Best time to start slow rookie draft?

[slaughterrt]

Just took over as commish in a 2nd year dynasty. Last year was the startup and rookies were included. They didn’t have a set timeframe to start the annual rookie drafts. I generally start rookie drafts at the conclusion of the nfl rookie draft. I will likely just end up doing a league poll, but wanted to hear some other opinions/suggestions.

Thanks

[Jigga94]

I like having rookie drafts in May or June. Have a few leagues that do it super late, which is fine but not as fun.

With a slow rookie draft though, I'd be tempted to start it shortly before or during the actual draft

[Menace2010]

Late June or July. I do several annually, 24 hour clocks. Too much info is gained from the draft to do it before/during and nice to have the dust settle and a little info from rookie training camp to work with.

[killer_of_giants]

i like early drafts best. one week after the real draft tops.

i wouldn't play in a league that drafts in august, but different strokes etc, i don't think there's a "best" time.

[CGW]

Any time after the NFL draft.

[killer_of_giants]

Any time after the NFL draft.

or even before! (there are openings in the DLF early birds special, by the way)

[wickerkat1212]

I'm in four dynasties. We typically draft right after the NFL draft here are our dates—May 2, May 3, May 6, June 8.

[Needalife]

I don't have a strong personal preference, but I do like when leagues give a week or two for trading after the NFL draft because it tends to get people more excited for trading and boosts activity.

Most of my drafts are mid-May to early June. I'm in one where they draft in mid-late Aug which seems to benefit the weaker teams by giving more time for data points and camp reports. That league has the most balanced teams for what it's worth.

[Orenthal Shames]

We do ours 2 weeks after the NFL draft. Rewards those who put in the work.

[tstafford]

We do ours 2 weeks after the NFL draft. Rewards those who put in the work.

This.

In my oldest league we have a mixed level of engagement and do the rookie draft in July. I'd prefer it to be earlier, but it's probably best the way we do it.

[Bronco Billy]

We start the Saturday of NFL draft weekend. 14 teams 8 rounds because we play full IDP. No timer, just ask owners that will be gone for a while for personal reasons or that they are engaged in trade talks to post to give the immediate subsequent owners a heads up. In 21 years I don’t think we’ve ever had one last longer than 3 weeks.

[SoftwoodGrampian]

Now

1.1 MHJ

[Jigga94]

Now

1.1 MHJ

1.2 Nabers

[jordanzs]

For the first couple of leagues, in May. I’m in numerous leagues with the same crew of friends. We like to stagger them and start the leagues with the highest buy-in first. It gives us a chance to grab our hot takes before we show our poker hands.

I do like having a draft or 2 later on, even into august. It gives you a chance to re-assess your rankings and also grab guys that you have fomo on for missing out in May.

And now that I enough May drafts, I like startups in august got the above mentioned reason. But if I was only in 1 or 2 leagues, I would prefer a startup in May

[MacDaddy123]

I prefer the rookie drafts start in early May, but I have 3 leagues this year starting the rookie drafts immediately after the draft ends at 7 PM on April 27th. Slow drafts though.