The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Big Suey: Stick-and-Pickin' with Dane Brugler

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

What's the difference between the most famous athlete in Miami and the most famous athlete who plays in Miami? Is Mike White too big for his britches? Do you skip the intro? Do you want a microsite with your football? Which NFL Draft prospect reminds Dane Brugler of a porterhouse steak? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Why are you listening to this show? The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBoutard podcast. I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys? I've done it.

And now, here's the marching man to nowhere, fat face, and the habitual liar. This episode of the Dan LeBattard Show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings, the crown is yours. I've got some inner Miami questions for you guys. I have been fascinated by Messi's bodyguard who runs up and down the sidelines and no longer is allowed to run up and down the sidelines and he says it's crazy. All

his years in the Premier League there were like six people who ran on the field and now there have been 20 in a few months here because of the general insanity around Messi. Just out of curiosity, we can say flatly, right, that Luis Suarez is the second most famous athlete in Miami, correct? Internationally, sure. Yeah, globally, globally. It's not even close.

It's not even remotely close when you put together social media numbers, roar, reach, marketing dollars, even money earned. Luis Suarez is the second most famous athlete. Jonah Bride. I don't even know who that is. It's a Marlon, I assume. Marlon Flair.

He's batting like 0.88. Yeah, and I would even lump, I would lump LeBron and Dwayne Wade in this mix. It's early. I think you make an argument that Luis Suarez is the second most globally famous athlete to play in South Florida, period, behind Messi. I think globally Luis Suarez might be more famous

than LeBron James. I assume you're asking about in Miami, though. I'm saying that he works and plays in Miami and is the most, second most famous athlete on earth to be playing in Miami, right? But not in Miami. No, not in Miami, for sure. For one thing, he's absolutely swallowed.

Everybody is swallowed by the shadow of Messi. If you're playing for Inter Miami, I don't care who you are. And now they're talking about getting the Belgian midfielder from Man United. Man City, Kevin LeBron. Or Man City, right. LeBron is the second most famous. I just did a all time all time Yeah, but right now actively signing remotely close

It's a confusing question because I know what David is saying and I know what you guys are saying You guys are saying the most famous player playing in Miami and you're talking worldwide where he's making a distinction of he might be the second Most famous worldwide, but he's not the second most famous in Miami at this time. Not even certain he's in the top five, I mean. Manu. Unrecognizable to a in the park. Okay, but when I ask people who want fame, which fame would you rather have,

fame that's just in Miami or international fame? I'm talking about global fame. I'm talking about somebody who is, I guess he's 39 years old. I thought he was spent, the first year I saw, watched him, he looked like a square block that was moving very slowly, and yet him and Messi are so much better than everyone that they're playing

against that Inner Miami is the thing that it is because these two human beings are on this team. Even at an advanced age, I understand that Ovechkin is now doing, I understand that aging haschkin is now doing that. I understand that aging has now changed in sports and science has changed in sports but I thought not unlike Russell Westbrook I thought the best of Luis Suarez was well behind us. I didn't think that he would be giving us good soccer in approaching 40. Well you're right the best of him is is well behind us however former's temporary class is permanent and he can do things even though he certainly can't run the

way that he used to. I don't even know if he has cartilage in his knees. His knee situation he could have medically retired years ago but there is a certain class that he brings to the game a vision a chemistry that he has particularly with Messi from all their years playing together. And just instinctually, he knows how to be in the right places. You don't need to be fleet of foot to have your positioning be all world. He's just, he was arguably the greatest striker of his generation. And there are certain aspects that you don't need to rely on your physical traits to still

be that good at. And he's been an incredible signing. This was a signing that was not without some controversy. Why are we bringing a Wash Luis Suarez here? Don't you want to put someone younger near Messi? Why are you just doing this to appease Messi? Well, it's worked out with Luis Suarez, no doubt. Second most famous biter in the history of sports?

I mean, he's got multiple offenses. Behind Tyson, who spat off a chunk of an ear, I would put Luis Suarez there, because he's got multiple incidents. Did Marv Albert bite someone? He did, but not at a World Cup. I was in a hotel room. Well, I mean, in sports,

you didn't say on the field of play. Jessica, did you make a face because you know the story or don't know the story of Marv Albert? I'm vaguely aware of the story. Do you wanna tell the story? I don't think you wanna know the story. I think no is the answer. I gotta be honest with you, I don aware of the story. Do you want to tell the story? I don't think you want to know I think no I don't know the story just know it bit someone there is a yeah, there is a

sexual assault allegation that involves him and scandal and before You could you know you could lose everything for this kind of scandal, allegedly, and also involved sex shaming beyond that with clothes that he was wearing. A little cross dressing? Yeah.

The thing that I wanted to ask you guys about before we update some NFL draft stuff that I know that Stug stugats and billy it's my time of year dana are excited about uh... because it is uh... spoiler wednesday i have not gotten yet to the last two episodes of white lotus and i've imagined i i've uh... managed to avoid some of the dangers uh... i've not yet had it spoiled for me. I just want to play

some sound though from Mike White on I think this is the official White Lotus podcast. Mike White has one of the rare shows and it's kind of amazing that Max continues to be able to do this on Sunday nights that six million people will gather to watch at the appointed time because they immediately want to talk about it and some people evidently are disappointed by whatever it is that the ending is and Mike White doesn't seem to care that they're disappointed because the creator of the White Lotus says the following of people who are correctly pointing out, my God, enough with the slow filler of all of these shots

and he is, all these shots of water and beautiful shots, but enough with filler, your show could have been, you know, could have cut 20 minutes of fat out of every episode, and he's an artist, and he's saying, no, you can't cut 20 minutes of fat out of it, I'm going for a pace. There was complaining about how there's no plot and that part I find weird because it never had him.

Like, it's never been, it's like part of me is just like, bro, this is the vibe, like I'm world building, you know what I mean? It's just like, you know, like, you know, if you don't want to go to bed with me, get out of my bed. Like, you know what I mean? I'm edging you, you know? It's like, enjoy the edging. Like, if you don't want to be edged, get out of my bed. Like, you know what I mean? I'm edging you, you know? It's like, enjoy the edging.

Like, if you don't wanna be edged, get out of my bed. Do you know what I mean? It's just like, don't be a bossy bottom. Or get the fuck out of my bed. Like, don't come home with me. Don't get naked in my bed. Get the fuck out of my bed. All right.

It's like. I love being edged by you, Mike. Obviously, something's gonna happen. I'm not gonna just like, yeah. I'm not gonna leave you here. I'm not gonna leave you here with nothing. It's an interesting way to approach criticism. So, that sounded like a survivor confessional to me. He was trying to move the story along, which is what you do as a confessional.

My problem with what he said is he fought with so many people on set, the person he worked with forever disappeared, and Mike White has gone big ego now. And he's been very popular and gotten a lot done and a lot made, but it seems like he's getting a little big for his britches now. And I think it's gonna cost him. Are you citing the story from his composer

on the theme that everybody loved? The composer did put the famous part that everybody identifies with, the woo-woo-woo-woo-woo part in the theme. Everybody was upset that it wasn't in the theme. It was a Mike White decision, and it led the composer to say, I'm just not working with this guy anymore.

I've never heard it, I skip the theme every time. You guys don't skip that intro? No, not anymore, I was looking forward to it. Big skip intro guy. Lalalalalala. If I have the option to skip your intro, I'm skipping it. Yeah, but if it's a good song. I don't need it every time.

I'll listen to like first episode of the series. Right. I'll drink it in. Did you do that for this season? I think so. Because you were like, well, the last time they did one of these seasons, it banged. I do know what you're talking about. Yeah.

Put it on the poll at LeBotardShow. Are you a skip intro person? Yes or no. David saying that this is gonna cost Mike White. I don't know, he's got a wildly popular television show and too big for his britches. You don't think that most directors with wildly successful things are too big for their britches?

There's a lot of what have you done for me lately. And so they gave him increased budget. You can obviously tell from all those fat art shots. They went to the Thailand Hotel for multiple months, six, seven months filming. And there's been reports that all the actors got paid the same, you know, not a lot of money. 40 grand per episode, about 320 grand for their time.

Plus the free vacation, all expenses paid. And then they'll get budget and they'll get renewed for season four, but eventually that wears thin. And what happens is studio execs just decide, all right, that was a good run, but that's it. But it's bigger than it's ever been. Six million people gathered around on a Sunday night is not something the average,

behind a paywall is not something that the average show is doing these days. There aren't a lot like this. Like you're talking- No, he's made forever. Made forever. Nobody's made forever, Mark. Ryan Murphy's found a way to be made forever.

And most of his shows are not good. Michael Jordan is made forever. I mean, come on, David. Mike White is not the goat. I mean, when it comes to Mac shows that resonate, Mike White is absolutely considered a tastemaker and people will keep going to him thinking that he's gonna replicate the formula. There's actually something, I know we're on this

White Lotus thing, but did you see what China announced was being reported that with the whole tariff situation, they are no longer gonna open their box office to American made films? That is going to positively crush Hollywood. They're threatening that. And that's a... So are you saying they enacted it already? They are still threatening. I think we're still in the very threatening phase and reciprocal terror phase. But as part of the threats right now, they're saying we're just gonna close off this huge market to Hollywood.

And I don't think, this might be beyond the scope of Mel Gibson and his ability to broker peace. The problem there, Mike, just quickly, is that he's appealing China there is going after an industry that Trump doesn't actually care about. So it's not gonna have any impact. He did put Mel Gibson in charge of it, all right, so there's someone staffed against this. You say this is going to absolutely crush Hollywood,

and I would say that we're already there, having just returned from there and seeing that the only billboards anywhere in town are all Netflix. Like everything there is Netflix. I don't know what it is that China will do to Netflix, but Netflix doesn't really need the theater. Like this will just make it go faster,

but we're already there. Like when you drive through that city, you realize that there's one thing spending money in that city to advertise all of its stuff, and it's Netflix. It's on every billboard, and it's not a lot of other stuff and it's Netflix. It's on every billboard and it's not a lot of other stuff that's not Netflix. So all of this has largely already changed.

I just can't possibly predict, and neither can our economists, and neither can our president, and neither can anybody what the actual damage is going to be of what is presently happening to the economy, but Stugatz just informed me with great delight that the NASDAQ is up today. I mean.

Two 45. Just while I was talking, Stugatz whispered it into my ear that the NASDAQ is up. Are you day trading Stugatz? Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps. A fool and his money will soon be parted. It's a great buying opportunity, David.

I don't care what you say. I will say the bond market is looking pretty dangerous, and there's a lot of people turning to the bond market for something a little bit more conservative, given the instability of the stock market market which is a speculative market anyways so you're going to have people writing vibes like yesterday there were a lot of people peacocking when the Dow was up and then by the end of the day in closing bell it was down the bond market is particularly concerning right now before we get to a new draft expert that Billy and Stu got

so excited about just because it allows us to talk about the NFL Draft. Before David leaves and I urge you to listen to Nothing Personal which is doing spectacularly for the Levitard and Friends Network, there was a horribly sad story in baseball yesterday and I don't know how many people are talking about it because Octavio Dottel was a reliever from a long time ago but David this one hurt you. Yeah not that long ago he's only 51 years old and if you listen to today's nothing personal you're here quite a bit about this but what I didn't have time

to mention on the show that I'd like to just talk about now is how we all react to what took place and how to us, we're here in the United States and it starts as a headline, maybe number one headline, and within three hours it's below who's being drafted or what the rumor is. The reality is that 79 people are dead in the Dominican because of a roof collapse that is not dissimilar

to what happened in Surfside, except it happens all the time in the Dominican. Because the way that construction is done, and I am as guilty as anyone, we go to the Dominican and we cut corners. We figure out how to schmeiss permit people and how to get things done, because we're trying to just get players.

And then we do press conferences saying, hey, look at our great new brand spanking new academy. Every team does it, but yet what's behind it is lies. And then it can result in something like this. Thank God it wasn't a baseball academy, but it was a place where players and other people were, innocent people who died because the construction is so shoddy and

It's down in the headlines we're not gonna talk about it after today and lives have been changed Nelson Cruz's sisters dead and Things in the Dominican happened Gregg's covered it car accidents happen where players die We didn't want our players to ever go home to the Dominican and the guilt I feel currently about wanting players not to go home because I'm worried they're gonna die and then when they do die, you feel like it's more of an I told you so versus taking the time to fix it. Appreciate your help this week, David.

We're gonna let you go now because our draft expert is here and you have to get out of the way during baseball season for the NFL Draft because Stu Got and Billy want to talk to our new Draft expert so I'm sorry. It's not just them. We all do I did appreciate your comments on the matter. See you later David. Thank you for spending this time transition this week Yes, a poor one admittedly a poor one not easy to transition out of that to a draft expert Probably should have considered that yeah, I should have Got here early, and I saw his face in the never happens to him and and it disoriented me

And it made it forced on live television me to transition poorly Thank you for allowing it to happen without anyone noticing We could have said more Paula shows perhaps yes Yes to happen without anyone noticing. We could have said more Paula shows perhaps. Yes, yes, there are any number of ways I could have done that better. And if I'd had a crew that supported me, that would not be mentioned on air either. It would just go unmentioned

and I would just do it awkwardly. But that's not the predicament I'm in. That's not the show I run. I'm here for you, Dan. Sometimes, not recently. Everything is getting more expensive. Rent, gas, groceries. And the last thing you need is credit card debt piling up. There's a better way to build credit without interest or expensive fees. With Chime's Credit Builder Visa Credit Card, you use money you set aside to build credit.

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Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com slash buttard, B-A-T-A-R-D. Go to Shopify.com slash buttard, Shopify.com slash buttard. Guys, tech is not really my thing. And as I'm trying to build out a website recently, I'm really starting to feel kind of frustrated.

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being your own website support team? Switch your hosting to Kinsta and get your first month free. And don't worry about the move, they'll handle the whole transition for you, no tech expertise required. Just visit Kinsta.com slash Dan to get started. That's K-I-N-S-T-A dot com slash Dan Don LeBattard my wife says this is a sexy voice. It really is. Yeah, I'm hard. Thank you Wow Stugats so am I actually I don't know why this is the Don LeBattard show with the Stugats The athletics NFL draft for nearly 20 years to create the definitive resource for fans and football insiders alike.

And that sounds asinine because I'm looking at his face and there's no way this person is 20 years old. So unless he was doing it as an embryo, and he may have been, I find it hard to believe that he's running the definitive draft guide known as the beast It's available today at the athletic name And he's also a barbecue pit master. We'll get to that in a second with him because I want to question his expertise there He's accomplished a lot, huh? I mean at a very young age. It would appear So thank you Dane for being on the show with us and explain to us

How it is that you became an NFL draft expert? How does one I would imagine in this particular space? I just got back and I saw Mina Kimes and for all of the interests that she has in the world and they are varied Nothing is more interesting to her than mock drafts. And I just find it super bizarre. Like, I don't understand the redoing of mock drafts again and again and again. That has to disappoint you so much coming from Mina Conn's mouth.

I just don't understand it. I'm wildly confused by it, but this is an area that many people care about, and you, thank you for joining us, Dane, have been caring about it since when? How exactly did you become a draft expert? Well, scouting is always what I've wanted to do. So the first time I created a draft guide was my freshman year dorm room back at Mount Union in 2005. So been doing it for

a while now and it's the ultimate hope for fans, right? Is the idea of, okay, this is how we can get better if we draft this player and that player. And, you know, it's kind of a reminder that the NFL is king when we're here in April and the NFL draft is still driving a lot of the conversations that sports fans are having. But also it's the ultimate marriage of college football and the NFL,

two of the biggest, if not the two biggest sports in the country. So there's a lot of reasons for the popularity. And I'm thankful and blessed enough that there is that popularity. It allows me to have this job and create a document like this, which is really cool this year. It's not just a PDF. It's a really, it's an interactive micro site where there's over 2,600 prospects on there. It's not just a PDF. It's a really it's an interactive micro site where there's over 2600 prospects on there. There's 400 reports, all the NFL verified testing

information. You know, you can check it all out on the athletic. And so people have been really digging it and it's cool to take it to these heights this year. Put it on the poll. Do you want an interactive micro site with your football at LeBittard Show? PDF is fine. Can you tell me more responsible for your great skin, youth or moisturizer? Ooh. Genetics, right? I mean, I'm just, I, look, I've always looked younger than I am,

and I'll appreciate that. I'm almost 40, and I'll appreciate that now, you know, when I get into my 40s, but I have but I have four kids and so that weighs on you a little bit, right? Especially when, you know, you've got soccer and baseball and dance and I've got twins. And so, you know, I don't feel as young as I used to, I'll put it that way.

Does look like Stu Gotz maybe like 30 years ago. No. In my bra. The hat, the outfit. Are you kidding me? I'm just saying, look at Stu Gotz, look like that at eight. Look at Mooney. prime. The hat, the outfit. Are you kidding me? I'm just saying, you guys look like that at eight. I look like Mooney.

Like they're wearing the same outfit. It's just, he looks... They don't look alike and they don't, no. I'm better looking. No. In my prime, Dan, I mean, come on. The league verified testing information that you have for more than 2,000 prospects,

how is it that you go about beginning to tackle that amount of research? Yeah, it's just my relationships in the league. You know, I wouldn't be able to do this job without my network of scouts that I rely on to help me gather all this information. You know, and it's, I try to, you know, my dream was always to scout in the league.

And then when I was trying to break into the league, I started doing it on the media side and I was like, okay, well, this is kind of fun because I'm not. Scouting for just one team or one roster. I'm doing it for 32 teams and I can do it from a very generalized standpoint. And so I wanted to create a guide that I would want to read and I would want to consume and so I want to consume. And so I want to know, okay, what are all, what's the 40 yard dash for all these guys?

You know, what's the vertical? What's, I want to know, you know, it's just for comparison purposes. What is all the testing information? And so we know we have the combine that's 300 ish type players, but all the pro days, all the workouts, you know, I want to be able to get all that information.

And so definitely proud of the fact that you're not going to find this information elsewhere besides the beast with all the NFL verified testing, 40s, heights, weights. We're not relying on what the schools say they are, height, weight. We're going to get the exact arm length for all of these guys. And so it's really helpful for me in my process.

And I know fans just really eat it up. Our draft expert, Greg Cody had 12 Xactos last year. I'm wondering how many you had. Yeah, in terms of like nailing the first round picks. Yeah, nail the pick, nail the team they're going to. The Xacto wasn't clear enough for you just by calling it. A Zagacto. Yeah.

Capital E. Calling it an Xacto didn't clue you in to the great expertise of our 70 year old veteran of the draft who takes great pride in kicking the ass of Mel Kuiper every year with his exacto. That's true. I only do one mock draft by the way. I don't do mock draft point 5.0, 6.0. Come on.

One mock draft is enough we all love mock draft second draft second biggest day in the NFL behind the Super Bowl let me ask you well you can tell me who's going to overall I think I think Travis Hunter right now but I'm still in mid research let me let me ask you this, let me ask you this. He didn't answer the other one. Can we get the answer to his exacto question? He's evading the jury. I'll be honest, I don't remember. It was, I don't think it was 12. It was probably nine or 10.

That's credible. I care more about my rankings, to be honest, than the mock draft. I care about, okay, I had this player ranked here and maybe he didn't go that high on draft day, but in retrospect, as we look back, okay, he should have been that high. So I kind of look at it from that standpoint

as opposed to the mock draft. But of course, yeah, you want to get that final mock draft right. This year will be tough. Cause I think yeah, Cam Ward won. I do think Travis Hunter too, Abdul Carter three. And then it becomes a big crap shoot. because there's a lot of differing opinions This is a different draft class in the top ten. We're not gonna have ten true top ten guys

So there's a wide ranging of opinions from different teams about how the next order should be Do you agree with what I think is fairly common thinking that if this were last year's draft, Cam Ward and Shador Sanders would probably be the fifth and sixth rated quarterbacks and therefore they're going to be overdrafted this year simply because they're the best available quarterbacks not because they really deserve to be one and five or whatever? Yeah, I mean I think that's fair. When you look back at last year, none of these quarterbacks are going ahead of Caleb Williams, Jane Daniels, and Drake May one, two,

three. I think the debate becomes, okay, who would have been that fourth quarterback between Michael Pennex, J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, and then the group that we have this year. And it was interesting, Cam Ward actually declared last year. He entered his name into the draft and then largely due to NIL and transfer portal, he changed his mind transfers to

Miami has this outstanding season. And I think when you look at Cam Ward, you're encouraged by the progress. You know, he was a wingt quarterback in high school goes to incarnate word and gets better and better goes to Washington State gets better and better, goes to Washington state, gets better and better. And then this is fifth year at Miami, he was at his best. And so you're encouraged by the ability

to progress every year, get better. And you think, okay, he's 22 now, what's he gonna look like at 25? Is he going to continue to improve? And I think that's what really you're banking on. And I think at the combine, it became pretty clear Cam Ward was gonna be the first pick. It was more of a question, okay,

will the Titans stick and pick? Or could we see a trade up to number one? The Giants, we know how desperate they are for a quarterback. Would they be able to do it? And as closer we get to the draft, it becomes pretty clear the Titans are ready to stick and pick. And I think you understand why, because if you don't have an avenue to a quarterback, what are we doing? Right? And so if the Titans don't take a chance on a guy like Cam Ward,

then what is their next best option? And it's hard to come to a solution that you feel good about. So if you think Cam Ward can evolve into a top 14 type of quarterback in the league, I think you have to roll that dice and see what happens. Is stick and pick yours or is that something that's the parlance of the industry because it just rhymes? You could just say stay there, but you're enjoying saying stick and pick. It just rolls off the tongue, right?

I mean, it sounds good. Is it yours though? I like it. Like, do you have it copyrighted? Is that is that exclusive to the beast? I don't know that I don't I definitely don't have a copyrighted. I'm probably sure I've heard it elsewhere But yeah, I mentioned it. Maybe I should check into that. Is that hyphenated? I'm just curious stick and pick or no hyphens Yeah, I probably two hyphens in there stick and pick Dane is there a chance that the Titans don't stick and pick because we

Decided I don't know three months ago that we were gonna do a watch party for the NFL draft in Nashville because they had the number one pick and it was a dicey decision because should they trade out we just be in Nashville for Absolutely no reason watching the NFL draft so as we're getting closer It looks like it was a safe decision But is there any chance that they can be blown away with a package and we will just be sitting in Nashville to watch a team pick at six or something? There are worse places to be for, you know, to kind of

watch the draft, but I would be surprised at this point. You know, the Titans have not really hid their interest for Cam Ward and with a first year general manager, Mike Borganzi, a second year head coach, there's always a question mark where you just, you're not entirely sure exactly which direction they want to go. But I just keep going back to, okay,

if you're not going to draft Cam Ward at one, what is your best avenue to a quarterback? Because Will Levis is going into the seat right now, he is at the top of the depth chart. And Will Levis has not taken control of that job and said, okay, I am a long-term starting quarterback in the league. He hasn't been able to do it to this point. And so again, if you believe Cam Ward can be a top 12

to 14 quarterback in the league, which several teams do, because if Cam Ward doesn't go one, he would go two to the Browns. The Browns would more than happily take him at number two. I think we have to look at quarterbacks as kind of like taking bets, right? Like it's such a hard position to evaluate. I don't care who you are.

It's just, there's so much that goes into it, mentally, physically. And so if you just have to kind of make a bet that, all right, we like this, this and this, this is what translates. We're going to make a bet on that working and that fitting with our coaches and our personnel. And I think the Titans are ready to do that. I was listening to you and on my buddy Nate Tice's podcast last week talking about all of the quarterbacks of the the non-CAM ward Chaudure Sanders tier, like the Milrose, the Tyler Shucks, the Jackson Darts, which one do you think is the best bet

or does it just depend on who's drafting them? Yeah, you know, I think if I, Jackson Darts to me is the most intriguing because he is, probably has the most talent, but it's gonna take some time. You know, that Ole Miss offense really didn't get him ready for this next level. You know, can he get to the backside read?

Can he make those full field progressions? So there's a little more projection with Jackson Dart, but he has the physical tools, the competitiveness, the leadership off the charts. So you like a lot of what Jackson Dart brings to the table. It's just the mental development is going to take time. So if I'm a team like the Browns, who really they need a quarterback pretty quickly,

I don't know that Jackson Dart's going to be higher than maybe some of these other quarterbacks. Now, if I'm the Steelers and theoretically Aaron Rodgers could be here for the next year, or even the Giants, where you have Russell Wilson starting for the 2025 season, then I think Jackson Dart becomes much more of a strong possibility. If I need someone to start right away,

I think I'm leaning towards Tyler Schuck from Louisville, who is a unique player because he's a seventh year senior. He's gonna be a 26 year old rookie, and you just don't see that a lot, but he's been, it's been injuries, and it hasn't been like multiple knee injuries. It's been, you know, a broken leg and a busted shoulder and things that I don't think are gonna give teams

big red flags moving forward. But for a guy that's that age, this past year at Louisville is the first time he played more than eight games in a season in seven years in college. And that's not ideal, but he has the size, the arm. He's a power thrower, he's a twitchy thrower, and he's a good athlete for being a 6'4", 220 pound quarterback.

So teams really like Tyler Shuck, and I think both those guys, Jackson Dart, Tyler Shuck, teams in the top 35, top 40, there's a good chance we see them both come off the board. If Abdul Carter did not have the foot injury, would he be consensus number one? No, I don't think so. I really don't think the foot injury, would he be consensus number one? No, I don't think so. I don't I really don't think the foot injury has all that much to do with it. I think it just comes down to the Titans, you know, quarterbacks are just different,

right? quarterbacks. It's hard to rank quarterbacks with other positions because it's it's a weighted position. The impact level that it brings is just different. And then I think it comes down to okay,, who's the best non-quarterback? Is it Travis Hunter or is it Abdul Carter? And in my opinion, it's Travis Hunter. We have not seen a player like this,

how unique he is, can play both sides. He's a dynamic athlete. I would love to play him full-time on defense and then mix in 25-ish plays a game and get him eight to 10 touches on offense. I think that's the perfect way to use him. But there's a lot of teams that think he's an offensive player first,

and then they'll try to figure out something on defense. And I think the Browns sitting there at number two, they need to get better on offense. Their offensive scoring was 32nd in the league last year, third down conversions with 32nd in the league. They need a spark on offense. And if they don't believe in one of these quarterbacks, which I don't think they do at number two overall, Travis Hunter does make sense because of the spark he would bring

to an offense that just needs any semblance of life. Where do you think Shador Sanders goes? And do you think he's going to be a good NFL quarterback? That's the big question. And I it's funny, I like Shador Sanders, but you're not allowed to like him. You have to love him or hate him for whatever reason. That's how it's become.

And look, I think he can start in the league. It's just, can he truly be a difference maker, a guy that's going to elevate the offense around you, be someone that is gonna help drag the team to the playoffs if that's what's needed. I think he needs a situation where everything is clicking around him to really make that happen.

And it really comes down to like, yeah, he's tough, he's smart, he's really poised, but the way he likes to play, I just don't know that he has the physical traits needed to do it that like, he wants to play like Jordan Love, where he's going in reverse in the pocket and moving around and throwing off balance.

And he just doesn't have the size, the movement skills, the arm, he just doesn't have those type of high end traits at the position to get away with that consistently at the NFL level. So if I had a chance to draft Shador Sanders at 25, 26, I think that's where I would consider him because I do think he can start in the league. I just think it's gonna take a lot more around him

for everything to work. But where is he gonna land on draft night is a fascinating question. I think if he does get past three with the Giants, the Saints at nine are a really interesting spot for him. And if he gets past there, then we're talking about the Steelers and then potentially maybe the Browns or the giants at early second round trading back into the first to get him right now, the over under on quarterbacks

in the first round is two and a half. And I think, you know, you always lean towards taking the over on quarterbacks. It just, you know, the Kenny Pickett year was an aberration. Usually we see more quarterbacks than not go in the first round. So I think I would take the over on that two and a half. Regarding Shador Sanders, if you're going to try and play like Kyler Murray,

you better have Kyler Murray's athleticism. If that's, if you're going to be doing the backwards in the pocket stuff. I want to speed this up because we've got a lot to get to and we've got too many questions and not a lot of time left. So let's get hit him with the pressurized music and see if I can get quick answers to quick questions here. The most overhyped player in the draft right now is blank.

The most overhyped player in the draft is, phew, that's tough. It would have to be Shudder Sanders, right? I mean, he's a good player, but to take him top five overall, I think is a stretch. Somebody who's gonna go higher in the draft than most mock drafts are predicting is blank. Let's go with Jalen Walker,

the pass rusher slash linebacker from Georgia. A little bit of a hybrid can do it all. The player with the measurables that awed you the most was blank. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M pass rusher. Seeing him up close to the senior bowl, that burst. Guys that are 6'4", 270 pounds, they shouldn't be able to move like him. He had a 40-inch vert. He is a freak, the freak of all freaks one and a half sacks last year

But he will be a top 20 pick because he's just different than everybody else how many sacks One and a half what the hell? That's one and a half more than Greg Cody Part of its usage part of its, you know, he had a lot of pressures. He just didn't finish in the pocket. So there's something there. You know, he is one of the wild cards of this draft because he is different. You know, he's kind of like the Travon Walker of this draft where maybe the tape doesn't always line up, but the traits are crazy.

And we know NFL teams, they don't draft stats. They draft traits. Great vert. Spot that you'd like to see Tyler Warren land in? Chicago at 10. I think it's an underrated spot. Pair him with Ben Johnson. He could be his Sam Laporta. They run a lot of 12 personnel, so Colk with Comet still there. It still works. Add another pass catcher to that offense.

I think it makes a lot more sense than people think. The possible team Matching with possible player that excites you the most other than that one is blank Um, I think will Campbell to the Patriots, you know They've been kind of looking for that left tackle and it's maybe not the sexiest position talking about offensive linemen But I want to help Drake may because Drake may what he did last year Without an offensive line without a ton of help around him you give him that help you add Stefan Diggs at receiver all right let's give him a blindside protector

and I think Will Campbell can do that. True or false you worry about someone when you ask about how excited they are and they mention a left tackle. True. There's nothing wrong with that. Left tackles are instrumental to a team's success. So it matters. The weakest draft since blank. The Kenny Pickett draft where we had one quarterback in the top 73 picks and Travon Walker went number one overall. It's not a bad draft, but it's definitely relatively weaker than we've seen in the last two, three years. Is this year finally a good year to accept that maybe more than one running back should

go in the first round? Yes, and more than one running back will go in the first round. Ash and Gentie will be a top 10 pick and then it's okay. Where does O'Mary and Hampton go? 12 to the Cowboys. I have a hard time seeing him get past 20 with the Broncos, which would be a perfect fit for both Bo Nicks and Sean Payton, but also the running back and what that could mean for the Broncos

as they try to unseat the Chiefs in the AFC West. A better example than you being a maximum football dork at Mount Union as a freshman than you minoring in football player evaluation is blank. Oh gosh. I don't know I have a good answer for that one. Because you know what? I'm from Northeast Ohio and the Browns came back in 99 and I was just like 12 years old looking at okay, Tim Couch, Ricky Williams, like this is fascinating. It was like an instant thing scouting is what I need to do and look my dad's not a coach you know like I don't have an uncle who's an owner like how else are you gonna get into the league? That's what this draft guides

about you know trying to create something then and it got me several interviews in the league and I just happen to be geared or kind of torn to this media side and I've really enjoyed it. It's available today at the athletic.com. It's the definitive draft guide known as the beast. I'm going to really put you on the spot here, make you speed it up with a name and just a sentence of evaluation on the following. You are an amateur barbecue pit master. I'm going to give you an assortment of meats. You give me the first player that comes to mind when I mention that meat.

Texas brisket is hot and smoky. Who you got? Let's go with Travis Hunter. Because you know, talking about versatility, you can do so much with brisket. You could shred it. You could slice it. You could put it on mac and cheese. You can do so many things with this. So versatility, I'll go Travis Hunter. Prime rib. I mean, that's, that's the king, right? That's that's so who's going number one overall cam ward. So I mean, prime rib, that's, that's at the top of the list

and cam ward's going to go first. So we'll go, we'll go cam. Memphis ribs, slow and dry. Let's go, let's go with the Mason Graham, the defensive tackle from Michigan, who is going to be a top seven pick. Nothing really sexy about him, but you know what, you don't walk away from drafting Mason Graham and think, oh, we didn't get better or you know, that was a bad pick. You're not going to think that way.

Same way with ribs. Casey pulled pork, sweet and tangy. pork sweet and tangy sweet and tangy so let's go with Shamor Stewart who I mentioned as being a tools II traits II guy you know it's easy to be enticed by the different ways he can move but you know what it's maybe the payoff isn't there Porter house steak oh gosh I I mean Ash and Gentie, I mean you can make, Casey's the best player in the draft, you can make a case, Porterhouse steak is the number one thing

you wanna order on the menu. Tenderloin roast. Oh man, let's go Abdul Carter. You know, with a slab of beef like that, Abdul Carter, the way he can rush the passer passer it works. Thank you. Just picking names I mean, he's good at it. He's great at this game Stick and pick. Thank you for being on with us. Cody hasn't listened since you said stick and pick Anytime thank you guys being on with us. Cody hasn't listened since she said stick and pick. Thank you, sir. Anytime. Thank you, guys.

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