Athletes First is directing its NFL Draft prospects to not take part in any cognitive testing within the pre-draft analysis course of this yr. One of many main businesses representing NFL gamers, Athletes First emailed NFL groups final month to inform them of the choice.
Three executives for 2 completely different NFL golf equipment confirmed that they obtained the e-mail.
“After a lot inside dialogue, the brokers at Athletes First have directed our draft prospects to respectfully cross on taking part in any cognitive or psychological testing in the course of the pre-draft course of (e.g. AIQ, S2, and so forth.),” the e-mail learn.
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud shouldn’t be talked about by title, however this new directive is a transparent response to Stroud’s expertise final spring. In April, veteran NFL author Bob McGinn, a former contributor to The Athletic, reported Stroud scored an 18 out of a attainable 100 on the S2 check, considered one of a number of cognitive exams that NFL groups request gamers take within the pre-draft course of.
Stroud, who’s represented by David Mulugheta of Athletes First, was ultimately picked No. 2 earlier than profitable Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors and main Houston to the playoffs.
“We perceive that a lot of your groups use these exams or protocols as a part of your prospect analysis course of, nonetheless our current expertise with these exams has been lower than constructive,” the e-mail continued. “Particularly, the truth that sure outcomes and efficiency have been leaked publicly final yr demonstrates that there really isn’t any confidentiality with these exams. It isn’t proper for a participant’s intelligence, aptitude or psychological processing to be topic to public dialogue and mock — no different job interview carries the identical scrutiny.
“Whereas our purchasers are joyful to take part in the usual pre-draft bodily actions and any football-based interviews or movie evaluation, we is not going to topic them to the big variety of psychological exams.”
As of publication, a number of Athletes First brokers had not responded to The Athletic’s request for remark. A consultant from S2 declined to remark.
The S2 cognition check was first utilized by NFL groups earlier than the 2016 draft; the Nashville-based firm is presently below contract with half of the league’s 32 groups. The check has risen in prominence lately, touted for its capacity to measure a participant’s cognitive capacity — particularly, quarterbacks.
A nine-part battery of exams, the S2 — in contrast to its Wonderlic predecessor — doesn’t measure an athlete’s intelligence however as a substitute their processing velocity, response time and talent to digest data and reply below duress. It lasts round 45 minutes, and it’s accomplished utilizing a specially-designed gaming laptop computer and response pad that tracks sample recognition and impulse management. In 2022, the NFL introduced it could cease administering the Wonderlic.
Athletes First represents 29 prospects within the 2024 class, together with gamers like Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner, LSU huge receiver Brian Thomas, Oregon deal with Taliese Fuaga, Oklahoma deal with Tyler Guyton, Oregon middle Jackson Powers-Johnson and Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. The company doesn’t characterize a high quarterback on this yr’s draft class.
The Athletic reached out to brokers for 2 different main participant businesses, and every stated their businesses had not issued any blanket ban much like Athletes First.
— Zak Keefer contributed to this report.
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