Episode 18: MOCK NFL DRAFT!

MOCK DRAFT! 

WELCOME BACK TO YOUR HOME FOR THE OFF-SEASON!

We go pick by pick through the first round, break down players, team needs, and discuss all things NFL Draft 2026.

Like, rate, subscribe, and comment. Let us know what you want your team to do, let us know who you think should go second, and tell us what picks we totally effed up. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back to Sideline Shenanigans. It is our mock giraffeon. Welcome.

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Almost back into the NFL, baby. Draft is coming up. It is sneaking up on us. I'm excited though. I feel like the draft is the last. That's when the new season really starts to me. It's okay. Like, here we go. The pieces are in place.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Yeah, I agree. I don't really buy league year rules. I think the real league year starts after this draft. And this is, of course, another wonky draft, which I'm just gonna keep blaming NIL on. Um you'll notice uh the screen says Emma's Mach 2.0, which by the way, if you're a listener, go check us out on YouTube. This is the episode to watch the YouTube. We got our picks up on the screen. Um this is gonna be Emma's Mock 2.0, because I did a draft before this to sort of get a bearing of things, and now I've gone back and made some edits. Uh so only Cole, only Cole got to see 1.0. You guys don't get to see 1.0.

SPEAKER_02 1:01

I didn't even look at it.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

Yeah, he didn't look at it, so don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Um skimmed it. I skimmed it.

SPEAKER_00 1:07

One thing I'm gonna say before we get into the mock is this draft, you're gonna hear a lot of the same thing over and over again. Production versus traits, right? A lot of prospects have really good production but not the best traits, like a Ruben Bain. Or a lot of prospects have really good traits but haven't necessarily had the starts or the production like a Munro Freeling. So that's something you're gonna hear in discussion a lot. Also, there's a lot of injuries riddled with our top guys in this draft. And uh I'm gonna talk a lot about fit and coaches because I think that makes the difference. Totally. Uh let's get into it. Uh, who do you think the number one pick is?

SPEAKER_02 1:46

Tough call.

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Tough call. Hi Simpson. Aw, okay, Orlovsky. So I put my picks one through ten up on the screen. Let's just roll through the top five with a couple surprises in there. I feel really good, by the way, that these are gonna be the first ten guys off the board. Not sure about the order, though. So, I got Raiders taking Fernando Mendoza at one. Not much to say about this. He's the clear number one pick. He's accurate, he's big, he's tough, high character. Um, he's got mobility questions and maybe arm strength questions, but to me, he's a great pocket passer, clear number one pick. So we're probably gonna spend a lot of time talking about two. You're gonna hear the Arville Reese versus David Bailey debate. And I'm of the belief whoever doesn't go to the Jets at two is going to fall out of the top five, or our team's gonna trade up for them. I had the Jets taking Arvell Reese. To be clear, this is not the choice I would make, but Aaron Glenn, he believes in highly versatile multi-front systems. That's a direct quote from him. This is why I think he's gonna go with Reese, because he could do a 3-4 or a 4-3, mix it up, do different looks. Um, you know, Reese, he's a multi-tool player, he's got a really high ceiling. We're not so sure about the floor. Uh, Cardinals at three, I have taking Francis Mayoa. Um, offensive tackle. He is a right tackle. I don't think the Cardinals are gonna go defense. I think their clearest need is a right tackle. He's the best tackle in this draft by a long shot, but he just happens to be a right tackle. That is a pick I feel pretty sold on. Titans at four take Jeremiah Love. Uh Salah saw what CMC did for Brock Purdy. Now, you know, he's a defensive minding coach. It's hard if David Bailey's on the board to not think that he'll take David Bailey, but look at what he did with the 49ers this year with me and you out there on defense, right? His scheme is superior. Um, I think that he knows his success is tied directly to Cam Ward's success. So let's go and get, you know, the best friend a quarterback can have, which is a strong run game. So the defense, you know, respects the running back, which is something we talked a lot about with the Chiefs. Um, Giants at five, Sonny Styles. Now I was going back and forth between Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles here, thinking about the history Harbaugh has with strong safeties, but Sonny Styles is probably the best player in this draft. Uh, I think he's a Harbaugh player. He's tough, he hits hard, he has a high IQ on the field. It it feels like a John Harbaugh fit. So those are my top five. What are you thinking?

SPEAKER_02 4:16

I like it. I think if I'm the Jets, I'll start there. I would prefer. So I guess you look at Arvo Reese, and his upside is that he doesn't play one position, really, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

From my understanding.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Which is great. I just do think, like, I would rather get a pure edge, which is much more what David Bailey is, right? Like, that just feels like the value of a number two overall pick is like best edge in the draft, maybe. Like, that's kind of what I want to be getting there. I do think linebacker is so much easier to find in free agency, or like I mean, you look at it all the time where you can just pick up an amazing linebacker and it's like, wait, what? That guy was even available? I feel like it's happened kind of every offseason at this point. Some major linebacker goes. Whereas Edge is a little different.

SPEAKER_00 5:02

Oh, and edge is a bag. If you can get an edge in the top ten, you're saving money.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Exactly. I do think if you b if they believe Arville Reese is the best player in the draft, that's fine. Go get him. He won't be. I mean, it'll the Jets are gonna be irrelevant either way, so I'll move on from them. Cardinals, I like taking the right tackle. I think that's a great fit. I think teams that aren't quite there yet, I think don't overthink it. Like, build your line early. That's like I always love that pick. And almost always, like, I think some people are split if like Will Campbell was a hit or not, but like I saw a redraft the other day and like he moved from four to seventh, and that like if he was to be redraft, like the value is just still so superior that any other player you can get. So I love going tackle. I think where I really differ from you is the value of Jeremiah Love at four for me just does not exist. I think that was a would be a big miss. If David Bailey is on the board, you're the Titans, like, go get him. I think an amazing edge can be a better friend to a quarterback than a running back at times. Like, get the ball back in Cam Ward's hands and have some stops, play with the football. Maybe don't, you know, be playing down every single game. I think building that defense with a defensive-minded head coach is just such a stronger. I mean, we talk about all the time. Like, you can go sign a Super Bowl MVP running back if you want to for $14 million. Yeah, that's like no money. Pretty easy. You can't go find that edge. So I think that would be a massive mistake if they go Jeremiah that early. I think the Ashton Genty situation should show, like, uh, running back shouldn't go top ten. I don't care how good you are. It just doesn't really make sense.

SPEAKER_00 6:43

I agree. I when when people were mocking love to us, I was not excited. Um, I think if he doesn't go four or seven, he falls out of the top ten. I just think the who is the Titans' best offensive player? Jeremiah loves a running back, he's a pass catcher, you know, he is gonna become a focal point of that offense, and I just I think the Titans just need a playmaker, period. I don't know if I would take a running back at four, but it does feel like Cam Ward needs like a best friend out there almost.

SPEAKER_02 7:14

Yeah, I don't disagree. I want them to have a playmaker too. I just don't know if running back with this pick is the right choice. I would flip, I think we'll get there, but I would flip, yeah, the commanders and the Titans picks. I can absolutely see the commanders taking Jeremiah Love. And I like him more at seven. It's still that Ashton Genty territory, but like, if the best edge isn't on the board for the commanders, I feel much less bad about, you know, rolling the dice on a weapon.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

Oh, 100%. I also think. Yeah, it it is tough when you look at when you think about the contract factor, but I do think Jeremiah Love is better than Genty. I think he's the best prospect since Gibbs. The one thing I'll say before we get out of the top five is going back to the Jets. I labeled R. Vel Reese a linebacker. I view him as more of a linebacker. He is he declares himself an edge in a linebacker. And if you look at his um breakdown of snaps, he played almost 50-50 this past year, but prior to that was mainly a linebacker.

SPEAKER_02 8:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

I just think look at what's going on with um Travis Hunter right now. We're enjoying the sirens, guys. We live in New York. Don't worry, it's it's it's it's heating up in drafts. Yeah. The pick is in. Um, I think look at Travis Hunter. It's hard to be a jack of all trades and a master of none in the NFL. That's my concern about Arvell Reese. Again, I really, for me, I wouldn't go Arvell Reese at two. It came down to the coach and the things he said. Totally. Okay, let's go through six through ten. Now, there's a lot of discussion about who the second best tackle in this draft is. If you ask Field Yates, who I think is probably a top mock drafter right now, he's gonna say Munro Freeling. Maybe I'm biased because he's a Georgia Bulldog. Um, I have him at six. I don't know if he's the best, I don't know if he's the second best tackle in this draft right now, but I think he has a possibility to be the best tackle in this draft, if that makes sense. You know, he doesn't have a lot of starts, you know. Georgia has a deep depth. He just got the left tackle start essentially about a year and a half ago. Um, he's really raw, but he is the only true left tackle of those top four guys. You know, you might want to go Fano. Um, now I'm blanking on the other guy's name, but you got Fano and Keaton Proctor. So those those three guys are kind of in the discussion of who the second best tackle is. Freeling's the only true left tackle. The Browns need a left tackle. They're not trying to win this year, I don't think. I got the Browns focusing on offense this first round, trying to setting Shador up for success. So I have David Bailey then falling to seven, as you can see, to the commanders. I mean, if the board fell this way, I think the commanders would be a static. I do think if the board falls this way, some the Browns will be getting calls. Because the Browns can get a tackle a few picks later. They need picks right now, they need stock. I didn't want to do trades in my mock. If the board falls this way, I will be freaking out, for example, if the Chiefs aren't dealing with the Browns. Um that's a team that needs to think about that. The Bengals should be thinking about that. Really, anyone in that 9 to 15 range could should be making calls to the Browns. Um, I got the Saints taking Carnell Tate. I really like Tate. Um, before Rashi was stated that there's gonna be no punishment, I was hoping we would take Tate. If he's still there at eight, I feel like that's a great deal. I think he's the best wide receiver in this draft, and I don't even think it's close. Um he's also the only wide receiver that's not like riddled with injuries out of the top three. Um Chiefs take Ruben Bain Jr., which I know that you'll probably get a talk about that, but I got mixed feelings about it. I don't like the short arms, but the tape is just the production's just insane. I uh if it wasn't for the short arms, he'd be the second best player in this draft. Um Bengals take Caleb Downs. They signed a safety from my Chiefs, but who they signed, um let me pull his name. They signed Brian Cook. He's not a great safety, to be honest. And Caleb Downs can do so much. The Bengals just need the best defender they can get.

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Totally. Yeah, I mean, that looks great. I love the Browns trading out of that spot. I think they traded I don't remember that Yeah, they made some mistakes, and now they they do need those picks. So I do like that. Um I think they went defense with their first pick, number five, the classic. Mason Graham. Mason Graham, that's right. So yeah, I absolutely agree. I think they'll totally go offense, but I like them going offense but trading back. No need to take that tackle up front. I do agree with you there. Um and you know, every year we hear the same stories, but I've heard this is gonna be a big trading draft. I've heard that too. I've heard that.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

I hope so. I hope we're trading up.

SPEAKER_02 11:53

Me too. I love it. Um, it's so funny because you hear that it's a bad draft and you no one knows anything, but then everyone wants to trade up in it. Ooh, yeah. So my take with the draft in general is just like, hey, every year it's a crapshoot. There's never a great draft. We've never had an amazing draft. Maybe the three quarterbacks, but like, even still, you just never know. Um, Commanders, obviously, I totally agree. If David Bailey's on the board there, it does feel unlikely. I feel like David Bailey's hype is growing. I've recently I don't know much about college football as you know, but like I've been hearing David Bailey's name a lot recently.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:32

Um, so that would be kind of a gift for them. I kind of highly doubt it, but we'll see. Um, the Saint Saint Colonel Tate, I love. I mean, Chuck is maybe the best quarterback from that last draft. Like, get him a real weapon um and see what happens. The Chiefs, I don't really f disagree. I think, kind of in terms of value, it does make sense to go edge first. I just think like it's tough when you have such a big need. I think their secondary is just the biggest need by far. It's why I am just down on them. Like, I don't think you just sell your secondary and like recover without like majorly addressing it. I would like them to go Caleb Downs. If Caleb Downs is on the board, I feel like that's like somebody you can just anchor your secondary to and be like, okay, we chillin'. I think it doesn't feel very sexy because it's like, oh, we traded away our amazing thing and then we replaced it with our first round pick, our first overall. It's kind of like a wash, which I think wouldn't get the fans excited. Um, so I do get going edge there and maybe addressing it later in the draft with that second first round pick. But I would be feeling the most scared of the Chiefs if they leave that nine with Caleb Downs, I think. Unless you guys were to somehow trade up and get David Bailey.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

I just think the value isn't there. Like when you look at the contracts. I mean, my my whole thing is we should get a pass rusher at nine and get a corner at 29. And this is actually a pretty deep safety class. After Caleb Downs, the fall-off is huge. The safeties we could get in the first and second round could almost be sim later in the first round, could be similar to like a third or fourth round safety, and we have a few fourth round picks. I just think when you look at the like you could get really good Pro Bowl safeties in the fourth round. That's pretty much historically how it's been. It's just not a super valued position. I'll be shocked. I mean, I think if Caleb Downs is on the board, like we consider it. I do think that I think we leave the top ten with an edge, and if the board falls this way, we're a strong candidate to trade up with the Browns.

SPEAKER_02 14:38

Yeah. Totally. I agree. I think value-wise, it definitely makes sense to go edge. I just think you're playing a scary game. With all of a sudden you do get to week eight, and it's like secondary sucks. Winning games is really hard, and like we're really like, we're getting pressure, but it kind of doesn't matter. You know what I mean? Like, that's to me, that was like the Browns with Miles Garrett. Five sacks a game, losing every game by double digits. Like, I don't know. That would just be.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

Well, I mean, I think we can both the Green Mahomes and the offense are better than Shador and company. I do think Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, I do think that part of our problem is we can't generate a rush unless we send six. Like, fuck five. We really can't generate a rush unless we send six. Which, even when we have great corners, that leaves them out to dry, basically, because you're gonna get separation after that many seconds.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

That's true. I see that point. Like, yeah, fixing your secondary so you can actually get pressure first.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

But I'd rather have a C secondary and an A plus line if I had to pick one.

SPEAKER_02 15:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

Like a middle of the road.

SPEAKER_02 15:37

I would usually agree. I just feel like when you have such a big need and there's such a great player who fits that need, and he's maybe going to pick after yours.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

Oh, we didn't even talk yet. We didn't even talk about this. I texted you this last night though. We Alohi Gilman, the safety who we signed, he is he's a he's a stud. Like he was a two-time defense player of the week last year. I like him a lot. To me, because of that signing, the safety is not as big of a need as pass rush or corner. I think we have to leave the first round with an edge and a corner.

SPEAKER_02 16:09

Yeah, I I agree. Corner is important. I just want, I mean, you guys really like have no continuity in like it when a bunch of new pieces are coming together, it's nice to have like a really good player, a star that can like, like I said before, anchor that unit. I mean, I think I agree. I mean, a great edge would be, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

I think Gruben Bane is a stud. Again, I'm not the the arms make me nervous, but I hope that sp like sometimes arm length with edge is a little dependent on scheme. I don't think spags would put him in a position where like length is gonna be the main priority. He's gonna become more that speed dip rusher.

SPEAKER_02 16:47

Yeah, I'm not worried about the arms at all, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00 16:50

I mean, I think he I think Ruben Bain, David Bailey, Sonny Styles, Arvel Reese, Caleb Downs, one of those five guys is gonna be defensive rookie of the year. And that's what I want out of our ninth pick. Someone who is just Totally.

SPEAKER_02 17:02

Now, here's a question for you. You guys don't trade up. David Bailey's gone, Ruben Bain is gone, and Arville Reese is gone. Who are you picking?

SPEAKER_00 17:11

In that scenario, are you saying Sonny Styles is on the board?

SPEAKER_02 17:16

No, let's say Jeremiah Love fell, Carnell Tate fell. Oh, then I was people are going defense, which I think is possible.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

Tate or Downs then. Tate or Downs. Depending on what the plan is in the building, Tate or Downs.

SPEAKER_02 17:29

Yeah. I don't hate Tate either. It's a long summer. I don't know who's babysitting Rashi, but.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

Yeah, literally. Also, I think he's achieved this year because of the rookie contract, but he went on a live stream saying he wants JSN money. No way in hell is Andy Reid giving him JSN money. Um, so I would be okay with Carnell Tate. Again, I think that safety free agency doesn't get a lot of press, but I look through all our free agents, I feel fine with who our starting safety is. I think we need to add another safety, and we need to add probably one or two corners. Um, but to me, the safety value would probably be a mid-round pick, and the corner value is probably gonna be 29 or 40. We'll talk about the corners actually in a second. Yeah. But I think the corners, the third and fourth best corner, are really close to the first and second best corner, whereas the next group of edges is quite far from Bailey and Bane. Yeah, that makes sense. So. But yeah, no, those that's all good points. Um, as we talk about corners, we have two flying off the board right away. Probably the only two teams that have a bigger secondary need than the Chiefs. Um, we got the Dolphins taking Monsorda Lane, cornerback out of LSU. I mean, I trust an LSU quarterback, SEC guy. His comp is Quinyon Mitchell, which is awesome. He's a great tackler, but he can draw some flags, which I don't really care. Cowboys, Gerard, Jerm McCoy. Um, some people have him ranked higher than Monsor Delaine. You know, he probably would have been a top 10 pick if it wasn't for his ACL tear. So again, these are the traits in the prior production, but not necessarily production from this year. I say he's got I look at him as like a high IQ confident player, you know, really great team guy, awesome pick for the Cowboys if they go like this. Um, the Rams, this is a tough pick because this isn't their pick, so it probably feels like free money to them. The last time they picked in the top, the last time they picked in the first round, they got Jared Verse, who's maybe one of the best defenders in the league. I have the Rams taking Jordan Tyson. I don't know if Puka's on the team eventually. I think his shenanigans are too much. Jordan Tyson is a bit of a risk, you know. He missed time. You're not gonna like this. Knee in 2022, collarbone in 2024, hamstring 2025. But the Rams are kind of loaded up right now. They can take a gamble. It's that versatility that makes me think McVago's him over Makai Lemon. He can truly play the X, the slot, great contested catch guy. Again, my only concern with Jordan Tyson is injuries. Uh, we'll do a couple more then takes them pause. Ravens, I'm gonna butcher this. Oli via Vega. Oh, I didn't. Ali via Vega, offensive guard. Um, I wanted to go D-line here, but again, the guard drop there there's the deep guard class, but he sort of is a tier of his own, which it makes me feel like they go guard first and address D-line later, especially with that Trey Hendrickson signing. Um, you know, I like him. He's a run blocker. Got Derrick Henry, got the Bucks taking Aki Mesador. This is one of the only picks that seems consistent across all mock drafts. Most people have the Bucks taking Mesador as an edge. He is not, I I do not think he's the third or fourth best edge in this class. Let's say third and put Arvell Reese in a category of his own. I don't think he's the third best edge in this class. This is why. He's 25 years old. He had a serious foot injury in 2023, he chases big plays. His upsides, though, is he's has a lot of experience, he's a good run stopper, he's got great measurables. So it's one of those things that I don't know if the ceiling's there, though. I don't love drafting a 25-year-old in the top 15. And uh we'll end this little section with the Jets taking Ty Simpson. Jacob, if you are watching, I'm sorry. It's just it's gonna happen. They're gonna take Ty Simpson. If they don't take him, someone's gonna trade back up around this time to take him. I do not think he's a first rounder. Um, I wrote down classic Bama, Mac Jones comp. He's a smaller version of Daniel Jones. The only reason his stock is up is because he played good against Georgia, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt in a three week stretch, and then finished the last six the last part of the season with a 50% completion rate. And I will say my biggest critique of Ty Simpson is I don't I don't think I've seen him make any layered throws. He can do that moonball or short check downs, but those more intermediate, advanced routes. Those aren't necessarily in his arsenal right now. Um, what do you think of those next six?

SPEAKER_02 22:05

Interesting. I got a few things.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:08

This it just it brings me back to like I almost am like, what are the uh no one's talked about it. Like, what if the Chiefs traded back three picks? Two picks, got one of these corners, and another third rounder or something like that. I mean the fact that three secondary players are gonna go right after the Chiefs pick makes me just be like, they need to take a corner or something. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

I I think the next two corners are really close to these two corners, but the edges are not also.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

Okay, yeah, like what's what makes well yeah, well, why'd you put these two this cloth this close to the top of the city?

SPEAKER_00 22:43

Just because a team team need. I mean, Dolphins have the biggest secondary need in the league, Cowboys have the second, probably. I mean, we play fantasy football. If you're core if you would pick up a quarterback on the waiver wire who's playing one of those two teams, um just for a flyer. I I don't know if they're gonna go like this. I think both these teams need a ton of things. I think secondary is an obvious thing. I could see the Cowboys going D-line here and then corner the next pick. Again, I think the corners are all pretty close together. I there's a lot of people then have the third corner coming into this section as well. Like, yeah. They're all close together. I don't hate if the Chiefs do that if that second O-lineman doesn't go, and then the board falls in a way where basically every player we've talked about is off, and then we trade back, take a corner there, figure out edge with the next pick. But you gotta see how the board is gonna be.

SPEAKER_02 23:38

Um, Rams, this is the biggest one I want to talk about. Like, why the fuck do the Rams need a wide receiver? What are we talking about? Like, they have the best receiver room in the league, I would argue. It's like they they finally have a good draft. Like, there is no world where I see them taking a receiver. And if they do, that's just like okay.

SPEAKER_00 23:57

Like, I mean, I think the Puka stuff is crazy, and Sean McVay runs that room. He wants toys.

SPEAKER_02 24:04

Yeah, they need they have some flaws though on that team, and receiver ain't one of them. Like, that's the best, that is the best position group on that team is the receivers. And I think Puka's gonna be fine. I mean, I don't I know long term maybe not, but like he's gonna be there this year. Now is not the time to address receiver with the pool.

SPEAKER_00 24:23

I think it's I think it's a luxury pick, but I think the Rams think that they they added their two corners and they're good. Like, I think they look at it as a luxury pick. I've seen some people get Sadiq there.

SPEAKER_02 24:32

Yes, I would that's what I was gonna say. I much prefer like a big boy tight end going to them. Because at least it's different than a receiver. Like, you got your receivers. Um, I don't know. I could I would like Sadiq there a lot more. I would be scared if the Rams were like, oh man, they get to add Sadiq. Like, that just doesn't feel fair because they were so good last year. I really don't see them going wide receiver. That feels like a wasted pick to me. I would rather them trade it than go wide receiver. Like, I just don't see that person really contributing at a high level this year in that room to make that pick worth it. Much rather just go get some depth on defense or something. Like, the offense is gonna be fine if Stafford can make it through the season. Like, that's all you're literally. It's like if he stays healthy, you're gonna be fine. You're gonna score a lot of points, it's gonna be great. But I mean, yeah. Or if he gets hurt, what's the point of having a receiver anyway? You know what I mean? So I don't know. I just see defense or Sadiq for the Rams. Um, Ravens, I agree. You made that blockbuster trade. Protect, you lost their they lost their center. What's his name? He was really good. Linderbaum.

SPEAKER_00 25:37

Yeah. They'll probably move a guard. Great run blocker.

SPEAKER_02 25:40

Yeah, exactly. Like, yeah. I like building that lineup. You got Henry still. He's got hopefully a little gas left in the tank, so open up some lanes for him and Lamar. I like that a lot. Bucks, uh, Bucks feel like they're just falling off. So I feel like they're slipping back into that irrelevant territory. We're like, I don't really care what they do. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

So why not just take an edge?

SPEAKER_02 26:02

It's like Yeah, take an edge, okay. Um and the Jets actually like taking Ty Simpson a lot.

SPEAKER_00 26:07

I think No point building your team if you don't have a quarterback.

SPEAKER_02 26:10

Exactly. God, if he could if he was good and you have your quarterback figured out going into next year's draft when quarterbacks are allegedly gonna be a lot hotter, and there's gonna be, you know. Allegedly. Yeah, exactly. Like a want for them, and you can have some flexibility in that draft and not be stuck trying to draft another quarterback yet again. I like it. I get it's risky. It's tough with a quarterback, but I do feel like quarterbacks take it inside the top five, are just as risky as Ty Simpson, and like don't pan out all the time. So this is actually a pretty, like, kind of like you said, house money pick. You got the Colts pick. Yeah, you've already taken a stud defender with your second pick. Roll the dice. I like it a lot. Exactly. I think it's a no-brainer for them. I'd be shocked if they do anything else.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

Oh, I like everything you just said. We'll talk about that. We'll talk about Sadiq in a second. You said you want a big boy tight end who uh is doing this other things. In my mind, Sadiq's stock has risen too much. That is not a big boy tight end, that's a receiving tight end. That's basically it's basically a worse version of Travis Kelsey, in my opinion. I don't know, he's not gonna be doing much size-wise and blocking-wise, but we can get to that. Uh, we'll speed through these next few lions. I have them taking Caden Proctor, opposed to Spencer Farner. The reason I did this is Fokter just Proctor just feels Campbell to me. His biggest trait is that he's big and tough. He's a downhill blocker. His there's some notes about inconsistent mechanics, but big and tough just feels like Campbell. Another pick here at the Vikings where every mock seems to be aligned. Got uh Vikings taking Dylan Thymon. Safety, uh, probably the second best safety in this class. You know, their their front's really good. They need to share up that secondary. I almost went wide receiver here, though. Um, because you know, so I forget he left the team, this number two. Anyway, Panthers take Kenyon Sadiq. I think the Panthers got a great defense. Their success is all about Bryce right now. Get him, you know, a playmaker, big catch radius. He might not be much for the line in that form of being a tight end, but he he's a playmaker, big guy, tight end. Um, not big like a linebacker, but good size for tight end. Uh, Cowboys. I really wanted to go Peter Woods here and go D-line, but Peter Woods is pretty inconsistent on the run, and I'm gonna listen to Jerry. Jerry says he's cares about stopping the run. CJ Allen, he's a Georgia Bulldog, high floor player, high IQ. This might be a little bit of a reach, but after Arvell Reese, he's clearly the next best linebacker, just a high floor player, which is what the Cowboys need. I got the Steelers going Keldrick Falk out of Auburn. This is my favorite non-top edge in the draft. You know, I thought, oh, McCarthy's there, maybe they don't go defense, but it's just such a clear need. Their defense is getting old. You know, he's versatile, he's high character. All the cons are more that like he lacks hand discipline, he can overrun the pocket, just traits, he's young, he seems like a pure pass rusher, and you got your g get yourself a pure pass rusher when you play Burrow and Lamar twice a year.

SPEAKER_02 29:22

Yeah. I like it. I would argue, isn't TJ Watt pretty good? Pure pass rusher. How old is he? I mean, I guess. I kind of feel the same, like. I don't know. Everybody, I guess, needs a pure edge rusher, but like that's part of the reason with the Chiefs. It's like if you're still paying Chris Jones, like, that's your pure edge rusher, go get a cornerback. Same thing, Steelers. You're paying TJ Watt a boatload of money still. I get it, he's aging, but like you've got other needs. So you gotta let your superstar kind of take that role. And if they can't do it anymore, you shouldn't be paying them. Like, that's kind of the bottom line for me. Like, oh, if you don't think that person is producing, why are they like one of your highest paid players on the team? Especially with TJ Watt. I think TJ Watt is great.

SPEAKER_00 30:04

Their whole D-line is old.

SPEAKER_02 30:06

Yeah. That's true. Steelers' defense just always feels the best, like, part of that team to me. I don't know. Steelers are tough because I just don't know who their quarterback is gonna be. Are we still with Rogers? Is that the plan? Is it when is that gonna be announced? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:23

They could go O-line here. I was looking at that, but the value for guard didn't feel like it was there right now.

SPEAKER_02 30:29

Yeah. And it is tough because if Rogers is your quarterback, I just don't there's no piece that puts you over the edge. You're a first-round exit with Rogers. Kind of no matter who you play, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

Like, well, that's how I feel about the Bucks too. Just go get yourself a good edge.

SPEAKER_02 30:47

Yeah. But yeah, that's true, I guess. Yeah. Maybe there is nothing on offense you can even do. So just when in doubt, go get an edge. Yeah. Well, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

They got t they got a million tight ends. Now they got two wide receivers. Again, the O-line needs help, but the value didn't feel like it was there right now for guard. I don't see him taking a tackle right away.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

Like it's- This could be a um, honestly, depending on who falls. Like if Sadiq were to fall here or something, I could see the Steelers moving out of this pick.

SPEAKER_00 31:12

Yeah, I think they're a good trade candidate. I also think the Rams could be a good trade down candidate.

SPEAKER_02 31:18

I also think I've heard uh was a while ago, but rumored, like you said, CJ Allen, a bit of a reach. I've heard the Cowboys talking about moving down.

SPEAKER_00 31:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:27

So I do think like there will be a trade in these picks, maybe between the Vikings and the Steelers. Yeah, exactly. Like around this 20 area, like that one player who fell.

SPEAKER_00 31:38

I could also see the Vikings trading back for sure, because there's a few like they could go get the other safety if they wanted, you know.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

So totally. I agree with you.

SPEAKER_00 31:48

Um, I know that you like Sadiq, you're high on Sadiq. You think he's good for your boy Bryce?

SPEAKER_02 31:53

Yeah, I think Sadiq will be great wherever he goes. Like, just a nice weapon. I agree he's getting a little more hyped now, but it's so much different. It's really not like think about the Kyle Pitts hype and some stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 32:08

Oh, it's not like that. It's not like that.

SPEAKER_02 32:09

Right, like the pressure's not gonna be actually that insane. Like, he's gonna be a mid to late first round tight end. Like, I could see him really stepping up and having a great rookie season with the expectations not being. I mean, I think he's gonna go lower than like Colston Lovelin went and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 32:24

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:24

I always like his value for how good I think he is. He hasn't quite reached that, like, he should be a top ten guy, or like, you know what I mean? Which never know until a week away.

SPEAKER_00 32:35

I've seen a few comps that's like Kyle Pitts is his cop, which is just like, ooh. Um again, like, the only tight end who like I'm not gonna give so much shit to for not being great in the blocking game is Travis Kelsey because he was just like that generational as a pass catcher, but like that's like a one in a billion player, you know? Like, I think Colston Loveling could be turning into that. He's more of a pure pass catcher, but I think I don't I don't know. I think Sadiq to me is more of a late first round pick, like post-20. I mean, which is is pretty close to 20, but I do think he's getting a little overhyped. I also think the gap between him and Eli Stowers is way closer than people think, and Stowers is probably gonna go in the second round, who is a bigger tight end, he can do the blocking stuff. I yeah, I don't know. I think Sadiq's gotten a little overhyped.

SPEAKER_02 33:23

That's fair. I do think there is a like the position's changing a little bit kind of more towards that. Oh, yeah, more towards the city. Exactly, where like you don't have to block as much, but there also I do think is kind of that's part of the reason I like him, the Rams taking him, is like I do think tight end is a little more valuable than receiver in a lot of ways. If you have there's just a lot fewer. It's like in fantasy, if you get the best tight end on the season, and then there's this like major drop-off with everyone else, like just having one of the top five tight ends in the league is a major you see Loveland dropping like 40 fantasy points. Like, the production can be insane. Um, so I don't know. I do like Kenyan Sadiq more than most of the wide receivers in this draft, I think, in terms of value.

SPEAKER_00 34:06

Oh, yeah, I'm not Carnell Tate. I like Tate over him, but Tate to me, it's not even like Jordan Tyson, Mikhailman. I don't think it's close. Tate is like he's also an Ohio State wide receiver. They do pretty well.

SPEAKER_02 34:18

A lot of bins, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:19

They do pretty well. Uh let's get into the back 10 or 11 picks uh with our star playoff teams, right? Here we go, baby. Here we go. So let's kick it off with the Chargers. So most mock drafts have the Chargers taking um Emmanuel McNeil Warren. I I again I just feel like safety is great, but it's not a D-lineman, right? It's not an anchor to your team. And when I think Jin Jim Harbaugh, I think an anchor to your team. You know, just the value is here. They also need guards, but again, all the guards felt like reaches and their tackles are set, so just went with like a nice pure D-lineman. Uh let's get into the Eagles. So I have taking Spencer Fano, and again, this is a fall. For sure it's a fall. I could see him going way earlier than this, people training up to get him. It just was like looking at the need and the teams that were there, and it felt like you know, Spencer Fano was that guy. Um, he's a little undersized and he has some technique concerns, which are the same things people said about Jason Kelsey coming out of college, which is why I think it's a great fit for the Eagles. He's a three-year starter with reps at both right tackle and left tackle. He's quick, great hand strikes, athletic, and he's a really, really good run blocker. I originally in the first mock draft had the Eagles taking a wide receiver. I do, there's rumors now that the Eagles have pulled out of the AJ Brown trade because of all the Roussini stuff. I don't know if I buy that, but I also have seen that the Eagles have had a lot of small wide receiver editions this offseason, and maybe they just believe Smitty's their one, like a true one. Um, with that, the Browns take Mikhail Lemon, which again is a fall, but there's a lot of reports that he interviewed really badly at the combine, and he had some IQ concerns like recognizing coverages, like route tree, that sort of stuff. Teams were concerned about again with the bad interviews, which feels like a bad combination, which to me this is a likely fall candidate because of that. And you know, again, it's it's the Browns. Their defense is great. They're going left tackle and wide receiver in the first round. They're trying to help Shador succeed, or at least that's what I think they should be doing. Um, we'll do two more and then switch it up to give us some uh feedback, Coley. So I got the Bears taking Caleb Lomu, um, offensive tackle. He's a little sloppy, not great upper body strength, but you know, he's really athletic and he's great in pass pro. He also is a left tackle, and in case you haven't heard, the Bears' left tackle is out this next season with a severe injury. So maybe he's not a left tackle in the league, but they need eventually a right tackle as well. So I think that's a great choice for the Bears. The Bills. Now, this isn't what I would do, but when somebody shows you who they are, believe them. The Bills have been visiting with a lot of first round wide receivers. Denzel Boston has visited twice. The offensive coordinator is now the head coach, which usually means a shift to an even more offensive culture, right? Um, and again, this is not what I would do. I think they should go linebacker or safety. But when someone shows you who they are, believe them. Nice.

SPEAKER_02 37:43

Yeah, I don't disagree. Um I agree with you on the Chargers. I think go defense. You have a lot of healthy offensive stars that are that were not healthy last year returning to that line and stuff. I think it's fine to not really address the line, even though it's so bad, just because you have two basically superstars coming back to it. Um, it should look a lot different. Um The Eagles, I agree. I like them going offensive tackle. I don't I think they they've added too much receiver and given too much money to it. You can't keep AJ Brown at this point. Maybe they back out with the Patriots and they dish him somewhere else or something, but like I will be shocked. It's basically what you said for the Bills. Like, if somebody tells you who they are and signs three receivers before the draft, like, believe them that they're trading AJ Brown in June. Um I do not think AJ Brown will be an Eagle after giving Dontavian Wicks 12.5 million dollars. But I do like them. That's why I like them going offensive tackle. That feels right to me. Also, you don't need so many receivers if the Eagles when you're like the issue with your team is that you the quarterback doesn't throw to the receiver. Like, uh it's just too much receiver for a team that does not need it.

SPEAKER_00 38:57

Oh, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 38:58

And I agree, I think they're all in on Devontae Smith. So um, Browns, I agree with you. I think you've gotta go offense this draft specifically. You gotta give the quarterback a fair shot. You wanna actually test it. You know what I mean? I think that's classic where like these bad quarterbacks or these fine quarterbacks that are developing go to bad teams, and it's like, oh, that quarterback is bad. When in reality it's like, did they have a fair shot? You know what I mean? Look at Mac Jones. Hey, oh, hey, maybe he just had a defensive coordinator calling his plays, and he actually can hurl it in a good system. Like, you see that all the time. So I like that feels smart to me. Bears, that feels like an obvious pick. Yeah. And the Bills, I think I think there was this idea that when you have an amazing quarter, and sometimes it works, but like, hey, our quarterback will move it around. It's fine. Like, the Chiefs kind of got rid of Tyreek and didn't really address it, and it worked. You won a Super Bowl.

SPEAKER_00 40:00

Off that year, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:01

Yes, but you know, you won one. Like, I do think, hey, it helps to have an amazing.

SPEAKER_00 40:09

We won we went back to back after we got rid of Tyreek. But I also think Mahomes and Reed are better than Josh and his coach, even if you call Josh Mahomes a one.

SPEAKER_02 40:18

But yeah, I guess my point is look where you are now without you haven't addressed it really, and like your best receiver was out. Like, I do think, and same thing with the Bills. They got rid of Stephon Diggs, and it was like, see, we're better. We can move the ball around and spread it out, and it's like, actually, no, usually you're worse, and you have less success, and like we'll see your floor when you don't have a good receiver. So, like, I like it a l- I like it for them. I think you added DJ Moore as your two, and you can go get a young guy who can actually help. Like, Josh can still spread it out. You're not stuck having to like, especially if you're a rookie, like, there's no pressure there. I like them getting elite on offense. At least do that. Their defense is never very good.

SPEAKER_00 40:57

I hear you. I'm not sure Denzel Boston is elite, but I it's tough because like the Chiefs were able to do it when they moved off of receivers. Um, you know, but that's the Chiefs, and they've sort of broken the mold.

SPEAKER_02 41:13

And I think the something for the Chiefs is they did have that was Travis Kelsey's prime. So you had like the best, one of the best tight ends of all time in their prime to kind of cover the fact that you had no good receivers. Whereas like as soon as Kelsey exited his prime and you never addressed that receiver slot, it like you do see a difference. Mahomes has to work a lot harder. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:32

For sure. I also think what's interesting is the sirens are warming us up again with the Bills. I think it's getting hot in here. I think what's interesting with the Bills is if you look at the last two years, Josh has thrown the ball very little compared to how he used to throw the ball, right? Like if we're talking about amount of throws. He is one of the like it's actually shocking how little the Bills throw the ball, but he just is really good when they do. I'm wondering with if that's gonna change this year with the new head coach. I think the Bills are one of the most interesting teams in football with a new head coach and a Hall of Fame quarterback in his prime. I think that's like it's very rare to see. I don't I don't I don't even remember the last time we saw it. I guess it would be Aaron Rodgers exiting his prime and LaFleur coming in, but it's no that's nowhere close to what's going on right now. So I don't know. I I wouldn't take a wide receiver obviously to the Bills. I think their defense has so many glaring needs. Totally. But if someone shows you are, they are. Believe them.

unknown 42:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 42:34

So let's go to the 49ers, who, again, Nick Bosa's great. All these guys are great, but they are old. The 49ers feel like they missed their window with this current roster simply because of age. And I think they shocked the world last year with how good they were, and a lot of that I think was coaching, but they need to get younger on defense. They need to get younger fast. Um, Caden McDonald, you know, they could go offensive tackle here because Trent Williams is also getting older, but I think the defense is an even bigger need, especially since you don't have Salah to sort of be that safety blanket. You know, I don't love McDonald, to be honest. Like, one of the first things you see on these reports about him is he's not a true pocket collapser, and that's just like, ugh, like, do I want a D-lineman who doesn't collapse the pocket? But he's really good at recognizing the run game and he has really good tackle production. So that feels to me like a 49er. And he's quick, changing direction, so that just felt like a Shanahan pick. Blake Miller, offensive tackle for the Texans. This is just the best tackle on the board right now, and I don't think the Texans should overthink it. He's a right tackle, not a left tackle, but they need they need every spot. You know, he's not great with footwork, not great with hands, which like every prospect says the same thing. He can get beat by better rushers due to that poor technique, but he's got really good measurables. His stock is rising because of a pro day and sort of like his measure. So high ceiling, good awareness, good impasse pro. Again, don't overthink it, Texans. Get the best tackle available. Here you go, Cole. The Chiefs address their secondary and take Avion Terrell, who I cannot say enough about. He is a Spags player. We'll talk about some players that fell out of the first round at the end of this, because they could maybe go Colton Hood here. But the reason I went Terrell is because the number one thing people say about him is he's competitive and aggressive. That feels like the Chiefs of old before this last year slump. It's a competitive team. Spags is competitive. He's very high character and high IQ. Everyone has great things to say about him. How he recognizes the game. Again, feels like a Spags player. He was leading the FBS in forced fumbles. He attacks the ball as a corner. He doesn't just go after getting interceptions, he goes for fumbles. That again just feels like a Chiefs player. He would go earlier if it wasn't that he was smaller. And again, feels like a Chiefs player, a small corner. Um, dolphins go Omar Cooper Jr. They could go KC Concepcion here, or maybe get a defensive lineman, but they don't have like who's their number one receiver right now. Omar Cooper Jr., again, I have mixed feelings about him. His production was insane. He had like 20 touchdowns over the last two years. He's very physical, great lateral separation. He's not a great run blocker, and he's inconsistent on intermediate breaks, and there's some like IQ recognition questions that have come up, but I don't know, the Dolphins just get players. Like, you don't have a roster right now, you don't have a receiver. Here you go, Cole. Your Patriots take Zion Young, a guy that I am really high on. 6'6, 265. That's a big boy. Um, he's more of a power rusher, but he has really good footwork. So he's very developed. So this is a player who is a high floor. He's gonna come in and produce right away. He's not the fastest D end, but he's got size and power and good technique, which again, just a high floor player for Rabble feels like a right fit. And then I have the Seahawks taking Cassius Hal. I wanted to go. I almost went wide receiver here, I almost went D-line here. I feel like the Seahawks can do a lot with this pick. They are a pretty complete roster, but everything I'm seeing is that the one thing they might need to address right away is Edge off of some turnover. You know, he's got it's the same thing, technique concerns, but he has three straight high production seasons. He's really good at changing direction. He's a good pass rusher, feels like a nice pick for the Seahawks.

SPEAKER_02 46:38

Totally.

SPEAKER_00 46:38

What do you think of this final six?

SPEAKER_02 46:40

Yeah, I mean, this these feel pretty solid. 49ers, I don't know if I fully see them doing that. I do just it always feels like the 49ers defense is their strongest unit.

SPEAKER_00 46:53

Oh, I disagree with Shanahan. Their offense can produce.

SPEAKER_02 46:58

I guess that's true. A lot of it was Salah.

SPEAKER_00 47:00

So, like, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 47:01

That's the question for me is like, can they stay good without Salah? I just think like if you're out on some of these players and you're getting their replacement, like, you should be moving off these players and not paying them so much money.

SPEAKER_00 47:13

Like, but I like the mentoring aspect of learning behind Nick Bosa, like who I think we're gonna leave this draft with a tight end maybe more in the mid round. Like, that tight end's gonna get to learn behind one of the greatest tight ends of all time. Like, there's something to be said about mentorship in this league.

SPEAKER_02 47:28

Totally. That's true. Yeah, and I don't know what I would rather them do. Like, they did a just offense, they got Mike Evans. Um, I like I mean Trent well Trent Williams, right?

SPEAKER_00 47:41

Yeah, like I can see them going Blake Miller here and right.

SPEAKER_02 47:45

He is getting old. Keep so is McCaffrey, so like keep some lanes opening up. I don't know, that's a tougher one. I can see him doing a lot of the thing. Texans, I think, is a no-brainer.

SPEAKER_00 47:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 47:54

Obviously, love the Chiefs. I think you have to go corner here, like which is which is fine. There'll be options. Like, you usually don't love to be in a spot where you like are drafting based on need, but I feel like at this point in the first round, it's doesn't really matter. Like, get your go get your need. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 48:12

McDuffie was a tw was the 28th pick in starting that season. Again, the this guy would be a top 12-10 pick if it wasn't that he was a little smaller. And I don't even think it the size is that big of a problem. Honestly, he's sort of a little bigger than McDuffie was. Um but this just feels like a Spags player. High IQ, competitive, aggressive, forcing fumbles. Feels like a chief.

SPEAKER_02 48:34

My one thing is there's nothing about like coverage in that statement. You know what I mean? Like, I want my cornerbacks having really good coverage, not forcing fumbles.

SPEAKER_00 48:42

He's great in man-to-man. The biggest questions about him are size and run support. Okay, yeah. So who cares? Yeah. I don't care about run support, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 48:50

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, no, that's a no-brainer to me. I mean, if the Chiefs fix their secondary, they don't have a lot of holes. That I agree with. I just hope he'll be enough. And maybe he will be. Like, if I I do like the competitiveness, aggressiveness, like that does feel very Chiefs-like and spags-like. Um, so that feels like an easy, solid pick to feel good about. Dolphins, yeah. Doesn't really matter. This is the classic, like, oh, you gave up Waddle and you got another receiver. You know what I mean? It's kind of that, you know, I don't know. It's just like a wash to me. But I like that pick for them. Patriots, yeah, definitely gotta go edge here. Unless we move it. I could see us. If we don't love Zion Young, like moving back into the second round or moving up earlier, top 20-ish, but I kind of don't think we will. I kind of think we'll just pick here.

SPEAKER_00 49:42

Zion Young.

SPEAKER_02 49:44

Yeah. Zion Young makes a lot of sense. I really hope if we do keep this pick and are just picking here, because there would have been other options. Like, we could have moved this pick for a Brian Thomas Jr.-esque player or uh like taking a instead of AJ Brown. Instead, we're saving this pick. I think we're gonna use 2027's first on AJ Brown. Yeah, like so. I do think we have to go edge here. I'll be pretty disappointed if we don't. My one concern is like the guy we replaced Javion Claisson with is Derness Johnson from the Ravens, who is really good. The Ravens wanted to keep him. That was kind of the fallout of the Max Crosby trade, is they couldn't re-sign him and we snatched him up. But he is also the downside is he's not fast. He's a power rusher, there's no speed coming him. So ideally, my hope was to pair him with an edge in the draft that had speed. So we have one power rusher and then some speed off the other side. But I don't know, get best edge available, I think. So I'm fine with it.

SPEAKER_00 50:44

I mean, I think Keldrick Falk would be a great fit for you guys. I just think he's gonna go earlier. Um, I also think Cassius Hell, Cassius Howls, Ion Young, it's more about like your preference. Um I've just seen the Patriots really attacking youth in their drafts over these last few years, which again, he's a he got he has three years of high production, but that's also three years of on your body high production come out of college a little later than like some of these other guys.

SPEAKER_02 51:10

Yeah. And maybe was um I was watching some, saw some clip talking about taking uh we do need a replacement for Morgan Moses. So drafting a right tackle here makes a lot of sense potentially, and it would just give us depth this year. Should there be an injury, we can plug that guy into somewhere else. So, like, and the left guard we got is injury prone. Like, I wouldn't that's the only other thing I can see us doing is like a young right tackle to learn this season and give us depth. I'd also be happy with that.

SPEAKER_00 51:39

I got something for you after that for our second round fallers, if you uh unless you have anything to say about the Seahawks.

SPEAKER_02 51:45

No, that makes sense. I could see this is a classic Super Bowl champion moves out of the first round. Anyone wants to come in for that one guy who fell, I could see them trading back here or just yeah, they're in a great position, best player available truly. They could do anything, and I'd be like, ah, yeah, nice pick. They could go punt like yeah, kick her here. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 52:04

Fav uh final thought before we move out, move into our second round fallers. Um, I got if Omar Cooper Jr. is there at that point, I see a world where the Raiders trade up for him to keep him and Mendoza together. This would only be a three-pick trade-up for them. Um, so I I wouldn't hate that at all.

SPEAKER_02 52:26

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_00 52:28

And so we'll look at the Chiefs' corner in a second. Well, going off the Patriots thing as well. You said you wouldn't hate a right tackle here. I have Max Ian Anchor falling out of the first round, who is probably the last good right tackle of this top tier. You know, he could be, some people have him over Blake Miller, right? Um, he's not in that fano tier, but you know, I could see the Patriots doing that. He's a true right tackle. He is not a left tackle. So I wouldn't hate that for you guys, Max Ian Anchor. He's one of my honorable mention followers. On the D-line, TJ Parker, Christian Miller, and Caleb Banks. Those are my three followers of mention. TJ Parker is probably gonna be a second round pick. I've seen a few mocks with Christian Miller and Caleb Banks going up to this first round. Both of them played at big SEC schools. Christian Miller out of Georgia, Caleb Banks out of Florida. Um, they're gonna be in this range of 25 to 40 at some point. And then KC Concepcion, I have falling out of the first round. Uh, my honorable mention of a tight end would be Stowers. I and then the two players I really wanted to talk about falling. I got Emmanuel McNeil Warren falling out of the first round, who's a really good safety prospect, the third best safety in this draft. I was just going through it, and you know, a lot of people have the Chargers taking a safety. I've talked about the Seahawks taking a safety, and maybe the Seahawks do, they don't have a ton of needs, but it just felt like value. I was looking at the trenches, looking at wide receivers, and I just didn't find a good spot for him.

SPEAKER_02 53:58

Yeah. Totally. I think we're seeing the field change a little bit. Like, I do think secondary ha has become kind of underrated.

SPEAKER_01 54:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 54:10

Guys, growing up in college, it's much more exciting to be a receiver. The money's at receiver. It's a pretty similar skill set, so like if you have the option, most guys choose receiver. And so you've kind of seen a decline in like amazing secondary players. Um so I think that's interesting. I think we could see that shift where it could shake up the draft and like maybe teams are gonna really prioritize. And you got a lot of teams now going the two ones in your receiver room, basically, as kind of the idea. Like, I think we're right, exactly, and the Eagles and the Cowboys and the like these teams that have done a historic like I do think we could see a shift in prioritizing secondary players. And I mean, example the Patriots, like Vrabel and May and Josh McDaniels got all the credit, but like maybe he went to the Super Bowl as a super young team because we have the best cornerback in football, and like, you know what, like that's maybe it's that underrated at this point. Like, if you have that same with the Broncos. Oh, the Broncos got the one seed with Patrick Surtain. Like, yeah, maybe that position is becoming that valuable where it is just like that game-changing. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 55:22

No, I agree. I think the Eagles win and the Seahawks win has put a really big premium on edges and D-line. Because I think both those teams, even if it's an oversimplification, it feels like both those teams won in the trenches.

SPEAKER_02 55:38

Um, I will say, like, the Eagles' success, a lot of that was due to that they hit on Cooper DeGene. Like, for your line to have success, the receiver, the corner, like the secondary has to have coverage for five seconds, three seconds, you know what I mean? Minimum. So, like, I do think those go hand in hand where and the same thing, wasn't the like rookie of the year the Seahawk secondary player, one of them? He was amazing. I forget his name, but he was fantastic. Yeah, when you hit one of those players, your team changes. So I do think teams taking shots at elite corners makes a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_00 56:14

That's actually a good place to wrap because the one faller I really wanted to note, there's one player I have who's invited to the first round who ends up falling out of the first round. And this happens every year, right? One or two guys invited don't get drafted. I have Colton Hood, cornerback, falling out of the first round. Again. Yeah, I've heard of him. Like, the knee just didn't super feel there. Like, I could see maybe the 49ers taking him. The Bills, I think, should take a corner. Um, I would be surprised if he like again, there's always gonna be one or two guys here. Like, wait, they're still on the board at the second round, but someone's gonna be there, right? Um, so he my thing about Colton Hood, he's very physical. He's really demanding in the catch space, right? He attacks towards the ball, he's explosive, but he he's not great at deep ball tracking, you know, not great with instinct, sort of. Like if you watch the tape, sometimes it just feels a little off. So that's sort of why I had him falling. And him and Avion Terrell are honestly a toss-up, but I had the Chiefs as the only team in that section drafting a corner, and I just went who I thought was a better fit for the Chiefs.

SPEAKER_02 57:24

Yeah. I like that. First round is tough too. I do think you're right. Like, we could see just like a run in the third and fourth round, every team taking a corner back and a safety, and like, yeah, that also happens, but and I think that that a lot of teams will attack safety and corner in the second and third round.

SPEAKER_00 57:41

Like, I expect the Chiefs to leave with two to three secondary players from this draft. Yes. But I think it's it's a successful first round for the Chiefs if we leave with an edge in a corner. Um I don't know. It it's tough. There's gonna be guys who I mean that's the thing.

SPEAKER_02 57:57

I would love Avian Terrell and Caleb Downs. Your secondary is done. Better than it was last year.

SPEAKER_00 58:03

Like we have art, we just paid a safety who is good. We're not taking a safety at nine if you pay a safety. What safety again? Alohi Gilmore. No one knows safeties. Don't like after Kyle after Kyle Hamilton and Nick Ammoir, who we were just talking about, name a safety. Like he was a two-time defensive player of the week last year. He's made a pro bowl a couple like he's he's good. We have a good safety now. So we can't take a safety at nine. I want us to leave the draft with a safety, but you can't get a safety in free agency and then use the ninth pick on a safety. Yeah, that's true. Um, what do you hope your Patriots do? What would be a successful first two rounds?

SPEAKER_02 58:47

Um it's tough. I do, I want Edge first. Ideally, I like Zion Young. People are high on him. Um round two, either like shuring up our line, our O-line. Um, I think our defense is in really good shape. Like, I love Bayard, the safety we added. He led the league in interceptions last year. Um, and he's a vet who plays every game, knock on wood, like never has had an injury. Just like I like that a lot. We still have both our corners intact, we have continuity there. Like, I think our secondary is gonna be really good. If we add an edge with Derness Johnson, who we added, we still have Barmore and Milton Williams. Like, I think our defense is gonna be lethal this year.

SPEAKER_00 59:35

Um I think you guys go a tight end in the second or third round, also.

SPEAKER_02 59:39

Yeah, that's the one thing is if we don't go edge and could move up for Sadiq. I would like that a lot.

SPEAKER_00 59:43

Like, I do think God, I'm so low on Sadiq right now. I just think that I am like countering the hype. Interesting, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 59:50

I just think a really good tight end, like Hunter Henry had a great start to the season, and then it kind of gave me the ick at times in the playoffs where it's just a little slow and like a clutch moment. He dropped the ball, and like man, if Drake May had a stud tight end, like our offense would be almost impossible to stop. Um, I feel good about our line. Like, that's the thing. I think our offense has set us up in a nice position. It's tough because, like, I think we're getting AJ Brown. Kal She's got us like 70% getting him now. Like, it does just seem like that's still happening. So it's like, I guess we wait on receiver. If that has fallen through with the drama, like we kind of need to go receiver for sure. We suck at drafting receivers. I do not trust Elliot Wolf drafting a receiver, so I don't know. I would rather us go defensive edge and then guard or tight end.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:43

If the board falls like this, I don't hate you guys uh trading up for Mikai Lemon. Again, it's more like IQ and interview concerns, which I have less worry about with like a Vrabel, like a good coach.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:55

I've also seen Denzel Boston mock to us if Bills don't do that. I just don't know. For your receiver, I'm gonna be like, oh, we're just not, we're out on AJ now, which is fine, I guess. I do like pairing AJ Dobbs and Booty. I think we'll go from a pretty bad receiving group to like pretty elite.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:12

So I like Omar Cooper more than I like Denzel Boston. But I don't love either of them.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:19

Um, yeah. Yeah. No, this is uh well, how do you feel about this mock draft? Give me a grade. Good.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:24

I think you did a nice job. I think that it makes a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:27

It is tough. The b like you said, bait weighing, just like best player available, need, yeah, their actual production, yeah, like, and just your gut on these guys. I do think it's similar to fantasy football, where like, man, a lot of these boards look so different in there. We we don't get to sit in the interviews and talk to them. Like, you learn a lot in 30 seconds of talking to a guy if you want to pay him a hundred million dollars and work with him for the next five years.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:56

So, like Also, this is a draft where everyone's mock looks so different because again, it's that production versus traits, preferences. Like, this this class is a little all over the place, and I haven't seen one or two mocks that feel similar.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:09

Yeah. That's why I do think it's a like it should be a draft really more based on need for a lot of these teams. And I think it is. Most of these, there's no major, there's not gonna be any Michael Penix going number eight by the Falcons after just signing. Like, I think there's there'll be some trades we don't see coming and stuff, but like, teams are gonna get what they need in this draft. I don't think there's gonna be any crazy reaches.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:33

Well, we what do you think is Ty Simpson's range? Because I think there's a world where someone trades up a little too comfortably high to get him.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:41

No, I think he goes to the Jets or he falls out of the first round.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:44

Uh, I I've also seen the Cardinals trading back in to get him. Um I think there's a world where if the Rams really like him, they take him to sit behind Stafford. Like Yeah, I don't think they'll do that. I think Ty Simpson is gonna be one of the biggest stories of draft night. I think his range is from like someone trading up into the top into the back of the top ten all the way to like 25. Like, I think his range is like 20 picks.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:07

Totally. That's fair.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:09

Um, well, you guys, let us know what you think of our mock draft. What do you want your what do you want your team to draft, not just the Chiefs and the Patriots? Um, like, rate, subscribe, and again, if you haven't checked us out on YouTube, go watch this episode on YouTube. It's a lot easier there.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:23

Mm-hmm. Can stay tuned for our uh draft recap where we see how uh accurate this draft really was.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:30

Oh, yeah. Well, we critique me and the draft choices. Um, yeah. Hope you guys have a good one. Uh give us a like. Peace.