40's and Free Agents: Teams with Multiple First Round Picks

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Speaker 1: Welcome to forties and free Agents.

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Speaker 2: I'm Greg Rosenthal alongside the best draft analyst in the business, Daniel Jeremiah.

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Speaker 1: Are you getting ready, DJ?

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Speaker 2: Are you feeling like like the day is close, like close enough for you?

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's getting here. I've got the updated needs sheets from Jack Andraid, who always looks out for me. So we've got the additions and the subtractions from free agency. So starting to kind of shift a little bit towards the team stuff.

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Speaker 2: A little bit.

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Speaker 3: You just memorize that, is that what you do?

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Speaker 1: Yeah, it's all up.

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Speaker 2: It's all up here, as is all the information from the book Born to Referee. I'm the grid Iron by Jerry Mark Right, anyone who's watching us on YouTube or on the fast pole, you can see. I did purchase the book that DJ last was in a library for I think it costs three thirty five on Amazon.

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Speaker 1: A great read.

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Speaker 3: And I see the spine on that. I want to see what kind of how big was this? Oh my gosh, that's a real book that I read back in the day.

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Speaker 1: Yeah it is, uh yeah, almost three hundred pages.

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Speaker 3: Sary had a lot to get off his chest. Man.

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Speaker 1: I'll do a book report on a future episode in June, we'll see.

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Speaker 2: Okay, So look, last week we talked about the teams that didn't have first round picks, a little bit of a bummer. It's more fun to talk about the teams that do have multiple first round picks, so you can sort things in a different way. Who has the most you know, draft value in terms of points and if that was the case. Actually, weirdly, the Steelers are number one on the list, but all the teams with two first round picks are are relatively high, including the Jets. So we're going to go through these teams and kind to talk about what those teams need, maybe what we see them doing early in the draft. The Jets, of course have two sixteen, thirty three and forty four, so for the top forty four picks, they get the two extra pick because of the Sauce Gardner and quinnin Williams trades. I think, look, they need a quarterback, but this might not be the year for it. Otherwise, wide receiver, cornerback. I think they could use a guard, linebacker, defensive tackle. There's not much that they have to say no to. But I am curious when you look at how many edges they have DJ. Does that inform you how you think they'll line up this two and sixteen picks specially.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, they've got a lot of edges. I was I was looking at it, and that's why I had brought this up previously. And and he's my sixth player. But I just wonder if Carnell Tate is at least part of the conversation there. I think that they those first three picks and pulling them back up it's two, sixteen thirty three. Yeah, if you're going to say what's the what's the lock to sixteen and thirty, I'd say they leave those three picks. Who are receivers at one of those three, yes, one hundred percent. And now there's going to and I think there are going to be maybe it's a little early at two. I think at sixteen you're gonna have some good options there, whether or not you want to, you know, pull it on Tyson if he's there. From a talent standpoint, makaid Lemon, I don't think he'll get there, but there's a chance he could be there. You never know. Omark Cooper like, they'll have options there at sixteen, and then they'll have that next wave even concepts you own I think could come into play there at sixteen, and then you'll have thirty three. You'll have another group of whiteouts there as well. So that's the thing I feel most confident about pick two, you know, and rvel Rece I've been going because to me, I feel like he points more towards twenty seven than twenty six I have. I have Bailey a little bit higher. I think Bailey has more impact right now year one. But you know, if they're going to go on that side of the ball, I would think that would be more their direction. But I also think I don't I don't think there's going to be a market to trade back, But they're a candidate that you'd say, man to me there, if you could trade back and get hate, that's probably the best thing they could do, if they could pull off.

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Speaker 1: And I mentioned the edges.

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Speaker 2: Look, they shouldn't change a pick that's going to be about the future of the franchise because they have Joseph Acai Will McDonald towards the end of his deal and King you know Inigbari at edge it's just.

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Speaker 3: A position, line up and play tomorrow. But I mean again, I think everything goes towards twenty seven. And that's why the last mock draft that that I just gave him Reese.

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Speaker 2: And Reese to me has the highest ceiling. I like that pick. I don't think it's crazy if he is just playing linebacker. H to take a linebacker that early, if he's that big of a difference maker. And one thing, if you're just looking at the depth chart, you might see like, well, they have a you know, a highly paid player in Jamian Sherwood next to to Mario Davis. Jamian Sherwood was the worst signing that Darrenmuji made last year. Unfortunately it just did not work out. He was a problem for that defense. I wouldn't be surprised if he is not on this roster. If they if they take a linebacker early, so to me, that's a huge need. But maybe cornerback and linebacker, you know, the cornerback lines up better at sixteen. Maybe Delane falls down to sixteen and they feel like this receiver group is so deep, and they would probably drive their fans a little crazy, but they might feel like that's the position we're at thirty three. We can get the best player and we take like edge and cornerback, just keep loading up on.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think those are the three positions if we're going to just nail it down here. I think you're talking about an edge rusher, you're talking about a corner, you're talking about a wide out. And it's just looking at the different you know, ways you can construct those three positions. You know how they attack it, but that that feels. And I would also say, even though they have three first round picks next year, I believe right they have three first round picks next year, if they you know, maybe that's an opportunity again where think about the perfect storm would be if they could trade down from two, which I just don't know anybody would come up. But if you could trade down from two and get more capital in next year's draft and come away with the receiver, that'd be the That'd be the ideal.

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Speaker 2: And I just think their path to baying employed, which was in winning some games, which goes together, is just nailing this draft class. I don't care what positional No one cares about positional value. When they're getting defensive Rookie of the Year votes. You know, when there are difference makers on the field and the way they're going to save their job and be better is to take guys that contribute right away and then get the quarterback next year. The Jaguars obviously have their quarterback. They also have two first round picks, number six overall and I mean the Browns rather. Yeah, six, four, six and twenty four. I'm thinking Jaguars because of the Travis Hunter trade. They have the twenty fourth pick that is from the Jaguars, and then they have the thirty ninth pick in the second round. They do have a couple extra fifths as well, because of the Joe Flacco trade.

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Speaker 1: They also need a wide receiver.

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Speaker 2: I think they need a tackle, certainly, a left tackle is probably where they would look there. They need a quarterback, but it doesn't feel like they're going there. On defense, Probably their biggest need is like a nickel safety, which could line up with what's in this draft. You think they look at, you know, the picks that they have and where the draft falls with six and twenty four especially.

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Speaker 3: Well with them, I would say tackle receiver. Those are two of the first three picks for sure, and I would say looking at where they are, getting the tackle at thirty nine is going to be difficult. So the tackle is going to be one of the first two picks. I feel like that's the lock, like you can write that in pen And then it comes down to receiver corner. How do you combine those two? So, you know, like we could go Tate at six, come back, you're gambling a little bit, but hopefully there's still a tackle there for you to take it. Twenty four. You know, whether that's Blake Miller, Proctor, you know, Lomo whoever. You get a tackle there, and then now you're looking at the corners like a Chris Johnson from San Diego State, maybe at thirty nine. The other the other way they could go about that is say, okay, we're just going to reach a little bit on the tackle and take the tackle to lock him in, which freeling is probably the most upside of a left tackle. Again, and there's like twenty six teams and twenty seven teams. This feels the Browns feel to me like a twenty seven team. So let's let's take the guy that needs some room to grow but has the higher ceiling. So if they took Freeling there, then you come back at twenty four, you might be able to you know, you could go corner there and go hood and then now you get to thirty nine and I think there's still a lot of receivers that you could go Denhil Boston potentially being there at that point in time. You know, Antonio Williams a good little player, Like, there's a lot of options there.

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Speaker 2: I think about them, and you're staying there at twenty seventeen and they might be like a twenty thirty one team. That's why they proposed that rule to trade the draft.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, well I know, but that came on the heels of Miles Garrett. Thought we were going to have something fun there because it was like they adjusted Miles Garrett's contract which made it easier to trade. And then they're proposing that you should be able to trade future picks, which would make sense if you were hoping to get some massive haul for Miles Garrett. And then you know, Chefter came out and said it's not true, and then Andrew Berry came out and said it's not true. So all the fun got taken away from us there.

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Speaker 1: Do you think it's too early for downs? And I also am not ruling out like a Ruben bayin at six.

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Speaker 2: I mean it just because it doesn't make sense to be reaching for tackles if they're not worth it, especially if the Cardinals take one ahead of them and they and I know they have some good pass rushers. They gave Alex Right a contract, they have some depth there, although they aj epenessa contract didn't work out. But just don't they going to want to take premium positions the best players and you could maybe get ruben Bain or Bailey there and just feel like, man, we'll just build strength on strength on strength. I feel like that's more likely than people are thrown out there.

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Speaker 3: Well, I mean that's the that would be the approach that I would take there. It's just heard it from so many different people that they are obsessed with tackle, receiver and addressing those two things. And so if it's to me, the best player available would be the receiver if you're going between those two. But the tackles, again, if you don't take one, they're gone. I don't even love the fact because I thought, Okay, they could take the receiver. Then at twenty four they can see how it's played out and if they need to move up a few spots to make sure that they get one of the tackles. They could do it, but I don't even love this tackle group enough that I'd want to part with a lot of stuff there so tricky.

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Speaker 2: And it's early for Caleb Downs and to take another defensive player, it would be against what all the reporting, including what you're just saying is. But he does kind of fill a need at Ohio State. Guy that it's not that crazy. That is kind of a position that they need. Another team that needs that position, which I am looking for for Caleb Downs is Kansas City at nine. They have two first round picks because they had one from the Trent McDuffie trade. They also have a couple extra late picks because of the McDuffie trade.

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Speaker 1: And because they were so bad last year.

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Speaker 2: You know, their second round pick is number forty, so they have three in the first forty. I think they have a big need at cornerback. I think they just need weapons in general. You've projected a tackle to them, which they could definitely use, I believe, because you know they have Jalen More on the last year of his contract. Josh Simmons is really promising, but had issues last year where he wasn't staying on the field and so that's kind of a concern. I feel like, of all the teams and its typical figures, it's the Chiefs the one year they're bad. I just feel like someone great's going to fall to them at nine. I feel like they're in a good spot where some big name player is going to fall to them at nine, and they have enough needs where they can get helped out by in a number of spots.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, Bain would be one that would be a nice fit for him there. I could see that happen, and I've been advocating even though it's not a need for them, especially after signing Kenneth Walker, just from a fun factor of having Jeremiah Love there with that one to two punch, and think about Mahomes coming off of an injury. We want to take some pressure off him while we can roll those two backs through and really kind of lighten the load on Mahomes as he's getting back to full health. So that one would be a lot of fun. But I'm looking at Corner. I think they've done such a good job of developing corners. Now McDuffie was a one, but they've done a great job. Watson is another example. You know, a lot of these guys outside of the first round, they've developed and a good player, they've merrit their secondary coach. So you know, would you say they were a pick forty that's you know, that's kind of been that. You know, Chris Johnson, I'll keep going back to that name. I think that's right about where he goes. That's a good value and they get the most out of him.

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Speaker 2: And I mentioned Caleb Downs and I'm just thinking of a place where he could be successful with Steve Spagnolo. They really don't have someone at that position right now. Their safeties are a Lowie Gillman and Jamari Connor, who was a Jayden Hicks was the problem a little bit for them. They signed Cater Kohu to be a nickelback just he would be an interesting piece too if they just decided that was the best player, best best value on the board.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, no, man, just smart, very very smart.

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Speaker 2: Let's go to the Dolphins, who have two first round picks. They got the extra one and the Jalen Wattle trade. Similar draft pick profile early at least of the Chiefs, where they have eleven, thirty and forty three. Where they get really interesting is they have four picks between seventy five and ninety four. So I mean they have seven picks in the top ninety four. This is it, John Eric Sullivan. I know they're gonna have patients in Miami and they have some extra picks in the future too, But you have seven picks in the first ninety four. You're a first time GM like I feel like their regime is essentially going to be made with this draft. If they can do well, it's going to be long term security. You're going to have the basis of your team for years to come. Where do you think they're looking early, at least in the process.

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Speaker 3: Well, pens make one little side point on that. I think it would be smart with all these picks, which is a great number. Next year looks like a good draft out in the horizon. But more so than that, I've been, you know, I've been on teams where you have new groups, you know, new coaching staff, new pieces there. It's hard. It's hard when you have all these picks in your one and you don't even really know who or what you are as an organization or a team. I would rather be if you could push some of these into next year, or you'll have a better feel for not only your players, your system, how the guys you currently have fit in there, and what you need to win in your division. Like all that stuff is all new. It's just that's a lot. They get a lot riding on a draft where they don't really know as much about themselves at this point in time, which can be very challenging. That's a little side point there.

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Speaker 2: And I think they will have a chance to do so because so many, so many teams are in more of a win now mode that the teams that want to be patient, and let's say they end up dealing a couple of those threes to move up or they get two's for next year package things, the possibilities are there. Then again, they do have to feel the team this year, and they don't have any wide receivers.

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Speaker 3: They don't really know they're going to draft two. I was looking at that going okay, could they take two of their first three picks? Could be whiteouts? And I thought, now, with the depth of the receivers I'm looking at like, I wouldn't even be mad if they didn't take a wide out with their first three picks, And then just said two of our four third round picks. We'll pull receivers there, get two guys come in and help us, so they're going to the receiver thing. I would not worry about the limited numbers there. They are going to get that fixed here.

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Speaker 2: Well, especially if you think about what the Packers did in the draft when John Eric Sullivan was there, which was nail mid round picks and often take one or never took one really in the first round.

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Speaker 1: And they did pretty well picking in the middle round.

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Speaker 2: So I think they could use a guard, they could use a tight end, they could use edge, and they got a lot of picks, but they need a lot.

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Speaker 1: So we'll see.

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Speaker 2: I could see them going defensive back though, maybe even the first one off the board at number eleven. All right, the Cowboys have a pick at twelve. They also have the twentieth pick because of the Micah Parsons straight then it's a while they have to wait till ninety two.

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Speaker 1: They have a big hole at linebacker.

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Speaker 2: Really throughout the defense, you could almost pick a position, but cornerback and edge would be the next two. What do you hear about the process there, like, are we still in the old They don't even if you remember you watch the reality show one year where they kind of had the cameras inside the Cowboys room and it was almost like Jerry still had a lot of say at the final moment, like, I don't know what you think about their process and what they're going to be looking for and if things have changed there with Will MC.

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Speaker 3: I think Will's done a good job. I think you look at their draft picks over the last several years and they've you know, they've got some good young offensive line and they've got some real good young pieces there. So now now I'm looking more on the on the defensive side of the ball, the secondary. If if they could just address the secondary in this draft and then throw an edge rusher in there at some point in time in a deep edgereusher class, I think that'd be a nice draft form. So with two first round picks, I would say, what am I most confident about? One of the two first round picks is going to be a secondary player, you know, and I think they could have a chance that Delaine could could be their choice right there at twelve. At twenty, you're looking probably more towards hood at that point in time, Tennessee corner. If MC maybe drops a little bit because of missing the season. Maybe he's there, but it just feels like one of those three corners is going to be one of their picks at one of those first two spots.

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Speaker 1: I can see that.

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Speaker 2: Look, they signed Kobe Durant from the Rams, but that's not a premier starter. Schevon Rivel they drafted and they hope he develops. He's coming off an injury. But those are probably your outside corners. You have Deron Bland in the nickel spot, and they are a team that drafts for needs. But I think they're in a pretty good spot for the most part, where it's a good roster where there's you can almost add to any position.

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Speaker 1: But they're not screaming screaming needs. Maybe the one.

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Speaker 2: Exception, and this is where I would I would wonder about pick twenty, like a CJ.

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Speaker 1: Allen at pick twenty.

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Speaker 3: Yeah. The other thing, well, I was going to say, like if you linebacker, if you could get a linebacker, Well, what's the dream scenario. If you told me, what's the dream scenario of like value with something they really could use and need, it would be Sonny Styles somehow falling to twelve, like that would be the home run pick for me.

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Speaker 1: You're gonna have to trade up for sunny Styles.

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Speaker 3: I would think so, but I'm just you know, weird things happen. So if that were to if that were to land in their lap to be a head of a pick.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, And I mentioned just some of the teams also that have a lot of draft capital, you know when you add up kind of the draft value based on the pick. The Steelers are sneaky in there because they have three thirds round yeah, two fourths and.

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Speaker 1: A bunch of sevens.

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Speaker 2: They could use a left tackle, They could certainly use some help at linebacker, guard, wide receiver. Right, I'm just curious, what have you heard about the Steelers during the process.

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Speaker 1: We will we will end with them.

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Speaker 3: Well, I think you probably get some tackle insurance there for Braderick Jones at some point in time. To me, looking at the corner position makes a lot of sense. You know, they could add another receiver even after bringing over Pittman. Somebody to compliment what they have there with DK and Pittman would make some sense. So, and you need a guard, you need an interior offensive lineman. So they're gonna they're They're in a pretty good spot where you know, when you're talking about interior offensive linemen's. You know, corners like those are all third round. You can get those guys in the third round. They they got a couple of pops at it.

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Speaker 2: So we're wrapping up here. DJ's got a lot of places to be. He's probably got a hit on Pat McAfee, or he's gonna be talking to his buddy or Lafsky on ESPN or something, or.

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Speaker 1: Do move the stick. Meanwhile, I'm gonna go.

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Speaker 2: To chapter nine of Born to Referee by Jerry Mark Bright. Yes, finish that, which is entitled Knowing Your Tail from Your Head. I don't know if that's eleven pages just on the coin flip, but I'm looking forward to get into that.

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Speaker 3: Fantastic good job. Appreciate you, buddy.

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Speaker 2: We'll see you next week. We're gonna have a fun guest, Ali Connolly from NFL Daily. He's gonna be joining us. We'll talk about some big name players on that show. We will see it.