Why the NFL Draft Is Boring

Watching the NFL draft can be a painfully boring thing to watch.

Why, you ask?  

First off anyone watching really doesn't know who these guys are.  No disrespect to the very talented players being drafted.  I am sure on their teams they were some of the best players, but does anyone know who Joe Defensive Tackle is for Missouri, outside of Missouri fans?

Second, it is sort of like watching a weather forecast of what is suppose to happen in the next five minutes.  Even the guys who have all the media packs and have read all the pre-draft releases are just guessing.  MC: "They could go for a center but two of the best centers are gone...Yes, but you want to get an offensive lineman that can play more than one position, don't you." Announcer: "Steelers choose defensive tackle Evander Hood."  MC: "Oh, that is a great value at 32."

Third, beyond the top pick, anyone watching only really cares about who their team chooses.  So the eager fan sits and listens to all the MC's who are just reading from media packets and speculating on the shape of a football for an hour while you wait for you team's pick.

Fourth, there is a crazy amount of horse trading going on to keep you just on the edge of confusion.  Cleveland has traded their pick for two positions lower and a possible two or three picks in 2010, an unnamed player, and agreement to not name a tag an unnamed player as a franchise player and two fruit pies of unidentified type.

Fifth, unless your favorite team's entire offensive line, was recently abducted by aliens, you have absolutely no idea what might happen and any conjecturing on your part is typically met with frustration.  And, in the event O-line was abducted, this is still no guarantee that they will choose an offensive lineman.

Sixth, of all the players taken during three hours and 23 exciting minutes needed to complete the first round, probably half of them won't see the field during a regular season game, and those that do...probably five of them will be starters.  By the time we really need to know who the guys are, we will know who these guys are. The only impact they will have in the first year is to put a strain on the teams salary cap. I wonder if the average salary of first round picks jumped up after the NFL started making such a big production of the draft.

Seventh, does there have to be a seventh round?  Or even a sixth?  The latter rounds aren't even covered because maybe ten guys will make it as starters in the NFL from the later rounds.  The rest will be sitting on practice squads around the league.

If the draft doesn't need a seventh round, then I certainly don't need an eighth.

When all is said and done, I hope the team you support gets the players they need to build or maintain a winning tradition.