by Donal Ware

Now that the NFL Draft is behind us, there seems to be a tenor of “satisfaction” with just four HBCU players being taken. While that is four more than the embarrassingly low of zero taken in last year’s draft, should we now throw a party? There had been years where the number of players selected from HBCUs were in the double digits. There have been numerous first-round players taken – most recently offensive lineman Tytus Howard from Alabama State in 2019 – and there are 34 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a shade under 10 percent of the total players in the Hall.

History says the NFL must do better.

Congratulations to Fayetteville State cornerback Joshua Williams (fourth round, 135th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs), South Carolina State cornerback Decobie Durant (fourth round, 142nd overall of the Los Angeles Rams), Jackson State linebacker James Houston (sixth round pick, 217th overall by the Detroit Lions), and Southern offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter (seventh round, 226 overall by the Chicago Bears). Their lives are changed as they now will work to make their respective teams. We know they will do well. They come from HBCUs.

But what about those that weren’t taken, like Florida A&M safety Markquese Bell or Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass. And both Williams and Durant should have been taken higher after impressing heavily at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and East West Shrine Game, respectively. While Glass was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, he should have been. Bell was and impressed. Both did well at their respective pro days. Again, neither was drafted.

What is frustrating now is that we will watch players continue to be signed as free agents or receive mini-camp invitations. As of this writing, 18 players have either signed as an unrestricted free agent or as a mini-camp invitee.

This is about money. One can argue that it’s better to sign as an undrafted free agent opposed to being drafted in the sixth or seventh round. This way, a player can sign with a team of his choice, perhaps put him in a better situation. The difference, however, is when a player is drafted, there is much more guaranteed money. The lowest player selected in the draft will receive just over $77,000 in signing bonuses. Williams, for instance, will receive a signing bonus somewhere in the neighborhood of $666,000.00 – $800,000.00. Per the collective bargaining agreement, the maximum amount of free agent signing bonus money NFL teams can give is more than $160,000.00 but less than $200,000.00. So if a team signs 10 players, each player on average would be paid between $16,000 – $20,000. Close to 40 percent of players from HBCUs that were on NFL rosters in 2021 were free agents.

It pays to be drafted.

While four is greater than zero, being drafted is greater than signing as an undrafted free agent. Show HBCU players the money.

Donal Ware is the host of the nationally syndicated sports talk radio program FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW, airing in over 27 markets across the country and on ESPNU Radio SiriusXM and on SiriusXM Channel 142, HBCU. He is a Morgan State University graduate and has been covering HBCU sports for more than 20 years.