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Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 6:44 pm
by Charlie-49ers
Gentlemen, the NFL just drafted 257 players. We draft 128 players per draft. The short version is that I split the draft into two halves: one for the upcoming season and the other for the following season. The issue has come up as to how many players I put out there for each draft. In the past, if I fell short of names (more guys to draft than I have from the NFL), I would go to NFL teams and find players who are not in our league, thus keeping all PNFL players actually mirroring real NFL players, even the ones under indictment or in jail.
Now, the question has come up as to the size of the next PNFL Draft and those that follow. For those who do not have a calculator, 128 x 2 = 256, one short of the actual NFL Draft. Easy peasy if we go this route! Anyway, please voice your opinion below on the number for which you would be comfortable with the PNFL draft. For those of you with time to burn, you can even post the number of players at each position and a total.
I will only ask that you keep your responses dedicated to the question at hand.
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:16 pm
by Mitch-Dolphins
I might be missing something, but I believe the PNFL has 126 draft slots (18 teams x 7 rounds = 126). The NFL has 224 draft slots (32 teams x 7 rounds = 224).
I've raised this concern numerous times in the past. I believe a smaller draft pool for the PNFL makes a lot of sense.
A draft pool of 175 would cover the 126 draft slots and create enough UDFAs for each team to sign roughly 3 UDFAs if they desired.
A draft pool of 175 would also mean the Top 50% of draft talent (Top 88 players) would equate to the draft slots in rounds 1 though 5. That means plenty of talent for the 1st 5 rounds with rounds 6 and 7 being 3rd quartile talents. UDFAs would be 4th quartile talent.
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:18 pm
by Matt-Jacksonville
We probably need to go a little above that number simulating UDFA, but not so much that it bloats the FA pool unnecessarily.
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:19 pm
by Matt-Jacksonville
So 350 (175 x 2) ? I'm good with that number. We can go with that for the next two offseasons and see how it plays out.
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:49 pm
by Brian-Broncos
I agree with the others that 128 is too small - many teams wouldn't even have a choice on what position to draft. I brought up 220, but looking at all the undrafted players from 2045, even that is too high.
I personally like 194. That leaves 4.5 players/pos at the end of the draft - a little more buffer from not having a choice of position. I'm not sure 175 will always do that, but I'm fine with 175 over the large pools we have now.
Maybe you can find a list of undrafted free agents to use after each NFL draft. I'd love to see some names from this skit in the league:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gODZzSOelss
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:51 pm
by Dean-Atlanta
I agree with Mitch, 175 each season is plenty for 126 draft picks and some undrafted free agents.
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 8:04 pm
by Steve-Buffalo Bills
175
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 8:52 pm
by Donovon-Steelers
Brian-Broncos wrote:I agree with the others that 128 is too small - many teams wouldn't even have a choice on what position to draft. I brought up 220, but looking at all the undrafted players from 2045, even that is too high.
I personally like 194. That leaves 4.5 players/pos at the end of the draft - a little more buffer from not having a choice of position. I'm not sure 175 will always do that, but I'm fine with 175 over the large pools we have now.
Maybe you can find a list of undrafted free agents to use after each NFL draft. I'd love to see some names from this skit in the league:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gODZzSOelss
I knew what skit this was w/out even looking as soon as you posted it
175 seems reasonable...
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 9:57 pm
by Barney - Vikings
While the NFL selected about 250 players it is in fact selecting from a pool of thousands. I’d prefer more rookies rather than less just with a wider spread in ratings. So the regular 270 players but with more skew in ratings. We each value the ratings a little differently so I don’t want a small pool with cookie cutter ratings. That way there will be enough variety so we can each build our teams the way we want.
Re: Next PNFL Draft
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 1:39 am
by Dan-Cincinnati
I agree with Mitch, I think 175 sounds about right.