• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 6, 2025

NFL Draft Picks Can Alter A Team’s Success, Impact Its Value

  • NFL Drafts inevitably alter the course of league history, and mistakes can set a franchise back for a decade.
  • This year’s quarterback class offers tantalizing talent and risk.
Feb 13, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes speaks flanked by Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl 57 Winning Team Head Coach and MVP press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots had never won a Super Bowl and were coming off an 8-8 season when they selected Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft — after 198 other picks. Six Super Bowl titles later, it’s fair to say things worked out.

Brady was the key factor behind the Pats’ rise from a $172 million purchase in 1994 to the second-most valuable NFL club at $6.4 billion, according to Forbes.

The right choice can change a franchise — but so can a wrong one.

In 2005, the San Francisco 49ers selected quarterback Alex Smith with the first overall pick. Smith led the 49ers to the NFC Championship game in 2011 and presided over four playoff runs after being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

But what if the 49ers had instead looked across the Bay to UC Berkeley quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was visibly crestfallen after dropping to the Green Bay Packers at No. 24?

In 2017, the Chicago Bears traded up for the second-overall pick (swapping their third overall pick with the 49ers) to ensure that they would land North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky.

The second team to pick a quarterback that year, the Chiefs, had to settle for Patrick Mahomes with the 10th pick.

NFL Draft

How Agents Navigate the NFL Draft Process

Fight for players grows harder as agents cut fees to attract clients.
April 26, 2023

Former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel told Front Office Sports Today that he sees Mahomes-like potential in Florida’s Anthony Richardson, but Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Will Levis are considered safer bets. Will another team make an era-defining mistake?

The NFL begins a new chapter today — with all the weight of future history in the balance.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
exclusive

WNBA Players Reject League’s First CBA Offer

Players felt the initial proposal wasn’t “entirely responsive” to their request.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.

Rogers Takes Control of Canada’s Top Teams in MLSE Buyout

The Canadian media giant now has an arguably unrivaled sports portfolio.
Manchester City
July 1, 2025

Manchester City Pockets $50 Million for Early Club World Cup Elimination

Saudi side Al-Hilal will bank at least $35 million in its quarterfinal run.
Myles Turner
July 1, 2025

Pacers Sour on Paying Luxury Tax and Let Myles Turner Walk

The team had seemed willing to cross the threshold for their center.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
July 1, 2025

Bucks Shock NBA World By Waiving Lillard’s $113M Deal, Signing Turner

Damian Lillard had two years left on his deal.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
July 1, 2025

Panthers Lock Up Stanley Cup–Winning Core With Long-Term Deals

Hours before free agency, Florida cemented terms with their essential players.
June 30, 2025

Nuggets, Rockets Make Aggressive Moves to Challenge Thunder

Denver took the Thunder to seven games in the conference semifinals.
June 30, 2025

Cohen’s $331M Mets Spiral Into June Swoon Despite Soto Surge

Frustrations rise as the high-spending Mets have lost 13 of 16 games.