BREAKING: The 2024 NFL Draft is not deep, and there are 2 reasons why…

The landscape of the 2024 NFL Draft is poised to deviate from previous years, particularly in the realm of underclassmen declarations. Despite the seemingly substantial number of 54 underclassmen declaring for this draft, there’s an overarching concern as it follows a trend of diminishing figures in recent drafts. Notably, the 2023 NFL Draft had 69 underclassmen, a notable drop from the 106 in the 2018 draft, marking a noticeable decline in the pool of talent entering the professional ranks.

This decline has prompted apprehension among football analysts and insiders. Jordan Reid, an ESPN draft analyst, has drawn attention to this trend, emphasizing that the underclassman pool has been steadily decreasing. Jim Nagy, the Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, has expressed his concern about the potential ramifications on the quality of the draft. He highlighted a tangible impact on the draft board, specifically in Rounds 5-7, foreseeing teams facing dilemmas such as trading away Day 3 picks to maintain value or resorting to selecting players from their free-agent side board in April.

The implications of this trend are likely to affect the latter rounds of the draft more significantly than the earlier ones. While marquee selections at the top end may remain unaffected, teams like the Cleveland Browns, equipped with five picks in the final three rounds, might face challenges in unearthing those hidden gems that often distinguish good drafts from great ones.

To comprehend the reasons behind this shift, one must delve into the transformative changes within college football. One pivotal factor is the paradigm shift brought about by players now having the opportunity to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This groundbreaking change, long overdue, allows players to receive compensation beyond their scholarships. Consequently, some players are opting to extend their college football careers, taking advantage of the NCAA’s provision granting fall sports athletes from 2020 an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the context of NIL, the idea of players staying in school for an extra season is increasingly prevalent. The prospect of financial compensation beyond scholarships is a compelling reason for players to prolong their college football journey. While the trend may impact the composition of the NFL Draft, the broader perspective acknowledges the necessity for players to finally receive due compensation, making the move towards NIL a commendable and long-overdue development in college athletics.