Tony Khan Explains How Analytics Help Jaguars Find Undrafted Free Agents

From Mike Hilton to James Robinson to Tre Herndon, analytics have played a big role in the Jaguars' undrafted free-agent success.

There is no questioning the impact the analytics movement has had on sports over the past several decades, specifically the impact it has had on the NFL.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner and Chief Football Strategy Officer Tony Khan explained one specific area he thinks the Jaguars have excelled in when it comes to finding an edge.

Speaking with Cam Newton on the 4th&1 Podcast, Khan was asked by Newton if the increase of the usage of analytics in NFL circles has been good or bad for the sport. As Khan noted, analytics have directly impacted how he and the Jaguars have found several diamonds in the rough.

"I'll give you great examples of where it can be good. All right, there's multiple players I've identified using a mix of analytics and scouting, but largely analytics-based, that are like for undrafted free agency, which is kind of like where I've like kind of carved out over the years, where I've done good stuff in the league," Khan said. "And like so just a good example. We have a player on our roster that we signed out of the draft last year that I called up and signed [on] purely analytics."

"Everything in football is numbers, you know what I mean? Look at your percentages on fourth and one and your conversion rates and why that made sense. And why like, all the sneaks you picked up and all the and all the quarterback runs made sense. And like, you know, I do think analytics has made the game better. I truly do. But I think it has to be like, implemented well by people who understand and love football." 

Khan then went into maybe the best example of how he has implemented analytics within the Jaguars' scouting department: Mike Hilton.

Today, Hilton is known as one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL. He caught on with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016 and helped anchor their secondary for several seasons before becoming a key cog in the Cincinnati Bengals' defense. 

But before then, Hilton was a Jaguar who Khan signed out of college as an undrafted free agent. Hilton spent the 2016 training camp with the Jaguars before being cut in the final round of roster cuts.

"And like Mike Hilton is a good example of a player. Mike Hilton now has had a great career," Khan said. I found Mike Hilton, and he got cut by the coaching staff. Like I think I was right on that one. And it's been proven right, because he's like one of the best nickel corners in the NFL. And like we had Mike Hilton and we cut him in camp." 

Hilton isn't the only example of Khan and the Jaguars using analytics to find their edge, though he may be the best. There have been others like Corey Grant, James Robinson, and currently Elijah Cooks.

"And so like I do believe like analytics can make it better. But it's all about how it gets used. Jarrod Wilson had a really good career with us. He made plays in the playoffs against the Steelers and we won that game, and the Patriots and like, you know, was a good DB out of Michigan that I found with analytics and signed for like 7,500 bucks guaranteed after the draft," Khan said. 

"And so there's good examples of it. Tre Herndon has been with us for many years out of Vanderbilt. Same thing. I do think it can but again, it's about how it gets used."