The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Prospects to Pros: Dane Brugler's Updated 2024 NFL Draft Big Board...a new No. 1, Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 2, seven QBs in the top 50, and more

Episode Date: November 1, 2023

The first in-season update of Dane Brugler's 2024 NFL Draft Big Board comes with a new No. 1 overall...North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. Dane explains why he moved Maye up, and Caleb Williams down, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Prospects to Pros. After that, he and Nate Tice dig deeper into the top 50.Follow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceFollow Dane on Twitter: @dpbruglerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic football show's Prospects to Prospects to Pros. Hello and welcome to Prospects to Pros presented by Invesco QQQ, the official ETF of the NCAA. I am your host, Nate Tice, as always. We are having a fun one today because we have an updated Big Board from Dame Bruegler himself. And we are going to go over some of the highlights, some superlatives, risers, followers, all the fun stuff. And to help me do it, it's the one who wrote it, the guy who's brain the, This comes from Mr. Dane Bruegler. How are you doing today, Dane?

I'm doing good. We're taping this in the middle of trade deadline action right before the deadline. So Montez Sweat just went to the Bears. That's interesting for a high second round pick. Ryan Poles just doesn't like his second round picks, apparently. Second year in a row. But I tell you what, it's interesting that I don't think the Bears' ownership and, you know, I don't think they let Ryan Poles make this move unless he's back.

as GM. You know? So I think that that's this, another off shoot of this trade is I think I, maybe I'm overlooking, or I'm kind of looking at this wrong way, but I, Ryan Poles probably back in the off season. And, you know, with, yeah, they gave it a high second round pick, but with two potential top five picks, the bear still sit in a power position when it comes to the draft. Even if they, uh, wanted to trade back with one of those picks, you're going to get back

those second round pick plus more. So bears are, yeah, there's a lot to give up. It's a high price. But Montes Sweat, they're going to pay him. They've been missing that stud pass rusher. We'll see how it works out. And he's a scheme fit for the Bears too because, you know, I refuse to likes if he's back.

You know, that's so it's so influx. It makes a lot of sense for his scheme too as far as like pushing the pocket and rushing four and all that kind of stuff. So, or four down, I should say. But that is, yeah, I totally agree with you. this is, and also this is a move that to me at first, it's like, it was a fair price. That's exactly what I thought sweat would go for. So like a second rounder.

And I thought that, you know, with someone like the bears, that's like a move that's like they feel more good about like this. Like it feels like more like what their lines were at maybe the last couple of years. We're like, hey, they're building towards something. There's a lot of positive signs here. The bear season's been just all over the place, like mostly negative. So this, this move kind of felt more like, hey, this is another step in the right direction. to what we have and we're all in on fields and we're going to use those high top picks on a

tackle and a receiver and it's like you know just like it's mixed messages coming from chicago so I think that was really interesting not where I thought sweat would end up I thought there was a lot of good fits for him still some good fits for chase young so I'm curious and you're talking about ownership kind of signing off on that that's a great point because that came up in potentially in a Derek Henry trade from the Titans was that the sound of like the whispers anyways that the ownership was like, no. He remains a titan, remains a titan, even if the GM wants to trade him and there's other teams that want to take him on.

Right. Well, and with Kevin Warren coming in as president of the Bears, you thought, okay, maybe there's a chance. You know, we could see a change at GM. But, yeah, again, if they make this move now, I mean, you don't expect a team like the Bears with where they're at to be buyers at the deadline. But this is a move, obviously not for this year. This is for the long term.

This is what they're building towards. And I think they're going to give Ryan Poles a chance to continue. his vision and that kind of brings us to the top 50 because like I said the bears might have two top five picks and this is a draft that we've got quarterbacks at the top and might have a change. To be fair, okay, so my first top 50 came out in August. I always wait until I'll write around Halloween. I want to get two months of tape. I don't want this to be a we're reacting to every single week, every single game, two months of tape. All right, now it's time to update this top 50. and got plenty of risers, plenty of fallers, compared to what we had in August, 17 new names

from the preseason. Most of those in the back half of this, I think there's only one in the front half in the top 25. But yeah, there is a new number one on my top 50 and a guy that I know you're very high on as well. I was stunned to see that name, but I maybe had an inkling of what that name is. Do you want to share who your new number one is in the updated Big Board, Dame Brueger's Big Board, as of Halloween, 2023? It is Drake May, North Carolina quarterback. He is also as a new quarterback one for me.

And look, I think this boils down to, first of all, I want to say it's more about Drake than it is about Caleb. More about being more, just May from the pocket, I feel a lot more confident and comfortable with him, winning from the pocket than I do with Caleb. And I think Caleb Williams gets beat up too much. And part of that is because of the outsized expectations like we talked about last week. But I do think that there are, when he has to put that superhero cape on, you know,

because he feels like he has to. When he does, there are a lot of mistakes that happen. And, you know, he leads the entire, all of college football, 12 fumbles so far. He only six last year. It already has double the number of fumbles this year. year. You know, against Notre Dame, those three interceptions, an up and down game against Utah. I still think he did a lot of really good things on that tape. But some moments that, you know, you just, you have question marks.

You know, same thing against Cal, which, again, he played a good game. He had plenty of explosive plays. But, you know, you do, there are some elements of doubt that creep into your mind when you watch him and you see him being forced to create. Most times he has to, not always. but most time he has to. But this is more about Drake May. This is more about a guy that I feel comfortable winning from the pocket.

I feel comfortable with him as a scrambler. He is the most out of all these quarterbacks, McCarthy and Chador and Caleb and all these quarterbacks that I've scouted for this class, he is the most efficient, productive scrambler in the group. He only does it when he needs to. And when he needs to, he usually gets first downs. He is very smart and productive when he does it. And then his arm is just, it's fantastic.

He is one of the best quarterbacks in this class in drop eight situations. I mean, if you don't blitz him, if you don't get home, he is going to pick you apart because there is not a window too small that he is not afraid to go test. And more times than not, he can win because he has that arm and he's an accurate player. So Drake May, I think he's cut from the same cloth as Justin Herbert. There are still a few more reckless decisions than you want to see. this is a young quarterback figuring things out. I will take the aggressive decision making as more of a strength and a weakness, the timing, the fact that he's doing it with, you know,

take his top two receivers from last year. That's over 180 targets from last year. And Downs is playing well right now as a pro. So it's not like he's a nobody. He's got a new cast of characters this year. And I mean, Tess Walker didn't play his first game in North Carolina uniform until October a few weeks ago. And you already see that instant chemistry and that timing.

You know, and it's funny that he moves up to number one on the heels of back-to-back losses for North Carolina. But when you watch those games, you don't come away thinking, man, Drake May is the reason they lost these games. I mean, you're coming away. He has more big-time throws against Virginia and Georgia Tech than he did against some of his, quote-unquote, better games earlier this year that were wins. So, no, I've been so impressed with, and obviously I loved him over the summer. He was, I called it a 1-A-1B situation. Now, I just, again, it's that comfort level winning from the pocket. I feel a little bit better about Drake.

And nothing against Caleb. I still think he's a high level prospect. If you have a high pick in this draft, I think you, there's a little more risk involved, but I still think that you can feel comfortable that the attainable upside is something you can get excited about and be optimistic about. But I lean Drake May right now with, you know, this is, okay, we're turning the calendar to November, still have plenty of ways to go. But where we are right now, I feel better about Drake May as quarterback won and at the top of the top 50.

I mean, you nailed all of it. This is why I've really enjoyed watching May. I can't believe how many North Carolina games I've watched this year. And it's just, I mean, you hit it on the head, just bringing up his pass catchers. It's all him. Like, it's him creating these throws and him putting the ball on the money. And, you know, their run game is strong because defenses are just terrifying. of him whipping the ball.

And like you said, you have to be good against drop eight. You have to push the ball. And so he's willing to do it. And that's already good to see. And you already brought up the point of, you know, he can be aggressive. And sometimes, you know, maybe try a little too much. And he has gotten better at it. And I've always kind of said I'd much rather have that and trying to get it out of the guys or hone it in and go, only it, you know, break glass in case of emergency moments.

Do you do that? As opposed to the other way where you're like, eking out any try to try to get any explosive out of it. So you nailed it, though. accuracy at all three levels. I mean, just even when he throws quick game or RPO's, it just ball comes out quickly and accurately. And even if the, and just a consistent zip and he can layer throws over the middle, he just does all the things, I mean, I love from quarterback prospects.

And he's maybe by when this is all said, done for me anyways, like, I'm going to have him as one of my highest grade of quarterbacks ever. Like I really am, not, not better than Trevor, but up there. And I gave you a lot of credit. I give you credit, my friend. You from the start were Drake May quarterback won. So I give you a ton of credit for that. I appreciate it.

But you say 1A1B and that's why I want to get to the Caleb stuff too, is that I finally watched a Utah game, all 22 Wies and the Nordame game of all 22 wise. And watching those games and there's so much where you just don't want to ding Caleb. It's what we talked about last week, whether it's the offense. It's a can't or won't thing. Is it can you not do it or are they just not calling? They won't call it. And that's what I don't want to ding him because then you see the flashes and you see the accuracy and see the zip that he can put on the ball throwing off platform.

It's like, all right, yeah, there's blemishes. There's more risks to Caleb than people had people were glossing over at first. But it's still a guy that I'm grading as a true lottery pick first round quarterback, like true top 10 guy. So it's not a dink. So like you said, it's more what May is done and maybe just Caleb has not approved upon. But it doesn't mean that what Caleb has shown already doesn't mean him that he drops out of the first round. he's to me is exactly where you have him which i believe you have at number three right now overall and that's because marvin harrison junior is that's at number two which is not i don't think

will change i wanted to put about one to be honest with you but i just i don't know quarterback yeah it's yeah it's tough and yeah that's but yeah Caleb i mean he's not going to fall that far and i wouldn't even call it a fall necessarily it's just uh because honestly all these top three players been saying it i'll be shocked if they're not the top three players drafted. With Caleb, all these rookie quarterbacks, all these first year quarterbacks,

no matter what we think of them coming in, you know, there's, you're always kind of nervous. There's almost an anxiety with these guys because NFL speed is just different. And the way they adapt to that, how long it takes.

I know, with Caleb, obviously there's risk involved, but I, you're going to bet on his talent. And I think that because the bar was set so high with him, him like you know again the word generational and you know that he was put up on this pedestal that every little mistake is scrutinized that I don't think happens with every other quarterback so you know

I think that a lot of these times when he's holding the ball too long it's because he has to because they're getting home with the front forward the receivers aren't getting open you know so I receivers are running wrong routes right they're not getting depth first half there's at least four or five bus and it's like how do I dog how am I going to do I don't know how am I going to being Caleb and get on him if like he can't read anything out two guys are running the wrong route he can't and I can just tell that like because they stop running it's like that's how I can tell so it's yeah and it's not no and I you're exactly right and that's what I think people are you know say that's an excuse when it's no that's just the context of playing the quarterback

position you're dependent on play calling scheme talent around you blocking I mean it's a very dependent position yeah right and that's and that's what you're betting on with Caleb. I think it's with the bar set so high, it can be easy for people to call him overrated after a mistake. But let's not lose sight of his tremendous strength as a player, because that is something that can really differentiate himself. He's got an above average arm, like you said, natural feel for accuracy. And then his ability to weaponize his creativity is something that really separates him. So yeah, I'm still again. Contact balance, burst. Like he can get away. Oh, his balance is uncanny.

As a runner, as a passer, it's almost strange. Like, it's like, how are you keeping your? He wobbles like a weble. Like, he just won't go down. He just gets bumps and then he gets forward and he just gets up. And he doesn't need to reset himself. It's like, it's just automatic. It's, it is weird.

Yeah. It's, it's. So, yeah, I will, if I have the number one pick, I am taking Drake May. But if I have the number two pick, I still feel really good about taking a chance on a Caleb Williams because of that talent and. And what he can bring to my offense. So, yeah, it's, uh, and I think these are the conversations that teams are going to have between now and April. There's not going to be a clear cut number one.

There's going to be, because these quarterbacks require so much context that it's going to be really fascinating to see this whole thing play out. Teams, it's going to be different from team to team and decision maker to decision maker. You never know when a GM or a coach or an owner loves a guy. Like you never know if that's the influence that can have on it all. So yeah, that's that's a very important thing. To your point about like where he would, like a Drake May will rank when it's all said and done with the rest of these quarterbacks. For me, Joe Burroughs, the top quarterback I've ever watched. But I would do it almost like tiers.

You know, like Joe Burroughs, to me, is on a tier by himself. But that second tier, I think Trevor Lawrence is in there. I think both these guys could finish on that second tier as, you know, I don't, I don't know. It's hard to necessarily rank them on that tier. but as a tier where you could see these guys, there's a clear path to these guys being special in the NFL. It's not a fail-safe projection by any means, but you can see the talent.

Yeah, absolutely. And it wasn't hard to see why you would bet on a Trevor Lawrence. I don't think it's very hard to see why you would bet on either one of these two guys. I always think it's the star starter bench bust thing. And so it's like a percentage of each. And I think May and Williams, they have that a bigger chunk of star than they do the other. the other sections or other categories.

So getting outside that top three, which I agree with you are just, it's such a fun offensive class because we're getting some defensive talk, I'm sure as it goes along. Because at four, you have Brock Bowers and then you have a couple tackles right after that, and Ola Foshanu from Penn State and Joe Alt from Notre Dame. So nothing really changed there. Maybe Joe Alt bumped up a little bit. And then maybe Bowers just got, Bowers just a couple spots, right, but still very, very high. What was his injury again?

And does it seem like he is, he got type rope surgery? didn't he? Yeah, and cool. So he theoretically should be back at some point this year. There's a thought, you know, he could if he wanted to shut it down. But he doesn't seem like that kind of guy. Seems like we will see him in a Georgia uniform again. It's just a matter of when.

Will it be a C.C. title game? Will it be, you know, for the playoffs. Georgia, you know, they sure seem that they're on that trajectory. But let's get away from the order real quick. There's a couple other Georgia offensive players that made the cut. It's hero. Well,

and Marius Mims, the tackle, who's been out with the same ankle injury. He was, I made a big bet on him in the preseason betting on those traits.

It was a, I thought that was a safe bet. Yeah, yeah. Well, and it was hard to figure out how far to drop him just because we haven't,

we haven't seen him. So he's still in the top 20. I'm still going to make those bets on this player because I think NFL teams will. The traits are off the charts. We just need to see them on the field. And, you know,

we'll see what kind of NFL decision he makes after this season was such a light resume. But two others I wanted to talk about, and they just snuck in at the back end of this top 50. Two new players that were not on the initial top 50, Ladd-McConkie, wide receiver, who is the 10th receiver on this top 50. And then Carson Beck. You know, you talked a lot about Tyler Van Dyke last week. Carson Beck's kind of my Tyler Van Dyke, you know, what you were talking about.

Beck is, it's funny. compare his stats through eight games to Stetson Bennett. I mean, Stetson Bennett was not the same type of NFL prospect. Right. But obviously, he's, he was a Heisman finalist. He was a national championship winning quarterback twice. Like, they're letting Beck throw it as much, if not more, than, than Bennett. I mean, they are relying on, Beck is not a caretaker where he's just handing the ball off. He is, they're relying on him to win football games. And even with Brock Bowers out, Carson Beck is still dealing. So I, I gave him. him a low end starter grade at this point.

We still only have eight starts from him. Work and progress. If he did come out, I think he would be in that top 50 mix. So he did make the cut at 50. Then like I mentioned, Ladd McConkey, who is, he's the type of guy that when he walks off the bus, you're just kind of like, you know, like nothing to get excited about. He's 511, buck 85. But then you see him on the field, you see the ball speed.

Oh my gosh. He's just a good football player. He's awesome. I love him. So I'm so glad that you can see it. Outside. Yeah. He is, he kind of, he missed like the first month of the season and then he's been working

his way back into the offense. The last few weeks, and he had his quote unquote breakout game against Florida with 134 receiving yards, more than half of those after the catch. But he's so competitive at the catch point. Like I was saying, after the catch, he is a dangerous weapon. And he just, he's hard to cover. So again, that size. scares you a little bit going up against NFL corners,

but you got to cover them. And that's not an easy task. So Ladd-McConkie, the 10th receiver to make the cut here in this top 50. 10 receivers. Oh, I can't wait. It's like two years ago when we had, that was the, we had six in the top 25. And then we had 10 total in the top 50. You know, that with, you know, like your guy, Alec Pierce.

Yeah. He's coming along. Last couple weeks. He's coming along. I was about to sell them. all my stock in him. So he brought me back in. But yeah, well, George Pickens was up there.

Yeah. He might have been just outside the top 50. Yeah. Same thing with like Sky Moore. But yeah, there were, I think exactly 10 in that year's top 50. So I think this year could be similar if all these underclassmen come out.

Because these are all 10 of these guys are underclassmen, not a single senior in the group. So yeah, it's a really interesting wide receiver group. Obviously, stud at the top of Marvin Harrison Jr. But then even wide receiver two is, tough.

You know, I lean Keon Coleman. He came in at number eight, so a top 10 guy on this top 50. A strong week from him. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. He played a good corner at Wake Forest and Carson, who I think I considered in this top 50. Like, he is a good player. He's a future NFL starter at corner.

And Coleman, yeah, a couple touchdowns against them. I mean, he's just a, especially that one, what was it? Like, it was a swing screen? I can't remember exactly the play. But his, you just don't expect. a guy that size to be as fast as he is. And it's instant speed. The way he can accelerate, it just, it forces, it really is.

And it forces defenders to take just to misjudge their angles and you do that. And it could be six. And that's, that's, oh, no. But you're bringing up Ladd and it's Ladd, I'm going to be saying, I just can't believe his name is Ladd. That's great. But it's that his size and build was what somebody of the receivers last class were,

last year's class. And, or I should say this year, it's 2023's class. And that's what it's so fun about these top guys right now. I mean, of course, you know, Marvin Harrison Jr.'s got great size and everything. But I mean, Keon Coleman's a true X, Rome. A Dunzee, you have at 11 overall, your receiver three. But I mean, I was a little high, but I don't hate it. I don't know, man.

I think all three of these guys, obviously Harris Jr. is a top five pick, easy. But these other two, I see as true lottery pick receivers. And that, I mean, I usually only give that the X's guys that can think can be. a true outside guy and I think these guys are. So I see and they've done nothing, nothing when I watch them to like make me, all they do is get better, it seems like every week I watch them. I'm like, yeah, now they're doing this. So I love that.

Any other receivers move up for you or any down or any kind of new names that I think that was really it for the receiver class? Malik Neighbors is right around where I had him. I mean, he, I think I had him 14 in the initial top 50. Now he's 13. So, I mean, right there. After him, yeah, I mean, I'm a explosive man. Jeez.

Yeah. Oh, he's, there's only two receivers in college football that have at least 880 receiving yards and at least nine touchdowns. It's him and Marvin Harrison. So, I mean, it's just really, you love the production. Yeah. It's so much better than when, like, trying to sell a guy like Alec Pierce there. He has like 600 yards. It's like, well, you're projecting here.

These guys are such easier sales. They score and they can run. It's great. Speaking of Washington receivers, I had to include Jalen Polk in here. I'm glad you did. That's a great call. He made it in the top 40.

I don't, I'm curious what he's going to run, like just how fast he is, but I think he's fast enough. And the way he can win at the catch point, his catch radius is awesome. I just, I really like Jalen Polk.

I think he, I think that offense will, that scheme will help these guys, these receivers, but I still feel like they're winning on their own. And they're asking them real routes. That's the thing. It's a very high-powered offense and everything, but it's not just a bunch of bubble.

I mean, there are some bubbles, but it's not just bubble, bubble, bubble, slant, slant, slant, bubble, slant, they're breaking the tacking and scoring. It's like posts and double moves and glances and corners. I'm not sure throughout a bunch of jargon out there, but it's just that they're real routes that translate. So I get what you mean that you're trying to parse through that,

but it translates well, I think. Well, and this week, you know, finalizing this, okay, is Polk going to make it or not, I'm watching the Arizona State tape and, you know, the last few games. And by the way, I don't know, that Washington offense, Washington as a whole has really struggled these last two games. Yeah. Really different team than we saw against Oregon. But it was on the Arizona State tape.

It was in the, I believe, the first quarter, he, it was just a good example of his route running to get open at the sticks and move the chains. I mean, he was doing it offense. So it wasn't just splashy big plays where, you know, go routes, things like that. I mean, he is getting open on his own and he is a really reliable target. So I just, I, I, I, I, there are, what are the reasons not to include a Jalen Polk in your top 40? I just, I don't have them. I love it. So, uh, that, that's why I made it.

I know. When we broke those guys down, it was, you know, such a fun group. Um, and I, uh, Derek Klasson had a fun way to kind of describe Polk. He's like, he's like, all right, if I get done Zia, he's the diet Coke version of that. And it was like, yep, that's perfect. He's like, yeah, like an 80 to 90% version of that, but still that's so how high. Good size. Yep, good speed.

Does everything well, checks every box. It's like, yeah, this guy, to me, looks like a real good number two type, which is what he is right now with this offense. So it's awesome. There are three teams, three college programs that have two receivers with Ohio State. I mean, let's not forget how good at Bucca is, even though we haven't seen him here almost a month now. hopefully Buckeyes get him back here soon. He's just a fun player to watch. Mention Washington and then LSU with Malik neighbors.

And then maybe the biggest riser compared to just our thoughts preseason, Brian Thomas. Look, I think it's as simple as this. He's big. He's strong and he can run. It's not any mystery why he is ranked this high. Do you have his measurables? I mean, not official, not official, not verified, but he's listed, you know, 6-4, I believe he's 205,

and I think he's going to run well. He leads the FBS and receiving touchdowns with 11. You don't see many drops on his film. Yeah. I just, I don't think there's a huge gap between what he offers and what neighbors offers. I think it's just, it's a little bit different. It's just what kind of receiver are you looking for. So, yeah, big Brian Thomas fan, and I think he's put himself into that first round discussion.

Another fun offense to watch. And they've got a trigger man right now that's just winging it. Credit Jadenyels. That's it. Speaking of Daniels, he did make it too. He did. You were talking about that he might. So yeah,

he's the top. Quarterback five for you. Yes. Quarterback. Yeah, I think he's the top senior quarterback that I've done so far. I think he's, he put him in the same,

him and Beck. I mean, they're both low end starter grades right now. But you know what? They're starter grades. And so. This is right where I would have Daniels. So I like the second or early third.

That's the kind of how I graded. him. So what you're saying right now, it makes total sense. You just love how he gets better and better. I mean, he put on quality stuff on the Arizona State tape, but then he was better last year, first year at LSU. And he's even better this year, LSU. And it's, we talked about him a little bit last week, but it's not just what he's a, he's a true dual threat, but it's not just what he does with his legs.

It's how comfortable and confident he is from the pocket. It's really impressive to see. He leads all of FBS with 49 completions of 20 plus yards. I just, there's a lot to like about Daniels as a, you know, you think about like Desmond Ritter, like, you know, what he's been able to do. I think I like Jane Daniels a little bit better than I liked, like a Desmond Ritter. Like that style of quarterback. Yeah.

I think I get a little bit more with Daniels, but it's, yeah, he's an interesting quarterback, to say the least. Yeah, that's that tier of guy where it's like, hey, I can see this guy starting and you might get a little more out of them than you think. Like, it's like a spot starter. And then it's like at worst, you get this high-end backup or a backup that you're comfortable with over the years. So, like, that's, I kind of see the same way with these guys. And then so at quarterback three, you still have JJ McCarthy from Michigan.

And kind of that's about the same spot that you have in August, give or take, or over. Right. Mid first roundish range. I mean, up to this point, he's done nothing to really change that opinion, right? That's what we talked about last week. Right. It's kind of the same. Yeah, he's playing well.

I don't know that's truly been tested, but excited to see what November brings for him because when he has to go to Penn State, you've got Ohio State coming to town. Not to mention all this stuff swirling around that program. You know, how well can you block it out and go out there and make plays? I think it's also worth mentioning that as the run game hasn't been as explosive as maybe we thought it would be.

The offensive line has been good but not great. As much as we like their depth, I don't think you look at any of these guys and say, oh, this is a, you know, a top 50 pick. Right. So I think that it's the Michigan offense, you know, with everything going on with the sign stealing and all that, it's a very interesting conversation to have.

But until they play Penn State and Ohio State, you know, it's not really worth a conversation worth having. So, yeah, he's still kind of in that mid first round spot for me at quarterback three. Yep. And then the last quarterback in your top 50 is Shudorah Sanders from Colorado. He's your quarterback four. 24 overall. And we had a little conversation about him last week, but anything you want to kind of add or

explain the grade. I guess we'd be a good way to put it. Yeah. It's with that offensive line, it's, I mean, watching him against UCLA. It was just kind of like get the ball out or take a hit. I mean, it's really hard to live that way. I would love, it's obviously not going to happen with Coach Prime there. But I would love to see him into the transfer portal and go to like Oregon next year.

I mean, if he does, he's the instant Heisman favorite. Oregon's a national title contend. I mean, they already are, but add a talent like that, of course, I mean, that would be so much fun. But obviously, it's more about can Coach Prime bring in the guys for the offensive line and he's going to lose some targets. So adding some more firepower on that offense. And that's as Scherre comes back. You know, I think that's, there's an NFL decision to be had. Speaking of, there was one more quarterback, Quinn Ewers.

He did. Oh, Quinn. Yeah. He did fit it towards the end. And he's a guy that, again, has an incomplete grade. We talked about it last week. It's, I like Quinn Ewer. There's a lot of talent there.

Yeah, I just, I need to see more. Ideally, I would love to see him go back to school. I want to see him get more experience and just become a more streamlined quarterback. So him, it sounds like he's going to be out this weekend against Kansas State, which is unfortunate. Kansas State's a good team. But hopefully we see him back here in a week or two and a chance to kind of pick off. or pick up where he left off. Yeah.

And then you can actually have a Texas receiver. Do you have both of them up here? Just one. Just one. Yep. Wide receiver 9 and who would that be? Of the Texas group, I should say. Yeah.

Adina Mitchell. I mean, he's tough because I, you could see how talented he is. I mean, he has 6'4, probably just under 200 pounds, long, flexible athlete. You love how loose he moves. but then you also see how loose he is with his technique and his routes and it's like, and then his play strength is below average. And it just, he should be more dominant than he is, you know, with his,

he doesn't get as many catches. He had two touchdowns against BYU on Saturday, but I still expect him to be more dominant. And I don't know if it's just part of the offense. Maybe I'm dinging him too much, but Mitchell should be a more dominant receiver than what we see on tape. and because of that, I couldn't go higher than I have him here at 42, but you can see the path where he could be a legit NFL starter and playmaker. It's just, you know, I still need to see more from him.

I agree. The looseness of the route running. He's a good athlete and good size, good traits, and it's just one of those guys. It's just like you said, maybe just needs reps. It's always this, that always seems to be a spot for that type of guy that's like, this guy looks like he should be a first rounder, but he doesn't really look at playing like once. So early third.

I'm going to put him right there. In some ways, you know, there's some George Pickens there, you know, like where it's just, you see the talent. Like it's not hard to see the talent,

but it's just can he be more consistent? Can he be a detail, you know, what it takes to be an NFL receiver and not every guy's capable of that. But, you know, you see the talent and get you excited. Yeah.

It reminds me a little bit like Terrace Marshall a little bit. Yeah, there you go. That's kind of like how I'm viewing them right now. So cap off maybe the rest of the offense. I don't believe there's any running backs in your top 50? No, no. No running backs. I've got a, on Thursday, I've got an article coming out of, you know, the 12 or 15 players that I hated leaving off of this.

And a couple of running backs didn't make it on there. I'll let people read their article to find out who they are. But yeah, in the history of the NFL draft, only once. has there been a running back or a year where running back did not go top 50? This could be one of those years. We'll see. There's not a slam dunk top 50 pick in this mix. But, you know, it takes us one team to, you know, see the talent of one of these guys and have the need and pull the trigger.

So, yeah, we'll have to see on that one. People keep asking me who I like. And I'm just like, yeah, you know, just keep going like, there's a lot of, like, super role players. And I just kind of leave it at that. Good for a committee. Like that's kind of been my grab bag answer Because it's just like there's like Ten guys I feel like I've tiered the same

So I just want to I want to really dive into it as a season And that's gonna be big on testing and everything too So and a lot of NFL teams that they do a committee You know they unless you have a Nick Chubb or you know an Echler You know even but even those guys they'll get spelled so it's like a 60 Really it seems like to be even if you have a dude It's really the kind of 6535 split nowadays like that's kind of right it is And so you can you need a

two. Like it's it's coming back. Running game's coming back. These guys better catch and pass protect because I'm just watching all these NFL offenses and how NFL defenses are challenging right now. And I'll tell you what, if they think your runnerback can't protect, they're going to bring it every single snap. And they're going to say, oh, you can't, this guy won't get an explosive so we can just do this, this and this. So the runback is becoming important as long as having a couple good ones. And then just the offensive tackle class, you have, we already mentioned Alt as OT2. J.C. Latham from Alabama.

Is in your top 10, offensive tackle three. I really like him, so I totally get that. I like that one, two, three as well. And then OT4 was Mims. And then five, you have Tower Guyton from Oklahoma. And then you got a couple of Oregon guys, well, different organs, I should say, up there as well. But do you want to just break down maybe some new names or risers in the tackle class?

Because it is a really fun class. Yeah, it is. And I think there were, what, 10 total offensive linemen that made the cut. But, yeah, a tackle, just in general, one of the players that has taken the biggest jump this year is Tiles Fugga, the right tackle at Oregon State, who is one of the best run blockers in the nation. And then in Passpro, I mean, he does enough. His hands are so good. They're so stiff, but in a good way. You know, really stiff hands where he's keeping guys at bay.

There are times where he forgets his feet, you know, he'll react with his hands. and then his feeder, you know, a millisecond late to catch up. So it just needs to stay on the same page, but I think he's moved himself into the top 50 mix where you see, okay, this guy can be a starter for us and make us better. A lot of offensive linemen on this group, tackles, well represented. So is edge rusher, which, you know,

we've talked about ed rusher a lot over the last few months as, you know, we're missing that dude at the top. But, you know, there's a lot of quality guys in this group that maybe aren't going to, when you, or, you know, they don't necessarily have pro bowls in their future, but you really like what they bring your defensive line. And so one of those risers has been Chris Braswell from Alabama. I mean, you can turn on that Alabama tape to watch Dallas Turner, but good luck doing it without noticing Braswell and what he's doing.

Just a really, he's not, doesn't have as, he's not as slippery as Turner, doesn't have the same type of speed, but he brings more power. His ability to convert that speed to power is really impressive. and just I think every tape I've watched of Braswell, there's some type of splash play where it's a strip sack or making a key stop on third down. I mean, he's been really impressive. So this edge group, I think there's what,

nine, nine edge rushers made the cut. So a few new names that maybe didn't make it, or we weren't really on the radar in the summer, but guys that have really risen here in the first two months. Yeah, and Dallas Turner's, you're still your edge one. or is your edge one now. Yeah, he is.

And I kind of agree with you that this age class has a lot of kind of what I think is like really good starter types. But I don't know, like we say, not that ace, not that what we say, the X receiver. There's a lot of Z receivers of the D.N class. That's what it kind of feels to me. Or slot guys. We're missing that 1A number one. Yeah. Oh, this guy's getting 10 sacks, you're in, year and you're out kind of guy.

I see a lot of more of those six to eight sack guys with they're good against the run or just nice, you know, not that like you said, they're not bad or anything like that. But also you, I'm glad you brought that up, but I also just noticed another Alabama corner outside of Kool-Aid is in your top 50. Terry and Arnold, who needs to be more disciplined, but he is, he's a former five-star guy. And you can absolutely tell why. The way he moves, the movement skills of that size, he's one of the most competitive corners, if not the most competitive corner in this draft. So I just, when you have those ingredients, the competitiveness, the athletic traits, and a good-sized player, you're going to bet on that at some point in the top 50 picks and just figure, okay, do we trust this guy to continue to learn and develop? And as long as the answer is yes, you're going to make that bet because he has a lot of what NFL teams covet at the position. So Arnold makes the cut. Get some quarterback movement.

Or it's kind of a little shakeup. Is this a new quarterback one for you? Um, you had him in a mix before, but I think this is kind of your first kind of like. Coolid was cornerback one. Yes. I mean, I still like coolid. Oh, yeah. Um, you know, he's still in the top 20 mix.

He just, I don't know. This feels more fair for him. You have him AT all that as opposed to a top 10 guy. This feels more fair. He feels more like a middle first round type. Yeah. I didn't have any corners make the top 12. Um, but, you know, Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeGine, Coopoldekelead McKinstree, they're all to me in that

mid first round range. All three of these guys. All three, yes, yes. I mean, Nate Wiggins, you wish maybe you're a little bit bigger, stronger, but he's so sudden and the movement skills. I mean, just watching him against Florida State. He was out for a couple weeks. Gave up a touchdown on the Miami tape, but overall, he played a pretty good game. He played well against NC State, even though, again, that was a loss and the defense as a whole didn't play great, but Wiggins had a good game.

Cooper DeGine is just, I mean, he's a football player. He is so much fun to watch. the punt return against Minnesota didn't count, but you know what? It's still on tape. It happened. That will matter. It did not cut off. That tape did not cut off.

Aside from the special teams, yeah, what he offers on defense, I think is awesome. In modern NFL, he is like a defense coordinator's dream. Absolutely. They're going to love him as a chess piece. Yeah. Maybe the best run support defensive back in this entire class, but he's also going to test off the charts and be a guy that you trust outside on an island. Denzel Burke from Ohio State made the top 50 after last year was a disaster for him.

I still, I put him too high just because he is very volatile. All corners are volatile, but especially with his back to the ball, it just doesn't have a great feel for it. But I think he's a good-sized player. He's aggressive. He has the athletic testing that you're going to want to see. So he makes the cut here. A Mac corner made the list as well. I was about to ask this.

Yeah, there's a lot of good corners. I think how many total corners made it eight? Eight. Yeah, Camari Lasseter from Georgia. He made the cut as well. He's one of those guys who's, I don't know what he's going to test. If he's going to test like a true, you know, ace,

if he's going to be that type of guy. But, man, you listen to the Georgia staff talk about him. And they say he's one of the best leaders on the team, one of the best competitors, and you watch his tape and you see a guy that just doesn't lose very often. So I don't know that he's going to run a 4-3. I don't know that he's going to test necessarily off the charts, but I think he's good enough in those areas,

and plus you add in the rest of it. And he's a guy that might not go top 20, but somewhere in the top 50 picks, I think he makes sense as a number two corner for a team. Yeah, like you said, eight corners. And a couple of these guys I've watched. I need to watch Arnold. And I tell you what,

I have not watched Toledo's defense this year. So that is a new name for me. Hey, we're taping this on Tuesday, but they play tonight. Oh, yeah, perfect. That's right. Yes. Hit the DVR after trick or treat. Check it out.

I think Paul Chris's brother used to be the GM or the commissioner of the Mac. And he was the one that pushed for the mid midweek games. Smart man. Eyeballs on it. Yeah. So I remember having conversations about that. Also, keeping in the DB room, a new safety one, I believe. Yes, safety won from my initial top 50

Didn't make the cut I see that I was looking for Mr. Kitchens Yeah and and look Kitchens I think he's a good player He's you know if you go by the stat she's having a good year He's got three picks He's top three on the team in tackles

But I go back to that North Carolina tape He just there's It's the place he gives up Not necessarily that he makes that really bother me And so he's an NFL player There's no doubt But giving up the players. That's the other thing.

I don't think he's a tier one. Yeah. I think he's going to run. When you're a gambler and you don't have ability to recover, that's a scary world to live it. I can throw on plays where, you know, he just, he takes a wrong angle and the running back runs away from him. Like, forget that he misjudged the angle. He can't close the gap once he does make that mistake. And same thing in coverage.

If he bites, if he takes a false. step, usually it's over. And so I need to trust my safeties. I think he's a good player. I think there's plenty of things to like about him. He's a two guy to me though. That's yeah, right, exactly. I think the plays that he has given up that worry me for that NFL transition. So he did not make the cut here on top 502.0. No, but who did? Who did at the safety spot? Because this name is, I believe, I've not watched Howard Nubin, I believe is your safety one from Minnesota. Yeah. And

he was, let me see, on the first top 50, he was 40. I've not watched. 40. So, yeah, he moved up just a little bit. I mean, seeing him in tears after that Iowa game, after they beat Iowa, it tells you how much he wants this. I mean, he is a guy that coaches rave about. But he looks like a receiver whenever the ball's in the air. I mean, he is the body control, the ability to make a break and go make a play.

It's really impressive. I like Tyler Newman as this year's top safety. Kaelin Bullock, USC safety. I mean, it's kind of weird to have a USC defensive player on this top 50 with as bad as that unit. has been. But Bullock is the speed that he brings, the range, it reminds me so much of Trevor Morrig.

Coming out a couple years ago, was a second round pick to the Raiders. I don't know that he's necessarily lived up to being a second round pick, but that stylistically, that type of player where you see the range, you see the ability to affect the game in a lot of different ways. I think he just sneaks in there in the top 50s. So, yeah, it's not a great. safety class. I'm talking about the biggest fallers from the preseason.

This defensive tackle class as a whole has been really disappointing. I think in my initial top 50, I had like six maybe defensive tackles make it. This update, there's only two. So I think I had five defensive tackles fall out of the top 50, one new one, one new name. So it's just a defensive tackle class that had a lot of hope for that it just has not panned out. So that is an interesting part of this is just that defense attack class. Not maybe divot to tackle safety. I feel like those two positions that got picked on a lot come draft time as positions that

maybe aren't at the level of what we wanted to be. And this year might be another one of those years. Yeah, that's interesting. I mean, even continuing the spine, like you only have one linebacker in your top 50. And that's Barry from Collison. And even Carter, he's so small. And that just, it's tough. Because he, I love his range.

He can avoid tackles or blocks and make the tackle. But yeah, he's a really good athlete. But he's not going to be for everybody. You know, can he be a JOK type of linebacker, you know, who's going to outplay what is measurable say and be a playmaker? I think, what are his measurables right now? I think he's, I don't have official because he says he's a true junior, but he's listed at, but, blah, blah, blah, I think six foot, two 30.

I mean, but he'll probably be 5-11 in change. In the comparison to Terrell Bernard? Yeah, that's a good one. At a Baylor, playing for the bills. I think that one could make some sense. Yeah, that's body type-wise. That's the one that comes to mind. But again, Carter or...

That was a third-round pick. He was a third-round pick. Right, exactly. Just where you take these guys. Yeah. Yeah. J.O.K. was a second rounder. You know, it's usually those guys don't go in the first round.

That's why he was not a top 32 player for me in this top 50s. but still was good enough to make it. That's what you always got to remember. It's like usually there's 15 to 20-ish, you know, 12 to 20-ish guys. So you're like, no, this is a first-round guy. And then after that, it's like, no, this is more like tiered the same. Like 20 to 40-ish is kind of the same tier for a lot of things. So that's why I always have to remember as well.

It's interesting getting feedback on this from, you know, different people that I trust in the league and just like, oh, yeah, I'm glad you have this guy here. he's being talked about way too high or this and that. It's just interesting to hear the differing opinions about where these players are. And especially from area scouts because they don't know the lay of the land. Right. It's their bubble. A Midwest scout has no idea what the rest of the country looks like. It's a great.

Just going based off. He's going based off of what he, you know, if he hears something in the media or, you know, if he talks with other area scouts from those different parts of the country. So it is interesting when you talk to these area scouts to get. their feedback on players because they know them better than anybody. Yep. But they also don't know the lay of the land elsewhere to know if a guy is at 20 is at maybe too high or too low.

So it's just in their mind when they think of a player, you know, this is where they envisioned them and compared to, you know, where they might stack compared to these other guys. So it's an interesting exercise getting that type of feedback. That's what's, uh, I used to be one of my favorite meetings was kind of early April, give or take, and there would be some, like the regional scouts who were on top of the area Scouts of our hierarchy. We would kind of cross-watch some guys.

And I remember one was Bud Dupree when I was there. Kentucky. But there were some other guys that we watched. But they just were giving other opinions. Okay. So we'll have the West Coast Scout and then we're going to have a pro scout watch it. And just kind of like, let's see. I remember DePree being one of the guys, but there's a few guys.

But that was just so funny because I remember just the area scout rewatching it. And it was a cut up I put together. And he kind of looked at me, he was like, because he had a high grade on him. And he was like, did you include any of the good place? And I was like, and I remember being like, hey, this, I went through four games. This is just what I saw. Sorry. Like, you know, I put together 50 place for everybody.

And I just, that one just vivid in my brain because the area scout's like, huh, huh. Like, maybe was I too high on this guy? But that one just burned into my brain. I also just want to say, too, just continuing what we started with the show with, talking about, you know, Montez Sweat and maybe just all these edge trades right now is with this draft class and this edge class not maybe having that dude like a team like the bears or you know I was talking about last week with Robert you know like the falcons or even jaguars these teams that

not so much the bears but you're picking the back half the second round that's why or the first round that's why that chase young trade why I was like do you think you're a legit team and you have a quarterback and all that like I would be willing to trade up first because not not this edge class doesn't have that that's exactly right and so that's why you can be a little loose with these picks because it's just looking at this class this next year. Let's just say that the second round pick is pick 36 in the second round. Number 36 on my board is Jack Sawyer, Edge Rush, Ohio State, who we both like. He's a good player.

He's not Montez Sweat. No, he's not. Obviously, part of it is you have to give Sweat that contract. And, you know, sweat's got a lot of leverage right now. But when you're a team like Chicago, when you're building towards something, okay, it's not just about Yeah, exactly. You need good players. You need impact players. And at an edge rush position, the guy you're going to get. Now, obviously, it kind of backs you into a corner because, yes, it takes every other position off the board that you could have drafted there at 36. But we know edge rusher is a need position for this team. They're going to have two picks in the top seven. And I don't know that they feel necessarily too excited about drafting one of these edge rushers in the top seven. So, you know, I totally understand their thought process as they, Because you know they're scouting forward. They're putting together a top 50 like this and saying, okay, who realistically would be there for us at that position in the early second round?

Yes. They looked at those options and said, okay, Montess Sweat's looking a lot better, even if it does mean this high price of giving up a second round pick, an early second round pick, and then also, you know, having to pay them. So that's a great point. Totally understand based off of what this edge class is looking like and who could potentially be there. Yeah. And it's sometimes when you, I mean, when you need players, and that means you probably didn't draft well or the previous regime didn't, or they missed out or injuries happened and everything. So it's like, like usually when you have cap room, that's probably why. And but that's the thing. You can use it. If you have the resources, you can, it's still okay to use. You don't want to like build the whole team out of this. I mean, it does be like your number one move to do. And that creates so many sacrifices and everything and opportunity costs. But like for their position, I kind of can justify it or a team that wants to be aggressive. for one of these Washington edge rushers or even a Josh Uche or any of those other guys that are kind of being dangled out right now.

I just think that's kind of why I thought this year and this cycle, looking at the next year's draft class, that made more sense to be aggressive than maybe I would look at it in previous year. Yeah, 100%. And one name maybe outside your top 50 that maybe just keep an eye on that maybe it was like, or maybe are you ruining your article for a couple days later? No, no, no. Yeah, because there definitely were a few names that I hated the.

leave off. I would probably have to say, no, let's stick with North Carolina, but Tess Walker. I couldn't put an 11th receiver on there, but DeVontes Walker, definitely a name. Devontez Walker, he's fun.

I mean, I hope he's okay after that. It's just a brutal way for that Georgia Tech game to end. I mean, May was moving the ball. Tess Walker, you know, got a hit that he didn't see coming. fumbled the football, and unfortunately that's how it ended for North Carolina. But, you know, he has a lot of talent.

When you have a guy with that size, the ball skills, I mean, he doesn't put the ball on the ground. He's got speed. So there's a lot to like about him as a potential second round pick, a guy that could, you know, you could foresee developing into a starter for you. Yeah, there's a couple other good receivers. No, that fun offense class, which I'm sure people will be excited. It is. Yeah. Malachi Corley from Western Kentucky.

I think, you know, he's, the Debo-Samuel comparisons are going to be loud throughout the draft process. And I get it. I totally get it. He's just, he's a running back playing wide receiver and it's a lot of fun to watch him play. I love that. No, this was, this was great day. And thank you for letting us go pick by pick or choice by choice. Can't wait to try.

I just, I couldn't wait to talk with you after I made the move at number one. So, Dan, Dane sent me the, I thought we were going in blind, everybody listening. And then I didn't see our Slack chat. And Dane sent me the list about an hour before we were. And so I actually made it more fun because then I saw it about 10 minutes before we recorded. And so it kind of you guys got to hear my excitement going into this show. But I love it. Starting at the top, even at number one, I knew it would be a good one.

Sorry, once I saw that new number one name, but no, this was a great discussion. Dan, you do so much good work. So this was so much fun. Make sure to check out Dane's big board, updated big board coming out as you're probably listening to this. You can read it right now. That's synergy. That's product. That's corporation's.

synergy right there. That's how you do it. That's tie-ins. But thank you to everyone listening to Prospects of Pros. We'll be here every Wednesday. We'll see you guys next time. This was the Athletic Football Show's Prospects to Prospects to Prospects Podcast.