The NFL Draft is an event that garners national attention and anticipation every year, as hundreds of hopeful athletes take the plunge into professional football. But what if you don’t get drafted? What happens next? While the NFL may be the ultimate goal for football players, not everyone will be cut. Fortunately, other opportunities can be explored to continue a career in the sport. Whether it’s through the CFL, XFL, or even NFL Europe, there are several alternatives and opportunities to pursue to continue a career in football. This article will take a look at what happens if you don’t get drafted in the NFL and the other options available for those looking to pursue a career in the sport.
What Happens If You Don’t Get Drafted In Nfl?
If you don’t get drafted into the NFL, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a tough league to crack, and the competition for spots is fierce. That being said, there are still plenty of options for players who don’t get drafted. The first option is to try out for an NFL team as an undrafted free agent. This means that you’ll be able to participate in training camp and potentially even make the team. If you don’t make it, you’ll still have the experience of competing with other hopefuls and maybe even making a few contacts that could be helpful down the road.
Overview Of The Nfl Draft
- The NFL Draft is an event that happens every year where hundreds of hopeful athletes take the plunge into professional football. Unlike other professional sports leagues, the NFL does not have a feeder system for drafting prospects.
- Instead, it is an actual draft where teams are allowed to select players in a specific order. Prospects enter the draft as early- to mid-round picks. The draft order is determined via a series of combinations of trades made between each of the teams. There are a variety of media platforms that cover the draft.
- The NFL Network, ESPN, and NFL Sunday Ticket generally air the draft in its entirety. These broadcasts usually begin in the early hours of the morning, and many fans prefer to watch the draft on video services like YouTube, Twitter, or their local sports network.
Alternatives and Opportunities for Football Players
1. Opportunities in the CFL
The Canadian Football League Draft is another avenue to professional football. The draft takes place in late May and is followed by training camps and preseason games. Similar to the NFL Draft, the order of each team’s picks is determined by trades made by other teams. However, the draft itself is completely separate from the NFL. Each team is allowed to sign up to two American players per season and one Canadian player. The remaining players can be signed by other CFL teams. The CFL season runs from late April to late November.
2. Opportunities in the XFL
The next NFL alternative is the XFL draft. The XFL is an American football league that is set to begin play in 2020. The league will hold an actual draft for players, much like the NFL, but the draft order is different. The draft order is determined by a combination of team performances, fan interest, and predraft trades. The league is currently scouting players who have participated in other professional leagues, collegiate football, and high school football. The draft order is determined by a combination of team performances, fan interest, and predraft trades.
3. Opportunities in NFL Europe
The final NFL alternative is NFL Europe. The league operated as the NFL’s feeder system in the early 2000s before the NFL cut ties with the International League. Now, European NFL players have the opportunity to continue their careers by signing contracts with NFL teams. There are several NFL-Europe draft classes held over the year. NFL Europe is another alternative for those who don’t get drafted in the NFL. Players can sign contracts with NFL teams after completing three years of play in the NFL Europe League.
4. Other alternatives to the NFL Draft
Finally, if you don’t get drafted into the NFL, you can always pursue a career in football at the high school or collegiate level. High school football is a popular option for those who want to continue their NFL careers before they’re drafted. College football is another option, especially if you have the grades to get accepted into a school that offers a football program.
How To Maximize Your Chances Of Getting Drafted
- If you’re trying to make it to the NFL, it’s important to maximize your chances of getting drafted. You can do this by participating in as many scouting combines as possible and putting in the necessary work to improve your skills.
- You should also make sure you’re in the best physical shape possible and make sure you have a solid understanding of the game of football. Finally, it’s important to be able to market yourself and build relationships with NFL scouts and coaches.
- Before you even consider pursuing another career path, it’s important to reflect on your performance while playing football. Take a step back, re-watch your games, and analyze what you did well.
- You can also take advantage of the Combine and Pro Days. At these events, college and NFL prospects can compete against other players, showcase their talents, and hopefully get noticed by scouts.
Tips For Pursuing Other Opportunities
- Research Your Options: Do your research and find out what kind of opportunities are available to you. You may find that some other leagues or teams may be interested in signing you.
- Get Noticed: Make sure that you make yourself as visible as possible so that scouts and coaches can see your talents. Try attending college football camps, participating in pro-day workouts, or attending NFL open tryouts.
- Network: Reach out to coaches and scouts from various teams and leagues to let them know about your skills and interest in playing football professionally.
- Train Hard: You need to be at the top of your game if you want to play professionally, so make sure you’re training hard and staying in shape so that you’re ready for any opportunity that comes your way.
- Be Patient: It can take time to get noticed and to land a contract, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away.
- Stay Positive: Believe in yourself and stay positive throughout the process. You can do this by keeping a healthy mindset and surrounding yourself with positive people who will support you.
- Be Prepared: Make sure that you’re prepared for any opportunity that comes your way by staying on top of the latest news and trends in the sport, and studying up on the teams that may be interested in signing you.
Conclusion
The NFL Draft is an exciting event that brings together all 32 teams in the league to select new players. However, not everyone will get drafted, and there are other options available for those who don’t get picked. These alternatives can be pursued to pursue a career in football.
FAQs.
1. What Is The XFL?
The XFL is an American football league that is set to begin play in 2020. The league will hold an actual draft for players, much like the NFL, but the draft order is determined by a combination of team performances, fan interest, and predraft trades.
2. What Other Alternatives Are There To The Nfl Draft?
Other alternatives to the NFL Draft include playing football at the high school or collegiate level or pursuing a career in NFL Europe. Players can sign contracts with NFL teams after completing three years of play in the NFL Europe League.
3. How Do I Get Drafted Into The Nfl?
The best way to get drafted into the NFL is to perform well in college and participate in the NFL Combine and Pro Days. This will give scouts a chance to evaluate your skills and determine if you have what it takes to make it at the professional level. Additionally, attending a showcase or two can also help you gain exposure.
