The 2012 NFL Rookies: Inside the Numbers
If you are one of the nearly 800 players who plan on signing a Standard Representation Agreement (SRA) with an agent for the 2012 NFL Draft, here is a look at what you are facing:
In 2011, over 600 players signed contracts with NFL teams. There were 254 players drafted in April and over 350 who signed undrafted free agent contracts at some point in the year. Remember, 2011 was slightly different because of the lockout in that undrafted players could not sign until after July.
Of the 254 players drafted, the vast majority made the active roster, were signed to the practice squad or were placed on injured reserve for the season. Of the 350 undrafted free agents, over 70 received some form of compensation from a club during the NFL season either via the active roster, practice squad, injured reserve or through an injury settlement.
Translation: over 325 rookies in 2011 received some form of compensation from the NFL. That means that over half of the rookies who sign an SRA in 2012 will never see a pay check from an NFL team. However, based on last year’s numbers, 3/4’s of the rookies should at least sign an NFL contract that will give each a chance. Then it’s up to the player to make it.
Josh Portis, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks was one of those undrafted free agents who made the opening day roster and stayed on the 53 man roster for the entire season. David Mims, an offensive lineman from Virginia Union, was also undrafted and made the Kansas City Chiefs active roster for the entire season.
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