Quick Draft Question!

[Angus]

Yeah, forgot to mention that, there is no "declaring" as people, including myself like to say alot, unless your in a situation like Henson, or Clarrett, or Mike Williams and have been away from the sport for a number of years, you have to make your intentions known.

Henson didn't have to declare. He was past the four years. Houston could have drafted him whether he indicated he would play football or not. Anybody can be drafted if they are draft eligible (and have not previously been drafted or picked up by a team) but teams don't like to waste a pick so they seldom draft someone who doesn't indicate their desire to play. You, Connection20, could be drafted, whether you want to be or not. All that would mean is that you could play for nobody else if you refused to sign (until you sat out a year -- when you would be draft eligble again).

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well thats the point. The draft is there for competitive reasons for the good of the league. Thats why guys cant skip it and sign with any team they choose even if they wanted to. While it wouldnt matter much anyway if all the marginal players did that (as evidenced by the fact the draft isnt as many rounds as it used to be), it would definitely matter if the top 20 prospects every year did that.

Obviously the NFL isnt merely relying on the fact that the players simply dont choose to do it that way.

Above is the reasoning. Apparently, you don't have to declare unless your an underclassman. I thought you had to do it regardless but sounds as if that's not the case.

In any event, I never said it was in the best interests of the players or the league. I said it was not in the best interests of either one. The cap alone is reason why that approach wouldn't work but it does make more sense that players in there final year of elligability would not have to declare for the draft.

 

[conner01]

you have to go thru the draft. if you are not drafted then you are a f.a., if you are drafted and do not sign then you go back into the next draft and do it all over again. you can not bypass the draft. if you could guys like bush would have. he could have made even more money as a f.a. than as a drafted player. the reason walkons don't get paid anything is because the guys that walkon are not quality players. if you could bypass the draft all the bluechip players would and then just sign with the highest bidder and that would be for much more than the draft would end up paying you.

 

[jackrussell]

you have to go thru the draft. if you are not drafted then you are a f.a., if you are drafted and do not sign then you go back into the next draft and do it all over again. you can not bypass the draft. if you could guys like bush would have. he could have made even more money as a f.a. than as a drafted player. the reason walkons don't get paid anything is because the guys that walkon are not quality players. if you could bypass the draft all the bluechip players would and then just sign with the highest bidder and that would be for much more than the draft would end up paying you.

How about this.....Didn't Dallas actually 'hold' the rights to Roger Staubach, Herschel Walker, and Chad Hennings for up to 5 years after they were drafted?

Did those 3 players have to sign with Dallas to play in the NFL?

 

[DipChit]

The cap alone is reason why that approach wouldn't work but it does make more sense that players in there final year of elligability would have to declare for the draft.

The cap doesnt necessarily have anything to do with it either other than keeping any one team from stockpiling multiple guys cause it's been this way even before there was a cap.

It's about keeping the best teams from easily grabbing the best players without having to otherwise pay a price like other draft picks to move up into a position to get the guy.

Wouldnt be a good thing if the best 5 teams could each just sign one of the top 5 prospects without recourse (which they could if the player were in essence a FA) while the worst 5 teams had to go with whats left.

Nothing wrong with a SB winning team targetting a Reggie Bush as it stands. As long as they're ready to give up something other than money... as in multiple draft picks or other players which in theory is the competitive trade-off.

Cant be just letting him bypass the draft and sign with them otherwise though.