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Can anyone declare for the NFL draft?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 21, 2026

Anyone is allowed to enter the NFL draft, as long as they have graduated high school. If you don't play in college, continue training hard and consider becoming a walk-on.

Can a player declare for the NFL draft?

In short, yes, a college football player can declare for the NFL draft and still play in their college team's bowl game. The NFL lists player eligibility requirements on their website.

Who is eligible for the NFL draft?

So what are the requirements to be eligible for this year's NFL Draft? Basically, the only real requirement for eligibility is that a player has been out of high school for three years.

Can a player refuse the NFL draft?

If the player truly does not want to join the team that drafted him, he will have the option, in theory, of holding out and re-entering the draft the following year. This option, however, could mark him for other possible suitors as someone with an attitude problem, and also cost the NFL hopeful a year's salary.

Do you have to declare for the NFL draft to be drafted?

Underclassmen have seven days to declare for the NFL draft. Those seven days are after the completion of the NCAA national championship game. Before the underclassmen are completely eligible, NFL player personnel will work with teams, agents, and schools to make sure they are accurate.

16 related questions found

What does it mean to declare for NFL Draft?

The deadline for underclassmen, sophomores and juniors, to declare themselves eligible for the NFL draft is in January. Once a player declares for the draft, they forego their remaining eligibility to play college football, which means that once they declare for the draft they cannot return to play in college.

How do you get exempt from the draft?

Exemptions

  1. Ministers.
  2. Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office.
  3. Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft.
  4. Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.

Can you refuse being drafted?

Selective Service will probably assume you're one of them. If you get a draft notice, show up, and refuse induction, you'll probably be prosecuted. However, some people will slip through the cracks in the system, and some will win in court. If you show up and take the physical, there's a good chance that you'll flunk.

Do players have to play for the team that drafted them?

There's no guarantee that any given player will sign, because, of course, they have no obligation to do so. The exact regulation varies by sport, but generally the team that drafts a player can hold onto their rights for anywhere from a year to a few years, before they become a free agent.

Can a football player go back to college if not drafted?

Regarding the NFL and NBA drafts, once a college player declares for the draft, irrespective of whether he gets drafted or not, he cannot play college sports again.

How do you register for the NFL Draft?

For free entry to Draft Experience, fans are required to register for the NFL OnePass at Fans can download the NFL OnePass app to play games at Draft Experience, receive digital content and enter for a chance to win exclusive prizes, including a grand prize trip for two to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.

Can you tryout for an NFL team?

Anyone is allowed to enter the NFL draft, as long as they have graduated high school. If you don't play in college, continue training hard and consider becoming a walk-on.

How hard is it to get drafted into the NFL?

According to Leagueside.com, 6.5 percent of high school football players go on to play football in college. Of those players, 1.2 percent are drafted to the NFL. Compared to other professional sports, the odds of making it to the NFL are relatively low.

Can you declare for the NFL Draft as a sophomore?

This includes juniors and redshirt sophomores who completed high school at least three years prior to the draft. A player that meets these requirements can renounce his remaining NCAA eligibility and enter the draft.

When can a college player declare for the NFL Draft?

Players must be out of high school for at least three years before they can apply for early draft entry. Underclassmen and players who have graduated before using all of their college eligibility can request that the league grant them special draft eligibility.

How does the NFL Draft work salary?

The 2020 minimum salary was $610,000 and rises to $660,000 this season, goosing each rookie contract roughly $300,000 on top of the signing bonus gain.

Has anyone went straight to the NFL from high school?

And while the drafted rookies enter the NFL from a variety of different backgrounds, one thing they generally all have in common is an outstanding experience playing high school football. A total of 228 high schools contributed to the 259 players selected in the seven rounds of the April 29-May 1 Draft.

How much do NFL players make?

According to overthecap.com, a site that tracks NFL contracts, 34 NFL players currently make $20 million a season in average annual salary. To top it all, the highest paid player in the league right now makes a $45 million 'per season' in average annual salary.

Can you play in the NFL without going to college?

To be eligible for the draft, players must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season.

Who Cannot be drafted?

1. The Vice-President of the United States, the Judges of the various Courts of the Untied States, the heads of the various executive departments of the Government, and the Governors of the several States. 2. The only son liable to military duty of a widow dependent upon his labor for support.

Can I get drafted if I'm the only son?

the “only son”, “the last son to carry the family name,” and ” sole surviving son” must register with Selective Service. These sons can be drafted.

Can girls get drafted?

As of January 2016, there has been no decision to require females to register with Selective Service, or be subject to a future military draft. Selective Service continues to register only men, ages 18 through 25. Prior to this latest update, Defense Secretary Leon E.

What happens if I don't register for Selective Service?

If required to register with Selective Service, failure to register is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment. Also, a person who knowingly counsels, aids, or abets another to fail to comply with the registration requirement is subject to the same penalties.

Who is required to register for Selective Service?

Almost all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service.

Do you have to register for the draft?

Who Must Register with Selective Service. Almost all men ages 18-25 who are U.S. citizens or are immigrants living in the U.S. are required to register with Selective Service. Citizens must register within 30 days of turning 18.