The Most Ironic Songs From the 2015 NFL Draft

Jameis Winston, the number one pick in the NFL Draft

The NFL draft is a high-pressure environment. There’s the pressure of sitting in a room (or at home) and waiting to figure out where you’ll be living and playing for the next few years. There’s the pressure of figuring out the perfect outfit. And of course, there’s the pressure of not acting like a complete buffoon when you walk on stage and shake the commissioner’s hand. But all of those pressures are trivial compared to the insanely difficult decision of figuring out what song to walk out to. This is it. It’s make or break. Do you play it safe with a classic, or flex on the rest of your draft class with a topical banger?

At the 2015 draft there were some good songs, some decent songs, and some Dom Kennedy songs being played at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre. In honor of this blessed time, we decided to take a look at some of the more ironic choices athletes have picked as their song.

In case you need a primer on Todd Gurley, he’s the running back who was suspended for allegedly accepting payments for autographed memorabilia. Breaking a prehistoric NCAA rule was a huge risk for a player of Gurley’s stature, and because of that, one would assume that he wasn’t exactly swimming in cash. The whole point of “Check” is for Young Thug to show off how much more money he has than you. In the past, we’ve mused that there might be, like, a million dollars cash on the floor of the house in the video. Gurley reportedly accepted a few thousand dollars for his autograph. Thugger already made that much in the time you took reading that sentence.

On the surface level, you have to admire Cameron Erving’s choice. Rich Homie Quan’s desire to never stop going in is a great thing to channel on draft day. Unfortunately, if there’s one team where going in, goes to die, it’s the Cleveland Browns. Just ask Johnny Manziel. The Browns have been awful since they last made the playoffs in 2002, and the drought doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon. The situation is the complete antithesis to the happy-go-lucky bundle of joy that is Rich Homie Quan in “Flex.” Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard J.R. Smith even attributed his strong play to the fact that he can’t party in that town. Watch the video. Can you see any of this happening to Erving in Cleveland? Quan’s floral jacket alone flexes more than Erving ever could on the Browns.

Chief Keef uses “Finally Rich” to prove that his mindset hasn’t changed just because his financial situation has. Despite making it as a rapper, Sosa wants you to know that everything is still the same, “I know I’m finally rich / But ain’t a damn thang gonna change / Me and my boys still bang / We’ll clap a nigga up no range.” In other words, it’s the exact opposite of the NFL. Now that Dante Fowler is in the pros, literally everything is going to change. He’s an NFL player and every little decision he makes on and off the field will be examined, discussed, and live forever on social media. Speaking of social media, another thing that stands out is Fowler’s overall thirst regarding Drake and OVO. His Instagram account is even called 6ixxg.o.d.

I’m not an expert at science and stuff, but maybe coming out to iLoveMakonnen or PARTYNEXTDOOR would put you on OVO’s radar more than the final song on Chief Keef’s only studio album. It’s a damn shame because his draft outfit wouldn’t look too out of place in the next OVO Store collection.

Kevin White is a fine player. He killed it at the combine and vaulted himself into the top ten. He might even end up being the best receiver from this draft. One thing White certainly doesn’t lack is confidence. Fabolous and French Montana hack into the Times Square screens in the music video for “Ball Drop,” a song choice that embodies confidence. Unfortunately, confidence can sometimes lead to some bad decisions. I don’t care if this song is about New Year’s Eve. It’s called ‘Ball Drop.’ He’s plays football—a game in which dropping the ball is the one thing you shouldn’t do. That’s indefensible.

Ah, Leonard Williams. This is a classic case in which the music—particularly the artist—doesn’t fit the player at all. Williams was generally seen as the top prospect in the draft, and he came out to Dom Kennedy. This is like if the top prospect in a draft came out to Dom Kennedy. Sure Dom Kennedy has his merits, but he’s not going anywhere near the Top 6 of a hypothetical rapper draft. For someone whose talents deserved the music equivalent of filet mignon, it’s unfathomable why Williams settled for gas station taquitos. Unfortunately, in the world of once-in-a-lifetime walk up songs, there are no do-overs.

Sasha Kalra would probably come out to “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” - @sashakalra