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CB Eli Apple (All B1G, National Champion, Los Angeles Chargers)

For those of yall saying "come back" what is he going to change in his game that will make a huge difference in where he is drafted? What other corners are coming out this year vs next?
 
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Just ask Buchtel grad Antonio Pittman who surprisingly declared early. Lasted all but one year and IMO it was just because he wasn't ready yet. Got drafted in what the 4th round? Then got cut and never could gain his footing from there... once you get cut in the NFL imo ur basically done more often than not or otherwise someone would've locked you up for years.

I think Apple would benefit from another year immensely to be honest. Solid corner but if he comes back and does well next year I think he could hit the first round next year which will give him guaranteed 3-5 years. If He leaves now and if he runs poorly (4.6 or so) hes looking at a 4th round draft spot and 3 year deal max with no guarantees.

Doran Grant was a practice squad guy and was cut as a 4th round pick. IMO grant played better last year than Apple did this year as well. I wish apple the best obviously but hope he doesn't declare then end up a late 3rd or early 4th guy because he has the talent to be a 1st

Grant is currently on the Steelers' active roster, so that's good (but, yeah, he was cut earlier in the year). Difference between Grant and Apple, though, is Grant exhausted his eligibility, thus, he didn't have the chance to put in another year at OSU and improve his draft stock like Apple does.
 
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Just ask Buchtel grad Antonio Pittman who surprisingly declared early. Lasted all but one year and IMO it was just because he wasn't ready yet. Got drafted in what the 4th round? Then got cut and never could gain his footing from there... once you get cut in the NFL imo ur basically done more often than not or otherwise someone would've locked you up for years.

I think Apple would benefit from another year immensely to be honest. Solid corner but if he comes back and does well next year I think he could hit the first round next year which will give him guaranteed 3-5 years. If He leaves now and if he runs poorly (4.6 or so) hes looking at a 4th round draft spot and 3 year deal max with no guarantees.

Doran Grant was a practice squad guy and was cut as a 4th round pick. IMO grant played better last year than Apple did this year as well. I wish apple the best obviously but hope he doesn't declare then end up a late 3rd or early 4th guy because he has the talent to be a 1st

Tone was leaving in 3 years regardless. That was his plan before he even knew what college he was going to. He's had knee issues since we were kids. He never trusted his legs so he went after the money. He got 2 years worth of NFL paychecks and a year in the UFL. He had workouts with other teams but his knees weren't going to let him perform at NFL level after getting cut by the Rams.

Getting cut doesn't mean you're done in the NFL, either.
 
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Getting cut doesn't mean you're done in the NFL, either.
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Tone was leaving in 3 years regardless. That was his plan before he even knew what college he was going to. He's had knee issues since we were kids. He never trusted his legs so he went after the money. He got 2 years worth of NFL paychecks and a year in the UFL. He had workouts with other teams but his knees weren't going to let him perform at NFL level after getting cut by the Rams.

Getting cut doesn't mean you're done in the NFL, either.
It Doesn't mean you're done but I'd imagine the odds are not great to have a long-term career in the NFL once you are cut. Interesting take on tones' knee issues I didn't know that.
 
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Just ask Buchtel grad Antonio Pittman who surprisingly declared early. Lasted all but one year and IMO it was just because he wasn't ready yet. Got drafted in what the 4th round? Then got cut and never could gain his footing from there... once you get cut in the NFL imo ur basically done more often than not or otherwise someone would've locked you up for years.

I think Apple would benefit from another year immensely to be honest. Solid corner but if he comes back and does well next year I think he could hit the first round next year which will give him guaranteed 3-5 years. If He leaves now and if he runs poorly (4.6 or so) hes looking at a 4th round draft spot and 3 year deal max with no guarantees.

Doran Grant was a practice squad guy and was cut as a 4th round pick. IMO grant played better last year than Apple did this year as well. I wish apple the best obviously but hope he doesn't declare then end up a late 3rd or early 4th guy because he has the talent to be a 1st

Was Pittman leaving early really a surprise? If I recall part of the equation was his family needing the money. Regardless, I'm not sure Pittman's situation ties into Grant's or Apple's. Grant's for the obvious reason of being a senior. Him being cut was a bit shocking, usually 4th rounders still make the squad. It's still not a death sentence. How many times was Kurt Warner cut? Just saying.

With Pittman, I think he was doomed from the start. Drafted by a Saints team that already had Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, so that didn't leave many options for Pittman. It's no surprise he was cut. By that time, many teams have their backfields set and he was at the mercy of whoever looked like the best option for playing time.

I think Apple most closely resembles Chimdi Chekwa. It certainly appears Apple has a higher draft projection, but I remember talk of Chekwa leaving after '09 and how he'd benefit from another year of seasoning. I think that's where Apple is. He'd no doubt get drafted, but how high? Maybe coming back another year and proving any question marks gets him the BIG bucks.
 
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Was Pittman leaving early really a surprise? If I recall part of the equation was his family needing the money. Regardless, I'm not sure Pittman's situation ties into Grant's or Apple's. Grant's for the obvious reason of being a senior. Him being cut was a bit shocking, usually 4th rounders still make the squad. It's still not a death sentence. How many times was Kurt Warner cut? Just saying.

With Pittman, I think he was doomed from the start. Drafted by a Saints team that already had Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, so that didn't leave many options for Pittman. It's no surprise he was cut. By that time, many teams have their backfields set and he was at the mercy of whoever looked like the best option for playing time.

I think Apple most closely resembles Chimdi Chekwa. It certainly appears Apple has a higher draft projection, but I remember talk of Chekwa leaving after '09 and how he'd benefit from another year of seasoning. I think that's where Apple is. He'd no doubt get drafted, but how high? Maybe coming back another year and proving any question marks gets him the BIG bucks.

It isn't like Pittman would have greatly improved his draft stock by coming back like Apple can. RB's aren't high commodities anymore and IMHO Pittman wasn't really in the class of the greats like George, Hyde, and Zeke. Apple has the chance to be a first round pick if he comes back. Pittman didn't have that option.
 
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It Doesn't mean you're done but I'd imagine the odds are not great to have a long-term career in the NFL once you are cut. Interesting take on tones' knee issues I didn't know that.
actually it matters more if you're in the right system. With so many injuries happening, players are always in a Rolodex. Being cut means nothing, look at how many former cut players are littering NFL teams late in the season due to injury. I think almost all of New England's WR corp is formerly cut players, as is the RB corp in New Orleans. If you're good enough to get drafted then go, and if coaches deem you good enough for the league, yet you're cut, you'll still be able to find work throughout the season as long as you stay in shape. Melvin Butler for NE is a perfect example of being cut and wasn't even drafted and his life is a 180 now, is he an extreme story? Yes. But stories like this happen all the time in the NFL. Get your money while you can sir, football is a jars brutal game and his career could been done in a flash. Get your dollars while your body is still holding up
 
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