I’m one of the few who thinks that you could either have it at the same time or a month earlier.
I get that GMs/coaches want to know as much information as possible before they select a player so they wouldn’t want the latter. However, the scouting is fairly good these days and they usually figure out who is getting drafted beforehand.
As for having it at the same time, I also don’t mind having the kids join the team later. They could amend the CBA to say that rookies are exempt from the cap and the limitations of the roster. That way they could slowly develop in the first year and have the option of returning to their University team. Going back to school can help players like Ryder Varga.
Coaches will most likely want to see where the kids fall in the NFL draft before they roll the dice. Keeping the draft where it is poses some additional problems to what you suggested. Evaluation camps would need to be a month earlier so that it doesn’t conflict with training camps. Can’t get over the teams not wanting to get a good look at their draftees in TC. That is where their observations are confirmed one way or the other.
With the reform I suggested you could evaluate them all year long without penalty. They would have to completely change their way of thinking. Something they’ve only shown that they are capable of recently
You wouldn’t draft for immediate need. You would draft best player available. Sign free agents and trade for players based on need.
There’s no harm in seeing what a summer of professional development does for a player.
There’s an old saying in the CFL. Every rookie you have playing on your team equals a loss in the regular season. A little bit of seasoning might change things.
If your need is a NI Olinman for instance and you are up against the cap? The potentially ready to go draftee would be way more appealing than the expensive FA. I know it’s cherry picking situations but every year you hear of teams looking to fill a need somewhere by way of the draft.
If you go against the cap it’s a slap on the wrist. GM’s only talk about being under the cap so they can get the agents and their players to settle for less. Lions have gone over the cap frequently as I’m sure you’re aware
For what it’s worth, getting Betts and Rourke for a first rounder, some cash and swapping two second round picks is the best use of cap money i’ve ever seen.
I wouldn’t necessarily call them “football people”. MLSE, CSEC, Amar likes football but he’s a construction guy, Edmonton’s ownership is a question mark, Craig Reynolds is an accountant running the Roughriders, Hamilton has a mix of ownership, OSEG, and PKP aren’t football people.
The only legitimate football person is Wade Miller in Winnipeg
Are you nuts, the season already starts way to early, that’s why there’s no one in the stands in early games, football is a fall sport. Late summer to fall.