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Every season, there are over 200 footballers who get an entry ticket to play in the NFL through the NFL drafts. 32 different NFL teams from the league draft these young players every year from different collegiate programs. There are thousands of players who wish to compete in the league, and you may wonder how the eligibility works behind the scenes.
A player must be out of high school for at least three years and have completed their college eligibility by the start of the following football season in order to be eligible for the NFL Draft.
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Also, if a player finishes their degree before the end of their college eligibility, then they can enter the draft early by seeking approval from the NFL's Player Personnel Staff. These players are referred to as underclassmen, and they have only seven days to seek approval after the NCAA National Championship Game.
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If a player is drafted, the Player Personnel Staff will notify teams, scouts, agents, and schools of their status. They also collaborate with the aforementioned parties on player workouts.
There is no minimum age set by the league to become draft-eligible. The only criteria to enter the NFL is after playing three years of college football. You will find some players who have become a part of the league at the age of 19 or 20.
The youngest college player to be drafted in the NFL is Amobi Okoye. He started playing college football at 15 years old. At 19 years old, he was the youngest senior in the NCAA.
Can an undrafted player return to college football?
If a player is undrafted, they are eligible to return to college to finish their degree. However, if a player is declared for the draft, they cannot play for any college. A drafted player gets a 'Pro' tag added to their name and can only play in the NFL.
Undrafted players can also enter the football leagues if NFL teams any other pro football leagues sign them to their practice squad. Players like Wes Walker, Kurt Warner, John Randle, Priest Holmes, and Rod Smith went undrafted but became NFL superstars.
How hard is it to enter the NFL?
It is very difficult to make it to the NFL. Thousands of players try their luck, but about 200 of them get drafted in the NFL drafts and around 100 undrafted players are signed by NFL teams.
Only 1.6 percent of college players are selected in the draft. Out of them, only a few get a chance to play on the field. If the player does not make it to the active roster, then they are assigned to practice squads. There is a fixed salary of $8,400 for players in practice squads, but their contracts are not guaranteed.
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The NFL Draft is a fascinating process where collegiate football talent meets the professional stage. I've closely followed the mechanisms that allow players to transition from college to the NFL, both through eligibility rules and the intricate workings of the draft system.
Eligibility criteria are critical. A player needs to be out of high school for at least three years and complete their college eligibility before the start of the subsequent football season to qualify for the NFL Draft. The NFL's Player Personnel Staff oversees this process and grants underclassmen the chance to enter the draft early if they've finished their degree requirements.
One standout example is Amobi Okoye, who joined the NFL at 19 after starting college football at a remarkably young age of 15. That's an exception, though; most players need at least three years of college football to be considered.
Undrafted players face a choice: they can return to college to finish their degree, but once declared for the draft, playing for any college is off-limits. However, they can still be signed by NFL teams or other professional football leagues if not drafted. The success stories of undrafted players turned NFL superstars like Kurt Warner and John Randle highlight this path.
Entering the NFL is an uphill battle. With thousands vying for spots, only around 200 players get drafted, while about 100 undrafted players are signed by NFL teams. That's a mere 1.6% of college players. Even then, making it to the active roster is another challenge, often resulting in players ending up on practice squads with fixed salaries but no guaranteed contracts.
The NFL Draft isn't just about raw talent; it's about navigating a complex system of rules, eligibility, and opportunities, making it an arduous journey for aspiring footballers.
