NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Ranking All 32 NFL Skill Position Groups

Episode Date: June 22, 2023

A virtual room filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler rank all 32 NFL teams based only on the team's skill positions, which doesn't include quarterbacks. The guys start off by running through the bottom section of ATN's rankings (05:10). After the break, the guys start to move through the top 20 of the list (33:00) before wrapping up the episode with the top ten (54:33) Note: Time codes approximate NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast knows how to pronounce GIF, or is it GIF? Welcome to another edition of Around the NFL. My name is Dan Hansis. Heroes here, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. I don't care what your GIFT take is. don't care what is your what is your pronunciation though

mine would be gif that's what i'd say and if you say i'm wrong i don't i don't care yeah irrelevant and what anyone else doesn't matter right i mean you accuse me of um of not caring about your big weather bit yesterday and then it took a fire people are looking for more weather from the zeuser all week well here's the thing here's the thing and this is why um i had to push back against your subtle mocking, this was historic weather here in Texas. And I take it as a public service announcement to anyone traveling here just to be ready. So in a lot of ways,

I was trying to help people and you were trying to cloak the Republican darkness. So where do you align? Where were you on January 6th? I'd like to hear how many listeners are visiting this area of Texas this week. And it was just reminding me of a podcast I listened to, which I enjoy, which will go nameless, which always talks weather for the first 30 seconds. And I always think how much better that podcast would be if they just didn't do that every single show. That's all. I mean, I believe a gentleman actually reached out to Dan thanking him for the information that he provided. Is that, is that untrue?

I mean, there was just a whole movement. And I think there were people that were excited to learn about the various climates, both here in North America and overseas and how they differ and how they're similar. I got a tweet from someone who pointed out that we are here in Texas, central Texas, is south of Baghdad in terms of latitude. So you start to look at the earth in a different way. And I think in a lot of ways, in addition, Greg, to being safety-minded also is informational. And I think we strive for that. We haven't won an award this podcast since 2013.

Best new podcast, Apple. It's time for another one. So maybe we change angles here, shift gears, and just become a lot more information-based in terms of teaching. Well, we did win the Stitcher Award. That was the same year. But the award mysteriously disappeared. And I've won some awards over the years. If you're watching on YouTube, I've got this lock of the week championship trophy.

So that's a good word. Why did you need to lead Greg down that path? I don't know. He found his way there on his own. Listen, this is the second podcast of the week as we edge into late June. And it's tough. It's tough to manufacture content that people will enjoy. So those that find us enjoyable this time of year, thank you. And for motivation to call back to another conversation from our earlier show this week, I want to thank Robert Griffin III for reminding us what it's really all about. Some people like to call this the grind. You can call it the fine because you figure out what you got, and I think we got some good stuff. Thank you, Rob. Well, what you didn't consider, Dan, is grind and fine rhyme.

So here's the history there. About 11, 12 years ago, I was so taken by that press conference. I was probably airing live on my little television on the desk in our old newsroom in Culver City that I recorded it off the TV, uploaded it onto a YouTube page, probably put it in some article at some point, and then it lived there in complete obscurity. No other digital footprint of that interview exists

except for this random YouTube account that I used once 12 years ago. And now I've unearthed it, and it has been reintroduced to the world. And I would say check out our YouTube program of this episode so you could A, watch it and B, really enjoy how satisfied RG3 is with himself after he lands that line.

Can I hear it one more time? Some people like to call this the grind. You can call it the fine because you figure out what you got, and I think we got some good stuff. The girl behind him, the female reporter behind him, did not seem impressed with the slogan. But Dan, how many hits does that YouTube video have in a decade since?

All right, let's see. I want to blow this thing up. I also would like to put that on our Instagram page with no explanation, just say like hashtag weekend motivation and just leave it there. So that's my instructions for social team. It has over 2,000 views. So let's see where we can get it up after today's episode and leave some comments as well because we're sitting hard at zero right now in that department.

Today's show, this is going to be fun. And it's going to be interesting to talk about because I found it to be a very sneaky, difficult assignment. Ranking the skill positions in the league, this is non-quarterback, but the weapons that these quarterbacks have to work with for each team, ranking one to 32, the skill groups on offense across the NFL, we're going to count down that list. And Mark, I texted out when we were, you know, all collectively doing our work on this, that it got very quickly, it got into a bit of a murky, maze. So I'm sure we're going to have a lot of differences in opinion here. You know,

we came out of the earlier week episode saying let's come up with something kind of fun and interesting, but it's June so light. And I spent the next, I think I spent three hours on this on my list and got to the point where I started to change things entirely. I just got lost in a mental swamp. But in the end, I feel good about what I've done. I love it. It was very instructive because there are some teams you think of, oh, their quarterback's not in that good of a situation, and then they're sneaky high up on the list. You're like, actually, that team's good.

And then there's the vice versa. But you're absolutely right in terms of time management. Mark, we had the fortune of grabbing a Hananos burger last night with our great friend, Lakeisha, and our former producer, Ricky Hollywood. And Mark had mentioned he responsibly did all his work before he got there because he didn't want to be going home and doing that work at night. And it was about 1130.

p.m. And I'm like 45 minutes into this thing on the night before I leave for Japan. I'm thinking Mark, Mark played that well. I should not have left this. This was way more challenging than there was. There was, I wouldn't say it was. It wasn't panic in your eyes, Greg, but it was like a dawning of realization that you had a lot of work to do suddenly late in the evening. I for some reason I thought it would take 10 minutes. And that was, that was dead wrong. I love this because two things here, why me personally the old zeuser is pumped about today is this is rife for a rife set up for Greg second guessing himself repeatedly always love that think back to our running back draft a few weeks ago and be i i do like exercises what that potentially put mark alone on a take island

and then mark has to swim to shore or set up a fortress and defend it where will mark go when he is on Take Island all alone with Wilson the volleyball. Well, and, you know, I took a peek at what we produced, and there are a couple Take Island scenarios for each of us. Excellent. All right. So why don't we get into it? Hell.

It's quiet newswise. There's a couple nugs out there. We'll kind of bake into this. I think the best way to go through this is 32 to 1, otherwise highly anti-comactic. You know, like if we're talking. 15 minutes on the Texans wide receiver room that feels depressing but we'll work our way we'll be a little quicker on the back end of the teams and then we'll give the teams that we believe are truly set up for success for their quarterbacks this year a little bit more time so why don't

we do that and we'll start with the number 32 team and it's no surprise here the Houston Texans come coming at 32 uh eric and randy are uh team behind the glass or the virtual glass in this case did a nice job giving us a full rundown of uh how things broke in in this case we're all on the same page with uh houston at 31 for mark 31 for gregg and dead last for dan is there anything to get excited about here mark uh i mean i i think number one i'm interested to see what Bobby Slowick, the Shanahan disciple, has to do with this offense. I've always liked Damien Pierce. I almost consider him as a Making the Leap candidate in our last show. And I know we've talked up Nico Collins before. Dan doesn't really buy into that situation. It's a light

offense. There's not a lot to love. But I just think you've got a rookie quarterback. So they're going to be more enjoyable and intriguing than in the past. But I'm very comfortable to put them down at 31 due to a lack of weaponry. At least they're young. That you can get excited about. You got Robert Woods. It's a decent backfield. I like Devin Singletary as a backup running back.

The thing you realize is, first of all, teams are way deeper at the skill positions than they used to be. And then for the most part, every team feels better about it going into this season than they did to end last season. Like the Texans were awful last season at the skill positions for the most part. And they look better on paper now, but everyone looks better on paper.

Yeah, that was, I had some, a couple of bullets for myself, and one of them was there's a lot of talent at this level of professional football. So most teams have at least one guy. I thought, and we're going to get to it at the top of list, but I thought only one team, though, has three true superstars in the skill positions. And most have maybe one big guy, a couple, few teams have two. And then it's like some teams are deeper than others without as many stars. It's very interesting when you kind of dig into a little bit. So, but we all had Houston. We all finished with Houston at 32. Ahead of them, 31 Arizona, 30 Carolina, 29, Tennessee, 28 Indianapolis. And I think it's pretty

evident with Arizona where they're at. We don't need to dig in deep there. Carolina, they were obviously to get Bryce Young giving up DJ more by far their best player on offense in a post-Christian Caffrey Landscape, who also exited the pitcher, they are kind of starting over and trying to build that room up. Tennessee and Indianapolis are interesting to me because Tennessee still has Derek Henry, a Hall of Fame running back who showed last year, maybe if it doesn't have the same gear as a couple of years earlier, still a big time player and a statistical producer at a elite level. And then the Colts have Greg, an interesting player in Michael Pitton, Pittman is their number one wide out. And then Jonathan Taylor, who's under the radar as a potential big time bounce back

candidate this year. Right. Those two teams are a good example of how deep it is because Taylor and Pittman, that's a good one too. Titans have Henry who, yeah, I see declining, but two guys I could see making the leap in Oconquo, who I love in Trelon Burks, who I don't think was as bad as a rookie. So it's like, it does say a lot that almost every team has younger players too behind them that they feel good about. These teams are thinner. The one where I disagreed with you guys a little bit. And this was one of the surprises doing this was like, I had the Panthers dead last. There's this idea that it's a good situation because he has Frank Reich and on paper a good offensive line. They played well last year. But they have some big injuries. They're coming

off of interior line. But I had them dead last. Like their number one receivers, DJ Chark or Adam Theelin and like Miles Sanders is a below average starter. I didn't see anything on their skill positions other than Bryce Young, that's close to average. They were just about dead last for me. Like at tight end, Hayden Hurst is okay. Receiver, they're maybe dead last and running back. They're mediocre. So I had them dead last.

They're starting over at wide receiver. I in general in this exercise, I don't know how you guys did it. With one exception, the rookie class, I'm just not going to get totally pumped up yet because they haven't played football at this level yet. But I like Hayden Hurst, I guess, a little bit more than you. I do like Miles Sanders more than you as well. I mean, I like them, but I think if you rank, if you rank them all, would they, would either of them rank better than average? I don't think so.

Well, where do we have them, Gregie? I would, if those are your two best positions, yeah, I have them dead last because the receiver position, yeah. I just, I don't think there's a lot of variance between where I put the, that team at 28th versus 32. No, that's fair. Every other team has kind of like one or two guys, though, that to me could be stars or like real plus starters. And on paper, to me, I don't really see any, unless Mingo super pops. I have a question for you because, like, look at the cults, all right? Is there some prejudice based off how disastrous last year was versus what we're actually looking at?

Like, I'm not saying there's stars on this team. But, and again, like, we're not factoring in Anthony Richardson. But Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, a year ago, we were talking about the cults as like a top five team the AFC. And not a lot's change, except that the offensive line was, the offensive line was taken apart last season. But if that improves, I don't hate this team as much as where I put them. This is why I found this exercise a bit frustrating because it's like, I don't think these teams look that bad. They just are sitting where they are because of these other teams. Well, the cults are interesting because I think you have, there has to be recency buys in,

in terms of look at a guy like Jonathan Taylor, who had like a peak Jamal Charles season. heading into last year and then dealt with injuries and the offensive line came down and all that factored in. So I guess I'm not as high on him coming off a totally lost season. But again, we have, we're all kind of in the same boat. They're pretty low in this exercise. Well, he was, he was a huge part of my spectacularly bad running back draft. So it's got to carry me there. He could, he could bounce back. Their line needs to bounce back, but we're not talking about the offensive line. I'm also not, you mentioned an offensive coordinator, Frank Reich or a head coach and Frank Reich that is known as a play caller. I didn't factor in

that either. Neither did I. Yeah. Neither did I. Um, all right. Up next, New England. So the Patriots that we have at 27 and, um, for Patriots fans that are out with the pitch forks or maybe thinking like Dan, for instance, is burying them and and bringing him down. No, we're all kind of in the same boat here. In fact, Mark and Greg both had him at 24th. I had him at 27th. And Greg, you could squint and see some, some, you know, real opportunity for this offense to be better. I just talked about Ramandre Stevens. Stevenson, our last draft, potentially being a big time, make the leap guy. But it's their wide receiver room and suspect tight end group that really holds them back from me.

Yeah, it kind of goes on like, what are you going to rank these teams on? Like, let's say them versus the Rams. Like the Rams have Cooper Cup. The Giants, for instance, have Sequin and Waller. The Patriots don't really have that guy. They have Remandre, which could be that guy. But they do have a lot of players. So I think Dept does matter.

I think their fourth receiver and their second tight end. You know, they have Gassiki and Henry are better than most teams. And that's probably why we all ended up in the same spot. They're not, to Mark's point, like every team feels deeper at the scale positions than they were seven years ago. I think that's just the evolution of how the NFL is. And this is, I'm with you that I didn't try to factor in the coaching staff and Shane Stuyken in Indianapolis or Bill O'Brien. it's a little hard to, I just, I don't want to judge the Patriots off the last season for what we talked about in the last show because it was an absolute apocalypse. So I, I'm fine with where they are,

but like, I could see them being much better than 24th if Bill O'Brien makes a big change. Well, in a perfect world, they have like four number three receivers or four two slash three receivers. There's like no hope that any one of those guys is like a true one, which is a problem. If D'Andre Hopkins ends up in Foxborough this year, they're probably moving up for me into maybe as high as the late teens or at least, you know, 20, 20 to 2 range. But, you know, and like I said last week, don't let him out of the building. You let him out of the building. We'll see what happens with Hopkins, but he continues to linger on the market. All right, moving on.

Here's an issue. So the Giants, we're all kind of in lockstep pretty much on the Giants, 22, 27, 28. in our rankings. Mark's almost on an island there. It gets thin there pretty quick after Sequin. Well, you know, yeah, I mean, I kind of want to see what happens with Wondale Robinson. I'm with you. They're not weapons rich, but Darren Waller, if you get a healthy, good version of him, that improves that offense a lot. I mean, I think in general, they were so well coached that last year they were 10th and past DVOA and 7th and Rush DVOA with a lesser cast than this. So it's like, that says a lot about Brian table.

But again, I can't, I got to get that out of my head. I can't factor that in. I got bad. I like the trade at the time. In fact, I love the trade, especially when you factored in what they gave up. I'm getting the suspect vibes on Darren Waller on the Giants. That just doesn't, something doesn't feel right there. Just a hunch, based on nothing else other than, I guess, his recent production, injury issues, changing teams, whether he's really into it, how much he was into our presentation, Mark, at the pro players training for media summit when we were asked to give a speech on how to make a successful podcast, didn't seem overly engaged with what we had to say.

That's probably where 92% of your take is coming from because he did seem like you guys overly engaged. I wasn't there. It's called broadcast boot camp. I mean, you weren't engaged enough to remember. We did a way. wonderful job. I do like pro players practicing for broadcasting. At some point, I think broadcast boot camp was thought to be too edgy a name. I think they gave it a new name this year, by the way. But I don't know. Yes, maybe he wasn't engaged at the boot camp, but I don't know, is he engaged at all at this point? I know he got paid. We shall see. The Rams, this one's interesting. We have them collectively at 25th when we averaged out where we had. Mark, you on him at 27. Greg, you had up at 26. I had him at 17. So, I'm going to share why I had them at 17 because it was one of the principles I had when I was making my rankings. And the one that this one fell under was, if you have a true X receiver, a true difference maker,

a super duper star that just changes the temperature in the room just by being on the field, he is actually going to have the power to lift you up about five spots, than just a standard kind of pro bowl type receiver. And that's what Cooper Cup is to me. He is in that different club. So the fact that he's there is just gives,

if you have a true star at that level, to me, it makes your offense better than it even looks on paper because he does so many things and opens things up. So that matters to me. That's why he's higher. In fact, where you guys have him, what didn't think so highly of Cup or that, I didn't think of this exercise in that way,

you guys nailed it, but I decided to give teams extra pop for having top tier superstars at certain positions. I think that's good logic. I guess like you'd need to get the best version of cam acres. They did sign and bring back Sony Michelle, gives them some depth. Behind Acres, like there's just not a lot going on at running back. And beyond Cup, you're hoping that Van Jefferson coming off of an injury is able to, you know, form chemistry with Matthew Stafford. But I just, this seems like just an unspecial collection of players to me. Right. Yeah, it's not, it's not like the best skill position player. It's the skill position group. And, you know, I, I, I tried to write down. But the skill position players, Greg, make up the skill position group. So I know. And they only have one good

player. So one. No, they don't have one good player. They have one transcendent talent and cup. Sure. That's what I'm saying. Absolutely. But I would say if you include tight ends and running backs, you know, are count less, but they count. You know, there's like, eight to ten of those guys and they do have one of those guys but i tried to do i tried to write out you know their top five or six skill position players and almost like in some sort of order and after cup uh my second choice was tyler higby and so that i we'll talk about the bills later because i disagreed with you guys on the bills too it's like if your second best player uh that's a skill position player is higby or acres or jefferson jefferson's you're two at receipts to me that's pretty

grisly and I felt like I was giving them a cup bump even even to put them up at 26 like I'd rather have the Patriots group than the Rams group for sure you gave him a cup bump Greg tell me more about that private could be 32 otherwise I mean they they could be 32 if it wasn't I agree if Cooper Cup was not on the Rams offense they probably would be at the very bottom but he is yeah so I give him 26 you know I understand I'm not furious about it I get it I get your logic All right. Chicago Bears, we have at 24. And we were pretty much in lockstep on that. I think one of us was a little higher or a little lower. Mark and I both had him at 21. Greg, you had him 25th. And then we could touch on any of these teams. But Green Bay, we were all on the same boat. Mark 23, Greg 21, Dan 20. So they finish at 23rd. And then Tampa Bay. Let's head to it. Let's head to take Island with Mark Sessler, will he build a raft and try to escape or will he fortify both Dan had them at 19

Greg had them at 16 mark all the way down at 26 you buried the bucks no respect for the bucks and their duo dynamic duo at wide receiver I can't get out of my memory the I felt like I watched 27 bucks games a year ago and you know fighting off sleep whenever the offense was out there and that was with Tom Brady I I see what you're saying about Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but I just, I'm not, you're hoping that Rashad White is a capable three down back. You got Chase Edmonds behind him. Russell Gage is your

third wide, who I don't hate, but he didn't really make a difference last year. It wasn't out there. K. Dotten is a tight end. I don't know. I'm pretty comfortable putting them at 26. And that's not factoring in the total quarterback chaos. It's top heavy. It's basically two receivers. But I tried to think about like, what if this group was with like Andy Reed? or Joe Burrow, like, what would I expect them to, like, I think you could, I had them one spot ahead of the Chiefs, for instance, who were the world champs, like, they have two great receivers. I think Godwin will be healthier. Gage is a good three better than most. You're right, it's a little thin. It's a little thin after that, but that's an average group. Like, I don't think Mayfield, and the offensive line might not be bad either, by the way. It's not actually a bad group around the quarterback. It's just the quarterback's terrible. I've decided, I might have had them a little bit lower, but I've now decided, as we turn the calendar over to 2023 to be part of the solution, not the problem when people overlook Mike Evans and what he's brought to our league,

nine straight years with a thousand yards. That is incredible. Durability, production, you just don't see it. Has anybody ever done that? Did Jerry Rice even do that? Yes. I believe so. I would just say that most of these teams

got a chance to make the Hall of Fame. What we're going to dig into from here, most of these teams start having their version of Mike Evans, whether it's on the ground or through the air. I mean, like, these rosters are good. And I think that Tampa Bay on the whole is not a special group. Right. I think Godwin cut, you know, a year removed from the ACL, that mattered a lot to me. I see those both as top 25 receivers, and there's very few teams. And receiver to me is the most important position here. And there's very few teams that have two top 25 receivers. There's probably five and the in the bucks are one of them and so they they got a big guy just one one thing quickly

we all ended up agreeing on green bay which is interesting because I actually found them maybe the most difficult team to rank in this entire exercise their running backs are awesome Jones and Dylan and then they're receivers I love Christian Watson as a rookie and then it's Dobbs and some rookies I gave a little rookie pop if I like the rookies but I didn't try to overrate it like it's just a fascinating weird group I didn't know where to put them they're not as they're more interesting them the Patriots and the Titans of the world. But I guess we all kind of agreed in the end. Yeah, I think I'm with you on that.

I was trying to figure out because I kind of broke it down when I was trying to make decisions. I had the three star tier, which is just one team. I had the two star tier, which I had a team, a group of about six or seven. And then the one star or close tier. And I couldn't figure out of the Packers where a two star tier or a one star or close tier. And I had them just on the other side. because Christian Watson, I do want to see how he performs with a different quarterback other than one of the greats ever. But he did show a lot, but am I ready to say that guy is a locked

and loaded star? I'm close to it, but I'm not quite there. Well, I'm with you. I like, I love their their backfield, Aaron Jones, AJ Dylan. I think Watson can be a star. Romeo is super intriguing to me. It's like there's not a lot not to like. I've moved the package. up and down in this exercise like probably 15 times that was sort of one of the teams that started to make me go mentally insane yeah I hear that all right let's let's get through to into the top 20 and then take a break we had at number 21 or number 20 I should say and this one surprised me a little bit 21 the Detroit Lions who we all love the lions but when you look at the breakdown once again mark a little bit on

take island here. He built a fort on Tampa Bay. Greg had them at 22 out of 32. I had him at 23. Mark had him up there at 15. I think I dinged to Mark on on James and Williams being out of the mix. They probably would have been or they would have been higher if I could have talked myself into him having a big role early on and he won't because he's suspended for I think six games. Why do you have them in the top half of the league in terms of skill players? Well, that's interesting on Williams because the way that I did this when I looked at their roster, there is some projection because part of it is like I didn't really factor in the suspension because I'm looking just literally at the roster. So we did that a little differently. I actually don't,

I'm not in love with David Montgomery and never have been. So I, to me, it's a projection of Jamar Gibbs and like Sam LaPorteur who has been blowing up the offseason program. Those guys need to work out. But this is one where I did factor in the rookies a little bit. And I may be factored in Ben Johnson a little bit. I guess I shouldn't have done that. But I think the Lions to me, I almost thought I was going to come in with one of you guys having them higher than me. I thought if anything, one of you guys were going to like them more.

And I'm a little surprised with how this turned out. Yeah, they were one of the teams I thought this was instructive that after doing it, I was like, oh, the Lions actually don't have a great weapons group compared to average. I mean, Amon Ross St. Brown's a nice player, but he's your number one. And then who's the guy you're totally counting on behind him? I believe Jameson Williams could be interesting. I didn't count the suspension, but I've never seen him do anything. And then you have Josh Reynolds in there.

You have rookies that I like. And so I gave him a little bump for that or else they wouldn't even been as high as 22, but it's a little shallow. Yeah, that's what I took out of the exercise too is like, oh, good job by you, Ben Johnson. Right. Right. Because it's not like, oh, it's not like with the chiefs, for instance. like, well, but then you have Patrick Mahomes.

It's Jared Gough then who's making all this go. And maybe, maybe we got to give Jared Gough more respect because that offense was a top five offense last year in many, many metrics. But we can't factor. I think it's tough because you can't factor in the fact that their offensive line is a dominant group that really turns the key on the whole thing. GC, Mark, GC, GC. but perhaps you did because they're very high in your rankings yeah you know I don't like

when I maybe maybe some improper procedures leaked into this exercise for me with some teams uh oh Wilson the volleyball is floating over the tide on that one a little bit you know he's he's not standing strong you were saying would he would he would he stand strong on his takes or would he oh I think I yeah I wouldn't move them I wouldn't move them but I think it's just that we did it a little differently because you're saying you don't want to really almost factor in rookies and with Detroit I did got it okay uh finally before we take a break this one was another very interesting one to me and it's really how you how you choose to look at them what are they called the rorschar test is that how you pronounce it yeah yeah the Atlanta Falcons kind of are that for our podcast and

for this exercise specifically there's so much to like about it but at the same time how much is actually proven. So you look at the Falcons, and again, Mark, take Island part three. Greg has them up at 14. I have them at 18. Mark, you have them all the way down at 25, which really surprised me because you're such a big fan of the Falcons. This is the only team, really, where I kind of got maybe in over my skis about a rookie, because I'm like, all right, running back, Bijan Robinson. You put him with Drake London, who we talked about, and are making the series a couple days ago, you take Kyle Pitts and you project him maybe finally finding his way. And that's a, in terms of like triplets, that gets you very excited. Where did you, how did they

end up at 25 for you? Does it just the lack of proven entities here? Um, I really ding them for what's happening behind Drake London at wide receiver with Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller. Um, an injury to London leaves them totally capsized through the air, uh, unless Kyle Pitts, becomes what we need them to be this season. I trust they can run the ball. I think this is a team where, like, I think I still am fascinated by the Falcons, and I think they're going to be a punishing ground-based team, obviously. And I think Arthur Smith can make all these parts work,

but just looking at them on paper, their wide receiver position is hard to look past. Yeah, it's surprising. Mark is the one that's way down on these Falcons guys. But I did notice, Dan, he, I don't know if he's, you heard this. He said, we need Kyle Pitts. That's what we need. He's already, that's a we team for Mark. Yeah, this one, this would be the most stunning entry of anyone. Mark putting them in the bottom, they're a bottom third offensive skill position and their quarterback's Desmond

Ritter. That's fair. I'm probably projecting too much, especially with Pitts, because I still think of him as a top 10 tight end and it hasn't happened. I'm thinking of Bijon as a top 10 running back. You got to see it. But I looked at it like when you wrote all. the names out, and this is where we like, why we like the Falcons, I think, Mark, they're so different. They have five guys that I believe in. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bejohn Robinson, yeah boy, Tyler Al Jir, and Cordarell Patterson. You're right, they don't have any wide receivers, so it's very funky, but I do believe in those five guys. Fourteen, now even in hindsight, might be a little rich. I'm doing the thing where I'm questioning myself, but I would only move

them down a couple spots because those are five dudes that I think can make plays. A lot of them are running backs and so maybe you ding them a little bit for that but they're still they're dudes that look nice and in big coming off super compelling group yeah yeah proven but super compelling if you but if you said if the exercise was let's rank um backfield potential like they'd be top three or four for me if not even higher just how about guys that you wouldn't want to mess with in a dark alley I think yeah feel that way about them yeah sexy all right let's take a break we'll be right back move now into the top 20, starting with the Denver Broncos. All right, we had a, we had a big difference and opinion here. Mark, you're off the hook. You had him at 20. I had him at 24. This

time, it's Greg Rosenthal, who has the Denver Broncos all the way at number 12. Geez. Why? Well, could tell us. I think I rewarded depth, but you're right. They don't have the superstars. But Judy, Dulcich, who I like a lot, Cortland Sutton, Tim Patrick, K. J. Hamler. You like a little Marvin Mims in the draft, Javante Williams, Samage P. Ryan. So they overwhelm me with just like NFL players who are good. So many NFL players on the Broncos. So many NFL players on these Broncos. I just mean like not many teams have that many like they can survive a lot of injuries. They're deep. They're like a much better version of the Patriots where they have like a bunch of people. But their people are more talented. I think they're a little more talented and

that talent wasn't, you know, able to flourish last year. I feel like, though, this is the second, if not third year in a row that we're pumping up Denver's skill position group. And it's like they, outside of Samaji Pryne, who I like, in a role, like they had all these guys last year. And I know that it was a coaching debacle and your quarterback fell off the side of the earth. But when are these players going to become what we're asking them to become? When they're healthy. Like literally, and maybe I shouldn't, I shouldn't ding them more for health. But literally every single one has. had a major injury. Williams, Hamler, Patrick, Sutton, Dulcich. Judy, I guess, just missed a

bunch of time one year, but he's been the healthiest. It's a, it's been a banged up group, which is now or never for that group. Yeah. Now or never. All right, let's move on. All right, this one was a little different. I think this one, I was on Take Island a little bit. The Jacksonville Jaguars. Oh, no, I wasn't. But I had him the highest. So I had them as the number eight offense in terms of skill players around their quarterback in the league. Mark, you were in the same boat as me. You had him at 11. Greg, you had them down at 20. I guess I'll start on this one. I think this is kind of similar to what you're saying with the Broncos, Greg, but I thought in a more proven way where you look at their depth chart

and we saw how the offense came together last year. I really like what we saw from their wide receivers. Christian Kirk made everybody look dumb last year for saying they paid too much for him. He was a real asset and a weapon for Trevor Lawrence. You add Calvin Ridley to this mix now. And, you know, we don't know what we're going to get from Ridley, but he was a star, an emerging true star with the Falcons before he had some personal issues and then the gambling suspension. And now he has this fresh start. I'm guess giving him the benefit of the doubt that he's going to, at a young age, still be a performer. And then Travis A.T.N. I saw him as a another emerging star on offense at running back.

So I like what they're doing a running back. I like their wide receivers. I think Evan Ingram showed a lot and is a perfect match with that quarterback. I think it's just a really rock solid core, even if there's no like superstar jumping out at you. Yeah, I'd say like, because we were in the same place, so I won't belabor the point. But I actually had them a little bit higher for 75% of this exercise and bumped them down a bit.

But I agree with you. I, I guess. I guess I'm just giving more credit to Doug Peterson. Like, I've seen Zay Jones and Christian Kirk elsewhere and Evan Ingram. ETS is a nice running back to me. You know, he's not special to me. He's not a top 10 guy. And so I guess I was giving it more a little bit to the scheme was making these guys

who are more like number three receivers look better than they are. I mean, Zay Jones turned into a pretty reliable player. And they're all fine. But I feel like if you put them on a team without a good coach or in a good system, them, they would not look very good. All right, fair enough. Moving on to number 17, the Saints. This one was the most predictable one for me,

because I knew I would probably have them the lowest, and I knew Greg would have him the highest. And sure enough, Mark had him right in between Greg and I. And I have him at 26. Greg, you had him at 11. Whoa. I had him at 26 because I'm not high in Alvin Kamara anymore. I think he's played his best football.

I do factor in guys not being. the field because I'm looking at it to 2023 and I don't think he will be I think he'll be suspended but he hasn't been special for a couple years now Michael Thomas I'm done waiting for that ship to come back in I think at best he is a serviceable number two if he could be on the field but I don't think that's anything that should ever be assumed I do love a lave so but I'm not at the level like of a Cooper Cup where he's going to give me those extra bumps to get him up five more spots. So that's why I had them there. Why do you have them just outside the top 10 in the entire league? I mean, I'm way higher on Camara. I think he was better last year playing through

an injury someone. That's a factor. But I could see a monster year. To me, him and Olavi are two stars. So they're a two star team for me. And then the others are very high upside, intriguing players, Juan Johnson, Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed. So there's, they're not all going to hit those three. But if you got two out of those to hit and you have the two stars that I believe, like that that's an explosive skill position group. And I'm right between the two of you. So I vaguely agree with both of what you just said. Nice. I think that I think you were the one that was right. I think that's where this comes in. Hey, speaking of a disagreements. Now it's now it's Zeus are truly on take island because the Washington football team, also known as the commanders,

uh, are at 16 on this list right in the middle. And Greg, you, Mark, you had him at 14, Greg at 13. I had him down at 22. I guess I should defend my take here. I like Terry McLaren. He's excellent. I think he's not a true superstar wide receiver. He's just below. Jahan Dodson is interesting, I guess. Kurtl Samuel was kind of who they thought he was going to be when they first signed into that big contract. So that's pretty good. The running back room is is what it is brian robinson andtonio gipson i don't know i guess i was tell me why i should be more excited about this group can i well i'd start with jehan dotson i'd really like him a lot um mccloren dotson and curtis samuel are a high quality trio um i like the running

backs more than than you do i think um especially what i think brian robinson can get Logan Thomas, as always fascinated me. I will say this with the same cast of characters. They were last year, 29th in rushing DVOA and 26th and past DVOA. And there was a lot of quarterback chaos, but it wasn't the worst quarterback play in the league. That's sort of like, they remind me of Denver. It's like, I want it outside of McLaurin, like the rest of you guys, like this should be a better group. Yeah, maybe we had them a little high, Mark, but I see them as average.

Like McClurent is a true one to me. I'm not going to fight that hard. I see that. And then the other positions are all just like solid. You know, we're solidly average. Logan Thomas is a little bit of a question. But I think it's a good group overall. I don't think they have excuses at this point.

They've been building this team for four years. I think they've done a decent job at it. It's like it's go time. And yet they're starting a former fifth round pick with very little experience or proof past success um but whatever we'll see what happens the Cleveland Browns another one where I was higher on uh the group than you boys were 17 for Mark 18 for Greg I had him in the top 10 I had as a top 10 group around Deshawn Watson I think Amari Cooper is I put him kind of right in that class with Terry McLaren where I um I see him as a true number one uh even if he's not at the level of like

the D.K. Metcalf or Justin Jefferson or Cooper Cup, solidly an ex-receiver you can pound the table for and improve that last year. They have, to me, the best running back, the best power running back in football. And Nick Chubb, Derek Henry fans can debate that. But Chubb, I think, just does it all the best, you know, pure power and speed back in the league at this point. It gets a little thin at wide receiver and having lived through Elijah Moore, I am not buying into all the offseason hype pieces. But in Cooper, in Chut and Chubb, that kind of sold me on this two star, put him in that territory. With Chubb being the example, like I said with Cooper Cup earlier, a true superstar is going to pump them up, pump a team up about five spots for me in this ranking. And that's how they got

from middle of the pack to top 10. You know, I had struggled like, I was like, going in, I thought the Browns would be higher in my list, and not for past fan connections, but just that they've done a nice job this off season. And I think you've got to project that, yeah, there's been a lot of hype around Elijah Moore, but they've talked about how well he's fit in the attack. So if that worked, suddenly last year's really weak, wide receiver group, because I think Donovan People's Jones fits as a two, three type guy. He's a little inconsistent. And a joke who's a little inconsistent, but when he's good, he's fun to watch. Harrison Bryant is solid. Can I just jump? That's the one thing, Mark, not to interrupt. I'm sorry, but Injoku, I meant to bring him up. I love Injoku. And I thought him and Watson showed a lot of potential as a pairing last year, even though Watson was so inconsistent. I could really see him blowing up if Watson gets back to being a high end starter, which I think is certainly in the position. So it really was for me, Chub, Cooper, and then having a vibe that Injoku could be a pro bowl guy this year. I just think Nizoku is a frustrating watch because,

when he's good, he looks great, and then there are some incredible drops. I think, like, look up and down this roster, there's just some inconsistency, but you can't factor in the offensive line and the quarterback playing those other stuff. I mean, I'm comfortable with him as average, Mark. I think it does show how deep skill position groups are that they're coming out as average. I thought they'd be higher too, but their best players are running back, so I do dig them for that. Cooper's not a one to me. We've kind of learned that.

Like when I said like the bucks have two top 20 to 25 receive I would you know I put Godwin and Evans both over Cooper and then it I like more in people's Jones, but that's that's not an amazing an amazing group. So there's like a little below average. Not bad. All right. Number 14, the New York Jets. This time it was Mark at 16. Greg at 19. I had him nine. Zusser is he drinking that green juice always. That is not a stunning result, but their number two receiver is, is, who is their number two receiver? I would say Corey Davis is actually their second best receiver. I know they're not paying Lazard that way, but in terms of having a nice career. I mean, Corey Davis is your second best receiver. They like Alan Lazard a lot and what he brings to the offense and his, what his past success or knowledge of the setup with Aaron Rogers is. I think Garrett Wilson is going to be a superstar this year.

I think Breeze Hall, that's the big question. Maybe if I could do it again, I would have dropped him a couple spots out of the top 10 because I can't just assume he's going to be the guy he was immediately before the injury. So Breeze Hall, though to me flashed as a potential superstar running back. I just like their depth at wide receiver. It's another group that's maybe not after Wilson filled with stars.

but I do like the idea of having Wilson, Corey Davis, Alan Lazard, McColl Hardman, as your four, I think they're going to be productive. I think you're going to see better production at tight end with a real quarterback, C.J. Uzama, I think, is a tight end that could do some things in a real offense.

And then it comes down to his Breece Hall, Breeze Hall. I wonder if they're going to end up with Dalvin Cook. I'm kind of, I keep on seeing that floated by different beat scribes in that area. that, you know, they're monitoring that situation. And especially knowing Brees Hall's medical situation, the cook ends up there, that would be a good fit for them. But I'm going to, I'm going to follow the volleyball a little bit on this one

and say maybe I should have dropped him two or three spots. But it's only because I'm a little too bullish on Brees Hall being immediately himself. Otherwise, I love the setup around Rogers. Yeah, they struggle a little bit in my exercise of like, who's the second best skill position player in, and Brees Hall is a second-year player coming off at Torn ACL. So to me, it was just such a cliff fall. It's a little like the bill.

So I had even lower than them. We haven't gotten to, but I had them lower, where it's like you have one great player and that's about, and then it's just okay, guys. I feel like if Brees Hall is healthy and he is who he was last year, I'd hate to shadow him with Dalvin Cook. I just want him to touch the ball as much as he can. I'm not in love with Alan Lazzard and Mikul Hardman,

I guess, as much as you are, Dan. Fair. I'm not in love with him. I just think they're depth pieces that give. They just have, it's solid behind Wilson. But it's not like, yeah, it doesn't blow you away. I get that. Pittsburgh, they come in at number 13 on this exercise.

And let's take a look at where they fell. Mark, you had Pittsburgh at 19. I had them at 15. Greg, you had them as a top 10 unit at number 10. Tell us why. Because, like, their top five positions are good. I mean, I guess that's what I really leaned on. like if you have above average starters at four positions, then you're good.

Nasea Harris is good. Pickens and Johnson is a nice tandem. You have a very good tight end in Fryeruth. Your third is, you know, Alan Robinson and gets a little thin after that. It's like not the worst thing. So they're plus at a lot of positions and they're going to get better. Like I think it's safe to say these are, this is a young team that gets better. Surprise here, Mark, because I know you have, we just talked about making the leap.

you have pickings as making the leap at wide receiver till being like a number one type guy why are they down at 19 i think this is one team that i struggle with and uh i i kind of want to i need to see it i need to see this growth um i think there's a lot of there's good players here there isn't a great player here i'm not as big on nausea harris as some people are so i guess you know when you do this it's like could you convince me they're more like 14 or something sure um it's how the the chips fell a little bit but I just don't see one player that absolutely I can trust to dominate defenses. That's fair.

All right. Let's move on to, ooh, next team. Number one on the urgency meter, the old Zeus or the Buffalo Bills, have they built enough around Josh Allen? A big question, DeAndre Hopkins, a team, a player that's been connected to this team. They certainly probably could use him, especially according to Greg Rosenthal, who has them as the 23rd ranked team, just, you know, almost a bottom third skill position group in the league. Mark and Dan were in lockstep on this one. Mark at 10, Dan at 11. I gave preemptively, Greg, I'll tell you again, Stefan Diggs, I'll give, I gave him a bump because I think he is a true

one wide receiver. Hopefully he's in a good mindset to continue to be that way. And then when I looked at the rest of the depth chart, I was like, I was looking at it. I was like, okay, I think they did a good job here. I think they need another guy. But Gabe Davis, you have at tight end, you have Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid. Again, first round pick, you don't know what you're going to get from him. So I didn't put too much into that. And then at running back, James Cook and Damian Harris, who I've always liked.

So I really like kind of that combo as an upgrade this year at running game with the digs bump is how I got there. I do like their backfield that it's cheap. And you're right. Maybe I didn't give enough value. two true number one receivers like Diggs, because I love Diggs. At first, I had them even lower, and I was like, I'm being too hard on the bills. I had them at like 26, 27. It's a pretty steep fall from Stefan Diggs to your second most explosive slash reliable

player that I'm excited about is probably Dalton Kincaid. I mean, Gabe Davis is not a good two. The running, the backfield's okay. I mean, they're hoping to be average, I guess. So I get, to me, you have like one receiver, and it's a pretty big drop off to these teams that have three, four, five receivers. I guess I was just thinking of, like, if you gave Josh Allen, and I'm just picking some teams that were a little lower on your guys as maybe higher in mind,

like, if you give Josh Allen the Saints or the Broncos or the commanders' weapons, like I think he'd be cooking even more. I think Josh Allen has covered up a lot in Buffalo and good coaching, and we're not taking that into account. Yeah, I mean, they were second in passing DVOA with a thin cast last year. For me, a lot of it is Kincaid, but this is one where it's hard to look at the skill position group and say, well, nothing matters here if you don't have Josh Allen. Like the whole thing centers around the quarterback as much as with any quarterback in the

entire league. So I think he elevates their play. And I know last year was a little bit tough and maybe some of the digs drama or a lot of the digs drama is going back to the shift away from Brian Dable and maybe the offense not working as well last year, especially struggled in the red zone. Josh Allen wasn't as good. But I'm looking at that wide receiver room. I know most people have forgotten about it now, but I remember you, Gabe Davis.

I remember you going eight for 201 and four touchdowns in the greatest playoff game of the century, arguably. Chiefs 42, Bill's 36, the 13th second game. There's something in there with Gabe Davis. I think there's a chance you can see him get unlocked. And if he does, and they could really turn him into a true number two, they're going to be humming. I think it's one of the big subplots of the year is that Bill's offense. is it going to get back its swagger and be that dominant unit because it was a lot of hard work

last year, surprisingly hard work with Dable out of the picture. Also, could this be the team that goes and gets DeAndre Hopkins, though? That would change a lot. And I know the digs, there's reports that digs, you know, part of his frustration was that he really wanted them to go get DeAndre Hopkins. I mean, my vote barely made a dent. I guess this is why it's good to balance it out. I had them 23rd and they still ended up 12th.

and you guys had him 10th and 11. So it's like... That's how it works. It's like my vote didn't even matter. Math, baby. All right, now just outside the top 10. And this is perfect because they don't deserve to be in the top 10. But I don't just reactive anti-America's team takes.

We don't do that either. So the Dallas Cowboys are at number 11. Wow, Mark, you had him at number six in the league. Greg and Dan were in lockstep at 15 and 14. You love yourself some Tony Pollard and some CD Lamb. What else do you like? Brandon Cooks, Michael Gallup, a year removed from physical chaos. You have to hope that Jake Ferguson can step in for Dalton Schultz.

But, you know, when this team is, when they're, when they're vibing, I think they're one of the better offenses around. And I think they figured out what happened like last year with wide receiver. Brandon Cooks to me will be a plug-and-play, totally productive guy. And I don't see a real weakness with this group of players. I think the Michael Gallup thing, I'll push back against a little bit just because in a true Cessalarian way, you referred to it as physical chaos of a year ago. But that was two years ago.

Last year was the first season back from the ACL. Well, that's what I mean, though. I don't think we got that player last year. Right. But for me, that puts me in a holding pattern on Gallup because he came back from the injury, he wasn't the same guy. Can he now two years removed or close to two years removed, be the guy where he looked like,

oh, is May being a emerging number two or a star wide receiver? Maybe, but I think the jury's out on them. Some guys just aren't the same after they suffer a serious knee injury. See, like their ceiling is quite high. I could see why Mark you would put them at six. I think Dan and I had him in the middle because cooks,

Pollard, and Gallup are all a little bit distressed assets. You know, like Cooks is not the cooks of five years ago. good player will help pollard is coming off a serious injury now and gallop everything d'an said about him so if they get the best versions of all three of those guys like that is an incredible looking top four skilled guys also who's their tight end ferguson maybe or the rookie schoonmocker i mean so that doesn't seem right yeah there should be like a serviceable white guy like anchored there somewhere where is that guy they played ferguson they played ferguson and who was that other guy with a great name they played them a lot started eight games last year yeah he played a lot

They do seem down a serviceable white, though. I think Ferguson kind of like is the definite, like if he, if he pans out, he is your guy. Jake Ferguson, serviceable white. Fingers crossed. All right, let's move into the top 10. Please. At number 10, the Los Angeles Chargers. How did we do on this one?

8, 9, 8 for Mark, 9 for Greg. 16 for Dan. I think I'm a little bit coming out of my, I love Mike Williams, Keenan Allen tandem era just because of injuries and the idea at this point where penciling them in in June to just be a stud combo, it doesn't fly for me anymore

because I know that's just not how it goes with these two guys. When they are in the field, they excite me, but they're not typically on the field together. I know you have a first round pick in Quentin Johnson there that he's going to get a lot of snaps most likely, but we don't know what you have there. Gerald Everett is fine to me. And then the running game, I love Echler.

Echler's awesome. But because of the Allen Williams constant injuries thing, it has depressed them for me just a little bit. To me, I depressed them to put them down to eight or nine because if everyone's healthy there, Josh Palmer is your third or your fourth. And I think Josh Palmer is a good player. Like, that's a top three or four group.

And so I'm trying to bake in a little, injury concern because otherwise this is a fantastic group yeah i'm with you and i i guess i am factoring that quentin johnson's going to be exactly what they need i really think he's going to fit with them and to me i just see depth all over the place um we have at number nine the kansas city chiefs and dan and i had had him at seven mark had him at nine gregg you had him down at 17. I was a little bit surprised that I had them as high as I did when I kind of went through it all. But then I kind of thought about what we just talked about this week about Cadarius Tony and my belief. And then I gave that super duper star bump to Travis Kelsey, who, Greg, I know

earmuffs, but he really is closing in and really building the argument as the greatest tight end to ever play the game. Shows no signs of slippage. So they, get the bump because they just have this all world talent that commands all sorts of attention and game wrecks season after season. I mean, I don't need to just put on my earmuffs. How about how about Mike Dicka? How about, uh, how about, uh, Kellyn Winslow, senior? How about, uh, Shannon Sharp? Like, I, why, why are these guys all just getting definitely passed up? They all racked up, uh, all pros. Tony Gonzalez and Tonyo Gates. Like, he's in that conversation. That's all. Wait, are you saying he's behind all of those guys?

No, but I don't think he's like way ahead of them. I think the leagues changed and they were incredibly valuable in their eras because the game was different and they blocked and that was a big part of some of their games. And they're like their first team all pros, yeah, they are all very similar actually. Okay, great. What else does the man have to do to earn your respect? I feel like Wes and agreeing with me here.

As he racks up all pros, Super Bowls, as he does unforgettable things in the playoffs, takes over game after game. And yet he's just another guy. The greatest of all time. And I think. I didn't say that. I said he's really building the argument. Creeping sure. I think you're, but first team all pro is a great way to measure it.

And all of those guys are competitive or have more than him. So I think it's okay to say, if we're saying all time, like they got to be in the, in consideration. He is getting older, though. He is turning 34 this year, and their second best receiver is Valdez Scantling or Tony, and the backfield is okay. And so to me, I think it's just a measure of Mahomes' greatness and Andy Reid's greatness. If you gave this group of weapons to a young quarterback, everyone would say they are not helping him out enough. I'm with you entirely.

Like, it was almost impossible for me to not look back at last year with, a hodgepodge cast of characters that come out first in offensive DVOA. It's, you got to separate Mahomes from this exercise, but I just kind of feel the way they all fit together. I just trust the results. And maybe that's a shaky way to do this, but I just, I trust the results. Kelsey has played basically nine seasons, and he's been either first or second team, all pro, and seven of the nine seasons. Right. his age 33 season, 110 receptions, 1,338 yards, averaging 12.2 yards per catch, 12

touchdowns. And beyond that, beyond just the counting numbers, we've all watched a million Chiefs games in January and February now. And the guy is just different. He is the dude. When you need somebody to make a play, he never lets that team down. And I just, he's in that rare class like and I think about the greatest playmakers and like ATN history uh since we started this pods in 2013 the guy got to have it like line give me Travis Kelsey he's going to go get it for me yeah love that guy I think I think what grong did was more dominant while he played um in terms of first team all pros and stuff like Tony Gonzalez gets forgotten he's a six time first team pro and a ton on the second team too that's all it's like you had these guys that

were totally dominant in their era. And I just don't want to over, overreact and just say like he's the best of all time because he plays in this era. That's all. Well, you're a measured historian and we appreciate that. Right. Yeah, you did. You are the same guy. And you weren't wrong, though, that you've been talking about Patrick Mahones is like the best ever since his third year. Yeah, because I think you can use your own evaluation and you see it. And I. Well, you can. I can. Yeah. That's what you're saying. Got it. I mean, you can. And that's why I disagree. Like we were allowed to disagree. I, to me, he's not as as special. as Gronk was during his peak.

I think Gonzalez actually is a good comp for him for his era. Gonzalez racked up more like first team all pros and stuff like that, but I think they're very similar. All right, Mark, decide it. Gronk or Kelsey, who do you want for one game? Grunk. All right. Greg, you win.

Go off to Japan now. Fly off. You don't even need a plane. I got a bird to catch. We got to fly. All right, the Baltimore Ravens. uh this one wasn't surprising mark had him at 12 i had him at 13 seems sensible gregg had him at number eight why greggie why are they so high depth i mean they have the one of the best three

tight ends in the league i love j in in andrews i love daubbins and then yes there's projection at wide receiver but beckham baitman flowers agalar you have a nice backup tight end and isaiah likely to me you just have a lot of guys i i think that was where i guess i disliked I differed from you guys. Like, if you had seven guys that I kind of liked, you ended up pretty high on my rankings. And the Ravens were that team. I mean, they're high in our rankings, too.

Right. Yeah, I think we're at him at 12. Like, I almost, I see like Isaiah likely as like a fringe making the leap type guy. You've got Mark Andrews in front of you, but that is a really promising player. I guess for me it was just like Rashad Bateman, seen it in moments here and there, but can you do it for an entire season? Who are you? Zay Flowers, we're hoping on Odell Beckham.

Where are you at this point? so I kind of dinged them a little bit on a wide receiver group that looks better on paper than what reality may present. I would move to chargers above them now in hindsight. This isn't a new take for me, but, you know, I thought Beck and got too much money. I don't think he's been an elite player for years now. I know he had a nice run in the playoffs a couple years ago, but they also blew out his knee in that Super Bowl game.

Just expecting him to be a, you know, four-month playmaker is just asking a lot. I just don't see it. But Baltimore obviously does because they gave him $15 million guaranteed. It's crazy. The Vikings are at seven as a group. I don't think we were in lockstep on this one either. Not too bad, actually. Actually, it's pretty good.

Mark at seven, Greg at five, and Dan at 12. I should get a bonus when I put them at seven and they actually land at seven. Or we all should because it took all our votes to do to do that. but, you know, it's like a bingo right there. It's really nice. I like Jordan Addison. Maybe I'm projecting too much, but I like him a lot as a two,

and Osborne as a three, and Hawkinson's a nice tight end. It's a nice group. All right. The last team outside the top five is the, and also they get for me, the Justin Jefferson bump, best wide receiver in the league.

Even with Adam Flehlin now gone and Dowman Cook gone, you got Jefferson, and he makes the entire team. What is it? The boat, the tide that lifts all boats. Got it. Vegas at number six, 13 for Mark, but six for Greg, four for Dan. This is a great group of skill players, I think, for Jimmy Garoppolo or whoever ends up being the quarterback.

Mark, why did you have them depressed a little bit compared to your colleagues here? I don't know. You know, this is maybe some bias. I'm just, uh, well, so. Well, like, because with Josh Jacobs, all right, I guess I'm in that camp of like, I want to see it happen again. I wonder if Hunter Renfro will be on this roster. There's been trade whispers around him. He's on and now.

It's on and now. You have to count them. Sure. But, like, I don't love the tight end group. DeMonte Adams is a true star. I don't know. I don't really trust. This is one where I baked in the whole overall Raiders, like, coaching staff milieu, where I'm just like, not sure I buy this.

that's why I like this exercise though I think if you separate them out from being the Raiders you're like wow this is a really good group especially if Michael Mayor the rookie tight end pans out but Renfro's a great a great three Jacobs is a great running back you have a great one it's a night if you

Myers I think is a really good roster fit as a number two behind Adams it's just a lot there's a lot to like there and it's you know like imagine if Josh I keep saying this but imagine if Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes or someone had this group would be like they would be going Freaking bananas. Freaking bananas is right, Gregi.

Bring it back. Bananas. I knew when I put them at 13 that I was going to get, be in a weird camp there. You feel good about it? Yeah, because I still think they're going to win like seven games. I feel good because Raiders fans have something to be happy with us about, at least Danny and I.

Yeah, it's true. It's like the one, it's like the nicest thing we've said about the Raiders. Okay, there's only one team in the entire exercise that we all agreed on, and we're not getting to them yet. But there's one other team that we all virtually universally agreed on, but not quite, the Seattle Seahawks. And Mark, you had him at number five. Greg, you had him at number four.

Dan had him at number five. That is a really good setup around Gino Smith, perhaps, you know, making up for the fact that the quarterback is actually average. But, you know, that's, you know, whatever, he made the most with great weapons. It was an unfair dig, but I threw it out there. I mean, part of it is. Is there better this year than a year ago? Smith and Jigba? Yes.

Yes, please. Okay. Hopefully Kenneth Walker stays healthy, but then you add Zach Charbonnet, a nice little rookie. Like, even the tight ends, like, Fant and Disley, like, that's a solid tight end group. Everything is solid, and the receiver group ranks with anyone. I feel like I like D.K. Metcalfe a little bit more than other people. Like, some people has put him at, like, number 10.

I think he's, like, a top five talent at that at wide receiver in the league. I love me. Lockett is just, I mean, name me a better like one, two, a duo that you can count on to just put numbers up year after year. These guys keep nailing the draft and altering and improving the roster. And I think that Jackson's number one there. But Zach Charbonnet, like he came out. He averaged seven yards a carry last year, had over the last two seasons, 2,500 yards

and 27 touchdowns. And they're talking about him as someone who literally is battling for the number one job. They've got a super deep backfield. I just see no weakness here with the Seahawks. I started them lower, and I kept moving them up and up and up the list. Also, I believe I saw Zach Charbonnet at the Westwood in and out. It was during draft season, and they were obviously football players, and I thought it was him. And then I, like, Googled it on my phone.

I'm like, yeah, pretty sure that's him. So shout out to Zach, if you're listening. That was me. In the old days, Gregie, if you were working at the PFT, that might have. have been a post about his Charbonnet taking his training seriously at the fast food joints stuff you got the lettuce you know the lettuce uh animal style um all right we're closing in now on the end of it uh the miami dolphins come in at number four we're all feeling hot about the dolphins uh mark at four gregg at seven

dan at three i mean greggie i mean i know seven's not a bad score but you got jalen wattle and kill. Dolphins fans are raising their hands. Like, no, we have the best one-two punch. Berrios is whatever to me as your slot, but maybe an upgrade. Tight ends a little bit of a hole, I guess. But most are Jeff Wilson. Maybe they end up with Dalmacook. I look at it and maybe I'm putting a little too much on that one-two punch at wide receiver, but hot damn, that is some one-two punch. Speed kills. It's awesome. And in retrospect, maybe I shouldn't have the Vikings ahead of them. But you mentioned it. The third receiver in tight end. That's two positions that seem a little below average to me. So it didn't quite

match up with these other teams. Okay. That's fair. That's fair. I'm looking at it again. Maybe I should tone that down. By the way, Tyreek Hill is involved with issues with the law once again, an altercation in which he's accused of, I think, slapping somebody in the head. It's unclear if it's going to lead to any charges at this point. But the, the dolphins are aware of it. the league's aware of it. Tyreek Hill, keep your damn nose clean, brother. Come on now. Keep an eye on that situation if it becomes something bigger. The Cincinnati Bengals coming at number three on our list. Two for Mark, three for Greg, six for Dan. I think the only reason, two things I wanted to talk about the Bengals of this. First of all, Joe Mixon, we don't even know if he's on the team, but even if he's

not on the team, he's no longer Joe Mixon. It appears, anyway, based on his play. last year and then the only other thing i want to kind of keep an eye on here like i want jamar 2021 back before i'm ready to crown the bangles wide receivers as the best triplets in the league i just thought like if you kind of examined his season a little bit closer last year he was just not and i know there was an injury but i'm factoring kind of before and after the injury he was not nearly as explosive in terms of playmaking. And then, you know, I kind of looked at his stats because that's how it felt. And sure enough, he actually had more catches, 87 catches, but he had nearly 500, 450 yards less.

His yards per reception dropped from 18 to 12, which is pretty substantial. So in general, he was much more of a possession receiver in year two compared to year one where he was just blowing up the league and running through and passed and around guys. I'd love to see that guy again and feel like he is super duper star Jamar Chase. I don't think he was last year. Well, I mean, there's, I think a couple things like the injury factor. The way that teams were no longer surprised by him on a level and had another offseason to plan for him, T. Higgins becoming a genuine star.

I hear you, I hear what you're saying, but I think that we're going to get that player back. Where I almost, I put them in number two, but I have to say that that's hoping that like the tight-end position isn't a complete fail because there's just there's not a lot going on there and if you got a lower version of chase they would not be the number of the second best offensive skill position group in this exercise right they're hoping irv smith is is the dude at tight end uh and and we'll see i thought you know pound for pound i'd take them as the best three receiver group in the league i think that you made a really interesting point we've never talked about that with chase he did have more yards per game though and i guess i look at it like

he found a way to be extremely productive. He was still like a top five or six guy in terms of yards per game. You know, he missed five games. So the total yardage was down. And he did it in a different way and you want him to get back to be an explosive. But he still found a way to really impact every single game. Do you know how his yards per game is only higher because the targeting was relentless? I mean, he played just 12 games and was still targeted more times than he was targeted in 17 games.

Right. But that's when he take what the defense gives you. They adjusted. you're right, it was shorter and that's less exciting. But Higgins, I mean, Higgins to me is a top 15 receiver. I just love Higgins. So the fact that two of them are on the same team and you have a great number three in Boyd, it was just too much. It overwhelmed everything else for me.

I guess, yeah, I just want to make it clear. I'm not like down on Chase. I just thought like it was, he felt more like Justin Jefferson in year one and then year two just felt a little different. His yards per target also was down from 11.4 to 7.8. So it was just a little bit different. I'm curious to see what it looks like in year three for Jamar Chase. All right.

Now we're into the number two team. And it is the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles we all love, Mark, you had them at three. Greg and I had them at two. And what else has to be said, Greg? I mean, you did. And I gave you a shout down on Twitter, Greg. Your projected starter series is great resource for things like this.

And you just look at their both sides of the ball, really, but the offense, too. They just have done such a great job building up every area of their team in the salary cap era. It's hard not to be jealous as a fan of a different team. Right. Like the Bengals, I said, are the best three receiver group, wide receiver. But the Eagles are the best three pass catcher group. Brown, Devonta, Goddard, to me are all, you know, God mode. Goddard's so underrated.

He leads the league and yards after the catch per, you know, per catch over the last couple of years, which is crazy. And I love Devante. And the running back room has enough players between Swift and Gainlaw and Penny. They think they'll be fine. So they're awesome. And you mentioned that on Twitter. I wish I could have responded, but I've been locked out of my Twitter account for a week and a half. Why?

What have you? I had two-factor authentication. You know, they told us sign up for the old two-factor. and then I got a new phone at work. They erased the old phone. The second factors go to the old phone. So, you know, I've contacted Twitter customer service and whatnot. It's a ghost town over there.

If anyone works at Twitter and wants to somehow help me out. That goes, that number goes straight to like Elon Musk's burner phone for his side piece. So I don't know. I might be done. That account might be done. I've tried every troubleshooting thing possible. I'm logged out. And I don't know.

It's just I. You know, we work for. For a $15 billion company, Greg, we have the strong arm of the shield. Do you want to maybe get them on the case to try to help you? Greg, yeah, because Greg, I've had these issues before. And like our social team has actually jumped in and been great social team. This is a unique one and they're helping and I think they're going to get it done. But yeah, I was looking at it.

Maybe it's a sign I'm about to go to Japan. Would it be the worst thing in the world to have like a five week break from Twitter? I haven't I haven't minded the last week and a half. It's been okay. It's been okay. You're not missing a lot on Twitter right now. There's a lot of submarine stuff, a lot of Titanic stuff, a lot of heat wave stuff. Have I mentioned the heat?

The thing I miss the most is live sports. Like, I follow a lot of tennis people. And then when the NBA finals, the game, the game five was on, great game. And I was like, I want to see what's going on. I'd set up a burner account, Greg, and have a second account. I know that was suggested to you last night when we were with Erica and Lakeisha that you just. You know, don't worry about this one. Just start over, start a new one.

He's got like 470,000 followers. Like, I don't think it's going to be that easy to start a new Twitter existence. If we get to training camp and we haven't figured this thing out, that is what I will do. Finally, the number one offense in case you haven't been able to figure it out is. Yes. You know it. The San Francisco 49ers. Mark deep all over the place.

And for me, when I was going through it, the only team that has three true stars. Christian McCaffrey, the best all-round running back in the league. Debo Samuel, the best kind of do-it-all wide receiver in the league. George Kittle, who is a Hall of Fame-level talent who showed last year, he still had a ton left in the tank. And then Brandon Ayyuk, I think, is knocking on the door as like a star in his own right at wide receiver. well i mean you can't beat that i'd throw elijah mitchell in there as a really productive player absolutely kyle use check i mean the one of the only fullbacks that matters anymore do it john jennings has really developed into a nice physical third receiver they've settled on their

third receiver guy this was i mean i'm sure for all of us but i just like i put them at one and didn't never look back it was it was more about where to put the bengals and the eagles but they've consistently um they're star studded and these each of the players have perfect roles they're perfectly used And, I mean, I just say to look at the what you saw, the version we got at Christian McCaffrey. If he stays healthy, I mean, they're almost unstoppable. I think they just baffle defenses. There's no way to, there's no, how do you figure out how to stop them? It doesn't matter who's playing quarterback.

Right. You take this group and you put a great offensive line and a gifted young play caller and Kyle Shanahan. And you just need a serviceable quarterback that can make it all go. And that's, you know, that's the way it's worked. And I wrote about this on NFL.com this week about the 49ers and where. they are right now. Doesn't it feel like the Niners should have a Lombardi trophy or two for the past dozen years?

You had those great teams under Harbaugh and got so close. And now you've had these great teams under Shanahan. They've had six playoff appearances in 12 years, two painful near misses in the Super Bowl. And now here they are again knocking on the door, hoping to get some QB luck. But like the window is open right now with this offensive group because who knows how long you could keep them all together. Well, not only like six.

you know, playoff appearances, they made the conference finals in all six. So they were in the final four six times. Good call. Yeah. That's painful. They got it's true. It's tough to be that team that keeps getting so close. I'd say if you factor in Kyle Shanahan's Super Bowl loss to the Patriots with the Falcons, the coach has been through a lot of January and February disappointment. Like I give him credit. Don't forget about the Rams NFL title game loss two years ago as well. And they keep they keep it's that you don't see a lot of football teams that go through things like that and keep returning year after year. And that says a lot about, to me, a lot about him as a coach. What, that he can't close and he blows it all the time? Well, there's that side. But the other side of the coin is like, you know, Abraham Lincoln lost

an election like 18 times before he won one. So, yeah, he lost at Ford's Theater too. Does that make him a loser? Yeah, he did. That was the ultimate loss. I don't know why you needed to take it in that direction. When did Lincoln Ford's Theater's jokes become not too soon? Like, what was the year? What do you think? Like, 1907, something like that. Yeah, like early 1900s. It was open season on the Ford Theater jokes, like, turn of the century, maybe?

This is what? Like, people are writing letters back and forth, and it's like, you know, Gustavius is sending it. It's like, too soon for that joke, my friend. So I've noticed there's been a real uptick in the last couple of years of like, like 9-11 bits and stuff. And it's like, is that, was that 20 years? Is that what it is?

Maybe it was 1860, 1885? Are there a lot of the track? like 9-11 bits flip like there's a cropping up surprising amount surprising amount on the internet I find I'll throw

I'll send you some memes and things yeah send me some I want to discover what you're looking at um all right inappropriate all of them I say um good stuff Greg you got to catch a bird you're heading to Tokyo

any final thoughts um before let's let's save our pop culture thoughts The show went not surprisingly longer than we expected. So we're going to put those in their back pocket for now. But you could share your thoughts before you catch that bird. You do get this feeling on days like you're about to take a little vacation or you're going overseas and stuff. And you just have that.

It's like a kid-like feeling of excitement. I woke up excited today. You feel grateful for what you have to. We've had a tough off season as a group, but there's no two guys that'd rather be doing this with. We're having fun, and this is a nice time of year for us. We better enjoy it. That was nice, Greg. That was a great statement.

I wish you luck in Japan. I do. Yeah. I'll do a couple shows there, but it won't be for a week and a half. I think one of the big things I took away from COVID in the lockdown year or so, how much not having something to look forward to affected me. You know, whether there was a meet up with friends or a vacation or this or that, when you were just locked in. this like nothing else going on, that is what I miss the most. Like now you're looking forward to this trip to Japan and now you're off.

And finally, last thought, this coming from behind the virtual glass, social psychologist, colon, it takes 36 days after a tragedy before jokes about it become funny. That's not true. 36 days, it is indeed too soon. 36 years, maybe. 36 days, I don't buy that. All right, Greg. With that information, to the Far East with you.

Good luck. All right. And to everybody else, have a great weekend. We'll see you on the other side. Mark, you and me, buddy, with Connie Fox on Tuesday. Let's see you then. Feed the call. Thank you.