I'd be willing to bet, within the next 5 years, you'll see this happen. I also bet, within the next 5 years, once it does, it'll happen...often. Times have changed. In fact, the more the $ grows in college, you'll also have these kids staying in school their full run of eligibility. Only the uber talented "generational" types will leave eligibility on the table, maybe. Mark my words...it's coming. These kids have nothing to lose, now, by staying in school and everything to gain by lining themselves up to be drafted by the best possible scenarios. Not only does this apply to QB's but to WR's, DB's and DL. The skill positions that get paid the most scratch in college will be impacted for sure. The fallout will be the worst drafting teams, especially at the QB position, as you pointed out Cleveland, LV and NY, will be constantly doing the "reach." Just an opinion... Hey, I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again but this, strangely, feels like it could have some legs. $$ changes everything and now these kids are putting generational $$ in their pockets without the NFL.
I don’t doubt that players will stay in college to reap the NIL benefits more and more. They definitely will. What I don’t believe will happen is that guys do that because they don’t want to be drafted by X, Y or Z franchise if they’re a top 5 pick. Especially the Jets in general. Not a good situation in the league for sure, but there are worse out there.
nah. If you are looking ahead like you are, its going to be the opposite of what you describe, I think. Soon they won't lose their eligibility at all by declaring, being drafted, or even playing in the NFL. College football wants to be the TEMU-version of the NFL. These guys will have a big year, try to take advantage of that quickly and enter the draft ASAP. When/if they bust, they can always go back to State University and make a mill as a fall back option. We are in the last dying years of when eligibility matters for college sports. The future is going to be a lot like the European soccer model, I would not even be surprised to see the day when the Jets "loan" a player to Iowa State or something
