Debate reopens on NFL’s age restriction

When Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence torched No. 1 Alabama in the second-ranked Tigers’ 44-16 national championship game victory last week, more than a few on social media lamented the fact that the freshman could not enter the NFL draft until 2021 because of the league’s age restriction.

Unlike other major professional American sports leagues (see chart), the NFL and NFLPA have long agreed through their collective-bargaining agreements that a rookie must be at least three years removed from his high school graduation.

For many who watched Lawrence, a 19-year-old who is 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, repeatedly make NFL-quality throws in his first college season, that is absurd. But don’t expect the NFL, or the union, which is primarily concerned with its existing members, to bend.

Clemson true freshman QB Trevor Lawrence threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama but won’t be draft-eligible for two more years.getty images

“For somebody’s lifetime education [and] life experience, it is important they pace themselves,” said Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who forcefully stated he would not support a change to the age rule. “It is important they have an opportunity to be young, to enjoy college, to enjoy the experiences that come with that and just the personal growth that comes with that.”

Critics call that sentiment misguided.

“Ridiculously nonsensical,” said NFL player agent David Canter. “If a team wants a player and that player is deemed good enough by that team to sign or draft, what’s his age matter?

“The argument that the freshman at Clemson is only 19 and therefore would get killed in the NFL is ludicrous,” he added. “He’s bigger and heavier than 75 percent of NFL QBs now.”

Blank argued that more goes into the calculation. 

“In terms of their maturity and in terms of their life experiences, in terms of dealing with adversity and how to overcome it, you know, what they have done in middle school, high school and even early in college is not going to be indicative of necessarily what they are going to do in the pros,” he said. “You have a game that is bigger and faster, players are bigger and faster and defenses and offenses that are much more complex than they are ever going to face.”

The NFLPA could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2011 when the NFL and the union signed their most recent labor deal, the age floor was not an issue. In fact, the NFLPA consented to a sweeping decrease in rookie pay, which had long been a goal of the owners (overall compensation is well up for players during the first eight years of the decade-long contract.)

The NFL cannot unilaterally impose an age rule without violating  antitrust law. To pass legal muster, the age floor, along with other player restraints like the draft and free agency, are collectively bargained.

The CBA expires in two more seasons, ironically just when Lawrence would gain eligibility. While it is far too early to predict whether a work stoppage could occur, if one did happen, Lawrence would have to wait even longer to throw his first NFL spiral.