JB's Sports Podcast
JB's Sports Podcast
Armchair GM: NFL Mock Draft and League-Wide Vibes
The transfer portal has transformed college football economics, as demonstrated by the dramatic saga of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. After receiving an $8 million NIL deal before taking a snap, Nico's attempt to renegotiate after a mediocre season led to his departure. We break down how this serves as a crucial lesson for players about leverage in this new era, while examining the broader implications for programs trying to balance talent retention with financial reality.
The NBA playoff picture is set following an exciting play-in tournament. Miami's historic run as the first 10-seed to advance exemplifies why this format works, creating meaningful late-season basketball. We provide comprehensive analysis of every first-round matchup, including the intriguing Nuggets-Clippers series where Denver's struggles meet LA's resurgence, and why Giannis might not be enough for the Bucks against a dangerous Pacers team.
NFL draft season is upon us, and we've got takes. Our complete mock draft breaks down all 32 first-round picks, with surprising selections like Jackson Dart to the Saints at #9 and Travis Hunter to the Browns at #2. Speaking of Hunter, we examine the practicality of his two-way NFL aspirations compared to Shohei Ohtani's MLB success. Plus, Aaron Rodgers continues to hold the Steelers hostage in free agency—is this kind of short-term thinking hurting Pittsburgh's long-term outlook?
Before the draft reshuffles the league, we assess whether each NFL team is moving forward or backward based on their offseason moves so far. The Texans appear poised to build on their playoff appearance, while perennial contenders like the Chiefs might be due for regression.
What storylines are you most excited about heading into draft week? Share your thoughts and follow us @JBSportsPod for more coverage!
welcome back to the jb sports podcast. Today is friday, april 18th, and we are back for another podcast. And it's just a boy today could get. Jason Couldn't make it work, so I'm here doing a solo today, but there's plenty to talk about and hopefully I have a little more planned out today. So hopefully it won't be as all over the place, but again, I can't necessarily guarantee anything. So, and to be honest, with the draft coming next week, I just wanted to make sure I get this one in, because there's a couple of things I really wanted to get through, cause by the time we do our pockets again with Jace back, we'll be doing, most likely a pretty much a reaction to the first second round of the draft and doing all that. So I just want to make sure I kind of get these things kind of squared away and talked about before. You know, the NFL takes, takes over the whole draft, will take over our probably whole next pod. Well, it's not like it's not going to have a decent amount of foot space in this, in this podcast, but you know, no, uh, again, nfls will be usually kind of like, like, put most of our time and energy into and when it comes to talking on this podcast. So if you're listening to this podcast was for a while, you shouldn't be surprised. But again, there is other things I wanted to talk about other than NFL, and I will start in college football. So I didn't want to start with this, but I if the first thing. I just want to make sure I get got this off my mind before I started getting everything else.
Speaker 1:So transfer portal is going alive and well right now. I think it opened on Wednesday, so you have a lot of players going into the transfer portal, I think. As of right now amount of player wise, they say numbers it's about 3,500 players have entered themselves into the transfer portal and about 1,800 as of right. Well, I think that includes both right now and then the last in the what is it? The winter window? In what is that January? So, as of today, 3,500 for these past two cycles for the portal and you have 1,800 that are committed and then the rest are pretty much not going to be committed yet. Slash are still in there waiting on finding their new home. The biggest of all of these players finding their new home has turned out to be Nico, and I should have talked about this in the last pod but it totally slipped my mind and I think, as it turns out, it's probably better that I didn't talk about it then, because we have a little bit more of a kind of potential conclusion of that whole saga.
Speaker 1:But for anybody that has been living under a rock and not heard and really don't care about sports, or if you're listening to this podcast you care about sports, but if you've living under a rock you haven't heard about this nico iamaliava, the quarterback for tennessee last year. He was the phenom freshman that they brought in a couple years ago. They paid him like $8 million to come into there, so like $2.1 million a year to come in before he even stepped foot on campus and sat out. His freshman year really didn't play a lot and then came into last year, was the starter, didn't really have all that great of a season. I think he had like 2,600 yards passing. I think he had 16 touchdowns and like eight interceptions or something like that. So he did not have nearly as great of a season as what it was kind of advertised he would coming off of him being such a young phenom high school quarterback. Again, that's not necessarily new the idea that you have a guy like that getting a bunch of money up front before he even steps on campus does add a little bit of a monkey wrench to the whole cog of this whole thing. That is not necessarily as prevalent throughout the time of high school recruiting.
Speaker 1:Going into college football so plays all last year has his ups and downs. I think most of his touchdowns came out. It's like a couple games where they played some very low tier competition and then he was very mediocre, slash, almost unplayable and other other spots, and I'm not sure if it's necessarily about him that Tennessee offense is one of those things where the that offense they run is very simple. Not not necessarily. Well, it's quarterback friendly, what they call it, but they say it's very simple that if you can figure it out and kind of break the code on it, that it's going to be a pretty easy offense to stop. And I think they had a run game last year which made their offense a lot more scary because we can't throw Running. The football is definitely a big thing and they had a great running back. I think Dylan Sampson was the guy. I think he was the leading SEC rusher last year. So that was a definite still helped, but Nico himself did not have the year that.
Speaker 1:A lot of Tennessee fans came into the year thinking they were going to have with him as the first years as their starter going into the. So that now the news is going into the playoff game is that Nico, amongst other players on that team, all were trying to rework their NIL deals before the first playoff game they had against Ohio State, going to Ohio Stadium and where they got blown out by OSU on their way to a national title, if you didn't know. So that was a reported thing that happened then. And then coming into last week I think, not not last week, the, the week before, oh, it was last week. So what was it? Yeah, no, because it was like the. So the weekend before, weekend before the transfer portal, yes, weekend before the transfer portal opened, you have Nico trying to rework his NIL deal, going to them saying I want to get paid more.
Speaker 1:Apparently he was going to be pretty much making about two point like a little over two million dollars this year in NIL and it is reported that his team slash family, slash father, whatever you want to call it, because apparently his father's very involved and it's kind of like the main guy when it comes to the money stuff, at least, as up to this point, they pretty much said hey, we saw what Carson Beck got when he transferred from Georgia to Miami, where it is reported that he got like $4 million in NIL money, and they were trying to get a nice little bump from the 2.1 that Niko was getting. And, as it turns out, it was working and they were going to figure it out and the next thing, you know, niko doesn't show up to practice the day before their spring game. And apparently that was the last straw. And then Josh Heupel, the coach for Tennessee, and the whole coaching staff and the team decided, hey, maybe it's best that you move on and you go find somewhere else to go. And then, all the way to today, nico has went into the transfer portal and apparently the three highest, the three suitors that he had, was North Carolina, ucla, usc and I think Tulsa Nope, wasn't Tulsasa, I think it was the other one, it was the Green Wave, whatever it was. So goes into the portal, has all these conversations and apparently teams are dropping out left and right. North Carolina decided they didn't want to pay him the money he wanted and they were out you have, and then pretty much, I think, the other teams that were dropping out too. The only one that stuck around was apparently ucla, and it was reported that they had pretty much come to an agreement.
Speaker 1:It's funny because that reported thing happened a couple days ago now and the move hasn't actually been finalized yet. So are they still trying to work out nil stuff? And on one hand, ucla is not the place that's going to be giving out a bunch of nil money like again they're in the big 10. It's not like they have no money, but it's like and ucla is known as one of those places like that do not want to give out, like they don't have boosters that are like just giving out a bunch of money in nil. And that's part of the reason. Reason why Chip Kelly didn't want to be there is because he felt like he wasn't getting like the support he needed to be the head coach that he needed to be for that school. That's why he decided to go to Ohio State last year just be the offensive coordinator On top of other things, like he just wanted to be an offensive coordinator again. He just wanted to coach ball. He didn't want to have to deal with NIL and all the other stuff, but that is what that is. So now it is reported that nico is going to go to ucla and that's still again. The deal hasn't happened yet. So it is funny. Maybe things are still getting worked out. Who knows that that actually goes through.
Speaker 1:And morning the news today was nico was going on his ig live talking about how he tried to sit out of the, the playoff game and then not only then when that didn't work, he tried to throw the game all together. Is what he's claiming. Is he trolling? I think probably. I don't think there's really a way that a guy that's competitive can go into that game, even if he's mad about his NIL dollars. I don't think you're going to necessarily get the bump that you're looking for if you're throwing the game. If you do end up playing in that game, if you're trying to make your message clear, you're just not going to play. But if you're going to go, if you decide to go in there and play no matter what, like if the money isn't coming when it comes to the bump you were looking for before the playoff game, then if you go play, you're going to go out there and try your hardest.
Speaker 1:I think nico playing playing against Ohio State, I think Nico was the only thing that was working. He was running the football like crazy. He was trying to do the best he could. I think, from what I saw when I watched him play that day, I don't think he was mailing it in. So I think him claiming that he was on IG Live, I think he was definitely trolling, but I think it does show a lack of awareness on this whole thing, Because I think it does show a lack of awareness on this whole thing, because I think a lot of people that have been watching this whole scenario have been willing to say that maybe Nico is the one being taken advantage of in this situation. I think everybody is willing to blame Nico's team, his father, for believing that they had more leverage in the pot than they actually had, but when Nico goes and does something like this on IG Live today, I think it makes him a lot more culpable, and now people are really looking his way as for being to blame for this, even though, like everybody, was willing to blame his team. So where do I fit on this One?
Speaker 1:I think, on one hand, you could be happy for Tennessee that they took a stand on this scenario, but I think to a certain degree, if they thought he was worth the money that he was asking for, they would have paid it. So I think it's great to give them credit for making such a bold move and not paying their quarterback. But I think it's a lot easier for them to make the bold move when the guy, when they don't believe that guy, is necessarily going to be the difference between them, like winning 10 games and winning six. And I think it's very well known that offense, like I said earlier, is a very quarterback friendly offense and whether they go and take, get somebody in the portal or whether they go with the guys they have, I think it's a very well known thing that Tennessee's offense is, as long as the quarterback knows what he's doing back there and knows the offense, you're going to get numbers. As long as you make the passes that are given to you, you make the right reads. There's really not a lot of reads to make. It's like the offense is a very gadget offense and on the other hand, I think for I was thinking before that Nico deserves to like, deserve to have some sympathy, because his father thought he deserved more money, but apparently he was more than capable in this too and he's willing to go with that. So I think players should go and get as much money as they possibly can. I think that is definitely the case.
Speaker 1:When Ohio State was dealing with all these guys potentially leaving in the spring, in the winter window, they said, hey, well, I think it wasn't the winter window, it was after Ohio State won their championship, and then there was like a 10-day period where their guys could enter. They said, hey, we're going to keep. You guys are going to keep. We kept Carnell Tate, they kepteremiah smith. They gave them all nil bumps because they deserved it and they really wanted to keep them. So if these players are willing, if they have a type of ability and they deserve that money, the teams will give it to them because it's what they deserve and I think it's a long it's it's long been deserved and these there's players of many, many years that have deserved to get a lot more money because it money's been going in these teams' pockets for a long time and these networks and everybody else making money off of the guys that have been out there putting their lives on the line to play the game.
Speaker 1:Did Nico and his team make the wrong move, thinking they had more leverage than they had? Yeah, for sure I think they did. And whether this works out or not with UCLA, no matter if he gets a new school or not, I don't think he's going to get the four million he was looking for. I think he'd be very lucky to get the two point one that he was getting from from Tennessee lesson for players, at least for now, until you get, like a lot of the rules from the house settlement and all that where you're going to have a lot like teams being able to give like actual money for that what the schools are made like 20, the 20 million or something like that that the schools are making to players. Until rules like that come into play, I think this will serve as a lesson to other players that want to make decisions like nico, to like, hey, this thing can go the other way for you, no matter how higher profile guy you are, if you don't play to the level that you, that you're supposed to and if you overplay your hand, the schools also have an option. They are not locked in and I think I heard this somewhere.
Speaker 1:Was that, like college football is ready to deal with a situation like this a lot more than you would think that they are right, because best case scenario when these colleges get these players in, they're only there to from three to four years anyway. So, like the, the culture already is is like hey, we're constantly moving our rosters, churning and churning and churning and churning like even more often than the NFL, I think, from a whole team scenario for college, the NFL, if you have a core of players, they will be sticking around for more than five, six, seven years. When you have, like, the players that you want to keep as your core, like that's not the case in college football they're constantly looking for the next guy to be ready to go after you either don't play up to standard, or that you leave and go to the NFL or you graduate. So I just think this situation will serve as a learning lesson for players. Until the rules are come, until there are some actual stringent rules to come when it comes to NIL and transportal and all that, this may be the learning lesson that some players can learn from and maybe you'll have less situations like this when such a high profile one happens, like with Nico in Tennessee.
Speaker 1:Get a drink here before I move on to the next thing. I didn't have much else. I wanted to talk about the transfer portal, I think that was like the main thing. There are a bunch of players moving around left and right. Ohio State is looking for a defensive lineman defensive tackles mostly and I'll be more than happy to talk about that when that stuff happens, but a little too much for me to kind of just sit here and ramble on about, so I'll go on to the next thing that I wanted to talk about here. So next thing um, nba, we have the plan games that are happening, uh, I think the games that happened Wednesday. I'll start with those heat bulls. He pretty much drummed the bulls on their home court and me, being a bulls fan, this definitely hurt.
Speaker 1:I didn't have great like an amazing amount of faith in the Bulls coming into the season. Honestly, my perfect scenario, though I wanted them to suck so they can try to go get Cooper Flagg, and Cooper Flagg really proved to be that guy throughout this season, which even more so right, but as the Bulls season went along, they got better and better through, especially the end of the season where they got hot. They started playing some decent basketball. They started playing together. Kobe White ended up being a really big offensive piece for us Heck freaking Josh Giddey, the Giddler himself. His three-point shooting was really hitting and he was playing some good ball, doing everything triple doubles and all that assists, rebounds he's really doing everything and he's playing some good ball, doing everything triple doubles and all that assists, rebounds he's really doing everything and he's playing very well.
Speaker 1:The Bulls before our eyes turned into a young little scrappy team full of a lot of young players that can play. It's a really good offensive team. I think they were top five in three-point shooting this season. So they were playing some good scrappy basketball and I was like starting to get excited a little bit. And that's where my world kind of like took a turn for the worse. Because, coming into the play and I was like OK, like, if we make the playoffs, does that take us out of the lottery? Yes, so our chances go to zero of any chance of getting Cooper flag. Okay, that sucks, but the idea of seeing a team like this become a little scrappy team to go play five, six, seven games against they weren't going to play seven games against anybody in the playoffs, but to go and try to do something against a really good playoff team seemed interesting to me. I'd at least be down to see it. Hopefully it'll be some good basketball.
Speaker 1:But going into this game, he jumped out early. He ended the first quarter up 39 to 28, like they almost scored 40 points in the first quarter. Literally, for the first half the Bulls defense was absolutely atrocious. They couldn't do anything and Kobe White couldn't really hit a bucket. We couldn't really hit any threes at all and the Heat were totally hot from three. Tyler Hero was awesome in this game. He could get 38 points. There was just nothing the Bulls could do because their defense wasn't doing anything and offensively they weren't hitting shots. Second half the Bulls really started to pick it up offensively, but defensively and defensively they started to too. In that third quarter the Bulls outscored them 27 to 17 and they kind of make the game a little bit closer. But in that fourth quarter the Heat kind of turned it back on Defensively they went and scored 21 in the fourth quarter to the Bulls 16 and like really they were flirting with a 20 point lead pretty much the whole game. For the most part Bulls got it like kind of got it down like 13, at times 10, but then the Heat would just like turn on the defensive intensity right back and they would just build up the lead once again and the Bulls just couldn't get out of the hole.
Speaker 1:And disappointing it is it's not heart-crushing or anything because, like did I think the Bulls were going to do anything in the playoffs so they made it no, and I think the best case scenario is is that they do at least get into the lottery and hopefully I. It's not really going to happen because the Bulls aren't that lucky but get lucky enough to get a guy like Cooper Flagg to kind of restart, like really supercharge what this team is right now being a young, scrappy team with a lot of young guys into like really being able to do something. Because they don't have that star player as of right now. Kobe White's good Josh Giddey has really been a highlight. I didn't think he'd get anything close to this type of play out of him, with him having some better three-point shooting, and that'd be the dream is that to get lucky enough to get Cooper Flagg and maybe do something next year. But it was. It was disappointing. I was like I was hoping, I had a little bit of hope in my heart and they totally, just, you know, stabbed me right in it and, uh, it's up to watch. I bet on the game. I had like a five leg parlay went down by two legs, with Josh getting needy, one more three and I needed like seven Kobe White. It sucked. It was a downer of a game.
Speaker 1:To be honest, the other game on Wednesday night, the Mavs-Kings Mavs, led by Anthony Davis, kind of just dismantled the Kings. The Kings really don't have necessarily a great team. Mavericks have what is left of a good team. Anthony Davis is still a very good player when he's healthy and when he's locked in. He had 27-9-3. 27 points and I rebound three assists meaning three blocks. That's why I wanted to say what they were, because three usually means assist. It was three blocks. He played great and the Mavs destroyed the Kings and are now going to play.
Speaker 1:I think currently they're playing a game right now against the Grizzlies to try to get into the playoffs Again. If they get into the playoffs, do I think they'll do anything? Probably not, but it is a. They're playing against the Grizzlies who have John Morant. John Morant did get hurt in the last game that he played. Was that John Morant? Yeah, in that he got hurt in the game against the Warriors where the Warriors won that game to get into the playoffs in that first set of uh playing games. And then, oh, I forgot to mention those games too, because those are like two more, two more games that happened and the Matt those. These are Tuesday Magic beat the Hawks, won 20-95 pretty easily to get into the playoffs they're going to have to play. Is that it's not Cleveland, it's Boston. They're going to play Boston in the first round.
Speaker 1:And then the Warriors beat the Grizzlies 121-116 behind Jimmy Butler playing an absolute Like Jimmy Butler, turning on playoff Jimmy for the play-in game 38.7 rebounds assist. I think Steph Curry had 30 in the game as well. He had 37. So those two kind of like the rest of the offense really couldn't do anything for that team, but those two were enough to win that game. Memphis played solid.
Speaker 1:Let's see John Morant getting getting hurt. He ended up rolling his ankle. Uh, later on in the fourth quarter. That kind of stopped, uh, the Grizzlies from really being able to pull off the win in that game. But he's able to come back and play in the game tonight against the. Let's go back here. He's able to come back and play in the game tonight against the Mavs, and their Grizzlies are currently up 39-24.
Speaker 1:If I had to bet, I think the Grizzlies probably win this game. I think they just have a little too much firepower for the Mavs, who are led by Anthony Davis. They have some good interior, those centers with Garland, and why am I forgetting the other guy, daris garland, and who was the other guy? I'm forgetting his name? That sucks. They just don't have enough, uh, especially without kairi. If they had kairi be a totally different scenario. But I think grillers have a little too much. I think they'll win that.
Speaker 1:But the game tonight, the other game tonight that happened, that kind of ended up again. I'm recording this a little bit late on this fr night. I got caught watching it because I was like I'm going to do the podcast tonight, I'm going to set this up and I was writing out my stuff and I was like watching the end of the Heat and Hawks game and it was down to the wire. These teams were back and forth pretty much the whole game. This game ended up going to overtime off of Trey Young hitting the two-pointer to tie it up. I think at 106 was 106 or 108, it doesn't really matter. Uh ended up going to overtime. Heat managed to take control and it's just the Heat man. They're the first 10 seed in the play-in era to make it all the way and get into the playoffs and they're well deserved they're. They are a good team that knows who they are. They have a lot of good vet players that like just know what their roles are and they just play good ball and they know what they're. They play very like high intensity defense entirely.
Speaker 1:Hero has really turned himself into a real leader of this basketball team. Without jimmy butler at the helm, uh, he's really turned into the guy that's a distributor. He he's picking his spots when to score. He's not just a three-point shooter anymore, he's really picking his spots and getting to the bucket and like hitting some, uh hitting some floaters like. He's really like all like rounded out his offensive game to really being their superstar man. He's played some very good ball and in the game tonight I think one of like the hidden, like the big weapons for them, was freaking. Uh, what am I? Davion Mitchell. He hit two big threes, um in overtime to like really help uh finish off this.
Speaker 1:The Atlanta Hawks for this Miami Heat team. A lot of credit to the Hawks. They played some good ball tonight, especially after having like a really bad game a couple nights ago. They play tough but it's just miami, just like they're just a little bit more put together and they just know what they're doing. And tyler hero just played some very good ball and they had like everybody just knows they're doing and tyler hero was great. Andrew wiggins scored 20 tonight. He's playing some decent defense, deep bam now that he just does everything 20, 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, like five blocks. He just does everything for this team.
Speaker 1:So like it's only fitting that the one team that's known for heat culture is the team that can make it happen first in this new era of being the team that really has a losing record throughout the season. I think they went 37 and 45 throughout the regular season and they just came up playing good ball at the right time and they make this run to get into the playoffs again. Their, their gift is having to go play cleveland and I think that's going to be a very big ass. I think cleveland's probably going to win that series, but if there's anybody that's going to make it interesting, it'd be the heat. They know what they're doing, they have one of the top coaches in all of basketball and they have a team that has a lot of guys that know their roles and they're not like they're going to play some good defense. So I don't know. I'm still going to give it to Cleveland to probably win that series, but I think Miami is probably going to pull like pull at least a game or two to make things interesting.
Speaker 1:Um, let's see what are the other. Now let's go to the other matchups. There's only one matchup that's not not all the way set and that's with who the Thunder is going to play either Memphis or Dallas, but honestly, who doesn't really matter. They're probably going to lose the series, no matter who the like who, no matter who goes and has to face the Thunder, they're probably going to get beat by them. So let's go to the other ones. I don't want to necessarily go too deep into any of them. I just want to kind of give my initial reaction and just what I think is going to happen in the series. All right, first I'll start in the West. Thunder win their series, no matter who plays them.
Speaker 1:4-5 matchup is Nuggets Clippers. Clippers are one of the hotter teams in basketball right now. Kawhi is healthy, playing very good ball. You have the Beard James Harden playing some very good basketball right now. They have one of the better coaches in basketball and the Nuggets are just limping into the playoffs. They fired their head coach. They fired their GM before the season was even over. You have Jokic playing some good ball, but outside of him there's really nobody playing really consistently for them and with that I get it. Jokic is amazing by himself and he can kind of drag a team that's probably not good enough to win to win this series. But if Kawhi is going to keep playing like this and he's going to be healthy and playing some good ball and you have James Harden doing his thing like they, I think the Clippers just have a little bit too much firepower for the Nuggets right now and the Nuggets aren't necessarily like a great defensive team. So I think the Clippers can do enough to win that series.
Speaker 1:Uh, lakers Timberwolves is a 3-6. I think I'd probably, because the Lakers have Luka and they have LeBron. They have some rest. They're going to be resting for like a week coming into this game, I think their first game's on tomorrow, saturday. So with that, I think I'm going to pick the Lakers to win this series. I think probably in six. I think Timberwolves.
Speaker 1:But here's the thing, though. This is what makes me nervous is that freaking JJ Reddick, the coach for the Lakers, comes out and says that Bronny is going to be one of their answers on defense against Anthony Edwards and Bronny goes and like co-signs on Twitter saying lock it in Lakers in five and they're going with the Shannon Sharp meme now based on him kind of being the Lakers' big super cheerleader when it comes to on ESPN. I think if you make Anthony Edwards that dude, I think he can be. He's going to be the best player on the court at all times if he's locked in and ready to go. Again. It's very close with a guy like Luka Doncic on the court and LeBron still, even 22 seasons in, still playing great ball. So that is still very it's like again, lakers still are probably more talented from top to bottom, but Anthony Edwards can win you a game or two and they can make things interesting.
Speaker 1:I'll pick the Lakers to win in six, but I think like if the Lakers cut, take the Timberwolves too lightly, like Timberwolves have good enough defense to really challenge the Lakers. But I just think the Lakers can probably play old boy the center. Why am I forgetting his name? Oh no, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why. Rudy Gobert, their main defensive stalwart for that team. They can probably play him off the court with playing a lot of movement and playing small ball and I think that might be the kryptonite for this Timberwolves team the 2-7 matchup Warriors, they get to play the Rockets.
Speaker 1:I think I'll pick the Warriors to win that series. But again, I want to say that, because you want to give the Warriors their flowers for playoff, jimmy Steph Curry, you have Draymond Green. They're playing against a young Rockets team. Like the Rockets are very good defensively but they're a very young team and they don't necessarily have like an instant, like give the ball to this guy and let him get a bucket. Like Shingun is probably the closest thing to that for this team. And I think the Warriors can make things interesting enough. But I think the Warriors can make things interesting enough. But I think the I'm going to take the Warriors because I can trust them a little bit more. But I would not be surprised the Rockets win this series just based on the fact their defense. They have such tenacity on defense and I think they can make things very hard, especially if their offense is not really going to do much. Outside of Jimmy and and Steph Curry. They're not leading anybody else really helping them. I think the Rockets can only make this a hard series. But I'll take the Warriors in seven East side Cavs Heat.
Speaker 1:I think the Cavs are going to win that series. Like I already said, I think it's probably going to be Cavs in six. I'll give the Heat some credit and say they win a couple games in that series, but I just think the Cavs are just a very good all-around team and I think Donovan Mitchell, when given the opportunity in these big games, I think he'll show out, and with the defense that they have on that team as well, I don't think Miami's going to have enough firepower to keep up with the Cavs, even with the Heat's very good defense. I just think the Cavs have a lot of options that you're going to have to deal with and I just don't think the Heat have enough offensively to keep up.
Speaker 1:The 4-5 matchup is the Pacers and Bucs. This one might be the most interesting series of the whole first round Because the Bucs, giannis obviously has been on a freaking tear Pretty much this whole season. He's averaging almost a triple-double for the season. But they don't have Dame Dollar so they don't really have a lot of shooting outside of Giannis doing his thing. Not like Giannis is a great shooter, but he's so dynamic offensively, with him being able to score at all different levels and playing great defense, that I think the Pacers can really make this a really tough series for them. I really, I really do. But I just don't think the Pacers play necessarily great defense and I just don't think offensively they're consistent enough, especially against a guy like Giannis. Like do they have a player that can really power through a defense led by Giannis himself? Giannis himself, I'm just not sure about that. So I I will take the Bucs in seven. But that one could be the series that'll shock everybody in the Pacers, like just are able to get up and down and the Bucs just don't have enough to keep up with them. But I'll take the Bucs in seven, led by Giannis. It's going to be hard for me to not believe in him with how great he's been playing.
Speaker 1:Knicks-pistons is a 3-6 matchup on the eastern side. I'm going to take the Knicks. I think the Pistons are a very good story and I think that who is the guard for them that's playing very good ball this year? Cade Cunningham, very good this year. I think he's averaging like 20 something points this year. I think he's going to be a very good player. He might be one of the better players on the court every night in this series, but I think the Knicks have a little bit too much. I think Jalen Brunson is going to be the leader that he always is and just lead that team to making good basketball decisions and playing good ball. And I think defensively they can be very good and I just think the Pistons don't have enough defensively to stop the Knicks from doing what they need to do. So I think the Knicks win this in six. They win it in five. I don't think the Pistons have enough, so I think Knicks win it in five.
Speaker 1:Last but not least, celtics-magic is the 2-7 matchup on the Eastern side. I have a friend that's a big Celtics fan and the way that he's like the Magic can really make this tough. I think they can, but I just think that the Celtics, with the team that they have, their defense is way too good. And am I crazy to say that? Why am I forgetting their name there? Oh no, this sucks, I suck, hold on, I'm forgetting his name, porzingis. Why am I forgetting Porzingis' name?
Speaker 1:I think Porzingis is probably the most talented player on the court at all times and I think if he is locked in and like cause, he could play defense on pretty much everybody on the court. He can shoot, he can score from all three levels and I think he's like the big X factor for this team and even with them Jalen Brown having an injury coming into the series and that's undisclosed it's really not being talked about all that much, but I think that's a problem for them. I just think that against Orlando, I don't think Orlando has the defense to match up and be able to stop Boston from doing what they want to do, and I think Boston's defense will be able to do enough to kind of stop Orlando from being able to keep up with them. So I think, with all that being said, I think the Celtics win the series and I think five. But again, this we've seen the Celtics use before last year when on their run to the championship, like they had the series against the Pacers where that series went a lot longer than it ever should have gone. So the Celtics do play around with their food a little bit too much and maybe they can make the series a little bit longer because of it. But I think the Celtics having done this before, I think they're going to take care of business and take care of the Magic in five, and that's about it. I'll keep it to the first round. It's taken on a round by round basis. I'm not gonna sit here and act like a big basketball, like savant, and like try to guess the championship or anything. But uh, that's that's my thoughts on at least the first round for the NBA playoff. So that's all I. That's all I got for that.
Speaker 1:And not to mention, I have to give some credit to the play-in tournament. Like everybody was really worried about what they would be coming in and I think over the last few years, ever since it's been implemented, I think the play-in tournament has really produced some good teams playing some good basketball At the end of the season. It's given a lot of incentive for teams that potentially could just sit there and say, hey, let's just screw it and lose the rest of the games. I think it's giving some teams some incentive to be like, hey, we're playing some good ball right now, let's take a chance to see if we can do something in the playoffs. And I think we're getting some decent games out of it, at least I think some. I'm not going to say every game is necessarily great, but we're getting some decent games and I think we're having some better teams that probably, even even if they had some really big trouble early on in the season with different things going on, I think the teams that get hot and they're playing good basketball at the end of the season at least give them an opportunity to kind of play their way in to. It's not like they're going in and like really making some hay and like making a big ruckus in the playoffs, but it makes things interesting at least. You know that's all I got on that that. So I'll go on to the next thing I want to talk about here not ramble on too much about basketball. I think I probably already have. Uh, if you're still listening, I apologize.
Speaker 1:Next thing NFL news. I wanted to get to before I got into any of all the other stuff I wanted to get into. So Aaron Rodgers makes his appearance on the Pat McAfee show and with thoughts on pretty much on everything except for whether he's going to sign with the team or not. He, I think and by with a team, it's probably with the Seahawks. There's really no other options that really seem apparent. The Seattle with the Saints maybe with their recent news on Derek Derek Carr has kind of come up, but who knows about that.
Speaker 1:But the way I see it, the Steelers are really putting all their time and waiting on Aaron Rodgers. I think they really are cashing this chip on a vet quarterback coming in with Aaron Rodgers. Even with Aaron Rodgers not being what he once was, with him still being able to have a good enough arm to kind of make every throw on the field, I think he'd definitely be better than what you had last year with Fields and with Russell Wilson. They're trying to capture this last moment to try to go and chase after a championship. And I believe Rodgers to a certain extent I really do believe that.
Speaker 1:I don't necessarily think he's trying to hold anybody hostage, but I do think he likes the attention and I do think that he claims in that interview with Pat McAfee that like he was very upfront with everybody from the get-go and he said that he has different things that he has to be responsible for during this offseason, so he didn't want to necessarily make any promises with any teams and then not be able to show up to practices and all that because there's things he has to deal with. I'm not going to sit here and make any claims that he's lying or anything, but I also think that he's really creating a very weird scenario for the steelers, who are really cashing in all their chips on him. Um, aaron rogers did claim that he's willing to like only play for like 10 million dollars. He said money's not really an issue and if he decides to play, he's not like going to sit here and like ask for a ton of money and like that's something that that probably does appeal to the sealers because they don't necessarily have to pay. But I just think this is like this option is only promoting bad long-term views. No, no, that's not the way I wanted to say it. It's promoting.
Speaker 1:I think the Steelers are closer to having to rebuild this thing than they are going to win a championship With as talented as this team is, with as great as the defense can be, and I really do want Cam Hayward to have his shot to go and win it all, and TJ Watt and Manka Fitzpatrick and some of the guys on off like not really anybody, the guys on offense. But I just think that the Steelers, ever since Ben left, have been holding on to this spot, where they've been holding on to this moment. We're like, hey, we can, we're good enough to make the playoffs and we can still stay feisty. And I just think they are so inept offensively over the last three, four years now and they're like last year they found a little bit of little bit of life with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and I think they're like, hey, if we get Aaron Rodgers and he can kind of like be the last piece.
Speaker 1:But do I think bringing Aaron Rodgers in wins the Steelers a Super Bowl? No, is Aaron Rodgers going to win us a game against Buffalo? I don't think so. I think the defense is more than good enough, but I'm like it's like every year in these big spots the defense has an injury here or there or they decide to have their worst game. And I'm just sitting here like at some point the Steelers have to swallow their pride and understand. Maybe they have to have a little bit more of a long-term view on things and maybe look to try to actually like make the move To get their next long-term quarterback.
Speaker 1:And I think this Aaron Rodgers thing is like making them hold on to this one year by year mentality that does not lead to long, long-term health as a team. And I just like I don't know, I don't know what they're doing, man, and I'm like the fact they're still waiting on Rodgers and not getting an answer, like what if he just decides to retire, like he says it's an option for him? I just I just don't know, man, and I just think that, as much as I believe Aaron Rodgers' intentions, I think they're pure, but I think two things can be true at the same time. His intentions can be pure, but he's also seeking attention. He also wants teams to have to wait on him and I think that the juice isn't worth the squeeze. And TJ Watts asked him for money that Steelers apparently aren't willing to give him and he puts out a tweet with him saying like peace out to the fans and he didn't really say anything.
Speaker 1:But that's the picture and I think it kind of sent fans to a tailspin about like hey, is he leaving or they're not going to pay him and like all those things. And I'm fans to his tailspin about like hey, is he leaving? Or they're not going to pay him and like all these things. And I'm like maybe it's time to trade him. Like we haven't been winning with tj watt, like what, what are we doing here? And he's 31 years old and he could be. He can give us some real draft capital to help us with the future. But I'm like all these things are just because the steelers aren't willing to really take the pill.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying suck, but I'm saying lose more games. And I'm saying that you really need to build towards the future and really change the way that you're running your team, because being one of the highest paying teams on defense every year is not getting you where you want to go. Doing this year by year quarterback thing is not getting you where you want to go. Doing this year by year quarterback thing is not getting you where you want to go. I don't know. I don't know, man, I have this thing later. That I want to talk about is like a, a step forward or step back for every team before the draft, and then I'll do it after the draft to kind of have a comparison about, like what, how I think the drafts are and what I think I'm not necessarily saying wins wise, like maybe it's more vibes. But I think, if you've been listening to me the last few minutes, me talk about the Steelers and this whole Rodgers thing, I think taking steps back is definitely in play for the Steelers team with this whole thing. I don't know, it's a mess. Next thing I want to talk about Ole Miss.
Speaker 1:Qb Jackson Dart will no longer be attending the draft. Is it something or nothing? I think it's something. I think that if Jackson Dart truly believed that he was going to be a first round pick, no doubt I think he'd be going to the draft, because that's like a moment that you can have with you and your family. It's great for your branding, it's like all of that. Maybe or maybe it's just him wanting to spend time with his family and all that that's. Trevor Lawrence has done it, like other guys have done the exact same thing. So, like I don't, I I think Jackson Hart will probably be a first round quarterback. I really do, but I don't know. It's something you have to keep keep in mind, because if Jalen Milrow is making the draft and nobody really thinks he has any chance being a first round pick and it kind of makes everybody kind of like perk their ears up as to what's going on. But the fact that he isn't't going is something to be aware of. But I think that, even with some of the questions, when it comes to the offense that he was coming out of, I think the physical tools that he has and some of the intangibles are enough to where he's probably going to be a first round pick by some team in the first round of the draft.
Speaker 1:Next thing I want to talk about Browns GM Andrew Barry believes that Hunter is worth one of the top picks in the draft, obviously, and that, like Otani, can be outstanding even if he only can play one side. I think he's comparing him to Otani is like when Otani was pitching, he's one of the better pitchers in the MLB and then when he's not pitching and he decides to bat for all season, like he had to do last year because of his Tommy John wasn't a decision, he was hurt, but he just when he just bats last year he goes for 30, for 30, 30 home run, no, sorry, 50, 50, 50 home runs, 50 stolen bases, and he's awesome and he is one of their leaders going to for them winning a championship last year. And I think on for a little bit. I agree with what Travis Hunter is. I think he's great on both sides of the ball, but I just think trying to compare him to Otani on one hand is insane but also unfair. I think it's insane because I think Otani I just think the how baseball is you can do to both sides in a way that it's impossible for a guy like Travis Hunter to do that in the NFL Basically, just based on how the game goes, I think it's just with the physicality and all that. I just think I think they're going to get draft Like. I think the Browns are probably going to take Travis Hunter with this whole story, with the GM, andrew Barry, talking about him, I think they're going to take him. I think they're going to give him a shot to play both sides. But I think if he did choose one side and play it, I think he's good enough to be special, probably more a wide receiver, but I still think he has a chance to be special if he just picks one side and goes. But in football I think it's a little more impossible to again.
Speaker 1:Everyone wants to make the claim there's only but there's enough hours in the day for him to do both, and I'm like man, it's just. There's a reason why. There's a reason why, like, you have a bunch of dudes that are very special at what they do, and if you're the one guy that is like, that is kind of like splitting your time on two things when everybody else is putting all their focus in on one thing. It's the classic phrase master. Like what is the saying? Oh no, it's like a great at all trades master of none, something like that. It's something close to that To pretty much say if you pretty much put all of your effort into one thing, you become a master. But if you just like Jack of all trades master of none, that's what it is. Ha ha, suckers, I got it. Jack of all trades, master of none.
Speaker 1:I think, like I think Travis Hunter could be very good doing both, but I think he'd be very special if he chooses one side, and I'm I don't know. I just think Otani can do it in a way, because baseball is a different sport and I think everybody wants to say that what Travis doing is harder. I don't think they've ever tried to hit a 90 mile per hour baseball before. I think Otani, what Otani's doing is insane and I think that I think it's just Otani's on a different level. But again, travis Hunter is great on his own right and I think if he proves in the NFL, I'll definitely be the first person to call myself out and apologize for it. But you know, I think he's going to be a great player.
Speaker 1:I think if he chooses wide receiver. I think that if the Browns take him, what they need more is him playing wide receiver than him playing corner. They already have a number one corner on that team, obviously with Ward on that team, obviously with ward. So but again, I don't know, it's a. He's a very good player for sure, no matter what he really is. But I just think the whole him playing both sides, the nfl thing may not go as well as he might like, but I think he's very adamant that he wants to try and I think the browns are going to give him that leeway too. It's just how long is it going to be before he kind of figures that out himself?
Speaker 1:And I, and I think another thing is like people have said this, and I totally agree that if you really let him become a player on both sides, it really plays for you. If he gets hurt, you're now losing two players, not one. If you really rely on him for two, playing two positions when he gets hurt, you're now missing two players for the price of one. I just I just think it's a very weird scenario and I think for Travis, if he wants to make more money in the long term, they're never going to give him money for playing both. That's not going to like up his value money wise. They'll just say, hey, you're not as good at either, so we're just not going to pay you as much. Like ask the tight ends that have tried to make a bunch of money throughout their career, being both great blocking tight ends and great receiving tight ends, like there's other players that have played multiple positions that try to like take take advantage of that and the nfl says no every time. So I think it'd be better for travis on a long term if he just plays wide receiver and just, you have long, better longevity, you make more money at it. I think that's what it is. But who, what do I know? I'm just. I'm just a guy that sitting here at his computer on a podcast, so you know who knows. Uh, let's see. Okay, that's.
Speaker 1:That was the last story I wanted to talk about. Next thing I wanted to do, like I mentioned earlier, was do the step forward or step back for every team in the nfl. I just want to make this very quick. I don't necessarily want to go all the way in depth in all of them, but I just want to have just like a very quick, just off the brain reaction Are they going to take a step forward? Are they going to take a step back? More vibes than anything I think we'll do win totals after the draft and all that closer to when the season starts Me and Jace. So I think we'll do something based off the wins and all that. Wins and losses. I just want to go off fives Because obviously, if you've been watching NFL long enough, there are teams that like feel good even though they lose a lot of games. Or there are teams that win a lot of games but you feel bad coming out of it Because you're like, oh, we're just only going downhill or this is like very like fugazi in a way. So I just want to kind of go in and just be very blunt about forward or back. Are you going to feel like, do I feel negative or do I think they're going to be positive? Are you going to take steps forward to take steps back, coming into the season, before the draft, of course, and then I'll do it again after the draft to kind of have that comparison for what how the draft has impacted my thought on the team overall. Again, we're going to be more in the nitty-gritty when it comes to the react to the draft too. Right, this this can be kind of like a crude way to kind of just think about it, like you know, dumb, dumb man hammer type of way of thinking about it. So, afc North, let's start with it.
Speaker 1:Cleveland, I think they take a step forward or step back coming out, coming into the year. I think quarterback is still a question. I don't think they're going to take quarterback, so I'm going to take. I think they can take even more steps down, even with how bad their season went last year. Cincinnati forward or back, their defense is still going to be an issue. They kept Whoa why am I forgetting their names now? Oh, this sucks. They kept Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins. They have still Joe Burrow. That offense is still pretty good. Their offensive line is still going to be a little bit of a problem. Who knows what the draft is, but I'm just going off of right now. Defense is still a problem. Who knows about what the draft is, but I'm just going off. For right now. Defense is still a problem and with them barely missing the playoffs, I think they're more like likely to take a step back. I'll go, I'll take a step back, more like take a step back than forward. Pittsburgh I think them barely making the playoffs, losing a first round in the first round of the playoffs I think it'll go worse than that this year. I'm taking a step back. I think some real lessons might have to be learned this year for them to really change their ways.
Speaker 1:Baltimore I think they lost in the second round of the playoffs last year. That's what it is right. Baltimore Ravens I just want to make sure I have it right. I think they lost in the playoff game. Right, hold on, they won.
Speaker 1:The AFC North last year played great ball, let's see here Ended up losing to Buffalo in the second round of the playoffs. Do I think they get farther? Do I think they feel better than that. I think they took a step down too. I just don't think they're going to be able to take steps forward. They make the second round of the playoffs lose to Buffalo. Do I think they're going to be that much better and do more? I don't think they are. I think the whole AFC North is going to take a step back this year, just based off what I've seen right now. But again that might change.
Speaker 1:South Houston, I think they're going to. They make the first round of playoffs last year and lose to the no. They want to play off game ended up playing the Chiefs and then losing that game. Do I think they take a step forward from that? I think they take a step forward. I think they'll win the division again and I think they'll do a little better in the playoffs, even if they don't necessarily get farther. I think they'll feel better by the end of the season about where they're at. Because a lot of people were questioning CJ Stroud I think they're going to play some better ball. I think they're going to help the offensive line this year and I think they're going to play some better ball. I think they'll be more likely to take a step forward than back Tennessee. It's forward. They can't go anywhere. But up with having their own overall pick and all that, I think they'll be better, even if by a little bit.
Speaker 1:Jacksonville New coaching staff there's still a question whether Trevor Lawrence is that guy or not. I think, based off that and me never really truly believing in Trevor Lawrence and like, honestly, do I really believe in this team to like really take some real steps forward? I don't think so. I think they'll take a step, even more of a step, back this year. Indianapolis back man Quarterback position is a problem and I think that's going to totally derail the season, no matter how good the rest of the team is. I think that quarterback position is going to be a problem for them this year. Buffalo I think this could be the year is going to be a problem for them this year. Buffalo I think this could be the year. But again they end up going to the AFC championship and playing the Chiefs and losing. That's what they did last year. They had their shot.
Speaker 1:I held myself to a standard that I'm not going to say even or stay the same. I think they'll be more likely to take a step back than forward, because forward implies that they'll feel better like potentially make the Super Bowl type of thing, and I'm not totally sure about that, I'm really not. But again, somebody has to take a step forward. Do I think it'll be the Chiefs? I don't think so. So you know what, if I have to choose somebody that's going to take a step forward, do I think it'll be the Chiefs? I don't think so. So you know what, if I have to choose somebody that's going to take a step forward amongst all the best teams in the AFC, I think Buffalo's closest to that. So I'll go forward.
Speaker 1:New England I think they're forward. They got Drake May, they have a new coach, obviously, and Vrabel, I think he's gonna like have a real culture there and I think they'll take steps forward this year. Miami, with how bad they were last year, I think they may have a better record this upcoming year because everything, everything was an absolute disaster for them with injuries. But you know, I think it'll be worse because Tyreek Hill having troubles right now asking for trades and all that making trouble, and I think they have. I think the Tua thing is like a taking time bomb ready to explode. I think down is definitely taking steps back is definitely an option.
Speaker 1:The Jets, I think, forward. It was such a mess last year with Aaron Rodgers. I think maybe Justin Fields isn't the guy long term but I think he will bring the way that he plays, I think, forward. It was such a mess last year with Aaron Rodgers. I think maybe Justin Fields isn't the guy long term but I think he will bring the way that he plays. I think that team, that fan base, will fall in love with him and I think, even if he doesn't necessarily play the best of ball, I think he will give them a positive. I think him and Garrett Wilson together will be absolute fireworks. I saw it at Ohio state. I think they'll do the same thing in the NFL this year and I think they may not be a better team, but I think they won't be a better. I think their team was good last year. I think they just kind of fell apart in all areas. I think they'll be better just by having better vibes, having a quarterback. They'll probably believe in a little bit more and not necessarily be the center of the mess in Aaron Rodgers. Probably believe in a little bit more and not necessarily be the center of the mess in Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1:Next, afc West, kansas City. I think they're more likely to take a step back than step forward. They were in the Super Bowl last year. This implies that they feel better like they're going to win a Super Bowl this year. So I think they're more likely to take a step back than forward. This year, chargers barely missing the playoffs. I think they have a chance to really take a step forward. I'm not going to sit here and say they'll win the division and all that, but I think they'll probably make the playoffs and I think they will be a little better football team all around. They kind of like be a little better football team all around. They kind of like they were probably overachieving last year for what their team was. So I think forward is definitely the option for them. Vegas new quarterback. Gino new coach why am I bringing the coach's name now? Oh no, that's Pete Carroll. I think, with the moves that they have made, I think they'll be more likely to take steps forward this year and I think I think I'll probably spoiler alert I think probably after the draft they'll probably even more of me feeling they'll take steps forward this year.
Speaker 1:Denver barely missing the playoffs. I think they will also take steps forward this upcoming year. I don't think Bo Nix is necessarily all that great, but I do think that Sean Payton knows how to deal with a quarterback that maybe isn't the most crazy talented and I think they'll be able to take steps forward. That defense was very good last year. I don't think that's necessarily going away. So I think Denver will take steps forward. Nfc North, now Chicago I will. I think I think Ben Johnson, coming as the head coach, I think he will be able to fix up a lot of of um Caleb Williams's issues and I think he'll have an offense that'll help him to be able to survive. Do I think I? I think they will have a better team coming into this year, but I think they'll potentially feel worse about Caleb being their superstar. But I think they'll have a better team because they'll be a better overall, better coached, especially offense Like defense. They have great defensive players. They have a defense that can have some makings of really playing some good ball. So I think they'll take steps forward, maybe if they even if they feel a little bit worse about caleb coming off, of coming at the end of this year.
Speaker 1:Detroit man they've been at the doorstep for so long. The question is whether they'll be able to take the step, take steps forward from where they've been, or are they really gonna have to? Are they gonna have to take steps forward from where they've been or are they really going to have to take a step back? I think they'll go forward, man, but man for what their team is, they really could. I think, even if they get to where they got last year and still lose, I think last year could have been their year and they could have really lost out on an opportunity. I think they could take steps back.
Speaker 1:I don't know, somebody in NFC has to take steps forward and, the way I see it, there's not a lot of other teams that I'm really confident in. Somebody has to. I'll take Detroit. I think they're more likely to go forward than back Green Bay. I'm going to say backwards. I think Jordan Love is way too sketched for me. I really do. I think that team, as good as they can look at times, they can be just as easily, just as bad, and I think that, yeah, I just think they're more likely to take a step back Minnesota from where they were at last year, making the playoffs, losing that first round Now coming, oh, but now they're going to have JJ McCarthy be their starter as of right now. That's all I can go off of.
Speaker 1:I think step back is definitely an option. I think they're going to because I think they really went into this year potentially, especially after last year with getting being looking so good at times with Sam Darnold. I think they really. I think there was a reason why Aaron Rodgers was potentially an option for them because they felt like this could be the chance of them to try to go chase after a championship. And if you start JJ McCarthy in his first season as their starter, I think you have to be open to taking steps back, even if he doesn't, at least to give him an opportunity to be your long-term answer at quarterback. I think you have to be willing to take that step back for the potential steps forward If Jason McCarthy is really going to end up being your guy. So you're gonna have to live with some of the mistakes and I think that could lead to a disappointing year for that what they think they are this year. But I think that could propel them, if he ends up being the guy for them, into having multiple years, because they a very good like very good football for not only that team but for that fan base. As he's south, uh, going to go atlanta first, I think they'll take steps forward. I think they have their quarterback, I think they'll use this draft to use a lot for defensive pieces and I think that if they have this whole gang together, I think they will feel better about their team this year. Um, in comparison to last year, carolina, I think steps forward. I think Bryce young really showed some things at the end of last year and I think as long as they get some help defensively and maybe get a weapon or two offensively for Bryson to throw to, I really do think maybe their team won't be better, but I think they'll feel better about their team overall by the end of the year.
Speaker 1:Based on what I know right now, new Orleans, I think, get even worse. Man Derek Carr is having his issues, talking about his shoulder. He may not be able to play to start the year. I think this is a. New Orleans has been holding on for way too long trying to keep that team together, having a lot of cap trouble. I think they finally need to swallow that pill and really take their medicine. I think this year might be the year Everything comes crashing down to the floor.
Speaker 1:Tampa Bay I'm going to stay forward, man. What did they make the playoffs last year? Lost in that first round to Washington. I think their offense is very good. I think they're going to add more defensive pieces to this team in the draft to really help supercharge that team I think they're a little bit older on defense Adds a few pieces that can be some starters for them and some talented guys. I think Tampa Bay can be I hate to say it led by Baker Mayfield into being a very scary team by the end of the year. So I do think they'll take steps forward by the end of the year.
Speaker 1:Nfc East we got Dallas, I think Ooh, with them not paying Micah Parsons yet, with them having Dak Prescott and him coming off another injury, with CeeDee Lamb being a good player, but who knows if he's really the player they really paid him to be. I don't think their record may not be worse than it was last year, but I think, vibe-wise, I think they'll feel worse about their team by the end of this year than I think it was last year. Yeah, because I just think it's like. This is like the like they have nowhere to go, like they're gonna feel they're gonna feel a little more stuck in where they're at than to have any type of hope or any type like anything like that when it comes to what their team can be. So I think backwards is probably the answer there.
Speaker 1:New york giants, I think, oh man, I think can things get worse from what they were last year? Problem is that now they have freaking russell wilson and jamisis Winston as their quarterback options. They're probably going to draft a very talented player, either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, maybe get a quarterback later on in the draft. I think it's almost impossible to feel worse about the team than what they were coming out of last year, especially watching Saquon go to win a championship, be one of the like, be the best running back in like of football last year. I think forward is the only option, man, because I don't think there's really any. They can't go any more, any more down. Philly won the Super Bowl last year. I think there's no way they go back to back. So I think, by that rule, I think they have to go down.
Speaker 1:I think steps backwards is probably the way to go, because that forward implies they're going to win a Super Bowl and again, I'm not going to be the one to try to make that bet Washington. I think they got a little farther last year than they probably deserve to get. I think I think their team will be better because they'll add some pieces to really help out their young quarterback in Jaden Daniels, and I think their team will be better, but I think their season will be worse. So I think they'll have a little bit worse schedule when it comes to better teams they'll have to face and yeah, I don't think they'll be sneaking up on anybody coming into next year. So I think they're more likely to take steps back, even if their team would be better. And I think no, because if I, if their team is better but it takes a step back when it comes to record, will they really feel bad about it? I think the vibes wise they'll probably feel worse because they got so far. They got to an NCAA championship game last year. So I, by rule, I think the passe step back.
Speaker 1:La Rams I think forward is probably where they're at. They added Devontae Adams. They have old boy Matt Stafford back. They replaced Cooper Cup. He's not gonna be there anymore, but I think Devontae Adams is definitely a player. They still got Pukunukuwa. That defense is going to take another step forward. Their offensive line is pretty good and I think whatever they're going to be adding in this year's draft is going to be cake for them, because they really are set at a lot of positions. Maybe adding a little bit more on defense will be the way to go. I think the Rams are probably going to take steps forward this year. For sure.
Speaker 1:Arizona, I don't know man. This one's the ultimate wild card for me, because Kyler Murray can have a great season, but I think he also can have a terrible one. I think Marvin Harrison is going to be better this season, but I just think any season from now on that you have with Kyler Murray at the helm is probably going to end up being negative. Is it going to be more negative than what it was last year is the question. I think they'll take steps forward, even if that means that they kind of decide on Kyler Murray. That's not their long-term option. I think they'll be a better team because I do think they're well-coached and I do think they have some good players. I think they will add. I think, as of right now, I say probably step forward.
Speaker 1:San Fran was bad enough, man. I think they were feeling super bad last year, coming off of what they were, but I think it could get worse. Even if their record may not be worse, I think they'll come out of this year with the quarterback question coming up again, because I really do think that even if they pay old boy Brock Purdy, I don't think he'll end up playing like the guy that they paid him to be, and I think they have so many holes on that team, even with them adding some guys in the draft. I just don't think it's going to necessarily come all together. I think they have so much money still tied up in some older guys that I just think that it could lead to even more disarray for them. So I think I think steps especially with the Brock Purdy thing, I think step back is that probably more of an option for them this year. And then Seattle, I think back.
Speaker 1:I think with them getting rid of so many players they don't really. They have Sam Darnold at the helm now, but they all their wide receivers are gone that All they have is JSN. He's a great player, but they probably need more than that. Kenneth Walker is a great back and I think Zach Charbonnet is another very good back for them as well. But defensively they took a step back last year. Could their defense be better? Yeah, but they probably need to add more.
Speaker 1:But I just think Darnold, I think Gino is probably more consistent than what Darnold is, no matter, I think more consistent, no matter the adversity, right? I think Darnold can be very up and down. I think if things are going well, he can be great, but if things are going bad, he's definitely not going to pull you out of it. I I think that volatility will lead to them having more likely to be taking steps back this year, even from what they were last year, because I think they almost made the playoffs last year. So I think that they'll take steps back and not forward coming into this year, based on what I know right now. So that's, every team in the NFL has them as of right now. So I'm going to keep this on record and have it ready to go for after the draft. We'll play this game again, maybe with Jace next time, and we'll see if I feel any differently about after teams have made their moves as to what they're going to add to their football teams in the draft.
Speaker 1:So with that, I will go on to the next thing here and talk about the draft. So with the draft less than a week away, it's only right that I do my own mock draft to be so wrong about later. I think everybody does a mock draft, that does a podcast, or there's many guys out there that are a lot more qualified than me that's doing it. I listened to all of them and so I figured you know what, why not? I get to sit here and talk one up. I, I get to talk on a here on a podcast and hopefully have some people listen. So I may as well put out I already have my draft here, so I'm not going to sit here and talk forever and like make decisions.
Speaker 1:Um, I put my draft mock draft together and I'm going to kind of go through, give some thoughts and, uh, hopefully maybe you know if I'm, if I'm lucky I'll have more right guesses than wrong than wrong, and I didn't do any trades or anything. So I did this as if everybody's gonna sit and take a, take somebody, and I also did this based off of what I would do if I was in those teams of shoes. I didn't necessarily go off of what the vibes are, but again, I think vibes slash news is. But I do think if you listen to any type of draft draft stuff, I think everybody has so much information on what all these teams needs and like what they did or didn't do in free agency, I think a lot of these guys just kind of if the if the glove fits, wear it. Or if the shoe fits, wear it. I think that's the saying. So I think my, my picks may be a light like others, but hopefully I'll have enough picks that are a little bit different, that at least make my stand out a little bit, maybe, if being wrong like everybody else. So I'll just go through this draft here and kind of give you my thoughts.
Speaker 1:So, tennessee first pick overall, I think they'll take Cam Ward. I think that's a pretty much a done deal. They need a quarterback. They beefed up the offensive line over the free agency period. They haven't talked to any other quarterbacks really. So I do think Cam Ward is probably going to be their answer that I think they can't help. I think Cam Ward is probably the only option at quarterback that's going to be a guaranteed guy that can really be a really high-level starter in the NFL draft. So I think they have to take the chance at taking Cam Ward, and hopefully that'll be their head guy for years to come.
Speaker 1:Pick two for Cleveland I think they'll take Travis Hunter. I think everybody has come to the conclusion that, oh boy, shadera Sanders is probably not good enough to be a top five pick, and I don't think there's any other quarterback that's worth taking at this spot. And I think, with what they need, they probably need a offensive weapon to really help out whoever they have playing at quarterback this year probably either Kenny Pickett or freaking Joe Flacco. So I think, even if they don't have their quarterback really settled heck, they can go do something later on in the draft. I guess they really believe in somebody, but I think Travis Hunter is too good to pass up at number two.
Speaker 1:Pick three for the Giants I think they're going to take Abdul Carter. I think they're not going to go quarterback here. I think they're going to take abdul carter. I think they're not going to go quarterback here. I think they're going to take best player available, because even though their defensive line is already very good, why not have another guy just make it to where their defensive line is going to be so nasty that they're going to be able to wreak havoc on any team that they have to face. Because of how good that defensive line is going to be and I think even with their quarterback play necessarily not going to be great I think they're probably going to punt on this year's quarterback-wise. Maybe they'll go after a quarterback later on in the draft. But I think you could just as easily just punt on this year quarterback-wise and try to get somebody next year, because I think the quarterback class next year will be a lot better. But again, I think the coaching staff and the GM maybe won't be able to be the ones making those picks going into next year if they have another bad season based on how bad last year was for them. So I don't know. I think they'll just be forced to take the best player available. I think Abdelkader will be that guy, especially with Travis Hunter already being taken.
Speaker 1:Pick four I think New England will probably take Will Campbell. I think this is probably the worst case scenario. I think they probably want to trade out if they could possibly get somebody to want to trade up with them. But I think if they had to sit here and pick. I think they'll take Will Campbell to kind of be that offensive tackle to be able to protect Drake May, and I think they cannot pick a guy. I don't think he's going to be the most, I don't think'll count Campbell's the most talented tackle, but I think he probably, his floor is probably a little bit more stable and I think he'll at least be able to try to play left tackle and if not, I think he has enough of the intangibles and I think the skill to play maybe guard if they need him to. I think he is going to work somewhere. I don't think he's necessarily gonna be a bust and I think Armand Membu, even though he's way more talented, I think he really is. He has the body. I think he has a speed. I think he needs a little bit more polishing. I just don't think New England's gonna be in a spot where they really can like be in a spot where they're throwing in somebody. That needs to be polished. I think they want to protect their quarterback. I think Will Campbell will probably be that guy.
Speaker 1:Five Jacksonville have them taking Mason Graham. I think they need a lot on defense. I think I think it'll be very hard for them to take an offensive piece right here, because they have so much offensively right now already anyway, and I think that their defense was so bad last year I think they just need to take the best defensive player available. I think Mason Graham is that at the defensive tackle position coming out of Michigan. Next pick six Las Vegas Ashton Gentry.
Speaker 1:This is probably like the most trendy pick throughout all the mock drafts, but I think it just makes sense. You have you already have your quarterback, geno Smith. They signed him to an extension, so he's probably going to be their guy for the next couple years or so they have. Well, why am I forgetting his name now? Oh no, I I did this on Pete Carroll as their, as their, coach. He's over 70 years old. I don't think he's necessarily going to try to like be slowly cooking this thing up to try to rebuild, and I think their offensive line is pretty good anyway. So I don't think they're really going to have an offensive line guy. I don't think defensively, there's a guy that is ready to go right here. So I think Jenty makes sense. He'll be able to come in. They have Brock Bowers already to a pass catcher. I just think Jenty will be able to come in with that offensive line and make a lot of hay early on and make his touches really count. So Jenty is looked at as the best running back in this class and I think they'll take him here because I think they have a team that'll make his touches count more for something than anybody anything else they could do at this spot.
Speaker 1:Um seven, new York Jets I think they'll take Armand Membu. I think they have their quarterback as of right now that they I don't think I think they're they're punting on the quarterback position and waiting till next year if they necessarily have to take somebody. So, with that being the case, they already have a lot of talented players all throughout that team. But I think offensive line is probably one of their biggest Achilles heels. So I think Membu would definitely be the spot here.
Speaker 1:Pick eight for Carolina, I think Tyler Warren's probably. This one is probably the variation for a lot of other teams. A lot of people have them taking a defensive guy, an edge like Jalen Walker, mikel Williams, another guy like that. But I think, based on what I think they should do that with. Oh no, oh no. This is a bad time to start forgetting names again. I keep doing this with no. Why am I doing this? This sucks their quarterback, bryce Young, as soon as I look it up. That's why I got the name Bryce Young. See, I just have to look it up. That's why I got the name.
Speaker 1:With Bryce Young looking to be their guy for the future, based on how we ended last year, I think they do need to get him some weapons to throw to and I don't think there's a wide receiver necessarily that's good enough to really pick at this spot. So I think getting him a real safety valve in a guy like Tyler Warren would definitely be a huge help for him if they're really going to believe in him to kind of take the next steps to really be their guy long term. So I think that's a good pick. They could go defense, but I just think if they really even if their defense doesn't get any better and they still don't get better when it comes to their actual, their record they have a new coach, they have a new GM. I think they only they have a couple of years of building that they can do. They don't necessarily have to get better right now. So I think helping out Bryce Young is probably the best way to go, and I think Tyler Warren a safety valve for him would definitely be a huge help.
Speaker 1:Next pick, pick nine I think New Orleans takes Jackson Dart. I think he has enough skills and I think they don't really. If this whole thing with oh no, why am I forgetting his name? Now, this sucks, I keep forgetting names If the whole saga with Derek Carr and his shoulder I think it's his non-throwing shoulder too, which is kind of crazy how this is making such a big ruckus. But I think they need to get somebody they really plan for the future with, and I think having a young quarterback is a way to go, especially when they have to take a lot of hits when it comes to their cap situation. I think having a young quarterback is definitely a big way to alleviate that. And I think if they can bring in a young guy, get rid of Derek Carr and just really start this rebuilding process and hope that Derek Jackson dark kind of be their quarterback to lead them to the future, I think that'd be a good way to go.
Speaker 1:Pick 10, I think, for Chicago. I think they're going to take Amari and Hampton. I think they probably would have went Tyler Warren here if he was going to drop to them. But I just think that offensive line they really kind of put a lot of resources into helping that throughout the offseason, throughout the what is it? Throughout free agency. Their defense is already very good. They could go defensive end to kind of help that out because they really don't have a crazy rush, but I think they already have their number one defensive end. So I think having a guy that can really help out that off and they have Ben Johnson as their guy and you know how he likes running the football, so having a guy like Amari and Hampton they can really help out that off and they have ben johnson as their guy and you know how he likes running the football, so having like amari and hanton they can really be their bell cow can definitely be a huge help.
Speaker 1:Um pick 11 san fran. I think they'll go with will johnson. I think they let a lot of guys go on defense, especially in that secondary, and I think having a guy like will johnson come in he plays zone very well. I think that's where he's at his best and Sanford likes playing a lot of zone defense and I think that's a very good pick, even if he's not necessarily going to keep up with a lot of the better receivers. When it's speedier receivers, I think when he's at his best he's looking at the quarterback being able to break on shorter routes, and I think he is probably the best in the draft at that and I think, even if he's not necessarily the fastest, I think he'll be able to make it up for it in other ways. I think they just need a lot of help. So I think this is a good spot and they might go off the line, but I think Will Johnson's a good pick.
Speaker 1:12 Dallas wide receiver Tett McMillan. I just think they need another offensive weapon to be on the other side of CeeDee Lamb. I think CeeDee Lamb's a good number one but with the type of player that he is, he's a little bit smaller, a little bit more of a route guy. He's not necessarily going to beat you big down the field. I think they could go running back if a guy like Omari and Hampton drop to them. But I just think with this draft, with this mock draft, him already being gone, I think that the Wibers they need a weapon on the other side and I don't think the other two guys either being a Mecca or, uh, the other.
Speaker 1:Who's the other wide receiver? Hmm, why am I forgetting that guy? That name? It's the guy out of Texas Dang. It's the guy out of Texas Dang. It's the freaking tight. It's the wide receiver out of Out of Texas. I'm forgetting his name right now. That sucks Golden Matthew Golden Out of Texas. I think he would also be an option for them, but I just think he is a little bit too close to what CeeDee Lamb already is. I think he could be a little bit more of a speedy guy to kind of break the top off. But I just think that Tett McMillan can kind of be the bigger X type of receiver. No, sorry, yeah, he'd be more like the X or the Z. He'd be the X type of guy, kind of free up CeeDee Lamb a little bit. I think he'd be a very good big option to throw to for Dak Prescott in that offense.
Speaker 1:Pick 13,. We got Miami taking off the tackle. Kelvin Banks out of Texas. I think they just need offensive line help so bad and I think they just need to take the best guy on the board. I think Kelvin Banks is probably going to be that guy for them. They need a guy throwing at the offensive tackle spot very badly and I just think that he's just going to be the best guy for the job at the time, especially in this mock draft so far. So 14, indianapolis take defensive end Jalen Walker out of Georgia.
Speaker 1:I just think that, with the fact that their quarterback position is probably going to be a mess this year, getting a weapon for that, why does that necessarily help your team at all? And if you're going to be taking a quarterback next year anyway because of how bad their quarterback situation is now, I just think that adding a guy that can help out their defense that isn't necessarily their strength could probably be a better long-term thing than getting a weapon for a quarterback you don't necessarily believe in because they're going to be going into this year with Richardson. Trent Richardson, no, trent Richardson, it's oh. Why am I reading his name? It's Richardson the quarterback or oh no, oh no. Why am I reading his name? It's Richardson the quarterback or oh no? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why? Indian Daniel Jones, anthony Richardson, or freaking Daniel Jones is your quarterback and they not probably not going to believe in either, really all that much. So getting a tight end weapon for that doesn't necessarily make sense to me and if what I would do probably add to that defense kind of help them out long term and probably wait for quarterback next year.
Speaker 1:16 Arizona I think they're going to take quarterback. They should take cornerback Jada Baron. I think that're going to take quarterback. They should take cornerback Jada Baron. I think that they probably already have enough off. They probably could add a wide receiver at this spot. I just think they already use a top five pick on Marvin Harris last year. I think they probably get another guy later on in the draft in the later rounds that can probably be on the other side of Marv. So I just think that they probably need to take a guy defensively and they already put so much in their front seven. I think adding a guy like Johnny Barron to be at the cornerback position would definitely be a help for them. Cincinnati I think they'll take defenseman Mike L Williams out of Georgia.
Speaker 1:I think whether they have uh, dang, I keep forgetting names. This is awful. Uh, whether they have. Why this sucks? I suck today. Um, it's the. It's the freaking. Oh no, his name is is freaking. It's no, joe, don't do this. Trey hendrickson. See, this is the part where jace would have been definitely been helpful. He would have popped up right away and said you're stupid, why don't you remember names? Um, hendrickson, whether he stays or not, I think that any other guy on defense to really help them out and I think there's not a corner that's like ready to go right now that would be good for them to take. So I think, taking another edge to either be their new number one if Hendrickson ends up leaving or if they end up keeping him, they need a guy on the other side. With Hubbard just now retiring in this offseason, I think that'll be a good pick for them and I think it's just that they need a lot of. They need some guys to get after the passer, even though their secondary is still going to be Cheeks. I just think that at this spot where it makes sense I think defensive end definitely makes sense Michael Williams, the prototypical guy to take.
Speaker 1:Pick 18, seattle. I think they're going to take offensive guard Graves Abel out of North Dakota State. Pick 18 Seattle. I think they're going to take offensive guard Graves Abel out of North Dakota State. They need interior offensive line help and I think he's the best one available at this spot. They could go wide receiver, but I just think with what's available, I think they'll probably, especially with, uh, old boy, um, sam Darnold. He sucks when he has any type of internal pressure, so getting that fixed on this offensive line would definitely be priority numero uno. So I think that's definitely what they need. With Sam Darnold at the helm, Grazier will be definitely a good spot here to take him.
Speaker 1:Tampa Bay pick 19. I say they take defensive end Shamar Stewart. They don't really need a lot offensively and I think defensively they just need to replenish something a little replenish confuse. This is a spot they could take Jihad Campbell, but he's not like, based on his medical that he may not be able to play to start the year. I think they need somebody to kind of come in and be able to play right away. So I think Shamar Stewart, even if he's not he wasn't the most productive at Texas A&M he has all the tools and I think maybe they feel like they can probably build him up into being the number one pass rusher for years to come.
Speaker 1:Pick 20. I'll say have Denver taking tight end Colson Loveland out of Michigan. I think they need another offensive weapon. They already have a few wide receivers already. But you know Sean Payton, he loves to have his big tight end. That could be a huge weapon for them and I think Colson Loveland can be that. I think he's another Travis Kelsey waiting in the wings and I think that they'll be able to use him in a multitude of ways and he's a big body. He knows how to run the route tree for a tight end very well. He needs to get better on his blocking, but I do think that he would be a good versatile piece for that Denver team to be able to use Pick 21,. I think they should go wide receiver at this spot.
Speaker 1:Emek Igbuka I think my dream for Pittsburgh is to trade George Pickens, because they already have a brand new wide receiver coming from, coming from Seattle and um a DK Metcalf. So I think they should trade Pickens, get us hopefully get a second round pick for him. Pick up a Mecca Buka to be a nice compliment to a guy like DK Metcalf and I think that will be a very good and he's a he's a freaking grown man and I think that he will be a leader at the wide receiver position and and I think having too many hotheads in that room is definitely not a great way to go, which is why I think getting rid of Pickens is definitely a good way to handle it, especially if you're not going to pay him after this year he's going to be a free agent anyway. Why not get something for him and pick up a new guy that could do everything for you and be a leader in the locker room on offense for them Pick 22, for you and be a leader in the locker room on offense for them pick 22 la chargers. I think they're going to take derrick harman I don't think there was a defensive end, that's like ready to go and be a guy for them and I think that adding a guy like derrick harman could definitely be a huge help in there for their interior defensive line. They love defense. Old boy harbaugh loves his defensive line boys, so I think this would be a perfect spot, especially if they can't get a guy like Colson Loveless, who already been taken to be a weapon for old boy. Uh oh no, jay Herbo. So I think Harmon just makes sense here at the spot for this mock pick 23. Green Bay with their cornerback position kind of be a little bit murky. With Jair Alexander he's they're trying to trade him currently. So I think, if he's not going to be there long term, having a new guy come in and would be a definitely huge help for them. So I think they will go.
Speaker 1:Maxwell Harrison, the guy out of Kentucky. He had the fastest 40 in the whole draft. Nope, the fastest 40 of all the corners in the draft, because I think the fastest one went to uh, no, he had the fastest 40 of all the corners in the draft because I think the fastest one went to. Uh, no, he had the fastest 40. No, because he was faster than the other wide receiver. So no, he was faster than Golden. So I think he had the fastest 40 in the whole draft. I think he's a very good corner that can kind of either do man or zone, and I think that would be a good spot, especially with them not having a little bit of a number one guy.
Speaker 1:If, if JR Alexander is not going to be there to start the year, next pick 24, minnesota I think they'll take Malachi Sarks out of Georgia. He's not the most talented when it comes to physical tools and he didn't really necessarily have a great year last year with Georgia, but I do think he is the most ready to play right away and even though there's a guy like Nick Emanwuri, the guy out of South Carolina who's very talented in a monster that can be back there at your safety position, he needs more polishing and I just think that the I think Minnesota believes that they can have a. They have a team that can really go far in the playoffs and do some things right away. So having a guy that can play right away would definitely be a huge help for them and I think Malachi Starks is a guy that is much closer to being able to be that guy to play right away and play some good ball, even if he's not necessarily the biggest, fastest and strongest at that position. So pick 25, I'll have them.
Speaker 1:Taking offensive guard Tyler Booker out of Alabama, I think CJ Stroud, even with them getting rid of both their tackles, I think that what probably gets to Stroud more is interior pressure. I think he can handle outside pressure. He can kind of get around that and kind of step up in the pocket and make some moves and get the ball out quick. But I think interior pressure is what probably gets to him more. So I think if they can probably share that up with a guy like Tyler Booker would definitely be a huge help, and I think Tyler Booker is one of the guys that everybody talks about in the draft stuff. When he's a grown man and he knows what he's doing and he's a culture setter, he would definitely be a huge help for this team that just needs a guy to protect CJ Stroud, to be that guy up the middle and if they can sure that up a little bit, I think he can manage any type of pressure from the outside. I just think interior pressure is definitely a huge hindrance for what CJ wants to do and I think Tyler Booker would be a huge fix for that.
Speaker 1:Pick 26, la Rams. I think they'll take Jihad Campbell, the linebacker from Alabama, the linebacker from Alabama. I think that Jihad may not be able to play right away to start the year, but I just think, with what that team is, they need talented defensive guys and they already had defensive ends they could go tackle, but I just think he is the most talented guy on the table on the board and I think that they need a guy that would be able to be an off-the-ball linebacker. I just think that they need a guy that be able to be off off the ball linebacker. I just think that he would be a perfect fit, even if they have to wait for him a little bit to get healthy, coming off of his shoulder injury. I think there'll be a very good pick for the LA Rams at pick 26.
Speaker 1:Pick 27 I think Baltimore needs some offensive guard help to kind of help them out when it comes to keeping that pressure away from from Jackson, and I think Donovan Donovan Jackson would be a great pick because he can play guard, he can play a little tackle for you if you need to. He can kind of go all around the line and play some good ball. He's a grown man, he does what he needs to do, he's a competitor and I think Baltimore loves guys like this. And I think Donovan Jackson, coming out of Ohio State being a national champion, kind of bleeds that type of championship mentality and I think Baltimore always ends up with guys like this that are just perfect fits for that team and I think Donovan Jackson would be a great pick for them. Pick 28, detroit.
Speaker 1:I think they need a guy to be on the other side of oh no, oh no, no, the other side of uh, oh no, oh no, no, no, no, no, no, I'm forgetting your name again. This sucks. Um, let's see here Eight Hutchinson coming off of his injury with with the broken leg. I do think they need another guy to be on the other side of him to help out their pass rush. And I just think taking the best defensive end on the board, especially with this model, with them not being able to trade up or down or anything, would be the best option. So with that, I think they'll take Donovan Azaraku, the defensive end, out of Boston College Very productive in college, very good. I think they know what they're doing and, again, they don't need a guy to be their number one defensive end. They already have that in Aiden Hutchinson. I think adding a guy like Ezeraku on the other side would definitely make a huge dent on their defense, being able to have a guy to get after the passer Pick 29.
Speaker 1:I think, washington, one of their biggest weaknesses was their secondary and I think getting a cornerback, trey Amos, out of Ole Miss, would definitely be a huge pickup for them. He's a very talented guy. He's long, he can run. I think he'll be able to do a lot of good stuff and I think Washington just definitely needs help at that cornerback position. They already have offensive guys. Again, they could pick a wide receiver here because their wide receivers both Scary Terry and Debo, who they just picked up in a trade, are both free agents after this year. They could go that way. But I just think if they want to try to win a championship now, I think adding a guy at the cornerback position to kind of help their passing defense would definitely be a huge help.
Speaker 1:Pick 30, buffalo I think they'll take Walter Nolan, the defensive lineman, out of Ole Miss. They could go edge here, they could go wide receiver here. But I just think that having a guy that can kind of sure up the middle of their defense they picked up a guy like Nick Bosa, I do think will make their defense so much more scary to deal with. Kind of be able to run against a guy like that would definitely be crazy and I think he will be able to get after the passer enough to make some hay and make quarterbacks really scared of that defensive line with the other additions they have made. So I think Walter Nolan would be a good spot here, even though they could go wide receiver to help out old boy Josh Allen. So I don't know, I think Walter Nolan is a good pick here.
Speaker 1:Pick 31, kansas City, coming off of their very, very, very, very bad offensive line performance in the Super Bowl, I think this would be a great spot. Even though they added defense offensive tackles, they added the one guy out of uh this, this backup from San Fran, to be their left tackle. I think adding another tackle definitely huge help and I think Josh Simmons, even if he may not be able to play right away, will be a great option for them long term to be the guy for years to come to be able to protect Patrick Mahomes at either left or right tackle, and I think at left tackle he'll be very good. I think he's probably the most talented tackle in this whole draft. But it's just with the injury issues and apparently there's some type of maturity stuff that the teams are talking about. But I just think, if he falls this far, I think Kansas City taking a talented tackle like him will be a great, great pickup. And then pick 32. Last but not least, philly coming off of their Super Bowl win. What do they like taking more than anything? Defensive lineman and offensive lineman, but I just think with all the defense live that have been taken already. I don't think they're really going to reach for a guy that maybe be taken around too.
Speaker 1:I think taking the biggest freak athlete left on the board would be something that Philadelphia Eagles will probably do, and being able to have a guy like Nick Emanwuri, the safety out of South Carolina, who is the biggest, fastest and strongest guy he was a freaking marvel coming out of the combine because of how big he is and how fast he is. He's like a faster version of uh, why am I forgetting the safety's name from the bangles? I mean, no, sorry, I know the bangles, the ravens um, I'm gonna feel stupid. As soon as I figure out the name kyle hamilton, he's the bigger he's like. Just as soon as I figure out the name Kyle Hamilton, he's just as big as Kyle Hamilton but he's faster. And he may not be ready to go right away. But I think, with what the Eagles like to do, they just like to take the biggest, freakiest athletes possible and put that on that team and they have a hole at the other safety position. So I do think he'd be a huge pickup.
Speaker 1:Even though they could go cornerback here, they could go defensive line, I just think there's not really somebody that's going to be ready to go right here at this spot in this draft, in this mock draft that I'm doing. So I just think they'll take the biggest freak possible. I think Nick Emanwuri definitely fits that. So that's my whole mock draft, from pick one to pick 32, no trades. Obviously I'll be plenty wrong and have plenty of wrong picks, but I just think that it was a very fun whole, whole process to kind of do this and I think I had a lot of fun doing it.
Speaker 1:And if you listen to me ramble on this long, so hopefully you enjoyed um, listen to me ramble on about the draft and have as you're as excited as I am about it. So I'm just I'm very excited about this. Can't wait for it to come up on in about a little bit less than seven days now. Very excited, hope you guys are too. And that's about all I got, so I'll go ahead and do the outro here.
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