The Athletic's Agent Survey

[Mr. Scot]

The Athletic conducts an annual survey of player agents regarding various topics related to the NFL. This year, 26 player reps participated.

Excerpts with some items of interest (Panther related mentions highlighted)

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8. Among GMs and front-office leaders, who is the best talent evaluator?

Colts GM Chris Ballard (six votes)

• “He understands the players, he understands fit, his coaching staff and team culture.”

• “Ballard is phenomenal.”

Bills GM Brandon Beane (four votes)

• “Looking at the way they’ve improved under his tutelage, I think I’d put him at the top.”

Buccaneers GM Jason Licht (two votes)

• “You like a guy who was a scout like Ballard. He gets it. But it’s hard to put him first when he hasn’t won a Super Bowl. Licht has, and the Bucs hit on a lot of their picks.”

Broncos GM George Paton (two votes)

• “I’ve had players on George’s teams dating back to Minnesota. Based on conversations we’ve had about player development and talent acquisition, he’s always been someone that I’ve really truly respected.”

Others: Bills pro personnel director Malik Boyd, Texans GM Nick Caserio, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, Jets GM Joe Douglas, Panthers GM Scott Fitterer, Jets assistant GM Rex Hogan, former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters, Seahawks GM John Schneider, Giants GM Joe Schoen, Rams GM Les Snead, Chiefs GM Brett Veach

(Note: Ballard has received the most votes in this category in all four years we have conducted this survey. Paton was second with four votes last year.)

9. Among GMs and front-office leaders, whom do you trust the most?

Bills GM Brandon Beane (four votes)

Browns GM Andrew Berry (three votes)

• “I don’t always agree with him — or he doesn’t always agree with me — but he’s direct, and I trust him.”

Broncos GM George Paton (three votes)

• “If he says something, 99 percent of the time he actually does it, or if he doesn’t do it, he’s got a good reason why.”

• “Does a great job. Very honest. You always know where you stand with him. You may not like what you hear, but you’re going to hear the truth, and that’s all you ask for as an agent. John Schneider and Chris Ballard are the same, but George is best at communicating.”

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta (two votes)

Others: Ballard, Belichick, Boyd, Caserio, Fitterer, Cowboys college scouting coordinator Chris Hall, Raiders director of pro personnel Dwyane Joseph, Steelers GM Omar Khan, Titans GM Jon Robinson, Eagles GM Howie Roseman, Schneider, Rams GM Les Snead, Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf

• “No one. The team’s the enemy. They don’t care about us. We don’t care about them.”

(Note: Paton was first with 3.5 votes in this category last year. Berry also received three votes last year.)

10. Among GMs or front-office leaders, whom do you trust the least?

Eagles GM Howie Roseman (four votes)

• “I don’t trust what comes out of his mouth because he lied to me.”

• “I don’t think he’s very transparent. He kind of tells you what you think you want to hear. He does the same thing with the players.”

Jets front office (four votes)

• “I trust them the least, but (GM) Joe Douglas I actually trust as a man. There’s a lot of s— going on in that building, whether it’s (senior director, football administration) Dave Socie or their f—— ownership.”

• “Joe Douglas because he just doesn’t communicate. Just does not communicate at all.”

Jaguars GM Trent Baalke (two votes)

Others: Former Giants GM Dave Gettleman, Dolphins GM Chris Grier, Cardinals GM Steve Keim, Licht, Saints GM Mickey Loomis, 49ers GM John Lynch, Commanders GM Martin Mayhew, Ravens organization, Snead, Panthers VP of football administration Samir Suliman, Texans organization

(Note: Roseman also had the most votes in this category last year with seven. Douglas was third with three.)

11. Who is a future GM to watch?

Adam Peters, 49ers assistant GM (four votes)

• “He’s well overdue to be a GM. I just think he’s the best evaluator out there. I think there’s a few teams right now … that are really kicking themselves for not hiring him a couple of years ago.”

Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan (two votes)

Others: Falcons area scout Tokunbo Abanikanda, Dolphins assistant GM Marvin Allen, Boyd, Browns VP of player personnel Glenn Cook, Buccaneers director of football research Jacqueline Davidson, Giants national scout Mike Derice, Lions COO Mike Disner, Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, 49ers scout RJ Gillen, Cardinals director of player personnel Dru Grigson, Packers director of football operations Milt Hendrickson, Hogan, Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt, Raiders assistant GM Champ Kelly, Seahawks VP of player personnel Trent Kirchner, Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay, Buccaneers VP of player personnel John Spytek, Seahawks director of pro personnel Nolan Teasley, Eagles director of player personnel Charles Walls

• “I know that the Joneses treat (McClay) really well, and has the de facto GM feel in the building. If he ever wanted a GM job, he would be right at the very top of the list.

• “(Davidson) is as knowledgeable about football as anybody in the league and has a dynamic personality.”

(Note: Peters and Joe Schoen were among several who shared the lead in this category last year with two votes. Schoen was named Giants GM in January.)

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Full Article: NFL Agent Survey

Edited August 29, 2022 by Mr. Scot

[Mr. Scot]

NOTES:

- Beane being on the list of best evaluators hurts. He had little to no scouting experience while with the Panthers, but once in a while you find a guy who’s got a gift.

- Paton is a guy we interviewed during the cycle when we hired Gettleman. Don’t think he was interviewed last time but admittedly I didn’t check before posting this.

- Some guys we did interview when Fitterer was hired are listed in the honorable mentions to that question. They include Adam Peters. Nick Caserio and Joe Schoen. Happily, Fitterer is in there too.

- Beane and Paton also make the “most trusted” list. Again, Fitterer gets an honorable mention.

- Meanwhile, cap manager Samir Suleiman gets a vote in the least trusted list. Wonder what the story is there. His infamous  "throat slasher" comment could be a factor but it feels like it'd take more than just that.

- Dan Morgan draws a couple of votes on the “future GM” question, as does former Fitterer colleague (and former Panthers scout) Trent Kirchner, a guy I’d love to see return to Charlotte.

And lastly, there's a pretty extensive discussion of the Deshaun Watson deal. If you've got a subscription, I can recommend it as good reading.

 

[TheCasillas]

3 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Meanwhile, cap manager Samir Suleiman gets a vote in the least trusted list. Wonder what the story is there. His infamous  "throat slasher" comment could be a factor but it feels like it'd take more than just that.

I’d assume agents don’t like Samir. He is a hard ass when it comes to negotiating.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, TheCasillas said:

I’d assume agents don’t like Samir. He is a hard ass when it comes to negotiating.

That would garner dislike, but would it lead to distrust?

[BrianS]

I believe that the responders probably conflated dislike and distrust in the context of that question.  I suspect that the real answer is that none of them trust the other.

[Biscuit]

13 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

I’d assume agents don’t like Samir. He is a hard ass when it comes to negotiating.

 

11 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

That would garner dislike, but would it lead to distrust?

He probably 'adjusts' the contract after they leave his office.

[Mr. Scot]

8 minutes ago, BrianS said:

I believe that the responders probably conflated dislike and distrust in the context of that question.  I suspect that the real answer is that none of them trust the other.

Well, there's this guy...

• “No one. The team’s the enemy. They don’t care about us. We don’t care about them.”