The landscape of college football and the NFL draft is shifting in ways that would’ve sounded impossible just a few years ago. With Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and revenue sharing now part of college sports, some athletes are heading into the NFL already financially set.
This new reality is forcing NFL teams to rethink how they scout and draft players. Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and others are figuring out what it means when a draft pick might actually take a pay cut to go pro. It’s a wild time, honestly.
The Changing Financial Landscape of College Football
College football used to be a pit stop on the way to the NFL. Not anymore. With NIL deals and revenue sharing, top college programs are now spending up to $20.5 million on student-athletes.
Most of that cash is going straight to the stars. Some players are reportedly pulling in over $1 million a year—while still in college. Imagine that.
NIL Deals and Revenue Sharing
NIL deals let college athletes cash in on their name, image, and likeness. No surprise, quarterbacks are making out the best here.
On3 reports that nearly half of the top 50 NIL valuations for 2025 are quarterbacks, and two dozen of those are over $1.5 million. Revenue sharing just piles on, making college football a surprisingly lucrative gig.
Impacts on the NFL Draft
The NFL draft is feeling the ripple effects. Howie Roseman, for example, could draft someone this weekend who’ll actually make less money in the NFL than they did in college. That’s a first.
The minimum salary for a rookie in 2026 is set at $915,120, but plenty of college players are already clearing a million. It’s kind of mind-boggling.
First-Round Picks and Contracts
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, while Alabama’s Ty Simpson landed at No. 13 with the Los Angeles Rams. Mendoza’s rookie contract will top $57 million, with nearly $10.5 million in 2026 alone.
Simpson’s deal comes in at about half that—$25.4 million total, including $4.6 million in year one. Still, it’s possible both could make less in their first NFL season than they did as college stars. That’s a weird twist.
Character and Passion: The New Metrics
With all this money floating around, NFL teams are zeroing in on character and passion. Raiders general manager John Spytek says that seeing how college players handle financial success reveals a lot about who they are.
Guys who’ve already made bank and still play hard for their teammates? That’s who teams want. It’s not just about talent anymore.
The Role of Financial Awareness
Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone points out another upside: these players aren’t new to big paydays. Thanks to NIL, they’ve already learned a thing or two about managing money.
That kind of experience might make the transition to the NFL a little smoother. It’s a different world now.
Age and Experience: A New Draft Dynamic
The pandemic made draft classes older, but NIL deals and revenue sharing are keeping some players in college even longer. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta says 18% of his draft board is made up of players who are at least 24. A few years ago, that number was just 4%.
Teams are starting to rethink their approach. Older players bring something different to the table, but is it always a good thing?
The Impact of Older Players
Older prospects usually have more experience and maturity. That’s a plus. But there’s a flip side—more years on the field means more wear and tear.
Teams are left weighing experience against the risk of physical decline. It’s not an easy call, and no one seems to have all the answers just yet.
Conclusion
NIL deals and revenue sharing have completely shaken up college football and the NFL draft. Players are showing up to the draft with serious money already in their pockets.
Now, it’s not unheard of for some draft picks to actually take a pay cut to play in the NFL. That’s wild, right?
Teams are starting to care more about things like character, passion, and whether these guys know how to handle their finances. The average age of draft-eligible players is creeping up, too.
So, teams are rethinking how they pick and plan for the future. Honestly, nobody knows exactly how it’ll all play out, but it’s obvious that college football’s new money game is rewriting the NFL draft in real time.
For more details, check out the full article on the AP News website.
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