The NFL Draft used to be a very exciting event. We all waited in awe to see who would be selected with the first overall pick. The top players would be on pins and needles in New York wondering which team they would start their NFL careers with. Now the first pick is known prior to the draft. In some cases, the first few are known. With the advent of social networking, the news spreads quickly.
I was working for the Detroit Lions in 2009 and we had the first pick in that year’s NFL Draft. Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez were considered the top quarterbacks that year, but there was not a heated contest between the two. By March of 2009, everyone knew that we were going to draft Stafford. The evening before the 2009 NFL draft there were conversations about his contract. Draft day was anticlimactic.
This year it is even worse. Robert Griffin III (RG3) from Baylor is expected to be drafted by the Washington Redskins with the second overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. This past weekend the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner was in Washington, DC area at an expo signing autographs, meeting fans and taking pictures. It would be cool if he was doing this with other teams and building the anticipation of where he will play, but he is not. The appearance was a welcoming, not a visit.
Since we all know who the first two picks are, why do we need to watch the draft? Debates among your friends will not end with the first pick. There will not be any drama from shocked or disappointing facial expressions. If you like seeing your favorite players in his new team hat, you can get the picture from the NFL’s fan page on Facebook. (They will post it immediately. The NFL is very good with social media.)
The Indianapolis Colts have the first overall pick in this year’s draft. Everyone expects them to take Andrew Luck, a quarterback from Stanford. Maybe they will bring back some spice to the NFL draft and surprise us by selecting someone else. If they did, I would watch the rest of the draft.
Ciao!
Heels & Helmets
