Concerns about upcoming draft class (1 Viewer)

[pidgeonmanza]

With the potential for a lockout do you think that a lot of these great juniors won't declare for the draft? Or do you think that a lot more of them will declare because they want to get their rookie contracts under the current CBA?

 

[Nagle2998]

With the potential for a lockout do you think that a lot of these great juniors won't declare for the draft? Or do you think that a lot more of them will declare because they want to get their rookie contracts under the current CBA?

I'm far from a lawyer but I think it doesn't matter if they sign under the new CBA or not once they sign a new one they will be under that one. Now if your talking rookie scale I have no idea how the NFL will work that out but I can't see owners paying big money until they know the new CBA. Since there has been recent talk about a new 6 year deal this early I think something will get done but maybe I'm just hopeful. If I was a junior who wasn't a top 5 pick no way I would declare if there wasn't a CBA in place.

 

[pidgeonmanza]

With the potential for a lockout do you think that a lot of these great juniors won't declare for the draft? Or do you think that a lot more of them will declare because they want to get their rookie contracts under the current CBA?

I'm far from a lawyer but I think it doesn't matter if they sign under the new CBA or not once they sign a new one they will be under that one. Now if your talking rookie scale I have no idea how the NFL will work that out but I can't see owners paying big money until they know the new CBA. Since there has been recent talk about a new 6 year deal this early I think something will get done but maybe I'm just hopeful. If I was a junior who wasn't a top 5 pick no way I would declare if there wasn't a CBA in place.

When I said sign under the current CBA I did mean the rookie scale, because I think that could change under the new CBA

 

[pidgeonmanza]

other thoughts?

 

[Shock6822]

You can look at it 2 ways. One, if talks of a rookie scale in 2012 heat up, a ton of rookies may try to declare, especially the juniors/sophs who know they have a shot at the first 2 rounds. Two, if they know there will likely be no football in 2011, they may opt to stay in school one more year since not playing competitively for a year drops their stock. All depends on how negotiations go in the next several months really...I've heard there's some progress but the stalls have to do with Smith wanting to see NFL financials and Goodell saying no way.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

The one thing underclassmen might have to think about is that they'll have to resolve their draft status before the NFL & NFLPA have to resolve their CBA.

Some might choose to stay based on that uncertainty feeling that along protracted lockout might hamper their development. Also in the worse case scenario of a lost season, 2 draft classes will be competing for one set of roster spots. While it might not matter to the elite prospects (A.J. Green, Robert Quinn types)...others may choose to exercise caution as there are many cases of guys who thought they'd be 1st rounders who wind up being Day 3'ers.