Chiefs exec says NIL deals are changing the NFL Draft talent evaluation

With the 2026 NFL Draft over, teams are eagerly awaiting rookie minicamp to gauge where their draft class stands, while also scouting some of the invitees to see if they can crack the training camp roster.

But one NFL executive has shed light on how the current landscape of college football is affecting the draft, considering that name, image and likeness (NIL) deals represent an important business decision for prospects.

In the NIL world, college athletes can enter into brand deals for financial gain while pursuing their dreams of going pro. As a result, some players who are on the fringe of prospects or simply want to increase their draft stock and spend more years in college are opting to stay in school without missing out on the payday the NFL can provide.

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Kansas City Chiefs vice president of player personnel Ryne Nutt was asked a question by a reporter during his availability on the Monday after the draft about how that has changed at the college level because of the NIL.

“It’s not a bad thing if they stay in college, right?” Nutt began his answer. “That gives them more time to develop (and) mature. But what we’re seeing is maybe they’re coming out of college with more injuries, more wear and tear, more baggage.”

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Nutt recognizes that these athletes are “making business decisions” as they try to increase their draft stock.

“They’re doing all their homework now, and the schools are doing a really good job of reaching out to these kids and giving them ideas of where to go,” he added.

A general view of the draft tent is seen before Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

But Nutt’s answer shows how NFL teams think, because it’s an obvious facet of the situation: players putting their bodies into football for another year in college rather than in the pros. In turn, NFL teams need to include this in their prospect analysis across all rounds.

“They take all that information into consideration, and other than that, we don’t care what they do,” Nutt said of the possibilities. “None of us are pressuring any of these players to leave or stay. It’s in their best interest and it’s in their interest for some of these guys to stay and some of them maybe should have left. But either way, when they’re paid that much money, I can see how hard it is for these kids to make those decisions.”

To give some perspective on the type of money prospects will make if they are selected on Day 3 or in the fourth through seventh rounds, Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jermod McCoy, the 101st overall pick in this year’s draft, is scheduled to make $5.549 million over four years from the draft. That increases to $1.388 million per year before a potential second contract.

LSU’s Mansoor Delane poses for a photo after being selected sixth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on April 23, 2026 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

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But if a player believes he could be a Day 2 pick, let alone a first-round pick, his rookie contract could reach more than double that $5.549 million; so this is a clear business decision for every player.

Of course, there is no guarantee of anything. Regardless of the professional or collegiate level, there is always risk in playing football. But the talent pool has diminished with each draft as prospects choose to stay in school and raise money from NIL deals.

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