“What are you going to get with your first signing bonus?”

Apparently this is no longer the opening question by GMs for potential draft prospects.

[EDIT: The other thing this breeds? Look for more draft prospects (QBs) to nix being drafted to certain teams. Sanders is the latest example from last year. ]

How the NIL era has changed NFL evaluations of draft prospects — for the good and bad - The Athletic

.... everything changed five years ago with the Supreme Court decision that made it almost impossible for the NCAA to regulate how an athlete was compensated for their name, image and likeness. Gone are the days of the penniless college athletes, so too is the level of desperation prospects felt to make the jump to the pros as quickly as possible. Multiple general managers estimated that around 25 potential top-100 draft picks elected to stay in school rather than apply for early entry into the draft, leaving the NFL and its teams with a shrunken talent pool.

Some old heads frown upon athletes who pass up another opportunity to compete on the field and make a strong impression on potential employers. They view a reluctance or refusal to take part in drills as a sign of entitlement. But because they can’t just write off every athlete that opts out of a bowl or all-star game or combine drill (doing so obviously would be unwise given the number of high-level prospects that have begun making such calls), many NFL talent evaluators elect to frame things differently.

“I think it’s made it easier because you don’t have to wonder how they’ll carry themselves once they get money,” Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek said. “You know the ones that love the game and do the right things. They may have money in college, but they still carry themselves the right way, they still play the right way. They love the game, they’re there for their teammates, and I think it’s kind of the character illuminator.”

Athlete and agent opinions on the importance of the combine have shifted over time. Just as players have begun opting out of bowl games to avoid unnecessary risk of serious injury, top prospects have become more selective of which aspects of the NFL’s biggest job fair they wish to take part in. Some pick and choose which on-field portions they want to use to showcase their skills. Others skip all drills and simply take part in interviews and medical evaluations.