The 8 best draft day reactions

The draft is a time for hope, and that applies to all involved. Fans, general managers, coaches, and most of all, the prospects themselves who just achieved the lifetime goal of becoming an NFL player. Many will bust, and their football employment will be fleeting. But in that moment, there's only joy.

There's also unhinged anger, and general lunacy. Oh and long, warm commissioner hugs, intimate brotherly affection, and some time ago, jorts. Lots of jorts.

All that and more in our journey through the best draft reactions from fans and players.

Gerald McCoy is the draft hug pioneer

Roger Goodell now hugs or shugs — the traditional handshake-to-hug combination — every first-round draft pick. Back in 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was the trailblazer, bounding up to Goodell after being selected with the third overall pick, and wrapping himself around the commissioner like the giant bear he is.

In an ESPN interview, McCoy recalled nearly squeezing the life out of the league's top executive.

“When I was hugging him, he said, like, ‘You’re crushing me right now’ and he kind of gasped for air like I was squeezing the life out of him, which I was,” says McCoy. “I was just excited.”

Draft hug innovation

Like all things in this life, the draft hug has evolved, with many newly-minted players adding their own flavor. In 2012, Melvin Ingram coordinated a handshake with Goodell, and it was surprisingly well executed.

Brotherly love

Maurkice Pouncey was at home when the Steelers chose him with their 18th overall pick in 2010, as only a few prospects make the trip to New York.

He was beside his brother Mike, who's now a Dolphin after also being a first-round pick a year later. It's quite clear the two are...close.

Chandler Jones gets a bath

At first this is your standard draft day house call after the Patriots made Chandler Jones their 21st overall pick in 2012. There's the phone ringing, the glee, and a quick conversation with Bill Belichick in between family screams.

Then there's a mug of water.

The time Russell Wilson was almost eaten

Earlier this week Russell and Ashton Wilson announced they have filed for divorce. It only warranted an announcement because it involved the winning quarterback in the most recent Super Bowl, and he's therefore a highly visible public figure, especially in the Seattle community.

Here they are during much, much, much happier times when Wilson was drafted two years ago. Ashton’s inner dinosaur was showing.

Booooooo McNabb booooo

Over the years there's been some searing fan anger that's pretty painful in hindsight. Eagles fans really wanted Ricky Williams in 1999 with their team's second overall pick. So much so, that selecting Donovan McNabb prompted mass pitchfork sharpening.

About that: McNabb would go on to appear in six Pro Bowls while passing for 32,873 yards over 11 seasons with the Eagles. Sure, they came up short in Super Bowl XXXIX, but when an NFL franchise advances to the playoffs eight times in a decade — winning 10 post-season games — that's a mighty fine run.

Booooo J.J. Watt booooo

Over 48 career games J.J. Watt has 35.5 sacks, 20.5 of which came in 2012 when he also recorded 16 passes defensed with his repeated swatting.

But in 2011, he wasn't good enough for Houston. He was, as one fan bemoaned, a bad pick.

Brett Favre: Forever a hero

There’s so much ‘90s going on here with the jorts, the gold chain, the pistol on the wall, the phone that consumes your face, and the frosted tips. Did I mention the jorts? The brain can't possibly compute everything.

So much swag.