RUMOR: NFL Draft Rules to CHANGE Following Khyree Jackson's Death? 

I share your thoughts about drunk drivers. RIP Khyree Jackson. I'm with you on this exception. I think the league and the NFLPA should add it to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

I like this rule. Though the only thing I’m wondering about is if a player dies during the time of training camp due to an unforeseen event like a car accident, would that also count since the player never technically played a game for that team or is there a reason why it has to be before training camp?

I would have at least liked to have found out how good of a player Khyree Jackson could have been and how well he could have played against my Packers twice a year. He and his companion have my deepest sympathies.

I remember when the Steelers had the opportunity to draft Dan Marino however they still had Terry Bradshaw and they expected him to play a few more years but do to an elbow injury he ended up retiring in 1983. However they drafted a player who was in their eyes the next Joe Greene but he ended up getting into a car crash and ended up being paralyzed not getting to play. It sucks for both the player and the team. I don't think the player necessarily needs to die in order this rule to kick in they can be paralyzed as well from the similar unforeseen event. Like what happened with the Steelers in 1983 with Gabe Rivera he was in a horrific car accident and ended up being paralyzed and wound up not playing a single game for the Steelers.

Thank you for showing respect and not using the cutesy work around terms for things like "unalive"

Different sport but New York Rangers 2007 1st round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov passed away in 2008 from a heart attack while playing in Russia before ever signing a contract with the Rangers. The Rangers got a 2nd round compensatory pick in the 2009 draft because of his passing.

I could be wrong but I think the NHL does something like this. The Rangers drafted a player, I think Alexi Cherpanov, who died months after the draft and the Rangers got an extra pick in the next draft.

It’s a sad event to reference, but in 1990 Bears rookie DT Fred Washington lost his life after hitting a tree. He was not under the influence, but I can’t help but think about it when hearing about the passing of Khyree Jackson. He was killed during the season on December 21st. Do you think you could consider making a video in his honor? I’d love to see his story get new life in your words.

I like the idea of this rule. I would personally move the cutoff from start of training camp to first regular season game and also include any player who suffers a non-football related career ending injury (ie paralyzed in a car crash)

I couldn't agree more about drunk drivers. They really boil my blood. Jackson should still be with us. As for that rule you proposed, I think the NFL and the PA need to get on this ASAP. I love the name you gave this rule, too. I had forgotten about Brandon Burlsworth.

I like the rule, but i think it should be tweaked a bit-for one, i think that if someone has this happen and survives, but is paralyzed and thus can't ever play, i think that should trigger this also. As for the NFL combine bit-that only includes players up to about the 5th round a lot of the time, and also doesn't have many small school players oftentimes (there are exceptions, but in a general sense not many small school players go to the combine. I'd have it simply as players who were drafted who passed a pre draft physical instead in that regard. Finally-i think if something like this happens in training camp, before preseason (not the coaches running them too hard mind you) it should apply there as well.

The NHL had this happen when NY Rangers draft pick Alexei Cherapanov, who died tragically, and unexpectedly. The NHL awarded the Rangers an additional draft pick.

I cant imagine goodell or any owners would protest to vikings getting an extra 4th or even a 3rd(if jacksons pick was on the early side or the 4th round).

@JG9news i completely do agree with you on this potential rule that you come up with and it's just really really crazy and sad though especially for a young man who probably was either going to be a star or not. And yes I could see this happening in the near future but it's hard to say what Roger Goodell is going to about it

What about when Len Bias was drafted no. 2 overall by the Celtics and died two days later from a drug overdose?

Let’s not forget Leon Bender drafted by the Raiders in 1998 and passed away following an epileptic seizure before he was able to play in an NFL game. As others have mentioned perhaps this compensationary pick idea should also include players whose careers are ended prior to their rookie season due to being seriously injured in a non football incident. The closest I can think of off the top of my head is Dennis Weathersby a projected 1st-2nd round CB from 2003 who was shot days before the draft, fell to the 4th round where he was drafted by the Bengals and missed virtually all his rookie season. Ironically his career ended following a car crash the following off season.

That "loophole" is not really based in reality. Nobody who is dying is going to be draft eligible.I am not sure how you came up with that, but it was poorly thought out.

Didnt this happen to the vikings a couple years ago? Drafted out of TCU I wanna say?

Other than changing some of the wording of that rule, I agree with it.

I think any consideration of compenation for something like this would need to be more comprehensive to include active players and career ending injuries. Two examples would come to mind. The first would be that as is, you wouldn't have an Ernie Davis exemption despite him having been the first overall pick and never seeing a snap for the Browns. You also have issues where the team is sadly better off if a player were to be killed in an accident vs paralysied or simply injued in a way they could never play. The final issue is that if there was a situation where a team traded draft picks or valuble players for an active player, should it be treated differently. Say there was another trade like Ernie Davis except the active player passed away instead, this rule wouldn't allow for the team to be made whole. Honestly I would consider compensation picks for any types of career ending illness or injuries (or sadly eath) for players who are on a roster, whether drafted or veterns.

Eh. It's sad and it really sucks for the team. But should the league add exceptions for rookies that get to training camp, blow out their knee, and never get to play a down? Sometimes bad luck hits. The best organizations are the ones that can rise above that. Not saying I'd be upset if there was compensation the next year for extreme circumstances, but I'm not also not sure it's needed. Still though. RIP Khyree Jackson. Sucks to see a young life ended just as he was about to get his big break.

I really don't think you need to worry about that loophole.

It would be a good rule change for sure.

Brilliant rule. As far as I'm concerned, Jackson was murdered, making this a catastrophic loos for the Vikings, which makes this a slam dunk. Go easy, Khyree; same goes for the other two gentlemen who had their own athletic careers and lives cut short.

Along those lines, I thought that the NFL would have some sort of supplemental draft where the Vikings, through a hardship clause, would be able to select a player without it affecting their board in 2025.

Make sure you put language in there that specifies through no fault of his own. And unforeseeable.

I think the biggest shock I've had since the weekend has been finding out Im older than JG9

NFL teams should have their own personal uber drivers

Uh oh

Hopefully Roger Goodell sees this and takes action. It's only fair that a team should get an extra pick in the following year's draft if they a player they draft dies unexpectedly before ever suiting up for them. RIP Khyree Jackson.