The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

Live from Lambeau Field: Oral Roberts University and St. Norbert College

• By Michael Mathews, Marc Belanger
• 04/16/25

This year, the NFL Draft will be held in Tittle Town, USA, on April 24-26, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. I grew up 30 miles from Green Bay as a young boy and never missed a game. Years later, I connected with Marc Belanger, an incredible chief information officer of St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. Marc and I first met at a Packers game and were reconnected through the ed tech company Ready Education, a mobile student app drafted by great institutions like Yale, Oral Roberts University, St. Norbert College, Oxford, Arizona State University, and 722 other campuses worldwide.

In honor of the 2025 NFL draft, the reality that Steve Jobs was conceived in Green Bay, WI, and that St. Norbert College is a stone's throw from Lambeau Field — Marc Belanger and I decided to write an article showing the strategic parallel of selecting NFL players and selecting right higher education software. 

In the fast-evolving landscape of collegiate football, the NFL, and higher education, one might not immediately draw connections between the 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of proper educational technology for a college campus. However, upon closer examination, both processes share striking similarities: a rigorous assessment of needs, long-term strategic impact, talent, or tool evaluation, financial considerations, and adaptability to a dynamic future. Just as NFL franchises meticulously analyze potential players to strengthen their teams, universities must choose (draft) the right technologies to enhance learning and increase student success, accessibility, and overall institutional engagement.  

Drafting for a Purpose: Identifying Needs and Goals 

The first step in the NFL Draft and education technology selection is identifying immediate and long-term objectives. NFL teams evaluate their roster to determine where gaps exist — do they need a quarterback to lead their franchise, a lineman to protect their assets, or a defensive force to stop opposing offenses? Similarly, colleges must assess their technological needs. Are students demanding more interactive learning tools? Do professors require seamless integration of artificial intelligence for research purposes? Is the administration prioritizing data security and accessibility?

For an NFL team, the wrong draft pick can mean years of mediocrity, wasted salary cap space, and frustrated fans. For a university, selecting an outdated or incompatible technology can lead to inefficient learning, frustrated faculty members, and disengaged students. Thoughtful planning and alignment with organizational goals are fundamental to making the right choice.  

Scouting the Talent vs. Evaluating Technology

NFL franchises dedicate months to scouting college athletes, watching films, conducting interviews, and analyzing performance data to determine the best prospects fit their system. Universities undergo a similar process when evaluating education technologies. They must compare features, watch demos/films, usability, integration with existing tools, scalability, cost, and support services.  

Consider how an NFL team examines physical and mental attributes in a player — agility, endurance, work ethic, salary caps, and adaptability under pressure. A college evaluating education technology looks at usability, student engagement, technical support availability, customization capabilities, and adaptability to new learning models. The wrong choice could lead to poor performance, budget caps, and inefficiency in both scenarios.