Mock drafts project BYU quarterback Zach Wilson to be as high as the No. 2 pick.getty images
WME Sports has signed several top prospects for the NFL draft, including BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, one of four quarterbacks expected to be taken in the first round. WME also signed University of Miami defensive end Jaelan Phillips and University of Florida cornerback Marco Wilson.
Agents Brian Ayrault and Ben Renzin, who left CAA Sports and joined WME Sports to start an on-the-field NFL player representation practice at the agency last year, are representing the players.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is widely viewed as the lock No. 1 pick. But Wilson has drawn much media attention, as he is seen as one of three at the all-important position vying to be the second pick. On the three CBS Sports mock drafts last week, one had him ranked No. 2, another had him at No. 3 and another had him as the No. 4 selection.
“[Wilson] is competing with Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who are superior athletes and therefore teams could fall in love with their perceived higher upside,” said Rob Rang, a longtime NFL draft analyst and consultant to NFLDraftScout.com. “Wilson is much further along as a traditional pocket passer, however, and is the safest QB prospect in this class, other than presumed No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence.”
QB LIMITED SIGNS BOOK: Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book has signed with QB Limited, the agency created by veteran NFL agent Tim Younger to focus on representing players at that position.
Younger, who counts Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph among his clients, will represent Book, who is the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history.
“What he does is he manages to win,” Younger said. “He wins no matter what it takes, but he wins.”
Book’s career statistics at Notre Dame include 1,518 yards rushing as well as 8,948 passing. He is not seen as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, however, and one reason for that is his height. He is a shade under 6-foot-1.
“If this were five years ago, that would be a much bigger issue,” Younger said of Book’s height. “But right now in the NFL, all of that is changing. You are going to see more guys like this who are able to move. In today’s NFL you have to be able to extend plays.”
Rang said Book is viewed as a mid-round selection, because he lacks the physical traits NFL clubs want at the position.
“He is so gutsy, though, and has plenty of arm and mobility,” Rang said. “He is the kind of quarterback who enters the league as a backup, gets a chance and ‘surprises’ everyone when he has success. He is a winner and his teammates play hard for him.”
BEGREAT SIGNS TWO: BeGreat Sports has signed Texas safety Caden Sterns and Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher for representation in the NFL draft. Agency founder and NFL agent Barry Gardner will represent both players, each of whom was a captain of their respective college football teams.
“They have great character and they are mentally tough and they want to be great at the game of football but also at life,” Gardner said. “They are very well-rounded young men; they are super intelligent. They were leaders of their teams.”
Rang said Sterns has a shot of being a top-75 pick. “Caden Sterns is among a handful of really good safeties in this class,” Rang said. “He possesses the size, range and ball skills to project as a starter early in his career.”
Fisher is likely a late-round selection. “But he’s another winner with the size, instincts and physicality every team is looking for in a traditional middle linebacker,” Rang said.
Gardner, a former NFL linebacker, launched BeGreat in the summer of 2018. Last year, he represented Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor, a second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor, with 1,169 yards rushing, led all rookie running backs and was third in the NFL, behind Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry and Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook this past season.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
