The McShay Show - Todd’s Mock Draft 1.0: Abdul Carter to Tennessee and the Giants Find Their QB of the Future

Episode Date: February 20, 2025

Welcome back to ‘The McShay Show’! The day is finally here: Todd has released his Mock Draft 1.0! Todd and Steve start by talking through each of the top three picks, including what Todd’s hearing from around the league about the Titans’ preference at 1 and who could be the Browns’ quarterback in 2025. Then, the guys talk about which players could rise throughout the draft process after just missing the first-round cut. To close, Steve identifies his favorite picks from Mock 1.0. (0:00) Welcome to The McShay Show! (0:47) Check Out Todd's Mock Draft 1.0 on The McShay Report 98:16) Mock Draft (1.0) #1 Pick: Titans Are On The Clock (18:26) Mock Draft (1.0) #2 Pick: Browns Are On The Clock (22:55) Mock Draft (1.0) #3 Pick: Giants Are On The Clock (28:02) Mock Draft (1.0) Breaking Down Todd's Top 10 Picks (46:57) Honorable Mentions + Muench's Biggest Takeaways (1:00:38) Historical Positional Context for this Draft Class (1:10:43) Thanks For Watching! Sign up for The McShay Report today to receive Todd’s Mock 1.0 and premium access to every mock draft, exclusive scouting report, ranking, and deep-dive analysis from now until the draft. For Todd's Full Mock Draft and More Draft Access Subscribe to The McShay Report: https://mcshay-report.beehiiv.com/subscribe 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 Guests: 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

Mach 1.0 is live. It's been two years, Munch. You don't say, Todd. Two years since my last mock draft, I've been waiting, and the waiting is finally over today. Just 63 days until the NFL draft, and you're joining us for a special mock 1.0 edition of the McSheae Show. Mench, you're good?

I'm good, man. Damn right, you are. Now, let's play me those urban horns. Would you please? You got to what's gone, right? I mean, like five to seven mock drafts and Piper making up new versions of mock drafts. And there's a mock, mock, mock, mock, mock, mock, mock. Like, that's all my former life was.

Then I sit out a year. And now here we are in late February. And I'm like, I'm just itching. I'm itching to get a mock draft out there. I didn't even do one last year. I played around with one for myself to kind of watch. I did a top 100. Watch the tape.

I don't believe you. But I didn't do it. a full mock draft myself, I finally now, after two years, get to drop a mock draft, and it is here. It is here for your consumption. Thank you for being here, audience. We appreciate your support.

The support is growing week in and week out. We're on with our business folks, and they're saying how the numbers are growing, and there's already people diving in to get these subscriptions. We appreciate it. Here's the deal. If you want the mock draft, mock 1.0 for the 2025 NFL draft,

just Google the McShea, report. That's the easiest way right now. I'll send links on on X. We'll have it in our bios on the social media. Ments will get involved in help out with your good Mench at both X and on Instagram. And also, you can look now on the screen and you'll see. You can just click on the link. If you're watching this on YouTube, click on the link, subscribe to the newsletter. It's the McShay report. The ringer is just unbelievable partnership helping us out with this. We've had folks all night long, Munch, like cramming for finals, right? Between Austin, Gale and all the business portions of it with the subscriptions, Dan, Connor, Tucker, Eduardo, Mark, like the usual crew, but like late last night. I'm texting

them at 7.30, my time. They're on the West Coast at 4.30, and I'm getting responses. So, this has been a team effort through and through. Mench's work, I did a first version, but 10 days ago, Mench worked through it with me. We made a couple tweaks. Talk to some more people as we got closer. made a couple tweaks. Watch more film, too. But here we are. And this is it. Mach 1.0.

Things will obviously change. It's fluid. We've got the Combine coming up next week. There's no show on Monday, folks. But next week, we are loaded with content. Wednesday previewing from the Combine with a lot of the measurables in and talking to different GMs and getting a lot of inside scoop of what's going on. Thursday, first day of workouts.

Friday, second day of workouts. Saturday, the big day of workouts, right? the quarterbacks, the running backs, the wide receivers. And then we'll be flying home on Sunday when the offensive line, after the offensive linemen have worked out. We'll get all those numbers, punch it all together, take a step back. And on Monday of next week, we will, or for the following week, like 10 days from now, whenever you're watching this, we will do a review show.

So that's what's coming up. There's going to be a lot of content that we have coming out. But today is about the Mach 1.0. again, Google the McShea report. It's the first link that you'll see there when you Google it. I'm not good at this, but I'm just going to rip through some notes here. Everything that I've got for the NFL draft is going to be right there. Click on that link.

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year's draft. So for 36 bucks, you get double down. 20, 2025 NFL draft and through the 2026 NFL draft. Listen, we need your support. The little engine that could, my boy, Stevie Boy and I, we've been grinding away at this thing. And I hope you realize two things. One, your support is unbelievably appreciated by Steve and I. Okay. Truly. Number two, we don't take this lightly. Like, I'm not going to ask you for $4 or $36 bucks over the next two years. If I'm not going to put in the work. Like, the amount of film we're watching, the notes that

we're sending back and forth to one another, Steve and I, the conversations I'm having, the roster studying that we're doing for NFL teams, the updated, you know, this year's free agency, who's coming, who's going, what the needs are, studying the salary cap. Like, we're going through all of it. And all we're asking for, and we don't. take it lightly. But we're asking for a few bucks here, 36 bucks there for two years, and you can get all this information. But it's a business, we've got to do it. I know the comments are going to be frustrated. I was at ESPN for a long time and the insider and all of that. I understand it. And it's okay. Be pissed off. It's okay. But if you want the,

I don't want to say the best that's arrogant. If you want content, you can trust that the work has been put in and the relationships are there and the content is there and the film has been actually studied, this is a great place to do it. Okay. So that's where we are. Can you tell them fired up, man? It's great. It's great. I can't wait to get back into it. I love it. So today we don't believe that you didn't do one last year. I just, I'm, I trust you. I hear what you're saying, but I just about like, even if you did it in your head, you had something going on. Well, I mean, I literally was talking to GMs up to the night before the first round of the draft. Right.

I got a conversation with the team drafting in the top 10. And we're literally like he's asking me like, what would you do here? Right. You know, like we've decided, but I'm curious, I'm not going to tell you exactly, but like these are the three players. Right. And so like I absolutely worked the scenarios out, but I never sat down with all 32 picks and actually wrote it down. Quite honestly, it was kind of depressing to do it. Like I got through like 16.

17 so that I can have these conversations and feel good about the information I had. So when I talked to another GM and another GM, it would be, you know, this is kind of how the landscape is, but never did the 32. Today we're going to, we're not going to go through every pick. This is not going to be like the old days where you watch Sports Center special and, and I'm giving, we're going through all 32 picks. We're just, we're not doing it for obvious reasons. We've got to get everyone on board. Please subscribe and be a. part of this with us. But we will go through the first three picks. We'll give those away today.

Then I want to go through some scenarios with you, Mensch. Kind of in the top 10, maybe some other picks. Mention has got some takeaways. Maybe good, maybe bad. I don't know what they are. But he's going to go through, I think, what, four picks? Four picks you want to touch on. Yeah. And then I, and then do a little treatment for some of the positions and where we stand and where this class is really strong, where this class is, is lacking, and provide some historical perspective with all of that. Let's start at the top, man. Let's start at the top.

Tennessee Titans, I think it's important to look at the board, right? My board, and you tell me if yours is different. Okay. Excuse me. I look at this as tiers. I always do. This year, unfortunately, the elite tier at the top, in my opinion, has three players in it. Now, there are a couple right behind where I think an argument can be made.

And let's see how the workouts go. Let's see how the interview. views go and as we get closer, maybe the tier will grow, but I don't suspect it will. My elite tier this year does not include any quarterbacks. It's three positional players in Abdul Carter, Penn State, Travis Hunter, cornerback wide receiver. Should have mentioned Abdul Carter, Edge, obviously. Travis Hunter, cornerback wide receiver, cornerback first, by the way. Everyone I talked to in the league, he's got to play corner.

That's what he did in college. There are installs and packages we can do with them offensively. will there will be load management there will be discussions about how to use them but like match you and i know like when you meet the the majority of meetings that you have with a football team whether it's in college or the NFL is with your position group you have offensive and defensive meetings you have team meetings but the most time you spend in meetings is with your position group so right from a technique standpoint from a studying standpoint from a scheme alignment standpoint he's going to have to, Travis Hunter is going to have to spend the vast majority of his time at cornerback in

those meetings. But he's also going to be a part of the wide receiver meetings to a certain degree. There will be installs each week. And there will be, I don't want to say special treatment, but unique handling of him in order to allow him to play as many plays as possible while trying to keep him healthy and utilize his very unique set of skills. Okay. So it's Carter, it's Hunter. And I've included in there Mason Graham. defensive tackle from Michigan. Inside defensive time. Okay.

So with that as a jumping off point, let's get to Tennessee. Mike Borganzi, the new general manager, can't miss with this pick. No. And by the way, just talking to people in the league,

this guy's an absolute stud. Like, Tennessee got the right rising star up and coming guy, according to my sources. In a perfect world, if this was last year, I think we all agree. If you've got Caleb Williams, Jaden, Daniels, Drake May, take a quarterback here. The next two months is about drilling down and making sure you get the right guy at quarterback,

but there are three options, right? Right. It's just not that year, in my opinion. Cam Ward, I think, is, I don't want to say consensus, but league majority, Cam Ward's QB1. Shador Sanders, league majority, QB2. Jackson Dart, I don't know if it's league majority, but there's strong sense he could be late first. And there's not as big a gap, at least in my opinion,

is big a gap between QB2 and QB3, which Shador and Dart. And Tyler Shuck is kind of, there's a ground swell of this guy with a lot to work through with 25 years of age, three years of injuries, three different schools, but damn, his tape is good, okay? Right. But here's what I'm hearing, okay? And it's early. this is exactly what I'm hearing.

If there's a wish list for Barganzi in Tennessee, it's to trade out of this pick. And I think that's why, and we said it at the time, but the more I talk to people in the league, who I don't want to say are in the know. It's always what people are hearing. So it can be smokescreen information off of smoke screen information. So you never know for cert,

because no one in Tennessee is going to say a word, obviously, but information leaks out. The wish list from my understanding would be to, trade out of this number one pick and the reason why you're hearing from Pac-Man Jones that it's absolutely going to be Travis Hunter at number one. The reason you're hearing from Tennessee that from leadership there that we're not going to pass on a generational pick is to entice or I don't want to drive up the value. Drive up the value and make people realize like, yeah, we'll stay here and we'll take

Travis or maybe the generational talent is Abdul Carter or maybe the general. generational talents, Cam Ward. We're not telling you who we think the generational talent is. Yeah, and just to be clear, real quickly, you did not do any trades in this mock. You may do trades later on and other mocks, but you did not do that in this one. Yeah, so I fought for five years at ESPN, just behind the scenes a little bit. Five years with producers, executives, like, it was, I'm funny. I think it's still on to the scenes a little bit.

I'm funny with this stuff. Like, I don't, I just, I come barreling in sometimes and I'm like, why don't we have trades? Trades happen. Why don't we have trades? And Kuyper's like, no, little kid, like hand on head, push me down. And Mel was always the biggest promoter of my career. I don't want to create any drama. Mel's wonderful. Like Mel and Kim, his wife and Lauren, his daughter, they're like extended family. I love Mel, except when we disagree on players that I can't stand, Mel, like your cousin or uncle or older brother that it drives you crazy, right? And so the fights were legitimate.

They were not prescripted. The fights were legitimate. But the trade thing was one of the things were like, I got put in my place for like three years. And then four years, I made a little headway. Finally, like five years later, once I pitched the idea of trades, I got the green light. And he was pissed. He was pissed. Did you really want trades or, or I know you really wanted trades,

but once he said no trades, it just make you that more motivated to know we're doing this, that's the kind of relationship you guys had, right? A little bit. You caught me. You fired you up a little bit, right? You caught me. Tell me I can't.

Exactly. Tell me I can. Right. So that's how that all worked. So I'm all four trades. And it was a long way to get back to this. I'm all four trades. Like I, I didn't.

create a lot in this business, but I feel like I push that through in the mainstream of like, we're doing trades from now on. That was one of my biggest impacts on this, this pre-draft process. All four trades, now's not the time. Let's get all 32 markets. Let's get all 32 teams, an opportunity to see what they need in this mock draft. I just think it's a fair, right approach. And at this point, honestly, you're just throwing darts on the trade stuff. When you get closer and you've got more information and the combine's done and free agency is wrapped up and the team needs are a little bit more obvious and you're starting to have real conversations with people in the league, not like more surface level like we are right now. That's when you make more educated guesses, right? So, yes, no trades here.

Thank you for bringing that up. Back to Tennessee. I went with Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State. Yes. There's the music. Let's start. Let's go. He's the best player in this draft.

Right. And it's at a position of priority that is prioritized, in my opinion, over any other position outside a quarterback. Agreed. So, again, the wish list is trade out of this pick. Let's move. I read something yesterday. I don't put any credence into it, but like the Jets. are talking about maybe moving up to number one or even to two to get to for cam war to get

ahead of the Giants at three if you can get it honestly if you're not drafting in the top three and so if you can get a partner with like the Raiders or the Jets or a team even below that in this year's class where we're talking about like historically loaded at defensive tackle edge with you running that. Yeah, get me more. I want quantity over quality when it comes to picks in this draft. So, Borgonzi, I think, is kind of entertaining that. And I think that or the organization of the Tennessee Titans is looking to try to move out of that spot.

Unfortunately, it's like a fortunately, unfortunately, unfortunately situation. If there was the quarterback that they're in love with, and again, I'm not saying that I definitively know that they don't love Cam War. I'm saying the information that I'm getting is that they'd rather trade out of that spot, which indicates that they don't believe that one of these quarterbacks is the guy. And they're doing some pretty realistic self-assessments of like, we're not a quarterback away right now. Right. We got to rebuild this thing. Smart.

Yeah. And you look at like you look at Abdul Carter, the legendary performance, we're playing with one function. arm in that Notre Dame college football playoff game. You look at him this year with the win rate, and I want you to understand this. He was tied for third in the nation with a 23% win rate as a pass rusher this past year.

And you say, well, if he's the best player, why wasn't he number one? I want you to understand that no pass rusher that I've watched, at least, got more attention, blocking wise, schematically than Abdul Carter. So for him to have those numbers and to be fifth in the nation in

sacks with 13, despite all that attention speaks volumes about about his ability. And for me, it's more about the tape, not the numbers, but the numbers kind of back it all up. Yeah, and it was Chad Brinker, the Titans president of football operations who made the comment, we won't pass on a generational talent with the first pick in the NFL draft. So that's what we were referring to earlier.

Number two, bench, number two, I know you agree with that way. And here's where I really want to get your opinion. I'm going to tell you what I heard. I'm going to give you the pick and then you go from there. Okay. I've heard from multiple sources now, okay? Cleveland is, they're not pulling the trigger on a quarterback here too. I've heard from multiple sources, the same multiple sources,

that they don't believe that this is the year to do that, that they're not a quarterback in this class away, if that makes sense. Right. have been last year's class, they feel really good, that they can kind of take off and run. So with that in mind, I went with Travis Hunter. I've also, I want to make this, I know, you, you've said recently that you don't think that he's going to be a top five pick in this draft.

In this scenario, I think Cleveland could take Travis Hunter, the cornerback wide receiver out of Colorado. I also want to say this. I've now heard from two different people that Kirk Cousins could be brought in on the cheap this offseason kind of as a stop gap. So with that in mind, and again, I'll let you go, with that in mind, is Jackson Dart, is Tyler Shuck from a value standpoint, whether it's sitting and waiting early in round two, or if you're getting information he could go to, I don't know, Pittsburgh later in one,

What are the Pittsburgh picks 21, I think, somewhere in that range. Yeah, somewhere in the early 20s. But I don't even think Pittsburgh is going to do that. And we could get to that later. You're right, 21. But is it trading back into the late first? And don't forget this. This is an important part of it.

By drafting a quarterback in the first round, even though you don't want to give up that pick to go move up a few spots from round two to one, it's worth that it's worth that pick because that fifth year option you get. As a rookie draft pick, if you're a first round pick, there's a fifth year option that the NFL team gets. That extends the shelf life, if you will, of being able to play and operationally work with a quarterback on a rookie contract, which is invaluable. You're paying him peanuts compared to some of these numbers we're seeing for guys like Kirk Cousins, for what Sam Darnel might go make even despite a very tough finish of the season. for Trevor Lawrence for like some of the contracts we've seen in recent years, last couple years, right?

Yeah. So what are your thoughts there, Mitch? First of all, just to talk about the quarterback market is fascinating to me right now because when you talk about guys like Matthew Stafford could be on the move, Aaron Rogers, who we've already talked about, but someone might fall in love with, Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, the quarter overall quarterback market when you're looking at this class, is fascinating to me. So I wouldn't be surprised if they get on another.

direction. I am, I do not. I'm so terrified that I'm going to get painted in this corner if I don't like Travis Hunter that I don't think Travis Hunter is very good. I just think it's early for, for him here. I think you go with someone up front. I think you have to improve your front. I think if you're going to trade Miles Garrett, which it sounds like they are, I don't think it's too early for a Mike Lill Williams out of Georgia. I don't. I just think those players are more valuable at the spot. I love Travis Hunter. I'm going to keep saying it over and over and over again. I love Travis on her. I just think it's number two overall is early for him.

The Miles Garrett situation is going to be interesting. We'll see how that unfolds. And like you have, when you know better than anyone, when you're going through this, you're trying to read all the tea leaves, you know, who's going to be available.

Obviously, we got big news this week that the cap has jumped significantly. Some teams that we thought maybe couldn't keep guys, maybe they're in a better position to keep guys. You're trying to figure that all out right now. It'll get easier as you go, because you'll get more and more information. But right now you're trying to figure out

is Miles Garrett going to be in a Browns uniform next year. It seems crazy that he wouldn't be. But if he's not, and there's some, you know, there's definitely some smoke there, then, you know, I'm going up front again. I just think when you build your teams inside out, man, and to me there's still enough value in that edge class to take an edge second overall.

Okay. So for these purposes, though, we've got Travis Hunter off the board. So the top two prospects on my board are gone. Now we get to the Giants. Right, wrong, and different. The future is absolutely now for Joe Shane and Brian Daible. And I think you know, and it goes without saying, and I've been saying this four or five years, I'm yelling at Mel, like, Brian Daibble can absolutely develop quarterbacks. I have a great appreciation for Brian Daibble as a coach, maybe higher than most or I don't know.

I don't know that it's shared, but with everyone. And obviously the struggles the last couple of years it hard to like plant my flag on that but i do with that said the reality is the reality and that reality is that they have to win this year and and they have and i don't mean win like go to the playoffs i mean show promise not picking it number three a year from if they're picking it number three a year from now there's a new GM and there's a new head coach and for the giants okay right and so with that you have to show in this next year that we're progress pressing in that direction, and we've got our quarterback. And in order to do that, I just, I'm assuming it will be Cam Ward at this point,

but I don't know that for certain. But I went with Cam Ward here at number three to the New York Giants. You got your wide receiver one, right? And I, listen, I'm hearing the same stuff like Sam Darnold could be here. Sam Darnold could be with the Raiders. Like, I hear all those things. But my information, and I feel really good about this, information is this is going to be a quarterback.

Okay? Right. Like, I feel really good about that. I just, like, let's get that on the table. And so if that's the case, you got your wide receiver one in Malik neighbors, you know, you've, you've got it. If you bring in Cam Ward, you get an opportunity to show a lot of life and a lot of promise on offense and to start turning things around. It just makes the most sense to me. Hypothetical.

Love the hypotheticals. Yeah. Joe Alt. the Notre Dame offensive tackle is available this year. Do you think about pulling the trigger on Joel out there? I do. Yeah. But I'm not in.

I would. I don't have a couple younger kids and got a GM opportunity. And you know what I mean? Like, yeah, that I'm trying to keep. It's a good point. And don't get it twisted, folks. Like when you're talking about drafting number three overall and quarterback is in play, it's absolutely is there's an ownership element to this regardless of of the organization

but there's an ownership element to this as well so yeah keep that in mind um yeah so that's it i know you're going to be pissed folks i get it like you want us to go through all 30s we're not i'll remind you real quickly and that's not it for the show we have we have a ton more to get to. We're like 25 minutes in. So like we're, we're just warming up. But I'm saying that like we're not going to give you any more picks like definitively. We'll give a few more. I'm like we'll give a few more picks when men's like he likes later. But in the top 10, I want to now go through the scenarios. And we'll do that in a minute. But I want to remind everyone, just Google the McShay report. You get two options right here that

will be the easiest. There are more of two options that are the easiest. If you want this mock draft, it's not just this mock draft. it's the subsequent mock drafts. It's the player rankings that we're updating weekly as we're going through tape and like ripping through it. As I'm talking to people in the league and mention just talking to people in the league about injuries, about character issues, all those different things, interviews, everything. The rankings get updated. I want to say bi-weekly. We'll see how it goes.

Whenever it's important, certainly after the combine, whenever it's important to make an update, we're going to make an update throughout this process. We're going to have a lot of articles about draft buzz. what we're hearing, information that we're getting that I don't feel like a lot of other people are getting. And when other people are getting the information, our ability, I believe, to spin it forward and to explain like, all right, well, if that happens, this is what falls in line. That's what we're going to provide. If you Google the McShea report right now, the first link that you'll see there, click on it. Everything that I can offer, Mention isn't doing the writing

with me, but certainly is part of the process, okay? Everything that I have to offer, offer through this year's draft, just $4. Again, we don't take it lightly. I can't appreciate people signing up, subscribing, and being a part of this more. We truly do. But we're going to put in the work and we're going to make it absolutely worth the four bucks to get through this draft or the double down for 36 bucks. Get you through this draft, gets you through the entire off season, the college football season

next year, and through next year's drafts. You get two full drafts for 36 bucks. Double down, double down, baby. Double down. All right. So let's go through some scenarios now. I mentioned my top three prospects, okay? Mason Graham is not off the board,

defensive tackle from Michigan. So one of that top tier players, when you get to pick four with the New England Patriots, is still available. There are other players still available. Let's pull up that top 10 again, okay? We've got Ashton Jinty, who I mentioned there are a couple of guys

who are right on the cusp of the first tier. Ashton Gentie running back from Boise State, the top 25 here, sorry. Ashton Genty would be close to on that tier. I believe Tyler Warren, close to on that tier. Will Campbell, the best offensive lineman in this class, I don't think he's Joe Alt. He's not in that top tier, but he's in the top of the second tier. So there are other players here, the pass rushers as well, from Georgia and beyond.

With that in mind, Munch, the New England Patriots are sitting there. And we both live in New England. I got Bill Simmons texting me all the time about the good, the bad, the ugly with this. I've got all my friends wanting to know what's going to happen. Everyone's still pissed off about winning in week 17 or week 18, the 17th game. But here we are, picking it four. You've got an offensive tackle that everyone's mocking, Will Campbell, to the Patriots of four. you've got Mason Graham Interior Defensive lineman.

I'm just fascinated. Let's just talk about the pick without giving away where we're going. I'm just fascinated with, you got Mike Frable. He's making the final decision. That's a fact. It Wolf. You got the guys he brought in, like all that. But he's making the final decision.

You need an offensive lineman desperately. My grades higher on Mason Graham. Brable played with Vince Wilfork and coach Jeffrey Simmons knows the impact that a true absolute stud interior defensive lineman could have. If Travis Hunter were still to be here, would that be an area they would want to go? Do they already have their star cornerback? And you can't have, like having two of them is wonderful too,

but are they getting enough value out of them and wide received? There's just so many questions here. What jumps out to you? To me, offensive tackle, edge, wide receiver, the three biggest needs. I, first of all, I'm going to say two things. One is my wife is going to listen to this pod later on, and she's going to say to herself, I can't believe that he didn't mention any of the names that he's not supposed to mention because I'm terrible at this. I'm so afraid that I'm going to let something slip here.

The second thing is I'm going to sound like a car salesman. This is why this is where I would spend four bucks just to see the next six picks because this is where it gets interesting. I'll just tell you right now, this is where it gets interesting. And I would just pay, and I know it sounds like a car salesman. I don't care. I would pay four bucks to see what these next picks are because it gets really good. One of the things that's fascinating to me is I love the idea of Josh McDaniels walking into Vrabel's office and saying, hey, Braves, a lot of depth in this defensive line class. You know you can get a great one later on.

You're a great defensive coach. You don't need this guy. I want, maybe I want a tight end. Maybe I want a tight end that I could be a franchise. I think it could be a franchise tight end, a guy that maybe could be my gronk. They could be, you know, we get another gronk in New England.

I love the idea of him possibly going in there. And that would be, you know, look, that's early for a tight end. But, man, Tyler Warren, such a good player that I think he's someone who's going to go very early. Yeah, I don't disagree. I think options are open here.

I really do. Offensive tackle. Here's the problem. It's not like they don't have a lot of needs. By the way, they have a ton of cap space. So what they do in free agency will all, ultimately make it a lot clear what they're going to do there. But, I mean, it's one of the good things about having so many holes in your roster is you have a lot of options.

And what's fascinating to me is what New England does, I mean, it's obvious, but does New England take the best player on the board in Mason Graham? Or do they take an offensive tackle or do they take maybe the second best player on the board in Tyler Warren? Right. That's fascinating. And then based off of what New England does it for, Jacksonville's sitting there, right? And you're like, shit, if we can get the third best player in Mason Graham, Michigan Bray, Mason Graham falls there, I think. And probably arguably the biggest need, at least in the top two or three.

But I would argue maybe, you know, like they have a glaring need at defensive tackle for like an impact player like that. the third best player in this draft sitting at five, one of the three guys in the elite tier on McShay's board. But I mean, I think a lot of people share in that concept that those are the three best players in this draft, Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter and Tyler Warren, sorry, and Mason Graham. So that would be, I think, the ideal fit if Mason Graham is sitting there. I also think it's fascinating.

like Liam Cohen was hired in large part to aid. I mean, there's no question. Like Trevor Lawrence, they like to aid him to get him over the hump. I mean, his job, like, we've got to get Trevor over the hump. So how do we best do that? Yep. How do we best do that? And they don't have a new general manager, right?

At this point, Tony Bisselli's, Tony Bicelli, the Hall of Fame offensive tackle, was he's the team's executive vice president of football operations. He's working with ownership to hire a new GM. And so at this point, you don't even know who's like pulling the trigger. But maybe if Tyler Warren's there, you're like, that might be the best thing for me. And yeah, I get it. You drafted a Penn State tight end in, what, the second round last year? Yeah, they did.

Strange. Brent and Strange, yeah. Yeah. And I liked Brent and Strange a lot. But like I was pounding the table for Brenton Strait, top 50 prospect last year out of nowhere, right? But it's obvious the huge difference in Tyler Warren as a tight end. And oh, and by the way, everyone's screaming about Evan Ingram,

the tight end former first round draft pick who came over to Jacksonville. I think he could be a cap casually. Right. Again, you're trying to. where's everything going here, man? Right. And offensive line could be. So, like, I don't know, there's just a lot of different,

there's a lot of different ways you could go here. Then you get to Vegas. Go ahead, sorry. Especially just because there's not that elite offensive tackle talent, and there's, you know, the Y receiver class is down, which opens up other positions, which I think is going to be more, one of the more interesting things about this draft.

It opens up the possibility of a defensive tackle in a tight end going in the top five picks. That's just not normal. You said to me the other day, I think we were texting her on the phone. What offensive tackle classes of this remind you of with Will Campbell? I don't remember now. Was it the Northwestern guy?

Put me on the spot and I forgot. The Northwestern tackle, right? Sean Slater, that one? Yeah, maybe it wasn't you. I had this conversation with somebody else. It's just coming back. I know who I was talking about it. I do that a lot.

I don't think that's out with that. No, no. It was another conversation I had with someone in the league. They said this. Roshan Slater. Roshan Slater. The scenario with Slater, is he a guard as he a tackle, is similar to that of Slater. As he guard, as you a tackle, how high do you want? Like, he's awesome player. But is the value there for him that early? Yeah, that's a conversation I have to somebody else. Oh, that's a conversation we could dive into, yeah. Yeah, and we'll get into that more.

but I think when we're starting to talk about teams like New England at four and Jacksonville at 5 and beyond, I think keep that in mind. So then the Raiders come on the board at 6. Here's what I'm hearing. I'm hearing that Sam Darnold or a veteran quarterback is absolutely, I don't want to say a priority, but they're exploring vigorously. I also know Tom Brady is like, campaigning is not the right word. He is one of his initiatives in terms of like helping the NFL move forward. And like one of the things that he is like a hot button for him. And you could just Google that or, you know, go on YouTube and look is quarterback should not be thrust in.

They can be if they're ready, but like very few are. Right. So so with that as a, like he's done like speeches and like he really truly believes. So with that is the mindset and also knowing that Thomas spent some time with Shador in the offseason and kind of mentor him, I could see a scenario in that regard. But I also don't know, like, if they go out and they spend all that money on a San Donald, are we going in a different direction here? So that's what makes this spot intriguing. And it's like, this ain't show family. show business, you know?

Right. So, like, yeah, Tom worked, I don't think, Tom's cut throat, man. Don't get like, the nice smile and like, you know, and all the other stuff twisted. Like, he is cut throat. And so he's not drafting someone because it worked with him or mentored him.

And I think you got to truly keep that in mind with this six pick. Is Shador that guy. Do they believe, like, this is Tom's first, just like major influence. on a high draft pick in that organization, he is the most competitive human being out there. He does not want to miss on this. So when he's evaluating Shador and doing it not as Shador's mentor last summer,

does he see a guy who he truly can, like, this is his organization in his mind, even though Mark Davis is the, you know, his vast majority ownership. but this is like this is his baby and so that part's fascinating to me the whole the whole brady concept is fascinating to me so then you get to seven with the jets man another possible quarterback spot there you go anywhere here right yeah yeah i mean they could go go my kell or jalen walker the edges from georgia they could go offensive tackle will campbell

or others. They could go, Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan. They could trade up and try to get a quarterback,

move up a couple spots ahead of the Raiders. If they think the Raiders are going to take their guy, if that is Shador, it's going to be fascinating.

Right. It'd be interesting to see what they do. Again, a team with a lot of, a lot of different angle, a lot of different ways

they could go and how they, and it'll be interested again to see how all these teams approach, quarterback position. Are they going to bring in a veteran? Is that what they're more comfortable with than maybe a guy that they see as a bridge? Or are they going to target a quarterback in this draft?

There's a lot of talent on that roster. Yeah. There's a lot of talent on that roster. Like, this isn't a total rebuild. This is just finding the right guy at quarterback and pumping some life and energy into that position and into the offense. I also just watching them live, like I've watched or tape and stuff, but just watching them live, they were not physical and tough versus the run up front and they were not a great tackling group at linebacker. And that's not where they're going with this pick. But I think if you're a Jets fan, you watch throughout. Aaron Glenn is not going to have a defense that can't, you know, fuck up versus the run.

And he's going to do that. He, he was, that Detroit defense, one of the most blitz-heavy defense, one of the most blitz-heavy, defensive schemes in the league. So like when I mentioned a guy like Will Johnson, the cornerback here, even though you get the star on the other side, sauce. Who didn't play all that way last year? No, no, no, no. And he's part of the tackling problems too.

But I'm just saying, like having two corners that can actually do it, you look at what they did, you know, they used the first round pick on Terry and Arnold opposite Carl Davis. Like, that's one way to get tougher up front is to get safe. safety help, right? So that's a possibility. The edge rush, like, bringing in another guy, like certainly Will Campbell, if he's still there at seven, which he absolutely could be. That's an interesting spot for an offensive tackle. Absolutely. Yeah.

And so now you've, in the last four years, you've drafted a bunch of talented guys. Because you got, you got Olu from last year. You got, um, they got Verit Tucker. A few years ago, yeah. Yeah, you got Tipman in the center. right? Mm-hmm. Who played pretty well last year. Yeah. Now all of a sudden,

whoever you're plugging in a quarterback is actually, like, when's the last time a New York football team? When's the last time a New York football team lined up and you said

they got an advantage on the offensive line? Giants or Jets? It's been a minute. Yeah. It's been, like I try to think back to the Rex Ryan years for the Jets.

I'm not even sure those all, I think of the butt fumble. I don't know, sure those offensive lines are that great. Yeah. So, all right, then you get down to Carolina. And we could kind of rip through these. But Carolina was interesting to me.

I just think when you got your, here's the thing. We've gone through this trend, and I'm going to wear it out, and people are going to get sick of hearing it. But when you, I mean, when you get your quarterback, build your defense and build your defense up front. So Dan Morgan, the general manager, obviously former linebacker, that's a great understanding of the importance of that. So this would be where I would think you would,

you would learn from the lessons of the Patrick Mahomes situation with Brett Veach, the general manager and Andy Reid of the chiefs. Howie Roseman and how he's built that defense throughout. Even, you know, they had multiple quarterbacks going back to 2010, but they've always built that defensive front, right? The bills, you know, we go on and on. Yeah. So this, to me, if they're trying to follow in

the in the footsteps instead of taking tett mcmillan maybe you go defensive front with one of the edge rushers that's a possible a strong possibility we'll see if they follow that but they need a wide receiver man yeah be interesting to see when ted mcmallan out of out of Arizona is is the only guy that you hear any noise about in the top 20 and he's super talented yep there's kind of drake London type tools coming out. Drake London was what, seventh overall pick or eighth by the Atlanta Falcons? He was in that range. Yeah. I could find it. Saints are another team. Don't have your quarterback, but you need a lot of things. This wide receiver, edge, interior defensive line, tight end, corner. So you're like, if you're the saints, you just sit back and like, all right, someone's going to fall.

And Tet McMillan is a possibility, but I'm probably going to have better options at edge, interior defensive line, tight end or cornerback, because this class is loaded with all those. Yeah, I can't say it enough. Again, build inside out, get your front settled before you start getting all these other players. And I love Ted McMillan, but I just don't see it. He's too much of a luxury for a team like the Saints. They need to get better up front. I agree.

And then we'll round it off with the bears at 10. I just, like, you look at what Detroit did, you get Ben Johnson coming in, and the reason they've had so much success is because their lines were built first, right, that offensive line and defensive line. And I just, I think it ain't going to be sexy. There's been some misses there.

There's been frustration. but you finally have a coordinator and a head coach who is, if he can't get it done with Caleb, and I think he will. But if he can't get it done, there's not many that could. And, but you need an offensive line.

You got to protect him. He just wasn't, he was part of the problem, holding on the ball, indecisiveness, not knowing where to go, all those things. And he'll speed up his clock.

Ben Johnson will. But, but the offensive line was, absolutely at fault too. So that's another, and we get into the offensive line in this class is Will Campbell still available at 10. Is it, you know,

is it Kelvin Banks? Is it Josh Simmons who will talk a lot about in this pre-draft process? Super talented Ohio State player, but only played six games this past year or four? I think so, yeah. Yeah, so,

so yeah, that's where we are with the top 10. Again, just Google the McShay report. and it's right there. It'll be the first line there. Just click on it. Everything that I've got for you,

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Or 36 bucks to double down. You get you get this draft, which you can get for four, but then you get all of the offseason and you get the entire next year's draft. And this $4 special is not going to last forever. So that's it. Those are the options. All right, man. We just went through the scenarios.

We went through the top three picks. Give me your four takeaways. You're free to give four players that were picked by the team. So we're going to give away four more picks here. You're free to give those four picks away and tell me what was interesting to you about them. Before we get into that really quickly, give me your honorable mention. Give me your mock 1.0, honorable mention a guy that could easily end up in your final mock. you just didn't find the right fit for him at this point,

a player that you think that people, you know, again, a guy that you think could end up in that last first round lock. I think Malachi Starks is one of them, okay? Okay. Malachi Starks is absolutely, safety out of Georgia, okay? Absolutely one of them. Just going on my list here. Malachi Starks, another safety, your boy.

Eamon Worry, Nick Eamon Worry, the safety from South Carolina was certainly in consideration. Okay. It's going to be interesting because, and we'll get through the position, we had a lot of defensive linemen, actually a sneaky, a good amount of offensive linemen.

We had, I guess, a little bit more tight end than influence than usual, more running back influence than usual. So that, like, when you talk about a position that's not considered a priority position, that it got bumped down.

It's not necessarily where the grades are on these players. These players, I think they're both, you know, later first round prospects. Starks was talked about maybe top 10, top 15, didn't have the best year in 2024, but I think he's still a great player. Beyond that, wide receiver, a mecca abuka from Ohio State, and Luther Burden, Missouri, are two guys that I kind of wanted to, and I think absolutely could get in the first round, but they weren't in here.

Two tight ends, Mason Taylor, LSU, and Elijah Arroyo, I'm not saying, saying he will, but there's a little, there's a little movement on that. I love that asked one and I'm getting 10. It's great. A couple of smaller school guys that I think could be like, there's always like that one or two in the last five, six picks. And I think a couple, like Darius Alexander, Interior Defensive Lyman, Toledo.

He works out as well as I think he will, like 285, 290 pounds, whatever it is. Yeah, the momentum is real for him. Yeah, and your boy, Gray's able, the interior offensive lineman. That's my guy. Yeah, I just, like, I'm not saying they will. I'm just saying,

won't be shocked if we start to see like a mock draft or two with some of those guys or if one of those two guys sneaks into the late first one. It's all said and done because they're both really intriguing players. So go ahead. Give me four picks. I hope Tucker's ready with the sound effect because with the 13th overall pick,

the Miami Dolphins select Missouri Offensive Guard. Yes. Yes, Tucker. Offensive tackle. Armand Membu. I love this pick. Okay. You look at how Miami's built. They run outside zone, 43% of the time last year. They want to run outside zone. Look at their running backs. All right. They got A. Chan, Davon, A. Chan. I thought it was Acheon. I

looked it up. It's Achan. You got... We've talked about this like five times, but I'm glad... I know. I still can't get it right, though. Okay. Jalen Wright. And then they had Rohim Moster last year. They're going to release him. But again, another guy who's a burner. Those guys all have one thing in common. They ran sub 4.440 yard dashes. And then you look at the numbers. 4.4.1, 4 yards per carry last year towards the bottom of the league. 16th in explosive runs. This is a team that needs

to get more out of their run game. Armand is built. This is his DNA. This is what he does. He is a zone run blocker. At 3.30, 230 pounds. The way he moves, man, he seals he's the way he can seal the edge and work up to the second level is unique for a player with that size and then you look at what they have on their roster already and they need help at guard

and in a perfect world member would slide into guard I think he is that's where he has the most upside but he can also play offensive tackle and right tackle austin jackson's had some problems staying healthy if they need an insurance policy you now have a player that can slide in as a starter at guard and if things don't work out of right tackle you have a player that can move out there and help you I think maybe it's a little early for some people, especially if he's a guard, 13th, you're getting a guard. I don't know. I'm starting to hear things, man.

I love him. I love him. I'm starting to hear that it. Yeah. Go ahead. No, I was just saying, I'm, I've heard from a couple of people that may, like, when, when the workouts done at the combine at 3.30, the way he moves, like there, the gap might not, 34-inch arms, not terrible, not great, but not terrible.

It might bridge the gap a little bit with he and will, Will Campbell is what I've heard a little bit. Interesting. Anyways, all right. So for all those reasons, I love that. He's young too. I think he turns 21 as a rookie. Yeah.

And then also he's going to help keep your quarterback who's had some problem saying healthy clean. He's going to be a good pass blocker, especially on the inside. So when you look at the fit, the speed they have in the backfield, what he does, what they like to do. To me, that was a home run of a pick. He played 1658 snaps at right tackle the last two years, only one at left guard.

Right. But that move would be easy. But as you talk about right tackle for him and for Miami, if needing to play there, that would be his home. Right. Right. Okay. Go ahead.

With the 25th overall pick, Houston, Texan select Ohio State offensive tackle, Josh Simmons. Joss Simmons. You get the best offensive tackle in the draft at 25. But this is what I love to. about this pick. This is the McShea magic because you're going to look at that pick and you're going to say, but they have Laramie Tunsell left tackle. He's gone to four of the last six pro bowl pro bowls. So playing at a very high level. They have Titus Howard who can play guard

or right tackle. They spent a second round pick on a Blake Fisher. Mange, did you like Fisher coming out of Notre Dame? Yes, I did. And do I think it's maybe too early to give up on them? I do. But start digging a little bit deeper on this team. Third worst in the league, 54 sacks allowed. They've got to figure out. It was brutal watching that. Titus Howard, a better fit at guard than tackle. Now, look at their cap situation. They're spending $28 million on Laramie Tunso.

I know that he's still playing at a high level. He'll be 31 at the start of next year. Is that a player that you start looking at is maybe we trade, we trade high? Maybe we sell high. Maybe we look to move on because not only do they pay him $28 million, but they're going to pay Titus Howard $23 million. They have so much money invested in an offensive line that isn't doing its job. They got to figure it out, man.

And to me, I'll say this again. You're not moving on from Laramie next year, but it could be the following year when he, it's his final year under contract, is my guess. And plug in someone here. Yeah, fine, but I'm saying the more likely scenario is let's get the most five talented we can this year, see how they play, move guys around if we need to, and then going into the following year, we know what we have to work with. We're staring at a massive salary with Laramie Tunsell in his final year.

Yep. And you kind of, then you spin it forward a little bit, roster-wise. Got to dig a little deeper with this one, but Simmons also, just to note, last two years at left tackle, the year before that, he started right tackle. This guy has got plenty of experience playing both sides. Him playing right tackle will not be an issue for him. he'll be just fine doing that. And again, if he's not hurt, he's still my top tackle on my board.

He just moves different. I think he's the best tackle in this draft, and I don't care about the injury. Unless there's something that's going to be a problem long term, then. Yeah, I felt like this is a little low for Josh Simmons when I did it, to be honest. Oh, 25. If you're a Houston, Texas fan, you see this. You might think to yourself, that's not really one of our most pressing need. Stop.

Getting him here would be an absolute coup in my mind. And speaking of coup, with the 29th. I love how it looks like a contract that was sent to you to sign. You get your... Whatever. I love it. You know me?

I'm trying to organize. With the 29th overall pick, the Washington commanders select Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. Matthew Golden at 29, Michet. Yes. It's been a good year for the commanders and it's getting better, apparently.

You're talking about putting this guy... I love your energy. You're talking about putting this guy opposite of Terry. Mary McLaurin? Oh, my God. I think he, I think he's arguing. I know Ted's a little bit different. McMillan's a little bit different because of the build. And I can see him going, I wouldn't be surprised on my board. I had McMillan ahead of Golden. But I'm telling you this right now, it's not going to be much of a difference. I think Golden is the best route runner, in my opinion, out of the top prospects.

You see the ball skills downfield. You see the run in the hand of the end of the year. Getting him at 29 is an absolute steel. And they have other needs, but they also have a ton of cap space. Go out and fill those needs through trades, through free agency. You can go do that. If you can get a value pick and fill a need like Matthew Golden at 29, home run. It's been a great year. It continues to be a great year for the commanders.

And then I wouldn't, I have to do it because I just talked about on the other day. With the 32nd overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagle will select. South Carolina. defensive tackle, T.J. Sanders. Does it seem like a pressing need to get a defensive tackle? Maybe not. We've talked ad nauseum about how this is how they built their team, get the best defensive linemen in there.

And you look at a guy like Milton Williams is a free agent. He's a free agent. The cap's gone up. Maybe they have a better chance of resigning him because I didn't think they were going to have any shot of resigning him. But even if they get him back, you're going to have to make a decision, I think, ultimately, between him and Jordan Davis.

Are you going to bring Jordan Davis back? for that fifth year. I don't think you can invest that much money in that one position. So I think you're going to need a defensive tackle in the next year or two. And when I look at T.J. Sanders game, you know who reminds me of? Milton Williams, great hands, violent hands, gets after the quarterback a little bit undersized. They have a lot of, there's, it's a pretty good comp in my mind between those two. And you know what I said, I think T.J. Sanders is a home run first round pick when I watch his tape. I love the way he plays the run. I think he can get after the quarterback. Leave it to head.

Howie to wait and not not trade up in this situation and get that kind of a player that late in the first round draft love that thing not everyone in the league would agree with you but i i put him there so i'm i'm standing on it but he'd been wrong before say no i'm just saying stand yeah i mean please sanders um different reactions from people in the league which is interesting i love it mensch you didn't really not be that much great no i didn't really have uh there wasn't a lot that i was There was, it's one point. I get it. It's early.

Yeah, there's also a couple places where I would have gone with maybe a different player. But again, splitting hairs as we get, trust me, anyone who's watched us on this show or listen to us on this show or knows anything about us, knows that I will take every opportunity that I get to day down. Well aware. I enjoy it. So the fact that I didn't, I was, it was a great mock. I appreciate it.

Just a reminder. Google the McShay report. first link you'll see right there, click on it. Everything that I've got for you for getting through this draft for $4. If you want to double down and get through the entire next year's draft through 2026, $36.36. Also, if you're watching on YouTube, click on the link. It takes you right there. Nice and easy.

In addition, and we've got more stuff here to our producer's chagrin sitting in the back right now. Who were up, by the way, to probably two in the morning, and then I was starting to text people on the West Coast at 4.30 at the morning. So they're like, shut up, McShay and mention, we've had enough. But we got a little bit more here. But I do want to mention no show on Monday. Okay. But it's because we're going to let this breathe at the mock draft, have at it,

have some fun, make your comments. I'll check out your comments. We'll have some fun on social media. But more importantly, because we're, We're flying out on Wednesday morning to the Combine. We're going to have a preview show on Wednesday. We've got all the, with a lot of information, what we're hearing, having conversations even with people in the Indy prior to getting there.

A lot of the agents are there early in the week because, and the GMs do some media stuff on like Tuesday and then the podium on Wednesday. But then they get into workouts and meetings and stuff and kind of get shut off a little bit. So there's information that always comes out early in the week. We'll touch on those. things. We'll also touch on some of the measurables and things that we found out. But on Thursday, the second show of the week at the Combine, it'll be the first day of workouts. And the same on Thursday, same on Friday. So it's Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And Saturday is the last one,

which is the biggest show that we're going to have. And we'll probably be up. It would probably have to cover two hours of that with the running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers. Then we fly back on Sunday and then on the following Monday, we're going to have a review show. So stay tuned for that. That's the upcoming schedule. Excuse me. Last thing, Metch. Of course I can't. Oh, there we go.

I went through and did some things. Like, if, again, we haven't shared every pick. If you want it, go subscribe for it. Please, we appreciate you doing so. We truly do. Not taking it lightly. I don't like asking for four bucks, a little on 36 bucks or anything else.

But the information is there. I look at this, this class, and it's interesting in a few areas. And I want to get your opinion on all of these. the running back group the last time if it were to play out this way and i'm giving away a little bit more here if it were to play out this way the last time there were three running backs drafted in the first round was 2018 not forever ago but it's been a minute right that was sayquan barclay rsad penny sunny michel mixed bag obviously mixed bag okay wide receiver last time last time Let me preface this, wide receiver.

Only had two wide receivers in this year's class. First one didn't come off the board for a minute, okay? Not going to give you exactly where he went. But I will tell you that Ted McMillan and Golden, who we just touched on, Matthew Golden, they were the two wide receivers to come off the board. Munch gave that away. Outside a Hunter who I don't think you're going to count in this group, right?

Like you're looking at a school. Okay. All right. We're going to count him as a cornerback moving forward. That's going to be his primary position. But absolutely, we'll play a factor on the offensive side at wide receiver. The three-year average match, remember, I've talked to you about, and we've talked about, I haven't talked to you about, we've talked about how spoiled the NFL has gotten with wide receivers in the last decade.

It's been wild. The three-year average is almost six wide receivers in the first round. Six. crazy. Isn't that crazy? Yep. I think this year's class is similar, though, to the 2023 class. That year, Jackson Smith and Jigba was the first wide receiver taken. First of four wide receivers taken. And again, I think there could be up to four. I think we could have a scenario where it's Ted McMillan, it's Matthew Golden, it is a Mecca and Luther Burden the third in whatever order.

So, 2023, I draw a lot of similarities, right? Jackson Smith of Jigbo was drafted 20 overall by Seattle that year. Quentin Johnson went to the Chargers one pick later, 21. Zay Flowers went one pick later. 22. To the run. To the Raven. Yes.

Jordan Addison from USC. One pick later. Went to the Vikings. One more. One pick later, 23. I could see a similar situation. I think Ted McMillan's got a chance. to go top 15. I've seen them mocked in the top 10. Okay. I didn't have them going until later.

So I think if you're to look at this year's mock, I think that 2023 group, even this year's class, forget about the mock for a minute. This year's class is similar to that 2023 group. But the last time, there were only two wide receivers taken in the first round, which is what this mock has, was 2019. That was Hollywood Brown and Nikiel Harry. Thought that was interesting. Defensive line. That class, by the way, can we talk about that really quickly?

Just, I know it's not. So the two, it was Marquise Brown and Akila Harry taken in the first round, which is kind of, meh, not great. At best. The second round of that draft.

I know. Debo Samuel, A.J. Brown, D.K. McCaff. And the third round of that draft, Terry McClure. So you look at that draft, you're like, oh, not that great.

And then you're like, oh, well, wait a second. Yeah, there's four. dudes right there in the first three rounds. My name is good. No, I love that. That's a great point. But it also speaks to,

as much as I think running back in wide receiver and probably linebacker, the three positions, you can get your guys. Look at the Steelers over the years, all the second round picks. Look at the Packers over the year, second, third round, fourth round picks. You can get your guys in later rounds. And then look at the great drafting teams. Look at the great organization. Forget great drafting teams.

Look at the great organizations in the last two decades or 15 years. Their fuck-ups are usually at wide receiver and running back early. I mean, honestly. Don't hold back. Yeah. Bill Belichick couldn't find, like when they, they wouldn't spend a ton of, couldn't find a guy. Also struggled at cornerback, but couldn't find a running back or receiver

that was worth that pick in the first and second. out, but first and early second. The Eagles struggles. The Chiefs struggles. You know? So anyway. They had other issues, yeah. So I guess the point is when you got 11 defensive linemen going in my mock draft,

and this is a perfect transition, there are 11 defensive linemen. We talked about 20 interior defensive linemen with grades in the first three rounds. We talked about like 17, 20 edge rushers in the first three rounds. When you've got that kind of talent at that premium position, go with it, take advantage, cash in. This year, speaking of which, 11 defensive linemen I had going in the smock draft. 2019 was the last time we had 11. I want you to listen to some of the names in that class, dude. Quinn and Williams, Ed Oliver, Christian Wilkins,

Dexter Lawrence, edges, Nick Bosa, Roshan Gary, sweat. Those are just the name of few, right? Yeah, right. So, yeah, 2019 was the last time we had five interior defensive linemen, which is what we have in the smock draft. Five interior defensive linemen. I just mentioned those names, Williams, Oliver, Wilkins, Lawrence, and beyond that year. Edge rushers, I had six.

The last year that there were six edge rushers was 2017. That was the Miles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Derek Barnett class, right? So it's been a minute. But again, 11 defensive linemen going in this first round. Then the last thing I wanted to get to, the tight ends. This one was interesting to me, man. I have two tight ends going relatively early, okay? The last time that there were two tight ends taken in the top,

let's say, let's pick 18, 17, 18 pick. somewhere in that range, okay? Was 1992. Wow. And you can absolutely... 92, that is, that's, wow. We haven't had two tight ends drafted in the first round since 2019. So we're going back six years.

It's been six classes, okay? Or 20, 21, 22, 22, 23, 25 classes. classes since. Okay. That's a lock. That's happening, folks. Like, absolutely, there's going to be two tight ends. So it'll be, this will be six years from, from 2019, that will happen again. Three tight ends drafted in the first round. You got to go back to 2017, two years earlier. That was O.J. Howard, Evan Ingram, and, and Joko, right? Yeah. George Kittle, a fifth rounder that year. Exactly. Love it. So, so, why?

I had two in this first round. I mentioned two names. Mason Taylor, Elijah Arroyo, LSU and Miami, respectively, could bump that up and make this the first class since 2017 with three. Okay. But I mentioned 1992. The last time two tight ends went in the top 17 picks, Derek Brown, Johnny Mitchell.

I've got to tell you from the people I'm talking to, there's a really good chance. I mean a really good chance. Warren is a top 10 pick and colston lovelin is somewhere in that top 15 17 range yeah what was your johnny mitchell report look what it looked like 92 i'm trying to you would have been in high school yeah but like ear like a freshman no freshman sophomore or something like that yeah are you kind of bearing the lead here and i don't know if you want to reveal it no i was waiting for you the best for last how many how many quarterbacks are in this in this first round here i'm not going to tell you

okay yeah i was it this was that was an interesting one because i i expected a little bit different okay it's all i think that's a perfect way to end if you want to see it if you want to read the whole thing if you want to get all of our draft buzz the information we're getting for 25 years of cultivating these these relationships with people in the nfl what we're hearing the conversations we're having about just like they're they're funny I'm like, I can't share everything verbatim or put names with it. But like, I'm going to keep you posted on what we're hearing the next couple months leading up to the draft.

If you want to know what your team's looking at, like the roster studying that we're doing, from salary cap to, you know, financial placement per position to the needs that need to be addressed, not just this year, but looking ahead, you know, in the next couple years, we're going to dive deep into all those things in the next couple months. $4. If you go and type in the McShay report, just Google it. The McShay report, do it. Click on this link if you're watching on YouTube.

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Again, we appreciate you. This has been fun. Like, I feel like we're finally. Yeah, we're back on the horse now, right? Mach 1.0 is out. Now we're back on the horse. We got the combine coming up. This show is going to last.

It's going to sit. We'll do some cutups and all of that. But we're not going to have a show on Monday or Tuesday. On Wednesday, we're back in it, as I mentioned. We get four straight days from Indianapolis, right on Radio Row. We're going to interview some GMs. We're going to share all the conversations that we're having that are shareable. We're going to break down all the numbers, the 40-yard dashes,

the vertical jumps, the three cones, the arm lengths, the broad jumps, all the stuff. We're going to dive in and we're going to let you know. Mention and I put a lot of time, like year after year after year of figuring out the measurables that matter at each position. We're going to share all that information with these stuff that we've never been able to share before. So please join us in Indianapolis for that four-day stretch. But we will see you on Wednesday from Indy.

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