The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Filling the gaps: An NFL Draft heater for playoff and Super Bowl contenders

Episode Date: April 24, 2023

It may not have seemed so at the time, but the power of hindsight lets us see that the Chiefs had one of the best drafts last year. Would they have won the Super Bowl without the contributions of players like Jaylen Watson, Isiah Pacheco and George Karlaftis? Maybe, but those guys sure made it easier. How might teams like the Bengals and Bills pull a 2022 Chiefs in this year's draft? Robert Mays and Nate Tice explore on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertmaysFollow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTube2:30 Five players suspended for violating league's gambling policy9:35 Cincinnati Bengals17:02 Buffalo Bills24:00 Seattle Seahawks27:51 Los Angeles Chargers32:58 Jacksonville Jaguars38:16 Dallas Cowboys43:06 Detroit Lions50:43 Green Bay Packers53:25 Minnesota Vikings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic football show. Welcome to the athletic football show. I'm Robert Mays. Join me today. That's my good friend Nate Tyson. Nate, how you doing, buddy? Doing well. We are in the home stretch for the draft.

It feels like it's funny how the NFL schedule and maybe the media schedule for everybody, it really goes from, you know, training camp through the draft. Like that's a season it feels like. You're telling me. I know. And that's what I am getting into now is that, It's funny how even on the media side, I go through the same cycle as I did when I worked in the league or when I was the son of somebody that worked in the league. But very excited.

Lean up to the draft. Excited for this show. And excited, of course. Talk to you, buddy. This is running on Monday. The draft is going to be in three days. It is going to kick off in Kansas City on Thursday. We will be live in Kansas City, me, you, Dane Bruegler.

About 6.30 p.m. central time. We're going to get going a little bit before the draft, kick off our conversation. and we're going to be bringing our analysis to every pick of the first round on Thursday night on our YouTube channel like we've done in the past, but a little bit, a little bit of an upgrade this year. So please subscribe to the YouTube channel. If you have not, please come hang out with us. We are very excited about the show. We're going to have a great time. And I think you guys will have a great time if you come follow along with us.

Today, we're going to talk about kind of the contenders and what their draft plans might look like. What I thought might be fun to try to talk about their needs and kick that up a tiny notch is to look at what a draft heater would look like for some of these teams that are contenders are on the cusp. This is inspired a little bit by the Chiefs last year and the way that their draft kind of let everything fall into place. Even like what the Seahawks did last year, even if they weren't a contender, they went on a draft heater last year. So these teams that are picking in the 20s that are kind of right there, if they went on a heater this year, what could that look like and what that would mean for them? So we're going to talk about those teams picking a little bit later in the draft in a way that we haven't really during this process. But before we dig into that, we're recording this on Friday. It's about 12.15 central time.

About an hour and a half before we started recording this, some fairly big news comes down from the NFL that four Lions players and one player from the Washington football team have this. been suspended. Three of them for the entire season indefinitely and two of them for six games, one of those players being Jameson Williams, the highest profile guy in this conversation, for violating the league's gambling policy after an investigation was done. Based on the reporting from Ian Rappaport of the NFL network, it seems that the guys suspended indefinitely bet on NFL games, similar to what happened with Calvin Ridley last year. And Calvin Ridley was handed an indefinite suspension that lasted an entire season. Two of the guys in this conversation, including Jameson Williams, that were spent at six games, apparently suspended because they bet on college games at the Lions facility, which is, again, against the rules and the league's gambling policy.

So this is where we are. You know, it's a similar thing that happened last year. The league has been obviously very strict about this. They've been very upfront about this. I thought that Calvin Ridley suspension might be enough of deterrent to stop guys from doing it. apparently not. And with the Williams thing, this is a wrinkle in the process and a wrinkle in the policy where you can still get dinged for it even if you're not bending on NFL games. The league is not messing around with this is my takeaway from this entire thing. As they

shouldn't be. This is, it's, I hate using this term, but it's a slippery slope. And the Calvin Ridley one, I thought was, like you said, I thought that would have been a great deterrent. Oh, wow, they, former first round pick. Like, oh my God, they slapped it no problem one year. What was indefinite turned into a year. That's still. you know, pretty, pretty big, pretty big slap in my entire season. I mean, shoot, you look at other sports with the year suspensions is, you know, steroid use of baseball is an entire season. Like, you don't get year long suspensions unless it's something very bad.

And I understand hypocrisy with NFL owners. Trust me. If you look at my family in history, there is a lot of stuff that are dealing with NFL owners and the ownership groups. So I totally understand that type of stuff. But it doesn't matter. Rules are the rules. And gambling the game just opens up.

You don't want to open up that box and causing outcomes, forcing discussions about outcomes, calling them into question. You don't want any of those discussions to happen. You do not mess with a legitimacy and the integrity of the sport. And this is not just something of like, oh, I'm an old school guy and do this. It's just you just don't mess with it. There's so many rules that are in place because of this, because of what could the possible ramifications that can happen. You never know if a guy is betting a player problem. on himself to be under receiving

yards. You know, you don't know if a guy has, he's bet on the outcome of the game and it's his team losing. And it's like, oh, well, no team would do that. Guy gets paid enough. What if you're an undrafted free agent that's on a basically week to week paycheck? Yeah, you know, so if someone

told me to take a dive, again, these are all hypotheticals, but I could see it. Like, this is not like outlandish to talk about. But I just, yeah, you don't mess with this. These are the rules. There are plenty of rules like when I was in the league, even before that is you can even be seen in a sports book. Like you don't, and that's the sports betting has changed throughout the country.

And I'm all for it. I like gambling on sports now that I'm outside of, outside of the NFL. But that's the thing. It's like when you're in it, that is your job and you have to follow the rules of your job. And these are, you can't bet on sports or bet on the NFL, I should say.

You can't bet on your own team, especially. You can't bet in the team facility. You're not even supposed to be looking at fantasy sports when you're inside the facility. Like in that, and that's fantasy sports. There's a limit on how much you can win if you're in the fantasy sports league. Only like $250 can be the total prizes. It's either $250 or $500.

But just saying it's that they do not mess with this stuff because it just what it can cause the questions, the integrity and the outcome of games. So I know it's tough. I know it's harsh, but I don't know. I just think that it's not worth the downside is not worth it because of what could happen. The NFL stuff, betting on the NFL, like that to me is just there's a no-brainer. Like it with it. Slippery.

Slip thing is exactly right. I know the league is doing everything they can to make sure that the integrity of those games is not called into question. And whatever you think about, like you said, if that's hypocritical because there are sports books at NFL stadiums now and all that other stuff, understandable, but they cannot let that happen. So those year-long suspensions, we talked about this with the Wrigley thing. Those are the rules.

The betting on college games in the facility, of course that's silly. Of course, that seems sillier. But those are the rules. And I think that this hopefully will allow more players to understand. that's part of the rules if they didn't already, and if that was the case with Jameson Williams, but these kinds of things extend to NFL employees of all kinds. I know people that when I've been around them that are friends of mine who can't bet on certain things, can't be at a sports book when they're on an NFL sanctioned trip, that kind of

stuff. These are just the rules. And it may be silly because of how ubiquitous sports betting has gotten in America at this point, but that's just how it is. And now the Lions who drafted a guy with the first round pick last year, traded up to get him in the first round. He played barely at all his rookie season because of injury. Now is going to be suspended for the first six games of the season. The Lions are going to be without a guy.

They spent a lot on and somebody that was going to be a pretty central piece of what their offense was going to be this season. A key figure. Really. Some of that we're all high on, want to see what he can do with for that offense and the, you know, the pairings, the synergy. has with the other pass catchers with the lines. I know that's what's really disappointing because I was excited to see him healthy. I also want to say you're talking about NFL employees like can't be seen, you know, sports book and everything and all that. Like even employees that work here in Vegas. I know friends that work at various casinos, but someone that works at Caesars would say,

they work at a restaurant Cesar's. They can't bet at Cesar's. Like they can't like that's the rules. Oh, well, I work at a casino and I can't bet. Yeah, that's the rules. That's how it works. And so sorry, I just want to give another kind of, it's not just. sports that do this. It's the literal betting operations that happen that go around. But this does suck because like Quintess C-Fest, you know, has been kind of like a Wisconsin guy that I've always kind of like like I liked and I thought that he had a chance to be like a number four in this league. And that sucks for him and what's going to happen for his career most likely. But especially with Jameson Williams, though, because this was supposed to be where he emerged. You know, he basically took a retro ear coming off the injury

that he suffered at the end of his career at Alabama. So that kind of really does stink because I do want to see what he's got. and I want to see him in that lines offense that I'm very optimistic about what they could be this year. All right. Let's talk about some of these other teams that we're optimistic about as well, these teams that with a really nice hot streak or really nice run in this draft could potentially propel themselves into like a championship conversation or on the brink of it. You know, like truly into contender status. We've got like seven, eight teams we're going to talk about. You had one team I didn't have on mine. I have one team out of you didn't have on yours.

When we were discussing this idea, the team that was kind of the onus for it, the team that pushed their full. forward was the Bengals. Like, okay, the Bengals are right there, they're right there on the doorstep. What could a big draft look like for the Cincinnati Bengals that could take them over the top? So why don't you kick us off? What would that look like in your mind for Cincinnati this year? Reinforcements, young reinforcements on defense.

That's how I look at it. This team, the last few years, has been built obviously off of a defense that we said, you know, got microwave. together. It got bangled together because they got a kind of a lot of mid-tier, mid-priced free agents because the cheap talent that they had on offense, cheap, very good talent, but inexpensive talent that they had on offense. And I think that now the equation's going to shift for this team. Obviously, Burroughs going to get paid. Marrachey's T. Higgins situation, all that. And on top of it. They've already lost some of those guys. Yes. Yes. Yes. And so,

Jason Vance is gone. Von Bell is gone. They've already lost a couple of those dudes. So the math is going to change a little bit for them, not a little bit, a lot of bit, uh, for them in that, okay, now we're paying the offense. So now we have to find the cheap talent on the defense. And it's not those mid tier, upper middle tier type of free agents. We have to draft. If that's how you find the quote unquote cost control players. So to me, I see them, I, I would like to see them either take a defense alignment or a corner with their first round pick. And I think they're slotted in a nice position to take one of those guys. It's a deep corner draft or at least, you know, there's at least six guys that are interesting.

There's a couple of interesting kind of like number two, number three on big boards type of defensive tackles like Keanu Benton from Wisconsin is a guy like, Masey Smith from Michigan. You know, those are kind of more bigger interior guys that I think could be interesting. You know, BJ Hill and Reader and all that as they get older, have another nice succession plan for them. But that is what I see at least at the top. As much as I want to see them take a running back or a tight end in the first round, it's like that to me it feels like a bonus that maybe they can take. in the second or third round, especially how this draft breaks down, where there is a nice kind of nice talent in those types of rounds.

We talked about this with Dan on the tight end show. And then so that's how I look at for them is DB and defense align early. And hopefully in the middle rounds grab a tight end or run it back where they could be a contributor for the offense. And I could see that if they went four for four in their first, it's kind of nice with the Bengals. You know exactly where they're going to be picking. No trades.

They never move their picks. No trades. You're exactly how they're picking you, exactly how many picks they have. Do you even have to look at Tankathon. I knew that they had seven. picks in this draft, one in each round. So I just, I looked, I prepared for it. I was like, oh, of course.

So that's how I look. If they can go four for four with those first four, first four picks that they have, wow. I could see them really kind of reconfiguring this team quickly. That's funny that you say those tight end and running back in those middle rounds because that's exactly what I had laid out. It's a defensive difference maker at 28. And I think that is a guy up front.

You know, I think they still, you know, Joseph Osai was good for them in stretches last year. But in the interior, I think they absolutely. could use one more piece that just get a little bit of juice to their defense. So is that Klajikansi from Pitt if he falls a little bit? Is that one of those other defense tackles like you mentioned, or Maisie Smith or the guy from Northwestern? Just somebody that can add a little bit more pop to that defensive line rotation. And then beyond that, you know, we talked about the depth at the tight end position on the

tight end show. So can you get a guy who's 85% as good as Dalton Kincaid in the second round? You know, can you get Sam Leporta from, Iowa in the second round of this draft and drop him into your offense and have him be that fourth receiving option. And then in the third round, can you go get your past catching running back option? Because they really did lose a lot with Samajai. He was such a good pass protector.

He was such a steady force for them. That's the range of the draft where is that a guy like Rochon Johnson from Texas who has a lot of past protection qualities that college backs rarely have. Can you kind of drop him into that P. Ryan role immediately? and does that kind of bring the entire offense together? And then maybe a little bit later, some secondary depth. Because safety is the position I keep coming back to. Now with Von Bell and Jesse Bates gone,

you know, Dax Hill is going to be there. They brought in Nick Scott and a free agency, but they don't have nearly the amount of bodies that they had at that position over the past couple years. So if they can do that in the first four rounds, I feel like we're cooking. I want to be clear about this. Every seven-round mock is going to have stuff like this.

Yeah. It's not going to all click. Even if they pick these positions, not every guy is going to click. That's not how the draft works. Your guys that you're drafting here are not going to be immediate contributors for the most part. In this exercise, we're imagining a timeline where it all does happen, where you're getting a Tarek Wollen type of hit in your draft class maybe a little bit later than you normally would be. In this case, Sam Leporta is better than Dalton Kincaid as we're imagining this timeline.

So I just wanted to like set the parameters as we were, thank you for doing that. Got into the discussions for all these teams. I'm picturing in my head what the Seahawks did where they're like, wow, we have five starters. Exactly. Like, legit rookie starters. Like that's how I picture that. Yeah. So we're living in fantasy lands to be clear.

Yeah. Like this is probably not going to happen. But we've done a hundred draft shows. We're trying to have a good time here. Change this off a little bit. It's funny that you brought up Roshan Johnson because my pro comparison for him is P-Ride. That's awesome. That's great.

It's perfect. It's kind of like I exactly see him as being that type of player. I'm a big fan of his. I just thought that was an interesting one. Even day three picks like Evan Hull from Northwestern. You know, he's not like a star or even a super upside running back, but a guy that's a steady eddy type that can play, you know, those 15 to 20 snaps. A classic, I wouldn't say scat pack because when I picture scatback, I picture like, you know, like a true pass catching back that that's their mismatch guy. But a guy that's a pass protector.

He's on third down. You're going to run some screens for him. And I can see him just slotting in perfectly with the Bengals. I view him as more of like a fourth rounder. And, you know, some teams, that's about where it looks like he's being slotted fourth and fifth round. So, but I like him as kind of fitting in with the Bengals as well. I think that they are going to come away from the second through the fifth rounds in this draft with a tight end running back. I just gut feeling.

I think that that makes sense based on the holes that they have in the guys that they lost his offseason. Yep. You know, and Joe Mixon's future there, I think is very much in question. So I think that is how I envisioned. just a little bit more juice up front. Those two more complimentary pieces on offense. The one thing we did not mention, I do still think there is a need for another offensive linemen somewhere along the way here.

Because Jonah Williams is not going to be there next year. Obviously, they signed Orlando Brown and Free Agency. Jonah Williams' future is in question. I think they do need one more piece along the offensive line somewhere. I just think it's a little bit more fun to imagine these positions compared to right tackle depth. as we're thinking about how this could all kind of come into play. Interior swing guy. I'm going to be honest with you.

There are not a lot of interior swing guys on this show for me. There are some interior offensive linemen because I do think for a couple of these teams, it is a necessary piece. And the way I always envision this is like you drop the last, like I'm trying to think of the best. You drop the last thing in like Tetris and it all just kind of goes. Like that's how I envision this kind of thing is the line just disappears. And for some of these teams,

you're going to need the interior offensive alignment to make that line disappear. But the interior swing guy is not happening very often. It might be even the next team we talk about is a interior. It certainly might be. All right. Next team here, another AFC contender. Let's talk about the Buffalo Bills. What does the Buffalo Bills heat check draft look like to you?

As sexy as the sound, maybe a little offensive line help in the interior. I mock this. And when Deonti and I did a mock and I actually seen a couple others. and that's a guy that I think is perfect as far as value, quote unquote, value. I know that's kind of like an arbitrary thing when talking about draft stuff, but where he's looking at getting slotted and where the bills are picking in the first round, Osai's Torrance from Florida, because I think that is a guy that's a plug and play starting guard, day one.

I really like his game. Kind of surprised me. I was going in watching Anthony Richardson. I kind of was peeking at Torrance, too. And I really liked what Florida's offensive line did, just sidebar. Like I actually thought they were pretty well coached. not talking about the receivers, but the offensive line did some nice things in the run game.

But anyways, but I really like that. The only thing that was more disappointing during this draft cycle to me to watch than the Florida receivers were the Kentucky receivers. Kentucky office. Kentucky office, period. Oh, no. Will Levis is still getting iced up.

That is he took so many shots. So I had to put together that video. I rewatched that was part of the segment. It was like not lack of help from his teammates. And when you watch it one after another of Will Levis, like throwing some beautiful. beautiful trick shot and is like as he's getting smoked because two of his offensive lineman missed the block and then the tight end drops it.

It's like, poor guy. I'm sorry, man. But anyways, back to the bills. But I do think that they're in a perfect position to take that guard or that type of player. If they want, you know, Tipman, Joe Tipman, the center from Wisconsin, you know, if you want a Mitch Moore succession plan and you have him as a guard to start out and then move over to center when Morse moves on, wouldn't hate that.

There's a whole at linebacker. after, you know, after, yes, after admins leaves. Yes, they still have Milano. Milano's getting older, but that is another one that I, it's a, it's a poor linebacker draft. I'll just say that first and foremost. But if they can maybe find a guy that they think is interesting on day two, I think those are two spots that can, they can really add juice for like a vet laden team,

uh, as how I picture this bill's team, and where they can keep that window of contention open before they kind of have to reconfigure everything maybe next year. But that's the two spots I really look at early on. I believe that Osiris Torres took one of his top 30 visits to Buffalo. So there's a connection there. When I saw that, it kind of had some alarm bells go off just because guards, starting guards at least, is one place where they have invested. They gave Ryan Bates that deal where they matched the bear's offer when he was a restricted free agent. I think it included like $8 million guaranteed.

So that's not an insignificant amount of money to give a starting guard. And then they signed Connor Williams in free agency. So they have two guys that they've invested in that position. I don't know how that impacts their plans, but just something to keep in mind. I just couldn't get away from the past catcher thing late in the first round. So they, I believe, also had a private workout with Jordan Addison, you know, at JSN 2, I think, and I think they've met with Zay Flowers. So you drop one of those guys in and you have a slot option to go along with Stefan Diggs, whatever you're getting from Gabe Davis at this stage of things. It's just hard for me to get away from that after watching their offense.

in the playoffs. And I know that the offensive line is still an issue. But to me, right tackle seems like it might be more of a hole than anything else with the current makeup of the roster. So if Darnall Wright is available there, is that the best option? Darnet from Tennessee. Is that the best option they can drop in based on the current state of their offensive why?

So I went receiver first and foremost, like just adding one more bit of pop to their receiving core at the back after the first round, maybe offensive line in that same kind of spot. And then a little bit later, where do we look for defensive reinforcements? Linebacker is also something I came back to. I believe Dane had them taking Drew Sanders from Arkansas in the first round of his seven round mock. I have not watched him yet. Just full disclosure.

I've not gotten into the linebackers in this year's draft. He's probably what Dan said. Him and Jack Campbell from Iowa are probably my top two guys. I would say, but I would say Sanders is a half tier better. Like that would be one. I'd be comfortable taking in the late 20s, especially in a draft like this. And then the other thing I was thinking about, why not tight end? You know, why couldn't they be a team if one of those tight ends slips later into the second round,

your Tucker Crafts or your darnow Washington's, if they're going to be using a little bit more 12 personnel, having a real threat next to Dawson Knox within that offense? Just one more pass-catching option. Somewhere along the way, does it make sense for this team and then building in some depth elsewhere on defense? Yeah. Oh, my God. Now I'm picturing Tucker Craft going there. that from South Dakota State

that in the second round would be amazing there. I've got one more spot for him later on when we talk about one of these teams. But I totally agree with the tackle comment. Spencer Brown had a rough year, I thought personally. But you got Anton Harrison, you know,

from Oklahoma. But he might go a little earlier, but that's a guy that I think has both sides capability or potential. And that would be an interesting one as well. And they're actually the one team, even though I don't, it's one of those things with Stefan Diggs,

where you picture Stefan Diggs. And because he moves so fluid, though you're like, oh, he's 510. And you always forget that he's like, you know, 6-1. You know, say like he's actually like a decent size player. Last year, I want to say it was after the Lions game, they played on Thanksgiving. We did a whole segment on the Bill's offense and looking at the stats. And it kind of surprised me how much better Diggs was from the outside. Like he was fine from the slot.

Not good though, like statistically. And even just eye tests and stuff. I actually, it's kind of different than what I was thinking. So it's interesting to me. I just imagine him as an outside player. Like I just, the way, the comebacks and I just,

and that's why I think he's best outside. So if you can have a real slot option that allows him to play out there, that's what I want. All the teams looking at a receiver, the bills makes sense to go after one of these slot only guys, quote unquote slot only guys. Like I'm comfortable them taking a JSN. Zay Flowers kind of has that inside outside,

but Addison makes a lot of sense like Jordan Addison does. Like I would actually be comfortable with him going to the bills because he gives them that little bit of different flavor. No, And I agree with you. I know Diggs was good on the outside. I thought he was going to be equally good on the inside. And it was like, it was a significant drop off, which I was, I just thought was, which kind of shows.

It's like, but they maybe keep him on the outside, let him cook out there and get a better guy on the inside. I think you can do a lot more damage. It's interesting conversation because the reason that it's not surprising to me, because I imagine him this way is that so much of his game is built on that vertical push and that ability to kind of work underneath off of that, that his skill set just translates best out there. That's where he does so much. Yeah, exactly.

So that ability to kind of just throttle down and kind of change tempos like that. That's how he destroys people. So that's just what I imagine him doing. But yeah, it's interesting. That type of guy, that type of guy in the slot, I do think I agree, could be complimentary to what they have now. The next team that I wanted to talk about, this is the team where I just feel like the glaring, glaring hole is in the slot for them at receiver. And that's the Seattle Seahawks. Yes.

So Seattle's a little bit further away than some of these other teams that we're going to talk about. but they have so many picks that I think you kind of talk yourself into this. What are the chances of them going out another heater a year after doing it? Probably pretty low, but we're not really dealing in reality here. No. Not at all. They're picking 20th. I would love to see them with J.S.

I would love to see them with J.S. in the slot. You had Tyler Lockett, D.K. McCaff, and him in the slot, and that you get him at 20 overall. I just, that sounds so good to me. they did not work out really look at that many receivers with their private workouts. I don't think it's in their DNA really to be taking a receiver at this spot. I would be surprised if it happened, but I want to see it happen. And he's the guy I would keep coming back to.

So I had him at 20 of just a game wrecker at 5. Like whatever like monster Kaiju is on the board at number 5, that's what I want to take. Will Anderson, Jayon Carter, Tyree Wilson, just give me the best. best monster at that spot. You combine that with JSN and then you keep going. They have so many fucking picks, okay? The other two holes that I would immediately go to on the roster outside of a defensive difference maker up front and a slot receiver would be interior offensive line, a starting

guard, which you absolutely could get one of those guys in the second round, whether it's Steve Avelo from TCU or one of those other guys who might be around in that stretch, and then corner. So a guy like Keeley Ringo from Georgia, if he's, there in the second round. One of those other guys at that position available in that range to play on the other side of Tariq Wollen. If you drop in those four guys and those four guys relatively hit, we're cooking with gas here. Like, I am very excited about that version of this Seahawks team. It's nice having four picks inside the top 52. Not bad, man. It's really, really fun. Because even if

they hit on two of them, it's like, that's huge, like getting two legit starters. Uh, no, I, There's not much to add here because I really do like the slot receiver. I think that is the whole. I know that they're going to have some interesting questions to answer tight end wise as well. I like where they're at now, but if they want a succession plan, like, and that could also give some answers to the slot receiver stuff. This is going to be something we keep going back and forth because this tight end class is so interesting. There's actual guys that could do this stuff, not theory. But I, no, there's not much I can add there.

Interior offensive line, like you said. And they're actually, when you have this many picks, you can choose. your adventure. Like, you know, you can, hey, we really like this guy. We got to reach a little bit on him at pick 37, but it's like in this type of draft, who cares? But I pick five, totally agree with you. If they're comfortable, Jaylon Carter, easily take him. I want to see him in Dremont Jones form a Bash Brother duo. I think those two would be amazing together. But yeah, a Will Anderson, a Tyree Wilson or anything of that, sort of pick five. I totally agree with that. And yeah, in 20, they could be another team that looks at Osiris. You know, like, you know, just could be interesting

there, but also, yeah, they're slotted perfectly, pun intended to take a slot guy like JSN right there at pick 20. So again, even though I said not much to add, I just, you know, just talked for five minutes there. Among all of these teams that we're going to talk about, this is my favorite because I think the holes are so apparent and where they're picking allows them to chase players at those positions that it was just easy to see the room come together for the Seahawks, even compared to some of the other teams that we're going to talk about. Yeah, they could, they're another team that could take a, you know, like a pass catching back.

later in the draft like that like you said everything they need they have it's there's a viable answer to find it which is that's a nice place to sit next team here the los angeles chargers talked a little bit about them on the tight end show i think that it's very tempting to continue to talk about or think about what another pass catching option would look like for the chargers based on where they're picking what do the chargers hot streak look like for you i would pass catcher of some sort either a speed guy on day two or if they want, if they're interested in Hyatt, you know, Jaylen Hyatt from Tennessee, like that would be interesting.

But Juice as a pass catcher, I have personally thought I would really like them to see it take a tight end in the first round. And I think they're in a perfect position to take one, especially if Michael Mayer drops there. I know we talked about the Sunday tight end show, but I love that fit. I love that what he could do for Herbert, just giving another underneath option. Might be a little hat on a hat with Keenan Allen in the short term, but Keenan is probably going to move on pretty soon.

Yeah. That's why you have a Ricky deal tight end. So, but I also think that when you get to day two, find one of those defensive tackles. I think finding just keep adding reinforcements to the front seven, adding building through the spine. They're another team, especially after Nassir Adderly retired. They need guys at safety. I think they just have to find guys on day two that can contribute through the spine of their defense. I actually like if their offensive line can stay healthy.

I like where their offensive line is sitting at. This is another team, though, that they should be so happy. that there's going to be a bunch of running backs in third and fourth round as well. Someone to help out Altsin Ackler, even though they keep drafting guys in the fourth round, but find one that can actually contribute

another team that could find a guy that either an innings eater that can take some load off of Ossan Ackler or a guy that could be a third down tight back for past protection duties as well. So kind of in a weird spot where the roles that or the spots that I think they need filled

are more like super role players. You know what I mean? Like in a weird way, maybe super role players are outside. I mean, If you look at their starting 22 guys, you feel pretty good about it. Pretty good. But there are spots.

I think safety is one of those places. Yeah. Right. So Loekealman is now slotted in as the other starter next to Derwin James. I think they need depth behind that. J.T. Woods didn't play a lot for them last year after going in the third round. So those are the safeties that you're looking at. So I think safety is one of those spots.

Edge depth. I mean, they just have no edge depth. So somebody to give them some meaningful snaps behind Kaleel Mack and Joey Bosa, somewhere along the way and then another pass catching option. They're the team where I'm thinking about, okay, you're at 21. You need some of these guys that are just bodies for you at some of these positions. Do they trade down? Yes.

Are they one of these teams that could really, again, if we're talking about how deep the tight end classes specifically, could you get 85%, 90% of the guy you were going to draft at 21, but can you pick up an extra third round pick somewhere along the way to do it and really fill in some of these holes that we're talking about. I think that's kind of the most interesting version of events for me as it relates to the Chargers. No, the trade back makes a ton of sense for the Chargers because in this type of draft, it's not a lot of top heavy, but there are a lot of useful players in this draft. And so if you get more of those picks before pick 90, okay, just take more chances to get these role players that can contribute. And this is a team that can need those types of players.

I liked what you said, though, maybe getting another edge player, like a guy that, as you were talking about that, that make a lot of sense for them is from Kansas State. Felix NUDK. Uzama, Nailed it. I don't know, so I can't tell you. He's kind of a DPR, designated pass rusher type. He's a little up and down against the run, but as a guy that another auxiliary pass rusher that can start out, that actually has some juice. I kind of have compared him a little bit privately to Yanuk and Gokwe where it's like, yeah, the way you, ears pin back going after passer, you really like this guy playing the run?

We'll see. But I think that would be a nice complimentary piece that they can maybe find on day two. That's just kind of a pairing they even think about until this show that I kind of like as well. In Dan Seven round, he has him going 50th, Uzama to the Bucks in the second round. So just the range that Dane specifically sees him going in. One other thought when I was looking at the Chargers. I'm actually weirdly excited to watch the Chargers offensive line this year. I'm too.

With Sawyer now slotted in and playing guard and then Zion Johnson moving back to the left side and kind of his original spot. Trey Pipkins, if he's a little bit healthier, like they have a lot of youth along the line outside of Corey Winsley. And I think it's just a group that just can have a lot of, a lot of oomph to them that they haven't really had years past, even with Filer being there. Filer, it's the type of guy you find in free agency, right?

He's $7 million a year, started level player. But I think the higher upside is definitely there with a combination of Salier and Johnson and Slater being back. And your all-pro rookie left tackle coming back. Yeah, it's a nice injection of talent. I think we've kind of like, not I don't say me and you, but in general, I think the people forgot how good he is, Rashont Slater. So I think that's, he's going to come back and everyone's going to go, oh, yeah, yeah, you're an all-pro rookie player. Yeah, one of the hardest positions of play as a rookie.

Let's see how you do as healthy in your three. So I agree. If they stay healthy, I think it's going to be really interesting. I think Zion's going to take a leap forward as well this year. Next one here, the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is a fun one. This is a fun one to think about and what the possibilities could be. What does your Jags heat check look like?

Oh, man. I think they need to take as much as I want them to take a tight end in the first round. I think if they nail a cornerback in round one, That would really help them out. So I was wondering if, to me, it was between like corner and interior defensive line. That's, and that's, they kind of have that, that's the two glaring holes on this team I look at. I would say maybe, and this is a good spot to be on offense, I would say is a tight end that can block a little better, you know, to take some snaps that they lost with Chris Mannhirts. Evan Ingram is a fine, you know, good receiver and everything.

So like offensively, I actually am okay with where they sit. Maybe an offensively line in that, you know, can just add some depth to them. but offensively I'm okay with where they're at, but defensively, yes. And they're kind of sitting in a great spot at 24, those defensive tackles that I mentioned earlier, Benton, Maisie Smith, but also just all the corners. And I'll keep talking about this, but they're in a good position to maybe find that number two. And I think he doesn't have to be the guy right away, which I think is in a good, that's a good

position to be in, especially at that spot at corner. So that early on, I see that. And on day two, I would love for them to take a tight end somewhere. either second round or third round, I would love that for this offense, especially a guy with the block. This might be a, is this the Tucker Kraft landing spot? Tucker Kraft landed spot that I had. Yeah. Love that.

Actually, I think that's what Dane has in his seven round mock was Tucker Kraft going to them in the second round. I love that pairing. I would really, really like that. And then if like, if I were being like, oh, yeah, it's just give Trevor even more help, maybe, you know, a mingo in the third round, Jonathan Mingo from Ole Miss or something, maybe a bigger receiver. but that's just, I think, more of a cherry on top for moving on in the future. But now, if you're winning now, this is what the heat check would look like. Interior defense alignment, a corner, and a tight end, in some way, shape, or form in the first three rounds. The best version of their defense last year is after Trey Herndon got moved into the slot and they moved Darius Williams outside in the second half of the year.

And all those guys are back. They brought Trey Herndon back. Not on a massive deal, obviously, but they paid him two and a half million bucks to come back this year. and all of it is guaranteed. So, I mean, that's like contributor-level money, even on a short-term contract. And obviously they gave Darius Williams a really big deal.

So as things currently stand, you could argue that they have their three starting corners already on the roster. Along the defensive line, that's where it starts to get a little bit dicey. You lose Arden Key in free agency, you lose DeWan-Smoutin-free agency, and both of those guys, I guess,

are technically edge players, but there's a ton of versatility. They can lose all over the place. So interior is both, I think, where they could use some help and where the draft kind of aligns. Brian Bressay from Clemson is somebody that Dane and Andy were talking about earlier this week. If he falls to them, they am Masey Smith team. Just one more body as part of that defensive line rotation that can play on the inside for them. And then maybe an edge guy.

And maybe that's where it is, like, is part of the rotation. So defensive line piece is the first spot that I went to because I think the corner, may be closer to being a short-term solve, and this is all short-term thinking. Short-term, right. Yes. Then the defensive line may look like. And then I immediately went to tight end in the second round. So if they can drop a Tucker craft from San Diego State, South Dakota State, into this.

ST. Yeah. Some state. If they can drop him into this equation, it gives you a 12-personnel look that you didn't really have last year. Because Chris Mannhurt's is your extra tackle in some of those looks. If you have somebody that's a big. bigger body that can actually give you some pass catching as part of that overall equation.

With Calvin Ridley, now we start to get to a version of the offense where it's like, okay, I like this. I don't know how Jags fans feel about this with Walker Little now stepping into their starting right tackle now that Joanne Taylor is gone. I thought he did fine and limited action at left tackle last year to the point that you spent a second round pick on a guy. I'd like to see what he can do at right tackle is with a little bit more run, a little bit leeway a few more reps.

So the offensive line is not the first place my mind went, but I know that some Jax fans are feeling a little bit, a little bit of trepidation about what that group looks like without your one tailor. And I can understand that. Yeah. And I'm never going to, if a team takes an offensive line in the first three rounds, I'm always like, yeah, fine.

Like you can never have enough depth at the position or guys, a succession plan or a possible starter. So like that's where I understand if you do have some qualms with it. Like Doug Peterson, and just a fantastic, like, I can't praise what they did with that offensive staff last year, how they can hide weaknesses, like, or, you know, really expound team, player strengths. The Evan Ingram is the perfect example, using his speed more horizontally than vertically, but also just offensive line, even at times where they were, I felt like they, you know,

they were overmatched. Okay, a lot of movement throws. We get, let's get Trevor going. We're doing a lot of bulls or elephants on parade and having the line and just go one direction. I do like that. So that's where it's like, okay, even if they don't go with that position, I do think they'll do a good job to shore it up. But I agree. I would never like, I would never blink an eye if someone took an offense alive in the first three rounds.

All right. Next one here is the Dallas Cowboys. Talked about a little bit about this on the tight end show. Dane brought up Michael Mayer as a potential landing spot from Notre Dame going to Dallas if he lasts that long, which it seems like he might not based on where he's been slotted and talked about. So what is your Cowboys plan potentially look like? Such a weird team, man. I really, when I'm going, I'm like looking at this team. If they get, I don't know.

For me, I look at it. They have a lot of good players. Yeah. What my first thought was just pass catcher. And I, some way, shape, or form getting a pass catcher in the first two rounds. And that's how I look at it. I think for defense, they brought back Jonathan Hankins, which I was kind of, I'm glad to see.

But I wouldn't mind them adding some beef in the middle on defense. This is a, by design, this is a run and hit team. This is a speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed on defense. And that's what Dan Quinn, like, that's what they had. And Dan Quinn really has just gone with it. Like, just going, yeah, this is what we are. But getting some beef in the middle, because once they traded for Hankins, I thought that really unlocked some things for their defense,

maybe a succession plan, but it's a, it's a poor linebacker draft for Layton Van derrish. Lane Vander Esch maybe going from him. I could see them maybe going linebacker as well in the first couple of rounds as well. So beef up the middle, linebacker or interior defensive line and a pass catcher. If they can get those three spots and get contributors at those three spots, like, baby they got a stew going. That's how I look at that team. I mean, there's such a weird team.

When you first said this, when you first used that reference, I couldn't remember what you were talking about and that I remembered that it's it's Carl Leather's from Rest Development and I just I absolutely lost it so it's a very good one very very niche comedy coming from you on this show right now any more Archer references for just me just to crack you up I know I'll be getting all of them tight end is the first place my mind went just because it's fun you know you drop a tight end out of there and they have usable tight ends right like the guys that they got the seven million white dudes they have from Wisconsin have you know, they've, six three, two hundred fifty pound and white,

I can't tell between any of them. Like Tyler Pendershot or something, I know it's Pate Hender shot, but whoever those guys are, your, you're, your, Ferguson Pender Shot is essentially the name of the Cowboys tight end. It's a three person name. It's Dalton Ferguson Pender Hendershot. Yes, that's exactly who it is. Dalton Ferguson Pender Shot the third is the starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. So outside of him, you could still probably.

use like a real high-end player at that position. Whether it's Michael Mayer from Notre Dame or somebody else, I'm very into that. It's hard not to think about linebacker. You know, Anthony Barr, no Anthony Barr there anymore. They have Gibral Cox and Demi-Clarc who they drafted over the past couple of drafts, but do they feel like they need another body there? Defense to tackle, another spot. I think it's very easy to go to.

Jonathan Hankins re-signed, but it's $1.3 million in a one-year deal. So not preventing you from making any sort of move there. And then the other spot that you didn't mention running back somewhere along the way. Do they need another kind of bigger body guy with Tony Powell being at the top of that depth chart? Pollard coming off injury. They signed Ronald Jones. They've got a couple other guys who were street free agents on that team. But running back for Dallas seems like it might be another possibility.

No, that's a good one. Yeah, someone with some beef too. Beef. They need beef. Yeah. I mean, seriously, that's kind of like their draft playing. But no, the, yeah, the tight end one is just like fun. like that that that's one day you just look at it you're like man that would be really cool

because dac uses his tight ends um and you know it's gonna be a mike mccarthy offense but we'll see we'll see how that goes uh he he'll use them on a flat route uh when they run slant flat once once or twice a game but no that that that is one day he can do that with dalton ferguson hender shot though i mean that's that's the thing he'll be able to do that all the time i compared sam la porta to jake ferguson too so that's that's actually kind of funny like just get another big tent tight end there. They're all the same anyways. I'm trying to, okay.

But like on day two, Zach Charbonnet at running back. That would be from UCLA. That's that size. He's a kind of scheme proof running back. I really liked them as the innings eater for them. That's one guy with size. I really like as a pairing.

Another team that could take Rochon Johnson as well in the middle rounds as well because he has size and three down versatility, which and he's from Texas, which I know Cowboys fans will just be, oh, Gaga about maybe not Kent, because Kent's a. A&M fan I've learned over the years. But, you know, Texas fans would, of course, love having a longhorn on their cowboys. Next team here, this is another fun one just because they have so many

goddamn picks is the Detroit Lions. Okay. You're looking at number six. If they're not going to take a quarterback, which I've, you know, I've thought about a decent amount. I believe they visited with C.J. Stroud, you know, I think that they've done their due diligence and, you know, the idea of them dropping a quarterback into that situation. I keep coming back to it. And why I just think that this might be the best chance, the right time for them to have that succession plan, the dismount, as we refer to it in the past from Jared Goff and this current restriction of their team. Yeah. Just the off ramp, dismount, however you're going to get there. It does seem like this is a rare opportunity to be able to do it. So I'm not ignoring that, but for our purposes here in this

exercise, similar to Seattle, just give me the big dude is going to wreck shit. You know, if Jalen Carter is there at six, if Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech is there at six, just one more body that can make something happen for me up front. And it doesn't seem like they've worked out a lot of the high-end corners. I think other people were penciling in a corner there to them in the top 10. And I know that the guys that they have on that team, and even they sign in free agency, not short things, not long-term bets. Emmanuel Moses is on a one-year deal, stuff like that.

CJ Gardner Johnson's on a one-year deal. But as I look at the cornerback depth chart of the team overall and the secondary depth chart overall, Will Harris put a ton of snaps for them last year. still on this roster. Jerry Jacobs is still on the roster. So I don't necessarily think that they've painted themselves into a corner where they didn't do that intentionally. I don't necessarily think that they've painted themselves into a corner by needing to take a corner that high in this draft. So I just think the best, and that's what free agency is supposed to be. Free agency is supposed to be a market where you can make sure you've got enough bodies that

frees you up to do whatever you want in the draft. And if you can, again, find one of those just cities destroying forces at number six on defense. I would point that direction. And then just another defensive piece at 18 maybe. That is maybe where you get your corner or some other, maybe a linebacker, just some other position to, again, drop some more pop into the back seven of your defense. But those two picks being defense. And then now, I thought this before the Jamison Williams news.

that they could just use another pass catch receiver. Somewhere along the way, I mean, Josh Reynolds is still their number three receiver. As good as they were on offense last year, as efficient as they were on offense last year, it's hard for me to not imagine what they would look like with one more guy. So is that potentially a wide receiver? Is that potentially a tight end somewhere along the way? And let me know what you think about this. They got those two second round picks, one of them from the T.J. Hawkins and Trade in Minnesota.

it. Why isn't this a DeAndre Hopkins team? Oh. Oh, that's fun. They have $24 million in caps. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Give up a second rounder. Cardinals are trying to look for picks.

That's a good one. That's fun. Because receiver-wise, because I was going to bring up receiver, I would say a day two pass catcher is how I was going to phrase it, either tied in a receiver. And I was going to say, they need a ball winner. And that's why I can come back to it. Exactly.

Think about his skill set with James and I'm on Ross St. Brown. That's fun. So his base salary, I think, is $19 million this year. I assume he'd want to reconfiguration of that deal. But even if you weren't going to do that, that $19 million, you can convert most of that to a signing bonus. You can kick that cap number down to whatever you wanted it to be in the first year because you're traded for that contract, similar to what the Browns did with Amari Cooper last year.

So I just think that it makes a lot of sense when you consider there. needs and the amount of picks that they have and some of the financial flexibility that they have. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's really good one. I actually really like that. I would like that better than taking one of these big receivers than day two. Yeah, no, that. I like that. For me, like you, you kind of give the caveat about it is, yeah, my heart wants them to take a quarterback with that, that first pick that they have. But if we're just looking for this exercise, front seven, or I should say, defense align monster, just one of these guys. I, if, they come out of this draft with one of Jalen Carter, Will Anderson, or Tyree Wilson,

I think that's a win for Lions and Lions fans. They need that type of guy. And it kind of all three of those guys are, are very, they compliment what Aiden Hutchinson does. And I think that that could be really fun. Like, oh my God, Will Anderson and Aidan Hutchison, like good luck running outside against either those. I mean, who needs like, okay, now we got to get interior help because no one's going to be able to run outside.

Those guys are just going to wreck shit on the outside. But what you laid out, defense aligned first, the number six pick, their second first round pick at number 18. Yes, I think they're in a perfect position to take a corner. Joey Porter, Jr. I think it's a good little spot. He's physical, and that's the type of play style I think they like. I think everyone sees Devin Witherspoon from Illinois, and how physical he is and a studie is. He's a very intelligent player.

And I think they see him. They're going, oh, lions love him. And I can understand that pairing. But I think in this type of draft with this corners where there's not that stingly or sauce gardener or that true true blue chip corner, I think there's a lot of good, very good corners in the first round as opposed to that true blue chip top five, top 10 guy. I would rather take one at 18 than at six. That just seems like the bigger drop off is going to happen with the front seven guys than it is with the corners in this class particularly. They worked out Emmanuel Forbes from Mississippi State. He's somebody that they worked out.

Totally get that. So somebody like that maybe a little bit later on compared. to the real difference maker you could potentially find up front at number six. Yeah. And another team that, I mean, every team could look at this position, but another team that I think a day two tight end would make a ton of sense for where they're at and where those guys are slotted. So, and, you know, the head coach, Dan Cable has a tight end background.

So I'm sure he'll be looking at these guys with a fine tooth comb. Another guy, Dane had him going there in his mock. We talked about this during the tight end show was darned on Washington from Georgia. And I believe that they also worked him out privately. as part of the process. And then the last thing a little bit later on, this is not as fun. We joke that we weren't going to talk about interior depth, but we're going to talk about interior depth here.

Likely, Vaita's last year, you know, with them after redoing that contract, do they go find another guard that they can slot in next season or just build some depth at that position somewhere a little bit later in the draft? Yep, that makes sense. And they're a team that they definitely look at that position. Like they're never going to not have a plan there. They're very well coached. I mean, they had depth last year.

So a team that actually that makes sense for. And they brought in Glasgow to be like kind of their interior swing guy for this season, but I believe it was only on a one year deal, him coming back. So I know I'm biased, but it's a real thing, people, is that a plan for offensive line. Look at the freaking Eagles for the last decade. Yeah. It's just always having succession plan, always having depth, always having answers is a huge,

huge thing. And I think the Lions are a team that that prioritizes that. So that's why this is very realistic. them. Stay in that division, a team that you wanted to talk about specifically was the Green Bay Packers and what theirs would look like. What does the Green Bay Packers Hot Streak look like? Pass catcher and safety.

In some way, shape, or form. I think they're in a great spot. Of course, when you look at the receivers, they're going to have their size threshold. So you just look at receivers that weigh above 195 pounds and you can limit the list that they're going to look at. Guess who weighs above 195 pounds? Jackson Smith and Jigba. So I that would be first round pick.

I would actually really like that giving. I like that one. Because Watson is like your slasher like on the move guy, but he's also a downfield threat. You know, Dobbs is like outside the number sort of player. And then you drop it. Jake was you drop JSN skill set into that equation. I think that all really makes a lot of sense. It does.

And that one I really do like. And I do think, I think in some way they have to find a tight end on in the first three rounds. they have to. But just what they have at the position and also what this position is at. And I know I sound like a broken record people, but there's enough tight ends to go around like for once. Like so like when saying usually when you say, oh, find a day two tight end.

It's like, yeah, there's none to draft. It's like, but in this draft, there's actually guys to find. So they're a team that I'd really like to have one, especially what I, they really need one that can block.

So finding a guy that's just an F only like a Kincade doesn't really, isn't a Dalton Kincade from Utah isn't a great, great fit to me. even with his past catching ability. I think they need someone because of their run heaviness of this offense. They need someone that could set the edge. That's a little more dynamic than Mercedes-Lewis has been. Well, who's the guy that Dane Capades-Lewis on the tight-out show?

Darn-R-Washington. Darn-R-Wastington, right. Oh, if they got him in the second round, I would love that. So that's where I look at. They need a tight-end. They need a receiver, and they also need a safety. This safety class is a little iffy, but I think you can find one that's tolerable that you can maybe have

a plan for that can contribute early because he's going to have opportunity to contribute early. I do think they worked out during on Washington as well. So just one more thing to kind of keep in, keep in mind there. Yeah. With him and that fit. He makes a lot of sense. He makes more sense than what I've seen other people that were like, oh, put Washington

on that offense. Like he makes a lot of sense for what the Packers do with their tight ends. They have to block because of how they use them. They block on the move a lot. Got guys slicing across the formation, get guys in space. and that is where he is best. We talked about that on the tight end show. So I hadn't thought about it previously to this conversation, but now I'm like,

I want it to happen. Now I'm way more on board. That's something I have even pieced together either. So that's why we do this. It's homework for us as well in a good way or learning experience. Last one here that you potentially wanted to talk about. I had an ellipsis and a question mark after it. It's like I'm Ron Burgundy kind of question with this was the Minnesota Vikings.

Do the Minnesota Vikings even fit this exercise as a team that's one hot streak away? I think it's the question we have to answer before we dig into it. Yeah, every conversation that we can have, I can include the Vikings in because I'm still trying to figure out what they are. But this is a team that we say they're trying to straddle two worlds, it seems like, at the same time. But if they feel like they want to lean on the, you know, like your golf swing, it's like, okay, I'm using my wedges here. so I'll lean into my front foot here. Oh, wow. Look at you.

Nate Tice, golf guy. I know. A couple, I know, right? Move to Vegas. I was like, oh, there's 20 golf courses within 10 minutes of me. I bet I have no excuses to shoot 100 anymore. But I see this team. They need, really, they need a corner.

That's where, first and foremost, they need a corner, a playable corner. I think will really help this defense in a whole. They are another team that needs a linebacker. Really, I just think they're, where they're at, if they can hit some draft picks, they can kind of overplay themselves a little bit. I mean that in a good way, more like have a better record than I would assume

if they can find all these contributors. They have interesting players, of course, Justin Jefferson, of course, Kirk Cousins is still the quarterback. The offensive line is workable. They, you know, they still have DeNiel Hunter. They still have Zadarius Smith right now for whatever reason. They still have them.

But they have some workable pieces. So I feel like if they can get some real, real contributors. years. And that's why I'm kind of hesitant on naming a position. I'm just saying they need starters. But if they can find guys that can actually, you know, of course everybody wants to need that's why I don't think that they really fit this. I think they need too many things, one. Even talking it out. It's kind of, I'm losing steam as I've talked it out. I think that their timeline is not quite the same as some of these other teams are. Like the Chargers, for example. Like the Chargers, they need to win. They're all in.

They need to win. The Vikings are, this is year two. They won 13 games last year. A lot of leash. going on with their decision makers in Minnesota right now. And they don't have that many picks. They swap second and fourth round picks with the Lions in the T.J. Hawkinson's. Got it in the Hawkinson's. But they do not have their fourth round pick because they traded it to Cleveland in last year's draft to move up for Caleb Evans. So they still only have three picks in the first four rounds despite getting the extra fourth from Mergo three. Detroit.

For a lot of different reasons. This is not based on any inside information, something we talked about. I had just had this gut feeling that the Vikings don't make a pick in the first round in this year's draft. For two different reasons. One, we have seen them prioritize value in a slightly different way than other teams. They moved out of the first round last year and that move with the Lions. They are willing to trade. They look at tiers, not players.

And I don't think that they're beholden to certain benchmarks of value with draft trades that some of these other teams are. I think they're willing to step outside of those traditional parameters to get what they see as value in the league overall in the Jimmy Johnson chart might not. That's one. Two, they don't have enough picks. So them waiting from 23, wherever they're picking, all the way to 87, I don't think they're going to want to do that. I think they move back and try to accumulate some draft capital based on who their general manager is, what the current situation is, and the limited moves. what they've already done. They've already shown us in the past.

Yes. That Jameson Williams trade was really interesting. I love, because we were live last year. So by like looking at the fallout from it, I guess, and everybody talking about the different trade values, I actually thought that was just an interesting discussion about trade theory and tier theory and and out pick value theory. I really liked all that stuff. I'm just saying it's kind of a sidebar, personal thought on all that because I do like that that there's no perfect chart of value and everything. But it is fun to look at all of them and how. teams value it.

And you can see when trades happen, it's like, oh, that's a huge loss for them. But you're like, look at this chart. That's actually a win. It's kind of cool to see the line of thinking maybe it will peek behind the curtain about teams operations. Just kind of a sidebar thought. According to more modern draft value charts, that trade is closer to even than the Jimmy Johnson chart.

The way that the Jimmy Johnson chart is different than a lot of the more modern charts is the Jimmy Johnson chart has larger gaps between higher and lower picks. So if you look at the value for the 10th pick and you look at the, value for the 30th pick. It's a world of difference. And the Jimmy Johnson chart, if you look at some of the more modern charts, whether it's the Chase Stewart chart or the Fitzgerald Speerberger chart on over the cap, the gaps between those are much, much smaller.

Because over time, with more studies that have been done, we have realized that teams overvalue high picks. So the gap between 20 spots in the first round is actually much lower than we historically understood. And I think that the Vikings are one of those teams that's willing to kind of live in that world. And it makes sense when you think about it when we, I mean, a common refrain that people will say is, oh, we only have 12 first round grades this year. We only have 15 first round grade. Well, shouldn't the chart reflect that? Yeah. That only like the top 12ish picks,

you know, top eight picks are kind of consistently like that type as opposed to, you know, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, that there's more of a, you know, a meeting in the middle. once you get pack pick 15 to pick 60 it's like okay they're actually not as crazy of a difference between value in those so no i'm pretty sure the viking said 13 guys last year that were tiered above where they would they were like we wouldn't move down if one of those 13 guys was available i think that was the number i almost hesitate to say it so i've had i've had a conversation is usually yeah usually sometimes teams have 10 uh i think even today chris bauer says we have 18 guys with first round grades i might be wrong with who said it but that's kind of the range that you're always working around. There's usually typically 12 to 15 is the number that you're looking at. All right. That's all we got. That was fun as all. That was fun. Yeah. It's a fun. It's a fun. It's a fun exercise to do you. It's a team fits that I'd even think about going into the show that we like workshoped. I really like it. It's just fun to, I mean, it's just a fun way to talk about fit and and just again, some of these teams that don't always get a lot of run during the pre-draft conversation

because the draft is not their Super Bowl. You know, for a team like the Texans or some of these other teams drafted in the top 10, the draft is their Super Bowl. So, These teams are kind of on the other end of the spectrum, but that's okay. We have to talk about them, too. So I just thought it was a fun way to kick off draft week. We have a lot more stuff coming to you guys during draft week. Tomorrow, Dane is going to join us. We're going to talk about the biggest questions that we have heading into DraftNet.

We did the show last year and just had a lot of fun doing it. So we're going to do it again with the three of us, kind of a precursor to our live draft show that starts Thursday night. Another reminder, please subscribe to the Athletic Football Show YouTube channel and come join us on Thursday night live from Kansas City. The entire first round, we're going to be reacting and breaking down every single pick. Then we're going to be back on Friday doing rounds two and three. People have asked, just wanted to let you guys know. These will be available as podcasts. We're actually going to break it up a little bit so it's not a four hour long podcast.

But there will be several podcasts coming your way that are a product of this live. draft show. If you want, if you release the Snyder cut, release the Beller cut. That's what that's going to be. It's all one show. Yeah.

So they will be available as pots. So if you want to listen, you know, please do that. But we are going to have some visual elements that do kind of take things up a notch with the live version of the show. So we encourage you to come watch if you want to watch. Just a couple other like little details.

We're not going to have the, the feed of the draft going because that's illegal. But we will have us and we will. and we will be following along and we will be doing it according to the broadcast. We're not going to tip picks. We're going to follow along with you guys

because we think that's the most fun way to do it. A couple people on Twitter had asked about that. So I just wanted to kind of throw that out logistically. The other show we have coming your way this week, top 10 mock draft with our beatwriters who cover these teams. We've done that over the last couple of years. I really enjoyed doing it. I think it's a really fun kind of pre-draft show.

So that will be coming your way on one. Wednesday and then we're there. Football GM, normal day on Thursday, and then the draft is happening. So we, we're very, very close and I'm very, very excited to be close. So that is your athletic football show programming for this week. For now, though, that is all we've got. We'll be back with Dane tomorrow. Until then, I appreciate you guys listen. We'll talk to you soon. This was the Athletic Football Show.