2026 NFL Draft - Ad Concept
Project: NFL Draft Ad Concept
Role: Creative Direction, Art Direction, Designer, Video Editor
Industry: Sports
Timeline: 1 Week
Year: 2026
This is a concept project and not affiliated with the NFL.Project Concept
This project was designed to capture the raw, authentic emotions of the NFL Draft not just the celebration of top picks, but the human stories of the players and families who had to wait for their moment. With the first overall pick of the 2026 Draft class (Mendoza) holding an active sponsorship with LinkedIn, this concept presents a compelling opportunity for either LinkedIn or Nike as a premium brand integration.The Storytelling
The 60-second spot centers on a universal truth: greatness doesn't always get called first. The narrative follows players who were overlooked, passed on, and forced to prove their worth. The featured athletes - Luther Burden III, Tariq Woolen, Puka Nacua, Brock Purdy, and Tez Johnson - were deliberately selected because their journeys embody resilience, team fit, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity. Some have already cemented their greatness, while the others are still proving themselves.The Brand Alignment
LinkedIn is the natural home for this message. Every day, professionals on the platform navigate the same experience on being overlooked, underestimated, and then given one chance to show what they're capable of. The parallel is powerful: the draft room and the job market aren't so different. This spot positions LinkedIn not just as a professional network, but as the platform for the ones who were passed on and proved everyone wrong.Mood Board
During the ideation and concept development for this project, I studied Nike's advertising catalog to capture the brand's signature visual simplicity and emotional storytelling. The following films served as the primary mood references that shaped the tone and aesthetic of the final piece.The final deliverable was produced in a vertical aspect ratio, optimized for social media distribution across LinkedIn, Instagram, and X/Twitter. This format decision was intentional from personal observation and platform behavior, vertical content consistently drives higher engagement and watch time compared to its horizontal counterpart.