The seven rounds of the NFL draft can add up to an arduous process, particularly in the later rounds where draftees have less name value and casual followers may find themselves less engaged. With that said, you can’t discount the efforts of NFL teams to liven things up, often introducing various guest speakers to announce their picks.
For their fourth-round pick, the Miami Dolphins decided to bring in members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school football team from Parkland, Florida to announce their selection of tight end Durham Smythe.
In February, Stoneman Douglas was the site of a school shooting that killed 17 people and injured 17 others. Among the victims was assistant football coach Aaron Feis, who was shot while heroically shielding two students; his sister, Johanna, was the speaker at the podium announcing the Dolphins’ pick.
This is a neat gesture by the Dolphins to acknowledge their in-state community and take a stance of unity. Of course, many other teams and athletes throughout the sports world have shown support in their own ways for the shooting victims, recently including Dallas Cowboys receiver and Florida native Allan Hurns' decision to wear the number ‘17’ in honour of the 17 killed.
On a lighter note, two other teams announced their draft picks with a parrot and R2-D2. You decide which one is less practical.
h/t Twitter/NFL
