Athletes First returned to the top of the agency leaderboards in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft from Pittsburgh. The Laguna Hills-based agency finished the night with nine selections in its first victory in three years, putting an end to CAA Sports’ two-year win streak in dominant fashion.
The agency represented two picks within the top five and four within the top 10. Clients selected include Jets EDGE David Bailey, Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love, Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane, Browns OL Spencer Fano, Ravens OL Vega Ioane, Buccaneers EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Vikings DT Caleb Banks, Steelers OT Max Iheanachor and Titans EDGE Keldric Faulk. The agency’s Travis Allen and Kyle McCarthy stood above most of the field, representing three clients each. It’s among one of the top performances, if not the best, Athletes First has ever had in an NFL Draft, topping its 2020, 2021 and 2023 draft classes, which each had eight selections.
Still, none other than Ryan Tollner and Excel Sports had the privilege of claiming the top selection, Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza. Tollner also had a very successful night, also representing Cowboys S Caleb Downs and co-representing Panthers OT Monroe Freeling with fellow Excel agent Chase Callahan, tying him for first place among agents for the most clients represented.
Though CAA Sports had to wait till nearly halfway through the draft to see a client selected, the agency still reeled in three total selections with Rams QB Ty Simpson, Lions OT Blake Miller and Bears S Dillon Thieneman. However, 2026 is the weakest performance the Hollywood-based agency has had in round one from a pure numbers perspective since 2015 when CAA only represented one client.
This year also marks the strong return of VaynerSports to the first round. The N.Y.-based agency represented two first-rounders this year with Commanders LB Sonny Styles and Seahawks RB Jadarian Price. VaynerSports hasn’t had a first round pick since 2022. This is also the second year in a row Lil Wayne’s Young Money APAA Sports represented a first-rounder. Other notable victories include those for WIN Sports Group, GSE Worldwide, The Familie, Priority Sports, AthElite Agency and On Time Agency, which each represented their first ever round one selections.
