Thoughts on League Drafts

When you really love sports you watch drafts.  The only time I will actually take time out of my day to watch a draft, and people try to project the future is for the NFL Draft and I think I've start to realize why.

The NFL is seen as a league of parity, where one or a few players can make a difference immediately.  (not including quarterbacks, who rarely make a difference early on) 

A similar thing can be said for the NBA to a certain extent, but only a certain extent because not as many people care about the NBA and I don't think there is as much parity in the NBA as the NFL. 

Unlike baseball, the NFL draft has players who will play right away.  No one really pays attention to college or high school baseball.  Few people care about the draft for two reasons.  Players still have to work their way through minor league teams and there are no trades.

Draft Day trades make the NFL Draft so exciting.  The NBA tries to replicate it, but the trades are too complicated.  A team receives a pick in next years draft but that pick is protected by a top 5 clause so it could turn into a deferred payment and two second round picks, including the second round pick from someone else. 

I'd argue that the most exciting part about about the NBA Draft is the Draft Lottery.  That's like winning the lottery when a player like LeBron James is in the draft. 

I think the fans make the NFL Draft great as well.  They are rowdy at Radio City Music Hall.  They cheer for draft picks like they are games.  Additionally the NFL got it right by getting former players to introduce picks this year.  People miss Barry Sanders, and watching him say the Lions pick makes Lions fans tune in. 

Not enough people care about the NHL or MLS to make those drafts exciting.  I've tuned in to the MLS drafts before, but that's usually to see where a UCONN player ends up. 

Just some random thoughts on Drafts.  I'll watch the NFL Draft if I can, or will sometimes have it on in the background if I am busy.  Somehow the NFL has made it more exciting than many leagues regular season games.