The NFL Draft is an annual event where NFL teams recruit eligible football players and sports agencies for their respective teams. There are thousands of applications yearly, helping athletes showcase their talents for the best employers. Not only that, this event serves as a means of getting jobs for many people. For example, you can easily find jobs for a football scout on Jooble without paying a dime.
NFL holds a great position in the world of sports. This position is further cemented by the league being home to some of the best athletic talents in the world. Also, they always have events, with at least one event every week. Therefore, it is not surprising that they have an annual revenue of over $18 billion in 2022, with close to fifteen million people watching their events on TV.
The NFL Superbowl is the annual final play-off, and it is the most popular and biggest sporting event in the United States. With the NFL occupying a significant position in the US and the football world, it is no wonder many athletes want to have a bite of the big cake, making the NFL drafting super impressive.
In this regard, we have teamed up with experts from job aggregator Jooble to enlighten you on the requirements for qualifying for the NFL draft.
How To Qualify For The NFL Draft
There are not many things you need to get into the NFL. Preparing for the drafting can just be as easy as living one’s everyday life for some years. However, there is also work to be put in to ensure that you are in a good physical, mental, psychological, and medical state. Coaches, teams, and perspective athletes start working on getting ready for the big event, months, and sometimes years, before it comes around.
Below are some of the things to put in place to qualify for the NFL draft:
- Time is a factor
Getting drafted into the NFL cannot happen overnight for anyone. This is because the league has a standard rule: anyone applying to get drafted into the NFL must have left high school at least three years prior to that time.
The world of football is quite competitive, and NFL being as popular and prestigious as it is, really embodies the competitiveness. A rookie player may not be able to survive this, hence the league’s requirement to enable players to spend at least three years playing football after high school.
- Intention declaration
NFL doesn’t just go into colleges and pick players. Instead, one has to explicitly declare the intention to join by declaring their intention to join the league. The NFL drafting event always takes place in April, albeit on different dates each year. Underclassmen and senior players have seven days to declare their intention.
You should get all your documentation in order and ensure they are accurate and truthful. Although NFL usually gets a huge number of applications every year, the huge number does not mean they will not shine their torch to every corner they may need to. NFL has many personnel that can help check if an applicant is eligible for the draft.
- Age
There is no certain age to be drafted into the NFL. However, the youngest member that has ever been drafted is 19 years old, while the oldest drafted member was a 28-year-old when he was drafted in 2001. On average, the players that get drafted are usually between the ages of 23 to 24.25.
Other Things You Should Do To Earn A Spot In The NFL
Apart from basic requirements from the NFL, there are other works you need to put in that cuts deeper and prepare you for the day you will show your skills in front of multitudes. Some of these requirements can be as small as lifestyle and education requirements.
- Start early
While you cannot be drafted until you are out of high school for at least three years, a high school football team is always a perfect place to start. College football coaches are more likely to notice someone that plays well from high school, making it easy for them to make it into the priority draft. Hence, you must consider a school with a football team before sending your application. If your current school does not have one, you should transfer to another school, as you need to start as early as a freshman or sophomore.
- Continue With Your Pursuit
After high school, you must continue building yourself as an athlete and gunning towards playing professionally in college. For this, you need to pick a college that aligns with your goals and can help you achieve your dreams faster. Sit with your high school coach, research schools together, and also research the athletic teams in those schools. Get your facts and figures right to choose the best place to help you continue your pursuit.
- Build And Market Yourself
It is worth noting that making the jump to the NFL is not a simple step. Prospects must pass a list of criteria to be eligible, and only then are they permitted to begin the draft evaluation process. As such, people train for years to attain this milestone.
You should start building yourself as soon as you have the ambition. Train every day, and make highlight videos of your sessions. Make sure the video enumerates your strengths.
- Don’t Stop There
The fact that you are not picked does not mean the end of your NFL dream. You can attend the NFL supplementary draft in July. This draft is when teams make bids on available players. Although coaches and team leaders from professional teams rarely attend this event, you cannot be sure what can happen. That might be your chance to achieve your dream.
Conclusion
The NFL draft is no joke. It is the dream of many athletes and a way to showcase your skills and make a leap into the world of professional football. Many athletes look forward to the day they will debut and become professional rookies in the NFL. This article has detailed the steps and the things you need to put in place to become eligible for the NFL draft and how you can do well.
