How an alternative 2020 NFL Draft would make NFL more competitive
By Alex Barnett
Draft Order
The draft order is probably one of the most important facets of this scenario that needs to be addressed. For example, this year if quarterbacks were not allowed to be selected in the first round, the number one team could easily select Ohio State product Chase Young and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. This is an unfair situation for other teams that might need just as much help in those areas.
To combat this problem, a partial snake draft could be implemented. For example in round one, picks would proceed as normal. However, in round two, picks one through eight, nine through 16, 17 to 24, 25 to 28, and 29 through 32 would snake picks. For example, in round two the draft order would start with pick eight and count down to one, then move to pick 16 and count down to nine, so on and so forth using the pick brackets above. This process will continue for the entirety of the draft.
The advantages to using a modified snake when limiting position groups in the draft include:
- Giving weaker teams the opportunity to take top talents at other position groups of need
- Spreading top talent at key positions (ie quarterback, edge rushers, offensive line, etc.) between teams with weaker rosters more evenly.
In this alternative draft with a modified snake picks implemented, compensatory picks will become the next question. These pics will be given as normal, and will be ordered where weaker teams will have the higher pick at the end of the appropriate round. These picks will be in rounds where the position lost can be drafted again.