Chicago Nails 2015 NFL Draft…NFL? Not So Much

You have to give Chicago some mad props for their hosting of the 2015 NFL Draft. Unlike previous seasons, this years draft was held in Chicago as opposed to New York City due to a scheduling conflict. Any city hosting the biggest event of the off-season should take note.

More from Dolphins News

• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
• The Miami Dolphins should not take a running back in the draft

According to several people I have spoken with, including my radio show co-host Brian Catanzaro, Chicago made the Draft a festival of events with their coverage. Instead of having the draft held inside at Radio City Music Hall the NFL and Chicago took the draft outside to the people. Draft Town brought more fans into the draft arena than NYC could ever have. Outside the indoor selection area fans were treated with tents for each of the 32 NFL teams giving fans a chance to mingle with other fans.

While Chicago knocked the three day event out of the park the NFL failed to take advantage of the opportunity offering up some very boring coverage.

While round one is pretty much a straight forward event the 2nd round dragged so long that three hours into the 2nd day we were barely out of the 2nd round and into the third. The NFL has opted to have alumni announce the selections for their respective teams in round two. By the time each player was escorted to the podium, introduced, made a statement, and then made the pick, two other picks were already in the box waiting to be called.

In round three we got to see more of the same and while the 13 year old girl with cancer and Jim Kelly offered very special moments for fans 30 others didn’t hit that mark. It became boring and wore on the viewer, the media, and made the announcers of the draft take a back seat to that same boring routine.

On day three the NFL really took the draft to a lower level when they took the announcements of the picks out of Chicago and spread them all around the NFL to each teams personally chosen method of announcing the picks. On the surface it sounded quite fun but delays in pick announcements led to some teams not having their picks broadcast live or even on delay. Instead of something that could have been a lot of fun it was an epic fail.

There was too much of a disconnect between the broadcast and those announced picks. Luckily the Dolphins finished their draft early and I could tune them out moving forward.

In the end the NFL can take something from this to make the draft as big as the Super Bowl…well almost. Rotate the hosting city and make every city house a Draft Town with various festival events around the venue. Drop the boring 2nd round and later antics and just make the picks concentrating more on the highlights of those players. If you want to announce those picks, have the networks do it and move it along.

I have always wanted to see a draft live and while it was held in NYC I thought it would be cool to get up there and inside to watch the event but this years draft I wanted to be a part of it all, experience it, both inside and outside. Nice job Chicago…well done!