The Coolest (and Craziest) Watches at the NFL Draft
It’s a uniquely exciting prospect to learn that you’re about to become one of the world’s most high-profile (and highly compensated) professional athletes. So it’s no surprise that the young men at Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft, held at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, would celebrate the moment with seriously impressive watches on their wrists.
Though some of the athletes dressed with what can only kindly be described as the exuberance of youth, we were surprised by the relative restraint most of the league’s newest recruits exercised. To wit: while there were plenty of watches positively dripping with diamonds (added through the oft-ridiculed process of after-market customization), many were fairly restrained. Cam Ward, the number one pick and incoming quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, wore what was arguably the most accessible watch of the day: a two-tone Rolex Datejust with a domed bezel on an Oyster bracelet. Ditto Mason Graham, who bucked the prevailing choice, Rolex, and instead selected an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in stainless steel with a sedate black dial.
Perhaps, as the saying goes, the kids really are alright. Below, a closer look at the stylish (and outlandish) horology we saw.
Cam Ward: Rolex Datejust
The University of Miami player paired a Hugo Boss suit with a classic Rolex Datejust in stainless steel and yellow goldYellow GoldA warm, precious alloy of pure gold mixed with copper and silver, used in watches and jewelry for its traditional luxurious look. Yellow gold has returned to fashion in vintage-inspiredGo to Yellow Gold Glossary. It’s a relatively sedate look, and a signal that he takes the opportunity to captain the Tennessee Titans as seriously as it is.
Travis Hunter: Rolex Day-Date
Real men do wear pink—and not just on their backs. Heisman winner Travis Hunter chose an Everose gold Rolex Day Date for the occasion, becoming the number two pick. He’s headed to the Jacksonville Jaguars as a wide receiver and cornerback, and we hope he’ll take some of his style with him during the move.
Mason Graham: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding
It’s understandable that most young collectors would reach for a classic or professional model from Rolex. Graham, who’s joining the Cleveland Browns as a defensive tackle, went for Gerald Genta’s generation-defining Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
Ashton Jeanty: Rolex Datejust
The newest Las Vegas Raiders running back may have a completely individual sense of style—who else do you know is wearing Crocs with a smoking jacket?—but his conventional choice of a sharp Datejust tells us there’s a classic elegance lurking underneath that massive lapel pin.
Will Campbell: Rolex ‘Bluesy’ Two-Tone Submariner Date
Campbell, who is heading from Louisiana State University to the New England Patriots as an offensive tackle, matched the exuberance of his double-breasted suit with a two-tone Rolex “Bluesy” Submariner Date. It’s a lot of look, but the watch alone would have many collectors green with envy.
Tetairoa McMillan: Gold Rolex Day-Date
McMillan is joining the Carolina Panthers as a wide receiver, but he’s already caught a really great watch. The Rolex Day-Date 40 has elegant Roman numeral indexes, and it’s all-gold look is bang on trend.
Jihaad Campbell: Rolex Day Date
Jihaad Campbell’s blue-on-blue Rolex Day Date is a discontinued design, but it speaks to a sophisticated mindset. It’s a solid platinum watch, and the domed bezel (in place of the more conventional fluted option) shows that Campbell—a new linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles—understands the material is statement enough on its own.
Shemar Stewart: ???
We could spend days talking about the diamond pendant and bracelets Stewart wore (they were made by New Jersey’s own Al the Jeweler), but we haven’t yet been able to identify the watch he’s wearing. The freshly appointed Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher is wearing something like a mashup of an Audemars Piguet Royal Pak and a Patek PhilippePatek PhilippeA Swiss watchmaker founded in Geneva in 1839 and widely regarded as among the most prestigious in the world, known for complications, hand finishing, and its slogan about passing watchesGo to Patek Philippe Glossary Nautilus. Watch this space.
Matthew Golden: Custom Cartier Santos
Cartier has a long history of making jewelry watches, but Golden, who’s heading to the Green Bay Packers as a wide receiver, appears to have customized his Cartier Santos with more stones than you can shake a stick at.
Abdul Cartier: Custom Rolex Sky Dweller
Abdul Carter, clearly not a wallflower, wore a highly customized Rolex Sky Dweller set with a glittering array of diamonds. It’s a high-flying choice for the incoming New York Giants edge rusher.
Malaki Starks: Customized Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
Another draft pick, another endorsement of pink. Starks, who is headed to the Baltimore Ravens as a safety, also went for a customized classic: an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak set with diamonds and a sparkling pink dial. We get it, Malaki! Joining the Baltimore Ravens is going to make you really, really rich!
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.