Pro Scouts Make Adjustments As They Navigate The Evolving College Football World Ahead Of Nfl Draft

When San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch interviews a draft prospect, he often feels as though he's entered a strange new scouting universe.

Today's players talk openly about agents and endorsement deals, and they're not shy about describing journeys to three or four schools or playing for an equal number of head coaches.

Lynch may not like everything about today's college landscape, but he realizes the 49ers must adapt or they'll face severe consequences - just like every other NFL front office.

"We're still kind of in that Wild West," he said in February while describing the interview process before the April 24-26 draft. "It's great to learn about them, but when you hear them say, 'My agent and I made a decision,' it's like 'Wait, you're not supposed to have an agent?' Yes, you do have agents. High school kids have agents. It's a different world."

NFL scouts have spent decades navigating these sorts of changes.