When the NFL draft gets underway Thursday, Shane Costa will be checking in with people from coast to coast to see how they鈥檙e doing. A Buffalo-based agent with Generation Sports Group, Costa knows the emotional toll waiting can take on players and their families.
As each pick goes by, players are still waiting. Some will wait all the way through Saturday, their emotions running the spectrum, hopeful every time their phone lights up.
Costa, who represents Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreesen among other players, knows that the NFL draft can be life-changing, but that it鈥檚 also only one step. Andreesen, a University at Buffalo product, went undrafted last season, but he still carved out a role for his hometown team last season as a rookie.
For players anxious to hear their names, and for those watching each selection as it happens, Costa gives a look behind the scenes.
People are also reading…
1. Be ready to wait.
Costa is honest with prospects about how the three days can really feel. 鈥淚 tell clients all the time, at the outset, before drafting happens 鈥 it鈥檚 a really stressful day,鈥 Costa said. 鈥淣o matter where they鈥檙e getting picked, if they鈥檙e supposed to be a first-round pick, a Day 2 pick, a Day 3 pick, it doesn鈥檛 matter. It鈥檚 stressful. 鈥 Day 3 in particular is a super-long day: (starts) at noon; Round 7 ends at like 6:30 or 7 (p.m.); and it鈥檚 just a long time. And you see a bunch of people at your position that are taken, and there鈥檚 always questions or wondering how this happened. And it can just be really hard. 鈥 It鈥檚 not until it鈥檚 over that you really can breathe a sigh of relief and kind of enjoy it for a little bit, and then, you know, get packed up and ready to go for rookie minicamp in your city.鈥
2. A hectic atmosphere.
Costa will set up in Clarence, in a room with plenty going on at once.
鈥淲e have office space, and we set up a pretty big war room ourselves as well,鈥 Costa said. 鈥淲e have every team鈥檚 death chart. We track every team鈥檚 pick. We have statistics and some analytics that we鈥檝e run on the percentages, that players 鈥 as they go undrafted, what roster fit would be best, and just some historical trends. That鈥檚 one of those types of breakdowns 鈥 we have for each player. We have spreadsheets (keeping) track of the various teams at our interest level and where we see them potentially going their best fit. 鈥 As the picks kind of roll in, and there鈥檚 some other teams waiting, we can just kind of communicate and keep lines open with teams as well. They鈥檒l often be calling me, checking on guys. And we鈥檙e just trying to have opened up all call throughout the process. And help as much as we can.鈥
3. Be ready for anything.
Even with players dreaming about going early, Costa and his team always prepare for all outcomes. It鈥檚 not from a place of pessimism; rather, it鈥檚 in the players鈥 best interest if they do go undrafted.
鈥淲e prep every single player 鈥 unless they鈥檙e a first-round pick 鈥 we prep every single player for the undrafted free agency process, just because it happens quick,鈥 Costa said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of fast-paced, and you鈥檝e got to make a career decision where you鈥檙e going to go play sometimes in a matter of 30 seconds.鈥
4. Keep it in perspective.
With emotions running high, Costa is constantly reminding players and families that this is just one step in their journey, no matter where they end up or how they get there. He has a timely example to point to.
鈥淲hat I always tell players is, 鈥楾he draft is just the beginning,鈥 鈥 Costa said. 鈥淚 think if any player looks at this whole process 鈥 from when they finished college to starting to train for the pros 鈥 if you look at draft days as the goal line, the finish line, that鈥檚 the wrong way to look at it. It鈥檚 just the beginning. And it really isn鈥檛 where you start; it鈥檚 where you finish. I鈥檝e enjoyed the last year telling people Joe Andreessen鈥檚 story, where he was a rookie mini camp guy. And you go, 鈥楲ook at him, and look where he ended up.鈥 And every year, about half of seventh-round picks get cut, and there are fifth- and sixth-round picks that get cut, you know? And so, if you look at the draft as your goal, you鈥檙e missing your whole career, right? I mean, you鈥檝e got to look at this as: 鈥楾his is just the start.鈥 鈥
5. In the end, it鈥檚 all worth it.
Even with a high-stress environment, Costa still knows the draft brings about special moments.
鈥淲hen a player gets drafted, the absolute elation and happiness the agents feel for that player and his family, knowing it鈥檚 such a life-changing outcome and a dream come true is truly one of the highs that we have as agents, a special experience,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd when they鈥檙e there with their families, and there鈥檚 happy tears, and they鈥檙e excited for their careers to begin 鈥 I mean, when you鈥檙e an agent, part of that process, there鈥檚 nothing like it. And then, you know, later on to the next player, and wait until he gets drafted, too, and dreams come true. So, it鈥檚 a stressful day, but when it鈥檚 all wrapped up and done, and all your clients are just thrilled to be in the NFL. There鈥檚 nothing like it.鈥
