NFL Draft makes a Buzz – how does it compare to non-sporting events?

The NFL Draft continues to prove its cultural weight—not just as a pivotal moment for teams and prospects, but as a major national conversation driver, giving the league and the teams a moment to grab the spotlight even in the off-season. The NFL Draft is one of the most popular events in the sporting calendar but how does it compare to public Buzz for major non-sports events? Very favorably, as the chart shows, with NFL’s Buzz outdoing the likes of the Academy Awards reasonably comfortably.

Buzz doesn’t always peak in the moment—it often grows in the days following, as conversation builds through media analysis, social commentary, and workplace chat. To capture this swell in attention, we looked at each event’s Buzz score exactly 10 days after it occurred, using a two-week moving average. This method tends to highlight the height of public chatter before it naturally begins to taper. Buzz is a net score from YouGov BrandIndex that tracks whether people have heard something positive or negative about a brand or event in the past two weeks.

Using this methodology, NFL Draft registered a Buzz of 20.2 on May 6, 10 days after the event's completion on April 26. This puts the Draft well ahead of what the second placed Grammy Awards (14.3) achieved 10 days after it took place on February 12. The most recent edition of each of the events in the chart took place in 2025, with the exception of the Emmys, which last occurred in September 2024.

Which teams saw the biggest lift?

Several NFL teams experienced notable Buzz gains in the wake of the Draft, with increases measured by comparing the fortnight from April 24 to May 8 against the previous two weeks.

• The Dallas Cowboys saw the largest increase, with their Buzz score rising from 1.3 to 9.4. The surge aligns with their first-round selection of Alabama lineman Tyler Booker, a high-upside prospect whose profile generated strong media chatter and fan discussion.
• The New York Jets jumped from 3.5 to 8.7 after selecting LSU tight end Mason Taylor in the second round. Taylor, the son of NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, brings both pedigree and potential. The family connection likely added to the Draft-week intrigue, especially as fans speculated about his role in the Jets’ evolving offense.
• The Los Angeles Rams improved from 4.3 to 8.1, following their pick of tight end Terrance Ferguson. Praised for his versatility, Ferguson is seen as a strong schematic fit for Sean McVay’s offense and a potential breakout candidate.
• The Los Angeles Chargers, under the new leadership of Jim Harbaugh, moved from 5.1 to 8.4. Their selection of running back Omarion Hampton signals a shift toward a more physical, run-first identity—something that’s resonated with fans and pundits alike.
• The San Francisco 49ers rose from 3.6 to 6.8 after bolstering their defense with edge rusher Mykel Williams. His addition reinforces the team’s pass-rush pedigree and helps sustain buzz around one of the league’s most consistent contenders.

These upward shifts illustrate how in addition to building rosters, the NFL Draft also helps cast spotlights on teams in ways that drive measurable attention.

Methodology: YouGov SportsIndex collects data on dozens of events and sports leagues everyday. An events/league’s Buzz score is based on the questions: “Over the past two weeks, which of the following teams have you heard something positive about?” and “Now which of the following teams have you heard something negative about?” and delivered as a net score between –100 and +100. Buzz score for each event displayed is the score recorded 10 days after the conclusion of said event, with an average nationally representative sample size of 1284 to 1289 US adults for each event. Learn more about SportsIndex.