NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - The Official 2026 NFL Daily NFL Mock Draft!

Episode Date: April 22, 2026

Gregg Rosenthal and Patrick Claybon reveal the official 2026 NFL Daily Mock Draft! Who falls and who rises? Do the Jets go with Arvell Reese or David Bailey with the second pick? When does Jeremiyah Love get selected? Can we expect a run of linemen selected? All those answers and more! NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I am Greg Rosenthal. I know that, Greg. We're teaming up on 40s and free agents, the podcast that owns the NFL offseason. This is where teams are built.

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Really wins. Open your free IHeart radio app. Search 40s and free agents and listen now. Welcome to NFL Daily where we don't feel confident at all in our RAM selection in the first mock draft going up on NFL Daily. I'm Greg Rosenthal. I'm in the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio with Patrick Claibon and we're doing it for the first time. Yeah. Solo mock draft with my best ESPN employee that I know. Hey, thanks, Greg. Here we go, Patrick. You know, you come back with your shielder on it, and I'd like to say I did both.

I got to stop saying that as an introduction to you. So we've done mock drafts, I guess, in the past. I did like a dueling one with Jordan, where we said what we should do. But I haven't actually dipped into the solo. Here's what I think will happen mock draft, you know, water, until maybe I was at NBC Rotow World a long time back. So I'm excited.

going to spoil Thursday night for you. Yeah. Both versions are instructive as long as the person that is behind the mock draft, clarifies that this is a should versus a will mock draft. And that will give the reader some context or the listener, which we enjoy. This is a will. And

yes, as Patrick smiles to the YouTube crew out there, to the NFL channel crew. We have some news also that popped up throughout the day. The Ravens have some news. Mike Frable spoke to the media. We'll get into that. I thought we'd the news as we hit each player. So let's go on the clock,

number one overall. The most boring part of, I think, every mock draft this year in terms of what, you know, is going to happen. Is Fernando Mendoza going to the Raiders at number one overall, the Indiana kid? And I haven't heard any of your thoughts about Mr. Mendoza throughout the process. So I would like to hear those. Okay. In addition to letting the listeners know an item of news that I either missed when it was first announced or forgot about it entirely, which is that the first draft is getting shorter this year,

first round from 10 minutes to 8 minutes, two less minutes on the clock for every team. It's going to move faster. So only 8 minutes. We'll only have to wait 8, presumably, for them to make this Mendoza pick. Which is very important for the teams who are after the Las Vegas Raiders

to have those hypothetical conversations and clearly play out the if-then statements because you've got two fewer minutes. I think Fernando Mendoza, obviously, it's the best quarterback in this draft. I think we did that many of my thoughts. I feel like he gets dinged

a little bit perception-wise because oddly enough of his posture. I think he had different posture. People will feel differently about this very large man who's very good and a capable quarterback who can move. And he's kind of falling into this

presumptive area where it's just like, oh, okay, well that's going to happen and so he's boring. And like while Cam Ward was lighting the NFL on fire, we had to like constantly make note of like, hey, this guy is fun to watch because the storyline kind of detracted from the fact that this kid is good. No, he he projects to the media speaking like Kirk Cousins, but size wise, he's closer to Andrew

Luck or Matt Ryan or Ben Rathusberger and there are a lot more wow plays than you expect. So I'm looking forward to that with the Raiders. Really looking forward to who they add with him in this draft. We're not going to get to that in this mock because I did not allow trades. It's all by myself. It just seems too confusing. And so the draft feels like it kind of starts at number two. Darren Muzi of the Jets, who's making the picks, along with Aaron Glenn,

talked about the cancellation of the top 30 pick, and that you can have 30 different players visit your facility. They canceled the one with David Bailey, the Texas Tech pass rusher, last week. Got a lot of news, people wondering what that meant. Here's Mugi on that. I would say for us, When we do top 30s, every single player in case is different. Sometimes I want this player to meet with our player engagement department.

Sometimes I want this player to meet with our sports performance. Sometimes it's purely medical. Sometimes it's a recruiting process. Sometimes it's a smokescreen. And in regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine. We went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him, and we were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them. And I wouldn't look too much into a cancellation because there was other ones

that we may have changed as well. I don't usually believe general managers in front of a podium at this time of year at all. And yet I believe that one. I did not take that into account when I chose Arvel Reese going number two overall. So it had nothing to do with David Bailey in this meeting getting canceled, which seemed to spook people. I thought it was Arvel Reese the whole time. I just think he has a higher ceiling. They've talked about getting a little more multiple and dynamic on their defense, which they haven't been in the past.

And to me, Reese fits that better. and I just think he's reasonable minds could disagree, but even if it's not as clear in evaluation, I think he's the player that more NFL teams would be excited. Yeah, if folks were, and I believe if you were more confident in David Bailey specifically, where you know where he's going to be, you know how he's going to play.

I think we have an idea of what he can be as a rusher off the edge with R. Val Rees, it's this world of possibilities for the type of football player you can have, and you want that for the New York Jets. So as opposed to taking, what feels like maybe something that fits better with what AG wants to do in terms of rushing the passer with the front group. It's let's go upside.

And I understand that from your perspective. It's not mine. I'm doing what I think they will do. Do you disagree? I mean, you are allowed to disagree with all these picks. You should. You think they'll take Bailey.

I think they will take it. Okay. It really seems about 50-50 split in terms of the draft next out there and the analysts trying to guess what's going to happen. So the Jets have kept everyone guessing our old co-opening. our old co-worker Peter Schrager pointed out, oh, Jets fans should be happy because the Jets, the building has cut off all leaks as of like Monday.

Before that, they were apparently a leakie. Wait, why should they be happy? They're not talking to the media anymore, that they're not like talking about what they're going to do with their picks as opposed to me. Do we know who the people who were talking about in the past?

In specifics? No, I don't know. Like the front office, you get these little buzz. Apparently no one can guess what's going to happen. I... They lose. is that they'll start talking again. Yeah, I don't think that's going to stick too long.

But for this draft cycle, apparently they stopped talking as of like 72 hours before. Congratulations to them. David Bailey, to me is an easy evaluation. I think he's just a little more boom or bust than what you want this high. And I think, you know, in terms of running downs, he's maybe not going to be a plus player right away. But I did put him on the Cardinals, which I'm not seeing a lot of at the number three overall pick. Now, part of that is I'm thinking about how how, how you're, you're trying to get these mock drafts right or not. If they do trade out, I think David Bailey

or R. Val Rees is a very likely selection at number three overall. Ultimately, I know they have some edge rushers. They could certainly use more. They don't have many proven healthy guys. And there's a lot of talk about tackle. There's a lot of talk about Jeremiah Love. And I'm wondering what you make of that. Going into the draft, like as we rounded the weekend into this week, it suddenly became a thing that Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals was a real deal possibility if they do not trade down. And I feel like a lot of that comes to who are the best football players in this draft? Yes. And we said it over the past few weeks, depending on how you feel, like Jeremiah Love and Caleb Downs are there.

The positional value may not be there for the top 10. So the Arizona Cardinals just need good players. And I think having an impact player at running back, you could see the way that that were particularly ago, especially with an offensive-minded head coach, who's a part of a tree that has featured, you know, some talented guys at the running back position. So it seems to make sense. I would not necessarily lean that direction.

Okay. So you like my Bailey to the Cardinals. I feel like that's not going many places. I kind of am reading all this Jeremiah love talk of, I don't know, it just seems like a smokescreen or it seems like an invitation for a team to possibly trade up. Would the Saints? I mean, it would be the craziest Mickey Loomis move ever to trade up for a running back,

but I think they're really high on love or like to trade up for Arvel Reese, let's say, if he falls to three. I could see the Saints. I could see the commanders. Maybe not a huge trade up, but one of these teams in the top 10. It seems like they're asking people because they don't really want to take the tackle there. I decided to kind of cancel all that out. And if someone's going to be taken there, I think it's Bailey.

It would be difficult for me to evaluate a smoke screen for Monty in Arizona. when like the building is constantly on fire. So like what use is a smoke screen when it's just there's only exclusively smoke? I would say anybody is in play there. But David Bailey, when you look at a defense that was ranked 72 nationally and then coming into last year

when Bailey gets an opportunity to play more, they're a top three scoring defense, the number one rushing defense in the country, he's the best player on that defense. I think he's a good top four player. The best burst of, off the line of scrimmage of anyone in this class. And yeah, they have Zaven Collins, Josh Swett,

B.J. Ojalari, Baron Browning. In theory, that's one of the better position groups that they have on the team. Almost none of those guys are going to matter on this team in terms of like pillars that we're building around in a couple years. And that's what you should be thinking about with the number three overall pick. At four, Tennessee,

there is a lot of Jeremiah Love Talk here. I personally think that Carnell Tate would make a lot of sense. and this is one of the ones I don't feel great about. I can really imagine them taking Carnell Tate, which be a mild surprise. And yet in the end, I went with Sunny Stiles, linebacker, Ohio State, compared to Fred Warner in this process,

Robert Sala has gotten by without necessarily needing high picks at linebacker. And yet he knows how valuable that can be. And we talked about there's only like five or six real deal, blue chip players. This is one of them. I think they would know how to use him. I think it makes sense,

Sunny Stiles to the Titans. It does. I mean, if he's Fred Warner, yeah. Oh, sure. If he's a Hall of Famer, that would work. It works out.

But again, with the Titans where you have so many needs, you know, going best available here makes complete sense and you can make a case at Sunny Styles. Right.

And linebacker is a little different than running back. Look, you take Jeremiah Love third overall, for instance, he's the highest paid line of running back in the league, which is something I think you should at least think about.

Linebacker, it is a bigger difference. You're saving more money in theory by taking a wide receiver here. And if you have a real deal wide receiver. But linebacker, the price has been going up lately, especially, you know, with some of the guys who rush the passer, I don't know if Sunny style is going to do a lot of that, but it would be fun to see them use him maybe in the secondary, a little versatility for the former safety.

At five, the first of two giants picked. I went with Caleb Downs. Ohio State. What do you think? Yeah. A team... A team that has been disastrous in deep past defense for years now. Has had a severe need in the secondary in general. You know, one of the better players in this draft.

If you love Arvel Reese, if you love Sunny Stiles, you love what Ohio State was able to do on defense, that was their best defensive player. And he's a big part of why they were able to do those things. And I think it makes total sense. Ali put it well. Caleb Downs was kind of the centerpiece slash best player of the Alabama defense under Nick Sabin. You know, he was the guy, like as a freshman.

True freshman. And then he goes to the next best defense in the country, and he's kind of the guy there. And I've heard a lot of talk about Harbaugh wanting to set a tone. And I do wonder, like, what is a John Harbaugh pick? Because obviously he's involved in Baltimore, very involved. Is he going to be similar to the Ravens? or is it going to be different? Because I don't think he had the biggest voice in choosing players there,

but I think he does have the biggest voice here. And something about Harbaugh tells me, I think one thing he'll bring from Baltimore is, I think he'll be happy to be looking for doubles, triples, you know, in addition to like home runs. Obviously, Caleb Downs can be a home run, but maybe he's not worried about the positional value of it all. But the tie would probably go to like a big lineman.

I just don't know if, for instance, Rubin Bain or any of the offensive linemen would make. make sense there. For me, I was kind of deciding between in this particular mock between him and Carnell Tate because they could absolutely use a wide receiver. People like, oh, they have Malik neighbors. Yeah, you need more than one. It's pretty dire after Belich neighbors. Yeah, and you might not have Malik at a certain point until this season. So yeah. So I could absolutely see Tate in this scenario being the pick there, but I'm going Caleb Downs. And that does leave the most chalk pick I have so far, which is Carnell Tate

to the Cleveland Browns. It feels chalky. You know, doing path was, you know, Steve Smith adamant and that he doesn't think Carnell Tate will be there Steve Smith, Sr., you know, as if I needed to clarify. Does not think Carnell Tate will be there.

But. Because the Titans or the Giants would take it. Just between the teams that have those options with, you know, young quarterbacks with perhaps a need. I know. I already am doubting myself. But again, no, trades here. The pick is chalky because, you know, they've wanted a shot at one of these Ohio State

receivers. Josh Gordon in 2013 was the last time the Cleveland Browns drafted a wide receiver that had a thousand yards receiving for them. So yeah, it makes perfect sense. In this, in this draft, I think it's obvious. I don't think they would take one of the offensive linemen over Carnell Tate. Somehow, I believe both that in my mock and the fact that if you gave me the over under Cardinal Tate five and a half does he go before that? I still kind of think yes. And then yet that's between the Titans and the Giants. Like maybe one of them does it.

And I just slightly believe styles to the Giants down to the, I mean, styles to the Titans, down to the Giants, and then Tate to the Browns. We said we'd handle some news during the show. And I just wanted you to know, I was looking at some practice reports today and even some videos. The Cleveland Browns were doing team drills on a football field. There it is. Happy April. I don't think it's too early to say football's back.

I mean, that's it, right? Yeah. They're playing football. It started. If we're doing pitchers and catchers reporting, whenever that happens. People are talking about who are the first team left tackle? Who's getting the first team left tackle reps? I already forget because Duane Jones was hurt.

But you know who was first up at quarterback for what it's worth? Dador Sanders. Shadur Sanders. I don't think it's. I don't think it's nothing. Nothing. Not nothing. It's not that much.

because I don't think Deshawn Watson is fully held. I don't know. Who knows? I did see Dylan Gabriel's first pass of team drills was intercepted, which actually felt mean to point out. Confirmed. The commanders are taking Jeremiah Love, running back. Notre Dame.

Do you think the Saints, in this scenario, get on the phone with the commanders and say, what do you need to just move up one pick? going to tell you who we're taking. They could probably guess. And everyone's like, wait, don't they, didn't they just signed Travis CTN? Like, yeah, I don't think that matters.

I think they just, they would like to have a big weapon. Well, yeah. If, if. Isn't Alvin Camero on the roster? Yes. That doesn't matter. If Adam, if Adam Peters picks up the phone and it's Mickey

and he's making this offer without telling them, I feel like Adam Peters would say, okay, you know, maybe we can get some draft capital. Mickey's coming up to get an edge or somebody else that's fallen. I don't think that the idea would be that after the E.T.N. signing, which they kind of had to pay a premium to keep him out of Denver, in my opinion. Because if Jeremiah loves on the board, I'm sprinting.

If I'm the commanders, like no conversation. Let's get them here. Yeah, I'm Saints Block Party podcast, Pilled. And they've been on the, you know, Saints Love, Love. Train. Although, a lot of people love love. I think a lot. I love love.

Number one overall on a lot of boards, just overall boards. And in this draft, he falls to seven. Now, on this very podcast, three weeks ago, three, four weeks ago, we were making the case. We don't think it's that crazy if the Cardinals considered slash took him at three. And now that's become a little more consensus. In the end, I couldn't quite pull that trigger. And I think the commanders would take them here. And that leaves.

Ruben Bain for the Saints. Not, you know, usually they kind of have a specific profile in terms of big and tough and strong. Ruben Bain is, is strong, he's tough. He's obviously great stopping the run. I think he plays in the style that the Saints like doesn't have, you know, the measurables necessarily, uh, in terms of arm length, obviously. And, and some others that they, they're usually kind of a, they have certain profiles that you need to hit. And yet, I just think he gives them what they need.

And there's only so many real deal top shelf premium pick prospects. I think he's one of them and he's just not going to last. Yeah, he plays with the massive arm brace, you know, flexion and extension or two different ways that a joint can move. I think if he had a little more extension, maybe his arm length would go crazy. Nobody blocked him all season long. Wait, you think his arms would be longer if he wasn't wearing a brace?

No, I think clearly there's been some collective trauma related to at least one of his arms that maybe could get him a quarter of an inch or more, which is important in circumstances. When looking at him play football, there was nobody that consistently could stop him from doing what he wanted to do on the football field to a, I think, a Miami team with talent, but not the level of talent that they went through

to get to where they were in the national championship game and be within 10 minutes of beating Indiana. He's the biggest reason for that. So, yeah, who cares about the arm later? Yeah, I think the Saints are good at tackle. You know, they're not going to be considering tackle. Now, they could consider Benga Yuanay. They love taking offensive linemen.

And I know that their fans are kind of sick of them taking offensive linemen. But to me, Cesar Ruiz is not a long-term plan. It has been for them. So that wouldn't be that. It's already been a long-term plan. Right. He got a huge second contract because they were trying to make that pick look backer. better. So I don't think that's that crazy. And then I think they're the first team where we get into

okay, could they take Jordan Tyson? Could they take Mackay Lemon? The commanders could be that team too. Like could they value wide receiver overtaking Jeremiah Love as well? I think either of these teams it wouldn't be that big of a shock. I don't think they're reporting on Rubin Bain's citation with with the police necessarily. We'll knock him down a few spots, but it could be a tiebreaker when you're talking about him versus a wide receiver in this spot. But you feel okay with Ruben Bain up there. Yeah, I do. Impact defensive player that people can enjoy it, appreciate.

You already got the plus on the offensive side add to the defense this year. So the chiefs are there at nine, and they have a million needs, which is a weird thing to say about the chiefs. They could take the first cornerback off the board. They could even take the second safety because we got some good ones in this. this class. They could absolutely look at Jordan Tyson. They could look at Casey Concepcion at White Ridge. They could look at Kenyon Sadiq, just weapon. I have them taking an offensive lineman, and it's not the biggest screaming need, and yet we have heard as the process has gone along, Andy Reed just, that's what keeps them up at night, protecting Patrick Mahomes. And so I have

them taking Francis Maui Noah from Miami. tackle and you have more there, Jalen Moore, who they signed on the last year of his contract, a two-year deal at right tackle. So maybe Maui Noah plays inside at guard. Maybe, you know, they'll figure out who's the right right tackle there and who's the right guard. But either way, I think it's upgrading your offensive line and it's more of a long-term solution. They're thinking we're not going to be here that often. So it could be wide receiver that they think we might be able not to get a wide receiver prospect. Do you think I aired here

in going tackle over wide receiver? No, I don't. I do, I did enjoy you having the Saints say, you know, sucks to the arm length debacle. Spencer Fano just gets blasted out of, you know, potential spot

at number nine, and we've got Maui Goa, because I think that's because you have some arm length tackle personal trauma that you're working. Spencer Fano, And a lot of people are connecting him with the chief specifically because of the Utah connection. There's two Utah offensive linemen.

And Fano is a somewhat similar eval to Maui Noah in that some people think maybe he would be better at guard. I'm thinking more like bulk. But athleticism, I mean, you don't love that they're leading with some of these guys that, well, he could move inside. but Maui Noah's kind of been the consensus first offensive linemen off the board and I guess I wasn't ready to veer off that. Well, yeah, and in a lot of projections, the reason that it's ending up with Fano to the Chiefs

is because Maui Noah is going earlier. Yes. And so that's kind of impacting the way folks see things. But you want to tackle, the play tackle. They've been relatively cheap at that tackle spot since they won a Super Bowl. And yeah, go ahead and spend on it. who get the best available one.

And you got Josh Simmons last year who they love, but missed some time last year too, and you want two young tackles. I just don't think Jaylen Moore is a guy that, like, you're planning your entire future. And they had to bet on upside with the injury concern for him. And that was still taking him at 32.

We've basically, yeah, reached the point of the draft where, man, it is tough, where all these teams can go in a million different directions. And then once you make one choice, the rest of the board just falls apart completely differently depending on that one choice.

Because I could easily see the chiefs taking Jordan Tyson here at 9, and then that changes what happens after. Maui know is available for other teams. Tyson's off the board, which is going to change things. There's only so many premier talents. But ultimately, one of the reasons I wanted to take this mock draft and do it myself was to have certain picks that I just see, that I feel strong about.

I want to stand on the table for him. And one of them is that the Giants will get Vanga, Yuane. You want to draft him with the Giants at number 10 overall from Penn State, top guard on the board. And when they made this trade, and immediately the Jordan Tyson rumors started to the Giants, and there's other talk, they really like the Ohio State players in general.

They want to kind of set up their culture with maybe these Ohio State defenders. and in this case, they don't have the option because they took one earlier and the other two were off the board before they even had number five. This just feels like a Giants pick to me. This feels like what they would want to do. And when they made that trade, I can actually see them imagine, oh, we know you want to, he's going to be there.

Yeah. But they already got a guard. They got Daniel Filet, Greg. That's a good. Draft your guards to play guard. You know, I believe, if you feel confident, like it's, there's no discussion among anybody like who's the best guard in the draft it's him

and so yeah if you need a guard you play in a guard I've asked around different different people some are affiliated with teams and some are just the draft nix and I just feel like league sources there's some players in this draft that everyone agrees on there's not that many actually Reese should be that guy

I think some teams see Reese a little differently to me like in terms of just crazy blue chip talent though I'd throw Reese in there. Everyone seems to agree on Sunny Stiles, right? I think everyone agrees on Jeremiah Love. And then after that, I think it's Yawne. Now, it's just how high do you want to take a guard? I think there's more disagreement about Sunny Stiles or David Bailey or even Carnell Tate of like,

where do these guys slot in? Where as with Yuanne, I mean, it just seems like it's an agreement in general there. All right, let's take a quick break. That is our top 10. I'm feeling good about it. You should. I said I was rooting for people that to just be wrong on draft day. And so now I'm rooting against myself.

Diacotomy. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind. And now, I've got my own show. So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies available on all TSN platforms in the IHeartRadio app. I'm Daniel Jeremiah.

And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stopped. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the Combine, the NFL draft, Pro Days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money.

On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how. real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move? We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Yeah, absolutely.

It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Back on NFL Daily. you're listening to us. Maybe you're watching us.

Maybe you'd like to watch us right after the NFL draft. Jordan Roderig and myself live on YouTube. After Pick 32, come check us out, spend some time. Patrick would have to have you there. We couldn't secure your services this time around, but we want your viewership. No, you'll have it, Greg.

You'll have it. Oh, I've got it. I'll have a big ice tank. Okay. I didn't know if you were, you know, wanted to reveal, you know, medical information, HIPAA laws and whatnot. No, it's okay. It's not a violation if I tell.

That's what I was waiting for you. You know, if somebody's reporting and they give a chart, that would be a HIPAA violation. But yeah, I'm having knee surgery on Thursday, which is the draft night. Hey. And then eight weeks later, I will try to sign a contract with the Baltimore rape. That's great. Just too much, too much pickup. back in the day, maybe for Patrick.

Just hours a day. Putting people to work on the pavement. It's not good for the knees. It's bad for you. Let's go to Miami. Let's talk about a team that in theory, and there's a lot of these players in this draft, injury risk, high ceiling players.

It's the first draft of John Eric Sullivan, the new GM. Would they consider, like, really swinging for the fences? Jermad McCoy's got, injury concerns, but maybe the number one cornerback if he was healthy. Jordan Tyson has some injury concerns. He's available. I decide no.

Neither one of those. I go Mansour Delane, the cornerback out of LSU, first cornerback off the board for Miami. What do you think of that thought process here, Patrick? Well, yeah, it's unfortunate that, you know, the concerns about injury would drive two, two players away from a team that wants to draft them a couple of different positions that kind of going because you're losing you're losing draft value off of, you know, your concerns about what might happen to somebody. But I think Mansour Delane, you could easily make the case, you know, even with a healthy Ramad McCoy, could be the CB1 in this draft,

the value position. So you go ahead, take them right at the start of the teens. Right. I think that the longer this process went on, the more I like Delane and the more he actually fit the profile to me of a guy that gets taken first at cornerback in plenty of drafts. So you don't have the injury concerns. I mean, I think he's a higher ceiling maybe than he's been given credit for. And the floor is very, he is an exciting player to watch. And if you look at the history of what the Packers did in terms of the players that they added, certainly defensive line could make sense here, but I didn't think it was like as good

of a fit. So to me, it really came down to Tyson or Delane. And I thought Delane was just like a little bit cleaner and definitely a huge position I need. The wide receiver is for the dolphins. Stay tuned there. My first big curveball here of the entire draft, I would say. I have the Cowboys taking Tyson.

Just feels like a Cowboys type of move. They'll feel like the value. He's been talked up all week that he could even go in the top 10. I'm not quite buying the Giants smoke or the Chief Smoke. though they wouldn't be shocked. And the Cowboys fans who are just expecting defense, defense, defense, I think the way that this board fell, like, they could, you know, think about Dieneman. That's an option at safety for them.

But Caleb Downs is not on the board for them. And I think they just go best player available and they think that player is Jordan Tyson. It's completely rational. Oh, yeah, to me, which, you know, could be a concern for how you evaluate the pick afterwards. because you have to look at the board. I understand saying, well, they got to have defense. Who's available on the board? And the size, the speed in and out of the brakes, the explosiveness,

people ding the injuries. Everybody on earth has a collarbone. Like, if you play football. I think it's the hamstring. Because he wasn't able to stay healthy within games last year and throughout the draft process. So that's just like the last thing people saw. Yeah. Okay.

Anybody can have a hamstring strain at any given moment. Guys miss with the hamstrings all the time. Like, is it intact? Yeah. Is it still there? I think there's like, you can miss on any number of players for any number of reasons. But I think Jordan Tyson at this spot would be the best player available. Okay.

And I don't agree with that. But I also am doing what I think they will do, not what they should do. And this just feels Cowboysie to me. You know, that the guy that they're going to stop a lot. just a little bit of a fall, the big swing, create a little drama too with George Pickens on the roster still. Maybe Pickens is not long for Dallas. It creates drama?

Well, I think among the media and whatnot, yes, I think so. I think keeping C.D. Lamb, George Pickens, as happy with their role as possible, would be a trickier endeavor with Jordan Tyson also on the roster. I think it was already a little bit of a tricky endeavor sometimes. I just, I don't, I don't understand the perception there. I think that's the case of all real deal wide receivers. And George Pickens has kind of shown he's an all pro wide receiver.

And I think everyone just wants the ball. I think it's productive. But I think you better be winning or just people are going to want the ball more. As long as, as DAC is in Dallas, like these guys on the outside are going to get enough opportunity. I think they're going to throw the ball enough where it's not like a situation where disgruntled wide receiver because he's getting three or four targets a game. I think, like in terms of actual things that George Pickens did to negatively impact the Cowboys last year. No, I don't think there was that, but I think it's a multi-year. I just think looking at receiver groups over the years that

you want to keep it, you want to, people like to have roles. And I, and I do think there was, was like a little bit of like, well, who's the one, one a there? And I think that can work, but it can only work like maybe for so long. And so maybe in this scenario, George Pickens is a very tradable asset next year. And that's fine. Yeah. It's a lot harder to make that work in the one one and who's getting the best targets and who's getting the best opportunity when the quarterback is bad. Bear. When it's, when you have this situation, nobody's better like the Rams can do it. The Cowboys can do it. Like, if other teams have the capacity to get the talent at wide receiver, I think they

would do it too. Like, you know, the Bengals, they have an okay time with it. If the quarterback's good, everybody's good. Fair. T. Higgins, you know, he got his money, though. He knows his role, like, they have roles. I also don't think you can rule out tackle for the Cowboys. I know we spend a lot of time in the Cowboys.

I feel like no one is giving tackle to them. And yet, why am I blanking? Terrence Steele is their right tackle. That's not really like a long-term solution. And this is a team that just loves to take offensive linemen. And they've done a good job. with it. But there's nobody named Tyler they can draft. There's no Tyler's, but they

could take a tackle. My least favorite pick of the mock draft is Monroe Freeling, the Georgia tackle to the Rams. This feels a little closer to what I think they should do rather than what I think they will do. I think the Rams are in an interesting

group of teams. And we'll just talk kind of bigger picture here a while you look at some Monroe Freeling tape. And I think late in the process, like he is, a pure tackle. I think the ceiling is very high for him. I think long-term Warren McClendon at

right tackle is not really a solution. Even Alarick Jackson at left tackle, they have him under contract. Now, they've gotten by with lesser, like, premium talent and it tackles, which is why I don't fully believe this in my heart. And yet, it was messing up the rest of my

draft whenever I would change this pick. And so I just decided to keep freeling. But I like the Rams to potentially move up. Maybe for Tyson, maybe for a, you know, someone else that I'm not thinking of. And I think they are in a group of teams around this area that we've talked about. The Saints is where it starts. The Chiefs, Cowboys, are a group of teams that I think could be the teams to trade up,

where it's like we're not having to trade up from the second round, but there's only, like I said, five or six real deal guys in this class, and I could see them moving up to five or six, maybe even for Carnell Tate. I don't know what it would be, but I could see the Rams being active with this pick or even being active for a veteran. I mean, we knew they were in on A.J. Brown. Like, could they use this pick for some veteran out there? I think if they, whatever the preparatory conversation is coming into Thursday night, if the board shakes out like this, I don't think the Rams would make this pick at 30. I know. I know. I don't really believe it either. I don't know why I'm doing it.

Well, no, it's not necessarily a player. I don't know if they would pick anybody at 13. Right. I think, like, is Brian Thomas? junior potentially available? Is there another young or medium young wide receiver that that could be available that they would go after? But considering that other teams might feel the same way. And so I think if the Rams feel like this is a possibility, perhaps that's a trade that happens prior to, you know, pick number five. Yeah. Something like that. Yeah. I could see that. And oh, that would be fascinating if like the Giants traded down a, uh, in addition to having 10 and just like kept stockpiling.

I think this is a draft where that would make sense. Let's listen to Les Sneed, by the way. We had a press conference on Tuesday asked about a report from NFL Network's Ian Rappaport that the Matthew Stafford contract was coming together. Matthew was there as well yesterday. Has there been any progress on a contract extension or reworking of his contract? Progress has been made. Do you have a timeline for when you think that might get done?

No timeline But don't expect any Any drama per se It's about as confident And clear as the Rams Are ever going to be talking about the contract You see the smile on McVeigh's face? Yeah, that he didn't have to answer the question

Or maybe just happy that Matthew Stafford's on his football team I think he's just happy in general I think I think he's just in a good spot I agree I agree and I think those rumors about Remember McVey was talking about maybe going to the booth a few years ago. I think now he's in it to win it.

Not just having Stafford, but he's just there. Yeah. You Stafford. I think in hindsight, that was very gifted negotiation. Okay. And using the tools at your disposal to acquire compensation. We'll be interesting to see on the Stafford contract if they give them guaranteed money into 2027, if it's significant. Because there is certainly a route.

where he is playing football for the Rams in 2027. I don't necessarily view this as some last hurrah for Matthew Stafford, but interesting reveal there. So we have Munro Freeling from Georgia tackle. I think a lot of people's number one tackle. There's a lot of disagreement, but late in the process, I think a lot of teams like them. I think it would make sense for them,

even if they haven't prioritized a position like that in the past. That leaves your Ravens on the board. Yuanay is gone. Jordan Tyson is gone. I think those would be two popular picks to the Ravens, Instead, I give him Kenyan Sadiq the tight end out of Oregon. Do you think I successfully got into the mind of Eric Dacosta in this draft room, given what's come before in this draft?

Well, I think, you know, Eric Dacosta gave us a little insight into his mind with regards to what the plan was at Edge, you know, to have two veterans. Playing at Edge, you know, the options necessarily aren't there. I have some tackles and guards that I would probably feel more confident with, but you've got an explosive playmaker at the tight end position that you could get the ball to. And so, yeah. Give me a name. Give me a name.

Who would you take a tackle? Because in my gut, that does make sense that they're not going to be at this point in the draft that often. In this particular mock, they have an ability to take the third tackle off the board in a pretty deep first round of tackle. So who do you think would maybe be there to? Fano would be the option for me, a guy who can, you know, you go from, and again, you know, not to dwell on the Folleli of it all, but you had a large player that could not necessarily make plays in space. And you have a, you know, a running back going to the Hall of Fame and one of the better running quarterbacks in the history of the league where you need people to be able to make those plays in space.

And, yeah, Spencer Fano can do that. Daniel Fulayle, a guard who played with the Ravens in his rookie contract, now a member of the New York Giants mentioned twice on this show. And you said not to, you know. I am dwelling. You are dwelling. Did you know his contract terms were revealed on Tuesday? I was looking those up as I was talking.

You ready to learn them? One year, $1.2 million. So I don't think that would prevent the Giants, for instance, from going for a friend. No, no, I wouldn't. And, you know, I was being condescending with the idea of, you know, them being solved there at the decision. But really, like, I understand wanting to acquire playmakers. But I think to simplify things in a new offense to keep your quarterback upright to improve the protection up front.

That's logical. I think it sounds like something the Ravens might do. Then again, they haven't been afraid of, like, just taking the guy they think is the best player. And to me, I don't think Kenyon and Sadiq's been undersold. But in a class where I don't see a lot of players. that look like potential future all pros, pro bowlers? I think Sadiq is that guy. I think he's got a high floor.

To me, his comp is Isaiah likely, but you like him better. Like a guy who absolutely does the work as a blocker, even in college and has the want to to be able to stay on the field and that the ceiling for him as a receiver is really, really exciting. And they've built this offense, and I know it's a changing offense right now, but you look at what their offensive line, their offensive coordinator did with the Bears last year.

And that's part of my thinking, too, is they need a tight end. Mark Andrews is there, and Declan Doyle's going to want one. And, man, I think he could be a real nice foundation piece for a while. All right, I'm sold. I'm in. And, man, when you see him, like, just running up the seam,

I think he could be what Isaiah likely did, but better. And then the ceiling, if he got to his full potential, would be really exciting. The Bucks are on the board next, struggled with this one. I do think they need to take an edge for need. I don't think tackle makes sense. Receiver certainly doesn't make sense.

Safety makes less sense to me. And so I went with Akeem Massador, the edge out of Miami. Feel like his stock has fallen a little bit as the draft process has gone on, but a pretty complete edge with a lot of moves, older prospect, and ultimately,

I thought about Malachi Lauren. here, but I went with Messador as the 15th row pick. Yeah, I kind of got overshadowed by everything his teammate did on the other side of the line, but a solid player, one that could excel, right? And a bowl's defense. He's like the K-Dotten of edges. And I mean that as a compliment.

Just I think you're going to get really good 50, 60 snaps a game and potentially be a plus starter, which in this class at this spot, I think is a good one. The Jets are, next at wide receiver. Or at number 60. Doesn't have to be wide receiver, but I think

based on the fact I got Arvel Reese first, I think the way that this draft shapes up, I think they're going to have their choice of some really intriguing wide receivers. Initially, I had them taking Casey Concepcion here, but again, I had to think about what I think they will do,

not what they should do. I think either any of their options here at wide receiver are pretty good, but I actually think they're more likely to take Mackay Lemon as kind of the trusty compliment to Garrett Wilson in a class where like it's okay to get a quote unquote number two receiver who's going to be making plays over the middle of the field. I think Concepcion can do that too, but a little more risk there.

And I think this is a group that just wants players that can step in and make an immediate impact. That's McKay Lemon. Yeah. You want to be, have the ability to exceed to succeed at these areas of the field. And Mackay does add that. terms of, I would say one of the better slots. I don't actually think it's close. I think he's the best slot in this draft class.

And the way that Garrett primarily is playing on the outside, you could sometimes line him up in the same spot and, you know, have Gino, beat him with targets. You're good about the Jets. Maybe not as explosive, you know, as some of the, you know, as Concepcion specifically or even Denzel Boston is an interesting

thought exercise, but it's a little early for that. But he just seems like a trusty pick that the Jets would feel really good about at 16. At 17, the lions are up. They've got their option based on the board for a lot of positions. They could use edge. They, I think,

will be looking at the offensive line, but they have a few more needs than you would expect. They could think about the secondary as well. But I have them taking Blake Miller, the tackle out of Clemson. I believe Jordan Rodriguez described him as a dirtbag or something, but in a positive way, I think certain teams are going to really

like him, and he just seems to fit what the lions want to do, Blake Miller out of Clemson. Going ahead of a couple more highly touted tackles, I think it's going to be a little unpredictable how the tackles fall here. Yeah, well, I think you know, some of the touting,

specifically with guys like Fano and Proctor, Lomu, like, they're coming. It's going to have, it feels difficult to see Blake Miller leaping on. all of them. Okay. You know, there's a reason those guys. But it's just one team. And what part of the reason I did it too is like the

lions always just throw, like they see players their own way. And I could see them being like Blake Miller, that's our kind of guy. We don't care about what the consensus says. We don't care about what mock draft live says. What do they know? Well, it's the not caring in relation to the players

athletic explosiveness, right? Okay. Like when those guys are Jemir Gibbs or, you know, or Jack Campbell even. Yeah. It's guys that are really, really, they can move. Okay. In comparison to some of these other guys, I don't know, not to, you know, be dismissive.

We've already called them. No, I want you to be dismissive. I'm not dismissive of Blake Miller. No, I want you be dismissive of me. Well, no, that's never going to go. I've told you that's my love language. I want the Vikings fans to come after me for giving them CJ Allen at linebacker, the Georgia product going at 18.

It took me a while to get around the fact that CJ Allen consensus board wise, is not that popular. And yet, man, what a fit. I think he would be for a Brian Flores' defense. The question here is, is Kevin O'Connell now kind of running the draft room or helping to run the draft room in an even more meaningful way, gonna let Flores and whoever is making this decision with him, Brzezinski take a defensive player?

If so, I think C.J. Allen's a great pick. Yeah, what's the safest thing for everybody involved? and I think that's to let Kevin O'Connell make the selections that Kevin O'Connell wants to be able to go up there at the podium and feel comfortable about it and go to all the parties

and not necessarily be ousted after a trip to the senior bowl. So yeah, I would lean offensive here. But C.J. Allen, right? I know. Not necessarily seen because people want, you know, playing off the edge and being involved in the past game

and all these other things from linebacker, but it's okay to just be a linebacker, and C.J. Allen is that. And there's a value to it. Shout out to Ernest Jones. I think he could go to the Texans at 28, certainly. This might be wish casting, because I think wide receiver is more likely there

than people have been recognizing Concepcion in this particular draft. Especially after the Naylor departure. Right. Could be an option. I think right tackle is a very strong option here. Brian O'Neill maybe getting towards the end of his career, entering a contract year so they could think ahead

on the offensive line. That wouldn't be surprising. Thinaman has been the safety from Oregon, a popular mock spot. But I didn't take any of them. I have to admit, I looked around at some mocks

on Tuesday morning. And Floreo, who doesn't really get into the draft stuff, but has an inside voice and just window into what the Vikings, particularly, as a Vikings fan over the years.

He had C.J. Allen going there, And I was like, ooh, my favorite player just about in this class, going in my perfect spot for him. And their biggest insider fan in the media has him going there too. Maybe I'll just jump on that train. Let's go. Let's go to the Panthers. This is where I finally have Concepcion going Carolina. Look, he went to NC State, local product, relatively, and then went to Texas A&M.

And I just think they need offense. I think Sadiq, if he fell, would be a positive. popular idea to the Vikings or the Panthers in this 1819 window. But in my mock, I have it being Concepcion, my favorite player in the draft, helping out your boy, Bryce Young. Yeah. And I understand the idea, the want to get some speed at that spot. They felt confident in their receivers in the past.

There's some defensive players on board specifically. I think they could help with the run. like Cassius Howl, Keldrick Falk. Keldrick Falk, I could see. Where, you know, especially because Falk's, you know, superpowers is against the run. And that's a place that the Panthers have an obvious need. Now is that are we splitting hairs with the value of Falk like at 19, maybe? But also, what are we doing if that's the case?

No, I don't think so. I'm maybe not as high on him and I'm letting that impact where he goes in this mock. He does go later in the first round. But no, I think once you get past the Cowboys Rams area, it's up for grabs. I don't think there's that big of a difference between pick 13 and pick 30 in this class. And so I don't think for the most part, there's going to be guys who are taking too high, too low. I just think it's a great fit, Concepcion. I think he has an incredibly high ceiling and he's going to be open.

I think a decent comp for him is former Panther DJ Moore. And like if you could sign up for DJ Morgan as a Panthers fan, I think you would do it. I know it's a totally different regime, different needs and whatnot, but I think they need a receiver. That leaves the Cowboys on the board. And that leaves them with a pick I considered at 12, which is Dylan Thineman. We take the safety from Oregon by way of Purdue off the board. Christian Parker, their new defensive coordinator, has done good work with versatile safeties. He's a guy you can play in the slot.

you can play him deep. You certainly need secondary help. I thought of going back-to-back picks in the secondary for the Cowboys end up with just one, but I think they'd be really happy if this is out of the board fell. Yeah, I think a lot of teams would be really happy with Deeneman. You know, he played a lot in the box in safety, but if you go back and look at Purdue,

he's really on the back end directing traffic flying around, kind of limiting that back third of the field. And so, yeah, I could see him in a lot of spots. The Cowboys will be very happy. I think maybe even get him at 12. I think it's possible that he does go at 12. The Cowboys are going to have to think about like, all right, when we're taking 12, what other position do we think is going to be available?

And so I got into their minds at 12. And since I was in every team's minds, I thought, hmm, Thineman might be there. Or someone in the secondary would be there. I just thought it would, they have to look at it. Like, safetys generally fall in these drafts. and hope that someone, or maybe even a cornerback, would be available at 20.

They could always look at Avion Thorell. They could look at Jermad McCoy. That is someone I had actually initially in this slot, Patrick, in my initial version of this mock draft, Jermad McCoy. Because he does feel like, hey, if this guy with all this talent falls because there's some pretty rough-sounding health reports that, you know, according to the NFL network and Albert Breer, he could fall all the way out of the first.

around a la Will Johnson a year ago, that there's real concern that he might need surgery on the other knee that he did not tear his ACL on. And so I am getting spooked by the insiders a little bit, but he would be an option here for the Capitol, just pointing that out. Let's take a break. Let's finish up the draft. And we got some news still to get to. And it's spicy news.

Mike Tomlin is a new home. Oh, there it is. You pull a Sean Payton? Is it back? Back on NFL Daily. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind,

and now I've got my own show. So if you're tired or lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN platforms and the IHeart Radio app. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I'm Greg Rosenthal.

And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stopped. This is my favorite part of. of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg, free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money.

On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits to my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move? We got teams rebuilding its hope season. Yeah, absolutely. It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I'm about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For our very last segment, who, of pre-draft Cup, we're ready. And yet we're going to start it, at least this segment, with a little bit of news. of order here because I teased it. Mike Tomlin has a new home and that home is next to Maria Taylor. Hey. On the football night in America desk. Good for Coach Tomlin. NBC. And good for viewers of the most watched show in television. That they'll get a chance to see Mike Tomlin kind of contextualize the before the game and at halftime. I think it's good for all parties involved. It's interesting. Who's... Do we know who's leaving, though?

We don't know. There was a report by Andrew Marchand of the athletic. Well, we know Tony Dungey's gone. That was previously announced and covered on NFL Daily. Coincidental, I would not say ironic, coincidental that Mike Tomlin is replacing one of his mentors, maybe his most important mentor as a coach. You know, that he kind of came up as a,

at least when he was becoming a guy, people kind of thought of him as a Dungy guy. And now he's one of the people replacing him. Although it's actually not a really one-to-one replacement because Dungy was on the road. He was part of that crew. There is not a lot of clarity about who is returning for Football Night in America,

although Mike Floreo said he will be back. So Mike Floreo is back as an insider. and I guess I'm just assuming Maria Taylor's back. She does great work with the NBA too, but I would assume she's there and Mike Tomlin. The rest, we don't know. We'll find out. We're waiting all year.

I just hope Tomlin, I don't know. What do you hope, Greg? That he doesn't play it like he's returning to coaching. Like he gives us, it's a tough spot to be into it. Like, there aren't many people who I would say have made a difference on these desks. That's my analogy. this. I have not felt the need to watch a halftime or post-game show on networks because I thought the analyst was going to say anything interesting for a long time. Well, I think a lot of that's

Is that crazy? No, it's a structural choice. I think by the networks, we get the, especially in basketball and football, you get your coaching interviews at halftime. You kind of decrease the amount of investment that you have from the studio because, you know, it's, but the studio is so important. I mean, it's like you said, the highest, highest ranked show in the country. People are watching it. They're spending a lot of money, but when was the last time Jimmy Johnson or Bill Cower or Terry Bradshaw or anyone said anything interesting? To me, the only things that I've ever learned, I would say not ever, but the last 10, 15 years is from guys in the booth. Yeah. And I would even

include like former coaches that were in the booth. When John Gruden was in the booth, you know, no matter whether you liked him or not as an analyst, like I felt like he was teaching me some things. And I'm learning from people in the way. I never learned from anyone in the studio. I think it's the investment specifically in the talent of,

of these big productions is so significant. And the preparation goes, a lot of those great things that we get from the broadcast are reactions in real time. And since everything is produced and planned and budgeted, it's kind of this segmented thing. thing where it's like, ah, this, that, the other. This. Oh, now a Toyota promo. This, that, the other. And it gets formulated. Can you do it for 17 weeks? And perhaps what the networks can do is pay some folks, put a microphone on these guys during the game and let them go. And let them go. Good note. And we do have, you know, some NBC people that listen to the show sometime. I don't know if they're in hiring positions. But that's a good note. Maybe a little less people and a little more freedom.

Yeah. Like Maria Taylor, Tomlin, and I don't know who your third is. Just a podcast. It's not Jason Garrett, though, if I'm making the decisions. We love you, coach. Not in that rule. I have the Steelers taking Spencer Fanow tackle guard from Utah. Switch this pick. Do you think they're more likely to take Caden Proctor from Alabama or Spencer Fanon?

I had it as Proctor initially, and then I flipped it. I'll just give away the next two picks because I have the Chargers taking Proctor next. I had it flipped, and then the more I thought about it, I thought, I thought Fanon, athleticism, maybe moving inside. Brojcich Jones is a guy at left tackle that they might need to replace, but I think there's multiple positions there that they'd be interested.

I think you've revealed your feelings because Fano and Proctor get the slash G. Despite being like the most athletic tackles, perhaps. That's partly why they could be at guard. In this draft where it's like, you could get a good athlete with size, put them on the outside. When Fano said like,

put me at center if you want, I'm all in. That kind of made me think maybe he is a center. Maybe he is a guard. I actually think he is the most likely of this group to maybe get moved. Proctor's huge. And ultimately, that size to me made more sense with the Chargers. It almost be like a do-over for Mackay Beckton.

Long term, he's probably playing guard for the Chargers. But you have two guys coming off pretty serious injuries. So I think the position flexibility of Caden Proctor outside for the Chargers is also exciting. Whereas Fano, yeah, is probably at tackle right now. I don't know. Yeah.

I think the Chargers will be overjoyed to have, you know, for the Cowboys to pick Thedeman and both of these guys be on the board, I think they'd feel great either way. Had a different version of the mock where Mackay Lemon fell here, and then I think he'd be a really strong option

for the Steelers. I think they could absolutely be looking for inside receiver to complement the two guys that they have in terms of Michael Pittman and D.K. Metcalf. But I think the way this board fell, it doesn't make as much sense. The tackle run continues with the Eagles. They go to Arizona State. Yes, they take Max Ihanachor.

A little bit of a surprise, a late riser, but a guy who, if you, a little raw, like learning the position and all that, but they have the time, I believe, to wait. And if you were looking for a Lane Johnson replacement, I think the more that you heard about Ihanature throughout the process, the more he sounded to me like as high a ceiling just about as anyone in this class, like really athletic, really talented, and maybe just needs a little bit of time,

which is why he's going at the back end of the first round. I am just so spooked by the stoutland of it all, where I'm having to re-evaluate the way I feel about the Eagles making these choices. Okay. You're referring to their offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, who is no longer officially with the team. And yet, who was it? One of the players said that they actually thought that Jeff Stoutland,

it was Lane Johnson, will be involved with the team. Which is something we never hit here, because it's not official, and it was just Lane Johnson on the fits and wit podcast, who says, I think he's going to be around in some capacity. He's not going to be a long ways away. I don't know what any of this means. Dude just loves the birds. It's around the folks come around.

They hang out, you know. So maybe he has an idea that he's going to get paid as like a consultant and be there. I don't know. Like, how would that even work? They hired an offensive line coach, Chris Cooper, KU. P-E-R. Yeah. Not like the actor.

And so until there's an official announcement, right, regarding his availability to, you know, because I know, and who knows, it could all be just aura and marketing, this idea that's, you know, Jordan Milata is Jordan Milano because of Jeff Stoutland and all these other situations. Lane, you know, Kelsey. But it's affecting how I think. This is one of my favorite mock picks. It's really hard to choose which tackle is going to go to which spot. And if you've been paying attention now,

I think we are up to six tackles taken, including three in a row. I think a run's going to happen. It could happen earlier. But I think this one makes sense. I mentioned Chris Cooper, who is the offensive line coach, and then made a joke about the actor. Are you familiar with the actor, Chris Cooper? And could you name a movie that he was in?

Name a movie, and I'll see if I'm familiar with Chris Cooper. adaptation? No, I'm not familiar with it. Oh, the Nicholas Cage classic. Merrill Streep, incredible movie. And Chris Steeles the show.

American Beauty, he's like the creepy next year. Why did you go with adaptation? I don't know, because that's what made me love him. He's so good in that. Born identity, October's five. Yeah, he's in some bigger movies than that, but he's like the third lead in that one. American Beauty was a hit for him.

I mean, yeah, we're dating ourselves a little bit. The Browns are next on the board. If you don't, who will? They didn't take a tackle before. And so I have them ending the tackle run with Caleb Lomu, the tackle from Utah. Of all the tackles here, he's probably the one that could he fall to the second round? I think it's possible. I'd be surprised if any of the other players fall to the second round.

I think these guys are getting taken in the first round, potentially in the top 20, 25 picks. like I projected him. Caleb Lomu, it only takes one team. I think the Browns have a major need. And I do think there's a big drop off after him in terms of perception. And so he gets taken here. Yeah, specifically with the way the board has shaken out. I think they made all those moves maybe to not be in a position where they'd have to take a tackle here.

But if Lomu is available at 24, I think it would be disappointed in the fact that the run that just happened happened. That's a good point. But I think with Lomu, they'd feel good. Yeah, you never want to be the team at the very. very end of the run. And that is it. That wraps up my tackle run. I think that's seven tackles taken and then we had the guard earlier. Youwane. The bears are up next. This is where

I slotted Malachi Lawrence, the edge from ECF. A late riser, a favorite of Jeremiah's, a favorite of Ali Connollies. And when you watch the film, I think it's not that hard to argue. Just in terms of juice, I'm putting Arvel Reese in his own bucket because he's kind of a unicorn who just does a lot of things at a really high level. I don't think it's that hard to argue Malachi Lawrence would be the next guy after David Bailey in terms of pass rush potential in this class, a guy that can stay on the field. Chris

Long really likes him from the Greenlight podcast. And to me in this class, I think it's just going to be, what do you like? And I like them to the bears here at 25. They need an edge. Yeah, the overall cardiovascular capacity, which I try to stay away from high motor. His capacity to be active on the football field is tremendous. I think a lot of times we underrate, depending on the player, you know, the technical ability to rush the passer, which I think hurts Rubin Bain a little bit in his perception. But I would have Lawrence up there, not behind, not ahead of Bain, but perhaps ahead of his teammate, Massador.

Yeah. Messador ends up going 15 to the bucks in this. but I could have flipped those very easily. I have another pass pressure going next. Cassius Howell. Devisive, I would say, in terms of the draft profile that's out there. Look, if he hits, is there a player that he would remind you of? Probably not Nick Padillo.

No, I guess it's not Nick Padillo. That's probably more David Bailey, which would be the closer comp. But I was thinking, you know, with this new defense, Jim Leonard, we're at the point of the draft. Like, these guys aren't necessarily going to be every down players. But if you can get as much pass rush juice as possible, Cassius Howell is just in a really exciting pass rusher. And you work on the rest of this stuff.

And if he ends up just being like a, you know, a pass rush for hire as your third edge, like that's not a bad pick at 26 in this class. Yeah, you know, athletic-wise, you know, that's a 90th percent. 40-yard dash and a 92% 10-yard split. Like a 2%ile arm length right there with Rubin Bain. And so, you know, you've got that. It depends on how you want to use them, right? The team, you know, how they're deploying their guys off the edge.

I think it lines up out wide. It gets a chance to attack the quarterback pretty consistently. Then you might get what you need. If you need him to do a little bit more. And I don't think, yeah, that's going to be in the mix for them. But I think they could. I have the 49ers taking Keldrick Falk next. Could have gotten earlier.

Defensive linemen out of Auburn. Throughout the process when I've watched him, I'm like, hmm, I don't know. I don't know if I totally see it, but I also see that he'd be a 49er. He just seems like a 49er to me. He does. And I would say the best run defender in the draft in this era of dropbacks.

I understand the reluctance there. but folks have had Trayvon Walker, you know, flirting with the idea of if things not working out for him, but he's been excellent against the run. The Jags had the best run defense, and I think he's in that category as a run defender. There's things you can work on.

If we're going to project the athletic upside for the other guys who don't have the production, let's project it for the guy who has the athleticism and the ability as a run defender to make some plays in the past. Poor man's Trevon Walker. is a good comp there for the 49ers. Now, you could say, well, how about, how about Caden McDonald,

the defensive tackle from Ohio State being the best run defender in this class? This is a meat and potato pick for the Texans. There's another world where I like C.J. Allen here, the linebacker falling. There's certainly offensive line options. They could take another guard, potentially. Caden McDonald, to me,

he's almost like the free agent pickup that you're just trying to have. have you put you over the top. They could really use like a two gap run stopping nose tackle. Is that the sexiest first round pick in the world? Not really, but I think among especially who's available here, I think you know what he is. It's just kind of what, where do you value that in 26? I think the value is kind of rising. Nose tackles are back a little bit and they absolutely could use one. And so I just kind of have them checking a box here with Kate and McDonald. Yeah, and I think, you know, to reference another team, you know, the Cincinnati Bengals,

considering the defensive tackle, your first defensive tackle coming off the board at 28. Right. And he could easily, and none of them could go. Yeah, they could be none in the first round. And so, like, you talk about positional value relative to the rest of the league, right? Like, can you get a player who's going to be one of the 11 on the field who's significantly better than the other options available? And, yeah, 28, Cade McDonald?

Absolutely. And a position to that Bengals point that takes a minute usually to develop. I think of Dexter Lawrence. People weren't talking about him as a future all pro after one or two years. It was a steady incline. There was a steady moment there where his college teammate was seen as the better football player. And now we're just trying to get him on a team. Yeah.

I mean Christian Wilkins was a high-level NFL player early and often in his career. We'll see if he lands on a team. I have the Chiefs taking Denzel Boston, Boston wide receiver out of Washington. Next. I mean, I think they're going to be really tempted to take one at nine. I think they're going to be really tempted to take someone in the secondary. They have a lot of different needs.

What do you think about outside ball winner, Denzel Boston, who wins down the field, you know, quite a bit here going to the Chiefs at 29? They haven't had it in a while. They went to get it with new. Hopkins a while back. And, you know, considering the, you know, the types of players that the chiefs have had, some of it due to, you know, financial capacity and some of it being the average pick that they've had since taking Mahomes in the top 15 was 37.

And so, you know, being where they are and having two first round picks, they get an opportunity to address that particular need. And I think it's worthwhile. There are a lot of guys in the secondary that are available here in your. your mock where I think the chiefs could. Germad McCoy would be a strong choice. That's been a story. If someone was announcing our draft,

that would be a storyline that he keeps staying on the board. I'm kind of leaning on these insider injury news projections and what is informing me. But that's a guy that the chiefs would absolutely take. I'll throw a name at you. Okay. Maybe Denzel Boston is the Dwayne Boe replacement finally, 15 years later, whatever it is.

Dwayne Bo. You can see some similarities. That stretch where the Chiefs didn't have a wider saver with a touchdown for like seven games. Yeah. That was the curse of Dwayne Bo. Dought out of Dwayne Bo. Good player.

Miami Dolphins are on the board. I don't know what their fans are going to think of this. Germant McCoy, again, would be a strong consideration. I did decide with their first pick to take cornerback, Mansour Delane. Emmanuel McNeill Warren, the safety is available here. Avion Terrell, cornerback is available here. You know, Chris Johnson, Colton Hood at cornerback.

Like, you could double up. And yet, I just, I got this feeling. They like, and by they, I mean, the former Packers. They like taking their linemen. I was thinking, who makes sense? Caitlin Rutledge is a name you're hearing a lot more as a potential first round pick at Guard, Georgia Tech. I feel like there's one of these guys every year where at the last second,

you're like, hey, keep an eye on this guard that no. Nobody's talked about for four months. Everyone kind of likes him because he looks like he could start in the NFL. And then he does get taken at the end of the first round. Kalyn Rutledge is that guy for me this year, or at least the guy for the dolphins. Yeah, it makes total sense.

The temptation to have McCoy as well as Delane. That would be cool. That would be really cool for the dolphins there, but a guard makes sense. Maybe I'm just wishcasting because I have Germant McCoy going neck out to the Patriot. Oh, okay. This is why you've been buying in. to this time.

DeMarron McCoy fall all the way from potentially nine to, what, 31? Okay, it makes sense. I get it now. It really wasn't conscious, but now that I see it, it does seem like I was doing something here. I think the Patriots, to make a real point here,

would be willing, are willing to take a risky pick like that in a way that, I think the chiefs and dolphins, when I thought about them, specifically. Maybe the Chiefs would. And maybe because the dolphins have so many picks would. But I'm thinking about these guys want players that can be on the field,

have a little less concerns right away. Whereas the Patriots, they don't really need a cornerback right now. On the outside, Carlton Davis is there. Christian Gonzalez, you assume is going to be there a long time, although you never know. But McCoy could be a guy that you kind of have waiting in the wings, basically, for when Carlton Davis is no longer there. just an insanely talented player.

Yeah. And again, you know, the team doctors are going to have their evaluations and the things that teams are saying to insiders regarding those evaluations I think sometimes we can take with a grain of salt specifically

when they really, really ramp up in mid to late April. But yeah, I think John McCoy here would be, they'd be overwhelmed with joy to have him. Okay. Let's get to Mike Rable's press conference today. Now, Mike Rable has not spoken with reporters since photos came out of him and the former insider from the athletic Diana Rusini with interlocking

fingers in an embrace at a hotel in Arizona. Everyone that's listening is, I'm sure very aware of this story. And, you know, since. Since that's happened, Rossini has resigned from her role at the athletic. The athletic has announced that they were investigating her behavior and that that will continue. And Vrable has been quiet until Tuesday. Let's listen first to his opening statement in front of the lectern to the media on Tuesday. Let me first begin by saying thank you. Thank you for your patience that you've shown in a,

personal and private matter for me and obviously everybody involved. I know that that's not easy for you, and I respect that, and I appreciate your efforts in doing so. I understand I could have addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly, as we began our off-season program.

So that is how he opened it. thought it was interesting that he struck such an apologetic note to the media right, right off the bat, in addition to being obviously apologetic and mentioning his quiet and that the priority was that he wanted to talk to his players first. It was about a two and a half minute opening statement. I don't want to listen to all of it, but this to me was the key part of what he said, at least in front of the cameras on Tuesday. You know, I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players.

Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me, that starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction. You know, and what I, those are comments and questions that I, I've answered for the team and with the team. We'll keep those private and, you know, to ourselves.

I care deeply about this football team and I'm excited to coach them. So Vrable, like I said, spoke to the media with the cameras on in front of everyone. Then the cameras were turned off and he reportedly, and I'm going off with the Boston Sports Journal, our former colleague Mike Giardy, wrote about on that great website. said happened. Then he sat down with a pretty big group of the local reporters and on the record answered a handful of questions from the local reporters. That didn't seem to engender anything else too interesting, but they did ask Vrable specifically about the initial statement that he gave to the New York Post. When these photos were released, they came fresh with a response from Vrable

and Diana Rossini, and the one from Vrabel said to suggest that there's anything questionable in these photos was laughable, was his words back then. This was a very different tone, and they kind of asked him if, well, how does that match up with those statements? He essentially didn't answer it, but he also just said during his opening statement that he is going to be the best Mike Rable moving forward for his family, he said specifically, for his team, and that he wanted to address the team before they started seeing, you know, him speaking to the media or else he would have spoken even earlier. He wanted them to hear from him and that he did take, you know, some questions from his team, from his players very specifically about everything.

He said those were going to stay private, but we had, we had some, back and forth. So to me, it's, it's not hard to read into a very apologetic, certainly not defiant, certainly not denying anything type of tone into what Vrable said today and trying to basically just move it forward. He said the timing was something they had thought about, like you could tell they thought about a lot because he wanted it out of the way and not taking away from what happens on draft day. But also, you know, they didn't want to give the, they didn't say this, but they didn't give the media too much notice. About 20, 30 minutes before this happened, we suddenly find

out Mike Brable is going to speak on Tuesday. Yeah, and when he does, he has an opportunity to sit down with the group who's ultimately in charge of how much of a quote-unquote distraction. Right. This is, there's been a number of them. There were an entire legal investigation in which this franchise won a Super Bowl.

And so, like, you know, my idea of the value of distractions is pretty limited. I think we know and understand that, but in terms of you know, what's happening? What's the there? Right. That, you know, and is anybody there given the fact that they've had the opportunity to have this sit down?

I've had, you know, fruitful conversations with Mike Vrable. I think it's incumbent on those people there to determine what there is, what particular access in which I have questions about all of the access that all insiders have. and who benefits from each individual bit of news. But the other stuff, you know, that's... Well, that's partly why, like, what is there? I think is a great question, because at its heart, and we hadn't hit this on the show,

it was a story about a personal relationship, which we're not like diving into, in general, on NFL Daily or anywhere else. I think it's important to know that an article on ESPN, the NFL did say that they were not looking into Mike Vrable for any violations of policy. So that is from the league perspective. Obviously, it's a personal relationship between, you know, what was in the pictures and also his, with his team. And I think he put that forward. And to me, that sort of was what I was.

was interested in. Was the team going to be concerned about this? Was the league going to be concerned about this? Like, our players going to be asked about this and stuff. And it's him trying to get in front of that with this. And I was actually kind of surprised. I don't want to go ahead and, like, give him credit for just addressing a situation that he created. But the tone actually was more apologetic and about as straightforward. as I would have expected. I saw some response that was like, well, he didn't like say if this is true.

I mean, there were no denials. He was not denying anything. He was just talking about how he decided to handle this was ultimately a personal situation for him with his family and with his team. And I think, right, if he's, I would hope that the conversations with players in team and those who are personal,

personally close to Mike Raibold, wasn't to prevent them from having conversations about this to, and it's like, oh, we're going to do this, that, and the other. I hope it was in a sense of honestly communicating what's there. And I guess those people should have access to that. I don't know. I mean, in that, in terms of, like, media training, hasn't been variable style. He has let his players talk in a way that is totally opposite of the Bill Belichick era.

They had two stories right before the draft, including Christian Barmore and stuff. Fon Diggs, which they just let ride and they, everyone was just talking about. So I don't think that was it. I think it was more him wanting to handle this. And that's how we decided to handle it. Some other Patriots news, by the way, Kishan Booty reportedly could be available in a trade. That was floating out there. Interesting.

Entering the last year of his contract. But if A.J. Brown is arriving. There is some duplicative skill trait, you know, skill sets. there. You could have everybody. You have Dobbs. You got a booty and this hypothetical, you know, current Philadelphia. I love Kashon Booty and I think he would be a great pickup. It would be interesting if Kayshan Booty was in the AJ Brown trade. Didn't even think of that. The Seahawks are next on the board. Chris Johnson is my final pick, not the number one overall draft pick in, I don't know what year what it was 2008, 2011.

Who knows? Fantasy drafts the cornerback from San Diego State. Going to the Seahawks, this is absolutely influenced by Mina Kimes' wishcasting this on 40s and free agents last week. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.

No, I think it's a good fit. You don't have Colton Hood in this, which every single pick, like, logically has some, like these corners could be available back here. I don't know about McCoy, but these corners could be available back here. And I think this version, CJ, no care, because he plays defense,

could be available. Okay. Yeah. And like I said, Emmanuel McNee-Warrant didn't go in this class. In this draft, Colton Hood did not, who you just mentioned. Look, I don't think I'm on that big of an island with McCoy falling like that for what it's worth. You know, our former colleague Albert Breer thought, you know, there's a decent chance he falls to the second round. But otherwise, there aren't a ton of crazy, huge names that fell. I did think of Omar Cooper for the Dolphins at 30,

so that could have been a different pick instead of taking the guard there. He fell out of the first round. Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, didn't get taken. Ty Simpson, I think is more likely to fall to, like, the end of the second or even third round than he is to get taken in the first, but could be proven wrong. Avion Terrell, the cornerback out of Clemson didn't get taken. Chase Basantis, some people think could sneak into the first round as a guard. but no, like, major shocks.

That's it, we did it. You did it, Greg. My first, well, it would have been a rough show. I just pontificated about. How do you think I did? You know, first solo mock since I think I was writing for NBCSports.com slash pro football talk. I think you feel the pressure and the burden of the responsibility,

the top 101, reveal that constantly, and that goes into your calculus. And I think you're going to have, Upwards of 14, 15. Stop. If I, I mean, the problem with these is once you miss one or two, you're off. And there's not even consensus picks early. Like, last year, I believe a lot of people were at like two.

So over, over under at nine. I'm giving myself an over under a four and a half. Come on. You said I'm feeling the pressure like the top 101. No, I do feel a responsibility there. Here, I'm a small fish in a huge pond. There are a million mock drafts. I'm not feeling the pressure.

If you are listening to Greg Rosenthal, he is a master of setting expectations. He wants this. He needs this. I don't like where you're going with any of this. I don't feel confident. It is going to be an unpredictable draft. Let's get out of here.

Thank you, Patrick. Thank you, Greg. And good luck on your surgery. Thanks, man. Never great to go under the knife. But if he's healing, we will have Patrick back next week. You're going to be mobile?

Yeah. Come with it. I'll crawl in here. We'll do it around the NFL. Let's talk about the draft. We're on live after day one, YouTube. Also in your ears, myself, Jordan, check us out. I'm Daniel Jeremiah.

And I am Greg Rosenthal. I know that, Greg. We're teaming up on 40s and free agents, the podcast that owns the NFL off season. This is where teams are built. Free agency, combine, pro days, trades. Every move matters. From my draft boards and mock drafts

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