The rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals in college football is reshaping the path to the NFL, and not everyone is thrilled about it. While players are benefiting financially by staying in school longer, the ripple effect is being felt at the professional level, where NFL Draft classes are starting to lose some of their top-end talent.
How NIL Is Impacting the NFL Draft
In recent years, more college football players, especially quarterbacks, are choosing to delay their entry into the NFL Draft. Instead of declaring early, they are opting to return to school where lucrative NIL deals can offer millions of dollars.
Players like Sam Leavitt and Brendan Sorsby are among a growing list of prospects who decided to stay in college rather than go pro. In previous eras, many of these players would have declared for the draft, strengthening the overall talent pool.
According to NFL executives, this trend is significant. One executive noted that if around 40 draft-eligible juniors return to school, it effectively removes an entire round’s worth of talent from the draft.
The Rare Exception to the Trend
Not every player is choosing the NIL route. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a notable exception. After just one year as a starter, Simpson declared for the NFL Draft, believing his performance was enough to impress scouts.
Reports indicated Simpson turned down a massive $6.5 million NIL offer from the University of Miami to stay in college. While his decision may reflect confidence in his NFL readiness, it also highlights how rare it is for players to pass on guaranteed money at the collegiate level.
Could the NFL Change Its Draft System?
Some have suggested that the NFL could adapt by adopting draft models used in other sports leagues.
For example, the NHL Draft is based on age, allowing teams to select younger players who can continue developing in college or overseas. Similarly, MLB allows drafted players to return to school and re-enter future drafts.
However, the NFL is unlikely to follow these models. The league’s draft is not just a player selection process, it is a major entertainment event with massive television ratings and media coverage.
Why the NFL Has Little Incentive to Act
Despite concerns about weaker draft classes, the NFL Draft continues to thrive. Even in a “down year,” more than 13 million viewers tuned in for the first round alone. The event spans multiple days and dominates sports media coverage across platforms.
From a business perspective, the league benefits from the popularity of college football. Fans are already familiar with players before they enter the draft, which boosts engagement and viewership.
While NIL may reduce depth, particularly in later rounds, those players historically have shorter careers and less overall impact. As a result, the NFL is unlikely to prioritize fixing an issue that doesn’t significantly hurt its bottom line.
The Bigger Picture
NIL has undeniably changed the dynamics between college football and the NFL. Players now have more control over their financial futures, and many are choosing stability and guaranteed income over the uncertainty of the draft.
For the NFL, this shift presents challenges, including older rookies and thinner talent pools. But as long as the draft remains a dominant media property and a fan-favorite event, major changes seem unlikely.
In the end, NIL isn’t breaking the NFL Draft. It’s simply forcing the league to adapt to a new reality, one where college football holds more power than ever before.