Ravens GM Concerned About Older Players in NFL Draft

Eric DeCosta says NIL deals are leading to more 24 and 25-year-old prospects with less upside.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:24am

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting the silhouette of a football player broken down into overlapping planes of navy blue, forest green, and charcoal grey, conceptually representing the evolving landscape of the NFL Draft.The NFL Draft's changing dynamics, with more older players entering the league, pose challenges for teams like the Ravens.Baltimore Today

Baltimore Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta expressed concerns about the increasing number of older players entering the NFL Draft, attributing this trend to the NCAA's name, image and likeness (NIL) rules that allow college athletes to earn money. DeCosta said the team is seeing more 24 and 25-year-old players in the draft, which he believes means they have less potential for growth and may only be two-contract players rather than three-contract players.

Why it matters

The shift towards older players entering the NFL Draft is a significant change in the landscape of college football and the professional league. DeCosta believes this trend is problematic because older players may have less upside and be more prone to injuries after playing college football for longer.

The details

DeCosta said the Ravens have seen the percentage of players 24.5 years old or older on their draft board increase from 4% to 18% over the last three years. He attributes this to the NCAA's NIL rules, which allow players to get paid to stay in school rather than turn pro early. DeCosta said these older players are 'not three-contract players in some cases, they're two-contract players' and may have 'more injuries' from playing college football longer.

  • The NFL Draft will take place in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The players

Eric DeCosta

The general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, who has been with the organization for 30 years.

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What they’re saying

“There is a changing dynamic we've seen with the draft. Players are older. The average age of the players is not necessarily older but there are older players in the draft. We're seeing more 24 and 25-year-old players. That's because of covid initially, and now because of NIL, guys are getting paid to stay in. That's problematic for us because if guys are coming in older they've probably got less upside. They're not three-contract players in some cases, they're two-contract players. And in some cases they've got more injuries. They've been playing college football longer so they've taken on more injuries.”

— Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens

What’s next

The Ravens will continue to monitor the trend of older players entering the NFL Draft and adjust their draft strategy accordingly.

The takeaway

The NCAA's NIL rules are having a significant impact on the NFL Draft, with more older players choosing to stay in college rather than turn pro early. This shift concerns teams like the Ravens, who believe these older players may have less upside and be more prone to injuries.