When you're drafted or when you're signed?

[Oszuscik]

Maybe you guys can help me with something I've been wrestling with... When players are drafted in today's NFL, it's immediately "Travis Hunter is a Jaguar!" or "Abdul Carter is a Giant!" But, historically, it wasn't always a forgone conclusion that a draft pick would sign with a team. You had the AFL and the USFL poaching players, and then of course there's always examples of players who just didn't want to go to a team. Was Bruce Clark ever a Packer? Was Bo Jackson ever a Buccaneer?

So, historically, when determining the date that a team acquired a player, do you think it's more accurate to consider the date the player was DRAFTED as when he joined the team, or the date he officially SIGNED with the team? Take Peyton Manning. Did he become a Colt on 4/18/1998 when he was drafted, or when it was made official by signing his contract on 7/28/1998?

Maybe a matter of symantics but something I haven't been able to settle on.

[TodMaher]

Maybe you guys can help me with something I've been wrestling with... When players are drafted in today's NFL, it's immediately "Travis Hunter is a Jaguar!" or "Abdul Carter is a Giant!" But, historically, it wasn't always a forgone conclusion that a draft pick would sign with a team. You had the AFL and the USFL poaching players, and then of course there's always examples of players who just didn't want to go to a team. Was Bruce Clark ever a Packer? Was Bo Jackson ever a Buccaneer?

So, historically, when determining the date that a team acquired a player, do you think it's more accurate to consider the date the player was DRAFTED as when he joined the team, or the date he officially SIGNED with the team? Take Peyton Manning. Did he become a Colt on 4/18/1998 when he was drafted, or when it was made official by signing his contract on 7/28/1998?

Maybe a matter of symantics but something I haven't been able to settle on.

That's something you see on Wikipedia posted by people who's knowledge of professional sports only goes back to beginning of the internet - which was when that last person was drafted by an NFL team did not sign. He was Eli Herring by the Raiders in 1995. He declined play on Sundays for religious reasons.
In my book, you're not on a team until you've signed a contract.

[JohnTurney]

That's something you see on Wikipedia posted by people who's knowledge of professional sports only goes back to beginning of the internet - which was when that last person was drafted by an NFL team did not sign. He was Eli Herring by the Raiders in 1995. He declined play on Sundays for religious reasons.
In my book, you're not on a team until you've signed a contract.

Herring wrote teams to say he was not going to play pro ball. Raiders thought they could change his mind.

Also, agree, seems like contract is the way to be on a team ... drafted and not player, does not seem to make it.

[Throwin_Samoan]

Your rights go to that team immediately until and unless you are released, so that's another way to look at it.

You're not anything else once you're drafted. You're that team's property - from an NFL personnel/rights perspective - whether you sign or not.

[Oszuscik]

Your rights go to that team immediately until and unless you are released, so that's another way to look at it.

You're not anything else once you're drafted. You're that team's property - from an NFL personnel/rights perspective - whether you sign or not.

Tod and John's replies had me sold, but this is a great counterpoint.

[JohnTurney]

Your rights go to that team immediately until and unless you are released, so that's another way to look at it.

You're not anything else once you're drafted. You're that team's property - from an NFL personnel/rights perspective - whether you sign or not.

Well, you are right, nio question, but I think the original points is does it take more tobe on an NFL roster.If you signed andfget cut in camp, you get no credit for the season but it ould be said you were on a (for example) 90-man roster.

I think there could be an "unsigned draftpick" notation, so people can know what happened, but my thoughts were what it takes to be on a roster. Icould be misreading the original intent.

[JuggernautJ]

I think the answer to this question depends on the time and context of the individual being discussed.

This probably is currently the case:

Your rights go to that team immediately until and unless you are released, so that's another way to look at it.
You're not anything else once you're drafted. You're that team's property - from an NFL personnel/rights perspective - whether you sign or not.

However, there are times during which the above statement wouldn't apply.
For instance, during the existence of an alternate league (AFL, AAFC, etc.) it frequently happened that a player was drafted by more than one team.
The Saint Louis Cardinals drafted Joe Namath 12th overall in the 1965 NFL Draft. However, that draft wound up being not sufficient to "own" him as he signed with the AFL's Jets who also drafted Namath that year. When he did he became a member if that franchise.

Mac Speedie "belonged" to the Cleveland Browns but, much to Paul Brown's consternation, decided to play in Canada for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders after the 1952 season.

There are many, many examples one might sight but the point is that one's status vis a vie the draft is a fluid situation that changes with the time and conditions under which they were drafted.

[TodMaher]

I think the answer to this question depends on the time and context of the individual being discussed.

This probably is currently the case:

Your rights go to that team immediately until and unless you are released, so that's another way to look at it.
You're not anything else once you're drafted. You're that team's property - from an NFL personnel/rights perspective - whether you sign or not.

However, there are times during which the above statement wouldn't apply.
For instance, during the existence of an alternate league (AFL, AAFC, etc.) it frequently happened that a player was drafted by more than one team.
The Saint Louis Cardinals drafted Joe Namath 12th overall in the 1965 NFL Draft. However, that draft wound up being not sufficient to "own" him as he signed with the AFL's Jets who also drafted Namath that year. When he did he became a member if that franchise.

Mac Speedie "belonged" to the Cleveland Browns but, much to Paul Brown's consternation, decided to play in Canada for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders after the 1952 season.

There are many, many examples one might sight but the point is that one's status vis a vie the draft is a fluid situation that changes with the time and conditions under which they were drafted.

Yeah, was John Elway ever a Colt?

[JuggernautJ]

Yeah, was John Elway ever a Colt?

Was Eli ever a Charger?

[JohnTurney]

Yeah, was John Elway ever a Colt?

Was Eli ever a Charger?

It's "no" to both IMO. Drafted by .... signed by ... and I think signing someone puts them on a roster.