Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS 4/11/19: Mock draft trade negotiation with Travis Wingfield of Locked On Dolphins

Episode Date: April 12, 2019

On today's episode of Locked On Colts, Travis Wingfield of Locked On Dolphins joins the show to run through a hot theory with some Colts fans right now: Should they seriously consider trading up in the draft from No. 26?Based off doing their intel with Rashan Gary recently in Ann Arbor -- and Florida State EDGE rusher Brian Burns saying on Chris Simms' podcast that the Colts are showing the most interest in him -- they are doing due diligence on prospects likely to go in the top 15.GM Chris Ballard also recently said on Adam Schefter's podcast they believe this class has depth, but the elite crop falls after the first 14 or so picks. With them positioned to make a Super Bowl run, is moving up the board for an impact defender in the cards?Before we went into that, we run through a quick mock draft alternating back-and-forth through the top portions 1-12. Also, are the Dolphins intentionally tanking games this year? Travis says yes, and they already have their eyes on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.This was an interesting exercise to find out what the price would be for Indianapolis to move up the draft board in a few weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, everybody. Welcome to Locked On Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Today, as always, your host, Evan Sider, enjoyed by a very special guest today, Travis Wingfield over at Locked On Dolphins. Travis, how are you doing today? I'm doing good, man. Thanks for asking. How about yourself?

Doing good. Doing good. I'm glad to be doing this with you. We're going to be having a fun episode for you guys today. We're going to talk about the Dolphins first and foremost. I think from my point of view, it seems like they're kind of tanking but I know Travis you're you're you're telling you're I want to hear your your thoughts next I know you've been talking about a lot locked on Dolphins so let's dive into that before we go into our fun mock draft here at the end here what's your thoughts on

the Dolphins this year because it just seems like with signing Brian Ryan Fitzpatrick they're punting on the 2019 draft class of quarterbacks like a Dwaywayne Haskins, a Drew Locke, a Daniel Jones. It seems like on the outside, again, what's your thoughts on what they're doing right now? So it's funny because the biggest argument Dolphins fans have pretty much engaged in so far this offseason is how to classify what we're calling this a bill or this idea to maybe not have winning football games be the primary intention of 2019. I know that sounds funny, but they're basically just kicking the can down the road to 2020. And

the way they're doing that is basically absorbing the salary and the dead cap from bad contracts in the past and eating that money and trading off the fact that they paid for that money for draft picks in the future. And that's why they do have 12 draft picks right now in 2020. This year, they're not going to be good. I don't think anybody expects them to be good. I do think they actually like Kyler Murray, but I just don't think it's really feasible to go up and get him because the Cardinals can just pluck him off the board first pick and that game's over. And so beyond that, I don't think they really have an affinity for any of these quarterbacks. And because of that, and because of basically the mismanagement of the roster that has gone on for three or four years now under Mike Tannenbaum, we've got all these crazy contracts that just, they never made sense from the standpoint of they're not worth the value they paid them,

but also the timing and just paying guys that weren't even their own guys at house. It was all very strange management structure. And so Tannenbaum's gone, and now they're basically cleaning up the messes that he made by absorbing some of this dead cap and eating some of the money they paid guys like Brian Tannehill and Robert Quinn just to trade him off to get future draft capital. So they have 12 draft picks in 2020 right now. And I think what they're going to do is to try to flop with Boyd on the roster, on the offensive line, on the defensive line, probably in the secondary as well, because really the core foundation of players isn't as bad as most people think it is.

There are some good parts back in that secondary, a couple of good linebackers. The defense as a whole has some nice parts, and so does the offensive skill position. But the offensive line, defensive line, and quarterback positions are just a black hole with not really a whole lot to go back on. And so they'll probably try to build up the roster of the core foundation this year and then drop the quarterback in in 2020. There's been rumors, I've just been listening to some podcasts and reading some stories, that the Dolphins have actually been scouting

already guys like Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama, some of the other 2020 quarterbacks. Have you also heard the same thing, and do you think that that really is their goal next year to tank for a guy like Tua? I think that Tua is definitely the guy they have their eye on. I know that Steven Ross, the Dolphins owner, becomes somewhat enamored with the, you know, the red carpet, so to speak, or the what goes up in the marquee, the guy you can bill as your franchise player. And Tua Tongavailoa is the name that everybody knows right now because he tore college football apart last year and the previous year in the national championship game.

So I think that he is pushing that train hard. He wants to be able to market to it. He wants to put Tua into the game and win football games immediately in 2020. So I think that is their mindset. But I also think as far as what they're looking for at the position, a guy like Jake Fromm or a guy like Jordan Love would both fit what they want at the position. So, you know, trying to lose more games than everybody else is actually hard to do

because you're going to stumble upon two or three wins every year as long as you don't just completely flub it. So it's not a great philosophy, but our thinking is to get back into that top five portion of the draft, whatever it is, and find a guy that they can really build around their future. And whether that's Tua, Fromm, or Love, I don't know yet, but I know that Tua is the guy that Steven Ross, the owner, would want the most. So if you had to make a general prediction for next year at the Dolphins, would you say over, under three or four wins at most?

Yeah, I've been saying four and 12 is my prediction. Yeah, I think that's probably around where I think they'll be as well, and that's right near the bottom as far as the standings go, especially when you look at the standings this year. A lot of 4-12 teams. So really interesting to see how it will break out next year in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins. But from your perspective, Travis, on the Annapolis Colts,

what's your thoughts on what they're doing? Because it seems like they're rapid ascent. They're drafting very well with Chris Ballard. Do you think that they're an organization that's doing it right, so to say? Oh, I love it because go back to last year. You got, what, two all pros in your first two draft picks. Has anybody done that before? I mean, that sounds like just insane level of high drafting.

Plus, they didn't go out and spend crazy with all that free agent money. And to me, that's the smartest thing they could have done because all these contracts that get paid out right now, they never actually live up to the value of what you have to pay on the open market. So I'd rather turn around and pay my own guys like an Andrew Luck, who's already taken care of, or T.Y. Hilton, or even like Marcus Hunt, for instance, the player you guys brought back. And then going out and getting like a Justin Houston.

When the time is right to strike like that, I think Chris Ballard has a really good feel for what his roster needs, what his roster needs, what his roster lacks, and how to appropriately allocate those assets they have. He's done a great job so far. In a couple of years, he's been in charge. Yeah, to answer your question there, Travis, Darius Leonard and Quentin Nelson, they're the first duo since Gale Sayers and Dick Buckus did with the Chicago Bears.

That's ridiculous. Yeah, it really is. And it just speaks to, I think, how good Chris Bauer could be as far as scouting goes and the guys he has around him. But just bringing it back, just tying it all together from a scouting perspective, what do you think Miami should do in this draft class? I know we've talked about a lot on this podcast about what the Colts should do, but

what do you think the Dolphins should hit hard, especially in the first few rounds? We're going to get back to this later on in the podcast, I'm sure. But I think they definitely have to trade down because you look at what's on the board is 13th pick in the first few rounds. We're going to get back to this later on the podcast, I'm sure, but I think they definitely have to trade down because you look at what's on the board as the 13th pick in the draft. The way it stacks up to me, and I've kind of gone through the scenarios, is that the defensive line help to really impact blue chip type of players aren't going to be there for you.

I'm talking like Ed Oliver or Brian Burns or whoever it might be that you think is the blue chip pass rusher in this class that gets beyond Nick Bosa and Josh Allen and those guys. I think all of them go in the top ten. And so Miami's basically stuck looking at the offensive line and then the secondary to kind of fill out some of these needs they have to properly run the new schemes they're going to run under Chad Rochette on offense and Brian Flores on defense.

So I think the number one primary objective, and they can short-sell even and take less value than what it's actually worth, is to trade back. The number one option is to trade back and then go after the offensive line, defensive line, and some secondary help. Yeah, I think that's definitely what Miami should when you just look at the roster from my point of view, I think that's definitely your weakest links. Definitely, I think they could trade back and get a lot of pieces from some teams that might be greedy, so to say, as far as trading up. We'll definitely have that later in the podcast.

Let's just dive into it, Travis. I have this coin flip app on my computer open. Since you're the guest on the podcast, heads or tails for the first pick, and I'll let you go. I'll pick heads. All righty here. I'm clicking it. You got heads. Congratulations, Travis.

You had the first pick. We'll just alternate. I'll do odds. Or excuse me, yeah, you'll do odds and I will do even. Even. So, Travis, you're up with the Arizona Cardinals. That's my favorite player in the entire draft. I've loved him since before he decided he was going to play football.

I think they hired Cliff Kingsbury for him. God, they hit Kyler Murray all the way. I'm totally there with you. Actually, I'm stationed out in Arizona right now, and it's just a weird dynamic going on. Just before I go on to my next pick, what's just your thoughts on that, that really weird dynamics going on with Josh Rosen and Kyler Murray? I've never really heard something like that where you draft a quarterback,

especially if you trade up into the top ten and get one, then the next year you're going to draft one and get rid of the other guy. Yeah, especially when you trade up for him, too. That's the weirdest part about it. I mean, it's probably an indictment on Steve Kime, the GM there. But, I mean, I was never that high on Rosen to begin with, and I love Kyler Murray, so it's easy for me to make that call. I think that what they're trying to do is probably trying to keep it as secret as they can right now

so they can get something for Josh Rosen. But they're going to have to sell him off for $10 million compared to what they paid for him last year. It's certainly interesting. I've never really seen this before where a team had to do this and go back and refix that problem, but I think they're going to do it. In draft day, I would assume they trade Rosen somewhere like for the Redskins

probably. Yeah, that wouldn't surprise me at all. I think the Redskins actually make a lot of sense. I think another team that makes a lot of sense could be the Giants, too, if they somehow get to win. But it really wouldn't surprise me either way to see him go on draft day. I think that's the most logical choice. And I think Kyler Murray is the superior quarterback for sure

for what Cliff Kingsbury is running in Arizona. But for my pick, I'm going to go with Nick Bosa. I feel like it's the easy one for me. Number one prospect on my board overall. I imagine he's probably number one on yours as well. So I'll toss it back to you. I feel there's really not much to say on McBosa there. So New York Jets, with you back on the board,

are you going to go Quinn and Williams here with less player available, or are you going to go more with the D? Yeah, I think best player available is the best option, just because Quinn is so damn good both on the inside and the outside, rushing the pass or stopping the run. I know the Jets are kind of getting sick of taking interior defensive linemen but if it's the best player there he's the most impactful one they have I think it's a no-brainer right there yeah I agree I think those three guys Kyler Nick Bosa and Quinton Williams I think they are three best guys in this draft class but for me I'm on the Oakland here to go through a quick

month going 1-13 for me I might go a little off the board here for me, I'm on the Oakland here to go through a quick month, going 1-13. For me, I might go a little off the board here for some, but I think Devin White makes a lot of sense for the Raiders. I'm going to go with him over Josh Allen. I feel like Devin White makes a lot more sense for what the Raiders are trying to run, and he could be just an all-pro linebacker route throughout the shoot for them in Oakland. I just love the fit in their defense. I'm going to go with Devin White with Oakland.

And you're back on the board again on Tampa Bay, Travis. That makes it easier for me because I can go ahead and take Josh Allen to the Bucs right here. They've had a pass rushing deficiency for who knows how long now. They need a guy that can rush the passer off the edge. Let's go Josh Allen out of Kentucky. Alrighty. We'll lock that one in as well. This one might also throw a curve for you, Travis, because this one I think just really interests me lately. Since they traded away Damon Harrison a little bit ago, Ed Oliver.

I'm going to go here to the Giants. I feel like just like a guy that Dave Gettleman would love. Yeah, 100%. A hog molly, so to speak. I think Ed Oliver, I think he's closer to that. You mentioned Nick Bosa, Kyler Murray, and Quinn Williams. I think he's closer to that group of players than anybody else in this draft. So good value to get the fourth best player to me at number six overall. For sure.

And you're back on the board, Travis, at Jacksonville. I would have said quarterback here, but they got one in Nick Foles. So where are you going to go with them? You know, I was looking at my box yesterday, and I went with TJ Hawkinson, Iowa, because I think they want to be that ground-and-pound type of team, and Hawkinson can play that true in-line wide tight end and give them a solid blocker off the edge to help them with that running game. It also can contribute to the passing game because they don't really have anything at tight end, so we'll go TJ Hawkinson. I actually like that pick. I haven't really thought

about that one that much, but the way you said it and the way they have Leonard Fournette there, I really actually like that pick a lot. So I'm back on the board here with Detroit, and the board's pretty weird for them at this moment. I feel like maybe if they go Rashawn Gary, maybe they go – I would have said TJ Hawkinson for them, but I'm going to go with Rashawn. I'm going to go with actually Montez Sweat because I feel like he's the better player than Rashawn Gary.

But I feel like the Lions would go Rashawn Gary in this scenario, but just to mix things up, I actually Montez Sweat because I feel like he's the better player than Rashawn Gary. But I feel like the Lions would go Rashawn Gary in this scenario. But just to mix things up, I think Montez Sweat's the superior player. I'm going to go with him at number eight for the Detroit Lions. Perfect. That puts me on the clock with the Bills, right? Yeah, you're back on the clock with Buffalo. This has to be an offensive lineman, if you ask me. Between Jonah Williams and Juwan Taylor.

And I'll take Jonah Williams because he can play multiple spots and he plays left tackle, which is always a bonus too. So we'll go with Jonah Williams out of Alabama. Alrighty. I like that one. And I agree. I like Jonah Williams more than I do Juwan Taylor. But I'm back on the board here.

Second quarterback for me is off the board. I feel like if it broke this way, John Elway is going to take Drew Locke, and that's who I'm going to take for the Broncos here. And you're back on the board, Travis, with an interesting team here, I think, Cincinnati. And I'll go ahead and take a run on quarterbacks here and go with Dwayne Haskins to stay in state with Ohio. I think they eventually want to replace Andy Dalton, and this gives them a chance to do that. Yep, I love that one, too. I think Zach Taylor was actually at Ohio State's pro day as well, so that could be something, maybe a team that moves up on draft night. But I'm back on the board here with Green Bay, and really interesting.

They could go BPA here, and they don't really need an edge rusher since they've got two of them in free. So I'm going to go with a luxury need here. I'm going to go with Noah Fant out of Iowa for my pick here, which means Miami. The board has broke really interesting for Miami here. They have Rashawn Gary. They have DK Metcalf, Brian Burns, Andre Dillard, Christian Wilkins.

Also have a lot of offensive linemen on the board still. Do you think, first off, that Miami would trade in this scenario if the board broke that way? Yeah, that's exactly what I'm afraid of as far as getting stuck with this pick because I don't really like the options here because, to me, everybody they would look at would be available six or seven picks down the line So trading out right here and taking less value, like I said would be my number one goal Alrighty, so i'm gonna call up here. I'm chris ballard in this scenario

And i'm gonna offer you a really interesting tree I've been thinking of for a little bit since the ryan tannella trade correct me from wrong. Well, it was a two fourth round picks in 19-20. I'm sorry, I think I lost that. Two fourth-round picks in 20-20? Yeah, is that what the Ryan Tannehill trade was as far as the Tennessee one? I believe they sent away two fourth-round picks for him. They gave us a fourth-round pick,

and the Dolphins sent them back a sixth-round pick this year. Oh, okay, okay. So they got a fourth-round pick, and the Dolphins sent them back a sixth-round pick this year. Oh, okay, okay. So they got a fourth-round pick. So interesting for me. I'm going to go with sending you guys 26, and I'm going to send 89, which is their third-round pick. Do you think that would be enough? I don't think it would because if you look at the draft value chart, I was actually playing with it yesterday, and for the Vikings to come from 18 to 13, the number 89 pick in the draft would, or I think it

was 89 or maybe 81, whatever it was, that was what it required for them to get up that far. So I think they're probably going to have to go with the second round pick to get that high. Alrighty. So I will go up here with 26 and I'll also, I'll keep 89, but to make things even sweeter for you, I'm going to throw in a future second-round pick. So I'll do 26-89 in a 20-20 second. Oh, that's beautiful because then the Dolphins get a little bit more ammunition to try to trade up next year in case I don't finish dead last. So that's accepted, sir. All righty.

So that means that's an acceptable trade. And really, I think that's what a team like Chris Ballard would do and Ed Dodds in the front office there. I think they're going to be aggressive on draft day. I think that he mentioned in their Adam Schefter podcast interview with Chris Ballard that there's only about 14 or 15 elite players in this draft class. I feel like if the board broke this way, they'd met with

Rashawn Gary. They'd met with Brian Burns. I think that's who they'd pick between here. I'm going to go with Brian Burns. If you guys have been following along with my Twitter account, LockedOnColts, I've been really loving Brian Burns recently so let me ask you this if they the Dolphins did pick that did keep that pick in the scenario would they go the guy Brian Burns or Rashawn Gary yeah he burns is the one guy that I would actually have a hard time passing up on because like you

mentioned he does have you know the elite pass rushing traits but the Dolphins defense is going to be different than what most defenses are today in the NFL because Brian Flores, or if you want to take the Patriots' defense as what his blueprint might be, it's not really based upon an elite edge rusher because the Patriots always trade away those guys like Richard Seymour. They got rid of Chandler Jones in the middle of his prime. It's more based on the scheme that gets the pass rushing the quarterback. So I think they're going to be more inclined to take a guy that's more of like a Chase

Gwinnivich, a guy that can play the run and the pass equally well and just kind of, you know, gives you more effort than he is just a stout pass rusher. So I think that they'll balk on the idea of Ryan Burns or Rashawn Gary and get out of that spot. Maybe just a sneak peek for our listeners here, Trefs, and then we're going to have our mock draft special here later this week on the locked on nfl podcast but what did you end up doing for the dolphins there with your pick and i was so mad about that whole thing because when kyler murray started to fall which to me is totally unrealistic i tried to trade up and the bucks

guy was not giving me anything like i tried to give him next year's first round draft pick he's like you got to give me more than that and then then he took less than a first-round draft pick for the trade that wasn't actually made up with the Bengals, I think it was. So that pissed me off. And then I wanted to go back, and the Chiefs guy wouldn't give me anything to go all the way back to 29. He wanted to give me a third-round pick, and I was like, that's not enough. So it just didn't work out.

I got stuck on the board there at 13. I took Dwayne Haskins, even though I don't think that's what they'll do on draft day. I agree. I think if it broke that way, they're definitely going to be in a scenario like we just did in our exercise there, trading back to a team that might think they're on the cusp of a cerebral contention, which the Colts definitely, I think, are if they added Brian Burns alongside of Justin Houston on the edge there, which I think would be a really interesting sight for defenses to behold. But before I let you go, Travis, I have one more general draft question for you.

What's the main storylines that you're watching for just as far as general NFL draft takes before the draft happens in two weeks? I think it's got to be the Josh Rosen thing because the quarterback dominoes are so unique every year and if he goes to a certain team, that takes that team out of the quarterback

market. It changes the way teams value their trade-up options. Josh Rosen, wherever he goes, will drastically alter the way this draft plays out. Alrighty, Travis. Appreciate the time as always. If anyone is not familiar with the Locked on Dolphins podcast or your Twitter

account, tell them where to follow you at and also about the podcast. Yeah, Locked on Dolphins podcast. As your fans know, a Monday through Friday daily show. Try to get as in-depth as analysis and use analytics and all that fun stuff. Basically not surface level journalism that you get

from other outlets. And I'm at Wingsville NFL on Twitter, my last name, and the show is at Locked on 10. All right, you guys. Appreciate everyone listening as always and to Travis for coming on today. We'll be back with you guys tomorrow for our next episode.