The NFL has announced the eligibility rules and deadlines for declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. A soft deadline for special eligibility is established for Monday, January 6, while the traditional hard deadline is set for Wednesday, January 15. Additionally, a unique 'championship' deadline has been designated for Friday, January 24, which applies specifically to players from the two teams competing in the FBS Championship Game. Prospective players also have until Friday, February 7, to opt out of being considered for the draft.

Notably, players who are automatically draft-eligible—those who have exhausted four years of college eligibility—must withdraw by the February 7 deadline. A memorandum outlines critical information, stating, 'Barring an injury, no prospect can be invited to an all-star game with an agreed-upon intention that the prospect will not participate in activities. All invited prospects are expected to fully participate in both practice and game activities.' Furthermore, the NFL's eligibility criteria stipulates that a player must have been out of high school for a minimum of three years and must have used up their college eligibility prior to the onset of the next college football season. Underclassmen and graduates may apply for early entry into the draft with the league's approval.

Once a player is deemed eligible, the pre-draft process commences, which may involve invitations to several All-Star Games, such as the East-West Shrine Bowl, HBCU Legacy Bowl, and Senior Bowl, as well as participation in the NFL Scouting Combine, pro days, and private workouts. The recent changes to the eligibility timeline and the introduction of the new 'championship' deadline were implemented in response to the expansion of the College Football Playoff, which will now feature 12 teams and be conducted over an entire month, starting from Friday, December 20, and concluding on Monday, January 20.