NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Day 1 Combine Standouts and Players to Watch with Nate Tice and Nick Shook

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Nick Shook to give you their standouts from Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine. Gregg and Nick talk about players like CJ West (02:25), Shemar Stewart (05:10), James Pearce Jr. (10:00), Jihaad Campbell (15:35) and more! Plus, the guys give you the latest update on Matthew Stafford's future with the Rams (21:05). After the break, Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice joins the show to talk about players to watch as the NFL Combine rolls on through the weekend starting with the tight ends (32:30), followed by the defensive backs (38:45), the wide receivers (42:00) and running backs (50:20).  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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've got a little Thursday night football from Lucas Oil Stadium. Yeah, the game wasn't played, but we had football players doing things that matter for the NFL. Yes, it feels like we're back on a night recap. I got Nick Shook, who was in the stadium the whole day, and he's made it back to his hotel room where he's broadcasting from a tiny microphone that we ordered on Amazon 24 hours ago so he could join us.

Thank you, Nick Shook. Thank you for getting that sent here. poorly lit in this hotel room, but we're making it happen. Yeah, I'm really excited. Let's just recap this day. Later in the show, also I'm going to play a conversation I had with Nate Tice looking ahead to the next three days who we're kind of looking at throughout the rest of the combine.

But, you know, we've already got results to talk about Shuggan. By the way, like, what is it like there in the stadium? Like, what are you like a stopwatch guy? What are you doing there for seven hours? I'm not a stopwatch guy. I go off the official results. I sit up in the suite. What I really do is watch the drills

and take notes on every rep of every player because it allows me to filter through and then some guys pop over time. You know, Tristan Werf's pops over time. Cam Juergens pops just visually with the eye test being there and seeing all the reps. And I'm taking notes and I'm putting together the All Combine team.

And if you go back in history, I've nailed some guys that people weren't paying attention to. So check it out when it comes out next week. Yeah, I love All Combine Team is one of the best pieces. of content we do on nfl.com all year one of one of the signature shook pieces well then you should get going i mean it'd be silly if i did uh let's hear like give me a standout to start with all right so tonight was defensive linemen edge rushers and linebackers and i felt as many have said about this

draft class the depth is in the defensive line and specifically the defensive tackle we didn't get a lot of the guys that you've heard their names because they weren't participating you had the two guys from Michigan. You had Walter Nolan from Ole Miss. None of those guys participated. So we had to find some other guys. And we found some other guys. My honorable mentions list for this group is like nine players long because I had a really hard time choosing between them. But the two guys I chose that we'll end up on the All Combine team. Number one, CJ West from Indiana, who had a really good testing session. He ran a 49540 with a 1.73 second 10 yard split, which is very good at 316 pounds. He jumped 33 inches. The guy's kind of an athletic freak.

And then he ran through his drills and just looked powerful within his framework. He was controlled. He was strong. I really liked what I saw. And I could see him making a difference at the next level. The other guy in that group, Tylic Williams from Ohio State, which as somebody who follows Ohio State passionately is a lifelong Ohio State fan. I knew that he was going to come here and make a difference. I just needed it to be proven to me.

And he did it in every single drill. He had the best workout, I think, of any interior defensive lineman out there. Just every rep of every drill. You just saw it over and over again. And eventually my notes, they go from like, great rep, fantastic rep, you know, this is why it was good, that type of thing as I'm typing them along. I get halfway through and I'm like, God, Tileaks the real deal. This is exactly what I saw from him in college and he's crushing it. I think he did a fantastic job tonight.

Yeah, you mentioned with West there, he was only the eighth or ninth player ever at his weight to run that fast of 40 under five seconds. And this is why I love having you there. You're in the stadium because, you know, you could do the relative athletic scores and we will talk about that. That's all really important. That's what the combine's all about. But you're watching all the drills. I really like that. Where do you think these two guys, if they help themselves, might fit in?

Because you're right. A lot of the biggest names, it was kind of a story at every position didn't work out today. You know, Darius Alexander did at the defensive tackle position, had a fast 10-yard split. Don't think he hurt himself at all today. He had a solid day. where do you think these two guys might fit in? Yeah, that's usually where I struggle because, you know, the draft is kind of a crap shoot.

But I think about teams that need help stopping the run and need help in the interior. And one of the first teams that came to mind, even if you look at their roster-wise, they do have a lot of pending free agents, is the Bengals because they got a lot weaker up front there with the losses that they had last off season. Like round-wise, what do you think, too?

I think, Tiley, I think Lance had him going as high as 31st. A lot of people had him in the second round. I could see him sneaking into the back end of the first round. There are going to be a lot of interior linemen that go in front of him, the guys I just mentioned before, so it might be kind of hard to crack that. But if anything, he's a day two guy. West is the one where I'm going to have a hard time

putting my finger on because he played at Kent State prior to Indiana, go flashes, alma mater, baby. But at the same time, I think that there could be a little bit of skepticism, even though he tested really well today. So I think he's around two, three guy at the top. He's not around one guy and could end up being later. But I really liked his workout. Yeah, I was texting with someone about him.

and they said he's a classic, okay, let's go back and watch a little more tape after this. He grabbed our attention. All right, we've already spent four minutes and we haven't gotten to Shamar Stewart. I know you started like the way that the day actually started with defensive tackles, but to me, this is one of those,

Shamar Stewart blew up the combine. One of those combined performances from top to bottom, the Texas A&M project. 6-5, 267 pounds. He goes absolutely crazy in terms of his 10-yard split. His vertical leap goes 40 inches, 131 for the broad jumps. Yeah.

You line it all up, and he basically had Miles Garrett's workout. I mentioned the relative athletic score, which is something that's out there that they do great work. Math bomb on Blue Sky, check them out. of 1, 1,800 and 2 defensive ends to work out at the combine since 1987. He came in third. I think it was Mario Williams and Miles Garrett that are the top, too. So that says a lot. What was like seeing that in person, what do you think about him also as a player

after you talk about the workout? Well, that's the funny thing is that a lot of the testing is done off to the side while the other drills are going on. So you might catch avert, but you don't, your focus isn't on it, unless you just happen to look up and see it out there in the distance or you hear the crowd pop, you see the 40. And in the stadium, it's quiet when they're running the 40s. And every once in a while somebody rips off a time that makes everybody go ooh and I.

And he was one of them. But the downside is, is he doesn't do the drills. So it just ends right there. And you're left wondering, okay. And that's really, the combine process for me, obviously you have your measurables. And that helps you compare to past prospects and project how well they could play at the next level. But for me, I need to marry that with the drills. And so when I don't see a guy on the field doing the drills, it feels like an incomplete review.

Testing off the charts, matching historically, sounds like he's got a significant potential. But now you have to go back and look at the tape because you didn't see the drills, right? Of course, everybody's going to go back. And the tape, the tape wasn't good. I mean, he has four and a half sacks. Depending on who you talk to, you can see the promise there. But he definitely didn't show the sort of explosion. And it's the type of draft prospect that we end up talking a lot about.

So this will be our first Samar Stewart conversation. Again, 158, 10-yard split, which is just outrageous at his size. It's crazy in a 45-940. Four and a half sacks doesn't tell the whole story, talking to more people. Like, the tape isn't great. He looks like a guy who just doesn't know really how to play football yet. And there's been guys like this. Rashon Gary is one.

Obviously, Trevon Walker a couple years ago, is in that category. But the ones I've spoken to and people that I trust to, his tape's rougher, that he has even more to go. So it is going to be an incredible projection. But Jeremiah had him in his top 25 coming into this week. I think he was 21st. That's already expecting him to test well.

But now, you know, you got Bugger McFarland saying he might go number one overall and people thinking, okay, this might get him into the top 10. So he'll be a fascinating conversation. where he's just crazy athletic, which you saw today, but the tape doesn't really match up. Can you be patient enough? I don't know if you have a gut feeling on him off the bat or you got to wait.

Well, I mean, if you want to comp with the Mario Williams career, Mario Williams was the shocking pick that went ahead of Reggie Bush when everybody thought Reggie Bush was a slam dunk in that draft. And over the course of his career, he had a solid career, but he never quite lived up to the initial expectation that comes with being a number one overall pick. It's hard to hold another player to that standard of that expectation. and I also think that the situation.

And the situation at Texas A&M, it's hard to evaluate because they had so much turnover. He ends his career with Mike Elko as the head coach. Prior was Jimbo Fisher. It was a program that had just across the board not lived up to expectation. They put together legendary recruiting classes

and did not produce. So I don't want to hold that much against him. Having said that, spending a top five pick on a player with that potential athletically, but the lack of proof on tape is a massive risk. So it's going to take somebody

with the big stones to go up there or do that if they feel that confidently about him. This is also why we have pro days and everything else. So the process is not done. Yeah, tonight we'll just focus on the combine stuff. Although I will say if Mario Williams went seventh, that was a good pick. He had a good career. Yeah.

He was a good player. Just first in that draft. He just was just a bold number one overall pick. For instance, he's, Trouon Walker is not on pace to have as good a career nearly as Mario Williams. And when compared to Dayton Hutchinson, it wasn't a great pick. Give me another standout. All right, so we're going to go away from the defensive interior since we already did that.

We'll go to Edge. Interesting group because a lot of different archetypes. James Pierce laid it down with a 4-4-740. That immediately grabbed the attention, 156 split. And that's kind of what put him on everybody's radar. A little uneven in the drills, I will say. Started well, handled the bag drill well, wave drill not as good. You get into some of the later stuff, and you're like, okay, I can see it.

I can see it as a guy who is going to be an edge rusher who has the athleticism to drop back in coverage occasionally. If you're going to disguise blitzes, that type of thing, send a sim pressure, that sort of thing. But when it came to athleticism and body control, he passed the flying colors, in my opinion. He looked like the guy that, you know, fits in there. The comp is going to be hard because he doesn't quite fit body-wise to some of the guys that, like, a lot of people are probably going to compare it to Brian Burns. He's not quite as long as him, but if you're looking for a similar archetype, I guess that's your fit. bit. But he's somebody who definitely stood out to me. He'll end up on the team as well. And then Landon Jackson, who's a lot different, but the tape, really, I love the tape, his

physicality, the way he's able to. From Arkansas. Yes, from Arkansas, who he's able to play through blocks and make tackles, that type of thing. I thought he crushed it. Athleticism on full display, fluid, smooth in motion, just look like a natural in a lot of these drills. I'm really excited to see what happens with his career just because he's somebody who got on my radar with his drills tonight. And I would love to see if he lands in the right spot, if he could make a difference. Well, it's funny because the drills more correlate to the football. And Pierce is similar, I think, to Shamar Stewart.

And I think there's a lot of guys in this draft where a lot of mock draft love, a lot of good measurable stuff, not necessarily great tape. You hear some frustration from Pierce that you're expecting this explosiveness, and it doesn't totally show up on tape. His vertical actually was bad. It was 31 inch, like it was straight up bad. So that's interesting because most of the other numbers, and you said the drills look good too, most of the other numbers were great and he was still on the higher end of the relative athletic score, but not as crazy, complete an athlete as Landon Jackson, for instance. And not as complete a workout on the field either. Really? Okay. And yeah, the vertical for Landon

Jackson actually was even higher than Shamar Stewart. He went 40. and a half inches, which is just crazy for a guy that big, kind of seen as like a second round type of pick, but helped himself today. Give me someone else that you liked out there today. All right. We'll move to linebackers. Actually, you know what? We'll stay on edge real quick because there was a guy who almost made my team, and I ended

putting him in honorable mentions. David Walker from Central Arkansas. Okay. Central Arkansas. So this guy, lower ceiling in terms of pure physical ability and potential, like you can see the limitations and why he ended up at a central Arkansas instead of like a major. you know power for school but at the same time he went through every drill with polish of a guy who's played a lot of football and understands his body and how to use it it wasn't until like his last

rep that he even made a mistake every other drill prior was just like a fundamentally sound very controlled rep where i just kept writing in my notes as i went through the list i was like god there's another good ref of him god there's another good rep of him like he's like i said lower ceiling player uh in terms of physical potential but just was so sound that he he landed on my radar i had a ton of Honorable mentions with this group as well. I thought Jordan Birch from Oregon had a pretty good day. Jack Sawyer, for the most part, had a very good day. You can tell very much that he is the edge guy that he played at Ohio State.

One note on him, though, he was in the third percentile for his arm length, which it's like it's arm length, but I forget who the other comps were, but they only found like two players that even had reasonable NFL careers with that short arm. So that's, it's funny, and it's a theme of this draft, if you're just starting to catch up, and I'm including myself in that. There are so many different opinions on all these guys. Jack Sawyer is a guy who some people have close to the first round. Other people will think he's a day three prospect.

I wouldn't spend a first round pick on him. Right. No, but I'm saying like some people think like he's barely draftable. I think some of these guys were talking about Pierce, Shamar Stewart. There's going to be huge ranges of guys. Before we leave the lineman, I did want to mention Donovan, Ezraku, of Boston College. because I think he was a guy that came in, people wondering how the athleticism would be, because his tape is quite good.

And he really seemed to check off boxes was in the 80th percentile for relative athletic score. And so he's someone where it's like, maybe there's questions because the tape is good. And he showed that he's a good enough. His drills were good, too. He was in my honorable mentions. I wanted to fit him in there as well. It wasn't 100% consistent, but you could see it. That's great.

And Derek Harmon, the interior guy from Oregon, only ran the 40, kind of a borderline first rounder. but he did run the 40 fast. And then Princeley, Um, man. What do you think about him? Um, there, him and Harmon actually had similar workouts when it came to the drills because there were reps where you're like, oh, it's there. Like, I totally see it there, but it was just inconsistent.

It was sloppy reps here and there. It was stumbles. It was just a lack of like control in some of these situations that you want to see in these on-field drills. So I left a little bit of uneven feeling about both of them. But I see the upside, especially with Princeley, when it comes to the physical traits. Yeah, he looked like a little. little stiff, but a big vertical, a big broad, and a guy who looks like he could be a real

pass rusher, like a situational. I mean, he's got some juice on tape, and so I was curious how he would do. All right, let's get to the linebackers. I think I know where you're going with at least one of your off-ball linebackers. Yeah, it's a weird group. You know, looking back last year, we had Edge Cooper in that group, and like, he was one of those guys that you compare it with the tape and you could see it in the workout where I was like, he's going to make a difference. And he did. That guy didn't really exist in this group. The best guy I found was Jehad Campbell from, Jehad Campbell from Alabama.

I thought, you know, he ran a 452, 107 broad jump. And he lived up to the reputation of guys who rely on speed athleticism to make their plays. He also was a guy who played different spots because Alabama was so deep at edge with guys like Dallas Turner. So he's got experience doing both, which is interesting. to me because I think it's valuable as we see the edge defender kind of morph into this ambiguous do both things type of role and how he could fit into teams that might need to address both positions because he looked really good in coverage he had soft hands he looked like a natural back there but he's also a guy who has experienced you know playing

edge in fact he stuck around after everybody was done and did an extra bag drill as an edge rusher just to kind of show the scouts look I'm capable of this as well so he had the best workout of that group but a lot of these linebackers were really hard to separate I felt like I was watching a lot of the same reps from a lot of these guys. Okay, but that's why we got shook in the building to tell us Gihad Campbell's staying late and he's doing the edge rush. From my vantage point on the couch watching on TV, I thought he had a great day. And because maybe it's a position where he's so clearly the best off ball linebacker,

I mean, his athletic numbers were pretty crazy for his weight to run a 452 and all the other athletic testing. scores were 85, 90%, and he has really good tape. Man, I know teams don't want to draft three-down linebackers too early. So he's a first-round pick. We'll see how high he goes. But the fact that he's so clearly the best that his position this year probably is going to help him.

And so to me, he felt like one of the biggest winners from my advantage. Because I have to do team fits and stuff with this. And the first team I thought about was the Browns because they don't, they may not have JOK again based on his neck issue. And if you need a guy who can kind of be a rusher, but also is ranging and athletic to cover a lot of space like JOK has done for the Browns, that's like the perfect fit. It's just that where they're picking and what they need, he's not going to be there. DJ's got him as his 12th best prospect in top 50 right now. And I totally saw why.

Okay. I love that. LSU's Braden Swinson, by the way, in Edrisher. I just thought, I like the way he was moving around. I mean, I'm no scout, but I think he landed in some of my notes. It's funny because, like, a lot of these guys, it's kind of varying on notes. And then Campbell was, like, halfway through, I was like, okay, he's definitely making the team. Like, he's definitely going to be on the list.

Now I need to figure out the rest of these guys. And a lot of them, like Swinton, like I have one here where he's like decent rep, drop ball. There was another player out there, last name, Scowarton, who was going like a million miles an hour, just completely out of control in a couple of the drills and had to kind of tone it down. But it's funny because some of those guys were just kind of up and down. It was a little bit hard to separate a lot of this group. Okay, so there's a bunch of the winners. We don't need to do losers from the combine.

I guess the combine slightly was a loser because of all these guys who, who are now not testing. You know, some had injuries, some just said it was a personal decision. Jalen Walker, for instance, who's looking like he could be anywhere from pick two to, you know, he could be top 10, more of an edge rusher,

but also would have worked out with the offball linebackers. Like he didn't work out, Mike Green, Michael Williams from Georgia. A lot of high potential picks did not work out. And then I guess Abdul Carter kind of, you know, a downside the last 24 hours, we find out that he's got a stress reaction. And his agent Drew Rosenhouse says he's not planning to undergo surgery that he will work out at his pro day. And Rosenhouse even said, I'm confident he's going to go number one. I'm like, wow, how is this, these meetings

going with the Titans? I don't know. Because he was the odds on favor to go number one, but it's just a little, not what you want, obviously, during Combine Week for the potential number one overall. Yeah. And you know, the stress reaction in the foot that concerns me, I think about like past players who dealt with foot issues. I think about like Sammy Watkins and his foot issues. Like it's something that I feel like you want to get taken care of now as opposed to, you know, letting it, all right, well, we're just going to move on without it. It's not causing me any pain. Well, what if it gets worse? And then that causes concern with teams and your draft stock falls. Yeah, you want to do that pro day. That's the thing is he wants to, he wants to put up some big

numbers. Especially because he's coming off that shoulder injury that was plaguing him throughout the play out. Yeah. And then maybe you maybe you get it after that. But that, That's just something we'll be tracking throughout the process. Drew Rosenhouse, by the way, big winner on NFL daily because he stopped me outside of St. Elmo's and said he appreciated the 101 list. And so that's going to stick with me. Look at that. Feather and Greg's cap.

There we go. Before we go, just a couple little, not even little. Usually we'd be leading the show with this. A couple items from the rest of the league. The chiefs plan to use the franchise tag on Trey Smith. that was according to Ian Rappaport. I am curious. You know, they did tag and trade

with Jerry's Sneed last year. So, Greg, it's possible. Give me my flowers. We did it on the tag primer. I told you, they got to tag him. They can't let him leave. Yeah, you know, there's differing opinions, and you are right.

And so far. Tray Smith, number two on my top 101. He will not make it to free agency. Neither will T. Higgins, who's number one. That's usually how these things go. And then, look, Matthew Stafford. I'd put him number one if he was a, if he was just a free agent. That's how much quarterbacks matter.

A lot going on in the Stafford world. Dueling reports, since we've last taped, Ian Rappaport put it out there, following up on a report. It was originally from Jordan Schultz that Tom Brady, the owner, minority owner of the Raiders, met with Stafford at this Montana ski resort. Some disagreement, which was hashed out at a Starbucks.

you guys probably know about. I mean, we're team rap sheet here. Team rap sheet all the way. Yeah, we are. You know, who was it? Danny O'Neill put out the nickname for Schultz, Air Jordan, but E-R-R, just based on the reporting. Hated the reporting from that man during the Deshaun Watson whole thing.

Just a lot of rough stuff. But anyways, either way, these guys are. meeting. The Raiders are really pushing. I thought it was interesting. Vic Taffer from the Athletic also said the Raiders aren't interested in Darnold at all, which might inform how interested they are in Stafford. So this thing is moving forward to the point where you're like, wow, like something's going to happen. But at the 11th hour here, we hear from Rapshie and a couple other places, too, with similar, and Pete Schrager, too, with a similar reporting that McVeigh and Stafford have talked over the last 24 hours, and don't count out the Rams from getting this done and maybe the leverage of it all

and maybe they meet in the middle. To me, it feels, Nick, and I'll end my long rant here, that it's Raiders or Rams, I'd be kind of stunned if the Giants end up getting this thing done. And it's kind of going to be up to Stafford on some level, right? Yeah. You know, and I had this conversation with some people last night, the fit doesn't make sense for the Raiders, unless you're Tom Brady. Because Tom Brady knows one speed, which is win and I want to win now. But like if you look at that franchise, they're not just a

quarterback away. And you acquire Matt Stafford when you're a quarterback away. Can the quarterback change the picture dramatically? Absolutely. The Jane Daniels in Washington. But it doesn't feel like a slam dunk. That makes all the sense in the world type of fit. Yet the pursuit is very strong and it sounds like we're close to that potentially happening. I also

thought when all this started that this is a bit of a staring contest between Stafford and the Rams. You know, how long How far are we going to go before we figure things out, hash it out, and stay together? Also, the Rams don't have a backup plan, and they're in a much better position to contend right now. Why would you just let him go via trade or via that sort of situation than keep him? It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, and yet here we are.

I think the backup plan is Aaron Rogers and or Jimmy Garoppelow for what's worse. That's frightening. Yeah. It's really fascinating. I agree, and yet it's not just Stafford. Pete Carroll and Stafford and a better front office. So they would be trying to win right away. And we've seen teams turn things around fast. You gave

a perfect example in the commanders. Now, are you competing for a Super Bowl like the Rams could potentially do? No, probably not. But you could be winning games. And I think that's an attractive option. But are you also winning yourself out of a draft position for your successor? Like, there could be long-term ramifications. I guess this is what you tied yourself to when you hire Pete Carroll, though. So I think the decision for Stafford, and we'll see,

will be something to the effect of how much money less do I take to play for the Rams? Like, basically, if I'm getting 60 from the Raiders and 40 from the Rams, I'm probably going, you know, like that's too big of a gap to make up. I'm going to do this thing with the Raiders. If it's 53 for the Raiders and I can get the Rams to go up to 45 and guarantee some money into year two, maybe that's close enough for me and both sides are happy. We will see

you know, poor Eric, you know, he's got to take care of his infant son and we're going to be on Stafford Emergency Podcast Watch. Nick Shook, thank you very much. You will be on the coverage on NFL.com doing this all combine team, taking notes in the stadium all weekend. Good luck to you and stay healthy. The marathon has only begun and I hope that I don't have to get another plane with the flu

like I did when I left New Orleans. I hope that too. I had that same experience. Like I said, we're going to talk to Nate Tice about some players to watch for the next three days of Combine workouts. We'll do that right after the break. Hey, this is Matt Jones.

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.

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Toyota. the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Okay, we are here with one of my favorite people in the business. Hell, favorite people in the country. I'm not going to go international with them. It's Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports Football 301. Check it out wherever you get your podcast.

It is great to be with you, Nate. Great to be here. Yeah, I'm sorry I maybe have not a leader of the category of countries that use the metric system. So, yeah, just the United States, though, I'm very happy to be on the leaderboard there. It's funny. So, okay, we had, you know, the first workouts of the combine.

We're taping this before. And we're going to do a preview of the rest of the week, of the skill positions and talk a little offensive line, a little defensive back. But I got to be honest. Like, when we did that, when we did the episode I did it with Tom Palisera talking about, like, my top 101, we had done that a few years ago. And I almost wanted,

don't know what it says about me. I wanted some Nate Tice criticism. I want the people closest to me to tell me where I'm wrong. Also, I feel like the free agents were closer to equal footing. I mean, you're much taller than me. But when we're talking draft in a couple of minutes, it's like I'm learning from you. But this way we can go back and forth. Are there any, are there anyone on the free agent list that you thought were too high, too low that you want to make fun of me? No, I'm glad you had Milton Williams very high because I feel like Juan is going to get really he's going to get paid, so that also makes you look smart. I liked your DJ Reed ranking.

You had him at 12. I actually really liked that. I think he's kind of going under the radar. I think he could be a very good number two for somebody. NFL teams agree with you. So, you know, this is one where I'll send out lists and I get some feedback and I'll be like, hey, you're probably right.

Like, I'll move up DJ Reed a little bit. People love them to some DJ Reed. He's good. I thought Justin Reed might be a little higher. You have a 26. Because he's just a very sound safety and can do a lot well, maybe not a star. But there's a lot of teams right now

that maybe struggle on the back end because they got a little too cute on the back end and Reed kind of really cleans things up and a lot of people like his leadership stuff. He's also a rare dude that has thrived. Yeah, he can also be your kickoff specials.

He's thrived and literally changed and shored up two different defensive systems and is young. That is a combination that is very rarely in free agency. I think I'm scarred because I always rank safety is really high on this list because, like, they matter, and I'm ranking guys

based on how they are at their position. And then they just... Right, and they just get, like, $6 million, and they're sitting out there for two weeks. But you're right, Justin Reed's great. No, I liked a lot of these. Like, it's hard to... Because there's guys that, like, okay, even right now,

as I'm scrolling, like, Josh Myers, you have a 37. It's... Center for the Green Bay Packers. And I think they're very fine with moving on from them. They might get creative at that position, which is kind of something TBD. They might move Zach Tom over to center, like from right tackle,

which is something to keep an eye on. The best tackle in the league that Will Anderson faced According to Will, which I thought was a cool answer That was a cool answer, I know And it made me go, man, I got to ask that question more Who's the best player you played against? It's such a stable question Shout out to Kevin Clark, that was I believe it.

Yes, it was a great Kevin Clark question. No, with Myers though, it's like, oh yeah, he's 37, but yeah, that's actually fair. You know, I mean, just based on this free agency class, like he is an above average, I actually might have him over Dolman, Drew Dolman, but it's not like I'm saying one. Falcon Center, which is who's getting a lot of buzz is like a guy who's the top of the maybe interior line market. Maybe because I'm scarred by the 2023 Falcons so much in my hype for them. And then I think Dolman's play was very inconsistent that year that I still have that.

And then last year you battle a little bit of injuries. And I like him. But it's like if you go between him and Myers, I'm kind of like, yeah, pick either one. I have them a little bit closer. I would say for that. In Bill Simmons parlance, no one lost more money on their 2003 Falcon stock than you. You kind of went all in. I pushed hard on that.

You didn't sell it as it was sinking. Yeah. You stuck with it. Hard. And now you still stick with Arthur Smith. Just a little. I do. I do.

Yeah. Arthur Smith. And then I was very excited to see a little Desmond Ritter with the Raiders. So, yeah, that was the last remnants of that team. Yeah, they were there. It's also, I took the last three chips I had, you know, after losing most of it on the Falcons that year and put them on Drake May, which is like, you know, that those. Oh, no, you've got a million wins. You're the wide.

portfolio. You almost podcast as much as me. It's great. I know. I'm just pointing out your one, you're one, you know. Oh, no. It was, no, it's one. I've learned a lot from that one. It was like, it taught me how to like, hey, you know, you got to be realistic about where you have these guys tiered.

But don't even go back, like, it's kind of great because I can go chronologically, but like Chase Young at 41. I don't know, like ranking-wise where I would even put him if I were to do a top 100 or 101. But he's so interesting. And I thought your write-up was perfect. Like, kind of like the clowny role.

Like, he's just going to be. a mercenary. And I can totally picture him in that role, year after year, taking one, two year deals, and then being that kind of, I would say secondary rusher, but part of a really good rush group. I hope he gets... He had a good year. I don't know what the word is. Smarter.

I think Clowny got better and better as he got older. I always thought he was underrated. So to me, he is a poor man's Genevian Clowney. But can he have that sort of career? Because I think there's frustrations where he's going off script a little bit. He has some pretty

big negative plays along with all that pocket pushing, but a fun player to watch. Yeah, no, and that was the Saints kind of as a whole. A lot of guys, especially on the back end, maybe a little indifferent to tackling and everything. And I told you just before the show, but I love that your 101 was Nick Cho. Because I just

thought that was a great shout-out. But another guy I actually curious, DeMarcus Lawrence. One, I didn't realize he was 33, so that's maybe a little me out, I thought maybe he was 31 or 30, but it makes sense. He's been in the league since 14. He's a guy, too. I always thought he's a very good run defender as well. But he's another guy that

could be a nice contributor for somebody on a one year deal. I think kind of people, because he got hurt, is kind of just, he kind of goes into everyone's back. I had him in my top 20 at first, and then I looked at the history of guys off Liz Frank injuries at that age. And so I just

pumped it down there. One of my favorite players of the last 10 years, I thought he was so underrated for a long time. And then he was properly rated. People understood that he was, like, hull of very good one of the best cowboys in the last 20 years.

The most consistent, especially on their defense. And so, yeah, he could end up having that Callais Campbell, like, oh, wait, he's still really good? Oh, wait,

he's still underpaid for the next four or five years. So I hope I'm wrong there. One of my favorite plays. All right, I want to get to the prospects. So we got the top 50, so that was good. Let's get to the prospects. So let's go in chronological order.

Okay. Fridays, the defense backs in tight ends. We haven't talked about the tight ends at all on the show. It's a fascinating class. And I'm going to use some of, you know, my friend,

Daniel Jeremiah's, rankings. I haven't seen your big board 3.0 come out yet. I'm looking forward to that. Okay. Yes. His 2.0's out and it's crazy. He's got two in the top 10, Tyler Warren and Colston Lovely. And then another couple in the top 50. So that's a tight and heavy top 50. He threw out the Grand comparison in the Tyler Warren. Now just

looking at this week, kind of what are you looking for from those two guys assuming they do work out? You know what's funny is I interviewed Tyler Warren at the Super Bowl. And you know who he, I don't know, I can't remember if the question was who he compares himself to or who he studies. And I think you'll like the answer. Jeremy Shockey.

Yeah. Which I was like, okay. I loved that answer. And then he said, Kittle was the other one. And that's where some comparisons to. Well, obviously with tight ends, it's an athletic position. So you want these guys to test like freaks. And then if they don't test like freaks,

you also go, okay, we got to go back. Is he will love one test like a freak? Yeah. Oh, really? He can run. You know, he has some movement ability a lot like Leporta. I actually even think he, like, his film is even slightly better than Leporta coming out of college. Maybe the last year's film.

The thing with the Michigan guys is they all dropped off this year. And it might be the post-Harbaugh hangover. It might be Ben Herbert, their strength coach left. And now he's with the Chargers. I actually got to interview Harbaugh yesterday about it. He was my strength coach at Wisconsin, Ben Herbert. So it's like, oh, I actually know this guy. But he's had a big impact.

So all those Michigan guys kind of took a step back. this year, and that's what everyone's trying to gauge. It's like, 2023 was great, so Loveland's included with that, and that was poor quarterback play. He went from going with a first rounder and J.G. McCarthy to insert quarterback name here that Michigan had this year. But Loveland is more of a receiving only tight end. Not a good blocker in line. I actually like him, though, a lot with maybe a Shanahan team. Actually, the offense that I want him with more than anyone is probably the Seahawks. Okay. Because we're getting with Kubiak there. I picture him as that kind of tight end.

And my comparison for him has been owned Daniels, from the old Texas tight end, another badger. Top 10 on Jeremiah's list a little rich for this kind of play, this kind of profile. For tight ends for me, if you can't, if I don't project you in line, I can't bump you too high. I look at you more in the 20s. And that's where I kind of have, I have a love one maybe in that 18 to 24 range. I haven't solidified it yet. But who knows how he'll test, but I still think that's more and more comfortable. Warren, though, I get, he's a little older.

But the thing is, too, is that he has potential to be a true inline wide tight end, are so hard to find and he's a good receiver and he can create yards after the catch that being top 10 might be a little rich I might say more as top 15 but still that's split in Harris because he is that kind of talent. Yeah. Love one. And there's other guys too. I mean you say that it's tough to

put him in the top 15 or 20 but like Brock Bowers is quite an exception. But he is an exception. And this is something I'm I think coaches now are better than ever of like mitigating maybe lesser blocking tight ends. Ben Johnson with Lipport is a great example or Kincade with the bills.

Don't Kincade. These guys are, now they have learned to kind of go like, hey, let's keep, let's not make them block a defensive end, let's do that. So maybe my stock where I usually bump a guy down because they can't do that, it shouldn't, they shouldn't get as bumped down as much. They shouldn't get as much of a, a blemish on them. And people shouldn't be, get bumped down as much if they have a profile like Loveland. So Loveland from Michigan, as you mentioned.

Good player. If they've put it on tape a year before that they're coming out, It's much like how I view my free agency list. Like, if that's already out there and there's other factors that cause the year before free agency to matter, it's like, you know he can do it. He should get just as much credit. If anything, he was younger at that point.

If it's out there, he can do it again. I'm more of a grade the guy when you've seen them play their best because it shows you can do it if you can surround them and do the best thing for it. You want the latest film to be the best film, but you're supposed to grade guys from their best and latest. Like, you're supposed to look at both. And then Mason Taylor,

Really like him. Yeah. I think Daniel had him as a top 40 guy, which is I'm going to have him kind of comparable. Like, he's going to be easily in my top 50. I really like this too. And Arroyo. Is there like anyone you're looking for this week? Just how they look? Well, Royo is not going to work out. So, which kind of a shame because I think he would have kind of freaky numbers. Mason Taylor, I want to see, you know, Gunther Helm from Texas as well. He might have a big one too. But all those guys. Also, Harold Fanon from Bowling Green, who is just a one of what, have you watched? him at all or know about him. Not yet. I'm catching up, bro. So Fanon is, so he led the country in receiving at tight end in the Mac. The numbers are crazy. They're insane. And he runs like a duck. Like he is, he's duck-footed as they come. And he runs like that. He catches everything. He's, he breaks the first tackle every single time and not just against the Mac, against

Penn State, against Texas A&M. But I don't, I like him, but I have no idea what to make of him. I know he's not an in-line guy. He tries blocking though. He's actually an okay blocker, but he's not going to be the biggest guy. So we'll see how he runs too because it's just like, no, I think that's what's worrying a lot of people is that he might not test really well. Do you think he's going to run the 40 like a duck? That's what I have

no idea. And that's what I, that's what I'm curious about. I think he's a better athlete he's getting credit for because it's body control, but who knows. But that's what, and I think that's why people don't know what to do with him. But I I'll end up with him in my top 50, but it's just like, I don't even know what to do with him. But I've kind of considered him a

like an Alec. He's not a fullback, but use them like Alec and Gold or Kyle use check where it's like you're doing everything, every which way. Not a fullback bite like that, but just a true H tight end. You know, old school, that kind of moved tight end. It needs to end up with like one of the 18 Shanahan crew coaches. Correct. Now they're becoming all Sean Peyton, like tree coaches.

Like that one's kind of proliferating everywhere now. It's a lot of it. Hell, he's got like GMs over there, you know, Darren Mugie with the jet. There's like seven Sean Peyton coaches now. Like, I know. That's the new tree. defensive backs they always fly they're paired with the tight ends on Friday are there any of the top 50 guys that you think is especially important will Johnson he's 11th from jeremiah at michigan like some questions about how how he'll test he had a jadei barren higher than i expected kind of compared him to to brian branch like that type of player going that high he had him in the his top 10 is interesting who else are you looking at well the defensive backs i'm glad he brought him

about Will Johnson. Will Johnson was my player overall one in the mid-season. And because I was, again, he's a Michigan guy where his 20-23 tape was great. And then early 2024, it was kind of up and down, but he battled injuries. And now character stuff's coming out. So like I even said this on our show, is that he kind of has the trifecta of Combine Week. So he's got clear his medicals. His interviews have to go well. And then he has to test well because some people were worried about his long speed. I, I can't believe some people were dropping him so harshly. I, I, I, I can't believe some people were dropping him so harshly. I'm not going to have them at one, but I still am going to have them probably comfortably in my top 10 because I think his upside is a true number one quarter, which is so hard to find.

But he's got to kind of prove a little bit to kind of get back to that status, I think, in the eyes, a lot of people. But this is kind of a fun class. I mean, Charon Revelle from East Carolina, but he's not going to do anything, but his medicals have to clear through. And, of course, Travis Hunter, which is who's star of all stars. Do you sense the, maybe it's just Jeremiah and, Andrew Barry, the Brown's general manager. But I just have this feeling as we get closer to the draft that more people are going to

think of him as a wide receiver. Because he's so good at that position. Even Matt Harmon yesterday was just like, are we sure he's not a full-time receiver? Because his ball skills are rare, like truly rare. It's just, if I'm evaluating, it's more reliable. Cornerbacks are so hard to evaluate. But I guess he's not. He's special at corner.

You're pretty sure about it. No, he's, he's going to be player one because even if he was just a corner, he's number one player on the board. What about his size, though? That's, and well, that's what worries about me. That's a pretty big deal. That wears me at receiver, too, is like, I think about how many top 10 receivers have been sub 190. Devante Smith.

Is he even top 10? He was outside of top 10. And what's happened with Waddle and Smith, they're getting hurt. It's like, and again, Devante's, I love Devante Smith, but he's a high end, too. you know and and but those guys like that's what worries me too about the reps is if people are like oh we're doing both ways well and that's how he moves like and odel was outside the top 10 he was yeah sure but he should have been in the top 10 yeah but what happened to odel got hurt and so him playing both ways that is what scared me where people are getting a little ahead of themselves

is that like when you're that when you're 185 like weights matter and like just like we talk about this i know you get on me sometimes about it but it really does like over time that's going to add up. Those hits add up. Those reps add up. So at that size of trying to like tackle running backs even more. But then also now your receiver can shot, battling press, you know, you're not just taking a rest out there. You're like working on those running another go. And it's not college goes where it's 80% sometimes. It's like, no, you got to run 100%. And if he's going to be on the field as just receiver or say, say he's corner part-time receiver, those plays are probably going to him. So you know,

you know, if he's on the field for 12 plays, eight of them were probably a target to him or a touch to him, or at least six, you know, so that's where I have a little worries, but I do still think that he's special enough that he should get that package plays. It should look like Dionne when he's with the Cowboys. That's what it should look like. Okay. That's how I

picture it. Well, we'll see. I mean, I think it'll be really interesting because I think different teams will view him differently. So it'll maybe matter where he ends up, because to me Dion, you know, he didn't make that much of an impact. as a receiver ultimately.

Right. There was a couple gadget touchdowns. It was kind of cute. Yeah, it was kind of cute. It was like maybe Kvante Turpin's receiver value. Right?

I always want them to use more. Fastest player in the NFL? They should resign him. All right, we've transitioned to the receivers. And it's a weird group because after Hunter, like some of the top picks, Ibuka,

Luther Burden are more like slot guys, even Matthew Golden from Texas is maybe like, Like, okay, you can see him starting in the NFL, but it's maybe more like the dependable guy. So from the outside, these guys profile to me is the combine is going to be very important because you worry that maybe some of them won't test as well. Like who are you looking for? Are you excited to see this?

I want to see Ted McMillan, Ron, receiver from Arizona. I love them. I'm kind of one of these where I'm starting to ask more people. It's like, am I missing something here with him? a classic big guy because where people are citing separation stats without context of their quarterback situation and all that. That's a whole

another conversation, but I want to see him run because I think if he does run well, he'll kind of like silence a lot of people because that's one hangup especially he's a big guy, but I love him. I think he's like if he goes top five, I wouldn't blank it out. I think there's some negative whisper campaign about him.

Not characters so much as just how much does he love it? Effort. that sort of stuff, which is very difficult to parse from the outside. He tries to block and he runs his routes 100%. So that's like, even they're getting blown out. He's like going, like, you know, some of the routes are just like for the love of the game. He's still doing it.

So like that's why I don't agree with some people there have been saying that. Like I, yeah, he's one that I really liked. And then so I usually during the season, we'll watch three games sometimes four. And then with him, watch three games, really liked him, had him a tot-time guy. And then I watched three more games the last couple weeks. I just thought, I love him. Like, wait, hold on. Yeah.

Okay, that's good. Point your flag. Yeah, I think he, actually, on our last mock, we had the Patriots train down and then taking him, which I'm usually an offensive line bulk first, trenches first guy. But I think McMillan's that kind of a true number one upside that it's fine to take that splash. Whether it's right or wrong, I feel like the insider's, like, stock of Ted McMillan. Again, Arizona wide receiver, the odds on favor to be the first wide receiver take. But it wouldn't be a shot, you know, think crazier things have happened if he slipped.

I feel like people now think maybe, at least as we're sitting here in mid-February, that he could slip a little further than the mocks there is. That's what's kind of seeing right now. Yeah. We're thinking. Yeah, I know. And that makes me feel crazy. That's what stinks is I, when I, a lot of myself is film only,

and then I, this week is when I maybe start actually talking to guys. Usually senior bowl week is when I maybe start talking to teams. I, yeah, what about this guy, anything like that? And that's where I'm like, okay, now I feel crazy. Now it's like, all right, who's the West Coast Scout that I know? Like, I've got to figure out exactly how I'm going on him. Since you mentioned Patriots, by the way, like people have just been putting Will Campbell the attack. And this will be a big week for him.

Tackle, you might have short arms. It's like Rashon Slater had short arms. Exactly. And he's built like Rashon Slater, actually. A lot of people putting, you know, him to the Patriots at 4. I just think Mike Rable is making that pick. And I think Mike Bravel's going to want, like, a physical freak. And I don't know if that's that guy.

And so people, it's almost like people think, oh, yeah, they're fine on defense. They're not fine anywhere. No, they can take it anywhere. They're fine a quarterback. And to me, they seem more like a team that would take a Jalen Walker, who's a very physical freak. It's more of an edge guy, off ball, or Mason Gray. Like, someone nasty like that. What are your thoughts of maybe, like, where they could.

Yeah, I was one that I had Will Campbell going there for. I really like Campbell. And even like with him, I'll just start with him first before dressing the Patriot situation, because you're right, it's like they could go any path. I'd be like, yep, makes sense. With Campbell, I do think he's actually got a little more grit to him. And actually is, he's so smart. And that's what's really stood out to me. Like, he's a true leader. And that's why I think a team like the Patriots that needs everything, they're trying to build from ground zero. Like, he's a culture builder. And so he's a culture builder. And so he might only end up being a good tackle if he stays out of there. Maybe not that true elite guy, but he's more of, like, a tone center for everybody. And not just his physical side, but more of, like, how he goes about day-day. His makeup, as the baseball scouts like to say. Last time I heard someone, like, make a profile of that of a number four pick. It was Cleveland Farrell with the Raiders, like. Campbell's tape was much better.

He's starting a left tackle in the SEC. I'm just joking. That was a moment where everyone was like, who? And they're like, no, he's a great guy. Yeah. Oh, that's right. No, that's a great point, though. No, but Campbell's more of that, and better athlete and people give him crap for.

That's why I don't think the arm length is as worrisome, maybe it's with other people, because his footwork is so good and his technique's so good. So, no, I really like him, but for it, it's the context of he's my O-Lyman 1, but he would have been like O'Lyman 4 last year, you know? So it's like, I would have been more comfortable taking him in the teens. Like, that's where his real slot should be. But because of where this draft is with the linemen, there's a lot of good linemen. There's not a lot of, like, those elite prospects.

that kind of makes him more. Also, it seems like a draft where maybe it's not the best draft to have the fourth pick because there maybe isn't that big of a difference between the fourth and the 12th pick. You want a teens pick. You want like an early teens pick in this draft. I got sidetracked by the Patriots as I want to do. Let's go back to receivers too. So Saturday, just to set it up, that's the big skill position day.

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. In the time that we have left with you, I do want to hear about some of the wide receivers and the running backs especially that you're interested in why you're, you're, looking at them this week specifically. Yeah, well, you mentioned a Mecca Abuka and really like him as a dirty work guy, but the thing is, Stephen talking about the Patriots. They do not need another guy that's in this row. Not the Patriots, just why it's, for everyone.

No, I'm just laughing because it's like, yeah, but he, Abuka, God, he's a two. He's like, number two receiver. That is what he is, but he just does everything well, lines up inside, outside. Not sure how he'll test. And that's what he might be a low four or five guy, which, again, is splitting hairs. But again, if he has a big day, that's going to really help him. Burden I've been up and down on Luther Burden from Azoo. Some people love Luther Burden.

And because he's got really good movement. And like just that kind of, he's bigger than I think people realize too. Like he's more thicker. More thicker. I speak English. But they, with burden, it's just that it's kind of been gadgety, kind of been only slot only, always in motion, you know, to like make sure he doesn't get pressed.

But I've seen him beat press. It's one of those, is it a can't or won't kind of thing? But I feel comfortable where I have. them especially I seem more as a late first rounder maybe sneak in early second type and I think others are kind of kind of the same way um I mean other than that though like do you have any little like mid-round like Tice special sleepers Tice is always good with the deep stuff I'm putting you on Xavier Restrepo from Miami um I like him he's a slot only guy but I he'll probably be a number three but I like him as like a third rounder I would say uh I like Will Shepard who's not here

actually from Colorado. He was the other Colorado receiver is that, I don't know, he had some drops, some mistakes, but he's another just ball winner type. And I would say the last one is Tori Holton from Colorado State. Battled some injuries, but I, man, his 2023 film was just awesome. Like one of the, I had him in my initial top 50 going into the season. He battled some stuff, injuries and stuff. But he's another one. Tori Holden's a guy. I'm keep my eye on. So it's not a good wide receiver class overall in terms of like top end talent. It's an incredible running backs class overall. Obviously, Ashton Genty's not working out here, but a number of other of the top 50 players from Daniel Jeremiah, Amari and Hampton from UNC. He's got him all the way

up to 19. A big guy. I love a big, versatile guy. I mean, that is my, that is my type. Going all the way back to Ronnie Brown, who I know we share a fondness for. Travion Henderson at 35, the Ohio State back, his teammate, Judkins. Jeremiah is at 37. You know, Caleb Johnson he has in the top 50. So to me, running backs are some of the most fun to watch ahead of time. Certainly one of the most fun this week. It's probably my favorite position to Eval. I really just like watching a good run. It's so fun. Who, who's sort of a tights player and also this week you think is important, like at the combine? Well, Hampton all the way is a tight player, but like this stock is couldn't get any higher right now. He reminds me a lot

like Joe Mixing. Like that would be kind of my comparison for him. Big guy. all three downs. I really like Hampton a lot. Devin Neal from Kansas. Joe Mixon as a prod was just for the on field stuff, just strictly on field, yes. He was extremely problematic because of what he came into the league with, but

I remember that class, which was incredible. I studied those guys hard and thinking, man, it's McCaffrey and Mixon are kind of 1A, 1B for the 1 field and just the violence of his cuts. And that's a class with Camara and Dalvin Cud. What a fun. It is funny to think back, now how low the NFL was on running backs to that point where like those guys all went in

the second and third round except for McCaffrey which is crazy it was way too low and now it's it's not all the way back to where you know Ronnie Brown and Cadillac rounds but it's a nice little area right now it's a balance where these guys will actually get value to love because that was great because those were like really great prospects it's not like they just happen to turn out right right players they all were great college film was some of them well he went high but yeah I know but it's some of the most fun film you'll ever watch of any position. But that, yeah, I think we're getting back to where they should be properly assessed. It's not quite that class, is it, or is it getting close?

No, I would say it's more, no, it's not that class because it doesn't have a, like, Gentis pretty high end, but it's more, yeah, the round two town's kind of similar, though. Like, there's a lot of guys that could be number ones with another, like, a two behind him. But, like, even going, like, with Neil. Neil is, like, a round, I might go round two guy with him, but he's probably just going to just miss my Top 50 are just barely to get inside of it. But another three-down guy that I really like. I'm not going to give him the Mulaldey Moore Comp

because I just hold that one very, very, that's a near and dear one to my heart. But, no, but he's, I just really like him. Good size. He had a good senior bowl week as well, but good vision and everything. So he's kind of my mid-round guy that I've, like, I've grown a fondness for. Do you have a favorite running back comp of all these guys,

of someone that they remind you of? Okay, I said a Lelda more about Ash and Genti reminds me of Ontario Smith. Okay. The Whizzinator. I mean, he would not have gotten taken top five. Very talented player. But he had a first round grade. It was just the off-field stuff that managed that my dad could take him.

That was my dad's money well. You always bring it back to the old school. Because I know I'm, I know my audience right now. I know you all appreciate this. It's like when I go on Bomati shell, he just has me on to just talk about 1998, like football. I'm trying to remember Ontario Smith, like as a receiver.

I don't as well. He has a touchdown against the Cowboys. Week 1, 2003. You can see it a little bit. It runs a little angle route on there. No, but he, Ontario was a huge recruit. I want to say like Gatorade player the year. Went to Tennessee.

It's kicked out Tennessee when they were pretty reckless in that time. Goes to Oregon and said all this character stuff. And then that was especially when the league was so much harsher on guys that smoked weed. So like that also didn't help. And then especially when you have the Wizzinator. But no, anyways, that's my favorite player comparison. Who do you think that is an awesome one? Like who do you think they'll have a particular?

good week this week of a good running back just that like okay coming out of this people maybe are a little higher on it could be one of the guys Henderson maybe yeah and his tape is so he's gonna have a role in the week for a decade because he's such a good pass protector and he can catch and he can take any ball to the house so it's like he's to me he's not that ideal one but it's like I want him part of my backfield but he I think he's gonna run like the wind so he'll just gotta keep rise and rising rising when you can just do that wake up and do that and that's kind of how his play is By the way, Anabuka, who you mentioned, the Ohio State wide receiver slot guy, couldn't have a higher recommendation from Phil Wesleyan, Chris Wesleyan's brother, who is my Ohio State Whisper. And he's never wrong about the Ohio State prospect.

Now, granted, they all turn out good. So it's like, but there are some, I kind of read between the lines, some they're higher on than others. And he just, he promises, even more than Smith-Higba at the time, just as much he's like, I, I promise you, he is going to have a great long career. People sleep it on him too long. I just, I'm a sucker for that skill set, but he's like a better. He's, God, I know, but it's why I like Jalen Polk, but it's that, but it's that Robert Woods tier, that Chris Godwin tier, the power slot that can, he's a Z that can line up inside as well.

And he just does everything well. My trust issues with everyone that was into Jalen Polk is problematic. It makes me feel better because there's a lot of other people that like. Oh, yeah, everyone like Jalen Polk. Everyone thought that was a great pick. I loved it. Trade down, don't take Ladd-McConkie and get Polk. What great value?

Everyone liked it. So it's like, well, the thing with him is like, he's like a high floor. You can't miss. I love Lad. I'd poke and Ladd next to each other in my big board. I think I'm like 35-36. Thing with Lad, he has medical concerns, which already showed up. And that's why he didn't go as high as the people are, like, people are forgetting that.

His medicals are not great. Okay, man, but he. I'm not the one taking him. I loved him. led the league in getting injured and like during the game and coming in and out. Oh yeah, he's all right. But in the end, he played the whole season and was incredible and got better. So I don't want to hear about that. He's got medical. He's got to get bigger and bigger. That's it. I'm not worried about it. I meant to ask hard all about him. That year alone was worth a high pick.

I mean, it was great. He was. I love him. He could be a one. You're the one in terms of prospect evaluation and kind of putting it all together and how it's going to fit in the NFL. I love what you guys are doing. Football, 301. Check Nate Tice out. It's with Matt Harmon, Charles McDonald. So three of the smartest guys in the business.

Enjoy your week here in Indianapolis. He is sticking around. I am getting out of here. But we will be back on a Sunday night, kind of dropping Monday morning, almost like it's the regular season again. That is when we will be back. We will be recapping all the position groups

that we just previewed. So it'll almost be like a week one recap, except it's the Combine Recaps. So look for that in your feed by Monday morning. Until then, yeah, I think if the Combine drills are over, just about football is back. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

On Move the Six, we take you inside the game. from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand

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