Introduction to the NFL Draft

Every year, there comes the time where the NFL's biggest fans tune into TV, waiting excitedly for next season to begin, and when people get to see where their favorite college stars end up.  The time comes where every franchise dreams of getting their team's key players to last them the next 10-15 years.  On April 26th, 2013, the much-awaited NFL Draft begins.  The three-day event is extremely important to each team in order for them to stay competitive in this ever-growing league.  A single draft can sometimes make or break one team who just needs that key ingredient to take the team to the next level.

For those who don't follow football, the annual NFL Draft is a huge event in the NFL's offseason.  This event consists of all 32 teams taking turns in selecting one player in seven rounds of the draft.  Over the three days, the first round happens on the first day, second and third rounds go the next day, and rounds four through seven go on the final day.   Teams have ten minutes to make their pick and deliver it to the commissioner in the first round, seven minutes in the second, and five minutes every round after that.  The consequence for failing to get a pick in on time forfeits your pick to the team behind.  The order of who picks when is determined by every team's record from the previous year.  The team with the worst record goes first, second worst goes second, and so on until the Super Bowl winner chooses last.  The reason for this order is to keep the league fair and competitive so that each year different teams have a chance at the Super Bowl, keeping football exciting and unpredictable.   
The NFL Draft is the best way for teams to build their franchise for the future.  The importance of the draft cannot be stressed enough for teams in rebuilding.  One draft can possibly be a difference maker to set up a franchise for years.  And, as stressful and exciting as the draft is for team offices and owners, it is almost the same for eager fans.  The draft only occurs once a year and always brings a lot of excitement to the table.  The drama and suspense between picks creates an electric atmosphere that is only available on those days during the draft.  It is an amazing experience that can only be made possible in the NFL.