Window closing on underclassmen looking to back out of draft … The deadline for underclassmen who filed paperwork with the NFL in order to be eligible to enter the 2021 draft, but wish to withdraw their applications have until the end of business on Thursday to do so as as long as they haven’t signed with an agent or received any improper benefits. However, so far it does not appear that any have done so to date. Once tomorrow’s deadline has passed the NFL will release an official list of underclassmen eligible for this year’s draft on Friday. And there are always a few players on the list not previously known as there is no requirement that players applying for early admission actually make an announcement, although most of those new names tend to be very much fringe prospects without much hope of actually being drafted. Also note that the NFL has a special policy this year as it relates to college seniors planning to take advantage of the NCAA’s special one-year waiver giving players an extra year of eligibility should they want it. Seniors who in fact plan to return to school next fall have until March 1st to inform the NFL.
