The McShay Show - Mock Draft 4.0! One Quarterback Trade, Two Top-10 Surprises, and All the Latest Intel.

Episode Date: April 23, 2025

Welcome back to The McShay Show! The guys are breaking down all 32 first-round picks in Todd’s Mock Draft 4.0, which is free on The McShay Report for everyone to read. They reveal which teams could trade up, who’s looking to move back, and all the latest intel 24 hours before the draft. (0:00) Welcome to The McShay Show! (1:30) Mock Draft 4.0 Revealed! (5:19) #1: Titans are on the Clock (10:50) #2 Browns are on the clock (12:05) #3 Giants are on the clock (15:20) #4 Patriots are on the clock (19:53) #5 Jaguars are on the clock (24:13) #6 Raiders are on the clock (28:19) #7 Jets are on the clock (31:54) #8 Panthers are on the clock (36:18) #9 Saints are on the clock (39:31) #10 Bears are on the clock (43:24) #11 49ers are on the clock (46:15) #12 Cowboys are on the clock (48:46) #13 Dolphins are on the clock (51:28) #14 Colts are on the clock (53:30) Mock 4.0: Picks 15-17 (56:58) #18 Seahawks are on the clock (58:07) Mock 4.0: Picks 19-27 (1:11:04) #28 Lions TRADE pick to the Giants (1:17:24) Mock 4.0: Picks 29-34 (1:26:11) Mock Draft 4.0 Takeaways The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Todd McShay Guest: Steve Muench Producers: Tucker Tashjian, Mark Panik, Conor Nevins, and Daniel Comer Social: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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this is the final mock draft. We got one day until the NFL draft. Ment you good? I'm fired up, man. Tuck, give me that beat. Not a lot of housekeeping today. Tomorrow's the draft. I'm fired up.

We're going to be here, all right? We're going to be here live streaming one hour before the draft. Come join us. It's going to be a lot of fun. We made the promise today. Munch and I are driving in to the studio. videos here in LA. We made a decision. Yeah, we get the picks a little bit earlier. We've got, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, I've texts from friends in the

league, uh, we're not tipping picks. You've got to respect the game. And we made the decision, like, we're not here for clickbait. We're here for substance. We're here for analysis. So come join with us. You'll get the, the, the picks the same exact time as everyone else is getting the picks when the commissioner makes that announcement on the stage in Green Bay for the 2025 NFL draft. And from that point on, we will break down. every single team. We will, instead of talking for eight minutes about, okay, what's going to be next and all that,

we'll give you a minute of that. But we want to really, like, when your team drafts a player, let's talk about how that player fits. What looks like, what's the projection in the next year? And dive into, okay, now we get two picks left in day two. Now we get three picks left, whatever it breaks down to.

And we're going to really do a deep dive into each NFL team. YouTube, Spotify, we will live stream throughout the entire first round of the draft, come join us. It'll be a fun hang and we'll be there one hour before. 7 p.m. Eastern time, okay? 4 p.m. Pacific here. It's going to be unusual that early in the day. But we're going to break it all down and we're going to have up to the minute. I mean, my phone is going to be buzzing. That's my favorite like two hours of the entire year. Texts. GM's asking, are you hearing this? What's going on? We will just kind of walk through everything that we're hearing from inside the league. So come hang with us. We'd love to love to

to see you there. Mach 4.0. That's what today's all about. I got it done early this year and we wanted to get it to you. And I don't, like unless there's a breaking news, Schefter or Schreger or Breer or Rossini or someone comes in and says, hey, there's a trade been made.

Hopefully we don't have to come back tomorrow morning and do this again. But we will if we need to. But as of right now, here's the mock draft. I feel good about it. I'm not saying it's perfect. Never perfect. I offered a million dollars once on PMT with Big Cat and the gang.

And I got yelled at by executives in my former place of employment because they said, well, what if, do we have to get legal involved? What if someone actually gets all 32 picks right? I said, I promise you, you put all 32 GMs who are making these decisions in a room and they talk it out for four hours, they would still get it wrong. There's no way. So I feel as good about it as. we can. And honestly, it comes from a lot of good sources. And even if the pick's not exactly right

where it is, this gives you a really great sense of what teams are deciding. I've talked to a lot of teams in their boards and kind of the final players that it comes down to. And we'll walk through all the picks here. Just a reminder, Google the McShay report. If you don't already subscribe, we gave it to you for free. Like, we can't, we always say, appreciate you for your support. You've been here, whether it's from the first day back in October 22nd or you're just joining now, we appreciate everyone who's here. It's my way of giving back. I recognize it's frustrating. You've got to go and subscribe and take your credit card out and all those things. So for this, we decided, you know, let's give the people what they deserve for being a part

of this. And you can access, just go in, you click the subscribe button, and all of a sudden you get the entire mock 4.0, hopefully the final mock of the entire 2025 draft season for free. there it is. Perfect. Yeah, let's go. I don't think any surprise. Tennessee's on the clock. Tennessee's made it perfectly clear.

You're not allowed to, but the league does not allow you to basically announce the pick. Tennessee all but did in the last 48 hours by coming out and saying we're staying at number one and making the pick. We all know it's Cammore. My thought on this, because I feel like we brush it over because there's no suspense to it. We don't talk about it. My thought on this is I'm excited to see what Brian Callahan, head coach of the Titans is able to do with Cam Ward. He's got this beautiful piece of clay, if you will. And Cam Ward with the instincts, the poison the pocket, the arm angles, the ability

to throw beautifully on the run. There's just a lot to work with there. And I'm not saying he's Patrick Mahomes. He's not. But I see some of the instincts in the pocket and the waiting to the final second and out leveraging defenders by allowing them to get real close to him and him knowing what he's going to do before they get there. And that is something you can't teach. And Mahomes had that and still has that. And that's why two players, Cam Ward and Patrick Mahomes, who are not great athletes, good athletes, not great athletes, not Lamar Jackson.

They're not fast by, you know, they're not Jalen Milro or Lamar or even Josh Allen's speed. But they extend and create because of those instincts. But Brian Callahan has, is. I don't think anyone's really gone through his history enough, okay? He started out as a grad assistant, or not a grad assistant, a offensive assistant, an offensive assistant, a quality control coach. With Peyton Manning in Denver, he's worked with Matthew Stafford, as he's elevating up the ranks, worked with Derek Carr.

Then he got his big break, offensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow, brings him to a Super Bowl. Then he gets, like, every step of the way he's been. preparing him for this moment. Head coach, get to make the choice, part of the final decision-making group, handpicked the quarterback we want, and it's Cam Ward. And now he gets to do it on his terms as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. And when I see Cam, I see a guy who in the pocket when he's on time in rhythm,

just like what we said about Mahomes, like you go clip off those certain plays when he's actually in rhythm, timing with the receiver, on the routes, making the, the one, read, ball out, he's a sniper. And I think they saw that over and over again on the clip reel and said, we can develop more of this and still have in the back pocket those instincts and ability to extend. I agree with everything you're saying. I agree with the pick. I think it should be the pick. I think it's going to be the pick.

It makes sense for the mock draft, all of that. But I am not your yes man. And I will never be your yes man. Okay. So devil's advocate. Where would Cam Ward have gone in last year's quarterback class? I would have, and I went back and looked. Quite honestly, it's, I'm having the discussion and debating with JJ McCarthy at four.

I think that's right. But let's just say four. Let's say he goes ahead of JJ McCarthy. We'll just settle it there. We'll say that he goes ahead of J.J. McCarthy. And you have a unicorn in this year's draft and Travis Hunter who can play two positions, a unique, talented player. Is there an argument to be made?

that you don't take the quarterback, even though, listen, you need a quarterback to win in this league. I get it. I'm saying it's the right pick. I get it all. But devil's advocate. Yeah. You need a lot if you're Tennessee.

Rich Eisen had 15 minutes with me the other day to ask me any question I wanted from all the sources I have in the league, all the information, all the analysis, the 15 months of work we've done putting it into this draft and the, like, really concentrated for the last five months. And he spent about five of those 15 minutes doing exactly what you're doing right now. I know. And I'll give you the abridged version of what I said. We'll get to a quick. I'll get to Travis Hunter and all the great things that he can offer.

Who's getting them in the ball? Right. I hear you. I hear you. All right. And I appreciate it. And I'm watching. You didn't want to brush it over it.

So let's not brush over. No. I, you're not the only person, I guess, is the point I'm trying to make that is asking that question. It's a fair question. But at the end of the day, you can't win in this league without a quarterback. And this is the best quarterback that this class has to, to offer. And I think the market, when we get to tomorrow night, is going to indicate how big of a gap the league.

Because I want people to remember this. Cleveland has a desperate need for quarterback, a young quarterback to develop to be the future of that franchise. The Giants have a desperate need for that same guy. Yes, they have Russell Wilson, but I'm talking about the future of their quarterback spot in their franchise with coaches who are on the hot seat with general manager and personnel staff on the hot seat. and they're passing on the other guys in this class. True. So is New Orleans at 9. So there is a big gap.

And I think that speaks to this. And the Giants in Cleveland have made significant offers, according to people I've talked to, to move up to get Cam Ward. Right. And just to put a bow on it really quickly, keep in perspective that we say that he would have been fourth in last year's class. Last year's class is historic.

Cam Ward would be first in a lot. of classes. So it's kind of, you know, it's a fun exercise and we do it a lot where we say he would have been fourth last year. There's a lot of years of Cam Ward would be the first quarterback off the board. Agreed. All right. Cleveland Browns, not a surprise. I went with Travis Hunter here. Chuck. And you're the first person who mentioned this name to me, and I actually put it in the mock draft. He's the NFL Shohayatani. So you can't pass on him here unless you have a grade on the quarterback and everyone did their due diligence. I told you, private planes are crossing in the air.

Last minute trying to, like, are we sure? Are we sure on top of shore that there's not a quarterback in this class that we want to take it too? And the same thing for the Giants at three. Right. And the Saints at 9. And quite frankly, even the Jets and the Raiders at 7 and 6, respectively. Travis Hunter's the pick, and it's the right pick.

Yeah, it's chalk. It's the right pick. I got to be honest. I think Dan came up with Otani, but I ran with it. Oh, nice up. That's up, Dan. Dan, Comer. Okay.

Yeah. Well, Dan, we'll give you your due. And I'm excited, but during our live stream, we're going to have Dan and Tucker, Connor, all jumping in. Sure. Someone's going to have to help carry this thing for five plus hours. There's only so much of my voice and Mentor's voice you can hear. But we're going to have a lot of fun tomorrow.

Number three, this is like, I don't think it's a big surprise now, but we've been saying, for over two weeks. This is going to be Abdul Carter. And I'm sticking with this here. It's going to be Abdul Carter. And I want to get to the Giants later because there's another move in this mock draft that I'm excited to share that I actually feel pretty strongly about.

So we'll get into all the other quarterback-centric issues with the Giants. Here's the one thing I want to say with Abdul Carter that's been interesting. Talking to a lot of people in the league, it's almost like this. he is I've told you from the start there are two players at the top of this year's draft they're kind of in their own class and it's Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter and for some teams it's Hunter

other teams it's Carter but it's those same two names and then kind of the board starts at three what's interesting is we get closer and you don't know if it's smoke but they're like yeah maybe he comes off a little abrasive he's got the shoulder the foot injure you know like so

I think because the talent is so great, either we've brushed over it or there's some people out there trying to get information out. So it's just been interesting to hear in these final like seven, 10 days, more information coming out about Abdul Carter, but at the end of the day, I haven't talked to a single

team. Even the teams that I talk to that are like, yeah, you know, there's a little stuff and maybe not as clean and perfect as you'd like. But I haven't talked to a single team that doesn't have them as one of the top two players in this draft and that's what the Giants are going to do. Right. And stick it three and take Abdul Carter.

Yeah, I mean, chalk, man. We're rolling now. I think it's real interesting in the next couple of picks. And if this is the decision, I made this point yesterday, and I've actually made it a couple of times, you have someone in the building who's uniquely qualified. And I hold them up in, like, the highest regard. You know, there's Andy Reid, there's, there's, there's,

Shanahan, there's McVeigh, there's a handful of people, and I include him in that list, Brian. and able when it comes to who's the quarterback for us okay oh connell open in there too yes i'm glad you mentioned his name absolutely um so if if this plays out this way then i think the general manager needs to be the one who manages the whole deal okay that's that's the quarterback our guy who we believe in is decided that it is going to be you know the the the one that we want to go after. We want to target. But, but Brian, it ain't at three. We got, Abdul's our guy. If it plays out this way, that's a, for all the talk and the dissension and the ranks and

the frustration, and I've heard some stories. But at the end of the day, every, every good company has executives that are at each other, competitive business, and, and trust their process, trust their expertise and it should be Deybo's expertise with the quarterback and it should be Joe Shane's expertise

with managing the board and understanding what's best for this organization so if it plays out this way tip of the hat as MENCH just did for you number four New England Patriots

here's we had a fascinating conversation yesterday with somebody also like a business and I think in our audience everyone's worked in some company unless you're, you know, under the age of 18 and maybe you've just, you know, had some side jobs. But anyone who's worked in corporate America or any kind of business, not as important as the talent.

The baseline for hiring is can he or she perform this job, right? But then I think if we're all being honest, so much of it then becomes like, do I want to work with this one? Do I want to work with him or her? do it like is this someone who's going to understand my language is going to pick up things quickly all of that stuff the stories that now are coming out as it's becoming very very clear that new england's taking will campbell the offensive tackle from lSU at number four they are satisfied with he can do the job at left tackle for them and they are in love with the individual with the football intelligence with the recall meetings in dallas private meetings

meetings, bringing him in the building. Even as simple as like introducing him to everyone walking through all these different things and having the recall to go back and tell them exactly what they just dumped on his lap, which is a lot of information on purpose to test him, aces the test. Mike Vrable is in love with this young man according to all reports. And it's not surprising. He needs guys that are going to understand and pick things up quickly. They're going to do things differently in New England. It's not going to be just like Bill Belichick. but there's going to be some elements of we need to be the smartest guys in the room. We need to change game plans.

We need guys that can adjust on the fly. And Will Campbell can do that. And if he, for Patriots fans out there, if Campbell is the pick, I want you to know that, it is as much about trusting the human being and his football brain as it is 32 and 5 eighths inches or 33 inch arm length of pro day. It's about the tape as the foundation, but we trust this guy and he can help us execute what we're trying to do. Yeah. I mean, they need a left tackle too, though. And the hope is that he can be a left tackle because, look, they're in a very difficult spot. We talked about

a little bit yesterday with them winning that game against the bills and putting themselves in this position because that's all good and well. And I like that. And I think that's all true. You'd love to get that kind of a player at 12, 16, 18. He's got to play left tackle if he's a fourth overall pick. And I don't, listen, I've said several times my piece on Will Campbell and the concerns that I, like, anyone who, who says his tape is clean, I just, I just disagree. I mean, you're more than welcome to your opinion. I just don't see it. I see some issues on tape. And I'm not sure he's a lock to play left tackle in the NFL. And now you're taking a guard at four. But who? Then who? You know, you could say Ashton Genty, and I know a lot of fans in New England will love Ashton Genty, and that's great. And all. He's a very talented player. They can't afford the luxury of.

taking Ashen Tentany right now. They need guys up front. They need a left tackle specifically. So you hope he's that guy. I don't hate the pick. I really don't hate the pick because he is talented, because he is a great human being. Because of all the things that Todd just said,

I don't hate it, but I sure don't love it. I'm real concerned about it. Fair. It's all fair. Right? It is. Part of our job here is to explain the why. Right.

Because Gary Horton, who raised us in this, business. I talk about him a lot and I will always talk about Gary because he gave us the opportunity to do what we're doing. And he worked with Bill Belichick and Nick Saban and he worked with a lot of, like, you know, in the college level of Frank Cush and Mike White. His big thing to me, he preached to me early on. Like, yeah, you can have your opinions and your analysis. But at the end of the day, like he, he was hard on me about these people did not wake up one morning and decide how do I go screw this thing up. You know?

And it always stuck with me. It's true. And there's a human element to all of this. And Mike Brayble knows ball. And like the people in that building have been around this like, Elliot Wolf's been around this like literally since he was an infant. And so they didn't wake up the morning that they decided that Will Campbell's going to be the pick and say, let's try to screw this thing up.

Yeah. You know? Let's see how we can mess this up. So it's our job to explain the why sometimes. Number five. Here we go. I think the draft starts at five. Let's just be honest.

It does. I think it's, chock is the word we've been using for a while, and it kind of is. Cam Ward, number one, Travis Hunter, two to Cleveland, Abdul Carter, three of the Giants, Will Campbell, Ford of New England. Jacksonville got interesting, didn't it, folks? Like, fast. We thought the chalk was Mason Graham, defensive tackle, Michigan for a long time. Made all the sense in the world. Talked about the short arms.

That's his big knock on him, 32-inch arm. Braden Fiske for the Rams, 32-inch arms. Kobe Turner, 31. one inch arms. James Gladstone, general manager, new GM of the Jacksonville Jaguars, integral part of drafting both of those players with the Rams, working under less need,

general manager there. And we've all thought it was going to be Graham. And now all of a sudden, Sunday is the first, I remember, we came out just a few days ago on Sunday, Mench and I in my hotel room, dogs barking,

Ment's trying to order room service. I had got, I had phone calls all weekend, got another call when I landed, and all of a sudden it was like, hey, Liam Cohen, new head coach, kind of put his foot down a little bit. And for, you know, right or wrong, he's decided that you brought me in here to fix Trevor Lawrence, give me the tools in which to do it. And so there's been a lot of talk about Ted McMillan wide receiver from Arizona and Ashton Jinty running back from Boise State.

Here's what I have for you, okay? I am told on pretty reliable sources. It will be an offensive skill guy, and it will be one of those two players, okay? There's been a lot of noise about teams trying to trade up to go get Ashton Jinty. He's the hot name, okay? Chicago was one of those teams at 10. Dallas. Dallas, we've heard a little bit.

I don't want to push that too far. I've heard some rumblings about Dallas. Denver, I want to make this perfectly clear. I was close to pulling the trigger on Denver moving up. If Gentie were to get past this pick, Sean Payton is eagerly trying to move up to go get Ashton Jinty. Those are all the rumblings that I'm getting. Okay?

And they're picking at 20. What I'm told is this. If they stay at 5 and don't make him move, it will be Ashton Jenty. if a trade offer comes in to move back, they would entertain it, okay? But they would only do so to move back to a spot where they feel comfortable that they can get Tet Macbillan,

the six-foot-four wide receiver. And we talked to you about Trevor Lawrence, his history, 2018, 2019 at Clemson, Justin Ross, T. Higgins, both six-four receivers, 4,000 receiving yards, 42 touchdowns in those two seasons. That was when he was at his best. They brought in Brian Thomas last year. things started to work a little bit there, but not enough.

Maybe another big body wide receiver. But maybe it's in round two with a Jaden Higgins, okay, from Iowa State. Maybe. Love that. Right? Love that. But if they stick and picket five, I'm told it's Ashton Genty for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thoughts?

I love it. I think both makes sense. I mean, your discussions about what Trevor Lawrence had at Clemson and having those big body receivers and how much Brian Thomas worked out for them last year and adding another guy who's maybe not that level. I don't think he's that level. I don't know how you feel. I don't think you do either.

I mean, you have Ted is your 50th guy. Clearly. I mean, what am I talking about? But adding another big-bodied, talented receiver makes a lot of sense. I love the Ashton Jenty pick. But I'm going to be honestly right now. I'm having a hard time focusing on this pick.

Because here come the bombs. Here come the picks that we, things have changed, folks. who we've had going at six and that was going to be Genty for a while. He's not there anymore. And who's going six, I think is the first real big surprise in your last mock.

And two out of the next three picks are exciting. All right. So let's go. Yeah. Let's get right into it. Raiders at six, okay? Raiders at six. Forever it was Ashton Jinty. I want to say this too.

It's important to note. Even if Jentee's on the board here, I don't think he's the pick. I think they love him. but I don't think that they what I've been told from credible, reliable sources is they're like the Patriots, right?

They recognize, like, Sequin Barclay was good for the Giants, awesome for the Eagles. Right. That's just the nature of the position. It's very much reliant upon the offensive line and the support around them. And they're not in a position yet

to plug in a running back like Ashton Genty and get the best out of them. Right. Feels like a luxury pick at this point. And they're not in the luxury business, and they recognize that, which I applaud them for. I want to also give a little background. Armand Membu, offensive tackle from Missouri, supremely talented. His workout at the Combine was outstanding.

His tape is beautiful. He's still a little bit raw, still developing, right tackle, not left tackle. But his traits are sensational. And he's turning or just turned 21 years old. He's still a pop. A lot of these offensive linemen are pups this year outside of Will Cam. And, and, and, uh, gray's able. Okay.

A lot of these offensive linemen are pups. So, so with everyone has been saying if it's not ginty, and now we know it's, it's not going to be genty, Armand Memboo makes sense. And I think, like, I just saw a very credible person out there. I'll just say, Peter Schrager, I read his mock draft this morning. Yeah, he had, what he's doing. I mean, way, like, way more. I don't, very great, he's got great sources.

Tied into this, like, does the information business way more than I do. But we have different, you know, different routes. Yes. He's got Mambu there. So, like, I'm not saying I'm definitively right, but I'm saying I'm trusting my sources and my sources are saying, and my sources, it lines up with football sensibilities. Tom Brady, very much a part of this, okay? John SpyTech, General Manager, very much a high character guy, okay?

Armand Membou is not a low character guy. I don't want this to come off the wrong way because it's not what it's about. Brady, SpyTech believe in, like, mature football character, like guys that they, if they're going to use a pick at six, and it's not at, you know, not a quarterback, It's got to be a player that they believe is like they're sending a message. This is their first pick together. You got to send a message, right?

Yeah. That we are going to be a team that believes in character and football character and and all the things that we want to be. And Kelvin Banks' offensive tackle from Texas fits that mold more. And I believe that would be the pick here. God, you know how to build tension and anticipation, man. I'm like, come on. Say it.

Yeah, look. I know you're not as high on him as some other people. I'm not. I like it. I think it's good. I would take Membu. I would take Membu. I don't think Banks is a bad pick there, though. You know, he'll eventually be a left tackle. He might start a guard. I think he's going to be a good player in the NFL. In this draft, you want an offensive tackle? Get him now. You got to get him now. And if he's your guy, then didn't take Banks.

I think he takes over the starting right tackle job or guard, depending on how things go in camp. And then Colton Miller to the left tackle has been really good. entering the final year of his contract next year. So this pick represents an immediate upgrade along the offensive line, probably right tackle or guard, and some flexibility, depending on the contract negotiations, the money where the team wants to be next year financially.

But again, yeah, yeah, with that left tackle position. So we'll see. But that's the first kind of shock, I think, in terms of the mock draft. But we're just getting started. We are. Jets. are up. This has been a wild ride, man, trying to get information. I think it was it. Schaefter said that

they're moving, stealth, or they're moving in mystery or moving in silence. They're moving in silence, I think was the quote he had. And I appreciate that. That's a very good sign for an organization. Yes, exactly. Aaron Glenn has a little bit more say in this thing than I think maybe people recognized early on, at least with this pick is from what I'm told, okay? I do think Tyler Warren, they've done the work on him. I think he's absolutely, I don't want to, maybe he is in play, depending on how the board falls. He's an option, and he has been, like, vetted, and it's,

he's on the very short list for the Jets, the tight end out of Penn State, okay? A name that Schaefter brought up to me, and then I read it in his article, everyone reads Monday morning, all the NFL draft buzz, he kind of empties his notebook. It's an awesome piece. Jaday Barron, who I love, and he winds up going too late in my mock draft. So it doesn't reflect that love, but it gets tricky with some of these teams and the team needs, right? But Jadae Barron, that makes sense to me, too.

So I'm not saying, honestly, this one was tough for me. But I also... Hmm. Sound effects. Sometimes you got to trust who. who you know, and you got to block out some of the noise, and you've got to go with, I was told, watch out for this. So let's take a stab at it. I was told, watch out for an edge rusher here. Yep. And I know they drafted Jermaine Johnson. I know they drafted Will McDonald. I know they're

both really good players, but I also know Aaron Glenn believes strongly in can't have enough pass rushers, and a lot of people in the league do, and I don't blame them. I also know that he was with Detroit, and we saw when Aiden Hutchinson went out, what happened to that defense? And obviously a slew of other injuries. I think Jalen Walker here. And again, I've got high confidence on some. This one feels like it's worth the chance, okay? I recognize it's not Jod A. Barron, who's being reported recently.

I recognize that Mason Graham is still on the board. That's like I'm not ruling that out. This one, they are moving in silence. They're moving in mystery, okay? So you got to take a stab, but when you have a little bit of information that a lot of other people don't have, lean on it.

And Jalen Walker kind of fits that information I was given, and it also makes sense because it's not like you're bringing in this pure left defensive end who can only, and now it's a three-man rotation. He can provide some versatility, and Aaron Glenn's going to want to be flexible and multiple, okay? So I went with Jalen Walker here.

Love it. Fourth overall player on my board. I'm with Coach Glenn. I am from the same school. You cannot have enough edge rushers. Go get them. I love the pick. And I love Tyler Warren, too.

But this is the tricky thing we're going to get into with some of these players. It's positional value. We've talked about it all year. You know, listen, there's a chance that the Jets get Jalen Walker at this point in the draft and Elijah Arroyo in the second round with their 40-second pick. Yeah. Think about that combination. If I'm a Jets fan, I am through the roof excited.

No question. The eighth pick, Carol. Hold on. Yeah. I'm taking the eighth pick because this is, this was the one I woke up to this morning. You were up late. I got my beauty. I got my beauty sleep in.

And I woke up early this morning. Yeah, after I said, can we take, can we get pizza? Take out pizza. And he and Marissa are like, like, it's like having two children. They were like, no, we want to go out to eat. It was good. It was delicious. Two hours later.

Is that what it's called? It's great. So Connor and Dan back there, if you want to be pissed off at somebody, be a little pissed at me for turning this in at midnight last night. I'm not sure Dan has slept yet. But anyways, here we go. Go. This is the one I woke up on. And I was like, oh, well, Kelvin Banks.

We kind of talked about it yesterday. By the way, chef David, M.B. Poe. If you're ever in Manhattan Beach, I'm a food junkie. You can see it on my cheeks. It was ridiculous. Chef David is brilliant. Go ahead. Kelvin Banks at 6 we kind of talked about before, you know, I hit the sack.

I wake up this morning and the Carolina Panthers are taking a defensive tackle and that defensive tackle is not, is not Mason Graham from Michigan. That defensive tackle is Walter Nolan from Ole Miss. And to be clear,

that Mason Graham is now getting by 8 and he is not the first defensive tackle off the board. I can't wait to hear your explanation. This is the pick hang with me here, Panthers fans. This is the pick I am least confident in will actually be the pick here.

But the information I'm about to give you is the information I'm most confident in. Wrap your head around that for a second. I am told by a credible source and then I vetted it after that with some text messages with people

in the league. The Carolina Panthers are the most likely team in the top 10 to move out. I'm actually told that Dan Morgan and the organization would consider a less than market deal. I'm I'm not saying a bad deal, but maybe like something that isn't outrageous, a less than market deal to move back. I'm told if they stick and pick, Jalen Walker fits the profile of what they're looking for, but I had them going seven to the New York Jets.

Okay. I know that Walter Nolan came in for a 30 visit. I know that there's some intrigue with them. I know that they would love to trade back because they feel that they could get a Walter Nolan or, you know, Mason Graham's probably going to go, but a Walter Nolan a little bit later. one of these edge rushers a little bit later. They recognize they're still building. They want additional picks. So if you're a Panthers fan, quite honestly,

you're hoping when the commissioner comes up, when the Panthers are on the clock, that he says there's been a trade with the eighth pick because that's what your organization really wants. That's the best I can give you here. I don't feel great about it. I know they like Walter Nolan. I know they vetted him.

I know they brought him in for the visit. I know they've worked them out, all of those things. So he is on the short list. So I didn't just, like, throw someone up against the wall to, like, get him off the board. I legitimately think he's in play here. But I get a sneak in. I didn't want to make a trade and start messing this, mucking this whole thing up. I made one trade later in a trade, not sure exactly where it's going to be,

but a trade that I feel it will indicate something that happens later in the first round. I didn't want to start. I just can't stand reading mock drafts when they have nine trades. It's like, who's picking where? What's going on? And even I'm confused. And I do this for a living. So I didn't want to make that move, but I think this could be indicative of them moving back and maybe getting a Walter Nolan or one of those edge rushers a little bit later in the first.

See, like, the player and the team fit maybe not that spot. Not necessarily that spot. But part of our job here is to explain what's like what is the, what are the conversations going on in the league and the conversations are, hey, if we want to trade up there, if Denver, let's say this. Here we go. Ashton Jinty doesn't go five for some reason, okay? And now you've got Chicago at 10, maybe Dallas at 12, definitely. I want you to hear this, definitely Sean Peyton in Denver at 20, saying, all right, we got to move up.

The place to go do that. And this applies to any other position, too, whether it's a tight end. But Jinty's the player that I keep hearing the most that there's some interest in moving up for. and eight is the spot that it could happen. Makes sense. Okay. Nine, this is the one I actually feel great about. Mikel Williams, Edge Rush or Georgia.

They've worked them out. They've done the due diligence, 30 visit, private workout. It's simple. They recognize Cam Jordan's, I think, entering his 15th year, okay? Not the product that he has been whose entire career, and understandably so. but you know what Cam Jordan is? He is a saint at heart. He is a lifelonger.

He just loves the organization. He will do team first before me first. And he's back for a 15th year, one year contract, I believe he just signed an extension to come back. And I think part of his job, while also performing on the field as much as he possibly can, is to develop a young guy like a Mikel Williams or a Shamar Stewart. I was told by a reliable source, think cut from the same cloth.

Think body type. They want a replacement. They love his role. Cam Jordan's role in this defense. So this would be a mentorship, if you will, for a year. Both guys are on the field, rotating in and out. They've got some other dudes. Chase Young's still there.

But this would be past the torch for 2026 to Michael Williams. And Michael Williams is a hot name. He could have easily gone eight to Carolina, folks. All right. If you told me that absolutely Carolina is staying at pick number eight, I probably would have given him Mikel there, and I might have gone to Shemore Stewart here. So Mikel is not, I will be shocked if we get to pick 11, and Mikel is still on the board. That's how hot his name is right now in draft circles. Fit, value, need.

Great pick in a bubble. And you know why it's a great pick in a bubble? And I know, listen, your mocks are what is going to happen. so I'm just saying this that you were never going to put this player there. Who's playing quarterback? So I get it. I get it. I understand, by all reports, the Saints are not taking a quarterback.

It's too early. I have Jackson Dart way down my board. I think he's 34th player in this draft. But, and I love, again, value, fit, need. Home runs all across the board for Mikel Williams. But if I'm a successful. Saints fan and I've heard about how great Jackson Dart is or I've watched some tape and I think Jackson Dart or I think Shoddor Sanders is great or I think Tyler Shuck is great. I'm saying,

yeah, great pick. He's going to be a great player for us for 12 years. He could be the next Cam Jordan. That's awesome. Who's throwing the ball? We'll have to get to that later. Yeah, I guess. I hope you like you play with fire when you wait for your quarterback. It's going to be a very interesting draft in how quarterbacks are attacked and where they're taken. It ain't Shador Sanders. Right. I agree with you. As a fan, whoever you want, you're sitting at home and saying, yeah,

Mikel Williams is great. And I love Mikel Williams. But you're thinking to yourself, man, we need a quarterback. We'll get to the quarterbacks in a little bit. But it's not Shador Sanders in New Orleans and it's not Shador Sanders or the New York Giants. I'll give you that nugget right now. All right. Let's start ripping through these because we got a bunch of picks up.

This is a big one. You get ripped through this one? Bears fans! Bears fans. Remember I was yelling at you Sunday night, Bears fans? It's still a great pick, but it's not what I thought it was going to be. And I'm not certain that this will actually be the case. Mason Graham could go seven to the New York Jets. Okay? Mason Graham could go eight to the Carolina Panthers.

I went with Mason Graham to the Chicago Bears here. And I do know that there is a lot of love for Mason Graham in the building. I do know these things. I know that they are making calls and there are conversations being had. there are conversations being had about the potential to move up. How could we go get Ashton Jinty? That's number one. I need everyone to know that.

Number two is they love Mason Graham. And it fits what they're trying to do. And you got Dennis Allen coming in as defensive coordinator, more aggressive, active, like, you know, man to man. And I think Mason Graham fits that. And I think Dennis Allen's in love with this guy. So that's why I went with the pick. But I also, I find it fascinating.

had you told me or Bears fans, like Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are still on the board at 10, and it's a hard pass. I guess it's me. Sorry, Bears fans. Like, I don't, all along, I've just loved the concept of Warren or Loveland and the 12 personnel with your quarterback Caleb Williams and Cole Comette.

And I just, I would love to see Ben Johnson have the option. opportunity to kind of cook things up in the lab, right? But I think you have to do what's right for the organization. I think Ryan Poles, if he recognizes a player that's on most people's boards, like top five, top six, not all. There are some teams that are not as hot on Mason Graham as others, but there's a handful of teams more than a quarter of the league that view him as one of the five, six, seven best players in this draft. And then he's sitting there at 10. And you're trying to build through the trenches still. Graham makes a lot of sense. I forgot that Dennis Allen was the big, big hire in the offseason for the NFL.

I forgot that it was Dennis Allen and that we need to get Dennis Allen players. We talk about, oh, you know, Cohen in Jackson, we're going to get him a playmaker because he's an offensive coach. And Aaron Glenn, he's a defensive coach, so we're going to name him a defensive player. And then Ben Johnson, who has been the up and coming head coach for like seven years, I feel like. I don't like his tone. For seven years. And let's go get, and listen, I love Mason Graham, but let's go get him a. defensive tackle. The logic all of a sudden flips at 10 when you have, and listen, Bears fans,

I get it. You don't, maybe you don't need a tight ends. You maybe need other positions. And maybe you wish you were getting Ashton Jentee, and maybe they make a move for him. And I get all of those things. But guess what? Your GM was so goddamn good in free agency that maybe you can go out and get one of these great tight ends who are six and seven on my board a 10. But no, let's not, no, Ben Johnson. No, no, no. Let's get him. a defensive tackle. You're right. The hell got into him. I mean, the logic is good for these other teams, but not for them?

You've been the Mason Graham guy. Mason Graham should go earlier than this. I'm not saying that. I think if Carolina has Mason Graham on the board there, they should take him. I think Jacksonville should still consider it. I understand that's not happening. But it's not about where I value Mason Graham. It's about the identity of your organization and why you hired a guy. Did you forget, did you block out the part where I said they're making phone calls? also to try to trade up for Ashton James?

I did not. I'm locked in on Mason Graham, the defensive tackle, going to Chicago. All right. I think most people in Chicago would be thrilled, including... They're getting a damn good player. Dennis Allen. Yeah, Dennis Allen. But right, the big hire of the offseason, Dennis Allen.

All right, Shamar Stewart, San Francisco, pick 11. Shamar's an interesting name in the league right now, man. And it's been like this for a long time. Picked an agent who has not been the most pleasing during the process to, Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl, teams with trying to private workouts. I had an assistant GM called me recently. Like, do you, can we ask around? Like, he refused to do a, I don't want to say refuse.

He's not available for a private workout. I don't know. What is he hiding? He's a freak phenomenally. He's a phenomenal, like, physically gifted athlete. And so that's rubbed some teams the wrong way. Okay. Then there's the production element of it, okay? But then there's the tools element of it and the explosiveness and the Roshan Garys of the world and the Daniel Hunters of the world and the Trayvon

Walker, who by the way, what was like three, five sacks is rookie year and 20 and a half sacks the last two years and everyone's like, and listen, Hutchinson absolutely should have been the first overall pick, but Trayvon's been a pretty damn good player. Traits, man. Trates in the trenches in the NFL is no joke. So Shamar's got a lot of love in some places, and he's not very loved in a lot of other places. I'd say more so. There's more teams that kind of questions than there are teams who are like, this is our guy. But there are teams who are like, this is our guy. I think San Francisco this fits.

I want to also tell you 49ers fans, I think Mikel Williams, absolutely in play. I want to tell you that they've done a lot of work on Walter Nolan. That's another name to keep in mind here. I do not believe, based on the sources and the information I've had, and I've made a lot of calls, and then dating back to Friday, about all these organizations and, like, what's on the short list? And I do not believe it's going to be offensive tackle here, okay?

Well, who would you go with? I mean, Simmons would be the best player on my board at that point, and he's at 20, 24. I mean, the values... I'm on Membu's not off the board in this situation. That's why I wanted to mention because if you're a 49ers fan, and you're like, wait, Armand Membu, I thought he was up there with Campbell.

And it's like, so I wanted to mention, I don't think it's, that's why I didn't go offensive tackle here with Membu. And I went with an edge. My fault. Yep. Yeah. I'm glad you brought that up. Yep. So that's the deal with San Francisco.

I've heard they've been making some phone calls too. Just throwing that out there. I don't know who for what they're trying to move up for, but I've heard they've made some phone calls. And San Francisco has 11 picks. four in the top 100. So, arming you with information as we get closer to the draft. Dallas at 12. My guy, Ted McMillan, wide receiver. What a reach. There's been a lot of conversation about Dallas. And I feel like this happens every year. And there's a lot of conversation about Dallas. Jerry's on the phone and trying to move up. And then like, it just fizzles. Right. I think Dallas

is going to stick and pick. I want to say this. I get this sense. Ted has been, I do know in the building Tet is very high on their board. I do also think if Tet were to go five or Jacksonville moves back a couple of spots and takes Tet there, that Matthew Golden is also in consideration here. Cowboys fans don't rule out,

and I appreciate this about them. They stick with like the trenches, they're trying to build from the core, you know, inside out, and they do a good job, with that. It's typically offensive linemen, defensive line, in premier positions with these picks when they're in the first half of the first round.

So this would be a little bit of a departure. I'm sure someone's out there. Remember Dallas did this a couple of years? But I'm saying if you look at the history, it's typically been the big guys or premium positions. Okay. But Tet fits what they want

to do. We've heard that name, rumored to them, but more importantly, I have confirmation. that people that matter in the building are tech guys. And I think the range for him, like I said, is it's not necessarily five, but it's Jacksonville, if they move back a little bit, wherever that would be two, and 12, okay?

Big X wide receiver, opposite CD Lamb, it actually makes sense, okay? 13. I love, by the way, I love the idea of somehow Dallas pulling off a trade to get up to two to get Travis Hunter. I know it won't happen, but I love that idea. I think What would it take? We came in here and started yesterday

with there are calls being made for those picks and I stand on that. It'd be But and I'm not certain Dallas was one of those teams calling But I got a hunch they were You know that Jerry loves that player Of course

Everyone does but you know that Jerry would love to have that player Go ahead You need stars playing on the star This is going to be a super underrated pick That I love I know I actually was I was Googling last night to see, like, the private workouts, like what the connection was with Miami,

because I know that they love Kelvin Banks. Let me start with this Dolphins fans. If Kelvin Banks somehow, and I do not think he will, but if he somehow gets the 13, Kelvin Banks is the pick. Okay? So that's the jumping off point. He's not there. They could go in a bunch of different directions.

I've heard, these are two names, and I think it's if they trade back. They brought both these guys into the building. The two names that I think are on the radar are Nick Eman Worry, safety, Tyler Booker, Guard. That signals to me that they're, Chris Greer, the general manager, is entertaining, moving back. And quite honestly, he should. They've got bigger needs than they thought. Toronto Armstead gone.

Jalen Ramsey heading out. This roster is kind of, like, I look up at it. I'm like, shoot. Like my needs list. With my needs list, it's like some teams, it's like the first one is like they need a starter here. Like they're void of. And then there's a bunch of like depth guys and backups and building for the future. Contracts are up next year.

Miami, it's like offensive tackle. And it's not just a left tackle because if Patrick Paul, right, Paul, the offensive tackle for Miami. He was a second round pick. They were going to hopefully plug him in and play left tackle. but it's right tackle potentially yeah it's it's guard so that's the offensive offensive line across the board they're looking for upgrades cornerback with Ramsey safety yeah jevan hall on left here edge interior defensive like clayas campbell like they've got a lot this this roster changed fast okay uh but membu makes sense because of he's a right tackle kick

to guard, develop him, maybe kick him back out to tackle, however that works. If they stick and pick at 13, it makes a lot more sense to me to draft a Membu. Who has tackle potential. I think he's going to be a really good right tackle at some point in his career. And maybe it's as a rookie. But then to bring in Tyler Booker, who's going to be a good guard, but I don't think as good as Membu, and he's just a guard. So those are some names to keep in mind with him.

Good luck. defending that outside zone scheme with those backs and that dude block. That's what I'm saying. Good. This is why I love the pick. I think, you know, it's a great value there. It is a great fit. And I don't think they've really been able to maximize those backs.

And yes, they've been productive. But when you get that speed with the kind of guy that can move like that and seal the edge for you, watch out. I think it's a great pick. Next up, Indianapolis Colts. They're thrilled. This is best case scenario. I've actually heard the Colts. have made, and I believe it, the Colts have made calls to potentially try to move up to make

sure that they get Warren or Loveland. I actually, here's the deal. I've actually heard more about their love and interest in Colston Loveland than I have Tyler Warren. I had to go off the assumption that it's just because no one assumed that Warren would be in this vicinity. We were talking about him at seven. Most teams have him in their top seven to nine players in this draft, okay?

A contingent of teams. But as we've gotten closer to the draft, I do find it interesting that some teams are now, the information coming out is that, like, yeah, I don't know that he's going to be special, special. Right. And Loveland's got a chance to be a special receiving. He's never going to be a good blocker, great blocker,

but he's got a chance to be a special receiver. So that's something to monitor as we get closer. I guess my point is it won't be mind-blowing to people in the league if Loveland actually comes. off the board before Warren. But then I started thinking, like I always try to go back to the football sensibilities.

Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator in Philadelphia for two years. During those two years, right? Goddard had an unbelievable run. The one year, 2022, when he was with him, 55 catches, 702 yards, okay? Last year, the Colts tight ends were Kylin Granson, Moe Alley Cox, Drew Ogletree,

and Will Mallory. They combined for 39 catches, okay, four of them. So, and here, the more important part is, because it could be Loveland, right? Doesn't Dallas Goddard, like, they have the same kind of build, can play why, involved in the blocking aspect of the run blocking game? So, I don't know, for Stike and I, just this felt like the right spot.

Great value, great fit, run it in. All right. Why don't we throw up the rest of the top 17 here, Tucker, okay? We've got to start ripping through these. I want to get to the quarterbacks at the end. 15, I went with James Pierce. We've been told, and I believe by credible sources. I mean, I know they're credible sources,

but there's a strong sense that Atlanta's need for a defensive lineman is so great that maybe we're willing to, work with and channel some of the red flags, the character red flags. James Pierce, it's not a bad guy, not horrible things, just football character

is not up to par of what you would love. And that's why, you know, there was some talk about him really falling. He's too damn talented, man. It's true. I just like... It's true. Here's the difference for me.

I think you'll notice this about me. The guys who, when you talk about quote-unquote, football character, red flags, If I see it on Saturdays, I'm more likely to bump you down than if I don't see it on Saturday. So when we talk about a Walter Nolan who there's not awesome stuff, practice habits, you know, reliability, all these things. Motivations, same with James Pierce. But I can't find a clip where these dudes aren't playing their asses off between the lines on game day. So I think there's a little bit more flexibility with that stuff for these players.

So James Pierce, if it's not Pierce, I think it's Mike Green. It's going to be an edge. But I want to remind Falcons fans, just five picks in this entire draft. If there's an opportunity to move back, I think they might take it. But the needed edge is so great that that could be the spot. Here's Arizona at 16. I went with Jehad Campbell, linebacker from Alabama. I want to make it perfectly clear.

And that makes sense. It makes sense for the defensive scheme and what they want to do. And I think it will be the pick if he's cleared medically. Like, I'm going to be very careful. Jihad is a warrior. He's a grinder. He's had, he's been, you know, he's been through some wars. So there's some, there's some attrition, is that right?

Yeah, no, that's right. The medical is a little. a little more concerning than maybe I thought. But with a clean bill of health, this would be the pick. I also think at Arizona... Did you consider a corner? I was just concerned. Pretty good corners on the board, man. There are. Arizona got their nickel corner, and so I didn't know about that. And Will Johnson, the cornerback from Michigan, as we get closer, foot injury, long term. There's legit concern. Didn't run the 40. He's projected 458, 4-6 in his workouts.

leading up too. Will Johnson, the cornerback from Michigan, could fall. I don't have him falling a lot here, but that was kind of reflective as well, okay? 17, we just had on the board, Mike Green. I think that's the rain. 15 and 17 feel like James Pierce, Mike Green, in whichever order, you know, FBS leader in Sacks, burst and power off the edge, awesome at the senior bowl. He makes a lot of sense for Cincinnati with or without Trey Hendrickson, okay? Okay. Right. With him, awesome.

Without, it's a much greater need. All right. Flip the page. Seattle, 18. I just went with the guy that I think John Schneider is going to fall in love with. Gray's Abel, offensive guard projection, center projection, left tackle at North Dakota State, came to the senior bowl like minors and Armstead and Mock and the rest of those guys before. Yeah.

school offensive linemen. Tell me I can't. Tell me I can't line up against Alabama and Georgia and Tennessee and Michigan and Notre Dame and can't kick their ass. And that group, again, that group at this year's senior role specifically. I mean, the Walter Nolans of the world were down there. I mean, yes. And that's what he did. He kicked everyone's ass that week. Voted by scouts as the practice player of the week at all positions. I just think Seattle with the needs, the multiple needs along the offensive line. The fact that he could be a center, could be a guard, can give you some position flex if you needed it left tackle,

but he's not going to be a left tackle or right tackle. I don't believe in the NFL. But this guy moves differently. I love that pick to Seattle. Tampa Bay, I went with Will Johnson here. Told you about the foot injury. If he starts to fall, remember I said, it's because of the injuries.

I don't think it's because of the no-40 time and the speed. His game is this. eyes forward, play in front, absolute sniper. Closes, ball skills, big-time playmaker. Back turned, shadowing, recovery speed required, gets in trouble. Ball in the air gets lost, past interferences. So in the right scheme, Tampa Bay's, 26th in interceptions last year. This guy's a ball hawk I just told you.

Makes a lot of sense. But I want to mention this to you, Bucks fans. Sneaky player, the name keeps popping up. They had them in for a 30 visit. You look at the age at wide receiver. You got to keep things rolling with Baker. Matthew Golden. And his 429 speed, breakout year text.

Yes. So Matthew Golden's a name to keep in mind there. Denver, this one is tough, man. Ah, was it? If the board lays out this way, it's not that tough. They brought in Evan Ingram, right? but he's 30 years old. He only played nine games last year.

How much can we rely on him? Looking for that Joker that Sean Payton always talks about. And everyone was like, well, they got Ingram. They got their Joker. Like, yeah, if he's healthy at 30 years old coming off of an injury. So, like, why not 12-person health for Sean? Colston Loveland and Ingram? Because here's the news I want to break to you.

I love Omarie. in Hampton. And I love Trayvion Henderson. Two things I'll tell you right now to look for, to look for in round one. The running back, really the entire draft, I talked to you about 2017. Only five of those running backs in that awesome class that had 30 draft. It's starting with Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey. Only five of them went in the top 85 picks. Two more went in the next four or five picks. And then from 105 to the end of the draft, pick like 252, there was like a record-setting number of running backs because there were so many of them that year that 23 of them went from the pick 105, which is in the fourth round, to the end

of the seventh round. And I think this year could be kind of the same. We can get our guy on. We can pick our flavor on Saturday, okay? And I think the same will be true even in the first round. They kind of get bumped back a little bit because there's so much talent at running back. So when people look at this and they're like, well, why not Omarian Hampton? Why not Trayvon Henderson?

I did think about Trayvion Henderson. I think he is, I don't know. It's split. I've heard both things with Denver. And clearly they want a running back because they're making a lot of calls, according to people I'm talking to about moving up. So keep an eye on Sean.

I think he knows he's got his guy at quarterback. I don't think that. I know he knows. He's got his guy at quarterback. Typically, the Saints, they did not spend high pay. like the first and even a lot of second rounders outside of Michael Thomas on offensive skill guys because he could kind of create his own jokers from third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh round picks.

And he did. But I think he's kind of in this emergency mode. Like we got our guy. We needed another joker or two. Yeah, you're getting a top 10 pick at 20. I don't disagree. And what I'm more worried about is the board doesn't fall this way. I don't see Loveland being there at 20.

Right. That's the frustration here. But I think, again, just like with Carolina, giving them a player that I'm not certain they're going to take, I wanted to get Loveland off the board. I think if you were there, they would jump at the opportunity. But I also think Denver is trying to be aggressive. It won't surprise me a little bit. In fact, I'd say it's more probable than not that they're not picking at 20 that they're picking earlier. Okay.

Right. That player and that team might not be at that pick. Pittsburgh Steelers, 21, here we go. Let me take a sip of my lemon perfect, by the way. There are developments with lemon perfect. What do you got? I got watermelon. Pretty good.

I mean, I'm a lemon guy to start, but I'll drink all of them. Any and all. Pittsburgh, this one's tough. I did not go with Shador Sanders here. I've said for five days now, I think the floor, that hard floor, that cement floor, that we thought 21 for Shador Sanders was there. I think it's a lot softer. here's what I do know

Shador Sanders is in play Mike Tomlin did have a good meeting with him don't leave don't believe the other reports Mike Tomlin does like him a lot Mike Tomlin has more power now not that he didn't have power it's hard to phrase this properly Kevin Colbert the former GM and Mike Tomlin

were step in step but there was a trust that Kevin would make the picks Omar Khan makes I'm not saying he doesn't make the picks. I'm saying Mike Tomlin is more involved and can step in and there's a little bit more like, okay, no, we need this guy. And there's like that understanding, okay? Great relationships. Everyone, Omar Khan's like wonderful, does a phenomenal job. We have very good friends that work in and around the organization. Like, there's no dissension. There's no issues. I'm just saying

Tomlin's got a little bit more push in this regime, okay? And so if that's the pick, it will be Tomlin stepping in and saying, we got to have this guy. And Omar being like, you sure? And he'll be like, we got to have this guy. And then they'll probably do that. But I don't, while I know Tomlin really likes Chodor and would like to work with him and values that relationship and really enjoyed his time with him in Pittsburgh recently, I don't know. And I repeat, I don't know for certain that it's enough to go against what the organization is saying. And the, you know, and the, you know, and I repeat, I don't know for certain that it's enough to go against what the organization is saying, and the organization is saying this. We're going to get a quarterback to plug in.

If it's not Aaron Rogers, maybe it's Kirk Cousins, maybe it's Sam Howell. There's options there. We're great on defense. Let's continue to build through the trenches and do what we do here in Pittsburgh. Let's get a dynamic weapon at running back. I think Pittsburgh would like to trade back from this pick. They don't have the second round pick because of D.K. Metcalfe. I think they like to trade back.

you go and look at their 30 visits and they're on the teams. Like, if they don't get their hands on you during these private workouts and the, in the private, you know, the visits to 30 visits, typically they don't draft you. And if you look at their visits, a lot of them are guys that are in the like late first throughout the second round range. They don't have a second round pick. So I believe strongly that Pittsburgh could move out of this pick at 21. I put Derek Harmon there because I think Pittsburgh could wind up trading back.

there's some like nicks and bruises with Derek Harmon that I wasn't certain of. I'm not saying he's falling. I don't want any agents calling me. I'm just saying if he doesn't go as high as we originally thought, maybe it's like later in the 20s, somewhere in that range. That would be the reason why, okay? I do think they have an infatuation with Trayvion Henderson. So keep an eye out on that. I'm not saying at 21.

I'm saying moving back a little bit. Fit value need. Let's go. Let's roll. Chargers. Fit value need. Kenneth Grant. I've said this for a little while. I think... A Michigan man. A Michigan man. And it won't be because of that. No, but it's cool. I think Jim, yeah, likes it, but he ain't going to make a decision off of it.

Jim's going to like the 331-pound behemoth plugging in that interior. Puna Ford gone. Unique mobility for his size. There's a lot more in the tank there, I think, developmentally moving forward. There were other names, though, I wanted to share. Running back, don't be a shocked tier. You can't help yourself and share everything. I know. All right. Green Bay, 23. We heard a little bit of Eamon Worry with them.

We heard a little bit of Will Johnson with them. But the name that I keep hearing with Green Bay is a player I absolutely adore. Mad Max. Maxwell Harrison, cornerback Kentucky, fastest man at the combine this year. 4-28. I think it's just as quick as he is fast. I've said it before. If you're talking about just pound-for-pound explosive athletes

in this draft. I might put Harrison right behind Travis Hunter. Six interceptions, was it? Three pick sixes. Tie the school record. He's just, he's a dude, man. He can play man. He can play zone. Jaira Alexander, that whole situation.

I just like this pick. Yeah, it's a good pick. You're being quiet on purpose. I like it. Minnesota Vikings. Jadae Barron. I don't like Jadae falling here. I said it before. He could go as high as seven. There's some love in San Francisco. Cisco, I don't think I mentioned that. There are some spots for him.

Steel in capital letters, and I agree. Barron is a steel, right? So if they get an opportunity to draft Barron, even though they only have four picks, the fewest amount of picks of any team in the National Football League this year, I think they would stick and pick. Houston, you're probably not going to like this one. They brought him in for a 30 visit, though, and Tank Dell's injury. And I know they brought in Christian Kirk, but,

It's a slot. And the offensive tackles have come off the board. And I think it's too high for Tyler Booker, but he is in play. Absolutely in play here, okay? Josh Simmons is the most talented offensive tackle in this class. But we just literally, like, brought a moving truck into our offensive line room, packed up everything and everyone that was involved with that offensive line, and shipped it out of town.

I'm obviously, you know, exaggerating a little bit, but like not that much. And it's because of culture and character. And he didn't, D'Amico Rines is so huge on that. And anyone who knows him and it's working. So why is he going to let his offensive line not fall in line with that? So I went with Matthew Golden here at wide receiver because I don't know that you want to take Tyler Booker here over a Matthew Golden who could be an explosive weapon for your young quarterback. but I recognize, hey, Houston fans, they're one of the Denver, Dallas, Chicago, and Houston are the four teams I'm hearing the most. And even the Colts a little bit.

But I would put them in the top three, four teams I'm hearing most trying to move up. I got to assume that's for an offensive tackle. I got to assume it's for the guy that Tom Brady and John SpyTech, part owner and general manager, respectively, of the Las Vegas Raiders, They're so high on his football character and who he is and what he believes in and how he works in Banks, Kelvin Banks, Jr. But I don't know that they can get up to five or four or five. And is it worth moving, like what you have to give up if you're Houston to go all the way up there? Houston's got four picks in the top 89. We'll see.

26. Rams. Of course you did. A mecca, Boca. Of course you did. I have kept a mecca abuka. of every mock draft, every exercise. It's so true.

Everything you've done. Because, and we're going to, hey, Tucker, Eduardo, let's make sure we get that clip. Oh, here we go. When we fought about a mecca book in the first round,

I waited for the final mock draft to put him where he rightfully deserves to be in the first round. Just think about it. Mecca, smart, strong, savvy, run after catch, team first, block for you.

great in the building. We got one in the fifth round. Where did they get Cooper Cup? Third? Yeah, I think it was third or fourth, right? Third. So unfortunately, we might have to spend a first this time around, but my goodness, would it be nice to get Matthew Stafford at his point in his career,

a rookie that he could trust? That's hard to find. I hate you right now. Okay. Because it's such a hold on. I've argued against it all year long, but it is such a person. perfect fit. And he's not a bad player. He's a good player. I just think he's more of a day two player.

But it's such a perfect fit that it's like, okay, I get it. I don't love it, but I get it. Malachi Stark's safety. Baltimore Ravens 27. He's just a Raven, right? He's smart, team first guy. Born to be a Raven. Tough guy. They gave up 58 plays of 20 plus yards last year. They need a guy back there to defend that wall. And I think Starks would be the perfect fit. Great, Raven. Trade Trade! Trade! I'm starting to worry about my blood pressure

when I scream like that. This is around the range. I don't have any information that they're calling to make this deal or that talks have been going on. The New York Giants are linked heavily to Jackson Dart, as are the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints picket 40 in the second round. round. The Giants pick at 34 in the second round. I don't get the sense talking to people in the league. Cleveland might just stick and pick at 33. And if the guy falls in their lap, maybe they do. But I think it would be it would be to get up ahead of. This could be New Orleans. It could be the Giants. When we get to the final, I think it starts at Minnesota. I mentioned Minnesota has the fewest number of picks. It starts at Minnesota at pick 24. That's when the, despite senses are going to go off. That's what I'm going to be checking my phone. Not to tip

picks. We're not doing it here during a live stream. Thursday night, entire draft. Start with us at 7 p.m. We'll get you everything going on. YouTube, Spotify. We're going to do, re-rack it on Friday night, and then Rosillo's house invasion on Saturday. Three to five Eastern time. That's a fact. I'm looking for an app to try to figure out how to measure without having to go buy one of those things of 40 yards to walk it off on the street. So, so keep that in mind. But I do have my stopwatcher right there in my backpack. Get him to run the 40. Giants at 28, they trade up.

Here's the deal. They have a pick at 99. They used to not be able to trade compensatory picks. Now you can. They have the two picks in the third round. That 99 pick on the trade value chart lines up perfectly with the value to move up from 34 to 28. Okay? Detroit is sitting there.

There's not an edge that you necessarily love. There's, you know, the couple of times. positions that they've been they've been looking at. I just, I could see them wanting to move back, pick up an additional pick, get a little bit more draft ammunition in the first two days of the draft, and Giants moving in the spot and take Jackson Dart. Shador Sanders is not going to be a New York giant. Shadour Sanders is not going to be in New Orleans Saint.

Okay? So let's just address that now. We said to you the week after the Combine, that I was surprised that other networks weren't reporting what was, what the information that came to me so easily. Shador Sanders is a good young man. Shadourth Sanders has always been respectful and everything else. Some interviews didn't go well,

including with the New York Giants, I'm told now. And I think what happened early in the process, there was a feeling that they could handpick. I don't think. Coach Prime came out and said it himself, I'm going to handpick the places that my son can go play for. Well, what happens when you got a small – it's not a small pool, but it's not as big as 32 teams, and only so many teams need quarterbacks.

And it just so happened that a bunch did in that top 10, six, but after the – you know, throughout the process, after the combine, some of the meetings didn't go well. I told you I talked to two executives. It didn't go well. So now the pool shrinks. And now I'm here to tell you that it didn't go well with Brian Daible. And it didn't go well with the Giants organization. So the pool is shrinking.

And now he does, it's not a perfect fit in some places, right? New Orleans. I've talked to nauseam about, about Kellynne Moore in the last three offensive coordinator jobs. And the fact that he's worked with guys who are more of the mold of Jackson Dart with a sturdier build, mobility, a little bit more arm. So now it shrinks a little bit more, okay? The pool for Shador Sanders has just gotten really small. And I'm not here to like cut at anyone.

And I think Shador is going to be really good if he lands in the right spot. I really do. I've said from the beginning, I think he's the fastest processor, and I think he's the best pure passer in this class. If it's not Pittsburgh, I don't see a spot for him in round one. I think it's much more likely that Shador Sanders is on the board when we kick things off when Cleveland's on the clock, assuming that trade hasn't been made with that pick on night two than it is that that Shador goes in night one. and the only team I can find right now that I feel comfortable saying, yeah, that would make sense is Pittsburgh at 21.

And even the people were saying that are kind of in line with what I'm saying that there's not certainty. So that aside, and later in this mock, I gave Shador to Cleveland, and I can talk about that briefly when we get there. But I think the player that could be traded up for in the first round at the quarterback position is Jackson Dart. And I think Daible likes how quickly he processes, not like the predetermines.

Yes, he's going to, he's going to, he's going to, need a year to kind of break off. Lane Kiffin is phenomenal at what he does. I like, I love Lane as an individual. That office is so much fun. It's awesome. It's so much fun. And in college, it's absolutely brilliant because it exploits college players just can't catch up as quickly. There's going to be an adjustment period for DART. So what better place with two season veterans, right? You got Russell Wilson, who's going to lead by example, right? And then you've got James Winston, who's going to lead vocally and kind of show them how it's done. And Brian Dayball, I've told you the amount of respect I have for Brian,

like through the roof, okay? So this is a great opportunity to get your guy. Now we can win more games this year. We got Abdul Carter. Now we've got the quarterback of our future, and we can develop them properly, right? I love this. I'm not saying it's going to be in this spot.

I love this conceptually. Remember I told you, Joe Shane, if Brian is the guy who makes the decision on which quarterback or maybe narrows that list down to two and you have to trust him and then Joe Shane has got to be the guy that manages this whole deal and if this is how it plays out to both Brian and to Joe Shane all right 29 now

commanders one of my guys yeah don't you take this one you know, Donovan Azaraku from Boston College, polished pass rusher. He's, we could talk about his frame a little bit. He's a smaller guy, but he's long. And he's, and the hands and the way he sets up his moves. And you said this the other day, it might take him a year. It may take him a little while to catch on.

I don't know, man. I think you might be right about it. I think he's ready to go. I think they can go in a couple different directions the commanders could, but I love the value here. I think he's a late first round pick. So to me, this is going to be said at nauseam. for me. Ed rushers, offensive

tackles. Edd rushers, offensive tackles. If it's not a quarterback, then that's what I'm telling you should be trying to get in the first round. I think they're the biggest impact players you can get. Let me give you four other names that I've heard with Washington here. And again, they're picking a 29. It's a beautiful place to pick. You sit and wait and see what

falls to you. Josh Connerly at offensive tackle is legitimately in play here. Travion Henderson, I've heard more than Omarie and Hampton, and I'm not certain if it's because a lot of people just assumed Omarian Hampton would be on, but I do believe that those two running backs would be in play. Does Henderson a better compliment to Robinson maybe?

Absolutely. Right. They're a little bit more. There's a little more compliment. You have Echler too, but yes. Yeah. And then Nick Eamon Worry, this is a spot. I think this is about the range where Eamon Worry could go.

But again, like Miami's had them in. There's a, if you go and track all the 30 visits, like Eamon Worry's been in a lot, and a lot of that has to do with. There's some, you know, football. What are we bringing in the buildings, personality stuff? football character focus on the field. I saw it on tape, and apparently, like, it matches up with some of that stuff. So I think people are trying to figure out who we're bringing in, but Eamon Worry's

traits are like, his combine workout was like the thing of legends. Yeah. I mean, it was stupid. But those are the names. Connerly, the two backs, Henderson and Hampton, and Nick Eamon Worry that I've heard with Washington as well. I like this pick for Buffalo. I think Buffalo is going to go against the grain and stick with their board.

and I have an appreciation for Buffalo and how they do things. Savon Revell. Cornerback, East Carolina is the pick that, and I know that would be surprising to a lot of people. I'm not saying he's definitely going the first. I'm not saying he's definitely going here. I've heard some different names with them. I heard Trey Amos, the Ole Miss cornerback as well.

I think Buffalo is absolutely a team that could be looking to move back a little bit, get the same player four or five picks later early in the second round. They don't have a third round pick, but Buffalo does have this pick, 30, then 56 and 62. So it would be really freaking cool if you're being the GM and you're able to move back four, five, six spots, get the same player and now pick it like, let's say, I don't know, 35, 37 range, pick again at 56, pick again at 62, and then have a third round pick. That, to me, seems like where the bills are headed.

That's how you manage a board. That's how you manage a board. And obviously it's what they would, I think they would like. to do, but you've got to have a dance partner. Right. Kansas City, Chiefs. Josh Simmons is a tough one, man. Let's go. I would love this fit. Most talented offensive linemen in the draft, it's one thing mentioned I do agree on.

There's immaturity, there's baggage. With me or him? Both. Both. But Andy Reid, I just, I kind of, I like this. They haven't shied away from bringing in guys that they need to channel. Okay. Yeah, what's not to like about this? I love this pick. I just, I wonder if Simmons will still be there. I have heard a lot about interior defensive line. So if a Harmon were to fall,

don't think Kenneth Grant from Michigan will, but just keep an eye out on that when we get to pick 31. 32, I got news for you, folks. My good friend Howie Roseman, like, he's not sitting still. You know this about how we? Most picks of any team currently in this year and next years after that happen because he's a fucking genius and he works people over and you get don't answer that call stop answering his call he'll all of a sudden like the fifth round you'll make this move and then they'll parlay that into this and then before you know it he's turned it into a third you ever watch those youtube videos that my kids are obsessed with and i like fight all the time to keep them off the youtube and i'm doing a pretty good job but not perfect but i've seen these videos where it's like

this guy he started out with like 10 pennies yes yes and then it'd be he's traveling around and they had to make like $18 for a sleeping blanket tonight. And then I'm like, great. So we're now promoting like a 14, 17 year old kid driving around on a on a bike and living homeless for two nights in Los Angeles. But anyway, my point is how he does that. And so the biggest shock in the first round of how he just sticks at 32 doesn't move up or back. But Mason Taylor's a name that I keep coming back to. Mason Taylor's a player that is when I talk to teams, he's a lot higher on the board than what the public has been. Okay?

So whether I'm just giving you the information of Mason Taylor is more likely than not to go in the first round, or if I'm giving you the information that Dallas with one of its early picks could go, whether it's Mason Taylor or Alaja Arroyo or Ferguson from Oregon or Harold Fanon from Bowling Green, I'm just saying there's going to be a tight end pick by Philly. Philly's not going to pick it, pick 32, and Mason Taylor is going to go a little bit earlier than people think. Three tight ends in the first round. Let's wrap this up because I owed it to Detroit to give them a pick.

And if I had to get to 34, you've got to go through 33. I'll give you 34 before 33. Detroit, I had them moving back to 34. I would love that. Pick up a third, as I just mentioned. You got a couple picks in the second. This would be a great... No, that was Buffalo.

What's Detroit situation? Detroit. Oh, they've got their chalk across, 2860, 102. But to pick up the 99th pick. then all of a sudden you get a little bit more ammunition on day two. I went with Tuimolalau. Good for you, man. You know the hard part I realized about Tuimolow's name? I say it brilliant. I think the Tuimolow family would be proud of the way I say it. It's the JT before it that makes me stumble. So let's practice this together. JT. Tuimola Lau. Ooh, I did it.

I think he's very much underrated. I think he's got a chance to hear his name late in the first, if not first five, seven picks of the second round. The edge from Ohio State. I'd love that pick. Grit, starter, tough. Like, I just like that fit in Detroit or really anyone that needs an edge. Who helped themselves more in the playoff run? Him or Howard, Will Howard the quarterback?

It might be JT, man. It might be JT because... He had a run. He had a... Because it's going to show off more distinctly. Will Howard would be interested to see if he goes in the third round. Final one, going back to pick 33. Cleveland Browns. I went with Shador Sanders here and it's not because I just wanted to get Shadour's name.

And I honestly think, I've said this all along. Is the climate, the conditions, the division perfect for Shador, who doesn't have the elite arm strength? No. But it's not perfect for Kirk Cousins. They wanted that. Like that Kevin Stefansky version of the system, the West Coast, right? The Shanahan. He's done the winning. with quarterbacks that don't have big arms, that aren't the biggest guys, that aren't the most mobile guys. He does it with guys that under, like literally are, it's like an extension of his brain on the field, processing quickly,

getting the ball out, working within the system, like keeping them off offensive moving, accurate, touch, timing, leading receivers, get yards after catch. I think Shador would be perfect there. And then you add the fact that you, Travis Hunter, in that relationship they have.

Now, are you worried about it's going to be those two again? And he's not our starter. And how is that going to play out? And will there be dissension if Shador is not rising fast enough? I don't know. I'm just here to tell you, I just told you that the pool is shrinking. It has shrunk for Shador in terms of teams that really value him in terms of wanting

to spend a first or early second round pick. and if it's not Cleveland, is it the Raiders? I don't think so. It's not the Jets. It's not the Giants. So this seems to me like the most likely landing spot for Shador. We love you. We appreciate you.

We've gone too long, as I always do. Here's the top 32. Top 34, actually, I should say. Two bonus picks. Please go subscribe. You just got all my explanations. If you hung in here for the entire hour plus, I appreciate you for doing that

but also just go subscribe you can get this we're gonna have another freaking Dan man he's already talking to me about some article we got to write tomorrow Dan who hasn't slept wants to write another article I said this when we started this I want to surround myself with a bunch of lunatics

productive hungry love it lunatics and we've found them yeah we've got a family we found the crew and I don't think everyone wants to be called a lunatic behind the window there, but I mean it in the most loving way. I don't like people who just want to work the 9 to 5.

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