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Chase
As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM this season we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code TheAthletic. Make your first deposit of at least ten dollars, place bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic. See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C. mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario or Puerto Rico gambling problem call 1-800- gambler available in the U.S. call 877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY 467-369 in New York, call 1-800- NEXT STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 Massachusetts 1, 800, bets off in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1-800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico for first bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Don't forget if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager.
Diana
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Chase
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Diana
Hello. Hi Chase. What's up buddy?
Chase
Going on? How's it going?
Diana
How is all going? Welcome into this live edition of Scoop City. We've only done this one other time so we figured what better time than now. Just a what a little over 24 hours to Thursday night draft. Finally here. Finally Figuring out some of the questions that we've had over the last. I feel like we've been talking about this for just, just way too long. So we want to welcome you into the show here. Thanks for hanging out with us. We've got this live chat going. We have the chat up so we can see what you're saying. Yes, we can be nice, but weigh it, share some thoughts. If there's a take that you have off some of the stuff that we're gonna be telling you about sharing in there, I'm gonna be scanning over there. Chase is definitely gonna be reading them. He loves comments. So make sure.
Chase
I love comments.
Diana
Yeah, engage with Chase. Make it entertaining here.
Chase
So.
Diana
So Chase, I know because you texted me this morning. You, you read my column. So for the last, I'd say I don't. A little over a week I've just been compiling as, as many notes as I could collect based on conversations I'm having all day long just from teams and really trying to figure out what's the truth, what's some of the smoke. And so I put the column, if you guys want to check that out right now, it's over at the Athletic. It's right on the homepage. You can't miss it. And if you want to kind of follow along while we talk about it. So if you don't feel like reading because you're commuting right now or perhaps you're in the car, we're going to actually go through some of the best parts of the column, the things that really stood out to us to kind of just empty the barrel here and add a few more notes that I've collected since the column published this morning. So I feel like.
Chase
How long were you worked on this? Because I feel like it was just loaded with stuff. How long did you work on this column?
Diana
Like in, in terms of putting it actually together? It was all day yesterday. But in between rating, you're taking calls and texting and double checking things. I gotta tell you though, I, I, I posted up at this coffee shop right by my house. I loved it. Like I was walking around stressed out. People are definitely looking at me like.
Chase
What'S, how much caffeine did you, did you take in?
Diana
Six cups of coffee. I couldn't even sleep last night because I was so excited to just publish it and put it out because it's nerve wracking and exciting. And I think the pressure I feel isn't even from the football fans. They're nuts. They're going to read anything it's the general managers, the coaches, the owners who are all reading it because they want the intel. And that's what I discovered through this process because you see so many mocks, right? And I make fun of them a little bit because it's like, oh, mock number 400. Here we go. They read teams, read it all.
Chase
Which is crazy to me that they read the mock drafts, because a lot of these, like, I don't do a mock draft. And there's some really good ones, right? Like the Beast Stain, Brugler. Excellent, Right. Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network. I think he's great. There's some other ones that are great, too. But the fact is, they know that these guys that are getting these mock drafts together talk to a bunch of teams. So it's a team's way to do research. Same with your column. That's awesome.
Diana
Yeah. So the way I kick this off with a lot of coaches and GMs I was talking to over the last few weeks was I wasn't getting to the nitty gritty of what their teams are doing. I really just wanted their feedback on this draft, especially Those coaches and GMs have been doing this a long time. And, you know, probably one of the more memorable quotes I got was from a head coach who said, you know, there's not a lot of Robert De Niro's in this draft class, right? Which means, like, this is not a lot of big names. There's not a lot of superstars. And I. And I think most people around the league feel that way. You know, had one coach tell me that the players that will go in that 5 to 10 range, that caliber of players you can probably find in the 20s. You know, this isn't something where the top of this draft teams are pressed, really. After two or three, there's a bit of a fall off. You know, I had a GM even say to me the other day that when he was talking to his scouts in their meeting, he. He basically just summed it up as, there's not a lot of touchdown makers, not a lot of top QBs. There's just a lot of good players that you can beef up in the trenches. Which I say, not so bad. We saw the Philadelphia Eagles win a Super bowl by doing that. Doesn't I love. It doesn't hurt that they had Jalen and some incredible wide receivers in oes of line play.
Chase
They just had the best team.
Diana
Right. So. But that being said, new year, everyone starts at zero, starts at scratch. They're trying to rebuild their roster. So let's just start at the top with Tennessee. I know it's not that exciting. There's not fireworks. Right. All signs are pointing it being Cam or Mike Briganzi, the general manager shared with the media very openly that they've decided they're not going to take calls. They are going to stick and pick and go after what we believe to be a quarterback. Yet it's, it's.
Chase
It would be the surprise of all surprises. They didn't pick with game board who who called up the heaviest for the Titans.
Diana
So the New York Giants were the team that consistently called the Titans with the best offers to try to get up. But it was good. I know, I know. We're going to ask. I could talk.
Chase
What was it going to take?
Diana
What was it going to take? Okay. So they wouldn't reveal to me what the ultimate package was. Put it this way, they had always said it would have to be almost historic. Like again, they didn't give me the specifics. So I can't, I don't even want to like exaggerate or lean into something that I think it could be. But the fact. But, but let's take a step back real quick though. So when I tell you that it was the New York Giants as the team that was the most aggressive, what's your immediate thought in terms of their philosophy and process here?
Chase
They need a quarterback. They need to save their job. They wanted Cam Ward and look, I've been saying it. Multiple people been saying it. You've even been saying it. It's sort of Cam Ward and then everyone else in the quarterback area. And I think that's the, that's what this whole draft is. So if you were at three and you're in striking distance, Diana, we've seen picks go up to number one, right. But Tennessee, they don't have a quarterback. Right. They obviously did not believe in Will Levis. Obviously it's going to be Ken Moore. He will become the day one starter. But when I'm looking at the Giants and I'm looking at trading up one, I think of a couple things. Would. Did they have a strong enough offer or would the owner just not let them give up the franchise to actually move up knowing that Joe Shane and Brian Dabel are on the hot seat, that's where I go. I go a little bit deeper with that. And the other thing is it's. He would have been the day one start. I don't know if Cam Ward saves the franchise. So it's. I think it's going to end up being a good thing for the Giants not to give up the farm. They're probably going to draft a Bill Carter we'll get to but it's just to me it's interesting because there are a little bit of politics going on with the owner I bet. Like I don't want to give up so much to move up two spots to draft a guy. We're maybe sure. And you might not be coaching next year. So.
Diana
I know, I know we've talked about it here on Scoop City for weeks of just the really the complicated scenario everyone is in in New York with the Giants because why don't we actually just stick with the Giants right now since we're talking about them in the front of mind. And look, everyone in football has been asking what do you think they're doing And I feel like as we've gotten closer here more people are feeling that they are going best available at this point knowing that ownership wants to go with with picking the player that's going to be good for the future of this Giants team. Now look, I just from covering the Giants as long as I have, I don't have this idea that their owner, that John Mayer is sitting in there making demands saying that you must do this. I think he is very open minded and listening to the football people on what they think is best. But as we know in football at the end of the day the owner is really going to be the one that's going to have the most influence here. So look we know they need a quarterback. Brian Dabel, Joe Shane, both on the hot seat. They know it, they feel it. So it makes a lot of sense. But I think let's move past what they will do at three because I think most believe it's going to be best player available depending on who's there. Let's just say it's going to be Abdul Carter. It's what they're going to do next, right? It's are they going to stay in the second round? You know I made some calls for to some teams at the bottom of the first round to see if they've heard from Joe Shane, if they've heard from from that Giants front office of trying to move up. I don't get the sense they're pressed right now that they're freaking out having like are we going to be able to get up? Because let me just paint a fuller picture. Teams at the top all want to get out. Almost everybody wants to get out outside the Tennessee Titans because I don't think they Value the players like that. I think just as I started the show, they think they can get them somewhere else. Maybe they can pick up some more draft capital here, find players later in the rounds. Right. It's the bottom half of this first round where the phones are buzzing and teams are trying to get up. Teams in the second round, like I just mentioned with the Cleveland Browns are starting in the second round at the top, followed by the Giants. It is expected that they're going to move that they are going to start making those calls to those teams at the bottom of the first to get up knowing that they're going to be looking for a quarterback.
Chase
That's interesting.
Diana
But I know, I know you're going to pick this. I know you. I know you're going to go. So go.
Chase
No, I think that a couple things. One, I don't think you need to reach if you're the Browns or the Giants at 2 or 3 for a quarterback. These guys do not fit the bill as a second or third pick overall. No. No harm to Shador Sanders or Tyler Shock or Jackson Dart or whoever. Jalen Milrose even being talked about as the number one. It is interesting to me because you do get a lot of value at the end of the first round. Those guys, those teams picking usually the teams obviously picking at the end of the first round are the better teams from the year past. So I think it says one Diana a lot about and we. I know you've talked about this, but I want to make sure our viewers know a lot about just this draft. Overall, it's a really down draft. If you're not a defensive lineman, a defensive lineman, there could be 12 going the first round, like 10 going the first round. There's a lot of defensive linemen going to go. But after that, right.
Diana
You.
Chase
You look at the first maybe 10 picks, the 10 player. There's probably 10 players in this draft. What I'm hearing and, and what we've talked about that like excite people and after that it. It's like 11 through 32. Like I don't know if I want to pick. Like I. You got to be dang sure. I feel like it's going to be much more draft for not need but best player available because there aren't that many like franchise cornerstone like you were saying, like you let off the show players. And I think that's, I think when we talk about this, I think just the context to the viewer and what multiple GMs have said, what a lot of analysts have said, that's just overall the case. So I think that's what makes sense for these teams moving back up into the first round to grab a quarterback because a lot of people don't understand too, if you do get a quarterback in the first round at 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, there is a fifth year option. That fifth year option goes away in round two. I just want to make sure people understand like, well, why don't you draft them at pick 33 or 34 or 40. Well, one, he might be gone. Two, they get another year of their contract and they after first round picks who have five year deals, four year deals with the extension with a, with an option round two through seven, they have four year deals.
Diana
Yeah, it's, I'm glad you pointed that out because I was even having conversations with some teams picking at that bottom half today. I mean they're basically all waiting to see which one of these teams are going to start calling aggressively. Now, meantime at the top, I can tell you the Browns, the Giants, the New England Patriots have all been getting calls from teams looking to move up. Now look, there's a, there's a specific player that those teams are calling to move up for though, right? So they're not going to make a deal right now until they see how this, how this shakes out. But there's definitely some conversations that are having at the top and that is.
Chase
For that player and that's real like, do you think the Browns are. It's got to be, right? It's Travis Hunter.
Diana
Yeah.
Chase
Do you think the Browns willing. Yeah. Are, do you think the Browns are willing to not pick him? Right. Because we've had this conversation before, Diana, and I've had it with some of my buddies who have played football in our analysts and just talking ball, you know, like hey, we're at the restaurant, we're talking football. We're just chit chatting because with Travis Hunter, in my opinion, he's the best player in the draft, right? And Cam Ward is a necessity for Tennessee. But Travis Hunter is the best player in the draft and it's, it's a guy I hate. I'm not going to use the word generational, although I do think he can be all pro within a few years. I hate the word generation, but he, he, he is one of those guys that could play two ways. It just don't know if the Browns can move off him when he can be a cornerstone for their franchise for the next decade. Right. Are they, are they not viewing that like Travis Hunter like that? Because it just sounds crazy to me now. Maybe they get a king's ransom, right?
Diana
That's what they're doing, in my opinion, just based on, like, this is just like an educated thought on talking to people around the league, looking at the top of the draft here, trying to figure out what Cleveland's going to do. Everyone believes that Andrew Berry is just taking the calls, listening to see what's out there. He should do that. They've got a lot of picks in this draft, but he should listen to see if someone is willing to go a little nuts to go up and get him. Maybe there's a team that wants to make some fireworks here and do something wild and crazy, answer the phone, see what they have to offer. But if no team is willing to do that, I could see the Cleveland Browns picking and sticking with Travis Hunter there.
Chase
What do you think the chances are that Browns, Giants, Patriots move off that pick? Because I feel like the Patriots at four, probably going to be a tackle, maybe a D. Tack like that, to me, is not a super sexy pick of any of these guys that. That need sort of more depth. It'd be New England, but Giants, I feel you can't pass Abdul. What would it. I mean, what are the chances?
Diana
Yeah, I. I think that the Giants sticking and picking are very good. I also think the New England Patriots at 4 are going to stick and pick as well.
Chase
Oh, wow.
Diana
I don't. I think they're going to get calls. I just think that they're going to address the needs that they know that they have right now, and O line is one of them. No, I think the Browns are sticking and picking as well. I. I think.
Chase
Okay.
Diana
I just don't exactly. I just don't know if a team is going to be willing to give Andrew Berry the. What he's looking for to move out there. So I know that sounds boring. This could all change in the next few hours. I even had a conversation with an AFC general manager early this morning, and he sensed in my voice my hyperness, I guess, in my excitement for the draft. And he's like, you got a chill, man. He's like, do you know what happens between tonight and tomorrow? Like, there's still so much that needs to be addressed. You. You think it's all set? It's not. So, again, things can still change as we continue to go. But, you know, we talk about the top. We went Tennessee, we went Cleveland, we went New York, we talked New England. And you know, in regard to New York, the Shador Sanders has really been the story of this draft and there have been so many different opinions about him from coaches telling me that he takes too many sacks in college, that's not going to translate in pro. To another coach telling me they just love his charisma, his moxie, things that those intangibles that you can't always teach stars or talented players that had that start, you know, where you want them to have that star power. So the Shador Sanders from where we're at now, where it sits, from, from your eyes, where do you see this? How do you see this coming together? And where do you see him falling?
Chase
Well, I don't think he. Yeah, I mean, you know, he has. And I hate the word fall because at no point in this process did many people think that he was the top quarterback, right? There was always a thought that it was number two. Maybe you can say he's fallen to quarterback three, maybe Tyler Shuck jumps, jumps in front of him. Maybe somebody else, you know, Jackson dart jumps in front of him. But for Shador, it's an interesting case study because if you look at the film, right, it's. It's good most of the time. It's not, it's not overwhelming. It's not great, right? He threw for 4,100 yards at Colorado, led them to nine wins. All this stuff, it's great. He's. He got his jersey retired, he did all this stuff, right? But when you sort of project him out to the next level, just not sure how the arm strength and arm talent will work out. He's got plenty of arm, right? But his ball does die and I'm down the field and that's fine and all. I think more people are looking at the off the field stuff. What kind of leader is he? Who is he as a person? And right. There's all this stuff going around today that all this nasty. It's just ridiculous.
Diana
Here's the thing, it's collection of information and look, I've done it. I do it. It was in my article as well where you're just trying to get the truth from the scouts, from the general managers, these decision makers about these players. And most of the time they're anonymous, right? Because they don't want to put their name to it because of a lot of different reasons. So the article you're talking about, or at least the things that we've been hearing anonymously, that they're not great for Shador, right?
Chase
They're not great. And I think that matters though, Diane. I think that like a guy that doesn't wow. You physically is not the number one overall pick. People in the NFL circles are small. They talk. Right. So these formal interviews and stuff we've heard multiple times. The formal interview isn't this and isn't that. I get it. I think he needs a city or not. Where does he go? For me it's like I don't think the Saints are going to take him at 9. Like I just don't, like I, I, I feel like a Jackson dart would go at 9. I still think that's really high. I don't know if really even the Saints as you reported, are willing to go quarterback that high. I do believe though, Diana, if the Pittsburgh Steelers at 21 don't draft Shador Sanders, then he might not make it through the first round without getting picked. I mean, I get what you're saying. The Browns and the Giants may be trading back up in there, but I would love to see the floor for Shador be 21. But then like we've heard Jalen Milrose name talked about at the Steelers in the first round and I just, I, I can't see that either. So it's just honestly like Shador could go as high as 21 and as low as like the second round. Right. And I feel like you would probably feel a lot better about your pick if you picked him in the second round and you weren't reaching and he was there for the Giants per se or stuff. Like just because you take the pressure off him, you get him on a four year deal. It's just such an interest in. We've talked about him a lot because he is polarizing. To me, he's polarizing. However, I just don't know where he's going to be and get drafted. It only takes one team though.
Diana
Yeah. And there's been chatter about him landing in Pittsburgh with their pick. The last time I checked in, Pittsburgh was trying to move out. They're trying to get out of their spot so they're open to training out.
Chase
So what does that maybe a Giants straight up to like two.
Diana
If, if they're, if he's their guy. Now I know there was a point during the season where Shador Sanders was the number one on the New York Giants board and that has changed. So I, I don't believe it's Shador at this point.
Chase
So then where does he go? Does he have the Giants like who had him at high on their board at one point? Like do they go back up in and get them? Do they trade for a guy that's not even maybe gonna start.
Diana
Well, you've got the Saints, you've got the, the Steelers, you've got the Giants that are looking and perhaps the Browns.
Chase
If they got to be those four teams. Right. But Browns, Giants pick early, Saints pick nine. Yeah.
Diana
Look, we're going to talk about this in a, in a minute when we get further in the show, but this, the overarching story here, too is Kirk Cousins. Okay. So you see her Cousins. You're like, what? Well, Kirk Cousins could possibly be traded over the next few days and that could supply a team with a quarterback who was in the market for a quarterback and will no longer be. So you've got that in play here. So we'll, we'll touch on that in a little bit. I know. In the chat. First of all, hello to everybody hanging out with us in the chat. I've been following along. We've got almost, you know, 450 people hanging out with us right now. So that's so cool. Thank you. Tons of questions. I want to get to some of these soon, but I just want to continue to just share information.
Chase
Yeah.
Diana
So you guys can get it all.
Chase
Stop you if I see a really good question. Just so you guys know.
Diana
Right. And so then someone, you know, someone just pointed out, hey, don't forget about Aaron Rodgers and all this as well. You are right. Aaron Rodgers is another part of all of this because he is a quarterback available at the Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping to hear from. Don't.
Chase
I want to hear your about Kirk Cousins because this is crazy to me.
Diana
Okay. With Kirk Cousins. Right. We know that the Atlanta Falcons, Terry Fontenot, the general manager, addressed the media about it and essentially gave Kirk some credit for showing up for otas. He was there. But we all know that this, that Kirk doesn't want to be there.
Chase
Right.
Diana
Kirk does not want to not only deal with being demoted, but to sit by to not play football. He wants to be out there and play. He wants to be a starter somewhere. Now, it's important to remember that. Let's say just for this example, because I can tell you the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings have all had conversations with the Atlanta Falcons about a possible trade for.
Chase
Let me just, let me just stop you. We knew about Pittsburgh, obviously. Makes a lot of sense with DK Metcalf and George Pickens. We knew about the Cleveland Browns even though they signed Joe Flacco and you know, Kurt, Kirk Cousins goes to Chipotle and you know, wherever they're at. Yeah. Not Not a, not a visit.
Diana
I can't wait. Sorry guys.
Chase
But the Vikings a reunion, they've talked to him. Do I think that would set the world on fire?
Diana
That to me is the least likely scenario because this organization is all in on JJ McCarthy. They are so excited about him. They are expecting a really good spring. And I don't necessarily believe that the Vikings think that they need a player of Kirk Cousins caliber on this roster. They just need a sufficient backup to come in. So what does that look like? Is that a possibly a day three trade for like an Aiden O'Connell, a Sam Howell, that that's a possibility for them? I just. The Kirk Cousins trade to Minnesota situation, to me if it were to happen, that would be more of a later in the year after the team sees you. Because it's the same thing with the Aaron Rodgers thing that we've been talking about that drives Minnesota Vikings fans crazy. Crazy. Oh, we don't want Aaron Rodgers. No, it's. The door is not shut on any veteran quarterback available. That's the final line on that. It's. We need to see JJ McCarthy. We want this to work. We will assess come training camp, maybe even sooner depending on what happens in the spring. What, what if J.J. doesn't feel well in the spring? What if the knee is a problem? You know, what are you going to do? You can't just say, well, we're just going to stick with a guy and hope for the best. No, you're going to try to bring in a guy to win. This is a Super bowl winning caliber tight team so we'll see how that shakes out. But I'm watching Browns make the most sense. The Browns make the most sense.
Chase
Set up there, fit their under center play action type guy. Right. But let's talk about the money because I think he's owed a lot of money. $27 million this year plus some next year. Are the Falcons going to eat some of it to move them and are they willing to do that? They're going to have to. Right?
Diana
They're going to have to. They don't. You think Arthur Blank wants to spend any of that? No, of course he doesn't. But they're going to get to a point though where they know this isn't good for anyone and Kirk has done the right things in terms of being a good player, a good teammate. And look, this was not a situation he was ever given a heads up about with Michael Pennix. Remember draft night last year when we were shocked. Yeah. That the Falcons took them. They just pay him all this money and then they go for a young rookie quarterback who now won the job. So look, we will, we'll see how this transpires. But I can tell you, I know teams that have been hunting around trying to figure out how much validity there is to Kirk Cousins getting traded this weekend because it's going to tell the story of what the quarterback maybe teams are going to do. So it kind of all is intertwined right now.
Chase
Yeah. No, yeah, I'm just. Yeah, I like it too. I have a question, though, about Pittsburgh because, you know, say, say Pittsburgh doesn't end up with Kirk Cousins and you're saying, hey, If Pittsburgh at 21 doesn't want to draft Shador, doesn't want to draft a quarterback, they move down. What the heck are the Steelers doing a quarterback this year to me, like the Aaron Rodgers thing. Right. And we can get into that a little bit. I guess it's more coming up.
Diana
We're going to conversation. Let's talk Steelers and Saints coming up, some Raiders. And then I also want to talk a little bit about what's going on in San Francisco. George Kittle tweeted at me today he is not happy.
Chase
They got a lot of views.
Diana
A lot of views. George, just call me next time. Don't tweet me. But he had his reason and I did a little digging on it. So we're going to talk about that coming up. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile.
Chase
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Diana
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Chase
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Diana
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Chase
I'm told it's super easy to do@mintmobile.com.
Diana
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Chase
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Diana
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Diana
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Diana
Circle back to just the quarterbacks as a whole. Just from what you know right now and what you've observed, we know Cam's going 1. The question mark is 2. Who do you think is going to be the next quarterback off the board right now? Vegas has the over under two and a half going in the first round.
Chase
Yeah, that's low. I mean there were six last year, right? This is the down quarterback class. If I was a betting man, which I don't really bet a lot, you know me, I'm cheap, I would bet the over. I feel like, I feel like there could be, there could be four guys taken in the first round. And that sounds crazy for me to say because I've studied them all with an eye that, you know, is keen to seeing what quarterbacks need to do because that's all I did was watch film my entire career. And other than Cam Ward, none of them really, you know, make me feel all happy inside. It's just like one of those things where quarterback two is going to be completely dependent on team. I could see a team falling in love with Shador Sanders. I could see a team falling in love with Jackson Dart. I could see a team falling in love with Tyler Shuck. I don't think it's going to be Milroe. Right. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Tyler Shock. Like six, six dudes played for a long time. He's older than Trevor Lawrence.
Diana
I had a head coach who had Tyler Schuck ranked number one on their board for the quarterbacks over Cam Ward.
Chase
That, that, that, that's, that's pushing it because he's had he at Texas Tech he played. So he's backed up Justin Herbert for two years. Oregon, he played at Tech for three years. Texas Tech, he got season ending injuries in all three years at Texas Tech. Then had a good year at Louisville. The one thing about him, great footwork, like the footwork and, and, and just the timing and the drops. It's the best, it's the best in the class. It's better than Cam Ward for sure. Arm strength, best in the class. Arm talent. That's Cam Ward. But he makes some, like, for lack of better words, some dumb plays at times. Like, you watch him and he's just throwing the ball like, oh my gosh, I don't want to get hit, like, stuff like that. So would I be surprised if a team fell in love with Teleshark? No. Jackson Dart got a lot of hype right after the super bowl. And they were, we were hyping up and talking about them. It's hard to break down Jackson Dart sometimes, Diana, because with Jackson Dart 1, he plays in Elaine Kiffin style offense, and they really run six to eight plays out of 10 to 12 different formations. It's all the same. It's like four verticals with a shallow cross. And I do think he's really good in the pocket. He's an, an excellent runner. Then he averaged 500 yards rushing in each of his three seasons at Ole Miss, average 500 yard rushing. And he averaged 120 carries a year. So he's, he's built the right way. He's a strong runner. He reminds me of Jalen Hurts as a runner, truly. And I know he emulates his game around Jalen Hurts. So it's, it's literally, and I hate to say this, there's no clear consensus too. It's going to come down to the team's need and fit in interviews and evaluations on that player. Because there could be 30 teams that love, say, Tyler Shuck, but one team loves Jackson Dart and that one team is drafting above the other 30. So now all of a sudden, Jackson Darts quarterback number two. So that's why this draft is so crazy, man.
Diana
Well, in the chat, our friend here, Rob, said that he had four quarterbacks picked with the first six picks.
Chase
Come on, Rob.
Diana
Rob, what do you think this was, 2024? Look, Rob, if you're right, it looks.
Chase
Like a villain from an 80s movie. That picture. That was hilarious. Oh, yes, we're doing this since we're on quarterbacks. David Piling or pilling. Sorry. Question for Diana. Where. Where would College Chase rank in this year's class? Play nice.
Diana
Oh, they're asking me to evaluate you.
Chase
Yes. Where would College Chase rank in this.
Diana
Year' Dave, you have to understand, I didn't even understand how good of a quarterback Chase was until we went to Missouri together. And it was like he was walking on water when we were walking around the city. It was unbelievable. So I am not the right person to, to ask that, but based on what I saw and what my husband tells me about how great Chase was in college and all the covers of Sports Illustrated that I've seen him on and that he tweets about, I would say that he would probably go number one overall.
Chase
Okay. I don't know. Okay, let me ask you.
Diana
Wait. If you're watching this, I promise we're not going to go in too far in this because I know you want your draft intel. But Chase of these quarterbacks right now, I know this is like so self serving. Like, where do you think you would fall? Like, do you think you're better than Cam Warren come out of college? I think. Oh, my God. I know the answer.
Chase
The chat is saying undrafted free agent or drafted by the xfl. That's hilarious, guys. I'm not going to answer that. No, I think Camel would go number one overall, but I do feel like I would be drafted. I was undrafted. I lasted 14 years. I feel like I would be drafted in this class. Let's just say that.
Diana
Okay, that's fair. That's fair enough. All right. So Omar Khan said we want to go to camp with four quarterbacks, Right? That's what they do. They've got two on the roster. They're waiting for the word from Aaron Rodgers. We'll see what they do at quarterback in this draft. The George Pickens stuff. There's a lot of rumors I've been seeing about George Pickens getting traded. Look, I. I don't get that sense. Do I think the player may like the idea? Yes. But I don't get the sense of right now that a team is calling the Pittsburgh Steelers looking to trade for George Pickens. That. That was the latest. And that was like an hour and a half ago when I talked to people to just.
Chase
That is the latest.
Diana
Yeah. Welcome into phones going off in the background at 4:30 Eastern. Is not getting traded. We'll see if that changes. But no, I don't really get the sense that that's something that they're doing. And we'll see. We'll see how that pans out. We'll see if Kirk Cousins lands there. We'll see if good old Arthur Smith's got to call up Ryan Tannehill. Imagine that.
Chase
Where's Ryan Tannhill at? He's my boy. I need a text. He is in the Bahamas spearfishing. That's exactly.
Diana
I follow him on Instagram. Just flip. I would be Ryan Tanhill for a lot of reasons. I want to talk Raiders. Okay. We. We have.
Chase
You skipped my number one question about the Steelers. Diana, before we got into Raiders, what the heck are they doing at quarterback?
Diana
I think there's one. I just don't think it's going to be in the first round. I think they're going to grab a.
Chase
Quarterback, quarterback, be the starter then. Because you got Mason Rudolph. It's just like, I can't imagine going into a season with Mason Rudolph where your defensive core is. Your average age is like almost 30. Like T.J. watts getting up there in age.
Diana
You think Aaron Rodgers is going there?
Chase
You tell me. You're the Aaron Rodgers expert.
Diana
I am not the Aaron Rogers.
Chase
Not anytime soon. Let's just say not anytime soon.
Diana
I don't think so. I don't think so either. I'm with you on that. And I don't think that the Pittsburgh Steelers really know when Aaron Rodgers is going to make this decision. And look, he's got some personal things going on. He shared that to the world and. And I'm going to take him for his word as well that, that he's got life stuff happening. And I think the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to. Are willing to wait. I have not gotten the sense that they are giving him a deadline here, so we'll see. But then we got the Saints real quick. Your old team, they have not traded back in a draft since 2007. Like, Mickey doesn't do that. Like they are.
Chase
Yeah, they stick and pick.
Diana
Yeah, they can pick or they move up. They go up a lot. They go up and grab. So look, the Derek Carr situation, we still don't know he has a shoulder injury that they know about. Mickey spoke to the media, didn't want. Didn't want to address it. Really didn't give a lot of detail. Said they're going to work this out. We'll see how it shakes itself out. If maybe they can figure out a way to make Derek happier. I don't know if they can do that.
Chase
They just give him all that money. They just like, I don't think he wants to be contract.
Diana
I don't think so.
Chase
Is he somebody that we should watch for? Like trade?
Diana
I mean, that it would make sense, right, If. But who wants to trade for a quarterback that has a shoulder injury?
Chase
You know, shoulder injury. Somebody just said shoulder means his feelings are hurt.
Diana
All right, so that puts us at the Saints at nine. Okay. The sense I'm getting is best player available. I think they're going defense. I think they're gonna change their front.
Chase
No quarterback.
Diana
I don't think they're going quarterback with that first pick. I Don't get that sense. I do think they're taking a quarterback. They are, yeah. Definitely taking quarterback in this draft. This has been known for a while that they want to do this. It just. Who's it going to be and are they going to make a move to go up and get one if there's one they really like?
Chase
Edge rusher Cam Jordan, one of the greatest, one of my favorite teammates of all time. He's got a year, maybe two left to replace him. Edge rush, sure, maybe.
Diana
I think that would make sense. I think they're going to change.
Chase
Guys are legit. Georgia guys.
Diana
All right, so finally to Vegas. They've spent a lot of time on the running back. A lot. Okay. Yep. So new general manager John Spytek. So let me preface this. So before I start diving in on the intel on these teams, I always do a good amount of research of the connections that these decision makers have, where they come from, who do they know? Because it's. Oh, you think about when it's your first time in a job, you don't. You know you got the job, but you're usually not that confident yet. So you tend to lean towards how you were raised to do. We see it in coaching, we see it in front offices. You just kind of do as the people before you did. So with that being said, I know that there's been conversations had in that room in Vegas about going with the running back, but there's been some others more connected to the front office that really feel that offensive line is the area that they need to address. So you've got a really good offensive line class, too. So in terms of building, it's a great tackle. So in terms of building in Vegas, it's a need. It's not sexy, but it's a need that they have to have or that they have. While, you know, the team that we did skip, by the way, was Jacksonville when we moved down here. And that's the team I'm. I am.
Chase
The thing about Genti, though, like, what do you. What do you think his floor is like? Like, could he mean he's not getting past the Bears? There's no way the Bears are taking.
Diana
I've been asked this question by teams picking in the bottom, actually, there's no way his floor. His. His floor is Chicago.
Chase
Yeah. Over the moon. Happy if he fell.
Diana
Yes. I. And I know that they love him there. They love him if. If they could get him there. I think that. But that's. That's going to be something that I, I'm sure Ben Johnson would be thrilled about and write him. Write poems about him.
Chase
Yeah. Here's my thought on Genti. Like, I think he is a player that reminds me and I would. This is crazy to say, but he looks a little bit like Ladanian Thomas in the way he plays. Like, built really strong, got breakaway speed. I know Brugler said it before as well, but it makes a lot of sense. I do think that he's a home run threat. He's got great contact balance, all this stuff. But to say that you're gonna pick a running back at five or six that is really high. Like, like you almost have to. And Bruce Feldman was on the show two days ago. He said you almost have to be like Adrian Peterson, Saquon Barclay ask and that I don't think that's what this, this guy is. He can be a heck of a back for the next seven, eight years. But you do need help for Gino Smith. You do need offensive line. It's. I think that the lack of playmakers in this draft is driving up Ash and Genti stock. And so that's why I can see people like, oh, we. It's okay in this draft to take a running back five or six word in years past. You're like, you're crazy at. It's, it's, it's D line, it's quarterbacks and it's tackles and maybe receiver come like. So running back that high is not normal. He's a special talent, though.
Diana
Yeah. And like you said. Well, because this is such a different type of draft class from, from years past, the grades on these players I don't think would be as strong in previous years. So it's definitely affecting some decision makers. And I've had this conversation with a bunch of GMs this week about the running back class here and that same IDE idea because I do think the Denver Broncos are a team that are, are in the running back market. I think they're interested in, in grabbing one of these guys. I don't get the sense though, because I mean, you know better than anyone that their head coach, Sean Payton, when he loves a guy, he will go up and get him. Like he is not afraid. Historically, you go back to all the draft classes that he had in New Orleans. He does not wait. He's got no patience. He will go get him. And that's, that's a philosophy.
Chase
Yeah. I feel like his style is more Amari and Hampton from unc. Like fast runner, good out of the backfield, shifty. He's never really I mean, Mark Green was a big back, right, but he's been more the scat out of the backfield type guy. I I, you know, Marian will probably be there at 20, 21, but they need a receiver too. Denver's Denver's an interesting team to me.
Diana
They do. All right. So to come up here, I'm interested in what the Texans are going to do. We know Nick Casseroa is so active, so I want to talk about that coming up. Also, just which veteran players as a whole are going to be affected. And also, I don't want to put you on the spot, but I think we have to do it at the end. Just look, last year it was the Michael Penix draft, right? Because it was the big shocker. So let's wrap up the show in a few minutes here and let's give our Michael Penix moment that we think may happen, could happen and what the big headline will be on Friday after on the homepage of the Athletic Just a big headline, so we'll do that soon. I think you're on mute Workday starting to sound the same. I think you're on mute. Find something that sounds better for your career on LinkedIn. With LinkedIn job collections, you can browse curated collections by relevant industries and benefits like Flexpto or hybrid workplaces so you can find the right job for you. Get started@LinkedIn.com jobs finding where you fit. LinkedIn knows how.
Chase
Hey there travelers. Kaley Cuoco here.
Diana
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Chase
After an initial dosing phase of 16.
Diana
Weeks, about 4 in 10 people people taking Ebglis achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin.
Chase
And most of those people maintain skin.
Diana
That'S still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.
Chase
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Diana
Ask your doctor about ebglis and visit eglis.lilly.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979. Foreign let's talk a little 49ers before we keep going. We'll take a little break from from draft talk. We'll talk some 49er stuff. So right now, George Kittle and The San Francisco 49ers are in the middle of this negotiation. We know that Kittle wasn't there for OTAs, and from what I was told, it has to do with this contract. He wants to be the highest paid tight end in the NFL. I was told, in fact many around the league know about this, that he wants to make about 20 million a year. So Chase, I reported that today and Kittle, who's one of the nicest people in football, responded that my sources were wrong. Right? So that was one of those situations where I immediately had to go dig on it. Then like, wait, did someone give me bad info? And there was just so many people sharing about this that I knew it wasn't wrong. And it's not wrong. It really comes down to semantics, okay, because when you take a look at the Trey McBride deal is four years 76 million. Just a few months ago, Arizona did that deal, right, making him the highest paid tight end. Well, The San Francisco 49ers made an offer to Kittle that guaranteed money essentially made him the highest paid tight end, but it still was less than that Trey McBride contract. So it really comes down to these small details. And in my opinion, it's really not about that. It's more about are they going to be able to come to an agreement because right now there's no deal. This isn't done at this point. So sure, George is mad that it's out there. The truth of the matter is he wants to be paid. And I think he knows that maybe, perhaps The San Francisco 49ers aren't willing to go that high.
Chase
So let me summarize here then. George Kittle wanted to be the highest paid tight end in the league, but the Niners aren't likely going to do that. They aren't going to top the Trey McBride deal, but it's going to be close. But that doesn't mean the two sides can't come to an agreement. Is that right?
Diana
Something that's exactly, exactly it.
Chase
Part of the negotiation, Right?
Diana
Like this is all negotiation tactics. Right? And look, I think they'll come. They're gonna probably meet in the middle on this thing. George Kittle is a cornerstone of this team. Kyle Shanahan loves them. He loves the San Francisco 49ers. I don't see this getting ugly. Now, that being said, I have not heard anyone talking about trades, but it is draft weekend, right? Who knows? Maybe a team.
Chase
If they trade George Kittle after just hemorrhaging that entire roster of playmakers, Brock Purdy will not be happy.
Diana
Could you imagine that? Yeah. And the Purdy contract, by the way, that, that seems to continue to move in a really good direction. So we'll see if we have some news on that coming up. But we'll see also if they get the Fred Warner contract situation done. So the way it appears, it's like, like Brock Purdy is being dealt with right now. The George Kittle situation is being dealt with right now. They're in deep talks and then Fred Warner is going to get all addressed and then everyone will get paid and then hopefully everyone will show up and it'll be a whole new French weird vibes. No more weird vibes in San Francisco. All right. Still to come here, I want to dive back into a little bit of the Texans. Okay, so Nicosario has made at least three draft day trades every year. That's 18 total trades since becoming the team's GM in 2020. I had another GM describe Nick Caera to me as. He's just got ants in his pants. Like he just. He just wants a big part of things.
Chase
GM said that?
Diana
Yeah. Ant in his pants. Just what Howie Roseman is like, the king of an his pants.
Chase
You know, he's sitting there like he's just a ball.
Diana
I gotta do something here. So I was told that the Texans had made calls. They have made calls to move up. I don't know which player it is for specifically. I'm guessing it's offensive line. That would make the most sense. This is.
Chase
Yeah.
Diana
The team who could.
Chase
I mean they need it.
Diana
They need it.
Chase
Especially after last year. We all those guys.
Diana
So we'll see what the Texans are doing there. But I expect them to be active. They just always do something that makes sense. They've got really smart roster building there consistently which. Let's just stay in Texas. We got to talk Dallas.
Chase
Let's quickly.
Diana
So the sense I'm getting there. Offense. Wide receiver.
Chase
Okay. I was gonna say they need running back and they need receiver. They need receiver two way more than they need running back because they did get those two guys in free agency. I think Williams and. And the other guy. But who like you look at a guy like CD Lamb, right Slot guy, one of the better receivers in the entire league. Not super fast. Right? Not super fast. You look at the guy out of Arizona. TMAC T. McMillan. Great height, 455 speed. When he ran that 455 at his pro day, I think teams were a little bit put off by him. Probably the most well rounded receiver in the draft. But I'm looking at a guy like Matthew golden from the University of Texas 429 speed. You can put him on the outside, he can run posts, he can run short stuff. You can get him tunnel screens because this dude has game breaking speed. A lot more raw right than T. Mac from Arizona. But I think the ceiling with speed is there.
Diana
So there's some have made points like well, what about offensive line? They've got to address that. That. I just think what you laid out just makes all the sense in the world for Dallas. Look, Jerry says they're in talks making some big trade. I haven't found any teeth to that yet. That doesn't mean it's not happening. I want to see what that is. I want them to make a splash.
Chase
But. But to what? You're going to move up for genty.
Diana
I mean if there's a player outside Travis Hunter that I could see 12.
Chase
To 2, what is that going to get? No way. No Travis under the Cowboys would absolutely be amazing. But there's just. I can't imagine a world.
Diana
All right, let's predict the headlines here. We'll do this and then we'll take a couple questions from you guys and then we'll get out of here because we've been talking for a while here. So essentially the biggest chaos scenario on Thursday, like what could this be to you? I go to theathletic.com in the morning like I always do. Do you know I used to go to the athletic.com even when I worked at ESPN. It was the first website I'd go to in the morning.
Chase
Let's go.
Diana
Best writers.
Chase
It's the best they are. Absolutely.
Diana
And you're a writer now too. Excuse me.
Chase
I did get a chance to write.
Diana
One with my coffee the other day and I forgot to message you that you did a really nice job with it. We are, we're locked in at the Athletic on some really cool leadership stuff. And Chase participated that you guys should go check it out. The Athletic about his time with Drew Brees. And he's just, he's got the best stories. He shares them here on Scoop City so we get to hear him. But to see it in the written form was, was really cool. And to learn more about, about Drew. So. All right. Athletic.com headline Friday morning.
Chase
So normally I would probably say like, there's something going crazy with the quarterbacks, right? Like, because last year we, we felt like, like there was gonna be four to maybe five go and there was ended up being six, right? And then Michael Pennock's thing. But when you look at the, the quarterbacks this year, like, I wouldn't be surprised if there's two quarterbacks. I'd be surprised if there's four. So that could be a headline like team sort of reaching my biggest one though I don't think has to do with anything draft wise. I think it has to do with Kirk Cousins. I think Kirk Cousins gets traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Like I, I, I, I, it, it sounds crazy, but the more I think about it, right, like the Browns just, just, like just stay with me. The Browns have Joe Flacco and Joe Flacco led him to the playoffs. I'm not saying he's the savior, but he can hold down the fourth. They're paid him $4 million. And then you have the Steelers. I think we all think the Steelers are probably going to draft a quarterback and they have Mason Rudolph and we keep hearing out of their campaign, this, that and another. Okay, that's great. Great. The Vikings have sort of put themselves in a little bit of a hole because like you're, you're entrusting your entire plans, your 14 win season, your excellent roster, which you made better in, in free agency, to a rookie quarterback who hasn't played a game. That's not healthy. And I just don't know if that's smart. Like I could see them now more often than not. It's probably going to be a Little later down the road, but if somebody pushes the button, be like, like hey, you're going to lose Kirk to Cleveland. They might make that trade. They might make that trade if Atlanta gives up enough money like that. I, I feel like that could be something where we're waking up.
Diana
I, I know what you're saying and look, I know I'm the one reporting this, that these talks are, have happened, but I just think the Vikings are kind of a rock and a hard place right now where they've got to see what they can get from J.J. mcCarthy. And I look at it this way. If they didn't sign Aaron Rodgers, a four time MVP when they had an opportunity here and when he wanted them, why now? Panic. They've only seen. Let's, let's. I mean they've, they've had JJ in the building, you know, obviously all off season. They've seen him the last few days here, but it just wouldn't make sense. Why not just call Aaron and bring him in? Compared to doing all this with Kirk Cousins having to pay a big salary and, and all that.
Chase
But maybe I'm just wanna, maybe I just want to see it. It. Maybe I want to see the Internet.
Diana
Yes, it is. I, I would like to see Julie Cousins back in Minnesota.
Chase
She seemed to actually back years in the draft. She loved Kirk Cousins at the center of it.
Diana
That is interesting that that's the headline. Kirk Cousins back in the headlines of.
Chase
The draft telling you who's yours or what's yours.
Diana
I think we're going to see a lot of action at the bottom of this. I think that's where I'm going to be paying attention. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of, we'll call it moving day on the bottom end of the first round. Whereas I know we're used to seeing it. I can't wait to hear just like the sound of a. Or someone just yelling trade. It's so exciting. Or even sometimes I even find out if I'm talking to a team right before they do it's a trade. I feel like when a team is on the clock there's something better. But. Yeah.
Chase
Where do you watch the draft at?
Diana
At your house this year? At my house. When I was at espn, I used to be with like a team picking the top three which is so fun to be at a facility because you kind of feel the excitement, the energy and you're trying to. And you're like texting with the people downstairs in the, in their meetings like or not in the War room. But now I'm, now I'm just gonna be trying to talk to everyone to find out what they're doing, what's going on. I'm not tipping picks though, I promise you. All right, let's take a couple of your questions. Comments here as we wrap up. We try to hit as much as we can. I know we missed stuff. I know there's things that I'm sure you want to know about for your team, so I got a good one.
Chase
A question for Chase. Which receiver in this year's class would he trust most throwing to? That's a great question because I just, I just did my top five receivers in the draft and number five for me was the Mecca Buka out of Ohio State. This dude is probably the surest pick you could possibly have. I don't think he has that extreme talent that takes him, you know, in top 10 of picks. I do think he's a first round pick probably at the bottom of the first round. I wouldn't be surprised for some of those moving days, like you were saying, or moving times, like if someone moves up to get him because he's just, he's a pros pro. Excellent leader, excellent locker room guy. Shifty in his routes, fast enough to, to, to. To make. They like leave you in the dust. I, I just think he's really easy to throw to and you don't get fooled by his routes. So yeah, Ohio State guy.
Diana
That's a good one. A lot of questions about the Rams. Remember last year when I was reporting that they were trying to get up to get Brock Bowers? Actually, no, no, let me, let me fix that. I was reporting that they were trying to move up. I knew who it was for. I just didn't want to put it out at the time because I didn't want to affect what they were trying to do there. But it was for Brock Bowers and I think later on I. They wound up admitting it. I think they did, or maybe that was another conversation I had. But either way, I'm interested in this tight end class this year with the Rams because I had heard that they've got their eyes on a guy. So I'm interested to see if Les Sneed gets a little juicy and makes a couple moves to get up to go get him if he thinks that he can't get him where he's at.
Chase
Tyler Warren and Loveland from Michigan, those.
Diana
Would be the two that Loveland's the name I've been hearing a lot of.
Chase
Oh. Oh.
Diana
So, yeah.
Chase
All right, another one for me and another one for you. Then we'll call it. Let's see if you see one.
Diana
Would. Could the 49ers trade Purdy if they can't get the contract talks to work? TomTom, the man 94. Great name. Yeah. Of course they could trade up. Do I think they're trading Brock Pie? No, I think they're close. I think we're gonna probably have some news on that soon. I never got the sense that those negotiations were ever going haywire or crazy. Brock was never screaming, I want to be the highest paid quarterback. I think both sides know this is going to work. They want this to work. I always thought the Niners had a little bit more leverage than. Than people realize, but I think that that'll. That'll all come together.
Chase
Someone asked, since my last one is, is Chase wearing pants? Yes. Yes, I am wearing pants. Thank you for asking and appreciate the concern for me not wearing pants, but I am. I'm definitely wearing pants.
Diana
All right. I'll finish with a funny one, too. Of how often do I charge my phone? It's a great question. I don't. Which is why everyone on the Scoop City team makes fun of me. Because I'll send screen grabs of things and they can see my batteries always. It's just like, right on the edge. I live on the edge. But I do have that. I throw around here. I have, like, battery packs. I'm always trying to.
Chase
You do have a lot of battery packs. Why don't you just charge your phone?
Diana
I do. I. I will say I. I am looking forward to not talking on the phone after this draft for a while because this is.
Chase
You've been busy.
Diana
The most talkative time of year, like, this beats free agency. This beats the regular season. Everyone loves to talk right now because everyone wants to know. And there's so much nervous energy out there. So the phone's crazy. It starts early, goes late, but. But. But it's all great. So you guys are great. Thank you for hanging out with us. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you've never been here before, if you haven't been here, what's up? Welcome to Scoop City. Chase and I are here twice a week. You can watch us live. You can also listen to us as a podcast over on Spotify and Apple itunes. You can check us out there. Make sure you follow us there. Follow us on Twitter as well. Our Instagram Scoop City account. We're kind of everywhere. We're probably annoyingly all over your timeline. As well. So thanks for hanging out. Yeah. But here's the thing. If you check this out and you want Even more tomorrow, 7:30, we're gonna leave you in good hands. We've got the athletic football show, 7:30 Eastern, they're gonna start. So the way I watch the draft is I put on the shows on NFL Network and ESPN and then I watch our football show podcast led by Robert Maze. It's going to be on their YouTube channel so you can see them. They're in Green Bay. I'm actually going to be joining them as well as we do a little bit of our preview show. And then during the rounds, we're just going to talk out what we're hearing, what we're seeing, why we think teams are doing that. So make sure you check that Thursday, 7:30 Eastern on their YouTube channel. And we're here, guys. We're finally here. So thanks for hanging out with us. We'll see you guys next time.
Chase
Bye, guys. Tag me next time. Appreciate.
Scoop City: A Show About the NFL – Episode Summary
Host: Dianna Russini
Co-Host: Chase Daniel
Release Date: April 24, 2025
Episode Focus: Preview of the 2025 NFL Draft, potential Kirk Cousins trade, and updates on the San Francisco 49ers.
In this engaging episode of Scoop City: A Show About the NFL, hosts Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel delve deep into the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, explore the intriguing possibility of quarterback Kirk Cousins being traded, and provide the latest updates on the San Francisco 49ers. With the draft just over 24 hours away, the duo brings insider insights and lively discussions to football fans eager to understand the shifting dynamics of their favorite teams.
Down Draft and Quarterback Class
Dianna begins by highlighting the overall sentiment surrounding the 2025 NFL Draft, describing it as a "down draft" with fewer standout prospects than anticipated. The priority for many teams appears to shift towards strengthening defensive lines and offensive lines rather than seeking franchise-altering talents.
Key Quarterback Prospects
The conversation quickly pivots to the quarterback class, which Dianna characterizes as lacking "Robert De Niro's" — a metaphor indicating a scarcity of top-tier, superstar quarterbacks ([04:55] Diana). Chase concurs, noting, “It's the down quarterback class,” and elaborates on the variability and uncertainties surrounding the key QB prospects:
Shador Sanders: Seen as a polarizing figure, Sanders has mixed reviews with concerns about arm talent and leadership. Dianna mentions, “there are a lot of good players that you can beef up in the trenches” ([06:36] Diana), while Chase predicts, “Shador could go as high as 21 and as low as the second round” ([20:13] Chase).
Jackson Dart and Tyler Shuck: These quarterbacks are discussed as potential high picks depending on team needs and fit. Chase emphasizes the importance of team fit, stating, “it’s really going to be best player available” ([12:45] Chase).
Jalen Milrose: Considered less likely to be a top pick, Milrose is viewed as having a lower ceiling compared to his peers ([12:45] Chase).
Best Player Available vs. Team Needs
Dianna and Chase explore the strategic approaches teams might take, debating whether they will prioritize best player available or specific needs. Dianna suggests, “let's just move past what they will do at three because most believe it's going to be best player available” ([09:23] Diana), while Chase adds, “there are less quarterback options that are highly desirable” ([12:45] Chase).
Notable Quotes:
Trade Speculations and Interested Teams
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the potential trade of quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons. Dianna outlines the possible teams interested in acquiring Cousins, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings.
Financial and Strategic Implications
Chase and Dianna discuss the financial challenges involved in trading Cousins, who commands a substantial salary. Dianna notes, “they are going to have to” accommodate his $27 million salary ([27:03] Diana), while Chase questions the Falcons' willingness to absorb such a deal ([27:57] Chase).
Impact on Team Dynamics
The potential trade of Cousins could significantly alter team strategies and quarterback landscapes. Dianna emphasizes, “he wants to be a starter somewhere” ([24:19] Diana), highlighting Cousins' desire to remain active and influential in the league.
Notable Quotes:
George Kittle's Contract Negotiations
A focal point of the episode is the ongoing contract negotiations between tight end George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers. Dianna reports that Kittle is seeking to become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, aiming for a $20 million per year deal. However, she clarifies that the 49ers have not yet matched the Trey McBride contract, which is four years for $76 million.
Team Dynamics and Future Prospects
Chase and Dianna discuss the implications of these negotiations on the 49ers' roster and future performance. Dianna remarks, “George Kittle is a cornerstone of this team” ([48:31] Diana), underscoring his importance to the 49ers’ offensive strategies. They also touch upon the potential impact on other key players like Brock Purdy and Fred Warner if negotiations falter.
Negotiation Outlook
Both hosts are optimistic that the negotiations will conclude positively, allowing the 49ers to maintain their competitive edge. Dianna predicts, “they are in deep talks and then Fred Warner is going to get all addressed” ([49:32] Chase).
Notable Quotes:
Pittsburgh Steelers' Quarterback Situation
The discussion moves to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the future of their quarterback position remains uncertain. With Aaron Rodgers in the picture, Chase expresses skepticism about the Steelers' commitment to drafting another quarterback, especially Mason Rudolph, and ponders the potential of trading Rodgers.
New Orleans Saints' Draft Strategy
Chase and Dianna analyze the Saints' approach to the draft, emphasizing their reluctance to trade within the first round since 2007. They consider the possibility of addressing offensive needs rather than pivoting to quarterback acquisitions.
Houston Texans' Activity
Under the dynamic leadership of GM Nick Casseroa, the Texans are anticipated to make strategic moves to strengthen their offensive line and possibly target running backs, reflecting their proactive drafting strategy over the past years.
Dallas Cowboys' Needs
The Cowboys are highlighted as focusing on enhancing their wide receiver corps, particularly targeting high-speed and versatile players like Matthew Golden, rather than prioritizing running backs, given recent free agency acquisitions.
Notable Quotes:
Towards the end of the episode, Dianna and Chase engage with listener questions, providing personalized insights and adding a touch of humor to the discussion. Topics ranged from evaluating receiver prospects to playful banter about the hosts' personal quirks.
Example Q&A Highlights:
Notable Quotes:
As the episode wraps up, Dianna and Chase offer their predictions for the draft headlines, speculating that significant movements will revolve around quarterback trades and high-value defensive picks. They anticipate lively trading activities, especially towards the end of the first round, and emphasize the interconnected nature of draft decisions and ongoing trade talks.
Potential Headlines Discussed:
Final Thoughts:
Dianna and Chase conclude by encouraging listeners to stay tuned for further analyses and to follow their YouTube and podcast channels for real-time updates and comprehensive coverage of the draft events.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of Scoop City provides a thorough examination of the key elements shaping the 2025 NFL landscape. From the anticipated dynamics of the quarterback draft class to the high-stakes contract negotiations of star players like George Kittle, Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel deliver insightful analysis backed by insider information. Their balanced discussion equips listeners with a deeper understanding of the complexities and strategic maneuvers that define the modern NFL draft season.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
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