Schefter expects more NFL-bound players to skip bowl games

Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey both took a great deal of heat for skipping their respective bowl games to begin preparing for the NFL early, with many scouts saying the choice would negatively affect their draft stock.

That wasn't the case Thursday, as the star running backs went No. 4 and No. 8 overall in the opening round of the draft. ESPN's Adam Schefter thinks that fact will only lead to more players opting to pass on postseason bowl games.

"Unless you're playing for a national championship or the Final Four, I think you're going to see more and more top prospects forego their final game of the year, " Schefter said on Monday. "If they made it through that far, this becomes a business decision and the school has prospered and profited off these young players. It's time for the young players to look out for themselves."

Michigan's Jake Butt opted to play in the Orange Bowl and suffered a torn ACL in the contest. The tight end was projected to be picked in the top two rounds this year, but fell all the way to the fifth due to the injury.

It was reminiscent of Jaylon Smith's fall in 2016, as the Notre Dame linebacker was considered a top-5 pick before a severe knee injury in his bowl game saw him fall to the second round.

"To see Jake Butt go down, to see Jaylon Smith last year, who some people regarded as the best player in the draft, fall to the second round. It's not right, it's not fair," Schefter said. "The players have begun to think of themselves in the future."