The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - The draft prospects

Episode Date: June 26, 2025

Philadelphia Eagles RT Lane Johnson talks to Colin about trying to repeat as champions, the first time playing with Saquon Barkley, Nick Sirianni, and more He also talks to college basketball analyst Aaron Torres about the landing spots for each of the top prospects from the draftSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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If we didn't talk ever again, I was funny. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis' keep coming to you. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs.

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by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Fox Sports Radio. Well, he'll be a Hall of Famer. He's a five-time all-pro. two-time Super Bowl chant. Best right tackle in football lane Johnson entering his 13th NFL season. I had him retired a couple of years ago, and his agent called me and said, now he's the best tackling football on the right side.

You get out of here. All right, before I get to your mastermind camp, which I love, by the way, it's going to be at Cosmon, Dallas, which the Cosmon, L.A. is unbelievable. It's an incredible facility. I want to talk about this. So you're a Super Bowl champ. the last time you were a Super Bowl champ, you were on the 2017 team that came back and did not win.

Can you take anything from your year after Super Bowl? Was there anything in 2017 that caught you off guard? I mean, let's face it, when you're a Super Bowl team, you play more intense games, where you beat up, where you fatigue? Go back to that year lane. What did you learn from that year after Super Bowl where you didn't win? Yeah, it's just, it's a,

tough scenario to get over mentally, but I think that each team you face really feels like, you know, it's their chance to prove something. And so mentally, you're going to be receiving everybody's best, you know, week in and week out. So, you know, coming into the season, that's what I'm really looking for, you know, just you're going to get everybody's best shot. The, how much of an off season do you give yourself after the Super Bowl? Yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm always doing something training-wise. So I maybe scale it down a bit as far as weights for like a month, more mobility stuff. And then I kind of progressed my way through it, you know, leading into the season.

So, I mean, it's a long season. You don't want to peak too soon. So a lot of it's, you know, calculated to where you're peaking at the right times in January, February. When you guys acquire Saquan Barkley, how many practices or games, Lane, did it take for you to go. Oh, yeah. That's, I've not seen that behind me before. How long did it take? Took me about three plays in team period at the last training camp. So, you know, I got to, I got to watch him a lot, you know, from the other side of the feel. I knew what type of player

he was, but really, you know, he's just, he has a gravitating type of personality. He's really a team first guy. He practices hard. He does everything the right way. And, the right way. And, you know, I was just, you know, it was a few minutes into the Packers game in Brazil, you know, when he caught that swing route out there in the corner, end zone. I was like, okay, it's going to be a funnier. Yeah, it was. So I've been critical to Nick Sariani. I finally last year begrudgingly said, yeah, I don't get it. I sometimes, he's a little crazy for me, but it works. Tell me, he's still young. What's the secret sauce? What does Nick do that really work for you as an elite pro bowl level player?

I think the way how he just, he's a very good communicator. So if something, you know, isn't addressed, you know, he will address anything in the media. You know, we all talk about it. So I feel like nothing's off limits. I really love how he grades practices and games, you know, everybody on every play. If you do wrong, your number is up on the board. If you're a coach, you make a bad call. Your name's on there.

So I feel like accountability is just is really big in our building. and it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. Everybody's kind of held to a similar standard. But I think what sets coach apart is just he's a very good communicator. He loves to get everybody's, I guess, approach to the game and see what wires him. And so I feel like he knows how to motivate guys in his own way. You know, I've said this before. If I could pick a quarterback in the league that I think at the podium is the best,

because I think that matters. I think how you get along with teammates. Philadelphia has got a very loud, aggressive media. I do not need a quarterback starting fires. I need a quarterback putting out fires. And I think Jalen's the best. He's in Tom Brady's class. He's the best I've ever seen.

There's something about his maturity and maybe just its parents or something. You've been around so many players. What is he like when I don't see him? What is Jalen Hertz like? Pretty quiet guy. He loves to listen to old soul music. So I'm talking about stuff in the 60s, 70s. So, you know, a lot of stuff, even pregame is really, you know, he's an old soul.

And so, yeah, I feel like he is wise beyond his years. And I think his temperament, you know, how he presents himself every day, that calm, cool nature. I feel like it's very good for our team because, like you said, we are in a big time city that can get a little bit of rambunctions at times. And so I think having that day in, day out is your leader. I think it sets a president for us to, you know, to be calm and just focus on what's ahead of you. And so, you know, that goes for everybody in the building, really. Okay, July 22nd, so you're about a month out. And the season's now 17 games.

It is, and again, Philadelphia football is different than Jacksonville. It is intense. Every talk show, every practice. how do you get right? How do you go into it and be like, okay, it's a journey. It's not just the desk. It's a journey. Go to your young self and go to Lane Johnson today. How do you approach a season lane now opposed to maybe seven, eight years ago? I feel like I have a plan. You know, as I've gotten older. I feel like I've become a better pro younger. I was just, you know, wasn't really listening a whole lot. So, you know, for me, I think it's about

knowing your body, training hard, practicing hard. And really, I mean, you gotta take one practice at a time, one meeting at a time, and really try to, you know, have that become who you are. And so where you get out on the field, you're not thinking a whole lot. And if, you know, I think for all of us players,

we wanna channel all the Philadelphia pride and everything they have and how they care about football into how we play. So it's a lot easier said and done, but I mean, I feel like there is, there isn't a greater city, as far as motivation is concerned in Philadelphia. They really get you wired in in the right way and the best way.

No, the fans are incredible. By the way, July 10th and 11th for camp, you're at the Cosm in Dallas, which is an I haven't been to the one in Dallas, the one in L.A. is epic. It's just so good. And you're going to bring Hall of Famers and top rookies like Tristan Worst and Dion Dawkins.

You're having it called the Mastermind Summit. It's the best offensive lineman. do you, do you ever steal anything from one of the offensive lines? I mean, do you ever borrow stuff on tape? Do you ever call another off? Oh, you do. Give me something. I mean, you do that.

Yeah, I call Jason Peters a lot during season or texting. I'll text Joe Thomas. I'm trying to learn everything I can. I think the reason why my urgency wasn't starting this is that whenever I came into the league, I was new to play an online. I didn't really know a whole lot about it. And I was trying to figure out who's, who's done what and learn as much as I can. And so getting everybody in this room over the past

seven years has been just really cool. And I think the timing is right before camp. And so you just get to listen to people that have really dominated the game of football in all aspects. And they tell you how they went about their day-to-day life as a pro football player, stuff off the field. And I think for, you know, young players, old players such as myself, guys that are in her college, it's just a great two days to just soak in as much how as you can. And so, you know, hopefully you can implement whatever you've learned from some different guys into your play style. Entering year 13, when Lane Johnson gets up in the morning, how do you feel today after 13 years in the trenches in the NFL? I feel good most days. There are some days that,

you know, can get long. But no, I feel, I mean, I was explaining I had, you know, my 29 and 30s whenever I had my ankle surgery and injuries, and I felt like that really hampered me in 2021. And so I feel like now my mobility is like fully back. And so I'm able to do things that I was able to do early in my career. And so yeah, I feel like I feel really good. You know, I never expected that I would say that at this age, but I mean, that's the truth.

I feel a whole lot better than I did when I was 30, going through the surgeries and really, you know, just a dark period in my career. So, but yeah, it's a lot better. It is challenging. I'm not going to say it's easy. But, you know, we have a lot of great guys around me, a lot of support. So, I mean, it's all for them.

By the way, we got a picture of you, apparently holding up a massive fish. Is this an Oklahoma? Holy, is that Oklahoma? Where is that? Yeah, that is in Grand Lake of the Cherokees. It is up by Tulsa. So, yes, that is what you call a paddlefish. So it's a type of like sturgeon.

They feed off a plankton. harmless will not hurt you but they are huge so uh yeah it was definitely a fun trip yeah i hope you didn't i hope you had better than like 10 pound test line there how much that thing weighed uh that one weighed around 80 so i think we had yeah 60 60 pound braided braided line so yeah it was uh it was the big boy it took me had the ice the backup a little bit after that yeah j mac that had pulled you in the water right there lane johnson late thank god lane johnson was on the boat and pull that thing Hey, Matt, it's great seeing you look great. Congratulations again.

You're just collecting rings and a great seeing you. Thank you. Appreciate you for having me and talk to you soon. Lane Johnson is going to be a Hall of Famer, one of the all-time greats. He's got that move now. Everybody's kind of, everybody's like, oh, he's cheating. He ain't moving it right foot early. That's funny.

Everybody's copying him. You ever notice that? That guy is cheating. Now, everybody does it. Okay. Yeah. That's when you're a Hall of Famer. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio,

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Get him, Paul. Ignore that fool. Listen to the Paul and Tony Fusco show on the IHot radio app or wherever you get your podcast. He's still moving. 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 a 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 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 For 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 s nl 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 guess s n l's mikey day and head writer streeter sidel 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 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 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 Slices Life 12 and the tick TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive?

The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. J-MAC with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. You know what? Philadelphia, dude, when's the last time Philadelphia? Think about this. Did not have a great online. They're not about an 11-year heater, it feels like. Yeah. Well, it's because they're reeling in big fish like that.

All the guys are strong. That thing was massive. Anyways, let's get started with C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. You know, Stroud had a great rookie season. I'm surprised you didn't put them on your untradable list. But he did take a step back last year, although the Texas made the playoffs. Well, at this thing called Fanatics Fest, Peyton Manning spoke highly of Stroud and defended him from the quote-unquote down year.

He went to the playoffs in his second year. It was 22. Let's be careful saying it was a down year, okay? I didn't want a playoff game until my sixth year, right? And so he's two for two. I love that. Peyton Manning did not win a playoff game until a sixth year. So for all the Lamar Jackson critics,

yet when you've got Big Ben and Brady, it's hard to win playoff games. The Herbert Bashers. Take a deep breath. Lamar Bashers, Herbert Bashers. Peyton Manning, about as good a quarterback as the sport has had, year six. I remember the Jets smashed them in one playoff game.

It was like 41. I remember that too. 401-0, 410, something. Yeah. But context, as usual, is needed. He had, like, no good defenses early. Remember, they had the awesome offense, but the defense couldn't stop a nosebleed anyways.

You know, I don't know what to make a Stroud. I don't think he's top five. I would take Jalen hurts over him at a heart. Okay, okay, but remember, Tunzel had a terrible year, and Diggs got hurt. I think Tank Dell got hurt. They lost three of their top four receivers,

and their left tackle stunk. So I'm going to give him a pass on that. I think all I know, and I said this before, when I watch C.J. Stroud play, and Joe Burrell has this quality. Easy accuracy. Moving left, moving right. Jaden Daniels has this. Burroughs really got it. I mean, look at that pass right there.

He's got a guy in his kitchen. He's throwing off one foot. He puts it in a bread box in the back of the end zone. Yeah. When you're that accurate, you will win games in this league. That's what separates. For Burrell is more accurate than Mahomes, and Mahomes is all time.

Yeah, I need to squint to see if that was against the Titans or the Colts. All these people who bashed LeBron. Oh, he played in a week east. Yeah, C.J. Strau's been in the worst division in football for two years. And made the playoffs. And made the playoffs. As he should. As he should.

And gave the Chiefs trouble. That game in Arrowhead was good. Listen, I'm not out on Stroud. I just, Jalen Hurts is better, people. I'm sorry. I know Cowherd loves Stroud. Jalen hurts, no doubt. Come on. Next up to the NBA.

Hey, let's go back to the Celtics. Big Celtics day. You see Jalen Brown getting the pilfer there? His name is strangely being floated in trade scenarios. Remember, I brought him up months ago. Hey, what about him for Janus? But that was before the Tatum injury. Well, Shams is indicating Jalen Brown could be the next big domino to fall.

Significant interest in him around the league. Now, a team like the Brooklyn Nets, no star is going to go. go there willingly. So they would gladly trade for Jalen Brown, who's going to be making like $70 million a year in a few years. But the problem is, what can you get in return? Next year, Jalen Brown's clocking 49 mils, sixth highest paid player in the league. Colin, is he a top 10 player in the league?

No. Now, with all the injuries, you know, Halliburton's gone. Tatum's gone. Maybe he cracks the top 10, but he's a little bit pricey still. but if I'm a team like Brooklyn, I can't get somebody. The team that I would keep an eye on right now is the Miami Heat. I don't know if they can pull it off. I think you're right.

I think Miami and Jaylen Brett. Listen, they wanted Katie and couldn't get him. Miami, Pat Riley's getting older. You're not going to sit around for a five-year rebuild. Yeah. Spolstra has got trophies. I mean, I think Miami's the play for Jalen Brown. It's everything Pat Riley likes. Practice is hard, plays hard, defends, smart.

Like, he's everything. You know, he's got that. D-Wade quality. Play hard, get on the floor, smart guy. I mean, Jaylon Brown feels like a Miami Heat player. So Brown and Bam out of bio. That's formidable in the East.

Oh, absolutely. I don't know if you put them one, but they're right there with Orlando, Cleveland, New York. Yep. Like that would be, so everybody listening, keep an eye on that Jalen Brown. The Heat. Final story, Colin.

KD. Everybody's favorite Houston Rocket, not officially a member of the Rockets yet. Although it's expected to go through when it becomes official July 6th. Yep. However, there is hype around the addition. Rudy Tom Donovic, the former Rockets coach, broke down the addition. One of the greatest players of all time coming in, I think it's going to be great chemistry, you know, the balance.

You know, when we talk about the rockets in the past couple years, young, we're young. and I think this mix is going to be perfect. You know, he's a veteran. He's still hungry, still a great player, and I can't wait. Yeah, I mean, I think everybody's opinion on that is pretty centered on. This is an elite team in the West, and I totally agree. Now, there's an interesting stat our guys dug up here. Did you realize Kevin Durant is the only player in NBA history

to average over 25 points a game on four teams? I mean, that's kind of crazy when you think about it, that Kevin Durant, a top 15 player all time, is about to be on his fifth NBA team. Like, let that sink in. A lot of the pillars, the greats, magic, Larry, Michael Jordan, Jordan played on two. A lot of them were on one team.

KD, five different teams once he joins the Rockets. Well, we, as sports fans, we like the Jeter route more than the LeBron and KD. Well, not all of us. Well, I mean, I just, I think there's a lot of fans that like what Jeter did or a Kobe. Fans like you to Steph Curry. That it's easier to follow. We don't want our guys bouncing around. I don't hold that against him.

I think he grew up in the mobility era. I hated him leaving Golden State. But I would say, I've said this before and I'll say it again. The NBA had an all-time one-on-one tournament. Don't put centers in. That's unfair. Yeah. You can be a forwarder down.

I would take Durant over everybody, including LeBron and Jordan. Jordan couldn't stop him. He's too tall. That's a hot take. No, he would get easier shots than Michael. Michael would score on him, but he's got four inches. You're not going to stop him. He's a better shooter than Michael.

He can handle the ball. Michael's the best. I mean, again, maybe I'm crazy. I think Kevin Durant is virtually, I always said Dirtonovitsky's great. Kevin Durant is like, Dirkman. Dirk Novitsky plus. So that's an interesting take. So in prime Kevin Durant in a one-on-one

could beat any player in NBA history. That's not a center. And I don't know if I disagree with that. LeBron's outside jumper in a one-on-one, he'd have to bully you to score. And again, Durant's longer could give him problems down low. LeBron's Michael Jordan's mid-range. Okay, but Kevin has got so much reach on him,

he'd have an advantage. What about Curry? No, he's dependent on an outside shot. He's not going to be able to, you can bully him. I know it's my, I know it's my craziest take, and I think MJ would finish second. MJ would finish second all time. All the players ever would be,

Michael and Durant would work their way to the final, and I think Durant would beat him. That's a hot take. I'm a little stunned. I'm a little shaken right now, just rattled. I'm like, wow, that's not terrible. And I can't think of someone like Larry Bird, Anthony Edwards, Penny Hardaway.

Like Grant Hill, Grand Hill's tough. I don't know if he had the jumper, KD, does. That's a good take, coward. Rare job, rare good job by you there, champ. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News.

A little deep dive on the draft. Four or five guys, you may not have watched Aaron Torres did next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard 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 a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. 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. 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 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 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 Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect.

We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this went to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive?

The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, a guy that watches as much college basketball as anybody, I know. And J-MAC is the college basketball

officiato on this show. And Aaron Torres, Fox Sports Radio, he has the Aaron Torres Sports Podcasts is joining us. I'll start with it. I'm going to ask you about four or five guys. Sure. So Ace Bailey, and I said this, if you go look at top picks that don't, NBA does a pretty good job of identifying, I mean, with sometimes just 18, 19-year-old kids. In the NFL, it's easier. I get four or five years of 10. tape.

You're a more mature player. You're getting 18-year-olds from Yugoslavia. You don't know. I mean, you really don't or the former, you know, you just don't know. And so my take is when I watch Ace Bailey, I'm like, okay, you're great, but Rutgers couldn't make the tournament.

You wouldn't work out for anybody. I mean, like not a lot of self-awareness last night. You watched him. You know him. Are there red flags? What do you make of him as a player and as a prospect? Yeah, first of all, I appreciate you having me. I don't know if this is the last show you're doing before you ship out to Portland or whatever,

but I hope you had a good night last night at your draft party there, Colin. So Ace Bailey, listen, the whole situation is weird. I'll be totally honest, you know, I didn't love the whole. I'm only going to work out for certain things. Now, I think I understand the concept of he's a high volume guy. You don't want to go to the wrong team, sit on the bench, not set yourself up to get the second contract. But I also think that once that happens, I don't blame the jazz for drafting a guy totally based on upside that if it hits, like it isn't an insane possibility. Like it isn't a completely unrealistic possibility that he ends up the best player in the draft.

And so, you know, the Jazz are one of these teams. I don't think the rebuild has been quite as long as we think it is. But it feels like it's been like four or five years. They've been waiting to get in position to get that guy. And if you have the opportunity to get the. the potentially first, second best player in this draft at number six where they were drafting, you just have to take advantage. So I didn't love Ace Bailey's approach to this.

I would have personally advised him to handle it differently. But once he's there and you're the Utah Jazz and you just cannot get into that top spot or two, I don't blame them for taking the upside pick. Okay. His teammate Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant go to the Spurs. I said, I'm not going to pretend I know, but it does feel like they're going to be part of their core four with Wemby being obviously the centerpiece. Give me a little on Dylan Harper and a little on Carter, Brian.

Well, I love the draft. And, you know, I put out a tweet at some point last night that this feels like if it hits where OKC was four years ago is you've got all these picks. And again, I also give the Spurs credit. They might not be drafting, frankly, in the lottery for literally like a decade. If this goes well, they won't be drafting this high for a long time. so don't get cute. Just take the best player available and hope that he absolutely hits in Dylan Harper.

And I think there's an argument that he was the best player again. You could argue somebody else, Ace Bailey, whatever. The guy that I am excited about, Colin, I'm so fired up that you feel the same way. Carter Bryant, to me, if Carter Bryant hits, I think he's going to be a true star. And I know everybody wants to look at the stats at Arizona. I'll give a little background. You know, I love Tommy Lloyd. I love this staff.

I hope this doesn't come off as a criticism. but they are a program, you know, Tommy Lloyd's a Mark Few guy. Mark Few relies on his veterans, trust his veterans. Tommy Lloyd comes from that tree. And I think Tommy Lloyd, I think, planned on easing Carter Bryant in. And all of a sudden it's like, oh, my God, this guy's way better than we realized. And now all of a sudden you're kind of, you know, stuck in this spot of he's playing better than you're anticipating.

The point I'm trying to make, don't look at the stats, the analogy that I have made on Carter Bryant. I truly believe, I've said this a million times for people who have listened me. I was at Yukon at the same time as Rudy Gay. Carter Bryant reminds me so much of Rudy Gay at the same age. I know some people say, oh, Rudy Gay, what is that? Rudy Gay played in the NBA for 18 years. Rudy Gay retired last year at 38 years old. Like, don't let LeBron fool you. If you are playing until you're 38 years old, it means you had a very good NBA career. And I think if it hits Carter Bryant as one of the two, three, four best players in this draft.

So I love the Dylan Harper pick, but I really love the Carter Bryant pick as well. Yeah, I've been saying for two weeks. When you turned Arizona on certain college players, you're like, oh, okay, wow, who's that guy? The other kid, the Baylor kid, VJ Edgecom. Okay, we all watch Baylor, top program. That kid, now, stylistically, he's not Westbrook, but burst speed, jet fuel, wow, he jumped off the TV when I watched him. Your thoughts? A thousand percent. First of all, I'll say this about Carter, going back to Carter Bryant for a second. I was in the same boat. as you. I had seen him in high school. You turned on that first second Arizona and you're like, oh my goodness, this guy is better than we expected. But in terms of edgecombe is concerned, so I'm with you, Colin. And I'll say this is that, you know, myself, a lot of people were kind of of critical of the draft coverage last night. I thought they actually did a good job of explaining kind of this weird situation that Philadelphia is in where it's like, if MBEat is healthy,

you're sort of a contender, especially with where the East is going to be next year, but also you're sort of in a rebuild because MBE is never healthy. So what do you do? And I think Edgecom is exactly what you just said is he's an elite A-plus-plus athlete that is learning the game of basketball in real time. But I think in a worst-case scenario, you have a guy that shows up to work every day, competes, plays hard, elite defender. And then it just comes down to can he consistently get that offense. And I think with him, and I think you kind of mention this off the top, sometimes it's just so tough. I mean, this is an 18-year-old kid going into a Baylor program that has always had success, but also with a couple, you know, high-up.

or not high upside, but really kind of veteran transfer type guys. And, you know, he kind of didn't know, not in a negative way, but didn't really know where he fit, how, you know, how far could he push things? And so I think he could be just, just, I think in a worst case scenario, you're getting an elite defensive player, elite athlete, guy that shows up every day. And if the offense clicks, I know I've said it about four different guys in this draft, but again, he's another one that in theory could be one of the two or three best players in the draft.

Okay, a guy that's already an NBA shooter is Trey Johnson, who went to Washington. Now, not a lot of college guys are elite shooters. Can this guy walk into the NBA and walk in an average double figures and be like a number two or three scoring option for a team? Yeah, I was talking to your Texas insider, Greg Tooey, before I came on here. And Tooey loved watching them as a longhorn. I loved watching them. Let me just keep it very simple. When you are breaking some of Kevin Durant's freshman scoring record to Texas, like you can put the ball in the basket, right? And all I would say is, is that, you know, anybody who isn't sold or doesn't know enough about him, he played a game at Budwall and Arena against Arkansas, where he did literally

break Kevin Durant's single game scoring record of, he had 42, Durant had 40 when he played at Texas. And he just showed every shot, every this, every that. And the thing I'll give him credit for, too, a little bit like Edgecombe, but not really, is, you know, he was, he was playing on, frankly, not a very good team. I know Texas made the tournament, but they had this weird resume. SEC gets a million teams in. And he showed up every day ready to play. And I thought, you know, they're on a big losing streak. It's easy as a freshman. You know you're going pro, take the night off. He showed up every single day ready to compete. You know, I'll be honest, I don't know that he does much other than score. But listen, every team in the NBA needs

a dude that can put the ball in the basket and trade Johnson certainly provides that. Finally, Cooper Flagg, is there anything about his game that you, does he have a trade or something he has to work on? It's a great question. I actually don't think so as crazy as that. Now, listen, everybody's got to work on everything. The thing I caution with Cooper Flag is I think when we think of these high upside freshman that have been talked about for years, we just assume it's a dude that's going to come in and score, you know, 30 points a night or his ceiling is a 30 point in a night score.

That's not really who he is. He's a great facilitator, you know, 6 foot 8, 6 foot 9. He averaged however many assists he did at Duke. He is a great wing defender. I love that I was saying that right as the wing defense shows. up on film and I look like a genius. But no, he's a great wing defender. He's a great help side defender.

He's just a complete player. And I think until you watch him game after game, you don't fully appreciate that. I think the assumption is you turn it on, you want to see him score 30. He can do that, but that is not where he's at his best. He's at his best playing both ends of the floor, competing, defending on the wing, help side defense. I just think he's going to be an absolute star. I think the cool thing is maybe he's not a guy that can get 30 points in game.

but with that specific team, he doesn't have to. Yeah, I like the fact there were so many domestic players, and I think the NIL is helping American universities poach some of the great European players. The Bulls got a guy that I'm, you know, he's so raw, you can't really tell. I mean, there's always, there's always a guy or two that, we got about a minute left. Is there a player you're worried about? There's always going to be guys that don't work. I mean, are some of these young guys, I mean, I was just reading all the draft

perspective stuff last night and this morning. Anybody that you worry about? First of all, I'll just say this really quick. I love the take that you've had about NIL helping both college basketball and the NBA. I think there were about four or five guys that could have heard their names late first round that all decided to go back to college, get ready for next year. And next year's class is loaded. As far as guys that I do worry a little bit about, listen, I heard, you know,

Billis all, you know, fired up about Colin Murray Boyles at number nine there to Toronto. one, certainly didn't seem like he was excited to go to Toronto. I'll let everybody do a lip reading on the draft video. Two, he's like an undersized four, not crazy athletic. I don't. It's one of those where everybody else is so excited about him. You feel like you being me feel like you're supposed to be excited about him. I don't know that I'm there yet.

He's the one guy. I just didn't really get in the top 10. But again, maybe I'm just missing out on it. And everybody else has the right take on him. Oh, by the way, 30 seconds. The Walter Clayton kid. I don't love him as much as everybody else. The kid that went to Florida.

Yeah, the guard. Yeah, I think, I don't know. I just, I think he's a, is he, is he your fifth best starter? I don't everybody loves, I love his story. A minute left. How good is he going to be? Now, great question. And listen, I love college hoops.

I'm as guilty as anybody have fallen in love with guys that have an awesome tournament. Listen, maybe it is one of those stories. is better than the actual reality of it. We're talking about a kid who started his career at Iona with Rick Petino. Rick Petino goes to St. John's Todd Golden convinces him to go to Florida. I think he's a dude that can get buckets. Now, again, you see a guy dominating an NCAA tournament. You assume he's going to be a top five pick and that translates to the NBA.

As a 6-2-63 guy that isn't really a ball handler, you know, I think he's more of an off-the-bench score. But the Wizards just need like NBA caliber players. And I think they got one in Walter Clay. Yeah, to me, he's like your fifth best starter. First guy off the bench gets a bucket. There's huge value in the league, but he's not a star. I just love his story.

Aaron Torres, got to go. It's great seeing you, bud. Thank you for having me, Colin. Enjoy Portland, okay? Yeah, thank you very much. I will. I'll be coming off the bench as well, clearly. Now I'm in Memphis.

You know, they didn't love me that much. All right, J. Mack. How about that? That's a deep dive on college hoops, baby. How about that? I know. Jay Mac loves it. I know he does. See you tomorrow. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe.

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