• Aaron Curry, LB, Seattle Seahawks (4th overall pick) – Octagon
• Andre Smith, T, Cincinnati Bengals (6th overall pick) – GMG Sports (Alvin Keels)
• Eugene Monroe, T, Jacksonville Jaguars (8th overall pick) – 320 Sports
• B.J. Raji, DL, Green Bay Packers (9th overall pick) – Athletes First
• Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers (10th overall pick) – Maximum Sports (Eugene Parker)
• Aaron Maybin, DE, Buffalo Bills (11th overall pick) – BEST (Blue Equity)

Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the company with the most amount of first-round selections (9), has all of its clients in camp with Malcolm Jenkins putting pen to paper on a 5-year, $19 million deal.  While the rest of the agencies listed are hoping to get exorbitant contracts for their clients, to use the figures in their recruitment packages for the 2010 class of draft-eligible players, CAA can boast that not only did the company have the highest number of first-round picks, but got them all signed before other big companies like Athletes First and Octagon, small companies with 1 first-round pick like 320 Sports, and signed their boys for good money.  You better believe that Todd France of FAAM will be using the same strategy on the recruitment trail over the next year.

Which method will win out?  The agents who have their clients holdout/threaten to sit out a year well into training camp, or those who get their boys signed for good money and get their boys into camp before the middle of August?

Apparently there is a big battle between Athletes First and CAA, and both firms are waiting to see what Eugene Parker does with Michael Crabtree’s contract (pick #10).  The agencies with first round picks should be careful not to extend this process too long.  It is okay when a few players hold out of camp, but if practically the entire first round of picks is sitting on the sidelines, we will start hearing more cries for a slotting system like the NBA uses on first round picks.  And NBA agents often do not take a cut on the first contracts of first round picks.  NFL agents would lose a lot of sleep over that idea.

It has been a while since Dunn’s 18 month suspension handed down by the NFLPA, and it surely does not seem to be affecting his business.  In the segment with Berger, Dunn started off discussing the process behind the rise of Mark Sanchez leading up to the draft.  He admitted that he does not have very much control over draft day and that its actually his clients who can influence their draft stock through workouts, visits with potential suitors, etc.  Interestingly, Dunn and Athletes First represent both Sanchez and his competitor for the starting job on the Jets, Kellen Clemens.  Dunn dodged a conflict of interest question posed by Berger pretty effectively.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com also brought up the conflict of interest yesterday.

Every agent should want his client to be a starter — and should be doing everything he can to make the case for the player to start.

Clemens needs an agent who’ll be doing just that.  And Sanchez needs an agent who’ll do the same, especially since his contract will have a big-money one-time bonus triggered by participating in 35 percent of the snaps this year, of which Dunn will get a fee.

Dunn, however, has no choice but to keep his head low and his mouth shut.  So, neither guy will be getting the best possible representation.

It’s a conflict of interest.  And one of the two players should hire a new agent.

Though, on the surface, Dunn and his colleagues at Athletes First might not appreciate our decision to raise this point, Dunn likely would be relieved if Clemens decided to hire another guy, so that Dunn could then begin doing everything he can to ensure that Sanchez will be the Week One starter.

As far as marketing Sanchez, Dunn stated that his approach to marketing is more conservative than most for incoming rookies.  His philosophy is to let the players’ performance on the field help them on the marketing end.  So don’t expect Sanchez to have any huge national media campaigns anytime soon, but do expect Sanchez to take at least a few jobs in the NY region.

Besides talking about Sanchez, Dunn discussed the collective bargaining talks and how he is not as opposed to a rookie cap as many in our profession are.  He represents a lot of veterans and does not mind more money going to them instead of unproven rookies.

Berger’s last question was: What is it really like to be an agent?  Dunn responded by saying that he has taken a few red-eyes and coach lately, had his kid throw his phone in the toilet, and talked to owners of teams while changing his kid’s diaper, but he loves his job.

In second was Octagon, followed by Priority Sports.  Both agencies had a good spread.  After those three came CAA, who was extremely top heavy, as I have noted in prior posts.  Not a single one of CAA’s 11 clients drafted were picked later than the third round.

Neil also breaks down the agencies into 3 categories: Major, Mid-Major, and Boutique.  Goalline Sports, National Sports, and PlayersRep led the Mid-Majors with 5 clients of each agency selected.  The Boutique agency with the most success was Metro Sports, who had a 5th rounder and two 6th rounders.