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This year, there's a record-setting 107 underclassmen entering the NFL Draft in 2016.
General manager Scot McCloughan doesn't believe that's necessarily a bad thing, but it requires a lot more diligence from him and his staff. The Redskins have been linked to cornerback Mackensie Alexander (photo above) as well as Eli Apple, both of whom are third-year sophomores, that could be taken in later rounds.
"That's scary," McCloughan said of the amount of underclassmen. "That's why it's so important to be here and get measurables, get the medical, get the interview stuff with the juniors, the underclassmen. But it's a strong draft, very strong.
"From my standpoint, we're going to scout them this year, we're going to scout them next year," he added. "Either way it's the same. But if a guy's an even junior or redshirt sophomore and a senior, I'd take the senior, a guy that fulfilled his commitment. But still, it's understandable -- these underclassmen are really talented guys."
ESPN Draft analyst Todd McShay weighed the pros and cons of the massive influx this year with Redskins.com. He said last year, the NFL tried to persuade players that didn't belong in the draft to go back to school.
"By belong, you really mean first and second round," McShay clarified. "When you put in your paperwork as an underclassmen, you send it in to this committee and they have a bunch of scouts and guys that know what they're doing and they're very good at what they do. And then they'll send back the paperwork and say 'first rounder', 'second rounder' or 'go back to school.' So it worked last year, but the agents have now had a year to kind of talk more about, if you get to the second contract, then you'll be making more money and since the collective bargaining agreement went from $50 million to $25 million for guaranteed money for that first pick and slotted all the way down."
McShay worries that too many underclassmen won't pursue ending their college career to chase paychecks that may not even be there for them.
"Ultimately, they're selling something that technically is true, but there's over 30 percent of the guys that came out last year that didn't get drafted," he said. "So for all these other guys that are coming out, it's a shame that they're listening to bad advice. So the league's trying to do what they can do, but ultimately these men have to make a grown man decision whether to stay in school or go out. Honestly, especially with the quarterback position, but all positions outside of running back, if you're not a first or second rounder, don't bother."
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