A Rookie's Guide to the NFL Draft

If you are from anywhere outside of the USA, chances are, the only American Football you've ever watched is the annual Super Bowl. Despite this, one of the most important dates in the NFL diary is the Draft. This year, the event will take place in Las Vegas, commencing on the 28th April 2022, and concluding on 30th April 2022. With more non-Americans getting into the sport each year, I have developed 'A Rookie's Guide to the NFL Draft.'

So... What is it?

The National Football League Draft (NFL Draft) or (officially) the Player Selection Meeting, is an annual event which serves as the league's most prominent form of player recruitment. The draft allows the clubs (or franchises, as it's known in the US) to select newly eligible players, in order to bolster their squad. To be classified 'eligible' players must have been out of high school for at least 3 years. Rules state players do not have to attend college, but almost all selected players have played college football - whether this be in the US or Canada. Occasionally players are selected from other leagues across the world too, and in rare, but not unseen cases, players have been drafted from colleges where they have played a different sport entirely.

Each of the 32 NFL teams are given a position in the drafting order; relative to the record of the team in the previous season. The lowest ranked team of the previous campaign will pick first, and the Super Bowl winners will pick last. This means the best college players will be chosen by the 'worst' NFL teams allowing the league to constantly rebalance itself.

For example:

The Cincinnati Bengals hadn't been to a Super Bowl since 1988. Instead, they found themselves towards the front of the draft, most years. In 2020, with the first pick of the draft, the Bengals selected highly-rated quarterback, Joe Burrow. After tearing his MCL and ACL in week 11 of the 2020 season, the Bengals finished the season at the bottom of their division. This meant, in terms of the draft, they had 5th overall pick. They selected the highest-rated college wide-receiver in Ja'Marr Chase. Skip to February 2022 - the Cincinnati Bengals progress to the Super Bowl. This is a prime example of how the NFL gives all teams an opportunity to reach the top.

From this position, teams can either select a player, or trade their position with another team for other draft positions, player(s), or any combination similar. There are 7 rounds in which teams can make their picks, spanning across two days.

For example, hypothetically speaking:

1) The Arizona Cardinals are in 5th position to pick. They have highlighted the need for a Wide Receiver on their team, and have identified an eligible, undrafted player from Ohio State University. A phone call is made to the player, who is now a Cardinal.

2) The Minnesota Vikings are in 14th position to pick. No undrafted players take their fancy in this round. Instead, they want a player that the Green Bay Packers have. The Vikings will attempt a deal, that may contain trading positions in future drafts that will benefit the Packers, in order to bring the player to the franchise.

3) In the last draft, the Chicago Bears traded their 25th and 170th overall picks to the Miami Dolphins, in exchange for an 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft.

When it is a franchise's turn to make their pick, they are then "on the clock". Throughout the duration of the draft, there is always one team "on the clock". Teams have 10 minutes to make their choice in the first round; 7 minutes in the second round; 5 minutes in the third through sixth rounds, and 4 minutes in the seventh round. But what if they run out of time, I hear you ask? If this occurs, the team can still submit their selection any time past the allotted time, but the next team will continue with their pick. They can, in which case, steal the player the previous team was considering.

For example:

The Kansas City Chiefs are considering picking the cornerback out of the University of Florida, when their time expires. The next team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are now "on the clock". They've identified the need for a cornerback, and have approached the University of Florida player. As the Chiefs hadn't completed the pick, the player goes to the Buccaneers.

But, players must prove their worth before the draft...

Before players can be drafted, they are invited to prove their physical and mental ability in what is called the NFL Combine. Here, all eligible players have an opportunity to show off what they can do, in a range of fitness tests, tactical/technical examinations, and comprehension papers. At the Combine, scouts and representatives from each team watch the athletes closely, identifying who would fit best in their squad. Players will aim to impress the key personnel, to boost their chances of securing selection when the draft rolls around.

How does the draft look this year?

With any luck, I've intrigued you enough to have a slight interest in this years draft. If that's the case, here's some information about the 2022 NFL Draft!

As mentioned previously, the event will be held in Las Vegas; who were supposed to host in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the draft to be held via video conference. For the second year in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the first selection. Generally speaking, as quarterbacks are the most influential member of the team, they tend to be chosen first. However, analysts believe that there are no 'stand-out' QB's this year, making for what could be an interesting first few picks.

If you choose to watch the draft this year, the name analysts believe will be called first is Evan Neal. Neal plays in the Offensive Tackle position, and the last time an OT was selected first in the draft was back in 2013.

A summary:

Essentially, the NFL Draft is like when you'd choose your team at lunchtime at primary school. You just take it in turns to pick players, until there is no one left. But of course, with a lot more money, players, and teams involved!

If you enjoyed/learned anything from this guide, please let me know on twitter! I can be found @_MiaClaydon!