Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - NFL SQUAD: Running Back Has STRONGEST Positional Value In 2025 NFL Draft

Episode Date: March 27, 2025

In this week's NFL Squad, the crew discusses whether or not tight end or running back possesses the best overall positional value in the 2025 NFL Draft and what position groups teams should avoid. Plus, Russell Wilson has landed with the New York Giants. Does this eliminate them from taking a quarterback in the draft?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when 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.

Running back or tied in. The positional value between these two positions is a hot topic, and we're going to break it all down. Here on today's latest NFL squad. You are talking ball with the NFL squad, sponsored by game time. 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 take. 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. What's happening, everyone?

Welcome to another episode of NFL squad here on the Lockdown Podcast Network where you know it is your team every day. Today's squad show is brought to you by our friends over there at the Game Time app. Make sure you use code Locked on NFL at checkout for $20. off your first purchase and what you're going to get on today's installment. We got jam-packed NFL draft conversation heading your way. We're going to preview which position has the most value running back or tight in. We'll talk about which position groups.

Maybe teams should look at avoiding in round one. And we'll debate Russ, James in New York. What does that mean for guys like Cam Moore? Shoulder Sanders, do the Giants. Look at the path of a QB steel. We'll break all that down on today's squad show. And as always, folks, grab your favorite beverage, your favorite snacks. Sit back, relax, and get ready for some NFL conversation, our NFL panel here today.

Aaron Freeman of Locked on Falcons, Kevin Ostriker of Lockdown Ravens, Mike DeBate of Lockedon Patriots, and our special guest to preview the NFL draft. We're just four weeks away, folks. That is Keith Sanchez, one of the hosts of their locked on NFL draft alongside our guy, Dame, who could not be here today. We're going to get some great insight here from Keith. I'm currently a host to Lockdown Bronco. So let's get into the conversation here. a lot of conversation on social media, which I feel like has only amplified a little bit more, gentlemen,

about positional value. And obviously some of these teams know a lot about some of the positions we're about to talk about running back, tight end, two positions that I think have a lot of players that could obviously have a big impact for several teams in need of those positions in this year's NFL draft. But Keith, when it comes to positional value this year, does the running back position or the tight end position have the better value?

I'll say the running back position. Just because I just did this exercise at Locked on NFL draft, right, me and Dame, we ranked our top 10 running backs. And then when I put the list together, I hated it because I left off like six guys that I really wanted to put on the list, right? And I think it just goes that deep. I think you're talking about 15 to 20 running backs to where if they get the right opportunity, they can be good starters that come out of nowhere.

I think about, and I know Aaron is going to remember this, But remember the years of Devante Freeman, right? I feel like he came out of nowhere for teams. And then he had a stretch where he was one of the best running backs in the NFL. And there's probably 10 to 12 guys that I can say could potentially have that type of career art to where they wanted a better running backs in the NFL. So I definitely say running back. Well, Aaron, you knew obviously a little bit of B. John Robinson. We were having some conversations here on NFL squad as the Falcons were approaching B January.

Unfortunately, those plans never materialized into anything going into the, you know, the mid parts of that month there. You know about running backs. Obviously, a good friend Kevin knows about running backs with Derek Henry. Mike DeBate, you know, we used to have those conversations about Ramandre Stevenson at one point. But in your opinions, too, we'll start with you, Aaron. When you look at the value of these positions, it could either be on your own team or it can be even in this year's draft, like which position does hold the value for your team

probably the most. Aaron, let's start off with you. Yeah, well, I'm in a unique position where the Atlanta Falcons have used top 10 picks on a running back and a tied in in the last four years. So it's one of those things where I think if you're just looking at it from at least, you know, the Falcons lens and the bias, right? No one's sitting here question the Bejohn Robinson pick at this current time based off of how the first two years of his own career have gone.

But a lot of people look back at that Kyle Pitts pick and look at some of the players that were taken after Kyle Pitts like Jamar Chase and Devonte Smith and Penae Sewell and Micah Parsons and Patrick Sertan. And they're like, hmm, that that Pitts pick does not look as good in retrospect in hindsight. And I think when you're having this conversation about value, you know, I think traditionally we sort of put the running back position at the bottom. And it's understandable that when you look at, say, having a high end tied in like the Falcons thought they were getting in Kyle Pitts, that that seems to be a little bit more valuable than sort of your run of the mill tied in versus a running back that even having.

a high-end running back, maybe not as valuable as sort of your replacement level running back that you could probably get in the third or fourth round. But I think part of that conversation, it's just kind of easier to get your running back involved in an offense. So if you're a team drafting a running, if you're choosing between drafting a running back or a tied-in high, maybe higher than people want, you know, the tied-in, obviously because of the past catching ability and potential, yeah, you sort of look at that as say, if we hit on this, this could be a huge boost to our offense, but I think kind of the ceiling might be higher with a tight-in, but the floor is so much higher with a running back. And so I think when you're having that conversation between

these two position groups, I kind of veer more towards the running back position, having a little bit more value in that regard, just because it's just so much easier to get a running back to football in your offense compared to a tight-in, especially if you have good wide receivers. So there's only one football to go around and whatnot. So I do feel like running back edges out the tide and just slightly even if that is unconventional wisdom. Kevin Ostriker of Locked on Ravens. It's not every day you have Derek Henry fall into your lap to pair alongside a guy like Lamar Jackson.

Though we have seen, you know, in the past here with the Ravens, they have kind of had a committee approach. You used to have the J.K. Dobbins, the Gus Edwards rotation there. And injuries certainly have played a factor into that. But for you knowing what you know now, like outside of the anomaly of landing a guy like Derek Henry to pair alongside the skill set and the threat that is Lamar Jackson, And where would you go? Because obviously, the Ravens, you look at them right now,

they have a really, really good running back in Derek Henry. They had a really good tight in there. Obviously, and Mark Andrews who's still on the team, Isaiah likely is ascending there. Where would you feel like if that was a position of need for the Ravens this year, where would you be leaning between these two groups? I think that if you're looking at from a Baltimore perspective, I think with Lamar Jackson,

who was obviously such a unique talent, you can put a bunch of running backs in the back field with him. And he will make something, whether it is a Derek Henry, J.K. Dobbins. J.K. and Gus Edwards were great players while they were in Baltimore. And we saw J.K. have a resurgent season in Los Angeles. I think having a player like Mark Andrews and Isaiah likely is really valuable for what Baltimore does. And I think Erich makes a great point and I'll kind of piggyback off of it. It also depends on this type of offense

you're running where a tight end or multiple tight ends might not mean a lot to you if you want to run a bunch of three wide receiver sets or all out. But for a Baltimore team that says, yes, we can go out there and take a Mark Anger's the third round in 2018. You supplement that as a likely in the fourth. I think with this class, yeah, the running back class, there are so many guys you can point to, whether that is a high first round pick with a player like in Ashen Gentie or whether it's Marian Hampton and one of those players,

or you could say, what about in the second round? Could we take a second round tight end or a third round tight end that could supplant someone on our roster already? I think it is interesting, though, because you look at some of these top tight ends in the league. Mark Anger's was a third round pick. George Kittle was a fifth round pick. Travis Kelsey was also a third round pick.

That doesn't mean there aren't good tight ends drafted high. I mean, Brock Bowers is the most recent example of that, and he is pretty good over there in Las Vegas right now. But I think when you talk about like the Bijan Robinson's, the Sequin Barclays, those like top level talents, I think Ashen Genty's going to fall into this conversation when it's all said and done after a night one of the draft, the value that Seekwan Barclay, Derek Henry,

Josh Jacobs have given back to the running back position after the years that we've spent talking about the positional value being at an all time low. I think that running back right now in this draft is the one that has more value because I think that we're starting to see those contracts. I mean, we saw it with Sequin this offseason. Derek Henry's going to get an extension of Baltimore. That is going to be a big one too.

You know, the ratings got to Eric Henry for $8 million a season. Derek Kendry is on the all-time running backs we've ever seen. And Seekwan and Josh Jacobs got over $10 million each. But if we were talking corners or wide receivers, those guys would be $100 million players and we wouldn't think twice. about it. So I'm glad that the running back position is getting some recognition here. I definitely go with there. Obviously, Mike, debate of Lockdown Patriots. You got a young quarterback there in Drake May in New England and certainly a new head coach in Mike

Vrable. The idea of trying to build this team around Drake May, what's a more important piece in your opinion, running back or tight end at this point for your squad? Well, I think a more immediate need right now is running back. You've got Remundre-Stefonson at the top of that running back room right now in New England with Anteastern. Antonio Gibson backing him up, and that's a pretty good one-two combination. However, a lot of that combo being put together last year was predicated on an Alex Van Pelt offense, which is so predicated on outside zone. Josh McDaniel's coming back into the fold now, kind of throws a wrinkle into those plans a little bit. Are they going to continue to push the outside zone,

or are they going to mix it up a little bit? If they're going to, yeah, they're going to need a change a pace back. And I expect them to be in the market for that right around the middle part of this draft, the mid-rounds, maybe someone like a Trevor Aten out of Georgia, or maybe someone like a Devin Neal out of Kansas. These are the names right now that are being bandied about in New England. But this tight end class is deep as well. And look, Honor Henry is not getting any younger.

Austin Hooper is signed up for a year, and he's kind of on a year-to-year basis. So do you see someone maybe in that early part of the draft that could end up being a staple in this offense for many years to come? Drake May loves to use the tight end as his security blanket. Josh McDaniels has had some great success with tight ends here in New England. So do they look at a guy like Mason Taylor or Gunner Helm and say, yeah, you know what? We're going to go to gamut.

We're going to take advantage of a deep tight end class and try to bring someone in. I think the needs for the New England Patriots are very out there right now. I think they're all over the place in any position that they fill is going to help this team moving forward. But I go back to what Keith said earlier, that depth where you see guys like 10, 15 deep at this running back class is a really phenomenally talented group and guys that can help so many teams out in so many different ways. Well, Keith, I'm going to throw it back to you here before. Obviously, we get to our next topic here. We saw, I think, the more recent example, I feel like the Detroit Lions, when they took Jamir Gibbs, a lot of people were like, why are they taking a running back in round one? That used to be the line of thinking is don't take a running back round one.

I even remember the Steelers got some flack when they initially took Najee Harris years back. Do you think that is now something that's going to be changing from NFL teams, especially with the deep class like we've got this year. You got the Gentis, you got Omari in Hanton. You even got the Trevionn-Handerson's, the Quinn-Shon Judkins. Do we think that that traditional line of thinking of don't draft the running back around one's going to go out the door going forward? Yeah, I think so, and I hope so. because I'm of the notion of take elite players, man,

because I'm looking at all you guys, right, all of your different teams and y'all all have had success in the past. And it's been in different ways, right? Cody, talking about the Denver Broncos. They won when Peyton Manon had the nude warm, right? Not when he threw 50 touchdowns. And then the Baltimore Ravens have been a definition of ground and pound and punch you in a face consistently.

And then you look at Mike, right, with the Patriots, they've won in multiple different ways dating back all the way to 2000. And you watch the evolution of them. So I think about teams and it's just like, hey, construct your team the best way to put elite players on your team and then figure it out from there. So I hope so. Like if it's elite running backs like with Aaron where you have a chance at a Bejan Robinson or Jemir Gibbs, take them and use them, right? He's a good football player. Let's take them and use them. And we were going to say to Aaron, you know, back when, you know, they had that 283 lead over the Patriots, they should have just kept running the ball, you know, invest in the running back position. I felt I felt disrespected when when Keith skipped over the success.

of all these things. And I'm like, it's understandable. And then, Cody, you just got to throw it in my face. I'm sorry. It was that. I was coming back to you. I was tying it all in together. I was tired of past and made your present. By omitting the Falcons in that, you weren't disrespecting me in my time like Cody just did. So I agree with me. You can move me to where Aaron is and put Aaron next to each other so we can have this conversation. Hey, I wanted on record. The Patriots guy was the last one to bring up 28th of three. I could have called that right from the beginning, right when I saw Aaron pop up on the screen. No, I'm not going to do that to my good friend. It's all fun. We always have a blast here on the NFL squad show. Coming up next one thing we

are going to discuss here, what position groups should teams that are in need should they avoid here and around one of this year's NFL draft? We'll break all that down and much more on today's NFL squad, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's NFL squad show is brought to you by our friends over there at the Game Time app. And look, folks, imagine watching your favorite team live, feeling the energy of the crowd and witnessing unforgettable moments. There's nothing like experiencing a big game in person. The same thing applies to a big time concert in person with Metallica set to undergo their next tour here,

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all year long, even in the off season, because for the true, man, there is never an off season. And for the buildup to the NFL draft, make sure you all check out the locked on NFL draft with Keith Sanchez and our good friend, Dame. They bring the heat every single day when it comes to the draft. And obviously, player breakdowns, positional rankings, things like that. They've done a really good job of expanding that conversation there.

Plus mock drafts, we have a chance to get involved as well. We're going to continue the drafting here today, but really kind of focusing in on positional value of maybe some positions that aren't as top-heavy as people have said before in this year's draft. And Keith, I think first and foremost, a lot of people, there's a lot of debate right now about this year's wide receiver class, whether or not it's something that you should avoid, who's the top heavy guys.

We're seeing guys being critiqued about their 40-yard dash times. Are you a big believer into that? Do you think that the wide receiver position isn't as strong this year as maybe it has been in years past? Unfortunately, yes, I believe so. And what I try not to do is it's force it, right? I'm not going to try to go against the grain and be the guy that argues, that everybody on Twitter that's saying it's good when it's not, right? It just kind of is what it is.

I think this is a good draft if you're trying to find wire receiver two and three, right, for your roster and you're trying to round out some wide receiver course. Now, is it top heavy, right? If you talk about a potential Travis Hunter, Matthew Gold, then I like a whole lot. And I'm still in on Teotora McMillan. I think he has opportunity to be a dominant wire receiver. But I have those three guys. And then I will probably put a Mecca and maybe Luther burden in kind of their bucket by themselves. And then I think it goes into the next tier, which are Jayden Higgins, jailing the wells, jailing royals, guys like that.

I think it's a good wide receiver call. But I think to think that you're potentially drafting a bunch of ones throughout this entire draft is, I don't think that part is accurate. I even want to go to this conversation too. So out of all the positions, do you feel like wide receiver is the one that maybe teams should avoid or is there another position that's more glaring that stands out to you? Yeah. So I talked about the running back.

rankings we just did. We also just did the cornerback rankings. And that one was really tough for me. I feel like I had a lot more questions than answers with this cornerback class. And that's one class that's been deep since probably 22. And you go back to the Derek Stingley, Sals Gardner, Trent McDuffie, Kyle LaGordon. There's been really deep classes. But this year, I just have a lot of question marks and just wonder if some guys are scheme specific, right? And then just you have injuries to Benjamin Morrison. A lot of people, you know, like Chavon Revel, but you're talking about small school, also coming off of ACL also.

So it's just question marks. And I'll probably put, I'll probably put corners above wide receivers as far as even more question marks to kind of figure out. Okay. I like that. So Kevin Ostracker of Lockdown Ravens turning into conversation now to you. You know, obviously as the Baltimore Ravens are looking for an edge rusher at this point. Is this the year for them to go out and get one or how do you feel about it?

Yeah, you know, the Ravens always put. themselves in such a unique position when it comes to their drafts because they're a best player available team through and through. They do that every single season. I mean, I can give you tens of examples, hundreds even of examples of them doing that throughout all seven rounds. I mean, Kyle Hamilton is the perfect one. They didn't need a safety that year when a top five talent falls to you because they can't run in a straight line from 40 yards as fast as other guys. You say, you know what, we're going to take the talent. We'll figure it out later. And it's worked out pretty well for them. they could take an edge in round one.

They could also go with offensive linemen, although that's less of a need now that Ronnie Stanley is back. You don't have to feel like your pigeonholed into that. Safety is one again this season. You know, you look at guys. If Amalekai Starks Falls or Nickyman Wari, I think both guys' different skill sets, but really intriguing fits next to Kyle Hamilton

and Ardarius, Washington, in that system. This defensive line class is also just unbelievable. I mean, you talk about Keith, you doing rankings. I'm sure you're D-line rankings. He's got like 20 guys. You're like, this guy could go in round two, this guy could go around three, but they're waiting until round five to get picked because that's how deep it is. And I feel like Baltimore losing Michael Pierce, Brent Irvin's a free agent.

You do have not even had to be gay and Travis Jones. Baltimore does need edge help, but you also are kind of still working through some of your young guys there too. Like David Ajaba, who they picked coming off of his injury out of Michigan a couple of years ago, really hasn't returned to form. And it's kind of a question mark if they still want to go with that project or get someone more experienced. Tavius Robinson, who just flashed and run defense for them last season after being a fourth rounder. He's expected to have a bigger role, but they don't have that guy. You know, they don't have the Miles Garrett that Cleveland does or the T.J. Watt that Pittsburgh does

or even T. Hendrickson. I mean, every other team in the division has the guy at Pass Rush, or pending the Cincinnati situation and what happens with Trey Hendrickson, but they're the one team that doesn't have that. So is there a guy in this class? They're not getting Abdul-Garter. So is there a guy in this class that they feel comfortable with. Maybe, but I'm not sure if that's in round one. All right. Aaron Freeman, turn the conversation to you. What is one position you hope that the Atlanta Falcons absolutely avoid taking in round one? I would go with linebacker at this point in time. I feel like when you look at the last decade plus of first round linebackers, that hit rate is not particularly good, right? It's just one of those things where, you know, there seems to be a lot

more Kenneth Murray's than Roquan Smith's. And even, you know, when you think about a player like Roquan Smith, who was the top 10 pick for the Chicago Bears, rather than paying him the bajillion dollars that he wanted to make, they traded him to Kevin's team, the Baltimore Ravens, and they were able to get more out of him than even the bears were able to get out of him. And so he's a relative success as a first round linebacker, but then even then, for the team that drafted him, it didn't quite work out. And so I think at this stage, linebackers kind of, I think, becoming the running back of the defense where it's just like you can justify taking them at some point in the draft but taking them in round one they have to kind of be that sort of elite prospect

and I think right now the Falcons with Kay Nellis coming off of this season as a pass rusher them adding divine Diablo to just give them some competent play at that position to sort of raise the floor that's kind of all what you need at that position I think at this point in time everybody would love a Roquan Smith or Fred Warner type of player. And, you know, you can, you know, I'm not saying that you're likely to find another Fred Warner in the third round, but it is at least possible for you to be able to find an athletic linebacker and develop that guy into a difference maker. So I feel like linebackers kind of the running back of the defense where it's like,

yeah, we'll wait till day two. We'll wait to the fourth round to take that player as opposed to using a first round pick on it. Well, you know, you got to say thanks to Bo Nix for, you know, really sparking that Falcons defense to get their pass rush going in the second half of the season after that one game. I'm sorry, Aaron. I feel like I'm just throwing a shot to you guys today. If you just watch Lockdown Falcons, it's just me dumping on the Falcons. So you dumping on the Falcons is nothing. Mike debate, lockdown Patriots, obviously is Mike Ravel looks to build this team the right way here, taking over as head coach around Drake May.

What is one position you think that the Patriots should avoid here in the draft? I think the Patriots need to go best player available. I don't think there's any position that they should avoid. I mean, obviously, you've got your quarterback of the future, so you're not going to be in that market. But I really do believe that the Patriots could help themselves by taking pretty much anybody at this point. If they are gifted the opportunity to get a generational talent,

like an Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, you take that with both hands and you figure out the best way to use that type of talent on your team. But you could take someone on the defensive line, because the Patriots still need help there. Obviously, their glaring hole is on the offensive line right now, especially at left tackle. That may be their best option in order to invest high-level draft capital to be able to fill that. My listeners right now are probably screaming at whatever device they're listening to

and saying don't take a wide receiver in round one. There's still snake bit from McKeel Harry a couple of years ago. This goes all the way back to 2006 when Chad Jackson was a first rounder for the New England Patriots. It just hasn't worked out well, taking that type of draft capital and investing it in a receiver. But you've got some guys in that room now that can be elder statesmen, maybe give you the opportunity to groom some of these young talents. With Stefan Diggs in the mix, you never know. Somebody like a Jvon Baker from last year could end up emerging.

You get a guy like Ted McMillan coming in. If he can teach him how to run a route a little bit better, maybe he is a fit for the future. So I think the paths are really wide open right now. I wouldn't tell them to stay away from anything. Just go for the best guy available. Well, and that seems to be a strategy for a lot of NFL teams. This year's draft class is going to be very interesting.

And every step of the way, your favorite teams will be breaking them down for their respective teams as well on the Lockdown Podcast Network. We're not done yet, though, NFL squad up next. We're going to discuss the New York Giants situation. They've got Russ. They've got James. Motivational speech is left and right. It's going to be entertaining. But does that take quarterback off the board for them in this year's NFL draft will debate and discuss?

here on today's episode of the NFL squad. Back at it for the fourth quarter action of today's NFL squad here on the lockdown podcast network where you know it is your team every day. Thank you so much to all the everydayers out there for your respective teams. Thank you for tuning in, making us part of your daily routine. However you choose to do so make sure you subscribe or follow so you never miss out on what's going on with your favorite team's news, the hard hitting takes and all the inside and action from the local experts on the biggest story here on the lockdown podcast network.

wrapping up today's NFL squad show talking about the New York Giants and they are riding with Russell Wilson. They're also eating Ws here with James Winston. That quarterback situation has kind of played itself out here this off season with Brian Daible and Joe Shane. Their backs against the wall here. Keith, I want to throw it to you here to discuss this because you get two veteran guys on the free agency market here are arguably with their jobs at stake here. Does this eliminate them from taking a quarterback this year in the first round? or maybe even in the second round. Not at all.

I think what you said is accurate, right, that their backs were against the wall. And can you imagine the draft room if they put all of their money on Shador Sanders being there at three and then the Cleveland Browns takes Shador Sanders, right? There's complete panic and havoc going on. And I think what they did was they bought themselves kind of out and kind of unleveraged themselves to be at the mercy of Tennessee and at Cleveland. Right.

So now they can say, okay, cool. If Shador is there, we could potentially take them. But we have a pick at the top of the second round. And if we like Jail and Milro or Jackson Dort or Will Howard or Tyler Shuck, any of these guys, right, we can take them at the top of the second round and we don't have to one move up or two, just be sitting there a position to pray and hope. Well, my question and my debate, too, and we'll throw it to the panel for this one is, let's say that, you know, you have Russell Wilson, James Winston,

and you don't win games in New York. New York's going to have a relatively tough schedule this upcoming season, some of the opponents that they're going to face. Having a veteran quarterback certainly does help. But let's say that ownership in New York decides to move on from Brian Davey, Joe Shane, and they still take a quarterback in this year's draft. Let's say they take one in round one. Is there the appeal there?

How challenging will that be if you're going to hire your next head coach, where your head coach coming in is not necessarily married to the idea of the quarterback that you just drafted? I don't know if any of our teams have been in this era frame. throw it to you first since your team obviously that you know they signed kirk cousins give him the you know big time contract then they go on to get michael pennix junior that's obviously caused a little bit of uh you know some waves there in alana what is your thoughts here on on that situation if the giants do move on from their coach and obviously the front office personnel this this upcoming season

well i think first i'll commend the giants for not doing what the following from the falcons mistake where the falcons gave kirk cousins two years of guaranteed money and then moved off to kirk cousins before the first year was up and now they're stuck trying to figure out What do we do with Kirk Peasins? Are we going to trade him to the Browns? All that stuff. So the Giants basically did the smart thing by basically saying, we're going to give Russell Wilson one year guaranteed money.

James Winston's being paid like a backup. So that's pretty much nothing. And so if we do get a quarterback, if we do decide to move off of Russ or James and go to that Shador Sanders, presumably, as Keith said, they're not going to be financially debilitated in the future from doing that. So that's a smart move, I think, on their front. to leave those doors wide open for them.

But I think with the conversation at hand, when you're talking about, you know, what the Falcons have done, like the Falcons made this bet on Kirk Cousins, and they were very confident that, hey, we're going to get two years of playoff caliber play from Kirk Cousins, and then we'll be able to plug in Michael Pinnock's, you know, three years down the road.

And it was just always this narrow bull's eye and this type rope game that the Falcons were going to have difficult walking and they didn't unfortunately because of what bow nix was able to do to them in Denver they weren't able to necessarily walk that tightrope so i do feel like you know these teams moving forward when it comes to double dipping i think you're going to see more of that in the future with what the packers model is with the jordan love situation with the falcons doing that with kirk cousins and michael pinnicks i just think they have to be smarter about how much money they're spending on some of those veteran guys uh if they're going to go for some of those young quarterbacks

All right, Kevin, throwing it to you now. I mean, your thoughts on this situation too, because, I mean, you've seen Russell Wilson. You've seen James Winston. Do you think that gives New York a viable chance this upcoming season inside the NFC East? I don't think it gives them a viable shot to win the division. I mean, I think you're still very far off of Billy and obviously Washington showed so much last season. And even, you know, whatever Dallas decides to do, you know, they're always going to be a storyline. So we're always going to be talking about him here.

And everyone's going to be talking about them there. But I do think it's an interesting thing. what you brought up, Cody, about if Brian Dable and Joe Shane get moved off of this upcoming offseason, next off season, and they do draft shooter Sanders. That's how it happens. We've seen this happen before. I mean, obviously, for example, Josh Rosen was the Cardinals guy. And then everybody knew comes in and all of a sudden Josh Rosen is not the guy anymore. And you've already wasted a pick on him. Now you have to ship them off and get less value. I'm not saying that's going to happen, especially because Josh Rosen, you know, the Cardinals didn't

have time to wait. They wanted to move off. They wanted to make a decision that best reflected the new people that came in. But I think that with younger quarterbacks, we are seeing an accelerated timeline with less room for them to make mistakes. And so, you know, you see even now with, I mean, Anthony Richardson is an interesting example of this where he was forced in. He was clearly not ready coming out of Florida. He was forced into a spot. He's been kind of tugged around left and right.

Hey, you're the backup. Actually, no, you're back to start. and actually, oh, we don't really know what we want here. It's about belief in these guys. And I think that if the Giants do take Sanders and Daibald gets let go, a guy that comes in, it just depends on who's available because sometimes you hire coaches because they are the guy, like a veteran. Like, let's just throw an example out of Bill Belichick leaves North Carolina

after one season and he comes in New York. He's going to want his quarterback in there. But are the Giants going to say, uh, actually the Giants probably say, well, we're going to have to choose between Bill Belichick and Shreder Sanders. what is the choice they're going to make? How much they believe in their young quarterback, whereas how much they believe in a top head coach coming in and turning their program around?

So I think that young quarterbacks have gotten an unfair shake over the last couple of seasons, even a guy Cody, I know we've talked about Zach Wilson now in Denver. You know, he's a guy that with the Jets, that leash was so short there. And that's just the New York will chew you up and spit you out. The New York media is ruthless. And that is both the Jets and the Giants is all New York in general.

So I think that for me, the situation is interesting because they put themselves in the position not to be at the mercy of anybody, Keith. I a thousand percent agree. And that's what they should have done. But what does this look like after a season if Daibel and Shane should have been let go? I think they should have been let go this season. But here we are with another year of it seemingly like delaying the inevitable, in my opinion. Giants ownership might be saying let's ride to those guys here, you know, in a little bit of time if it doesn't come to pass. Mike DeBate, obviously, you know, your team took Drake May last year. In your opinion, if they didn't have Drake May, let's talk about a hypothetical

here. Do you feel like this would be a rough year to try to need a quarterback if you're really trying to build around a team or is there a guy that you're looking at in this year's draft that you feel like, hey, if Drake May wasn't here, this is a guy we could build around? Well, yeah, I mean, you look at the top two guys in this draft. You look at Cam Ward. You look at Shedura Sanders, depending on the type of style that the New England Patriots would play, if assuming Mike Brable is going to be the head coach this year, I think you can probably make it work with either one of those guys. Cam Ward obviously being probably the more preferable because I think it would fit maybe Josh McDaniels a little bit better than Chador. But Chador is

someone that I think can excel in this league as well. So you look at what New England did last year with Drake May now in securing that. They feel very confident heading into this draft that all of the other positions that they need to fill or is where they should be spending their time. And I think, Kevin, also, you bring up an interesting point about Bill Belichick, maybe heading to the blue side of the medallens. I always said that while he was here, that was the only concern that I had and the only job that I really feared

that Bill Belichick would lead in England for. So I'm going to remember that you said that, and we may revisit this in another year. Bookmark this one, folks. But, no, all kidding aside, Cody, to answer your question, with regard to Drake, I think Patriots fans will join me in saying, we're glad we got the guy that we have at the helm right now.

Now it's time to fill the other positions. I, for one, hope the Giants do select Shadurah Sanders with the number three pick because it means that either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter could slip to the New England Patriots at number four and you get that generational talent. Is it going to happen? Maybe not. But at this point, you know, New England Patriots fans continue to live in hope. We have to after what we saw the last couple of seasons here in the way. Yeah, Broncos country is also in that same boat. Very happy that they got Bow Nix is their quarterback here with Sean Payton and not having to go on this year's draft.

As many people wanted them to trade back to say, oh, you could. wait another year wait for next year's class i'm glad personally never is not in that boat here last question you'll throw it to you keith once again locked on NFL draft uh this conversation you probably get asked about this on on twitter or whatever social media sites are out there a lot these days uh who is in your opinion the best quarterback in this year's draft is it shadur is it cam ward and who do you think will probably have a little bit more of sustainable environment that they're going to probably go into yeah i'm i'm going with shader sanders um as my q b one and it doesn't have to deal with the physical part, right? And we talked about cities like New York and media and

things like that to where you see some of these guys nosedive, right? You just because of the pressure of being QB1 being a face of a franchise and things like that. And for all of the things that Dion Sanders has done, right? I think inadvertently he's prepared Shador for these situations, meaning that like all of the putting a spotlight on them, right? Like all of the trash talking and doing different things like that. I think he's inadvertently put Shador in tough situations to where he's had to answer to the media, right? Or he has to answer the criticism. And I think that him dealing with adversity, it won't cause him to spiral. I think Shadour has all of the necessary and requisite tools to be an NFL starting quarterback. And most of these

guys do, right? When you watch him through, all these guys can throw, it's about the guys that can handle the game from the neck up. And I just have maybe just a slight margin of an edge with Shador because I've seen him in really tough situations and still show up. We should just have Shudur and Cam Ward room for an entire year, regardless of the situations or have them do a weekly show together because the trash talk between those two guys. It's hilarious to watch. It moves the needle for me here. But obviously, we want to know here on today's NFL squad. If you know, which teams, which positions would you prefer your team obviously favor?

Which one has the best values that running back tight end? Which position should your team avoid? And also, what do you think of the New York Giants situation with Russell Wilson, James Winston, and this year's quarterback class? Thank you for tuning in today's NFL squad. Make sure you tune into your favorite teams show every single day here in the lockdown podcast, we got you covered every step of the way. And make sure once again you hit the locked on NFL draft podcast for all that you need to know leading up to the draft, which is officially one month away.

It's going to be fun. And the lockdown podcast network, we got some fun things in store coming your way as it pertains to the draft. With that said, we'll be back next week for another topic here on the NFL squad show.