College football underclassmen have until Saturday to declare whether they want to be eligible for April’s NFL draft. While most say they’re aware of the league’s looming labor unrest, that does not appear to be influencing many decisions.
Indeed, the NFL expects the number of players leaving school early to fall within the range established over the past decade.
An average of 46 players was granted what the NFL calls “special eligibility” each draft since 2001, with a low of 35 that year and a high of 53 in both 2008 and 2010.
The current NFL labor deal expires in early March, and the players expect owners to lock them out. Even if that happens, the draft will go on as scheduled. But rookies couldn’t sign contracts until a new collective bargaining agreement is in place.
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