Monday, April 24, 2023

2023 NFL Draft Preview: QB Prospects & ChatGPT

 


The year is 2004 & Alex Proyas’ blockbuster “I, Robot” is hitting theaters. Detective Del

Spooner (Will Smith) is charged with investigating the death of a US Robotics scientist who

happened to be developing a “humanoid” robot. Fast forward to 2023, and Artificial Intelligence

is sweeping the planet. From fake Drake songs (banger, by the way) to full on business plans and

sitcom scripts, ChatGPT, and its potential, has the internet in a frenzy.


With the NFL draft only a few days away, I thought it would be interesting to preview the next

crop of football’s superstars while integrating this new AI technology. I asked ChatGPT to rank a

few of the 2023 quarterback prospects to get a feel for how a bunch of code that I don’t really

understand views talent versus my highly un-qualified, untrained eye. 


Below is the prompt I fed ChatGPT.


“Rank the following quarterback prospects: Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, Anthony

Richardson, & Hendon Hooker ”


Below is what the robot spit back at me, with my analysis in red.


“As an AI language model, I do not have access to the most recent data and scouting reports to

make an accurate assessment of the current crop of quarterback prospects. However, based on

general ranking factors, here is the ranking of these quarterbacks:”

(This big, bad computer program doesn’t even have access to current data and statistics?

Advantage, humans.)


1. Bryce Young

     - He has impressive physical attributes, mental processing skills, and potential to

    develop into a successful NFL quarterback.

    - Impressive physical attributes, huh? Nothing screams “NFL QB” like a 5’10” QB

    that drank enough water before the NFL Combine to make the good people of

    Flint, Michigan blush, just to weigh in at over 200 pounds. All that aside, I think

    ChatGPT is correct in its ranking of Young. Despite his small frame, he is the

    most polished quarterback in this class. 


2. CJ Stroud

    - He has shown great potential and impressive production in his college career so

    far, with good physical attributes and mental processing skills.

    - Sensing a theme with the language ChatGPT uses. In this case, it’s correct in that

    Stroud has good physical attributes. However, there are concerns with his mental

    processing skills under pressure and with a collapsing pocket. Stroud had the

    luxury of playing with NFL-caliber guys along the offensive line and skill

    positions.(You mean to tell me there’s ANOTHER Marvin Harrison?) 

    I do agree with ranking Stroud in the second spot, though.


3. Anthony Richardson

    - He has shown impressive physical attributes, but may need to develop his mental

    processing skills and consistency.

    - The computer nailed this one. Anthony Richardson might be the most physically

    gifted quarterback the NFL has ever seen. (Think Cam Newton, but MORE

    athletic). However, his accuracy leaves much to be desired. He hasn’t shown the

    ability to cycle through his progressions and deliver an accurate ball. Even though

    his ceiling is sky-high, I don’t feel comfortable ranking him at number three,

    though he’s not much further down my board at number four.


4. Hendon Hooker

    - He has shown good production in college and has solid physical attributes, but

    may need to improve his mental processing and decision making skills.

    - This one is fun. Hooker is interesting considering he had a very successful college

    career, though it was cut short by a torn ACL. He’ll also be 25 years old when

    drafted. Anytime a quarterback 25 or older is drafted, my mind immediately races

    to Brandon Weeden. Quarterbacks typically need a couple years to adjust to the 

    NFL game and I’d have a hard time giving the keys to Hooker, who I have as my

    fifth ranked QB.


5. Will Levis

    - He has shown potential in his college career so far, but needs more consistent

    production and improvement in his mental processing skills.

    - Levis is currently the odds-on favorite to be drafted with the second pick. While I

    don’t agree with Levis as the second QB taken, I like him more than the computer

    does. He had a stellar 2021 season behind a good offensive line but struggled with

    consistency in 2022 behind an offensive line that was weaker than Johnny

    Manziel’s liver in 2014. Levis has a rocket arm, quick release, & the athleticism to 

    escape a collapsing pocket. I have him ranked as my number three QB in this class.


Overall, ChatGPT did a decent job in evaluating the incoming rookie quarterback class, though it

lacks the nuance to truly evaluate human attributes. That being said, the following quote from

2004’s I, Robot rings surprisingly relevant in 2023.


“Human beings have dreams. Even dogs have dreams, but not you, you are just a machine. An

imitation of life. Can a robot write a symphony? Can a robot turn a... canvas into a beautiful

masterpiece?” That answer is an emphatic yes.

No comments:

Post a Comment