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As the NFL draft is a little less than a month away, much thought is given to each player who could fit on a team. When it comes to your team's turn to go on the clock, the homework has already been done, the film pored over and a role for that player to fill has already been examined.
One of the hardest parts of evaluation in today's college football landscape has been the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contracts players can sign with college teams (as of July 2021), allowing players to essentially go to the highest bidder.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked at the 2026 NFL combine in February what the evaluation process looks like for a player who has transferred from one school to another.
"I think it helps, for us, it helps us reveal maybe make up, character, behavior," Payton said. "To some degree, you can see the journey that some players take. And look, in a lot of ways, [it has been] a very positive change… With one school. Then there are always these players that refuse to leave and stay at their (school)… There are less small-school players, though, getting drafted. It’s not a crisis, it’s just that they’re getting moved to 1A schools. I don’t think it’s hindered us in the draft. Very commonly, you’ll list the schools: first school, second school. Maybe junior college, first school, second school. So that notes section on a player’s profile has gotten longer with most of these guys. But it hasn’t, I don’t think, hindered us or hurt us in any way. It’s actually kind of helped us.”
Since Payton arrived as the head coach of the Broncos in 2023, of the 19 draft picks Denver has made, a staggering 16 have stayed at one school. Even more interestingly, the Denver war room has looked for leaders. Over half of the Broncos' 2025 draft class were named captains for their respective teams — perhaps a sign of longevity, and more importantly, earned respect. All of those captains (Jahdae Barron, RJ Harvey, Pat Bryant, Jeremy Crawshaw) remained at one school for their entire college career, despite the nature of the transfer portal.
What will the Broncos look for in this draft? They certainly have a lot of time to think about it. As of publication, after the blockbuster trade for Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos will have to wait 61 picks before they go on the clock in the second round. Plenty of time to think of the player who will fit the best.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: Sean Payton gives take on evaluating players in the NIL era
Continue reading...
One of the hardest parts of evaluation in today's college football landscape has been the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contracts players can sign with college teams (as of July 2021), allowing players to essentially go to the highest bidder.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked at the 2026 NFL combine in February what the evaluation process looks like for a player who has transferred from one school to another.
"I think it helps, for us, it helps us reveal maybe make up, character, behavior," Payton said. "To some degree, you can see the journey that some players take. And look, in a lot of ways, [it has been] a very positive change… With one school. Then there are always these players that refuse to leave and stay at their (school)… There are less small-school players, though, getting drafted. It’s not a crisis, it’s just that they’re getting moved to 1A schools. I don’t think it’s hindered us in the draft. Very commonly, you’ll list the schools: first school, second school. Maybe junior college, first school, second school. So that notes section on a player’s profile has gotten longer with most of these guys. But it hasn’t, I don’t think, hindered us or hurt us in any way. It’s actually kind of helped us.”
Since Payton arrived as the head coach of the Broncos in 2023, of the 19 draft picks Denver has made, a staggering 16 have stayed at one school. Even more interestingly, the Denver war room has looked for leaders. Over half of the Broncos' 2025 draft class were named captains for their respective teams — perhaps a sign of longevity, and more importantly, earned respect. All of those captains (Jahdae Barron, RJ Harvey, Pat Bryant, Jeremy Crawshaw) remained at one school for their entire college career, despite the nature of the transfer portal.
What will the Broncos look for in this draft? They certainly have a lot of time to think about it. As of publication, after the blockbuster trade for Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos will have to wait 61 picks before they go on the clock in the second round. Plenty of time to think of the player who will fit the best.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: Sean Payton gives take on evaluating players in the NIL era
Continue reading...
