk
    2 of 4 closest comps with NFL outcomes ended up backups or busts: Emeke Egbule, Cameron Smith. Mixed signal from history.
Opportunities
No standout upside flags.
Cameron McGrone
Risks
  • Missed entire rookie season
    Drafted #177 by NWE in 2021 but recorded ZERO regular-season NFL snaps. Year-1 absence is one of the strongest single-signal bust predictors we have.
  • No athletic testing
    No Combine drills or Pro Day numbers on file while most of the class has tested — the athletic part of the grade is unmeasured.
  • Comp group bust rate
    2 of 3 closest comps with NFL outcomes washed out: Anthony Walker, Cameron Smith. The neighborhood in feature space is dangerous.
Opportunities
No standout upside flags.

Career trajectory forecast

Projected share of his team's snaps across the first four NFL seasons. Solid = seasons already played, dashed = the forecast.

0%25%50%75%100%Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5Snap share
Nick BoltonCameron McGrone· solid = actuals, dashed = forecast

Verdict

The model's plain-English read.

Nick Bolton

Draftanomics projects Nick Bolton (age 21.1 at draft) as a Day 2 pick at #48 (range #4-#92, very wide band — too little on him yet to project tightly). Bust probability sits at 0% — low. The comp set is mixed: 2 starters-or-better vs 2 backups-or-busts among the 4 comps with known outcomes. Closest comps: Emeke Egbule (Bust), Bobby Okereke (Starter), Deshaun Davis. Ceiling is Shaquille Leonard (Franchise); floor is Deshaun Davis. RAS 2.55 (25th percentile vs LB prospects in a 35-yr Combine population). Below the 30th-percentile bar that most NFL starters clear. The call is a hold at slot: the model's #48 sits within 7 spots of the room's #55 — no market edge to chase, so take him where he sits, and let the 0% bust probability break ties on draft day.

Cameron McGrone

Draftanomics projects Cameron McGrone (age 20.9 at draft) as a Day 2 pick at #61 (range #24-#98, very wide band — too little on him yet to project tightly). Bust probability sits at 65% — scary. The comp set is dangerous: 2 of 3 closest comps with known NFL outcomes washed out as backups or busts. Closest comps: Anthony Walker (Bust), Vosean Joseph, Raekwon McMillan. Ceiling is Shaquille Leonard (Franchise); floor is Vosean Joseph. Drafted #177 by NWE in 2021 but recorded ZERO regular-season NFL snaps. Year-1 absence is one of the strongest single-signal bust predictors we have. The call is a value lean: #61 against a consensus #87 is a 26-spot edge — enough to move him up the queue, not enough to reach a round early, with missed entire rookie season the tax on that edge.