The term premium position can certainly take on a couple of different meanings, as the context needs to be delivered before the term truly can be used.
I listen to podcasts and analysts who talk about premium positions in the NFL draft, which got me thinking about the meaning and context of the word.
For a Premium Position, I had to look at the context from a different perspective. Of course I am referring to a macro and a micro level of premium positions. Yes, there is a level of science that is being woven into this, but just give it a thought as I explain it.
Macro Premium Position
Anytime we talk in terms of a macro view its always an abstract view. This means that we are looking at things from a 30K foot level instead of at an atomic level. There are terms like macro and micro economics, macro and micro biology etc., and I am attempting to apply the terms to make sense of the perspective which a person could look at the term “Premium Position”.
In football there are different positions on both offense and defense that are considered a premium position. Generally, the positions in question are:
- Quarterback
- Wide Receiver
- Left Tackle
- Edge Rusher
- Cornerback
These premium positions are typically used by draft analysts to weigh a decision between 2 players for a specific team. At the macro level, this can be considered to cover the entire draft for that year, or for an aggregate number of years.
It makes a lot of sense to understand the data of the premium positions as they relate to the entire draft for the current year. The ananlysis can help General Managers from focusing on other positions instead of the premium positions as they develop their scouting boards prior to the draft.
The Premium position would be weighted more as a higher priority position to fill, if the overall team analysis determines whether they take a Wide Receiver or a Linebacker with their first pick. For the most part, this comes down to the impact of the position as it relates to the side of the ball.
For example, this year the Lions have needs at Quarterback, Edge Rusher and Safety. At the 2nd overall pick, assuming that Jacksonville takes Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions would have a decision to make. Considering Safety is not considered a premium position, it is more than likely the Lions would either go Quarterback or Edge Rusher.
- Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett?
- Travon Walker or Kayvon Thibodeaux?
Detriot has a QB that is making a lot of money, and it would be a premium position to take a QB. Edge Rusher is also a big need and the Lions don’t have an impact player at the Edge position. So how to settle this debate on who to go with?
Of course there is a lot that goes into this decision, and its more than just what I am explaining here, but just looking at the 30K foot level of the macro view, its a bit of a stalemate on what to do.
Micro Premium Position
The Micro view is mostly considered at the atomic level.
What this means is, that instead of looking at the overall draft as a collective whole from years and years past, the focus becomes narrower to the specific draft, and what would be the premium positions for this specific draft.
Each year the micro premium positions change because of the talent landscape that is entering the NFL Draft. In this case, the 2022 NFL Draft will have its own set of Premium Positions based on the depth of talent at each individual position.
For example: Kyle Hamilton is the top rated S in the class. The remaining S’s in the class do not have a lot to be desired and are likely to be considered back up and special teams players. The following players are likely to have a 2nd round grade on them, and then the talent level drops way off.
- Dax Hill – Michigan
- Lewis Cine – Georgia
- Jalen Pitre – Baylor
- Nick Cross – Maryland
Because of the supply is very small, the position of Safety would be a premium position in terms of being in position to draft a quality safety that can be an instant impact to your team. This is the micro view and a micro perspective of what a premium position within the current NFL Draft class could be defined as.
As a team perspective, premium positions at the macro level would be considered positions that are going to impact the team in a broader sense at the high level.
The micro premium positions are specific to that particular class in which the quality and quantity of a specific position would be considered “premium” because there is a significant lack of quality and quantity at that specific position.
Thus the position is much more valuable to draft early based on current rostered players and the quality of depth in the draft.