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- [00:00]
Chad
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's just a regular guy.
- [00:08]
Shaquille O'Neal
People never believe me when I say I'm just like them. I take out the trash, do dishes and I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea or osa. And a lot of adults with obesity also struggle with moderate to severe osa. You know those scary breathing interruptions during sleep, the loud snoring, choking and daytime fatigue. I knew I had to talk to my doctor. Don't sleep on the symptoms. Learn more at don'tsleeponosa.com this information is
- [00:33]
Chad
provided by Lilly, A medicine company. Yes you can.
- [00:37]
Simon Hunter
A five minute quick and easy calorie burning workout. Give it a try.
- [00:42]
Chad
Come join our sweat sesh on TikTok. Today we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing. A SoFi personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a SOFI personal loan. Visit sofi.com stunt to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891 welcome to Sharper Square presented by Hard Rock Bat. We are part of the Volume Podcast Network. This is the show that makes the square sharper. It makes the wise guys pay attention. I am Shad mom and I am joined as always by my co host, my bff, my companion, my compadre professional Better Simon Hunter. Hello Simon, Chad.
- [01:40]
Simon Hunter
How we doing my brother?
- [01:42]
Chad
There's going to be a lot to discuss in the NFL. You know, conversations about the schedules and how that impacts everything when the schedules do come out as we get into the latter half of May, but I want to put a bow on our draft coverage because I do think it's worth there's people doing dynasty league stuff, there's people trying to get ahead on what's really going to make an impact for season win totals, how they want to position for winning the division, etc. Etc. We've laid some breadcrumbs on teams we think might have an option both in the NFC and the afc. So we're going to do a couple back to a couple shows about digging a little bit deeper on NFC and afc. This week we're doing the nfc. Thursday will be our part two covering the afc. We've got James Weaver from James Weaver from Sports Info Solutions. Today is part one. We'll cover the nf, the nfc. This is a betting show we like the draft. As football fans, we love the draft because we can bet on it. You and Derek Brown gave great advice, crushed it. We cannot bet on draft recaps. We cannot bet on grading draft recaps. More importantly, we know and Matt Mitchell and I had a long conversation about this. We were talking about draft recap shows. We have no idea how these drafts are going to play out. How any team's draft actually worked out for at least three seasons. Immediate evaluation, generally kind of silly. For example, and I mentioned this with Derek the other day, you know, on PMT, they talked about the 2012 Seattle draft with Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson. They also traded away a 5th rounder to Buffalo or to to they traded away a 5th rounder for Marshawn Lynch. Despite this, they received NEF from Bleacher Report for their draft that year. The key line Pete Pete Carroll is proving why he didn't make it in the NFL the first time. The point is, all those guys became hugely important to the Seahawks winning the super bowl within a couple of years. That same year, the 49ers got a C plus for their draft, which is now considered the worst draft by any modern NFL team. Seven drafted players that garnered four total starts for the Niners. Five of those seven players were gone before the next season. A.J. jenkins was the top pick. He was their wide receiver. He declined the offer to work out with 49ers legend Jerry Rice in the off season. Cut zero passes for the Niners before getting traded to Kansas City. That. That's my point. AJ Jenkins, first picked in the first round. The Michael James, Darius Fleming, and the list goes on. Right? So we do this in the spirit of fun, in the spirit of debate, in the spirit of what a lot of media is today. And hopefully people can listen in, they can have their own opinions, they can hate us for what we're saying, they can love us because they agree with us, etc. Etc. We have spent a lot of time talking about how idiotic it was of the Cardinals to take Jeremiah Love number three overall. The salary doesn't match. The the strategy doesn't match. They don't have a quarterback, they're collecting talent and they have no way to get anyone the ball. Simon Cardinals, once upon a time might have been a team. We wanted to see some upside in nothing about their draft. In addition to love, they got Carson Beck, you know, they got, I don't know, nothing too exciting in their draft for me.
- [05:52]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. And for a gambler's perspective, I love the Beck pick because to me, 15 to 1 for him to be rookie of the year, that's a live number. This is just like Fernando Mendoza. He's probably the most ready now quarterback in this draft class. Right. And he's not an opportunity that the quarterback ahead of him is disgruntled. Like Brissette wants money not even showing to volunteer camps. They're not going to give him any type of money. Brissette is. I mean he doesn't understand. He's just, he's a one year guy there for them. They're not. There's zero future plans with him. And same could be for Becky where it's like zero expectations. They're not going to be that good. They're probably in the artist division in football. If he can get three wins and a class that no other quarterback is going to play. Right. Fernando Mendoza might not play Possibility and Ty Simpson were most likely not going to play right behind Stafford. There is some value there if you want to take a long shot on Beck who might end up playing his way into being their starting quarterback because they're that terrible and they. I know. Do you want to lose games? Right. And he'd be perfect for that. Like he's, he's got big weaknesses. So. Yeah. And in a draft I hate and it's hard to find value. Like Chad was saying in these type of conversations. I do think there is value here on Beck at 15 to 1. I could see those odds jumping very high if he is named their starter. Week one.
- [07:14]
Chad
Tyler Shock vibes.
- [07:17]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, right, right. Perfect analogy.
- [07:20]
Chad
Tyler Shuck vibes the Atlanta Falcons. I actually think the Falcons at least like on paper again, this is always on paper. They filled needs. They got Avian Terrell, who is brother of A.J. terrell, the cornerback. Their defense continued to get better last year. They got the kid Zachariah Branch from Georgia who dropped a little bit because of the off the field issue just before the draft. To me, that alone, like at the top, you know, good job for them. Matt Ryan might have been a little bit too enthusiastic about some of the picks they were getting and acting like they had just won the Super Bowl. But if they can figure out, you know, they've got the quarterback issues but like defensively and their wide receiver room, I do believe it got a little bit better. Am I betting on the Falcons to win the NFC south because they drafted a cornerback and a wide receiver in the first two rounds? Probably not because I still like the Carolina Panthers.
- [08:21]
Simon Hunter
I'm with you though. I'm excited for this new front office. Right. The last one left them in a hole without a first round pick and they did the best they could with the players available. So I'm right there with you. Like to me, their biggest weakness is defense. Basically took that one receiver in the third round. The rest of their picks are spent on defensive players. So even if they're hopeful, right, and they get one, maybe two hits here of these guys, right, if one of these corners or one of these he tackles hits, it's all good. And that's, that's a good draft by them. So I'm with you though. The, the Matt Ryan, I get it though. It's a lot of work behind the scenes and probably his first draft room he's ever been. So yeah, he was pretty fired up about this third round picks.
- [08:58]
Chad
It is interesting. Like they've done a lot of work on defense and that what they did last year on their defensive line, going from a team that for half a decade was one of the worst teams in the NFL and in terms of pass rush, to last year being an excellent pass rush, you can see the seeds, right? You can see them building into something where they don't have to be so reliant on an explosive offense week after week after week. Staying in the NFC south. We're a Carolina Panthers podcast. It wasn't the most exciting draft for the Panthers. Their first round pick, Monroe Freeling, an offensive tackle from Georgia. Their second round pick, Lee Hunter, a defensive tackle from Texas Tech. Like, they're doing the things that we like the Panthers to be doing, which is improving in the trenches. We talk about it all the time. I know you think it's a sucker pick to take the Panthers to win the NFC south, but I don't think they did themselves a disservice out of the draft to make their chances worse. Like, they filled in areas they definitely need to fill in. They're improving consistently.
- [10:07]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. And this is, like I said, this is what it's going to take for them to get back to where they were last year. Winning the division, making the playoffs. Like they need to nail the draft. And I said, Bryce Young, he's going to have to level up, which is going to be really tough because last year he had some incredible, incredible games, Right? So this draft, to me, you know, I talk all the time. I think the most two important things to address is the offensive line and the D line. First two picks for them, offensive tackle and a D tackle. So right there, I'm a sucker. I love it. The fact that they went and got a receiver who a lot of people had a second round great. And I believe, yeah, they got him in the third round. Yeah, that's. Those are the things you're looking for. Right? I mean, it's a need. And it also dropped them. They didn't force the pick. So if I'm a Panthers fan, I would be very, very excited. Like, it does seem like your owner has hired the right people and has taken a step back and is letting them make the picks now. I think he's learned his lesson about getting involved in the draft.
- [11:03]
Chad
Do you feel like my pick of the Panthers to win the NFC south is a little bit less of a sucker bet?
- [11:12]
Simon Hunter
It is. The sucker bet wasn't on the South. The sucker bet you took was the over six and a half.
- [11:16]
Chad
Oh, that's right.
- [11:18]
Simon Hunter
Because I'm a. This is the Carolina Panthers show. I just told you the reason they gave you that number was they're playing a first place schedule.
- [11:25]
Chad
You're right. You're right. You're right.
- [11:27]
Simon Hunter
Better.
- [11:28]
Chad
You're right.
- [11:29]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. Yeah.
- [11:30]
Chad
You're right. Simon, how many podcasts can say they are illiterate? Sports betting podcast that is also dedicated to the Carolina Panthers. I think there's one. I think we're the number one ranked literate sports betting podcast dedicated to the Carolina Panthers. We can put that on our Wikipedia pages. The Chicago Bears. Look, we took the kid from Oregon, Dylan, the administration, the safety. I have no issue with that. We need help in the defensive backfield. Both of our safeties have left. We were already not very good in the defensive backfield. Second pick Logan Jones, Iowa center. I love getting a center. Centers are becoming more and more important in the NFL. We've seen their salaries skyrocketing because they are starting to be recognized as the linchpin of that offensive line. Not just because of the way they are situated, but their ability to communicate with the quarterback. Quarterback. They're getting their due. It's fantastic. Usually the smartest person on the field. The Bears did not do a great job of going to improve their edge rush. And I'm curious for your take, will that be the reason they don't get to the super bowl this year?
- [12:47]
Simon Hunter
It could be. But this draft, to me it just looks like it was a lot of Ben Johnson's fingerprints. Right. They needed to address the defense. That's, that's. They still have questions, obviously offensively, but that feels like the weakness of the team.
- [12:59]
Chad
Right.
- [13:00]
Simon Hunter
Is defense. Like last year, they lived and died on turnovers. That was without turnovers. They were giving up hundreds of yards on the ground or tons of yards through the air. It was just all about turnovers that really saved them. And this draft. I love your first round pick, honestly, like safeties to me are always undervalued. He probably is worth a mid level pick. He fell to you guys at 25 because he is a safety and it's, that's the way it is with that position. But V ends up being a stud honestly pays for the rest of the draft because it's like you said, you guys went center, tight end and receiver. It was just funny where like Ben Johnson just kind of helped himself. Where it's like, you know, if it's a weak class defensively, especially the DN position, I get it. Right. You're just not trying to force picks. Chad, I think that's, that's a sign of a well run organization. It didn't feel like any of your guys picks were honestly forced. A couple of them were players that fell to you guys. So. Yeah, I just. There's still a lot of questions about polls right now. But he's done stuff over the years that really nailed it and I obviously evaluated the right talent for your guys team. Right. He's hit on a couple of picks now so he's getting to that spot where you still could question stuff. Right. Every, every gym's gonna miss on picks. Overall I think he's, he's earned it. Where you can trust him, where it's like, okay, they didn't address a lot of the needs on defense. Maybe he's just like next year's class is so loaded defensively. I'm not going to force it this year. I'm just going to take best available.
- [14:21]
Chad
I don't feel when I watch polls like he's making desperation plays anymore. You know, he's, he's, he knows enough about his team and he knows about, enough about the holes and enough about the talent that's available. I'm getting more comfortable that he can make the right call. I'm going to be less dramatic about it over the course of a weekend. Speaking of safety, speaking of safety's dropping. I know we like to bash the Dallas Cowboys and everyone likes to bash Jerry Jones because they have not been able to sustain any success in the postseason since he really decided he was going to be in charge of everything, but you're getting Caleb Downs outside the top 10. I mean that feels like you've won the draft. Forget about everything else just because of that
- [15:10]
Simon Hunter
love that Pick. But did you see. I saw a clip. Nick Saban didn't know his mic was hot and he was criticizing them for their Lawrence pick, which I totally agree with. Which is this, this edge that, you know, has some talent, but felt like a bit of a reach to a lot of people. I know tons of scouts that had third round grades on them, A couple had second round grades on them. They took them in, you know, high 23, 24. I picked it.
- [15:36]
Chad
Yeah.
- [15:37]
Simon Hunter
With the Eagles to take. So does that mean they're really looking at taking him at 20, which would have been a horrible pick, but still felt like a little bit of reach there. But yeah, if, if, if you're a Cowboys fan, I mean, I'd be over the moon. I hate all those Ohio State guys went in the Eagles division, right? The Giants took one, Washington took one, and the Cowboys took one. So that All American, all probably incredible defense from college now, you know, it's just going to be an NFC East. Like literally Sonny Styles went to Washington. And you know, I, I look at this pick here in downs and just a great pick by Jerry, right? Let the best player drop to him. And I said, Jerry, I don't love the way he drafts, obviously throughout the draft, but overall his first round picks, he tends to do really well. Like he tends to let the guys fold him and take the best athlete available. And to me might not be the best athlete in downs, but he definitely has in my mind, the smartest football player. Only behind Fernando Mendoza. Like that to me is the ultimate cheat code. You get a guy that smart running your defense, he could change their entire defensive makeup. Right? This is a big deal if you're a Cowboys fan getting this type of player.
- [16:44]
Chad
Well, that's the question. Like, is it game changing enough for the Cowboys to leapfrog the Eagles and the nfcs?
- [16:53]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, it's, it's still, there's still so many unknowns with them, but if they, if they do get Pickens back and if they do make, you know, another move, try to get another trade for another player for that defense, because it still feels like maybe they're one or two players short. But they've been attacking. Not only last year, they adding guys obviously, and trading draft picks, but even this year in the off season, they've spent money, try to try to upgrade that defense. So it's, it's all about Pickens, really. Like they need him to come back. He was such a huge deal for that offense. It was, it was really incredible. Him and CD It's Just, it's impossible to take both of them away. One of them is going to get theirs.
- [17:29]
Chad
Detroit. All throughout the year last year, we kept waiting for Detroit's offensive line to get a little bit better. We kept betting into the Lions thinking that their offense was going to turn around because their offensive line was going to get better. It never did. First pick, Blake Miller, tackle from Clemson. They also had tremendous depth issues. Like, when you're losing 13, 14 guys for the year on defense, you're going to have issues. That's what happened to them last year. So they went offensive tackle, edge, linebacker, cornerback. That, to me, I can't evaluate the players, but in terms of strategy, seemed like the Lions did exactly what they had to do.
- [18:14]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, this is an easy one. I was a Detroit fan, I'd be very happy. It's like you guys needed to address the O line. They're trying their best. They took with the best player. They think they have graded at that position. I'd be pretty excited if I was a Detroit fan because it's just if they would have gone another position, I would have been upset. Like, they had to go. Offensive line, you have to protect deck golf. We just know. We have the data. He is a totally different quarterback when he has time in the pocket to set his feet and find open guys. It's just when he gets pressure, he totally. He's totally different player. So, yeah, the fact that they went O line and they just went all defense, I love it. It's like it's. You don't need to keep approving your offense line. You have. I mean, you do need to prove your office line, but weapon wise, you don't need another receiver, you don't need another tight end, you don't need another running back. Stop wasting picks on those positions. Just address the defense, which feels like every year we're talking about. Chad. They just have so many injuries, so many guys going down. They need depth. So this. This to me, couldn't have dreamt a better. A better draft for this Detroit team.
- [19:13]
Chad
Yeah, like, to me, this was a draft of confidence. Teams that know what they need. Teams that know who they are. They're not trying to please a fan base with some fancy name. They're just trying to fill the holes because they know how close they can be and that the window is closing. Quick word from our friends at Hard Rock bet. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet, the official sportsbook partner of the Orlando Magic. And speaking of the Magic, they're back in the NBA playoffs where the lights are brighter, the pressure is higher, and every possession can change a series. And on Hard Rock Bet, every night is your shot to score a major bucket with win or go home energy on the hardwood. Same game parlays are a great way to get in on the excitement, and Hard Rock Bet gives you tons of ways to stack your picks into SGPs built for the playoffs. And if you're ever late to tip off, don't worry. Hard Rock Bet lets you live bet all game long. Try your first bet on Hard Rock Bet today and you can score $150 in bonus bets. If you win. Just place a $5 bet and if it hits, you get not only your winnings but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. And while Hard Rock Bet is Florida's only legal sportsbook, you don't have to be in Florida to join the party. Hard Rock Bet is also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan, with more states on the way. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today and let's get the party started. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC and all other states must be 21 or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play, terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833, playwise in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-809 with it. In Ohio, call 1-800-my reset gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia. Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's just a regular guy.
- [21:33]
Shaquille O'Neal
People never believe me when I say I'm just like them. I take out the trash, do dishes, and I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or osa. And a lot of adults with obesity also struggle with moderate to severe osa. You know those scary breathing interruptions during sleep, the loud snoring, choking and daytime fatigue? I knew I had to talk to my doctor. Don't sleep on the symptoms. Learn more at don'tsleeponosa.com this information is
- [21:58]
Chad
provided by Lilly, a medicine company. Hate cleaning, hate scrubbing, Hate dishwashing? Bro, we got you millions of videos about smart cleaning hacks will make your chores feel like a breeze. Download TikTok and check it out.
- [22:15]
Simon Hunter
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- [22:43]
Chad
and ways to save Green Bay packers look, they didn't have a pick in the first round so they didn't get a lot of attention this week. And when they did pick their first three picks, rounds two, three and four, they went cornerback, defensive tackle, edge rusher, a center and then they went back to defensive tackle back and then they went place kicker. So they had six picks and they focused basically on defense and special teams. I think they did the same exact thing the Lions did. They know what their weaknesses are, they're trying to fix them
- [23:25]
Simon Hunter
and they're a sleeper team. I know everyone swears AJ is going to the Patriots. I've heard whispers about Green really other team that's sneakily in the conversation for AJ Brown and obviously the Eagles already have a relationship. They just traded for Wicks from the Screen Bay team. But when I heard that it made sense after I saw what happened in the draft. Right they didn't really do anything offensively like to them they love their offense. That comeback from from the Bears in the playoffs which is haunting their dreams clearly was all in the defense. Right. The defense fell apart and they also had terrible injuries as well as the offense last year. So I think they're from the right viewpoint. It's like if we can get healthier if that AJ stuff is real. I mean I would love that from they desperately need a number one like him on the outside and you know I know is with Reed. I know they just paid somebody some receiver but like they're they got golden from last year. Like they have the weapons offensively the defense is what they need to address. So I'm right there with you. It's like we have no idea if any of these guys are going to hit but the fact that they're trying to address it and just fill all these holes they have right now. We know when Parsons in there fully healthy that defense was an absolute game record just on a tear for the first five, six weeks of the season until all the injuries caught up to him. So I like to keep a keep trying to attack that defense which just seems like year in year out that's Been a weakness for them.
- [24:42]
Chad
That NFC north could be so good next year. Like, my goodness, if, if one or two of these picks pan out and sort of have the ability to play make for defensively, for defensively for the packers or if Blake Miller works out for the Lions and all of a sudden their offensive line has changed dramatically. Like, those are things that just completely transform both of those teams. They might not end up losing to the Bears the way they did last year. We talked about Ty Simpson to the Rams. Look, this, this felt a little bit like a draft where they feel really good about everything and they're drafting for depth.
- [25:22]
Simon Hunter
It could be just from a ranch perspective. I would hate this draft with a passion. I just. You already have five good tight ends. We really just took another.
- [25:33]
Chad
I know.
- [25:34]
Simon Hunter
I get why fans were pulling their hair out where it's like, my God, we were a two pointer, two point conversion away from being the number one seed and probably going to the super bowl last year. Like, can't try to get a dn, can't try to get another receiver. Like the lemon pick honestly did make sense to me. For them, it's like if they had lemonade. Puka and Devonte, oh my God, for Stafford, like, that makes sense. But instead they took a guy who's gonna ride on their bench for two years. So I understand why Rams fans were upset and they're getting a lot of pushback, but like you just said, Chad, it's less need the organization. You just have to trust them. And that's. That's what they're doing, right? They took the best available on their draft grade board. If it doesn't make sense to us to take a quarterback, then a tight end. That's their, their, their highest graded guys. But it's just bizarre. Like in a draft that you only had five picks, you go quarterback, tight end, and then, you know, it's. It's just weird. Like, offensive line made sense, right? That was in the third round.
- [26:32]
Chad
Yeah.
- [26:33]
Simon Hunter
Receiver, D end ended. It's just the tackle ended. It's just a, A little bit of a weird draft for me. For a ramp scene that just feels like they're right there and they need a guy that could get in there right now and help this team. But I get it. You always need to keep an eye on that future. And that's. That's what this draft was. This draft truly was just simply for the future. Not right now.
- [26:52]
Chad
The Minnesota Vikings, nine picks. Four of the first five were on defense. I mean, look at the Vikings. Seem like A team where it doesn't really matter. Their defense had holes for sure last year. They had trouble getting to the quarterback unless they were blitzing. They had a lot of trouble in the defensive backfield. But the issue was quarterback. Like if, if J.J. mcCarthy is a little bit better when he's not injured, there's less pressure on the defense. Can Kyler Murray end up being like, that's really who they drafted. Right. You could argue their number one overall pick was Kyler Murray. And that's the only thing that really matters. Everything else is window dressing to me.
- [27:47]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. And I'm. I'm probably the same bit of easy words like I don't know enough about these guys they drafted to really give an opinion. I do obviously know Banks and that, that to me is good. Address the defense, like you said, there were some games where they simply could not stop the run. They just could not stop it. And you know, Harrison Smith coming back. I know a lot of the, the fans of the Vikings wanted them to take a safety because they don't even know if they're. Their best safety is coming back. He might be retiring. So, yeah, it's. It's a draft. You look at it where they, they clearly just went, we're loading up on the defense. If Kyler or JJ can't succeed with the weapons we've already taken over the last three years offensively, that's not on us. Right. Because they do have the receivers, they have the offensive line. It's. The weapons are all there. Like you just said, Chad, it's all about the execution from the quarterback position. So, yeah, this, this draft to me is. Is one where it's like, okay, gotta address the defense, have a ton of holes, have a ton of people leaving. Right. They've had a. Guys they've traded and lost them free agency. So yeah, their, their draft honestly made sense to me. Just going very, very heavy into the defense.
- [28:48]
Chad
The New Orleans Saints, I think we have to basically decide that Tyler Schock is who they believe in because they went to get him a weapon with Jordan Tyson in the top 10, the kid from Arizona State as the wide receiver. Then they followed that up, getting him a. Getting him a tight end Oscar Delp from Georgia at the third round. And they also went to guard in the fourth round and then another receiver in the back of the fourth round. They're just saying Tyler Shock is our guy and this is how we're going to support him. Are you feeling like the Saints are a sleeper team in the South?
- [29:28]
Simon Hunter
They could Be. But we've talked about like it's so good. I mean this is going to be hyperbolic to people, but I, I think this is the best the NFC has ever been in my lifetime. Like the Bears, the North is brutally tough. The west is brutal tough. The NFC east, which you can say is a bad division. Jalen hurts, Jaden Daniels, Dak Prescott, giving or take, they're all rated pretty highly at the quarterback position. And now you have people in national media picking the Giants to come out of east or to at least make the playoffs. Like that's a real conversation. People actually believe in the Giants right now. So it's like I, I can't get over how tough the NFC is. And then you look at this division with Atlanta, the Saints, Carolina and the Bucks. I think me and you both agree. Chad, we really don't know any four of these teams could hit. It could win this division. Like if it breaks. Right? Like if Tua finds it. Yeah. Could it, Could Atlanta pull it off? Sure. But of all the teams, I probably put Atlanta at the lowest because of the questions I have right now. The quarterback position. Me and you are probably the same. Bill. We have a lot of questions obviously about Chuck and he's just gonna be a one hit wonder, right? The tape, all the offseason, these guys are gonna be setting the tape. They're going to make it very difficult for him and Kellen Moore. But the Saints, like you just said, they are showing to you they're all in on this kid and them going through receivers as well in the draft. I love it. It's like, okay, we're just trying to hopefully hit on one of these guys for him and for the future and let him grow with this kid as his receivers. So the Saints could either win this division or have the number two pick next year and take Archie Manning. Like that to me is that's what I see with this team. They could fall off an absolute cliff next year because they basically got hot just the end of the end of the year. Me and Chad were just back up the Brinks truck fading them for the first four weeks of the season. They were horrible. So they could be a bottom feeding team or they could easily win this division. It's all about Chuck like we just talked about. It's. It's a really fun upside team.
- [31:21]
Chad
Well look, you mentioned the Giants and they're a compliment to the Giants in the same way that they're all in on shock in New Orleans. They're all in on Jackson. Dart doesn't it feel premature to be saying that the Giants are all of a sudden contenders in the NFC East. I get Harbaugh. I get the new coach. Different attitude, different set of priorities, how he's gonna organize that team. But it's still Jackson Dart who couldn't be knocked out of any game at any time. I just don't know why there's so much momentum for this team from national media.
- [32:06]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. And I could eat this in three months. But right now, all the pros I talk to, it's very few and far in between that are actually heavily backing this team. Team and excited for him. Right. It's a lot of people back the new coach. Bump. Right.
- [32:19]
Chad
So it is just the media.
- [32:20]
Simon Hunter
Yeah.
- [32:21]
Chad
Like I'm with the wise guys here. None of this makes sense to me. Like it's not a good roster. It hasn't been a good roster. I'm not sold on Jackson Dart and Harbaugh is not going to be the miracle worker who turns his team around in a year.
- [32:35]
Simon Hunter
And why does. Why does Harbaugh get all these good graces? He was with no organization, with an amazing front office and he didn't win. Yeah. That's the complete opposite of the Giants. The Giants and the jets, they have the least amount of wins in the last 10 years. Those two organizations. 32nd, 31st and the least amount of wins horribly run organizations right now. So I'm right there with you, Chad. I. I couldn't believe it's. It's not just one or two people. Right. It's multiple people now are trying to give this Giants team some credence and some hype. And I already told you where I'm at. It's one of my favorite unders. So I already hit it at seven and a half. It gets up to eight. Eight and a half. It's going to be a pretty heavily bad spot for me. I'm right there with you. Like Dart, he hasn't proven he can stay healthy and they have so many holes on this team. And Reese might be a great pick, but he might not be in a D end. If that's true. They've taken a DN in the first round, but four out of five last years.
- [33:28]
Chad
Yeah. Thibodeau and then they will Thibodeau and then Carter and then they traded for Burns and then they added Reese.
- [33:36]
Simon Hunter
It just doesn't make sense right there. They have horrible cornerbacks and I mean Malik Neighbors is an incredible weapon on offense. They probably should have done more to help that offense. Right. So. Yeah. For this draft, I would say the respix. Nice. Right. Because a lot of people had that. That was always, if you felt to them, right. The fact that a team probably should have taken him in the Cardinals and instead took a running back. Yeah. On the graded board, Reese is a much better pick. But you know, the fact that you get him and the pick you trade away or the pick you get from Cincinnati or take an offensive lineman, that. That makes me happy. It's like, okay, at least they're trying to help out this kid. Dark, because that's the first pick. Didn't make sense. Where it's like, I get it, you're trying to help the defense, but you need to, if you believe in the quarterback, just push the chips and go all in. You should have at that pick five, you could have took Tate the receiver. Now you got neighbors on one side, Tate and the other. And then you take an offensive tackle. That's. That's pretty nice to be back in your quarterback with that. But again, I can't hate the respect, right? He's a highly talented kid and they could have screwed up those draft picks. To me, they didn't. They nailed the first round. The fact that they are going to be getting better and I get why the new. The media pundits want them to be better. Right. We want New York to be good at football. It's the biggest market in football. But they just seems like they can't get out of the way. Get out of their way in the sense that it feels like we're a year too early here. They need some more time, in my opinion, the Giants.
- [35:02]
Chad
I feel like when the Giants are good, it doesn't have the same impact as the Eagles or the Bears or the Packers. Like, it's just a different. New York is a Yankees in Nick's town. To me, that's what drives the excitement for other leagues. When the Yankees are good and the city gets behind the Yankees, that's when baseball gets exciting. When the Knicks are good and MSG is amped up to the rafters, that's when the NBA is great. To me, the Giants are a characterless team. And I don't mean they have bad character. I mean, you're playing in the Meadowlands. The stadium is like. The stadium is irrelevant. It doesn't get loud. People come late, they leave early. It's a shitty environment. The Giants being good doesn't amp up the league in the same way that other places, when they get loud, amp up the league, I guess, is my.
- [35:56]
Simon Hunter
I wish I could agree with you, but unfortunately it's. It's not true. They're the Giants. They do move the needle when they're good. They are beloved. Beloved. Like when I literally grew up through it, those two Super Bowls. I worked on the Jersey shore, the TV show, every beach house. Jeff had a Giants flag. Everyone was repping Eli jerseys, Plaxico jerseys, the whole nine yards, Strahan jerseys. It was everywhere. That's the organization, what you just talked about. That's how much they've ruined football in New York City because that's how bad the jets in New York have been. You just don't see that anymore. Like, I'm with you. I don't see New York gear like I used to. It's more often now. I'm going to see Knicks jerseys.
- [36:35]
Chad
Yeah.
- [36:36]
Simon Hunter
So you're right about that. But they're waiting for that right player. Right. Like Odell Beckham's the type of guy, he could only have that moment in New York City if he had that same catch for the Arizona Cardinals. It's not the same thing on a Monday Night Football because it is New York. It amplifies everything. It's the biggest media conglomerate in. In America. So they've just lost their way organization. So I'm with you. It's. It's dead like it is. Not like it used to be. But they're waiting. They're in hibernation right now. They're begging for rejection. Dark to lead them out of the darkness.
- [37:07]
Chad
You know who hasn't lost their way? Philadelphia Eagles overall, Malachi Lemon, Eli Stowers, like top of the draft, two guys. We talked about this with Derrick Brown. You said it, I thought brilliantly the other day. They are high floor guys. We don't know what their ceiling is, but they are going to be really competent football players who on the level should be consummate professionals.
- [37:36]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. It just, it feels. That's what I love so much about how is it Feels like he really trusts his coaching staff, where he's like, I'm going to get these guys who have the talent. It's up to you. Make them into the best football players they can possibly be. And you know, the Lemon trade up. I would say any other organization, you could get a little weary about it, right? Trading up with a divisional foe to go get a guy. But when it's Howie, it's like, okay, he must have good reason here. He must really love this guy. And it's not a need. Right? It doesn't. We don't. We Already have a number one if AJ Leaves in devonte Smith. But that's what I love about Howie. It's like he just always wants to go take the best player available and never reach for a guy or overdraft a player. It's just, can we get the best guy we have on our highest grade board? So, yeah, I don't need to beat it. And. Right. People know my view. I just. Most people have the same view. It's just, I'm with you. I. I can't wait if I was another team until how he retires. It just seems like every year he gets better at his craft and he gets. He grows more confidence. My favorite thing I saw about how he was. He's gonna interview and he talks on years where he doesn't have, you know, say they take a guy in the second round, they have another pick again for 40 picks, he'll go take laps and walk around the field outside without a cell phone. Chad. So he's not texting and calling people to try to trade up and get rid of draft picks. He just says he's addicted to it. He always wants to be on the clock and always wants to be taken, guys. And that's the kind of guy you want running your front office, right? Someone that's just. They live and die for the draft. They know that this is their Super Bowl. So he. He felt like he nailed this one. And, you know, I was hoping we're gonna get more defensive guys, but I'm never gonna complain about getting, arguably, some people's opinions, the best receiver in the class and the best tight end in the class. So, yeah, it looks like he did pretty good in the first two rounds.
- [39:16]
Chad
Let's do a quick word from ZBiotics. Matt. Spring is here, and that means warmer weather, longer days, and cocktails on the patio. But after a few stiff drinks, we don't bounce back like we used to. Sometimes we've had to choose between a great night or a great next day. That was before we had pre alcohol zebiotics. Pre alcohol probiotic drink is the world's first genetically engineered Probiotic, invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. It's a buildup of this byproduct, not dehydration, that's to blame for rough days after drinking. Pre alcohol produces an enzyme to break down this byproduct. Just remember to make pre alcohol your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll feel your best tomorrow. Matt, did you see Zebiotics out in the wild last week? I did. I have enjoyed Zoobiotics myself for several months now, and I was out with a friend and he, we were in like a, like a booth and he, he turned and drank something, which is
- [40:41]
Simon Hunter
like an unusual thing to see somebody
- [40:43]
Chad
do in a bar setting. I said, well, what was that? He goes, I'm just drinking this thing that helps when we're out drinking.
- [40:50]
Simon Hunter
And I said, Is it ZBionics? He said, yeah, yeah. Have you heard of it? I said, yeah, I had one before we came out. So I was already very familiar with
- [40:59]
Chad
the, with the work of this tremendous product because it's what I need to feel my best the next day, which, you know, we don't bounce back like we used to. Like you, said Jeb. We do not. From draft day to basketball playoff games, don't let a rough next day keep you on the sidelines. Drink pre alcohol to stay ahead of the game and make the most of every sunny Saturday. Go to ZBiotics.com sharpersquare to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use Sharp or Square at checkout. Zebiotics is backed with a 100% money back guarantee, so if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked. Remember to head to ZBiotics.com sharpersquare and use the code Sharp or Square at checkout for 15% off. Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's just a regular guy.
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Shaquille O'Neal
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Chad
provided by Lilly a medicine company. Busy morning or a slow sip latte kind of day?
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Simon Hunter
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Simon Hunter
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Chad
Shop now@nespreso.com I look the biggest Bet in terms of Price that you gave out was over two running over one and a half running backs in the first round at plus 500. The Seattle Seahawks made you wait, but they paid it off by drafting Jadarian Price. This the number two running back at Notre Dame who still got into the first round. Look, they just won the super bowl and their, their biggest off season moves were Kobe Bryant, their safety, leaving for the Bears and Kenneth Edwards, the Super Bowl MVP leaving for the Chiefs. So what do they do? They draft a running back in the first round, they draft a safety in the second round. This to me feels like really smart drafting, knowing your roster and understanding sort of how to play within the framework of the game that you've been presented with. I like what they did.
- [43:56]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. Like we said, these, these well run organizations, it carries over to the draft, right. It's what makes them so great. It all starts at the draft, getting the right players, right personalities. And like you said, they had guys leave and they just filled those holes, right. Guys they project out the guys they really love. And you know, Price, which I didn't have a first round grade on him, I, I was joking with Chad before the show. I wish I put more on it because it was like the most open known thing in all of sports media, right. That they were going to take a running back or a DN if that's who fell to them at that pick. And it's like it worked out, right. Everyone thought they were going to trade down. They didn't. They stayed right there, took the guy they wanted. And you know, the Seattle team, people say it was a little fluky what happened last year with them making it to the super bowl. Which you know, any year, you can
- [44:44]
Chad
see it, any year is fluke, right?
- [44:46]
Simon Hunter
Well, in the sense that, that it came down a two pointer, right?
- [44:49]
Chad
Yeah. It's always going to be something that,
- [44:53]
Simon Hunter
that's once in a lifetime. We will never see a backward pass that didn't go backwards actually went forward and the guy walked in for a two point conversion to win their division. That was like once in a lifetime. But like we said, the, you know, Sam Darnold, what do you have 14 interceptions last year. You saw the second half, they wanted to be more of a run heavy team. So it makes me happy to see that they try and go get a running back to lean into that. Right. Charbonnet is a really good back. He's used to splitting carries. He's not never been a lead back.
- [45:24]
Chad
Also, who knows when he's coming back because of the torn acl.
- [45:27]
Simon Hunter
That's so true. I didn't think about it. So, you know, it's a need that they had and they took the guy they wanted in Price and everything. I've seen this kid could be an absolute freak. Right. The questions with him are receiving out of the backfield in his pass blocking, which with the right coaching, all the money these teams have, they can, they can. I'm sure they'll be able to figure that out if that's truly his biggest weakness. But yeah. What else can you say about this Seattle team? It just feels like they went into the draft, they had a couple needs, they didn't, the holes they needed to fill, and they got every single guy they wanted to fill in those holes. So I'm sure they are elated right now and so is their fan base.
- [46:04]
Chad
Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers. John lynch was basically getting heckled by the media in San Francisco, asking why he reached the way he did for players in the draft this year, which seems to be a habit that we have talked about again and again and again. Last year you talked about the Niners opportunity to win the division, really coming down to how well the rookies played. Everybody got hurt, so it kind of didn't play out that way. But again, it's going to be up to the development of some very young players who not a lot of people think the Niners did a good job of evaluating.
- [46:44]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, they're looking thin just overall because like you just said, lynch has reached over the years and he's had some big misses. And you know, normally you trade away a bunch of first round picks. You take Trey Lance, your job is over in this league. But Brock Purdy, the saving grace is what's.
- [47:02]
Chad
Yeah, right.
- [47:03]
Simon Hunter
And has kept him around all this time. And you know, in this draft, who are we to say who's reaching for. I'm just saying that people who do this for a living, that study these players, go on TV and talk about it, they're all saying that they are reaching for these certain different players. So that's what we have to go off of. And you know, I, I look at this team and IUK situation, if that was happening in Philadelphia, that would be on the front of the newspaper every single day.
- [47:28]
Chad
Oh yeah.
- [47:29]
Simon Hunter
And they've done a really, really good job of just keeping in the background. No one's really talking about that often, but it's, it's a huge deal. They gave this guy a ton of money and he's never showed up and he's just basically being held by them hostage because they hate him too. They're like, we're not releasing you, so you can go to Washington and go play with your friends. Like you're staying here. And if you want to do nothing good, get fat. I don't know if you saw pictures of him. Yeah, yeah, he's put on £30. Not. Not a good £30 of muscle. It's. It's all in his stomach and his face. So 49ers, we've talked about this. They are always the seesaw team. And last year they were also a play away from being the 1 seed despite all their injuries. Yeah. Now that's not going to be true. Right. They have. They have a pretty tough schedule and it's. See if they can stay healthy. Yeah, they can be a good team. Right. They have some of the best coaches in all football, defensively and offensively. But I look at this draft and a lot of these guys, they took around ahead of where not just I had graded. People that do scouting for a living had graded. So you're either a genius, John lynch, or you truly are the village idiot. And you think you're smarter than everyone else and you keep reaching in the draft for these guys and you're just. All you keep doing is sending your franchise back. So it'll be interesting to see where they go from here because obviously John lynch has nailed some picks. That's why they are still a good team. But I think Shannon covers up a lot of his mistakes and now the Salah has left that defense against. Can be interest to see what this defense is like this season because they do have a lot of young guys on that defense.
- [48:57]
Chad
Tampa Bay Bucks. Warren Sapp, esque. Deja vu moment. Ruben Bane drops to the middle of the first round. We had talked a lot about Reuben Bane and I don't know if sort of the news about the tr. The. The crack, the car crash he was in in which someone was killed a couple years ago that just started to leak out or become sort of bigger news. In the days leading up to the draft. He was projected anywhere from, you know, long shot four to middle of the first round. The Bucks got him there. It seemed like a little bit of a drop. He's one of those guys. To me, every time I saw him play, he dominated. I'm obviously not a scout, I'm just a rat average fan. But I am a guy who has followed the NFL long enough and reported on the NFL long enough to know that when a guy with that kind of talent also shows up on tape. There's very. It's talk about a floor. There's just a floor there. I feel like they got a great pick now. Is it going to make a difference for them in the NFC South? Who knows? But I feel good for them that they got him at 15.
- [50:08]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. I love the pick. And I. I think what you said is true. It might be some outfield stuff, but a lot of it, too, is measurable stuff. Right. And that's why, at the end of the day, a lot of these teams, they do care about that. And he's basically his arm length. I think he's in the one percentile. That's not the good one percentile.
- [50:22]
Chad
Yeah, yeah, right.
- [50:23]
Simon Hunter
One percentile. If he has insanely short arms, I think they call it T Rex arms, which is just a brutal thing to have hanging over you, being called T Rex arms. But he does have. He has a weird body that way. And I'm with you. It's like, I get the measurable stuff matters, but the football stuff matters. Like, he is, like you said, through and through, a great football player, a smart football player that just. He sees things other guys don't. He can bend away, bend a certain way that a lot of guys can't when they're rushing the quarterback and ankle flexibility. Yeah. And that's why I was just like, yeah, I was shocked to see him fall to 15. So, you know, the Bucks, to me, that's a steal. I. I heard whispers to the Eagles that was another guy that Howie was going to try to trade up and get. So the, The Bucks taking them there, that's. That's the dream, Right? Just have a guy like him like that fall to you because he doesn't have the greatest measurables and he might have done things off field. He's a changed man. And we've seen the talent and the producer production on the field could be a home run. Right. The kind of guy that in five years now, when they redo the draft, he's like a top three, top four picks. So I'd be pretty happy as a Bucks fan. And just the rest of the draft. Right. Trotter, that's another good pick. Right. A linebacker. And you know, the wide receiver position for this Bucks team, every year they're taking guys. So I have no idea if this is a good pick, taking a wide receiver in the third round, but I think this Bucks team, they. They've kind of shown their hand here that now that Mike Evans has left, they're getting a little older in the wide receiving corps. A mecca Buka. They do love them, but they want another guy running aside him. So I feel like every year now we're going to see them just trying to take a guy in these 3, 4 round, see if they can hit on one of these guys. So yeah, if I'm a Bucks fan, I'd be pretty happy with this draft.
- [52:08]
Chad
One guy with the Washington commanders who had been connected to them the entire time was Sunny Styles at Ohio State. Everyone loves Sonny Styles. The commanders need help on defense. They got Sonny Styles. They got exactly what they wanted. To me, that's really interesting, the pick you should make. Did you know that Katron Allen, who was their pick in the sixth round? The running back from Penn State. He's the all time leading rusher at Penn State. I read that and I was shocked that that's the guy who is the all time leading rusher considering the hall of Fame running backs they've had at Penn State.
- [52:52]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, you just nailed a lot of those. All those hall of Fame running backs either left early or it just was, it was just, it wasn't played as many games. Right. There's just so many games now in college football. But yeah, another pick I was miserable about. I, I knew they're gonna get some great defender, right? Having that seventh pick.
- [53:08]
Chad
Yeah.
- [53:09]
Simon Hunter
Part of me was like, well, maybe it'll take a receiver here, which I was really hoping for. But no, Sunny Styles is just the best pick, the right pick. There's. Everyone could be a bus, right? You never know. He just feels like another guaranteed guy. Like at worst he's a Pro Bowler and the peak would be all Pro, right. It's just his floor feels so low. He's so football smart, so athletic, long. I mean all of it. He's just, he's, he could be an instant leader of that defense and that's just a huge pick for Washington because their defense is just awful. Like the year they made that super bowl run, you know, their, their strength probably was the linebacking core. But was it Bobby Waggoner? I think it was. It was, yeah. That's just older and it's like, okay, last year you saw his legs. Everything really caught up to him. He just looked like a 35 year old linebacker. So yeah, home run. If you're, if you're a Washington fan like the rest of your draft can be terrible. You nail that first round pick on a linebacker that could potentially be an all pro. Who cares? Like that's exactly what that defenses need a true leader and a young guy to lead that team.
- [54:13]
Chad
Simon we started the show talking about Bobby Wagner as a brilliant pick for the Seattle Seahawks. We end it with the Bobby Wagner reference. That's the beauty of going full circle. That's what we do here. We're going to go through the AFC draft on Thursday with James Weaver from Sports Info Solutions. This has been Sharper Square, part of the Volume Podcast Network. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square, sharp or square like this video. Subscribe to the channel. Download us on Spotify, Apple Pods, wherever you get your pods. Rate, review, subscribe, Leave us five stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time. Love you.
- [54:57]
Simon Hunter
I think it's a typical Colt move.
- [54:59]
Chad
I mean, here's a team that needed
- [55:00]
Simon Hunter
a franchise quarterback to pass up a Trent Dilfer when all you have is Jim Harbaugh. Give me a break. That's why the Colts are picking second every year in the draft, not battling for the super bowl like other clubs. This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.