Rookies with Sneaky Big Roles, Tyreek's Future and Clowney Cut

00:00:04
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where our favorite pope is still Leonard. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the garage talking to my friend Nick Schuk. Can you name an NFL team Leonard Pope played for? Nick? Oh, it escapes me right now.

00:00:20
Speaker 2: I started to thinking about John Paul.

00:00:23
Speaker 1: Come on, name physical receive hurdles for the Arizona Cardinals. Very good. I bounced around a couple of years after that, but might have gotten drafted like the fourteenth round of your fantasy league in like two thousand and seven. Let's not talk about the Pope. Let's talk about some rookies with sneaky big roles. A little later today, Shooky will also do a little bit of news. It is the final show of the week, but it is the first show with Nick Schuck. We are just living in a world where we're trying not to talk about the NBA to each other.

00:00:58
Speaker 2: Oh, Greg and I are both down bad right now, folks, And hopefully well, no, by the time you hear this, they probably won't have played the game yet. We're praying at this point, we're praying for the basketball gods to swing in our favor.

00:01:10
Speaker 1: Yes, we will see over the weekend if it gets any better, But let's start with the news. A couple items from Thursday caught my attention. Both with the Carolina Panthers. Jonathan Brooks, their second round pick from a year ago, was placed on the physically unable to perform list at this point in the off season. Being put on that list means he is out for the twenty twenty five season, which is tough that I wasn't expecting it, but when I looked and he had his torn acl last December, it makes sense. More surprising shook was that Jedevian Clowney got cut. What was your first reaction to Clowney getting released at this point in the off season by the Panthers.

00:01:55
Speaker 2: Well, I mean, he's The timing was strange considering it's early May, but it's also a familiar territory for Clowney, who has signed in April or later in four of the last five years. He's a guy who takes a bit of a Michael Strahan approach and rides out free agency quite a while before joining a team. But to get cut at this time interesting. Now, it's a post draft move, and they did spend a couple of picks on edge rushers to replace him. So it makes sense on paper. It also makes sense considering he's thirty two years old and you can save seven point seven to seventy five million dollars in cap space. Timing again is weird because where you're going to spend that necessarily in May. But he's a veteran who has been at a number of different places. I think he's been with five teams over the last six years, and this is essentially who he is now. His decision to go to Carolina was an opportunity to play football close to where he went to college in South Carolina, and it made sense at the time. But with one year left on his deal, they said, we're going to save the money and give our young guys a shot and give you an opportunity to go chase the ring with a contender.

00:02:54
Speaker 1: I guess yeah. So a little context, he was coming off one of his best seasons ever with the Ravens. He had seventy eight pressures just two seasons ago, and so he got a two year contract for the first time in a while. But he doesn't get to the second year of it. But it had twelve million dollars guaranteed, so he has some guaranteed money into this year. I was surprised just because they don't really need the cap room at this point in the offseason. I mean, it never hurts, but they had seventeen million dollars in cap space right now. It's not like they really needed it. But yeah, we're doing this segment on rookies who have potentially a sneaky big role, and it could be on that team. Nick Scorton. It was taken in the second round, Princely Uman Miellen was taken in the third round, and they'll both have bigger opportunities. So I guess that's how I looked at it. Also, Clowney wasn't quite as good last year, only forty four pressures, didn't play quite as much, not as effective, but still effective enough. Like I think he's gonna get signed somewhere. It really gives me all the feels of like, okay, having Genevian Clowney back on the top one to one list. I've been doing this every year since about two thousand and and he's back. Yeah, the number he will now assuming he gets signed seven teams in eight years, I believe it's going to be. I put him at number eighty four. I felt like I'm always very high on Clowney, but at this point in the off season, like there's a reason they're cutting him. I think he can help you as a situational pass rusher, but you know.

00:04:19
Speaker 2: Five and a half sacks last year, But you were right about the pressures they dropped off and it doesn't quite fit where Carolina is headed, but it would fit for a contender who needs an edge rusher, and I could think of one that calls Michigan their home as one who might be able to use a veteran who could come in a rotational role, especially as the Lion's way for Aiden Hudson to return from that leg injury.

00:04:39
Speaker 1: Yeah, I immediately think of you know, where did it go well for him in the past. And Baltimore I think could still use an edge They can really address that position in the draft. So it wouldn't surprise me if he landed back with the Ravens or just because they're both named Harbot, Like the Chargers could add another head dresser. They're okay at that position, But I think I don't know, he might get a good reference and ended up there the Brooks News. You know, once you looked at the roster and thought about it, like, I guess I should have seen that coming. They signed to but Harvard to a long term deal. They picked up Rico Dowdell, and they also drafted Trevor Etn, Travis's brother in the fourth round. But as much as it's bad luck that he tore his ACL again in December, it was terrible process by Dan Morgan in his very first draft with the Panthers to trade up to draft a kid coming off a really serious tour in ACL that was already expected to miss half of last season. He gave up two extra picks to move up six spots for an injured running back. That is the definition of bad process. And so I know it didn't work out for them, and you really feel for the person Jonathan Brooks. But also it was a terrible on paper first draft class for Dan Morgan, with which this being you know, the biggest problem.

00:05:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, it makes me think back to God. This was probably twelve thirteen years ago and the Browns spent a pick on Tennessee running back Ontario Hardesty, who had wow history of knee injuries and never did anything at the NFL level because of those past knee injuries. Hopefully it turns out better for Brooks. But when you're going for upside like that, you don't give up that amount of capital when the red flag on the medical is already there.

00:06:16
Speaker 1: Wait wait for him to come to you. Six picks and live with the fact exactly you could you could take them later because oh, by the way, you can do things like fine Chuba Harbard for cheap and free agency. Fine Rico Daddle for cheap and free agency. Draft Trevori tn in the fourth round, who's probably going to be like a useful NFL player. You don't need to extend yourself. And yeah, that the rest of that first Dan Morgan draft class. By the way. Xavier Lagette first round pick, we'll see, I'm not I'm not ready to have much of a determination on him. But Trevin Wallace in the third round. Of Tavian Sanders a tight end in the fourth round, we'll see. God On didn't get any production out. I like Sanders two. Actually we'll see though, But that's on paper, not a great looking draft class so far. Tyreek Hill had another surge, and our guy Tom Pellisero immediately said this was always in the plans. Don't worry Tyreek Hill, Like on the operating table, I don't know his his second wrist surgery of the offseason. It doesn't change his timeline reportedly, even assuming that that's all true, it just highlights the weird situation. I dove into his contract. Nick, He's guaranteed twenty seven million dollars this year based on the contract that they signed just a year ago. For some reason, they can save thirty six million dollars next year by cutting or trading him with not a ton of dead money. He has due fifty one million dollars on the cap next year. It really sets up a tricky situation where this seems almost clearly like it's going to be Tyreek Hill's last season in Miami.

00:07:47
Speaker 2: Yeah, unless you get into the area of restructure. But they've already got void years tacked on beyond next season, so it gets even more complicated. So yeah, it certainly feels like that. It's a weird time in Miami right now when we think about the Jalen Ramsey situation and they're just they feel like a team in flux with all of these household names being you know, holding uncertain futures and not having Tyreek at your disposal. It's not guaranteed. I mean, two resurgeries makes you a little concerned, but it just lowers the ceiling on what you expect from them after they fall in short of expectations.

00:08:15
Speaker 1: Over the last few years.

00:08:16
Speaker 2: So not the best time in Miami right now.

00:08:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, I just I don't love a situation like that where you kind of know going into it might be his last year there, without knowing how their season is going to go, Like he could be a potential trade candidate during the season for a potential contender if it's not going well. They also and I'm Dolphins fans, don't get mad. I'm always higher on consensus on you guys than than other people. And I wouldn't be surprised if they win nine or ten games or whatever they like, that's a possible outcome. But they're like a sneaky candidate to have a top five pick next year.

00:08:52
Speaker 2: Blow it up, Yeah, big, big blow it up vibes coming. It's it could just go like really wrong. I don't think that's going to happen for my guy, Travis Hunter. He's my guy, he's everyone's guy, He's America's guy. I just wanted to shout out Travis Hunter for getting his diploma from the University of Colorado on Thursday. I think he's even missed a little bit of time over in Jacksonville finishing that up.

00:09:16
Speaker 1: And I didn't know this. He was an academic All American the last two years at Colorado. What can't this man do? Nick Shook, I don't think I got your opinions on the trade down, but it's just another reminder what were they doing trading out of it? I know you shouldn't be drafted him because he was academic All American. I just mean, it actually does mean something to me that he just seems like a culture changer in addition to all of his talent, and so that graduation today just reminded me of it and reminded me. I don't think I had your take on whether you were pissed that the Browns traded out or not.

00:09:50
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not often that a star gets the NFL and appears built to handle the spotlight and you know, be a culture changer. Like you said, they're pretty rare. They're few and far between. But as it pertains to where the Browns were when they made that decision. I thought it was a wise move because they are not a franchise that is equipped to maximize his talents. They don't have a quarterback to throw to him number one. They don't have the biggest need at corner to deploy him there and then mix him in on offense. It just seemed like a reach, like they were buying too big of a house. You bought a five bedroom house when it's just you and your wife. You don't have kids, kids in yourself.

00:10:25
Speaker 1: That you know, bet on yourself that you're gonna get better jobs, You're gonna earn that money. How many kids are.

00:10:29
Speaker 2: You going to have? Is one of these rooms at office? Is one of them is a playroom for the kids? What about the finished basement? You can't fill this house with enough stuff. That's where the Browns were, So I thought what they got back in return was a nice little star home.

00:10:41
Speaker 1: I like the pack. Yeah, I think you got to throw away process every once in a while to make an evaluation. And what I would say with the they don't have a quarterback thing is like you're drafting Travis Hunter with the idea of him going to Canton and being one of the best players in Brown's history, and maybe they just didn't believe he wasn't going to be that. They didn't believe the evaluation.

00:11:04
Speaker 2: The comp for him was Odell going into the draft, right, and what do they do with Odell? Now? Adele got hurt, but they had instability elsewhere and they never maximized that. So I was fine with it.

00:11:12
Speaker 1: Well, if you're starting at that point, it's just sad. If you're like, oh, we're never gonna be good, We're never gonna have a quarterback, We're going to ruin anything good. We might as well not even have him. We'll be tracking this on NFL daily, how Nick Shook feels about the Travis Travis Hunter meter. You might you might be right in the long run, maybe I'll be wrong. Let's talk about some rookies with sneaky big roles and we can just go back and forth. I just thought this would be interesting exercise because we talked a lot, obviously after the draft about how teams look differently. But I wanted to highlight guys that I think are going to be particularly important. Actually, while we're just on the Browns, I like, I like having a good flow of the show. I actually I'll just start with a Brown then, because I think there's a couple, but I think Carson Schweschender at linebacker is really important to what they want to do in twenty twenty five. So he's a UCLA walk on who basically didn't play until his last year at UCLA but was awesome, and I think people forget shook. The Browns have the bones of a defense that was the best in the league two years ago and then they were really bad last year and you're not going to have Jeremiah Ousu Cormoa most likely to start the season and who knows if and when he'll play again. And at linebacker it's like it's Sweeshinger and Jordan Hicks. So that's an important spot. So that's a kid with that people love, and I love the defensive coordinator Schwartz, but man, they need a bounce back and I'm not ruling it out, like the Browns could be a top ten defense again this year. They have Miles Garrett, they have a top ten pick in Mason Graham, they have a good secondary. So Schwessinger kind of stood out to me as a guy that's like sneaky important if this team actually wants to win some games this year.

00:12:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's an instinctive linebacker who I think can step in and make a difference. It was more about need than anything, and oftentimes you see best player available, you're not quite looking toward need. But I think the way the board fell to them at thirty three, they went and got him because they knew that after him, it kind of fell off of a cliff in terms of talent available at the position. This is not a franchise that spends picks high picks first, you know, Day one, Day two picks on linebackers. They like to plug their gaps in free agency. They've run through a number of different guys there. You see Devin Bush on the depth chart. They signed Jerome Baker, bringing the former bendedict in high school kid back home to Cleveland. And that's fine, but they didn't invest in the draft. So to see them do that was a bit of a change in you know, philosophy. But I think it was completely out of need because they don't know what's going on with j Okay. So I do think that there's a potential for him to make a difference. I don't trust that he's going to necessarily but it's better than going in without a player like that.

00:13:49
Speaker 1: Right for me, at least, how I approach this exercise today was just rookies to keep an eye on, not really making an evaluation of whether it's going to work or not, but just that I think they're really important. You could throw outquinch On Juggins too for this team, like he is the favorite to be the starter, a little less so than Swessinger because they did bring Jerome Ford back as like an RB two or three. They have Dylan Sampson who they took later in the draft, but a couple Browns. It's not surprising that a lot of the guys I'll mention are on bad teams because they have a better chance to play right away. Do you have someone you want to throw out there?

00:14:22
Speaker 2: It's almost like you're looking at my notes, because my next player on this list was quinch On Judkins, and it's because of the fact that they've been a revolving door of sorts at running backs since Nick Chubb got hurt in Week two of twenty twenty three.

00:14:34
Speaker 1: Jerome Ford is nice.

00:14:35
Speaker 2: He's capable of breaking off a big play every once in a while, but he's not a lead back, I don't think at this point. So they went with the let's go with volume approach. We're gonna go get Judkins at thirty six. We're gonna get Dylan Sampson later in the draft, which I thought was a great value pick. But I think Judkins has the opportunity to be a bit of a bell cow in this backfield, or at least take command of that job in that backfield, because you know Ford's pay cut, supposedly that's good to lessen the chances of them reunited with Nick Chubb. You don't even know if Nick Chubb really has anything left in the tank because he certain certainly didn't look like it last year. So I think that Justins has an opportunity to really establish himself as their lead back and make a difference. He's a pro built back. He doesn't have the breakaway speed of a Trevion Henderson, his teammate at Ohio State, or even a Nick Chubb with that extra gear, but he's a He's a rugged back who I think can handle the workload of a pro running back at the NFL level. So I think that that's definitely got to keep an eye on, and especially with their lack of stability at quarterback. It's going to be vital to their chances of any success this year.

00:15:33
Speaker 1: So definitely watch him. Yeah, I'm interested where he'll go in fantasy drafts. Well, don't draft him high eventually. Don't do that, Guys, don't do that. Why just because he's on the Browns. I mean, you guys are spending a lot of money on your offensive line. You got to consider situation.

00:15:47
Speaker 2: I don't know if the situation is great for you fantasy owners, that's fair.

00:15:52
Speaker 1: I'm gonna pick. Let's just let's just stay with running backs, just to kind of keep in the flow because I have other names I think are are more important. But a cut another couple running backs I would throw out there, Caleb Johnson with the Steelers and r J. Harvey with the Broncos. I would I could even throw in Baschel Teuton for the Jaguars. Here's why I know Twton is behind Travis Etn there, but I feel like he's a trade candidate. I'm kind of connecting some dots. I wonder RJ. Harvey, who is the second round pick of the Broncos, Like, is he a guy that can really carry the load. There's a lot of guys there. Odric Estime is there, Jalil McLoughlin is there. Maybe they could be a Travis etn team potentially as a trade. That wouldn't totally shock me if the Broncos, if some team does get involved. But Caleb Johnson is the one of those three that is the most interesting to me because after the draft, the Steelers really you know, said that the thing they liked about him is that he's a volume runner. That he's a volume runner, and that he's explosive, and that we would like our volume runner to be explosive. Hint, hint. Naja Harris was not that guy. So they made it very clear they look at Caleb Johnson as a guy who's going to get a lot of carries. He is going to be the lead guy in that backfield. So for a third round pick, he's sneaky important to a team that's trying to contend.

00:17:09
Speaker 2: That is so unfair to Naja Harris because they ran him behind a terrible offensive Linus first two years and gave him volume. He was a volume runner and nowhere to go. He's throwing guys off and he's got nowhere to go. Yeah, I like that fit there. He's a classic Steelers running back in the identity that they want to have in the backfield, which is rugged guys with explosive abilities. And I think he's going to pair really well with Jalen Moore and so I like that pick. But when you go back over to the Broncos and you look at their backfield situation, nothing screams Committee backfield to me more than the Broncos. They have three guys with different skill sets. You have McLoughlin who kind of feels like a bit of a water bug running back. You got Harvey, you got Estimate, who is a classic throwback power back. You even got Tyler Baday back there. Like, this is a group that is a strength in numbers group that they're all just going to attack with their different skills. I don't think they'd be an etn trading because I don't know if they get any better with him like that, But I could see them kicking the tires on somebody out there because of how they're approaching the whole group.

00:18:04
Speaker 1: Yeah, I wrote down Harvey initially, and then I thought, like, are they gonna like trust this this kid? We'll see they took him in the second round for a reason. They came into the draft wanting a running back, certainly, but are any of these guys big time difference makers? I think the guys on the roster I'm gonna say the answer is no. Harvey has the best chance of anyone else. Why don't you throw out a rookie you think could have a sneaky big role before we take a break.

00:18:30
Speaker 2: I think one of the tight ends in a very deep tight end class that was most polished and potentially most overlooked was Mason Taylor out of LSU. I thought he had a great work out in Indianapolis. The tape is great, and he found a perfect situation in New York where so many people had mocked the Jets taking Tyler Warren or maybe Colston Lovelin. They don't take either. They wait, they get a tight end who I think would be just as good for them later in the draft. And what is the best way to get a new quarterback in a system who you know, justin fields isn't a rookie, but he's still young. How do you get him acclimated and comfortable? You give him a good tight end. And I think that Mason Taylor is the pass catching tight end that he's gonna need and want to rely on. So I think that he's gonna end up producing at a rate much higher than most people expect. And they're gonna look at Garrett Wilson out there and they're gonna be like, well, they got talent at receiver. Don't overlook the value of a tight end in this offense. I would keep an eye on him for sure. I think he's going to have a strong rookie season and make them look really good.

00:19:24
Speaker 1: Also, if you're just dividing up the targets after Garrett Wilson, who is getting the most amount of targets on the team, here are the candidates, Mason Taylor, you made a very strong case for. If you want to go other tight ends, it would be Jeremy Rucker Stone Smart. No, that's not happening. Josh Reynolds more of a blocker, like a fourth receiver type who's been pushed up. Right now, Alan Lazard's on the roster. I don't know if he's going to be on the roster in Week one. Like Malachi Corley, their third round pick from a year ago, is kind of a gadget guy. We'll see if he works out, wasn't taken by this group? Tyler Johnson like, there is a path here, gadget guy too, right, there is a path here for Mason Taylor to be second on the team in targets, which is a lot to ask of a rookie tight end. And I don't think it would be a traditional second receiver, but you could see him having seventy eighty targets.

00:20:17
Speaker 2: It's got the hands for it, and I think that's the most important part, is that he's a consistent pass catcher who can make excellent catches and that will help tremendously.

00:20:24
Speaker 1: Let's take a quick break and we'll come back with some more rookies that we're expecting to have sneaky big roles. Back on NFL Daily with one of the foremost draft minds in the game, nfl dot Com Zone, Nick Chuck. Why are you making a face? I mean, you're the one at the combine all there. Yeah, you're the one they trust.

00:20:52
Speaker 2: I was ready to make a bold joke, so that works instead.

00:20:57
Speaker 1: Looking at some rookies with sneaky big role, and Matthew Golden kind of stood out to me. I know, he's a first round pick. So he has a lot of buzz. So does he qualify for sneaky? I think so because I think you look at this Packers receiver group and you think, Okay, we're just adding another log on the fire. It's all these guys who are solid players, and it's a good, deep group. But we've thought so differently about this group now than a year ago. Think about it. Ship, Okay, Christian Watson, we don't know if he's going to be healthy at all this year, so you kind of don't feel the same at all about him. Romeo Dobbs coming to the end of his deal, I think we know who he is, which is a solid role player who is pretty good at contested catches and red zone and stuff, but not really a complete player. Hasn't developed past it. Jaden Reid had a little bit of a step back. They kind of drafted a guy who was similar to him and Savion Williams at least in terms of role and so that makes me think they don't really think that highly of Jayden Reid. And then Dantavian Wicks just had a bad year last year, and so Golden is the guy of all these guys who actually can do everything that can stay on the field every snap and that they could use to step in and be a legit difference maker right away. Do you think he has the skill set to do so coming out of Texas?

00:22:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, in a class that wasn't super strong with the position and didn't have like the bona fide number ones that you're drafting the first round.

00:22:21
Speaker 1: I would say no.

00:22:22
Speaker 2: But because of the situation he's entering, he's at least walking into an opportunity to separate himself and take command of that role. So I actually really like to pick with this in mind. On other teams, I would not say as much, but they need somebody to separate and they need somebody to kind of, you know, take over as wide receiver one as the top target. Now he's a rookie, so he's not going to have the rapport with Jordan Love right off the bat. But if we hit like the midway point of the season and we check back on this, you may end up looking really smart. He may end up being in the midst of a breakout rookie year.

00:22:51
Speaker 1: We should we should do more of that. Looking back at our old that this isn't even a take. This is more just like I think he matters more then you think. I gave a little wait by the way to teams that have a chance to go deep into the playoffs. I just thought Matthew Golden either coming out the gates swinging like some rookie receivers have lately and being a difference maker like really makes this team better. But if he's more of a guy that just ends up fitting in, like they need someone to step up and that's a big thing for them. I don't know what's going to happen. I'm not making any prediction. I'm just saying who's important. Give me a name that you want to talk about.

00:23:28
Speaker 2: I love this guy so much in the pre draft process, and I was surprised that he fell as far as he did in the draft Center Jared Wilson in New England, where if you look at their depth chatter on paper. Right now, he's not in the starting lineup, but I think that could change by the time the season arrives and Garrett Bradbury ends up in New England had a bit of a step back of sorts. I don't think that his job is solidified necessarily, and it's open for the taking. From a guy like Wilson, who I think is going to be a very good center in the NFL. It's a lot more of projection and kind of optimism, little bit of hope, Like I'm wish casting with this just because I liked the player so much, But they had no stability on the offensive line last year. So if you want to go with your best five, and he's one of your best five, you're going to find a spot for him. And that means all the world when it comes to Drake May's development as you try to insulate him with protection and weapons around him, So don't be surprised to see him on the field making a difference.

00:24:21
Speaker 1: Yeah, and I love what you said about best five because there is a route for you to be right that he's starting at left guard too, that if they like what they see out of Bradbury at center, that he wins the battle over Cole Strange, who's still on this roster. Leyden Robinson is another option who is up and down, mostly down as a rookie. Yeah. I like that shout out because for a late third round picker, you know he has a chance to really matter. Another guy kind of like that. I was hoping to get some day three guys in here. Elk a human or from Stanford. Look, I think he could step in and play for the Tennessee Titans. He's a fourth round pick, and yet you look at their wide receiver group and there is opportunity to play right away. And if you know, you look at what he does well, which is a guy who can fit in today's NFL, being a little tighter to the formation, being a good enough blocker. Hopefully he is a little more consistent with his hands. Here's who he's competing with, behind Calvin Ridley, Van Jefferson, Tyler Lockett, we'll see. I mean, I think they're counting on Tyler Lockett, but he's their wide receiver too, and Chamry DK, another fourth round pick, and trailing Burks is still on that roster. I just wouldn't be surprised if a human or like is out there at the beginning of the season and you're like, oh, there's all these wide receivers who are taken really high. But because of opportunity, this guys has a sneaky, big role. Although who knows, maybe it'll be DK. I don't know. If you have a hot take on the Titans wide receiver group, but I did want to get more teams in the mix. We haven't talked a lot of Titans.

00:25:56
Speaker 2: No, I did like I like DK a lot in the pre draft process as well. But I really like the way you're approaching this, which is your analyzing situation more than this player potential, because that's really what it's all about. It's all about situation and opportunity. And it's definitely there because the Titans have not gotten what they wanted out of that receiving core, and then they let Nick Westbrook Akine walk, so there's gonna be opportunities to earn jobs. And oftentimes you go through camp and we get surprised by Wow, this guy rose into the starting lineup, or you get the camp heros who never make a difference. I think that there's plenty of room here for him to step in and grab a job and potentially make a difference. So I like that choice. I'm going to kind of keep it in the same vein here. We're gonna go with Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannon, who is now a member of the Browns. And yes they have David Djoko on that team, but if you know Kevin Stefanski's history and the way that he likes to actually operate his offense in terms of quarterback style and personnel. He loves two tight end groups. He loves twelve personnel, and I think that they he's fanned as an ideal compliment to David Djoku, and that they can both catch a ton of passes. They could both make plays, and you can use them in every down, in every situation. And ideally, if you don't have the quarterback stability you want to be in short yardage situations, you want to pound the run, you want to be able to make the game manageable. Well you can do that by relying on a couple of tight ends. And the Djoku, while he's had the highlight reel plays, has not had the most consistent hands over the years, whereas Vannin leads to in college football and receiving at tight end. So it's like, all right, here's the guy we can count on. Here's the guy who's probably gonna get a lot more targets. They've been looking for this guy for the last few years. I mean, I think back to when they had Jordan Akins and they thought he might be the guy. I think Fanning can actually step in and be the tight end number two that sees the field more often than your tip, your traditional team.

00:27:34
Speaker 1: I'm so fascinated to see how he translates at the NFL level. Just a really unique all out.

00:27:40
Speaker 2: Of Isaiah Likely in him. That's what I saw when I watched him Brun. I was like, that's Isaiah Likely out there.

00:27:45
Speaker 1: It's funny that I didn't even think to write down Shadar Sanders's That's like, he is a fifth round pick that everyone is talking about that has a chance to start. I think people are a little over their skis there. I'm like, I think the fifth round pick part is more important than they.

00:28:00
Speaker 2: Let me tell you something, Greg real quick, just a little anecdote, Livy. In Cleveland, there is a bus that drives through the neighborhoods. It's like a tour bust. Somebody's telling jokes on it. They call it the funny Bus.

00:28:09
Speaker 1: I hate it.

00:28:10
Speaker 2: I've been roasted by the funny bus walking downtown before. Okay, I've been put on the spot by the funny bus. I hate it when it drives by, But it drove by the other day when I happen to be out and about, and this guy leans out there and it's just an old school bus that's repainted, leans out the window and just goes.

00:28:23
Speaker 1: Shadoor, Shadoor, Shadoor.

00:28:26
Speaker 2: Like doing the risk celebration. So I turned around and did it back to him and he got all fired up. That's where this city is right now. They're desperately.

00:28:32
Speaker 1: You know that, you're the like Nick Schukan NFL guy. Yea, now, no excitement, yep, man, that's where we are. I guess it's good. Then maybe there's less pressure on him as a fifth round pick than normal.

00:28:44
Speaker 2: I mean, what can you know there's pressure, it's just he's not a first round pick, so the risk is less.

00:28:49
Speaker 1: I'm going to talk Xavier Watts. So he's a third round safety taken by the Falcons. But when I was going through the list of like depth charts and stuffing like he has a great chance to start Week one, and then you listen to them the way they talked about Xavier Watts after the draft, calling him, you know, just saying like he's a stud and like really going over the top on how he's everything that they're looking for in a safety. I think they have primed the pump for him to start day one. They have a couple of veterans there, like Jordan Fuller, who's bounced around the league a little bit. But that's an interesting spot there, right next to Jesse Bates that it's a good spot to be as a rookie. It's a decent secondary there with aj Terrell, like a little top heavy, but you have d Alford as a nickelback. But Xavier Wats who had a lot of fans at Notre Dame and was like Defensive player of the Year in college football two years ago. There's one name and one team where like, I think he's gonna matter for a team that's trying to make the playoffs this year.

00:29:50
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you're going to see a lot of three safety packages with this defense at some point, just to get guys like him on the field. And Notre Dame's strike last year was their defense, and he was a huge reason why. I was shocked that he fell that far overall into the third run. I thought it was a great value pick for them as well. And he's a player that you see him playing, you're just like, yeah, I see how that translates to the next level. I've seen safeties like him before make a difference. And I think he's going to make a difference for them for sure. And I think again it's a situation thing where they're going to have to find a way to fit him on the field. But he's going to be on the field.

00:30:22
Speaker 1: That gets me thinking about their their biggest rivals. I mean we should mention Tyler Shuck. Maybe it's not sneaky the date Derek Carr situation is just percolating down there and not getting a lot of national attention. No idea if he's ever going to play for the Saints again, no idea what's happening with this injury situation. But here's Tyler Shuck, the fortieth pick in the draft, and I don't think they have odds for this anywhere. Maybe they do, but if I was betting, I would say he is their Week one starter. Yeah, yeah, I'm just I'm sticking with that. Like certainly, I think he would be out Spencer Rattler because he's their guy, Tyler Shuck as long as he stays healthy. And I just don't know what's happening with Derek Carr. So there's a guy who's gonna have a big role starting quarterback.

00:31:10
Speaker 2: Yeah, he was on my list, and I didn't want to go with him just because he was, you know, like you said, he was like not sneaky. But I totally agree. And it's an interesting examination of how we regard quarterbacks in college who transfer a lot, because bo Nick's transferred from Auburn, where he played a ton to Oregon, and Dylan Gabriel has been at three schools, and some guys Michael Pennix another one where you're like, this guy's got a ton of playing experience, he's built for the pro game. Well, Tyler Shuck's been in college forever and we're not regarding him in the same fashion. He can read, write, or change the course of that narrative by coming in and playing quickly. And I think that there's a good chance because of the reasons that you just listed, the.

00:31:49
Speaker 1: Fact that he got taken as high as he did at the age he is, you know, people are kind of over the age thing. He's what twenty six. The difference between him, of course, and Knick specifically Pennex is the same way. It's just he hadn't played that much. It's like he's been on a lot of schools, but he hasn't actually played that much because of the injury, so that that's a big time Okay, you don't think that's that sneaky. What's what's your like? Cool? Hipster sneaky?

00:32:13
Speaker 2: Oh god, I don't really have a hipster pick. Now We've almost run through my entire list, but I'm gonna go Colston Loveland because look, give Caleb Williams every available weapon that you can find. And this is a guy who was among the top tight ends.

00:32:28
Speaker 1: In a deep class.

00:32:29
Speaker 2: He's joining a team with Cole Comett on the roster and some might look at it as there's Cole Comet's replacement. No, that's his compliment. They are going to run together much like I projected with the Browns, but with a much more creative offense. And you only need to look as far as the Detroit Lions for an example of how they're going to do it. So I love his fit in there, and in what is already such a big year for Kayleb, Williams, year two proven that he can take the next step forward. He needs guys like that who he can count on, So that's going to be a huge part of them. You know, we talked about that. We've talked about Luther Burden, you know their addition of him as well in that receiving corps. But don't miss the tight ends because I think they're going to be a big part of that offense.

00:33:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, I totally agree, like Burden, if you get a lot, if you get production out of him as a rookie, like to me that that's a bonus. You you have your receivers that have been in the system. He's going to have a certain role. Loveland, I think needs to come in and make a difference. I don't think they really believe in Cole come Ot long term. That's a good shout out, not a hipster one, all right. I've got some hipster ones before we go, just to get as many teams involved as you could. How about Tate Ratledge, the Lions guard from Georgia. You were you a fan of him? I mean, I think he's going to start. I think he's going to start on a Super Bowl contender. Graham Glass. Now, when they asked their coach Dan Campbell about him in the offseason, well we like that he can play center too, that was the first thing he mentioned. I think they're kind of done with him being the starter. So I think they drafted Ratledge to start, and so that's a second round pick that's going to be in a big spot for a Super Bowl contender.

00:34:02
Speaker 2: Yeah, I love that pick. His film is it's I mean, everybody loves the mullet. Of course, I loved his workout in Indie, but I think his film is interesting because he's not like Gigantic when it comes to guards. He moves really well. He wins with angles, and I think that with the talent that they have, especially with the guy like Gibbs, all you need to do is create a lane, a crease for a guy to run through. And so I totally agree. I think he was one of the better interior offensive lineman. I don't know if we talked about him in a pre draft show, but he was definitely on my least.

00:34:30
Speaker 1: You like the Georgia guys, I feel like more than consensus in general, and you know what, they ended up going pretty high, at least the Guards. The Bengals also took what is his name, Dylan Fairchild? Yeah, speaking speaking of the Bengals, like he could be on that, he could be on this list too, Like they might start him, they might start to meet. They probably are going to start Demetrius Knight, who is the linebacker taken after Carson Schwestinger. He's going to have a big role. Like they need their rookies to matter.

00:34:57
Speaker 2: I want to keep it in on the offensive line ranks for a second, because this is not a hipster pick. This is not a sneaky pick. But it's a pick that I love that I texted you about, that we talked about in a pre draft show. And he's going to walk into what is it the trio of Tyler's in Dallas, Tyler Booker. I think that that is going to be a huge selection for them. You know, they needed to replace a spot on the offensive line. They go and get him. He's a brawler of an offensive lineman. I think he's going to fit in really well with this line that they've built over the last few years as they've seen guys retire or leave for other jobs at the end of their careers. And it's the for the first time in a long time, I like most of what the Cowboys have done this offseason, not necessarily in free agency, but in the draft and then the acquisition of George Pickens as well. I just not do a bit of a hitter.

00:35:42
Speaker 1: You know. It's a big guy who goes back and forth with Micah Parsons. He's too high a pick. It's not sneaky enough.

00:35:50
Speaker 2: Well yeah, but you know what offensive line is always sneaky because nobody pays attention offensive line except people like me.

00:35:55
Speaker 1: Sick, that's fair pushing back on me. I appreciate it. Yeah, a couple more, just as we wrap it up, like Obar and Norman Lott was a run stopper for the Chiefs. Who's only competition for snaps is like Mike Pennell, who's been bouncing around the league, was at one point on a practice squad there for the Chiefs. So I think he could step in and have a role right away. Jalen Royals to their fourth round pick at wide receiver. I know they have a lot of receivers on that team, but you're bringing back juju. You certainly are trying to move on for some of the lesser guys in their roster. Like just don't be surprised if Jalen Royals is somehow in the mix and some game game that matters for the Chiefs down the season, like another receiver Jack Besh like they're going to need Jack Besh to matter for the Raiders, that's just a team that needs rookies to come in and contribute. I mean, Jacoby Myers is their number one wide receiver, so Jack Besh is number two right off the bat. And I even looked at their third round cornerback Darian Porter, which a lot of people had different opinions on him, and he's probably he's going to have every chance to come in and play because they are just they're just thin at those positions. So sometimes it's about opportunity. That's what I thought about Trey Harris to the Chargers receiver, Like not a ton of competition there, Mike Williams, Quintem Johnson, Johnston, like he could step in. You mentioned and I'm just rattling through some names here, but you mentioned the Jets tight end Mason Taylor, Elijah Royo. There's a path to him being like second or third in targets in Seattle. So he's a guy I think if he can play right away, Like where are the receptions coming from? There's a bunch more for you.

00:37:29
Speaker 2: Yeah, I got one more hipster pick. We're gonna dive deep into the fourth round. And we're gonna do a bit of a Homer pick here because he's a former Kent State Golden Flash who finished his career at Indiana Westland Browns.

00:37:42
Speaker 1: No, it is no God, No.

00:37:44
Speaker 2: I would like to avoid the Browns at all costs.

00:37:46
Speaker 1: CJ.

00:37:47
Speaker 2: West, the defensive tackle from India that who spent his previous four seasons in Kent, Ohio with the Golden Flashes. I loved him in the pre draft process. I love this tape at Indiana. I loved his workout at the Combine, and he goes to San Francisco where if you look at them on paper, suddenly they're not as deep on the defensive interiors. Think we're just a couple of years ago. Right now. Their top two is Jordan Elliott, who kind of washed out of Cleveland, and Kevin Gibbons, and then behind them you got CJ. West and Alfred Collins. Don't be surprised to see some CJ. West rotational snaps and him making a difference with the forty nine ers because they're going to need it upfront.

00:38:18
Speaker 1: I love that pick. They and I kind have mentioned a couple of their draft picks as they really drafted MIKEL. Williams and Alfred Collins in the first two round to really shore up their run defense. That's the last lot to ask for their rookies. So it's an important year for John Lynch's rookie class. But that is a great shout out as they all have been today. Shooky, you'll be back with me on Monday morning. We're gonna have some fun. We're gonna do some rankings the best position groups in the NFL.

00:38:47
Speaker 2: There's nothing I love more than ranking things in May.

00:38:51
Speaker 1: I love doing some shows with SHOOKI in May. Like I said, we'll be back Monday morning. That is it for this week of shows. I feel good about this week. You suck.

00:39:03
Speaker 2: I feel great about this week. It's great. It's about to be summer here right.

00:39:07
Speaker 1: Look when we're trying to find a spot for Genevian Clowney in the top one oh one, like it does feel like football is back. That does it for me.