Below you will find information on the 2025 NFL Draft and the rules pertaining to prospects' eligibility for it. The list of college players that follows the Q&A includes underclassmen who have stated their intent to enter the 2025 draft, sorted by school.
Draft eligibility Q&A
When is the 2025 NFL Draft?
The 90th NFL draft is scheduled to be held April 24-26, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which will host the event for the first time.
Who can enter the 2025 NFL Draft?
Prospects who have exhausted their collegiate eligibility are eligible for selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some prospects may be eligible for an extra year of eligibility due to the NCAA granting college football players a COVID year. If those prospects wish to return to school for their extra year, they must opt-out of the 2025 draft.
Certain prospects who are underclassmen may decide to forfeit their remaining college eligibility and apply for special eligibility.
When do underclassmen have to submit for special eligibility by?
- With the NFL allowing draft-eligible underclassmen to participate in college all-star games, a “soft” deadline of Jan. 6 has been added to give players an opportunity to submit their petitions for special eligibility to the league sooner. An initial list of names will be released to NFL teams and the public on Jan. 7. Players will have until Jan. 9 to revoke their submission.
- The traditional “hard” deadline for underclassmen to submit a petition to the league is Jan. 15. A list of names will be released to NFL teams and the public on Jan. 16. Players will have until Jan. 18 to revoke their submission.
- A special “championship” deadline of Jan. 24 has been established exclusively for players on teams participating in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Players will have until Jan. 27 to revoke their submission.
When will the NFL announce who has been granted special eligibility?
The final list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry by the NFL will be released to the 32 teams and the public on Jan. 25. An underclassman is not eligible for the draft until his petition has been approved and his name has been released by the league.