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Draft Day Decisions

Draft Day Decisions

A perfect example of what happens when preparation isn’t paired with execution. A lesson in decision making under pressure.

Brian Leahy
April 22, 2025

DECISION DAY

Get ready, football fans, the 2025 NFL Draft is almost here! From Thursday, April 24 to Saturday, April 26, all eyes will be on Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the NFL takes over one of the most iconic stadiums in the game.

This isn’t just about reading names off a list, it’s a three-day spectacle packed with fan zones, interactive experiences, and even a free concert. Millions of fans around the globe will be tuning in, snacks in hand, hoping their team finds the next superstar.

For NFL general managers and front offices, the draft is like the Super Bowl of spreadsheets. It’s the culmination of years of scouting, data analysis, interviews, and debate. There is no shortage of information.

When a team’s number is called, they are on the clock and have 15 minutes to decide which player to pick. A high-stakes decision that can shape a franchise’s future or derail careers. That might sound like enough time, but when you’re balancing trade calls, scout reports, owner opinions, and a national TV audience, the clock ticks fast.

YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE

Let’s rewind to 2003 for one of the most hilariously awkward moments in draft history.

The Minnesota Vikings were sitting at Pick No. 7, working the phones to trade down. They got so wrapped up in negotiations, they missed their turn. Literally. The clock expired, and everyone else realised it before they did. The chaos starts at 1:04:15 below.

The Jaguars (Pick 8) and Panthers (Pick 9) rushed to the podium like it was a Black Friday sale, sliding in before the Vikings could recover. A highly embarrassing moment for the executives who had spent years preparing for that very moment.

It’s a classic case of analysis paralysis, over-negotiating, and trying to outsmart the room until the window closes. Great for a lesson in decision-making, leadership, or just a cautionary tale in don’t let perfect be the enemy of done.

THINKING SO MUCH IT HURTS

Analysis paralysis occurs when overthinking a decision causes it to stall or, worse, never happen at all. It’s the mental equivalent of a browser with 27 tabs open and nothing loading.

Coined informally in the 20th century and later popularized in business literature, the term describes a scenario where too much information, too many options, or fear of making the wrong choice cripples decision-making.

Psychologically, analysis paralysis stems from cognitive overload. Our brains simply struggle when faced with too many choices or too much information. One of the most famous studies illustrating this is the Jam Experiment by psychologists Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper in 2000. In a grocery store, they set up two displays: one with 24 flavors of jam and another with just 6. While more people stopped at the larger display, significantly more people actually made a purchase when presented with fewer options. This phenomenon highlights a key truth: while we crave options, we often function better with constraints.

Progress beats perfect

With endless data points, tools, and strategies available to businesses today, it's easy to fall into the cycle of over-researching, over-debating, and ultimately under-deciding.

Whether it’s delaying product launch to chase perfection or a team stuck comparing software options for months, the result is the same: lost momentum and missed opportunities. In competitive markets, speed and decisiveness often outweigh exhaustive planning. There is a competitive advantage to be gained by making quick, informed decisions, learning and adapting as they go, while others are still stuck in the planning phase.

In 2003, the Vikings had all the data, all the talent reports, and all the time in the world, until they didn’t. Their mistake is a perfect example of what happens when preparation isn’t paired with execution.

In both football and business, success favours the prepared, but also the decisive.

TRY IT YOURSELF

Here’s what smart decision-makers do to keep things moving:

⏰ Set a Deadline and stick to it, unlike the Vikings

3️⃣ Limit your options early, it’s easier to pick from 3 than 50

✅ Accept imperfection, sometimes good enough beats perfect

SOME FINAL WISE WORDS

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”

Bruce Lee

Until next time

Business lessons from the world of sport