NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Free Agency Deep Dive with Bill Barnwell

Episode Date: March 14, 2024

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler break down the latest news from around the NFL, including Calvin Ridley signing with the Titans (05:57), Desmond Riddler getting traded to the Cardinals (13:58), Mike Williams being released by the Chargers (16:21), Joe Flacco signing with the Colts (20:39), and more. After the break, the guys take a break from the news and are joined by Bill Barnwell to break down free agency moves they think will have the biggest impact (34:15), have them scratching their heads (42:16), and asking "What the hell's going on out there?" (46:10). The show is wrapped up with some predictions about what's still to come during free agency (01:12:08). Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Has no dead cap money. From the Chris Wessling podcast studio, it's Around the NFL. I am Dan Hansis. I have heroes here. Greg Rosenthal and Mark Sessler.

And it is the second day of the new league year. And kudos to us for finally cutting through all the red tape. Don't tell me the league year starting Wednesday is this big important entree the whole week. It's the beginning of the week. And now here later in the week. So we took Wednesday off.

And now we have a much clearer picture of everything. Haza. I mean, to me, there is no larger force, farce, I should say, in all of pro sports than the NFL calendar in March. Like, none of it, It's like, don't try to tell me that anything starts at a certain time. I won't buy it because we were, it's day two of what?

We've been grinding since Sunday mid-afternoon. If I-Heart's not going to give us any credit, at least Dan did right to start off the show. Nailed it. Nailed it. We're good at that. This is, yes, really, in reality, the fourth day of the league year, don't listen to them. Listen to us. And that means many, many of the big players that were going into free agency looking for homes or looking to stay with their team, just looking to do business, have done that business.

In fact, Gregi, of your top 101, how many, who's the, what number is the highest ranking player left? Well, Tyron Smith has like a four next to his name, but on the original list, he would have been, I think, 14. and he also would have been the only player on the original list of even the top 20 that's unaccounted for, the only one. And then, yeah, so one out of the top. Kendall Fuller, who I apparently valued a lot higher than NFL teams actually just came off the board. He would have been 13th on the list that went, you know,

kind of final on Monday as the negotiating period started. And he just went off the board to the dolphins who have actually made a quietly a bunch of nice little moves. We're still working on our list. And I think there's a lot of questions. No, it's, no, it's more like, you know, we exhibit patience. What the list will come when we feel it's time for it to show us? I mean, what are we doing?

The house is out of the horse is out of the barn. It's on the highway. Relax. Mark, I did not tell you that we did release it. Oh, well, that's good. Okay. But it's on the internet. Okay. But it's, we, it's in. Why was I not brought into that process?

We've been, you know. Because it was top secret. We dropped it as an Easter egg on the internet. It was actually, if you could find the URL. Right. Put out on the. company, but that company was recently bought by European investors and they told everyone, you know, that they're, what I do love is that we published it on Deadspin and it was immediately eradicated. That's not our fault. I love the Greg underneath the layers of, you know,

deciding whether or not this was a real project. Greg is a little annoyed that we continue to pump up a little bit, our list. Just a little. You never know. I love it because it's showing how tough it is to make that list. Where is your list? I don't see it. It's always surprising. what actually annoys Greg? Like talking about the pick standings or that football that the charity gave me. Or for some reason, the Free Agency 213,

there's just, you could tell there's just a little bit of agitation. Why is that, Greg? Why is it certain things? And then other things, it's like, eh, nothing really matters. The only thing that's bothering me about this

is that you actually believe what you just said. I do. I believe 100%. Like Aaron Rogers, I believe everything I say, and I believe it to be correct. You just don't believe anything, anyone else says, at least from like a large sort of organizational or societal standpoint.

I don't. Now I don't know what you're talking about. We are going to be getting deep into a look back in terms of what has happened this week and also, of course, looking ahead to what's still to come with the great Bill Barnwell, who is a great person to talk to this time or year, really any time of year, but this time of year especially. So that's coming up a little bit later. But first, Let's get caught up on the news since we last spoke with you. Someone's going to ask you. So have you had the little-ass boy conversation with Max hit? Yeah, sure.

Sure, no. He's a big-ass boy is what he is. Yeah, dang. I did not even connect the dots on that. Gardner Minshu signs with the Las Vegas Raiders. And do we have that original sound from inside the NFL? For context that Minchu in a game last year was repeatedly belittled by Crosby on the field for his stature to the point where

you cut to Minchu in the second half and he's like, I'm not that small. Maybe for, according to the football world, but I'm a little ass boy. Dude, Max Crosby is so damn angry. Bro. He just, like, the thing is, like, he's not

that angry. I know, right? He just calls, he keeps calling everybody little ass boy. Hey, little ass boy. I'm like, I'm little out here, but not always, you know. Gardner Minchu. The way he says it, he's really got a McConaughey vibe to him. That's, I got to say, I think that's kind of what you want out of your quarterback.

He could be pointing out John Candy in the crowd right before he goes and has a game-winning Super Bowl. Well, let's, let's cut down with any Gardner Minchew, Joe Montana parallels. If he beats out Aiden O'Connell, maybe that'll happen. He's chill. Perfect, perfect landing spot for Minchew. Let's see if he can squeeze some more starts out of this. All right, let's start, though, in Tennessee, where a surprise on Wednesday,

the Calvin Ridley, we had talked about in our previous show, and in general, all the arrows seem to be pointing to him returning to Jacksonville and circumventing that the trade terms with Atlanta to avoid giving up a second round pick, that he would just sign with the Jags we spent last year with on the first day of the league year. No, all that. erroneous, Ridley signs a four-year, $92 million contract with the Titans.

That includes $50 million guaranteed. He's now in terms of average value of salary at that position, a top 10, which really jumps out to me. Mark is a little rich for my blood with Calvin Ridley, a guy that's 29 years old. He's got a suspension on the ledger. He faded a little bit last year. It was a little hot and cold in general. and you're paying him as a number one. Like once again,

the Dalton scale of wide receivers. That is an off-season episode that is screaming at us. Where would Ridley fall? I think on the other side of that. So let's talk about it because he's not being paid like that. These wide receiver deals

for a number of years in a row have been wild. I would say this, though, about the Titans in general. I don't know if Calvin Ridley is, I'm with you. I think the money is more than the man in this situation.

But this was a team that desperately, needed to read the man well the player the player okay okay that's i don't know i don't know him personally so that that was out of bounds by me and i i not since you took down the entire insider culture have i thought that you really made such a personal attack more on that that was only a couple days ago but you out now you add riddley to d'andre hopkins trailing burke's nick westbrook kina it's like will levis is coming out of this as somewhat of a winner because a they didn't can you say those again say those names again calvin ridley dionre hopkins

Traylin Berks, Nick Westbrookina. It's not that they couldn't go draft someone else, too. It's just that... Is that good? I'm just saying they were bottom of the barrel, one of the worst wide receiver groups in the league at times last year. And it's like, if Hopkins can still play, I don't hate Ridley and Hopkins as a duo.

They added Tony Pollard, Lloyd Cushenberry. It's like they are at least active. They needed to do... They needed to take steps and they're taking steps. It was one of the only contracts this offseason that when they reported, I was like, wow. I did not expect him to... be that far above the rest of the class of receivers that even got to free agency.

Mark East Brown, for instance, hasn't even signed yet, though. So we'll see what he gets, but it's not going to be anything close to this. When it was $50 million guaranteed. So you mentioned the average contract. I think that actually does favors to the Titan. So unless the reporting is extremely misleading, it's $50 million guaranteed, which I would assume is basically over the first two years of his contract. So that's more like 25.

It is actually backloaded. I don't think he gets to that third year anyways. And that guaranteed money would be second among all wide receivers only behind Tyree killed. Now, the cap goes up. Our friend Justin Graver and Titans fans are in their feelings. People criticizing this move immediately pointed out off a tweet I wrote of like, well, the percentage of the cap is a lot less. And it's, you know, it's a lot.

If you average out what A.J. Brown's contract actually would have been now. Like that's a bigger percentage of the cap from when it was signed. And all these Titans fans who are all comparing it and it's like, yeah, this is going to look like a bargain when Iyuk signs and Higgins signs and all these top players. And my thing is like, yeah, but really is not anywhere close to the category of those players. That's our point. That's like, yeah, of course, A.J. Brown takes up a bigger percentage of the cap, although he got less guaranteed money, which again, is a little crazy. Ridley's just like a good player that's getting paid as a great player, which is how teams historically have gotten into trouble. in free agency.

And he's not, he's not a young player anymore either. He's 29, he's a little inconsistent last. He's like an older version with a little more, you know, background than Christian Kirk. Like, remember a few years ago when everybody, he was getting 19 million a year at the time. And that was, and that aged well.

And it did. So, like, you can look at it that way as, and if he, listen, if he has 100 catches next year and 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns, that's fine. But you need him to be that guy. And he isn't really, other than very early, in his career, been on a trajectory

as like a star slash superstar player, but I don't want to to your point. I don't want to bury it. They had so many. Because on the surface what you're saying are the Titans at least on paper better than they were four days ago? I think so. Is Will Levis the guy?

I have some doubts about that too, but they're at least giving him a chance and a core around him and we'll see what happened. I do wonder if they had to pay what they paid because along with the Jaguars, the Patriots were talked about as looking after Ridley as well. maybe some sort of a bidding war behind the scenes where you're having to pay this money. Now, I don't want to get all Aaron Rogers here, but I do have a conspiracy theory on all this.

Go ahead. That no one's been reporting or another. Or that you heard from you. No one's reporting your conspiracy theories. No, it's just in my head. Yes. At no point did we ever hear the Titans were in the mix. It was a little strange.

It was like hardcore 17 different inside. Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Jaguars, blah, blah, blah. He wants to see what the Jaguars. my conspiracy theory is he maybe had a little bit of a wink wink not not agreement with the Jaguars that he wasn't going to sign until after that Wednesday

to help them with the draft picks in general but all along the Titans had this offer there and they were probably the favorite and again he's just doing the Jaguars a favor by basically waiting until Wednesday and then they get the better draft pick I don't believe that they just suddenly came into the mix in the last second

and then blew everyone out of the water with a huge offer. And Jacksonville fans, and this is to Calvin Really's credit, are mad, even though they weren't too happy with him during the year when he ran a lot of weird routes and had a lot of drops. The Jaguars did really want him. And the only reason that they couldn't keep him was because they had to use the tag on Josh Allen, which they should have signed him to a long-term deal before. So a little...

But that also... That seems very plausible, but that also tells you that even more of a fraudulent entity is this, like... legal tampering period. Oh yeah, that's part of that's part of my whole theory. Because it's like this stuff I've been going on long before, you know, the legal tampering window open so wide. Please. It takes about a wild free agent's period. I'll put a pin in that. We can talk about that with Bill. Yeah. I don't know if we mentioned Mason Rudolph also signed with the team. So he will back

of Will Levis and light guard and mid shoe. I think that's a good spot for Rudolph because I think there's an opportunity to play there potentially was almost out of the league before those last couple starts. Isn't it ironic that when he did close the season well or at least better than Kenny Pickett and finally. played at a pretty solid level for the Steelers, and then they get rid of them finally? Like, I am happy to see him not on the Steelers.

I mean, I'm certainly not like vouching for him staying in Pittsburgh, but just the way where it felt like he was on the team for 14 years and did nothing. Then finally did a little bit of something. They were like, all right, bye. Now you're gone. He appeared in four games. If it had qualified, he would have been third of the NFL in QBR. It will, long be forgotten.

Do we really need that stat twice? Mason Rudolph. I made that to us last time. I had to check this on pro football reference right now just to make sure. He wasn't good. Even though it was only two months ago, no, that Mason Rudolph started a playoff game in the year 2024. He was in the, the NFL started the playoffs. All the teams got to choose their starting quarter. Mason Rudolph was one of those quarterbacks.

Put it this way. One of the more low wattage playoff games I've ever witnessed. I can't be. Rudolph throwing for 945 yards, five touchdowns and two picks in his final four games has a real hardy whiff of Desmond Ritter. last four games in Atlanta and people being like, hey, he was pretty good. It's pretty good, actually. Speaking of Desmond Ritter,

the former Falcons starting quarterback is on the move. Move, he was traded. How about this? Rondell Moore, once upon a second round pick, I believe, once upon a time. Yep. Yep. So the Cardinals send Rondell Moore, their former second round

pick to the Falcons for Ritter. so a one for one swap love these it's fun you know it's like old school player for player so the the cards get a new backup and the Falcons add another wide receiver

I think the Falcons and I know they're going to be like the sexy NFC South pick and they should be like they're this is another team that is like recrafted their offense in a couple of off seasons like you have Drake London darnel Mooney

I like him in it as in your wide receiver group Ron Dale Moore, Caderl Hodge, who's more helpful than I think people realize. Then maybe you've got Kyle Pitts finally emerging, Bejohn Robinson, like, and Kirk Cousins. Like this offense on paper looks dangerous. By the way, I'm so fantasy drafts aren't for months, but I am one of the many, many thousands who will be back in on Kyle Pitts with Kirk Cusholns. Yeah, but like, it feels like a shaky fantasy situation, the Falcons General, because who's... I'm not going to be in. I'm back, baby.

There's a lot of people to, like... I was in on them in years. one and year two. I took year three off and I'm all the way back in year four. Then we know what happens with you. Then he doesn't perform and then you write him off as a person as a man. I'm sort of in on this like Kyle Pitts says this idea. Don't cross me. That is

not a reality that like if Kyle Pitts was who we thought Kyle Pitts was like I think we would know more by now. I don't think he's as explosive as as he looked to play through some injuries and he had some injuries like every, blaming everything on

Arthur Smith and Ritter I think is a little too simple. It's pretty rare that you have a challenge trade. These are both players that were a little disappointing, I think, to their team. Ritter, maybe more than a little bit. But he was a third round pick. Like, if he turns into a decent backup quarterback, like, that's what you kind of expect that of a

third round pick. Ler got his coach fired. More can make people miss. He is now the third wide receiver on the Falcons roster that has caught a pass in the NFL in the last three years. So, like, they only had two, they only had one before Darnel Mooney. And then

they had two and now they have three. So they need it. Progress. Yes. Let's take a break and then we will continue onward. All right. The Chargers making moves. They say goodbye and this one as a team. I follow a team that needs wide receiver help

and maybe a playmaker that could stretch the defense. Mike Williams is on the market. The Chargers release Williams. Bolt's pushed a lot of pain into this offseason with some restructures last year and now they have to pay the bill. And that's why Mike Williams is no longer on the team. And that comes after he

signed a three year 60 million contract, $60 million contract after 2021. He was having an awesome start to last season before he tore his ACL. And of course, Mark, injuries and Mike Williams, uh, they are no strangers. So any team that does sign on, very curious to see what his market is. I think there'll be a lot of teams interested in him, but how much money he gets considering his injury history. But, uh, he's still, um, pretty young guy too. I think he's sneaky young? Yeah. But maybe his body's sneaky old

will be an interesting test in free agent. Yeah, he is like he's a juicy free agent wide out sitting out there but it is like how many games you're gonna get out of them year after year and I know this team's gonna look so different

but when Mike Williams was not on the field for the Chargers during this Justin Herbert era they looked a lot different. Like I think he's he certainly made defenses have to pay attention to him. Now they're down to Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnson.

I think Quentin Johnson's got a lot of pressure on him to be what they thought it could be at this point. I think Harbaugh is kind of stripping it down a little bit and it's going to be this year, you know, we'll see what happens this year, but I think this whole thing is starting to be built, you know, stripped down to build back up. Like Gus Edwards.

What do they call it, a controlled rebuild? Is that what they call him? Is that like that? I mean, you could call it makes sense. Call it whatever you want. No, I'm saying I feel like that's a term that's out there. I am not sure because some of the reporting around this

right when it happened was they actually would maybe try to get them back at a lower price and so they also renegotiated a deal for Cleo Mac to keep them and then there's these

and Joey Bosa is that has that happened well they're working on his he's restructuring his deal too it's a controlled but I know that Greg was was working behind the scenes because yesterday when we were deciding

like is there enough to do a show or Greg kept being like I think there's going to be big charges moves in like eight minutes later. I'm pretty sure some big chargers moves are coming in. Or Ian, just he's trying to work. I wasn't bugging him at all. It was obvious.

They had like the four, everyone was reporting that for weeks. That something had to happen here. No, but it just was like, you broke that Bosa news to me. I got to admit. Is there both of the way here? Yeah, well, that he restructured it to stay. So. But even you have to admit, that's what I do. I operate in the news. I'm saying I have to admit that I was

a little off the grid on the way in. I ate a little lunch. I miss that. Do you really get beat on aggregated news? Like when you're not actually a reporter? You're saying he beat you on that? I'm not saying he beat. He has to admit that I actually was productive. It has nothing to do with Mark.

I'm saying I. The insider, Mark Sessler. I entered the show without a key bit of information related to something. And I don't feel good about it. I guess who was there for you? I'm surprised. Mark Edward Sessler. I mean, who is there for the freaking listeners of the around the NFL podcast?

I'm actually very surprised by that. That boasts. sustain, considering how little he's played. But Mike Williams, would you rather have him or Calvin Ridley? You know, Ridley, if they're healthy, Mike Williams. If they're healthy, Mike Williams, I put Mike Williams as number 12 now in the new 101, which is confusing because half the people are off it. It's like I'm ranking him against people that are already signed.

But I, to me, he's a true X receiver, a true difference maker when he's out there. Coming off an ACL, he might have to sign a prove a deal. But let's say he gets a Fugazi deal. So, you know, it's a three-year deal or four-year deal. But it's really a two-year deal. So two for 50 for Ridley Or two for 35 for Mike Williams Give me Mike Williams

All day low, yeah And if I had to guess I'm gonna go one for 14 is like I think so too I'd be If I were Joe D I would be all over that Especially if you're a team

In a win now window You take a chance If we have predictions coming up later I believe in the show with Bill Barnwell And I have a prediction It tied to Mike Williams Great, okay so we'll just move on So if you're listening

Just fast forward to that Yes all right Joe Flacco got a job we were just talking about Joe Flacco last show I was trying to wrap my head around why you would ever sign

James Winston in general but to sign him to replace Joe Flacco who was one of the great stories of the NFL season as Deshawn Watson's backup took the Browns to the playoffs the Browns say bye bye so Flacco needs a job

and he lands with the Colts a one year 8.7 million dollar contract how much of that all right 4.5 is guaranteed according to Shefti and a good, listen, a nice landing spot for Flacco. He is backing up a second year quarterback who is a top five draft pick. So unless Anthony Richardson gets injured again, Joe's not going to see the field.

I kind of want to see Joe take the field again, but I also want to see Anthony Richardson stay on the field this year. So if anybody was like invested in the arc of this Joe Flacco end of his career renaissance, this could end up be something that puts him in mothballs. But good for him. He's in the league. and he's still making millions of dollars. I just like that Anthony Richardson is a Shane Steichen quarterback

and Joe Flacco is a Shane Stiking quarterback and Gardner Minchew as a Shane Stig and quarterback. Like get you a coach that can do both. It's like, okay, let's just get the guy that's exactly the same as the backup. No, like we've seen Shane Stike can work it with Nick Foles to the tune of one of the greatest Super Bowl performances of all time. He was on that staff somewhere, wasn't he?

I don't know. Flacco will be the starter, though, during some of the offseason while Richardson recovers from a torn ACL. And yeah, you would think he probably will end up taking some snaps this year just because Richardson, you know, had multiple injuries in those. Well, and Richardson

had concussion issues. And it's like the way that he plays, you just have to wonder like... He's kind of a wild man in that month that he played. He really was. And so... It's important to have a good backup. Yeah, I think we could see Flacko. I say from the Brown's perspective, and I mentioned this the other day, like, they're operating in fear. Like, it would, it was too

much of a distraction to have like a fan favorite emerge behind the quarterback who's the worst free agent signing the last 10 years. His base salary is basically the same as Winston got a little. He was too popular and like I don't, I think that's just another chapter in a team stuck in a very dark situation at

under center. They might say, they might say that Flacco is potentially a fluko if you ask them why they did it. They'd say yeah. Sure, but you went and got James Winston. It's not it's not like you have an absolute, I know, Greg is higher than James

James Winston than some but it's like James Winston is about as hot and cold as it gets. Right. But his play was at such a high level that they say, maybe more of a flucco. I know, but it's like I know where you're going. I think what you're missing here is

Dan's 745th ranked bit flaco flucco over the last 10 years is having quite a renaissance. It is. I'll just try to do the bit and Mark keeps on debating me. I know, but It's like whenever, whenever we go down Jets Avenue and you spin the yarn about how everyone's against the Jets

and it's always constant jokes and get, like, this is my, this is my so-called team. Right. And this is what I liked about my team last year, and they got rid of it. No, but what he's saying, though, is like, he got that comeback player of the year award. Go ahead.

He deserved it. But he could be a fluko. Could be a bit of a fluke. I mean, I get it. Am I supposed to find it as funny as the two of you at the moment? I mean, it's the apex of comedy. Bobby Wagner, his homecoming with the Seahawks was brief after one season.

We have a middle school watching us right now. Still played at a high level. I just don't look outside the fishbow. I can't help it. And they're all taking photos and stuff. They're outside of the windows. He goes to that place, Washington. Man, the commanders have been active.

Agreed terms with Bobby Wagner, formerly the Seahawks, and before that the Rams and before that the Seahawks on a one-year deal, six million guaranteed money worth up to eight and a half. So there you go. A veteran hammer in the middle of that defense. And Greg, dare I say, at the risk of offending you, future Hall of Famer. I think that's a safe one.

You're not going to offend me on that one. All right. Other news. Anything on that? Nice solid signing. Dan Quinn has added a lot. They've added a lot of players to a defense that's going to look very different. I mean, they aren't making long-term commitments with most of their players.

They've been as active as any team. I kind of like that. 49ers fans have pointed out it's a little similar to what the 49ers did when Shanahan showed up there. Just like raise the base level with a bunch of professionals for a year or two while you start figuring out who are the core guys. The lines announced four-year contract extensions for GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.

That's a no-brainer. And finally, before we take a break and then we're going to welcome in Bill Barnwell. I've got Controlled Fury. Thank you, Dan. Kirk Cousins was officially introduced as the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. and he looking sharp in his suit and the Falcons. I feel like we all slept on a couple of things. You know, you had Florio getting into it

with people in the media because he had a source that said that Kirk was doing some real estate shopping in Atlanta. But he also, what I read after the signing, I didn't know this. I guess this was probably out there too, that his wife's from there. Yeah, we talked about it. They got married there.

We literally talked about it on this podcast. I maybe missed that show. Or maybe it wasn't. listening to you. There are a lot of, a lot of tea leaves there, and he went there. And here's Kirk Cousins talking about why he decided to move on from Minnesota. In Minnesota, it was trending over the last couple off seasons to be in somewhat year to year. And as we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this was a place where, you know, if I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon. And that was something that really excited me. And that's

certainly the goal. Kirk has also been number eight, I believe his whole career. That's Kyle Pitts's number. Here's a fun little walk-a-waka conversation about that. He was funny about it. I said, I'll write a check, whatever, you know, foundation. I'm not going to let you just give me the number. I want to make it worth your while. You know, make a donation, whatever needs to be.

And he said, I just want, you know, targets every game, you know. He said, he was joking. You know, he kind of winked. So I joke with him. I said, good answer, good answers. He winked. He winked. I'm telling you, Kyle Pitts, there was no joke about that.

like, you can throw it straight, right? You could hit me in the chest with passes. I love you. I will give you anything, including the shirt off my back. I'm going to say, Kirk Cousins is looking sharp in that in that season. It does look good. I think you got to, the Falcons have really leaned into the whole chains thing. And it's like, I think you got to leave that in Minnesota and come up with your own new, new stuff.

If I'm, if I'm the Viking scene, he's bringing the Kirkgo chain stinks here. It's like, that was our thing. Come up with something new. He did drop a little bit of news, though, though, too, which has been supported by reporting that the Vikings really weren't committing to him long term in the same way that there was a even within these negotiations yeah i think they were offering him good money but after the first year it maybe was going to be a little year to year and the falcons were going to make it two plus you know they're really committing two and a half really three years probably to

it does leave you wondering like kevin o'connell who on multiple occasions came out very strongly saying we believe kirk cousin should be our quarterback i came here because of him We're working hard to get him back here. And then in the end, like, all that's true is the money, they weren't. Well, they, not, I mean, in terms of, like, Kevin O'Connell. I think that is being pointed out, that it's Quessie. Well, yeah, that's, I don't know. Like, if you're Kevin O'Connell, and I know we're big on Sam Darnold,

but it's like you're, you have a challenge at quarterback now. Is that a royal way? Are you guys in there? I don't hate the landing spot for Sam Darnal, but I think you're talking about someone who's a, you know. A little team of Aetian vibes to you? No. Save it for Bill.

who's been listening to this entire segment and tells me over text that he's actually talking over our points making his point. All right, so let's take a break because that sounds saucy. He might come on mad. We might have said something

out offended Bill. And now we're going to find out. That's good podcasting. I hope so. All right. We'll take a break. We'll be right back. welcome back our next guest really at this point needs no introduction but i'm going to give it to you

anyway esbn star podcaster expert analyst future general manager i see it as a possibility if he wants that path bill barnwell what you could do it future i'm very skeptical uh there are a lot of people I would put ahead of me on the future general manager list, including several people who host the show. Wow, several. Several, not all. Several. Not a lot.

I want to raise my head. You don't want me as a GM on your team. I want you to look in the mirror tonight and say, was it me? Oh, I'll be thinking about this for probably months. No idea what you did to Mark Syke just now. He is a TV star. He's actually between Sports Center hits right now.

Hell yeah. Insider information. And you see him on. around the horn more now they're using them there since all i was out on the town um yes like in the afternoon like a couple weeks ago and as mark sessler often well no just like i and up up on the television you know for all the place to see was bill barnwell like chopping it up but of course no sound and then they don't put the closed captions so that's that's a problem i spoke to management about that i i try to be so eloquent and so uh overly verbose or

so underlieverboast may be, that you can read my lips, even if you're not an actual lip to the, to the viewer, yeah. Did you, anything in our news segment that you jumped on when you're getting set up that offended you? We seem to be getting. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Yes, absolutely. Multiple things, frankly. What does that we made you wait or what else? No, I would have just watched the show. That would have been, frankly, my dream of here just be to watch the show from behind the door, not have to come up with original thoughts and just be like, Yeah, I contributed. I was a part of that show.

I just never got. I was like, you know, the guy at the All-Star game, we never got to play. Still an All-Star just because I didn't got on the field. It's not matter. Two things I want to ask. Yeah, go ahead. Let's get going. Number one, the idea that Kirk Cousins needs to leave the Kirkco chains in Minneapolis.

I'm not saying you're wrong necessarily, but it's not like Kirk left you like that in Washington. Like, he brought that to Minnesota. And I think as someone who does not have a lot of. bits like kirk has like two or three things and that's it the things you know about kirk cousins the chains uh we know you like that and that he does not know how to grill food those three things has to bring from stop to stop because he doesn't have anything else that's true that's like the don't abandon the bits yeah like the like the dad certain dad bits like if you leave your keys behind and then dad's like hey you're not going to get too far without these like he needs to

have you know some of his greatest hit maybe it's maybe it's the fake away social media giving me a shirtless Kirkgo chains this morning with a caption woke up dripping it's just like okay well these social media handles need to that's on social media that was last year and i took to kirk's credit he pointed out the chains aren't going to be so cute if we're not winning uh winning game so if he actually looks like a 36 year old coming off a tour and achilles then then the bits are going to die all right so what we're going to do is we're going unless there was another thing that you took oh wow keep going let's go let's chop it up let's figure things out the the universal Sam Darnold love. I wanted to make it clear that even though I am a guest and respect the opinions of the around the NFL broadcasters and the around the NFL show, I do not want to be included as one of the Sam Donald supporters. You want to be excluded from that narrative, all right? Very much. I am on the other side of this line. History will prove me right. Do you know what's good about that? Because I am, I don't know if you know, Bill, very much on the other side with, you know, your colleague and friend Mina Kimes, amongst others. That I think it's good because I don't.

need, but the one thing the Sam Donald Hive doesn't need is it to become a title wave of everyone expecting him to be good. We still need prominent voices like Barnwell, like Rosenthal, like the cess dogs. You were wondering if I was going to leave you out.

Saying, no, he sucks because that will make it all the sweeter. So that is great news. No issue here. No issue here. I agree. There's a lot of times where like people will, like the lions, for example, there were no lions haters the last couple Everyone thought the Lions were going to get better.

Everyone was excited about what they were doing. I think that there's like this like false hater thing that comes up. And people like, no, everyone believed in us. Like, no, everyone believed in you to get better. Maybe you exceeded expectations, which good for you. But everyone thought you were going to be better. Everyone thought you did a lot to improve. Nobody was like this team's going to be terrible.

So I feel like you want to have some actual haters to just make your point. Make it feel a little more valid. Bill, you are in fine form. I could tell like us, you've been doing a lot of podcasts this week, a lot of appearances. You should check out the Bill Barnwell podcast in addition to this show, and you'll be all caught up. So let's get into some categories. I know you did some superlatives on your show. This will be slightly different, but kind of the same.

Well, maybe we'll make it different. That's different humans talking about football. Yeah. And I'll start with the move that made the biggest impact. And the reason I want to start with that one is because I'll take the easy one because I think Kirk Cousins is that pick for me. because of obviously the position he plays, but also the recent history of the Falcons and I don't even really need to dig in too far

because you know how important just having a stabilizing force of that position can be for a Falcons team that might be ready to make the leap. Your thoughts, Bill, on the cousins, Falcons fit and then maybe if you want to throw in whatever your own biggest impact guys. I do like the fit.

I think the price matters when we talk about free agency. I think, you know, when you get the actual money here. And I think Greg pointed this out, I believe, on social media. It's not that big of a deal. It feels big and it's two guaranteed years. But this is basically the Daniel Jones deal, but with inflation making up most of the difference, Daniel Jones got $82 million guaranteed with inflation from the cap. That's up to $93 million over two years. Kirk got 100. I don't think that is an exorbitant amount for a player who was, what, top 10,

would you guys say last year before we got hurt in terms of the quarterbacks around the league? Lower half of the top 10 for sure. I think that's fair. Nine and ten? Yeah, sure. That's a good deal. To me,

I think that's a really solid price for a quarterback who, even if he's coming off the Achilles, he's not a mobile quarterback anyway. I don't think you're going to be asking him to run around a lot. A player who had a great injury history before suffering the Achilles had not even been on the injury report

for many years before suffering that injury last year. I like the fit. in Zach Robinson's offense. I think the personnel they've added, not only who they had in place, but also the guys they've added over the past few days, Darnal Mooney, they trade for Rondale Moore today.

I think those are exciting pieces to work with. They play indoors again. I, you know, maybe he doesn't give you the ceiling you're looking for. Maybe you don't get the, you know, the rookie quarterback ceiling. But I think if their goal is to win the NFC South,

this was a logical move. Yeah, I think so too. I just think people have, this idea that they're just like this ready-made team and it's a totally different coaching staff. People often like project forward of like, how is this offensive line going to be for instance? It actually was pretty disappointing last year. It's one of the reasons I think they fell short. How is their defense going to be? Some of the numbers look pretty good for the Falcons, but DVOA, they were 24th because they played such an easy schedule. That was artificially inflate.

And you look at their defense, the front sevens, you know, especially the edge rushing position, it's pretty lackluster. So it helps their, they look like the best. team in that division, but that's doing a lot of the work here. If you're just lining up, like, who's got the best roster in the NFC, they're right in the middle, and they might be behind the Minnesota Vikings. So it's like, I don't think there's some great, ready-made team. They're just in a bad division. Yeah, but it'll take that.

Like, play, play it, play it as it lays. You are not going to be stuck in the, you know, in the NFC West anytime soon. And you have an owner who's in his 80s. You have a roster that's not one of the younger roster. in football, especially after all the free agent signings they made last year on defense. Like, if you want to go win 10, 11 games, I think Kirk can do that for you.

Biggest impact for you, other, or maybe it is cousins, or is it someone else? I would say cousins, but I'm trying to think of a second person. I know if you could hear me trying to stall as I was in the answer. We can pivot too. You don't have to force another impact. No, no, because I think there's a conversation to be had here.

What about Sequan Barkley? Okay. Or should we have the Sequan-Barkley conversation because I think it implies a couple things. Number one, there's the economic impact of, okay, we have found the point where even teams like the Eagles, who are not typically investing

in running backs, are willing to go out and pay for a premium running back. We saw that price tag. Makes sense. He's getting less than Gabe Davis, which at the end of the day, like, I have to believe if you polled 32 NFL difference of coordinators and said, are you more worried about Gabe Davis or Sequin

Barkley uh you know if you're playing the next week i have to imagine most of them would say sayquan barkley and i think it raises this really fascinating question about what this eagle's offense is going to look like post uh jason kelsey retiring and after they they've now hired kellyn more to be the offensive coordinator are they going to be a team that throws to the running back more the way more's offenses did with tony pollard and austin because they didn't do that much over the past couple years of jalen hurts is jillan hurt's going to run less Is he going to be less a part of the designated running back or quarterback running game? Is he going to be the guy who's the push push?

Are they going to put Sequin in the tush push spot, I think is a viable possibility? I think there's all these different questions about what Sequan is going to do in that offense. And it may work out that he's just a typical running back. He gets 30 catches a year and that's a pretty boring answer. But I think there's a lot of exciting possibilities for how the Eagles offense could evolve with Kellan Moore and now with a different focal point in Saquan Barkley. I love the fit. I'm with you. I think that, you know, if you look at Sakewan Barkley, A, durability was an issue in New York, but also the cast around him and the quarterback's

durability and the wideout's durability and the tight ends durability and the offensive line being a shambles. Like, he's in a much better spot. And I think the Eagles have found a way, even though their season ended in total chaos, to kind of flip the switch a little bit where some of that goes away. And I think Sakewan Barclay is like a new face who, like you're right, it changes the versatility of what the offense can do. And I feel a little bit different about the Eagles. And him going to another place, I wouldn't have been big on it. I like it in Philadelphia for the NFC East rivalry side of it, too.

I absolutely do, too, because I think my answer for biggest impact, a lot of the options would be on the Eagles. I think Bryce Huff for them is going to be perfect. I think Chauncey Gardner Johnson is in that secondary to just absolutely needed something. I think that is sort of an undervalued position, having that versatility where you can play slot, you can play safety. and they absolutely needed someone back there and they know what they're getting

in Chauncey Gardner Johnson like I look at a lot of the moves this week and a lot of my favorite moves are the Philadelphia Eagles I'm getting I'm back in everybody's back in on the Eagles how about this pivot here's my yes go ahead Bill

here's my question about the Eagles this is the only part that worries me about the Eagles and Chauncee Gardner Johnson so they could have signed him to a multi-year deal last year did not do it he misses the entire season basically because of injury and now they want to bring him back on a multi-year deal?

Does that seem a little worrisome to you? Maybe they're just trying to erase what happened last year and just bring back, you know, try to like just bring back the 2020 team at all costs? I think he just had a certain number that he wanted to reach last year and no one gave it to him. And the reporting was just that

they were going to spend that money somewhere, but it's the first few hours of free agency. He wasn't taking it and they pivoted to Bradbury and that turned to be a disastrous contract. They were not expecting to keep Bradbury or pay him that much money. And then Chansy Gardner-Jonty got left out in the cold. I mean, he kind of did this year, too. None of these safeties got paid like monster money, but he did better.

I like it better than the relationship between Chonsie Gardner and Dennis Allen, which was one of the funnier subplots in the NFC a couple years ago. Somebody I'm looking for it on Twitter. Somebody sent it to me. We've been talking. It's come up a couple times on the shows this week that the idea of being careful with your friend that breaks up with the girl and then you say something bad about the girl

and then the friend gets back with the girl. Yeah. Trouble daughters. Apparently on the way out the door, Gardner Johnson buried the city of Philadelphia and their fans. That's a tricky one. I think he's sent some tweets out to make up.

It's like the worst part of playing there were the fans. Well, welcome back. Yeah. If I could find that quote, I'll do it. Pivot. Greggy, what is the move where you were scratching your head like,

come man. What? Hmm. All right. Titans fans aren't going to love this, but they made a couple just swaps that to me didn't make a lot of sense. One of them was Aziz al-Shahir goes to Houston

and they bring in Kenneth Murray from the Chargers, which feels like a downgrade and they paid more money for it. Another one was Derek Henry leaves the building and you bring in Tony Pollard, which is fine. I like Tony Pollard, so I'm not really killing this one, but it's just like a swap. Is this an upgrade again for this?

same amount of money. There's just a lot going on there. And if you look at each move, I don't think one by one that they were terrible moves by the Titans, like Lloyd Cushenberry gets a lot of money at center. But they all scream to me of a team a little bit like the Patriots, although they spent on their own guys. It's like at some point you have too much cap space and you just feel like you have to spend it and you make marginal upgrades. Like they went from Aaron Brewer to Cushenberry at center and just spent twice as much money. It's like, historically that's bad process and that sort of process

doesn't work out so it's more of the Titans process in general but especially that Murray contract seemed bizarre to me because he was kind of a fiasco with the Chargers yeah I had no idea

what he was what that market was like that was going to be my pick as well whoa I've got a a situation that irks me okay go ahead and it's more about just inactivity and I you know the way this works

probably by the time people are listening to this this could change but the chiefs needed a wide receiver. They needed to look for something. And they've added Irv Smith, a largely forgettable tight end and nothing else. I know they're restructured, the Mahomes deal.

And I think that to me suggests or hints at a bigger move to come. And I hope it does, but it's like the draft is helpful too, but their draft position isn't great. Like you need to look around for something because you can't run. I think they will, but it's like they have done nothing yet.

And yet I speak against myself because I trust no team. more to kind of figure out their own issues. Still players, we just talked about Mike Williams in the news, you know, Odell's out there and there's the draft ahead. It could be trades. I'd like Mike Williams. That would be interesting.

Hollywood Browns out there. The Bengals ever trade T. Higgins to them. I forgot the chiefs. By the way, for the Titans. There was a contract I liked even less on the Titans, which was a, which we never talked about in the pot which was Chinovia Woosier, which I just didn't get because he was coming off a torn ACL last year and struggled

pretty badly for the Bengals. Got benched. more or less during that stretch run. And they like want to establish a veteran culture and they give all this money to him. So that's some curious. During a live stream on Twitch last July, C.J. Gardner Johnson was asked about his favorite and least favorite part

of his time in Philadelphia. Here's a quote. Philadelphia, Colleen Wolf, this is not me, this is the quote. My least favorite thing is the people. They're obnoxious. I can't stand the mother, fuck. All the people, not even just the fans.

I mean, you know, is that the right context? Like, that could be like a, out of context, that could be differently. Randy Chavez, behind the glass, big fun. Can you check in on the context? That's important. Bill, Bill's a journal at his heart. Ironically, though, maybe it's like, like if the Eagles fans read that,

wouldn't they recognize one of their own in that? Like, that is someone, I don't think so. That is hilarious because, yeah, he, he tweeted out flying home. put an eagle thing up. I don't think he's addressed these comments. All right. How about I just have a question. Can we also find out what his favorite thing was? The least favorite thing was his people. That's a really vague

one. There's a lot of them too. He does say, I duo the fans of Philly an apology. Regardless, this is an amazing place and we had some memories together. Let's go get us one. All right. We had some. Bygones be bygones as they say. I don't know what that means really. How about this one? The Vince Lombardi

Memorial. What the hell going on around here what bill for you the the signing that really left you or trade or whatever that left you scratch in your head i i would say the the Vikings with sam i don't want to have to rehash that though because i really don't understand what's going on there maybe can we talk about the raiders and christian wilkins because on one hand it makes total sense and on the other I don't think it makes sense like from the perspective of we need to upgrade this roster they needed an interior pass rusher and I think that makes total sense but in the big picture I think they're they're a lot closer to contention than they actually are I really think they need to take a step backwards on a step forwards and kind of feels like they're just making the same mistake that 20 years of raiders teams have done in years past but I don't know do you guys feel like there's a an obvious one that that I'm missing because I feel like that's kind of cheating does it do Strike you was like the Domen suit of the Dolphins back when that happened and everyone thought that Miami was winning the offseason?

That is a great comparison. Wilkins is a great player and I was surprised he got to free agency in the first place. It was one of the most surprising things and I do like what they're building. Winning with defense first though and you give $57 million guaranteed to a defensive tackle in the same year that you signed Gardner Minshu as your presumptive starting quarterback. It's just, it's weird process. But, you know, he was one of the best players available. I offer my theory on this.

I think this is a power of his personality, cult of personality. Antonio Pierce has an organization whipped up into an uproar. They got him puffing out their chest. You heard the comments about the chiefs. He can't wait to give him the Jordan rules. They go and they, and you know Antonio Pierce, a former linebacker. He's like, yeah, give me that Max Crosby chest piece to pair with him. And we're going to kick some more ass.

And it's like, bring us in this guy and that guy. even though it makes all the sense in the world to trade Devante Adams and reset for the future, we're keeping him because we're going to continue to. And I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I think there's something to be said for just positive vibes. And why not? They could win nine games next year and make the playoffs. But at the same

time, maybe the Pierce and the energy around the end of that season and him getting hired is affecting more than just where they went ahead coach. No question. I think that is absolutely what's happening there. I'll throw out two more. I'll let you guys decide. which is more interesting.

I will say the Packers swapping out Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs. I don't know what you guys feel. I think Aaron Jones is the better running back of the two. And the Patriots where they came out this offseason and they said, we got money to burn. Gerard Mayo was excited to spend money. And they've kind of just run it back with the old Patriots. They haven't really made too many additions outside of what they had previously.

So a little intrigued as to what their short-term plan is. I like those. I think for me, because the Vikings, you know, you move on with DeNeal Hunter and you replace them with someone else. But it's like the Aaron Jones to the Vikings was one of my favorite moves. And I couldn't be more with you. I just not as high on Josh Jacobs as some others have been. It's really hot and cold season to season. And I absolutely think that was a steal for Minnesota.

And Green Bay got worse at running back. I've actually liked what the Patriots have done. I'm glad you brought that up because I think it's almost been a little under the radar. What a sea change it is that Elliott Wolf is running their team now. And the philosophy that he brings from Green Bay is totally different. He even said they're changing their entire scouting language that they've had. So everything's going to be different. And that's just not a team that goes out there and spends crazy.

So yes, Gerard Mayo said that. They had all this cap space to spend. I think they wanted to. Now look, when we got a very competitive good market, Those are the types of deals, actually, I would not have expected Bill Belichick to get done. So it did feel a little different that these players were coming back. And then the Uche move, just because we haven't hit it on this podcast, is one of the craziest reported stories we've seen that he literally had $11 million guaranteed in a two-year contract that he passed on for a one-year,

$3 million contract that can go up to eight incentives, which is wild. And you're seeing some buy-in from the defense of players, especially on this team. of like maybe what Mayo is going to do. But I think it's an ultimate bet on yourself moment that he's literally taking less money because he thinks he's going to hit those incentives and more importantly that he'll get to free agency next year. People say like bet on yourself.

Passing on $8 million guaranteed bet on yourself, I literally can't remember that happening, especially for a second round pick who's probably made what, $2, $3 million total in his entire career. It's almost unprecedented. So now I'm rooting a little extra for Josh Uche. I think it was a good movie.

he had 12 and a half sacks two years ago. Good luck to him. Good luck. Yeah, if I was his agent, I'm sure his agent wasn't thrilled. Does he have an agent? That might be missing ingredient here. You could tell the way Tom Pee, the Pell razor, tweeted it out, you could tell this is a rare case where a player went on their own and made the decision.

Like, essentially he went against his agent's advice and did what he wanted to. I'm fine with the page. Look, they were in on Ridley, but they had a number. They weren't going to go too high. Like, what are they going to do? Seven and ten. We just, we just, we just. came off a season where we were

like, okay, the Patriots need speed. They need, they desperately need pieces, wherever their new quarterback's going to be. Yeah. And the guy they've added is Antonio Gibson. Hmm. I don't know. All right. I don't know. It's early. A couple more minutes with Bill. He's a busy man. I'm going to, I'm going to combine two categories here. So best remaining

player in your opinion, and let's tie that together with predictions for what's next. Bill Barnwell, who's a player that you, you're quite fond of that's on the market. and a team that should be very interested in going after said player. Okay, so let's go.

Maybe not even a prediction, Bill, more just like, in your mind, like what just makes so much sense, you know, for you? I'll throw a prediction out there. Go ahead. I'm not scared. Go for it. I'm willing to put a team out there. I think O'Ricke Armstrongstay makes a lot of sense.

A player who is really talented is a free technique. San Francisco, it wasn't like he wasn't playing well. Had some injury issues, but still was playing at a high level. I think they had some. some cap concerns. Maybe they could be a little less expensive after adding Hargrave on the defensive line. Nick Bosa's deal is hitting

and that's a significant contract and maybe cutting back a bit. I put a pin in this for one second, Bill. I hate to interrupt you. We actually have developing news on the Arrk-Armstead situation. You are not allowed to look at your computer because it sounds like we know where he's going to go.

If you can guess what an opportunity is. Where he ends up landing, you actually win around the NFL podcast 24. You're the win. Yeah, like those shows you're on ESPN. You win the game. Here we go. I don't win very often.

I, the team I was going to put out there was the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whoa, are you serious? Stop. Did he get it? He got it right. He wins the podcast. He won the podcast. What a...

I told you this guy should be a GM. What a moment in time. He sees things. Not kidding. I'm not kidding. kidding. I did not look. They were my pick. I kind of figured if they got Calvin moving, they weren't going to go for that kind of move. No, he's got

integrity. I swear. He's a Northeastern graduate. He's got integrity for Dave. You don't have like a television directly in front of you that's off to the side. Okay. And I believe you. I believe you. Because you're, you're, uh, that's the ilk of type of the journalist that you are. You would have, you've nailed that. Wonderful job. No. I would rather have made a funny pick that

was wrong as opposed to it. All right. So why is that such a great move now for the Jax? They made a couple cuts. They left foot to Casico. They needed some pieces of They needed to make in addition to the defensive side of the ball. They are, you know, they're set on the edge with Walker and Josh Allen. They cut Darius Williams. I think they're going to maybe address corner in the draft.

But it kind of felt like once they lost Calvin Ridley, they had money to burn. I think they were budgeting to bring him back. And once they lost in Tennessee, they kind of had this big chunk of money, didn't really have a lot to do with it. There wasn't really any, you know, a replacement for Ridley on the offensive side of the ball that made sense. they already signed Gabe Davis. I think they'll probably draft a wide receiver. But Armstead was the best player left and addressed a position of need for them.

I think they were weak up front. I think they needed another piece on the interior. Armstrongstead's a great player. I thought it made a lot of sense. I love him. He's like six foot eight could barely walk fit through a door. I'm still playing well. He was actually the very large.

Fifth highest graded interior pass rusher last year according to PFF just missed snaps for the first time and missed 13 games over the last two years. It does remind me a little bit of though the Rams signing Alan Ron. Robinson just because they had so much money when they couldn't get Von Miller that they just like, well, we got to spend that money the next day. And so that's what the Jaguars do this with the Calvin Ridley money.

But Armstead's a good player. But did they, was Trent Balke, the guy who drafted Eric Armstead? Ooh. Was he still there when they drafted Armstrongstead? I believe he was. That was back in 2015. 2015-17th overall. I think Trent Balkei lasted until 15 or 16.

So you've really sleuthed it once again. and you win. Yeah, 2016, he was there until, so he did draft. Arkheim said, you can often connect these little dots. Well, he can. Yeah, I can't.

Bill, before we let you go, a little heat check on you, because you've already won this podcast, but did you also win? Well, you can't win it outright because FN Rosenthal went four and O. What a year Rosenthal had in his predictions.

Bill, I don't know if you were plugged in on that. It was infuriated. A source texted me about this very topic. It was a constant thorn in the side of the other two people on this show. He had a great year in his predictions, including his over-unders, where he went 4-0. Now we're going to check back back in August. You were on the show, Bill.

Let's go over-and-unders. Here we go. You had the Rams over 6 and a half. That was a home run. Give him a ding. Off to a good start. Give him a big old. You had that by about week, you know, 14.

And in 7. Yeah. You had the Lions under 9 and a half. They had 12. You were that team that didn't believe in them. You were the haters. You were the hater. There would be nine and eight.

You had the Broncos over eight and a half. This is no way to send him out of the episode. This is just, this is accountability. The Broncos went eight and nine. Wow. I didn't realize they got to eight. You almost had it. You almost had it.

You had a half game short. Yeah. And the Eagles under 11 and a half. And that was looking like it was on a lot of trouble. and then they went in the tank and finished at 11 and 6 after they were 11 and 1, I believe. We got hot at the end of the year. We won't say what Mark did in that competition.

Oh, it's a disaster. My source also texting what Mark did as well. Oh, I'm not surprised. Now, you gave him another thing to think about and he lays in bed with his eyes wide open staring at the ceiling. Bill, come on. Mental health.

Nice ceiling. Bill Barnwell, you've said it all. Please, what do you got out there? give people avenues to get to more Barnwell. Bill Barnwell ridding content at ESPN.com. ESPN's Bill Barnwell Show podcast. I'll think I'll be on NFL live sometime next week. So just watch NFL live every day and maybe I'll hop on there.

Some sports centers here and there around the horn here and there. That's four center in 45 minutes here. I'm doing the, I'm trying a new thing as host. I'm doing the hot ones thing, the host of hot ones. where he's like, look in this camera, that camera, and that camera, and tell us what you got going on. And I think you did a great job with it. Just there, though.

I've only got one camera, unfortunately. So I'm just going to stare at that camera until proven otherwise. Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Barnwell. Thanks, Bill. Thank you. Mount Rushmore. Well, I mean, that was a stunt. That was a nice look into the skills of Bill Barnwell.

Just a nail of 32 teams. And Ian called them a dark horse. So he managed to pick a dark horse. Pretty good. Let's take a break and let's finish up the news. NFL media insiders. Did they even like each other? Greg, I don't know.

We get your immediate reaction to something that just happened here. Sorry, Tom. We need a media reaction. So Tom and I are reporting. We have a trade. It's always confusing to me. Which tweets you put both names and then some tweets. It's only one name.

I don't know how that all works. There we go. Lee and tweet. He was second. I was first. Yeah. Oh, yes, Greg Rosenthal on the air, NFL network, saying what needs to be shed, that there's heat. I don't even need to say it.

That clip, if you re-listen to it on the podcast or you watch it on YouTube, Tom starts to break the news. He has like a half second where he starts speaking. And Ian literally cuts him up. off. Oh, that is. That's the game, man. When we went down this avenue, that's the game. Back in Austin, like I said that there is a bit of a flashpoint focus element to the insiders,

and it's just mounting and growing and bubbling. Just, we're just heading into draft season. This is all coming to a head. That's what flashpoint focus is all about. Yep. Do we have another clip, or is that? We do. We do.

Listen to that. That's soul right there. All right, let's listen to the other one. Greg, really quick before we let you go, I don't want to be too harsh, you know, on your backdrop. Do you wear it kind of looks like you've got antlers just with there's like a break in the wall or something back there.

Like move your head a little bit. A producer also want to see what the sign says behind you since we're only getting every third letter. So as long as it's not like dirty or something. If you're a New Orleans fan, you'll kind of recognize that artist, Simon, who does a lot of stuff. that was a wedding gift.

And you can also see my lock trophy here as the back-to-back champion of the around the NFL lock competition. It's a dynasty. People are saying, what a dick.

There is no greater, there is no greater self-promoter in the entire building. No. No, he's there. If he's got a platform, he will be pumping himself. You know,

it's like a politicians thing. Like, don't answer the question that they ask, answer the question you wish that they asked. I pivoted right off that ant, You know, you might right into what was important. You should run for Vice President.

We would be comfortable if you want to join RFK. Take a, just a sabbatical here. We'd be comfortable. It's like, Antlers, by the way. While I was saying that, I was like, oh, I'm clipping this for the show.

Hell, good. Good work. I like it all. Pelraiser coming after you. You're trying to make a fool of you on live television. I could work on that backdrop. There's a lot going on. it's not as smooth as some out there.

Dance looks great. Yeah, Marks is good. Mine is about as stark as it gets. I'm still working on that space. The key to a good background, I find, is to have more depth, but it's hard to have depth of space here in Los Angeles. I tried to talk Amika into,

I would set it up on the, like that the camera would be showing the whole rest of the garage. And she thought that looked insane to show, the back of a garage. Then there would be depth. It's like Greg, we get it. You're a feminist.

Like Liz Ferris CD sitting on the shelf. We get it, dude. Well, that's signed. That was a birthday present from Liz. It says happy birthday, Greg.

It used to be in your bedroom. You could have switched that. Wait, that's assigned Liz Farisdardt? Not only, you know, individually signed when she was a guest of the Tonight Show

and I was a page there. I thought maybe she went to your wedding too. I'm going to give you a little bit of a pass there because there's more to it than just look at me. I mean, give you a

I'm a champion. Also, Gabe Kapler is in the mix there, back there. That's signed as well. I like that. He is a Jewish star of a Boston sports team. You got to take advantage of that. Who was batting, I believe, eighth for

some team in Japan. And what I guess you could call it would be the first time I really ever met my wife, Emeka. How about that? Greg is real into autographs apparently. I didn't realize that about him. Just like that. Autograph I've seen him at the combine, elbowing, sharp elbows, the children. You also get a lot of presents, it seems like. A lot of people were giving you gifts left.

Well, that was from the best man at our wedding. He brought us to that game. It was when we first met at all. It was your cousin who was stung by 120 bees at the wedding. What did he give you? That was not at the wedding. That was when we were 10 years old in the... Breaking news.

Forests of Wilberham. Breaking news. What was it again? I forgot. The Seahawks. are acquiring Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders. They also get a fourth round and a sixth round pick in the deal. The commanders actually move up.

I mean, man, if I'm Sam Howell, I'm like, wait, it's only a move up. The commanders move up to the third and the fifth round of the draft. So essentially two pick swaps where the commanders move up one round. and the Seahawks get Sam Howell for, I'll say it, virtually nothing. Yeah. I kind of love it for Seattle. Oh, well, depends on your opinion of Sam Howell. I actually think, like, that.

I think it's good business. I know that Gino Smith is just like likely your start at this point, but Mike McDonnell, not actually. Good news for Gino Smith. It is good news. Gino could have had a tougher competitor. I still think actually a rookie will be there, too, and it might be one of those things. three-headed battles where it was, remember it was like Whitehurst, Russell

Wilson, and was Matt Flynn there? Matt Flynn had been the big free agent signing and then lost his job. But if this is the veteran competition for Gino, you know, he's going to be over Sam Howell certainly. And look, if you can just get a third year quarterback who's shown that he's

decent and all you had to do is move down 24 spots from the third to the fourth round. I mean, any cheap way to get a quarterback, I'll take it. A solid trade. Yeah. And it's easy to forget now because he had such a disastrous second half. There were real conversations about

how being the answer there in Washington now a regime change occurs. So all of a sudden he's no longer a favored son. But he absolutely torpedoed his future there with some reckless bad play. So he's looking to kind of become a more consistent player. Maybe he can get

he's got a little bit of Ryan Fitzpatrick DNA. And then maybe he can have opportunities along the way like Fitzpatrick. And thanks to his late season, and swoon, they won four games and are in position to get a new quarterback, which are obviously, after Greggie and the Pats there. It was a good, I had to, it was a lesson

on stats don't lie, but they need context. I believe he was benched at the time that he was leading the NFL in passing yards. That sounds close to it. Close to right. My son, or maybe it was fantasy points or something among quarter, because Walker was

blown away. He was like, how could they bench the guy that is leading the NFL in passing? He was throwing for an ass ton of passing yards i remember that um all right let's uh finish out the news how many passing yards an ass ton it was like he was on pace for like a five thousand yards i love uh you know dirty words or phrases that are spun that way where it's like that's not you just created the term for the most part and thank you randy for letting me know that capler was playing for the yomiuri giant by the way struggled badly was kind of what's that mark i didn't say that i didn't say that heaven's debatsy my grandmother used to say that so that's right yeah's like everyone that was

born in 1898 used to say that. All right, here we go. Let's spin through the rest of the news here. The Cowboys finally get in the mix. They sign Eric Kendricks to a deal. Kendricks had backed out of an agreement or it was heading toward where was that?

Yeah, he had agreed with the 49ers. Niners and he changes his mind and goes to the Cowboys. The Raiders finally, this feels like it's been something that's been percolating for a couple years now. They say goodbye to Hunter Renfro. so they cut ties with the slot receiver and Ronnie Stanley

stays with Baltimore the guard gets a haircut which means a pay cut and they trade Morgan Moses to the Jets for a late pick swap actually I like that trade for the Jets as well that was a he was on the Jets

then signed with the Ravens now the Jets getting back for some late round picks anything on those moves I like Stanley staying in Baltimore because they've lost offensive linemen they've lost Patrick Queen. They've lost Gino Stone. They lost Ronald Darby. You know, it's O'Dell Beckham's out the door. And you mentioned the

Cowboys. We haven't really talked about it. I feel like everyone is. so it's kind of like we get it. But for the Jerry Jones telling us that this is going to be like the all-in team that gets super active, they've lost almost 4,500 snaps in terms of personnel off the roster and some of those in key positions.

They're in a tricky financial place. And I think that's playing into they got this DAC thing hanging over the team. You got the CD-Land. contract hanging over the team is you got you know micha parsons down the road i think they're kind of in a tough spot a little bit yeah they also had i don't know if it was ever confirmed that it was actually tyrant smith in a twitter account that was like saying call me up cowboys i don't really want to leave uh i also think though the cowboys do have a heart uh there is um a draft

analyst out there by the name of like Connor Connor NFL draft analyst and he said he's a big Cowboys fan apparently that he would start doing meth if the if the Cowboys don't freaking sign a free agent in the next hour and within that hour they signed Eric Kendrick so I think they saw that out there and they wanted to save somebody yeah that's that's that is that's a caring move Tyrant Smith by the way veteran left tackle 33 years old coming off a big season with him he was he's always been a really talented you know borderline Hall of Fame level for the Cowboys, I'm surprised he doesn't have a hotter market.

He's hanging out there still. Maybe he does have a hot market. He's just taking his time to make the decisions. But like, nudging the Cowboys and be like, hey, guys, you want to think this over? Two weeks after it was widely reported that they were moving on. I kind of like, I don't know if there's some type of red flags, you know, some medical history. He's not getting the contract that he was hoping for some big guaranteed money. And teams must be worried about the injuries.

I mean, can you understand? Like, I do get the, I kind of want to just stay with the. Cowboys in Dallas because it's annoying to move. First of all, I'm sure you could get a move. Also seems fun to play for the Cowboys. I know Cowboys. People that hate the Cowboys don't want to hear that, but you're on prime time all the time.

You're treated well by ownership. You're in a beautiful stadium. Everybody's always watching you. Probably live on a ranch. The Dalton Shultz pointed out how a state income tax. Dalton, Schultz pointed out how sometimes when you're working out, they are like taking tours past you and they can see through the glass to you working out and he was just like what's you know kind of reminded me of your situation mark

yeah where the tours are going by your now imagine that except you're doing like squats and whatnot i mean the last thing i think you would want is um yeah but there's a little difference between me doing squats and dalton shultz well sure it would be impressive you're saying like you're concerned you might you know beef or something when you're doing squats and someone's yeah i just mean like you don't want people staring at you while you're lifting you know doing weights and stuff and you got you know that's certainly a consequence as well potentially yeah you're right that's one of the that's that's that's that could happen to you that would be problematic go to terry blacks right before you got a middle school class day they would love literally like an hour

they keep they must have nowhere else to go because they've gone back and forth i should add journalistically a downside of playing for the cowboys is that you physically cannot advance past the divisional round of the playoffs but there's a little bit of yeah but your off season starts sooner glass ceiling as well it's true you don't really get paid extra for the playoffs sneaky that's true I mean, a little bit, but they're... In other news, Willie Gay goes to the Saints. The Bucks bring Jordan White

had the safety back home after a couple years with the Jets. The Bengals get Sheldon Rankins, who I've always liked. Von Bell, they cut ties with Nick Scott. Also, while we were taping, the Lions picked up DJ Reader, who was coming off a torn quad,

but it was a very good play. I like Reader. When he is healthy, to a pretty sizey contract. Some of these contracts for defensive line, and Rangens is a good example, went way up. Is that the Jamal Williams injury? That had been signing, like, one year.

Yeah, I know. Torn quads, I'm surprised that I want to look at the particulars if they have some protection injury-wise, because you're often not the same player off of Torn quad. But Rankin's got two for 26. Like, that just shows how much cap spaces out there because he's the same player. He's a very good player.

The same player as he's been the last couple years, but now is getting almost like double the money that he was getting from Houston or from the Jets. I should be clear that Adams had a torn quad tendon, which is different than the muscle. I think the tendon is the one where it's like, uh-oh, maybe the muscle tear is not quite as foreboding. All right, that's what's happening in the news.

You get everything? Well, I think we had a couple predictions that are out there. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's cycle back to that. So I asked Bill to offer a prediction, and not only in real time did he offer a sales? one it was confirmed via the news seconds later that he was correct in uh uh getting uh who was it was to the jaguar eric armstead so eric armstead so brian uh you just had a stroke mark

i don't know who brian is mark who uh give us a prediction uh so mike williams i've been looking around at a couple of these wide out rooms and i think mike williams um i think the former owner of this team would have liked the Mike Williams concept a lot but the Las Vegas Raiders right now have Devante Adams who they're obviously at this you know I don't think the idea of the trading

him is gone because they got it behind them Jacobi Myers yeah Jacobi Myers and then you've got guys like Trey Tucker DJ Turner and Christian Wilkerson they have nothing at wide receivers so I feel like Mike Williams to Las Vegas you know in the same division

it kind of takes away from the charger adds to the Raiders. They need a wide receiver. Right church. Wrong Pew. Why so? It's so on brand for where this team is right now and this player. Odell wants to play in Vegas. Odell Beckham to the Raiders. I guess.

But I guess. If you're Odell, though, and you literally shredded your relationship in Cleveland because of what you can deem to be and your father deemed to be shaky quarterback play, do you sign up with a team that right now is Gardner Minchew and Aiden O'Connell? He'll go offers them money at this point. I I could just see the Raiders being wanting to get in the O'Dell business, put it that way.

I mean, it makes sense from the, we went to the Super Bowl at, uh, in Vegas this year, you know, did the walk around the concourse. I always like to do that and see what these stadiums look at, beautiful facility, Allegiance Stadium. But the Raiders are insane with who they retire, the numbers they retire. They, they retired Randy Moss's number. They didn't retire his number. They had, he's in the ring of whatever the f***. No, they had, they had, I guess what it was. That didn't even go well.

It was like, it was like any Raiders. that has ever made the Hall of Fame gets their picture. Even though they countered Randy Biden. They counted Jerry Rice as a Raider too. Come on. Well, that's actually tricky because Beckham, he should be going to the Hall of Fame, but he just kind of his career, he didn't, injuries

played a role, but he never reached the full potential of what he was, which was a beautiful, perfect wide receiver early in his career. So, but I still like, they love big name brands. They always have Al loved it. His son, Mark, loves it. So that's my prediction. I'm going to go with a trade. I'm

going to go with Marshawn Latimore, go into the New England Patriots in a deal. I think Ron Wolf, I feel better. It feels like there's an adult in the room now with the Patriots in terms of how to run a team. And I think their defense looks quite good on

paper and they're going to look for any value and they can afford it. Like they didn't find the right players to spend a lot of money. But Marshawn Latimore, let's say you give up like a when there's some buzz about Lattimore hit in the...

I think Lattimore is going to get traded at some point. Maybe it would happen the next week. Maybe it would happen closer to the draft, but you might be able to get away with giving up like a third round pick for Lattimore or maybe, I don't know. You know what's good.

You know Greg's going to nail this and then ours are going to go by the wayside. That's all that's in your head. That's all the earth is. It's a new year. It's a new year. It's a new chance for us. How about, I believe it was a draft classmate? was Alvin Kamara and Latimer

in the same class? I think I think that's right. Both that mega 2017 class that revitalized Sean Payton's career in New Orleans. How about another Saints one? Camara up to Denver.

Re-team with Sean Peyton. Peyton trying to kind of get some elements that are familiar to him as he looks to reboot the machine post Russ truly in his vision. And it's not going to cost you much because I think Kamara at this stage won't command something big so like Kamara for a fifth round or something like that

wow fourth rounder maybe how about this one the G men and Justin Fields after in a bunch of no one really wants them we get it like at this point I'm wondering if the bears just hold on to him

it's like he's not a child if they draft a rookie they can coexist and then when a team has like their star quarterback have his knee destroyed like in week three Justin Fields value goes up because right now his value is very low but the G men feel or the even the Patriots feel like a potential fit. I'm with you.

If I was the Bears and I don't get offered anything better than like a fourth. And that feels shaky during the draft. Then I would rather just keep Justin Fields and make everyone be a grown-up. And maybe he'll get traded later on. I think that's a good one. I don't know about to the Giants. There aren't that many teams that make sense for Justin Fields. The Giants are done with Daniel Jones after this season.

They got Drew Locke. But Drew Locke is a. But if you hold on. to him. Yeah, that makes sense. I think we'll be telling if you see the bears add another backup to the room in the coming days and weeks that

they might be thinking about keeping fields and then having someone in the building when they move fields maybe in October. You just can't have, I think Justin Fields is a tricky QB2 because any, I think, but fans love him. I know these teams don't seem to love

them or something about them, but like teammates do. Teammates do, but like, if Justin Fields is sitting behind any quarterback that's struggling on any level. It's like there's going to be a problem for the coaching staff. We still got stuff out there, but not as much. It was fast. The insiders were talking, you know, as part of their program. Did they seem to, today?

When you were on the program today, did they seem to let you in? Or was there, was there any coldness to it? Like, how was it? I mean, it was, they let me in, certainly. They were friendly. I mean, it was pretty much whatever interactions we had, was on the air because, you know, it wasn't too much before that. But yes, they were great.

And they were talking about how this really was the fastest moving. I don't know how they could prove this, but the fastest moving free agency that had ever happened in terms of the most players and the most signings coming off the board, the faster. Yeah, because people have been tampering for like 45 days. I don't want to hear about this idea that's, you know, cone of silence until this false deadline is ushered in. I've got 11 players left off of my top 101.

And that was the top 101 for Monday. If you had gone back to the original list, it'd be way, way, way. People are tracking it at this at this pace, Greg. I know they're looking at every transaction on the NFL.com website. Didn't get him a chip. Should have gotten to the Super Bowl, but they got robbed by the officials. With that 2017 Saints draft class, Marshawn Latimore, first round, Ryan Ramcheck, first round, Marcus Williams, second round,

Alvin Kumar, third round. Ray Hendrickson, third round. Alex Anzolone and the sixth pick. The Saints have also had a couple, a couple disastrous first round selections in zero sense. That it really is an all-time draft. Reset that whole organization with Drew Breeze's the final year. I mean, Hendrickson's the third round pick.

Muhammad, actually, you might just mention, even the sixth round pick had a nice career. We ended up being in Indianapolis. But like, that's a crazy draft. It's like Mickey Loomis actually is focused on the team at various junctions. It was back then, you know, who's playing well right now, the Pelicans. I guess that's our time to believe. Whenever the Pelicans come up.

All right. Thank you, everybody. We'll be back on Friday if something warrants it, but don't hold your breath. It's got to be big. Got to be Greg running for president. We had a Deshawn Watson won a couple of years ago. He's not stealing my Friday. He'd the call.

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