Now that we have this awesome, free resource that displays agent information for almost every player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft (click here if you haven’t seen it yet, or click the link at the top right of any page on SportsAgentBlog.com), what should we do with it? First, it is a great repository of information if you ever need to find out who to contact in the case that you need to reach a particular player. It also may help individuals decide where they want to apply for an internship. Additionally, this list introduced me to a few firm websites that I did not know existed – I have since added those sites to our huge Agencies database.
My favorite part of it is that I get to analyze the draft, looking at the winners and losers.
- By all accounts, Gary Wichard had a successful draft. However, if a sports agent stock market existed (that’s a cool idea..), his stock would have been on a decline over the past week. In January, I noted that Wichard had 5 potential first round picks, and that CAA should take notice. Wichard ended up with 1 first rounder, which is definitely something to celebrate about, but is still no where near CAA. Three of Wichard’s clients were 2nd rounders and one (Everson Griffen) dropped to the fourth round. With the draft over, Wichard will have to put some focus on his former client, Brian Bosworth, suing him.
- As for the aforementioned CAA…the company still dominates the sport of football. While CAA represented less draft-eligible players this year (by choice) than is normal for them – last year they had 11 draft picks, all of whom were taken round 3 or higher. All six of their clients were drafted in the first round, including the 1st and 3rd overall picks. Six of the last seven #1 overall picks have been represented by the duo of Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, who run CAA Football.
- Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes of Maximum Sports also had quite a day. They had up the 2nd and 4th overall picks. While they were not limited to strictly the 1st round, a-la-CAA, Maximum Sports had a total of 8 clients drafted throughout the first four rounds (nothing later).
- Was 2010 Malik Hafeez Shareef‘s coming out party? He only represents one drafted player, but that player happens to be the #7 overall pick and former Florida Gator, Joe Haden. Will this be the start of a successful practice for Shareef or will he be a one-hit wonder?
- Last year, PlayersRep was listed as a “Mid-Major” sports agency. With a first round pick in Devin McCourty (#27 overall), is PlayersRep now in the ring with the big boys? The company had a total of 6 players drafted.
There are many more stories deep within the list of players and their representation. What are some of the things that stuck out to you?
11 replies on “Breaking Down The 2010 NFL Draft Pick/Agent Master List”
The overall theme I saw was that the rich get richer, with the big boys like CAA, BEST, Rosenhaus, and Todd France signing the top players. They are the top agencies in the industry, so that comes as no surprise. However, it’s nice to see the likes of Sunny Shah of 320 Sports (with #11 overall Anthony Davis) and Malik Hafeez Shareef (with #7 overall Joe Haden) getting a first rounder each.
I also compiled a list of players drafted from each state. Florida, California, Texas, and Alabama lead this charge.
FL – 23
CA – 17
TX – 16
AL – 13
OK – 11
GA – 10
NC – 10
VA -10
Interesting note about Virginia – it is the only state on this list that has no existing law regulating athlete agents.
I know New Jersey is another state without any agent registration fees, what are the other states?
Alaska, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, and Vermont. Also Puerto Rico.
How long can CAA dominate the industry? Wouldn’t it be a certain amount of time until they have too many clients if they are continuously getting the best of each year’s draft class?
The answer to too many clients is to hire more competent minds. May present job opportunities for those looking to break into the industry. If CAA is doing a good job for its clients, I don’t see why their dominance would ever have to end.
As you look through the firms and # of players they had drafted, one thing to ask is “how many agents do they employ?” Is a firm that has 10 players drafted but employs 5 agents more successful than a 1 man shop that only had 2 draft picks? Of course it depends on what round the players were drafted but from an expenses standpoint, it is likely that the 1 man shop has a lower overhead expense than the firm. The public often gets caught up in the #’s without really examining what’s behind them. I know of firms that sign 10-15 players and end up with 3 or 4 draft picks but lose their shirt financially b/c of the investment they made to train their clients for the combine and pro days. Just saying….
You raise an excellent point. And for people looking to work at a sports agency – you should consider whether you are a better fit or would prefer working at a big agency or a small shop. It’s the same issue my colleagues ruminated about while progressing through law school.
From the above statements, i bet if you ran a PNL on all agencies you would find Bo McKinnis is the profitable agency in the business.
Some good points have been raised here. To go along with what Darren said about finding where you would fit in the industry in terms of large or small agencies, I think it depends on your personal strengths, as well as identifying your weaknesses. If you have a lot of versatility, such as being excellent in communications, negotiations, marketing, personal growth and development of players etc. with too many more to name, then I feel that you have the potential to not only work for a small agency, but open your own agency.
Those qualities do not just come naturally, and not all come with a law degree. Much of that has to come from experience, which can come from an internship, or working for a larger agency. Either way, the more versatile you are, the more likely you are to be successful at a small agency, or starting your own.
Doug V.
JL sports I think had 6 guys drafted!