Craig Woodson

[*ochocincos*]

(04-16-2025, 06:39 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: In this day and age with the way the CBA is written, position coaches simply do not get enough hands-on time with the players to finish their development. Prior to NIL there were guys coming out early that really could have benefitted from another year of College coaching, simply because of financial reasons. Now that money is less of an issue for players still in school, I think that it's great that more of them are opting to stay their Senior year of eligibility. Obviously there are superstars that clearly head and shoulder above most of their contemporaries, and they rightfully should declare early and enter the draft after 3 years in order to maximize their NFL earning lifetimes.

Every year 256 players get drafted, plus UDFAs. NFL 53 man roster spot total 1,696 jobs, and an additional maximum allotment of 512 unsecured positions on practice squads. There simply aren't that many openings for jobs on teams each year, in order for every guy wanting to enter the league to find a job, let alone stick around for 10-12 years. The overall quality of play in the league will benefit from guys being fully developed when they reach the professional level.

That NIL money really isn't much though for guys who are likely going to get drafted Rd 5 or later I would think, right?

If a player is coming out at 24 years old though, I am most likely going to be going into that evaluation thinking what I see now is what I'm likely getting in the NFL.

Heck, look at Volson, who entered the league at 23 years old and turned 24 by the time the season started. He hasn't really developed much at all. Is (or seems) the same guy he was as a rookie as he is now entering his 4th season.