The Official 2026 NFL Daily NFL Mock Draft!

00:00:05
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where we don't feel confident at all in our RAMS selection. In the first mock draft going up on NFL Daily. I'm Greg Rosenthal. I'm in the Chris Wesley podcast studio with Patrick Claybond and we're doing it for the first time. Yeah, solo mock draft with my best ESPN employee that I know. Hey, thanks Greg, here we go. Patrick.

00:00:29
Speaker 2: You know you come back with your shield or on it. And I'd like to say I did both.

00:00:35
Speaker 1: I gotta stop saying saying that. It's an introduction to you. So we've done mock drafts. I guess in the past. I did like a dueling one with with Jordan where we said what we should do, but I haven't actually dipped into the solo. Here's what I think will happen mock draft. You know water until maybe I was at NBC Rote World a long time back. So I'm excited. It's gonna spoil Thursday night for you.

00:00:59
Speaker 3: Yeah.

00:00:59
Speaker 2: Both both versions are instructive as long as the person that is behind the mock drap clarifies. So this is they should versus a will monk Yes, yep, And that will give the reader some context or the listener, which we enjoy.

00:01:11
Speaker 1: This is a will and yes, as Patrick smiles to the YouTube crew out there, to the NFL channel crew, we have some news also that popped up, you know, throughout the day. The Ravens have some news. Mike Rabel spoke to the media. We'll get into that. I thought we'd hit the news as we hit each player. So let's go on the clock. Number one overall, the most boring part of I think every mock draft this year in terms of what you know is gonna happen, is Fernando Mendoza going to the Raiders at number one overall, the Indiana kid. And I haven't heard any of your thoughts about mister Mendoza throughout the process, so I would like to hear those oka. In addition to letting the listeners know, an item of news that I either missed when it was first announced or forgot about it entirely, which is that the first draft is getting shorter this year at first round, from ten minutes to eight minutes, two less minutes on the clock for every team. It's gonna move faster. It's only eight minutes. We'll only have to wait eight presumably for them to make this Mendoza pick.

00:02:13
Speaker 2: Which is very important for the teams who are after the Las Vegas Raiders, who have those hypothetical conversations and clearly play out the if then statements. Because he got two fewer minutes, I think Fernanda Mendoza, obviously it's the best quarterback in this draft.

00:02:27
Speaker 3: I think we did to get that.

00:02:29
Speaker 2: Many of my thoughts, I feel like he gets dinged a little bit perception wise because because oddly enough of his posture, I think he had different posture. People feel differently about this very large man who's very good in a capable quarterback who can move, and he's kind of falling into this you know, presumptive area where it's just like, oh, okay, well that's gonna happen. So he's boring, and like while cam Ward was lighting the NFL on fire, we had to like constantly make note of, like, hey, this guy's fun to watch, because the storyline kind of detracted from the fact that this kid is good.

00:03:05
Speaker 1: No, he projects to the media speaking like Kirk Cousins, but size wise, he's closer to Andrew Luck or Matt Ryan or Ben Roethlisberger. And there are a lot more wold plays than you expect. So I'm looking forward to that with the Raiders, really looking forward to who they add with him in this draft. We're not going to get to that in this mock because I did not allow trades. It's all by myself. It just seems too confused, and so the draft feels like it kind of starts at number two. Darren Muji of the Jets, who's making the picks along with Aaron Glenn, talked about the cancelation of the top thirty pick and that you can have you know, thirty different players visit your facility, they cancel the one with David Bailey, the Texas Tech pass rusher last week got a lot of news people wondering what that meant. Here's Mugy on.

00:03:52
Speaker 4: That I would say for us when we do top thirties, every single player in case is different. Sometimes I want this player to meet with with our player engagement department. Sometimes I want this player to meet with our sports performance. Sometimes it's purely medical, Sometimes it's a recruiting process. Sometimes it's a smoke screen. And in regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine. We went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him, and we were just kind of juggling our thirty in how to use him. And I wouldn't look too much into a cancelation because there was other ones that we may have changed as well.

00:04:25
Speaker 1: I don't usually believe general managers in front of a podium at this time of year at all, and yet I believe that one. I did not take that into account when I chose rvel Reese going number two overall, So he had nothing to do with David Bailey in this meeting getting canceled, which seemed to spook people. I thought it was rvel Reese the whole time. I just think he has a higher ceiling. They've talked about getting a little more multiple and dynamic on their defense, which they haven't been in the past, and to me, Reese fits that better. And I just think he's reasonable. Minds could disagree, but I even if it's not as clear and evaluation, I think he's the player that more NFL teams would be excited.

00:05:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, if folks were, and I believe if you were more confident in David Bailey specifically where you know where he's going to be, you know how he's going to play. I think I think we have an idea of what he can be as a rusher off the edge with RVL Reese, it's this world of possibilities for the type of football player you can have, and you want that for the New York Jets. So as opposed to taking what feels like maybe something that fits better with what AG wants to do in terms of rushing the past or with the front group, it's let's go upside.

00:05:33
Speaker 3: And I understand that from your perspective.

00:05:36
Speaker 1: Mind, I'm doing what I think they will do. Do you disagree? I mean, you are allowed to disagree with all these picks. You should you think they'll take Bailey? I think they will take Okay, it really seems about fifty to fifty split in terms of the draftnicks out there and the analysts trying to guess what's going to happen. So the Jets have kept everyone guessing. Our old coworker, Peter Schrager pointed out, Oh, Jets fans should be happy because they're you know, the Jets. The building has cut off all leaks as of like Monday. Before that, they were apparently a leak. Wait, why should they be happy that they're not talking to the media anymore, that they're not like talking about what they're going to do with their picks, as opposed to do we know?

00:06:11
Speaker 3: Do we know who the people who were talking about in the past and specifics?

00:06:15
Speaker 1: No, I don't know. Like the front office, you get these little buzz's, apparently no one can guess what's going to happen.

00:06:21
Speaker 3: I they'll they'll they lose it, they'll start talking again.

00:06:25
Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't think that's going to stick too long. But for this draft cycle, apparently they stopped talking as of like seventy two hours before gratulations to them. David Bailey, to me, is an easy evaluation. I think he's just a little more boom or bust than what you want this high and I think, you know, in terms of running downs, he's maybe not going to be a plus player right away. But I did put him on the Cardinals, which I'm not seeing a lot of at the number three overall pick. Now, part of that is I'm thinking about how how you're trying to get these mock drafts right or not. If they do trade out, I think David Bailey or r Vel Reese is a very likely selection at number three overall. Ultimately, I know they have some drushers they could certainly use more. They don't have many proven, healthy guys, and there's a lot of talk about tackle. There's a lot of talk about Jeremiah Love, and I'm wondering what you make of that going into the draft. Like as we rounded the weekend into this week, it suddenly became a thing that Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals was a real deal possibility if they do not trade down.

00:07:30
Speaker 2: And I feel like a lot of that comes to who are the best football players in this draft? Yes, and we've said it over the past few weeks, depending on how you feel like Jeremiah Love and Caleb Downs are there, the positional value may not be there for the top ten. So the Arizona Cardinals just need good players. And I think having an impact player at running back, you could see the way that that would particularly go, especially with a you know, an offensive minded head coach who's you know, a part of a tree that has featured you know, some talented eyes at the running back position.

00:08:01
Speaker 3: So it seems to make sense. I would not necessarily lean that direction.

00:08:04
Speaker 1: Okay, so see you like my Bailey to the Cardinals I think that's not going many places. I kind of am reading all this Jeremiah Love talk of I don't know. It just seems it seems like a smoke screen, or it seems like an invitation for a team to possibly trade up. Would the Saints, I mean, it would be the craziest Mickey Loomis move ever to trade up for a running back, but I think they're really high on Love or like to trade up for Rvel Reese. Let's say if he falls to three, I could see the Saints that that could see the Commanders. Maybe not a huge trade up, but one of these teams in the top ten. It seems like they're asking people because they don't really want to take the tackle there. I decided to kind of cancel all that out, and if someone's going to be taken there, I think it's Baile.

00:08:46
Speaker 2: It would be difficult for me to evaluate a smoke screen from Monty in Arizona when like the building is constantly on fire, So like, what use is a smoke screen when it's just there's only exclusively smoke. I would say anybody is play there, but David Bailey. When you look at a defense that was ranked seventy two nationally, and then coming into last year when Bailey gets an opportunity to play more. They're a top three scoring defense, the number one rushing defense in the country. He's the best player on that defense. I think he's a good top four.

00:09:16
Speaker 1: Player, the best burst off the line of scrimmage of anyone in this class. And yeah, they have Zaven Collins, Josh Sweat, bj Ojulari, Barren Browning. In theory, that's one of the better position groups that they have on the team. Almost none of those guys are gonna matter on this team in terms of like pillars that we're building around in a couple of years. And that's what you should be thinking about with the number three overall pick at four Tennessee. There is a lot of Jeremiah Love talk here. I personally think that Carnell Tate would make a lot of sense, and this is one of the ones I don't feel great about. I can really imagine them taking Carnell Tate whould be a mild surprise, and yet in the end I went with Sonny Styles linebacker Ohio State. Compared to Fred Warner. In this process, Robert Salah has gotten by without necessarily needing high picks that linebacker, and yet he knows how valuable that can be. And we talked about there's only like five or six real deal blue chip players. This is one of them. I think they would know how to use him. I think it makes sense Sunny Styles to the Titan.

00:10:24
Speaker 3: It does.

00:10:25
Speaker 2: I mean, if he's Fred Warner, yeah.

00:10:29
Speaker 1: Sure, if he's a Hall of Famer, yeah that would work.

00:10:32
Speaker 3: It works out.

00:10:32
Speaker 2: But again with the Titans, where you have so many needs, you know, going best available here makes makes complete sense.

00:10:40
Speaker 1: And you can make a case at Sunny Spoles right. And linebacker is a little different than running back. Look, you take Jeremiah Love third overall, for instance, He's the highest paid line of running back in the league, which is something I think you should at least think about. Linebacker. It is a bigger difference. You're saving more money in theory by taking a wide receiver here, and if you have a real deal hye receiver, but linebacker that the price has been going up lately, especially you know with some of the guys who rushed the passer. I don't know if Sunny Style's going to do a lot of that, but it'd be fun to see them use him maybe in the secondary a little a little versatility for the former safety. At five, the first of two Giants picks, I went with Caleb Downs, Ohio State. What do you think?

00:11:21
Speaker 2: Yeah, the fifth, A team that has been disastrous in deep pass defense for years now, has had his severe need in the secondary.

00:11:31
Speaker 3: In general, you know, one of the better players in this draft.

00:11:35
Speaker 2: If if you love Rvel Reeves, if you love Sonny Styles, you love what Ohio State was able to do on defense. That was their best defensive player and he's a big part of why they were able to do those things. And I think it makes total sense.

00:11:47
Speaker 1: Ollie put it well, Caleb Downs was kind of the centerpiece slash best player of the Alabama defense under Nick Saban. You know, he was the guy, like as a fresh true for and then he goes to the next best defense in the country and he's kind of the guy there. And I've heard a lot of talk about Harbaugh wanting to set a tone, and I do wonder, like, what is a John Harbaugh pick, because obviously he's involved in Baltimore, very involved. Is he going to be similar to the Ravens or is it going to be different? Because I don't think he had the biggest voice in choosing players there, but I think he does have the biggest voice here, And something about Harbad tells me I think one thing he'll bring from Baltimore's I think he'll be happy to be looking for doubles triples, you know, in addition to like home runs. Obviously Caleb Downs can be a home run, but maybe he's not worried about the positional value of it all. But the tie would probably go to like a big lineman. I just don't know if, for instance, Ruben Bayn or any of the offensive linemen would make sense there. For me, I was kind of deciding between in this particular mock, between him and Carnel Tate, because they could absolutely use a wide receiver. People like, oh, they have Malik Nabers, you need more than one. It's pretty dire after yeah.

00:13:02
Speaker 2: And you might not have my leak at a certain point till this season. So yeah.

00:13:06
Speaker 1: So I could absolutely see Tate in this scenario being the pick there. But I'm going Caleb Downs, And that does leave the most chalk pick I have so far, which is Carnel Tait to the Cleveland Browns.

00:13:20
Speaker 2: It feels chalky, you know, doing path was you know Steve Smith adamant and that he doesn't think Carnel Tate will be there. Steve Smith Senior, you know, as if I needed to clarify, does not think Carnel Tate will be there.

00:13:33
Speaker 1: But because the Titans or the Giants would take just.

00:13:36
Speaker 2: Between between the teams that have those options with you know, young quarterbacks, perhaps.

00:13:40
Speaker 3: A need there.

00:13:42
Speaker 1: Now I already am doubting myself, but again.

00:13:44
Speaker 3: No trades here.

00:13:46
Speaker 2: The pick is chalky because you know they've wanted a shot at one of the Ohio State receivers Josh Gordon in twenty thirteen was the last time the Cleveland Browns drafted a wide receiver that had a thousand yards receiving for them.

00:13:59
Speaker 3: So yeah, it makes.

00:14:00
Speaker 1: Perfect sense in this draft. I think it's obvious. I don't think they would take one of the offensive linemen over Carnel Tate. Somehow, I believe both that in my mock and the fact that if you gave me the over under Carnel Tait five and a half, does he go before that? I still kind of think yes. And then yet that's between the Titans and the Giants, Like maybe one of them does it. And I just slightly believe Styles to the Giants down to the I mean Styles to the Titans, down to the Giants, and then Tate to the Browns. We said we'd hit handle some news during the show, and I just wanted you to know. I was looking at some practice reports today and even some videos. The Cleveland Browns were doing team drills on a football field. There it is. I don't think it's too early to say football's back. I mean that's it, right, Yeah, they're playing football.

00:14:52
Speaker 2: Started if we're doing pitchers and catchers reporting whenever that happens.

00:14:55
Speaker 1: People were talking about who were the first team left tackle? Who's getting the first left tackle reps? I already forget because Dwan Jones was hurt. You know who was first up at quarterback? For what it's worth, Sands or Sanders. I don't think it's I don't think it's it's not nothing, not nothing. It's not that much because I don't think Deshaun Watson is. I don't know who knows. I did see Dylan Gabriel's first pass of team drills was intercepted, which actually felt mean to point out confirmed the Commanders are taking Jeremiah Love running back Notre Dame. Do you think the Saints in this scenario get on the phone with the commanders and say, what what do you need to just move up one pick. We're not gonna tell you who we're taking. Oh, they could probably guess, And everyone's like, wait, don't they didn't They just signed Travestn, Like yeah, I don't think that matters. I think they just they would like to have a big weapon.

00:15:59
Speaker 3: Well yeah, if if.

00:16:00
Speaker 1: Is an Alvin Kamara on the roster, yes, that doesn't matter.

00:16:04
Speaker 2: If Adam, If Adam Peters picks up the phone and it's Mickey and he's making this offer without telling him, mm hm. I feel like Adam Peters would say, okay, you know, maybe we can get some draft capital. Mickey's coming up to get an edge or somebody else that's fallen. I don't think that the idea would be that after the ETN signing, which they kind of had to pay premium to take to keep him out of out of Denver in my opinion, because if Jeremiah loves On on the board, I'm sprinting if I'm okay, if I'm the Commander's like, no, conversation, let's let's get him here.

00:16:38
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm I'm Saints block party podcast pilled and they've been on the you know, Saints Love Love train, a lot of people love. I think I Love Love number one overall on a lot of boards, just overall boards. And in this draft he falls to seven. Now, on this very podcast, three weeks ago, three four weeks ago, we were making the case we don't think is that crazy if the Cardinals considered Slash took him at three, And now that's become a little more consensus. In the end, I couldn't quite pull that trigger, and I think the Commanders would take him here. And that leaves ruben Bain for the Saints not you know, usually they kind of have a specific profile in terms of big and tough and strong. Ruben Bain is is strong. He's tough, He's obviously great stopping the run. I think he plays in the style that the Saints like doesn't have you know, the measurables necessarily in terms of arm length obviously, and some others that they they're usually kind of a they have certain profiles that you need to hit. And yet I just think he gives them what they need and there's only so many real deal, top shelf premium pick prospects. I think he's one of them, and he's just not going to last.

00:17:53
Speaker 2: Yeah, he plays with the massive arm brace, you know, flection and extension or two different ways that a pint can move. I think if he had a little more extension, maybe his arm length would go crazy. Nobody blocked him all season long.

00:18:04
Speaker 1: Wit you think his arms would be longer if he wasn't wearing a brace.

00:18:07
Speaker 2: No, I think clearly there's been there's been some collective trauma related to at least one of his arms. Yeah, that maybe could get him a quarter of an inch or more, which is you know, important in circumstances when looking at him play football. There was nobody that consistently could stop him from doing what he wanted to do on the football field to a I think a Miami team with talent but not the level of talent that they went through to get to where they were in the National Championship Game and be within ten minutes of beating Indiana. He's the biggest reason for that. So, Yeah, who cares about the arm link?

00:18:44
Speaker 1: Yeah? I think the Saints are good at tackle. You know, they're they're not going to be considering tackle now. They could consider Bengo Yuana. They love taking offensive linemen, and I know that their fans are kind of sick of them taking offensive lineman. But to me, Caesar or Ruiz is not a long term plan. It has been for them, so that that would.

00:19:06
Speaker 3: Either that it's already been a long term plan.

00:19:08
Speaker 1: Right. He got a huge second contract as they were trying to make that pick look Becker better. So I don't think that's that crazy. And then I think they're the first team where we get into okay, could they take Jordan Tyson? Could they take Mackay Lemon? The Commanders could be that team too, Like could they value wide receiver over taking Jeremiah of as well? I think either of these teams it wouldn't be that big of a shock. I don't think they're reporting on Rubin Bain's. You know, citation with the police necessarily will knock him down a few spots, but it could be a tie breaker when you're talking about him versus a wide receiver in this spot. But you feel okay with rubyen Bainet there.

00:19:52
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do impact defensive player that people can can enjoy it. Appreciate you already got the plus on the offensive side to the defense.

00:20:00
Speaker 1: So the Chiefs are there at nine and they have a million needs, which is a weird thing to say about the Chiefs. They could take the first cornerback off the board. They could even take the second safety because we got some good ones in this class. They could absolutely look at Jordan Tyson. They could look at Casey CONCEPTIONI own at Wider, they could look at Kenyan Citik just weapon, I have them taking an offensive lineman and it's not the biggest screaming need. And yet we have heard as the process has gone along, Andy Reid just that's what keeps them up at night protecting Patrick Mahomes. And so I have them taking Francis Maliinoa from Miami tackle and you have more there Jalen Moore, who they signed on the last year of his contract a two year deal at right tackle. So maybe Malinoa plays inside at guard. Maybe you know, they'll figure out who's the right right tackle there and who's the right guard. But either I think it's upgrading your offensive line and it's more of a long term solution. They're thinking we're not gonna be here that often so it could be wide receiver that they think we might be able not to get a wide receiver prospect. Do you think I aired here in going tackle over wide receiver? No, I don't.

00:21:17
Speaker 3: I do.

00:21:18
Speaker 2: I did enjoy you having the Saints say, you know, sucks to the to the arm link debacle and Spencer Fano uh just gets blasted out of you know, potential spot at number nine and we've got Maligoa because I think that's because you have some some arm link tackle personal trauma that you're working.

00:21:40
Speaker 1: Spencer fan and a lot of people are connecting him with the Chief specifically because of the Utah connection. There there's two Utah offensive linemen, and Fano is a somewhat similar eval to malikoa in that some people think maybe he would be better at guard. I'm thinking more like bulk but athleticism. I mean, you don't love that they're leading with some of these guys that well, it could move inside, but Maw you know, has kind of been the consensus first offensive lineman off the board, and I guess I wasn't ready to veer off that.

00:22:14
Speaker 3: Well.

00:22:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, and in a lot of projections, the reason that it's ending up with Fano to the Chiefs is because now I know what's going earlier, yes, and so that's kind of impacting the way folks see things.

00:22:25
Speaker 3: But you want to tackle, play tackle.

00:22:27
Speaker 2: They've been relatively cheap at that tackle spot since they won a Super Bowl, And yeah, go ahead and spend on it.

00:22:36
Speaker 3: Who get the best available one?

00:22:37
Speaker 1: And you got Josh Simmons last year who they love but missed some time last year too, And you want two young tackles. And I just don't think Jalen Moore is a guy that, like, you're planning the entire your entire future, and.

00:22:49
Speaker 2: They had to bet on upside with the injury concern for him, and that was still taking him at thirty two.

00:22:55
Speaker 1: We've basically, yeah, reached the point of the draft where, man, it is tough, where all these teams can go in a million different directions, and then once you make one choice, the rest of the board just falls apart completely differently depending on that one choice. Because I could easily see the Chiefs taking Jordan Tyson here at nine, and then that changes what happens after Mauio is available for other teams. Tyson's off the board, which is going to change things. There's only so many premier talents. But ultimately one of the reasons I wanted to take this mock draft and do it myself was was to have certain picks that I just see that I feel strong about. I want to stand on the table for him, And one of them is that the Giants will get Benga. You wanta you want to draft him with the Giants at number ten overall from Penn State, top guard on the board. And when they made this trade and immediately that Jordan Tyson rumors started to the Giants, and there's other talk they really like the Ohio State players in general, just they want to kind of set up their culture with maybe these Ohio State defenders. And in this case, they don't have the option because they took one earlier and the other two were off the board before they even had number five. I this just feels like a Giants pick. To me, this feels like what they would want to do. And when they made that trade, I can actually see them imagine, oh, we know you want to he's going to be there.

00:24:20
Speaker 3: Yeah, but they already got a guard. They got Daniel Foley.

00:24:23
Speaker 2: Greg It's a good draft draft your guards to play guard, you know, I believe if you feel confident, it's there's no discussion among any like who's the best guard in the draft.

00:24:35
Speaker 3: It's him, and so yeah, if you need a guard, you play with a guard.

00:24:39
Speaker 1: I've asked around different different people, so some are affiliated with teams and some are just the draft knicks, and I just feel like league sources, there's some players in this draft that everyone agrees on. There's there's not that many actually rees should be that guy. I think some teams see Reese a little differently to me, like in terms of just crazy blue chip talent, though I'd throw Reese in there. Everyone seems to agree on Sunny Styles, right, I think everyone agrees on Jeremiah Love, and then after that, I think it's Yuana. Now it's just how high do you want to take a guard. I think there's more disagreement about Sunny Styles or David Bailey or even Carnel Tate of like where do these guys slot in? Where As with Yuani, I mean it just seems like it's an agreement in general.

00:25:27
Speaker 3: There.

00:25:27
Speaker 1: All right, let's take a quick break. That is our top ten. I'm feeling good about it. I said I was rooting for people that to just be wrong on draft day, and so now I'm rooting against myself.

00:25:43
Speaker 3: Dichotomy.

00:25:52
Speaker 1: Back on NFL Daily. You're listening to us, maybe you're watching us. Maybe you'd like to watch us right after the NFL Draft, Jordan Rodrigue and myself live on YouTube after pick thirty two. Come check us out, spend some time. Patrick would love to have you there. We couldn't secure your services this time around, but we want your viewership. No, you'll have it, Greg, Okay, you'll have it. Oh, I've got it.

00:26:23
Speaker 3: I'll have it. I have a big ice tank.

00:26:25
Speaker 1: Okay. I didn't know if you were you know, wanted to reveal, you know, medical information, hippo laws and whatnot.

00:26:32
Speaker 2: No, it's okay, it's not a violation if I till that's what I'm as. You know, if somebody's reporting and they give a chart, that would be a hip of violation. But yeah, I'm having knee surgery on Thursday, which is the draft night. Hey, and then eight weeks later I will try to sign a contract with the Baltimore Rate.

00:26:50
Speaker 1: It's great, just too much, too much pick up back in the day maybe for Patrick. Yeah, just hours a day putting people to work on the on the pavement. It's not good for the needs, it's bad for you. Let's go to Miami. Let's talk about a team that in theory, and there's a lot of these players in this draft, injury risk, high ceiling players. It's the first draft of John Eric Sullivan, the new GM. Would they consider like really swinging for the fences. Jermald McCoy's got injury concerns, but maybe the number one cornerback if he was healthy. Jordan Tyson has some injury concerns, he's available. I decide to no neither one of those. I go Mansor Delane, the cornerback out of LSU, first cornerback off the board for Miami. What do you think of that that thought process here, Patrick.

00:27:42
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, it's unfortunate that, you know, the concerns about injury would would drive two players away from from a team that wants to draft in a couple of different positions. That kind of going because you're losing, you're losing draft value off of you know, your concerns about what might happen somebody. But I think Mensword Delanne you could easily make the case, you know, even with a healthy MD McCoy could be the CB one in this draft is value position, so you go you go ahead, take them right at the start of the teams, right.

00:28:14
Speaker 1: I think that the longer this process went on, the more I like Delayne and the more he actually fit the profile to me of a guy that gets taken first at cornerback in plenty of drafts, so you don't have the injury concerns. I mean, I think he is a higher ceiling maybe than he's been given credit for, and the floor is very He is an exciting player to watch, and if you look at the history of what the Packers did in terms of the players that they added, certainly defensive line could make sense uh here, but I didn't think it was like as good of a fit. So to me, it really came down to Tyson or Delayane, and I thought Delaanne was just like a little bit cleaner and definitely a huge position to need other wide receivers for the Dolphins. Stay tuned.

00:28:59
Speaker 3: There.

00:29:00
Speaker 1: My first big curve ball here of the entire draft, I would say, I have the Cowboys taking Tyson just feels like a Cowboys type of move. They'll feel like the value he's been talked up all week that he could go even go in the top ten. I'm not quite buying the Giants smoke or the Chief smoke, although they wouldn't be shocked. And the Cowboys fans who are just expecting defense, defense, defense. I think the way that this board felled like they could, you know, think about Deneman. That's an option at safety for them, but Caleb Downs is not on the board for them, and I think they just go best player available, and they think that player is Jordan Tyson.

00:29:39
Speaker 2: It's completely rational, oh yeah to me, which you know, could be a concern for how you evaluate the pick afterwards because you have to look at the board. I understand saying well, they got to have defense. Who's available on the board, and the size, the speed in and out of the breaks, the explosiveness people ding, the injuries. Everybody on our has a collar bone, like if you play football, Uh, I.

00:30:04
Speaker 1: Think I think it's the hamstring because because he wasn't able to stay healthy within games last year and and throughout the draft process. So that's just like the last thing people saw.

00:30:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, anybody can have a hamstring strain at any given moment. Guys miss with the hamstrings all the time, like is it intact? Yeah, it's is it still there? I think there's a you can miss on any number of players for any number of reasons, but I think Jordan Tyson at this spot would be the best player available.

00:30:33
Speaker 1: Okay, and I don't agree with that, But I also am doing what I think they will do, not what they should do. And this just feels cowboys e to me. You know that the the guy that they're gonna stop just a little bit of a fall, the the big swing create a little drama too with George Pickens on the roster. Still, maybe Pickens is not long for Dallas, you know, it creates drama, well, the I think among the media and whatnot, Yes, I think so. I think keeping Ceedee Lamb George Pickens as happy as possible, like happy with their role as possible would be a trickier endeavor. With Jordan Tyson also on the roster. I think it was already a little bit of a tricky endeavor.

00:31:16
Speaker 2: Sometimes I just I don't I don't understand the perception there.

00:31:24
Speaker 1: I think that's the case of all real deal wide receivers, and George Pickens has kind of shown he's an all pro wide receiver, and I think everyone just wants the ball. I think it's productive, but I think you better be winning or just people are going to want the ball.

00:31:38
Speaker 2: More as long as as Dak is in Dallas, Like these guys on the outside are going to get enough opportunity. I think, Okay, they're going to throw the ball enough where it's not like a situation where disgruntled wide receiver because he's getting three or four targets a game. I think like in terms of actual things that George Pickens did the negatively back the Cowboys last year.

00:32:01
Speaker 1: No, I don't think there was that, but I think it's a multi year I just think looking at receiver groups over the years that you want to keep it. You want to people like to have roles and I and I do think there was like a little bit of like, well, who's the who's the one one a there? And I think that can work, but it can only work like maybe for so long, and so maybe in this scenario, George Pickens is a very tradable asset next year and that's fine.

00:32:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a lot harder to make that work in the one one and who's getting the best targets who's getting the best opportunity when the quarterback is bad. When it's when you have this situation, nobody's better. Like the Rams can do it, the Cowboys can do it.

00:32:40
Speaker 1: Like good point.

00:32:41
Speaker 2: If other teams have the capacity to get the talent at wide receiver, I think they would do it too. Like you know the Bengals, they have an okay time with it is if the quarterback good, everybody's good.

00:32:51
Speaker 1: Fair see Higgins, you know he got his money though he knows his roles like they have roles. I also don't think you can rule out tackle for the Cowboys. I know we've spent on a lot of times. I feel like no one is giving tackle to them, and yet why am I blanking? Tarren Steele is the right tackle? That's not really like a long term solution. And this is a team that just loves to take offensive linemen and they've done a good job with it.

00:33:14
Speaker 3: But there's nobody named Tyler they can draft.

00:33:16
Speaker 1: So there's no Tilers, but they could take a tackle. My least favorite pick of the mock draft is Monroe Freeling the Georgia tackle to the Rams. This feels a little closer to what I think they should do rather than what I think they will do. I think the Rams are in an interesting group of teams and we'll just talk kind of bigger picture here a while. You look at some Monroe freeling tape, and I think late in the process, like he is a pure tackle, I think the ceiling is very high for him. I think long term Warren McLendon at right tackle is not really a solution. Even Alec Jackson at left tackle, they have him under contract. Now, They've gotten by with lesser like premium talent and tackles, which is why I don't fully believe this in my heart, and yet it was messing up the rest of my draft whenever I would change this pick, and so I just decided to keep freeling. But I like the Rams to potentially move up, maybe for Tyson, maybe for a you know, someone else that I'm not thinking of it. And I think they are in a group of teams around this area that we've talked about. The Saints is where it starts. The Chiefs Cowboys are a group of teams that I think could be the teams to trade up where it's like we're not having to trade up from the second round, but there's only like I said, a five or six real deal guys in this class, and I could see them moving up to five or six, maybe even for Carnel Tate. I don't know what it would be, but I could see the Rams being active with this pick, or even being active for a veteran. I mean, we knew they were in on aj Brown, Like, could they use this pick for some veteran out there?

00:34:56
Speaker 2: I think if they whatever, the preparatory conversation is coming into the night, if the board shakes out like this, Yes, I don't think the Rams would make this pick at thirty.

00:35:05
Speaker 1: I know, I don't really believe in it either. I don't know why I'm doing it.

00:35:08
Speaker 2: Well, no, it's not not necessarily a player. I don't know if they would pick anybody at thirteen.

00:35:12
Speaker 1: Right, I think, like, is Brian Thomas Junior potentially available? Is there another young or medium young wide receiver that that could be available that they would go after?

00:35:23
Speaker 2: But considering that other teams might feel the same way, and so I think if the Rams feel like this is a possibility, perhaps that's a trade that happens prior to you know, pick number five.

00:35:37
Speaker 1: Yeah, something like that. Yeah, I could see that and Oh, that would be fascinating if like the Giants traded down in addition to having ten and just like kept stock violing. I think this is a draft where that would make sense. Let's listen to less need by the way, how to press conference on Tuesday, asked about a report from NFL Networks Ian Rapaport that the Matthew Stafford contract was coming together. Matthew was there as well yesterday. Has there been any progress on a contract extension or reworking of his contract?

00:36:09
Speaker 3: Progress has been made. Do you have a timeline for when you think that might get done?

00:36:14
Speaker 4: No timeline.

00:36:16
Speaker 1: Don't expect any any drama per se. It's about as confident and clear as the Rams are ever going to be talking to you.

00:36:25
Speaker 3: See the smile all mcveigh's face.

00:36:27
Speaker 1: Yeah, that he didn't have to answer the question. Or maybe just happy that Matthew Stafford's on his football team.

00:36:32
Speaker 3: I think he's just happy in general. I think he's just in a good spot.

00:36:36
Speaker 1: I agree, I agree, and I think those rumors about remember McVeigh was talking about maybe going to the booth a few years ago. I think now he's in it to win it, not just having Stafford, but he's just there. Yeah, you Stafford.

00:36:52
Speaker 2: I think in Huntsight that was very gifted negotiation, okay, and using the tools at your disposal to acquire compensation.

00:37:01
Speaker 1: We'll be interesting to see on the Stafford contract if they give him guaranteed money into twenty twenty seven, if it's significant, because there is certainly a route where he is playing football for the Rams in twenty twenty seven. I don't necessarily view this as some last tur off for Matthew Stafford, but interesting reveal there. So we have Monroe freeling from Georgia tackle. I think a lot of people's number one tackle there's a lot of disagreement, but late in the process, I think a lot of teams like them. I think it would make sense for them, even if they haven't prioritized the position like that in the past. That leaves your Ravens on the board. Ywana is gone, Jordan Tyson is gone. I think those would be two popular picks to the Ravens. Instead, I give them Kenyan Sadik, the tight end out of Oregon. Do you think I successfully got into the mind of Eric DaCosta in this draft room, given what's come before in this draft?

00:37:57
Speaker 2: Well, I think, you know, Eric DaCosta gave us a little insight into his mind with regards to what the plan was at edge.

00:38:03
Speaker 3: You know, to have to have two veterans playing at edge.

00:38:07
Speaker 2: You know, the the options necessarily aren't there. I have some tackles and guards that that I would probably feel more confident with. But you've got an explosive playmaker at the tight end position that you could get the ball to.

00:38:21
Speaker 1: And so, yeah, give me a name, Give me a name. Who would you take at tackle? Because I in my gut that does make sense that they're not going to be at this point in the draft that often in this particular mock, they have an ability to take the third tackle off the board in a pretty deep first round of tackles. So who do you think would maybe be their type?

00:38:40
Speaker 2: FUNO would be? Yeah, would be the option for me? A guy who can you know, you go from. And again, you know, not to dwell on the folele of it all, but you had a large player that could not necessarily make plays in space, and you have a you know, a running back going to the Hall of Fame and one of the better running quarterbacks in the history of the league. Where you need people to be able to make those plays in space, and yes, Spencer Fano can do that.

00:39:08
Speaker 1: Daniel Filele, a guard who played with the Ravens in his rookie contract now member of the New York Giants, mentioned twice on this show, and you say not to you.

00:39:18
Speaker 3: Know, I am dwelling.

00:39:20
Speaker 1: Well, you are dwelling, do you know? As contract terms were revealed on Tuesday, I was looking those up as I was talking, you ready to learn them one year, one point two million dollars. So I don't think that would prevent the Giants, for instance, from going for no.

00:39:33
Speaker 3: No, I wouldn't.

00:39:33
Speaker 2: And you know I was, I was being condescending with the idea of you know, them being solved there at the decision. But really, like I understand wanting to acquire playmakers, but I think to simplify things in a new offense, to keep your quarterback upright, to improve the protection up front.

00:39:51
Speaker 1: That's logical. I think it sounds like something the Ravens might do. Then again, they haven't been afraid of like just taking the guy they think is the best player. And to me, I don't think Kenyon Sedek's been undersold. But in a class where I don't see a lot of players that look like potential future All pros, Pro bowlers. I think Sadik is that guy. I think he's got a high floor. To me, his comp is Isaiah Likely, but you like him better like a guy who absolutely does the work as a blocker even in college and has the want to to be able to stay on the field, and that the ceiling for him as a receiver is really really exciting. And they've built this offense, and I know it's a changing offense right now, but you look at what their offensive line, their offensive coordinator did with the Bears last year. And that's part of my thinking too, is they need a tight end. Mark Andrews is there and Declan Doyle is gonna want one, and man, I think he could be a real nice foundation piece for a while.

00:40:53
Speaker 3: All Right, I'm sold.

00:40:54
Speaker 1: I'm in. And man, when when you see him like just running up the seams, I think he could be what Isaiah Likely did, but better. And then the ceiling, if he got to his full potential, would would be really exciting. The Bucks are on the board next. Struggled with this one. I do think they need to take an edge for need. I don't think tackle makes sense. Receiver certainly doesn't make sense. Safety makes less sense to me, and so I went with a key massador the edge out of Miami. Feel like his stock has fallen a little bit as the draft process has gone on, but a pretty complete edge with a lot of moves, older prospect, and ultimately I thought about my Malachi Lawrence here, but I went with Messador as the fifteenth door opick.

00:41:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, I kind of got overshadowed by everything his teammate did on the other side of the line, but a solid player, one that could excel right and in a Bowls defense.

00:41:49
Speaker 1: He's like the ky Otten of Edges. And I mean that as a compliment, just I think you're going to get really good, like fifty sixty snaps a game and a potentially be a plus starter, which in this in this class, at this spot, I think is a good one. The Jets are up next at wide receiver or at number six. It doesn't have to be a wide receiver, but I think based on the fact that got Rvel Reese first, I think the way that this draft shapes up, I think they're gonna have their choice of some really intriguing wide receivers. Initially I had them taking Casey Conception she On here, but again I had to think about what I think they will do, not what they should do. I think either, you know, any of their options here at wide receiver are pretty good. But I actually think they're more likely to take McKay lemon as kind of the trustee compliment to Garrett Wilson in a class where like it's okay to get a quote unquote number two receiver who's going to be making plays over the middle of the field. I think Conception can do that too, but a little more risk there. And I think this is a group that just wants players that can step in and make an immediate impact. That's McKay lemon.

00:42:56
Speaker 2: You want to have the ability to exceed, to succeed at these areas of the field. And Mackai does add that in terms of I would say one of the better slots.

00:43:07
Speaker 3: I don't actually think it's close. I think he's the best slot in this draft class.

00:43:11
Speaker 2: And the way that Garrett primarily is playing on the outside, you could, you know, sometimes on them up in the same spot and you know, have Gino feed them with targets.

00:43:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, a little bit about the Jets, maybe not as explosive, you know as some of the you know as CONCEPCI owned specifically, or even Denzil Boston is an interesting, you know, thought exercise, but it's a little early for that. But he just seems like a trustee pick that the Jets would feel really good about at sixteen. At seventeen, the Lions are up. They've got their option based on the board for a lot of positions they could use edge they I think we'll be looking at the offensive line, but they have a few more needs than you would expect. They could think about the secondary as well. But I have them taking Blake Miller, the tackle out of Clemson. I believe Jordan Rodrigue described him as a dirt bag or something, but in a positive way. I think certain teams are gonna really like him, and he just seems to fit what the Lions want to do. Blake Miller out of Clemson going ahead of a couple more highly touted tackles, I think it's gonna be a little unpredictable how the tackles fall here.

00:44:21
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I think you know, some of the touting, uh specifically with guys like Fano and Proctor, LOMU like they're coming. It's it's gonna have. It feels difficult to see Blake Miller leaping all of them. Okay, you know there's a reason those.

00:44:36
Speaker 1: Guys, but it's just one team. And what the part of the reason I did it too, is like the Lions always just throw like they see players their own way, and I could see them being like Blake Miller, that's our kind of guy. We don't care about what the consensus says, we don't care about what Mock Draft Live says. What do they know?

00:44:53
Speaker 2: Well, it's the not caring in relation to the players athletic explosiveness, right, Okay, like when when those guys Jamiir Gibbs.

00:45:01
Speaker 1: Yeah, or you know, or Jack Campbell even.

00:45:03
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's guys that are really really they can move, Okay in comparison to some of these other guys.

00:45:10
Speaker 3: I don't know not to you know, be dismissive.

00:45:11
Speaker 1: We've already called no I want I want you to be dismissive. Well, I'm not dismissive of Blake Miller. No, I want you to be dismissive of me. Well no, I've told you that's my love language. I want the Vikings fans to come after me for giving them c J. Allen at linebacker, the Georgia product going at eighteen. It took me a while to get around the fact that c J. Allen consents his board wise is not that popular, and yet, man, what a fit I think he would be for a Brian Flores defense. The question here is, is Kevin O'Connell now kind of running the draft room or helping to run the draft room in an even more meaningful way, gonna let Floris and whoever is making this decision with him Brazinski take a defensive player. If so, I think CJ. Allen's a great pick.

00:45:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, what's the what's the safest thing for everybody involved? And I think that's to let Kevin O'Connell make the selections. That Kevin O'Connell wants to be able to go up there at the podium and feel comfortable about it and go to all the parties and not necessarily you know, be ousted after a trip to the Senior Bowl. So yeah, I would lean offensive here, but CJ. Allen, right, see, not necessarily seen because people want, you know, playing off the edge and being involved in the past game and all these other things from linebacker, but it's okay to just be a linebacker, and CJ.

00:46:34
Speaker 3: Allen is that and there's a value to it. Shout out to Ernest Jones.

00:46:38
Speaker 1: I think he could go to the Texans at twenty eight. Certainly this might be wish casting because I think wide receiver is more likely there than people have been recognizing conception own in this particular.

00:46:50
Speaker 3: Dres especially after the Naylor departure.

00:46:52
Speaker 1: Right could be an option. I think right tackle is a very strong option here. Brian O'Neill maybe getting towards the end of his career entering a contract year, so they could think ahead on the offensive line. That wouldn't be surprising. Theeneman has been the safety from Oregon a popular mock spot, but I didn't take any of them. I have to admit I'd looked around at some mocks on Tuesday morning, and Florio, who doesn't really get into the draft stuff but has it inside voice and just window into what the Vikings, particularly as a Vikings fan over the years, he had c J. Allen going there, and I was like, ooh, you know, my favorite player just about in this class going in my perfect spot for him, and their biggest insider fan in the media has him going there too. Maybe I'll just jump on that train. Let's go, let's go to the Panthers. This is where I finally have concepcion going Carolina luck he went to NC State local product relatively and then went to Texas A and M. And I just think they need offense. I think Sadik if he fell, would be a popular idea to the Vikings or the Panthers in this eighteen nineteen window. But in my mock, I have it being Conceptsion, my favorite player in the draft, helping out your boy Bryce Young.

00:48:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I understand the the idea. They want to get some speed at that spot. They've you know, felt confident in their receivers in the past. There's some defensive players or specifically I think they could who could.

00:48:28
Speaker 3: Help with the run, like cash is how Keldric Falk.

00:48:33
Speaker 1: Keldric Falk, I could see.

00:48:35
Speaker 2: Where you know, the especially because Falks, you know, superpowers is against the run and that's a place that the Panthers have an obvious need. Now is that are we are we splitting hairs with the value of Falk like at nineteen maybe, But also what are we doing if that's the case.

00:48:51
Speaker 1: No, I don't. I don't think so. I'm maybe not as high on him, and I'm letting that impact where he goes in this mock. He does goes later in the first round, but no, I think once you get past the Cowboys rams area, it's up for grabs. I don't think there's that big of a difference between pick thirteen and pick thirty in this class, and so I don't think for the most part there's gonna be guys who are taking too high too low. I just think it's a great fit CONCEPTIONI on. I think he has an incredibly high ceiling and he's gonna be open. I think a decent con for him is former Panther Dj Moore, And like, if you could sign up for Dj moore agan as a Panthers fan, I think you would do it. I know it's a totally different regime, different needs and whatnot, but I think they need a receiver that leaves the Cowboys on the board, and that leaves them with a pick I considered at twelve, which is Dylan Thieneman. We take the safety from Oregon by way of Purdue off the board, Kristin Parker, the new defensive coordinator, has done good work with versatile safeties. He's a guy you can play in the slot, you can play him deep. You certainly need secondary help. I thought of going back to back picks in the secondary for the Cowboys end up with just one, but I think they'd be really happy if this is how the board fell.

00:50:08
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think a lot of teams would be really happy with Deenamon.

00:50:11
Speaker 2: You know, but he played a lot in the box in safety, but if you go back and look at Purdue, he's really on the back end, directing traffic, flying around, kind of limiting that back third of the field, And so yeah, I could see him in a lot of spots. The Cowboys will be very happy. I think, maybe even get him at twelve, to get him.

00:50:29
Speaker 1: At twenty, I think I think it's possibility that he that he does go at twelve, the Cowboys are gonna have to think about, like, all right, when we're taking twelve, what other position do we think is going to be available? And so I got into their minds at twelve, And since I was in every team's minds, I thought, Thenemon might be there, or someone in the secondary would be there. I just thought it would they have to look at it like safeties generally fall in these drafts and and hope that someone or maybe even a cornerback would be at twenty. They could always look at Avion Threll. They could look at Jamond McCoy. That is someone I had actually initially in this slot Patrick in my initial version of this mock draft, Jermald McCoy, because they he does feel like, hey, if this guy with all this talent falls, because there's some pretty rough sounding health reports that you know, according to the NFL Network and Albert Breer, he could fall all the way out of the first round. Allah Will Johnson a year ago that there's real concern that he might need surgery on the other knee that he did not tear his ACL on. And so I am getting spooked by the insiders a little bit. But he would be an option here for the Cowboys. Just pointing that out. Let's take a break, let's finish up the draft, and we got some We got some news still to get to and it's spicy news. Mike Tomlin is a new home.

00:51:50
Speaker 3: Oh there it is. He pull of Sean Payton was ard to.

00:51:54
Speaker 1: Beat back on NFL Daily for our very last segment of pre Draft cut. We're ready, and yet we're gonna start it at least this segment with a little bit of news. I'll go out of order here because I teased it. Mike Tomlin has a new home and that home is next to Maria Taylor on the Football Night in America.

00:52:29
Speaker 5: Death.

00:52:31
Speaker 2: Good NBC and good for viewers of the most watched show in television that that they'll get a chance to see Mike Tomlin kind of contextualize the before the game and you know, at halftime.

00:52:45
Speaker 3: I think it's good for all parties involved.

00:52:48
Speaker 1: It's interesting who's we know, who's who's leaving we don't know. There was a report by Andrew Marshan of the Athletic Well we know Tony Dungee's gone. That was previously announced and covered on NFL Daily. Quincidental, I would not say ironic, coincidental that Mike Tomlin is replacing one of his mentors, maybe his most important mentor as a coach. You know that he kind of came up as a at least when he was becoming a guy, people kind of thought of him as a dungeee guy. And now he's one of the people replacing him, although it's actually not a really one to one replacement because Dungeee was on the road. He was part of that crew. There is not a lot of clarity about who is returning for Football Night in America, although Mike Florio said he will be back. So Mike Florio is back as an insider, and I guess I'm just assuming Maria Taylor's back. She does great work with the NBA two. But yeah, I would assume she's there, and Mike Tomlin the rest, we don't know. We'll find out.

00:53:57
Speaker 3: We're waiting all year.

00:53:58
Speaker 1: I just hope Tomlin. I don't know, if what do you hope Greg that he doesn't play it like he's returning to coaching like he gives us it's a tough spot to be interest like. There aren't many people who I would say have made a difference on these disks. That's my analysis. I have not felt the need to watch a halftime or postgame show on networks because I thought the analyst was gonna say anything interesting for a long time.

00:54:29
Speaker 2: Well, I think I think that a lot of that's is that crazy, No, it's a structural choice.

00:54:34
Speaker 3: I think by the networks.

00:54:35
Speaker 2: We get the especially in basketball and football, you get your coaching interviews at halftime. You kind of decrease the amount of investment that you have from the studio because you know it's the studio.

00:54:49
Speaker 1: No, but the studio is so important. I mean, it's, like you said, the highest highest ranked show in the in the country. People are watching it, They're spending a lot of money. But when was the last time Jim Johnson or Bill Cower or Terry Brodchet or anyone said anything interesting to me. The only things that I've ever learned, I would say, not ever, but the last ten to fifteen years, is from guys in the booth. Yeah, and I would even include like former coaches that were in the booth. When John Gruden was in the booth, you know, no matter whether you liked him or not, as an analyst, like I felt like he was teaching me some things. And I'm learning from people in the I never learned from anyone in tho studio.

00:55:26
Speaker 2: I think it's the investment, specifically in the talent of these of these big productions is so significant, and the preparation goes a lot of those great things that we get from the broadcast or reactions in real time. And since everything is produced and planned and budgeted, it's kind of this segment no thing where it's like, ah, this that, the other, this, oh, now a Toyota promo, that the other, and it gets formulated and you do it for seventeen weeks. And perhaps what the networks can do is pay some folks, put a microphone on these guys during the game and let them go.

00:55:59
Speaker 1: Good note. And we do have you know, some some NBC people that listen to the show. Sometimes I don't know if they're in hiring positions, but that's a good note. Maybe a little less people and a little more freedom good like Maria Taylor, Tomlin and I don't know who your third is a podcast. It's not Jason Garrett though. If I'm making the decisions, we love your coach not in that role. I have the Steelers taking Spencer Fano tackle guard from Utah. Switch this pick. Do you think they're more likely to take Cayden Procter from Alabama or Spencer Fano. I had it as Proctor initially and then I flipped it. I'll just give away the next two picks because I have the Chargers taking Proctor next, I had it flipped, and then the more I thought about it, I thought, I thought Fano athleticism, maybe moving inside. Broderick Jones is a guy at left tackle that they might need to replace, But I think there's multiple positions there that they that they'd be interested.

00:56:53
Speaker 2: I think you've revealed your feelings because Fano and Procter get the slash g yes despite being the most athletic tackles.

00:57:01
Speaker 1: Perhaps that's partly why they could be at guard.

00:57:03
Speaker 2: In this draft, where it's like they could get a good athlete with size put him on the outside.

00:57:08
Speaker 1: Well, when Fano said, like, put me at center if you want, I'm all in, that kind of made me think maybe he is a center, maybe he is a guard. I actually think he is the most likely of these this group to to maybe get moved. Proctor is huge, and ultimately that size, to me, made more sense With the Chargers. It'd almost be like a do over for Makai Becton. Long term, he's probably playing guard for the Chargers, but you have two guys coming off pretty serious injuries. So I think the position flexibility of Caden Proctor outside for the Chargers is also exciting. Whereas Fano, Uh yeah, it's probably probably at tackle right now. I don't know.

00:57:50
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the Chargers will be overjoyed to have, you know, for the Cowboys to pick Fiedeman and both of these guys be on the board, I think feel great either way.

00:58:01
Speaker 1: Had a different version of the mock where mackay Lemon fell here and then, I think he'd be a really strong option for the Steelers. I think they could absolutely be looking for inside receiver to complement the two guys that they have in terms of Michael Pittman and DK Metcalf. But I think the way this board felt it doesn't make as much sense. The tackle run continues with the Eagles. They go to Arizona State. Yes, they take Max Ihanachor a little bit of a surprise, a late riser, but a guy who if you a little raw, like learning the position and all that. But they have the time, I believe, to wait. And if you were looking for Aline Johnson replacement, I think the more that you heard about Ianacher throughout the process, the more he sounded to me like as high a ceiling just about as anyone in this class, like really athletic, really talented and maybe just needs a little bit of time, which is why he's going at the back end of the first round.

00:59:06
Speaker 2: I am just so spooked by the Stoutland of it all, where I'm having to reevaluate the way I feel about the Eagles making these choices.

00:59:14
Speaker 1: Okay, you're referring to, you know, their offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, who's no longer officially with the team, and yet who was it. One of the players said that they actually thought that Jeff Stoutland. It was Lane Johnson will be involved with the team, which which is something we never hit here because it's not official, And it was just Lane Johnson on the Fits and Wit podcast, who says, I think he's going to be around in some capacity. He's not going to be a long ways away. I don't know what any of this means.

00:59:51
Speaker 2: Dude just loves the birds around the you know, folks come around, they hang out, you know.

00:59:56
Speaker 1: So maybe he has an idea that he's going to get paid it as like a consultant and be there. I don't know, like, how would that even work. They hired an offensive line coach Chris Cooper h k U. Yeah, not like the.

01:00:10
Speaker 2: Actor, and so until there's an official announcement right regarding his availability to Okay, you know, because you know, and who knows, it could all be just Aura and marketing this idea that's you know, Jordan, Mylotta is Jordan Milot because of Jeff stoutlind and all these other situations Lane, you know, Kelsey.

01:00:34
Speaker 3: But it's it's affecting how I.

01:00:36
Speaker 1: Think this is one of my favorite mock picks. It's really hard to choose which tackle is going to go to which spot, and if you've been paying attention now, I think we are up to six tackles taken, including three in a row. I think a run is going to happen. It could happen earlier, but I think this one makes sense. You I mentioned Chris Cooper, who is the offensive line coach, and then made a joke about the actor. Are you familiar with the actor Chris Cooper? And could you name a movie that he was in?

01:01:05
Speaker 3: Name a movie and I'll see if I'm familiar with.

01:01:07
Speaker 1: Chris Cooper adaptation. No, I'm not familiar with. Oh that the Nicholas Cage classic, Meryl Streep incredible movie and Chris ye steals the show American Beauty he's like the creepy next Why did you go with adaptation? I don't know, because that's what made me love him. He's so good in that October. Okay, yeah, he's in some bigger movies than that, but he's like the third lead in that one. American Beauty was It was a hit for him. I mean, yeah, we're dating ourselves a little bit. The Browns are next on the board. You don't who will they They didn't take a tackle before, and so I have him ending the tackle run with Caleb Lomu, the tackle from Utah. Of all the tackles here, he's probably the one that could he fall to the second round. I think I think it's possible. I'd be a prize if any of the other players fall to the second round. I think these guys are getting taken in the first round, potentially in the top you know, twenty twenty five picks, like like I projected him, Caleb Lomu. It only takes one team. I think the Browns have a major need and I do think there's a big drop off after him in terms of perception, and so he gets taken here.

01:02:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, specifically with the way the board has shaken, out. I think they they made all those moves, maybe said not be in a position where they'd have to take a tackle here. But if Lomo is available at twenty four, I think it'd be disappointed. The fact that the run that just happened happened. That's a good but I think with Lomo they'd feel good.

01:02:37
Speaker 1: Yeah, you never want to be the team at the very end of the run and that is it that wraps up my tackle run. I think that's seven tackles taken. And then we had had the guard earlier. You want to the Bears are up next. This is where I slotted Malachi Lawrence the Edge from E c F. A late riser, a favorite of Jeremiah's, a favorite of Ali Connolly's, and when you watch the film, I think it's not that hard to argue, just in terms of juice. I'm putting RVL Reese in his own bucket because he's kind of a unicorn who just does a lot of things at a really high level. I don't think it's that hard to argue Malachi Lawrence would be the next guy after David Bailey in terms of pass rush potential in this class. A guy that can stay on the field. Chris Long really likes him from the green Light podcast, and to me in this class, I think it's just gonna be what do you like? And I like him to the Bears here at twenty five, they need an edge.

01:03:36
Speaker 3: Yeah.

01:03:36
Speaker 2: The overall Cardiovastrio capacity, which you know, I try to stay away from high motor like. His capacity, yes, to be active on the football field is tremendous. I think a lot of times we underrate depending on the player, you know, the technical ability to rush the pastor, which I think hurts Ruben Bain a little bit in his perception. But I would have Lawrence up there, not behind, not ahead of Bay, but perhaps ahead of his teammate.

01:04:01
Speaker 3: That's the door.

01:04:02
Speaker 1: Yeah, Mesidor ends up going fifteen to the Bucks in this, but I could have flipped those very easily. I have another pass rusher going next, Cassius howel divisive, I would say, in terms of the draft profile that's out there. Look, if if he hit, like, is there a player that he would remind you of? Probably probably not Nick Botito, and I guess it's not Nick Butdido. That's that's probably more David Bailey, which would be the closer comp but I was thinking, you know, with this new defense, Jim Leonard, we're at the point of the draft, like, these guys aren't necessarily going to be every down players, But if you can get as much pass rush juice as possible, Cassius Howel is just in a really exciting pass rusher, and you work on the rest of this stuff, and if he ends up just being like a you know, a pass rush for higher as your third edge, like, that's not a bad pick at twenty six in this class.

01:04:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, athletic wise, you know, that's a ninetieth percentile forty yard dash and a ninety two percent ten yards.

01:05:06
Speaker 1: Split in like a two percent out arm length right there with ruben Vain.

01:05:10
Speaker 2: And so you know you've you've got that depends on how you want to use him right the team, you know, how they're deploying their guys off the edge. I think he lines up out wide, gets a chance to attack the quarterback pretty consistently, then you might get what you need if you need him to do a little bit more.

01:05:26
Speaker 1: And I don't think, yeah, that's that's going to be in the mix for them, but I think they could. I have the forty nine ers taking Keldric Falk next could have gotten earlier defensive linemen out of Auburn throughout the process. When I've watched him, I'm like, hmmm, I don't know. I don't know if I totally see it, but I also see that he'd be a forty nine er. He just seems like a forty nine er to me.

01:05:49
Speaker 2: He does, and I would say the best run defender in the draft in this era of dropbacks. I understand the reluctance there, but have had Travon Walker, you know, flirting with the idea of if thing's not working out for him, but he's been excellent against the run. The Jacks are the best run defense, and I think he's in that category as a run defender. There's things you could work on. If we're going to project the athletic upside yes for the other guys who don't have the production, let's project it from the guy who has the athleticism and the ability as a run defender to make some plays in the past.

01:06:26
Speaker 1: Art poor Man's Travon Walker is a good comp there. For the forty nine ers. Now you could say, well, how about how about Caden McDonald, the defensive tackle from Ohio State being the best run defender in this class. This is a meat and potato pick for the Texans. There's another world where I like CJ. Allen here the linebacker following there's certainly offensive line options. They could take another guard, potentially Caden McDonald. To me, it's he's almost like the free agent pick up that you're just trying to have you put you over the They could really use like a two gap run stopping nose tackle. Is that the sexiest first round pick in the world. Not really, but I think among especially who's available here, I think you know what he is. It's just kind of what where do you value that In twenty twenty six, I think the value is kind of rising. Nose tackles are back a little bit, and they absolutely could use one, and so I just kind of have them checking a box here with Caden McDonald.

01:07:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think you know, to reference another team, you know, the Cincinnati Bengals considering the defensive time, your first defensive tackle coming off the board at twenty.

01:07:36
Speaker 1: Eight, right, and he could easily and none of them could go.

01:07:39
Speaker 3: Yeah, they could be none in the first round.

01:07:41
Speaker 2: And so, like you talk about positional value, relative to the rest of the league, right, Like, can you get a player who's going to be one of the eleven on the field, who's significantly better than the other options available?

01:07:53
Speaker 3: And yeah, twenty eight Caden McDonald absolutely.

01:07:56
Speaker 1: And a position to that Bengals point that takes a minute usually to develop. I think of Dexter Lawrence, people weren't talking about him as a future All Pro after one or two years. It was a steady incline.

01:08:08
Speaker 2: There was a steady in a moment there where his college teammate was seen as the better football player.

01:08:15
Speaker 3: And now we're just trying to get him on a team.

01:08:18
Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, Christian Wilkins was a high level NFL player early and often in his career, and we'll see if if he lands on a team. I have the Chiefs taking Denzel Boston, Boston wide receiver out of Washington next. I mean, I think they're going to be really tempted to take one at nine. I think they're going to be really tempted to take someone in the secondary. They have a lot of different needs. What do you think about outside ball winner Denzel Boston, who wins down the field? You know quite a bit here going to the Chiefs at twenty nine.

01:08:53
Speaker 3: They haven't had it in a while.

01:08:55
Speaker 2: They went to get it with Nuke Hopkins a while back, and you know, considering the you know, the types of players that the Chiefs have had, some of it due to you know, financial capacity, and some of it being the average pick that they've had since taking Mahomes in the top fifteen was thirty seven. And so, you know, being where they are and having two first round picks, they get an opportunity to address that particular need, and I think it's worthwhile.

01:09:22
Speaker 3: There are a lot of guys in the.

01:09:24
Speaker 2: Secondary that are available here in your mock where I think the Chiefs could.

01:09:28
Speaker 1: Jermad McCoy would be a strong choice. That's been a story if someone was announcing our draft, that would be a storyline that he keeps staying on the board. I'm kind of leaning on these insider injury news projections in what is informing me, But that's a guy that the Chiefs would absolutely take. I'll throw a name at you, Okay, maybe Denzel Boston is the Dwayne Bow replacement. Finally, fifteen years later, whatever it is, double Dwayne Bow. You can see some similarities.

01:10:00
Speaker 2: Stretch where the Chiefs didn't have a lighter receaver with a touchdown for the seven games.

01:10:04
Speaker 1: Yeah, that was the curse of Dwayne bow Out. Juanne Bow good player. Miami Dolphins are on the board. I don't know what their fans are going to think of this. Jamal McCoy again would be a strong consideration. I did decide with their first pick to take cornerback me and swords Alane Emmanuel McNeil Warren. The safety is available here, Avion Terrell, cornerback is available here. You know Chris Johnson Colton Hood at cornerback like he could double up. And yet I just I got this feeling they like and by day I mean the former Packers they like taking their linemen. I was thinking, who makes sense? Kaitlin Rutledge is a name you're hearing a lot more as a potential first round pick at guard Georgia Tech. Kind of I feel like there's one of these guys every year where at the last second you're like, hey, keep an eye on this guard that nobody's talked about for four months. Everyone kind of likes him because he looks like he start in the NFL, and then he does get taken at the end of the first round. Kaylinrut Ledge, is that guy for me this year, or at least the guy for the Dolphins.

01:11:06
Speaker 2: Yeah, it makes It makes little sense the temptation to have McCoy as as well as Delane. That would be really cool for the Dolphins there, but a guard makes sense.

01:11:18
Speaker 1: Maybe I'm just wish casting because I have Jermond McCoy going next to the Patriots.

01:11:22
Speaker 2: Oh okay, yeah, this is why, this is why you've been buying into McCoy fall all the way from potentially nine to what thirty one?

01:11:31
Speaker 3: Okay, it makes sense. I get it now.

01:11:34
Speaker 1: It really wasn't conscious, but now that I see it, it does seem like I was. I was doing something here. I think the Patriots, to make a real point here, would be willing are willing to take a risky pick like that in a way that I think the Chiefs and Dolphins when I thought about them specifically, maybe the Chiefs would, and maybe because the Dolphins have so many picks, would But I'm thinking about these guys want players that can be on the field, have a little less concerns right away, whereas the Patriots they don't really need a cornerback right now. On the outside. Carlton Davis is there, Christian Gonzales, you assume it's going to be there a long time, although you never know. But McCoy could be a guy that you kind of have waiting in the wings basically for when Carlton Davis is no longer there. Just insanely talented player. Yeah.

01:12:27
Speaker 2: Where and again, you know, the the team doctors are going to have their evaluations and the things that teams are saying to insiders. Regarding that those evaluations, I think sometimes we can take with a grain of salt, specifically when they really really ramp up in mid to late April. But yeah, I think rom McCoy here would be they'd be overwhelmed with joy to have him.

01:12:50
Speaker 1: Okay, let's get to Mike Rabel's press conference today. Now. Mike Rabel has not spoken with reporters since photos came out of him and the former insider from The Athletic, Diana Roussini, with interlocking fingers in an embrace at a hotel in Arizona. Everyone that's listening is I'm sure very aware of this story, and you know, since that's happened, Rassini has resigned from her role at the Athletic. The athletic has announced that they were investigating her behavior and that that will continue, and Vrabel has been quiet until Tuesday. Let's listen first to his opening statement in front of the lectern to the media on Tuesday.

01:13:46
Speaker 6: Let me first begin by saying, thank you, Thank you for your patients that you've shown in a personal and private matter for me and obviously everybody involved. I know that that's not easy for you. You and I respect that, and I appreciate your efforts in doing so. I understand I could have, you know, I addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday very candidly as we began our off season program.

01:14:17
Speaker 1: So that is how he opened it. I thought it was interesting that he struck such an apologetic note to the media right right off the bat, in addition to being obviously apologetic and mentioning, you know, his quiet and that the priority was that he wanted to talk to his players first. It was about a two and a half minute opening statement. I don't want to listen to all of it, but this, to me was the key part of what he said at least in front of the cameras on Tuesday.

01:14:49
Speaker 6: You know, I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. Those have been positive and productive.

01:15:01
Speaker 3: You know.

01:15:01
Speaker 6: We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively effect affect the team.

01:15:14
Speaker 3: We never want to be the cause of a distraction. You know.

01:15:18
Speaker 6: And when I tho's are comments and questions that I've answered for the team and with the team, We'll keep those private. And you know, to ourselves care deeply about this football team and I'm excited to coach them.

01:15:32
Speaker 1: So Rabel, like I said, spoke to the media with the cameras on in front of everyone. Then the cameras were turned off, and he reportedly, and I'm going off with the Boston Sports Journal, our former colleague Mike Giardi wrote about on that great website, said happened. Then he sat down with a pretty big group of the local reporters and on the record answered a handful of questions from the local reporters that didn't seem to engender anything else too interesting. But they did ask Rabel specifically about the initial statement that he gave to The New York Post when these photos were released. They came fresh with a response from Rabel and Diana Rossini, and the one from Rabel said, to suggest that there's anything questionable in these photos was laughable, was his words back then. This was a very different tone, and they kind of asked him if, well, how does that match up with those statements. He essentially didn't answer it, but he also just said during his opening statement that he is going to be the best Mike Rabel moving forward for his family, he said specifically for his team, and that he wanted to address the team before they started seeing you know, him speaking to the media or else he would have spoken even earlier. He wanted them to hear from him, and that he did take, you know, some questions from his teammate, from his players, very specifically about everything. He said. Those were going to stay private, but we had some back and forth. So to me, it's it's not hard to read into a very apologetic, certainly not defiant, certainly not denying anything type of tone into what Vrabel said today and trying to basically just move it forward. He said the timing was something they had thought about, Like you could tell they thought about a lot, because he wanted it out of the way and not taking away from what happens on draft day. But also you know, they didn't want to give the They didn't say this, but they didn't give the media too much notice. About twenty thirty minutes before this happened, we suddenly find out Mike Rabel is going to speak on Tuesday.

01:17:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, and when he does, he has an opportunity to sit down with the group who's ultimately in charge of how much of a quote unquote distraction uh this is There's been a number of them. There were an entire legal investigation in which this franchise won a Super Bowl, uh, and so like that, you know, my idea of the value of distractions, uh.

01:18:12
Speaker 3: Is pretty limited. I think we know and understand that.

01:18:15
Speaker 2: But in terms of you know, what's happening, what's what's the what's the there?

01:18:25
Speaker 5: Uh?

01:18:25
Speaker 1: Right, which is it that you know and is anybody there.

01:18:28
Speaker 2: Given the fact that they've had the opportunity to have this sit down, I've had you know, fruitful conversations with Mike Vrabel. I think it's a coming on on those people there to determine what there is uh, what what particular access uh in which I have questions about all of the access that all insiders have, uh and and who benefits from each individual bit of news.

01:18:51
Speaker 3: But the other stuff, you know, that's that's.

01:18:53
Speaker 1: Well, that's that's that's partly why, Like what is there? I think is a great question because at its heart, and we hadn't hit this on the show, it was a story about a personal relationship, which we're not like diving into in general on NFL Daily or anywhere else. I think it's important to note that an article on ESPN, the NFL did say that they were not looking into Mike Rabel for any violations of policy, So that is from the league perspective. Obviously, it's a personal relationship between you know what was in the pictures and also his with his team, and I think he put that forward and to me, that sort of was what I was interested in, was was the team going to be concerned about this? Was the league going to be concerned about this? Like are players going to be asked about this and stuff? And it's him trying to get in front of that with this and I was actually kind of surprised. I don't want to go ahead and give him credit for just addressing a situation that he created, but the tone actually was more apologetic and about as straightforward as I would have expected. I saw some response that was like, well, he didn't like say if this is true. I mean, there were no denials. He was not you know, he was not denying anything. He was just talking about how he decided to handle this was ultimately a personal situation for him with his family and with his team, and.

01:20:38
Speaker 2: I think right if he's I would hope that the conversations with players in team and those who are personal personally close to Mike Raabel wasn't to prevent them from having conversations about this too, and it's like, oh, we're gonna now to do this, that and the other. I hope it was in a sense of honestly communicating what's what's there.

01:20:58
Speaker 1: And I guess those people should have acts. I mean that and that in terms of like media training hasn't been Rabele style. Uh. He has let his players talk in a way that is totally opposite of the Bill Belichick era. They had two stories right before the draft, including Christian Barmore and stuff on Diggs which they just let ride and they everyone was just talking about. So I don't think that was it. I think it was more him wanting to handle this and and that's how we decided to handle it. Some other Patriots news. By the way, Kishon Booty uh reportedly could be available in a trade that was funning out there, interesting entering the last year of his contract. But if AJ Brown is arriving, there is some complicative skill trade. You know, skill sets there, you see them.

01:21:48
Speaker 2: You can have everybody you have, Dobs, you Booty and this hypothetical, you know, current Philadelphia.

01:21:52
Speaker 1: I love Kashan Boody and I think he would be a great pickup. It would be interesting if Kishon Boody was in the AJ Brown trade. Didn't even think of that.

01:21:59
Speaker 5: The The Seahawks are next on the board. Chris Johnson is my final pick, not the number one overall draft pick in I don't know what year, what it was, two thousand and eight, twenty eleven, who knows fantasy drafts. The cornerback from San Diego State going to the Seahawks.

01:22:22
Speaker 1: This is absolutely influenced by Mina Kaim's wish casting this on forties and free agents last week.

01:22:29
Speaker 3: I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.

01:22:30
Speaker 1: We don't know. I think it's a good fit.

01:22:32
Speaker 2: You don't have Colton Hood in this which every single pick like logically has some like these corners could be available back here. I don't know about McCoy, but these corners could be available back here. And I think this version c J nokay, because he plays defense, it could be available.

01:22:49
Speaker 1: Okay. Yeah, And like I said, Emmanuel mcne a, Warren didn't go in this class in this draft, Colton Hood did not. Who just mentioned Look, I don't I don't think I'm on that pig of an island with mcay falling like that. For what it's worth, you know, our former colleague Albert Breert thought, you know, there's a decent chance he falls to the second round, but otherwise there aren't a ton of crazy, huge names that fell. I did think of Omar Cooper for the Dolphins at thirty, so that that could have been a different pick instead of taking the guard there he fell out of the the first round. Peter Woods, TJ. Parker didn't get taken. Tys Simpson, I think is more likely to fall to like the end of the second or even third round than he is to get taken in the first, but could be proven wrong. Avion Terrell, the cornerback out of Clemson, didn't get taken. Chase Besantis, some people think could sneak into the first round as a guard, but no, like major shocks, that's it. We did it. My fut did my first well. It would have been a rough show. And I just pontificated about how do you think I did you know first first solo mock since I think I was writing for nbcsports dot com slash Pro Football Talk.

01:23:58
Speaker 2: I think you feel the pressure and the burden of the responsibility. The top one hundred and one reveal that constantly, and that goes into your calculus, and I think you're going to have upwards of fourteen fifteen.

01:24:13
Speaker 1: If I I mean, the problem with these is once you miss one or two, you're off. And there's not even consensus picks early like it last year. I believe a lot of people were at like two, so over under at nine, I'm giving myself an over under a four and a half. Come on, you said, I'm feeling the pressure, like the top one one. No, I do feel a responsibility there here. I'm I'm a small fish in a huge pond. There are a million mock drafts. If I'm not feeling the pressure.

01:24:43
Speaker 2: If you are listening to he is a master of setting expectations.

01:24:48
Speaker 1: He wants this, he needs this. I don't like where you're going with any of this. I don't feel confident it is going to be an unpredictable draft. Let's get out of here. Thank you, Patrick, thank you Greg, and good luck and you're st Thanks man. Never great to go under the knife. But if if he's healing, we will have Patrick back next week. You're gonna be mobile. Yeah, come with us. Weel it around the eight NFL. Uh, let's talk about the draft. We're on live after day one YouTube also in your ears myself Jordan. Check us out.