The NCAA's recent decision to grant eligibility to a former NBA draft pick has sent shockwaves through the sports world, and the NFL is now closely monitoring the situation as it could have major implications for the league's future.
Last month, the NCAA controversially awarded four years of college basketball eligibility to James Nnaji, a Nigerian center who was selected 31st overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft. Despite being a professional draft pick, the NCAA ruled that Nnaji could return to school and suit up for Baylor this season, reigniting the debate around amateurism in college sports.
Now, the NFL is keeping a watchful eye on a similar situation unfolding, with reports that former NBA player Jazian Gortman is exploring a return to the college game. Gortman spent two seasons on a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks before being waived in 2024.
A Slippery Slope for the NFL Draft?
What this really means is that the line between the professional and amateur ranks is becoming increasingly blurred. The NCAA's willingness to grant eligibility to drafted players like Nnaji could open the floodgates for other athletes to follow suit, potentially undermining the established pathways to the NFL.
As Sports Illustrated notes, the NCAA's decision could have "ripple effects that reshape the NFL's own draft process." The league's "draft-and-stash" strategy, where teams select international prospects and let them develop overseas, could be thrown into disarray if those players can simply return to the college game.
The bigger picture here is that the NCAA's evolving eligibility rules are creating a Wild West atmosphere in college sports, and the major professional leagues are scrambling to adapt. The NFL, in particular, will be closely monitoring any further developments that could upend its traditional talent pipeline.
For now, the league is taking a wait-and-see approach, but as NBC Sports reports, the potential for more cases like Nnaji's and Gortman's has the NFL "keeping a close eye" on the situation. The future of the draft could hang in the balance.