NFL Draft: First Round on Fridays?

[DeToxRox]

# (2:00 PM): New night for draft… According to a report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the NFL is considering moving the first round of its annual into prime time on Friday. The remaining rounds would be conducted on Saturday and Sunday. The NFL’s thinking appears to be that carrying the opening round in prime time would mean more viewers. NFL officials also reportedly think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give teams time to decompress before the second round. The biggest issue with the opening round in the evening would be making sure it could be done in a reasonable amount of time. Last weekend’s first round, for example, took over six hours. Shortening the first round won’t be popular among NFL types as there doesn't seem to be much support to reduce the current opening round time of 15 minutes per picks.

[Passacaglia]

I figured that with a new commish they'd get all freaked out that the first round is too long. It's an aberration, not a trend. So...how do they plan to fit 6 hours of programming into prime time?

[Young Drachma]

Ugh.

[st.cronin]

Terrible idea.

[Ksyrup]

This would allow me to watch the draft, so I'm in favor of it. Outside of football season, ther's no way to keep a weekend afternoon open for any significant period of time.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I figured that with a new commish they'd get all freaked out that the first round is too long. It's an aberration, not a trend. So...how do they plan to fit 6 hours of programming into prime time?

Maybe just do the first 16 picks in 3 hours?

[Arles]

Here's what I don't understand - ESPN gets decent ratings on its Friday night baseball games (+ baseball tonight) and very good ratings on the draft.

If you assume the draft ratings will stay somewhat consistent (maybe go from 5 to 5.5 or 6), I don't see why they would change things. Right now, they have:

Fri: Baseball + baseball tonight = solid ratings
Sat: Draft (1-3) = very good ratings
Sun: Draft (4-7) = good ratings

By changing they get:
Fri: Draft 1 = very good ratings for 4-5 hours
Sat: Draft (2-3) = solid ratings
Sun: Draft (4-7) = solid ratings

It seems to me that by moving the draft from Sat and Sun to Fri - Sun, they would be losing ratings on Saturday (some may not tune in now that round 1 is done) to gain a little on Friday night. Would the jump from Yankees/Red Sox baseball to round 1 of the NFL draft be that enticing on Friday to mess up the Saturday and maybe Sunday ratings? There are a lot of people that plan their weekend around the draft and if the first round is done Friday night, many may not even tune in on Sat or Sunday.

[LionsFan10]

Oh God, this would be terrible. I can't stand how much attention the NFL gets on ESPN as it is, but now I have to avoid it on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday?


Don't get me wrong, I love football. But the amount of time ESPN spends slurping the NFL has gone to unbelievable proportions. Do they really think I care about what Mel Kiper, Jr. thinks every fifteen minutes on SportsCenter, showing us his "revised" draft board. Or what JaMarcus Russell ate for brunch that day?

I know, I didn't answer the question much if at all but really I think this would be a terrible idea. Please don't tell me I have to see Trey Wingo on my screen MORE ...

[EagleFan]

Here's what I don't understand - ESPN gets decent ratings on its Friday night baseball games (+ baseball tonight) and very good ratings on the draft.

If you assume the draft ratings will stay somewhat consistent (maybe go from 5 to 5.5 or 6), I don't see why they would change things. Right now, they have:

Fri: Baseball + baseball tonight = solid ratings
Sat: Draft (1-3) = very good ratings
Sun: Draft (4-7) = good ratings

By changing they get:
Fri: Draft 1 = very good ratings for 4-5 hours
Sat: Draft (2-3) = solid ratings
Sun: Draft (4-7) = solid ratings

It seems to me that by moving the draft from Sat and Sun to Fri - Sun, they would be losing ratings on Saturday (some may not tune in now that round 1 is done) to gain a little on Friday night. Would the jump from Yankees/Red Sox baseball to round 1 of the NFL draft be that enticing on Friday to mess up the Saturday and maybe Sunday ratings? There are a lot of people that plan their weekend around the draft and if the first round is done Friday night, many may not even tune in on Sat or Sunday.

But you are looking at it from ESPN's point of view, not the NFL's. This move seems like a step towards moving the draft the NFL network.

[cthomer5000]

Who would watch after Friday though? I think they'd actually end up worse off.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Who would watch after Friday though? I think they'd actually end up worse off.

Another point in favor of splitting the first round over Friday evening/Saturday morning. Also, imagine the the publicity at the end of Friday night as people discuss/rearrange their new draft boards after taking into account the first 16 picks. I could see the NFL really being interested in doing this.

[Arles]

But you are looking at it from ESPN's point of view, not the NFL's. This move seems like a step towards moving the draft the NFL network.
It's already on the NFL network. Even if it was "officially moved", ESPN could still cover it in the same way it does now.

[cthomer5000]

Another point in favor of splitting the first round over Friday evening/Saturday morning. Also, imagine the the publicity at the end of Friday night as people discuss/rearrange their new draft boards after taking into account the first 16 picks. I could see the NFL really being interested in doing this.

That would be massively advantageous for the team picking at 17, no?

[Logan]

Put me down in the "ugh" camp.

[SteelerFan448]

Dumb idea. They'd have to start the first round at 5:00 to end by a decent hour (11). I am in favor of 10 minutes per team in the first round to shorten it. Just keep it on the weekend though.

[bulletsponge]

i love the draft, but hate ESPN