Four players projected to be top picks in this year's NFL draft selected agents last week, and firms IMG, SFX Football, Priority Sports & Entertainment and Steinberg Tollner & Moon were the big winners.
Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning signed with IMG Football President Tom Condon. Manning is expected to be the No. 1 pick by many draft prognosticators, and Condon's selection was widely expected because he represents Manning's older brother, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL draft. Asked whether he expected Eli Manning to be this year's top pick, Condon said, "The NFL player personnel make all those determinations. I think he is a very fine player."
SFX Football managing director Ben Dogra confirmed that he had signed University of Texas wide receiver Roy Williams, who is projected as the No. 2 pick on ESPN draft prognosticator Mel Kiper's list. "It is a great signing," Dogra said. "This is a terrific player and he comes from a terrific family." Dogra said he thinks Williams is one of five players who could be picked No. 1.
Williams' mother, Chris Hill, said Dogra impressed her by researching Williams' football career back to elementary school.
"[Dogra] is down-to-earth and he seems like he cares about people," said Hill. She said she talked to other agents but felt they just wanted to represent her son without taking the time to get to know him or his family.
Agent Leigh Steinberg signed Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (see "Steinberg’s new agency lands prize QB"), who some agents say will give Manning a fight to become the first quarterback picked. Steinberg said he has a good chance of being the top overall pick and will be extremely marketable as well.
"[Roethlisberger] is an articulate, handsome Midwestern role model who will be extremely attractive to advertisers," Steinberg said.
Rick Smith, a partner in Priority Sports & Entertainment, signed Iowa offensive tackle Robert Gallery. Smith said he thinks Gallery, Manning and Roethlisberger all have a chance to be No. 1. "Honestly, I feel those three will battle it out," he said.
The last offensive tackle to be picked No. 1 was Orlando Pace of the St. Louis Rams in 1997.
Smith had a connection to Gallery before he knew he would be a top pick. When Gallery was about 16, Smith signed his brother, Nick Gallery, an undrafted punter, who bounced around the NFL with several teams before retiring from football.
Smith said his representation of Robert Gallery's brother was "a little bit of a factor" in signing him. "I think I did a good job for his brother and he saw that, but at the end of the day he and I had a connection," he said. "Robert and I clicked."
