This weekend, 32 NFL teams shelled out millions for what they hope are the most talented college football players. For the draftniks, the drama is over and the newly jerseyed picks become fodder for armchair analyses and fantasy match-ups. For NFL executives, it was another year of paying too much for over-hyped long shots. Gary Belsky of ESPN Magazine recaps the draft.
Takeaway facts:
- 2008 No. 1 pick: offensive tackle Jake Long, to the Miami Dolphins
- The return on investment for top picks is now believed to be lower than later-round picks. An example: When quarterback Matt Ryan was taken before the Baltimore Ravens had their chance with their No. 8 pick, they traded down, taking Delaware QB Joe Flacco as a No. 18 pick. Last year's 8th pick signed for $31 million, while last year's 18th pick signed for $13 million. The Ravens may have saved $18 million.
- The Miami Dolphins tried but failed to trade the No. 1 pick this year.
- The NFL is the most profitable sport on the planet, according to Forbes.
- $957 million: The average value of an NFL team.
- $1.5 billion: Estimated value of the Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable NFL team (and the most valuable sports franchise in the world).
- Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans watched an NFL game on television last season.
Guest: Gary Belsky, Editor-in-Chief, ESPN Magazine
Contributors:
Kerry Donahue
Comments [2]
Off-topic, posted in hopes that it might be noticed here: Why do you offer us eddresses for contact and corrections if neither box is accepting e-mail? Not cricket. (Also not frog, which was the comment I was trying to send:)
I hope James Fallows didn't catch your premiere show (and congratulations, by the way). He gets very upset when he encounters anyone using the "frog in heated water" metaphor, because it turns out to be untrue. Yes, someone actually put a frog in water and turned up the heat. Said frog jumped the hell out of there.
http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/boiledfrog/
When you guarantee a lot of money to these early picks, there's only a decent chance that they're actually going to pan out in any way that's going to be materially good for your team.
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