NFL Sets Deadline For Players To Declare For 2021 NFL Draft

While a couple of big name prospects such as Trevor Lawrence have already declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, the league has set a deadline of March 1st for players to declare if they are going to enter the annual NFL event.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that players who have completed four years of college football must notify the league by March 1st if they intend to forego the 2021 NFL Draft and return to college.

The NCAA made an interesting change this year, allowing a fifth year of eligibility to college football players.

A number of players will have to make the decision to come out or stay in for another year playing for their school.

“This clarification means that any college football player who participated or would have participated in his fourth season of full-time participation, as distinguished from a 'red-shirt' year, during the 2020 college football season will be deemed to be automatically eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft,” the league said in a statement.

“These players are typically listed as 'seniors' on their school’s official roster during the 2020 college football season. It is not necessary for such players to notify the League office to become eligible under this clarifying provision.”

Now that the college season is over, more players are expected to make draft decisions for the event, which is currently scheduled to take place in Cleveland, Ohio from April 29th till May 1st.