Draft Weekpalooza Day 4: 2021 Draft Night 1 Recap

in the first three picks. And then this this simmering drama. Uh, just the stage left surrounding Aaron Rodgers, which came out of nowhere or did it? So that is kind of setting the table here for you boys. How's everybody feeling? We're taping after nine o'clock on the Pacific time zone here, but it's late. But I feel good. I had a red Bull and I'm feeling good. I was like, should I have some, you know, some green tea or something

before going? But no, Uh, just like the energy from the Jason oh Way pick at thirty one just has me flying and ready to do this podcast. Watch out for that herbal green tea. Greg, you know you've become more daring in your advancing age. I just I don't know too many men that could hang with a green tea at nine pm West Coast time. I thought it was actually what I loved about the first round is

it wasn't completely sort of paint by numbers. There were twists and turns and um, I'm maybe not as excited about the Aaron Rodgers um manufactured drama as others, but we can get into it is crazy though. It's Draft day and like before we even got to the draft, by far, the biggest news story of the off season hit. It's you know, to me, it's much bigger than anything that happened during the draft. I thought, you know, maybe

it's going to affect the draft. It started to remind me of Tooth and five, Like the the whole draft day was like centered around Aaron Rodgers in his desire to go to San Francisco. On that day, you know, the forty Niners didn't take him. He sits around, uh and here he is again this time the forty Niners

did wat him. I mean, crazy stuff was happening in terms of the forty Niners owner tweeting and some of the some of the sources where Rogers just like sprays all these sources all over the media that that like overwhelmed everything to me that happened on Draft night. But then once it started, you kind of realized Rogers was not going to get his wish tonight. When when the Broncos took a corner back, that was kind of the moment I was just like, m I guess this is

not gonna happen for it was. It's both manufactured, as Mark puts it, and also very real. The manufactured part to me is the timing of it that we're well, actually, let's let's let's just for people or maybe using this

podcast to get caught up and know exactly what's going on. Uh. The situation that occurs, uh this morning or late or early this afternoon on the West coast anyway, is reports start popping up about the forty Niners checking in on the availability of Aaron Rodgers and he's not going anywhere. And then the insiders start popping up with information and Ian comes on NFL Network and explains that this kind of started. This has been simmering since Jordan's Loves Pick

last April. Not a surprise there that it was still simmering. And then when the Packers came to him after his MVP season and wanted to rework his contract and move some money around and create cap space. That triggered a real breakdown on the relationship. According to Raps, you here's what he's got. Rogers, I'm told, did not want that. He wanted a real contract extension. He wanted the team to commit to him long term, which they as at

that point, had not yet been willing to do. His agent, Dave Donn, flew to Green Bay, had endless meetings with Rogers. His frustration looked palpable. Several teams started calling the Green Bay Packers kind of getting a sense that things weren't right, trying to maybe trade for him to see if there was interest. The Packers have remained steadfast. They have no plans to trade Aaron Rodgers. That is only going to ramp up as this continues, so we will see where

this ends. But things are not in a good place. And then, of course with the twenty ninth overall picked the Packers like Eric Stokes, a cornerback with a lot of upside from Georgia, feeding into this narrative that the Packers were almost trolling Rodgers by not adding more offense. But at the same time and Gregor I think you tweeted about it. It's like, it's not like the Packers are starving for help on offense right now. They were the best offense in the league last season. Yeah. Yeah,

this is a long running frustration for me. They have two potential Hall of Fame candidates and Davante Adams and David Baktier on the team with him, and you're telling me that they don't have talent around him. They're the number one scoring offense, they're Aaron Jones. The part that I think registers with Aaron Rodgers, I don't think he cares that much. If they took a receiver twenty ninth, they're not. It's that day he took Jordan's love and that he took that as a personal slight and he

clear really hasn't let go of that. That The crazy part to me is, you know what Ian said was you know, kind of measured, and eventually he did say that the Packers, you know, try to give him a contract extension, and you gotta think, at some point, isn't there going to be at a number that is enough to make this go away. We'll we'll find out. But there were other reports, I mean, ESPN said, he told people he does not want to play for the team

anymore period. Trey Wingo said that the Packers told him that they look to trade him um and that they he feels like that they didn't they aren't really following through with that. And meanwhile, like Iron Rodgers agent and the brass of the Packers are meeting all this while. So it's it's wild. But here's the reality. The Rogers

has no leverage right now. I don't believe. I mean, he can withhold the services, but the odds on him being on another team for the twenty one season seems slim to none to me, unless unless the because what could the Broncos possibly give him that would be attractive next year's picks? If you want to give me the next year's picks, just wait till next year. Let's see. If you sit out the year, I'll take your picks in January. He'll be popular then too. I mean it,

there was one part of this. What that was mismanaged,

if it was manufactured, was the timing. I mean, to me, I found it absurd that the Broncos, who had, you know, gone in with their full draft plans, are finding out or learning about this Roger's situation, you know, this close to the draft, I mean there's no lead up time for front offices who have essentially sealed up what they're gonna do for the most part, to act and like you know, at this point, um, you know, are the are the Packers excited to absorb like thirty eight million

and dead cat money to move in unhappy Rogers. I mean, here's the thing. It becomes cliche to say they don't draft a wide receiver, and I don't. I'm with you that look at you through forty eight touchdowns last year. I mean, their offense is not broken, there's no drastic, glaring void. But they've drafted one skill position player on offense since two thousand and five in the first round. And it's too ward in love and Greg, I see you smiling, but it's like that is a lack of

support to some degree. I would also say that they have not done a great job if you're spending all those picks on defense of building up a monster defense either. So they have just not been that successful. But where's the team that's closer to the Super Bowl. That's the thing is like that it's not like you can get closer to the super Bowl than they were. Well, I

don't see a destination spot. That's sort of why this thing to me feels like, you know, it's perfect for um to set the table with a high strung drama, but it meant to me it's like, what's the end result? Because it's, you know, to the day from a year ago when we were spending all night talking about Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Rodgers feelings, and a year later we're doing the same thing again, tiresome, Well, we're going to get a special Sessla tonight. I could feel it. No,

I my does everyone else find him enjoyable? I find it's just like, why do you need to dominate the news cycle today in something that you clearly created through your mouthpieces? They were trying to they were trying to pressure them publicly because privately wasn't working. So I tend to believe the Broncos and these other teams had some you know, certainly knew about this and we're talking before this.

The thing that I don't understand is guys in Denver who were saying that this deal worth close, like Mark Slayreth reported, you know, so Slareth who was a former Broncho and is on the radio used to be on ESPN reported that it was all but a done deal right before the draft, and that got Broncos nations really excited. And who knows, maybe maybe everybodys um Yes, well Rogers is that this is there's a handful of players in

every generation that invoked this level of interest. And the fact that he was the centerpiece of this drama last year. Then okay, and now this comes up again that that has that has added more zest to this. So while I understand where you're coming from, Mark, it's it's a big story. I mean, it's and it's something. I'm not trying to push it out of the way. I'm not trying to push it out of the way. I look

at here's the thing about the draft. I mean the film Gandhi, which is too slow for people, is three hours in like eleven minutes long. The draft we're back to like four hours and nine minutes. And we're gonna get you right. You know, if we get you right it on draft night, then let's not you know, Dan's you know, draft in forty makes a lot of sense because it is a slow draw nothing And now I'm not trying to rain on the parade. It's a fun night. But it's been a long watching TV. You're a little

burnt out, so you're angry right now. That's what that's where this is. He was on Clubhouse earlier. You know, no, I'm not I'm not angry. I just I don't think that how many people would argue that it is fascinating television, This is a story for another subject A lot mark. I mean, we're we're a lot of them are listening now, and I know the draft is all right, Well, I am an incorrect voice from the distance. Perhaps I don't.

Before we meet everyone's agree with me. But before we move on from Rogers, there were just a couple of details. I think we're important, by the way, as much because you've got a bunch of people in suits from the third floor saying Greg is so Greg really gets the draft, He's compliant. Why is who's this other cranky clown? I genuinely love this Rogers stuff, and that you know the draft is separate because it's it's it's fascinating because first of all, it's like it's it's the far thing all

over again. I mean, it's it's really kind of crazy, but the personal animosity and and Dan hit on this last year. I do think it's funny because the Jordan's Love pick, you know, you hate to it's not like Aaron Rodgers tried harder, but you gotta give that something, you know, you know, some of the credit of like why he won the m v P if you really want to get crazy. But it really seems like there's

major h antipathy between Rogers and Gouda Kunt specifically. And the most interesting part of all this today was Glazer saying to me that, Matt, what is this there? Oh? This is Goodies theme song baby? Oh yeah, I forgot this go ahead And no, I mean this part, I like, I don't remember it being like such such a flow. Yeah, I know, this is the long version. Matt Lafleur, according to Jay Glazer, did not know that they were taking Jordan's Love before they took it, and that the whole

that whole story is fascinating to me. Number One, La Fleur is putting that out there through Glazer. That's it. That's interesting. It it gets to a schism, it gets to La Fleur almost trying to say, hey, I'm on Aaron Rodgers's side, and uh, if you read what if you hear what Ian said, it really feels like Rogers does not like Gooda cuns And I thought, like, this is where you need an owner. They don't have an owner. Like if I was an owner, I'd be talking to

Brian Gooda cons right about it. And by the way, shareholder meetings, how old did those go? Things haven't too well in the championship game in the NFC the last two years, but with good kunst uh pulling the lever on moves, they've gone thirteen and three and back to back years and they're they're doing a lot of things right in that building. So yes, in terms of like how much you want to feel for Aaron Rodgers position, I can't really get that. I'm not with you on that.

Um if there are people that feel like he's been wronged uh in this situation. But at the same time you get it. It's like you've drafted my replacement. I win m v P and when you want to come to the table to do business with me, it's to help you out and make cap space room. Instead of saying, you know what, we blew it. We should have never doubted you. Here's a contract extension to keep you here forever. It's we we have plenty of time to talk about and we and we will. And since then they have

they have offered an extension. You would you would think there's there's gotta be just like a price that is enough. But if not, he could just dig in. It was funny Ian's throwing out the jeopardy stuff. Um, it's nothing else that knocked Tim Tebow out of the headlines. Tim Tebo Mason. Maybe that's what got me going early in the day that that is back in our hemisphere, Tim Tebow subplots. I mean, which is you know, I've got

some PTSD associated with that, so does Dan. All right, So the San Francisco forty Niners, uh, kicking all that off. The report was that they connected with the Packers. Hey is Rogers on the block? He was not, at least not right now. So the Niners with a third overall pick. This is the first flash point of the draft. Trevor Lawrence goes number one, Zack Wilson goes number two. And by the way, I have ordered my Zach Wilson Chipotle burrito. It's being delivered as we speak and it will be

brought right to me when the time comes. I'm very excited to have that brito in my hands, just like I'm excited that the Jets have yet another crack at a franchise quarterback. Hopefully the young man at a b y U. The third pick, Trey Lance goes to the forty niners. So the Mac Jones and someone explained this to me hashtag like I'm five. A lot of Twitter was about, Hey, that is one of the better smoke

screens I've seen in some time. But I don't understand that because I know Mac Jones was where everyone was saying that it was going to happen, and then and then it was Mac Jones or Trade Lance. But what was the smoke screen for if there was no one to outsmart in front of them? The Jets are always gonna take Zach Wilson, the Jacks are always gonna take Trevor Law. So is the smoke screen simply on the media, And if so, what's the point. I think it's utter not.

I think we've I think we brought this up at least on the show once before that, like look at they would They did everything they did to get to number three to remove any sense of you know, disquiet or unknown for who they want to pick. They know those two quarterbacks are off the board. Who are they fooling? To me, it just felt kind of baked into, Hey, this is a big production, and we don't want to We're not gonna shed secrets. It's smoke screen the viewer

and the analyst. The idea that you need to hide anything from another team makes no sense logically. Yeah, I think it was. It wasn't a smoke screen. I think the reporting around them genuinely turned out to be wrong, very possibly because the forty Niners changed their mind. I mean that's what our reporting and NFL Network indicates that essentially they were they they didn't know who they were

gonna take. They thought they were gonna take Mac Jones, that that was Kyle Sanahan's guy, and if you read between the lines, not even between lines, he and basically said that that the front office was pushing for Trey Lance. And as Kyle Sanahan went to these workouts and I think most importantly talked to Trey Lance more and more, that he key ended up becoming convinced that that that was the decision. Because the one thing you keep hearing

about Lance. Not only is he probably the most physically gifted just just in terms of athleticism and arm strength, even though he has virtually no production. I mean it's four dropbacks in his career. Um is that like he's probably the one guy who comes off maybe as the as like the smartest and the guy that like you love him in the room and maybe over time they just sort of fell in love with it. Sounds like they'll never throw an incompletion. He's the most physically talented

and the smartest men alive. But but he's got to be one of the biggest risks of all time. He he dropped you dropped back three times in his career. They've barely ever seen him play, and it was that it was in North Dakota State. It was a lot to give up by the Niners to essentially move up to take this level of a chance. But if he hits the ground running, and who knows when that happens,

because as of right now, Jimmy g still in the building. Uh. If he hits the ground running and he's a star, it's going to you know, Cement Lynch and Shanahan there for a long long time. But if this goes off the rails and they kind of messed up their future with the draft, uh to get a guy that couldn't play this, it's gonna be catastrophic. It's it's a huge moment for them. Then it's then you're put into the same category as a Mitch Robinsky type of trade up,

except even more expensive. So yeah, mean there is high risk reward. I mean they talk about the last ten Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, Um, every one of them had twelve hundred attempts in college. I mean there are front offices out there that would rule out quarterbacks that don't have a certain amount of proven production at a big college level. Other front officers do it differently, and we

know Shanahan does it differently. I mean I'd come away a little concern with you know, whispers and flat out just comments that the front office and Shanahan and all of them just were not on the same page, that they had no idea what was going on. Um that said, if you're Shanahan or if you ever any of those people, you're in a building with an almost Belichickian type leader in Shanahan who is basically calling the shots and um, if it works, he looks like a genius. If it doesn't,

they'll probably still call him a genius. I I seems like I love him, but he seems a little teff lonish too. He's got to win with this quarterback sooner than I think would cost him. Though, if sure, I think this didn't work out, he has been a little taff and I think they have one winning season in seven years. He hasn't been there that whole time. But um, this has to work. This has to work, just like it has to work for the Jets move that they made going up to get Zack Wilson or trading Donald

to get Zack Wilson. These are important franchise defining type. Grafticks This exciting though. It's exciting to see your boy Kyle Shanni and get someone. So you kind of feel like Shanahani will make them bust proof. I mean, if if if Mullins can put up those stats, then you kind of figure like, well, what's what's the worst lance could be? Is maybe average? I mean you would help. You would think just because their offense is so good. They have Trent Williams at left tackle, they have I

you can Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. I mean, it is an amazing situation. So just as a football fan, I'm excited to see such like an athletic guy in Shanahan system instead of Mac Jones. Then again, I'm gonna have to walk watch Mac Jones with the Patriots, so maybe to that. We'll get to that in just a little bit. So yeah, So Lawrence Wilson Lance then the first seven players. By the way, this was a record

all offensive players. So Kyle Pitts, the tight end out of Florida, becomes the highest drafted tight end in NFL history going to the Falcons. Intrigue there, of course, especially coming off a week where there are whispers about Julio Jones future. That makes even more sense now knowing what their intentions were to take this game changing. This guy is entering the league with a level of hype that few tight ends, uh match. So you have pits there.

Calvin Ridley has emerged as a star in his own right. So Julio Jones, you don't want to you don't want to say this, but he seems like someone that could be moved without killing the offense, which you would have never thought now we see if that actually happens and if it doesn't, man, that's one hell of a one to three punch on that offense. Well, I would say that Arthur Smith maybe I like him more than others, but I think he's a severe upgrade over Dirk Cotter

in one. And on top of it, I mean when it comes to Julio Jones, I just I don't think that that would be out there if they didn't severely need to restructure like the money they have, I don't think you'd be looking to move them just to move him. Um. So if he sticks around and you add Kyle Pitts to this offense, like you've got something. I still think they're a hot target to draft a running back, UM

earlier than later. It could be in this in round two here, but they're not far away from having again, UM, a very intriguing offense. Matt Ryan's had a nice offseason. They basically guaranteed some money down the line that kept them there. You add Kyle Pitts, I don't think their defense is going to be good and so he could be a fantasy guy like you could just set thirty

five to thirty three every week. Falcon It's like Matt Ryan has all these skill players and you know they're in a lot of like coming from behind situations and and you're like, oh, this is perfect. Then you look up and he has twenty seven touchdowns at the end of the year. It's like, I think that like permanently soiled your opinion. You got him after the m v P year, I think, which I feel like he throws twenty seven touchdowns and thirteen interceptions every year. I don't know,

don't check those stats. At the number five, Jamaar Chase, the wide receiver from l s U reunites with Joe Burrow. I have my thoughts on this that they should have went and got Suel the offensive tackle from Oregon. But okay, I mean this, this this works too. But let's see if they put some focus on the offensive line. I'll do a couple here, and you guys could say whatever you want on any of them. Jalen Waddle goes number six to the Dolphins. Uh, the Alabama wide receiver. UH.

And that makes sense as well. I like the move where you take the young quarterback and and connect him to a lot of talent and see if he can play well. Now you have Fuller and Parker and Waddle together. That's a nice trio. And then as I met Penney Sewell, the offensive tackle out of Oregon, the top offensive linement in the draft goes to the lines at number seven.

I just like the you know, and they made a big deal out of this on television, but I wonder if there's more thinking going into some of this too. It's the talent of the player. But you get Jamaar Chase paired back with his college quarterback. You get Jail and Waddle paired with someone in two with it he knows. It's like, Okay, maybe that doesn't matter, um, but what's wrong with giving like your young quarterbacks someone that he's worked with for a long period of time. There's chemistry,

is there? And I get what you're saying about picking maybe Sewell um or it would have been Sewell over Chase, But I don't know. You know, you can a good offensive line coach can do a lot for an offensive line. I'm not sure they have one, um, but they don't need, right, but they have to. They do have. Like the thing is like, if you look at their tackle situation, I don't love it, but they have invested in their taxs. We signed Riley Reef this offseason, which is slipped under

the radar. Riley Reefs been a starting tackle for a while. He's not a huge difference maker, but he's been an average starting tackle. And then they drafted Jonah Williams tent over he has been, He's been okay. I I think it's just thinking that Chase is really unique, like Bob McGinn does that you know, Scouts pole and he was the first unanimous, you know, wide receiver to get first

place votes from every single Scout since Calvin Johnson. And so you're you're thinking, maybe if this guy's Alvin Johnson, then Sewell is not as as unique. I was more surprised that the Dolphins took Wattle over Sewell. I thought I thought that was going to be locked in and they could have put Sewell, you know, and Austin Jackson as their two tackles, and they took Waddle. And it's very similar to last year how Rugs went ahead of

who am I forgetting here? Uh? Judy for Alabama like DeVante Smith won the Heisman Trophy and Waddle I who I like more than Ruggs, who seems exciting um ends up going ahead of Davanta Smith. Uh And yes, sewell, you know that's a nice pick for the Lions who are are no need, no rush here to make a big splashes a team that's rebuilding, so you get a guy there. Even if the Lions fans aren't gonna get pumped up about it, that could be a great pick for They could have taken Field, but they just they

just weren't in love with Justin Field. I kind of think if they loved it, justin feel they would have taken him. It wasn't about I can't imagine or one of the wide receivers because they are there, you know, yeah Jared golfspin protected, but they're like you look at the infrastructure of their offense and it's messy. Alright. So the run on offensive players ends at number eight with

the Panthers. And I talked about this on our last podcast that Sam Donald, after twisting in the wind with the Jets, was in that same position heading into Thursday night again where you didn't know all this talk about temper whether he was gonna make the big splash and get the quarterback in the draft, and when Justin Fields was still there and Mac Jones was still there. It was like, Oh, the Panthers are gonna do this, and that's gonna be tricky for the former USC star uh

and x New York Jet. But instead they select J. C. Horne, cornerback out of South Carolina, and then the Broncos pick next another team that you would think could use a game changing prospect, a quarterback. I lost sandwiches on it. Yes, yes, they have drew locked there still. Yes, they just traded for Teddy Bridgewater. Uh. But so they say we're set there now quarterback, I guess, and they take Patrick Certain,

the second cornerback out of Alabama. I think this is when mock drafts started to go hideously south, by the way, because it went hideously south around this around this point, like, I mean, I think I got maybe seven or eight, right, But it's the same seven or eight that like five thousand other Jabronis got. So it was an unremarkable run. But I know eighteen to twenty five. I think I said while we were at a baseball game, I thought about tweet, well, I've been doing the opposite for years.

That's that's that's sort of the problem. I mean, if you look at this though, if you look at Carolina's defense like what they did last year. I love Jeremy Chin. You know you've got Booyer, Dante Jackson, you asked ad J C. Horne. They're they're growing their deference like in rapid fashion. I mean, these guys all have to work out, but Horn is like a special cover man based on the out of that I've received. Now, like the the

when the Broncos took a cornerback, I was plum exit. Well, I've been doing lots of study during this but you wait, you did not think they'd go corner there at Denver? Greg what the they corner has to be one of the strongest positions on the roster before this, the like he just always take a defensive They signed Kyle Fuller for a lot of money. They signed Ronald Darby for a lot of money. Um, they signed Bryce Callahan has been really good for Phanton GEO a year ago for

a lot and I think he can play well. Ojan Moodia was a rookie last year I thought played really well. So that's four guys already. You just added a top ten pick, So that got people thinking, well, maybe they're taking this pick for Green Bay so you know, I haven't totally ruled that up. But then Green Bay took a cornerback, which kind of doesn't totally support that theory unless they want two of them. So I do the smoke in Denver has to have some reality to it.

And then when they didn't take a quarterback, that does lend you to thinking they're they're not going to be out of this, whether that's for one or next year. Well, well, John Elway did once upon a time successfully recruit Peyton Manning and got a ring out of it and a run of dominant play and record setting offense. I could see Aaron Rodgers in Denver, like, I could see him like doing local ads for like like a weed company or something. Yeah, he'd fit well in Denver, you know,

having lived there, he'd drive right in. What about the shining Woodley factor here? I mean she might not want him in Colorado, she wants might want him right here. Yea, sir, I know it's not that close. People were making fun, that's like, but it's like it does make a difference if you're only on a two hour flight versus like, I need to see more evidence that they're like hanging out hour by hour. I don't there's not a lot of you know, where are the Instagram photos, where's the show?

You know, where's the all the business. Bracos fans are not going to be thrilled if they are you know, six and seven and Teddy Bridgewater just took over for Drew Lock getting benched. But that's exactly what's going to happen, which made this this to me if they don't wind up with Aaron Rodgers and if Justin Fields becomes uh brilliant um John Elway, I know that, I know that John Elliot is now hiding behind with hiding is not fair. But we have General Patton there and it's like, you know,

John Elway, can you avoid the blame? But like you cannot miss on this, Like if Justin Fields passed you by, the floor falls out. When you have a braid leader like General Patton directing the troops, you know, there's nothing to be fearful love, And if Aaron Rodgers is there for the taking, you will get him because people like General Patton, leaders like that don't come around too awful. They they can't. They can't allow Slareth into the building.

By the way, if Rodgers is not in Green Bay because I had my cousin Justin, who was a big you know. The second slaith sends this tweet out, they think Rogers is coming to Denver to night, Like that's that's a fireball offense. I think I nailed the finally. I've struggled with it, but I have the pronunciation on that particular gentleman, Mark Schlarf slurf, slurf. We should we should have him on. You know, he's the radio game alright.

He creates salsa or chili by the way. Yeah. Uh. Interesting moment in the draft comes at number ten when the Eagles moved from number twelve to number ten in the trade. How did they got a trade with the Cowboys? The Eagles and Cowboys trading with each other on Draft night, so they trade up to number ten to take Alabama stud Heisman Trophy winner Davanta Smith. Oh my goodness. The Cowboys so traded their tenth pick, got back the twelfth

pick as well as the Eagles third round pick. The Cowboys um selected winebacker Michael Parsons with the twelfth pick. I love this move for the Eagles. UM a little bit surprised that the Cowboys were willing to help out, but you know they're getting something out of it, and the Giants are dying. Dave Gentleman, you know they were laser focused on a wide receiver because they then trade out of the top of the first round and then take a wide receiver later. But then that worked out.

I thought that was actually a good trade. Dave Gentleman finally trades out. But let's focus on the Eagle side of things. Uh, this feels like a big move for Jalen Hurts, who again he feels like a big winner here now because winners and Losers column Dan checking out dot com, check that out on NFL dot com, Slash Rosenthal. Because Carson Wentz shift out of town. The Eagles don't bring in another quarterback despite a lot of such a lot of hype and buzz around. Do they believe in Hurts?

And now they go and get him the raigning Heisman Trophy winner and a potential superstar number one wide receiver. Okay, let's see what happens here. He's so different Smith, you know, hundred and sixties six pounds at his most recent testing that it does still feel like one of those picks that Roseman's out on allege a little bit. I mean, everyone's exciting. Jeremiah thinks he is a true, true one, and you're right, it's so good for Hurts another quarterback

receiver combo not don't I don't know. Smith was like playing a lot when Jalen Hurts was playing there. That was you know, that was before Hurts transferred. You guys put more into this than I guess. I'm just I'm just noting it. I don't think it's earth shaking, but it's I think it's nice too. Because Jalen Reagor. I feel a little bad for him because he's not just in Jefferson. I don't think he's necessarily a bust. He's only you know, but now he can be the number

two receiver. He's more like the deep threat, like a Hollywood Brown hopefully you know, maybe a similar to Hollywood Brown. Are better and now he slides down one like that, They're going to be more fun to watch now. I mean, like DJ, you know, pinpointing and showing highlights of Davonta Smith catching the ball amid defenders, racing for a long score not even being touched. They called him the best route runner in the draft and you're right. He called

him a clear clut number one. So you know, I don't I don't know how you really evaluate um too many of the people from that offense from a year ago. It just was like a hard on the eyes car crash. So you know, maybe you actually have over the last two years found two good receivers too, and you could change everything and hurts us in a great position. Alright.

I mentioned UH Parsons to the Cowboys, Smith to the Eagles that pick right in between at number eleven, and this was seismic and we'll see if this is a major turning point UH for a franchise and desperate need

of a spark right now. So four years ago the Bears traded up UH to number two overall and took Mitchell Drabinsky and it was one of the great misfires in recent NFL history, not just because Trabisky couldn't really play the guitar, but Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were like Slash and Eddie Van Halen, you know, taking the guitar analogy further, maybe Uh the brother you know, throw him in there too, Jan the other god of guitar um. So that didn't work out. So four years later, they

once again make a draft day move. They trade up nine spots with the Giants and they take yes os U quarterback Justin Fields. The Giants received the Chicago Bears first round pick, which was number twenty uh and fifth round pick this year, and then the Bears first and fourth rounders next year. So the Giants really clean up um and I think it worked out for them because they went and got a wide receiver um uh, and

then also now have this bounty of picks. But Justin Fields brings mark something that you've talked about many many times on the show, and I agree with you. There's no there's no buzz around the Bears. There's nothing to be excited about. Justin Fields is not a can't miss aspect, but if he hits, it changes everything in the NFC North. I mean, you know, we're at a different organization that was run differently. I think it would be odds on

that Ryan Pace wouldn't have been here to make this move. Um. The Bears are very creaky with their front office and coaching decisions in general. But look, how do you realign your career? How do you change perception? Number One? I think in the NFL's by being aggressive, and Darren and West used to talk about that all the time. The fortune favors the bold. And I had, you know, Bears fans, right, I had Bear fans. We all have Bears fans as friends that you know, they're like, do you think someone

will follow them at twenty? It's like a quarterback? No, I don't. I mean you're gonna have to do something more than that. Um, you wanted to offer the moon uh and distant stars for Russell Wilson, So why not maybe think about packaging picks to get up a quarterback that you like in this one? And they did it so I I for me, it changes the whole energy of a team that I found, um d energizing. And I don't know if I trust Matt Neige to to

kind of grow him this quarterback. Um, but it's not fair just to judge him antrabisky because that was just a wild whiff and fields brings excitement. UM. Bears have not really ever drafted a quarterback worth their salt. I mean, it's just there an outlier on that front. So they swung for the fences. Um, if it works, it changes the Bears forever and I think he's a good fit for this team. He's from Ohio, He's a cold weather quarterback.

He can do it all. He's fun to watch, and it to me turns one of the least enjoyable franchises at this current time in the NFL to something I can't wait to see. Yeah, I agree with everything there, it's well said. I just worry that it's a tough spot.

Reminds me a little bit of Donald when he arrived in New York, because I think the GM coach situation is so precarious that you know you would give them over under one year left because no matter how you know, if Justin Fields is great this year and he looks great in this offense, that solves everything and he will play over Robinson because and you know, I like Mooney okay at number two, but you know, I guess I

gotta see it. You know, it doesn't feel like it's certainly not Trey Lance Landing Um San Francisco or for that matter, Mac Jones. I think is in a better situation with with New England. I think you know, there there will be challenges and if they don't win this year, they will probably change, you know, the regime and then

and then you know, then that's start getting messy. I think you're spot on with that, because foundation is so important with these guys, because if things don't go well like you're saying, and they reboot, well, if they reboot and they hit on the higher with the coach and GM, then you'll be okay. But it's a big roll of the dice. These things work out half the time, and maybe even more the other direction. They don't work out, so you're starting over again and then maybe that works,

maybe it doesn't. Then all of a sudden you're in your third or fourth year of your rookie deal and then they have to ask questions about you unless you're a star. So I'm not trying to be a downer for Bears, no, but I say to be thrilled they got some breaks tonight the way the draft felt, and then they took advantage. I think, I think this is uh you. You could dwell on the negative things and you shouldn't turn a blind eye to it. But I think, on balance, this is exactly what Bears fans have been

waiting for. And I talked about it all the time about Joe Namath and the Jets and how long it's been, Well, they haven't had anybody that they could truly call franchise quarterback, said Luckman. I mean Jay Cutler wasn't that. Yeah, I don't know, man a quarterback, So maybe Fields becomes that guy. And if he stinks the Fields can't play everybody's I'll tell you what I thought was a franchise quarterback when

they traded for him, and so did most people. A lot of Greg Greg This is another quarterback that I I like, here's the natural, like organic view of j Cutler and Gregg's is that view with like eight percentage points high? Like a Teddy Bridgewater type of thing. Well, he was a great example of what a Shanahan offense can make you think, because I think if he had had the whole career with Kyle, you know, with Mike shann and we'd love JA Color. He was so exciting.

But um, that's that's kind of where I'm getting that with Fields that it's you know, is this coaching staff gonna take advantage or is he going to be like a J Color? Yeah? Um, all right, let's keep moving now here. By the way, I did want to point out it is fun you mentioned how you know, it's four years about since Drabinsky. Remember that was the night when Mike Glennan, who had signed a sixteen million dollar contract, went to the draft party. And then they took Drawhisky

and then very similarly. I mean, it's not quite as bad, but there was that tweet with Andy Dalton QB one that was kind of the version of Glennon Glennon going to the draft party. Well, that's also the Bears creating their own problems. It's like, I think I might have even written that around the League, around the NFL post. It was at Soldier Field, So they basically took an area of Soldier Field and invited a bunch of season ticket holders and then had some players there. And Blennon

had just signed that deal. I mean, the dude, the guy dirty. I mean, you're doing Mike Glennon dirty. If you even had a thought that you were going to go make a move like that, and you had to have had a thought, you you you say, Mike, stay home, Stay home, Mike. What can I offer one counterpoint to that? Yeah, let's say you you get hired by a company to come in and do a ton of work. You've got a lot of pressure on you. But you signed for

a lot of guaranteed money. Um, so you're thinking, all right, I made a lot of money, but I'm gonna have to deliver. Well, they just went and drafted a rookie who's going to start over you immediately, because that's how this works. You made a ton of money, you don't have to do a liqu of work. I don't remember Mike Glennon throwing a pass during that entire thing, and so in a sense, he kept his body clean. Um, he lived. Keep his dignity though. I mean that's that

deal with that another day. It's not all about money. This isn't an episode of money on money. Okay, who's the person that would, right? But who would constantly tell you that money is not the issue? I would, and I'm wrong about that half the time. But I'm just saying it was like your base sically being getting paid a fortune to do like fifteen minutes of work a week. I think we started two games. That's totally off at top Man. That could be wrong. That's about what Dalton

feels like, is gonna be the over under here. I mean, with all these guys, we could we could sit here all day. It's all relative. These are very well paid, well compensated individuals across the lester Aaron Rodgers, Right, well, he's horribly underpaid. Why didn't that for star? I appreciate um. Alright, let's keep moving through the first round into the middle of the draft, right Rashawn Slater, tackle from Northwestern, goes to the charges, Greg, you add anything on that. I

know you wanted a little more help blocking. I'm very worried about them blowing Herbert's chances of being a top five QP. So I think that the draft felt perfectly for them. Yeah. I had to save that on the edge of my seat there, like, how's he gonna land this one? All right? Then a trade my New York Jets. They picked number two. They took the quarterback, and uh, we've heard it since Joe Douglas has take a job. He's all about offensive lineman. He was an offensive lineman.

Data d d dada. So they make a move. Uh, they send their twenty third overall pick, the sixty six and the eighties sixth overall pick. So they sent uh their first rounder and both third rounders to the Vikings to move up from twenty three to fourteen. They also got back a late round draft pick, and they used that to take ufc USC offensive lineman Elijah Vera Tucker. Um. Of course, I'm doing deep dives right when this hat.

I know he was in the top fifteen and molmost every mock draft, and he's seen as a rock solid plug and play uh interior linement with the Jets desperately needed. Uh. Giving up both third round picks, maybe it was a little on the pricey side. But then I think about if he can play, and he could solidify the left side of the interior, and you have Mackay Beckton next to him, a left tackle, We're starting to cook. Now we're starting to do something and really figure out this

offensive line, so it could pay big dividends. I would just remember what kind of offense they want to be. I mean, this is a Kyle Shanahan. Uh. You know they're gonna be heavy run and they know exactly what kind of lineman they want to get. So if this got the seal of approval, Um, you're right, it's an upside. They were the second worst past protecting line in the league last year and look that way and look sometimes like the worst even one step worst down to thirty two,

so you know this is an improvement. So I think they'd play some right tackle too. I I thought you won sandwiches on this, but you, um, you know, very nobly reminded the go get my lunch people that you said they were going to trade up for a receiver, not any trade up. I couldn't think name at that time that it took. I had it, Yes, I I had my one, and we'll do our sandwich props at the end of Saturday show. But I thought Jets were gonna trade up and take a wide receiver. They traded

up and took a guard, so I'm balanced. They get a new quarterback and they prove the offensive line, and I still my boy. Landed Dickerson Alabama fell out of the first round on medical issues. I wish you just had a third round pick. If maybe fell down there, maybe they move up if they can, but maybe landing in the second round. Got my on you, buddy. I believe in your body. Believe in that guy's body. How is it? How is the Chipotle burrito going to be

delivered during the show? Emily is gonna come in with it. This is why keeping your kids getting married. No, the kids are done there in bed. Emily is waiting. She's staring out from the front window, just waiting for the moment the burrito arrives and she's gonna then shuttle it to me directly. Did you allow her to? Did she die dinner too or was it just a you operation.

It's a it's a solo purchase on grub hub because it is ten o'clock here, So I'm gonna I'm gonna probably have a bite of the burrito because I already had a dinner. I don't want to double up dinner. That's not what we're trying to do in the off season. We're trying to make good health decisions and the off season. Uh, but I also have to have a celebratory bite of the burrito. Um for good luck. That's where I'm at. Well,

then I'm in my bedroom right now. So so Emmaica is not sleeping until we're done, and she's not I hope she's not in the ring though listening to this night sense, oh yes, she's trying to. She's like five feet away, just wearing pan the camera over. Um, I do have to say, like the NFL, when the pandemic started. They're like, hey, you gotta take a portion of your house and turn it into a studio. And we're like, hey man, that's that's the breaks, so we gotta do it.

It's we're lucky to be employed. Uh these houses in l a here where they're not very big, but we're gonna do it. And then you know, people are getting shots and the world starting to return to normal. And then all of a sudden, the NFL sends a truck over with all new equipment and I'm like, oh am I not am I not getting this part of my house back. I don't think I am. I think I've lost this part of my house my paying less rent. Her is there gonna be some type of reimbursement of portion.

And when you look at the square footage that I've lost, it's not you know, we don't have a ton of space. Negatory you have about this, you will get nothing and like it interesting, um bullet point for your next negotiations. You will take seventy four square feet of my rent or I walk. See how that go? All right? Speaking of walking, Ricky Hollywood was walking off a pier when the New England Patriots sat at fifteen and took Mac Jones,

the quarterback out of Alabama. Mac Jones, of course, Ricky, who was slated by UH smokescreen at number three overall, falls the fifteen and the Patriots with Cam Newton in the house, now bring in mac Jones, and I would say this, Ricky, none of us are college experts, and you are not one either. I you seem to think that this guy is gonna be a boon doggle for the Patriots. We gotta let this play out because he has a ceiling. Uh. People say, I think it was

Charles Davis that might have said it. In great job. I gotta give it up. I had to say, I hate to say this, but Daniel Jeremiah did awesome work on NFL Network. The draft is the thing we dominate better than anything. Yeah, I didn't I didn't even turn on ESPN. I like that number two was a sportsman, but on Draft night, I gotta be loyal to the

brand and we did a nice job. Charles Davis, I believe, was the man, or it was the Stanford coach was a Shaw Matt Ryan type ceiling and then maybe more kind of Andy Dalton is where it could end up Uh, that would be okay, especially if you go closer to the Ryan and come on, Ricky, Yeah, I mean the forty Niners. They obviously didn't want him, which makes sense. And then he keeps falling. And then when the Lions didn't take I really don't think they're sold on golf.

So I was like, there's a chance he could take justin Field, and then the Eagles traded up, like you said, and then they took the wide receiver that everyone's talking about, something like, oh my god, he might justin Fields literally might fall because of you know, the Cowboys and all that. So I'm getting like super excited and being like, oh my god, into win. Then the Bears all of a sudden,

you traded up. I knew exactly what was happening. And then the later it goes not that fifteen is even that late, but I'm like mac Jones is falling like nobody wants him, and yeah, he worked, you know, he was under Saban's the same scheme as the Pats and

all this kind of stuff. So like Matt Ryan as a ceiling, like, I guess it's better than Cam Newton, Matt Rise at MVP in Borderline MVP but Ricky is making a good point when you when you're talking about like where Patriots fans are at after what for them was very trying seven and nine. And I know Greg has a sandwich prop on it. So Greg was all

about it. Everyone was like justin fields to the Pats and then you are so now you have mac Jones, and yeah, Greg, you're I know, you're not as excited about a mac Jones future as you would have been just the fields. No, because of the style of play. I mean, he's the first quarterback taken in the first round. Correct me if I'm wrong since Jared Goff. That's like not athletic because it hasn't been anyone else. I mean Baker people say, but Baker can move a little bit.

I mean, you know, I I just don't think like the physical gifts are there. That said, It's funny because at the very beginning of the process, people kind of thought mac Jones was like a mid first round pick

and made a lot of sense for the Patriots. So, you know, the more I listened to people that are really into studying the college evaluation, like, they liked mac Jones, he just you know, they liked him as kind of like the fifteen or twenty best player in the draft, not not a top tier guy, and you know it's it's not as exciting, uh, Like his style of play

is not as exciting. There's some yeah, you know the photo of Brady that gets circled around at the draft every single year about him shirtless and what he weighs and all the you know, just like the just the quarterback that doesn't look good. Um, go look at the photo of Mac Jones shirtless with a cigar in his mouth. I hadn't seen that photo until tonight. And so it's not it's not the most impressive physique, but he's but it's just get into a professional strength of training program, right.

It was under the impression, Ricky, that that maybe was the most annoying part to you was the I wouldn't call it flabby, but maybe just sort of like a like how like a twelve year old boy who's eating too much food around the pool looks like just a bit of a blimpy stomach. He probably isn't always looking that way, but like that seemed to be more agitating to you than than what you had caught from his Alabama career. Per se we have Josh McDaniels and you know,

Bill Belichick, this this great. You know, we kind of unlocked it a little bit with Cam with a mobile quarterback. So I like, as the night kept going on, I got wicked excited it about justin fields, and I really thought that the possibility was getting closer and closer and closer, because who even knows. When the Eagles traded up, I was like, oh, maybe they're going to get them because there they might not be all in on Hurts either,

and they've said that. So Patriots fan disappointment, right, I mean, is it more concerning for you that you got mac Jones so that you were out that Bill Belichick was outwitted by Ryan Pace? Yeah? I mean Lombardi. Lombardi claimed before the draft there was no chance they were taking fields, which cooled me, which got me my expectations way lower. So even as the night was going I kind of figured they'd like take a defensive player of fields. Was

I don't know if Ricky maybe I'm wrong. You you talked to Patriots fans too, I think I would suspect suspect. This pick was actually fairly popular in New England because they want you know they want a new quarterback. Essentially they you know, it's like this Saban clone. I mean, weirdly, like the Page Huts. Fans have been almost brainwashed into like wanting clones and like Mac Jones like walking down

looking all serious. Honestly, the thing I like least about them getting mac Jones is what I fear is gonna be like the Patriots fans reaction and just everything about the Mac Jones like versus Cam Newton experience, is gonna be a little messy. You know, there's some you know, Brady got a lot of stuff for being like a Trump guy and stuff. There's a little bit of that

with mac Jones. So it's all crazy. Yeah, you'll see that photo again if you haven't, if you haven't seen him, But don't you think Like I also, I like the process of it. By the time they got to the pick there, I was I kind of wanted them to take back Jones because I really do believe you have to keep taking quarterbacks and don't. I don't know, they've they've earned my benefit of the doubt. It's like, well, they'll probably make it work with mac Jones. Like I

can see that working. Yeah, just like uh, I want to be m v P. Cam Newton for sure. I still Cam. I'm still wanting Cam to That's an uphill battle. You are, all right, let's keep moving alright. So as we now head through the end of the middle and to the back end, um you have. Let's see Xavin Collins, the talented linebacker and it's also goes to the Cardinals. So they take linebackers that in the first round back to back years. Alex Leatherwood, offensive tackle Alabama goes to

the Raiders at number seventeen. This is becoming a great new tradition. Everyone kills the Raider pick in the first round. And you know how, DJ too again a great joun LUs guy knows this stuff. On this this is my biggest stage of the year, and I knocked it out of the park. Everybody looks at me. I'm prepared, charismatic and will spoken whatever. Good job bro Um. Also a guy that doesn't He's not going to tear you down on national television. That's just not DJ style. But this

is DJ killing a pick. If you truly can hold out the way DJ feels about a pick, play it, Ricky one is a little bit of a It's interesting pick because you talked to people around the leaguer all over the map on Alex Southerwood. Some really like himself struggle with him. He's played a lot of football at Alabama, started a lot of ball games. He's got quick feet. He was my sixty second overall player. So it was a little bit earlier, but I had him coming off

the board. But obviously they've found some traits all of Southerwood that they felt great about me. I'm just trying to read into what you're saying this kind of surprise. YEA, yeah, I did not. I did not think Alexi off the board in the second round him He's not gonna be

a good player, to be a solid starter. He also pointed out that they could have, you know, possibly traded back and gotten more value, which I thought was the u most salient point of criticism there too, because he pointed out when Mayak was on the set, he would be like, if you've got a conviction, like, there's no nothing too early to take a player. But now they've taken Cleveland Ferrell fourth, they took our Net last year,

which was a shocker, and then this one. I do like the Jeremiah I was like I had him sixty two. I think he's trying to be constructed with his criticism. But their friends, I mean, if suddenly we were having to replaced them in this very job that DJ is in is the number one draft analysts, And I was also thinking as like as DJ is saying, all right, I hate this pick, but I'm gonna be a GM next year, and how would I want my replacement to come after me if I if I had to reach

in the first round. It's like you're kind of in a tough spot in that position, right, I mean, but I'll give Mayak this, like, yeah, all right, look at have the drafts all worked? No, I think it's been underwhelming. But he's at least living what he said he mentioned on NFL Network about when you believe in someone, you just take him. I mean, he thinks for himself. Now there's some gruten in there obviously too, but I mean Mayok like consistently does things that no one expects in

the draft. Just that I think you just need to work. It needed to work because I get concerned about vision, Like we have our board and our word. We don't care about anybody else. That's all good as long as the guys can play, then you're just bad at this, so that that there is a bit of a dance here. They also got stuck, I think, into having to go offensive line because of some of the stuff that's happened

this offseason, which is also a front office business. But when you hear like half the league thinks he's a tackle, half he thinks he's a guard. To me, that doesn't scream like we've got a home run here. It's like you've got a project, and it's that The trading back thing is I think that's important. That's process. That's why I kind of was, you know, like I said, was

wished with with Jones. The process of it made sense to take a quarterback there, Like, you can't tell me that the Raiders couldn't have traded back and gotten some extra picks and still taking old leather face leather face, O leather face. Uh this one, by the way, leatherwood, what what type of like what product are you leather would like? Which that's a great call. Are you a guard? Are you a tackle? Are you leather? Are you would? Who are you Alex? And he's like, I don't No.

Number eight seen the Dolphins steak Jalen Phillips ed rusher out of Miami. Uh, the Washington football team takes Homo Davis, linebacker out of Kentucky. And then the Giants, as I said, took a wide receiver out of Florida, can Darius Tony. So we'll see, um if he turns out to be Listen, you never know what these wide receivers, you never know, Like all these guys go in the first round, and just because Tony got picked after the three other studs,

he might be better than all of them. And then the Giants would have the better wide receiver and the extra first round pick. We'll see Dave Gentleman another another potential chance to save his job. You know, he's an interesting in that job, a bit of a gadget guy, you know that type. Think how Tony projects is kind of a guy to use in a lot of creative ways. I mean receiver. It was weird because they were zeroed in on receiver, it sounded like and that was a

good point. Dan, I didn't even think about that. They probably were gonna take Smith, Devanta Smith there. Um like they have good receivers. They have Sterling's shepherd Darius Slayton and Kenny Golladay and in Ingram and now they have Tony. So if nothing else, they should be a lot more watchable. I would think if those guys all stay healthy too,

that's been the issue. Yeah, I tweeted that gentleman. If nothing else, his drafting style is very linear, or it's like, all right, he wants this, he'll take this, and in this case, because they took it from him, he said, I will now move back, and then I will take that same position, but only a little further in the block. There's there's not a lot of layers, it feels like with Gentlman. But maybe it all works out in the end, all right, I asked you guys on on text Mark,

I know you saw it. Um a little later, Um sneaky good picks. I like the Titans did. By the way the Colts take I'm going to struggle with his name, Quity pay the addresser out of Michigan, A one the Titans. I really liked. Caleb Farley, cornerback out of Virginia Tech. This is their defense has been killing him the last couple of years. And this is uh Farley is you know, not a can't miss prospect, but everyone, everyone says, this guy's got a ton of upside and they need help

in that secondary. Like he just watching just a little bit of him, he leaps off the screen. I think he he could have He would have been a top ten pick if not for these back surgeries. He would have been taken ahead of certain and he would have been taken ahead of Horn. And he's just a big injury risk. But I think when you're getting towards the end of the round, and that's gonna my it's similar

to my sneaky good pick. Uh take a big swing, I think at the end of the first round, and you know they they are a team that they pointed out on network. I thought correctly that Jeffrey Simmons injury issues coming in, but they just loved the player and they showed enough faith in in his rehab and getting back on the field and they won that one. Um. I mean when I watched him, they compared him to Charles Woodson, to Bobby Taylor. Um the older goal. I

see little shades. It's not it's not Um safety, but I see shades of Eric Turner in the way he hits. I mean, he just attacks. So if you get the healthy version of this. This was an awesome pick for the Titans. Okay, let's keep moving through the first round. Him bah blah booe. Christian Darisaw, offensive tackle out of Virginia Tech, goes to the Vikings at twenty three. They of course traded with the Jets back to twenty three and picked up those two mid round picks. Um, and

they take Darrisaw. Okay, the Steelers. There's there was a lot of buzz connecting naj Harris, the talented Alabama running back. By the way, six Alabama players went in the first round of this draft. I mean that is Nick Saban's doing something well. They also were like, we're playing no matter what, like other there are other colleges that didn't get more than a couple of games in and Alabamas like, we don't really care what's happening in America. We're playing right.

But they they're the recruiting and and they've built up such an outstanding program and a winning tradition there that I guess all these like blue chip guys must be running to go there. It's just unbelievable. The factory of that place is anyway, nag Harris the running back goes to the Steelers A twenty four, adding a much, much, much needed element of um dynamic talent uh in that running back group because James Conner, after a lot of hype early on, uh, he kind of petered out. Now

he's in Arizona. Levian Bell of course, was a superstar and we know how that ended. Now Harris is a chance to kind of breathe some life into that backfield. Well, your mock got this one right there. Mark, Yeah, Well I don't think I you know, that wasn't me being Mike Mayock and thinking originally necessarily, but you know, they camped him to Levy on bell Um, Charles Davis comped him to Franco Harris, and he's a huge guy who

can move. Uh. He had more rushing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns than Derrick Henry or mark Ingram at Alabama. I mean, like when teams have like a profile. I mean, and there's a reason the Steelers do. They've had the same GM for twenty years, so they just keep but they don't have an offensive line and they and they haven't been the same since Mike Munchak left. So that's the part I don't quite get are you gonna fix this thematically? Do you have the players up front? On paper?

Their offensive line looks terrible, looks like one of the worst in the NFL. They're they're organizationally, they've just been so stable and well run for so long that you

just assume it's gonna work out. But with the line and the uncertain nature of Big Ben at the stage, coupled with the fact that it does look like it's they actually signed Mason Rudolph to a one year extension, uh today or that was it was announced today, so it's like he's the backup and you have that Bust Haskins somewhere in the building as well, So it's like, Okay, I mean, it's either gonna be They're either gonna be twelve and five or thirteen and four, or this is

gonna be Mark's fever dream of all time and they go six and eleven. Like, I feel like there's not gonna be like an in between with this Steelers team. You make it sound make sure offensive line in April, May and June. You make it sound like Haskins is just like hanging out in the I T closet or something They're like, where is Haskins? I mean, would you be surprised He's like, you know, on his iPhone or something. I know another running quarterback in the building right now.

You never know. I know Dwayne Haskins is not the best quarterback in any building. I mean, you can imagine if you are so harsh about Sam darnld here here you go there, the numbers are very similar. That's why, yes, Dwayne Haskins and Sam Donald that is a good comparison point to the type of individual we're dealing with here. The Haskins doesn't want to play, he didn't put any up.

You got run out of town in two years, Greg Kay Travis Travis Etian, I think I got that e t N A t N running back Clemson to the Jaguars, all right. I mean it seems weird, especially the way urban Meyer talked about him, and maybe it's probably just coach speak, but he was like, we say James Robinson and Carlos Side as our one two punch and at the end as there our third down back because we wanted to have one of the top eight running back groups in the league. I was like, that was a

very odd comments. What are you telling us somation for that's probably just saying that in making the rookie earn his way. I mean, if you're drafted him twenty five, he better not be playing behind Carlos hide Well and you won't like this then, but it's another pairing of Clemson quarterback and it's Clemson running back, which I know each other. I think you're suggesting that when Greg and I mentioned that we think that it's gonna be gonna

make them all like Hall of Fame players. I'm just saying there seems to be every year this happen, you know what. I hope, I hope, I hope the Jets draft like every Mormon guys. Well by the end, it's not like matching religions. But that's interesting too. Why not? Why don't you're not a lot of rogue elements at p y U. Remember when the Jets really did draft Mark Sanchez's buddy in the sixth Yes, yes, yes, yes,

and collision low crossers that was covered extensively. Uh No, I do like the idea of a Rosenthal Cessler co GM thing where that's that's the only thing your draft board is like matching up former teammates it's like, if you can get a high school teammates, that's fine, but we really want college teammates. We'll even go junior high if necessary. Uh. Speaking of Mark, the Browns take Greg

Newsom the second cornerback out of Northwestern. Um, I I find that I know you're a writer, die with Andrew Barry in this brain trust right now, and why wouldn't you be there on there on there? Uh, they've really built a nice roster here. I saw that you love this move. Well, I do because I like I think that they had from just some stuff that I had heard that there was a shortlist of players they were interested in. And in most mocks you look at Newsom

didn't get to them. Um. And I think Caleb Farley was another guy they were into, and maybe you know, Farley didn't get to them, and so that Newsom did. I think that was a win for the Browns. They wanted to go quarterback or edge and just you know again it's you've added John Johnson, Troy Hill, you get Greedy Williams back who didn't play a snap last year, you get your grant to help it back, and you

get Newsome. That's five new players in your secondary um secondary that you know, even though they whipped Pittsburgh in that playoff game, gave up five hundred yards in that game. It's like their defense was a liability. So you know, they've done a lot to address that side of the ball. So I think that is um a victory for Andrew Berry and co. And a nice showcase for Cleveland. You know, tonight is a little rainy though. That was on Dan's rader a little a little too much with like the hey,

where the rock and Roll Hall of Fame thing? It's like, well, there's also the football Hall of Fames nearby. I don't need Kings of Leon before and after the draft starts. Could we agree though, that whoever the host city is, at any point, you're gonna be you and I will be sick of the host city. Um uh, you know, flourish and all the nonsense. By by the end of the weekend, I'm not matter who it is Cleveland at all. I'm just saying, don't build the telecast around King No.

But I mean the draft hadn't even started and Dan was already sending hot texts about you know, Cleveland people being fake tough because it was raining or something. I don't know what it was you were that. I don't know. I don't know. I think I think I texted clearly just to get a rise out of you. But it was wet and cold and miserable. And it's like, oh, let's put the draft in Cleveland because the people are so gritty, Like, how about you put somewhere seventy four

degrees and sunny. You know, let's not overthinking. How about this. How about we returned the draft so I could also, like maybe see my family more than once a year. How about we return it to New York City, you know, the greatest city in the world. Put in Radio City and and kind of cut out some of this. I'm not gonna get into it. I like not the Radio City business. Like you left with a back injury. You

could barely sit in your seat on the way home. Well, they couldn't make some changes and updates to the venue, perhaps, although I do love the the kind of spirit of Radio City Music Hall and uh it's place in Manhattan's history, but were made for for like the average when the average man was my size, It's like Fenway Park seats, they're not facing home plate and they're like they're they're

for a hundred guys. Like honestly, um, I kid you not, because we used to go there every year for the draft, um, and they would just stick you in these like nineteen thirty seven uh seats for five ft two one fourteen pounders and my neck got so messed up, uh that I was in physical therapy for like six months and they're like you was sphinosis. I was like, what, yes, you can't. You can't do that, so you can't sit

that way? Did the NFL like show any more concerned for that than they did for the room in your house being used for their for their goods and wears. But I would also remember that at that Radio City, UM, when we weren't sitting in those they had you sitting in the chairs with a wooden like pieces of wood on top of you that you at your laptop on. First of all fire hazard, but um there was like they'd have us doing auxiliary work up in like the

makeup rooms for like the rockets or something. It couldn't have been more bizarre slash from rewarding. I don't know, listen, I not not for me. I mean the NFL wants to send me it's a blessing on this end of the all Right, I see how this is going. It was. It was honestly a career highlight when I lived in New York. To go to cover the draft in New York. That was sort of always my dream to like cover an event without like leaving the city. And getting to do that for four or five years was like a

thrill once I moved. Once I moved, yeah, it would be nice to bring it back there. I also treasured the experience, but I didn't like it. I didn't like flying in really to be you know, as much. But now I would. I haven't been there, and it does. Ricky points out the super Bowl will be in Los Angeles this year. Greg, So I guess, pinch yourself. It's a little different. Like just the idea of I literally

like walked to the draft. You're like walking through the city and you're going to the draft was all right. So I like this pick a lot too. Rashad Bateman, who our friend Nate Tye had pumped up as a wide receiver that he loved out in Minnesota. He goes to the Ravens. So the Ravens said, U two first round picks at seven and thirty one and thirty one they take Jason away Edge Penn State, UH and yes, Rashad Bateman a guy with a lot of upside and Tyson,

as you were callboys, was very big on him. Um, so you now add Bateman to the Hollywood Brown UH wide receiver group and okay, we're making some progress. Now needed him and I think you know a lot of mocks had him going earlier. And he can make plays down the field. Seems very complete and oh way, I'm fascinated by He's my sneaky good pick because he looks

like a freak. You could make the argument just looking at his testing numbers that he is a like as big a testing freak as any defensive end almost it's ever come back, come out, And he reminds me a lot of JD. David Clowney. That's kind of how he plays. So maybe you know, if he if he has a career like Clowney and he landed in the perfect spot like that, can actually coach him up to to work with all this talent, and you just figure the Ravens are gonna make it work. Um. Peyton Turner defensive end

goes to the Saints. I don't think Saints fans were too excited about that, based on what I was um seeing on Twitter, a lot of w TF eight exclamation marks that yeah, I was a little bit out of nowhere. But he he They said, he's exactly like Marcus Davenport, which is not going to get them excited either. I mentioned Stokes the corner out of Yard Georgia went to the Packers, Greg Rosso, who's a guy that very um polarizing as Lands Airline I was talking about last week

on our show or earlier this week. This has been a very long week. Uh. He goes number thirty overall to the Bill. So that's obviously a roster similar to Cleveland where you don't see a ton of holes. But getting another pass rusher in there with high upside, Uh, that's a nice move this late in the draft. I think they're thrilled he got there. I mean, you saw, like I it seems like every war room is just a bunch of people pumping their fists. But at the same time, like I think that was it was a

little genuine from the Bills. I don't think that Rousseau was someone they expected to have a chance to grab their fake fist pumps. I think it's the kind of thing where like, and I get it, like why would you You're gonna like whoever you pick at that moment, But it's like, who's really really feeling like, holy f we scored here? And I would put the Bills in the higher echelon of feeling like, holy f we really scored here. The Cowboys always lay it on a little

thick with their so they didn't. They didn't tonight because they wanted to take a cornerback and it went cornerback cornerback in front of him and then they traded out, so they I think they got back. That's also like more than any team in the league in terms of what they wanted. Jara has like thirty seven hidden cameras all throughout the draft room trained on everyone and if you don't have the exact reaction that he wants, you're gone, right.

And they've been drinking whiskey since eleven am, so you know, you know, was the guy that cleaned the glasses? Was he in the draft room? You think I didn't see him there? There? Didn't catch draft room always has a lot of people. I found it hilarious that the Patriots. Entire draft room was Belichick, Craft and one other person who I think was Patricia I think it was. I think it was. That's it. That was their entire draft or they don't let anyone else in. It's just like

who beat by the way? Greg? Easy with the Kings of Leon Slander, it's so easy but that band and now they're over the hill and I listened to the most recent album and it's it's you know, it's sad when it happens. But their time came and went. But those early Kings of Leon records were some of the best to me rock of the early to mid two thousand's. So I'm gonna just say that I want to I want to get that out there and I want that

to be on the record. Please respond, Greg No I saw you know, they had a very mixed reaction on Twitter. Some people were very excited, you know a lot of the same people who like it when you know they play Bruce Springsteen and stuff, and other people were like, who are these I like? Like? I like, but I love I love a lot of rock music, just not just not the the Leons. Do we love to keep talking till this burrito shows up? By the way, that is a good point. I'm a little I'm starting to

worry about the burrito. Aha, shake heartbreak, check that out, Check that out. I know. Listen, there's gonna be large swaths of football twitter that if you're a veteran rock band, you get your cheap shots in because it shows that you're cool, and those the killers of the Strokes or so that I would have been about it. Why not that that. It's also just like the timing why you why is any band playing to take up that time slots is really high? Like I will say the reanimate

prints or it's something really big on the subject. Like the only thing I would the only comment I would make critique of our coverage is we were very, very plugged in on the music that was being played by the house band during the telecast. Well they had wait, there was one moment where I thought that they did

what was it? Was it Sweet Caroline? Where now now I remember hearing that being like because it's the Red Sox song, of course, and um I was thinking to myself, oh this this kind of went over well, and now they're going to try to make this a tradition. And now I got this song involved in the draft as well. Enough with the sweet Caroline, but the Neil Diamond stuff. Can we calm down. It's an embarrass man, It's an embarrassment for Red Sox fans. I think a lot of

them feel that embarrassment alongside with me. I thought that the production was sterling. Um. I just had a ball and watching the whole thing. Let's see, now you're getting it. Where did the where did the little where did the little heading that said the fully vaccinated room with some heroes? That was my favorite. Um, that was my favorite part of the night was seeing which which draft rooms were fully vaccinated or not because it said fully vaccinated draft

room with the Falcons. What was that like? I think it was to promote getting Oh no, that is my My wife made the same comments, like why is it saying because it wasn't just the Falcons, it was several teams. Why are they doing That's like, I guess we're trying to be socially responsible as a league. I guess that's what it was all about. I guess because like the Patriots, it didn't say fully vaccinated and they were wearing masks, so that again that gets you thinking. This whole Patriots.

Mac Jones, This this podcast is making me in like rooting for the Patriots least, It's like it's it's not helping mission. Comp kind of want to give up on it. I'm texting my wife about the burrito. By the way, I will give you very quickly my upside or was it your my sneaky um draft picks in the second No, it's not. No, it's Jamon Davis, all right. DJ compared him to Darius Leonard, who I think is like one of my favorite defensive players in the league right now,

and then David Shaw. This is this should make you excited, Dan, because David Shaw basically said that, like Zach, Wilson was like one of the most fun players to watch on offense. Was he the best quarterback? I don't know, but he's most fun. He said that Jamon Davis he is fun. But he's saying that Jamon Davis was defensive version of that. So he's on my radar. Good. Wilson's almost gotten overlooked on this pode just because we knew he was going there. But my god, he he is gonna light it up.

I think I think early on there's gonna be a lot of good and a lot of bad. But I think I think everyone kind of knows that going in, But it's kind of cautiously optimistic. I really am, because I was. I was in the camp, and everybody listen to this podcast knows that I was kind of on the side of keep Donald and give him a real structure and bring in some more help and see if

he can get on track. But now, after going through this whole draft process, if this guy is special, if he's special and he's fun and he gets you out of your chair and he passes like that Chris Westling test where he's like, what's the first game I put

on on game pass? Like, I don't think that was ever gonna happen with west and Sam Donald and the Jets um even if Donald panned out, But if Wilson can play, he could turn them into like a team that they want to put in prime time again and all that, and there's there's just a lot of hope. And everyone's hung up on how young he looks, and I get that, but that doesn't really matter. I mean, hopefully,

I also like matter a little bit. He seems to be a little bit of the photo he sent out of him like staring down at his phone while he's on the you know, with the traffic behind them, is a little bit of a red flag. But he's got some Sanchez to him. Maybe that's not so bad. When Rich eyes and put it out into the ether that like that Jets Patriots, Mac Jones versus Zack Wilson will be a primetime game. I was like, oh, yeah, that's it. Will it'll be a third It'll be that I see

some some Baker DNA. Maybe not I'm not saying from the plane side, but headband wearing like, um, you know, a little bit of an edge, which now we suddenly like uh, you know already doing commercials, which we're which we're already buying the products that he's pitching. So you know, it's suddenly when it's happening to you like all these things are positive. So maybe we can at least have a truce and realize we're both like these quarterbacks with

with a little bit of edge. What's wrong with John Baker? I never had a problem Baker's edge. Get out of here. Well, you know, he's just gotta play, and he played very well in year three. Well, I it is not just the play that we're discussing like the concept that he hasn't won five five super Bowl, so he shouldn't be doing an ad. But now you're you're literally waiting for your wife to bring you a burrito, that your quarterback is pitched before he's thrown a pass, which, by the way,

I couldn't be happier about. But it's just let's be real here, Like they are the same situation, young people capitalizing on their looks, youth, talent, and position in life. It's more like the Baker commercial was relentless that whole and then on top of it it was like everyone was like, let me get my blog post and my tweet thread fired off about how amazing this ad campaign is. And it's like, okay, I mean, I think we all thought that it was like totally misplaced in a terrible season,

and it was. We were watching eight televisions in our newsroom. They were good to stick with him. Though, they were good to stick with him. I mean, what what commercials get more popped than they I think we can call it official. I mean, we we know he's a better commercial actor, but Baker Mayfield did he did win over Sam Donald. You know that's that's over. I do well he want in terms of their picks, that's over. The

pick was more successful. Like, yeah, no matter what, I think Sam Donald would have done just as well, if not better than Baker if you put him in Cleveland. I really do believe that. I disagree, and I think that at best, that's a guess. If Baker, well, of course it is. If Baker is drafted by the Jets, the Jets would have drafted a new quarterback this year as well. I mean, but you can say that and will do what I don't. We don't even know. You

got to go with the results. You know, there was like the Marriott of Winston that was kind of a draw this. You know, he got it, he got the decision. You got to win. Yeah, well, that's great. Congratulations, Give him, give him a huge contract, give him the Jyard golf extensions. See how that goes. He's I mean to go, they're not. But they're not doing that. They're not doing that early like other teams have. I'm not fin Let's not fight

about this especially minutes. Congratulations to Andrew Barry though, what a day he had at a kid this morning on drafting. That sounds like a movie. For the lists who think there's too much jets Um Brown's talk, just lop off the final thirty seven minutes of the show and you'll be fine. And Buckstands are like, when are you going to get to our joke? How I forgot about that? He's the edge at of Washington. He goes thirty second

um overall to wrap up Round one. Any final takeaways from the first round besides Drew Brees new hair, Yeah, that was a big one, noticeable. Like I said, would just wonder if there is anything else with the Broncos and the Packers and all this before if we hear anymore whispers or if its just shut down and you know,

they've closed the curtain and everyone's left the stage. I think I found a way to like jam in all the points I wanted to make, even when it didn't really make sense in the context of what we were talking about. I think it is uh, it's all covered and uh, and we do not need to cover Tim Tebow and let's tryout with the Jackets either, and we do need to cover Kim DJ, but that will come on Saturday, so don't worry. I did not forget. We have a we have a Kim d J update, which

is outrageous. I can't believe Kim DJ is still in our life. When when the Draft was just about to start, I happened to go to ESPN dot com, Robert kN DJ signing with the Seahawks was the fourth highest story in their new stack on their homepage, which is totally bizarre. It's because he fell out the window. The window, and that's why he everyone was always fascinated by more than these the first round bust. He was the guy that fell out the window. And it's not just a sports story.

Stick a pin in that all right, good stuff by the way, we we as you saw no doubt on social media if you're a fan of the show. Uh, Ricky had the great idea to go to Dodger Stadium. Me, Mark Ricky and m V p um met up with Lakisha and Link and what a great time that was. That was for links first game. Unfortunately the RESI didn't show up aid Gilch they got beat, But that was that was very nice and it was good to h to do. You haven't checked it out too. I would

also go look at the Reds. What is it a onesie? I guess you could call it like the outfit that um Link was wearing was one of the coolest kid baseball get ups I've ever seen. What eyes, What a cute little boy he is. We had a great time with him. Let's get it together, Reds, you know, stop being such a disappointment. But well, they did take two or three from the domes. That was that was That was pretty good. I think a good Uh. Seeing Link

in the onesie two gave him the idea. It's it's too late for me, Not that I'd want to be the one wearing it, but if anybody's looking now that there's gonna be Halloween Park again for the twenties some things, which is a big deal. Uh, well, at least when I was in New York City. Um and I assume it's a big thing for the the youth post college youth.

Um A a an adult onesie and even wear the diaper, which actually, if you want to go all the way, because you know, when you're drinking a lot, uh, wearing a diaper might actually if you really want to get the functional use of it, you could do that. Um, but you have the onesie and then you just dress like a baby in a onesie that feels like an

absurd costume that would have some legs. I think if you're if you're a female, you'd also if you want to be a real baby, like get a baby's haircut or which I mean would make it, just make it real, because it's like girls are just like, oh, I'll dress like something else and just be a girl at a Halloween party. But like, let if you want to strike the real, realistic note, shave the head very clean um

or have small baby hair on top of your head. Yeah, you definitely hit a hit something that's already been in Mark's mind and he's loving it. No, it's well now I like it as a it's a subversion too, because you know a lot of things that happened at these these Halloween parties girls, or at least they did, but when I was in my twenties would dress up sexy, uh maybe instead of the schoolgirl outfit. Now you're a baby, and like you're saying, I don't like that whole like

I'm gonna sexualize myself. I'm sure I'm cranking the back clock all the way back to baby time, including the America. Yeah you're saying, respect me, stick it to you for trying to turn me into all right, we'll be back Saturday with the full recap of the draft. Everybody, please come back, uh please, And he's a call s