Does Dylan Sampson Go To The NFL In 2025?

[Hairy Vols]

Certainly. NIL for most players, though, cannot likely compete with a practice squad salary of $250-300k / yr. Minimum is about $10k / week.

You're an activation from the NFL minimum of $800k / yr (obviously paid weekly and pro-rated during the season) AND you're GOING to be looked at by NFL GMs and coaches as potential trade-for-need.

In the league at any level is better than in college for almost every player. Granted, NIL is best for most P4 football athletes because they're not NFL material, but if you grade to be drafted at any point..... go to the league.

Unless they get cut. And we don’t know the full extend of any NIL deals being done at this moment.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Unless they get cut. And we don’t know the full extend of any NIL deals being done at this moment.

Sure, as I said, if you're NFL material, go to the league. If you're not, take the NIL and stay.

If you believe Dylan Sampson is "on the bubble" for making an NFL roster or practice squad, I get it. NIL makes some sense.

If Dylan Sampson has NFL chops and his numbers suggest he does, the NFL is the much better choice.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

We’re not really aware of anyone’s NIL deals. We see some on scratch surface but most things are not put into the spotlight. If I knew exact amounts I may agree more or disagree with my own statements.

But this day and age one million is not an absurd amount of money.

That being said the NFL.. you just never know really who will cut it and who won’t. The worst case is for someone to give up money, get out on a practice squad bc there is tons of depth where they got drafted then miss out on the attention? Spotlight, and deals.

The NIL is also constantly growing. This is a very strong RB class that we don’t know who will or won’t declare. Think of all the previous Vols RBings after Kamara. Where are they now? How many ended up on practice squads or have just been floating around the past few years?

We have no way to know what the best decision for him will be come end of season based on all those variables. But we can all hope, stay or go, he does what’s best for him.

Spyre's Target for money is about $25-30M / year.

So, no...... Dylan Sampson isn't getting a million dollar NIL. Spyre isn't just for NIL deals for the football team at UT.

Look at the numbers reasonably. That kind of money isn't in the college game, at least not yet.

 

[volnbama_]

I doubt it. Running backs have taken a back seat in the NFL drat over the past 6-8 yard and few are being drafted until the third round or higher. If he is rated in the top 3-4 running backs, he could probably make as much from his NIL as he would make as a non-drafted player.

Another year in college delays him getting to his 2nd contract in the NFL

 

[IndianaVol]

There has been an uptick on RB utilization this season in the NFL, so that should lead to more value in the position.
To that end, I believe it's an upward trend that should be better in '26 than '25, so the only way Sampson should go to the draft is if he gets a high grade as a RB, meaning 2nd or very early 3rd round.
The other factor too is what @volnbama_ mentioned above - you delay a year and it delays you getting to your second contract where, if healthy and producing well, the REAL money lies...the league is littered with stories of RBs that were stars in college, but didn't make that second contract due to injury, lack of production, etc.

I hope and pray that Mr. Sampson has the right people in his corner advising him on the situation.

 

[Hairy Vols]

Spyre's Target for money is about $25-30M / year.

So, no...... Dylan Sampson isn't getting a million dollar NIL. Spyre isn't just for NIL deals for the football team at UT.

Look at the numbers reasonably. That kind of money isn't in the college game, at least not yet.

I’m asking because I genuinely don’t know. Is Sprye the only person who gives them money or how does that work exactly?

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Another year in college delays him getting to his 2nd contract in the NFL

That is correct, assuming he gets drafted.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I’m asking because I genuinely don’t know. Is Sprye the only person who gives them money or how does that work exactly?

Spyre is our primary source of NIL. There are others but nothing like the money Spyre provides. When the school starts distributing $20M, I assume Spyre's NIL help will fall dramatically.

The NCAA wants the primary NIL source to be the schools, I think, and probably to kind of "cap" NIL by capping the schools at $20M.

The market, however, will decide. If $20M won't get what a school wants, they'll use an outside NIL to supplement it and the NCAA cannot regulate outside NIL.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

I think there might be a very good chance that Sampson might turn pro after this season because teams will be keying on him next season.

Yes