The significance of the NFL Draft

…and what it means to me.

Vontae Mack, no matter what.

Those were the words that officially got me hooked on the NFL Draft, even if it was from a movie. The 2014 movie Draft Day starring Kevin Costner was the biggest reason I see the draft the way I do now: as a national holiday. Immediately after seeing the movie, I began formulating my first ever mock draft. This year, I am as excited as ever for one of my favorite days of the year.

Reasons just like mine are why the NFL drafts is as big as it is. It’s managed to strike a personal connection with fans across the country and hold a sentimental value to many. All that on top of the fact that your favorite team is getting new players added in real time.

The NFL Draft has been shown on TV for 44 years. It’s also a live event, one that saw 312,000 people attend over a three-day period last year. It saw 259 dreams come true, and many more after the fact. The draft is an event where there is nothing except excitement and hope for the NFL’s future, and that’s why it’s so important in the hearts of many NFL fans.