3-Wide: Would a draft lottery work in the NFL?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Who should have been on the cover of 'Madden 18'?
Jack Browne: Tom Brady is this year's cover man, and though the five-time Super Bowl champion is now the most accomplished quarterback in NFL history, he deserved this additional honor. In fact, it's crazy that it took this long for Brady to make the cover. Maybe Ezekiel Elliott would have been the "sexier" choice after an outstanding rookie season, but he has plenty of time to get there.
David P. Woods: Defensive players are never treated fairly where the Madden cover is concerned, with only three players on that side of the ball getting the honor in the last 13 editions of the game. Von Miller is one of the best players in football and one of the most compelling personalities. Put him on the game.
Arun Srinivasan: Julio Jones' singular dominance was on full display during the postseason, and him running away from the Packers' secondary is one of the lasting images of the 2016 season. Jones' ability to run over defenders, along with his complete route tree, would make him an unstoppable player in the video game series, and it's shocking that he's never been on the cover. The Falcons superstar is currently a pop culture darling, earning a shoutout from Migos during a joint commercial appearance. Simply put, it should've been Julio.
Would Kaepernick be a fit on the Seahawks?
Srinivasan: Seahawks general manager John Schneider reportedly contacted Colin Kaepernick's agent last week, and he'd be a great fit with their organization. Kaepernick's dual-threat ability mirrors Russell Wilson's to some extent, and both quarterbacks boast excellent arm strength and a propensity for making great plays while improvising. The former 49ers quarterback has an innate understanding of the division and is more pro-ready than any of the Seahawks' alternatives. It's a no-brainer for the NFL's most politically progressive team to sign Kaepernick.
Browne: Kaepernick may not quite be a slam-dunk fit in the Seahawks' scheme, but if he really won't get a shot to compete for a starting job somewhere, he could do a lot worse than Seattle. Not only would Kaepernick join a team that boasts a lot of like-minded players in terms of political activism, he'd also be with a Super Bowl contender. If Wilson misses time and Kaepernick keeps the Seahawks afloat, the boost to Kaepernick's reputation should lead to another chance to start elsewhere in 2018.
Woods: The Seahawks are one of the few NFL teams - maybe the only one - where Kaepernick is a scheme fit. Coaches don't like to carry backup quarterbacks with a wildly different skill set than the starter. It makes sense; if the starter gets hurt, the coaches can keep calling the same plays. Wilson to Kaepernick would be as close to seamless as it gets.
Would a draft lottery work in the NFL?
Woods: It would be a slam dunk and it's crazy that the NFL hasn't implemented a lottery already. We're talking about a league that has stretched a seven-round draft to three days for TV purposes. A draft lottery in prime time would be an easy ratings winner. It's also a more fair system and would likely lead to more competitive games featuring bad teams late in the season.
Srinivasan: A draft lottery could theoretically work in the NFL, but it's hard to see a rule amendment getting passed. The lottery would provide a disincentive for teams to tank, a notion that many clubs reject given the compact 16-game schedule the NFL uses as opposed to an 82-game season like the NBA. The NFL would, however, get an opportunity to generate further revenue by turning the lottery into a television spectacle. It's not as crazy as it seems.
Browne: As mentioned above, the NFL is always open to ways to make its product more profitable and entertaining. But what the 2017 NFL Draft proved was that you don't need to add a gimmick to make the event must-see TV. Yes, you occasionally have a drab draft where little drama happens, but putting up with those is preferable to implementing a lottery. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
