Another Newbish Question: Draft Dodging

[JSn]

Hey guys. Sorry if this is common knowledge, but I'm just curious: Can you defer an early round pick to a later point in the draft?

Suppose you have the #1 overall and don't want to pick that high, do you have a choice?

 

[mgteich]

Yes, gross stupidity is acceptable. Several teams have not get their picks up in time and picked later than scheduled.

Hey guys. Sorry if this is common knowledge, but I'm just curious: Can you defer an early round pick to a later point in the draft?

Suppose you have the #1 overall and don't want to pick that high, do you have a choice?

 

[JSn]

Yes, gross stupidity is acceptable. Several teams have not get their picks up in time and picked later than scheduled.

Haha, I get ya, I'm just wondering, how far down do you have to move if you miss it?

 

[MetalBleachers]

Haha, I get ya, I'm just wondering, how far down do you have to move if you miss it?

Interesting question, in that each team has a "slot" not only in terms of where to pick but of how much to pay. So, if the Lions "missed" their pick on draft day, they'd automatically get slotted number two. However, the agent of their draft pick could argue that his client should get overall #1 level pay.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

This actually happened a few years ago..

I know that it is hard to imagine but the Vikings actually let the clock expire on there first round pick in 2003, the rules state that once the clock has expired on a team, the team with the next pick can go ahead and select.

Wikepedia actually has a great explanation of the draft..

NFL Draft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Each team has its representatives attend the draft. During the draft, one team is always "on the clock." In Round 1, teams have 10 minutes to make their choice (previously 15). The decision time drops to 7 minutes (previously 10) in the second round and 5 minutes in Rounds 3-7. If a team doesn't make a decision within its allotted time, the team still can submit its selection at any time after its time is up, but the next team can pick before it, thus possibly stealing a player the later team may have been eyeing. This occurred in the 2003 draft, when the Minnesota Vikings, with the 7th overall pick, were late with their selection. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted quarterback Byron Leftwich and the Carolina Panthers drafted offensive tackle Jordan Gross before the Vikings were able to submit their selection of defensive tackle Kevin Williams.


So if your time is expired, the next guy can (and will) pick, and the other teams can keep coming, but you can submit your pick at anytime after your time expires, so you never actually lose a pick, just drafting position.

 

[patchick]

Following up on FTW's response, the key is that once your time expires you get to leap in whenever you want...IF there's a break in the action. So what happens is that the teams picking behind you line up at the podium ready to make their selections immediately to keep you from getting back in line. Eventually you hit a team that can't get ready in time or is negotiating a trade, etc., so you get your turn.

IOW, you take a big risk because the skid could be just one slot but could be 2, 3 or more. If you're stuck with the #1 overall and don't want to pay the money, though, it could theoretically be worth the gamble.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Following up on FTW's response, the key is that once your time expires you get to leap in whenever you want...IF there's a break in the action. So what happens is that the teams picking behind you line up at the podium ready to make their selections immediately to keep you from getting back in line. Eventually you hit a team that can't get ready in time or is negotiating a trade, etc., so you get your turn.

IOW, you take a big risk because the skid could be just one slot but could be 2, 3 or more. If you're stuck with the #1 overall and don't want to pay the money, though, it could theoretically be worth the gamble.

But what if the teams behind you don't want the #1 pick, either?

 

[billdog3484]

i remember when the vikings did this with Williams. I remember though, that there was bickering back and forth about how much money Williams was going to get. each year, the first overall player is usually signed first and each subsequent pick gets a decreasing amount. the vikings had the 7th pick and picked Williams 9th or something like that. Williams wanted to get paid in terms of the 7th overall pick, while the Vikings wanted to pay him as if he were the 9th slot. i dont know what the resolution on that was, but this is also something to consider

 

[mgteich]

When this becomes an issue, the owners will meet and change the rules.

But what if the teams behind you don't want the #1 pick, either?

 

[dryheat44]

But what if the teams behind you don't want the #1 pick, either?

Sooner or later, this will probably happen. The draft commences, and 30 minutes later nobody's made a pick because they don't want to pay #1 money.

Fortunately, that will probably force the league and NFLPA to put in a slotted salary for rookies.

 

[Jimke]

This actually happened a few years ago..

I know that it is hard to imagine but the Vikings actually let the clock expire on there first round pick in 2003, the rules state that once the clock has expired on a team, the team with the next pick can go ahead and select.

Wikepedia actually has a great explanation of the draft..

NFL Draft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Each team has its representatives attend the draft. During the draft, one team is always "on the clock." In Round 1, teams have 10 minutes to make their choice (previously 15). The decision time drops to 7 minutes (previously 10) in the second round and 5 minutes in Rounds 3-7. If a team doesn't make a decision within its allotted time, the team still can submit its selection at any time after its time is up, but the next team can pick before it, thus possibly stealing a player the later team may have been eyeing. This occurred in the 2003 draft, when the Minnesota Vikings, with the 7th overall pick, were late with their selection. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted quarterback Byron Leftwich and the Carolina Panthers drafted offensive tackle Jordan Gross before the Vikings were able to submit their selection of defensive tackle Kevin Williams.


So if your time is expired, the next guy can (and will) pick, and the other teams can keep coming, but you can submit your pick at anytime after your time expires, so you never actually lose a pick, just drafting position.

I believe that the Patriots did this in 2002 when deciding who to pick

with their last draft pick. They chose David Givens with the 253rd pick.