Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - NFL SQUAD: Veteran WR Market HEATING UP Ahead Of NFL Free Agency

Episode Date: March 7, 2025

In this week's NFL Squad, the crew discusses the veteran wide receiver market ahead of NFL Free Agency after the DK Metcalf trade request, Davante Adams release, and Chris Godwin's pending free agency. Plus, they also dive deep into whether or not Aaron Rodgers will play in 2025 and if he does, do the New York Giants make sense and all of the NFL news, Free Agency rumblings and more.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!ChewyChewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by Clicking this link: https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l3Huc8/creativeref:1011l164602 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)

Lots of storylines going on the week before official free agency options open up for the NFL team. We're going to ask our panels, who's I learned how to speak, which ones their favorites are on this week's 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 take.

Buckle up, it's the NFL E Squad. Then we have a seat for you. No hurt feelings allowed. Squad up, you're part of the NFL E Squad. And welcome to this week's NFL squad. Sit back, grab your favorite drink and join us as we get you ready for what is sure to be a wild, wild NFL free agency period kicking off next week. It's already been wild guys and we haven't even

actually officially started yet. We are all part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day, and we are grateful for you coming through for this NFL squad. Our squad this week, Landon McCool, Lock Cowboys, Cody Rourke locked on Broncos, James Yarco locked on Bucks, Patricia Trana locked on Giants, Mike Debate locked on Patriots and I was in such a hurry. Peter, we were going to set you up. Peter McKowsky locked on Packers. He had stepped away. Well, you actually can see that he had stepped away in the intro and I was in such a hurry to get

through it because we were going to boo you when you came back that I stepped on my own thumb a little bit there. But you made it back in time. Squad, listen, a lot of great things going on this week, a lot of interesting things going on this week, players being moved, players being signed, players being extended, records being broken, players being released. I want to go around the circle here. I just want to ask each and every one of you which storyline this week so far, and I mean the week's not even over yet, has been your favorite Landon we will kick it over to you with the locked on Cowboys yeah I'm obviously gonna be selfish here because

the Cowboys don't get a lot of play during free agent periods usually yeah the Cowboys are one of the most criminally undercover teams in the national football and we never hear we never hear about the Cowboys anywhere it's it's really sad. I'm gonna go with those Odigizua signing. I think it was a big first step for the Cowboys who are trying to be a little bit different this free agent or at least we'll see if they're gonna be a little bit different this free agency period.

And I think the first big domino to fall for them was signing Odigizua to the deal that they had that they did sign him to and then just getting that defensive tackle Checkmarked off their list. This is gonna open things up for Micah and potentially, you know Who knows maybe even a tier 9 free agent at some point in late late August before the season starts? I love that. Yeah, you know what big fan of OSA. I remember him coming out of college I was really hoping he wouldn't go to a team that actually despise Unfortunately did but it's okay. I'm happy As a human being. Cody work locks on Broncos.

What are you loving? Man, can we talk about the NFL wide receiver market right now? I mean, supply and demand is at an all time high right now. You have so many veterans guys getting released. Devante Adams, Christian Kirk. You got guys requesting trades. DK Metcalf. Where is he going to end up?

Could Chris Godwin somehow end up on the frequency market after they did not franchise tag him? I know James has a lot to say about that, but I think if you were a team who's in need of a veteran receiver this year, man, you have your pick of the litter here. To me, this is the most exciting thing of the week leading up into NFL frequency, and it may not even be done. I even forgot to mention Tyler Lockett being released as well. I mean so many good wide receivers available for any team out there who is in need. Yeah look the NFL doesn't do trade deadlines as well as some other leagues in this

world but they do the offseason better than anybody and I'll take a full offseason of excitement than I will one single trade deadline so I'll take all of that smoke. Speaking of future Washington commanders receiver Chris Godwin, even though I know a lot about him from my years covering him when he comes to Washington, I will bring James Darko on lots on commanders for his takes. But right now, James, let's get your thoughts on your favorite storylines outside of Chris Godwin, just pending finalization of his deal to come to Washington.

They just got Debo calm down. But no, I'm 100% with Cody. Like the wide receiver market 48 hours ago on locked on bucks. I was talking about Chris Godwin being the number one wide receiver set to hit the market. Now, obviously, you can make the case that it's Devante Adams. You can make the case at DK Metcalfe in a trade would be the number one choice for a lot of these wide receiver needy teams lock it. You know, Kirk, you still have Stefan Diggs out there, like all of a sudden, you know, it's starting to look a little bit better for the Buccaneers. I'm still confident they get a deal done with Godwin. He wants to say stay Tampa wants to keep him. But now it allows for Bucs fans to kind of take a breath and be like, Okay, now all of a sudden Godwin may not be as in demand as he once was. Yeah, I mean fan favorite decide, more receivers being available to the rest of

the league only helps the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chris Godwin situation. Patricia Shana, Trina locked on Giants. What is your favorite storyline this week? Round and round and round they go where they stop. Nobody knows I'm talking quarterbacks. We got quarterbacks on our mind here. Where's Sam Darnal gonna land? Where's Peter's favorite player in the whole wide world's Aaron Rodgers gonna land? I mean who's gonna go where? So many teams with

with quarterback needs including my New York Giants, you know the Raiders. You've got the draft prospects too. It's just, it's just going to be an interesting, uh, off season in terms of who's going to land where, how's that's going to affect the draft class and how that's going to affect the seasons coming up. Yeah. Look, I woke up Wednesday morning to tweets about the Giants potentially

trading up for the number one pick to get Cam Ward. I'm here for all of the quarterback madness. Peter Bukowski locked on Packers. Unfortunately got here before we can unleash our booze on you. There you go. It would do it anyway. What's your favorite storyline this week? I'm going to go macro on you here. I am always fascinated this time of year and how the bad teams are going to try and not be bad and how the best teams are going to try and stay the best teams. I'm thinking specifically of what the Bears are doing right now. You add big time guards, big time money that you're taking on.

Not crazy draft capital, but those are gonna be two really expensive guards for the Chicago Bears. And if you're the Chiefs, you're moving on from your most important offensive lineman after a Super Bowl where you just got your ass kicked by the Philadelphia Eagles. What's going on there? Matthew Stafford, why are the Rams who are a Jalen Carter slip away from potentially being in the NFC

championship game, dicking around with their franchise quarterback. What is happening there? Like there's so many fascinating storylines. DK Metcalf, like Corbin, Corbin Smith, our pal from lockdown Seahawks reported the guys that called on DK Metcalf, the Packers, NFC contender or wannabe contender, the chiefs, the Bills, like those teams are trying to swing understanding, we are, everyone is chasing the Philadelphia Eagles. And so that to me is a great big story. I've got, you know, two people on either side of me right now,

like what giants are they gonna be players for Aaron Rodgers? Are the Patriots gonna be the team that swings for the fences on DK Metcalf? Like those to me, those big ebbs and flows at the top and the bottom of the league are always so fun to me. Yeah, I even saw a story of the New England Patriots called Philadelphia Eagles and said, Hey, what's up with AJ Brown? Mike debate and locked on Patriots. Yeah, man, let's let's catch your attention this week. That's it. I mean, the Patriots are in on all of these stories right now. Look right now, the help wanted sign is posted on one Patriots place right outside Gillette Stadium.

We're taking all calls. We're making all the calls. The New England Patriots are going to be aggressive this off season. That's my favorite part of the storyline because my head's going to be on a swivel for the next couple of weeks, wondering what moves are going to be made and how they're going to stack up, you know, you're unhappy with your contract right now? Yeah, New England Patriots, bring them right in. We got 130 million in cap space. We can make you the offer you can't refuse. You got an undersized wide receiver out there? No problem. Bring them in. We got an offensive coordinator that loves undersized wide receivers.

You got an offensive lineman that actually understands that part of offensive line work is to use more than just your arms. That's like Vince McMahon falling off the chair memes right there. That's exactly what the New England Patriots are doing right now. Feel like I'm channeling my inner Jerry Seinfeld. You know, you don't, you got guys that don't return phone calls. You got guys with bad penmanship. If you've got bad credit, no credit, bring them all in, hang that sign out on the store

that says we're ready for business. We need all hands on deck. We need as much help as possible. Yeah, I'm just loving the fact that the New England Patriots are gonna be approaching this off season with aggression because they have so many holes to fill. They're waiting to do so in the draft is gonna be detrimental to this team.

You gotta backfill a little bit. It may mean overpaying for a good number of veterans to come in and anchor this team for the time being, but gonna be exciting times in Foxborough watching this team try to climb back to respectability. David, I'm gonna hijack it here for you a little bit. You host a show every single week, but we wanna hear your input too, buddy.

You cover the commanders. What is your favorite storyline of the week? My favorite storyline, I don't know if it's this week, so I'll kind of cheat a little bit and go into back into the combine days is the Cleveland Browns digging their heels in on Miles Garrett because I'm praying that they try to drag this through the end of April and allow the Washington commanders to trade 2026 draft capital to get the best edge rusher in the National Football League.

Outside of that, those receivers, because I'm just listen every time I low Twitter, every time I get a locked on bucks insider text from James Jarko, I'm praying there's no Chris Godwin extension news because I just need Chris to make it to Monday, man, make it to Monday and it is game on speaking of game on the New York Giants are looking to get out of the basement of the NFC East. Their name is going to be around a lot of conversations, free agents, guys like Aaron Rogers, but also the NFL drafts.

So Patricia train is about to take center stage here on this week's episode of NFL squad part of the locks on podcast network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by chewy. You've probably heard of chewy. They really do have everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy with over 100,000 products from all your favorite brands. Chewy has everything your pet needs from food and treats to toys, beds, and grooming. And it's not just for dogs and cats. No, it's for birds, fish, reptiles, and small pets to Chewy also makes it easy to manage your pet's

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only terms and conditions apply. See site for complete details. Continuing this week's NFL squad episode here, all part of the locked on podcast network, your team every day. Thanks for coming through for this week's episode. Make sure you're coming through every week cause we're doing this week's NFL squad episode here. All part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Thanks for coming through for this week's episode. Make sure you're coming through every week because we're doing this all season long. We just touched on some of the main storylines going on this week as we get ready for the NFL for Agents Frenzy to start next week. But let's go dive deeper here into

some of these and we're going to start with Aaron Rodgers. And actually, Patricia, before we get to you, we are going to start with our resident Aaron Rodgers expert actually Patricia before we get to you, we are going to start with our resident Aaron Rodgers expert locked on Packers host Peter Bukowski. Uh, Aaron or Aaron, there have been rumors specifically, specifically listed here for us. Giants, Raiders, Steelers. Uh, do any of those teams make sense to you? Not just from an Aaron Rodgers perspective, but from those franchises where they are today.

No, no, they don't. They look, they certainly don't make sense for the New York giants. Like at all. Nothing about that makes sense because he's going to come in and hijack the season. It's not going to go any better on that side of the, you know, the, the MetLife Stadium locker room than it did on the other side. Like, I don't, I don't know why on a worst team, it would be any different. So that doesn't make any sense. Las Vegas doesn't make any sense because that team stinks too. And then that leaves you with the Steelers. Why would Mike Tomlin want

to do that? Why would Mike Tomlin want to do that? Why would Mike Tomlin want to deal with all the toxicity, all the Aaron Rogers nonsense? The only caveat there is, are you getting Devontae Adams? It sounds like no, like Devontae Adams is kind of over it and, and doesn't want to play somewhere cold. Um, probably wants to enjoy himself in California with Matthew Stafford or Justin Herbert, and I can't blame him for that.

Come home Devontae. California with Matthew Stafford or Justin Herbert. And I can't blame him for that come home Devante. And so like that, at this point, I think we are closer to Aaron Rodgers getting Bill Belichick this off season than we are to Aaron Rodgers starting quarterback. This scene. Yeah, I mean, listen, I don't know if it matters what team I was covering. I don't know that I would want Aaron Rodgers and Landon. You kind of said you disagreed there with Peter.

What makes you think the Giants are a good fit? Well, let me be clear. I agree with everything that Peter said, except for the part where he should be with the Giants. I agree that he's going to be toxic for whatever team he goes to, it's going to wreck the situation. And that's why I think he should be the only reason. So that's why you want him.

Yes, that's why I want him to be with the giants. I'm sorry. Patricia, she's already been through enough with the giants. Thanks, buddy. Well, Patricia, let's flip it over to you then. I mean, talk giants, talk to the page views, the listens, Patricia. Well, from what I understand, the giants interest in Aaron Rogers is more of a break glass in case of emergency last resort. I don't think they want him, you know, in Aaron Rodgers is more of a break glass in case of emergency. Last resort.

I don't think they want him, you know, just looking into it, Aaron Rodgers, even with the Jets being the Jets, the last what, three, four years of his career, his numbers have declined, he's had some health issues, with durability, like you mentioned, toxic. You know, the Giants aren't gonna put up with that. You know, he's gonna, you mentioned, toxic. The Giants aren't going to put up with that.

There's reports that wherever he goes, he's going to want to bring Devonte Adams. And it's like, are you going to insist on it? I'm sorry. I don't want him with the Giants. I really don't. No disrespect to Aaron Rodgers, but I'd rather they go and turn the franchise over to one of the young working quarterbacks who by the way

I'm not a hundred percent sold on but if I had my druthers Aaron Rodgers or one of those rookie quarterbacks I take the rookie quarterbacks in a heartbeat and I wouldn't think twice about it Patricia Right now Nobody's bigger than the organization. So if you think you're bigger than the organization, I don't want you in my organization. Plus the team I cover has Jayden Daniels, so I don't got to worry about her and Rodgers coming here. Patricia, let's flip over to the NFL draft though. Rumors now that the Giants are looking to trade up to the number one overall pick with the Tennessee

Titans. I hear Kavon Thibodeau, Harold Landry swap might be involved there as well. What are your vibes on the Giants trying to move up to number one? And is it Cam Ward? Because that's the assumption, and I think it should be, but is it Cam Ward? I know that Cam Ward is ahead of the other quarterbacks, that they really like Cam Ward. As far as trading up, I think those talks are a little premature. And I say that because it's going to depend on who they end up getting as the veteran bridge quarterback. Now, had this been Matthew Stafford,

they were able to land. I guarantee you all this talk about trading up would have gone away because Matthew Stafford, they figured they could get a couple years out of three years out of whatever. Obviously, it didn't work out for them. So we'll have to see who the veteran bridge is. If it's a Jimmy Garoppolo, if it's a Gardner Minshew,

then I think, yeah, maybe there's a better chance of trading up. But as I've said on my show countless times, right now, as of this state, what is it, March 5th, I am not 100% convinced the Giants are gonna trade up. To me, it makes more sense for them to trade back, pick up extra draft picks, maybe dip into, you know, the second tier of quarterbacks.

I know they like Jackson Dart. There's a couple of other guys they like from what I understand, but you know, look, this is a team that's not one quarterback away. The question is, is do they want wanna take a flyer on this year or is the pressure that is coming from inside the building so much so that Joe Shane, the general manager, Brian Gable, the head coach,

were making the decision on the quarterback. Are they gonna say, you know what, we gotta make a move here. We can't sit and wait because if we don't make a move, we're gonna lose our jobs. Do you know? This is exactly why, by the way, you cannot have front offices

with this level of instability because Joe Shane and Brian Dable are incentivized to cover their own asses rather than do what is in the best interest long-term of this organization. And you hit it on the head, Patricia, because they are deciding right now, can we convince the Maras that what we should do

is draft Cam War or whatever it is, when really the best thing for the team is to move back, accumulate picks and try and build a real team. The problem is that doesn't help them win now. And if you don't win now, they're gone in, I was gonna say a year, but it honestly

could be sooner than that because of, you know, in, in season firings and all those things like this is, this is just not a very good football team. They have some talent at some spots, but like, this is, this is the inherent disconnect between a team that or an organization that has people at the top trying to save their jobs versus doing the best thing for the organization. That is the very difficult position that they find themselves in right now. I don't don't envy it. Patricia, do you have any insight as to who Joe Shane's son would like them to get a quarterback?

Cause he seems like he might have a love to know that cause that kid hit it right on the head. Man, just look at the Madden ratings. You'll figure it out. Yeah, Madden ratings. Let's let's get back to real football here. I do want to stick to cam ward though real quick. Cody Rourke locked on Broncos you you myself and Mike debate a lot on Patriots. The teams that we cover all

drafted quarterbacks last year had varying levels of success. Certainly every all three teams have a lot of excitement about the future. When I ask you this where if Cam Ward were in last year's class and try to take the the rose colored glasses off, post rookie seasons for all these other guys, where do you think he would have stacked up in that group? I mean, I think he would have been top 15. I think obviously with Denver, they picked 12th one, they got Bo Nicks at that regard.

I think you would have seen that run. I think he would have probably been maybe the sixth, seventh quarterback taken so far at that regard, I think you would have seen that run. I think he would have probably been maybe the 6th, 7th quarterback taken so far at that point. I think everyone got thrown off a little bit by the Michael Penick's thing in Atlanta. I think Cam Ward, maybe he might have gone before Michael Penick's. I mean, at that point, maybe Atlanta would have gotten him instead if he had declared. Yeah, that's interesting. So and that's kind of the situation that all

these teams are in, right? Like you want to take a quarterback, but if you just look to last year's class alone, like he's not a top quarterback, then he's on a top three quarterback then, right? Maybe that's kind of the point I was getting at. Maybe a top five guy. Do you spend capital to move up to get a quarterback that relatively to relative to his class is the top guy, but in vacuum maybe isn't necessarily up there. James York a lockdown bucks. I'm going to let you set up the next question. So once you look at your fellow squad mates here, the six of us, of the six of us, which team should be most interested in pursuing a trade for DK Metcalf? Ooh, I'm going to go Broncos. I think,

I think the matchup with Bo Nix, and then DK Metcalf giving him like a major alpha wide receiver is super intriguing and and having DK in that Sean Payton offense, I think would be an absolute blast. I know Peter's upset with me already because he wants DK to go to Green Bay, my stepson is upset with me. He wants DK to go to Green Bay, but I just love the idea of the fit of Metcalfe and Bo Nicks kind of, you know, taking the Broncos up another notch compared to what they did last year.

All right, so we're gonna kick off the next segment of this NFL squad episode asking Cody work. What does DK Metcalfe mean for the Denver Broncos? If that is where he ends up, that's coming up next on this week's NFL squad episode, part of the Locked On Podcast. Network your team every day. Denver Broncos if that is where he ends up. That's coming up next on this week's NFL squad episode. Part of the Lockdown podcast network your team every day. Wrapping up this NFL squad episode, we just asked James York, Oh, which of the six non Buccaneers teams? Because

they got Mike Evans. They're gonna bring red kiss Chris Godwin. They don't need DK Metcalf. Which of us needs him the most? He says locked on Broncos host Cody work could use some DK Metcalf Cody what does DK Metcalf mean for the Broncos? That's what happens I mean you bring in a true number one wide receiver and look you look at pairing him with Cortland Sutton those two guys with their size and physicality certainly that that's a great blanket option there for a guy like Bo Nix as he goes into his second year, right? And you got some young talented playmakers behind him, like Marvin Mims, who really ascended

on the back half of last season. Troy Franklin's a guy who they have very big plans for, and De'Von Vailay as well, who had some impact minutes there. I've always been on the precipice of saying I think the Broncos absolutely need a veteran receiver this year in free agency. That certainly is a need. DK would obviously be a game changer for them, but he's also in line. He wants an extension soon. I don't know if Denver's in a position to do that because they still have to take care

of Nick Benito. They have to take care of Zach Allen, which the reports now suggest he's looking for 25 million per year. Courtland Sutton is expected to get a contract extension either before or after the NFL draft. So there was a lot of moving pieces. Whereas I think if he were an outright free agent, Denver can make a push for him. But because you have to trade and Denver loves the draft capital that they have, I think that they kind of pass on this. So I think DK would be game changing for the Broncos. But I think DK in Green Bay or even in New England, with Jordan Love or obviously with Drake May, I feel like that would be a great start for him. A new start. The Patriots have a lot of ammunition to work with in terms of financial capital, draft capital,

things like that. The Packers, he wants to go to a contender. I think you're in a better position than anybody else here right now for a DK services. Yeah, so outside the Broncos, I'm looking at the Patriots, right? I'm looking at my debate. So that's my, that's my second pick. Mike, I mean, what would DK Metcalf, DK Metcalf, I can't even say his name, right? Hopefully it doesn't go into Washington. What would he mean for the Patriots?

So it's an immediate number one receiver for Drake may. I mean, he's absolutely the alpha in the room as to what they have in the room right now. And Cody makes a great point about the Patriots having the resources to be able to make this happen. They've got the money to sign DK to an extension. They've got the draft capital right now to possibly satisfy what Denver needs. Maybe they throw in a veteran or a young player that's not working out here in New England that could be a part of a package to Seattle. But when you look at what

DK is going to want long term, is New England the area where he wants to come? He's come on, he's gone on record a couple of times, guys, saying that he may not necessarily want to play in the Northeast. So you really have to be sure if you're going to push all of your chips into the center of the table and say, DK Metcalf is the guy I want to really help anchor Drake May and help him become the quarterback we believe he can be. You've got to want a guy that's going to be there long term. Can the Patriots convince him? New England is the place?

Maybe, but you really have to have some good assurances that he's going to be open to that. That to me is going to be the only detrimental factor here in the Patriots wanting to pursue DK Metcalfe because everything on the field says that this is a call they should already have made at the time that we're recording this. My question for you, Mike, is, and I just went through this in watching what the Packers did

with Jordan Love, is when they elevated Jordan Love, they had all first and second year receivers and they grew together and it worked for two years. I mean, this was, I understand the Packers are not trying to add a premium number one guy if they can, but that's partially because Jayden Reed didn't take the step that they were hoping for. Christian Watson couldn't stay healthy. Duntavian Wicks didn't take the step forward. I feel like there's a lot of wisdom when you're a really, really bad team, which you know, you watched it.

I'm not telling you anything you didn't know. That's what they were last year. If I'm the Patriots, I feel like I would take the best trench player available that I could do in the first round. I would take Jayden Higgins at the top of the second and try and build something over time. DK Metcalf's 27, going to be 28 this year. By the time Drake May is a bona fide stud, he might be 31 and isn't going to help you

in the same way. I'm just wondering from your perspective, what you think the best way to build this team is? How do you balance that for Drake May and the Patriots understanding they're at least a year, probably two or three away from being a real playoff team in the AFC? Yeah, that's a great question, Peter. And that's one that ultimately, I think Mike Vrabel and Ryan Cowden and Elliot Wolf at the top of that Patriots food chain right now are gonna have to answer in short order Look the Patriots need to start building from the trenches and they're not being very Revealing about exactly what that plan is gonna be but they're leaving breadcrumbs trails along the line for us to be able to follow

All the names that they're being linked to right now in free agency or trench guys Whether it be Milton Williams in Philadelphia, whether it be Ronnie Stanley in Baltimore, these are the types of players that they're going to look to build around. So that way, when they go to the draft, they can draft for best player available. They don't necessarily have to draft for need because there was so many needs on this roster that filling some of these slots with savvy veterans going in may be the best way for them to go. With regard to your question on wide receivers, yeah, I think you're absolutely right on the

money there. I think what the Patriots need to do is get a core together that Drake may can build with. We're already hearing about Jalen Polk working with Drake over the off season, really meeting with Vrabel, trying to get him bought in. Javon Baker is someone that has met with Mike several times already, has spoken to him, and is very on board with trying to revamp what was a very disappointing rookie season for him last year. So Patriots have to decide if they've got a couple of guys in the room that can work with Josh McDaniels and be cultivated in the type of image he's going to want for that type of offense, yeah, I think there's something to be said for that. If these guys are not

the answer, yeah, the Patriots definitely need to get some young guys in that room that can, that can grow with Drake and develop that type of synergy that you see with some of the best teams in the league that have sustained excellence, not just flashing the pan one year, and then you kind of peter off, this is going to be something that they're going to want to build for year to year to year. Not a fan of that phrase, Mike. Does this seem like like this is the NFL flashing a bright flashing light saying, they really do not like this wide receiver class in the draft. Because it seems like the noise we've heard out of the combine is that the people are lower on these wide receivers

coming out. And then suddenly you see all these players being made available. It's like the teams are seeing that there's a market for available picks for veteran wide receivers because the class looks so bad. I'm wondering if this isn't all in reaction to being very underwhelmed by this wide receiver. Landon, I think it has more to do, frankly, with the cost. Like every team needs three

of these guys. And if they're going to get pass rusher money, then or like, you know, Justin Jeffers 30 plus million, we're not that far removed from that being quarterback money. I mean, that was five years ago. That was quarterback money. So I think what teams have realized, Brian Peacock was, was the one that sort of put this bug in my brain. Cause he mentioned this, like the, the, the 49ers signed Brandon I you to a top of market deal and within a year of buyer's remorse. Yeah.

I think we're seeing teams go like for the Seahawks, you have Jackson Smith, the jig bug, but he's this one year of that. DK Metcap is a proven thousand Smith and Jigbub, but he's just one year of that. DK Metcalf is a proven thousand yard generator since his rookie season, but they're going, do we want to pay him $30 million? Does that make sense for our football team? I think teams are a lot of teams, maybe not the Bengals, are looking at this and going, I don't know if it makes sense for us to pay these guys that much when even to your point

about the draft, there's still 15 guys who are going to go in the top 100. Lots of wide receivers are going to go. Right. Receivers every year in the draft. I think it's more about what the financial market is for these receivers. No one wanted to pay to Monte Adams $35 million. That's ludicrous. I think I think it's both because I think there's the thing is, is in this class, there are tons of those guys, if you're looking for wide receiver to wide receiver three, or a gadget guy to this class, there are tons of those guys, if you're looking for wide

receiver, two wide receiver, three, or a gadget guy to come in, there's tons of those guys. But as far as true wide receiver, one alphas, there's almost none. I mean, outside of Hunter, maybe and then Ted, how many teams need that? Maybe? wide receiver ones in the NFL, I think I just went through the list on Twitter like yesterday. There are a lot every most teams have a true number one. The more offices, more offices need them than don't, I think as overall in their system, but

but it's changed a little bit. Like with the too high shell that we're now seeing commonly, it's easy to take a corner play him outside of the best receiver if he's lined up on the outside safety or the top and you can spy if you have an athletic linebacker, you can spy inside. Like you need other guys to contribute. I mean, that's why I think like Peter, to your point of the Packers, that's why I was like, man, the Packers young receiving court, that's something to be excited about for the future. Now, obviously the injuries to Christian Watson, all this other stuff, stuff like that's out of control of that. But just a year and a half ago, there was a lot of excitement. Wow. this Packers receiver room could be very

special as a young unit. It's starting to go where we're seeing the market devaluation change a little bit, right? Receivers used to be a high premium because there's so many now that price is going to go down. It's hard. I think what you just described actually means that there should be less wide receivers on the field, right? Like we should be seeing more, you know, bulkier 12 personnel formations that to me, and this is the best.

We've been on the outside. And there and there wasn't uptick in 12 personnel across the league, not necessarily team to team, but there wasn't uptick in 12 personnel used last season. So look, it's you know, the game ebbs and flows man and then eventually running backs will be will be the bees knees again someday. I don't know when I don't know. It's coming. I just got paid whatever 20. Yeah. All right. We are. We are running a little bit longer, but I do want to ask a few more

questions here before we get out. Landon McCool. I do want to play myth busters here with you guys. And actually we're gonna go. James York. We'll start with James locked on bucks. What's it? What's a myth, a rumor, a point of speculation surrounding the Buccaneers that you think either holds a lot of water or holds absolutely zero water? I think it's the interest in Khalil Mack. You know, the Bucks are desperate for an edge rusher. And while Mack is older, you know, he had 17 sacks in 23, only 6 in 24, but he still had one of his most productive seasons. I think that's the guy. If Jason Light and Todd Bowles feel that they are on the cusp of truly contending,

that's the guy you go bring in. Because then he can bring along Yahya Diaby. He can bring along Chris Braswell and whoever they draft at Edgerusher. I think the interest that's being reported in Mac by the Buccaneers is very, very legitimate. Landon McCool locked on Cowboys. Same question to you. Around the Bucs? No, I'm just kidding. I think for me, it's, you know, the Cowboys are completely out and spending it off season I think I'm not completely ready to say that it is completely false But I do think we've seen more of the steps that they would take if they were gonna be more

You know bigger spenders and free agency I'm not saying they're going wild but the fact that they got OSIS signed up before the the franchise deal They seem to be working on Micah They've already started to flip the switches on some of those contracts to get the money ready. I do think that they're going to be a little bit bigger spenders than everyone's expected. And then, Patricia Tran, a lock down Giants. I don't want to play myth blasters with you. I'm play true or false. Joe Shane and Brian Dable are going to spend the Giants first round pick in 2026. That wasn't where I was going to go for what? 2026. That wasn't where I was going to go for what I was actually going to go outside the box here, but, uh, are they going to spend the first round pick you want to

know in 2026? Are they going to be here to spend the first round picking 2026? I don't know. I mean, if I had a crystal ball, I mean, I, I think they would like that's why the ball prediction, Patricia. I'm going to say it depends. Ask me in a couple of weeks. I'll be able to answer that. But now it's a magic eight ball. Ask, ask again later. I wanted to get to my point. My point about for myth busters giants are going to go off

then some line of free agency. Yeah. I bet you didn't see that coming. Right? You know, last year the giants went veteran, the veteran route and free agency, they made it work until the injuries started hitting. Joe Shane at the combine saying that they have forfeits with the line set, which to me says that maybe they're not going to move out of

the kneel inside the guard with though I wish they would, I'd like to see what he could do with guard. So I do think they're going to to be heavy hitters in the guard market. All right, that's that's fair enough, but you know, I honestly I don't blame for answering my question if I had to if I Every day I don't know if I would do the same thing either But that isn't a wrap up this week's NFL squad is a lot of fun a lot of great things Talked about Joe Marino locked on bills. Unfortunately did not come through to join us this week But perhaps he will be here next week. Hopefully all of you

will get a special announcement too for the, uh, for the NFL squad. We've got a special announcement next week that I have no clue what it is, but all of us are you want to do that now? Yeah, I was gonna say like the NFL squad like next Wednesday for free agency. We're gonna be live from six Eastern time to eight Eastern time. We're gonna be here from six Eastern time to eight Eastern time. We're gonna be here reacting to some of the bigger signings around the NFL free agency cycle. And maybe we'll pop on, you know,

Joe Marino from Locked On Bills. There even though, hey look, no Joe, there's still a show, Bill's Mafia. Gotta get used to it. Yeah, contrary popular belief and comment on the Locked On Bills channel every time the NFL Squad episode drops. Thank you to all of Bill's Mafia

who stayed and watched the show because it does help bill bill. It helps Joe anyway. We will be here each week and each of us will be here on our respective channels bringing you all the latest on your favorite NFL team. So make sure you're followed. Make sure you're subscribed to make sure you have all the notifications on so you don't miss a single moment of all the coverage all part of the Lockdown Podcast Network your team every day.