NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Top 101 Free Agents with Nate Tice

Episode Date: March 4, 2022

A convention center filled with heroes- Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, and Gregg Rosenthal are joined by Nate Tice to go over Gregg's Top 101 list (version 1!). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. The Around the NFL podcast. But sheaps. Ha! What? Welcome to Around the NFL, Dan Hansis, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal.

Oh, boys, I am so excited. It's a special show. It is an annual right of passage when we break down Greg Rosenthal's top 101 free agents. We have reached the Promise Land, Mr. Sessler. I mean, when you're kicking the show off with Matt Money's screaming butt cheeks, I everything that I could hope to. Is that a reference to something that I don't remember? It doesn't matter.

It is now. It's a trenchant reference. We all have them and we all can relate. And I'm good. I don't know what else to accomplish. You know, we're not going to top that. I was going to say in a world where it's, you know, so divisive and there's always always one side versus the other. Like, there's nothing more inclusive than butt cheeks.

Anyway. The top free agents. Greg hoping this would have taken as a sober, instructive tone. He's right up there. I was thinking of responses to that. I think you could. actually play it the other way but it's just that's let's not yeah let's try to move on because we have a guest here uh he is a man he's a life journeyman is what he is uh and you could catch him on the

athletic football show and he is a guest on this show multiple times now which means we like him oh man he is his dad put a pencil behind the ear right now somewhere the pencil is behind the here. This is Nate Tice. Wow. Look at that. Oh, my God. I got 80s, like soft rock on.

Like, this Miami Vice. He's more than just the son of the guy with the pencil behind his ear. Don't do that because I didn't say he was just that. I just added that his father is a former NFL head coach famous for the pencil behind. Yep. And then at one time, Jimmy Johnson gave him a gigantic pencil. Like on my God, a pregame show. And he still has it.

It's still in his office. I think it's about six feet tall. Just a gigantic number three pencil. Nate, how the hell are you? I'm doing very well. Thank you. Really, very nice to meet you guys in person. It is.

It was great. I know. I thought we were about the same height and I stepped on the stage. I could stand on Greg's shoulders and you'd be slightly little, maybe an inch tall. You've been on both sides of this Combine game. I have. You know, does this bring back like horror memories or warm memories where you're at? A little bit of warm memories.

The walking by the bench press is interesting because it's like every year I come. here it feels like it's a bigger stage for that like it feels like every year i mean that's the NFL in general right it's just becoming the the sport the global sport that it is all the stuff's prime time yeah exactly the fact that we're doing workouts in prime time it's like is it's still hilarious to me like it's just i guess that's what people want to watch they want to watch those 40s right that you were saying yeah you had to show up at 5 a.m to get the first spot yeah at the as a scout but were you even the one sitting there you were getting the spot for other people Getting the spot, and now I got kicked to the row behind.

That's how it was, yes. So I was the second row. And then you had to get to the angle. So when they walked up the steps that you got the most exposure to these guys before they weighed in. I wish I was making that out. Did any of that matter? To bed at 2 a.m. So you got about 2 and a half hours of sleep.

It was a lot of 5-hour energy. It was before I drank coffee. So a lot of 5-hour energy is a couple of Red Bulls back in the day. But no, much more recharge this time around. And this is how important the Greg Rosenthal top 101, three agents list is. we put all combine talk aside right now and focus in on the start of a new league year when all of these players, or a bulk of them, will be available on the open market. We're going to go through the list issues we have with Greg's rankings where we agree,

disagree. We asked Nate, do not hold back on Greg. I guess. I know you have a burgeoning relationship, but you need to go hard at Greg, and he can take it. Fursioning. Greg doesn't feel pain. He's not a typical human in some ways. Yeah.

You can't hurt him, so come hard. Well, if anything, I respond more and want that criticism, want that heat coming at me. It makes me feel more alive. And it makes you think, right? It makes you think, do I have these players right? Because you had told us, even since this article went up in NFL.com, you've gotten some comments from people like, hey, this is good. You banged yourself on this, and you're already doubting yourself. I want to do a 2.0.

It's not a doubting, but there's a deadline. It's like I had to get to Big Bear for some sledding right before. I'm up late the night before. And yes, I've gotten a lot of feedback. And there's some players that they point out certain things that I wasn't aware of, or maybe I overrated or underrated. And it's like, yeah, I would like to fix it. Yes, I would like to move Uchena Nuosu up.

So if you're out there listening, move on up. Seems easier to critique than actually do, but I understand. You're a little blurb ahead of when you get into it on the article. I do like you have some wording about players come off the list if they're re-signed or franchise tag. You also have players released before the negotiating window opens will be considered for the top 101 and added as warranted. It's like I'm reading a contract drawn up by lawyers. Well, you know enough to know I did not write that. I did not.

But yeah, like if Bobby Wagner gets cut next week, Amari Cooper might get cut. I mean, Amari Cooper would be moving into the top 10. Oh, wow. Let's get into it. Let's talk about the top 10. And Greg, I know we talked about we're going to have some tears and Nate, you jump in wherever you want as well. But just let's start with the top 10. You have number one, obviously no argument here and almost certainly will not reach the open market.

Devante Adams. Well, unless Aaron Rogers, if you ever make a decision, Aaron, we can kind of figure out what's going on with everybody else. But you have Devante Adams, Chris Godwin, J.C. Jackson, cornerback of the Patriots, Toronto, Orlando Brown, one through five. So you have two offensive linemen, a cornerback, and two wide receivers. Did you struggle at all with the order there, or was that pretty locked and loaded? Armstead, no, I struggled with it. Armstead gets, I have a hard time with him. I think he's going to be number one on the list when free agency starts because I think Adams, Godwin, and Jackson will be accounted for with tags or maybe a long-term deal, probably not.

Armstead's weird because he's maybe one of the best tackles, or he's definitely one of the best tackles of the last 10 years. He's almost borderline like Hall of Fame consideration for the career he's had so far. But he's missed almost 50 games in his career. In five of the last nine seasons, he's missed at least six games. And I think the Saints just with the situation that they've had were getting a little tired of him not being available. But people that know, even though he was playing through an injury last year, it's like, he's still one of the best three or five guys. And he's 31 years old and tackles tend to age so well lately that I'm sure. sure he's going to get like a hundred million dollars or whatever it is he's going to make an

outrageous amount of money so i felt weird putting him below like a j c jackson who i love and he got him but i did no and armstead too that you're exactly right i think whoever signs him though even how good he's going to be they're going to be like disappointed because he's going to miss a game or two or not you hope for the best and maybe he won't and and no but you're dead you're dead on that he's if he plays he's a top five tackle if not and those guys do not come on the market like Trent Williams coming on the market it was a whole different animal because he sat out a whole freaking year like these guys just never see this like you never get the bidding frenzy that it leaves the saints with another massive hold of fill i mean

they're i don't love right and i could be wrong maybe they'll figure out but it sounds like he's also a guy who they all talk about it's like walter peyton man of the year type of guy very active a leader like sean peyton couldn't have spoken enough of him so he's going to get crazy rich he's going to get the bag as the kids say let's let's start when we look at the rest of the top because I want to hit our first category, boom or bust players, because I have two in the back end of your top 10 here that I want to talk about because you have Von Miller at 7, and we know Von Miller played his ass off down the stretch for the Rams

and got another Super Bowl ring as a result. And then you have Chandler Jones at number 9. These are two players, Von Miller at 33, Chandler Jones at 32, that are no longer young men in football terms. but in the right scenario, they could really juice your team at a vital area at pass rush. I get it, but you could see how it can go the wrong way also. Yeah, especially Jones. Like, he's been up and down.

I would say the last couple of years, I struggle with this exercise of like, how much do you value getting one maybe great year versus three or four? Like, good enough years because mostly if you get to free agency, you're not a top player. You're not a Pro Bowl player. You're very good and very good guys making, like, superstar money. Like, let's say, you know, Gassicki gets out there. Like, I don't even think he will. I like him a lot.

But those are the types of level of players, like right below Pro Bowl. Whereas you might get Vaughn Miller. If he can play like that for one more season, to me, that's, like, worth so much that I'm putting him up there. And you think that athleticism will age well, you know, like with Von Miller. Like, because he's so, like, when you're a 0.001% athlete, it's like, okay, then you you become a 1% athlete. Okay, that's still pretty good. But it's one of those where you're paying for the first two years of it.

Because you're going to have to overpay. You're going to give them a four-year deal or something like that sort. That's what I think will happen with him. Or he just, he likes winning. Maybe he'll just go to a team where he could just be a nice cushioning. I think he made more in the playoffs than any other person. Him and Jesse. Not that Jesse Bates was probably leaving, but they both made a ton of money.

Oh, absolutely. Jesse Bates is here at number 10. Mark, do you have a boomer bus guy that jumped out to you? In the top 10, I would look at Chandler Jones, too. I definitely start to have some boom or busts as we creep into the next. Yeah, why don't you throw it out there? The one that stands out to me because I could see him getting paid really well as Alan Robinson by a wide receiver needy team. But, you know, Greg, we talked about this too.

I think there's just clear questions about how the Chicago Bears era ended. And also just in general that he's never, you know, historically, obviously been with a laundry list of total question marks at cornerback for most of his in career. I've never seen him paired with a superstar offense. And who would he be if he went to, say, the Browns or the Chiefs or something like that? So, Nate, were you in pro-personnel departments or just college? Both. Both. Yeah, yeah. So if you're in the pro-personnel department.

He's a live journeyman. I like journeyman. And Alan Robinson is coming available. And let's say you agree with my take, which is he did not look good last year. He did not look like the same player. Going into last year, I would have said, this is a borderline top 10 wide receiver, one of the most underrated receivers in the league. And it wasn't just that he was on the Bears last year.

He didn't care. Is that what you think it is? Oh, absolutely. So, okay, if you're in that spot, then what do you, how do you evaluate that? We get him and he'll care here. That's what you're hoping. Like you said with the Chiefs, oh yeah, I'm sure he'll care very quickly. When all of a sudden he's got Mahomes whizzing a ball at him.

But then if he goes to the Browns, like just using the two examples, does he get frustrated there? And it's like, and you're paying for a receiver that openly got frustrated on the field. I get it. It was a rough situation, but there's a classic line. They say, tape is your resume, like film is your resume. That's what you did on your last job. Like, they're not going to call and give you a reference now because of what you did. But also the tape is your resume in that he was in terrible situations with poorly run organizations for six years before that and put in a terrific representative era.

And he was so sick of being in Chicago specifically, I think, by the end of his time there that I actually, I actually, the way you just put it right now, I actually would move him up the list a couple of spots because I think you're going to get a good effort for a couple of years. I think he's a great player. I think it's very important. He goes to a winning team. I kind of see him as an O'Dell guy in that level.

Yeah. And he would be coming off such a bad year. He probably depressed his value a little bit. He's only 29. If I can get him on like a two-year deal or something, I would absolutely take a shot on. I have him under my guys I like. You have him at 14 on this list, Greg,

for that reason but yes obviously you squint and you wonder about the effort and whether that carries don't go to the lions or something like that because you'll get lost he moved down during my process because initially it's like oh it's Alan Robinson you rank him six and then I thought you thought about it more but I don't think you'll get him cheap because there's not that many good receivers available at all and he's only 29 and the productions he's had I think he he that's the thing about not trying like it works it works for james Like he's still going to get his monster content. I don't think Alan Robinson's number is going to be very depressed compared to what it would be.

I mean, that's me on this episode. So I'm telling you. And one X fact with Alan Robinson, we had him on our show during, you know, deep, deep pockets of Corona. Terrible Wi-Fi, totally disorganized. He was a nice guy. He was nice, very nice, but disorganized. Mark's right, though. I think that you have to factor in his Wi-Fi on our appearance during the... It means a multi-millionaire in a giant house. You've got to get that situation. What about... What about his best?

The second time I ever do you guys show. that you made sure to hint. You're like, yeah, we only bring guests back that, you know, have good Wi-Fi. It must have been right after that. Well, you're back, so I'm back. Well, in person. Stan loves to bring up to guess that there are many guests that are in the hit-it-and-quit-club.

One and done. So he's very much in the, we're going to throw you in the fire, put extra pressure on you. Very much like a Belichekian type of life. It's like him pulling over Adam Vitari and saying, if you miss this kick, you're gone. Oh, yeah, Parcells, your ass is gone. Walk in front of that.

Right as you line it up, walk right in front of them. Is there a, how about for you, Nate, a guy in the category, either guys I love or a boom or bust guy that worries you but also could work out. Yeah, and this is perfect. They're right near each other at 13 and 15. That's Keseki and Agba, Manuel Ogba, both Miami Dolphins. I'm a big fan of Emmanuel Ogba. And it's one of those where I didn't actively watch a lot of the dolphins. It was more like, I'm watching another team, and then the dolphins are also playing on that film.

him. And Ogba would just always flash. And I think it's one of those where if you're talking about, yes, you're going to pay through the nose maybe for a Chandler Jones for a couple years or a Von Miller for a couple years, this is a guy that you're getting more in his straight prime. He's 28 when the season starts. Get him through to 32. And I think this is a guy that like in more of a primary role. It's so funny when these guys get paid, all of some people notice. Like, you know, like Rodney Hudson got paid by the Raiders. And all of a sudden everyone's like, oh, yeah, he's a good center. Hendrickson last year. Hendrickson's another example. And I think that's the same thing with him is that once he you know he has that prime when someone pays them

everyone's going to go oh yeah he's a good player and that's like the national recognition he he's been incredible if he if it's really weird how the NFL is the same as like other industries and that like if he had more pop to begin with like drafted as a first round pick or or played on a team like the cowboys or something like he would be a step but because he's sort of bounced around it's almost like well what are these other teams not know that we don't know and it doesn't matter like he's been better than those guys I might have him too Okay. And then the other one was Gaseki. And it's more like, he's like a fine receiver.

I know he's a tight end, but that's what he is. And so like what he brings to the table because he is so dynamic in the red zone, so dynamic as just like a ball winning type. But then he doesn't block. Like I'm still waiting for him to block. But he's not a flat receiver. Exactly. So it's what you have to be in a situation that can handle that.

If you're paying him and you go, we have no other tight ends around. And this is our guy. Like you're handicapping yourself in a different. sets like in a personnel sense. He wouldn't be on the 49ers or the Rams just because they don't have tight ends that don't block. But is he going to be on Mike McDaniel's Dolphins team? It's a good question because he talked him up a little bit today. The franchise tag is so low for tight ends that I kind of assume he's getting the franchise. Jimmy Graham was right. Let's stick with tight ends then because a guy that I like, but again, it needs to be the right fit. He also needs to continue to want to

play professional footballs gronk you have him at 32 all right he's not the all-encompassing tight end of an evaluator's dreams anymore at this age but still obviously a red zone monster can still move uh you know he maybe struggles to stay healthy but still somebody that can help the right team that you're in on that or yeah i i totally agree he's he can still block like it's fascinating to watch him like be like a glorified tackle at times like that's then that's how well we can block. When he runs now, it used to always be like he was the kid that hit puberty early, like when people would try to tackle him in a little league. It's like everyone jumping on him trying to tackle him. Now he looks more human, but still like he throws guys off of him,

but it always looks like it's hurting. I think if I'm a team, I'd be scared to give him anything more than one year or anything that's guaranteed too much. But that's the thing. If you're getting grunk, you're getting gron. Oh, he's playing. Yeah. I don't think there's any question. He's been in the building in Tampa working out multiple times a week, according to Aryans and he's throwing out these little comments about Borough in different places he would want to why would he be working like he was good he was he was in the last two years on aggregate I would say he's been one of the six or seven best tight ends in the league no question so and you're getting like a Hall of Famer like the best ever at the position who like you know I think there's like

an added and you know and you know he's not going to sign with the Falcons or something he will handpick a team that is right there that was probably in the playoffs last year and he will slot him in and get the most out of him if he could stay healthy i want some heat i want you guys to come at me oh man all right all right i will i thought i want okay i was too nice with augba okay how about this one i do really like this guy and i think he actually is a little bit actually you even say it's a projection and it's DJ Jones you have my 35 i would actually bump him up even more because i think this guy is i mean everyone that 49ers defense line gets a bump and not just for playing with bosa it's true

truly the defensive line coach does a great job. I wish I knew his name off the top of my head, but he's really good. But anyways, but DJ Jones, though, I thought as a runstopper, like, did so much. He would takeover games against the Titans. He was literally unblockable in that Thursday night game. And when you have a guy in the interior, we're seeing more and more that these interior defense alignments matter more because more and more defenses are trying to play two high cover four, covers, cover two.

And when that happens is we're not getting another body in the box. so we need defense a line play to step up, not just the ends, but the interior guys, because they have to be stout and not able, like, hold on to double teams and really, like, disrupt. So I think a guy like DJ Jones, entering his prime, same thing.

Take that, Greg. I think that was, you're too nice, but if anything that was like, I haven't looked at any of the other lists, but I would put money on that I have DJ Jones way higher than any of these lists. You're just saying, push the guy I already kind of like even higher.

Too much with the receivers. Whoever is an agent, though, you should just send your defensive linemen to San Francisco because they put you in a car wash and you come out and you get paid. Arden Key is another guy who, like, you say the tape is your resume. He looked too good last year to not get a decent contract. And he was a total bust with the Raiders. I know.

All right. I'll come at you a little harder. A little, you have a sick fetish for these two players. James Winston, who you have at 23. Teddy Bridgewater, you have at 34. Teddy might be a lot. And it's like, man, what do we need? At this point, we don't need to delve.

because we've talked about this for two straight years, I feel like. What is Teddy showing you on the field in those 14 games this year that has him at 34 and Andy Dalton, and I know Andy Dalton is Andy Dalton at 101? You're really saying that. Well, 101 is a popular. Can we just have your sentence that OPE you opened with Teddy Bridgewater? At least you wrote this, Greg. I've written and talked about Bridgewater so many times that even I'm sick of hearing myself.

Can we at least, Greg, can you throw us a freaking bone here and put him in the back end of the top? Maybe your argument, to me, is for moving Dalton up. Now, 101, as you guys know, is a special spot. You look at a special person to put in that spot. And Dalton, Wes, I miss so much doing this exercise, I really feel his absence. I want to, I just kind of wanted Dalton from the beginning in that spot. It just felt nice. Teddy Bridgewater, I think, was like the 18th or 19th best starting quarterback in the NFL last year.

And like that positional value matters. you're telling me, okay, well, then I'd rather have, like, E. Akeem Hicks or Jerry Hughes on a one-year deal. No, I'm saying, like, he's a starting quarterback that would upgrade a handful of teams of starting quarterback situations. And since they've been tied together forever since the draft, you have Marcus Marriota at 96, a guy that's been out of the limelite a little bit for a few years.

But he shows something when he's flashed with the Raiders. You have him at 96. And again, James is coming off a blown ACL. He's James Winston. We know what we're getting there. I thought his stats were misleading before the injury last year. I didn't think he looked that great. You have them separated by 60-some-odd players.

The quarterback order leaves a lot to be desired for me. I love you, buddy, but that's how I feel. I mean, I don't want you to love me in this exercise. I think that's probably fair that there's too much of a gap. But I do think that James and Teddy are, to me, established. You can start games with them, and maybe you're not that excited. And win 45% of them. I think James still has a higher ceiling than the rest of this crew by a decent amount.

Like I don't think there's that much difference between James and a Kirk Cousins who would be available, especially when you consider the price tag and the draft pick that would have cost to get cousins. I think James is going to be the former quarterback. Settle the Teddy and Teddy thing for us. I'd rather have James because he actually like, I love Teddy because, but that's the thing is like we all know what Teddy is. Because he's a great guy. Yeah, well, that too. No, but you think he offers value as a quarterback, don't you? What Teddy is, you watch him play, you know exactly he's going to do the right thing.

But then it's after that, it's like if stuff goes, oh, sorry, if stuff goes south, what can you do from there? And that's where Teddy's like, oh, God. James at least adds a little excitement when those moments happen because sometimes it's great and he can create something. And then sometimes it's like, oh, my God, what did you just do? So at least I'll have that like a little bit more upside with James. There's a huge middle class of quarterbacks in the league right now. and I guess I think they're all kind of in the same area and the list should dictate that as well.

That's fair. It's very hard positional value is where I struggle the most. Don't crack me up at 101 though. I can see why you felt that. It felt right. I think we know why you did that. It felt right. He'll stay there.

And we have a thing like when all the tag players get taken off the list or when newly cut guys get added, Dalton stays at 101 no matter what. He's Mr. Irrelevant. We will not move. Well, and the best thing you did because we had the Dalton scale for years where if he's your starter, like you need. to probably find a new starter.

But now it's, if he's your backup quarterback, you need to find a new QB2, you wrote. I think that's, we've re-est it. Well, yeah, if it's worse than Dalton, then you need a new backup. That's because you just go get Dalton. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin.

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

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All right, not on my team, okay? I've already established James Winston, not on my team. This doesn't mean that I don't think they're good players or good people, but I just don't need my team getting into business with Odell Beckham, where you have him. Where is Beckham on this list? I believe he's in the top 25. 18 or something?

Hold on. Coming off a second ACL tear on the same knee. Mercurial guy who founded Nits. there with the Rams and really performed for them and it was a bummer how his season ended in the Super Bowl. But I don't know, a 30-something O'Dell coming up back-to-back, reconstructive knee surgeries if I'm paying a lot of money for that guy. And then Mark, your favorite, my long-time nemesis, for whatever reason, Jadavian Clowney, somebody else can pay Jadavian Clowney and then write all the puff pieces in August about how he's a force. I mean, the Brown's got great value.

Somebody else can read those stories. I don't know who needs to be writing a puff piece about him It happens every summer and it will happen again this year. But he actually was very, he was a great value for the Browns for what they paid. I just don't need to read it anymore. But I think especially when you talk about like Odell, he's got to go back to the Rams. It seems like the Rams players saying bring back Von Miller, bring back Odell. You found the fit. I don't want Odell going somewhere else.

I'm with you 100%. I think there's a value in signing these guys coming off of ACLs at a slight this. If I was a GM, that would be my money ball. I would just sign tons of guys coming off of torn ACLs. That's what Tramalky did. For a long time, yeah, they kind of tried that in San Francisco with their drafting, and it mostly didn't work. But sign guys, because they're at this discounted value,

and signed Odell for three years. And years two and three, he's going to be at worst a good wide receiver, too, which if you look at this market... Unless it quits on the team enforces. If you look at this market, it's like those are really hard to find in free agency. Like Mike Williams is seventh on this list, I think, in part just because there aren't any good receiver. And I don't even think he's necessarily like a true wide receiver one.

So sign up O'Dowell. I get it? Yeah, I mean, you have Gallup up here as well. He's like, what, 27? I like Gallup. I think I would sign up for Gallup in a second. Yeah. Come out of out of ACL.

Yeah, that's exactly what we're getting at. Is that the, would you rather pay Gallup who's younger? He's also coming off in ACL. Just one, though, as opposed to two. And also, yeah, yeah. I'd rather play Odo Beckham because he's Odo Beckham. Interesting. There's an extra element to that though

Which I think we're ignoring to some degree And you know I've gotten on O'Dell on this podcast What he did put together down the stretch He looks special before he blew out his knee That was like oh that's the guy I don't know where he's been for much of the last couple of years But he's still there and then the fates intervene

And his knee blows out And now there's question marks around him again Just look at Odo Beckham Senior's video That's very good I just don't like I don't want him to go to the Detroit Lions And see where we are you know a calendar year from now. There are a lot of these receivers that are available that are boom or bust.

Fuller is another one. He sort of fell off the face of the NFL, but he's back out there. And this is the year to go get him. You want to get like the post type year. He was expensive last year. Now you want to get him when he's like at a total low and his career might end. It's like Randy Gregory jumps out as a boomer bust for me because it's like

a lot of that, his story is the Jerry Jones having faith in him and seeing through all sorts of off the field stuff and injuries too. It's like, does someone else go give him a big contract? I don't know about that one. I mean, if you get the best version of them, you're good. Yeah. No, and that's the same thing with OBJ, it was that

when he goes to the Rams, that you could tell for weeks, they're like, all right, how do we use this guy? Like, they were trying to figure out what worked for him. And same with like, so a lot of guys, a lot of free agents, and it's different from the NBA in the sense. NFL, it's a lot of the guys just sign with eyes bitter. Really, their agents go, hey,

hey, guess what, you're a packer now. Like, it's like, oh, okay, I guess I'm a packer now. And like, that's really some of these guys. And I think of all of these receivers that we've talked about, it's like, hey, really, really dive into what situation you're getting into. Like Alan Robinson, it's like, hey, when he went at the Bears, like, yes, I guess he's the highest better you want to get paid. And if it's a short career, it's like, hey, be a little more choosy.

I can see it as time passes, it becoming more like the NBA. The salary cap is higher. There's more flexibility, more teams in the mix, and these players can really find because I don't think O'Dell, his career is revitalized unless he goes on that exact spot. And Robert Woods blows out his ACL, and that creates a path for him. I just want to throw out one more guy I love because we've talked about Alan Robinson who maybe I don't love but I like him as a bounceback

we mentioned gronk, we mentioned Gallup the other one is Honey Badger which you have at number 11 put that guy on my team maybe I don't know Nate you have a better eye on this I don't know where a skill set is has it eroded in recent seasons but he's still a leader and the type of guy that knows how to run a team

and run a defense and that's what it is and I think Greg nailed on the head that like that system that he's playing with Spags, it's like perfect for him because he gets to kind of freelance. He's a free, he's very he's very he'd, sometimes you get bad situations because he thinks he's a read something

and then actually it screws over the team. I think with him is he was picking and choosing his spots this past year. I'm not like knocking him. He's a super competitive guy, but there was times where he was like, all right, let's get the playoffs started. Like I'm not tackling Jamar Chase right now.

Like I'm going, let's wait, wait until the playoffs start. That might have to do with being in a contract year too. Correct. Which he tweeted about roughly twice He's very aware. He's very aware. That's another thing with these players. They're so much more aware of like the, they talk more.

They, it's just the age we live in. Everyone's more aware of everything now. And I think the same with these players. The same thing. He goes, we have 17 games now. I know we got Patrick Mahomes. We're going to go up for a playoff, right? I'm good tackling these guys in Week 17.

The other boom and busts I want to bring, and I think this is the epitome of a boomer bus guy is Trent Brown. And I think you nailed it. You have him at 44, which I think is perfect because he can be, like you said, he's a pro bowl field tilting. talent if he's healthy if he's motivated and that's exactly that's a boom and bust he was so good when he came on to the patriots last year but you had to wait 10 games for him to get there and then he didn't make it to the end so you're not really sure what to do with that but he was like their season

kind of changed when Trent brown showed up he was one of the most valuable players on that team yep you don't get and again tackles in certain positions these premium positions you don't see guys on the market and it's like this guy he already went on the market and we saw what happened with Vegas, with the Raiders, and it's like, okay, if this guy is motivated and stuff, it's like, okay, you can get a nice price on him, but that's the thing is he's going to want a big price because he kind of probably knows that upscale that he is as well. I'm glad you mentioned HoneyVadger, though, because during this exercise, I had them lower initially, and then I was just like looking at stuff, and I was thinking about how many times

has he been on this list, and this will be the third, third time, because he signed with the Texans, he signed with the chiefs, and here's another. and he's somehow going to get a third monster contract because he got that one early from Arizona as like an undersized, came into the league as 5-9-174 safety. Like that is harder to do than becoming a Hall of Famer.

Like get three monster contracts as a safety and transform the teams that you're on and that every coach talks about you as this just incredible figure that they would stand on the table for. And while I'm researching this, I find these tweets and all those articles that Wes used to write it right about him. And he loved Honey Badger, I think more than maybe any player in the entire league,

at least back in like 2015, 2016 when he was on the Cardinals and wrote all, and I found these great articles and I linked to it if you check it out on the free agent articles. It's NFL.com slash Top 101. All these articles he had written about Honey Badger. And then I remembered like how Honey Badger was so thoughtful to like wish Wes the best while he was sick. And after he passed, had a nice comment for Keeson and stuff. And just something about all that, I was like hearing West very, very much in my soul and it's like, all right, I'm shooting him up the list.

That's good. I got to put it a little higher. I got to put up a higher. I will not quibble. Hey, a few more minutes. And there's a million safeties, by the way. I just want to point that out. Marcus Williams is another good one.

Jesse Bates, there are a million good safeties available if you need quandary digs, Marcus, Marcos May, J. Ron, Kirst, Deshaun, Elliott, Justin Reed, who I really like. Like there's a lot. Terrible timing for Marcus May, Taryn that Achilles, but he is a good underrated player. Nate, can you empty out your notes app? Is there anybody else you want to throw out there before we? The other one that was BJ Hill.

For whatever reason, I focus on offensive skill guys usually. And all I bring up right now is defense and offensive linemen. But BJ Hill, he was traded from the Giants to the Bengals this past year. And this not a star or anything, but just a good, solid piece. And again, when we're talking about these defensive linemen, just trying to find these role players and that's what it really is especially defense now it's like your best free agent sometimes

yeah it really is and these guys okay you get the splash receiver you get the splash you know skill guy corner he was better than Ogun Joby when Ogun Joby got hurt they actually I don't they could have had used both but he was better than he was he was just the term I always use and Robert

Robert Madoes always makes fun he's rugged and like that's what he is though and it's like that's you need those guys and sometimes these free agent guys are the ones that are like you know splashy star types and this guy is more like okay this is the launch pill guy and i think that matters sometimes if you're truly like okay we got help our defense all right we're going from below average det tackle just a crap de tackle to above average that's still like a couple tiers and improvement and i think that's what bj hill like would provide for somebody dan and i we keep talking about like

what the hell happened in the second half of that chiefs game i still can't get over at chief spangles but part of what happened was patrick mahomes uh threw a ball and b j hill 320 pounds caught it when I went right into his chest, essentially. And that was part of what happened. Do you have an answer, by the way? What happened? I did a Twitch stream on it, Twitch. Twitch.tv.tv, slash Nate underscore ties.

Yeah, you see that? Thank you. Thank you. I was taking out for you after you. You did the URL. That was perfect. You nailed it. So when I watched that game, it truly is a tell of two halves.

Like, and it's the first half, it was, you can't stop this guy. Like, you can't stop this off. But how, Nate? The defense, on the second half, they dropped eight. And when a defense drops eight, the ways to be. it is run the ball and the chiefs got away from that and the other way is beat him over the top and the chiefs just kept running quick game short stuff because that's what they thought they were going to be facing against the entire game they're like oh we'll just

hit them underneath I did him underneath Tiger Hill running run with one run for a score just like we did the week before so they kept doing it they just didn't adjust and so there's my home just going like a little bit on Andy Reid there a little bit it was a little bit on the play calling it blew my mind you watch the game you can tell they're just like how does this the right play but here's it no one adjusted and you've been on sidelines like these guys are football savants they know the sport they see what's happening like how are they not noticing that and adapting at that on that stage with their pedigree tight butts but this is a super bowl champion team coach coaching staff quarterback been to the

super ball two straight years i mean that was a number one tight bud situation it really was it's up there it really was because my homes even like when they got to the red zone they were going to score to try and win the game they didn't kick in the field goal it was just just like they took turns screwing up. Like one guy is wild. Like Kelsey ran into, like Kelsey Adlibbitt ran into his teammate. Like Orlando Brown just whiffs on Trey Hendrickson. Like they just took turns, like just airballing.

We've gotten off top. We've got enough. Teams classic. Mark, Mark, you have anything else before we sign off? No, a few of the boob or bus guys. I don't trust Jujum Smith-Schuster in the wrong offense on any level. Well, he's pretty low.

I know. That's Greg agreeing with you, basically. Yeah, I mean, I'm concerned. Although I actually kind of like him. Again, it's like the year after the year. I'm just like to go to the Jaguars and let's see what happened. I would like to see him when Ben Ralthusberger at 700 years old isn't throwing to him. But maybe not an explosive guy.

He's not. He's like a tough like Derek Mason type of guy. This guy's very low on your list, Greg. And I thought maybe because his peaks are a little higher, but I'm with you that I don't trust him at all. And there's a lot of heat about resigning him. David Njoku, he looks great. But it's like he vanishes for weeks. at a time, and then he'll do something that, like, is incredible, and you understand who he is,

but I don't see him as an extension or a re-sign. I had him out of the top 100 at first. Yeah. Oh, wow. Our editor, Ali was like, when he saw where he is, like, what is he, 80 or 90 years? He's way down there. I was just like, I hate those guys that, like, five plays a year. You're like, that guy is amazing, and that's it.

And then we've seen enough. I don't know. Speaking of free agency, and why it's so hard, Cleveland paid Austin Hooper top dollar in the market a couple of years ago. And that hasn't quite panned out. But Njoku seems to have a higher ceiling. I do want to throw out a couple names just before we go. Stefan Gilmore, to me, is like a fascinating guy.

I have no idea what's going to happen there. What do you think of him right now? I'm in the same way. Like, you're right up on it. It was exactly how I feel. It's like two years ago, this guy was a defensive player in the year. And it can play the hardest, do the hardest thing in the league, which is play man coverage and actually, like, do it well.

And then, like, the trade happens and everything that happens with it, It's just, it's bizarre. It really is bizarre. I think he got caught in a little bit of an Alan Robinson situation. He was wanting the big contract, never got it from New England, and then started, like, preserving his body and funny business happening there. And then, like, he was still kind of doing it when he went to Carolina. They always supported him publicly, but they only played him 30 snaps a game.

Yeah. And then he sat out the last two weeks. That's not what they traded for. Right. And they only had to give up a six-round pick. So he was a value ad. And he looked pretty good in those. I actually went back and watched him because he was like the one guy I did.

didn't know what to think about, but I don't know if he was, you know, 2019 Gilmore by any stretch. So he's a mystery to me. One of the guys I got some feedback on was Shurf, Brandon Shirf, who's, who did the Kirk Cousins thing where he actually made more money getting these one-year franchise tag deals by not signing with Washington. I think he's made as much money as any guard in the league over the last three years. And now he's finally a free agent.

And there's some talk that his body is kind of breaking down in a way, unlike Armstead, where it's just like, this guy might be falling. of a cliff. So I would put him a little lower in 2.0. I do have some guys I love, though. Rashad Penny. Let it rip. Rashad Penny.

He was like Derek Henry down the stretch. He's always hurt. I know, but like he's going to be so cheap. And I know. Keith Carroll said that they would. They would like to bring him back. Right. I'm sure they would.

And I just can't imagine many people are going to like try to pay him. And I don't know. I would just see if you could catch lightning in a bottle because like that was something that happened. Yeah. He was freaking amazing. You're going to get 37 carries, but they're. awesome. No, but that five-game stretch was unlike anything he had ever

showed in his entire career. That's mean. And so maybe you get a year of that and like where he's like a pro bowler. I feel like that's on the table. How about Hassan Redick at 30, by the way, 23 and a half sacks over the past two years playing a premium position. And here he is on this list again. That one, actually, I had no idea that he was a free agent this year. I feel like every time I watch a game with Hassan Redicate and he's doing something crazy. It's true. It's just that he's undersized. And that's like that only that's the biggest knock on him is that like okay he doesn't quote unquote hold up against a run

but it's the thing is he gets sacks it's a passing league right he's kind of one of those guys that doesn't have a ton of pressures and like has converted a ton into sacks and so maybe i should have him a little lower uh i getting the look from mark that he's ready to go yeah that i feel like that i and carlton davis this episode is not center around me i'm just i love me some carlton davis i think he's going to get paid so much he's in my top 10 from the Bucks, I feel like he could be amazing. O.J. Howard, I would take a flyer on. I feel like you got through that Achilles tear

and a waste of a year last year. Dalton Schultz, I don't think the Cowboys will let him go. And if for some reason J.C. Jackson does get out there, like, he is the real deal. I think he improves so much every year. What are the Patriots doing if they let him go? I would Bill Belichick's turning 70. How about keep a great cornerback around?

I would think they'll franchise tag him just because they're not going to want to pay him 60 million guaranteed or a hundred million dollar contract, which is I think what he would get on the open market, so they'll franchise. Here's the only thing I will say that you messed up and blew it. Dalton should be 50 through 100. Dalton should be 68, Teddy should be 67.

And the 101, and it's right there for you, Gregie. Gino Smith at 101 would have been, havin you've done that before. I have, like, years ago, Gino was 101. Is it because of the DUI? You're a little disappointed in them. I think I box myself into a corner here with the way I did the quarterbacks. I should have put Teddy in the 60s, you're right, maybe.

Marioita, Marioita and there were just so many. There's Jacoby Brissette's out there. Tyrod's out there. Tribisky didn't even make my 101, and I'm hearing you might get like a monster content. I don't want to hear about this Tribisky stuff. That is just the most tiresome angle of the entire office. People like you, Nate Tice, don't want to back off their old draft takes.

So, like, if they like, you didn't like, no, I'm saying. Don't do that to the journey, man. No, no, I know. What I'm trying to say is, hey, scouts. Fuck you, Greg. Scouts, once they have a take, they believe in it forever. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

You double down. Hey, that's six games at UNC. That's way more important than the 50 games actually in the NFL. I can't believe, like, the hoopla that's happening this week about him is like, right. That was what happened. I think it's one of those things that a small group of people are doing it to trick and see who else falls for it. They're just messing with us.

Yeah. He's also, well, I don't. even want to get into it. I have another dark theory about it that I'm not going to do it because they would offend people. But Gino got banged. I mean, now you have to.

Gino got banged by a dark. I didn't want to put all these backups on the list. Like, Cam is a free agent, by the way. Cam's a free agent. It would have been a great 101. Cam would have been a good one. Yeah, I went through the other one. Two point O.

You've got two point out of. Even Trevor Simeon and Josh Johnson feel like they actually deserve contracts at this point. Josh Johnson. XFL is coming back. Josh Johnson in the snaps he took last year was quite good. It was entertaining. Teddy Bridgewater 34, Cam Newton, not on the list. Okay, I got a, that's it.

But, Nate, you said it all. You said it all. And you could check out Nate on Twitter at Nate underscore Tice. Very nice. The underscore, don't get thrown off by it. It's not a hyphen. It's an underscore. Check them out on the athletic football show.

And buddy, you nailed it. You will not be hit it or quit it. We want to get into a committed relationship with all. I'm honored. I'll make sure the Wi-Fi is plugged in. No longer Wi-Fi will be a wire connection. Yeah, wire connection just for you guys. I appreciate it.

All right, everybody, have a great weekend. Greg, do you have any final thoughts? And this is your stage. Is it? Yeah, more broad thoughts about the list and your place in the world. I like the Mr. Irrelevant thing, though. overarching. Yeah.

No. I do not. Thank you, Erica. All right, everybody, have a great weekend. We'll be back in L.A. with more fun next week. Until then, you know what you got to do? Pizza call. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here.

And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant.

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