Free Safety Discussion, AFC East Round Up and 2022 Draft Preview with Antwan Staley

Lockdown Dolphins. He's gonna help us go over this draft class, break down the Dolphins off season, take a look around the a f C East, and a quick sneak peek at the draft class. That's right, you heard that right. The outing season never ends here on Drive Time. Plus a quick tribute to one of my favorite Dolphins over the last half decade. All of that more on this edition of the Drive Time Podcast before we get to

anything real quick. May seven, a very very special day in the Wingfield household A very happy birthday to Kayalin Wingfield, my beautiful wife, the beautiful mother of my child. I hope you have a great day and I love you, and I'll see you here very very shortly, in time for Caroline's first birthday coming up later this month, her birthday, Caroline's Birthday, and Mother's Day all in this month. It's a busy one for me, but one of business and

sheer happiness. So very happy birthday, Boo. And that's right. We call each other boo because it started off as a joke. We first thought about pet names for each other, and that joke stuck. Six years later, here we are. So the big news this week was that Adam Schefter reported on Twitter on Thursday, the Dolphins will say well part ways with safety. Bobby McCain reports where that Malik Hooker was in for a visit earlier this week and he was having some fun with Dolphins fans on Twitter.

So you can possibly if that move were to come to fruition see the swap for swap idea at that spot and looking at the current roster, there just isn't a proven deep safety in terms of NFL experience playing that role on the current roster. I've seen the idea that Javon Holland slides right into that role, and maybe he does. We'll have plenty to talk about as we go through the summer and training camp. But Holland only played three hundred of his career twelve hundred snaps in

college at the free safety position. And we know Eric Rowe is more of a tight endy racer who can match up in coverage. And Brandon Jones last year, as well as at college, spent most of his time down around the line of scrimmage and covering in the slot. So considered that Bobby was a cornerback before he was a safety, and the same is true of Eric Rowe. And we know Brandon Jones played slot of Texas. Byron Jones played safety in Dallas his first few years there.

And Noah Igbanogny has the range you might like at that position as well. And again this is me speculating. I'm just throwing ideas against the wall. But we know that last year Igbo was focused on developing clearly on the perimeter all season. Last year, they didn't even consider the idea of kicking him inside to play slot cornerback. Maybe it's one of them, maybe it's a committee, maybe

it includes Milique Cooker. Whatever it is, it adds another layer of intrigue again to the summer program and training camp. It'll be interesting to see how this group comes together now, but I think it's apt for some appreciation here for Bobby McCain, who was the longest tenured defensive player on the roster, and now DeVante Parker is the last man standing from that squad as the longest tenured Miami Dolphin on the roster. Xaviing Howard now becomes the longest tenure

defensive player. But Bobby was a captain, an ambassador of all things South Florida, a good ball player here for a long time. Really wish him the best in his next stop. I don't suspect it'll take him long to find work. As far as the salary cap considerations, according to spot rack dot com, the release as a pre June one designation would free up five point six million dollars in cap space with a dead money hit of

one point for eight million. He was owed roughly around fourteen million dollars in cash over the next two years. And again, cash is keen when it comes to the stuff, and that's where the real savings from this move come into play. I was kicking around the idea of doing my annual ideal lineups segment where we talk about each offensive package and defensive package from eleven personnel all the way down to oh personnel to Nickel dime dollar half

dollar defense and all that fun stuff. But I gotta get back to the drawing board and regroup after this Bobby move. So we'll get to that either next week or the following week into the summer here on the podcast. And before we turn to our guest today, one of the very rare occurrences where I'm recording a podcast and some breaking news happens. Ian Rappaport, Adam Schefter, all the

big heavy hitters have it. The Dolphins have agreed to a one year deal with Jason mccordy, the form Patriots cornerback, And there's a story back in to start a training camp when the Patriots auditioned him a little bit of free safety and he played about fifty sixty reps over his three seasons at that position, but has primarily been

a wide cornerback on the perimeter in his career. Twelve year veteran, he clocked a four three forty back in his scouting combine year that of course was twelve years ago, but a very reliable dependable, outstanding locker room presents there for Miami. A versatile player with plenty of experience, great communication skills, all the stuff that Flores and Career talk about.

He checks those boxes. So an accomplished player, another good defensive back joins this Dolphins defensive back room, and we'll see if it's cornerback, if it's inside outside, if he's the very next Brian Flores and Josh Boyer conversion to the safety position. I'm sure he can play wherever you ask him to. But Jason mccordy gives us deep deep Dolphins secondary another name, another accomplished NFL resume there in

Jason mccordy. All right, now, let's go ahead and turn this thing over to my guest today, and with that, let's give a warm welcome to my next guest. Dolphins fans know him well. He's a former beat writer for the Dolphins Wire on USA Today and he's covered a bunch of college football over the years and currently works

on the Florida state beat for Tallahassee dot Com. Antoine Staley, Antoine, you're just a few hours northman, Like, when are we gonna get you back down here to South Florida hopefully soon though hopefully it's some good news for Dolts will arising, So hopefully I get down there soon for some regular season games, teasing the fans of that one. I know that you kind of earned this badge of honor on Dolphins Twitter or maybe among the Dolphins writers. Is the

nicest guy. I mean, that's that's how I know you. Man, So I think you got a big fan based that I I would love to see you back down this way. Yeah, I mean it's it's been way too old, so yeah, I think that's this is definitely the time to do it, especially with so much optimist him month Dolphin fans this year, especially coming up the tendency season. Exactly exactly right, it's

a fun time to be down here. And you and I were joking off air a little bit about you know, I convinced myself and was trying to convince my wife for about a year that doesn't get that hot, Like, yeah, it's hot, and there's a reputation of the humidity like I was full of it, man, Like I'm wrong. It's it's hot. It's already hot, it's early made, it's already very very hot out there. So that kind of leads

me into this question. I wanted to ask you give me one thing you miss about South Florida, and maybe the summers is the one thing you don't but one thing you miss and one thing you don't miss about South Florida. For me, it definitely missed being close to the water and they having the ability to go to the beach whenever I could. But yeah, I you think

it for granted to once you get down there. I remember when I first moved down there, it was like, Yeah, I'm gonna go to the beach every day or every week and then just uh just kind of lounge there or whatever the case may be. And then all of a sudden you just started taking it for grantedy, like, yeah, it's the beach whatever, you know, I can go any time that I want to. That's one thing that I definitely miss. What I don't miss is kind of what

we touched. All the weather, ammidity, especially in the summertime when it just gets unbearable. And then you're going to training camp. You're sweating up there in the box and training camp there's no air conditioning, there's no there's no fans, like you're you're trying to write down your notes on the computer, and then you have to go down on

the field and then it's hot on the field. Then as you know, it's hot on the field and it is actually in that boss, and it's just by the time you get back to the press room, it's just like you completely soaked, and when the yeah, you just want to go home and take a shower, and we're lax. My first year at training camp was twenty nineteen with Locked On Dolphins, and I footed my own bill to come down here. I always say that was kind of

the moment that launched my career. And then I was here last year with COVID protocols and everything was different,

so things were different. But I remember going onto the field and then I would drive back to my hotel room and I would shower because, like you said, like you're miserable until you get that shower, and then I would finish my work after the fact, while the rest of the beat guys and you included, had to go back there and usually had one of those hot sandwiches they would serve up to you, and then you had to sit in that little crowd of room and and

write your story for the day. But um, you know, I look back at that and think like how terrible it was the time. And now I'm thinking like I want nothing more than one of those late July early August scrumbs on the practice field because we just haven't had that and it's like the old time, the old

way of doing things right. So my question for you, Antoine, do you have your best scrum story or maybe postgame story or something memorable that happened to you while you were covering the team within talking to a player or a coach and the other beat guys. Is there one

thing that stands out to you? A few things actually, just remember like really, the training camp scrubs are kind of the best because people, the players get so tired of hitting each other at a certain point that like they just want to play against somebody, know, they don't care who it is. It could be a high school team, college whoever. And then I remember just kind of uh uh yeah. I remember just Jarvis Landry also talking about

that and just players getting upset and pushing each other. U. I remember probably one thing that I do remember my last year covering the office was Mike Palsy was still on the team there as well, and he was coming up on the last year of his contract, and he thought he in his mind, he thought that none of us thought he was gonna play all sixteen games, and he just had that in his mind mentally, which I

never said that. I just always wrote that he had not played all sixteen games in such a long time. So he took it as a slight and then he pointed at every single reporter said like, you didn't think I was doing You didn't think I would do it. He pointed at all the reporters. I guess somebody told him that we had wrote something about him, and then you just got you can't do nothing but laugh. But you know, it's you know a lot of players take

things personally. They say they don't read anything, they don't read a lot of stuff, but they did. They always do, whether they do or also other play other their family members or people around them read it. They they're aware of what you're writing and what you're saying about them

on Twitter and social media. So that's that's always kind of what sticks out to be to me, that relationship between players and coaches and the local media market is is one of the most underrated parts about sports and sports media and coverage and all that stuff, because you just can't replicate that otherwise, like Flow jumping into a press conference and acknowledging cam or Omar or Softed by name.

I remember last year at training camp, Softed had Soften Dean of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, had quoted Flores previously about something he said, I forget the material. Flow

disagree with the fact that he had said that. And as Flow was coming onto the practice field around that corner where the bathrooms are, like by the bubble, you know I'm talking about, he came around from that corner and he looked up at press row and all of us are sitting there, of course nobody else in the facility, because it's just media and the players, and he looks up and said, soft As you find that quote, and he's like, I'm working on it. So like that, that

back and forth, you can't top that. It's my favorite thing when it comes to sports and sports media. So, speaking of talking to coach and his interaction with media, I know you were you cover the team his first year here, correct, Yeah, I was. I was coming out when his first year. Yeah, so I covered him a little bit before I end up leaving, so you got to know him a little bit. Yeah, you know his temperament,

you know the way he answers questions. You know, he's he's transparent when the question I think is is adequate or or it's is legitimate and maybe not so much otherwise. If you could put one question to coach right now, whether it's about the draft, the off season, this upcoming season, whatever it might be, do you have one question that you would love to ask coach right now? Absolutely. I think it goes back to the quarterback position. And you know,

I'm very confident and too. I know some people have kind of you know, we're a little negative the way the yearly ended last year, and you know the high expectations playing going into Buffalo and potentially getting the playoffs. But I would just ask him just kind of where he sees two at this stage and also what made him so confident into it heading into his second year

in the league too. I think late for me, they're just seeing the growth that too, even though in the off season you kind of see just physically too, it looks a lot different than what he did last year. And also getting that work in that he wasn't able to get in last year, especially when he was he he was recovering from that hip injury. There, you definitely can see a little bit more of the confidence, and I think that's gonna show once he comes this off

season work comes about. But yeah, that would be the question I would ask him just that's kind of where he was says, where two is at his confidence level in him? Would you can kind of see it already because they're showing how confident they are in him right now just the course of the moves that they made throughout the off season. I mean, they basically structured the offense around his strengths, in my opinion, which is a

phenomenal approach to take for your second year quarterback. Right, novel concept, Let's give this kind of things that makes him take the best you mentioned, you know, two of their his his first. I don't think there's ever been a throne football in Dolphins practice that will be more anticipated in the first ball he throws whenever on field

work is available to the media. We all want to see that drive in that rip because, like you talked about, he's jack now right, like he's looked in weights he's definitely put the time in and he's ready to come out and compete. I want to see the type but drive he has in that football now, you know, a year and a half, two years removed from that serious hip injury. So you touched on, you know, covering flow your first year here and one of my favorite exercises.

We talked about this in the Twitter Spaces conversation, which, by the way, if you guys aren't familiar yet, Antoine, Jason Sarney, and Waldo, I don't know Waddle's last name. I know it's after he does the regular podcast. Right, these guys do a phenomenal Twitter Spaces, which is like an hour long show where it doesn't record permanently, right, it's just a segment that's live and then it goes away.

We uh, we actually started recording it on a podcast, so we've been doing it once a week two as well, so we'll put it on a podcast. Uh, it's some people don't but yeah, we thought would be a good idea that so people can listen to it if they

don't get a chance to be on the live Spaces. Well, it's a really cool format and I'm glad you're doing that so people can go back and hear it because I actually was on there and made some points that I was pointing to some friends about how I was talking about certain subjects of like you guys, gotta go here, this and that's a great conversation, but we couldn't find it. So that's good to hear. But check them out on

the Twitter spaces as well as the podcast. But as you get ready for your number three and one of the conversations I brought to you guys was put the nineteen roster up to one roster night and day difference. Antoine, what do you think of this Dolphins operation heading into year three of this regime of Flores and Chris career. I love the direction that they've gone in the know now you've gotten two with some weapons and the and offensively, I feel like they're ready to take that next step.

I feel like last year I thought this is a team that could finish eight and eight, nine and seven, But just looking at the team what they have defensively and also offensively, I think I think they are in playoff team. I really do. I think you look at on the first round pick and I know we'll start to get it we'll get into some of the draft

picks too as well. Uh Wattle. I definitely think having him back with two and they already have some chemistry down anyway, even though they have not played played with each other for a year, but they still You still when you have that type of chemistry, it's something that you're gonna always remember and it's always kind of it'll come back to you, kind of like riding the bike. So imagine that would be something good there too as well. I like the upgrades that they made getting Holland there

from Oregon. I loved him at the safety position. Actually before the draft started, I thought he was the number one safety for me heading into the draft, while somebody had asked me that, and I was surprised actually the Dolphins had a chance to get him when they did. Um. I know a lot of people were disappointed at the running back because they didn't wann't they didn't address the

running back position there. But getting the guy like that who can not only play the safety position but also play also some cornerbacks position in the slot and also all of being versatile as he is also a special teams I definitely think that's big too as well. And the way they addressed the offensive line too is um and also defensively as well. Um getting a guy like Jalen Phillips too as well, and what they did in the draft. So I I love the direction this team

is gone. I definitely think it. Obviously Buffalo is the team you're trying to get now to in the a f C East there, but I definitely think you've gone. You've gotten a lot closer than what you were and the expectations will be a lot high hire and then to to this year as opposed to last year, where you're still trying to find your way and not necessarily sure where this team is gonna finish. I think the talent level has just been significantly upgraded for the last

couple of years. I was gonna say leaps and bounds. I'm glad you mentioned the offensive line because you know I've I've always really admired Jesse Davis. What he brings this football team for his flexibility is versatility, his leadership, the way he communicates. He's a great guy, and you know he went into the twenty nineteen season, I believe after the Larrymie Tunzil trade really as the like we know this is like a starter, and he was maybe

the only one that you could say that about. And now you look, I think if the situation bears out ideally, you know, and I hate saying this, ideally he's your seventh or eighth offensive lineman because of the upgrades you made or the moves you made pan out the way you hope and that kind of slots him down. So that kind of right there, speaks to the difference in terms of where this roster has grown over the last

three years. And that's what's supposed to happen, right you add talent, they tore it down to the studs, and now they're building it back up through flows vision. And I think that you get that head coach right man, you get that vision executed and you can really start flying from there. But you touched on Jalen Waddle and Javon Holland, which brings me into my next question, which was your favorite pick of this draft? It almost sounds like maybe it's Holland. You have a favorite pick in

the Dolphins in this draft. I think it would be Holland. This is because I just love the thing I've noticed about Brian Florest. And then you would know better than

I would. I think he likes players at a versatile that can do a lot of different things and play a lot of differencespations when you talk about offensive line, where you can plug guys in and obviously injuries are gonna happen doout the course of the year, and with Holland, I definitely think that, Yeah, you can, like you say, you'll have him as your traditional safety, but you can use him in so many different ways that it can

confuse the defense. And obviously a ball hawk, there's somebody that's gotten a ton of interceptions in college to as well. And uh, like I said before, if you need him to play special teams, I don't know how many to stay will, but if you need him on the end,

he can definitely do that there too well. So yeah, I definitely it's rare that your your favorite pick will be a second round pick or Day two pick, but that's mine too because I think he can immediately have the impact or Phillips have, and also Wattle has in their first year. So yeah, I think that the pick

was just a home run there for the Dolphins. We've got Antoine Daley here on the Drivetime podcast, and I don't think I have many options for you from this next question, because I can't imagine this Jalen Phillips number eighteen, who was the top pass rusher on many people's board in general, to get him at number eighteen. You then come back. Maybe it's the trade up to get Leah Mikenberg. Maybe it's the third round pick with Hunter Long. Maybe it's trading out of the fifth round and having that

one fifty pick gap. Was there a pick that you would have done differently? Something you would have done differently on draft day in general, whether it's not making a trade or selecting a certain player, Like which pick was it? And what would you have done differently? Can I can? I say? Uh? Nothing? Really? I mean you can't like to have a running back. I think they would have

neted up running back obviously. Uh Williams from North Carolina was possibly there for the taking before the Broncos slid in and drafted them. But I think that was what they decided maybe wanted to do. But obviously the Broncos did that for a reason because they knew the Dolphins were interested. But I mean, just looking at it and how the draft played out, I thought they did a great job, I really do. I thought they had one of the best drafts out of all the teams in

the league that they addressed. You can't address all in every single need that you have in the draft, I mean, it's impossible, but I think they addressed a lot of the concerns that they had heading into the off season. You gotta you gotta playmaker, right receiver. You needed pass rushing help, you got that. I definitely think safety was a concern too as well. That's I know Hunt alone probably confused a lot of people, but it didn't confuse me.

Because when you're when you're building a team like Chris Greer and Brian Fords is trying to do like you see what you're you see what potentially you may need in the future, and that's why you end up taking a guy like that. You understand that Mike get Ski and Durance might earn it last year in their contracts, and you to make sure that you have a contendency plan just in case you're not able to sign one

or the other. And you're getting the guy that can also who's a heck of a past casher, but also somebody that can uh contributed in the run bucking past run blacking Game two as well. So I love every single move that they made throughout the course of the Draft two as well. So for me, I would I don't think I would change the thing that I know. Like I said, I know a lot of people wanted they like Naja Harris or Travis et n or also uh when I walk, you know, Williams from North Carolina.

But I really love the draft that they had, and I definitely think they did a They did a great job upgrading their team. I mean, there's a reason that pretty much every publication out there has the Dolphins at least within their top five or six drafts this year. And I'm glad you mentioned the tight end depth in that in your answer there, because it's for so long

and you can attest this, Antoine. You cover this team kind of in the peak of this era, but for so long it was like, let's draft the position we have the biggest need at. For instance, I think Charles Harris might have been kind of in that mold. We had to have a pass rusher. Charles Harris is on the board. Obviously, t J. Watt and Tach McKinley were there, and that's different discussion for another day, but that's what

they did. And so this year, I look at this draft class and it reminds me of a team like Tampa Bay or Kansas City, one of these teams that you know has competed in Super Bowls the last couple of seasons and has I guess their roster figured out. And so let's just go ahead and get the best player we can plug him into the lineup, and we do that enough times year over year, we're gonna be able to stay in the success. And that's kind of

what I saw from Miami. It's not like panic, go get your needs, plug up that hole and call it good. Let's get the best football players we can. And that's like you said, like I expected you to give me one, but I'm glad that you didn't as far as what you would do differently, Antoine. So yeah, I just think that, yeah, that that's the best teams have done for Look at

the Ravens and the Steelers. They do they consistently, They get they make sure they draft guys that can go out, they fit their system, and also the best available player, and it doesn't matter if they already got a running back or linebacker. Or whatever the case, maybe they figure it out later and they draft those guys, and that's what you have to do. I mean, I think if you started drafting on knees all the time, then you're

not taking the best players for your system. You have to be able to make sure those players are gonna a fit into what you'd like to do, and be how to fit in from a talent standpoint as well.

So and I feel like every plays, every team, every player that the Dolphins fid did that last weekend agree And as someone who has to file stories about transactions when they happen, just know that this team and Brian flora Is, they're going to churn this roster and continue to bring guys in, escort guys out, and just continue to find gems and hidden pieces that can contribute, especially

when it comes to cut down day. This has been more of the more active teams the last couple of years, and they found gems, whether it's evinced Biagle or even a Savanna Akhmed last year. They find guys in September

after cutdown Day. So it's not over yet, Like we have a long way to go until football games are played to plug those possible needs and speaking of a long way to go again, I talk about Antoine covering college football, and I apologize Antoine, because I know you've been at many different publications, athlon is the one that I recall most recently. Is that correct? Yes? So because of that, I thought, what a great opportunity to to do what some other publications have done and give ourselves

a peek ahead to the two draft class. And I want to go ahead and just kind of go down the list here, position by position and talk about what you like in the class, maybe what you don't like, and how about quarterback? Like this is one of those classes where you know, every everyone this year talked about how you have to come away with one of those top four quarterbacks this year because next year's class is no good. Do you see someone that is a clear

cut number one? Is there someone do you have as a dark horse candidate to rise up? Who do you like? Who do you not like? Talk to us about quarterbacks? Well, first of all, when people say that, I my answers as always, did anybody think Za Wilson was going to be a top quarterback? Did anybody think Joe Burrow was

going to be a top quarterback? So it's always somebody that's you don't necessarily know much about and they come a come of age, they have a great year, and then all of a sudden they're top one or to pick on the on the draft board. So yeah, just because you're not you don't see a top a whole lot of top quarterbacks now doesn't necessarily mean it won't be the case next year. So having said that, for me,

I think Sam how from North Carolina. I definitely think you look at him and everything that he's like him starting as a freshman on the Matt Brown and this his maturation there, and I definitely think looking at what North Carolina has potential to pensional be this upcoming season where I think, you know, I think, obviously Clipson will be the favorite in the A C C, but uh North Carolina is right there too, especially with the talent mac is accumulated throughout the course of the year, and

um having a guy like Sam How at least for one more year. I definitely think he's poised to have a really really big year. Uh So for me, he would probably be the top quarterback on my board. I know a lot of people we spoke about this off air special Rattler. I think he's a little bit behind uh howl, a little bit in that sense, but you know, it wouldn't surprise me, especially in that Oklahoma offense and all the success that they've had bringing out quarterbacks, that

he'd be up their right time too. So those are people all be the top two guys I would list least list right now. But how to me, Clearing the Way is the number one guy at least on my board right now. The quart the repetition. I just can't get into Rattlers game. Man. There's something about it that I don't like. I don't maybe it's too mistake prone, maybe it's too there's just something about it that's off to me, and I don't know what it is. I'll put a finger on maybe next year, you know, in

the scouting process. But the one thing I want to give you guys is Jaden Daniels from Arizona State because he's extremely thin, definitely not built like your prototypical quarterback, but he's athletic, is all get out and has a

big arm as well. I like watching his game, and he's tortured the coop's a couple of times in his career, so there you go for that staying in the pack twelve and I usually go quarterback, running back, receiver like in order here, but I want to jump to the defensive side of the football because to me, there was one player in this class that was clear cut a runaway from the rest of everybody. Cavan Thibodeaux of Oregon. I've seen this guy rush outside, inside, stand up for

two or three point stands, four point stands. He beats, tackles guards, he can defend the run. He got double and triple teams all year last year, Antoine, He's the best player in this class right right now, Yes, right now, he would be the number one pick in the draft, I think right now. Nobody who was picking noever, no matter if you needed a pass for usure or not, he is the guy because you can never have too much pass for us. That's one of my things too.

You never have too many too many good cornerbacks. You can never have too many inter ushing because you're always gonna need to have those guys and you can rotate them out in offensive linement. I feel like that that's kind of in that same old too as well. But yeah, you look what he's able to do. And just the versatility. We talked about this earlier with the Dolphins like to do.

Not that I spent the Dolphins to be up there to be able to take him, but I definitely think that people love having a guy that can do a lot of different things where he can line up inside, he can line up on the outside. You played three four, he played four three, And I don't care who you are, what team you um, team you are, if he's you have an opportunity to draft this guy, then you're definitely

gonna take it. So I have a hard time believe he might not be the number one pick because you may have a team that need a QUARTERBA has quarterback needs, but he he should be top two or three just sim because of everything he's doing, how freaking self an athlete he is. So yeah, I spent him to go in the top two or three pits in the draft. We'll give him one season, but to me, he's in. He's in Chase Young stratosphere. For me, like, as as far as a prospect goes, and that's as high appraises

you can give a guy. Let's go back to the offensive side of the ball here and back out to the big ten and the receiver position, a player that many thought could have been a first round draft pick. This year, he goes back to school and Chris Alave, is he your clear cut number one receiver? I think I think you look at Justin Rawls, I think from Clips, and I definitely think he's up there too as well.

So yeah, I probably have in the top two or three. Uh. I think Ross, I mean Clips and keeps turning out these athletes too as well. So you look at Ross and it's gonna be interesting to see how he plays

without Trevor Lawrence. But we saw Trevor Lawrence UH miss some toim last year, and I think Ross was fine, and I think we think he'll continue to put up bit numbers two once again, so those will be probably on number one and number two, not in particular order, but I definitely think both of those guys are high pits, top top fifteen, top twenty pits, and UH should make a ton of money and be taken very highly in

the two draft you mentioned Clemson. I'm excited to see djung Man, you know, you know, yeah, I'm excited to watch him play because, like you know, you get so used to the generational quarterbacks like a Trevor Lawrence for instance, who was just the guy from day one. Last year, we saw DJ play a little bit and they actually

lost a game with him in there. But I'm excited to see what he brings his It wasn't his fault, no, no, they couldn't they When you give up three hundred yards Russian and you're gonna lose no matter who you're playing. So he played. He played as well as he could have, especially for the situation that he was in. He's unique, man, He's a big, big He's Ben Roethlisberger with way more athletic abuildings. He's fun to watch and that's gonna be fun.

And to see him play, especially net Clemson offense. Just getting football, getting college football back with fans in the stands is gonna be so much fun. This year. You touched on, you know, the Clemson receivers and Justin Ross loved his game. I'm sure band was gonna produce another couple of receivers here. John Metchi last year was fun to watch. They had a freshman I forgot his name who was really good too. Let's go ahead and stay there with a Crimson tired though on the offensive line.

Evan Neil. If you haven't heard of this guy yet, six ft seven, three hundred and sixty pound offensive tackle. He's not even a guard, He's a tackle, three hundred and sixty pounds and he carries it well. Is he the top offensive linemen you think? For me? Yeah, I mean this guy is like huge, like And then the crazy thing is Alabama not gonna say they don't rebuild.

They just keep reloading these guys and they come out they have all these draft picks they had since in the first round, and then next year they're probably gonna have another five in the first round. Two. It's what they just keep turning around, no matter who leaves school

or whatever the case may be. And I think Nil is the next guy that's gonna be taking pretty highly, probably a top fifteen pick, I believe, just like how big he is, how he I mean, you're not gonna move this man whatsoever, just because his size and also his laugh loticism as a tackle. So yeah, I definitely think he's somebody that I think a lot of people may not know about him because they know about some

of the other bigger names for Alabama. But when, of course the fall comes and they able to see more of what he can do. He'll definitely be on more people's draft board and also more radars. It's funny, man, I used to really hate Bama because obviously the whole saving thing, but now I love watching them because they're basically are the greatest farm system for the National Football League and that will continue as long as next saw you, I mean you players that you see they're gonna be

playing on Sunday. So I've five of them here. Yeah, you just have to respect it, like that's pretty much what you have to do. Five five, five Crimson Tie players in Miami right now, Let's go ahead and finish up in the secondary. We'll go ahead and and pair a cornerback and safety together because to me, there are three guys in this group that really stand out. Derek Stingley, I think is the top cornerback, and then at safety.

I'll let you kick it off at safety because I want to give a story on a guy that I know you like there, but Derek Stingley, and then who's your top safety as well? Into one for me is uh how Hamilton's definitely uh if you don't know much about him, definitely from Notre Dame as well, So yeah, I definitely think like Hamilton's to me is definitely the top safety on my board too as well. And uh yeah,

I definitely think I love what he can do. I love the athleticism, I love his versatility, and I definitely I know a lot of people were kind of down on the safety position this upcoming draft, but I expect it to be uh much of high priority in net Shear's draft for sure, and I think Hamiltons will lead the way. There. Yeah, no safeties in the first round this past season, and that kind of end of first round,

top of second round has produced some good ones. I think Hamilton's will break that trend and he'll go more up in the Jamal Adams territory. Because you know, I told you this off air twenty nineteen. I was watching Kaleid Kareem, the defensive end from another Dame in the round to the draft, and I see this number four teen kid running all over the field and it's a true freshman and I wrote his name down and it's still in my nineteen scouting notes and this year he's

clear cut safety one. And that's with Bubba Bolden coming back to Miami who was among my top five safeties this year if he had declared, do you how what do you know about Bubba Bolden's game and Arcanes fans gonna kind of have a great safety this year in that defensive backfield. Oh yeah, definitely, he's probably, um you're looking at some of the one of the top, like one of the like a top twenty pick. I think potentially.

I'm surprised he didn't come out because I felt like he would have been somebody that would have been a fringe first round pick this upcoming year, especially consider in the state of the safety position now he gets lumped in with I think a lot more a lot of talented secondary players and also more uh with Hamilton's two as well. But Bolden, Yeah, I definitely, uh, definitely think

he's one of the better ones in the country. Ball Hall dere can do a lot play up in the BOSS but also great and covers two as well, And I definitely think that, um, when it's all said done, and yeah, he'll definitely be a solidified first round pick this upcoming next season next year in the draft too as well. So yeah, I love his game and I definitely think you'll hear more about him at the time as the draft process goes on. Just a handful of

names we selected there for you guys. Of course, there are plenty of more, and we have a whole year to get into that. So a little brief preview there of the NFL Draft. Let's go ahead and bring this thing back to close this podcast up, and let's do kind of a speed round here with the a f C East Antoine, I've been kind of thinking of some potential offseason ideas and segments for the podcast, and I was thinking, let's go around the NFL, and I thought,

let's talk about Aaron Rodgers. And I thought to myself, I don't want to do that. I'm so over the whole like drama quarterback, like just show up and like two NFC championships in a row. You've got an all Pro receiver and all Pro offensive lineman. Like I don't know, man, it bothers me. So let's just let's just move on. Okay, Let's talk about the a f C East here and start with the New York Jets, who I love their draft. Even though I didn't I didn't think Zach Wilson was

QB two. He was QB four. For me personally, Antoine, you can tell us what you thought of that Elijah Vera Tucker. I was a little bit off put by trading up for an offensive lineman in a deep class, especially two third round draft picks. But then after that with Elijah Moore and Michael Carter, those were fantastic picks. I thought they come back and get ham saw Nasriel Dean at the safety slash linebacker out of Florida State in the sixth round. How much better is that team?

And did they get it right with Zach Wilson. I think that well, I agree with you. I think Zach Wilson was probably two, like three or four in my as far as quarterbacks I had, I had justin fields number two. That's just my opinion, you know, whatever the case. Like a lot of people felt like that Wilson had the hire potential, but for me, I thought feels solidified

himself in the playoff last year. But now the quarterback aside, I definitely think I did like with the Jets, did uh a dressing some office the line needs um Elijah more getting him what they did. I definitely think that was huge to Uh end up getting Corey Davis in the off season two as well. I definitely uh got those two players together. And Michael Carter, who I thought could have been a second round pick potentially, they get him in the fourth round. That's that's a heck of

a value there. And now's the Dean who the really reason he slipped down was really basically because the injuries that he endured his last year there at f S U to get him in the sixth round, which I think he's definitely a third round talent. I think I think they did a great job. I think it's hard to on the Dolphins podcast. They gotta get jet and credit, but you kind of have to do game has the great game a little bit. Definitely, they they've definitely improved

their football team this year. Robert Salis has come in and UH definitely put his stamp on there. Joe Douglas, the general manager, seems like they've done a really good job this year and it'll be interesting to see how they finished this upcoming year. But I definitely think UM looking at their draft, other than maybe the quarterback position, I definitely think they got it right for pretty much all of their pas. I have a one answer response.

I need from you here to the Dolphins sweep the Jets. Yes, yeah, if you're gonna make the playoffs, you have to yea perfect and another team they probably have to get at least one, if not to from is a team that gets another new quarterback in the division in the New England Patriots, who had a very Unnew England like offseason Nelson Aguilar, Kendrick Born, John H. Smith, Hunter Henry. They lose Joe Tuney on the offensive line, but they also get Dante high Tower who opted out last year, and

that to me is their best offseason. Addition, don't make to the roster this entire offseason. But then they drafted Mac Jones. So my question here, I suppose, is three poond who starts at quarterback for them opening day? Are they improved enough to push for a playoff spot and can Miami get a sweep of them? Or is it gonna be like a last decade release two teams sweep every or split every single year. I should say I

met Jones cam Newton debate. I think you'll start out with Cam Newton just because you know, obviously, Cam Newton comes back his second year in the offense and um let me see, I thought he um he has some ups and downs obviously his first year in New England, but I definitely think he will be the start of initially. And then the problem is Cam Newton has not played a full sixteen game seasons. It's two two that the seventeen,

so you're gonna have to keep that in mind. If that that continues to be the case, then Matt Jones will play at some point, so uh yeah, I imagine Cam will get the start dead too. As well as far as them pushing for a playoffs, but yeah, I think I think they could. Uh. I mean, you've got seven spots in the a f C. There's um now with the extra wild cards, so I mean nine and seven tendencies might be it will probably get you one

of those spots, So I think they could. Along with the Dolphins, I think they'll they'll contend for one of those spots. As far as them sweep Like the Dolphins

sweeping them, I probably have them splitting as well. That just kind of has things like it's weird because even when the Patriots were New England, the Dolphins will find a way to split with them more often than nine, no matter how bad the Dolphins were No matter how good the Patriots were, they came down to Miami and then the Dolphins will at least get one of those. So I spent that to probably continue to as well.

I'll just say ten and six is good for everybody that gets in the playoffs except for Miami twice in my lifetime. Now ten and six no playoffs. We have to say baby ten and seven now, Mr James, so yeah, coming It just broke my heart this year back in two thousand three. Also Ricky Williams last year, his first time with the Dolphins. Ten and six, no Dicks. Let's go ahead and finish them with the team that did go to the playoffs. From to vision the Big Challenger,

a f C Championship Game representative the Buffalo Bills. They addressed their pass rush needs with Rousseau and Carlos Boogie Basham. Who I hate that because I love that guy's game so much. Antoine's this team closer to taking a step towards the Super Bowl or closer to coming back to the pack. You think I think? Um? I think well, I think they probably close to coming back to the path because I think the Chiefs have gotten immensely better that.

That's how scary Kansas City is. I mean, yeah, it's it's insane, and I feel like they've had one of the best offseason and they won the ANFC last year, so that that's crazy to think about there. But you look at Buffalo and some of their issues, especially you saw in the ANFC Championship was the lack of pass rush and help. They hope they can kind of solved that Russo somebody that was kind of look fewed as the first round picked a little bit and he kind

of slipped down a little bit. It's kind of slipped down a little bit further than what he wanted, even though he still was the first round pick. But I definitely think he could potentially be something a player that can solve their issues. And I love I love that. I saw a lot of my way Force Wait Wait Force Salem areas where I'm from, so I kind of

keep up on what the Demon Deacons do. But yeah, he's somebody that stood out like a lot of people probably didn't watch a lot of Wait for his football, but yeah, he's amazing at what he could do and he definitely fits whether Sean mcdermerk and that defense, Uh loves to do uh from a defensive scheme standpoint, so

I definitely think Dave improved in that areas. But I think it's I think it's Kansas City, and I think it's everybody else kind of cluttering in the middle, trying to make trying to get that second spot in the a FC. But I think the Chiefs are just far and away at least right now on paper, unless something happens like a big time injury, uh that they're they're a click cut team in the a f C, which

is kind of what happened that basically cost them. In my opinion, the Super Bowl this year was clear cut injuries across the offensive line. But you have to give it to the credits then to go out and address those needs and to not be bullish about it all. They went after a hard and address that offensive line,

just like we addressed. Are you to talk about the draft as well as this season around the a FC East with Antoine Daley formerly the Nicest man on the Dolphins beat, Now we'll call you the nicest man on Dolphins Twitter. What are you working on now, man? And

where can people find you on social? You find me at Antoine Daley also on Twitter and you know find my work at Tallahassee dot com too as well, and you know, just talking about what the state football and just kind of we also preview some of the potential draft picks for them this up coming to year as well, so you can kind of check out my word there you just kind of see what what they may have in the store and that share for the two class

as well. So they're hoping to have what much better year than they had from when it going three and six a year ago. So check out my word there and uh, definitely, man, it was. It was great talking to you. Man. It's been it's been way too long since we did this. We'll have to do this once again as well very soon. Here's my clothes where I was gonna gonna end with. Come back down here. We'll do the elbow room and bowcampers again. Sound good man, Yes,

that that's a plan. Yeah, that that had happened this year. Definitely, Thank you so much for coming on, Antoine. Appreciate it and have a good rest of your night. Man, I you do. And there he goes. He said it all, Antoine Daiely. He's a great resource to have because he's not just Dolphins, he's college football as well as the NFL landscape, so I appreciate him coming on doing that. We ran long, but I don't care, and I want

to finish this podcast with something. I closed out a podcast after Thursday night with and I got a list of names here from the Draft Party on Thursday night at hard Rock Stadium. Kim Thomas, Heather, Doug and Brian the broadcast team, the control room staff, j Productions. They did all the stage design and the LEDs as well as the mics on stage and dark Horse Miami signage

for the desk design. In general, hard Rock Stadium and Miami Dolphins Operations and Events departments for putting together that entire event. It was a spectacle. So much work that went into that. And thank you to everybody involved with the Draft Party. As for my time on this edition of the Draft Time podcast, It's gonna be my time you all. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast. Leave us a rating, leave us a review. You can follow me on Twitter at Wingfield NFL. You

can follow the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out the audible and the Fish Tank podcast, and of course Miami Dolphins dot com until next time fins up