2026 NFL Draft first round recap

Summary

The Athletic Football Show – 2026 NFL Draft First Round Recap

Date: April 24, 2026
Hosts: Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman, Dane Brugler, Bruce Feldman
Main Theme:
A detailed, category-driven breakdown of the most notable picks, trends, and surprises from the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The crew sorts picks into buckets: favorite selections, team "Costco runs" (bulk first-rounders), biggest surprises, what-the-heck moments, and fit/pairings no one saw coming.

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Episode Overview

The hosts recap the 2026 NFL Draft's opening night, covering over 30 of the first 32 picks. Instead of a pick-by-pick rundown, they structure the show with themed sections on big swings, best fits, shocking selections, and which franchises loaded up most effectively. Expect witty banter and strong opinions from the crew as they highlight trends, head-scratching moves, and reveal their favorite moments.

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Key Segments & Insights

1. Opening Table Setting (03:11–03:30)

• Fewer Big Trades: Contrary to expectations, there was less chaos than usual, with several “mini trades” late in the round, but few blockbusters.
• Main Categories: The show will focus on favorites, gambles, biggest surprises, and “Costco All Stars” (teams with more than one first-round pick).

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2. Favorite First-Round Picks (03:51–12:42)

Dave Hellman: Reuben Bain to the Buccaneers (#15)

• Quote: “For the Bucs to hang out there and have the face of the national runner-up in college football, one of the most dominant edge rushers ... just plop right into their lap... you just don't see guys like this get drafted in the first round. Great, great fun player at a very good value spot.” (03:51)
• Everyone agrees Tampa’s GM Jason Licht should be elated. “No GM should feel better about the way the first round went,” adds Derrik. (05:15)

Dane Brugler: Chris Johnson to the Dolphins

• “Just because he is my favorite player in this draft.” (06:58)

Robert Mays: Caleb Downs to the Cowboys (#11)

• “He’s just so smart … I’d be stunned if he’s anything less than like a B-minus NFL player. Lights out.” (07:39)

Bruce Feldman: Dylan Thienaman to the Bears (#25)

• “NFL DB coaches said they wouldn’t have been shocked if he went in front of Caleb Downs … really good tackler, great range, super smart.” (08:09)

Derrik Klassen: Sonny Styles to Washington (#7)

• “For a team that didn’t have that sort of player and for him to fall to them at seven, that was one where, when they were on the clock … it has to be this guy." (10:05)
• There’s concern about offensive weapons for Jaden Daniels, but consensus that the pick was pragmatic given defensive needs. (11:20)

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3. "Costco All Stars" – Teams with Multiple Firsts (13:25–24:56)

Browns: Spencer Fano & Casey Concepcion

• “Ideal scenario is exactly how it played out … an overhaul on offense with two first-round picks without getting a quarterback.” (13:43)
• Dane, the "Ohio guy," loves it; bulk at premium positions means needs are met.

Cowboys: Caleb Downs & Malachi Lawrence

• “Came home with their shopping cart completely full” – smart trades up and down, and getting their guy (Downs) at a reasonable cost, recouping picks, hitting needs. (16:27–17:59)

Chiefs: Monster Delane & Peter Woods

• Robert: “These were two top 10 players on my board … if Woods can figure out how to finish plays, he could be Byron Murphy.” (17:59–19:16)

Giants: Arvell Reese & Maui Noah

• “You look at what they got, they got a bunch of werewolves on defense now … I would not at all be surprised to find out Arvell Reese is the best player in the draft in two years.” (19:38)

Titans: Carnell Tate & Keldrick Falk

• Classic “Costco” bulk: filled critical needs with perhaps the draft’s top WR and a “monster” D-lineman at #31. (21:59–23:11)

Jets: David Bailey, Omar Cooper Jr., Kenyon Sadiq

• Dane: “Only team to come out with three players … both sides of the ball, but to get those two pass catchers is really interesting.”
• Skepticism exists about how all the pieces fit in the Jets’ offensive scheme. (23:28–24:49)

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4. Biggest “What the F--- Were They Thinking?” Moments (28:45–47:06)

Ty Simpson to Rams at #13

• Universal confusion, led by Dane: “Did they even need to do this … did they have to take him at 13?” (29:07)
• Robert: “The difference in talent between [Jordan Love/Mahomes] and Ty Simpson, to me, is large … this is very confounding.” (30:17)
• Lively debate: Is it worth insuring your QB future today, or is it giving away a key “win-now” asset for a low-ceiling prospect? (31:52–41:34)
• Dave: “McVay and Stafford are conjoined at the hip … Ty Simpson has started 15 college games in his life. He is so far from being a threat.” (34:19)
• Derek: “For a team that often is willing to do the shiny and aggressive thing, to see them make this responsible (but bland) decision is surprising.” (32:53)

Cardinals: Jeremiah Love at #3

• Dave: “The Arizona Cardinals have no business drafting a running back. I don’t care if Jeremiah Love’s awesome.” (41:53)
• Derek: “This is 100% about opportunity cost every single time. There are certain positions you can ONLY find in the first round: OT and pass rusher. To me it is indefensible not to try to find players at those positions.” (44:31–45:24)
• Strong pushback: Regardless of Love’s talent, a non-premium position for a rebuilding franchise is hard to justify.

Patriots: Caleb Lomu

• Skeptical takes on building an O-line with two “finesse” tackles (Lomu, Campbell). “It’s just a lot of finesse at your two tackle spots … we live in a world where finesse teams are not getting it done.” (47:32–50:41)
• Dane: “You don’t watch his game and think, oh yeah, he’s a people mover.” (49:33)

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5. Biggest Surprises (53:53–62:20)

Vikings: Caleb Banks in Top 20

• Dane: “Extremely talented, but barely played due to injury. We’re going based on traits and an unrealized idea.” (54:02)
• The lack of a GM perhaps encouraged a swing for upside, as the buck stops nowhere right now.

Arvell Reese Falls to Giants at #5

• Bruce: “I would not at all be surprised if Arvell Reese is the best player in the draft like two years from now.” (57:09)

Other Notables

• Makai Lemon to Eagles: “Never in a million years did I expect this.” (58:35)
• Keelan Rutledge (Texans): Robert & Dane love the culture/attitude Rutledge brings to Houston’s O-line. (59:33–61:34)

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6. "But It Might Work Out For Us" Picks: High Risk, Could Pay Off (62:31–68:27)

Kaden Proctor to Dolphins (#11)

• “The track record of guys this big developing into great players is not amazing,” says Dave, “but he is an alien type of player and maybe it will work.” (63:37)
• Bruce: “Sometimes people would go, what’s going to happen when he gets money? NIL is already a thing. He’s young, but people at Alabama liked him.” (65:07)

Peter Woods (Chiefs) & Kenyon Sadiq (Jets)

• Woods’ fit next to Chris Jones is a swing on upside.

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7. Pairings You Didn’t Know You Needed / Best Fits (68:27–73:23)

Dylan Thienaman to Bears

• Robert: “I hadn’t thought a lot about the pairing because I just assumed he’d be gone. But they absolutely needed another safety before this draft was over.”

Reuben Bain to Bucs

• “Didn’t absorb fully during pre-draft, but now that it happened: yes.” – Dane

Carnell Tate to Titans

• “Tate as a safety blanket for Ward? Hell yeah.” – Robert

Peter Woods to Chiefs (with Chris Jones)

• Bruce: “Show me how to finish – that’s what Chris Jones can do for him.”

Jordan Tyson to Saints

• Derek: “Skill sets just make so much sense … comparing him to CeeDee Lamb in terms of style.”

Blake Miller to Lions / Monroe Freeling to Panthers

• Emphasis on how steady, "boring" right tackles are a luxury and Freeling’s unique movement skills.

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8. Final Thoughts & Notable Quotes / Moments

• On strategy: “It’s almost like a baby you have to keep alive ... just trying to do everything I can to make sure the quarterback stays alive.” (71:38)
• “NinE offensive linemen went in the first round – it was just that kind of class.” (71:00)
• On value and process: “You are always robbing from Peter to pay Paul somewhere along the way when you use these premium picks on non-premium players.” (45:24)

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Dave Hellman (on Bucs pick): "One of the biggest winners because I don't think they could have dreamed that up on Thursday morning." (04:23)
• Dane Brugler (on Chris Johnson): "This is the type of culture guy and talent guy that you want to build around." (06:58)
• Robert Mays (on Caleb Downs): "I'd be stunned if he's anything less than a B-minus NFL player. Lights out." (07:39)
• Bruce Feldman (on Dylan Thienaman): "Wouldn't have shocked them if he went in front of Caleb Downs ... really good tackler, great range, super smart." (08:09)
• Derrik Klassen (on Ty Simpson to Rams): "Which team in this draft would look at Ty Simpson and think, we have to leave this draft with Ty Simpson?" (35:47)
• Dave Hellman (on Cardinals' RB pick): "I don't care if Jeremiah Love's awesome ... they're not in a place where they needed to do that." (41:53)
• Dane Brugler (on OT Caleb Lomu): "You don't watch his game and think, oh yeah, he's a people mover." (49:33)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Favorite Picks: 03:51–12:42
• Costco All Stars (multiple 1st round picks): 13:25–24:56
• Biggest Confounding Picks (WTF moments): 28:45–47:06 (Ty Simpson, Jeremiah Love, Caleb Lomu)
• Biggest Surprises: 53:53–62:20 (Caleb Banks, Reese fall, unseen first-rounders)
• High-Risk Bets ("But It Might Work Out"): 62:31–68:27 (Kaden Proctor, Peter Woods, Sadiq)
• Interesting Fit/Pairing Picks: 68:27–73:23 (Thienaman, Bain, Tate, Woods, Tyson)

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Quick-Hit Takeaways

• Tampa, Dallas, Cleveland, Kansas City, and New York Giants all identified as draft-night winners—either by value, “need meets talent,” or strategic aggression (trades).
• Rams’ Ty Simpson pick universally puzzled analysts — seen as “responsible football,” perhaps, but potentially a huge missed opportunity for a win-now roster.
• Arizona’s early RB (Jeremiah Love) raised eyebrows about allocating premium picks to non-premium positions.
• Giants, Titans, and Chiefs praised for pairing “unique puzzle pieces” with rosters and schemes that amplify their best traits.
• Offensive line class portrayed as ‘bizarre’—difficult projections, but massive upside swings in mid-to-late first round.
• Team-building lesson: Steer premium picks to premium positions—OT, EDGE, QB—especially if rebuilding.

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This episode is as much about the nuances of team-building strategy as it is about individual scouting. Whether you missed the picks or seek deeper context on the "why" behind moves, this conversation delivers wit, expertise, and a pulse of what actually matters after Round 1.

Transcript

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[Derek Classen]

Okay, I have to tell you, I was just looking on ebay where I go for all kinds of things I love. And there it was. That hologram trading card. One of the rarest, the last one I needed for my set.

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[Robert Mays]

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Ebay had it and now everyone's asking,

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ooh, where'd you get your windshield wipers? Ebay has all the parts that fit my car. No more annoying, just beautiful. Millions of finds, each with a story. Ebay, things people love. Welcome to the Athletic Football Show. I'm Robert Mays. It is our round one recap show. If you guys would like, you can go see us talk about every single pick of round one on the Athletic Football Show's YouTube channel where we did our 4ish hour live stream yesterday with me, Dane, Derek, Bruce Feldman breaking down every single pick of round one. So if you want to see us talk about your team a little bit more length that is available to you. But because we didn't want to drop a four hour show into your podcast feed overnight, we are doing a little bit of a recap show today. Hitting some just categories, superlatives, little ways to bucket all of the picks in the first round. Favorite picks, favorite fits the but it might work out for us. Gambles in the first round. Biggest surprises. What the fuck were they thinking? We just spent 20 minutes talking about Ty Simpson. Just, just letting you know as right now that's exactly how this work. The Costco All Stars, the teams that bought in bulk and had more than one first round pick. So that's what we did today. Hit a bunch of different categories, breaking down a vast majority, I think 30 of the players taken in the first 32 picks we hit on on this show. So let's get to it with our first round recap right now. Well, the first round of the 2026 draft is in the books. We just did a four hour stream that you can watch on the Athletic Football Show YouTube channel if you want to go back and hear us talk about every single pick that was made in the first round. We are not going to talk about every single pick on this show, Dane, but we are going to talk about the most notable picks from the first round of the 2026 draft.

[Dane]

And I mean there weren't as many trades as we thought maybe. Or big trades. A lot of mini trades.

[Derek Classen]

Yeah, a lot of mini trades in the back end.

[Dane]

Yeah. And so maybe not the chaos we expected, but a lot of fun fits, a lot of surprises, a lot of. Hmm, I didn't think about that, but in a fun way. And so plenty to talk about on this pod.

[Derek Classen]

Got the same crew that we had for the live stream with us right now. Bruce Feldman is back. Derek Classen is here. Dave Hellman is here. We're going to go through a bunch of different categories that hopefully will best summarize what happened during the first round here. We're just going to start in a very simple place. Dave, what was your favorite pick from round one of the 2026 NFL Draft?

[Dave Hellman]

I can think of one. I'm going to let Derek do it. So I'm not the Cowboys homer all the time because there I. There is a Cowboys pick I really loved. But another one, if I'm pivoting away from that and he's not, he. I don't even love him the way that some other people do. But we harped on this team heading into the first round as being in kind of a bad spot for where they were in the round and what they needed. What the hell are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers going to do? How are they going to get a, you know, address their needs and to be at 15 in the round and just let Reuben Bain fall right into your lap and he's got historically short arms. He is a one of One, not necessarily in a good way player because we just don't see guys like this get drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. And for the Bucks to hang out there and have the face of the national runner up in college football, one of the most dominant edge rushers in the college game last year, Ruben Bane, just plop right into their lap at their biggest need and you're at a spot at 15 where, okay, like your, your concerns about the length are a little lessened if you're not taking them in the top 10. I just. Great, great fun player at a very good value spot. I just, I think they're just one of the biggest winners because I don't think they could have dreamed that that up on Thursday morning.

[Derek Classen]

You know when you're having a really bad dream, like a truly like really bad dream, and it feels incredibly real and you wake up and you realize that it was only a dream and the relief that comes with that, that's how Jason Light feels right now. Like if you among all the GMs in the NFL right now after the way that tonight ended, I think there are guys that got better players than Ruben. There are teams that may be better off than the Bucks are for having gotten Reuben Bay. I don't think a single general manager should feel better about the way the first round went than Jason Light feels right now. With Reuben Bain falling to them at 15 based on the current construction of their roster. I truly believe that.

[Dane]

You can see it in his face when they showed the war room when they made the pick. I mean he was fist pumping out of his seat, hugging, very excited about that because yeah, it took a certain set of circumstances. It took the Bengals trading away and for, for Dexter Lawrence and for the Cowboys to do what they did and the Miami to do what they. So it took a set of circumstances that is. I don't know, I don't know how to put odds on it, but one in fifty, one in a hundred, I don't know for that to play out that way. And it did. So I think, yeah, they've got to be happy tonight.

[Derek Classen]

Teams do this right, like teams do all of these simulations and that's why you see teams get aggressive with trades because they have so much information that you pump into a system. It's like we have a X percent chance that this player will fall to us at this pick. So if we don't feel good about that percentage, that's when we have to move up. I would love to talk to someone in Tampa and figure out what the percentage chance was as they went through all of that that Reuben Bain would have been there for them at 15. I think it was probably pretty small.

[Dave Hellman]

I'll make that a goal for the next few days. I bet I could get an answer.

[Derek Classen]

Dan, your favorite pick from round one of the 2026 NFL Draft was what?

[Dane]

I mean, there were other picks in the top 10 that I could say, but I'll just go with Chris Johnson to the Dolphins just because he is my favorite player in this draft. It's a pick that I mocked in my final mock draft thinking about that fit with Halfley and how that would work out. I just for a team that is revamping that roster, this is the type of culture guy and talent guy that you want to build around. And so just love that pick for both sides, the Dolphins and for Chris Johnson.

[Robert Mays]

Do we want to jump straight into mine? Because Dave. Dave set me up a little bit already. Caleb Downs, like short and sweet. That's a great.

[Dave Hellman]

It's a great answer. For the record.

[Derek Classen]

Yes, it's a great answer.

[Robert Mays]

He just. Because it's not just that you get, you know, a player that I think for most people is like fourth, fifth, sixth on the board. So you're getting him at a little bit of a value in theory at 11, but also just we talked about so much like how the way that this defense is going to operate them not really having anybody in the spine of that defense. Um, obviously they shine. Signed Jalen Thompson, but don't really have linebackers there. They needed another safety to get a guy like him who is just so smart. And I would be stunned if he's anything less than like a B minus NFL player. Lights out.

[Bruce Feldman]

I'm gonna go and I'm gonna. Not trying to suck up to the host, but I think it was the Bears should be over the moon that Dylan Thieman fell to him to them at 25. I mean, there were guys I talked to who are DB coaches in the NFL who actually thought wouldn't have shocked them if he went in front of Caleb Downs. They liked him that much. Not a knock on Caleb Downs. I mean, really good tackler, great range, super smart, really athletic. I think he feels a big need. I think this is a huge get for the Bears.

[Derek Classen]

We're gonna do a category a little bit later. This is the pairing you didn't know you wanted. Cause you just hadn't envisioned it a lot. And that was me with Thienaman and

[Robert Mays]

the Bears and you'd been thinking about the Bears a lot.

[Derek Classen]

I just, I just didn't think that that would he would be there. I mean like the one of the more mock picks in the entire process was themed him into the Vikings at 18 and I just assumed he would be off the board by the time the bears picked at 25. And we talked about this on the stream. I understand looking at the structure of the Bears defense last year, the skill set that they needed and thinking edge, defensive line, defensive line they need pass rush pop, they still need a starting safety. You can potentially wait for that in the second round. But I think Thienaman is a good enough talent that it tips the scales a little bit. And now when you have him and Kobe Bryant now on the back end of your defense, you've completely transformed the skill sets that you have back there in a single off season. And I think that they clearly were intentionally trying to do that. And so again I hadn't thought a lot about the pairing because I just assumed he'd be gone. But they absolutely needed another safety before that this draft was over. I just assumed it was going to happen in the second round.

[Dane]

Ryan Polis probably did too. Yeah, I think it was just to see Dinnerman fall in their laps too good to be true. And I don't know how many scenarios they worked out like we talked about with the Bucks and Bane but where the end of men would fall to them. But I can't say talking to teams they really thought the Intamin was going to go top 20 if not to the Vikings, the Panthers at 19, maybe another team in there. So 25, that that's a pretty good value.

[Derek Classen]

I would say that Bane and downs are probably my two favorite ones. Like you guys mentioned the one that in the moment when they were on the clock and this player was still available, I was like it has to be this guy with Sonny Styles to Washington like I, I when you look at their depth chart and you just look at the skill sets that they had at off ball line, it was one skill set like those two guys in Frankie Luvu and Leo Chanel. It just I like them as players like they are parts of good defenses if utilized correctly. But they needed somebody that brings what Sonny Styles does to that linebacker room. And so for a team that didn't have that sort of player and for him to fall to them at seven, that was one where when they were on the clock and he was available, I just think they think they could go any other direction.

[Robert Mays]

And Styles is just one of those like who, who is the heart of the Washington defense right now.

[Derek Classen]

They don't.

[Robert Mays]

Mike same or still maybe like, if you're just like in terms of energy, like quality of player, like maybe saner still. And after that, it's just a lot of guessing. And maybe you like a couple of the free agents they signed bringing in Sunny Styles, literally playing in the heart of your defense, a guy who I think is going to be able to call it has flexibility. Like, I just, that pick was pretty lights up.

[Dane]

And with Jeremiah Love and Carnell Tate off the board, it made their decision, I think, pretty easy at that point.

[Derek Classen]

I would have been surprised if they had gone any other direction there.

[Dave Hellman]

That's a valid. And it's not a criticism because Dane, you know, I love Sonny Styles. I mean, I tried to get you to say he should go number two overall at one point in this process.

[Derek Classen]

I remember that.

[Dave Hellman]

But I, you know, my concern, I guess, would just be it's a long wait to add a weapon to the offense now for Jaden Daniels because they don't pick again until 71. And that would be my concern. But you're right that Jeremiah Love and Carnell Tate weren't there and obviously they could have taken Jordan Tyson. We don't know how they felt about that. And so my concerns are a little bit offset by the fact that those two guys going made the decision that much easier. And Sonny Styles is, is a phenomenal player.

[Derek Classen]

How much of this is you just wanting the best for Jaden Daniels?

[Dave Hellman]

Most of it.

[Derek Classen]

Okay.

[Dave Hellman]

Obviously, I'm, I'm a little, I'm, I am compromised by where I went to school, but I, I, I would say the same thing. I, and I did say the same thing about Cam Ward and how excited I was for Carnell Tate to go there. Tyler Schuck as well, he winds up with Jordan Tyson. I'm just a firm believer that if the young, cheap quarterback is everything, then that is where I'm skewing toward adding my resources. And I probably could have been talked into Jordan Tyson being that pick. But you talk about the durability concerns. I don't blame them at all. And so like, and like I said, having arguably the best receiver and definitely the best running back not even being an option, it makes me feel a little better about it.

[Derek Classen]

I'll say this, and again, we said this a little bit about the Jeremiah Love pick, which we'll get to during the stream, but I think that the psychology of the decision makers here also has to play it into. Has to play into it. It's a factor and I just don't think Dan Quinn can walk away from this season with another bad defense. Yeah, like if they, if the, if Washington has an offense this year that's like you know, they could use another weapon. They were the 14th best offense in the league with David Blau. That is a year that this coaching staff could survive. If Washington walks away from this season with the 26th best defense in the NFL, they're all gone, every single one of them. And so I think them fixing that side of the ball, even if it's just out of self preservation, I am not surprised to see them address it as early as they did.

[Dave Hellman]

No, I get that.

[Derek Classen]

Let's get to category. We are calling congratulations Michael Beller, the Costco All Stars. The teams that shopped in bulk tonight and had more than one first round pick just go through the class that kind of stuck out to you the most of all of those teams that had more than one pick tonight. Dane, who are you going to start with?

[Dane]

It's got to be the Browns.

[Derek Classen]

It sure does.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah.

[Dane]

I think we knew coming in tackle wide receiver would they switch up the order. I think ideal scenario is exactly how it played out. They were able to trade back. They get a third round pick right when trading back with the Chiefs. So not only do you gain another third but you still take the player that you were going to take at six. You get and we heard Andrew Berry call him a franchise left tackle in his call to to Spencer when they announced the pick and so that says a lot right there. But regardless you feel great about him as an offensive lineman. And then they come back and get Casey concepcion at pick 24, a dynamic weapon who doesn't matter who's at quarterback. He's going to immediately upgrade what you're doing on that side of the ball. So talk about an overhaul on offense with two first round picks without getting quarterback. That's still a question mark. But they were able to answer two huge needs in two big ways.

[Derek Classen]

I'm curious, I didn't ask you this in real time but I want to ask you now. I'm going to put you on the

[Dane]

spot a little bit.

[Derek Classen]

The fall, the gap between Carnell Tate and Jordan Tyson, let's put them in one tier and Casey Concepcion, is that gap smaller to you than the gap between Spencer Final and like Maxhore?

[Dane]

Probably. I think it's a little complicated with Concepcion because he had the knee and so what's going on with that? Some of his interview didn't go great. Some teams Weren't thrilled with that. So there's more stuff over there with conception. But on talent wise, I don't think that there's a massive gap between that top tier and where Concepcion is. So.

[Derek Classen]

Because those are the two doors they could have gone through. Right?

[Dane]

Right.

[Derek Classen]

You could have gone receiver first and then tackle. You could have gone tackle first and then receiver.

[Dane]

Right.

[Derek Classen]

And just from where I'm sitting, and I, again, I'm compromised here as a Casey Concepcion lover, but I'm more comfortable with the door they walked through than the alternative.

[Dane]

And I think it's because you felt we. We knew that that offensive tackle run was coming and so. And they would have been wiped out at 24. Right. I mean, I guess Caleb Lomu, but Lomu went 28th because, you know, for reasons where Spencer Fano went where he did for other reasons. So, yeah, I think they went about it the right way because wide receiver had a better chance of stretching a little bit, whereas we knew those tackles were going to come off the board.

[Derek Classen]

So I would agree with Dan's take about the Browns.

[Dave Hellman]

Dane's the Ohio guy. I get that you.

[Robert Mays]

They just.

[Dave Hellman]

The Browns happen to take your two favorite players in the first round of the draft.

[Robert Mays]

Yes.

[Derek Classen]

Yeah, it's pretty simple. One, like, I loved both of those guys coming into it. There are a couple others I liked. We'll see if you guys get to them and if not, we can talk about them. But Dave, your favorite or the. The Costco run that you enjoyed the most from a team tonight was what

[Dave Hellman]

I loved the picks. And even more, I loved the maneuvering that they did. I mean, the Cowboys came home with their shopping cart completely full. I mean, you get Caleb Downs. They did. They actually traded up. They were a little aggressive to do that, which I actually applaud because I got to imagine sitting in that war room watching the picks go. Must have felt like running through a minefield.

[Derek Classen]

Excruciating.

[Dave Hellman]

And so to get to pick 11 when in Miami's there, I don't blame them for just saying let's. We can't. We can't be doing this. Who knows who's coming up to try to do the same thing. And I think it cost them two fifth round picks, which. Whatever.

[Robert Mays]

Right.

[Dane]

But they got it back. Right. Because they traded.

[Bruce Feldman]

So.

[Dave Hellman]

And then that's. That's my point. And remember, this is a team that doesn't have a 2 because of the Quinn and Williams trade. So after you move up to get Caleb Downs, who I, I'm telling you right now, he was the guy of like the realistic options. He was the guy for Dallas Christian. Parker's going to do a ton of stuff with him to get him and then you get two fours back by falling back with Philadelphia. So then you get Malachi Lawrence, who is a guy that they think the world of. They had a great grade on him come in, probably be a situational edge rusher off the jump. You don't need him to be one of your main two edge rushers right at the start. And you pick up two fourth round picks which now between pick 92 and then the two fours, you could use that to move up again on Friday if you want to or you could just make that many more picks to get the two players they did and add some meaningful capital on top of that. I, I thought it was a fantastic night for the Cowboys.

[Robert Mays]

I like the Cowboys. The Browns were tempting for me. I really like Casey Concepcion as well. Giants were tempting as well. But they I knocking them is wrong. But it's like you got two top ten picks. It should be easy to come away with two pretty good ones. Especially in Arville Reese falling like that's a steal for them. Obviously. Like I love what the Giants did and I probably would have made those exact same picks. So I like that I'm picking the Kansas City Chiefs. Like Monster Delane is. It's awesome. And everyone knows how much I like Peter Woods. Like I didn't like post the big board the way everyone else does, but I have it here and I've been like crossing names off on, on the list as the draft went on. These were two top 10 players on my board. Like I was way higher on Peter woods than a lot of other people and I had Delane up in that range. And so for them to get a

[Derek Classen]

corner case scenario for Peter Woods, I'm curious, like having him that high, like what do you think is like the highest?

[Robert Mays]

Like Byron Murphy. I think he could be like Byron Murphy. Yeah.

[Dave Hellman]

Holy shit.

[Robert Mays]

Murphy was like is tiny bit smaller and like probably a little bit more explosive. But I think just like that style of of player that's the, that was

[Bruce Feldman]

the D line guys. It was like kind of a poor man's Byron Murphy but where he's not making the plays where Byron Murphy was finishing.

[Robert Mays]

Ye, exactly.

[Bruce Feldman]

I think that was the part.

[Robert Mays]

But if they can get one or two years of him just like figuring out a way to finish those plays, I do think it could look something.

[Dave Hellman]

I deeply admire your willingness to say it with your chest. Byron Murphy's Awesome.

[Robert Mays]

Byron Murphy is awesome, by the way. Yeah, that, that is not like. I think Byron Murphy is like a lower tier player. And so I'm comping Woods up. Like, I just think that woods could truly be that good. So to get him at 29, pairing him with Chris Jones and Kyrie's Tonga, I just. That was a defense that so badly needed an injection of young, good talent. And Delane and Woods to me is about as good as they were going to do.

[Bruce Feldman]

I'm going to jump on the Giants. That was just the fact that Arvell Reese fell to five. You look at what they got, they got like a bunch of werewolves on defense now. I think that's awesome. I like Maui Noah. I think that from the people I talked to down in Miami, they just talked about how much better he's gotten since he's been there. He's a young offensive lineman. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being a really good right tackle down the, down the, down the road. Yes, they're two top 10 picks. I just, I just think that to me, like we could find out Arvo Reese is the best player in the draft like two years from now. Yeah, I would not at all be surprised. And to get him at 5, I was like, oof, you know, no knock on David Bailey. I think he's. I think he's really good. But just the way it fell, I mean, I was surprised, but I get why the Titans did what they did at four. Because you got to take care of your first overall pick. Still good for the Giants, two of

[Dane]

the youngest players in the draft, period. That's.

[Derek Classen]

I also think that with both of those guys, with Maui, no, it was more just curiosity about where he would be best. With Reese, there were questions about where he would play. And with the Giants specifically, it's kind of easy to envision the roles that make the most sense for them as rookies. Even if there was kind of a cloud over what that would exactly be with Maui Noah, he could just play right guard while Jermaine Luminor is there. He can play guard. Like it just. Everything about his profile tells you he can play guard. And if he moves to right tackle in two years, great. But now you look at that offensive line, it's like that makes sense. Like that really does track. And with Reese, if he's going to play off ball, linebacker to start and be a situational pass rusher, if you look at the rest of the Giants defense, it's like that makes sense. Like it's for both guys that maybe there was a little bit of like, how does this puzzle piece fit for the Giants specifically? I think it fits Fritz pretty well

[Dave Hellman]

and I don't want to. I'm not trying to act like it's easy to replace Dexter Lawrence, but by dealing with the O line and getting somebody like Reese who can handle a couple roles, at least early in his career, I think it kind of frees him up to hunt for a D tackle. I think they still have the 37th pick on Friday last time I checked.

[Robert Mays]

McDonald.

[Dane]

I'm just saying he's not going to get past the Raiders, I don't think.

[Dave Hellman]

But so I those picks address a lot of their concerns and it frees them up to, to potentially do that in round two or three.

[Derek Classen]

Bruce alluded to it. I really like what the Titans did. I mean to get Carnell tated four and then to get Keldrick Falk all the way back down there at 31, I just not only the positions that they needed and I think they absolutely need another receiver, they needed an edge, but it just. Keldrick Falk is one of those players and there's a lot of these guys that we can talk about here, but the players that you just see a little bit differently because you're like, oh, that hits my brain in such a pleasing way. And the Keldrick Falk thing is like, oh, you just see it. Like you just see what he's supposed to be within that defense. He can slide inside in certain situations. Like that is a swing at 31. We talked about him at 11 and whether it was a worthwhile bet at 11 for Keldrick Falk to go. And so for the Titans to get him with a 31st pick, that is a swing I take every single time.

[Dave Hellman]

I think the Titans are the most apropos team for the category. Name the Costco All Stars because like if you've ever gone to Costco, you're like, are we running low on ranch dressing? And you come home with two like 60 ounce bottles of ranch dressing. You're like, we're good until Christmas. And that's what I feel like the Titans did with arguably the best receiver in the draft and just this monster six five, 280 pound defensive lineman. They just, they went all out well

[Robert Mays]

and because aren't they the only two team who made two picks who did not come into tonight with two picks like they traded back into it like all the other teams that had to already had to coming into the night. So they truly did walk into Costco and we're like, we're coming out with a bunch of shit.

[Dave Hellman]

I don't want to have to think about my condiments for calendar year.

[Derek Classen]

How do we feel about the Jets?

[Dane]

I say we do have to mention the jets because they were the only team that come up with three players. And obviously I would have gone Reese over Bailey at 2, but Bailey's a good player. You know, that pass rush is better. And then to come away with those two pass catchers is really interesting. The jets are going to be more interesting to watch. I know that. And so it's both sides of the ball. But to get Omar Cooper Jr. And then Kenyon Sadiq, that fit will be really interesting with. With Mason Taylor and how they use them. How are they going to deploy them across the formation? How is that? Just. I don't know. I'm fascinated to see how it all works out.

[Derek Classen]

I learned a lesson last year when watching what happened with the Bears in the draft, where it was like, oh, how's this all supposed to fit together? And like, it.

[Dave Hellman]

What are.

[Derek Classen]

What are you going to do with, like, Luther Burden and DJ Moore were on the same offense, and I really did hem and haw about it. And then at the end of the day, it was just like, who gives a shit? Like, the players are good. Put a lot of good players in there and you'll figure it out. You can spend Johnson is it? Exactly. And then. So that's my concern with the jets is just like, it's a little harder to just, like, be like, go with God, guys. You'll figure it out. When you don't have that sort of inherent faith in the coaching staff. And so that's my concern, is that the redundancies and how the pieces all fit together, maybe it's just more of an issue with that team than it might for a team like the Bears that got away with it.

[Dane]

Yeah, I mean, it's the Ben Johnson of it all. Makes you feel better where with the Jets. It's very much a mystery box at this point.

[Derek Classen]

All right, before we move on, let's take our first quick break.

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[Derek Classen]

All right, let's get to the moments that were maybe a little bit confounding in tonight's draft. The what the were they thinking stretch of the, of the program here. I think we can all just collectively now you in a good way, us in a maybe more skeptical way.

[Dave Hellman]

Oh, yeah, let's do this.

[Derek Classen]

Start this discussion with ty Simpson going 13th overall to the Los Angeles Rams.

[Dane]

I mean, we could have the argument about or debate, did they even have to do this in terms of drafting if they really wanted to come away with Ty Simpson? Did they have to do it at 13? I mean, could have traded back. You could have done, I think, a little maneuvering. It's just really interesting. They said, we don't care. We'll take them here. And to your point, you mentioned this, Robert, in the moment, but the idea that they would want to address a win now window and get better for right now instead of focusing on the future, this Felt like a Mac Jones pick to me. Like just when the Patriots drafted Mack in the mid teens when they did in that draft. That's kind of how I feel about this. This pick and all this.

[Derek Classen]

They needed a starting quarterback, right? The Rams don't.

[Dane]

Yes, yes, 100%. I guess I'm comparing the players more so than the situations. But if the Rams didn't take him at 13, who else is going to take them? I don't know. We'll never know if the Cardinals would have traded up into the late first and maybe drafted them, who knows? But it just felt like a pick they didn't need to make at that point.

[Robert Mays]

And, and I also, these teams, I think in general, like every rookie quarterback would be better off sitting. It's just the reality is that we don't end up in a lot of situations where that is going to happen. And so usually it only ends up happening in these situations where a team has an older quarterback, they have the luxury of drafting a year ahead because they are good franchises generally. Last two times we've really seen this where the packers with Jordan Love and the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes, the difference in talent between those two guys and Ty Simpson, to me is large. And I think that that matters when we're trying to say, like, if we're going to fix this quarterback, quote unquote, and try to get the best out of it. Well, the best out of what you were going to get out of Jordan Love is what we've seen where he's like the seventh or eighth best quarterback in the NFL. And obviously Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes. And we don't know that those are going to be the outcomes, but those are the potential outcomes you're getting when you're getting guys who are that talented with that kind of army. I just, I don't see any of that with Ty Simpson, really. And that's why this, to me is very confounding.

[Bruce Feldman]

I totally agree with Derek and I on top of it, I'm saying he's not playing this year. You know, if he does something hor went horribly wrong. So we're talking about at best next year. At best, we know there's going to be more talented quarterbacks. Next year's draft, there will at least be three. There may be five or six, and they're going to have played more. I mean, if you told me right now, I would take CJ Caro over him right now.

[Derek Classen]

To play devil's advocate, let's just say the rams are picking 32nd in next year's draft. I think that's their hope. Right? Is that they're in a position to draft this guy now that they will not be in next year. And that's why they were willing to do this.

[Bruce Feldman]

I'm. I just think it's a. I could be wrong. I just think it's a bad bet.

[Derek Classen]

I don't like it on a bunch of different quiet levels. I. For me, it's surprising to see them do this because I think you could make a serious argument that it is a prudent decision. It is a responsible choice. We think that this guy can be a long term starter. We're picking 13th in a way that we never would. We don't know what's going to happen moving forward. We would rather protect and insulate ourselves for the future when we have this opportunity. I get that line of thinking. I'm just surprised they were the team that abided by it.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah, they're always just driving 90 miles an hour doing whatever they want.

[Derek Classen]

It's just for, for a team that so often is willing to be like, nah, this. We're going to do the thing that is shiny and aggressive and we're not going to care about what the responsible decision is. To see them do it on that side, I think is surprising. On the other side of it is it's not even just the opportunity cost for missing out on the player. You could draft 13th overall and not being able to fold him into your roster. It's also like a dynamics thing.

[Robert Mays]

Yes.

[Derek Classen]

Like it's one of those things where you have a coach and a quarterback who have a phenomenal relationship. They've had that phenomenal relationship. It just, you could tell that team believed that they were supposed to win the super bowl last year. And so even like the choice to rock the boat with it, like Rogers won the MVP before they drafted Jordan Love. But it seemed like the, the vibes there were already off even when he was winning the mvp. Like it was a. Will they.

[Robert Mays]

Rodgers was begrudgingly the best quarterback in the NFL. If that makes sen.

[Derek Classen]

It just, it's just, it's just different with this situation in la. And like that's part of me, like, even if it's the responsible choice, I'm just not sure I'm welcoming in this sort of element into everything.

[Dave Hellman]

That's really interesting to me. And like, I see the parallels. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I don't, I don't see it that way at all. Maybe because and remember Aaron Rodgers? It sounds weird to think about now, but, like, Aaron Rodgers had a little bit of a downturn. There was, like, he. He did not look like an MVP quarterback right when the packers drafted Jordan Love, and it was like, okay, like, let's. Let's get off this ride before we're not having fun anymore. Matthew Stafford just had the best season of his entire career.

[Derek Classen]

Okay, I'm sorry. I'm misremembering. I thought Jordan Love was a 2021 draft. It was the 2020 draft. And so it was after year one with LaFleur. But you played with better.

[Robert Mays]

LaFleur was rocky. It was not perfect, so it was better.

[Derek Classen]

It's not coming off an MVP season.

[Dane]

Right.

[Derek Classen]

So that even. That makes my point even.

[Dave Hellman]

But see, no. And that's why I disagree, because I think of it as, like, Matthew Stafford and Sean McVeigh are conjoined at the hip. Matthew Stafford just won MVP. Ty Simpson has started 15 college games in his entire life. He is so far from being a threat to Matthew Stafford being the quarterback of the Rams that I just. I'm not watching.

[Robert Mays]

I don't think it's a Stafford dynamic. I think it's a. Are you pissing off McVeigh?

[Derek Classen]

I think it's.

[Dave Hellman]

I think it's pissing off McVeigh. I don't even think it's being a threat.

[Derek Classen]

I think it's Stafford being like, I could have mai Lemon. Like, I. Like, how are you not maximizing my chances?

[Bruce Feldman]

Nothing for me to help me right now.

[Derek Classen]

Yes, I won the MVP last year. Like, why aren't we doing everything in our power to try to win the super bowl this year? If I were Stafford, I would feel a certain type of way about that.

[Dave Hellman]

My answer and, okay, now, this is very analogous to Aaron Rodgers. My answer would be, I have lived with a lot of existential dread about how much longer you have for the last, like, three years. I mean, 2022 feels like a distant memory. But it sucked last year. We were hesitant to back the Rams because he spent the summer in an Airstream that was supposed to fix his back. And so I say, buddy, I love you. You're the best quarterback in the league coming off of last year. Or, I mean, you won the mvp.

[Derek Classen]

Buck up. We're all professionals.

[Dave Hellman]

Buck up. We're all professionals. And you're 38 years old. I mean, it is what it is. That's the nature of the NFL.

[Derek Classen]

We talked about Ty Simpson. Derek. I remember the first time we talked about him. And we were trying to figure out why he would or wouldn't go in the first round. And one of the reasons that I had questions about him going in the first round is which team in this draft would look at Ty Simpson and think, we have to leave this draft with Ty Simpson. And the teams that would have a level of urgency to add a quarterback. The jets, the Cardinals. I just didn't think they'd be in that position because they could wait until next year. And I'm just surprised still that the Rams were the team that, at the end of the day, thought, we have to leave this draft with Ty Simpson. Even if you have an unknown next year, I still think that. I think I'd be willing to walk into the unknown rather than say, we have to draft Ty Simpson 13th overall.

[Dave Hellman]

It's easy to say that. And then it. It. It could potentially be hard to have to live the life of a good team that needs a quarterback. Like, yeah, where'd Kevin o' Connell come from? Maybe Kevin o' Connell's on the phone with the Rams. Like, this shit sucks, dude. Like, get him back.

[Derek Classen]

This sucks in park because he picked the wrong guy in the top 15.

[Dave Hellman]

That's fair. I mean, they've been on that ride for a minute, though. I. I mean, I don't know.

[Derek Classen]

My thought is, y' all find the next Sam Darnold. If. If I'm the Rams, yeah.

[Robert Mays]

I would believe that Stafford or that McVeigh can just get that out of somebody else. Like, I just. I just would not have made this pick.

[Derek Classen]

Like, I talking about it.

[Dave Hellman]

He did.

[Robert Mays]

He did not seem pleased to say this.

[Derek Classen]

I don't want to read too much into that. It's a long night for everybody. But he didn't seem overwhelmed.

[Robert Mays]

He didn't seem like. He did not seem pleased. And like, I just. Even as the guy who did not love Makai Lemon at 13, potentially, I think drafting. Right. I think drafting Makai Lemon or whoever else you want to say it would be at 13, who could be an impact player this year gets them closer to a Super bowl in the next 15 years than Ty Simpson ever does. And I know that that's maybe, like, a ridiculous framing, but I just. I cannot imagine that to Simpson is really that level of player in that many outcomes.

[Derek Classen]

I will say this. I don't dislike Ty Simpson as much as maybe some people over here on the other side of the room do. I actually do think that with a year to sit in that offense, specifically, I actually do have some faith that Ty Simpson can work out for the Rams. I believe that to be true.

[Bruce Feldman]

I don't dislike Ty Simpson. I like Ty Simpson. I don't like more than Dante Moore, C.J. carr, Arch. I think there will be probably four or five. And once you get to that number, there aren't gonna be that many teams, I don't think.

[Dane]

Right.

[Bruce Feldman]

Who are gonna need quarterbacks.

[Ad Narrator (Monarch/BetterHelp/Pakka)]

So you.

[Bruce Feldman]

You're talking about. He could be 22nd or something.

[Dave Hellman]

We're two drafts removed from six of them going in the top 12 of the draft.

[Dane]

Ty made a bet on himself that, yeah, I could go back and get that experience and potentially get better. He made a bet on himself that he'd go in the first and if it wasn't for the Rams, he might not have been a first round pick, but he will go down in history as a first round pick because the Rams made that decision. Where. If he's in next year's draft, for example, like you said, who knows where he goes?

[Bruce Feldman]

Jake Locker went pretty high in the first round.

[Robert Mays]

Sure.

[Dane]

I mean, Christian Ponder. Yeah.

[Derek Classen]

I think you can make a serious argument right now that there are seven teams that might be picking ahead of the Rams next year that need quarterbacks. Jets, Cardinals, Browns, Dolphins, Falcons, Panthers. And I had one more Steelers.

[Robert Mays]

And there will inevitably be one that we can't see. Like, I don't think we would have foreseen, like the Cardinals being a team that just completely blows up with Kyler Murray the way that they did.

[Derek Classen]

So I just. You never know either way. You just never know. And so. And I think that at the end of the day is the thought process here. We have no idea what the world is going to look like a year from now. We know that. I think we can turn this. We know we can turn this guy or we think we can turn this guy into a viable starter in our situation. Let's do it a year early rather than a year late.

[Robert Mays]

And we.

[Derek Classen]

I don't support it, but I can understand the thought process.

[Dave Hellman]

I support it. And you know what?

[Bruce Feldman]

The.

[Dave Hellman]

The team that we praise the most effusively on this show just took the guy that I like. So I'm just going to bask in it for a little. I do.

[Robert Mays]

And if he's not happy, I just

[Mom (Verizon Ad Caller)]

say

[Dave Hellman]

the November, November and the playoffs were iffy enough that, like, I backed off of it. The shit he did up until Halloween was electric and I'll stand by that. And like the. If I like the first six games of Ty Simpson, I can work with that. And if he's learning from Matthew Stafford and Sean McVeigh. I think that is as reasonable a path forward as hoping against hope that the guy's gonna fall to you where you're picking in a year or two or that you're gonna climb onto the Daniel Jones, Kyler Murray. I mean it has worked before. Don't get me wrong. Sam Darnold.

[Derek Classen]

It's a terrible place to be.

[Dave Hellman]

It's a scary place to study.

[Robert Mays]

But I think ultimately it's do you want to take Ty simpson with the 13th overall pick in your win now window or a year or two from now be in the wilderness? I would just flatly want to be in the wilderness. And I know that's a scary place.

[Bruce Feldman]

Head coach is going to be there.

[Derek Classen]

Well, now it might be not very long.

[Dave Hellman]

Yeah.

[Bruce Feldman]

Because one of them either that long and all of a sudden he, he's the guy who's making every, every offense better and he's gone.

[Dave Hellman]

McVeigh's like shit. Fox is right down the street.

[Robert Mays]

I don't know.

[Derek Classen]

It's a tough one. I I I I again I I the last thing I'll say I could absolutely see a world where Ty Simpson turns into a good quarterback in the Rams situation. I think specifically what he brings to the table and just some of those backside throws that he was willing to access at Alabama and just you can see him getting from 1, 2, 3 in a way that you don't really often see with a lot of college quarterbacks. He's a creative player. He can do things off schedule. Like, I think there is enough to like about Ty Simpson to think that he can survive and thrive in this situation with the right seasoning. I just am not sure based on where the Rams are right now, it's the decision I would have made.

[Dave Hellman]

I've got a long time until my opinions about this are going to be put to the test. So I'm, I'm just going to enjoy for the night that the LA Rams seem to share the same opinion as me.

[Derek Classen]

All right, any other what the moments from tonight that we want to dig into other than the Ty Simpson pick that was mine.

[Dave Hellman]

All right. I'll say it if nobody else wants to. The Arizona Cardinals have no business drafting a running back. I don't care if I Jeremiah loves Awesome. He's so cool and good and I, pardon the pun, love him and wish him nothing but the best but miss me with that. Like, I mean, like I just they're not in a place where they needed to do that and maybe they wouldn't have gotten good compensation, trading back. But, like, clearly there was an appetite for trades in this first round. None of them were major. Yeah, but like, the Cleveland Browns are a great example. They fell back to nine before they drafted Spencer Fano. I mean, maybe the return on letting somebody come up for Arvell Reese wasn't what you wanted, but it. I got to assume something was there. And even if not, I still probably would have taken an offensive lineman and just said, well, you know what? It's that type of draft and I gotta do what I gotta do. I just don't think this team's ready for a running back.

[Dane]

I don't think this qualified for me just because I'd make. I had made my peace with it already. Like I had.

[Dave Hellman]

Yeah, you've been saying it for a week and I've been fighting with you this whole time, telling you, please don't let this be true.

[Dane]

And it got to a certain point where I said, I think it's true, guys. There's enough love or enough people around the league are saying they think it's true. And look, I would not have done it myself, but I get it. It's kind of like what you're saying with, like, with Ty Simpson, like, I, I would not have done it. I don't necessarily support it, but I can understand their thought process and how this could end up working out. You're getting the most explosive player in the draft. And so, yeah, I would have gone a different direction as well, but I don't know. I just think anytime you're coming away with a weapon of this caliber, it's not, it's never a bad thing. I'll put it that way. It's not what I would have done, but I wouldn't. I wouldn't call it a. A bad pick.

[Derek Classen]

I think there are two different ways that I would approach it. It has nothing to do with Jeremiah Love as a player, and it has nothing to do with whether Jeremiah Love can be that level of weapon in the NFL. It's two different things.

[Dave Hellman]

To me.

[Derek Classen]

We. It doesn't matter how good a running back is. Running backs are dependent on the situation that they are dropped into and their situation is awful. It just like the offensive line.

[Robert Mays]

I don't think it's that bad.

[Derek Classen]

It is. The offensive line is. Needs so much.

[Robert Mays]

It needs so.

[Derek Classen]

It needs so much work. The pass catchers, I like the pass catchers. They're good. The situation is so bad. Brock Bowers was on the Raiders last year, right? Okay. Brock Bowers on the Raiders last year. Ashton Genti had an abysmal season from an efficiency standpoint because of the state of the Raiders offense.

[Robert Mays]

I think part of that is a little bit of the Seattle Ryan Grubb thing of Chip Kelly being in Las Vegas. I think there's part of that. I just don't think it'll be as bad as rookie talking. That is mostly what I'm saying and

[Derek Classen]

that is probably fair and maybe Will Floor is a guy that can create an ecosystem where it's not bottomed out like that one is. I just think that you are not, you do not have a situation offensively in my opinion, that a running back of any quality that can transcend based on what it currently is. And this to me, and we had this conversation with Barnwell this week and I keep coming back to it. The running back thing to me is not about whether the running back turns into a good player or whether the running back is a good player. This is 100% about opportunity cost every single time. There are certain positions you can only find in the first round when you're looking for impact players at those positions. Offensive tackle and pass rusher are two of those positions. If you are in a state that the Arizona Cardinals are in where you have the third overall pick and the roster is in the shape that it's in, to me it is indefensible to not try to find players at those positions even if they are a slight tear down from a guy like Jeremiah Love in this draft. I just don't think you can defend it.

[Robert Mays]

I actually do have a question for you. If it's going to be about the premium position things, if they took Sonny Styles, how would you have felt about that?

[Derek Classen]

I don't. I wouldn't have loved that either.

[Robert Mays]

Okay.

[Derek Classen]

I wouldn't have loved that either. To me it's like a re or offensive line thing. I take Arvo Reese, to be clear.

[Robert Mays]

I also would have like sprinted to the podium for Arvl Reese.

[Derek Classen]

That's what I'm doing. Like you look at their current pass rusher situation. Zavin Collins and Baron Browning are both free agents after this year. Like this is. We have so much evidence for where the players at these positions come from and I just think that you have to do that in the top five when you are in the current position that the Browns are in. I think you have to. And I look at Bijan and I think that this is to me potentially an analogous situation. The Falcons drafted Bijan at 7. Bijan is an excellent player right and their offensive line was in a better state than the Rams. The Cardinals offensive line is when they drafted Bijan Robinson. By not addressing pass rusher, you get into a situation last year as the Falcons where you are so desperate to find one that you have to trade up in the first round to go get James Pierce because you didn't address it earlier. There's. You are always robbing from Peter to pay Paul somewhere along the way. When you are using these premium picks on non premium players, it is going back, going to come back to get you. And so by not drafting Arvl Reese in the top five here two years from now, how easy is it to imagine a scenario where we're looking at the Cardinals and be like, shit, man, the Cardinals need a pass rusher so bad. It's very, very easy because you only have so many opportunities to find players at these positions. The other one for me that I just like, I'm like, all right, what, what are the Patriots going to do? Caleb Blomu. Yeah, like, what is that?

[Dave Hellman]

I'm confused, but I think it's kind of fun. Like I'm just, I'm, I'm intrigued. It's like what, what? The compliment? Maybe not compliment, but at least it's intriguing.

[Derek Classen]

Yeah, I guess my thought is, and this is just like, this is not rooted in any sort of like theory or research or whatever else. This is all based on like vibes and feel. Do you feel good about an offense that has Will Campbell and Caleb Lomu as its tackles? Are you scared of that offense?

[Robert Mays]

Not really, to be honest with you, I don't think I am.

[Derek Classen]

It's just a lot of finesse. Yeah, it's a lot of finesse at your two tackle spots. And we are just in, we live in a world now where like finesse teams are not getting it done.

[Robert Mays]

It's a left Seahawks, it's the left tackle. They wouldn't be able to run behind. And then in the case of Will Campbell potentially being your right tackle, a right tackle, I can always get the ed. Like, I just don't know if that does a whole lot for me. And Campbell's a good player in some ways. Loma could be good, but like this is not Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.

[Derek Classen]

Yeah, I just, I just don't love it. It is one of those where it's just a little bit surprising to me.

[Dane]

Brandon Thorne ranked Will Campbell as a guard last year in that draft and maybe that is how they view regardless of what they've said publicly. Maybe that's how they view how potentially this could play out in the future.

[Dave Hellman]

That's what makes it fair to go

[Robert Mays]

back out to tackle. I mean he was a left tackle but like tackle still, right? Yeah, maybe he's your right.

[Derek Classen]

A lot of moving parts now right

[Robert Mays]

at that point we're getting like a little too complicated.

[Dave Hellman]

That's why I'm intrigued because I'm just like, ah, what's gonna, what lineup is gonna come out of this? And I, I don't know the answer confidently right now.

[Derek Classen]

I guess my problem is I don't really. That that doesn't really worry me. It's not about like oh, how is this all gonna fit together? It's that when it fits together at the end, I don't think I'm gonna be excited about it.

[Dave Hellman]

I think, and of course you could be wrong. Like the hope for Caleb Lomu is that he, this is not his final form. Like he could be a vastly different player in a year or two than he is right now. And the bet is that he grows into that. There's no guarantee of that obviously, but in the, in the world where he lives up to that, maybe those concerns go away over time.

[Derek Classen]

I think if another team had drafted him to be their left tackle, I, I'd be like okay, whatever, you know. But it's, to me it's the combination of him and Campbell together as your two tackles. I'm like, I just, I'm not sure I would I will ever love this. What if they end up becoming good players.

[Dave Hellman]

If he grows into being an ass kicking left tackle and Will Campbell's a really good left guard and the Patriots left side is fantastic.

[Derek Classen]

What percentage chance would you put on Caleb ever being an ass kicker in the NFL?

[Dane]

Low. I mean I just don't. You don't watch.

[Robert Mays]

That's as mean as Dane will ever get low.

[Dane]

Yeah, well, you know, you don't watch his, his game and think oh yeah, he's a people mover. You know, he's going to be someone that's going to inflict his will and that, that's just not his game. Now obviously you guy turned 21.

[Derek Classen]

It's a mindset thing over Christmas to me. It's a mindset thing.

[Dave Hellman]

I, I get that. But like are you, are you a finished product as a, as a football player at 20? I mean he, so he played this season at the age of 20. I think the way you finished product

[Derek Classen]

is I think, I think you would get an inkling of the way you'll play by the time you're 20.

[Dave Hellman]

I don't think that's a. I don't, I, I don't think you're wrong, but that if I'm looking for Cope, I just, He's a young guy.

[Robert Mays]

I mean, I think you're right. I think he could get a little bit stronger. I think for me it's like I, I still want you to be at the baseline already and then potentially you could, we can project that you get to like an 8 out of 10, 9 out of 10 in that whatever it's going to be if you're under the bar. And then I have to bet that you're going to get over it in a year or two. That's where I think. And I guess if you're picking him at 28, 27, like all these guys are flawed at some point anyway. But, but I mean, Caleb, that is what scares me a little bit.

[Dave Hellman]

Caleb Lomo, to me feels like a perfect example of what we've been talking about where pick 40 to 50 offensive tackles are going away and like, you know, the tape says this guy should probably be a second round pick, but he's 21 and he's 6, 6, 3, 13 and he's an athletic guy. And it's just like, all right, well, you're a first round pick.

[Derek Classen]

It's just like the difference to me is like when I watch Freeling play, even if like there's some maybe strength concerns and it's about like tools and things when you, when you watch him, like he's got some you to him, he's something to him.

[Dane]

There's no grit with.

[Derek Classen]

And that, that to me is like, why, like it's, it's not about closing the gap physically. It to me it's about what are you bringing to the position. And I just think we talk a lot about this with, you know, running back value in the running game and like in defensive ends and even how they defend the run has become more important the way we evaluate them. But like offensive tackles are still should be that too. Like we should be saying the same things about offensive tackles. And so that to me is just a little bit where the gap exists. All right, before we move on, we're gonna take one more quick break.

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[Dave Hellman]

Well, you're gonna take a left at the old oak tree at this here road. Nah, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

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[Derek Classen]

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[Derek Classen]

Talk about our biggest surprises of night one. This doesn't even necessarily need to be good or bad, but just moments where you're like oh shit. Dane, what do you got for me?

[Dane]

Vikings drafting Caleb Banks. That one surprised me. I didn't think he. I thought there was a chance he could go in the first round. I didn't think he'd go in the top 20 we covered it on the stream, but extremely talented player for a guy that size, but he barely played this year because of foot injury. Injured the same foot, broke a different part of that foot at the combine. And so we're going based off of traits and an unrealized idea. So a big swing at. At that point in the draft, he. He was not. I think he was like 52 on my board, but it's really just all injury if, if you. If he was healthy, and I think we felt better about where he was going in the trajectory. It's not as big of a surprise, but still, I didn't think he'd be a top 20 pick.

[Derek Classen]

Do you read anything into the fact that the Vikings don't have a GM right now?

[Dane]

I. I almost mentioned that on the, on the stream. Like, it's just obviously the, the. The front office has been in place. It's just the GMs not there, so it's not like they had a total, total overhaul. And like, you know, the scouts are still doing. Doing their thing and like.

[Derek Classen]

But it doesn't stop with anybody.

[Dane]

Right? Exactly.

[Derek Classen]

And so it almost encourages you to take a swing like this because if it doesn't work out, who it doesn't fall at feet.

[Bruce Feldman]

Right.

[Robert Mays]

And a coaching staff that's probably feeling a little bit of heat because, like, they have not probably had some of the success they wanted, especially the way last year went. They're probably a little bit more willing to be like, we'll just take the guy that if he works out, he's Dexter Lawrence. And if he's not all right, when,

[Dane]

you know, I mean, Flores had to have had his fingerprints on this.

[Derek Classen]

Absolutely.

[Dane]

So I think that's. And obviously we know how respected his voice is in that organization, so. So I'm sure that played a heavy part of just having his thumb on the scale.

[Derek Classen]

Well, you look at what they did last offseason, and obviously they didn't do it in the draft, but the money that they spent on Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, they clearly wanted more pop in the middle of that defensive line, and it just didn't work out. The amount of money they spent on those third contract eyes, it just didn't pan out the way they wanted. But clearly that's been a priority for them is to find that sort of skill set in the middle of the defense. And so. So to see them pay a little bit of a premium for it, I don't know, maybe just shouldn't be that surprising right now. It's levi Drake Rodriguez and Jalen Redmond. Jalen Redmond's a nice player, but, like, that was a spot that absolutely needed addressing, even if it's a little bit more aggressive than we expected them.

[Dane]

And like, look, we talked about in this draft, there's only so many ways you can do that.

[Dave Hellman]

I think that's. That's the. My takeaway from that is again, we said for months, like, like, where. Where's the star power? Where are the alien players?

[Bruce Feldman]

Where are.

[Dave Hellman]

Caleb Banks is an alien just injured and just doesn't. You don't have a lot to go on. And the Vikings decided that swing was worth it.

[Dane]

If you go back to that 2024 LSU tape, I just. Hey, it's there.

[Dave Hellman]

Look across the fall, when we did building the Beast, there were probably two guys that Dane wished I would shut the hell up about, and they both just went in the top 20. Ty Simpson and Caleb Banks. So I don't know. That doesn't mean they're going to be good, but it's a nice night for

[Robert Mays]

me to win for now.

[Dane]

Yeah.

[Derek Classen]

Bruce, what was your big surprise from round one?

[Bruce Feldman]

I mean, again, I go back to Reese Fallen to five. Like, I just. It surprised me just the way it shaped up, but beyond that, you know, like, Dane's right. I didn't. I didn't expect Banks to go there. I didn't expect. You know, I knew there was a big need for them, but I knew that it wasn't like a. Ooh, they're not.

[Robert Mays]

Not.

[Bruce Feldman]

I didn't think they were taking Kaden McDonald.

[Derek Classen]

Everyone thought they were taking Dylan Thetaman.

[Bruce Feldman]

I. That's what I thought. You know, I don't know if this is a fair one to say it. Like, I. I mean, are we talking about. Can I say a guy that I thought was gonna go that didn't show?

[Derek Classen]

Sure, absolutely.

[Bruce Feldman]

Yeah. I'm surprised Emmanuel McBorne is still on the board. I thought he would have been gone. I mean, obviously Thieman went a little later than we thought. I thought he would go somewhere in the first round and he didn't.

[Dane]

That's a safety thing.

[Derek Classen]

I mean, that's what I was going to say. It's just like seven picks later for every single one of these basically right downs themes.

[Robert Mays]

Pretty much. Yeah. Yeah.

[Dane]

I'm sure he should go pretty quickly on day two, but. But I mean that. No, that's a good one because he's. I think he's a top 30 player, maybe top 25 player in this draft. Do we all agree if we Were the Cardinals, we would have drafted Arvell Reese at 3. Yes.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah, I think so. Yes.

[Dane]

Yeah.

[Robert Mays]

My surprise was Reese falling away or traded.

[Dave Hellman]

I like, if they wanted to do that, I could have gotten on board with it.

[Derek Classen]

I just don't think that again, I don't think when you look at the state of the roster, like you're starting from an early enough point in the process, where it brings me the aliens just like, Just like, go, go get them for me, I have two. Just when it comes to, like, I never expected this player to be drafted by this team. Makai Lemon to the Eagles. I just like, never in a million years would I have expected Mikhail Lemon

[Dane]

to be on the Steelers either.

[Derek Classen]

And the Steelers either.

[Ad Narrator (Monarch/BetterHelp/Pakka)]

Right.

[Derek Classen]

Like, the Steelers apparently called them and said they were going to pit the tick, pick him, and then how he comes up and snatches him away. I just, for whatever reason, I assumed the Eagles, if they went receiver, they would have gone to do something that would replace A.J. brown if they were going to lose A.J. brown.

[Dave Hellman]

Right.

[Dane]

It's interesting that the last time these two teams made a trade, the Eagles drafted a receiver Devonte Smith and Cowboys moved back and drafted edge rusher with Michael Parsons. We'll see how these two.

[Derek Classen]

The other one, for me, just in terms of, like, we didn't expect him to go in the first round necessarily. Keelan Rutledge going to the. To the Texans.

[Bruce Feldman]

Yeah.

[Robert Mays]

I loved that one, though.

[Derek Classen]

It's so good if he plays center. And now you completely kind of remake it. And I remember talking to somebody from Houston at the combine, and we were just discussing the fact that. And this has been true for a lot of teams. Like, I think that the Seahawks felt this way going into the 2025 season, where they're like, our defense has such an attitude about it. Where are we going to find the offensive players that can start to develop that same attitude on the other side of the ball where you feel us in a way, you feel our defense. And it really does feel like in the best case scenario here, Dane with like a Wyatt Teller and Akeema Rutledge, if he does end up playing center, like, you are starting to get to that place where the same sort of mindset that you prevent when the defense is on the field, you can start to get there with the offense.

[Dane]

Yeah. And this is a totally I culture. You know, whatever word you want to use, like, he. He's the type of guy you want in your offensive line room. Um, the fact that you project him to have that interior flex where he's going to help you get your five best out there. This, to me, this fell under the. The pairing you didn't know you needed like that. That I didn't connect these two. But now that it happened, I love it. Like, I. This is something that I. I think makes that offensive line better from day one. And I totally understand the type of player they're going for here, and I

[Robert Mays]

think that this is twofold help a little bit. One, any offensive line help in front of C.J. stroud is great because I think we saw the last couple years, the way that he's just been getting decimated, I think clearly has gotten to his head in the way that he played. And I think to kind of pour into that, that same idea a little bit, that they just have not been able to run the ball hardly at all, really. The last two years, them and the Raiders were some of the worst teams running the ball. And I do think Rutledge gives you a lot there. Obviously, this team traded for David Montgomery earlier, who I think is a much more talented back than any of the guys they've had lately. So if he helps you out purely as a pass protector a little bit, can maybe play center for you, shore up the middle that way, and then you can actually run the ball a little bit more now with him and Teller, and it's like, can we just get into a few more, like, third and twos instead of third and nine?

[Dave Hellman]

Like that?

[Robert Mays]

I just feel like that goes such a long way for this team.

[Dave Hellman]

If. And it's dangerous doing this. I get it. But, like, if Ariante Ursari's progression moved,

[Robert Mays]

like, and he was solid, that's.

[Dave Hellman]

And if. If he continues to move up, up, I'm. I'm pretty in on that offensive line. Not crazy in, but I'm just like, ooh, this is. This is pretty nice.

[Robert Mays]

You got to project a little bit, but you can see it.

[Dave Hellman]

Yeah.

[Bruce Feldman]

And.

[Derek Classen]

And the other thing in. In terms of, like, all right, the best case scenario. We have it in our minds, the best case scenario doesn't always work out. To me, one of the elements of that is Wyatt Teller's health. But if he gets hurt, then in theory, right, Relish could play guard.

[Robert Mays]

Totally.

[Derek Classen]

And so it just seems like there is some flexibility there. Even, like, Braden Smith can play guard if he needs to. Like, they just have different ways this could all go. And I think that in a way that I think is appealing. Any other surprises you guys wanted to hit?

[Dave Hellman]

Banks was mine.

[Derek Classen]

Okay.

[Robert Mays]

Not really. I mean, like, falls Into a different category potentially. But like, Carnell Tate going forward stunned me a little bit. But, man, I thought that was awesome.

[Derek Classen]

Let's get to the. But it might work out for us. Stretch of the draft. Moves that have a little bit of risk, but I think you can understand where teams are talking themselves into it, working out for that Dane. What fits this kind of profile in your mind of the picture you saw tonight?

[Dane]

I mean, I guess Kenyon Sadiq and the Jets a little bit. I didn't love it. Like, I still don't love it, but I can kind of see what they're going for. Peter woods and the Chiefs, to me, that's kind of fits here where I probably wouldn't have done it. And I mean, he was a fringe first rounder for me, so. Not shocked that he snuck in there.

[Robert Mays]

But.

[Dane]

But the talent's there and I think if they think they can get it out of him and he's playing on a. Playing next to Chris Jones and you know, just what that could potentially become and how we're looking at this pick, you know, in 10 months from now, how interesting that'll be. So those two ones stood out to me.

[Robert Mays]

I also want to say, as the Peter woods guy on this show, my pick for this was Peter Woods. I realized that that's what this is. I'm just willing to do it.

[Derek Classen]

Who'd you have for this?

[Dave Hellman]

I wanna say at the start, I. I like the pick. Cause it's similar to Kayla Banks where it's like, take a swing at the alien if you're not in love with some of these prospects. But I think we're describing the Caden Proctor pick to my 100%.

[Robert Mays]

My answer.

[Dave Hellman]

And so many times we talk about this stuff. It's like. It's unfair. It's anonymous scout speak when you're, like, killing a guy. Nick Saban got on ESPN this week and was like, Kaden Proctor's. He's a great guy. He'll do whatever you want him to. Once you get him in the building. When he's not in the building, you kind of have to worry about him. Like, he's a little. He could get overweight. He could, like, not be as dedicated as you want. But once you get him in there, it's fantastic. It's all great. That scares the shit out of me, to be blunt. Especially, like, about a guy that you're picking 11th overall. So the track record of guys this big developing into great players is. Is not amazing. You've got the greatest college coach of all Time giving you the full rundown of the concerns. But he is an alien type of player, and it. It might work for the Dolphins and he might become an amazing offensive lineman. And like I said, I really do like the bet because the Dolphins need so much help. And if you need that much help, you've already gained a lot of draft capital with the movement they did on Thursday night and before the draft as well. Take a big swing on a really freaky big athlete and maybe it will work out for you. But. But I think you gotta have your eyes wide open about the reasons this might not work.

[Bruce Feldman]

I was gonna say the same thing, except a little bit different reasoning on him and. Cause he's obviously, He's a really gifted, huge athlete. Sometimes people would go, yeah, but what's gonna happen when he finally. When he gets money? Yeah, now it's different. These guys got money now. Nil. So it's like, hopefully, you know, it's just. He's young and remember he. He briefly went to Iowa for a minute and then came back and I don't know, the guys I talked to at Alabama actually really did like him and thought he was maturing. And I think you. Again, it's higher than I thought he would have gone, but I could see why he could be a top 12 pick, you know, and so I don't. I don't hate that pick.

[Dave Hellman]

No. For the record, I.

[Bruce Feldman]

No, I'm not saying you. I'm not saying.

[Dave Hellman]

And I don't have them in front of me. But I mean, the Dolphins, they added several picks tonight, right? Like from, you know, the. This. The deal they did with Dallas. I guess they moved back.

[Robert Mays]

They moved back up, so I don't know what it came out in the last.

[Dave Hellman]

They have more than enough picks. Like, they got plenty of capital to work with, so they've got. And I mean, did they. They wound up making a pick? Oh, no, they traded out of the. That was the Omar Cooper pick. So they didn't make two picks in the first round. Right.

[Robert Mays]

Chris Johnson, they. They traded up to 27. I don't remember what all the movement was. Yes, right.

[Dave Hellman]

There was a lot of movement in the back half round.

[Robert Mays]

Okay.

[Dave Hellman]

Yeah, you're right. They add to their secondary, they get a guy in Chris Johnson that. That Dane is really high on and that people like a lot. So even if the Proctor thing doesn't live up to the expectations of picking him 11th overall, I think the Dolphins have more than enough stuff going for them.

[Derek Classen]

Yeah, they got two fives to move down With Dallas. And then they traded a third to the Niners and got a fourth back to move back up to that spot.

[Dave Hellman]

Spot they're going to have. I mean, their draft class is going to be huge by the time this is all said and done. And yeah, getting Chris Johnson as like a very steady guy, that you feel safe about that. That makes me feel good about taking a swing like this.

[Dane]

They traded a third to go from where?

[Derek Classen]

30 to 27.

[Robert Mays]

Believe.

[Dane]

Wow.

[Derek Classen]

They get. They gave up a third and got back a fourth.

[Dane]

Oh, they got back a fourth. So they.

[Derek Classen]

They moved down 48 spots in order to make that trade.

[Dane]

Okay.

[Derek Classen]

Yeah. This offensive line class is fascinating.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah.

[Derek Classen]

It's just there are. There's so many weird players. And like, the bets you're choosing to make are so interesting. Like I. The siren song of the massive man who moves in a way that no one else does in a way that Kaden Proctor does. Like, for him to go 11 and for Blake Miller and Ralph Reeling to go where they went. Like, it. It's all about, like, what sort of risk am I willing to incur based on what the payoff is down the road? And with Proctor, like, like the competing forces on both sides of that. You understand how he goes 12 when some of these other guys are lasting into the teens. Even if I think I'd rather make the bet on Freeling and Miller for very different reasons. Right. Like, they're extremely different players, but I think I'd be sa. I'd be. Feel better with those bets.

[Dave Hellman]

The first offensive lineman off the board in this class did center drills at the combine. And the Browns are like, we think you're our left tackle in the future. I mean, that kind of says it all.

[Derek Classen]

It's a bizarre offensive line class. But what I really liked, actually. But it is a bizarre offensive line offensive line class. Let's run through these pretty quickly here. The pairing you never knew you needed. Mine was Dylan. I had Dylan Thienaman to the Bears. I have a couple more if you guys don't hit them. Dane, what was yours?

[Dane]

I had Bane in the Bucks, so something we already talked about. Just one of those. My brain didn't absorb that fully during the pre draft process. Cause I didn't think Bane would make it that far. But now that it happened, it's like, okay, yeah, this is something I can really get on board with Derek.

[Robert Mays]

Mine was Carnell Tate. I just thought it was going to be love or one of the Ohio State defenders. Somebody. I was just so locked in on all those Guys, and then you tell them, me, Carnell Tate's gonna go be the safety blanket for Ward. I'm like, hell, yeah.

[Bruce Feldman]

Bruce, did you have one Peter woods and Chris Jones.

[Robert Mays]

Oh, yeah.

[Bruce Feldman]

I just think it reminded me a little bit last year we were talking about Walter Nolan and say who was the cla.

[Derek Classen]

Campbell and Dalvin Thomason are both there. Yeah.

[Bruce Feldman]

So I feel like that's not like it's a maturity issue with Peter Woods. I just feel like it's like, show me how to finish.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah.

[Dave Hellman]

Yeah. Woods was mine as well, and I said it on the stream to Derek. Like, Derek's high on Peter woods, and I was not. But Steve Spagnolo clearly liked him. He's playing with Chris Jones and Kairos Tonga is there as well. So, like, he's. The expectations don't need to be high that he fills this massive role for the Chiefs right away and like that ecosystem for him. I like it a hell of a lot more than I just liked Peter woods as a standalone prospect.

[Derek Classen]

I'll go with the other Chiefs pick. I'm sort of delaying going to the Chiefs. That's one where it's just like, oh, man, I didn't know I wanted that. I think part of it is because of how we talk about out corners to the Chiefs.

[Dave Hellman]

They often get them trying to follow the breadcrumbs. You're like, ah, they'll probably wait till the third round to get a cornerback. And then they traded up to make him the number six pick. That was fun.

[Derek Classen]

The other one that I'll throw out there, that again, I just was surprised by how much I liked it in the moment. Is Jordan Tyson going to the Saints?

[Robert Mays]

Yeah, that one's a good one. I just. The skill sets just make so much sense.

[Derek Classen]

I just. I love it. And again, as somebody who didn't necessarily love Jordan Tyson in the process and watching him, I just think that offense with Chris Olave there, I don't know, man. I'm excited about watching the Saints.

[Dave Hellman]

The comp Dane and I got on Jordan Tyson at one point in the process was CD Lamb.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah.

[Dave Hellman]

And I mean, who knows how the Saints see him, but clearly they like him a lot to draft him eighth. And so that pairs pretty nicely with a guy like Chris Olave.

[Derek Classen]

Stu just best fit, like the fit. You're so you saw it and it's like, yeah, that makes sense. I like that. Did you have one of those?

[Dave Hellman]

Yeah, it's boring and we've been joking about it for three months, but Bango. You want.

[Robert Mays]

I Mean, come on.

[Derek Classen]

But it's so telling that that one is probably the right answer. And my other two are offensive linemen.

[Robert Mays]

Yep. I mean it was that kind of class. And nine of them went in the first round.

[Dane]

That's it. I was going to say the two receivers that went top 10 but we just touched on them. Carl Tate, Jordan, Tyson. So I'll say Fernando Mendoza, we haven't had. Yeah, exactly.

[Dave Hellman]

Like no pub. He's going to know pub. He, he made a two number one

[Robert Mays]

quarterbacks in a row where people just like did not really get that excited. That's what happens in one one quarterback class. Right.

[Dane]

Sorry Ty. But yeah, Mendoza, I, I just can't wait to watch the Raiders this year and I, you know, didn't say that

[Dave Hellman]

last year so ironically we did.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah, unfortunately I did, I did do that.

[Derek Classen]

But we'll see. We'll see.

[Robert Mays]

I'll do it again.

[Derek Classen]

I mean they're a fascinating team in the top half of the first, the second round. You said that you don't think Kate McDonald slips past them, but I don't think so. They need, they need a right tackle. They need another receiver, secondary. They're just, I, I, I don't at this point I default to this too quickly where I'm just like, let's try the quarterback. Just give, give me the, give me the quarterback everything he needs. Like I just would. It's almost like a baby. You have to keep alive. Like I'm just trying to do everything I can to make sure that the quarterback stays alive. And I'm not sure that 330 pound nose tackle, even if he's very exciting player does that. My two Blake Miller going to the lines.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah, that, that one I just was

[Derek Classen]

just like, all right, you know, I

[Dave Hellman]

kind of forgot about that. But I really, I do I, I said it on the stream but the idea of like instead of banking on the super athletic left tackle prospect, we have that freak in our building already. I think Penne Sewell can be a left tackle just fine and then just put the steady, quote unquote boring right tackle over there. I, I had forgotten about that from day one too.

[Robert Mays]

Yeah.

[Derek Classen]

You know how awesome it is to have a boring right tackle in the NFL?

[Dave Hellman]

It kicks ass.

[Derek Classen]

It's the best thing in the world is to have a right tackle that you never think or talk about about.

[Dave Hellman]

It's, I would call it a luxury. Like if you're living that life you're

[Robert Mays]

living, you're living large.

[Derek Classen]

And the other one I really liked was Monroe Freeing going to Carolina, I just, I. Both of those I really, really like for.

[Robert Mays]

When you watched Carolina last year, there were stretches where their offensive line got too banged up for it to matter. But that offensive line in run game was mauling people and Monroe, freeing for some of his boards. He is going to bring that to them. So the fact that, that they got him there and at 19. Cause like I, I would have taken him. I like Blake Miller, I would have taken Monroe Freeling first. I would have taken him before Kaden Proctor. Like I just, it's to get him where they got him. Pretty good stuff.

[Derek Classen]

He's. He's so big and there are times where he gets a little bit top heavy because of that. It's inevitable when you're that big. But what I was struck by watching failing at times is that there were moments where I would forget that he was like 6, 8. And I mean that in like a complimentary way. Like the way that he moved, I would forget that he was 6, 8. But then you would see how he could weaponize the length and recover with it. Like I, I think he has a super, super high upside and so I'm, I'm excited. He may not have to play right away in Carolina either. Like if they want to play Rasheed Walker at the start and let him grow into that, I absolutely think there's a path where that could happen based on what they did in free agency. Anything else? Any other picks from night one that you guys want to chat about? We'll obviously be talking about every single team, every single class by the time we are done with the other two shows that we're doing both tomorrow and Saturday.

[Robert Mays]

I think that kind of covers it for me. We hit all the fun ones because

[Derek Classen]

they were talking for six hours.

[Robert Mays]

That, that is, that is part of it. Yes.

[Dave Hellman]

Is there somebody that we just straight up, I, I feel like we covered damn near every single.

[Derek Classen]

I don't think we said Max A. Honachore's name. I don't think we said Akeem Mezador's name. It was like the two guys I think we, I don't think we talked about on this show. Mezador is just like, yep, yeah. And Hana, sure, I understand how it happens.

[Dave Hellman]

I do. Like, I like Ahanachar a lot as a player year. It sucks for the Steelers. Like that pick to me signals something about Broderick Jones where I'm just like, ah, the best laid plans often go awry. I mean because they made back to back tackle picks. Not that long ago.

[Dane]

I did go on offensive line in the first two rounds. I mean how many times in the last three, four years.

[Dave Hellman]

So to to be fishing out of that well again probably doesn't feel great, but you got to do what you got to do.

[Derek Classen]

All right, that is all we've got for tonight. We will be back. Well, you're listening to this on Friday morning. We will be back tonight live on the athletic football show YouTube channel at 6:30pm Eastern. Me, Dane, Derek, Dave, breaking down every single pick of the second and third rounds. Very much looking forward to getting back at it. Bruce, sincerely appreciate you joining us.

[Dane]

You're the best.

[Dave Hellman]

Awesome man.

[Robert Mays]

Thank you.

[Derek Classen]

It is, it means a lot that he would spend the time to do this and we, we have a great time doing it. So thank you very, very much for coming and we'll be back doing this again tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. For now, that's all we got. Appreciate you guys listening. We'll talk to you very soon. Thanks for tuning in. Make sure to hit that subscribe or Follow button so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed what you heard, please, like comment and leave a rating. We'll see you next time.

[Robert Mays]

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