The McShay Show - Our Favorite 2026 Prospects and a Super Bowl NFL Draft Retrospective. Plus, Mailbag!

Episode Date: February 5, 2026

Welcome to The McShay Show! Todd and Steve are back with That’s My Guy, a segment where the guys share which under-the-radar draft prospects have become their favorites during the scouting process. Then, they preview the Super Bowl and reflect on how each team built its roster through the draft. To close, they answer mailbag questions from McShay Report premium subscribers.0:00 Welcome to The McShay Show!2:00 My Guys: our favorite 2026 draft class prospects3:40 Dallen Bentley7:05 Blake Miller15:15 Skyler Gill-Howard18:40 Chris Brazzell II26:45 Malachi Lawrence28:55 R Mason Thomas33:40 Super Bowl LX preview: Seahawks [-4.5] vs. Patriots48:50 Post Senior Bowl mailbagLearn more and join the waitlist at ScoutMotors.com.The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.Host: Todd McShayGuest: Steve MuenchProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Conor Nevins, and Daniel Comer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've got a scattered, but I think really fun show today. We'll start with That's My Guy. We're bringing it back into the fold. Then we've got Super Bowl picks and a little bit of roster building talk. Finally, we answer questions, the mailbag portion for all of our subscribers and people who are part of this show. There's only 77 days until the NFL draft folks. Minch, you still good? I'm good.

Tucker, roll that beat, please. We're going to get some mailbag questions into. I'm fired up for that. Always appreciate our subscribers and people who are, you know, family of the show, let's say. Sending in some questions, we'll answer some of those. We've got Super Bowl picks and want to talk a little roster building for both of these organizations that made unbelievable leaps from where they were a year ago. Man, we're excited about this new partnership.

This episode is presented by Scout Motors. Every new year, we do a lot of forward thinking and planning for what's to come. Just like the all new Scout Terra and Scout Traveler, they're being revamped for what comes next, taking that classic 70s design and improving it with modern engineering, including plans for advanced four-wheel drive. So look ahead.

Join the wait list at Scout Motors.com, just like I just did. Concept vehicles, not available for sale, features and performance specifications are preliminary and subject to change. Joining the wait list does not guarantee purchase. Visit Scout Motors. dot com for details.

But first, one of our favorite segments that we got away from for a while, that's my guy, right? Yeah. She's got three guys. I've got three guys. They're just kind of early leans, if you will. Players in this draft class that we've had an eye on that when you go through this scouting process, right, you watch a player or maybe you have a feel for what everyone

else is saying or you just fall in love with the style of player they are. and when you're talking, like, oh, that's my guy. That's my guy right there. You know, and so you get an affinity for some of these players. It's early. We're still watching tape. There's still a lot more guys that'll become, That's My Guy, down the road.

But right now, some early liens on that. And I want to get in that discussion. Just a little schedule it very quickly. Tomorrow, I've got a full mailbag coming out in the newsletter. It's the McShea report. If you don't subscribe to it, please do. Google it. The McShay report.

It's the easiest way to get to it. Click throw in your email, subscribe. And like, if this doesn't get you going, the mailbag, fine. But you know what's going to get you going next week? Mock 2.0. I'm excited. Right after the Super Bowl, man. Give me a better time.

All 32 picks, the draft order is set. Now 31 instead of 30 of the NFL markets are miserable. and they're looking at how do we get better for next season? It's officially draft season. I know the draft starts in Mobile, but I mean, now it's officially official.

So, all right, let's just dive right into it, Munch. Let's give people what they want. Let's go. Who are some of Mench's guys? Give me the three,

just rattle them off, however you want to do it. All right, I'm going to start with the Utah tight-in, Dailen Bailey, who started his career at Snow College. I'm not even sure where Snow College is. He had a very,

very kind of quiet freshman year there, and then he transfers to Utah and promptly catches three passes for 20 yards over the next two seasons. Very underwhelming. And then this year, he breaks out 40, you're seeing it there, 48 catches 60020 yards, 12.9 yards per catch. I am blown away with the kid on tape. I think that he's when you, let me put it this way.

He probably had the best, we're talking about an ascending player. He had the best season of his career in his last season there. Probably had the best game of his career in his last game, Nebraska in the bull game. But I want to point at one play that I think really shows what this kid can do, okay? This is against Texas Tech. It's the 55th play. When we say that, we're talking about the offense for Utah.

So it's Utah's 55th play on offense. It's not overall in the game. One of these days, you're just going to write down the time code if you're going to reference it. The 55th play is probably late third quarter, early fourth. Go ahead. Right. So he releases on just a hitch route, right? and the quarterback gets flushed was right.

Instead of staying stationary, he gets behind the linebacker, which is important because he wants to be in that blind spot, finds a soft spot in the zone, catches a pass that's thrown slightly behind him, nice up field and probably picks about 30 yards up after the catch. I couldn't find a basketball background for this kid, but when I watched him on tape,

all I can think is you had to play basketball for two reasons. One, he's a big frame kid. You went down to the senior bowl. He's six foot three. He's 262 pounds. You see that in the way he'd, boxes out facing the quarterback. He's a zone buster. He's a guy that gives you a real big target against zone looks. And the other thing is, I love the way he drops steps when he's about to catch

the ball facing the quarterback and puts himself in a position to produce after the catch. He's got shorter arms and sometimes that that smaller catching radius shows up on tape. But man, I'm watching him. He's tough to tackle after the catch. He runs hard for a guy who's that big, out of nowhere will he'll make a defender miss after the catch. I just, think people are sleeping on him. I think he's a top five tight end in this class. And I think he could go on day two. Ephraim, Utah in San Pete County, founded in 1888 and 5,500 students.

No disrespect to Snow College. But he didn't, he, a little shout out to Snow College there. Yeah, good. They deserve it. All right, who's your number two? That's my guy. I didn't know we're going to go all of my guys right away, but that's all right. You want to rotate?

I want to go one-on-one? I don't care. Yeah, let's do that because I am, I have one of your guys on my brain, and you know, you know it, and I'm just waiting to get into that. And that's- But we shared, we shared our picks with Tucker so he could build these beautiful graphics that he's building, right? Yes.

And you always think that some, like, some slight or I'm attacking you. What if I just happen to like a player that you think sucks, and I'm staking claim in him? Blake Miller's that guy. rage bait this is what this is it's not this is not you don't don't pretend go ahead i get four kids in this house from ages ranging from 10 a layer just turned 10 a couple weeks ago to 16 i am well versed in rage bait trust me blake miller number 78 the right tackle for clemson i actually thought he got off to a little bit of a slow start i didn't think his best game was that ls u

game earlier in the season. I'm not 100% sure as you see here. Sick on the screen if you're watching on Netflix now or after the fact on Spotify or if you're just listening on Apple or wherever else you listen to your podcast, there's a Blake Miller graphic up. He's 6-6-350 pounds, 53 college games played. 3,655 snaps. That's part of why I love this guy, okay?

We're doing snaps with tackles now. Hey, snaps equal reps, and I'm a reps guy. I didn't think it was his best game of the 53 college games he's played against LSU right off the bat. Hard to tell a couple of them, are they breakdowns on him? Or was the protection set wrong? But as the season progressed, I thought he got better and better. I love Blake Miller because it seems like everyone talks about the same names at offensive. tackle. Francis Maui Noah,

right tackle or guard from Miami. Spencer Fanow from Utah. Left tackle. Played right tackle, projects as a left tackle, very athletic, still is getting bigger and stronger. Caden Proctor gets a lot of first round

love if you look around the draft diverse in mock drafts. But every coach I've talked to, which is two different coaches in the league, and every scout I've talked to, when they're talking offensive tackles in the first round, it's freeling from Georgia and Blake Miller from Clemson.

And so when I had these conversations earlier in the year, I'm talking like October, I went back and studied Blake Miller's tape. What I like about him is I know who he is. I talk to people inside the program. Kevin Kelly, by the way, who was a long time, one of the most trusted scouts and personnel people in the NFL over my 25 years, a guy who always had an eye for talent. He's now, obviously he's got a bias now, if you will,

but he's not going to have a conversation with me about a player and promote all the things that he believes in if he doesn't actually believe in them. Tells me, this guy never misses a practice, leader of the offensive line room. As tough a guy in the wait room and, you know, around the building in terms of like getting guys to play, up to the level around him as he is on the field.

And you see on the field, he's physical. He's a finisher. I think he moves well. I don't want, like, he's not one of the Utah tackles, but he moves well enough. The 35-inch arms with that frame, with adequate movement skills, the toughness, the consistency, the experience,

like, what else do you need? I'm not saying he's elite. I'm not saying he's a top 10 guy. I'm not saying he's Joe Alt. But I'm saying, like, it's tough to find an offensive. that you think is going to be a plug and play starter in the NFL that you can get somewhere past pick 20, 20, maybe 20, 25.

Blake Miller is going in the first round, but I think you can get him in the bottom half of the first round. And I love that value. And I love that I know who he is in a college landscape that is changing so quickly and guys are bouncing around and different things are happening in NIL. Like this guy is true to who he is. I like Blake Miller. Okay. I listened respectfully.

I couldn't tell if your screen paused or we're actually just listening respectfully because it seemed like you were in a little bit of a trance while I was talking. I'm trying to listen. I'm trying to do Tucker. Tucker was worried too. Yeah. I'm trying to maintain. First of all, I have high blood pressure for people watch a show and I'm trying to I'm trying to get in my Zen place here before I absolutely pop off on this. I don't want to be overly harsh. And there's some very smart people who obviously agree with you. And I obviously have a ton of respect for how you evaluate players. You think you know who Blake Miller is. I think I know what Blake Miller is.

And I think Blake Miller is not that good. He is beaten by speed off the edge. SMU, play 64. Sorry, I don't have the timestamp. Where he gets beat around the edge. And Kade Klobnik absolutely gets smoked. And for a guy who has all this experience, McShay, why is he having a hard time in the LSU game,

adjusting to some of those pressures. I don't know if it's him. I don't know if it's a protection set. And I already said it wasn't his best game. I'm kidding. I did. I'm agreeing with you. I don't think it was his best game either.

North Carolina, play 21, play action. He's blocking a safety 10 yards downfield. Somehow they don't call it, but they will call that in the NFL. If you're a four-year starter, if you're a knit, if you pick it. No, I'm not. No, I'm not. Because this is the thing about him, okay? this is the thing in past protection.

You think he has okay movement sales. I don't think he moves that well. I think he gets beat by speed off the edge. I think he gets beat to the inside. And I think he gets beat by power in past protection. I think he can be a liability. I mean, you hated Will Campbell last year. So I might have trusted you?

I did not hate Will Campbell. I told you that he's probably going to be a better fit of guard. And I'll tell you right now, he is exactly who I said he was. Tell me one of the tackles. that was drafted after him in the first round outside of Simmons who had some off the field stuff, but if he was clean off the field and was staying

and was healthy and in the lineup every game, it wouldn't even be close. All the offensive tackles drafted ahead of him would have gone earlier than him. Sorry, that's just the way it is. They've been way better as a pass blocker than Will Campbell has, who has struggled at times.

And maybe banged up. So where would you grade Blake Miller? I would have, I have Blake Miller as a fringe day two guy. I don't even think he's, like, I have a hard time putting him in day two. I think his tape is that suspect. This is going to be a fun draft season.

It is. Absolutely. Absolutely. And if you want a new name, like Freeling's a relatively new name as a guy as an offensive tackle, Maxia and Ochoar, who I still don't think I'm saying his name right, is a relatively new name as a guy who's going to go in the first round.

I don't know why we have to put Blake Miller in the first round because he's tough and he's played a lot of games. And there's a different, let me tell you something about the toughness, too. He's big. He plays with balance. He's got 35-inch arms. Oh, here's balance.

He plays with balance. Listen, now you've got me worked up, so I'm just going to do it. Tell me, go back and watch play 53 against Florida State. Watch your guy climb to the second level, get out in space and block no one. I could list off 19 plays from Kelvin Banks a year ago. Kelvin Banks had a hell of a year this year. And then turn around and go over and step on number 31 like it's nothing. goes over and I hesitate to say stuff like this.

I watch that play 15 times because it's really hard to tell what intention is. But this tough guy's going to walk over and step on someone's ankle after the play. Go back and watch it. Tell me I'm wrong. All right, move on. Go ahead. I have a 15 minute fight on Blake freaking Miller. There's a blood pressure.

I'm sweating. You knew. I said when you put him on and you put it on a sex. I can't wait. It's, this is intentional. How that Ohio statewide receiver do last year? Ameca? Yeah.

Yeah, he did pretty good. He wasn't as good as everyone thought he was been waiting through the year. So I can't wait for Blake Miller going the first round and be the day one starter. Go ahead. Who's your next to my guy? Who is right about going to be this difficult for the next hour? Are you going to be this difficult? If you keep pushing my buttons like you are right now, yes.

All right, moving on. Moving on. We're going to go with a guy who started his career as a walk-on at a division to school, then transfers to Northern Illinois. And then after three years of Northern Illinois, transfers to Texas Tech, plays in six games and is awesome. I don't care what the numbers say is awesome.

We're talking about Skylar Gil Howard, the defensive tackle, who had the thick six for 55 yards against Ken State, where the way he tracks and pulls the ball out of the air, just a big man being an athlete. I love this kid. You can talk about the production this year. When he was a junior at Northern Illinois,

are you going to play him at Edge? Where are you playing this? Oh, I'm sorry. We don't play tackles that are our, By the way, I had him at 290. Tucker, you really, you really hurt me. I had him at 290. But anyways, 52 tackles, eight tackles for loss.

You want an injured, undersized, barely six foot when he actually gets checked into the combine, 285 pound defensive tackle. And you're bitching to me about Blake Miller. You know what the difference is, Todd? Do you know what the difference is? I want him in the middle rounds. I don't think he's a first round pick. I'm not losing my mind saying that this guy should be a first round.

pick because I like him and he had a productive year at Northern Illinois for one year. My guy doesn't have to be a first round guy. We weren't just picking first rounders. As a matter of fact, I don't think my guy should be first rounders. Blake Miller's a third rounder for you, but go ahead. I have a third round grade on Blake Miller. I know 100%. So I make no apologize for it.

No apologies for it. Are you ready for Gil Howard? Please. Doesn't stay blocked. Just he is, I call him. He's going to in the NFL with Blake Miller at 35 inch arms. He's going to a race. Here we go. We'll see.

That would be kind of new for Blake Miller. But anyways, Gil Howard is a bare-knuckle boxer with great instincts. I mean, you used to talk about this. Now I'm going to give you a compliment. Let's see if we could smooth things over after the start to this show. You used to talk about instinctive interior defensive linemen. And I was like, this is just the myth. You're playing in a shoebox.

How can you be that instinctive in locating guys? But when you see it, you know what McShay is talking about with an instinctive defensive alignment. And that's what this guy is. He's six foot one. He's not looking over anyone, but he has a great feel for how teams are trying to block him, where the ball's going, and he sheds in the proper direction. Yes, he's undersized. He's also 6-1 with a very explosive first step, knows how to use his hands. He's got good body strength, so he's a little harder to move out the ball. If he was 6-4-290, I would have more of a concern, but he's got a kind of a squatter body type. He's never going to be a high-volume sack guy. I understand that, but he

can be disruptive and he can affect the quarterback because he's relentless and he gets off blocks with those hands and he's quick. He's tight, has a hard time finishing. That's why I don't think he'll ever be like a high volume sack guy. But this is a dude I think is flying under the radar because he was banged up for most of the year. And you look at how stacked that Texas Tech defensive line was. And the guy that came in to replace him, AJ Holmes, I think it's going to get drafted

early next year. This is a player that I think might be flying under the radar a little bit, but when you go back and watch the tape and you look at the resume, he's a dude. And by the way, I love this. Nine younger siblings. And it tells me, without knowing a lot about his background yet, and we'll get into that later on as the process goes, that he's got a lot to play for.

He's a leadership studies major. Like the background on this stuff so far on him. Leadership studies majors, man. Don't discount that. I just got me, Jepson School of Leadership University of Richmond. Got me sitting next to you getting screamed at. I'm done with you today. I'm going to walk off today.

This might be the day. All right, my next guy. Chris Brazzled the second, not junior, the second. CB2. I called this early in the season. You did. Why isn't this cat being talked about as one of the top receivers? He had a, you see, 62 catches, over 1,000 receiving yards this year, 16.4 average.

When you look at it, like, he began his career at Tulane, redshirted and then, and then led the team. team in reception 44 and receiving yards in 2023. Transferred to Tennessee was fourth on the team in receiving yards. Maybe it was a, excuse me, maybe it was a tough transition. Yeah, but he sat behind Dante Thornton, Brew McCoy, and Squirrel White. And so he was kind of, you know, playing his role, finally gets to become the top dog, and it goes for over a thousand receiving yards. Now, I don't want to get this twisted.

He's a big receiver, six four. Actually, he's listed six, five. My guess is he'll be six four and a lot of change. But he's only around 200 pounds. So he's tall and he's lean. He's not the twitcheous, like after the catch or even as a route runner. But what he is is he's a guy that's like sharp and sudden in his movements. The more I studied him, the more I gained an appreciation.

because everyone's going to tell you this. The Brazel is a, he just runs nine routes. He's a vertical guy. And yeah, he does that. And he does it really damn well. And people will tell you he's not a contested catch guy, right? Only 38.9% on contested catches. That's a fact.

I want to see him get bigger and stronger. This is why he's not a first rounder. But when I'm looking at him, and it's different, like obviously Denzel Boston is just awesome on contested catches. Malachi Field, same thing for Notre Dame. Carnell Tate broke out as a contested catch guy this year, all bigger receivers. Brazzles is going to be a little different, but what I like about him is, and people are going to tell you that he doesn't catch the ball well. Early in his career, he had some drops. This past year, just two on 99 targets.

So get that out. The contested stuff's real. The drop rate you're going to hear about for his career, check it. It's not accurate. What I like about him is, son of an NFL player, I think he's actually refined as a route runner. And you know where he does his best work versus zone? He like, it's like the cognitive stuff for receivers, I think, is so underrated.

Guys who like can decipher what the coverage is, whether it's zone or man. And if it's, you know, choice routes, whatever it is. But in this case, I just think understanding where to be in zone, understanding the soft spots and settling in, also working back to his quarterback, then kind of getting in and out of his breaks. Again, he's not after the catch. He's really not that big of a threat after the catch, believe it or not. But he's a four, four, I would guess a four or five guy. It's six foot five listed 200 pounds. And I don't need a ton of catches, even though he had a good amount this year. I need the big plays. He's going to provide that. But I also think as an

intermediate route runner and versus his own. He's going to be a guy that comes in and is pretty well equipped to excel. Now, get bigger, get stronger, a little bit more physical in the catch point. I think his game will continue to ascend. This is his first real season as the guy. And he went for over a thousand. He absolutely destroyed Georgia. We all know that.

But there were other games where he was like, it wasn't just the one game. So Brazel to me, I'm just intrigued. God only makes so many six-foot-five receivers that can get vertical like that. Give me one of them, you know? In a passing offense, you've got a lot of big receivers who are the ex-receiver who do the physical things and out-muscle guys, and that's great. And we got a lot of them in this year's draft. There are nine guys right now, Munch, nine that I would characterize as first and second round

draft prospects. Brasso is one of them. I would put him at like five, six in the list. But he's a player that kind of flew for some reason, flew under the radar, even when Tennessee was having. Outside of that Georgia game, there just was not a lot of talk about CB2 this year.

Yeah, it's kind of, I mean, maybe it's because of the Aguilar was, they were hot early on, and Aguilar got a little insistent, so maybe that was some of it. But I have no notes on this guy. And give me a quarterback who can drive it down the field to him, too. Yes.

I don't think he gets out of the second round. see how he runs and if there's a really disappointing time, then we'll have, it's going to be a different conversation. I don't expect that. I think he's going to run really well. And if he runs really well with that frame, I'm with you all the way on that player. I think I would be surprised if he gets out of the second round based on what we know now. Can I just throw in something on the side real quick and talk about that's my guy? What's up? I'm not that far away from absolutely hijacking Denzel Boston. No, you can't have them.

I have to. All year. I'll trade anything for him. I actually think he might be the best receiver in this class. I'm not done yet. I'm not done yet. I actually think he might be the best receiver in this class. I know he's not going to run great in the 40. Give me a, give me anything sub four.

Give me a four, five, two at him. his size. And let me finish up my tape, my tape, I've done my lemon tape. I want to finish up my Jordan Tyson tape, although I'm getting pretty deep into there. I don't know, man. I know this isn't about that. This isn't show, this show isn't about that. I'm just saying the only way I can hijack him is to do something brash, and I'm not doing it for the, for the splash of it all. What about Denzel Boston isn't NFL starter

right away and like 80 catches? What about them? Speed? You're not asking me, right? I mean, I've had him, I've had him early the whole time. But I might have to trump them. All right, go ahead. This is so, we're not to do

a study on how you feel about this wide receiver class. I'm interested to see what your rankings are on these guys because you're, this is not like you. You're casting a white. net with this group. You like, you, there's not a lot of guys you don't like. I love Jeremy Bernard for what he is.

Second round, I trust him. I think Antonio Williams is vastly underrated coming out of Clemson. Yeah, you're not over-inflating value either. I really like Casey Concepcion for what he is. Slot receiver. Yes, Ranch. Zachary Branch.

Ranch is the ultimate guy. I love the big receiver. I think Malachi Fields is grossly underrated after watching the senior bowl and going back and studying his tape on the flight home. I love Tate. I really like, I really like Tyson. I love Lemon, but I recognize, you know, he's not, he's not 6, 2, 6, 3, 6, 4, 6, 5.

I like them all. I think there are 8 or 9 receivers who were legitimately, like, impact players as rookies and throughout their career. It's a fun receiver class. It is. I'm there with you in the depth, and I think we're going to talk about this more later, so I don't want to get into it too much. I'm there with you in the depth. I'm not there with you on these guys being necessarily like the elite talent that should be necessarily definite top 10 picks.

I don't disagree totally. But it's a good group. But I also think it's not a great top 10 overall. So I'd rather take a really good player. But go ahead. All right. We're getting into my next guy. It's UCF Edge, Central Florida Edge, Malachi Lawrence, who's had 19 and a half sacks over the last 36 games, the last three years.

Good, not elite length. I think he had 33 and a half inch arms. So it's pretty good, 33 and a half inch arms at the East West game. I like how he works off contact. I like how he's either going to shoot both hands or he's going to work a stab move and then work off of that to get off the block quickly.

I think he's really good. I think he bends well and is able to, as you say, further the rush through contact. I messed it up. I had it earlier. How do you say it? Advanced, advance the rush through contact, right? There you go.

Yep. Yes. So he's able to do that. I really like that. I think he closes well. I think he's a high motor guy. Already talked about the production. He's a little bit leaner. I would like to see him put on 10 to 15 pounds and play defensive end in a four-man front because one of his weaknesses is that he's tight in space and it can affect his ability to to finish as a pass rusher. The other thing I will say is that right now, as much as he does work off of contact, I think this is a unique thing for him. even when he works off contact, he's always looking to turn the corner. He does not work inside enough. I want to see that part of his game develop. But in an edge class that I really like, if you're looking for a guy that could be in the middle rounds,

I think he could be potentially a top 100 player. You could do worse than Malachi Lawrence. He's a guy that keep an eye on if you're not going to be able to get one of these edges early and teams value them so much. I think his best football is still ahead of them and he's got some really nice tools. It's interesting.

you went with the UCF Edge. It's not Nigelah Kelly, who was at the senior bill. I know. I know. I know 35 and a quarter in charge of 6.5. Had a really good senior bowl, too. I mean, both those guys can play, man. He's another one to keep an eye on. Both of those guys can play.

This edge group, again, maybe not elite talent at the top or as much elite talent you might have in other classes, but deep. There's a lot of depth in this class the more I get into it. I like it. I like how you're digging deep. My final guy is R Mason Thomas. Edge from Oklahoma.

I just love him. I love the way he plays the game. I know he's undersized. He's listed 6-2-249. My guess is he's going to be like 6016-255 at the combine. You see there only the 18 tackles. Is he great versus the run? No, but he's disruptive enough.

He's a really good feel for keeping blockers off his body. But if locked up and we used to call a phone booth, and now we call a tight alley or a closet or whatever you want to call it, yeah, it's not going to be ideal for him. But I see guys like Nick Benito. That's the obvious one, right? Yeah, and then Nuoosu is a comp. D. Ford is another one that you'll see a lot, right, with the Chiefs.

Those guys, Ford and, and Nuoso have dealt with injuries. And obviously, Armason Thomas is coming off the injury with a leg after the Tennessee return for, you know, a huge return that really swung that entire game and swung the entire season for Oklahoma. I just think certain guys know how to rush the quarterback. And one play, it's a outside-in move. The next one, it's dip and rip. The next one, it's this hand-to-hand combat

or like it's almost like jujitsu. The next one, it's speed to power. Like he does like everything that you want to see an edge deploy, he's gotten his bag. He's instinctive. He has a sense for setting up offensive tackles. And it's not like he played at a small school or even like the ACC.

He was doing this at the SEC level and against pretty good offensive tackles, right? And so I don't know. I just, I think certain guys, so much of it is about being slippery and so much of it is about using leverage and having bend and having like different ways to get offensive tackles off guard.

And I think he does a special job of it. Now we get this edge class. It's really good. Another class kind of like the wide receiver class is better than we thought coming in the year and it's better than the year. and it's better than last years. The edge class last year,

all we talked about outside of Chador and Cam Ward, and then eventually Jackson Dart, was how great that edge class, and the running backs. Running backs and edge. We were talking to position strength, it was edge running back,

running back edge. Well, this year, I think there are nine guys just like last year. They could go in the first two rounds. And Armason Thomas isn't going to be one of the top guys. That's going to be David Bailey from Texas Tech. It's going to be the Miami.

me guys, Bain and Messador. But I think when you get into that next tier of guys, that Armason Thomas is right there with him. I really do. And I hope he works out well. I hope he's not closer to 6-1 than he is 6-2. I hope he's in the mid-250s and not in mid-2-40s, all that stuff.

But I think Armisen Thomas is going to be a steal for a team because it's hard to get in the second round an edge rusher that's this refined and proven. and I think Armation Thomas is that guy. Yeah, I think the numbers would be better if he was healthy the whole year. I think that's true. Yeah, that was nine games, essentially, what that production was. What I, yeah, right.

And I'm not even sure he's healthy in some of those games. You know, you tell me, I love the value of what he's going to be because I think he's going to go a little bit, I think he should go where you have him, and I think he's going to go a little bit later than that. I think people, team are going to be scared off the frame about the frame. they shouldn't be. They shouldn't be scared about the frame. We've seen...

Benito was a second rounder, right? Yeah. But, I mean, do you think he'd be a second rounder if we redrafted that draft? Hell no. So people get scared off by that frame, they shouldn't. They shouldn't. Depending on, again, you're right. He's going to show up at 235.

I don't think so. But if he's in the mid-240s or 250, I'm not worried about it. I'm not. And he's 6-2. I'm not worried about it because of the reasons you mentioned, the value for him. If you're taking a guy in the time, top 10, I want a guy who looks like Miles Garrett. We all do. Or a top five guy.

You know what he mean? Or we want an explosive guy, like some of the elite passers that come out recently. But that being said, if you're talking about getting a day two guy and it's going to be R. Mason Thomas, sign me up. Sign me up for that kind of a value pick. All right. I love, I love, that's my guy, right?

But I also love Super Bowls, man. As our good friend Pete Sussi used to say, and it was his actual college thesis and an effort to try to get awareness on how we shouldn't have classes or work on Monday after the Super Bowl. Literally his college thesis, like his thesis paper. I don't want to know what grade he got on it. Was Super Bowl Sunday. Dot, dot, dot, dot. Super Indeed.

Who doesn't love the Super Bowl, right? It's amazing. But also, who doesn't love Scout Motors? This partnership we have a Scout Motors means the world. I already told you I've got the printout here. I'm already registered, 27. I'm getting a Scout Motors vehicle. But I also want to, as part of what we're doing with Scout Motors, it's about roster building.

So I want to get into all that. But first, now it's time for from the draft to the bowl, brought to you by Scout Motors. Like a lot of the decisions made during the draft, Scout Motors is looking to the future with the all-new Scout Terra and Scout Traveler. With plans for body on frame construction, optional 35-inch tires, and more, they'll be ready for any challenge from, Harsh winter roads to no roads at all. All right, match, I want to talk about this. Roster building. And I want to get your picks for the game.

We'll go to Fandul, another one of our amazing partners in this show. And we appreciate our partners, especially with a scout and Fandul, what they've done to step up to support our show is remarkable. And we're forever in debt. But roster building, before we get to the picks and who we like and maybe some ways to win some money, foster building. It's been fascinating to watch, right? The Patriots on one hand,

going through the lull they had, didn't draft all that well, even under Belichick for a while. But the last couple years, what a quarterback, a left tackle, and some other spots can do with handpicking some free agency.

Walk me through what you've been most impressed. Mike Vrable, the culture, players first, empowerment, like there's a palpable energy when watching the Patriots, whether you do it live or on television. What has it been about the Patriots that stood out to you

and what they've done with Elliot Wolfe as the general manager and Vrable now as the head coach? Well, let's go back a year, right? I mean, how is this going to work? Is there going to be a healthy marriage here? Is there going to be, is this going to be, you know, good decision-making in a group that maybe wasn't, you know, is being thrown together a little bit?

And let's be honest, I mean, they've done nothing but kill it. You talk about the free agency and the veterans they brought in in the culture. Milton Williams, the defense tackle, who they spent a lot of money on has been a closer in games when he's been healthy. The run defense is different with him in the lineup. I mean, that's just one of the guys you want to talk about free agency. But I don't know if people realize how much that group just absolutely crushed the draft. I mean, we're going to talk about Will Campbell a lot, but you got a guy, I don't care what you say. they're starting left tackles better than it was a year ago.

So they got a starting left tackle. They got a starting left guard. They got two contributors on offense and Kyle Williams at receiver and Trayvion Henderson at running back. Then you get a safety in Craig Woodson in the fourth round who's turned into a pretty damn good safety for them right away. So we're talking about three starters and two contributors in one draft. The first draft with Rabel there and the first draft with Rable working with

L.A. Wolf, like you can't, you can't speak highly enough of the job that they did in terms of turning that roster over. On the other side, you've got Seattle, right? And Mike McDonald has been a treasure. And what he has always done defensively, but also as a leader we've seen now, right? I just, John Schneider, I've told you, I've known him forever since I was a puppy in this business. He is one of the most respected evaluators. And I remember calling Dan on the phone after last year after the big trade was made.

You know, it was D.K. Metcalf out. It was Gino Smith out. It was bring in Sam Darnold, acquire some extra picks. What are we doing here in Seattle? And I sat there in my bedroom, actually, in a chair talking to Dan through a newsletter that I wanted to get out there because I just, I know John well enough and I know the background. and it was brilliant. And if you could probably go in the McShay report, you can go back in the archive and read that article from basically a year ago,

almost to the date, like right around this time last year, maybe 11 months ago. And it was, it's almost like Bill Walsh, first of all, get out ahead of it. Gino Smith was one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league for a long time. But aging, you know, 35, whatever. the age is. And why are we, and they made an offer, they thought was reasonable, but it wasn't accepted.

And so it's like, all right, time to move on. And then identifying, Sam Donald had one good year, didn't finish well. Are we going to bet everything on it? But we can get a guy for less money who's younger, who's more talented, and just had a big year and bring him in. and we're going to try to build this thing. And we're going to build it with draft picks and we're going to build it with smart financial decisions

and we have a coach that we believe in. And all of a sudden now, Grace Abel, Nick Eamon Worry, you know, you've got this draft class, you've got you got Sam, you've got a team that you've been building quietly kind of behind the scenes and they knew that they were better

in a lot of spots than people like seemed to think. and to see it all come together. I honestly, I thought it might be next year for Seattle. I didn't know it was going to be this quick. But to see that happen and to know what John's now, with the draft picks and the youth at quarterback, they're built to last for the next few years, man.

They really are. No question. And I think the personnel story of the year is Sam Bradford. I mean, it costs one general manager's job by letting him go, and it's sending another team. or helps him another tunnel the Super Bowl. What I say? Bradford?

Bradford, yeah. Yeah. Terrible, terrible. Sam Darnold. That is the personal story of the year, I think. Yeah. Sam Bradford not play anymore. Is he out?

No, he made some money in this league, though, man. I loved him coming out of Oklahoma. I remember being at his pro day. It was a thing of beauty. No, you're right. And look at where Minnesota is right now. Fire GM this past week. Today's From the Draft to the Bowl was brought to you by Scout Motors,

and they're all new Scout Terra and Scout Traveler. Popular in the 70s, Scout Motor is planning to combine everything you loved about these cars with improved engineering to build a vehicle that'll make you feel like a champion. Join the waitlist at Scout Motors.com. Concept vehicles, not available for sale, features and performance specifications are preliminary and subject to change. joining the wait list does not guarantee purchase, visit scout motors.com for details. Who do you like in this game? You're a Patriots fan?

I am, I was raised a Patriots fan. I will be at a Patriots Super Bowl party. I do not run from that. My son is a lives and dies by the Patriots. It's what it is. And maybe I'm biased. But I got, I got the Pats 2120. I'm surprised by the spread. I will say that. I think it's four and a half. Is it still four and a half? Here's the thing that really kind of, here's why it surprises me.

And tell me if you agree with this. Okay. I love Sam Darnold. I almost said Bradford again. I almost did it. I love Sam Darnold. And I love Mike McDonald. But I think New England has the edge at head coach and at quarterback.

It may not be that big of an edge. But I do think there's an edge there. I think that maybe people are, sleeping on the New England defense a little bit still, which surprises me. I don't, four and a half just seems way too high. It just seems way too high with the wave rables coach this team and the role they've been on. And I know Seattle's done the same thing, man. I have a lot of respect for that Seattle team.

And it scares me for Seattle's going to attack the left side of the, that young rookie offensive line, the left guard, Jared Wilson and Will Campbell left tackle. They're going to attack them. And they have a damn good defense. a damn good defense. And I think those are going to be some of the storylines in the game is, you know, Drake May can he make plays with his feet, has that left side of the offensive line stand up, who's the better coach in this game?

It's going to be, you know, all the things that come down to a Super Bowl. I just think that there's enough there to lean New England, but I think it's going to be a good game. I like New England with the points. I think four and a half. I think it's going to be a close game. I actually do. I think Seattle's a damn good team, and are they capable of winning by 10? yeah, they're capable.

But I don't think New England's going to shy away from anything. I think this is a gritty New England team. I actually think they can. I think this is more of a toss-up than like the money. I think the money lines is like almost plus $200. It's like plus $195 for New England. I don't think it's that big of a mismatch. And I do find it interesting.

There's some people love Seattle. Well, you got New England, you got New England to play this with lousy schedule all regular season, right? Then in the playoffs, you get, this is the first, first quarterback to beat three top five defenses to go to the Super Bowl. Now, granted, it's also the youngest quarterback. He'll be the second youngest quarterback ever to play in a Super Bowl

behind Dan Marino, and if he were to win it, it would be the youngest ever. So you have to factor that in. And what's going on with the shoulder? And he had the flu last week. And so there's just a, there's a lot to factor in there. but I do find it interesting that Seattle all of a sudden is the super team in a season where we all were talking about how there's so much parity and it's not the it's not like in previous years and the chiefs are out of it and the Eagles aren't what they were and then you know what I mean but now they're a super team yeah it's also the the Darnell narrative is really interesting because he's he's awesome and I'm so glad that he's doing well and and I think if Seattle wins on Sunday you better bet on Monday I'm coming out with the biggest F you of all time as ever as you as you. should.

I took so much heat for so long on Sam Darnold. I will, I've been, I've been quiet. Yep. He won't, but he should. I get the feeling that he won't, even, he won't do it, but he should. I'll do it for him. I'll say this, though. The narrative, like, he was so good in the NFC championship game that we seem to

just be putting to rest any flaws and weaknesses, and now he's arrived, and we're going to get that, that version. I can't. Ted Darnold. every single time. I keep doing it, man. But we're going to get him every single time. Yeah.

We're going to get that every single time. And I'm not sure that's the case. I'm not sure that people understand two things about the Patriots defense in this game. They have been in on absolute heater. I think they're going to have the defense backs are going to have a hard time matching up with CEL's receivers, Rashid Shaheed, specifically. I know JSN's the guy. That number two matchup of Carlton Davis-Rish heat is the one that, like,

if I'm a New England fan, I'm worried about. But they are as good as any other team in the league at being able to compete with that receiving core as good as it is. And the weakness of the Seattle offensive lines, the interior, and I'm not sure people around the country understand how deep and talented. With Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, they have dudes up front. And then they have Tonga and Durdon who have played at an extremely high level this year.

You're taking away the middle, you're potentially taking away the middle of that run game. Like, I don't know, man. I think it's going to be probably a low-scoring, game, but I'm not sure people understand how good the New England defense has been. I've got a four-leg parlay that I played today. Here we go. Here

we go. And it doesn't include a one. I've got another one. I've played a couple things. Just have some fun. This four-leg parlay is plus 8.15. Four things have to happen. Drake May rushes for 40 plus yards. I think he's going to be on the move in this game. I think it's going to be

I agree. Sam Darnold. This one's going to surprise. you rushes for 10 plus yards. I don't hate it. I actually think in that one's the tough one. Stefan Diggs with 30 plus receiving yards. You know how good he is versus zone versus man to man? Yeah, I like that.

That one, that seems like the. And Cooper Cup has been, yeah, keep your mouth shut. And Cooper Cup has been quietly really productive in the postseason after, you know, kind of on and off throughout the season, 20 plus receiving yards. So Darnold plus 10 rushing, May plus 40 rushing, Diggs plus 30 rushing, Cups plus 30 receiving, and cup plus 20 receiving.

You know what I'm hot on? What? I'm going to put 5 or 10 on, and I should have looked at what the odds are, but part return touchdown. Marcus Jones and Rashid Jihad are like two of the best to ever do it. I think you're getting terrible odds for something that there's terrible odds on. I think it was like plus 1,500. is the last time I looked at it.

I mean, it's still, it's, as good as they are, there's still going to be pretty good odds on getting a pot return touchdown. Hoping for a Desmond Howard moment. All right.

Let's transition. You got those questions for us, right? Plus 800 on fan, on fan, yeah, Vandals plus 800. Plus 1,500. It's plus 800?

Oh, it's gone down. Yeah, people have been hitting it, I'm sure. I got, yeah, I'm telling you,

it's gone down. I'm telling you. just last night we were talking about it. So it was cut in half. Yeah, Tyler was in on it. By the way, Tyler tells me he's making one bet. Tyler who like cannot stop himself. You mean, it's all like little bets,

but Tyler tells me he'd make a one bet during the Super Bowl. It was like, yeah. What is it? No way. I don't even, I forget what it was. He did have something. It was one thing. And I was like, bro, you'll make 15 bets if you make one.

Yeah, he's got heads or tails. Heads on grass, tails on turf, by the way. go ahead. What are the questions? Mailbag time. Hey, Todd, Mensch, big fan of the show. Do you think more Ohio State Buckeyes or SEC players go in the first round? That's from Chris Rousseau. Chris Rousseau.

I get where you're going with this. This is kind of you, Chris. Let me guess you're a Buckeyes fan. It's not a good year for the SEC. I'll be honest. Three straight national championships for the Big Ten. And the big argument that you could always fall back on as a draft guy is, well, more talents in the SEC every year.

And by significant marks, like first round overall by like 20, 25, 30, like over the years, it's been significant the difference. Not this year. Ohio State, the way I see it, there's four locks that go on round one. That's Arvel Reese, Carnell Tate, style. And, oh, sorry, Caleb Downs. Yes. Not in that order.

There's so many. Sometimes it's hard to keep them and keep track of them. There's something they're going to go early. Caden McDonald is a possibility late in the first. Could go early second defensive tax. I wouldn't hate it if he went late in the first, man. Yeah. The SEC on the other hand, so that's four to five.

The SEC on the other hand, as I look through it, is like, I'd say six to nine. overall. But Reese and Tate and Stiles and Downs could possibly. I don't think it's probable. But I would bet three of those guys come off the board before and an SEC guy does in Monsore Delane as it looks right now, the cornerback from LSU. Go ahead.

And where's Keldar Falk in all this? It seems like he's falling down the board. Yeah, we'll see. We got a lot of time left. He's only 20. He's not, the SAC production's not there. He's not, but he's got a lot of, a lot of years to develop. Not, not to criticize Chris, but I would have loved if the question was more Ohio State players in the top 15 or more SEC players.

I think it's a blowout for Ohio State in the top. Oh, it's a blowout. Monsor Delane and Jermad McCoy are the only ones I could see possibly getting in the top 15. It could be four nothing. Ohio State. Yeah, it could be. It's probably going to be four one, four two. C.J. Allen, linebacker from Georgia,

Monroe Freeling, also from Georgia offensive tackle. Keldrick Falk, you mentioned Auburn Edge, Caden Proctor. I'd say more likely than not in the first round when we get closer after he works out. Then the three guys I would say right now are possibilities, but certainly not locks. Colton Hood, we just saw at the Senior Bowl,

the cornerback from Tennessee. Cassius Howell, undersized edge rusher, but an absolute terror this past year for Texas A&M. and also from an A&M, the wide receiver, KC, Concepcion. You know, nine would be the most, as I see it right now. But I'm guessing it's going to be closer to like seven. Yeah, I had eight to four. So I don't think it's close in the first round,

but early, it's all of Iowa State. All right, next one, ready? Yep. In a perfect world, I think the best route for the Rams is to take a guy they like at quarterback and let him sit behind Stafford for one to two years with McVeigh. I have my eye set on Ty Simpson and Garrett Nussmeyer. Do either of you prefer the fit of one quarterback over the other?

I think Ty Simpson's more talented. The production and tape are definitely better this year. I mean, this year, even if the best of that seven-game stretch, I know it was the first nine who was outstanding, but let's say eight-game stretch, even after Florida State. versus the best eight games of Nussmeyer's career, Edge Ty Simpson. I agree.

Ties a little bit more, Ties a little bit more mobile. I think Ties got a little bit more juice in his arm. I think they're both grew up in the game. The one's a college head coach's son. The other one's a son of an offensive coordinator, a quarterback coach, an NFL quarterback. And I certainly think edge to,

Nussmeyer in terms of like instincts, deciphering all that, but like not that big a gap and they're both just damn good at those things. I listen, man, tell me if you don't do this too, but like I'll be doing things like grocery shopping,

I'll be in the shower, picking up Stella from school, whatever it is. And I'll start thinking to myself about where I have guys ranking. And I cannot rank. I cannot get your voice out of my head about the snaps and it's starting to really scare the hell to me with Simpson.

I know. I love the run, like that run that you talked about, and I agree with everything you just said, it is really starting to scare the hell to me. Now, if he goes in this situation, and he sits for a year, I think that softens the impact of that maybe. But man, I don't, it's just Mac, the ghost of Mac Jones. It's right there.

I don't know, man. And I know they're different players. I don't want to get into that argument. I know, I know, I know, it's not a comp. But when you look at the school, the one year, that's what I'm talking about. And it's just, I don't know, the longer this process goes, the more, like, the more scary to get about it. Yeah, I think one, I think one is going to require a first round pick, the other is going to require a second if you're a Rams fan. I think either way, I'd rather Ty Simpson.

I'd rather Ty Simpson, period. I'm not going to freak. I'm not going to freak out. if the Rams, if anyone else did, without their situation and their offensive coach and McVeigh. If anyone else took Ty Simpson in the 13 range, I'd be like, not like, no, no, no, no, no, no. But with Stafford playing one year or maybe even two more years,

and with McVeigh there, I think it feels to me like it's the best path for Ty Simpson's success in the NFL. Flash forward, Los Angeles, California, first night of the draft on the ringer set and with the second overall pick, the Jets select Ty Simpson out of Alabama. Nothing would make me happier to see that reaction.

It wouldn't make me happy long term because it's not the right thing. I don't think so either. But man, watching you go, no, no, no. know would be pretty fun. All right. We're going on to question number three. My question is regarding how you guys,

how you guys and NFL teams view different rounds of the draft and value. Do teams automatically assume a first rounder as a starter and a sixth is a backup and does a vary by position? I think this is a good time. I think you do a really good job of this, but it's a good time to remind people maybe of how our grading system works and how you view different grades in different rounds. Yeah, when we started this thing like 25 years ago with Gary Horton, who started it as the war room, we had a grading scale that it was a lot more similar equivalent to like what we've come to know.

A lot of NFL teams have. Like I know, we know guys are like the Ravens over the years, you know, like the 6.8, 6.1, you know. But then we got to ESPN and they wanted to make it more like reader friendly. And we did a hundred scale. So basically anything in the 30s was considered. like 31 to 39 was a seven essentially became a seventh rounder all the way up to like 90 to a hundred which we never had a hundred player became a first rounder and so it became like equivalent to but it wasn't always like we may only have you know 12 first round grades and there's going to be a bunch of guys that that we would mock in this anyway long short we always grade by like this guy is is in the 90s to us is going to be like a pro bowl player for whatever that is these days after watching that fraud of a flag football game but you know what I mean like selected is perennial or unanimous all pro like and then we've we've scaled it back from there let me simplify this for you in like all things and kind of 30 foot 30,000 foot view. you. When you're drafting a player in the first round, there's so much concern about that player

not hitting that I do think there's some paralysis by overanalysis sometimes, but I do think the risk is so great. With the money that you're paying that rookie versus the money you're paying, there's a huge difference between the 10th pick, which is going to be upwards like in the high $30 million range over a four-year contract and a handful of a million for the 40th pick, right? the first round pick you can't afford to miss on because you believe he's going to be a starter and hopefully an impact player and hopefully like a star on your team. But at the very least, you better be a good starter for you. The second round, I still believe it's absolutely starter.

Ideally, it's starter from day one. This is all positions but quarterback. Quarterback is you're drafted in the first round. He's going to start year one. Draft him in the second or third. You're planning on developing and be a starter. but with an understanding that probably not, you know, probably not going to be a great starter. And it's so rare to find someone outside the first round these days,

even though you have the Brady examples and the Brock Purdy examples. And Jaylen Hertz. May shock, but yeah. Yes. But all other positions, second round is going to be a good starter. And they've got to start right away. Third round is usually kind of now, all right, is it, is it a sub-package role, like a nickel corner,

some special teams value, but like you're still planning on that guy being a starter in some capacity or a significant contributor. Then you get the day three, and as the rounds go on, it's absolutely like backup role player, but obviously you want to hit on all these guys,

like, you know, but then you get into, I think in the second round, you're a lot more likely to take a risk on a talented player that has first round talent, talent with an injury or a character concern or something like that. I think when you get in the fourth, fifth round, it's about traits, specialization, developmental upside. Yeah, one of the two.

It's this developmental upside. I see something in him or he's not yet there, but we think we can, in our system, with our coaching staff, we can rise them up. the other hand, it's a specialization thing. It's a kickers, punters, long snappers, but more importantly, I mean, like, he could play a role on our team. We need depth. We could use a number four, five receiver.

But he also can help either in the return game or as a gunner, you know, so that's what kind of goes into the people's mind, you know, NFL evaluators' minds when it comes to that day three. How do you feel about giving a quick hit on positional value and how that might affect how a team drafts or maybe how you draft. Let's put it this way. Let's say you have a 92 on a Jeremiah Love

and a 90 on Ruben Bain, maybe not the best example. Do you even, like, you know, people always like, just trust your board. Take the best player on the board. I think that's, and tell me if I'm wrong, I think that's kind of when you get into the coupling scenario of we can have Ruben Bain in the first round

and pick a running back that you like in the second round, maybe in, you know, Nick Singleton. I don't know. Pick a running back that you, like, good value. in the second round, do you necessarily just take the best player on your board? It shouldn't affect your grade, right? It should not affect your grade. No, I actually think a lot of teams are going to have a,

their highest graded player is Jeremiah Love. But they might not draft them, right? I mean, they're, well, yeah, it's only for teams that actually have a need at running, but if you have a starting running back or two guys that you feel really good about, it's hard to pass up on a position, you know, a position of player. But that number better be like touching each other. So like for us a 93 better be touching a 92 or else we're starting to take player. Like Ruben Bain isn't good enough for me to not take Jeremiah Love unless I have a star

running back already, you know? Yeah. And then you're trying to trade out. I mean, there's a lot of factors that go into it. What's unique about this class, man, three of the highest graded players are, at positions that we can wide that are widely considered like not that valuable there's not positions of value or positions of priority however you want to phrase it running back jeremiah love linebacker rvel ral rase safety caleb downs so it's going to be an interesting year with a lot

of teams i think trying to trade back but good luck finding a dance partner yeah right uh here our next question i want to ask about the running back class this year yep i've heard i've seen her it's a weaker class. I'm not really sure that's the case anymore, but I think it was at one point. But I really enjoy watching some of the guys behind Jeremiah Love, who's obviously that guy,

like Judarian Price, Emmett Johnson, DeMond Claymore, and Seth McGowan. Do any running backs or other projected day two, three guys stand out as backs who can have an immediate impact in a specific role in the league? I'll let you handle a lot of this question,

but I'll say this. I think you touched on a lot of the guys that I would put in there, starting with Judarian Price, I think he's going to have an immediate impact in the role that he's going to play. I think he's used to playing that number two role. And go ahead.

And in the return game, I think he's a guy that could carve out a role pretty quick. Emma Johnson out of Nebraska, I really like two. Two other guys, one was at the Senior Bowl, or two, both were at the Senior Bowl. One is like, I'm really high on now, and I think he's just to see how well he runs.

Because he had Drew Fabianus just released the Zebra technology and Mike Washington from Arkansas at 228 pounds was the fastest player on the field that week. And then you look at his tape and his production. And I just think there's a, he's, I think he's going to be a day two back. And I'm not sure that was the case. Which is saying a lot because there were only six guys last year

in one of the best running back classes we've ever evaluated. Right. So I think he could be a day two guy. The other guy that I just, I can't get out of my mind. and I'm not sure he's going to go in the second or third round, but if he's there early day three, I'm having a hard time saying no, and that's Ketron Allen out of Penn State.

We talked a lot about Nick Singleton and how he'll probably be the first Penn State running back off the board, and I get that because he's going to run better. Keatron Allen ran for over 4,000 yards at Penn State, man, hit 39 touchdowns. They trusted him more. But he's also, I get that, and you're right. His instincts are so far greater than that of Singleton's.

And he kicks the ball. I'm giving you this. answer because we questioned it, and I'm telling you, this is the factual answer that I've gotten to the bottom of. Okay. There was a trust level with Ketron, recognizing he doesn't catch the ball as well, recognizing he's not as explosive. They just didn't trust Singleton the way they trusted Ketron. Ketron, when it was blocked up, got it. Ketron sticking his nose in it, not dancing around, not looking for something extra. He just took what was available, and that's what they needed, and that's what they went with. And they love his instincts. They love his toughness. They love all those things.

They recognize he's not the big play weapon. But you know what? Remandre Stevens is not the talent that Trayvon Henderson. But I promise you this, remandre is going to get more touches in the Super Bowl. And Trayvion's probably going to play a role. And he might have a 55-yard run. You might break that sucker open, right? But there's different roles. And so when we're talking about roles, that's what you're looking at with Penn State. That's the why behind it. Just like Gendrian Price is going to play a different role while still valuable than that of Jeremiah Love. There are a couple other guys that I like in the role and I like for the value. Lavian Moss, I still think is talented. Can he stay healthy? But you bring him in as your number two,

number three back with a day three pick, probably. There's only six backs went last year. I don't know that Lavian Moss is going to be one of the first six backs off of the board if we even have six backs drafted in the first three rounds. Moss is intriguing to me because the talent. is there. I really, really am intrigued by Adam Randall, a guy who's been a full time running back for one year and improved that much at 233 pounds, 6 foot 2. He is a big dude. Standing next to him on the field man, you and I, he was like which one of these doesn't look like the others. And then he was one of the fastest players, you know, after the first two days on the zebra technology. And I also have this weird appreciation now for Kaelin Black from India.

Oh, yes. I don't know how I didn't think of him. And it's in the right system, reading blocks, as you said, like hugging his blockers, protecting the ball, pad level. I don't know. I just think he's going to be a day three pick that may wind up next year as a rookie. We're like, man, Black should have gone earlier. Yeah, I think those are three good values.

Again, I keep saying it. There's some depth in this class. It's not the elite running back class that we saw last year, but there's some players I really like. Those are three guys that I think would be really good values. That was from Ben L, by the way. I don't know if I mentioned that. So thanks, Ben.

Number five, in your minds, how big of a drop-off is there between the first and second tier of wide receivers this year? In other words, is there a big talent difference between Denzel Boston, Denzel Boston, kind of answered this, and the likes of Casey's Concepcion, Chris Basil the second, Chris Bell, et cetera.

That's from Travis and Kenny Bunk. I think here's the difference to me. The first four can kind of do it all with the caveat that Lemmon doesn't, Mackay Lemon from USC doesn't look like the other three. The other three are in whatever order you have them. Jordan Tyson from Arizona State, sorry. Carnell Tate from Ohio State

and Denzel Boston from Washington. Denzel Boston is your true X big physical, not going to run great, but my gosh, is he talented. I talked about him earlier on the show. Carnell Tate is taller, not as tall as Boston.

I don't think. I think they're like a half an inch or inch difference. Maybe not. I don't think he is, yeah. I don't think he's quite as tall. He's not as thick on tape, but still like contested catches.

A little bit. I would say Tate is a little more. of like smooth fluid. I don't know. I just love both of them. Jordan Tyson is also a bigger guy, but more like Debo bigger than he is 6'4, you know? And then you get Lemon who's 511 and change,

but he's 196 and he's thickly built. And my goodness, everything that Lemon does, he looks like he's on rails. Remember the old saying like the 80s? like corners like it's on rails talking about like a Ferrari or something. He's not, but he's not a four three guy. He might not, he might be mid four fours, high four fours. But everything's sudden and on a rail.

There's no wasted motion. He catches the ball. So everything is clean. Pluck on the run. Like the contested catch against Iowa, the tracking the ball vertically, beautifully. He is the cleanest pass catch. I'm not saying he's the strongest hands or the best this or that,

just the cleanest of the receivers I've done at least. Then you get to the second group. We've talked about it. Those are more fit your role. We talked about Brazel, who's the vertical receiver, but he's not going to be great contest to catch all that, but he's still super talented at 65200. Casey Concepcion, punt return or return specialist,

in addition to yards after catch. Pretty good intermediate, but like yards after catch, get him the ball a little bit of space. Branch is like, I think just, I think he's conception, but like, yeah, it's like a lightning, like, you know? Antonio Williams is not, he's going to be your Z receiver,

slot receiver type. But I think he can run some really good intermediate routes. He can do some things beyond what they asked him to do when he was able to do it at Clemson. Jeremy Bernard is not going to be super fast. Not great versus man to man. If you go look at his splits, outstanding, one of the best receivers in the country versus zone, soft spots,

reliability, working back to the quarterback, all those things. Chris Bell is getting a lot of AJ Brown comps. I don't think he's not that talent-wise, but he looks like him and he's supposed to run in the four-threes, as you mentioned, and he's a big-time player after the catch, but also with size. I think I mentioned all of them. That's a, oh, and Malachi.

One guy. Malachi Fields. That's what I was going to ask you. Six, four, two, what, 18? My goodness, does he look like a star wide receiver? And then the ability to adjust the ball down the field. So this class is a lot of fun. There's a lot of different types.

But you can almost break them into like, you get the big guys. And you got the more like versatile, smaller guys. And then don't all do the same exact. things, but there's two different groups. Yeah, and I think we're missing a big part of the puzzle right now, and we'll get into this when the time comes. But this is what's going to be fascinating about Indy. I can't wait to see who works out and how they work out because there are guys, a couple

guys in that second group. I don't think anyone's going to pass the top four. I don't think anyone's going to crack the top four. But there's some guys in that group that I think, and Brassel is one that I have my eye on, who could bridge the gap for maybe. being a tier two guy to a tier one guy. It'll be interesting to see it. Like if Malachi Field stuns the world and runs super well,

I mean, this all of a sudden, you know, that'll be fun to see what happens there. And we'll talk about that as we get closer. All right, this is a fascinating last question here for McShay, for you here, McShay. We got a Patriots fan. And Austin Hurley wants to know. I'm wondering about how this draft could set up long-term plans

with the offensive line. I don't know why he would ask that. sorry Todd more of a Steve question so maybe I should just handle this one I like Will Campbell as a leader on the team but after watching his rookie season why don't I feel like this show just got fucking hijacked is this thing are we even doing

this? He has struggled by the way Austin Hurley also my burner name and he says it struggled and not only after the injury with the upcoming draft in what seems to be a deep tackle class I mean you seem to like I mean you're just throwing guys in the first round now if the patch would be best served

to draft the tackle and hopefully the 30 second pick in the first round. Austin, picking ahead there, I like it. The plan would be moved Campbell to the left guard and moved Jared Wilson back to his college position at center. Garrett Bradbury, apparently on the way out. Sorry, Garrett. Love the bot, and can't wait for the

20-27 draft. I mean, I always asking me, but what do you think, Todd? Do you think that they should target the left tackle at the end of the first round if a Monroe Freeling's there? I think we're taping on Wednesday night for the show to come out on Thursday. I think it's 7 p.m. Eastern time. I think

It's date night in the McShea House, and I'll still give you five stars, Mitch. I'm out of here. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-888-88-889-77777-7-7 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. or visit MD gambling help.org in Maryland.

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