Bo Nix has already turned 25, and Michael Penix Jr. will follow in May. Both quarterbacks were first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and are part of a growing trend — older players being selected earlier than in the past.
In total, 56 players aged 24 or older were drafted in 2024, a jump from 54 in 2023, 44 in 2022, and significantly higher than the 16 and 19 drafted in 2021 and 2020, respectively. This increase is largely due to the NCAA granting athletes an extra year of eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as that window closes, factors like the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals may continue to encourage longer college careers.
Traditionally, teams have hesitated to draft older prospects. Being 24 was often seen as a red flag. But recent success stories — like Nix and Jayden Daniels, who turned 24 during a breakout rookie season — have shown that added experience can lead to immediate success at the professional level.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid pointed out that age shouldn’t always be a barrier. Citing examples from BYU, where players often serve two-year missions, Reid emphasized that older rookies can still perform well and that career longevity in the NFL is short regardless.
Most older players selected in the 2024 draft were chosen on Day 3, suggesting teams still lean toward younger prospects early but are more flexible in the later rounds.
Raiders general manager John Spytek noted that the current landscape in college football is more complex. With players sometimes staying six or even seven years, scouting has become more challenging. Programs like Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State now have dozens of draft-eligible players every year, many of whom have uncertain timelines for declaring. This has made the job of area scouts more demanding and more critical.
The number of older draft prospects is expected to decline in 2025. Only 46 draft-eligible players are 23 or older, with 17 of those 24 or older. The oldest among them is Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, who turns 26 in September after spending time at Oregon and Texas Tech over seven college seasons. Other 24-year-olds at the combine included receivers Bru McCoy (Tennessee), Nick Nash (San Jose State), and Andrew Armstrong (Arkansas).
Passing on older players simply due to age can limit a team’s options. 49ers GM John Lynch explained that teams need to assess what they’re really looking for — long-term contributors or players who can make an immediate impact during a single contract. He noted that while younger players offer development potential, older players often bring valuable experience and maturity.
Quarterbacks especially benefit from extended college careers. Nix and Daniels helped lead their teams to playoff runs in 2023, contrasting with players like Anthony Richardson, who had limited college reps before going No. 4 overall to the Colts in 2023 and has since struggled to adjust.
Historically, the oldest player ever drafted was quarterback Chris Weinke, selected by the Panthers in 2000 at nearly 29 years old. He started just 20 games, going 2-18. Brandon Weeden holds the record for the oldest first-round pick, taken by the Browns in 2012 at age 28. Weeden, like Weinke, had played minor league baseball before starting his college football career and ended up with a 6-19 record in the NFL.
Age can become a tiebreaker between two similarly graded prospects. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz explained that when players are even in skill, teams start to weigh other factors — years as a starter, leadership qualities, or captaincy — which often boost the more experienced candidate. It’s not always a deliberate strategy, but these discussions naturally influence decisions.