Written by Getting drafted in the first round of the NFL draft is an incredible accomplishment. Not only do you have to be a great player who has demonstrated the ability to play at the highest level, but you also have to convince teams that you can make the transition to the NFL effectively. As a result, the draft has turned into a media spectacular, watched by fans intrigued by the promise the new players bring to their teams.
There are a lot of talented players available. However, first-round picks need to come in and be leaders, worthy of the large contracts they demand. Scouts can measure size, arm speed, and 40-yard dash times but can’t measure character. Character is hard to measure and impossible to project.
Leaders come in different styles. Some are commanding, while others are great communicators who bring people together. Some lead by example and others show empathy and build relationships. All of them have a vision for what they want to accomplish. The NFL does a great job of showcasing the young men who become first-round picks. Seeing the joy they have when they are picked and hearing their stories makes the broadcast intriguing to watch.
The first pick of the draft was Trevor Lawrence, which was no surprise. Lawrence won a national championship at Clemson after being the top high school recruit in the nation. He is 6’-6” tall, has a rocket for an arm, and great hair. However, what blew away Jaguars owner Shad Khan was his humility. Khan referred to Lawrence as a “normal guy,” which is what he looked like when Roger Goddell made the announcement. Lawrence didn’t make the trip to Cleveland to walk the stage to hug Goddell. Instead, he chose to stay in South Carolina and celebrate with his new wife, family, friends, and a beautiful dog.
The following two picks were quarterbacks from smaller schools who no one would have considered top three picks just a few months ago. Yet, they earned their honors by doing well in the draft process. Zac Wilson and Trey Lance convinced the Jets and ‘49ers they could be the next Patrick Mahomes. Wilson comes from a large family, and his Instagram-star mother stole the night. Lance, who is from a small town in Minnesota, excelled as a quarterback at North Dakota State while playing with a chip on his shoulder because large schools wanted him to switch positions.
Justin Fields from Ohio State and Mac Jones from Alabama had to wait a little longer before getting picked in the middle of the round. Jones sat anxiously in the green room with two cell phones until New England called to let him know they want him to be the next Tom Brady. That made five quarterbacks taken in the first round, and we had heard about all of them. It was interesting to learn more about them on the broadcast. However, learning about more obscure players rising to the first round was more entertaining.
The first round included two players who played the same position and wore the same number at the University of Miami. Both Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rosseau wore #15 for the Hurricanes. However, Rosseau opted out of playing this season due to COVID-19, and Phillips took his place. Phillips was a highly-recruited prospect who initially went to UCLA but had to leave the game due to concussions and a bad wrist injury. Nevertheless, Phillips got himself into tremendous shape and had an impressive performance on his pro day. He’s also a talented musician.
With time, we will see which of these picks live up to their advanced billing. We remember the first-round busts like Ryan Leaf and, more recently, Mitchell Trubisky, and some fail to live up to their potential due to injuries. Only about half of the first-round picks end up succeeding in the NFL, even with all of the rigorous due diligence efforts that go into the draft process.
We see players who appear to have a solid character slip away from it after receiving the large payday and experience the trappings of celebrity. The saga of Deshaun Watson continued during the draft, as his 22 sexual assault allegations kept him from being traded by the Texans. They appear to be moving on from Watson by drafting quarterback Davis Mills with their first pick, ending his four-year tenure as the franchise’s future.
What determines who succeeds? I think it goes back to character. I remember seeing a guy at the gym once who appeared to be training for a triathlon based on the three tattoos I saw he had. First, he had the Iron Man logo on his shin, a reminder to stay healthy and active. Then he had the words “patience” and “discipline” on his forearms, from the famous story of Conrad Hilton. Those that have a vision for what they want to achieve, can stop being hard on themselves, and avoid laziness build the character necessary for success. It’s hard to measure that at a combine or predict it from a single interview, as many can do a good job of faking it.
Building character has more to do with unlearning what our culture teaches us rather than following any training plan. We live in an impatient society that expects us to complete long to-do lists and meet deadlines. We seek instant gratification and react immediately to challenges. We encourage self-discipline in the gym while promoting self-destructive behaviors in our free time, believing we are entitled to a break now and then. Having that vision of what you want to be is crucial to keep yourself on track.
The draft picks now go from superstars on their college teams to rookies on NFL teams filled with experienced superstars. They will need to be patient as they learn how to compete at the highest level and adapt to living in the spotlight. It will require discipline to keep up their training and avoid falling into the traps set for them as they take on the role of representing the hope for the future to millions of new fans.
I hope your team didn’t pass on football’s Michael Jordan. Or, maybe, that they did.