NFL Rules
The NFL has perhaps the strictest and narrowest eligibility rules of the four professional leagues. Only college players who have completed their eligibility or have submitted a letter to the NFL for- feiting their remaining college eligibility may be drafted. A player who graduates before his eligibility expires must submit a letter stating his intention to be graduated before the fall semester if he wants to be drafted. If the player fails to graduate, the club loses the selection and the player forfeits his college eligibility. The NFL also has a supplemental draft for players who become eligible after the draft but before the start of the NFL season. A player who plays professionally in the Canadian Football League or any other professional football league and whose rights are held by an NFL club can only negotiate with that club for two years. After that point the player may negotiate with any NFL team, but the team which held his original rights can match the offer and thereby retain the player.
Exhibit 11-1 expands on the basic eligibility rules that are enforced by the NFL.
See NFL Rules: Eligibility for the Player Draft here
