Important to remember NFL Draft more about people than teams

During the 2020 NFL Draft, college and professional football fans tend to focus on teams rather than the way Draft joy and disappointment impact people.

For aspiring professional athletes, NFL Draft opportunities define a ‘field of dreams.’ For most the dreams go back to childhood. For some, the financial rewards are high enough to make them secure for life.

But making it as a professional player is about more than money. It is also a statement of other value – being one of the best of the best. It has been estimated less than five percent of high school football players get a chance to play in college. Approximately seven percent of NFL Draft, eligible, college players are drafted each year.

As guaranteed NFL money has flattened for players below the second round, being drafted in any round has become a major milestone achievement. Borrowing a financial term, the ‘bottom-line’ is not all about the money.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be unlike all previous drafts. There will be no massive in-person event, showcasing the top player selections. It will be so restricted not only will players not be present, neither will NFL team executives. The latest plan indicates teams will not congregate with their GM in a Draft war room. Each NFL executive will connect with their staff, electronically, from their individual homes. It will be so different as to be surreal.  Every year, not just 2020, surreal is an apt word to describe the experiences of players during the NFL Draft.

For every ‘dream-come-true’ story like Josh Jacobs last year, more stories will be about dashed dreams. Two guys that could happen to, are former Alabama Crimson Tide players, Shyheim Carter and Jared Mayden. Neither was invited to the NFL Combine. Both needed an Alabama Pro-Day to impress NFL teams. With all those events canceled, they are left to lobby their Draft viability by phone and video.

How will the NFL Draft go for Carter and Mayden? Both are probably in the murky, gray area that includes the sixth and seventh rounds along with going undrafted. In some ways, an undrafted free-agent has a better chance of making an NFL roster. If pursued by multiple teams, they can choose the one most needing roster help at their position.

On the first two days of the NFL Draft, Alabama football fans can celebrate the success of several former Crimson Tide players. On the last day, don’t forget the guys sweating the process out. Their stories are as important as those of first-round selections.

For some perspective on NFL draft money, look at the seventh round. The average guaranteed money for a player is $88,795.