The Top-10 Domino Effect: How Jalon Walker and a Run on Edge Rushers Could Shake Up the First Round

Summary

Summary of "The Top-10 Domino Effect: How Jalen Walker and a Run on Edge Rushers Could Shake Up the First Round"

The McShay Show Episode released on April 22, 2025, features NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay and co-host Mensch delving deep into the potential shifts and strategies influencing the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft. The episode, titled "The Top-10 Domino Effect: How Jalen Walker and a Run on Edge Rushers Could Shake Up the First Round," explores how standout edge rushers like Jalen Walker are altering the draft landscape and impacting team selections.

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Introduction: Setting the Stage [00:00 – 06:20]

Todd McShay kicks off the episode by highlighting the dynamic nature of the current draft season. He emphasizes the importance of understanding team needs and the "domino effect" that top-tier edge rushers are having on the first-round selections. The hosts express excitement about the impending draft and set the tone for an in-depth analysis of key prospects and team strategies.

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The Emergence of Jalen Walker [06:20 – 19:35]

Jalen Walker's Dominance: McShay and Mensch discuss Jalen Walker's exceptional performance and how his prowess as an edge rusher is making him a must-take prospect. Todd states, “At what point is Jalen Walker just too good? No matter what your needs are, you just have to take him” [13:15]. Mensch echoes this sentiment, questioning when Walker's value becomes irresistible for teams, potentially reshaping the top picks.

Impact on Draft Order: The hosts analyze how Walker’s standing could prompt teams to prioritize edge rushers over other positions, leading to a cascade of selections influenced by his availability. Todd notes, “These elite players are starting to fall because you got Warren, Gentry, Loveland... essentially shifting the focus” [14:23].

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Run on Edge Rushers: Shifting Priorities [19:35 – 35:21]

Team Needs and Strategies: McShay delves into how teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears are adjusting their draft boards to accommodate the rising trend of selecting edge rushers. For instance, he mentions, “With Coach Liam Cohen in Jacksonville, they need a weapon to complement Trevor Lawrence” [09:03], suggesting that drafting a top edge rusher becomes a strategic necessity.

Potential Picks and Scenarios: The discussion includes potential scenarios for various teams, highlighting how selecting one elite edge rusher affects subsequent picks. Todd elaborates, “If Jalen Walker goes to the Raiders at six, the Jets might look to Membu or someone else” [19:18].

Depth of the Edge Rusher Class: Mensch comments on the depth and quality of the current edge rusher class, stating, “These guys are too damn good to let go” [14:03], indicating that teams have to act swiftly to secure top talent before they fall to later rounds.

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Team-Specific Analyses [35:21 – 54:22]

Chicago Bears: The Bears are a focal point, with Todd predicting Ashton Gentry as a potential pick at ten, bolstering their defensive line. “Ashton Gentry being a Chicago Bear at ten would bolster their defense significantly” [26:16].

Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints: McShay discusses Carolina’s likely focus on edge rushers like Mikel Williams, while the Saints may prioritize quarterback Jackson Dart or edge positions, anticipating a game of strategy and timing during their selections [20:20].

Cincinnati and Atlanta: The conversation addresses Cincinnati's potential picks between Shamar Stewart and Mike Green, and Atlanta's interest in James Pierce and other edge talents, reflecting the widespread demand for defensive linemen [30:33].

San Francisco and Arizona: San Francisco's needs are analyzed with a focus on edge rushers, while Arizona looks to address cornerback needs despite the run on edge rushers, indicating the balancing act teams must perform [30:49].

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Mensch's Insights and Predictions [54:22 – 61:42]

Undervalued Offense and Running Backs: Mensch provides valuable insights into the running back class, predicting a significant run in the second and third rounds similar to the 2017 draft. He emphasizes the depth and versatility of the current running back pool, stating, “23 running backs heard their name called on Saturday” [51:23].

Key Running Backs to Watch: He highlights prospects like Travion Henderson and Omarion Hampton as potential first-round picks, despite their cartridges being pushed to later rounds due to the overwhelming depth [44:35].

Offensive Line and Receivers: Mensch discusses Jared Wilson as an underrated center who could be a standout pick in the second round, advocating for teams to recognize his potential early on [59:53]. He also points out receivers like Ty Felton and Pat Bryant who may be undervalued based on their combine performances but possess significant NFL potential [56:17].

Emerging Talents: The hosts touch upon emerging talents like Jalen Noel and Trey Harris, who could become pivotal players in the second and third rounds, further illustrating the depth of the draft pool [57:01].

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Notable Quotes

• Todd McShay [13:15]: “At what point is Jalen Walker just too good? No matter what your needs are, you just have to take him.”

• Mensch [14:03]: “Everyone wants Jalen Walker. So is that six? Is that seven? Where's Jalen Walker?”

• Todd McShay [19:18]: “If Jalen Walker goes to the Raiders at six, the Jets might look to Membu or someone else.”

• Mensch [51:23]: “23 running backs heard their name called on Saturday. Get ready for that.”

• Mensch [59:53]: “Jared Wilson is by far the best center in this class, right? Yes, without question.”

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Conclusion: Navigating the Draft Dynamics [61:42 – End]

As the episode wraps up, Todd and Mensch reiterate the importance of staying informed and adaptable during the draft process. They encourage listeners to engage with upcoming shows, including mock drafts and live streams, to navigate the complexities of the draft effectively. The hosts emphasize that while edge rushers like Jalen Walker are pivotal, the breadth of talent across positions ensures a competitive and unpredictable first round.

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Final Takeaway

This episode of The McShay Show provides a comprehensive analysis of how the surge in elite edge rushers like Jalen Walker is reshaping the first-round dynamics of the NFL Draft. Todd McShay and Mensch offer nuanced insights into team strategies, player valuations, and the overall depth of the draft pool, making it an invaluable resource for fans and analysts alike looking to understand the evolving landscape of NFL talent acquisition.

Transcript

[Todd McShay]

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[Mensch]

I'm good, man.

[Todd McShay]

Let's roll it, Tuck. Here we are, Stevie Boy. Our studios.

[Mensch]

Big week.

[Todd McShay]

Our home for the week. I love this. Come out to LA. Have fun in Green Bay. I heard 37 degrees at one point in rain. I've done that in Cleveland. I did that in Philly. I did it in Chicago. We actually had to move this set. Schefter and I had to run up the hill to the to the auditorium and carry the draft coverage for like an hour. They moved the entire set. Because it wasn't just when we were sitting there on the, on the lake. Rain was coming in sideways, frozen solid, notes soaked. So we're here in LA and we're enjoying it. Big week this week. Let's just get right to it. AFC and NFC mailbag and mail bags are in your mailboxes. And I'm looking at it now like, if you don't subscribe, what are you doing? We went through all 32 teams. We answered questions, as Tucker keeps saying, the response was overwhelming. So we had to break it up into two different ones. If you don't subscribe, go to now McShay report. You can get the mailbag for the AFC and the nfc. We just had a huge draft buzz breakdown of all the conversations I've had over the last really couple weeks. But this past weekend it was wild. Some of the information coming out teams are, they've set their boards. Okay. This is how the process goes. They set their boards, they get their final checks with the psychologists, the medical and some of the character stuff. Okay. And then what they do is they've got the board set, they've gone through all those, those side things and now they're playing the mock draft game. So now they want information from me, from everyone that, you know pedals in this information. And so you have calls and conversations. So I think that accurately reflects all of the different conversations I've been having tonight. Okay. Tonight, Tuesday night, my top 300 reveal. It's out. It's going to be out tonight. All right. We're in a. As it comes out at the same time. McShay report. And, and we're gonna have a show later tonight. We're working this week. I mean, it's nice on the beach. I know you want to get your tan game on and everything, but we're working all week. Okay. Top 300 drops tonight with a show to follow. We're gonna go through superlatives, guys that are really rising. Last, last, not last second. But guys, I went back and restacked my board and I decided, you know what, I'm going back to my grades. I don't want to hear mention my ear. I don't care if I win the top 100 on HuddleReport.com this year.

[Mensch]

You care a little.

[Todd McShay]

I care a little bit. But. But it's good. It's a true representation of what the how the tape spoke to me. If you will, then Wednesday tomorrow. Okay. The mock draft reveal. I'm excited. Did a mock draft for myself last year. Didn't even get through 30 picks. Didn't even get through 20 picks. I think I did 12. And I was, what the hell am I doing? It's for myself. I'm writing it down on a piece of paper. So this is the first mock draft for the final, final product in two years and I'm excited to reveal that. What, have a show with that as well. And then really what we're all here for Thursday night live streaming. I said I want 100,000 on the live stream. I saw some of the comments. Test me, test me, tell me. I can't. We're going to live stream one hour before the, before the draft. You got to be with us. All the conversations we're having, all the latest intel. What's going to happen. Is Ted McMillan really going number five to Jacksonville Jaguars is Ashton Genti, Is he fallen? So there's going to be all those, those kind of discussions our leading up to the draft and then we'll be live streaming with you the entire time throughout the draft. So get a second screen if you have to. I get it. Put one of the networks on, get a second screen, join with us and. And then we'll have review shows on Friday night. We'll do an hour, half hour before. We're going to be with you all weekend and then yes, we're going to Resolo's house and yes, we're going to ask him to run a 40 and yes, he's probably going to want to bench press but we're going to have a lot of fun on Saturday. There it is. I'm done with the schedules. I'm hopefully done banging the table mention. I want to get into it.

[Mensch]

Let's go.

[Todd McShay]

So we had a show yesterday. We got off the plane, we flew from, from one coast to the other, Boston to Los Angeles. And we got there and I had already had all these conversations. I'm writing like my Holland's opus of all my notes right on the plane. I'm wearing you out because you're just looking.

[Mensch]

I got a text.

[Todd McShay]

Hey, by the way, folks, Mensch is a flight tracker guy. He is, he's one of those. He's one of those flight tracker. I saw him for five hours staring at the screen, expanding, collapsing. I love it. You're not alone. Apparently there's a whole society out there. But we got off the plane, we had to do an immediate show. Dan Comer are like what Dan has been able to do this week with Tucker and Eduardo and Connor and everyone on the staff like I. We're at home. I've said this from. For a while now, like we're with the right people. But to set up a. A studio in our hotel room, like we got off the plane. An hour later, we do the show and it's all the draft buzz. Now that we have a minute to breathe, we've had like, let it sit overnight. Right. I want to walk through what could happen and then start talking about the scenarios.

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

All right. So we all know Cam Ward's going number one. Write it in pen that Travis Hunter is going to Cleveland. You're going to hear all sorts of noise. And I've read some stuff today. Maybe it's Abdul Carter. Excuse me. I get it. But at the end of the day, we've got to go off the assumption that it's Travis Hunter, then it's Abdul Carter at 3 until I tell you. Or maybe Schefter breaks it or something else. Like all the information I'm getting and it's from trusted sources, is that it's going to wind up being Abdul Carter 3. Even though there are people in the Giants building, as we talked about yesterday, that are pushing for Shador Sanders. So then we get to four. As much as everyone in the league thinks it's a mistake or a reach or he's not worth it, I do think Will Campbell's gonna be the picket four for the Patriots. Now, the draft gets fascinating if it plays out like that. That's kind of chalk. Now it gets fascinating, Mensch, because there's a lot of talk about. And we went into this yesterday, so I don't want to be repetitive, but if you're only watching this and didn't get a chance to watch yesterday, I do want to explain. Everyone in the world, including myself, has been saying for a long time that Mason Graham, not Brandon Graham. I read your comments. Mason Graham, the defensive tackle for Michigan, is. Is the pick for the Jaguars. And it makes sense. Short arms. James Gladstone comes from the Rams. New GM, drafted, drafted. Braden Fisk, 32 inch arms. Kobe Turner, the 31 inch arms. They've been phenomenal. But apparently it's not the pick.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

What I'm told is you and this part of it makes sense. Okay. And I want to lay this out, and we're not going to get stuck on this too long. But you, you bring in a new head coach in Liam Cohen, who is an offensive mind, who's his number one priority getting this job. The reason he gets this job is they think he can fix Trevor Lawrence, their Thought is now, apparently information is kind of sifting its way out. We've got to get a weapon, right? Got to surround Trevor. My initial thought immediately, like, I'm sure you too, watching this, it's got to be, well, Ashton Genti. Oh, it's amazing. And Ashton Genti's kind of rumored, and I'm not saying it's not, but the name that we're hearing is Ted McMillan, the wide receiver, who I have 50th on my board.

[Mensch]

Number 50 on your board.

[Todd McShay]

Number 50 on my board. And you love that because you're going to have to scroll down and cross it off when he's the fifth pick. And that's fine. I also mentioned you go back to 2018, 2019. T. Higgins, Justin Ross, both 6 foot 4. Trevor Lawrence was the quarterback those two years combined. 4,000 yards passing to those two receivers and 42 touchdowns. He needs bigger targets, he needs bigger catch rages. So I think that, that that's the reasoning behind Ted McMillan at 5, if that is the pick. So what does that do now? That's what I'm most. I mean, we can talk about that pick when it happens on Thursday night. If it happens. What does that do now? Because you got to understand, people in the other draft rooms are like, yes, yes, right. Because, yeah, go ahead, take Tet. Take Will Campbell. Because I'm talking to teams and they don't like Tet and Will aren't sniffing the very top where we've got other guys, obviously Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. But now we got a quarterback who's not a great quarterback class that no one else is really worried about. Now we've got a wide receiver and not a great wide receiver class that nobody else is really worried where he goes. Okay, now we got an offensive tackle in a tackle class. I told you, talking to NFL people, fifth or sixth offensive tackle a year ago, okay? Quarterback would have been 5th or 6th last year. Offensive tackle would have been 5th or sixth last year. Wide receiver would have been sixth last year. Yeah, go ahead, take them. That's what the rest of the league is saying. I promise you. I've had these conversations. And so you get to Las Vegas at 6 and everyone's like, well, that's astringent, Genti.

[Mensch]

Is it?

[Todd McShay]

I don't think it is.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

And so now you're looking at this thing and there are teams behind like the Chicago Bears we'll get to in a minute that could be thrilled because maybe Ashton Gentry is going to be available. But at 6, it sounds like, it could be offensive tackle or edge. So I want to ask you. Now we get to pick seven, let's say, and go through the scenarios. Okay?

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

I told you. Ward one, hunter two, Carter three. And then after that, at four is Will Campbell.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

Five, then is Ted McMillan. So that leaves us with the board. Okay, it leaves us with a board. I should have my board here. That of. Of edge. All the edge rushers outside of Carter are still available. And Membu for the Raiders at 6.

[Mensch]

You asked me which way to go.

[Todd McShay]

I'm just curious. What's the. What's the direction? I don't want to get stuck on Vegas, but I. I think about Pete Carroll's defense. He's had smaller guys. Bruce Irvin, he's had bigger guys. Chris Clemens, they could go one of those two directions.

[Mensch]

At what point is. I mean, I think the name to keep an eye on is Georgia Edge. Jalen Walker, right? At what point is he just too good? No matter what your needs are that you just have to take him? Like, it's the same thing at three, right? You can look at the Giants roster and say, they don't need a Bull. Carter. They've got Thibodeau. They've got Brian Burns. They don't need Carter. But he's just too damn good to let go. You can't. Can't let him get past you. At what point is that? Jalen Walker? I mean, you. That's the name you didn't mention with Jacksonville that you have in the run up is. They should have considered Jaylen Walker, too, because, again, he's just too damn good. So is that six? Is that seven? Where's Jaylen Walker?

[Todd McShay]

What.

[Mensch]

At what point do we get to in the top 10 where you just have to take Jalen Walker? It doesn't matter.

[Todd McShay]

I think. I mean, that's why I mentioned Bruce Irvin. Like, it could be six. It could be six. It could be Mikel Williams, and we'll get to guys who are rising. Michael Williams is one of the guys who's absolutely rising. So let's say. Let's say for this sake. Let's say for the sake that we're going Jalen Walker, because it just makes more football sense in terms of the. Where you value the player, right? He goes. He goes six to the Raiders. Then you're at seven with the Jets. I'm hearing. With the Jets. Okay. I'm hearing that it could be Edge. It could be Jade Baron also. Now Mason Baron. I know, which is a surprise. But. But not from. Not from my grade.

[Mensch]

From the tape.

[Todd McShay]

Not from the tape, Nope. And. And who's your head coach?

[Mensch]

Aaron Glenn. Yep.

[Todd McShay]

Feisty sob, right? Yes. And what's John A. Baron. Yes. So, like.

[Mensch]

And he's a multiple guy. He can do a lot of different things for you on defense.

[Todd McShay]

Right. But. But Mason Graham's there. I'm just saying. So that. That part's fascinating.

[Mensch]

Yeah. There's a lot of teams are going to be happy if they see that will Campbell Tech combination come off the board, which is kind of what you're saying, but just pushing great players down.

[Todd McShay]

The board because I want people to understand this. I've literally looked at a couple teams. You know, what. What individuals in their. In their organization, how they have. And everyone I've talked to, every list I've looked at, every grade is worth swapping. It's always the top two guys. It's Hunter and Carter. Okay. And then after that, it is some variation that includes Mason Graham, the. The two tight ends. They're up there. It's not just one. It's Warren and Loveland from Michigan. Okay. Colson Loveland. And then Ashton Jinty. That's a kind of the top. And Jalen Walker. It's about those 7ish guys right at the top. And so now you're talking about a group where Will Campbell's gone and. And Tet McMillan's gone. And. And now those. Those elite players are starting to fall because you got Warren Jenty. I'm just writing it. Warren Jenty, Loveland, Right?

[Mensch]

Yep.

[Todd McShay]

Still on the board. Okay, so now we get to. So it's seven. What does your gut tell you the jets do?

[Mensch]

Honestly, I think it should be Membu. I mean, it's not.

[Todd McShay]

Okay. Off the table.

[Mensch]

So you're telling me what my gut is, what they're going to do or. Or what they. What they're going. Like what.

[Todd McShay]

Not what they should do.

[Mensch]

What I'm buying.

[Todd McShay]

Okay, let me give you this information that I'm getting. And then you. And then you try to put the.

[Mensch]

I'm buying what you're selling, I think, but go ahead.

[Todd McShay]

So if I were to tell you that Warren is in play, but this is just like with Liam Cohen. This is the. This is the information I'm getting. Just like with Liam Cohen. Liam Cohen in Jacksonville. Offensive coach comes in. Let's get him a weapon. This is Aaron Glenn. Defensive coach comes in. Yeah, we've drafted first rounders and two of the last four. Three or four years with Joe Douglas right at Edge, we've drafted those guys and we got good edges, but you can't get enough pass rushers.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

But pass rushers include Mason Graham as well. Okay, to a certain degree.

[Mensch]

I hear you.

[Todd McShay]

And the interior of their defense is not. Not it's Quinn, but they don't. But they need more. Watched them last year versus the run. But also, also while Edge and I think Graham would be in consideration, this Jade Baron news is out.

[Mensch]

It's interesting.

[Todd McShay]

It's very interesting. What do you think with those pieces of information? What do you. What jumps to you?

[Mensch]

First of all, no surprise that I went with the offensive lineman. Right? That was my first thought. We got to get the offensive lineman. Second of all, I am. You've been talking about this for, I feel like a week. I'm buying what you're selling about these defensive coaches winning defensive players, about offensive coaches winning off of players. It seems so obvious to me that we can't ignore it. Right. So I love Jade. This, the frame, the arm length feels a little early for me. I think that Mason Graham, or Brandon Graham, whatever you want to call him today, but I think Mason Graham is a great value there and someone they could use. My gut tells me that they'll go for an edge, that they'll go for a Mikel Williams, you know, maybe. Maybe they like Shamar Stewart from Texas and A and M. Maybe it's one of those guys. My gut tells me that if you're going to take a defensive lineman that early, they're going to go with an edge. Even though I think Mason Graham's the number four player on my board, he just doesn't look like a top 10 defensive tackle, and I think it's going to scare some teams.

[Todd McShay]

So now we've got Jalen Walker going six and you're saying another edge.

[Mensch]

What do you think?

[Todd McShay]

I think there's a reason we're here in Baron. Yeah, let's. Let's, for this sake, give him Baron because it also could be tight end. Let's give him Baron because I want to go through the run of the edges after. But.

[Mensch]

But for this exercise.

[Todd McShay]

But if you're a Jets fan, like, what I'm telling you is Warren is in play, but it's much more likely at this point, based off my information, that it's going to be a defensive player. I have not had the conversation about Mason Graham, but Mason Graham was not maybe expected to be there. Okay. So don't rule him out. What we're also telling you is we got some edge. Rushers here, starting with Mikel. I don't think it's going to be Shemar Stewart. Okay. Okay. For other organizations. Yes. I don't think with this one.

[Mensch]

Okay. Could you see a Mike Green? They've gone with small.

[Todd McShay]

No, not. No, not at this point. I think it's Mikel. Honestly, I think Edge is in play because Jaylen Walker could fall to them.

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

And I think the expectation because everyone in the world remember the conversation I had. Stop with the narrow minded thinking. Start thinking outside the box. Don't be like the rest of them. Said a GM to me.

[Mensch]

So in this scenario, Walker's off the board. He's going six. So now.

[Todd McShay]

Right.

[Mensch]

So now Jade makes more sense.

[Todd McShay]

Now Jade makes more sense. But it also could be. Yeah, I don't think. I think it would be Walker if he's there. I think Graham would be in play. I think Tyler Warren would be in play. But let's give him.

[Mensch]

It doesn't feel like Warren does it.

[Todd McShay]

I know they really like him, but it doesn't feel like Warren.

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

Just like, just like the Liam Cohen. Jacksonville. It does it. They really like Mason Graham. It would make sense, but it doesn't feel like that's right the way it's going. Okay. All right. So now we get to the interesting. If Murderers row for Edge.

[Mensch]

Rushers.

[Todd McShay]

Murderers row. You got Carolina at 8, New Orleans at 9. Take a. Take a playoff for Chicago, I believe. Although they would be if the right guy fell. San Francisco is in play for an edge but offensive. We'll get to them later. Dallas? No. Miami. No. But then Indy. No. But then you get 15, 15 and 17 again. Okay. Edge. So Carolina, Carolina wants Jalen Walker is what I'm told. But likes.

[Mensch]

Everyone wants Jayla Walker.

[Todd McShay]

Right. But likes Mikel Williams a lot. And there are some teams. I want people to understand this. There are some teams that have Mikel actually ahead of Jalen Walker. It's what you're looking for. One's a big bodied dude who's going to be great versus run right away you can develop him and you think he's a lot better than the tape showed with that sprained ankle. Ankle that he suffered against Clemson last year. Okay. So I think Carolina goes Edge and I think it would be Mikel there.

[Mensch]

Okay. So now he's gone.

[Todd McShay]

So now he's gone. So that's Mikel. I got to keep track of this as we go. Now New Orleans is up. Here's what I'm hearing on New Orleans. Okay. Okay. Get my lemon. Perfect at Some point. Are we going to get a lemon? Perfect. Sponsorship here. Only thing keeping me alive. All right, I'm sure you'll cut that out. New Orleans. I am hearing offensive tackle. I got you on board, too. Offensive tackle. Okay. For the Saints is in play. But I also am hearing edge for them. Shemar Stewart would make sense. Mike. I think Mikel. Let's not bury the lead here. They want a quarterback at some point. They like Jackson Dart over Shador. They actually, from what I'm told, like Jackson dart a lot. Whether they trade back into the first to get him or not remains to be seen. I think we're gonna see a game of chicken on Thursday night. I. We are gonna see a game of chicken, sit and wait as long.

[Mensch]

Hold, hold.

[Todd McShay]

Right. And finally someone's gonna move up. I think the team that's going to crack first is the Giants. I don't know if they're moving up for Shador or if they're moving up for Jackson Dart. I think that there's a little bit of this little dissension in the ranks. Coaches want one thing, scouting staff wants another. But my point in saying that is do not expect. When we get to pick nine, as everyone's been talking about. We warned you for now, it's 11 days, right, Dan? 11 days. 11 days. We've been warning. It's not Shador to New Orleans, period. It's not at 9, it's not at 40, and it's not very likely. Not dart at 9. It could be dart at 40 or them moving up for dart. Okay, so we've got that handled. They want a player, a guy who can come in and impact. Cam Jordan is on his last leg. Maybe his last leg was last year. However you want to view it. Cam Jordan. I've been told by people in the league. I mentioned this on the last show, but it's worth mentioning again. Think body type. Think type of player. Cam Jordan, the ultimate, like, ultimately becoming the. The past the torch guy. Give him a year, two with a Shemar Stewart who's still learning how to be productive with all those traits. Mikel Williams still kind of raw, but bet on his traits. I think one of those two guys fits perfectly. Now, if it. If they're just a Mikel team and not a Shamar Stewart now what? From Texas A and M. Then. Then I think offensive tackle would be in play. I think this pick comes down to Big Edge vs. Membu Armand, Member of big right tackle from. From Missouri. From Missouri. Okay, so what do we do here?

[Mensch]

Well, it depends. Again, it depends on whether you like Shamar Stewart. I think for me, I'm always going to say the offensive lineman, man. Like, I just think that you. It's your best bet is to shore up your offensive line. I really believe that. I also believe we talk about this all the time about what are you going to get in the second round if you're going to do fit this, if you're going to get your need here, who are you getting in the second round and start looking about those edges that you can get later on. And I'm, you know, I know Landon Jackson isn't a Shamar Stewart, but there are guys on day two of this draft.

[Todd McShay]

Good point. It's a good point.

[Mensch]

Who are you getting at offensive tackle?

[Todd McShay]

You're not.

[Mensch]

Are you hoping that you're getting nursery? Because it. I'm not sure. We talked about this the other day. Those offensive tackles are going to go too, and by the time they pick on day two. So when you start looking at it and you start stacking the picks and you start stacking the needs. New Orleans, I'm taking the offensive tackle.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah. And. And you're not. There's a. There's a likelihood or a chance that you're using that 40th pick on a quarterback.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

So.

[Mensch]

Well, I mean, even then, though, this is what I love about this edge class is how deep it is. Again, there's a reason these guys are in the third round, not in the first round, but there's some intriguing players in the second and third round of this draft for edges.

[Todd McShay]

I don't.

[Mensch]

Can you say the same thing about offensive tackle?

[Todd McShay]

No.

[Mensch]

You want to give him the edge, though?

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, I have my. I'm just looking at my notes, says Mike Heller. Shemar. But that doesn't mean it's. It's definitely.

[Mensch]

But what I said. They don't care what I say. I mean, they could. They're.

[Todd McShay]

Honestly, I think in this scenario, if Mikel's gone, I think that they take Armand member.

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

So let's give him a member here. Okay. Then we're at pick 10 and this is like, honestly, I'm doing this show for you Bears fans. There's not a person in my life. I said there's not a person in my life that is a Bears fan. Like, is that someone close to me? No. Family member? No one. That is like in my ear about the Bear. But I can't help be thrilled for you Chicago Bears fans because you're looking like you bring in Ben Johnson. You Bring in three offensive linemen. You're supporting this, this quarterback who's supremely talented. And now all of a sudden, Bears fans, all the misery you've gone through, watching, watching Jaden Daniels playoffs, watching Drake May. Oh, the next coming, watching Bo Nicks watching. And now you get your moment at 10. I want to look. Look at this. Look at this circle. Genti, Warren, Loveland are all sitting there.

[Mensch]

Yeah. You want Genti though, right?

[Todd McShay]

You have to take Genti.

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Ashton Genti is a Chicago Bear. Ben Johnson's got his. His Jameer Gibbs situation. Yeah, he's got his two. Two backs. But, but, but Genti's like the back. He can be both. Like, this would be. This would be phenomenal for Chicago Anderson. By the way, Bears fans, you're still picking at 39 and 41.

[Mensch]

Not bad. Maybe you get maybe hell of an offseason.

[Todd McShay]

Maybe you get Elijah Arroyo at 39.

[Mensch]

Would love that pick.

[Todd McShay]

Right.

[Mensch]

So just in this scenario, by the way, Mason Graham is now out of the top ten.

[Todd McShay]

Thank you. Thank you. Mason Graham. So this would take Genty off the board. Now I'm looking to pick 11. Okay. San Francisco sitting there. Mason Graham, Tyler, Warren and Loveland, all guys that I promise you across the league are in the top seven. Eight, Worst case, nine. It's wild.

[Mensch]

Yeah. So who are you taking?

[Todd McShay]

I am taking. If I'm Sam Fran at that spot.

[Mensch]

Are you hearing anything or is this.

[Todd McShay]

What you think they're taking Mason Graham have to right.

[Mensch]

A hundred percent in terms of need and value. It just seems like it's perfect marriage.

[Todd McShay]

Yep. I totally agree. So that becomes DTM Graham. All right, so now we're at Dallas. And Dallas again is another. Another one of those teams. Teams behind him. Miami, Indy, Atlanta, Arizona, Cincinnati. Like, please, Dallas, please take the wide receiver.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

And I think they're going to golden. I think it's going to be golden there.

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

I think that they would prefer Ted McMillan player. I've got 50 on my board. Two teams in the top 12. One call me in three years. We'll see.

[Mensch]

I love it.

[Todd McShay]

Absolutely. For forever.

[Mensch]

I've given you a hard time about maybe putting players higher because you thought they were going to go higher. Not. Nope. Tell me to shut up this year.

[Todd McShay]

Finally. So let's put gold in there. Now we're at 13. I want to remind you, Warren still there. Loveland's still there. Shemar Stewart from Texas A and M is still there. Mike Green, edge rusher. Marshall James Pierce, edge rusher. Tennessee all still there.

[Mensch]

I Think it's one of the edges.

[Todd McShay]

I have this on pretty good source. I'm not saying he will be the pick, but that on the very short list of players that Miami is planning on taking is Kelvin Banks. Here's the thing I told you, I told you yesterday at the start of the show is the theme of all my conversations. These wide receivers would be the number one receiver this year. Would be sixth in last year's class. The tackles would be fourth or fifth at the top of the board this year. Would be fourth or fifth last year. Right. And the quarterbacks would be. Ward would be in the conversation at like fifth or sixth. And. And Sanders and Dart would be seventh. Okay, but with that, I want also want to remind you when the tackles run out, as mentioned just brought up, they're out. It's over. Get it now or you're not. And we just lost Toronto. Toronto, Armstead. So Kelvin Banks is great. Isn't as high, not nearly as high as tight end Warren or Loveland. It's not nearly as high as edge. Stewart, Green, Pierce, they're gonna go.

[Mensch]

Yes.

[Todd McShay]

So let's give. Let's give them Banks.

[Mensch]

And you may not like the value there, but it is a great fit. Their zone scheme. Kelvin Banks can move, but I want to.

[Todd McShay]

Let's rip through now. Indianapolis gets their pick. Hey, Colts fans, we're loving this. They get their pick between the tight end.

[Mensch]

Right.

[Todd McShay]

So let's call it Warren there. Okay. Atlanta, they're going to take an edge now like it was. They'll. They would take a Pierce. I've also heard they'll take Walter Nolan, defensive tackle, just to let you know. But they. They could go. They'll go. They get their pick between Stewart, Green, Green, Pierce. Whichever one doesn't go there two picks later goes to Cincinnati at 17.

[Mensch]

Okay, I like Stewart to Cincinnati.

[Todd McShay]

Arizona needs a cornerback. They play combo man, zone. Okay. Arizona needs a cornerback. They play combo man, zone. You know who the best cornerback in this class is who plays a combination of man and zone pretty damn well.

[Mensch]

Harrison.

[Todd McShay]

No, no, before that. We.

[Mensch]

Will Johnson.

[Todd McShay]

What am I talking.

[Mensch]

I forgot about Will Johnson. Sorry.

[Todd McShay]

That's my point in all this. All these guys that we thought were going to be top 10, top 12, top 15 are starting to trickle down. This draft's going to be a blast because like, so now Arizona gets their cornerback, Will Johnson, we all thought could be a top 12 pick, top 11 pick, thought he could go as high as Sam Fran.

[Mensch]

Well, it's a blast for everyone except Jacksonville, who took your 50th player but.

[Todd McShay]

Indy gets the pick of tight ends Atlanta gets their pick of edge rushers Arizona gets the cornerback that they didn't think was going to be their 16 Cincinnati get still gets their pick between let's call it Shamar Stewart or Mike Green. No or or J or or James Pierce and then they're sending Seattle and Seattle I keep hearing his gray's able who I love and my grand and my you'll see on the top 300 show my grade reflects it. I think he moves differently than all these interior linemen but Seattle now all of a sudden okay mention let's let's end it here Seattle all of a sudden guard is a need wide receivers a need corner but those guys are so zable so make sense Graham's gone yeah I think that they still would go that pick but it's interesting to see are there any team because Loveland still on the board is a team going to trade up for Loveland and I'm hearing from everyone Loveland's going earlier. Loveland's going earlier than you think and I'm with you. Every board I've talked to across the league has him as one of the top nine players in this draft but we're now down to pick 18 and Loveland could be on the board. The obvious parachute is the Chargers at 22 and I think they're going defensive tackle probably Kenneth Grant there if if loved one's not available but maybe he gets there I don't know buckle up.

[Mensch]

What about Amarian Hampton? Where do you think he's going to fall?

[Todd McShay]

Well he could go I let's get perfect time to transition that actually plays into yes, Denver would be the the obvious spot but Denver could look Denver could look wide receiver. Denver could also look at Colson Loveland and be like you're not getting them Chargers. So that's fascinating.

[Mensch]

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[Todd McShay]

The McShay show is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL Draft is here and if you Want to make every pick a little more exciting? FanDuel is where it's at. The app is simple, secure, and packed with exclusive offers. Plus, when you win, you'll get paid instantly. There's no waiting around. And if you think the draft is just about waiting for some names to get called, think again. With FanDuel, you can bet on pick positions, which team will draft a player, exact orders, top five top 10 picks, and a ton more, including some ringer specials. And right now, new customers can bet just five bucks and get 250 in bonus bets if you win. So before the draft kicks off, download the FanDuel app and get ready to make every moment unforgettable. FanDuel official partner of the NFL must be 21 and older and present in select states or 18 and older and present in D.C. first online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as non withdrawable bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail] gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler or visit rg-help.com all right, I promise you we'd go through some players that are coming off the board earlier and coming that could be on the board longer. And I think we just covered a handful of them. But I do want to rip through a few. Okay. Before we get to what everyone is waiting for, Mensch's men. Many, many, many, many men. All right, I started with the edge rushers. They're all going earlier because I want to remind people we just went through that exercise. Okay. We, we were Mach 3.0, I think had like Mikel at 23. Green Bay, I don't know exactly, but.

[Mensch]

Yeah, I think that's right.

[Todd McShay]

But we had the edge rushers in that like that. The run of this after car, Abdul Carter and Jalen Walker we thought was going to go eight.

[Mensch]

Mm.

[Todd McShay]

It was edge rushers at 15, Atlanta, 17, Cincinnati. But then there were still two or three left and they were getting down into the 20s.

[Mensch]

Yeah, Green Bay was getting.

[Todd McShay]

It's not happening. Okay, so now I've got Jalen Walker who's supposed to go eight. He's now going to go as high as six. Six to the Raiders, then the Jets. I don't think he gets to eight. Okay. That's the first edge. Mikel Williams talked about him maybe early 20s. Now we're talking about six as a possibility of the Raiders. My guy seven. Jets, I think eight. I don't want to say it's his par. I think Nine is the parachute for the Saints. I think the two most likely spots for Mikel. Yes.

[Mensch]

You think he's a lock top 10.

[Todd McShay]

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Get out Fanduel right now. Beat him to it.

[Mensch]

Some people are more interested.

[Todd McShay]

Hey, I know we're taping right now. Do not let Fanduel hear this. Let our people make their plays. Don't walk. All right. Shamar Stewart, he's the interesting one. Heard some interesting stuff about him. I want to remind you back. Remember that speech I got like red in the face and I was frustrated at the Senior bowl about the agents.

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Like we've as media because there were some. You're tirade somebody out there and you know who you are sent out a tweet or ex post and then the agent of one of these players didn't even bother to let Jim Nagy know that the player was leaving. Not necessarily on the player but I told the player at that point in time and he knew who he was to be mature about it. And it was one of a couple. And then also I, I was kind of reaming some people. Right?

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

And. And I said in that speech that you, you're represented by this person. And so it's a. It signals your decision making. Right. And if you don't think you're being represented by someone who's representing you responsibly or the way you want to be represented when. Because they're going to be in business dealings, they're going to handle marketing stuff, they're going to be talking to teams. It's up to you. They work for you. That's what that was the speech I gave. You can go back to Senior bowl in one of our shows. Funny enough, I get a call yesterday and one of the reasons why some teams are concerned about Shemar Stewart is representation.

[Mensch]

Interesting.

[Todd McShay]

So that part's fascinating. But I'm also hearing still very likely to go in the top 17. But there are a couple teams that are legitimately considering them top 10.

[Mensch]

Interesting.

[Todd McShay]

So he's going higher. Walter Nolan talked about the red flags with him. I think worst cases in the 20s. But I told you already, I think Atlanta is one of those teams that could overlook it. Okay. James Pierce, same deal. Okay. Thought we thought for a second James Pierce could fall out of the first. I'm not saying it can't happen but we're now talking about maybe mid first for him.

[Mensch]

He's just so damn good. I get it. Yeah, I get it.

[Todd McShay]

Have a plan in place.

[Mensch]

You work out like that, you play.

[Todd McShay]

Like that, make sure your veterans are responsible for, for working him through, getting him there, doing the right things. Here's a name. JT Tu Mo really get to FanDuel, folks.

[Mensch]

I can't believe.

[Todd McShay]

I don't even think that there's a thing on it here. Here's my point on this. And I've got them high. Wait till my shop top 300 comes out. You'll. I pushed him up to a. But what I tried to do at this point in time, like the tape's done, all the information is coming in and out, right. What I try to do now is put myself in the position of general manager, managers, one of 32 seats. And I'm looking at this draft, I'm saying there's not a bunch of superstars. There's fewer than normal, fewer guys I'm willing to take a risk on. I'm looking at this draft and I'm saying I need to get starters. And I've said replenish your roster. You got to get three starters every year.

[Mensch]

Okay?

[Todd McShay]

Four is a really good draft. Well, let's hand, let's. Let's identify the guys that are guaranteed. So you could say injury for everyone outside of injury. Throw that out because it's, it's the same for everyone. Jtt. He doesn't even like being called jtt. Sorry. JT Tui Molalao Practice that. I'm getting good at it. Tui Mola Lao.

[Mensch]

It's one of us.

[Todd McShay]

Okay. He's a base four three defender. I here's what I think I got on him. I think I've been writing reports back to summer of 2022. Yes, the summer of 22. We are now approaching the summer of 2025. I've been writing the son of gone up since the summer of 2022 because we thought he could come out early and then we had the extra years and everything like that. So I think I got prospect fatigue on him.

[Mensch]

That happens.

[Todd McShay]

Oh, it happens.

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

And I watched the new tape and I like the new tape more than the. But I just always.

[Mensch]

His playoff run is insane.

[Todd McShay]

His playoff run is outrageous.

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

I went back and watched. Who is he now? This guy's a four three dog man, starting left, defensive end, instinctive, tough versus the run. Not ever going to be like a multiple. He's not going to patch multiple years of double digit sacks together. But what he's going to do is get you like seven, nine sacks, maybe one year, 10 or 11. And he's going to bat balls down the line, scrimmage. He's going to chase screens. This guy's going earlier than you think. Tui Mola Lao. I'm going to say it now. This is my bold prediction. We could hear Tui Mola Laos name mispronounced by the commissioner on the first night of the NFL draft.

[Mensch]

I'm stunned.

[Todd McShay]

Thank you. Kenneth Grant. Another one. These are all. These are. These are all pass rushers. That was the theme of all these conversations. Kenneth Grant. Listen, I. There's a lot of plays where I don't see the same violence and the same level of intensity and those sorts of things. But the good lord only makes so many 331 pound human beings that can run the way he does and shows flashes of violent contained violence the way he does. And he's going to go. I'm hearing as early as 20.

[Mensch]

Okay.

[Todd McShay]

What.

[Mensch]

Where do you have him on your board though?

[Todd McShay]

We're doing a reveal.

[Mensch]

I know. I just want to know where do you have him on the board?

[Todd McShay]

Somewhere reasonably not higher than the defensive tackles that you'd be upset. Okay. I just want to make sure I have never been more true to everything that I believe in that my mom raised me to be.

[Mensch]

I think so. I would agree.

[Todd McShay]

Horton raised me to be in this business. Okay. Here's another guy I've liked for a long time, but I started to hear negativity and I thought maybe he could fall. I think. I think Alexander, the defensive tack he's gonna go from Toledo is going to go.

[Mensch]

I agree.

[Todd McShay]

Darius Alexander is going to come off the board early round two. Not, not round one. But he, he might go ahead of Ty Lee Williams defensive tackle.

[Mensch]

I think he will.

[Todd McShay]

TJ Sanders might go early mid, early mid two too as well.

[Mensch]

You know how I feel about him.

[Todd McShay]

Other non front, not defensive front seven guys who are going to go early. I mentioned Gray Zable. It's interesting because it was all Tyler Booker. Right. It was Tyler Booker this Tyler Booker that interviews the best of all time. Yeah. Wash not even worried he's a man gap power blocker. Not worried that he had lit quite literally go and line up all the measurables. I'm not laughing at like but literally the worst combine showing top to bottom of any. Any offensive lineman. Not just interior all. But everyone was like yeah, but he's. And he is. He's a wonderful human being. He's the leader you want. He's a tough guy. He's going to be a starter for a decade in this league. He's a really, really good player in that Right. Scheme.

[Mensch]

He's not for everyone.

[Todd McShay]

He's not for everyone. Gray Zabel's got. This is the. This is what I said, and I think someone quoted it from yesterday. The conversation is more that. That Zabel is going to wind up being closer and where he gets drafted to the first offensive tackle off the board than he is to where I think Tyler Booker is going to be drafted. I think he could go as high as 18, and I don't. I'm. I'm not convinced that Booker goes in the first round. Okay.

[Mensch]

I know you hate my little questions.

[Todd McShay]

No, I love things.

[Mensch]

Able is going to be a center or guard. Ultimately.

[Todd McShay]

I actually could see him at center.

[Mensch]

I think he's.

[Todd McShay]

I think it'd be a great.

[Mensch]

That's his highest ceiling. Right? Is center. Yeah, I think he's gonna be a great guard. I think he's like an all. Probably he could be an all pro center.

[Todd McShay]

So. So we got that. Here's the. Here's the player, too. I keep going back to the Senior Bowl. Sometimes he's got to remember to, like, stick with the information you're getting. When people want to talk before they have an agenda to talk. And I've said all along, Travion Henderson is a player that I'm hearing, teams are like, yeah, I get it. Omarion Hampton's 2, 221. Henderson's like 205.

[Mensch]

Judgins is a big boy.

[Todd McShay]

Henderson runs just as fast. Judge is a big. All that stuff I'm hearing now from NFL teams. Travion henderson could be RB2 in this class. And there's. There's round one. I said at the scene the last day at the Senior Bowl, I said, I'm getting the sense talking to people in the league. This is a guy that enough teams are. Are kind of trying to already figure out where could he go that he could wind up in round one. Yeah, I think Pittsburgh. I don't think Pittsburgh at that spot, but I think if Pittsburgh moved back, that would be a spot for them.

[Mensch]

I'm like your boy Kuiper.

[Todd McShay]

Washington at 29. Keep an eye on Washington at 29. Whether it's Hampton, I'm not saying definitively. That's where they go. They need an edge rusher. I understand cornerback as well. They'd be looking, but those are a couple spots.

[Mensch]

I'm like your boy Kuiper. I wouldn't draft one in the first round, but there's three that really should go in the first Round this year.

[Todd McShay]

I don't disagree.

[Mensch]

There's three that should go and everyone.

[Todd McShay]

I talked to is Henderson in the past game. What he can do in the past game.

[Mensch]

Best pass blocker in the class and not even close to the biggest back.

[Todd McShay]

Couple other guys I like that I think are going earlier that well, one of them is my guy. One of them is your guy. But talking to people in the league, these guys are going to go round two. Don't like there's been a lot of noise about these two receivers. Yeah, yeah, I get it. But one didn't run fast, the other one is undersized. Then probably round three. That'd be a good spot. Round three. Now I'm talking to people in the leagues like, yeah, no, they're not getting there. Jalen Noel, smaller than ideal. I get it. Might only be a slot. I get it. But yeah, couple drops on tape. Yep, get all of it. But Jalen Noel is so damn explosive and his routes are NFL level. Like Pro Bowl NFL level. Like leverage, crisp brakes in and out, breaking guys ankles off. He is. He's too good in a class of wide receivers is not great. There's going to be a run on receivers and on day two, Noel's going to be near the top of that group. To come off the board with his. With his good friend and teammate, Jaden Higgins, Trey Harris, my guy, Mensch's guy is what I wrote in my notes. West coast, perfect fit. Tell everyone about him.

[Mensch]

He's a big physical receiver who went on the outside. And I love the physicality after the catch, too. I mean, he can get off press, he can win 50, 50 balls, but the physicality after the catch, he's quick and he wants to run through guys. He's going to pick up yards after contact. I just think he's an NFL receiver on the outside. He's going to come in and compete immediately with those bigger corners on the outside.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, I didn't think this Shanahan, he's not slow. Four, five, eight. Big physical. Yeah.

[Mensch]

Great.

[Todd McShay]

He's think Shanahan tree like McVeigh Shanahan. Those guys, I could see him. Round two, I think. I'm told he could be top 50. Savone Revel, East Carolina. Medical is good. That's the report I've been getting. Medical is good. All clear. Dude. I mean, Reek Wolin, he's not. It's interesting. Darien Porter from Iowa State has more closer to those kind of freakish, freakishly long, fast combo traits that made Reek Woolen a fifth round pick but the player that he is. But Revel Revel plays a little bit more like him. The press I told you his second year before he got injured this 2024 watching tape, more physical press. A lot of teams now playing that Cover one, cover three, pressing the receiver, turning, running. I think that Savone, I don't think I'm told that Savone Revel is going to go early round two early.

[Mensch]

Like he was in that conversation before and it seemed something seemed like he was falling out of it because he couldn't run.

[Todd McShay]

So what's happened is there's been a lot we know in the first round.

[Mensch]

It's.

[Todd McShay]

It's some, some variation of Jade A Baron, Will Johnson, Maxwell Hairston.

[Mensch]

Yep.

[Todd McShay]

Right. Am I missing one?

[Mensch]

I feel like I'm easy Thomas, Trey Amos.

[Todd McShay]

So. So then in the second round it was always Az Thomas kind of fringe first. Right. Then he ran that 4, 5, 8 pro day. He's one of the guys that's going to go later than you expected. I'm now hearing for Az Thomas, the Florida State cornerback. He could go round three. You can't run a 4, 5, 8 at your pro day as a cornerback and expect to be come off the board in the first two rounds. It's unfortunate. I love the player. I saw him at the Senior Bowl. I thought he was great in moments. I like his tape. I think he's going to be a good player in the league. But you can't make this is a it's value. It's. These picks are currency and you're not going to invest in something that historically has not panned out overly well. So I take the chance. But I hear you same here. And so Amos has been a guy who's been talked about. Maybe he sneaks in the late first, maybe he does but I'm told it's now Revel Revel Amos for that cornerback four in that late first, early second. There's a little bit of love for Rebel, maybe late first but gotcha. Be prepared when Revel comes off the board early, maybe as the fourth corner and also Amos will be somewhere in that range. And then watch Az Thomas, he could fall a little bit. Guys that are also going to go later than expected and I'll wrap this up quickly. I think the safety is. Here's the deal. Malachi Starks, damn good football player. Smooth, moving, instinctive. Go ahead and talk to Kirby Smart about him. It's kind of like talking to Nick Saban about Will Anderson, a leader, tough Guy does everything, ass team, team before me, all of it. And you love all these things. He's going to be a really good player at the next level. But the workout was, was really bad. I don't have the number, but it was like third worst, second worst, worst across the board. And so you add the position to those traits and teams are, yeah, we really like them. Yeah, yeah, he's going to be a starter. He's going to be a really good player for us. But, but we need to use first round picks on guys that don't have that. Yeah, I'm not saying he's not going to be a first rounder. I'm saying I'm talking to people in the league who think it's maybe early second for Starks, which would be a shock. Right. And then Iman worry Nick, I mean Warri, another guy. I think both the safeties, there's a better chance of at least one of them not being drafted in the first round. There's a better chance of both of them going in round two than there is both of them going in round one. That's how I want to put it. There's a better chance that Malachi Starks and Nick Eamonwari, who were Both considered at one point top 15, 20 picks, that both of those guys go in the second round than there than it is. Both of them go in the first. Okay, final thing, the running backs love this group. Been raving about it since the beginning. Everyone in the league loves this group. It's the problem.

[Mensch]

It's just too damn deep.

[Todd McShay]

It's the problem. I. Here's the conversation I had with so many people over the weekend. I can get one of those guys on Saturday.

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

And I get to pick which flavor. If I, if I want vanilla, I get vanilla. If I need chocolate, I want chocolate. If I need, you know, I can pick the flavor because we've got, we've got power backs, we've got, we've got instinctive, quick running backs, scat backs, change of pace guys. We've got pass catching backs. We've got guys who can return the ball. We've got a little bit of everything. So what does that mean? Here's what I think. Here's my prediction. Five running backs come off the board. There's five. There's like a consensus on that. Are every down back starters in the league and that's, that's Ashton Jinty who now it looks like could go 10 to Chicago. The two other backs that we're talking late first, early Second would be Omarion Hampton from unc. And we just talked about Travion Henderson, his teammate, Quinchon Judkins. He's going to go on day two, second round is my prediction. Caleb Johnson, Iowa running back, day two, late second, early third. There could be one or two more. And I want to remind people in 2017, okay. In 2017, we talked about that group. Phenomenal group. 30 running backs taken. Started with Christian. Leonard Fournette first, then Christian McCaffrey, both in the top 10. Top eight, actually. 30 backs in that class were taken. You ready for this? Note that I went and researched it the other day. Five went in the top 85. Okay. Then this unheard of run went on running backs on day two, day three. And this is what everyone in the league thinks is going to happen. Five went in the top 85. And then there were two more in the top 90. And then from pick 105 to 252. So from 105th pick all the way to the end of the draft, there were 23 running backs taken.

[Mensch]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

So 23 running backs heard their name called on Saturday. Get ready for that. That means guys that we think the world of. I'm not saying all of them, but two or three of these guys could wind up being on day three that we thought for sure would be day two. And that includes Can Scatterboo. Sorry, Tucker, DJ Giddens, the human glitch. Dylan Sampson, he's gonna be player RJ Harvey. I think at least two of those guys, maybe all four of those good guys, could wind up being on day three.

[Mensch]

I got 11 in my top 100. And I won't be able to lift with myself if I take any of them out. Like, I just wouldn't be able to live with myself. You can't tell. It's like you always say, man, show me 100 players that are better than this guy. I. I just have a hard time with it. You know what I mean? Well, I know.

[Todd McShay]

I can't wait to see Huddle report on.

[Mensch]

Yeah, well, some of us aren't into win to win silly games. Some of us are to.

[Todd McShay]

Okay, all right.

[Mensch]

I saw that look.

[Todd McShay]

This is what everyone's been waiting for. Everyone's been waiting for. People are yawning in the studio, bored of my scenarios and rises above.

[Mensch]

It wasn't all quarterbacks.

[Todd McShay]

That was nice mention, man. What do you got, man? All right, so we. Let me. Let me build that up.

[Mensch]

All right, here we go.

[Todd McShay]

Mensch is the best. Mensch has been putting up with me for way longer than any human being should have to. Mench has been putting up with me on this show and. And mentioned mention reads the comments just like I do, because we're trying to interact and we're trying to be different and do things the right way and have a lot of fun because we're trying to build this thing. Even my daughter, my sweet, wonderful Allaire. Would you let Menchie talk, please? So we've been waiting. Your board is coming. It's crystal clear now. You've got your final grades in. You're kind of making your last couple tweaks, but I want to know. We've done the. My guy. That's my guy, right? I want to know Mensch's men. Who are your guys that you like? You're in the draft room. I'm not supposed to bang on tables, but you're like, wow, we need this guy. Like, like, I will stake my career. Who are your guys in this class?

[Mensch]

Well, I'm gonna go further down the board. I don't like doing. I don't like when people ask this question and all of a sudden you're like, oh, I, you know, I really like Walter Nolan.

[Todd McShay]

Carter.

[Mensch]

Yeah. Walter Nolan's a pretty good player. No, really, thanks. Thanks for helping me out. I was wearing you out about this, about this player the other day and I was texting you and I. This is generally a question I hate. Who is in this year's draft is Puka Nua? Who in this year's draft is Aaron Donald? Whoever you want to say, right? They're always like, well, if I knew Puka Nakua was going to be puking Nakua, he wouldn't have gone the fifth round. But I'm watching this guy the other day and I know that he's going to fall because he didn't run well. To comment, I think at the second slowest time of the receivers that ran there, it was in the four sixes. Low four sixes. Pat Bryant from Illinois. If he's so damn slow, why is he averaging more than 18 yards per catch?

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Mensch]

In the Big Ten.

[Todd McShay]

Get yours. Bench.

[Mensch]

And three game winning touchdowns in. In the last two minutes or overtime. Three kid makes plays. And I watch him and I'm like, how did he run that slow? I mean, he's not a burner. He's not a burner on tape. There's certain guys you watch on tape and you're like, that guy's a burner. We got. We get so caught up in these speeds. You Know Cooper cup didn't run well, ran the high four fives. Give me a break. With some of these times when you watch this kid play on tape and you look at the numbers, Pat, Brian's a guy that's going to go in the middle rounds and someone's going to get an absolute steal. In my mind and, you know, I just talked about how I, I don't like speed right at receiver. Well, how about Ty Felton, the Maryland wide receiver who ran like 4, 3, 9.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Mensch]

Also had something like 96 catches in the Big Ten this year. I mean, people are just sleeping on him.

[Todd McShay]

I hear he could go top 100 now.

[Mensch]

I, I don't see how. Not like, I just. To me, I don't see why you wouldn't take him that early. And there are, oh, he catches a little short passes and he does all these things. He can take the top off the coverage. There are times there are these little glimpses of. You can see what he can do after the catch in terms of his ability to zigzag and miss, guy. And make guys miss. Ty Felton is another name to keep an eye on. This guy, my next guy. I feel like everyone's on right now and I'm a little upset about it.

[Todd McShay]

Who?

[Mensch]

Shamar Turner, the defensive tackle from Texas A and M. I feel I haven't heard his name in a while. I feel like everyone wants to say day two and like, oh, like, who, who.

[Todd McShay]

Who's everyone? Come on, name some names, men.

[Mensch]

I'm not doing it. I'm not. Yeah, I'm not going there. Play it on a stress factor.

[Todd McShay]

I would look. That would be our best show if men got to name names.

[Mensch]

There's no. This is not the airing out of laundry show.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, everyone back there is laughing because they all know. Because they know the names, but go ahead.

[Mensch]

All right, so Shemar Turner, two years ago, when he wasn't hurt. By the way, I still like his tape from last year. Numbers weren't the same. His tape is still excellent. He's playing on a stress fracture. He had six sacks, ten and a half tackles for loss. You look at that Texas A and M and everyone's like scorting everyone's, you know, Shemar Stewart. Shemar Turner's a player that I think is going to go on day two of this draft. You're going to get a starter, very disruptive, can get after the quarterback, get in the backfield as a, as a run defender. Love Shemar Turner. And then this was a guy that I Felt like you said. I kind of was like, oh, C.J. d. Pre.

[Todd McShay]

C.J.

[Mensch]

Dupree.

[Todd McShay]

Yep.

[Mensch]

From Alabama. I was like, what's the deal with this guy? Right.

[Todd McShay]

I kind of like him.

[Mensch]

And then he goes and he runs pretty well at the combine. I'm like, all right, I gotta dig in a little bit more.

[Todd McShay]

What'd you think? Tell me.

[Mensch]

Love him. After the catch. Throw out the numbers. The numbers aren't great. It's just, it wasn't, it wasn't a good passing game for him. They're very mediocre. But look at this kid after the catch. He's super explosive.

[Todd McShay]

I liked him at the Senior Bowl.

[Mensch]

He could break tackles. He can make, you know, make some guys miss, which tight ends really aren't great at, but he can do that a little bit. And then, you know, maybe it's not the biggest deal for tight end, but the, the Cincinnati offensive guard, Luke Condra.

[Todd McShay]

Yes.

[Mensch]

Was the only one who benched 225 more times than he did. He had something like 32 reps of 225 pounds of the combine. So he's got that upper body strength. And I saved, of course, we'll be.

[Todd McShay]

One of Rosillo's guys then.

[Mensch]

So I saved, of course, an offensive lineman for last because I think that this guy's a little underrated. And I really believe this. This is going to drive you up the wall. I don't think he's that far off from Gray's Abel. Georgia center Jared Wilson is. People are sleeping on him. And I get. Listen, a one year starter. There are some things that he needs to clean up. But you look at the combine workout, you look at how this guy moves. I think he's, he's by far, if you don't count Zabel as a center, Jared Wilson's by far the best center in this class, right? Yes, without question.

[Todd McShay]

And by the way, the only, the only center that goes in the first two days of the draft. Okay.

[Mensch]

Probably.

[Todd McShay]

Right. Yeah. Oh, no, I'm. But yes.

[Mensch]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Mensch]

So Jared Wilson, to me is a guy that some people are sleeping on. He's going to go. Probably go in the second round. You know, maybe I'm not really sticking out my neck here, but I think he's going to be a player that comes in the league and is a starter very early on and is. Has a 10 to 15 year career if he stays healthy.

[Todd McShay]

Do you like the Kendall kid from bc?

[Mensch]

Not as much as I think some other people do.

[Todd McShay]

Some team. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Someone. Someone.

[Mensch]

Like, he's a little light. I think he's. He's got some problems with guys who's some length and some power as a pass blogger.

[Todd McShay]

Okay, this is fun. Menches, men.

[Mensch]

I just rip through those.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, I mean, that's what you do. You've been like. I can feel it, like, worked up. It's a year worth of tape. All right, I like. I'm not going to do the scheduling thing. I'm not going to remind you. We got top 300. We've got mock draft reveal coming out in the next 24 hours. Really? We've got live show Thursday, live show Friday, Saturday at Rosillo's house.

[Mensch]

There's no way he's running a 40.

[Todd McShay]

There's no way he's running a 40. But we're gonna harass him the whole time. If he doesn't, he'll probably get on the bench. Okay, but I'll take him on the bench.

[Mensch]

I'll take the bench.

[Todd McShay]

I mean, that's. That. That is content. Yeah, that'll be fun.

[Mensch]

And then you have to tell him whether or not the reps good.

[Todd McShay]

Oh, I was gonna stand over him like the guy from Arizona. Like the guy from. Remember? He'd be like, now you gotta get.

[Mensch]

It all the way. You gotta lock it out.

[Todd McShay]

Ryan, get your mind right. Get your mind right. That's what we're gonna do. All right. We'll be back. We're here all week. We got another show coming up tonight. Just stay involved. Instagram T. McShade Thirteen at you good. Mensch at you, Goodmensch. M U E N C H&McShade 13. We appreciate you being a part of this.

[Mensch]

Let's.

[Todd McShay]

Let's kill it on Thursday night, please. I'm so excited. See you then. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 + and present in D.C. gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler or visit rg-help.com call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chatincenectic or visit mdgambling help.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gambling helpline ma.org or call 1-800-327-5050 for 247 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY in New.

[Mensch]

SA.