NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 'Making the Leap' with Bill Barnwell

Episode Date: July 19, 2022

A virtual room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus and Gregg Rosenthal bring you all the latest news from around the league, starting with the Ian Rapoport report that J.K. Dobbins may not be ready for Week 1 (6:51). Rodney Hudson has informed the Cardinals that he will return for this season (9:07), the Browns will likely pursue a backup quarterback option but not Jimmy Garoppolo (12:29), Eddie Goldman announced his retirement about one week after signing with the Falcons (14:20), and Buccaneers coaches are reportedly not happy that Leonard Fournette is up to nearly 260 pounds (15:22). Then, ESPN's Bill Barnwell joins the show to help Gregg with his 'Making the Leap' column (19:53) - the group names a candidate for every team, with further discussion on some of the more interesting options. Finally, the famous Huc-A-Poos bar in Tybee Island, one of Chris Wesseling's favorite places, needs your help (1:05:30). The owner, Eric Thomas, joins the show to explain... Note: timecodes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. The Around the NFL podcast. Keep our names out of your mouth. Welcome to another edition of Around the NFL. My name is Dan Hansis. I come to you from a virtual room filled with just one hero.

But it's a special one. They're all special. Greg is a special hero. Greg Rosenthal. What's up, buddy? I mean, am I special? At least on this show, it's not that special. Mark Sessler, not with us today.

Hope to have him back on Thursday. But we are rolling, Gregi. the rookies for the raiders bills falcons ravens chargers dolphins patriots saints giants and jets have all reported raiders veterans report tomorrow i checked with grave digger to see if anybody's reporting late but uh he said no it's more locked in schedule so i i can't eliminate any teams from championship contention uh on july 19th no i noticed that it's disappointing all the teams show up within two days of each other next week, other than the Hall of Fame teams who get a little early start bills, Raiders.

But it's good. It's that week where it's like football is back, like NFL now is on once again for the first time in three months. And it's like campus start. But there actually, quietly it still is kind of one more off week. But it's like people are getting ready. We are, I think, around 50 days from the start of the regular season. So we're now, you know, getting into that zone and we will be resuming our three shows a week starting next week.

So we're warming up now. But this is the last week where you kind of feel like it's that summer quiet, even though teams are starting to roll in now. So we're going to get you caught up to date on what's going on in the league, not a lot right now other than obviously teams and players showing up. But we also have, Greg, one of the long-running series in the history of around the NFL, the longest running series, perhaps, tied with maybe some others, but making the leap, which used to be a list that we counted down and we divvited it up. It was me, you, U, West, Mark, Kevin Patra, and we each did a few and kind of went through it that way. You've now since modified it to a more broad look at the league, Greg. it's changed many times yeah then i just would do like four or five and now we're doing one per team was the the way we did it last year and this year we're doing doing it again so i needed some help

some some team you know some teams got a lot options some teams yeah even good teams not not a lot of like young promising players so i'm going to get help from you and and our friend bill barnwell comes yes bill barnwell coming back to the show in a little bit and that is a little misleading if you're if you're going through making the leap and you don't see someone that springs to mind. Sometimes it's just that team is just a different type of team, a veteran team or whatever. But in some cases, Greg, I think it does help you to see, uh-oh, these guys are in a little bit of trouble. Yeah, there were a couple that were worrisome. Washington was one.

I was like, where is their young town? Some are like the Bengals who just, I feel like all the Bengals are like they've already broken out. They all look like they're just a solid team returning and they're already good, not worried about them. but there are others, and there are others like the Patriots who, you know, I felt good that they actually have some young players. They're getting a lot of grief for not having much talent these days, but. Right. You know, then there are teams like the Titans where you're like, uh-oh.

Windows closing. Right, Gravedigger? Yeah, you know, defense returns 10 of 11 starters, so it's kind of tough on that side of the ball. Offense, like relying on some rookies, so you're like, you're not going to pick them to make the leap but also some veterans lots of veterans right i mean it was hard when like the first name i wrote down was like tire tart you know i maybe i you know i should get some help from you off air or whatnot because it's just not a lot of young talent oh a private i do like your

big braver conversation i don't know if we've had one of those yet we we've had a few what is that supposed to mean we've we've we've had many We've had many. I mean, like, you know, you pick up the horn and you punch in those digits and you call up Graver just to talk, you know? You know what? Graver can attest that's actually happened multiple times. But it's just show related because I'll be driving.

I've become the old guy who I'm like some of our old bosses who would just like call because you don't want to be texting while you're driving. It's easier to give Graver a call. Let them know. You don't think I do any behind the scenes work. do sometimes you're not the only one day i i certainly know you do a lot of work right both in front of the camera and behind it before we get going and hit up the making the leap conversation with bill barnwell and we have another special guest at the end of the

show because oh very special there is something going on that's dirty something stinks down south and i don't mean the tennessee titans roster it is there's something else going on and we're going to do our best to write a terrible wrong down in Georgia off the coast. But before that, let's do some news. So now Lamar Miller able to get out of the hole. Miller could he? Vicaros chasing. Lamar Miller all the way, wire to wire, 97 yards of glory.

Greg's friend Joe Tessator with the call, Lamar Miller, 97 yards to the house with the Houston Texans. Still the only two-time making the leak candidate. I did a little research on this, Greg. Chris Wesleying wrote the Lamar Miller 2013 making the leap copy. And then in 2016, after four frustrating, but tantalizing seasons in Miami, he moved to Houston to replace Aryan Foster and the old Zeus. said uh-oh this feels like the moment for lamar miller a two-time making the leap candidate never quite made the leap but it was always an interesting player to me yeah one of the stranger corners you were ever on was lamar miller corner year after year you just really like lamar miller

no one could really totally wrap their arms around it but all right can we wrap our arms around J.K. Dobbins and his status as he looks toward another season coming off an ACL injury. NFL networks Ian Rappaport reports that the Ravens running back is quote no sure

thing to be ready for week one. Rappaport noted that Dobbins has not had any setbacks in his rehab and it's going well but the injury was extensive. There was a meniscus tear. The ACL damaged to the lateral side Ian reported so you have this very

tantalizing running back, this talented player who you don't know exactly what he's going to give you. Now, to that point, Gregie, J.K. Dobbins then tweeted, I might not even go on Pup because that's how good my rehab is going. And I'm damn sure going to be ready for week one. So he refuted Rapsheets reporting, as you have done in the past, Greg, your thought. Well, yeah, me and Rapsheet, you know, have had some differences of opinion in terms of coverage this year. But this is certainly one where I trust his reporting over J.K. Dobbins, because yeah, I'm sure J.K. Dobbins is feeling good about his rehab, but Ian's getting the information from the team or doctors or whoever is trying to look out for J.K. Dobbins and doesn't expect him to be ready for the start of the season. And they're going to

try to save him from himself because they know him being healthy later in the year is more important. Gus Edwards is also coming off of an injury. You know, they drafted a running back there in the later rounds. Like, they can get by. without J.K. Dobbins for a couple weeks. So this is one, though, even though I'm sure he wants to get back on the field, if I'm a fantasy football player, and I hear this from Ian, I would trust it. And it sounds like one of those things that they'll work them in slowly,

maybe week, three, week forward, not the biggest deal in the world at the running back position they can fill in. It makes me think of Saquan Barkley last off season this time, where you had a very serious knee injury is recovering from the rehab, was not going poorly by any stretch, but it was going along at its own process. And similarly, he ended up playing. I don't think he started the season and then he never really found a flow. Hopefully that doesn't happen with Dobbins.

All right. In other news, Rodney Hudson's coming back to the Arizona Cardinals. Rapsheet reports that Hudson has informed the team he's returning and will play in 2022, entering his age 33 season. Hudson did not play very well for Arizona last year, but he's a key guy. for them at the pivot, Gregi. So this is good news for a team that could use good news. Huge news.

Their offensive line played so much worse in the games that he missed. So even though he wasn't like the all pro that he used to be, he was way better than their backups. They ended up having all the snap problems. And the fact that he was considering retirement is the best possible outcome because we did this, we did this story on the show you missed last week, Dan. And so I wanted to kind of close the loop that is something weird was going. that they weren't, they were sending out birthday messages to other people who had Rodney Hudson's

birthday, but not to Rodney. Then they sent out a tweet with four starting offensive linemen that were just like, our big guys are going to protect. But they didn't include Rodney Hudson. It was four starters and the fifth was missing. And it seemed like maybe something was going on between the two. But I guess it was just he was considering retiring and they didn't want to put his name out there if they didn't know he was going to play.

So that's good. just to close that loop, he will be playing. It does always surprise me when I learned that you guys are doing the show and I'm not here. I know you don't like it. I don't love it. I don't love it, but I understand it's necessary. And I don't plan on missing another show, Greg, until the offseason that follows this. No, I think we're probably locked in now here.

Yeah, that was from Japan. That was that was a wild show. Oh, yeah. How you doing? How's your jet lag? it's good it's way easier to focus on like overcoming jet lag and it's much harder coming back from japan it's easier to focus when you have no family around you my my uh my wife emica and our children are still in japan for another 10 days so so everything seems easier it's like

you can't complain about anything when that's the case and one of the great life hacks it might be obvious but i'm sure some people might think it's better to try to line you know change your children's sleep habits or try to keep them in line if you travel across the country like we live in california we've been in new jersey now for a couple weeks i have kept the children on pacific time and that's wonderful oh what what a what a what a what a kid's get to stay up later here in new jersey and they and they love that and then oh greggie the mornings those boys are quietly sleeping in their beds at 10.15 a.m. 1030 a.m. It's a whole new world. Once you have kids, the days of sleeping past 7 a.m. are mostly over, and this has just been a wonderful respite, and I've truly enjoyed it.

That's a good move. That's a good move. I would think the circadian rhythms and just the sunshine, they would naturally fall into the East Coast after a few weeks. You can't do that when you're coming back from Tokyo, though. Like, for instance, we're taping this in the West Coast morning. It's 3 a.m. there on Wednesday already in Tokyo. So you can't play that. game in Tokyo, that's a dangerous game. I should note that we keep them in a windowless basement here on the Jersey Shore. In other news, the Cleveland Browns plan on signing an extra quarterback behind Jake Brisket. If Deshaun Watson is suspended, that according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Watson likely facing a lengthy suspension due to all of his off-the-field tribulations. So the Browns, if that indeed does happen, are going to want to add somebody else. Baker Mayfield, of course, no longer an option traded to the Panthers. And on the subject of

Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans have reached settlements with 30 women who made claims or were prepared to make them against the NFL organization for its alleged role regarding sexual misconduct allegations against Brown's quarterback to Sean Watson in massage sessions. The attorney for the women, Tony Busby said in a statement on Friday. Yeah, it was interesting that the, it's like the Texans settled this so quickly. There's no word whether the Texans will face the NFL punishment. You would think that was possible. We're still waiting to hear the Watson news.

It might not happen even now they're saying before the Browns. show up for training camp, which would be awkward. We don't really know. And really, the takeaway from Mary Kay's report, I thought was notable, was just they want to sign a clear backup to Brisket. Unless they're trying to mislead the media, I don't think they're going to bring in Jimmy G. People have speculated about that, that if Watson gets half the season or the full

season, would you bring in Jimmy G? At least the reporting indicates that, no, Brisket is going to be their guy. Either way, he's been with the team all offseason and he'll know the offense better. We'll see. All right. In other news, Eddie Goldman's NFL career is over. The defensive tackle of the Atlanta Falcons has surprisingly retired at the age of 28. The former second round pick hangs up the cleats.

This comes after he signed a one-year deal with Atlanta earlier this month, but something changed, obviously, Greg, between now and then. yeah it's surprising not a not a long run with the falcons it reminds me of a frank gore's run with the eagles back back in the day old heads will remember that golden was like one of the best young nose tackles in the league for a few years it feels like no one was impacted more negatively from the pandemic than him he had injury issues but then he sat out the the pandemic season and he could never get healthy on his way back but it seems like it was more of an injury thing than else but falcons fans actually were hopeful he was going to start so that it is a loss for them

all right happy trails eddie golden and whatever comes next and finally in the news leonard four net you know playoff lennie lombardi lennie the dude has always been a tank but right now it's a particularly large tank a tank that i think um i think west used to call him battleship, Lenny? Is that because of his inability to change directions? Yeah, he, he would say him trying to, you know, move around. That was, that was a tough nickname for him to put on him. So, for net, he skipped voluntary OTAs with the Bucks. And then he showed up at Mandatory Minicamp very heavy compared to the end of the 2021 season. How heavy? His listed weight, six foot 228 and this report from Rick Stroud coaches were not happy and that's an understatement

report regarding the team's minicamp when Fournet didn't participate in the OTAs but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near 260 pounds so that could be an issue and remember they have a third round pick Rashad White who's in the building and hungry in a different way from Lenny that could make this an interesting backfield in Tampa. There are some people, some people I trust draft draft Nix that think Rashad White is the man, that he should have been drafted way higher, that this is a great opportunity. He's someone, I'm not curious about that much in the preseason. I'm going to be curious to watch a little Rashad White.

I'm not worried about Lenny, though. Like when this stuff happens in May and everyone gets mad in the press and stuff, that's like six weeks before camp. You can drop a lot of weight in six weeks. There's six weeks of camp until the games actually start. That's a solid three months. You would think he'll be able to get his weight down. And then it's tough for some of these players.

So, you know, you're out of the, you get it out of the practice. The weight comes on, it comes off. It's a battle. And Four Nets definitely one of those guys. I want to see how Four Nett does during this break. I definitely want to see how Mackay Beckton with the Jets comes out of this break. Because this is for a lot of guys, it's not just these two dudes. they do use that last stretch between minicamp

and the start of training camp as there let me get down to my playing way and I've had some fun in the offseason now it's time to get crazy. I know the game's different. It used to be guys would be like smoking cigarettes and we're laying down driveway in the off season and then they would use training camp to get into shape.

It's not that way anymore, but you can still sense it, Greg, for a lot of guys, or some guys at least, there is that like, okay, time to buckle down to get serious ahead of training camp. That seems to be the case of the four net anyway. I think that's refreshing. It's sort of old school.

You know, it's a harkens back to the old days of the NFL that you could just like get a little sloppy in the off season and get back. You know, why not? I've had too much fun this off season. I've been traveling too much out of my routine, always battling the bulge. And this is going to be the same thing for me. I'm going to try to use training camp as a ramp up to week one to just. you know, trod drops some LBs.

You know, we're on camera and stuff. It's just like the summer, man, sometimes it gets you. It sneaks up and get you, all the grilling out and, you know, a few too many titos. Same. Same. I could, I could stand to get in a little better shape right now, too. It's the opposite for coaches. They show up in the best shape of their lives.

And then they slowly get worse and worse as the season gets along. Like Bill Belichick always, you know, shows up about, you know, I don't want to, you know, I don't want to, We shouldn't be fat-shaming or anything. But he definitely shows up in better shape than he looks in December. And that's typical of a lot of coaches. The guy that always stands out to me is Rex, his first year with the Jets, when they made that unexpected run to the AFC title game. If you ever go back and watch that game and Peyton Manning had a second half come back,

so it does show up sometimes on NFL network or whatever. Rex is huge by the AFC title game just because, you know, that job, the stress and the late nights. Jeannie was another one. He would show up to camp looking one way and the season would end a little different. Anyway, training camp for playoff Lennie, also for, you know, playoff tugboat is starting right now. All right, that's what's happening in the news.

Let's take a break. And then it's time for Bill Barnwell. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from Scouting Reports and Player Development to Team Building and Philosophers.

coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love unemployment. understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero.

We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel that was my most? big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm My Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast.

Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. for years over on ESPN.com. It's a compliment. He also is the host of the Bill Barnwell show. There's a hint for you. And he has nothing in his Twitter bio. Bill Barnwell, welcome back to around the NFL. That may change.

I may change it to copypounder, ESPN.com. There's something a little lurid, though, about copypounder. There sure is. No, it's a problem. Yeah, Dan, you were mentioning Connor Orr was on our show a few years ago and had takes on all of our Twitter bios. I think he thought my one-word bio was a little too cute. I wonder what he thinks about the Bill Barnwell, just leaving it blank, like all business. It does a sense of mystery there, Bill.

There's an aura, I think, to it. I don't want to set preconceived notions. I want someone who does not know me at all to stumble on my account, judge my bad takes based on the quality of the take as opposed to where I work, ask, who is Bill Barnwell, LOL, L-O-L, idiot, and then eventually realize that I work for ESPN. Right. And also there's the old, the old phrase, you know, what is it? Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free? I think that ties in somehow to that as well.

I'm not sure in this scenario if I'm the cow or the milk, but I think either way, you know, I really believe that I want to be judged based on the quality of my work for better or worse. And on Twitter, I mean, you know, realistically, I don't want to set some ideas. I know people are going to be upset if I tweet too much, tweet too little, only tweet about football, not tweet about football. So at this point, just fill in whatever you need to fill in. That may not agree with what Connor Orr thinks works for Twitter accounts, but I have stood by this for several years now.

All right, good. And by the way, Conoror will be joining us later this summer. ahead of the beginning of the season where we break down team slogans for 2022. So stay tuned for that. But right now we got Bill Barnwell. And you could check Bill's latest article. I read it this morning. I enjoyed it.

NFL MVP, 2022 cases where you take a player and then find someone, you know, use history. As Chris Wesleying was known to say, history is instructive and find a case that connects with the player entering the season. I particularly like the Matthew Stafford comp to Matt Ryan in 20. 2016, veteran quarterback has pelts on the wall, but now he's another year in a system with a gifted play caller on a good team. Look out. I count him into that. Matt Stafford, Greg. I know where are we in Vegas, Greg, with Matt Stafford MVP? I feel like he's not one of the even close to one of the favorites. Long shot, baby. He's not as big a long shot as Brett Rippin, who still also somehow squeezed into that column. And I got to admit, like I would have clicked on it. anyways, but ESPN used the Brett Ripon as like a sell on their home page. And I was just like, well, that's very un Bill Barnwell-like. And, you know, I saw what you were doing. You were trying

to think of ACOM for Kurt Warner in 1999. And that's, it's a tough one to find. Well, I mean, think about how unlikely Kurt Warner was as an MVP candidate, right? I mean, we're talking about a guy who was 27, 28 at the time, undrafted, had 11 career pass attempts, was The backup, all training camp until Trent Green, I believe, tore his ACL. Well, like Brett Rippin, no one had ever heard it. Like, in 1999, when he was, I remember the first game Warner started. I was like, who was Kurt Warner? No one really knew him.

And that would be the case with Brett Rippin, unless you're like a Mark Rippin fan. You were writing the Roto Worldberg for Kurt Warner saying, Joe Germain is coming in two weeks. Joe Jermaine, priority waiver pickup. And I mean, it was incredible. You know, it's one of the most incredible stories. I think in recent NFL history. And I think, you know, I brought up Brett Rippin because even Brett Rippin is so much more likely to be a useful player than Kurt Warner was.

It's just so incredible and so out of nowhere. And I think at this point, you know, working back 20 years, it's so hard to find a good comparison there. History is instructive. And the social media people, they, you know, that's what they're paid to do, find the hookies thing. But sometimes, you know, for the copy pounders like us, you like to have something that the reader, that the reader kind of, you work.

your way to that spot. And it's like, whoa, that's fun. Like a perfect case and point, the superstar club in NFL.com last week. I had Justin Tucker. He was the grand finale. And what do you think is the sell all over NFL and it's, you know, connected properties?

Justin Tucker. What are you going to do? Yeah. Well, keep pounding, I think is what we're going to do. We're just like the Carolina Panthers here on around the NFL. Trademark infringement intended. All right. Now, Greg needs help.

That's how I took this. I took this as. I was re-watching Titanic for the first time in many years with my nieces here on Jersey Shore. And when they just start sending up those flares after the iceberg hit, it's already too late. They're doomed and Carpathia is like four hours away. Here's the good news, Greg. We are the Carpathia, me and Barnwell. We are not four hours away.

We're right here for you now because you need help with the 2022 making the leap class. That's how I took this. Is that correct or incorrect? That's correct. I think we're also like the band on the Titanic as people who are trying to be copy pounders in 2022, like getting people to read long form stuff on the internet. But yeah, I, I'm doing making the leap. And I thought Bill would be, this year they want me to do one per team. I did that last year. And so I'm doing one per team. Bill, I thought would be a fun guy and you as well to help me narrow it down per team. Well, he's the special guest. You're always here. So, yeah, I'm going to run through. I mean, you're always here. This is what's different is Bill's joining us. And we run through a bunch of the teams that are a little harder to do.

So I'm just going to dive in. I'm going to mention some of the teams that I already think I know where I'm going. Like Bill, I'm going to just go in order with how far we get through. Greg, is it going to be one per team, 32? Yeah. Okay. I don't know if we'll go through all. We'll just talk some of the more interesting teams.

But in the AFCs, I really like Ed Oliver. I think I'm going to go with him. I feel like he already broke out, but people didn't notice. Jets, I'm going with your boy, Elijah, more most likely. I wanted to start with the Pats, because if nothing else, this made me feel a little bit better about the Pats roster, that they have actually a bunch of options, which not a lot of, not every team does. And I'll throw these by you, Bill and Dan. Kyle Dugger, their safety, who's a playmaker, Christian Barmore, who had an incredible rookie season.

And then you get to the point, did he already make the leap? Is that not big enough take? Josh Uche, Amina Kimes' favorite, who they really need to step up sort of as a pass rusher. Ramandri Stevenson, one of the best rookie running backs in the league last year. And I even throw in Kendrick Bourne, who might be their number one receiver. So unlike a lot of teams, I feel like they have a lot of good options. Where would you go, Bill? I think I would go Josh Uche here, because I think they really need a linebacker to step up.

I mean, Jamie Collins, Dante Hightower, Calvin Noi, all gone. That's a lot of not just reps, not just staffs, with just brainpower. You know, those are guys who were really the brains of that defense in so many ways at the second level. And I think for Josh Uche, you know, we've seen him almost exclusively play on the edge. So to me, I think the question is, you know, can he be a guy who plays in the middle as well? Can he be a three-down linebacker? Can he do more than just rush the passer? Because I think Bill Belichick wants his linebackers to be able to do that, but he doesn't want that to be the only thing they do.

So to me, I think, you know, Josh Uche, I think the leap for him is just, does he have more than what he's shown so far? Can he play a bigger role? Because I think that's the difference between him being a guy who's won and done in terms of contracts on this roster or a guy who sticks around for a second deal. I would go with Barmore. I think you look at what he did last year, how he came on and got better and better. He had more hurries last year or had more pressures last year than Aaron Donald is a rookie. And he came on. against the run.

He's his past Russian grade on PFF was really jacked up in the second half of the season. So, you know, he's a second rounder, right? So it's one of those as a Patriots, a hater, you could call me. These are the type of guys that they find and unearth and become big time players for, you know, several seasons. So he would be my pick. Can I push back on, it's not really a pushback, but I like Gabe Davis with Buffalo. I know you got it all over in there. Yeah.

I think there is, I think you nailed it with the Jets, even though you don't even have Zach Wilson as like a under consideration in the word document you said. Yeah, I sent you a document of like candidates for your team. It's just weird. I have to believe at him and I, you know I don't. I know I got you. But if Elijah Moore has a huge season, Zach Wilson probably takes a big step. But anyway, Gabe Davis with Cole Beasley out of there.

I think that's a big part of Manuel Sanders out of the picture, what he did in the playoff game against the chief sometimes i get caught in this personally bill i don't know um if you do too when a player has a huge breakout game in the postseason i think that's a natural leaping point it doesn't always play out that way but the way he he stepped up on the biggest stage there that stuck with me oh my goodness i i think about that route where he just broke mike use his ankles once a week i literally watched it two days ago i loaded up next gen and i was just like i'm going to watch this route 10 times in a row. The Gabe Davis thing is so interesting because if you look at, and I realize this is not

a fantasy football podcast, so I apologize for bringing some fantasy football. No, we try to pepper in the fantasy advice this time of year, especially. We will have the fantasy spectacular coming up next month. It is the 10th annual, 9th annual. Who even really knows? Who can count that far? But Gabe Davis is like going in the fourth or fifth round of best ball drafts right now. What?

Really? He's going to be. yeah he's going he's going to be a real difference maker and immediate superstar and i think you know to your point i i feel like that is that is really just something that is a product of that last game i think if he had had a nice 80 yard game in his final postseason game he was good but not four touchdowns and otherworldly i think he'd be going a couple rounds later even given the huge opportunity there is to not be the number two receiver in that offense so uh i you know I'm optimistic about his chances,

but I don't know that he's going to be the guy who I think people are counting on that high in fantasy football drives. Yeah, I would not take him that high. He's sort of the obvious pick. I just feel like Ed Oliver, there was that class of defensive tackles who they've taken turns who's played well.

And I think people didn't really notice that Ed Oliver finally looked like a top 10 pick in the second half last year. And so he's just someone I sort of want to highlight. That's what this is about too. I'm kind of leaning bar more, though. I'm with you, Anucci. They need more out of him, and that's what I hope as a Pats fan, and he hasn't played much.

I think I'm just scarred by the Chase Winovich era, where, like, per snap, he was one of the best pass rushers in the league, and they would never put him on the field. And that's a little bit what Uche has been like the last couple years. And there are different types of making the leaps. And I try to balance it out. You want some good names, some big names, some selling pat. You want some coming out of nowhere. You're going to end up having a lot of receivers because I'm basic. And so they're just easier guys to pick.

But you also want some leaps from like a guy like Barmore who it's not like I'm like putting on my great scouting hat and saying like this guy is going to be a player. Like everyone already knows that who watched the Patriots. But I think he's got a legitimate chance to be like a superstar. So that would be a big leap going from great rookie year to one of the very best in the entire league. And then, you know, you only remember your hits. You only bring up your hits in the future. So midway through the season, when Barmore is making that midseason all pro team, I'll say, remember back on that show back in July, Dan, you told me to pick Barmore.

We emailed it. I like it. Let's watch the AFC North, Greg. Let's keep rolling here. Yeah. I didn't mention the Dolphins, by the way. I think I'm going to do either Javan Holland or maybe their entire offensive line because their offensive line was so bad.

I think the coaching help. Ravens, I'm kind of looking at Adafa Oway. probably my favorite. Bengals is weirdly a tough team to find candidates just because they're all there. Logan Wilson doesn't get enough. Pop. Browns, I'm leaning Ouso Coramoa over Greg Neuson. But the Steelers, four good options. Nagee Harris, Miles Jack, with the rare like seven or eight years into his career, but everyone forgot about him and now he's a free agent making the leap, but I think he could do it. Chase Claypool, who recently said he thinks he's a top three receiver in the league and uh, Alex Highsmith, who's quietly put up a lot of production across

from T.J. Watt four good options, which is a good sign for the, the Steelers that they have that many options. Where would you go? I, the problem is I have to believe in the player. Right. That's me too. Me too. And I think the guy who comes to mind from me is actually none of those guys, it's Dan Moore, who is left tackle for them, I think was last in ESPN's past block win rate rankings last year so not great but i mean that organization did not replace him they did not supplement him they believe in him as a a starting left tackle and i think the steelers given their drafting and development history over the past 40 years i'm not saying that they're always right not saying they just said they were last is that a shot at the whoever came up with past block win rate at esbm like they might be listening

and being like come on barnwell i i think he's going to get better is he going to get better enough to be a franchise left tackle that's a tough question but But, you know, I think last year with Ben Rathosberger, it was, okay, Ben can't move, but at least he knows what's coming. At least he has a good sense of where the rush is going to be. Now it's Mitch Trubisky, now it's Kenny Pickett, who can move, but who are not as sort of seasoned as Ben Rathesberger. So it's can den more protect the blind side of two young quarterbacks. And if he can, that's a huge difference maker for a team that, you know, does not have a lot of cap space to spend. It's certainly not invested heavily in their offensive line.

I think that's the most interesting player I'm watching heading into your team. two, I'm just not sure if I believe in him. I'm going Claypool here. He was electrifying as a rookie and his skill set just like jumps off the screen when you watch him. Sometimes I wonder, is he a little bit of a knucklehead and is he a fit with the Steelers? I don't know. And you look at the numbers, he declined.

At least he only had two touchdowns last year. But you know it's all there. And you know that it couldn't. I know they don't, they're not settled a quarterback now or we don't know yet with Trubisky and maybe Kenny Pickett, maybe a dash of Rudolph. But anything I think is better than Dead Ben. Like that, if I had to take a chance on a guy that maybe disappointed last season a little bit, I'm making a big jump and making the leap and becoming like an all pro.

I'm not saying top three like he thinks, but becoming a pro ball type talent. Claypool is my guy there. I think I'm a top three podcaster on this show personally. I mean, you went off the board, Bill. I'm not sure. I mean, it was good analysis. It's definitely the first Dan Moorpop we've given all off season. And it is a big story for them, their offensive line in general.

You didn't mention Pat Friermouth either. He's a little saucy. Oh, yeah, I should have. That's true. Actually, people love the Friarmoot. I think Jack could be a sneaky big pickup for them because they just don't like Devin Bush. I think Devin Bush is ultimately going to get replaced bench by him. He's a weird pick here.

Highsmith gets them. Yeah, Friamuth actually might be the guy, and he wasn't listed. Wow. 60 catches on 79 targets. I take that back. Nage is too much of a basic pick, although his per-carry numbers weren't great. I wanted to throw in a Davis-Mills-Texins conversation.

He's probably going to be the pick for the Texans. Just because I just personally am, we haven't talked Davis-Mills like all off-season, and I'm just kind of curious for your take, Bill, and just, you know, Nico Collins would be another guy there talking up. I know our friend Nate Tice really likes Tavier Thomas, who's a cornerback, who's fighting for playing time there. They, they, I did projected starters a couple months ago, and their defense was easily the hardest side of the football to project on all 32 teams that goes just like, what? I don't know who is starting on this group.

So it's hard to predict them making the leap out of that group. Where are you, uh, in terms of your Davis Mills belief? I'm not high. I have to admit, you know, I think that five-game stretch to end the season, you know, hey, numbers were fine, pretty good by all accounts. Defenses he were playing not especially impressive. And to be fair, the defense played as a starter earlier in the season were a lot tougher. So there was a high bar early in the campaign. But I would really discount that a little bit based on the defenses he played towards the end of the year. I'm not saying that you throw him out, not saying that you never give him a chance again. But I think, The organization saying he's our guy, at least for this year, we're not going to make any other moves to try and make a significant alternative here. I'm a little skeptical of. To be fair, I will say I am writing right now for ESPN. I'm doing my offseason rankings of skill position players for each team.

The Texans were 32 last year, and I don't think the Texans, I don't want to spoil anything. I don't think they're moving too far off that spot this year. So I think for Davis-Mills, decent offensive line. But the weapon's not really there. And so I think, you know, that is going to hurt any quarterback. We'll get just another quarterback later on, I think, who has an even worse situation. But I do think that for Davis Mills, you know, I think he's playing with half of a hand tied behind his back maybe. I think he could certainly use more help than what he has.

I actually went with Brevin Jordan here, where I think it's a question, you know, is he just a guy who's playing because they have no other options to tight end? I think their backup is Anthony Alclair. or is he a guy who's a good athlete who can be a player who, you know, even if he's not your in-line tight end who plays a thousand snaps, can he be an athletic tight end who makes plays for you? And I think that is something the Texans have to figure out this year with the receiving core is, okay, we have Brandon Cooks, but who else is playing in our offense three years from now besides the star former Rams wide receiver? Do you want to shine the light on anybody else in the AFC South, Great, before we move on?

No, no. I was going to just, I'll quickly, you know, Pitt, Pittman, probably, the Colts, maybe quidipay Trevor Lawrence you got to get like I said you got to have you got to have some star power here that's that's someone you can sell the article with Trevor Lauren Titans bad another bad sign for your Titans grave digger that they didn't really have any good options I might go with like their young cornerback duo Christian Fulton and Elijah Molden kind of do a package deal let's move to the AFC can I just say if I had to if my life was on the line and I had to nail one of these for making the leap it and it is

basic but it's a good sell i think Trevor Lawrence is going to make a substantial leap this year that would be my pick if i had to put it all on the line anyway i'd like to hear your guys's choice as well uh before the end of this exercise oh okay mine mine might be the next guy um jerry judy on the broncos wow now now sir tan would be an easy pick there he already was so good you want it so bad Greg you want Jerry Judy to be awesome so bad I mean I don't necessarily he obviously had you know he had the disturbing off-field arrest this off season which which got thrown out doesn't seem like he's going to get punished by the NFL he in even just in terms of what you've heard from the beat writers in terms of his attitude on the field and some of the things coaches have said there are some

questions about maturity there which which makes you worried alberto is another name I would throw but I just sort of trust you got to trust your eyes with certain things and he moves in such a way that so few people in the NFL move and I just think getting open is the is the most bankable asset that any receiver can have and he does that really well and now he's going to upgrade at quarterback as much as I like Teddy it is an upgrade here to Russell Wilson and to me I think if I'm picking any of those guys I know it's a deep receiver group, but I think Judy benefits from Wilson being there the most. I mean, I'm just a lowly copy pounder.

So I don't have the eyes to examine the way players move. That is a art form that I could not possibly look to as a lowly copy pounder. But my question for Jerry Judy is this. Like, yes, Jerry Judy has had middling, maybe bad quarterbacks his first three years in the NFL, first two years in the NFL. Compare that to someone like Terry McLaren, who's had even worse quarterbacks and been more productive. Michael Pitman has had similar or worse quarterbacks and been more productive. I mean, guys, you know, I think the argument that Jerry Judy will throw his first two years out because he was playing with crappy quarterbacks, like there are other teams who, other players who have had worst quarterbacks who have been more productive. So to me, I think I'm cautiously optimistic about Jerry Judy, but I think that sort of just plug and play. Oh, we're inserting Russell in and he's going to get 1300 yards. I don't, I'm not with you on.

Alan Robinson before he kind of quit last year. Another guy, you know, The guys that are really studs, they find a way to get the numbers. But he's also a guy, you remember his last game against the Raiders when he had five catches for 140 yards. It's all there. But you're putting your life on the line, Greg. Well, yeah, I also think he's like just much more, he's more talented than Cortland Sutton and Hamler and Patrick. I think he's the one. You're not going to put MVS as the making the leap guy for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Why not? Because he just had Aaron Rogers on his team for years and he was always a tantalizing guy, but it just never put it together. Why is he now going to put it together now? Because they need him, because they need him, because his role's going to change. I don't know. I mean, yeah, they need him.

So are the Packers, but it never really happened. Yeah, how is his role going to change in Kansas City? He's not going to be like a three-level receiver just because they need him to be one. Well, that's what he's, you know, you're right. I might be falling for the OTA stuff, but that is literally like the OTA stuff is like, now he's going to be a three-level receiver. Greg, you've been doing this 20 years, my friend. It's a fair point.

A lot of it is opportunity, though, and I do think for because of the money that they gave him and because he's a long-term piece there, that he is going to have a lot of opportunities. And for him, making the leap would be 900 yards, I mean, and make a bunch of big plays in prime time. It doesn't need to be some massive thing. And I could see it where he feels like, you know, people were saying Tyree Kil, many of the many, One of the many reasons why they will miss Tyree Kill is, you know, the four or five times a year where Mahomes just is freestyling and finds someone down the field. That feels like MVS is spot the shot. For sure, for sure, for sure.

Absolutely. But that's four or five times a year. He was that guy with the Packers already. Like he would have, you know, he'd go for 140 and two touchdowns three times a year. And then he'd have four weeks where he'd have 17 yards. And it'd be just where did Mvias go? I think that's maybe he's a better version of that this year. Well, Ronald Jones would be another, like, disappointment elsewhere that possibly steps up

because I just don't believe in Edwards Allaire. Nick Bolton, I guess, would be an option. You know, the man who didn't quite come down with that Joe Burrow weird sideline pass that he could have intercepted that would have maybe one, you know, put the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Legerius Sneat just doesn't get a lot of attention, so I could mention him. What about one Thornhill? I mean, a guy who was very good as a rookie since then, I mean, okay, has been in and out of the lineup a bit, but was in more last year than out. And I think, you know, a player where I think, I'm wondering, is he just, you know, is he better than Daniel Sorensen?

Is that way he's in the lineup? Or is he actually a legit, you know, above average starting safety? I think I want to see him play 17 games and play consistently well this year. So I can just feel Dan getting nervous because the pacing of this is in trouble, you know. It's like we've got to get Bill out of here. No, it's not Bill. That's me, because I'm trying to, like, crank through all 32 people. I think you're projecting upon me.

I do know we have to take a break. So let's take a break, Greg. And then we're going to hit the NFC. See, that's just, that's tugboat, just keeping things under control. It's like the captain on the Titanic. I'm not going to be on the lifeboat. I will be behind the big wheel when the water comes rushing in. See, Dan's in Jersey.

I just think I can do whatever I want. Let's take a break. We'll be right back. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning

rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft. analyze matchups and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction,

and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones.

Now I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining.

And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. All right, let's get to it, the NFC East with Bill Barnwell. Let me do a Frances. All right, if you're just joining us, Bill Bonwell does really great stuff over at ESPN. He's joining us. We're talking making the leap. Greg, how about the NFC East?

Yeah, Washington was one of the teams I couldn't come up with anyone. I was like, I don't know, just do like Antonio Gibson bounce back. Cowboys probably Cedie Lamb over O'Digizua, although I really like O'Digizua. I just, I wanted to talk Giants because Bill is our resident Giants fan that tries to hide that he's a Giants fan somewhat. Bill's going through some stuff right now. The listeners should know his faces, his hands are very. in his face or the other way. Hey, look, I think I feel better about the future

of the Giants right now than I have in about a decade. It might not be great this year. Sure. But this is one where I don't need your help. I'm definitely going Cadarius, Tony, because I am a huge cadarious Tony believer, and I

was just curious if Bill is with me on this at all. I'm not. I think he's okay. I think he's interesting. But, like, we're basing our Cadarius Tony optimism on one game.

Yeah. Like that's it. It was like two games. It was really two games. You did some things against the same. Yeah, 16 catchers for 267 yards in that two game stretch. Otherwise. Yeah.

And that was it. And like, how about those eyes? How about how he moves? You got to admit. You've got to admit he is a freak in terms of how he moves, like a Tyree kill type of thing. When you are staring at the life nature of NFL players moving, I'm out. pound in the copy. My head is down.

I'm on the keyboard. This is BS. You know, I know you're a numbers guy and we want, you know, factual data and stuff. Don't put him in the box. He's a numbers guy. But you still got to look at a guy like Cadarie. So as a rookie, stepping out there and having a game and making NFL defensive players look silly in a way that few players do and doing that right off the bat and thinking, okay, there's something here in the right system that they could harness and it feels like Brian Dable would be that right system. He just has to stay healthy and kind of have his head on straight. That's fair. I think that's absolutely fair. But what I

would say is, number one, he, you know, he didn't get hurt later on in the year, but he was not that guy consistently after that two-week stretch. And number two, they did use second-round pick on Wondale Robinson, who is kind of the same sort of player, maybe not as good, maybe more of a project than Cadarius Tony. But that doesn't tell me that the new regime is necessarily in love with And there was some trade rumors swirling around him after year one, which is very unusual. I know there's a regime change and that stuff could happen. But I got some sobering data here, Greg, and Bill just touched on it. But he played 10 games last year.

He missed time, extended time to injuries. He had those two big games, 23 catches for 150 yards outside that two game explosion. So he, you know, and he missed most of the spring coming back from knee surgery. So there are some obstacles here. Well, Daniel Jones would, Daniel Jones would be another option here. You know, one of the reasons Tony didn't produce was because. Barnel says no, shaking is that immediately. Okay, Ojo Lari would be an option, but Daniel Jones would be an option.

Because one of the reasons Tony didn't produce is because they had those terrible quarterbacks. And basically the offensive line went from bad to like unplayable in the last eight or nine, you know, weeks of the season. I've made mistakes before. And maybe I'm making it with Davis Mills where you like get too excited about the last five or six games. of a rookie year and then you hold on to that like do you Dan do you still think Daniel Jones don't you think in this Brian dable type of thing like at least has a chance I don't know who else does on this roster anyway I think given the way things unfolded this year especially with the this particular quarterback class and

everything I was going on with the Giants I think they made the right call to just hold here and give him one more shot that said and you used to talk about this with Darnold and other guys, Greg, like once you get to this point, you have to assume the worst. So while he's still Tulsie, while you wonder with better leadership and a better game plan, will he be able to become that guy that thought he was going to be? You just got to look at like history and think it's not going to be the year for him. But, you know, I mean, I think that's a good way to put it. You know, I think the odds are against him. And yes, you are changing some of your personnel, you're changing the coaching staff. I think Brian

Dayball is much more competent than the offensive staff they had in there previously. But look what happened with Sam, right? Sam went to Carolina. He had three good games. Our old friend, Evan Silva was literally... Yeah, but Daniel Jones is like, don't you, you're a Giants fan. Don't you think Daniel Jones has shown that he's kind of a replacement level starting quarterback. Like, I'm pretty confident, and I can't say this about Darnold, that Daniel Jones is going to have like a 12 to 14 year career bouncing around a league and he'll be like a part-time starter maybe is like his median outcome kind of like a teddy bridgewater ish career oh boy i do not think daniel jones is on teddy bridgewater's level i you've already

slandered teddy twice in the first that's not a slander i just think he's shown that he can play that he can play in the league that's all i i think my concern is how has he developed i mean to me i think he's still the same guy who is very slow in the pocket he's he's patient which i think is a good thing but also patient to a fault he's getting hit too often he doesn't protect football very well. The strides he has made are not significant enough to me to think that he's going to make a sudden leap. And I think with the backup quarterback, he wants somebody like Teddy who's going to protect the football, makes short decisions. Maybe he doesn't have the ceiling other guys have, but Daniel Jones to me is just not that guy. I think to me, if I was going to pick

someone, I'd pick Andrew Thomas, where he improved last year. He was bad as a rookie. He was much better last year. He looked competent last year. He was not the problem with that lining year ago, but still well behind wills and whirfs for the best tackle in that class and he was taken as the first tackle in that class ahead of those guys so to me I think it's is he going to be a okay tackle or is he going to be the guy the Giants expected and be a superstar left tackle and a building block for them for the next decade whether it's Daniel Jones or someone else a quarterback he's protecting in years to come I'll throw one more out from the NFC East a little bit basic because I thought he'd be in the superstar club this year it didn't quite happen but CD Lamb making that leap this year, I think is going to happen. I think the way it's setting up for the Cowboys, Dak, another year clear of the surgery, Amari Cooper out the door. You're going to see CD-LAM put up all pro monster stats, in my opinion.

You could make a case for Tony Pollard, too. Those are two good options, I think, because I think he finally kind of takes over and becomes that lead guy from Zeke, and he's going to be involved in their passing game as well. I think the Cowboys have two good candidates there. Yeah, I'm with you. Greg, I give you one Washington candidate.

it. Please. He was struggling with them. I will give you Cam Curl, the safety, where he was mostly a strong safety last year. I think he, you know, mixes it up a bit more. I know Bryce McCain is there back on a one-year deal. They have high hopes for him. I don't know if he's going to be, you know, a superstar, but I think, you know, he has potential. I think there's a lot to like there. I think they were very impressed with him in a small sample. I think he gets a bigger role this year. And I think he has the athleticist and too impressed. The next couple of divisions I'll crank through. But I thought one of the two or three most interesting teams in the whole league

was the Eagles, because they have big name value here for potential making leave. Dan, where are you going? Devontas Smith, Jalen Hertz. You could even go Jordan Milata. As much as I've talked him up, he still has another leap to go where he would be like a first team all pro type of guy. I mean, he's not been a Pro Bowl or anything. And then I know they're very high in Milton Williams, who is a defensive tackle they took.

We'll be part of a rotation, so it might be hard for him to step up. I had a nice rookie year. So more than most teams, they've got some good name value there. You're going to want a few quarterbacks on your list when the copy comes out when it's pounded out. So I think Jalen Hertz is the safe pick here and the right pick. That's my choice. For all the reasons we've talked about this summer, another year in the system, unquestioned starter, got a new number one receiver. You know, if he's healthy, I think he's going to ball out and take the

leap and be, you know, a top, it could be a top 10 starter if things go really well, but like, it's safely on the right side of the Dalton scale. Could feel you trying to calibrate that number correctly. It's just the scale slightly 12, 8, 6, 14. I think, I think that's a good number. Let's go to the NFC North. I mean, I think there's a lot to get here too as well. And, you know, I'm intrigued.

Greg, who do you think is possibly capable of making the leap on this Bears roster? Well, Darnell Mooney is going to have such opportunity to Tulane grad. So I've talked to him up plenty on this podcast. But he really is a true deep threat, which not many players in the league are. And to me, he matches up perfectly with Justin Fields' skill set. And there's so little receiving options behind him. You know, they certainly at tight end, they're okay, but their number two receiver might be Byron Pringle.

And so Mooney, even though he might not need to be that much better, just the fact that they'll throw the ball enough, like he could easily have 1,300 yards. Justin Fields would also be an option. Jalen Johnson took a step back last year, maybe, so maybe if you like him to bounce back. But Mooney, this is what, the problem is I don't want to go, you don't want to go too many receivers, but Mooney feels like the guy. I will say it. I mean, like I said, I'm doing the skill.

position rankings for yespn the bears are very low there they are if i was doing offensive line rankings i think they'd be dead last i mean justin fields has absolutely no help and i think that's the scary thing is it's not just about him playing poorly i think it's hard for me to see him even staying healthy through the entire season that's how desperate i think his situation is so i think i guess you go mooney just by default but it's just a brutal situation i feel like that this is making me realize though like if you want and this i'm not telling you what to do here bill but you want there's a lot of people here at esbn you want to you want your takes to stand out i feel like no one's on the like justin fields is gonna have a monster second year and be the best second year quarterback guy left

like everyone's sort of off that so if only to be unique someone should be taking that corner a big market chance it happens you know there's that's quite a leap i'll leave you could go dan you you could go maybe you take that i won't do someone needs to be the big fields guy because it could it could happen if he's really as good as we thought he was coming into the league like people i i volunteered to help gregg on one column and now he's he's he's giving me his secondary takes i'm not going to do this but you can do that one bill yeah just quickly on the north i'll just say pinay sewell probably the leading uh guy in the lions maybe dandre's fifth uh alan lizard maybe stepping up if we wanted to

give Rashon Gary more love he's already kind of taking the leap Irv Smith maybe KJ Osborne can't buy them in Minnesota. I just one thing since you brought up the Green Bay pass catchers do they need either Lazard or Christian Watson to immediately emerge

to be a big time team this year are they I know the Devante Adams situation I feel like they're very vulnerable unless one of those guys becomes a guy like a dog got the dog in him Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair. You know, and I don't think Luzard has a track record to make you think he's going to be that guy.

So I think, you know, maybe it's Robert Tannian coming back from injury. Maybe they just go to a more run-heavy approach. Like, I think you can't just run back that exact same offense, the exact same pass rate, the exact same routes, just plug in Alan Lazzard. I think, okay, he's going to be Devante Adams. And that's just not going to happen. I think someone has to make a major leave. They don't have to be Devante Adams, but I think someone has to be the guy where we mentioned Nate Tice.

Nate Tice always says, who's going to be that guy who gets you a bucket when you need a bucket? Like, DeVante Adams was that guy for the Packers, and now they don't have that guy. There's not that, you know, the guy who's going to bail you out on third down. So to me, I think someone has to be that player for them. I think they've shown, and the Patriots, certainly over the years have shown that though, like, if you're going to try to save money or you're a little short at a position, wide receiver is not a bad one to be short on. because when you have a quarterback like Aaron Rogers, he can make them better.

And the reason I put Lazard first is just like, he's tried to call Lazard his number one receiver in the off season. So you know that he likes Lazzard. He's trying to puff him up a little bit. He's going to give him opportunities. And that's part of the reason you pay Rogers $50 million. We'll fly through the South, the NFC South. I think Kyle Pitts, you almost have to do him with the Falcons.

Gross Matos, I've always liked with the Panthers last two years. Jeremy Chin may be bouncing back. Pete Werner was really good for the Saints as a rookie. I think he's going to be my pick, maybe Paulson-Adebo. The Bucks didn't have many options because there's such a veteran team. I could get cute and throw Tom Brady in just to be like he's just going to step up big in age of 45 season. Try and Shank.

Let's go to the NFC. Can I just, I'll throw one for Carolina. J.C. Horn was kicking ass before he broke his foot. Now, but does he qualify? Because he only played three games as a rookie. So what does? I think he does. Okay. Well, I think you should think about it.

I think you're okay. Can I throw a Tampa one in there really quick? Okay. Let me throw in Russ Gage. Okay. Like Russell Gage is coming over from Atlanta. You know, the expectations are pretty high. Tom Brady personally recruited him to come to Tampa. He probably starts in two wide receiver sets to start the season.

Like, you know, I don't think Russell Gage is going to be a pro bowler, but that's not out of the normal possibility that he's a thousand-yard receiver in this offense. And that would be a, you know, I think. a pretty big leap from a guy who was, you know, a decent numbers in Atlanta, but was never seen as like a real difference maker from week to week. No, he was a monster in the last half of last season, and I was just like, what? Russell Gage, that's a good, that's a good pick. Tryon Shiaenka has such a good opportunity. It's been pretty erratic as a pro. The Cardinals, I might go Mark East Brown. You're a bit hyphenated guy. Yeah, I do like hyphenated players. Markis Brown, maybe changing his role up a little bit in that system. Marco Wilson.

and their cornerback. 49ers, he'd go Iyuk, you'd go Lance, he'd go Elijah Mitch, you'd go Camico Torre, who I kind of like coming in there. Seattle, though, there's a lot of options. So I want your help, Dan. I could throw Gino in there. I'm running out of time to get Gino into my copy. That would be fun.

Jordan Brooks is a guy that, like, people that watch the tape love Jordan Brooks. He never fares very well on PFF, because I think he gives up big, plays and his coverage is spotty. Noah Fant coming over there. We always kind of were waiting for Noah Fant to break out. Darrell Taylor is a good pass rusher. The Seahawks have options, Dan.

Would you get cute and go Gino or would you do something? I certainly wouldn't go, but I could see you doing that because there's not a big standout guy. I don't know. If Russell Wilson was throwing the passes, Fant would be interesting to me, but that's not the reality we live in anymore. I don't really have a hot take on this one. I'm not going to force it.

Mm-hmm. That's smart. I mean, you know, I think it's really a question of what does the offense look like? Because I think if that offense looks like it's a, you know, if it looks like it's just a run-heavy mess and they're just taking some play action shots, then I'm not excited about fan. But if they're moving the ball, if they get no fan a bunch of red zone opportunities, I think he could be like a 9-10 touchdown guy. And that, that would be a step forward for me. I don't think he's going to have a thousand yards. I don't think they're going to have the volume after Lockett and Metcalf get theirs. But, but. I think NOAA fan could be more of a red zone threat. I think that would be exciting. You could be their number three receiver, basically, in which not all tight ends are your number three kind of receiver. They don't really have a third wide out, get like 700 yards and eight touchdowns. And then finally the Rams,

probably leaning Ernest Jones. You could go no boom coming in. You could go Cam Acres. You could go D. You mentioned we had to pick our lock, I guess. No, I was just cheating on the. system, but I think I'll go Ernest Jones. Aaronis Jones was one of the best players on the field in the Super Bowl.

I mean, and there were a lot of famous players on the field in the Super Bowl. He was phenomenal in that game. I mean, I think for them, you know, I don't want to say he's going to be this guy because this is probably the best possible outcome for his skill set or for his draft status and where he played last year, but I think he's the guy who has to be the Fred Warner for the Rams. And I think in terms of his ability to work within the context of coverage, in terms of his ability to, you know, to cover different parts of the field, he looked like that guy in the postseason, especially in the Super Bowl. So to me, I think he's still a work in progress, but he has that kind of upside.

And I think he's going to be a significantly, he's going to be a really important player for that team this year, I think. Greg, when you have this article that goes up live next week on NFL.com, in the opening graph or two before you dig in, how much pop do Barnwell? well and I get. Yeah. Now you're getting it. If you hadn't just said that, I don't know if it would have happened. Maybe I would have at least waited until I got to someone that you guys like specifically pitched for. But now that you did that, I think that's good. And that, you know, that just increases the chances of you guys mentioning it ever again. So that can only help spread the word about making the lead. You know me well, Greg. All right. Bill, you've said it all one day you and i are going to be uh in boston at the same time and uh we'll get a

sandwich of chicken loos together northeastern graduate i have some bad news dan don't say it don't you say it i have some bad news we lost chicken lew during the function it's not so sad you can you can buy i believe tk o sauce or some kind of of chicken loose sauce on their website now but It was sadly the fried chicken truck. It was that soft bread with the chicken and the buffaloes. Wow. Sad day for all huskies. It's true.

Literally. Wait, did the restaurant close or did this Lou character? The key clothes. The curtain close on Lou himself. I don't know. Lou was a little shack right off. It was like a food truck hunting kind of thing. Yeah.

Yes. We'll go to Bee Hop instead. We'll go to Bee Hop instead. We'll go to Bee Hop and we'll toast chicken from there. All right, good stuff. Bill, thank you so much. Again, check out Bill's writing on ESPN.com and the Bill Barnwell Show. And he's always on with Mina.

So you could check Bill everywhere. He's on ESPN, the television station a lot. I mean, this is about a Van Pelt action. You and Van Pelt. It's true. Nice, yeah, nice rapport with Van Pelt. Two, two bald men just doing TV. It's a real triumph, I think, for us.

Not a lot of bald representation on TV. Happy to finally get two bald men on the television at the same time together. Big, big upside for me. All right, good stuff. Thank you, Bill. Appreciate it. Thanks, Bill. Thanks, guys.

All right, we say goodbye to Bill Barnwell. But we got some, we got another guest because we have developing news. And this is not the good type of developing news. In fact, disgusted. Because the city council over in Tybee Island, our beloved, Tybee, Chris Westling's former hometown has come up with some weapons-grade bullshit that is targeting the great Huckapoo's, the finest establishment in Tybee Island, the hangout of all hangouts in that wonderful place, the place that Wes loves so much, he made a point to make sure we always

were there when we visited. It was a major meeting point and hangout point during Chris and Lakeisha's wedding weekend. And now we got some, again, weapons grade. Bullshy. And I want to talk about it. I want to get it from the horse's mouth, the man, the myth, the legend. Now joining us, the owner of Huckapoo's Eric Thomas. Eric, what's up?

Welcome to around the NFL. Love the Wesselmania shirt. Yeah, I'm representing. What is going on right now in Tybee? Well, I just want to tell you how good you look, man. Have you been vacationing? Is that what's been going on? I'm on the Jersey shore right now.

I'm north of you right now, you know, hanging out with family, having some cocktails and hanging by the beach. I'm sitting right here, Eric. I'm sitting right here. The last time I saw Dan, he was the sweatiest man of ever seen in my job. Oh, my God. I don't know how we played this celebrity softball game, you know. He had all the biggest stars of Tybee Island against NFL, and we got toasted.

And I don't know how you people survived down there in that heat. I certainly couldn't. Different kind of heat. It was right. I almost died on the field that day. But let's move on from that. That was a bad day and now another bad day. Here we go.

Let's get into it. Yeah, it was. So we've been battling a little bit with the city. And they sent me an email out of the blue and said, you can no longer have music, including the radio, after 11 o'clock p.m. Jesus. So there was no vote. There was no discussion.

there was no communication with me. It was just an email sent from the city manager to myself. He said that 11 businesses were affected. The other 10 businesses closed at 10 o'clock. It's a target. Yeah, it's a targeted hit. Why? Why are they coming after you?

Do you have any type of heat? I'm trying to figure it out now. I'm not 100% why they're coming at me. He said, I asked the same question. He said, due to the numerous. complaints that we've received so I did a so I did a open records request and I got a list of the complaints and the list stopped at one there was one complaint about our noise over the past year and that was on September 4th I was wondering if you guys were here on September 4th

that's the reason I that's the reason I wanted to call see if you guys are responsible I was coalescing in the hospital someone with some money here who maybe lives nearby and doesn't like that it's late, is using some influence. This would never have happened when our friend Jason was the mayor. Of course, Jason Dielderman, he married our great friend, Chris Wesseling. You know, he is who officially joined Lakeisha. Well, he was the official of the wedding. He didn't know.

Yeah, he was the efficient. I was looking for the word there. It wouldn't have happened under his watch. So, like, what can we do here? We don't want to come. We don't want our listeners to come too hard at whoever's making this decision, the city council. You tell us, how can we help? I say come as strong as you want to go.

Okay, okay, come hard. I'm just saying if that's not going to work, I don't want to do it. Yes, I think Greg's making a point that crossed my mind yesterday, that we have this great listenership, this loyal listenership, and every one of them absolutely loved and adored Chris Wessling. And when you think about Chris, you think about Tybee, you think about Huckapoo's. In my experiences at Huckapoo's, the night just starts heating up around 11 o'clock and everybody's having a great time outside. And that made me think that maybe you had defeated someone, Eric, and Cornhole, and you got on somebody's bad side that way, a late night game.

But what can we do? Because I don't want our listeners to come so hard that it becomes somehow hurts the cause, but maybe just voices carry here in this situation. Who can we send the listeners to to make sure Huckapus is an unfairly targeted? And the city council needs to give you and all the other people who love Huckaboo's a voice. I'm hearing that they're not even letting you bring that up for conversation. What is this? I went and applied to be on the agenda for the next meeting. That was last Thursday. And I got a call a few days before that said I've been denied my rights to speak in front of counsel about this issue. Now, they have said, okay, we're going to slow down on this. We're not going to enforce this right now. But it's a,

it is a law on the books right now that was made by one man. And, and he did it all himself under the guidance of the council. So I don't really know, you know, at this point, you know, talking about Wes one thing we learned from Wes is if we're going to go down we're going to go down swinging right we're going to fight the whole time so that's what i'm going to do too i'm going to i'm going to fight i'm going to fight i'm going to fight them as hard as i can and uh hopefully get this thing resolved all right and if there's someone that our listeners can either tweet out or email uh maybe you could let us know eric and we'll uh make sure that message gets across uh because in all seriousness that you know that really was a

place that before we even went to Huckabooz. I remember there were shows because Chris, every time he was on vacation from the NFL, he would always fly back east and always spend time back in Tybee, so many friends, dear friends there. And we had a running, I'm sure you were on the show before, Eric, where we called the bar and asked for West, just on a lark that he would be there and many times he was. Yeah. So this is an important place in the history of this program and obviously on the island, so anything we can do to help write this injustice. It's a disgrace. And your government, the government works for us, the people.

And right now it's not. It is not working for the people. It's working for someone, some shadowy figure. And we have issues with shadowy league figures on our program. There's a shadowy figure out there that I don't know what happened. I don't know who's taking handouts or what's going on, but this needs to stop. This needs to be rectified. it's part of the fabric of that island type and the community is rallying uh right now behind me and

and i certainly appreciate that everybody that's uh that's reached out to the city council and to uh and posted their things on facebook and it's been awesome to show the support to feel the love from the community which has always been so good to us so uh a special thanks to them for sure but um but we're gonna you know we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna fight it and we're going to see uh see what happens but we'll take it as far as we can go because i'm definitely not going to lie down on this one yeah you shouldn't that you know that west would west would want you to west west loves hacapos more than anything he would fight it and what our listeners can do is what they've been doing keep going to hookapoo's we love uh getting messages

very often from overseas listeners who are in the area so many people come in and wanting to know where Wes's retired Jersey is or like so you'd be surprised at how many people take a pilgrimage

to Huckapoo's just because of Chris Wessling it's amazing it's amazing we love when you when our listeners send us those and keep doing it because it just feels like if there's one thing in the world

you could do to honor Chris like that's it go have a good day there send us a picture like spread the love it's amazing I do have one theory, though, of maybe what happened with the... Fire west.

Okay. Did you do any kind of stacking of your softball team with some ringers that maybe got somewhat upset and now is somehow using influence because you're wearing this Wesselmania softball shirt and, you know, we haven't seen you since that day. Right. And I wouldn't say, like, you know, what you did that day to really see. stack your team with some ringers that barely even knew West that were off the island was was totally in good spirit in good good sporting spirit so maybe that happened in some

other way and that that's what's going on here i see what you're doing there i see what you're doing i appreciate that you know but uh those those guys were just fans of West not they weren't necessarily friends we're still salty about that we're still salty about that next time we come down our fans of west are going to be you know mike trout and juan soto oh yeah friends of west well um we're actually hoping to come out there for the next softball games so that would be great we'll we'll bring our people i you know and speaking of uh westling field where we played ball uh it is uh the home to the little league um softball team that won the first their first victory ever in a little league world series game uh right here from tiby island so it was uh it was a

big deal on wesselline field that that's amazing train at westling field we actually played in warner robins but uh they trained at westling field and uh and and and history was made the first victory ever so it was a beautiful and if you do if and listeners um as the pilgrimages continue uh to tieby yes absolutely hit up uh huckabooos multiple times but yes get to westling field which was such an amazing job eric and i know you were a vital part of it getting that field renamed Wessling Field. There's also a wonderful plaque that talks about how special West was. Make sure you check that as well.

It's really a special place, Tybee. And I hope, Eric, everything works out here and whatever we can do to help, we will do. Well, I appreciate it, guys. Thank you. There we go. Eric, Thomas. Yes, developing news. A crooked government, local government down there in Georgia is coming after a beloved institution.

And our podcast, Greg, we're just not going to stand for that. There's so many things we've lost our faith in our leaders. And here's just another example on the local scale. No, I'm looking forward to continuing to update this story. And I feel like it's like a classic sports movie story where there's just clearly a bad guy here. We've got to find out who's a guy. And I think we're going to get our sports movie ending eventually. And we'll be able to celebrate this.

this idea being knocked down with Eric again on the show, hopefully. You know, it would be actually a fun thing to do. And I know things are about to pick up and get busy. But if we could maybe do some type of fundraising to have an ad campaign that will air on local television down there, we just need to find out who this guy is. We don't really know what to do here at this point. Right. As you could tell, listeners, we're trying to figure out how to help.

And we're going to work on that. And we'll be sure to keep you up. updated. But I think finding out who is the slime ball, the human gutter ball behind this, that's step one, I think. And then we pounce. No one can stop us. No one can stop our listeners. We get everyone together. We're a powerful force. All right. We are podcast is a powerful force. Bill Barnwell, powerful force. Thank you to Bill for joining us. We'll be back on Thursday with another show. It's our last last two-show week before we dive all in.

We get back together in the studio in L.A. starting next week. So we've got one more show coming up this week. So make sure you check that out. Until then, as the great Chris Wesleyan, just want to say. He'd the car. All right, let's give him a call. Dear God, please pick up. Parker, first.

Hi, I can speak to Chris Wessling. Is he at your establishment? We built a shower for patrons. He may be crying in it. Wow. Whoa. Let me check. I'm a look at it.

They've seen him. They've spotted him. Hey, I found him. All right. Great. Love Huckapooze. Corpses don't cry. Hello?

Hello? There he is. There he is. Christopher Wesleying. It is almost 6 p.m. on Tybee Island. How you doing, buddy? I'm doing wonderfully. How are you guys?

Did I just hear someone yelling the background, they found him? They knew we were looking for you? We had Gold Standard put the authorities on line, too, in case you didn't pick up this time. We were nervous. And I alert the authorities to my presence. What's going on? How's your vacation been? I've been playing hide and sink from them all week.

How's the trip in so far, buddy? Oh, it's lofty expectations. and exceeded. Wow. Chris, we want to know earlier in the week you mentioned to us that you were garage drinking. I just want to know, that sounds fun to me. What's that mean? So the people I'm staying with, they have a bar in the garage.

And it turned into some fun shenanigans on, I don't know, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. Well, on Friday it's a thing where you just stop by people's houses and you expect to have, you know, fun. So one of my favorite stories since I've been here is that I show up for the garage drinking on the first day and the little golf cart cab that comes around the island except everyone just drops off two cases of beer and gives a message this is in exchange for the golf clubs that you let me other day

that's like a regular payment. Wow. Just as a golf cart taxi drop off cases of beer. It's like a very friendly barter system. Oh, there's nothing wrong with it, right? This basically sounds like heaven on earth for Chris Wessling and maybe many of our listeners, like a utopia that they couldn't imagine truly exist.

Yeah, I'm not coming back. Wow. By the way, that was our next question. Before we let you go, Wes, and it's great to hear your voice, and we look forward to seeing you, you miss the game that we played last week that you really, you'll enjoy, we'll bring it back. I wouldn't say I missed it.

What does that mean? You didn't like it? I heard it. And Mark, you never take Ryan's handhill over Drew Brees no matter of the situation. That's his problem with it? Okay. Anyway, the game is... You don't take average of a superior or ever.

The game is called Qualas Tu Fantasia, and I'll throw one out to you before you go, right? All right. If you could pick one person to ghost write a biography about your life, who would it be? Greg Rosenthal or Mark Sessler? David Simon from the wire. No, no, no. I don't think you heard the question because Huckaboo's has the first phone ever, apparently. You have to choose either Greg Rosenthal or Mark Sessler.

Mark? Yeah, it's got to be Mark. To write a buy-up? I'm not big, but Mark will be a lot more flowery. I was wondering if you were worried about your job security, but you went with the truthful answer, and I respect that. I was pointing at Mark the whole time. This seems like a... I love that.

The question, you should know, Wes, that the question made very uncomfortable in the studio. Mark would be more familiar, plus pin me to several murders in different counties. That's true. Accurately. With Mark, there'd be a sense of intrigue and mystery and nautical adventure. I think I don't disagree. Greg, you could provide that, too. All right, Wes, we need to get back to the show because Gold Standard's taking over the direction for the rest of the program.

But it's great to hear your voice, and please come home. I was just kidding. I'm coming home. I love California now, and I love you guys. and gold standard is the best. Well, I mean, TD is pretty awesome. Wow, look at Wes. Good to hear from you all.

I am alive and well, contrary to popular conventional theory, and I will see you all in a few days. All right, love you, Wes. I love you, Wes. All right, see. Later in. everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies,

coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart radio app. Apple Podcast. Apple or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the iHeartner. Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. This is an IHeart podcast.