NFL Turns Its 6-Month Season Into a 12-Month Business

CNBC's Brian Shactman reveals Thursday night's winners and loser at the National Football League's draft, as teams select their top picks.

For a moment, put aside all the debate about concussions and the long-term viability of football.

In 2013, the National Football League is the most popular professional league in America—and the most profitable. Perhaps, most amazing is that the NFL has made a six-month season into a 12-month business.

The NFL draft is a key part of the strategy as it serves to bridge the gap between one season and the next. It generates a huge amount of media and fan attention, while also becoming a revenue generator.

"It's bigger and bigger every year," said Commissioner Roger Goodell.

To his point, in 2012, the draft drew in 25.3 million viewers on two different cable networks. That was an 18 percent increase over the previous year.

This year, according to Commissioner Goodell, the league expects that upward of 50 million people will tune in to watch during the three-day process where 32 teams re-stock their rosters by choosing the best of the best from the college game.