NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 40s and Free Agents: Draft Week's Biggest Remaining Questions

Episode Date: April 21, 2026

On this episode of 40s and Free Agents, Daniel Jeremiah and Gregg Rosenthal dive into the biggest remaining questions heading into draft week. The guys break down what stands out most in this year’s class, analyze the overall depth, and explore what makes the 2026 draft cycle unique. Then the duo discuss which teams might need to slow down their expectations and which are just one strong draft away from true contention.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Welcome back to 40s and free agents. I'm Greg Rosenthal, alongside the best draft analyst in the business. Daniel Jeremiah on his favorite week of the year. We're only a couple days away. Are you ready, DJ?

Yeah, I think so. I mean, you never know until we get there, but it's, man, I'm just glad it's here. It takes, I think I've said this before, but like the crunch to the combine feels like it shrinks every year and then like the literally path to the draft from the combine to the draft, it feels like it just gets longer. I think you're just getting older and you guys got to work harder to repeat the same,

you know, productivity, which is why I'm going to put you on the spot. Did I tell you my cheat code, by the way, this year? Sure. Oh, man. Not actually watching the film, just reading everyone else. Yeah, just survey everybody, survey the landscape, see what it got, whatever has. No, no, this is my cheat code this year. Unintentional.

But I was like, you know what? I've been having too much coffee. I'm off. I'm going to get off caffeine. So I did it for two months. Two months, nothing. Well, then the crunch of the draft and it's just, it doesn't stop. So I started taking it back up.

Oh, yeah. It's different. When you've taken a little bit of a break, I mean, I feel like I could scale a skyscraper right now, which is one cup of coffee. I mean, I know you're a clean living type of guy, DJ, so this is about as crazy as you get. But yeah, you know, everyone who's had a little weed here, it's legal here in California, knows, you know, if you take off a couple months, the next time you have, it's going to pop a little extra. There's something you were expecting to talk about.

I'll take your word for it. Look, in this show, we're bringing back a segment people love last year. I'm putting you on the clock for five minutes, just hitting you with rapid fire question. We're also going to kind of look at a couple teams at the end that we think maybe just one draft away from being closer than you think and maybe some teams. to pump the brakes on. But let's just start off just generally. Now we're kind of at the end of the process, some general impressions of the 2026 draft class.

You have a better view, I think, than almost anyone, of like how each draft class is different. What stands out to you about this 26 class? Yeah, I will say kind of the good and the bad here. I think as you've gone through the whole process, I think the, you know, we talked about the edge rushers a lot, and it's a good group of edge rushers. I think the corner group being pretty deep is a significant part of this draft and kind of seeing those guys go all the way throughout.

And on the opposite side of it, it's just the running back. This is one of the worst running back classes, you know, just in terms of the number of guys. I talked to a GM of the day that said they had like six running backs on their front board, which means they had six draftable running backs, which is insane. When you look at it, I was just looking at, if you look at total, like you're talking about 21. running backs getting drafted on average over the last five years. 21. They had six. So it's going to come from other positions.

We're going to see a lot of tight ends day three. You know, the corners, safety groups, receivers is a bazillion of them. But that is a fascinating storyline in this draft. I remember on this show just one year ago, you were talking about how you love this tight end class more than any other. And then you think about this rookie season for Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland and Harold fan and even got a lot of. her helm is out there making plays.

You were absolutely right. And Desmond made some plays, like all those guys did. Good call. Like, yeah, I think it's pretty deep at receiver, but every, every class seems like it's deep at receiver. Linebacker, certainly, tackle. Um, I don't know. Is there a defensive tackle even taken in the first, you know, round?

I don't think that's a slam dunk. I think he could, could be waiting until round number two. And, uh, in the quarterback position, obviously. Did you want a little more sizzle though? Just be honest. Like, did you, would you want a little more sizzle out of the draft class? this draft pass. I think you can build the nucleus of the guts of a really good team here. But I mean, look, when we're doing what we're doing,

quarterbacks are kind of the tent poles that hold the discussion as you go through the entire draft. And we have one who's going to be the first pick and then, you know, a maybe with Ty Simpson. Like when you've got years, when you've got five, six quarterback names, you're kicking around there. That kind of drives the lead up into the draft. And yet you've talked about you, and I'm curious now that you've really gone through your top 150. and getting everything going, like, do you think it's deeper than some other classes?

Because I went and looked at the 2024. This was going around. I don't know if you saw this, the third round draft. The third round picks were 2024. And you look at it and you're like, wow. I mean, there's some contributors there. But like, you had, not a lot. You know, you have Jalick's Hunt and Cooper Beebe and Blake Quorum as some of your,

those are good third round picks, but those are some of your real standouts and the rest of it. So that class, which had some great players at the top, not as deep. What do you think in terms of depth of this class? Well, I think that there's another discussion that goes along with that, and I'll get to in a second. I think it's a fairly deep. I don't think it runs deep into day three. To me, it's like up to like second, third, fourth round. You know, I really like, but there's some years where you're like, man, I'm in the six round and they're still getting good players. What I think is contributing to that list that you just

discussed in 2024 is the fact that because of technology, because of having all of the data on these players, not only the analytical stuff, but then also having GPS, you know, with in-game technology. I think there's more of a standard around the league. I think there's less variance. And I think basically what we used to scatter, you know, 50 players or let's say scatter, the 30 players could get scattered over four rounds. I think all those guys are getting identified and crunched in. You also have to factor in the transfer portal where all those guys are transferring up. So there's not as much guesswork with some players. They didn't play against the quality of competition. Well, now they're in the big tenor of the SEC. You're playing,

it's easier to identify guys when they're playing NFL towel or players each and every week, or at least a bunch of the time. So I think that's what's happened. And that's what's hurt some of these middle-round players as the rest of the league has kind of crunched all these guys together. So you're saying you've gotten better. The league's gotten better. Not me. I just think it's the league. I don't think it's anything to do with me. It's just that there's a little more consensus around the league now. And I think it's because of the information it's your apples to apples. You're not having to. you know, compared nine different fruits here.

Justice for Kalyn Bullock, by the way, who was taken there in the third round. He might be the best third round player. And Gonzalez, the guard for the Colts has been very good. So there were good, there's always going to be good players, but not a time. All right, let's talk about inflection point. Where do you think this draft changes potentially? Like, where are you looking? I'm looking.

To me, it's like this little alley that I think is fascinating. It's, you know, 5, 6, 7. I think drives a lot of this draft. So because they could go anywhere, they could go offense, they could go defense, the giants, the more I looked at that,

and we saw it last week where they came out in their press conference and said, neighbors, you know, is not all the way back yet. And you lose Wondale Robinson. And I'm like, okay, well,

they could be in a receiver market there at five, you know, where they're picking. Just they got to get somebody to help out with Jackson Dart. And then you also, well,

the best players available are going to be the defensive players. So, you know, do they go with one of those Ohio state guys there at five. There's some mystery there. Six with Cleveland has always been the debate of receiver tackle. I've kind of landed late in the process more so on tackle first because you don't want to miss out on that when you get to 24. And then Washington doesn't have a second round pick. So they could be potentially, Jeremiah Love could be there. You could be looking at,

you know, downs could be there, but they could also be an attractive team to come up to take that spot and they can recoup a second round pick they don't possess. So five, six, seven is kind of where things I think start to change. Yeah, it's fascinating because my biggest question is like, when do these tackles get taken? Because if they, if they don't, then, then you see like the premier players in terms of just like blue chip. A lot of the guys near the top of your prospects taken, taken in the top nine picks. But if these tackles just start and get taken a lot early, that's going to push everyone down. I think that's possible. That's no fun. That's no fun. Is this even a good tackle class? I know, but I think you're just trying to make these guys happen. They could be guards. Like it's not. I think

that the but it again, I think that there's a premium there. And that would not surprise me. And I think once you start to see one or two of them go, people are going to panic. Here's the thing, though, you could go inflection point as early as two, because I don't, I don't think we have a consensus on which defensive player, and it's probably a defensive player that the Jets take. And then even Arizona, I know you've been doing Maui Noah every time. I feel like they're a grab bag. Like, why couldn't they take Jeremiah Love? Our friend, Nick Shook, had him going to Arizona at three. I like I feel like they could go in any direction in terms of premier talent. They could take one of the Ohio State players.

They could take a tackle. So it's as unpredictable to me in the top two and three as a class that we've seen in a little bit. Arizona is also the, you know, they're kind of the Ty Simpson team for me. So whereas that, like if Arizona were to trade out, maybe they trade it out. If they traded out of the top 10, my spidey senses would perk up a little bit and say, okay, this is, maybe they're going to take Ty Simpson there. Or do they come back up from 34, maybe in trying to take him there. But they just, they feel like the most obvious to me, you know, at this point in time,

I feel like the most obvious Ty Simpson team. And I'll say I've been in on the desk when Mitchell Trubisky was taking in the top five. I've been on the desk when Blake Bortles was taken on the top five. Like those guys that we didn't, you know, quite see that. So I'm just saying you always, you always, you know, it's saying that they're a little bit a wild card. I'm just trying to give a little bit more umph to your point there. I like that. And we had a mailbag question on NFL Daily last week. Like what are the team who like what players would a team even trade up for in this draft? It's kind of a

confusing one. But Arizona maybe would be at that spot where it's you just trade up a couple spots. Do you do you have a player that you think someone would would trade up for? Yeah, I've go I've gone back to the Jets. I mentioned that last week, just talking about the Jets with a receiver and Carnell Tate. And you know, look, you've got proof of concept of an Ohio State receiver right there. You need, he needs, they need another guy. I know you're an A.D. Mitchell guy. I like him and I'm hopeful there, but I don't think you're going to rely on that. So I mean, I don't want that on my tombstone or anything. I'm an A.D. Mitchell guy. I'm saying if he's your number three and you have Garrett Wilson and a player like Carnell Tate as your two, I think you're cooking with gas.

I think the tombstone says decent tennis player, owner of Jezelnex, watch. And then it says right beneath that A.D. Mitchell fan. Look at that thing. What a watch. And that's right. I'm glad you mentioned once again, Minichag Regional, 1996, Massachusetts State champion. There you go. Let's go Falcons. Last question before I just give you a bunch of rapid fire question. Is there something that surprised you? Again, we're thinking kind of big picture evaluating the entire group of players that you kind of learn through the process, maybe not expecting going into it. Um, going through and looking at that. That's a great. It's actually a really good question. You know, I just think what surprised me the most is that for a profession that I was in of scouting where we were so obsessive over, you know, measurables and those things that guys are just having to put that to the side a little bit in this particular draft. So it is. I mean, you look like Fano doesn't have the ideal length. I still think he's going to go high. Bain and his notoriously short arms, he could slide a little bit. But I mean, it's not like he's going to fall.

out of the first round. Cassius Howell with his short arms, but still, I think the more talk to teams, there's plenty of teams that are excited about him. So there's a lot of these exceptions that for the most part, scouts don't like jumping on that train, but it feels like you're going to have to. And I would even put like Jordan Tyson's injury history. Like that's a, there's, injuries every single year. There's, you know, significant concern there. But I think as we're going through the process, people have been able to just kind of put this stuff on the side and say, we're just going to take the good players. Yeah, where are we at, by the way, in the, there's less measuring every year in terms of 40s, certainly in terms of shuttles, but just in general,

getting the actual data. It was a big talking point, I feel like going into last year's draft, and now everyone's just used to it. Did it change at all this year? Did it just keep getting less numbers? Like, where are we at with that? Yeah, I mean, especially in indie. And there's just, there's incomplete stuff on so many players. They just kind of, as I'd like to say, just kind of buffet the process. But you get the, at least you get all the GPS data, you know,

from the tape and all that stuff. So you have that. But it's just going to take a while for that database to build up. The nice thing about all the indie testing is that you could go back, you know, 30, 40 years or whatever and compare this stuff. I heard that, you know, there's always like a couple prospects I heard in this class.

People didn't even know their birthday. How was that possible? Is that a real thing? I had not heard that yet, but that's an interesting. It's been a baseball issue. I mean, remember we've had all that, you know, some players come from Latin America. And then you realize he's 24. He's not 16.

It's like DJ. It just seems like he's younger than he looks. And then suddenly you look up and he's got kids in college, graduating. You're going to be a grandparent. You know what I mean? Oh, my God. All right. Let's put you on the clock.

We are going to have five minutes. I'm going to try to get as many questions as I can. DJ, you are on the hot seat. Start the clock. Let's go right now. Number one, could David Bailey just be Chop Robinson with better PR? No, he's more skilled as a rusher. That's a mean question.

It's not mean. Chop Robinson was a first round pick. Yeah, no. But I think I'm still holding out hope for chop. But no, he's a higher rated prospect. coming through the process. Okay. Have you heard any, you get the inside stuff, of any veteran players potentially shaking loose in this draft? Yes, I have, but I was sworn to see. Come on! What are you going to be one of those insiders after the fact it's like, well,

everyone knew this. No, you know me well enough that when we hang up, when we finish this, I'll text you and tell you. Okay. Put it on your lid. Does that make you think there's going to be a lot of trades then in general? I think there are going to be a decent amount of trades, yeah. I don't know how high they are, but I think as we go throughout the draft, you'll start to see trades. And I do think you're going to see some vets get moved, whether it's right before the draft or during the draft.

The obvious names would be like A.J. Brown, Kenny Moore is out there. Brandon Ayuk maybe gets a late run. None of those are the ones on. Yeah, those aren't exciting, though. So I felt like you were going to do something. I might be overselling it. I don't think mine's super exciting either, but they're the guys you know. Maybe Jarrett Stidim.

Let's put you kind of on the table here. A player you think does a. deserves to go much higher than consensus. I'm a couple guys I'm higher on, but one would be Emmanuel McNeil Warren. I just loved, I love watching him. And I think there's a chance he could fall into the second round.

That wouldn't shock me. You know, safeties do slide. And I just think he's a really good player. And he ran in the four-fives. I guess, you know, people wanted to run a little bit faster. I think it's four-five, two.

I don't matter to me. He's six three and a half and change. He makes a ton of plays. Smith's tackle rate was a little bit high, which people have been banging on him. when I've talked to some teams. And then I had to fight back on that and said that's like, it's like we're talking about one or two,

three tackles over the course of the year. He guys forced nine fumbles in his career. Like can we offset that a little bit? I would love to see him with Flores, with the Vikings. That could be a fun one. Or Todd Bowles, even drafting around the same spot.

How about a guy, I know this isn't being negative, but you think deserves to go lower than consensus? Oh, lower than consensus. I think that, well, it depends on how high he ends. going. But, you know, Monroe Freeling, I like what he can become, but I think there's a significant risk there. He's just not, he hasn't done it for a long period of time, and it's not a, you know,

it's just not a long track record there. So that, that's one that I think's got a little hero or zero to it. I think a lot of these tackles could be boom or bust picks. Are you mad that you listen to me? I don't know if you remember this, but I was the biggest reason you made Travis Hunter, your number one overall player last year right before, you know, the draft. Are you mad that you You listen to me. I probably should have just, I had Abdul Carter throughout the whole process and the last, the last update I ended up switching. Keep your stock.

Keep your stock. Everyone's bailing. It's here too for a young player. He can be a all pro corner next year. Then everyone will just shut up. Kind of a similar idea. If Arvel Reese winds up primarily as a linebacker, will you apologize to me and Ali Connolly?

Sure. Yeah. I will. If he plays as an off-the-ball linebacker full-time. Ooh. Yeah. I want that. I will apologize.

apologize to both you guys. Is there anyone that you think is suffering from prospect fatigue? Like a great player that everyone's just picked over for too long because the process is so long. Gosh. I don't know if they've gotten down on him, so to speak. I just don't think anybody talks about Yawanna and the Penn State Guard. He's boringly, everything he does is really, really good. And I feel like people don't talk about him.

That's absolutely true. We haven't much on this show or on NFL daily. And that was going to be one of my questions. True or false. Ayani is better at guard than any of these tackles are at tackle. I think that's true. Okay. And some of them might end up being guards anyways.

I mean, we mentioned it before. Are you just trying to make this tackle class happen because they play tackle? No, they're making this tackle happen. This tackle class happened because the class that they're in. Like everybody, I love that. It's just like when you say, like, you're, you're too, you're to, you're to, you're to, you're too high on this guy, you're too low on this guy. Well, then list them out.

Like, start telling me who's, who you're going to take over them, you know? I think that was an instructive answer for people like myself and everyone listening. He's not a top 10 player. Well, then tell me who the top 10 guys are on the draft. The top 10 is pretty sweet here, but then after that or maybe even 9. But that's the gist of the argument is what I'm getting. Is Nick Eamon Worry going to get safety is drafted higher this year just because of what happened last year? I don't think so because Derwin James didn't get Kyle Hamilton.

drafted higher and Kyle Hamilton didn't get Nick Eam and Morrie drafted higher. What are we doing here? All right. Which did you enjoy more? Five minutes with me on the clock or five minutes with Eisen on SportsCenter? Well, I mean, as a kid, I'll be honest with you. I didn't dream of being on a podcast with a mime. So I did dream of being on Sports Center. So I mean, I think I checked that box, but doing a show with Greg dressed as a backstage hand is fun. What are you even talking about? I mean, I'm wearing a totally normal, you know, colored black shirt. It's dark. Do you have an undershirt in there, too?

Like black, black? No, give me a break. That's it. That was our five minutes. Good job, DJ. You're off the clock. You passed. You can do one more show of 40s and free agents when we come back after the draft, which we

are doing. Wait, this is not over? This is an over. Not only is this, you know, Siri is not over. This show is not even over, but we are going to take a break. and wrap it up on the other side. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies.

Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind, and now I've got my own show. So if you're tired or lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN platforms in the IHeart Radio app. Back on 40s and free agents,

I'm excited. I'm going to be watching. I'm still, you know, an NFL network guy. I don't care about this merger. I'm watching Eisen and DJ Authors Day. while we're doing some live fun stuff for NFL Daily after the draft and enduring. But before that, let's talk about who you think could change the most in terms of this next season. Negative and positive.

But let's go negative. Maybe a team to pump the brakes on a little bit that maybe needs a big draft in a way that people don't understand. More holes than people really understand. A year ago at this time, we made. a couple of the teams. I'm spacing on who they were. I know the Bengals were one of them, but why don't you give me a team to pump the brakes on a little bit?

I'm still curious about Buffalo a little bit. I do think there's some significant work that needs to be done here. I think that David Edwards lost in free agencies is bigger than people anticipate there. So getting that short up, you look on the defensive side of the ball up front. I don't know. it's their solid players up there but that doesn't blow me away

guys I just look at them in terms of like how many players do they have you have to game plan around I don't know they got some work to do yeah they I think both them and the Ravens who are favorites right now if you want to call them that

in terms of over under wind total in Vegas for whatever that's worth the highest numbers in AFC both have more needs going into the draft than you usually would expect Like where are the super strengths of the Bills team outside of offensive line and Josh Allen? Maybe that's enough. Maybe that's it.

And I think they need an offensive lineman. I think the Patriots got to get faster. You know, I think I start every exercise like this, offensive line, defensive line. And I just think they still need to do work on their offensive line. I still think they're going to be looking for defensive tackles and edges. I thought they were too hard on you in terms of the Patriots fans who didn't like that you gave them a defensive tackle. they could absolutely use a defensive tackle. So they're a team, I think, was way ahead of schedule last year,

but has need in terms of, you know, they have some premier players, but they have more holes, including a linebacker than maybe people expect. You know, it's interesting on the other side of that a little bit is going through the process, and they ended up obviously trading the pick for a wattle. But when you look at Denver's roster, you can make cases in the best shape of anybody. Like, there's no, when you go through and you're looking at what they need,

now they don't have many picks, and they're picking 62 here, but that roster is in really, really good shape. So that was an interesting part of that exercise before they ended up trading out when you're going through. Who do they take? And I was like, they were a hard team to mock draft for.

I'm almost kind of glad they made the trade because it was tough to pin them down on what they would take. Last year's team, by the way, is that we said, you know, maybe just pump the brakes on a little bit. Dolphins, Bengals, commanders, all in that mix. Wow. And you even had the Packers,

although you said, I think they'll make the playoffs, but there's not enough umph there. They're kind of trending towards the same idea of like good, not great. And you were, you were right? You know, so we, we stumbled. We stumbled their phone one there. I feel bad about this because Panthers fans are getting tired of it. But there's this feeling that, you know, they made this huge step last year.

And they did from where they were. And it's an easy division. But I just think they have a lot of holes as well. They're another team where offensive defensive line, I think could use a lot of improvements. some juice in terms of their skill position talent, really anywhere outside the cornerback position, I think could be improved there. So I still think they're like an ascending team,

but they could really use another draft stacked on top of last year. There you go. I'm with you on that one. All right, let's get positive. Let's go for teams that are a good draft week away from contention. I'm not going to say we nailed all of these last year, but I did have the Jaguars as one of the teams. That was good.

And you had the bears. So those were two big hits. Give me a team that you think is a good draft week away from contention. I don't think the giants are that terribly far off. I don't. I know there's a couple of things on the to-do list that we need to get a receiver in there, some more firepower there. But I think the offensive lines are in decent shape.

And you get the new bump here with the new coach, some energy that comes along with that. I don't think they're that far away. They were one of my picks last year. I conveniently didn't mention that that one didn't work out that well. But if you think about it, all the same reasons I liked them last year, which was mostly line play. And now you have Jackson Dart not having to worry about the quarter of that position. Obviously, you want him to develop, but you're looking at year two.

I think that's a good one. This is a weird choice, but I just feel like people have forgotten a little bit about the bucks right now. They're in an interesting spot. People are a little tired of bowls. They've just been at the same. level. Even when they were winning games in the playoffs, they were kind of a nine-win team, but I still like their lines. If they can just get an edge, I like the youth throughout the roster, receiver running back certainly, but also on the defense. I like most of the offensive

line. They're a team where, man, if you could just have, forget those doubles that your guy, Ozzie Newsom was always going for. Let's get some home runs for the bucks. If they got the right edge rusher and another player in the secondary perhaps in terms of their second round. I just don't think they're that far away from being right back with the real deal contenders. Yeah. And I think in that division, I mean, it's it's all right there for them. They could easily win that division next year. So that's a good one.

I'll give you one more here as we go through this because I was going back and forth on a couple different teams here. I'm going to, I mean, this is, it's an easier one, but Detroit, I mean, I know they need to replace a tackle. but the overall to-do list, I don't think, is that great. They can continue to add to the secondary, add another rusher. But I think kind of where they are positioned in the draft with what some holes they need to plug, I think they could accomplish that if they get it right.

So they can be right back in the mix next year. Yeah, people love to talk about windows. Did they miss their window? I don't think so. And I'm just thinking they have, if you just pick young players in the middle of their prime, either on their rookie contracts or early on their second contract, they might have the best top, you know, seven players in the league. So give me a break about window.

They can get right back there. I made more bold choices than you. I had two more. Yeah, two more. Yeah, half the league. No wonder you're, you talk about the ones we got right when we, I didn't really, we talked about 10 different teams in these segments. I'm giving you three.

I'm giving you three. The Saints, just like one more wide receiver and a defense. and the quarterback elevates, it could happen. I think that offensive line could be really good, actually, for the Saints. And that's a great place to start for that team. I do think the receiver thing. And that's why, you know, I wouldn't be shocked if they pulled the trigger there in the first round on a wideout. And then one team I want you to keep an eye on losing record last year, bad in one score game, some line issues and whatnot.

But keep an eye on these Kansas City Chiefs. I know they're picking in the top 10, but I think they're upstarts. I think they have a future. they could turn this thing right around, the Kansas City. Bold. Greg likes his coffee bold. They really could use a great draft, though. It's been up and down.

I mean, last year could actually work out quite well with Josh Simmons and everything. But if they got a good draft, it seems an obvious point to make. But they really need to kind of replenish the youth, the cheap contracts on their roster. And if they do, you know, they're right there. Yeah. I really appreciate that lemmy one out on there. I can go with you on that. Thank you. That's the kind of analysis you can only get on 40s and free agents.

We're doing it one more time, DJ. The next time I see you, you will be one day away from your vacation of watching Padres games and listening to early 90s R&B. So we have one more show. Can you do one more show? Yeah, I'll do it for Drew. We will do it next week. In the meantime, everyone, enjoy the draft game. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.