Lou Pickney's Latest Insight
April 6, 2025
If you have any questions/comments, feel free to contact Lou Pickney via X, Bluesky, or email (lou@loupickney.com).
The closer we get to opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, the more likely it appears that the Tennessee Titans will select Miami QB Cam Ward at #1 overall.
After Colorado's pro day on Friday, the Titans revealed yesterday that they met with the camp of Shedeur Sanders and the decision was made to cancel a scheduled private workout.
The team with the #1 overall pick isn't allowed to reveal the planned top selection ahead of time, even if they wanted to do so. Things have changed considerably since the era of teams drafting at #1 actually negotiating with multiple prospects trying to agree to a contract before the pick happened.
But actions speak louder than words.
The 2011 NFL/NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement overhauled everything with the rookie salary slotting included within, and not all for the bad for the players involved.
In a sign of the times, former Georgia QB Carson Beck gained more agency over his destination and compensation for 2025 by opting to stay in college and transfer to the University of Miami rather than going to the NFL.
Beck's (now-former?) girlfriend plays basketball at Miami, and he will earn a reported $3 million (if not more) from NIL money for going there. Beck will gain what is essentially a year of QB finishing school before heading to the NFL.
It worked for Cam Ward, going from a projected day two prospect in 2024 to now being the likely #1 overall pick.
Some people in south Florida were ahead of the curve and had the money, connections, and vision to set up the U as a destination for high-end QBs. If it works for Beck like it worked for Ward, just imagine what will happen next.
This part deserves its own column, but suffice it to say that NIL has changed things considerably. You can go to the NFL, but you're then forced to play for far below fair market value, you have no choice on where you're going or who your coaches will be, etc.
On the flip side, I know a bunch of fans who absolutely loathe NIL. Not from an athlete compensation standpoint per se, but because of the lack of continuity for players/schools.
However, most of those same people don't blink when coaches abruptly skip town for a big payday elsewhere. Behold the power of the status quo.
This is a business for all involved. Never forget that.
AFC East: Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
New York Jets | Miami Dolphins
AFC North:
Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South:
Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Tennessee Titans
AFC West:
Denver Broncos |
Kansas City Chiefs | Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys |
New York Giants |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Washington Commanders
NFC North:
Chicago Bears |
Detroit Lions |
Green Bay Packers |
Minnesota Vikings
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons |
Carolina Panthers |
New Orleans Saints |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals |
Los Angeles Rams |
San Francisco 49ers |
Seattle Seahawks
