Must a player sign through the draft

[AZfan]

Can a college player, who appears to be an elite player capable of playing in the NFL, drop out of school early and sign for an NFL team without going through the NFL draft? Wouldn’t that enable the player to try and pick & choose which team he plays for? I am guessing that the player potentially may not get quite as much money, but if it were an elite player like Reggie Bush, couldn’t he choose the team he wanted and use some leverage on the amount he is paid based on the fact that they know he would be a top 3 pick if or when he did declare for the draft?

 

[Mindwarp]

no I belive he needs to go through the draft.

 

[Mindwarp]

also think if the person does not sign with a team, he would have to RE-Enter the draft to be able to go to another team, and until them the team that drafted him holds his rights, unless cut or traded. (see Drew Henson)

 

[playmaker1]

I think he would have to enter the draft. Its kinda like declairing for the NFL. I do know that some people have gone into the draft, and when teams call them asking them if they want to play with them, they can say no. Thats what Priest Holmes did. He got a few calls late on day two of the draft, they asked if he wanted to play for them, and that they were thinking of picking him, and he said no. And then he was able to basically walk on to the team hhe wanted to go to in baltimore.