kryptonite
AARP
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2012
- Messages
- 14,002
I know what you meant by the original number you threw out. I review NFL contracts almost every day to learn more, but few guys going in the early part of the first round are doing a 3% deal. Two drafts ago, only 9 first rounders got their contract 100% guaranteed, on the flip, only 9 first rounders this past year didn't get fully guaranteed contracts, but some guys got their's fully guaranteed despite players drafted ahead of them getting 75-77% guaranteed. This is from an agent negotiating on their behalf, and a 3% or less commission is well worth it more so speaking on the later end of the round, where an agent can get a fully guaranteed contract, against performance and injury, and you're protected. Even with a 3% commission, a guy at the end of the round can make 22% more if he gets hurt and can't play again vs a guy who didn't get his fully guaranteed. Rueben Foster is set to lose millions of dollars now, despite being a first rounder, because of the offset language in regards to his recent arrests.
A great example of what I was talking about above, in the 2016 draft, Artie Burns got selected with the 25th pick. His total contract amount was $9,590,981, but only $7,383,120 was guaranteed, or 76.98%. Robert Nkemdiche was selected with the 29th pick. His total contract amount was $8,600,601, nearly a million total less than Artie, but his guaranteed total is $8,150,600 or 94.77%, about $800,000 more than Artie who went 4 picks higher. Because Artie's agent didn't negotiate as good of a deal, they can both get cut or injured tomorrow and Nkemdiche comes out with roughly $800,000 more, if you ask me that's worth the price of an agent's commission if the agent is a smart and ruthless negotiator and won't take no for an answer.
I really think Jackson could've benefited from someone preparing him more pre-combine, and letting it know to teams beforehand that he's strictly a QB and won't workout as a receiver. I'm sure his mom loves him and is going to work hard for him, but there are countless examples and probably more bad than good of either parents or family getting involved in business with each other and leading to tension, stealing, arguments, and strained relationships. Couple that with has she ever performed a marketing deal before? Does she have previous relationships with other companies? Does she know the going rates of certain endorsement fields since many aren't public knowledge? Is she competent at all in negotiating a marketing deal? Sure he can "save" by not paying the agent's cut for endorsements, but he can lose out enormously by potential incompetence of his mother, no matter how good her work ethic or intentions are.
I get the argument for the first rounders, I think in most circumstances they're better off with an agent but its not an absolute. 2nd rounders with less guarantees it becomes much more iffy, but I think anyone in the 3rd-beyond range is absolutely crazy if they don't get one.
Obviously I have a bias because this is the profession I'm choosing to pursue, but I'm doing it for the right reasons and there are many in the industry that aren't. I want to help my former teammates and athletes in general, and be able to combine an interest in sports and law. I don't want to be an 'entertainer' like others who have come to sudden notoriety in the industry, or even someone in the spotlight. I see players getting screwed on contracts, not getting good advice, and signing with agents who have extremely shady backgrounds or multiple lawsuits against them by former clients, where a simple google search of some of these names shows the character of the people they're choosing to act as their 'representative' or extension of themselves.
With so much money involved it's a given there will be tons of shady people involved. I know people get dazzled by a big personality and lots of promises, but if my son needed an agent (and was spineless enough to let me pick) I'd go with someone who laid it out like you have. Probably not you (anybody who fits in here as well as you do probably shouldn't be trusted), but someone like you.
But seriously, I'm confident you're going to do well for yourself.