A 19-year-old receiver from South Florida, Jeremiah Smith, is slowly but steadily becoming a talking point in both college football and NFL circles. Currently, he is a freshman at Ohio State, but many have already claimed him as a future NFL star. Interesting, right? But right now, there is a huge roadblock on his path, that too imposed by the NFL league, that keeps him from unlocking his true potential. And now an Ex-Packers VP is already blaming the NFL for framing guidelines that stop budding talent from being exposed.

Former Green Bay Packers VP Andrew Brandt didn’t back down on his thoughts while highlighting the glaring differences between the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and NFL contracts. While posing on his X account, Brandt tweeted, “NIL can’t match the $30 million signing bonus he’d get absent the three-year NFL eligibility rule.” Translation? Unlike NFL contracts, NIL deals don’t offer players the financial growth offered by the former.

As of now, Jeremiah Smith is not eligible to enter the NFL draft because of its 3-year rule. So, this rule means players can only enter a draft if they have been removed from high school three years prior to entering. And what does it mean for Jeremiah Smith? Well, in simple words, Smith is not eligible until the 2027 draft.

Before y’all start taking shots at the NFL, let’s clear out one thing. The rule is imposed in favor of the emerging players and not to keep them away from any growth opportunities. The league wants to make sure that the drafted players have reached a level of physical and mental readiness to endure what it takes while sitting through the NFL drafts and what comes afterwards.

While the NIL agreements offer great rewards to college athletes, they don’t exactly match the financial opportunities offered by NFL contracts. And now, the comparison put forward by Brandt brings things into perspective for all college athletes. Though Smith’s journey is far from over yet, it still highlights the disparity surrounding the issue.

Jeremiah Smith, future NFL star shares family ties with Seahawks QB

Smith is on his path to becoming an NFL star one day, like his cousin, Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith. The guy recently unleashed his true potential in the Rose Bowl and delivered an MVP-worthy performance. With 7 catches for 187 yards and 2 TDs, his dominance on the field is visible even from a distance. His ability to turn the tides in favor of his team makes him an important part of the Ohio State Buckeyes. As the #4 WR, he has his eyes set on the team’s national championship aspirations.

And not to forget, Jeremiah already has support from an NFL insider, Geno. Well, the age gap between Geno and the future star might be evident, but that doesn’t mean there’s any lack of support. The QB has years’ worth of experience to share with the WR. He can serve as both a mentor and a big source of inspiration for his younger brother. After all, it’s always your family that will always have your back in tough situations.

Though Jeremiah Smith still has a full two years ahead of him, they will be crucial in helping him understand the ins and outs of the league. And if he truly wants to land an NFL team one day, these years definitely promise to make him one of the best prospects in NFL history with a 100% success rate!