One of the 2024 NFL Draft’s biggest question marks has nothing to do with the franchise-alerting decisions teams are going to make Thursday night.
Instead, commissioner Roger Goodell has a choice to make that could end up making the event in Detroit look a little bit different this year.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Goodell underwent back surgery three weeks ago.
And unlike a draft prospect that has their stock hurt by such a procedure, this is not exactly the case for Goodell, who isn’t getting picked by any of the league’s 32 teams.
However, per Schefter, while the commissioner’s recovery has gone well so far, Goodell still might not be able to hug the players he greets on stage after he announces their names, something he’s known for doing since he took over as the head of the league in 2006.
If it does not happen Thursday night, it wouldn’t be the first time Goodell hasn’t gotten the chance to greet the league’s newest players in such a manner, though the last time wasn’t by choice.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL — which had planned to hold the draft in Nevada — hosted the event virtually, and Goodell announced first-round picks from his home, obviously having no physical contact with the players.
And if Goodell is able to dole out some hugs this time around, it will be to — at most — 13 players, the smallest group to attend in person since the 2021 draft.
According to The Athletic, there are a number of reasons for this low total, which include the location of the draft and players being uncertain about where and when they’ll be picked during the night — if at all.
Either way, even if Goodell is to hug the players after the picks, he’s likely not going to have the moment he had in 2015 when Browns pick Danny Shelton hugged and lifted the commissioner high off the ground, or repeat the moment he had three years later with Dolphins selection Christian Wilkins when the two shoulder-bumped.
The questions surrounding Goodell’s decision will undoubtedly be answered when he will likely call Caleb Williams’ name first when the Bears go on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick.
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