BY JOSH GOLDBERG AND JASON MORRIN
The 2020 NFL Draft was one to remember. A record number of fans tuned into their televisions and anxiously awaited their favorite teams’ selections. 255 young men fulfilled their life long dreams of being drafted (virtually) and celebrated while socially-distanced in their respective homes. The draft had 55 million viewers over the course of three days, a 16% increase from 2019. ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and various other digital platforms combined to average 8.4 millions viewers–the NFL Draft’s best three-day average ever–a 35% increase from 2019.
In addition to the telecast of the 2020 NFL Draft, an average of over 5.4 million daily viewers tuned into the “Draft-A-Thon LIVE,” a massive fundraising campaign aimed at raising funds for COVID-19 relief efforts. To date, the NFL family has raised more than $100 million dollars for COVID-19 relief.
Agency Highlights:
Athletes First led all agencies with 30 selections
Sportstars had 17 selections
Creative Artists Agency had 14 selections
Rosenhaus Sports had 8 selections
Klutch Sports had 7 selections
Rep 1 Sports had 7 selections
Caric Sports had 6 selections
Exclusive Sports Group had 6 selections
SportsTrust Advisors had 6 selections
YM APPA Sports had 5 selections
Priority Sports & Entertainment had 5 selections
Wasserman had 5 selections
Select Sports had 5 selections
Element Sports Group had 5 selections
Clarity Sports International had 5 selections
Elite Athlete Management had 5 selections
Agent Highlights:
African American agents represented more than half of the first round selections with 17 — (David Mulugheta of Athletes First with 4, Damarius Bilbo of Klutch Sports with 3, Nicole Lynn of YM APPA Sports with 2, Tory Dandy of Creative Artists Agency with 2, Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Management Group with 1, John Thornton of Roc Nation Sports with 1, Tracy Latigue of Nexus Sports with 1, Brian Overstreet of United Sports Group with 1, Stanley Wiltz of Ballengee Group with 1, and Jovan Barnes and Roosevelt Barnes of Independent Sports & Entertainment with 1)
Molly McManime (Caric Sports) had her first client drafted: Chargers RB Joshua Kelley
Kate Ferrara (Dream Sports LLC) had her first client drafted: Bills RB Zach Moss
In the first ever NFL Draft for Klutch Sports, Damarius Bilbo and co. remarkably represented the second and third overall picks, among others. The prized clients are Chase Young and Jeff Okudah, both former Ohio State Buckeyes.
Team/Players Highlights:
63 – The SEC led all conferences with 63 players selected, the Big Ten came in second with 48, followed by the Pac-12 with 32
43 – Number of total players selected from LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, and Alabama, accounting for roughly 17% of all selections
38 – Number of wide receivers drafted (highest number of any position)
15 – Number of draft selections by the Minnesota Vikings, leading all teams
14 – Number of LSU Tigers selected, tied for the most ever from one school
4 – Number of draft selections by the New Orleans Saints, the least out of all teams
Draft All-Name Team: Tua Tagovailoa, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Fromm, Prince Tega Wanogho, Cassh Maluia, Bopete Keyes
First-round Miami Dolphins selection Austin Jackson saved his sister’s life by donating bone marrow last year.
The first defensive player drafted in 4 of the last 5 drafts have all been from Ohio State, this year being Chase Young. The exception came in 2017 when the Browns selected Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett
Justin Rohrwasser was the first specialist drafted, at pick #159 to the Patriots in the 5th round. In 2016, Tampa Bay selected kicker Robert Aguayo with pick #59 in the 2nd round.
15 years after the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers #24 overall as the heir to Brett Favre, the team traded up to #26 to draft Utah State Quarterback Jordan Love, a potential heir to Rodgers. Both Favre and Rodgers had just come off of their age-35 seasons.
View the entire Round 1-7 Draft spreadsheet below. If you are an agent who had a client(s) drafted and do not see your information listed, please let us know.
