Chase Aldous

Data Analytics & Visualization

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chaseabb2@gmail.com

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Mapping the NFL Draft: A Data-Driven Look at Player Origins (2010-2022)

In today’s sports world, data visualization plays a crucial role in uncovering patterns and insights that might not be immediately obvious. As part of my Data Analytics & Visualization coursework, I created an interactive map using SQL for data processing and Datawrapper for visualization, highlighting where NFL draft picks from 2010 to 2022 originated.

This project allowed me to analyze trends, structure large datasets, and create a compelling visual representation of how different states—and even countries—have contributed to the NFL talent pool.

The Insights: Where Do NFL Players Come From?

By analyzing 3,320 draft picks, I uncovered key trends in player origins:

🏆 Top Player-Producing States:

  • Florida: 397 picks (The nation’s leader in NFL talent production)
  • Texas: 387 picks (A powerhouse in high school and college football)
  • California: 343 picks (A major recruiting ground for top programs)

📉 Lowest Player-Producing States:

  • Vermont: 0 picks (No players drafted during this period)
  • Alaska & Maine: 1 pick each (Minimal football presence)

🌍 Beyond the U.S.:

  • Canada: 16 players drafted
  • Other international players: 57 total, proving that the NFL Draft has a global reach.

The Process: From Raw Data to Interactive Visualization

To build this interactive map, I followed a structured data analytics workflow:

📊 Data Collection & Cleaning (SQL Processing)
I queried data from NFL draft records, using SQL to:

  • Filter and clean raw draft data, ensuring accuracy in player locations.
  • Group players by state and country, counting the total picks from each region.
  • Rank states based on draft picks, allowing for an easy-to-read comparison.

🗺 Creating the Map with Datawrapper
Once the data was processed in SQL, I imported the cleaned dataset into Datawrapper to create an interactive, color-coded map.

  • Hover-over tooltips allow users to see exact draft numbers for each state.
  • A heat map effect visually highlights the top talent-producing regions.

Why This Matters: The Power of Data in Sports

This project reinforced how data analytics can tell powerful stories in sports. By simply mapping draft picks, we can:

  • See the dominance of certain regions in producing NFL talent.
  • Identify underrepresented states where football development could grow.
  • Understand international growth, showing where the NFL is expanding its reach.

Final Thoughts

Through SQL-powered data processing and interactive visualization with Datawrapper, I transformed raw NFL Draft data into a compelling data-driven sports analysis. This project deepened my skills in database management, query optimization, and visual storytelling, proving how valuable data analytics can be in uncovering insights across industries.

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