A left tackle can make $4M in college football, not the NFL. Is this pay for play?

Dan Moore, the left tackle for the Tennessee Titans, cannot list all his sponsorship deals in the NFL due to the limited opportunities available for his position. In college football, however, players like Seaton can earn as much as $4 million per year for endorsement deals. This disparity raises questions about the fairness of the current system, where college athletes are paid through sponsorship deals while NFL players receive a salary.

The NCAA rulebook is unclear on whether these payments are considered a salary or compensation for services. While many NFL players do not have significant sponsorship deals, college players like Seaton benefit from "third party NIL" deals that can reach millions of dollars. The College Sports Commission is working to regulate these deals and ensure fair compensation for college athletes, but the market for such endorsements remains immature.