With a lockout looming, NFL rookies could lose out on a lot.

And that’s not what the guys in Indianapolis want to hear.

If the collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of Thursday, as expected, rookies will not be able to sign contracts, attend minicamps, offseason workouts or even pick up playbooks until there is a new CBA in place.

And as many players have found over the years, there is no substitute for lost time.

The possibility has some analysts suggesting this could become a lost draft class. Team officials disagree.

But the steep learning curve almost certainly would make the challenging transition from college football to the NFL even harder than usual.

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