logo
Crystals on Crocs and Too-Tight Suits: the N.F.L. Draft Delivers

Crystals on Crocs and Too-Tight Suits: the N.F.L. Draft Delivers

New York Times25-04-2025
Hours before Ashton Jeanty, a running back with Sonic the Hedgehog speed, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the sixth pick at Thursday's first round of the N.F.L. draft, he clomped onto the red carpet in a pair of never-worn-before Crocs with shimmery Swarovski crystals across the toe.
The crystaled clogs were teased hours earlier on Crocs's Instagram, accompanied by a droll caption: 'yes, they're real Swarovski.' Per the Crocs website, the Liberaced clogs aren't available until May 6. Yet, if ever there was an occasion to introduce them, it was draft night.
In recent years the N.F.L. draft has mutated from an annual ritual with all the theatrics of a plumber's convention, to a runway show for the freakishly fit.
It's now taken on a new dimension in the post-N.I.L. era (referring to name, image, likeness, the 2021 change in N.C.A.A. policy that allowed college athletes to earn money). To watch the N.F.L. draft now is to detect just how adept these barely-20-somethings are at personal branding. If Deion Sanders (whose son Shedeur became the story of the night, falling out of the first round, well below his projection) was ahead of his time when he was drafted in 1989, challenging the league's conservatism by wearing blocky sunglasses and several gold chains, that look-at-me tendency is all too pervasive now.
Today, college players that ascend to the N.F.L. enter the league with an acute understanding of themselves not just as players, but as brands — with all the promotional value that comes along from that.
'Every player is now realizing and learning that they're their own big machine,' said Kyle Smith, the N.F.L.'s fashion editor, who helps the league and its players build relationships in the fashion industry. For top prospects, Mr. Smith said the draft, 'is the first time that the public really gets to see them and obviously they use fashion to express who they are.'
Often, that expression came through literally: Matthew Golden, who went to the Green Bay Packers with the 23rd pick, was Mr. Midas in a golden 'G' necklace and a rococo-gilded suit as abashed as Versailles wallpaper. As he told a reporter from GQ, 'My last name Golden, it just made too much sense to me.'
There was a 'read my chest' theme emanating from the many players who brandished Hershey's-bar-scaled gold chains etched with their nicknames. If nothing else, the pirate's bounty of gold at the draft reflected the staggering amount of money sloshing around the college ranks, likely shepherded by the N.I.L. adjustments.
The evening's self-marketing maestro was Shemar Stewart, who went to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 17th pick and wore not only a snowball-sized chain depicting an irate gorilla, but custom smoking slippers with the same menacing simian logo. A quick Google reveals that same emblem sitting at the top of his website: It is evidently never too early for a defensive end to mint his own Jordan-like logo in today's N.F.L. If Mr. Stewart works out in Cincinnati, expect to see much more of that logo.
Occasionally, something more personal peeked through amid all this cocksure branding. There was something touching about Tetairoa McMillan, the Hawaiian wide receiver who went to the Carolina Panthers with the eighth pick, tossing a lei over his Joker purple suit. Will Johnson, one of just two players invited to attend the draft in person who did not get selected in the first round, showed off a ring made by his mother that he said contained the names of his deceased family members.
Within the cavalcade of tailored suits, Abdul Carter, who ended up being selected by the New York Giants with the third pick, stood out in his obsidian thobe, a traditional ankle-length garment. 'Just paying homage to my religion,' Mr. Carter told a reporter on the carpet. 'I wouldn't be here without being a Muslim.' (Though it was his father's oversized Adidas chain that really went viral online later in the night. The younger Mr. Carter has already landed a deal with the German sportswear company.)
The night though was conspicuously light on big luxury brands Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton, a signal that the globe-stomping industry remains oddly bearish on the N.F.L.'s marketing potential. Instead, the name mentioned most during the N.F.L.'s red carpet coverage was Brian Alexander, a Washington, D.C., tailor who has found his niche producing custom suits for football players, but who doesn't have much of a profile beyond the sporting world.
'Some brands are really waking up,' said Mr. Smith. 'Some brands, you know, take a little bit more time.'
Mr. Alexander is then at least partially responsible for the amount of achingly shrunken suits that hit the stage on Thursday. The fear of stumbling back into tarp-sized suits, a la say, Eli Manning at the 2004 draft, has players parking themselves too far in the other direction. And if fulsome pants are returning to fashion, that message certainly didn't reach the draft, where bare ankles remained the norm.
There were also suits of shocking colors. The jolt from one of them was delivered by Travis Hunter, a player who hopes to break convention by playing offense and defense in the N.F.L. He tore onto the carpet in the exact shade of a Pepto Bismol bottle and told an interviewer before the draft that he didn't want to pick a hue that might've hinted at his eventual destination later in the evening. The Heisman Trophy-winner was selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, his flamingo jacket pairing well with the teal brim of the team's cap.
The strongest message of the night, though, was one made by doing the least. Cam Ward, the quarterback who, as predicted, was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick, entered Lambeau Field humbly in a tan, single breasted suit with a white T-shirt underneath and a slight chain around his neck.
When you go first, who cares what you wear?
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Raiders' Ashton Jeanty receives high praise from former All-Pro running back
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty receives high praise from former All-Pro running back

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Raiders' Ashton Jeanty receives high praise from former All-Pro running back

Ashton Jeanty is entering his rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025 after being selected with the No.6 overall pick in April's draft. Jeanty is expected to play a pivotal role in Chip Kelly's offense and be a major upgrade at running back for Las Vegas. With already high expectations placed on his shoulders, former All-Pro running back and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew decided to hype up Jeanty even more. While at Raiders training camp practice on Sunday, Jones-Drew told Levi Edwards of that Jeanty is the best running back prospect he has ever scouted. "Ashton Jeanty is the best prospect I've scouted since I've been scouting," Jones-Drew told "I've scouted Saquon Barkley and other guys. A lot of it is his skill set but also what he did and where he was. And that translates over. There is similarities in our game, I think he's a much better receiver than I was when I first got into the NFL. ... His vision, his contact balance, his ability to catch, his blocking – he is the full package." "The Raiders have always been good when they had a strong running game," Jones-Drew added. "And I think Pete Carroll has always been successful when he had a strong running game. Ashton has that ability to be that every down guy to carry the ball and take the punishment that comes with being a running back in this day and age." Jeanty posted one of the most dominant colliegate football seasons for a running back in 2024, as he rushed for 2,601 and 29 touchdowns on an astonishing seven yards per carry for Boise State. If Jeanty's game can translate to the NFL, the 21-year-old could be one of the most productive running backs in the league right out of the gate. The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist should receive a bulk of the carries in Las Vegas' offense and be the workhorse back the team has been looking for over the last few years. MORE:Is Raiders' Jackson Powers-Johnson in danger of losing starting spot?

Gwyneth Paltrow Biographer Estimates She Was Paid Millions for Astronomer Spokesperson Deal
Gwyneth Paltrow Biographer Estimates She Was Paid Millions for Astronomer Spokesperson Deal

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Gwyneth Paltrow Biographer Estimates She Was Paid Millions for Astronomer Spokesperson Deal

Gwyneth Paltrow was likely paid in the 'millions' for her role as the 'temporary spokesperson' for tech company Astronomer, according to her biographer. Amy Odell, who recently authored the book Gwyneth about the film star, claimed via Instagram on Saturday, July 26, that she has 'exclusive information' regarding Paltrow's 'past endorsement deals,' most specifically how much she has earned for each partnership. The Sliding Doors star 'appeared at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia for a total of $1.6 million,' Odell said in the video. 'She attended a launch party for Skims in late 2023 to promote their Swarovski collaboration for $250,000.' Odell continued, 'Gwyneth had a bigger deal with Swarovski where she would earn $1.25 million in exchange for wearing Swarovski a certain number of times. She also received millions for endorsing other brands, like Copper Fit.' Gwyneth Paltrow Is Staying Unbothered Ahead of New Biography About Her Life, Source Says Us Weekly has reached out to Paltrow for comment. Astronomer and Paltrow shared videos via social media announcing her momentary appointment on Friday, July 25. 'Hi, I'm Gwyneth Paltrow. I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300+ employees at Astronomer,' Paltrow, 52, explained. 'Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days and they wanted me to answer the most common ones.' Though Paltrow does not directly address the cheating scandal that rocked the tech company after former CEO Andy Byron and former chief people officer Kristen Cabot were caught snuggled up together live on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert — despite being married to other people — she and the brand had a little fun with it. 'Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow, unifying the experience of running data ML and AI pipelines at scale. We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in date workflow automation,' Paltrow said in response to a so-called 'question' from followers of the company. Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's Net Worth After Viral Kiss Cam Video at Coldplay Concert The words, 'How is your social team holding…' were then written out on the screen before the camera switched back to the actress. 'Yes! There is still room available at our Beyond Analytics Event in September. We will now be returning to what we do best: Delivering game-changing results for our customers,' Paltrow said, before she concluded, 'Thank you for your interest in Astronomer.' Astronomer's new CEO, Pete DeJoy, recently addressed the unprecedented attention the company has received since the now-viral scandal, which has been commented on by late night hosts, celebrities and even politicians. "The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name,' DeJoy wrote via LinkedIn on Monday, July 21. 'At Astronomer we have never shied away from challenges; a near-decade of building this business has tested us time and time again, and each time we've emerged stronger. From starting a software company in Cincinnati, Ohio, to keeping the lights on through the collapse of the bank that held all our cash, to scaling from 30 to 300 people during a global pandemic that demanded we do it all without ever being in the same room. And yet, we're still here.' Solve the daily Crossword

27 Underrated Things To Try Before They Go Viral
27 Underrated Things To Try Before They Go Viral

Buzz Feed

time3 hours ago

  • Buzz Feed

27 Underrated Things To Try Before They Go Viral

A useful waterproof baby carrier if you'd appreciate having your hands free when you take your little one in the pool. It's made of a fast-drying neoprene material (think surf suits) and has soft padded straps. An office chair blanket that'll create a cocoon of warmth (and it's strapped to the chair so it won't fall off), so you can focus on your work instead of cursing the office manager every 10 minutes because they're absolutely blasting the AC. A smudge-correcting clear nail polish so it's NBD when your painstakingly painted mani gets crinkled because you *thought* your nails were fully dried but learned they were most definitely still slightly wet after you buttoned up your pants. A spinning water bottle organizer because your extensive collection of jumbo water bottles is taking up an entire shelf in your kitchen cabinet. This lazy Susan–style water bottle holder can accommodate up to six 40-oz. Stanleys, Starbucks tumblers, and more. A hair-identifier spray to make your monthly dermaplaning session as pain-free as possible. Now, you can be sure you're shaving all the peach fuzz to make makeup application smoother and reveal that summery glow. And reviewers say the spray helps the razor glide more smoothly. A pack of pee pads for monitoring your pup's health — it's not like they can use their words to tell you when something is wrong. These absorbent pads have a color-changing layer that can alert you when you to potential issues, like a UTI or dehydration. A pack of soda can lids if you prefer your pop with no bugs in it. (Who doesn't?) They're designed to fit standard-sized cans and have a sealing ring that should prevent leaks if the can gets knocked happens often if you've got kids. The straw is retractable, so it's not exposed to icky germs. And you can pop the whole thing in the dishwasher for cleaning! A silicone ring protector that'll give you peace of mind when you're at the gym, allowing you to wear your rings while exercising so you don't have to stick them in an unsupervised gym locker while also protecting your band from scratches. A pack of disposable paper bibs so you're always prepared when you're out of the house this summer. With three layers of protection and an adhesive tab so you can keep the bib attached to their clothes *plus* a built-in crumb catcher, these bibs will make impromptu park lunches, playdates, meals out, and arts and crafts time much less messy. A Hershey's s'mores caddy because no summer day is complete without an ooey-gooey campfire s'more. This tackle box has room for all the essentials: graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, and roasting sticks. A limited-edition Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 71 shimmering body cream to wrap your skin in a subtle golden glow — like if the Cullens could tan — while hydrating and softening, and evening your skin tone. And the caramelized vanilla and toasted macadamia nut scent will have you smelling like a literal snack. A pack of light-blocking strips for eliminating the pesky light leakage that happens around the edges of the blinds, even blackout blinds. They attach via magnets, so installation and removal is easy peasy lemon squeezy. Just as easy as falling asleep during a bright summer day or sleeping in even when the summer sun rises at 5:30 a.m. A set of espresso martini instant cocktail tea bags if your bank account cries every time you order an $18 espresso martini. Enjoy your fave bevvy at home for way cheaper and without having to put on real clothes and shout across the table at your friends because the restaurant has the volume turned way up. A ~frightfully fun~ skeleton hand serving set that'll ~give you a hand~ at your next dinner party. Is it too early to be thinking about spooky season? Methinks not! A moisturizing doggie sunscreen with SPF 30 so your four-legged friend, who ofc loves sun-bathing when it's 95 degrees, has some defense against the sun's rays. A wig dryer stand because waiting hours (or even days) for your freshly washed wig to dry is not the move. Instead of hanging your wet wig on the bathroom door handle, place it over the mannequin head, insert the dryer, and let the ventilation holes dry the hair faster than you thought possible. A weekly keyboard planner to help you organize your tasks and visualize the work week. It's undated, so you can use it only when you need it instead of buying a dated planner and then feeling like you've wasted money because you only filled half the book. An innovative hardshell suitcase — OK, so you know when you've got your suitcase precariously balanced on an itty-bitty luggage rack and with the suitcase fully open, it takes up like 50% of the free space in your shoebox-sized hotel room? This suitcase's trunk-style opening changes the game! It offers deeper storage space (so go ahead and *stuff* those packing cubes) and easy access to stuff in your carry-on — no more having to open the entire clamshell and reveal to your gate every single thing you packed because you need to grab a hairbrush. An airtight Deli ProKeeper if the sensory experience of pulling a piece of slimy ham from a damp deli meat package is *shudders* enough to make you no longer hungry for lunch. This container is designed to extend the life of your deli meats and cheeses and has a grooved bottom, meaning your turkey isn't sitting in its juices. A pack of Lego highlighters that'll make the slog of note-taking or studying feel a little more fun. They're also a great fidget toy! A Chasin' Rabbits eye cream roller so you can moisturize and potentially de-puff your under-eye area with a wave of your magic wand. The pen dispenses a brightening under-eye cream, which you can then rub in with the steel rollerballs. It'll be like a nice lil' eye massage too! A pack of carborundum sponges because these are the heavy hitters you'll want for stains and gunk that no other sponge is strong enough to handle. A midi dress with the most darling ruffled tiers to make you look like a literal work of art. A K-Beauty hair perfume oil for whatever the hair equivalent of "glass skin" is. "Glass hair"? It'll add a glossy sheen while calming frizz and flyaways *and* it leaves behind a subtle scent for hours — 14 hours, according to one reviewer.. And someone else said it added more softness and shine than Olaplex, so, like, do with that info what you will. A pretty ~dope~ Doap bar if plain old soap and water isn't strong enough to unstick the sticky dough that's stuck to your hands. Instead of dirtying (and ruining) a perfectly good sponge, clean your hands with a Doap bar. The textured knobs will remove stubborn dough like magic! A delightfully stress-free This Annoying Life coloring book that'll help you find humor in the frustrations and pains of everyday life — like stepping on Lego bricks with bare feet. At least you can choose the color of the bricks! A waterless and instant makeup brush cleaner so you can skip the hours-long process of washing and drying your makeup brushes. This spray penetrates the brush hairs and melts oils and pigments fast while drying pretty much instantly. Wow!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store