Mock draft makes players’ selection more efficient & competitive – NFL Feature-Part Two
The National Football League (NFL), has been taking measures to increase young players’ safety on the field as they are often subjects of bullying at the senior challengers’ hands and sometimes the poor souls end up hurting their career prospects at the
very outset.
In some cases senior challengers specifically single out young players in their bullying campaigns to create fear in their hearts and minds and affect their confidence and performance level at very early stages of their careers.
For example, Indianapolis Colts’ rookie Quarterback Andrew Luck, who had entered the field for the first time in the season opener, was particularly targeted by the opposition defensive players. They suffocated his movement, affecting his overall performance
level.
It was because the player had made his pro career debut on the hype around his talent and potential and his opponents did not want him to have an easygoing on the field. So they singled him out, and provided a little margin for free and safe movement. He
was lucky to escape an injury scare.
However, under the changed safety regimen new players are given as much priority and importance in the protection as seniors.
Also, the mock exercise is just beginning of about a half-year long campaign that has other phases before the final selection process. NFL Scouting Combine, Pro day and supplement draft, they are all part and parcel of final draft day.
The Combine is to determine competitiveness, health, fitness and skills of each prospective pro player, while pro day is to provide an opportunity to each player to showcase the skills in his area of specialisation in front of teams’ owners, managers, coaches
and former players.
For example, a prospective pro quarterback gets an opportunity to throw the ball in front of these spectators, experts in fact. They determine the power, accuracy, velocity and some other aspects of the player’s talent.
Although it is not certain that a prospective pro player will exhibit his talent up to his potential in a day and in front of top-notch officials, this gives some sort of indication to these viewers to determine scope of the player's skills.
This also helps players’ cause in a way that it creates competition in the market, leading to competitive remuneration packages. Salary packages for rookies have been improving consistently over the past few years, helping them to remain comfortable, financially.
A top rookie player now earns approximately $22 million for the entire course of his four-year contract which happens to be a reasonable earning while he is learning and developing his pro league career.
The pay rates implemented earlier left the young football players struggle in meeting their ends.
So the draft campaign has actually helped create a competitive selection environment for emerging pro players and led negotiation of competitive terms for them.
Also, the dissemination of information through media outlets has helped the process work more efficiently and in a transparent manner. Although the players still are not in bargaining positions as much as the owners and managers, the processes like mock
draft have improved recruiting conditions to an extent.
Disclaimer: The views do not represent editorial policy of bettor.com
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