SEATTLE — The phone calls that come from the home office of Cameron Foster sometimes feel like they're spoken in code.
That's because there's a scout on one end and an agent on the other. It's no 007 situation, though. Instead, it's a scene from the 206.
The Seattle-based Foster is selling a client from Seattle to NFL teams. Foster is heading into his 35th NFL Draft as a sports agent.
His agency represents some household names, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But true to his name, Foster's goal is to foster relationships with hidden gems.
"At this stage of my life, I enjoy doing good for players," he said.
They are players who aren't concerned with diamonds, but who themselves are diamonds in the rough.
"They may not be an All-Star or a first-team Pac-12 kind of player... That's been my philosophy since 1989 and it's what I'm still doing today," he said.
Foster operates with another filter.
He has a special focus on west coast players and a soft spot for guys from his alma matter.
"University of Washington is special because that is my home school," he said.
That brings us to his newest business.
"'MJ' Ulumoo Ale at the University of Washington was a guy this year that stood out to me," he said.
MJ has been hard to miss since his days at Fife High School.
"Young men that are 6-foot-7-inches, 320 pounds that are physical specimens and athletically blessed, they don't come along all the time," Foster said.
But NFL teams have been slow to get the memo because of Ale's unconventional route to football.
"Born in Samoa, raised in Australia, only played his NFL position for two years," Foster said. "I need to keep reiterating this to these teams to realize what a freak of nature this young man truly is."
It's education that goes both ways.
Foster is also equipping MJ with a strategy for draft day.
"Teams will start calling you in the 7th round," Foster told Ale in a meeting at his house on Friday. "All you need to do is say, 'Call Cameron.'"
MJ said he knows he's in good hands.
"The guy knows what he's doing. It's not his first rodeo. He's been around the game for a long time," he said. "If you call me on draft day, better make sure you called Cam first."
For Foster, his job isn't just NFL agent.
"Maybe it's because of my age, but I'm not a buddy with these guys anymore. I'm a father," he said.
The goal is to be an agent for good.
"When you get a young man like MJ that is going to make it, it's twice as rewarding as working with a guaranteed first round draft pick. Because you know that you've made a difference in that young man's life and his family's life," Foster said.