Could the NFL draft eventually go away?

The article reflects on the potential demise of the NFL draft, once viewed as the ultimate offseason event and a beacon of hope for struggling teams. Initially resistant to the idea, the author was swayed by the argument that the draft could be seen as an antitrust violation—a view bolstered by discussions with NFL Players Association attorney Jeffrey Kessler. Despite the draft's deep-rooted tradition and media interests, the notion of its end was surprisingly entertained by sports commentator Peter King, who speculated that the NFL would devise an alternative event of equal significance if the draft disappeared. The author envisions alternate methods of talent distribution that don't reward the least successful teams and considers various scenarios that could lead to the draft's cessation, acknowledging it as a feasible, albeit controversial, possibility.