The NFL draft is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events in the United States and worldwide every year, with fans itching to see what top prospects their teams manage to sign up. That being said, the NFL draft process can be slightly confusing to those new to the sport. In today’s article, we will demystify the NFL process, from the fans at the event to the war room, what “on the clock” actually means, and who “Mr. Irellevant” is.
NFL Draft Rounds: How it Goes Down
The NFL draft consists of several rounds, much like an avid wagerer would take part in an entertaining game of online slots composed of multiple rounds; NFL teams take their gambles on up-and-coming prospects fresh out of the college football game. Round one will typically be held on the Thursday of the week the draft takes place, rounds two and three on Friday, and rounds four through seven on Saturday. The average NFL draft round will consist of 32 picks; this allows each team approximately one pick per round. Nevertheless, some teams may have more than one pick per round, and some teams may not have a pick in a round.
But why do these picks vary between the teams? Draft picks can be traded to other teams, and the NFL can also award additional picks to a team if it loses players designated as restricted free agents. For example, a free agent is a player whose contract has expired and who is eligible to sign with another team in the NFL. On the other hand, a restricted free agent is a player a team can make an offer for; however, the current team can choose to match that offer. If the current team chooses not to match the offer, they can receive compensation as an NFL draft pick. This compensatory pick is awarded on the net loss of restricted agents.
The Selection Process: On The Clock
The Super Bowl ends, and one team is basking in the glory of achieving the pinnacle of American football. Nevertheless, this is when the clock starts ticking for the NFL draft. When an NFL team is on the clock, it simply means that it has the next selection in the NFL draft and a set amount of time to make the decision. During the NFL draft, one team is always on the clock, with teams having 10 minutes to make their decisions in round one. This decision-making time drops to seven minutes in the second round and five minutes in rounds three through six, ending with four minutes to decide in round seven.
Suppose a team fails to make its decision while on the clock in the NFL draft; it will lose its pick to the next team making its pick. However, the team that failed to decide will still be able to submit its decision but run the risk of the player opting to join the other team. A team’s position in the NFL draft is based on its performance in the previous NFL campaign. For example, the team who finished bottom with the least NFL points will get the first pick in the NFL draft for the next upcoming season.
Nonplayoff sides also get to have picks before sides that made the playoffs of the previous season; if teams share the same record, there is a standard criterion for breaking ties. For example, the strength of the schedule, combined with the win-loss record of the teams they played, the team whose opponents had the lower winning record goes first. If there’s still a tie, divisional and conference records are compared. Other metrics are compared if there’s still a tie, culminating in a coin toss if all else fails. The player chosen last in the NFL draft is given the questionable moniker of “Mr. Irrelevant.” Although this sounds unwanted, Mr. Irrelevant is among the most celebrated players in the yearly draft.
Fans at the NFL Draft
Millions of fans tune in to watch the NFL draft yearly. However, a lucky select few get to attend the event and cheer on their team while decisions are being carefully cultivated in the war rooms of each team. These fans jeer and cheer just as they would from the stands of their home stadium, bringing an extra entertaining element to the draft. The NFL draft is always held in April, the halfway point between the Super Bowl and the training camps of teams for the new season kicking off in July. This gives a chance for fans attending the draft and watching at home to not worry about missing out on any action their favorite team might be playing in. Overall, the draft is one of the most entertaining and exciting parts of being in the NFL, making the football landscape a far fairer and even playing field for the upcoming seasons.