Draft day is undoubtedly intense and exciting, and the entire process is far from as simple as it seems. In the first round of the draft, each team has ten minutes to make a decision, and within those ten short minutes, it's a thrilling game of strategy.
Before the official draft, every team has countless discussions. Based on their draft position, their draft needs, and the needs of their competitors, they create multiple strategies. Should they choose the most skilled player left on the board, the player who can best fill the team's shortcomings, or should they trade their pick to another team for a greater benefit?
The most iconic draft in history happened in 2002.
At that time, the league hadn't yet changed the rules, and the decision time for a first-round pick was still fifteen minutes. The Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City Chiefs had the sixth, seventh, and eighth picks, respectively. Both the Vikings and the Chiefs wanted to get the defensive tackle, Ryan Sims.
During the draft, it was the Cowboys' turn to pick.
The Chiefs' team manager called the Cowboys, trying to trade for their pick to get ahead of the Vikings and pick Ryan first. But the two sides couldn't come to an agreement. After fifteen minutes of negotiation, they still hadn't reached a conclusion. As a result, the Cowboys didn't submit their pick in time, missed their deadline, and lost their turn.
According to the rules, the pick was passed to the Vikings, who were now the sixth to pick. The Cowboys became the seventh, and the Chiefs were still the eighth. This was a golden opportunity for the Vikings. They just had to submit their pick, and they could get Ryan before the Chiefs.
But something amazing happened. For fifteen whole minutes, the Vikings were in disarray. The team's headquarters in Minnesota and the draft room in New York had frequent communication errors. In the end, they failed to submit their pick and mysteriously and weirdly missed their opportunity.
After that, the Cowboys and the Chiefs completed a trade. The Chiefs successfully got Ryan, leaving the Vikings in a state of shock, and countless commentators and experts with their jaws on the floor.
What was even more baffling was that in 2003, the Vikings repeated the same mistake and ran out of time again, missing their first-round pick for the second consecutive year. This jaw-dropping behavior became a legend in the history of the NFL Draft.
The ten-minute draft time wasn't just about the draft strategy; it was also a game of strategy among the thirty-two teams!
It's no exaggeration to say that from the first pick on, every draft result can cause a change in the entire rookie market. The ten-minute game of strategy requires a decision to be made in a flash. It tests not only calculation and planning but also the ability to make choices and decisions.
All of this made the first day of the draft incredibly exciting, a true annual spectacle. The entire draft would last for nearly five hours, a tough test for every player, fan, and team staff member.
There was still some time before the draft officially began, but the shouts from downstairs were already impatient. "Bambi! Hurry, hurry!" It was also accompanied by a series of strange cries, making it very lively.
After a quick and simple shower, Lu Ke changed into a comfortable tracksuit and hurried downstairs. Austin Newman was the first to jump up and high-five Lu Ke. "Yeah! Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!"
Austin was Logan's father, and Tiffany Newman, who was sitting next to him, was Logan's mother. Despite being a doctor, Austin's personality was more like that of a tech company employee working in Silicon Valley—lively and outgoing, and he loved sports. Logan's personality was largely influenced by his father.
Lu Ke also pumped his fists and shouted, "Whoa!" He smiled and nodded at the two women. "Tiffany, Julia." Then he jumped onto the sofa, kicking Logan, who was sitting there, off. "Move over! Move over! This is my spot, don't you know that?"
"Jesus Christ, you're not Sheldon Cooper!" Logan got up awkwardly, complaining while trying to grab Lu Ke's neck to get his spot back.
Sheldon was the main character of the TV show The Big Bang Theory, who had all sorts of obsessive-compulsive habits, one of which was his strict requirement for his spot on the sofa at home.
"Boys, boys!" Jiang Youning watched the two college students, who were acting like children, with a mix of amusement and frustration. "Quiet, the draft is about to start, it's about to start!"
The live broadcast of the draft had already started on the TV screen. The 2011 NFL Draft officially entered the countdown phase. Lu Ke and Logan finally gave up, grabbed the pizza on the table, and stuffed it into their mouths. Watching the draft while enjoying the delicious food was indeed one of the best ways to spend a holiday.
At 8 p.m. Eastern time, 6 p.m. Western time, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walked onto the stage. The entire venue erupted in applause. All the cameras and all eyes were on him, and the tense atmosphere suddenly grew thick.
Even without any expectations and with a calm mind, their hearts couldn't help but beat faster. The adrenaline rush was comparable to the Fourth of July fireworks show! The annual moment of destiny had arrived again.
The Carolina Panthers, last year's worst team, had the first pick and were the first to make their decision. Before the draft, all sorts of rumors were flying around, especially after the rookie training camp. News about star players like Cam Newton and Von Miller was everywhere. And Blaine Gabbert, who had scored a forty-two on the Wonderlic test at the training camp, also emerged, which added to the suspense of the number one pick.
Who would it be?
Amid all the anticipation, the Carolina Panthers made their choice. Roger Goodell opened the card in his hand and announced loudly, "With the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select... Cam Newton! Quarterback from Auburn University."
The whole country was in a frenzy. Although this was the expected choice, and people had been guessing this outcome for two months, when it actually happened, the excited and thrilled emotions were irrepressible. Especially for the Panthers fans, who could be seen celebrating wildly in the streets on the TV screen, as if they had already won the Super Bowl.
The cameras all focused on Cam Newton. Dressed in a sharp suit, Cam seemed a little uncomfortable, and his body language was a little awkward. But the pride and happiness on his face were not hidden, nor could they be. He walked onto the stage as if he were climbing to the peak of his life, took his "number one" jersey amid countless passionate eyes, and smiled brightly, feeling incredibly proud of himself.
"What a boring choice," Logan said, rolling his eyes and complaining. "There are so many quarterbacks this year, and they had to pick a 'running back.' I think Gabbert is good, and Locker is also great. To be honest, picking Bambi would be the right choice, okay? They're all blind."
Cam, who was bathed in flashlights on the TV screen, was just a silhouette, and his facial expression was not visible. Lu Ke could taste a hint of bitterness on his tongue. It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed or didn't feel any regret. But when he heard Logan's words of injustice, Lu Ke couldn't help but laugh. "It's fine. If I beat him on the field later and get back at him, the victory will be even sweeter."
"Exactly. Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees weren't the first picks. Who remembers who the first picks from their years were?" Julia also joined in the fun, giggling as she spoke.
"I was worried that Lu Ke would have a mental breakdown, but it seems like he'll be fine," Jiang Youning turned to Tiffany and teased Lu Ke, making everyone laugh.
Lu Ke's mood brightened, and he grabbed another slice of pizza, starting to enjoy his dinner with relish.
The first pick was as expected, which also set the overall tone for the draft today. The draft was calm and uneventful, whether it was the rookie picks or the draft pick trades.
With the second pick, the Denver Broncos selected linebacker Von Miller. With the third, the Buffalo Bills selected defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. With the fourth, the Cincinnati Bengals selected wide receiver A.J. Green. With the fifth, the Arizona Cardinals selected cornerback Patrick Peterson.
It wasn't until the sixth pick that there was a trade. The Atlanta Falcons traded up and, after reaching an agreement with the Cleveland Browns, selected wide receiver Julio Jones. This made him the second wide receiver in the top ten this year and caused a lot of discussion.
With the seventh pick, the San Francisco 49ers selected linebacker Aldon Smith. This was the young man Lu Ke had danced with during his first special assignment. First, Julio, and then Aldon, Lu Ke had met quite a few potential superstars at the rookie training camp, which was a very subtle feeling.
After that, quarterback Jake Locker was selected eighth by the Tennessee Titans. The Dallas Cowboys selected offensive tackle Tyron Smith ninth. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert was selected tenth by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Houston Texans selected defensive end J.J. Watt eleventh. And the 2009 Heisman winner, running back Mark Ingram, was selected twenty-eighth by the New Orleans Saints.
The entire first round of the draft had its surprises, but they were all within expectations. In the end, it lacked excitement. The strong players were all selected, there were no shocking upsets, and no dark horses emerged. After four and a half hours, the first round of the 2011 draft came to a close.
But this was only the first day of the draft.
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