Do college football players have to enter the draft?

[coblue]

Does a junior or senior who plays college football have to enter the draft?

Could they say screw it, do work outs and go to highest bidder or their favorite like an UDFA would?

 

[NextGenBoys]

Hmm good question. I dont know.

They prob have to, otherwise you'd assume most players would do that to assure them self going to the team they want.

 

[joseephuss]

They have to declare for the draft. I think it is part of the CBA.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Players who have exhausted their eligibility are automatically eligible for the draft.

A player, who has eligibility remaining but is 3 years removed from his high school graduation year, can declare for the draft.

 

[tomson75]

Let me start off my stating that I have no idea.

...BUT, I would think that any player that would opt to forgo the draft would have to be ineligible to play for a determined period of time. Maybe a year?

 

[coblue]

Has this been challenged legally?

Just seems unfair to tell a college graduate there is no way for him to pick his employer. Or does he work for the NFL but is assigned to a certain "office"?

They have to declare for the draft. I think it is part of the CBA.

 

[joseephuss]

Has this been challenged legally?

Just seems unfair to tell a college graduate there is no way for him to pick his employer. Or does he work for the NFL but is assigned to a certain "office"?

It is that second part. The corporation is the NFL and it has 32 different branches. A player could choose to play football in one of the other leagues that competes with the NFL such as the Canadian Football League.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I believe that if a player enters the draft and is drafted and does not report, he must enter the draft the following year. If he is drafted again and does not report, the following year he will be a free agent.

 

[coblue]

Thanks guys.

Why don't more guys sign 2 or 3 years deals instead of the 4-6 year ones?

Is it the rediculous scale thing and its assumed you can get more in longer first contracts than in your second after you have proven yourself?

 

[Doomsday101]

If you are a college player looking to get into the NFL you have to enter the draft. Once the draft is over if you were not selected then free to sign any where you can.

 

[casmith07]

So if you wanted to play for the Cowboys, just tank your senior year so you'll be passed over in the draft then have your agent set up a workout with Dallas

 

[AbeBeta]

Thanks guys.

Why don't more guys sign 2 or 3 years deals instead of the 4-6 year ones?

Is it the rediculous scale thing and its assumed you can get more in longer first contracts than in your second after you have proven yourself?

because you can't be a free agent until 4 years have passed

 

[TheCount]

Thanks guys.

Why don't more guys sign 2 or 3 years deals instead of the 4-6 year ones?

Is it the rediculous scale thing and its assumed you can get more in longer first contracts than in your second after you have proven yourself?

I thought it was almost the other way around.

If a player is drafted and doesn't report, the team that drafted him keeps his rights for the following year and then after that he can become a free agent?

 

[TheCount]

because you can't be a free agent until 4 years have passed

Unless you're cut or undrafted, I suppose?

I think 4 years is only to become unrestricted, there are other types of free agency a player has access to if they have played for less than 4 years, but the power usually lies with the team at that point.

 

[dbair1967]

I thought it was almost the other way around.

If a player is drafted and doesn't report, the team that drafted him keeps his rights for the following year and then after that he can become a free agent?

no, they lose their rights and the player goes back into the draft...which is what Michael Craptree was threatening to do. It makes no sense on the players' behalf because his value will fall with a year on inactivity, not rise.