Post-Draft Questions for EVERY NFC Team

00:00:05
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're bringing them energy. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris Westling Podcast studio. Got a delayed laugh there from Jordan rod Reeg'm.

00:00:17
Speaker 2: Just thinking about what Patrick just said about your jacket.

00:00:20
Speaker 1: Patrick Patrick said it was bringing them energy. I'd never heard that word before. Patrick Claibn's in the house and the Chris Westling Podcast studio.

00:00:27
Speaker 3: It's all I thought you had. You said energy, and I thought you said energy. Yeah, because I looked at your jacket, which is so masculine, is it. I was like, you know what that that jacket's given energy.

00:00:38
Speaker 1: I mean it's more of like a checker, like you could see wearing it at Christmas or something.

00:00:42
Speaker 4: Yeah, okay with a cigar.

00:00:44
Speaker 5: Sure, let's go.

00:00:46
Speaker 2: You need an ascot.

00:00:47
Speaker 5: I do you know what? I don't need that any more shows. No, I don't know.

00:00:56
Speaker 1: Uh No, We've got two shows this week back to back that are two of my favorite shows of the entire season. I was gonna say, I don't need like any more time to talk about these teams because we are going to talk about all thirty two in the next two shows. NFC up first, AFC coming up in your feed soon after that. Have you prepared, Jordan, Are you ready for the three minute clock?

00:01:20
Speaker 2: Yes? And the NFC is my happy place.

00:01:22
Speaker 1: Okay, fair enough, she's an NFC girl and she's not up.

00:01:26
Speaker 5: First.

00:01:27
Speaker 1: We're gonna start with myself. Three minutes per team, all sixteen NFC teams, and I'm going to start with the Dallas Cowboys. It was hard not to absolutely love the Dallas Cowboys draft, the fact that Caleb Downs fell to them, and then they traded up to make sure it happened. Malachi Lawrence adding some juice off the edge, and then a really fun pick in terms of Jayshawn Barham, who they are going to play at linebackers. Some people liked him at edge, that's where he played his last year at Michigan, but I think he's gonna be more in that Rvel Reese zach Bond style where you use him as part of the rush plan, but he's at linebacker. They also signed Marcus Valdez scouting scantling on a Monday, which has.

00:02:09
Speaker 5: Been good good luck if you want to win games.

00:02:12
Speaker 1: George Pickens, by the way, did not sign his franchise tag, despite reports of the contrary. I'm just getting rid of some of the news. Now that this draft has happened and you go through their entire roster and these three rookies seem like they're going to contribute, and the defense has really been rebuilt. I know Jordan was with me on day one of the drafts. So I'll start with a man who once loved to root for DeMarcus Ware.

00:02:38
Speaker 5: Are we going to do this? Are we all aboard?

00:02:40
Speaker 1: Are we ready to gas up the Dallas Cowboys as a real deal team in twenty twenty six?

00:02:47
Speaker 3: Where's the place to not in terms of let's go the guys that were hurt are coming back. The guys that those guys being hurt provided the draft capitol for in some capacity worked out and teams passed on Caleb Downs to the extent that he was available for the Dallas Cowboys to take it eleven. So what's the major criticism other than you know, the weird thing with Michael Parsons.

00:03:11
Speaker 5: Like that, right, that was bad?

00:03:13
Speaker 4: That would be nice to look at this team?

00:03:15
Speaker 5: Oh that?

00:03:16
Speaker 1: But yeah, you know what's crazy is other than just the Cowboys of it all, Maybe the biggest question is the offensive line, Like the ceiling is really high, but between Tyler guy In and Cooper Beebee and Tyler Booker and Terrence like it could go wrong. But I just love this draft. I love this team. And I thought, because I had them one minute making the playoffs last year, do I always overrate the Cowboys. I went back and looked through NFL dot Com predictions over the last five years. Not once have I predicted them to win the division, and two times I didn't have them in the playoffs at all when consensus did and they made it once they didn't make So in general, I haven't been higher than contensus.

00:03:54
Speaker 5: I think they're going to be really good.

00:03:55
Speaker 2: I fear they have been cooking. Yes, yes, and I really I like it. They paid attention to their defense with the first their first three picks, the day one and the first of the day two picks. I like that they did bring in tackle depth. Our analysaid the athletic Dane Brugler is is pretty high on Drew Shelton's long term development. So you're continuing to add.

00:04:15
Speaker 5: To the fourth round pick pretty highly, really.

00:04:16
Speaker 2: Quality position that they've historically. They've historically been pretty solid. Even though his name is not Tyler and the Tylers have worked out pretty well, like he could still be a solid developmental guy whose depth at first and then could play eventually. And I love the scheme fits matching with Christian Parker and what we know Christian Parker is going to run this Vic Fangio esque defense. I love the post about him teaching the defense to Jerry Jones, which I would have loved to sit in those rooms. Quite frankly, I would have too.

00:04:46
Speaker 1: Jerry Jones, you know, underrated ballplayer back in the day back at Arkansas with Jimmy Johnson. I don't know if he was any good, but he played. That's pretty good.

00:04:54
Speaker 5: Giants. They're up next. You got him Jordan.

00:04:56
Speaker 2: Yes, So after the Dexter Lawrence trade, they obviously had picked five and ten, they went with rvil Reese at five. It sounds like they're going to play him pretty with a lot of versatility. This is a question we had last year about is Abdul Carter going to play more inside linebacker. There was a lot of sort of chatter coming out of that building through the Beat Writers defense from the defensive perspective about potentially moving him into that place. Now they have a guy who can do that for them. In ourvill recent obviously contribute because apparently they are now not trading Cavon Thibodeau, which it had been reported that they were.

00:05:31
Speaker 1: They were reportedly looking for a second rounder according to something on Tuesday, which is a high asking.

00:05:36
Speaker 2: Pressure, and then they weren't. And then I also really liked the John Harbaugh statement of intent pick at number ten. This was clearly going to be the John Harbaugh, you know, decides what tone he wants to set, and it's Francis Mauinoa, the absolutely massive offensive lineman who I think is going to be able to slide into guard for them and has projected that. That's projected to be a pretty good fit. And it's a place of need for him to play in the short term as well where he would potentially be needed outside in the longer term. He could help right away in the short term. My question is, are you guys all joining me in one of my favorite hobbies over the past several months, which is to watch the Giants beat reporters get back to their regularly scheduled programming of wondering if Joe Shane is going to get fired?

00:06:23
Speaker 4: Oh man, yeah, always, I love it. Itchy Media Group spicy.

00:06:29
Speaker 3: In terms of, you know, evaluating the circumstances. That's one where there. I hope they don't put their finger on the scale too much in terms of the outcomes there. But I just enjoy a group of people united in one goal, which is chaos.

00:06:44
Speaker 1: Yeah, there was a lot of questioning this week of like could he get fired this week? And now that the draft is over, it almost seems like kicking him when he's down. He's obviously pretty lower on the totem pole considering his GM title in terms of personnel decision making, like you might be third four it. Yeah, I have a feeling he'll stick around, but I also will be tracking. And this is more for John Harbaugh now we know, versus Caleb Downs, just like Caden Proctor who will talk about for the Dolphins in AFC.

00:07:15
Speaker 5: Just gonna track that.

00:07:16
Speaker 1: Also, do we think they did enough for Dart Like they're running back. It's like Skataboo and Tracy Scataboo off an injury they bring in likely you know, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, Darius Slayton, Like it's not it's not terrible, but did they well.

00:07:29
Speaker 2: I think they only want two receivers. I mean they need depth. Obviously, they're going to run twelve personnel all the time. That's I mean, that's John Harbaugh. They're going to be doing that, and certainly with the titand that they already had, and then also bringing in likely that just seems to me to be totally in the cards. So you're looking like at a two by two there instead of a three by one.

00:07:48
Speaker 1: Or sure, but even the teams that major in two tight ends on the field, it's like under half the time.

00:07:53
Speaker 5: So I mean you need to look at John Hart.

00:07:55
Speaker 2: I know, I know that, but look at John Harbaugh. It was like Zay Flowers and then they were at the only dominant twelve personnel team where their percentage was higher twelve personnel than eleven last year in the NFL.

00:08:05
Speaker 1: And Malik Neighbors will be coming back. We'll be tracking that throughout the offseason. You got the Philadelphia Eagles.

00:08:11
Speaker 3: Yeah, so the Philadelphia Eagles get a what feels like a literal steal and getting McKay lemon off the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers in there, and you draft your eventual Dallas Goddard replacement as he gets that one year deal on one of the more explosive tight ends like Keynes Cidique kind of took everything away and all the attention. But Eli Stowers a very explosive tight end out of Vanderbilt and ad Mark hel Bell in the third round where it's a solid selection of players to go to another talented roster. But my question, which has been a consistent question throughout the offseason, what was specifically the biggest problem with the twenty twenty five Eagles, who were the defending Super Bowl champions, and what does this draft specifically do to address that?

00:08:55
Speaker 4: Is? How wee are fraud? WHOA I'm kidding that last part.

00:08:58
Speaker 5: Is get everyone's well, we're gonna find out it if he was just.

00:09:04
Speaker 1: You know, an al Hallabi merchant, the assistant GM front of the show, walked away from the Eagles after seventeen years kind of as Howie's right hand man and really for the last you know, handful of years, really was kind of the number two to Howie. So that's a little bit of a joke there about Howie. But happy trails to Alec. I think they had a really good offseason. Yeah, and I think aj Brown obviously that trade is to come but I think the Jonathan Grenard move is, you know, one of the ten to fifteen best players to change teams this offseason, so that that shouldn't be slept on. To answer your question, I guess it's play calling. But you know they've been rotating play callers a while, so I think they're hoping it was play calling in the offensive system.

00:09:50
Speaker 2: I think they told you what they think it is in part at least because of the way that they drafted, and that is Makai Lemon as well as other players including Eli Sowers, who comes out of this you know, comes out of that slot or like detached tight end spot as a receiver. A lot could even refer to by a friend Date Tye as like, oh, this could be a power slot player, but so could Makai Lemon really, and so what that tells me is the the the onus that they're placing on Sean Mannion specifically to draw back to his sort of like rams packers roots and have multiple receivers of similar pass catchers specifically that are similar types who are sifting throughout the field and especially throughout the seams and in the middle of the field and fring up DeVante Smith on the perimeter. Now, will it work with the quarterback? I think is the big goal? Right?

00:10:39
Speaker 5: Is he the big problem? Are you?

00:10:42
Speaker 1: That would be such a first take, you know, headline? Are they setting Jalen Hurts up to fail? Is this like a test year of where if Jalen Hurts doesn't play better with this scheme then it might be his last year there?

00:10:54
Speaker 5: I think it's a fair question.

00:10:55
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I just know there's so many third and fourth and ones that are just Jalen Hurdson. Also the fourth and sixes and sevens that are just Aj Brown down the sideline.

00:11:06
Speaker 4: And I wonder how.

00:11:07
Speaker 2: Different Cole Payton you are running the toush.

00:11:10
Speaker 1: Push and Eli Stowers I thought was a great point by a friend Ali. I think I think he's the Aj Brown replacement as kind of long term that that power slot type of guy Owa slot. I have the Washington Commanders, they went Nutts on defense this offseason and it caps with Sonny Styles. Based on the reporting, sounds like they wanted Tate or delayne Moore and Sonny Styles ends up falling to them. I think he is a great fit. It's gonna be fun to watch him. Here are all the new potential starters for their team on defense, Leo Chanel, Sunny Styles, Dafayoway, Charles Amnahum, maybe Tim Settle, probably calebon Chase on, Nick Cross at safety, Amik Robertson most likely in the slot, Kela Witherspoon maybe more as like a fourth corner. But man, that is a lot. Tunsel is great, but they missed that second and fourth round pick that they gave up for Laramrie Tunzel. And it's a lot of focus on the defense. And so I'll ask a question that gonna be similar to a lot of the ones they've asked. Have they done enough around Jaden Daniels. The draft just didn't fall for them with Jeremiah Love and and Tate kind of going off the board. They do take Antonio Williams maybe a slot receiver in the third round. They have a lot of guys on their roster two through six and they're going to try to figure out who can step up from that group add Williams to that mix.

00:12:37
Speaker 3: No, they haven't, And I think you know to go back to the Highway discussion where you know Jalen Phillips departure need a replacement there. Jalen Phillips goes to the to the Carolina Panthers, you're ever to get Jonathan Garnard as a part of a deal that comes on later. Where it didn't feel like the commanders had the plant, like they needed the Jeremiah Love situation to fall all there to make that happen, where you have to be proactive in these things, and I don't think enough was done to facilitate a pyre neeed On offense where it can't all be all on Jayden like it was his rookie year.

00:13:14
Speaker 1: Well here's you know, they added chickacon Quo and Rashad White, two good role players I would say in free agency, But in terms of wide receivers after Terry McLaurin, it's Dianmi Brown, Jalen Lane, Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Traylon Burke's Van Jefferson.

00:13:30
Speaker 5: It's just we'll see, like that's a lot of we'll see.

00:13:33
Speaker 2: And it's a lot of I mean, there are different players, but it's a lot of like slot players after your number one receiver in Terry McLaurin. And so you know, I talk a lot and probably add nauseum about dimension in your passing game, different layers. They just don't They don't really have that, at least on paper right now.

00:13:52
Speaker 5: Deronte Jones is their new defensive coordinator.

00:13:55
Speaker 2: I love that they let him cook. Honestly, though, this is very much the coach really had to say in some of these trades and scheme stuff.

00:14:02
Speaker 1: I think it's really they're one of the units, especially defensively, I'm most looking forward to seeing because they're going to be different. I think they're going to be creative.

00:14:09
Speaker 5: We could use another Flores type. It's working.

00:14:12
Speaker 1: It's working for Flores and so yeah, seeing sunny styles with Chanelle and our guy Frankie Louver next to him, like they could.

00:14:21
Speaker 5: They could be one of the most.

00:14:22
Speaker 1: Improved units in the entire NFL, the commander stefense. So that's that's the positive trade.

00:14:27
Speaker 2: Frankie Luvu to the Cincinnati Bengals. No, I don't know, just thinking about people who line back.

00:14:35
Speaker 1: Yes, I'll accept it after thinking about it a little longer. All right, let's go to the NFCIA though my bad ins thin continue. Let's go with the Falcons. Jordan, you are up. Let's do the NFC South second.

00:14:49
Speaker 2: Yeah, they only had six picks they made a little bit more out of the very few picks that they actually had. Probably one of the nicest moments of the draft, the Terrell brothers are reunited corner and it's a good pick too, because I think he'll contribute immediately. I think, you know, my main questions with the Falcons were also my main questions with the Falcons last year, and that is the quarterback situation. And then I also am curious about what we actually see or what we might actually see, uh from Kevin Stefanski, like, will we actually see this guy who continues to get jobs because he is perceived as a guy who can lift the floor and the ceiling for a quarterback, Will we actually see that is my big question.

00:15:33
Speaker 5: Well, you know, we're picking on a small sample.

00:15:37
Speaker 1: But the fact that they brought in Zachariah Branch, a very undersized, not gadget player, but a guy who's going to be running to a landmark, not asked to beat guys one on one. And then you add that to Jahan Dotson and Zakias who they brought back, it does feel like a two a tongue of Iloa type of offense, which which Michael Penick worked that way too, I suppose, but it does feel like a hingoo pooh, like spread them out and throw to the little guys.

00:16:09
Speaker 2: And spot throws.

00:16:10
Speaker 3: But those are the positions to add to the Falcons offense where you have two giant receivers it. You know, I added Kyle Pitts as a receiver there, but him and Drake London, you know, occupy uh that particular aspect. And so yeah, you had some speed guys if you do different things with and see what Stefanski and the Pinnock slash tool.

00:16:30
Speaker 1: Of it all looks like what do you make of Adam Schefter specifically banging the drum that Kyle Pitts was available throughout the draft? That was Nico Collins didn't get quite as much attention from from our national insiders. But I found that very interesting, Like it was that I don't know where that was coming from, but it was surprising to me that.

00:16:52
Speaker 2: Well I and Parcel to this, these guys were not shy at all about really really being thirsty for more picks, honestly, I mean Ian Cunningham came out and said it a couple of times too, and rightfully so they had so few of them to actually use. Ian Cunningham was like, yeah, we really need more picks. We really want to get more picks anyway we can. So that to me kind of goes hand in hand with that.

00:17:15
Speaker 3: Fair Maybe it was the search firms, because we did have multiple search firms involved. Maybe they wanted to hold onto that last little glimmer of power to say to Schefter that he was available.

00:17:26
Speaker 1: Well, and we'll see if James Pearce get suspended by the NFL, I would suspect that they do. How about Avion Terrell and aj Terrell six years apart in school though, So I'm thinking about that My kids will share a high school senior freshman. That's pretty exciting just that one year. But these two kids, these two guys have been so far apart, six years apart, and now you come together.

00:17:47
Speaker 2: I just love it. Are you surprised he fell? I mean, I'm not really a draftnick, but are you surprised he fell that far?

00:17:53
Speaker 1: Not that surprised because he had some injuries late in the process, and it's not a fast or big corner.

00:17:58
Speaker 5: He's just like good.

00:17:59
Speaker 2: At covering, really aggressive, smart.

00:18:01
Speaker 1: The type of guy that does tend to fall though, is like he it wasn't necessarily like a physical specimen. Yeah, but he's a player. I really like him. Let's talk about the Carolina Panthers. Normally this is a Jordan spot. But what I did. What I did here was I just I randomized the divisions and then I was like, cowboys are At first I was like, I want to talk cowboys, and then I just I just kept the list the same, and so whatever team you landed on, that's what you landed on. No preferential treatment for Jordan and the Panthers. You get the Panthers. Okay, well I would yield to Jordan.

00:18:34
Speaker 2: Uh. Thanks for explaining all that, Greg.

00:18:37
Speaker 5: Least people know about the process.

00:18:38
Speaker 3: Yes, the most important thing of the process was Greg got the team that he wanted. The get Monroe as as their number one player at number nineteen, the tackle that a lot of people had questions about Athletically, not so much the questions, it's just the playability. And so they take what you know, I don't want to call him a reach, but they do take a player with a high upside. Well, so they get they add Chris Bosell to the wide receiver room, they get Lee Hunter at defensive tackles. Important to remember that the Carolina Panthers had to of the biggest free agent acquisitions in the entire league, both on defense. Devin Lloyd and Jalen Phillips added to a defense that was able to have success late in the season by being opportunistic and taking the ball away. My question is with this assembly, because they did get they go cornerback, safety linebackers, while they get a center in the back end. Is this defense going to be able to be consistently successful in twenty twenty six without necessarily relying on playmakers to take.

00:19:40
Speaker 4: The ball away?

00:19:42
Speaker 2: Well, I think they still could try to because their rush allegedly on paper, it looks like it'll be better which you'll set the corners. The corners were creating some things out of really nothing last year in terms of their the way the perimeter corners especially were able to make plays on the ball and really played well throughout space the back half of the season. And I feel like, you know, I thought what they were going to do in free agency was then say, Okay, our outsides are good, Let's focus on the seams and the insides of our defense, and on our interior defensive line. Well, they did that not just by you know, adding to the pass rush, but also basically solidifying the spine of the defense with what they did in free agency. But then they kept doing that in the draft and also getting depth guys as well to some of the players that they already have that did succeed for them. This Lee Hunter pick, it really is one that says, hey, you are going to be potentially a Bobby Brown replacement at some point, someone who they think can free up Derek Brown a little bit more, as is his prerogative. And I feel like this Chris Brassel pick is also you know, they they said they weren't going to be shy about continuing to add receivers because they're still trying to figure out what that concoction looks like. And unlike a lot of other teams. Alie made a great point about this, Greg on you guys last episode, unlike a lot of other teams right now, they're going to be determined to continue to spread everything out in these empty sets and use three receivers. So they're going to keep adding receivers, specifically of certain skill sets in order to do that.

00:21:06
Speaker 1: I think they did something similar to what we'll talk about with the Patriots when they draft. I think they did a good job getting good players at the end of the runs for the like before a big falloff at those positions. So Monroe freeling like Ali's number one tackle, you know they get that towards the end of the tackle run. Lee Hunter differing opinions on him as while we're citing Ali, like he hated Lee Hunter thought that was an overdraft, but he was kind of the one of the last of the defensive tackle and then Brazil. He's got sky high upside for a late third round pick and they still got to meaningfully add to that position without taking one early. So it all makes sense to me. I really think they need to add an edge. They do not have enough pass rush, and I think they will in free agency. I am honking, but there are a lot of free agent like older guys out there, Hassan Reddick, Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, like, there are some guys who are going to be added to these teams, and the Panthers to me seem like an option.

00:22:04
Speaker 2: Don't sleep on next Gorton. I thought he really.

00:22:06
Speaker 1: Well, But even then, like that, if that's your two you need a veteran I think three, or you don't feel great.

00:22:12
Speaker 5: I have the Saints next.

00:22:14
Speaker 1: I feel weird that they've just done sensible things this offseason.

00:22:21
Speaker 5: You're you're you're making a face. You don't think so.

00:22:23
Speaker 4: No, I'm just wondering is an apology in order?

00:22:26
Speaker 1: No, because we evaluate well, they did keep Mickey Loomis in a world where I didn't want that to happen. He's had a good he's had a good year since. Yes, he's got his groove back. We'll see about Jordan Tyson. That's a high upside, high risk pick. I wasn't as big on, but Kristin Miller in the second as a run stuffing with some upside to be a pass rusher at defensive tackle. Thought they timed his pick really well. Oscar Delp could be a really good tight end. I think a little higher ceiling than some of the earlier tight ends that went. And then the potential Caesar Ruiz back up. Can you give me this is my question a word?

00:23:04
Speaker 5: You're a wordsmith. Dear Jordan.

00:23:08
Speaker 1: For being really encouraged by what the Saints have done this offseason, while also recognizing the roster has a ways to go.

00:23:18
Speaker 2: I can give you two words, okay, cautiously optimistic.

00:23:22
Speaker 1: Okay, that's fair, Like it's easy to get from the worst team in the league are expected to be the worst, to where they were that last year, which was like, oh they were kind of frisky and beat some bad teams. It's harder to make the next step. So I think expectations has to stay low.

00:23:35
Speaker 2: But what's your word, Greg, I don't have a word. Oh I thought you were setting me up. And have a better word. It's like I thought it was.

00:23:42
Speaker 5: It's more like Germany.

00:23:43
Speaker 1: They also signed Martin Emerson, by the way, coming off of torn Achilles.

00:23:46
Speaker 5: Yeah, from the Browns.

00:23:48
Speaker 2: Do you know it's I was wondering if you saw that phone call the video of the phone call. It was Jeff Ireland who was calling a prospect and the player referred to him as the general manager, and Mickey Loomis was sitting right next to Jeff Ireland. Jeff Ireland goes, oh, oh, I'm not let me Uh he's right next to me. I was like, oh, interesting, interesting reveal dynamic.

00:24:11
Speaker 1: There, absolutely and I think that's maybe been the case for a while and it might be becoming that way even more that Mickey Loomis almost acts like the owner, like he's maybe a little closer to like a team president, and maybe Jeff Ireland and his scouting staff is doing more and maybe that's why it seems all more sensible.

00:24:30
Speaker 3: Yeah, do you have a word tepidly hopeful?

00:24:33
Speaker 4: I can't think of one word.

00:24:34
Speaker 5: Yeah, tip it is good.

00:24:36
Speaker 2: I think tip it is like maybe it's going to be a downslide. Yeah, you know, lukewarm.

00:24:43
Speaker 5: No better than that.

00:24:44
Speaker 1: Other than that, you're happy with what's going on. And yet I think just just maybe rein it in a little bit, let's not get over it.

00:24:50
Speaker 4: I don't know that it necessarily needs to be rained in.

00:24:53
Speaker 5: Okay.

00:24:53
Speaker 2: I think they're in that let people be happy.

00:24:56
Speaker 3: That interesting spot where kind of like kind of like the Bears were yes last year, where it's like, hey, let's have fun. Where now the Chicago if it doesn't work out, you know, they got to win the Super Bowl in order for people to be happy. I think the Saints are in a spot where they could, you know, make it to a divisional round and it's like, wow, this is wild.

00:25:15
Speaker 5: This is what I'm talking about.

00:25:16
Speaker 1: I think if they won, there's a scenario where they win six games this year, and I think it's a good year if the offense go sort.

00:25:22
Speaker 5: That defense has no juice on it right now.

00:25:26
Speaker 1: It has a bunch of like pretty good players and not many difference makers. Not I think, Well, we'll have a off season to talk about the scenes, and we will.

00:25:36
Speaker 5: The Bucks are.

00:25:36
Speaker 1: Up the team with the best roster in the division by far. That's sort of where I'm getting at.

00:25:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, they just got better. I mean, God, Jason light has really become one of the more dependable general managers in the draft. I mean, and he and he has a type, and he's pretty overt about that type. You know. He picks up Ruben Bain, our short arm king, and he pairs him with Elijah Cansey, another short arm king, and now they've got Vita in the mix as well, And so that defensive line is very like Todd Bowles Jason like kind of exactly what those two like to do and how they like to build. And I think that this is another example of you know, I think everybody was wondering about Todd Bowles and maybe his job security at the end of last year. But the players that they pick up in Bain first of all, and then also Josiah Trotter like they're very they feel very like these are Todd Bowles players, like these are players that he cannot wait to maximize. You know they won't they won't have Mike Evans, but they're still rolling really deep at receiver again because of the way they've drafted in the past. It's funny because the biggest question to me, and I know they've got def questions, especially in a corner and all that, but like, the biggest question to me is still Baker Mayfield. Well, Baker Ball keep on rolling, Bait.

00:26:51
Speaker 1: I think he's set up to do so. They're another team with incredible continuity. They lost Mike Evans. I think ted Hurst obviously is not going to replace a future Hall of Famer, but he is that style of wide receiver one of your favorites, Patrick.

00:27:03
Speaker 4: Absolute favorite player in this draft.

00:27:05
Speaker 1: Oh. I loved that pick by them, and this is a great if you love ted Hurst.

00:27:09
Speaker 5: I think it's a great situation for him.

00:27:11
Speaker 4: Yeah, or both of.

00:27:12
Speaker 3: Those guys, both Bain and Hurst, where you could say you can make a case that they could have gone a lot earlier in terms of their production that they had the way that in you know, people of question because people questioned the competition for both guys, because nobody blocked rub and Bain all season long. In terms of the top tackles, there weren't that many on the schedule. The best one was playing on his team with him and with Ted playing in the in the Sun Belt Conference where a lot of people see Georgia State and they start to ask questions. But he goes to the Combine, he goes to Mobile, he answers all of those where it's tough to pick the spot where this draft could have been that much better.

00:27:49
Speaker 1: No, Scott one of my We had to pick our favorite players on forties and free agents, and he was one of my three favorites, and I think it's a great landing spot for him. Disappointing he goes on Day three in the fourth round, But Todd Bowles knows how to use a safety nickel with a lot of different talent, and so look, Baker. They brought everyone back other than Mike Evans. It's a big other than But you have a healthier Chris Godwin, you get year two of Abuka.

00:28:15
Speaker 5: The offensive line is pretty great. I think he set up for success.

00:28:18
Speaker 2: Well in health was really the big issue with the offensive line. You know, even when they had Tristan Wurf's was on the field, off the field like banged up all year. Some of the some of the guys on the interior were banged up. Like I just Truy, I trust his drafts. I trust Jason Light's drafts. And we talked about this in an earlier episode this season. But I look at all of these players and I see a future for them, like I see a path for them because of the way that they developed players and the way that they identify them.

00:28:44
Speaker 1: How about the Trotter Dynasty linebacker right now, Jeremiah Junior in Philadelphia, And we got another one here in Tampa Bay. Let's take a break. That's right, Gean. Let's take a break. We have two divisions to go, and we'll hit the NFC West where spice after the break back on NFL Daily. Starting off in the NFC West, the most talked about, most important team of the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals. I don't think this is that bad a roster, Patrick, Do you disagree?

00:29:33
Speaker 3: Yeah, It's gonna be hard for me to find rosters that I feel especially if you know, if it's a Minshew playing situation where it looks a little funny in the light, but they get a great number three overall pick in Jeremiah Love the circumstances around and the conversation about running backs, I will acknowledge that you get that extra year of control. The vast majority of of what's going to be somebody's career is a fair to the player, no, because they get ground into pace and they never get really an opportunity to earn the actual value they produce by the team. But you know, as long as the draft exists, this is a way to get a really good player and have control of their out, you know, of their aspects for a very long time. Good thing in the Rams drafted Ty Simpson in the first round. Otherwise the Carson Beck pick would look a little funny in the light because they they you know, they do have an I guess a need at quarterback. They chose to address that in the draft. They get not the other Caleb Proctor, but the defensive Caleb Proctor.

00:30:34
Speaker 4: Out of Southeastern Louisiana. Very athletic player.

00:30:38
Speaker 3: But my question with regards to Arizona is despite the fact that we know the names and the faces all the coaching staff. Do we know enough about how they are going to use these players to be confident about the outcome in any particular way.

00:30:54
Speaker 1: Not particularly, But on offense, you have a wide receiver group of Michael will Marvin Harrison, and Kendrick Bourne. That's better than a lot of groups out there. I love me some Michael Wilson right now. You have an offensive line where you added Chase Basantis. You know early in the second round, you have a plus starter in Paris Johnson, a popular free agent pickup in saamlu fro Hole that's center like plus player. You have an all pro at tight end. You have a potential all pro at running back. I mean, honestly, the expectations for Mike Laffleur I think should be reasonably high on their offense or else why hire him.

00:31:30
Speaker 2: But they won't be because the rest of the division.

00:31:32
Speaker 1: Is that good, right, But I just mean for the offense to be good, to be solid.

00:31:36
Speaker 2: Well, yes, the show is work, I think where he really has to show his work because they didn't. They picked up Reggie Virgil in the fifth round here, but otherwise didn't do a ton of work at receiver obviously because of the names that you just listed off. So he's got to show his work in the passing game. And certainly, you know, as they always say, when you're a coach that comes out of this tree, marrying that with the running game in a way that doesn't just make sense, but all so sets up more explosive plays than they were able to get in the past. And by the way, how are you going to do that because you don't know who's going to be throwing the ball, which I think is the reason why everybody would be rightfully skeptical of this offense in general and of this entire team, because Jacoby Brissett is wants a new contract once to get paid like a starter. We noted, I love that energy. Keep that up. Ask for what you want and then if you don't get it, at least you asked. And Garter Minshew's the backup. They're really going to be answering the quarterback question next season versus this season. And the Carson Beck fans out there, the people who like him, like really really really really like him, think he's the best quarterback in the class, like love the guy. But the ones who don't are completely opposite on him, He's like, there's no middle ground with him.

00:32:47
Speaker 5: I feel like it was a crazy pick.

00:32:49
Speaker 1: They would have I think, taken Tye Simpson at some point, maybe not at the top of the second. Maybe maybe they would have traded back in. And it feels like they just burned a pick because they wanted someone. But why bother just go with Minshew and Jakobe. They didn't add anything to their defense.

00:33:04
Speaker 2: Maybe we should just quit nothing matters.

00:33:06
Speaker 1: I mean, they didn't add anything to their defense all off season. Honestly, if you gave that, I know we're going over on the Cardinals of all teams. If you gave that offense an average starting quarter, if you gave that offense even Baker Mayfield, who I'm not a huge fan of, or whatever, I mean, I think the expectations should be that's a better than average offense. It's actually pretty good on PAP let's go to the rams. Much better than average offense year after year. This is a team that returned twenty two of twenty four starters from a year ago. They literally just swapped out the cornerbacks.

00:33:41
Speaker 5: It was like they.

00:33:41
Speaker 1: Took the most basic evaluation of their team and they did what everyone said. They said, this team's great except for the cornerbacks. We have talked Ty Simpson at length on this show. I think it's a when you look up the opportunity cost of who they passed on.

00:33:59
Speaker 5: That's where I have problem with it.

00:34:01
Speaker 1: Max Claire right now might be tight end four on their team, but they obviously hope he develops into more. They have a guard who will try to get into the mix. Do you think they, like I think they need a third receiver, you know? Or are the tight ends you know enough? Do they feel like that's all going to keep working, like, just go crazy with thirteen personnel.

00:34:23
Speaker 5: And my question for you, are you at all worried about the vibes?

00:34:26
Speaker 1: I'm gonna go completely off the radar here and just go like, do you worry at all about the vibes coming off one of the toughest losses in franchise history and then followed by this Ty Simpson McVeigh stuff.

00:34:38
Speaker 2: Well, less so than those variables, really, Greg more so, this is a team that's been constructed to push for specifically a Super Bowl this year. They want to max out this roster. Some people don't really want to hear it, but it is why and thirteen is still crazy to me, but it is why they picked ty Simpson because they need to make sure they have the quarterback question answered. On the other side of however much it costs in waves all the way up into the trade deadline to build this into the best possible team that they possibly can create in order to win a Super Bowl. That is what they are trying to do. They've made that very clear. They have not been shy about that at all. And also with contracts coming up. To me, these draft classes represent second guys who are maybe going to play for them in two years, maybe going to play for them in three years even but keeping those guys cheap because you're going to extend a couple of people at least from your twenty twenty three class coming up, and so all of that puts such a strain and a stress on a team. The declaration of what you know you must do and anything else is failing. That is what puts a strain on a team.

00:35:51
Speaker 1: And I think they can get production from their twenty five draft class would really help because they really didn't much last year. So if Terence Ferguson and Josiah Stewart and he Monthfield who played a little bit for them, Like, if they can't get more out of last year's draft class this year, that would help quite a bit.

00:36:06
Speaker 3: Yeah, it would help, and they would need it, because the best case scenario for the Los Angeles Rams in twenty twenty six is Ty Simpson does not play a single snap meaningful snap of the entire year. And if that's the case, then it's tough for medio vision. And I understand, like you need to address the position. If I thought the player, like if the evaluation of the player at thirteen was there when we talked about all of these guys that are gonna have impact and play in the twenty twenty six season that we're drafted after Ty Simpson.

00:36:36
Speaker 4: Yeah, but you mentioned the guys from last year's draft.

00:36:41
Speaker 3: At a certain point, you're going to need people to contribute from these draft classes, right otherwise at all again looks very funny in the light.

00:36:47
Speaker 1: This is how you know, really great rosters do decline is to have back to back draft classes where you don't get a lot of production, like in the short or even medium terms. What happened to the chief Hoping that doesn't happen to them same thing with the forty nine ers, who've been a little up and down with the draft lately.

00:37:05
Speaker 2: What do you think, Jordan, Yeah, kind of a perplexing draft in many ways, several reaches, specifically in the context of the consensus board, which I know is a big time dialogue over the weekend. I'm sure everybody changed each other's minds on that. With their Internet comments. They're iding needs and depth and players that they internally liked according to them externally, to me, it looked like they followed a couple of patterns. Deshan's stribbling is a pick that I liked for them. He reminds me actually of Juwan Jennings. Ted Winn turned me on to kind of like his game of what he does well and how he could potentially fit into a roster. I think everybody was like, is this debo and it's not. And then also they kind of followed their pattern of taking a middle round running back who's probably not going to play for them, and also say that Jaden is it Dugger reminded them of kJ Wright. It's a really top heavy team all over the place, including the guy that they did bring in to answer some questions that they have, and they still have questions about the receiver's room in Mike Evans. They have a lot of guys returning from injury. That would have been my question, is what they're going to look like, you know, on the other side of all of getting all of those older players, veteran players back into the mix and George Kittle and Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. But actually a spicier question came from one of the reporters after one of the rounds of the draft, asking John Lynch a question. This is a local reporter slash commentator, Grant Cohne, who was asking John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan about their drafting last week.

00:38:34
Speaker 3: John, your draft board seems to deviate quite a bit from the consensus.

00:38:40
Speaker 5: Why are you confident with that?

00:38:42
Speaker 1: Giving your track record drafting the last few years, it seems like it leads to you making reaches.

00:38:48
Speaker 4: I appreciate that you think that de penns who's consensus.

00:38:52
Speaker 3: We got consensus in this building and that's the that's the consensus.

00:38:56
Speaker 4: I care about.

00:38:59
Speaker 1: No reaction whatsoever from Kyle Shanaher the entire time. Incredible poker face. He could have asked that question like twenty five percent. It like nicer, but I appreciated it. Let's bring back tough questions.

00:39:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, Uly, that was the question. You know, that was his question. So he just asked it the way he had the question.

00:39:20
Speaker 3: And then the followup will be because you know, I believe it's in that same news or about the usage of a large language model, which is essentially the consistens of data on the internet, right as like they're they're using AI as a part of their evaluation. Well, like why is consensus so unimportant when it's different from your draft board? But it's something worth mentioning, And you know, I understand that your drive past twenty six office parks on the way into this on the way into the facility, and you got to shout out, you know, potential local investors and all those things. But there appears to be a contradiction there, and so you don't have to like the question, but you could go some ways into entertaining specifically why your evaluation is different from the consensus.

00:40:07
Speaker 2: They like to run it back. They're just running it back over and over and over again, and every year we are like, is this the last year they're going to be able to actually do this and then they say, you know, hold our beers, We're going to do this for one more year.

00:40:19
Speaker 1: But they also run it back in terms of the type of guys they like. He's gone stribbling makes sense. Romelo height to me seems like kind of a Brice huff Ish player for them as like a designated pass rusher in the third round. Like they have their types and they keep going after them. Seattle is the same, and they got a couple of players in the secondary along with the running back in the first round.

00:40:40
Speaker 3: Yeah, they go safety corner, corner corner to finish things out, sprinkling in a guard and a wide receiver there where you see the departures on a part of the team's strength. And they add to that they getgendarium price out of Notre Dame, the backup to a very good player. We've seen that workout where a lot of times a very good running back is behind somebody else who's getting a lot of energy and attention. And I think you can come in and fill a need where again people question the first round running back thing. I think it's very viable to a team that had one of their tandem running backs tear in acl the other who win the Super Bowl MVP and son a free agent contract. There also get Bud Clark out of TCU, and then Julian Neil is the corner in that safety corner designation where it's a solid draft almost to the extent where it feels boring. Yeah, and that the Seahawks are this dominant Super Bowl championship team.

00:41:37
Speaker 4: And that's my question. Are we bored of the Scattle Seahawks already?

00:41:41
Speaker 2: They get a full eight hours of sleep every night, and you know, okay, but on the Jenerian Price pick, I think that's what's the draft grades whatever they are, what they are, but I think that's what's lowering them because it's a first round running back in this draft. Though you heard teams they're boards in the first round, they didn't have great beyond like twelve players, fifteen players, seventeen players. You know, this is basically a second round pick here, and so, like, I have no issues with it, and I think he's a like I thought the Jaguars were gonna come back up and get him.

00:42:13
Speaker 1: And if you can criticize the Rams for taking guys that aren't gonna contribute, Jedarian Price is gonna start for them. Yeah, yeah, and they found guys that will start for them. Bud Clark, like he's going to be in the mix to beat out tye Akuda, Like at safety, Julia Neil even like you think Josh Job is there on the outside, but like that's a guy that's probably gonna end up competing for snaps with Josh Job. So if you can find guys that can be inserted into your lineup and give I think Mike McDonald some of his own picks in the secondary specifically, we already saw what he did with Emon Worry. That was really the first one. Like let's see what he can do with some fresh new picks in the secondary.

00:42:53
Speaker 5: It's exciting.

00:42:54
Speaker 2: I like the way the Seahawks draft, because the Seahawks also draft sometimes in ways where you wonder if maybe they're talking in the room among their scouts and coaching staff, like what's a way we can like twist a knife in some of our division rivals, right, And some of it's like Emmanuel Henderson Junior the receiver, Like they're they're fine at receiver. You know, they've got the three guys that they they're running it back with from last year. But he's like a speed threat who could also be a kick returner. Well, a lot of the edges that they got, especially in division last year, and some of the game changing differences came via courtesy of special teams. Okay, you guys aren't going to prioritize this. You know your forty nine ers and your rams. Like, this team is definitely going to find edges here and so I like the way they think about the holistic team building, less so one side of the ball or maximizing even offense and defense both WHOA just in time.

00:43:48
Speaker 1: The Chicago Bears are up next. I was surprised. Sometimes you hear about the fan reaction after the fact, and apparently Bears fans weren't necessarily thrilled with them. Now they need an edge. I guess they could have taken Kiroan Crawford. That's maybe the one spot instead of the center Logan Jones, if you wanted. But in general, I think they found players at positions they need. Gary Bradberry is not a long term solution at center. Max Rousch is gonna eventually replace Cole Komett.

00:44:21
Speaker 5: That would at least be the hope.

00:44:22
Speaker 1: Xavion Thomas is another weapon, and I kind of trust in Ben Johnson to take mid round type weapons. Maybe he's a little bit of a Khalif raymond E type, but more of your long term guy. So all the picks to me made sense. And then I think they are absolutely a team that's gonna go swimming in the Hassan Reddick, Jadavian Clowney, and maybe we're we're expecting Joey Bosa to just go to the forty nine ers.

00:44:47
Speaker 5: We'll see.

00:44:48
Speaker 1: There's been some talk about that, but they are absolutely a team that could use a veteran addition. But I'd rather a team do that. How are we feeling about the Chicago Bears Patrick Clayban as the NFC North favorites after this draft?

00:45:03
Speaker 5: You see them that way?

00:45:04
Speaker 4: Yeah? I do?

00:45:05
Speaker 1: You do.

00:45:06
Speaker 4: I saw them that way coming into the end of the season.

00:45:10
Speaker 3: I think obviously the ability of Michael Parsons to come back fully healthy kind of impacts those things. But based on the way the Bears played at the end of the season and the growth of you know, not even necessarily about this draft, but of Caleb Williams, Luthor Burden, guys on that roster, I think you feel confident about them being the favorite, which is the curse is now the Bears. Don't Bears fans still get to enjoy the season anymore.

00:45:34
Speaker 2: Well, I think it's their pattern that they're starting, you know, a very superstitious fan base. You know, every time they perceive themselves as a fan base as the opposite season winners, their season was in the toilet. And now they've been worried about each particular offseason in the Ben Johnson era. So maybe this some of this is manufactured worry, Like, don't chase it. It's all fine. I think that all of these picks two things can be true and are true in my head. Yes, they still need edge rushing help, but also every single one of these picks is a really good scheme fit offense and defense. And I want to know the Dylanthanemon with Dennis Allen and then Logan Jones is going to be a value add to this offensive line. I think probably sooner rather than later, Sam Roush. If you are going to play twelve and thirteen personnel like Ben Johnson wants to do and wants to do more of, it's the same as if you're gonna play three receiver sets and you activate six of them or five of them on game day. If you are going to play with three tight ends and two of them at least are going to be pass catchers, If maybe and maybe three of them are going to be predominant volume targets in your offense, you will activate four and even five tight ends, and they need viable players to do that. Sam Rousch, to me, is a perfect fit schematically for this and a long term player for the depart after the departure of Cole Komet eventually. And this is a position I believe they'll keep restocking every single year. Is that it's that important, not just for blocking but as a skill player as a target in Ben Johnson's offense.

00:47:00
Speaker 1: All right, Jordan, you are back up with the Detroit Lions.

00:47:04
Speaker 2: Yes, this was of Vibes draft. I like this draft a lot. But one thing that really stood out to me about the Lions draft this year is they they seem to be like refinding themselves and refinding that identity they've sort of been in this all out sprint. First their ascension and their team build that got really really solid with Dan Campbell, and then the turnover. You know, Ben Johnson leaves Aaron Glenn leaves and they figure things out with new coordinators. They're doing that again, bringing Drew Petsing into the mix as their offensive coordinator, and it almost seems like they've been a little bit unsteady, still moving forward, of course, and still competitive, but a little bit like, Okay, let's take a beat and remember who we are and what we're trying to build our culture and how the types of players that come in and do that. And with their picks, it really does seem like they were reiterating a lot of this, Blake Miller being not just a need for them, but also in my opinion, best player available for them to take at that pickpoint, and also a player who's going to come in immediately and play tackle for them. Pine Suel moving over obviously to the left side. He's somebody who gives them teeth immediately. I just all the way through the draft, pick by pick, you can just sort of see this is a Alliance team that's resetting itself, but not in a rebuild kind of way, in a gathering itself for a real push, like trying to be what they believe they can be again after a little bit of unsteadiness.

00:48:33
Speaker 1: A lot depends on their second round pick, Derek More, who they traded up for. They have not done well taking edges other than Aiden Hutchinson. They have invested a lot of blown picks in the Bradholmes era. That's probably where he's been the worst is on the defensive line, and like he might be starting for them. I mean, it's hard to expect a second round pick to start, but they don't really have another option. Yeah, they could be looking for veterans as well, but man, their offensive line. In one offseason they did what we wanted Cad Mays at center, Blake Miller. Now you move to to left tackle. Now they look like one of the better offensive lines in the league.

00:49:06
Speaker 3: Again, if they sprinkle in a little Brad Holmes fun in Kendrick Law. Ah, this draft is going on. The Lions don't have anything fun, explosive, and then here comes Kendrick Law who's like kind of in that Jaden Red body type where five eleven two hundred pounds ran in the four fours, had some kick and punt return in his game, and it's just another fun aspect where it feels like a Lion's draft where you get what you need and you also get that little bit of bonus, that sprinkle.

00:49:34
Speaker 1: Of fun like Isaac Tasah getting better. But they again, they've missed a couple of drafts in terms of, you know, since that great one three years ago now, so they need the class from two years ago, for instance, the one with Terry on Arnold and Enis Rakestraw who hasn't given them much of anything, Tyler Williams a year ago, and they need some of those picks to get better.

00:49:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, And I to Patrick to your point, I like when you also get fired up Brad Holmes the post draft pressers basically telling the beat writers, see, I drafted an edge rusher because you guys have been on my ass. Like it just it's like they you can always tell when they feel like they're returning to themselves. Is kind of what my point is.

00:50:14
Speaker 1: They're feeling spicy. It is an incredibly good division. I don't know if I can remember a division that looks any more bounced and quality from top to bottom as the NFC North entry in this year. That includes the Green Bay Packers, who have an offense that that's returning mostly intact.

00:50:32
Speaker 3: What do you think, Patrick, Yeah, the offense returning mostly intact, although the litill lose some depth at certain spots, which will lead into my question.

00:50:38
Speaker 4: But we'll talk about the draft picks.

00:50:40
Speaker 3: No first round pick, obviously you could say that's Michael Parson is pretty good, is going to profo all of fame, all that YadA yadayada, break to stay out.

00:50:46
Speaker 4: Of South Carolina. Very good corner.

00:50:50
Speaker 3: In Tandem's got a chance to see a lot of him in watching the Nicky Man Worry tape where he was making plays, and you see the way that he get deployed and had a solid season. And last year Chris McClellan out of Missouri another good defensive player. In fact, they get Trace Mack the kicker, and it's all defense other than Jagger Burton out of Kentucky. And I just look at when I think about this era of the Green Bay Packers, I think about massive depth at wide receiver and now don Tavian Wicks and now Romeo Dobbs, the departures there have they taken what was a strength in terms of their depth at wide receiver and now turned it into a little bit of a weakness where these guys are helping guys on other rosters.

00:51:36
Speaker 1: I think the hope is that clarity and roles. If Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed are all healthy that they have specific roles with Tucker Kraft, it's a big if. I think you would like to add one more player probably to that mix, but they have a third round pick from a year ago Saveanne Williams, to maybe step into that role. So it's risky because these guys have missed a lot of games, but they're investing. Watson might get a new contract and Reid just got an Yeah.

00:52:00
Speaker 2: I remember the high points of their offense last season, which was of course when Tucker Craft was healthy, and so I have to think that the plane is being built in the passing game around Tucker Craft in the future if you can return to full health. And then also, I think, to answer your question, Patrick, I think that it's almost funny, even if they won't overtly admit it, what it seems like they're doing is making the path easier for themselves, understanding almost that they over complicated things by saying everybody eats well, okay, they had issues figuring that out for years out of that strategy, and so now if you almost like declutter the room or declutter the ideas and the styles in the room, Like maybe you can start to sort things out a little bit better. Now that's a problem of your own creation, but it's also a solution of your own creation potentially too. And I do think that all of this will focus around the existing ability of Tucker Craft.

00:52:57
Speaker 1: I think their coaching staff is always put in a tough spot, and there's talk of like do they spend as much on assistance. They asked the most out of their coaching staffs to develop Cisay kind of a developmental guy. They always take these raw developmental guys on defense, and they're always the youngest team in the NFL. They got to coach them up, like do we have faith in the in the Matt Lafleur assistant and the rest of that coaching staff.

00:53:20
Speaker 5: I think they're they're putting a tough spot.

00:53:22
Speaker 4: A little bit.

00:53:22
Speaker 2: We'll see too, because man, I have never seen a coach have to go on like an explanation tour of keeping his job and getting a contract extension the way that Matt Lafleur had to this offseason, and it was prior to an extension. There were questions and they were losing games, and all of that. But then he had to go and basically explain, you know, and say how unbothered he was by the entire conversation.

00:53:47
Speaker 1: Well that was happening. Koc was getting more important network than ever in Minnesota coming off his worst season, and you know, he's Zags in his first draft along side Rob Brazinski and they go heavy defense. Caleb Banks with just a total wild home run swing, boom or bust pick at defensive tackle could work out great fit. I think if Brian Flores wants him, I believe, but the injuries are a concern. Jay Galday the second round pick is feels like kind of a one to one comp for Andrew van Ginkel in terms of the style of player that he could be. Not many of those guys out there so great that he landed with Minnesota and then big Citrus Dominique Rings in the third round kind of doubling up at defensive tackle, which I like. My only question, and this gets to the Juan Jennings news. As we're taping, he's visiting the Vikings, usually a veteran visiting at this time of year. He's gonna sign. I was gonna ask, like, are we concerned that they haven't touched the offense almost at all this offseason. I think Jennings adds real dimension to the receiver group. They were twenty ninth in DVOA last year, and I know JJ McCarthy didn't play well, but it's kind of a lot to say, like, twenty ninth in the league is all on JJ McCarthy. Let's run it all back the same Juwan Jennings would make me feel better about it. What do you think about the offensive plan here?

00:55:12
Speaker 4: Patrick? Yeah, I mean the biggest acquisition in the off season was.

00:55:15
Speaker 2: Kyler Murray running it back right.

00:55:17
Speaker 3: Other than that, there's a significant updraide there, But I can't see where you're getting at, like a little.

00:55:25
Speaker 1: Same running back, same receiver, same offensive line. But yes, it's obviously by point was like, Okay, we're just going to replace the quarterback and everything's better.

00:55:32
Speaker 2: They're telling you what they think the problem was in terms of.

00:55:35
Speaker 1: Whether and you could get old, you could get old quickly, But maybe that's not a twenty twenty six problem.

00:55:40
Speaker 2: That's a life lesson.

00:55:41
Speaker 3: And the evaluation on what the actual like is some nation of the problems in Minnesota versus there we clearly know like it was all JJ McCarthy's fault and the people in the person who was had the title when JJ McCarthy was picked is ousted, and so here we are now it's maybe the microscope will be turned on a little bit.

00:56:04
Speaker 1: Well, they did take a third round tackle, Caleb Tiernan, and then they took a fifth round full back which was very Kevin O'Connell, a CJ.

00:56:12
Speaker 5: Hamm replacement in the fifth round.

00:56:13
Speaker 2: A little while in the future, I'm just realizing that Kyler's previous organization, it was deemed that he was, of course the problem for everything. Now goes to a an organization where he is the solution but all everything and other people were the problem.

00:56:29
Speaker 3: When you're the solution to everything, if it doesn't work out, you can also be the problem.

00:56:34
Speaker 2: And I'm curious who their general manager is going to be. Just a reminder, they still have an interim general manager, Brazinski, and they allegedly will open up that search to a lot of different candidates, and I guess we'll see because they still don't have one. But it was Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores, like you could see their fingerprints all over this and that seems to me probably what at least one of those guys wanted was that amount.

00:56:59
Speaker 1: Of say over the quietly they needed some youth on that defense. All their best players essentially have been free agent pickups or trade pickups, and other than Dallas Turner, there's not a lot of high octane like homegrown guys.

00:57:13
Speaker 2: Now, I have a question for you, Greg.

00:57:15
Speaker 5: Yes, we did it. That's the end. By the way of the NFC.

00:57:18
Speaker 2: Did you know that you assigned me the Minnesota Vikings?

00:57:21
Speaker 1: Initially? Yes, and then I I did fix it. I don't know if you saw that. You know I did fix it because we were.

00:57:28
Speaker 2: Going in that little it took so much off my pa.

00:57:30
Speaker 1: I appreciate we did go in that order the whole time. I didn't notice that this morning that I had written Jr. Twice like almost back.

00:57:36
Speaker 2: I was ready to be the workhorse here and you know what, you you gave me a gift today.

00:57:40
Speaker 5: I appreciate hate.

00:57:41
Speaker 1: You know what we're going to be counting on you for for the AFC coming up.

00:57:45
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's crazy.

00:57:47
Speaker 1: I wore the same outfit Patrick Jordan. It's been a pleasure love to do this and this is like the real off season.

00:57:55
Speaker 4: Now, Oh, this is it.

00:57:57
Speaker 1: Well, the regular season's over, right, Draft Season's over. This is time where we just like kick back and have some fun energy while also producing a daily show which is going to have a lot of great content. I can't wait for it. We'll see you with the AFC next time around.