I'm Terry Fao, general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, and this is the NFL Report.
Welcome into the NFL Report, James Palmer, Steve Whitch with you. Terry's working his tail off right now, getting ready for the combine and the draft.
And Steve, what is Wait a minute, you look like you're in a press box right now?
Where Steve?
Yeah?
Yeah, I'm in a press box of at Yeoman Stadium on the campus of Tulayne University watching practices for the HBCU Legacy Bowl, which will air Saturday, four pm Eastern on NFL Network. Met Bucky Brooks, Sherry Burris, and Charles Davis on the call, top one hundred draft LGI players from HBCUs. It's always a great week, JP, But I got good WiFi in here too. These pictures have been real clear.
Yeah, you look great. You look great. You know who's also in that press box you mentioned him? Bucky Brooks.
He's gonna join us talking about some deepest part of the draft, maybe some specific positions that some teams might be intrigued by. We're also going to have Saints head coach Dennis Allen join the show.
Let's go.
Also NFL Network insider Tom Pelisara joins his talk franchise tags and a couple of quarterbacks and Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield. But let's start off with Justin Fields, Steve. And we're not saying that solely. You know, we didn't connect Terry Fontnou to introduce this show to Justin Fields, because we do know that's a potential landing spot that some teams are trying to connect. Let's talk about the
best fit for Justin Fields. And I say this Steve specifically because to my understanding, the Bears are kind of finalizing in this week. They're kind of their their mindset on what they want to do at the quarterback position, and then when they get to Indianapolis, probably a lot of discussions will be had about what teams would be interested in Justin Fields that started amobile, and we'll continue in possible landing spots that he could wind up in.
So with that said, and on the you know, a couple of days before the combine, what's the best fit for Justin Field, Steve?
It's first off, Jap isn't interesting how the conversation is really no longer the Bears retaining Justin Fields.
I mean that seems like the ship is sales.
We don't know, We really don't know, but it seems that the conversation has swung so much to them using that number one pick on Caleb Williams' quarterback that Justin Fields has gone. So to answer your question, it's not Atlanta, it's not Pittsburgh.
It is the Las Vegas Raiders for his.
Former law.
Gets he takes over. But here's why I think he's a great fit.
I look at what their offense is, right, you know, he comes into their quarterback. They've got I think they're gonna bring back Josh Jacobs so they can have a dual threat run game. They've got a pretty good offensive line there. They've got DeVante Adams, They've got some players. They've got a tight end, right, They've got Meyer, They've got some players he can get the ball to.
They're a physical club. Plus all of.
Those great offensive head coaches in that division, Jim harbaughch On Peyton, Andy Reid, they haven't had to defend a quarterback like Justin Fields. I think he could go there, and in a division where Antonio Pierce the only defensive coach facing some of the greatest coaches that we have seen in modern football having somebody like him to confuse them to hold the ball and have explosive play potential. To me, I think he's a raider all day. Fits the culture. I could see him smoking a cigar with
Max Crosby and AP. I think that's the perfect fit.
Well, that's a various It also like rich Gangarillo joining that staff, who maybe an underrated developer of quarterbacks in this league, is very, very talented in terms of working with quarterbacks.
I just look at.
Pittsburgh and I look at Atlanta, and I look at the skill position players that would be around, justin fields. In terms of guys like you know, George Pickens goes up and gets ball, Steve right he goes up and gets balls that are fifty to fifty type of balls. I also think that those guys exist in Atlanta as well. What I'm curious about this process and I wanted to add this more than just a typical landing spot. This was a crazy stat sent to us by our research department.
The Bears had a ten or more point lead in the fourth quarter in eight games this season. They lost three of those. Nobody else really lost more than one game that had that type of lead. I want to know what the league considers if this is on Justin Fields, the quarterback, or if this is on the situation in Chicago. He had the worst passer rating in football in the fourth quarter amongst qualified passers. So I want to know how this evaluation evolves. Because the guy hasn't been dealt
the greatest of hands in Chicago. He is actually extremely well liked by the front office and the people within that locker room. I want to know if they want to do him a solid Steve, do they want to send him to a decent location.
That's what I'm curious about.
And I do think that's a great point, because when you trade away somebody who is a good player or who has those types of feelings, you want to trade him to a situation where he could possibly succeed. But I want to go back to what he said, is this conversation about the Steelers continues to intrigue me because Arthur Smith, he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, wanted no parts of Justin Fields.
He had the possibility to draft him, they.
Took Kyle Pitts. We asked Terry Fondo. This last week they took Kyle Pitts, a tight end. They bypassed Justin Fields. Why all of a sudden with the head coach who designs the offense take a liking to Justin Field. That's why this conversation when I hear the Steelers and Arthur Smith, Ougho'd be a perfect fit. Why Arthur Smith didn't want him once? Why would he want him right now? It's just that that linking, I may be completely off base.
I don't see I don't see that link. Real quick, JP, since we're talking about Chicago Bears with the number one pick, possibly you're likely using it on quarterback Caleb Williams.
A number two sets to Washington Commanders.
I think they are going to be more draft day ballers.
Than the Bears.
I think they've got the potential to move from two to four, still, get the quarterback that they want, pink up some extra picks, They've got cap space to add people in free agency.
To me, that is the team to watch with the draft.
That's where the draft really starts, because I think they've got some pieces and they've got.
Some time there.
They've got a grace period to put things in place. Where that's going to be the big mover all around the early part of the draft.
Listen, Steve, if they're the ones grabbing all the attention, I'm nervous for Ryan Poles. I'm nervous if he gets overshadowed with what he has set up leading into this draft. I do think the Fields trade actually happened sooner rather than later. They'd like that to happen. There's more teams that need a quarterback now than when it gets closer to the draft. I think that's plays with this as well. And I think you're right. I think number two is
where the draft starts. Because everybody's assuming it's Kayleb Williams at number one that's locked in. It's gonna take a historic Hall, as Ian Rappaport reports. So number two seems to be the start of the draft, but at number nine is also the Bears.
So I'm fascinated by this.
Thought process that you have to where it could be the Washington Commanders hurting all the heads as opposed to the Chicago Bears.
I'm fascinated to see what happens. But that's why you went and got Adam Peters, right, Steve.
Yeah, absolutely, and was he Adam Peters. He's wheeling and dealing before before the draft when it comes to those types of picks when he was with the forty nine ers. We'll see if he does it again, you know what, Jap. When we come back after the break, we've got Saints coach Dennis Allen. They are revamping their with a new coordinator, a new scheme. We're gonna talk to him about that and how that affects Derek Carr when we're back on the NFL Report, roll.
That state bell.
See it's time for the lead block, presented by T Mobile for Business. A sport as fast as football deserves America's fastest five G network, businesses go further with T Mobile for Business. All Right, welcome back to the NFL Report and JP, I am so looking forward to this because we are now joined by New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen.
I've known DA way back. Gosh, it's been about fifteen years.
We go back DA back to Atlanta, and first off, thanks for joining us, but we want to have you on because this has been such an eventful off season in terms of changing of your coaching staff. On the offensive side, you hire Clint Kubiak as your offensive coordinator. Just kind of what went into that and what are you expecting now for your offense?
Is it going to be a radical.
Change or do something you think fits philosophically what you want to do with this team.
Yeah, well, look, obviously, we went through an extensive search in terms of interview and a lot of people for this position. I think we I think we interviewed eleven or twelve offensive coordinator candidates, a lot of really qualified guys. I felt like, you know, we really needed to do a deep dive into a lot of different schemes and a lot of different personalities.
I wanted to really look at.
You know, what was going to be the best fit for the New Orleans Saints, for our players that we have here, and the things that we need to try to get accomplished.
And I felt like Clint Kubiak was.
Obviously the the person of choice. And I've known Clint for a long time. I feel like I've known the family for you know, probably over twenty thirty years. I remember watching Clint's dad, Gary play quarterback back at Texas A and m you know, growing up. So I feel like I fe I've known this family. I feel like I've known this scheme for a long time and and and I feel like this is the best scheme that gives your players the best chance to have success that's
going in the National Football League right now. And and UH, I think Clint is highly intelligent. UH, he's extremely hard worker. I think we've put together an outstanding UH staff with a little bit of a mixture of some older veteran coaches that have been there, done that, UH, with some younger progressive mindset type of guys. And and I think it's gonna be a great mixture for our for our organization.
Yeah, before we move forward to what we want to talk about philosophically and scheme wise, And you touched on it there a little bit.
I know I've been told back in the day.
You know the way Gary when he ran it at its highest level, it's almost Doenguardle sometimes if it's done the right way, the way this offense can be run. But specifically Clint coming from San Francisco and the way you've seen coaches depart out of San Francisco and have success. What is it that you learned maybe in that interview process with Clint about what that building is doing right to have guys prepared to make a jump like you're having Clint do.
Yeah.
Well, I just think it's really about, you know, having having a system that you believe in UH, and then being able to clearly identify the players that fit that system, and then being able to acquire the talent that fits.
That And and I think.
I think they've done as good a job as any in San Francisco being able to do that. I think they have a belief system of things that they really firmly believe in, and they don't vary from that. Obviously, the scheme has has evolved as it's going gone along.
You know, this goes back to you know, Mike Shanahan coaching back at Denver h through you know kub going to Houston UH and then and then carrying that scheme along, you know, when he went back to UH Baltimore and then he went to Minnesota, and you just see this scheme having a lot of success.
There's probably a little bit more window.
Dressing within the scheme now than maybe what there was you know, ten or fifteen years ago. But I just think it's it's a system that's quarterback friendly UH and and I think it relies on being able to run the football and uh and get your play action passing game going.
Yeah, I love I love hearing you talk about this because you're a defensive guy, right, You've had the scheme begainst this, so you know how what the challenge it is schematically. You just said it, this is a quarterback friendly system. How do you think this is going to benefit Derek Carr?
Well, look, I think Derek's going to do exceptionally well. You know, I thought there was a point in time this past season where you know, we started incorporating a little bit more of the play action passing game and I really felt like that's where our offense started to take off. I thought that's where Derek really kind of
started to take off. And you know, it's interesting because you know, I've had communication with Derek throughout this process, uh, you know, and talk to him about some of the different candidates that you know, we were bringing in. And his brother, David had played for Gary and and UH in Houston, and that was David's last year in Houston.
I was kind of a little bit concerned that, you know, maybe that wouldn't go over that great and and uh, and David had some really good things to say, you know, about the offensive scheme, uh, and about how he uh, you know, really appreciated the scheme and the things that they were doing, and and and really enjoyed playing for for Gary and felt like, look, if, if, if there's some similarities, which I think there's a ton between Gary and Clint, that uh, it was going to be a
great fit. And so I'm really kind of excited about that.
It's interesting you bring up Houston.
I was a beat guy there when Gary was the head coach, and I remember those drafts da of him kind of finding the guys that fit this game we're talking about throughout the draft. So I'm kind of curious now that you make this switch on offense, what have the meetings been like, and does your draft philosophy maybe change a little bit in the style of player maybe you're looking at on the offensive line or some other spots with the way that Clint wants to run this.
Yeah, no, I think that's a great question.
You know, you know, a few years back defensively here, I remember back in twenty fifteen, kind of twenty sixteen, we weren't sure exactly what we wanted to be defensively three four four to three, Seattle three defense, New England
single high man. We kind of went through a little process, and it was really kind of in sixteen where I kind of took over, and I think we clearly identified exactly what we wanted to do defensively and exactly what we were looking for in each position, and so therefore we were able to go out and find those guys twenty seventeen draft and on, and I think we became a lot better defense because of that, because we clearly identified what we were looking for. And I think that's
the process that we're going through right now. We're in the process of having our February draft meetings with the scouts, with Jeff Ireland, Mickey Loomis, myself, we're in there talking through these guys, and we had a chance to get the offensive coaching staff in here over the weekend and really sit down with the you know, with the scouts and with the people in the draft room and kind of go through, Look, this is what we're looking for
at the quarterback position. This is what we're looking for in an offensive tackle, this is what we're looking for at the receiver position. So I think that's been I think that's been great for our group, and I think we'll have to continue to have those discussions as we go throughout you know, this draft process and really not just the draft process, but free agency also.
M hm.
I mean, I know that's invigorating.
I mean it's got to be like so cool now to have these types of discussions with the new staff and kind of hear new ideas and and to really do this. So let's let's kind of flip it to the other side of the ball, DA, you know, that's where you've just had one of the best defenses in the NFL for just the longest time. And I want to look at Cam Jordan because last year see him
like just such an aberration. You know, you only had the two sacks he wasn't putting up, you know, the typical Hall of Fame type of numbers we've seen him put up.
Do you consider that just kind of.
A blip on the radar, you know, And what does he maybe need to do to get back to the Cam that we have seen for more than a decade.
Yeah, Well, look, I think I think the thing that I would say about Cam, you know, probably where the dip occurred a little bit. Is just his ability to finish on the quarterback. I think he was still effective and kind of being able to get around the quarterback, he just didn't finish as well on the quarterback. And so, uh, I think that's one of the things that we've got
to continue to look at and work at. I think he's still one of the better run players in our league at the defensive end position.
But look, let's be honest.
I mean, as we as we all get older, we we we start to slow down a little bit. I don't think he's at that point where I think he's still got some good football left. And I think it's up to us to try to find the positions and the places to put him in, uh, to allow him to still be successful, you know.
And so.
Look, the other thing is he injured his ankle at some point in the season. I think it might have been the Minnesota week. And look, he's such a tough competitor that he just battled through and fought through it. But I think it was probably, you know, six weeks before he started feeling more like himself.
Yeah, you mentioned you mentioned Cam's age, and I'm not pushing him out the door by any stretch.
He's one of my favorite players to watch.
But as a head coach, now that you're in this position and you're going through this, when a roster starts to get a little bit older, how do you figure out gauging you know, a guy still, as you mentioned, Cam, still has this much left in your mind, gauging between we have to try to maybe flip this and get younger in some aspects, but we still want to value what this guy brings. Because you have a lot of those type of players that still bring a lot to the table.
How do you gauge that?
Yeah, Look, I think it's a delicate balance, you know, because not only do these players I'm talking about guys like Cam Jordan, I'm talking about guys like Tyron Matthew, I'm talking about guys like to Mario Davis. We're speaking
specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Look, they can still play, and they can still play at a winnable level, and it's all those other intangibles that they can bring to your football team that don't necessarily always show up on the stat sheet, but they they they show up in terms of the culture and and uh and the way you go about doing things. And so look, it's a delicate balance and it's hard because you know, these guys have been such great players for such a
long time. Uh that's that's the challenging part of this business. But uh, as long as they can play and play at a level that allows us to be able to win, uh, then then uh, I think they're valuable pieces to our team.
Da Hey, one last question before we let you go here, and and this is important. I'm in New Orleans for the the HBCU Legacy Bowl. The HBCU Combine was running your facility, and the Saints have such a rich history with players, coaches and supporting black college athletics. Even last year you guys adding Mark Evans, the offensive lineman at
Arkansas Pine Bluff. Just what about your organizational commitment to continue to find talent on and off the field to make you guys better year in and year out.
Yeah, well, look, I mean I think I think it's really just a commitment to trying to find the best people and the best players that we can find, regardless of where they come from.
Uh.
And I think this uh, you know, this Legacy Bowl, and we had the combine over here at the facility yesterday where I think there was probably about you know, fifty kids that got an opportunity to get in front of the NFL scouts, uh and and go through some you know, positional uh drills or skilled drills to get get there, get their name, and get their face in front of uh some NFL evaluators and give them an opportunity to maybe have a chance to uh, you know,
either be drafted signed as a free agent. You know, we look football players coming and and all shape sizes and areas and backgrounds and all those kinds of things, and and uh, you know, we're willing to look anywhere we can to find somebody that fits our culture, that fits our program, uh, that can help us, you know, be a successful organization wins the football games.
Hey da, man, we appreciate the support. We appreciate you taking the time with this.
Man.
You're the best.
Thank you, you know, and you're taking out time when the middle draft prep and putting the staff together means the world.
So can't thank you enough. Joining James and I here at the NFL report.
Yeah, absolutely, guys. I always got I always got fifteen minutes for you.
Guys there we go, We're gonna follow you back.
We're going to hold you to that day. Yeah, we are all right.
NFL Report our top Pella zero is going to talk about some key NFL free agents. That guy Kirk Cousins he be available. That's next on the NFL Report. All the tape, l Fie.
That's a wrap for the.
Lead block presented by Team Mobile for Business. A sport as fast as football deserves America's fastest five G network, businesses go further with t Mobile for Business.
Welcome back to the NFL Report. James Palmer, Steve Whitch with you now. NFL insider Tom Pellisero joins us and tom My first question to you is this, we broke bread multiple times in Vegas during the week long stay we had in there, which is far longer than the forty eight hours everybody recommends. Your favorite meal in Las Vegas that you had with me was what.
Let's see.
I believe I bailed on one of them about halfway through because I had an engagement that I needed to get to. I believe that one lotuses I am had the potential to be really good. Everybody raided about it after, but the potent in the Cosmo. It was a fantastic meal that we had together.
Oh, that was fantastic. That one was really really good, really really good.
And all right, speaking of fantastic, let's get to the wide receiver position. Potential franchise tag candidates.
There's two. I'm looking at the first one. T Higgins.
To me, this is a fascinating situation with Cincinnati and he if you give him a contract, then you're just resetting a floor for Jamar Chase, which you have to do down the road. Do you want to pay two wide receivers? Do you move on now or do you try to maybe just run it back on the tag and try to get a Lombardi in twenty twenty four? Where do things stand in your opinion with T Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals.
You're right, James, because somebody, if T. Higgins were to get to the open market, would pay him like a number one wide receiver on his own team. It's pretty clear Jamar Chase is that number one guy when he's out there and fully healthy. The Bengals are not strangers to using the franchise tag. They have done it in the past with a wide receiver not that long ago.
In aj Green and had him play his final season there on the tag, So certainly a possibility that they could keep t Higgins on the franchise tag for a year. Nobody's preference, generally speaking, is to end up with somebody on the tag, but they've got enough flexibility right now in terms of their salary cap that that would be an option if they're not able to consummate a deal prior to the negotiating window opening up on March eleven.
JB.
I'm gonna let you follow up since you said you had a second wide receiver you want.
Yeah, I kind of blocked out because I was thinking of STK real quick. How about Mike Evans down there in Tampa Bay, Because I know there's plenty of teams around the league that are going this is still an unbelievably productive receiver and if he finds his way out, this is somebody just like the Higgans, and teams are going to jump at.
Well, it's a big number for Mike Evans if you were to franchise tag him based off last year's salary cap number. Also, you have to think what a player has had the type of career that Mike Evans has had at the Buccaneers one thousand yards every single season being a franchise legend. Do you go that harout if you're not able to work out a deal, or do you say thanks for the memories, thanks for a Super Bowl win, We're gonna let you move on with your
career right now. Those are organizational decisions that the Bucks are going to have to make. I know that certain people were making a lot of fact they didn't get a contract done a couple of days ago before a void date. Voids are not magic, They're not hey, he immediately becomes a free agent. They just mean it's a matter of accounting differently for future cap numbers onto the cap. Nothing precluding them from being able to move forward here with a deal on Mike Evans. But let's also be
very clear, Mike Evans has earned it. He's one of the most consistent players that the NFL has seen over the past decade. Here he's got one more big bite at the apple. I would not think that he would want to be on the franchise tag. I would think, and again a lot of different ways that this could go. Teams have the right he used the tag, But I would think if they can't get a deal done with Mike Evans. He quite possibly we're in a new uniform in twenty twenty four.
I would agree Tom because look, he'll always be viewed year. Yeah, even if he has to play another team, he always be viewed as a buccaneer. His his legacy is solidified.
There. Let's come off the tag.
You know, maybe later we can talk about, you know, Tony Pollard to say, Kwon Barkley and this and that, but let's.
Get some guys with some inspiring contracts.
Kirk Cousins is the more, if the more, one of the most I should say, intriguing guys out there. Because Minnesota we know they probably would like to keep him. But he's coming off that achilles, there's the age. What's his situation.
Well, I would anticipate Steve that kirk Cousins is going to have a strong market, even going on to his age thirty six season and coming off.
Of that torn achilles.
The Vikings want to keep kirk Cousins, but to this point, there's really been no substantive communication. That's normal for the Vikings. They do a lot of their contract talks with their own free agents. At the combine that begins next week in Indianapolis. At that point, I would think that everybody involved have a pretty good idea of what that market
for Kirk Cousins is going to be. At the same time, Vikings are exploring all options in the event that the price tag just becomes too high on Cousins if he goes elsewhere. Wouldn't think that they'd be in the Baker Mayfield mix. There's not a lot of other starting caliber, clear starters available in free agency. I think it may be more of an economical type of veteran Let's say a Sam Darnold coming in, which would buy them some time to bridge the gap to bringing a young quarterback
as well. Maybe even somebody that they could draft or sitting there at number eleven could go up to go down.
That would be a possibility. Minnesota in general, guys in a really unique situation right here, because there's not a lot of times you've got three players on your roster who all could be thirty million plus per year players with Kirk Cousins who can't be tagged, the Neil Hunter, who is also a penny free agent, can't be tagged, and then justin Jefferson who has a pretty big vested interest in what happens with Kirk Cousins in that quarterback situation.
So a lot of moving parts for Quasia doofo Mensa and Kevin O'Connell to soar through here. Again, the Vikings usually do a lot of what they take care of is at the combine, coming off of that and leading up to March eleventh March thirteenth, that's where you'll get a better idea of exactly what direction these are gonna go.
Can I just say with all the time he missed justin Jefferson season still was absolutely remarkable and what he was able to do with even the games that he missed, he was He's incredible. You mentioned Baker there real quick, Tom, you look down there in Tampa. We mentioned Mike Evans, We talked about him, and then you could look at the franchise tag and maybe that's going to Antoine Winfield
Junior their safety. Maybe that's where that tag goes. What's what's the status with where things stand with Baker maybe re signing in Tampa because he becomes available. There's not a lot of veterans, as you mentioned, signal callers that teams are maybe desiring and he might be one a on a decent price.
Well, here's what we know, James.
The price is gonna be higher for Baker Mayfield than it was a year ago when he went there on a one year deal worth five million dollars plus incentives. The question is going to be how high does that price go and does another team it's serious, involved and make a push for Baker Mayfield. Now we know the Bucks have expressed an interest they want Baker Mayfield back.
Mayfield said during Super Bowl interviews that getting that offensive coordinator in place, the fact that the guy he knows in Liam Cohen, that was one of the big pieces that had to be in place before he evaluates his situation. Now, I've talked to a lot of people within the league, other general managers who are trying to project this thing out. They all believe Baker Mayfield ends up going back to Tampa.
If for no other reason then he's been on so many teams from Cleveland, Carolina to LA to Tampa over the past couple of years that up ending once again and going to another new team probably isn't what he really wants to do. I mean said that Dave Canalis isn't there anymore? The guy had success with in Tampa last year, he's now the Panthers head coach.
How much does that impact things?
And also remember this, okay, Liam Cohen worked with Baker during that time that he's spent with LA a couple of years ago. So did Zach Robinson, who's now the Falcons offensive coordinator.
They have an acute quarterback feat.
I'm not saying that the Falcons are going to make a run at this, but in the same division, if they got involved, that's the type of thing that can really make that price go up.
And Raheem Morris was the DC for the Rams when Baker came in and played well at the end of the season a couple of years ago too, so there's that tie as well. Let's get back to the running backs and potential franchise tag with Tony Pollard and Saquon bark That would seem almost a steep for what both teams got from those running backs last year. Even on the tag, that would seem like a steep number for both of those players.
Am I am? I kind of off base?
You're thinking that an eleven million dollars twelve thirteen million dollar tag for both those guys is serviceable enough.
Again, the steepest tag actual would be for Josh Jacobs in Las Vegas. That one could go to fourteen million plus based upon the foundation upgrade contract a couple extra million. Saquon and Tony Pollard played it essentially the base tag.
Barkley did a new deal.
They added like nine hundred and nine thousand dollars in incentives, but they were all tied to team performance. When you're the Giants and you lose your quarterback and you play with Tommy DeVito and.
You win like six games, you're not hitting any of those incentives.
So for Saquon, he's said many times he wants to be a Giant for life. The Giants organization has a great affinity for Saquon Barkley. John Marris certainly is in that bucket as well. It would make a lot of sense for them to try to get a deal done. But remember last year, New York made multiple runs at this. They did it before the startup Fur agency, before the
tag window. Last year, Saquon turned down a fairly substantial contract, albeit within the context of running back contracts, so they had to pivot tag Saquon and resign Daniel Jones to an extension.
Again.
They made another push to resign Saquon d'uring the bye week last year, again didn't end up doing it. So all of that leads you to a situation now and again before July as well. So several times they've tried to make a run of getting something done with Saquon. It hasn't worked out to this point. You would think though, again they would like to get something done. The question
is going to be the number. And then when it comes to Tony Pollard, obviously his numbers weren't great in his first year as the back three point nine yards per carry. I talked to Emmett Smith in an interview during Super Bowl Week. I asked him, what would you do with Tony Pollard? Emmittt said, I think you have to resign him. His argument was, it is different being
the number one back versus the number two back. Cowboys also, based on how they played offense, didn't necessarily always commit to being a running football team, in Emmett's point of view, and I respect that more than anything I'm going to say on this show.
Let's be honest here.
He felt like there's more that they could unlock with Tony Pollard moving forward, but tagging him again at twelve million dollars plus to your point, Steve, that does seem right.
Yeah, that's a deep number, Tom p good stuff. Have fun during franchise tax season, combine season. You two go get a meal. I'm not saying it to what. We'll break bread there too.
Yeah, yeah, you have me. Tom's gonna dip.
Out again too halfway because he got a more important engagement again, JP, do take that.
That's probably what happened.
Can we come back on the NFL report. Caleb William's the number one quarterback. We're about to talk about him and others might not be, or maybe they are.
We're back on the NFL Report.
The top draft eligible players from historically black colleges and universities put on the pads one last time to show they're worthy of getting drafted.
The third annual.
All State HBCU Legacy Bowl Saturday at four pm Eastern, exclusively on NFL Network and streaming on NFL Plus. Speaking of the HBCU Legacy Bowl, Bucky Brooks, who now joins US, will be on the call with me and Bucky and I right now are at Tulane Stadium, about a third fourteen away from one another in the press box here Stadium at T Lane JB.
Bucky, B.
Appreciate you joining us. We're gonna get to some of.
The these HBCU players who are participating in practice this week. In just a minute, there's the horn, kind of signaling practice is over.
Well, Bucky, let's get to the overall draft class coming in.
Since we're in that window the NFL Draft combine starts soon, we can just tell us overall about this draft class.
You know, Steve is a really solid draft class up at the top of the board. Now, this would be the first year where we see some of the I would say, the negative effects of nil, some of the COVID stuff where the draft is not as deep when we get to Day three. But the first three rounds should be loaded with players that can come in and make contributions in those things. As it relates to positions that are really loaded with talent, I would say the
quarterback position, you got solid prospects. You have a ton of big time playmakers at wide receiver. Probably the deepest position of the draft. Offensive line, particularly offensive tackle, is loaded with playmakers and talent.
Where you can see a bunch of first round come off the board.
On defense, you have a solid pass rushing class, like you have guys that are intriguing, but it's not as deep as past some past years. And then I would say cornerback, you have a bunch of big cornerbacks, guys that are over five ten, five or eleven that can play the game, usize in a variety of techniques.
So you're in need of kind of what we call the core positions.
You can find those guys passers, playmakers, pass protectors, hand full of pass rushers, and then some defensive playmakers.
At corner you can get those guys. You just won't find a.
Lot at running back, in linebacker. That's where you kind of have to go shopping elsewhere.
Okay, I like it, I like it. We'll start with the most important one. It's the quarterback spot bucket. And this is not my Ohio State blood right here throwing shade at JJ McCarthy and what he's done to my team in the game. What I'm curious about is what do you see in your evaluations in talking people in terms of size and in terms of it just seems like he hasn't had to be the guy in big moments.
The team's been brilliant around him.
Is that kind of I don't want to say a knock on him, but when you haven't seen him have to do that as much? What happens in your evaluation process when you don't have a whole lot of examples of that.
And you're going to need him to do it at the next level.
Yeah, No, I mean, I think that's a very valid concern to think about JJ McCarthy. The things that will go well for him will be winning pet agree. He's done it on a big stage on a ton of games at Michigan. He'll go down maybe as the greatest quarterback to ever play there, just based on how the team succeeded.
He's been a guy that has just kind of managed the.
Team, driven the bus and found a way to get the team into the winner circle.
But when you watch him play athletically, he's intriguing.
He can run the ball, he's a legitimate duel threat quarterback, super athletic, has a strong arm and delivered deadly strikes and those things. You just don't have a lot of visual evidence on tape to say that he could be the guy that is the drive for us of the offense.
That's it.
When I look at him, it reminds me a lot of the same evaluation that I had with Justin Herbert. Justin Herbert when he played at Oregon was not asked to do a lot of stuff, played in the more of a conservative offense, but then he gets to the National Football League and flourishes. I think JJ McCarthy is intriguing because people see the traits and the tools, They see the athleticism, they see the strong arm, they recognize
and appreciate the intangibles. That's why he's going to be a gutess of interest in the first round.
Wow, Bucky, sound like people evaluating some Dean Smith tar heels back in the day because they had so many good players. None of them were have to drive. But you talked about how great this receiving classes. We know how the very top there's Marvin Harrison Junior, who might be the best player.
Overall in this draft.
What about the top end depth and what type of players are these teams getting Because we've seen wide receivers buck the norm over the past five or six years and come in and have an immediate impact.
Yeah, I think what we're seeing is the byproduct of what we call seven on seven culture. The wide receivers that are entering the league now are more experienced, more polished than they've ever been. Part of the reason is because they're catching more balls, running more routes than they ever have. From the time there and Pop Warner to the time they graduate college, these guys have really played football year round, and it manifests itself in guys like
Marvin Harrison Junior. Being a very polished player that comes out reminds me a lot of Larry Fitzgerald in terms of just guessing when you see him. He's a plug and play pro. You can run rouse, he can catch it over the middlefield. He has speed to burn. But to me, he's a legitimate number one receiver because he not only commands double coverage, but he can defeat cover coverage. It's easy to envision him being the anchor of a
passing game, but it extends beyond him. Rome a Doonsday from Washington is another guy that people are buzzing about, and one of the reasons they're buzzing about the Washington standout is because he's big, he's physical, does a great job of catching the ball in his hands. He wins the fifty to fifty balls and really, when you watch him, he reminds me a lot of Jamar Chase, physical imposing presence even though he doesn't have I would say superior size.
He plays with a rugged game that means he's gonna win, and he's gonna win a ton on the perimeter. And the last guy we got to talk about is Lsu Standout Molik Neighbors just a total package. Can catch it, run and catch specialists and separate, does a great job of making things happen. And even though like he shared the marquee with another talented player, he is another guy that is ready to roll. These three players will vie
for the number one spot. Even though we've talked about Marvin Harrison Junior being the number one, these other guys would get him a run for their money because I think it comes down to ice cream shops. What kind of flavors do you like to go in your favorite waffle cone. These guys bring a lot to the table. That's why so much how many people are buzzing about.
I love the analogy buckets.
I want to use it for what Terry Fontineau told us on this show last week. He was on with us and said, they're really excited about the round two, round three picks that they have because he believes that group right there, you have the ability to find a lot of talent in different spots. I'm curious if maybe you could read into what he's saying. We don't know how the draft is going to fall by then, right, it always can kind of fall and there's runs at
different spots. But maybe in that could you kind of maybe with what you've looked at round two, round three, what's he talking about of what maybe value you can find there?
Well, I mean, like I don't necessarily think that the Atlanta Falcons and the wide receivers, but we have seen in recent years wide receivers come from every round of the draft and have an immediate impact. Everybody would talk about Fuku Nakua, but let's just talk about the impact that Tank Dale was having the Houston Texas when he jumped out and made a ton of plays. There are
more of those kinds of players were supplying to me. Look, the supply is overwhelming when it comes to the wide receiver position, but it also would be an opportunity for teams to look at offensive tackles and if you need to fortify the offensive line, there are a bunch of
intriguing players that can come off the board. We always talk about the first rounders, but look, man, there's an offensive tackle class of Joe aut Tullis Fuaga, Amarius Men, JC Latham, troy Na that are going to be available at the bottom of the first round, top of the second round, so you can get some of those these feel and also on the interior, because as I'm thinking about the Atlanta Facons, I think really the main thing is them fixing quarterback and continue to upgrade.
The offensive line.
Ram Barton, Jackson, Powers, Johnson Hooper, BB, Chris Haynes. There are a lot of players on the offensive side of the ball that are available in the second and third rounds that'll be able to come in and get you starters. And then if we talk about, like literally I talk about the draft nine being plentiful in terms of running backs and linebackers, but that's where those guys are gonna come off the board.
We have a namesake in Jeremiah Trodde Junior.
There will be a nice fit second, third round instinctive active in those things. I think the reason why general managers get excited is because they know if I don't want to expand the first round pick, there are some positions that I can talken in the second and third rounds and really upgrade my roster.
All right, but we're talking about some day two, day three guys. We are here at the HPCU Legacy Ball. The first day of the full practice is just wrapped up here at Tulane University. Team Robinson, players made up from the Swack and the Ssayak just finish their drills. But later on it be Team Gaither and their quarterback Davius Richard from North Carolina Central.
Is that, dude? Do you tie me a heck Player of the year, A great runner, a great thrower. He blew up the combine.
What about a player like him who is so accomplished at this level, who has all the physical specs about him getting into a camp and getting a shot, especially with the duality he poses.
Yeah, I think this year.
I mean look even previous years, like last year we saw as a Shawn Clifford go in the fifth round and dtr during Thompson Robinson going the fifth round and have an opportunity to play. I think teams are kind of getting hip to the fact that you need to continue to take quarterbacks just due to the nature of the position, the value of the position, and the injury situations that we see in the position.
You need to have a bunch of guys in the stable.
When you talk about Davis Richard, one of the things that will intrigue teams about him is the spectacular playmaking ability that he possesses, not only as a thrower but as a dynamic runner. When you watched him at n C Central, he made plays. He had the ability to put this offense on his back. People will need to look no further than the Celebration Bowl a year ago when he knocked off Coach Primes undefeated Jackson State team and did it in splendid fashion. This is a big
time playmaker. And the thing that I like about him, Steve, is when we had an opportunity to talk to him after the combine, the ability to articulate and to really explain the wise behind.
What he does on the field.
To me, that is valuable because when you talk to teams, they want guys that can take board the information from the board to the field.
Richard is one of those except one of those guys that can do that.
But when you've seen quarterbacks over the last couple of years come out and Brock perty's one that jumps out obviously with everything he's done, but experience, right, you've played those snaps in the game, and now it seems like teams are seeing that.
You know, it's important to almost go up.
I have to finish with this because this is what Steve and I show is about. It's about offensive linemen and it's about the nickel corner position. For some reason, we talk about those two more than anything else on this show. Have you seen in team's evaluations, Buck, over the last couple of years the way that nickel spot has become more and more important to finding that on your defensive side of the ball? Trent Duffee, obviously, what he did with the Super Bowl champs just jumps out
of us. You know, repeatedly, What have you seen in terms of the evaluations and the importance of finding that spot over the last couple of drafts?
Yeah, so I think it's been changing for a while.
It's become now where teams consider defenses to have twelve starters, and that nickel corner is considered a starter. And it's not only considered a starter, but now you're scouting for play a specific set of skills to play at the nickel position, because when you're playing nickel corner, I want people to understand back in the day, the nickel used to be your best corner, because what you're asking them to do is to be.
A hybrid player.
He's a hybrid linebacker slash defensive back who is tasked with being assigned to sometimes the slipperiest wide receiver, but also being factored into the running game. So guys need to tackle well, they need to have quickness to be able to shadow in space, they need to be high IQ guys because you ask them to do a lot of things at that position, and if they have pass for a skills where they can blitz off the edge,
it really makes them a very valuable commodity. So when you talk about guys like Trent McDuffie and the work that he was able to do last year for the Kansas City Chiefs, people are going to look at that and they want players who can kind of impact the game in a variety of ways. I just think it's
the nature of the way the NFL is going. You're seeing teams blitz more, You're seeing teams play more man to man, and you continue to see the evolution of the defense where you having positionless players manning multiple spots. The nickel position is that spot that has really become a huge position for championship caliber defense.
Love.
I don't know, Buck, I don't know how many guys that play that spot.
Steve and I have had on the show this year.
I might be half a dozen of those guys, Kenny Moore and a couple of those guys that have been on the show, and we've absolutely loved chatting with them about the position. You know it so well and you broke it down brilliantly. Listen, we stole Bucking from moved the sticks for our but make sure you keep an eye listening to him and Daniel Jeremiah throughout this entire draft off season or for in season, for you, off season for me.
But I appreciate it, man, Please can join us.
Again before this draft rolls around on the NFL report, Buck, awesome stuff, Thank you.
Hey man, thanks for having me.
All right. Coming up, Matthew Slater announces his retirement.
Can a man with one NFL reception as a wide receiver make it to the Hall of Fame.
We're going to debate that next on the NFL Report.
You're listening to the NFL Report podcast, but you can watch me, Steve Weich and my co host James Palmer on The NFL Report at seven fifteen Eastern Time on Mondays and Thursdays on the NFL App and free streaming platforms on the NFL channel on Roku two b Peacock, Pluto TV and other free streaming apps.
Welcome back to the NFL Reporters. We close things out. James Palmer, Steve Whtch with you alongside Tom Brady and a recently retired Matthew Slater. The Special Team's Extraordinary for the New England Patriots. Brady's saying the best teammate and even better man, Congratulations on the perfect career. A ten time Pro bowler, Steve, two time All Pro who had eight career targets. He's listed on your roster as a wide receiver, but eight targets in his whole career one catch.
You know so much about the Hall of Fame? Does Matthew Slater get into Canton.
This is gonna be real interesting because, look, Devin Hester's going in as a member of the Class of twenty twenty four.
He's the greatest returner ever.
We have two of the greatest kickers John Stenenrud and Morgan Anderson in the game in the Hall, the greatest punter ever, and Ray guy in the Hall. Got what about one of the best coverage guys, blocker setup men ever in Matthew Slater. Interesting because Steve Tasker, the legend of the Buffalo Bills. People have been clamoring for him to get in for more than a decade. Do you
put Matthew Slater, who you see right here. You know how hard this is to pick somebody up on the run as you see him on that type of play. Does he get in before Steve Pasker? This is going to be a very interesting debate becaus Matthew Slater is far more decorated as a special teamer than any non returner or punter or kicker to get into the Hall JP.
And Steve, I'll throw this on his resume as well real quick, and I've talked to people in New England about this. His role in the Second Dynasty Essentially, the Patriots have is massive, a special teams player that took the attention to detail in operating, in coverage and kick return to all those aspects added to the attention to
detail in the culture that Bill Belichick created there. If you talk to people in that building, they will tell you he played a far bigger role than people outside the Boston area understand in how that dynasty was developed. It was Teddy Bruski that handed the baton essentially to Matthew Slater. How crazy is that? A special team or an unbelievable career. Remember our time has changed, Steve by fifteen minutes, so don't miss the first team fifteen minutes
of the show. We are remember Mondays and Thursdays, seven o'clock on the NFL channel that's on Roku and twob and Peacock and everywhere, and then all later it'll be on YouTube.
Steve, the picture still looks great. The time's just a little bit different.
Times are a bit different, and we're still a podcast that you can listen to whenever, when you're out walking your dog, when you're up on the slopes, when you're watching the NFL combine, next week, your Thursday JP