{"id":662734,"date":"2025-04-15T05:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T02:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/"},"modified":"2025-04-15T05:15:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T02:15:15","slug":"how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"How blockchain could change the NFL draft"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a25334c09b93\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a25334c09b93\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/#What_was_the_problem_or_challenge_you_were_setting_out_to_address_here\" >What was the problem or challenge you were setting out to address here?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/#How_exactly_does_blockchain_come_into_play_here\" >How exactly does blockchain come into play here?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/#How_exactly_could_that_work\" >How exactly could that work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/#Have_you_actually_fleshed_this_idea_out\" >Have you actually fleshed this idea out?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/#So_is_this_ready_for_prime_time\" >So, is this ready for prime time?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-blockchain-could-change-the-nfl-draft\/#Last_question_Youre_engineering_researchers_whose_work_largely_focuses_on_military_and_defense_applications_What_made_you_want_to_look_at_the_NFL_draft\" >Last question. You&#8217;re engineering researchers whose work largely focuses on military and defense applications. What made you want to look at the NFL draft?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/nfl-helmet-phrase.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/nfl-helmet-phrase.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/nfl-helmet-phrase.jpg\" alt=\"nfl helmet phrase\" title=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The NFL draft is entertaining, but it&#8217;s also the setting for high-stakes negotiations where teams often simultaneously seek a competitive advantage and cooperate with each other by trading draft picks. These deals are complex, fast-paced and rely on a clear understanding between the teams involved.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s exactly the sort of setting where blockchain smart contracts could be useful, according to a paper put forward by systems engineering researchers <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/IJSMS-09-2023-0185\/full\/html\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in the <i>International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more, we talked with the researchers: Brandon McConnell, an associate research professor in NC State University&#8217;s Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Lieutenant Colonel Mat Fukuzawa, an assistant professor of mathematical <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a>s at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. McConnell and Fukuzawa proposed the idea of bringing blockchain to the NFL draft in a journal article published last year.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_the_problem_or_challenge_you_were_setting_out_to_address_here\"><\/span>What was the problem or challenge you were setting out to address here?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fukuzawa: There is nothing wrong with the NFL draft; it runs smoothly from year to year and participants and fans <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly accept its design. So, we were not attempting to fix a broken process.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell: However, the NFL draft is an interesting context for exploring blockchain <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lications, because it is a high-stakes setting in which sequential decisions are being made and in which various parties are cooperating or competing (or both). Specifically, we wanted to explore blockchain-enabled smart contract systems designs that improved the ability to cooperate\/compete.<\/p>\n<p>Fukuzawa: A few historical events highlight the need for careful time management and clear communication during the draft; those concepts are always present regardless of the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> given the current rules. Our research provides a proof-of-concept for a blockchain-based draft that could alleviate concerns with time, with particular emphasis on draft-day trades. [Editor&#8217;s note: two examples of these &#8220;historical events&#8221; involved the Vikings in 2003 and the Ravens in 2011.]<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_exactly_does_blockchain_come_into_play_here\"><\/span>How exactly does blockchain come into play here?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fukuzawa: Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, in which a shared or common ledger exists among a network of participants. Because the ledger is shared, not only is there a system of record for all transactions, but there are rules on what constitutes a valid transaction.<\/p>\n<p>While the particular rules differ from network type to network type, blockchains are lauded as a solution to the distrust problem that participants often experience in a public network. The structure and rules associated with most public blockchain networks make it prohibitively expensive to cheat or deceive others.<\/p>\n<p>Also, there is still some work to do with actual employment of this technology in a non-financial setting. Factors like scalability, cost, energy usage and regulatory uncertainty are not mature enough to handle most practical applications.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_exactly_could_that_work\"><\/span>How exactly could that work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fukuzawa: We make use of smart contracts, a component of blockchain that acts like the digital form of a traditional written contract.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell: Instead of teams going back and forth via telephone\/email, a blockchain system would enable them to use smart contracts to automatically execute once all parties agreed. This technology provides built-in transparency and validation but can also capture other features of the trade process such as side deals, including non-disclosed terms\u2014parts of the deal that are made outside of public view.<\/p>\n<p>Fukuzawa: Parties interact with the smart contract and when the specified input is received, the contract executes automatically (e.g., similar to a vending machine after a human deposits the correct amount of change). In our design, a smart contract models the trade process between two NFL teams on draft day. The digital interaction with the smart contract replaces the traditional elements of human, vocal negotiation, but the time savings are immense given the constrained environment of the NFL draft.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Have_you_actually_fleshed_this_idea_out\"><\/span>Have you actually fleshed this idea out?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fukuzawa: Not in a full-scale implementation, only a demonstration of proof-of-concept. We published the findings of that research in the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_is_this_ready_for_prime_time\"><\/span>So, is this ready for prime time?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fukuzawa: No. There are numerous practical reasons for why this idea may not gain traction. The NFL Draft is a marketing spectacle; it attracts thousands of fans annually, and a blockchain-based system would likely disrupt that key fan experience. We also do not know the level of interest in adopting this form of technology.<\/p>\n<p>As the top revenue-generating sport in the U.S., any major change to operations that has the ability to affect revenue is likely to be carefully scrutinized. Thus, future research needs to at least indicate the sentiment of adopting this form of technology.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, implementation in terms of practical use involves back-end network design as well as front-end user application. We did not explore any type of user interface in the form of an app\u2014that would be a separate design.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell: That being said, it would be worthwhile for future research to explore how this technology could be used to benefit teams during the draft while also providing ancillary benefits such as increased opportunities for fan engagement, marketing, etc.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Last_question_Youre_engineering_researchers_whose_work_largely_focuses_on_military_and_defense_applications_What_made_you_want_to_look_at_the_NFL_draft\"><\/span>Last question. You&#8217;re engineering researchers whose work largely focuses on military and defense applications. What made you want to look at the NFL draft?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<p>McConnell: I enjoy working on military planning and decision-support challenges. Smart contracts, powered by blockchain, have potential but we did not have a clear military application in mind. Fortunately, research is collaborative and one of my Army Ph.D. students\u2014Mat\u2014was creative enough to think of the NFL Draft as a decision-making environment with both cooperation and competition at play. Smart students make all the difference!<\/p>\n<p>Fukuzawa: One of the interesting aspects of operations research is its interdisciplinary nature. The draft is merely a potential application area for a relatively recent technology. Addressing this particular application requires the development of systems and processes that support its potential implementation.<\/p>\n<p>Since the NFL is a business, part of this research includes thoughts on business, marketing, decision-making and negotiation. The programmatic aspect of smart contracting also includes elements of computer science and mathematics. Regardless of whether this application moves forward, it&#8217;s a fascinating\u2014and useful\u2014case study to consider.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMathew B. Fukuzawa et al, Implementing trades of the National Football League Draft on blockchain smart contracts, <i>International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship<\/i> (2024). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1108\/IJSMS-09-2023-0185\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1108\/IJSMS-09-2023-0185<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n                                                Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                    North Carolina State University<br \/>\n                                                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/techx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v2\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Q&amp;A: How blockchain could change the NFL draft (2025, April 14)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 14 April 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-04-qa-blockchain-nfl.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-04-qa-blockchain-nfl.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain The NFL draft is entertaining, but it&#8217;s also the setting for high-stakes negotiations where teams often simultaneously seek a competitive advantage and cooperate with each other by trading draft picks. These deals are complex, fast-paced and rely on a clear understanding between the teams involved. That&#8217;s exactly the sort of setting&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":662735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/nfl-helmet-phrase.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-662734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=662734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/662735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=662734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=662734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=662734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}