The NFL’s adoption of a modified kickoff rule has significant implications for team draft strategies. This rule, which emphasizes minimizing player contact, necessitates a reassessment of player attributes deemed valuable for special teams play. Teams are actively consulting with special teams coaches and experts who experienced the low-impact kickoff format previously employed by the XFL. The makeup of special teams units is a topic of ongoing discussion. While first-round draft picks are rarely selected based on their special teams abilities, teams may consider drafting players on day three specifically for their contributions to these units. The new kickoff rule will undoubtedly influence the evaluation and selection of players vying for roster spots.
NFL’s New Kickoff Rule Shaping Team Draft Strategies
