The 2017 Rookie Training Camp was nearing its end, and although this year was generally considered an off-year compared to the comprehensive breakout of rookies in 2012, the camp still saw a number of promising new players erge, keeping scouts and teams busy.
After the physical tests, the Rookie Training Camp had one final phase:
Interviews.
Representatives from all thirty-two teams would arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium, ard with a list compiled from the camp results and scout reports.
This list had limited slots; with so many players at the Rookie Training Camp, teams couldn't interview everyone. They mainly focused on those prospects they were interested in but still had more questions about, inviting these players to the team's hotel rooms for conversations.
The interviews often lasted only ten to fifteen minutes, and sotis even five, a very brief and efficient exchange of opinions.
Perhaps so may wonder, can such a brief interview really change anything?
The answer is yes.
In the 2005 draft, Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback from the University of California, Berkeley, was widely considered the strongest contender for the first overall pick. His talent, ability, and position as a quarterback all seed to indicate that he could be the next big star.
However, the draft unfolded in one of the most awkward scenes in history: Rodgers's na wasn't called for the first, second, or even third pick, causing the broadcast caras to focus on Rodgers each ti a pick was made, as if interrogating him with their lenses.
It wasn't until the twenty-fourth pick of the first round that Rodgers was finally selected by the Green Bay Packers, ending his excruciating three-hour wait.
After the draft, there were nurous rumors, but it took a long ti for team managers to admit that Rodgers's poor performance in the final interview of the Rookie Training Camp was to bla. They thought he was arrogant, aloof, conceited, difficult to get along with, and not leadership material.
Of course, it turned out that this view was wrong.
Now, Rodgers is universally regarded as one of the four elite quarterbacks in the League, a four-ti regular season MVP, and unquestionably a leading figure.
But that's all in hindsight, and without a doubt, the interviews at the Rookie Training Camp could indeed influence the draft strategy of team managers.
In fact, it is the last chance for teams to evaluate players, and the only opportunity for players to find out about the teams.
The 2016 season had co to a close.
At the end of January, in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots faced the Atlanta Falcons, and the course and outco of the ga were beyond surprising.
The seemingly weaker Atlanta Falcons led "28:3" at halfti, dominating the New England Patriots. The outco seed certain, but then, against all odds, the Patriots made a coback fit for a king, staging the biggest coback in Super Bowl history by winning "34:28" in overti against the Falcons to claim the championship.
Without a doubt, this Super Bowl final made history.
At the sa ti, the competition for the first overall draft pick was... quite fierce.
Because the Cleveland Browns had won a ga, surprisingly enough. In the second to last week of the regular season, they defeated the visiting San Diego Chargers at ho, ending a seventeen-ga losing streak that spanned seasons. This allowed both the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears to see hope for the coveted first pick.
What's even more incredible is that the Cleveland Browns actually didn't want to tank anymore!
In the regular-season finale, the Cleveland Browns fought neck and neck with the Pittsburgh Steelers away from ho, with the winner not determined until overti.
The Pittsburgh Steelers narrowly won with a field goal, handing another defeat to the Cleveland Browns while also securing the top draft pick position for the Cleveland Browns.
Although the Browns' slide into the abyss was completely unstoppable, the final two gas of the season demonstrated a rare fighting spirit. This led people to speculate that perhaps the Cleveland Browns were finally preparing to rise again, and that perhaps heading to Cleveland wouldn't be such a bad choice—
Who knows, this ti the first overall pick heading to Cleveland might really beco the savior, just like last season in the NBA when LeBron Jas led the Cleveland Cavaliers in a thrilling coback to defeat the Golden State Warriors and clinch the championship.
And the teams that failed to secure the top draft pick have also finally settled into their positions, with the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars respectively securing the second to fourth picks.
By the way, Derrick Henry's team, the Tennessee Titans, are in the fifth spot, but since they signed a running back in the free agency market last year and also drafted a running back, they probably won't insanely pick another running back this year, so the dream of Li Wei and Henry reuniting likely won't happen.
Heading to a strong team has its benefits, and likewise, heading to a struggling team has its own advantages.
The most prominent point is that the NFL has a salary cap, a hard salary cap— Discover stories at empire
That is, there's no wiggle room, no cap space, no exceptions.
Rookies, like professional players, all have a hard cap, and every round's cap and signing bonuses are strictly regulated.
Generally speaking, rookie contracts are for four years, with the option to negotiate an extension starting in the third year; the cap for the first overall pick is four years thirty-five million US dollars, while the cap for the thirty-second pick in the first round is four years ten million US dollars.
This is just the first round, and you can already see a clear disparity, let alone the second or third rounds.
Naturally, teams are interviewing players, and players also have their own calculations when heading to interviews; everyone has their own dream team.
As expected, defensive end Garrett, running back Fournette, quarterback Watson, and other sought-after players beca hot candidates for interviews, each holding at least five invitations, signaling their draft prospects and to so extent, they also have so choice in the matter.
And this year's Rookie Training Camp standout McCaffrey did not disappoint, breaking the shackles of being a running back, earning six team interview invitations for himself.
But the real surprise was Mahos.
It was widely believed to be a weak year for quarterbacks, with only ten quarterbacks attending the Rookie Training Camp. Watson from Clemson and Mitchell Trubisky from South Carolina were the reluctant choices among the less impressive lot.
Unexpectedly, Mahos, who was thought to be at best third-round material, displayed outstanding talent, and attractive combine results caught the attention of many.
The Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Chicago Bears all extended interview invitations.
Not only did teams like the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, with top three draft picks, hand out invites, but even teams like the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers, which aren't lacking a quarterback, truly demonstrate the demand for quarterbacks in the league and the desire of teams for a cornerstone quarterback.
So, what about the other focus, Li Wei?
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