Meet the 10 most influential people at the 2016 NFL Draft

The NFL draft presents every team with an opportunity to overcome their mistakes of yesteryear and a chance to bolster their roster profoundly before the upcoming season.

Rightfully, the majority of the attention prior to the draft is focused on the players, but the event has grown into such a dynamic spectacle, it's worth examining the key people in the shadows.

Here are the most influential names at the 2016 NFL Draft:

Executives

Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner

Like it or not, Goodell will shine under the bright lights of the Auditorium Theater in Chicago when the weekend commences. Goodell will go through the boilerplate introduction, then begin the annual player selection event, likely to a chorus of boos. The commissioner will take photos with the NFL's newest personnel and be a memorable part of the culmination of their dreams. It's an exercise in American vanity, to be sure, but Goodell is at his best under said circumstances.

Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams general manager

Snead already pulled off the monumental move of the draft before the event began, trading up from the 15th overall pick for the first overall slot with the Tennessee Titans. The Rams want to enter Los Angeles with flair and substance, and it's possible the team isn't finished making moves. Los Angeles is on a mission to prove it can compete with the NFC West powerhouses, and accruing another elite talent isn't out of the question.

Tom Telesco, San Diego Chargers general manager

The top two picks in this year's draft were already traded, and an opportunistic team may want to strike a deal with the Chargers to move up to No. 3. Telesco should weigh his options carefully, and his decision will alter the trajectory of the draft board either way. Either the Chargers select the best prospect available - ostensibly Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil - or trade the pick to an aggressive party in exchange for multiple picks.

John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks general manager

The Seahawks haven't used their first-round pick since 2012, when they selected Bruce Irvin out of West Virginia, trading their top selection the past three years. Boasting one of the NFL's most talented rosters, the Seahawks are afforded the luxury of being able to trade down and acquire multiple assets who can make their imprint on the rotation immediately. Schneider will be working the phones heavily Thursday, and don't be surprised if the Seahawks once again deal their first-rounder to a needy club.

John Mara, New York Giants co-owner

Mara stated that this year's draft is more important than others for the Giants, and the team could be poised to make a major splash on Thursday. Mara's father, Wellington, orchestrated a draft-night trade with the Chargers in 2004 to acquire Eli Manning, and it seems like he's imploring his personnel to acquire a similarly groundbreaking prospect. Don't be surprised if Mara conducts a trade that shakes up the draft.

Agents

Ryan Tollner, Bruce Tollner, and Chase Callahan, Rep1 Sports

The Tollner cousins and Callahan are the agents for Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, widely expected to be the first two picks in this year's draft. Rep1 Sports secured representation for Marcus Mariota last season, while Ben Roethlisberger, Blake Bortles, Joe Staley, and Latavius Murray are among the clients on its roster. The agents will try to get a better deal for their newest clients than Jameis Winston's four-year, $25.3-million contract signed last year, as they continue to make a name for themselves as some of the NFL's best negotiators.

Drew Rosenhaus, Rosenhaus Sports Representation

Rosenhaus is the only agent to negotiate over $2 billion in contracts over the course of his career, and is always one of the most prominent agents in the game. The 49-year-old is a general manager's worst nightmare, accruing the best possible contract for his clients on a repeated basis. Rosenhaus represents Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, and LeSean McCoy, among others, and is the rare agent who can wield influence over personnel decisions. Don't be surprised if defensive linemen Emmanuel Ogbah and Chris Jones sneak into the first round as a result.

CAA Sports

Creative Artists Agency is the leading power broker in Hollywood and its reach extends to sports, representing some of the biggest names in the NFL - Julio Jones, J.J. Watt, Tony Romo, Richard Sherman, Luke Kuechly, and Philip Rivers are on its roster. With superstar agents Tom Condon and Jimmy Sexton in tow, CAA is a titan of industry behind the scenes.

Without question, CAA Sports influences the landscape of the draft with its agents working in teams to provide the best service to players. CAA recently acquired Five Star Athlete Management, gaining the clientele of NFL super-agent Todd France as part of the merger. Once again, many of CAA's clients will be atop the draft.

Doug Hendrickson, Relativity Sports

Hendrickson is proving to have one of the best eyes for talent in the industry, and is expected to carry Relativity Sports forward after top agent Eugene Parker died in March. Hendrickson is renowned for his ability to relate to a wide array of clients and, unlike most agents, he'll often select his clients based on criteria he's stipulated. Although it's not a hard rule, chances are if Hendrickson represents a player, they'll be more likely to succeed at the NFL level.

Joel Segal, Lagardere Unlimited Football

Segal's client list is nearly unmatched, representing Patrick Peterson, Justin Houston, and DeSean Jackson, among NFL players, along with golfers Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson. Segal's reputation speaks for itself as he represents potential first-round picks in DeForest Buckner, Josh Doctson, Eli Apple, and Connor Cook. The New York-based superstar has represented multiple first-round picks every year dating back to the 2006 NFL Draft, and will push for his clients to rise through the first round.