The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - The 2023 NFL Roster Reset with Mina Kimes

Episode Date: May 31, 2023

Outside of a move here or there over the next couple months, we know what all 32 teams in the NFL will look like come Week 1. So...who has the best roster? Who has the worst roster? Who has the best offensive depth chart? What about the defensive side of the ball? Who had the best offseason? Who had a sneaky good offseason? Robert Mays and Nate Tice welcome Mina Kimes from ESPN to answer all those questions on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertmaysFollow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceFollow Mina on Twitter: @minakimesSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTube 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. Great show for you guys today. It's the middle of May, early June. Nothing's really happening. But post-draft, all the big moves have been made, all of the dominoes that were really looking at have fallen.

And I think now is a good time. We did the show last year, and I thought it was really useful. Not for you guys, but mostly for me, to do a roster reset about where things. things stand. We're going to run through some of our favorite offseason, some of the position groups we like the most, some of the ones we're deeply worried about, of which there are several, just a good exercise to do at this point in the off season. I have two guests to help me do that

today. First of all, it is my good friend. Nate Tyson, Nate, how you doing, buddy? Doing very well. As you started that, I was closing out some tabs, make sure the internet connection is okay. And one of those tabs was the third quarterback rule. Had to do a little CBN research. That's the biggest news of the day that and uh thursday night flexing uh scheduling flexing sorry fans uh sorry i think i think we're okay to do the roster reset yeah so i think we're gonna be fine i think it'll be okay but that's the big news items when we're recording this just for perspective but uh doing doing very very very well and uh happy for our guest here today it's gonna be a fun show also joining us little home and home i was on her podcast a couple weeks ago from the mina kimes show featuring lennie on

esPN it's mina kimes minna how are you hi hi hi I mean, I had to give takes on the emergency quarterback on Sports Center. So it must be nice, not having a way in on the owner's meeting. So I was like, oh, man, Thursday night flex. Woo, buddy. You were great on my podcast. I hope people check it out. That was really, really fun.

I actually went back and I wrote down your choices because I was so interested in our job. Oh, wow. It's very nice. I thought it was great. It's a very good exercise. And that's what this time in the off season is for. It's to kind of do these.

you know, deep dives, kind of big picture perspective stuff on where some of these teams sit now that the dust has settled. And we're just going to get right into it. We've got like 15 or so categories here that I want to dig into. We're talking about rosters as a whole, position groups, you know, certain moves we liked, all that kind of stuff. So let's start with the big one. The best roster in the NFL here in the first week of June. Mina, you are the guest here. Why don't you kick us off? I want to go first on all the positive ones and last on all the negative ones. I like that.

That's my request. No, it's the Eagles, right? Anyone disagree that it's not the Eagles? Well, you can tell me, but I just think when you consider top to bottom, both sides of the football and positional value, because the areas where the Eagles have potential holes are the areas that matter the least on NFL Rosters. I assume it's not an accident.

So, yeah, right. Hmm, they might be good at this whole roster construction thing in Philadelphia. Philadelphia. To me, there's a couple teams that are maybe a little bit close, but it's got to be Philadelphia. Nate, how about you? At least going the same one. Yeah, well, that was the gun to head. If I want an alternative answer, something just to make it fun. I went with the 49ers, as long as you just ignore the quarterback. And because the offensive line is like a B now, like a B plus. And I love the pass catchers and the weapons, even like role players like Juan Jennings is like an awesome auxiliary player. running back room was fun. Just ignore the QB spot. And you just look at the defense too.

D-Lines loaded. Drake Jackson's a fun young player, the best linebacker duo in the league. I love their DB room. I'm kind of like stealing some notes from another section we're going to talk about. But that would be like my 1B. Surprisingly, the three teams that came to my mind were all NFC teams, which is not where I you would think going into this exercise. But that's where we stand, the AFC and the NFC.

AFC might have the quarterbacks, but have some more interesting rosters, I think. I think that's, both of those are very good answers. The Eagles are the first team I wrote down. As soon as I opened the document and that was the first category, the Eagles are the first team that I wrote down. The Niners is a good answer. I can't get like one or two guys from the first line of the depth chart out of my head, like who their right tackle is going to be.

It probably doesn't matter that much. Like they're going to be fine either way. It's not worth freaking out about. The corner spot also just comes to mind, but Lenore played a bunch last year. I love Lenore. Yeah. defenses in the league. And Isaiah Oliver, Nate, is a player you really like coming in and playing in the slot for

them there. And obviously, they got Yvonne Hargrave, and they just have so much talent top to bottom. Weighing positional value is interesting here because I don't tend to do that when I'm looking at stuff like this. To me, it's like a lack of holes is what pushes teams a little bit further up my rankings personally. And that's why the other team I had that I think right there with the Eagles, in my opinion, is the Cowboys.

Yes, that's the third team. I just, you look at the Cowboys roster and there aren't that many spots on the depth chart. We're like, man, they could really use a competent starter in this spot. The offensive line should be better than it was last year when they're healthy. They trade for Brandon Cooks because that other pass catcher spot was really one of their only weaknesses on offense last year. They go trade for Stefan Gilmore. That outside corner number two spot was a huge problem last year. They have flexibility at positions of the secondary that other teams in the NFL would die for.

There are one spot on the defensive line. They needed help was kind of a big. body and the interior. They drafted that in the first round. They got Luke Schoonmaker as another tight end in that group of interchangeable guys that we talk about. There just aren't that many spots. This is when we ring the Mike McCarthy gong.

Every time we get excited about the Cowboys this off season and we get too far down the road, we're going to ring the Mike McCarthy gong to remind everyone that Mike McCarthy is calling place for them now. Mike McCarthy is calling the place. Mike McCarthy is calling the place. Mike McCarthy is calling the place. That's incredible. That was theoretical.

I did not know that actually existed. Wow. Where to go, Beller? That's awesome. That's awesome. I want to throw out a fourth theme. Yeah. So I'm going to bring up the Cowboys later because that was definitely something I considered.

And when I bring them later, it's going to be in a similarly very positive context. But going to the other conference, how about the dolphins? I mean, they're not, like, I didn't pick them. They weren't in my top two. but let me ask you guys this. Let's say we restricted this to the AFC. Who do you think has the best roster in the AFC? I have the Chiefs.

The dolphins are heavily represented in a lot of my answers here in positive ways. I'm going to talk a lot about the dolphins and other categories. I think the Dolphins is a good one. I think the Bengals top the bottom still have a very good roster. Again, there aren't that many holes. Like safety is their biggest issue. And if Dax Hill can come in and play well in his first full year, starter, they're pretty excited about Nick Scott and just how much of a solidifying presence

he can be. So I just, I don't think that they have a lot of good players. I still think the bills have a lot of good players. But the dolphins are a very good answer. Like the dolphins, when you actually look at the roster, when I was conceiving of this as an exercise, just like doing a reset, the dolphins moves are like one of the things I wanted to talk about most. Like they were one of the reasons I wanted to do this.

So I totally am okay with that as an answer. Yeah. My AFC, like the six teams I had like a note on just in case, you know, just in case we saw this discussion going was Eagles, Cowboys, 49ers and then Dolphins Chief Spangles. Those were my like six teams. I don't want to like get too far ahead on the chief stuff, but offensive line. And I think they, you know, filled the tackle spots in different ways. They spent big money on one spot and then retread project at the left tackle spot with Donovan Smith. Travis Kelsey is still there.

I think the receiver room is interesting for them. maybe not as bad as people are making results. It doesn't matter. Last year. It doesn't matter, really. But also, but yeah. But like Sky Moore is still coming along. We'll see.

I refuse to ever care about Chiefs skill group ever again. Ever again. I've just not going to. I've just refused to. As long as Patrick Mohams is the quarterback and they have a competent offensive line, I'm not acknowledging any concerns. It was the best, it was the best offense in the NFL last year.

And I don't think they're worse right now than they were at the end of last season. With a spoilers. Another answer is an ascending defense as well. We're getting to. Yeah, we're getting too far ahead. So I don't want to spoil it to me of the answers. That's why I didn't talk too much about before we know. We're robbing too many other category.

I want to go further into that later. I think, damn, so let's, let's change the tone here. Nate, I'm making you go first. Who has the worst roster in the NFL in the first?

Sprinting up to the podium, Cardinals, sprinting up, tripping, like, you know, like I miss a draft pick and it was the Ravens coming in with their draft pick like that.

Like that, that is where I'm going with the Cardinals. As much as there's, there's some like, name recognition. Like even if you look at their offense, you're like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,

okay, Zach Hertz. Okay, yeah, Trey McBride, okay, okay, okay. All right. And then you look at-Mikbride counts name recognition. That's for me. Yeah,

it's the first tight end select the last year. He is, right? Yeah, so, and then you look there, then you look at, you know, Kyler, okay. And then the defense is not a lot of ingredients on that defense side of the ball. Isaiah Simmons did ascend last year,

had a good year last year. Could be something in the slot. Buda Baker, of course is Buda Baker. And, like, Antonio Hamilton's like a replacement level corner. And then that's like, that's it. That's like, that's all he got on the defensive side of the ball. So the Cardinals is probably my top the bottom, worst roster in the league.

And I don't think that's very surprising answer. I feel like that's kind of chalk with this answer. But I'm excited to see what you guys have to say. You know the Titans schedule release video where they asked teams to, or fans on their Broadway to name logos and they couldn't? Someone should do that with players on the Cardinals, offensive and defensive lines. but asking NFL reporters and analysts because your girl would not know some of them. I guarantee you just, you know.

Yalta Froholt, not on the tip of your tongue there? It's confusing. That's a center, right? Yeah, it's a center. Yeah, oh my God. It's tough seed. I let someone else take that name. I just said their center has bounced around teams and starts six games in his career.

But I didn't even put his name because I wasn't even going to attempt that one. I think the Cardinals is probably the easiest answer. I was looking at other teams that could be in contention here. The Titans are pretty bad on offense, but the Titans have a decent amount of players on defense, where I think that they kind of eliminate themselves from the conversation. The Texans probably did enough this offseason to raise them one level above the Cardinals, even though I still have my questions.

The other team that I think we have to throw out there, just based on the state of their defense, even though they have the best defensive player of the last two decades on their team is the Rams. The Rams defense is an absolute disaster outside of Aaron Donald. A lot of day three rookies on that roster. A lot of UDFAs on that roster right now. The funniest part of the Rams depth chart, if you look at the RADs page, is that's one part, all of the rookies that they have on the first two to three lines of their defensive depth chart.

The other one is that the entire green as the rookies, every special special teams players in green every single one. So that doesn't really matter. But I mean, the guys that are proven players on that defense, Ernest Jones, Aaron Donald, and I guess Jordan Fuller, like, can you name me an edge rusher on the ramps? Sir, I do the Rams preseason. Not you.

Not you. I'm talking about, I'm talking to Nate. No, no. I do like one of their corners and I'm a Duran. Kobe Duran. I do like him. He's decent. He's a good male.

But I didn't say defense or edge guys. Edge, not so much. I can't really name much else. What's so tricky about the Rams. And you and I kind of talked about this on my pod is if Matthew Stafford, Cooper Cup, and their left tackle Joe No Boom are healthy, it's going to be a decent offense. I don't know. It'll be the, you know, obviously there's a lot of ifs there with health.

But like I fully expect that offense to finish in the top half of the NFL, which is what kind of makes this season a little bit tricky and confusing for them because the defense is tough. They're like the mere image of the Titans where they're eliminated from this conversation because of the state of the offense, but we have to talk about the state of the defense. I think the long-witted way of getting where we want to go here is the Cardinals are the worst team in the NFL. We all agree. We all agree. All right. Thanks for what we lead there.

Mina, your favorite offseason that any team in the NFL had. I wanted to be an asshole and say the Cardinals because I loved what they did in the draft. And I love teams that are self-aware about how bad they are. And I like that they didn't do anything contract-wise. I'm not going to be that. Okay. So you got to throw obligatory nod to the Eagles who are good at everything. And I've had a great off-season and kept everyone important and whatever.

I'm going to go with Miami. That was, you know, I thought about this for a while. Still some concerns about the offensive line, although I think I'm more optimistic about the Isaiah win pickup than seems like a lot of Dolphins fans and certainly Patriots fans. But defensively, I mean, obviously the hiring of Vic Fangio, bringing in Jalen Ramsey at the value they did, David Long, Jr. I think, like when I was just looking at this defensive death chart and thinking about them in the context of a Vic Fangio defense and then thinking about how amazing the offense was, I just got really excited to watch this team. So I like everything they did. they were the second team I had in my list.

I think for all of those reasons. Even if Isaiah win is just insurance, a tackle, giving yourself more options at those spots and just saying, all right, no matter how this plays out, we're going to be able to find at least two starting tackles at the end of the road.

I think it's a really important way to think about it. And the Jalen Ramsey trade, they didn't have any resources. So to improve in the way that they did, and obviously Vic Fangio was a huge part of that. David Long, they were one of the first teams that came to mind from me. Nate, who did you have outside of Miami?

Yeah, my hipster, like kind of like low key one was the bills just because stuff we've talked about on this podcast. But like my actual answer for this would be the Browns. First team I listed. Browns and dolphins are my first two teams. God, just overall, everything they did with that defense, Oboa Cronquo is the Darius Smith to help out Miles Garrett. They overpaid for Dalvin Tomlinson, but I understand the sediment of doing it and why of doing it. That is, we're not doing this anymore. No, that's what it was.

And then injecting even more and getting a young town in the third. round with a dude from Baylor signing a Juan Thornhill. They rebuilt the spine and I really like that. Even on offense, getting Cedric Tillman in the third round was one of those. And I said this on our draft show. It's like, I didn't know I needed that. I didn't know I wanted that to watch that pairing in my, and to see that my NFL life. And I really like it getting that true X to go with Amari Cooper as their Z and kind of slot guy. And then hiring Jim Schwartz, this defensive coordinator, a proven guy. Yes, Eagles fans got frustrated him at the end of his career, but he is, he is an above average at the very least defensive play caller with with skins on the wall.

And so that is where I'm going to go with, I just, I like what everything they did. Everything they did made sense and nothing where I was like, oh, really? You're just doing that just the, you know, appease the, you know, the smart people or appease what you're trying to do. They did a lot of like football moves that made sense to me. And yeah, I'm going to go with the Browns. I like with the damn both sides of the ball.

And I think they could be a real good team this year. So the funniest part about this is that we just listed two teams that did not have a first round pick this year. The Dolph had two picks in the first four rounds. The Browns didn't have a first or second round pick after the Elijah Moore trade. That's very funny that we picked two teams that didn't really have any draft picks. But those are the first two teams that I listed. And I didn't even think you mentioned Elijah Moore. Nate. They got Elijah Moore for nothing. And so I think they, the places they look for players and why. Sedaria Smith cheap because the Vikings are in this weird. We're trying to live two lives thing. We can't afford everybody.

Elijah Moore because we have to sign all of Aaron Rogers's buddies and eventually we're have to lose one of these receivers. They just look for cheap guys in smart places to improve areas of their roster. And I thought they did a really good job with it. Dolphins for every reason you said, Mina, I had the Cowboys again. They kept all their free agents on defense. So the fact that you can keep all those strengths and then going, making those trades for Brandon Cooks and Stefan Gilmore, I like the positions they attacked in the first

couple rounds of the draft. I think everything about the Cowboys offseason made sense. Except for play the buzzer. No. See? I actually wrote that on my notes of the Cowboys. I was like, but I'm counting coaching hires and departures. It's a good way.

Mine were more roster-centric. So that's why I had Dallas. A couple other teams that wanted to mention. I've liked what the Seahawks did. The Gino contract is a reasonable deal. Draymond Jones makes a ton of sense. Bobby Wagner is kind of a stopgap solution at linebacker. I love the positions they chased in the draft where they chased

to them. I think we have to mention the Jets because trading for Aaron Rogers is enough to give you inclusion on this list and the improvement they're making a quarterback. The Chuck Clark trade, I thought was very savvy. McCle Hardman gives them a skill set they didn't have. They got bodies along the offensive line. I don't know how it's going to work out. I think they probably still have some work to do, but I know how they were trying to solve it. And then a sneaky one that I really liked. Everything the Steelers did made sense to me. Yeah. Yeah. I have them for a different answer for what you're probably going to talk about. Yeah, no, they, especially what they did with the offensive line.

I mean, even getting Joey Porter Jr. in the second, I was like, that helped kind of hold me going like, oh, they didn't address corner, but, okay, okay, that was a pretty good answer right there. I like that, especially again with the first pick of the second round. Even Alan Robinson for nothing. It's just like, he might be cooked, but having him in the slot for and paying him nothing to get there as a way to kind of supplement what Chase Claypool was for them as a third receiver, that even made sense to me. They made capable, Cole Holcomb at linebacker is just like a stopgap. starter. I just thought they did a good job of filling a lot of holes this offseason. I'll throw out one more, one contract kept me from including this. But the Ravens were in a car headed towards the cliff and turned it around at the last second. The Ravens is a really good way.

Without compromising in any way. I mean, I've actually mentally put the OBG contract. I've folded it into Lamar Jackson's contract. And so that's how I've made these with it. And that's probably what keeps me from picking the Ravens and we'll see how they finish their pass rush. But crisis averted. My alternate one was the Falcons. I liked a lot of kind of the singles and doubles they made. You know, just some real pros for their defense. Yeah, no one's, no one crazy, but a lot of singles and doubles. I thought Jesse Bates, David Nauta, Kalais Campbell, just pros. But DuPri, Kaden Ellis, trading for Jeff Okuda, getting Trey Flowers, just all these kind of minor moves I like. I like Bijon, hate the value, love the player, whatever.

I can't wait to watch this offense, which I'll talk about later in the show. Matthew Burge on the second round, John Hussmith for pennies, with a coach that actually knows how to use them. So they were kind of like my minor answer along with the bills. B, the B, answers. We're going to have the Falcons for a similar answer here. Oh, I'm sure. All right. The most confusing offseason, the off season that to you did not make a ton of sense based on what this team needed and where they are.

Now, Nate, why don't you kick us off? Oh, God. Mina's requested not do the negative ones first. It's being considered. I really didn't know how to go about this. I guess the Rams a little bit because it was, I was just confused because it's like, what are you in general? But I guess my like number one answer would be Washington because it was the, this is how

you're going with the quarterback. Okay. The rest of the roster is like ready made though. It was like, you know, like that seems like a roster that you can really push. And then, you know, I like Jacoby Perced. I like him. But it's Jacoby. It's Jacoby percent, you know, giving pain a big payday.

And then, you know, just like, I don't know, they're trying to do a lot at the same time. They switched ownership, of course. I'm sure that has something to do with it. But just like what I had there is just the, it's the always sunny quote that we always talk about the, what are you? And that is kind of how I feel about Washington. So they were my most confusing one. I don't love this answer, but that was the first one that came to mind when thinking

about this answer. Looking at Washington's needs, though, and the moves that they made, at least some of that made sense. Yeah, I know. All right, we got some pieces along the offensive line. We're going to go heavy at DB because our defensive line is set. It is a little bit disjointed. And again, when the paying contract happened, we're like, where are we going here?

Like, what is the goal here? And I think that's still a reasonable question. But I understand it more than I understand some others. Mina, what was yours? I had to, I wrote the bucks. There were my second choice, not my first one. I'll get to my first one. Because I think they were in, they were just backed into a corner of, you know,

the roster's too good. You're not resetting. You can't really go out of quarterback. I felt like they could have done more at quarterback, however, because of the quality of the rest of the roster, like getting back players like Carlton Davis on the contract they did. I like the can't see pick.

I still expect this defense to be good. I think they're just in a very tricky spot, but in a very winnable division, I kind of question, well, maybe you could have done the quarterback, you know? The other team I ended on was the Raiders. That's absolutely my answer. I have no idea what the Raiders are. I don't know, man.

I mean, like the players they added and traded for and moved on from, It makes sense in the context of Josh McDaniels building this team in his image, but do we really want Josh McDaniels building this team in his image, I think is a reasonable question. And so I don't really know how this team views itself in terms of like what their expectations are for this year. I had the Saints. One answer I was starting to get on, but then I was like, oh, it's the Saints. No, we know what they're doing.

I understand it. I'm not confused with the Saints. I don't support everything they're doing. That's what I would. Yes. The Raiders right now, starting corners on the Raiders depth chart and outside corner, David Long Jr. and Duke Shelley, they didn't draft a corner until the fourth round. Okay? Their offensive line, they didn't do anything.

They just roll in the same group back. I just don't get it. Like, we didn't improve spots that probably needed to be improved. They went to sign Jacoby Myers. Jimmy Garoppolo is just the quarterback. Like, I just don't know what the Raiders are in the short term. or the long term. I truly do not understand them. Hey, this is how they want to roll. I got to trade for Devante Adams so you could just really push the,

push the chips into the, no, no, no, we're not going to push the chips in the middle. We're just going to keep half of them back. That's what, none of it makes sense. It's like a lot of half measures and then like regretting the half measures. Yeah, that was easily, I penciled that one in a minute. No, that's a good one. I just have no idea. All right. Best offensive depth chart. Probably going to be retreading some of our answers about the best roster overall. But Nate, why don't you kick us off? Best offense is a depth chart in your mind. I wanted to find a different answer, but I had to go with the Eagles.

Just, I mean, strong offensive line. They got two legit all pros. Lane Dickerson got Pro Bowl last year, but I was kind of a, I'm on a winning team hype. But also, Jordan Maillata is a good left tackle. Like, you know, so that's just the offensive line. Of course, a great receiver pairing. I love, of course, loved Devante Smith, A.J. Brown. Dallas Goddard.

It's a top five tight end. Any way you shake it. interesting running back room. That's the way I'm going to describe it. Interesting running back room. It's good enough. I like it. I love Rashad Penny.

So it's, yeah, even before the DeAndre Swift, who I'm lower on than most, I still like it. Like I understood it, day three, trade for that. And then hurts is hurts. So I just think this, it's a top to bottom offense. There's others that maybe I prefer, which I'll talk about maybe after you guys maybe answer this question. But I would say the Eagles is kind of the easy answer for this because it just makes that's top to bottom.

Yeah, in Philly, no questions there, other than potential injuries are running back, I guess, which kind of goes back to what I said at the beginning about the Eagles. I thought about the Bengals, but I actually do have some questions there as with tight end, running back.

Right. I don't know what the status of the whole Jonah Williams thing is. I guess if he plays, then I would maybe be a little bit more confident about the Bengals, but otherwise, is, you know, quarterback and the wide receivers lifted for me to number two.

Yeah, and I think the offensive line is a good thing to bring up. Their offensive line is a chance be better than it was last year. They have no reason to trade Toronto Williams just because he's upset. They're trying to win a Super Bowl right now. So as currently constructed, I think they absolutely deserve mention. I had the Eagles, and maybe you can throw the chiefs out there. Even with the state of the past catchers, like I think that what they did along the the offensive line makes sense.

Their mindset, we've talked about this, Nate. As long as we can keep the quarterback upright, we have a chance to be the best offense in the league. is a solid bet because they've been right as they've made it over the last couple years. So that was my other answer outside of Philly, but I think the Bengals are another good one. Okay. Excited about this one. Sneaky good offensive depth chart.

Okay. One that when you took a second look at, you're like, all right, I can get into this. Mina, why don't you kick us off? This is where I had the Steelers. So I defined good. I took sneaky good very literally, Robert. Like, I am not, I ruled out as too obvious, many choices. It's a good question of what is sneaky good.

Yeah. I didn't really define that, but I went outside the top toe DVOA. Yes. That's fair. Yeah. Yeah, that's kind of just how it parameters I gave myself. Exactly what I did, even though I might not have missed that. Yes.

Second half the season, I thought Kenny Pickett played well. I, you know, I obviously like this by receiver group, like the changes, upgrades they made on the offensive line. Loved the darn out Washington draft pick. I love what potentially that could do for the. offense. And I wouldn't be surprised if they finish in that 8 to 12 range in DVOA and take people by surprise just when I sat back and I looked at the depth chart and I thought about what I saw from Pickett at the end of the year.

Their numbers were, they were like a top three offense by DVOA for like a stretch of the second half of last season. I've put off a study for weeks now, but I have to watch it because I was like they they went to basically after their Colts game they had I kind of stopped watching their they were part out of the weekly rotation once we got to playoffs time I was like I'm gonna focus on some other teams so they're a team I definitely want to like study just to see what they were doing in the second half the year Nate was your answer oh I had a couple here so this is like picking between my children um I'm going with the Falcons fuck it uh I uh you love the Falcons the Falcons were on my list as well 13th and DVOA so it's perfect I think they're going to be in that 6, 7, 8 range this year don't listen to fantasy people. Cowell Pitts is going to go off this year and I'm going to laugh and laugh and laugh. This offense is going to be one of the most fun ones in the league. I can't wait, dude. I really can't wait. Their ability is shift, personnel, the hell out of people will be so much fun. Pits and Johnny Smith. Tyler Alger and Bijan is a fun runback pairing who I think they could do some fun stuff out of pony

personnel. Tight ends as receivers as tight ends. Receivers as tight ends. Mass hysteria. Cats marrying dogs. When we talk about the five out offense and versatility, like, That's this is the team. I just love what they're doing. O-Line, too, is pretty damn solid left to right. Jake Matthews is kind of like the epitome of the solid left tackle of this league. Matthew Bergeron is one of my favorite picks in the entire draft. They're a second round guy.

They moved up for him from Syracuse. I think you could be a day one start of a left guard with versatility. Drew Dalman, their center came in like perfect offense for him. And they used his athletic ability, which is a lot of fun. Chris Lindstrom's a star, All-Pro, Perennial All-Pro, probably for the next half decade. decade. And then Caleb McGarry had his best year and is above average, you know, not the greatest player in the world, but did play better and is in the perfect system. So I think this offense can be a ton of fun this year, which I've talked about a hundred times on the show. But they're

my answer for this because they were outside top 10 DVOA. So they qualified for it. I thought they were inside for some reason when I think of them. I guess they tailed off. Yeah. EPA per play, they're pretty high. That might have been the one stat where they did actually sneak into the top 10 last year. The Vikings were on my list. I had the Ravens. They finished 12th in offense duty away last year, which feels kind of cheap, but they created it to the end of the season without Lamar, and that's maybe what's been sticking in my mind. But I think the reason that I believe that they're in contention here is just because it

could look so different. Like it'd be such a different version of the offense that I think can be sneaky good, that that's why I wanted to throw them in here. But with Todd Munkin, with the receivers that they added, which we're going to get to a little bit later, they were in this conversation. I also had the Vikings. Like the Vikings' offense looked so much better last year after they got T.J.

Hawkinson and now adding another pass catcher that mix, I still don't love the interior of their offensive line, and they just brought that group back. Thanks for saying it. Thanks for saying it so I didn't have to. They finished outside the top 20 and DBOA, right? They were 20th and they were 22nd. That was one that felt odd to me because my memory was of the,

you know, Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson and whatever, but then when you actually see your point, so it's a good choice. When you dig into the numbers, they're not pretty, part because the run game was just awful. I think that's my one, I expect the Vikings offense to be good. I am very curious to see. Maybe the run game will be helped by the passing game,

especially in a, you know, McVeigh tree offense. Yeah. But, yeah, I loved the Addison edition. It was one of those after the Hawkinson trade, because they just looked so much better. So much better. And I remember doing all the splits on true media and being like, Oh, they must be a top 10 offense.

And it's like, they're like 15th, but because they were 25th without him, but it was still a huge jump, but still is more middle of the pack overall. That's a good answer, though, because just all the things you guys laid out. I also like year two of play callers and offensive staffs, like just figuring out what you did well, what you did poorly, just kind of be able to reset with a lot of the same guys. So I'm bullish on what that staff can do in their second season together. They only had half a season with Hawkinson, just a lot of those reasons. I think they have a chance to be better than they were last year.

the things I loved about Kevin McConnell last year, and this is kind of unusual for that history, is after games he would admit to being surprised by things he saw on defense or making adjustments. He's so open. Yeah, he was so open about it. And he'd be like, wow, the dolphins, like last time they really blitz a lot this time, or whatever. And to your point, Robert, I do think he's probably going to have a more successful season next year because of that. He's a realist. I think we've kind of all, I think, separately have come to that conclusion with him

because he just, he's very understands the league. I think that's a good way to put it with him. But if I had to go, so originally, because I forgot how gangbusters Jacoby Brissette went with the Brown's offense. They were my original answer. And they were like, freaking like seventh and eighth in DVO way. So I had to throw them out. But there's another, I think they're going to be a good offense as well.

My other answer for this was the Broncos. I think Sean Peyton, it's the Sean Peyton effect. I think he's going to sprinkle some pixie dust onto that offense. I like their offense aligned. I like their pass catchers. Yeah. I think the guardrails. I think there's Champagne guardrails and the Sean Peyton Magic Dust is going to make that offense be a little bit better than people realize.

Can't be worse. Bingo. Speaking of terrible offenses, the offense you are most worried about. Nate, what do you got for me? So is this just anybody? Yeah. Okay. I mean, who is the quickest entry?

Oh, I, to me it was, who is the quickest entry into the no-fly zone for you? Oh, my goodness. The Titans. I have the Titans. It's, that's the easiest answer for me. Just, the offensive line is just such a question mark to me overall. Pass catchers are just a question mark overall, like just a lot of question marks. Even if I like Ryan Tanna Hill and appreciate Derek Henry.

It's just, yeah, it has me worried about a 17-game season. I think they'll have some weeks where they look good because, like, just they do some things. It's very generous of you. I don't think they will have weeks where they look good. I think it might be a rough year offensively. I think a lot of 13-10 games in Nashville this year. Yes. Well, that's why I picked Titans because I think that it's going to be frustrating because I actually think the defense will be pretty good.

So it's not, and it's a Mike Rable team. So they're, like you said, they're not going to get blown. I was going to, I mean, they'll compete until morale improves. Yeah. That's that, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, all those young defensive players. I mean, I thought what they did on defense last year was so impressive. Yes.

But then when I look at the office, I mean, their answer at left tackles, Andre Dillard, I don't know. Right. It's, it's hard to be at that bad on the offensive line and at your past catching spots. Like that bad is difficult to pull off and somehow they have. Second, second answer to this. There is a.

plenty of timelines where the Bucks are unwatchable. Okay. Baker at quarterback, first year offensive coordinator that we have never seen before. And all of the shuffling along the offensive line, there is absolutely a chance where you just cannot watch them play on offense every single week. They could be fine, but the downside outcomes for the bucks, I think, are very scary. That's kind of what I was thinking. One of my, I had like seven answers here, because I had to get like, how am I going about this question? But that was like kind of the with the Raiders a little bit, as much as I love their past catchers.

Oh, it's a great one. It's a great answer. It's a great answer. A bad offensive line without Shanahan magic dust. Oh, no. That might be a scary formula. I still think that McDaniels lifts the floor. Absolutely.

Enough. We're throwing ball 18 times. Yeah. It's a good group of skill players. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, who knows? The set of outcomes for Jimmy, I have, I think that's all over the place.

But the bucks, I'm pretty worried about some of the moving pieces they have at some with those positions. I mean, I didn't know Luke Gettoke was playing right tackle until you told me on my podcast, Robert. That was how I. That's what the depth chart says. I will see what ends up happening and they, who their best five ends up being. But I think there's going to be a ton of movement. The fact that a move interest and worth the left tackle is to me, I just don't, I never

like that. I never ever like that. You look at what the Eagles did. It's like, hey, Lane, you're the best. We're going to let you do this for the next 15 years and we're never going to worry about. it. Don't make an A and A minus. That's, that's, that's, that's,

while making a D plus. Yes. I mean, I think that there's a lot to be said about that. So we'll see how that ends up working out. All right. Let's change the tone here again a little bit. Best defensive depth chart, Mina. What do you got?

Okay. This came down to three teams that I felt actually were very close. Eff it. I'm going with Dallas. Ah, yeah. That's who I had too. That's why I had. I was very nervous not picking Samford.

because they're so, the front seven is so stacked. But then I looked at that San Francisco secondary for a while. And while in the, like, who finishes is a better defense, it might not matter as much because that front seven is so overwhelming. If you're really asking me top to bottom who the best death chart is, it's Dallas. First of all, the Dallas fronts, though slouches, and I love the Mazi Smith edition as well. They let the league and pressure rate last year. They're terrifying.

You know, and LV played well, you know, last season. But the secondary with Stigs in the mix is really good. And last year, because they had so many injuries on the back end at cornerback, all of these players got experience, Nayshan Wright, all those random safeties who came out of nowhere in the final stretch. So I think they're also, they're good and they're surprisingly deep when you start looking at who the backups are. Flexible too.

All the different combinations of guys they can put on the back end. linebacker would probably be the biggest hole on the roster outside of LVE. They directed players and they have young players there. But when I think about this team, I'm thinking about them just playing dime and having Jayron Curse play linebacker. So you look at that and Duran Blant got a lot of snaps last year, Jordan Lewis is back so they can sustain an injury there. Maisie Smith was, again, the skill set that they needed along the defensive line that they didn't

have. Top to bottom, they're my favorite one. The Niners are probably second for me. But I think it's really hard to argue with the depth that Dallas has, the flexibility Dallas has and the high-end players that they have. That's exactly. When you, as me to put it, it was like, when you look at the depth chart, it's like, whew, man, they got, they got, and just what you said too, Robert, is I'm not really

adding much here, but it's just, yeah, the star player with the depth, with the versatility, with the ability to get to different things fast. And just team speed overall. Parsons and Lawrence, of course, on the edge, they can kick inside. Both of them do that stuff on third down. But then even like rotational guys, like Sam Williams was super effective last. year Dorrance Armstrong at eight and a half sacks. Dante Fowler had 40 pressures last season.

Just so they're just churning guys on top of just it's not and it's not just a bunch of B players, B players. It's oh, an A plus an A and a whole bunch of B plus players. That's terrifying. And that's just the defense. You guys brought up the Macy Smith stuff. Jonathan Hankins is his backup. I love that.

Even the other defense of tackle. Osa Oda Gizua. Yeah. So but super disruptive defense of tackle. And this is why I love the Macy Smith. Ooh, because he could be the plugger. and you got the gap shooter. Oh, I just love it.

It's not a shit over. He's so excited. Oh, I'm so excited. This defense gets me juiced up. It's going to be one of the most fun units to watch, the depth, just everything. Really, really fun, fun team. Cowboys Niners, two other ones that I had. The Jets have a lot of good players at every single level.

We'll see what high-end edge players I think would be the concern, but they've got a lot of depth there, right? Like Bryce off as a designated pass-rrrusher Jermaine Johnson in year two. Carl Lawson is back. John Franklin Myers has flexibility. They drafted Will McDonald in the first round. They brought Quincy Williams back. You know, we know what they have at corner, obviously. Again, I thought the Chuck Clark trade was savvy, you know, just having another piece on the back ends.

I think top to bottom, the Jets defense looks really good. And also, I don't think we should forget about the bills. Okay? Micahe high got hurt in week two last year. Trudevius White was coming back from an ACL. Von Miller, after he got hurt, I think it kind of saps and screws up the hierarchy what their defensive line should look like. So when they're healthy, and again, I think bringing Taylor Rappen as a way to kind of give them some flexibility, year two of Kair E. I'm like, I think that how we view the Bill's defensive depth chart has a chance to bounce back a little bit this year,

bounce back a little bit this year if they stay a little bit healthier. I mean, it's essentially the same defense minus remain ediments they had coming into last season when most people had them as the best defense in the NFL. My hesitation and ultimately why I didn't put them in my top three was just age and injuries. at certain positions, but they could be very good if healthy. Yeah, and player was hurt for so much of last season. Like there are, again, just outcomes and timelines where they're really, really good and better than we've seen in the last couple years. I talk about sometimes you look at the metrics past by week and everything.

And they were one I shouldn't have ignored the noise on. All the underlying metrics are like, oh, this defense is kind of, they're getting hurt. Those injuries are affecting their play, just the underlying effect of this. And it was one of those where it's like, they'll figure it out. They're sound. It doesn't matter. They have depth. And then, yeah, but when we see them at their top tier, like you guys are saying,

they're one that could sneak in. Also, I want to bring up the dolphins a little bit might be one of the teams. So I was very, very good defense. We're doing sneaky good defense next. Okay. That was the other one. I'm like, you look at them. We're like, man, there's some good players on that team at all three levels, too.

All right. So let's do sneaky good defense. Okay. Why don't you kick us off? I'm going with the chief's defense. This, yeah. Oh, it's nice. Yeah, this is, they finished middle of the pack, most metrics, but talk

And this was when we're looking at the playoffs and they went on a little bit of run. If you look past their by week, and this is Spags every single year. They were fifth in success rate since their by week. 11th in EPIP per play, eighth in passing DVOA. They were a number one in success rate, all teams from week 12 onwards. So they had the best with the closing of the season. They had the best defense if you just look at success rate. I just think they're a young emerging unit.

Chris Jones, of course, is a star, one of the best defenders in the league. Charles and, I mean, hey, oh my God, no, I'm going to get this. Amenahoo. And then, but I also think Carl Lofdis is going to come along in year two. And I really like the first round pick, um, uh, from Kansas State, Felix and at Uzoma. I'm just picking all the hard names. That just rolled off your tongue, by the way. I've been practicing because, yeah, because, yeah, I get enough Twitter mentions every single day.

Felix. Uh, that I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, yeah, I, I think Carl Lofness in FAU, as I'll call him from now on. That's great. I just, I just think that they are great complimentary skill sets. FAU is more of the past rush. You can bump a lot of him. who inside in those in those packages. I think they're going to have some heat, more heat than people realize.

Like he can bring, he can bring something. I love their linebackers. Willie Gay and Nick Bolton, of course came along in the Super Bowl were outstanding. But they showed that throughout the year. When they were healthy, they were something. Like they were truly dynamic players and athletic. And that's including, not including Leo Chanel. And they signed true tranquil too.

They have a lot of depth of linebacker. A lot of useful players. All of them different, like are different specials. Yeah, different specialists. Like Chanel is awesome against the run. We saw him against the Eagles, had great plays in the playoffs as well. So they have answers to that.

And I like the assortment of DBs. They lost Thorneill, but Jaylon Watson and Sneed at corner. They drafted Brian Cook in the second round last year. I mean, so it's just, if he steps into a full-time starting role, you have Mike Edwards now is your third safety potentially.

The plan they've always had on the back end is very impressive to me. Yeah. I mean, you think about the amount of, the sheer amount of first four round picks they've spent on DBS over the last three or four years. Brian Cook, second round last year.

Lageria Sneed, fourth round in 20. 22, first round, Trent McDuffie. 23, fourth round, Chamari Connor. 22, fourth round, Josh Williams. I mean, they just sit all the time. They're just refilling that group with bodies. And that's before you even get to Jalen Watson,

they drafted in the seventh round last year. One of my theories on DBS is it's like pitchers and baseball. You just draft them in numbers and hope a couple of them stick. They kind of done that. That's a very, there's a very real thing about that, I think. Unless you're Minnesota. Yeah. No, but when you lay out,

what the Chiefs did, and then, you know, we were talking about, they're essentially like two years ahead of the Bengals and the Bengals cycle, because the Bengals drafts all these defensive players, they need them to become contributors because when you invest a lot, as the Chiefs have and their quarterback and offensive line, you got to save money by finding production there. But I chose them for the same reason as you. There was a moment before the Super Bowl where, you know,

we were talking about like, oh, this is so lopsided, the Eagles defense. And then I was pulling the splits for the Chief Defense post by that you just laid out. And I was like, well, damn. I mean, they're getting to the quarterback. They're excellent in coverage. They've been better at tackling, which has been a problem at various points. And all of those players now have an extra year together and they're older.

Andy Reid came on our show for the schedule release. And he said something that I thought was really interesting, which is, you know, I was talking about how good the linebackers played in the Super Bowl. that really jumped out. You guys named them all. And he said, yeah, well, they didn't play together. Like, Willie Gay was hurt. Or, like, him and Bolton, they never had that time to develop that sort of continuity.

So next year, we feel like we're really strong at the second level. And I was just thinking about them when I chose them for this category. And McDuffie was hurt for a good chunk of the last season. I think a lot of guys that with a little bit more county, a little more time together could be even better. It's a really good one. I had them on my list. I had the Browns, which I hesitate to even do it. Perpetual.

Another year where it's like, oh, man, the Browns defense. It's on page, maybe. So that one I'm a little bit worried about even to say. New Coach helps, yeah. Where the new coach and just where they invested. Again, the Dalvin Tom wants a thing being a departure from the types of players they've added. Kwokwo and Zedarius Smith kind of give them more bodies along the defensive line. Thorne Hill is that other last piece potentially in the secondary.

They have good corners. I think they have a chance to be good. and the Dolphins finished 25th and past defense DVOA last season. So I think you could probably mention the dolphins as a sneaky good defense. And nature said they might have the best defensive depth chart in the league, or at least in there in the conversation. So I... Wait.

Sorry. I have one more. Yeah, I have one more if we're doing the DVOA test. I mean, Carolina finished 25th from DVOA last year. That was mine. That's actually a really good one too. Injuries, but whatever. They're one that I think is going to get the coaching bump with Agiro Evro.

I think the personnel that they have is like such a perfect fit for what Evro wants to do because they transition to three, four with more light boxes. Safeties are such a good fit. That they seem to be just such a glaring. I feel like we already think of them as a good defense, even though they weren't last year. Yeah. So that it feels like a cheat. Yeah, but that they feel like a unit that's just poised to take off.

They, yep, they were my other one for this. And they shocked me when I looked at the numbers. I was like, oh, really? And I was like, control. They were a mess at corner times last year. Yeah, when Warren came along, yeah, fine. And Derek Brown, who I at first was low on, I was like, oh, God, they missed a way to go rule. And he actually is turned into pro bowl.

He's a pro bowl caliber player. So, and they signed shy. Jeremy Chin was hurt for a bunch last year. They brought in Von Bell. I mean, they've got a lot of interesting piece. Frankie Louvo was also a nice little. Athletic football show favorite Frankie Louvo. Yes, Frankie Louvo.

I love his versatility. he's a real fun player as well. So great call, Mina. All right, defense, you're most worried about Mina. I know that Nate and I have the same one because we were texting about it because I was texting him before the show. So I'm in a group text with him and our friend Danny Kelly. And all I said was, have you guys looked at the Jags secondary lately? Which is kind of, I actually feel like is unfair because like Tyson Campbell played well at times.

Darius Williams when he moved outside was good. But top to bottom, this is a group that was bad last year. I think they finished 30th and passed TVA. And they just ran it back. Yeah. It's the same group. So for them to be good enough and I think the Jags have deep playoff aspirations, you need more out of Trayvon Walker.

You need the linebackers to figure it out, Devin Lloyd. And then that secondary needs to play. I mean, they did play better, I think, at the end of the season, but they need to play better. And they lose Arden Key, who's a key player for them. But yeah, that, yeah, that, that was my answer when I first kind of put this pen to paper or fingers to computer screen. I think it's, you know, I do think Tyson Campbell is a good player. Josh Allen's a good starter, but they need some of those young guys to step up.

So otherwise, they were not a good unit last year. Yes, they came along like Mina said, but they're 26 and DVOA. They improved after their buy, but it wasn't that pretty. If I had to go with a different one, and this is just a little concerns, it's more like I could not like totally out on them. I think they have improved this off season, but I could see it going to skew as the Lions. I think, I wish they addressed their front a bit more this off season. They got a little more pass rush juice. I know Houston came along.

Their day three pick last year was like this deep designated pass rush specialist and Aidan Hutchison was rookie the year and all that. They're a DB room injury away from the danger zone. I like the guys they signed, but it's still scary. And I think they will improve. They will be more consistent. I like the Jack Campbell pick more than most other people did because of what the linebacker market looked like and also what the draft looked like. It was a little rich, but I like the player.

But I don't know, just a little bit iffy. It's where I feel like just one injury could really be a house of cards moment where it kind of all comes apart. So that one is just, I'm not low, low on it. It's just I'm a little scared about it. You guys answered this in a question in a way that makes more sense than the way that I answered it, where my was just a bad defense. The defense that I am most worried about watching is the Raiders. Yeah, yeah.

The Rams is, the Rams are probably going to be bad, but the Rams I at least understand why they are the way that they are right now. The Raiders finished 31st in defensive DUA last season. They added Tyree Wilson and some rotational corners. Yeah. That's what they did. Do you want to watch Max Crosby or Aaron Donald? That's what comes down to.

Yeah. You guys kind of similar to one of the questions we're going to answer here in a second, which is kind of position groups on contenders that you're worried about. But let's spin a positively. That Duke Shelley disrespect fly fly. Listen, I'm familiar with Duke Shelley. I have lived the Duke Shelley life. I've watched him in Chicago for multiple years.

He played very well last season and the chances that he was given. But I'm still a little bit worried about the state of the Las Vegas Raiders. All right. Best position group in the United. Best position group in the NFL, in your opinion, Mina Kimes. I want the Eagles offensive line. Yeah. There's a few, I mean, you could do the Niners.

Can we do like a top three? Like, yeah. I mean, I have six. Okay, Niners linebackers, Eagles offensive line, Bengals, wide receivers. I don't know. I just, you could make a good case for any of them. It's just, yeah, you know what it was? When I was looking at the different offensive lines around the NFL,

I didn't feel like there was a close number two. I don't know. Do you guys think there is? No, it's a good point. I was thinking dominance, you know? Like lines and browns would be the other ones. Yeah. Yeah, definitely.

I think Dallas's offensive line has a chance to be really good. Yeah, that's fair. But I think the Eagles are probably in a tier all their own. What did you guys have for a position group? I cheated. I said Niners, pass catchers, just like, not just one position, but just their past catching unit in general. I put in there just because those four is just so absolutely terrifying. Bengals wide receivers I had.

I think there's a timeline where the Seahawks wide receivers are in that conversation at the end of the season if JSN is good. I just love how it all comes together with those three. A sneaky one I had, this one probably isn't right, but it's one of the groups I wanted to talk about when we were conceiving of this show. Have you looked at the Giants' interior defensive linemen? Yeah. No, it is. They have Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams. They shined Ashon Robinson and Nunez Roches.

That is a hell of a group of four dudes in there. That really is. That's a fun one. I also think the Bill's safetys have a chance to be really good. I kind of have, you guys kind of checked a lot that I had. Okay, I'll go with some more, like, kind of sneaky ones I had on top of Bengals receivers was the one that first answer. And then I went, Niners, linebackers, Eagles Off, it's a lied.

But then after that, that's why I laughed at, like, how you listed it to was like exactly how I had. But then I went, Steelers, Steelers Front. That's a good one. It's High Smith, Watt, Hayward, like, I mean, what's the name, Larry Ogojobie? Ogooby and then, Keanu Betton. Keanu Ben. Yeah, it's really good. Go Badgers.

I had, yeah, and then Lions and Browns, offensive line if we, if I wanted to be hipster and get off the Eagles. I actually had the Seahawks D.Bs as one of the better units in this lake, the Julian Love, Witherspoon. Yeah. I mean, Wollen. Those are two of that with Betten and then the young Seahawks players where if a couple things click into place by the end of the year, we'll be talking about in Jamal Adams. Yeah. And then just like carrying over from our defense discussion, the Cowboys and 49ers defense aligned. I think the Cowboys defense line is loaded.

Just their starters and what their play styles are and the backups are amazing too. So Cowboys and Fournierers' Defense Alliance were the other ones that I had in here. All right. Worst position group on a contender, Nate. This is a good one. Man. Okay. So I have to go Jets off into line because that was my gun to head, even with the tipman pick and everything.

And I like Beckton. Billy Turner's not enough for you. No. And it's just, who do you think, let's take guess, who do you think is starting at left and right tackle week seven? That is the problem. That's the problem right there. Is it Max Mitchell? Max Mitchell, I think probably is the starting right tackle right now.

Yeah. Yeah. I hope Beckton figures it out because I liked him coming out. And I believe in him. His flashes were good. But it's just like he hasn't been on the football field, what, two years? And that's just scary. And Dwayne Brown is 40.

And Dwayne Brown's 40. So the Jets offensive line was my first answer. And then I kind of, my kind of second answer was cheating a little bit. And I said Chargers back seven. Chargers back seven, I think is reasonable. I had Chargers safety is. Yeah. Safety specifically.

But DB is, I think is totally reasonable. DB. And then I love Eric Hendricks. I loved his career, but he's just another year older. And it's just like, you know, it's a Band-Aid on Bullethole kind of thing. So that, that was been my other one if I had to go with another answer. I think the charges one is good. Mina, what's yours?

I did have the Jets offensive line. I didn't know if we were counting the Vikings as content. You categorized it as a contender. I don't know for counting those contenders. I wrote Vikings Corners, question mark. Yeah, that's fair. And then I put this one to kind of be a jerk. I wrote Eagles linebackers, ha ha, doesn't matter.

I went Eagle spine. I said Spine of the Eagle second. Nice. It was spite of the Eagles second. Yeah, safety too. In spite of the Eagles, Back 7 was my first one. Because you get Reed Blankenship and Terrell Edmins at safety, Nicholas Morrow and Nicobie Dean, and then they drafted Sidney Brown and the third round.

Just a lot of questions. Yeah. Questions. I like Nicoby Dean in college. We all did. It could be nothing, right? It could be a nothing burger. But it's like, it's still a question mark.

Still have to answer. And a new defense corridor. So, you know, and you know, these, I don't know, I'm going to plant this seed. But those Georgia defenders that we've all been hyped up about, they better start doing something. Otherwise, I'm going like, hey, they maxed out. Georgia defenders are maxed out when they come into the league. I'm going to start that talking point. It's a good one.

It's a good one to have in the holster for like week eight. Yeah. It's all like Travon Walker has 12 sacks and Jordan Davis is terrorizing everybody. Yeah. So, but just put it in the holster. Jags DB's DB group, I think is kind of what you're alluded to before me. I think that's a good one here. Bengal safeties, I think is still a real question.

We haven't seen Dax Hill as a full-time starter. And even if they think Nick Scott will be solid for them, I think that's still a question. I had Ravens Edge players. I had Ravens Falcons slash Seahawks Edge. Yeah. Yep. Those are all good.

And I think the Jags offensive line is worth mentioning. Yes, it is. Like, Anton Harrison, presumably they're starting right tackle, but their interior of the offensive line wasn't great at the end of last year. They didn't add anybody to that group. And I don't like- Suspension hasn't come down yet, right? So we don't even know how long he's out.

All right. Next one here, this, again, depending on how you want to read into this, a position group that you think is one player away. So maybe like one more small thing this off season. I had like the CJ Gardner-Johnson trade in mind here. Like if this team makes that version of the CJ Gardner-Johnson trade, their version, what would it look like? Mina, why don't you kick us off?

I wrote Chargers pass catchers. I felt like they needed to add a blocking tight end. And thinking about the Kellynne Moore, I don't know how you're laughing, but the Kellynne Moore offense and Dallas. They said it many times. It's like three years now. We're bounding that. I thought somewhere in the draft, perhaps, they would grab a guy because right now it's

still Gerald Everett and then Parham and McKitty behind him. Or I also thought, so you could go either way, I thought they would add like a real speedster. And I know Jalen Geyton's coming back from injury, but, you know, he's a guy who's not had a ton of targets. I understand the Quentin Johnson can do some fun, unique things for this offense, but it just feels like they... He's not a field stretcher. That's not what his skill set. Horizontal stretcher, yes.

They needed these two. I really thought if they added those two skill sets, I could be really like, wow, this Chargers offense is going to destroy souls this year. And I don't feel like they did that. It's a totally reasonable concern. Totally reasonable. It makes total sense. Nate, what was yours? Real quick, the Chargers.

They drafted the other TCU guy, Darius Davis, but he's not a gadget guy, but he's not like a deep ball guy. He's like a jet sweep screen guy. But he's a really fun player, a lot of return touchdowns. If I had to say, this unit could be a plus plus unit for the near future if they had one interior offensive alignment to sell sexy I go. The Seahawks offensive line, if they add one interior alignment, maybe two. Special answer for me. really special answer. But with those tackles, man, just let's get some guys in the middle and let's get some young guys in the middle. My kingdom for a center on this team. It's just one spot.

Just fill it up because it could be a really good unit. Sorry, I don't mean to be push you. No, you're good. This is my account. It was, I thought, a very underrated reason why Gino Smith had some ups and downs in the last half of the season was interior pressure. Interior offensive line. Yep, I totally agree. And that's the one spot when you look at that offense where I always think about it in my mind of like one spot clicks in and the whole thing goes green like that the sea hawks offense that's what it feels like just one more interior piece and it whole the whole thing goes great and i i absolutely had that in mind mind that i keep coming back to and i'm going to keep mentioning this every single time i got a chance to the fucking lion should trade for geondra hopkins

like i just lions receivers a lion's pass catcher is won away and i like you said before natate i have lion's defensive front just like one more difference maker like they have if jelan carter was the guy they'd come away with in the top 10, how differently I would potentially feel about the Lions offseason and that defense as a whole. That's one. I still have bills receivers. Like I still,

even with Dalton Kincaid, I still just like, just give me one more. Just give me one more. It's Kalil Shakir season. That's the, I guess so. That's what they're bet not.

And then this is actually, this might be my answer. I want one more, like, physical interior presence on the Dolphins' offensive line. Like, I just give me a left guard. who can hurt some people.

And because I think they have answers at tackles now potentially bringing in Isaiah Wend, but maybe they get five where they can kick somebody inside the guard and they get a five that's workable. But that's the one other player I would want for the Dolphins offensive line. Just one more physical interior presence. Yeah. That's going to step in for like Liam Eichenberg.

Yeah, it makes a lot of sense, especially it's more finessey type of offensive line. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So, nope, totally makes sense. All right. Mina, the position group that you are more bullish on than the consensus in your mind. I'm not sure how we're defining consensus, but you figure. Yeah.

I think this Packers group of past catchers is fine. Okay, maybe the conventious is the wrong consensus. No, that's it. This is great. I'm talking on a team, but I think everybody wanted to draft a receiver in the first round. So that's kind of what I'm riffing off of. Robert on my show, you came on a couple weeks ago. I talked about how excited I am for Christian Watson,

who a lot of ESPN's underlying metrics really love. We have, Nate, this wide receiver score that is kind of similar to, they use tracking to look at, you know, players' separation, basically trying to isolate the things that the receiver is doing separate from the quarterback, and he ranked really high in a lot of those last year, in addition to some traditional metrics. but I think like him and Dobbs showed enough that paired with the tight ends that they took and how and what Matt Lafleur wants to do on offense and what he's capable of doing with Jordan Love,

I think it's a totally sufficient group. And I'm actually, I was tempted to actually put them in my sneaky good offense, but I was like, eh, I don't know. It's, you know, I'm not going to go there yet. That would be both. Yeah. But, you know, I think that I'm, I'm, I, am not negative i'm not uh pessimistic about the green bay offense this year and i feel like a lot of

people i'm not at all i think jordan love's going to surprise some people that's one of my personal takes i love their offensive line i love jane reed the receiver they did draft this year and you love the tight ends you love the tight ends love both of the tight ends love both i think i love musgrave he was my tight end too i think he's going to be a hell of a player uh and i think craft's gonna be a hellful player and they got both uh yeah so that nice mina glad glad to have you on that's a really good answer pandering to the crowd here. Chargers blocking tight end and then Packers's pass catchers? Yeah.

That was, yeah. I know that that was. Music to my ears. You were on the foremost Chargers need a blocking tight end podcast and football media here. And Pass Protecting Running Back. That was the other one. Oh, yeah. They didn't do anything running back either.

Nope. Don't worry. I have another answer about it. I know. Oh, don't worry. It wasn't like it was a loaded role playing running back draft or tight end draft. You know who the, the charges could absolutely use. Ezekiel Elliott.

Ezekiel Elliott. Yes. They really could. Yes. It's dead serious. No. That's a good. All right.

He likes L.I. Position group. You are more bullish on than the consensus. I already kind of gave this answer. That was the Chief's defensive line. Just thinking that they, yeah. But so if I'm going to go kind of off the beaten path there, I'll maybe go Panthers offensive line.

This is one. I think anyone had the Panthers offensive line. Anyone looked at the run game last year in the second half of the year with Deonté Foreman going gangbusters, of course, is probably going like, yeah, they're decent. It's a good line. It's a upper tier line across the board. Oh, you mean against Seahawks in like week 16 when they just spammed counter like eight times in a row and it kept going off for like seven yards a clip? Not that I think about that every day.

It was the best. That and what they did to the lions. It was horrifying to watch. It was just absolutely ridiculous. That's why I think Bryce Young is going to be fun. And then my like hipster one, I want to throw this one in real real in. this is just for me. One for you guys, one for me is the Saints tight end room. Joanne Johnson, Taysam Hill, and Foster Moreau is a freaking awesome tight end room.

That's good. Yeah. I want to throw that in there. I do like Foster Mero. That's a good one. That's a good player too. John Johnson came on and Taysville's Fawn. By the way, I almost threw them out there and I think it's worth throwing them out there. Saints offense is a sneaky good offense potentially. Yeah. They were bad last year and I think if they're healthier along the offense of wine. Sorry, I just heard a buzzer that's saying Dennis Allen instead of Mike McCarthy.

I don't know if it's playing in your guys' ears. It's playing in my ear. It's a good one. It's worth mentioning. All right. Sorry. I had a hard time with this. I said the Bears' offensive wide has a chance to be better than I think some people

probably think it does. They added multiple new starters, Braxton Jones in year two. If darn all right's good right away, but I did not have a good one. All right. Most improved position group this off season. Mina, what do you got? There's only one choice. The Ravens at the end of the season.

We're starting Deshawn Jackson, Devin Duverne. I don't even know if I can name all of the guys who they were playing at wide receiver. I'm leaving someone out. Marcus Robinson maybe in there? Marcus Robinson. Yeah. So I just saw a video today with my own two eyes of a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. Rashad Bateman on the field with Zayflowers.

Oh, slant kings. It's going to be awesome. That is, I mean, the leap from those. that group to this group, I don't think can be matched. Do you know, Mark Andrews got 100, I had this page up for this exact reason. Mark Andrews got 113 targets last year. Do you know who the next highest players on the list are for the 20, 22 Ravens? Don't say Patrick Ricard.

Okay. 113 for Mark Andrews. 75 for DeMarcus Robinson. DeMarcus Robinson second on the Ravens in targets last season. I streamed him like three times out of desperation. Receiver 5 for the. the chiefs the year before. The Raiders cut him.

He was released by the Raiders. And he got seconding targets. So, okay, that's to Marks Robinson was 75. Isaiah likely had 60. Devin DuVernay had 49. Those are your top three target getters after Mark Andrews. A rookie fourth round, tight end. And like a gadget guy.

And a kick return. Okay. So even the fact that Nelson Aguilar is like the third best receiver on this team this year, he would have been the best receiver on the team last season. And obviously, Rashad Bateman was hurt for all of last year. But having Beckham, Zayflowers, Rashad Bateman and Nelson Aguilar compared to what they did last year, holy shit. Like, it is absolutely ridiculous.

So they were, I think that is the best answer if you're looking at a position group that has been improved. But I'm going to cheat here. The Jets quarterback from. Oh, yeah. The Jets went from Zach Wilson to Aaron Rogers. That was my answer. So, yeah, okay.

Okay, that was my. Mine was Jets QB room. That's absolutely the answer. So those two, I think, we've touched on this one a lot. Brown's defensive front, I think is one that's worth mentioning. I had the couple smaller ones, the Steelers offensive line got multiple new starters. The Bears offensive line got multiple new starters. Bears linebackers, they paid a very large premium to do it, but I think Bears linebackers is another one.

And then I agree with you, Nate, that they're one injury. away, but the sheer amount of, from being in a trouble spot, but the sheer amount of bodies they added, Detroit's secondary. No, I wholeheart, that was one of my answers. I said, I know this is hypocritical,

but Lyons DB room is one of mine as well. But then I, Jets QB room, I also think, Jaguar's wide receiver room getting Calvin Ridley. Yeah, that's a good one. That's a really,

yeah, that's a boost. That is, I, Jack's fans laughed at me because I, like, a couple years ago, I was like, they're like, oh, you don't like this guy,

you don't like this guy, you don't like Marvin Jones. I'm like, No, I don't. I used to, but not anymore. Wait until you guys watch Calvin Ridley. And then you're going to go, that's a number one receiver. That's a totally different, totally different beast than what you guys have had.

You fucking hated the 2021 Jaguars offense. God, you hate them. God, you hated them. One of the saddest moments was when you asked me how many games I watched them. And I said seven. And I remember the sound you made just like, like, why are you? God, you hated them. Yeah, I'm a masochist sometimes.

Your love for, that is true love. That is just unending, just unconditional true love for Trevor. All right. I would say general bear's offense, by the way, not just one group, but General Bear's offense was most improved. That's totally fair. Yeah. So that'll be another one.

On the flip side here, the WTF position group, one that needed work and just did not get it. Nate, you go first. I had a couple Vikings. I thought maybe addressed their corner outside of Byron Murphy. I thought they were set up perfect in the draft. Um, the one though, I kind of surprised me was the Jaguars D.Bs. That was one where I just thought they would add another guy to help out that pass defense. And I thought they're in a decent spot to maybe get that corner.

Um, and yeah, that was one. I just thought this off season there maybe find some other more stopgap vets, but they kind of stood pat like Mina talked about earlier with their unit. Kind of did that with their whole defense. So that one, that one kind of surprised me that I thought needed work and didn't get it. I have other answers, but I'm curious what you guys say. Yeah, I had, I had some of the. those, including writers DBs who I already talked about. I had Jets offensive line tackle position, and then the pass rushes I already mentioned

Falcons and Seahawks and Ravens, but again, TBD, right? You know the Ravens are going to sign for some old guys. You're going to get 13. Right. That's going to be fine. This is one, though, that I was a little bit. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this, Robert. I wrote the Bears defensive line because the Bears went into this year.

with so much draft capital, so much money, and they added to Marcus Walker, and they drafted a couple guys. I thought they could have picked up. Interior guys, too, yeah. Yes, they could have done, like, found a core player, and they didn't, and it's a very important positional crew, so I was surprised by that.

I just think you have so many holes, and there are only so many players available. And I think focusing on the offense made total sense, to me with the resources that they had. And they drafted to interior defensive linemen. They needed four starters along the defensive line. Like, you can only do so much. So I feel like they will add an edge rusher somewhere along the way.

Like, they'll just sign somebody because they have to spend more money over the next, like, six months to get to the cash floor over the last three years. But I think this is a multi-year thing. Like next year, hopefully they can use some high-end draft capital or resources in general to add on the defensive line. It bears edge rushers. They didn't add a single one. And it was arguably the biggest need that they had coming into the offseason,

but they had so many needs on defense that I think at a certain point you just run out of resources. So not just on defense, whole team. Yeah. Yeah. The rest was completely barren. Like where they are a year, where they are today and where they were a year ago is insane. And eventually you have, you can't address it all. Like you can't go that far.

But what are you prioritizing? Linebacker. over here. I think that's, I mean, that's a conversation of what edge players were available in free agency, right? Like, I would absolutely love that. But there really weren't that many guys edge rushers in free agency that were worth spending on. Would you rather have the two linebackers, this is, or Hargrave? That's a great question.

That's a great question. I think my answer is probably the two linebackers just because of the timeline of the team. Javon Hargrave is a 30-year-old. Interior defensive linemen on his third contract. And the history of that just isn't very good. We just don't really have that many examples of those sorts of players working out in free agency. I think even if it's an overpay, betting on Tremaine Edmunds at 24 years old to be, and they've front-loaded the contract.

It just has a lot of different reasons where it makes sense for them and where they are, even if it's a lot to spend for an off-ball linebacker. Trade for Chase Young, so I'll do for you. So that's the answer. Is that like you have two first round picks next year. you have a shitload of cap space again next year. Somewhere along the way, you hope that you can find one or two ed rushers.

They get creative with it. Yeah. Yeah. The other ones I had too were Cowboys running back room. Thought they maybe throw a little something, some, some in there. I lines of bears pass rush.

But I just want to like talk about the general chargers. I chargeers DB room, but then as Mina alluded to maybe, well, also maybe another young defense alignment. They're really just, no, we're going to just keep this going. But the tight end running back room, I thought maybe they'd inject even a little bit more talent in.

They keep drafting these day three running backs and they just keep whiffing. So maybe whoever their cross scout is for that, let's check on what he's watching. But also like, yeah, the tight end room, I thought that maybe I had a blocking tight end like you mentioned, Mina. So I just want to throw in a little jab at the charges at the end there. This is funny. So they signed to Marcus Walker with Zika, that's a throw-in contract. Among the pure edge players available in free agency this year, where do you think to Marcus Walker ranks in AAB of the players signed? I don't want to even know.

He's tied for third. I was going to say fourth. Marcus, Marcus Davenport, Samson Ebukam, and Charles A Menahue. Sorry, fourth.

Those three guys are the only guys that got more a year than to Marcus Walker. Seven million. Not that much. It's just, it speaks to the group of edge rushers available

and free agency. Outside the one-year mercenary. Yes. Like, yes. And a couple of those guys were one-year players. Yeah.

So there just weren't that many guys available. And I could see them signing at Justin Houston. or a Donikin Gakway or somebody in the meantime, while they just need a body. Okay. I love Houston with them.

Last one here. Justin Houston played for Maddie Bufus in Indianapolis. I mean, there are a couple of connection points there. This is a following. Beller through this one and that I liked. A position group that you would want to trade to another team. Like, which position group would you save if you had the opportunity to do so? Okay.

The position group that I am taking is just Aaron Donald. And I am putting him on the LA Chargers and making that defense absolutely slap. I love that. That's a very good one. And he can bring the other defensive tackles, you know. All right. I've mentioned this 100 times. I'm just dropping Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins onto the Lions.

And what we just talked about, I want to trade the Titans defensive front to the Bears. Yeah. That's good. Just to shore up your defense. Yeah. Those are the two that I had. Also, if we want to keep like just rummaging through the Titans defense, trading the Titans' safeties to the Eagles.

That's another one that I had. Oh, if we're doing Homer picks, I'll take one Max Crosby and Chandler goes to come with him for Seattle. And Tyree Wilson now. And Tyree Wilson, yes, yeah. I would go with, actually, the Titans defensive front was, yeah, Seattle would be a pretty fun one. That would be a pretty fun for a pretty good one.

Could we just go like one singular quarterback? Can I go like Patrick Mahomes with the 49ers? No, you can't take them off of a good team. You can't take them off a good team. That is not fair. But even like, I'll just do this. I'll just do this. I was going to say a Stafford or even like a Ryan Tannahill.

Ryan Tannoh was a good one. Ryan Tannettano with the 49ers. There's my answer. I am surprised. Ryan Tannhill on the Washington commanders, thought experiment. That team's an NFC contender. Who says no? I, when we did our quarterback carousel show.

earlier this spring. I tried to put Ryan Tannahill on like 20 different teams because even before the Titans drafted Will Levis, Ryan Tannahill has the highest cap in the league, a quarterback, I think it's right there. He's 34 years old. This team is in need of a reset. They're going to have to get cheap at quarterback sometime, some way. And they did. And Ryan Tannahill is just kind of around, but who does he make sense for? Like it just feels like somebody should trade for Ryan Tannahill because he's theoretically available, but there aren't that many teams now that the music has stopped where it makes sense for them to make a move for a guy like Ryan Tannahill. And that frustrates me. Like if the Falcons weren't bullish on Desmond Ritter, like that would be the type of team

where it's like, okay, you look at Tanna Hill, that offense looks pretty good. But they said to Kobe percent. Yeah. Did you have like Tanil? Yeah. Yeah. Are they just going straight up howl? The way they're talking. I don't know. That's crazy. to me. That's so crazy to me. You had Tana Hill as kind of like the backup plan for the Jets, didn't you? Like, it's kind of like, if they were to miss out on all those guys. They would have to run. I actually like that.

Oh, that's pretty good. I would say, because downing is there. I mean, you get, the connection point is easy. That's why Carr made sense there too. Any good offense align going to the bills would be a lot of fun too. Like, where you just didn't have to worry about that anymore and just go, oh, look at that unit. So that would be a lot of fun.

that's going to be cut off. Who's a good offensive line on a bad team? I know. There aren't that many of them. There are that many. A point in your favor. There's something there, huh? A point in your favor.

I think the Texans have some decent players along their offensive line. Texas offense line with the bills. On the bills, I think that might be a pretty good one. That's a good one. Yeah, that's like a B plus unit. I like that one. All right. That's all we got.

What a silly exercise. I had a really good time doing it. Mina, you got a million things going on. I appreciate you taking the time to do this. with us. It's always fun. Thanks for having me. Thanks for coming on a couple weeks ago, too. Always happy to do it. Appreciate you guys for listening. When this runs, I will be somewhere else. So what you should listen to and what's coming out and all that stuff, I think is a little bit up in the air. But continue to listen to the athletic football show this week when I'm on my honeymoon.

And make sure you are checking out the Nate Tice hosted episodes that are coming your way, presumably later this week, or one last week or next week, whenever this happens to run. So Nate will be hosting some shows and you should absolutely be listening to them. So please be on the lookout for that. Please rate and review the podcast under podcast platform of choice. Please check out the Mina Kheim show featuring Lenny. That's all we got. Appreciate you guys listening.

We'll talk to you later. This was the Athletic Football Show.