As the 2026 NFL Draft concludes, a new player is influencing team decisions—not a scout or coach, but artificial intelligence. In a recent episode of the IntoTexas AI podcast, host Shannon Belew explored how the NFL is leveraging AI to evaluate players, simulate draft scenarios, and gain a competitive edge.
However, the Dallas Cowboys are taking a less flashy but more strategic approach. Led by CIO Matt Messick, the organization is focusing on breaking down data silos, modernizing hardware for scouting workloads, and building a unified data platform to power AI at scale.
"The future of AI isn't about who has the best model. It's about who builds the best foundation."
The episode delved into how AI is already transforming the draft process, what experts and team executives think about its impact, and why many teams may be focusing on the wrong aspects of AI. For business leaders, the Cowboys' infrastructure-first strategy offers a key lesson: long-term success with AI depends on a solid data foundation, not just the latest algorithms.