Chalk Talk Episode #5: The 2022 NFL Draft Was Proof That Anything Can Happen in Vegas
If you placed bets on the 2022 NFL Draft, be honest: did you land right side up or upside down?
Admittedly, my co-host Hale Hentges and I were blindsided by a couple picks – and he’s a former NFL pro who has experienced the draft firsthand before. He gets the innerworkings of NFL clubs and knows what teams need on their rosters. (I’ve got some experience in this area as well.) Plus, Hale and I both have been knee-deep in player data the past several months between the East-West Shrine Bowl, Reese’s Senior Bowl, and NFL Combine – all of which took advantage of Zebra’s RFID player tracking technology. We wanted to see how draft candidates and other NFL pros measure against one another and NFL standards.
So, what did we miscalculate in our draft picks (besides the #1 pick by my hometown team, the Jacksonville Jaguars)?
Tune into the latest episode of Chalk Talk to find out, along with our predictions about how the top-drafted players will do in the upcoming NFL season and why some underdog players and teams might surprise us come September:
Chalk Talk Episode #5: NFL Draft Download
Only have a few minutes? Fast forward to these can’t-miss analyses:
[3:30] The biggest surprises of the draft
[8:30] Which teams scored big in this year’s draft
[10:45] How late-round picks are likely to shape up – and why they might compete with, or beat, some of the first-round picks when they hit the field this Fall
[12:30] The role Zebra is playing in the globalization of the NFL (and Next Gen Stats)
[15:00] The clubs that may find themselves in an underdog position coming out of the draft and heading into the preseason
[24:00] Which late-round picks might slide right into a starting role in the next few months
We also talk about the role that RFID data (from Zebra’s player tracking system) is going to help us – and teams – appraise players’ performance and potential in the coming months and years.
Listen now then let us know if you agree with our analysis or think we need to go back to the drawing board – and data. You can find me on Linkedin and Instagram or connect with Hale on Linkedin.
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Need to catch up on past Chalk Talk episodes? Listen to the replays now:
Chalk Talk Episode #4: Chalk Talk Episode #4: It’s NFL Draft Time, and We Have Some Thoughts on How Things Will Play Out
Chalk Talk Episode #3: NFL Pros Dwayne Johnson, Jr. and Chris Streveler Just Spent Three Weeks Working at Zebra. Find Out Why (and What It Was Like).
Chalk Talk Episode #2: Did You Know RFID Technology Was Used to Track Player Movements During 2022 NFL Combine Drills? Find Out What That Means for This Year’s Recruits (and Future Scouting Decisions).
Chalk Talk Episode #1: Not Sure Who to Cheer for During Super Bowl LVI? These Next Gen Stats May Help with Your Decision.
An Analysis of the Chalk Talk Commentators What Do You Think? Were Adam Petrus and Hale Hentges Spot On with Their Super Bowl Predictions?
Adam Petrus
Adam Petrus is currently the Business Development and Sales Lead for Sports & Entertainment at Zebra Technologies where he is responsible for growing Zebra’s hardware and software solutions across the world of sports and the entertainment industry. Prior to joining the sales team Adam co-managed Zebra’s game day operation of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats program and served as the project lead for the NFL’s Equipment Tracking Program, Virtual Locker. Adam has more than 15 years of experience within the sports and technology industry and has been working with Next Gen Stats since 2015. Previously, he worked in the front office of an NFL Football Club, served within the United States Intelligence Community supporting special operations to include two and a half years in Iraq and was a licensed and certified sports agent. Adam holds a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace University out of Berea, Ohio and attended the International Institute for Management & Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland where he earned a certificate in Business Management and Leadership.
As an active member of the community, Adam serves on the Baldwin Wallace University Carmel-Boyer School of Business Advisory Council, served on the Board of the Ponte Vedra Beach Rotary International Club and is a member of the Jacksonville JAXSports Council - a non-profit established to enhance and positively impact the quality of life and community pride, along with generating economic impact and growth through professional and amateur sports. An outdoor enthusiast, Adam enjoys running, paddle boarding, golfing and being an active parent alongside his wife Jenn to their daughters Olivia (7) & Peyton (5) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Gunner and Nash.
Fun Fact:
"My first job in the NFL was at age 16 when I was hired by the Cleveland Browns Groundcrew. This position then led to a promotion into the front office when I was in college and a full-time role upon graduation."
