04/09/26 01:14:00
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04/09 13:12 CDT NIL deals and players' reactions to them give NFL teams another
tool to evaluate draft prospects
NIL deals and players' reactions to them give NFL teams another tool to
evaluate draft prospects
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer
The NIL deals that are transforming college sports are also allowing NFL teams
to gain insight into how a young player will react to having money before they
get a big pro contract.
For many evaluators, it has become an important tool in the draft process.
"The cool thing about college scouting that we always had to answer when we
were going to schools, how's a guy going to be when he has money? Now we have
that answer," Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said recently.
"Some guys get the money and change the way they are. Other guys get the money
and you hear stories about taking guys out for dinner, taking his teammates
(out) and he works hard, is a leader. You kind of get the answer. It's a great
thing and it's great for players in college to have that opportunity."
Spending habits can also help determine a player's level of maturity, revealing
whether they're disciplined or become distracted. A prospect who stays focused
despite lucrative deals is more likely to make a smoother transition to the
pros. Scouts want to see if a player's performance dips after making a lot of
money or if he maintains the same work ethic and consistency. How they interact
with teammates is also a key dynamic.
"Does the guy have eight cars or does he actually have a financial advisor, and
he puts it into an S&P stock index because he's trying to grow his portfolio?"
Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio said. "You've got probably a different thought
process that goes into it. I know what I would do. Nobody was giving me any NIL
money and I wasn't good enough. But, again, it's just understanding their
thought process."
College players weren't allowed to earn money from their athletic skills until
2021, when the NCAA changed the rules to give students an opportunity to profit
from their name, image and likeness.
The decision, along with the freedom of movement provided by the transfer
portal, has dramatically changed the landscape of college sports. Top players
are cashing in from the big brands now. Schools are allowed to spend up to
$20.5 million to pay athletes. Many players are following the money and
switching colleges as a result.
"I think it paints a clearer picture in terms of makeup," Chicago Bears GM Ryan
Poles said. "I like to follow the whole journey. I don't hold it against an
18-year-old that gets a million bucks to go to school and maybe didn't have his
priorities straight. I think most of us here, if that happened to us, we might
be doing some crazy things, too, or maybe not focus where we should be focused.
But I want to see the learning lessons that come from that and understand their
structure of the people they put around them. I want to understand how they
battle through adversity. I think the toughest thing is when there's an out to
transfer when things get hard, we heard the resilience of our young players. So
I want to learn through that and learn how they grew throughout their whole
deal."
NIL deals can also help prepare players for life in the NFL, giving them
exposure to money, endorsements and public branding. They get to experience
fame and financial responsibility in college.
"I think it helps, for us, it helps us reveal maybe makeup, character,
behavior," Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said. "To some degree, you can see
the journey that some players take. And look, in a lot of ways, (it has been) a
very positive change."
Transfers were sometimes considered a red flag. Not anymore.
"Back in the day, if a guy transferred one time, you kind of asked what
happened? Like, did you get run out of this school or whatever?" Buffalo Bills
GM Brandon Beane said. "Well, now it's. ... why'd you stay here four years?
Like, what happened? It's almost, it's flipped, but you do ask those questions.
And sometimes you ask them about, did you leave just because of the money? Did
you leave for other reasons? You kind of just want to know. And at the same
time, our scouts, one of their jobs, is talking to individuals at each program
and trying to put together that puzzle of who this person is, how they tick.
Are they simply motivated just for money? Or is the money a side benefit?
They're really still playing the game for the love of the game."
Some players stay in school longer because they can make more money as a
college athlete if they're not considered a top-round draft pick.
More experience can also help them improve their draft positioning.
Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan said he scouted some players who opted to stay
another year that he wishes would've declared for the draft.
"We just gotta evaluate who is at our disposal," Morgan said.
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