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Drafted vs non-Drafted:

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reinell30

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If you are drafted, do you receive money because of this or not?
Do free Agents get paid to try out for teams with an invite?
When does a draft pick start receiving their pay?
Are you automatically on the team when you are drafted, or do you still have to try out?
 
Drafted and undrafted players have guaranteed money on their contract but drafted players get more the higher they are drafted. As such while it is not guaranteed draft picks get more likely to make the team the higher they are drafted.
 
reinell30 said:
If you are drafted, do you receive money because of this or not?
Do free Agents get paid to try out for teams with an invite?
When does a draft pick start receiving their pay?
Are you automatically on the team when you are drafted, or do you still have to try out?
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You do receive money if you are drafted because every team signs all their draft picks. Players immediately receive their signing bonus, and then begin receiving checks as soon as they sign their contract, I believe.

Undrafted Free Agents get the same, a bonus when they sign and lesser pay that starts as soon as the contract is signed. Typically these deals are shorter, but they obviously get cut short when the players get cut after camp, too.

You don't have to "try out," per se, but there are cases of lower level draft picks being cut for performance or personal issues in their first camp. To some degree, every training camp is a tryout to keep your roster spot. Its not common, because it would make your GM and Coach look bad, but those cuts can and do occasionally happen. Most kids that get drafted stay on the team at least a year, and often through the completion of their rookie contract (later rounds are shorter).
 
reinell30 said:
If you are drafted, do you receive money because of this or not?
Do free Agents get paid to try out for teams with an invite?
When does a draft pick start receiving their pay?
Are you automatically on the team when you are drafted, or do you still have to try out?
Click to expand...
No. However in practice, no player will sign a contract without getting money, obviously. The higher the draft choice, the greater the signing bonus.

Yes. $2000 per week while in camp.

NFL players are officially paid only during the 17 game season. But bonus can be negotiated to be paid out during the offseason (or anytime).

Drafted players can (and often are) cut, or at least assigned to the practice squad. High draft picks are rarely cut because of the high initial investment (signing bonus)
 
reinell30 said:
If you are drafted, do you receive money because of this or not?
Do free Agents get paid to try out for teams with an invite?
When does a draft pick start receiving their pay?
Are you automatically on the team when you are drafted, or do you still have to try out?
Click to expand...
See the link to the amounts of contracts that drafted players get? It's based on exactly where they are drafted. And how long their contacts are. Top rounds have shorter contracts. As Everett said, higher round choices get bigger bonuses. 7 figures. I can't recall if top draft choices get some guaranteed money, other than bonuses. But generally you need to make the team. Everyone in camp gets paid. For UFA's, that "little" amount of money is actually pretty good pay for a former college student. Practice squad pay is also pretty good for a former college kid, but not for a former roster player who has been demoted. UFA contracts vary to a fairly significant extent, at least for the guys who are more wanted.
 
5280Griz said:
What’s nice about special teamers aka Junior Bergen if a team uses a draft pick on someone for special teams they have to be a big disappointment to not make the team.
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He's actually in a pretty precarious spot. Kyle and John have made it clear they don't really see a lot of value in him as a WR. Jacob Cowing is their current punt return specialist, and Bergen needs to outperform him in the return game in order to make the 53-man roster, since Cowing gives the team more value (in their minds) as an emergency WR. Cowing averaged 8.8 yards per punt return last year and was serviceable.

If he doesn't, I still think they're likely to keep him around on the practice squad, since Colt likes him a lot, and it seems they have some deference to him there.

Really pulling for Junior to play lights out and make the 53-man roster. A few big returns in preseason could go a long way.
 
5280Griz said:
What’s nice about special teamers aka Junior Bergen if a team uses a draft pick on someone for special teams they have to be a big disappointment to not make the team.
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I heard they changed the kickoff rules again this year so it might be pretty exciting for return specialists?
 
uofmman1122 said:
He's actually in a pretty precarious spot. Kyle and John have made it clear they don't really see a lot of value in him as a WR. Jacob Cowing is their current punt return specialist, and Bergen needs to outperform him in the return game in order to make the 53-man roster, since Cowing gives the team more value (in their minds) as an emergency WR. Cowing averaged 8.8 yards per punt return last year and was serviceable.

If he doesn't, I still think they're likely to keep him around on the practice squad, since Colt likes him a lot, and it seems they have some deference to him there.

Really pulling for Junior to play lights out and make the 53-man roster. A few big returns in preseason could go a long way.
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I could see Junior being able to play some slot. He has good hands and makes tough catches. He's certainly good some quickness and speed, but not burner speed. He's tough. He will be a good learner. I would guess he's stronger than he's ever been, due to just being able to focus on working out.
 
reinell30 said:
I heard they changed the kickoff rules again this year so it might be pretty exciting for return specialists?
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The touchback spot has been moved out to the 35 yard line. So, more kicks will not be kicked into or through the end zone, is the thinking.
 
mthoopsfan said:
I could see Junior being able to play some slot. He has good hands and makes tough catches. He's certainly good some quickness and speed, but not burner speed. He's tough. He will be a good learner. I would guess he's stronger than he's ever been, due to just being able to focus on working out.
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Yeah, he could really set himself apart in camp if he can get open and separate against NFL corners. If he can't, then it's all riding on his return skills. Either way, the only likely path to making the 53-man is by taking Cowing's spot.

One thing to remember that helps him a lot is that they may be out two projected starters week 1, because Brandon Aiyuk is on the PUP to begin the season and likely won't be able to play, and Demarcus Robinson will possibly be suspended to start the season for a DUI arrest.
 
It should be noted that Cowing was not good as a returner. The 49ers most recent punt return for a touchdown was 2011.
 
I forsee Bergen coming on as a returner year one but if he does not perform as a rookie he probably will be cut training camp 2026.
 
uofmman1122 said:
Yeah, he could really set himself apart in camp if he can get open and separate against NFL corners. If he can't, then it's all riding on his return skills. Either way, the only likely path to making the 53-man is by taking Cowing's spot.

One thing to remember that helps him a lot is that they may be out two projected starters week 1, because Brandon Aiyuk is on the PUP to begin the season and likely won't be able to play, and Demarcus Robinson will possibly be suspended to start the season for a DUI arrest.
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In the slot, you're not going against corners, unless they are 3d corners. Also, they don't jam slot receiver as much as corners do on the outside. I'm not saying he's going to make the 53 roster right away. But I believe he's in a great position.
 
mthoopsfan said:
In the slot, you're not going against corners, unless they are 3d corners. Also, they don't jam slot receiver as much as corners do on the outside. I'm not saying he's going to make the 53 roster right away. But I believe he's in a great position.
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You're right, I should've said "NFL defenders", not just cornerbacks.

I really think it comes down to outperforming Cowing and taking his job. That's realistically the only way he's making the 53.

They took 7 WRs on the 53 last year. Jennings, Pearsall, Robinson, and Watkins are pretty much locks to make the team, and Aiyuk will be once he's healthy. Isaiah Neyor has huge upside, and could steal a spot. They have a couple other guys that will likely be camp bodies/practice squad level, one of which might grab a spot while Aiyuk is out. There are also rumors about the Niners maybe going after Amari Cooper.

But they're basically only keeping one of Bergen and Cowing.

I'm hoping that having the worst ranked specials teams in the NFL last season maybe biases the coaches to take the new guy, though. lol

I'd love to be wrong and see Bergen shine as a WR and nab his spot that way, for sure, though.

If he doesn't stick with the Niners, I'll be very sad, but I'm hopeful he'll grab a practice squad spot somewhere.
 
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