Athletes First, a prominent sports agency representing NFL players, is making a bold move ahead of the NFL Draft. In an email sent to NFL teams last month, the agency directed its draft prospects to abstain from participating in any cognitive testing during the pre-draft evaluation process.
While the email didn’t mention Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud by name, it’s evident that the decision is a response to Stroud’s experience last spring. Stroud, represented by Athletes First, scored 18 out of 100 on the S2 test, a cognitive test requested by NFL teams in the pre-draft process.
Despite the low score, Stroud went on to be picked No. 2, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading Houston to the playoffs.
The email from Athletes First stated, “Our recent experience with these exams has been less than positive. It is not right for a player’s intelligence, aptitude, or mental processing to be subject to public discussion and ridicule — no other job interview carries the same scrutiny.
While our clients are happy to participate in the standard pre-draft physical activities and any football-based interviews or film review, we will not subject them to the wide variety of psychological tests.”
The move is significant, challenging the confidentiality and ethical concerns surrounding leaked test results. It highlights the agency’s commitment to protecting players from public scrutiny.
S2, the company behind the cognition test, has not commented on the matter. Athletes First represents 29 prospects in the 2024 class but does not represent a top quarterback in this year’s draft class.
As of now, other major player agencies have not issued a similar blanket ban on cognitive testing for their draft prospects. The decision by Athletes First could potentially shift the dynamics of the pre-draft evaluation process in the NFL.
