draft off the trial traffic

[Ostap]

But his campaign has since attracted the support of men’s rights activists, right-wing media figures, #BoycottDisney campaigners eager to capitalize off Depp’s status as a fallen Disney franchise star, sex abuse conspiracists, armchair true-crime detectives, anyone wary of “the mainstream media” and plenty of opportunists eager to draft off the trial traffic.
The New York Times

Hello, everyone. What does the emphasized part mean?

 

[Tarheel]

My guess is that it refers to all the publicity surrounding the trial.

 

[Ostap]

My guess is that it refers to all the publicity surrounding the trial.

So is it not clear what she meant? Is it a metaphor? What do "draft off" and "trial traffic" mean, taken separately?

 

[probus]

In racing (both running and automobile) it is considered a small advantage to be just behind the front-runner. This is called drafting and the idea is that the leader's passage through the air creates an air current (a draft) that helps the pursuer along. Here, it is used metaphorically.

I suppose "trial traffic" means the ceaseless jabbering in the news media about the trial.

 

[Tarheel]

So is it not clear what she meant? Is it a metaphor? What do "draft off" and "trial traffic" mean, taken separately?

1. It's perfectly clear what she meant.
2. It's a metaphor.
3. You can't take them separately.