NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFL Draft 2022: Winners & Losers

Episode Date: May 1, 2022

The 2022 NFL Draft is in the books! A virtual room filled with some heroes- Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal discuss the top stories from the draft in the form of WINNERS and LOSERS. The heroes recap their draft sandwich props, and we close the show with a heartfelt goodbye to long-time producer Erica Tamposi.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. Starring, the old Zooser and Dan Zeus. Also Greg and Mark. Donna Jackson in the mail money. Welcome to another edition of Around the NFL. I'm Dan Hansis in a virtual room filled with some heroes. Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler.

It's in the books, the 2022 NFL draft. Hope season is at an all-time high. Your team is better. Maybe. But right now, certainly. It's easy to talk yourself into it. Gregi, how did you feel about a draft that was very unlike past drafts? In fact, we got into round three with only one quarterback off the board, one in the first 67 picks.

And that to me, when you look back in five years beyond the players that are going to jump out here, is how different this was from other drafts that are QB mad. Right. Like I thought of that EJ manual draft, but then you have quarterbacks coming in the second round, guys who ended up being like long time starters

and this one to go deep into the third round. I think it had like a lot of day two juice, a lot of receivers we knew, the quarterback's falling. Like again, kind of continuing Thursday's theme that like this draft didn't have a lot of great storylines going into it. It kind of delivered.

for the first couple of days, and then day three is always gonna be just punching the clock until I can see you guys. Yeah, day three is a chore, but it's interesting to me that like there was this initial reaction to the quarterbacks, you know, months ago that the class is weak. And because there's such a long buildup

until the actual process of the draft, it's swung back around where, you know, actually people are being too tough on this QB class. Like there are some players in here that can really play. I mean, statistically, if you draft a quarter, out of round one. I mean, it's pretty grim.

And there's a couple of teams now that are, you know, in theory, clinging to the concept that some of these guys in the later rounds could be their QBs of the future. History tells us that that probably won't be the case. It was sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy, though, because there's not many teams with needs. I think that's maybe where we got a little loss. It was a good year to not have a great QB class

in the sense that there weren't 12 teams, you know, dying for someone. So we'll get into, you know, some of those quarterbacks that did, because even like 2013 class that you mentioned, Greg, that you mentioned, Greg, I believe 12 quarterbacks came off the board. I think this draft, it was only six or seven in that range. Oh, yeah. Including Mr. Irrelevant, which

by the way, Mark, it's still here. I was wondering if this would be the year that that moniker would fade away, but it's still here. It feels in an era of, you know, everyone must be celebrated and everyone is important that it would have slipped away. But I actually thought of you when that pick

was made because for years, you were the designated Mr. Irrelevant post and I think you even followed it up covering the ceremony and other you know side shows all you wanted to do no I never went to the parade I don't mean that you went to it but you penned an article you know but those years those early years at Radio City Music Hall with this company you would have to wait until 256 and then the old man he would shuffle out and then they do the whole ceremony and then I would be write the 200 word banger on the guy that probably won't make it out of the second week of training camp we'll hope this hopefully this is different for

uh brock purdy quarterback out of iowa state who was round seven picked 262 dj called him competitive competitive competitive but let's talk about the other 261 picks not all of them of course but we'll also do it in our own a tn way which is you know who are the winners and losers players teams what have you connected to the giraffe we also have to uh check in on our go get my lunch props where I think I did as well as my New York Jets this year, but I have not checked yet, but I'm looking forward to it. And also, of course, this is the final.

It's a Dan Hansis shout out. Thank you, Paul Rudd. This is the final episode with Ricky Hollywood behind the glass. Ricky, are you ready? This is it. I'm not. I'm really sad. You know, our former boss, Mark Brady,

just sent me a text about three minutes ago and said, have a great final show, be present in the moment. we are all grateful for you. Oh, he's a great man, Mark. Oh, my gosh. And we are grateful for you. And we'll talk about that at the bottom of the show. But yes, our last go around with Ricky, let's make it count.

Me in the F block. All right, let's go. Well, we gave you a little like back end of the A block T's there. Okay, cool. And now we're getting, yeah, we're buried in the Fs. There's a subset of people that are only listening for the Erica update and it keeps them here for the, or at least the dash forward to you. People are like we're going to get to train. McBride analysis first.

So just keep priorities in order. Let's do a round to winners. Because like I said, this is an optimistic time on the NFL calendar. So let's not get negative right away. Let's be positive. Greg, who's a big winner out of the 2022 NFL draft? The bills come to mind. Partly because they took the guy in James Cook in the second round that I thought

the NFL was overthinking almost more than any player that I happen to look at closely. because when I saw James Cook, who's Dalvin Cook's brother, and everyone was like, well, he's like 85% of Dalvin Cook, which, by the way, like, that sounds awesome. When he moves... I bet he doesn't agree with that, but yeah, that's the outsider convention, yeah. Plus, he's, like, literally 85%, because he's 25, he's like 20 pounds less.

And so that's, like, the concern. He's a smaller, but I think people were saying he was kind of the poor man's guy. But I watch him in the way he moves. Like, everyone's overthinking it. He moves exactly like Dalvin Cook. He moves like an NFL running back. He can move in typed spaces, the lateral quickness, and he's awesome on third down.

And the fact that they didn't take Brise Hall in the first round, and they got a guy at the end of the second round in James Cook that I think is going to really improve Josh Allen's completion percentage. They had two of the lowest ranked running backs by PFF on passing downs in the NFL last year in Devon Singletary and Zach Moss. And so it's such a huge upgrade there. I like Kyrie Elam. I trust Sean McDermott to develop cornerbacks.

They haven't taken one that high since they did it with Tradavius White back in the first round in 2017 in Sean McDermott's first draft. So just those like one, two pieces. To me, like those are going to go right into the starting lineup. It's the team that I think is the Super Bowl favorite. And when I saw that Cook pick, I was just like he's going to be underrated in fantasy drafts. Even if people are kind of on him, he's the guy that I'm going to want. if I'm in those drafts because I think he's going to get 65, 70 catches. I think it's bad news for Zach Moss, who was a favorite of some draft Knicks.

Duke Johnson's on the roster, too. But, you know, we were people, you know, doing their mocks and all that stuff. We were right that the bills needed a running back. But, Dan, I think you ultimately won sandwiches on the fact that they would not go there in round one as they didn't, but they got their guy later on. And it makes sense, too, because like we're saying, there's very few organizations that are run better right now. now than the bills so trust your scouting trust the process fill out that defense in that

secondary a little bit and then go get cook because you you've read the draft the right way you're just really in good hands um right now if you're a bills fan you're also in good hands by the way another winner since this is adjacent to the bills a kyle brand you know friend of the show who uh NFL network good guy Kyle brand has no Kyle has no excuse being such a good guy because you know he because he's so talented and handsome and everything he could he could have been a jerk but instead he's like a really nice guy so when i see him doing well and doing things like he did at the draft this weekend i'm like all right he did it dan gregg all the guys thanks Kyle let's check out him announcing the bill's third round pick good evening las

Vegas good evening my brothers and sisters on the NFL network and good evening western New York, I find it perfect that the bills are drafting in this city of luck, of chance, because you all know, and I know, the only thing in this world that can stop Josh Allen is the flip of a coin. So Mafia, mount up, and every other fan base, listen up. Chiefs fans, Raiders fans, Bengals fans, in my hands, I hold the most important. pick of this entire round because this pick is the only pick

who will win the Super Bowl in his rookie year with the 89th pick of the 2022 NFL draft the Super Bowl 57 champion Buffalo Bills select

my man Terrell Bernard linebacker Baylor who Should be noted that Kyle is wearing Zubuz during that, Bill Zubuz, and he takes a big chomp out of a buffalo wing as he does a Rick Flair woo and heads off the stage. Sometimes you know if you're a man of a certain age or a woman who watched wrestling growing up in the 80s and 90s. Kyle Brand's one of those people.

Yeah. Can I tell you a really quick little Kyle Brand thing that I didn't really know him that when this happened, but we had one of our media summits probably four years ago in June or something. And you're sitting in these conference rooms all day long. And I moved to the back of the conference from one point just to stand up. And I was by myself. And I saw Kyle Brand from like long range away, look back and see that I was there. And he got up just to in the quiet while someone was giving some absurd speech to come back

and talk to me for just two or three minutes. And it was like, you don't have to do that. Like, no one needs to do that. So that Dan and Greg and all the guys thing, I forgive him that because I don't even think he was trying to be a jerk. he's a good dude and oh I forgot I mean plus they're the

now the bills are like the type of team that gets pop from Kyle Brandt like can you imagine that six years ago like they were not that team I forgot that while I was doing my bills run down

they also took the punt god who I was kind of gonna make whoever took the punt god a winner and it's like these are like luxury picks you can make you take your third down running back in the second round

and then you got the punt god Matt Areza seriously like that is going to improve their team I think more than than people would expect to suddenly go from a pretty average punting situation or poor to the punt god that's and we'll get into that a little bit later because guys that use their feet to make money in the NFL uh to kick oblong balls uh really stood out in this

draft as well how about a winner from you mark sessler for me i mean um you know i'm going to hang off new york for a minute but for both teams so there's a lot to get to there but it's the eagles i thought number one you pull off the trade for a j brown which completely changes uh what you can do on offense. You add him to last year's draft pick, Devonta Smith, who was fascinating. And you've got Kwez Watkins. Jalen Rager might be out the door there, but they have legit wide receiver weaponry and power now. And A.J. Brown is a dominant game changer that somehow, you know, Howie Roseman pulls off these stunners and he got this thing done. You didn't hear them connected over and over. It just happened. And then they go get Jordan Davis, who, you know,

I may not be like, I don't think Jordan Davis fits in a lot of defense. in 2022. But I do think he'll fit well with the Eagles. I mean, it's like kind of who they are and how they run that show. And he's a good fit for them. And then at 83, they went and got to Kobe Dean, which was like that guy slid. His, the value there was great. So I think if you're the Eagles, and that's becoming a bit of a nasty division because the Giants seem like they finally have real direction. They kind of remind me of the bills for obvious reasons. You got the Cowboys, but the Eagles are not a team that's going to fade. I think they're growing in power. And it's going to be real interesting to see how they, the read and what Jalen Hertz can accomplish in

that offense with that new weapon in A.J. Brown. I totally agree with you. That was going to be my first winner as well. They're well run and you're seeing that with Jalen Hertz. He's on a four-year $6 million contract. So they are a team that absolutely should be and have been now aggressive to build up around Hertz as long as they see him as the future. And they seem to, at least right now, because they invest in a number one wide receiver in a very smart trade to get an a j brown you then give him the $100 million contract extension because you can because of the quarterback situation you don't target quarterbacks in this draft so you kind of clear the runway here for hertz and in general like yeah and i don't know if we hit on this or maybe we did but in

passing on thursday night from Vegas but we know the eagles track record with wide receivers and drafting. Nelson Aguilar in 2015, J.J. Arthago Whiteside, Jalen Rager. So go do it this way. Bring it a guy that you knows the stud. They did a better job last year with Devanta Smith. You got Dallas Goddard there. And I just believe that this team is set up very well. Now we're hearing things about the chest injury and teams were scared by the medical and think he's going to need surgery to miss the year. All right. But you also hear that he's off the charts in terms of his measurables and his explosiveness on the field, and he could be a real difference maker.

So that's well worth the chance there. They said he'll play. They said they expect them. Yeah. They disagreed. He said he's fully healthy. He expects to be ready for minicamp. And his quote was,

things that were not true cost me a lot of money. So there's two sides of the story. His is that he's healthy and ready to make an impact. And when you look at the NFC East, I think you're right about the Giants. They finally had something to be happy about. That was a great first round of this draft. But they're a couple years away.

The Cowboys, you never know with the Cowboys, obviously. Didn't have a good off-season overall. Yeah, Washington is kind of a mess. And then you have the Eagles who seem like they're going to be a very buzzy, trendy pick to win the NFC East. And I buy into it. I think they're going to be right there. And one little thing with the Eagles, because one of the reasons that Doug Peterson parted ways with them, you know, there was that ownership basically said, we're in a rebuild.

and Doug Pearson didn't want that direction necessarily, and they wanted someone that did. He was pissed off, and, you know, he's in a new place, but that wasn't five years ago. Like some teams when you rebuild, it's like welcome to a year 13 of the 77-year rebuilding plan. They made the playoffs. Right.

Their rebuild is they were a low-level wildcard team, and this year they're very much a hot property. And they also think ahead really well. The second round pick Cam Juergens is basically a guy for Jason Kelsey to mentor for a year. Kelsey mentioned he's a character and he's a student of the game that he thought Juergens was one of his favorite center prospects that come out in three to five years. He's kind of like a wannabe Kelsey. And so, okay, you have this idea that money and their analytics and they're as

analytically driven as any team tells them to get huge men. Like they take linemen. And I know Juergens is small for a center. The old Mark Sessler sent to it. Okay. Yes, absolutely. Like defensive linemen like Jordan Davis. but also offensive linemen.

And then they also got an interesting quarterback prospect as an undrafted free agent, MJD's guy, Carson Strong, which at least some people liked as the fifth or sixth quarterback in this class. He ended up going undrafted because people believe he has a degenerative knee, which is obviously a concern. But they took a couple big swings, and maybe he ends up being like a long-term backup there.

I'll throw out another winner here and Graver jump on here because you could use this. The Titans were not a winner in night one. But you know what? I thought they were a winner after two and three. Not overall. I still think on balance it's not a great, but I'm just saying they were a winner after Thursday night.

Okay? Because the Malik Willis move was something that we've talked about heading into Thursday. It made a lot of sense for the Titans to hang back a little bit and then get that quarterback that they could develop behind the scenes and eventually replace Ryan Tannahill, who's sneaky getting up there in age, He's only got two years left on his deal.

He is who he is at this point. And yet I don't think many Titans fans, maybe graver you disagree or whatever, but thought that that guy would be Malik Willis because we thought that that player would probably be taken by this point. And we know how the quarterback situation played out in this draft. So now you got Malik Willis in the building. Tannehill is still going to be the starter,

but you have someone there that can potentially juice the offense and the organization as a whole if he takes. holds as a prospect. So you could then spin that. Okay, so they had a smart move there and then you look at the AJ Brown move and you're like, okay, were they being a little cheap or did they just not set up the team the right way? Maybe. But in the pick that they used Berks to replace AJ Brown, trust your ability to develop him and then you're going to have that flexibility financially down the line to strike in a different way. So I thought the Malik Willis edition was is a way that salvaged the draft weekend in some ways for the Titans.

Your thoughts? Great. Yeah, I'm stoked for Malik Willis. I think he has so much upside. And with the A.J. Brown stuff, it's weird because when you heard John Robinson and Mike variable talk about the situation, it's like they just seemed so far apart. And there's a lot going around. Like he said, she said, A.J. Brown wanted this much.

The agents wanted the Titans to offer this much. AJ said he would have done it for 22 a year and the Titans offered 16 a year. There's a lot of far apart, but there's a lot of like weird math going on with that because some of those averages include the $4 million he was set to make this year and some of them don't. And like apparently the agent asked the Titans for $80 million guaranteed and then cut off communication. And like I don't blame A.J. Brown for any of this.

It's all the agents trying to get the most for their guy and whatever. But it is what it is. A.J. Brown's gone. Malik Willis, though. I mean, it's potentially a new era of Titans football. And they actually ended up drafting a running back. a wide receiver, obviously Traylon Burks, a tight end from Maryland, and a tackle, like by 2023, 2024, when Derek Henry's moved on and Ryan Tanhill's moved on and Taylor Lawans

moved on, if all these picks hit, which is a huge, huge if, obviously, in the draft, the Titans could have, like, grabbed huge core pieces for an offense moving forward. That's kind of my point that, like, the headline for this draft, and it should be, because it was one of the biggest headlines, period, is that another superstar wide receiver was on the move, but there were some signs of optimism to come out of Nashville as well. I would, like I had winners, losers, and I put the Titans in a push category because I think Malik Willis is about as spicy as a pick as they could have had coming off the A.J. Brown thing. But Traylon Burks, you're hoping he can be some version of A.J. Brown. You're hoping these other

pieces are there, but they're suddenly a team in transition because we're looking beyond Derek Henry. We're looking beyond Ryan Tannahill, so it's a mystery land. I mean, it's not a sure thing. Right. And they only believe in Malik Willis so much. He was their fourth pick. He was their second third round pick. They did trade up for him. Yeah, they traded up at that point once he was still there at 86. But they, you know, they valued Nicholas Petit Frere, the tackle from Ohio State, which sounds like a name that Mark made up, just like in general. They valued him a lot higher. You know, they took him 16 spots before. So it was partly circumstance. I love what list is upside. It was interesting. I felt really bad for him and for Ritter. You really saw

on the coverage on Friday night that these guys are used as content essentially by us, by the TV networks over the last three months. And that's like part of the price of playing quarterback. But really they were used in a way that was probably unfair to those two guys. Like they have a lot on their shoulders that like Nicholas Petit Frere, who went 16 picks. above them and probably got to enjoy that night in a different way don't have and they were they were disappointed i mean ridder ridder looked determined like he was part happy part part pissed and malik willis you could tell the the emotional um journey he must have been on watching that whole draft pick by pick where at pick number two he thought he had a chance uh to go maybe that like an outside chance

and he was waiting all the way to 86 and i don't think anyone's a bad guy for it but it's just part of the deal right i don't like i don't i don't buy into the take there personally because what's the take that that they don't care that they got used i'm not saying i feel bad i'm saying they go through a lot more ultimately and they're carrying a lot of the coverage in a way that other players is the other way too is my point the bad side of it the quarterback also gets a disproportionate disportion of the praise when things go well and yeah maybe they got used by the draft industrial complex and then ultimately we're not valued on on the early part of the draft but also you know that being speculated and being talked about maybe that put that that could

put some players on the radar of a team that that weren't studying a player as much when the process plays out i i think it cuts both ways just imagine like imagine if they were your bodies i mean they're just like humans they're going they're going through a lot that's that's unique and i don't think it quite existed 20 years ago like i think it's like you you saw the look on his face we've seen that a thousand times. Right. And I just think in 2022 with social media and everything, it's a little different getting dropped to the third round

where you're like, you basically were an afterthought. And I also disagree with the idea that this was a good situation for Willis, which I've seen said a lot. Like, Titans good organization, he's not going to have to play right away. I get that, but it's like the offensive line is terrible. They just lost AJ Brown. If I was coming up with a big loser's list, like Tannahill was a loser this weekend because he lost AJ.

Brown, and they still got a lot of needs there. So maybe it works out for Willis. I like the coaching staff and the organization, but it's not like he has an easy situation. Can I tell you one thing I'm not buying at all is this idea that Ryan Tannahill is going to quietly tutor and nestle Malik Willis all season? If they get out to a one in three start and his play is chaotic, Malik Willis is the kind of person that, again, the media and everyone in Nashville is going to say, we need to see them now because if their offensive line is giving Ryan Tannahill fits and he's mobile, but Malik Willis

is going to be a dazzling guy on the ground who can escape trouble, I think there's going to be an outcry for him the minute they hit stormy waters. Interesting take, Greg. It's quarterback is the most high profile position in the most popular sport in the country. And there's just a lot that goes with being a quarterback, even in high school, the big man on campus. Like there's just a there's pressure and there's scrutiny that that position invites more than any other position in any realm outside of like, you know, golf or tennis or single sports like that. It's just it's it's it's a tough gig and you have to be mentally tough to survive. How could you not feel just like the human humanity?

Because like here's a kid's liberty. He had to like he had to transfer just to go to liberty because he could because basically his college career wasn't working out and normally it'd be this joyous thing. And you just feel like the weight of what the last few months are on him. Well, no one predicted he would dip as far as he did. I get what Greg is saying that it's not like he went from. I'm just saying like none of those other guys are leading NFL network day after day. If you don't think that could have impact like a 20-year-old, 20-year-old kid's just sort of outlook.

And it's just a lot. It didn't help remember Gino Smith going around two and was he in like his little turdineck and look furious. Gino is the best quarterback out of that 2013 class though right now. I mean, what a class. That's what you're clinging to at this point, Greg. You're highly desperate. Mike Lennon's like, hey, what about me? I had that run in Tampa.

I was like, nope, sorry, Mike. What kind of quarterback marches out in a turtleneck, by the way? I think that was a problem right over here. I don't know if it was a turtleneck. It might have been a classy sweater of some kind, as I recall. He had to be convinced to come back. He wasn't even going to come back for day two. I remember that.

We covered that. All right. That kind of proves Greg's point, by the way. Yeah, I don't think, where was Will? It was confusing. He was there. He was in Vegas somewhere, but I don't think he was at the draft still. All right.

Was that your loser, Greg? Did you, does that count as a loser? No, let's go another, let's do a winner. I mean, it is. Do you want to do another winner? Let's do another winner. I'll do a quick one, which is just like Kyler Murray. Getting his boy, Marquis Brown, we learned more about that story that Markis Brown had asked

for the trade way back in February. These guys are close, not just team. teammates but close friends were hoping that would happen. I just think like it it kind of shows who's wearing the pants there. Like they went and got Kyler Murray's friend basically to like make the situation better. I just think like, okay, you have this little, you have this stance and everything's calmed down and they're kind of doing what they can to make you happy. And oh, by the way, with our first pick, we're also going to take Trey McBride, tight end out of Colorado State who probably has like the most physical gifts of any of the tight ends in this class.

So it's just kind of like, okay, we're going to try to help out Kyler as much as we can and make him feel comfortable. Something certainly changed, it seemed, in that when we were doing the report on when that tweet storm came out. Something happened. At Arizona and all of a sudden he's like, I'm not going anywhere. So I'm winning a ring in Arizona. And then the GM, I believe, it came out with a statement.

So, yeah, some fences were mended. But at the same time, it still lingers because the contract has not been. rectified yet, at least on the public side of things. We don't know. Maybe there's been some positive advancements behind the scenes. Yeah, it was just a little quickie one. 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.

exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart 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. All right, how about another one, Mark? I would go with the Steelers. Now, I think there's a big if here because it requires Kenny Pickett to be more than just an adequate patch to the next quarterback. But if he works, it seems like, you know, he's someone that you could, he'll start

week one if he's going to win the battle. And you, in theory, if it works, it's a great story. Because obviously, you know, he's practicing where the Steelers practiced through his whole college career. It's the, I think there was probably some, there's narrative around, you know, they passed on Dan Marino generations ago. They didn't this time. But on top of that, Kevin Colbert, I think, you know, we've known that he is among all the GMs, for all these guys that cannot hit wide receivers. He keeps hitting on wide receivers. And to get George Pickens at number 52,

and then they got Calvin Austin, who had a 4-3-2-40 at the combine. They've restocked at that position. And there are a different offense right now, if these things work. But it's something about the Steelers. It's like they've had, you know, three coaches.

You know, they're so consistent. They've had like four quarterbacks in the last 400 years. Like maybe Pickett, if he flies, this thing is the Steelers are out of the mud. We're in lockstep here, Cecilor, because that was going to be my next winner as well. I had Kenny Pickett specifically as a winner

because he's joining a Tiffany franchise. Like you said, he's been practicing in the same facility in his college years for years. That team knows him like nobody else knows him. And then you have the situation with that depth chart and Mitch Trubisky and we all know what Mitch Trubisky is at this point. I think there's a lot of smoke about Mitch Trubisky maybe having this like second chapter to his career

where he takes up, but I think the more likely scenario is he's going to struggle to win this camp job. And you know what? Mike Tomlin kind of backed up that thought process when they asked him about it. Yeah, he certainly has a chance. And I agree with that sentiment that of his readiness from a professional perspective. We felt he came ready made in those ways. And hopefully that's an asset to him in terms of being able to compete and being ready if performance dictates. They like them. It's very clear that this, and obviously they like. like him. I mean, they drafted him in the first round. But they, I think they think very highly of him in a way that's going to lead to a legitimate chance to win this job right out the gate.

I totally agree. That interview convinced me more than anything. I mean, he's about to turn 24. And I think that's part of the reason they took him is they see him as a guy who can play for them so that they can go win games this year. Really sounded like that in that, in that interview. And then George Pickens was the guy to me that it was like, like Colbert playing all his hits. I'm going to wait for my quarterback to fall to me. I'm going to take the talented receiver with off-field issues

that falls too far, or weird questions. Like, Chase Claypool wasn't an off-field guy, but people just almost didn't know what to do with him because of a position, and you take him late in the second. Mike Wallace, Martavis Bryant, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders was a clean prospect as a third-round pick, but like all these guys in the second and third round, and he's nailed him.

And when I watched them all, I thought Pickens is the most talented receiver in this class. And DJ told me the off-field stuff with his attitude and stuff completely took him off a lot of teams' boards. And that was like a huge question. But this is where if you have a guy like Mike Tomlin and you run a great organization, maybe you're counting on that to help develop this guy

because he looks like a number one. I would be afraid if I was AFC North cornerbacks against him. Yeah, watch him be the most productive wide receiver at any of these guys. They just had their track record is so proven. But, of course, for that to happen, these things are all in tandem. They need to figure out the quarterback situation. We shall see if the kid can play the guitar. Another winner.

Listen, I'll try not to dwell on it because everyone else has been talking about it and you don't need to hear me talking about the Jets all the time. But the Jets had a big draft and Zach Wilson was the big winner. And if you want to look at so many, there's a lot of reasons why Sam Donald hasn't been a successful pro and a lot of that is on him, and he's going to maybe get one last chance to prove himself this year. Maybe he doesn't as a starter.

But one of the big reasons he was set back was bad coaching and a bad supporting cast and a major failure by Big Mac, Mike McCagnan, to build up an offense around him in his early years. And they've done the opposite with Zach Wilson. We know they went and got Vera Tucker with him in the draft class last year, which he profiles as a potential pro bowl guard.

And then, you know, they go and get a big time wide receiver potentially here at Ohio State. Wilson, then you come back and you trade up in the third round, second round, and you get the guy that everyone thinks has a chance to be the best running back in this class, Breece Hall. So I just think that when you look at Bryce Hall, when you get the chance to look at what they have now in their starting offense, it's pretty good. You're going to have Michael Carter, who was a very promising running back last year, teamed with Hall in the backfield running a scheme, a Shanahan scheme that is going to play to their strengths. They're going to be a good duo if they stay healthy. Wilson, Elijah Moore, who's under the radar a little bit as a guy I think could have a huge breakout season in year two if he stays healthy. Corey Davis, who's their big body on the outside. They completely redid their tight end room with Uzama. And they also drafted another tight end. in day three. The offensive line is in good shape.

It's all there. And I think there's going to be some built-in pressure. Once again, the quarterback is always going to be the lights shining on the quarterback more than any other player. And I think what's going to happen here is the Jets now have built a core on offense for sure and maybe on defense now where they need results after 11 years outside the playoffs. And I think if Wilson doesn't take that step, I could see them acting aggressively to move bond next year. I think they're going to be looking at this situation as if he fails this

year, they're going to say, oh, we're a quarterback away from being a playoff team again. So he needs to step up. I feel good about it. I'm wearing a Zach Wilson is good t-shirt right now. So that should tell you that I'm part of a movement underground amongst Jets Nation, but he's got to do it. He's got to take advantage of what is a really nice bounty for him right now. I like that you're doing the manifestation here. You're making a manifestation here. You're manifesting the concept that Zach Wilson can play. And we were talking about that as we were walking through the Bellagio after our round one show.

Today, Saturday is a full moon, Mark, and you know about this. Like, it's a full, real big new moon. So today, if you do want to manifest anything, today's the day, Saturday. You're turning into a crazy old cat lady. Yeah, I know. It's horrible. I'm with you, like, I think I'm trying to imagine during the time that we've done this show because there hasn't been really, you have to go back. to Rex Ryan's opening press conference

where a 48-hour period had such a positive effect on the concept of what the Jets are because now you're hearing competent, organized, finding value, cohesiveness, and like the roster is changing. I mean, all those things have been attached to other teams, every other team

and other sports and in the NFL other than the New York Jets. They've had their free agency moments. There's certainly excitement about Darnel coming into year two, but this is the best-looking, roster as a whole. I think the defense is actually ahead of the offense, Dan, and maybe that's just because we haven't seen it with the quarterback. To me, the defense is rock solid. Like, I love

that defensive line. You add in Johnson, to me, feels like a safe if nothing else pick. They said they would have taken him at 10 if Wilson wasn't there. You have Carl Lawson coming back, Quinn and Williams, Sheldon Rankins, John Franklin Myers. Like, that is a good group. Really, there's not huge holes on this roster other than quarterback. And you got to see the O line actually do it. Zach Wilson's just got to prove it, but I just, I'm with you. I think they had an awesome, an awesome week. Beckton's got to prove it too.

Wilson and Beckton, they made it, they made in it. And I know they took a lineman later in the draft, but if Mackay Beckettin reports to the team, which he hasn't done yet and is in shape and is motivated, that changes that offensive line. If he doesn't, that could set up Zach Wilson for struggles as well. So I'll just leave it at this, two things. One, when I left the hotel at the Belagio yesterday, and I had this, like, Raddy Jim had, this Jets hat in my bag,

and I put it on. And then I was walking through the lobby. And I was like, I was walking through the lobby with pride. All the, all the fan bases around. I was like in their jerseys and everything. And I was like, yeah, I'm wearing this Jets hat. And yeah, you could mock me. I don't care.

Oh, this is when the Jets win their Super Bowl. Fine, whatever. But people don't understand there's been so many years where the Jets. have also dropped the ball here in this month, in this draft, in the setting, and it didn't happen this year. In fact, the number two headline on ESPN.com earlier this afternoon read New York Jets brass downplays, unfamiliar praise for NFL draft class. So it's a weird feeling, it's a fun feeling, and it's one where you're really excited about what can happen here. So much hinges on whether Zach Wilson is good. Because he was like, he was an especially bad

rookie quarterback, which we dance around a little bit, but it was one of the worst rookie quarterback seasons of the last decade. It wasn't like mid-level rookie struggling. I would look at the games after he came back from his injury. He ended the season fairly well. But it was really bad. One of his worst games. But I also think, I don't know. I don't know what I think. I think you have a lot to be excited about. Cut to Mackay Beckton on an easy chair with a giant bag of Cool Ranch Doritos weighing 512 pounds you know I know what I wanted to ask you Dan though um what was the answer what was the answer to sauce gardener's question to you which was off mic unfortunately oh yeah we didn't talk about that as he left the the set he had an important

question for you he kind of started walking away after our pleasant conversation with him and he stopped and he looked it turned and looked at me but he's like so who's the bigger jets fan you were rich Rich Eisen. It is a good question. I don't know. I know Rich is legit. I know Rich is a native New Yorker. He grew up on Long Island and he's certainly well known within NFL network as being a jet supporter.

It would be a fun like trivia game. You're as big a fan for one team as in terms of especially riding that wave as just about anyone I know, along with Mark. I'm certainly more passionate than Isaac. So, Dan, like he had a very passionate speech on NFL Network that had a lot of the table legs that you've just mentioned. I like when you, I asked, I wanted you to say it because whenever you've repeated Soss Gardner's question, you make him sound like a soprano's extra for some reason, like he's already got the Jersey accent. I like it. All right.

Let's do a loser. We got to keep it real here, you know. Greg, go ahead. I got a couple. I'm going to pick the meaner one just because. Whatever I, Mark's going to do mine anyway, so it'll be fine. Right. I kind of have a, I feel like one of ours is probably, we probably share one, so I'll skip, I'll skip him.

I'm going to go with the Jaguars. I know it's lame, but I feel like they got the number one overall picking the wrong year. After getting in the right year, you know, it was generational prospect. Crime me a river. You know, Trevor Lawrence, but you got in the wrong year. You got a guy that's like, you could make the argument, 15 different guys could have been a better prospect than, than Trayvon Walker pretty easily. And it felt like an organization, I just don't give the benefit of the doubt.

And I don't buy into the whole idea that it's healthy to have disagreements when you have a first year head coach and a GM who's fired about five different coaches and an owner with a history. It just keeps seeming like this is what bad organizations do. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. And then I didn't like the process of trading back into the first round and giving up a decent amount to get a like a 23 year old off ball linebacker again it's like who knows devon lloyd might be amazing it comes down to like being right about these players but but the jaguars aren't

right too often and most teams when they really believe in something you know they they believe too much in their ability to scout better than other teams and most it's just hard to do that so giving up that much for that uh low octane of a position when you had a guy like miles jack for instance and you just gave $15 million a year to guide Devondry Campbell playing to similar positions. I didn't love it considering they had the one pick. Well, I get it. I get that they were just in a tough spot. Like you're saying, this was a bad year to have the first pick. It was reported after Thursday night that the phone never rang. It never happened. No team ever wanted to be in that pick because it was just the way it was set up. The one case you can make, and this is obviously

what they're banking on here, is there was so much talk about smoking. about Aidan Hutchinson and whether he was a guy that was a very productive college player and will be a productive pro, but he's not going to be special. Like he's a guy that whatever this means, I don't even know what this means, but it got said alike, he's already peaked. He's going into his first year and professional football. But I guess I understand that he's not going to grow as a player. Trayvon Walker, the understanding is, yes, it's a bit more of a dart throw.

But if he hits, he could be a superstar. they had to, I guess they just, they're in Vegas and they played the hand that they were dealt and they're going in big. Yeah, I meant to say FOIA Aluacan, by the way, I said Devandre Campbell as the ex-Falcons linebacker that they signed. They went with Balki's dream scenario. That's a total Balkei cutout pick right there. And like you've got to hope that the Jaguars have the right GM. I've not convinced they do. They just did so much this offseason and yet I don't feel like it's that good of a situation around Lawrence. I compare them to the Jets. They're both rebuilding. The Jaguars have had a lot of picks over the last couple of years. They would have

liked to have more picks this year. I like the situation a lot better around Zach Wilson, for instance, than I do around. I agree with that. You spent like a billion dollars on draft picks over the last 10 years. I mean, it's just absurd. I agree that Wilson is set up better right now, but I also, I haven't changed my feeling. I think Lawrence is still a huge talent here. And it's going to be interesting to see with him in a professional environment. Like he might take a big leap this year and everything changes for them. All right, how about a loser? And Mark, I'll let you know if it was the one I was going to say. Well, I would go Justin Fields. I, it's not, because we just talked about Zach Wilson, we don't know that Zach Wilson can do it, but they're certainly putting

him in the best possible position. And you see that in general with rookie quarterbacks. When you get that guy, there should be the push to do everything. The bears are overtly, you know, taking a step back, a couple steps back to rebuild. And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. But the problem is you're losing, you know, time on Justin Fields' rookie contract. And I'm not sure with what they did in this draft that we're really in a scenario where we're going to have him make a big step forward based on what they've done in free agency, which is really quiet. Their first two picks today were a cornerback in Kyler Gordon, a safety in Jaquan Brisker. That's fine.

I mean, you have a defensive head coach, which I also find slightly problematic when you're attached to the face. of the franchise in Justin Fields. They took a wide out in Vilas Jones in the third round out of Tennessee. But in general, if you look at from week 17 until now, very little has happened to really put Justin Fields in a great position

for year two. Because we'll say, oh, we just think that Trevor Lawrence can do it. We have a lot of faith that Zach Wilson is good. But you don't necessarily feel that around Justin Fields in the situation he's been put in. It's kind of like he's on an island with an offense that didn't grow and a lot of pieces missing on both sides the ball heading into a rebuild and it's like this is not where you want a rookie quarterback to

be because you could be in year three or four and not really have an idea of what he is it's a good one mark it is i mean and an inexperienced coaching staff luke gets he is his offensive corner this is why you don't waste the rookie year on a coaching staff you're probably going to fire either uh because now it feels like you're right this feels like they're just starting the rebuild and it's his second year right so we'll see if he could find a way to was that yours dan i hope i suppose it was It wasn't. It wasn't. I hadn't even, the bears, I remember in the same episode last year, the bears were a winner.

And I can almost remember exactly what either I said. I don't know, one of us said. It was just like the bears, finally, there's some juice in that building now with Justin Fields there and something to get excited about finally. But you're right. By keeping Nagy, that kind of, I don't know, it just threw some gunk into the machine. And then you finally sweep him out and all his cronies. And now you're starting over and rebuild. building the entire roster.

And meanwhile, you know, year two is probably going to be a big time uphill climb. And then all of a sudden he's in year three and you're like, okay, are we making progress now? It does actually, it feels a little bit of like the darn old path in New York where they had, first they had bowls there at the end and they got rid of him for after a year and then hired the wrong guy in Gase. And all of a sudden it was just like, this whole thing is a mess. Yeah. So hopefully that's not where things are for Chicago.

I do like that Matt Nagy has cronies surrounding him. That's, I just remember I was with them that one night at the combat. You're right. I looked at their depth chart and I'm going to be getting that projected starter series underway at some point. Oh. That might, I don't know, them in Atlanta might be the two worst rosters right now, I think, in the league. I think cronies, it's an informal noun, often used in a derogatory sense, but the actual translation or definition is a.

close friend or companion. Yeah, I don't think that's how we're... I was going more towards that. Right, like political henchmen, you know, surrounding like an evil governor or something, yeah. All right. See, now I don't even want to do this one. You know why?

Take the obvious one. Take the obvious one. I feel like... Because I don't want to do this one because I thought... I thought Greg was not going to let me have my moment with the jets and come in with a bunch of negativity and take some digs. Oh. And now I got to talk about this, the loser being...

the Patriots mystique factor. Dan, it's your last chance to take a dig at Erica before on the Patriots front. It is so I just want you to mark it. This is pretty often common on draft day. I would say they've had a lot of drafts like this. I just want you know, this is not me.

This is not a, you know, an attack on you on any level. It's just more, let's discuss the NFL news. It never is. It never is. So we know what happened. We know what happened with, always remember that Erica's final first round pick with this show was Cole Strange.

The 29th pick, Guard out of Tennessee, Chattanooga. And in general, the Pats, their last six first round picks for the record. Dominique Easley, Malcolm Brown, Isaiah Win, who? Sony Michelle. Who? Nickiel Harry and Mack Jones. That group, there's just one Pro Bowl appearance. Oh, Matt Daddy.

One Pro Bowl appearance of that group. I mean, you did get about 120 yards to win the Super Bowl from Sony, Michelle. That's true. That's true. very true um so they have not drafted well at the top uh in several years now but now tom brady's gone so all this stuff is more vital to hit on these drafts so strange is taken and now cut to rams house and i don't know what's going on with the rams this offseason i understand i love and i like their off season i like that the roster feels like it's in good place and i think

they're you know obviously still being run in a sound manner but i think the party is like going on over there. Yeah, they're taking lap after lap. You're right. Yeah, it does not seem like the things have slowed down since the victory parade. And when Sean McBay and Les Needs showed up for their end of round one late Thursday night press conference, it wasn't even that late in L.A. They were feeling no pain reported. Listen, I've felt no pain enough in my life. I feel like you could tell they were. You just know. Sometimes you just know. And this is how they found out in real time that Cole Strange, picked by many to be a mid-round pick, was off the board to the Pats in round one.

Really, really? Oh, my, UT Chattanooga to the first round. Hey, where is... How about that? And we wasted our time watching him thinking he'd be at 104, maybe. Listen to the gales of laughter. You know what? Huberous is a dangerous thing, and I felt a little element of hubris there.

Totally. I feel that, Mark, and you know what else I feel? I feel Sean McVeigh waking up in the morning. You know, we've all had those mornings, too, after a night of drinking and carousing. And he, not you, of course. And he was probably helped along by some PR people. He was like, you better get out in front of this, bro, and kiss the ring, kiss the six rings. Or what does Belichick say?

He's got nine rings or whatever. all the rings, and this is what McVeigh said 24 hours later with a headache, most likely. Yeah, what I would add to that is I think, you know, I wish that it wouldn't have gotten misunderstood. It was more of a reflection of, I was actually given less some, you know, a hard time because, yeah, some shit. Because when we started watching him, I think we both were in agreement, there's no way he'd be there because we like the players so much. And if there's anybody that has more respect for Coach Belichick, what he's done than I do, I'd like to see him because I have tremendous respect for this.

profession for the players that play at this level and I would never want it to get misunderstood for Cole Strange or the Patriots organization that anything but respect for the player that was my reaction and any misunderstanding was my fault for the way that you know I probably communicated that but that I do appreciate you saying that less and finally does anybody have any Advil he called them too he called Belichick personally that is wild and the phone call I wonder what Bill said oh don't worry about it grumble grumble grumble and then was plotting his death he's like fuck you don't you 13 to three i mean that wasn't even like the low that wasn't the only moment they got made fun of

for either the rest of their draft was kind of wild they took uh tyco on third pretty high which i was excited because they never draft anyone fast and he's literally a track star um like one of the fastest uh track guys in the country he ran a four two six 40 uh the last time they did that though was Bethel Johnson in the second round like a track star in the second round that didn't work and then they take like they finally in a third round take the really undersized versatile cornerback that I was talking about that that they have to take every single year so Ricky before you're out the door here I do want your state of the union address on the Patriots how do you feel about them in 2022 and going forward I'm really excited really really excited

No, me and Justin were talking at Rock Bottom at a Chili's in the Vegas airport as we were leaving Vegas. It's literally like we spend all of our time putting all of our stock into these mock drafters who just think they know, which they do. But then when our team that we like ride or die for who like spends the time with these players and makes their decisions based on it picks them, we like discount what they have to say. So I'm going to, you know, I want to eat a little humble pie. Yeah, the Patriots are not where they were, but I'm going to look down at my six rings and trust Bill.

Well, you don't have any of them. Yeah, I do. We as the Patriots organization. Oh, Erica, she says we when she talks about her team. Oh, my God. You're not going to buy one of those strange 69 jerseys. He wears 69, you know. Yeah, no, I already have one.

It's just cool. But I didn't, I didn't wear it. on the shirt on the podcast. I have like, Mac Daddy is good that I'm wearing right now. Ricky, so Justin, so Justin, and you were, um, raining on all other mock drafters. I know Justin, like, fared very well. Did he, he just slipped into the Josh Norris position. Yeah, he thinks he's hot.

Well, Justin's a disruptor. Justin now is going to be the guy that he's going to notch double digit, uh, mocks every single year and then talk down on the company. It's like Elon Musk. He's Elon Musk of the mock draft community. Yeah. He thinks he's, he's, he's, he's, like, you know, big doings.

Yeah, I bet his, I bet his significant other. It was more impressed with his exploits than Josh Norris's significant other appeared to be when we asked Josh Norris about getting 16 a year ago. You can tell that Graver, he is being adored, I would imagine. Why am I still? Whoa, he's on fire. That's fair. Nice job, Justin.

Can you jump out a second? I just have to ask Eric or something privately. So do you think he's going to be good at this? I don't know. I really don't know. No, are you kidding me? He's going to be phenomenal. He's too good.

It's going to make me look bad. And I have a lot of regrets. You know, I shouldn't have trained him to the point that I did because now, you know, but next time I'm on the beach in Mexico during free agency and he's texting me with a bunch of help for ATN that week. I'm not going to answer. No, you're not going to do it. I like that you tilted this that you're such a good teacher. That's what it's exactly what. It's natural skills.

And also, if you could have done it again, you would have been what Mark believes Ryan Tannahill will be from Malik Willis, which is just a terrible person that will rub dirt in his eyes at his first training camp. Exactly. Exactly. Why did Ryan Tannahill do to deserve that, Mark, by the way?

He actually seems he's going to be a big. Wait, when did I say that? A great mentor. I didn't say that that would be the case. I just said that if Ryan Tannahill struggled heavily out of the gate, that the fans with someone like Malik Willis. was another comment. I'm sorry. No, no, no. I think Ryan Tannahill seems like a nice individual. Am I crazy, Greg? Didn't Mark say something about that? There were, there seemed like some

illusion that he wasn't really going to be like helping out Malikos. I thought. I thought. I didn't intend that. I was more saying that the fans are going to be all over him if he struggles. Didn't you say something about rubbing dirt in his eyes and his first training camp practice? And his bottom. No, I did not. They are very different to not say about rubbing dirt into his bottom, Erica. You did. I did. Did I blank out for like three minutes of this show? Don't F with me. This is my last day. And you don't want to know

what I'm going to do with your microphone track. Oh my gosh. You can do whatever you want. I'll never hear the episode. It's just going to, you don't listen. It's going to be just,

I'm going to isolate just you and like rubbed dirt on his bottom. Rubbed dirt on his bottom. Rubbed dirt on his bottom. By the way, the Patriots drafted two more running backs. They now have nine running backs. I know.

Maybe one of them will hold them. And they drafted the next Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zapkey. They did have a great draft last year, so that's giving me. All right. I want to throw out a winner. Nice job, kickers and punchers. This, I predicted this one.

What happened with McPherson and Cincinnati? When they take a fifth round pick on Evan McPherson, McPherson, McPhiless, and then he basically helped put Cincinnati into the Super Bowl. you just had a feeling that the rest of the league was going to take notice and get a little more aggressive in the kicking game. And that's what's happened? We saw, what do we have here? We have some good data on this.

First of all, the Browns drafted former LSU kicker, Kade York. Let's get in the kickers club. Why not? It's never too early. The Browns drafted former LSU kicker Kade York in the fourth round with a hundred and 24th overall pick on Saturday. The highest the kicker has gone in the draft since 2007. 16. So the Browns are one of those teams like, we're so good. We'll just take a kicker at this

point. Remember who that 2016 pick was? Roberto O'Guayo. The Bucks taken in the second round out of the, off that team by a year later. And makes sense for the Browns who had a lot of issues with their kicking last year. Greg, you also mentioned, let's move on now. Let's move out of the kicker club. Let's head on over to the punters punch bowl mixer, which is a much more toned down affair. It'll give you a little, some pings of nostalgia if you're a boomer. And they, as Greg mentioned, drafted a man named punt god, San Diego State, punter, and Matt Areza.

And that's pretty cool. He won the Ray Guy Award. And the last time a kicker and two punters were taken in the first four rounds of the draft, 1993. So everybody grab a partner. Head out to the dance floor. Fall in love under the full moon. Turn it up in my headphones, Ricky.

Ah. There you go. But no, the kicker game, finally, there's an understanding that don't ignore it. Everyone's afraid. That's the whole game. I forgot the Browns were even in this draft. Yeah, they were largely invisible.

It's good to lay low still. the brownies. Yeah, just like come back in 20, 23 or something. Speaking of feet, Ricky, what about your feet? Yeah, my feet were probably the biggest loser. Because you had the stems out. Yeah. You had the stems out looking good in the dress on Thursday night, but you paid the price.

Yeah, I decided that I could just walk instead of taking the golf cart ride. And I was like, oh, no, I can do it. But I was so far through the casino where I realized, like, I should probably bring a change of, of shoes that it would take too long to go back. So I walked the, you know, 1.3 miles around everything to get to the, you know, set that we had. And I was not in good shape. I'm still not in good shape to the point where there's like a two inch gash in my big toe right now, limping a little bit. It's a, the puppies are back and did you think it was okay or inappropriate when Mark first saw you on Thursday night and said, oh take a look at her gams i thought it was perfect okay i thought it was to be serious i thought

it's very brave of you to uh to to make that walk erika thank you yeah no everyone was really great um schneider was asking vendors um so brave if they sold like flip flops or anything like that too so yeah thank you to you guys though you got to say um the phrase that given me your your shoes or something but you know it's cool it's fine you should have done the the drunk girl move And walk barefoot. Just pull the heels and just to start walking on gravel and little glass chunks. Yeah. Wouldn't be the first time.

I'm just glad you got the phrase two-inch gash into your final show. You want to pick of my feet? You got to pay for it, Greg. Greg will pay happily. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective

a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. all right let's do a couple more we have a couple more things to get to so uh you have any speed round i'll throw out a winner uh i i meant to almost first i think this might they might have the best draft the chiefs i i'm big on the whole like the chiefs aren't going anywhere uh corner this year just because you know they're the chiefs and they're patrick patrick mahomes what do you mean they're not going anywhere like like the bills and the chiefs to me are remain relevant yes the two favorites in the afc and in i'm saying the bills are but the chiefs i would put one one b

until proven otherwise. And I don't think they've had that bad in off season at all. And I think they had a great draft. I think the two guys we talked about that they took in the first round, Trent McDuffie, the cornerback in Karloftus, the defense event. Carlis, PFF, liked as a top 10 player. Like, he's the type of guy who wins his pass rush all the time, kind of like a clowny or a Davenport.

Maybe he's not going to get a ton of sacks, but he's just stronger than the guy across from him. And he gets a lot of pressure at pick 30. That's nice for them. going to start right away. McDuffie's going to start for them right away. And then Sky Moore really, I think, can help to replenish some of the targets that Tyreek had. You have Baldes Scantlin going deep, but he's not going to be a main factor. Moore is the guy that's going to be getting open quickly on the route, can make plays after the catch. I really liked him. A lot of

people thought he might be a first round pick. He seems like a rookie that even though he got taken 55, like I bet his fantasy average draft position will be pretty close. in the end to some of those top guys like Garrett Wilson that were drafted, even though Moore was way down there. I think he's going to have all the opportunity in the world. Just felt like they like plugged some nice holes. And I just feel like we're going to get a replenished chiefs here this next year. Yeah, I like that one. Yeah, they still have Patrick Mahomes. Andy Reid is still at the controls. And I think there may be just in a little bit of transition now that he has the half billion dollar contract. I know it's not actually half a billion dollars. But

they have to just change how they do business and somebody made this point and I wish I could give him credit for it but I'll share it here which is one of the things that defined Brady's greatness was he once he became Brady and became a high paid you know decorated star what what separates the great quarterbacks is they could win with less and guys that aren't you know players can win when they're on the rookie deal quarterbacks and then the teams can load up for and you could win a Super Bowl, but like the true great QBs can do it when there are some more restraints

in part, in large part, because of your own salary, because you're a superstar quarterback, that's where the chiefs and Mahomes, the world they enter now. I tend to believe, second half of the AFC championship aside, that he could be one of those guys,

but that's where we are in his career arc. I think I just read too much PFF, because like their pick at 106, Leo Chanel too was like their top 40 player like the chiefs kind of just did the run down the PFF big board and pick their guys so maybe that maybe I just read too much PFF I mean is there a bigger loser in continuing fashion of the entire offseason the Baker Mayfield he comes out of this not a panther and a lot of people thought he'd get traded there on Saturday and then there's you know Ian Rappaport saying that Seattle's interest in Baker Mayfield is in quotes lukewarm at best

I mean, they seem at this point content to potentially roll into the season with Drew Locke, the way that Pete Carroll talked about Drew Locke and Gino Smith is in the lead. No, I mean, I know, but both of them, but neither one of them should be. I understand, Greg, your fetish for Gino Smith, but like, in theory. No, it's surprising we've gotten to this point. Right. I mean, I think also maybe, you know, if you're the Browns, you're a loser attached to that whole situation, you don't have to pay his contract or part of it to get him out the door.

And this might be the kind of thing where you have to wait until training camp when a starter goes down. and you try to sell Baker at the highest possible value, which still won't be high. I think Baker, I'm with you that so much has been said at this point, but nobody needs a fresh start more in our league than Baker Mayfield right now, and he still doesn't have it now, and now we're outside the draft, and now you have to wonder, our team's waiting for him to be cut,

and that's messy as well then, and you wonder who might enter the fray if all of a sudden he doesn't have that salary attached to him in the same way. No one wants them. The teams are dogging them, publicly. The Panthers said once they took Matt Corral that they're not interested in Baker Mayfield. They said it out loud. Malik Willis was on the board when the Seahawks picked at 41 and they took a running back. And I just feel like, yeah, the Seahawks, they're fooling themselves if they think

that this is going to work with Drew Locke and Gino. Baker Mayfield just makes too much sense. Both teams, he needs a fresh start. He can go to a Seattle team that's going to be a run first operation where there's not going to be a ton of pressure on him to be this guy that's throwing the ball constantly. And then Seattle can have potentially a professional playing quarterback. No offense, Greg, or a guy that's had more success than the current options on the roster. Just makes sense for that to be the spot. But if it's not, if it's true that they're not really interested, where does Baker go? Where does he even end up?

I mean, it's definitely true because they could have had them. They could have them for like a seventh round pick right now. And nobody wanted him. and for Ian to put that out. And he made it, he said this thing that, well, they like to throw horizontally and vertically. Right. He's not a great system scheme. It was just like a strange thing.

And I didn't talk to Ian about this, but I did have a different sparrow. I think it's come down to Baker's personality. I think you were talking about having a professional. I think there's concerns that the adult in the room comment that got out, I think other teams are more concerned about that maybe than just the fact that he's not a good thing. I guess I meant more as someone who's produced and put numbers and put a playoff win on tape and that. But, yeah, certainly he's definitely scared some teams off with elements of his personality. Have you seen the last four games of the Gino Smith, 20, 15?

I can't believe we're talking about this right now. You know, I cannot believe it. Is Teddy Ridgewater doesn't get any shine from Rosenthal anymore. It's all, it's all, you know, all the time. Wait till September when Tua, you know, misses a game. two and then suddenly Teddy takes over. Don't worry. Yeah, but you also don't want to be part of that contingent of NFL cognizanti that dogs Tua. So you're kind of caught. You're caught in between. I mean, I'm not afraid of Taurus situation, Greg. I'm not afraid of Tijuana. Two is one of

those atomic guys. You guys like, don't, don't be critical toa. You'll be told that you're stupid. Certain guys. I feel like I'm middle, middle tier on Tua. He's right. All right. We're going to move on unless anyone has one more that they feel strong. Just too quickly. I think the Seahawks had a great draft, and I think Matt Ryan was a winner. Even though the Seahawks didn't take Malik Willis, just the athleticism. They took Charles Croft. Cross. Mafi, I think, profiles really well. Kenneth Walker seems like a really exciting running back. I know it's high for a running back, but he seems really exciting, like all over the place.

They took Kobe Bryant, the guy we were, the cornerback from Cincinnati we were talking about the other day. I just liked their whole draft, like super athletes. And I think Matt Ryan, not only do they not take a quarterback, but their first two picks, they took pass catchers out, Pierce from Cincinnati, who's kind of a vertical guy. That was Spice Rack's other guy right there. That's right. Keep some bullets in the chamber here, Rosenthal.

We got around the AFC in 48 minutes and around the NFC in 48 minutes coming up this week. I just thought those were more winners. Did you see what Jim Euse said, that he thinks that Matt Ryan can play up to four more. more years. I don't know if I'm seeing that and when I watched the tape.

I don't know if I'm seeing that either. But he probably just wants not a revolving door every offseason. I would imagine you're right about that. Let's check in with the great Nick Fortier. Oh, what a weapon he is. Running, go get my lunch.

Dot org. We did our draft picks, uh, excuse me, our draft props. And let's quickly spin through them. Mark, empty-handed in terms of predictions you had during the draft, D.K. Metcalf is traded, but Debo Samuel and A.J. Brown aren't. Dan and Greg took you up on that. Let's see. What else? Saints make three first-round selections. I think they stayed at two. They did trade up, but they stayed at two. A draftable player goes missing during the draft. Sorry to report, Mark, that nobody fell into any level of peril or concern.

But we don't know that. We don't know that for sure. But right now, Nick has it as a loss. Right. If something comes out in the next, let's, how much window do you want to give him on this one, Greg? 72 hours? No, it said during the draft.

Yeah, you don't, I don't, I'm willing to take the L on that. I'm not really lobbying for. Well, the family might be keeping it quiet. Like, let's imagine, let's say. Sure. Here, we've kidnapped an offensive guard out of Rutgers. Don't say anything to the media or he gets it. And that's why we haven't heard yet.

You know what I mean? Unless Mark's going to log on to Tacos Porfavor.com and send me something in the next day or two, I think we can just put it as an L. And in the horrible instance that someone is missing in the end, we can we can flip it at that point. Right. And Nick is ultimately the judge here. He's got it as an L. So you're three and eight for the draft mark. Greg, you finished four and five.

You had Trayvon Walker isn't the number one overall pick. Indeed, he was. you had over six wide receivers are drafted in the first round if number is exactly six prop is a push I don't know why we even gave that to you that felt like a bit of a cop out but we did we were feeling generous

and it ended up being six and a push six out of the first 18 and then the Packers who we didn't mention traded up for Christian Watson at 35 so that was the next closest and supposedly there was some talk they had some talk of maybe trying to trade back of the first round, didn't happen.

They gave up two twos, by the way, for Christian Watson from North Dakota State. A lot of pressure on that young man. Well, he's also entering a pretty nice spot, too, Aaron Rogers, who probably also made a call himself to Goody and company said, if you don't draft a wide receiver next, I will literally retire. Oh, thank God he did. I will make your summer so miserable you have no idea. Give me Christian Watson.

You all said Titans draft Desmond. Ooh, a double here, as we know. Titans draft Desmond Ritter. Dan and Mark win that one because they did not. They drafted Malik Willis in the first round. As we know, only one quarterback went in the first round and it was Kenny Pickett. You didn't take me on it though. Didn't take you on that one.

We only picked up two on you. So four and five. And then finally the Zeus are eight and two. And Gregie. Wow. And eight and two, does that move me into the overall first place? I don't know. It might be right there.

We're pretty close. I had Jets draft sauce Gardner in the top ten. They took them four overall. So nailed that one. Had Bill's draft a defensive player in first round, just got Mark on that one. I also had Chiefs trade up within the first round to draft a wide receiver. I lost two sanguages there. And then I cleaned up on my guesses against you guys.

So eight and two, that will play. I don't know if he's updated the overall standing. So it's hard for me to say. But yeah, you might have passed me here. We're neck and neck. After over 400 props, we are within like a game or two, Dan. You know, Dan, it's Saturday night I would roll into an L.A. area club, a 21 and over club and just start telling people that you went eight and two in the sandwich contest during the draft here.

I think you just, you're going to be mowing people down. They're going to be turning into liquid. I'm just going to, and this is always a fun thing. I've done it before. I'm just going to pull out a few past props at Will. Kevin Dangerhansis, my brother. was on the show once and said Tony Romo plays for the bangles in 2017. Anybody remember that?

No, but I like that. Let's find it old. Let's see. NFL game pass length of Buccaneers versus Rams, 43 minutes. It's an odd one. Let's see. J.J. Watt will share a pick of his younger self and brother with a cheesy caption when T.J. is drafted. And he did. That's green highlighted. So apparently there was some good brother, uh, drafting, though.

Cameron Hayward's brother got drafted by the Steelers who now have four sets of brothers on the Steelers. The Watts, the Edmonds is, the Davises, who I wasn't aware of. And, uh, and the Haywards. I like that. It's, um, it's heartwarming. It also feels like the start of like a religious cult in Pittsburgh. I'm not sure what the game plan there is. And here's one more because this just goes to show you what a roller coaster uh browns fandom has been in the last 10 years or so the cleveland calves will win three games before the browns and of course NBA season start in November so the and the calves did win that one that is that the year the browns won like oh in 16 it's 2015 I know we were past everything but it did occur to me there was you know we we were in the

national news I guess really just one of us was in the national news this last week. So it does it does remind me of another winner from this last week. I guess I think Skip Bayless was was kind of a winner. Ricky, let's hear it. Now, according to one mock draft from NFL Network, it's quote, a lock that Baker heads to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fourth rounder. Shannon, you've been predicting Baker would be traded right around the draft. So jump in here. What do you think happens now? Well, I think that's going to be the time. But I'll believe it when I say it, Skip, but it's not a bad deal. I don't trust any of this.

I don't, and I'm not discounting the NFL network report. I don't believe any of it. Okay. And I also think this league is of all the leagues, the worst victim of what I call sheep think. Oh. What a nightmare. First of all, I put no time element on that, so I may have my day. I may have my revenge.

Hey, that's why Skip Bayless is making more than your starting tight end, you know, insights like that. I, you know, Mark, I have a lot of faith in you. And like I said, you are a major part of the brand. We're trying to get off the ground in this Bachdraft game, a five of 32 and then a very public dust up with Skip Bayless in which Skip prevails. The brand took a hit in 2022. It doesn't mean it's over, but it's. took a hit. It's close to over. I mean, I'm not sure that there's a whole lot. If you're a fan base, there's not a whole lot of optimism to go forward, especially when, you know, our producer

doubled my correct hits. And apparently last year had 11, which went, you know, undersold media wise. So what am I doing here? Like, that's a fair question. You love that like, the same thing with a grave digger in his personal life. Like, he's got a little sneaky bravado and then it just like, whoop, there it is. Oh, yeah. Actually, what about 11 last year? Or any time we ask him about, you know, the thing that we're not allowed to talk about, he always gives a little extra info that shows that things are cooking with grease.

Right, that he's actually proud of it. He's like, oh, no, don't bring up this story of this tort affair with this hot married woman. Yeah, like, oh, don't bring that up. Too sensitive. Oh, the older hot babe that, you know, loves me more than her husband. don't want to talk about that not on this show Justin are you sure you want to take over for Ricky

knowing that the scrutiny of everything in your life is only it's going to just double down and then you've got the fan base that's going to want to know more and more and more you're going to be like Malik Willis and Desmond Ritter getting too much attention All right Speaking of which we're sorry Falcons fans

We didn't even You had a great draft too We didn't even talk about Ritter going there I think that was nice. It was a nice pick. Nice pick by that. All right. You know what else was a nice pick?

Ricky Hollywood as our producer. Five years. Wow. How many shows, Ricky? Just make up a number. I feel like 2084. 2,084 shows over five years. Yeah.

So many great memories. Wait, man. Literally was talking about it with Jet last night. We went to London for the first time and went multiple times. I we have gone through losses together we got around the NFL on the network show from pickum and to giving you guys and that has nothing to do with me it has all to do with your guys talent and that speaks for itself but just like where we all have been and especially me in the last five years like alongside you guys is when I was actually sitting down and looking over everything that we have accomplished together like it is nothing short of amazing and I am so proud of you that I can't even put it into words and it has been such a blessing just to like be in like remotely near your orbit. Oh, well, Ricky, we're the lucky ones. You've been, you added such an interesting element

to the show and a new voice and, you know, really proud of you, how you opened up about your personal life and how that helps other people. be themselves and not be afraid to show that side of things. And in addition to being funny and talented and we know you're going to soar going forward without us. So we wanted to share with you a little thing that Sean Kelly helped put together behind the scenes of our time with you. Ricky Hollywood, Grave digger, hit it. Okay, you watched The Bachelor, but that wasn't enough. Now you need The Bachelor cast off with Cousin Oliver.

Wes, get off your high horse. I just finished a big book. And I played jazz yesterday. I listened to jazz while I played cards. And if I want to literally relax with a glass of wine and watch some stupid TV, you can shove it right where the sun don't shine. I love it. Wes has been rendered silent.

I mean, what are you going to do? You can't help people who won't help themselves. Oh, my God. I'll destroy you. Hey guys, Ricky Hollywood here and... Mark Sessler. Oh, yeah, we're going to do a competition called the Chubby Bunny competition where we shove marshmallows in their mouth.

But instead of saying Chubby Bunny, we are going to say players that are in championship weekend that are playing. Okay? No, it's getting serious. It's getting full. Ryan Tannahill. What? What did you just say?

You, in a room with Justin Timberlake, one question. moderate clout are you willing to work i will do anything i'm really thankful to you guys for giving me this you know sense of responsibility right before the show gregg asked me to drag in a refrigerator for him so uh things are going well over here live baby ney we have 169 nice watching us right now say hi rickie hollywood hi rickie hollywood so do you feel bad that you're in a jet's jersey are you excited. I'm excited. You are, and you just because you love your daddy so much, you just want his team to win? Yeah. Are the Jets your favorite team? Really? Why? So why are the Jets your favorite? Because they play good. He obviously isn't watching many games. All right, say bye.

Say bye, Ricky Hollywood. Bye, Ricky Hollywood. Bye, thank you. Okay, well, That was the insight that I felt that we were missing. But before we do that, give me your best Chewbacca impersonation, Mark. I need it. No, that was terrible. I don't do it. I don't have a Chewbacca impression. The recrimination compilation album, that was 2008.

Master. Man of the Woods, 2018. 2006, you fool! Future sex love sounds too. 2006. 2020 experience 2013. Oh.

Hi. Why did I wink inside that? I don't know. There was a wink beneath those glasses. This whole month is about me. The fact that we're even doing this

episode makes me want to I feel teary right now. It's like I am so supported by you guys. and we are such an incredible family when my family is so far away and there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for you guys and it's clear that you guys feel the same way because we're all here

and I love you guys very much. Oh, Ricky, when Ricky gets emotional makes me get emotional and I love her so much. There you go. That was from, of course, the Pridecast that we did last June and that's just another, you know, Erica always had such great ideas and kind of opened our minds to doing things differently

and us sitting in the middle of West Hollywood celebrating the kickoff of Pride Month, you know, that kind of says it all as well. We love you, Erica. Love you, Erica. Love you guys. Yeah, like we, our show will never be the same without you. So I hope if anything, you agree to come back

for maybe a lot of money to guess once in a while, at least show your face. We must see it. Yeah, I was not expecting. And you should know, Sean Kelly put that together and put a lot of work into it. He's so great behind the scenes. And now I'm going to ask him to do one more thing starting immediately after this show is get out the chisels because Erica Tamposi is going up on producer Mount Rushmore with special

circumstance. I mean, what does she get? Which one do we want to give her? Bitch, I've been up there. She's in the process of removing the other faces. Yeah, we got to let Sean know about it soon. It's a long drive to South Dakota where it is, where he's going to be chisly. His summer is going to be, his summer is suddenly booked.

But you're right, Ricky. We knew that you were a Mount Rushmore producer within weeks of you starting with us. And we've been very lucky to have you. And can't wait to see what happens next in your career because you're talented as hell and also a great person. So thank you for all the years of service to this podcast. And like Mark said, it's not going to be the same without you, but we have so many years and of memories that we share together. And if Wes was here, he would say something very kind as well. And you were with us during that extremely difficult period in the show's history.

And we all, that's a bond that also will hold us together forever. And you were awesome during that time as well. So I got some awesome texts from some of the Wesleying brothers. And it's been, you know, I'm scared of this time right now. I really am without you guys like right next to me it's it's a lot but without your support like everyone involved like I just feel you know supported I guess we're still next to you still next to you still support you and can't wait to see where like just downstairs just walk by the uh the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio all right that that wraps up yes the end of an era uh wraps up this show wraps up our

draft coverage. Thank you. Obviously, we rolled out a big week of shows this week. We were in two different major American cities in the last two episodes. We hoped you enjoyed the content. We're going to keep rolling, like I said, coming up now. Justin's going to step in for Ricky behind the glass, and we're excited for Justin because we know he's going to do great in the job. So that's a new era for the show. We're going to do our round the AFC and NFC next week with some special guests. So make sure you tune in for that. And, yes, signing off one more time for Quiet Storm, the old boss. And yes, Ricky Hollywood, we love you, girl.

Come back and visit, promise. Always. All right, great. We love you, Ricky. Until Tuesday, heed the call. Fuck you guys renew that to me. That was good. That was great.

That was a lot of great memories. So, you know, I'm going to be able to be. This is an I-Heart podcast.