Neil Stratton
@InsideTheLeague
Followers
13K
Following
50K
Media
711
Statuses
8K
Author of Moving the Chains & ScoutSpeak. Best NFL Draft Award. Leader in Agent Exam Prep. https://t.co/Ss1QYEnVHl. Friday Wrap. We help 🏈 people.
Houston, TX
Joined December 2009
Annual reminder:.-- #NFL scouts' contracts typically last May 1 to April 30, and are usually two-year deals. -- For this reason, teams typically make decisions on their scouts' contracts post-draft. -- It's like this every year. -- The team's draft has zero (0) impact on this.
1
10
70
Expecting an announcement soon re: #Bucs area scout Tony Kinkela heading north for a more senior role w/#Patriots. Kinkela spent 13 yrs in TB & helped team win the Best Draft Award for their work in ’20 (Wirfs, Winfield, etc.). Has worked for @WSUCougarFB & @GreenWaveFB.
17
67
390
Mike Derice, who has spent a decade as an area scout w/the #Colts, is the latest addition to the #Giants scouting dept. His expected role is national scout. Derice played, graduated from, and served as DFO for @StonyBrookFB & has worked w/the @WeAreAFCA convention.
17
61
339
Congratulations to the Detroit #Lions, winners of the sixth annual Best Draft Award. Here's ITL's Neil Stratton with GM Brad Holmes and several members of the team's scouting staff.
9
51
319
AJ Highsmith, formerly a #Bills national scout, is the #Titans new Director of Scouting & will have college & pro duties in his new role. The son of #Patriots exec Alonzo Highsmith, AJ interviewed w/multiple teams this cycle. Also spent 5 yrs w/#49ers & played for @CanesFootball.
7
79
325
A story I heard today is emblematic of ’23 draft offseason:. -Player commits to agency.-Agency hears 7/UDFA grades, tells kid to go back.-Agency lands $350K NIL deal at P5 school.-Goes from 50-50 to make NFL roster to staying in school, still making 1/2 what he woulda made in NFL.
6
13
305
#Vikings area scout Kevin McCabe passed away Saturday after a long battle with leukemia. A Princeton grad, McCabe was a fixture on the West Coast, covering the area for more than 2 decades for Minn. He also led the RB group @ the Combine. Our thoughts and prayers are w/his family
25
27
269
#Bears area scout Scott Hamel is headed to the #Giants as the newest member of new GM Joe Schoen's staff. Hamel joined Chicago in 2015 as a combine scout after 4+ yrs with @NUFBFamily. Exact role TBA.
7
43
262
Miami RB Mark Walton, a junior who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Oct., has signed with Zac Hiller of ZHS Sports and will declare for the 2018 #NFL Draft.
10
136
213
David Blackburn is the latest impressive addition to the #Commanders front office. A 2021 BART List honoree, Blackburn spent 17 seasons in the highly regarded #Ravens front office, where he was Director of College Scouting in ’23. He’ll be the new Director of Player Personnel.
6
49
228
Another big hire in Washington: The #Commanders have added Dwaune Jones as national scout. Jones was most recently Asst Dir of College Scouting for the #Falcons, but he's also served w/the #Ravens & #Saints. Has been part of teams that drafted Michael Thomas, Lamar Jackson, more.
7
71
203
Excited to be a part of this exciting new league. Let’s go!.
As we prepare for the 2023 season, we’re prioritizing our ability to recruit high-quality, talented players. Our new scouting partnerships with @InsideTheLeague and FBXchange will support and enhance our football ops department—ensuring athletes have the best shot at going pro.
21
14
188
Jack Quagliarello, who spent last season as a scouting assistant with the #49ers, is following new #Commanders GM Adam Peters to Washington as a pro scout. A true grinder, Quagliarello has done stints w/the #Jets & #Colts as well as @NUFBFamily, @CuseFootball & the @SeniorBowl.
3
50
178
Dustin Regan, who spent the last 7 yrs heading BLESTO, one of two subscriber scouting services for #NFL teams, has stepped down as Exec Director. He'll take a job as area scout w/the #Commanders, covering the Southeast. Regan previously interned w/the #Eagles for the '11 season.
10
49
175
Chris White, the #Bears' Assistant Director of Pro Scouting since 2022, has disappeared from the team's website. We've heard he's headed to the #Commanders, where he'll be Director of Pro Scouting. White also interned w/the #Lions in 2013 and played OL at @FAUFootball.
6
56
169
#Bears GM Ryan Poles is reorganizing the scouting staff. --Asst Dir of College Scouting Breck Ackley will be promoted to Director. --Sr. National Scout Francis St. Paul will be promoted to Asst Director. --Area Scouts Brendan Rehor & John Syty will be promoted to National Scout.
2
38
162
#Titans will name Patrick Woo their new College Scouting Coordinator. Woo, who joined @Titans after several years with the @seniorbowl, was a scouting assistant with the team who was hired after the 2018 #NFLDraft. Patrick is a @PennStateAlums who has also interned w/#Eagles.
11
23
153
Just got off the phone w/an #NFL scout. Trying to get a job in the NFL? His two pieces of advice: . -- Do research on the person you’re emailing. Try to make a connection. Form emails go to the trash. -- Ask for advice, not a job. Some scouts get >20 emails a day. Do it right.
8
27
157
Sometimes the respect of your peers is not enough. #Bears Sr. National Scout Sam Summerville, who was voted to the BART List as one of the best NFC scouts for ’22, will not be w/Chicago in '24. Summerville was also named NFC Scout of the Year by the Fritz Pollard Alliance in '19.
7
38
130
Per New Orleans' website (, Ziad Qubti is the new College Scouting Coordinator for the #Saints. Qubti was most recently Asst to the Head Coach for @LATechFB & was a student asst for @TexasTechFB. This will be his first #NFL role.
1
26
131
What a blessing to be married to this crazy beautiful girl 23 years as of today! Love you @pstratt!! Would do it all over again.
19
1
129
Congratulations to new #Giants National Scout & 2022 BART List Award winner Marcus Cooper, who was honored by his peers as one of the top scouts in the NFC at this year's @USIHoldings ITL Combine Seminar Presented By @american_10s.
2
17
123
After 4 yrs w/the team, #Eagles Director of Pro Scouting Dwayne Joseph is headed to the #Raiders. There, he's expected to fill the role of pro director, which has been vacant since January. Joseph has also worked w/the #Bears & #Dolphins. #NFLScouts.
1
58
114
Check and mate. Eliot was honored by his peers as one of the 10 best scouts/executives in the AFC in 2021 (AFC BART List). Whether or not he holds the GM title, this is long overdue.
Worth noting for the #Patriots: It appears Eliot Wolf will be in charge of the personnel department, with control of the 53-man roster working closely with Jerod Mayo, sources say. Matt Groh will mostly handle college scouting, with Pat Stewart heavily involved in all aspects.
3
9
116
Tokunbo Abanikanda, who was voted to the 2022 BART List by his peers as one of the best scouts in the NFC, is the new Director of College Scouting for the #Falcons. "Tumbo" joined the team in 2012 after a playing career at @SouthernMissFB.
0
13
109
Former #Rams scout Danton Barto, 50, has passed away. Bart played LB at @MemphisFB and also coached indoor football. Those of us who knew him count ourselves as very blessed. Please pray for his family. Football world has lost a good man.
14
19
106
Happy Easter, everyone, from the Stratton family! He is Risen!
7
2
101
Today, I recorded my first-ever podcast. It's called the Best Player Available Podcast, and I'll be discussing the 2017 #NFLDraft with ex-scouts for 10 wks. Today, it's ex-#Titans exec Blake Beddingfield. I'd appreciate you giving it a listen. #NowPlaying.
5
25
99
The #Patriots have added Bob Kronenberg as the new Assistant Director of Pro Scouting. Kronenberg spent a decade w/the #Falcons in both scouting and coaching roles. He also had a lengthy playing career, going to two #NFL camps & playing in the @OfficialAFL, @CFL & NFL Europe.
0
26
95
Former #Patriots pro scout Ronnie McGill is now with the #Texans in a similar role. McGill, a former @TarHeelFootball RB, spent a decade w/New England before parting ways w/the team this spring. Helps fill the vacancy created when 2 Houston pro scouts exited in February.
3
17
93
Wanna know which #NFL agents are under the most duress today? They represent the players listed as "best still available." They are seeing $30K-$50K investments getting much harder to recoup (while often dealing w/parents & players that blame them for fall).
3
25
93
The #Titans have moved 2 scouting assts into full-time roles. Blaise Taylor will be a pro scout for the '21 season, while Matthew Miller will be a college scout (area TBA). Miller played OL for @BadgerFootball, while Taylor played DB @ @AStateFB. Both joined team in '19. #NFL.
1
30
95
DJ Boisture, who spent a decade w/the #Giants, finishing up as the West Coast scout, has parted ways with the team. His father, Tom, was a longtime NYG executive. The younger Boisture started as a Giants intern in 2012. More changes expected.
5
21
91
Lots of prospective #NFL agents ask me, how do I network w/scouts? Unless you had a prior relationship with a scout (ex-teammate, family relationship, went to college with him), you’re not going to have scouts as friends until you have clients that are prospects. Simple as that.
12
10
93
Per the #Jaguars website:. --John Stevenson promoted to Asst Dir of College Scouting.--Ryan Stamper promoted to National Scout.--Tyler Walker, Mickeel Stewart & Holden McAbee promoted to College Scout.--Jason DesJarlais moved to Pro Scout.--Max Rosenthal hired as Scouting Asst.
0
16
89
While voters decide who to send to Washington this fall, people in Washington are pretty happy w/a guy who's already there, new #Commanders GM Adam Peters. We comb through his big wk of front office moves (& review the '24 draft) in the Wrap. Register here
2
14
85
So you're a QB thinking about declaring for the #NFLDraft? Here are the numbers: . 80 signed with agents. 13 drafted. 13 signed as UDFAs. 26 got tryout invitations (no contract; none made rosters).20 made a 53/PS. Are you sure you're in the top 25 percent of all QBs in '19?.
5
34
85
So long, @ShrineBowl. It’s been real. Real quick. But a great day of practices and lots of great feedback on Year 2 in Vegas. Next stop Mobile for @seniorbowl. Let’s get it
2
2
88
@davebirkett FWIW, @davebirkett, I know the #Lions will be adding one seasoned evaluator who has gotten a lot of picks right over the years. Not sure of role & probably after the draft. But based on who's coming & who's in-house, I would be really optimistic about what Holmes is assembling.
5
15
87
Joy to the World! The Lord is come! Merriest of Christmases from the Strattons and the entire ITL family.
8
1
88
#49ers scouting executive Ethan Waugh is expected to switch coasts and conferences to take a high-level role this week. SF was voted winner of the Best Draft Award by #NFL scouts for the team's work in 2019 (Bosa, Deebo, etc.). Waugh played a major role. #DUUVAALLLLL.
2
14
86
Chris Rossetti has been promoted from pro scout to Asst Director of Pro Scouting by the #Dolphins after 6 yrs in Miami. The former DPP of the @TorontoArgos, Rossetti played QB at the Univ. of Guelph (@uofg) in Ontario, Canada. #NFL @MiamiDolphins.
1
19
80
Ex-#Falcons scout Bruce Plummer holds the watch as #ULL LB Jacques Boudreaux (@JockBossBomber) runs the 40 in our 1st ITL-assisted pro day of the wk. @ 6112/223, 4.59 40/4.26 SS! @CavignacSports #NFLDraft2020
0
21
83
Last night, former #Bills GM @DougWhaley9 spoke to about 30 current, former & aspiring #NFL scouts about how to construct a roster as well as a front office. Here are three interesting points he made
8
12
79
In last wk's Friday Wrap, we had praise for many top #NFL liaisons in college football as provided by active scouts. Still, some, like @CuseFootball's @roywittke, didn't get their due. We've scraped up the responses we couldn't include and tossed them here
1
1
12
Former #WFT pro personnel director Jeff Scott, who interviewed with at least two teams, has resurfaced as a pro scout with the #Eagles. Scott spent 9 yrs in Washington, mostly on pro side, & played at @DavidsonCollege. #NFLDraft.
1
31
74
Happy Thanksgiving and God’s blessings from the #ITL home team! If you’re reading this, we appreciate you.
4
0
78
Does anyone at the NFL care that they are endorsing an entertainer who has a very visible sports agency? Seems like a conflict of interest to me.
15
13
74
Hajriz Aliu (@HajrizFB), who spent last season as a scouting assistant for @UCLAFootball, has been hired as a scouting assistant with the #Browns. Aliu, who played OLB at @PLUFootball, was part of the inaugural @CGSAllStar's CGSU scouting internship in January. Congratulations!.
1
27
74
One other thing -- if you're a college student & aspire to be an #NFL scout, run -- don't walk -- to the football office & volunteer. Working in football, esp. at the P5 level, is the very best (only real?) path to a job in pro football player evaluation.
4
16
72
Eighty trips around the sun for this guy! I’m so blessed to have been around for 55 of them. #Happybirthday to the best dad of all time (and my van driver for the ‘08 Hula Bowl), Walt Stratton!
3
2
76
So #NFL scout hiring season is pretty much done. If you're still on the outside looking in, here are a few tips that might make 2025 more fruitful if you hope to be a pro evaluator one day
2
15
74
The #Titans have begun restructuring. Max Curtis is the new Player Personnel Coord (Coord, Football Admin/Exec Asst to EVP/GM last yr). Bryce Wasserman is Dir, Team Strategy (staff counsel last yr). Finally, John Streicher is now Dir of Football Admin (Football Dev Coord last yr).
3
21
73
@UMichFootball TE Zach Gentry has signed with an agent and will enter the 2019 #NFLDraft. #NFL #Wolverines.
13
44
70
Chris Prescott is the new Assistant Director of College Personnel of @GatorsFB. Prescott, who will help w/the portal & scout UF as well as other teams' players, has previously served with the #Jaguars, #Jets & #Bears as well as, most recently, the @seniorbowl.
2
12
71
Jeremy Gray (@the2ndCoachGray), who spent a year at @ArizonaFBall as Coordinator of College Scouting, is the new Asst Dir of Pro Scouting for the #Eagles, per his LinkedIn page: Gray previously served w/the #Vikings & played for @SMUFB. @BillyEmbody 1st.
4
29
72
The #Colts have promoted Jamie Moore (at right) to Asst Dir of College Scouting. Moore, who joined the team in '06, is the latest member of the BART List to be promoted this offseason. The Colts evaluator was voted one of the 10 best scouts in the AFC by his peers in Sept.
1
13
70
Brad Obee, who spent the last 3 seasons as an area scout w/the #Eagles, is the new Midwest scout for the #Panthers. Obee, a @Penn_State grad, spent 15 yrs in a number of roles in Philly as well as 6 w/the #Bears, mostly on the pro side. He also spent a yr interning w/NFL Matchup.
1
19
71
If you're an aspiring #NFL scout, there's no better place to be than at @CGSAllStar this weekend, where our scout school, CGSU, is under way (here are a few "students"). We discuss why CGSU has so many success stories (in just Year 4) in today's post.
4
9
73