The National Football League (NFL) is the largest and most well known professional football league in the world. Each spring, usually in April, the NFL holds its annual draft in which all 32 teams can select eligible players, most of which come from NCAA college football. Players who wish to be drafted must first meet a few specific criteria in order to qualify for selection in the NFL Draft.
Step 1
Ensure that you meet the NFL's age requirement to become draft-eligible. According to ESPN.com, players must be at least three years removed from their senior year of high school or their 18th birthday if they are not in college or did not stay in college for three years. The high school requirement for college players refers to the date that the player received their high school diploma.
Step 2
Declare for the draft by the specified date if you still have college eligibility. The NFL has an early-entry deadline date for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft and forfeit any remaining college eligibility. Usually this date is in mid-January; in 2011 the date was January 15th, according to StarTribune.com.
Step 3
Petition the NFL to be included in the supplemental draft if you were not eligible for the regular draft but have since left school. According to ESPN.com, the NFL conducts a yearly supplemental draft in July for players who had not declared for the April draft but petition the league for entry. Usually these players have left college and are not able to return to school for various reasons. ESPN.com notes that the same three years removed from high school rule applies to players entering the supplemental draft.
Member Comments