re: How Much Difference Between 4 star and 5 Star Recruits

The maximum number of players on an NFL active roster is 53. There are 32 NFL teams, so a maximum of 1,606 players on active rosters. The average length of an NFL career is 3.3 years (Google), obviously varying by position.

So, mathematically, excluding practice squads and injured reserve, on average, teams will have a complete roster turnover every 3.3 years, and the league as a whole will turn over 514 players per year.

The rating services only award 32 5-stars (the number of first-round draft picks). Where do the other 482 players come from? Answer: four, three, two, one and no star players. That means there isn't much difference between five stars and four (or three, etc.)

I wrote on here some time back that I didn't think the average Joe in the stands could tell the difference between a five-star and a four and got roasted for it. I still believe that's mostly true, with the exception of a few really outstanding players in skill positions.