Why We Love The NFL Draft
“Hi I’m Joey and I’m a draftaholic.”
”Hi Joey,” says the likes of Mike Mayock, Mel Kiper Jr., and Todd McShay in unison somewhere far, far away from Radio City Music Hall.
The popularity of the NFL draft has skyrocketed over the last decade to the point where it’s drawing in more viewers than a World Series game. Since February 2nd, most avid football fans have searched, “2015 NFL Mock Draft” hundreds of times. Some sites have even gone so far as to making 2016 mocks (a behavior I don’t condone). But why do people seemingly lose their mind in excitement and anxiety over this annual event? With the draft only a matter of hours away, let’s relish in all the things we love about it.
1) Hope
As cheesy as it sounds, we love the feeling that things are going to turn around if our team hits a homerun with their pick. Fans of perennial losers, like the Jaguars, aren’t delusional and don’t expect their team to immediately contend over one draft, but fans of these teams often look to the draft as the turning point. The draft provides a sense of hope that “next year is our year.”
2) Booing Jets fans
Jet’s Fans at the Draft – AP Photo
And I don’t mean booing the Jets fans (though many do that as well), but I mean the consistently overcritical Jet’s fans that attend the NFL draft each year. Even though this year’s draft is being held in Chicago, I’m still holding out hope that a caravan of Jets fans show up to the draft for their annual booing of everything and anything. No matter the circumstance, you can always count on the Jets faithful to boo every pick or, perhaps, the time it takes Roger Goodell to get to the podium to announce picks. If my wish doesn’t come true, da Bears fans should try to continue the legacy. Just saying, you do have quite a bit to boo about, so why not start at the draft?
3) Unpredictability
Even though thousands of mock drafts are made each year, anything could happen. The draft is the most dramatic, non-TV series or movie on television. From the weeping of Vernon Davis to the awkwardness of Aaron Rodgers in the green room as he slipped in the draft, people are kept on the edge of their seats throughout. Another unpredictable aspect of the draft is that it’s near impossible to predict the success of a prospect in the NFL. Players drafted in the first round could bust, and no-names in the seventh could become hall of famers.
4) Non-stop analysis from Mel Kiper and Mike Mayock
Mike Mayock – SI Photo
This might be my favorite part of the draft. No matter the player, these two know everything about the kid. People should be watching in awe at the depth of knowledge these two draft gurus spill during the draft for 15 minutes between picks. They might go a little overboard, and they might end up being dead wrong, but I’m always entertained and impressed nonetheless.
5) Instant analysis and speculation from the Football Garbage Time staff
OK, so you didn’t think there wouldn’t be some self promotion, did you? Make sure to look for analysis and predictions on twitter from me @joeyalibro as well as the rest of the writers here at Football Garbage Time.