The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - NFL Mock Draft

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Colin shares his NFL Mock Draft based on what he would do if he was running each of the teams picking in the top15 Looking at the start of the NBA playoffs   Guest: Rachel Nichols See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey, Jonas, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an Acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Body by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7.

Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and Dream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is,

getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city

in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit season two on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. Hour two. It is a Thursday. We are live in Los Angeles, and this is the hurt. Wherever you may be, and however, you may be watching. Thanks for making us part of your day.

Okay. So, you know, sometimes I get really worked up, and I'm really into stuff. I hope you are. But I'm really worked up. And so sometimes I'm just doing this show for me. Sorry. Rachel Nichols will be joining us in studio in 15 minutes. So I'm going to tell you what I would do. It's not a mock draft. I'm not predicting what the teams are going to do. That's not what I'm doing here.

I'm telling you, if I'm GM, this is what I do. So they'll probably be trades. Everybody wants to trade down outside of Tennessee. The truth is it's not a great draft. People want to trade down. So there could be six trades. I don't think a lot of people want to trade up. So I don't think there's going to be a ton of trades.

Everybody keeps telling me, oh, trade, trade, trade. Who wants to trade up? There's not a great enough player here to trade up. And there's about eight really good players, and all those players will go to teams that need them. So here we go. Let's do our top 15 mock draft. This is who I would draft if I was the GM.

Number one is Tennessee. You've got to get Cam Warden. It's an easy one. Last year, the Titans quarterback's combined for 22 touchdowns and 21 picks. It's a winnable division. He fits Brian Callahan's office. defense. They've got one go-to receiver. I think he'll win games. I think he'll make him a playoff team. Easiest picking the board, Cam Ward. Number two, Cleveland. I think they go and get

Travis Hunter, the best overall athlete in the draft, and he'll play both sides. They're receiving chorus, Jerry, Judy, and a whole lot of meh. They also have quarterbacks all filled out. They got Flacco. They're paying to Sean Watson. They got Kenny Pickett. They've sent the signal they're not getting a quarterback. So I think this is the only player in the draft that can affect both sides of the ball. And in a division with the Ravens, you need to catch up. I think it's the pick.

Number three may surprise you. I do now think the Giants are going to take Shador Sanders. Here's why. I think James Winston and Tommy DeVito, they'll cut them in camp. I think they're going to go Russell for a year. Even

Russell's contract's not that punitive. It's all based on how many games he plays and how well he plays. I've changed my mind. I think they're going to go get him. I think he's a star. It's a star town. I think it's a big market. Brian Daibble has proven a history of you can give him kind of average stuff and he'll correct it.

I don't think there's a lot to correct. They've seen him. Personal workout recently. I think they're going to go get Shadoer. I think the Patriots are going to get Abdul Carter the edge. Last year, the Patriots had the few with sacks in the league. There'll be plenty of running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers later in the draft. It's Mike Frable.

They're going to, I mean, go look at what they did in free agency. A lot of big uglies, a lot of size and movement. Carter's a great athlete. They don't need to rush Drake May's development. They can get him help later in the draft. It's a good tight end and running back draft. You can get that second, third, fourth, fifth round. They get Abdul Carter.

Jaguars get Mason Graham. Jags' defensive lines already talented. I think Graham's really underrated. People say his ceiling is low. All I know is when I watched him, he pushed everybody around the field. They had the second worst total defense in the league last year. They've already got Trayvon Walker and Josh Heinz Allen. Add Mason Graham and don't worry about the D-line for the next five years.

The Wolverine Big Kid from Anaheimarian, California, I think he goes number five. I think the Raiders go get Ashton, Gentie, the running back from Ohio State. Is he worthy of this pick? He's the best running back in this class. Gino Smith is very good on play action. Pete Carroll's career, he was great when he had Reggie Bush and

Lendale White in college and Marciaun Lynch in Seattle. They had the worst rushing attack in the league last year. Their offensive line is set. They've got an elite weapon in Brock Bowers. I think you give Gino help, Ashton Jenny Playmaker at 6. The Jets get Tyler Warren at

number 7, the tight end. This kid can do everything. You can split him out wide. He's a playmaker. Again, takes the pressure off Garrett Wilson, who gets double-teamed. Now Devante Adams has gone. Super versatile player. And they just haven't had any tight-end production. Over the last couple years, they have six tight-end, six touchdowns of the tight-end position.

I watched the USC game. This kid had 17 catches. He is about as viable and has the kind of dexterity. He's a little bit running back, a little tight end. He could throw the football if you want. I think the Jets finally go get a big time tied in. Panthers get T-Mac wide receiver, Arizona. I like him.

He's a little bit of a glider, but they've got to get Bryce Young help. This is an organization. This is the year for Bryce Young, who played pretty well last year. Panthers at 8 take him. The wide receiver group in Carolina does not have a true number one. Again, I know two GMs that are cool on him, and I know one that loves him, and it's a GM I respect. So Bryce Young needs more help.

This kid's a true number one. Go get him at 8. Number 9, Saints, Will Johnson. They moved off Marcus Latimore, sending him to the commander, so they need a number one. I think he's great. He was hurt at Michigan. I think he's a great core. I think he starts for everybody in the NFL.

At Denver, he starts. He's just not as good as Patrick Sertan. I think Will Johnson is an exceptional player. They had the 27th ranked past defense in the league. They've got to replace Latimore. I know you're talking about quarterback, but I don't even know what to make of that Derek Carr story, and I think Shadoor is going to be off the board, and it's too high to draft Jackson Dart. Will Johnson 9 to the same.

Number 10, Bears go get Edge. Jlon Walker. Listen, Montez Sweat from the inside led him last year in Sacks. They could have drafted in the number one spot in Edge last year. He's a Georgia Bulldog who rushes the passer. Great physical specimen. I think you go get him. They keep upgrading in the trenches.

The Bears upgraded their O-line this year in free agency. I think they upgrade their D-line at the top of the draft. I like Walker to the Bears at 10. Number 11-9ers, I would go Calvin Banks. Trent Williams is aging at left tackle. He's 37 years old. And let's be honest, if you're going to spend money on Brock Purdy, then you better protect him. Their O-line is the weakness of that football team, and he's the best player available.

I like him better than Will Campbell. I don't know. I watched a lot of Texas football. He was really good in the big games. He mold people. So I like him. Number 12, Cowboys. Amarian, Hampton, running back North Carolina.

I think he's a poor man's Adrian Peterson. Big, strong, just a hard dude to bring down. I mean, look at him, run. Look at the legs. Look at the burst. And let's face it, the Cowboys running back room is atrocious. 27th in the NFL. They've already invested draft capital in the old.

line. They've already paid CD Lamb and Dak. They need star power and there's not a good enough wide receiver to draft in this spot. I think this kid is electric, starter day one, and again, Dax better on play action than sitting back in the pocket throwing 40 times a game. Number 13 dolphins, I'd go Will Campbell LSU. I think he's pretty good, not as good as Kelvin Banks. Again, you're investing in Tua. Tua has that injury concern. Go get an offensive linement. You also lost very good tackle in Toronto Armstead. So let's just do this. Go get it.

I know it's not sexy. You're moving up. You tried sexy with Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill. How's that working out for you? Just go to the trenches and get a good left tackle. Number 14, the Colts. This will be the steal of the draft. Armand Membou from Missouri, who tore it up offensive linemen.

Outside of Quentin Nelson, none of the offensive linemen and Indy played 17 games. People talk about needing a tied end. Loveland's not good enough to draft in this spot. I think this will end up being the steel of the draft. Will Johnson and Armand Membue, I mean, physical specimen. And listen, I think your receivers are good enough. You have Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson. You should probably run more than you do pass anyway.

He's a mauler. I take him at that spot. He's about a good as player. Last year, the Colts, Chris Ballard waited and got the best pass rusher at like 15th. I think this will be the best player at 14th available. and he'll start day one. And at 15th Atlanta, Shamar Stewart, edge rusher, Texas, and M,

they don't get to the quarterback. Second few of sacks in the NFL. Do you want to beat Baker Mayfield? You got to rush Baker Mayfield. Put pressure on Baker. And so I think it makes sense. They have used their number first round pick on offense for four straight draft picks.

So it's time to pay attention to defense. This, if I was general manager, for these teams, I'm not saying this is what they're going to do. This is what I could do. I think the Shadour Sanders, I looked at New York over and over and over again. And I have come to the conclusion where the best athletes off the board, they've already got a very good defensive line. That's not an area of need.

And I think they'll keep Ross for a year. James, Tommy DeVito, you can move off those guys in camp. And I do think there's something to be said about Dian Sanders' son in New York. It feels big. It feels fun. I mean, the Jets don't have the future quarterback, do they? I mean, do they really have the future quarterback? So the Giants not want to have the future quarterback?

I mean, let's be honest about New York. It's a competitive market. So, Jordan, what do you make of it? You know, I'm looking at it. I like it a lot. I would say, so Will Johnson, you made a point about him being hurt. He is viewed as a truly special corner. I love him at New Orleans at 9.

I don't buy that New Orleans is going quarterback at 9. Yeah, I don't know. My take is there's too much unknown, and I think somebody's going to move up. Come on, somebody's going to move up before 9. to get Chedu or Sanders. There's too many teams that need a quarterback. Yeah, and I also, Tyler Warren at 7 to the Jets,

it's interesting because it's a whole new regime, but last year, they really struggled. Do they want Olu, who they go with from Penn State to big tackle, or do they go Brock Bowers? Now they have an opportunity to get another transcendent tight end in Tyler Warren, who is fantastic. Okay, so I didn't do any trades in mind. Yep.

Okay. So I do believe if somebody called the New York Giants with James and Russ, if somebody called the, I said this the other day, if somebody called the Giants and gave you two seconds, a third and the first next year for Shador Sanders, I think the Giants would take it because I think they're comfortable with Russ. But I didn't want to put trades in and monkey around with all this stuff. Yeah, yeah. And by the way, all of these players start immediately for their teams. I know we have indicated it's not a great draft, but if you're a team and you're bad and you get an instant young athletic inexpensive starter,

it does make you a better football team. I had a GM tell me a couple days ago that Ashton Gentie is being slept on. I said, what do you mean? He's going to be a top five, top 10 pick. He said, no, no, no. You don't understand. This guy is a superstar.

People are talking about him like he's just really good player, maybe a great player. He is a superstar. He is a day one, 1, 1,500-yard guy. Aston Genti to the Raiders at 6. To me, out of every pick here, might just be my favorite because we talk so much about Pete Carroll and Marshawn Lynch. Now, I don't know if Pete ultimately in that organization

wants to go running back at 6, but there is a big contingency within the Raiders building that really likes Genti. And if you really want to build this offense, the way that Pete Carroll has had a great offense. It's around the running game and play action. That was Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. They just gave Gino the extension.

You bring an aftaginti. I think it's a home run. Well, I'll give you the team that's interesting, Jacksonville. Jacksonville's got two guys in their defensive line that are already elite. So you could say Mason Graham is not a place of need. But sometimes it's like who's the best player on our board. And so not like, I don't think Jacksonville needs a defensive tackle, but I think you can't watch Mason.

I watched Michigan play 15 times in the last two years, maybe 20. He dominated every guy he played against. Mason Graham is great. He's also very versatile. And if you think about James Gladstone comes from the Rams. Who they draft last year? Jared Verse and Braden Fisk. They hit on both.

Mason Graham, because of how dominant and versatile he is, you now compare him with Trayvon Walker and Josh Allen. And now you have a truly dominant defensive line. Now, we don't really know where the Jags are thinking, because A, it's a new regime, and B, they don't do visits. But if you just think about where this organization comes from, both Liam Cohn and James Gladstone, come from the Rams, line matters.

Leslie has built that team around his defensive line. I like that pick a lot. I'm curious, you did something interesting here, too. You did Carter at 4. Now, he visited the Patriots. If he's on the board at 3, you really believe the Giants would pass on him for Shador. Well, so I've gone back and forth.

I like Sador. I've said this. I like him. There's a lot of signals from the Giants they like him. And I said the other day, I think they're bluffing. But you start looking around at the contracts for Russ, James, and DeVito. Yeah. You could move off all of them if you wanted to.

I don't think they'd move off Russ. Because I think Russ, they would bring Shadur in and say, listen, this is a pro. James is squirly. They'd move on. You don't want some young quarterback around. I think they like James a lot, though. People say they like him a lot, and he bounces around the league. You ever notice that?

Oh, I love him. How can he keeps bouncing around the league? And so I think that the Giants, Chador and the Giants is my toughest pick. But I think there's just a lot of signals, and I think I'm not going to do trades. I said it again. If somebody offered them a first and two seconds for Shadoor, I think they would absolutely move down. Yeah. Because I think the Giants need more help.

I don't think anybody's offering. Either do I. I don't, everybody keeps telling me a lot of trades. Who's moving up in this draft? Yeah, yeah. I'll tell you, the other one, too, I'm just looking at this. A, I don't know if Loveland, the titan from Michigan gets past Indy. I don't, I'm not sure because they do need a tight end, and he's a terrific player. Great tight end draft.

It is, it is. Will Campbell at 13. I don't think Will Campbell is getting outside anywhere near 13. You know what, Colin, great mock. I'm going to pick it apart. The one mistake you made, Will Campbell out of L.S. you is not going to get to 13 in Miami. If he does, that's a gift.

The only knock on him is that his arms aren't super long. I don't like that. Okay. That's like saying the only knock on an astronaut is he's afraid of heights. It's like you can't have short arms and be a great. He's a dominant, dominant player. With short arms. Okay, so obviously arm length matters at left tackle.

It's huge. It does. It's feet and length of arms. But I think Will Campbell is a special prospect, a dominant. a dominant left tackle. I don't see him getting anywhere near 13. That's my one nitpick with this. Everything else I like.

Let me tell you, when Miami drafts Will Campbell, Chris Ballard will be celebrating because he's getting a better old lineman at 14. You love Mimbu. A lot of people love Mimbu. He's a physical mong. Yeah, he's a beast out of Missouri. He is a beast.

Yeah. And then you talk about Bees Shamar Stewart absolutely wrecked the combine. I think he was probably the best dude at the combine athletically. And I like that for Atlanta. By the way, my staff says Mason Graham to the Jagger.

is good because they didn't defend the run last year. There you go. There you go. Good mock. I like those Michigan guys. All right. Rachel Nichols around the corner, nothing is more important than protecting your home and loved ones from harm. Millions of Americans, the reassurance starts every day. By arming their SimplySafe home security, go to SimplysaveColon.com, get 50% off. No safe like SimplySafe. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports

Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts.

We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an

a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the eye heart. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian went. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted.

She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world. right now and actually can win on any surface because if she's serving well good luck consider this your court side seat to the french open listen to the renn stubbs tennis podcast on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts presented by capital one founding partner of i heart women's sports covering the NBA for almost 30 years how is that possible you're 31 years old that is unbelievable i'm actually only 24 so wow it doesn't even make sense math wise

Rachel Nichols, Fox Sports NBA analyst. So I, this is probably recency bias, but I watched the Warriors and Memphis, and Golden State looked so small and so old. And I had sent this when Butler, you have to be careful about late year winning streaks. A lot of teams are tanking, and then other teams are resting players. So the Clippers got red hot, and the Warriors with Butler, honeymoon period, wow. But they have decided they're not playing Kamingama. if at all. And Houston's big and long and a great rebounding team. And Amman Thompson can guard Steph. Are the Warriors in trouble? It is definitely a series in a matchup I would be worried about

if I was Golden State. I mean, you talk about Steph Curry and all of the damage he can do. This team still revolves around him as much as Jimmy Butler coming in has helped them. He was held to one of ten shooting three points against Almond Thompson in the last time these teams matched up. Also, by the way, Steph Curry got into it with Imey Udoka, the Rockets coach. There's been some trash talks since then. So I think this will be a very spicy, very physical

matchup, and that's where an older team like the Warriors says should have some, might have some problems as well. We saw Jimmy Butler take a little bit of a bump and bruise at the end of that Memphis game, so they'll have to sort of, we'll have to see how he's doing. I don't like Houston if there's close games. In fact, there's

KD to Houston Rumors, which is what they need is the shot maker. Yes. That's the problem. If the games are close, nobody manipulates the clock and the refs like the Warriors. No, and that experience, I mean, one of the big knocks against the Rockets going into this postseason is that they are so young and they really don't have

playoff experience and the Warriors have the most playoff experience on their roster in terms of craftiness and everything they can do in that last minute or two of play. Yeah. So let's talk about, I was talking to my friend Jason Timp on this. I'm like, Yokish is the best basketball player in the world. Is he going to get

eliminate it in the first round. I do like the Clippers. I think their scoring's more spaced out. They have a coaching advantage. That matters. Yeah, absolutely. Tyloos worth a game in the series. Denver's not a very good defensive team where there are times the Clippers can be very good.

I think I like the Clippers. I'm a little leery of their late season surge. Who do you like and why? Well, yes, they are 18 and 3. in their last 21 games. Hottest team in the league. Bonkers, bananas. But it's not like they were terrible before that.

And that's the thing that's so interesting about this Clippers team. They missed Kauai Leonard for the first half of the season. The scoring load was on James Hardin, who's 35 years old. And yet they still had a respectable team when Kauai rejoined them. And as you said, Ty Lou, he's on my coach of the year ballot. I think he did a tremendous... Well, they got off Paul George, and they've got, I think it's Derek Jones. They've got some wing defenders.

So don't forget, they lost 22 a game. Yeah. And Kauai. Yeah. So they lost their, you know, they have hardened. But for them to be playing that well at the end of the year, it's like that front office deserves some credit. I would trust that and listen to that. They are a nasty defensive team.

The thing that you worry about, of course, is Nicoliochich. The clippers will do everything they can to wall off to Mal Murray. Murray, after coming back from his own injury, a little bit, you know, not quite himself yet. So we'll just have to see if Nicola Yokic going nuclear ends up being enough for Denver to win four basketball games. That is asking a lot, but is Nickley Yokic? As you say, best player on the planet average two triple doubles in one game. Yeah, I mean, the clippers don't really have a legit backup center. So it's one of those, if you're the Nuggets, do you look at it and say the way to win,

heavy Yokic around the basket, get the clippers only legit center in foul trouble, and the clippers get really small, really fast. Yes. That's the way to win it, but I'm sure Ty Lou has thought of that. So I think a team that I know Milwaukee hates all of us who have these like syndicated shows, because every time we talk about Milwaukee, it's about Janus leaving. Indiana, dangerous, talented, young. This is a team that last year, didn't they get to the Eastern Conference finals.

So Milwaukee's at kind of a crossroads. They've been old for two years. They make a move on Dame, got worse defensively, little better. offensively, but it's old. Brooke Lopez, you kind of feel like, okay, if they lose in round one, does it go nuclear there? Look, I think there will definitely be some changes if they lose in round one. But you have to remember, Damien Lillard is not there.

That's right. And we don't expect him back in this first round. They gave a somewhat encouraging medical update about him the other day in that they did not rule him out for the entire playoffs, but I certainly wouldn't expect to see him anytime soon. So that kind of factors into the Janice thinking if they do lose in this first round. Last year, he was out for the first round of the playoffs. This year, Dame is out for the first round of the playoffs, maybe longer.

Is he really going to turn around and say, I have to leave Milwaukee, which is, by the way, what it would take? It's not like the bucks are going to put him on the trading black. He would have to ask out. Is he going to do that after Dame didn't even play alongside him? The guy that, by the way, Janus wanted to bring in? I'm not sure that with his temperament and his loyalty, he really has the nature to turn around after losing and possibly in a series that Damien didn't even play in and say, I want out of here.

It doesn't seem to me like that is what he would do, but let me tell you, every other team in the league is preparing just in case. We're not the only ones talking about it. So we got into this discussion. Sometimes somebody in another network talked about this, and I vehemently disagreed, is I think Connor McGregor from Ireland was the face of the UFC, and I think

Shohei is the face of baseball. And Alex Ovechkin, arguably, the cyborg scoring cyborg is the face of hockey. I made this argument yesterday, that European players were always a little polite,

they felt international. Luca trash talks, berates the refs, yells at fans, has swag, taunts players. He is so us. Yes. He is so American. 100%.

I think if he plays well and they get to the finals, even if they don't win, but he is fantastic. I think there's an argument he's the new face of the league. I mean, this trade to the Lakers puts him into a whole number of status. And it's also the Lakers which helps face the league arguments. Absolutely. They just have so many fans around the world and in this country who believe in this team. So putting him in that jersey, it really helps.

his case over a guy like Anthony Edwards or some of the other guys we've been talking about who will become sort of the face of the league when this older generation leaves. I don't think there's any question he's going to be. I mean, he leads the league in Jersey sales at the end of the season. Now, a lot of that is because change teams, your jersey sales go way up. It happens with everyone. But I don't think it's a coincidence. And I think when you look at him in this uniform, you have to see that this is the guy

we're going to be talking about for the next five years. I believe that this trade is not only going to affect the Lakers for the next five years, I think it will affect the entire league on par with when KD went to Golden State. I think that the Lakers are going to be such a force once they fix some of that interior defense issue this summer, which they freely say they have to do, that not only could they be like the Warriors in their prime, where it was sort of just assumed they get to the finals and probably win it, it's going to change LeBron James' legacy. Yeah. If in the next three or four years, LeBron sticks around because why wouldn't he at this point?

He's got another son who wants to come in, that kind of thing. He could win two more rings, courtesy of Luca Donchich. How does that change the Michael Jordan discussion, the Kobe discussion? So, Luca going and putting this jersey on affects so many things beyond Los Angeles. I don't think there's any question that kind of influential, you're talking about Caitlin Clark to start the show. that influence that we see from Luca is going to make him that face of the league. So I want to talk at length about the Caitlin Clark thing because in individual sports, skiing, Lindsay Vaughn, tennis, Serena Williams, in my life, the best team sport for women in North America has been the United States women's national soccer team. Very popular. But team sports have largely in North America been dominated by guys.

And one of the things, not that we're not nice, but guys are a little more cutthroat when money's involved. And what we found out with guy sports is, don't share. You got a star, put them on everything. I mean, Dana White, I'm not going to pay you guys what you want. John Jones and Connor McGregor, you're going to soak up most of the revenue. NFL now doesn't even force you to air every team. Fox is like, yeah, we're going to run. We're going to air about six baseball teams.

It's not our responsibility that both. Baltimore is not as interesting. I think last year the WNBA tried to be nice. And they were like, okay, we're going to bring this in slowly. And then all of a sudden you're like, oh, no, no. She is literally O'Tani. She is Connor McGregor. She is changing the financials.

And they didn't quite know what to do. So in Time Magazine, I think, did the same thing. They name her athlete of the year, which you could have given that to a lot of, you could have given that. You could have given that to a lot of people. But the one thing she is without question is the most influential. American sports star since MJ or Tiger. Yeah.

And she's not on the list. And my take is you guys are overthinking it. I've been in radio for 30 years. There's a saying, play the hits. Yeah. She's Taylor Swift and Sneakers. Can we stop pretending that... So that's my guy take on it.

How do you view it? No, I think all of that is absolutely true. I mean, the irony is she won athlete of the year because of her influence. She didn't have the best season of all the other athletes. Asia Wilson is the best player in the league. She wasn't the best player in the W. Her team didn't get the furthest. She didn't win a championship.

It's because of the other stuff that they named her athlete of the year. And therefore, to not include her here is insane. The thing that I have a little bit of a nitpick with, though, in the discussion around this over the last couple days, is there has been a lot of pointing to, wait, Neficia Collier and Breonna Stewart are on this list because, of course, they're an unrivaled basketball league, what they started, how that really changed the dynamics of women playing basketball in America. why are they on the list instead of Caitlin Clark? It's not an instead of.

By the way, those are two people on an 100-person list. There's 98 other people that Caitlin Clark could be there instead of. So whether that was a factor in the people making the list, it has certainly been a factor in the public reaction to the list. Maybe someone at Time magazine was like, well, I got away what's starting unrivaled in that league is compared to what Caitlin Clark did. You don't have to compare them. compare Caitlin Clark to the other 98 people.

I guarantee you she gets in. Yeah, I haven't seen the list. I'm sure Elon Musk is on it. Isn't he influential? Did I get a thumbs up? Yeah, I was guessing that one. That's the only one I knew. Okay.

One more thing. So I'm watching, so I told the story earlier, so I bought, as I'm moving some operations to Chicago, I bought Bulls, Blackhawks season tickets. And so my wife's so excited to go to a playoff game. And I said, okay, just settled down. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

So, right, she's texting me last night, or did we buy tickets to a terrible team? And I said, well, if they get Cooper flag, they won't be. Exactly. And so I laugh. But my takeaway was watching the game last night was, boy, KD and Miami. Listen, they've made, I said it earlier. Like, they've made the conference finals like nine times in 20 years. Like, they're really well run.

Yeah. The dolphins and Marlins, maybe not. there's a lot of grifters in Miami, not in the Miami Heat Building. That's like the grownups in the room. Yes. Rachel, I watch KD and I'm like, they got dealmakers in that front office. Oh, yeah. He is exactly what they need.

And by the way, Cleveland and the Celtics are so good, you can't do, you can't let chip it down the fairway. Bring out the big clubs. You need a big swing. Yes. I don't think there's any question. the heat want him. They have the assets to make it done. They do. Yeah, they do. I mean, they know what bringing in a guy like KD could do for them, but there are other teams that want him too. And part of this is going to be in KD's control. Where does he want to go? Nobody wants

an unhappy, Kevin Durant, especially after what happened in Phoenix on their roster. So he's going to have a say in all of this as well. And we're just going to have to see what kind of offers people put on the table. The NEPs were reported the other day by the New York Post as being a great interest in KD and getting assets ready to bundle them. I don't know whether he'd want to go back there. But you know what? Say this about KD. Players like him. Budenholzer and him didn't get

along, but that's probably more coach than player. Even when he left Golden State, like the guys individually like him. He's a quirky personality. But I think Miami does stars. Look, I think Miami would be a great choice for Kevin because after being in an organization that

frankly, in the front office, James Jones didn't know if he was in charge or Matt ishbio charges in and now he's in charge and oh they make this trade and oh they make that trade and there's been instability and the coaching ranks on that team to go to a miami team where everything is as you say above board and runs like clockwork in the front office department and the coaching staff i think he would welcome that kind of structure and i think he'd love to live in florida just judging on his personality listen to this breaking story shams yes damian lillard has been cleared of his deep vein thronged

Bomboosis, no longer on blood-fitting meds. Lillard out for game one Saturday. We'll have a period of time to resume contact workouts. He could be in the late part of that series could play. That's big. That's big. That's a few ifs, by the way, because he hasn't been playing basketball for a few months now, right? So, I mean, I think that he does have to work his way back in.

So whether we see him or not, probably depends on how much trouble the bucks are or aren't having in that series. Who's favored in that series, Ryan? Who is favored in that series? Is Milwaukee's favored in the series? I just think that we're going to have to see how he progresses. This is a delicate thing. However, it's obviously great, great news. I mentioned they had a positive medical update the other day,

but it wasn't really pointing at something like this. The fact that he's been cleared of the medical issue is huge. Because, by the way, deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical issue. So for his personal health, that's great. and for the team, that is great. Pacers are actually favored. Okay, all right. Can we close, though.

That's a toss-up one. Yeah. I'm taking the rockets over the Warriors, but, you know, you've got to take some swings. What else? And I do think the Clippers beat the nuggets, which is rare because, you know, here's the thing.

Memphis and Denver move off coaches. Yeah. You watch the Memphis game against the Lakers the other night. They couldn't get the ball in, no. Inbound's play was the game. Yeah. It's like, guys, you can't fire a coach if you're going to be a playoff team.

You can wait three weeks. It's crazy. Literally that inbound play becomes huge for Memphis. And when you are coaching against a guy in Ty Lou, who obviously is so experienced and clever, I think that that will come back to hockey. All right. Great stuff, Rach. Good to see you as well. Herdline News around the corner.

It's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Kavino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the IHart Radio app. Why should you listen to Kovino and Rich?

We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world? We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to. to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too.

Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio. Maybe the most interactive show on Planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino & Rich live on Fox Sports Radio in the IHeart Radio app from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich, wherever you get your podcast and, of course, on social media. That's Kavino and Rich.

Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it.

one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast

where people could call in and say, Hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smygill and Friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get. your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral, moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you

context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelive 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay.

Jenchen win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface, because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open.

Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. This Easter, the UFL takes over spring's biggest weekend with the Fox football extravaganza. First, tomorrow night at 8 Eastern. Memphis takes on Michigan, then Saturday at 7. Birmingham battles Houston. And Sunday at 5, it's San Antonio versus. is DC all this weekend on Fox. Jordan Shultz without further ado with the news.

No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, Aaron Rogers and the Steelers have been linked all offseason with no official deal getting done. One Pittsburgh legend says enough is enough. If I'm the Steelers, I'm saying, hey, Aaron, I need to know by like Tuesday of next week. Right. Like, I got to know before the draft, whether you're coming or not. He has the right to be like, I'll wait.

And the Steelers could say they could be like, okay, we're moving on, we're going to draft a guy. And then Aaron could be like, after a draft, hey, I want to come and they might still do it. I don't know. So he just went on TV and said, quote, I'll set it straight from the jump. I'm in a different position of my different phase of my life. I'm 41 years old. Basically says everything's on the table, including retirement. Yeah, that's what it should be.

I mean, let's say he retires. Okay. Hall of Famer, Super Bowl trophy, 250. Four-time MVP. MVP, first ballot hall famer. And he had two years in New York. One, he got hurt, and the second one, he played well down the stretch. That's a great career.

I don't think you need to go to a third team unless it's absolutely ideal. If I was him, I think I would retire. Unless Minnesota gave me one shot for one year. But I think retirement, it's a really clean break on what has mostly been a really clean career. Yeah, it's interesting. you talked about the perfect team. He actually was really angry, it seemed like, with the Jets, where he said basically he flew across the country,

talk to Aaron Glenn, talk to Darren Muzi, the new Jets regime, and then they told him, you know what, we're going to go in a different direction. So he has a sour taste in his mouth. I understand why he takes taking the time. I certainly believe, Colin, there's still a world in which before the draft, to Big Ben's point, that he ends up being a stealer. But obviously there's also a world in which he retires.

My question to you is, could you see the, scenario in which he waits all the way up until training camp and maybe finds a better option or perhaps, God forbid somebody gets hurt and then he becomes another option. Somewhere else. Yeah.

I always think, and maybe this doesn't matter, it's hard to have a clean ending like Derek Cheater or John Lowe, Roger Stavog. It's hard to have a clean ending. And I think people tend to lack discipline sometimes. Tom Brady had a pretty clean ending.

And I think Aaron, because he's got interest beyond football, it's maybe a little easier for him. And because the Jets was a sour taste in his mouth, I think between the fact that he's got a lot of interests, I mean, in the end, if you'd have told Aaron, you're going to get a trophy, you're going to get rich, and you're going to play for one of the great iconic franchises for 90% of your career. Wouldn't you sign up for that? What you don't want to be as college?

Yeah, I mean, do you really want to? want to ham and egg it the last four years of your career. I think I just called a career. Trophy, legacy, money, fame, if that matters to you. I don't know if it matters to him. You're out. It's great. Yeah. Another former, well, I should say former Giants coach, Pat Schumer, now current Colorado offensive coordinator compared his college quarterback, Shador Sanders, to one of the last pro quarterbacks. He coached Daniel Jones. Shermer coached the G-Men during Jones's rookie year and said, quote, I think they're both wonderful human beings.

They're both highly accomplished, talented college players that have a chance to make an impact in the NFL. So there's a lot of similarities. Now, Colin, what's interesting about that comp is I think Sherman meant it as a compliment, but it comes across as saying Daniel Jones, Shadar Sanders, not going to work. I think Shadur Sanders is a significantly better prospect. I didn't think Daniel Jones was ever a first round prospect. If the Giants took Shador at number three, I don't think it's a wild reach. I think it's what they need and I think he's good.

So I don't see it at all. First of all, Shadur is not stiff. He's a fluid athlete. Daniel Jones is stiff. Second of all, Daniel Jones isn't very accurate. Shadur Sanders is historically accurate. There is no comp. They're both nice guys, and they can both move a little.

But Daniel was always kind of a stiff guy that wasn't always a great. anticipatory thrower, not terribly athletically fluid, not necessarily sort of an engaging personality. I think Chador's engaging, accurate, more fluid as an athlete. I don't think there's any, they don't remind me of each other at all.

What's interesting about Chador is something you said earlier. He may not be Lamar Jackson as a runner, but he is a very good mover, and I've talked about this a lot, including this week. What teams have told me about Chador Sanders is, there's a a misconception that he's not a good athlete. Being a good athlete and being a great runner are different things, but you can be a good athlete and not necessarily be this electric escape artist.

He buys enough time in the pocket. What I think is going to translate for him right away, regardless of where he ends up, is the accuracy. I've said it, the 20-yard handoff. He has it. Shador Sanders, and you said this yesterday, I believe, his arm may not be Josh Allen, but it's not a problem. It's either a problem in the NFL or it's not, and his is not. You like him with the Giants. Yeah, no, I think I think if the Giants

were offered picks, they'd move down. They're not getting offered picks. So my take is they're going to take him. Brian Daibald's going to look at him. I don't get the Pat Schumer comp at all. I mean, they're both nice guys. Well, Pat Schumer didn't last in the NFL, so. I think Shedor's a significantly

better prospect. Another great prospect, Ash and Genty. hand a letter in the Players Tribune. Really interesting. It was actually two NFL GMs calling. In it, Genti said he watched Sequin run through the playoffs last season and thought, that can be me. Genti said, quote, it's tackle football.

I draft the guy they can't tackle. What's really cool about Gentie, grew up in Europe, military kid. He did not get a lot of interest until later on in his career. When he came to the U.S., he's a game changing back. I love the confidence. And Colin, I think his ceiling is potentially five to Jacksonville. His floor might just be 10. He is a generational back.

What's the best fit for Ashen Gentoo? Raiders is really good because I like their offensive line. I think the Raiders is good. Dallas would be okay. I think the Bears too is interesting. Interesting. But the Bears have spent a lot of money on offense. Okay, which is wide of the way.

Yeah, I mean, in the NFL, spend your money on offense. draft your defense. So my take is Bears, go get an edge rusher. You're in a division with good offensive coaches. Go start loading. If I was the Bears, this draft would be a defensive draft. I would put six or seven picks on defense. That's what I would do.

Your offense is set. You can get a running back in the fifth or sixth round. Go concentrate. And defensive players generally can play sooner than offensive players because defense is largely blow stuff up. Offense is choreography, learning a play. Playbook. That's it. And in that division, too, NFC North, good quarterbacks. Jordan Love, Jared, you've got to be able to get to the passer.

Yeah. Jordan with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News. I was very proud. I mean, I think as a show unit, we're very proud of the mock draft 45 minutes ago, all showed at the end of the show. Yeah, I think the bears have to go draft the defense. You got your own line set. You've got got a number two back, go get another back. You got tight ends I like, wide receivers I like in a quarterback and an offensive coach. Just go load up on defense. That's what the chiefs

and the Rams do. Buy offense, pay offense, draft defense. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place.

I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those. things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do.

Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.