Dynasty League Football Forum

Having a side deal with a team before draft, and not even entering draft? Eagles want Mariota, and I'm sure it's mutual. What's preventing Mariota from saying he doesn't want to enter draft, then get a UDFA contract from Eagles for #2 pick money? Im sure there is something to protect against this, but what is it?

I'd be interested in knowing too.

The CBA prevents it. Players are eligible in the regular draft or the supplemental draft if they haven't declared on time. They only become FA if they pass through either unclaimed.

Players can hold out, and/or go to another league/sport if they wish to try and hold a team hostage, but the team that picked them still retains their rights.

bigroddy wrote:The CBA prevents it. Players are eligible in the regular draft or the supplemental draft if they haven't declared on time. They only become FA if they pass through either unclaimed.

Players can hold out, and/or go to another league/sport if they wish to try and hold a team hostage, but the team that picked them still retains their rights.

What if they dont declare for either?

My understanding is that any person whose high school graduation was at least 3 years ago is eligible to be drafted. In other words, a team could announce that they select one of us as their 5th round pick.

The NFL does prohibit its teams from selecting college players that have college eligibility remaining, unless those players announce and forfeit that eligibility ... aka: declare for the draft.

So the practical way your scenario could play out would be more like:
- A good college player announces that he has no intention of playing in the NFL and will pursue other things in life.
- Most NFL teams would then have no interest in risking a draft pick on a player that they could not sign to a contract.
- A side deal with a team could be made before the draft, that team having "inside knowledge" that this player actually does want to play in the NFL.
- That team could then select the player later in the draft or sign him as a free agent.

The issue I see is the investigations that would follow, as this would undermine the entire method the NFL has to assign rookies to teams. Side note: one high profile rookie in 2014 alluded to intentionally under-performing at the combine so that he would slide in the draft to a team he wanted to play for.

rubber_duck wrote:My understanding is that any person whose high school graduation was at least 3 years ago is eligible to be drafted. In other words, a team could announce that they select one of us as their 5th round pick.

The NFL does prohibit its teams from selecting college players that have college eligibility remaining, unless those players announce and forfeit that eligibility ... aka: declare for the draft.

So the practical way your scenario could play out would be more like:
- A good college player announces that he has no intention of playing in the NFL and will pursue other things in life.
- Most NFL teams would then have no interest in risking a draft pick on a player that they could not sign to a contract.
- A side deal with a team could be made before the draft, that team having "inside knowledge" that this player actually does want to play in the NFL.
- That team could then select the player later in the draft or sign him as a free agent.

The issue I see is the investigations that would follow, as this would undermine the entire method the NFL has to assign rookies to teams. Side note: one high profile rookie in 2014 alluded to intentionally under-performing at the combine so that he would slide in the draft to a team he wanted to play for.

That last point would get that team fined a HUGE amount and probably see some of the biggest front office and coach suspensions we've ever seen. Buy hypothetically it definitely makes sense

rubber_duck wrote:My understanding is that any person whose high school graduation was at least 3 years ago is eligible to be drafted. In other words, a team could announce that they select one of us as their 5th round pick.

The NFL does prohibit its teams from selecting college players that have college eligibility remaining, unless those players announce and forfeit that eligibility ... aka: declare for the draft.

So the practical way your scenario could play out would be more like:
- A good college player announces that he has no intention of playing in the NFL and will pursue other things in life.
- Most NFL teams would then have no interest in risking a draft pick on a player that they could not sign to a contract.
- A side deal with a team could be made before the draft, that team having "inside knowledge" that this player actually does want to play in the NFL.
- That team could then select the player later in the draft or sign him as a free agent.

The issue I see is the investigations that would follow, as this would undermine the entire method the NFL has to assign rookies to teams. Side note: one high profile rookie in 2014 alluded to intentionally under-performing at the combine so that he would slide in the draft to a team he wanted to play for.

This all makes sense, Texas Rangers own the rights to Russell Wilson.


Wonder if MFL would add me to their free agent pool if I requested it...I would spend a 3rd on me to be on a fantasy roster. And then I would start a thread on DLF about me, pumping me up serious hype, and flip me for a 2nd.

Swampdonkey17 wrote:

bigroddy wrote:The CBA prevents it. Players are eligible in the regular draft or the supplemental draft if they haven't declared on time. They only become FA if they pass through either unclaimed.

Players can hold out, and/or go to another league/sport if they wish to try and hold a team hostage, but the team that picked them still retains their rights.

What if they dont declare for either?

If they've completed their NCAA eligibility, they're eligible to be drafted in the NFL Rookie Draft. Only have to declare if they're underclassmen.

why would any prospect do that you eliminating 31 potential employers and giving the team 100% of the negotiating power , no agent would ever set still for that type of arrangement for sure . Plus the league would drop the hammer on any franchise attempting that gambit.

clarion contrarion wrote:why would any prospect do that you eliminating 31 potential employers and giving the team 100% of the negotiating power , no agent would ever set still for that type of arrangement for sure . Plus the league would drop the hammer on any franchise attempting that gambit.

DIdn't ask why would a player do it. I asked what's preventing it from happening

Not sure, but I think money is a big factor. I feel like UDFA's have a much lower (limited) salary ceiling than drafted players. Would be interested to know whether my memory is correct.

DonBrazi wrote:Not sure, but I think money is a big factor. I feel like UDFA's have a much lower (limited) salary ceiling than drafted players. Would be interested to know whether my memory is correct.

This is an answer I was looking for I guess. Can a UDFA get a contract similar to say the 5th overall pick? Something in the CBA?

Look I know this story is far-fetched, it was a random mantown thought and question.

Sort of implied here: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -new-deal/

Obviously, I don't know the details (like whether someone who doesn't declare for the draft counts as an UDFA), but it sure seems like there's a cap on guys who don't go through the motions.

Reminds me of Eli Manning's situation. He clearly didn't want to go to San Diego. Instead of opting out of the draft, he cried like a baby and threatened to not play for em. If he could have gone to any team he wanted AND made the same amount of money, I don't think he'd have gone through all the trouble to tarnish his [family's] image.

This article contains a couple stories about players (Bernie Kosar and Brian Bosworth) using the supplemental draft to circumvent the regular draft process.

bigroddy wrote:The CBA prevents it. Players are eligible in the regular draft or the supplemental draft if they haven't declared on time. They only become FA if they pass through either unclaimed.

Players can hold out, and/or go to another league/sport if they wish to try and hold a team hostage, but the team that picked them still retains their rights.

I second this.. collective bargaining agreement will do the trick.