I'm gonna run right out to the KOA Commas Sparrel hotline. My boy, Eric galco director of the Shrine Game, former director scouting for the x FL. Eric, how you doing to see me? Good money? How you doing? I'm doing great? Man. We Uh we got some Shrine Game alumni out of this draft, whether it was draft or uh post draft.
I guess with some of the udfa's First off, well, can you tell us about the edge rusher Ellis out of Utah and what he I mean, obviously I don't think you get the play down there at the Shrying Game because the injury, but what he is as a person and uh, and then some of the other guys we got, like Blake Watson, Yeah, with
Joan Allis as a person, I made very clear company football background. High football IQ smart, intelligent can play a lot of spots early on too when as a player flip three, high motor edge rusher can really make some plays on the perimeter as a wide nine, coming inside, stunding inside to so kind of a complete guy that you'd love to have as your third edge rusher early on in his NFL career because you can make your other headdressers petting your
in your defensive line room and has a lot up to be a starter for the future too. So it's a great value at the back end of the day too. When you know, it's funny because Ellis is, you know, football family. Obviously, his father was the Super Bowl uh fifty team chaplain for the Broncos, played here for a minute, they played to the high school ball here, and he's got brothers all over the league, like
three of them. They're like the I guess the Elysis are like the mccaffreys of defense when it all all comes down to And I asked him, I asked Jonah. I was like, look, man, with how many guys you guys got in the league. You guys have a sister somewhere that's like a rocket scientist. That's the family disappointment. Uh. And he's like,
now she's playing safety for the Jets. So I guess, uh, you know, I guess uh, I guess their family is maybe defense doesn't get what what the offense does in terms of royalty like that, you know, with the with the lineage. But uh, he seemed like a sharp, well spoke. What did you choose him for the shrine game? Yeah, he's a guy we invited early, and like you mentioned too, he was
un will be fully healthy for the time in the Shrine Bowl two. And you know my philocity is we don't invite players because they get hurt one hundred percent. So he's the guy that we we love as an dresser for the NFL. I think a lot of schemes with value him as well to any
guy. I think he's not a power rusher on a guy you want coming off the edge of just bul rushing instead of the edge like other guys in this class too, But if you want a slippery highim on a edge rusher, I think every Gonna Tell team wanted that guy in this draft class with a somewhat weaker edged class. Overall, funny guy like Ellis who was a slam dunk third edge rusher for any defense think would be a number two guy and maybe number one guy in time. I think was a great value.
Yeah, I love love the idea of him opposite Nick Bonito and rotating it with you know, with Baron Browning and Jonathan Cooper. Well, we'll see how that works out. We did get some some undrafted guys from the Shrine Game as well, I know we obviously drafted the running back Audri guest to me out a Notre Dame, but paudfa Blake Watson out of Memphis for three
nine forty guy, but he's in speed. As the Broncos continue to stockpile that running back room, what can you tell us about Blake Watson out of Memphis? Yeah, not just come to the Shrine Bowl guy. I think he was maybe just probably the most surprising UDSA running back talking to teams after the draft too, and I think he had a lot of good offers to go elsewhere, but a guy that off film. Every area scout him a lot. The only question they had was what's this time seed going to be?
And then he ran a four and foward as Brody also jumped I think almost eleven feet in the broad jump in at thirty eight plus inch vertical. So a really really good athlete who just really looked at times on film like Antonio gets it at Memphis. I mean, a really dynamic guy who could do some receiver stuff come out of the backfield. He gives that for as a pass blocker and a really dynamic athlete, and I think he you know, the Trian bole two is great that we could practice and out of the
backfield stuff and as a pass blocker. And I think he's the guy that if you get him on prize squad for a year, that'd be great. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if he really plays a role in this running back room by the end of a key year. He's a high character guy who will do anything for the team, can return a little bit if need be as well, And I got a guy I think a lot of NFL teams were surprised at Foot out of the draft because a lot of area
scouts really really liked them. Yeah, and I think there's I think that the Broncos are paying a special emphasis on special teams in that new kickoff rule. He could be one of the two returners back there if they do carry well in the active roster. The one question I had for you really about him is what is he like in past because last year when they put speed on the field with Julia McLoughlin, he was just undersized and did not have
the ability in pass protection. When he put him on the field, you knew what was coming. Is Blake able to at least do something even at a buck eighty nine. I think importantly he's going to give effort. He is a guy that I think will walk in the door and be willing to do whatever he has to to make that roster and not think twice about it.
The Shrine Bowl. Is that his strength, No, But he handled our linebackers pretty well and we had some two hundred and thirty five round, forty pound guys, Guys like Lavelle Bailey, who also was the PFA for the broadcast, was there blitzing, and Blake held his own, And I think that can come in time. Obviously, adding some more weight getting a one ninety five can help them there for sure. But I think maybe better than McLaughlin. He's not going to hurt you that much out there either.
I wouldn't call him a win and pass protection, but I think in time he's a guy that gives a lot of effort. And you know Ben giving effort as a pass blocker sometimes half the battle. Well yeah, I mean, you know Sharp when he was a tight end here, you know, as a converted receiver, just said, you know, efforts half the battle, and so I think that applies, you know, kind of across the board. One of the guy where I really want to ask you about before
we get some of these others. He was Omar Brown out in Nebraska. Six foot two, a one four five too, started off at Northern Iowa, transferred to Nebraska, really got himself on people's radar at that point. What can you tell us about Omar Brown? He'll play both safety spots, can do some hybrid stuff as well too, can fly in the nickel and a pinch of him as well too, But really high football, like you the Nebraska program and Matt Rule obviously you know didn't recruit that kit too much.
But a guy they were loving that program as well too. He was the guy you called Nebrassa's coaching staff. That was a guy they rid about as a person, as a character and obviously a common beat in lebroncos udfas and draft picks were high character guys. I think he fits that bill entirely too. So what he's on the roster day one because you can do some new kickoff real stuff and play those seven to eight more snaps a game, or he's a practice square for a year. Two. He's a player and
in a lot of area scouts like him a lot too. Like Blake Watson, and I think he's a guy that they stole as a PFA because he can be your third safety board safety in time for sure. Yeah, and that really is a hallmark of what George Payton and especially but it also Sean Payton have tried to do high character guys with high intelligence. You look at of course, the kid that got near the end of the draft, the offensive lineman out of South Carolina who's whose name escapes me, but his haircut
goes on in my mind. Yeah, I go to, well, that's right, his his hair lives on in my mind. A double double major from Yale in economics and political science. I mean it just goes to show that, you know, how they value that you mentioned. I think you mentioned one of the other guys from from the striking. Who else did we Yeah, Lavelle Bailey, that's right, Laville Bailey, Yeah, linebacker Presno State. He had an incredible I think he had three interceptions this year at
Presno State and really has great ball skills as a coverage guy. But really getting into box linebacker who's an underrated athlete too, and I think would hurt him and maybe not being a draft because a he wasn't of the combine and b he didn't really test as well as he could have, but he played
a lot faster and more explosive on film. And I think he's a guy that has some sneaky coverage ability that again, he did a breach up of Presno State this year playing against some of the Power five teams, did an awesome job working in space. He had a game winning interception twice this season too. So I think he's kind of a playmaker and a guy that they again, if he makes a roster that'd be the greatest at PFA too. But he's the guy that will give a lot of compition and came too.
And I bet he has a couple of really big plays in camping and preseason because he's a he's a gamer and a guy that steps up in the big opportunities. To get a President's Day for sure, Well he's gonna have an opportunity because the inside backer. You know, here in Denver, the inside backer spots are in a bit of a state of flux. I mean, you got Alex Singleton, who they're paying, uh, Cody Barton, you
know, I mean he's kind of a step slow. I know, He's supposed to be the Josie Jewel replacement, but that's not a sure thing. Jonas Griffith has battled injuries, justin Sternad has battled injuries. Drew Sanders has been more of a tweeter. Uh, So Bailey has a real shot I think at getting this. His competition I think will be Sternad, Griffith and then of course Alec Mack as well. So it'll be interesting to see what
he's able to do there. Corner shift gears a little bit when we're looking at this draft where first of all, were you surprised by what Atlanta did at eight? And what did you think about that move to the draft picks after paying a hundred million the kirk Cousins. No, I was the one who knew was gonna happen. Then the whole time, I think everybody else
I was. I was shocked by Pennix, And you know, I think it's I always tell people too, you can you be mad at it, or you can assume people in these decision making powers are smart and why would they do that? And I think what that move kind of signals is the Falcons GM and hopefully ownership is on board to two saying hey, we're going to invest a lot of resources into the most important position. And I think if one of Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix really works out, then in five
years we'll look back and say it was a good move. But I think the only downside is that it kind of works out in the middle and it looks like you may have wasted both Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix's development as well too. So I think everyone think get one around. Lee was pretty surprised by that. I don't know any team that told me, yef we had that Narmock draft, and hey, I bet Spencer Ratley's my mom too, because he was going to be a Falcon if not for that pick at eight.
So I think a lot of people were surprised by that pick. I think for good reason. Well, I was talking to sorry to a good buddy your report. We were chatting before the draft or whatever. He had mentioned, you know, the Pennix Falcon thing, and we were both kind of laughing about it, like not being serious, you know, not realizing that that was going to end up, you know, kind of becoming a
thing. I get it from the one perspective. I get it from the ideas that you're never going to be picking this high again if you've got Kirk Cousins and you're in position to do it. I don't get the Jordan Love comparisons because the age gap there is wildly off. But I sort of conceptualize now having taken a step back from it, what they did there. Uh,
the Broncos take Bonix at twelve. I know you weren't the biggest bone Knicks fan, but what can you tell us about bow and he'll be competing with Zach Wilson, Cherifs Stidham and Ben Denucci for the starting quarterback job here in Denver. You know, I think it's you know, the Pennix dynamic is for God's whe you think of Michael Pennix. I think the decision could be questioned. I think I did the Broncos. Sean Payton knows quarterbacks, he's on the whole career, and if he thinks Bonix is good, who
admire anybody to think that maybe not? It'd be a good pick as well too. And if you'd like the quarterback I saw some stuff before the draft bot maybe trading back and getting Bonix if you think Bonnicks is the first round quarterback, you should be looking my trading up, not trading back to go
get him. So I think if they think he's the guy, and a lot of comparisons to Drew Brees or whoever else Sean pagnsid before are great too, it's a lot of pressure on bo now, and I think the questions NFL teams had around the league about bo was kind of what's the upside? Right, is a guy that can be a guy that's going to make your receiver room better, a guy that's going to be able to make plays when
the offensive line is not there. I think that's what you want in a first round quarterback, especially for a Broncos team that didn't have a lot of draft access this year either. So I think it's not as about his boat going to be fine, that's you hold to be a first round pick, but he's got to elevate that young receiver room, make Marvin Mims better, make that pass touch, and they may not be better, start a lot better for the future too. Be a guy you can rely on, then
answer the question that the Broncos them confident Bonus can do. So I think if you thought he was your quarterback and they thought he was the second third best quarterback in this draft class. That's a good value to get at the twelfth overall pick for the never Broncos team looking for the franchise quarterback. And I'm going to put himself in a little bit of pickle here because they entered the draft and everyone knew they had a draft somebody and they kind of leaked
out. They kind of like Bonus quite a bit too, so I think they had to make their move at twelve. And if he's the guy, it's a great pick. Talk with ericco, director football Operations player personnel at the Shrine Bowl, also used to be the director scouting for the ex FL. Who's somebody that after this draft has passed, that the udfas are mostly signed, Who's somebody that nobody's really talking about that you expect to make an
impact in the league this year. That's a good question. Yeah, I would say one guy, and from a Broncos standpoint, that we didn't talk about actually putting the Shrine Bowl too, that I know the Broncos likes quite a bit, and that's Jordan Miiller, their nose tackle. I think the Broncos have a defensive front seven that is going to have some transition the next year or two, as you well know, right, and that some guys
competing as well too. But if they really like Jordan Miller, I think he's an impact nose tackle has in comparisons around the league, the guys like Tank Johnson kind of undersize and high motor, high effort, no cycle as well too. But you know, I think in this draft class, a lot of teams felt there are about two hundred and fifty three hundred guys that
they liked that. I think that a lot of teams spend a lot of money and we're very proactive and getting top udfas, and I think even though it's a weaker draft class, don't be surprised if some of udfa's include some guys on the Broncos make the roster and contribute. You know, we had Ivan Pace a year ago with the Minnesota Vikings. We had Jack Sandborn the year before with the Chicago Bears, and a couple more guys as well too that I think a lot of these udfas the top here what especially get a
chance to contribute. So hope if I has a couple of udfas make rosses and play early on despite it being perceived as a lesser draft. Bust Eric, last question here I got for you. I think everybody knows about Carson bach schador quhen you were, you know, the top more of the top quarterbacks. But were some guys that people should have their eye on this season that could be rising as it heads into next year. People do know Sagar Sanders, right, he is a well known guy, especially in Unick of
the Woods too. No, I would say Dan Mood from the Washington State quarterback going to Miami of Florida. He's a guy that got to know quite a bit the last year and a half two years and was coming to the
Shrine. Bull if he came out this year as well. But he's at Miami now and talking to Cam you know, I think talking to him from the league, he would have been probably the quarterback draft, but after bo Nix, right, if there was the checkon round, third round, whatever, but he was that kind of next guy and maybe competes further going through a draft process and he said I want to be a first overall pick.
And he goes to Miami and they've got a ton of weapons, but that they kept at school as well can transfer, so he's got a great offensive line, just got a new running back in the transfer portal, whole bunch of receivers. Like it's also up for cam Ward and Miami to have an awesome season. If they go eleven and one or twelve and zero, gam More might be the guy that's at the top of the draft next year and
be interesting. I'd certainly love to see him make that kind of leap like the Eric, always good to talk to you, looking forward to the Shrine game and then all the tweets you put out on on Twitter and the prep leading up to look forward to seeing you out there again next year. Thanks so appreciate man. Absolutely take care, Eric Galco