The NIL Era’s Defining Question: Stay or Go Pro? Markus Woodbridge | NILvana Sports
As the landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”) continues to grow to unprecedented levels, every athlete with professional goals faces a more complex decision than ever before. A typical college athlete might play between one and three seasons before declaring for their respective draft, whether in baseball, hockey, basketball, or football.
Draft Day Uncertainty
Draft outcomes can be unpredictable. A projected lottery pick might fall in the draft due to team needs, salary cap constraints, or unexpected performances from other prospects. The move from college sports to the professional level is already one of the most significant decisions in an athlete’s life, and NIL earnings have made that choice even more complicated.
Shedeur Sanders
Take the highly discussed case of Shedeur Sanders. Once projected as a first-round NFL draft pick, Sanders saw his stock unexpectedly fall to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected him as their second quarterback in the 2025 draft. As the 144th overall pick, Sanders signed a standard four-year rookie contract worth $4.2 million. Escalating salaries started at $840,000 in his rookie year and rose to $1.235 million by year four, plus a $447,380 signing bonus.
One key detail in Sanders’ contract is that, outside of the signing bonus, none of the salary is guaranteed, meaning the Browns can release him at any time without owing the remaining balance. While $4.2 million is a significant sum for a young professional, it pales in comparison to his collegiate NIL earnings. According to On3, between January 2022 and January 2024, Sanders built a staggering $6.5 million NIL portfolio working with brands like Nike, Mercedes, and Gatorade. His charisma, personality, and on-field success made him one of the most marketable athletes in college sports, drawing huge crowds and generating value for sponsors.
By declaring for the draft a year early, Sanders relinquished his college superstar status and the lucrative NIL deals that came with it to compete for a backup role on a below-average NFL team. If you were one of those brands investing heavily in Sanders during his college years, seeing him relegated to third or fourth string could be a disappointing turn. And there’s no going back. In football, once you officially declare for the draft and your entry is finalized, NCAA rules prohibit a return, regardless of whether you’re drafted or not.
Sanders believed in his draft stock and had no reason to think he’d slide to 144th overall. But it raises the question: if players are unhappy with their draft position or the team that selects them, should they have the option to return to college? And if they did, would it be fair to the NFL or to younger recruits whose playing time could be lost to returning stars?
Beyond the Paycheck
Another primary consideration in choosing to enter the draft is the loss of a university’s infrastructure. College athletes benefit from access to high-end housing, meals, entertainment, training facilities, travel, and many other advantages. The question becomes, are you willing to give up that support system for the uncertainty of a professional contract?
With NIL booming following the House settlement, universities are adapting. Some now hire “general managers” to help athletes manage deals, and many programs have donor-supported “collectives” that distribute NIL money directly to players. The financial ecosystem for top college athletes has never been stronger.
Caitlin Clark
Let’s examine a generational athlete in a different sport, Caitlin Clark.
Clark holds the all-time records in Division I points, most points in a single season, most career three-pointers, and most career NCAA tournament points, among many other achievements. Undoubtedly, she’s one of the greatest basketball players of her era, and her NIL portfolio reflected that status. On3 reported her deals totaled $3.1 million, with partnerships including Nike, Wilson, and Gatorade.
Clark chose to leave Iowa a year earlier, becoming the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and signing a standard four-year contract worth $338,056. While she smoothly transitioned her brand into the pros, securing a multimillion-dollar Nike deal, it’s worth considering whether another year in college could have been even more profitable. Other women’s college basketball stars like Juju Watkins, Flau’jae Johnson, and Aaliyah Chavez have reportedly earned over $500,000 annually through NIL. With brands eager to invest in college sports, the market remains as lucrative as ever.
For Clark, staying in school an extra year might have meant continuing to earn millions through NIL before launching her professional career.
The New Decision Matrix for Athletes
The decision to leave college for the pros now involves more than just talent and draft projections. Athletes must consider their long-term career goals alongside immediate financial gains, personal brand building, and the unique advantages of the college experience. Championships and professional success still symbolize the ultimate goal, but NIL has created an alternative route where income and legacy can grow before turning pro.
As more players find themselves in Shedeur Sanders’ or Caitlin Clark’s position, a new question may become more common than ever: Should I have stayed in college?
