This year’s NFL Draft was significantly different in format compared to past years due to the virtual emphasis. So far, the results have been positive, and that has the NFL thinking about adopting elements from this year’s draft for future ones.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with ESPN’s Trey Wingo for an interview on Saturday during the third day of the draft and shared that the positive reaction has led them to consider using virtual elements in the future.
“I was saying this, I think we’re forced to adapt here and change and do this differently. But it’s actually been a lot of great learning,” said Goodell. “We’ve seen some things that we’ve maybe ‘stumbled on’ that really I think will be elements of drafts going into the future. The ability to use the virtual platforms in a way that we really didn’t think about until we were forced to.
“So I really think we’re really going to be able to make future drafts even better because we’re going to be able to combine it with the core elements that we’ve had. I think that’s one of the things about the draft — it keeps evolving and it keeps getting better because we keep learning.”
People have enjoyed seeing more of the human element. Getting to watch the home setup for players and see all their reactions when they get picked has been fun and a change to the more formal setting of players sitting at a table and dressed in suits while attending the event. Similarly, it’s been nice seeing the home office setup for various team personnel, even if some of the setups have been much weirder than others.
