What Are the Risks and Rewards of Drafting Older Players?

Now, though, we appear to be witnessing a shift, with a huge increase in older players being drafted.

There are obviously various risks involved with shying away from the top emerging talent in favor of older players. However, there are some obvious benefits in that people who have spent more time playing college football are better developed and ready to slot straight into an NFL side.

Tyler Shough is a Prime Example of an Older Draftee

Tyler Shough is one of the most notable examples of an older player being picked up in the draft, with the New Orleans Saints selecting him 40th overall in the second round in 2025. During his college years, Shough gained a lot of experience playing for the Oregon Ducks, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Louisville Cardinals.

The main reason for going for Shough was that the Saints needed an experienced quarterback that was ready to become a first-team player straight away. Spencer Rattler ultimately won the position as starting QB for the Caesars Superdome side prior to the 2025 season, but Shough is solid backup that provides great depth.

What Makes an Older Prospect an Attractive Candidate?

Even though New Orleans isn’t considered among the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl in the NFL betting, Shough’s addition could be a great lesson for those teams that continuously challenge near the top.

The Kansas City Chiefs, for instance, is one of the teams that are almost always favored by the sportsbooks and have a good chance of going the distance this year. However, if Patrick Mahomes gets injured, it could spell trouble. The Chiefs’ backup quarterback is the aging Gardner Minshew, and it could be argued that someone like Shough could be a better option.

The key reason why some NFL sides are turning towards older prospects is because they’ve already spent years honing their craft in a competitive league. They’re ready to go as starters or can provide exceptional backup to the most important players.

What Risks Are Involved With Picking Older Players?

One of the most obvious risks with going for an older player in the NFL draft is the fact that teams will only get a few seasons out of them. The average retirement age for an NFL player is 27.6 years old, which is why there’s so much emphasis placed on finding the college players with the best potential early on.

There’s also a chance that older prospects have already reached their peak and have no more upside in their development. The idea with any draft pick is to watch them improve and step up in the NFL.

It’s clear that there’s a current shift in the way teams are approaching the draft. There’s a calculated risk in picking the older players, as they are ready to go but may have fewer years ahead of them.