The Athletic - Why some NFL coaches believe x-fer portal

is killing player development.

I've always thought that but you can't say that or you're labeled "anti-player"!

A freebie from Feldman & the NYT.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7216707/2026/04/22/nfl-draft-transfer-portal-prospect-...

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The game of football has always been about overcoming obstacles. Whether that is your opposition or you are third string. It taught us all to get better. Work harder. Do more. Find a way to succeed.

Now kids get to find a safety net with another school that needs him at that position. Does that work for the kid? Sure, I guess. But if the player had to simply work harder, learn from his coaches and the kid in front of him, wouldn't he improve more? Wouldn't the hard work he put in make him a better player and a better man?

Nah. Just bolt to another school. ugh.

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At the other end, you have some kids (particularly OL it seems) who are staying in school another year because they project as a third-day pick and they think they can up their draft stock and make some significant NIL money. There was story about Iowa's center staying for a 6th year for that reason.

It can go the other way too. Drew Allar was supposedly a top 5 pick. (The only game I watched him in was the ND game and he didn't look like a first-rounder to me, though that TE of theirs -- #44 I think -- looked like a first rounder.)

Now after a broken ankle and PSU's season having gone to hell he's maybe a 5th rounder.

But as a GM I'd be leery of a kid who moved around a lot especially if it was to weaker competition. A kid from a mid-major conference who breaks out and goes to a school in a major league is a different matter.

--
"Somewhere in Middle America"

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the Polo Grounds

The Athletic - Why some NFL coaches believe x-fer portal

Here is the problem in my opinion

That's a good point --