Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney call for changes to NFL draft process
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney joined Alabama’s Nick Saban in calling for the NFL to delay delivering draft feedback to underclassmen until after the college football season is complete.
In the final news conference before Monday night’s College Football Playoff championship game, Swinney said it’s a “distraction that all of us have to deal with,” echoing a point Saban made at SEC media days last July.
Several underclassmen for both Alabama and Clemson, including Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry, are likely going to enter the NFL Draft shortly after the championship game. Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson has already said he is turning pro.
“Obviously it's just two of us left at this point,” Swinney said of he and Saban. “You get the grades, and some guys, they didn't get the grade that they want, so they're pouting a little bit, and got to pick themselves up. Then you get the guy that gets the grade he wants, so it's just … It really should be when the season is over, whenever that is, and they should hold those things.”
The man behind Nick Saban and now Dabo Swinney
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Saban brought up the issue in discussing Alabama’s 42-35 loss to Ohio State in the Playoff semifinals last year, intimating that some players who received draft grades in December might have lost focus on the game.
He said he first tried to raise the issue privately among coaches before going public but didn’t get much momentum behind it, largely because it doesn’t impact coaches who don’t have teams in the Playoff. In fact, some prefer the current system because they know early on who’s leaving, allowing them time to recruit a replacement.
The deadline to declare for the NFL Draft is Jan. 18.
College football underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft
“The NFL moved the draft back. I wish they'd move the declare date back,” Saban said. “I wish they'd make a rule that says you can't even give a player what his draft status is until they've finished their competition as a college player, so that you don't put them and their family in this situation where there's a big timing issue relative to competition.
“Now, if you finished your season on December 6th, you can make a decision. If you're finishing it on January 11th, then you get the information after that, but you have a significant amount of time to make that decision when you finish playing so you can stay focused on what you need to do to play well, because it benefits all these players to play well in the game.”
In 2014, the NFL consulted with college sports leaders in implementing some changes in the draft feedback system in an attempt to curb the number of underclassmen declaring and then going undrafted.
Schools are now limited to five players requesting an evaluation (previously there was no limit), and feedback is only offered in three categories (as opposed to five): First round, second round and neither.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he hopes the same process will take place now that this issue has been brought front and center.
“Nick has been effective in trying to inform and educate,” Sankey said. “We’re really motivated to try to provide the best information available to help young people make decisions. That’s really what he's talking about as opposed to, let’s play a game and have to make a decision within a week that really determines the course of their life.”
UNDERCLASSMEN ENTERING THE NFL DRAFT
