The NFL has implemented new procedures for prospects to declare special eligibility for the 2025 NFL Draft, including a championship deadline for players who participate in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The alterations were noted in a league memo sent to agents Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.
A Jan. 24, 2025, deadline to petition for special eligibility for championship game participants was established. NFL teams will receive a list of names on Jan. 25 with players having 72 hours (until Jan. 27) to revoke their submissions.
On the opposite end, an early soft deadline of Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, will be put into place for players whose seasons have been completed at an earlier date. The traditional hard deadline for special eligibility will be Jan. 15.
Also of note, the deadline to opt out of the 2025 draft is Feb. 7, 2025, and the NFL is retaining its revised policy from last year in which each of the three college all-star games -- the East-West Shrine Bowl, HBCU Legacy Bowl and Senior Bowl -- may invite underclassmen to take part.
The full memo, obtained by Pelissero, can be viewed here.
The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine will take place Feb. 24-March 3 in Indianapolis. The '25 draft will run from April 24-26, emanating from Green Bay, Wisconsin.
