NFL Tells Draftees Pepsi, Not Coca-Cola
With the NFL Draft going virtual this year, all draft prospects will be sitting at home waiting to hear their names called.
The NFL is taking steps to ensure that when that moment comes, the draftees won’t be seen celebrating with non-NFL sponsor brands, according to the Action Network.
Checks and Stripes
The NFL has sent out a list of do’s and don’ts to draft prospects and their marketers to ensure that league partners are protected during the broadcast, according to the Action Network.
“Do NOT have any products displaying brands or logos that have not been approved by the NFL within camera range of your feed for the NFL Draft broadcast,” a memo sent to the players reads.
Draftees will be receiving a kit that contains products from NFL partners, including PepsiCo products like Pepsi and Gatorade and Frito Lay Snacks like Cheetos and Tostitos.
Draft picks will also have their clothing options dictated, and are being told they can’t wear the logo of any brand other than an NFL team or an official league partner like Nike and Adidas. There are also restrictions around clothing that would have references to things like alcohol, gambling, or political messaging, according to the Action Network.
Draftees will also be given communication kits and will be asked not to wear any other personal devices.
Kibosh on Sasquatch
While most early-round picks have traditionally elected to be at the draft in person, some have chosen to stay home and have squeezed brands into their draft pick moment. In 2015, both Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota featured Beats by Dre products, a competitor of NFL partner Bose.
In 2017, Charles Harris had the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky mascot the Sasquatch appear in the background when he was drafted in the first round. Jack Link’s was not an official partner of the NFL.
Last year, according to the Action Network, ESPN told agents that the network would not use the feed from a player if there were any sponsors or logos in the camera shot.
An agent told Action Network that this move could cost some draftees between $5,000 and $50,000 in potential brand deals. It is unclear how players would be penalized if they were to break this rule.
