What happens if ..

Manchester_Redskin · Post by **Manchester_Redskin** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 3:28 pm

we draft a player and are unable to sign him to a contract ... can he subsequently sign for another team and if so do we get compensation from that team?

On another point, will we effectively know before draft day what player we are likely to draft at #5 ... is it not the case that teams have all but signed players to a contract before draft day (verbally if not in writing and i'm talking about the top picks now)

we dont get the draft day on tv over here so i'll be following it on the net ... i'm hoping we get Taylor but what happens if Gallery is still available? would we consider signing him instead?

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 4:20 pm

I don't see us signing Gallery....not when we have tackles like Jansen and Samuels... but if he drops that far there might be a big push of teams that try to trade up to get him in that spot.... Although, I'm not really interested in losing Taylor.... I'd rather just pass him by and let Detroit or Cleveland deal with him.

verm04 · Post by **verm04** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 4:20 pm

If i remember correctly, the team that drafts a player has exclusive NFL rights to said player unless they choose to relesae waive or trade those rights. So anyone we draft cant just go signing with whatever team he would like without our consent in some form.

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:59 am

The team that drafts a player basically has the rights to that player for about a year. If you haven't signed the player by a deadline, shortly before the next year's draft, that player goes back into the pool.

This was an issue with Drew Henson this year. The Texans drafted him on a flyer that he might give up his baseball career and they could then trade him to another team. Some analysts suggested that Drew should go back in the draft thinking he might be a first round draft choice and get a much better contract. Henson eventually agreed to sign with Houston so that they could trade him to the other second rate team in Texas.