:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59799021/usa_today_10351489.0.jpg)
The 2019 NFL Draft will be held in Nashville, Tennessee. At the NFL’s spring league meeting, the owners approved the decision. Rather than host the draft in New York every year as it used to, the league is changing things up by allowing cities to bid for a shot at hosting.
And it’s pretty awesome. The finalists for the 2019 and 2020 drafts were announced in February, and it came down to Cleveland/Canton, Kansas City, Nashville, Denver, and Las Vegas.
The next draft is a special one, too, since 2019 marks the NFL’s 100th season. 2020 will mark the league’s centennial — it was established on Aug. 20, 1920 — so the NFL is waiting a little longer to announce who will host that draft:
The NFL will vote name host cities for Super Bowls 57 and 58, plus 2019 NFL Draft tomorrow. I’m told they won’t award the 2020 draft site yet — big event, so league wants to take its time, and it’s well ahead of past years on planning anyway.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 22, 2018
This past draft was held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and it was one of the most entertaining drafts yet for one big reason: several of the special guest pick announcers on Day 2 absolutely roasted the Dallas Cowboys and their fans.
Nate Burleson scoffed at the idea that the Cowboys are actually America’s Team, calling Detroit America’s Heartbeat. Jerry Kramer took a shot at them over the Ice Bowl. Even Michael Vick got in on it, claiming that he never lost to the Cowboys when he played.
David Akers absolutely annihilated the Cowboys with his speech, right after the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles traded up to one spot ahead of Dallas, where they picked a tight end named Dallas on the same day that Jason Witten retired. Did you get all of that?
In other words: the draft can be fun.
For that reason, Nashville could be a great setting. Look no further than the Tennessee Titans’ reveal of new uniforms in April. Despite the fact the jerseys had leaked a day early and fans were already aware of what they looked like, an estimated crowd of 15,000-20,000 filled downtown Nashville for a uniform reveal party.
Several thousand fans shoulder-to-shoulder jamming to music down a long street of honky tonks. This is about as Nashville as you can get. Unveiling will be just before 8p CT. https://t.co/OTtYTqMrFc pic.twitter.com/Yq6TDuIGCM
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) April 5, 2018
According to The Tennessean, the Titans thought the event would be a chance to show league officials why Nashville should host the NFL Draft. Evidently, the NFL was sold.
In addition to levity, the NFL Draft can also be touching and real. The league’s willingness to move the event around and have fun with it also gives it a chance to connect with fans. It has led to some genuine moments that are all too rare in the NFL. That’s especially cathartic after months of the pre-draft process, a ridiculous time that gets more ridiculous ever year.
But hey, there are good reasons to look forward to the next draft, starting with Nashville and hosting it for the first time ever.