What is the Difference Between Serpentine and Fixed Draft?

The main difference between a serpentine draft and a fixed draft lies in the order in which players are selected in each round. Here's a breakdown of the two draft types:

• Serpentine Draft: Also known as a snake draft, this format reverses the draft order every round. For example, if a team has the first pick in the first round, it will have the last pick in the second round, and the order will continue to reverse in each subsequent round. This type of draft is considered fair and balanced, as it allows teams to have a high pick in some rounds and a low pick in others, preventing any team from consistently having the first pick in every round.
• Fixed Draft: In a fixed draft, the draft order remains the same in each round. Teams with higher picks in the first round will continue to have higher picks in subsequent rounds, and the same applies to teams with lower picks. This type of draft is sometimes preferred in certain situations, such as when team owners want to maintain a consistent level of prestige or when they want to use their first pick on a specific player.

In summary, the main difference between a serpentine draft and a fixed draft is the way the draft order is determined in each round. Serpentine drafts reverse the order in each round, while fixed drafts maintain the same order throughout all rounds.

Comparative Table: Serpentine vs Fixed Draft

The difference between serpentine and fixed drafts can be summarized as follows:

In a serpentine draft, the order of picks alternates in each round, ensuring that teams with lower picks in the first round have higher picks in the second round. This helps maintain a balanced draft and prevents any player from having an unfair advantage. On the other hand, a fixed draft keeps the same order of picks throughout all rounds, which may benefit teams with higher prestige if maintaining a consistent order is more important in a specific context.