Purple Insider - a Minnesota Vikings and NFL podcast - 10 things Intern Clay cannot wait to find out about the 2025 NFL season

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

Matthew Coller is joined for the final time by Intern Clay, who is graduating from college, to discuss the 10 things he cannot wait to find out about the 2025 NFL season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay, so this show has at least one sponsor, so I'm going to get to that. And then it is a very, very special Clay's Corner because Clay is graduating from college and thus bringing his internship to an end. And this is his final evening on the show. So I gave him his last homework assignment, which was to make up 10 things, a list of 10 things that he cannot wait to find out about the 2025 NFL season. So I want to know yours, your guys in the comment section, what can you not wait to find out about the 2025 season now that we have the

schedule and we can really take a look at what it's going to be like. But first want to tell you about something I've been trying to slow me down in terms of the consumption of fast food. And that is called tempo meals. Tempo is a weekly delivery service that delivers chef crafted meals from a dietitian approved menu, fresh to your door. They have perfectly portioned lunches and dinners that take the guesswork out of eating fully prepared All you need to do is heat them up in the microwave three minutes

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Free agency in the draft, mad house in here, and then leading up to the schedule release like, okay, what's next? Let's get something else. But it has been a pleasure having you as the intern and you have put together a list for tonight. I say this is your show. It's your final show. What are you most interested in in the NFL season? 2025. So good evening, my friend. Where would you like to begin? Yeah, it's a little bittersweet night, but uh, like always,

I'm glad to be back and talk some ball. And the first thing I want to talk about, I feel like this is not just on my mind, but Vikings fans and the whole NFL, I got to see how J.J. McCarthy looks this year. And I feel like no matter how much analyzing and research we do, we're not going to know until the season rolls around. And the fact that they won 14 games and the Vikings organization is taking this leap of faith on JJ. It's just, it's something you want to watch and something you want to tune into and especially in a stacked NFC North, like

it's going to create a lot of opportunities either for them or other teams, depending on how he does. So I'm going to keep my eyes on them and or on him. And I know pretty much the whole league will as well. There is nothing like a team that is ready to win. That's bringing in a new quarterback. And that doesn't even matter if it's a team like the Vikings in 2018 when they brought in Kirk Cousins where there's so much intrigue.

And even though we knew what he was from Washington, he had never been in a situation like the Vikings with Sam Darnold last year, a little less so, because I think a lot of people were down on the team, but when you're bringing in somebody that is supposed to tell it, take you to another level, there, there's just nothing like it in the sport. It is one of the most fascinating things, and that's how you end up on national TV for half of your schedule is because everybody knows that this is the guy. This is the one with the secret sauce

who's going to take you to where you haven't been before. And not only that, but J.J. McCarthy represents so much more not to put any pressure on you but J.J. McCarthy represents so much more. Not to put any pressure on you, J.J., but this entire franchise has failed to find this guy forever. I mean, they found it in Dante Culpepper and then he got hurt in 2005 and his career was cut short with the Vikings. Had he stayed healthy, then maybe a few years later they would have built the roster back up, changed owners, gotten to be a premier franchise with

him as their quarterback. Maybe the offenses modernize a little bit from where they were then, make it easier on him. But we never got to see that reality. And with Teddy Bridgewater, it was the same sort of thing. Like maybe in in 2017 he's this much better than Case Keenum and they go into Philadelphia with a chance but instead we never got to see that reality so now here you are through the years Tommy Kramer was a franchise quarterback to some extent a lot of injuries though throughout his years in the 80s it's really Fran Tarkenton and then it's a lot of hopes and dreams that haven't quite come to fruition, even though there's been a lot of great seasons.

And now here you are with someone who you drafted, you can develop, you have the best coach of quarterbacks. You've got the best receiver. Everything is there for JJ McCarthy. I mean, it's a great place. It's an obvious place for you to start, but I think it's not just you. I think everybody in the NFL wants to find out how good is JJ McCarthy really going to be. Yeah. It's, I feel like in football, it's very rare that we see a young quarterback come in and he can be the

reason that they make a deep playoff push or even the super bowl. Cause normally the team around him is not, not that great, but this situation is way different. So it could kind of be like an NBA situation. We saw the Mavericks get the first pick. Cooper Flaherty stepping in, he has a real chance of getting a championship his first year. It could be the same thing with JJ McCarthy. So and everyone, I think everyone has that kind of on their mind.

So they're they're keeping the eagle eye on him to see how he does. Not totally sold that the Mavericks are going to have a real chance to win next year. But I get I get the metaphor. I get where you're headed with that. All right. What's number two on your list? Number two is kind of building off that. And that's I really want to see who wins the NFC North. It's such a competitive division and there's so much talent. And besides the talent, there's coaching talent everywhere. I know Ben Johnson's a first time head coach, but you can argue that these are four of the best in the league, depending obviously on how Ben Johnson does. But it's hard to question his offense at least

and have faith that they'll show improvements. And obviously the Vikings, it comes down to JG McCarthy. Lions lost their coordinators and they're gonna need people to step up. Packers, I feel like kind of have the least amount of question marks, but they're still kind of without that number one, true, uh, threat. I mean, we'll see how golden does, but, uh, it's every team has question marks. And I could genuinely see either all four of these teams winning or being at the

bottom of the division. So it's just going to be really fun to watch and really competitive and just good football. So when I think through the years, how many divisions have ever had four franchises that all of their fan bases were saying, this should be our time. I can't say, I mean, look around the NFL. I can't say that there's many other because they're always rising and falling in the NFL. It's what makes it so beautiful and fascinating is that teams are always, you're either headed up

or you're headed down. And if we just pick another division at random, like how about the AFC West? So, you know, you could have Kansas city and a freedom thinker says, you know, will the chiefs regress after losing in the Super Bowl? I think to some extent they will because their schedule will be harder But okay, you've got them You have Denver they can make an argument that they're on the rise the Chargers can make an argument They're strong, but even in a great division like that. You're still looking at the Raiders going

I don't know like are you really going to make this next big jump? For the Broncos have you hit a ceiling last year for what you can really do because they didn't add a lot of weapons To their team and that's the great great division So then you look at the NFC North all of these teams can say we're on the rise the Lions Can point out that they were so injured last year that they should be even better this year the Packers can say we're on the rise. The Lions can point out that they were so injured last year that they should be even better this year. The Packers can say, hey, we added offensive line, even though a little dubious on that, but added offensive line, added weapons, two wide receivers in the first three rounds to go along with Jane Reed there. And then Chicago is the ultimate,

like we should be taking that huge step forward. And then the Vikings adding JJ McCarthy and $300 million of free agency money. I don't know that you can go four for four in any other division to say, wow, they are definitely going on the upswing. The FC West is the closest I can get to, but even then the chiefs, like, can we really argue the chiefs are going to be better than they were last year when they had to get away with those one score wins, but did their roster get a lot better or are they fading back a little? Like that's the closest I could come though to another division where

all four fan bases think we are on the up swing, which makes the NFC North the most compelling division in football. Yeah, it's there's always one team that normally holds it back. And in the past, it's been. A common for the Bears, the Lions to be that team, but it's finally at a point where it's like, geez, like this isn't these are two joke football teams anymore, like they're here to play and trying to get a Super Bowl.

So it's super fun to watch. And as a fan of one of the teams in the division, it's just super cool to be a part of it. I mean, every one of those games is going to be such a huge deal. And I cannot wait to be in attendance. All right. Number three. Yep. Number three. Shocker incoming.

I got to see how if the offseason moves for the Bears actually made a difference as I look back on the off season and all the moves they made, everything points and screams that they should be better next season. But the problem is, there's never any guarantees with the Bears and just because they should do something or look a certain way, it rarely ends up like that. But I believe they have the coaching staff and the roster to be a eight, nine, maybe 10 win team this year, but it's really just going to, it's still just a will see like the biggest will see team in the league.

So one thing that's tricky about having a quarterback that's as young as Caleb Williams is we're only going into year two here for him. And yet it feels like this is it already. Like already we're going to see, are you a guy or are you not a guy? Like, are you another bears bust or are you the bears franchise quarterback? It's probably not totally fair to Caleb Williams to judge him just on year two because he's going to be what twenty two baby he's gonna get to twenty three on the way for this season that seems very harsh to me to make that

judgment and yet having gone through a season last year where he showed a lot of weaknesses and jason brings up the thing with how much film he was supposed to watch i I mean, I'm sure that that's being used as some sort of excuse to blame somebody else, but you got to find that out yourself. Mr. Franchise quarterback. My gosh. I mean, that's if you don't like Lincoln, Riley didn't teach you any of that. Not only that, but also like, oh, there's no one else to ask. I mean, in the entire like what? There's a lot of former quarterbacks who would take your phone call

and help you go through that. And that just sounds like excuse making. in the entire, like what? There's a lot of former quarterbacks who would take your phone call and help you go through that. And that just sounds like excuse making. There was a lot of that with Caleb Williams. What I, what I want to see from Caleb Williams more than anything is I don't think a year two quarterback in that situation with a team that's better, but not quite a Superbowl caliber roster, their playoff caliber, but not Super Bowl caliber on defense is does he, does he show a little more professionalism? Does he show a little more? Hey man, this is not USC. Nobody's going to walk over and hold your hand.

This is an unfair jab, but you're, you can't climb up in the stands and hug your mom after every game, bro. Like you've got to figure out that this is, this is the pros. No one's going to make any excuses for you. If you fail this year, you're a bust already and they're going to start looking for what their next option is. And that's one of the reasons you change. Court coaches is well, not only Matt Iberfuls was horrendous, but also because if you get in a situation where Caleb Williams is not actually good, then Ben Johnson could be like, ah, well, that was your guys quarterback.

That was the free. And then Ryan Poles will just be fired and go forward. Right. And then you're going to do the same song and dance again and try to draft someone in the 2026 or or whatever. Maybe you give him two more years. But what I want to see from him is does he come out this year and act like a pro quarterback or is he still dropping back, drop the eyes? Cause he doesn't seem to know where the play is supposed to go. Scramble, make one crazy throw a game, but have five sacks to me. That's college quarterback. That's the exact same way he played at USC.

Now that's what happens sometimes with rookies, but if he comes into this year as a pro with a professional approach, then he's got a chance to be a really, really good quarterback. That was the one big question I had coming out is, is he going to learn how to really play quarterback? Because at USC, I think it was a lot of, uh, just run around crazy scramble. And the one thing that got to me for him at USC, I think it was a lot of, uh, just run around, crazy scramble. And the one thing that got to me for him is USC, cause I did not love him as a

prospect as much as the rest of the world did not trying to dunk this one. I've screwed up quarterbacks many times. Everybody has, but the big question I had was why do his receivers look like they're mad all the time at USC? Like, why does it seem like they're running open and being like, ah, he didn't throw it to me and then he scrambles, scrambles, scrambles, makes a crazy throw, but you can't do that. When the guy chasing you around is Jonathan Grinard, who's one

of the best players on earth. He's just gonna catch you a lot of times. And they did in the biggest moment in soldier field last year. So I agree with you. I mean, if we're making all NFL storylines, can't wait to find out the entire league, the number one pick who was touted as highly as he is with now receivers, a first round tight end. Don't you forget it. And, uh, also a coach who's had so much success before that you can't even argue while

it's the coach's fault. No, because Jared Goff has been a superstar the last few years. So it's not the coach and it's not the old line and it's not the receivers. If it doesn't go well, then it's on Caleb Williams. So I agree. And this whole layer being added to. Not just the fact that he wanted to play for the Vikings. OK, that's fine.

But why would you tell anyone that you were thinking about saying screw the Bears franchise and then out of the goodness of your heart, you decided to go to the team that's drafting you number one. Are you serious, man? Like this lack of awareness with him. And then you listen to some of the things with the way his dad talks. You go, OK, now I'm starting to understand some things here. The, the entitlement of like, well, maybe I'll just not play for the bears or,

oh no, I guess you're so lucky to have me. It's like, what? The next two quarterbacks behind you were great. If they hadn't picked him and traded him back to the Vikings and gotten three firsts or something, and then pick Drake May or Jayden Daniels. Oh my God. Like, bro, there were other quarterbacks who were just as good. Like there's a level of entitlement that comes across with him in even saying like, oh, the rookie wage scale is wrong in this article. And oh, you know, I didn't want to go nuclear on Chicago.

Oh my gosh. Thank you. Oh, man. Wow. They are so blessed. Like, I don't know. There's a lot of red flags there that I think people ignored in the draft process because they had just heard the name Caleb Williams. There was so much hype and everything else. And Giovanni says, hopefully we'll never know. Uh, for Vikings fans, they're certainly hoping that they find out that Caleb Williams is a bust and

all the other quarterbacks are good in that draft. But that's, that's a great selection on to number four. I have to kind of add onto that. I think part of that with that entitlement is he's been the best player at his level since he was 14 years old, probably. Yep. So he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. And I've been around certain parents now that the NIL movement has gone and it's like such a different world. Like they're not thinking just like parents, they're thinking like sharks. It's weird to be in this new generation, which is why I think Ben Johnson is a good coach to step in because he is just that true like nut that is like will get down and like he's very like he lays it down

how it is and he expects it to for you to follow through and oh the things i'm hearing it sounds like keo williams wants to be coached hard and i hope that's true but uh it's another we'll see there they are a big we'll see that's why they're on the list because you can't wait to find out and then for number four um you touched on it earlier, but I really want to see how the Vikings start the year off. Although like the places and locations are a little wonky. I think their first five games are the easiest stretch for them. But after that, it's like that grueling, like almost nine-week stretch

where they'll be tested by some of the best teams in the league. And if they start out rough, like I have a hard time seeing them dropping the opener to Chicago, but if JJ does have those first game jitters and it is Soldier Field, who knows what could happen? And then it could be a tumble affair. So they're going to need to start out with three or four wins just to be ready for that next stretch. Cause it looks crazy. Well, and I picked them to do well at the beginning of the season. I think I had them four and one to start the year still though. What Atlanta is.

We don't really know. I don't take Atlanta that seriously as a franchise because they need to make me take them seriously as a franchise They drafted Michael Penex without even telling Kirk cousins that they were going to do it like dude Look like a clown show more when you're doing that and I thought Penex was a great draft pick for them because we didn't know what Kirk was gonna look like post Achilles surgery And the answer was that he could not move at all. And then, you know, they end up now still having a potential franchise quarterback, but if they get their stuff together and we did see this happening

at the end of last season at times with Michael Pennings, he's got an incredible arm, uh, just in terms of percentage of big time throws, he was number one in the league last year. that's I know only a hundred throws, but he was making plays with his arm that you just don't see that often. That's why I really liked him coming out the draft. I liked them as a potential fit for the Vikings and I think all the stuff that we're talking about with Caleb Williams, Michael Pennings is the opposite, just great, great leadership ice in the veins.

Think about how he handled being drafted there, where it sounds like Caleb Williams would have thrown a fit, but we never heard a thing from Michael Pennings. And then he showed them behind the scenes that he was ready to start because they didn't have to. It wasn't like I mean, Kirk later claimed that he had an injury, but it wasn't like Kirk was so injured. They couldn't have kept running him out there. They didn't have to bring in Pennex They brought him in to try to save the season because they believed in what they were seeing

So does he change the shape of that franchise because not that long ago We thought of them as an elite franchise. They had a great head coach and Dan Quinn They had a great quarterback and Matt Ryan and it's just gone into disrepair because of the quarterback position. So that's the game at the beginning of the year that I haven't really put a lot of discussion into, but I am also very fascinated to find out is that the game that's tougher than we thought it was going to be just like last year, the Texans were easier than we thought it was going to be. They just blew them out. Their offensive line couldn't play, but are the Falcons ready to be the team in the NFC South now that they have their quarterback in place?

And then all of a sudden this beginning of the season, because Borough comes next, then you got the international games. Maybe the beginning of the season looks harder if Michael Pennings is that guy. Yeah, it's I'm calling it the easiest sketch, like stretch of the schedule, but it's still with some good competition. Like those first three games, you can't just look over them and act like these aren't teams that are going to put up a fight and be ready to compete. So especially the Bengals one too, I've been harping on my worries for the Vikings' cornerback

room this whole offseason. So showing up in Jamar Chase and T Higgins is right there. It's going to be tough to figure that out. But I don't know, if they're all winnable games, then they're just going to need to start fast. Because otherwise, I can see the confidence start to unwind because they are going into the season with the mindset. What was Grinard's shirt?

Do more is required. Yeah, more is required. So that's kind of the attitude. So they start out, they drop two or three of the first five. The whole mentality of the team might switch. So and, you know, I think back to previous years and the Vikings faced twenty nineteen, it was Atlanta and their opener. 2020 was the Packers.

So that one was interesting, but there were no fans and it was weird. And they had Tampa Bay two years ago. OK, well, they lost that game. But I mean, you know, Tampa Bay, there's no rivalry there really with the Vikings. This out of the gate two national TV games and Two quarterbacks who were drafted in the same class two franchises that are looking to take the same big step as the Vikings This this might be the most exciting out of the gate that we have seen from the Minnesota Vikings in a very very long time

My first my first year covering them. they played the Titans on the road. And it was OK. Like great start, I guess, to the season. The next week was unbelievable. But that was the first game in U.S. Bank Stadium was the following week. But it was like, yeah, football's back, I guess. Let's get the preseason game out of the way and then we'll get to the real season.

It is not that way. It is out of the frying pan into the fire for the Vikings. All right. Number five. Well that game one also we talked about how the NFC North is super competitive. Who knows right? We 1617 what the records are going to be and we might look back to week one and be like if we didn't drop that or if we got that like it's such a big it matters.

Yeah, it matters a lot. But anyway for my fifth one, I'm of off the nfc north talk i want to talk travis hunter i want to see if he will not just be able to play both positions but play them effectively because i think they're committed to letting travis be who he is um but he's gonna have to be an alien to be able to be a good player on both sides of the ball. And honestly, I believe in his skill, but I'm not confident in the durability. Because in 2021, he tore his PCL, in 2022, he tore his ACL and MCL,

2023, he lacerated his liver against Colorado State. And then this last year, he was dealing with a shoulder injury. So if you were having a hard time staying healthy at college playing both ways, it's going to be a whole new ball game at the pros. But I think he's he has the talent. It's just you can't control your body sometimes. So it's going to be interesting to see.

Well, you just tape up the liver and get back out there. That's all. It's not that hard. I here's here's what makes me sad about Travis Hunter is I enjoyed the heck out of watching him at Colorado. It was so much fun. And I also think that one of the reasons should do Sanders is not a top draft pick is how many amazing catches Travis Hunter made or yards after catch. And it was like, Oh, great job.

Should her touchdown. Well, was it really though? Or was that just put it anywhere near one of the guys with the best ball skills in college? I mean, honestly, some of the best I've ever seen just going up and tracking the football, it's like a smaller Deandre Hopkins or something. But the fact that he's playing for the Jaguars, we are never going to see Travis Hunter. I think that they have one national TV game

and that is it for the entire year. They couldn't even throw them three. Now they care so much about Thursday night that they couldn't even throw them a couple of garbage Thursday nights to get us on television. I look forward to seeing him on NFL plus occasionally. I'll just go look and see what he's doing or highlights of him making a catch.

But almost how I felt about Marvin Harrison Jr. last year was like, oh, he's going to Arizona. So I guess I'll check his fantasy numbers this season. And that's about it because you're not going to see him on TV too many times for their sake. If they improve under their new coaching staff and their new management Then we'll see him down the line, but this fascinating Experiment is just not going to be in front of us a whole heck of a lot

We're gonna have to read about it or watch it on social media play out and that is pretty disappointing I know if he had gone to Cleveland, it's not that much different But Jacksonville is the ultimate buried in your hole in the south and we're not gonna see you much but I feel the same way I really really enjoy him as a player more about his personality has come out recently and just the attitude he has toward life and other people and I think he is a special person but I tend to agree with you the cornerback position gets hurt a lot in general and can you run routes with the level of detail of guys who do it for their whole life since they were six at the NFL level? Or is that going to be too

hard? Like he's been, I mean, such a great corner. I think that's one where you could do a little bit easier, but can you really get open as a a wide receiver and can you take the amount of punishment that it's gonna take? I know he wants to do it. They think he's gonna be special. I hope he does. I love show Hey, Otani, I love guys who break the game No matter what sport it is just people in any sport who's breaking the game was Serena Williams comes in hitting it Harder than anybody else a Bryson DeChambeau Serena Williams comes in hitting it harder than anybody else. A Bryson DeChambeau, just his approach and hitting the ball farther than anyone and all that. I love when that happens.

But is he going to be able to pull it off is a great question. Definitely one of my things to watch this season that I would agree with. Good call. Yep. And then for my next point, I I'm really I'm a wide receiver guy as we know, and I really want to see how these rookie wide receivers perform. And I think Jayden Higgins has a real chance to, at least this year, be the best rookie receiver.

I think there's so many good things going for him by being able to play alongside Nico Collins, who is pretty much his clone. And also he could get catch passes from CJ Stroud, especially with Tank Dell out and Deirds off the team. They're going to need somebody to step up and get more targets. And I think Jayden Higgins will fill into that offense perfectly. Other than him, I wanted to go with like Emeka Ibuka because I think he's the most NFL ready right now. I just don't know what his target share is going to look like with Godwin and Mike Evans, I wanted to go with like a Mecha Buka because I think he's the most NFL ready right now. I just don't know what his target share is going to look like with Godwin and Mike Evans. But when Godwin's kind of on his way out, I think it book is going to take everything he learned from him and just be a new revamped version.

Well, the fact that the two of the top wide receivers went into the NFC North is eye catching for me. Matthew Golden runs that four three. I don't think he's a first round pick. top wide receivers went into the NFC North is eye catching for me. Matthew Golden runs that four three. I don't think he's a first round pick. If he doesn't, that to me is always kind of a red flag, but if it clicks, he could be very dangerous against the Vikings and burden was a guy that I thought might even fit for the Vikings and there's some questions, personality, stuff like that.

But he is really good with the football in his hands. So how good are those guys? That's going to impact this year's results in the NFC North. Let me tack onto this though, that I might actually be more interested because of the pure intrigue of the class in what last year's wide receivers do this year. I mentioned Marvin Harrison. It was pretty, man. It was just okay. And Malik neighbors was fantastic, but still doesn't have a great quarterback throwing to him.

At least it's better than it was last year where it was a complete mess. He may have a rookie quarterback eventually that is throwing to him. But that group there, the generational wide receiver class that was last year and think about how no defensive players went in that draft till what? Like the 14th overall pick or something that has got my attention still. Who takes the next step? Who becomes a superstar? Who changes a franchise?

Because after one year, I think neighbors clearly is better, but if Harrison jr does it, then you might be talking about Arizona as the team that nobody discussed all off season and then competes for the division. Yeah. That was another one of my, uh, things on the list. It was, oh no, I ruined it. No, it's a perfect segue. Uh, Marvin Harrison and Romo Dunze.

I'm trying to see if they will catch up to neighbors and Brian Thomas and Harrison, I was looking at it after we talked last show, and I don't see why we should be optimistic that he's going to really improve. I don't think they added any other weapons around him. They have the same OC. So if they're just going to keep chucking it deep to him, it's... I'm concerned because I'm worried. I don't know if it's a game plan thing

or if the coaches see something that he lacks and they're not confident that he could run all the routes at the NFL level. So it'll be interesting to see. And then Romo doomsday, I have him as my biggest breakout player of the year. Um, I think Ben Johnson is going to get this offense at least like competent. And I think Antoine Randall L is going to really just push him to make that next step. So good point though, on, uh, bringing up Brian Thomas, who was so good last year.

And if you picked him and you were a fantasy player, congratulations to you. You might have won your league based on him. What I wonder about that was, is it just because like, is he actually great? Or is it just because who else were they going to throw to? That's where trying to separate those numbers, we just do everything on catches yards and that's it. And it's like, well, if you got the fantasy stats, you're the best and somebody else forget them.

But even like a Brock Bowers, they had nobody else. Was he really a needle mover and a superstar? Because to me, you have to do it on a really good team to get that qualification at least sometimes in your career because then you're playing relevant games national TV games big big important opponents who are trying to shut you down not oh we're down 17 and Brian Thomas got four more catches I want to see this year are they more competitive is he really that great dunes a I just I don't think you could really get a sense for how good he could be last year because the quarterback was not

Getting him the football. He's out there running routes, you know this saying for the love of the game Just I'm open and you know, he's getting sacked 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage Are they going to be able to get Roma Dunze the football football? And there's a lot of weapons who are going to want the ball. D.J. Moore is still there. You're bringing in Colston Loveland and then second round wide receiver and burden. So is he going to fit in nicely and have him distribute the ball or is it going to be somebody kind of gets left out of that party?

And to your point about Harrison Jr. I have felt skeptical on him really the entire time with all the hype, because when he was in college, what you don't see and there are receivers who have succeeded like this, but you don't see a quick twitch element. You don't see that burst separation. So he kind of has to be a Mack truck out there. And it looked like last year, as you mentioned, that they were just kind of has to be a Mack truck out there and it looked like last year as you mentioned that they were just kind of Hucking it up to him sometimes and hoping that he came down with it

He had a lot of contested catch opportunities But in the NFL you just can't hope that you go up and get it over and moss somebody every time You just it's just not gonna work Like even for Randy Moss who did that a lot of his touchdowns are just running by somebody creating separation and not just jumping over their faces. So I am a little bit skeptical that he's going to reach this level where people were saying, Oh, he's going to be a hall of fame, which is preposterous. And you should never do about anyone coming out in the draft, but they still do it anyway, because they don't care if they're right or wrong.

But that's, you know, that to me is always, how are you doing that? How are you putting that type of hype on somebody when we haven't seen it? And they do have a weakness. Uh, Aaron mentioned Xavier, Legette, maybe, I mean, Caroline, I think it's gonna be different team. I think there'll be a different team. They get a first round wide receiver in Tep McMillan and then Leggett, Coker last year started to emerge and then you have Thielen is still there. They can run the football. They have a good offensive line and Bryce, he was a real quarterback last year in the second half of the year. One of the best in terms of big time throws. I do think Carolina's offense going to show up their defense.

I don't know if DJ Wanam and Patrick Jones are taking you to the promised land right away, but I do think LeGette could be a good player. He showed some flashes, but also. Drop some balls that they really needed him to catch. So not totally convinced there, but it's a, it's a great question for both of these wide receiver classes, are they going to reshape the league or are we going to get just some really good and then some guys? Yeah, I think if like it I think his season will be more just tied to Bryce young

I'm very confident Bryce young. He's an LA guy I was lucky enough to like play some seven on seven events with him and just be around him and just his He's like the like cool. Like we talked about cool quarterbacks like back in the offseason. Like he's the definition of cool. No, nothing gets him too hyped or too low. And it's just always steady. And I think he's just taking each experience and learning from it and doing what you're supposed to as a young guy. So I like how they're building the offense around him defense.

Yeah, it's still going to be a little shaky, but they should be better this year. Yeah, no, I agree. And not feel like we've spent a good amount of time talking about NFC self-intrigue, which hasn't happened a lot. But it's almost like Bryce Young gets forgotten that he's the number one overall pick in terms of the national discussion. But right here so fast, they were close and gaily. They almost be. I know everyone almost beat Kansas City, but right here so fast, they were close in Gaely. They almost be.

I know everyone almost beat Kansas City, but they almost beat Kansas City. They've played a number of games that were close because Bryce improved. It's just that no one was really looking because who would ever care. But I do think they have a coach who helped Baker Mayfield take his next step, who helped, you know, Smith take his next step. Dave Canales, that they're being maybe overlooked a little bit. So where are we at? Are we at number? Is that count as number six? So we're number seven.

I think so. Yeah. So next two teams, your list. I don't I don't I'm not supposed to pass it. No, I think we're on eight. We're on eight. Aaron asked where the Vikings high on Bryce Young. I believe so. Yeah, I believe so. But I mean, he's the number one overall pick. So, you know. Yeah. But so for seven, I think the Seahawks and Raiders

both completely revamped their offenses and they're connected because Gino. So I'm curious to see how each change affects both teams, because I'm one of my biggest questions is, is Sam Darnold going to be the improved, reinvented version of themselves like we saw for parts of last year? Or was it mainly just Kevin O'Connell's system that helped him flourish? So if he keeps this level of play, the Seahawks are going to be a pretty tough team to go against. Like Mike McDonald, he knows how to run a defense, and I think they could be very versatile

and get to opposing quarterbacks and make OCs question themselves. So I think if Darnold can play good, that team has a lot of potential. The Raiders on the other hand, nah, I mean, Geno Smith is good, but I don't know if he has anything much more than good. And I think there'll be a lot of fun to watch. I really have no doubt about Gentie running backs. I feel like transition to the league pretty well. And then they added some other weapons throughout the draft.

So I think there'll be a more fun team to watch this year. But it's still I think it's just going to be the Raiders. And they're also in a tough division. So it's hard for them to really scrape out a lot of wins. So let me tell you a tale. Once upon a time in the National Football League, there was few teams that were more fun to watch than the Oakland Raiders or Los Angeles before that.

But when they had L. Davis was still alive and they had a wide receiver who had been a track star, James Jed, and they had another guy whose name was Rocket Ishmael because he was so fast and Tim Brown was one of the best receivers of all time and they had quarterbacks who would just throw deep constantly running backs out of the backfield who were fast Harvey Williams, Napoleon Kaufman they haven't been that fun since and maybe there's been a season that someone else who isn't as

old can think of where the Raiders were a good time but they haven't won a division in forever they haven't won a playoff game in forever there was the one year in 2016 where Derek Carr was good they won 12 games but they didn't have whoa you got to tune in to see this Raiders team. Truly since going all the way back into the 1990s, this team reminds me of that where they drafted fast wide receivers. They have a quarterback who for better or worse will just throw it deep and believes in his arm like crazy and, and truly has some of the best arm talent in the entire NFL.

So he's going to throw into tight windows. Even last year being there in Seattle, watching him play was a circus. So at one time you're going, oh my gosh, how do you make that throw? And the other time you're like, why did he throw it right to Theo Jackson for a game losing interception? That's the Geno Smith experience. And then you add Ashton Genti to this, but Genti is going to be for sure would be on my list and I'll, I'll do one of these probably, uh, some night

myself Genti would be on mine because they spent a massive draft pick on a rebuilding type team that are they going to regret that because it was a running back or is Ashton Genti just going to be so good like Jameer Gibbs, where you go. Well, who cares where you picked him once upon a time Leonard for net though was a top draft pick like so was Richardson Trent Richardson There's no guarantee just because you're generational in college that you're gonna be in the NFL If he's everything that he's supposed to be that could be so much fun to watch though Yeah, the Raiders, I think picking Ash and

Gentie is a great pick because you rarely see a player like that. But for a team that's not that doesn't have everything else set, it's like, is he just going to be on another team in three or four years? Like while you guys are still trying to rebuild? Um, it's it's really tough, but I have no doubts that he'll be put in a crazy numbers. Um, it's it's really tough, but I have no doubts that he'll be. Put in a crazy numbers. It's I wasn't this confident about a player since like B. John Robinson came in, so I think that's a good point, though, isn't it? Because like how many playoff games is B.

John Robinson played since they drafted, which I know you could do with if he was an edge rusher, too. But the point just being like if Atlanta doesn't win this year, they spent that high draft pick on Bijon Robinson and then we're not able to put the rest of the roster positions that drive success a little bit more where I've landed on running backs is if you can create an environment for them to be the best version of themselves, watch the heck out.

Then you have a Marshall Falk situation, a Saquon Barkley from last year. If you can't then Derek Henry averages four and a half yards of carry for the Titans and you win nothing or Saquon Barkley averages four yards of carry for the giants and you win nothing. I think that the Raiders are a little better than some of those bad teams that they didn't really succeed on, but I don't know that they have enough to be able to say, all right, you're just going to come in and average five and a half yards of carry because we've got everything there for you.

Yeah, it's I he'll be good, but just like, let's it's it's that's why he's on the list. We'll we'll see why, uh, how they end up with him and if it leads to wins or just exciting football. So as a non Raiders fan, I'm happy with whatever. The ninth one on my list. I wanted to I feel like a lot of the rookie quarterbacks this year have very low expectations. And I'm curious to see if any of them will overperform and kind of shock the world. Ken Ward, unfortunately, unless he has a Jaden Daniels likelike season,

I don't think he could really outperform number one pick expectations. I think we all kind of assume he'll make good plays and bad plays to brow it, like a normal rookie quarterback should. I think the only real people that have a chance is Jackson Dart, or maybe Shider Sanders. I feel like the Giants have a weird situation on their hand, because their front office likely knows that

if they don't show something this year, they're out the door. So, is that gonna lead them to throwing Dart out earlier than maybe he should or is ready for? How's he gonna handle that? There's a lot there. And then for Shador, for the drama and the theater, I hope he wins the job and balls out.

Because I have no idea if that would lead to like a super airheaded mega cocky version of him, or if he would just like kind of learn how to be a pro and be like, yeah, apologize. So I think it would be cool to see either one of those. But other than that, maybe Jalen Milro gets like a few carries a game and does more than we think. So Bob says is Gentie a first round draft pick in fantasy.

I don't think there's any question about it that he is. Oh, yeah. He's going to get the football. Even if he's not brilliant, he's going to get the football hekton. So I would expect that that's going to be the case. I'm also a bad fantasy player. So, you know, take that for what it's worth. To your point about what we were just talking about, which was what? Rookie quarterback, rookie quarterback.

I got thrown off by the fantasy question. I think it would be kind of funny if Dylan Gabriel just won the job and was awesome and never gave it away and became a franchise quarterback. Yeah, I would not. Mel Kuyper just loses his mind on draft day and everybody wastes our lives endlessly talking about Chador. And then this little guy from Oregon who nobody seemingly wanted to even discuss as a quarterback comes out and does something for them.

Or if Kenny Pickett was just great randomly. Did you see the picture? I don't know if you saw it of Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco standing next to each other, holding the football and how much bigger the football looked and pick its hands, his hands. I kid you not at the same size as mine. I've picked up the NFL ball before. I'm like, no, I have no clue how this man throws his football.

This thing is huge. Double gloves, double gloves. But the Jackson dart thing, I, is he just maybe the least intriguing rookie quarterback that I can ever remember? It's just, I don't think anyone thinks he could be special. The team is bad. And we're just assuming that Brian Dable probably gets fired and you know, we all move on with our lives and we never maybe even see Jackson dart play for

them. I don't know that that one has no juice at all for me. I guess I would be interested in when it comes to cam ward, how does he navigate this? That is as poor of a franchise as it gets in the NFL. I'm not convinced their coach knows what he's doing. They don't have weapons. They don't. They have a little bit of line, but not a great line.

I mean, yikes. They are in such a such a bad spot. So for a quarterback class that has so little intrigue in the draft at very least how the Brown situation plays out is absolutely worth it. And I, I'm going to, I'm going to write myself down and I just could be completely wrong on this. I have no idea.

I think Dylan Gabriel can play. I that's I'm throwing it out there. He's just as small pretty much as Bryce young. Check clip that clip that for, for when Dylan Gabriel wins the job, Dylan Gabriel wins the job slash MVP slash rookie of the year. I just think he's got I think he's got a live arm and some athleticism to be able to play. But if you in Stefanski system have a live arm

and you can run some bootlegs and get out and throw down the field, you can have some success. So I'm going to I'm going to put my stamp on Dylan Gabriel and see what happens. Once upon a time, I said, you know what? The same how guy I think he's like QB one. And actually, all the quarterbacks were so bad that he still could be someday. He's got time. After right after going to the Kevin O'Connell rehab

facility for quarterbacks. So, OK, what is the final one of your internship? Your last take? This is very important. Yeah, the final one of your internship? Your last take? This is very important. Yep. The final one, I was thinking hard about what I could talk about. And really, I just want to know how many kick return touchdowns we're going to see this year. There were seven last year and there was only four the year before. And with the new rule change where they're bringing touchbacks out to the 35, I can't see a lot of coaches just willing to give that kind of field position to their opponents. So I think special teams coordinators are going to have a lot on their on their plate this year, because they're gonna have to try and figure out consistent ways to limit yardage and not give up the big play. So I'm curious to see if it's going to become like gimmicky and too much or if it'll find a nice place in the game. But I think that's a big rule change that, that I'm excited to see. Here. I was thinking you were going to say, who's going to win the Superbowl next year?

Is it going to be this team or that team? You don't care. It's the kick return. Well, I'm with you on this kick return thing. I think it matters for training camp for the Vikings, but just our team's going to be willing to say, go ahead and start at the 35, which means if you throw two complete passes, you're kicking a field goal. Uh, that is really wild to me, but it's a good selection because the NFL after last year, they were like, no, you are using this kick return. You are absolutely using this thing because they're

Maybe exhausted of kicks going out of the back of the end zone I also think that last year a big part of the narrative in the NFL was That the scoring was down now It wasn't really down at the end of the year But that at the beginning of the season talked about a lot like all defense is back and that kind of thing And I wonder if the owner said you know what we haven't had a scoring increase in a while at the beginning of the season talked about a lot like, oh, defense is back and that kind of thing. And I wonder if the owner said, you know what, we haven't had a scoring increase in a while.

So why don't we give ourselves a hand here? Bob, the rule change, it's just that if it's the same as last year, but if you kick it into the end zone and it's a touchback, then it goes out to the 35, which is even more incentive for teams to actually kick it inbounds, let the returner have it. And I just wish the very best for all returners, because in this kick return, you get smacked.

You get a lot of hard hits for the kick returners. I think the Vikings may keep Ty Chandler because of that. So while I'm curious to see who wins the Super Bowl next year and all. The things that would be cool to maybe as well. Let me say this before we wrap up, though, Clay, it has been an absolute pleasure to have you as intern. Clay here on the show. You have brought a lot of fun.

Great questions on draft night. It was great having you to be able to bring into that broadcast where we were juggling a lot of balls. But I think most of all, what I've enjoyed is just your attitude and approach to this job. What people don't see is necessarily, I should watch every show, the progress you've made that you came to me more as a

writer. And if people haven't read your writing purple insider football But you hadn't podcasted before and you were willing to jump into the deep end and say like alright throw Whatever you got at me and you've just done a tremendous job may progress each week become more confident It's great to see for me. And so I wish you going forward the very best I hope that this experience was Good for you. And I know the chat I want to thank everybody there to have been very encouraging of you since you've been here that the reception has been fantastic I really appreciate that from all of you guys

but I think that your approach to this internship is a model that people should take with them of being willing to try new things that you're not necessarily comfortable with and try to grow and improve and listen to feedback and study yourself and say, where can I be better? But also what people don't understand is that early on, I think you found out the prep that goes into this and the hours that go into this. And what I really appreciated was every single show on time, ready to go well prepared, everything that I asked you to do. You were here and ready to do it.

And that's what's going to get you ahead going forward. So I appreciate that approach that you took to this. And I know it's going to work really well for you after this internship. So thank you again for your time, Clay. Well, thank you. I couldn't have done it without the best coach in the game. You really gave me that confidence to just keep going,

even when I'm questioning myself. And I'm sure if people tuned into the early shows, they saw the sweat coming off my face and the sniffles coming out my nose. But no, it's been really fun just learning and getting better and being in this environment. I also thank you to all the people who tuned in and allowed me to enter this space when I didn't know anything. You guys are super nice and you didn't have to be especially since I'm coming from enemy territory on the Bears. But y'all really made me feel comfortable and I had a really fun time talking football with you guys. And although we're saying goodbye now, I promise this isn't the last or the end of my sports journalism journey. I'm gonna keep going. I'm just getting started and I'm excited to come back in the future, maybe as a guest and not as an intern and starting the substracks too.

And yeah, I'm excited to really start this journey. So thank you guys. Yeah, very good. And you got some opportunities here coming up for you writing wise, but people can reach out to me if there's, you know, I know a lot of people listen to the show. If anybody knows of other opportunities, media writing wise for you, podcasting wise, If anybody knows of other opportunities, media writing wise for you, podcasting wise, just shoot me a note, Matthew collar at Gmail or on Twitter or something like that. So thank you again. Clay Petri did a great job. You should be very proud of it and best of luck going forward. Now is the big moment for you.

The last time let's, let's make it count here. Yeah. Well, I appreciate it. Thank you guys. And football down proud. I'm proud. Yeah. Well, I appreciate it. Thank you, guys. And football. Down proud. I'm proud. That was good. That was good. He brought that that last one.

That was a struggle early on. He did pretty much great at everything else, but the football was not as intense as it needed to be. And now it is. And so I'm very proud of his work and appreciative of, like he said, all of you guys and the reception that you gave intern Clay. So also thank you for a great show tonight. Great conversation.

We will continue next week and I will have a new intern to introduce to you guys named Maggie Robinson next week and know that she's gonna bring a lot to the show as well. So thank you and we'll see what comes up. You know, we sit here and think like, all right, schedule's over and we're all good. And then it comes out that Caleb Williams wanted to be a Viking. So you never know what could come up.

Emergency podcasts may happen, but if not Mondays and Thursday nights, we're going to be very wide open for a chat. And also if you don't have time to jump onto the live show, shoot me an email. I'm always happy to answer questions off the air as well. So thank you very much everybody. And we will see you again very soon. Football.