Harbaugh: Remove minimum age for draft and allow undrafted back at school

[Mango]

Jim Harbuagh thinks the NFL should remove the minimum age/college requirement to enter the draft as well as allow undrafted kids to go back and play for their school. 

 

Removing minimum age/college requirement: I don't really care. I mean I wish there was more emphasis on getting degrees, but it really is not the NFL's job to push that, so remove it for all I care. From a physiological stand point, it is a violent game played by grown men. Seems like a bad idea to throw a 19 year old in the NFL. That said, if you have a 3rd round grade or better, and you want to leave school to go give it a try, that is up to you. There is a chance you make a life changing amount of money you may never get back if you get injured or stop progressing. 

 

Undrafted kids going back to school: This feels like a non-issue to me. My feels sensor says almost all UDFA's are seniors. I couldn't find a good list so I just went through Arizona's UDFA list and they were all seniors, as I expected. It is not like these guys have no idea what their draft grades are before they declare. Seems really unnecessary to allow athletes to declare and go back to school and is probably in the institutions favor and not the athletes. I am unsure what it provides. It isn't like there are a bunch of sophomore's with a 3rd round grade declares and wakes up needing to apply for student loans and no football team to play for. Just spit balling here, but maybe the NFL/NCAA sponsors a program for all college kids with NFL scouts, coaches, and GM's to provide some insight into when and if they should declare for the draft as underclassmen. I wouldn't trust an agent to do that just because they are chasing a paycheck. But the regional scout for an NFL team might tell an anxious underclassman to stay in school, they only see them as a 6th rounder. 

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29146934/michigan-coach-jim-harbaugh-wants-college-football-players-flexibility-nfl-draft?platform=amp

[machine gun kelly]

Makes complete sense.  They’re kids and sometimes make bad decisions like coming out too early.

[BfloBillsFan]

Count me in to let those who went undrafted go back to school.  

[Mango]

Just now, BfloBillsFan said:

Count me in to let those who went undrafted go back to school.  

 

I mean sure I am with you...I guess. I just think there a few to zero students that this applies to. 

[Punching Bag]

A college "kid" declares based on advice of an agent and then blows a knee or as a bad combine, etc and does not get drafted sure.

If the college player finishes year and does not quit college to pursue NFL that is.

Even could work for seniors with eligibility still who graduate and are undrafted.  We had such a player once who played lacrosse and in grad school played football.

 

If a player is drafted however and did not like where player was picked I have a different opinion but every one has one.

[Rampage]

I can’t even begin to imagine a 19 year old receiver in the NFL having to get hit by a linebacker in a slant route. He’ll be broken in half. A lot of these guys still lack the muscle mass and size to be in the league after 3 years of college. I can’t see straight out of high school being beneficial.

Edited May 8, 2020 by Rampage

[Boatdrinks]

The age requirement should stay. I think the eligibility rule should probably stay too, but I could be convinced otherwise on that one. 

[Don Otreply]

For me, age requirement should stay, but it harms no one if a guy doesn’t get drafted and goes back to school and tries again a year later. 

[Motorin']

18 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

I mean sure I am with you...I guess. I just think there a few to zero students that this applies to. 

I guess if they lift the age requirement more underclassman will declare, and the more underclassman who declare the more potential for players who still have eligibility to go undrafted. 

[Mango]

6 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

For me, age requirement should stay, but it harms no one if a guy doesn’t get drafted and goes back to school and tries again a year later. 

 

I agree. It doesn't hurt anything by allowing it. But it probably changes who actually gets drafted by 0% so it doesn't hurt by keeping it either. 

 

The inverse situation. You are a junior with a low draft grade so you roll the dice. You get scooped up in the 6th round. Chances are you don't actually make the roster. Now you are also ineligible to play college ball and you are right back where you started. This rule doesn't actually effect anybody getting drafted in the first 3 or 4 rounds. 

[FireChans]

29 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

I mean sure I am with you...I guess. I just think there a few to zero students that this applies to. 

The first rule change would beget the importance of the second.

[Don Otreply]

12 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

I agree. It doesn't hurt anything by allowing it. But it probably changes who actually gets drafted by 0% so it doesn't hurt by keeping it either. 

 

The inverse situation. You are a junior with a low draft grade so you roll the dice. You get scooped up in the 6th round. Chances are you don't actually make the roster. Now you are also ineligible to play college ball and you are right back where you started. This rule doesn't actually effect anybody getting drafted in the first 3 or 4 rounds. 

So why have a rule that only harms the student athlete? Its such a NCAA thing to do... 

[Punching Bag]

18 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

I agree. It doesn't hurt anything by allowing it. But it probably changes who actually gets drafted by 0% so it doesn't hurt by keeping it either. 

 

The inverse situation. You are a junior with a low draft grade so you roll the dice. You get scooped up in the 6th round. Chances are you don't actually make the roster. Now you are also ineligible to play college ball and you are right back where you started. This rule doesn't actually effect anybody getting drafted in the first 3 or 4 rounds. 

 

Your draft eligibility should stop on first day you sign contract and get paid - you are then a professional.  

I was out with some friends and there was an Amateur Comedy Night with prizes and they pushed me to sign up.  I told them I can't. I had been paid ($200) to do comedy show warm up for main act before.

[Motorin']

1 minute ago, Limeaid said:

 

Your draft eligibility should stop on first day you sign contract and get paid - you are then a professional.  

I was out with some friends and there was an Amateur Comedy Night with prizes and they pushed me to sign up.  I told them I can't. I had been paid ($200) to do comedy show warm up for main act before.

 

We're going to need to see the footage!

[Punching Bag]

Just now, Motorin' said:

 

We're going to need to see the footage!

 

From 1982, that is more than 13K days ago?  There was no camera phones then! I was a college student who used to be a bartender (mixed drink specialist) and I created jokes for every drink and wrote them in my drink mix "manual".  Since I was paid per drink (small amount) and tips I needed to try to get sales as high as I could so I'd tell a joke with every drink I sold.  The place signed a star to come in and he was late so boss told me to go on stage and entertain crowd before they started wanting money back.  He told me he'd pay me $200 if I kept 90% of customers until act showed up so I went up there and did my best.  Seventy-Five minutes late showed up and I went to boss and asked for money.  He said at end of week with pay but I said no, that was not part of deal so he took money out and paid me.  I actually ended up losing job because most of my regular customers were there and they heard every joke I had in the book.  I do have a copy of a check from Johnny Carson Productions from a joke they bought from me but I do not know which one!  I mailed many to them and got letter thanking for contribution but it did not say which joke.

[billsfan89]

The age requirement should stay or only be reduced to after 2 years of college. I can't see 18 and 19 year olds in the NFL working out.. I get that teams will not draft guys who aren't ready but the NFL does have a right to protect the teams and organizations from themselves. I also agree that if a player doesn't get drafted they should have the ability to come back for one more college season. 

[JetsFan20]

I see his point. There is no reason for Trevor Lawrence to be in Clemson, South Carolina right now. 

[YoloinOhio]

Just trying to thin out the talent at the schools he can’t beat in recruiting 

Edited May 8, 2020 by YoloinOhio

[Blank Stare]

Unless they’re grown men like Tremaine Edmunds or Jadeveon Clowney were, I’m not sure how many players would feel their bodies and minds are ready to take the leap early. I could even see a Trevor Lawrence situation because he hasn’t had anything left to prove at the college level for some time now. But for all we know he enjoys being the top dog on campus. Some do. 
 

Not saying a bunch of players wouldn’t/shouldn’t  try, but It’s just so different from basketball in many ways. 

[Cripple Creek]

1 hour ago, Mango said:

Jim Harbuagh thinks the NFL should remove the minimum age/college requirement to enter the draft as well as allow undrafted kids to go back and play for their school. 

 

Removing minimum age/college requirement: I don't really care. I mean I wish there was more emphasis on getting degrees, but it really is not the NFL's job to push that, so remove it for all I care. From a physiological stand point, it is a violent game played by grown men. Seems like a bad idea to throw a 19 year old in the NFL. That said, if you have a 3rd round grade or better, and you want to leave school to go give it a try, that is up to you. There is a chance you make a life changing amount of money you may never get back if you get injured or stop progressing. 

 

Undrafted kids going back to school: This feels like a non-issue to me. My feels sensor says almost all UDFA's are seniors. I couldn't find a good list so I just went through Arizona's UDFA list and they were all seniors, as I expected. It is not like these guys have no idea what their draft grades are before they declare. Seems really unnecessary to allow athletes to declare and go back to school and is probably in the institutions favor and not the athletes. I am unsure what it provides. It isn't like there are a bunch of sophomore's with a 3rd round grade declares and wakes up needing to apply for student loans and no football team to play for. Just spit balling here, but maybe the NFL/NCAA sponsors a program for all college kids with NFL scouts, coaches, and GM's to provide some insight into when and if they should declare for the draft as underclassmen. I wouldn't trust an agent to do that just because they are chasing a paycheck. But the regional scout for an NFL team might tell an anxious underclassman to stay in school, they only see them as a 6th rounder. 

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29146934/michigan-coach-jim-harbaugh-wants-college-football-players-flexibility-nfl-draft?platform=amp

If it was John I'd love this proposal.  Since it's Jim I hate it.

[MJS]

I wouldn't change the rule on age. But I would allow kids to go back to school who don't get drafted.

 

I just wonder how many players this affects. Are there a lot of unrestricted rookie free agents with college eligibility left?

[BuffaloRebound]

The age requirement should go away.  If a kid isn’t physically ready, he won’t get drafted.  Why should Lawrence have to go back to Clemson if he’s gonna be a 1st round pick now?  Look at Tua.  He could’ve went just as high last year and came damn near close to suffering a career ending injury.  Don’t tell me about insurance policies.  A kid shouldn’t have to worry if an insurance policy is actually gonna pay out.  RB’s are probably the best example.  Too many carries in college is a negative for their pro prospects.  

[Buffalo716]

2 hours ago, Mango said:

 

I mean sure I am with you...I guess. I just think there a few to zero students that this applies to. 

Tyree Jackson UB

[Mark Vader]

1 hour ago, YoloinOhio said:

Just trying to thin out the talent at the schools he can’t beat in recruiting 

I predicted you would say this.

[ColoradoBills]

I would like to know what guys like Bills Head of College Scouting Terrance Gray and his other 31 counterparts think about this.

If they see no problems with the possible swarm of underclassmen looking to get drafted then it could be a good thing for all.

I'm not sure but it probably already is a hard situation going through the amount of draftees as it is but if they think that it can be

handled then letting the "misses" go back to school is a good thing.

 

I would be concerned about having too young or too inexperienced college players eligible though.

Teams could take "flyers" on unproven young players with low draft picks and possibly ruin a young prospects career.

[Not at the table Karlos]

3 hours ago, Mango said:

 

I mean sure I am with you...I guess. I just think there a few to zero students that this applies to. 

Tyree jackson 

 

hall of famer Darick Rogers 

Edited May 9, 2020 by Not at the table Karlos
Buffalo716 beat me to it

[MassHog]

Tyree Jackson for another year at UB would have been awesome.

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Tyree Jackson UB

Yes he red shirted his freshman year, but he also got a degree and graduated in 4. 
 

Good point though. I think I would be OK for going back for your final year of eligibility if you had a degree in hand. I was more thinking of true sophomores and juniors. 

[Buffalo716]

Just now, Mango said:

Yes he red shirted his freshman year, but he also got a degree and graduated in 4. 
 

Good point though. I think I would be OK for going back for your final year of eligibility if you had a degree in hand. I was more thinking of true sophomores and juniors. 

Well he left with a year of eligibility and was an undrafted free agent. And true sophomores can't enter the draft

[KRT88]

4 minutes ago, MassHog said:

Tyree Jackson for another year at UB would have been awesome.

He as going to transfer before he declared. He needed another year at UB or somewhere else. 

[MassHog]

Just now, KRT88 said:

He as going to transfer before he declared. He needed another year at UB or somewhere else. 

Yeah, I always thought that maybe he declared because no big school offered him their starting job. 

[FLFan]

The college eligibility requirements are one of the few things the NFL has gotten right.  They should not debase themselves to the level of the NBA.

 

Edited May 9, 2020 by FLFan

[Bferra13]

These changes would hurt the NCAA a bit and it seems like the NFL doesnt like to step on it's free farm systems toes too much. You'd see studs leaving after one year. I kind of like it the way it is. It's better for player safety and it puts a bit of risk in declaring for the draft. I'm not really a huge college football fan either. I watch, but dont reslly have a team. 

[Mr. WEO]

3 hours ago, Limeaid said:

A college "kid" declares based on advice of an agent and then blows a knee or as a bad combine, etc and does not get drafted sure.

If the college player finishes year and does not quit college to pursue NFL that is.

Even could work for seniors with eligibility still who graduate and are undrafted.  We had such a player once who played lacrosse and in grad school played football.

 

If a player is drafted however and did not like where player was picked I have a different opinion but every one has one.

 

 

What agent?

[Justin C]

Wouldn't this affect college more, especially the scholarship situations? Most schools have their scholarship spots filled by the Draft. Lets say they have 5 players not drafted that want to come back. Where do the scholarships come from?

[Mr. WEO]

Who cares?  Either rule change would apply to too few people to be a meaningful change.

 

Non-issue.

[Mango]

55 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Well he left with a year of eligibility and was an undrafted free agent. And true sophomores can't enter the draft

 

 

Whoops, I meant RS sophomores or true juniors.Good catch.

 

Either way leaving school and risking your college degree/another year of eligibility when you are projected to be a low round pick (and have MAYBE a 50% chance of making a team) or becoming an UDFA (and have an even smaller chance of making the team) is a really bad idea. There is no amount of legislation from the NCAA or NFL that will change that. 

[Buffalo716]

13 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

 

Whoops, I meant RS sophomores or true juniors.Good catch.

 

Either way leaving school and risking your college degree/another year of eligibility when you are projected to be a low round pick (and have MAYBE a 50% chance of making a team) or becoming an UDFA (and have an even smaller chance of making the team) is a really bad idea. There is no amount of legislation from the NCAA or NFL that will change that. 

That's very true but lots of times these guys have agents in their ears or family members telling them to take the money

 

Or they come from poverty and can sense how close they are to the money

 

But I agree. I knew Tyrees decision to leave with another year of eligibility was the wrong decision instantly.

 

Having seen every snap live over his career I knew he needed more reps

[Mango]

4 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

That's very true but lots of times these guys have agents in their ears or family members telling them to take the money

 

Or they come from poverty and can sense how close they are to the money

 

But I agree. I knew Tyrees decision to leave with another year of eligibility was the wrong decision instantly.

 

Having seen every snap live over his career I knew he needed more reps

 

I would feel better about it if there was say, some sort of NFL sanctioned pre-declaration seminar. Where regional scouts, GM's, coaches, whoever, from NFL teams just sit down with some of these kids and say "Hey, love the skill set you are building. Love that you want to take it to the next level. We have a 7th round grade on you. There is a a 85% chance you don't make a roster right now and your career is over with no degree. You want to prove to us how hungry you are to play at the next level. Wow us next season. Your footwork/route running/ flexibility blows. Make sure next year when we have this conversation those things aren't an issue and  I tell you I hope you are still on the board on day 2 when our pick comes around". 

 

It could be like an old folks home for retired GM's, or guys who just aren't working in the league anymore. What is Polian, Gill Brandt, Whaley,  Pat Kirwin etc. really doing these days? I am sure they are still watching tons of tape and could definitely get behind doing regional college scouting. 

[BillsShredder83]

7 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

Your draft eligibility should stop on first day you sign contract and get paid - you are then a professional.  

I was out with some friends and there was an Amateur Comedy Night with prizes and they pushed me to sign up.  I told them I can't. I had been paid ($200) to do comedy show warm up for main act before.

Can I ask who you are? Huge standup comedy fan