by D Par

Created on: January 19, 2010

NFL draft day decisions are so vitally important because of their impact on franchises. The stakes are high with every pick. The right pick, like Peyton Manning, can launch an era of greatness. Dynasties are build through players in the draft, like the 49ers dynasty was born with the picks of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice as first round picks. Legacies of general managers and personal guys can be made or destroyed through hits and busts. Super Bowls are on the line, as the difference between winning and losing is good and bad drafts.

On the flip side, bad picks absolutely kill franchises. A bad number one pick set a franchise back half a decade, or even more. See the misery the Cleveland, San Francisco, and Oakland fans have had to endure with the selections of Tim Couch, Alex Smith, and JaMarcus Russell respectively. These bad picks are magnified, not only because they kill enormous amounts of cap space, but because NFL teams endure many injuries, and these picks could have been used to add depth to other positions on the roster. Furthermore, bad picks agonize fan bases as missed opportunities. Look at the number of teams that could have had Adrian Peterson or DeSean Jackson, yet went in other directions. 

Draft day decisions have to be weighed heavily because draft picks are the primary way to fill needs on a team. Big time players in the NFL don't often hit free agency, so there aren't very many proven players to be had in the free agent pool. That drives up demand for these free agents, and they are often overpaid in relation to their talent. Trades don't happen very often, so that leaves drafting as the way to fill needs. A good front office can make great progress in building a team through the draft.

The draft is truly where great franchises seperate themselves from the pack. Those front offices that see value in draft picks and do their homework in the later rounds will succeed. Those use innovative strategy like seeing the advantage of second round picks, as cheap yet quality picks, will get bargains. The draft is a level playing field, and those that perform the best over time get rewarded. The importance of the draft has fueled interest in the NFL Draft as an event, as a spectacle, and individual decisions make all the difference.

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