NFL Teams Reportedly Rule Out Drafting Players Who Don't 'Love Football' amid NIL Rise

A number of NFL teams are reportedly evaluating prospects by whether they "love football" or not heading into Thursday's NFL draft.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Wednesday that "most teams" he talked to have already taken prospects off their board because they don't love the game. 

"This was the first year it was so prevalent," Glazer wrote. "I asked around why that is and the thought was because of NIL money, guys have already been paid and some feel they don't need to grind to get paid. So the guys who LOVE FOOTBALL are probably appreciated more."

Ultimately, someone's apparent "love" of the game in many cases is a cliche coach-speak metric that cannot be measured. And for as much as front offices and teams may preach it, they are surely more concerned with things such as speed, size, collegiate production and fit in their systems.

But Glazer's report is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at how NFL teams may be navigating the new realities of the NIL era in college football.

With free transfers and the ability to make money through NIL deals, college football players have far more freedom than they did for the majority of the sport's history. And, in some cases, it may impact how they view the game and their overall desire.

The money will only increase for many of the prospects as they enter the NFL level, so teams may want to see how players react to those opportunities.

Still, Cam Ward isn't the presumed No. 1 pick because he "loves" football. He's going to be the top pick because of his strong arm, ability to make plays with his legs and overall processing quickness when reading a defense.

The same can be said of Travis Hunter, who may be a generational prospect because he can play both sides of the ball at a high enough level to win the Heisman Trophy.

That tantalizing skill is what immediately jumps out to NFL teams making the important decisions that can impact their outlook for years to come.

Yet things such as the love for the game could be used as tiebreakers between prospects who are otherwise evaluated in similar ways.

To hear Glazer tell it, that is already happening.