What exactly is the art of drafting? Well, the way I see it is when drafting early you tend to have a bunch of massive contracts, thus resulting in terrible cap management.

Let’s take example a team like the Patriots who are always winning and drafting later in the draft, whether it’s by having no 1st-round picks or having late 1st round pick.

I look at this past april, when we saw a team trade back a few times and pick up 2 quality players who fell due to minor issues. The Baltimore Ravens ended up with Alabama NT Terrence Cody and Texas OLB Sergio Kindle in the 2nd round.

By drafting later and picking up quality players, whether like with Baltimore, or in some cases later rounds, it creates a better cap health for teams.

Now for teams who end up drafting early and often, create for a bad cap situation. Take a look at Detroit. They have had over the years several 1st round picks, and high 1st round picks at that, take for instance last years #1 pick, Matthew Stafford, who received a record $41M in guaranteed money. And this year picking Ndamukong Suh, and we can only imagine how much Suh will demand and get.

Now take a look at the Rams, they are set to give Sam Bradford, the number 1 pick in 2010, a record $45-$50M in guaranteed money. This seems to be way way to much for players that are not proven yet.

Clearly, In my opinion, by drafting later and not having multiple 1st(high 1st’s) round picks, eases the likeliness to have good cap health in future years.

And that is to me the Art of Drafting.