The Ringer NFL Show - Ten Big Predictions for Draft Night | The Ringer NFL Show

Episode Date: April 24, 2019

Robert Mays and Danny Kelly huddle up to discuss who will be selected first, how the defensive linemen will shake out, if any linebackers or tight ends will be in the top 10, and more. Hosts: Robert Mays and Danny Kelly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Ringer Podcast Network. Season 8 of Game of Thrones is underway, and you can stay up to date with the ringer staff as we make your way through the final episodes of the series. On the podcast side, listen to Binge Mode Game of Thrones with Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion, the watch with Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald, and a pre-capable series on the recapables feed

where we'll make predictions on episodes to come. In addition to our Sunday night Twitter after show called Talk the Thrones, our YouTube channel has tons of other Game of Thrones-related content, which you can find at YouTube.com the ringer. And for even more Thrones coverage, head over to the ringer.com. Welcome to The Ringer NFL show. I'm Robert Mays. Joined a little differently by Danny Kelly. How are you, buddy?

Oh, man. I'm excited. Just about to have this draft finally happen. I am very pumped up about doing the show because a couple different things. I was going to write something kind of bad shit crazy about the draft for tomorrow. But then our boss Bill Simmons, like, you and Danny should just do some weird predictions about the draft. I was like, yeah, we should. And the timing could not be any better because just thank the fucking content gods for Dan Snyder and for the Washington Redskins overall. We're recording this, little peep behind the curtain at 110 Pacific Time. And probably about a half hour ago, Grant Paulson, who is a radio host in the Washington, D.C. area, tweeted that it seems as if Dan Snyder has taken over the first round of the Redskins draft.

Okay. This, my favorite part about this draft, and you and I discuss this a little bit this morning as we were planning this show, is that anything is on the table. There's so many different iterations that the top 10 could take, how that would affect the first round.

Nothing that happens tomorrow night would surprise me. And that is the coolest possible place to be. I'm going into the first round with like a completely open mind. It's great. I feel like, I mean, obviously every year it feels a little bit different, but like I can't remember, feeling like just the broad range of outcomes for how the first round could go. I can't remember it ever feeling like quite this wide open.

Because the draft. There's no consensus. Yes, there's no consensus. And the trades were already made last year and in recent years, right? So like the Rams had already moved up. The Eagles had already moved up. Last year, we already knew that the bills were planning on going up because they'd kind of assembled all of that draft capital.

The same was the Jets had already traded. So it's like, all right, well, the Browns are going to take quarterback. Jet's going to take quarterback. The bills are probably going to move up for one. We know all this. And this year, nothing's happened yet. Everything has stood pat, and that's not going to be how it is. First round is going to be chaos.

So we are going to do our 10 big predictions for a draft night. And not going to be singular predictions. They're going to be about specific position groups. They're going to be about just kind of trends. We're going to see things that can unfold. So let's dive straight into this. And very simply, who is going to be the first pick in the draft? draft and where is he going to go.

So why don't you kick us off? I love that. First of all, I love that we still have like not a very strong grasp on like what the answer is. So I think we do to a certain degree, but continue. Yeah, I'm sticking with Kyler Murray to the Cardinals.

I think, you know, as we've talked about, it came up at the combine. It almost felt like a certainty at that point that this is what everyone, this is what the cardinals are doing. But then it got to the point where everyone was like over. It was over.

It's too much. It's too much. That's why it's great. But you think that he just, you can't pass him up. You think that he's that good. You think that no matter what happens with Rosen, no matter what they end up getting for him, it's worth getting Kyler Murray when you have the chance

and you don't have to give up anything more than your pick. I think he's that dynamic of a talent. I think there's obviously concerns about his height and his lack of starting experience, but I think he has the ability to be like a franchise changing player if they can get him in that system and get a little bit of a support. Brinkass around.

I'm obviously that's important too. But, you know, I just think he has that upside and that potential to be a game

changer for them. We did not see any of that with Josh Rosen. I mean, you can point to a few throws he made last year where it's like, oh, okay,

I can see that. But like, that's it. I mean, there just really wasn't that dynamic ability. I think Murray has that. I think the Cardinals

are going to bank on that. I mean, I think, you know, Cliff Kingsbury has one shot at this probably as an NFL coach, head coach, I should say.

And, you know, I think just with the way that the Rosen thing went and, you know, past picks not really panning out, I think Kime is, you know, he's under the pressure to really make this thing work. And so I think Murray is the answer to both of those things. And so, I don't know. That's why I lean that way. But again, I just kind of like wouldn't be shocked if anything happens, to be honest. I think Kailer Murray would be the first pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

I do not think it will be by the Arizona Cardinals. Okay, which team? I think the Raiders make too much sense. They have the draft capital, they have the motivation. They got the ammo to move up for sure. They absolutely do. And the moves they have made when it comes to free agency receivers, I think they want to win pretty soon and they want to build this team.

They also need to sell this team. Oh, that's a really good point. We've talked about the Derrick Carr financial situation a lot on this show. I understand why you wouldn't cut Derek Carr in March if you don't know what's going to happen. But if you pick Kyler Murray, if you trade up and draft Kyler Murray with the number one overall pick, you can release Derek Carr if you want to. You can trade Derek Carr if you want to. There are so many different things you could do when you have the flexibility of having a guy like Kyle like Kyle or Murray in your roster.

I just think if you're Arizona, I still believe in Josh Rose. I really do. And I think beyond believing in Josh Rose, The reason that I feel like the Cardinals should do this is that the benefit of having a quarterback on your roster and having a top five pick is that you can trade that top five pick for a haul. Exactly.

It's what the Colts did last year. I think if that is an option for you and you believe in Josh Rosen as a quarterback still, that is my favorite outcome for them. Because they still have enough holes and I just think that's what you do. If that is available to you and you think Rosen can do what Kingsbury needs him to do,

that is the move I would make. Even if you think Kyler Murray is great, this isn't a Josh Rosen or Kyler Murray thing. It's a Josh Rosen and the 23rd pick and a second round pick or Kyler Murray. And that's the calculus that you have to make it. I just think with all of those things in play, that's the move I would make. Man, and it would be so much fun to see Murray on the same team

with like Antonio Brown and Tyro Williams. I'm sure that the Raiders are thinking that, exact same thing. And the Raiders have to be thinking, one, what is the best outcome for a football team? And two, who are we going to put on those goddamn billboards? And if you have that version of your team, and even if he doesn't play this year, even if you keep car, whatever, to have that guy as the heir apparent or your starting quarterback when you're about to make this move to a region and a market that all they care about is entertainment value, it makes so much sense to me. It's about how much you'd have to pay to go up and get it.

Yeah. And I completely agree. I think it's such a fascinating scenario. And that's why making this pick, making this prediction, I think is so difficult because I think everything you said to me makes total sense. And I can't, I can't like poo-poo any of like your main points other than I just think my gut is telling me that the Cardinals are going to love Murray too and that they're going to take him. So, man. I mean, it's just crazy. You're the Cardinals, right? Like, let's just, let's play this on a practical level.

If you trade one for four and what's, what are the other, the Raiders of their first round picks? They got 24 and 27. 27, that's the Bears pick, right? 24 is the Bears pick, 27 is the Cowboys pick. Cowboys pick, yes, that's right. So let's say you get the 24th pick and the fourth pick for number one. Okay? Plus an extra second round or whatever.

So at four, you take Josh Allen, for example. At 24, you get, let's say, let's say at four, Quina Williams is still there. You get Quina Williams at 4. Let's say a 24 Brian Burns is still there. So you get Josh Rosen, Brian Burns, Quinn and Williams and I don't know, what's Joan, whatever, what's his name, the corner? The long corner.

Williams. Joanne Williams. Let's say you get a second round pick from, or let's say even the third round pick. Let's say you can pick Darrell Henderson in the third round. Just again, this is all hypothetical. Yeah, yeah. So instead of Kyloor Murray, you get Josh Rosen, Quinn and Williams, Brian Burns and Daryl Henderson.

Oh, man. Right? So maybe it's not a running back because you have David Johnson. But let's say you get Miles Boykin. Right. So you have Miles Boykin, Quinn and William's Brian Burns and Josh Rosen.

This is the type of stuff at stake. I think that's why it's worth considering. I know, but I just think that, again, the quarterback, the importance of a quarterback, the way a quarterback can elevate a team around him is so crucial. That I, if I'm the Cardinals, I'm actually, I'm still sticking with Kyler Murray in this instance.

I just think he has the ability to make that big of a difference. And it's like in that scenario that you laid out, it's definitely like convincing, but at the same time, I don't think Brown isn't going to fall that far. Well, yeah. And all that stuff has to happen.

Plus those guys have to turn out. Of course. So there's just, yeah. But that's the thing. But there's no guarantee that Murray's going to turn out. I know. It's not like you're trading for Drew Brees.

He's an outlier. He's an outlier. All these guys are. All these guys are. And that's why to me, I just think that I believe in Rosen enough with a gap between what Rosen could be for you and what Murray could be for you is not worth giving up those players and what could possibly be on the table. That's what I'm sitting.

And I am a Rosen believer and it informs my opinion of all of this stuff. But I think that's something you have to take into account. All right. The nice thing is the Cardinals know who Rosen is, I think, more than anyone at this point. Obviously, since they've seen him in practice and they've seen him in the building and all that stuff. So they have a very strong grasp, I think, of who they think Rosen can be. And so I think that's going to inform this decision. And we'll find out. I mean, at this point, it's really split. I think it's come to the point where a lot of people don't believe that Murray's going to go number one.

So it's really fascinating. I think it'll go number one. Again, I just don't think of the Bia Arizona. And let's throw out Brian Burns. Let's put Cody Ford in there. So you get your offensive line to protect your quarterback and you get a defensive lineman and you get a corner or a receiver, whatever. there's just there it's too much to give up for my in my opinion if you can get something of a haul for it all right let's get the prediction number two question number two yeah we're gonna stay on the quarterback train because that's all anyone gives a shit about let's be honest well it's gonna define the draft let's be honest of course saying that to you is probably the worst that you could possibly hear I just broke down a

hundred guys in the last two weeks trust me I care about the guys are not quarterbacks all right yeah how many quarterbacks go in round one I think it's a really fun question. And I think we have the same answer, but I think we have slightly different details associated with it. So let's go a couple layers here. How many quarterbacks go off the board in round one? What order are they going?

And to which team do they go? And what pick? That's another part of this. So you go first, and then I will tell you why you're wrong. Okay. So I think there's going to be four quarterbacks that comes to the board in first round. We agree on that.

We are in concert there. Let's go. And then to me, the order, there's a huge question mark about the order because of the potential for teams to like trade up and everything and so, and I think the order ultimately will come

down to Murray to the Cardinals, Drew Locke to the Giants, Haskins to the Broncos, and then Daniel Jones to the Redskins. But as we heard today, the Redskins and Giants are both potentially looking to trade up for

either Jones, Locke or Haskins. I don't know, like there's, there's really no consensus on what the reports are saying. So the order to me is less important. Those are my connections. I think Maria Cardinals, Locke Giants, Haskins, Broncos, Jones, Redskins. So my opinion is different and I also think we have them at vastly different spots. Because I think Murray's won to the Raiders.

I think Haskins goes number three to Washington. They trade up to three. Yes. I think that Jones goes number six to the Giants. And I think Locke goes number 10 to the Broncos. there are four quarterbacks in the top ten. Because that's how this shit happens, man. Every year it's like, ah, how many guys, you know, do how, remember in like a September or October when we were, people were trying to defend the Giants getting Sequin Barclay. It's like, well, there aren't any many quarterbacks in the first round in this draft.

So, I mean, they made a great choice. It's like, all right, that's cool. Now we're going to have four in the top 12th. And I really do feel like that could happen. Oh, yeah, I do too. I mean, this class really reminds me of. What was it, like, 2011 class one? The Blaine Gabbard, Christian Ponder, Jake Locker group, yeah.

Cam Newton. Or I guess it was 20, was it 2011? It was 2011. Oh yeah, because that was the ridiculous Hall of Fame defense year when all those teams really screwed up and picked quarterbacks. Outside of Cam Newton. Cam Newton's a very good player. So this, I think, has a very strong feel to that.

Like, that's just how, like, I think everyone's getting desperate. It's a great comparison. And, I mean, you're going to have a guy like Jake Locker. go number eight, you know, eight overall. And I remember just like, I very vividly remember everyone talking about Christian Ponder as a first round pick. And I was just like, what? And that's how I feel about like Daniel Jones right now.

It's just like, what? What do they see? Oh, so you've come around on Drew Locke. You're a Drew Rock, Drew Lock believer now. I would definitely not go that far. I know you're not. I know you're not. I'm just kidding.

I actually think I might have like come around a little bit on his overall potential. Let's do this. Come on. But I'm not confident in that whatsoever. Actually, just using that class, like Locker reminds me of Locke a little bit. Ponder reminds me of Daniel Jones, absolutely. And then who else was that? Gabbard, baby.

Gabbard reminds me of Daniel Jones also, kind of. I don't know who Haskins doesn't really have a comp in that class probably, but. Yeah, weirdly, they're all more athletic than Haskins. All those guys had some movement skills and Haskins. Askins does not whatsoever. PFF had a really interesting comparison, at least statistically, for one guy's NFL stats with Haskins' college stats. It was Sam Bradford. I saw that. That was definitely interesting. I was like, that makes sense. Stylistically, they're not necessarily the same, but in terms of what you want out of a pocket passer,

I could see that kind of thing. If you could say healthy, that's not like necessarily the worst thing. I'm with you. Trust me, I've always been more of a Sam Bradford defender than most people. But so I think that both of us are of the opinion that there's going to be some movement within the top five or the top seven for some of these guys. Because I think that they're, it's about the noise, right? So let's say before the draft even starts, Washington is worried that Oakland would take Haskins at four.

That's why you need to get to three. The Jets definitely want to trade out of that pick if possible. Yeah, they've been like telling everyone that they want to move back. They're in the perfect spot. It's the exact opposite spot of where they were. were last year when they had to trade up with the team that had a quarterback. It's the benefit of having a quarterback in that area. And the reason I think they're more prone to do it at three than San Francisco is at two is because it's a different timeline and it's a different level of urgency.

I think that the Jets, I mean, McCagnan has done such a terrible job and I think they do need to win relatively now, but first year of a coach, all that stuff. With Lynch and Shanahan, we're going to year three, they haven't done anything in the win column. I still have a lot of faith in what they can do, but I think they're more prone to just stay there and take a Bosa because they're like... A blue chip player. Yes, because it's about optics

and it's about message. It's like, all right, we are getting the best guy because we're making the best team right now. I think that shit does matter. Yeah, that would have been a move they made like in their first year. Correct.

Well, they did make it in the first year. They moved from two to three and to fleece my team out of two third round picks. I forgot about that. Yeah, thanks. Yeah. So I think that three makes more sense

for Washington. The Jones, Giants 6 and 17 thing, it's just so strange to me that a year after they didn't like any of the quarterbacks and they were like, yeah, you know, none of them are worth two. They would risk saying,

we want a quarterback in this draft, but we'll just take whatever's there at 17. It's just, it's my problem with everything this team has been over the last 12 months. There's no cohesive. There's no plan. No, there's so many contradictory elements to the stuff they do.

And that's the most frustrating part of it is that you can do things that are seemingly against the grain or seemingly against conventional wisdom. But they have to be part of one cohesive approach. Exactly. And what they do is not that. And that's why it's so frustrating. And I think, honestly, if Jones were to go six and the Giants Jones noise is real, at Locke is sitting there at 10 for Denver, I would do backflips if I were the Broncos. Yeah.

I think he's better than him. I think he's really talented and to not have to move up. I think is great. The two things we have not discussed, before we get going to our next question here, is which non-obvious teams are in play for a move like this. And I think the answer is twofold.

I think it's Cincinnati and I think it's Miami. You're not going to throw the buccaneers in there? So I don't think so because I think it'd be tough to move on from James in year one of a new coach. And I think the ownership, based on what I've heard and what people have told me is committed to at least figuring out this year and moving forward. Seeing what happens this year and then.

Yes. Yeah, that makes total sense. The other team, at the very least, if he plays really well under Ariens, you franchise them and figure it out a year later. That's, having that weapon is really important. Okay, so I agree with you. I think the Bengals and the dolphins

are the other kind of two potential quarterback teams in this class. And then, I mean, going down the list, can you, the Titans I've actually heard, kind of mentioned in the same breath. That was before the Ryan Tannanhill deal to me. Yeah, and that's fair. They would have been in that mix because I think they're less sold on Marioada

than the bucks are on Winston or less committed to him for the next year. But I think that with Tannahill, you give yourself another bite at the apple. And I think that's why they're not in the same group with the Bengals and the Dolphins to me. The thing about the dolphins and the Bengals is they don't have to be aggressive.

there is no motivation. They don't have to be pushed to do something that's not prudent or not in the best interest of their franchise because they have answers

right now or if you're in Miami, you just don't care. It's like, we'll win two games and we'll figure it out next year. The Dolphins actually remind me a little bit of the Cardinals

last year in the sense that I don't think the Cardinals went into the draft thinking we're going to pick Rosen. You know, we're going to trade up for him aggressively and pick Rosen.

I think it was like he started to fall they had a very good grade on him and then they moved up and they didn't have to spend a ton to move up to get him. So I could see the dolphins taking the same sort of attack

in the sense that, you know, if one of these guys starts falling, if Locke is there, they could take him, but I think they're not gonna, like you said, they're not going to spend big resources to move up and take a guy

when they're really not established and prepared to contend with a rookie contract at this point. I think they want to like continue to allocate resources and kind of then go from there. And next year's draft class with quarterbacks is always going to be

better. But like it actually is better. And so I think, yeah. I'm with you. If I were them, I would wait till next year. Kevin and I have talked about we talked about in the show, we were like building the dolphins plan. The difference to me between the Cardinals last year and the Dolphins this year is that the Cardinals were kind of a no man's land when it came

to team building. They were a team that had just traded for Chandler Jones and paid him a lot of money. They were a team that had given out money in free agency to offensive linemen to kind of reshape that group two years earlier. They were in just scrambling after Ariens left and Palmer decided to retire. They just didn't

have any certain direction and they tried to rebuild on the fly. The dolphins are not they're not on the flight at all. The dolphins are firmly grounded into the plan that they have right now and I think that's why they would be less prone to say, oh, there he is, maybe let's go do it. I think they're going to stay the

course more than most teams would in this situation because they have absolutely no reason to panic. Yeah. All right. I always forget that the Cardinals had Sam Bradford

last year. It was, it's, it is one of the most indefensible choices the team has made in some time.

They gave him $20 million. Oh man, forgot about that. And Glennon, right? Wasn't Glennon on the team too? Yes,

but Glennon is the exact version of that a year earlier with Chicago. When you're going to do this, you do what Miami did. You give Ryan Fitzpatrick $5.5 million dollars. That's how you do this.

So I love the dolphins. Okay. Let's move to question number three. The position group that really seems like it will be the defining position group of this class. So how will the defensive line class dictate how the first round goes and how early will we see the run on those guys in the first 10 to 15 picks? So which of those guys do you see coming off the board? Let's say the dolphins pick at 13, right?

So let's say from 1 to 13 where the dolphins are and the dolphins are. dolphins have every need in the books. So they're in play to pick one of these guys if they like him. How many guys from 1 to 13 do you think our defensive alignment if we don't see quarterback craziness? Let's see here. I'm just going to go down the list. I think Bosa, Josh Allen,

Quinn and Williams, Ed Oliver, so that's four. And then I think you could make the argument for Brian Burns. He's a guy that gets easily slip in the top 10 to me. At least five. If he went to like Detroit at 8, would you even blink? No, it wouldn't surprise me at all. So at least five. And then I think Montez Sweat is a huge wild card,

but he's probably going to go in that range too. So I think six is like six of the top 15, I think are going to be defensive linemen. And we've already said four potentially in the first 10 are going to be quarterbacks. So we're talking about 10 out of the 15 first picks are going to be like either defensive line or quarterback. I mean, there's tons of scenarios, but potentially that's Kyle could go.

So that's why, so if you're a team like Detroit or a team like Buffalo, for example, who has a lot of needs and a lot of places that can really go any direction. I mean, if you're the bills, which positions are off the board to you? Quarterback, I guess. Safety? Maybe you like your safeties. I mean, you could easily use another corner. They have a young corner that they like, but I don't think it precludes them.

They could use some injection of speed at linebacker and some youth. Their defensive line, especially on the edge. It's getting old. They're old. And those guys are entering finally using their drafts. I know Jerry Hughes is. So there seems like everything is on the table for Buffalo. I think Detroit is in a very similar spot.

The only spot for Detroit that doesn't make any sense to me is tight end. Because they just spent on tight end and free agency. I can't imagine them taking a top 10 pick. I've seen Hawkinson there. That doesn't make any sense to me. But if you're... For Detroit fans, I hope they don't take Hawkinson just because it seems. Seems like top 10 tight ends in Detroit is like a recipe.

Yeah, exactly. It's like when Rick Spielman's wife told him yesterday, the Vikings take a corner, she's kicking him out of the house. Yeah, there's a little bit of the troubled history there. It's going to affect how people see it. But teams like that. And I think that a team like another great example in Atlanta, if four quarterbacks go in the top 10 and you're the Falcons

and the lions come on the board and Ed Oliver is there. Something like that. You're just rejoicing if you're a team that needs defensive line help if those quarterbacks go because that means more guys are in play for you. Yeah, absolutely.

And if you're the Falcons trading up from 14 to 8, I don't know, I don't have the trade value chart in front of me, but it's like something like a third or fourth rounder maybe to go up there, obviously. It's not like going to break your business. bank completely and to be able to get a blue chip player, you know, at that spot is going to be huge. It's like having a top 10 pick when you're not in the top 10. And it's, it's, I don't know, I think it's definitely possible that some of these like top guys that, you know, like the,

the best talents in this class could start to fall a little bit because of that. For Atlanta is a team in that mid-range that I feel, again, is on a slightly different timeline than some of those others. The Giants obviously are in slight rebuilding mode. Minnesota's in that kind of same range too, but I can't see them necessarily making an aggressive move. They've never really done anything like that. I think they're cool at 18 because they don't have a ton of needs.

Outside of offensive line, they're really set in most places, and I think an offensive line will be there. But for Atlanta, who's a team that desperately needs front seven help, whether it's on the edge, if you just want to make Vic Beasley a situation on pass rusher, or whether it's on the interior, those

guys are going to be there. And I think your window is such that it would make sense to go up and make a move like that. Get a big impact player. Because you have Grady Jarrett's on the franchise tag. You're going to have to extend him. Dionne Jones's contract is going to be up very soon. But before he know it,

Keanu Neal is going to need some sort of. I mean, he's first round picks. Obviously, he's going to last a little bit longer. But I mean, those young players are only cheap for so long. With Jared and with Jones, it's pretty much over. So you really need to do something right now. They spent so much on their offense. It just feels like they're the team that if it falls that way,

they're one of those guys that could land a defensive lineman that we're not necessarily thinking about. Yeah, I mean, it's like the life cycle of a roster. It's like the life cycle is maybe what, like three years long or something like that. But it feels like they are in that, you know, ready to sort of change out and start a new type phase when this is their last shot. The Seahawks are in that world a couple years ago when they traded for Sheldon Richardson, even though he was on last year of his deal. It's like these teams like. And now the Seahawks are on the other end.

Yeah, exactly. Now they're kind of reshaping it and sort of starting for. scratch, not scratch, but just reshuffling the deck, I guess, or whatever. And so, Julio Jones isn't getting any younger. I mean, when he's in their prime, I think they want to definitely take advantage of that. And Alex Mack is not getting any younger. So, yeah, I mean, it's, I think you're absolutely right. Like, their window for, it's not like their window for a championship is closing,

but their window in this lifecycle of their present roster, I think, is closing. So, yeah, I think it would make sense. So even beyond scheme fit and team fit, let's talk about the edge guys and the interior guys, just real quick. Which edge guy, if you were to go in the top 12, would you say, I don't know about that? And which guy, if somebody reached for him, you'd say, you know what, I actually like that? So the guy that, I mean, I think of the obvious top 10 pick that I would shudder at a little bit is Rishan Gary.

Just leave me so far away from all of that. I have no interest whatsoever. I think it's just, you know, it's one of those things where teams fall in love with the play. traits and his athleticism, even though his production at Michigan was never impressive, and he's also got like this labor issue now. So there's multiple huge,

huge red flags with this guy. I've heard people compare him to Robert and Kim Dice in the sense that I think, teams definitely sort of fell in love with Condice. There's other factors there that, you know, are different, but... Personality factors with Kimbeche too.

Right. He fell to the end of the first round because of that. But, so yeah, I think to me, that's the one that would be like, man, I just with so many other good players on the board of that spot, like, taking a risk on that type of thing is, is to me not worthwhile. Like, you'd rather than have Burns a hundred times out of

100. Yeah, definitely. And he's got, I mean, there's red flags with him too. But to me, I just, I saw the production, I saw, I like the traits for Burns more, frankly. And so, you know, I- fantastic. Yeah. So, I personally would, Gary's definitely

the one. And we didn't even include him in that, that in the last sort of discussion of the top 13 guy, he could certainly go on the top 13. I just think that would be a huge mistake. Let's talk about the interior guys. Because I think that Quinn and Williams at Oliver, we both think those guys are going on in the top 10, depends on where they end up falling. The two people in this conversation that I think could throw kind of a wrench into all of this. It's Jerry and Jeffrey. When I watch Jerry Tillery, it's that is a dude who will be able to make an impact in the passing game.

I mean, just explosive penetrator, just somebody that really can get after it. And Jeffrey Simmons has been talked about as a top 10 pick in so many ways based on talent. Obviously, you know, there's the incident that happened

when he was in high school and people have talked about how that might affect his status and the ACL. There are so many reasons that you shouldn't take a risk on him. But based on talent, we've seen teams

take risks on players that are less talented. That's what I would say. So I think both of those guys are players that teams might look at in the top 15 and some of those other guys are gone and say, why not? We need a guy at that spot. Why can't back one of those guys be it? I mean, absolutely. I think, you know, I've seen people, scouts and analysts that I respect.

I think he's in some guys like top three in terms of this class. Simmons. Yes, Jeffrey Simmons. That's how good he is. I think that's his upside is as a completely dominant interior defender. I've comped him to Fletcher Cox But I mean, I've seen You think he's that strong

Because he seems leaner to me That's the thing about Cox Is that when you see him And when you see a movie's 320 And he's just barreling people over Along with the explosiveness That's the thing When I watched Simmons today

I went back and watched a little bit of film He reminded you of yeah Yeah, he's what he reminded me A little bit more of was Chris Jones That I mean and that's That's a hell of play right there Because the length was so much more important If that makes sense

And he can play all over the line too I think he could play on like in a four in a even front he could play like the five tack or whatever and so yeah I mean I really like Simmons a lot as a player I think he's going to be really really good like you said there's obviously a couple of caveats to his his stock you know he's going to have to take a redshirt year which is a big deal to a lot of teams and so yeah he's he's a huge wild card for the first round I don't know where he's going to go yeah they've oh man I'm proud of myself because the Simmons is two inches shorter so Simmons is 6'4

and Chris Jones is obviously 660 he has tons of length. They have the same length arms though they literally the exact same length arms which I'm very proud of that's awesome because there's a lot of like swim moves and stuff where you can see the length and that's why I thought he was taller than that so I think that when I watch him it's not a one to one comparison but I saw shades of that

if we're stealing from your draft guide I like that I like that a lot alright let's go to number four how does the receiver class shape this round and maybe the bigger question, will it at all? Because to me,

it is the coolest position in this draft from the sense of there's so many different types of players. I mean, whatever you want, whatever flavor of receiver you're looking for, he's probably available in this draft, but none of them are complete,

so we're not going to see a guy go that high. So how do you see that position group kind of shaking out tomorrow? Yeah, so I think this is, the deepest position in the draft, I think. I mean, you could make an argument that the defensive line is. I think there's more receivers in this class that have high upside than any other position. Where's the bottom of that list to you?

So where would you have that cut off of guys you think can make a serious impact? Like the end of the third round? You had Isabella at 71 on your big board, I think. Yeah. So is there anyone behind that? Let me check. Debo Samuel maybe? I can't, I don't have your entire thing memorized,

but the fact that I could pull Isabella 71, I'm pretty fucking proud of. How did you not memorize it, Mayes? That is just rude. Let's see here. I've got Riley Ridley. I got Riley Ridley at number 99. He's on a lot of guys' boards

much higher than that. I got Keishon Johnson in there in the mix. Terry McLaurin from Ohio State, I think is a very interesting player. Jalen Hurd from Baylor. Tons of potential. McColl Hardman from Georgia. Those guys are all after Andy Isabella.

So there's, I mean, a lot of those guys are sort of, of projects and they're raw. But I think all of them have the potential to be impact players for teams. I comp to Kishon Johnson to Tyler Boyd. Jalen Hurd reminds me a little bit of Corral-Patterson in the sense that he could be like an offensive weapon. He could play in the slot, I think, and be interesting.

He was a former running back. That's why he did the Corral-Patterson thing. I completely understand what you were coming from. So stylistically, anyway. Of course. I get it. I think McCull Hardman is like a poor man's Paris Campbell in the sense that he's you know, very, very fast track speed.

You can use them on to stretch a defense. I think some people are saying Paris Campbell could go in the first round. I don't think that'll happen, but it's certainly possible. So there's a lot of really interesting receivers in this class. That's a preamble to me saying that I think only two receivers will go on the first round. That's my prediction. Okay, which one? I think that Hollywood Brown is going to be the first.

My guy. Yeah. I mean, so first of all, when I first sat down to start studying this class, Marquis Brown was the guy that jumped off the tape to me. Like I thought his tape was outstanding. I hadn't heard a ton. Like I kind of went into it a little bit blind, just trying to like formulate my own opinions. And my first impression was like, this guy's going to be a freaking stud. And then as I went on in the draft process, he kind of fell down my board because of the LISFranc injury, because of the size concerns.

like we've talked about several times on this pot he's 166 pounds so that's a huge concern but he told me this weekend 171 just just there we go over 170 that's a good threshold I like that I asked him point blank

to be clear I was with Marquis brow last weekend so we're not like friends texting I did this story on him I was on his couch in his apartment I looked at him and I said how much you weigh in these days he said 171 there we go he was definitive about it but yeah I mean I really just like his tape a lot

There's certainly concerns, and that can be said about kind of every receiver in this class. But I think he's going to go number. He's going to be the first receiver off the board if I had to, if I had to predict it right now. And then I think the other guy that's going to go in the first round is A.J. Brown. He's a, you know, he's kind of taken in a backseat in some ways to TK. Metcalfe in terms of like the perception and everything. But, you know, he was the most productive player in that offense. He was, he played in the slot. He can kind of, I think he can play outside.

He can track the ball down the field. he's another two-sport guy I think he was drafted to the major leagues he's just he's big he's built like a running back he's a receiver in a running back's body and so he's he's to me a very interesting guy who I think could have a

he could hit the ground running in the NFL more than a lot of these guys so I want to talk about both of them because I think they're really interesting with Hollywood Brown the size concerns are totally legitimate but when I was talking to him we were talking about that

and he was discussing kind of his progression as a receiver. Antonio Brown is his cousin, which only matters to a certain degree except when you think about how much they've worked out together. That's big. He really, when he can't,

and this is not just from him, this is from Oklahoma's coaches. This is Lincoln Riley telling me when Hollywood worked out with Antonio for like four or five times between his first and second year at Oklahoma, he came back as a different player. And he was always fast.

Yeah. I mean, he has four to, four three speed. But he always was running routes full speed. Always. Every single route was full speed. His only move that year more or less was a hesitation and then move into a speed release. Antonio taught him

that you don't always have to go fast. There's no need to be fast all of the time. It's when do you go fast? When do you separate at the end of rounds? How do you use pace in order to play with guys' expectations? How do you understand leverage and how to set people left to right? When you're setting people up left

to right, if you are going to outside to set somebody back. He was telling me this, just describing slants. He's like, if I'm going out, just make a guy slide out, and I'm trying to break back in, and he's a good corner and he knows that, I'm just going all the way up. He's like, guys, I'm not even going to try to, if I want him to think I'm running a slant when I'm actually going outside, and I'm not going to go inside and then back out. I'm just going to do that little hesitation, then keep going.

He just, he learned from Antonio so much how to have an answer to every single question. and that's what makes him so cool to me and that's what makes him so intriguing is that he's not just a speed receiver he has all of these tools in his toolbox now and we were talking about the idea of leverage and he was it was such so cool to hear him talk about it I was just like intrigued the whole time

I was just captivated he's like I weigh whatever I weigh but I'm not stupid I'm not trying to run this guy over and get open I'm not DeAndre Hopkins or Rob Grankowski or whatever I am based my game entirely off of leverage and understanding where he's trying to play me and attacking half of his body.

And if at 166, I'm able to, as a guy who benches 315 pounds, get my hands on half of his body because I understood the leverage he was trying to play, half of me, or half of him is still lighter than all of me. And it was just such a really nuanced way to think about it. And I just think that's why I would love him on my team because it's not just the speed.

He has such a good handle on how to play the position, how every single player in a coverage is attuned to the other, how they're all in a string. I learned so much just about the receiver position from sitting and talking to him for a day that I just think any team that hears him talk about it like that will look at his physical skills

and say, I want that, dude. Yeah. Man, you're getting me really, you're getting me really pumped up. Like, he's already, he's my number one guy. He ended up being my number one guy on my big board. I think we haven't updated it yet, but it will be up today. He ended up being my number one guy.

He kind of took the jump in the last week or two. I'm just like going back to my first time watching, I was just like, man, that guy is freaking good. Everything you just said, I think, is awesome. I was just picturing Antonio Brown running routes that whole time. But also he does have that speed, which is also a huge part of it. And I like the quote in your story.

Remind me who it was by, but he said there's like six or seven guys. He has a gear that like six or seven guys have. Like he is absurdly fast. That runaway, like halfway through the route type speed that's rare. And so add that into everything you just said. There's a difference between speed and world class speed. That's what his junior college coach told me.

Yeah. So like to me that was like, man, like I mean, we were super excited about it. You know, I think apart from the injury or the injury situation with his foot and obviously the weight thing is an issue. But like to me,

I just get really, I think he has a chance. chance to be a star. So something he told me that was not in my story that's actually worth mentioning when it comes to the injury. He has an extremely high testosterone level. It's abnormally high and it's much, much higher than Antonio Browns is. And that plays into healing time. Oh, interesting. Yeah. So they did blood work when he was working with Antonio, which is like part of the entire process. And he said that he had an abnormally high testosterone cap. And that plays into recovery time. I did see, I saw someone tweet,

I apologize to the camera who it was, but they said some team is 100% confident that he's going to get back to his pre-injury speed. So that kind of like assuaged my fears a little bit too. There is a team in the top five that told him that we would like you to be on our team before the day is over. That's all I will say. We're going to come back to this because we have another question,

I think, and we'll revisit that. So let's talk about AJ Brown before we move on to our next question because I think that the two, What set and Marquise Brown apart and what sets AJ Brown apart

I think are two specific things that are different than the rest of these guys. I think that this class is it struggles with separation

and that's where Hollywood is different than all these guys. That's what he does and I think that's why he's a unique element of this draft. And the other thing is floor.

I think a lot of these guys have very low floors. Even if you like Keem Butler, I think it could be a disaster. I think the same is cool true for Nick Hill Harry. I think AJ Brown

has the highest floor of any receiver in the draft. I think at the very least, he will be a productive, useful player in the NFL. And I think that's why him and Hollywood, to me, are the first round considerations. This is exactly my, that was exactly kind of my thought process.

Like, if you go down the list, D.K. Metcalfe, Hakeem Butler, Nikiel Harry, Kelvin Harmon, J.J.R. Sega, Whiteside. Those guys are all sort of in the conversation as some of the top receivers in this class. Obviously, everyone has a different list.

all of those guys are big, physical, and I think if you look at any one of the scouting reports, it's going to say, like, oh, it could struggle separating at the next level. So, yeah, I mean, I think, like you said, that that gives them that sort of floor that a lot of these guys don't have, the higher floor, I should say. And so, yeah, and I think because it's such a deep class of receiver, I think some teams may be willing to wait until a second round

to kind of like find that guy. I will say I think AJ Brown is the perfect Patriots receiver Oh yeah I mean he would be awesome In that offense So much yak

We could put him in the slot If you want to put out of him Outside flexibility I just think that he fits Exactly what they want Do you want to Do you want a preview Of my final mock draft

Who I gave you to? The Packers at 30 No You don't like it I reject this as an idea I see you get the dragon Kind of like in your In your thoughts right now don't you

AJ Brown is too good To be on the Packers I have no interest He's like a yoked up version of Randall Cobb. No, fuck that. That's exactly what I wrote. I'm not interested in that whatsoever. All right.

Question number five, will any linebackers crack the top 10? I think this is a different question than should any linebackers crack the top 10? Because so much of what we've discussed on this show already is how many quarterbacks could go, all the defensive linemen. I think both Devons are top 10 type talents or at least top 12 type talents. Yes. And I think that the way this draft could fall, even if you have a lot of defensive linemen going in that range, in the top 10, whatever, even quarterbacks, I think both Cincinnati and Green Bay desperately need an injection of athleticism at that part of their defense, and they're picking 11 and 12. And that's why I think both of those guys could be gone by that point. Yeah, I completely agree.

And in the show, I asked you before the show, like, what's your impression of Roquan Smith? He was a top 10 pick. you know, how have you felt about having him on your defense? And then you, in the notes, just said, how do you feel about your fucking guy? You know, Bobby Wagner is, the Seahawks are building their defense around him. That's exactly right. He's the guy who they trust to be like the core nucleus player,

the foundational player of their defense. If they did a redraft, he would be a top 10 pick. Absolutely. He's a stud. I mean, there could be jokes about that one MVP vote he got that one time, but, you know, he's a high, high impact player, sets the tone for their defense. I think he's underrated because the LOB and all that for years, but he's, he's an outstanding player. And I think you can say the same about Luke Keakley.

Keeakley's in that mold. I think Rokon-Swith has a chance to be really good. I think him coming on so late last year and missing training camp, all of that stuff. I think that matters for a rookie. I think it really does. I'm hopeful about the player he can turn into. It's part of the reason I think that defense can stave off regression is that he can be so much better in year two.

but I think that Bobby Wagner is a perfect example of why a guy like this can be a transformative player and worth a top 10 to 12 pick. Because they affect every play. They're all over the field. They're in the middle of what you're doing. And I think that we used to have this understanding

that was going on on the outside was more important than was going on on the inside. Corners were more valuable than safety. Defensive ends were more valuable than defensive tackles. Edge rushers were more valuable than middle linebackers. But the way teams are exploiting the middle of the field and how much it's stretched horizontally now and how every single blade of grass matters. I think being

closer to the ball is more important than it's ever been. And that's why I think that even if the running game isn't as much a part of football right now, and that's why linebacker value may be mitigated, I still think the right guy is worth it if he's that player that can cover enough ground. And both devons are like that. Plus, both of these guys are extremely good blitzers. I mean, you're-devin is ridiculous at it. Yeah. The timing and the physicality. And I mean, his ability to both dance around running backs and put his elbow under the chin of an offensive guard for a guy that's that small.

I love both of them. I like Bush just because, again, I like the physicality. I think that Devin White is more of a finesse player. I think even if Bush is smaller, I still think he plays bigger. When it comes to just how much he asserts himself, there's a length concern in coverage and maybe just in terms of tackling. Is he going to miss guys because he just doesn't have to. of that sort of wing span, everything else.

I get those. But I just think both of them are really fucking good. Like, just period. I would want them. I absolutely agree. I got them like 1A, 1B. I've got Bush as my top guy, but White's right behind him.

So everything you've heard in the last two weeks has Devin White going to the Buccaneers number five. We'll see if that happens. That'd be insane. I mean, I understand it, but it'd be cool. I mean, it'd be a really good conversation topic, the idea of a running bat or an off-ball linebacker being a top five pick.

When's the last time that happened? It's been a while. I can't remember. Aaron Curry in 2009? I think it's Aaron Curry is the top, the last top five one. Because he went fourth overall. Yeah, AJ Hawk, I believe.

Was fifth overall. Yeah. In 2007? 2007. It's been a while. It's been 10 years. I'm just pulling this shit, by the way. Don't worry about me.

Let's go. Dude, I just wrote about this like two days ago. All right. Let's move on to another position that kind of is a similar conversation about. And that is, tight end. And will we see a top 10 tight end this year? And should we see a top tight end,

top tight end this year? So let's start with the second question. Do you think any tight end is worth drafting in the top 10? I go back and forth about it so much. I think no. But the way that the NFL is changing and the way that tight ends are, the position is kind of like emerging as such a mismatch creation type thing. I can get the,

I understand the argument for it. But history certainly tells us that, no, it's not worth it. Like, you can find those guys in the second, third round. So, I don't know. I mean, George Kittle was a freaking fifth rounder a few years ago. But you take him in the top ten right now if you could. Probably. That's the Hawkinson thing.

I think that Kittle's success will affect how people view Hawkinson, whether they should or not. They're different players. Totally. But wearing the safe helmet coming from the same program, they'll say, look at Hawkinson's production at Iowa. kiddle did jack shit at that school and now he's a game-changing player I mean that people are going to say that

it is human nature to think that I am with you on the mismatch creation and just how much diversity and personnel matters I also think you can do that in cheaper ways I love Tj.J. Hawkinson, I would take him in the top ten but I also could hear the argument of if you're a team like let's say Green Bay for example and you just hired Matt LaFleur

you're really changing your approach offensively you're going to be more multiple personnel wise. Would you rather take T.J. Hawkinson at 12 or take Trevon Wesco in the fourth round and be able to have him be your blocking tight end and that be how you become multiple personnel wise.

I think it's about value. And I think more teams want guys like this but if you take a guy in the top 10, he has to change your roster. And I think it's really hard to do with that position. And I was listening to the Roto World podcast that Ben Fennell, Josh Norris, all those guys did.

I believe Ted Wynn was on there. It was a very good show. I'm forgetting somebody. Oh, Dan Bruegler. And they were, I think, I believe it was Josh. I feel bad if I'm describing it to someone else. There were a lot of voices. But Josh brought up how much O.J. Howard was supposed to be that guy.

And he wasn't. Yes. He hasn't been. And as much as you love Hawkinson, I think that it's hard to shape your offense around that kind of guy. And I think if you take a skill position player on offense within the top 12, you have to shape your offense around him. And I don't know if T.J. Hawkinson or any tight end will ever be that.

Yeah. And I'm on the same page. I think if you're a fan of a team who takes Hawkinson, it's like, yeah, that's exciting. He's a good player. He'll help you. Yes. But like I agree with you. To me, it's a question of like, you know, what do you call it? Just value and cost of that marginal cost or whatever at that position.

who are you giving up to take him in the top 10? Are you giving up a potential game-changing pass rusher, a cornerback, a shutdown corner? Opportunity cost is the word I was looking for. That's absolutely right. So I don't know. I love Hawkinson. I think he's going to be really good,

but he is one player on my list of potential players that could kind of fall a little bit compared to what I think everyone thinks. Only one tight end has been selected in the top 10 since 2007. only three in this century have been in the top 10. And the tight end selected in the top 10 since 2007, no one would do again. Right. Eric E.

Exactly. I mean, the Lions fans are still kind of seeing Eric and E. Brian E. Bronc. He wouldn't be four Beckham. This is a perfect example of opportunity cost. There you go. Opportunity cost, people. So, and I think that I'm totally with you.

And who was the last tight end that we projected as a possible top 10 pick? And where did he go? It was O.J. Howard? in the 20s? Yeah. No, 17, I want to say. 17 or 18. So, yeah, I am with you on every element of that discussion.

All right, all right. Let's get to the most important part of this entire conversation. How does the offensive line class end up shaking out? Question number seven. This is interesting to me because... It's great. Yeah. So I think both of us believe that Jonah Williams is the best tackle slash offensive linemen in this class.

He's the one I would bet on every single time. I think the NFL feels differently. It's very, very fascinating. I was actually listening to another role. World podcast. They do great podcasts today with Evan Silva and that guy's a hack. He doesn't know anything. He was talking about um just how that was a joke by the way. Devin and I are France. I'm just saying to be clear to be clear yeah. Um but you know he was talking about how like the NFL a lot of teams apparently reportedly view him as like a center. Um you know they're worried

of traits man. They love our length. Get out of here with that shit. So I think it's going to be very, very fascinating to see how this O-line class shakes out. I think Joanne Taylor is going to be the top guy potentially to come off the board, even though I still, I'm the same as you. I would, I would bet on Williams above anyone. But I'm wondering if the NFL will feel differently. So I feel like, here's what I think about the tackle class. And I, it's really interesting in terms of need and draft order and how this could all shake out, because the back half of the top 10 is full of teams that need help at those spots. So you think about

the Jags at 7, Buffalo, Denver. All theoretically could take a tackle, right? Mm-hmm. You could have the top three guys

gone by that spot. The team, I think, that is going to be most prone to do something really aggressive in the first round

because they need so much help at that spot and those three guys are so definitively kind of in a class of their own, maybe with Cody Ford

a little bit behind them is Houston. Yeah. If you were the Texans right now, and you're looking at Buffalo at 9, Detroit at 8, again,

both teams that need a lot of help and a lot of spots. And you really think your window is a certain length and that's the one spot you need. Do you call them and say, we'll give you, you know, whatever,

20, they pick 23rd, right? Yeah. So 23 and a second round pick or maybe two second round picks to come up to nine and take Jonah Williams. Because I think they're the team that would be willing

and ready to do that. personally I wouldn't do it because I have a philosophical I just don't think trading up is a good idea unless it never is but we've discussed this there are windows at stake here Danny this is also the team that traded away Dwayne Brown thank you for that Houston it's a very good point but we have different leadership there now

so yeah so I don't know I obviously I'm on I know what you're saying I mean you know you've got a couple years left of Deshawn Watson's rookie contract getting him a guy on the you know a left tackle position who could make a big impact and how they, you know, pass protect because he's been hit an incredible amount of times could have a huge, you know, could be a game changer for him.

So on one hand, I definitely understand what you're saying, but I think you still have to build around Watson in multiple, multiple spots. It's a, you know, it's not a one-year thing. I don't think they're like one player away from being a Super Bowl team. So I would say no. I wouldn't do it.

I'm just saying I think they're the team that would end up to it if someone did. That's all I'm saying. I would never do that. Yeah, that's definitely sort of one of the main rumors right now is that Houston wants to move up. So we'll see. I personally just think moving up for anything but a quarterback is dumb. I'm with you.

Trust me. We're in the same boat here. But you think that just independent of team and moving up or whatever, do you think that Andre Dillard, Jonah Williams, and Juan Taylor are all worthy of top ten picks? Yes. I love Dillard. I think he's a very, very good pass protector. Which is what matters right now.

To Juan Taylor, I think is, I don't know about top 10. I think he's top 15. I like this class. And they were making fun of me in the office yesterday because Shocker asked me, what do you think of? You love offensive linemen? No, but that's the point. I'm not some parody of myself. I am, but not in this case.

I like this class because it's a different version of first round offensive linemen. It's not these traits monsters that you're going to teach how to play the position. all of these guys to some degree are refined. Even Taylor, who is imposing and physical and the type of guy you want, he knows what he's doing. When you watch him play against a guy like Josh Allen or whoever, it's like, oh, that guy can play.

He knows how to be in front of people. It's not an Eric Flowers situation. And again, you link school and position, I think people are going to sit there and say, ah, you know, what happened to Eric Flowers? They're so different. You're not saying, I love the traits I can teach him how to play. These guys know how to play.

And at that position, it's more important than any other spot except quarterback. I've written about this. There's so many discussions about it. Practice time, all that stuff. You need so much work to learn how to play that spot because it's not based on natural ability that I think those three guys are so attractive for that reason. You can plug them in. They can be starters for you.

And you can find reliable production at those spots that you can so rarely can at this point in the draft. And it wouldn't surprise me whatsoever, Mays, if, and I, NFL teams were thinking the exact same thing. And we talked about this before. Like, what if there is a huge run on tackles early in the draft? Yeah. Let's, with that in mind, let's move to our next question here. Yeah.

Biggest riser in the first round. With that run possibly happening, my answer is Cody Ford. Because if these three guys go in the top 10, I still think you have teams in that back half of the first round, middle of the first round. that need that position. If you're in Miami and you're trying to build an infrastructure for the quarterback you're taking next year, don't you need a right tackle? I love Cody Ford, too. And he's a nice player.

It's very different. He's harder to study than a guy like Andre Diller just because you don't see him dropping back. You don't see not a lot of kicksteps, not a lot of traditional pass protection stuff. So there's definitely more of a projection. It's that concern some teams have about versions of the spread offense. You don't see them do the type of stuff they're going to be asked to do. But he's a good player. And, you know, Minnesota may be in that conversation,

even though I think they go more interior line than tackle. But Miami, if they want one, I think there are players at those spots that you absolutely could see. Even Atlanta. I mean, Atlanta's in there with Sambriolo, and there's like, we'd much rather have Cody Ford,

have Sambriolo be a backup. I know he's making a decent amount of money, but I just think there are teams in that range that could look at a guy like Ford if those top three guys are off the board. That's why he's my answer. Yeah, and I think, you know what? I'd go back to like January, late January and February,

Cody Ford was in the top I don't know what I can't remember off the top of my head exactly but he was in like the top 13 like discussion a lot like he He looks real good in the pads man Looks real good in pads Like the combine I think like he kind of fell off people's radars a little bit He wasn't outstanding as an athlete in the combine

And I think you know obviously Dillard was a huge huge riser So he kind of like took over But I remember I feel like I remember Cody Ford being in the top 10 In some draft Mock drafts and people were really really high He's kind of definitely falling off. So I buy that. I think he could be a guy that teams really look at as a mall or he can play multiple positions.

He could probably play left guard or right guard and right tackle. You know, I think he'd be good in several different types of schemes. So I like him a lot. All right. Who's yours? I mean, it goes back to what we talked about early on. I think a lot of people have, I think, the first receiver coming off the board in like the 20s in a lot of cases or, you know, potentially not having any first round pitch.

for the receiver position. I think there's a very outside chance that Hollywood Brown goes in the top half of the draft, even potentially in the top 10. Wow! Look at this. Let's do it. These are bold predictions, to be clear.

We're having fun at this point. So I'm not saying that's what's going to happen, but I think there's a slight chance that teams, because I really do think that the NFL values the rare explosive speed that he has. I mean, we've talked about... Especially as the game is spread out. Especially as the game is spread out.

He's the perfect player for the way football is played right now. Yeah. And so, I mean, obviously this is a terrible example. A couple years ago, we had three top 10 receivers. John Ross was, what, like number five or something like that? And so... Eight. Yeah, okay, eight.

Sorry. Regardless, like, that's obviously that didn't turn out well for the Bengals. But, like, I think the NFL highly, highly values that kind of... That was nine. That annoys me. This is like one of my super powers is to figure out what Oh, it was the number nine?

Yeah, that's annoying, I'm sorry. But there were two guys, was he the third receiver taken? Corey Davis. Oh yeah, in 2017 he was, but yeah, I thought he was at eight. I'm embarrassed, I'm sorry. Oh, come on, Mays.

I know, I'm better than this, all right. But yeah, so to me, he would be the guy that I think of that could go a lot higher than I think people are sort of the consensus projection is right now. Obviously, with the injury and everything and the weight thing,

People are, I think, being kind of conservative with him. But he's the kind of guy who, when he goes in, like, if he went in the top 15, everyone will be like, whoa. Like, you know, like, that is kind of like the crazy pick. It's such a fun pick, though. If you were the team that, if you were rooted for the team that picked him, you'd be in the best mood. You'd be like, yes. Because it's just such a cool thing to add to your offense.

All right. Number nine, most shocking follower. For me, I think it's D.K. McCaff just because we've, there was such a conversation about him with how he tested at the combine. But I just think with how limited his film is, how few things we've actually seen him do, some of the other stuff. I just feel like he's somebody that we saw kind of mocked in the top 10 right after the combine happened. And it wouldn't surprise me at all if he fell out of the first round. So just pretty simple.

I'm 100% on board. In fact, another spoiler. He's not in my final mock draft. Wow. Look at you. We're on the same page here, buddy. Yeah. And my surprising, or I guess my most shocking faller, another guy we talked about earlier, Rishon Gary.

I think most, it feels like to me the consensus is he's going to be a top 15, 17 pick. No, thank you. What if it, like, how shocking is it going to be if he just completely falls out of the first round? I don't think that'll happen. I think the traits are too good. That's what I'm saying. But I think, like, especially with the shoulder thing right now, like, I wonder if that could push teams over the top and be like, okay, we're just going to go in a different direction. So he would be one guy who, it would be pretty surprising.

but I think just based on everything could happen, I guess. Yeah, I'm with you. Okay, the last one here. What is the most bad shit insane thing that you either think could possibly happen or want to see happen? I love this category.

You go first because we talked about this before the show. There's one scenario, I think, that would just be really freaking fun. All right, so my scenario that I think would make the night the most possible fun it could be. Yeah. is if Kyle Murray does not go number one. Yeah.

So the Cardinals pick Nick Bosa or whatever, or Craig Williams, which would just be so dumb. But that's beside the point. If that happens, I just think it opens the floodgates. Because I think it puts so many people in play for that pick. Because if you're Miami and you just think he is a franchise changing player and you just never in a million years thought he was going to be available at two. And the cost of number one pick is so much more and everything else. and Arizona is just sitting there kind of grasping it. If you think that he's the guy and suddenly he falls even a tiny bit, maybe you're in play

for him. Maybe Cincinnati feels that way. And then what would make this even more fun is if shit just got real weird and the Raiders drafted Haskins and a team went up for a lock. And I just think that absolute quarterback craziness in the top 10 is what would make this draft memorable and awesome. Yeah. And the crazy thing is like that does.

It doesn't feel too unrealistic. No, it's going to happen. It's going to be so great. The bat shit insane thing, I think that, especially after listening to rumors and reports over the last week, to me, the craziest thing that could happen is just have Kyler Murray be the first pick and then have no other quarterbacks in the first round. Or like one other quarterback. That's lame. I don't want that to happen. Why are you saying that?

But I mean, like, there's always, you know, pre-jaf smokes greens and, you know, teams, I guess, are benefited by having all this misinformation everywhere. What if, like, the NFL really just hates Daniel Jones or, like, really just can't buy into the Drew Locke stuff? Like, what if there's only one or maybe two quarterbacks in the first round? Like, how different. Like, that, to me, would be crazy because right now we're talking about four in the first ten. Yeah, Danny, but NFL teams aren't that smart. I know. That's the problem.

It's probably not going to have it. All right. This was a blast. I'm very glad we did it. I could not be more excited for tomorrow. Me and Kevin and Roger are going to be doing some social video from the office here in LA. We will be bringing you some live updates. We will be podcasting after the draft tomorrow. Please check all of that out. And for now, thank you guys so much for listening to the Ringer NFL show on the Ringer Podcast Network.