Roger Goodell Says 2017 NFL Draft Unlikely to Be Held in Chicago

With the NFL draft set to take place in Chicago for the second consecutive year next week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed Saturday that a change may be in order for 2017.

According to the Associated Press (h/t Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times), Goodell said it is "very likely" the 2017 draft will be held outside the Windy City.

Chicago will host its second straight draft beginning on April 28 after the event took place in New York City for 50 straight years.

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Despite the impending change, Goodell expressed satisfaction with Chicago and its handling of the draft: "We really didn't know what to expect. We were very pleased."

Goodell estimated the 2017 draft site will be revealed in July, and while Executive Director of the Chicago Sports Commission Kara Bachman is unsure of the draft's immediate future, she doesn't believe 2016 will be the last one Chicago hosts, per De Luca: "I think the draft will be back in Chicago. I don't know for '17, but it will certainly be back."

It isn't yet known which cities are interested in hosting the 2017 draft, but Denver has already thrown its name into the hat for 2019, according to Mike Klis of KUSA.

Los Angeles was a finalist to host the 2015 draft before Chicago won the bid, per ESPN.com. Now that the Rams have moved to L.A., it could be an even more attractive option for 2017.

The NFL boasts a number of huge markets that could benefit from hosting an event as significant as the draft, and it isn't likely to have any problems finding a locale.

Aside from the Super Bowl, the draft may be the NFL's biggest attraction, and it promises to be a financial and commercial success regardless of where it takes place.   

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