The EA Podcast: Live at the Combine - Day 2

best time of the year. You know. I do this three hundred sixty five days out of the year, So now it's fun when everyone else is, you know, coming around in my wheelhouse to talk about these prospects. Uh. Like you mentioned three guys here, only two fifty or so will be drafted, and plenty of the guys that will be drafted won't be here. So non combined invites so a lot on the line this week for the

players here. That us talking to a former Jet and a former Dallas Cowboy and former Kansas City chief fullback Tony Richester today and he came out of Auburn about two forty pounds ran a four four at that time and was undrafted. So in addition to everybody's gonna be drafted, they're gonna be guys here are not here who are

actually gonna play on NFL rosters next year. Absolutely, there's an average of about thirty five to thirty seven thirty eight guys who will be drafted who are non combined invites, so about fiftent of the field who were actually drafted. Uh. And then here there's three hundred thirty players, over a hundred players who were here this week will not get drafted. So just because you have a combined invite does not

mean you're gonna get drafted. And just because you didn't receive one and you're not here this week, while yes, it's a missed opportunity, if you impress enough during the All Star circuit and during the pro days and the workouts, you still have a great chance to get drafted. Uh. Speaking on drafted guys, UH, what kind of grade did they have on Temple speedster Robbie Anderson Last year? The rookie had forty two receptions for the Jets. He impressed

during the Shrine game. Uh, that was his chance to shine, and he did a player who had some issues in his background. You know it was he a corner, was he a receiver? You know where did he fit best? But I'd tell you what he did the Shrine game I think really helped him get drafted. Now today really starting to kick it up a notch. Um heights, weights, uh, measurements and uh. One thing you tweeted about today was

about a quarterbacks heighte Uh. People have been talking about Mitch Drobiski, a guy who started North Carolina only thirteen games in his career, but he's obviously received um a lot of notice of late. A lot of people are saying that this guy could be a top ten pick. We'll have to see where he falls. You said, Uh, he measured in at six two For people at home, Let's say, what's the difference between six one and a

half and six two? Can you tell us? Well, you know, for certain positions with certain teams, they're just there's thresholds. You know, you want to see a player come in at least six to hand size. You wanna some teams look at okay, at least nine inches, some a little more want at least nine and a half inches. So

It depends on the team, depends on the evaluator. And if you're going to possibly invest a top ten pick, a first round pick in a Mitch Drobiski, you want him to at least hit that six two threshold, which you did. Came in at six o two one, which is six two and one eighth of an inch um, So a good day for him. Also a good day for Deshaun Watson came in at six two and a half, but the height wasn't the issue. It was the weight and he came in a two one pounds which was

a great wait for him. Good build. You know, we saw him against Alabama what he did this past year. Couldn't he hold up physically for a sixteen game schedule playing like he did against Alabama taking all those hits, that's the question. But scouts were worry he'd come in about two pounds. That wasn't the case, a thicker bill two one pounds. So a good day for these quarterbacks so far. So for all those draft experts at home, you gotta get this guy's book at DP Brugler. You

can find him on Twitter. It's gonna be wrapping it up in the next couple of weeks. He said, you're working day and night on that. Proudly did that end up? March is gonna come out. It's gonna get you ready for the draft. But we're talking about quarterbacks. You mentioned Rabinsky and Deshaun Watson. Oh where uh do you have these guys at the top of the draft at this point right now? What what are you seeing? And how many eventually you think you're gonna fall on that first round?

That's the big question. I think this reminds me a lot of two thousand and fourteen class where we had Blake Boardles, we had Johnny Manziel, we had David Carr or JOm me Derek Carr, and then we had uh Teddy Bridgewater, you know, but we weren't sure what order they come off the board. We weren't sure how many would go top ten, how many go first round. And you know, it turns out the fourth of that group who didn't go in the first round car has been

the best so far. So you know, I think it and it will be similar this year where we don't know the order right now. I don't think we're gonna know a day before the draft, which will make it more interesting. We're not gonna have a consensus quarterback this year. Some teams will prefer Mr. Robiskie. I think some will prefer the upside of a Deshaun Kaiser from Notre Dame. Someone prefer the intangibles, the winning attitude that Deshaun Watson brings.

And then you have Pat Mahomes, who is just now. He is well, he's tough because physically has everything you want. Size, he's an athlete. He can uh, you know, throw the ball, you can make all of the NFL throws. But coming from that air raid offense, how where is he mentally in his development? How long before he's ready to get on the field. That plays a big part in where he gets drafted. So a lot of questions with his

quarterback group. And I don't think we're gonna figure out the order today just because there's so much different opinions on these guys from team to team, evaluator to evaluator. I think at least one or two ago in the top ten, top fifteen, and then we'll have to see how how it plays out after that. How about a quick breakdown of uh, these guys at the top. Let's

let's start with true whisky. Uh, thirteen game starter, right, U was a backup um, And I'll just give a little rundown on what I know is that very accurate quarterback in North Carolina. But again, he's gonna be making a big system jump. What's your take? Yeah, I know that's a good background for him. Uh. And that's really

the biggest issue is the sample size. Thirteen game starter. Ideally, for drafting a quarterback that high, you want more of a sample size than just a one year But you watch him on film and all thirteen games you see him. He has the size, he has, the athleticism, really mobile quarterback, the arm strength, the armed talent, very accurate. Like you said, the ball placement is what you want. I think the biggest thing with him is he's not elite in any

one of those areas. He doesn't have that distinguishing trait, but he's pretty good across the board and so not have that fatal flaw is kind of his calling card, and that that's you can win with guys like that. You know, you don't have to have a guy who's elite in one area. You know, he just can't make those mistakes. And I think that's what something you have

with Mr Robiskie. Now, if you want more of an upside guy that I think Kaiser is who's really going to appeal to these teams because I think when you project him two to three years from now, you get excited about where he can be. The physical traits are there, the mental capacity is there. But he's been inconsistent this year. And how do you weigh Okay last year as a freshman when he had a top ten left tackle Ronnie Stanley, Uh, he had c J Process at running back, little fuller receiver,

first round about wide receiver. He lost four of his five top receivers from that year. So this year goes into the year and it was just downhill from the start. You know, Texas game played well, Michigan State played well, and then just downhill and that really was indicative of Notre Dame season as a whole. But how do you weigh that? Um, you know, with just the supporting cast, the coaching was an issue. Did you know Brian Kelly

really want Deshaun Kaiser out there? Just there's a lot of question sans with Kaiser, but there's a lot to like as well. So what about the system does that help him? Uh, comparably to the other two guys that are mentioned in that mix early on, Watson and trow Bisky to an extent, mostly shotgun, but a lot of downfield routes. Uh. You see him make left to right progressions, whole field reads, and that's something you want to see,

you know. And that's something that Pat Mahomes. That's a stigma he has to overcome, coming from that air raid offense where you just look at the mechanics and they're all over the place. He has a better back pedal than some corners in this draft, which is not a good thing. You know. You don't want to see that. You want to see him be more tight with his mechanics and his fundamentals. Um, you know, can you learn that, can you get better? Sure, but you just haven't seen

it in a game setting. And you know, we talk about changing up a guy's routine and it's muscle memory. So with Mahomes you might have to kind of live and die with. You know who he is, and he reminds me a lot of Johnny Manzeld. He he's bigger, he has a better arm, and there's no field questions. But in terms of on the field you have a guy he likes to improvise, who will throw a prayer up sometimes and hope that his guy can come down

with it. But I tell you, he's a fun tape to watch and you get kind of you know, maybe I can believe in this guy, like maybe a team grabs him in the first round. And see, we've seen stranger things. UM. Cornerbacks, the Jets released Darrell Revis. They took Justin Burr's last year fourth round pick out of and See State. I thought he did some nice things at the end of his first season of action. But this is supposed to be another defensive draft at the top, UM,

what do you make of the elite corners? And I guess it all starts with Marshawn Latimore and this will be a big week for him. Um. For the medicals. You know, he didn't play his first two years in Oh how A State because of you know what they called chronic hamstring issues, and so what's going on with that any long term worries concerns, UM, So the medicals will be first and foremost for him. And then once he's on the field, I expected to perform really well.

When you watch him on tape, you just don't see separation. Uh. He has that quick twitch that you want, the speed. Uh, he can play press, he can play off with Lattimore. Like I said, you just you never saw receivers able to separate, and then when they did, he has that that recovery speed where he can make that up that closing burst and make a play on the ball. So I think Lattimore uh is clearly the top corner this year, and I think every one in the top ten will

be considering him now. Dame Brugler joins us from India two thousand seventeen NFL combine underway. We're gonna be joined by Jets legend Kevin in a few moments. Uh. Uh. Dan, We're talking to corners who's maybe not at Lattimore's levelment but maybe a step or two below there. And you believe, in your mind is first round talent. I think there's a few. Marlin Humphrey from Alabama, UH really interesting because he has, you know, physically has everything you want, uh,

the length, the size of speed. Uh is the son of Bobby Humphrey, first round running back back in the day for another Alabama guy. Uh. So you know with Humphrey. You worry about downfield, getting his head turned around finding the football. But a lot of coaches will think they can coach that. You know, but he has what you can't teach, has the physical traits. I think Marlon Humphrey is gonna come off the board early. Sydney Jones I

like quite a bit at the corner from Washington. I'm interesting to see what he weighs in at on tape. He's rail thin and so it's not an issue. But is he a hundred eighty pounds or is he closer to two h pounds? Hopefully can play outside, And one thing I like about him is he can play different schemes. You wanted the press, you want him to play a little zone, playoff, he can. You can do different things. Um, he's a former receiver in high school and you see

that those ball skills. When the balls in the year, he goes and gets it. So I think Sidney Jones is right there in that mix. And then one of the top seniors this year. He's not gonna come in well in terms of the measurements. George Lewis from Michigan, But I tell you this guy can play. Uh guy that doesn't him down in a mobile. Yeah, the senior boy in a good week. You have to get over the size. And maybe he's only a nickel for you. I don't know if you can play any outside, but

if he's only a nickel, you can work with that. Um. But he's fast, he knows how to cover, he's tough, outstanding ball skills. You just have to get over the lack of size. Typically, and you know this so well. In the draft, there's usually a couple of lineman offensive lineman that you're gonna see go early in that top five range, top ten range. Right now, it doesn't seem that way, does it. It's it's not a great year for offensive lineman, and I should say offensive tackle and

on center guard. I think there's some there's some decent depth there um, starting with Forest lamp out of Western Kentucky, who I think is a first round pick. But then at tackle, a lot of question marks and if you don't get your guy early, you're gonna be out of luck later on. So Ryan ram Check, the tackle from Wisconsin, I think he's a top guy. Well to see how his hip, what's going on there? That has to clear And then you have a few guys with question marks.

Cam Robinson from Alabama, Garrett Bowls from Utah Bowls. He's gonna be a twenty five year old rookie and he needs some work. He's a fantastic athlete, but in terms of strength, in his power, his technique, he needs some work. They're just a fascinating backstory with him. Was off from took off a few years from football, so right well, and even after high school we got into some trouble, kind of went away from football, and then he went to on that mission that kind of invigorated his his

love for football again. And so a lot of a lot of things going on with Bowls. I think that athleticism still gets him in the first round, and the fact that, like I said, if you don't get that tackle early, you're gonna be out of luck. So these guys, these tackles are gonna be pushed up a little bit. Uh. Speaking of Bowls, we're gonna be talking about Todd Bowls, who addressed the media here in Indianapolis earlier today with s N Wise Ralph Faciano here momentarily, Dane, what about

the running backs? Uh? Leonard flour Neett is up there and we saw him an Laite player Louisiana State, and then Delvin Cook. Um. Most people when you look at Mick drafts, and I know it's not all about my drafts at this point, but they have Leonard a little bit ahead at Delvin Cook, who, in your mind in five years going to be the better player Dalman Cook is to meet the top running back in this class. Uh,

and I like four net he's a freak. You know, there's not a running back in today's NFL that you can really truly compare him to. Uh. We just don't have anyone like that. But Dalvin Cook, I think everything's there, uh, in terms of his physically, his explosion, his ability to string together moves make guys miss, and then mentally his vision, his run, tempo, his patience. He's the game teachers again. Really, he can take the ball to the house anytime he has.

Absolutely he's that type of back. The biggest thing with him is, since I believe his junior year in high school, he has had three shoulder surgeries, came in at two ten pounds. He's not the biggest guy. Tell you what if you told me that over the next five to seven years, he's gonna average fourteen starts a year. I'd say is the best running back to come out the last few years. But I just worried that that's not

going to be the case with him. Uh So, hopefully he's able to hold up physically, but I think that might be the worry with teams and why he might not be the first running back draft and why he might not go top fifteen like his talent says he should these at the end of the day, somebody uh takes a staff at him, maybe in the top ten. I think it. I think it depends on what we

hear from the medicals. I think that's what's going on to shoulders, what's going on, you know, with some of the medical information, that will be the key if it comes. You know, if he gets two thumbs up from the trainer and from the medical staffs, then absolutely he's one of the top ten players in this draft just based on talent, and so I think he we're going to see him somewhere in top fifteen if the medicals come back. Okay, McCaffrey ultra productive at a Stanford. Do you see him

making his way in the first round? How does he project on the next level? He should. There's no reason not to keep out of the first round. If you're not. If you don't know how to use Christian McCaffrey, then uh, you need to change the way you call plays. He's he's a first round talent. Is he a player that you want carrying the ball five times a game? No, but you want him touching the ball twenty five times a game. He's capable of sixteen eighteen carries, six seven

eight targets a game. Uh, my comparisons Brian Westbrook. You know, use him in the backfield, but he can also go out in the slot, put him out side. This is a player who he'll he's a better route runner than some of the receivers that will probably drafted ahead of him. I mean, he's that diverse with what he can do on offense as well as he's a returner. So with Christian McCaffrey, he's one of those smartest runners I've seen.

He understands, you know, how to read his blocks with the defenders trying to do make guys miss, and he knows when the mission is over, so he gets down and he doesn't take a lot of hard hits. I think Christian McCaffrey is absolutely a first round pick and I'll be surprised if he doesn't go one day one. What do you think about Mike mccagnen as a talent evaluator. He's a guy that you're very familiar with the Texas roots and UM over the first two drafts, I think

he's done a very nice job. Obviously, we were just talking about it before we came out live here. He took Leonard Williams number six overall with this first overall pick, stuck to his guns, the best player available, philosophy, Guy Lands and the Pro Bowl. Uh, Darren Lee. I know people said he didn't have a stellar season. I thought he started coming on a lot towards the end. He's gonna be that three down linebacker that the Jets need, and I think he could be a fixture for this

team for years to come as well. And then we think about last year's draft, Um, you go to the third round, Jordan Jenkins, he became a starter for you, a stout edge center. I mean he might never be the ten sac a year guy, but he can get to the quarterback and he also can set that edge and b a syl player for you. But in the fourth round, Justin Burrs, maybe he's starting for you this

year in the fifth round. I thought he did a nice job by getting moving back into the draft to get Brandon Ships, right, he gave up a fourth round pick. People are like, oh, you gave up a fourth round pick and next year's draft. But he was figuring he'd get a compensatory selection this year, which he in fact has. So just overall, how do you think he's done his first two years? Um as the GM of the Jets. Uh, as far as drafting his concerned, he's done a good job.

I've known Mike for a while since he was in Houston, UH, and would have always appreciated with him is he's he's a scout at heart, so he knows how to evaluate. He's at all the All Star Games. Uh. You know, there's not an event too small. If there's a possible NFL caliber player there, he's there. He's evaluating. Uh, he is a scout at heart, and so I always enjoy when I have a chance to catch up with with Mike. And I've I've really appreciated his his grind for a

long time. UM, and so I think so far, you know, in two drafts, he's he's done a solid job. I think, you know, George Jenkins really outplayed his draft slot and I think he'll continue to do that. Like you said, he might not be an elite player who uh you know, as an all pro, but I think he'll outplay his draft slot and be a solid contributor. Darren Lee, I think people need to remember as a richer sophomore when he came out of out house state, this is a

guy who could have used another year in school. Uh. And I even said that on Twitter, and he called me darrenly called me out on Twitter for saying that. But you know, I think he will get better in year two and year three. Um So I give Mike a lot of credit for what he's done. Eager to see what he does now with another top ten pick, you know, back in the top ten, plenty of options, uh,

you know, could he possibly go quarterback? Could he you know, maybe help that defensive secondary, But there will be several options he could go. So eager to see what he does there. Well, we're eager to see your book. It's at DP Burglar. You guys can jump on there, follow him on Twitter. You're gonna get all your draft information, Dane, so great catching up. Make sure you get some rest this week, all right, thanks, Dane brewser uh joins us

here in Indianapolis at the Convention Center. Momentarily we're gonna be joined by Ralph Acciano, who was at Todd Bowls news gathering today in Indianapolis. The Jets head coach um addressed the media today. Uh here in Indie. Ralph was there and we're bringing him on set right now and if ill experience underway here Indianapolis. Ralph, thanks for joining us and my pleasure. How are you? I'm great? Uh. Your takeaways uh from today's morning briefing an early star

for everybody. It was a little early for me, but uh, you know, it was somewhat interesting and typical coach fashion. Todd Bowls did not reveal a lot of things, but he shed a little more light on the Darrell Rievaus release, which he insisted was had nothing to do with his arrest,

had more to do with the financials which with his play. Um. They did consider moving him to safety, but when you factor in the fifteen point three million dollar capit, it just wasn't worth keeping around just to find out whether he could play that position. Um, So that was one of the big topics, and he kind of hinted a little bit at some of the things that they're thinking

of in the off season, for example, the quarterbacks. He did say they're going to look at the veteran quarterback market, and that honestly, whatever decisions or questions the Jets have heading into the off season, they all pale in comparison to who is that quarterback And it seems clear that they've got their eyes set on somebody and maybe a few guys on the open market before we get to the quarterbacks. Ralph, I don't want to paraphrase here. I'm

actually gonna take the quote from Todd Bowls today. This stood out to me. He said, as a coach, you get energized every year because you're always trying to win the Super Bowl. There's no rebuilding. You're always trying to win. Whether you have younger or older players, you're always trying to win and get better. That's how I coach and how I'm going to be every day, whether it's street ball or professional ball, I'm trying to win. So you know part of that is, well, what else is a

coach to say? Supposed to say. But a lot of that is Todd Bowles. I mean, the reality is, from all appearances, the Jets are rebuilding. But Todd Bowles is not going into this season thinking, Okay, in a couple of years, I'll have a winner. He's still looking for the best players. And he's right when he says that those could be young players at twenty two year old come out of college, could be better than a twenty eight year old veteran at the end of his career

um and so he's looking for the best guys. He thinks he can put together a roster once he sees free agency with a lot of cap room to spend there, once he sees the draft they have I picks, maybe they can put together a winner. He's not going to diminish the expectations, not for the fans of the organization, but especially for the players. I don't think he wants to go into the locker room it's any veteran players and say relaxed guys will rebuilding. They're gonna go for it.

Whether that's realistic or not, we'll find out. But stranger things have happened. So what do you make of the quarterback market? After we leave Indy Ralph, you know you're gonna be covering it every day. Free agncy starting and just a few days because Indianapolis is late this year, it's already March second, and before you know it, free agency starts next week. Yeah, it's it's not a great

quarterback market and it never is. I mean, the reality is, if you are an elite quarterback, you're never gonna hit free agency. You know, the Eli Mannings and Matt Ryan's and Drew Brees, they get those contracts un there's a reason why teams keep them. So you're looking at second tier guys with some promise. Mike Glennon and the Buccaneers

jumps off the page. Um, you're looking at a guy who has is a little bit of damaged goods and Jake cut Or, who you know is one of the more accomplished guys out there, but all of the bill is still under contract with right not assuming he becomes a free agent. Let's say with Colin Kaepernick, who I guess the forty Niners are gonna allow to become a

free agent. There are guys with question marks. The problem is while they may not be any of them may may not be ideal candidates, they will be expensive because teams get desperate when they don't have a quarterback. So the question becomes, if the Jets go after a guy like Mike Glennan, how crazy are they willing to go? Are they willing to go all in the way that Texans were with a flawed quarterback? And Brock as well? Do you think it's gonna be crazy? A crazy market? Perhaps?

Like you brought up Astwiler last year? Is that the natural compare that Glennon hitting the market now, a guy who's got some starting experience. Um, but it's been backing up Jameis Winston. Um. Do you think there'll be a lot of people after him on once once this thing starts next week? I do. I think I think Glennon

is better than Ostweiler from one. I don't know if everybody who shares that opinion, but I think with quarterbacks, if you just get two teams involved, the bidding can get crazy because if you think about it from the Jets perspective, they're gonna have dollars in capram whatever it comes out to after they finish all their cuts. If they have the money to spend and their choices get Mike Glennan or somebody else, and they don't like anybody else.

Their intention should be in a lot of teams will be to overspend to make sure you get that guy, because there's no more important position. If two teams are thinking I'll do anything to get him, well that's when the prices get out of control. Now. One thing that Bowls did say today, he was asked clearly by one of the reporters, if Bryce Spudding, Christian Hackaber we'll have a chance to start, and he said, yeah, yeah, they'll be part of the mix. Yeah. Absolutely. I don't necessarily

think that they will emerge as starters. But again, just like you don't want to tell the veterans we're rebuilding, you don't want to tell those guys no, no, they're not they're not starters. You want them to fight for the job. And Bryce Petty showed some things last year. I don't know if he showed enough or not, but there was some promise there. We have on the outside no idea what Christian Hackenburg is, but he was the second round pick. There's something about him that they like,

so it's possible. You know. I do think if they go out and they get a Mike Glennon or somebody on the free agent market that will be your starter. But if they can't, um or if in training camp, Christian Hackenburg lights it up. I think Todd Bowles is open to whoever the best guy is. That's who's gonna lead the way. And whoever the best guy is. Uh. The Jets of a new offensive coordinator and John Morton and a new quarterbacks coach and uh, Jeremy Bates and UH.

Todd discussed both of those today as well. He did, and he glowed about them. Not surprisingly he hired them. He talked about Jeremy Bates, the quarterback coach had been out of football for four years, and Todd Bowls downplayed that because and he's right, there are reasons why people might leave a job for a certain amount of time. It doesn't mean he's not a good coach. He's got experience with quarterbacks. He did very well with Jake Cutler

as as one of his quarterback projects. Um, so he's confident that he can take whatever young quarterback the Jets have and mold him. And UH. He talked about John Morton. We've all sort of assumed that he's going to come in and run a West Coast offense. But Todd Bowle's message was, it's not a West Coast offense. He's gonna run a good offense whatever that is. Throwing the ball down exactly, He's gonna And he said John Morton, strength is to look at the personnel and figure out what's

gonna work the best. Speaking of the personnel, the Jets have been very busy this offseason and and we frankly anticipated it, Bigs that you had to make some moves to get underneath the cap. And the Jets released prominent veterans Darrell Reeves, Nick Mangold, um Brno Jack Beany and of course the second leading U score in this franchise's history. And Nick folks so the year take on the release of that quartet um necessary but difficult decisions. Uh, you know,

it's it's football's business. You're in a salary cap sport. You can't afford to keep guys around as a luxury. Nick Mangold, maybe he can play, certainly would be great in the locker room, that fans would love him. But for the price, his age, the injury, it's too much. It's become a young man and the less expensive, the better young man's sport. Um so, they sort of had to move on. They were uh two years ago, ten and six, they were a veteran team. They tried to

keep everybody together to make a run. It didn't work out last year. The only thing they could really do at that point then is start cutting some of these big salaries. I suspect there'll be a few more of and again they all hurt. But it's the right movie. It's you know, you you have to be a young,

fiscally responsible team to compete in this league. When you look at six, and I know it's early because we've got a couple of months and the teams are going through the medicals with three under thirty prospects right now, and they're finding out more about the guys as they put them in the interview room. The Jets are one of thirty two teams, and we'll have sixty formal interviews with the prospects they choose, um so, and then we have prones as you know, and then you'll invite some

of your prospects to your complex. So this thing, this scouting is just basically I don't want to say starting, but we got a long way to go until April, late April and the two thousand seventeen NFL Draft. But for our storylines are concerned what jumps out to you right now about the combine. You know, it's interesting you phrase it that way because a year ago at this time, everybody was saying there are no quarterbacks at the top of this draft, and before long Jared Goff and Carson

Wentz go one too. So everything does change. But I think the storylines, especially for the number six pick, the storylines that are emerging. The first one is are there any quarterbacks that are gonna be worthy of being in the top ten? Um? Mitch Trobinski is kind of the odds on favorite to be the guy. Um, will he go number one? Number five? Will the Jets consider them

a number six? We're sort of watching how that develops and if another quarterback DeShawn Kaiser, DeShawn Watson can uh sort of emerge as a guy to join that elite group we'll start to see this week a little bit. The other thing from the Jets perspective that I think is interesting, um is there seems to be a glut

of defensive backs near the top of the draft. Corners and safeties, which as we saw last year, is something the Jets really need, especially now that they've gotten rid of Darrelle Revis, Calvin Pryor I think is going into the last year of his contract. They have some free agents this year end up coming next year they could use to strengthen that secondary. They could get the top cornerback or top safety in the draft at number six. And you know exactly how that shakes out might depend on, well,

how many quarterbacks sneak into that top five. The more that do, the more it pushes down to a top player to the Jets. Yeah, we're joined by Ralph Acciano here from US and y we're in. Indeed, the two thousand seventeen NFL Combine is under way. Ralph. No, fans probably ask you the same question they asked me, is that are the Jets really gonna go to defense at the beginning of this draft. Well, they certainly, because everybody you talked to on the ground here is saying that

this is loaded. The first round could be loaded with defensive prospects, and when you look at the Jets, you definitely want to take the best player available early in the draft. But if it marries a need that's certainly is going to break a tie, and that's what you're looking for. You're trying to look for an impact player,

and an impact player at six. It could be on the defensive side of the ball, right, you know, and everybody wants the best available player, but you don't want to get your third or fourth defensive end who's not gonna play much. Now they might again, Leonard Williams could follow them like he did a few years ago. I can't see it this year. People are talking about Jonathan Allen from ELBA. I can't see it. Yeah, I don't see it either, um, but you know, so you do

try to matchin need if you can. You can't pass on the talent if it's there. But if you're matching up needs, this early defense sort of matches more for the Jets with the top players because the other need on the offensive side of the ball, other than ter back obviously would be offensive line. And at the moment, almost every scout I've talked to seems to think that there's not a top ten offensive lineman in this draft,

which is something else. Because you've been covering this for a long time, I don't remember a draft that seems this then at the top, because we're always talking about tackles are right, and obviously that could change. I still think somebody will take a tackle in the top ten, but right now it would seem to be a stretch at six. So you don't want to reach with the

sixth overall pick. If you have a need a corner and safety or linebacker, or there is a premier pass rushing defensive end, yeah you get that and you figure out the rest later on. Yeah. The cornerback Marshawn Latimore from Ohio State, a lot of people very high on him. A couple of safeties at the top, Jamal Adams from l s U. I know he's getting a lot of love out there. So it's gonna be fascinating to see how those dominoes fall, and then you get to the

if they decided to stay there. Mike mccagnell has always said, listen, we call everybody in front of us, we call everybody behind us. There's a ways to go until that happens. What do you expect from the Jets once free agency commences? That you talked about quarterback a little bit, but maybe other positions that they might be looking to target because mccagnell wants to go on this draft with as few as holes as possible. Obviously, I mean quarterback obviously potentially

could be the big expenditure for them. You know, you have no idea where that market is going to go, So I think that will be the first thing they do. I could see them. I go back and forth and whether they'll dip heavily into the cornerback market looking for Darrell Reeves replacement in part because the draft is so rich with them they might want to postpone that. The place that I think they might be um more willing

to be active is along the offensive one. Um. You know, Todd Bowles was noncommittal and a lot of things today, but he did not commit to Wesley John in its center or bringing Now. He praised them and he said they can win the job. They can do it, but he kind of left the door open and maybe he was coach speak, but he kind of left the door open for we're gonna pursue our options. So, um, the

tackle market on free agency isn't thought to be good. Um. You know, Ryan Claydy, just released by the Jets, is one of the better tackles on the open market, they'll they'll be a few younger, healthier guys, but once those expensive ones are off the market, you're looking at um older veterans who may be coming off injuries. So I don't know that the Jets are necessarily gonna want to go that route, but they will have a lot of cap room to spend, so maybe some of the bigger

names might be in play for them. Um. Some of the rest of it might depend on what they do if they release Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Receiver is not a ridiculous thought. They have good young ones, but nobody really proven other than Quincy Ananua, who's still working his way up to number one status. Um, I guess a tight end if they that's about that as well today as a tight end position. Yeah, and that will depend on what kind of offense John Morten wants to run.

But it does sound like they want to emphasize I don't know how you can emphasize the tight and less than they've done in recent years. They want to do that more. Um. But yeah, I mean I think they'll be fairly active, but the quarterback is gonna be the first thing on the plane. That's that's they have to settle that quickly, and then all the rest of the

dominoes of all in line. As we look at the landscape here on press row, I know people are just looking at the backdrop, but there's a lot of people gathered here. I see the Bills over there, and that's one team, uh has a huge decision to make its

quarterback position. They pick up Tyrod Tayler's option, that I'll be there obviously, But if they don't, he becomes a free agent there and he's a guy that the Jets would have to look at, a different type of quarterback, more mobility than a lot of guys on the market. Not uh, well, I guess I shouldn't say not as accomplished. He's not. In his time starting, he's been good, but not great. But he matches up fine with most of the guys who are on the market at the moment.

So I would definitely think that he would be in play. I think he might be a little too expensive for the Bills to pick up. But as with all of these decisions, um, you know, if you if they don't pick up the option on him, they have to answer the question, then what do we do? Right? Not a lot of people have a and Aaron Rodgers sitting on their bench so they can let bred farv go. You know, there's not there's usually not a second option on your roster, so you better have a good plan when you let

one get out of your hands. Uh yeah, I don't know. From s n Y joining us right now, we're recapping Todd Bowl's news conference today talking Jets. We were joined earlier by Dane Bruegler, draft guru from CBS Sports. You can check him out at DP Bruegler. He's got his draft book coming out done, reports on more than four hundred uh prospects, only three thirty here. Uh. Kevin Mawai NFL Hall of Fame finalists is in the building in

the Convention Center. He's gonna join us momentarily. Speaking of Ralph, what do you think about Kevin now as he enters two thousand seventeen, two thousand and eighteen, you think that he's got a good chance of eventually getting into Canton now that he's a finalist. I do. I think once you get into that finalist realm, you're not a lock, but pretty close to a lock. The Hall of Fame voting is such a complicated process, and there are so few.

When you think about the number of the fifteen finalists that they have, all of them are Hall of Fame worthy, but only five of them can get in. Um, they have to sometimes, well, let's get this guy in first. He's been waiting for a few years. They sort of positioned themselves with the voters, so, UM, it wasn't his turn. I don't know that next year will be his turn, but I suspect that in the next few years he will get in. I think there there's a lot of

respect for him. And how about the run and center for the Jets after after MAUI that draft Nick Mangold twenty nine overall two thousand six. Of course the brickshaw Ferguson was landed in that draft number four overall. But this is an amazing running center for the Jets. It really has. I don't know if there are other teams that have ever done that for that many years and just had two guys. And not only that, it's not just two starters. Those two guys basically played almost every

game up until the middle of last year. There weren't a lot of times where a substitute center was needed. So two incredible players, a lot of luck in getting them back to back, a lot of skill in identifying those players as well, and uh, you know both of them will be up in the Ring of Honor. Well, Ralph, thank you so much for joining us. I really enjoyed our talk and you can follow Ralph on Twitter and

also at s n Y. We're enjoying your coverage. You're gonna be here until one, UM, and here on Saturday morning, so you'll be you'll be here for the quarterback So so Ralph will be talking quarterbacks on Friday. Absolutely, thank my pleasure. Thank you. Alright, So that's Ralph Acciano from U sports Net New York, and of course before we're joined by Theme Brugler, Draft Guru from a CBS Sports and Kevin y is coming aboard right now. Kevin has

made his way from Chicago. He's in Indianapolis. Good to see a buddy. Yeah, Jasination man, Jess Hastian Gang Green. What's up everybody? How do you feel about that? Doing great? Man? It's awesome. Okay, So first off, congratulations as far as getting as far as you did. Uh. Now, looking back the Hall of Fame process, being a finalist, Um, how would you explain it? How would you describe the past couple of months? Um? Interesting, UM, nerve racking at times,

but UM grateful for the opportunity. Very few people get to go to this process. It's a it's being in the hall as a Holliday experience. And I'm not there yet, but you know, Chris Martin would know, and there's other guys. But UM, what I really enjoyed is undergoing through, understanding the process, going through it, but spending time with you and you know, you guys did a great job on the video leading up to that deal and made me

cry and uh. But talking to the other reporters and find it, you know, you know what kind of player you were, and it really matters. It means a lot when you find out what other people thought about you. And to hear what my poems said about me and other coaches and the respect that I earned throughout my career,

that was pretty neat. And then you find these obscure facts that of your career, like I had a two one games I played in I had ninety hunre yard rushers, which is tops for any player in the history of the NFL. Never knew that and that's the first time I'm here. Yeah, so that was one of the stats that they know the guy. Yeah, that's nine hundred yard rushers at a two one games played two and thy started.

Um so nobody in the NFL has gotten close. It was like, I think, you know, I don't know the seventeen games gap between mine and the next guy, next offensive lineman. So stuff like that. You're like, oh, that's pretty cool, you know, you know, but it's been it was neat going through the process, a little nerve back in the last two hours when you either get a knock or get a phone call. I got the phone call, unfortunately, but um, I couldn't be happier. Man. I think that

Paul Kaharsky in in Tennessee, John Clayton, I saw him yesterday. Um, I thank you the other day. Just you know, I've said to Gary Myers and Bob Glover. Bob Glover apologized to me, and I'm like, dude, I'm what are you apologizing for? I made? I'm on the top ten. I was one of the top ten that made and it was pusts me in the top three fifty that's ever played this game. And if as long as I had

that perspective on it, you know. But part of our mission here at the Jets is to get you in and organizationally, uh, we're gonna make sure that you get your right Why I really appreciate that we are on that, I'm telling you right now, because you deserve to have your bust and Canton and uh, I know, uh, they should put you relatively close to Curtis whenever you find your way there, because you guys maybe maybe a little bit in front. But there's a part of me in

there already. And and I've said that before with Curtis going in ten thousands of his thirteen or fourteen thousand yards or mine, you know, aside, you know, because I think I went on I R and oh five and he went on I are very soon after, so he didn't get a whole lot of yards after me. But um, so there's a special part of us that are already in there. Is the guys that blocked for him over the course of our careers. Jason Fabini, uh, you know, you know, Brandon Moore and Dave z I, all these guys.

There's so many guys that are part of that. And likewise, if I get in whether I'm next to Curtis across the hall from I don't care. I'm in, That's all that matters. But but I go in, I would go in knowing that all those same guys that helped Curtis get in, the same guys that were part of me getting in as well. keV, what was your combine next varience like when you came out of nothing like this. This is like a circus, But so the combine was here,

the exist, the Commission Center didn't exist. We're actually sitting and I guess would be our c A domes where we're at right now, and you know the union station where the teams do all their interviews. That process is still the same. The meat market of going through and your underwear to weigh in and take your measurements is still the same um going get in an m R S and following the blue tape, of the yellow tape, of the green tape on the on the floor. That's

all the same. The differences the media and what they've turned this into be this is the second largest NFL experienced in in a given year, next to the Super Bowl. From I understand, and we got radio row a combine which is unheard of. It's crazy. And then for this first time the fans will be able to watch the bench press and the forty yard dash, and so they've turned it into somewhat of a marketing whatever you wanna call it. I'll tell you. You know, Tony Richardson was

here before. Yeah, so t rich And I don't did he get invited the combine because he went in a draft pick. He did not get invited like that. He's a draft class. So that's what we were just talking about it before. There's three thirty guys who get invited here. There are a number of players who are gonna be playing in the National Football League next year absolutely, who don't think are invited here. And that's the thing to forty coming out of Auburn. Yeah ran a four four

played against him in college. Yeah, I know, and he didn't get an invite and Auburn, you know, and back then in the SEC, Alabama was coming off of a i think the second straight national title or something like that. Auburn was a very good team. Unfortunately l s U wasn't so good, but um, but it just goes to show kids that if you really want it and you're

good enough, you're gonna get found. Just because you don't get an invite to the combine, that doesn't mean you're not gonna make it, have a chance to get in. But but there's a little there's a little genetics involved in it, and there's a little good luck involved in it, and there's a whole lot of hard work involved in it. What are some of the measurements and uh uh particulars that you remember from your Indian experience. How about on the bench not a ton, but you know at the time,

anything over twenty was good. And I at two d seventy one pounds. My official way in was I think to seventy one. Um, so I got twenty one reps. I was happy with that. I ran a five one two, which I just found out that that was faster than Tom Brady by the way. So that's unbelievable, isn't. I think it's good. I'm just saying myself, you know. But

here's the story about the five the forty. So at the end of the forty they had like a little string that you gotta run through the string, But I didn't know that, and so as I ran, so you probably ran four eight. Then I ran and I pulled up with three yards to go because the strength surprised me, so I could have I probably put it in faster seven. I gave everything my first one and now I don't know about four seven, maybe a four nine or five flat, but uh, it didn't matter. I still got drafted in

second round. So they didn't do the L drill, which is you gotta do this L drill. They didn't do that then, but they did the five five shuttle. I think I ran at four seven four. I think that's what it was. I'm not sure. Um twenty nine in vertical. Who I was thrilled about the twenty nine vertical And this is why because at college I only had like a twenty seven. But at l s U we jumped the vertical in the ramp going out to the stadium, so you're actually on an incline on a spongey floor.

So I got the common I hit twenty nine. I was pretty excited about that. The thing, the one thing that Dusk I got about the combine was this the guy kept calling my name may Wag and it made me so mad. And finally by the time I got to the vertical jump, Yeah, there was using the expletive my name is, my name is bleeping way, and so I don't know. And then I had I had great workouts, like old line workout stuff. Um yeah, So I did some of the drills with Wretch Ran about five and

a half forty five five really yeah. I was in rich eyes in his work. He cannot est We'll find out this week though, won't we. Yeah. And then the vertical was bad though. It was like, yeah, that's bad, but the man can't jump, not not this one, not this one, that is for sure. Um, what do you what do you remember about the interview process talking to you know? You remember only there's only one interview that stuck out in my mind. I remember interviewing with Seattle.

That's why I ended up being drafted with there's and I don't remember all the teams, Pittsburgh, Kansas City Chiefs, and the one the Chiefs stood out in my mind more than anybody because I met one of the regional scouts and developed relationship with him through the Senior Bowl and so forth. And so I got drafted by Seattle. But I got interviewed with the Chiefs and the guy one I don't know who it was, but he asked me the question, if the Chiefs don't draft you, what

are you gonna do? I mean is that I didn't know if that was leading question, or is that like, you're not good enough to get drafted by anybody else, So if we don't draft you, what are you gonna do? I was like, well, the Chiefs don't draft me, somebody else is I don't worry about it. I mean that that was the dumbest question I thought, because it was kind of presumptuous to think that, so that that's the

only team is going to draft me. And um, As it turns out, I found out years later that a team wanted to put me in the first round, late first round. It would have been twenty six, when I was twenty something overall on this one, and I got flunked on my physical with the combine and I was the last guy standing in my draft class sixteen years later, so I could have been a first round heer, but I got flunked by one of the teams that happens to be a divisional arrival of the Jets, and it

rhymes with what Hills. Oh, so the Bills. I found this out. I didn't intership with the bills. One of the old time Scott said, I had you rated as the first round er. We wanted to take you in the first round, but had to take you off the board. The doctor funked on your physical and what sixteen years later, no suck us. That was a true story. That's what they told me. Thanks so much for stopping by. Thanks everybody, uh for tuning in because we've had a great show

here on Radio. Rodane Brugler talking draft and Rolfagia I don't reviewed, Todd Bolts news conference and uh, a legendary jet joins us here at Radio ro Kevin Way. Thanks so much for your time, Thanks you for tuning in. Thanks so much, man, Gang Green, Go Gangreen.