NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2022 Around the AFC in 48 Minutes

Episode Date: May 3, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, Gregg Rosenthal and Cynthia Frelund start by discussing DeAndre Hopkins' suspension for violating the NFL's policy on the use of performance-enhancing drugs, as well as Tyrann Mathieu's return to his hometown after signing with the New Orleans Saints. Then, the heroes go around the AFC in 48 minutes, 3 minutes per team, division by division, beginning with the AFC East. After a tour around the AFC North, we visit the AFC South, and finally wrap up the episode with the ultra-competitive AFC West.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast, Viva Las Vegas. From the Chris Wessling podcast studio, it's Around the NFL. I'm Dan Hansis. Got some heroes, Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler, whatever. To my right, she's back. And she can't keep playing the game. Like, oh, I'm finally invited my once-year appearance when, I think we're up to two or three already. The past six months.

Cynthia Freeland! Hi. What's up, Cindy? Did you just call me? You're like the only one that can get away with that, you know? Thank you. Because it doesn't sound like Cynthia, but when it comes out of your mouth, I still listen to it. But other people, they'll say it and they'll look at me and I'm like, oh, you're talking to me.

But it doesn't sound the same. Cindy, Cynthia, just totally different. But distinctly two different names. Right. And different personas and energy around those two names. Totally. But I guess. Everyone has like a fake name on this show.

So like maybe I need to come up with, you know, but it wouldn't be Cindy. That is not what it would be. Well, if you're uncomfortable with Cindy, we can speak privately and I'll move it off the platform. Well, you can do it. But other people cannot. But Dan's right. You can't keep doing the thing and you did it off there of like, oh, it's good to find, you know, actually be on the show. When you get the call up to the around the AFC in 48 minutes.

Big show. That's, that's upper tier. That's one of our favorite shows of the year. I remember it was one of Chris's favorite shows of the year, had all his notes ready for it. So, I mean, this is big time. Huge time. And also, like, we're really, like,

we're ushering in a new era of the podcast. Like, I'm glad to be here for this. Oh, great transition. I was just going to say, I did a power ranking statement on Matt Money Smith today, and he was upset that he didn't get the invite to this app. It's Cindy that gets the invite. So think about that.

Nobody has worked more than Matt Money Smith in the past, like, four days of it. Yeah, money. Yes. Yes, a new era, Erica Tamposi, our great love behind the glass has moved on. She's going to be working on other projects. She's going to be a star in her own right. And we were holding her down. Let's be honest.

So we needed new blood. And here he is. Of course, you know him. He's the grave digger. Justin Graver. You'll get used to. You've got to hit your own Grave digger drop now. How are you, buddy?

I'm great. How are you guys? Good, good, good. I think to get this thing off before we get to some news that when we're, down in the last 24 hours before we move on to anything else it is a changing of the guard so i believe we need to have a just a quick ceremony as we begin the new era absolutely this is the producer's creed justin i justin graver i justin graver do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the position of producer of the around the

NFL Podcast. That I will faithfully execute the position of producer of the around the NFL podcast. And defend said property against all enemies, foreign and domestics. And defend said property against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I renounce any and all other podcasts outside these walls. I renounce any and all other podcasts outside these walls. I will betray the trust of outsiders if it benefits the show or its host. I will betray the trust of outsiders if it benefits It's the show or its hosts. I will put the show below only God and country. Friends, family, live in paramours all exist at a lower priority level.

Then the around the NFL podcast and it's above the line. Talent, just say yes. Yes. Seems so specific. It's very long. Paramours. I will abstain from drugs, alcohol, and sex during the duration of my duties. I will do my best to abstain from drugs, alcohol, and sex during the duration of my duties.

I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the position on which I am about to enter. I will, one more time. So help me, God. So help me God, yes to that. And now I'll prick your finger with this pin. It will take your blood and put your hand over the 2006 Tennessee Titans Media Guide. And repeat yourself, so help me God. So help me God.

All right. Welcome aboard. Wow. And I think in true tampose, you're not. This will be the only segment of the show that makes it to social. I should have shaped this. Mark coming out swigging. I also can think of some producers that did not take that oath going into the job.

That did not perform those TV. He was squeamish. He didn't want to get pricked with the blood. He didn't like that. No, he did not want to be pricked with the blood. All right. So, Justin, great to have you aboard in this capacity. We're going to do great things together.

Let's now get to the business. at hand. Yes, we do it only a couple times a year, but definitely after the NFL draft, it's time to check in with every team in the league. Tuesday, today, AFC, Thursday, NFC. But first time for news and notes presented by Upwork where you can build the team that will build your business, learn more at Upwork.com. We'll start with news out of Arizona. DeAndre Hopkins. He's on the shelf. He is on the shelf for six games to start the 2022 season. after testing positive for violating the NFL's performance enhancing drug policy. He withdrew his appeal of the six game ban.

And Cynthia would kind of struck me about this. Obviously, a big bummer. Hopkins is one of the best playmakers in the league. He's coming off an injury riddled season. He'd been an Ironman before that. He's never had any type of PED issues to this point. All of a sudden, that trade made a little more sense to me on Thursday night. Man, you're giving up a first round pick for Hollywood Brown?

well, they knew something we didn't. For sure. They knew something we didn't. They had to do the best they could, given the circumstances. They need to make Carla Murray happy. Hollywood Brown, the reunion makes them very happy, allegedly, right? Or at least there's the best chance to that. So, I mean, this is an interesting one because I don't know what a high-grade beaver tranquilizer is,

but that's just another, that's really like a whole other show. Right. It's wild. You will abstain, Graver. Exactly. but it's just a wild it's a wild read so you can't make this up

he most likely I thought Deer Spray was like the top of the charts and now we got Beaver tranquilizer Beaver tranquilizer is dangerous He most likely And I've heard some buzz about this By and his most likely he put his trust

into someone who creates a plan for his body and his nutrition and his strength coach and all of that. And that person who probably makes a lot of money, and I've heard some whispers at the same exact person, the same trainer, I had some other players popped recently in the last couple of seasons.

Fire that guy? You would think you would not keep that guy, first of all. And just like that decision to hire this person who apparently is pushing the boundaries of what you can do is costing D'Andre Hopkins millions and millions of dollars that he never get back. And the Cardinals' offense, which to me already struggled with creativity is going to be a lot worse without him.

Obviously, they're a team that two years in a row has gotten off to hot starts under Cliff Kingsbury. The wheels came completely off the vehicle at the end of the season, and it had a lot to do with DeAndre Hopkins being out of the lineup. They were one and four. Kyla Murray was one in four in games without DeAndre Hopkins and that included that playoff implosion.

So right away, I don't think that Hollywood Brown can mask over what you lose with DeAndre Hopkins on any level. I get that he's turning 30s, not the same player maybe he was a couple years ago, but he's been the key to their passing games. So I think it's a disaster for Arizona. I'm glad they have them though. I mean, they'll be a little more awesome. I mean, they needed

them. And I think the Ravens, who everything seemed to go right for the Ravens in Vegas, perhaps that did too, because they had a little extra leverage, whether they knew it or not. I don't know. But very interesting. I think Hopkins, we have no sign that he's not still in his prime. I know he's banged up last year, but he was a stud when he first got to Arizona. He's a big time player. Rondell Moore, who flashed a little bit last year as a rookie. He's going to have a bigger role now. AJ Green is still in that building. Back in the building. So we

shall see. AJ Green didn't sound like he loved last season either. Yeah, they have, they have Zach Hertz too. And I know that that doesn't sound awesome. But Zachers did pick up a lot of the slack when DeAndre Hopkins was out last season. So I mean, like let's just get Kyler Murray back first like if he doesn't come back then then right we'll get yeah we'll hit that in the around the NFC conversation because that that is not a done deal yet either uh speaking of the NFC the honey badger is moving is headed home to the bayou great he's great he's so pumped he loves it I love LSU I love Tulane I don't love you in any way formerly of the chiefs he signs now uh Mark uh with the Saints so that deal he could

leaves, graybeards, purgatory, and signs in May, 30 years old. Obviously, he's always been productive, but he keeps on moving around. Maybe he has a longer stay here in New Orleans. A nice pickup for a Saints team that's looking pretty good right now, too. Honey Badger's the kind of guy. No matter where he went, you would talk about it as a massive upgrade to that team's defense. Something about this feels different to me. It feels special because the Saints are a unique team.

I think Greg mentioned this a week or so ago that their fan base is unique. The location is unique, the whole city, and that he's coming back home. All of that is the intangible stuff, but I kind of love the fact that you're adding him to a defense that lost Malcolm Jenkins to retirement, that lost Marcus Williams to the Ravens. If you look at who they have in the way that they operated last year is the number fourth overall team DVOA-Wise against the pass, Honey Badger is set up to succeed, and this was the one secondary that looked at Tom Brady, caused total chaos for him, showed zero fear of Tom Brady, And we already know that Honey Badger feels that way about Tom Brady because they've gotten into it in the past on the field. So I kind of just love this for New Orleans.

They're eight or nine deep now. I mean, they also signed Marcus May. They brought PJ Williams back. They've got Chauncey Gardner Johnson, Marshawn Lattimore, Adibo looked pretty good. They brought him Daniel Sorensen, which I kind of forgot about, as it was like a reserve guy. They drafted one in the second round.

Wait, did you just present that as a positive? No, that wasn't. If anything, Matthew is taking those. They're teammates. They know each other. And Matthew is taking those snaps, I think, from them. But I think we're going to talk about some teams in the around the AFC segment that I think are building back to front, the Ravens, the Bengals.

The Saints are definitely that team that feels like we've got seven or eight guys back there that can slow down today's passing attacks. To counteract all the passing, first down, we've seen the most passing ever past two seasons. Counteract that you need to play nickel, you need to play lots of defensive backs. And that's what teams have been doing. So you saw it. That was part of the reason why when we get to the Ravens that we'll talk about, you know, how why Kyle Hamilton was such a good fit. But being able to just always have that depth for the defensive backs, it's just the way to counterbalance all the passes. And I don't want to hear that AJ Brown, you couldn't

afford A.J. Brown. It's like the Saints were $80 million over the cap and they somehow figured out all this stuff and they're still signing Tyron Matthew. Like their cash spending is through the roof. If nothing else, Saints fans got to be happy with Gail Benson, that they are just like spending money over, hand over fist, the last. couple of seasons, almost more than any team in the NFL. Yeah. I believe AJ Brown when he said, this isn't my fault. Yeah.

It wasn't my fault. Right. I don't think it was. And that was news and notes presented by Upwork, the world's work marketplace. Learn more at Upwork.com. All right. Now, here we go. Ready?

We're caught up on the news. Okay. Greg, Mark, how are you feeling about things time-wise right now? You expressed some concern before we started. I mean, it was playful concern, but I suggested the show. would go at least eight five minutes. I feel like any playful concern for Mark always has like an undercurrent of menace.

It's not untrue. I'm feeling a little of that Tuesday intensity from Sessler, and I think that's going to help you in this exercise. I just came, you know, I'm enjoying the conversation so far, and I hope it, you know, for the next 48 minutes and not a lot longer, we continue to do that. You did tell us you were at the office three and a half hours before the show. So that is prep.

That is impressive. That's why you're ready to go. The cafeteria upstairs offers free breakfast and there's like nice coffee machines and stuff. Siffa, you had said, as I mentioned, Power Rankings is back. Me and Matt Money Smith are on the network later today, 8 p.m. Eastern. And you said in the total access meeting, just a ton of heat, people fired up about the power rings. A lot of guys be like, he never played the game.

No. These, I don't take this seriously. He never played a snap. Anything like that? Not that I remember. What I remember was more like. In the meeting today, showing up in mid-May. Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Obviously, they put the stars on in May 3rd. That's when they bring the stars out. Hence why I'm on it with you. But it was more like, can you keep repeating the order? Because the people were calling in because they're not sitting there in person. I feel as though I have the memorized now because other people could not remember. Disaster. Do you want to hear the top 10?

You curious? I am. Let's go. Here's the top 10. Number one. Let's put the Rams back at one. Just that. Come on.

I should. Bills, Rams, Bucks, Bengals, Niners, Packers, Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, AFC West, 7 to 10. Am I crazy? I don't think you're crazy. Bengals feels a little rich. It's cute. How dare you?

It's like a little, hey, hey. How dare you? I don't like the Chiefs being below those teams, and the Bengals seem weirdly. Where the heck are the Ravens? The Ravens are 11 up four spots. Okay. I feel like somebody's got to win that division. Certainly.

So, like, the 11th best team. I kind of knock the Bengals right back to the rest of the divisions. The Bengals feels a little over-rewarded. We didn't like what they did in free agency. I think they've had a great off-season. Yeah. Are they a better team than the one that almost won the Super Bowl? I think so are the Ravens.

The Ravens got, like, injury, really unlucky injury-wise. Everything went wrong for Baltimore and they were still alive in Week 18. Exactly. We are asking quite a bit from Ashad Bateman right now. in that wide receiver room. I also think it's funny that the Broncos are up there. And who, like, are we, who is he throwing the ball to himself? It's a tugboat.

Tom Brady can't pass and catch the ball himself. The Broncos have great receivers. What are you talking about? Portland Sutton. Tim Patrick, Jerry Judy, KJ Hamler. That's, that's, that's a, is it a drew off problem? We got to save it. We got to save it.

This is why the show is going any four minutes. 48 minutes. Let's go. All right, let's get to it. Sometimes you got to go out on a perch a little bit. On a mile high perch. Here we go. This is what we do.

Three minutes per team, every team in the AFC. We got four divisions. There's four of us. We'll take one team per division. Grave digger right off the bat. You're getting thrown in the hot water here because you need to adjudicate this. Is that the right word?

Yeah. I think I understand what you're trying to say. You need to handle this. I got you. You need to make sure. And I know maybe you'll be a little sheepish because I'm the new guy. I don't want to, like, drop a hammer on these guys if I have to. But that's part of this gig.

I don't know. This is the same guy that before we were taping goes, it's a new era. I think he's ready for it. He's ready. So we get three minutes a team. If we go over three minutes, and this includes Cindy, I know she's a star at this company, but you need to take out the tranquilizer and you hit her right in the jugular.

High-grade beaver tranquilizer only. High-grade beaver. I'm ready. Locked and loaded. All right. So let's get going. Let's start with the, and you'll know when time's up, okay? You just, you'll know. Something's going to wash over you, a piece. A piece. Okay. From 1993.

Okay. We're going to start with the AFC East. I will get us going. So let's start it up, Gravedigger, with the Buffalo Bills, number one, by the way, in the power rankings, as I just said, this is, you know, we're in no-it-all season right now. we are all certain how things are going to play out. And right now the football guy in the center. It's only three minutes. I got to go. Is certain the bills are a beastly juggernaut destined for 14 wins,

the trip to the Super Bowl. However, is there a weakness we are overlooking? Or are the bills really that good, Cindy? I mean, I think that we obviously need to see what happens with this running back, who was inconsistent, James Cook, if he can help them out there. They have nice to have. They're a very complete team. They have done a nice job of drafting year in and year out.

So they're in good shape, and they have the most important position in all football. And I don't know if the Patriots got much better. And while the Jets got better, I don't know if it's enough. So division matters a lot. Who are you playing? Well, they've changed a lot. I think that's been, I think that was a good idea. But they have four or five new starters in offense.

About four new ones on defense. You have a new play collar. Sorry, that wasn't that many new ones on defense. But like, how quickly can they transition? Their offense did not come out of the gates very strong last year. They were up and down from seven in the system. I know it's a different play caller, though, with Ken Dorsey there. He's been there, though.

To me, that matters. I think to answer your question, though, offensive line was up and down at best last season. You bring in Roger Saffold, who's more of a run blocker, like right tackles a question mark. I don't look at that offensive line and think, like, that's a great group. At best, it's average. I'm with you on the Dorsey thing because he has been there. They're not changing the offense.

It's anything. It's an extension of what Brian Daybell did. But when you look at Kyle Shanahan and guys that are such good in-game play callers and links so richly to the quarterback that I think that just the idea that Daibol can be replaced and what he did with Josh Allen, that's the big question mark for me because you're going to get into sticky situations where Dayball's creativity and what he did was the special sauce. Can Ken Dorsey do that?

It's a different human being. Right. Gabe Davis is now a two. Jameson Crowder's new to this team. McKenzie's in a different role. It's different. Yeah, it feels like this. Jameson Crowder is another. I really like that move.

I think he's going to be an upgrade over Cole Beasley. And they double down on it by getting a ride receiver that has a similar profile late in the game. Yes. And my only concern here is what you said, that they did start slow last year. By the end of the season, they were unstoppable. But with the change in the O.C, will the offense be where it needs to be? But you also make the point about the division. And I just don't think the Pats, the Pats, obviously we saw it in those last two matchups.

needed to really jump up, I don't think they did, and I think that's going to help them as well. Yeah, it's interesting for me because the bills get, of all of the AFC divisions, and I mean, maybe the South is one you'd want to be,

and although, I don't know, that was confusing, too. This one, it feels like it's a lot more stable than the other ones. I just love the off season. I feel like they've had one of the best off seasons, the defensive players they've added to. Was Kyle, what about Kyle Brent?

Was that a jinx for the ages? No, that was good. I wouldn't look at it that way. Oh, there's a branding opportunity. We're going to be playing that while the bills are going to the Super Bowl. Wow. This is every time with Greg on this. Why can't Greg just be quiet?

We have this beautiful sound. We've already laid out the rules that you can't talk anymore. What if I like the trink, you know? Give it to me. Well, it's got to, can the tranquilizer work maybe? Like, it seems to have no effect. We're taking Greg straight to promises in Malibu after this show. All right.

Speaking of Greg, now you can talk, Greg, on your pets. Okay. I want to know if they did enough defense. There's been so much focus post-draft about these guys that they drafted before anyone expected. Cole Strange, Tyquin Thornton. I get it. Like, you got Joe Judge and Matt Patricia running your offense. It's a little concerning.

But I think their offensive roster is quite good. I look at this defense. That's what got them embarrassed late last year. A bunch of guys in their front seven other than Christian Barmore that were extremely up and down. Matthew Judon didn't really show up in the last month. And the rest of the guys, I don't have a lot of faith. And your top two cornerbacks right now are still Malcolm Butler and Jalen Mills, at least on the outside.

I did like the third round pick, Marcus Jones. But do we have faith in Bill Belichick still, Mark, to just, like, figure out everything, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where I'm telling you, this roster just isn't looking that good. It looks slow. I'm with you. I feel hubris coming out of this organization right now. Bill Belichick, to me, I've never thought this about him, feels a little bit of sleep at the wheel. I mean, I look back at the

Shaq Mason trade where you gave the bucks Jack Mason for essentially like a rusty hammer. I don't know how that went down. Not even a regular hammer. Right. J.C. Jackson out the door. And you're hoping to replace these guys with a very strange collection of draft picks. I am suspicious. I look

at this and I'm going to say one positive thing. I like their strategy for always taking a late round quarterback because if you do get, if you do happen to hit on that, not saying that Bailey Zappi's the future, but I do think it's a smart drafting strategy overall. fourth, fifth, sixth round kind of guy, if you happen to hit on this guy, even if he's your backup, that can be really helpful because remember now backups are commanding like $12 million

just to do. If he's the, if he's Mac Jones's backup for three years, that's a great fourth round pick. I don't need to. He had 62 touchdowns. That can't be wrong. I'm just saying like I think it's, I'm trying to be positive here. Because there's a lot, you know, I feel like a lot of people have been like very, very down on the Patriots. And I don't think they got a lot better. But I think that is a really smart strategy. Cole Strange is going to be a lot. and loaded guard for them seven years from now. So everybody could calm down with the laughter. And I do think, Greg, you and I have been not at logger heads over it,

but you think I don't give Matt Jones enough pop. I am, it's certainly within the realm of reason that he takes a big year to jump here. And they did get him Devonte Park. I would have liked that they went and were a little more aggressive in the draft and got him another player. I mean, they took a guy in 50th overall. You're mad about, we brought up the Ken Dorsey to date with the new play caller. but somehow with the Mac Jones getting a new play caller

and that his head coach who is a very good play call and now he's gone We are not worried about that And their coach will step as like five people on it And what is his said Which I hate nepotism in the NFL Maybe they're wrong

Maybe they're right about Tyquan Thornton But people were really surprised Like just a straight line speed guy 50th overall Maybe I'm just scarred because Denzel Mims was also a highly tight second out pick out of Baylor Right So that turned out None of the Baylor receivers have worked.

I used to play this on repeat in my car, like in high school. Oh, I know you did. Yeah. I taught Pilates in college, and I would always do it. That's okay. If it's non-team-related talk and ease you at the tranks in general, Grave, you're trying to kill us over here. I'm trigger-happy. Like we're elephants in the wild.

Just a bit. I gave him some finger guns. He's got to learn when. just ignore me. All right, Sessler, here you go. The dolphins. All right, dolphins. Pilates.

Good stuff. I like it. Take a class some time. Cessler wants out. The dolphins, like, look at this. Tyreek Hill, Toronto Armstead, two amazing additions. Chase Edmonds, Rahim Mustard. And when you look at Mike McDaniel, I trust that he'll maximize those running backs.

I think they've hopscotch the Patriots from a roster perspective. And they look stronger than the Jets. From one angle, I think it's fair to ask the public. can you smell what hard rock is cooking down in Miami? But do you trust? I would say this. Do you trust that's pretty good, Greg? That's pretty good. To take it to the next level. I know that's almost just

the obvious question. I mean, he has zero excuses. He has a Shanahan offshoot who does great things with quarterbacks. In today's NFL, though, if Tua is not a totally different version of who he is, I don't think there's any chance he's their quarterback this time next off season. I was going to take it a step further

and say how, you know, when does Teddy Bridgewater enter the picture here because I don't know if he makes it to Halloween if he doesn't hit the ground running because this is year three now. And they have put a really solid team around him. They gave him a Hall of Fame next level one of one number one wide receiver. Jalen Waddle had one of the best rookie seasons in recent NFL history. He is a stud. And now you have the opportunity here to take your offense to the next step. And if they don't, I think patience will run out fast.

Yeah. I agree. And yet, I kind of think modest improvement from Tua to where he's like an average NFL starting quarterback somewhere close to where Teddy was for Denver last year. And this team is going to be a lot better because the team around, because everything else is going to be better. You know, I don't know if he needs to excel for this team to win 10 games. They're over under is over the Patriots.

Don't you think so it's weird, though, that like they didn't have any picks this year. So they went from like rebuilding. we're all about picks. That's all we care about is picks. And then they blew all the picks to now they're the team with no picks. And it's the same guy, Chris Greer is sitting there the whole time. So he's got to sell out. Otherwise, he's gone, right?

So they still have their corners, by the way. And I really like both of their corners. Obviously, with Xavier and Howard and Byron Jones, that's really helpful, really nice for them. Also, I think I love the Cedric Wilson drama and whatever, going back and forth and whatever, which was hilarious, like, low-key. What is it? I don't know the Cedric Wilson drama. Basically, like, Dallas was trying to keep.

keep him and that like it was just a lot of drama over cedric which is i mean he's their third not to be mean but it's you know wide receiver number three and there were just all this fighting it's funny i kind of like the third round pick channing tindle he's like his name he just seems like a guy he's going to play right away he was probably behind a landon roberts as a run stopping guy you can get a landon roberts out of your line he's talking a handsome hank big dolphins fan uh future general manager of u k properties for the end of l quite a promotion staying at his castle and he was a little bummed in Vegas that there was no juice

well Tyreek Hill was your first round pick and essentially right you have to look at it that way so that's nice 100% that's not how the draft works though it's aggressive you were technically talking about the team stuff well I won't next time

Cindy on the Jets okay the Jets did a really really nice job with this draft probably the best draft overall especially with their fourth place schedule they probably got the most better. That's terrible English, but they probably improved the most. I also liked that they added Lake and Tomlinson.

You know, we forget about some of these offensive line pieces. You know, obviously he came over from San Francisco. There's familiarity with his head coach. I think if you look to see what do you, you really need to evaluate. What is Zach Wilson, the guy yes or no? Because clearly it's not Joe Flacco. Like, he's not competing for that, for that real job, right? So when you look to see like, okay, what can we do?

Well, we can load him up with a really good wide receiver. we can see Elijah Moore if he can stay healthy. I don't know if Corey Davis is going to come back on. I hope he stays healthy but he has been oft injured. I think actually adding Jeremy Rucker who teammates with Garrett Wilson at Ohio State that was a really nice ad as well.

Breeze Hall was many people's consensus number one running back. They stole Jermaine Johnson and Ahmad Gardner. Some people had him as their number one corner. Some people had him as number two. So clearly they got their guy and I love the whole like, you're always the one. He was from one Detroit man to

another you were you were always the one that was funny but they still have a lot of pieces too it's not like there were five players away right so there are some question marks here mkai beckton needs to pay off because that's a you know physical a huge situation to have to overcome if your left tackle isn't good their right tackles george fant right now listed in the number one on the depth chart like that's kind of scary as well so we'll have to see but low key cj uzama also a good ad so i mean your model has them jumping up what like four wins to it was like 2.5 it was like 2.5 wins overall in part because they play a fourth place schedule so it tipped the scales to have a better chance to win some of those games and that's a really big increase it's not you know i like jet fans i want you to be

happy but one cornerback does not an entire defense make you know so you got to figure out that they did i mean DJ Reed so they've kind of overmade that to me not to oversimplify it but it does the tackle positions in the quarterback because they've now built a compelling roster Not a Super Bowl roster, but now there's pieces in play. Fant, does he stay healthy? Is he going to be good enough? Beckham, is he going to get his weight under control and be a real player? And can Zach Wilson do it?

Those are all still big questions, but they've at least made themselves intriguing as a team. They're intriguing. I mean, you feel like there is a, from a birds I view, a real plan that kind of married the draft and free agency together and made the Jets better. The one thing I don't like in the New York market, but just national in general, is when everyone is saying the team is now competent and could be successful if the quarter. It's like a lot of pressure on Zach Wilson to make a big step. And I just not sure based on what we saw last year that he has that in.

I mean, he's another player like Tua that might not be there a year from now in the starting spot. He's in a great situation for a second year quarterback. I think this isn't a totally rebuilding team. Joe Douglas got hired four years ago. And this was his third year drafting. Yeah, he didn't draft that four. But fine, it's his third full year.

So this is like when you're supposed to show your. You're wares, and I think he's done it. I think he's done it. They're set up pretty well. Oh, I thought I was going to get away with it. All right, everybody, hold right there. Let's take a quick break. A responsible break.

We'll be right back. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that?

Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Let's move the AFC North. Greg, get us going with the defending conference champions.

Okay. So I talked about the saints being built to stop today's passing attacks. I think that's the Bengals identity. And yeah, their first identity, of course, is their quarterback and his past catchers and the skill position guys, how special they're going to be is how far they're going to go. But defensively, this Bengals team by taking two players in the secondary to start their draft in Daxon Hill and then Cameron Taylor Britt, to me, just makes this secondary potentially special. They have seven or eight really competent guys.

I think they were a pretty good secondary before. Now you can get so multiple. You got Mike Hilton and Daxon Hill. Daxon Hill can do a lot of different things, incredibly athletic. Maybe Eli Apple is kicked out of the starting lineup. But when he's suddenly your fourth or fifth cornerback, that looks great.

And I really like the idea that they kind of know who they are. And they also look at the rest of the AFC, I think, and look at the bills, they look at the Chiefs, and they think, how can we slow down these two teams? And I think more than almost any team in the AFC, they're built for it. I mean, they don't get to the Super Bowl last year without ball hockey and secondary play. They don't beat the Titans necessarily. I mean, they were in all those games in such close affairs.

I love what they did. I love what they did along the offensive line. It's like they were the one team where it was like Duke Tobin at the combine when we talked to him. This is what you need to go do. And they went and did it exactly with a precise plan around protecting Joe Burrough. I thought they might go even deeper and go take a. another one in the draft. They went fourth round.

But three starters and three agents. Three agency getting three starters is a lot. I think they're a much better team. And there was a lot. There's a lot of magic sprinkle dust over the Bengals in January and into February. And they almost took it all the way home. One last drive when Eli Apple got exposed, by the way, on that final drive, but was good before that. But like, this now is a team that they aggressively attacked their deficiencies.

I think it's a better team. Now, it's very hard to run it back. after something like that. So I understand that. But Cindy, they're better. They're better. Yeah. Look, I think they're going to have to answer some questions at tight end

because CJ Uzama was a big factor there. And I do think they probably couldn't. I like a little Hayden Hearst action though. Maybe. I mean, we know CJ fits so well. So can he do that? Yeah, so can he do that? And then also think they probably should have added to the running back position

because the use for Joe Mixen made him he got hurt. So I just, I'm not saying it was bad. I'm just saying if there were two areas of improvement. Maybe those were... I do struggle to see them as the third best team. Part of it is, like, they went on a magical run. I don't know that's exactly who they are. Because prior to that, they were hot and cold.

Because they didn't say, oh, look what we did last year. We're going to bring back the same team. There's been significant turnover here. Mike Hilton had a good quote here. People are predicting them as a one-hit wonder. Why? Because it's the Bengals, point-blank, period. When you think of the Bengals, you're like, oh, the Bengals, you know?

But now with this group of guys we have and the coaches we have, we're really turning this organization around. Juana Rumo. We want respect. We made jokes about him a year ago. Not anymore. Not anymore. You'd shoot me all you want.

It seems to have no effect. It's making me better. It's making me talk more. Mark, your beloved Steelers. The Steelers. I mean, I was just thinking about how in the run of this podcast, we've never seen anything close to a Steelers team as deeply in transition as they are right now. I mean, it obviously starts at a quarterback.

It has me intrigued, though, because. we called them draft winners coming out of that weekend, and I think they were. If you look at their lineup on offense, Naji Harris, Deonti Johnson, Chase Claypool, Pat Friermuth, who I like a lot, George Pickens and Calvin Austin. Kenny Pickett, I think, is winning this battle. Only Deonti Johnson remains as a starter from week one two seasons ago. They've changed a lot. My one question, because they've had a nice offseason, their offensive line was an Achilles heel last year. They haven't done much there. And that gives me bad vibes about putting either Mitch Trubisky behind a line like that or a

rookie quarterback. Is this rebuild put on hold a little bit because of that situation? Maybe that's the case for starting things off with Mitch Trubisky, a guy who can move. A part of the problem with their setup was that they had a literal statue, a 270 pound statue behind center. A stone age pony. A stone age pony. He may be the ultimate since Dan Marino post Achilles Stone Age pony. And now you, if you get a guy behind there, it can move a bit. Pick it, obviously, you can move better than Big Ben at this stage. That's going to help. But you're right.

That is a real concern. I'm more worried about their coaching and their evaluation than what they did this officer. They brought them two starters. I mean, Mason Cole from the Vikings, James Daniels was like a nice free agent signing. It was more that they gave Chuka a core for a huge contract. Three or deal. BFF Adam has one of the worst tackles in Lake for what it's worth. You have a fourth round second year player, Dan Moore, at left tackle, who they like.

and look pretty good, but that's asking a lot out of a mismatched group who really never has made up for the fact that Mike Munchak left. Basically, when Mike Munchak left, this offense changed in terms of their offensive line. When I look at the line and I look at the situation, remember, you know, you had an outgoing GM

and you don't know who's coming in next. I think he's like, I want to be the guy that got all the good receivers. I don't give a crap about this old line. Like, I want my, like, this is my left. last one. Here's the icing on the kick my chef's kiss. I'm not good at that he's great at it.

But it's not sexy to take 300 pound men that don't move very much. That you need it. I obviously may advocate for it. But what did the model say about Pickett as a prospect? Most pro ready had the most snaps facing weird defenses, meaning not base defense, meaning disguised looks in the secondary, non-traditional fronts, things that you'll see in the NFL. So highest pass or rating also when facing these situations. So was the most pro ready if that's how you're going to find pro ready.

Did you guys see the video of the phone call from Tomlin to pick it? Huge smile on us. You don't see Tom like this. So happy and excited. I'm just like, that looks like a guy who's like, I found my starter. Week one,

let's roll with a kid, Mac Jones with the Patriots. I don't have to start my Stone Age pony. You think he enjoyed starting better than last year? Not a bit. He should be coached here every year, just for all the crap he's had to deal with. Whoa.

You cannot praise anyone around you. Let's, uh, Let's put the gun down, all right? Yes. Justin, let's just let the guest. We have a wonderful guest, Cynthia, here. Let's try not to trank her unless she really deserves it. Okay.

Greg, fire away. He likes it. Right, right, yes. Cindy? When it feels offensive to the listener, pull the trigger. You can pull the trigger whenever you want. He's drunk with power. He can't get drunk otherwise, so he's drunk with power.

I swore an oath not to. That was a tough one. That was a real test of your loyalty. He also did not comply entirely. He said he would attempt to do his best. I trust him. I trust him. How about the Ravens, Cynthia?

Ooh, the Ravens had an awesome draft. I really think having a guy that fits your system so perfectly like Kyle Hamilton did fall to 14, which this guy, for me, if you had to say ahead of the draft, neutral, it could go to any team. Who is the guy that's most likely to become all pro first? It was Kyle Hamilton. So you're getting this. And I understand there's some positional value things here where some people don't think safety is as easily, you know, that one's not as high value position as some of the

others. But I would argue kind of the opposite. With all these teams playing multiple defensive backs, a whole bunch of packages where you need at least five defensive backs, his use is going to be from day one really, really important. He also is great at blitzing. They have kind of all of these different ways where he goes on sideline to sideline. He probably dropped because at the combine, he didn't run as fast of a 40 as other people, which totally ridiculous. Right. And then they added Tyler Linderbaum, I love this pick. I understand an interior old lineman is not necessarily the sexiest pick. Some people think like positional value, again, center isn't as great, but Linderbom could kick out to the left guard, right guard. I understand they have Kevin Zitler there,

but, you know, they're trying to figure out how to replace a guy who had, you know, he's going to be a Hall of Famer that just left two seasons ago. So now you've got to figure out along this old line, okay, what are we going to do to keep our quarterback who likes to run and do kind of scrambling drills? we need this line to just hold as long as possible running passing downs doesn't matter the only question mark that didn't push them up higher in terms of total value in the draft is now they have it they created a problem that they have to solve what ride receiver and that is something that they're still wide receivers left to look at in free agency but it did create a a new problem for them to have that as far as the draft went i mean i'm pretty sure that they cried like i i killed it i was kicking myself for not calling them a winner the other day because i feel like they had about as good a draft as anyone. Travis Jones, their third-round defensive tackle could play right away. And they're going to be playing three safeties all the time now. All the time.

But that's how the league is moving. The Patriots did that quite a bit last year. They took the guy in the fourth round. Henry's guy, Daniel Fulayle, another rugby player who's now the biggest man in the NFL, 386 pounds. And he's a guy, kind of like Jordan Milata, who's going to be rough around the edges. But if you're going to land with a team to develop you, the wrong. view, the Ravens are the right team.

They won eight games a year ago due to great coaching and just because it's the Ravens with a shattered secondary with a backfield that was broken from before the start of the season, which is a huge part of what they want to do. The wide receiver thing is sticky. But if there's a team that maybe had one less wide receiver than other teams and would still thrive, I think it could be Baltimore. This is my pick. Dear Debo.

Go sign. Go sign. Figure out Debo. Pay Debo. You're going to pay someone. Pay Debo. He's a known entity. He would be annoyed by week three, though, in Baltimore.

I think that's the problem. I feel like Jarvis would catch like 80 passes there. They're my pick for the division winner on May 3rd. I just feel like they're due for a big bounceback season. Comeback season approaches in Charm City, which leads us to the Cleveland Browns. So last week, Major League Baseball handed out a 324 game suspension to Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer. The band covered two full seasons, longest punishment under the sports domestic violence policy since it was instituted in August 2015.

Cut to the NFL, different circumstances, but obviously some troubling allegations connected to Watson. His fate with the NFL's yet to be announced. And we don't know how this is going to end with Watson. And it's, you know, like it or not, Cleveland looms as a superpower in the conference when you combine that roster with Watson. But when will Watson actually play a game?

The Browns went eight and nine last season with Baker. I don't see them being much better with Jake Briskey. behind center. So that's my question. When will we find out when Watson plays? And would it be possible that they got really tough on him the way baseball did on Bauer? NFL hasn't been their style to be that way. But you wonder if the baseball thing can affect the football thing.

Well, it's a huge question because the way that the NFL hands down punishment doesn't always feel that there's a rhyme or reason from case A to B to C. They handle things differently. And this one has been as murky as possible. I don't have a huge read on what the NFL will do here. Yeah, the longer it goes and just the little whispers, if anything, I'm worried, no offense to the Browns, of course, that it's going to go the other way,

that it might be less than we expect or that it could be on the field sooner, that they don't take it too seriously. And then you kind of look at, okay, what do they have? One thing that struck me about their draft was, like, David Bell is a third round pick. He's going to play for them, probably. like he's kind of a pro ready looking maybe he's in the slot there like they need receivers they don't really have receivers more than any team in the NFL I feel like they could use Odell Beckham like they feel like the best fit for Odell Beckham right now I mean I can't it's hard to imagine but like David Bell might be their number two right now they're a third round pick they're thin at wide out and they're thin at defensive tackle their roster is not overly impressive they have a lot of great pieces too though but it's like yes but all that I'm glad you're throwing out the other

aspects that are around the Browns right now, but ultimately it all goes back to what's going on with Watson and the mystery. And you know what? It's going to be a really, really, and we've had these conversations before, but bad look for the league. If one of the major leagues comes down hard on a prominent, that's a Cy Young award winner, and then NFL drops a four game ban or something. That, I mean, nothing would surprise me anymore, but like they can, they can wrap this up. Let's wrap it up NFL. You got the Hugh Jackson investigation done. a couple of weeks. It's been two years almost. I feel dark energy around this team. I know that's personal feelings involved, but it's kind of like when Andre the Giant turned bad. It was like, just as this was a team that you was sort of a lovable loser

and they went to dark places. I don't enjoy it at all. Yeah, it is a bummer. The Lions kind of taking that mantle. No, no, no, no. Don't you dare compare it the lions to the grounds. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. They're the new lovable losers. Right. That's what we're saying. Got it.

Okay. The lovable underdog on the come-up. This is different. This right here, this different. We're saying nothing about this team. I want nothing to say about this team. Next. Why don't we move on to the AFCS South?

That's good time. Wait, do we need to take a break? Graver. Yes. Okay, let's take a break and we'll hit the AFC South. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero.

We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big. takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. All right, we're back. Here we go. Sessler.

Titans. The Titans. They strike me as a team that have floated away to some degree. I see a club that traded away its best player in A.J. Brown. We've talked about that a ton. They drafted their QB of Tomorrow and Malik Willis, which has Ryan Tannahill now basically in the opposition of playing for his job, because I think he's going to hear it from fans and everyone else

right out of the gate if he struggles, and that's a possibility. You've got Derek Henry, who has been leaned on super heavy forever, in an offensive line that I see questions at left guard. I see questions at right tackle. I don't love that for Ryan Tannahill either. It helps to be in a junkie division, but this feels like a lesser version of last year's team right now where we are today.

Am I being too tough on Grave Diggers hyper fetish? Can I hear the Tannahill quote? And I just want to hear this going around a little bit, Tana Hill on Malik Willis and that new partnership in the quarterback room. I mean, that's part of being in a quarterback room in the same room. You know, we're competing against each other. We're, you know, watching the same tape. We're doing the same drills.

I don't think it's my job to mentor him. But, you know, if he learns to me along the way, then that's a great thing. Graver, I don't have a problem with that. I know some people are going to say it makes him seem selfish. Also looks worse in print than it does the way of set it. There's missing part of it because part of it was talking about. He's like, I had to go to therapy last time when I was the, like, he talks about like how he really struggled and like has come overcome struggles and he he mentions therapy by

name therapy connected to the dolphin situation getting out of the when he was in a mental headspace before and he worked himself out of it the loss and the playoff loss yeah the playoff loss i think this is something where you like know enough about ryan tannihill's character and how his teammates have reacted to him and everything about him like throughout his career that's like he's just being honest the same thing eli manning said and yet eli manning was like great friends with dan he doesn't mean he's not going to be a professional he's just answering the question to me i like it i'd rather hear the truth like also you don't have a j brown anymore like that's going to be a heck of a lot harder he's got to be annoyed like with some of the stuff that's happening here's what i'd be annoyed about like

we we uh grave digger talked before the draft like what's their biggest need is offensive line um they were a mess last year they didn't really address that this off season so that would have me very concerned one of the worst offensive lines in the league without a j brown is that your biggest concern. Yeah, I mean, we're sitting here now. The draft and free agency are complete, and we still don't know who two of their starters are. That's kind of crazy.

I want you to keep talking and then tranquilize yourself. Tackle. Oh, that's why. Mark was giving Gravedigger the international sign for stretch. Stretch it out. Anybody picking up a little bit of tension between Mark and Gravedigger right off the first episode? I could be here for this.

I'm glad I could see their origination story. This is good. I wouldn't call it tension. I do think the Titans are a worst team right now than. than the team that played the Bengals in January. So that's probably not a good place to be. Which team they played in January? Why?

The Bengals. Trank yourself. Trank it. I mean. That's stupid. Cults. Colts. Jim Ursay said last week he believed Matt Ryan could play another four seasons with the cults.

The owner's rosy viewpoint echoed in their draft class, included eight picks, no quarterbacks. Chris Ballard lost that first rounder and the doomed Carson. Wentz acquisition of 2021, but he still came out of Vegas with Solid Hall, included offensive players with each of the first three picks. The Colts struggled to score points with Wentz last season, especially down the stretch. Do we trust this attack with Matt Ryan leading the way to improve enough to put them in the conversation with the AFC's lead? I just want to one more thing. This team was looking really good in mid-December, 9 of 12, great running game. offense getting stops. Best on fourth down.

Just taking care of business and then it all fell apart. Are they that far away? Or do they not have enough? I think that, you know, given where they were drafting and what they were looking at, I like that they cut their losses with Carson Wentz before. I mean, if it's not going to be the right solution, don't try to force it to work. Take the L and move on. Matt Ryan, this is a guy who we've seen how good he's been with play action.

They got to a Super Bowl when he was able to effectively use play action. You know, when you can use play action, when you have a good running back. So I think that this is an interesting, and in this division, like, tell me how the other teams got so significantly better. Tennessee's not better. It's similar, but they also have holes. I don't think this roster as good as it was when Philip Rivers are there. They kind of remind me of the late Mike Shanahan-era Broncos, where I swear it was like the coaching

and the play calling was great, but the talent wasn't quite all the way there because this receiver group, maybe Alec Pierce hits as a second round pick, but it's a mid-level. receiver pick. They drafted Bernard Raymond in the third round. Reimann, who may start at left tackle. They don't really have an experience. Let's do it together. They were assigned Marshal Debo, though, from Germany, and we want to go cover this game in Germany. So I just want to, you know, put that out there. They were assigned. Every team in the AFC South got an international player pathway program guy from Henry Hodgson. He just gives it out to a different division every year.

And this year, he gave it to one in every... You get a Snickers, you get a Twix, you got to watch McCallet. By the way, they got my favorite tight end, though, in the draft. They got the Jolani Woods. That's my favorite. The point is send us to Germany. That was the point of the cost of the point. And I want to just throw that out there.

It was an IPP day. It was a big day. You know, Graver's saying about that. Graver's like, I'm in the chair now. I'll teach you swears in German. That's what I can help you with. Grew up in Luxembourg, so I can teach you swears in German. Oh, I love to know.

Can you swear in German and that wouldn't need to be bleeped here? I'm not going to find out. This is not the reason I want to talk to my boss. I just learned you grew up in Luxembourg like a week ago. And that's it's... I get sweared French in German swear. Kind of like a soft German swear. Like not like not the worst thing ever.

Nope, not going to get drunk. Wow. My boss already trying to like sell me for a pack of cigarette. So, you know, I don't need to add to that. I don't know what it means, but I like it. Let's talk about that. Keep going. Let's put three minutes on a clock for that.

All right. Let's move on now to, the Houston Texans, Cindy. What do you want me to say about the Texans? I don't know. You tell me. Okay. So they clearly seem to be believing in Davis Mills, whether or not the rest of us think that that's the truth. I don't know.

It seems like they are. I did think that the John Mechie wide receiver pick up. You know, people stop talking about him because he got hurt kind of in the season before giraffe season picked up. But John Mechie, watch his film. He's right up there with some of those top guys. I mean, Alabama guys, like, this is a guy who's very, very good. Also, this is how the Patriots get in trouble when they hire other Patriots guys else for.

Because I guarantee you they would have taken John Metchie with their second round pick, but instead, Cassario took it. You know, they took Derek Stingley, which that has some, Derek Stingley, again, it was one, two for which corners. But he does fit the Levy Smith system. Now, that means there's a little bit of projection there because is he going to be the guy we saw in 2019 when he was all world at LSU or are we going to see the guy the past two years that was. Smith going to be a coach in two years? That's my question. I don't know. But I will have to, there's some low-key thing I have to point out.

There's Austin Declis, he's their potential rights. He's a six-round pick. This kid, he is from, he went to LSU. He eats turtles. His grandmother made him turtle stew, and he was the most entertaining person that I've talked to in a really long time. You talked to him at East West Shrine. So this is the type of stuff you get, turtle eating.

Like the shale and everything? What is it like, did you, what, like, a cow was. Okay. I've had turtle before. It's southern. But you cut off like the arms, legs and head and you'd eat the rest. It's like a meat. Nice chewing meat.

He said it didn't taste like chicken, but he didn't know what it tasted like. And he said maybe more like turkey, but this kid's nuts. Like, he's super fun to talk to that. A turtle is almost like to me like the human of the reptiles. But he looks like a little old man in there. It's too human for me. So now I'm going to eat it. I'm a tortoise owner.

I was a turtle owner. Now I'm a tortoise owner. We've got old Norie in the backyard. Yeah, now I maybe I wouldn't eat it. but it was good. It was good in like a gumbo. But that's something funny you can know about Austin Depples. I hope he makes the team.

I'm rooting for him. I mean, so many holes on that team. And he, like, loved his grandma so much. He's like anything. She would, she could have gotten me to eat my finger. You know, he's like. I love learning about swamp people. This is very interesting.

Exactly. But nine draft picks in Vegas. Derek Stingley, Kenyon Green, a 15 overall. Jalen Petrie, the safety out of Baylor. John Metchy, as we talked about. Those are all starters for a team that needs to build. I think Casario's kind of done a good job. Like, last year was just a disaster.

But, like, Davis Mills deserves a second chance. Sure. I always thought this was a potential landing spot for Baker Mayfield that's never come up once. But it's just interesting because, like, the backup team is Jeff Griscoll. So it's not like you're sitting here being like, hey, let's give him a chance. But then, like, put a veteran, like, where's the Brian Hoyer of this situation, right? That's not what Jeff Driscoll is. That makes too much sense.

I think they are a little bit of an underdog to get Baker at some point. Why? Wouldn't you rather have the younger guy that's what you need another crazy person that Showed something? I think they want to see Davis Mills. I like Davis Mills. I do, too. Don't put it down.

Jackson Will Jaguars, Greg Rosenthal. So my question with them is, is trying enough. Like they're trying. You can't say that the Jaguars aren't trying. The bears, I have question if the bears are trying enough. I don't know if the Titans are trying enough. So dismissive. The Jaguars are absolutely trying.

to fix the worst franchise in the league, you know, based on wins, based on their coach. They have at least 10 new starters combined between their offense and defense. But when I look at their offense, I guess my question is like, Cynthia, do you think it's enough? Because I look at what's around Trevor Lawrence and maybe it's a little better. They made the decision to keep the offensive line more or less the same. You brought in Brandon Scherf, it was a big addition in terms of a run blocker, but you you re-signed Cam Robinson instead of drafting someone. And I look at that group around him,

and I just said, is it enough? Because I'm not overly impressed. Well, Walker Little is there, so your kids are going to be happy to know that there is a big fan of Walker Little, yes. A fan favorite. I don't know if it's going to be enough. They made some interesting decisions that I'm, I don't know, but the thing that they did really well was screw everyone else up in the wide receiver market,

which was pretty epic for them by that Christian Kirk comp in the marketplace. They really stuck it to a lot of other teams because people are like, I am way better than Christian Kirk. You're going to need to pay me, see all of the rest of the contracts that followed. So I think it's going to look better. And I think low-key best news for Trevor Lawrence is the fact that Travis Atenon will be back. I think that that's super helpful using him along with James Robinson will be a big upgrade. I mean, Luke Fortner, the third round pick as a center, okay, I don't know.

It just, it's going to be interesting to see. how that all plays out. And their defense did get better up front. And I do like their linebacker picks. But this is, it was kind of like they were like, let's just throw a dart. We're going to put 10 names here. And then of the, these are sort of our consensus 10 at this pick. And we'll just throw a dart and pick that.

Because, you know, why would you, you know, Devin Lloyd is awesome. But then like doubling down with Chad Mooma after that, like, sort of redundancy is interesting. I do have questions about how much power Doug Peterson has inside the structure of that team. Because the lead up to the draft was just like this camp wants this player, this camp wants this player, you've never even heard about Doug Peterson. My other thing, though, is that organizationally, to go from last year where Trevor Lawrence spent the entire

season, like in a bathtub of total chaos under Urban and Meyer, they're a much better team, I think, just in every possible way, because they've removed a total cancer. And maybe Doug Peterson has power in the organization. Maybe it doesn't be. You know what we do know is he's a professional. He's been here before. A guy's got a ring.

I love Doug Peters. He's going to be a guy. He has a great analytics guy, too. He's an author. One of my favorite analytics people. He's going to be, you know, he's going to be a professional that's going to help the kid Trevor Lawrence build on it and every year there is a team that nobody even thinks about the Bengals last year

I'm not saying the Jags of that team but Jags don't be surprised if they're hanging around in the division race and after you know Thanksgiving don't be surprised. Okay maybe I'd give you Halloween or the the AOC South winner wins seven games right that's what I think is yeah I do

I'm telling I'm trying to teach Justin to take the path of peace, but sometimes you've got to pick up the piece. And you know what I mean about that. I think he did a good job there actually shooting an assortment of us. It actually took me a second, but I got there. And you got a blast that.

I thought you were saying pace, but like using a different anyways. All right. We're getting close now. Let's head to the AFC West. Let's close things out. Cindy, starting with the Chiefs. Best Division in football.

Oh, yeah. Chiefs had a very, very good draft. The problem is, is that when you have a lot of things that are, it's a totally different tact. They've had some interesting different strategies, right? The year after the Super Bowl, they brought back a lot of their started, so they had a lot of continuity. And, of course, during COVID, that continuity was an advantage.

But then you remake this O line, and you kind of remake the O line that are better at run blocking and then pass blocking, and then you pass a ton. So it takes a while for the two things to kind of come together. And then now you add a lot of different pieces. Obviously, you get rid of Tyree Kill, who you're not going to replace. but you add some pieces that are very good. So Trent McDuffie, their first round pick that they went up to go and get. And then George Carloftus, again, adding at a position of need, this is interesting.

And by the way, I love the Leo Chanel pick because Steve Spagnolo defenses. It takes them all a little bit to come together because it's a more complicated defense. Trent McDuffie does have a lot of the different attributes and he's played at the system most similarly to what Spaggs is done. so I think that will help quickly. But, you know, it's going to, the wide receiver room, that is going to take a couple of games for even a guy with a talent level of Patrick Mahomes to get used to having, I mean, other than his tight end, it's all different. So this is it.

This is where we're at. Travis Kelsey is still the lead dog here at the tight end spot. But Juju Smith-Schuster, MvS, Sky Moore, Mark. You think that, is that enough? McCall Hardman. McCall Hardman. Josh Gordon's still there, yes. I think on other teams.

I'll stop it, Chuck. Maybe not. But you have Patrick. Holmes, and I can't think of a team that I trust more under Andy Reid to make this work somehow. It's a great draft. I love how they're all very different, though. It makes sense to me. I think they're very much with the trend that you don't need two great receivers necessarily,

but you need four different ones that can all play. And they have four different ones. And you mentioned the offensive line makeover that they were so focused on last year. It worked. It wasn't the only thing they needed to do last year, but their offensive line was great. take a minute for these receivers and Patrick Mahomes to get on the same page. It's not going to be right day one. Their schedule

will determine a lot. Yeah, the Tyree Kill leaving. You could still actually build a really explosive offense with the different pieces that fit together. I buy all that and I like juju-smiths Houston getting out of Big Ben Prison. And MVS, I don't like as much, but he can make plays downfield

Skymore. Again, you're projecting a prospect making an immediate impact. It's all kind of there, but it might take time. And they've been no to slump a time as well. So the schedule will determine the AFCW. Well, maybe how about Steve Spagnola's defense, which they put two first-round picks in, and they have a lot of veterans on that defense?

How about you not be like so up and down, where you're top five for half the year or your bottom five for the other half? Let's just show up and maybe the defense can carry. Yes, for sections of it. And then they sort of fell apart. Oh, they're going to be better without Tyrake Hill or the Packers are going to be better without Tavante Adams. Like, that's a bunch of, go pound salt on that one.

Or sand. Or sand. You choose. Pepper. Snort salt. Bath salt. It's not the same. All right.

That's what our producers on. Here we go. Chandler Jones was signed to hunt quarterbacks with Max Crosby. Devante Adams acquired. Blockbuster. It changes everything for the Vegas offense. Life's good for Derek Carr, who also has Darren Waller. That's almost unfair.

But do we truly, do we truly? You do. You got him in the top 10 of the NFL. I'm asking you what you feel. Do we truly see the Raiders as an AFC contender? Or are they going to be remembered? Because, by the way, a lot of things in the power rankings in May are going to be very wrong by January. Or are they a classic offseason hype bunny?

They'll be long forgotten by the middle of May, a middle of January, Mark. They're my number one argument for why we should recede the playoffs ignoring AFCN. But just put like the top 14 teams, one to 14. because I think it's the one problem is getting out of that division. Correct. It's like they could probably run away with the AFC South. I'm not sure. You're going to subtract wins in Vegas because of this.

They're going to beat each other up. Right. The other thing is, and you know, Josh McDaniels has always fit really well in the Patriots milieu where he's the play caller and doesn't have to do all the rest of this stuff. The Josh McDaniels outside of New England has been a raging disaster. I get that was a long time ago. People can change. He's talked about that.

But I don't know what Josh McDaniel's head coach. what that all does and how well it works with Derek Carr. Although Derek Carr's haircut makes me think they could hop scotch one or two team in that division possibly. Right. When you kind of like go down the list of their roster, as exciting as it is that you can't

double Hunter Renfro like the chargers were in week 18 so much last year now that you have Devonti Adams. I think it's still the fourth best roster in the division and there's plenty of talent but the offensive line especially was not great on paper or on the field.

a year ago, and they didn't really do much. They drafted a third round pick. They didn't have picks. Dylan Parham at Guard. You brought over an offensive line coach from the Patriots. Maybe that'll work out, but I do, I do worry about that in this division. Last thing I'll say on that Trayvon, Mullen, Rok Yacin. Rock Yes, you see.

Those are their starting corners. I guess Nate Hobbs too. That's not bad. I like Trayvon Mullen and Rock Yes, in this division. In that division, in that division, that's not, I don't know if that's going to be enough. It was a big middle finger to Mike Mayock that they declined all three fifth-year options of those first-round picks. They're going to just do the same thing to Al's lower with a couple of picks too. Or is a Gruden.

It's fair. Either way. I don't know who it was. But either way, it's actually impressive that they are an interesting, compelling team considering the whiffs of that massive drafts. Do you think they're going to get lit up in the secondary is what you do? I do. But there's got to Patrick Graham, though. I mean, Jonathan Abram hasn't.

I like Patrick Graham. Right. I don't know. Even a good secondary is going to get lit up in the AFC West. I think this coaching staff could be very good. And one of these teams, most likely. By the way, Josh McDaniels at the Combine, he smiled and was like super nice to me. He has to do that stuff now.

Freaking crazy. He was so nice. I'll take the darks. I want to say this. It's one of these teams, it's more likely than not that one of these teams will disappoint. Like they're not all going to win 10 to 12. Of course. Someone's taken a dirt nap.

And if I had to pick, it would be the Raiders. But I also at this time, I feel pretty good about it. Adam, but it's going to be tough. You're right. You're right. Let's move on Chargers. Greg. You know, as a long time Chargers quasi fan, it almost feels like they would be the team set up for that

because they're the Chargers. But it's not going to happen because they got Justin Herbert and he's immortal. He's unbelievable. And I like the Zion Johnson pick because he was the guy, I think, the teams right behind the Chargers all wanted to take. And so that's a good sign. It's like when you make the play call that you don't want the other team to make. You made the pick.

I think a lot of those teams wanted Zion Johnson. I think he fits in perfectly. They still have a question at right tackle was Storm Norton. I think if Tom Telesco had to redo this offseason, I think he had hopes that he would maybe add one more offensive weapon to the mix, maybe a pass catcher. And I do think they could be someone lurking in the OBJ sweepstakes here because they still have a little bit of cap space.

And I think that that was maybe one part of the checklist they didn't quite get ticked off is add one more pass catcher. I was surprised they didn't draft someone. I thought that they were sort of a home run to draft a wide out. But I do trust this team to make the most out of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson on defense.

Those are two massive additions. You almost didn't need to draft after those two. I mean, if you already have your quarterback, you do have a left tackle. You have nailed that down and he's on a rookie contract. It'd be a little full of yourself. You were just like, I'm not. I mean, well, you'd be a little full of yourself,

but I'm just saying, like, for what they've got, like, and I love the Zion Johnson pick. Obviously, I went to B.C., so of course I'm going to like a Zion Johnson pick. Do you have, like, a close personal relationship? Golden Eagle. Like all the BC players and coaches that you seem to have a network of them around. We do, and you know what's even better for me that Ryan Day was there when I was there. So that actually really helps me for the networking part,

because Ryan Day actually pretty darn good coach now. Ty is tight as hell. Tye becomes Cindy. Zion Johnson. Yeah, that's the unofficial edict of the Chargers protect Justin Herbert at all costs. Smart move. I'm going to do it.

This guy's unofficial fan club leader, but how about we get Will Fuller? Have him run some go routes for Justin Herbert. I don't know. I think Will Fuller is one of those guys who had the same trainer as DeAndre Hopkins. Beaver tranquilizer. What is that?

I think that might be ready to show. I think you're absolutely right that Will Fuller is at this point, what's he going to cost? Come on year, $4 million. He'll pay you at this point. Right. He could make a difference for a team in 2022 and he's out there. I'd rather have Will Fuller than OBJ.

Cheaper too. I wouldn't. Will Fuller is always a wild card, not even off the field, but on the field to play six games. But I think OBJ get it. Lamar Miller, can we get him back in the mix? No, their old love. I like one of the free agent signings, Stone Smart. Hey.

Sounds good to me. I hope he makes it. That's a good name. This is the official team. By the end, we always just start running out of steam. Isaiah Spiller? Compliments that touchdown machine. We don't know.

The 42nd rant about B.C. in the middle of that and still can't get to the buzzer. You know what he's still mad about? Glenn Foley beat Notre Dame in 93. When I was at Boston College, we beat Notre Dame all four years, which is like pretty amazing because we did not have physical teams. All right. Finally, let's wrap it up. Mark, this is your opportunity to end the show.

Go Mark, go Mark, go Mark, go Mark. Thank you for the support. I appreciate that. I feel like we've been talking about the Broncos for years as being a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl threat. And so now they got their guy. Remember how annoying last summer was with Greg and Teddy Bridgewater? It was the previous summer, too.

That was the worst. It was previous seasons as well. But especially last year. Like the Panthers, you know, the Broncos better worry that the Teddy leaving effect, you know, sometimes you don't know what you had until he's gone. I think we're getting, I know Greg may not agree with this either. I think we're getting a feisty, angry, top-shelf version of Russell Wilson. I really do.

I also, Nathaniel Hackett is my cup of tea. A lot of it is good. It's rosy. But I would say this, or I would ask you this, are we overlooking a somewhat shaky offensive line? Are we overlooking the idea that Hackett and Russell Wilson have never worked together? Are we overlooking a defense that is now run by someone named Eiero? instead of Vic Fongio.

That's not the person that's running the defense. Zero of Euro. Yeah. It's their new defensive coordinator. It all seems sensational on paper. Do you have concerns, though, that there might be a fly in the ointment here somewhere? They're the other team. They are, to me, like the Raiders or it's like, definitely have talked myself into them.

They're number eight in my power ranks. But you can absolutely make the case that they are an off-season hype bunny for the ages. They remind me a little bit of the 2012 Broncos in that, like, when Peyton Manning got there, we weren't sure what Manning was going to be like but we were kind of like they might be a Super Bowl contender right away with a new head coach in this case that usually doesn't happen

and it absolutely worked they were a Super Bowl contender I'm not buying the doubt so much you're right the offensive line has some questions you brought Billy Turner from the Packers he knows Hackett

I think just roster is the top five roster in the NFL They don't have like I was trying to come up with a major weakness And he's not into the Broncos. Let's hear it, Cynthia. I have some questions. Number one.

Actually, less on the defense. I love Bradley Chubb. I love Pat Sertan. I understand. You know, it's only the second season, so it's going to take a minute. I obviously, you know, Justin Simmons, we're going to go all BC here.

Benito was a good pick in the second round. Benito was an awesome pick. So I like their, I feel more comfortable with their defense than I do. And look, I know Russell Wilson is a very, very good quarterback. That part of what makes all of this team work, though, was I just need to see some more consistency. When Coralyn Sutton was really good,

then that was two seasons ago before he got hurt. Last season, I did not see that same step. But so much is tied to the quarterback play, which was a subpar. I didn't see Jerry Judy come out. He was coming off a big injury. I understand, but are you going to get your, maybe he needs the beaver tranquilizer? I don't know, but like, you know, Jerry Judy,

I haven't seen them live up to their where they should be yet. Now, maybe the quarterback does change that, But your route running, still your route running. I still got to see it first. I got to see it first. I'm not anti. This is just a really hard. You put these guys in the NFC East.

We're good. You'd like tangible proof. Greg Dolchich. They got him out of UCLA to fill in for Noah fan. Because that's the same. But I'm just saying there's, there are, you know, I got it. The projection. It's a projection with the Broncos, a big one.

Broncos country, let's ride. Oh, God. Seattle. Remember when you did that? Seattle. Hey, Seattle with that change. I'm just doing the thing where I'm making the expectations so high that if Russell Wilson can't deliver, then I bury him in a Teddy-related argument. Who's more likely to crumble out of the AFC West playoff picture immediately, Raiders or Broncos? Let's look at the schedule. I swear the schedule is going to determine.

I know, May 12th. Schedule release next week. but you know it's just interesting to it's interesting to me see that the international games are getting announced though wednesday and the the local denver papers have been saying the broncos jaguars is going to be one about this papers say it i don't think it's not i have a guess i have a guess on of those some of them but i don't think it's that okay how about this over under on afc west primetime games i'm putting at 115 i know i'm down with that though i'm with you give me good games i think i think one of those AFC West teams is going to have to go over to a country that's not the one that handsome Hank is in and that's going to be very hard for them and that's going to be a that's

going to be a digger for their schedule we had this conversation with the NFC West a year ago like they can't all be good one of them needs to be a a huge letdown it turned into Seattle oh gosh Seattle crumbull Seattle fans were so mean to me ahead of last season when I said that I didn't think that they that they were going to finish fourth I got tons of hate like almost Tennessee Titans levels of hate. Well, wait until it's the Raiders. They may react to your projections. But I like the Ra-

I just like the owner. Let it fuel you. Don't let it hurt. Let it fuel. Yeah. You've said it all, Cynthia. Thanks, guys. Thanks for having me.

Where can the people find you? You know, right here with you. I'm just never leaving. She's a squatter. That's your first job, Graver. We got a squatter in the studio. All right. I'll get right on that one.

All right, great job. No, great job in your first show. Nay, great job. You did well. I want Mark's actual honest take on your first show. Mark, I thought you, I mean, you've been performing at a high level for months, and you continued that today. Thank you. To quote, you know, some of the draft grades, but also Dan's famous post-show grades of our early days of the podcast.

I'm going to go B-minus. This was, yeah, this was a B-minus. That's fair. There's always room for improvement. You've got to start somewhere. All right, let's go. Next show Thursday, we will have handsome Hank, by the way, to share the international sketch. schedule and Patrick Claibon as we go around the NFC.

So check that out. Uh, until then, this is Dan Hansa signing off for Cynthia Freeland. Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler, the grave digger behind the glass. Welcome aboard formerly, Mr. Graver. Thank you for agreeing to abstain. Head the call. So, you know,

I'm going to be able to be. You know, Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere

else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sundays. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the I Heart. Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.