The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Shane Hallam Of Draft Sharks Join The Show Before NFL Draft

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

Shane Hallam Of Draft Sharks Join The Show Before NFL Draft

All right, is that time of year? It is finally here. Draft Day. And we are here to talk about it with you, folks, on the Matt Thomas show with Ross, with Shane Hallam. We need to thank him. Draft Sharks, we do need to thank him. Shane is like, before we get to the nuts and bolts of it,

we have tried for many weeks to get people on the show, and you are available and nice enough to come on. So thank you to Houston from us for coming on the show. I know you've been a busy time. How are you, sir? Thank you for being on our program. Oh, no, I appreciate you guys having me. It's like Christmas Eve here.

You know, I'm just waiting to wake up and open the presents and in a couple hours. So I'm pumped up. All right. So before we get to the nuts and bolts of the Texans and what they should be doing, how do you set up your day? You're in front of a television. You are making some phone calls. First of all, just generally speaking,

do you think there's going to be a massive amount of up and down with guys and teams shifting draft orders? or do you think things will stay pretty much sedentary? I think we're going to see some movements just because this draft really falls off after the top three picks. I think maybe teams have kind of a second tier there in that four through 12 range. I think that's where you'll see some teams that jump up from maybe the late teams, early 20s, into that top 12.

And then I think it will kind of settle down. Then we get late in the first. Teams are going to be hitting the end of who they grade as first round draft. picks and that's when you see those teams pop in. We saw last year the last two picks the first round were trade-ups from the second round. So I think that might happen again tonight. Yeah, and Shane, I also going to ask you, just in general this draft, how do you see it in terms of it being top-heavy, players that you have with the first-round grade, and some positions

of strength and weakness in this draft? I think it's top-heavy. I think there's kind of a big three in this draft. We have Cam Ward, who's obviously going to go number one. Travis Hunter, the receiver corner from Colorado, who's probably going to go number two. And then I've done Carter of the Edge from Penn State. It's probably going to go number three. I think those guys are the elite prospects in this draft. And then honestly, from there, it really falls off. You know, Ashton Janty, the running back from Boise State, if he wasn't a running back, I think it would be in that conversation.

But positional value, you know, we're hearing he's probably going to go in the top five because after those big three, it kind of falls off. I think it's a strong draft in certain areas running back, offensive line, corner are all pretty strong. But not necessarily players that you look at and you say, wow, this is a blue chip can't miss prospect. Everyone kind of has flaws after those top three. And that's what makes this draft difficult. Shane, at the Texan stay at 25, would you be satisfied with a potential tackle guard available to them? or do you think if they really want to make a difference maker,

get a guy that could start potentially week one, they've got to move up in the draft? I think if you want that difference maker, you have to move up probably for Kelvin Banks out of Texas or Armand Membo out of Missouri. Those two are projected to go in the top 12. So I think if Houston's probably making those calls, gauging how much it would take.

And we know that the next area has been aggressive in the past, so it certainly could happen. But I'm kind of comfortable with the choices they may have. Josh Connerly, the tackle from Oregon, maybe doesn't have this kind of upside that those top guys have, but it really rocks solid in a major program going up against pass rushers that are going to get drafted today and tomorrow. I'd be comfortable with taking him.

I think Josh Simmons, the office tackle at Ohio State, it really depends on the medical, on his knee that he injured this year, is a pretty devastating injury. So you could have those options, there. The question is, do you want to wait and maybe just see those off the tackle's fly off the board and get stuck? And another position of need that the Texans, a lot

of people have them getting mocked, is wide receiver. How do you have the top of your wide receiver board ordered, and who do you think the Texans could get around 25? I have Ted McMillan, the receiver from Arizona, just after Travis Hunter from Colorado.

I think Ted McMillan's going to go in the top 12. I'd be surprised if he falls past the Dallas Cowboys. I think for the Texans of 25. You're looking at Amika Agbuka, the wide receiver from Ohio State. It's probably the safest option. He's going to be a solid pro slot receiver. He's not going to

be a number one. The Texans don't need number one. They have Nico Collins. So I think Egbuka would be a really good choice if he's there. Or do you swing for the upside? Matthew Golden out of Texas. I have rated as the second round pick. I'm not a big fan, but he did run a 4-29, did play with some inconsistency,

a quarterback with Quinn U.S. Texas, had a great college football playoff. I think those are the first round possibilities at receiver. If I was the Texans, I would wait. I like day two, and that wide receiver mix just as much as some of those late first guys. I'm curious, yeah, you and a lot of people are down on Matthew Golden.

I guess is it just the lack of consistent production that bothers you, or what else would it be? I think the lack of consistent productions there. He's never led his team in receptions in college and, you know, played at Houston. So I think you wanted to see a little bit more of that earlier in his career. The other thing is he doesn't separate really well for his athleticism.

I want to see in Maine coverage if you have that kind of speed athleticism, that you're getting away from these corners of slants on outs, on ends. And he's not doing that. Too many contested catches for his speed. My other question with him is, I don't think he plays in 429. I mean, he got caught multiple times this season. I think he's more of a 4-4 speed player. So all these things mixed, I would rather be more comfortable with him in round two.

Shane Hallam joining us. Shane P. Hallam on Twitter. Draftsharks.com is the website. Shane, Shador Sanders. Everybody's got an opinion. What's yours? I'm not there with Shador. I have him.

He's 39th on my big board. I haven't read this the second round pick. I think he's good, but it feels to me like this quarterback class outside of Cam Ward is a lot of reaching for what you hope can become a franchise quarterback instead of a player with the

trace of a franchise quarterback. I think Sanders is really smart between the ears. He knows how to manipulate safety. He does a lot of advanced things as well, but his arm is average. And in today's NFL, where these defenses like the two deep safeties, you have to have a cover two beater on the sideline. You have to have a cover three beater. And I don't think he has the arms to do that at the NFL level. And a lot of just tendencies in the pocket, bad habits of drifting backwards when there's no one wide open. I think there's a lot of development that he needs. So if he goes in the top 10, I think it's a mistake. If we go late first or we've seen some mocks

who's falling in the second round, then I'm all for it. Draft them, develop them, sit them behind someone, but I don't think he's ready to be an NFL quarterback yet. So as you know, teams can find some good value in the third and fourth rounds. I see you have Jalen Royals of Utah

State mocked to the Texans in the third round. Who are some guys can you just tell us some more about him and then some other guys you think they could provide some value in those middle rounds? I'm a really big fan of Jaylin Royals at Utah State. I think it'll be a solid third-round pick. Turns into a running back with a ball in his hands.

Their whole offense was get the ball to him and let them do great things. I question his route running, and then as a senior bowl, he tore it up. He beat first-round corners in one-on-one route. So I think Royals could be a Rishie Wright type of player that you're using in different ways and can have a lot of production. I really like some of the tight ends, too, on Z-2, which the Texas could potentially look at. Terrence Ferguson, the tight end of Oregon is really interesting.

He's explosive. Oregon's offense doesn't really utilize the tight end. He was so good in that old stick Jason Witten route, but they had to use him and forced some passes that way. So I like him, and I'll drop one more name. Charles Grant, the opposite tackle out of William and Mary is getting a lot of push-up the board. I played almost purely his own blocking scheme of William and Mary,

added some weight. Looks really good. in this offseason. So for a small school player, I think he's going to go in the top 100 and be a difference maker on the office line from day one. Shane, tonight will be the biggest night for at least the casual fan to watch the draft, not so much the Friday and Saturday. So tonight, as we're sitting back, having a couple of cold pops and joining this thing, give me one or two names that you're going to hear in the first round tonight, but you're thinking this is a mistake. Now, maybe not, well, maybe you'll be in the NFL, but way over-raiser.

way shouldn't be a day one pick. And ultimately, remember, if you goof up on first round picks, it does cost you. Are there one or two names on that list, or maybe you don't have one that you go tonight? Better not hear those names. Those teams are going to be in trouble. Look, I always have a couple of those things. Don't worry. Mikel Williams, the edge rusher out of Georgia, it looks like he's probably going to go in the top 12.

I think it's a big mistake. Never had the production. There was a five-star recruit, long, big, rangy explosive. but he gets pushed out of so many plays which is bad technique. Off the time and get their hands on him. He's down for the count. I think he's a rotational pass rusher at best.

You're taking him that high. I think it is a big mistake. And I'll mention another name that may pop into the first round. We'll see Trey Amos, who's a corner at a Mississippi. I have rated more as a third round pick. He's big. He's physical. He can jam up the line, but he's so stiff, turning and running.

I think it's days than a fellow of some of these smaller receivers. He's going to really struggle if he doesn't get them at the line. I think that would end up being a mistake if he's drafted in the first round. Shane Halemdraftsharks.com. Thanks for the time, Shane. I just let the folks know where they can find your stuff. And go to draft sharks.com. You can see my seven-round mock draft pick for every single pick in the NFL draft. So check that out before it launches tonight. Shane, thank you for the time and enjoy this evening. All this hard work should pay off for you this evening. Thanks for the visit.

No, thanks, guys. Thanks for having me. You got it's Shane Hallam. Shane P. Hallam on Twitter. Follow him tonight.