Top 5 2023 NFL Draft Prospects when it came to NIL earnings

The NFL Draft used to be the major pay day for athletes, but there are several players that have already earned millions of dollars in NIL deals.

We will take a look at the top 5 prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft when it comes to their NIL earnings.

Today, college athletes are allowed to cash in on their name, image, and likeness in a variety of ways. The Action Network did a study into sponsorship deals to determine the highest-paid college athletes.

Top NIL Earners

Below is a breakdown of the top 5 earning players.

Bryce Young

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young is the highest NIL earner this year. Young has a total valuation of $3.2 million in NIL deals. Bryce Young saw his value rise in 2022 after winning the coveted Heisman Trophy the previous season. 

CJ Stroud

CJ Stroud came off a strong 2021-22 season, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a Rose Bowl title. Stroud also broke the OSU record for most passing yards in a single game. This has propelled him to a $2.5 million NIL valuation.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Smith-Njigba propelled himself into the spotlight after winning Offensive MVP in the 2022 Rose Bowl. Smith-Njigba’s electric play on the field has earned him a variety of NIL deals reportedly worth $1.7 million.

Bijan Robinson

Bijan Robinson is one of the most highly touted running backs heading into the season. Robinson rushed for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns last season as a sophomore. The hype around Robinson in 2022-23 has earned him a NIL valuation of $1.7 million.

Will Anderson

Will Anderson is one of the top pass rushers in college football and his NIL valuation was 1.6 million dollars. He could receive around 8,360 dollars per social media post to push your product in front of his 83,600 followers.