NFL teams are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to evaluate draft prospects, with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs emerging as a prominent test case. Downs, a two-time All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner, declined to run the 40-yard dash at both the combine and his pro day, leaving teams to find alternative methods to assess his speed.

AI platforms using computer vision technology can analyze college film to generate speed ratings comparable to NFL Next Gen Stats data. That analysis of Downs suggests his game speed trails other top safeties in this year's class.

"I don't doubt that he's a really good football player," said Karim Kassam, vice president of product at data company Teamworks. "He's just not that fast."

Kassam indicated the data points toward Downs functioning best as a box or slot safety rather than a centerfield or perimeter coverage defender, a conclusion teams might reach through traditional scouting, but one AI can now quantify.

The technology is also reshaping how teams evaluate edge rushers. AI data shows Ohio State's Arvell Reese dropped into coverage on roughly half his snaps last season, and his pass-rush efficiency trailed both Texas Tech's David Bailey and Miami's Rueben Bain Jr.

"He might be the best edge player and might be the first one off the board," Kassam said. "But he might not be as likely to get to double-digit sacks as a Rueben Bain or David Bailey."

Beyond top prospects, companies like SkillCorner are helping teams identify overlooked FCS players through computer vision tracking. Minnesota Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski acknowledged the technology remains in early stages.

"It's still in its infancy stages," Brzezinski said. "We're just trying to dive in and figure it out."

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead described AI's ideal role as an "assistant lieutenant," an objective voice that, unlike a scout, won't hesitate to challenge a general manager's assumptions. Full autonomy, however, remains distant.

"In the next five years," Kassam said, "you're going to be much better off if you have a human in the mix."