Daniel Jeremiah's 2025 Pre-Draft Media Call

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, well, look, I appreciate you guys coming and
hanging out today and talk about this draft. I think
it's it feels like it takes forever to get to
the draft. We finally made it. Excited to get it going.
It feels like there's a there's still a good bit
of intrigue here at the top of the draft. You know,
it looks like kind of know where things might be
headed with the first pick and then it starts to

(00:28):
get fun. So looking forward to it, looking forward to
hanging with you guys today and fire away.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
And when you look at some of the decisions made
by the guys, the draft decisions by the guys with
college eligibility remaining, and especially the quarterbacks, you know, just
who decided to enter, who decided not to enter. How
much do you think that the new economics of college
football effect the draft now and the depth of the
draft class and have been particularly a quarterback.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, I mean, I think it has a big impact
that I wouldn't, you know, say it's even specific to quarterback.
I think other positions that's had a bigger impact, you know,
I think in years past, the easiest sell for an
agent was to a running back, even if he had
middling production, which was to say, hey, you've got to
start getting paid for these carries you have in your
body as soon as possible. So I thought you saw
a lot of guys come out when you know, maybe

(01:18):
they weren't quite ready yet. And now those kids are
getting paid, you know, either by their school or somebody else,
and so they have opportunities, and that's you know, it's
kept a lot of those kids in school. I think
for the quarterback situation, again, it's more of guys that
are you know, I think for the most part it's
guys who would have been middle late round picks that
they're easier to sell. You're going to make more money

(01:39):
coming back to school than you will be in a
fifth round pick, sixth round pick. But you know, I
think that's a factor. I don't think like the guy
that I think people would look at with this example
would be Drew Aller. But I don't think that was
really a financial decision. I think that was just more
so him feeling like he wanted to, you know, wanted
to go back to Penn State and see if they could,
you know, finish off off what they got close to

(02:01):
last year. So you know, I think the quarterback class
this year where it's not as is star studded. It's
just that's the roller coaster we had six last year.
Like there's no way you keep up that pace. So
there's just gonna be big years and there's going to
be lean years. And I don't know if that's quite
as related to the money aspect of it is, just

(02:21):
that's the way it's always been.

Speaker 4 (02:23):
Thank you. Our next question came from Dave Briquette.

Speaker 5 (02:26):
Hey, DJ, appreciate your time as always here. Just wanted
you to weigh in on two prospects if you if
you could, first on as Araku, is he a one
trick pony or how do you sort of see him
developing as a run defender, you know, maybe becoming a
more complete edge player down the road. And then second,
you know, how good is Josh Simmons, Like where would

(02:47):
he go if he were healthy?

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Sure? As Rokuo I would you know, It's funny when
you said like kind of a one trick pony because
one of the knocks on him is as a pass
rusher that he's got too much of an arsenal, Like
he almost liked to see him be a little bit
you know, more focused on just his get off, winning
with speed, you know, developing a little more power. He
has got all the tricks in his bag, Like, he's

(03:10):
got a million different moves, and it's why he was
so dang productive this year. But when you get to
the NFL, I think, you know, incorporating more power into
his game is going to be a big part of
his development. At the end the run game, I thought
he was fine. You know, I didn't think he was
just a rugged knockback, you know, violent run defender. But
he's got really really long arms and he can set
the edge, he can lock out, he can extend. So

(03:33):
I didn't you know that he's definitely a better pass
rusher at this point in time than he is a
run defender. But I didn't view him as a you know,
as a liability in the run game at all. And
then with Simmons, yeah, talent wise, you just you know,
if you just watch his tape, put his pure talent
up there against everybody in this class, he stacks up
really well. I think he'd be a you know, a
ten year starter. It's just you know, to me, you're

(03:55):
going through the you know, the injury that he had
and trying to navigate that. I wish it would have
been great to have him healthy the whole year, to
see him play against the caliber competition that they ended
up going through, and I think he would have been
you know, we'd probably be talking about him more as
a Locke as a top fifteen pick if that were
the case. So talent wise, yeah, no question, this guy's

(04:17):
a you know, he's got the ability to start in
the NFL for a long time.

Speaker 4 (04:20):
Next question comes from Mike Chappel in Indianapolis.

Speaker 6 (04:23):
Yeah, Dan, Well, this is apparently such a deep draft
on tight ends. How do you assess the top I
don't know, three or four guys? And what is your
differentiating between Tyler, Warren and Loveland? And is there a
gap between those two and the rest of the group.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
I think there is a gap between those two and
the rest of the group. I think those two guys
are two of the top you know, seven players in
the draft class and it's just with them, you know, specifically,
I think it's just a flavor thing. You know, what
what do you value, what do you prefer Lovelin, a
little more quickness off the line, a little more quick
miss at the top of routes, you know, can really
create separation. Warren is just a big, massive bully who's

(05:07):
going to wall guys off down the field. I think
he's he's better on the move, whereas Loveland, if you're
talking about, you know, gearing down and working back to
the quarterback, he's going to be a little more comfortable there,
Whereas I think Warren, you run him down the seam,
you're running on overs, doing those types of things, and
he's just he's a bully when the ball's up in
the air, and he's pain to get on the ground.
So you know, it stylistically different. I would give Warren

(05:31):
the edge in the run game, but Loveland competes in
that department as well. So I mean, I haven't touched
each other on my list, not just at the tight
end position, but overall. You know, Warren's at six and
Loveland's at seven, So then to me, there's a little
bit of a drop off. And then I think there's
some real interesting guys and I think, you know, talk
to a bunch of teams over the last couple of

(05:51):
weeks and the longer we go through the process and
guys start getting weeded out with medical character, you know,
different things that kind of that have in this time
of year. Mason Taylor to me is like a he's
an emerging player and that everybody's comfortable with him. He's
a safe player. He's just he's rock solid. He had
a nice week at the Senior Bowl. Obviously everybody knows

(06:13):
about you know, his dad and his uncle with Jason
Taylor and Zach Thomas, and the kid's been around football
his whole life. But he's one of those guys when
you're talking to teams you're like, Hey, if you got
wiped out, who would be your guy? And like, well,
if we got wiped out, we could just take Mason Taylor.
He's going to start for us for the next you know,
eight ten years. It's a really steady, solid player, so
I think he goes in the back half for one

(06:33):
at worst he goes early too. And then you get
a Tracy player and Elijah Royo from Miami who can
really fly, who's had some injuries you got to work around,
and then Harold Fannin from Bowling Green who's got a
ton of production and stepped up in big games against
A and M and Penn State. And then I would
say Terrence Ferguson, so I would do the tier with
Warren in Loveland. I would say, then you get to

(06:56):
the Taylor Arroyo Fannin group and Erguson's right there, you know,
right behind those guys for me.

Speaker 4 (07:03):
Next question comes from Jim Wyatt with the Tech Titans. Okay,
I appreciate you, Daniel.

Speaker 7 (07:07):
I guess how Cortain are you about what's going to
happen at one and uh?

Speaker 4 (07:11):
And then what makes sense for the Titans at two?
If you think that's kind of a slam dunk.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
It sure feels like a slam dunk. I would be Uh,
I'd be pretty shocked if if they didn't go with
with Cam word there with the first overall pick. So
then it comes to them, what's the intrigue when they
get to pick number thirty five? You know, I think
there's a lot of different directions they could look to
go there. Usually when you invest in a young quarterback,

(07:36):
there's a commitment to try and really support him and
help him on that side of the ball. You could
look at the wide receiver position there at pick number
thirty five. I look at you know, a guy like
Higgins from from Iowa State would be a fun player
to drop into that mix. Uh, to give him a
nice weapon to play with. So you know, I know
they have other areas they could go, potentially on the

(07:58):
defensive side of the ball. But man, when you and
best that first overall pick, you want that pick to
make you look smart. It tends to lead you to
stand on that side of the ball once you get
to the next round.

Speaker 4 (08:07):
Next question comes from Dan Wiederer with the Chicago Tribune.

Speaker 8 (08:11):
Hey, DJ, always appreciate the insight. Kind of a multi
layered question here. Knowing how the top one hundred of
this draft sets up, how do you kind of characterize
the opportunity the Bears have next week to mix and
match those those top seventy five picks, four of them
and create kind of a gift basket that they feel
good with. And then I guess along with that, which
position would you feel most hesitant to weight on for

(08:32):
Day two?

Speaker 2 (08:33):
Oh, that's a good one. They're in a fantastic position
when you're picking ten thirty nine seventy two. They get
four instant impact players. With the way this draft shakes out,
so I'm I'm as excited for them. We did a
thing the other day on teams that have the you know,
the most opportunity in this draft, and they'd be near
the top of the list in terms of positions that

(08:55):
you probably don't want to wait on. If you're dead
set on getting an offensive tackle and you want to
get your long term left tackle, you're gonna want to
do that with your first pick. I just don't love
the possibilities of of you seeing someone that's gonna be
an upgrade over what you have once you get into
the second round of this particular draft. So that would
be kind of the thought process there. If it's close

(09:16):
with some of these other players, I could see them
leaning in that direction and just checking the tackle off
the list. There are backs, there are tight ends, there's
you know, there's a there's a good bit of depth there.
They want to reinforce the defensive line, you know, get
an edge rusher. To me, like a sweet spot for
them pick thirty nine for an edge rusher if they
you know that's a that's a great area to find

(09:38):
that guy. So I think they can premiere shop. You know,
if one of the if you know you want to
take one of those top two tight ends. I think
they're more than worth going up there. Ash and gent
falls in your lap, run the card up there. They're
they're in a great spot where they can kind of
you know, they don't have to be aggressive with the
first pick. Somebody's going to go to them there that
they're gonna love and is going to start form day

(09:59):
one and be an impact. I'm almost more excited to
see what happens with their next picks, because that's going
to be a fun combination of players they put together.
Again to kind of reiterate what I was saying about
the Titans, these teams with young quarterbacks. Yeah, we can
look at the defensive side of the ball and you
can find holes. But at the end of next year,
if Caleb Williams is taking a massive leap with Ben Johnson,

(10:20):
I think Bears fans would be feeling pretty darn good
about the direction. So that's why if it's close, I
look towards that side of the ball.

Speaker 4 (10:27):
Next question comes from Ben Volan with the Boston Globe.

Speaker 9 (10:30):
Have you gotten any sense that the Giants are not
going to take Abdul Carter at number three? And then
just where do you see the Patriots going at four.
If not Will Campbell is there like a pass rusher
or someone.

Speaker 4 (10:44):
You think they might get there.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yeah, I would say I feel Look, I feel pretty
confident that they would take Abdul Carter. I've heard nothing
that would sway me away from that. The last time
I talked to people in that building was before they
did some of these quarterback workouts. So I'll check back
in with them at the early part of next week
and see if you know, let's be honest, they probably
ain't telling me anything anyways, but I can at least

(11:08):
try and see what you can learn from that experience.
But it feels like, you know, Hunter two, and then
Abdul Carter three, and then with the Patriots. I just
have continually heard that offensive tackle was going to be addressed,
and I've continually heard that, you know, that's Will Campbell's spot.
So teams are not Teams are not universal in the

(11:29):
in the slotting of these tackles. In fact, I've talked
to I you know, in the last twenty four hours,
I've talked to three teams who aren't in the ranged
take tackles, so they can give me an honest answer
of how they stack these guys. And I had one
team that was a Will Campbell at the top. I
had one team that was armand Membu at the top,
and I had one team that was Calvin Banks at

(11:51):
the top. So it's not universal around the league, but
the feeling and talking to folks is that Will Campbell
is really well liked inside that building in New England.

Speaker 4 (12:00):
Next question comes from John Glennon in Nashville.

Speaker 10 (12:03):
Question for you in regard to the Titans and maybe
wide receiver. I know you mentioned Higgins earlier. Who are
some of the guys wide receivers that might be available
at thirty five and how much of a drop off
do you think there is a wide receiver sort of
around that area? And then maybe last, just to Luther Burden,
I wonder if you could talk about the you know,

(12:25):
the production decline this year and maybe what the reasons
are there.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yeah, it's interesting you say that because that was the
first name I was going to tick off. I mentioned
Higgins the last time this came up, and to me,
I have Luther Burden just ahead of him. So Luther Burton,
I think this was a real chance he could be
there at that point in time. The production did dip,
you know, and and do you know somewhat to the
quarterback play that was a little bit up and down.

(12:50):
The offense just wasn't you know, what it had been previously.
I didn't see any decline in his skills as a player.
He reminded me a lot of Steph Diggs, you know,
coming out of Maryland and Stefan Diggs was so he
was just so quick at you know, just getting away
from people, separating from people, and then with the ball
in his hands, you know, could make some things happen.
He's outstanding, you know, one of the best run after

(13:12):
catch receivers in this draft, if not the best run
after catch receivers in this draft. So I think that
would make a lot of sense. I think that'd be
a value pick for them there and somebody who you
know with cam Ward two things, let them grow together,
which I love, and also get a chance to, you know,
give him some easy completions and pile up some yards

(13:33):
after the catch. So that one, I would think would
be an outstanding value find if he were to be
there at that point.

Speaker 4 (13:39):
Next question comes from Chase Goodbread.

Speaker 11 (13:42):
Hey, Daniel, hope you're doing well.

Speaker 12 (13:44):
Just got to want to ask.

Speaker 11 (13:45):
You a little bit about Jalen Milroe and Alabama. One
of the areas of improvement do you think he needs
to make and do you see him as a good
candidate for a guy to fit for a year as
a rookie given the turnovers that he had at Alabama?
And I guess lastly, do you have a comp for him?

Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yeah, it's hard to find a comp for him. I
can start there. He is an elite, elite, elite runner.
You know, if you just did a cut up and
just just with the ball in your arm and running,
and you stacked him up with a really, really good
running back class, just just looking at him just as
a runner, he would not look out of place at all. Like.
He is dynamic, He can make you miss, he can

(14:24):
break tackles, like there is zero question that he's going
to have an impact with the ball under his arm.
In terms of the things that to work on with him,
he's not consistently connected between his eyes and his feet.
That impacts his accuracy, you know, the decision making you
reference the turnovers. You know, that's to me, that comes
with playing, That comes with learning, you know, being in

(14:45):
a little different system this year that didn't go quite
as smoothly as you would have hoped. I do think
he needs time. I do think he requires patience and
talking to teams. Though, if you were to use the word,
the phrase with him that's used more than any other
of all the quarterbacks in this draft. That's the lottery ticket,
Like if you want to just take a lottery ticket
that you could hit huge on if it all works

(15:07):
out and it all comes together. He's got the highest
upside of anybody in this draft, and that goes all
the way up to cam Ward at number one, but
he is a long way from getting there. So it's
to me, it's a it's a classic second round pick.
You get your first pick in the bag, you feel
comfortable about it. It's a double off the wall, and
then now you can stop choking up and you can

(15:28):
swing for the fences with Jalen Milroe. So that's how
just about everybody universally views him. So you know, we'll see,
we'll see where he ends up going. And in terms
of a comparison, the only thing I'd say is like
as a runner, he's as impressive as Lamar Jackson was
as a runner coming out, Lamar was light years ahead
of him in terms of the passing game at that

(15:48):
point in time, and Lamar has continued to just improve
each and every year in that department as well.

Speaker 4 (15:53):
Next question comes from Eric branch.

Speaker 13 (15:56):
Hey Daniel writing a story about this being such a
consequence child draft for the forty nine ers given the
way the offseason went, and they you know, they might
need really need rookies to actually play, and just like
based on Lynch and Shanahan's draft history, should the fan
base like feel good about that? Because you can look

(16:16):
at Solomon Thomas and Ruben Foster and Juan Kinler and
Trey Lance and say, oh, this this is they don't
know how to do this. And then you can look
at George Kittle and Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and
Brock Perdy and gn Or Leonora and say, you know,
they're brilliant. So I guess I guess what I'm asking is,
how would you kind of assess their draft history and

(16:39):
you know what's at stake here?

Speaker 2 (16:41):
Yeah, Look, it's an interesting case. They have done as
well as anybody outside the first round of finding not
just like starters, but all pro impact caliber players. So
to me, it's a you know, it seems like a
pretty simple formula where you want more shots at it
than less, given their track record and their history. And
you know, I haven't pulled the exact numbers, but they

(17:03):
have a boatload of picks in next year's draft because
of the guys that they lost, you know, when you
add up the comp picks, so they're gonna have a
lot of shots at it next year. They're armed with
a good number of picks this year. And I would
not be surprised at all where they're picking. They're sitting
there picking at number eleven. If anybody wants to call
and come up, I would think they would be more
than willing to slide back and get more picks and

(17:23):
take more shots at it. But they're to your point,
they're going to need these young guys to get on
the field and play. The one thing you know, I
would you know mention as well, is there's two sides
of it. There's there's the evaluating and projecting talent, which
you can say has been a little bit up and
down with them. But the other side of it is
developing them once they get there. And I think they're

(17:46):
outstanding at doing that. And I you know, to me,
having Robert Salad back there is going to be big
for him to work with some of the young guys
they'll bring in on the defensive side of the ball
to get them prepared and ready to go. But yeah,
the history or the future of their organization they're going
to I'm sure they'll end up getting the Brock Party
thing done here before too long, and then it's going
to come down to the importance of them hitting on

(18:07):
their draft picks, just as the Rams have done inside
their own division, where they've been stellar and really kind
of flip their roster from old to young really really fast.

Speaker 4 (18:17):
Next question comes from Jeff Duncan in New Orleans.

Speaker 14 (18:20):
Hey, DJ, thanks again for doing this kind of a
big picture question. You know, Jeff Ireland and his staff
down here kind of polarizing right now with the fans,
and I'm trying to get a gauge on how they've
done over the years. And one thing that stands out.
I mean, they had a lot of early success in
sixteen and seventeen, then kind of went through a dry

(18:43):
spell there for a few years and kind of rebounded
last year. I'm curious, you know, how do you explain
disparate results from drafts from year to year when it's
the same evaluators and staff basically conducting the same valuation process.
And then also, I'm curious, in your opinion, can evaluators

(19:05):
and scouts go through quote unquote slumps in the draft?

Speaker 2 (19:11):
I could get your thoughts. Yeah, I mean, that's there's
you know, there's there's a lot of teams that you
think about it you go back. We used to do
these studies and go back and look at teams that
had been on runs. You know, a team that had
been on like a five or six year run of success,
and we could almost always pin it to one draft.
You could go back and find one draft where they
just knocked it out of the park. Seattle and their

(19:33):
and their run, they had that one draft where they
got all those guys and and kind of crushed it
off of that. I remember going back to the early
two thousand's UH Chargers team had like a two year
run where they just loaded up their roster. You know,
think about the Drew Brees and Ladanian Tomlinson and that
that group of guys that they had come through there
and that set them on a run. It's it's so
hard to maintain it. New Orleans that draft that they had.

(19:57):
You know, when you look at at what was it
ramch and Uh and Kamara and all those guys that
they were able to haul in like they shoot, that
sets you up. It's impossible to do it year after
year after year. You know, the Ravens are probably you know,
one of the best at it. They've been pretty consistent.
They've also had a lot. I think they've had the
most comp picks of anybody, so they've had more more picks,

(20:18):
so you get more cracks at it. So it's still
it's it's so hard to do this consistently. It's inexact.
So yeah, I think that's natural that you're going to
have some ups and downs. I would also say when
you have the elite, elite, elite Hall of Fame quarterback,
it makes a lot of those picks you know, play
above their level as well. And they've been navigating waters

(20:38):
without that the last couple of years.

Speaker 4 (20:44):
Next question comes from Daryl Ledbetter in Atlanta.

Speaker 15 (20:48):
Yeah, DJ, thanks for doing this. It's my annual question on.

Speaker 16 (20:55):
Rush.

Speaker 15 (20:55):
Yeah, I'm big and up Dum Carter and Jalen Walker
age what does it look like after that? And then
how do they square Green and pierces off the field issues.

Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah. I mean they've got to do their homework on
those guys and uh and get comfortable with it. You know,
I don't get all the information that these teams get,
so uh, you know, they've got to bring him in,
be around them, talk to everybody around him, and figure
out whether they're comfortable with those situations. But as a player,
and I look at at guys that would fit them
and I think would be as football players, would would

(21:32):
be really really productive. Mike Green, to me, it's just
a He's a skilled, gifted pass rusher who can win,
you know, with speed and with power. So you know,
between him and Pierce, I would lean towards Green in
that conversation. Uh, I'm curious to see with Shamar Stewart
from Texas A and M is easily the most polarizing

(21:53):
edge rusher in this draft, and he is the ultimate
example of traits versus production. He has got all kinds
of twitch, he's explosive, he's disruptive. He just hasn't been
able to you know, to finish, to compile sacks. But
more and more teams don't really you know, they aren't
focusing quite as much on the sack number as they
are on win percentage, pressure percentage, where he's more than

(22:14):
functional there he plays really really hard. He would you know,
he would be an interesting one. I would keep an eye.
I would not rule out, but there are teams with
wildly different grades on him, top ten grades, second round grades,
like that type of range. But I would think he'll
definitely be in that conversation.

Speaker 4 (22:32):
Next question comes from Sam Fortyer with Washington Post.

Speaker 17 (22:34):
Sam, Hey, DJ, a little bit of a out of
the box, but I'm curious if bock drafts have become
more popular during your time doing this, and what is
your process like to put together your final one.

Speaker 2 (22:47):
Yeah, that's a great question. There's a billion of them,
so yeah, it's become a heck of a lot more popular.
From when I started scouting in Baltimore in two thousand
and three, I mean, there was like you would wait,
you would wait, there'd be ever you know, you'd get
You'd get one mock draft every couple of weeks. They
just weren't they didn't exist. It was very few. It

(23:09):
was mel and I think Todd was probably doing one
back then. But there weren't nothing like there is now.
So there's a million of them. I always, you know,
I always look at it like the first, all the
all the mock rafts until the last one. You're going
off a little bit of what you hear. I mean,
I always go off what I hear, not what I
would do. I should preference that. But to me, the

(23:31):
the of the accuracy and which information you're getting a
month before the draft, it's there's not much there. So
you're just looking at different scenarios. Oh if this guy,
what if this were to happen, then how would that
impact the rest of it? Whereas you get to the
last one, at that point in time, I've talked to,
you know, a lot of folks and gathered a lot
of information, and I'm trying to just go off of,

(23:52):
you know, what I hear, and then looking at you know,
looking at the historical stuff that they've done, you know,
marrying that with their needs, what's been said publicly by
coaches and general managers. So I put all that into it,
and then at the end of the day you get
like seven out of thirty two and you just go, Okay,
well that what was that all for? But uh, it's
a you know, it's all part of that exercise. I

(24:13):
think it's fun teams. You'd be shocked how many teams
call and want to know who you think certain people
are taking. So I enjoy it. It's a fun game,
but it's a darn near impossible.

Speaker 4 (24:24):
Next question comes from Ed Valentine with Big Blue View.

Speaker 18 (24:28):
Yeah, hey, you talked about a dual Carter at three
for the Giants. So much talk with New York about quarterbacks.
Who do you see as fits for you know, Brian
Dable and the Giants at quarterback? You know later in
the draft, who would be the guys you would you
would favor for them?

Speaker 2 (24:49):
Yeah, I've I've been saying the same thing with them,
and that to me a draft I would love for
the Giants as if they were to put Abdul Carter,
select him, get him on, and then after that you're
trying to find somebody who fits you without having to
give away the farm to go get them. I have
Shudur is my number two. I would have. You know,

(25:10):
I wouldn't have a problem if they, you know, tried
to move up a little bit to get him, but
parting with massive resources to vault way back up there,
I don't know that I would love that Jackson Dart
to me just from a you know, a fit a
little more physical, a little bit more arm. I went,
he doesn't have a huge arm, but a little bit
more arm playing in that in that stadium, in that division,

(25:30):
and the weather you might encounter. I thought that one
would not necessarily require a huge cost to move up
if they were to, for instance, if they just wanted
to get up in front of Pittsburgh and get to twenty,
the cost would be a two. One of their threes
this year in a five, they still have another three left,
so you could conceivably come out of your first three

(25:51):
picks with Abdul Carter, you know, arguably the best player
in the draft. Everybody would say, one of the two
best players in the draft, a quarterback of the future
in Jet and Dart, who you don't necessarily have to
start right away, and then whoever you'd find there in
the third round. That's, to me, is a really nice
haul for the Giants.

Speaker 4 (26:10):
Next question comes from Jewelry Epstein.

Speaker 19 (26:12):
Hi, Daniel, thanks for doing this. Most of today's NFL
quarterbacks to not play high school football running the wing tea,
but Cam Wored did just that. Do you have a
sense of how rare the wing tea to first round
pick journey is for today's quarterbacks. And how do you
think that high school background influences Cam's play style.

Speaker 2 (26:31):
Oh, that's a great question. I'd have to go back,
but I want to say Josh Allen did a little
bit of that in high school as well. I think
he ran the ball quite a bit. So I've heard
of it before of other guys who've been stuck, and
it used to happen a lot more in the past.
You know, it's a different era now and everybody's in
seven on seven. Everybody's spreading people out and throwing it

(26:51):
in high school, so it's definitely happened in the past.
But I do think it does inform some of your toughness,
you know. I always like it when you get quarterbacks
that you know, maybe didn't go to the powerhouse high
school and they got to play both sides of the ball.
You know, maybe they're playing safety or you know, some
of them are big enough, or even playing a linebacker,
but yeah, you're more comfortable with contact. He's someone that

(27:12):
when I go through and watch his tape, one of
the things I love most about him was his ability
to pull through tackles, like you get guys that'll get
free runs at him, and he's able to just kind
of shrug him off and pull through tackles. For a
guy who's not six y five, two hundred and forty pounds,
he's really really strong. So yeah, I think that's a
I think that's a you know, it's a great point.

(27:32):
When you play in that type of an offense, you're
going to be a little bit more rough and tumble,
a little more rugged, and there's absolutely no fear in
what he's doing out there.

Speaker 4 (27:42):
Next question comes from Parker Gabriel with did the Dever post.

Speaker 12 (27:46):
Sean Peyton and George Payton have talked a lot about
the different types of running backs in this class and
have sort of talked about looking for a guy that
can play on third down and you know, manage all
three downs for you, whether it's a twenty fifty one
or in your trade back scenario a little bit in between.
Who's a guy If it's not Gentier Hampton, who do

(28:07):
you like there? Or maybe it just is as simple
as Omaron Hampton.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yeah, Marion Hampton can do all those things, you know.
To me, Trayvon Henderson would be a heck of a weapon,
and we've seen Sean with running backs like that. To me,
I think he would be a fun one. The other
one who I would look at for them and kind
of that I want to say Sprolls just sprolls ish role,

(28:32):
but someone who would just be a nightmare out of
the backfield if they want to throw the ball to
the backs, which he loves to do. Jayden Blue from
Texas big time, big time speed and he is an
excellent route runner. Shad Smith is another one that's that's
two guys that are basically receivers that you line up
at running back and you can run. You can get
him out in the route, split him out, and they're

(28:54):
they're a nightmare. Like you can watch Jayden Blue just
on angle routes. He just tears people up and he's
got big time, big time home run speed. So those
guys would be kind of like the committee fits. But
if you're looking for the guys just you know, first
through third down, don't come off the field, can do everything.
To me, I would I would look at Hampton and
I would look at Travon Henderson as probably being the

(29:15):
captains of that team.

Speaker 4 (29:16):
Next question comes from Stuart Jackson with the Rams. Stewart,
you may ask your question.

Speaker 20 (29:21):
Hey, DJ, appreciate your time this morning. Want to ask
you about the Rams options that pick twenty six. Seems
like they, you know, left the door up into really
any possibility with the way they approached free agency. Just
what do you make of that slot now and how
might they approach it given the way that they again
like went about free agency.

Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, to me, I look in the corners as being
an option for him there that one would make some sense.
I wouldn't sleep on, you know, a guy like Mason Taylor.
If that was someone that they really loved and were
comfortable with, they could go that route as a tight end.
You know, Trey Amos to me as a guy that
just for some reason struck me as a less need

(29:59):
type a player. He's just so consistent and so solid,
can do a lot of different things. They've bought. I
would say what the Rams have done, They've got a
lot of guys who were just ready made, like just
polished good football players, not getting enamored or carried away
with other things, and just kind of focused, laser focused

(30:21):
on getting guys that when you watch them on grass
with pads On are really really good, not getting too
carried away or enamored with everything else. And to me,
that's those are two guys, and Trey Amos and Mason Taylor,
who I feel like I know one hundred percent who
they are and what they're all what they're all about.
Appreciate it.

Speaker 20 (30:38):
Thank you ye.

Speaker 4 (30:39):
Next question comes from Q Myers in Las Vegas.

Speaker 2 (30:42):
Q DJ, thanks for your time. Man.

Speaker 21 (30:45):
All roads have led to Ashton jen t being the
Raiders pick at number number six one. What's the chances
that he might get selected before they get that opportunity
and how much do you think that Pete, Carolyn and
even Tom Brady in particular may be intrigued by the
door if he happens to slide the six as well.

Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah, that's a good one. Yeah, I would think. I
would think with Gino that he's got a little more
runway there, you know, and and knowing the affinity that
that Pete has for him, So I think it's both
things can be true. I think they could like Shador,
but then also, you know, feel like that's not the
right time to to already make that move. So to me,

(31:23):
I I I would have said a month ago Ashon
Genty will be there, and he'd be a great option
for him as we come down the home stretch. And
maybe I'm maybe I'm reading too much into this, but
when I listened to the guys in Jacksonville talk, and
you listen to the head coach and the general manager
discuss what they're looking for in a player, and they
talk about a statement pick and the first pick of

(31:45):
their new their new regime there and you know, valuing
the things that they're valuing in terms of the character,
the competitiveness, all those things. I'm like, golly, it sounds
like two players to me. That sounds like Ashton Genty
and that sounds like Jayalen Walker. So I would not
rule out the possibility that Genty, you know, went went
ahead of that pick and then he's off the board.

(32:06):
And when I talked to you know folks that uh,
you know tight with those inside the Raiders organization, they've
talked about the line of scrimmage has been a big
focus and man, they're in they're in a really good
spot on that defensive line if they can stay healthy.
And I'm like, man, what if you if you added
you know, a Mason Graham to that group and he's

(32:27):
playing next to Wilkins and Max like and Coon's like,
that's that's pretty fun to see what that could look like,
or you know, you look at it. You know, if
Jalen Walker's there, adding just a fastball and a versatile
chess piece that you could move around, those would be fun.
And then on the offensive side of the ball. You know, again,
I'm always looking trying to find connections and what it

(32:48):
could look like. And when I was talking about offensive
lineman and maybe someone who could you know, could be
eventual your long term starter at a tackle spot, but
if you wanted to, you could play him at a
guard you know, Kelvin Bank. It's not hard to draw
the line between Pete Carroll, Steve Sarkisian and Calvin Banks.
So that's another one I just kind of was thinking about.

Speaker 4 (33:08):
Next question comes from Antoine Staley.

Speaker 22 (33:10):
Hey, DJ, the Jets need a tight end help. They
also date right tackle help. If you could just kind
of analyze just the debate there at seven and if
the Jets were to take a tight end at you know,
at seven, just some of the options at right tackle
later on day two.

Speaker 2 (33:25):
Yeah, look, I think you're gonna you know you're going
to be in a good spot there to get somebody
that comes right in and makes an impact and starts.
They could kind of put the finishing piece on the
offensive line with someone like Membo who put he'd be comfortable.
Just plug him right in at right tackle. He'd be
very comfortable there, and all of a sudden, now what
was you know, an endless journey to fix the offensive line?

(33:46):
You could almost say it's pretty complete with him to
me as a player, just as simply how you grate him.
I'd have both those tight ends over him. So if
they want to stay best available and stay true to
the board, I would take Tyler Warren, and I would
I wouldn't hesitate to take Colson Lovelin either. I think
both those guys are are worthy of being selected there.
If they did go with a tight end there and

(34:07):
took the highest available player, you start looking at the
tackles once you get to you know, the next round,
Let's see where were they picking here? And they are
picking forty two, Man, it's going to be I don't
think you're gonna I don't think you're gonna love the
tackle options they're going to be there at that point
in time. I picked forty two. I think Simmons is gone.

(34:29):
I think Connerly's gone. So now you start getting into
you know, like Ozzy Trapillo is maybe a starting right tackle.
It's probably a little bit early for him. You know.
Emery Jones is a possibility from LSU. You've got like
a big upside play and a raw player, and Charles
Grant from William and Mary, but I think he's probably

(34:50):
more of a third round guy who's going to take
some time. So you know, if you're looking at trying
to package the two together, I would like the tight
ends I would be looking at in the second round
more than I would like to ta ackles. So that
could inform their decision that they say, hey, let's get
let's just solve the offensive line once and for all,
be done with it. I mean, you take you know,
armand Membu or if you took Banks, you know, one

(35:10):
of those guys. Now we've solved the offensive line, and
now you're looking at like an Arroyo from Miami in
the second round, which would be you know, would be
an upgrade over anybody they have with that position at
tight end.

Speaker 4 (35:21):
Next question comes from Mooki Alexander.

Speaker 23 (35:23):
Last time we did this conference call, it was right
before the NFL Combine, and the Seahawks still had DK
Metcalf and Tyler Lockett roster, and they also had Geno Smith,
but all of them are gone upstair and the Seahawks
have sense signed Zam Darnold in free agency, and then
from the wide receiver standpoint, they've signed Cooper Cupp and Marquette,
Mark Wetz, Valveez Scantling and free agency. So my question

(35:45):
to you is Seattle's only receivers under contract through twenty
twenty six our Cup and Jackson Smith and Jigba. So
are there any receivers from this class, particularly ones in
that day one to day two projected range, who stand
out to you as potential fits and draft targets for
Seattle's offense? Or alternatively, could you see Seattle making a
play for a major receiving tight end like Colston Loveland

(36:08):
or going for say a Royal or Taylor.

Speaker 2 (36:12):
Yeah, I mean with where they're picking, if one of
those tight ends, one of those top two tight ends
were to get there, I think I would have a
hard time passing on them just for the value that
they represent. But you know, to me, if I was
saying building out this team, where would you feel that
they need to go? You know, to me, interior offensive
line early would be more of a focus. You know,

(36:32):
if I'm just looking at it and I want to
feel comfortable, I look at a couple guys. Grays Abel
if he was there, I think would be a great fit.
Not only can he you know, come in and start
right away, he's going to lie to get your best
five guys on the field because of his versatility, so
you get injuries throughout a season. I think that would
be a valuable chess piece for him. I would be
more inclined if you're going to look at a receiver

(36:53):
for them, when you're looking at fifty and fifty two,
that would probably be more of the range. I'd be
looking to address room, and I think they'll be good
value there with some really solid options. I love I
mean Jack Besh. You know, the people have compared him
to Cooper Cup, you know, because of just the toughness
and all and all that. I think that's you know,
the competitive side of the of that comparison. I get

(37:16):
someone who could play over the top as well and
go get the ball. I think he would be a
fun one to add to their mix. You know, I'm
looking more for guys that are going to play on
the outside, So Jack Besh would be one. Tory Horton
from Colorado State would be another one who can get
down the field and is a home run hitter who
also has some big time punt return value. Just you
got to go back to twenty three to watch him.

(37:36):
He just wasn't healthy at all this year. And Kyle
Williams from Washington State that would not be a long
drive and that would be a big impact. He's a really,
really good player. So I'm kind of you know, it's fun.
This is why I love doing this call, because you
start thinking about teams outside of the first round and
who could you know, match their needs And I think
the Seattle receiver need marries up really well with where

(37:57):
they're located in the second round.

Speaker 4 (37:59):
Next question comes from Nick Kosmeter with the Athletic Hi DJ.

Speaker 24 (38:02):
Thanks for your time.

Speaker 25 (38:03):
I think earlier you laid out a scenario in which
the Giant You know, if the Giants wanted to get
to twenty where Denver is thirty four sixty five and
then their fifth rounder as well. You see the Browns
like as a potential for that same sort of move,
and Sean Payton typically has not moved back in the
first round. I don't know if he ever has. But
what in this particular scenario would you like about that

(38:24):
move for Denver based on their needs and what that
package would give them where they're selecting.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
Yeah, that's an interesting point on Sean. And to be honest,
the fascinating thing to me is with Cleveland and the
Giants if they don't take quarterbacks at two and three,
not only would they both potentially be looking to move up,
they both have darn near identical draft capital. They each
have an extra third round pick, so trying to you
find out, you know, and it's almost a game of
chicken of who's going to pay the biggest price in

(38:53):
how much do they love, you know, one of these quarterbacks?
And I don't even know that they like the same quarterbacks.
So that's kind of an inch interesting thing. But if
you can't get to Denver from those teams, I'd be
calling up ahead of them and see if you can't
get you know, a spot or two in front of
them as well. In terms of what would be there
if Denver were to slide back I think you're looking
at to me, like a guy like quin Shawn Judkins

(39:15):
would come into play as you know. To me is
there's not much difference between Quinn Shawn Judkins grade and
where I have them in like the early thirties on
my list versus the thirteenth player on the list, Like,
there's not tremendous drop off there. So I think you
could find a you know, a big time running back
at that at that time and get a lot of value.

(39:36):
I also wouldn't rule out in these trades if they
do happen, if these teams are looking to the future,
you know, and looking to acquire picks in the future years.
So if I'm if I'm Denver, say, you know you're
looking at Trayvon Henderson or trade back, and I love
Trayvon Henderson. But if they don't take Trayvon Henderson, they
trade back, you get his teammate in Quinn Shawn Judkins,

(39:58):
who's a really good player, and I get a future
pick next year. Maybe it's a two. Now, I'd have
to think along and hard about that.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
Next question comes from Authentics with Bleacher Report.

Speaker 26 (40:12):
Hey Daniel, a question about the New York Giants have
picked three you know, with the dilemma of either going
VPA or going quarterback there with Shador Sanders, I'm wondering if,
although you did say Abdul Carter seems to be the pick,
do you think that the Giants might be leaning towards
any preference of the best player available there with Travis
Hunter and Abdul Carter. And do you think if the
workout yesterday with Shador Sanders insinuates maybe there's a little

(40:34):
bit of a divide in the front office with the Giants.

Speaker 2 (40:37):
Yeah, I'll start at the end there, Like I talked
to somebody in their front office a week over a
week ago, and he had told me about this workout
that was coming up. So I think some people maybe
misunderstood that a little bit of like, oh, this is
a last minute like let's get out there and work
this guy out. With the calendar and these kids taking
visits to other schools and having workouts, I think this
is just kind of where it landed on the calendar.
But I think it had been planned for quite some time.

(40:58):
I don't know. I couldn't tell you with any certainty
that they're going to take Abdul Carter or they're going
to take a quarterback or or you know, what their
mindset is there other than the fact that you know,
they said at the press conference the other day they're
comfortable lining up and playing with with what they have
with Russell and you know, and with Jamis. So I
don't to me, it didn't sound there's no reason to
you know, kind of hide it. You know, I don't

(41:20):
see Cleveland trading out to get away from, you know,
somebody coming up in front of you to take somebody.
I think Cleveland's going to take Travis Hunter. It feels
pretty you know, pretty at this point in time, pretty
locked in with one and two. So I just wouldn't
see the need to, uh to address it that way.
So I'm leaning towards them taking a non quarterback there,
and Abdul Carter seems to be the obvious pick, but

(41:42):
I think they would they would like to come out
of this draft with it, you know, a quarterback at
some point in time. It's just a matter of how
aggressive they want to be.

Speaker 4 (41:49):
Next question comes from David faronez.

Speaker 1 (41:52):
Hi DJ for the Miami Dolphins. With this latest development
that they're looking to trade Jalen Ramsey, do you think
finding a quality starting corner for years to come. Now
becomes the utmost priority for them in this draft, Like
do they have to snag either Will Johnson or John
ay barn And if it doesn't go that way in
round one, how much do you like those corners are
figured to go in the second? If you could maybe

(42:13):
break down the different possibilities there.

Speaker 2 (42:16):
Yeah, I don't think that they're you know, I don't
think they're one position, one player away in terms of
like we have to draft a corner and that's the
last piece of our puzzle here. I think they can
be a little bit more best player available, you know,
with where they're looking at that point in time this
you know, I'd be curious to see how they would
have the corners versus the safeties stacked, because you know,

(42:38):
there's two really really good safeties in this draft, So
that could be an area that they they look is
at Emon Warri? Is it is it Malachi Starks? How
do those guys stack up? And you know, Will Johnson's
got a wide range. He could be gone, he could
slide into the early twenties. So you know, if he's there,
how how do they view him as a fit. I
don't think he's a you know, a press man leave

(42:59):
him alone corner, so you know, it would be interesting
to see how they value that with the safeties versus
the corners. And if you're looking at corners in the
second round, they're picking forty eight. So if I go
and look at the guys who I think have a
chance to be there, who could be some impact players.
You know, Ben Morrison would never be there in a

(43:20):
million years if he was healthy, but hurt his knee
in October, so he's not been healthy through the process,
but the corner out of Notre Dame would be a
heck of a value. At that point in time, you
start getting into Revel from East Carolina, another one coming
off of a torn acl So those are two guys
that you might get some value on because of them

(43:40):
dropping a little bit because I didn't have a healthy process.
So those are a couple options there if you're looking
at pick forty eight, and then just for fun, if
you're looking at pick ninety eight, I still think there's
quality players available. Noel Williams from cow I love Darien Porter.
It could be in around that range. Who's a height, weight,
speed corner from iowas Date Jacob Parrish from Kansas State.

(44:02):
I think there's a good group. I would not feel
at all, you know, when you go through that little
exercise that you have to take a corner to replace
Jalen Ramsey in the first round. I think you can
find other guys you can plug in there on Day two.

Speaker 4 (44:15):
Next question comes from Andrew Mason.

Speaker 27 (44:18):
Following up on the Bronco as an O'marian Hampton from earlier.
Given where that team is playoff team, young quarterback, good defense,
is Hampton that much better a fit to where he's
worth them considering a trade up or with the running
back class? Is it better to let the board follow
as it may because of the depth and quality available

(44:40):
this year.

Speaker 2 (44:41):
Yeah, you know, before free agency, I would have told
you if the Denver Broncos were going to be ultra
aggressive and trade up for somebody, it would be Colston Lovelin.
He just is a great fit for what Sean Payton
does and just seemed like an obvious one. Now they
won out and picked up Evan Ingram and gave him
some decent money, So that might, you know, that might

(45:02):
take that off the table, But I'm still got that
in the back of my mind. Of man, that's just
still such a good fit. So I know that's not
the position you're referencing, but that's one that it still has.
Uh has my years perked up to see what happens
there on the running back side of it. Man, I
I love Trayvon Henderson as well, so you know, Omari
and Hampton would be would be an unbelievable pick there.

(45:23):
But I think there's enough guys and there's enough depth
at this position that I don't know that you would
necessarily have to, you know, have to do that. I
think you can kind of let and see how it
falls at that specific position. But you know, I don't
know why. I just keep coming back to the leveling
thing thinking that was that was a Sean Payton fit.

Speaker 4 (45:43):
Next question comes from John McMullen talking about Howie thirty two.

Speaker 7 (45:47):
You mentioned h Walter Nolan a little bit earlier, who
had him going.

Speaker 4 (45:53):
What do you think the range is though?

Speaker 7 (45:55):
Is he somebody who could one or two teams decide
to go into a different direction.

Speaker 2 (46:01):
Could he fall that low? I would say it's unlikely
that he falls that low. He's just too explosive in
a passing league. I just I can't see him getting there.
But if you'd asked me if Nolan Smith was going
to get there, I would have said no. If you'd
asked me if Cooper Dejen was going to be there
in the second round, I would have said no. So look,

(46:23):
you always prepare for it and you always be pleasantly
surprised of who falls. But I would not anticipate that
he would drop that far. I think he could end
up going and you know, if he went in the
top fifteen, I wouldn't be shocked. So yeah, that one
would surprise me if he made it all the way
down there. In terms of the Eagles and where they
could look, I just didn't I just imagine and how

(46:44):
he's office that you just you just gather the offensive
staff and the defensive staff and they're just lobbying for
which offense or defensive lineman they would love to have
at that point in time. And I would also say,
with where they are as a team and their roster,
and you go through and look at they're in pretty
good shape. They have a ton of picks. I think
they have twelve picks next year, so they they could

(47:07):
be they could be a team. We're always looking at
teams looking to move back. They could be a team that,
you know, say it's him, you know, say it's Walter
Nolan is there, maybe that's you know someone they would
be aggressive to move up. I wouldn't sleep on you know,
Shamar Stewart is an explosive player that they that they
could use and fit that if he starts to drop,
they could go up and get him. I think there's
a lot of teams this draft that would like to

(47:27):
go and reverse, and the Eagles might be one of
the few teams it would really be willing to put
their foot on the gas and go get somebody.

Speaker 4 (47:34):
Next question comes, I'm Blaine grishakt.

Speaker 28 (47:36):
Hey DJ, thanks for doing this. I'm just kind of
looking at the kind of the mid round tight ends.
How do teams kind of feel about Harold Fannin Jr.
And they as divided as kind of media is on
his athleticism and his movement skills and then kind of
what separates him where how much how much of the
gap is there between him and the guy like like
Mason Taylor.

Speaker 2 (47:55):
There, Yeah, there's teams that have fan and over Taylor.
So he's a tight end. Darling, there's always Uh, it's
kind of like a running joke in among scouts. We
always laugh about it because these position coaches go to
workout players, so if you're the tight end, coaches will
all kind of hop around and all go to the
pro days of the top tight ends and they're around

(48:16):
each other a lot, and we would always joke that
it's like the it's like the poster child for group think,
where everybody kind of gets together and they all kind
of have their guys that they like and then the
guys that they don't like. But the you know, the take.
The consensus was Harold Fannon was the coaching favorite this
year for all the tight end coaches that they all
really really liked him, and I shoot, I like him too.
He's he's a really good player. I think he's going

(48:37):
to go in the second round when it's all said
and done, you know, maybe the middle to the back
portion of the second round. You know, when you go
up against Penn State and do what he did and
then you show against Texas A and M when you're
running away from everybody, it looks a little different watching
him run. It's kind of you know, he ran four
to seven ones. He didn't like blow it out, but
he's he's faster than you think, and he just has

(49:01):
a knack for forgetting open, separating and it's kind of
a different looking kind of a waddle that he uses
as a runner. But he covers ground, he make people miss,
and he's uh and he's just excellent with the ball
in his hands. So to me, I think he's at
the worst case scenario top of three, but I think
he's got a good shot at going in the middle
of the back portion of two.

Speaker 4 (49:22):
Next question comes from NR Media.

Speaker 29 (49:24):
So I want to talk about the Dallas Cowboys. In
my opinion, this is the most interesting team also in
the draft, and as you know, they made a lot
of offseason moves. So I got to ask you what
do you think they will do? Because there's gent rumors
going on and wide receiver rumors. But if gents goes
before them, I have them taking a receiver like Matthew

(49:44):
Golden or mcmilland, So what do you think the Dallas
Cowboys should do with all the offseason moves and with
the new regime now with the first time head coach,
and this is a big year for them too.

Speaker 2 (49:55):
Yeah, I think my last mock draft I had him
taking Matthew Golden as well, So I see the fit
with you there. I think they need to upgrade that
receiver room for sure. The expectation though, and talking to
folks around the league in regards to the Cowboys, is
they've done a lot of work on his interior offensive Lineman.
You know, I think they said the other day at

(50:16):
the press conference they would be more likely. I don't
know if it was Steven, but somebody in their press
conference said they'd be more likely to trade back than
to trade up. Which when I hear they've done a
lot of work on interior offensive Lineman, I'm hearing they
want to trade back. That matches, you know, because you
you know, probably don't love the value of taking the
interior offensive lineman at twelve. If you can slide back
a bit and still come away with a Gray Zabel

(50:37):
who's a plug and play starter to replace Zach Martin,
you know, that makes sense. I you know, I was
kind of tongue in cheek the other day on television,
but just talking about the Cowboys, like I do miss
the days when they were fun and aggressive. You know,
they've done some smart obviously, They've they've drafted well, they've
been smart. But you know, for a team that hasn't
been able to get over the hump, it feels like

(50:57):
at some point in time, whether that's trading a pick
for a player, you know, a veteran, whether that's moving
up in the draft, whether that's trying to you know,
a mass a bunch of picks in a future draft.
It just they've been kind of by the book, playing
it by the book, and they haven't been able to
get over the hump. So at some point in time,
I would like to see a risk, whether that's in
free agency, whether that's in trading for a player, whether

(51:18):
that's trading up. Just it feels like they need to
be a little bit more aggressive. And that's probably more so,
you know, holistically on the calendar than specifically on the draft.
But Philly is you know, Philly's got a couple of
Super Bowls by being very very aggressive trading picks for players,
going to you know, gettingn international player and develop them
into a premier left tackle, you know, going out and

(51:40):
getting Saquon Barkley when everybody says the running backs are
not valued, like they've they've gone outside the box and
been aggressive. And I feel like the Cowboys. At some
point in time, you're going to have to swing. You know,
you're going to have to take some swings.

Speaker 4 (51:52):
Next question comes from Will Birchfield.

Speaker 30 (51:55):
Hey, DJ, I wanted to ask about Derek Harmon, local
kid here in Detroit. Is there any scenario by which
he's available to the Lions at twenty eight and if so,
or even if they're compelled to make a move for him,
how do you think his play style potentially suits Theirs?

Speaker 2 (52:11):
Yeah, I think there's a I think there's a legit
shot he's there. I think he could be in their range.
I've looked at him as kind of like the floor
for him. I've looked at the Lions at twenty eight.
I've looked at the Bills at thirty. His potential, you know,
last line there for him to fall that I wouldn't
completely rule that out at this point in time. I

(52:31):
think he fits. He's someone who can get up the field.
He plays really, really hard. He's got good instincts. That's
one thing the Lions have knocked out of the park.
You look at all the guys they've added on both
sides of the ball. They have majored and really instinctive, smart,
aware players, and that's how Harmon plays so ultra ultra competitive,

(52:54):
can get up the field, plays smart, you know, he
flashes some bulrush power. I'd like to see a little
bit more or that, you know, going forward, But this
is a guy who's worked hard to change his body
over the last year eighteen months and coming off a
monster year. So yeah, I think you'd be abe an
outstanding pick at that point in time.

Speaker 4 (53:13):
Next question comes from Alex Kusheti.

Speaker 31 (53:16):
Hey, DJ, I know you were on with Roussillo and
Todd earlier this week and you were talking about how
defensive ends they don't always pan out for a couple
of years. It takes them a couple of years to
get there. Obviously, the lines are in this win now
mode with that twenty eighth pick. Is there anything that
they can do that would either you know, grant them

(53:37):
a starter or someone that could be very impactful that
would end up helping them, you know, immensely at the
end of the day.

Speaker 2 (53:45):
Yeah, that's a that's a good one. I don't look,
there's so many intriguing options and good players there, but
in terms of like the stamp of immediate you know,
big time impact, it's hard to do that at that
portion of the draft. In this draft, I think there's
a lot of really intriguing options and good players, but
like I can go through the list of guys who
can conceivably be there, you know, James Pierce of all

(54:09):
of them, would probably like he has that one dominant pitch,
like with his speed, I think that would translate really quickly,
So that would be maybe the one. If you're looking
for year one impact, I would say Pierce probably have
a chance to have the biggest year one impact. Donovan
is Rak who I love as a player. He's got
to work more and develop more of his power. Shamar
Stewart's got all the twitch in the world, but he's

(54:30):
got to get better at locate and find in the
football and finishing plays. You know. Nick Gorton's kind of
a wild card because almost like two different players. You know,
he played at two eighty this year. He's two fifty
seven now, which mirrors more what he was at Purdue
in twenty three. But he's he he might not have
the highest ceiling, but if you're looking, if I'm looking
at your question, he would be another one who I think,

(54:53):
come in you're going to get probably the best of
Nick Gorton right as soon as he gets there, and
someone who I don't think is going to be a
you know, fifteen you know, thirteen fifteen sack guy eventually,
but someone who I think could be a steady, you know,
seven to ten sac performer who's going to be physical
on set, the edge and kind of the rugged nature
he plays with kind of matches there. So that could be,

(55:15):
you know, that could be an option.

Speaker 4 (55:16):
Next question comes from Clifton Brown.

Speaker 32 (55:19):
Yeah, so you talked about harm and a couple of
minutes ago. If he got to the Ravens at twenty seven,
could you talk about what maybe he could do playing
next to a guy like madd A Bka for the
defensive line and also Starks is Benn guy mock at
him a lot. If they don't take Starks or Harmon,
just a couple of guys that they may take at

(55:40):
twenty seven if it's not Starks or Harmon.

Speaker 2 (55:43):
Yeah, I look, I think Starks would be their home
run pick with kind of what they need and how
he's used and how that would free up Hamilton. So
you know, we start there, but yeah, I think when
you look at the defensive tackle position, Harmon you know,
they've they've always kind of had big guys in there.
So he checks the box in terms of, you know,

(56:03):
being three hundred and thirteen pounds and he's you know,
over almost six five six four and a half. So
he's a big guy who can get up the field.
Matt at BK would be awesome person to him to
learn from, just as a pass rusher, Matt at BK
is so outstanding, that would be a cool thing to take.
Take a guy like Harmon under your wing, who has
some of the you know, has some great tools, but

(56:23):
isn't quite as polished as a rusher as obviously what
Matta BK has become. So that would be a good
learning opportunity for him there. I like that that option.
In terms of other players outside of that group, I
look at Max Harriston from Kentucky is a corner. You
know that you'd be back to back years you get
corners who ran four two eight, they'd have the fastest
pair of corners in the NFL. That would be the case.

(56:45):
But you know, sec tested, he's he's fluid and fast,
he makes plays in the ball. He was awesome in
twenty three with five picks. If that was his year.
This year, he's going to be a top fifteen pick,
So that could be a one of those kind of
raven value finds if they decide to go in that
direction and just upgrade that secondary. They've got to get

(57:06):
better on defense and they've got to get better in
the secondary. So you know, if you give me the
two names you gave me, if Harmon was there and
Starks were there, I would think they would end up
going Starks just to try and clean up some stuff
on the back end.

Speaker 4 (57:21):
Next question comes from Anthony Cosenza.

Speaker 24 (57:24):
Some things from a Bengals perspective. Number one, Jihad Campbell,
where you kind of see him going given some of
the stuff going on and potential fit with the Bengals
there and then maybe some day two safeties that you
think would be good fits for the Bengals as they
try and rebuild that defense.

Speaker 2 (57:42):
Yeah, it's to me, it's all defensive draft. I mean,
you have to go on that side of the ball, heavy, heavy, heavy,
and you know, I'd be shocked if they don't do that.
Jahad Campbell, I love, I know he's been a little
he's really physically beat up, you know, coming into the process.
So you got to have your medical group be comfortable
there that he's gonna be fine and and once we
get to the season. But to me, he's a he's

(58:05):
he's dynamic, he's versatile off the ball, on the ball,
big time speed, he uh, you know, for a team
that's going to be playing against Baltimore and trying to
climb that mountain every year, I think he matches up
well with them. When you think about somebody who could
you know it can come downhill and and and uh
and get Derrick Henry on the ground. You could spy

(58:25):
him against Lamar and he can. He can close down
and and and kind of suck him up on the
perimeter and then if you want to, you can let
him rush off the edge so he can do a
lot of different things. I think he would be a
heck of a pick there if he were to get
to pick number seventeen. In terms of safeties. On day two,
you know a couple of interesting guys that Kevin Winston
from Penn State. I like, you know, I think there's

(58:47):
value because he missed time with only playing two games
this year, but you get a nice package of heightweight, speed,
He's aggressive, he's good versus the run. You know, you
go back to the twenty three tape. I think there's
a lot to like about him, So that would be
one one of my personal favorites is I have him
kind of in that third round range. Maybe teams, you know,
maybe more soaring that four or five range. But I'm

(59:09):
a Craig Woodson guy from cal So. I love him.
I think he's a Day one starter. He's you know,
six foot two hundred pounds, ran four four five. He's smart,
he's a great leader. He's a little bit older, He's
played a ton of football though, smooth mover, he's an
excellent tackler, and he gets his hands on the football.
So and Col's also been a sneaky safety factory. So

(59:30):
that's one that I kind of like down a little
bit below that tier. And then Macouba from Texas is
another good one who takes the ball away. Not the
biggest guy in the world, but really really good ball
skills and takes it away.

Speaker 4 (59:41):
Next question comes from Casey Kinneman.

Speaker 16 (59:43):
Hey, DJ, and it does like all the momentums pointing
towards the Brown selecting Travis Hunter with the second overall selection,
would do you believe the Browns plan for Hunter should
be to maximize his skill set and the impact he's
going to be able to make as a rookie.

Speaker 2 (59:57):
I would start offense. Know, I'm kind of saying that
through this process it's different. You know, first of all,
we never we haven't seen something like this. You know,
who's someone who wants to do everything on both sides.
I don't think I would do that initially. I think
you have to major and minor and you know, historically,
if you have a player that has value there, he's

(01:00:18):
been a full time defensive player with a package of
plays on offense. That's just been the you know, boy,
it's always been. We haven't really seen it the other
way around, with the exception of maybe Troy Brown on
a couple snaps for the Patriots. But to me, I
think he's more valuable to your team on offense right now.
I think he's further developed on offense. I think he
touches the ball more, he just makes more of an impact.

(01:00:38):
So I'm going to have him as a full time
starter at receiver and and we'll start there for a while,
and then we can start maybe incorporating him into some
defensive you know packages, if that's your you know, your
your dime, your nickel, whatever. But giving him, you know, uh,
an opportunity to get on the on the field, make
some plays on some third downs defensively, uh. And maybe

(01:00:58):
that grows and evolves into more than that over time,
but that's where I would start with it. And I
think you you can get really excited if you're a
Browns fan and you start thinking about, you know what
Jerry Judy did last year, and now we get a
chance to throw Travis Hunter out there on offense as
a as a really really talented, explosive player who's uh,

(01:01:19):
you know, who's outstanding with the ball in his hands.
That would be that would make the Browns really really
fun to watch, I can tell you that.

Speaker 4 (01:01:28):
Next question comes from Joe Clark.

Speaker 33 (01:01:30):
Hey, DJ, thanks for doing this Pittsburgh at twenty one.
Obviously it could be a landing spot for a quarterback,
have a big need along the defensive line. So how
would you kind of evaluate taking a swing on a
quarterback if a men passing on someone like Derek Harmon
or Kenneth Grant, if they were still on the board.

Speaker 2 (01:01:45):
It's just going to come down to, you know, how
comfortable they are did they have you know, is there
kind of some PTSD from you know, going the Kenny
Pickett route in this range of the draft and it
not working out. I would just say, if you have
conviction on one of those quarterbacks, if Shooter Sanders got
down there, if you know, if you have a lot
of love in the building for Jackson Dart, you know,

(01:02:05):
whatever it is. If you have conviction, then take the quarterback.
If it's at all close, you have a screaming need
there long term. So if you have similar grades, you
would definitely the tie would go to the quarterback if
you you know, have some conviction. So that's something I
don't know. I don't know how those guys are viewed
within that building, and I don't know how much trauma
is left from the Kenny Pickett, you know mistake. So

(01:02:29):
that's that's the quarterback side of it. I do think
when you look at those defensive tackles, Kenneth Grant, you know,
they've they've been in that division. Mike Tomlins been in
that division. He's he's looked at, he's had a Casey Hampton,
a big powerful guy. Obviously, Cam Hayward, you know, big powerful,
you know, athletic guy. You look, you know at Helodi Nada,

(01:02:50):
who he saw for years and years. It's hard to
find guys like that, you know. So Kenneth Grant to
me kind of matches that division and uh and could
make you know, some good sense for them there. I
like Harmon is a good player as well, So you
know that's gonna that decision by Pittsburgh has got to
come down to like her love. If you like the quarterbacks, don't,
don't do it there. If you love them, you have

(01:03:13):
to do it there. So that's going to come down
to their evaluation of those guys.

Speaker 4 (01:03:17):
Next question comes from Adam West.

Speaker 2 (01:03:19):
Hey, DJ, thanks for doing this.

Speaker 34 (01:03:20):
As always, our our friend Greg asked me to ask
if I had a question for you further for your
guys as a quick fire around.

Speaker 2 (01:03:29):
To want I wanted. I wanted to wait for it.

Speaker 34 (01:03:33):
The Saints at nine feels like has now become one
of the most interesting teams in the draft, and from
what I've heard, they really are kind of similar to
the question you just answered, are struggling with going bp
A at nine and kind of you know, maybe taking
sure Duris Andrews, who they don't have a first round

(01:03:53):
grade on but.

Speaker 4 (01:03:53):
The need is there.

Speaker 34 (01:03:55):
Uh, you've been in these these draft rooms. Can you
maybe do like a little semi role play of like
what both sides of that argument looks like, of like
the people in the building that are arguing for BPA
and the people in the building that may be arguing,
you know, to go the quarterback route.

Speaker 2 (01:04:12):
Yeah, the here's the conversation. It's pretty simple. It's on
the pro side of taking the quarterback there, it's okay,
we might not have huge grades on the quarterback, but
he's better than anyone else we have on our roster
at that position. He upgrades us. We have time, We're
in a new regime here, We've got time to let
this quarterback. You know, if we think he can grow

(01:04:33):
and develop and continue to get better, we can grow
with him. So you know, that's the argument for taking one.
The other side of it is, well, what are we
going to do if we don't If we don't have
big grades on him, then we're going to be in
this exact same situation three years from now when we
come to the realization that you know, he is who
we thought he was. If we don't have him graded
highly and we're looking to replace him. We're in year

(01:04:53):
one again, they're the same scenario, different logic. We're in
year one. We don't have to do this right now.
Let's get a sure thing. It's our first pick with
this new setup here with Kellen Moore. Let's get a
Let's get a player that's going to help us and
plug and play. We have big grades on there's consensus
on them, and and we can take a flyer on
one of these quarterbacks you know, later on in the
draft and take someone who you know, we like to

(01:05:16):
work with and can be developmental, while also leaving open
the option that we could go that route next year
when we might like a quarterback better. So those are
the Those are the types of conversations that take place
in that room. And usually it's usually coaches, you know,
they want someone who can come in and help us
right now. Personnel is thinking a little bit more long term.

(01:05:40):
So I think that's where the where the battle comes.

Speaker 4 (01:05:43):
We'll go back to Cody and green Bay, DJ.

Speaker 6 (01:05:46):
Green Bay.

Speaker 35 (01:05:48):
What would surprise you if that they would do it
twenty three? I guess you know, obviously a lot of
fans are gonna be there, you know, wanted to see
a pick whatever. But what would you if they what
would something that they could do that would be like, wow,
that would that would throw you for a loop?

Speaker 2 (01:06:03):
Well, if they took a receiver in the first round,
I'm sure as heck throw us for a loop, right
because there has been asking that for so long. They've
amassed a really good receiver room, but they've they've yet
to really attack it there, so that that would be
one I think that would that would probably floor us
on the set and floor and floor the audience there
for the crowd there, So that would be that would

(01:06:23):
be definitely ironic if after all these years, we wait
till the drafts in Green Bay, uh and they went
ahead and took a receiver in the first round, would
be pretty epic.

Speaker 35 (01:06:33):
If I can ask who you think if I might
have missed it, but who do you think they might
just a rough, rough idea on your end.

Speaker 2 (01:06:39):
Yeah, in terms of what they will do, I mean,
I don't think they will do the go to the
wide receiver route. If I'm I'm looking at options for them,
and I think you can always look on the defensive
side of the ball for corners. Max Harston makes a
lot of sense to me in that spot you can
look at, you know, edge rushers, they just usually you
just look for the most athletic and flosive SEC edge

(01:07:01):
rusher or SEC defensive front seven Blair and that's one
that that's one that's going to peak their interest a
little bit. So Shamar Stewart doesn't have the production, but man,
he's he would match all the explosive pieces that they've
collected there over the last few years.

Speaker 4 (01:07:19):
Next question comes from Devin Jackson. Devin, you may ask
your question.

Speaker 36 (01:07:25):
Hey, Daniel, thanks for doing this as always, you know,
for for the Eagles at thirty two. You know, would
you think they'd be interested in taking a guy like
Malachi Starts to replace C. J. Gardner Johnson who's traded
to the Texans this offseason.

Speaker 2 (01:07:40):
I think he would be a great fit. You know,
obviously they left shopping at that store, and you know,
he's a really, really good player who I think there's
better ahead of him. You know, I don't think he
made as many plays this year as he did previously,
but he gives you someone who in a pinch can play,
you know, play your nickel. I think he could survive
out side at corner if he had to get out

(01:08:01):
of a game, and I think he could be an
outstanding you know, free safety, play over the top, roman
make plays. He's young, he's really really well liked in
that building in terms of the leadership, character and tangible
side of things. So yeah, that's uh. I think that
would be from a value standpoint and a fit standpoint,
would be great. It's just that, you know, I think

(01:08:21):
the the Eagles, given their druthers, would rather you know,
they always like to start big. So to me, if
it's if it's closely graded and there's an opportunity for
them to get somebody on the line of scrimmage, I
would think they would lean in that direction. But uh,
you know, if they get if they got wiped out
and cleaned up on the offense and defensive line, man,
he'd be a great fit.

Speaker 4 (01:08:42):
Next question comes from Jonathan Alexander. Jonathan, you may ask
your question.

Speaker 37 (01:08:46):
I think earlier this week that you mentioned that for
the Texans it would be Banks or Booker. I'm curious,
what do you think the chances are both are on
the board at twenty five or one, and what do
you think about the choice. To explain it to.

Speaker 2 (01:09:03):
Yeah, I don't think they're both on the board. I
think that decision would be made for him, and it
might be a situation where they're both off the board
at that point in time, and I would think a
guy like Donovan Jackson could enter into their mix as
a possibility there for one of those selections. It just
feels like offensive line and those are the two names
that i'd heard connected to them that they really really liked.
So in terms of how I would I would stack

(01:09:24):
it up. You know, the one guy in this draft class,
it's there's usually a guy like this every year where
he kind of starts off and arrange on my you know,
my initial list, and then it feels like other guys
are kind of moving up and moving around, and then
without any any rationale for it, he's kind of banks
for me, has kind of slipped down. But it felt
more like and I was looking at it the other day,

(01:09:45):
I'm like, I need to go back and revisit my
original list and see who's moved and then see, okay,
why why did I have him go up or down?
And he's one that felt more like other guys I
had just moved up more so than he did anything
to disqualify himself and move down. So when I do
my final update, I'll move Banks back up a little
bit closer to where I had him originally, which I

(01:10:05):
think he was like my nineteenth player at that point
in time. So he's he's he's a solid player. I
just wish he's strained to finish a little bit more.
Booker to me, is a is a little more physical,
has a little more edge to him, you know, obviously
talking tackle versus guard at pure grade wise, I had
Booker over him. But you know, I don't know that

(01:10:28):
there's a wrong answer there. I think they're both immediate upgrades.

Speaker 4 (01:10:32):
Our final question comes from Dennis Cox.

Speaker 21 (01:10:34):
Seeing Jaylen Walker a lot of connections with the Carolina
Panthers at number eight, Why is he a good fit
in Carolina?

Speaker 2 (01:10:39):
And if Jalen Walker's not the pick, who are.

Speaker 4 (01:10:41):
Some other options?

Speaker 2 (01:10:43):
Yeah? First of all, they're a team that I did
a lot of people around the league expect it's going
to try and get out. There's a there's a decent
number of needs still left on that roster, and you know,
can't they parlay New Orleans you know, need for a
quarterback into scaring somebody to come up in front of
New Orleans. I don't know if they can pull that off,

(01:11:03):
but at least there's people around the league that think
they're going to effort to do that in Carolina, So
something interesting just to keep an eye on there with them.
But to me, Walker, when you go into a defense
that's dead last and points, you know, yards rushing yards
per game tied for twenty ninth, and sacks thirty second
pressure rate, he helps all those areas. He is an

(01:11:26):
impactful player, You can move him around. He just would
add a really explosive element to their defense. I would
love to see how they could play him off of
Derek Brown and being able to, you know, let him
kind of shoot some gaps they're going to be vacated
with all the attention that Derek Brown's gonna require. So
I think he'd be a fun fit there. Plus just

(01:11:46):
from like a leadership standpoint, a culture builder, he checks
those boxes as well, So that's why I love his
fit there. If he's off the board or they decided
to go in a different direction, you know, I think
you're just trying to find impactful guys on the defensive
side of the ball, and that's why I'm just looking

(01:12:07):
at uh edge rushers, defensive tackles. You can look at corners,
you know, how do they feel about you know, the
corners in this draft. Amaja da Baron Guy. I love
him and I think he would be a nice athletic
explosive piece as well. So get faster on defense, get
more dynamic. They need they need help everywhere. So that

(01:12:29):
to me is is where I would look

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