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By Jordan Sigler
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With the trade deadline finally completed on Tuesday, NFL agents have been busy behind the scenes working with league front offices to decide on what destinations are the proper fit for their clients.
In the coming weeks, they'll be busy working to secure long-term contracts for the players who were traded to new teams.
Agents negotiate new contracts for their clients, but their work extends beyond the number you see when a new deal gets announced in free agency. They guide prospects through the pre-draft process to help players achieve a higher draft position and team fit.
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Once a player is with a team, the agent works as a liaison, giving an NFL front office an opportunity to speak candidly about a player without causing issues that could affect dynamics on the field.
The best agents know when to make a deal or when to take things into free agency. Agents have to know when they have leverage, and how best to use it. The worst thing an agent can do is ask a team with a client currently under contract for an inflated deal. Relationships can sour between the front office, player and agent, which could cause friction if the player walks into free agency and doesn't find a deal near the inflated price.
More news: Exclusive: Breakout NFL Executives Who Could Become Future General Managers
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More news: Sigler’s Mount Rushmore of NFL GMs
With that in mind, after talking to several general managers, executives and agents in and around the league, here are the top four NFL agents of all time in the modern era (1994 and beyond) and four agents who could eventually get on that list.
One thing worth mentioning in this timeline is that from 1994 to 2010, there was no rookie wage scale. Agents could ask for anything within the rookie allocation pool. To put it mildly, the business changed dramatically when the rookie wage scale was adopted in 2011. Rookie contracts dropped nearly 50% in 2011.
From that point on, there has been a designated defined value amount for each draft pick, taking away the negotiation ability from the agents and putting it squarely in the hands of the teams.
(Note: The names are in alphabetical order by first name.)
Ben Dogra (Nexus Sports and CAA)
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Ben Dogra was a force from 2001 to 2014, when he represented 54 first-round picks, the most of any agent during that time period. He negotiated approximately $1 billion+ in deals. He co headed CAA with Tom Condon and was the co-CEO at Relativity Sports. He was named the 6th most powerful sports agent by Sports Business Journal in 2008. He preferred to be under-the-radar and allowed the media and spotlight, unlike some high-profile agents.
Dogra was known for his excellent preparation before going into negotiations, often surprising executives by telling them what they were going to offer before the meeting started. He used his extensive knowledge of how NFL teams operate and inside information to predict the draft board, which helped his clients go in the first round. He used the same information for free agency, moving his clients to preferred destinations. He was relentless in his pursuit of the goals for his clients and was considered by many of his peers as a tireless individual and the best recruiter in the business.
His top clients included Adrian Peterson, Mario Williams, Patrick Willis, Richard Sherman, and A.J. Green.
Drew Rosenhaus (Rosenhaus Sports)
Rosenhaus is known for his hard work and dedication to the profession, representing hundreds of NFL players. He's negotiated over $7 billion worth of NFL deals. He is credited as being one of the hardest-working agents in the league, if not the most industrious agent. He got into the business in 1989, when he was just 22 years old.
Rosenhaus, also known as "The Shark," will do whatever it takes to help his clients in negotiations. He was reportedly the real-life inspiration for the character Bob Sugar in the movie "Jerry Maguire." In recent weeks, he took on Brandon Aiyuk as a client and is already working to find the wide receiver a new home after Aiyuk's long dispute with the San Francisco 49ers.
His top clients include Tyreek Hill, Terrell Owens, Jalen Carter, D.J. Moore and Nico Collins.
Eugene Parker
Parker served as a mentor for many agents mentioned on this list, including Dogra and Tory Dandy. He was enshrined in the National Sports Agent Hall of Fame in 2018. As one of the first Black lawyers to become a sports agent, he founded Parker & Associates, which later became Maximum Sports Management. He later became the CEO of Relativity Sports.
Parker oversaw $2 billion in NFL contracts before his death from cancer in 2016. In addition to his achievements as an agent, Parker was renowned for his philanthropic efforts. Sports Illustrated ranked Parker the 45th most influential minority in sports. He was considered by many around the league to be the best negotiator in the profession.
His client list includes Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Ndamukong Suh and Rod Woodson.
Tom Condon (CAA Football)
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Condon, a former offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, is considered by many to be the most powerful NFL agent in the modern era. He's best known for representing some of the top quarterbacks in the modern era, including Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford and Drew Brees.
From 1984 to 1986, Condon served as the president of the NFLPA, which gave him the unique advantage of having great insight into the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He's represented 79 first-round picks, including nine taken with the No. 1 selection.
His client list includes Quenton Nelson, Rashawn Slater, Tre'von Moehrig, Mike McGlinchey, and Josh Allen.
David Mulugheta (Athletes First)
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David Mulugheta is arguably the most powerful agent in the league today, though he came in right before the advent of the rookie wage scale. He joined Athletes First in 2010. In 2020, Forbes named Mulugheta as the top NFL agent. In 2024, he negotiated over $1+ billion in player contracts, which was the first time in history that an NFL agent had negotiated at least $1 billion in a year.
His client list includes Deshaun Watson, Micah Parsons, George Pickens, C.J. Stroud and Kyle Pitts.
Joel Segal (WIN Sports Group)
Joel Segal is a managing partner at WIN Sports Group. He's considered a pioneer in the industry, having secured his first first-round draft pick, cornerback Dale Carter, in 1992. He's gone on to represent over 50 first-round picks in his legendary career and has negotiated over $5 billion in deals. USA Today placed Segal on its "The NFL's 100 Most Important People" list.
His notable clients include Christian McCaffrey, Dexter Lawrence, Khalil Mack, Jaylen Waddle, and J.J. McCarthy.
Todd France (Athletes First)
Todd France broke out in 2005 when he scored three first-round picks: Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers and Georgia safety Thomas Davis. In 2024, he managed approximately $1.4 billion in active contracts. His superpower is in negotiating, continuously landing market-setting deals. He is considered one of the top deal makers in the league.
His client list includes Dan Prescott, Derrick Henry, Aaron Donald, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brian Burns.
Tory Dandy (Athletes First)
Tory Dandy learned under Eugene Parker at Maximum Sports Management. He worked at CAA before joining Athletes First as an equity partner in 2025. Dandy manages over $1.6 billion in active contracts in the NFL. He's well-known for his philanthropic efforts, including in the Woodruff, South Carolina, community.
Tory is known for being under-the-radar and is considered an elite recruiter.
His client list includes Trey Smith, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Patrick Surtain II, Nik Bonitto.
Honorable mentions: David Dunn, Lee Steinberg, Marvin Demoff, Ralph Cindrich. (These four men accomplished and pioneered significant contracts in the 1980s through the early 2000s and are all worthy of being in the NFL Sports Agents HOF).
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