The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Favorites - AFC Draft Recap

Episode Date: May 1, 2025

The throngs of raucous NFL Draft fans have departed Green Bay, but Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter return to recap all the activity in the final part of this special two-part Draft recap episode. Today, the guys go through every team across the AFC. The Browns are strong-armed into Shedeur Sanders. The Buffalo Bills' GM gets testy. The Baltimore selects their kicker of the future. Bets were won, bets were lost, and Chad and Simon are excited to dive into it all. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. 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 IHart Women's Sports. Welcome to the favorites, the podcast presented by Bet365. We are part of the Volume Podcast Network. I am Chad Millman of the Action Network.

This is our second day in a row, the rare two-fer, doubleheader talking about the NACTS. NFL draft. Today I'm joined as always by my co-host, my companion, my compadre, my BFF professional better. Simon Hunter. Hello, Simon. Just talking football in May, Chad. Nothing better, brother. How good is that? That's how much we love it and how much we miss it. We're doing two back-to-back shows about the NFL draft. We don't even do back-to-back shows about the Super Bowl, but we're going back-to-back on the draft. Yesterday we did the NFC. Today, we are doing the AFC. And here's what's interesting to me. It's more of an indication of what the public, the market, everybody

thinks about the differences between the AFC and the NFC. In the NFC, there was one team that was minus money to win their division. That was the Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles. In the AFC, there are three teams that are minus money to win their division, including the Super Bowl runner-up, Kansas City Chiefs, including the Baltimore Ravens, and the Buffalo Bills who have the longest odds of any team, or the shortest dots of any team, I'm sorry, it's really like, yeah, the shortest dots. they have the largest discrepancy of any team to win their division at minus 275. So we're going to get into the AFC breakdowns today.

As a reminder, the Favorites podcast is presented by Bet365. A new Bet365 customers get $150 in bonus bets when you bet $5. Sign up using promo code favorites. Deposit $10 and place a bet for $5 to get $150 in bonus. bets. Those bonus bets can be used on spreads, totals, player, props, futures, and more. Whatever the moment, it's never ordinary, a bet 365 must be 21 or older and present in. Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or 18 and older in Kentucky. Gambling problem, call 1,800 gambler, or 1,800 bets off in

Iowa. Terms, conditions, restrictions, apply. All right, so we dug deep on a lot of the storylines. yesterday. Today we're going to go right to the teams and I do want to start Simon with the Buffalo Bills minus 275 at Bet365 to win their division. Before we came on, you know, there were radio hosts in Buffalo who were giving Brandon Bean, the Bills GM, a hard time because they didn't go after a receiver and he basically threw up his hands and was like, what do you guys want me to do? we averaged 30 points a game last year. Like, I think I know what I'm doing when it comes to building the offense. I was just listening to last few minutes of your show before I came on waiting on here.

Sounds like 2018 all over with you guys. Well, we're very, how so? Well, you guys were bitching in 2018 about Josh Allen. You guys wanted Josh Rosen. And now you guys are bitching that we don't have a receiver. I don't get it. We just scored 30 points in a row for 8. straight games. A year ago, I get you guys asking why we didn't have receivers, but I don't

understand it now. You just saw us lead the league in points when you add all the postseason. No one scored more points. I love that he basically came out and said, fuck you guys. Like, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. They drafted the cornerback, Maxwell Harrison in the first round from Kentucky, who to me was my favorite player in the draft because he was the guy who was the last person that dapped up every single player who got drafted ahead of him in the green room. And then he finally got drafted at the end of the first round. So I was just happy for him because he seemed like a sweetheart of a guy. Yeah, I'll piggyback off that.

Good for Brandon Bean to be flexing his muscle. He's a guy that, you know, last year, we thought they would be a borderline playoff team. And, you know, I talked a ton about, you know, the fact that they had so much dead cap. I couldn't believe how much dead cap they had and how hard that is to overcome. You're trying to build out a team. Like you're going against teams that don't have $70 million in debt cap. And I said the following year, they'll use that money and attack the defense. They did in a different way, right?

He's re-signed a bunch of guys that they are kind of paying ahead of time, just getting it lined up right for their defense. And then he went out and just drafted a ton of defense. And I love that move because, you know, their offense didn't fail them last year. They shouldn't have been giving up so many points to that chief's offense. Like that to me was very alarming. And that was a reason for them to attack the defense in this offseason. And, you know, the fact that they've paid starters they trust for the future

and they've gone out defensively in this draft and really attacked it. I love it. So, you know, minus 275, Chad, we don't bet those type of numbers around here. So if you want to do what I love doing, like, you know, the chiefs are a big number, you parlay these divisional teams together. And you kind of, you know, if you want to choose the bills to be an anchor, you can go for it. There's a team coming up

we'll talk about that I think might give them a little bit of a run for their money here in this division this upcoming season. So yeah, 275 I think it's warranted

but I wouldn't touch that straight up. I wonder if you and I are thinking about the same team. It is not the team that has the second shortest odds to win the division

in the Miami Dolphins who are plus 550 at Bet 365. Their first pick was Kenneth Grant, the defensive tackle from Michigan, one of their last picks, I think it might have been their last pick, was, no, their second of last pick was Quinn Euler's, the quarterback from Texas in the seventh

round. But kind of unspectacular as a draft, it didn't feel like they did a ton of things that were going to take them from that team that was mediocre and really can do nothing without Tua to being a team that can challenge the bills or a team I think could be on their heel. in the AFC East. Yeah, I think we all view the dolphins window is closed. And it's tough to say. I know they don't want to hear it,

but it felt like that when he, you know, when Tua came onto the scene and they kind of had this offense built around him with Tyreek and Waddle and they were explosive, you know, two years ago, that was the team. And every year it feels like they've gotten worse, right? Losing fangs to the Eagles as a coach, that was a big deal.

Their defense just simply was not as good as it was the year before. And, you know, this year, I like the moves in the draft. The fact that they wouldn't got to detackle their first pick from Michigan, right? And who knows if Grant's going to be a stub, but that's a good pick. That's a safe pick. Then you pick 37, you get a guard. Okay, that's fine. They didn't pick again until 143.

So this is like another team that, like, they just didn't really have the picks because they've traded so much in previous years. And now we're kind of seeing it, the fact that they've paid. their quarterback one crazy money. The two wire receivers crazy money. There's nothing left throughout the team. This is just a thin team across the board. So yeah, I think we're on the same page.

Plus 550, I wouldn't bet this. This should be closer to plus 600 plus 650 than it is. So to me, Miami, you're on with Chad. I think they're the third, fourth team in this division. Well, in that plus 650 range, the New England Patriots. And that is interesting to me. You and I love Rabel.

He has historically been a coach that we always want to bet on, really performs well as an underdog. He is Belichikian in his understanding of the rules and how to take advantage of them and how to squeeze every single opportunity out of the most strategic moments of a game. And then they go out and do the smart thing. They draft Will Campbell.

offensive tackle from LSU with the fourth overall pick. And then they get a guy that a lot of people love Trayvion Henderson in the second round. They're running back from Ohio State. So then all of a sudden they're starting to build a little bit and support Drake May, who was just a baller last year. So you bring in a guy with an attitude like Vrable who brings structure to the organization and then start building infrastructure around Drake May. And this team just gets much better to me.

I think they're better just by virtue of who's in the building. Yeah, I'll just start at the top of saying that as a fan. I think Patriots fans should know that all fan bases of football want them to have 20, 30, 40 years of just hell. I want you guys to be terrible. I hope every quarterback you draft is horrible. I just want nothing but bad things for the Patriots. That being said, I love to hire and Rable. We both agree.

We think Drake May has a ton of upside, a ton of talent. the reason we're betting on them to win this division is because of the year two jump. That's something we see time and time again where a guy comes in year one and it's on an awful team and it looks awful and they're a bad team. We've seen if they can get the right type of talent in the door, the right coaching staff in the door and they can build it out. There is a year two jump and a possibility of that. And at this number plus 650 plus 700, a lot of books have the Patriots know this division. We'll take that number. but like we said at the top, there's a reason the bills are minus 275.

Like they are so far ahead of this Patriots team. We would need a major, major jump from Drake May. And we need a defense to go to another level. Like Chad just said, they basically went offensive tackle, running back, Y receiver, center. Those were their first four picks. So they've kind of said, okay, we'll address the defense down the road either in free agency or in next year's draft.

this year we're going to put an emphasis on trying to put Drake me in a better position that he was in the previous season. So I do really like that. If you're a Patriots fan, you have to be happy with this draft. Even if you don't love Will Campbell at that spot, right? Why wouldn't you trade back to pick 10 with the Bears, or whoever was offering you a pick at that spot to take someone else, another offensive lineman, you know, you probably would have the same value there just because all those

offensive line at the top of this draft are kind of all the same, right? They're all really good, high-level offensive linemen would look. little bit of weaknesses here and there that can make them never be an all pro. And that's, that was kind of the whole deal heading to this draft. So I get why people are like, oh, they reach a little bit on Campbell. That could be true. But I think at the end of the day, it was variable's guy. No one was offering them good enough pick to get up to pick four. And, you know, to me, they nailed this draft. So yeah, I think we're on the same page. I had that the best value to me right now for this division. It's got to be this Patriots team.

What a difference a year makes, Simon, that when the Jets had Aaron Rogers, We were all in on them being the Challenger brand to the Buffalo bills. The Jets are now 14 to 1 to win the division. No faith in Justin Fields, the operators are saying the public has. They draft an offensive tackle, might have reached for a guy at the seventh overall pick in the first round. they probably needed some weapons specifically a tight end. People thought they might take Tyler Warren with that pick. Instead, they got a tight end in the second round.

Not a ton of sort of enthusiasm or hope coming out of this draft. No, and, you know, part of me wants to throw a little penny on this 14-1 because it is such an insane number and anything could happen, right? Josh Allen could go down, two could go down. Like there could be a bunch of different injuries in this division. Drake May could fan out and all of a sudden the Jets somehow steal this division in 9 and 8. And you had great value on bed number 14 to 1. The hardest part for me, Chad, is Justin Fields.

And we talk all the time in football. The quarterback position, yes, people can make up a million reasons why he never won in his career, that the bears failed him, yada, yada, yada. But you see it time and time again, some of these guys just can't turn it around without the perfect scenario. And this doesn't feel like the perfect scenario for him. Justin Fields walking to this Jets team. It still feels like a dysfunctional organization that starts the top with their ownership and it works all the way down. So, yeah, first year head coach and, you know, Aaron Glenn's already in the news because he's getting shit from how he dealt with Aaron Rogers and all this other stuff.

So this is just not a Jets team I want to invest in. I think you're on the same page. Like it's a team I assume is trying to get a top five, top 10 pick. next year in the draft. Like that's how they're kind of building this team out. So the book's very telling, having them at 14 to 1 right now in this division. So yeah, it's it's great draft. Like we'll get to the draft real quick.

You know, the fact that you guys went tackle, tight end, cornerback, wire receiver. Like they're taking positions that they just, they're going best available. They weren't really filling in needs. They didn't, I feel like they didn't draft. They just draft a guy, right? They're taking the best guys they had on their board, which I like for the Jets future for this season does nothing for me.

By the way, you just said, you guys, what do I have to do with the Jets? I don't even think about the Jets. I don't know. Maybe you guys talking to media. I don't know. Oh, so now I'm just media. Now I'm just, that's how you see me. I'm just a media guy. It was more in general. It wasn't directed at you. Usually when I go more at you, I go Chad. I like to R Chad if I'm directed at you. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. I don't want to be lumped in with just how you generalize, you know,

the media, evil media under attack every day as an institution. The Baltimore Ravens minus 135 to win the AFC North. Look, I know what we're going to say here. Last year, we love the Bengals. And I'm not sure I have that kind of enthusiasm for the Bengals this year. I was pretty unimpressed with their drafts and we'll get to that part. But the Ravens, the Ravens did the Ravens. like picking at the end of the first round

they get Malachi Starks from Georgia they had released Marcus Williams like he's going to come in perfectly aligned with Kyle Hamilton that defense got better and better as the second half of the season went on like I love what they do they had a controversial pick with Mike Green

the kid from Marshall who had played at Virginia has had sexual assault allegations in the past that's partially why he was at Marshall and partially why he's dropped but it's supposed to be a great talent. Like, this is a team that just, they know what they're doing. They also drafted a kicker, by the way, in case Justin Tucker is no longer available.

Yeah, I would say that was probably the craziest part of their draft, in my opinion, them taking that kicker. Because allegedly, you know, Justin Tucker might be on his way out of the league. So that's the type of move that it's like, okay, they're kind of being ahead of it, right? I think they're kind of letting us know what they're probably going to do here because that's a big deal for a team like this. to take a guy and especially, you know, another team that we have to say they're a top five

front office or at least top five front office the last 25 years. Like they just always make the right decisions. And even they've had guys step down and new people step up into these front office positions, they've carried on the legacy of a great drafting team in Baltimore. So, yeah, Mike Green, major questions, no doubt about the talent. It's all about the person. And to them, that risk was worth it at that position. You know, I'm with you with Chadded the fact that, you know,

them being minus 135, they should be. Like I have them grade up to minus 150 in this division. So I have there is value right now on this number if you want to take it. I've thrown a little bit on them at this number. And we'll talk about the other team of this division, I think, as a chance. But, you know, the Ravens just feel like they're so far ahead of everyone else in this division because they just draft so well every year. And you're going through their major weaknesses of this team.

Like we say every year, there really isn't one. Like you could say the major questions might be defensively. That is fair. But offensively, we think it'll be even better this year. Lamar gets more comfortable in this offense. Derek Henry, obviously year two on this team should be more comfortable. It's just, they're just so good. Like you said, they just draft so well.

So, yeah, really impressive. How much more comfortable can they, get. Lamar Jackson should have been the MVP and Derek Henry could have run for 2,000 yards as a 31 year old. Like that is peak comfort to me. It was, but it also felt like there were a couple of things missing and it was the first year where they really opened up the offense to Lamar having more saying passing the ball downfield in my opinion. So it's just going to be interesting to see what he does this upcoming season where you're right. You know, you probably could have won MVP last year, probably should have.

Can he redo that in another season? I think he can. It's just, it didn't feel like they lost anything from last season. They've only gained them gotten better since last year. Cincinnati Bengals plus 220. I had a long rant on the show last week about Shamar Stewart, the defensive end from Texas A&M.

And look, I don't know anything. But I know that you got a lot of film on a guy who has not produced, despite having all-world athletic capability according to the numbers that he showed at the combine. And the team that bites is the Cincinnati Bengals. Because they don't know if Trey Hendr's is going to be there next year or not. They've gone all in on the offense. He wants his bag.

He might not get it. So the answer is going to be a guy who combined well and had four and a half total sacks in college. Yeah, I hate everything this bangles. team is just done. I feel like every year they do stupider things and, you know, the T. Hagan's Jamar Chase, them waiting to the last hour to sign those guys where they had all this time to work out these deals. They end up just paying them both just a ton of money and just above market just because they had to because they just couldn't lose those two. And, you know,

our guy Nick Giffin last year was all over the Spangles team being the worst defenses in all football. Nothing's changed. They have not addressed a single thing in the free agency. This draft to me like I'm going through all these guys you know I'm glad they they went you know edge and de lineman their first two picks but neither guy really moves the needle for me and I would be shocked if store it's a day one starter like the kid just so raw as Chad's saying so yeah I'm I'm off this team wouldn't would not pay the price can me plus 350 on the bengals at plus 220 no value plus 220 on the bangles hey it's us the Jonas brothers and guess what we have some big news what's the news news news news

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I'm curious because you said there's a team that you like. Right now we're going to talk about the Steelers at plus 550. I can't imagine it's the Steelers. Why not? Interesting. explain yourself. Because this is just the perfect team of, they have, you know,

D.K. Medcalf, who I think is one of the better receivers than football. And they kept pickings. Like they kept their two big receivers. They have these two big receivers. The only negative is Aaron Rogers, we don't know what his mentality is. What he's going to do is he's going to come back,

yada, yada. If he comes back, Chad, it's going to be night and day, him going from the Jets dysfunctional organization to a Tomlin-Rand team in Pittsburgh. And to me, this feels like a hell merry all-in last hurrah type of season in Pittsburgh. Like, you know, T.J. Watt is going to be, I think, 31 at the start of this season. He's basically on his way out.

And he's kind of been quietly rumored to be really bitchabiding the scenes about this team. But I think if they're bringing Rogers with this team, I like it. Like, I just like how it's built out that it's not going to be all on him. And he's going to have such insane weapons that, you know, we saw it last year. He took about, I want to say, 10 weeks to get that Achilles right in game and playing in the games, right? It didn't feel like he was comfortable either moving the pocket or pushing off that back Achilles until week 10 or 11. And you did see the Jets get better once he did get comfortable as the season went along. So that's my view of a chat of just, I'm betting on Tomlin at an insane number.

Like I have them priced as the second best team this division. They have them way down there. Plus 500 is a big drop down for this Pittsburgh team. So I think if Rogers comes back, this immediately jumps to what? Plus 400 plus 350. So I'm just trying to get ahead of it. I like the number. I'm going to back Pittsburgh here.

I had to put on my glasses to make sure I was reading the number right for the Cleveland Browns. 30 to 1. Yeah. To win the division. 30 to 1. you're almost obligated to take a piece of that number because it's so outrageous. What if Shador Sanders is as good as Mel Kiper thinks he is? And what if he should have been the number one overall quarterback?

And what if he comes in and he takes Kevin Stefansky's offense, which we know can be really effective and we know he's a good coach? We've seen him do it with Baker. We've seen him do it with Joe Flacko. Like if he's got a accurate, careful quarterback who can make the play, that he asked them to make. What if Shador Sanders is those things? Don't we have to take the Browns at 30 to 1

just for a little taste? I mean, I'll throw 100 on it. It's fun. It'd be fun to make this bet and have a 3K come back off $100 bet. That'd be insane. But, you know, to me, I loved how they started this draft.

Like, I thought they were going to make the stupid mistake of taking Travis Hunter with that second pick. And thank God they didn't. They traded down. took this smart safe pick mason graham brilliant pair him you know up front like that's that's their biggest strength is their defense and i love that they went detackle linebacker like to start the draft they're like we're going to keep adding to this strength of this defense and i think what you

said was kind of sneak out the joe flacko thing um you know i you don't remember it but another bet i gave out at our live show was the over four and a half uh for this brown's team to to win their win total It was just because they have the defense. The thing that was missing last year was just a stable player at that quarterback position. And in my mind, I thought even if it was a guy they drafted or an Aaron Rogers, Joe Flacco type, it's gonna be so much better than it was last year.

It was just so bad. Like Winston had one good game, then just had four games in a row of just nothing, just train wreck. In every game they were kind of in it because their defense is so good. Like Chad said, Stafansky, such a good coach. So, yeah, I just like this team. I like their win total. The only reason I'm

not taking them divisional odds is I know they're going to peter out come November. Like, they just won't last with the Ravens or these Pittsburgh. I just think eventually they're going to get figured out and kind of get caught up. But yeah, like you're saying 30 to 1, how do you not throw a penny on that? That's crazy long show. You have to throw a penny. A little, little bit of a taste. The only team in the The only division in the AFC where the odds on favorite is plus money are the Houston Texans in the AFC South at plus 105. They had a lot of offensive line needs last year. They have receiver needs. And to their credit, first pick, wide receiver.

Second pick, offensive tackle. Third pick, wide receiver. They took both receivers from Iowa State. So they are clearly going after the things that they felt they needed the most. Last year, Stefan Diggs, injured. Nico Collins was injured. Tank Dell, injured. They don't know when he'll be back yet.

That gruesome knee injury. So they're trying to get themselves back in a position to get some weapons for C.J. Stroud plus 105 to win the division, Simon. This division is really tough. It's one of the divisions where it's like I'm kind of at this point throwing my hands up. And I'm going to need more guidance on what to do with this division because I just don't trust Houston like I did come into last season in the sense that last year I wanted to fade Houston. And then I remember I broke right before the season. I was just like, all right, I'm going to go with Houston.

I just cannot trust the Jags, couldn't trust the Colts. And I sure as I didn't trust Tennessee. So I was okay with taking Houston last year. This year, I see the upside of the Jaguars. I see the upside of the Colts. I even see the upside of Tennessee. I don't really see the upside of this Texans team. Like I feel like they're tapped out

and they're in kind of a rebuild mode here, especially on that offensive line. Like, did I dream that they moved Larian Tunsel? Like I envision them moving their best offensive player that's on their offensive line, their biggest weakness to a different team because what? They didn't want to pay him.

He's too old. Very bizarre move of them getting rid of him. So, yeah, great that they got Higgins. You know, you think he's a solid receiver. You know, like you said, a pick 79, they won't have got another receiver. That's great. But at the same time, it's like,

I don't know if that's the really needle mover. Like they just, they're so much other, they need to attack. They need to attack that defense. And to me, that offensive line, they really did not answer those questions. You know, you're getting the 48th pick taking the offense attack from Minnesota.

Could work out. He could be a hitter. But the odds are saying, and most likely not. He's going to be a two or three year kind of thing where they're going to maybe have to start him because they have a choice, but he's not going to be polishing in any way.

So, yeah, I just don't think there's any value there, Ched at plus 105. And I'm not shocked at the books that made them a plus number. I thought this would be closer to a plus 120, plus 125. So, yeah, I just, I don't think there's any value on this Houston team. You didn't dream that, by the way, Larryman Tunstall left tackle,

who a lot of people consider to be grading out as the best left tackle in football was traded from Houston to the Washington commanders. So next up in that division, the Jacksonville Jaguars plus 300. They made the biggest day one move. Their young GM who came from the Rams traded up from number five to number two so he could get Travis Hunter. I don't know if you've watched this guy's press conferences in the first couple days after the draft, both when he explained the trade for Travis Hunter

and when Travis Hunter was introduced. But they're not just platitudes, man. This guy is preaching about what this team is going to be and looking at it from 60,000 feet as if we are in the middle of church. Like the way he is talking about this, it feels so much bigger to him than we're just trying to build a good football.

football team, which it should be. He's the youngest GM in football and he's getting a big chance and he's taking big swings. But I'm enjoying that more than I'm enjoying trying to figure out what this team is going to be with a quarterback that neither of us believe in. Yeah, he's a 34-year-old that, you know, is basically why older generations fucking hate millennials. Like when he speaks. He's so confident. Yeah. And why? Why? It's bizarre where it's like, okay, make a playoff run and then give that speech after the season. Okay. Shock us first.

Like, to me, it's all horrible trade for an overrated player, but great situation to me for Travis Hunter. Like, he's got a team that is totally all in and believes the bullshit he's selling that he's going to play defense and offense. It's like, even though any guy who's ever played in the league and current players in the league are just like he is going to die if he tries to play defense and offense.

And I gave that analogy to Chad the other week. If he got drafted by Cleveland, I can only imagine he gets laid out by Kyle Hamilton. And then the next drive, they have him thrown in there and he has to make a tackle on Derek Henry. He was going to die if he went to the NFC North. So AFC North. So maybe he can get away with it right.

He's in the AFC South now. No one really cares. Maybe they can get away with it. But like, this GM, holy shit. Talk about just thinking he's got all the answers to the test. And he doesn't even know the fucking subject. Like this kid just seems like he is always going to set the Jags back another five or 10 years. So I'm excited.

Like it's going to be fun watching, you know, the house burned down. Or it could be this guy is a genius. Travis Hunter can play both sides of the ball. And it's like you nailed the pick then. Because Brian Thomas Jr. To me is a great pick from last year. I picked this kid to not make. So they got the one receiver.

If Trevor Hunter could be the number two receiver and being an absolute stuff. Dudd? Great. Like, that's, that's fantastic. But me and you talk all the time. The biggest issue we've had with the Jaguars is they can't block for Trevor Lawrence. And they didn't address that. Like, they got an offensive guard from West Virginia at pick 89. That ain't going to, that ain't going to change much for that offensive line. So excited for them, high hopes for the Jaguars. But yeah, plus 300. No, thank you. I, I'm happy to wait and see how this crazy experiment goes with this kid. It's so funny you mention the play in both ways thing because I watch the draft coverage and I feel like I'm being punked. Like watching a lot of the analysts talk about Travis Hunter and how

he's going to be able to do that and how it might be easier in the NFL because they play fewer plays. I'm like, what the fuck is happening here? Am I not watching the same league? It's fun. It's fun to make up in your own mind that this is going to work and he's going to be. But it's so dumb and by the way, all of this comes down to Trevor Lawrence. Yeah. Like that's it. That's the ball game is Trevor Lawrence and his ability to be accurate and run the playbook and get the ball into his weapons hands.

By the way, with a brand new coach, brand new coaching staff, like, I am not sold on this situation at all. I think the Browns put themselves in a really good spot. I don't know that the Jaguars are going to be playoff quality next year, whereas like the next team we're talking about the Indianapolis Colts, they get Tyler Warren. Who knows who their quarterback is going to be? But either one of those guys, Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson,

are going to be in a better position because they got a guy who a lot of people thought could have been maybe the fifth, six best player in the draft. The Colts are plus 3.25. so not that far off from the Jaguars. The market doesn't think there's much of a difference between these two teams. I know. People are going to be shocked. This is not the team on betting this division.

So there's only one team left, so it kind of gives it away. But I like the draft by the Colts. I honestly, it's a good solid, boring draft. They took the best available players they had on their board and didn't reach for people. Like Warren to me, shout out to Anthony Dubundo. He predicted it, you know, two, three weeks before the draft that that's who they were going to get.

And I was shocked the bears passing them. But again, the more you dove into it, it makes sense, right? Like there's, there are questions that Warren won't but get any separation. That this kid was a freaking college. Now he's in a different level. And that, you know, he's not going to project out to keep getting better. So, you know, fun, interesting pick there. The hope is obviously Dallas Clark.

Like that's the dream scenario is they get the guy. They've been looking for forever. But yeah, the fact they went tight end and then went edge. when Dback, like we all like it. You know, this is a team that it all comes down in the quarterback position. So Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, I don't feel like putting any money on them at this point of the year.

But maybe that will change come August. But we're sitting here right now, Chad, I don't have really confidence to put money on those either quarterback. And you do on the Tennessee Titans at 8 to 1. Let's go. You don't love it. Look at that face.

I'm just curious. I don't actually have a strong opinion on this one. So my view of it is, this team that historically was the worst team we've ever seen from a gambling perspective last season like biggest blind spot biggest miss by far of the season for me and utchad was not just fading them every week and every week i kept saying that to myself and i just couldn't do it because it was like but they're getting literally four or five extra points for free here and it didn't matter

that's how bad will levis was so when you really go back through and break down this team he was such a net negative for them that their defense was actually pretty good, especially against explosive plays. They're actually really good at stopping teams from explosive plays. They just got grinded out by a lot of teams, right? They just got worn down because tons of short fields, tons of three and outs from their offense, and they just got worn out defensively. Offensively, there's a lot to work with here. Like, their offensive line, you saw, you know, you made a big deal. The fact that the dad came over from Cleveland. What's his name? Bill Callahan. Bill Callahan.

He came over and you immediately saw it. He did make a difference to a terrible offensive line. Like by end of the season, their blocking schemes were actually pretty good. They weren't, you know, Will Levis was dying early on, but as the season went along, a lot of it fell on to him just holding on the ball too long, him just being a bad quarterback. I just don't see the same happening here. Like, this is a team that, you know, say what you want if KM.

Ward's a little bit overdrafted. You know, I think people kept saying he had been the fifth or six quarterback in the previous draft. I don't think he was that but I had him right there right behind Drake May I view him as a guy that was underrated come out of high school I think he was like a one star or zero star recruit zero that's crazy

and he just worked for everything he's gotten and he just keeps getting better at every stage of his life so maybe he hits the wall maybe what we just saw him in Miami that is as good as it's ever going to get or you believe and project out that this kid is really smart football wise and he's going to transition really well into the next level just like we saw jane daniels do

where these guys who are cool comp collective in the pocket confident in the pocket those are the ones who can't transition the best into the NFL so i know i got crazy high hopes here i got a long rope it's eight to one for them to win this division so that's that's my view of it is i think i got to position here and come november they're all the way down to you know four to one or three to one and then maybe if i like houston at that point i'll take a position on them but I think you're just getting way too long of odds for this team that defensively is as bad as people think they're in all offensively, just with the quarterback change.

I think we're going to see a major leap for this team. So get ready for each year. We're going to bet in Tennessee a lot, brother. Tennessee and Carolina. That's going to be our Super Bowl pick. AFC West, Kansas City Chiefs, minus 1.30. Like, I don't know that we'll ever not want to bet on the Chiefs as long as this division exists with Patrick Mahomes.

And they did things that we thought they needed to do, right? They drafted Josh Simmons, the offensive tackle from Ohio State. They drafted for speed at the edge. They drafted a wide receiver later on, a guy who a lot of people thought could have been a much higher pick. He came in the fourth round, Jalen Royals from Utah State, but he was injured. And so people thought if he could replicate his 2023 production, then he would have been drafted maybe second round.

So they got guys that can probably play immediately that they need to contribute immediately. Plus they're going to have Hollywood Brown. Plus they're going to have Rishie Rice. Like they're going to be better by virtue of addition of players who had been injured not coming back. Yeah, and definitely Rice is the biggest one. Like them losing him and the fact that they didn't really miss a beat and they still just make it all work to shows the level of greatness of Andrew to reading this team where they can just keep adjusting like a command. mealing and changing their colors into whatever they need to be to make it work for that team. And, you know, offensively on paper, I look at this team as this might be the best team

they've had offensively since the Tyreek Kelsey years. Like they've been winning all these championships basically off makeshift offenses with a really good defense. And like Chad just said, you know, adjusting the offensive line right away with their first pick, great. That's what we all think they should do because they've done a total reshuffle this offseason. over that offensive line. They've let guys go.

They've traded guys. I mean, they traded a guy to Chad's bears. Like they're just, they're moving pieces and then paying guys and trying to make it all work because it's tough, right? It's like they paid Mahomes all this money. Now they're trying to make it all work across the board.

And it's like, you know, that's the magic of all these teams. We're like, you know, the Eagles, they've had to let a ton of guys go because they can't afford it one after these Super Bowls.

That's what's so impressive with the Chiefs is they keep making these Super Bowls and losing all these guys and they keep going back. They keep making it work. And it's just, when are they going to get caught? Like, it's that old, you know, Aaron Paul screamed with the sky. They can't keep getting away from this.

It's true. It's like, I can't believe the chiefs just keep getting away from this. And this draft, I'm with you. I think they nailed it. Like that, in fact, they drafted offensive linemen, they went to defensive linemen right after. I love that for them. Like, just keep reloading in the trenches.

They're just, they're so smart and savvy. So, yeah, this is a team that, you know, great value, in my opinion. Minus 130. This is a team that's won the division seven, eight years in a row, something crazy like that. And it's because every year,

everyone thinks in their mind that this is the year that they take a step back. This is the year the Chargers take the next step. This is the year the Broncos finally step up. So it's a rare opportunity,

Chad, minus 130 for the Chiefs. To me, I have a surprise to minus 175. I really like this early value here on this Chiefs number at minus 130. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news.

What's the 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. Unhumor me with Robert Smygle and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, S&L'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. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know first hand,

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 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, Lena Rubakina 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 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. 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, 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Kansas City Chiefs, professionals. Los Angeles Chargers are trying to be professionals, and I think they're getting closer. They're at plus 300. They drafted Amari and Hampton in the first round.

I know that Evan loved Hampton. And we had a lot of conversations about that last week when we had him in Rabon on. I think they had a totally good draft. Did they put themselves in a position to be better than the Chiefs? Probably not. But you can't get there unless you have Patrick Mahomes. The real question for them is just another year playing with Harbaugh. And he did a miraculous turnaround with them last year.

his teams always get that much better in the second year. So if you're going to bet on them, it's because you're betting on Harbaugh and sort of the value of his system. What's interesting to me is Justin Herbert would get crushed from the center of his offensive line, the middle of that offensive line last year.

They kind of didn't do much in the draft to improve that. Yeah, and like, honestly, I didn't think the church would be that good last year. And what I were looked was, is this kid Minter. Like this DC they brought in that totally changed the team. Like as much you wanna give credit to Harbaugh, it was the defense that carried them that entire season.

Like they just basically ran it first, a second down and then Herbert would make a nice plan third down. That was their offense where defense, they kept getting stops and even against good teams early on. Like I remember the Chiefs, when they played early on, they were really stout against them. And, you know, I get why the public is fascinated with this team, but I think they were a year early,

and it's moved the number too much. I don't think there's any value here. Plus 300, no value for me on this Chargers team. Like you just said, this draft, it was good, but it was good in the sense that it's like, does it really help them be so much better than they were last year? Their run game was pretty solid last year with a bunch of nobody. So obviously, Hampton should be a big uptick.

This kid seems like an absolute stud, you know, such a horrible pick at that spot, like taking a running back where I didn't see it coming. just because they already have guys, but after they make the pick, it makes a little sense because he is so good. But, you know, looking at it over, the more I look at their draft, I'm just like, okay, it is a hardball draft. Right. When running back, Y receiver, and then a couple of guys in the D line. Like they're just filling it out, trying to get better, like you just said, trying to get more of his identity as they go along here. But a plus 300, that just feels like way too much respect

for what they did last year. Last year felt very fluky based on the schedule they had and very fluke in the sense that mentoring this defense was just out of this world how good they were for the first 12 weeks so yeah for value-wise i wouldn't bet them for this division i thought it was interesting with the broncos sean peyton was really vocal a weekend defending shadur sanders talking about how he knew the family you know he had been in dallas when shadur was in texas and um has a relationship with them and was truly saying teams are going to regret passing on Shador Sanders. He didn't draft Shador Sanders to be a backup to Bo Nix at any point, no matter how valuable he thought the placement might have been in the draft.

They did draft that cornerback from Texas, Barron, who, you know, is crazy fast. To me, they're more interesting as a play at plus 325 than the Chargers at plus 300 because we saw how good this defense was and we saw Bo Nix get better. and better every single week. So now all of a sudden, they've got another weapon in that secondary that makes them that much more challenging for a team like Kansas City, which has the best quarterback in the NFL. Yeah, you're going to like it even more, Chad. It's plus 375 plus 400.

So even better number. Dude, I should have put my glasses on for that one. No, it's, to me, that's the value in this division, right? Like, I feel like you just nailed it where we're banking on the year two jump from Bo Nix, which we I know it's annoying people but it's a it's a real thing that year two jump with these quarterbacks go through you know Mahomes first MVP season that was this first year as a start it was a year to jump Lamar first year's MVP year to jump you know second season as a starter so this draft to me they nailed it like I love the quarterback that got out of Texas and now you know

your secondary is one of your biggest strengths now it's like even more insane like it's just another team that they didn't force a draft pick they didn't force a de lineman that they do need they took the best player available on their draft board and i loved it and you know harvey the running back from ufc it'll be unknown how good he'll be in the NFL but he's got all these free qualities to him and i love this type of running backs where it's like you see the vision and a guy that you know Peyton is just like out of this world where he the stuff he can do with running backs you know Darren Sproul is the first one that pops of mind. What he was able to do with him once he came down there in New Orleans?

Yeah, right. Reggie Bush. He just, he can see. Have a Camara. Keep going. No, but seriously, he gets this vision for these guys and he can mold the offense around them as well, which is something very unique to Sean Payton and his offensive schemes. So, you know, big, big deal they've done all this.

And our view of it is just, okay, the defense takes another step. if Bow Nex takes another step, it's all there, right? They have a coach who in my mind is on the same type of level offensively as Andy Reed is. And you saw that last year, like, Bo Nix, I wish people could heard Matt Mitchell talk about him coming to the season. I think most college fans buried that man. They're just like, who the hell are they taking their first round in Bo Nix? And you saw his year went along, like he fits so perfectly into that scheme that he was running. So really excited to see if they have a year to jump or a team that could just be like what they were

or they overachieve and just fall in their face because Bo Nix is overrated. And he just got lucky after one fluke year in the NFL. So high upside team, huge floor, like really could drop down to five, six wins this upcoming season just because they were so ahead of the challenge. I remember they had a run at one point. They had won like seven straight road games, like very bizarre, how dominant they were.

So, yeah, this is a team that, you know, really out kicked their cover last season. We struck them to take another step. We're going to bet on it, but I am nervous making this bet on Boe Nix. How do you feel about the Las Vegas Raiders at 16 to 1 with Gino Smith and Ashton Genty and Pete Carroll as the head coach? I'd be tempted to take their over season win total. Tempted because I do think there's enough talent with Gino Smith and Brock Bowers and Ashton Genti.

They will just be so much better than last year offensively. and the market will keep them being depressed. Well, something really depressing is I got this at 20 to 1, and then when they added Gino, it only moved to 16 to 1. So it just shows the books just don't respect Gino at all. I'm with you, though. This number feels insane. Like we said before, this is a physical game.

We've already seen Mahomes, you know, he got injured on a tush push. That's why he doesn't even do QB sneaks anymore. Like his knee, last time he did a QB sneak, his knee popped out, Mahomes. Remember that. And there's a reason they don't do that with them anymore. You know, this is a fickle league. So it's like this Raiders team is going to take such a huge jump going from Minchu to

Geno Smith, a guy who is smart and is patient in the pocket and can read a defense. Yeah, like, I hate that Gentie went here. But man, did that pick save my ass? Like if he would have went after pick six, that would have cost me an insane amount of money. So, yeah, I got really lucky he went there. Don't know if I love the fit for Genti, but it's like that's an instant A plus move for their offense, right? Like this is already going to let it be that the box, if they ever even try to stack against Gino. We've seen Gino.

Maybe that was part of the DK effect, but to me, Gino is best downfield. Like him pushing the ball downfield is when he's at his best. For some reason, it's when he's like, you know, taking his time too long in the pocket, trying to go through all of his motions that he struggles. So I'm with you, Chad. The fact that this is 16 to 1 still, it's just like Cleveland. We'll throw a little bet on it just because the crazy things that have happened. My big, big bet that I'm going to take a large position on, it's going to be the chiefs in this division.

Minus 130, that's where, if you want to lock up your money now, that's where I would go with it. But if you're like us and you love madness and the crazy upside, 16 to 1, Geno Smith, come on. Let's throw a little piece on that. We began our back-to-backs yesterday talking about. Mel Kuiper and his meldowns about Shador Sanders and a chart in which the exemplar, one of the exemplars of his grading quarterbacks highly who then sunk down the draft was Gino Smith.

We ended talking about how we believe enough in Gino Smith, they were willing to take a taste on the Raiders at 16 to 1. good for us. Good for us that we bring it full circle like... There it is. As a reminder of the Favorites podcast is presented by Bet365

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Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you care about has a gambling problem, help is available 24-7 at 1-800 gambler. 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. 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 Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter 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. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting the game. through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear.

Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-Live 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garros. She's an outsider to win the French name.

And she likes Clay. Listen, Lernerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. 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.