What You Should Know About the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft has always been a vital part of the sport. It has been evolving since 1936 when the first NFL Draft was held in Philadelphia at the Ritz-Carlton. Before, the event included 30 rounds, and now it is down to seven rounds. And because of this shrinking format, it has exploded in popularity over the years.

For years, the draft was also held behind the scenes, but today it has become an event made for the TV, which is why the NFL Draft was also able to push on despite the pandemic. The event was a beacon of hope and joy for NFL fans because they get to see how their favorite teams will play out. 

The NFL Draft

This event gives hope to NFL teams, especially those who had poor win-loss records in their previous season. It is held in April, and it allows teams to improve their roster by adding the most talented players and college players in the world. 

There are three common methods for how NFL teams develop their player rosters: trading their players from other teams and drafting college players who are eligible for the NFL draft and free-agent signings. The event also occurs for two days, wherein all 32 teams take their turns selecting players.  

Another thing to consider is that the draft consists of seven rounds. Rounds one to three take place on Saturday, while four to seven happens on Sunday. There is an average of 32 picks on each round, which means each team has approximately one pick per round. Also, picks per team vary since, for instance, teams can trade their draft picks to other teams. 

What is On the Clock?

A new clock starts ticking after the game clock at the Super Bowl expires. This clock is the one that ticks down to the first player selected in the NFL Draft in April. When an NFL team is on the clock, they have the next selection in the draft and have a set amount of time to make a selection. The team with the first selection is also on the clock from the end of January. The clock will then begin for real on draft day. 

During the NFL draft, one team is always on the clock. Teams also have fifteen minutes to make their choice in round one. In the second, it decreases to ten minutes, and then in the third round to the seventh round, it drops down to five minutes. If an NFL team cannot decide on the specified time, the next team can pick before them, and the team that missed their turn can submit their selection at any time before the time is up. It is also important to note that the NFL team’s draft position is based on the success or loss they achieved on the field during the previous year. That’s why the NFL team that had the worst record will have the first pick of each round, and the Super Bowl champion will have the last pick.  

How do they pick their NFL players?

When it comes to choosing their players, NFL teams assess abilities and talent months if not years before the draft. Scouts, general managers, and coaches collect statistics and notes through their evaluation of hundreds of college football’s best players before making their selection. Another instance where they can get familiar with the players is in the NFL Scouting Combine that happens in February. This is the event where more than 300 of the top eligible players are invited to showcase their abilities.  

After making assessments of the players, the NFL teams will then make their wish lists for those they want to draft. On draft day, the team’s key personnel will huddle together in a room that’s also known as the War Room, and it is in there that they finally decide whom to draft. There are even NFL teams that may decide on their first-round selection far in advance of the draft and settle on contract terms with the player, which means that the draft will only become a formality. 

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