The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - NFL predictions

Episode Date: April 24, 2024

Colin gives his predictions for some of the top prospects in the NFL Draft   Guest: Lance ZierleinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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So the draft obviously is tomorrow. A lot of people wondering, are the Giants going to get a quarterback with their first round pick? The latest, according to a guest of this show, Diana Rossini, Giants ownership is reluctant to trade up from the sixth pick for a QB

after paying Daniel Jones last offseason. He got the four-year $160 million deal. probably not that expensive to go up from like six to four, six to three. So Daniel Jones will be their guy this season. Patriots, Panthers, Giants. Stink right now. The only three teams in the league, to me, are just stink. So Daibol's a good enough coach.

He can survive like a five wins season. Yeah, Daibol's an excellent coach. And he's a little hot for some people, but he's a good coach. And even if he gets canned, he can point to the ownership to say, they want it to pay Daniel. Daibble will absolutely get a second head coaching job. He got Daniel Jones to the playoffs. He'll be fine. The Chargers should have hired him.

I remember when the Chargers came down to Daibol and Brannins Daly, and I asked at that point the then general manager, why didn't you hire Dable? He's great with young quarterbacks. And I was not given the answer that was satisfactory to me. You want to reveal the answer? No. Okay.

I'm very curious what it is. Next up, Pittsburgh Steelers, busy offseason at quarterback, they added Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, which seems like kind of a good thing. Pittsburgh has said Russ is going to be the starter. Fields will back up. Yeah, well, I know this to be true. Russ has been given some guarantees here. I know that to be true.

This idea that it's a quarterback competition's nonsense, Russ is starting, and Russ is going to get the year. I think the phrase was he has the inside track or something along those lines. However, Adam Schifter says the Steelers are not. expected to pick up Fields' fifth-year option. I find it bizarre that they would say this to Schaefter now. I mean, we don't know what's going to happen during the season. What Fields might beat him out, Russ. Yeah, we do. Russell will be better than Justin Fields. If Fields starts, they make the playoffs. Russ never gets hurt. When's Russ been hurt? Once? He's hurt a finger. Russ doesn't get hurt. He plays every week. Also interesting.

This idea, Russell Wilson knows how to play quarterback. You may think he's not what he was, but he knows how to play the position. Justin feels is closer to Zach Wilson. We just don't think he's an NFL quarterback. This idea that, like, he just needs a change of environment. Tomlin's a defensive coach. They haven't been able to get offensive coordinator or the run game right. So, I mean, this idea that Justin Field, he just needs a new start.

Why aren't you saying that for Zach Wilson? Because the numbers look the same. Well, it's weird how defensive you are for Russ when two coaches, let's see here. What are defensive? Pete Carroll's going to the Hall of Fame. Well, Sean Payton probably going to the Hall of Fame, and both of them moved off Russ in the last three years. You're saying I'm, you'd think I'm pro-Russ? No, I mean, you're making it sound like.

Russ and his camp have turned on me because they think I'm anti-Russ. Where I've said before, there is something with Russ that I didn't see that, I mean, when you have multiple coaches and players calling him out publicly, there is something in the room I'm not seeing. I mean, I know he can be kind of, people think it's a little, you know, relentlessly. optimistic, a little cringier, corny. Whatever it is, I don't know that. He's always been nice to me. I like Russ. So do I. But it's, I'm not anti-pro. I thought

for years and years he was getting other guys drafted. He was uniquely elusive, like Kyler Murray, although I think Kyler throws a purdier ball. But it's, I'm not pro Russ, but this idea that Justin Fields, it's going to be a, they're going to go into camp and it's go either way.

Well, I mean, listen, if Russ throws two picks in the opener, you know that they're going to be the clamoring. Hey, when is it Justin Fields time? Well, who's going to say that? You mean Mike Tomlin's going to pull him? Mike Tomlin's in the final year of his deal. That's another underlying thing here. Like, what's he going to do? Does he? You never want to say that, but like, he's in the final year of his deal. There was chatter that he would go to TV. Remember this? Does he talk about the two months ago? No, I mean, I've talked to two network presidents. And Tomlin is viewed as the safest home run analyst in the league that you bring

Mike Tomlin on. He's great on TV. Two network presidents have told me that. That's the guy that you hire, and Mike Tomlin would be unbelievable. I've told you there's very few people I've never interviewed. Tomlin's one I'd like to. He's one of the only ones left. Phil Mickelson and him, that's it. Mickelson and Tomlin? I've never

interviewed Mickelson. And Mike Tomlin live. You've interviewed LeBron? Well, I've talked to LeBron. You've talked to him, right, right, right. Steph Curry? Yeah, I've interviewed him before. I was in on Steph just right out of Davidson. Some of us have that perception, that radar.

All right, final story is the NBA. And maybe the NBA needs to stop doing this whole two-minute report being released because they released it for the Nick Sixers game too. And the NBA ruled that Tyrese Maxie was fouled multiple times during the defining sequence of that game. They found that Nick Nurse had actually called for a timeout. There's some question on the review if he actually signal for it. But this is what the league is saying. Brunson grabbed Maxie's jersey, Josh Hartbummed Maxie, and By the way, I've seen that replay. I don't think it's a foul.

I think that's not, first of all, why are you, I don't like this idea of going back and saying, I agree. I don't like it. Secondly, I've watched that play from the side. I watched it from like 12 angles. I don't think it's a foul. Yeah, it's like the NFL.

Are they going to go back and say, this was a holding? We missed this holding call. They don't do that. Why is he a movie? I don't think this idea that Matt, Jalen Brunson, puts his hand on him, that's marginal contact, which is the new term in the league.

I've watched that piece of video 10 times. And I've watched it from the court side view, which is on the internet. I still don't see the fouls. That's just physical NBA players. The other thing is when you get into these scrums, you don't call fouls in those cities. You don't call fouls on that stuff.

That is live ball players win. That's like calling a pass interference down the sideline with 10 seconds to go in a football game. You just stay out of the way. away and let those guys battle unless there's somebody that pulls him down by the face mask. Well, there was that egregious one. Was it a Packers Chiefs? Do you remember that? Deep down the Oh, and they didn't call it. That was a horrible miss. Right. So, like, it happens. I mean, I've watched this video. I don't see the fouls. I think it's physical playoff basketball,

and you just let guys, when that ball goes on the floor, I'm not calling a foul. Yeah, and you can't give the guy that timeout. He had it for less than a split second. The ref can't say he's got it and time out. I had Philadelphia in this series. I would like to have been a foul. Yeah. This works against who I picked for the series. So I would like Philadelphia to actually have a chance, but I don't think that's a foul. I do wonder, you made a good point earlier that we're seeing more physical play, refs letting stuff go.

It's great. I love it. I think the coaches and the players, not everybody has adjusted yet, Colin, and that's a problem. We'll see where it leads, but yeah, I got Sixers in game three handling. That's a pretty good bet. I can't believe it's four and a half. It feels like free money, but maybe something's up with Embed or Maconnell. We both like Dallas yesterday, first half.

I mean, all three first halves that I mentioned on the show. Yeah. No, Philadelphia over New York is the bet of the playoffs. For Thursday. Now, here's a hold your nose plug and play if you can stomach it. Miami Heat first quarter tonight against Boston. Can you stomach that? No.

Boston's going to murder them. First quarter, maybe Miami comes out with some gimmick defense. No, I know. Spolstered. That's not a bad bet. It's not for the fate of heart because Boston could hit five threes in this game. Gambling's not for the feign of heart. All such a.

So just don't do it. Like cocktails, you have one, you'll probably have two. Your feign of heart, don't do it. J. Mack on the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. Look at this.

So this is interesting. His name, he's a content producer at the other place, Paul Hembo. And he went 20 years back on first round picks. hit or miss based on whether they

signed a second contract. So what's interesting, so centers only miss in the first round 8% of the time. Tackles, guards, 50% or more. So offensive linemen

just do not miss much in the first round. And then linebacker, quarterback, edge, and defensive tackle, you get very close to 50% hit rate. Wide receiver is bruising. Total. Three out of four misses. Now, I can explain tight end. Tight end has the second worst percentage of missing. And my theory is, why does Iowa have so many NFL tight ends?

Because Iowa forces their tight ends to block. And a lot of college tight ends don't block. And then they get to the NFL and they never become good blockers. I'll give you an example. Dalton Kid Cain went to Buffalo. So Utah is a very physical college football team. They forced their tight ends to block. So anytime you draft an Iowa tight end, they block. Harbaugh makes his tight ends at Michigan block.

Kyle Winningham at Utah, his tight ends block. So the hit rate goes up. Tide ends really struggle in this league. First round tight ends, very dubious history. But a lot of it is they just don't block at the college level. And so they come smaller conferences. They don't face NFL guys. the NFL. They just can't, they're just useless.

They're just running around making catches, but they're not physical players. George Kittle, Iowa, T.J. Hawkinson, Iowa. Iowa guys, draft Iowa tight ends. Because that program makes them get into the weight room. They're basically an extension.

They may not be the most gifted physically. They're the extension of the tackle. Iowa own linemen and tight ends. Draft them. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app.

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush

got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in America. in history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Lance Zerlain is joining us.

NFL draft analyst NFL.com. Been doing this for 21 years. So, usually you get to a draft. Somebody told me this years ago, and there's about one player a draft. It was Bejohn Robinson, the running back from Texas, I think it was last year, where you get what you call a clean player. there's literally nothing you worry about. I had talked to a GM.

He's like he doesn't fumble. He's a good kid. He runs. He blocks. You're not going to draft him number one. But Patrick Willis came out of Ole Miss. And I remember somebody saying, that's a clean player. He's going to work wherever he goes.

Is there a player that you look at it in this draft, Lance, and you just, regardless of where he lands, it's just going to work? You're going to love this because it's going to tie into what you just talked about. And I'd say it's Graham Barton, who's going to be a center or a guard, coming out of Duke, who I expect to go sometime around 19, 20, 21. He's as clean as you're going to find. I mean, he's got good size for an interior lineman, has tackle experience, and some teams are going to potentially take a look at experimenting with keeping them out

and tackle despite having sub-33-inch arms, which is short for the position. But what you have is a guy who has, you know, ACC, pass protection experience at the tackle. You move him inside the guard. He has terrific technique, great hand placement, unlocks his hips, knees, ankles, is very loose in his lower body, and can create good leverage. I think he's consistent with his body control

and core strength makes him a very consistent point-of-attack blocker. I think when it comes to cleanest prospect in the draft, we're probably talking about an interior alignment, which happens to be the position that you just got done talking about is one of the best hit-rate positions. So, Jaden Daniels is interesting. I talked to somebody who is very much in your space, and he sent me his breakdowns on the quarterbacks last night, strengths, weaknesses.

The J.J. McCarthy thing was not pretty, not a fan of him. And one of the things he said is it was not an NFL experience when he has a clean pocket, a good run game, time, can set, can throw. It's nice, but misses easy stuff, not a big arm. There's a Mitch Trubisky feel where he's athletic, but things have to be perfect. The sight lines for him to throw. He just was not a fan of McCarthy. He thinks he needs the right fit.

Like Minnesota, it works, a lot of other places it doesn't. Do you view McCarthy as a flawed player where his college experience is nothing close to what the NFL is asking? Well, I think it's tough because it used to be what the NFL was asking. And I think it still can be in terms of, look, if you have a great run team, if you have a great offensive line or a good offensive line in front of you and you have a defense that keeps you ahead of the sticks at all times in terms of the scoreboard, yeah. I mean, obviously, that's ideal for any quarterback. I think what we're looking at here is what offenses does J.J. McCarthy fit in. And I think he does fit in the team you mentioned, Minnesota, with that play action, boot action stuff that Kevin O'Connell runs. Obviously, the same thing, you know, we've seen. seen from Green Bay and we see from Shanahan and his dad Mike Shanahan, Gary Kubiak, who was in Houston when I was there. So I think the problem we have is I think the scatter report you had on him is it's a tough scouting report considering the fact that he hasn't been asked to do some of those

things. I think it's the mistake you make is assuming you can't do it just because you haven't been asked to do it. It's a guy who's got a sick record dating all the way back to being 15 years old in high school. I mean, all he does is win. Now, people don't like hearing that, but NFL teams really believe that there are certain quarterbacks that have winning characteristics and leadership. And I think some of the things you have to look for in him are intangibles. Perfect transparency here. I have really a late borderline first round, a second round grade on him, but a lot of that is simply because I can't see it yet because they haven't asked him to do it yet, but I'm not going to make the mistake as saying he can't do it.

I do think Colin, he's a game manager, and we have to see if you ask more of him and you bring him along and allow him to keep growing as a player and giving him more experience, can he become a playmaker instead of a snap tape? So it's interesting. I saw another story today with another scout that was concerned about Caleb Williams. And it doesn't mean much to me. I've seen a dozen kids, a hundred kids, cry in March madness when they lose. So if a quarterback runs into the stands after he loses, it's not the locker room,

it's the stands and goes into his mother's arms. I've seen these college athletes. They're kids. They cry. It's emotional. But I read this article and the nails and that stuff, and it's not the first time I've heard it. I don't know. You talk to these scouts and executives.

Is this, I've talked to two people. people now that said the bears don't have the guts to do it, but Jaden Daniels is the better player. What do you make on the Jaden, Caleb? Who do you have ranked higher? I have Caleb by 0.01. Like it's literally, they're deadlocked on tape. Jaden Daniels had the better tape this year, and it's not really the best tape of anybody in college football. It's not really even debatable. But when you look at Caleb Williams, there's projections that you really like a lot. I think what happens is I do think there is a little lower floor with Caleb Williams for some of the things you're talking about. But listen, I think you have to be honest here. Some of this is generational.

Because if you talk to younger scouts and younger coaches, I think one of the things you're going to get is, eh, you know, I mean, that's players today. And it's, you know, it's just what it is. And I think too much is being made out of how he wants to look because a lot of players are going to be that way across the board in any sport. So if you're more old school, it's going to bother you a lot. But if you're one of the younger coaches and a new school coach, I don't think the nails are going to bother you. I don't think the aloof attitude is going to, as long as you get good reports from players who he played with.

A lot of these guys are very honest about teammates when they talk to teams. So if the teammates are in with him, Colin, if the coaching staff is in with him, if you're getting good reports there, and then you play the game of poker where you're trying to assess and read him in that short period of time you have, like Ryan Poles, and Ian Cunningham and Matt Eberfluce and the Bear

have, well, then they have to come up with an idea of balancing, you know, future leadership qualities versus the talent on the field. And I think they're more than comfortable with what they have with Caleb Williams. But I understand the concerns because for years it would have continued to be a concern. But I do think some of that is generational. And I do think the more continues to happen in this era of football, the more teams are going to worry about that kind of stuff a little less. So let's go back to our chart on 20 years.

Hits or misses. So offensive linemen hit, quarterbacks, linebackers, edges, de-tackles, hit half the time. Then you go to the bottom. I think I can explain the tight end, based on my theory, that college tight ends are not asked to block

elite pass rushers much, and you are in the NFL, and many of them are just, they can't do it. That's why Iowa guys always work in the NFL, is they're asked to block at Iowa. Wide receiver, I've got my own theory,

on this that you should draft receivers second round on it's an ego position a spectacular touchdown position a flash position i think receivers that are dropping the draft that are slightly overlooked armor on st brown they come in with a little chip and something to prove it's a spectate it's the most spectacular position in the sport outside a quarterback your touchdowns are spectacular and in high school college you come into the sport throw me open that's my theory on it maybe it's a route running thing but this receiver number is startling that three out of four are misses

and every draft I ever have been involved with we're absolutely sure that the biggest hits they're the biggest misses is there what's your belief on this what's happening I mean if you go back historically you find a lot of the wide receiver position is height weight speed so a lot of it is based more on traits sometimes in actual football it's they used to lean really heavily

Justin Hunter was an example the guy from Darius Hayward Bay is another one, a trades-based guy. And I think that's one of the reasons is more was a really a spend. A lot more was put into height, weight speed, as opposed to some of the football elements, the wide receiver elements of the position. I think that's one of the reasons. But I also think another reason is because with quarterbacks being as valuable as they are in the first round of the draft, and also another high failure rate position,

what goes hand in hand with a quarterback? It's left tackle typically and wide receiver. And now even more so over the last seven, eight years, wide receivers have taken on a bigger role. But I think it's fascinating that the philosophy you have is what the Green Day Packers have had forever. And that's don't draft a wide receiver in the first round. And I know there are other, you know, there are other GMs out there who have a similar idea. When you look at this year's draft specifically, Colin, and you see Ladd-McConkey,

potentially Xavier Leggett, when you see. Ricky Pearsaw and Roman Wilson. I mean, Javon Baker from UCF, there's some talented wide receivers on day two. And I could make a point that offensive line that's a bigger hit rate position and a position is typically much more stable is more important to draft earlier than wide receiver

because you can get starters in the second and third round. Yeah, Packers don't do first round wide receivers. It's whatever it is, it's interesting. But the miss rate on wide receivers, it literally is startling. 75% miss in the first. That is crazy. Lance is always NFL.com.

Co-host of the bench on 97.5 in Houston, as always, my friend, can't wait. And thanks for your stuff. Have fun at this draft year. We appreciate it. All right. Isn't that crazy? If I would have said to you, if I would have said to you the miss rate, I would have guessed defensive tackle misses.

Because you play in the trenches, you get hurt. I would have guessed the misrate was. defensive tackle. No. Colin, you told me this two days ago. We talk about this all the time during the NFL season. Why do we have an edge, perceived edge, in gambling?

And why do we think we kind of can see how games are going to go? Because we value the trenches greatly. Every week, you look at the injury report. How's the left tackle? How's the right tackle? How are the guards? The center for the Chargers, Lindley misses the last season. The Chargers' offensive line was decimated all season.

Offensive line is everything. We don't value it because, like you said, said it's not sexy it's not a glamorous spot those picks don't miss you that's why you should that's why i said jets at 10 should go offensive tackle whoever the best one is the tough part is roma dunze could be there do you go sexy wide receiver but erin and tom brady don't like young receivers Aaron's not in the patient mode errands and i want to win now i'm sorry i don't care what erin rogers like well he's your quarterback best for our team well he's your quarterback for now well for the year he says he wants to play i would make erin happy we just heard uh it could be made

radical changes if things don't work out. Well, I mean, you better make Aaron happy. You got to do it best for the franchise. Not make your quarterback happy. Little late on that. You're giving the keys to Aaron. Were you going to lock that you're going to change the lock? Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I didn't give the keys to Aaron. Woody Johnson jumped on a plane and was like, oh, Aaron, please. You can't give the keys to the franchise to a player and then change the locks before the contract's out. I mean, technically you can. probably not good business. But didn't, I mean, we've seen this happen many times. You, I would, listen, I wouldn't, I would get happy Aaron for a year, figured out later. I'm not a fat.

Aaron doesn't love, Brady didn't love this, young receivers. He's already got one in Garrett Wilson. That's enough. Go get Alan Lazzard and Mike Williams. They're fine at receiver. Get older. Well, they're good. Okay, Garrett Wilson goes down.

And then it's Mike Williams who's hurt every year. Breeze Hall. He was hurt. He was hurt. last year. You're starting to sound like me. So you, I mean, listen, I think philosophy is number one overall above the quarterback. What are we

going to be as a football team, right? And I don't think the Jets know what they are. They're like, oh, we're an Aaron Rogers team. You're not wrong. Live in L.A. It's the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, what's up, everybody? It's me,

three-time Pro Bowl of LaVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up On Game. What is Up On Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushmanzada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris.

You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me, LaVar Arrington, T.J. Hushman Zada and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcast from. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need. to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I love that the Green Bay Packers share my philosophy. Try not to draft receivers in the first round. I like that. Packers and I have a lot in common. We both at some point were dockers, probably more than we should have.

Simple life. Not flashy. All right, J. Mack, it's time. On the eve of the draft for the Confinance meter, you give me the player in my confidence, high, medium low, that they'll be successful, get that second contract in the NFL. Right.

Okay, let's get started. How confident are you Caleb Williams would succeed in the NFL? Very confident, and the reason being, I think Chicago's GM Ryan Poles has done an excellent job. Keenan Allen, DJ Moore,

a lot of draft capital on the O-line, DeAndre Swift, Cole Commet, Gerald Everett. This GM, who was a former offensive lineman, has built a really top 10 offensive group. That's a good group. DeAndre Swift, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Gerald Everett, Cole Commet. Those are good players. Solid.

How confident are you, Jaden Daniels, will succeed in the NFL? Very, and the reason being is I think he'll run his way to success early as he develops into an NFL. pocket quarterback. He ate up the SEC last year, like Joe Burrow, had an unbelievable last year at LSU. You know, he's a little thin, but I think he throws a beautiful ball down

field. Every time we show video, he throws a great deep ball. I like Bo Nix. Bo Nix doesn't throw a great deep ball. This kid throws a deep. Carving up Kentucky and Missouri and his mighty SEC defenses. How confident of you, Drake May will succeed in the NFL? Somewhat confident. I do

think he needs an offensive coach. I I think he's unrefined. I think he's inconsistent. But I will tell you this, on third and fourth down, 26 TD's one pick. So on the big plays in his career, those focus plays, third and fourth down, 26 TD's one pick. He was a good, crucial play quarterback. That matters. How confident are you?

J.J. McCarthy will succeed in the NFL. Not confident. All about where he lands. Minnesota, he'll succeed. slender frame, average arm, never asked to carry a team, misses too many laps, I don't see it. But again, if he goes to Minnesota, it'll work. If he went to Sean Payton, it would work.

But when I say work, not elite, it would just win some games. Average arm? Come on, 61 miles an hour. How confident are you, Bo Knicks will succeed in the end of it? Somewhat confident. He does not throw a deep ball of note, so he's not going to be a star quarterback, played in a very college quarterback-friendly scheme. I think there's some Drew Brees here, and Drew Brees got the right coach.

He was a star. He gets the ball out quick, super accurate, mature 24. But again, you're not getting a lot of deep ball stuff. You're not going to get a lot of improvisation. We're not looking at somebody that's light the league up. But I think he can be a franchise quarterback with the right offensive coach like Sean Payton. All right. How confident are you?

Michael Pennix Jr. will succeed in you. Somewhat confident. What I like is I think he's going to fall and land with a good coach or a good team. He's not going to go to a mess of a team. He'll go to a Miami. He can go to a Seattle. That's the advantage of going like 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th. You're going to go to a better team and a better coach usually.

So that makes me confident. How confident are you? Marvin Harrison Jr. will succeed in the NFL. The most confident you could be. There's no miss. He's the only no miss in the draft. As good as Ohio State receivers are, and they have the best receivers in the country at Ohio State.

He was a notch above all of them, and that's saying something, They have great receivers. Brian Hartline's the best recruiter in the country at receiver. All day gets five-star guys. And he was notably better than all of them. I think he's, there's some Calvin Johnson. He's not as dynamic as Randy Moss,

but the dude's just going to be an 80-catch, five-touchdown guy real quick. How confident are you? Malik Neighbors will succeed in the NFL. Confident, but he's got a slender frame. He's not as physical as Harrison. So I always worry, like OBJ, would he get banged up? super dynamic wild spectacular speed elusiveness very good after the catch but he's not terribly big uh how about roma dunze how confident are you he will succeed again i think it matters where he

falls somewhat confident not a burner he's a mature adult that will come in and be productive you don't have to worry about him being squirley not a super elusive dynamic guy not going to run past people runs his routes good route tree uh does i just you know i just I think you're dealing with an adult. This kid's going to walk into the league and be productive. But he's not going to take the top off secondaries. How confident are you? Brian Thomas, Jr. of LSU will succeed in the NFL.

Somewhat, he doesn't have much of a route tree. He's just a great athlete. He's typical LSU. It's just like crazy talent. So you're not going to give you seven routes. He's going to go deep. He's going to beat people over the top. He's kind of the opposite of Roma Dunzee,

where I'm not sure I'm going to get more than two routes, but the route, he's going to beat people over the top. He's a touchdown maker. He's a guy that's going to end up in the end zone a lot. If he gets the right quarterback, he's going to put out really good numbers. How confident are you, Xavier Worthy of Texas will succeed. Don't feel good about him. Track guy, small, 165 pounds, track guy.

I don't like track guys. I'm not a track guy. When they created a sport for you, it's called track. We'll wrap up with confidence level in Brock Bowers succeeding. Good. He may drop. Listen, he's versatile. He's done the tight end thing.

in line, spread him out wide. And he was great out of high school. Napa to Georgia, great. So a lot of people think he's a little undersized. He's not real thick. Is he going to be able to block? I just think he's going to be a very productive quarterback. I do think he's going to be the guy that falls a little bit in the draft.

I just looked at his over-under. I saw 12 and a half at one shot. I think he's going to fall to about 13 or 14. Well, the Colts really huge. That's been my mind. most of them. Colts getting Bowers. I don't know. We'll see. I like Bowler. I thought he was going to be top ten for sure during his college tenure.

Because he was so, then he got hurt. He did get hurt. Came back. Wasn't quite the same. And then you just reality sets in here. Like tight ends this high? And the Jets GM came out and said, oh, look at the final four teams in the playoffs. All of them had a superstar tight end or budding superstar. And I was like, yeah, how many of those went in the first round, Joe? You have turned on the Jets GM.

He missed on a quarterback. And a left tackle. Not great. Everything else is... He hit on a lot of stuff. Pretty damn good, yeah. He's good, good. I haven't turned on him.

I just... You know what? JNC. Consulting, if you don't contact us before a draft, it's on you. We got the answers here. You got my phone. You may want to reach out for job security purposes. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy. Not quite.

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