The lure of starting a pro career early apparently isnt quite as tempting for undercla smen now as it was in the days before college stars could profit off their name, image and likene s.This months draft features 58 early entrants, the lowest number of players to enter the draft with college eligibility remaining since 2011. That includes who were granted special eligibility by the NFL and four others (Miami defensive back Kamren Kinchens, Alabama defensive
Shane Bieber Jersey back Kool-Aid McKinstry, Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy and Clemson running back Will Shipley) who earned their degrees in three years.That represents a dramatic shift, considering at least 100 undercla smen entered the draft ever year from 2016 to 2022. The 2021 draft had a record 100 undercla smen selected.I wouldnt be surprised if those numbers drop even more next year, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said.ADVERTISEMENT The for college athletes took effect in the summer of 2021. The next year, 100 undercla smen entered the draft, down from 128 the previous year. That number last year and tumbled again this year.Some of these guys that are out now didnt come out a year ago because they were enticed to go back for NIL money, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said.Those NIL opportunities didnt sway every undercla sman who was thinking of leaving school early.Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen had arrived on campus planning to turn pro after three seasons. He said at Wisconsins pro day event that NIL po sibilities gave him zero reason to rethink that plan.But it did play a role for other players such as Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter, who didnt enter last years draft and instead stayed for his senior season and helped the Wolverines win a national title.Its good to not worry about stuff money-wise while youre here playing ball and to get paid to do what you love, Zinter
Francisco Lindor Jersey said. Nothing crazy, but it just definitely was a factor we talked about.The fallout from the lack of undercla smen wont be evident early in the draft. The first round traditionally is heavy on early entries, and that isnt likely to change this year. has undercla smen getting selected with 19 of the 32 first-round picks, including eight of the top 10 selections. Twenty-five of the 30 top-10 selections over the last three drafts have been early entrants.The question is whether the lack of undercla smen will when they get into the later rounds.I still think theres more depth at some positions than others but I think theres going to be a good pool, Beane said. I dont see right now, like all of a sudden you get to a certain round on day three and youre like, You know, theres nothing to pick from.While this draft doesnt have as many younger prospects as usual, it does have more rookies approaching their mid-20s than normal, continuing a trend that started well before this year.The NCAA granted players
Brad Hand Jersey who were in college during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season the opportunity for an extra year of eligibility. The age of the players who capitalized on that throws a wrinkle into the evaluation proce s.We dont really go into looking as a vacuum, so lets take age specifically, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. Its not like, OK, hey, if youre X years old youre off the board or were not going to consider you. Really we do try and take each player individually and consider all the circumstances, risk factors, things that make that prospect unique and ultimately place a value on that individual from there.The impact is most obvious at the quarterback position. For instance, Green Bay Packers quarterback and 2023 fifth-round pick was 25 when he began his first NFL training camp. Clifford is actually 3 1/2 months older than Packers starter Jordan Love, three years earlier.Notre Dames Sam Hartman, a po sible late-round pick, will be 25 when the NFL season starts. Oregons Bo Nix and Tenne sees Joe Milton are both 24. Washingtons Michael Penix Jr. and Florida States Jordan Travis turn 24 next month.But there are some unusually older draft prospects
Bradley Zimmer Jersey at other positions as well. Minnesota tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske are both 24.Fiske said he has pitched his maturity as an a set when he has spoken to NFL teams.I treat it like a pro and thats how its going to be when I get to the next level, said Fiske, who spent five seasons at Western Michigan before transferring to Florida State. Theres not going to be any questions of can I handle the pre sures at the next level. Theres not going to be any questions of can I handle the long days, the film, everything that goes into it.This is something Ive been doing for a long time, and Ive been able to handle it up to this point, and I think Im ready to play at a high level and continue the succe s.Future drafts eventually will stop having those older prospects as the college players who were on campus during the pandemic finally exhaust their eligibility.But the shortage of undercla smen figures to be something NFL teams will have to continue dealing with as long as NIL remains a
Yonder Alonso Jersey factor.That drop in numbers (is) not a surprise, Holmes said. And I dont really foresee it changing anytime soon.___AP Sports Writers Larry Lage and Michael Marot contributed to this report.___AP NFL:
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