Report: Athletes First agency refuses to have clients particpate in NFL Draft cognitive, pyschological assessments for second-straight year

NFL draft prospects who are represented by Athletes First will not participate in any cognitive and psychological assessments. This is the second consecutive year the Athletes First players will not take part in the tests.

For the second straight year, the agents at [Athletes First] notified all 32 NFL teams today their draft-eligible clients will ‘respectfully pass’ on any cognitive or psychological assessments, sources say,” NFL insider Mike Garafolo wrote on X. “The agency led the charge on players refraining from such tests in 2024.”

Garafolo shared more in a follow-up post. He wrote, “The agency cited past experience with publicly leaked results as reasoning for refraining from such tests. The firm said their clients will participate in pre-draft physical activities and football-based interviews and film review.”

Why Athletes First made the move before the 2024 NFL Draft

Athletes First didn’t have its players in the cognitive and psychological testing after CJ Stroud scored 18 out of 100 in an S2 test in 2023. The S2 test is one of several cognitive tests that NFL teams request players take during the draft process. Stroud, represented by David Mulugheta of Athletes First, was selected by the Houston Texans at No. 2 overall in the draft and went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“We understand that many of your teams use these tests or protocols as part of your prospect evaluation process, however our recent experience with these exams has been less than positive,” Athletes First said in an email last year, per The Athletic. “Specifically, the fact that certain results and performance were leaked publicly last year demonstrates that there truly is no confidentiality with these tests. 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.”

Athletes First is an agency that represents NFL players, coaches and, and college coaching personnel. The agency is based in Southern California but has satellite offices in New York City, NY, Gainesville, FL, Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA.