Draft Picks And What Happens After The NFL Draft Is Over

When the dust has settled and the NFL draft picks are in, there is still plenty do.

New draft picks face their most grueling challenges ahead, both on the field and off. A good agent can help a player to make it through these challenges successfully.

In the days and weeks immediately afterwards draft picks will have to negotiate and sign contracts, speak to the media, attend rookie minicamps and the stress of beginning a new job – and make no mistake, playing for the NFL is a job. I’ve touched a little on each of these points so that you’ll know what to expect after the draft.

Incidentally, many very qualified players do not get drafted. Those who are still dedicated to making professional football a career may still find success as a free agent. I will be discussing this further in Part 4 of this series.

Contracts

Historically, one of the most important reasons to have a player’s agent has been the contract. A qualified agent should know what to expect from the negotiation process, where a team can offer more, what a player is worth and how to get his or her client the most lucrative contract possible.

In recent years, contracts have become more or less standardized by the rookie wage scale. Teams have an assigned cap space to spend on their incoming rookies and four-year contracts are standard. This pool of cap space can be divided among incoming players as the team wishes, but there is less wiggle room in terms of salary than in previous years. Signing bonuses and performance incentives, along with a few other details, are where agents focus their attention in negotiating with clients’ teams.

The media

In the days and weeks after the draft, draft picks inevitably have to deal with the media. Professional football is a spectator sport, and the draft picks who manage to make long careers out of the game are generally those who are able to win over the public. This means presenting yourself well. Considering that any team across the U.S. might draft you and then trade you to any other team, this may take a little research.

This is where an agent’s role as a partner comes into play. A good agent will make sure that his clients are well prepared for their first media contact. A few nice words about your new coach, a good shout out to the team’s fan base and a smile will go a long way.

Rookie minicamp

On one of the first two weekends following the draft, teams host rookie minicamps to get a feel for their new draft picks. These trials involve incoming draftees and free agents. These first few days are about meeting other players, showing your coach what you can do and demonstrating that you are ready to work hard.

Many players report feeling a little intimidated during their first minicamp. This is a normal reaction to being surrounded by world-class talent. As a draftee, you only need to do the best that you can, act friendly toward your new teammates and demonstrate professionalism.

There are a lot of elements to success in the NFL that are not present in amateur football. With the help of a good agent to guide you through the process, you’ll do just fine.