NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Draft Weekpalooza Day 4: 2021 Draft Night 1 Recap

Episode Date: April 30, 2021

A fully vaccinated virtual room of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal bring you everything you need to know following the first round of the 2021 Draft but not without first touching on the Aaron Rodgers rumors swirling the league this afternoon. The 49ers took Trey Lance (12:40) over Mac Jones and Kyle Pitts is going to fly in Atlanta (20:22). The Eagles traded up to get Devonta Smith (30:30) and the Chicago Bears made a huge move (32:40). Justin Herbert is getting some protection on the OL (40:30) and the Raiders made a surprising pick (52:00). We take a radio city music hall detour (1:07:05). Marc and Dan get into a fight about Baker and Darnold (1:17:05).Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast was the 199th pick in the draft. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis. Come to you from a virtual room filled with some heroes. Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. Yes, the first round of the 2021 NFL draft is in the books and storylines galore, boys, in a draft that included five quarterbacks

entering the league three in the first three picks, and then this simmering drama just to stage left surrounding Aaron Rogers, which came out of nowhere or did it. So that is kind of a setting the table here for you, boys. How's it? everybody feeling we're taping after 9 o'clock on the Pacific time zone here. But it's late. But I feel good. I had a Red Bull and I'm feeling good. Ooh.

I was like, should I have some green tea or something before going? But no, just like the energy from the Jason Oway pick at 31 just has me flying and ready to do this podcast. Watch out for that herbal green tea, Greg. You know, you've become more daring in your advancing age. I just, I don't know too many men that could hang with a green tea at 9 p.m. West Coast time. I thought it was actually what I loved about the first round is it wasn't completely sort of paint by numbers. There were twists and turns and I'm maybe not as excited about the Aaron Rogers manufactured drama as others, but we can get into that.

It is crazy, though, it's draft day. And like before we even got to the draft, by far the biggest news story of the off season hit is, you know, to me it's much bigger than anything. that happened during the draft. I thought, you know, maybe it's got to affect the draft. It started to remind me of 2005. Like the whole draft day was like centered around Aaron Rogers and his desire to go to San Francisco. On that day, you know, the 49ers didn't take him.

He sits around. And here he is again. This time the 49ers did want him. I mean, crazy stuff was happening in terms of the 49ers owner tweeting. And some of the, some of the sources where Rogers just like sprays all these sources. all over the media that that like overwhelmed everything to me that happened on draft night but then once it started it writ you kind of realized rogers was not going to get his wish tonight uh when when the broncos uh took a corner back that was kind of the moment i was just like hmm i guess this is

not going to happen for it was it's both manufactured as mark puts it and also very real the manufactured part to me is the timing of it that we're well actually let let let let let just for people or maybe using podcast to get caught up and know exactly what's going on, the situation that occurs this morning or late or early this afternoon on the West Coast anyway is reports start popping up about the 49ers checking in on the availability of Aaron Rogers and he's not going anywhere. And then the insiders start popping up with information. And Ian comes on NFL network and explains that this kind of started. This has been simmering since Jordan Love's pick last April, the not.

a surprise there that it was still simmering. And then when the Packers came to him after his MVP season and wanted to rework his contract to move some money around and create cap space, that triggered a real breakdown on the relationship. According to Rapture, here's what he's got. Rogers, I'm told, did not want that. He wanted a real contract extension. He wanted the team to commit to him long term, which they, at that point, had not yet

been willing to do. His agent Dave Dun flew to Green Bay had endless meetings with Rogers. His frustration was palpable. Several teams started calling the Green Bay Packers, kind of getting the sense that things weren't right, trying to maybe trade for him to see if there was interest. The Packers have remained steadfast. They have no plans to trade Aaron Rogers.

That is only going to ramp up as this continues. So we will see where this ends, but things are not in a good place. And then, of course, with the 29th overall pick, the Packers select Eric Stokes, a cornerback with a lot of upside from Georgia, feeding into this narrative that the Packers were almost trolling, Rogers by not adding more offense, but at the same time, and Greg, I think you tweeted about

it. It's like, it's not like the Packers are starving for help on offense right now. They were the best offense in the league last season. Yeah, this is a long running frustration for me. They have two potential Hall of Fame candidates and Devante Adams and David Bakhtiari on team with them. And you're telling me that they don't have talent around them. They're the number one scoring offense. They're Aaron Jones. The part that I think registers with Aaron Rogers, I don't think he cares that much if they took a receiver 29th or not it's that he took jordan love and that he took that as a personal slight and he clearly hasn't let go of that that the crazy part to me is you know what ian said was you know kind of measured and eventually he did say that the packers you know tried to give

him a contract extension and you got to think at some point isn't there going to be a number that is enough to make this go away we'll find out but there were other reports i mean ESPN said he told people he does not want to play for the team anymore, period. Trey Wingo said that the Packers told him that they would look to trade him and that he feels like that they aren't really following through with that. And meanwhile, like Aaron Rogers' agent and the brass of the Packers are meeting all this while. So it's wild, but here's the reality. Rogers has no leverage right now, I don't believe.

I mean, he can withhold his services, but the odds on him being on another team for the 21 season seems slim to none to me unless it unless the because what could the broncos possibly give him that would be attractive next year's picks if you want to give me next year's picks just wait till next year let's see if you sit out the year i'll take your picks in january he'll be popular then too i mean it there was one part of this what that was mismanaged if it was manufactured was the timing i mean to me i found it absurd that the broncos who had you know gone in with their full draft plans are finding out or learning about this Rogers situation, you know, this close to the draft. I mean, there's no lead up time for front offices who have

essentially sealed up what they're going to do for the most part to act. And like I, you know, at this point, you know, are the Packers excited to absorb like 38 million in dead cap money to move an unhappy Rogers? I mean, here's the thing. It becomes cliche to say they don't draft a wide receiver. And I don't, I'm with you that look at you through 48 touchdowns last year. I mean, their offense is not broken. There's no drastic glaring void, but they've drafted one skill position player on offense since 2005 in the first round, and it's Jordan Love. And Greg, I see you smiling, but it's like that that is a lack of support to some degree. I would also say that they've not done a great job if you're spending all those picks on defense of building

up a monster defense either. So they have just not been that successful. But where's the team that's closer to the Super Bowl? That's the thing. It's not like you can get closer to the Super Bowl. than they were. Well, I don't see a destination spot. That's sort of why this thing to me feels like, you know, it's perfect for to set the table with a high-strung drama. But to me, it's like, what's the end result? Because it's, you know, to the day from a year ago,

where we were spending all night talking about Aaron Rogers and Aaron Rogers' feelings, and a year later, we're doing the same thing again. Tiresome. He's not, well, we're going to get a special Sessler tonight. I can feel it. No, I, am I? Does everyone else find?

find him enjoyable? I find it just like, why do you need to dominate the news cycle today in something that you clearly created through your mouthpieces? They were trying to pressure them publicly because privately wasn't working. So I tend to believe the Broncos and these other teams had, you know, certainly knew about this and were talking before this. The thing that I don't understand is guys in Denver who were saying that this deal were close, like Mark Slareth reported, you know, quote, quote, RELIF. So Slarith, who is a former Bronco.

And it's on the radio. It used to be on ESPN reported that it was all but a done deal right before the draft. And that got Broncos nation. Really excited. And who knows? Maybe somebody will be a Denver Bronch. Consider your sources. Yes.

Well, Rogers is that, listen, there's a handful of players in every generation that invoke this level of interest. And the fact that he was the centerpiece of this drama last year. Then one MVP, okay? And now this comes up again. That has added more zest to this. So while I understand where you're coming from, Mark, it's a big story. I mean, it's something that you understand why it's a big story. I'm not trying to push it out of the way.

Look, here's the thing about the draft. I mean, the film Gandhi, which is too slow for people, is three hours and like 11 minutes long. The draft, we're back to like four hours and nine minutes. We got to get you write it. If we get you write it on draft night, then it goes by really fast. You're racing the clock. Let's not, you know, Dan's, you know, draft in 40 makes a lot of sense because it is a slow draw nothing. And now I'm not trying to rain on the parade.

It's a fun night. It's been a long day for Sessler watching TV. You're a little burnt out. So you're angry right now. That's where this is. He was on Clubhouse earlier, you know. No, I'm not. I'm not angry.

I just, I don't think that how many people would argue that it is fascinating television. This is a story for another, a subject. A lot, a lot, Mark. I mean, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, all right. Well, I, I, I, I, I, I, I am an incorrect voice from the distance, perhaps. I don't before we need everyone to agree with me, but before we move on from Rogers. There were just a couple of details I think were important. Rosadol loves this, by the way. As much as Mark hates this, Greg loves this.

Well, no, because, no, it's fascinating. You got a bunch of people in suits from the third floor saying, Greg is so, Greg is so, Greg really gets the draft he's compliant why is who's this other cranky clown um chiming in every third i i genuinely love the this rogers stuff the you know the draft is is separate because it's it's it's fascinating because first of all it's like it's the far thing all over again i mean it's it's really kind of crazy yeah but the personal animosity and and dan hit on this last year i do think it's funny because the jordan love pick you know you hate to it's not like erin rogers tried harder But you got to give that something, you know, some of the credit of why he won the MVP if you really want to get crazy.

But it really seems like there's major antipathy between Rogers and Goudicun specifically. And the most interesting part of all this today was Glazer saying to me that Matt, what is this there? Oh, this is Goody's theme song, baby. Oh, yeah. I forgot this one. Yeah. go ahead no i mean this part i like i don't remember it being like such such a flow yeah i know this is the long version matt lefleur according to j glazer did not know that they were taking

jordan love before they took it with and that the whole that whole story is fascinating to me number one lefleur is putting that out there through glazer that's it that's interesting it it gets to a schism it gets to lefleur almost trying to say hey i'm on aaron roger his side. And if you read what, if you hear what Ian said, it really feels like Rogers does not like Goudicuns. And I thought like, this is where you need an owner. They don't have an owner. Like if I was an owner, I'd be talking to Brian Goudicons right about that. And by the way, shareholder meetings. How, how old do those go? Things haven't gone too well in the championship game in the NFC the last two years. But with Goudicud's pulling the lever on moves, they've gone

13 and three and back to back years. And they're, they're doing a lot of things right in that building. So, yes, in terms of, like, how much you want to feel for Aaron Rogers' position, I can't really get that. I'm not with you on that if there are people that feel like he's been wronged in this situation. But at the same time, you get it. It's like you drafted my replacement. I win MVP. And when you want to come to the table to do business with me, it's to help you out and make cap space room. Instead of saying, you know what, we blew it.

We should have never doubted you. here's a contract extension to keep you here forever it's we we have plenty of time to talk about and we and we will and since then they have they have offered an extension you would you would think there's there's got to be just like a price that is enough but if not he could just dig in i it was funny ian's throwing out the jeopardy stuff um if nothing else it knocked tim tibo out of the headlines tim tibo and mason mason rudolph contract extension maybe that's what got me going early in the day that that is back in our hemisphere tim tibbo subplots I mean, which is, you know, I've got some PTSD associated with that.

So does Dan. All right. So the San Francisco 49ers kicking all that off. The report was that they connected with the Packers. Hey, is Rogers on the block? He was not, at least not right now. So the Niners with a third overall pick, this is the first flashpoint of the draft. Trevor Lawrence goes number one.

Zach Wilson goes number two. And by the way, I have ordered my Zach Wilson Chipotle burrito. It's being delivered as we speak. and it will be brought right to me when the time comes. I'm very excited to have that burrito in my hands, just like I'm excited that the Jets have yet another crack at a franchise quarterback, hopefully the young man out of BYU.

The third pick, Tray Lance, goes to the 49ers. So the Mac Jones, and someone explain this to me, hashtag like I'm five. A lot of Twitter was about, hey, that is one of the better smoke screens I've seen in some, time. But I don't understand that because I know Mac Jones was where everyone was saying that it was going to happen. And then and then it was Mac Jones or Trey Lance. But what was the smoke screen for if there was no one to outsmart in front of them? The Jets were always going to

take Zach Wilson. The Jax are always going to take Trevor Lawrence. So is the smokescreen simply on the media? And if so, what's the point? I think it's utter not. I think we've, I think we brought this up at least on the show once before that like, look at they They did everything they did to get to number three to remove any sense of, you know, disquiet or unknown for who they'd want to pick. They know those two quarterbacks are off the board. Who are they fooling? To me, it just felt kind of baked into, hey, this is a big production and we don't want to, we're not going to shed secrets. It's smokescreen, the viewer, and the analyst.

The idea that you need to hide anything from another team makes no sense logically. Yeah, I think it was, it wasn't a smokescreen. I think the reporting around them genuinely turned out to be wrong, very possibly because the 49ers changed their mind. I mean, that's what our reporting at NFL Network indicates that essentially they didn't know who they were going to take. They thought they were going to take Mack Jones, that that was Kyle Shanahan's guy.

And if you read between the lines, not even between lines, Ian basically said that the front office was pushing for Trey Lance. And as Kyle Shanahan went to the. these workouts, and I think most importantly, talk to Trey Lance more and more that he ended up becoming convinced that that was the decision. Because the one thing you keep hearing about Lance, not only is he probably the most physically gifted, just in terms of athleticism and arm strength, even though he has virtually no production.

I mean, he had 400 dropbacks in his career, is that, like, he's probably the one guy who comes off maybe as, like, the smartest and the guy that, like, you love him in the room. And maybe over time, they just sort of fell in love with it. Sounds like he'll never throw an incompletion. He's the most physically talented and the smartest man alive. But I also think he's got to be one of the biggest risks of all time. He dropped, you drop back 380 times in his career. They've barely ever seen him play.

And it was in North Dakota State. It was a lot to give up by the Niners to essentially move up to take this level of a chance. But if he hits the ground running and who knows when that happens, as of right now, Jimmy G, still in the building. If he hits the ground running and he's a star, it's going to, you know, cement Lynch and Shanahan there for a long, long time. But if this goes off the rails and they kind of messed up their future with the draft

to get a guy that couldn't play, it's going to be catastrophic. It's a huge moment for them. Then you're put into the same category as a Mitch Trubisky type of trade up, except even more expensive. So, yeah, I mean, there is high risk reward. I mean, they talk about the last 10, Super Bowl winning quarterbacks.

Every one of them had 1,200 attempts in college. I mean, there are front offices out there that would rule out quarterbacks that don't have a certain amount of proven production at a big college level. Other front offices do it differently. And we know Shanahan does it differently. I mean, I'd come away a little concern with, you know, whispers and flat out just comments that the front office and Shanahan and all of them just were not on the same page, that they had no idea what was going on.

That said, if you're Shanahan or if you're ever, any of those people, you're in a building with an almost Belichickian type leader in Shanahan, who is basically calling the shots. And if it works, he looks like a genius. If it doesn't, they'll probably still call him a genius. I seem like, I love him, but he seems a little teflonish too. He's got to win with this quarterback sooner than later. I think this was what would cost him, though. If this didn't work out, he has been a little teflon. I think they've won winning season in seven years. He hasn't been there that whole time. But this has to work. This has to work just like it has to

work for the Jets move that they made going up to get Zach Wilson or trading Donald to get Zach Wilson. These are important franchise defining type draft picks this high. It's exciting though. It's exciting to see your boy, Kyle Shanahan, get someone so tight. You kind of feel like Shanahan will make them

bust proof. I mean, if Mullins can put up those stats, then you kind of figure like, well, what's the worst Lance could be is maybe average? I mean, you would think just because their offense is so good. They have Trent Williams at left tackle. They have Iyuk and Debo Samuel and George Kittle.

I mean, it is an amazing situation. So just as a football fan, I'm excited to see such like an athletic guy in Shanahan system instead of Mack Jones. Then again, I'm going to have to watch Mac Jones with the Patriots. So maybe. And we'll get to that. We'll get to that in just a little bit. So yeah, so Lawrence, Wilson, Lance.

Then the first seven players, by the way, this was a record, all offensive players. So Kyle Pitts, the tight end out of Florida, becomes the highest drafted tight end in NFL history, going to the Falcons. Intrigue there, of course, especially coming off a week where there are whispers about Julio Jones's future. That makes even more sense now knowing what their intentions were to take this game changing. This guy is entering the league with a level of hype that few tight ends match. So you have pits there. Calvin Ridley has emerged as a star in his own right. So Julio Jones, you don't want to say this, but he seems like someone that can.

be moved without killing the offense, which you would have never thought, now we see if that actually happens. And if it doesn't, man, that's one hell of a one, two, three punch on that offense. Well, and I would say that Arthur Smith, maybe I like him more than others, but I think he's a severe upgrade over Dirk Cotter in 2021. And on top of it, I mean, when it comes to Julio Jones, I just, I don't think that that would be out there if they didn't severely need to restructure like the money they have. I don't think you'd be looking to move them just to move him. So if he sticks around and you add Kyle Pitts to this offense, like, you've got something. I still think they're a hot target to draft a running back earlier than later. It could be

in this in round two here. But they're not far away from having, again, a very intriguing offense. Matt Ryan's had a nice offseason. They basically guaranteed some money down the line that kept them there. You add Kyle Pitts. I don't think their defense is going to be good. And so he could be a fantasy guy. Like, you could just see that being in like, 35 to 33 every week with these Falcons. It's like Matt Ryan has all these skill players and they're in a lot of like coming from behind situations and you're like, oh, this is perfect.

Then you look up and he has 27 touchdowns at the end of the year. It's like, oh. I think that like permanently soiled your opinion of Matt Ryan. Yeah, that MVP year with you. You got him after the MVP year, I think. I feel like he throws 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions every year. I don't know. Don't check those stats.

At number five, Jamar Chase, the wide receiver from LSU reunites with Joe Burrow. I have my thoughts on this, that they should have went and got Sewell, the offensive tackle from Oregon. But okay, I mean, this works too. But let's see if they put some focus on the offense line. I'll do a couple here,

and you guys can say whatever you want on any of them. Jalen Waddle goes number six to the Dolphins, the Alabama wide receiver. And that makes sense as well. I like the move where you take the young quarterback and connect them to a lot of talent, and see if he can play. Well, now you have Buller and Parker and Waddle together.

That's a nice trio. And then, as I mentioned, Penn Isoul, the offensive tackle out of Oregon, the top offensive alignment in the draft goes to the lines at number seven. I just like the, you know, and they made a big deal out of this on television, but I wonder if there's more thinking going into some of this, too. It's the talent of the player, but you get Jamar Chase paired back with his college quarterback. You get Jalen Waddle paired with someone and two with it.

He knows it's like, okay. maybe that doesn't matter. But what's wrong with giving, like, your young quarterback, someone that he's worked with for a long period of time. There's chemistry is there. And I get what you're saying about picking maybe Sewell, or it would have been Sewell over Chase. But I don't know.

You know, you can, a good offensive line coach can do a lot for an offensive line. I'm not sure they have one. But you know, it does better having big talent. Right, but they have to, they do have like, the thing is, like, if you look at their tackle situation, I don't love it. it but they have invested in their tackle situation they signed riley reef this offseason which has slipped under the radar riley reef's been a starting tackle for a while he's not a huge difference maker but he's been a average starting tackle and then they drafted jonah williams

10th overall he's been he's been okay i i think it's just thinking that chase is really unique like bob mcgin does that you know scouts poll and he was the first unanimous you know wide receiver to get first place votes from every single scout since calvin johnson and so you're you're thinking maybe if this guy's Calvin Johnson, then Sewell is not as unique. I was more surprised that Dolphins took Waddle over Sewell. I thought that was going to be locked in, and they could have put Sewell, you know, and Austin Jackson as their two tackles, and they took Waddle, and it was very similar to last year how Ruggs went ahead of whom I forgetting here, Judy, for Alabama.

Like, Devante Smith won the Heisman Trophy in Waddle, who I like more than Rugs, who seems exciting, ends up going ahead of Devonza Smith. And, yeah, Sewell, you know, that's a nice pick for the Lions, who are in no need, no rush here to make a big splash. This is a team that's rebuilding, so you get a guy there. Even if the Lions fans aren't going to get pumped up about it, that could be a great pick for them. Could have taken Fields, but they just weren't in love with Justin Field.

I kind of think if they, like, loved Justin Field, they would have taken him. It wasn't about, I can't imagine it was about Jerry. He was there. Or one of the wide receivers. because they are, they're, you know, yeah, Jared Goff's being protected, but they're like, you look at the infrastructure of their offense and it's messy. All right. So the run on offensive players ends at number eight with the Panthers.

And I talked about this on our last podcast that Sam Darnold after twisting in the wind with the Jets was in that same position heading into Thursday night again, where you didn't know all this talk about Tepper, whether he was going to make the big splash and get the quarterback in the draft. And when Justin Fields was still there, and Mac Jones was still there, it was like, uh-oh, the Panthers are going to do this. And that's going to be tricky for the former USC star and X New York Jet. But instead, they'd select J.C. Horn, cornerback out of South Carolina. And then the Broncos pick next, another team that you would think could use a game-changing prospect of quarterback.

I lost sandwiches on it. Yes, yes, they have Drew Locke there still. yes they just traded for teddy bridgewater uh so they say we're set there now a quarterback i guess and they take patrick 13 the second cornerback out of alabama i think this is when mock drafts started to go hideously south i jurs do by the way because it went hideously south around this around this point like i mean i got maybe seven or eight right but it's the same seven or eight that like five thousand other gibronies got so it was was an unremarkable run.

But I, you know, I-18 to 20, was it? 18 to 25, I think I said, while we were at a baseball game. I'm maybe could have thought about that tweet. You got an under-promise and over-deliver. Well, I've been doing the opposite for years. That's sort of the problem. I mean, if you look at this, though, if you look at Carolina's defense, like what they did last year, I love Jeremy Chin.

You know, you've got Bouillet-Dante Jackson. You ask, add J.C. Horn. They are growing their difference in rapid fashion. I mean, these guys all have to work out, but Horn is like a special cover man based on the data that I've received. Now, like, when the Broncos took a cornerback, I was flummox. The data I've received.

Well, I've been doing lots of study during this, but wait, you did not think they'd go corner there at Denver, Greg? Well, they, corner has to be one of their strongest positions on the roster before this. It's like, he just, well, oh, take a defensive player no matter what happens they signed kyle fuller for a lot of money they signed ronald darby for a lot of money um they signed bryce callahan who's been really good for fan geo a year ago for a lot and he i think he can play well oja mudia was a rookie last year i thought played really well that's four guys already you just added the top 10 pick so that got people thinking

well maybe they're taking this pick for green bay you know i i haven't totally ruled that up but then green bay took a cornerback which kind of doesn't totally support that theory unless they want two of them. So I do the smoke in Denver has to have some reality to it. And then when they didn't take a quarterback, that does lend you to thinking they're not going to be out of this. Whether that's for 2021 or next year, we'll see. Well, John Elway did once upon a time successfully recruit Peyton Manning and got a ring out of it and a run of dominant play in record setting offense. I could see Aaron Rogers in Denver. Like I could see him like doing local ads for like a weed company or something.

Yeah, he'd fit well in Denver. You know, having lived there, he'd jive right in. What about the Cheyenne Woodley factor here? I mean, she might not want him in Colorado. She might want them right here. Yeah, the charges. Closer. I know it's not that close.

People were making fun that's like, but it's like it does make a difference if you're only on a two-hour flight versus like, you know, I need to see more evidence that they're like hanging out hour by hour. I don't, there's not a lot of, you know, where are the Instagram photos? where's the show, you know, where's the, all the business? I mean, come to me. Broncos fans are not going to be thrilled if they are, you know, six and seven and Teddy Bridgewater just took over for Drew Locke getting benched, you know,

but that's exactly what's going to happen, which made this, this, to me, if they don't wind up with Aaron Rogers, and if Justin Fields becomes brilliant, John Elway, I know that John Elway is now hiding behind, right, what hiding is not fair, but we have General Patton there. And it's like, you know, John Elway can. avoid the blame but like you cannot miss on this like if Justin Fields passed you

by the floor falls out when you have a brave leader like General Patton directing the troops you know there's nothing to be fearful of and if Aaron Rogers is there for the taking you will get him because people like General Patton leaders like

that don't come around too often they can't they can't allow Slareth into the building by the way if Rogers does not And in the Green Bay Because I had my cousin Justin Who's a big Broncos fit You know the second Schlerth sends this tweet out

They think Rogers is coming to Denver tonight Like that's that's a fireable offense I think I nailed the Finally I've struggled with it But I have the pronunciation on that particular gentleman Mark Schlarf Slurth Slurf

Slarf We should have him on you know He's a radio guy All right He creates salsa or chili, by the way. It's always got his own salsa company. Interesting moment in the draft comes at number 10. When the Eagles moved from number 12 to number 10 in a trade,

what they got to train with? The Cowboys, the Eagles and Cowboys trading with each other on draft night. So they trade up to number 10 to take Alabama Stud Heisman Trophy winner, Devontah Smith. Oh, my goodness. The Cowboys, so traded the. their attempt pick, got back the 12th pick, as well as the Eagles third round pick. The Cowboys selected linebacker Micah Parsons with the 12th pick. I love this move for the Eagles. A little bit

surprised that the Cowboys were willing to help out, but they, you know, they're getting something out of it. And the Giants are dying. Dave Gettleman, you know, they were laser focused on a wide receiver because they then trade out of the top of the first round and then take a wide receiver later. But then that worked out. I thought that was actually a good trade. Dave Gellman finally trades out. But let's focus on the Eagle side of things. This feels like a big move

for Jalen Hertz, who again, he feels like a big winner here now. Because he made the winners and losers column, Dan. Check it out. NFL.com. Check that out on NFL.com slash Rosenthal. Because Carson Wentz shipped out of town, the Eagles

don't bring in another quarterback despite a lot of a lot of hype and buzz around do they believe in Hertz and now they go and get him the reigning Heisman trophy winner and a potential superstar number one wide receiver okay let's see what happens here he's so different Smith you know 166 pounds at his most recent testing that it it does still feel like one of those picks that Roseman's out on a ledge a little bit I mean everyone's excited Jeremiah thinks he is a true true one and you're right it's so good for Hertz another quarterback receiver combo.

I don't know if Smith was like playing a lot when Jalen Hertz was playing there. That was, you know, that was before Hertz transferred. You guys put more into this than I do. Yeah. I'm not too big. I'm just noting it. I don't think it's like an earth-shaking, you know.

But it's, I think it's nice too because Jalen Rager, I feel a little bad for him because he's not Justin Jefferson. I don't think he's necessarily a bust. He's only, you know, but now he can be the number two receiver. He's more like the D.

threat like a Hollywood Brown hopefully you know maybe a similar to Hollywood Brown or better and now he slides down one like they're going to be more fun to watch now I mean like a DJ you know pinpointing and showing highlights of Devontas Smith catching the ball amid defenders racing for a long score not even being touched they called him the best route runner in the draft and you're right he called him a clear club number one so you know I don't I don't know how you really evaluate to many of the people from that offense from a year ago. It just was like a hard on the eyes car crash. So, you know, maybe you actually have over the last two years found two good receivers

and then you could change everything and hurts us in a great position. All right. Better than whence. I mentioned Parsons to the Cowboys, Smith to the Eagles that pick right in between at number 11. And this was seismic. And we'll see if this is a major turning point for a franchise in desperate need. of a spark right now. So four years ago, the Bears traded up to number two overall and took Mitchell Trubisky.

And it was one of the great misfires in recent NFL history, not just because Trubisky couldn't really play the guitar. But Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were like Slash and Eddie Van Halen, you know, taking the guitar analogy further. Maybe the brother Rosenthal, you know, throw him in there too. Dean, Dean, the other god of guitar. So that didn't work out. So four years later, they once again make a draft a move.

They trade up nine spots with the Giants. And they take, yes, OSU quarterback Justin Fields. The Giants received the Chicago Bears first round pick, which was number 20 and fifth round pick this year. And then the bear's first and fourth rounders next year. So the Giants really clean up, and I think it worked out for them because they went and got a wide receiver. and then also now have this bounty of picks. But Justin Fields brings Mark something that you've talked about many, many times in the show. And I agree with you.

There's no buzz around the Bears. There's nothing to be excited about. Justin Fields is not a can't miss prospect. But if he hits, it changes everything in the NFC North. I mean, you know, we're at a different organization that was run differently. I think it would be odds on that Ryan Pace would. wouldn't have been here to make this move. The Bears are very creaky with their front office and coaching decisions in general.

But look, how do you re-align your career? How do you change perception? Number one, I think in the NFL, it's by being aggressive and daring. And West used to talk about that all the time. The fortune favors the bold. And I had, you know, Bears fans. Right. I had Bear fans.

We all have Bears fans as friends that, you know, they're like, do you think someone will follow to them at 20? It's like a quarterback. No, I don't. I mean, you're going to have to do something more than that. you wanted to offer the moon and distant stars for Russell Wilson. So why not maybe think about packaging picks to get up a quarterback that you like in this one? And they did it.

So for me, it changes the whole energy of a team that I found de-energizing. And I don't know if I trust Matt Nagy to kind of groom this quarterback. But it's not fair just to judge him on Chubesky because that was just a wild whiff. And Fields brings excitement. Bears have not really ever drafted a quarterback. back worth their salt. I mean, it's just, they're an outlier on that front. So they swung for the fences. If it works, it changes the bears forever. And I think he's a good fit for this team. He's from Ohio. He's a cold weather quarterback. He can do it all. He's fun to watch. And it, to me,

turns one of the least enjoyable franchises at this current time in the NFL to something I can't wait to see. Yeah, I agree with everything there. It's well said. I just worry that it's a tough spot. reminds me a little bit of Darnold when he arrived in New York because I think the GM coach situation is so precarious that you know you would give them over under one year left because no matter how you know if Justin Fields is great this year and he looks great in this offense that solves everything and he will play over it does have a number one receiver in L. Robinson you know I like Mooney okay at number two

but you know I guess I got to see it you know it doesn't feel like it's certainly not Trey Lance Landy in San Francisco or for that matter, Mack Jones, I think is in a better situation with New England. I think, you know, there will be challenges. And if they don't win this year, they will probably change, you know, the regime. And then, you know, then start getting messy. I think you're spot on with that because foundation is so important with these guys, because if things don't go, well, like you're saying, and they reboot, well, if they reboot and they hit on the hire with the coach and GM, then you'll be okay. But it's a big roll of the dice.

These things work out half the time and maybe even more of the other direction. They don't work out. So you're starting over again. And then maybe that works. Maybe it doesn't. Then all of a sudden you're in your third or fourth year of your rookie deal. And then they have to ask questions about you unless you're a star. So.

I'm not trying to be a downer for Bears. No, but I think. They should be thrilled. They got some breaks tonight to weigh the draft belt. Yep. And then they took advantage. I think, I think this is a, you, you could dwell on the negative things. and you shouldn't turn a blind eye to it.

But I think on balance, this is exactly what Bears fans have been waiting for. And I talk about it all the time about Joe Namath and the Jets and how long it's been. Well, they haven't had anybody that they could truly call a franchise quarterback. Sid Luckman. I mean, Jay Cutler wasn't that guy. Cutler, sort of. I don't know, man. A true franchise.

Cutler was, no. Quarterback. So maybe Fields becomes that guy. And if he stinks, the Fields. can't play, well, everybody's, everybody's gone. Well, I'll tell you what, I thought Jay Cutler was a franchise quarterback when they traded for him, and so did most people at the time. We were all, I know, but Greg, this is another quarterback that I, like, here's the

natural, like, organic view of Jay Cutler, and Greg's is that view with, like, eight percentage points higher. It's kind of like a Teddy Bridgewater type thing. Well, he was a great example of what a Shanahan offense can make you think, because I think if he had spent this whole career with Kyle, you know, with Mike Shanahan, and we'd love Jay Culler. He was so exciting, but that's kind of where I'm getting at with Fields, that it's, you know, is

this coaching staff going to take advantage or is he going to be like a J. Cutler? Yeah. All right. Let's keep moving now here. Oh, by the way, I did want to point out, it is fun. You mentioned how, you know, it's four years about since Trubisky. Remember, that was the night when Mike Glennon, who had

signed a $16 million contract, went to the draft party and then they took Trubisky. And then very similarly, I mean, it's not quite as bad. But there was that tweet with Andy Dalton, QV1. That was kind of the version of Glennon going to the draft party. Well, that's also the bears creating their own problems. It's like, I'll never forget. I think I might have even written that around the league or around the NFL post. Yeah. It was at Soldier Field. So they basically took an area of Soldier Field and

invited a bunch of season ticket holders and then had some players there. And Glennon had just signed that deal. I mean, dude, they got dirty. I mean, doing my Glennon dirty if you even had a thought that you were going to go make a move like that and you had to have had a thought you you say mike stay home stay home mike well can i offer one counterpoint to that yeah let's say you you get hired by a company to come in and do a ton of work you got a lot of pressure on you but you signed for a lot of guaranteed money um so you're thinking all right i made a lot of money but i'm going to have to deliver well they just went and drafted a rookie who's going to start over you immediately because that's how this works you've made a ton of money

you don't have to do a lick of work. I don't remember Mike Lennon throwing a pass during that entire thing. And so in a sense, he kept his body clean. He lives in a giant house. Did he keep his dignity, though? I mean, that's got to count. We'll deal with that another day. It's not all about money. This isn't an episode of money on money. Okay. Who is the person that would constantly dignity? Right. But who would constantly tell you that money is not the issue? I would. And I'm wrong about that half the time. But I'm just saying it was like, you're basically getting paid a fortune to do 15 minutes of work a week. I think Glenn started two games.

That's totally off the top of head. That could be wrong. That's about what Dalton feels like is going to be the over-under here. I mean, with all these guys, we could sit here all day. It's all relative. These are very well-paid, well-compensated individuals across the-lantern. Right. Well, he's horribly underpaid.

Glennon had four starts. Underappreciated. Four starts. All right. Let's keep moving through the first round into the middle of the draft. Right. Roshan Slater. tackle from Northwestern goes to the Chargers.

Greg, you want to add anything on that? I know you wanted a little more help blocking for Justin Herbert. I'm very worried about them blowing Herbert's chances of being a top five QB. So I think the draft fell perfectly for them. Got Corey Lindsay too, Brian Bilaga. Yeah, I had to save that. You had me on the edge of my seat there. Like, how's he going to land this one?

All right, then a trade. My New York Jets, they picked number two. They took the quarterback. and we've heard it since Joe Douglas has taken the job. He's all about offensive linemen. He was an offensive lineman. Da-da-da-da-da-da. So they make a move.

They send their 23rd overall pick, the 66th, and the 86th overall pick. So they sent their first rounder and both third rounders to the Vikings to move up from 23 to 14. They also got back a late-round draft pick, and they used that to take USC, USC, Offensive lineman Elijah Vera Tucker. Of course, I'm doing deep dives right when this hat. I know he was in the top 15, a moment of every mock draft, and he's seen as a rock solid plug-and-play interior alignment, which the Jets desperately needed.

Giving up both third-round picks maybe was a little on the pricey side, but then I think about if he can play and he could solidify the left side of the interior, and you have Mackay Beckton next to him, left tackle. We're starting to cook now. We're starting to do something and really figure out this offensive line. So it could pay big dividends. I would just remember what kind of offense they want to be. I mean, this is a Kyle Shanahan. You know, they're going to be heavy run. And they know exactly what kind of line they want to get. So if this got the seal of approval, you're right. It's an upside. They were the second worst past protecting line in the league last year and looked that way and

look sometimes like the worst, even one step worse down to 32. So, you know, this is, an improvement. Sounds like he could play some right tackle, too. I thought you won sandwiches on this, but you know, very nobly reminded the go-get-my-lunch people that you said they were going to trade up for a receiver, not just any trade-up.

I couldn't think of old Nick Fortier's name at the time, but it took, I had it. Yes, I had my one, and we'll do our sandwich props at the end of Saturday show, but I thought Jets were going to trade up and take a wide receiver. They traded up and took a guard. So on balance, they get a new quarterback,

and they improved the offensive line. And I still, my boy, Landon Dickerson, Alabama, fell out of the first round on medical issues. I wish it just had a third round pick if maybe fell down there. Maybe they move up if they can. But maybe Landon in the second round. Got my eye on you, buddy. I believe in your body. Believe in that guy's body.

How is the Chipotle burrito going to be delivered during the show? Emily's going to come in with it? This is why, keeping your kids up? Getting married. No, my kids are done. They're in bed. Emily is waiting. She's staring out from the front window, just waiting for the moment the burrito arrives

and she's going to then shuttle it to me directly. Did you allow her to, did she buy dinner too, or was it just a U operation? It's a solo purchase on Grubhub because it is 10 o'clock here. So I'm going to probably have a bite of the burrito because I already had a dinner. I don't want to double up dinner. That's not what we're trying to do in the offseason. we're trying to make good health decisions in the off season. But I also have to have a celebratory bite of the burrito for good luck.

That's where I'm at. Well done. I'm in my bedroom right now. So Emeka is not sleeping until we're done. She has no choice. That's tough situation. I hope she's not in the run, though, listening to this nonsense. Oh, yeah, she's trying to.

She's like five feet away, just wearing, no. Pan the camera over. I do have to say, like the NFL when the pandemic started, they're like, hey, you've got to take a portion of your house and turn it into a studio. And we're like, hey, man, that's, that's the brakes. So we've got to do it. It's, we're lucky to be employed. These houses in L.A. here, when they're not very big, but we're going to do it. And then, you know, people are getting shots and the world's starting to return to normal.

And then all of a sudden, the NFL sends a truck over with all new equipment. And I'm like, oh, am I not, is, am I not getting this part of my house back? I don't think I am. You definitely are not. This part of my house. Am I paying less rent? Is there going to be some type of reimbursement, a portion when you look at the square footage that I've lost? You know, we don't have a ton of space.

Negatory. How about this? You will get nothing and like it. Interesting bullet point for your next negotiation. You will take 74 square feet of my rent or I walk. See how that goes. All right. making a walk in. Ricky Hollywood was walking off a pier when the New England Patriots sat at 15

and took Mack Jones, the quarterback out of Alabama. Mac Jones, of course, Ricky, who was slated by a smokescreen at number three overall, falls to 15 and the Patriots with Cam Newton in the house now bring in Mac Jones. And I would say this, Ricky, none of us are college experts and you are not one either. You seem to think that this guy is going to be. a boondoggle for the Patriots. We got to let this play out because he has a ceiling, people say, I think it was Charles Davis that might have said it. And great job.

I got to give it up. I have to say. I hate to say this, but Daniel Jeremiah did awesome work on NFL Network. They were excellent tonight. Sorry. Danfell Network, the draft is the thing we dominate better than anything.

Yeah. I didn't even turn on ESPN. I like that network, too, as a sports fan. But on draft night, I got to be loyal to the brand. And we did a nice job. Charles Davis, I believe, was the man, or it was the Stanford coach, was a Shaw, said this is a Matt Ryan type ceiling, and then maybe more kind of Andy Dalton is where it could end up. That would be okay, especially if you go closer to the Ryan end. Come on, Ricky. Yeah, I mean, the 49ers, they obviously didn't want him, which makes sense. And then he keeps falling. And then when the lions didn't take, I really don't think they're sold on golf. So I was like, there's a change. he could take Justin Fields and then the Eagles traded up like you said and then they took the wide receiver that everyone's talking about so I was like oh my god he might Justin Fields literally

might fall because of you know the cowboys and all that so I'm getting like super excited and being like oh my god and so when then the bears all of a sudden traded up I knew exactly what was happening and then the later it goes not that 15 is is even that late but I'm like mac Jones is falling like nobody wants him and yeah he worked you know who's under sabin it's the same scheme as the Pats and all this kind of stuff. So they're like Matt Ryan as a ceiling, like I guess it's better than Cam Newton. Matt Ryan is an MVP and borderline MVP. But Ricky's making a good point when you when you're talking about like where Patriots fans are at after what for them was a very trying seven and nine.

And I know Greg has a sandwich prop on it. So Greg was all about it. Everyone was like Justin Fields to the Pats and a new era. So now you have Mac Jones. And yeah, Greg, you're, I know you're not as excited about a Mac Jones future as you would have been Justin Fields. No, because of the style of play. I mean, he's the first quarterback taken in the first round. Correct me if I'm wrong since Jared Goff.

That's like not athletic. Has there been anyone else? I mean, Baker people say, but Baker can move a little bit. I mean, you know, I just don't think like the physical gifts are there. That said, it's funny because at the very beginning of the process, people kind of thought Mac Jones was like a mid-first-round pick and made a lot of sense for the Patriots. So, you know, the more I listen to people that are really into studying the college evaluation,

like they liked Mack Jones. He just, you know, they liked them as kind of like the 15th or 20th best player in the draft, not a top-tier guy. And, you know, it's not as exciting. Like his style of play is not as exciting. There's some, you know, the photo of Brady that gets served. circled around at the draft every single year about him shirtless and what he weighs and all this, you know, just like the quarterback that doesn't look good.

Go look at the photo of Mack Jones shirtless with a cigar in his mouth. I haven't seen that photo until tonight and someone shot it in techs and it, it's not, it's not the most impressive physique, but he's going to get into a professional strength of training program, right? I was under the impression, Ricky, that that maybe was the most most annoying part to you was the, I wouldn't call it flabby, but maybe just sort of... I'd say flabby. It's kind of a bad, bud. It's just sort of like a, like a 12-year-old boy who's eaten too much food around the pool

looks like, just a bit of a blimpy stomach. He probably isn't always looking that way, but like that seemed to be more agitating to you than what you had caught from his Alabama career per se. We have Josh McDaniels and, you know, Bill Belichick, this great, you know, we kind of unlocked it a little bit. with Cam with a mobile quarterback. So as the night kept going on, I got wicked excited about Justin Fields.

And I really thought that the possibility was getting closer and closer and closer. Because who even knows when the Eagles traded up, I was like, oh, maybe they're going to get them because they might not be all in on Hertz either. And they've said that. I love those Patriots fan disappointment. Right.

I mean, Ricky, is the new normal? Is it more concerning for you that you got Mac Jones or that you were out, that Bill Belichick was outwitted by Ryan Pace? I mean, Lombardi claimed before the draft there was no chance they were taking Fields, which cooled me, which got me my expectations way lower. So even as the night was going, I kind of figured they'd like take a defensive player if Fields was on the board. I don't know if Ricky, maybe I'm wrong.

You talk to Patriots fans too. I think I would suspect this pick was actually fairly popular in New England because they want, you know, they want a new quarterback. essentially they you know it's like this sabin clone i mean weirdly like the patriots fans have been almost brainwashed into like wanting clones and like mac jones like walking down looking all serious it honestly the thing i like least about them getting mac jones is what i fear is going to be like the patriots fans reaction and just everything about the mac jones like versus cam newton experience is going to be a little messy you know there's some you know Brady got a lot of stuff for being like a Trump guy and stuff.

There's a little bit of that with Mac Jones. Oh, yeah. It's all a little bit. It's all a little bit. Yeah, you'll see that photo again. If you haven't seen him. But don't you think, like I also, I like the process of it. By the time they got to the pick there, I was, I kind of wanted them to take back Jones

because I really do believe you have to keep taking quarterbacks. And don't, I don't know, they've, they've earned my benefit of the doubt. It's like, well, they'll probably make it work with Mac Jones. Like, I can see that working. Yeah, just like a wannabe MVP, Cam Newton, for sure. Oh, she's still, oh, I'm still rooting for Cam. I'm still wanting Cam to win this battle. We know you are.

That's an uphill battle. We know you are. All right. Let's keep moving. All right. So as we now head through the end of the middle and to the back end, you have, let's see, Zavin Collins, the talented linebacker out of Tulsa, goes to the Cardinals. They take linebackers in the first round back-to-back years.

Alex Leatherwood, offensive tackle, Alabama, goes to the Raiders at number 17. This is becoming a great new tradition. Everyone kills the Raider pick in the first round. And you know how DJ to, again, again, great John. This guy knows his stuff. This is my biggest stage of the year, and I knocked it out of the park. Everybody look at me. I'm prepared and charismatic and well-spoken.

Whatever. Good job, bro. also a guy that doesn't he's not going to tear you down on national television that's just not DJ's style but this is DJ killing a pick if you truly can code out the way DJ feels about a pick play it Ricky this one is a little bit of a it's interesting pick because you talk to people around the league they're all over the map on Alex Leatherwood some really like him some struggle with him he's played a lot of football at Alabama started a lot of ball games he's got quick feet he was my 60 second overall player so

It was a little bit earlier than I had him coming off the board, but obviously they've found some traits in Alex Sutherwood that they felt great about. I'm just trying to read into what you're saying. This pick kind of surprises you, huh? Yeah, I did not think Alex Lever will go off the board in a second round. He's not going to be a good player or be a solid starter. He also pointed out that they could have possibly traded back

and gotten more value, which I thought was the most salient point of criticism there, too. because he pointed out when Mayak was on the set, he would be like, if you've got a conviction, like there's no, nothing too early to take a player. But now they've taken Cleveland Farrell forth. They took Arnett last year, which was a shocker. And then this one. I do like the Jeremiah.

I was like, I had him 62nd. Well, I think he's trying to be constructive with his criticism, but they're friends. I mean, if suddenly we were having to talk about it. He replaced them in this very job that DJ's in is the number one draft analyst. And I was also thinking as like, as DJ is saying, all right, I hate this pick, but I'm going to be a GM next year. And how would

I want my replacement to come after me if I had a reach in the first round? It's like you're kind of in a tough spot in that position. Right. I mean, but I'll give Mayok this. Like, yeah, all right, look, have the drafts all worked? No, I think it's been overwhelming. But he's at least living what he said he mentioned on NFL Network about when you believe in someone, you just take him. I mean, he thinks for himself. Now, there's some Gruden. in there obviously too but i mean mayock like consistently does things that no one expects in the draft just that i just need to work it ain't to work because i get concerned about having like a bold vision like we have our board and our board we don't care about anybody else that's all good as long as

the guys can play because if they don't then you're just bad at this so that that there is a bit of a dance here they also got stuck i think into having to go offensive line because of some of the stuff that's happened this offseason which is also front office business But when you hear like half the league thinks he's a tackle, half he thinks he's a guard, to me that doesn't scream like, we've got a home run here. It's like you've got a project. And it's too high in the draft for that. The trading back thing is, I think that's important. That's process. That's why I kind of was, you know, like I said was with Jones. The process of it made sense to take a quarterback there. You can't tell me that the Raiders couldn't have traded back and gotten some extra picks and still taking old leather face. Leather face. Well, no. Leather face. this one by the way leatherwood what what type of like what product are you leather wood like which no that's a great call are you a guard are you a tackle are you leather or you would who are you alex and he's like i don't know number 18 the dolphins take jalen phillips

edge rusher out of miami uh the washington football team takes hamo davis linebacker out of kentucky and then the Giants, as I said, took a wide receiver out of Florida, Cadarius, Tony. So we'll see if he turns out to be, listen, you never know with these wide receivers. You never know. Like all these guys go in the first round. And just because Tony got picked after the three other studs, he might be better than all of them. And then the Giants would have the better wide receiver and the extra first round pick. We'll see.

Dave Gettleman, another potential. chance to save his job you know he's an interesting career did a good job tonight bit of a gadget guy you know that's i think how tony projects is kind of a guy to use in a lot of creative ways i mean receiver it was weird because they were zeroed in on receiver it sounded like and that was a good point dan i didn't even think about that they probably were going to take smith devonta smith there um like they have good receivers they have sterling shepherd darius slay and kenny golladay and edin ingram and now they have tony so if nothing else they should be a lot more watchable.

If those guys all stay healthy too, that's been the issue. I tweeted that Gettlement, if nothing else, his drafting style is very linear. It's like, all right, he wants this, he'll take this. And in this case, because they took it from him, he said, I will now move

back and then I will take that same position, but only a little further in the block. There's not a lot of layers, it feels like, with Gettelman, but maybe it all works out in the end. All right. I asked you guys on tax mark i know you saw it um a little later um sneaky good picks i like the the titans did oh by the way the cults take i'm going to struggle with this name quitte quitty pay quiddy pay uh the edge rush

out of michigan at 21 the titans i really liked uh caleb farley cornerback out of virginia tech this is their defense has been killing them uh the last couple years and this is uh farley is you know not a can't miss prospect but uh everyone everyone everyone says this guy's got a ton of of upside and they need help in that secondary like that pick sneaky good pick he he just watching just a little bit of him he leaps off the screen i think he he could have he would have been a top 10 pick if not for these back surgeries he would have been taken ahead of ser tan and he would have been taken ahead of horn and he's just a big injury risk but i think when you're getting towards the end of the round and that's going to my it's similar to my um sneaky good pick uh take a big swing

I think at the end of the first round. And, you know, they are a team that they pointed out on network, I thought correctly, that Jeffrey Simmons, injury issues coming in, but they just loved the player, and they showed enough faith in his rehab and getting back on the field, and they won that one. I mean, when I watch him, they compared him to Charles Woodson, to Bobby Taylor, the old eagle. I see little shades.

It's not safety, but I see shades of Eric Turner in the way he hits. I mean, he just attacks. So if you get the healthy version of this, this was an awesome pick for the Titans. Okay, let's keep moving through the first round here. Bah, blah, ba, ba, ba, bah, bah, booi. Christian Dar esau, offensive tackle out of Virginia Tech goes to the Vikings at 23. They, of course, traded with the Jets back to 23 and picked up those two mid-round picks. And they take Darasaw.

Okay, the Steelers, there was a lot of buzz connecting, Nagee, Harris, the talented Alabama running back. By the way, six Alabama players went in the first round of this draft. I mean, that is Nick Saban's doing something. Well, they also were like, we're playing no matter what. Like, there are other colleges that didn't get more than a couple games in. And Alabama's like, we don't really care what's happening in America. We're playing.

Right. But they're the recruiting and they built up such an outstanding program and a winning tradition there that I guess all these like blue chip guys must be running to go there. It's just unbelievable the factory that place is. Anyway, Najee Harris, the running back goes to the Steelers at 24, adding a much, much, much needed element of dynamic talent in that running back group because James Connor, after a lot of hype early on, he kind of petered out. Now he's in Arizona. Labion Bell, of course, was a superstar, and we know how that ended. Now Harris is a chance to kind of breathe some life into that backfield.

Well, your mock got this one right there, Mark. Yeah. Well, I don't think I, you know, that wasn't me being Mike Mayock and thinking originally necessarily. But, you know, they comped him to Levi-on-Bell. Charles Davis comped him to Franco Harris. And he's a huge guy who can move. He had more rushing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns than Derek Henry or Mark Ingram at Alabama.

I do like when teams have like a profile. I mean, and there's a reason the Steelers do. They've had the same GM for 20 years. So they just keep. They have a blueprint. But they don't have an offensive line. And they haven't been the same since Mike Munchak left. So that's the part I don't quite get.

Are you going to fix this schematically? Do you have the players up front? On paper, their offensive line looks terrible. Looks like one of the worst than the NFL. They're organizationally, they've just been so stable and well run for so long that you just assume it's going to work out. But with the line and the uncertain nature of Big Ben, stage couple with the fact that it does look like it's they actually signed mason rudolph to a one-year

extension uh today or that was it was announced today so it's like he's the backup and you have that bust haskins somewhere in the building as well so it's like okay i mean it's either going to be they're either going to be 12 and 5 or 13 and 4 uh or this is going to be mark's fever dream of all time and they go 6 and 11 like i feel like there's not going to be like an in-between with this steelers team you make it sound like your offensively line in April, May, and June. Yeah, that's true. You make it sound like Haskins is just like hanging out in the IT closet or something.

They're like, where is Haskins? Maybe. I mean, would you be surprised? He's like, you know, on his iPhone or something. I, you know. It might be the best quarterback in the building right now. You never know. I know.

Dwayne Haskins is not the best quarterback in any building. I mean, what version of Ben you get? I mean, imagine if you were so harsh about Sam Darnold here. Here you go again. There you go. The numbers are very similar. That's why. Yes, Dwayne Haskins and Sam Darnel,

that is a good comparison point to the type of individual we're dealing with here. Haskins doesn't want to play. They didn't put any up. He got run out of town in two years, Greg. Travis Etienne. I think I got that. Etyen. Etyn.

Aetian. Running back Clemson to the Jaguars. All right. I mean, that seemed weird. Yeah, especially the way Irving. Robin Meyer talked about him, and maybe, this is probably just coach speak, but he was like, we say James Robinson and Carlos Hyde is our one-two punch and Etienne is our third down back because we wanted to have one of the top eight running back groups in the league.

And I was like, that was a very odd comment. What are you telling us so much information for? It's probably just saying that in making the rookie earn his way. I mean, if you're drafted him 25, he better not be playing behind Carlos Hyde. Well, and you won't like this, Dan, but it's another pairing of Clemson quarterback and his Clemson running back, which. Send a bolt to Canton. They know each other.

I think you're suggesting that when Greg and I mentioned that, we think that it's going to be going to make them all like Hall of Fame players. I'm just saying there seems to be, this hasn't happened. This isn't every year this happens. You know what I hope? I hope the Jets draft like every Mormon guy. Exactly. Wilson's ever by the end of it.

No, it's not like matching religions, but that's interesting too. Why not? BYU. You're not, there aren't a lot of rogue elements at BYU. Remember when the Jets really did draft Mark Sanchez's buddy in the sixth draft? Yes, yes, yes. And collision low crossers. That was covered extensively.

No, I do like the idea of a Rosenthal Sessler co-GM thing where that's the only thing your draft board is, like matching up former teammates. It's like if you can get a high school teammates, that's fine. But we really want college teammates. We'll even go junior high if necessary. Speaking of Mark, the Browns take Greg Newsom, the second. cornerback out of Northwestern. I find that I know you're a ride or die with Andrew Barry in this brain trust right now, and why wouldn't you be?

They're on their, they've really built a nice roster here. I saw that you love this move. Well, I do because, like, I think that they had from just some stuff that I'd heard, that there was a short list of players they were interested in. And in most mocks you look at, Newsom didn't get to them. And I think Caleb Farley was another guy they were into. and Farley didn't get to them. And so that Newsom did, I think that was a win for the Browns.

They wanted to go quarterbacker edge. And just, you know, again, you've added John Johnson, Troy Hill. You get Greedy Williams back who didn't play a snap last year. You get Grant Delpit back. And you get Newsom. That's five new players in your secondary. Secondary that, you know, even though they whipped Pittsburgh in that playoff game, gave up 500 yards in that game.

It's like their defense was a liability. So, you know, they've done a lot to address that side of the ball. Also, I think that is a victory for Andrew Barry in Co. And a nice showcase for Cleveland, you know, tonight. It was a little rainy, though. But, yeah, that was on Dan's Raider. A little too much with like the Haywer, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thing. It's like, well, there's also the Football Hall of Fame nearby.

I don't need Kings of Leon before and after the draft starts. Could we agree, though, that whoever the host city is at any point, you're going to be, You and I will be sick of the host city, you know, flourish and all the nonsense by the end of the weekend. I'm not sick of Cleveland at all. I'm just saying don't build the telecast around King. No, but I mean, the draft hadn't even started and Dan was already sending hot texts about, you know, Cleveland people being fake tough because it was raining or something. I don't know what it was. I don't know. I think I texted clearly just to get a rise out of you. But I was like, it was wet and cold and miserable. It was like, oh, let's put the draft in Cleveland. because the people are so gritty.

Like, how about you put somewhere 74 degrees in sunny? You know, that's not overthinking. How about this? How about we return the draft? So I could also like maybe see my family more than once a year. How about we return it to New York City? You know, the greatest city in the world. Put it in Radio City and kind of cut out some of this.

I'm not going to get into it. I like my job. Not the Radio City business. Like you left with a back injury. You could barely sit in your seat on the way home. Well, they could make some changes and updates to the venue, perhaps. although I do love the kind of spirit of Radio City Music Hall and its place in Manhattan's history.

But anyway, go see a show on the side. The suits were made for like the average, when the average man was my size. It's like Fenway Park seats. They're not facing home plate and they're like, they're for a 140 pound guy. Like, honestly, I kid you not, because we used to go there every year for the draft

and they would just stick you in these like 1937, seats for 5 foot to 114 pounds. And my neck got so messed up that I was in physical therapy for like six months. And they like diagnosed me with stenosis. I was like, what? Yes, you can't do that, so you can't sit that way.

Did the NFL, like, show any more concern for that than they did for the room in your house being used for their goods and wares? But I would also remember that at that Radio City, when we weren't sitting in those, they had you sitting in the chairs with pieces of wood on top of you that you put your laptop on, first of all, fire hazard. But there was, like,

they'd have us doing auxiliary work up in, like, the makeup rooms for, like, the Rockettes or something. It couldn't have been more bizarre slash on rewarding. I don't know. Listen, I, not for me. I mean, any job, the NFL wants to send me,

it's a blessing on this end of the time. All right. I see how this is going. It was, honestly, a career highlight when I lived in, New York to cover the draft in New York. That was sort of always my dream to, like, cover an event without, like, leaving the city.

And getting to do that for four or five years was, like, a fucking thrill. Once I moved. Once I move, yeah, it would be nice to bring it back there. It's time to be right. I also treasured the experience. I didn't like it. I didn't like flying in, really, to be on, you know, as much. But now I would.

I haven't been there. And it does, Ricky points out, the Super Bowl will be in Los Angeles this year, Greg. So I guess pinch yourself. It's a little different. like just the idea of I literally like walk to the draft you're like walking through the city and you're going to the draft it was cool uh all right so I like this pick a lot too Rashad Bateman who our friend Nate Tice had pumped up as a wide receiver that he loved at Minnesota he goes to the Ravens so the Ravens had two first round picks at 27 and 31 at 31 they take Jason away edge Penn State and yes Rashon Shod Bateman, a guy with a lot of upside, and Tice, as you recall, boys, was very big on him. So you now add Bateman to the Hollywood Brown wide receiver group. And okay, we're making some progress now.

Needed him. And I think, you know, a lot of mocks had him going earlier and he can make plays down the field seems very complete. And Oway, I'm fascinated by. He's my sneaky good pick because he looks like a freak. you could make the argument just looking at his testing numbers that he is as like as big a testing freak as any defensive end almost that's ever come back come out and he reminds me a lot of jid davy and clowny that's kind of how he plays so may you know if he if he has a career like clowny and he landed in the perfect spot like that can actually coach him up to to work with all this talent you just figure the ravens are going to make it work um Peyton Turner defensive end goes to the Saints. I don't think Saints fans were too excited about that based on what I was seeing on Twitter. A lot of WTF 8 exclamation marks. Yeah, it was a little bit out of nowhere.

But they said he's exactly like Marcus Davenport, which is not going to get them excited either. I mentioned Stokes, the corner out of Georgia, went to the Packers. Greg Rousseau, who's a guy that very polarizing, as Lance Zirline was talking about last week on our show, earlier this week. This has been a very long week. He goes number 30 overall to the bills.

So that's obviously a roster similar to Cleveland where you don't see a ton of holes, but getting another pass rusher in there with high upside. That's a nice move this late in the draft. I think they're thrilled he got there. I mean, you saw like it seems like every war room is just a bunch of people pumping their fists. But at the same time, like I think that was a little genuine. from the bills i don't think that rousseau was someone they expected to have a chance to grab wait are you insinuating their fake uh fist pumps no i just i think it's the kind of thing we're

like and i get it like why would you you're going to like whoever you pick at that moment but it's like who's really really feeling like holy f we scored here and i would put the bills in the higher echelon of feeling like holy f we really scored here the cowboys always lay it on a little thick with their so they didn't they didn't tonight because they wanted to take a cornerback and went cornerback cornerback in front of them and then they traded out so they were i think they got banged that's also like more than any team in the league in terms of what they wanted jera has like 37 hidden cameras all throughout the draft room trained on everyone and if you don't have the exact uh reaction that he wants you're gone right and they've been drinking whiskey since 11 a m so

you know you know was the guy that cleans the glasses was he in the draft room you think i didn't see them there their uh didn't catch the draft room always has a lot of people cousin gregg i found it that the Patriot's entire draft room was Belichick Kraft and one other person who I think was Patricia I think it was I think it was that's it that was their entire draft they don't let anyone else in it's just like who be it oh my god uh by the way Greg easy with the Kings of Leon slander it's so easy but that band and now they're over the hill and um I listened to the most recent album and it's it's sad when it happens but uh their time came and went but those early kings of leon records were some of the best to me rock of the early to mid 2000s so i'm

going to just say that i want to i want to get that out there and i want that to be on the record please respond gregg no i saw you know they had a very mixed reaction on twitter some people were very excited you know a lot of the same people who like it when you know they play bruce springsteen and stuff and other people were like, who are these guys? Oh, you're so hip, Greg. I like hip, I like rap. Oh, no. I love, I love a lot of rock.

I love a lot of rock music, just not, just not the Leon's. Do we have to keep talking until this burrito shows up, by the way? That is a good point. I'm a little, I'm starting to worry about the burrito. Aha shake, heartbreak. Check that out. Check that out. I know, listen, there's going to be large swaths of,

football Twitter that if you're a veteran rock band you get your cheap shots in because it shows that you're cool and who was the killers of the strokes or something i would have been about it why not that it's also just like the timing why you why is any band playing it that the bar to take up that time slot has is really high like i will say this reanimate prints or it's something really big on the subject of music like the only thing i would the only comment i would make uh critique of our coverage is we were very very plugged in on the music that was being played by the house band during the telecast well they had wait there was one moment where i thought that they did jet what was it was it sweet caroline where i don't need to hear that song again no now now

now i remember hearing that and being like because it's the red sock song of course and um i was thinking to myself oh this this kind of went over well and now they're going to try to make this a tradition and now I got this song involved in the draft as well. Enough with the Sweet Caroline, the Neil Diamond stuff. Can we calm down? It's an embarrassment. It's an embarrassment for Red Sox fans. I think a lot of them feel that embarrassment alongside with me.

I thought the production was Sterling. I just had a ball and watching the whole thing. See, now you're getting it. Where did the little heading that said a fully vaccinated room with some heroes. That was my favorite part of the night was seeing which draft rooms were fully vaccinated or not. Because it said fully vaccinated draft room with the Falcons.

What was that like, I think it was to promote getting. Oh, no, that is. My wife made the same comment. He was like, why is it saying? Because it wasn't just the Falcons. It was several teams. Why are they doing that? I was like, I guess we're trying to be socially responsible as a league.

I guess that's what it was all about. Or to explain why they didn't have the math. I guess because like the Patriots, it didn't say fully vaccinated and they weren't wearing masks. So that is, again, that gets you thinking this whole Patriots, Mac Jones, this podcast is making me in like rooting for the Patriots less. It's like it's not helping. Mission accomplished. I just kind of want to give up on it. I'm texting my wife about the burrito by the way.

I will give you very quickly my upside or was it your my sneaky draft. pick? Oh, we know who it is. It's Greg News and the second. No, it's not. No, it's Jammin Davis, all right? How about. DJ compared him to Darius Leonard, who I think is like one of my favorite defensive players in the league right now. And then David Shaw, this is, this should make you excited, Dan, because David Shaw basically said that, like, Zach Wilson was like one of the most fun players to watch on offense. Was he the best quarterback? I don't know, but he's most fun. He said that Jammin Davis is fun, but he's saying that. Jammin Davis was his defensive version of that. So he's on my radar.

Good. Wilson's almost gotten overlooked on this pod just because we knew he was going there. But my God, he is going to light it up. I think early on there's going to be a lot of good and a lot of bad, but I think I think everyone kind of knows that going in. But it's going to be cautiously optimistic. I really am because I was I was in the camp and everybody listening to this podcast knows that I was kind of on the side of keep darn old and give him a real structure and bring in some more help and see if he can get on track. But now after going through this whole draft process, if this guy's special, if he's special and he's fun and he gets you out of your chair and he passes like that

Chris Wessling test where he's like, what's the first game I put on on game pass? Like, I don't think that was ever going to happen with Wes and Sam Darnold and the Jets, even if Darnold panned out. But if Wilson can play, he could turn them into like a team that they want to put in prime time again. and all that, and there's, there's just a lot of hope. And everyone's hung up on how young he looks. And I get that, but that doesn't really matter. I mean, hopefully, I also like that he's a little bit.

He seems to be a little bit of a shit. I kind of like that about it. The photo he sent out of him, like, staring down at his phone while he's on the, you know, with the traffic behind them, that is a little bit of a red flag. But he's got some Sanchez to him. Maybe that's not so bad. When Rich Eisen put it out into the ether that, like, that jets. Patriots, Mac Jones versus

Zach Wilson will be a primetime game. I was like, oh, yeah, it will. It'll be a third. That'll be a NFL network game. Entering the lead together. I see some, some Baker DNA, maybe not, I'm not saying from the plane side, but I know what you're saying.

Headband wearing, like, you know, a little bit of an edge, which now we suddenly like, you know, already doing commercials, which we're already buying the products that he's pitching. So, you know, it's suddenly when it's happening to you, like all these things are positive. So maybe we can, at least have a truce and realize we both like these quarterbacks with with a little bit of

edge and ad sales what's wrong with the edge on baker i never had a problem with baker's edge get out of here what i just you know he's just got to play and he played very well in year three i it is not just the play that we're discussing like the the the concept that oh the commercials he's he hasn't won five five super bowl so he shouldn't be doing an ad but now you're about you're literally waiting for your wife to bring you a burrito that your quarterback is pitch before he's thrown a pass, which by the way, I couldn't be happier about, but it's just let's be real here. Like, they are the same situation, young people capitalizing on their looks, youth, talent, and position in life. It's more like the Baker commercial was relentless,

that whole, and then on top of it was like, everyone was like, let me get my blog post and my tweet thread fired off about how amazing this ad campaign is. And it's like, okay, okay. I mean, I think we all thought that A was like totally misplaced in a terrible season. And it was on, we were watching eight televisions in our newsroom. Well, it's two years now. They were good to stick with them, though. They were good to stick with them. I mean, what, what commercials get more pop than this?

I think we can call it official. I mean, we, we know he's a better commercial actor, but Baker Mayfield did, he did win over Sam Darnold. You know, that's over. I don't know if that's true. Well, he won, in terms of their picks, that's over. The pick was more successful. No matter what happens, I do stand by this, not to be sidetracked here. I think Sam Donald would have done just as well, if not better than Baker, if you put him in Cleveland.

I really do believe that. I disagree. And I think if Baker, if Baker got drafted by the Jets, at best, that's a guess. If Baker, well, of course it is. If Baker is drafted by the Jets, the Jets would have drafted a new quarterback this year as well. I mean, you can say that in Will, I don't, we don't even know long get the show by 25 more minutes. But ultimately, you got to go with the results. You know, there was like the Mario out of Winston.

That was kind of a draw. This, you know, he got it. He got the decision. He got the win. Yeah. Well, that's great. Congratulations. Give him a huge contract.

Give him a Jared Gough extension. See how that goes. Ooh. I mean, they're going to. But they're not doing that. They're not doing that early like other teams have. I'm not fight. Let's not fight about this.

Okay. No. Especially at the end of 90 minutes. Congratulations to Andrew Barry, though. What a day. He had a kid this morning on draft day. That's right. That sounds like a.

movie. You did that too. But for the listeners who think there's too much Jets, Brown's talk, just lop off the final 37 minutes of this show and you'll be fine. And Bucks fans are like, when are you going to get to our Joe Tryon? Oh, I forgot about that. Good pick by then, though. He's the edge out of Washington.

He goes 32nd overall to wrap up round one. Any final takeaways from the first round. Besides Drew Breeze's new hair, which is noticeable. You know, I guess I would just wonder if there is anything else with the Broncos and the Packers and all this before. If we hear any more whispers or if it's just shut down and, you know, they've closed the curtain and everyone's left the stage. I think I found a way to, like, jam in all the points I wanted to make, even when it didn't really make sense in the context of what we were talking about. I think it is, it's all covered, and we do not need to cover Tim Tebow and his try out with the Jagger. And we do need to cover Kim Dice, but that will come on Saturday.

So don't worry. I did not forget. We have a Kim Dice update, which is outrageous. I can't believe Kim Dice is still in our life. When the draft was just about the start, I happened to go to ESPN.com. Robert Kanditj, signing with the Seahawks, was the fourth highest story in their news stack on their homepage, which is totally bizarre. It's because he fell out the window. He fell out the window.

And that's why everyone is over. he's fascinated by him more than he was a first round bust he was the guy that fell out the window and it's not just a sports story stick a pin in that uh all right good stuff by the way we we uh as you saw no doubt on social media if you're a fan of the show uh ricky had the great idea to go to dodger stadium me mark rickie and m ovp um met up with lakisha and link and what a great time that was that was link's first game unfortunately the reds didn't show up eight zilch they got beat uh but that that was very nice and it was good to uh to do it well if you haven't checked it out too i would also go look at the um reds what is it a onesie i guess you could call like the outfit that um link was

wearing was one of the coolest kid baseball getups i've ever seen what eyes what a cute little boy he is we had a great time with them let's get it together reds you know stop being such a disappointment. Well, they did take two or three from the Dodgers. That was pretty good. I think a good seeing Link in the onesie too gave me the idea. It's too late for me. Not that I'd want to be the one wearing it. But if anybody's looking now that there's going to be Halloween parties again for the 20-somethings, which is a big deal, well, at least when I was in New York City, and I assume it's a big thing for the youth, post-college youth. A an adult onesie. and even wear the diaper

which actually if you want to go all the way because when you're drinking a lot wearing a diaper might actually if you really want to get the functional use of it you could do that but you have the onesie and then you just dress like a baby in a onesie that feels like an absurd costume

that would have some legs yeah I think if you're a female you'd also if you want to be a real baby like get a baby's haircut or which I mean would make it just make it real Because it's like girls are just like, oh, I'll dress like something else and just be a girl at a Halloween party. But like, let if you want to strike a realistic note, shave the head very clean or have small baby hair on top of your head.

You definitely hit something that's already been in Mark's mind and he's loving it. No, it's, well, now it's. I like it as a subversion too because, you know, a lot of things that happen at these Halloween parties, girls or at least they did that when I was in my 20s would dress up sexy. Right. Maybe instead of the schoolgirl outfit, now you're a baby. And like you're saying

I don't like that whole like I'm going to sexualize myself. I'm sure. I'm cranking the back clock all the way back to baby time including the haircut. Yep. You're saying respect me. Take me seriously. I'll stick it to you for trying to turn me. All right. We'll be back Saturday with a full

recap of the draft. Everybody, please come back. Please. And he's the call. This is an Ihaired This is an I-heart podcast.