The 2026 NFL draft kicked off next to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Thursday night.

One discussion that has emerged around the 2026 NFL draft involves the increase in the average age of the prospects.

With NIL compensation continually rising in college football, many players are looking to stay in college as long as possible to maximize their earnings, a trend that has kept some in college well into their mid-20s.

The discussion of NIL and its impact on the NFL draft was a subject of conversation on ESPN's College GameDay panel in Pittsburgh on Friday.…