Does a college player have to enter the NFL draft in order to play in (1 Viewer)

[Bogart]

Had this conversation in my office today, and I don't know the answer.

Hypothetical: Jerry Jones IV is a star QB at Arkansas. Four year starter, breaks all kinds of SEC passing records. Three bowl wins and a national championship. Total package of size, speed and talent. Sure to be the number one pick in the NFL draft with many teams needing that franchise QB.

Of course, JJ IV only wants to play for Great Grandpa Jones (now GM and Head Coach) and the Dallas Cowboys. Money is not an issue for the only heir to the Jones fortune, he would play for free, so is there anything that states he can't skip the draft and sign as a free agent in Dallas? Let's say that he does not want to pull an Eli and just refuse to sign if he doesnt get traded. Did the Google and the Wikipedia and could not find the answer.

 

[gregjcross]

Had this conversation in my office today, and I don't know the answer.

Hypothetical: Jerry Jones IV is a star QB at Arkansas. Four year starter, breaks all kinds of SEC passing records. Three bowl wins and a national championship. Total package of size, speed and talent. Sure to be the number one pick in the NFL draft with many teams needing that franchise QB.

Of course, JJ IV only wants to play for Great Grandpa Jones (now GM and Head Coach) and the Dallas Cowboys. Money is not an issue for the only heir to the Jones fortune, he would play for free, so is there anything that states he can't skip the draft and sign as a free agent in Dallas? Let's say that he does not want to pull an Eli and just refuse to sign if he doesnt get traded. Did the Google and the Wikipedia and could not find the answer.

Would bet that undrafted players who graduate are not officially "undrafted/UFA" until there name has been listed as draft eligible for them to be passed over in the first place. So there would be an official documented step for any player before they are free to sign with anyone.

 

[shredhead]

Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question, but wouldn't the shark move for Jerry Jones IV be to sign with a different team, taking millions of dollars from another owner besides his great grandpa, then wait for great grampa to croak than inherit the Cowboys.

I guess after the inherited the team, he could wage a trade for himself, that is if Jerry Sr. died during Jerry IV's playing career. What happened to Jerry Jr and Jerry III? Why is Jerry IV the only heir to Jerry Sr's franchise?

 

[Adebisi]

No way this is possible. If it was, why would any player in his right mind enter the draft ever?

 

[Knobs]

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

 

[Bogart]

No way this is possible. If it was, why would any player in his right mind enter the draft ever?

To make more money as a high draft pick, ego, etc.

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

But you can only be drafted if you declare for the draft, right?

 

[Chase Stuart]

No way this is possible. If it was, why would any player in his right mind enter the draft ever?

To make more money as a high draft pick, ego, etc.

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

But you can only be drafted if you declare for the draft, right?

You can't enter the NFL until you first declare for the draft. You can't declare for the draft until three years after your high school graduating class.

 

[Bogart]

No way this is possible. If it was, why would any player in his right mind enter the draft ever?

To make more money as a high draft pick, ego, etc.

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

But you can only be drafted if you declare for the draft, right?

You can't enter the NFL until you first declare for the draft. You can't declare for the draft until three years after your high school graduating class.

So did Kurt Warner declare for the draft out of Northern Iowa and then just not get drafted? St. Louis signs him almost 10 years out of high school?

 

[Doug B]

But you can only be drafted if you declare for the draft, right?

For players three years out of high school, there is no opting out of the draft in the sense of "starting in the NFL right away as a free agent". If Jones IV were not drafted at all ... THEN he is a UFA.Of course, players have options such as playing in Canada or playing pro baseball or something like that. But players coming right out of college cannot control which NFL teams posesses their rights UNLESS they are passed over in the NFL draft.

 

[strykerpks]

So did Kurt Warner declare for the draft out of Northern Iowa and then just not get drafted? St. Louis signs him almost 10 years out of high school?

Kurt Warner was an undrafted free agent originally signed by the Packers

 

[Doug B]

You can't enter the NFL until you first declare for the draft.

Graduating college seniors do not have to actively declare, I don't think.

 

[jeter23]

No way this is possible. If it was, why would any player in his right mind enter the draft ever?

To make more money as a high draft pick, ego, etc.

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

But you can only be drafted if you declare for the draft, right?

You can't enter the NFL until you first declare for the draft. You can't declare for the draft until three years after your high school graduating class.

So did Kurt Warner declare for the draft out of Northern Iowa and then just not get drafted? St. Louis signs him almost 10 years out of high school?

My guess is that every player that has completed his college eligibility is automatically "declared" for the draft.

 

[Oh Yes!]

So he's 3 for 3 in nat. championships in his first 3 years in college, can he just quit school and sign as a free agent then?I mustve missed something. Reading this thread on my phone while dropping some mud.

 

[Sarnoff]

We had a poster on here try to declare for the draft, but was ineligible because of how many years he'd been out of high school, so he became an automatic UFA without having declared in the first place.

 

[Sarnoff]

We had a poster on here try to declare for the draft, but was ineligible because of how many years he'd been out of high school, so he became an automatic UFA without having declared in the first place.

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...t&p=6189150Also, listen to the call here: http://www.jgsfilms.com/FootballHero.html

Edit: Answer to the hypothetical seems to be that, 4 years out of high school, he's eligible to be drafted automatically. So a team could write his name down and pick him and own his rights for a year. After that, I don't know the rule, but presumably if he doesn't sign within the year, he's a free agent.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

The shark move is to show up at the combine drunk and making Steve Austin noises during the 40-yard-dash.

 

[Wally Llama]

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

Drew Henson comes to mind as an example. I don't recall him "declaring" for the draft, but the Cowboys drafted him anyway while he was playing 3rd base for the Columbus Clippers, hoping that he wouldn't become the next A-Rod.

 

[Bogart]

If he were really that good, a team would draft him and retain his rights. If he chose to sat out the season that would be fine but another team would draft him and retain his rights for that season. And so on and so forth.

Drew Henson comes to mind as an example. I don't recall him "declaring" for the draft, but the Cowboys drafted him anyway while he was playing 3rd base for the Columbus Clippers, hoping that he wouldn't become the next A-Rod.

Well, they got the not being A-Rod part right.