NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 8 Moves That Will Matter In December

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic to tell you eight things that will matter in December. First, they get you caught up on the news including Brandon Graham retiring (01:45), Myles Garrett talking about the Browns quarterback situation (07:20), and Cam Heyward sounding off on the Steelers' search for a quarterback (11:15). After the break, why the Packers not over reaching (27:05), the Chiefs signing Jaylon Moore (30:35), the Lions signing Levi Onwuzurike (33:50), the Texans trading for Christian Kirk (37:00), the Chargers signing Najee Harris (40:15), the Cardinals hiring Justin Frye (41:55), the Rams signing Poona Ford (44:34), and the Raiders trading for Geno Smith (47:00) will matter in December. Note: time codes approximate. 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. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're taking lessons from How to Retire from Brandon Graham. I'm Greg Rosenthal. I'm in the Chris Wesleyan podcast. studio. I'm here with my friend Jordan Rodrigue of the athletic and yes, Brandon Graham retired on Tuesday. And one of the last things he did in his career was talk

to NFL Daily. What a way to go. Yeah, I loved that interview too. He brought his kids. His kids answered some questions for us as well. He was emotional. He at that time was adamant that he was going to walk into the sunset at that time. And he said he probably wasn't going to change his mind. So, man, what an icon. Iconic for the franchise and for our league. It's so, it's so hard to stick a landing. You, you really appreciate players that are able to do so because it's just so rare. I was thinking of it. We were talking about Travis Kelsey and his podcast and just how brutal that loss was for him and how, how tough it. If they had won that game, maybe he does retire because he feels like he stuck the landing. And instead, he seems like not only is he haunted.

in the moment from it, but he's aware that that game is going to haunt him probably for the rest of his life, whether he wins another one or not. So you love it when a guy goes out on his own terms. That's what Brandon Graham did. We're going to go through all the news today. There's some fun stuff. And then we're going to get to a segment that Jordan came up with things that will matter in December. Matter. Things that, you know, have happened so far in this free agency period. We've done a lot of like daily news, but we haven't done a lot of looking back. So Looking back at what's happened and projecting forward, you know, some of the moves that are going to matter long term. But yeah, well, we might as well start with Graham.

We already started the conversation. He officially retired on Tuesday, and he gave an emotional press conference. Let's listen to the beginning of it. First, I just want to say thank you to everybody already. But, y'all know I gave everything I had in this. and I don't have no regrets. That's one thing I tell to me, young boys, don't have no regrets. I am thinking of how sometimes in dumb sports talk radio,

or even just among friends, like a conversation is like, well, whose career would you rather have? Like this superstar with the titles, I mean, without any titles, or this guy who was kind of a role player but beloved in his community, and to me I'd rather be the brand than Graham. an all-time eagle that stayed there the whole time has a game-ending Super Bowl moment, literally ends his career, coming back from an injury and being part of a great Super Bowl defense. I think I'd rather, I'd rather do that than the money without the championship,

because he got plenty of money either way. And he also got the championships. So, like, he gets both. I mean, he is a beloved figure in that community. I remember reading stories a couple years ago about just the work that, you know, he and his wife do in the community and how much of a figurehead, they both have been collectively that family. They are royalty there. And I think that's so wonderful. I think cities like Philadelphia, they do it, if not better than at the, highest level of treating their stars like homegrown legends, like heroes, for the right reasons for the fact that they that branded that the grams have been so invested in the community as well as contributed to this franchise given eagles fans some of the finest memories and the

ultimate highs and like i i'll never forget i mean i'm not an eagles fan i enjoy them quite a bit but watching brandon graham walk out to the 50 on the 50 to midfield for the coin toss as a team captain and his arm was just loaded up in like the biggest plastic like hard plastic race I've ever seen and knowing that he was going to go out and actually get some snaps and actually contribute. And he was just going to do it. And that's what you do. I just think, you know, it's a hard sport. It's a hard league because you don't often get to retire on your terms. You don't get that walk into the sunset moment. But it happens just enough to make people believe in that fairy tale. And sometimes the Brandon Graham's of the world, they do get that fairy tale.

Yeah. And he said in that interview with us on the field and we'll, here, just a small slice of that a little later, that he learned from the first time he lost the Super Bowl to appreciate this, but how difficult this season was, that his family was with him. So for him to get back on the field after having that injury, just a reminder in terms of player development, when Brandon Graham's first contract ended,

he had a total in five seasons, because back then, first round contracts were just five seasons. There was no fifth-year option. That's how long he has been in the league. He had 16 and a half sacks total. His first four seasons, he had 11.5 sacks total. He is a victory story of A, valuing pressure over just sacks because he did have a lot of pressure early in his career.

And also like PFF, I'm going to give them a little nod because they always had Brandon Graham ranks so high. And people were like, Brandon Graham, really? And the Eagles saw it. They kept paying him. He gets a second team all pro eventually, a comeback player of year. A couple of Pro Bowls, but ultimately like a haul. of very good guy in terms of the rest of the league,

but one of the all-time Eagles. The Eagles were also very active in terms of their moves over the last 24 hours. Lane Johnson got a big raise, which is nice. Early, you know. Right, he actually was signed for a couple more years, but this is one where he was pretty low on the tackle list. So they basically just gave him an $8.5 million raise

over the next couple of years because that's what they do, take care of their great guys. And then they also signed one of the highest players left on my top 101, Aziz Ojalari. And I guess you got to cue the soundbite here. Like, say it with me. Howie does it again. All right.

I think we did well there. Howie does it again. Just everyone's going to say it. I said did. Whoops. It's all good. I even changed it in the document. How he does it again.

And again, And again, and again, and again, pay a guy early, get a guy that's going to contribute for them. I mean, it's just, it's like the one too. He said something telling, I thought, at one of the press conferences this offseason where he said, if we're going to bring in guys, like, we want to bring in young guys. The idea of bringing in older free agents from other teams, we're not going to do that as much. Now, he did bring in a Dory Jackson, but that's on just like a one year. I think he's thinking about guys in general.

philosophy. If they're going to bring in someone bring in a guy like Ojalari who has a chance to rehab his value, who's only 25 years old, so they get another option for a situational pass rusher. One item from one of our friends that popped up over the weekend that I did want to talk about on this

show was Miles Garrett speaking to Andrew Siciliano. This is from Andrew's podcast with the Browns called the Best Available Podcast. Do you know who the quarterback's going to be? I mean, do you have an idea? After conversations, I do have an idea. Okay. Do you like the idea? I like it enough to,

to, uh, you know, be here smiling in front of you because I think we have a, a good chance of that happening and making the most out of it. Can you tell us who it is, mine? Yes. You know I can't do that. Okay, I love that because Andrew, this is a team podcast. He works, he does great work for that team. And still, he asks these questions. He gets the people what they want. And I love it. I love it because, and I texted Andrew, and I wouldn't have said his answer if he had an idea. I was like, who do you think he's talking about?

He's like, I have no idea. He doesn't know. But he asked those questions because Miles hinted at it a little bit in his press conference that he had a notion. So he thought, oh, that's interesting. That's surprising too. So he followed up. Good job by him.

It's now got a million views. on Twitter or something like that. It is also the perfect thing to say when you don't want people to think that you went back on your it's not about the money thing. Okay, that's the cynical view. That's a cynical view.

I'm just presenting, I'm just presenting thoughts here, you know, like multiple thoughts. The close up on his face, as he said, he had an idea. I did like the smirk. I like it did feel like he had an idea. And so I'll ask you,

who do you think the idea would be? I mean, you're putting me on the spot here. I don't know. Do you think they'll trade for somebody or think they'll you know, it's a podcast. We talk to each other. We ask questions about football. Yeah. I mean, you know, I, Cam, Ward, if they can get up there, like if they can get up to that, that topic, like, you know, that would be, to me, the right fit for them. That would be the only one if I was Miles Garrett that would get me excited. That, I think, is the most logical answer. Andrew said he heard from a million different people in terms of fans and stuff who all had

their own theories and really believed in it. Like, they really believed it was Cam Ward. That one actually does make sense. If you're Miles Garrett and you're like, we're going to make an effort to trade up, trade up to one. Kirk Cousins, I think would be the next most logical because of the same reasons why he's been connected to the Browns, this offseason, Stifansky, the history there. Would that make Miles Garrett smirk and be happy?

Maybe, maybe, you know, players recognize other players who are good. And maybe he's like, okay, Kirk Cousins actually is a legitimate quarterback. I would be excited about that. Yeah. In that offense, though, if that Cubiac, the more Cubiac side of the Shanahan Cubiac tree, unless Kirk Cousins can actually move in a play action or a boot action, like, there's actually not much to be excited about there. So, yeah, I think that that would be the caveat here if it's Kirk Cousins.

Like, you got to move in that system a little bit. You got to not just be hurt all year. Your cynical answer. feeling cynical today. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm normally so, so joyous. Well, it's shaking me because I actually now think that's the most logical answer. How could he even know? But maybe, but Kim Ward, that would make sense. They're only one spot away. I think it makes sense for the Browns. I don't know why I haven't thought about it that much. And the fact that there's been no Ward Brown's buzz actually makes me think it's even more

logical. It's like the vacuum effect where like they're there don't say his name. Right. Don't even think about him. And nobody will know. Because they're the closest team. Those top three teams all need a quarterback. He's going to go, I think, first overall to one of those three teams. And that'll be a fun topic for the next few months. Let's talk Cam Hayward, who has a podcast called Not Just Football, which had some of our friends on it. Mina Kimes was a guest on it.

But this was a different segment. And here is what he said. Talking about Aaron Rogers. I ain't doing that darkness, darkness treat, retreat. I don't mean any of that crap. Like, either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. That's simple. That's the pitch.

Like, if you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. You know, Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be if you don't. No, no skin on my back. We are at a funny point in the Rogers set up that there's a potential of him joining a team that he will know that they weren't his first pick. Like, if he joins the Steelers, it was like, well, actually, I wanted to join the Vikings,

but I settled for you. Like, the whole thing is a little bit awkward. Yeah, and what I appreciate what Cam Hayward is doing, who is, like, as vintage Steeler as it gets, is he's being vintage Steelers. He's got some pride. He's showing some pride here. Like, hey, man, like, we are who we are,

and I like who we are. And if you want to join us, like, be about it. Great. And if not, okay, fine. You know, I think that that's one of the things missing in some of these, like, this groveling that some of these teams have done with the Rogers cycle, a couple of cycles now is like, hey, you got to have a little backbone here. You got to say like, hey, we want you.

Yeah. But if you don't want to be here, we're not going to try to force a square peg into a round hole. And you're making us wait. So I appreciate that a player that a team is standing up a little bit. But everyone's too desperate, apparently, to set a deadline. Because quarterback matters. Because quarterbacks matter so much. And I do believe that Aaron Rogers will help a team that that position matters.

He will absolutely help a team that he joins. However, the nuance here is there are, you know, 52 other players, key players in that locker room and a bunch of coaches who are all kind of waiting around to put their plan into place and have come up with plans a minus B plus B to adjust. and, you know, you will speak up if you were a player of Kim Hayward status, and you should. The longer it goes on, the more believable it is that the Vikings are interested on some level. I don't know. I'm going back and forth with it. I believe the Vikings are interested. I do believe that. I believe they're talking about it. And I also believe that the reporting by my great colleagues over the weekend about that this is Kevin O'Connell's decision serves twofold. And this is not insight for me.

This is just my perception, looking from afar, at this entire situation, is sending a message into the sky about who is actually still in charge in that building when it comes to the quarterback. Whether or not Aaron Rogers joins, it's a subtle message to Aaron Rogers. That's great that you want to play with us. We're talking about it. This is the person with the power in the building when it comes to the quarterback. And this is the brand of this franchise. It's Kevin O'Connell. And that is making it very clear through that headline.

in my opinion of kind of hey you want to come here great this is also something you have to understand and i get that but they got to make a decision too what are you know why is it why do they need to take so long well i think it's smart to assess and analyze and talk with quacy who's killed this off season by the way i had a great off season and i think it is it's risk assessment it's risk management i think that that's the process if they are really having these conversations about it. You're going to not react emotionally. You know, you're not going to react getting the guy. You're talking through the down the road. What happens? You know, the ripple effect of such a decision, you know, you could, if everything goes well, great. If everything goes poorly,

if everything goes medium, what happens to JJ? Like, all of these different things. I feel like you could settle that in a day, though. And I get that they had other interests. They did try to keep San Arnold. They were involved. They did get into the Daniel Jones. Well, you're talking about money, too. I mean, I don't know. That's a factor too. That's a back and forth conversation. That's not necessarily just an internal conversation.

If you're thinking about, okay, how much do you want? No, we're not going to do that. Okay, go back, go back and forth. Go back and forth. Maybe he doesn't have self-service again this time. You know, like. He's in Malibu. They got plenty of self-service.

I, uh, I do think it's a, it's a, it was a life lesson. I learned when I left pro football talk in NBC to come to the NFL. was the toughest professional decision or really life decision I had had to make up until that point. And I had no regrets about it. The only thing I learned from it, which was maybe part of my own immaturity, was just once it got down to where there were no more things to figure out between the two sides, you know, be decisive because that indecision is going to maybe make both sides or make people upset in a way that's unnecessary. It's something I don't think I would have done.

Again, not that I was sitting there hemming and hauling for like months or a week or whatever, but I definitely sat with that decision. I was like, okay, that was a good lesson. Like once you have all the information, make a decision. So I would say the same to the Vikings and the Rod. Sure. But again, we're looking at it from the outside in. There could be things that they need to know more about.

There could be things that he needs to know more about. So we have to caveat that a little bit. by saying, like, we only know what we know right now. We don't, we certainly don't know the entire situation. It also, you know, means that other quarterbacks are going off the board. And they don't mind that or else they would be signing one, the Minnesota Vikings. But James Winston is out there. Like, I thought they were going to sign someone that would have been maybe a little higher tier.

And I would include James in that. But it's James. It's Flacko in theory. it's Wilson. Russell Wilson, I don't think that's a fit, but it's Carson Wentz. Like, that's what we're talking about. It's Teddy? I don't know. Is Teddy just going to play a whole?

It's not a higher level of backup. So that's interesting. That's one thing they are possibly losing in this process as time goes on. The Vikings also released Garrett Bradbury that had been reported that that was coming. The former first round pick who's played a lot of center might end up moving to guard. Patriots are reportedly interested, according to Mike Reese. signed another former first round pick, Jeff Okuda, the cornerback who's bounced around a little bit. Speaking of the draft, Ted McMillan from Arizona, did run a 40. There was

buzz that he might not run at all before the draft and like, oh, is his stock falling? He knows he's not going to run very fast and he does end up running hand timed, according to the reports there, 455, 456. When I saw that, I actually thought, okay, that's good enough. there were some talk, maybe he would be in the 4-6, 4-7 types, and that's why he wouldn't run. Like, why else would you not run? That said, it is on the slower end. Only a couple wide receivers have had that slow of 40 and gotten taken in the top 15 in the last 15 years or so.

Mike Williams, rest in peace, not the one with the Chargers, but the former Buccaneer. And Mike Evans, who obviously has had an incredible career. They were some in the 4-5-5 range. He is an interesting prospect. Daniel Jeremiah put him 22nd in his latest mock draft. So I think he's someone where, depending on who you talk to, you have very different evaluations of him. I think that going back to 2023, 31 other teams would have drafted 4.5 second, 7-second 40-time

runner Puka Nakua in the first round had the chance. So I do think that, you know, the past is one thing. and there is a very small recency, but if you were going to go back and re-weigh some of these players who have been outstanding despite a slow 40 time. Jake Lennon never ran famously, which means he probably would have been in that area.

I'm also kind of the throw out the 40 in general person, so maybe I'm not the right person to be talking about this. But I do think that if you're going to ask those 31 other teams, they'd be like, including the Rams, they'd say, well, we should have drafted this kid in the first round. Well, of course, but it's also part of the reason. Yeah, part of the reason.

He also had the injuries and everything. But yes, anyone would have taken him rounds and rounds higher. They missed him. My son got a Puka poster at the book fair. I'm like, what, they weren't any good books to buy? You just bought a poster at the book fair? You know, I miss the book fair. It's a fun thing.

You put like 30 bucks on the gift, you know, the card or whatever. I love it. You also buried the lead of that story, which is that the Rams have now surpass the Patriots in Walker's fan rankings. Yes. Yes. They're up to number two. I was like, you can't buy a poster, bro. If you say you're not even Rams fan, he's like, I am. They're number two. Okay. Did you just do your son's voice in a deeper voice? Just was my voice. One item that only I'm interested in that I just thought, I read this and I thought it would be interesting for the NFL

daily audience to hear. The story on the athletic from Andrew Marchan was about how the ESPN changed their lead director on Monday night football. They took the number two guy from Fox. That alone, I find interesting, but I wouldn't have commented. But they had a quote from ESPN, Brooke Magnus, so they're a big executive there. And he said, quote, I feel like we are not in the same conversation

with Fox and CBS relative to our overall game presentation, which is, wow. First of all, I don't even know if that's true. I think the ESPN does a great job. They obviously love their. announcers, but they're saying the overall presentation, the directing, the producing, they're not even in the same conversation with Fox and CBS. But the interesting part of that to me is like, NBC is clearly the best one. And you didn't even mention them. So are you just

not trying to give them credit? Is it just a slip up? Or is your judgment so bad that you, you know, that's just weird quote? I'd have to hear the inflection of the quote. Because if you read it a certain, a different way, it would almost sound like their, putting themselves above Fox and CBS if you read it a certain way. The context of the article would make it clear that this was a decision he made because he just thought they weren't as good and they wanted a guy. They're going to have a Super Bowl in a couple of years. My issue, I mean, this is a very selfish issue as a person who's like covering,

you know, covering a beat and needs to see like a replay like all the time. Because watching things live goes so fast, you wish you had a replay. Atlanta, by the way, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium has little replay screens in the press box. it's fantastic, really, really solid. Fox and CBS drive me freaking crazy because they do not show replays fast enough, nor sometimes do they even show them.

Now are you talking about the lead crews, or are you talking about like Teams 3? Not the lead, no. But I'm just saying, that should be standard. That should be standard. Give the people the information. There's only so many resources. So I've thought about that too.

You do get a different broadcast with Teams 4, 5, 6, you know, 3. You have way more replays on the lead crews. right which all the crews should have the same number of replays fair fair democratizing a lot of cameras anyways that made me think ranking wise uh presentation wow i'm going NBC 1 that's easy of course you rank them oh my god what no i'm doing this off the top of my head you i would have maybe gone the SPN 2 just because maybe it's Troy and joe but the overall presentation i want to get a lot of comments from from my friends in the industry on this one i might have

on Fox, ESPN, then CBS last because I don't know why. I just I guess I'm not really smart enough to make this call. Let's finish the news quickly and go take a break. Just some little nuggets before we do that. Ronald Darby who's bounced around a little bit signed with the Texans. Juan Thornhill

the former Chiefs Safety to the Steelers, the Saints signed former Ram Jonah Williams. Our buddy, Bo Wolf, he's always had a big man crush on Christian Ellis doing the rare thing where he's taking a restricted free agent visit. You don't see those too often, teamer mostly with the Patriots visiting the Raiders.

The Bow Wolf Pop. And then international player program star, Jakub Johnson, still going strong at a position that barely exists in the league many years into his career. Congratulations to him. He is back with the Houston Texans. All right, let's take a break. And on the way out, we will

listen to Brandon Graham with us at the Super Bowl. You've already celebrated one Super Bowl title. What do you learn from that that you're going to put into this celebration now? Well, you know what? The last time it was I had stood out here just so I can feel it because, you know, when you go through adversity, you don't want to run. And I'm so happy that I stuck through it

because now, I mean, now we got the green confetti coming down and it just feels so much sweeter because we knew what happened last time and we wanted to make sure that didn't happen again. 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. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else.

It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams. put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just

love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fiorio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more.

Back on NFL Daily. It's the middle of March. We're turning our attention towards the NFL draft. Started to watch some tape, as it were. Got 40s in free agents coming up next in the feet. I like that show. Thank you. So much.

One of the main things I like about that show is how DJ put you in your place sometimes. And his Gino Darnold take was outstanding, in my opinion. And I love the video of it because you could see all over your face, like he is making a great point. Please. It's more incredulity. Is that how you say that?

This is a great segment coming up. And like I mentioned, yeah, we're in March. We're going to turn our attention towards the draft soon. But I did want to kind of look back at everything that's happening, free agents, see, and you came up with this segment that is a perfect way to do that. And it's going to be looking back, but it's also going to be looking forward. What's happened over these last 10 days or so that's going to matter in December? December.

Like, I miss December on some ways it gives me like the shakes to think about, like being in the middle of the season. How many shows will you have done between now and then? Like that, just because it's so busy and everything. But also, I missed the holiday season. So these are things that are going to matter in December. Why don't you start? And to further contextualize, too, teams make free agency moves.

Teams add players to their roster for December. Yeah. Like, this is what free agency really does set up in some ways, certainly prior to the trade deadline as well, whereas the draft more sets of a long-term vision, a long-term foundation. But December, when football, becomes real. And when teams are starting to wind up to make that playoff push, these are the

moves that we think will matter, whether it's free agency, whether it's coaching. These are the things that we think will matter in December. I especially think that's true in a great point because free agency is a lot about, not just depth, but it is about depth, but it's about those mid-tier starters. It's not about your superstars. You need to draft those. In the case of the commanders, you can trade for them. But that's the exception, a Laramie Tunsel type of trade. Most of these moves have been filling spots with solid, hopefully above average starters.

Why don't you get us going? Yeah, my first one is that I like, and I think it matters in December, that the Green Bay Packers have not overreached in free agency in March. Brian Goodikins noted early in the off season that the Packers had like the cleanest slash best cap they've had in some time. They sort of made people think that maybe they'd be hyper,

aggressive in free agency, but they actually made meat and potatoes moves on players they really liked. I like that they didn't overreach or overspend on a bad free agent class. They're giving some of their young guys a little bit of air and a little room to keep growing. And we've seen when Matt LaFleure takes the strategy as a coach to let some younger players develop and grow up a little bit, then it really, really works. And I think they set themselves up to actually hit those premium positions in the draft. They signed Aaron Banks, the guard, who's a system fit out of the 49ers. I think he's a little bit underrated personally, especially when he's in the right scheme. And then corner Nate Hobbs, who as my colleague at the athletic match Schneidman wrote,

has a really powerful relationship with Richard Bessaccia. So they did the meat and potatoes thing. They still will have needs. They're going to move on from Jair Alexander. That will free up about $6 million more of cap space. They'll have close to $40 million in cap space after that release. And I think they have three picks in the top 100. I think they're going to go receiver, cornerback, and possibly edge. And I think that they like working this way. I think they're comfortable with their developmental process with their coaching staff, who has continuity. And the Aaron Banks signing, which was one of the most surprising to me, just seeing four years, 77 million for Aaron Banks. I was surprised. But then you pick under the hood. It's

27 fully guaranteed. It's a signing bonus. The Packers are old school. They do contracts the old way where they have you sign a big signing bonus. And that's it. And that's it for just in case it's a bust, they would cut him and actually save a lot of money next year. Now I don't think they will. They have a $10 million or $9.5 million roster bonus that they'll have to make a decision early in the off season, next off season. And if he's just decent, they'll have him on for another year, but then it's a year-to-year move. So once I saw that, it's a little less risky. They don't need them to be a star. They just need them to be solid. The reason why I think all of this matters, specifically for December, is through OTAs and through the summer, especially

in a post-Jyre world and a post-draft class world, you're going to see where everybody fits together on this roster. And you're going to see really what the plan is. They're taking this very ultra-patient approach where they are stockpiling this money to where, hey, let's say somebody becomes available at the trade deadline who could really help you and you're better because you've developed these young players together and you need to go out and get that person but also promise them a certain contract. You know, teams often shed players because they're in need of a contract coming up and you can promise that player said money and then you roll through November, December, like that's why I think this patience really matters for December for the

Packers. And it was very targeted two guys, two positions they really wanted to shore up. I really like the Nate Hobbs signing. But yes, if you just do the basic thing, which I did as part of this exercise, which go to NFL.com and look at the notable additions and notable departures, they don't have many additions. It's just like a couple. Whereas a lot of teams, you know, they're filling in a lot of depth and it doesn't mean the Packers won't sign guys eventually that are just true depth guys.

But they really had two targeted guys. They went after him. I'm going to go with my first thing that's going to matter in December. It's going to be the chief signing of Jalen Moore. Ooh. We just haven't talked about Jalen Moore a lot. And if you're not familiar, Jalen Moore is an American offensive tackle

who comes from this offensive line factory in San Francisco, apparently. And so I think it pairs up nicely with Banks. And he is going to be the favorite to win the AFCs left tackle, period. And I don't know how this is going to go. I actually, if I have all the time in the offseason that I want, I would love to go back and watch some of his starts. I haven't done that, so I'm not going to pretend.

Solid pass block ratings, almost every start until the last one. Actually, against the Rams, I think he struggled with the 49ers. But obviously, the Chiefs really liked his tape. They gave him more guaranteed money, let's say, than Aaron Banks got. He got over $20 million guaranteed for a guy that's barely started in the NFL. Played 500 snaps the last two years combined, and that's all the experience that is. but they picked a guy who they decided was their number two choice behind Ronnie Stanley to be Patrick Mahomes' left tackle.

That is a big-time bet. They're also moving very specifically. Their second round pick from a year ago, Sua Matea, two left guard. So that is a brand new left side of the line. And when I looked at all these moves, like this actually feels like the one that might be the one that tips the scales for a team, whether they're going to contend for a title, whether they're going to repeat as 15 and 2 type of team or whether they struggle.

The Jalen Moore signing, I don't know how it's got to go, but I think it's going to matter. It will absolutely matter. I think that's a great pick, Greg, because it could be either or in this case. We'll know by December whether it will actually help lift them into maybe not winning by such narrow margins that are statistically improbable year over year. What I also think is that you really have to show your work early if you're the chiefs with this new left side because teams will smell blood in the the water at this point. They saw how hassled Pat Mahomes was, was how much shuffling they had to do along that offensive line, playing one of their best linemen out of position where he struggled. And I think that this is absolutely going to matter because the chiefs always matter this,

that time of year. They're always a threat that time of year. And if this works, it could really, really work. I also think that they're going to continue to restock in the draft. There might be some troubleshooting going on with some of their talent identification processes because their last couple guys have just not worked out, the left tackle spot especially. And so I think that that's going to be something to look at as well internally. Well, they better get this right. Yeah. If I had wanted to be a little more negative, I could have said it mattered. The core players that they lost. They're among the teams, I think, that lost the most amount of important players. Tuny, Justin Reed, Trevelle Wharton,

Derek Nottie, just signed with the Jets, solid player. A Menahue is still a free agent. Wouldn't be surprised if they bring him back. But I wanted to be a little more positive. I'm going to trust their system and their evaluation. Overall, they've done pretty well in the offense flight.

All right, give me another one. I think it will matter in December that the Lions re-signed Levi-on-Uzerike to a one-year, five-and-a-half million-dollar deal. The reason I think it will matter specifically in December is because we don't know how long. Aiden Hutchinson's return not just to play, but return to performance. So his actual level of play, we don't know how long it will take. If it does take into the season by around that time,

it's going to really be a factor that a dynamic and ascending young defensive lineman, who has not really been able to put it fully together since he was drafted, but really showed some positive flashes last season and was moved all over in their D-line chaos because of all the injuries that they had, um, that he and Aiden Hutchinson have this rapport and this tandem as someone on the inside who can disrupt and call attention and somebody who can free up Aiden Hutchinson's to cook the way we know he can and, and vice versa. And I also think that it's interesting because he, this is a potential signing. This is like a prove it deal that the lions have done with on Ruzareke. Um, the one and a half sacks last season are a false flag in my

opinion because he had a 9.7% pressure rate, which was higher than both to Sean Wharton and and Javan Kinla, both of whom got paid much more than he did. So this is sort of a prove-it deal where they clearly want to see what this pairing is going to look like by December, we'll know. Right. And they've seen the process that UNWuzureke has gone through to get healthy. They've had him in the building, the improvement that he's made. I think he's one of Dan Campbell's guy. That's a good shout-out. And yet, they would have been a logical team to me for an Ozilari. Or... I agree. I think they're going to, they set themselves up to draft. Right. I agree with that, but they really don't have any edge players. Like true edge,

like speed around the edge other than Hutchinson. I mean, they have Marcus Davenport. I guess that's similar where you're just hoping he can stay healthy and that's a high ceiling. But it's a very thin position. And there were a lot of guys out there. And I don't really see anyone out there. Like the first 15 names I wrote down, I'm looking at my initial like position list for edges. They're all gone from free agency, which is crazy that they do not last. If the Brad Holmes lines look at the defensive line anyway like the brad holmes rams looked at the defensive line it's all a big mathematical equation right which is why i think they've cleared the runway by by making this signing for just one year and low stake signing that could be very very high upside um i think that they

are looking at this mathematically and like okay we have cleared the path now to plug in a like twitchy traits guy a speed rush guy that we can identify in the draft we don't have to worry about you know a plus B in Levi and Aiden Hutchinson because they understand if at their at their apex how those traits would complement each other into that equation. They're only looking for C now. And they're huge. I mean, they have DJ Reader coming back. They have a Liam McNeil. They sign Roy Lopez, who's an interior guy. They have a lot of bulk. And I can almost hear the Lions fans saying, what about Josh Pascal? He was a second round pick. He hasn't really done much. But I'm thinking like a bend the edge edge guy. They definitely need that. But that's a good shout out. They love to

have tons of different types of guys. They have a lot of dude. up front hoping that it works. I'm going to go with a guy at a position for the Houston Texans where they don't have a lot of dudes. And that's wide receiver Christian Kirk. Not only did they free up some cap space by when they brought him in, they actually used him as a bank immediately. And I think that was part of the strategy. They immediately converted his entire salary to a signing bonus. They did decide, I'm not going to extend you. We're not betting on you long term. But yeah, like we're going to take your $13 million base salary and like turn that into cap space right away. So that's a nice little bonus.

I love when players arrive. I love when this happens when players arrive on the roster and like the player wins because he gets a lot of money immediately. But like it's almost like a laundering operation on the backside of the contract. It is weird. Surprised the saints don't do more of this. Yeah, you bring in a player specifically to open up cap space. But he's on a one year deal. He's the number two right now for them. Is he best used as a true two? Probably not. I think they need another receiver there, and it wouldn't surprise me if they either bring in another veteran or invest in that position in the draft. They've been connected a lot of mock drafts to Mika Buka from Ohio State. So they could add a young player there to me, he's more of a three, a two slash

three, but either way, they needed someone that really contributes. And for this exercise, I tended to go towards the better teams because the better teams, they matter in December. And they're going to need Christian Kirk to matter. And I'm curious how you think. and I'm putting you on the spot again, how he fits into a Nick Cayley type of offense, Christian Kirk. Well, I'm curious with Nick Cayley. I'm curious how much Patriots he's going to be, how much get the ball out super fast

and worry maybe less about the status of the players up front and more about, you know, technical ed's execution and also getting the ball out very fast to help alleviate some of that. And I think that get open fast, get open quickly, receivers will thrive if that's the direction they go in. I'm curious about how much Rams influence is going to be with Nick Cayley with this offense. You know, I don't necessarily see that he's going to have like the blocking help

that maybe the Rams have prioritized in their receivers for the last, you know, especially some of the guys coming back from injuries, the physicality, the size. No, Christian Kirk's not that guy. he's tall but also the other the other guys coming back for you know coming back from injuries and all of that like and and you know a little bit more diminutive size difference there I just don't know that sort of tells me he's going to gravitate a little bit more toward Patriots which means to me Christian Kirk will be a nice fit because get open fast and a slot guy who can stretch the field which I think is a nice compliment with Nico Collins where they're both

versatile I just think he's really important of all the guys that changed teams in the last month to me he was a little under the radar is just going to be a really important figure for them and both sides, kind of like the Stefan Diggs deal a year ago, really should be motivated to bring the best out of each other. The difference with Kirk is, he's still young. He's a 28-year-old

player, so I know he's had some injuries but he should be fully recovered. That's going to be a good one. Let's go to your third. My third is the Chargers adding Najee Harris will matter in December. Oh! I love this

signing for the Chargers. He is is mentally and physically tough with some blocking. He can really wear on a defense. He is physical. He is powerful. He does not miss time due to injuries. He's not missed one game to injury in his career to date, despite his physical running styles for consecutive 1,000 plus rushing yards seasons.

And we know Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. And last year we were like, okay, we get it. It's cute. We, we see the vision, the execution, production is not quite there. a running back cannot like magically by himself heal an offense and offensive line. But I think this is where you see the projection of focus going and like, okay, let's really make this what we believe that it should have been, that it can be.

And I think Jim Harbaugh will especially want to run the ball in December and January if the Chargers get into the postseason again. And they're also going to be on the road and outside twice in tough environments, possibly very cold depending on the timing in their own division. So I think that this is going to matter in December, Najee Harris being on the, on the roster. I agree. He will be the centerpiece of a few late season Thursday night or Monday night games. They don't always give the charges Sunday night, but maybe if it's the chiefs. Yeah.

I can see that. And you add Mackay Beckton. You might be moving Zion Johnson to center. I think they'll do a little more work there, but they're trying to improve the running game in multiple ways. I'm going to go with a coaching hire. Oh. Justin Frye. Offensive line coach. This is going to matter. He was obviously the offensive line coach for the national champion Ohio State

Buckeyes, and they had a ton of injuries and people thought he coached them up. Well, he coached Paris Campbell at Ohio State, who is now the entrenched left tackle of the Arizona Cardinals. So there's a relationship there. He was with Chip. You know, he's been with some NFL types, obviously at Ohio. Ohio State. And to me, the fact that they lost Clayton Adams. And so this is a combination. I think both these things will matter. I don't know how I'm just dorking out here.

That this working is really important for the Cardinals because here's what the Cardinals haven't done this offseason. Add anyone to their offense. And they didn't need to on some level because they had incredible continuity. Here's also what they haven't done. Like lose anyone that really mattered to them on their offense. It's the same group back. But you did lose a guy that very highly thought of in Clayton Adams, who was kind of the run game coordinator and the offensive line coach. And now you bring in a different guy

and their running game is going to be so central to what they do. Nick Shook is always talking about it. And so it's another one where I don't know how it's going to go, but to me it really, really matters. And it obviously matters for the Cowboys as well because you're trusting that vision, Clayton Adams going over there while you downgrade at running back with Giovante Williams and Miles Sanders

probably had someone in the draft, like no wide receiver too. So it's two spots. Offensive line coach carousel. It matters. The ripple effect. Yes. Huge.

Yeah, I agree. He has a great reputation too. He does. Josh Simmons, I believe, was just out there last month at the combine talking about, like, what a huge impact that Justin Fry has had on his career saying he's extremely technically gifted, extremely technically aware and really gives them their mechanics. We're getting deep here. It's in March.

We're talking offensive line coaches. You said Justin Fry, and I did a quick Google, I will say. I did a quick Google search. It looks, you know, he, that came up. So I was like, I'm like going on the fly here with the Justin Fry take. I mean, you don't need to have a major take. I just, it's just something to watch. Just their running game.

It does matter. I was, I think I thought about it because I just looked how, man, they have the most continuity. They have the least amount of change except for that, that one position. And the running game is so important to what they do with Kyler. It's a big year. Also, I like that the. Bears and Ben Johnson interviewed him. I know they didn't end up hiring him,

but I just think, like, he, you know, he's clearly got a good reputation among these forward-thinking coaches. All right, wrap it up. Let's get out of here. Yes. Okay. So I, this is going to be the first time I've really talked about the Los Angeles Rams this off season.

I know that there's a small percentage of our listeners that get very annoyed when I do talk about the Los Angeles Rams. But I think they're going to matter in December and January. And I think all of the moves they've made in free agency so far, starting with getting Matthew Stafford back for at least another year, set off their A-plus plan of really, actually, they're going to make a run this year. Like, I could say that definitively. They are going to try to go for a Super Bowl this season. And of all their signings and the flashy ones and the important ones and the ones that make a lot of sense, Puna Ford. Signing with the Rams is what is going to matter the most in December.

Last year, the Rams were among the worst teams in the NFL in defending the run throughout the year, starting with the season opening loss to Detroit and Ben Johnson, who ran it down their throat in overtime, didn't even give Matthew Stafford a chance to touch the ball. After the Eagles put up 300 single game rushing yards on the Rams in one game at the end of November. In December, the Rams allowed nearly an average of nearly 100 rushing yards per game. In the playoffs, they allowed 106 and 285. rushing yards, respectively. Puna Ford is one of the NFL's best run defenders last season in a defense that does like to schematically play their fronts similarly to how the Rams like to play their friends, keep the safeties back deep. The second, the Rams were able to keep Matthew Stafford. Puna Ford became one of their priorities to get in the building to sign. Puna Ford and Devante Adams were their priority free agent targets. And he was signed to get in the way and stay in the way and carry this young ascending defensive line into their pass rush plan on the early downs and into December and January. I love the glow up for Puna Ford after last year making,

I think, just a million or two from the Chargers to get a nice raise. Always been kind of a hipster favorite among the film watching community. And now he's a Rams favorite. I love that. Nose tackles, they're kind of back. I don't know why I said that's so weird. They are so back. Like two gaping guy in these systems where you don't want to have a lot of guys up from. Yeah, they're making it happen. And then I didn't have a great. They're making it gaping.

Oh, wow. Um, I was, like looking for my fourth one, it was a stretch. It was a stretch. I didn't think it was that interesting. Some of the ones I was coming up, it was like, Jets defense lost some people. It was like the Colts offensive line lost to people. And then I thought, like, let's be real. What actually mattered in terms of all these transatlanticians?

actions more than any other. You're talking the Rams. I'm talking Gino. I'll be quick about it. But just the Raiders are a relevant team again. They will be a relevant team in December. I'll at least say that, that they're going to be relevant and watchable. The Raiders, in their long history, have never been more boring than they were in

2024. They were forgettable. That's the last thing you want out of the Raiders. If nothing else, Pete Carroll and having a legitimate starting quarterback is going to make them watchable, make them earning those national windows. games that they always get regardless if they're good or not. And I think they're at least going to be in the mix. So that that is a franchise changing move to bring in a quarterback to go with your new head coach. So of course that's a way. I agree. I've been kind of given the Raiders some praise since

they hired John Spitech who went about making Stephen very, very happy. Yes. Your personal trainer, who apparently you have. Got in an extra day on Monday. Had some free time. Nice. Shred, Greg. Shred. I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm, grinding film and lifting weights. I've been, uh, I've been, uh, it's been a slow recovery. It's been a rough month. Not a lot of shredding going on. I just love it. You could see the, the presence when John Spitech and Pete Carroll walked into that little

section of, uh, set of, uh, film and TV sets in Indianapolis, in the silver and black. There was this presence there, both of them together. They had this like gravitas, this like, oh, yeah, we know ball. Right. They matter. They matter. They'll be fun. I think.

And Gino, I think, and I had to convince you on this, by the way. I was texting you about this when I was like, I love this for Gino. I love this for Gino. I love that he's going to get paid. I love that he's going to a team that I think is closer than a lot of other people think to actually competing because they will, it's almost like P. Carroll will like, will it to be so. I hope so. On paper, the depth chart still has some issues on both sides of the ball.

Sure. But football's not played that way. It's March. Year after year, we think one thing, and I'm with you, when I thought matter, like the Raiders matter again, they got a quarterback, they got a coach. Let's get out of here. We will be back. If you have this feed, you're going to get 40s and free agents next on your feed. We'll be talking with Daniel and Jeremiah about mock draft. We've got an NFL daily coming up later this week. Thank you, Jordan. You're so welcome. Hey, you know what? We'll matter in December?

What? Our friendship. Yes, that is back. You know who else is back? Nose tackles. When nose tackles, are back, football is back. 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.

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