Another year of the NFL Draft has come and gone. Another year of incorrect mock drafts, trades, and notable players slipping. It's the same story played out on live TV every single year and yet we keep coming back for it because of our obsession with all things NFL.
The numbers back that up too. According to @SportsTVRatings on Twitter, the first round of the NFL Draft averaged 10.03 million viewers. Pretty incredible when you consider the fact that nothing actually happens at a draft, other than players getting their names called.
But I wonder if the coverage of the event has actually gone a step too far. Let me start by saying, I love the draft. I've watched it every year since I was probably about 10 years old. I read mock drafts all year long, I even fumble through making my own on an annual basis. Clearly, I'm not averse to hyping up the NFL Draft. I am their audience. At least I used to be the type of fan they were going after.
I think the NFL, over the years, has become so concerned with captivating the casual audience. For several years now (excluding the 2020 pandemic draft), the NFL has taken its show on the road and away from its original hub in New York City. The change from a single, solitary location to expansive crowds and different cities, has taken the draft from a big event to a cultural phenomenon. It's amazing to see large crowds of NFL fans gather, packing whatever venue they hold the draft in, like this year, lining the Las Vegas Strip. The backdrop of the Bellagio was gorgeous. But, with that expanded popularity, the NFL is getting further and further away from what made the draft such a draw.
The NFL Draft is about the players, it's about the stories, it's about the drama of who will get taken where and by who. The draft isn't about watching some bad Weezer concert. Yes, there was a Weezer concert on my TV screen.
Day 2 actually started with the world's most awkward Chris Angel magic show, and the look on Roger Goodell's face as Angel is making his way out of a straight jacket, was one of pure confusion. Welcome to the club, Roger! All of us at home were confused as well. Or even to the NFL legends who get up on the podium and make the pick all about themselves.
By now, I hope you've seen Ed Marinaro's clip of his announcement of the Vikings 2nd round pick. It was classic, only because of how bad it was. Marinaro went on about his playing career, not wanting to get drafted by the Vikings, pontificated some more, even cracked some jokes, and then eventually got the proverbial and literal hook from one of the NFL producers. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, and more than anything, it's a detraction from the special moment that was supposed to be about the 42nd overall pick. It was Andrew Booth Jr. out of Clemson, not that anyone will remember that.
ABC's coverage took laughable to a whole other level, interviewing actors who pretended to be fans of particular teams, or WWE Superstars arguing over whose team was better. The NFL Draft, as a TV product, has become far more about entertainment than the players themselves, and I don't think the TV audience is into it as much as the NFL thinks it is.
Remember those numbers we talked about earlier? 10 million is a lot of people, but for the NFL Draft, it's down significantly. The first round alone has seen a 33% drop in overall viewers since 2020. Now, this won't impact the overall health of the league, and believe me, I'm not worried about how much revenue they're raking in from this event, but just because something's bigger than it once was, doesn't mean it's better than ever.
The NFL would be wise to get back to the drawing board and dial things back a bit. Viewers aren't watching the NFL Draft to see a magic show, a wrestler cut a promo, or a former NFL player do a one-man show. People watch because of their insatiable appetite for football and personal stories about players. They watch to see where their favorite college players will end up, who their favorite NFL teams will end up with, and the occasional excitable or attractive momma doesn't hurt either. It's time to get away from the silly entertainment, its not working.
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