[Genuine Realist]

The NHL is the model I'd like to see major league teams follow.

Make all teams draft players when they are 18.

If players want to go to school they can go on scholarship. When they are ready to play professionally, they sign a professional contract with the team holding their rights.

This is all pipe dream stuff. The NFL is not changing anything about its draft model because nobody has any leverage on it to do anything different than it does. At least the G League and Overtime Elite offer an alternative to college for would be NBA players.

I like the NHL and MLB models as well. Everyone is included.

But why the life choice? Why the separate tracks? Why can't the draftee sign with the club AND accept a scholarship? Develop his game at the same time he grows in the ways people (hopefully) do in college?

I have yet to hear a good answer to that, mostly because there isn't one.

'Because that's the way we've always done it' is not a good answer.

[Genuine Realist]

The NHL is the model I'd like to see major league teams follow.

Make all teams draft players when they are 18.

If players want to go to school they can go on scholarship. When they are ready to play professionally, they sign a professional contract with the team holding their rights.

This is all pipe dream stuff. The NFL is not changing anything about its draft model because nobody has any leverage on it to do anything different than it does. At least the G League and Overtime Elite offer an alternative to college for would be NBA players.

I like the NHL and MLB models as well. Everyone is included.

But why the life choice? Why the separate tracks? Why can't the draftee sign with the club AND accept a scholarship? Develop his game at the same time he grows in the ways people (hopefully) do in college?

I have yet to hear a good answer to that, mostly because there isn't one.

'Because that's the way we've always done it' is not a good answer.