← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast - NFL DRAFT RECAP: Shedeur Sanders FALLS Out Of 1st , Jags OVERPAID For Travis Hunter, Hampton Gives Chargers “Juice”, Caleb Williams "Loaded"
02:01:29
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Colin Cowherd
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- [02:39]
John Middlekoff
The Volume welcome to the Colin Coward Podcast, our NFL Draft Review episode Episode is presented by BMW where electrifying performance and versatility define both this year's top draft picks and the all electric BMW ix. All right, John Middlekoff former NFL Scout we do, we do this every year, obviously we go through the first round picks and let's not waste any time. Let's get past Cam Ward, number one. That was an easy one, the most interesting one and boy, my, my phone blew up. Cleveland got a haul, I think way too much for a non quarterback. So Cleveland gets three of the top 36 picks. Now if you add all the picks they got in from the Jags next year, they're just doing that to get a quarterback next year. So next year of the top 36 picks, Cleveland has three of them. They got a haul and then they go down to number five and you know, getting a starting defensive tackle, I'll get to that in a second. But the GM for the Jags, who I was told actually worked from home in St. Louis a lot, even when he was a Rams employee as a young kid. So this is the adult table. Being a gm, I don't like the swing. I Travis Hunter's a great player, but unless he's a pro bowler on both sides of the ball, it feels like way too much to give up. And I think Cleveland was clearly doing it to get ammo for next year's quarterback draft.
- [04:06]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I mean, I think it's the easiest trade that Andrew Barry and Kevin Stefanski will ever make. They might have just got contract extensions from hassle. I'm sitting behind him in the draft room. I'm with you. How can you make this trade, Colin, when you don't know your team? You know, part of anyone, whether you're taking over a football team, taking over a business, you got to let it settle and see what you have. Well, there's obviously no way. They haven't even been on the field in shorts and T shirts. They don't know if their quarterback's any good. They don't know how talented their unit is. I get the ownership there is, you know, flush with money and aggressive and everything. But I think being this aggressive for Liam Cohen and Gladstone, the young 34 year old GM, when they have never worked with the players on their team. It's one thing if you had been around for a couple years and you have a pretty good feel like we're a player or two away, let's swing for the fences. That's insane, Colin, to throw away your next year's first round pick and I get it. He was, he had a front row seat there for less. And Sean, trading all those first round picks over the years, they were typically a player or two away right though with the Rams. So I, I thought it was for a non quarterback. I mean we've seen some off the 49ers. Made one for Trey Lance. I think it's one of the craziest draft day trades I can remember for non quarterback.
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John Middlekoff
I'm. I'm trying to think of the last time I got three texts from NFL employees and all went mistake by the Jacks like all landed on the same spot. And this is a very young gm. And again, Travis Hunter is going to be a really sensational talent, there's no question. But there's also going to be some growing pains on the fact that he's not going to be in meetings for one side of the ball on a regular basis. So. And I mean, listen, this really isn't as much about the Jags as it is Cleveland. They're trying to get out from this tonnage of DeSean Watson's contract and the way to do it is get a star quarterback. I mean, that's how the Broncos got out from the tonnage of Russell Wilson. They got Bo Nix who will be free for. So yeah, I didn't, I didn't like it at all. I, I just think, you know, we could always take shots at Cleveland, but I've always been a Stefanski fan and I have people that really like Andrew Barry. I think this is a really easy deal to make. And then by the way, you slide down to five now, a lot of people think Mason Graham is more in the 8 to 12 range as a draft pick because it's ceiling's low. And I think in most years that would be fair. One of the people that loved what Cleveland did didn't love Mason Graham as a number five pick. He said he's closer to 10 than he is to five. But again, he's going to start, you know, in that division. It's a northern division, it's a rugged division. Did you like what Cleveland did at five with Graham after making a pretty shrewd move to get all those picks?
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Unnamed Analyst
Yeah. To me, that note that I wrote down, I mean Travis Hunter for Cleveland doesn't do that much, right? I mean they're several players away and their quarterback situation disaster. When you think Mason Graham and you watch the way Michigan's played the last couple of years, obviously in that area too ideal for the AFC north like that. That'd be my thing. Like that guy is just made to play in cold weather against Pittsburgh, against Baltimore. Yeah, teams that want to play physical slow down the game. So I listen this is draft. I mean McMillan went eight, Kelvin Banks went nine. I mean this wasn't exactly Tony Bacilli, you know and Miles Garrett coming off the board here right in this range. So I have no problem with going Mason Graham to me they could have taken me and you. Colin. The moment they made that trade, Cleveland won the draft. Yeah, they get next year's to me, the likelihood of Jacksonville first time head coach, young coaching staff, I mean they could easily be a 5, 6 win team. We do not know if their quarterback is good and he has struggled to stay healthy. And I get Liam Cohen had a big year with Baker Mayfield, but Baker he didn't resurrect. Baker Mayfield was good the previous year too. That's how Dave Canales got a job. So it's not like he just made Baker Mayfield. Baker Mayfield's now had two good years in a row.
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John Middlekoff
Yeah.
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Unnamed Analyst
So I, I, I, I think the, the Cleveland again could have taken anybody the moment they got the future one. And the second. Think how often we see good players get drafted in the 30s. Happens every year regardless how good the draft is because the same type player is there in the mid-30s. It can be impact starters that you get for like $1.5 million a year.
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John Middlekoff
Yeah, yeah. And that's what to your point is Cleveland gets Jacksonville's first round pick next year. What's crazy about that is that could be a top six pick easy. I mean that is nuts.
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Unnamed Analyst
We've seen it happen a couple years in a row where the Lions benefited. The one year when they had the Stafford trade and the Rams had that awful year and McVeigh like thought about quitting football to go work at Amazon. They got a top what they got the 6 pick that they turned into Laporta and Gibbs. We saw it the year when Denver was awful and Seattle got a really high pick and took Witherspoon. We have seen these future ones on. It's usually a player trade. Russell Wilson, Matt Stafford, whatever. But sometimes on a draft day trade. Remember Chicago traded from 20 to 11.
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John Middlekoff
Yes.
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Unnamed Analyst
With the Giants and then they were terrible the next year and the Giants got multiple picks in the top 10. Now you still got to make the right pick with, with that selection. But the amount of flexibility if you let's, let's assume Cleveland isn't going to be that good. I mean their quarterback situation disaster. If I tell you next Year may have pick five and nine. You got a lot to work with that.
- [09:50]
John Middlekoff
That's why they made the move. So by the way, DraftKings all odds provided by DraftKings if we mentioned them during this our podcast DraftKings had Ashton Genty +650 to get drafted number 6 and +475 to get drafted by the Raiders. This was a real obvious one to me and I had mentioned this multiple times. Geno Smith with a run game throwing on play action is actually a pretty good quarterback. He's very Sam Darnold when he gave Sam a little protection and a run game and he can throw when nobody's quite sure he's throwing. He's very effective. When you force Darnold or Geno Smith to throw on third and 11 or they have to throw it a beat fast, that's when you get the mistakes. I thought Genty and I also wonder this. If you look at Pete Carroll's history, he's old school. Yeah, Marshawn Lynch, Reggie Bush, Lindale White, his great teams have had stars in the backfield which sets the table for his offense. Pete hates mistakes by quarterbacks and Geno doesn't make a ton when he's throwing on play action. So I think Genty, I love that pick for the Raiders.
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Unnamed Analyst
I have been probably one of the counterculture movements here with this Aston Genti like hype. I mean people have been comparing to Barry Sanders or you know, Ladanian Tomlinson. I think anytime that you compare a player to the greatest of all time, it's like when you're comparing Cam Ward to Patrick Mahomes, we got to tell you to pump the brakes. Yeah, but I, I, you know, listen, Kenneth Walker, who was picked later when he was healthy for Seattle with Charbonnet, their run game was good. Like you said, Gino was really, really good. My issue here is like I have experience in the Mountain West. I, I know the difference in the competition relative to the Big Ten and obviously the sec. It is dramatic. Now in an individual like in a vacuum, he has a special talent and he had the opportunity to surely go to Texas or Ohio State. He turned down money. So it wasn't like people didn't want him. But like playing against Washington State, New Mexico, Fresno State and San Diego State is going to be a little different animal than the Chargers, Denver and Kansas City, which you could argue is the best defensive division in the sport. We know mentor how good the Chargers are. So it's just going to be difficult for him. We saw this year you know, I don't. The Raiders offensive line is okay, but it's, it's going to be tough. I, I just, I get it. I honestly thought they would go with a lineman there, especially a defensive lineman. You know, remember Pete Carroll over the years has now, it hasn't always worked out. Bruce Irvin, I thought he would be aggressive there, but you know, they swung for the fences. It gives them some star power. There's no disputing it. Makes them more interesting to watch because they, they were an unwatchable product the last couple years. So Austin Genti, Pete Carroll, Geno Smith, I'll pay attention. I still, I mean, I'm not picking them to win that many games based on what we, what we have on the roster right now.
- [12:46]
John Middlekoff
So the jets go Armand Membu, offensive tackle from Missouri, who, who's, you know, kind of a physical freak. A lot of people thought he was the best offensive lineman. Listen, I thought the jets would go for a tight end. They just have had no production in that area. But it should be noted it's a good tight end draft and a good running back draft so they can get that later. There's a story that Breece hall is not happy. He's not content. He's on his, you know, social media, you know, kind of doing some of those subtle shots or he may be on his way out. I think they're very much in their division weapon light, but I never really have a problem. I've been on this John for a long time. I think offensive lines are under discussed. Of the top eight last year, seven teams went to the playoffs and so I don't really have a problem with this. You can get tight ends and running backs in this draft.
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Unnamed Analyst
I totally, I.
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John Middlekoff
The jets went and got their left tackle last year at Penn State. This is probably their right tackle. I don't have a problem with teams going o line.
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Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I love this pick. I mean, I think when you look at their gm, he comes from Denver. Well, how did Sean Payton turn the thing around? They invested in the line. They already had a left tackle. They signed McGlinchey, which we can argue was an overpay, but immediately gives them a starter right tackle. They sign a guard from Baltimore and all of a sudden they had a legitimate offensive line. And who do they play? They play the Chargers. Well, what they had Slater. Boom. You draft alt. Last year they draft the Penn State left tackle. He'll be their left tackle. Now you get the right tackle. That's how you build a foundation. All I'VE seen is these GMs over the press conferences leading into the draft. Talk about the importance the Eagles set the tone, the line of scrimmage, the line of scrimmage. And then sometimes the draft comes, it's like, let's take Loveland, let's take Tyler. It's easy to do and I understand it. And listen, I don't even blame them for doing it sometimes, especially the owner. It's much easier to sell guys scoring touchdowns than it is someone that just gets no stats. But last time I checked, no one ever complains when your tackles are good, you know, right. In football especially. Listen, Justin Fields, I don't know if it's going to work out, but you start to get like, you already got SAS Gardner, you got Garrett, Wilson, you probably signed those guys to long term contracts. You get a couple good offensive linemen. You already have some defensive linemen. You do have a lot of pieces on this roster. Little like the Bears a couple of years ago. Just go, maybe just find your quarterback at Caleb Williams. Obviously they're not going to get Caleb Williams, but you know what I mean? Like somehow you're in position. If you get a solid player at that position, all of a sudden you got a good team.
- [15:22]
John Middlekoff
Carolina takes T Mac. Ted McMillan, wide receiver who turned off some people during the process. He is known as a glider. I know Seattle also liked him. Seattle's not drafting here early. Seattle liked him. John Snyder, he's a lot of people think he has to be on the inside. The slot will be used primarily. He struggles to sometimes get off the line. He's been encouraged to change stylistically some of the things he does. Maybe he'll get better. He's young. I think he's got to be a little bit more coachable. I think this draft pick was honestly, because they went and got a tackle recently in a draft, I think last year, didn't they go get an offensive tackle? If I recall, I may be wrong on that, but I think two years.
- [16:10]
Unnamed Analyst
Ago they got the guy from North Carolina State.
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John Middlekoff
That's right. I think this is about Bryce Young. I think this. They just want weapons. That's what it feels like to me.
- [16:18]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah. And I think their coach who came from Tampa Bay, Mike Evans, similar measurements, tall, didn't run that fast. I think is the last guy to not run a sub 4 or 5 and get drafted, you know, in the top 10. So you kind of use that as the blueprint. Listen, there are a lot of question marks on this individual. He's, I would say he's one of the more polarizing guys discussed to be in the top 20. My issue from a football standpoint, not even counting some of the videos that came out. Does he love football? Does he like volleyball more? Historically, guys that make great contested catches in college, that doesn't always translate to the NFL. It's about getting open. Like, can you just consistently get open? If you need me to scheme, you open, like, that's the knock. It's why Loveland went ahead of Warren.
- [17:04]
John Middlekoff
Yes.
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Unnamed Analyst
You know Warren, you had to kind of scheme open now. He had great ball skills and he's huge. Loveland's like a Kelsey type, right. He's a great route runner. He's quick. So to me, McMillan, you. They drafted Leggett last year, another big guy from South Carolina. So you got some big weapons. I do think Bryce gave them a lot of hope down the stretch, but. But I think this was a pretty risky pick.
- [17:28]
John Middlekoff
Yeah.
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Unnamed Analyst
Which in a draft that's most people don't view as great. I understand taking some risk.
- [17:34]
John Middlekoff
So one of the love of football.
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Unnamed Analyst
Thing, Colin, you saw Jay Glazer's tweet. That's a serious thing. And the more and more money that's around, people get scared off with that.
- [17:43]
John Middlekoff
Yeah, no, he was without question. I asked every person I knew in the NFL about him. Totally split. But, you know, Jed Fish was his coach, and I, I, I think Jed Fish at times was. Loved his talent. But I think Jed Fish, you know, who has a lot of NFL experience and college, you know, Jet's one of those college guys who's coached in the NFL with Belichick and Pete Carroll. I think sometimes Arizona was a bit frustrated. Not that he's not coachable. I just, I kind of feel like with him there's a sort of passive sort of, you know, you saw the booker get drafted by the Cowboys, and that guy might as well be doing somersaults coming down the hallway. And if you're a Cowboy fan, you're watching Tyler Booker and you're like, damn straight, that guy loves football and he's totally jacked up. T. Mac sometimes is a little cool for people, and I think that's a turn off. Now. The Saints at nine, took Kelvin Banks, atrocious O line. Totally get it. By the way, Colston Loveland was plus 650 to be the number 10 pick. He, he's a very unique player. So I know three. I mean, the Rams and Chargers both liked him. The Bears obviously liked him. And even with Cole Comet, they now have DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole, Comet, Colston, Loveland. They went and got Dahlman, the center from Atlanta, Joe Tuney. They liked their right tackle. I was texting somebody in the league about this and one of the things we both landed at was the future of this franchise. They've never had a great quarterback is Caleb Williams. You have to make it work. You know the talents there. And this is like, this is like weapons. Plus plus plus plus plus you have to make this work.
- [19:30]
Unnamed Analyst
I don't remember a young quarterback on a second year of a rookie deal getting more help. They go outside Ben Johnson, who's I would say one of the more hyped ocs of the last decade. Yeah, they. You mentioned, you forgot the Rams offensive lineman that they also traded for that Ben Johnson had coached in Detroit. So they get a new center, two new guards. They already had invested vested in tackles. D.J. moore is one of the more versatile players in the league. They invested the ninth pick last year into Roma Dunesay. Yeah, so it's like if you're a Chicago. Their defensive personnel is already good and they have an established defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen coming. You know, the hype that was behind the Bears last year I thought was crazy. I do think there's some substance now behind this.
- [20:14]
John Middlekoff
Now.
- [20:14]
Unnamed Analyst
I don't know if it's going to work. I got to let it breathe here for a month or two. But there is, you know, legitimate pieces on the offensive and defensive line. A play caller that knows what he's doing. A defensive coordinator. You know, Eber Fluz had to be the defensive coordinator and the head coach. He was completely over his head as a head coach. Good defensive coordinator. Now Dennis Allen can just focus on the defense. Ben can just be the head coach slash the offensive coordinator and really just focus on Caleb. To me the question is going to be. And I think this is the working thing with all these young quarterbacks moving in the league, can they teach him to get rid of the ball quicker and play in a more rhythm timing offense, run the ball more like they did in Detroit because. And the one thing they got going against them is the division's really, really good. So it's, it's not like it's. It's hard to win 10 games, especially a franchise that has not been winning. But I would feel much. I know the hype was so crazy last year behind the Bears. If I was a Bears fan right now, I would just feel like we have a real identity and team right now.
- [21:12]
John Middlekoff
Well, and I also think if you go look at what happens at the end of the year? It is really hard even if you have a great defensive team. Remember, statistically, defensive players get hurt more than offensive players. It's a more reckless side of the ball. And, and so what if you start looking at the end of years? Great Niner defenses two, three years ago can get carved up. Good Philadelphia defenses can get carved up. And my takeaway is if you're like, Pittsburgh's got all sorts of defensive talent. The Bears are like, listen, historically, go over the last 15 years, they've had very good defensive players. If you're going to be, if you're going to be heavy on one side of the ball, if you're going to make mistakes, if Roman Dante is a mistake, it's the right side of the ball to make a mistake. Not a safety or an off ball linebacker. Like I look at it and I think to myself, there are not a lot of teams in this league, John, that have Cole commit, Colston Loveland at tight end. And by the way, for a young quarterback, tight ends are a great ally.
- [22:18]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, two things. You know, we talk so much the hype on Tyler Warren, I mean his team, because Michigan was bad this year and Loveland had gotten injured, he became kind of the apple of everyone's eye. He's massive. Well, it's not like Loveland, small. He's basically 66250. He's huge. How about Harbaugh as a talent evaluator? I mean, I think they sent a record last year for guys getting drafted in a class. They just, they had an awful team this year. They had three guys get drafted in the, in the top 13 picks. Two of them were defensive tackles. I mean, I mean Harbaugh say what you want, that guy can evaluate young men to play football. Holy moly well.
- [22:58]
John Middlekoff
And, and, and by the way, that's why when the charger. I remember talking to Dean Spanish about this, I said, you're going to get the next two years. You guys will draft as well as anybody because Jim recruited all these players. It was about the third verse, two years for Pete Carroll in Seattle. Probably the first two to three years Pete crushed the draft and then by year four, five and six, you just lose a connectivity to college football. But Harbaugh last year, great draft. This year will be a stupendous draft and he's probably got them one more year where you recruited guys and saw them on tape, so. Or had him on your team. Okay, so San Francisco gets Mikel Williams the edge. That feels like a now reportedly Jordan Schultz said the Niners did look to move up. So there was somebody they were looking at. Williams, to me, feels like best player available, best player on their board. Because before this draft, a lot of people. I talked to a couple of GMs about this. There was about. Usually they're 16 to 18, what you consider can't miss guys or really first round talent. The shero is about 12 to 13. So my take is Mikel Williams. It's just the best player on the board in their department or personnel department.
- [24:10]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah. To me, Jalen Walker, the other pass rusher who I think went to Atlanta at 15, was the better football player. This guy, though, is 20 years old. He started on their team that won the national championship two years ago, that had basically every player on the team was a first or second round pick. Yeah, he's a freak. I mean, 6, 5, 270 pounds, like Kirby Kirby now is what Saban was a decade ago, you know, recruiting the best of the best, especially up front. So this is a from. I texted around to a couple buddies in draft rooms. They said it's a little boom or bust. There's no disputing his physical attributes. I think he got banged up week one. But his highlight plays over the courses of his career for Georgia and maybe for San Francisco, you just look what Howie Roseman's done the last couple years. When all else fails, just pick a player from Georgia, especially on the defensive line, you're going to be okay. So I like Jalen Walker a lot, but the knock on him is he was only 6 foot 1. This guy's 6, 5 2, 70. And I think they think he can get a little bit bigger. So you can kind of move him around the defensive line to go with Bosa. I mean, listen, bottom line, Colin, you're about to pay the quarterback 150, $175 million guaranteed. This guy's got to be good. And it's not like in three years they're going to need him to have an impact this year.
- [25:25]
John Middlekoff
Yes.
- [25:25]
Unnamed Analyst
How'd the Rams all of a sudden get good last year? Jared, like and Fisk, like, the two guys they drafted high were just impact guys as the season went. So the pressure on this guy. Here's what I do like, though, and this is the Howie Roseman thing. Imagine the pressure you have as a starter for Georgia. It's like when you played for Alabama. It's. It's an. It's basically an NFL program. So these guys are used to the lights being bright and the expectation is to win every game. So I got no issue with it. He's not 14 career sacks. But that's this draft. I mean there's not J.J. watts not going pick 11 or Micah Parsons in this draft.
- [26:02]
John Middlekoff
That's right.
- [26:02]
Unnamed Analyst
So he just swing for the fences. I get it.
- [26:07]
John Middlekoff
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Colin Cowherd
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- [28:43]
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This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. So when you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really has your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. They keep you covered for just $25 a month with four lines without sacrificing the essentials like speed. With Total you get unlimited 5G data so you can stay ahead of the action and keep up with every knockout. Total Wireless understands you can't afford surprise blows any more than your favorite fighter can. That's why the price is guaranteed for five years, taxes and fees included. The best fighters don't make it to the Octagon alone. They have all in support along the way, and it shouldn't be any different for you. So visit total wireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Monthly rate on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details.
- [30:21]
Colin Cowherd
Home Emergencies Wait for no one, and you shouldn't either. Whether it's plumbing, electric, heating or cooling, HomeServe has you covered.
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John Middlekoff
Get a plan from HomeServe for peace.
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Colin Cowherd
Of mind starting at 5 bucks a month. That's it@homeserve.com Find out how to save on repairs@homeserve.com HomeServe a subscription for peace of mind not available everywhere. Most plans range between $3.99 to $11.99 a month. Your First Year Terms apply on covered repairs. Hi everybody this message is brought to you by the official whiskey of the Colin Coward podcast, Green River Whiskey.
- [31:01]
John Middlekoff
As you know, we've been having some.
- [31:03]
Colin Cowherd
Fun getting to know Green River Whiskey. Let me tell you, there's a ton of incredible stories to be told in its 140 year history. How's this? For example, Green River Whiskey was once the most advertised whiskey in the world, but just now they've launched their first advertising campaign in more than 100 years. You see, it seems the team from Green river in reviving the whiskey have accidentally also revived its resident ghost. And he's quite a character, spending his days reminding us to keep it simple, focus on the quality, and have a little fun along the way. So if you want to see the ghost of Green river come to Life, check out greenriverwhiskey on their YouTube channel or head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's to green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. Product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly.
- [31:56]
John Middlekoff
Dallas at 12 takes Tyler Booker. Zach Martin retired. Get it? The kid they drafted out of Oklahoma, the left tackle looks very sketchy to this point. Listen again, if it wasn't a great tight end draft and every draft is a deep wide receiver draft, I mean Iowa State's got two guys. I like it. Receiver. So my takeaway is again, this is a need with a left tackle that's struggling. Zach Martin retires. I think Dallas had to go here. By the way, if Philadelphia is in your division, you're going 02 if you can't block them. Like to me this is a Philadelphia sort of kind of forces your hand on this. You have to be able to protect Dak because he's already had two injuries.
- [32:36]
Unnamed Analyst
Especially when their best player is a defensive tackle, right? So you know, I'll say this about the Cowboys. Jerry takes a lot of shit for a lot of different reasons. They have drafted pretty darn well over the last decade plus and they've invested three straight first round picks on the offensive line, right. A couple years ago, Tyler Smith, when Tyrone Smith was kind of at the end of his road and was leaving last year, Guyton, they were drafted, you know, later in the in the round because they had been a 12 win team and then this year drafting a little bit higher. Some people think this is he's a guard so he's never going to be considered like the best player in the draft but like one of the best pure players. In the draft. Like this guy's good. So if they can get Guyton, who was a little bit of a project.
- [33:16]
John Middlekoff
Yeah.
- [33:17]
Unnamed Analyst
Coached up with Tyler Smith and this guy, they have put a lot of re first round resources into the front to protect Dak.
- [33:24]
John Middlekoff
Yeah. And I, and I'll go back to it. Philadelphia is going to force your hand. I mean, don't be surprised if Washington doesn't load up on O and D line now that they have Debo and Terry McLaurin. You got to block Philadelphia. I mean, go ask Patrick Mahomes. It gets ugly fast with that team. And by the way, one of the reasons the Rams could hang with Philadelphia, they were good up front that, that, you know, it wasn't until the end when Jalen Carter burst through. But if you can't hang with Philadelphia, you can't block them. You're not going to compete with them.
- [33:51]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, plus Schottenheimer's, you know, his, his star had dim so much from what, 10, 12 years ago. He made his hay as an offensive coordinator, as a running game guy. Right. He liked to run the ball. I actually think I would expect the Cowboys in the second or third round this, this draft's loaded to running back, to take a running back. And I would expect them to kind of get back, you know, to their roots. You know, Schottenheimer coach for Pete Carroll and for Rex Ryan and was known as a run. And remember, he gashed people with the Jets. They led the league in rushing back to back years. So I would expect, if not the second round pick, the third round pick, the Cowboys, finally to take a running back in this draft. And obviously the emphasis is going to be coaching these young guys up on the offensive line because they've paid CD a bunch. They paid Dak a bunch. I mean, that's, that's part of it. I mean, you gotta. When you're paying three or four guys 30, $40 million a year, you better nail some of your draft picks.
- [34:44]
John Middlekoff
Okay. Miami, which does very few things. I like Kenneth Grant, defensive tackle. Michigan can get really heavy, which always scares me. I watched 15 Michigan games the last several years. He was hot and cold. I thought Mason Graham was a much more dependable player, much more consistent player. I thought Graham was great against the run. Kenneth Grant's probably going to be a better pass rusher. He's a massive human being. I don't love a lot of what Miami does. You know, it felt like the first pick in the draft T Mac to Carolina and Kenneth Grant to Miami. I look at Carolina and Miami and I'm like, I don't love a lot what they do. What did you make of it?
- [35:25]
Unnamed Analyst
I think Miami's in major trouble, Colin. I mean, I think they are on early watch for, I don't know, number one overall pick, but I think they're going to be pretty bad. I mean, one that division, you know, the Bills kick their ass. You know, the jets should just be a little bit more buttoned up this year and just, they just have much better players top to bottom now, you know, two is a better quarterback than Justin Fields, but we know the Patriots are going to be better. I mean, I think Miami has got a chance to compete for like a top five pick and keep an eye. You know, the McDaniel experiment feels like that's simmering out a little bit. And you know their owner always loves the big names. Remember, he chased Harbaugh forever. I could see John Gruden's name getting thrown around. I think this thing is going to be a complete, you know, what show this year. I listen, they're already trying to. They couldn't give Jalen Ramsey away right now. He's making too much money and clearly he was one of the guys. Mike McDaniel can't get people to show up to his meetings on time. Well, who's not going to show up to the meeting late? Guy's not making that much money. So, you know, it's not the majority of the team. Who makes the most money on the team? Jalen Ramsey, Tyree Kill. Well, why do they want to trade Jalen Ramsey? He clearly is not listening to anyone in that operation. And the Tyree Kill situation feels like it's unraveling a little bit. I think Miami's got a lot of problems, weird organization and that. That division feels just a little more stable now, definitely with Variable, you know, in town. And the jets are just going to be a little less noisy than they've been the last couple of years. So I got Miami on watch to be awful this year.
- [36:59]
John Middlekoff
So once again, Chris Ballard is patient. Tyler Warren, the tight end from Penn State who's wildly productive, plus 165 to go to the Colts. Again, all of our odds are provided by DraftKings. You know, last year they got the edge rusher from ucla, the first defensive player taken, arguably the best pass rusher in the draft. This is a great for them because many suspected, included Warren would go in the top 12. So they're patient. He falls to them. He's a day one starter. I think this is One of the better picks in terms of value. There's an argument that Tyler Warren is one of those 13, 14, 12 players who is considered a first round pick. Every, every time I looked at people's evaluation of like clear first round players, Warren was somewhere late in that list. But on that list I like to pick by Indy. I really do.
- [37:51]
Unnamed Analyst
Well if I have inaccurate quarterbacks, I'd like a 6, 6, 67 tight end for them to throw it to. So I, I think, listen, the main question for Indy has not been the talent on offense. I think you know, Jonathan Taylor, their offensive line's been good, Pittman's a solid player. Tyler Warren is just going to be a pro for a long time. Their quarterback situation, even Chris Ballard admitted the other day he's like yeah, these two guys both are going to help us. I mean this is not college anytime you got to admit, like we got a quarterback issue. I mean they admitted it when they gave Daniel Jones whatever, 14, $15 million. So I'm pro. Tyler Warren probably a pretty easy pick. Listen, I like Latu a lot. Last year he did not have a great rookie year. He didn't and sometimes, you know, technician guys.
- [38:36]
John Middlekoff
That's right.
- [38:37]
Unnamed Analyst
He's got a bunch of moves where Jared Verse is like I'm just going to run through you. I got all these moves. To me, Tyler Warren I, he's a little more scheme dependent than leveling but Penn State this year with that Kansas OC schemed him up. Shane Steichen scheme guy can scheme them. Yes, makes sense. Great point me though can they can their quarterbacks play Colin? Well, I mean Anthony Richardson. Would it be the most stunning thing in the world if he was traded the next couple days? Probably not. I don't expect him to be but like and Daniel Jones like they got problems there. Colin.
- [39:08]
John Middlekoff
I had somebody in the league in a personnel department tell me he could not remember a quarterback that was less accurate on stuff 10 yards and under. He just, he could not remember that. By the way, there's some really good picks. Okay, so I don't. Atlanta, Arizona, Cincinnati, whatever. Seattle goes Gray's able. The guard, North Dakota State, which is a great, which is a great football program. This is really interesting. Let's get to 19. Tampa Bay. So you know I love the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Have I told you this before they went and drafted Emeka Egbuca, the wide receiver at Ohio State? I, I believe most general managers believe he is one of one. The best receiver or the only receiver to be a First round receiver. I think the Texas kid is a late first. Everybody I talk to love him and what's great is he can play sideline. But he didn't take that many snaps outside for Ohio State for obvious reasons. They're stacked at quarterback with Jeremiah Smith or at receiver. They're stacked. They don't need sideline receivers. He would be a sideline receiver or a slot receiver at any other program in the country except like Ohio State and Alabama because they have so many great players. So he'll come in and immediately play for them. I think he is a prime example because he's not a burner, John. He's a prime example of maturity, interviews, professionalism that could have moved him up 10 to 12 spots. He was considered a second round talent the minute the season ended. His value beyond being excellent is he is considered a mature. In a league where we're having wide receiver divas emerge like every weekend. I think his personality is a huge part of him going this high.
- [41:12]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, one thing I remember the stat last year when the week one is that Tampa had like 43 or 44 drafted players on their 53 man roster. Jason Light has been, if not the best, a top two or three drafter over the last five or six years. And when you look and you know the Baker that you originally started talking about back at Oklahoma is a completely different human being now. Tampa's got a really high level team, you know, from Worfs to Mike Evans to Vita Vea. I mean their guys on their squad are just like, honestly, Jason Light comes from New England and I'm talking the variable, brusque New England days with Tom Brady. He's kind of built that version with Baker Mayfield as his quarterback. Super smart, super tough.
- [41:59]
John Middlekoff
Steve Keim told me he thought Jason Light was one of the best scouts he'd ever followed. Kaim told me, because I always. Kaim got in and got into a discussion with me about two years ago. We're smoking cigars and I said, you ever noticed every Buccaneers team is stacked? They just couldn't get the quarterback right before Brady. But like. And he goes, oh yeah, it's Jason. He goes, that he is, he is as good a scout as we've had in this league. He goes, he just didn't miss. He was so good. You know, that's. And that's how you become a gm. You're a great scout initially.
- [42:33]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, they built their offensive line from taking smaller school tackles and turn them into guards and centers. And you know, obviously they've had Mike Evans to kind of settle in Vita Vea as like stalwart players minus, you know, separate from Tom Brady. But yeah, I mean, you tell me he could have drafted anybody, I'd be like, yeah, I like the pick. Now like you said, I mean this guy, what didn't he set records at Ohio State for yards, catches, games? I mean he's a, he's a stud. The other thing is when you go to a team that has, I mean they, they resigned Godwin, they got him on a cheaper number because remember he shattered his ankle. Obviously they still have Evans, this guy, the pressure on him to, they're not going to need him to catch 70 balls next year. Their running game last year with Bucky Irving, I mean their team, honestly, they in a weird way underachieved because they had so many injuries the second half of the season on defense, they couldn't stop anybody. To me, if they are healthy, this, there's a pretty big gap in that division if they're healthy, like between them and the number two team. Like the only reason it was close between them and Atlanta this year is because they had a million injuries on defense, but like they're a much better run organization. You know what Baker's turned into, like there's no disputing Baker's really become the last two years a top 10 quarterback and clearly just his maturation, like, like a lot of us guys, you know, late 20s, it kicks in, he gets married, has a kid and he's a different guy. And as a player he plays much faster, slim down, his arms always been great. And now he's got three with a buka with Mike Evans and Godwin and running backs and a good offensive line. I mean their offense should be really good.
- [44:15]
John Middlekoff
Colin the, you know, you get to a part of a draft. Atlanta takes Jalen Walker at 15, Arizona, Walter Nolan, Ole Miss at 16, Cincinnati, Sherman Stewart, the Edge and then Seattle Gray zable into Tampa, taking Amica Igbuka. This draft was considered about a 13 player first round draft. We have first round talent. So all of these other guys are, you know, they're considered guys that aren't significantly better than the 36 pick. But I will say because of the position Amica Igbuka plays, because of the quarterback he plays with that he will be a, he may be the most highly productive player taken out of that top 13 picks. I would be surprised. I mean I was talking to former Raider GM Tom Telesco about him recently and he just, just said you can't not like him. If you watch him on film, you can't not like him. There's nothing, the routes, he's just, there's everything about him. And you watch him on tape, you're like, oh, that's a, that's a, that's a slot starter in the NFL who, by the way, can play on the perimeter. It's just Ohio State, so damn stacked. He's not going to do that for them.
- [45:31]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, think about this. At pick 19 and pick 8, two wide receivers were drafted, right? If you had to invest or bet on one guy, there's no question. The safer pick is, you know, a Buka at Tampa Bay. I mean, at an at 8. McMillan. Yeah, he could be good. But would it shock you at all? We've seen a lot of those tight players underachieve, so I wouldn't be stunned if you told me that Tampa, if they had the choice between those two receivers, they might have just gone with a Buca. Right. I bet there were a lot of teams in the top 20 that weren't necessarily going to take a wide receiver, but felt much more comfortable with the player. And listen, these GMs now, I think, have really talked about it the last couple of years. Most of these guys don't fail because, you know, they can't catch or they can't do something. It's because of the human being, the work ethic. They start getting. They don't work as hard, they start getting lapped by other guys that want it more. There's intangible stuff that you can't really. You can scout all you want, but you don't really know till you get the guy in their building. That's where Abuka, I, I know Jalen Walker, the guy Atlanta got like their character was elite, like, I mean, special. So anytime you get those type players with the talent, they usually, at minimum become really, really good players. And on. And on the flip side, you know, I get, I'm, I'm pro Mike Vrabel and the Patriots, and they were in a tough spot. But the Will Campbell pick reminds me a little bit when the 49ers took Solomon Thomas. You meet these guys and you're like, we just love this guy. We just love this guy. But when you draft a talent that's like, we don't love him at 4 or 3, we'd much rather get them at 12. Sometimes that's where you get in. Solomon Thomas going to have a 13 year NFL career, but he didn't get a second contract from the Niners. And that's the thing with Will Campbell, like his character is just elite, but as a player, again, he's multiple year starter in the sec. Sometimes, you know, the character can sway a team instead of taking the more talent. Like, like I don't think anyone in the NFL would tell you that Membu possesses more physical gifts than Campbell. Right. But that there aren't any questions with Campbell in terms of like he's a pro already, like last week. So. And that's the hard part about this, the draft.
- [47:50]
John Middlekoff
So the Denver Broncos, many of us suspected they take offense for Bo Nix. They went and got across from Patrick certain. They went and got the Texas corner Johnny Barron, who many runs better. So, so by the way, Will Johnson at Michigan now has not been drafted yet. The concern with him is he ran over a 4, 5. So Baron's an interesting corner because the kind of the belief is neither one of the top corners in this draft are burners. But Baron's a guy that does everything well. That's what I kept. If you look at his draft preview that he again played against elite competition, played against great receivers, has gone against sec, has gone against like, you know, like Ohio State level players and Barron's just a guy that doesn't make a ton of mistakes. As a former NFL scout, does that translate? I mean, again, this is not a draft where you've got 4, 3, 5 corners. There's just, it's. Will Johnson and Baron are not considered burners.
- [48:47]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, to me, I think Will Johnson, I thought coming into the year was like a top 10 pick and then he got banged up. He's more of a zone corner, but I think he's good. Someone's going to get him late. If he ends up to the Eagles at pick 32, I'm just going to fall out of my chair. But I think the thing with Baron is like nickel corners or guys that can play inside are viewed much stronger now than they used to be because so many teams run three and four wide receiver sets. So anytime that I get a guy that can, I can move inside and out and that will tackle. That's the other thing with Baron. He's like this versatile chess piece that will tackle. So if I'm going to play inside, I need to be, I'm taking a linebacker off the field. I need to be a run support player where I think Will Johnson, he is just, you know, an outside corner, right. And that's all he does is an outside corner. But I'm telling you, Colin, that guy, I thought two years ago on the national championship team. He was like the best player on their team.
- [49:43]
John Middlekoff
Well, but.
- [49:43]
Unnamed Analyst
And this is where I think we got to be careful about, like, over. Yeah, okay. RANS of 4, 5, 2. But if you run a zone scheme like Fangio or what Robert Sala does, this guy will make plays all day long. So I think sometimes these teams, they get that number, which I understand, but I think that sometimes it works out better. I mean, this guy's going to end up on a playoff team. So. Hell. So Baron, both these guys are.
- [50:06]
John Middlekoff
Okay, so the Pittsburgh Steelers, obviously, at 21, are on the clock, and the many suspect they're going to go get Shador Sanders. You know, it's funny. One of the things about Shador Sanders that I hear, and I just. I don't understand it. It's as if people didn't watch him play. This idea that he is immobile. Well, I thought he was a more mobile quarterback than C.J. stroud, who is more than mobile enough now. I mean, again, you'd like Jared Goff to be able to move better. CJ Stroud can move when you need him to move. We saw that when he was a Buckeye against Georgia. We've seen it in the NFL. When he's flushed out of the pocket, he's fine and he's accurate when he moves. This idea that Shadour Sanders can't move, they had arguably as bad an offensive line as any of the top 10 quarterbacks that'll get drafted in this draft had. I mean, if you go look at Syracuse O line or Notre Dame's O line for Riley Leonard or Cam Ward's O line shooter, had easily the worst O line of all these players. Jalen Milrose, O line was better. Jackson darts, O line was better. I think Shadour Sanders, I just. That criticism of him, you know, he's very stationary. It's like, then why, when I watched them play, he was almost always on the move.
- [51:22]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I think people probably aren't fairly comparing him to his dad. I mean, even they've all admitted he got the jeans from his mom. I just. Look, Pat Mahomes, who I think of the top guys, right. Josh Allen's faster, obviously. Lamar Herbert, you know, Joe Burrow's not viewed much more like a pocket quarterback. But of the top three or four guys that are mobile, Pat Mahomes is viewed as the slowest. Yet when you watch him, he has such an instinctive mobility that he's a really good scrambler. He ran a 4, 8, 40. Now no one runs the 40 anymore for some reason. To me, Shador is running 47548 Mahomes moves more than well enough right in the NFL. I put Shador that way. Like you're not going to run zone read plays like you would for Jalen Hurts or Kyler Murray for him, but I'm with you. He's not we're not talking Kirk Cousins here in the pocket like he's he's just not his father.
- [52:12]
John Middlekoff
Now for a segment called Power Players, brought to you by BMW. The ultimate driving machine and the power player I want to focus on is running back Ashton Genty, who was absolutely electric at Boise State. He led the FBS in both scrimmage and rushing yards on his way to scoring 30 total touchdowns and he was the runner up for the Heisman. So in a draft class loaded with running back talent, Genty clearly separated from the rest of the pack with sort of a tough, versatile running style. Paired with his ability to hit home runs bounce off people, he's got all the traits of a superstar in the making. For the Las Vegas Raiders, what is it that sets apart a power player from the rest? Bottom line is their attention to detail, innovative playing styles and a relentless drive for performing at the highest level. The same goes for BMW IX Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine.
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Colin Cowherd
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John Middlekoff
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Colin Cowherd
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John Middlekoff
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Colin Cowherd
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Unnamed Sponsor
This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. So when you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really has your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. They keep you covered for just $25 a month with four lines without sacrificing the essentials like speed. With Total, you get unlimited 5G data so you can stay ahead of the action and keep up with every knockout. Total Wireless understands you can't afford surprise blows any more than your favorite fighter can. That's why the price is guaranteed for five years, taxes and fees included. The best fighters don't make it to the Octagon alone. They have all in support along the way, and it shouldn't be any different for you. So visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Monthly rate on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details.
- [55:50]
Colin Cowherd
Home Emergencies Wait for no one, and you shouldn't either. Whether it's plumbing, electric, heating or cooling, HomeServe has you covered.
- [55:59]
John Middlekoff
Get a plan from HomeServe for peace.
- [56:02]
Colin Cowherd
Of mind starting at 5 bucks a month. That's it@homeserve.com Find out how to save on repairs@homeserve.com HomeServe a subscription for Peace of Mind not available everywhere. Most plans range between 399 to $11.99 a month. Your first year terms apply on covered repairs. Hi everybody. This message is brought to you by the official whiskey of the Colin Coward Podcast, Green River Whiskey. As you know, we've been having some fun getting to know Green River Whiskey. Let me tell you, there's a ton of incredible stories to be told in its 140 year history. How's this? For example, Green River Whiskey was once the most advertised whiskey in the world, but just now they've launched their first advertising campaign in more than 100 years. You see, it seems the team from Green river in reviving the Whiskey Whiskey have accidentally also revived its resident ghost. And he's quite a character, spending his days reminding us to keep it simple, focus on the quality, and have a Little fun along the way. So if you want to see the ghost of Green river come to Life, check out greenriverwhiskey on their YouTube channel or head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's to green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. Product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly.
- [57:26]
John Middlekoff
Okay, so the Steelers, you know, they love defense. Derek Harmon, Oregon defensive tackle, they do not go for a quarterback. So, I mean, Pittsburgh cracks me up. So listen, I'll give them credit. They reached on Kenny Pickett. So I had a GM tell me a Super bowl winning jam tell me they had Kenny Pickett as a high to mid third level quarterback. They saw him as a backup or as an occasional emergency starter. So Pittsburgh needs a quarterback and they're passing on Shador Sanders. I got to believe Shador doesn't get drafted in the first round.
- [58:00]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I would say it's very much in doubt as we sit here right now. I would say this, though. You know, I would put Mac Jones and Kenny Pickett in the same little group. Historically, Those guys are third and fourth round picks. They were drafted 15th and 20th. I would say Shador Sanders is a better prospect than both guys. I do think though, the NFL, maybe it's just because of this draft. Obviously last draft, so many teams acquired quarterbacks. We still have a lot of guys between, what, 26 and early 30s in the prime of their career. So we actually have a lot of teams that don't necessarily need quarterbacks and have highly paid guys. I think Shador is a better prospect than some of these guys that have been drafted high in recent memory. But I do think these teams are getting away from like, historically we could find starters in the second and third round. Let's get back to that. Let's just take this guy at pick 45. And I also think getting picked at pick 45 is like you're some loser. I mean, you look at the history of the league, I mean, most of we know for a fact on a given year that typically it's like 48 to 52%. Guys in the first round will not have their fifth year option picked up.
- [59:10]
John Middlekoff
Right.
- [59:11]
Unnamed Analyst
This draft is not viewed as great. So if we just kind of skew it a little bit more, there's a chance that, you know, four out of, you know, four out of 10 guys in this draft class in the first round will have their fifth year option. So 60% of the guys wanted their fifth year option picked up. So a lot of starters in this draft are going to come the second, third and fourth round. And also when you fall, sometimes that works out to your benefit. Like Cam Ward, interesting prospect. Going to a pretty terrible team. It's probably going to be pretty tough. Right. We've seen Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville. Now, he, he might have been overrated or whatever, but his career has not gone well. And we see some of these guys that get drafted a little bit later. It's like you get to go to a pretty good spot. So. Yeah, I mean, unless. You don't think the Rams are going to take him, do you?
- [59:54]
John Middlekoff
I think the Rams would go with Jackson Dart over Shador Sanders.
- [59:59]
Unnamed Analyst
I think a lot of teams have Jackson Dart over Shador Sanders.
- [60:03]
John Middlekoff
Yeah, no, I. Listen, the Chargers are now on the clock. As we do this, as if you're listening to this, we started this about pick 13, 14, because by the end of the first round, you know, we want to get this puppy out to you as fast as we can. Listen, I think one of the things about this draft that makes it particularly interesting, A, it's a weak draft and B, most. And this is always the case, the better teams are at the end of the first round. But the better coaches, the offensive guys, I mean, you start looking now, you got Sean Payton at 20, you've got Jim Harbaugh, Matt LaFleur, Kevin O'Connell's coming up. Here comes Sean McVeigh, John Harbaugh, Andy Reid, Nick Sirianni. This is the rare draft, John, after about. I mean, honestly, after the Bears pick at number 10, because I was really interested, partly because I'm moving there. But I think where the draft really starts getting interesting is kind of right, right now at 22, because we know Harbaugh is going to draft much better than the average coach in this league and organization. And. And most of your really respected offensive coaches are not drafting at the top of this draft.
- [61:27]
Unnamed Sponsor
Yeah, but, but.
- [61:29]
Unnamed Analyst
And here's the other thing, Colin. Think about last year. So a lot of these teams that are drafting here in the mid to late 20s, played in the playoffs, late in the playoffs, won the super bowl, obviously. The Chiefs, they drafted Xavier Worthy High. What did Xavier Worthy do down the stretch? Made a lot of plays. The Eagles drafted Mitchell, the corner from Toledo. What did he do? I don't know. Just started all season long for them and that was one of the better rookie corners. You know, the Bills drafted Keon Coleman. They're going to need a little bit more for him. Next year. The Lions drafted Arnold the corner from Alabama last year, starting corner for him. I mean these are guys, these are 12 to 14, 15 win teams that we're all watching Sunday Night Football. And then obviously in January, the guys, they pick, whoever the Rams pick, whoever the Chargers pick, whoever the Ravens pick. More than likely these guys are going to be starters on double digit win teams that have a chance to win the Super Bowl. So for as great as a pick as Travis Hunter is, like, he had one of the most remarkable, I mean think about it, Colin, he had one of the best six months we've ever seen. He literally played both ways. Division 1, College, won the Heisman. He had a team trade, multiple first round picks to move up three spots to draft him. We'll probably never see that again. Yet more than likely he's going to be like a five or six win team. And by, by October, by, you know, I would say by Halloween, you and I will have him in a little screen down the bottom of the left of one of our televisions. Stop paying attention to. Well, yet whoever the Rams take, or whoever the Lions take, Chris Collinsworth is going to be calling those games on Sunday night football with 25 million people watching.
- [62:55]
John Middlekoff
No. If you look at the draft so far, there's only two players that I believe can turn losses into wins. Cam Ward at Tennessee replacing Will Levis. If I told you they won four more games just simply because of significant upgrade at quarterback in that division, I think we both go, yeah, yeah. I mean Cam Ward to Will Levis is a D to a B. And the other player that, I mean this draft is not exceptional. I do think Ashton Genty will be a pretty spectacular player for the Raiders and with Chip Kelly's brain, Brock Bowers, Geno Smith. This is not a draft where people are changing outcomes. Jaden Daniels changed outcomes. We thought Caleb Williams would. Bo Nix changed outcomes. I could argue that Tennessee and Vegas will be because of their first round players. Would you agree? Noticeably more dynamic offenses in an offensive league.
- [63:57]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I think there's been one team minimum from the top five that has made the playoffs over the last five years. And you know, I remember when the 49ers had the number two overall pick and they took Bosa and then all of a sudden they had a 13 win team and they were in the Super bowl in 2019. I don't know if there's one of those teams here, but I'm with you. I mean they lost Josh Jacobs last year, the Raiders and their running game was a Joe, I mean they were just, they were in bad shape as an organization. So anytime you get a guy that, that, that is that good. But like I said, you know, going from the Mountain west, he's a fantastic prospect and a fantastic. His, his, his tape this year looked like a high school kid going to Nick Saban in his prime. But it's a pretty big difference. I mean their division is really, really hard and you know, Cleveland I think is cool with send back. I do think there's a lot of pressure on Will Campbell. He is a guy that if we assume that the Patriots are going to be a viable, you know, low level, like kind of like Denver was this year operation, they're going to need Will Campbell to, they don't need to be Trent Williams, but can he just be a starter, a solid player that you can kind of rely on immediately? There's going to be, listen, the arm length thing, people push back, but it's, it's. I know it's crazy to sound like an inch is a make or break deal, but historically it is difficult out there on edge. Think how many teams now have good pass rushers, right? Like the jets have a good pass rush. We know the Bills have multiple.
- [65:22]
John Middlekoff
Well, think about this, think about the pass rushing position. Think about the two positions in football that feel significantly better than 10 years ago. Tight end is now a. No, it's not just a blocker. Tight ends now are vertical and edge rusher. Well, they're both six, five, you know, 245 to 250 pound athletes. There's just more of those. God, if you watch Major League Baseball, how many pitchers are six, five? I mean, how many guys throw 98. We've had this explosion of big athletes, often with dads that were former pro athletes. And these guys are ending up a lot of the time at tight end doing stuff like Brock Bowers and Colston Loveland that you just didn't see tight end ends do. You can split them out wide, they can beat corners down the field and then, and then defensive ends and edge rushers. There's just so many athletic guys now on the edge. Okay, the Chargers select Omarion Hampton, the running back from North Carolina. Okay, so this is interesting. So I went to dinner with Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator for the Chargers. I think it was on Friday night. And you know, he's not going to give me any intel, but we, we really talked a lot about football and what the team needed and I wasn't going to pry information, but the one thing that we, you Know, we agreed with, I said, I wouldn't be shocked if you guys didn't go tight end, running back, interior offensive lineman, wide receiver. And, you know, Greg acknowledged, he goes, listen, we got good players, but we probably need a little juice. We probably need a little bit more juice. And, and that's that. And I said, do you like Colston Loveland? He's like, everybody likes Colston Loveland. Do you like Hampton? He goes, everybody likes Hampton. So I mean this to me, Najee Harris and Hampton, okay, now with Joel Alt last year, Rashawn Slater at left tackle, John, this is a Jim Harbaugh football team. I picked them to win their division this year. This is a Jim Harbaugh football team. Between those two, pick a power running speed guy. Najee Harris, by the way, similar. He didn't have the burst of Hampton, but Najee Harris is a power running back. I mean, Even last year, J.K. dobbins, who's got some girth to him, got some size, this is really starting to feel like a Jim Harbaugh team.
- [67:40]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, if you had to bet right now, who's going to have the better career? Omarion Hampton with Harbaugh, who's I think going to retire as the Chargers coach and Genty with the Raider situation, you would have to bet on Jim Harbaugh and his running back. So, you know, I think a lot of teams in the league thought that Omarion Hampton was a big time player. Now Genti got all the buzz and all the hype. This guy's a stud. Colin, I, they're, they gave Naji Harris some money. I mean, think about the discussion when DK Metcalf was on the block that the Chargers are going to go trade for him. It's like, guys, I never understand these people making these, these guesses about what Harbaugh is going to do that is just so different from what he's done for 15, 20 years. Offensive linemen, running backs, he'll, he'll take another linebacker. I mean, it's the way he builds his team. They're going to be good. I mean, I, I, I, it was pretty clear last year with Denver and with the Chargers. That was going to be the worst version of those two teams.
- [68:41]
John Middlekoff
That's right.
- [68:41]
Unnamed Analyst
Sean Payton and him moving forward. That's why the pressure on, you know, Veech and Andy feel it like we got to stay, we got to keep nailing picks, we got to keep being good because these guys are coming. And listen, I'm not trying to be a Raider hater here. They're going to be better. But from a roster standpoint, to me they're clearly the fourth operation in this division.
- [69:00]
John Middlekoff
So if you look at what they have now, they have their quarterback and Justin Herbert, they have their left and right tackle, Slater and Joe Alt. They have Najee Harris who was clearly underutilized and under coached in Pittsburgh. I mean, he even admitted Najee Harris acknowledged we didn't really have, we didn't really have an identity in Pittsburgh, which they don't offensively. Now you've got Hampton the breakaway runner and Najee Harris the power runner. The offense now, now they're going to go interior, all lineman, sideline receiver and tight end at some point in this draft. That's where they're going. It feels like, it feels like to me this is one of the more predictable teams in the draft because the defense, let's face it, last year it overachieved or at least achieved to the level it should have with Brandon Staley. I think the Chargers, I think everybody in the ballpark knows what that Greg Roman needs juice and he just got a powder keg of it.
- [69:59]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I mean I saw Greg Roman a decade ago with Frank Gore kicking everyone's ass. That Harbaugh team, their best receiver was Michael Crabtree. And I think we all believe that Justin Herbert has a chance. I know he had a really bad playoff game. Peyton Manning had a bunch. I mean the NFL, you don't get a seven game series. So you have a bad playoff game, it leaves the stink in everyone's mouth. Do you want to sell Justin Herbert stock? I'll buy some. I would imagine Greg Roman says, like we like this quarterback a lot and I don't blame him. So I, I think the Chargers, listen, I mean I, if I was a betting man, I would say that Jim Harbaugh is going to end his coaching career as a Super bowl champion. Now, it might not happen in 2025, but they are going to be a major, major factor not just in the AFC but in the NFL I think over the next several years. I mean this guy is basically 6 foot 225 pounds run a four four, five. This guy's a stud. I mean this guy, part of when you draft this player, he's going to be with a nucleus of Alt and Slater and Herbert now for the next five, six years. Like this is part of that nucleus with some of the guys they drafted last year. And to me, Abdaji, you know, for a while he got overdrafted. You know, he's a first round pick, but he's, he's not that good, but he's a good role player. And I think sometimes in Pittsburgh they were very dependent on him. Now he just gets to be a role player for Jim Harbaugh who will mix these running backs in with Greg Roman and they will run the ball down your throat. They're going to play defense and run the ball down your throat. He's been doing it. I mean, he probably wished he could have done it when he was a quarterback and he's been doing it ever since he was a coach. So I, I couldn't be any more bullish on the Chargers least shocking pick so far the night Harp took a running back in the first round.
- [71:43]
John Middlekoff
As I've told you, Fubo is my favorite way to watch live sports. Flying from Chicago to LA this past week, I'm all over fubo. NFL, NBA baseball, college sports tournament, baseball's here, Masters next week. You know, sometimes you're at one of your kids games, you're at a family function, you just want, you want that phone and you want Fubo next to you, just go to fubotv.com Colin F U B O fubotv.com Colin get $50 off two months of FUBO. I have been using it for years. I'm addicted to it. It is the first place I check when I'm out, but want to keep attached and informed on sports. And they've got more than sports, but check it out. Fubotv.com Colin 50 bucks off two months FuboTV all right, John. They held a draft in green bay. There's 250,000 people there. It's absolutely magical looking on television. It's incredibly gripping. And you know, I really believe this to be true. I think there are certain cities in America and Green Bay is one of them. Buffalo, obviously the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore's gotta feel like this. They're not as flashy. And so I think there's a feeling in the building that you do have to work harder and smarter than other teams. And you know, like, like, like Miami, I mean, look in the NFL right now, Miami's a mess. Both New York teams are a mess. Chicago's been a mess for a long time. I think sometimes, you know, Dallas I would argue, does not have anything resembling a top 10 roster. I think a lot of times somebody told me this years ago, be careful who you draft. When you live in port cities like New York, New Orleans, Miami, San Francisco, Louisiana, there's just more to do. Port cities have really cool areas. They're livelier. But I think Green Bay is really a testament because it's the smallest North American sports market, is that. I certainly believe they're on a short list. If you told me who was drafted better than anybody over the last 25 years, Green Bay has to be on a short list. First of all, they never take offensive linemen in the first round, yet they never have bad offensive lines. In fact, they overwhelmingly don't draft offensive players in the first round. And yet they almost always have more productive offenses than the league average. Well, that's drafting and developing and whatever you think of Jordan Love, there's no question he has first round talent. Now. Can he stay healthy? Can he be more consistent? But I mean, I look at Green Bay and I love what the NFL is doing because I went to a couple of drafts in New York, it was fine, but everything's hard in New York. Everything. The super bowl was hard. The drafts are hard. It's just, you know, if you ever end up in New York during un week, forget about it. I mean, just forget about it. But it's just, I look at Green Bay and I think they selected, by the way, Matthew golden, wide receiver, Texas. So that's interesting. They feel Christian Watson can't stay healthy. This is a really interesting pick. I wonder if this is just best player they had from their scouting report because we like their wide receiver group. We really like it. But the truth is, because Watson can't stay healthy, there's a feeling that they've got a bunch of twos and threes and they don't have a one. Or is this signaling one of their young receivers was really inconsistent and I, and I, I'm wondering if this is a sign they may move off one of their young receivers or is this, is this a. We don't have a number one. Because I love Watson big towards acl. Yep. And so my take with them, Green Bay is what are the. I mean, he's very likely the best player on their board.
- [75:38]
Unnamed Analyst
I mean, this was a guy that was discussed to go in the top 15. I think when you look at Green Bay, you lose Watson to the ACL injury. Dobbs is wearing the, the concussion cap and he got a concussion to end the season, which was several. You know, I think I liked Wicks, but he wasn't the most productive relative to his skill.
- [75:59]
John Middlekoff
Very inconsistent.
- [76:00]
Unnamed Analyst
You know, I think the one thing that makes the packers pretty special is, is most teams, just like most companies, once you get to be a billion dollar operation, you kind of cycle from outside Like Starbucks needed a new CEO. They hired the dude from Chipotle, you know, the 49ers, when they were looking, they went and got Kyle Shanahan from Atlanta and John lynch from Fox. The Green Bay packers, once Ron Wolf took over in, I think either late 80s, early 90s, Ted Thompson had worked for that organization for like 30 years. And he had, he became the general manager like 15 or 20 years in Gudiken, same thing. I think Gudikens has been in the organization since the late 90s. So they speak the same language. It's like when Steve Jobs to Tim Cook, it was like under the same umbrella. That never happens in the NFL. Usually once I fire everybody, the Jags, I hire two new people from two new places. So you get all these different philosophical beliefs. This guy has a mentor. This guy had a mentor. All the mentors in Green Bay stem back to Ron Wolf. It's like, you know, the one thing with the Walsh guys, they're all different places, but they're all fundamentally driven by Walsh to Holmgren to Andy. It all kind of broke down that way. But they were all different organizations. These, the scouting in the front office never left Green Bay. You know, they went from Ron Wolf to Ted Thompson to Gudikens, who are all in the building as they transition. That's unheard of. It's kind of unique. I mean, Howie Roseman's been with the Eagles for 25 plus years now. That's. That's not very normal. This is a nomadic profession. It's kind of crazy that, you know, Sean McVeigh and Les need have been together as long as they have. That's. That doesn't happen very often in the NFL. Look at the Giants. They're running through coaches and GMs. The only reason they didn't fire everybody, because he felt kind of bad. Every couple of years he was firing people. But I think the packers, in just in terms of stability, have a pretty special thing going. It's why back to the Rogers thing. And same with Devonte Adams. It's like, I don't know if you guys realize how good you have it here. No, no.
- [77:51]
John Middlekoff
Is it perfect?
- [77:52]
Unnamed Analyst
No. But is it better than 90% of the league? Hell, yeah.
- [77:56]
John Middlekoff
Well, I mean, look at. I mean, let's be honest. Look at Aaron's career since he left. It's a mess. It's kind of embarrassing. Yeah, it's embarrassing. Like, forget the injury. He's needy, you know, he's kind of semi. You know, he's disinterested. I mean, his career has been. I mean, he's more. I think of him as. I think of him in human terms more than football terms. I don't even think of him as a quarterback. I just think of him kind of now as a personality. And it's like, that's when you're done. So. And I, and I, and I also think. I always. I used to call it the Green Bay quarterback syndrome. It's a pretty easy media. It's a small market. You can't go to the grocery store. You know, you can hide in a lot of these cities. Like, like, you know, in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, you put a cap and glasses on. I mean, put a hoodie on, you can, you can walk in and out of places pretty regularly. Green Bay, you can't. And I, and I do think it wears on you a little bit. Like you, you are. So there's no owner to hold you accountable for stuff. You can, you can, you know, Aaron Farve were taking passive aggressive shots or aggressive shots at the front office. You don't have to tell you, you know, hey, stop it or we'll move you. So I do think it is. It's different, not difficult. It's different to be a quarterback in Green Bay. But here's what's not difficult. They never have battle lines. They don't necessarily have a number one receiver, but you always have good weapons. Green Bay's always furnished people with good weapons. The knock on Green Bay has always been. Hasn't it always been kind of. The defense should be better. We always like their personnel more than their productivity. But.
- [79:31]
Unnamed Analyst
And their defense improved last year because they hired.
- [79:35]
John Middlekoff
Yes.
- [79:36]
Unnamed Analyst
And now it felt like, you know, the offense in a weird way, let him down, which was kind of understandable because they had so many injuries at wide receiver. The quarterback got hurt in the first game and it just. His season was just kind of weird. But he showed some flashes, but it wasn't quite as high. But you believe in LaFleur, you know, Jordan Love. I'd still, you know, buy stock in that situation. Josh Jacobs is one of the best running backs in the league. And to me, defensively, I think last year they were not good in the division. You know, they lost to Detroit. I'm pretty sure that they went, which is pretty crazy, that they went one in five or something in the division. I'm pulling it up right now. The Green Bay packers, they went one in five in the division, Colin. So think about that. The Green bay Packers won 11 games and they won one I mean they lost a game to the Bears, which is now it was the last game of the season or whatever, but still one in five. So you know, I know Packer fans little let down the way that ended. I get your division's good. Even an average year you're going to win split them three and three. So you're an 11 win team with one divisional win, you add a couple more, you're not, you're much closer to me that 13 wins than you are 9. Like I think the packers are going to be good. I. It would not shock me at all. I mean, let's face it, there's a major question mark at quarterback in Minnesota. Their roster is awesome. But the quarterback, the chances that, I mean what Sam Darnold just throw 35, 36 touchdowns, JJ McCarthy going to do that? I mean look at all these guys getting drafted off Michigan. I mean honestly, Jim Harbaugh's team the last two years resembles something of Saban or Kirby Smart, you know, or Ohio State.
- [81:10]
John Middlekoff
You know what's interesting, John, as I look at this draft. So let's start with 21. Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Chargers, Green Bay. I'm going in order. Pittsburgh, Chargers, Green Bay, Minnesota, Houston, Rams, Baltimore, Detroit. Those are really good rosters. Washington at 29, then Buffalo, Kansas City, Philadelphia. The downside to Washington's year, it's they have a roster that should be drafting six. But Jaden Daniels was so good. I mean you look at all these rosters around Washington before and after, you're like oh, Those are top 12 rosters. Washington's probably like 21. So the downside to Jaden Daniels success was oh crap, we could really. So Washington is going to be drafting at the end of all these rounds. Now they got Jaden Daniels, nobody's crying for him. But I do think their roster is closer to the Raiders, I would argue than it is the teams that surround them. Philadelphia, Buffalo, Detroit, Baltimore, Rams, Minnesota, Green Bay, Chargers, Pittsburgh. Even Denver's got a pretty good roster at 20, Tampa Bay at 19 does. So just a thought as I'm looking over the teams that remain Minnesota's.
- [82:19]
Unnamed Analyst
It has to be one of the worst rosters in recent memory.
- [82:22]
John Middlekoff
Oh, I can't remember a roster that bad being in a.
- [82:27]
Unnamed Analyst
And then that's why it speaks to the power of coaching and quarterback play in the NFL. If you got those two things, you got a real chance. And obviously Dan Quinn, coach of the year level and Jaden, I mean, I don't know, one of the greatest rookie seasons we've ever seen. Now they did add. Now we'll see. You know, is Debo shot? Does he have you know, one last season in him? You add Laramie Tunzel. I mean they've added some veteran players. Instead of just buying and average guys in free agency they said yeah, we'll trade some mid round picks for some potentially higher end players that are veteran guys. So they've taken a different tactic utilizing Jaden Daniels rookie contract. You know, I, I think Debo is going to have a little bit of a fire lid under him and Larry Tuns will just, I mean a flawed great player but a pretty high end left tackle. So they've, I think their roster is going to look much better and I think Adam Peters is. Yeah, I think he's a stud. So I'd expect him to have a good draft.
- [83:18]
John Middlekoff
Minnesota takes Donovan Jackson offensive line for Ohio State. By Buckeye standards because of the injuries and moving players out of position was not as good as average Ohio State lines. I mean they won the natty but it felt like a lot of that was defense, wide receiver, running back. So Donovan Jackson guard Ohio State. I think we largely looked at this Minnesota team is one of the questions was we loved him everywhere but the O line. Again, I will never criticize teams for going O line. Even the guys that miss when the Jets a few years ago took a left tackle that was had weight issues. Makai Becton, I'll never criticize you for going there. You know, the right tackle for the Giants from Alabama appears to me a miss. I get it. So J.J. mcCarthy's had injuries. Donovan Jackson a guard, interior alignment. I mean what's the first thing Chicago does? Drew Dahlman and Joe Tuney and Jonah Jackson. The first thing Ben Johnson does, he, he makes sure Caleb Williams feet guard, center guard will be safe. So Minnesota takes Donovan Jackson Houston on the clock. You know, so if you look at the draft right now, if I said to you your favorite pick and we're currently through 24 and I don't want to be a homer but doesn't it feel like the Chargers getting Hampton the running back at 22 is about as good as you're going to do in this draft? I mean, no. What does the steal mean? And again, it's hard to give out draft grades. I saw Scott Van Pelt laughing at people who give out draft grades. We don't, we don't know. But boy, at 22 does Mario Hampton not feel like the value pick of the draft so far? Harbaugh out of Michigan last year. Joe Alt who By the way, Greg Roman told me, wait until you see Joe Alt. He goes, he's going to have an unbelievable season. He goes, people don't understand. Doesn't matter where you play left or right tackle, that is such a hard position. First year in the NFL. These edge rushers, as you noted earlier, are so good. Greg was like, joe, Walt thought he had a terrible season. I'm like, joe, you didn't. He goes, this is a really hard league to try to block edge rushers.
- [85:38]
Unnamed Analyst
You know what's crazy is I was like, in my experience, guys that are that tall, six nine, it's difficult for them to bend. And I remember when I first kind of dove into Alton, texted around, they're like, yeah, don't worry. He's an elite athlete. And I'm with you. I watched him last year, I was like, this is one of the better rookie tackles I can remember. I think all these picks, like starting with the good teams, starting with Tampa, I mean, Denver, Barron, I think a lot of people think he's one of the better players in this draft. The Chargers, Hampton, I mean, golden. People love this guy. He goes to the Packers. You want to listen? Wide receivers, they've drafted over the years, Devonte Adams, Jordy Nelson, they got a pretty good history.
- [86:14]
John Middlekoff
Here we go.
- [86:15]
Unnamed Analyst
I just think all these guys are going to be impact players on good teams.
- [86:19]
John Middlekoff
Well, the rumors and the reporting were right. The New York Giants make a trade with the Houston Texans, move up and select Jackson Dart quarterback Ole Miss So I have somebody in this league I trust a lot. And he said that Brian Dable really liked Jackson Dart. I'm very cool on him mostly because when I watched him against, you know, I watched them play lsu, Bama, Georgia, Florida. Those are the games I watch with Ole Miss like everybody else is watching on a Saturday. He wasn't spectacular. I mean, he's a good player. I don't think there's any question he went to the same high school as Zach Wilson, ran the same offense. What I worry about is that Lane's offense, you know, has a lot of stick routes, bubble screens, a lot of completions are built in. And Ole Miss has really good talent. I mean, Lane can really recruit quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers. Lane's an elite recruiter. And I also think Lane is a schematically. Is a well above average college coach. So I worry that Jackson Darth it. It. It's a lot of that stuff is built in and he. And he still in big games is completing 58, 59% what do you hear and what do you make of Jackson Dart?
- [87:34]
Unnamed Analyst
You know, when you meet someone that everyone you know likes but you have a bad first impression, you're like, I don't get it. I had something off with this guy. My first time really diving into this guy was watching him against Florida and he imploded at the end of the game and threw interceptions. I can't now you. And I remember watching him at USC that last year, I think Clay Helton was still the coach, right?
- [87:56]
John Middlekoff
Yeah.
- [87:56]
Unnamed Analyst
And it was like, ah, there's something there. But then he immediately transfers the lane. Listen, physically he's obviously as a talented arm, good little athlete. But that Florida game in a game that was must win for them to get into the playoffs and you know Ole Miss was like a legitimate playoff pick. They were going to compete for the national champions. I think he had the number one portal class. They spent a bunch of money and Dart just kind of let him down in some big games. I would say yeah. When the season ends, you're thinking like third round. Like this guy is one of those guys that's going to get drafted on the second day, maybe become a starter. But to end up the draft process was really good to him. He was a guy. You know, we talk about Risers, which I hate that sometimes like, like this last week. No one's rising this last week. But over the course of the last couple months, coaches get to meet you, they get you on the board, they work you out personally, that's how you rise. Because I think it's fair to say when the season ended, if you just pulled scouts that were going into Ole Miss, general managers that I watched them, this guy was not a first round graded quarterback. And this is someone you know should door some question marks the way they handled everything. This is a guy that like tries to interview incredibly well. And I. That can get you in trouble. So I'm with you. I think this is, I mean, what's he going to do, start? It's not like he's going to play. He's not beating out, you know, Russell Wilson. But is this situation where if the Giants aren't that good, all of a sudden people are chanting his name in MetLife and he's starting week eight, nine or ten. And here's the other thing, Colin. When you trade up for this player, the new coaching staff coming in, if they don't win games, I mean they have to make the playoffs to get contract extensions. What if they go 7 and 10 and they get fired and the new coach has to inherit this guy that you just traded up to get. I mean I don't know what they I don't know if they traded a future first round pick. They didn't have to but it's not like they gave away nothing. So okay, I don't know. I think these these type moves are a little risky from for my blood.
- [89:58]
Colin Cowherd
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- [90:00]
John Middlekoff
And when you drop in, your squad.
- [90:02]
Colin Cowherd
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- [91:02]
Unnamed Sponsor
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- [92:40]
Colin Cowherd
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- [94:13]
John Middlekoff
The Rams so there were two beliefs with the LA Rams. They really liked Colston Loveland and they really liked Brock Bowers last year. So McVay, who has a history with tight ends, would like to get a tight end. But I had talked to Les Sneed during the off season. I talked to him probably two months ago and we just had a text exchange and he said, listen, it wouldn't crush us if we moved out of the first round because they don't have a second round pick. So yeah, hold on.
- [94:53]
Unnamed Analyst
They traded with Atlanta, so the Giants traded with the Texans and then so.
- [95:01]
John Middlekoff
The Falcons at 26 take James Pierce the edge from Tennessee. So Atlantis had a lousy pass rush forever. So I mean they've, they have struggled with a pass rush. So that is predictable. They got Matt Jude on last year from the New England Patriots they thought would help.
- [95:27]
Unnamed Analyst
Listen to this, Colin. Listen what Les Knee just did. So they traded with the Falcons. They get their second round pick which is pick 46. They get next year's first round pick.
- [95:39]
John Middlekoff
Oh Jesus. So the Rams have two ones next year.
- [95:43]
Unnamed Analyst
So the Rams now have you said they did not have a second round pick? Yeah, the Rams. So the rams get a second round pick now pick 46 as their first pick of this draft and they get next year's Falcons one.
- [95:54]
John Middlekoff
Wow. And that will be a top 15 pick.
- [96:00]
Unnamed Analyst
You would think that that seems to get to trade up to get James Pierce.
- [96:05]
John Middlekoff
Colin, I think that's Schneider.
- [96:08]
Unnamed Analyst
I think that's insane. I mean some of these, some of these trades. Colin, I just.
- [96:13]
John Middlekoff
I don't understand that.
- [96:14]
Unnamed Analyst
My mind around. I'm at a loss for words.
- [96:19]
John Middlekoff
You just got Atlanta's first round pick for James Pierce. The third to fourth best edge rusher in not a great edge rusher class.
- [96:33]
Unnamed Analyst
At least if you're trading a future first round pick and you get Travis Hunter, a guy that's never unprecedented what the guy just did probably since leather helmets. Someone playing both ways. Right.
- [96:42]
John Middlekoff
So it was that I'm. You're looking at.
- [96:43]
Unnamed Analyst
I think it's crazy but. But I given a future first round pick to do it like at least you could justify it in the room. James Pierce, decent rusher. I mean at pick 25 you don't trade a future first round pick to trade up for a player in the 20s. That's a. That, that, that can happen. Especially a D lineman.
- [97:03]
John Middlekoff
Holy.
- [97:03]
Unnamed Analyst
What defensive lineman. Is he off the board? Six or seven. Think how many guys have already come off the board that all these teams passed on.
- [97:11]
John Middlekoff
Jesus.
- [97:12]
Unnamed Analyst
It'd be one thing if someone was falling because of a, you know like a Laramie Tunsil bong issue or something. You're like well this guy should have been the fourth pick in the draft. We're going all in. He's one of the most talented guys.
- [97:23]
John Middlekoff
I.
- [97:25]
Unnamed Analyst
That's crazy. That's.
- [97:28]
John Middlekoff
Well also. So the Rams will have two number one picks next year. There's an Atlanta. So you're going to probably get one that's a top 15 and one that's somewhere in the 20s. But remember Stafford, there's. There's a sense in the room. Stafford's got two years with the Rams left. So next year is the year you would draft a quarterback. Or later in this round, later in this draft. Like fourth round. Kyle McCord, Syracuse again. I feel like Cleveland took Jacksonville to the cleaners and I feel like the Rams took Atlanta to the cleaners.
- [98:03]
Unnamed Analyst
How often I don't ever remember.
- [98:05]
John Middlekoff
Jesus.
- [98:06]
Unnamed Analyst
A team getting another team's first round.
- [98:09]
John Middlekoff
Pick in a bad draft for the fifth best edge rusher.
- [98:13]
Unnamed Analyst
That was drafting 26. Usually when you accumulate those first round picks, you're drafting really, really high. That has to be a first in, in the Internet era. I'm drafting 26 and I trade back and I get the team's first round pick. And I'm not trading a player, right. I'm not, I'm not trading, you know, for DK Metcalf or Tyreek Hill or something. I'm literally just trading you pick 26. Now the Rams also gave their third round pick this year, so.
- [98:39]
John Middlekoff
Well, they have two thirds and a fourth.
- [98:41]
Unnamed Analyst
So.
- [98:42]
John Middlekoff
So they have a second now they have a second, a third, a fourth and four sixes. They don't have a lot of needs, John. They need a corner, an inside linebacker. They could use a tight end and an offensive tackle. They have four needs.
- [98:58]
Unnamed Analyst
And I understand that, that Sean and Raheem are good buddies, but. But that felt like taking advantage of everybody. Now I do Wonder for the GM Terry Fontenot, for Raheem Morris, I mean that owners mid-80s, he has unlimited amounts of money. And you've talked about this for a long time, these owners now in basketball and football are firing guys. Paying you $30 million away is couch change to them. I wonder if these guys pissed off the owner last year because they got over aggressive with Cousins and then they fell in love with what's appendix after and then Cousins sucked. Now the owner's meeting with Cousins, you know, because he's pissed off. He just gave him $90 million and cousins got a no trade clause. So it's not easy to just deal them. He's kind of got them by the balls and let's. And then they missed the playoffs last year. You know, they hire the biggest staff in the league and Raheem goes, well, we plan on losing coaches because he's acting like we're going to be really good. They go under.500. I wonder if that owner's like, you guys better win and win now. I don't know how much longer I have. There's pressure on you guys. This felt like one of those, like there's pressure from above.
- [100:10]
John Middlekoff
Well, I mean the Giants are a bad football operation. They take Jackson Dart, who very few people had as a first round prospect and the Falcons make A weird move up. They get a first and a third, but they give up next year's number one and they give up a second, which again, this is not a good draft. Last year was a great draft. Next year supposed to be a significantly better draft. This is not a good draft. No, everybody's saying it. There's James Pierce will start for them. Will he star for them? Now I understand it as well. They haven't had a pass rush in forever. I mean they just, they just don't get sacks, so. And they also at Atlanta's drafted so many offensive players. I think the Falcons have drafted four straight years. Their first pick was an offensive player. So I do, I do think they, you know, the defensive side was the play for them.
- [101:00]
Unnamed Analyst
I got no problem drafting defense. To me, I just, I'm not trading a future first round pick to get, I don't know, the fifth or sixth or seventh defensive lineman off the board. I mean this is in the twenties. I, I truly believe that's an unprecedented move and I, I would imagine stats will come out over the next 24 hours that a team has come up from the mid second round to the middle of the 20s and given a fir, you know, especially for a non quarterback. Maybe we have seen in the past a team trading back up for a quarterback from the second round, but James Pierce, I, I would imagine half the league had this guy as like a fringe first round pick to begin with. Again, solid prospect, but to mortgage that much for one player.
- [101:47]
John Middlekoff
By the way, the Ravens took some in a division with Joe Burrow. Take Georgia safety Malachi Starks, which by the way with Kyle Hamilton gives them two first round safeties. You know what's funny about the safety position? The Rams really value it. Safety is one of those positions where a lot of the progressive teams in this league, Kansas City, a lot of these teams in the NFL now, some of these coaches now there's kind of a rebirth on safeties and their value to the defense. I don't know why that is, but I've, I've, I know the Rams really think highly of it. Kansas City has shown they care about it. Ravens now have two first round safeties. Again, these Georgia guys just feels like to me the hit rate on Georgia guys is very high in the first round.
- [102:32]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I feel like all the guys from Georgia are going to be good in the pros. I think it's, that's one, the explosion of the pass game. So you're helping out your corners with all these teams have good wide.
- [102:42]
John Middlekoff
You see The Lions just paid their safety a fortune. Do you see that yesterday?
- [102:46]
Unnamed Analyst
No, I did not.
- [102:47]
John Middlekoff
They paid one of their safeties, not Branch, it was. It was the other guy.
- [102:51]
Unnamed Analyst
So they have to cover tight ends. Well, we've never had more pass catching tight ends, and we just got two guys that were drafted in the top 15, so you got to cover that guy. Think how many running backs now forever. There was one or two. Marshall Faulks or Ladanian Tomlinson's. I feel like half the league are just. I'm never coming off the field, starting running back and I catch the ball.
- [103:11]
John Middlekoff
Yep.
- [103:12]
Unnamed Analyst
Derek Henry's pretty rare. Well, who's covering that guy? Linebackers in the safety. So I'm covering tight ends. I'm covering running backs out of the backfield that both can turn into just elite receivers. And then I got to help my corners out against every single week. Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, and you just go through the list. So the passing games are so explosive. And you know this guy, Kyle Hamilton, the good safeties, who Funga was like this. I have to help in run support and be a good tackler. They're just really, really valuable because you are taking linebackers off the field now with the spread offense, but these teams spread you out and then run the ball. I need that guy to kind of act as a linebacker. So I'm with you. I value middle linebacker and safety more than definitely some teams do because the teams with good players at those positions are usually pretty good on defense.
- [104:01]
John Middlekoff
How about that?
- [104:03]
Unnamed Analyst
So Detroit, this, this draft, I mean, these guys, I mean, dart in the piercing are a little weird, but. Well, it's the guard from Ohio State, good player. Golden, good player. Hampton, good player. Starks is a stud. I mean, these teams in the, in the 20s. This is the best part about quote, unquote, average drafts is as I think Eric dacosta would tell you. Yeah, we don't view that big of a difference at pick 26, 27, as the guy getting drafted at pick 13.
- [104:27]
John Middlekoff
I mean, the bottom line, Baltimore went and got a starter. And for a team like Baltimore, when you get down to these teams like Philadelphia, Kansas City, Buffalo, Detroit, Baltimore Rams, John, there's not that many starting positions. Do you remember years ago when A.J. smith was the GM of the Chargers and they had that 14, 2 team, like 10 Pro Bowlers and they gave up multiple draft picks for Eric Weddle, the safety from Utah who had an unbelievable career. And I remember listening to A.J. smith talk about it. He's like, we got two positions that any of these kids could start. He goes, we need a safety. And I forget the other position. But his point was, when you get to the bottom of this first round, these teams don't have a ton of holes. And so you look at Baltimore, when you think of Baltimore, they got their tight end now, you know, Jose Flowers, they have a wide receiver, they have their quarterback, they have their left tackle, their O line is fine. They've got a pass rush. And I mean, I think they look at it and they just, they think to themselves, you know, Georgia safety, big hitter. I mean, just these Georgia guys almost all work.
- [105:32]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah. I think when you look at the good teams, they typically cut four or five guys that immediately get claimed September 1st. So they, they have more of a 53 man roster. Their roster, because you, you're not going to cut your first and second and third round picks. Typically you're going to cut guys that. I remember when I first got into radio, it was going to Harbaugh's team. It was like 2013. Greg Roman would have been on that staff. I think they had eight guys claimed. So they, they had a roster that they kept and obviously it was a peak. Harbaugh, 49ers that had 53 NFL guys and then they had eight or seven guys immediately get claimed to other teams. And some of those guys became starters. So they have a roster, you know, the Ravens, the Eagles, the Chiefs, they actually have like 60 or 61 NFL players. You know, some teams, the bad teams, and they're like, yeah, I guess we got to keep this guy. They probably got like mid-40s guys. They feel comfortable.
- [106:28]
John Middlekoff
Right.
- [106:28]
Unnamed Analyst
It's a huge. I mean, it's the difference of the good and the bad teams.
- [106:31]
John Middlekoff
Look at Philadelphia right now. Philadelphia's got six to seven guys who aren't starting. I mean, look at their own line and D line depth. For the Eagles alone, they're going to.
- [106:44]
Unnamed Analyst
Be, I mean, if they stay relatively healthy. To me, the only question mark is, you know, the new offensive coordinator. But roster wise, it's about as. I mean, if they end up getting Will Johnson, I, well, look at this.
- [106:57]
John Middlekoff
If I said to you, Miami shaky. Miami gets Kenneth Grant at 13, Baltimore gets Malik Starks at 27. And if I said to you one of those two guys has a big rookie year, I would take Starks.
- [107:13]
Unnamed Analyst
Oh, yeah, for sure.
- [107:15]
John Middlekoff
Yeah.
- [107:16]
Unnamed Analyst
I mean, the Ravens, defenders from the best program. It's going to work playing next to one of the better young players in the NFL. I. It's those, those two guys. The Ravens just need Lamar to have some good playoff games because you could argue even last year, I mean, they were better in the Bills. They had a better team, right? They lost the game obviously two years ago. They're at home. They are kind of in this window. I mean, they draft so well. They got this quarterback in the peak of their powers. We will look back, you know, thank God, you know, Jokic and Giannis won an NBA championship because they might never win one again, but at least they got it. The Ravens have this window right now. They play the other two teams good too. It's not like they're intimidated by the Bills or the Chiefs. It's like this is your time and it's their roster. I don't know, I have. Their team is just. How do they draft so well? And they're always picking like 28 to 30.
- [108:13]
John Middlekoff
Well and I think again, they are such a good roster. They went and drew a couple years ago. They got Linda Baum the center and then Kyle Hamilton the safety. And their takeaway was, well, they would start for us again. They had probably four positions you could. And then they, because they can go acquire. They always go and acquire a starter in free agency or two. And then with teams like Baltimore, there may be only two players you can draft. So they went and got a center and a safety. They both end up being terrific players. But a lot of people don't think centers and safeties, you know, are first round draftable players. Well, they are if you're Baltimore. So know Detroit gets defensive tackle from Ohio State, Talley Williams. Their defensive line at Ohio State was really good. So Detroit takes a player that had a wide variance on projections, a position, you know, Aiden Hutchinson comes back, they want an interior defensive lineman who was a great run stopper. Talia Williams defensive tackle, Ohio State So he had one of the wider variances for a first round pick. He had early, third, mid second. They get him. Detroit does. At 28. I'm reading his draft profile here. Boy, it's all over. The great. One of the top 10 run stuffers in this draft.
- [109:36]
Unnamed Analyst
That's me. Think about, think about their division. You got, you know, the Minnesota Vikings, Aaron Jones a good running back. The Green Bay Packers, Jacobs one of the better backs in the league. And the one thing they know about Ben Johnson is he's going to want to run the ball right and be physical at the line of scrimmage. And they got a good offensive line improved. So I think last year when they had all those injuries that their defensive line, obviously, once Aiden broke His leg. But they lost so many other guys, they had nothing to hold the point. So to me, they just needed some more big bodies. And the one thing you would say about Dan Campbell, I mean, those two guys, him and Homes resurrected, I mean, what, one of the most putrid franchises in the history of sports. They are a real operation now. I feel pretty confident about. Like, they know, you know, last year they drafted Arnold from Alabama. This year they go Ohio State. Like, they don't veer far from the top programs.
- [110:29]
John Middlekoff
Right.
- [110:29]
Unnamed Analyst
They, they're not trying to outthink the room here. They're not like, let's take this overachiever from UC Davis. Like, they're just sticking kind of on the Howie Roseman plan. Let's take the better players from the bigger programs. And it's not easy to draft. I mean, they've been good now a couple years in a row. It's much easier to nail picks when you're drafting 10th than when you're drafting 26th. Right, right.
- [110:49]
John Middlekoff
Well, and the thing about Williams was he was a really good player. He didn't have like a great combine, which I don't really hold it against the guy. I mean, we have some teams now that don't go to the combine, some coaches. He was a really productive player. So he was viewed as a second round pick. You know, again, you get down. I made this argument with Jason McIntyre. If you go to the grocery store and your wife actually get eggs, bread and milk and you come back with a rake and you said, yeah, but I got great value on it. Well, we don't need a rake. We have one. Like sometimes you just have to draft what you need. And let's say on Detroit's board they had him as the 36th best player and they're drafting 28. Well, what do you do? I mean, this again, this offense needs no help. I mean, they're stacked offensively, so they were going to draft defense. And my take is they don't need an edge rusher. So I've always wondered about that. When you're Detroit 28, he may be your 36th rated player, but if you don't take a defensive lineman here, John, you're not drafting until deep into the woods tomorrow. And Detroit could look at the draft and go, well, four defensive tackles are going to be off the board, the four we like by the time we draft tomorrow. So when you were with, when you were working with Andy in Philadelphia, are there times that you do reach simply because of need? And you look and think, well, we don't want to trade up tomorrow. And the four guys at this position that we really like will all be gone by the time we draft tomorrow.
- [112:18]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, you also got to factor in, let's just say, you know, in their backyard, Will John, the Michigan corner is probably. Might be their highest graded guy. Well, last year, our first two picks was Arnold and Racket Strawberries. They used pick 24, 61 last year on two DBs from the SEC. So you have to factor in guys from last year. Obviously, Arnold's a starter, but these guys like going to factor more in where do we need help. So, yeah, I mean, I think you have to factor in need when you draft at the end of the first round. And you have to base it on last year, what you invested on the draft and how you feel. Those guys can take a big step. That's a hard balance to do. So you might have guys like, hey, this guy was on our practice squad last year, but we think we might need a linebacker, but we actually think he might have a chance to start. So you got to factor in the big picture view of the roster and then obviously what you did in free agency.
- [113:09]
John Middlekoff
Okay? So this is not surprising to me at all. I know the Rams like this player. Josh Connerly Jr. The offensive tackle for Oregon, goes to Washington. So I had said this on the show a couple of times last week and this week is that if you're Washington and you look at Philadelphia, who you have to play twice a year, and you look at the Eagles O line and D line, so you get Debo with McLaurin and Jaden Daniels, so you've got weapons. You got to fix those O and D lines. You're not beating Philadelphia. And so to me, Conner Lee's a kid that went. I think it was Rainier High in Seattle. It came down to USC in Oregon. USC thought they had him. This was the beginning of the nil. And Oregon paid about, you know, 3, 400,000 to get him. He was the best left tackle by far on the West Coast. He went to Oregon. He played as a freshman. The one thing I'll say about him, great body, but he just got better every year at Oregon. He was really young when he got there, but they played him early and he's. He just got. He got better and better. And so I know the Rams liked him. I like. I. I'll tell you this. I. This is one of my favorite picks in the last five picks. I really like this pick because, I mean, again, I think, first of all, I think you get some value. I mean, he's going to, he's going to play. He's an ascending player. You know, played against real competition. Oregon in the Big Ten, played against really good competition. And you know, Oregon, let's be honest about it, Oregon recruits an elite level over the last 10 years. He's Oregon now they don't have Ohio State players. This, this is a really good pick. And it's the right position.
- [114:50]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, to me it's a little bit of a, you know, at the end of the 20s, how do you get a. I don't want to say a project, but he's got, you know, he's an upside guy who's not ready to be like a, you know, the paths weren't going to take him at pick four, but he's one of the more athletic guys in the class at the position. You just get Tunsil. So in the last, last month they had Laramie Tunzel in their first round pick as a tackle. So ideally, maybe this guy. Depends. If you, if you extend Tunzel and he's your left tackle, you put this guy at right tackle, maybe you just use Tunzel this year and you realize you don't want him. You bump this guy over to left tackle, it gives you optionality. But I can, I never have an issue with, like you said with the McBectin pick, taking swings on guys six five, 320 pounds that are blue chip kids. You know, obviously you got to do your homework on the guy and their work ethic and toughness is huge at offensive and defensive line, especially offensive line, like how tough you are. But it's, you know, you play for Dan Lanning and Mario these last couple years, like that's an intense program. I mean, so you go there, they played at a high level. Yeah, I think you got to see a new level of toughness with Ohio state. Really? These lat or at Oregon these last couple years. The Pac 12 was excellent two years ago and this year at, at Oregon playing in the Big Ten, I mean, you got, you got a couple years worth of film playing at a really high level and some massive games. So. So yeah, I mean, I, I thought this guy at the Senior bowl there was talk about him potentially being in the mix, like a top 15 pick. So sometimes, you know, other position guys go. Obviously some wide receivers and defensive linemen push him down.
- [116:21]
John Middlekoff
Once, once those, honestly, once those tight ends were gone, this is who I thought the Rams, if they didn't get a tight end, this is who I thought the Rams would take I know they liked him.
- [116:33]
Unnamed Analyst
I just think you get to a point where if someone knocked on my door right now and offered me triple what my house worth, I'd be like, I'll be out tomor with the Rams. I mean, the Rams felt pretty good about taking a player kind of in this group that just got drafted these last couple guys, but they just got an offer they couldn't say no to. Like, and this is where when you have stable organizations like Les need and Sean McVay, the only reason they go somewhere is they would choose to. Sean McVeigh would go, choose to do Amazon. Like he's not going anywhere. You can make these bigger picture moves because there would be some teams in their spot. It's like you got this valuable pick, right? You have a first round pick, there are players that can help you. You got Matt Stafford, you're living year to year. It'd be easy to justify it. Listen, they're offering us a ton, but we're trying to win the super bowl this year. No one would have blamed them if they would have taken a player right there. But they're like for the health and the big picture of the organization, this is 100% the right move. The Rams have done an incredible job these last two years of like staying focused on winning and a competitive team while balancing this restructure of, of a roster. It's, it's pretty unheard of. Kind of how they've did now they've had Stafford, you know, if they would have had a middle tier, lower tier quarterback, they would have been.
- [117:45]
John Middlekoff
Well, I mean McVeigh and Stafford, you could argue after. Yeah, after Andy Reid and Mahomes, it's. They're probably the second best combo in the league.
- [117:53]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, I would agree. Especially when you factor in he's the play caller. So they are. I mean, let's face it, the Eagles handled the Packers. They obviously them versus Washington was not a fair fight and they dominated the Super Bowl. There was one team in the playoffs that gave them a run for their money and it was the Rams.
- [118:12]
John Middlekoff
Yes.
- [118:13]
Unnamed Analyst
And for a team, you know, we give the Dolphins a lot of shit for being this warm weather climate. They can't travel. And it's true, history speaks for itself. The Rams should fall under that as well. What's, what's the weather on a daily basis out there? 80 degrees. They had the ball to 15, built this tough team.
- [118:28]
John Middlekoff
They had the ball to 15 yard line, first down to beat the Eagles in Philadelphia in a snowstorm. They had the ball, they just Couldn't block Jalen Carter on back to back. I think it was back to back snaps because they had Bo Limmer who was like a six round Arkansas draft picket center which was the weakest spot in their own line. And you know that was a, you needed an all pro center to block. But I mean they had Philadelphia again up against the ropes. Remember that big completion of Pukinakua down the sideline? You're like, holy shit, they're going to walk out of here and beat Philadelphia.
- [118:58]
Unnamed Analyst
Well, think about what they've done is the type players that they have drafted over the years, Aaron, Donald, Puka, Nukua, Cooper, you know, they just draft guys that would have thrived in like the AFC north, right? They just happened to play Stafford. I mean Stafford could have played in any climate throughout his career. So yeah, I mean I think the Rams, I think they just got an offer. I would imagine they went into the day planning on taking one of the guys in this group that gets drafted in the 20s and they got a phone call that blew him away. I would have said yes to.
- [119:35]
John Middlekoff
Okay, the Bills take Maxwell Harrison. He's a cornerback from Kentucky. It's a position of need. I don't think there's any question about that. They have to get better at corner. Also, if you're going to get past, you know, Kansas City and Mahomes and Reed and Joe Burrows and you start looking at some of these quarterbacks in the afc, you better be better and deeper at corner.
- [119:52]
Unnamed Analyst
Why would they invite Jalen Milro to the draft when he's not going to get drafted in the first round? I saw his comments saying that. I just want to hear my name called. It'd be cool. I get why he would go. Even if he goes in the third round, it has to be a cool experience. But I don't understand why the NFL would draft a guy that was not going to go in the first round. I mean, honestly, he's not even a lock. He'll probably go in the second round, but I don't know.
- [120:14]
John Middlekoff
Yeah, I, you know, it's. People really like him. I mean, I think the story of the first round is Shador Sanders didn't get drafted because Kansas City is not taking them and Philadelphia is not taking them. So I mean, I think our story of the first round is Shador Sanders. You know, I, again, I don't love him. I think he's a B prospect. But I'm in a quarterback driven league where about seven teams need quarterbacks. I'm surprised I could See the Raiders.
- [120:51]
Unnamed Analyst
In the second round, taking them, you know, the jets signed Fields, but I.
- [120:59]
John Middlekoff
That's not a lot of money to get. By the way, Fields had a defensive coach in Chicago. Defensive coach. Where'd he go in Pittsburgh? Defensive coach, rookie defensive coach with the jets, like Justin Fields. I don't think he was ever going to be great. That's not a fair shot. Like, he's never had an offensive culture. Chicago jets from Pittsburgh, like Justin Field.
- [121:23]
Unnamed Analyst
Somehow Shador fell to Dallas in the second round and they pulled the trigger.
- [121:27]
John Middlekoff
I think there's, you know, nobody will say this out loud, but this is the second surgery, lower body surgery for Dak Prescott. Okay. He was never hyper athletic to begin with. I thought the last time he played, Dak was absolutely a pocket quarterback. Oh, yeah, that's what he was. He was very. He was much closer to Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins than he was Bo Nix and Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.
- [121:57]
Unnamed Analyst
Did Dax say this when they reported or Schottenheimer say, like, he's not ready to go in OTAs from this injury? They did the hamstring injury. Like, he's not even. Like if they played a game in a month, he couldn't play. You know, I mean that. So the ankle, once it shattered, like you said, he was never even close to the same mobility, which he's a solid pocket, by the way. John, this injury is a pretty big deal. I mean, how often do guys tear their hamstring?
- [122:20]
John Middlekoff
And also Aaron Rodgers was an elite pocket quarterback and so was Kurt Cousins. So you can live with them having a reduction in mobility. Dax never been, you know, he's never been a strong, armed, effortlessly accurate quarterback that. I mean, Dan Mullen is college coach, you know, laughs about it. I talked to him, you know, now he's at UNLV to be at Florida. He was at Mississippi State. He's like, well, you know, we told, you know, when we got Dak, it was about the intangibles, the man, the player, the toughness. He still never threw a good ball. Like, we never thought he threw a pretty ball. So the fact that, you know, I don't think should do to the Cowboys is crazy now. It would obviously create an S storm and they've got far greater needs than.
- [123:03]
Unnamed Analyst
That first time head coach too. I, you know, I don't know if Jerry even. Jerry would have to probably have, you know, cooler heads would have to prevail and be like, I don't know if we even want to do this.
- [123:13]
John Middlekoff
I think honestly the Cowboys are going to Go tight end. That's my guess. Tight end or running back.
- [123:18]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah.
- [123:19]
John Middlekoff
Javante Williams came there from Denver so they've got, they've got a two at running back. Can they find us? Listen, Trayvon Henderson for Ohio State in my opinion now maybe the best player.
- [123:30]
Unnamed Analyst
Available, he could go to the chiefs here at 32. You know, the Eagles and the Chiefs.
- [123:35]
John Middlekoff
I bet you that two Kansas City takes.
- [123:37]
Unnamed Analyst
I think the Eagles and the Andy and Howie were just bored because they just traded with each other 31 to 32.
- [123:43]
John Middlekoff
Really.
- [123:43]
Unnamed Analyst
So they just, they flip flop picks Andy. I think historically he's had made a trade in every draft for like 25 years and how he loves to trade.
- [123:52]
John Middlekoff
So what's funny, because that's really funny.
- [123:56]
Unnamed Analyst
I can see the Chiefs taking the Ohio State running back for sure.
- [123:59]
John Middlekoff
But you said Philadelphia just moved to 31.
- [124:02]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah, they're picking 31. It wouldn't shock me if they take the Michigan corner here.
- [124:06]
John Middlekoff
Will Johnson.
- [124:07]
Unnamed Analyst
What do the Eagles really need? I mean they just take whoever the best player in the board is.
- [124:10]
John Middlekoff
By the way, is that going to be funny if the Eagles get Will Johnson who was viewed by most as the best corner and they just hit on two corners last year? Let me tell you something. Nobody in this league has three good corners. Nobody in this league has three good corners. If they get Will Johnson, Philadelphia is the only team in the league that has that.
- [124:32]
Unnamed Analyst
Well they got three good corners and then they would have probably the best young pass rusher in the NFL. Definitely interior pass rusher and Jalen Carter. Nolan Smith really came on at the.
- [124:42]
John Middlekoff
One of the most active linebackers with.
- [124:45]
Unnamed Analyst
I don't know, the highest paid defensive coordinator in the league in Vic Fangio. And their entire offense is all making minimum $20 million in a bunch of Pro Bowls.
- [124:55]
Colin Cowherd
Gaming isn't just a hobby, it's a mission.
- [124:57]
John Middlekoff
And when you drop in, your squad.
- [124:58]
Colin Cowherd
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- [125:58]
Unnamed Sponsor
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- [127:36]
Colin Cowherd
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John Middlekoff
Get a plan from Homeserve for Peace.
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Colin Cowherd
Of mind starting at five bucks a month. That's it@homeserve.com find out how to save on repairs@homeserve.com homeserve a subscription for Peace of Mind not available everywhere. Most plans range between $3.99 to $11.99 a month. Your First Year Terms apply on covered repairs. Hi everybody. This message is brought to you by the official whiskey of the Colin Coward Podcast, Green River Whiskey. As you know, we've been having some fun getting to know Green River Whiskey. Let me tell you, there's a ton of incredible stories to be told in its 140 year history. How's this? For example, Green River Whiskey was once the most advertised whiskey in the world, but just now they've launched their first advertising campaign in more than 100 years. You see, it seems the team from Green river in reviving the whiskey have accidentally also revived its resident ghost. And he's quite a character, spending his days reminding us to keep it simple, focus on the quality and have a little fun along the way. So if you want to see the ghost of Green river come to Life, check out greenriverwhiskey on their YouTube channel or head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's to green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. Product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly.
- [129:10]
John Middlekoff
Let's predict. Let's do it right now for fun. We won't edit this out. I think Philadelphia takes Will Johnson and Kansas City takes Treveon Henderson. That's my guess.
- [129:19]
Unnamed Analyst
I, I would. I will agree with you there. Will Johnson's going. One of these next two picks would be. Would be my guess.
- [129:27]
John Middlekoff
Well and the other thing is I.
- [129:29]
Unnamed Analyst
Could see the Chiefs remember they took the little running back from LSU Burrows year. Clyde. It kind of, you know, they, they.
- [129:35]
John Middlekoff
But he's not a. He didn't.
- [129:37]
Unnamed Analyst
No, I know. But I do wonder if they, you know, they've, Andy had success historically. They got shady in the second round like they have taken. But I, I think in this draft, Hendrickson, I mean he was, he made a lot of plays.
- [129:48]
John Middlekoff
Dude, he stretched for them. Yeah. The kid from LSU was not, I didn't think he was a wildly Dyn home run back.
- [129:55]
Unnamed Analyst
He was more of a, I think they viewed him more as like a pass catcher, kind of like a Bob Westbrook, a young version.
- [130:00]
John Middlekoff
That's what he was.
- [130:01]
Unnamed Analyst
It just did. It didn't work. But they, they do need you. You would like the one thing Philly has is just playmate. I mean they're just like, yeah, Dallas Goddard, someone take him. We'll just draft the tight end in the second or third round because we got to save a little money here because we got. We don't.
- [130:15]
John Middlekoff
We.
- [130:15]
Unnamed Analyst
We only got one football to go around. But they are so loaded on offense. Where you look at Philly, you got Rice, who's going to come off this injury. You got Xavier Worthy came on at the end. But Kelsey's, I mean he's, he's a postseason player at most now. So they, they need some pop, you know, running back. They were playing with Kareem Hunt, you know, toward the end of the season when, you know, they had some injuries so I'd be stunned if the Chiefs don't go with the playmaker.
- [130:40]
John Middlekoff
Well, they're going to get. I mean, they're going to get Rasheed Rice back, who really had developed into a one before he got hurt.
- [130:48]
Unnamed Analyst
But that was a pretty big. I mean, Mahomes, he took him out. I mean, that was a pretty bad knee injury. His legs snapped. I'm with you. He was healthy. He was a really, really good player. My God, how he's. He might be on the biggest heater of any, of any GM in his recent drafts. Quinn and Mitchell, Cooper, DeJean, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jesus. Jordan Davis. I mean, they haven't missed on many picks, and it showed.
- [131:14]
John Middlekoff
You know, if I said to you what draft picks and what moves didn't you love? We would. We would probably say we didn't love what Jacksonville did. We didn't love what Miami did. We didn't love what Atlanta did. Trading up with the Rams. I mean, isn't it predictable? Isn't it? And if I said to you, what are some of the steals? Well, you'd say to yourself, Jim Harbaugh getting a star Running back at 22 is a steal. Malachi Starks, Baltimore 27, is a damn good pick. And it looks like if, if they do what we think, Jesus.
- [132:03]
Unnamed Analyst
They took Jihad Campbell, the linebacker from Alabama.
- [132:06]
John Middlekoff
Oh, Philadelphia did.
- [132:08]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah.
- [132:09]
John Middlekoff
Now he's the best linebacker. He's kind of a freak athlete.
- [132:13]
Unnamed Analyst
I, I do think they lost. I forget whether it was in the Packer game or it might have been the Washington game. Remember Nakobe Dean, the Georgia linebacker, had a bad injury, a really bad knee injury. So I, I wonder, you know, they, they resigned. Zach Bond, here's the other. Here's the other thing Howie has done now four or five years in a row. They have basically just drafted from Alabama and Georgia in the first couple picks. Last year was a little bit of an outlier with the, with the corner from Toledo. But again, he was like Ashton Genti. He could have left Nil. He was kind of loyal to his program.
- [132:45]
John Middlekoff
Jihad Campbell, I'd argue right now this is probably the best value pick. A lot of people saw him as going somewhere like 18 to 26. They got him at the 31st pick. That's a pretty damn good pick.
- [132:58]
Unnamed Analyst
I think Jihad Campbell and Malachi Starks are two guys that, that if Malachi Starks and Campbell had been offensive guards or wide receivers, they would have been top. They were two of the better players in this draft, but their positions, you know, kind of drop Them down. If you told me that Campbell was a pass rusher, not like a standup linebacker, he's going much higher. Well, he's athletically discriminated against, given your position.
- [133:23]
John Middlekoff
God, they are going to be. They are so.
- [133:26]
Unnamed Analyst
They are talent calling.
- [133:28]
John Middlekoff
Oh, my God. Yeah.
- [133:31]
Unnamed Analyst
I mean, them and the Ravens are just. I mean, every time they just get these high end elite players from the best programs that will just knock your block off. That's the other thing they aren't getting. There's nothing soft about these players they acquire. The Eagles have kind of morphed in to the Ravens in terms of their physical mentality. I mean, the Eagles have always had talent from Andy, even through the Howie Run, but I think these last three or four years, the physical presence of their football team, it's a little like the Harbaugh 49ers and Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks of just, you better buckle up when you play these guys because they're going to hurt you. I mean, Sirianni, pretty lucky. He just gets to coach a team full of all stars.
- [134:19]
John Middlekoff
God, how he gets the best linebacker in that draft with the 31st pick.
- [134:26]
Unnamed Analyst
I could see the Chiefs going Will Johnson here or the, or the wide receiver or I mean, the running back from Ohio State. I do think if you're Philly or I mean Kansas City, I mean your division, I mean, it's going to be hard. You know, they benefited for a while. The Raiders were a joke. You know, the Chargers just kind of always went cheap with coaches. And you know, the Broncos have had a lot of turmoil post Peyton Manning. I mean, this division feels, I mean, Pete Carroll's a Hall of Famer. He's coaching the Raiders. You got, you got Jim and Sean Payton, two of the highest paid coaches in the league, and they were two playoff teams. And this is really going to test the Chiefs over the next couple years of they're going to need to keep nailing draft picks and need to probably make some tough decisions like how long can you, you know, Chris Jones is an elite player when he wants to be, but he's, you know, half the games, he's not trying as hard. You know, Travis Kelsey's kind of. They're going to need their second iteration of a group like New England had during Belichick and Brady. Right. They had three. But you're going to need to need to have a new crop of. You're going to need to get your next Chris Jones, your next Travis Kelsey to be the core guys with Patrick over the next five or six years.
- [135:41]
John Middlekoff
Yeah. Howie gets the best linebacker, 31st pick once again goes to an SEC heavyweight to get him rinse and repeat. Yeah, the. I'll tell you what. Depending on who Kansas City takes with a 32nd pick, if Henderson, the Ohio State running back does not go. He is the best player to start the second round. He is a.
- [136:06]
Unnamed Analyst
To me the tight the Titans wouldn't you be all over him. I mean I think you go skill guy to go around Cam Ward to help him out. You already got Ridley on the roster.
- [136:14]
John Middlekoff
He's. I mean the fact that he is. I mean he is a home. All three of these running backs, the top three running back. These are home run running backs. These are guys that can. These guys can. You know Najee Harris is a guy that. He just doesn't have many career runs over 25 yards. He just doesn't have many. And, and it's one thing in college, but in the NFL you got to outrun corners and safeties to get loose. The, you know Genty Hampton and Henderson, those are home run backs. Those guys break long runs regularly. So this is an insane running back draft. I told you, I said this. Woody Marks is USC's most versatile running back since Reggie Bush. He's a terrific back. He will not be one of the top 12 to 13 running backs taken. And he is. He was to me. I mean I. On any given Saturday he was USC's best player.
- [137:07]
Unnamed Analyst
I mean I headline that recruiting is going a little bit better for Lincoln.
- [137:12]
John Middlekoff
2026 class is number one. Their nil is up to like 18 million. Yeah, they're buying high school players.
- [137:20]
Unnamed Analyst
That's good.
- [137:21]
John Middlekoff
And they're buying heist and they're buying.
- [137:34]
Unnamed Analyst
Here's the Chiefs. They took cement. They took the offensive lineman from Ohio State. That's you know one thing Andy. I think there were some question marks about the person. Not. Not a bad guy. But you know, I think Andy's history that they will take some flyers on talent and that's. You know this is. This is the guy that got injured during the season. I mean I think he was viewed as a top 10 whatever player.
- [138:02]
John Middlekoff
Yeah, yeah. I mean it was there. There was a time when he got banged up. There was real concerns for Ohio State. I mean they did lose to Michigan. So who had two elite defensive linemen. So Henderson's available top of the second. I think. I think Tennessee boy, that would be a strong pick by them. So there you have it. Shador Sanders does not get picked.
- [138:29]
Unnamed Sponsor
Wow.
- [138:30]
Unnamed Analyst
Looking at these names, Colin, a lot of big 10 lot of SEC here in the. In the first round.
- [138:36]
John Middlekoff
No, I mean, it's. This is. Who are we kidding? I mean, this is what Fox and espn, who now have major control in college football, wanted college football to look more like the NFL. Two major conferences. And so now they've extended that. What is the playoff now, 14 teams?
- [138:52]
Unnamed Analyst
Yeah.
- [138:53]
John Middlekoff
And so, and I, you know, my take is you're going to get, you know, you're going to get eight of those at least from the big dogs. And so, you know, I mean, it's. Who are we kidding here? I mean, you watch, listen, listen to.
- [139:08]
Unnamed Analyst
This stretch starting at 9. Because the first round, you know, the first couple of picks had Colorado and Boise State, Texas, Michigan, Georgia, Bama, Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Ole Miss, A and M. Guard from North Dakota State, which I'm sure would have started at those power programs. They probably tried to buy them. Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Kentucky. Who had a good defense? Bama, Ohio State.
- [139:38]
John Middlekoff
So when you're arguing that Indiana absolutely needs to be in the playoff, it's like, folks, can we. This is what drives me nuts about the college football media. And I know a lot of these guys. Stop. Six programs have. I mean, if LSU's now a little bit because of their nil, LSU is a bit down in terms of talent, but generally there's like six programs. And the fact that Notre Dame now is recruiting at an elite level, there's like six programs every year that just have better players. You know, Sark now at Texas, as long as he's there, they're going to have top four players in the country. Ohio State, Georgia. Kaylin DeBoer is a great recruiter. Brian Kelly banged the drum. So they have some nil money. But everybody's always trying to argue SMU and God, stop it. Look at this talent. It's all big 10 sec and even.
- [140:34]
Unnamed Analyst
The one guy that I think had a run with guys up here has kind of fallen off a little bit. And it shows. They're not quite as good as Clemson. You know, Clemson used to be a program they don't do.
- [140:42]
John Middlekoff
Portal.
- [140:43]
Unnamed Analyst
No, I mean, what. What Kirby's really turned his program into what Saban was in his peak.
- [140:49]
John Middlekoff
John Mittlekoff. Great. Two hours, bud.
- [140:52]
Unnamed Analyst
What a night.
- [140:56]
Colin Cowherd
The volume. Gaming isn't just something you do.
- [141:01]
John Middlekoff
It's how you prove yourself.
- [141:03]
Colin Cowherd
Every match, every move, every second matters.
- [141:05]
John Middlekoff
And when your squad is relying on.
- [141:06]
Colin Cowherd
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- [141:25]
John Middlekoff
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- [141:28]
Colin Cowherd
Be future ready with AI with the Lenovo Legion series. Shop now at Lenovo hi everybody. This message is brought to you by the official whiskey of the Colin Coward Podcast, Green River Whiskey as you know, we've been having some fun getting to know Green River Whiskey, and we just learned they've launched their first advertising campaign in more than a hundred years. You see, it seems the team from Green river in reviving the whiskey have accidentally also revived its resident ghost. So if you want to see the ghost of Green river come to Life, check out greenriverwhiskey on their YouTube channel or head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's to green River Whiskey Raise YOUR spirits Product of Green River Distilling Co. Owensboro, KY Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly. Home emergencies wait for no one. And you shouldn't either. Whether it's plumbing, electric, heating, or cooling, Home Serve has you covered.
- [142:29]
John Middlekoff
Get a plan from HomeServe for peace.
- [142:32]
Colin Cowherd
Of mind starting at five bucks a month. That's it@homeserve.com find out how to save on repairs@homeserve.com HomeServe a subscription for peace of mind not available everywhere. Most plans range between 399 to $11.99 a month. Your first year terms apply on covered repairs.
- [142:55]
Unnamed Sponsor
This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. When you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.