re: Why should Laird settle for $100 K rather than return to LSU?

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How would that add negotiating power to a senior?

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the way i see it, and maybe i'm misguided in this opinion, but if you force players to declare for the draft, the draft pool is what it is. you only draft players you are going to sign. you don't take fliers on guys you may or may not sign or draft college seniors higher knowing they have no leverage and therefore you can ultimately save a few hundred thousand on their signing bonuses. better players go higher in the draft. you are then paid based on your slot, not paid based on your slot combined with your age. this would lead to players having more power IMO. the only players with real negotiating power now are high schoolers, and i personally think that's a joke. juniors have some negotiating power, but still not a ton because teams know that most guys are not going to stay their senior year and risk losing most of their current offer. they generally get paid slot unless they're a first round pick.