NFL Cover Zero: Steal of the Draft and QB Reviews!

Summary

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NFL Cover Zero: Steal of the Draft and QB Reviews!

KSR Podcast | May 8, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones (MJ) & Billy (co-host, subbing for Drew Franklin)

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Episode Overview

This post-draft episode of NFL Cover Zero dives into the biggest storylines, quirks, and debates from the 2026 NFL Draft. Matt and Billy break down the top 10 picks, dissect draft-day oddities, discuss QB landing spots, and explore emerging trends shaping college-to-pro football. While Drew’s on paternity leave, the duo keeps the banter lively, blending knowledgeable analysis with humor and the podcast’s signature tongue-in-cheek tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Draft Night Broadcast Choices

• Multichannel Viewing:
  • ABC (“for women and families”), ESPN (“for the average football fan”), NFL Network (“for the hardcore draft nerds”).
  • Quote (MJ, 03:29): “I think the ESPN one is a good balance. You get Mel Kuyper … some fun interviews, but you also get a little football. It’s not too nerdy.”
• Mel Kiper’s Legacy:
  • 46th draft; seen as the architect of modern televised draft coverage (04:22).
  • Quote (MJ): “He should be in the Hall of Fame. He created the whole idea of the draft as a television spectacle.”

2. Top 10 Picks Breakdown

Timestamp: 05:42–25:35

[06:01] Antics & Atmosphere

• The Missing #1 Pick:
  • Raiders pick Mendoza, who stayed home—a bit anticlimactic, lost some “draft hug” drama.
  • Quote (MJ): “He hugs [Goodell] too long. … one and a half seconds less per hug?”
• Draft Night Rituals:
  • Comment on players’ “hat-in-the-mirror” moment; some love it, others find it corny (07:43).
  • Fun tangent on hat logistics: players at home get 32 hats (NFL sends them all), family picks a “consolation hat” for the teams that didn’t draft their guy.

[10:25] The Picks, Reactions & Surprises

• 1. Mendoza (Raiders):
  • Didn’t attend—mixed reaction.
• 2. David Bailey (Jets):
  • Matt & Billy correctly mocked this pick.
• 3. Jeremiah Love (Cardinals):
  • First RB high in draft. Billy critiques pick; team not ready to win now (13:07).
  • Quote (MJ): “It has become almost a mantra now: you can’t pick a running back high.”
• 4. Carnell Tate (Titans):
  • Seen as a reach, wasn’t even best receiver on his own team.
• 5. Arvell Reese (Giants):
  • MJ likes this value—wishes Titans picked him instead (15:29).
  • Quote (MJ): “If you could get a pass rusher like Arvell Reese, that could completely change things on one side of the ball.”
• 6. Mansour Delaney (Chiefs, trade up):
  • KC trades to get LSU cornerback, possibly a reach; “LSU gets a pass—such a train wreck last year.”
• 7. Sonny Styles (Commanders):
  • Considered the steal of the draft (22:56).
  • Quote (MJ): “If you just watch college football, you’d think Sonny Stiles was the best player … I would have taken Sonny Stiles over anybody.”
• 8. Jordan Tyson (Saints):
  • Receiver from Arizona State; MJ: “most likely to bust” in top 10 (23:50).
• 9. Spencer Fano (Browns):
  • Utah lineman; little known, lots of Utah players picked.
• 10. Francis Mui Aga (Giants):
  • Miami offensive tackle. Record number of offensive tackles in R1; Giants “rebuilding both lines.”

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3. Draft Mechanics & Behind-the-Scenes

• Pick Timing & Delays:
  • Picks are usually in far before announced; creates “fake suspense” (09:48).
  • Quote (MJ): “We're seeing it a little bit on a TV delay.”
• Player “30 Visits” Rule:
  • Each team can bring 30 prospects for official visits (“big 30,” “fast 30,” “sexy 30”).

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4. Mock Draft Accuracy & Self-Awareness

• Matt and Billy correctly guessed five picks out of 32 in their mock draft (10:42–12:36).
• Teasing over lack of fact-checking against expert mocks (“The point was to compare us to the experts. … But you didn’t look.” – MJ, 10:56–11:06)

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5. Rapid-Fire Draft Storylines

Timestamp: 25:35–71:33

Notable Trends & Oddities:

• Draft Pacing Is Up:
  • First round much quicker (under 3 hours vs. over 4 hours). MJ prefers a longer, “overstuffed” draft (26:00–27:48).
• Pittsburgh Breaks Attendance Record:
  • Supposed 805,000 attendees (“that can’t be right”)—skeptical about ever-increasing numbers (27:57–29:01). The mayor told residents not to drive in the city.
  • Quote (MJ): “How long are they going to keep saying that (it’s a record)? … I remember Nashville had 600,000. You couldn’t move in Nashville!”
• Fan Participation:
  • Make-a-wish kids: universally beloved.
  • Former players/fans/international fans announcing picks: a running joke (30:13–32:06).
• International Player Pathway:
  • Nigerian DT Ouhare Bernard (Eagles, rd 7, pick 251) drafted with no football experience, as part of the NFL’s International Program.
  • Quote (MJ, 59:29): "What does it say if someone can be drafted … who’s never played football before? … I’d be really mad if I didn’t get picked and the guy who never played did."
• Record-Low SEC 1st-Rounders:
  • Big Ten led with 10 first-rounders, SEC with 7 (first time since 2015 Big Ten led).
  • “Talent is more spread out now because of NIL” (33:09).
  • Power 4 programs dominated; very few non-Power 4 picks.

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6. Draft Day Drama: Cowboys, Steelers, Eagles

Timestamp: 44:43–47:45

• Pick Hijinks:
  • Steelers think they’re getting receiver Mai Lemon at 20, get him on phone.
  • Eagles swoop in via trade with Cowboys and snatch Lemon, leaving Pittsburgh with their backup plan (Max Honachor, OL from Pitt).
  • Quote (MJ): “He’s got to know … I wasn’t their first choice!”
  • Rule: Billy wouldn’t trade with a division rival (“No deals with division rivals!” – 46:12).

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7. QB Reviews & Evaluations

Timestamp: 61:13–65:40

High-Profile QB Situations:

• Ty Simpson (Rams, 13th overall):
  • Dan Orlovsky highly in favor (MJ: “no one’s opinion I trust less”) (35:04–41:09).
  • McVay’s reaction seemed awkward/unenthusiastic; rumors of “secret meetings.” Billy suspects McVay (coach) didn’t actually want Simpson; GM did.
  • Quote (MJ): “The biggest strike against Ty Simpson is that Dan Orlovsky likes him.”
• Drew Aller (Steelers):
  • “Never was good” at Penn State, yet still a high pick (61:22–61:56).
  • Steelers’ penchant for local products.
• Carson Beck (Cardinals, 3rd Rd):
  • Good value, arguably better choice than Simpson for the Rams (62:32–63:19).
• Garrett Nussmeier (Chiefs, 7th Rd):
  • Projected as a star years ago, fell hard.
• Taylor Green (Browns, 6th Rd):
  • "Awful" at Arkansas—Matt and Billy puzzled by pick.
• Diego Pavia (Ravens, UDFA):
  • Gets deal after minicamp invite.
  • MJ: “I would never pick a player who doesn’t have an agent … it’s just poor decision-making.” (65:03)

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8. Fun Tidbits and Notable Moments

• Navy Draftees Historic Moment:
  • Two Navy players selected in the same draft for first time in 70 years (65:40).
  • They’re allowed to play before serving (policy change from the David Robinson era).
• Mr. Irrelevant (Red Murdoch):
  • Buffalo linebacker, now with Denver; broke Khalil Mack’s forced fumble record at Buffalo (67:57).
  • “Mr. Irrelevant Week” in Newport Beach, CA: parade, Loesman Trophy (player dropping a ball), banquet, regatta, Disneyland trip (“I can’t believe they make them take a trophy that’s someone dropping a ball” – MJ, 70:27).
  • Some “irrelevants” (like Brock Purdy) went on to be NFL stars.

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9. League & Media News

• Mike Tomlin Joins NBC’s Football Night in America (53:16):
  • Tony Dungy retires; Chris Simms out.
  • Matt and Billy debate whether former players (with no broadcasting experience) should get analyst jobs over trained broadcasters.

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10. Random Asides & Podcast Banter

• Storage Wars/Auctioneer Challenge:
  • Billy is training to be an auctioneer after a radio show bet; plans to meet with world champion auctioneer (49:54–51:34).
• Show & Streaming Recommendations:
  • Storage Wars, The Witcher, Rooster (HBO), Ponies (Peacock): hosts chat about what they’ve been watching (52:05–53:08).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

“He should be in the Hall of Fame. Mel Kiper created the whole idea of the draft as a television spectacle.”
— Matt Jones (04:22)

“If you just watch college football, you’d think Sonny Stiles was the best player. … I would have taken Sonny Stiles over anybody.”
— Matt Jones (22:56)

“The biggest strike against Ty Simpson is that Dan Orlovsky likes him.”
— Matt Jones (36:49 & 40:57)

“How many of these guys end up playing more than six years for their team anyway?”
— Matt Jones (14:05)

“Would you do that? … No. No deals with division rivals.”
— Matt Jones & Billy (46:06–46:12)

“What does it say if someone can be drafted and play in the NFL who’s never played football before?”
— Matt Jones (59:29)

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Quick Reference: Important Timestamps

| Segment / Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------|---------------| | Start of content | 02:15 | | Draft night broadcasts| 03:28–05:42 | | Top 10 picks recap | 05:42–25:35 | | Draft mechanics | 09:48, 25:26 | | Storylines & trends | 25:43–71:33 | | Cowboys/Steelers drama| 44:43–47:45 | | Ty Simpson/Rams saga | 35:05–41:09 | | Quarterback reviews | 61:13–65:40 | | Navy draftees | 65:40–67:54 | | Mr. Irrelevant | 67:57–71:29 |

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Tone, Humor, & Takeaways

• The show is candid and irreverent, poking fun at draft rituals, broadcast quirks, and themselves.
• Plenty of gentle ribbing—about mock draft accuracy, “huggable” Roger Goodell, and Billy’s mock auctioneering skills—keeps it relatable and light.
• The hosts balance genuine football insight with relatable skepticism (“Did Pittsburgh really draw 805,000 to the draft?”).
• Despite the laughs, Matt and Billy deliver sharp, opinionated observations on draft philosophy, quarterback evaluation, NIL effects, and player development trajectories.

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Conclusion

This episode provides a whirlwind tour of the wildest moments and sharpest talking points from the 2026 NFL Draft. From passion for Mel Kiper to passionate disagreements on quarterbacks, from light-hearted hat debates to deeper conversations about draft strategy, Matt and Billy offer a podcast episode that’s both entertaining and informative—a must-listen (or, now, must-read) for fans who want an insider’s take with personality.

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Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

provided by Lilly, a medicine company. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast. Welcome everybody to NFL Cover 0, the post draft Edition. I'm Matt Jones, my co host Drew Franklin, still on paternity leave. He had a baby. Everybody say hi. I think it was her first NFL draft and Avery Rose was excited. She was not a fan of what the Jaguars did in the draft. But otherwise, from what I understand, she enjoyed the process. So, Billy, our sports is joining me and we're going to go over all things draft. You know, now we're, we're, we're doing this on a Wednesday. So at this point, most people have already given their grades and their win and losers. So we're going to do a little bit of that. But we're also going to focus on some of the storylines of the draft, some of the interesting things that happen, some of which you may not be aware of. Billy, I enjoyed the draft. Had a lot of players. I didn't know most of them, but, you know, now it's on three different channels.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right.

[Matt Jones]

Three different broadcast. You have abc, which is the one kind of for women and families. Espn, kind of the one for just the average football fan. And I think the NFL Draft, the NFL Network's kind of for the hardcore draft fan. Which one do you prefer?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, we talked about this a couple episodes ago. I mentioned I would watch the ABC broadcast.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, because you want to know about people's families.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I kind of lied to you because I watched College Game day before the draft started and that was enough ABC and backstories for me. So I ended up watching most of the ESPN one.

[Matt Jones]

I think the ESPN one is a good balance. You get Mel Kuyper. Right. You get some fun interviews, but you also get a little football. It's not too nerdy. Booger is on it. So I like the. I, I've only. I'm kind of partial to the ESPN one.

[Billy (Co-host)]

It doesn't feel right when Mel Kuiper's not on your screen.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I mean, this, he created this whole thing. He should be in the hall of Fame. He created the whole idea of the draft as a television spectacle was created by Mel Kuiper.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, he's an interesting dude. All the pumpkin pie that he eats and you know, he's been doing it for.

[Matt Jones]

This is his 46 draft.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Is that right?

[Matt Jones]

46 drafts.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And he's also got a stack of papers on the front of.

[Matt Jones]

But they don't let him talk a lot, if you notice. He talks more as the days go on. So day one, he doesn't get a lot in because I think these players are popular enough. Everybody know. But when you get to day three, none of them have anything to say. So that is when he's talking, he in fact field Yates and that they're like, okay, now we're going to be prequel people who actually know about this. And that's when he feels time.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, when Mel talks, you listen too. And didn't you host like day three coverage of a draft one year?

[Matt Jones]

No, they. Well, they. I thought I was going to. So they told me on ESPN radio two or three years ago that I was up for consideration for. Because Chris Carlin does day one and two, and they were like, we may have you do day three. Which I thought, I'm going to have to research only day three guys. Right. And then Carlin decided he wanted to do it, so I didn't have to do it, but I was like, going to have a binder of day three guys.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Oh, you'd have to. You'd have to have a big stack of papers like Mel Kuiper up there to know.

[Matt Jones]

But I didn't do it. So. So let's Talk. Let's go. First over the top 10 picks. The number one pick was Mendoza. He stayed home. He went to the Raiders. Did you think it was bad that the number one pick wasn't there? Did it lose a little anti. Was made to get anticlimactic?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, a little bit. I like to see the bear hug they give Roger Goodell when they come out and hold the jersey.

[Matt Jones]

He hugs too long.

[Billy (Co-host)]

What Roger does Roger Goodell.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I know he's like our boss, but Roger, like one and a half seconds less per hug?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, yeah, I mean, everybody's got a little different right there. You can dap up some guys.

[Matt Jones]

Everybody's hugging now. There's no dapping. It's all hugs. Everyone gives, and they hug him like he's their uncle they haven't seen in a long time. It's a. It's a. It is a loved hug.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Oh, they're fulfilling their dreams.

[Matt Jones]

So your dream to hug Roger Goodell?

[Billy (Co-host)]

If I was a prospect, yes. To make the NFL, that would be achieving a dream.

[Matt Jones]

I think they should. I think they should hug everyone they see. What do you think about when they walked out? They would hold the hat up and they'd look in the mirror and they'd have to like, go, was up. What's up, baby? Did you. Did you like that?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Oh, it was so corny. I actually liked the Bucks player who was drafted at 15, Bane who didn't do it. He grabbed the hat and just kept walking.

[Matt Jones]

He didn't look in the mirror and go.

[Billy (Co-host)]

He was all business.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. His little short arms couldn't reach that.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's the knock on him.

[Matt Jones]

I love that I learned this about people. Like, there's no event where you're allowed to scrutinize individual parts of a human being's looks. Because I remember many years ago, it was like, Kenny Pickett will be small hands.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And it was like, Reuben Bates got you small arms, and I didn't. I feel like. I feel weird making fun of someone's arm.

[Billy (Co-host)]

How can you succeed if you have arms that are an inch shorter than what?

[Matt Jones]

Because they're gonna reach. They're gonna reach past you.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They're gonna be able to hold you.

[Matt Jones]

They're gonna expect your arms are here, but your arms are a little shorter. And so you're gonna be able to. I. I think it'll work.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You did that voice. I imagine T. Rex arms trying to rest the.

[Matt Jones]

We don't have a babe. He's rushing the quarterback. I'm sorry. I don't. I don't know if that's exactly. Where did he go? Tampa.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Tampa. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So he went to your team. So what do you think about. You're going to have, like, a little short.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I am all in. They had a great draft. They got two Miami defenders and a good receiver from Georgia State.

[Matt Jones]

I hope one of them has regular size arms or hands, because I know one of them does not. So. So, yeah, they. They do the thing where they look in the mirror. Guys like Mario that have dreads. The hat never fits on their head. Is there not a way to get a hat for them that's a bigger size?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Maybe open back, because it always just

[Matt Jones]

sits there and that looks like a comic book. Can we not find a way. Maybe an open back?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, open back might be the way to go. There's also people that are at home that have 32 hats in front of

[Matt Jones]

them, always fascinated by that. So does the NFL send them 32 hats?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't know. Do you think because they do have

[Matt Jones]

32 hats, they can't go to lids? First of all, that'd be a lot of money if you paid 35, you'd be spending $1,000 on hats.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, you're returning 31 of them, right?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you think lids just. They just walk in. Here's the ones I didn't get.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, exactly.

[Matt Jones]

I think the NFL, you know, as. As an NFL show on the NFL radio network, we should figure it out. I think the NFL price sends them all 32 hats.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They. They. They have the. The capital, too.

[Matt Jones]

I can imagine they send them all hats, then they put the one on. Then my question for you. What happens to the other 31? Do you think the Family members just each grab one on the way out.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Keepsake of the team. You didn't get drafted.

[Matt Jones]

Here is who didn't draft Ruben. Bang.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, those super bowl shirts get sent to Africa, right? A lot of times do.

[Matt Jones]

But this is a little different because this. This is only 31 of them, I think. I think the other people at the house. At the house do it, but I do. Like, when they have all 32 on there. I learned something in this draft.

[Billy (Co-host)]

What's that?

[Matt Jones]

Did you know the draft picks are in way before we hear about them? Not just leak they're in. Sometimes they're in for like five or six minutes.

[Billy (Co-host)]

See, I don't like that. Like, you're. You're killing the, like, the whole illusion of the draft.

[Matt Jones]

Because I remember at one point this was like, in the. Later in the first round. Let's say it was the 22nd pick. They were announcing it, and the 24th pick was, like, already in. So it's. We're kind of seeing it a little bit on, like a TV delay.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, it's. So it's not like draft day where they're calling up until the zeros are on the clock.

[Matt Jones]

I think they're on the zeros, but the clock is different than what we're seeing.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

What we're seeing on television. I think now that it goes faster, it happens even more. But anyway, Mendoza goes first.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Who. And then second was David Bailey.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right. To the jets, which we calling Beetle, which we correctly mocked. We're two for two on our picks.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So we did do a mock. What. How many total did we get? Correct.

[Billy (Co-host)]

We got five of the 32 select or.

[Matt Jones]

How did that compare with everyone else?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I actually didn't check the other mocks. That was why we did it was

[Matt Jones]

for you to check.

[Billy (Co-host)]

But.

[Matt Jones]

So you. You didn't bother to check?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I checked our mock to see how close we were at. But you didn't.

[Matt Jones]

The point was to compare us to the experts. Yeah.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I'm sure Mel got probably more than five. We. We.

[Matt Jones]

We didn't have. So we got. We got the first two.

[Billy (Co-host)]

We did.

[Matt Jones]

What else did we get? Right.

[Billy (Co-host)]

We got Vega Yoana, the guard from Penn State, going 14th overall to the Ravens.

[Matt Jones]

I think I picked that one.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You might have.

[Matt Jones]

I saw that he had had good, normal arms. What is the thing that again, there was a phrase I'd never heard. Big 30 interview or something. You can bring 30 players to your stadium. Did you know that?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I didn't know this.

[Matt Jones]

I Assume this is a rule. I think every team can choose 30 guys to bring. And I think they call them your. Your big 30, your big 30, or your fast 30 or your sexy 30. And I think that guy was one of The Ravens Big 30. What else do we get? Right?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, that would make sense. We also picked, correctly, the 21st selection pit offensive lineman Max E. Honachor. The.

[Matt Jones]

Where did he go again?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Arizona State.

[Matt Jones]

He went to Pittsburgh.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes, he went to Pittsburgh.

[Matt Jones]

I think I kind of knew that. I'd talked to people in the crowd.

[Billy (Co-host)]

There's actually a lot of drama with that Pittsburgh pick. Maybe we'll get into that a little bit later.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you're gonna get in the. Okay. And what was the fifth one?

[Billy (Co-host)]

And the fifth one was Price, the running back? The second string running back for Notre Dame, signed with the Seahawks.

[Matt Jones]

I remember saying that at the end. Yes. Okay, so you had the odds, I had the evens. Because I do remember saying Jamari on Price with Seattle. So five out of 32. That's not very good.

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, no. So there maybe is some method to the madness.

[Matt Jones]

We don't know how, what the other people got. Because you didn't look.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I didn't check, unfortunately.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. All right, so David Bailey went second. That was nice. And then third is where it started to get shaken up. Right. Because Arizona picked Jeremiah Love. Did you like that pick?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I didn't. But I guess I understand it because they need playmakers. They need somebody over there to make some plays. I mean, Marvin Harrison Jr. Can't do it by himself. I just think that they're a long way away from being in content drafting a running back this high.

[Matt Jones]

So that's become a thing. Everyone just says you can't pick a running back high.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

Is it that you can't pick a running back high or you can't pick the wrong running back high? Cause like, Saquon Barkley was worth it.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's true.

[Matt Jones]

But, you know, other guys haven't been. I just. I don't know. I don't. It has become almost a mantra now. You can't pick a running back high. But that good. That guy Jeremiah loves apparently supposed to be so good. If you think he's good enough. What. What difference does it make if the guy at 7 picks him?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I get. I guess there's a thought that they don't have a roster that's ready to make the playoffs right now.

[Matt Jones]

So you think it's just bad because Arizona picked him. But there would be teams at three that maybe could pick.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Correct. I think you look at the shorter shelf life of a running back.

[Matt Jones]

That's true.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And.

[Matt Jones]

But how many of these guys. I always hear about that too. How many of these guys ended up playing besides quarterbacks? How many of these guys end up playing more than six years for their team anyway?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Like any position?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I mean, besides quarterback, most guys go to multiple teams over their career.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

So I've never understood that either. Like this idea that you need to, you know, they're in basketball, sometimes they'll go, he's 22. Well, yeah, but most guys in the NBA have played for 10 teams.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right. Like, maybe there's a guy that's 25 that you might have concerns about.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Billy (Co-host)]

In the NFL draft, because I don't

[Matt Jones]

think anybody would have thought it was wrong for the Chiefs to pick him at nine.

[Billy (Co-host)]

But the Chiefs are ready to win,

[Matt Jones]

so that's really what your issue is. The issue is not picking the running back, the high. It's that the Cardinals are not ready to win.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. And most teams that are drafting higher in the draft have worse rosters. So eventually you're naturally. You do say if you're in the top five, you probably shouldn't draft a skill position guy like that.

[Matt Jones]

Well, the, The Titans picked up Carnell Tate. I didn't like this.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That was a reach.

[Matt Jones]

I don't like it because I don't think. I mean, Carnell Tate was not the best wide receiver on his team. So if Carnell Tate is not the best wide receiver on his team, you're going to pick him fourth in the draft.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's.

[Matt Jones]

And the number one receiver in the draft, that's.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Drew's baby's getting used to Titans life here pretty early on in the first draft.

[Matt Jones]

He is like a. I don't want to say he's a possession receiver, but he's not. He doesn't have crazy athletic ability. I just think he's not who you want. If you're the Titans, he's not who you want at the fourth pick. Also because the guy I think that goes next, Arvell Reese.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Is there and could be a game changer again.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And when your roster is that bare, if you could get a pass rusher like Arvell Reese, that could completely change things on one side of the ball. Instead, you get Cam Ward a weapon. But also, you know how set up is Cam to have success even with that guy?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. And then. So fifth pick was our veil to the Giants. I like that for them. They only Pick line. Like they. They're going to have 15 people on their defensive line that are good and every other position doesn't matter.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, Arvell had a funny moment. He went to the podium and they asked. Yeah. So who are you excited to play with on the Giants? Took a good 10 to 12 seconds to say Jackson Dart. Now.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that's kind of mean of them, though, because either. How's he supposed to know his teammates? He hasn't met him yet.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I think you would know. I mean, who's in the NFL more than just the one quarterb.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, well, let's. All right, let's.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Let me. Don't test me. Hold on, let me.

[Matt Jones]

Let me. Let's see if he thinks he's so great. Let me test him. All right. You have just been picked by the Arizona Cardinals.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Oh, boy.

[Matt Jones]

Who are you excited to play with? Jeremiah?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, Marvin Harrison Jr. Watched his dad play a lot. Loved him.

[Matt Jones]

How did you watch his dad? You weren't born.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I've seen highlights on YouTube.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy (Co-host)]

But, yeah, Coach Gannon. I'm excited to be here.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You know, all the great Arizona lineage, like Trey McBride.

[Matt Jones]

You say coach Gannon?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

See, that's who.

[Billy (Co-host)]

John. Johnathan Gannon. The Arizona Cardinals head coach.

[Matt Jones]

No, I thought he got fired.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Maybe he did. Then I'm really in trouble.

[Matt Jones]

He did. Isn't it Kubiak?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Let's see. Kubiak, I thought was the Raiders.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you're right. You're right, you're right. Sorry. I get all those teams down there,

[Billy (Co-host)]

so you got me worried. I don't even know the coach in front of me right now.

[Matt Jones]

But this is what an interviewer does. Put you on the hotspot.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Trey McBride. Probably the best tight end in.

[Matt Jones]

So you're excited about playing with Traeger?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Of course.

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[Matt Jones]

All right, who went six?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Number six was. Let's see, right here. It was a trade. The Chiefs traded up to pick LSU corner Mansour Delaney.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't understand that one either. Delaney's very good, but all projections suggested they could get him at nine. Right now, that may mean the Chiefs may have known something we didn't know, like that the team at seven or eight was going to pick him. Seems like a reach, but again, I guess partially you would say, well, if you were going to get him at nine, it's not crazy to get him at six. They had a bunch of picks, so giving up one's probably not the worst thing in the world. So they clearly liked him, and we'll see what happens.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I believe they've had a lot of turnover at the secondary, so just getting some new blood in there. I thought for sure they'd go receiver and give my home some help, but looks like.

[Matt Jones]

But there aren't any great. There weren't great ones. The only one you could take there, I guess, is the kid from Arizona State. And I. I think you give everybody LSU last year a pass because it was such a disaster with Brian Kelly. Yeah, I mean, like Garrett Nussmeier not going to what, the seventh round? That's hard. That's hard for me to understand because to the Chiefs, well, there you go. Maybe they just want to give everybody from lsu. LSU was such a train wreck, and they've consistently produced such NFL stars that I feel like you just give him a pass because he was awful. I can't believe Nussmeyer went in the seventh round. I mean, that dude was projected the number one pick in the draft. Yeah, it was a couple of years ago.

[Billy (Co-host)]

All from grace for him and a lot of quarterbacks, which we'll get.

[Matt Jones]

But I. I mean, they picked a dude from Rutgers before him. I didn't understand that. Chiefs. I mean, he's not going to play ahead of my homes, but I guess

[Billy (Co-host)]

got to have a backup option.

[Matt Jones]

Got to have a backup. All right, what's. What was next?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It was Sunny Styles, the Ohio State linebacker, going to the Commanders at seven.

[Matt Jones]

That seemed like the steel of the draft to me. Yeah, I mean, if you just watch college football, you would think Sonny Stiles was the best player. To me, without breaking stuff down, I would have taken Sonny Stiles over anybody. And so if you're the Commanders, you get him at 7. You got to feel like sun shines Bright on your old commander home an

[Billy (Co-host)]

old DC which where the next draft will be will be Washington D.C. by the way.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy (Co-host)]

But yeah, I think immediately immediate starter, impact player for them, they could not be happier with getting him at seven.

[Matt Jones]

I think that that's the best break. Every year some team 6 to 12 just get something falling to them. That's. That's great. And I think that's what the commanders got. What was a.

[Billy (Co-host)]

It was the Saints picking Jordan Tyson, the receiver from Arizona State. So Tyler Shuck will have a weapon down in New Orleans.

[Matt Jones]

That's probably the top 10 pick I'm the most skeptical of is Jordan Tyson. You know he's at Arizona State. I think receivers are really hard to judge if their quarterback wasn't great but you know, elite athlete. We'll see. I mean that's a. Definitely a will see. That's the one. If you were to say to me of the top 10, what's the most likely just bust potential. I'm probably going to say eight there with Jordan Tyson.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, especially with some great linemen still on the board at that pick.

[Matt Jones]

And I would have loved to have seen him, like you said, go to the Chiefs at nine because I know he would work there because everybody works there.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

What's nine?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It was the Browns who picked the Utah lineman Spencer Fano, offensive tackle.

[Matt Jones]

There was a lot of guys from Utah that went. I mean, I can't act like I

[Billy (Co-host)]

know anything about any details about Spencer Fano.

[Matt Jones]

I'm sure he's a good fan.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Can you name the Browns head coach?

[Matt Jones]

Okay, then we don't have to get into all this. Sorry, what's your 10th one?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It's Todd Monkin, by the way. And then Francis Mui Aga is the Miami offensive tackle. They got picked 10th by the Giants.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, there was a bunch of what they have. This was a record amount of offensive tackles. Didn't they have what nine go or 10 go in the first round?

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's a lot.

[Matt Jones]

It was a lot. I think. I think it was a record for most for most win. I remember hearing, I think Todd McShay say they were all going to go in the first round because once you got past number nine or whatever, there's a massive drop off.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Like seven or eight.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, there was a massive drop off after that in town.

[Billy (Co-host)]

This is, I mean Giants couldn't have asked for anything better. They trade Dexter Lawrence, they get the 10th pick and they're able to get Arvell Reese and now this guy to really rebuild their offense and defensive line. So I think it worked out for them.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so those are the top 10 pick. You said, in addition, that you had 10 storylines that you were following in the draft.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And I like to know what Billy's following in the draft. It's always. It's always good. It's always good to know.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, it's the news here on NFL Cover 0, and these are not all storylines, just tidbits, things that I recognize from the draft, and we'll go through them. Did you know that the first round was much quicker this year than in your past?

[Matt Jones]

Well, you could tell. It was like three hours. I actually, oddly, thought it was too short.

[Billy (Co-host)]

What? Too short?

[Matt Jones]

I did. I feel like the draft. I want it to be a comp. There used to be a place in Lexington called Morrison's Cafeteria.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

When you went to Morrison's Cafeteria, the food was not great, but you could get a lot of it. So what you lacked in quality, you could get in quantity. I feel like the NFL draft and I need to be overstuffed at the end, and it was under three hours, and I just felt like that was just kind of a little quick.

[Billy (Co-host)]

It's amazing. When Roger Goodell first took over the draft, first round was, like four hours and something minutes. And now it's down to, like, 232, 40.

[Matt Jones]

So I think it should be. They were, I think, eight minutes between picks. I think I would go 10.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, it was 10.

[Matt Jones]

I think 10 was right, though. It used to be 15. And that was too long. Yeah, that was too long because they would be. But I think I didn't get enough Kuiper. Didn't get enough booger.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, I disagree. I thought it was. It was coming and it. And it didn't stop coming. And I. And I appreciate that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, I can see that. I like the A. I would go 10, but no, it did feel more like a bam, bam, bam show.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right, right. And. And, you know, it used to be, like 10, 15 rounds, too. Not all on TV, but it used to be much, much longer, though.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, you don't remember that. That wasn't. That was like. Please. That was like.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't remember Marvin Harrison. And now I don't remember the old

[Matt Jones]

draft in the 80s when it was 15 rounds. It's been seven for. I mean, it's been seven at least since Tom Brady was picked. Because. Because Brady famously went in the sixth

[Billy (Co-host)]

round, pick 1 99.

[Matt Jones]

So I would say I enjoyed it being shorter, but I'd like it to have Been just a little bit longer.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, Pittsburgh as a.

[Matt Jones]

Is this your second storyline?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Moving on to number two here. Pittsburgh host. The host city broke records over the draft weekend. They had 805,000 people attend the draft. 320,000 showed up for the first round. And the city, the mayor of Pittsburgh, told everybody in the city not to drive during the NFL draft.

[Matt Jones]

What does that mean? Like, anywhere in the city, like, it's

[Billy (Co-host)]

just so crowded with people. They made an announcement. If you can avoid it, don't drive.

[Matt Jones]

Avoid the whole city or avoid downtown.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's what this is. The mayor of Pittsburgh that said this. Do not drive. I did not say. Did not see any distinction of downtown or where in Pittsburgh.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Yeah. Can I say this on the NFL podcast? I feel like the numbers, they say it's a record every year. How long are they going to keep saying that? Are they going to keep saying that until it's like 5 million people are there? Because I remember when it was in

[Billy (Co-host)]

Nashville, that was 600,000.

[Matt Jones]

It's hard for me to imagine Pittsburgh had 200,000 more people. Like, you couldn't move in Nashville.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Could not move. I was there. I could testify to that. It did look crowded in Pittsburgh, too.

[Matt Jones]

No, it looked crowded.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Maybe there's more area.

[Matt Jones]

I. When. When day three started, they were, like, begging people to come. Did you see that? They got on stage and they were like, everyone in Pittsburgh, get down here right now.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Don't drive, but get.

[Matt Jones]

We want to break the record. And then I guess it happened.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Would you go on day three?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It's less exciting. Even though.

[Matt Jones]

Do they even announce? Do they announce the picks?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Not all of them. There are special ones that they come out for and announce. Like, people that are in the green room back there. Make a wish.

[Matt Jones]

So what are people during day three?

[Billy (Co-host)]

You mean like the fans?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, if I go to watch day three, what has happened?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, there's, like, a house band and, like, entertainment, so.

[Matt Jones]

Really?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I mean, you'll get a glimpse of Kyper's hair or something like that. I mean, there's.

[Matt Jones]

So they don't announce every pick?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I don't believe so. I mean, like, there may be, like, a flash of, like, the name.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they announced the one guy who was in the Navy that was from Pittsburgh.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's part of it. There were two players from the Navy.

[Matt Jones]

Is that one of your ten? It is. Okay, then. Don't worry, we'll get to that.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Do you like when they let former players and fans international. Do you like when they Let them get on the microphone.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, I'm fine with it.

[Matt Jones]

The make a wish kids, I think that's awesome. But like, when they let like the guy who played for the Bengals 20 years ago. Played. He just talks.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, he kind of. They usually get into it and they insult, like the rival team's fan bases.

[Matt Jones]

I like that.

[Billy (Co-host)]

There's a little spice to it.

[Matt Jones]

You know what I don't like, though, is when they come on. Because they all come on. They all do the same thing. Can I do one of the. Yeah.

[Billy (Co-host)]

What team are you representing here?

[Matt Jones]

Ladies and gentlemen, now please welcome to give the pick for the Giants. Here is Matt Jones. Hey, Pittsburgh. And like every single guy does that. And Pittsburgh at some point's like, we've said hello to everyone. Stop making me scream.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, you got to play to the crowd, but.

[Matt Jones]

But they just do it one after another.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And then you got the bus that went up there for the Pittsburgh.

[Matt Jones]

When the Steelers people go up, that was cool because their guys are getting to see their former Steelers guys.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, no, I am. I am for it.

[Matt Jones]

Can I ask you about the international fans?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes, ask me.

[Matt Jones]

So they bring NFL international fans. I would like to talk to those people and figure out how they got to be fans of these teams.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, it's a global sport, man, but

[Matt Jones]

someone will come and they'll be from like, Tunisia and they'll go, I'm from Tunisia and I'm a huge Indianapolis Colts fan. And I'm like, how. How did you. How did you. How'd that happen?

[Billy (Co-host)]

They sent him a Super bowl shirt after they lost to the Saints.

[Matt Jones]

Tunisia end up being like, I get if they're a Cowboys fan or a Chiefs fan, but like the smaller teams, I. I wonder how do you. How did they connect?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Or even like a bigger country where they're starting to play games now, like Germany or even Australia.

[Matt Jones]

I understand Germany and. Or. And I understand why everybody in Britain's a Jacksonville fan because they're. They. They think that's the only team because they play there every year.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, in the hot tubs.

[Matt Jones]

But I do wonder about that. What's your third news team?

[Billy (Co-host)]

If you were watching the first round and noticed there weren't a ton of SEC guys, you were not alone. It was the first time since 2015 the SEC did not have the most first round picks. The Big Ten had 10, the SEC had seven. Now the SEC eventually had 87 total selections that broke the all time record. Ohio State led the way with 11 players picked in Bama and A and m. Both had 10 but the first round dominated by the Big Ten.

[Matt Jones]

That was a surprise. And it makes sense because the Big Ten ended up having the most success during the regular season.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right. They've won the last three championships I think too.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I mean some of that is a change. I mean I think the biggest change is, is the talent is now because of NIL spreading out across conferences. Like everybody thought all the talent was going to go to the top teams. And then we talked about that. Hasn't really happened. It's made it to where guys now you have to be at a Power 4 school. It was the fewest non Power 4 players picked ever in the draft.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And a lot of people talked about the last few rounds of the draft this year having a significantly less talent than in years past.

[Matt Jones]

Because people go back.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

That'll even itself out over time though. That's like, you know what I mean? Like once, once we go through a couple years of and everybody has stayed then eventually they're going to get in the draft. Right. So that'll. I think that's like a probably two year phenomen that the talent was not as great at the end. But it is, it is an example of how NIL has spread the talent out around. I saw There were like 10 teams that had in the Power 4 that had no people picked. And what was interesting is all the teams that had no pick people picked either one, two, three or four games. Except Virginia that won 11.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Wow. So that's a testament to good coaching over there.

[Matt Jones]

Well, that's what I want to say. Virginia went 11 and 2 or 11 and 3 and only and had no one picked. Isn't that amazing?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It is. And you could say the opposite would be what Dabo Sweeney and Clemson did because they had people big, they had a ton picked, but they were terrible this past year.

[Matt Jones]

True, true. Bill Belichick famously said that when he got to North Carolina it was going to be the 33rd NFL team. They had no one.

[Billy (Co-host)]

None. None.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. They had no one picked that.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That sting.

[Matt Jones]

But I got to know more about what's going on in Virginia. To be 11 and three and have and be one of 10 teams with no one picked in the Power Four is pretty amazing.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. Something must be in the water down there.

[Matt Jones]

All right, what's the fourth story?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I think maybe the story of the first round in the draft where the Rams taking Ty Simpson 13th overall. You know your friend Dan Orlofsky did a lot of thumping for Ty Simpson, the GM for The Rams was convinced that he was the guy. Sean McVeigh, I don't know. Maybe if you saw some of the conversations he had, it seemed like he wasn't really pleased with the pick.

[Matt Jones]

But let's start with Darlovsky. I like Dan Orlovsky a lot. I consider Danielovsky a friend. I worked with him. There's no one whose evaluation of quarterbacks I trust less than Dan Orlovsky.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Less. He's a former quarterback.

[Matt Jones]

Well, because I've had two major arguments that in both cases led to him having a significant amount of anger on air during the argument with him about quarterbacks. Would you like to know who they are?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. In both cases, with me saying they were going to be good and him saying they would not.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Those are two of the.

[Matt Jones]

Who ended up being right.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You.

[Matt Jones]

He was adamant, especially about Josh Allen. When Josh Allen came out of Wyoming, he was adamant he's not going to be good. He stinks.

[Billy (Co-host)]

What was the knock he wanted?

[Matt Jones]

I can't remember who was in that draft? Was it the kid from UCLA or usc?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Josh Rosen.

[Matt Jones]

He loved both of them more than he did. Well, Darnold ended up being good, but I think it was Josh Rosen.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And I. And he doesn't want to talk about that now because he's big time. But I like to remind him I pick Super Bowl MVPs or, excuse me, regular season MVPs. So I think the biggest strike against Ty Simpson is that Dan Orloski likes it.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, that's one way to look at it. The other is that the Rams already have an MVP in Matthew Stafford, likely to play for one, if not two years.

[Matt Jones]

I don't mind the pick, though. I mean, we'll get to what McVeigh thought. But if you think Ty Simpson is good. And by the way, I'm not sure if you. But if you think he's good, I don't mind picking him with Stafford still playing because there were reports Stafford was going to retire before the season last year.

[Billy (Co-host)]

It's just lack of experience. I mean, he has 15 college starts at Alabama. He might have to wait even longer before he gets into the NFL and starts behind Stafford.

[Matt Jones]

But if you think he's good, doesn't it make sense for the Rams to pick him if they think he's good?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes, I think that, like, it's overblown that they could have taken a receiver and that would have been the thing that got them over to hump to win the Super Bowl. I think that is overblown at times. Meanwhile, if you think this quarterback could be your quarterback for the next 10 years after Stafford, that's more valuable.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so then let's go through the timeline. McVeigh on draft night looks like he's been taken hostage.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You're not kidding.

[Matt Jones]

He was like, yes, glad to have him. He will compete with Stetson Bennett.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, no,

[Matt Jones]

he looked like he wasn't happy at all. Then the next day he did a press conference to talk about how happy he was. But he didn't really look happy in that press conference either, did he?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, not really.

[Matt Jones]

And he said, didn't he, that he had never spoken to him?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, they did came out that they had a secret meeting.

[Matt Jones]

Well, that's what I'm getting at.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Then like two days, my guy, Ian Fitzsimmons, has Ty Simpson on the radio and Ty Simpson. Actually, we met a number of times. They just didn't want me to tell anybody. Is that fair? Fair game?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, I think so. I mean, why not? There's no, like, penalty for doing an extra meeting.

[Matt Jones]

Should there be. Should there be a penalty for lying?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, what is my moral code here? I mean. Yeah, I don't want people to lie.

[Matt Jones]

You don't?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I don't want people to lie.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so you don't.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't think they were lying with the secret.

[Matt Jones]

They clearly were lying. They specifically said we'd never spoke.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They just weren't telling the truth.

[Matt Jones]

There's a distinction.

[Billy (Co-host)]

There's a difference. That's what you don't see.

[Matt Jones]

So what was McVeigh doing? Why was he acting like that? He said I was doing it out of respect for Matthew Stafford. But how. How was that respectful? Because it is very disrespectful for Ty Simpson, at least on paper.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right. Well, maybe you think you already have that position locked up. You already have a back it.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think he wanted Ty McVeigh? Yes.

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I don't think he.

[Matt Jones]

So you think, like, his. His actions that night are reflective of how he felt?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't think he could. He could hide it. It's bad poker face.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And like, and you got to be. So what do you make of the

[Matt Jones]

fact that it comes out that he's met with him for many hours and that he was all in? You think that's just bogus?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I think, yeah, probably bogus.

[Matt Jones]

You don't think he did meeting?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I think.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think they know each other?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I think they did meet him, but I think he's lying.

[Matt Jones]

He didn't like him about how much he likes him.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes. And I think there.

[Matt Jones]

You think he met him, didn't like him.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

And then had to take him.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Because of last name.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Because of the GM's relationship with like Ty Simpson and his family, apparently.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, they have a relationship.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I believe the quote is the GM told his family that he was going to be a first round pick.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, I could have told him that.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I mean, who else was taking him besides the Rams?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I think there was a bunch of teams considering taking him. Right.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Maybe much later in the draft. Not at 13.

[Matt Jones]

13 is how you think they did this for the family?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't know. You know, it's. It's kind of hard to tell who's in charge with a lot of those situations. Right. Those draft rooms where there's 20 people in there, what are they all doing in there, by the way?

[Matt Jones]

I hate when they all clap.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They all bro hug after the first.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, yeah. I don't like they're wearing suits. A lot of them just let people dress down.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They're gonna wear hoodies and shorts.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean that's, that's football gear, I guess. Well, I, I don't know if he's good or not. I'm skeptical. And the biggest strike against him is the Daniel Orloski thinks he's good.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I like that. I like that train of thought.

[Matt Jones]

Whatever Dan Orlovsky says about a quarterback, go the other direction.

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[Podcast Host/Announcer]

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[Matt Jones]

All right, what's fifth?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Let's talk about the Cowboys and the Steelers for the second because later in the first round the Cowboys were on the clock at 20 and the Steelers, thinking the Cowboys weren't going to pick a receiver, got on the phone with Mai Lemon, talk to him about, hey, welcome to Pittsburgh. You're going to be a Steeler. But the Eagles were trying to get in touch with Makai. They couldn't get in touch with him because he was already on the phone with the Steelers. The Eagles traded with the Cowboys for the 20th pick and then ended up selecting Mai Lemon.

[Matt Jones]

So I saw this play out. I think the Steelers, you know, they. They got a little. They. They jumped the gun.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Jumped the gun a little bit, didn't they?

[Matt Jones]

And then the offensive lineman that they picked, who, by the way, I predicted.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right.

[Matt Jones]

I predicted this whole chain of. Vince or you did.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Hana Shore.

[Matt Jones]

He's got to know. Well, I wasn't their first choice.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah, that's interesting.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I mean, he knows they wanted to pick the other guy.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. What's the spin zone that you got to tell him after he's.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. What did the Steelers explain when they called him? What was going on? Like, why?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I haven't seen an explanation on it.

[Matt Jones]

Do you like the Eagles move to jump ahead of it with the.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. With A.J. brown likely moving to a different team, I think this was necessary for them to jump ahead and get a receiver. It's just the Cowboys making a deal with a division rival for them to allow them to do that.

[Matt Jones]

Would you do that?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No.

[Matt Jones]

You would not.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I would not do any deals.

[Matt Jones]

So you would say no trades with my division rival?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it is. It is surprising if you're the kid. I do wonder, though, did he put on the Steelers hat and then all of his family took the others and then he had to go grab the Eagles hat from one of them.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, there's 32 in front of him. Right. He's on the phone and then somebody has to say, stop, stop. Some of their. The Eagles.

[Matt Jones]

The guy not have call waiting.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Sorry, coach, somebody's calling. I gotta take this.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah, yeah. It would kind of be rude to get off the phone with, you know, the guy you think is your coach.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Hold on, I'm getting another call. But, yeah, like, bizarre. I wonder how many times that's happened.

[Matt Jones]

But that's what happens because this thing

[Billy (Co-host)]

is on delay and don't even get online. The picks are tipped by these reporters.

[Matt Jones]

I intentionally. I was with Shannon in. In London, Kentucky, and I intentionally did not get online. It's a much more enjoyable. Billy, if you don't get online.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right. Because you don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Because then you don't know and you're surprised. You Know.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

It's like if you don't read the

[Billy (Co-host)]

news and you just wait for.

[Matt Jones]

And then you just go through life and somebody goes, you know, who's president? That guy from the. Remember the Apprentice? That dude is the president. You're like, no, really?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It really sounds like.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, Jeff Probst from Survivor, I get. But the guy from the Apprentice. That's how I did the draft. I just didn't. Didn't.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And who know this entire time, it's just like two, three minutes behind.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, now you see why. All right, what's number six?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I thought it was interesting. During day two of the NFL draft, they stopped the draft to do a fake pick. I don't know if you saw this, Matt, but there is a Hulu show called the Land where they did a mock first overall pick to the Browns. So they did a.

[Matt Jones]

Is every draft movie about the Browns?

[Billy (Co-host)]

They're so bad.

[Matt Jones]

Can you do draft movies and not be the Browns, or did they just sell to anybody?

[Billy (Co-host)]

People thought it was like, draft day two, and that got a lot of exc. Since that's such a good movie. But it's actually a Hulu show. The Land is what it's called.

[Matt Jones]

So they did. So they acted like it was a real draft.

[Billy (Co-host)]

The first overall pick. Yeah. Goodell came out and made an announcement.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Huh.

[Matt Jones]

Have you ever been at a sporting event where they do something like that? They did that.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They filmed a movie.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they did that at a UK game one time at halftime. They had, like. They came out at halftime and had everybody, like, cheer, and they acted like all they did was shoot the crowd. So they were like. Act like someone's hit a shot.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

And then the crowd and then. I know. I don't think it ever came out, whatever it was they were doing. Will Ferrell did that once at an event. Yeah. I'm trying to think what the.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You know, Batman filmed at Heinz Field one year where they did the. The. Everything collapsing. I believe that was out of game.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they did. Will Ferrell did some once, because I saw it online, but then I don't know that it ever actually came out. The thing that did it.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, that would be awesome to be an ex.

[Matt Jones]

So I didn't know this. So did they have. Did they show it on television?

[Billy (Co-host)]

They didn't show it on television, but there was like a. I think there was, like, a warning that they told everybody there that this is not an actual draft pick. This is a. I don't know how they worded it. Movie or Whatever they decided to say.

[Matt Jones]

Then Kevin Costner came out.

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, no, Kevin Costner. It was. It was Roger in this instance.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, it was Roger. Interesting. And the Hulu show is called what the Land. Which shows are you watching now, by the way?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I mean, we talked about this. Storage wars is. I'm on a kick right now, and the guy just died from Storage wars. So it's a sensitive time right now.

[Matt Jones]

Storage Wars?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Where people just sell their storage cabinets.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes. And then I.

[Matt Jones]

Why is that interesting?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I did a bit on my radio show, the KSR pre show, weekdays from 9 to 10am okay.

[Matt Jones]

This is a national podcast. No one's listening. Just.

[Billy (Co-host)]

He challenged me to become an auctioneer within a year. And so I was like, okay, Shannon, you got a deal. So I've been watching a little bit more Storage Wars. I had the international world champion of auctioneers reach out to me, wanting to mentor me. So maybe it's just.

[Matt Jones]

How do I not know any of this? You're studying to become an auctioneer?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I'm going to dabble. Yeah. I'm going to try a little bit to pick it up. It was a challenge.

[Matt Jones]

Have you ever done any of it?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I have done known auctioneering.

[Matt Jones]

Do you. Can you right now do anything?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No, I'm very.

[Matt Jones]

Why do you want to be an auctioneer? That's maybe a job that is like. You want to be a cobbler? Like, are you just trying to get things that time has.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I was erased by my co host.

[Matt Jones]

Why? How did that come up?

[Billy (Co-host)]

You know, I'm not sure, but, you know, I would say my strength is my voice. And if I wanted to become an auctioneer, then I can even explore.

[Matt Jones]

You want to do the thing where you're like, okay, I got two over here.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Who's got three? Who's got a three over here? I got three over here. Who's going to get maybe 350? Who's got 350? I got 350 right here.

[Matt Jones]

You got a long way to go.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, thank you. But I did have the international champion reach out to me. We're going to grab lunch in a month or two.

[Matt Jones]

You're grabbing lunch with an auctioneer?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Not just the. An auctioneer, an international champion. Cory.

[Matt Jones]

But do people still do auctions like that?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I don't know. I like to think it lives on in Storage Wars.

[Matt Jones]

When I was a kid, I used to love going to auctions for that reason. I just was mesmerized by the voice. But I didn't know people still did it. It.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I can officiate a wedding and auctioneer.

[Matt Jones]

So you watch a. You watch Storage wars because you have a auxineer fetish?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I think that I'm just, like, preparing myself for the moment, I think. Matt. I do like the show, and it is timely with the death of. Rest in peace, Daryl.

[Matt Jones]

I'm sorry, Daryl. I was meaning more like fiction. Is there one that scripted?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, the Witcher is one I'm watching on Netflix. That's kind of like a fantasy thing.

[Matt Jones]

Isn't that kind of old? Old?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Say it's a few years old. Yeah. It's not new. All right, that's what I'm into right now.

[Matt Jones]

I've been watching Rooster.

[Billy (Co-host)]

What's that about?

[Matt Jones]

Steve Carell on hbo. He's a professor. He's an author going through a midlife crisis, and he teaches at a college campus where his daughter also goes.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Is that where he's, like, picking up all the girls on campus?

[Matt Jones]

He doesn't really pick up on him. He. I kind of thought that's what it was, but that's really not what it is. It's. It's. It's pretty good. It's okay. Your friends and neighbors with Jon Hamm breaks into people's houses. I like. I think that's very good.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Any auctioneers in any of those?

[Matt Jones]

No, no, none of his friends or neighbors are auctioneers. Trying to think what else I watch. There's a good show that was on Peacock that I think I'm the only person on earth that watched called Ponies.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Haven't seen that one either.

[Matt Jones]

It's about these two women. Their husbands get killed in the CIA spying on Russia, and for reasons that are really clear, they just decide to spy on Russia for the CIA, which I didn't know you could just hand it to your wife. That's pretty good, though, actually.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And what was it called? Ponies.

[Matt Jones]

Ponies, okay. But no one I know is seen Ponies.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, I'm going to run out of Storage wars episodes, so I'll have to find something else.

[Matt Jones]

Well, maybe you'll become a CIA woman. What's next?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I thought this was an interesting tidbit. I don't know how much it means for the draft, but Mike Tomlin is joining NBC and will have a role with Football Night in America.

[Matt Jones]

That'd be good. I think he'll be good, actually.

[Billy (Co-host)]

He's got personality, too.

[Matt Jones]

So Tony Dungy retired.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right.

[Matt Jones]

And they're getting rid of Chris Sims, so it'll Be what? Who's on that?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Rodney Harrison, Maria Taylor.

[Matt Jones]

Maria Taylor. Mike Tirico.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. Florio.

[Matt Jones]

Florio. Okay. I think Mike Tomlin will be good. I guess he's taking over for Tony Dungey, right?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I think so.

[Matt Jones]

He probably won't do it for very long, though. You got to assume he's going to coach again soon.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. Probably a one year thing, right? This one year out of coaching to take a break, assess the job market.

[Matt Jones]

And then they said they're going to every game this year. You know, sometimes they used to we're in studio and sometimes they're going to every game. So Mike Tomlin will be at a stadium near you.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, 19 years in Pittsburgh. I'm interested to see how he is because people just say he's a slam dunk, he's going to be great. Hand him the job.

[Matt Jones]

Skeptical.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't know, I'm just. Let's see.

[Matt Jones]

Why don't you think he'll be good? He always seems like he's charismatic, he's

[Billy (Co-host)]

handsome, he knows the sport. So he'll be. He'll be.

[Matt Jones]

So why are you anti him?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't know. I'm just anti people getting jobs in TV just because they played the profession.

[Matt Jones]

Who do you want to be the like expert analyst? I mean, shouldn't it make sense that they should have played?

[Billy (Co-host)]

No. Yeah. I'm just being about somebody that has no experience broadcasting, that gets a job that broadcasters would want.

[Matt Jones]

But. But that's what sports athletes are, is that they. I mean almost none of them have had. None of them have had a job before they do it it Right. I mean, they're not going to go work in Albany. You want Mike to get his reps in and Billings, Montana before he goes

[Billy (Co-host)]

to Hazard, Kentucky, learn how to read a teleprompter and then he'll come back.

[Matt Jones]

I think you. I think what's actually in players. You want the job.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I do want the job.

[Matt Jones]

And you are up. Did not get it.

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[Podcast Host/Announcer]

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[Matt Jones]

All right, what's number eight?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I'll give you credit for that. This one because I this guy was not on my radar before. You talked about it in the last Cover Zero episode.

[Matt Jones]

I did. I previewed this.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Who are Bernard was selected in the seventh round with pick 251 by the Eagles. He is a Nigerian defensive tackle, has not played a single down of football in his Life. He is 21 years old and a member of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. But Matty, 6 4, 306 pounds, ran a 4634 and a 10 foot, 10 inch broad jack jump. This guy is a freak. Kind of.

[Matt Jones]

Why do they have him do the broad jump? That's not something that would showcase itself in an NFL game.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You know, I don't know. Maybe like maybe Mike Thomas.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he's a freak athlete. I want it to work, but I also think it's kind of odd. What does it say if someone can be drafted and play in the NFL who's never played football before? Does that say that that's a sport that if you're athletic, one can do well?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It's more about potential than it is production. Was what we lined on last night.

[Matt Jones]

I would be really mad if I didn't get picked and the guy who never played did. I'd be like, why did I do this?

[Billy (Co-host)]

It's like you study your entire life to be a broadcaster and Mike Tomlins gets the job because he played the sport.

[Matt Jones]

You know what? This guy specifically did not play the sport. This guy got the job just because he's more athletic than you.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Even worse. You spend your whole life going for this.

[Matt Jones]

I said, do we think this guy will ever play in a game?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Oh, 100%, I think.

[Matt Jones]

100%.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. I think he plays in a game.

[Matt Jones]

I mean not just an exhibition game. Does he ever play in a real game for an NFL team?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, I mean there's a lot of games to play. We got 17, so I definitely think he gets in now. Will he have like a much of an impact?

[Matt Jones]

There's a lot of games to play. That's why he's going to play. There's a lot. Everybody gets a chance.

[Billy (Co-host)]

People get hurt, Matt.

[Matt Jones]

Everybody gets a chance. He hasn't even made the team. He could easily get cut that's true. True.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's true. Didn't think about that. I mean, probably should have, but I'm rooting for him. Ooh, our Bernard.

[Matt Jones]

Ooh. Are. All right. Well, I love this story. I love that he. They found him and well, hopefully it works out. Who's next?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Let's talk a little quarterbacks, Matt, because there were some big names that went to some interesting destinations. The first is Drew Aller, who got picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the.

[Matt Jones]

I don't understand that one. The Drew Alley was never good. Dr. Eller had every chance in the world to be good in college. He played. I think he played all four years at Penn State. Right. And he never was good. And he was, I think, the third quarterback taken or fourth. I don't understand why. What is the Drew Aller you talk about? A guy that had every chance to be. And was on a good team.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. Must be potential or that.

[Matt Jones]

How much does that mean? Like, how many times you have to play before potential is like. He played a lot.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. Well, Pittsburgh, we know, needs a quarterback. We still don't know about Aaron Rogers picking.

[Matt Jones]

Like, does Pittsburgh not scout outside the state of Pennsylvania because they picked Kenny Pickett.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right.

[Matt Jones]

And now they're picking Drew Aller. They picked the guy that's from there that was in the Navy.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes, that's true.

[Matt Jones]

They just.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They don't pick a lot of head coaches.

[Matt Jones]

Does the budget not extend past the state borders?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I think you found it, the scouting department just very, very limited in who else. We also had Carson Beck. That was the third round, 11 pick sooner he went to the Cardinals. So teaming up with Cardinals actually kind

[Matt Jones]

of like that one. I think Carson Beck is good. I think because Carson Beck had such a bad year at Georgia that people then just had in their minds that he was a disappointment. But at Miami, he was good. He was good. And you get him in the third round. And if you're Arizona, I like that pick. I don't know if he'll be good, but I like the. I think that's a really good risk to take if you're them.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah. Unfortunately for him, he might be the first quarterback that plays out of this class.

[Matt Jones]

But that's good. I think that's okay. I'm surprised that he was like, if you asked me, would you rather have Carson Beck or Ty Simpson? I think I would have taken Carson

[Billy (Co-host)]

back if I would have got back in the third round instead of having to go Simpson in the first, that would make sense.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I don't I would just say to him, just forget about the round value. I mean you just said, who would you rather have on your roster? I think I'd rather have Carson. He was good this year, like really good. So. But people's just punishing for what happened at Georgia and I don't understand that. I mean did Georgia Kirby Smart, you know, his system, that's a different thing.

[Billy (Co-host)]

It was a gunner Stockton that came in.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And he played and then, you know, what's his face? Stetson Bennett. I don't know. I thought that was a good pick. Who else?

[Billy (Co-host)]

A couple more. Garrett Nessmeyer went to the Chiefs in the seventh round. Taylor Green, the Arkansas quarterback, went to Cleveland. Poor guy. Sixth round, 180 seconds.

[Matt Jones]

What's that? I mean Taylor Green, Arkansas was awful.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Awful.

[Matt Jones]

And he wasn't very. I mean he's a crazy good athlete, but I don't get that one. Have 14 quarterbacks. What is. They just keep picking people.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Sean Watson's coming back eventually and then Diego Pavia was an interesting one. Not drafted. Was invited to Ravens minicamp and I

[Matt Jones]

thought it was rude that invited the full camp.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Just yesterday though, Adam Schefter says that he signed a three year deal with the Ravens.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but NFL deals? I don't know. It depends. I think, you know, NFL deals may or may not be real in some ways. It depends on whether or not they're guaranteed.

[Billy (Co-host)]

There is guaranteed money aspects of it, but like this probably.

[Matt Jones]

Are they trying to keep him from going to the cfl?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Is that what the undrafted free agent contract?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they're trying to keep him from going. Playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or whatever.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Diego Pavi's not gonna be.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Do you think he will.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Be good at all?

[Matt Jones]

No, I would never pick a player that doesn't have an agent.

[Billy (Co-host)]

You think that's just poor like.

[Matt Jones]

I just think it's poor decision making. I mean Lamar obviously has worked out, but I also think he's probably cost himself tens of millions of dollars by not having an agent.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, but they don't want to pay somebody they don't understand.

[Matt Jones]

But that's like saying I don't want to pay for a new roof so I'll just let these shingles fall off. It'll work itself out.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, probably not.

[Matt Jones]

Eventually it's going to catch up to you. So. And what's the last one?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Let's talk about the Navy guys because two guys were drafted from the U.S. naval Academy. It's the first time that's happened in 70 years.

[Matt Jones]

That's nice.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Eli Heiden Reich and Landon Robinson were both picked in the seventh round. They are the 20th and 21st midshipman ever to be picked when it comes to this NFL draft. Their first pair to get drafted in the same year since 1956. Robinson will go to the Cincinnati Bengals while the other one will be playing for. And I just lost it. I think it's Pittsburgh, Matt. Yeah, that's Pittsburgh.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we talked about it because he was in the neighborhood.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's right. He's a receiver and a running back. The other one is a defense for them.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I think anybody that goes through the physical vigor that it would take to be in the Navy, you know, the NFL is not going to scare him.

[Billy (Co-host)]

But you still got to serve, right? It's just like a delay.

[Matt Jones]

I think they passed a rule, though, that, like, you can play in the NFL and then serve after.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, I think they did that because you remember David Robinson. He got picked number one in the draft and then served in the Navy for a year before he played for the Spurs.

[Billy (Co-host)]

See, I don't know that. I did not know that.

[Matt Jones]

Think about that for a minute. I mean, think about if AJ debons were to go one in that. Well, actually use Cooper flag.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Cooper's got a good.

[Matt Jones]

Cooper was right now not with Dallas, but was just like, look, I got a year of the Navy. That was what David Robinson did. Wow. And he was 7 foot 1 in the Navy. It's gotta be hard to hide him.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I'm glad we made the exception, though. Like, I mean, I know that people

[Matt Jones]

would say, well, there's a lot of careers out there. Why do you get the exception for sports?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Well, that's a good point, but I would say it's just like. It's not very often. It's like a very low percentage of.

[Matt Jones]

Probably good for recruiting. For the. For the. Yeah.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Too. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

To just recruiting. Not. I don't mean for the sports teams. Just like you can come to the Navy and still fulfill your dream to do whatever.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

And the other argument is probably other careers. You know, sports, your body will age out of being able to do it, whereas other careers. That may not be true.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And I'd want to have somebody that was a service member on my team. I think they probably bring a grit and toughness that maybe somebody that's just handed to the job doesn't have.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, you know, most of these people picking the seventh round don't make

[Billy (Co-host)]

the team like Mr. Irrelevant this year. Buffalo linebacker Red Murdoch. Great Name broke Khalil Mack's record for forced fumbles in a career at Buffalo.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, so he got picked by Buffalo.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Picked by Denver. Okay, he was at Buffalo. Yeah. And broke Cleo Max record. Who would you want to be?

[Matt Jones]

Mr. Irrelevant. I mean, you get a whole parade. You get a whole thing.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yes, I would. I'd like to be drafted by the NFL.

[Matt Jones]

But you have to have a sense of, like, humility about it. You can't. You have to be okay being called Mr. Irrelevant.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Yeah, I got to be able to laugh at myself.

[Matt Jones]

You're gonna have to, like, like, laugh. But you know this. There's a town that gives you a parade.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I didn't know there was a parade.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you didn't know about this. There's a town somewhere that Mr. Irrelevant is their thing, and they, like, give them a parade and they have a Mr. Irrelevant hall of Fame that you get your plaque in. And they've had a number of guys in that spot play in the NFL.

[Billy (Co-host)]

That's very cool.

[Matt Jones]

What is the town?

[Billy (Co-host)]

I don't have the town here, but there is A. Since 1976, NFL alumnus Paul Salata created a relevant week. It's an annual celebration recognized at the NFL that honors the last player picked every year. Still looking for.

[Matt Jones]

Where is it, though?

[Billy (Co-host)]

Still looking for the location here, but there's been some successful Mr. Relevance.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Purdy is somebody. That's still.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. And Newport Beach, California, you. It's the official Mr. Irrelevant Town. They give a Heisman.

[Billy (Co-host)]

They.

[Matt Jones]

They give a Lowsman trophy, which is the opposite. Come on. This can't be true. They give a trophy of a player dropping a ball. Oh, come on. Instead of carrying a ball. That can't.

[Billy (Co-host)]

All these guys have a sense of humor they all recognize. Well, then you're gonna not show up for the annual celebration of Mr. Arrow.

[Matt Jones]

So it's in Newport Beach, California. You get to go to Disneyland. You participate in a sailing regatta. You throw the first pitch at a baseball game. You go to the Lowsman banquet, you are giving a low trophy, and you meet fellow Lozeman heroes.

[Billy (Co-host)]

I'm in. Sign me up. Meet other heroes.

[Matt Jones]

I can't believe they make them take a trophy. That's someone dropping a ball.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Chad Kelly, the former Ole miss quarterback, was Mr. Irrelevant in 2017.

[Matt Jones]

That's a week long celebration. A week. Red Murdoch was interviewed. He said it was a very emotional moment to be picked as Mr. Irrelevant, thoughts crept in that I might not get drafted, but I kept my mind on it. And when I got the call I was extremely grateful. Well, good for him.

[Billy (Co-host)]

And you got a lot of family members around. They want you to succeed and be drafted. So when you get picked with the last pick, I'm sure it's a special moment.

[Matt Jones]

The guy who started it just recently died. And there is a foundation that has an endowment for Mr. Irrelevant.

[Billy (Co-host)]

So what does that mean?

[Matt Jones]

Endowments, like money that runs. You know, they put it in the market and then it. Universities have endowments, right? Mr. Relin has an endowment.

[Billy (Co-host)]

So am I. Am I going to get money paid out to me over these years?

[Matt Jones]

No, no, it's. It's how they probably pay for these festivals.

[Billy (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Well, Billy, I think we just summarized the draft better than anyone else.

[Billy (Co-host)]

We recapped the draft.

[Matt Jones]

Hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you all and we will see you later. This has been cover 0 foreign. With Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and I Heart Podcast. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Matt Jones]

Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's

[Billy (Co-host)]

just a regular guy.

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[Matt Jones]

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[Podcast Host/Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.