The Kevin Sheehan Show - Dream Draft Scenario For Washington

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

Kevin talked some Caps' playoffs to open before getting to the NFL Draft. He has a dream draft scenario for the Commanders which he describes. He also had studied and shared his thoughts on the running backs in the draft. ESPN's John Keim joined Kevin for a ton of draft talk as well.  Go to zbiotics.com/SHEEHAN and use SHEEHAN at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.Goldbelly.com, code sheehan, for free shipping and 20% off your first order of food from around the US.  Go To WindowNation.com. Buy 4 windows, get 4 free!If you want to bet on sports, go to mybookie.ag. Use code KEVINDC for a bonus! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheehan Show. Here's Kevin. One guest on the show today. John Kime will join me in the next segment, a show that will be heavy on the NFL draft.

The show's presenting sponsor is always Windonation, 86690 Nation or WindowNation.com, if you're looking for new windows. Before I get to some draft topics by myself here in the opening. segment, Caps Montreal Game One in Chinatown tonight. You know, over the last month and a half, two months, as Ovechkin was chasing down Gretzky, I've had a number of Caps guests on radio and on the podcast.

If you missed Alan May on Friday, he was great in previewing the Caps Montreal series. But I've asked almost everybody, and if I didn't ask it, it came up anyway in the course of the conversation about this upcoming postseason for Washington. It's a big one. They have not won a series since winning the Cup in 2018. And beyond that, during the Ovechkin era, there have been 15 Caps playoff seasons. 14 of the 15 ended in either the first or second round. All right, 2018, the outlier. They made the run to the Stanley Cup and beat Vegas to win the cup. In those 14 years in which they didn't go beyond the first or second round,

eight times they were ousted in the first round, six times in the second round. I mean, really take the 2018 season, shove it to the side, 14 seasons have ended very disappointingly, because in many of those seasons, the caps were expected to go beyond the first or second round. Along the way, by the way, eight game seven losses, eight of those 14 trips that ended in the first or second round, ended in a seventh game loss with five of those eight seventh game losses coming at home. The question is, after all of the regular season success during the Alex Ovechkenera, would one Stanley Cup in 2018 be enough to offset a terribly disappointing playoff record otherwise?

Maybe. But to kind of eliminate that even being a conversation, they need a deep run in this, the 16th playoff trip during the great. eight's time in Washington. Thank God. You know, they got the one for Ted, for the organization, for Alex. You know, Ted told me recently on radio and he was on the podcast like a month and a half ago, you know, the legacy would be really different without 2018. It would be a legacy of wasting an all-time generational player.

That generational player just set a record. that was never supposed to be broken, but I'd bet he'd trade that record for another Stanley Cup. Caps are big favorites in this series over Montreal, if you didn't know. I'm sure you did, but they are minus 2.95 right now at MyBooky. That is a hefty favorite. So a first-round exit is a disaster. They have to beat Montreal. How far do they need to go? I don't know. Eastern Conference Finals, it seems like, although it's possible that they would be. be an underdog in the next round if it's Carolina, even though the Caps would have Home Ice Advantage. I don't know. That's for others to kind of discuss. It feels for me as more of an outsider when it

comes to the Caps because I'm not a massive Caps fan. I'll be paying attention, though. I love the NHL playoffs. It seems to me like, you know, winning against Montreal and then winning a series as the one seed with home ice advantage in the second round to get to the Eastern Conference finals would take a little bit of the pressure of not having done well recently since the Cup off of them. Real quickly, before I get to draft topics that I want to discuss here in this opening segment, Duke's Cooper flag made it official. He is entering his name into the NBA draft. If Washington gets the number one pick and selects Cooper.

Flag and they've got equal chances with Charlotte and Utah, the Wizards franchise will have a spotlight on it that it hasn't had in decades. Cooper Flagg would be the kind of player that would bring eyeballs and attention to the franchise that he gets picked by in a big way. I'm not saying that the Wizards would be expected to be a contender right away. They wouldn't. He'd be a rookie player. But first white American-born player since 1976, Kent Benson, 1977, whatever year that was, and just a player considered to be generational, maybe not Wembe Nyma, maybe not Zion Williamson, the way people thought about him coming out, but he's up there. The NBA playoffs, thank you to all of you who have reached out to say thanks for nothing,

meaning the advice I gave last week to watch the NBA playoffs. Yeah, they were miserable for the most part over the weekend. Eight game ones and seven of them decided by 10 or more points, including Oklahoma City's 51-point win over Memphis. Now, the Denver Clippers game was great on Saturday, and last night, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler were incredible as Golden State went into Houston and won game one. All right, three draft topics.

that I want to discuss before I get to John Kime. Number one is this. I kind of came up with a dream scenario for Washington. Part of it is that I'm watching in preparation for the draft, it's much harder and takes a lot longer and you end up watching a lot more when your team's picking at number 29. There are just so many more possibilities.

So I'm not sitting here telling you that, oh, my God, I mean, it's been, no, I've actually enjoyed it. I mean, I do, you know, every year I'll kind of prep for this week, you know, to a certain degree. A lot of it has to do with, most of you know, I'm a massive college football fan. So I watch as much college football as I do the NFL. But, you know, when you're talking about a pool of like, you know, well, last year, a pool of one, basically. but in some years just a pool of a few players versus when you're picking it 29 there are so many possibilities. You end up watching a lot more, preparing a lot more, and there's a player that I'm familiar with, but just in watching him over the weekend a little bit more, I'm such a big fan that I came up with this draft dream scenario for Washington.

They trade back into the second round, which, you know, at 29 right now, the chance that a player they deem to be first round worthy falls to them, there's a chance. But there's also a chance that they are going to be looking to trade back. Doesn't mean they can. You've got to have a willing trade partner. And other teams may be thinking the exact same thing. But in Washington's case, the reason a lot of people have projected. Washington to be a tradeback team is they only have five picks currently in the draft. And they have perception-wise, more needs than some of the other teams at the end of the draft, like Philly and Kansas City as examples.

So this is the dream draft scenario for me. They trade back into the second round, you know, pick a team that allows them to get a second, second round pick. So they're giving up their first round pick to get a second. And then what would be great would be like a third rounder to add to that. But maybe more likely than not, it's a day three pick, a fourth rounder for depending on the number of spots that they trade back. But with two second round picks, give me two Ohio State players. The first one would be running back Travion Henderson.

I really do like Travion Henderson. And I'm going to talk more about Travion Henderson. when I talk about running backs in this opening segment of the draft. I don't think any running back other than Ashton Genty deserves to go in the first round. I wouldn't want to be a team drafting first round value on a running back if it isn't Ashton Genty. But Trayvion Henderson, just picturing him lined up next to Jaden Daniels with his explosiveness, and he is one of the most explosive home run hitters in the draft at running back. that would be exciting. But that's only half of it. The other half of this tradeback dream draft

scenario for Washington, another Ohio State Buckeye, defensive end, edge, JT, Tui Molo, number 44 in your program. If you've watched college football the last few years, you know him because he has had some massive games in big highlighted spots. His sophomore year, They played Penn State in a big time game in October. Both teams undefeated. He had two sacks. He had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble, all in one game.

In the most recent run to their national championship four playoff games, six and a half sacks, one forced fumble. Tuimolo is 6'4-264, long arms. is a great edge-setting run-stopper. He is also an outstanding high-motor pass rusher. In fact, it's hard to find a player in this draft that has a more relentless motor than him. I think Travian Henderson and Tui Moloowal together in the second round

would be two players that totally fit to Dan Quinn, Adam Peters, a line vision of type of competitors, type of players culturally that they want, and they're both excellent players. And yet, I don't think either one of them would be considered in the first round. I don't think Travion Henderson will be considered in the first round, although in many ways, I think if you told me another running back got selected in the first round and it wasn't Hampton from North Carolina, I would guess it was Henderson. because he's got the best big play potential. And the idea of him standing next to Jaden,

when Jaden's in the pistol or in the shotgun, as a zone read threat, as a screen guy, he's versatile. And, you know, Tui Moloow just is sideline to sideline relentless. 64-265 long arms, he can do it all. Now, if you told me Donovan Azaruko from Boston College, is there at 29. Would I rather have that? I don't know. Maybe not. He is just a pass rusher right now. A very good one. I think that scenario would be awesome for Washington. I mean, two excellent players worthy of going at that spot in the draft in the second round and filling two massive needs.

There are other players, you know, second round if they were to trade back. I love Landon Jackson from Arkansas. the edge. I like the kid from UCLA, Oladejo, who played, by the way, linebacker at Cal before transferring. There are some other edge players in that second round area that you could team Traveon Henderson with that would make me really happy.

But Tui Molo out can really play and I think would be ready to kind of play sooner rather than later as certainly an edge run stopper, but I think it's a pass rusher as well. So that was draft topic number one before we get to Kime. Draft topic number two is I did spend a lot of time on the running backs, really Thursday night and then over the weekend a little bit. And so I want to go through sort of how I feel about running backs in this draft,

because I think Washington is definitely. going to take a running back. I don't know when it will be. I don't think it'll be in the first round. I don't think it should be in the first round because Ashton Genty is not dropping to 29. And I don't think any other running back is worth taking in the first round because my belief is that if you're going to take a running back in the first round and you're going to put that kind of value on that position in the first round, that player better be Sequin Barkley-esque.

and the only player in the draft that has a chance to be truly elite, I think based on college, it doesn't mean that others aren't going to develop into elite backs, but that's Ashton Genty from Boise. He's the number one back in this draft. I think that there's a lot of variety after Genty. I've got 10 guys that I think you could mix and match from 2 to 10 after Genty, and it'll be about preference as much as anything. else or the kind of back, you know, the kind of back you're looking for and then preference with some of the guys that are similar. But Genties, number one. Now, if you haven't seen him

play, he doesn't look like Barclay or Bijon Robinson because he's 5'8 and 210. You know, Berkeley's just much bigger. Bejan Robinson's bigger. You know, I think the comp for him, if he ends up being an all-time great, and that's why you draft him, you know, as high high as he will likely get drafted. I think the all-time great comp is Lidani and Tomlinson. I don't know how many comps there really are for him in the game today. He looks a bit like Aaron Jones or Josh Jacobs, maybe McCaffrey, but he's not the route runner McCaffrey is. He can certainly catch the ball, though. But he's 5'8. He is a 20-plus carry-a-game guy. He's fearless. He's physical. He's got great vision. He's got incredible balance. Patience. Love Ashton Gentie. He's not

falling to 29. After him, I think that there are 9, 10, maybe even 11 running backs in this draft that you could put their names on pieces of paper, throw them into a hat, and whatever one you picked out, it would be an equal chance of being the next best back in this draft after Jennings. I think Hampton's going to be the second one to go. And I like Hampton. I would not use a first round pick on Omari and Hampton. I just don't see that much difference between Hampton and Caleb Johnson. Hampton and Damien Martinez.

Hampton and Trevor E.N. There are guys in this draft that are really, really close. And there are varieties. Travion Henderson is the best big playback in the draft. He's the guy that has a chance every single time he touches the football to go the distance. Is he a 20-plus carry a game back? Probably not. Is he just a third down back? No, he's not that either. I like Travion Henderson a lot. I like Omari and Hampton a lot.

I think both of those guys, certainly once you start getting into Night 2, are worthy. You know, if that's the guy you like. For me, you know, here's the list. I'll go through it. I really like Caleb Johnson from Iowa a lot. This is a guy that basically faced the highest percentage of loaded boxes in college football because Iowa can't throw the football. They haven't been able to throw the football in several years. So this guy's lining up against eight, nine in the box on every play, and he is incredibly productive. He is terrific between the tackles.

He is powerful at six feet two 25. he's got good patience, good vision. Is he going to outrun everybody? No, he ran 457 at the combine, but he has functional in uniform on game day speed. I love Johnson. By the way, I see Johnson and Hampton as somewhat similar. You know, Hampton, I think, ran a better time at the 40,

but I see Caleb Johnson's vision and patience and really power at the point of contact to be a little bit better. I've mentioned this guy over and over again. Damien Martinez has been one of my favorite players in college football the last few years. He was at Miami last year, and it was a step-back production-wise from Oregon State. Miami had more options. But I think Damien Martinez is a night two pick.

I'd be shocked if he makes it to day three. He's 5-11, 218, 2-19, had a very high, you know, relative athletic score. to me when you watch him play and this is what first struck me when he was running at Oregon State, he's just got unbelievable feel, vision, and patience. It's not Levyon Bell patience. He doesn't stop in the backfield for, you know, a half a second, but he really is patient. And then he explodes. And he'll slip people and then if somebody comes in, he'll run him over. He is versatile, I think more so as a pass catcher than maybe the number of members say. I think he'd be great in the screen game. I think Martinez can carry the ball 20 plus times a game. I think if you have him next to Jaden as a zone readback, that's where he was

comfortable in both of his college stops at Oregon State in Miami, I love Martinez. So how many have I counted? Hampton, Henderson, Caleb Johnson, Martinez. I love Trevor E.T.N. at Georgia. He was injured a bunch, but I think he has real talent and real all-down-back capabilities. He's 5-9-200, ran 4-42, and his speed and his explosiveness looks even bigger than that. Had a rib injury down the stretch, but I like Trevor E.T.N. I like Bayshall Tootin, the kid from Virginia Tech. He is a burner. He's got great vision, too.

He is a kickoff returner also had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in Blacksburg as a hokey. Love Tutin. Love DJ Giddens from Kansas State. I think he could be an all-down back. Here's a guy. Let me give you this guy. Devin Neal, day three pick probably, I'm assuming, you know, fourth or fifth round. Kansas team captain, off-the-charts leadership, 511-215.15, patience, vision, power.

decent speed all down back i think devon neal is a possibility uh as well uh a guy that you know i watched over the weekend that i had made a mental note uh during his career especially this year taj brooks texas tech to me 510 you know 215 somewhere around that i think he is an all down back for sure. Another guy that has really good, you know, kind of vision, patience, can run inside the tackles, can run outside. Finished, I think, as the Texas Tech all-time leading rusher, and like top five all-time Big 12 history. Another work ethic guy that's been, on the positive side, been praised for how much he loves the game. You know, the one thing about Devin Neal,

and also I would say this about Quinchan Judkins, who I'd throw on this list too. Sometimes they're just a little bit too fast to the line of scrimmage. They've got decent patience, but not excellent patience. You know, those are, it's a fine line between the guy that hits the hole super quick when the hole's there versus the guy that runs. too quickly to the hole, but really the hole was, you know, one step over. Am I forgetting anybody? I kind of like Hunter from Auburn a little bit.

I think I just, Jaden Blue from Texas is another burner. I mean, you know, he ran 4-3-something at the combine. I could certainly see him. Yeah, that's it. I mean, after Gentie, Hampton, Henderson, Caleb Johnson, Martinez. ETN, Judkins, Tutin, Giddens, Neil. You know, Ollie Gordon's really interesting because he had such a great 2023 but had a stepback season last year. He's very upright in his running style, but he's another guy that it wouldn't surprise me if they fell in love with the tape and the build

and the fact that he can catch the ball has really good hands. Something, by the way, Giddens and Devon Neil both can do. really runs like super upright Ollie Gordon if you watched Oklahoma State the last couple of years I mean it reminds you of like Eric Dickerson or in recent years somebody like DeMarco Murray anyway there you go on the running backs

to me it's Genty one and then my preference would be like a Caleb Johnson or a Damian Martinez or a Travion Henderson but I think all of the guys that I mentioned you can't go wrong and you're going to have an equal chance of hitting it the guys that I didn't like that are ranked really high wasn't big on Dylan Sampson from Tennessee

he's fine but Jordan James from Oregon I like didn't love RJ Harvey UCF's tough to get a read on him not a scataboo guy from Arizona State despite how badass of a competitor he is yeah all right last thing that I wanted to mention before we get to time

so I just wrote jot it down some names from watching different players. And these are more post-first-round guys. I think I already mentioned one of them. I really, really think that Landon Jackson from Arkansas is going to be a special player. 6-6-265 athletic motor can stop the run, can get after the pass rush. I think he also blocked a couple of field goals.

I may have him confused with somebody else. I like the guy Ola Dejo from UCLA. He played a linebacker actually in college. I don't think I've mentioned him yet. Maybe I have. I don't know. Ty Felton, wide receiver, Maryland. So if they end up adding, I think they're going to end up adding in this draft.

A back for sure, an edge rusher for sure, defensive end for sure. I think there's a good chance they had a receiver. And it could come on day three. And if it does come day three, Ty Felton from Maryland, I don't want to say he's Diami Brown because the build is different, but he is a major deep threat. He really goes after the ball well with good hands. I also think he's the bubble screen guy too.

I think he'd be a really good replacement for Diami Brown. Debo's going to take some of that stuff, obviously. But Ty Felton is 6-1-185, ran 4-37 at the Combine. I just loved him in watching him. He had a big season. He, you know, he led the Big Ten in catches per game, in receiving yards per game, without a quarterback this year. He really is a threat to stretch and push the ball down the field.

And I love him with his, you know, his line of scrimmage catches. I think that he's got kind of, What will attract people to tie Felton is his speed and his ability to stretch the field. I love the way he plays the ball in the air as well. Anyway, he did fumble the ball a bit at times in his last couple of seasons. Who else did I have on my list that I wanted to mention? Yeah, I think that's it. Maxwell Harrison, the corner from Kentucky,

and I'm going to do corners at some point this week, the dude can flat out run. If you're going to have a corner, he's got to be able to run. And Maxwell Harrison has also got a little bit of size to him. I mean, the frame, not so much, but I think he's listed at six feet. And he's got some length, too, you know, to him.

So you have speed and your arms, you know, I'm not saying super, super long arms, but he's, I think they were 32, 33 inches, something like that for a corner, not bad. I think height, speed, some length to him, some playmaking ability. This guy, lean, lean body type. I don't think he's afraid to tackle, but I know a lot of people have mocked him to watch. and other teams in the first round. All right, that's it. Let's get to Kime.

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So I'm going to ask you a question. I just did this right before I called you to record this. And I want to see if you know what the answer is, and I want to make sure I'm right also. At 29, this is the latest they've been set to pick with their own first round pick since when? Their own first round pick. The own first round pick. So, because like the previous one was 32, which was...

They traded back. Ramsey. That was two trade back. Right. And then, so are you going like below 29? Yeah. I should. I actually asked it in a trick way, and I didn't mean to. Have they ever, with their own pick, selected at 29 or lower?

With their own pick, I don't think so. You're right. And the reason being is that in 91 or in 82 or in 87, there were only 28. NFL teams. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. This is the latest with their own pick that they've ever selected. They've selected, like you said, with, you know, Ramsey. Right. And they selected, um, uh, great Johnson was another one. But that was a, like 31. Yeah, that was a trade. That was a trade back in, too. Yeah. Um, so this is it, man. This is, this is the latest. And by the way, it makes it, it makes it more interesting on some level.

But does it make it as exciting to your readers and my listeners? And your listeners, too, because John, of course, has the Kime Report podcast. Listen, quarterbacks, and last year was a quarterback on a top five pick. Because people are going to view that guy as a difference maker for an organization. So, like, Chase Young, number two pick, there was a lot of attention on that because the ability to find a major impact player for sure. Now, I will say, Kevin, it's funny because I think last year, even with Jayden, I think the lead-up to it was really good in terms of, like,

having people on to talk about the quarterbacks. I had Herm Edwards on. Yeah, me too. In the stories, it would be good. Herm was like, for the YouTube portion of the podcast, is the best one we've ever had. And it still gets downloads. So, like, leading up to it was good.

But on the draft night, Kevin, I had a video podcast ready to go. Like, you knew who the pick was going to be. They announced at 815. That video was out 10 minutes later. It was the worst performing one of the weekend because I think by that point, people knew who they were going to probably take,

and also there's so much coverage on TV. What did better was rounds two and three and then on Saturday around the final day because you didn't know who they were. Like, who are these guys? Are they good picks? What do you think? Blah, blah, blah. So I think those nights when I think it adds the mystery to it, but the lead-up to it was far better. I mean, last year, again, just like from a story standpoint for ESPN, as many, you can get quarterback in there 300 different ways, right? And the podcast, I was doing one, it's now three days a week, but last year I was doing five and six days a week because it was of warrant. that's the difference. That's when going for a quarterback at number two versus what they have at 29. Yeah, and look, for the vast majority prior to the draft, there was debate. Even if there wasn't debate, you know, as we got closer in terms of the experts,

a lot of fans were debating who it should be. I mean, I still, you know, remember those that said, no, no, no, no, please keep Sam Hal and trade back, get more picks and pick, you know, offensive and defensive line. You know who you are, people. Yeah, and I believe those folks are now digging ditches somewhere. Well, I don't know about that. I'm just kidding. But like that was something.

We've all been loud wrong. Yeah. Oh, well, that's, that's, and I thought they were allowed wrong before the draft. Like you don't, I know there are like some people want all the building a roster to be linear. You have a chance to get an impact quarterback. You always take them, period. But, yeah, but I joke. about that. Because like I will say this, not to go off on Sam.

I'm surprised what's happened to him since you left here. I am and I'm not. Like I was very much adamant that this is not a starting quarterback for 17 games on a winning team. But when you say you're surprised that now Seattle, because I read over the weekend, Seattle's looking to trade him and move him now too. Yeah. Yeah, I thought I thought he'd be a solid backup. Yeah, exactly. I did too. Because like I thought, he'd be like a slightly better version of maybe Taylor Heineke. Yes. And you know who thought that?

Taylor Heineke. So, you know, but yes. Yeah, but anyways, I know we didn't, you didn't want to talk about that. No, no, no. No, I mean, look, last year was fun, but what you're saying is it became anti-climactic once it happened because everybody knew it was going to happen. And then after the fact, though, it's like, okay, how did he look? So everything about him before after was. No doubt.

Oh, yeah. And I like, you know, this is why, and again, I know you weren't going down this road, but when people would talk about, like, all you guys want are negative stories, like, baby, we've been dying for a guy like this. You know what I mean? Like, this is, this was falling from heaven for a deep reporter that you had a guy like this who is this good, who makes a team that much better that you then get to write about and cover, because it's so much more interesting and so much more sustainable for what

you do as a reporter. You know what I mean? For the interest that you hope falls your way as a reporter. People listening, people wanted to hear what you have to say, just a lot better. So like that's, you know, yeah, I mean, it's always better to have a good quarterback. No, I mean, that's been a given for all of us forever. And not everybody understands that, but really all we have to do, in my business anyway, is point to Boston sports talk hosts for about a 20-year period. And what they made in, you know, salaries and ratings bonuses because not just the Patriots, but everybody was winning in the market. It's always better when you're winning, and it's always better when you're winning with

a superstar player. And, oh, by the way, at quarterback. That helps too. All right. So there is a lot of uncertainty heading into Thursday night, that's for sure. But before we get there, do you think that there's any chance there's another big move left either before the draft on draft night or after the draft and the person, the player that I would be specific about, would be Trey Hendrickson.

Sure, for sure. And he's the one guy. I don't think so. And part of that is there's a, and it usually falls on the Bangle side. There's no desire there to move him at this point. I think they're going to really test to see his desire to actually leave. And I think when you're in that kind of situation, like the Browns and Miles Garrett, listen, for both those guys, you know, for Hendrickson, it's clearly about the contract.

He has said that. So I think they're going to, my sense would be the Bengals are going to try and wait that one out and go from there. I don't, I also don't know that, like, does Washington really have enough to tempt them? You know, like, it's a 29th pick and plus something else enough for Trey Hendrickson? I don't, you know, that's the other part. Like if you're Cincinnati, unless you just absolutely want to get rid of the guy and get rid of the contract, then maybe you take that kind of an offer,

but they don't seem inclined to want to get rid of him. So I think it would take a lot to entice them. I just don't think they have that. And, you know, I don't see that. You know, I would be surprised. Yeah, I think one of the things just, you know, as we're following along Thursday night in the first, round. When Cincinnati's on the clock at 17, if they're still there, and they were to take an edge

rusher, that would be interesting, you know, because it may mean that they've decided to potentially lower their price for Hendrickson, and they don't feel like they can get him signed long term. Because, you know, I don't know that anybody's willing to give up a first plus for him. Right. And now here's two things. One, they also lost Sam Hubbard, another defensive bad. Right. Who retired. So if they went that route, they are also replacing something they lost. That's one thing.

But yeah, is that a possible scenario? Sure. But I think to, I still think that, you know, if you're since then, like, I don't know, I would even take it into the season. Like, see if you can get something more, right, at the deadline. Yeah, it's just, are you going to deal with an unhappy player, you know, in a season where you got, You got to make something happen. Yeah, and that's all fair.

I just, I don't know that I would see it at this point. Now, again, I'm thinking in terms of a big thing, a big, big, a blockbuster deal, which would take more capital than what I think these guys would, might want to shell out and might not have enough to entice Cincinnati. But if the asking price gets lowered and it's like, hey, we'll just take a second, we'll shoot. Yeah. Okay.

But I don't know that I see that scenario. All right, before we get to specifics with Thursday night and beyond, do you think that they did enough in the off season to put themselves into a position, not that they wouldn't do this anyway, but to comfortably take the best player available, as long as it's not a quarterback? I think within reason, yes. So I think there's, I think you'd have to rate, you know, I would almost rank the spots by what are areas you would like to address. that match well with this draft, right? So, like, defensive end, there's a lot of edge rushers. Not all are these high-end guys. There's intriguing one, but I think there's seems to be decent depth in that,

in this class with that. That's a spot they would like to address, but I don't know that they're going to feel like they absolutely have to get one early to satisfy what they want. Because I don't think, I think so that you've done enough with your, clearly they could use more pass rush, but is it such a high necessity that you have to take a guy at 29 regardless? No, it's not. Not, I don't think in their eyes it is.

And I think because they strengthen one through nine, one to ten, whatever. They have better depth, more consistent play throughout that group that I think they had last year. That helps. Now, you still got to find a way to get to the quarterback. But even last would, you know, Dante followed 10-and-a-half sacks with four-man rushes. they weren't very good. So, you know, even with Dante Folli Dorey did, they weren't a good four-man rush team. They were manufacturing their pass rush.

I think you have maybe a slightly more better depth of past rushers that can help you offset if you don't feel like you can get that guy in the first round for sure, right? Corner, I think you can look at corner and say, you know, do you have, I think you need to add another guy for sure because it just depends where it comes, Kevin, is where. So do you have to get a guy in the first or second round? If you don't love the guy, no, because you went out and got Jonathan Jones, who can also play inside and outside just like Starrisville. But I think you would help yourself by getting a guy at some point in the draft

that you'd like to develop as another outside corner. And I think there's some guys late in the draft that would be enticing. So running back, they'd like to get a guy. And I think they will get a guy. I think offensive line, I definitely think they want to continue building there. but you don't have to get the guy at 29. You know, you could get a guy, you know, second round, fourth round, whatever, that could add to your depth. So I don't think there's a spot that they said you've got to come out of here with a high-end guy here.

I think you just need to continue to add good players. Like that's the key, right? So, you know. All right. So. I mean, I'd like, you know, listen, I'd like, I'd like to see them get another receiver, you know, Ty Felton be a guy that in the middle of the draft. Just mentioned them, yep.

Okay, so that's another one where you said, like, yeah, I could see that too, because he could give you, do you have to get him? No, but would he give you something you don't have? Yes, that, you know, another guy on the outside who's a downfield guy, speed, and all that. You know, so, like, there's other, there are things that you can get from each one of these spots, but, you know, you can look at it and say, like, I do think there's some areas that you would need, you need to address corner, you need to address, I think, get another running back. I think you need to, you know, they definitely want to get another

offensive line that sounds like, you know, you could certainly use the edge rush help. So there's areas where you want to address just a matter of where. And I think that's where the free agent moves gives you the flexibility to not have to do something in a particular round. Last year, they clearly had, you know, a philosophy going into the draft. They were trying to change a culture in addition to creating a really good football roster. And we saw, you know, seven of the nine guys drafted were team captains. We also saw things like an emphasis on the relative athletic scores. Yep.

But they wanted, they had a philosophy going in. They wanted good culture guys who were badass competitors and high motor guys. You know, they talked about this aligned vision during that whole offseason going into free agency and the draft. Do you think the philosophy is the same? or has it been modified somehow? Oh, I think it's, I don't see why it would change. It kind of worked, you know? So I don't know that, I don't know that it's changed at all.

I think that's still the emphasis. I don't think you overlook, if the guy's not a team captain and his R.A., his relative athletic scores a little bit lower than what you have, but you love the guy, I think you're going to take the guy, you know. And it's funny because, like, you know, those R.A. the relative of that button scores, they were all over 9.0 last year, except for one player, and it was Mike Sammerstville, and they loved the guy. So, you know what I mean?

Yeah. I think they'll veer a little bit, if you really, but now he was also a team cap. Yeah, he was. So you'll veer a little bit, but it is something, I think, both those aspects certainly shape how you, when you're looking at certain guys, like, does this fit their profile, you know, but yeah, but I don't know that you veer too much because I think it's worked. I don't think you need to veer away from that. That means that, you know, no, I agree with you.

It's like there are tells, there are clues here as you are, not you, but you listening out there, are trying to figure out who they're going to take. You know, you can pretty much cross off any person that has like legitimate culture, intangible red flags for the most part. You really, you can, certainly in the first round, I think you can do that, right, John? Yeah, definitely. And, you know, and I think, again, the emphasis is, like, we look at those qualities, they're pretty good players. So, like, Jane Daniels falls in that category. He's a really good player. I think, you know, Sandwichville, really good player. I think, I think, Johnny Newton, I think, will be a really

good player, right? You know, Jerome McGee, guys like that. And I think, you know, think there's some other guys that maybe they don't max out as, but we don't know yet. Like, we don't know what's going to happen to spin it or loop with Jeffrey, but if nothing else, they help your team in a role, right? So you, so the floor is definitely higher. There are also times, even in previous regimes where they'd have a year where they emphasize captains, like they'd have all these five-year captains and all that. And then the next year it's kind of like, eh, a little bit different, right? So I don't know that you want to veer too much, but the result, the really what you've got to look at is, were these guys.

guy, were these players good or not? Not just that they were, you know, good in the classroom, good over here, good or whatever, but they're good on the field, too. So like that's the key, obviously. All right. So let's start talking about 29 first. You've spent a lot of time on it. We all have. So give me some names that you are thinking are possibilities. All right. So, I mean, look at the edge rushers, right? I think. you'd have to throw like Donovan Ezorakou from Boston College in there. I think

Mike Green would be a possibility for the kid from Marshall. I know, I know like Lannon Jackson, they have shown interest in him. I don't know to what degree. Who knows? Like that's the problem. Like, some of these guys, they show interest in,

but you don't always know what is the interest they're showing of it. What are they trying to learn throughout this process about them? You know, Nick Scorton is a guy that would they take him at 29? I don't know. But I think he's a guy that, you know, another guy that has at least the interest there has been shown, right? To what degree?

Don't know. Samuel Lofadu, not at 29, but I think in the second round, I think he's a guy that, I mean, I like him, just because I think there's a hot. Yeah, UCLA. He moved to the position last year. Yeah, and he's versatile. I think he could fit a lot of what, I think he's a Dan Quinn-type. guy in terms of the versatility he would offer as a pass rusher where he could rush from, I think he'd be a really good chess piece for them. So that's a guy that if you don't get one

in the first round, second round, do you trade somewhere? So I think if you look at corner, I mean, there's some interesting corners in here. I don't know that they all fit, but, you know, I don't know. Before you get to corner, I want to stick with Edge for just one second. I want to ask you this question. Do you think that there's separation from, say, six, seven guys that, let's just say, you know, obviously Abdul Carter and Walker and Stuart as a talent and as a tester. Green does have some red flags, but he's actually after Carter, my favorite in terms of talent. Mike L. Williams, Pierce has red flags all over him. Like, do you think there's, like, is Azaraku, if he were to go at, say, 23 or 24, do you then, I'm just one of

wondering if you think there's a cutoff with the edge rushers where Washington said, yep, none of those guys fell to us. We don't have first round grades on anybody else. Now we got to, yeah. So where do you think that cutoff is? Well, that I don't know. Yeah. That's a million dollar question right now. But you're right. Like there's some of those guys, like, Samar Stewart is really interesting because top 10 traits, but yet there are people who think he's going to fall into the 20. why is that? Well, the production hasn't matched the traits.

As Iraq, I think he has as much production as anybody in this dress. And you're right, like with Green, it's going to be, are teams comfortable with what they've learned about him throughout the process? There were two allegations, well, I guess it was sexual assault. Are they comfortable with what they've learned about that situation? That's because there's, in terms of football, like, you know, with the coaches, teammates, you hear good things. things. And Pierce, you know, I would move on. So let somebody else try to see if it works there.

So I do think there's a cutoff, Kevin. I don't know with which player. I think, you know, like, I do think like if Green and Azaraku are there, I think they would probably pick one of those, I think they would pick one of those two. I don't know for sure. But I think like if, let's say those guys go. Because if teams don't have concerns about Mike Green, he's not at 29, period. Right? That's how I'm with you on that one for sure.

Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, as I Rock will be the interesting one. But let's say they have to move on to another position. I think then you're looking cornerback. You know, Amos, Max Harrison. Yeah. You know, there's a couple other guys like, Baron, I don't know if I don't think he falls that far.

Will Johnson, injury, does he, is he there? I could see one of the other guys maybe a little bit more. But those guys would be interesting there. I also think, Kevin, like, I keep emphasizing strongly believe that they want to fix, not just fix the Albuoy, to build something really strong up front to protect your greatest asset. Right. Yeah. So if there's an offensive lineman at 29, like, definitely could see that too.

Like, you know, and then it depends on, well, let's say it's, you know, is it Donald Jackson, is Tyler Booker? Who is it? Right? Josh Kylie, and then how does that guy compare to one of those other spots, the cornerback? I don't know. What I don't know is, would they take a running back at 29? You know, would Trayvon Henderson be on their radar at that point?

I don't know. I can't say that they would. I don't know. Because I also know that this is a deep draft for running backs, but I think you could get a guy that you like, and I don't know that there's a wide variance in terms of how people view them from that spot into the third or fourth round. You know what I mean? So there are different skills, different trades, whatever, but is there a wide gap in the

talent level? I'm not so sure about how that team feels like that. I want everybody to listen to something John just said, because I think a lot of fans would discount offensive tackle because of the tonsil trade. They clearly, Brandon Coleman wasn't someone that they thought could be their left tackle. We don't know that they think Brandon Coleman can be their right tackle. If the best player on their board is a guy that they could plug in at right tackle or eventually move inside if Coleman ended up being the answer at right tackle, I could definitely

see them doing that for sure if it was the best player on the board. It would be one thing to take a pure left tackle, a guy that you can't see flipping sides. Yeah. And I don't even know that there's that guy in the draft. Exactly. Yeah. I'm sorry for Ohio State is that it might be One of those guys coming off the injury, I don't think they would do that. But I do think if you got a guy that, like, okay, he's a tackle, he could also play guard. You know, he's the kind of guy you want maybe inside and solidify that interior. I do think that would be a goal. I do think that that could definitely happen.

And I think if they did that, you could build, you know, it's never the sexiest pick to go that way. But at 29, you're looking for, can you get a guy that you can plug in and play? I think some of those guys you could. And so that, and I would like, if you're a fan, I mean, the idea that you could build that wall and not only help Jayden Daniels, but also help the run game, would have to be very enticing for them, for sure. Before we move to where you started to go, running backs, what are the chances right now that you think will all be completely shocked with their first round pick at 29 if they stay there?

because it's not an obvious based on the tells, you know, team captain, rasker, need, you know, position of need. What are the chances that, like, I threw somebody out this morning with Ben just because he was Jaden's teammate at LSU, just because I don't know what they think of Senate. I know Ertz doesn't have much time left. And Bates is a Mason Taylor. Yeah. I just threw out, I threw out, Mason Taylor is a legit three-down tight end. he's a good blocker too.

So, you know, it's funny because I take the podcast with Logan Paulson today, and he brought him up, and it was more from, it was really more about, like, what I asked, like, what have you learned about the scouting process, the more you've done this? Like, what are the little things you've learned? He said, one of the, he pointed out Mason Taylor, is a guy that, like, when he goes, like, when I was just watching him, I wasn't seeing what others were seeing.

So he goes, I talked to someone about him. What is it that I'm missing here? He said, trust. he goes, their coaches trust him. He goes, once they put that buzzword in my head, I look at it differently. And he saw it a different light in a way like, oh, yeah, I really like that aspect, because it's huge. And so I would be surprised.

I don't know that I'd be shocked by anything, because if you're truly taking what you consider the best player available outside of a quarterback, where is it that you can't improve this roster? Right. And by the time you get to 29, so much shit has happened that you can't predict that. Correct. So, and so like if you, let's say I named three, a couple offensive line, and a couple ends in a corner that they like, that they would have taken. They're not there. All right. Take the guy that you think can really help you now and in the future. Like that's, that, and I, you know, and it also, I also think, Kevin, it would, it would also be dependent on

do you think Ben Sennick can get to where you want him to go? Because if he can't, then, and you have a guy that's really love there, okay, you know, and, you know, that's okay, there you go. But that would surprise me a little bit for sure, but it wouldn't shock me. That's interesting that Logan said that about Mason Taylor, because I think one of the things that stood out in the two years that he was there with Jaden anyway, and look, they had a different quarter. back situation last year is that he played big in all of their big games,

like, and was just reliable. All right, let's go to running back. And actually, before we do that, let's take a break. We will have more with John Kime, and we'll start with running backs that are possibilities for Washington at 29 or beyond. We'll do that right after these words from a few of our sponsors. So, guys, I've talked about a product. recently. It's called pre-alcohol. It's made by Zbiotics. It's a sure-fire way to wake up feeling

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Who's going, you know, where in the first round, position by first round. Go to my bookie.orgie.org, use my promo code, Kevin, D.C. We continue with John. So running back, I want to talk about that because I spent a lot of time in the opening segment talking about running backs, spent far too much time over the last few days looking at running backs. What chance do you give that 29 on the board for Washington, the best player available is a running back, and they take a running back there? I don't

I'm not I'm not sold yet that they would I think because the depth of the position I don't know that that would happen because again the depth at the position but then it's like well

how much more do you love this guy again I'm going to use my guy Traveon Anderson first of all I think he's really good obviously Ohio State guy but he is

really good. And let's say he's sitting there at 29. And they do, and let's say they like him. And, but then it's like, okay, what's the gap between Trayvion and let's say, Bashal Tootin for what they could offer you, and you could get him, maybe if you somehow get a third round pick, whatever it is, right? And then what's the gap between, you know, like the next guy on your board and then the next guy after that if you wanted to get a guy at that spot? You know what I'm saying? But I think there's a lot of, I think there's other things to consider. so I would be, I'd be slightly, only, I'd be slightly surprised, except that, you know, like what you do know is they would like to add a little bit, they would like to add a running

back and he's a guy, if there's a guy that you feel like, listen, this guy's a playmaker, whoever it is, whatever, whether, let's say, let's say they love Omerian Hampton. And I don't know, I don't know what, you know, their thoughts on it, but let's say they do. And he's sitting there, like, how can you pass this guy up? you know, like that, then, then okay. Like, I don't have a problem with them. I just don't know that they would do that. But, you know, I mean, if you can get a guy that can help you, then does it matter what position?

Yeah, I've been talking about this position for a while, not that you haven't and others haven't. I'm not saying that, but in part because I just had this hunch like a few months back that they were going to be looking to potentially replace Brian Robinson, Jr. And by the way, I would suggest that if they were to take a running back at 29 overall, he's not on the opening day roster. But beyond that, I think, John, and I've talked about this a lot over the last couple of weeks, unless you think you're getting an elite premier top five, Sequin, Barclay-esque kind of a back, even if it's the best player on the board at 29, you do your best to trade back, you may try to. convince yourself that another player is right there equal to it because the value of that player it just if it's if it's not Barclay or McCaffrey or Bijon Robinson you just I don't think you want to spend number 29 overall in the position so here's what I would say too and by and large I would agree and so part of it is also value not just in terms of positional but

financial of course that's part of it yeah that's a big part of it yeah right So if you got, like, what are the premium spots with defensive end, you know, cornerback, like, those are areas where, like, you're going to have to spend to fill those spots if these, if you don't get a guy there at some point, right? And, like, look what they had to get, what do you look at the cost to get Marciaun Lattimore, you know, salary plus a couple draftics. Like, so if you can find a guy at that spot, that's going to provide more value just for roster building.

I will say, though, like, what if they got, Jamir Gibbs at 29, a guy like that. That, to me, you do. Yeah, if you think Trayvon Henderson is Jamir Gibbs, you do that. Correct. Yeah. But it's got to be that level. It's got to be that level.

It does. I agree with that. Because, again, I think the, and then it would also depend on, let's say, there's a big gap between Henderson and the rest of the class after, or the first round running backs and everybody else they're after. Like then you have to say, well, we really want to get one. Let's just do it here. Okay, I get that.

But I don't think this class is, you know, again, I watch Travion Anderson his entire career. He's a terrific back. I think he adds juice and energy. But there are other guys. I think Tutin, if he, you know, if he gets the, if he's not losing the ball, if he takes care of that, one issue, it's a key issue. take care of that, that dude's got some juice and energy, too, and you could get him in the third or fourth or now, I don't know, like, is he your every down back at that point, or is you guys just adds a lot

to the offense? Well, you know, I don't know, but that would be the other question, like, what are you looking exactly for? If you're looking for that three down back, you know, Quinstein-Jutkins, you know, Hampton, again, like, you know, can Caleb Johnson become that guy? Like, there are other guy and they're different styles here too and they've looked at different styles it's not just the you know dynamic back it's there there's some power runners they've looked at right so i i you know i think but at the point is there's a is a big variety of backs in this draft and i think you can find one you like after the first round yeah and i i think just so everybody understands the value piece is that you take a running back at number 29 you're

paying that player like $13 million a year basically in your, well, the total contract would be like $13 million over four years. You're already got the running back into a position where he's a mid-level paid running back. You don't want that at that position unless you have elite. All right. Yeah, let me just tell you, I love Trayvion Henderson. I personally feel like after Genti, there are about 10 backs that basically could go in any order, and I'd put Hampton into that conversation. I'm telling you, I'm sorry. No, go ahead.

I had a long conversation with a scout the other day, and it's pretty much what he said. He said one through nine, but I'm putting Gentry in a different class. There's not a big drop-off from top to bottom. You want to, just because John is a big Ohio State guy, most of you know that. One of my dream scenarios for the team, because I love this player watching him, but I love them even more after watching a lot of them, would be to be,

No, no, I like Ibuka. I do like Ibuka. Okay. But it would be to trade back and somehow, in two picks in the second, round or, you know, somehow a second and a third to get Trayvion Henderson and J.T. Tuey Moloow. That dude has the highest motor as high a motor, and he's such a playmaker, and he played big in every single big game that you guys had. He had six and a half sacks in the playoffs this year.

No, he came through. And also, well. And he's a great edge run setter, too. He's an all-around defense event. So he's a guy that can come in right now and help you. And now, here's the hard part with the passports in the NFL. It takes them a minute to get going. So whoever you draft, whether someone loves Mike Green or Samarcio or whomever, it's going to take them a minute or two to find their footing the passers, because that's what history tells you.

Very few come in the NFL and make the huge impact. So how can you, how else can you help you? Like a guy like JTP can set the edge and he can rush. Now is the upside there the same for him as a pass rush or is maybe, again, Ola Fadu? I don't know because one is so new to the position, whereas one had one, you know, coming out of Ohio State, you have Larry Johnson as your coach, you have, you know, you're with a lot of really good players, you know, what's the ceiling for him? But you know he's going to be a good player, right?

So I think that's one thing there. Like, yeah, no, he's really good. I mean, there's no doubt about that. And I think of the two, he and Sawyer, he's the guy that can make more plays in the NFL. Definitely. Even though Sawyer made the highlight price up to the postseason. Yes, he did. But I think JCP, and he has, like, he had some highly athletic plays.

I go back and watch Penn State a couple years ago. Oh, the dominant game. Two interceptions, a force fumble and, like, three or four sacks in that game. It was one of the best games you'll see. So, like, yeah, I think, and it is funny because obviously my time, there, but I'm also not blind to some of the players that have come out of there. Like, I can see the flaws because I maybe have yelled about some of the flaws during three and a half hours on a Saturday afternoon.

But, like, I think with him, I think there is a lot to like there. I just, the thing I would wonder and why he might go later second is because, you know, does he have the same upside as some of the others if that's what you're trying to get? Sure. You know, I think, and I said this in talking about Henderson in the opening segment, but I think sometimes, and you know this, but when you're watching Ohio State, the skill positions offensively, and they end up being great players,

I'm not suggesting they're not, but you have to be careful because there's just a gaping hole or people are wide open because there's just so much talent. Look, you put Jeremiah Smith on the field with anybody at Bucca's going to look like great. Henderson's going to look great. I mean, he's going to be the number one pick in the draft, in 2070. Some people think he'd be the number one pick in this year's draft if he were available. But I think sometimes just watching Ohio State in particular, it's like watching Henderson.

It's just like there's always open space to run to. No, you have to be careful with that. And plus, like, even when you're evaluating the quarterback player there, you have to take that into account because you've got like, that's why I think there were some people who quite wondered about C.J. Stroud, even though when I watch him. I'm like, that, and like, they're like with Justin Fields, I saw what scouts were talking about, right? Like, you could see that even with, when, when Haskins is coming out, when you're watching, like, oh, this is a top 10 guy. And then when you bend back and studied it, you're like, okay, here are some flaws that might show up that you're going to have to work on, right? And with C.J. Stroud, I felt like, there are a lot of Sunday throws that he makes, like, I think he's going to be, I thought he was going to be better than Justin Fields in the NFL because of that.

So you can see that, but you also do have to take into account like, okay, on this play, how much time did he have to throw? Was this a talent play or was this a placement? You know what I'm saying? So you have to, I think it forced you to really ask some hard questions or honest questions to get to like where you say, okay. Because then you know, the other thing, and I talked to Scouts about this over the years, too, like, well, what if Desmond Ritter had played Ohio State? What would he have been coming out? Yeah. You know, not that he had a chance to play in the NFL and he hasn't.

to work. But like you take you have to put other guys like what if he had this kind of talent around him. What would that you know the same is like you know Will Howard was it the talent around him? Was it how much was it him? You know, you know what I mean? So I think there's there is a lot that that you have to take into account when you're looking at guys and then you know but you do look at like I mean you know at Buka I think will be a very good pro you know but he's been surrounded by look at the guys that he's played with and He's been so consistent. Yeah.

I mean, you know, but, but yeah, I think you, you know, you definitely take that into account. I, he's a tough guy, though. Like, he's a, he's a guy that adds to your culture, for sure. I really never liked Askins in college, and, but I really like. I remember that, yeah. Yeah, but I really liked Justin Fields. I thought the game that he had against Clemson and the semis that year was, was, and I'm like, that's the game that's going to get him.

into the top 10 because he had not proven that he could hang in the pocket and get rid of it on time. And yet we see that now at the pro level that he doesn't process that quickly, but he did that night. That was the one. He did. And, you know, Alave runs a wrong route on the one intercept. Oh, right. It's not, it's not on justice.

The point is it wasn't on Justin Field. And I'm not going to bring up the fumble overturned call because that one's still better. It's too early for that. But I will say, like, with Justin, like the one thing, that was a thing that you didn't know. Like, this is the hard part, the evaluation, right? Like, he would take a sack on first down, but you're like, all right, you're going to pick it up anyway because you can't. You have the talent around you.

He had that running ability. So if it's second and 15, you still feel like they're going to get a first down because of that. And then sometimes, like, you watch him and say, okay, he's taken a while, but is it because he knows he can or because he doesn't see it right? Does that make sense? Yeah, no, totally. That was the one question I had about him. I thought he, you know, I still, I thought he would be better.

I also, let me say this. He went to one of the absolute worst places he could have gone coming out of the NFL, going to Chicago. That was, like, that's, that's a, you know, people can talk about here, or whatever. Chicago was a graveyard for that stuff, right? And so I think that was a bad place for him to go. But, you know, I. We'll see if it works in New York. Well, see, it's a word.

Right. But I do agree. I just thought CJ would be a better NFL quarterback. Well, you were right. I wasn't convinced about Stroud. I thought in those big games like the Michigan game, it was, well, he played great in the playoff game, though, against Georgia. All right.

Let's move on to a couple more, and then I'll let you run. I appreciate it as always. So give me your prediction right now. I mean, I don't know if you can do that with me or if you're saving it for, something else, but do you, if right now I told you the pick was in, who would you guess it was? Well, it's, I mean, I don't know who's still there. So that's the hard part.

You know what I mean? I know that, but just like, just to assume that you've got to feel for who might be there, who do they take? If you want to save it for something else, that's fine. I totally understand. Well, I have, like, we have our NFL Nation mark draft, and I am kind of saving some of that stuff. Yeah.

But for our NFL Nation Mark draft, which is Tuesday, I'm a time. 3 on ESPN. But I don't know that I loved my pick. Oh, you've already done it? We've already done it. It airs tomorrow or on Tuesday. But I don't, yeah, I don't know if I loved the pick, even though I think it's like a guy that would, that makes sense for them. And I think it's a guy they could take, but the guys that I liked were gone. So, you know, and I think a trade is, you know, I put odds on that. but I don't know. Like, I would give you a couple guys. Like, you know, I like, if Green as a Rockoo,

I mean, I'm telling you, a guy that I kind of have a draft crush on is Tyler Booker, a kid from Alabama. Like, I really enjoy watching him. So if he's there personally, you know, I'm taking him. If he's there. But I don't know that he would be. And so then would you like one at the other end, you know? All right. I don't know.

Well, yeah, I mean, it's going to be interesting. So just people, when you watch John's pick on the Draft Show, on ESPN, you said tomorrow at 4 o'clock, 3 o'clock? Three, three o'clock. At 3. Just understand that he does not like the pick after he made it. Well, I'm not in love with the pick. I don't know that, like, because there's some things about the player I really like and some things I want to wait and see. but some of the guys that I liked a bit more were gone. And I don't know, again, then it comes, there's one player that some people are going to say,

like, why didn't you take him? Like, well, I'm not sure they'll take that spot in the first round. I'm not convinced of that. So we'll say, but I, and listen, this might be a player they take, and it's so you're trying to guess what they might do, and I do think it's a guy that would be on their radar, you know, there's, I mean, evidence that there's a least interest. Yeah.

So, you know, I think it could be, I just, I think the hard part, not to ramble on this, but the hard part where you have a 29th kick in a mock draft, you see these guys go is like, I have no clue. No, who's going to be there? Really think. And, yeah, and so, like, that's such, you know, and they all are going to have something, it's like, yeah, I like this guy a lot, but there's a, there's a handful, there's a of guys like that in this draft. So,

I don't think it's a bad pick. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just, I don't know. All right. Actually. I thought good about last year's pick. Yeah. We all did. All right. Two more. Legitimately two more.

Is there a guy on night two or day three that you have a sense they really like and that if that players there, they'll take them? Day two Night two or day three

Either one Oh, okay So later at post Post 29 Is there a player there that you kind of feel like they definitely like? I think all the father The kid from UCLA If you don't get an edge guy in the first round

Like that's got to be a guy that's That is a strong person of interest I just think there's ties there I think I think he'd be I if he's there at 61, I'd be surprised if they didn't take him only because I think he fits what they want, right? And what they would like to get.

And I think he's, again, the chess piece that these guys would love defensively. So the potential chess piece, you know, and so I think, like, it would make sense. That would be a guy, certainly, you know, after 29, that would make sense. Yeah, he's... Well, it would be certainly a strong person of interest. His best tape is really impressive. Really impressive. And he's new to the position.

Very new to the position. Exactly. I mean, so that is, that's a guy that I would say like, yeah, you'd have to be like, okay, can they get him at 61? Would you have to move up? I think that's the other big thing, Kevin, is can they trade that pick? And if, you know, that's the other thing to watch for sure. Right. All right.

Last one. You'd be surprised if at the end of this drive. raft, they didn't have a player at this position? Running back. Yeah, me too. But it's equal with edge pass rusher, right? Yeah, I would say, I could have said edge. I could have said corner.

You know, and I also think offensive line, I'd be really surprised there as well. Like, I think those are the four that, and they have five picks. I have a feeling to come away with more somehow, but I think those. be the four primary spots that I feel like they will address. But I'll speak with the most. But the fact that that was your first answer, and that's kind of been my answer too, do you agree with me that if they end up taking one at, let's just say at 61, okay, or somewhere on night two after tradeback, that Brian Robinson, Jr., more than

likely than, more likely than not is on his way out? It depends on the style of the back. Like, you know, if, is it, again, if it's a guy that's like, okay, a change of pace type runner, then no. If it's a guy that's like, okay, he can be a three-down back and all that. But I don't know, I think if you have 17 games, I don't know that I feel compelled to get rid of Brian. Okay. You know what I mean? I just, I just think that you want to have a strong stable of backs.

And clearly they like Jeremy McNichols. And in Ossackler can still, you know, obviously can still have to have the. third down back. But I would be, the two concerns I would have with getting rid of a Robinson is one, you want depth at running back, two. Eckler has, you know, will he, you know, the durability factor like the concussions, right? Things like that, that I would, you have to take into consideration that I'm not going to weaken a position that could be strong for me. I would just say that if they took Caleb Johnson from Iowa at number 61, he's, he's your starting, not, he's your, he's your opening night starter at Philadelphia on Thursday night, September 4th as you're running back.

He's got the mark on already. It's not done yet. All right. No, but that, I think that's probably going to work. I'm guessing that's what we'll see. But yeah, if it's Caleb Johnson, that's a similar style. But I would also say like, then it's, then, you know, I guess it would depend, Kevin, too, then on, let's say they draft Caleb Johnson, but they also got another tight end. Now you're looking at like, okay, now you may have to cut from a different position. Where is that?

Where is the painful cut? You know what I mean? So I think it just depends, but I wouldn't summarily do that because I still think it can provide value for you even if it's as a backup in that kind of scenario. But, you know. Great job, as always. Appreciate it. Always fun to do this with you.

We'll talk, I'm sure, sometime coming up in the next month or so. Thanks. Awesome. Always enjoy, Kevin. John Kime, everybody, at John underscore Kime. John's got a podcast as well called The Kime Report. And of course, you can read John. He will be writing a lot this week and is already written a bunch already today on the draft at ESPN.com.

All right, that wraps it up for today. Back tomorrow with Tommy.