Why the NFL cannot follow the NBA's draft timing model
The 2025 NBA Draft is now in the books, less than a week after the 2024-25 season finished with the Oklahoma City Thunder holding up the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the league champs. For NFL Draft aficionados, that tiny timeframe between the end of the playoffs and the draft seems insanely brief.
The NFL does the draft process quite differently, of course. There were over 10 weeks between the Super Bowl in early February and the NFL Draft in late April in 2025, the customary timeframe for each. Critics of the NFL and its prolonged draft process point to the NBA as a shining example of how much superfluous time goes by in those 10-plus weeks.
While that's true, it's not so simple. For starters, the NBA season is far longer than the NFL. Tipoff for the last NBA season began back on October 22nd and ran through June 22nd, exactly eight months later. That's three full months longer than the NFL's time between Week 1 and the Super Bowl. The NBA necessarily has to speed into the draft to get the teams ready for the next season.
The players drafted into the NBA this week report to Las Vegas for the summer league in a little over a week, with the exhibition season running from July 10th through the 20th. These aren't unpadded walkthroughs focused on teaching and acclimation like the NFL rookies get in minicamp and OTAs; NBA Summer League games are real basketball, full-speed and full-contact competitions.
Basketball can do that because, well, it's basketball. It's an inherently simpler game than football, with five guys on the floor doing the same basic things they've been doing since they were 6-year-olds in rec leagues. The NFL — perhaps unnecessarily — is a different form of football than even the highest-level college game. Divergent rules about defensive contact, multiple formations and personnel groupings for the 11 men on both sides of the ball, and intensely specialized coaching for every individual position group to elevate skills and strategies from the college game require considerable time and training in the NFL.
The NBA Draft process eschews the pro day circuit and the postseason all-star exhibitions that serve as de facto scouting functions. There is an NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago, which took place over a week in mid-May this year. You might have missed that as an ardent NFL fan, as it took place during the rookie minicamps or early OTAs a couple of weeks following the NFL Draft. Unless you're glued to NBA TV or Sirius XM NBA Radio, you're unlikely to ever hear it mentioned. By contrast, all the major networks, sports or otherwise, base their operations in Indianapolis in the final week of February for the annual NFL Scouting Combine.
In short, the NBA's longer season, abbreviated offseason and comparatively simpler and smaller gameplay afford that league the ability to jump straight from the finals to the draft. The NFL could certainly shave a couple of weeks off between the Super Bowl and the draft, no doubt. But the NFL Draft is its own entity, a profitable offshoot of the league itself that the league happily facilitates and benefits from. That's not going away, nor is the NFL's (perhaps unnecessary) quest to dominate the sports news cycle even in the depths of its offseason.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
10 minutes ago
- USA Today
Sixers rookie Johni Broome describes himself as a leader, teammate
CAMDEN, N.J. -- Philadelphia 76ers rookie big man Johni Broome is carrying a bit of a chip on his shoulder after sliding to the Sixers in Round 2 of the 2025 NBA draft with overall pick No. 35. A decorated player during his career at Auburn, Broome will be looking to make an impact. When considering the Sixers could lose Guerschon Yabusele in free agency, one has to believe Broome would have an opportunity open for himself as a rookie in Philadelphia. Either way, he will be looking to contribute and he feels like he can do so in a variety of ways. "I would say my will to win and hating to lose," Broome said on Friday. "When you hate losing, you do whatever it takes. If that's owning up to your mistake or calling out one of your teammate's mistakes. I think that's what helps winning, when everybody's bought in and everybody's on the same page of wanting to win. I think that's just where it comes from." Broome averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game in the 2024-25 season for the Tigers. He was named SEC Player of the Year as he dominated in the toughest conference in college basketball. His personality is all about winning as he had a ton of success in college that he hopes to bring to the NBA. "I think I'll fit in great," Broome added. "I have a great personality. I love to laugh, I love to have fun, but I also love to compete, love to win. I'm going to compete on the court and going to be a little more fiery on the court, but off the court, in the locker room, I'm a good guy and fun guy to be around." The good thing for Broome is that he won't be expected to lead the way for the Sixers. That responsibility falls to Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey as Philadelphia will look to its Big 3 in an effort to push forward in the 2025-26 season. Broome will just be looking to learn and develop into an elite NBA player at this level.
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Report: No certainty 2025-26 season will be LeBron James' last in NBA
Sunday, June 29, is the deadline for LeBron James to let the Los Angeles Lakers know whether he intends to play on the final year of his contract, which would expire a year from now, or opt out in order to sign a slightly longer new contract. He has a $52.6 million player option for next season. Many seem to think that if he opts in to the player option, next season will be his last in the NBA. It would be his 23rd campaign in the league, which would set a new record, and he could very well continue to play at a superstar level after making the All-NBA Second Team this season. But according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, there is "no certainty" that next season will be James' finale. "But before his return to the court, he had been training in the weight room with his son, Lakers guard Bronny James, sources told ESPN, their first extended offseason together after last summer's Paris Olympics," McMenamin wrote. "And while James has considered retirement every offseason since 2023, a source familiar with James' thinking told ESPN that at this point, James is not entering next season with any certainty that it will be his last." James, 40, averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds a game this season and continued to shoot well from both the field and from beyond the 3-point line. He has apparently recovered from a MCL sprain he reportedly suffered in the Lakers' final playoff game and was seen back on the court last weekend.
Newsweek
29 minutes ago
- Newsweek
NFL Writer Highlights Concerning Theories For Eagles' Saquon Barkley
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When it comes to fantasy football predictions, fans might simply look the other way as the team's success is all that matters to them at the end of the day. But when a player was so critical to a team's success throughout the year, it's worth reading some interesting predictions and theories. A recent prediction regarding Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is something that "Birds" fans will have to wonder about. Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport labeled Barkley as a potential bust candidate for the 2025 NFL season. The word comes off as a bit dramatic because, again, it's fantasy football, but regression is regression, and "the Curse of 370" was explained. Read More: Jalen Hurts Praised For Uplifting An Eagles Star Through Uncertainty "Since 2007, there have been 25 instances where a running back surpassed 370 touches in a season. Of that group, only two gained more total yardage the following year. An equal number saw an increase in PPR points. That's less than 10 percent who increased their production," wrote Davenport. "Then, there's the '2K Club.' Of the eight RBs to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, not one gained even 1,500 rushing yards the following year. Six of those backs missed time the following season. The average decline in rushing yards after a 2,000-yard campaign? 966 yards. Forty-seven percent." And you thought the infamous "Madden Curse" was concerning. Saquon Barkley and the Eagles look to take care of business tonight against the Rams. Apply the BetMGM bonus code NEWSWEEK1500 at registration to score a $1,500 bet offer. Saquon Barkley and the Eagles look to take care of business tonight against the Rams. Apply the BetMGM bonus code NEWSWEEK1500 at registration to score a $1,500 bet the good news for the Eagles: a production regression is almost expected this year, since Barkley literally teased NFL history in 2024. Had the veteran running back played through the entire regular season, taking on his average of 22 carries during the final week of the regular season, Barkley would've broken a record that hasn't been touched since 1984. Read More: Eagles Star Delivered Thoughts On NFL's Failed Ban Attempt Despite the predicted regression, Barkley is still in a great situation in Philadelphia. The Eagles won't see too much turnover up front, meaning they'll head into the 2025 NFL season with one of the best offensive lines in the game. Without any setbacks in play since last the Eagles' Super Bowl run, Barkley is healthy heading into the new year. He could be poised for another big year, even if he doesn't have another 2,000-plus rushing year. Across six seasons with the New York Giants, Barkley exceeded 1,000 yards three times. Last year, he rushed for 2,005 yards with a career-high 345 carries. He surpassed his previous career-high in carries by 50 touches. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
