NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 40s and Free Agents with Mina Kimes: Favorite Players in the 2026 NFL Draft

Episode Date: April 14, 2026

On this episode of 40s and Free Agents, Daniel Jeremiah and Gregg Rosenthal are joined by Mina Kimes to break down their favorite prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. From breakout playmakers to under-the-radar gems, the trio talks about the most exciting players rising up the draft boards. They share scouting insights, strengths, and what makes each player intriguing at the next level.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Welcome to 40s and free agents. I'm Greg Rosenthal, joined today by my two favorite ESPN employees, Mina Kimes and Daniel Jeremiah. We're back. We're doing it. Welcome, Mina. How's it going?

It's good. DJ, did they give you a badge? Have you cashed in the Disneyland discount yet? True story. As we're recording this, yes. yesterday, my Disney passes came, and I cannot wait to take my 24-year-old daughter and 22-year-old son. They're just going to be. Miss a window.

Yeah, it's a little tough on the timing there. But they did get the passes, so that's nice. I do feel left out as the Avengers here come together. But there's such a thing as loyalty in this business, DJ. I'm going down with the ship. I'm staying at NFL media. We're going to do it. But really excited to.

The shield, he's grasping the shield as he's going backwards. I love it. We've got a few more episodes to go here on this season of 40s and free agents, and we decided to bring Mina back for a pretty simple exercise that we did a year ago, which was just our favorite players to watch in this draft. Doesn't mean we think they're going to be the best players, but just fun guys to talk about. That's how I looked at it.

The guys I wanted to hear you two talk about that I think are just fun to watch. but I will start with our guest here, Mina. In this spot a year ago, you took Jahad Campbell. I think he's going to be great still. Who do you want to start with in terms of your favorite players who value in this guy? Who else did I take, Greg? Is it with the other one's age poorly? I don't have to tell me.

I forget, to be honest, I just remember you started with Campbell. I'm still a Campbell believer. No linebackers this year. I'll start with one of my few players who isn't injured. I'll actually, he is kind of injured Casey Concepcion. Let's go. DJ, a theme in all the names I sent to Greg, because I just kept sending injured guys,

which actually is kind of a good referendum on this draft in some ways, right? That a lot of the special talents are ones who have question marks when it comes to their health. And I'll talk about the cornerback that I'm in love with. Actually, that he's 8-2 corners. But let's start with Casey Concepcion because Greg, I think you saw me posting about him and you texted me

that he might be, you had him at like two or something. So I didn't even go that high. item three in my wide receiver rankings. But I just think that suddenness and explosive playmaking is the most covetable trait when it comes to a receiver, his ability to get separation. And, you know, I had all kinds of comps circulating in my brain. The one that I ultimately ended up posting, though, this is very serious. And Daniel, you can use this on TV.

I won't begrudge you. Yeah, my plan. is a Hot Wheels car launched out of my son's slam launcher. So you guys might not know what a slam launcher is. Greg, you might know. I do. Okay. And you go, bam.

And leave me, we've hours. This is our house in a chokehold. And it sends the Hot Wheels car shooting across the house at like 90 miles per hour. I've fallen on many of them. And that's what Casey looks like against press coverage at the line of scrimmage. He looks like he shot out of a slam launcher. And I know this question marks about drops. but I want to hear Daniel, your thoughts on those because I found it kind of puzzling.

It's different from Johnston, Quentin Johnson, are talking about for a linear reasons. But one of the readings I found interesting about Casey is that he has some really awful drops on tape. And then he has some like weirdly difficult, tough catches. So I do think he is capable of improving his hands the next level. But what I know he is capable is that speed and separation. Yeah, I'm just pulling up some notes or two because I wanted to go back to it. there's a lot of things that I really like about him. And you've touched on the suddenness and the juice.

You see all that stuff for sure. There's a polish to him as well. There's a polish to him at the line of scrimmage. And even when he gets to the top of routes, he's got a real good savvy and feel to it. Whereas I think you think about guys, guys who have drops who are mechanical, that usually they're mechanical.

They've got hard hands. There's a stiffness to them. Like, that's when I get really freaked out. I mean, I don't love the drops. Don't get me wrong. Like I factored them into how I, how I slotted him. But when you look at how fluid and how loose he is, you look at the return background, which is going to translate well with the ball in his hands after the catch.

All that stuff is so positive. And, you know, that's why it's, he's a, he's an easy one to evaluate, in my opinion. He's a tough one to slot. If that means any sense at all. Okay. Okay. I, I just feel like you want to get as, there's no safe prospects. But that's suddenness that mean is talking about, I feel like you look at that and you're just like, yeah, that's going to work. That's going to translate. He reminds me in a little bit of a different way of Olave when Olavé was coming out. I think he's stronger.

Right. There are different players. But I guess I mean when I saw Olave's stop routes at that level and his decelerish, I was like, well, that's going to work. You can just imagine that working. And I love that he dominated, not dominated, but he had great numbers as a true freshman against much older people in the ACC, you know, back in his previous stop. his drops weren't quite as bad there.

I think he's going to open things up for others. Like he catched a lot of bad balls. They have some numbers that say like uncatchable ball rates and he is one of the highest. He started on the quarterback. Right. Like the quarterback situation was rough. That's a theme for a lot of these. Yeah, right.

Yeah. And so like if the Rams at 13 thought he was their wide receiver too, just like I do. I do have him as the number two. I don't think that's that crazy. Do you? I don't think it's crazy. I don't think it's crazy at all. I have to factor in.

I can't just ignore it. I have to factor in the drops in terms of where I have them. And then you got this knee thing that popped up a little bit late too, which it sounds like everything will be fine there. But my thing on the drops, the other thing I'll point out to is you better be able to offset it with explosives. And he does that. So that's where you become a little bit more forgiving. Drops are interesting too, right? Like, Dan, I'm sure you've talked to a lot of folks in the NFL about this, trying to evaluate whether or not something you can get better at.

because, you know, Quinn Johnson, very different player. He did get better at catching the football. He is undoubtedly improved in that regard. And for when I was talking about Casey on my pod, I went through historical prospects of receivers who had high drop rates in college. And they're all over the map, man. Like, it's guys who failed in the league.

And then it's guys who had success. I think Alave actually, right, had a pretty high drop rate. Am I miss remembering that? But it was definitely Nakuwa. Jamar Chase even. Some of the best receivers in football did improve in the league.

And I think in college, because of the nature of quarterback play, can be a little bit tricky to evaluate. So it is real. It is an important part of playing the position. But, you know, I, Greg, share your feelings about just what will translate. So I did a pot, as first where he goes,

Daniel, when he came on my pod, we did a mock draft, and he ended up with the Panthers at 19, which. Perfect. Sick, right? I mean, with Ted McMillan, on the outside, him inside out.

Like, I would love that fit. Yeah, he's a fun player. The last thing I'll just say on him is like he's 196 pounds. This is not a 175 pound guy. Like he is a strong, sturdy player. He just seems to fit where the NFL is right now with motion. And I can just imagine. You can see it in college.

When he's in motion and you can just see the defense going, oh, no. Like he just causes a five alarm fire and I can just see that at the next level. All right, DJ, who do you want to go with it as your first? player that you just love to. I'm going to go to the trenches. And I think that we've talked about this, Greg, but not much talk about this guy because he's just boringly good is Venga, you want to. Like he just like every tape for a draft that we're trying to talk ourselves into things

and we're making exceptions. Like he's just consistently good in every single game that you watch. Like he's the same guy. I'm just like that this is just boringly good. And I think he's so boringly good that we just haven't discussed him. But when I watched him, it was a really fun. It was really fun tape to watch the. You do a lot of different things.

Then they move them around and letting him work in space. And then with offensive linemen, I've always just had a fondness for once they get their hands on you, like the play is over. And you watch these poor guys trying to get away. And it's like they're flailing. They can't get off of him. He's so strong. Yeah. I mean, he's like one of the more no-brainer prospects to me in the draft.

Like there's just so few questions about him. He also is, there's a few positions like this, right? Like linebackers, one, a tight end where there's such a. large gap for me between him and the next interior offensive lineman that it'll be interesting to see whether he even gets to Baltimore at 14, right? But that would be the natural fit. I think you hit on it. Just the way he finishes as a blocker is so impressive, so palpable. And I also think he can play in a variety of schemes. He has nice at his size movement skills. And so I think you could put him in his own blocking offense, but he has the strength and power

to block for Gap as well. So, yeah, I just think he might be the most plug and play in the entire round. If we didn't exercise, Mina, and I said, we'll take this entire draft class, you only get credit if they are on an all pro list next year. He might be my first pick. Like him and Sunny Stiles might be like my first two picks in that of guys who I think could like emerge at the top of their position relatively early in their career. Not unlike Carson Schlesinger, who, Mina, you had him as one of your favorites last year.

There we go. Nailed it. Boom. Got to win. Nailed it. I had two linebackers trees. Do you think some, you kind of mentioned, you didn't want to go at length on Schuessinger because you already did on Campbell, but you put it down for the record, smart, smart analyzing there.

Do you think some teams that might agree with you, though, and just take Ione before anyone else, like before any of the tackles? Because half the top tackles, people. are thinking about moving to guard, DJ. Do you think teams might agree with you and he goes higher than? I would almost guarantee you that he's the top ranked offensive line on some people's list.

Okay, that's awesome. He's just, he's really, really solid. Okay, so I did look at this exercise a little differently. I just wanted to hear you to specifically talk about some of these guys, just guys I enjoyed watching. C.J. Allen, lineback from Georgia, I'm putting on my list here. This dude, he wants to kill everyone. He's always talking.

He's a communicator. He's explosive. And the reason I want to talk about him is once I did watch him, he wasn't what I expected, which is I heard him talked about as this kind of like high ceiling, low floor guy. And I'm thinking, this guy is, you know. Okay. Maybe I heard the wrong.

Maybe I heard the wrong people. What content are you consuming, Greg? I'm not going to say who. I'm not going to say who is a couple of years people. That is the opposite of how I view him. Okay. Shout out of a can. And then we'll do everything, like the mindset.

I think he's getting dinged a little because he's in this class with these two great linebackers ahead of him. I think you could go back over the last five years. And there's an argument that he is better than any lineback. I think he, like coming into the class in terms of his ceiling, I think he's better than the two from last year. And you could go back as far as, you know, when Devin White went in the top 10 for what it's worth that, like, he has that sort of ceiling if everything goes well. If not, like, it could be a little Quay Walker-ish where he's lost a little in coverage and it's just like big plays. But, man, I think he could be a real big weapon that, like, if he landed with the bucks or something in the first round, like I would be very excited. Am I too excited to watch a G.

I'm going to cut Mina off here. Mina, this is why I hate Greg, okay? This is why I hate him. Because what he does is he takes a player that I like, right? I like a player. And he goes so far past me that he puts me in a position to have to talk negatively. about a player that I really like. That's called podcasting DJ.

It's good to have productive tension. No one wants a podcast where everybody agrees. So I think that me and it sounds like DJ disagreeing with you is going to make for good content right now. I don't like him more than the two linebackers who I selected last year. For me, there is a lot to like. I think he's a really intelligent player. Like that was the thing that jumped out to me watching his tape.

he knows how to find the football. He's really good at diagnosing run-pass. He's constantly, he's often in the right position. I think where I'm a little bit slower to love is it doesn't have the athleticism to sort of build off of that to be like, I think when you talk about the high ceiling, that's why my eyebrows kind of shot up. I don't see like the explosiveness and movement skills on tape that I personally really value at that position.

So I think he can absolutely be a starter. I think he can start very. quickly because of how smart he is. I just question whether or not he has the athletic tools and range to be like one of the guys that I really love watching. So that is my take. Yeah, I think it's a good way to explain it. I'm doing the Charger games.

I get to see the two different styles, right? I can see Denzel Perriman and then I get to see him play right next to day on Henley. So he's going to be more in the Perriman thing. Now, I think he's a little more athletic than Periment. I don't think he's as athletic is Henley. but he is very instinctive. He sees things well. He's the communicator.

They rave about him. At Georgia, they told me when he got there in the spring, he immediately right got on the field and established himself as a guy, which that does mean something to me. Like at a place like that where you kind of command that, he's got the middle linebacker leadership traits, all those things.

He's, you know, tackle to tackle. He's excellent. But there's some stuff in coverage where he's a little bit tight and that get exposed a little bit when he's out in space. So that's just, when I watch the Chargers,

week, I feel like I see both styles. And they can both work. They can both be effective. I just think he's more on the Perman side than on the Henley side. His, I mean, I don't know what Permanelman was like coming out of college. If you took his best 10 coverage, I mean, again, he's instinctive in zone coverage. I'm just talking about him. Some of his coverage reps are incredible and picking up some of the receivers. And to me, he is a little not, I don't know if anyone's sideline to sideline, but he,

there were plays where he covered a lot of, I could see him like in a floor. I mean, everyone in a Flores defense would be fine. but he is a guy that will sacrifice for his teammates. You want to send him into the double teams. You want to send like, I just feel like you do a little bit of everything. It could be a lot of fun. All right. But see, see, like I like him, Greg.

He's like my, I'll tell you right now. He's my 35th player. So I really like him, but yet you put me in a position where I have to be a bad guy. I'm saying in this class, yeah, maybe it's more like top 25. Where I start considering is Houston at 28. And that's when it becomes kind of an option. He would, and that would be great because they would put him, he would be the perfect Houston Texan linebacker.

But if Minnesota got him, that would be fun too. 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 got my own show. So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN platforms

in the IHeart Radio app. All right, Mina, go ahead. Some other players, by the way, you had. Trey Amos. I don't know why we're only picking your players. Mine was like Kyle Williams, who I still believe.

That must be that ours weren't. We didn't love ours. And ours kind of fell off then. Marian Hampton you had, who I'm still buying. Technically, I think Mina got to pick first because I promise,

I would have, I would have liked Swessinger on there, but I think he did a punch. Classic. The Eagles would have drafted, Russell Wilson. Okay. 100%.

I'll do more one of my injured guys. I love Germain McCoy's 2024 tape so much. Probably, because your question was like, who is your favorite to watch? I think his game against Ryan Williams in 2024 is like one of those like movies I'll go, but like it's like clueless for me. I want to go back and watch it over and over because it's such a great battle.

And this was Ryan Williamsville, that's a whole other conversation. But in 2024, it was an awesome matchup. And I think you saw a lot of the traits that for me make him perhaps the cornerback with the highest upside in the draft. And very angry at DJ because I think. thought I was so clever coming up with my Stefan Gilmore comp. And I do play comps and then I Google just to see if anyone else did it. And of course, of course he got to it before I did because they're the exact same size.

He has similar fluidity in man coverage. The foot speed, again, from 2024, I guess I should have started saying, Jamar, I was injured last year. He's not played. He had an ACL. I think his ability to make plays on the football from off and zone, his closing speed when he comes down on it. He's got a great wingspan. I don't know off the top of my head, but it's very obvious on tape.

So I just look at him and I think his upside if he's healthy. And of course, he ran a super fast 40 at his own pro day, but didn't do it traditional offseason. It is worth betting on because that is a really special set of traits he has. Yeah, I think to me this just comes down to the doctors. You know, like what do your doctors say about him and where is he out in the process and how comfortable are with you? because the 24 tape is the best DB tape in the draft. Like it's really, really good.

So it just becomes risk assessment. You know, we need Mina. Can you get your medical degree in a year? Like when we come back and do this next year, so we, it's why I'm so glad I'm not an NFL team, Dan, because it's like,

you look, imagine you're like, I know, Dallas at 12 or whatever. And you're looking at this player and you're, you got to make that call. And we've seen so many examples of like medical concerns that ended up not being anything or medical issues

that ended up being like damning. And it's just a fine line in the draft. And I never know how to evaluate it. But the fact that he did run was at least promising. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a good thing. Delane to me had really good tape this year.

Last year was not good. But this year's tape was really consistent and steady. I feel like you're playing the floor game just based off of the health. You'd have Delane there with the floor. But if you're chasing the ceiling, it'd be McCoy. Another side note on that. They're like one pound difference, but one looks so much bigger than the other one on is what it's kind of one of those weird things.

He's longer. He's an inch taller. But McCoy, when you watch McCoy and Delane back to back, McCoy looks, he looks like such a bigger guy for a guy who's one pound different. And you could Galaxy Brain a little bit and think, well, I'd rather as torn ACLB at the end of the 24 season,

rather than the 25 season, like he's recovered. And today's torn ACL is not the same as 20 years ago for the most part. And that's where, yeah, the better than a foot. The other player. Right. I know. I got some injuries.

guys coming up too. All right, DJ, give me another one. First of all, they did put ours in there. So, I mean, I don't, Jedi Baron did not start for Denver last year, but it's a great defense. I'm going to give myself a pass there. Jack Bash didn't do anything. But at least Travian Henderson and Tyler Warren. I got some, I got something there. Greg went with the Milro, Isaraku, Kyle Williams, Trifecta. So, I mean, I think he's clearly got the gold medal. I'm very secured my silver medal status. No, I mean, like I'm looking for fun. I'm looking for fun. and Kyle Williams, in terms of like 40-yard catches per target,

might have led the NFL. I think he had three big plays in about 12 targets. You just love speed, man. You love Jameson. You love Kyle Williams. You love Concepcion. You're a fiend for it. I guess so.

You know what the one he bragged about the most, though, Mina? Greg knows what it is. George Pickens, number two? 100%. Oh. I'm like, I'm like, Greg, it's not anything about the ability, man. Well, it was only because DJ buried him. I out scouted the whole league.

Like, you guys ready. This guy's really talented. Rasha Batesman or something. Freaking Sherlock Holmes over here being able to sniff out the talent of George Pickens on tape. Oh, boy. All right, Dwight, am I up or are you up? Yes, I'm waiting. All right, I'm going to give you a fun one.

This is Caleb Proctor, who's a defensive tackle from Southeast Louisiana. In a draft that I don't not love the defensive tackle class, especially as it pertains to rushing the quarterback, he has got some upfield twitch and some juice and can rush the quarterback. I remember highlight Milton Williams when he was coming out and like somebody you'd identify in those middle rounds who's got tons of juice and, you know, obviously he exceeded expectations. But he's not, I don't have as high a grade as I did on Milton Williams, but he's in that category. And to me, he's that target guy.

You want to target a guy in the middle rounds who you think can give you some interior pastoral should be him. How busy? I was just looking at up because I remember, okay. Yeah, he looks small. He is, Caleb Proctor, 6017, 291. He ran 479. It's always funny when we're in this position. You're like, yeah, he looks small.

It's like 6-1. Imagine seeing that man in real life. It's probably like, I glad you can't see size, right? Yeah. So I know enough to know that, DJ, if you're seeing him this way, do you think that he is going to be one of those targets? Maybe a higher ranked Cole Strain. who we didn't know, but many teams were targeting back as like,

oh, he's going to be our third round guy. Do you think, and is that going to push him up maybe a little higher than people? Yeah, I think he was kind of in that, like, start the process. You're like, I'd love to get this guy in the fourth round. And as you go through the process, you're like, he'd probably have to take him in the third round. You know, like that's kind of where he is for me. Yeah, I mentioned Kansi because I haven't watched a lot of him only a little bit.

I was trying to remember how I wrote down small and I wrote, reminds me a little Klaj, Kansi. And Kansi went. Just juicy. Yeah, right. Like wins with immediate penetration, but lacks the size. You get banged around in there. Yeah.

But I'd rather have him. I'd rather have him and we'll get to it later. But there's another defensive tackle talked about in the first round. I'm like, I don't know, I think I'd rather just get this guy in the third round. Really? I have some like third round types coming up. But since Minas, you know, snipped Concepcion, not sniped, but we both love them. We haven't had a Jeremiah Love conversation on this particular show.

And so I'm just going to put him out there as my guy because as a guy, because as, you know, I want to hear what you guys think. And I know you've talked a lot about draft value, Mina, when it comes to love. But we haven't had. Titans fans are not happy with me. Although I did I see that you had him drop past his? I had him go to Kansas City with the ninth pick. This is fan brain. They're so mad at me now.

And when they, if they pass on him, they're going to be like, Nina Kimes was right. Screw that guy. We never liked him. Value is everything. So anyway. My favorite part of the process is the fact, like I remember my first list. This would be a great exercise when you put out your first something.

I remember putting on my first list. And the most blowback I got was you have the white safety from Oregon as like a top 20 player. Like that's insane. And then now I guarantee if you look at some of the same usernames would be like, how do they can't pass on him at 12. They've got to take him at 12 if he's there at 12. And you have love, what do you have love, two in your top 50 prospects right now? Two in my top 50, yeah.

And but you went on Rich Eisen with on Sports Center. How about that? What was that like, by the way, DJ? I don't know. I mean, it's just worlds are colliding. That's where it is right now. So it's very, very bizarre. It was fun.

And you had like a mini mock draft preview. It's not going to be your official one. But yeah, you had love falling to nine in that case. And if that happens, I do think people are overthinking it because just his feet with that size is just so unique. And I think if you just went with size, speed, measurements, all that, he's in balance. Like there's, it's obviously like a very unique running back prospect. But when you put it all together and has changed a direction and like there was a play in, you know, in what was it in the Miami game where, you know, he steps a foot in. inside and he sees that it's cut up and then immediately can explode outside. It was actually

ruin Bain trying to get him. And there was a penalty on the play. And then he does one of his full speed hurdles and keeps his balance to get the first down. And it's just so freaky that I do think he's in that like Bajon, maybe Seekwon, but I think he's as good or better a prospect as Seekon. Like this is one of the best prospects of the last 25 years. And so at his position, I mean. And so maybe you disagree, Mina, that he's just not that good. But if he is that good, then it just seems crazy to me to be thinking about questionable tackle prospects, for instance, ahead of him. And if you do believe in him that much, you're going to be right. Like, you could end up with a Tyree Wilson over Bison Robinson type of thing if you're looking at positional value.

If he did drop to nine, you said, you know, it would be overthinking it. Who is the team, though, that you would point to as like, that was a mistake ahead of the chiefs? Like if anyone takes a tackle, I feel like that's meant. Like if the card like, like I think it's not the Cardinals, you would never pick him for them. So like, you know what I mean? But I don't think that's that crazy for them to pick him. Like that doesn't seem like a mistake to me.

The Cardinals? I mean, it makes more sense. How many years into his career before they'd be willing to be able to like support him? Well, like who, I mean, we've seen like was Bejan Robinson a mistake with Tyler Eljier? Why is that like? Well, they already had a job. I think their line was in, was in a better. spot. I think that was the start.

Are we hanging up on Greg? Is that how this? No, I don't like to do that. I like, I think if there's if there's a guy, you were talking about like the first team all pro like possibility or whatever. Yeah. Jeremiah Love would have a chance. And I think the bigger thing is like, would you rather like if you think he could be a Hall of Fame player and maybe maybe there aren't that many people that do think that. But if if he's at that level of running back prospect, I do think that goes over a lot of guys like that aren't like normally top 10 picks. A lot of these guys would not normally be a opt and pick anyways. Who did you have Washington taking?

I had Washington trading out. Oh, trading. Oh, yes, I saw that and I was like, Washington should absolutely do that. Because that would be the team to go back to my original question where I might be like, maybe you're at this one, right? Like if they were to take a receiver, you know, like that's because, but it's the only team where when I look at the roster and what's shaped they're in, where I feel personally a little bit more comfortable. However, I remember I saw your mock and I thought, no, I think.

you just absolutely zero chance in how they have no second round pick they're just a target to me and i just you know off the subject but i just look at the jets and all the capital they have like they they can be afford to be aggressive and go up and get a receiver they desperately need so that's why i did that one but to get back to your conversation i want to hit me i want to hit me on this one because i haven't even i haven't even been on uh since uh since this came out so i don't know what the feedback i'm sure that there's people losing their minds about the kansas city love thing but I'd love to get Mina's thoughts on it because it's a very layered conversation.

I don't think it's an easy one, but I think it's a layered conversation. The Kansas City taking love, I have two thoughts on it. On one hand, is this setting aside Walker, you know, they side, yeah, it's really a two-year deal, whatever. On one hand, I feel a little bit itchy

because they have such great needs at such high-value positions, wide receiver, corner, edge, right? Three of the most expensive positions in football are ones that they could stand to address. But on the other hand, the two first round picks does change the calculus a little bit. And I think what matters here is how they feel about their ability to get an impactful receiver, corner, or edge with that second first round pick. I think receiver is a thing where they could really find someone there.

but boy, that's asking a lot of Steve Bagnolo if you go all offense. So I guess it wouldn't be what I would do, but if they really believe they could get another contribute, having that extra pick from the McDuffie trade does help a lot. I do think cheese fans are leaning a little bit too hard on the, we can find a corner in the fifth round every year.

Like that's a little, you know, that's hubris in my opinion, even though obviously the track record speaks for itself. And I do like Noel Williams, but I would, I have to look at your draft and see who was available to them. Was there anyone available that they passed up on? Bain was still there. Downs was still there. Downs was still there.

Downs would be really nice. Yeah. And then, yeah. But you know what I mean about receiver? Doesn't it feel like they can, especially take on? It's like they get a receiver later, I feel. Yeah. Well, here's the other side of the coin that I'm looking at here.

So a couple different things. Number one, you had. Love notoriously with Judarian Price, you know, was at his best complimented with another back. Kenneth Walker complimented with Charbonnet. Like I don't, I think having those two guys together would be dynamic. The enemy comes in. You got Mahomes coming off an injury. We want to, obviously want to be able to run the football and make people pay for how they've played us for the last five years.

And now we've got a way to keep two elite backs fresh who, oh, by the way, can also spark some creativity and rejuvenate the mind there with Andy Reed of like, I can get my screen game going that I go pull out all my LaShawn McCoy stuff that I did back in the day. And I can reintroduce it here with a more dynamic version of that. I want to put both those guys on the field and be creative and let him roll out of the slot. I'm going to throw bubbles to him, you know, all this kind of stuff. Like I just think it could kind of spark some life into an offense that that nobody's really talked about has been so unexciting and unwatchable for the last few years. The other chase is like, and I've seen people mock offensive linemen to them. their line is fine. I mean, Simmons was a hit.

They have more in the build. Like, they could continue adding there. Obviously, you're betting on recovery from injury. But like, that to me is another reason. Like, Jeremy, I love the reason why Washington was also something I'm okay with. Your first question is, what's the status to your offensive line? Jesus, good. Like, I, that kind of feels. I don't love more, though. Like, you'd rather, you want them to upgrade? No, I mean, I look, they, they hot committed, so to speak. But I think that there's, they can be better there. And then Simmons, there was reasons why he fell in the draft.

And he, unfortunately, wasn't available for a good chunk of the season. So he talent-wise is phenomenal. Like, he's, is anybody in the draft last year at that position. It definitely requires some internal scouting. Yeah. I think at a certain point, isn't it just like how much do you believe in these players, that you are just about, like, if he is at the Bejan level, like, you're just not, you're just not going to regret that pick.

And I just think certainty is so hard to find. And maybe it's not certain, you know. If they lined up, if they lined up, I'll ask both of you this. If they lined up next year with Noel Williams and Chris Johnson at corner, and being coached by Dave Merritt and Steve Spagnolo, I think they'd be fine at corner. How do you guys feel about that? I love Chris Johnson. He was one.

I mean, they won a Super Bowl with Jalen Watson and I forget who the other guy was playing, as rookies playing 30 snaps. and Watson turns into a great player. It's tough to keep doing that. They do have your guy, Christian Fulton, by the way, still there. Struggled. Struggled. Okay.

I want Chris Johnson on the Seahawks. It's my Jeremiah love guy. I'm just saying, like, it's not over thinking too much. Let's go Seahawks for a second. I never got the word if you guys even believe in him as that bunch of a prospect. I like Or Mason Thomas as a fit with Seattle as well. Is there a couple Seahawks? Yeah, I think Edge is a sneaky one that people are sleeping off.

for Seattle, right? Because you've got older, Lawrence is older, you lost Mafei, you know, Chena's not a spring chicken either. So yeah, I definitely think they could go. I actually like two, the edges who are going to be. I like the edges and quarters that they'll be picking from if they're to stay, but they might not stay in the first round. That's a good call. I kind of expect, I was almost surprised Nguos was still on the roster. So you're right. That could be a very different looking group. All right, let's take a break and let's come back with some more favorite players of the draft. 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 got my own show.

So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies available on all TSN platforms and the IHeart Radio app. Okay, we are back. I have made a fool of myself. Mina, you are next up. This is very important, your third pick here. Should I do Chris Johnson here? Because I just said I love him, but I didn't say why. It took me a while to get to him. I'm doing defenses, defensive players this week. We probably wouldn't talk about him that much. Although, I don't know.

People are starting to watch. I feel like he's climbing. San Diego State cornerback. I feel like I should start by saying that. I just could not believe how technically refined he looks to me on tape. And obviously not always the greatest competition, but the game that I watched first was Washington State. No.

He kills gal. Yeah. So I did watch that one. Washington State was one that I watched first. And I just found him to be so much more complete than I would have expected for a corner that I hadn't heard of talked about being in the top four or five players at the position. Good size, good measurables, such a smooth mover. but then just the plays on the football. I mean, always it feels like his hands are in there,

jarring it loose, good ball skills as well. So I just thought, you know, the coroner being a need for Seattle, also I think he can play in different schemes as well, Manzo. So, yeah, I just think to me, when you start getting into that tier of corners, your Colton Hoods, your Avion Terrell's, you know, I thought there's some really good ones,

but all of them I can kind of point to like, oh, I don't love this. I was surprised by how complete Chris Johnson's game was when I watched him. Like, you can tell me what the ding on him is DJ. Like I was struggling to find it when I was watching him. So here's the fascinating. This is like one of my fascinating case studies with this draft because with him when I watched him, all the stuff made that talked about, I loved. The only question was, okay, like some recovery speed stuff.

I'm like, okay, what does the pure top speed look like? Well, then he goes to the combine. and he runs this thing 4-4 flat. Like he ran plenty fast. He had a phenomenal workout there, by the way, as well, just to see how loose he was. He's real sturdy and his lower. Like, he is a strong, sturdy dude.

So all that. So then I'd come back and I was talking with somebody. And I'm like, did I really like him? He's like my 35th player here at the end of the process. But I saw the time speed. But there was some, I did go through my notes. And he goes, you realize San Diego State. And I live in San Diego.

So once he said this, it connected. He goes, it's the worst playing surface, like one of the worst playing surfaces in the country to the point where the MLS team that plays there had complained about it. Because the turf is always flying up. And so I go, okay, it was like a detective. I go back through all my notes. And I'm like the question where I questioned some recovery speed, play speed. I go, was that a home game or a road game? Home game.

So I was like, it was like this little investigative journey. I love it. I love it. And I was like, and then they said the GPS numbers are exceptional. Game law. So his in-game GPS numbers, even at San Diego State, are really, really good. It's just that in some of the recovery transition stuff, there's turf flying around a little bit, and you see the sand pop it up in the air.

So it just messed with your eyes a little bit, oddly. Washington State was at Washington State. I was just, when I watched that. Okay. And I'm like, what did I? You're not going to help about the local team here. They're hurting their draft prospects with their lousy field. Because I didn't, throughout this process, I didn't hear of him being mentioned as a first,

drop pick, but I've started to hear it a little bit more lately, which is what sort of prompted me to finally sit down. Do you think there's any chance he sneaks into the end of the first? Oh, 100%. Yeah, I think there's, you know, those, you get to the last handful of picks when you're going through the process of you're like, okay, there's 15 guys that could go in here. And he's, he's really clean. So if you're picking towards the bottom of the first round, do you want to swing for the fences or you want to just take a really clean, you know exactly what you're getting player? Chief Stolph and Seahawks could all take a corn. team you should mention that.

I like it when you two agree on a player because DJ has been talking up Chris Johnson as kind of an underrated guy for a while. So that's just one to put in bold. All right, DJ, you got another one here. All right, I'll stay at the corner position. Every year I go through this exercise at the very end of the process where

I look at in the top 50 and it's the dumbest thing, but I just do it. And I go, okay, who do I have outside the top 50 that if they get picked in the top 50, I'm going to be sick to my stomach because I liked him, but I just didn't put him where I, you know, should have put my money where my mouth was, basically. And I did it with Jalen Hertz when he was coming out. And I'm like, I understand the flaws, but I'm like, he's just so competitive and tough. Like, I'm just going to

put him in there. So I put him in there in like the late 40s or what have you. So I've done this every year. And this year, I did it with DeAngelo Pons. I'm like, he's been my undersized player. He's so small, but he's so competitive and he's so tough. And this is how, this is what got me over the threshold. I've had him like in my and all the 150 will come out, but he'd been like in the 50-60 range, which is going to put him in the bottom of the second round. He's an exception, 100%.

But I was talking to a team and they, you know, we were talking about comps and I kind of brought up the ones that came to my mind that I, you know, looked at in terms of the Darius Webb, Avante Maddox, like some smaller guys who I thought were really good players. And he's like, well, we go back a little bit further in our database. Like his everything, it's a different game we're playing now.

I get that. But if you look at Aaron Glenn's numbers compared to him, they are identical. And if you read the competitive background and the intelligent stuff, identical. So if you're going to bet on an exception, it helps to have at least something I could grasp onto. So I grasped onto that and I got him into the back of my top 50. Who is the little TCU corner as little? I know. Chargers took him. Yeah. Not not, not, not, uh, because he was so, yeah, Jason Verrett. Yeah. Is that you're thinking of? No, no, no, no, I'm thinking about the one recently, not Paris. Mina's burned because she tried to make an exception

with Emmanuel Forbes a couple of years ago. I mean, everyone loved the manual Forbes. She was a fun little player. At least he was tall. At least he had some flashes last year. No, the little TCU. I should stop saying little, sorry. TCU Cornerpack.

Oh, no, Tomlinson. Tomlinson. Tomlinson, yeah. To the Rams, I think. Yes, the Rams, right, because you play the Rams preseason. He must have been about the same size as Svon's, like 5 foot 8 and change. I think he might even have been smaller. He was a little.

But he also was like weirdly good at like climbing the ladder against bigger receivers and making plays in the football. I mean, weirdly that he reminds me of like the feciness. And Pons is a better player. I don't know if I can get there with that size. I love the name, though. I want to continue the theme. I'm going to pick a similar player then too.

I was on the fence because I want to hear you guys talk about it. It's partly because of an age question here. Kianti Scott. Oh, yeah. He's fun. Nickel. Kind of a candidate to be a nickel slot player, I think, from Miami. He was that guy, 192 pounds, so not that small.

But he plays like he's 240. He thinks he's 240. He plays like a linebacker. Yeah. Jalen Petrie is a high bar. But if he hit everything that he could ever hit, you know, that's the type, I think, a player that Keante Scott is just so aggressive. force fumbles, like just hilarious, talking trash. And also, I just think maybe where the league is

going in terms of he can fit in a lot of these new defenses. But he is 25 years old. He didn't really break out until a sixth season in college, but really fun. I'm curious. I've not heard you, DJ, say anything about. He's in my top 50. He is now. Wait, he's been in my top 50. Is that right? Okay. Well, let's talk about him. No, look, I love the way he plays. And it's not just because he's a San Diego kid. I can't say kid because he's 25, but, um, I just call to die little like five times. So I think kid is fine now for 20. 24. I think it's 24, right? Uh, 24 years old. No, yeah, he plays so he like I'm, I'm big on conviction with secondary players. I think that's a very important aspect of it.

Right or wrong. Just play with conviction. Just trust your eyes and go. He plays with the utmost conviction. And especially against the run. If he sniffs its run, he is gone. Um, and he, just plays so fast and so aggressive. He ran like low four threes to go along with when you when yeah he flew he missed that God. Yeah, he flew. It was reported like on social media they ran in the four twos. That was not right.

I'll give you the official time. He ran four three three. Five one one two one ninety three and he ran four three. I mean he destroyed some dynamic blitzer. It kind of like C.J. Allen, but obviously smaller like he he destroys people considering in his size. He was a fun player to watch. He would have definitely been on my list

as I saw the names you guys had on there. That one would have been mine, just for the fun factor. Like when you're watching him, just jump routes. You see like the A&M playoff game. He makes a ton of plays in that one where they're trying to spit the ball out and he just is all over it. So again, I think that player has more value now than maybe it did, you know, 10 years ago.

Yeah. And I did see, I don't, I haven't, I haven't, got great stuff with coaches at Miami yet on him. I try and dig something up. But I've seen interviews with him. He's an impressive dude, man. Like when you see him talking ball, like very, very impressive. If I was doing like an all honey badger team or draft team, he would be.

I was just like, but we guys talk about the league. I think about guys like an Upton Stout or in San Francisco. I was trying to think of some of the like just Nichols. Cater Cohoo. He's a little like. Yeah. A little like. We're running out of time.

DJ's got TV. Let's just do a speed round. If there's anyone else, you just want to get in for the record. I just think Max Claire is going to be a good tight end in the NFL, at minimum good. It took me a while to get to him as well because the tight ends. I was like, I know they were going to first round. I just watch him and I see an NFL skill set very clearly. I love the way he moves. I love how good he is catching the football.

I think he's very quarterback friendly. I think he is a sufficient locker and can obviously build on that at the next level. but put that guy that tight end from Stanford. Sorry, I should start by saying that, in a play action heavy offense and let him cook. Yeah. And I like to better at Purdue, which, by the way,

this is the only draft I can remember where every player I've said that they were better at Purdue. I've said it with Dionne Burks. I've said it with Dylan Thineman, and I've said it with Max Claire. Purdue almost had a great team. They were so close to this. This could have kept the gang together.

They would have quite a team last year. I'll do one more. Trade and Stoakes. Trade and Stoakes from Arizona, who can do a little bit of everything. He can cover in the slot. He can play in the post. He's, he's rangey, he's fast.

He's, he's instinctive. Like, he's a good player. I think he's got a chance to go on the second round once also. Maybe filling a similar-ish spot, or if he's not just a traditional safety as my guy, Kianti, Scott. I just want to throw out for the record, like Chris Ball, wide receiver from Louisville and then Ted Hurst from Georgia State. This is such a weird class that these guys, man, they look like NFL receivers. If you catch Chris Ball on the right rep where he,

He's just catching a slant in full motion. I mean, he looks like A.J. Brown or something. He's coming off a torn ACL. But, man, these two guys look like NFL receivers. Hearst from Georgia State. They were one in 11. He compares himself to T. Higgins. I'm not sure I see that.

I saw Sam Monson come to him to Roy Williams, and I thought that, man, that is perfect. But these guys look like NFL players. I don't know if it's going to work out. But as in this class where I just don't know if it's that big of a drop between like wide receiver four and some of these fun third round guys. Do you remember? Do you remember, obviously, hopefully you guys do?

You remember the Alanis Morissette song, isn't it ironic? Like, the extra verse you could add on that was like, would be about how Chris Bell goes on to be the rookie of the year and Greg's beating his chest. But isn't it ironic because he called him Chris Ball, you know? So it's like you can't really take all the credit for it, you know? You didn't even know what's name. Why did I write down Ball?

There's like, there's multiple bells. So it's a little confusing. I'll defend you, Greg. Skyler Bell. Yeah. It's easy to get those. They're very different sizes, but, yeah. But you're right, the receiver.

There's like five or six, like just big fast dudes. Stribling. One of them is probably going to be awesome. I don't know which one. That's the problem. No, it's tough. Hurst is a lot of fun. All right, we did it.

I do love Hurst. We did it. We did into the end of draft season. Thanks for not calling her Patty, by the way. I thought you might, you know, with the name situation. You got Ted right. So that's good. I mean, you're making Patty Hurst references.

A lot of names to remember. I'm catering to the 60 to 75 audience that I know is the core of your group here, Greg. You're calling mid-20s guy kids. That's it for 40s and 3-8. Thank you, Mina. Everyone watch Mina on NFL Live. Of course, check out her podcast, the Mina Kimes show featuring Lenny. And I'm looking forward to the two of you ESPNers, you know,

doing some collaborations in the future. I'll be watching it on my television. I'm just trying to get some of that sweet hot and wheels money that meaning got coming. I'm just glad we revisited our records from last year personally. You guys got to go first. I had to clean up whatever names were left. That's not fair. Come on.

We'll see you next week. We got one more before the draft. We'll see you there. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.