Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - NFL Squad: Cincinnati Bengals Rival Cleveland Browns Will Be At Bottom In 2025?

Episode Date: February 22, 2025

In this week's NFL Squad, the crew discusses which teams who finished near the bottom of the NFL last season will more than likely remain in the basement this upcoming season, which NFL Draft prospect is the best pound for pound player, a debate on Cam Ward/Shedeur Sanders, and where players like Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Rodgers, and Deebo Samuel would be the best fits.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NFL clock is restarting, but not every team is going to get a fresh start or a fair chance. Which teams won't even get out of the basement in 2025. It's time for NFL squad. You are talking ball with the NFL squad. From the chiefs to the bills, Falcons to the 49ers and everyone else around the NFL. It's the local experts of the locked on podcast network bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming weekend for hard hitting football. With our harder hitting taste.

Buckle up, it's the NFL squad. Then we have a seat for you. No hurt feelings allowed. Squad up, you're part of the NFL squad. And welcome to this week's NFL squad episode. Sit back, grab your favorite drink and join us as we get ready for all of the stuff that's going on with the NFL offseason. Never a dull day when you're covering the national football league.

We are all part of the locked on podcast network, your team every day. And we have got quite a group of people. Cody Rourke of Lockedon Broncos along with Sarah Bettinger, also of Lockedon Broncos. So we're getting a double dose of Broncos here. Patricia Trana from Locked on Giants. Aaron Freeman, Locked on Falcons, Mike DeBate, Locked on Patriots, Keith Sanchez, locked on NFL draft. You know you need some locked on NFL draft when it's the off season.

You need it all year round, but especially during the off season. Peter Berkowski, Lockedon Packers, Big Sarge from Locked on Texans, Kevin Ostriker from Lockedon, not going to win the MVP. We are going to start off today's episode. Thank you all for joining us, of course. And we're going to talk about team. We're going to get a little negative here, folks. We're going to start by talking about teams that just have no chance in 2025, right?

We talk about it every year. Every team is zero and zero. Everybody's tied for first place, but there's just some teams out there that just just don't have a chance for one reason or another. And I actually want to start with Keith. I want to start with locked on NFL draft key because a lot of draft talk also centers around team building and how well teams draft and how well teams build these things. There's a lot of options here, man. I mean, you know the league as well, but like Jets,

Patts, Browns, Jags, Titans, Raiders, Giants, Patricia, Cowboys, Saints, Bears, Cardinals, 49ers, maybe? Which team has zero chance of rebounding in 2025? Yeah, I look at the teams that need quarterbacks that are right outside of the quarterback range, right? So if you're picking outside of the top three or four, you're probably in trouble. So I look probably at the Raiders. I think the Raiders have no shot as currently constructed right now because they're outside of that top, you know, three to five range, right? They need quarterback help. There's a lot of holes on this team, period.

So that's one team. I see the Broncos cheering over there. So, AFC West, there's one left opponent that you have to worry about. I look at the, I look at the Raiders as a team that I view doesn't have a shot as now currently constructed. Yeah, Sarah. I mean, you're very happy to hear Keith talk about the Raiders having no shot here. But give us another team.

Give us another team on the list or on your own list that you just don't think has what it takes, whether it's from a capital standpoint or a management standpoint to dig themselves out of the basement. Yeah, first of all, I love that pick from Keith. Obviously, when I flush the toilet, it sounds like it's saying Raiders. So I absolutely love that. I'll go with the Cleveland Browns. I think that's the lowest hanging fruit on this list, arguably the worst offseason scenario that I've ever seen with, what they have going on, their best player doesn't want to be there,

their quarterback that they invested, you know, three draft classes plus $230 million guaranteed in is not working out. So I think that's probably the lowest hanging fruit out of the teams that definitely won't be competing, even though they just won 11 games in 2023. Yeah, Patricia, you've been bravely raising your hand to be the sacrificial lamb here in this conversation. Let's talk about the New York Giants. I mean, what are they going to do?

Is there an answer here trading for Matt Stats? And Kelly Stafford, like, what are the Giants going to do here to try to make this thing work? Oh, man. You just want to keep pouring it on, don't you, David? Thanks a lot, buddy. Yeah, look, the Giants, you look at them and, you know, Joe Shane will tell you, we got a good foundation, we got a good offense. I still think they need some parts on the offensive line. They definitely need to add to the defense, which was just as much of a problem last year as the offense was.

but the quarterback situation really is a concern at this point. You know, look, you're in a situation where Joe Shane and Brian Dable have gotten a grace period this year. But you also have the owner, John Mare, is saying, I'm running out of patience with this rebuild. So that to me is like, okay, are they going to do something stupid? Are they going to, you know, trade away their third overall pick to get a Matthew Stafford? I hope not. I wouldn't do it. but I you know who knows what they'll do so they've got the aFC west which this year had three teams go to the

the playoffs one of which went to the Super Bowl you got the NFC East had which had two teams that went to the playoffs including the Super Bowl winner you got the NFC North on the schedule they had three teams that went to the playoffs all right so I don't see how this giant team you know, the quarterback is so key here. And I'm just afraid that they're going to do something that they're going to regret, given that this quarterback class in the draft is just not very rich, if you will. Yeah, no, I absolutely hear you. My question you, Patricia, is, is there a world where they don't figure out the quarterback situation this year,

and Dave will still has a job? If they win, I mean, you know, will they lean on the running game, maybe? I mean, they kind of did that in 2020, if you think about it. Sequin Barclay, when he was here, he accounted for, I think it was, was it 39 or 29. It was a big chunk of the offensive production. So they find a way to win. If they beef up that defense and that defense can stifle some of these high-scoring machines that they're going to see in 2025, maybe.

Maybe they can get by. I mean, I don't know that Tommy DeVito would be the answer. But yeah, it's all going to depend on who they bring in because, look, that offense, they've got the talent. Yeah, I know. They got the talent with Malik neighbors, Tyrone Tracy Jr. They beef up that offensive line. Oh, by the way, Brian Daibble, you know, he needs to give up the play calling. But that's another topic for another day, I guess.

Yeah, make sure you check out Locked on Giants for that conversation because that's a very important conversation to be had around those parts. I want to go to you, Big Stars, Locked on Texans. So Houston Texans, right, back to back play. playoffs, AFC South Division champs, all the good stuff. Ford C in the AFC playoff picture. But there's a lot of people out there to talk about, you know, the Texas took a step back, maybe C.J. Stroud took a step back. Maybe they're a little bit of Fool's Gold benefiting from being in a weak division.

I don't know if you agree with that sentiment, but I do want to ask you of all the playoff teams, right, chargers in there, Broncos are in there, commanders are in there, and some of the usual suspects, is there a fool's gold team that was in the playoffs this year that you don't think was actually a playoff? I was like to put it teams in the playoffs, but they're not necessarily a playoff team. Do you have a candidate? With the Packers in the playoffs?

The Packers were in the playoffs. No. So we're going to talk about fools gold. If you're going to talk about fools gold, there's fool's gold for you. I mean, and I watched and I sat on the couch with my wife, it's one of those thug tears rolled down the side of her

cheek as they lost. Again, as I told her, that they would. But no, seriously, that was just a shot at Peter. I'm not a, I'm not a huge believer in the Chargers. and because I don't know what Justin Herbert is going to be. Like, you know, one week he's the goat.

He's going to replace Tom Brady. And then the next week, you're looking and you're saying, I said, like, when was he drafted again? I mean, I think that, you know, even with the Harbaugh situation, with everything that they have going on over there, they have a very good, short, wide receiver who, you know, overachieves a lot. But that's all they really have on the offensive side of the ball.

And so I'm not a firm or a bar, big believer in the Charger. I think charges, I think that they are a fool's goal because which Justin Herbert are you going to get week to week? Because I'm going to be honest with you. When I was watching them against the Texans and the playoffs, I'm saying to myself, guy, you're not who everybody says that you are. And, you know, if I'm not mistaken, if we go back and we look at some of his stats this year, I don't think he had the best statistical year. If I'm not mistaken, maybe, you know, Peter loves to correct me. So he'll have that, Um, that's that pretty soon, but I just don't believe in the charges at all.

Yeah. I mean, look, you're pulling a page right out of locked on NFL. Tony Wiggins and I had a lot of conversations during the season on locked on NFL about whether the chargers were, uh, were for real or not. And of course, if, uh, if I get my way, I will be in Brazil for week one to, uh, to let you know right off the bat if they're for real or not. Of course, the Washington commanders team that I cover in 2024, uh, early 2024, probably would have been on this list for a lot of people, but a really good offseason,

in a really good NFL draft, turn things around for them. Who are some of our panel's favorite draft picks coming up in this April's selection committee? We're to start off. Keith Sanchez, the best pound for pound player right now mid-February to him. Coming up next on this NFL squad episode, part of the Locktown Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you in part by TurboTax.

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No waiting, no wondering, no worries. Now, this is taxes. So get an expert now on turbotax.com, only available with TurboTax live, full service, real-time updates only in the iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at turbotax.com slash guarantees. Which draft prospect are you most interested in following the, or during, rather, the lead up to April's NFL draft? That's question we're asking our panel here on this week's NFL squad episode.

And we got to, if we're talking NFL draft, we got to go to Keith Sanchez, locked on NFL draft, the expert here. Keith, that's kind of the question. And I know everybody's out a little bit of a different way of measuring this. But to you, who to you is the best pound for mound player player in this year's NFL draft? Oh, so best player, best player, I'm going to go up dual Carter. And the reason is, is that everybody compares this guy to Michael Parsons, but I will take it one step further. I think he's actually a better stack linebacker than what Michael Parsons is. I think Abdul Carter has all pro potential as an edge rusher.

And I think he has pro bowl level caliber if you just wanted to put him at stack linebackers. So I think so many different coordinators are going to look at him and say that this guy's a true versatile front seven piece, right? And he can do it all. And I think we've learned this year, right, especially with the run game coming back, is that linebackers are back in high priority. You need linebackers to be able to fill gaps.

So I think that's why you even elevate his stock just a little bit more. But you're talking about a guy that I'm willing to go all in and not really like is Abdul Carter. You think Sam linebacker's spot, like Von Miller as a rookie where he's playing off the ball little on early downs and then on third down, second and long, you just unleash him? Yeah, I think he can. And just watching the film, like I said, from an instinct's perspective, I don't think he'd get lost in the box, right?

There's a lot of guys that we like to try to slide at the linebacker position. They wind up staying at that four to five-yard depth and they never attacked the line of scrimmage. Abdul Carter is a guy that understands how to re-blocks, keys and diagnosis and plays downhill. So I think he definitely can do that. I don't think moving him either way is a loss for your defense. I think he plays well on the second level. Yeah.

Now, looking at this panel now, obviously, quarterbacks are always going to be a big topic of conversation going in the NFL draft this year's class is getting a lot of conversation about how little, potentially talent there is, even though I'm seeing some mock drafts now. So I've got two quarterbacks going in the top 10, things like that. Patricia, we're going to come to you because you're the only person sitting here that needs to cover a better quarterback than you did last year. But I do want to go to you, Aaron Freeman.

So when people are talking about their teams taking quarterbacks and whether or not they should take a quarterback, should not take a quarterback. You have a very interesting foxhole to talk about this conversation from because going into April, most people said there's no reason for the Falcons is drafts quarterback in the first round. They do it anyway. Get a whole lot of words dumped on them. but a year later, I mean, how is that pick looking now to you covering the Falcons?

Well, it's looking pretty good, you know, given that the circumstance, if the Falcons didn't take Michael Pinnock's last year, we'd be sitting here convincing ourselves that, hey, you know, the second half of Kirk Cousins' is 2024 season. Just ignore that because he's going to bounce back and he's going to look like he did in the front half of the season. And then nobody would be probably buying that at this stage in time, myself included. So, you know, Pinnix gives you a lot more hope and optimism for what could be in 2024 as opposed to, or in 2025, as opposed to what is in 2024. So I think that's really the selling point when it comes to all these teams when it comes to taking quarterback. It's the hope.

It's the optimism. It's the future. It's, you know, the dreams of what may be. You know, a lot of people talking about Cody and Sarah, like a lot of people poo pooed the Broncos taking Bo Nix. And, you know, six months later, they're in the playoffs. So it's one of those things where. This is the greatest show ever. This is my favorite.

All you're going to do is Bo leave, baby. Yeah. So it's like one of those things where it's like, you know, the hope is really what these quarterbacks bring to teams. Hey, Dave, I got a question. Dave, can I ask Aaron a question? Of course. When it comes to Michael Pennix, does his age and his injury history, that doesn't scared the Falcons going into the future at all?

I mean, it scares me a little bit, but like, what else is there? Like, you know, it's like, I think the whole conversation about quarterback age is getting reassessed now because of the success of guys like Bo Nix and Jane Daniels. And then you kind of look at where Michael Pennix was going into those last three starts of the season where, like, he basically got one preseason accent and then really didn't have any work done throughout the season as the backup, taking no practice reps, really, and you're not even getting scout team reps and whatnot. So he comes in right away and looks like, oh, like this guy doesn't look like a guy that's making his first NFL start in that game

against the Giants. Sorry, Patricia. And so, like, I think the age stuff, when you have, you know, five years of experience, like some of these guys are now coming into the league, I don't think it's as big an issue as it may have been a few years ago when everybody just wanted to get the 21-year-old guy that has all the upside, especially if nowadays because these guys are playing right away. So it's one of those things where it's like if you've got a little bit more seasoning to you, I don't think it's a negative really. I think easy to forget, Joe Burrow was 24 his rookie season and no one said a word about it. So it's just one of those things too. Like sometimes our perception of prospects color, the way that we feel. feel about their age. Oh, we don't like this prospect and he's 24. So it has to be a negative.

Whereas everyone is just like Joe Burrow is the greatest thing since sliced bread. And so the fact that he's 24 is elided in the conversations that we have up until, you know, like now he's 28. Like, who cares? He's really good. I think that's the age is enough. Joe Burrow is actually older than Lamar Jackson. Wow. Pete, I was going to ask you this because we talk about like the top two quarterbacks people were talking about in this year's draft. Obviously, Cam Ward, Shadur Sanders, you look at Cam Ward's body work and obviously playing at a little bit of a bigger program, but then you look at Shadur, who played one, obviously at Jackson State, but then played these last two seasons at Colorado,

bigger program than Jackson State, but does that experience going from an HBCU to Colorado where it's not necessarily, you're not playing the best competition out there overall, where does that go in terms of the evaluation of a QB like Shadur and obviously all the questions surrounding this year's draft? Yeah, it's fun because it's usually the exact opposite of what we see, right? When we talk about, you talk about Joe Burrow, right, and had the opportunity to play with Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson. You talk about those Alabama quarterbacks, right, that had pro bows left and right,

and you look at some of those and you look at Chador and you look at the opposite side of it, that we kind of watched him play from a disadvantageous situation. He played in per chaos, right? And who has put more pressure on a quarterback than what his own father has, right? And so I look at that and I think about it like, hey, am I getting a quarterback? If I'm the New York Giants, right, not draft Shador Sanders, what else is going to scare this kid? Right? Like his father is Dion Sanders and has been Dionne his whole entire life and doubles and triple down on being Dion Sanders.

So if Shador fails, it won't be because of fear of the big lights. And we've also seen him play behind a bad offensive line already. So I think he'll come in and say, hey, I've been here before, been in bad situations. and I also have the faith and the belief that we can turn this thing around. So that's why I kind of find being comfortable with Chador because I'm actually happy that I've seen them in bad situations. I worry if I'm a coach, though, if I'm a head coach, if I'm Brian Dayball and I drive Shador Sanders and Shador is good and we suck,

isn't the first call to Dion Sanders? I mean, maybe not the Maras. Like maybe it's different with the Giants. But if your other teams, like Dion has been like the phrase that I love that I heard about this is that Shudor Sainter has been homeschooled his whole football career because his dad has coached him. And so we've been hearing like, oh, this is a package deal? If you're, you know, if you're Pete Carroll isn't, is that maybe the perfect situation, for example? Like they, the Raiders move up to get Shrador Sanders. And in two years, Dion Sanders is coaching the

Raiders. Dion in the black and silver, guys, come on, the aesthetic. It's, it would be incredible stuff. Like, if you're, if you're a coach on the hot seat, do you want to draft Shaduror Sanders, though? Because of the looming specter of Deon, a phone call to the owner, getting in the room with him and saying, hey, this is not working out. I can get the most out of the guy that you used a top five, top 10, whatever pick on. Let's go. Last time I checked, it's a team game, Peter. And yes, the quarterback.

I know that. Not every owner knows that. Sometimes I like to think, I know, I know giant ownership hasn't always made the best decisions, but I'd like to think that they know that, okay. it's more than just the quarterback. You also need a good defense. You need, you know, a good special teams unit, which the Giants haven't had in like forever.

You know, yes, the quarterback is a big part of it. But look, they went how many years with Daniel Jones and, you know. Too many? Yeah, too many in my opinion. I think the other New Jersey team is actually more likely to pull that move than Patricia's giants. But Patricia, I do want to ask you if you have your pick of quarterbacks for the New York Giants in this year's draft, which one is it?

for you. Well, I guess I would go with Cam Ward. I just like his game a little bit better. No disrespect to Shador Sanders. I think he's going to make some team very, very happy. But I think Cam Ward might be a little bit better of a fit for the Giants and what they're looking to do. I mean, truth be told, I don't think both are on the board at three and Abdul Carter is on the board. I go Abdul Carter and I don't think twice about it. I mean, but I don't know. I mean, I think I would go with Cam Ward. I do want to get this question before we move on to our next topic.

Mike debate, Peter because Kevin Ostrach. We'll start with you, Mike. Which NFL scouting combine drill would you absolutely kill? And I'm absolutely going to hold you to it the next time I see you. Oh yeah, absolutely. And of course, anybody that's seen me in action knows that the 40 yard, me doing that would be must see TV. It'd probably take me three weeks to finish it.

I'm going to go with the bench at this point. You know what? I've got weight. I've got size. I've got strength. I'm going to utilize that. Yeah, you do not want to see me taking part in any agility drills. I guarantee you that.

How many reps? How many times we put a 225 up? How many reps are we getting? Oh, I don't know. You know what? Let me guess eight or nine at this point. Okay. Okay.

Hey, that's your rose's eyebrow. That's not good. I like that. I like that. Peter Bikowsky, I have a feeling it's not the three cone. Which drill would you kill? All right. I'm going to cheat, though.

I have the answer. I would have the process. Come on, all the interviews? I don't think it's been 10 minutes of the team. That's not a trash. This is what I do for a living. That's cheating. Fair point, though.

I think it's a important part of the combine. I mean, it's a fair point. It is a fair point. Kevin Ostriker, to you, my friend. So what we need to do is we need to set up. Mike versus me at the 40. This is what we have to do. Next time we're going to do it.

Because I'm running that 40. I'm doing it and I'm doing it in. Will you beat Darren Ravel? Yes. I will be, I will beat Regisen. I will be, who else does it? Shefter. Shefter does it.

I'll beat Sheffter. I'll do it in, I'll do it in 5-5, at least, if not five. All right. Well, a lot of off-season moves are going to be made, as always, in the national football. ball league and our panel is going to tell you where every single move should happen coming up next on this week's NFL squad episode part of the locks on podcast network your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you in part by Fandul when the games tip off the NBA action is

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where they should end up in the 2025 NFL season and potentially even further. We were talking a little bit before we hit record. about Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver T. Higgins. And of course, the story is that he is going to be franchise tag. My understanding is supposed to be the non-exclusive franchise tags. We can still negotiate.

Teams would have to give up a bounty of draft picks to sign him. So likely not to happen. Kevin Ostriker, you're the closest thing we have here to the Cincinnati Bengals on the program. Should the Cincinnati Bengals tag T. Higgins to keep him from leaving or should they let him, walk out the door. They should not let him walk out the door. That is the first thing I will say. They absolutely should not do that. I mean, if it has to be the franchise tag, then I guess it

has to be the franchise tag. But I just don't know what the future would hold for T if that were the case. I mean, would T play on it this year is the question? Because with the Bengals, obviously, there are questions about if they're going to pay some of their other guys and other reports now coming out that you're more chase could get a 40 million plus per year payday, which he deserves, the Trey Hendricksson situation, Joe Burrow has been very clear that the Bengals cannot let these guys leave because look, Joe Burroughs a great quarterback. I've seen that firsthand covering this Ravens team, but he cannot do it by himself. And part of what makes this Bengals team so good is the fact that if you throw everything at Jamar Chase,

but you still got to worry about Tiggins on the other side of things. And we've seen one because T has been injured a little bit over the course of his career. When T's not in there, it takes the Bengals' offense a couple gears down. So I think that the Bengals should pony up the money for tea. I think they should find a way I know that you can't keep everybody. But I think with the way Joe Burrow has become very vocal with T. Higgins, with keeping his guys there. You can't upset your franchise quarterback. Joe Burroughs don't grow on trees.

You have to figure out a way to keep your guys. And I'll end this with another AFC North team. It's my weekly agenda, Miles Garrett to the Baltimore Ravens. And David, let me say this real quick, David. If T. Higgins is looking for a home, a place that has no state tax, great weather, good barbecue, I mean, I'm pretty sure that the Houston Texans will open him, I mean, accept him with open arms. And I'm pretty sure Nick Casario could find a way to make him happy here in Houston. I can't wait to find out. I mean, you just answered the follow question.

Why it will be T. Higgins' fault in Houston and not C.J. Strauss fault, given all the weapons that they've given him and the underwhelming offensive performance. I can't wait to find out. why it's T. Higgins' fault and not C.J. Stroud's fault. I will tune into Lockdown Texans for that. Peter, Peter, I love you since you love your quarterback and you use the same exact excuses for him. I love you, though. Love hurts, right? Michael Collins does not play in Green Bay. Defon Diggs does not play in Green Bay.

I don't, I don't, and the Packers offense is produced like a top five offense the last two seasons. So I don't know what we're talking about here. And Peter, you turn right around and use the same excuses for Jordan Love at the end of the season. Excuse for what the offense is going. Huh? You need to have a big case across your heart that says there's no excuse. Because you use the same excuse. I have your tweet.

I don't have to excuse anything. It's a top 10 offense. There's no excuse. They produce. I love it. What's the excuse? Who produced? The Packers offense.

Oh, and the Texans are the ones that didn't produce below average offense. I'm sorry. The last time I checked, the Texans were losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the division around. When you have the best defense in the AFC, that's probably a pretty good place to be. Peter, you got to find something else to do. You got to find something else to do, Peter.

Make sure you check out a lot on Texas. I would love to talk about every week. Top five offense next year. Let's do it. Hey, Higgins. T. Higgins. Big Sar, you and me in eight months, we'll talk about the Houston, Texans, top five offense. What do you say?

Let's put it on the calendar right now. Let's do it. I want to talk about it. I would love to talk about it. I would love nothing more than to talk about it. Let's do it. except that you used the same excuse about your virus. He was being injured.

It's the same thing that happened here in Houston. The same thing that happened in Houston, you used the same exact excuse. But David, I'm not taking over this show. We would love to have T. Higgins here in Houston. I would love to cover T. Higgins. The Packers should just sign Deonté Johnson. That'll fix it all.

As far as you know that. We need to let Allie know. We need to put a pin in this to like, I don't know. We'll remember. Week 12, week 12, week 13. We need to bring this thing back up on an NFL squad episode. very good stuff guys I appreciate you. I mean nobody here from the NFC West so we'll go AFC West there.

Cooper Cup. First of all, is anybody going to trade for Cooper Cup? And regardless, where should he play in 2025? I think somebody will trade for him if the Rams are willing to eat that bonus like it's been reported. And I just, I feel like he's going to be an asset somewhere over the last couple of years. And we're talking years, not just this past year or like when he's healthy. but per 17 games, 1,100 yards, nine touchdowns.

I mean, this guy can still be productive when he's out there. Now, he may not be the same exact guy that he was when he was contending for offensive player of the year, MVP, all pro, all these sorts of things. But he's still a valuable asset. Now, if he ends up getting traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, then delete everything that I just said and forget about it because it's not true. He's terrible in that case. If he goes to the Chiefs, he's washed, he's off-offed injured.

but I would love to see him go to anywhere that has a young quarterback that he can help because he can get open quickly. He can create after the catch. He's been in big games. You know who could really use a receiver like that? The Denver Broncos. I was just going to say the Broncos are a great fit. I mean, he would be awesome in Sean Payton's offense.

You know, since Bo Nix is apparently a check down merchant. Why not check it down to Cooper Cup every so often and see what he can do? I'll say this. I think he doesn't go far. I think he gets traded, you know, just to a locker over. I think he stays in L.A. I think he gets traded to the charters. I think you give Justin Herber, him.

You don't really have to move him around too much. I think that might be an ideal fit for a cop too. Interesting. Which would stink for him. Because they couldn't guard McCanty. Yeah. Patricia Trana, got to do it. Sam Darnold.

Let's bring the quarterback conversation back to you. Where should Sam Darnel be suiting up in 2025? I don't think it'll be with the Giants. I really don't. I'm not so sure that's, I don't want to speak for Sam Darnel, but I can't imagine him wanting to come back to this market. Although, you know, look, if he cashes in on a payday,

I think, you know, maybe that will trump everything. But I think Sam Darnel, let's see, maybe, or I'm going to think outside the box, maybe the Raiders, they can use a quarterback, you know, especially if they can't engineer a trade-up, you know. But I do think, though, you know, a lot's going to depend on, you know, Where is J.J. McCarthy and his rehab? And what are they going to do with Danny Dines?

You know, let's not forget about Danny Dines. You know, do they see a future with him? So I think it's Sam Darnel doesn't get a tag. And I don't know that I would give him the franchise tag. I would maybe give him the transition tag if I'm Minnesota. Maybe Darnal goes down to the Raiders, because again, the Raiders are drafting six. And if the two quarterbacks go off the board quickly, what are the Raiders going to do about a quarterback? Is Tom Brady's first quarterback movement piece in in Las Vegas going to be to sign Sam Darnold's

$40 million? That just, that just seems pretty far-fetched. Yeah. That would be a hard. It's hard. Like, as you were, as you were trying to vamp to try and think of something, I'm racking my brain going, I don't, I really don't know where, where makes sense. Who's going to give him $40 million? Like, it's easy to say teams get tax.

But. Let it be the rate. I really, I really don't know. I really don't. The one that that I kind of like is if they can trade Matt Stafford for stuff, like good stuff, Sean McVeigh saying, I'll take Sam Darnold. And I think I get him. And now I'm set up for five years instead of one, maybe two. That is the one that I'm kind of keeping my eye. And like, especially now that we're getting the reports of like, we want to keep him, but first round pick. Like, come on. I'll like, that's, that's what you leak when when you're hoping someone offers you something, please. Like that's always the. media leak of like up your offers and we will give you this guy like someone send us something good as long as the the Cleveland Browns are around there's always a home for some some overpriced quarterback yeah I mean yeah because meddling owners would get involved I just that's

I think the Tom Brady piece in Las Vegas is we see chaos maybe imagine imagine the 49ers decide like you know what we don't want to pay Brock Purdy what he wants to be paid and they decided to go back with Sam Sam was already there he was a backup you already knows that system I mean, not saying like that's going to happen, but could you imagine what type of fire that would set in San Francisco? You've already been crazy. Or what if the Coles aside they don't want Anthony Richardson anymore? So I was going to go, can I jump in right here?

Yeah. One of my parents is if you're the Indianapolis coach and knowing how that system was currently constructed and built around Anthony Richardson, do you not try to take a swing at Justin Fields? And if he's a step or two better than what Anthony Richardson is, what does that put you as far as quarterback play? Because I think the coach, right,

you to look at some of the offensive offensive wide receiver corps, and if you put Justin Fields, a guy who has experience, I'm not saying he's going to be a pro bowl guy, but if you look at what Jalen Hertz did with Shane Steichen, can Justin Fields not run the ball 15 times a game? And he's a veteran, he's played a lot of football. I just think that he can come in there and potentially provide real pressure to Anthony

Richardson and has some of the same athleticism skill sets. Yeah, I mean, look, I can see it. I love it. I love the conversation, guys. Aaron Freeman, I want to throw you, Debo Samuel. Where should Debo be playing in 2025? Let's give him to Arthur Smith. He loves his positionless players.

That's fun. Let's play Debo in Pittsburgh and see Mike Tomlin have to deal with that. And let's make it work with Arthur Smith. George Pickens, Debo Samuel. You can pair him up with Aaron Rogers. Mike debate. How about Debo in New England? I talked about this a little bit earlier last week when some of the conversation was rolling around that New England would throw their hat into the ring.

Look, New England needs help. I was watching you and Sarge go back and forth about top five offenses. I want a red zone touchdown. That's all we want. And I'll be happy this season. Look, they need as much help as they can get. And Debo is a true dual threat. I think it would be interesting to see what Josh McDaniels could do with him because you know Josh loves guys that can win in the short intermediate areas of the field, but he also loves guys that can carry, utilize that jet sweep. We've seen guys be able to do that before in New England. I think it'd be an interesting pairing. If the price is right, I think New England should absolutely be on the phone trying to make this happen. Because he's going to be a post, he's going

to be a post June 1 cut, right, which means that the 49ers are going to save money. If they trade them, then they lose, what, 15 million, but if they cut him, they save 5 million. And so it's so funny because John and I was talking and John totally is against Debo coming here and to Houston to be a one year rental and I'm saying to myself well I mean if he can it the relationship to him and Domeco has and you know he knows the kind of coach Domingo is I can see him coming to Houston as a one year rental because Houston doesn't have enough money to actually go out and get a Y receiver two they're going to have to draft a Y receiver too and so if you know that if you know that you're not going to be in the free agent market. You're not going to have the money until 2026. Why not convince Debo to come

here on a one-year contract like you did, Stefan Diggs, and you can get him to be the utility type of player that you need opposite of Nico Collins. And maybe then they'll have an above-average offense. That would be amazing. Oh, coming full circle. Peter Bikowski, Aaron Rogers. What should Aaron be doing in 2025? Yeah, Peter. I heard there's a position open on the lockdown podcast network. I a wellness podcast focused on psychotropics. No. I thought it was an opening with the Block on Packers podcast. Oh, no, no.

Yeah. I just had too, Peter. I mean, honestly, we would do numbers. Really would. Yeah. That would be West CTV. But I don't know if David can carve out the million dollars per weekly episode that, that or whatever, McAfee was paying Aaron Roder.

But I think, I think the answer for Aaron is, is Pittsburgh. And you bring Devante Adams with, and now you've got, DeVante Adams, George Pickens, now George Pickens and Aaron Rodgers would like get in a fist fight by week four. But that would be part of the appeal. Like that would be part of the fun. Mike Tomlin can manage these sorts of situations. I think that's the only place he can go where he has any shot to win. And so he has to, I think, I think, have his tail between his legs a little bit in a situation like that and say, look, I like Mike Tomlin, like, fix me. I give myself over to you and then see if they can make that work. I think that's the

only place that makes sense. Like, do you want to go to Las Vegas with no one? Do you want to go to Tennessee with no one? Like, I would love that for Tyler Rowland because the content would be immaculate, but like I don't think that makes sense for Aaron Rogers. And I don't know that there's, apparently the Minnesota Viking things is not going to happen. Again, I would love it for the content standpoint. Luke Braun, God bless. But, you know, I think the Steelers is, it's really to me, if I were advising Rogers, I would say it's Pittsburgh or you retire. That's the only thing that makes sense. Tom Lincoln fix Russell Wilson.

How do you think he's going to fix Aaron Rogers? Look, I didn't think it was a way. You have it making it work. Yeah. Keith Sanchez, I want to wrap it up with you, brother. Next time we do an NFL squad episode, we will be in the midst of the NFL scouting Combine. What is, whatever it is at you at the top of your head, what are you most looking forward

to next week in Indianapolis? It has to be Travis Hunter, right? What does he run? What is the conversation around him? I know they say he's going to do corner, right? But I have to think, especially with Dion guy in this situation, right, that there's going to be some non-traditional things going on with this. And I just want to know, what does he weigh, like what is his actual height?

Will people start to have the conversation? And I thought about it from this perspective is that I think it's really cool that he plays two positions, right? And if you're a GM, you look at it and you say, okay, cool. If I draft this guy, I have a starting corner and I have a starting Y receiver. But we know that the NFL being 18 weeks, 17 games plus playoffs, the thing is this, that if he gets injured, you don't not, you not only have an injured Y receiver, you have an injured corner, right? And I think what GMs start to look at it from that perspective that, yeah, it's cool, but I could lose two positions in one injury and then how do they value that?

So I think just the intrigue around Travis Hunter and see what he does, I think it's going to be very exciting and very fun. Yeah, absolutely. It's going to be a lot of fun, like you said, the offseason. is always a lot of fun and we've got plenty more coming up to talk about this off season. So we will be doing this every single week on NFL squad. So make sure you come back for that. In the meantime,

especially Bill's fans, all of us, especially Bill's fans, even when there's no Joe, there's still a show. Make sure you're coming back here and checking out all of these amazing hosts and everything that they're doing for the Locked on podcast network. And we will be back here again next week.

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