With the entire Country on “Lockdown,” courtesy of COVID-19. The NFL took full advantage of the opportunity to have the “sporting nations” undivided attention during the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here are a few of our teaching points we grabbed from this year’s Draft. Athletes. Let us know any take-a-way’s you have from the 2020 NFL Draft that would be great topics for us to discuss together.
Let’s go!
1. Draft Day “Fall-Out!”
Athletes remember. Millions will see you get drafted if you are fortunate enough to receive the honor. Make sure it’s a moment that enhances people’s perception of you and who you will be at the next level.
It’s okay to rehearse greatness.
Practice who will be on camera, where everyone will sit, and what everyone’s roll should be. There should never be a blunder that would cause for any negative judgement of the athlete, their family or friends.
For example, many had their opinions of Dallas Cowboys first round draft pick, Ceedee Lamb. Who was seen throwing a little shade towards his girlfriend on camera after she tried to grab his cell phone.
Or how about the scene during Isaiah Wilson‘s Draft Day. The Mom of the Titans first round pick, was shown on camera physically removing his girlfriend from his lap when Isaiah was being chosen by the Titans.
Becoming an NFL Draft selection is intended to be a celebration. It’s the fulfillment of life-long dream for many. The event should always be positive and remarkable. Practice it!
2. The One and Only
The NFL is a trendy industry. Once one organization has success with something, it’s not long before the competitiors begin to hack the model.
NFL teams willingness to draft Running backs in the first round is quickly diminishing. The shelf-life on the athletes who play the position typically expires fast due to the amount of physical pounding running back take during their careers. Thus, teams have moved to the “Running back by Committee,” model and are more reluctant to pay top price for quality backs. They have to be exceptional!
Last year only (1) Running back went in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and that was the Oakland Raiders, Josh Jacobs. The 2020 NFL Draft proved to strengthen the data with only (1) running back being drafted in this years draft.
That running back would be Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Who was drafted in the bottom of the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
This should provide a silver lining for all of the young athletes who feel overlooked and counted out. Clyde was virtually a College Football no-name at the beginning of this past season. He wasn’t a 5 star recruit. He was only a 3 star recruit, and had more carries and yards, this season (Senior Season) than all 3 previous seasons at LSU combined.
The lesson is to never under-estimate the man who travels the longest to get to his destiny. Usually he’s battle-tested, under-appreciated, and hungry to make his mark!
3. When in Doubt Go-Big!
The Coronavirus pandemic has caused many big industries to shift the way they do business. The NFL is no different.
Typically, NFL Draft Prospects have months to perform in front of NFL personnel, and position themselves to raise their Draft Stock.
Not this year!
No one benefits from the NFL Draft Evaluation process more than a small-school athlete. It’s an opportunity for the NFL organizations to get to know the atheletes better, evaluate their film, and work them out.
With the scouts and GM’s not having the opportunity to visit with many of the small-school athletes this year. Many NFL organizations decided to pass on athletes from the DII, DIII, and NAIA levels. It was just too big of a risk for NFL teams to spend draft picks and UDFA (Un-drafted Free Agent) opportunities on athletes they could not do their due diligence on.
It’s easier to trust that a young man from a Power 5 Conference (Pac12, SEC, Big 10, ACC, Big XII), will be more inclined to step right in and not be a “Deer in Headlights,” at the NFL level.
4. Crafting the Narrative
While the NFL has needed a little PR and Marketing makeover over the past few seasons. They pulled of the 2020 NFL Draft in wonderful fashion! Especially when you consider there was no precedence for how to host a virtual draft of the magnitude of an NFL Draft.
The NFL did a masterful job of humanizing the coaches, by involving their children and wives into the Draft. It almost made you forget that you were watching young Gladiators being called up for battle on the highest level.
The NFL also was mindful of the World-Wide fight we currently have with the Coronavirus pandemic. The NFL took the opportunity to raise money and host an NFL Draft-A-Thon which raised over 100 million dollars for those in need during this pandemic. That alone deserves a bravo and huge round of applause!
Athletes should remember. You have control of the Narratives you want people to believe in when it comes to you. It doesn’t mean you have to be fake. But it does mean you have to be smart.
Take a page out of the 2020 NFL Draft Handbook. The more inviting you are The more people will root for you to win. And the NFL did a wonderful job winning with the 2020 NFL Virtual Draft!
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