What would happen if a top QB prospect intentionally torched their value?

fryet · 2021-04-11T04:07:01-07:00

This is kind of a silly thread, but let's consider a few things. I have recently heard that only about 25% of QB drafted in the top 5 succeed in the NFL. Normally, those drafting in the top 5 are very poor teams. So, if you are coming out of college and worthy of a top 5 pick as a QB, you are looking at a future job situation that will probably result in you being out of the league in about 4 years. So, why not set yourself up for success? Intentionally, make yourself unpalatable to be a top draft pick. Do the bare minimum to be eligible to be drafted. Decline the Scouting Combine invitation. Don't hold a Pro Day. Talk to the media and say some things that will make you undesirable (got to be careful here or no team will touch you). Maybe something like, "My dream scenario is getting drafted as a backup QB where I don't have to do any work, which will give me more time to play Madden." On the other hand, you are leaking to select teams that you want to be on what your strategy is, and that you would love to be drafted by them. The drawback of this is that if you are too much of a pariah, you may be bypassed in the draft, and become an undrafted free agent. Even if that happened, it would give you total control of where you signed. You wouldn't have to worry about your 5th year value being locked by the league. While you would earn less in the first 4 years, those years you are being underpaid anyway. The goal of this strategy is to become a success in the league and making a lot of money in your second contract. The league wouldn't like this, but I am not sure there is anything they could do to prevent it. While writing this, I was also thinking what the current crop of top QB must be thinking about SF drafting at #3. SF does not fit the profile of a bad team, and anyone they draft has a much better chance of success compared to Jacksonville/Jets. I am sure the top 5 QB are all hoping that it is the 49ers that draft them.

Apr 11, 2021 at 7:09 AM

AlmighT49er
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burrows earned a whopping 36mio dollar as no1 overall with 23mio or something as signing bonus. nobody is gonna risk that, or?

Apr 11, 2021 at 7:13 AM

kansasninerfan
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it is not possible you are THIS bored.

Apr 11, 2021 at 9:39 AM

exile
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Anyone who does that deserves to fall because they have the judgment of dog droppings.

Apr 11, 2021 at 10:00 AM

91til
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Originally posted by kansasninerfan:
it is not possible you are THIS bored.

Yet here we are

Apr 11, 2021 at 10:01 AM

91til
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I mean. How far did Tunsil fall with the bong mask thing? Seems a lot easier (one picture) than having to do all that (OP). And I think he still went late first round 😂

Apr 11, 2021 at 10:52 AM

fryet
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Originally posted by AlmighT49er:
burrows earned a whopping 36mio dollar as no1 overall with 23mio or something as signing bonus. nobody is gonna risk that, or?

Aaron Rodgers earns about that in 1 year. If a player took this route, their focus would not be on how great their first contract will be, but how much money they can make in their second contract. If you believe, that the biggest key to a QB's success in the NFL is the team that picks them, then it makes sense for a player to try and stack the deck that the right team picks them.

Apr 11, 2021 at 10:53 AM

Phoenix49ers
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Originally posted by fryet:
Aaron Rodgers earns about that in 1 year. If a player took this route, their focus would not be on how great their first contract will be, but how much money they can make in their second contract. If you believe, that the biggest key to a QB's success in the NFL is the team that picks them, then it makes sense for a player to try and stack the deck that the right team picks them.

And what if they suffer a career ending injury in their third season?

None of these guys will do anything to tank their value and potentially miss out on millions of dollars.

Apr 11, 2021 at 11:41 AM

Sourball
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They could always do like Elway and Eli Manning and refuse to play for the team drafting them and get traded while still making big $$$.
Seems kind of unsportsman like to me, but whatever.

Apr 11, 2021 at 11:55 AM

English
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Originally posted by Sourball:
They could always do like Elway and Eli Manning and refuse to play for the team drafting them and get traded while still making big $$$.
Seems kind of unsportsman like to me, but whatever.

Not many other players have tried this. Wonder why.

Apr 11, 2021 at 12:53 PM

#10

Dshearn
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Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by Sourball:
They could always do like Elway and Eli Manning and refuse to play for the team drafting them and get traded while still making big $$$.
Seems kind of unsportsman like to me, but whatever.

Not many other players have tried this. Wonder why.

This has happened before. Many Players were drafted and went to the USFL versus the NFL. Guys like Desmond Howard(??? maybe it was Rocket Ishmel ...one of those fast wr), Bo Jackson, Steve Young, Jim Kelly, maybe Warren Moon too decided to go with another option versus the NFL that drafted them.

It would not shock me if that currently happens on a minor scale in private interviews.Players can subtly explain why they don't think they fit in with a team. No team wants to go all in on someone that feels they don't fit on your team, it could even be daming to the brand or coaching staff if it was outed players DONT want to play for you.

Very few coaching staffs have enough reputation to start a pissing contest with a draft prospect, and in most cases not a ton to gain by publicly outing a prospect.

The rules might have changed, but in the case of Elway and Manning, back then if you refused to sign your contract, you became eligible to be drafted the next season. Elway had a multi-million dollar offer by i think the New York Yankees and the Mannings are rich as hell either way. Both of them had major money regardless of the NFL offer.

I don't think the vast majority of college prospects can screw around with their First NFL contract.

Apr 11, 2021 at 3:48 PM

#11

krizay
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Trevor Lawrence is a guy who could possibly do this. But then he could be stuck with the Jets so.....

[ Edited by krizay on Apr 11, 2021 at 3:50 PM ]