The NFL Draft is Just a Weigh Station
People tend to think that getting picked high in the draft, making a lot of money, and being famous will make them happy. The one thing all of these have in common is that they are result oriented.
In my experience I have found that people who are result oriented are more likely to be unhappy and have shorter and less distinguished careers, regardless of their chosen field. I have also found that people who are process oriented tend to not only be happier but also have more fulfilling careers. If people changed their focus noted above to developing a career in the NFL, being productive, and doing something they love, they would be much more likely to achieve the results they are looking for.
Being a high draft pick may seem important to the kids that are about to be selected this week, however, the reality is they will be measured by what they achieve once they get there. Being a high draft pick can be a bit of an albatross around player’s neck if they do not have immediate success, and has ended many promising careers too soon.
There have been 19 different quarterbacks among the first five picks of the last 15 NFL drafts. Only two of them have ever played in the Super Bowl and only one has a Super Bowl ring – Eli Manning winning twice. Over that same period of time 42 quarterbacks have been selected in the first round and only six of them have led their team to a Super Bowl. Those six have a combined Super Bowl record of 6-3.
Ironically, the record of quarterbacks in the Super Bowl that were not first round choices over that same period of time is also 6-3. Interestingly, two quarterbacks who entered the league undrafted (just prior to the 1999 draft), Kurt Warner and Jack Delhomme started in four Super Bowls between them. The only player to start at quarterback in more Super Bowls during the past 15 years than the undrafted Warner was the 199th player selected in the 2000 draft, Tom Brady.
Though it is nice to be a high draft pick (and you will see more money initially) it has little to do with what is ultimately important; what you achieve once you are on the big stage. To put things in perspective… Would you rather leave a legacy of being a quarterback who was a top five draft pick (like Tim Couch, Akili Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Carson Palmer, Vince Young or JaMarcus Russell)? Or one who ends up in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame (like Tom Brady or Kurt Warner)?
You can follow Sam on Twitter: @SuperTaoInc
