April 25, 2024 • 10 mins
Eric Edholm, lead draft writer for NFL.com, joins Next Up ahead of the NFL draft beginning Thursday with the first round. The Texans do no currently have a first round draft pick, but Edholm says the offseason acquisitions are already something to be proud of. Signing a Pro Bowl receiver in Stefon Diggs, "that's a victory" that "could elevate this team," Edholm said. Despite having strong receiver and pass rushing groups, Edholm says he is not ruling out the Texans drafting for one of those positions. "That would be a little bit surprising" because drafting for the "offensive line makes a lot of sense to me." Edholm also makes his predictions for early first round draft picks as many teams are on the hunt for a quarterback.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Draft time means we got to goto people that know these prospects much better
than we do. Gentlemen dropped bylast month. I do believe he's back
to do it again. Brother Ericat home leads Draft Rider NFL dot Com
live from Detroit. Unless I missmy guests, Good morning to you,
Eric, I guess afternoon. Idon't know what time's on you in which
got going on? Just afternoon?Yeah, I'm here in Detroit. I'm
(00:22):
kind of wandering around. They've gotthe streets all blocked off for Draft Town,
all the festivities tonight. So Ihope it up in the wrong alley,
the wrong ditch, you know,down the wrong otherwise this segment man
quickly, all right, Yeah,whatever areas Eminem rapped about, stay out
of thom Yeah the miles which havingone of those miles, don't worry about
eight nine miles, ten miles tostay out of the miles. All right.
(00:45):
Uh, don't know that we've spokento you since the Stefan Digg trade.
Obviously, CASERI on two separate transactions. He moves out of twenty three.
He takes some of that draft capital. Go get Stephan Diggs. In
my mind tonight and I'm gonna tellthis to take fans and the good people
to Houston. Stepan digs is yourfirst round pick for twenty twenty four.
Do you agree with my logic?Yeah, no, I think it's absolutely
(01:07):
true. Right, there's a littlebit of disappointment not having you know,
something to look forward to on Thursday. Now, you kind of teased it,
right, Casario might have something upasleeve. There's been a little bit
of chatter they could they could diptheir toe into the back end around one.
But yes, they have moved outfor now and they have acquired a
Pro Bowl receiver. That's Look,that's a victory that happened well in advance
(01:29):
of Draft Day. It's a knownquantity. Obviously, there's a little bit
of risk. You're paying a lotfor a guy who's closer to the end
of his career than the beginning.You're also paying for a guy who you
know was made himself not wanted inBuffalo right for various reasons. But it's
utterly fascinating. It could elevate thisteam beyond what we saw last year,
(01:51):
a massive jump up. It's gotto be an exciting time to be used
in Texas. Fan whether or notthey end up making a pick in the
first thirty two or not tonight.Well, that's what was gonna be my
next question, Eric, is weknow they don't have a first round pick
tonight. They do have three pickstomorrow night, picks forty two and fifty
nine in the second round and thenpick eighty six in the third round.
Just curious, you know you've coveredthe draft a long time. Just draft
(02:14):
value. If they were to packagetogether picks forty two and fifty nine together
and move up because there's a guythey want, how high could that get
them? Forty two and fifty ninetogether? Can I get you to thirty
two tonight? Is that is thattoo high? Yeah, you might be
able to get into that the lasthandful of picks the round one with that
right there, I don't have mycharts in front of me. I don't
(02:36):
have the you know, the historicalmodels and all that. But like I
said, walking around at this point, but yeah, no, I wouldn't
be shocked. And you know,Carolina Washington or two other teams that have
a pair of picks up in thatrange, maybe even a little higher than
what you guys got right now.So there will be competition right, And
there's gonna be a run on offensiveline in this first round. I don't
(03:00):
know what the number is going tobe, but you know, I would
say it's possibly north of nine.You know, that's that's a big number
for a first round. So offensivelinemen, especially in the back end of
Round one, are going to bethere's a lot of dueling. I think
for those spots, maybe at quarterbackslips there could be some competition for Bo
Nix or Michael Pennix or one ofthose types of guys. Maybe there's a
(03:22):
receiver still left on the board thatthat demands that kind of move up.
So a lot of possibilities out there, and I think there are enough motivated
teams. I mean San Francisco thirtyone, Baltimore at thirty could see both
of those teams wanting to move out. Even Kansas, yep, Yeah,
wouldn't be shocking. I mean theywant a receiver. From what I've been
(03:44):
able to gather, I don't knowif the right guy will be there,
or if they think that maybe theycan get the same guy they would have
picked at thirty two a little bitlower. So those last three picks I
think are are are in play forteams like Houston, teams like Washington and
Carroll Line, et cetera. Allright, let's talk about position groups.
I know you highlighted some there.It's probably easiest if I asked you what
(04:08):
position group or position would you frownat if Cassaria was to make that selection.
I'm pretty sure I'm talking about withday two what is that forty two
to fifty nine and even the eightysix pick. Let's take quarterback off the
table because clearly they have one ofthose with fine. All right, so
what like what would surprise you oris it easy to go the other way?
(04:29):
What areas do you think the Texansshould double down on, if you
will, given where the organization iscoming off free agency in last year's draft
as well. Yeah, I meanjust looking at the positions of strength,
I mean, could you make acase for another receiver, yes, Crusher,
sure, because their talents that arecommensurate with that part of the draft.
But to me, that would bea little bit surprising given the Digs
(04:51):
acquisition. They still have Nico andyou know, I think they're still hoping
for more from John Metchi and guyslike that. So yeah, I would
be a little bit surprised. Youcan never have too many pass rushers,
so I don't want to dismiss thatpossibility. He'd love to have a third
guy who can rotate in, butthat would be a pretty aggressive move for
somebody who is in a clear cutstarter. So I guess those I wouldn't
(05:13):
say I would eliminate, but Iwould put a little lower on the possibility
list. Offensive line makes a lotof sense to me, in sensive back
would make a lot of sense tome. Those are two positions. I
don't think there's a safety going inround one unless you consider Cooper de Gene
from Iowa as a hybrid, likea guy who can play nickel or safety
(05:34):
or possibly outside corner like you didat Iowa. He's also a punt return
guy. You know, maybe youcould try him on kick returns now with
the rules. So he's a yeah. I mean, this is a player
who had not gotten hurt late inthe year. I think would have been
a no doubt first round pick andmaybe even top twenty five. Guaranteed he
(05:55):
still could go that high this year. So it will take a little bit
of an f to get a playerlike that. But you know, look
at what Brian Branch did for theLions last peak. That's who I see
now. You know, Jalen Peatreemight play that kind of that same role.
But still, I I there's alot you can do with a guy
(06:15):
like Cooper to gen. Talk withEric at hoolm NFL dot com. I
have kind of some some bigger picturequestions about the draft tonight, and it's
so funny, Eric, I mean, we're not too far removed. Fifteen
years ago. We used to watchthe draft and we'd be it'd be so
suspensful. We had no idea whereanybody was going to be like, oh
my god, right, who's who'sgoing here? Now we have so many
everybody my mom's got a mock draft, Like everybody's got a mock draft now,
(06:38):
and so it's every mock draft's agreeing, Oh, Caleb, bullying is
going on, and Jane Daniel's goingto and all this. But I did
you had a piece on Jayden Danielsand there's been some talk about Okay,
the commander's in love with them?Uh is he in love with them?
But there's been an interesting angle here, and somebody brought to my attention.
You know, Antonio Pierce was abig uh you know, was a coach
at Arizona State when Jayden was there. He loves he love each other as
(07:01):
a bond there. And where theRaiders are picking, they're picking at thirteen.
I just wonder is there a moveto be made there, and would
the Commanders be willing to do it, you know, if if they were
to trade up, because I meanthey're looking for their quarterback. Really still,
I don't know. It's just anintriguing angle on the connection with Antonio
Pearson the Raiders. If you know, Jane Daniels were to not go number
(07:23):
two and start to fall, ohabsolutely. I mean Antonio Pierce was on
NFL network about two weeks ago,I want to say, I can't remember
exactly when, and they said,if you were to draft a quarterback,
whether it's round one, round seven, anywhere in between, what traits are
you looking for? And he basicallysaid, I'm looking for an athlete.
I'm looking for somebody who can threatenteams with his arm and his leg.
(07:46):
They love that dual threat possibility createsall kinds of problems for defenses. You're
in the AFCs, you've got todeal with homes and Herbert and you know,
Sean Payton and everything. I mean, that's a tough place to live,
and they know they need a differentmaker at some point there, whether
it's this year, whether it's next. And it was hard not to draw
a connection there. With Antonio Peersessentially being the associate head coach at ASU
(08:11):
recruited Jaden promised him he'd win theHeisman Trophy. It didn't happen at ASU,
but it did happen at LSU.There is a bond there. Ultimately,
I don't think it happens. Idon't think the Raiders have enough capital,
and I don't think the Washington Commanderswant to move down that far and
put themselves out of quarterback range becauseI don't think they would be a JJ
(08:33):
McCarthy team. I don't think theycould get back up and secure Drake May.
So they're for the commanders. It'stoo big a risk, I assume.
But yeah, then what how didthe Raiders pivot thereafter? I mean,
look, you know, even ifJaden he said it yesterday, he
said, I don't have a choice, like I'm going where I'm told to
go, right, He didn't saythose exact words, but he basically said
(08:56):
this is out of my control now. So he may want to play for
the Raiders and that may be thedream destination, just like Caleb Williams may
have wanted to be back in DCand all that doesn't always work out that
way. So I think we're gonnaget Caleb to Chicago, Jade to Washington,
and then the Raiders suddenly become afascinating team. Do they go for
(09:16):
a penix or do they target offensiveline or some other route. That is
the voice of Eric ed Hoolme ofNFL dot com Draft Guru, man is
the lead writer on all things matterof the draft. We'll appreciate you taking
some time there in Detroit. They'llall let us here in Houston. Will
hit you up via text. Youcan tell us what you think about Cassario
(09:37):
and the Magic On Friday, we'llsee what happens there. Follow him on
social if you aren't already. Heis at Eric E R I C underscore
ed home E ed h O lM. We'll appreciate again, brother,
Be safe, stay off those milesand I don't know that's not pizza when
it's what do they do Detroit?Oh no, they do the bread,
then the topics, then the mayornare sauce goes on top. That's awful.
(10:01):
That's not even a pizza. Idon't know what that's called. But
don't eat any of that crap.Eat something else. I'm gonna avoid that
yet. I hope you guys havea good round one. Whether or not
there's a picking Hoaston or not,it should be a fun that fun.
Diggs come, yeah, wearing jerseynumber one, and he's got four new
jerseys to pick from. We're excitedabout that. Here
Draft time means we got to goto people that know these prospects much better
than we do. Gentlemen dropped bylast month. I do believe he's back
to do it again. Brother Ericat home leads Draft Rider NFL dot Com
live from Detroit. Unless I missmy guests, Good morning to you,
Eric, I guess afternoon. Idon't know what time's on you in which
got going on? Just afternoon?Yeah, I'm here in Detroit. I'm
(00:22):
kind of wandering around. They've gotthe streets all blocked off for Draft Town,
all the festivities tonight. So Ihope it up in the wrong alley,
the wrong ditch, you know,down the wrong otherwise this segment man
quickly, all right, Yeah,whatever areas Eminem rapped about, stay out
of thom Yeah the miles which havingone of those miles, don't worry about
eight nine miles, ten miles tostay out of the miles. All right.
(00:45):
Uh, don't know that we've spokento you since the Stefan Digg trade.
Obviously, CASERI on two separate transactions. He moves out of twenty three.
He takes some of that draft capital. Go get Stephan Diggs. In
my mind tonight and I'm gonna tellthis to take fans and the good people
to Houston. Stepan digs is yourfirst round pick for twenty twenty four.
Do you agree with my logic?Yeah, no, I think it's absolutely
(01:07):
true. Right, there's a littlebit of disappointment not having you know,
something to look forward to on Thursday. Now, you kind of teased it,
right, Casario might have something upasleeve. There's been a little bit
of chatter they could they could diptheir toe into the back end around one.
But yes, they have moved outfor now and they have acquired a
Pro Bowl receiver. That's Look,that's a victory that happened well in advance
(01:29):
of Draft Day. It's a knownquantity. Obviously, there's a little bit
of risk. You're paying a lotfor a guy who's closer to the end
of his career than the beginning.You're also paying for a guy who you
know was made himself not wanted inBuffalo right for various reasons. But it's
utterly fascinating. It could elevate thisteam beyond what we saw last year,
(01:51):
a massive jump up. It's gotto be an exciting time to be used
in Texas. Fan whether or notthey end up making a pick in the
first thirty two or not tonight.Well, that's what was gonna be my
next question, Eric, is weknow they don't have a first round pick
tonight. They do have three pickstomorrow night, picks forty two and fifty
nine in the second round and thenpick eighty six in the third round.
Just curious, you know you've coveredthe draft a long time. Just draft
(02:14):
value. If they were to packagetogether picks forty two and fifty nine together
and move up because there's a guythey want, how high could that get
them? Forty two and fifty ninetogether? Can I get you to thirty
two tonight? Is that is thattoo high? Yeah, you might be
able to get into that the lasthandful of picks the round one with that
right there, I don't have mycharts in front of me. I don't
(02:36):
have the you know, the historicalmodels and all that. But like I
said, walking around at this point, but yeah, no, I wouldn't
be shocked. And you know,Carolina Washington or two other teams that have
a pair of picks up in thatrange, maybe even a little higher than
what you guys got right now.So there will be competition right, And
there's gonna be a run on offensiveline in this first round. I don't
(03:00):
know what the number is going tobe, but you know, I would
say it's possibly north of nine.You know, that's that's a big number
for a first round. So offensivelinemen, especially in the back end of
Round one, are going to bethere's a lot of dueling. I think
for those spots, maybe at quarterbackslips there could be some competition for Bo
Nix or Michael Pennix or one ofthose types of guys. Maybe there's a
(03:22):
receiver still left on the board thatthat demands that kind of move up.
So a lot of possibilities out there, and I think there are enough motivated
teams. I mean San Francisco thirtyone, Baltimore at thirty could see both
of those teams wanting to move out. Even Kansas, yep, Yeah,
wouldn't be shocking. I mean theywant a receiver. From what I've been
(03:44):
able to gather, I don't knowif the right guy will be there,
or if they think that maybe theycan get the same guy they would have
picked at thirty two a little bitlower. So those last three picks I
think are are are in play forteams like Houston, teams like Washington and
Carroll Line, et cetera. Allright, let's talk about position groups.
I know you highlighted some there.It's probably easiest if I asked you what
(04:08):
position group or position would you frownat if Cassaria was to make that selection.
I'm pretty sure I'm talking about withday two what is that forty two
to fifty nine and even the eightysix pick. Let's take quarterback off the
table because clearly they have one ofthose with fine. All right, so
what like what would surprise you oris it easy to go the other way?
(04:29):
What areas do you think the Texansshould double down on, if you
will, given where the organization iscoming off free agency in last year's draft
as well. Yeah, I meanjust looking at the positions of strength,
I mean, could you make acase for another receiver, yes, Crusher,
sure, because their talents that arecommensurate with that part of the draft.
But to me, that would bea little bit surprising given the Digs
(04:51):
acquisition. They still have Nico andyou know, I think they're still hoping
for more from John Metchi and guyslike that. So yeah, I would
be a little bit surprised. Youcan never have too many pass rushers,
so I don't want to dismiss thatpossibility. He'd love to have a third
guy who can rotate in, butthat would be a pretty aggressive move for
somebody who is in a clear cutstarter. So I guess those I wouldn't
(05:13):
say I would eliminate, but Iwould put a little lower on the possibility
list. Offensive line makes a lotof sense to me, in sensive back
would make a lot of sense tome. Those are two positions. I
don't think there's a safety going inround one unless you consider Cooper de Gene
from Iowa as a hybrid, likea guy who can play nickel or safety
(05:34):
or possibly outside corner like you didat Iowa. He's also a punt return
guy. You know, maybe youcould try him on kick returns now with
the rules. So he's a yeah. I mean, this is a player
who had not gotten hurt late inthe year. I think would have been
a no doubt first round pick andmaybe even top twenty five. Guaranteed he
(05:55):
still could go that high this year. So it will take a little bit
of an f to get a playerlike that. But you know, look
at what Brian Branch did for theLions last peak. That's who I see
now. You know, Jalen Peatreemight play that kind of that same role.
But still, I I there's alot you can do with a guy
(06:15):
like Cooper to gen. Talk withEric at hoolm NFL dot com. I
have kind of some some bigger picturequestions about the draft tonight, and it's
so funny, Eric, I mean, we're not too far removed. Fifteen
years ago. We used to watchthe draft and we'd be it'd be so
suspensful. We had no idea whereanybody was going to be like, oh
my god, right, who's who'sgoing here? Now we have so many
everybody my mom's got a mock draft, Like everybody's got a mock draft now,
(06:38):
and so it's every mock draft's agreeing, Oh, Caleb, bullying is
going on, and Jane Daniel's goingto and all this. But I did
you had a piece on Jayden Danielsand there's been some talk about Okay,
the commander's in love with them?Uh is he in love with them?
But there's been an interesting angle here, and somebody brought to my attention.
You know, Antonio Pierce was abig uh you know, was a coach
at Arizona State when Jayden was there. He loves he love each other as
(07:01):
a bond there. And where theRaiders are picking, they're picking at thirteen.
I just wonder is there a moveto be made there, and would
the Commanders be willing to do it, you know, if if they were
to trade up, because I meanthey're looking for their quarterback. Really still,
I don't know. It's just anintriguing angle on the connection with Antonio
Pearson the Raiders. If you know, Jane Daniels were to not go number
(07:23):
two and start to fall, ohabsolutely. I mean Antonio Pierce was on
NFL network about two weeks ago,I want to say, I can't remember
exactly when, and they said,if you were to draft a quarterback,
whether it's round one, round seven, anywhere in between, what traits are
you looking for? And he basicallysaid, I'm looking for an athlete.
I'm looking for somebody who can threatenteams with his arm and his leg.
(07:46):
They love that dual threat possibility createsall kinds of problems for defenses. You're
in the AFCs, you've got todeal with homes and Herbert and you know,
Sean Payton and everything. I mean, that's a tough place to live,
and they know they need a differentmaker at some point there, whether
it's this year, whether it's next. And it was hard not to draw
a connection there. With Antonio Peersessentially being the associate head coach at ASU
(08:11):
recruited Jaden promised him he'd win theHeisman Trophy. It didn't happen at ASU,
but it did happen at LSU.There is a bond there. Ultimately,
I don't think it happens. Idon't think the Raiders have enough capital,
and I don't think the Washington Commanderswant to move down that far and
put themselves out of quarterback range becauseI don't think they would be a JJ
(08:33):
McCarthy team. I don't think theycould get back up and secure Drake May.
So they're for the commanders. It'stoo big a risk, I assume.
But yeah, then what how didthe Raiders pivot thereafter? I mean,
look, you know, even ifJaden he said it yesterday, he
said, I don't have a choice, like I'm going where I'm told to
go, right, He didn't saythose exact words, but he basically said
(08:56):
this is out of my control now. So he may want to play for
the Raiders and that may be thedream destination, just like Caleb Williams may
have wanted to be back in DCand all that doesn't always work out that
way. So I think we're gonnaget Caleb to Chicago, Jade to Washington,
and then the Raiders suddenly become afascinating team. Do they go for
(09:16):
a penix or do they target offensiveline or some other route. That is
the voice of Eric ed Hoolme ofNFL dot com Draft Guru, man is
the lead writer on all things matterof the draft. We'll appreciate you taking
some time there in Detroit. They'llall let us here in Houston. Will
hit you up via text. Youcan tell us what you think about Cassario
(09:37):
and the Magic On Friday, we'llsee what happens there. Follow him on
social if you aren't already. Heis at Eric E R I C underscore
ed home E ed h O lM. We'll appreciate again, brother,
Be safe, stay off those milesand I don't know that's not pizza when
it's what do they do Detroit?Oh no, they do the bread,
then the topics, then the mayornare sauce goes on top. That's awful.
(10:01):
That's not even a pizza. Idon't know what that's called. But
don't eat any of that crap.Eat something else. I'm gonna avoid that
yet. I hope you guys havea good round one. Whether or not
there's a picking Hoaston or not,it should be a fun that fun.
Diggs come, yeah, wearing jerseynumber one, and he's got four new
jerseys to pick from. We're excitedabout that. Here
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