When Can You Enter the NFL Draft?

If you’re wondering when you can enter the NFL Draft, the answer is that it depends on a few different factors. Here’s a look at the eligibility requirements and how to declare for the draft.

Introduction

You hear a lot about the NFL Draft and when it happens every year, but what you might not realize is that there are different rules for when you can enter the NFL Draft depending on your status as a player. If you’re in college, you have to wait until you’ve been out of high school for three years. If you’re not in college, there are two different options. You can either enter the NFL Draft immediately after your high school graduation, or you can wait until you turn 21 years old.

The reason for the difference is because the NFL has what’s called the “three-year rule” which states that players must be out of high school for at least three years before they’re eligible to be drafted. This rule is in place because the NFL wants to make sure that players are physically and mentally ready for the rigors of professional football before they’re allowed to compete at that level.

There are exceptions to this rule, however. If a player goes to a junior college (or any college, for that matter) and then transfers to an NCAA Division I school, they may be eligible for the NFL Draft after just two years of being out of high school. Additionally, if a player turns 21 during their junior year of college (typically known as a “redshirt junior”), they may also declare early for the NFL Draft.

Players who choose to forego their remaining NCAA eligibility and enter the NFL Draft early typically do so because they believe they’re ready to compete at the professional level and they want to start their NFL careers as soon as possible. It’s important to note that not all players who declare early for the draft are selected, however. In fact, many players who declare early go undrafted entirely.

Of course, if you’re not in college, you don’t have to wait three years after high school graduation to enter the NFL Draft – you can declare immediately upon graduating from high school. Players who choose this route typically do so because they believe they have what it takes to compete professionally and they don’t want or need any more time developing their skills in college football.

As with players who declare early from college, not all players who declare directly from high school end up getting drafted into the NFL. In fact, very few players take this route every year and even fewer are ever selected in the draft.

The bottom line is that there are different rules governing when you can enter the NFL Draft depending on your status as a player. College players must wait three years after high school graduation before declaring (unless they meet certain exceptions), while non-college players can either enter immediately upon graduating from high school or wait until they turn 21 years old.”

The Eligibility Rule

The “three-year rule”

In order to be eligible for the NFL draft, a player must have been out of high school for at least three years. This means that a player must have completed at least one year of college football before he can be drafted. There is no rule that a player must stay in college for three years, however. If a player declares himself eligible for the draft after his junior year, or even after his sophomore year, he can be drafted.

The “four-year rule”

In order to be eligible for the NFL draft, a player must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up his eligibility at his college. (This is commonly referred to as the “four-year rule”.) For example, a player who enrolls in college in 2016 would be eligible for the 2019 NFL draft.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. One is for players who were “hardship” cases, which means they had financial difficulties that prevented them from finishing their college careers. Another exception is for players who were attending college on a military scholarship. These players can apply for special dispensation from the NFL, which will allow them to enter the draft early.

Applying for early entry into the NFL draft is a risky proposition, and it’s one that should not be taken lightly. Players who declare early for the draft are essentially giving up their final year of college eligibility, which means they could end up going undrafted and ending their football careers before they even really get started.

The Exception to the Rule

Under the current NFL rules, players are not eligible for the draft until they have been out of high school for three years. This rule was put in place in order to give players time to develop their skills and to allow them to play against competition that is more similar to what they will see in the NFL. However, there is an exception to this rule.

The “hardship exception”

The NFL has a rule that states players must be out of high school for at least three years before they are eligible for the draft. However, there is an exception to this rule, known as the “hardship exception.” If a player can prove that he has faced “hardship,” he may be eligible to enter the draft early.

To be eligible for the hardship exception, a player must submit an application to the NFL’s College Advisory Committee. This committee will then review the player’s case and make a determination on his eligibility. If the player is deemed eligible, he will be allowed to enter the draft early.

There are a number of factors that the committee will consider when making its determination, including but not limited to:
-Whether the player is married
-Whether the player has any children
-The player’s financial situation
-The death of a close family member
-Any other extenuating circumstances that may have contributed to the player’s hardship

Conclusion

In order to be eligible for the NFL draft, a player must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up his eligibility in college. A player is also eligible if he was enrolled in college but did not play football for two or more years, as long as he has not used up his eligibility.