← BACK TO BIG BOARD RANK 8 OF 190

Bill Polian

BUF · CAR · IND · Composite skill θ = +0.70 · maturity-adjusted 95% credible interval +0.21 to +1.19

Composite θ
+0.70
maturity-adjusted
Maturity-adjusted 95% credible interval
+0.21–+1.19
maturity-adjusted
Maturity-adjusted direction probability
100%
moment-matched Normal approximation
Verdict
Elite
interval excludes zero

Evidence: 195 mapped picks across 25 draft classes, 1985–2011 · 100% portfolio maturity · non-provisional estimate.

THE ADJUSTMENT, MADE VISIBLE

The record vs. the verdict

The open dot is his record alone: a fixed projection of raw per-pick outcomes (era-normalized games and AV, draft capital, honors) onto the composite scale. The filled dot is the published verdict. The bar between them is the adjustment.

partial pooling + era/capital adjustment
+0.32
maturity discount
0.00

His record alone is a support view of the unadjusted record, not a second rating. The published verdict keeps its interval above.

ONE PERSON, COMPLETE CONTEXT

Team and tenure chronology

The Big Board ranks one person once across their full portfolio. The checked-in release keeps 190 people distinct from its 209 GM-team careers; these dated team assignments show the context behind this profile.

  1. 1985–1992BUFHired Dec 1985; built 4-time SB team; fired Feb 1993
  2. 1995–1997CARFounding GM; left for IND
  3. 1998–2011INDHOF GM; Manning era

Top 5 hits

Support residuals: picks where the player most over-performed the league baseline at their draft slot. They explain the profile; they are not a second GM rating.

YrPickPlayerPosSupport contribution
1998#1Peyton ManningOFF+13.89
1988#40Thurman ThomasOFF+9.12
1985#86Andre ReedOFF+7.09
1985#1Bruce SmithDEF+6.67
2003#138Robert MathisDEF+6.06

Top 5 misses

Support residuals: picks where the player most under-performed the slot baseline. Related outcomes are collapsed inside their bucket before the final contribution.

YrPickPlayerPosSupport contribution
1995#5Kerry CollinsOFF-7.70
1985#112Dale HellestraeOFF-7.12
2010#31Jerry HughesDEF-6.98
1986#16Ronnie HarmonOFF-4.80
1995#22Tyrone PooleDEF-4.74
Opportunity
GP · GS · Snaps

earned playing time

Quality
AV · AV/snap

value per opportunity

Recognition
PB · AP1

league honors

All 195 picks · bucketed residuals

Each cell is a support z-score: how far the player's outcome deviated from the league baseline at their draft slot. The total gives one vote to each bucket, so playing-time proxies do not drown out AV, AV/snap quality, or honors. It is not the maturity-adjusted headline composite.

Draft pickOpportunityQualityRecognitionSupport
YrPickPlayerPosGPGSSnapsAVAV/snapPBAP1Total
1998#1Peyton ManningOFF+1.39+2.04+4.89+6.35+8.24+13.89
1988#40Thurman ThomasOFF+1.61+2.41+3.67+3.68+3.21+9.12
1985#86Andre ReedOFF+2.20+3.50+2.94+3.76-1.16+7.09
1985#1Bruce SmithDEF+0.92+1.69+3.57-2.79+6.39+6.67
2003#138Robert MathisDEF+2.22+1.51-0.66+1.78+2.39+4.01+1.90+6.06
2001#30Reggie WayneOFF+2.30+3.10-1.62+4.19-0.49+4.66+0.82+5.85
2002#11Dwight FreeneyDEF+0.47+0.84+0.79+4.39+4.08+5.69
2001#118Ryan DiemOFF+2.04+2.71+2.60-0.24-0.17+4.76
1999#4Edgerrin JamesOFF+0.02+0.46+2.46+2.37+0.57+4.17
1991#54Phil HansenDEF+1.80+2.58+2.05-0.37-0.18+3.96
1996#43Muhsin MuhammadOFF+1.03+1.68+1.56+0.77+1.19+3.89
2004#44Bob SandersDEF-0.22+0.23+0.58+2.02+4.18+3.69
1997#56Mike MinterDEF+1.86+2.60+1.58-0.27-0.21+3.57
2006#30Joseph AddaiOFF+0.80+0.90+1.61+0.96-0.07+2.90
2009#222Pat McAfeeST+2.11-0.23+0.71-0.04+1.05+2.11+2.85
1991#26Henry JonesDEF+1.11+1.58+0.77+0.08+1.37+2.84
2003#24Dallas ClarkOFF+0.58+1.21+0.81+0.14+1.63+2.60
2006#207Antoine BetheaDEF+0.65+1.64-0.40+0.37+1.01+1.89-0.34+2.10
2003#198Cato JuneDEF+0.55+0.83+0.79+1.07-0.02+2.00
1992#195Kurt SchulzDEF+1.22+1.09+0.87-0.07-0.07+1.96
1995#132Frank GarciaOFF+0.93+1.32+0.85-0.09-0.06+1.90
1987#29Nate OdomesDEF+0.68+1.38+0.72+0.54-0.37+1.83
2000#122Josh WilliamsDEF+1.11+1.05+0.72-0.02-0.01+1.79
1987#8Shane ConlanDEF-0.02+0.29+0.58+2.53-0.54+1.71
1992#27John FinaOFF+1.45+1.68+0.71-0.81-0.51+1.61
1987#109Leon SealsDEF+1.12+0.69+0.71-0.02-0.01+1.60
2004#125Jason DavidDEF+0.67+1.04+0.69-0.01-0.01+1.54
1996#106Norbert Davidds-GarridoOFF+0.91+0.73+0.65-0.02-0.01+1.46
1999#138Brad ScioliDEF+1.33+0.51+0.49-0.01-0.01+1.40
2001#220Rick DeMullingOFF+0.48+0.66+0.80-0.02-0.01+1.35
2007#136Clint SessionDEF+0.59+0.75+0.61-0.02-0.01+1.27
2010#63Pat AngererDEF+0.47+0.55+0.50+0.39+1.12-0.04-0.03+1.23
2010#240Kavell ConnerDEF+0.64+0.74+0.98+0.46-0.02-0.01+1.23
2006#199Charlie JohnsonOFF+0.58+0.57+0.66-0.07-0.05+1.18
2011#22Anthony CastonzoOFF+1.44+2.06+1.24+1.36-0.55-1.09-0.68+1.11
1997#228Kris MangumOFF+1.71+0.80-0.13-0.07-0.05+1.07
2004#141Jake ScottOFF+0.17+0.57+0.76-0.10-0.07+1.05
2009#127Austin CollieOFF+0.49+0.26+0.64-0.02-0.01+0.99
2006#94Freddy KeiahoDEF+0.66+0.41+0.43-0.02-0.02+0.94
2008#236Jamey RichardOFF+0.84+0.14+0.40-0.01-0.01+0.88
2009#56Fili MoalaDEF+0.79+0.79+0.76+0.53-0.30-0.03-0.01+0.87
2007#242Keyunta DawsonDEF+0.73+0.26+0.36-0.02-0.01+0.84
1992#139Matt DarbyDEF+0.70+0.37+0.30-0.02-0.01+0.81
2001#193Jason DoeringDEF+0.82+0.21+0.30-0.01-0.01+0.80
1987#78Jamie MuellerOFF+0.70+0.63+0.05-0.04-0.02+0.68
2005#173Tyjuan HaglerDEF+0.54+0.23+0.31-0.02-0.01+0.68
2003#58Mike DossDEF+0.22+0.59+0.30-0.05-0.03+0.66
2002#106David ThorntonDEF+0.31+0.51+0.23-0.08-0.06+0.57
2000#28Rob MorrisDEF+0.87+0.61+0.02-0.23-0.16+0.56
1989#193Chris HaleDEF+0.69-0.01+0.22-0.01-0.01+0.55
2005#60Kelvin HaydenDEF+0.55+0.33+0.20-0.14-0.10+0.52
1996#193Scott GreeneOFF+0.25+0.48+0.15-0.01-0.01+0.51
2006#238T.J. RushingDEF+0.56+0.04+0.22-0.01-0.01+0.51
2009#201Curtis PainterOFF+0.21+0.37+0.20-0.01+0.00+0.49
2002#42Larry TripplettDEF+0.50+0.18+0.16-0.05-0.02+0.46
2005#29Marlin JacksonDEF+0.49+0.23+0.13-0.05-0.03+0.45
1989#82Don BeebeOFF+0.41+0.22+0.25-0.18-0.10+0.42
2003#208Makoa FreitasOFF+0.36+0.01+0.24-0.01-0.01+0.42
1999#210Hunter SmithST+2.08-0.96+0.00-0.14-0.17+0.41
2004#229David KimballST-0.29+0.37+0.38-0.01-0.01+0.41
2001#91Cory BirdDEF+0.53-0.01+0.14-0.02-0.01+0.39
2008#59Mike PollakOFF+0.25+0.16+0.20-0.12-0.07+0.31
2004#193Jim SorgiOFF+0.18+0.02+0.22-0.01+0.00+0.31
2010#162Brody EldridgeOFF+0.13+0.27+0.12-0.02-0.01+0.31
1995#209Chad CotaDEF+0.27+0.01+0.18-0.03-0.02+0.29
1995#191Jerry ColquittOFF+0.01+0.22+0.18+0.00+0.00+0.29
1986#111Carl ByrumOFF+0.40+0.18+0.01-0.03-0.01+0.28
2001#37Idrees BashirDEF+0.05+0.52+0.08-0.10-0.07+0.27
1992#167Nate TurnerOFF+0.21-0.07+0.20-0.01+0.00+0.26
1998#93Steve McKinneyOFF-0.15+0.34+0.32-0.20-0.14+0.25
1990#154John NiesST-0.33+0.26+0.27-0.01-0.01+0.22
2008#196Tom SantiOFF-0.21+0.02+0.28-0.01-0.01+0.18
2007#42Tony UgohOFF+0.07+0.02+0.18-0.05-0.03+0.18
2008#202Mike HartOFF+0.12+0.06+0.10-0.01-0.01+0.18
1995#249Michael ReedDEF-0.15+0.10+0.14+0.00+0.00+0.12
2000#238Rodregis BrooksDEF-0.12+0.08+0.13-0.01+0.00+0.11
2003#122Steve SciulloOFF-0.18+0.03+0.19-0.02-0.01+0.11
2004#173Von HutchinsDEF+0.08-0.01+0.08-0.01-0.01+0.10
1992#83Keith GoganiousDEF+0.41-0.12-0.03-0.02-0.01+0.10
1985#14Derrick BurroughsDEF+0.37+0.22-0.14-0.08-0.05+0.10
1988#135Kirk RoachST-0.49+0.20+0.22-0.01-0.01+0.06
1996#234Kerry HicksDEF-0.23+0.11+0.12+0.00+0.00+0.06
2000#235Rob RenesDEF-0.23+0.10+0.12+0.00+0.00+0.06
1998#231Corey GainesDEF-0.25+0.08+0.12-0.01+0.00+0.04
2011#188Chris RuckerDEF-0.08+0.01+0.06-0.01-0.01+0.01
2004#69Gilbert GardnerDEF+0.15-0.01-0.05-0.03-0.02+0.00
2002#182David PughDEF-0.24+0.04+0.10-0.01+0.00+0.00
1998#71E.G. GreenOFF+0.09-0.18+0.06-0.02-0.01-0.00
2007#32Anthony GonzalezOFF+0.11-0.29+0.13-0.06-0.03-0.01
2010#238Ricardo MathewsDEF+0.53-0.17+1.17-0.03-0.98-0.02-0.01-0.02
1996#217Donnell BakerOFF-0.26+0.08+0.06-0.01+0.00-0.04
1997#189Matt FinkesDEF-0.31+0.04+0.08-0.01+0.00-0.05
2005#243Anthony DavisOFF-0.29+0.12+0.04-0.01-0.01-0.05
1995#188Steve StrahanDEF-0.31+0.04+0.07-0.01+0.00-0.06
2002#204Brian AllenOFF-0.23+0.09+0.02-0.01-0.01-0.06
1996#73Winslow OliverOFF+0.29-0.23-0.08-0.03-0.02-0.07
2009#92Jerraud PowersDEF-0.23+0.32-0.02-0.12-0.09-0.08
1985#141Mike HambyDEF-0.11-0.10+0.00-0.01+0.00-0.11
1999#250Corey TerryDEF-0.30+0.03+0.02-0.01+0.00-0.12
1986#180Butch RolleOFF+1.16-0.58-0.37-0.06-0.03-0.12
2002#183James LewisDEF-0.35-0.01+0.06-0.01-0.01-0.13
2010#246Ray FisherDEF-0.33+0.00+0.05-0.01-0.01-0.13
1990#181Fred DeRiggiDEF-0.35+0.01+0.03-0.01+0.00-0.14
2002#74Joe JeffersonDEF+0.03-0.17-0.06-0.02-0.01-0.15
2011#119Delone CarterOFF+0.01-0.10-0.08-0.03-0.02-0.15
2000#91David MacklinDEF+0.17+0.07-0.16-0.12-0.09-0.15
1996#8Tim BiakabutukaOFF+0.01-0.13+0.04-0.18-0.11-0.16
1991#194Amir RasulOFF-0.35+0.08-0.01-0.01-0.01-0.16
1986#168Bob WilliamsOFF-0.48-0.12+0.14-0.01-0.01-0.17
2001#152Raymond WallsDEF-0.31-0.06+0.02-0.01-0.01-0.17
1985#169Ron PittsDEF-0.11-0.18-0.02-0.02-0.01-0.19
2005#148Jonathan WelshDEF-0.29-0.08-0.02-0.01+0.00-0.21
1989#173Brian JordanDEF-0.39-0.04+0.02-0.01-0.01-0.21
2007#169Roy HallOFF-0.24-0.06-0.05-0.01-0.01-0.21
1998#135Antony JordanDEF-0.15-0.08-0.09-0.01-0.01-0.22
2009#236Jaimie ThomasOFF-0.14-0.18-0.05-0.01-0.01-0.22
1987#171Kerry PorterOFF-0.29+0.00-0.08-0.02-0.01-0.23
1988#184Bo WrightOFF-0.40+0.04-0.05-0.01-0.01-0.24
2005#202Dave RaynerST-0.40-0.03+0.00-0.02-0.02-0.24
2007#95Dante HughesDEF-0.02-0.27-0.07-0.02-0.01-0.24
1991#166Millard HamiltonOFF-0.37-0.02-0.03-0.01-0.01-0.24
1995#171Andrew PetersonOFF-0.27-0.14-0.05-0.01-0.01-0.26
2003#162Keyon WhitesideDEF-0.19-0.13-0.10-0.01-0.01-0.27
2007#131Brannon CondrenDEF-0.31-0.16-0.02-0.01-0.01-0.27
2008#201Steve JusticeOFF-0.19-0.19-0.07-0.01-0.01-0.27
1989#164Sean DoctorOFF-0.43+0.01-0.06-0.01-0.01-0.28
1995#135Michael SentersDEF-0.44-0.09-0.01-0.01-0.01-0.28
1995#36Shawn KingDEF+0.17-0.46-0.12-0.03-0.01-0.29
1996#142Marquette SmithOFF-0.43-0.01-0.06-0.01-0.01-0.29
1997#87Kinnon TatumDEF+0.10-0.31-0.17-0.02-0.01-0.29
2009#27Donald BrownOFF+0.25-0.46-0.10+0.01-0.29-0.15-0.31
1991#138Shawn WilbournDEF-0.45-0.10-0.03-0.01-0.01-0.31
1990#69Glenn ParkerOFF+0.34+0.14-0.06-0.61-0.39-0.32
1997#122Tarek SalehDEF-0.21-0.17-0.12-0.01-0.01-0.32
1998#190Aaron TaylorOFF-0.33-0.16-0.07-0.01-0.01-0.32
1990#100Eddie FullerOFF-0.09-0.15-0.19-0.02-0.01-0.33
1989#137Michael AndrewsDEF-0.47-0.12-0.04-0.01-0.01-0.34
2000#59Marcus WashingtonDEF-0.05+0.12-0.20-0.21-0.15-0.35
1985#130Jimmy TealOFF-0.33-0.13-0.12-0.02-0.01-0.36
2008#161Marcus HowardDEF-0.31-0.18-0.10-0.01-0.01-0.36
2008#205Pierre GarconOFF-0.22+0.06-0.15-0.17-0.13-0.38
1990#170Brent CollinsDEF-0.47-0.11-0.10-0.01-0.01-0.40
2007#98Quinn PitcockDEF-0.37-0.21-0.11-0.02-0.01-0.41
1992#111Frank KmetDEF-0.50-0.14-0.08-0.01-0.01-0.41
2011#87Drake NevisDEF-0.34-0.25-0.11-0.03-0.01-0.42
2009#136Terrance TaylorDEF-0.51-0.15-0.08-0.01-0.01-0.42
1999#96Paul MirandaDEF-0.42-0.21-0.11-0.02-0.01-0.43
1988#123Ezekial GadsonDEF-0.52-0.16-0.08-0.01-0.01-0.43
2010#94Kevin ThomasDEF-0.43-0.18-0.11-0.03-0.02-0.44
1997#27Rae CarruthOFF-0.29-0.07-0.23-0.05-0.02-0.45
1988#177Tim BorckyOFF-0.40-0.22-0.14-0.01-0.01-0.46
1990#166Brent GriffithOFF-0.40-0.23-0.13-0.01-0.01-0.46
2002#220Josh MallardDEF-0.35-0.28-0.15-0.01-0.01-0.47
2005#165Robert HuntOFF-0.42-0.25-0.13-0.01-0.01-0.47
2007#173Michael CoeDEF-0.47-0.24-0.11-0.02-0.01-0.48
1988#150Dan MurrayDEF-0.53-0.17-0.15-0.01-0.01-0.51
1989#109John KolesarOFF-0.53-0.17-0.16-0.02-0.01-0.52
1996#88J.C. PriceDEF-0.55-0.21-0.13-0.01-0.01-0.52
2000#138Matt JohnsonOFF-0.44-0.27-0.15-0.01-0.01-0.52
2005#92Vincent BurnsDEF-0.58-0.24-0.15-0.02-0.01-0.57
1991#82Darryl WrenDEF-0.61-0.27-0.18-0.02-0.01-0.64
1992#55James PattonDEF-0.38-0.38-0.25-0.02-0.01-0.65
2004#107Kendyll PopeDEF-0.57-0.27-0.22-0.02-0.01-0.66
1986#77Leonard BurtonOFF+0.32-0.68-0.42-0.09-0.04-0.67
2006#162Michael ToudouzeOFF-0.41-0.41-0.27-0.02-0.01-0.70
2008#127Jacob TammeOFF+0.05-0.56-0.34-0.14-0.08-0.71
1990#42Carwell GardnerOFF+0.60-0.29-0.69-0.25-0.13-0.72
1995#29Blake BrockermeyerOFF-0.26+0.00-0.33-0.34-0.20-0.73
1998#32Jerome PathonOFF-0.29-0.27-0.30-0.21-0.11-0.74
1986#20Will WolfordOFF-0.25+0.31-0.05-0.11-1.46-0.80
1985#63Hal GarnerDEF+0.40-0.79-0.56-0.11-0.06-0.85
1990#16James WilliamsDEF-0.04-0.40-0.51-0.17-0.11-0.87
1988#65Bernard FordOFF-0.68-0.36-0.33-0.03-0.01-0.87
2008#93Philip WheelerDEF-0.05-0.43-0.51-0.20-0.15-0.92
2005#135Matt GiordanoDEF+0.03-0.69-0.51-0.09-0.08-0.93
2005#129Dylan GandyOFF-0.30-0.67-0.36-0.12-0.08-0.94
1985#29Mark TraynowiczOFF+0.16-0.87-0.60-0.07-0.03-1.00
1999#63Brandon BurlsworthOFF-0.67-0.53-0.38-0.03-0.01-1.00
1985#42Chris BurkettOFF-0.32-0.36-0.41-0.40-0.19-1.04
2010#129Jacques McClendonOFF-0.66-0.56-0.42-0.04-0.02-1.06
1996#111Emmanuel McDanielDEF-0.67-0.55-0.42-0.06-0.05-1.08
1986#178Mark PikeDEF+2.04-1.55-1.14-0.25-0.15-1.10
2003#90Donald StricklandDEF-1.02-0.64-0.65-0.13-0.10-1.60
2006#62Tim JenningsDEF-0.47-0.75-0.71-0.33-0.25-1.61
2011#49Ben IjalanaOFF-1.15-1.09-0.90-0.17-0.10-2.16
1987#33Roland MitchellDEF-1.14-1.16-1.00-0.22-0.14-2.33
2004#68Ben HartsockOFF-1.20-1.24-1.02-0.33-0.17-2.49
1985#57Frank ReichOFF-0.19-1.80-1.83-0.98-0.19-3.41
1987#60David BrandonDEF-2.09-1.61-1.62-0.56-0.39-3.95
1999#36Mike PetersonDEF-1.48-0.88-1.42-1.59-1.41-4.10
1995#22Tyrone PooleDEF-1.74-1.25-1.56-1.78-1.60-4.74
1986#16Ronnie HarmonOFF-1.14-1.72-1.41-2.46-1.45-4.80
2010#31Jerry HughesDEF-2.19-2.46-2.56-2.59-1.59-6.98
1985#112Dale HellestraeOFF-2.69-2.80-3.04-1.47-1.20-7.12
1995#5Kerry CollinsOFF-2.37-2.19-2.98-3.70-1.18-7.70

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