Studying the Draft (and Why One Team Does It Better Than Most)

10 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

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I try to keep a detailed breakdown of the entire league at all times, listing not just the players in the league with their positions and teams, but also which team drafted them, which schools they came from, that kind of thing. This week, as I cleaned up my files going back to 2021, I dug into the numbers a bit and found a few things to be of special interest.

  • Going back to the 2021 draft (1,664 players as of Week 3 of the 2025 season), of the 159 first-rounders since 2021, 154 are still active. That’s to be expected.
  • The top five among still-active former draftees is not a big surprise. Leading the way is Green Bay with 43, followed in second place by the Ravens, Jaguars and 49ers (40 each); third place, the Texans, Rams and Seahawks (38 each); fourth-place Patriots (37); and Cardinals, Cowboys, Colts and Eagles tied with 36 each. Obviously, a number of these teams are perennial Super Bowl contenders.
  • The leading position drafted since 2021 is also no surprise, and it’s not close: offensive lineman (200). That’s the one place, the offensive line, that’s especially hard to find in free agency. After that, it’s cornerbacks (139) and wide receivers (130), followed by linebackers (124), a generous majority of which would be edge rushers. No other position was drafted more than 100 times.

However, here’s what I found to be most interesting.

The least popular position on draft day is punters and kickers, but the second-least popular is quarterbacks (just 47 drafted since 2021). Of the 47, 17 went in the first round, more than a third. To me, that shows that modern teams (a) are looking for the quick fix that drafting a QB can sometimes bring, and (b) QB development is probably not a high priority.

In other words, when you draft a passer on Day 1, you’re hoping he pays off immediately without a lot of hand-holding. This is especially interesting when you consider what former Packers scout Brandian Ross said in this week’s edition of the Scouting the League Podcast (sorry, no video yet). One time, when Brandian was speaking to former Packers GM Ron Wolf, Wolf compared drafting quarterbacks to buying insurance: you do it before you need it. It’s that patience, that willingness to deal with the discomfort of having your starting QB on the roster as well as his successor, that make the Packers successful. The transition from Favre to Rodgers to Love has made plenty of headlines, but to always be in the Super Bowl conversation, it’s the price that must be paid.

We’ll look at the draft and everything else that makes the NFL special in today’s Friday Wrap, which comes out this evening. Make sure you’re registered for it, which you can do here.

On Mock Drafts in the Post-Shedeur Era

03 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by in Media, NFL draft, Scouts

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Since 2017, we have tracked seven of the more established draft services as they’ve provided first-round projections in the months leading up to the end of April. It’s a fun exercise if you don’t take it too seriously (though I’ve had a key member of one front office tell me he uses it to make sure he’s not missing anyone).

At any rate, the accuracy and, really, the basic validity of draft experts and their mocks was called into question last spring when we all watched Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders go from a consensus top-10 pick to a Day 3 guy. All seven services we surveyed the week before the draft (sorry, pay link) had him going inside the first 21 picks, and four had him in the top 10 (two had him at No. 3, two had him at 9). Now those of us who know Tom Brady’s story (or, for that matter, the stories of Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott or Brock Purdy) also know that Day 3 selection is not an NFL death sentence. The point is, NFL decision-makers varied significantly with what the draft experts thought they thought last spring.

It’s with this in mind that I reached out to several friends in the league to get an in-season consensus on some of the players who were the top-rated prospects in our first way-too-early mock draft sweep in June (sorry, pay link again). In our first look at things, seven players — Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Clemson’s T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Texas’ Anthony Hill, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love — showed up on all seven mocks. Before I compiled the seven services’ mocks this time, I decided to ask around about two of the players that everyone agreed was a first-rounder, Downs and Nussmeier. What I found out fascinated me.

In some ways, Downs matches up with what the draft experts said in June: supremely talented guy from a blue-blood program who would be a difference-maker in any system. On the other hand, the teams I spoke to were pretty adamant that he’s not a No. 1 overall guy, and probably not a top-five guy, either, mainly because of the position he plays. They like him in the top 10, but he’s far from a guy who’ll be the top pick (as one service predicted in June) or the second (as two other services predicted). Still, the draft services positively nailed Downs compared to how far off they were on Nussmeier.

When I started asking around about the LSU passer, scouts’ the enthusiasm in scouts’ voices immediately waned. They said things like “entitled,” “average arm,” “coach’s kid but doesn’t act like one,” and things of that nature. Not one of the teams I spoke to even had him in the first round, much less No. 1 overall. I don’t want to be overly critical of him, and there’s still time for things to change, but he’s trending much closer to Shedeur than Cam Ward at this point.

Look, I don’t want to beat up on these services too much. Obviously, things are evolving, and even NFL scouts have changed their minds about things they thought they thought this summer. Still, if you read today’s Friday Wrap to get a sample of who’s in the first-round conversation (and I hope you do — register here if you don’t already receive it), have fun with it, but take it all with a generous grain of salt. That’s not just because it’s Oct. 3, but because there are still secrets teams keep from the draft services. And that’s OK.

Remembering Bobby Grier

23 Tuesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Coaches, NFL draft, Scouts

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Longtime NFL scouting executive Bobby Grier passed away this week. I didn’t know him, but I was fortunate enough to meet him briefly when he kindly submitted to an interview for the Friday Wrap a few years back. The mere fact that he helped me out, when he didn’t know me (and when so many people who do know me decline to be interviewed), made me want to reach out to a few friends to get a better sense of who he was.

Over the last day, I’ve gathered quotes from a few friends. Here’s what they said about Coach Grier.

  • “I thought Bobby was a fine human being – a pleasant, quiet, mild-mannered person. With a good work ethic. When I first went to New England, I think It was ‘83, Bobby was the running backs coach, and when that staff was fired, and the pro guy retired, and Bill Parcells came in, Bobby had a couple years left on his contact as RB coach, (Patriots owner) Mr. (Robert) Kraft encouraged (Parcells) to keep him on, so he became the pro scout. He did one hell of a job. I worked with him for two years after that, and then I left for Chicago. . . My friend (who worked for the Texans) told me he did one hell of a job with the Houston Texans. He was a real fine fellow. . . Mild-mannered, hard worker, and he knew football players.” – Longtime NFL (Seahawks, Browns, Patriots, Bears and Vikings) scout Charles Garcia
  • “I first met Bobby while working out during summers at BC’s weight room with my high school teammate (Boston College All-American and All-Pro Bills NT Fred Smerlas). Although I played for an opponent, UMass, at that time, Bobby let it slide and just told me that I should pick better company (haha). Bobby was with the Patriots when I began representing players. He obviously knew the game well from his playing and coaching experience, and was excelling at personnel then, also. In addition to recognizing superior talent to survive in the NFL, Bobby always emphasized finding players with an inner drive, and valued the muscle above the shoulders, as well. His strong endorsement on Tom Brady was just one prime example. Were it not for Bobby, I never would have joined the Patriots, as it was his recommendation to the Krafts that opened the door for me. He was a great human being with a very strong devotion to family, fairness and integrity. He will be missed by all who knew him. My prayers and condolences to Chris, Mike and family.” — Former NFL agent and Patriots executive Jack Mula
  • “Really sorry to hear about Bobby’s passing. He was one of the best personnel guys I was around. Great judge of character — that he always said went hand in hand with a player’s ability and made the player a great teammate. He was a man that I always learned something (from) just sitting and talking with him, whether it was football or just life. When he addressed the staff, his voice carried and got the entire room’s attention. He will be missed.” — Former Texans and Broncos scout Bob Beers
  • “I’ve known Bobby for years. As a college coach, he was excellent. Excellent coach, excellent as a teacher at a very good level at Boston College, excellent as an evaluator of talent. Top-notch. Understood the big picture about building a team. He was a common-sense person, and he was always very thorough in his work. When he became available (for the Texans), I didn’t need to interview him. I knew him, and we just talked about the job. He said he came with us because I was the first one to call him. I actually tried to interview Chris a ways back, too, and didn’t get him. Bobby was very professional, and I thought he did a great job in New England. It’s a shame that they let him go, but I’m glad we had the opportunity to hire him.” — Former Redskins and Texans GM Charley Casserly
  • “The Texans scouting department was at one end of the team’s offices, basically a big square that had two large college and pro scouting rooms in the center with staff offices around it. My office was at one corner by the hallway that led to the rest of the corporate and coaches offices, and Bobby had an office in the opposite corner, in essence the farthest corner of all the Texans offices. During my time with the Texans, I along with a regular stream of GMs, head coaches, personnel directors, coordinators, coaches, scouts, administrative assistants, our travel agent, and especially interns, would go to Bobby’s office on what seemed to be a daily basis to visit with him, seek his counsel and wisdom (and enjoy) his friendship and company. It did not matter what position the person held on the team — he was always approachable, friendly, with a wealth of wisdom and knowledge that he would share freely. He had the rare gift in our profession of being so knowledgable, with such wisdom, while being objective and having perspective during stressful processes, while all the while being himself, a truly good and kind person with a great sense of humor. I have not met many people like Bobby in the many years I spent working in NFL front offices. He was special.” — Former Texans executive and Jets GM Mike Maccagnan
  • “As you are talking to people about Bobby, and they don’t mention him talking about his love for his family, you can question the source. We became closer when I left the NFL and he moved to Massachusetts. I got the pleasure of speaking to him for hours about life, football and the most important part of his life, his family. Every time I got off the phone, my soul just felt better. We talked about him raising his boys in the Boston area and how they were a real hockey family. His wife Wendy would take them from sun up to sun down around the city playing hockey and the lessons the ice and their competition taught the boys about life. Some lessons were difficult, but the boys always understood that no matter what, their family was going to be on their sides.” — Former head of Texans public relations Kevin Cooper

If you follow the scouting industry, make sure you’re reading our Friday Wrap each week. We try to honor the evaluation community each week there. Register here.

Ask The Scouts: Which QB Has Surprised You Most?

19 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

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When we did our sweep of way-too-early first-round mock drafts in June, there were eight QBs who were given at least some first-round consideration by one of the seven services we monitor. Three months later, I bet there would be far less love for some of them. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Texas’ Arch Manning haven’t shone as brightly as many expected. On the other hand, Oklahoma’s John Mateer and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia may not have entered the season with much acclaim, but they’re each building it these days.

I asked several of my former NFL scouting friends which QB has surprised them the most — good or bad — this season. This is what they told me.

“Biggest surprise would be Arch Manning’s mechanics. If the Mannings are known for anything, it is their fundamentals and mechanics. Arch is using different arm angles that are forcing him to spin the ball unnaturally, almost like a baseball pitcher would spin a slider or forkball.  This must change or the outcome of his throws won’t. He is not the most naturally gifted, arm-wise, but must rely on accuracy and ball placement to have ultimate success. A big revelation  is CJ Bailey from North Carolina State. I have watched Bailey three times now. He is a tall, athletic QB with an easy spin and delivery of the ball. He is completing over 70% of his passes and protecting the ball very well while leading his team to a 3-0 record over East Carolina, Wake Forest and Virginia. He hasn’t played a gimme game yet, but he’s having a lot of success for such a young signal-caller. Another QB I really like is Julian Sayin from Ohio State, a highly recruited player that first arrived at Alabama and transferred when Nick Saban retired.  Alabama will regret letting this one leave. Sayin has a very good arm; he’s a very talented passer with a catchable ball and easy spin. Good athlete in the pocket. With the talent around him he will shine.” — Blake Beddingfield, former Titans scouting executive  

“Diego Pavia for his leadership. He has limitations, but he’s got the “it factor” and presence that teammates will follow. Sometimes belief carries a team past their limitations.” — Mark Gorscak, scout (retired), Steelers

“When you consider the hype and expectations, there is not a more disappointing player in college football right now than Arch Manning. It hasn’t been pretty and there has been much speculation about Arch playing through an injury. I’m not sure Sark’s press conferences are doing him any favors in terms of fanning the flames. Will be one of the more interesting storylines to watch this year.” — Ric Serritella, former CFL and all-star executive and founder, All Access Football

“Arch Manning for me. I expected Sark’s offense to really fit him well and lead to a good season. Overall, they have been a disappointing team. Offensively, just unable to do a ton, and that starts with the QB.” — Rodrik David, former scout, Falcons & Titans

We’ll have the latest on which schools are excelling on school visits and which ones aren’t, plus we’ll look at other information related to the scouting industry in the Friday Wrap. It’s free! Register here.

What To Do If You Failed the Agent Exam Twice

09 Tuesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started, NIL

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The day that the NFL Agent Exam results come out — in this case, last Thursday — is a very exciting one. It’s an awesome feeling to see some of the hundreds of people we work with during the pre-exam phase realize they are going to get to live their dreams, and I get to share that celebration with them.

On the other hand, for those who get bad news, there’s pretty much nothing to say to minimize the pain. That’s especially true of those who fail for a second time and who are staring at a five-year wait (and another $2500) just to try again.

Today, I’ve given a lot of thought to what to tell those people. Here’s what I came up with.

Don’t let this defeat you. Let’s start here. If you are even qualified to take the exam, you have a secondary degree and a clean record financially and criminally. This means there are a lot of things you can do in life. We estimate that about a quarter of test-takers pass on the first try and about half pass on the second try. This is easily the toughest agent exam of the four majors. If you come up short, you are far from alone, and you shouldn’t let this define you.

Consider an appeal. The testing service the NFLPA uses is far from perfect, and I’ve heard of at least one new agent who passed despite long delays (including two complete computer shutdowns in the last hour of taking the exam). I also heard about odd experiences at the testing center in July (like site officials disallowing materials the NFLPA clearly allows). If this was you, don’t be a martyr. I think you have 30 days to appeal the results. Don’t mess around. Hire an attorney if needed.

Really decide if you want to stay on this journey. There is no shame in turning around. This business eats people alive. You have talent. Decide if you want to use it on people who, in many cases, will not appreciate you. I’m just trying to be honest.

Take a sales job somewhere. For new agents, the job is not really about negotiation (popular misconception). It’s about sales. You’re selling yourself. If there’s one reason why most agents fail, it’s because they are not comfortable with the vagaries of talking to others, listening to them, figuring out their hopes and fears, and addressing them . . . which is pretty much what sales is. You won’t be able to succeed in this industry without sales talent. Oh, and one other thing.

Save your money. The other main reason people fail in this industry is lack of resources. You’re looking at $10,000, minimum, to get one player ready for the draft these days (or at least one who’s worth representing). Believe me, people try to do it without money, but the overwhelming majority fail. Go out and try to save $20,000-$30,000 in the next five years, and then come back ready for war.

Embrace life as an NIL agent. If you want to really see what this business looks like, go out and try to represent high school and college players seeking to make money in the portal or otherwise. We are in a truly unique time when there’s a chance to make lots of money representing players in a largely unregulated environment with almost no start-up costs. Success is about seizing opportunities, and there’s lots of opportunity on the NIL front. You might even realize you’re good at it and decide you don’t need to work on the NFL side. Really. That might happen.

If you’re in this difficult but select group, I hope you found this helpful and maybe even a little encouraging. I have some idea of what you went through to get here, and can only imagine the frustration. But you can still make something great happen. Just give yourself a chance.

2025 NFL Agent Exam: Hope For Those Who Didn’t Pass

05 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents

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It took a little longer than expected, but after 45 days of waiting since the NFL Agent Exam on July 21, test-takers got their results today. For many, it was good news, and it’s always so much fun to join in their celebration, but for others, it wasn’t. It’s a crushing blow after so many aspiring agents pour their blood, sweat and tears into getting past that hurdle.

However, the good news (if you’ve only taken it once) is that you get another shot. I know that’s cold comfort, but it’s still true. At the same time, it’s hard to wait another year. For those people, I reached out to a few of our test-takers who got good news this year after bad news last year. Here’s what they told us about the year “off” and how to make sure the second try is better than the first.

  • “Failing the first time was tough, but it gave me the chance to reset. I took the rest of that year to relax my brain and not stress over it. Knowing I could take the test again eased that ‘waiting’ pressure which made a huge difference. By January I was ready to dive back in with a clear head. Staying engaged with ITL and Having all the resources from last year ITL test prep, plus building on them with new material and Neil’s/ ITL support, was a game-changer allowing me to pass.”
  • “I took the NFLPA exam last year and unfortunately did not pass after completing one review course. Later, I learned about the ITL Review Course, and Neil was confident that if I committed to the program and put in the work, I would succeed. I decided to trust him—and I’m so glad I did. The monthly Zoom calls and practice tests were absolutely key to my success. Neil and the ITL team were patient, encouraging, and went above and beyond—even holding Zoom calls right up to the day before the exam.”
  • “The CBA is a complex system of rules that becomes easier to understand after you appreciate the high level framework. Understanding the nuances and complexities only comes after you have a firm, high-level understanding of what the system of rules is trying to accomplish. Unfortunately, I didn’t start to view the CBA this way until after I failed the first exam and took a step back to analyze what I may have missed in my initial preparation. After failing the exam, I studied every ITL video in my archives to understand the system at a high level. With knowledge of what it feels like to take the exam, I adjusted my preparation. . . On exam day, the execution was second nature and I was successful. There comes a point where you realize the CBA is your friend and organization is paramount.”
  • “Stay organized early. Take notes by hand and review everyday. I put in two hours per day starting in May. Have a table of contents, but more importantly, understand the material and scenarios.”
  • “By not passing on the first attempt, it brought me to an extreme low but I eventually gathered myself and repeatedly envisioned passing the exam. On my second review, I was able to really focus on the areas that I needed to improve on. Since my schedule was extremely busy by running a full-time solo law practice and being a father of a 4-year-old, 3-year-old, and 10-month old, I wasn’t able to dedicate myself to a full-time review over several months. In the month leading to the exam, I used Inside the League’s resources and paid close attention to Ian’s Zoom lectures. I also took much better notes during the NFLPA Seminar. Those changes made the difference in me passing.”
  • “ITL’s study guide, practice tests, and prep sessions, along with the source materials, are all you need to pass — but do not underestimate the exam. I failed my first attempt, but did not lose hope, as I knew if I reserved enough time to prepare with the ITL materials provided, I had all of the tools necessary to pass. Sure enough, I passed on the second attempt — in large part due to ITL. Honestly, there is so much to digest when preparing for the exam, without ITL I wouldn’t have known where to begin. The guys were helpful in troubleshooting where I went wrong the first time and instrumental in my success.”

There’s plenty more to discuss when it comes to the NFL Agent Exam. If it’s something you’ve taken before, something you hope to take someday, or something you passed long ago (but that still intrigues you), read about all the particulars related to this year’s exam in today’s Friday Wrap, which comes out this evening. It’s free, and all the NFL insiders read it. Register for it here.

Which NFL Teams Develop their Draft Picks Best?

29 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

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Are draft success stories the product of the player drafted or the team that drafts that player?

It’s a question I’ve been grappling with pretty much since 4 p.m. on Tuesday, when teams were required to make their cuts to 53. In the last week, we’ve seen a third-rounder (Jets WO Malachi Corley), a fourth-rounder (Patriots OG Layden Robinson) and several fifth-rounders (Denver OH Audric Estime as well as Miami FS Patrick McMorris and OB Mohamed Kamara), not to mention a fifth-rounder from this year’s draft in Chris Paul, formerly of the Rams. There are several others drafted on Day 3 that also got the axe. Should they have gotten a longer leash? Or was it the picks themselves? Ultimately, do teams deserve more credit for what happens on draft day, or for what happens after draft day?

It’s a good question, but today, I want to take it from the top with this question: which teams are best at developing their talent, regardless of who they draft?

To find out, I did what I usually do: I asked several of my scouting friends. You can read the comments from several of them in today’s Friday Wrap, which comes out at 7:30 p.m. (register here).

Here’s one that was a bit more involved than the others, so I decided to include the whole thing (with a few minor edits).

“Three teams in recent years come to my mind in no particular order.

  • “The Rams — who embodied the “(screw) those draft picks” philosophy — went all in and won a Super Bowl. They developed a unique approach, using the ‘super powers’ of their scouting staff to find the ‘super powers’ of draft choices and free agents. The proof is winning ITL’s Best Draft Award and hitting on late draft choices and UFA’s.
  • “The Lions have also done a good job of drafting through all rounds of the draft and sticking to what they like and how they see players. It appears they have no confirmation bias within the organization. While you can say they are from the Rams family tree, I think GM Brad Holmes (who arrived from Los Angeles) has his own values and different ‘super powers’ that sets his team apart from the Rams, but with similarities. You can point out the failure of QB Hendon Hooker, but as I say in scouting, you have not scouted until you got a player wrong!
  • “Lastly, the Ravens have always been consistent in their batting average through the years with draft choices and particular with UDFAs.

“Some of the traditionally strong teams appear to have lost their willingness to draft and develop, going with a “band-aid” approach, i.e., signing free agents; this is usually due to a leadership change. These teams are chasing immediate success vs. sustainable success. Time will tell if they were right.

“One last thing. One study in my career was that around 60 UDFAs make a 53-man roster each year. That’s roughly two per team. The teams that consistently find these players are elite franchises. All three of these teams (Los Angeles, Detroit and Baltimore) excel in this area.”

If this topic intrigues you, and learning which teams are most respected around the league for the job they each do after draft day, make sure to check out today’s Wrap. These three teams aren’t the only ones who got kudos from evaluators around the league.

Getting NFLPA-Certified? Don’t Make These Three Mistakes

22 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started, NFL draft

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We’re expecting results of the 2025 NFL Agent Exam a week from today, next Friday. That would make 38 days from exam to answers, right on track with last year’s term of 39 days. If you took the exam, you’re probably getting antsy, but before you find out if you passed or not, there are a few strategic errors you need to not make.

After sifting through how every agent did (draftees, UDFAs, tryouts and signees that didn’t achieve anything), both in the 2023 and 2024 agent classes (sorry, pay links), here are a few major mistakes that were made.

Signing no one in Year 1: It seems crazy, but 49 of the 140 contract advisors certified last year didn’t sign a single player for the 2025 draft. These people waited all their lives to get certified, passed a difficult test, then got nothing out of their rookie years. Still, that’s nothing compared to the 2023 class, in which 79 of the 164 first-year agents (close to half the class) skipped out on signing anyone. But here’s the kicker — 45 of those 79 from 2023 didn’t sign a single person in their second year! Now they’re staring at a do-or-die 2026 draft. If they can’t get at least one player on a 90-man roster in 2026, they’re out of the league practically before they got started.

Signing too many players in Year 1: One member of the 2024 agent class signed 17 players and not one made it into camp this summer (just one of them even got a tryout, which seems impossible). One signed eight players and not even one of them got a tryout, much less a UDFA contract. I get it — there’s a temptation to play the numbers game, but if you sign the wrong players, you have a monumental problem because now all those players (and their parents and coaches and girlfriends) are now calling you all summer wondering when they’re gonna get signed (and they aren’t). In my estimation, 2-3 clients is the sweet spot in Year 1 (no more than four). Basically, plan on spending money on training for all your clients. Usually, the agents who sign dozens of players aren’t training them. They’re trying to beat the system, to outsmart everyone. You can’t do that.

Signing small-schoolers: This is a big mistake for two reasons. No. 1, usually a sub-FBS player won’t have a pro day, which means you’re desperately calling around, trying to find a school that will take your player. Usually, you hit a brick wall. No. 2, and more importantly, a growing number of NFL scouts aren’t spending their time poring over FCS and lower prospects, reasoning that if they had ability, they’d take the NIL money and run to a bigger school. That’s the reality in the modern era.

We’ll talk more about the agent business, the success stories and the mistakes that are made in the Friday Wrap, as always, which comes out at 7:30 p.m. later today. Want in? It’s free. Register here.

Want to Sign a Legit NFL Draft Prospect? Here Are the Rules

14 Thursday Aug 2025

Posted by in Agents, combine prep, Getting started, NFL draft

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With the NFL agent exam in the rear-view mirror, our focus turns to helping agents who’ve had a little trouble getting started. For a lot of contract advisors, it takes a while to learn a few lessons. These include:

You can’t tell a legitimate prospect where to train. At least, not one who’s in that group of 800 players in each draft class that are actually worthy of a 90-man roster spot. Obviously, there are exceptions, but usually the best players come from FBS (mostly P4) and play marquee positions (OL, DL, QB, plus a few WRs and CBs). Those players know the market will bear a good training spot and a decent stipend (monthly allowance in the low four figures, usually) from an agent. If you don’t want to pay that, you better be real good at rolling dice.

You can’t create buzz for a player no one wants. I always feel terrible when a new agent comes to me in April and asks what he can do to promote his client(s). NFL teams begin to show their respective hands three weeks out from the draft. At that point, if he’s not getting interest from scouts, there’s nothing the agent can do. Zero. You have to have solved that problem in December or January.

Like it or not, a player’s pro day performance matters a great deal. I’m old enough to remember when the Eagles got killed in the media for taking Boston College DE Mike Mamula in the 1995 draft. Because Mamula owned his pre-draft workouts (which back then were still a rather new phenomenon), Philadelphia traded up to take him seventh overall, before Warren Sapp and Hugh Douglas. Though it’s popular to criticize the “underwear Olympics,” if we’re being honest, 30 years later, workout numbers still matter just as much. One thing I learned while writing my most recent book, Value Picks, is that a poor workout almost does more damage than poor character grades, i.e., a player could be taken completely off the board for it.

Representing a player who makes it to the NFL is worth it. There’s a reason the NFLPA had to institute a three-year rule (you must get at least one player on a roster over a three-year period) to cull the herd of agents on the rolls. It’s because signing and helping a player reach his dreams in the country’s most popular sport is well worth the cost, whatever it is. Lots of people get into the business before realizing how hard it is, then give up soon after certification because they don’t have the contacts, NFL background, or recruiting skills they need to sign a player with league bona fides. They never realize how close they could have come to actually accomplishing their goals.

Next week, we’ll have a Zoom session for people who are NFLPA-certified but struggling to get a player into an NFL camp. We’ll have details about our “bridge” program and who’s eligible. If you’re an agent who just hasn’t had any luck so far, make sure you register for our Friday Wrap, which will have more information. I hope you can join us.

A Few Thoughts from Nashville

08 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Agents, Getting started, Media, Scouts

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I was in Nashville this week for the 2025 Personnel and Recruiting Symposium Presented by Teamworks. It was hella impressive, which I’ll discuss in more detail in this week’s Friday Wrap (register here). I thought I’d share a few observations based on what I saw this week. Here goes.

  • Having spoken to some recently hired personnel types with NFL backgrounds, the big question is if they’ll be “attached” to the head coach, as often happens on the pro side. One person I talked to said he interviewed with about a dozen schools before getting hired and about half made it clear his job continuity would be tied to the athletic director, while the other half tethered him to the head coach. If today’s personnel hire model becomes untangled with anyone — i.e., there’s no spoils system, and scouts can expect to stay at a school for a decade, as long as they perform — it could become an even more enticing place for NFL evaluators.
  • I love how they were serious about networking there. The last hour before Monday night’s social was a “speed dating” type of event where about 500 people from across personnel, recruiting and operations sat at tables of 6-8 people, each answering questions off a card. Everyone was encouraged to share their name, school, title, contacts, etc., with everyone else. That’s a big step up from when I was here in 2019, when people were mostly left to their own devices to network (and most remained in their silos, unfortunately).
  • What’s remarkable is the sheer volume from everyone across the industry. It’s far more than just personnel and recruiting staffers. Monday night alone, I saw probably a half-dozen agents, plus representatives from probably 10 NFL teams, and I had just gotten there. Most people I spoke to who were here last year said it’s doubled in attendance since 2024.
  • It’s pretty clear why Nashville has become such a destination place for bachelorette parties. The nightlife in Houston, my hometown, is definitely mild downtown, but wow, it is booming here. Monday night in Nashville is something I’ll never forget. One of the members of my party this week called it a “mini Vegas.” From a lights and electricity perspective, it’s hard to argue. The Renaissance was a beehive Monday night, but there was even more action once you got out on the street.
  • At one point, the topic of visiting Memphis came up. The Tigers are located in a questionable part of town, apparently, which makes for expedited exits once practice is over. A few years ago, one director-level scout went to check into his ground-floor hotel room, only to find the window open and TV, microwave and anything else of value cleaned out. He immediately returned to the front desk, cancelled his reservation, and established a policy whereby scouts would only evaluate the Tigers on the road.

Hats off to this year’s organizers. They have a tall order in topping this year’s event. As I mentioned, I’ll touch more on the symposium in the Wrap.