August 20, 2025 • 31 mins
Gregg Rosenthal and Daniel Jeremiah continue their division-by-division series on the key additions around the NFL -- this time with the AFC South. Covering the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, the duo shares its respective impact players with Rosenthal handling veterans and Jeremiah covering rookies.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to forties and free agents.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
My favorite time of the week when I get to
talk to my frenemy Daniel Jeremiah and we get to
go over the biggest impact players added to every roster
in the league. And this episode we are going through
the a FC South.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
How are you doing, DJ, We've dome great man. I
feel like this is these episodes are like just taking
people onto the new car lot. You know, like you
kind of know the inventory that you already have, but
here's some of the new cars that we have at
the dealership we're excited to tell you about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I love that and I love that we're doing it
now in August versus when it was just all theoretical.
Now we've heard some camp reports, we've heard what's going on,
and we get to hear all the zingers.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Don't listen to all the listeners who are like.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh, my favorite part is when DJ puts Greg in
his place, like that's great, Like, now you're just going
to lean in it.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Don't lean into it too much.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Let's start with you. I don't really don't have to
try it just caps.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Let's start with your rookies. You take the rookie side
of things. Your top five and I will do the veterans.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Well. We were talking before we started and you were
mentioning how free agency wise not the sexiest division in
terms of some of the movements, but I think headliner
wise draft wise, when you've got the top two dogs
here it is, it is going to be fascinating to
follow and start with the Tennessee Titans and number one
overall picking cam Ward had a chance to go out
there for training camp and see him. The arm is legit.
(01:29):
It Sometimes you see guys in college and then you
see him on a NFL field and they might look
small or the ball doesn't have life like. He's got
a big arm. He's very confident, he's very comfortable. I
think we had talked about this previously off the year,
but he's someone they told me he was in the
building every day five five thirty. You know, he's bringing
young players in there with him. I'm very optimistic about
(01:49):
the long term health and performance of cam Ward. I
don't think their team is going to be very good
this year, but I think cam Ward is going to
make the Tennessee Titans a watchable product.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
I totally agree that he was box office and I'm
not sure who what he's going to be like as
a pro you would have a better idea, but he
reminded me a little bit of a J. Cutler type
in just that I'm not sure how exactly this is
going to go, but I'm going to enjoy watching the ride.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Did you watch his preseason performance?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And I'm not I'm no mechanical expert, but like, what
do you think about his throwing motion, because it's it's
very unique.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, he's got a he's very loose like some guys
are very compact and tight. He's got a very loose
motion and there's a lot of whip that he's able
to generate with it. I thought he looked comfortable. He
is aggressive. He's not going to keep the bat on
the shoulder like. He is not afraid to attack in
small windows and aggressively attack defenses. So I'm I'm excited
(02:46):
about him. He's he's someone who doesn't have to have
You always talk about getting your feet in the ground
and get into your legs when you throw. He's got
such a strong arm he doesn't really necessarily always have
to do that. He can kind of fade and still
get plenty on the ball.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I mean loose is the way he throws the balls,
the way he plays too. I mean he almost looks
too comfortable.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
He he he'll he'll get stationary and he'll just he'll
just he's done that in college where he just he
sits there and it's like completely like flat footed, but
just he looks like he just got a massage, like
he's just totally relaxed and just like just chilling in
the pocket, like his feet are stuck, but he's that's
his thing. It's the ultimate sign that somebody is not
it's not sped up on him. He's very comfortable.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
It's kind of amazing. I was thinking, is that gonna
look different in the pros? Because I thought that watching
him in college too, that like I've never seen a
dude just he looks like he's playing video.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Games back there. He's just chill.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
And then he kind of looked the same, but I thought, he, uh,
has looked good to start, let's stay with the Titans.
So Dan Moore, not a big name, did get a
big contract. So he is the new left tackle for
the Titans. And when that deal came out, it was
kind of the one deal everyone made fun of initially,
it's like seventy seven million dollars for Dan Moore, who's
who's kind of a league average left tackle. But then
(04:00):
think about what this team is trying to be, what
their team build is, and I would posit DJ that like,
their identity is their offensive line, and to get an
upgrade at right tackle, where you move Jc Latham, their
top ten pick from a year ago, back to the
right side where he's more comfortable, then you get just,
let's say a league average tackle. Let's say he's the thirteenth,
(04:21):
sixteenth best left tackle in the league.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
That helps a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You got a top pick in Scaronsky in the middle,
a highly paid guy, and Lloyd Cushenberry, who's hurt right now,
but he's at center, and you bring in Kevin Zeitler
and to me, okay, they at least have a vision
to be. Their vision is their offensive line, and Dan
Moore really completed it for them this offseason.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah. I had a conversation with a lot of their
personnel guys down on the field before practice, and I mean, look,
they don't hide from it. They know that they played.
They paid sticker price, maybe sticker price plus on Dan
Moore and how that was going to be received, you know,
outside they were, and I agree with this. We had
a long talk about this philosophy, which is when you
(05:00):
bring in a young quarterback, it's we'll worry about the
defense next time, Like we are going to have to
give him a chance to be successful, to show progress,
to show growth, and to provide hope. So to go
out and get Kevin Zeitler's at whatever, he is thirty
five years old and you know he still playing at
a solid level. He overpay a little bit for a tackle,
but it was by far their best tackle option. They
felt like, you know, they have the first pick, it's
(05:21):
going to be the quarterback. By the time they picked again,
they weren't comfortable with what tackle options were going to
be there, which would have to be on the field
and have to play. So they kind of stacked Dan
Moore up against the tackles they would see later on
in the draft and felt like, okay, he's our best option.
They go out and get two young receivers that they
really liked. They didn't make my list here, but Aomannor
from Stanford and DK from Florida, two guys that I
(05:44):
think as the season goes along and see them play
a lot more. But again, the whole philosophy, which I'm
a fan of, is if you're going to lose games
as a bad team with a rookie quarterback, I want
to lose those games twenty twenty eight to twenty four.
I don't want to lose those games thirteen to nine.
Want to show some progress and some hope.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I hear that, And I love the offensive line coach.
Of course, Bill Callahan is there, the son of the
head coach. My biggest fear with this team, just for
camp ward, is that it could be a Caleb Williams situation,
that the roster overall is not that talented and then
you're starting over with a new head coach, new regime.
So I hope that doesn't happen. And how did you
(06:23):
pronounce it, Ao Manor?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Seeing it, I said aomannor. But I'm not super confident
on that. It's been a long time since I had
that guide in front of me for the draft.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
More on them in a little bit at the wide
receiver position, but I've heard he's getting a lot of
targets in camp.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right, let's go to your your second rookie.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
All right, So that's the first high profile guy. We
go to the next one and that's probably the biggest
high profile rookie in the NFL this year. That's Travis Hunter.
So with the Jags corner receiver, the big trade was made,
which you know, Cleveland fans I think are still upset
about because they wanted a chance to you know, to
see Travis Hunter and what all he could do. By
all accounts and talking to Bucky who's there all the
(07:01):
time and doing their games, the plans seems to be,
you know, offense, you know, pretty much full time, and
then defense picking their spots that's third downs, that's maybe
down in the red zone, but trying to pick and
choose there. But in terms of where he's spending the
bulk of his time, it's a lot more time to
learn all the language on offense than to be able
(07:23):
to learn what he's going to be asked to do
on defense. So he's spending a lot more time with offense.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, and according to the practice reports there too that
they have a great beat writer, John Shipley, I think
he was maybe not playing as fast as he's trying
to figure it out early in camp, and then as
camp has gone on, the lights kind of come on
for him as well, and he's making a lot more
plays on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
You mentioned Browns fans are mad. I'm mad. I mean
you got a chance.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
You got a chance to take a guy who could
be in your Ring of Honor one day, you know,
who could make the Hall of Fame one day.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
He's that type of prospect. DJ, why are you.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Not more excited about Travis hut I still don't quite
get why people just aren't excited about the show, Heyotani
of football.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Maybe it's your Dodgers hatred.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
No, well, first of all, I had this I called
the je Ortiz this last week and was laughing because
I'm like, you know, Travis Hunter getting all this talk.
You know, he's you know, going both ways to show.
Hey Otani, I mean, hey, I think what Scott Mattlock's
doing a little more difficult. He's doing it on the
line of scrimmage. Maybe let's get some Scott Mattlock love
out there for someone who's already been going both ways
(08:28):
at the NFL level and banging with three hundred pounders
on both sides of the line. But no, I am
very excited about him. Greg from the Cleveland standpoint. I've
said it though I understand it, which is this has
been a journey and they've tried everything humanly possible for
the last twenty five years to find their quarterback, and
they decided at this point in time, as special as
(08:50):
Travis Hunter is, as great as he is, they want
another another lottery ticket, you know, for next year. So
they get the Jags first rounder. They have two picks
that could potentially be top ten picks, which maybe they're
in position to get the quarterback. If not, they'd be
you know, loaded with assets to try and move and
get them. So that's that goes back to just a
Cleveland obsession. You know, we know all the different turns
(09:12):
that's taken, but they're obsession with finding the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, that makes sense, And there's gotta be a lot
of pressure on Hunter. And yet when I look at
how he fits into this group, and it'll get to
my free agency choice for the Jaguars too in a second,
I kind of like it. He's not necessarily having to
be the number one receiver. You've got Brian Thomas, and
then he moves the other receivers on the team down
in the pecker pecking order, like Parker Washington was getting
(09:39):
to that word.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Parker Washington has had a really great camp.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, all right, can I sidebar you here for I
just looked at this today. I don't know why I
never hit never thought of this two parter. Do you
think that it ends up this way with these top
four receivers and then how would you stack them? I'm
gonna go I'm gonna make Greg Rosenthal go into the
draft room right now. But at the end of the year,
are the top four wide receivers in the NFL in
(10:04):
terms of yardage? All LSU Tigers? Is it Jamar Chase,
Justin Jefferson, Malik Neighbors, and Brian Thomas Junior? Last year
they were one, two, three and seven. I believe I
think there's a real chance there one, two, three, four
all LSU, And to be honest with you, the next
two probably have a high likelihood of being USC wide
(10:25):
receivers in Amara Saint Brown and Drake Lennon. But if
I took the four LSU receivers, Greg and you can
you can weasel out of it and just say for
fantasy purposes, then you're not saying who's the best player.
But if you were going to stack the LSU receivers,
how would you stack them?
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Man, that's where you're going with this. To me, as
great as Jamar Chase is, it's like one A, one B.
I have been convinced justin Jefferson is the most complete
best wide receiver in the league essentially since he got
to his peak. So I go JJ, then you go Jamar.
I mean, at this point, I love Brian Thomas Jr.
(10:59):
But man, it's it's hard to not take Molik Neighbors.
But because I planted my flag in Brian Thomas Jr.
And he came through for me. Is a guy that
just moves different. The size and the speed, the fact
that Neighbors is always out of practice, been out for
much of I'm going to go Brian Thomas Junior over Neighbors.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
How about that. I'm telling you right now, I would
not be shocked at all in any order of Like
if we looked at stats at the end of this year,
if these four are in any order, if you told
me that BTJ had the best season of these four guys,
I wouldn't bad or not. He's elite, elite, elite talent.
Neighbors if they can get solid quarterback play. Could be
(11:35):
he could have the best season of all these guys.
And we already know what Chase and JJ can do.
So it's pretty fascinating. Man. What a heck of a
job by LSU that they the four best receivers in
the NFL went to the same college. That's pretty bonkers.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
It's it's totally insane.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And on your point for neighbors, they you know, they
track the targets in practices and it's hilarious to watch
the Giants target distribution and practices like Russell Wilson, it's
molik neighbors is you know, in the forties or whatever,
and the next closest wide receiver is like ten and
it's like running backs in between, just on dump dumb bops.
It's all molik neighbors all the time. So I mentioned Hunter,
(12:09):
I don't think is having to do too much too
fast because because they have some depth a receiver Dami
Brown is there too. But I'm not choosing Diami Brown,
who's a second. I'm actually choosing the cornerback pick up
Jordan Lewis, And this is partly based on the camp reports.
He was a guy kind of like my first guy
Dan Moore. People are like, wow, Jordan Lewis is now
the highest paid slot cornerback in the league. It's one
(12:30):
of those agent driven advertisements. First of all, not really
if you drill down, but yeah, if it's the guarantee money.
So second of all, he's actually got to play on
the outside plenty for them. And like I said, I
have a reporter, I really trust her, and he said
since the day the ot started, he's probably been their
best practice player consistently from May through now. A leader,
(12:54):
a guy who's been around the league, and to me,
adds a real solid starter to that corner. They have
Tyson Campbell back healthy, then you don't need Travis hunder
to be like the superstar cornerback right away. You feel
a little better at cornerback so that he can just
kind of mix in there. So I've liked what I've
heard out of Jordan Lewis, and that was a bad
secondary last year. That was why they were not a
(13:15):
good defense, and he's a good guy to help upgrade them.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Yeah, that's it's interesting when you see the you know,
kind of the the slot players, guys who've been designated
too players to have the value in that just overall
in the league, and we've we've talked about him being
starters for a decade, and you know, everybody's kind of
gotten to that point. But there's a lot of the
best teams in the league if they're going to play
somebody inside, they have impact players on a lot of
the best teams that can play inside. There. So interesting,
(13:41):
I'm going to go. I'm gonna go to Houston Texans
their second round pick, arionte ersri who's going to start
a tackle for him? Who was a tough player for
me to evaluate, and I'll pull up my notes on him.
He was massive. He's six six, three hundred and thirty
one pounds. He ran a five zho one, so he
actually moved pretty well. Just he's huge. I didn't I
think he ben was able to bend well. He was
(14:04):
you know, could pin and seal on the run game,
he was okay on short polls. I thought he could
anchor a well against power. But I just thought he
was on his heels a little bit. I didn't think
he was. I don't think he played super loose and
bendy and athletic. And you know, we'll see, we'll see
how he's gonna get challenged inside this division, but much
of their success this year is going to depend on
(14:24):
this offensive line that they've tried to remake, not only
in talent, but really trying to remake kind of the
identity and the makeup of that offensive line. So I'm
still I love this Texans defense so much. I love
the quarterback, I just to me the offensive line. I'm
still I'm a little nervous there.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah, I could have tried to shoehorn in one of
the free agents they picked up, but I couldn't choose
one between them. You know, they signed like seven different
guys and they're just hoping one of them works. I
have heard out of that that camp seth pain is great,
but that they're optimistic that it's gonna be a little
bit and more cohesive this year.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And your guy, they were terrible against games last year,
awful against any stunner game that they saw, Like the
next one they pick up will be the first.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
So maybe that means they'll be better coach and it's
going to be a totally different group. Ursery, maybe more
than any rookie that I feel like, was very divisive.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I think a lot of people were down on him.
Some people loved him.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
He has really gotten big upt for what it's worth,
by the coaches, by the reporters, by the teammates. He
is an immediate starter for them. He is going to
be in that starting lineup, and they've they've thought, like,
for instance, I heard on the ESPN reporter DJ bi
Enemy say that in the way that Blake Fisher just
(15:46):
isn't coming along and kind of didn't have that professional
look to him right away. Ursies come out there and
he's kind of looked like their guy. So there's been
a lot of positive reports about him. That's a good sign.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
No, that's good. And this is why I love doing
these episodes because I kind of go off of what
I see from above, you know, looking at the roster,
and then also going back to my draft stuff, and
then you are dialed in with with how training camp's
been going. So it's fun little back and forth here.
I just give you a small little compliment I won't
don't get used to it.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Well, yeah, and I'll give you one too.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I've heard that the DJ digging into the notes section
is one of our listener's favorite bits here. You know,
my coworker Jordan Rodrieg loves it, and it got me thinking.
You have this database right in your computer, and it's
going back to a couple of decades at this point,
back to when.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
You were in the league.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Yeah, are you thinking about you could possibly sell that.
You know, people have these the substacks, the Patreon, if
you just had a subscription to your draft notes. You know,
I know those season tickets for the padres are expensive,
your kids are starting to go to college. You could
get a little extra scratch here.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
So this would be the equivalent in terms of putting
all of my reports and rankings over the years. This
would be the equivalent of me loading a gun and
handing it to a crazy person. So that's what that
would be.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
That's fair, that's fair.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
We could we could bring up the Justin Herbert.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
But you know what's great about that whole thing is
if you go back through if I don't tell you
the grade, if I go and just read the description,
the descriptions almost always because it's just there's no it's
just what what you see. That's what it is. The
tricky part is then where did you word you grade him?
And how did you stack the players? But the notes,
like if I read you the notes on these players,
(17:30):
you go, Okay, that's kind of who he is. But
how do you value that? That's where the trick is.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
You can't hit them off people. People would honestly pay
for that. But that's that's maybe in a future life,
you know, that's that's ten years from now when you're
just looking, you know, looking for some extra money.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Well, let's see if ESPN can get me to work
on the outdoor games and like, uh, when when this
thing goes through? And maybe if that doesn't happen, then
maybe that's what we got to do.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Okay, where do I want to go. Let's let's talk Texans.
Christian Kirk is my choice. He was actually a trade
acquisition and they kept him. They didn't adjust this contract,
so he is a free agent after this year. So
he has a lot to play for and I chose
him because, look, they're the favorites in this division. They
need their offense to improve. I love CJ. Stroud, I
(18:14):
love his anticipation. What can you really count on with
this offense. I'm not sure about the running back position
right now because Mixon is hurt.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
I'm not sure about the offensive line. He talked about it.
We can count on CJ.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Stroud, I think in Nico Collins, but after that it's
a lot of question mark. You have some rookie wide receivers,
so they could really use Christian Kirk to have a
healthy season. To me, he's a reliable player as long
as he's on the field and moving well. He's got
that speed up the slot, and if he's out there,
I think he's gonna make a big difference for this team.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
So I'm gonna skip around then because my wildcard, which
we do the five to keep an eye on, and
we do the wildcard, this is the time to talk
about it. So my wildcard was Jayden Higgins. So they
go out and get both the Iowa state receivers, two
guys I really really liked, and so with Jalen Nole
and then Higgins. So Higgins size wise is huge. So
you're trying to figure out who's going to be that
(19:08):
compliment there to Collins and Kirk. You know, how does
he factor in. Kirk's totally different receiver, he's more similar
to to nol So with Higgins six', four two hundred
and fourteen, pounds you, know my comp was Form Greg Nico.
Collins oh that was?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Right is that?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Weird is that? Weird that's about the Any noel To, Kirk,
yeah that's exactly like. Two there are duplicates of each.
Other On, higgins he can, accelerate he can go get the,
ball a lot of fifty to fifty, wins vertical. Stuff
he drew a ton of penalties down the, field AND
i thought he had some stop start quicks for a big.
GUY i think he's a really talented. Player he was
my forty sixth player in the, draft SO i think
(19:48):
both those guys are good to. ME i put him
as a wildcard just because how is the rotation going to?
Work what's his role going to? Be did they see
him more as he was a nice compliment To nico
or is you know how to that? All how does
it all factor? In because they have two and. Two
it's like they got two guys the same and another
two guys are the.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Same, yeah and they're really county ON.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Cj, STROUD i think to take charge of this, offense
they're saying giving him a lot of choices in terms
of the protections and all, that like counting on his mental,
acuity which is off the. Charts to really carry. Them
but it's a LOT i wouldn't be surprised because the rookies.
Involved kirk is new the offensive. Line maybe they get
off to a little bit of a slow, start but,
yeah he's SOMEONE i really wanted to. WATCH i haven't
(20:29):
heard a lot about, him but nothing negative or anything like.
That let's take a quick break and then we'll wrap
up THE Afc south after, this back on forties and free.
(20:51):
Agents all, right give me another rookie that you.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Got all, Right i've got two, cults SO i. Can i'll.
Mention i'll mention both, names and then we kind of
go wherever you want to go with. It But Tyler,
WARREN i, mean all it took was the first preseason
game to see that he's going to be a, major you,
know target guy in this, offense someone who there was
a little bit of debate about coming out just because you,
know they used him all over the. Place he played
(21:13):
some in The Wildcat he you, know he's not as
maybe as quick in as sudden at the top of
routes As loveland was coming out Of, michigan but he.
Is he's a, big physical guy who can win on
contested catches and who's just a monster after the. Catch
SO i think he's going to be a big part
of their. Offense control in the middle of the. Field
and then on the defensive side of the, BALL. Jt,
(21:33):
tamolau they have a they actually have a good front.
There they have a good defensive, line And tamalaut can move,
outside he can rush inside in one of the things
he's excellent. At he's awesome on. Games so he's that's
kind of a feel and instinct thing and can you you,
know how are you on? That he's someone you could
line up outside and twist him. Inside you could line him,
inside swing him. OUTSIDE i think he's going to be
(21:54):
a fun chess piece for them to kind of move,
around and the guys just knows how to rush the.
Quarterback what is it ABOUT.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Jt toomalo that all the tape heads they love?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
HIM i really it feels like the more you watch this,
film like people just love this. Guy and you're. Right
he showed up immediately on film by the way, too
in the.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Preseason, yeah he's he's not a huge tester and this last,
YEAR i think we talked about it in some of
these shows running up to the. Draft so none of
these guys. TESTED i mean it was like if you
looked at like the top fifteen edge, guys maybe four
of them ran a Forty, like so you don't have
testing numbers on. HIM i don't think he would have
ran super, fast But i'm going back through. Here he
(22:34):
was six four a little over six, four two hundred
and sixty five. Pounds he doesn't wow you with like
his get off or his burst or any of those.
Things but he knows how to. Rush he used that long,
arm he kills tight, ends just bullies the cred out of.
Him Michigan. State he hammered that offensive tackle as. Well
so he's a power. RUSHER i see it with the
comp with Two lee a little bit Tweyt polo two
(22:57):
with The. Chargers he's got that same body. Type and
just he's a good football. Player he's not gonna he's
not Gonna you're not gonna be watching, it like watch
his get off or watch him win right away and
be like, whoa it's just like shocking. You just the
guy's gonna have five tackles and a couple pressures at
the end of every.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Game, hey he's just a football, player you. KNOW i
just know how to play.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Ball as we're recording, this it's A mayock's, birthday by the,
Way SO i Think mike just kind of he just
kind of entered into your psyche there without even knowing.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
IT i MISS i miss Hearing Mike, mayak although he
does the radio sometimes When i'm driving The Westwood one.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Game, yeah Like thursday night. Games, yeah does a great
job with.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
That, Okay SO i GOT i got A colt.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Too but BEFORE i get Off, warren BECAUSE i wouldn't
SAY i was a, doubter BUT i would have rather
to Have colston lovelhim just because to, ME i felt
like you kind of knew what he was and you're
betting on an outlier And warren and it so far
it looks like that outlier is gonna pay. Off back
in the in the day with The, colts it was
like they had a good offensive, line but they didn't
have any skill position. Players that's what's got to Kill
(24:00):
Chris ballard, now because If warren hits in, it it
looks like he. Will it's a good receiver. Group Michael
pittman is a quality starting. Receiver Alec pierce led THE
nfl in yards Per Catt Ady mitchell's having a great.
Camp Ady mitchell looked good in the first preseason, Game
Like Josh downs is one of my favorite slot. Guys
(24:22):
he's kind of a, prototype like what you want out
of a slot. Guy and then you Got Jonathan taylor
who's healthy last. Year like that's a great group and
a pretty good offensive, Line like they do have some.
Upside they're Adding warren if they can just get a
little quarterback play and an improved. Defense so the defense
Lou An arumo's. Revenge i'm adding my last player before
(24:44):
my wild card, Here Charvarius. Ward physical corner before free,
agency had him very highly ranked on my, board AND
i just, thought if you can get a guy who
in two of the last three or four years played
at an all pro, level known as a great guy
(25:05):
in the locker, room just Like, physical that those are
the quarterbacks THAT i like and just competes like, Heck
and unfortunately you're getting him at a. Discount AND i
bring up his personal situation BECAUSE i think it helps
explain why he struggled last year and wasn't on the.
Field he went, through you, know the greatest, nightmare and
(25:26):
any parent can go through you know him and his
wife when they lost the, child and he spoke about
it very openly and very emotionally that he just wasn't
there last, year wasn't there, mentally he said he needed
a fresh. Start he just said he wanted to get
out Of San francisco just because it was just too.
Heavy and he's here With Louanna. ROUMO i think that's
(25:48):
a nice, fit and all the reports are, great And
i've heard him speak about it too In. INDIANAPOLIS i
think he's just ready to have a nice rebound season
and make a really big impact as a cornerback there
for The.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Colts, nah you won't find anybody easier to root for
either after being through what he's been. Through but that you,
know when it comes to the big picture of their,
DEFENSE i like the way that they. Rush they're. Aggressive
i'm curious to see with with An rumo coming in,
there how if anything changes with that Quin he pays,
got he's got, ABILITY i. KNOW i think there's more
in the tank there with. Him we'll see what happens With.
(26:20):
Lattu another young player who's got a you, know has a,
skill knows how to. Rush they've got some pieces, there
so we'll see if it all.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Comes Forrest, Buckner Grover.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Stewart still they're like they're they're, good And I'm i'm
still very high on on lat too and uh AND
i think this could be lose. Revenge you got blame
for everything In. Cincinnati like he's a good he's a
good defensive. Coordinator you did.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Your wild, card you're out of. Players i'm, Out i'm,
Out you're.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
UP i have one more wild, card and it's a man,
who for the longest, time was uniformly called the most
underrated receiver in, football to the point where if every
single person is saying, it it doesn't really. Qualify can
you guess WHAT Afc south acquisition this offseason for a
(27:08):
long time was called the most underrated wide receiver in.
Football you went to this team's training, Camp?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Lockett are you talking About? LOCKETT i am.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Talking About Tyler.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
LOCKETT i gave you too many hints BECAUSE i felt
bad that.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Was coming out OF i was pulling up our.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
LADS i was going to the depth. CHARTS i THINK
i would have found. It but, YEAH dj was, like.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Oh, no like everyone's going to figure it.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
OUT i really.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
CAN'T i really not don't know, No Tyler, lockett they
didn't give him much.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
MONEY i bring him.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Up as a wild card partly BECAUSE i am worried
about the drop off After Calvin. Ridley he's their, Starter
Tyler lockett and maybe didn't have quite the same speed In,
seattle and that's why they were comfortable getting rid of
them at the end of last. Year And i've heard
from camp like it's a lot of, oconquo it's a
lot of. Throwing To, pollard it's a Lot. Ridley haven't
(28:01):
heard a lot About lockett or The you mentioned the rookie.
Receivers they need to be part of. That SO i
bring him up as a. Wildcard more that. Man Kim
ward might not be playing with a fully stacked, deck
but Maybe Tyler lockett poosy.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Rof so haven't been. THERE i will Say Calvin ridley
is going to get five billion. Targets he is by
far their best, receiver and he's someone That cam loves
and the, offense everybody on the whole staff loves, him
and he's ready to have a good. Year he's gonna
draw a lot of. Attention so we'll see where those
secondary targets. GO i would just caution against your wildcard
(28:36):
by saying they have the two veterans And lockett And,
jefferson and at least WHEN i was, there there was
not enough separation between them AND dk and aomannor, however
we want to pronounce his name The stanford receiver their
fourth round picks. Respectively to, me if it's close at,
all this is about the future with The. Titans it's
about Cam ward and who's going to grow up with.
(28:57):
HIM i maybe THOSE i start out being, guys BUT
i think when they go eleven personnel week, six it's
gonna be the two rookies In Calvin.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Ridley that makes more, sense and that'd be more.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Interesting, frankly and for what they Paid, lockett, like that's
not a total disaster for their front office because he's
a leader in that. Room they didn't pay him really
like a starting. Receiver they paid him more like a
fourth fifth. Receiver they just don't have anyone else that
that we really know that's Produced AND i have received
confirmation it's Pronounced Io, Manner so that's, Good.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Ao Manor Io. Manner Io manner is easier to, remember,
Right you just just gotta went to that little li
ball right.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
There that was THE Afc.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
South it gets it gets slept ON, dj but a
lot of FUN i missed.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Those do you think this is gonna be Our do
you think? This do you think this this is gonna
be the most downloaded forties and free? Agents do you
THINK Afc? South don't be rude about. It i'm asking
maybe there is a Sneaky maybe there's a sneaky following
there that we don't.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Know all, Right titans, Fans jaguars, Fans colts, Fans texans
their their divisional round year after.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Year why didn't? WE i, mean can this is too?
Late can we in? Post can we just Have can
we just Have Maurice Jones drew say? Hi then we
can promote it on the tweet that Like Maurice Jones
drew joins us to chat and then he sends it
out to his you, know his, following so he can
just pull in the Whole jags nation into this. Thing
that would that would.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Help he owes me literally and not, literally BECAUSE i
was happy.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
You guys went To. Japan he showed me PICTURES i
PICKED i.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Picked up dinner At.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Japan that made me feel like a big man picking
up dinner In asia for a FORMER nfl rushing.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Champion he did showed me a picture of your father
in law kissing him on the cheek with no, explanation
and there's a whole story that has to go along with,
that which is probably a separate, Podcast but, UH i
did see the, picture so that. Exists that is.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Amazing AND i really want to put that on social.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Media and my wife was, like you were not putting that.
Out she was too imposed by her.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Father but, Yeah maurice a great hang in any any.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Country any.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Continent we will be back on forties and free agents
later in the week with THE Nfc south
Welcome to forties and free agents.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
My favorite time of the week when I get to
talk to my frenemy Daniel Jeremiah and we get to
go over the biggest impact players added to every roster
in the league. And this episode we are going through
the a FC South.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
How are you doing, DJ, We've dome great man. I
feel like this is these episodes are like just taking
people onto the new car lot. You know, like you
kind of know the inventory that you already have, but
here's some of the new cars that we have at
the dealership we're excited to tell you about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I love that and I love that we're doing it
now in August versus when it was just all theoretical.
Now we've heard some camp reports, we've heard what's going on,
and we get to hear all the zingers.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Don't listen to all the listeners who are like.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh, my favorite part is when DJ puts Greg in
his place, like that's great, Like, now you're just going
to lean in it.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Don't lean into it too much.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Let's start with you. I don't really don't have to
try it just caps.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Let's start with your rookies. You take the rookie side
of things. Your top five and I will do the veterans.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Well. We were talking before we started and you were
mentioning how free agency wise not the sexiest division in
terms of some of the movements, but I think headliner
wise draft wise, when you've got the top two dogs
here it is, it is going to be fascinating to
follow and start with the Tennessee Titans and number one
overall picking cam Ward had a chance to go out
there for training camp and see him. The arm is legit.
(01:29):
It Sometimes you see guys in college and then you
see him on a NFL field and they might look
small or the ball doesn't have life like. He's got
a big arm. He's very confident, he's very comfortable. I
think we had talked about this previously off the year,
but he's someone they told me he was in the
building every day five five thirty. You know, he's bringing
young players in there with him. I'm very optimistic about
(01:49):
the long term health and performance of cam Ward. I
don't think their team is going to be very good
this year, but I think cam Ward is going to
make the Tennessee Titans a watchable product.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
I totally agree that he was box office and I'm
not sure who what he's going to be like as
a pro you would have a better idea, but he
reminded me a little bit of a J. Cutler type
in just that I'm not sure how exactly this is
going to go, but I'm going to enjoy watching the ride.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Did you watch his preseason performance?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
And I'm not I'm no mechanical expert, but like, what
do you think about his throwing motion, because it's it's
very unique.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, he's got a he's very loose like some guys
are very compact and tight. He's got a very loose
motion and there's a lot of whip that he's able
to generate with it. I thought he looked comfortable. He
is aggressive. He's not going to keep the bat on
the shoulder like. He is not afraid to attack in
small windows and aggressively attack defenses. So I'm I'm excited
(02:46):
about him. He's he's someone who doesn't have to have
You always talk about getting your feet in the ground
and get into your legs when you throw. He's got
such a strong arm he doesn't really necessarily always have
to do that. He can kind of fade and still
get plenty on the ball.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I mean loose is the way he throws the balls,
the way he plays too. I mean he almost looks
too comfortable.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
He he he'll he'll get stationary and he'll just he'll
just he's done that in college where he just he
sits there and it's like completely like flat footed, but
just he looks like he just got a massage, like
he's just totally relaxed and just like just chilling in
the pocket, like his feet are stuck, but he's that's
his thing. It's the ultimate sign that somebody is not
it's not sped up on him. He's very comfortable.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
It's kind of amazing. I was thinking, is that gonna
look different in the pros? Because I thought that watching
him in college too, that like I've never seen a
dude just he looks like he's playing video.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Games back there. He's just chill.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
And then he kind of looked the same, but I thought, he, uh,
has looked good to start, let's stay with the Titans.
So Dan Moore, not a big name, did get a
big contract. So he is the new left tackle for
the Titans. And when that deal came out, it was
kind of the one deal everyone made fun of initially,
it's like seventy seven million dollars for Dan Moore, who's
who's kind of a league average left tackle. But then
(04:00):
think about what this team is trying to be, what
their team build is, and I would posit DJ that like,
their identity is their offensive line, and to get an
upgrade at right tackle, where you move Jc Latham, their
top ten pick from a year ago, back to the
right side where he's more comfortable, then you get just,
let's say a league average tackle. Let's say he's the thirteenth,
(04:21):
sixteenth best left tackle in the league.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
That helps a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You got a top pick in Scaronsky in the middle,
a highly paid guy, and Lloyd Cushenberry, who's hurt right now,
but he's at center, and you bring in Kevin Zeitler
and to me, okay, they at least have a vision
to be. Their vision is their offensive line, and Dan
Moore really completed it for them this offseason.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah. I had a conversation with a lot of their
personnel guys down on the field before practice, and I mean, look,
they don't hide from it. They know that they played.
They paid sticker price, maybe sticker price plus on Dan
Moore and how that was going to be received, you know,
outside they were, and I agree with this. We had
a long talk about this philosophy, which is when you
(05:00):
bring in a young quarterback, it's we'll worry about the
defense next time, Like we are going to have to
give him a chance to be successful, to show progress,
to show growth, and to provide hope. So to go
out and get Kevin Zeitler's at whatever, he is thirty
five years old and you know he still playing at
a solid level. He overpay a little bit for a tackle,
but it was by far their best tackle option. They
felt like, you know, they have the first pick, it's
(05:21):
going to be the quarterback. By the time they picked again,
they weren't comfortable with what tackle options were going to
be there, which would have to be on the field
and have to play. So they kind of stacked Dan
Moore up against the tackles they would see later on
in the draft and felt like, okay, he's our best option.
They go out and get two young receivers that they
really liked. They didn't make my list here, but Aomannor
from Stanford and DK from Florida, two guys that I
(05:44):
think as the season goes along and see them play
a lot more. But again, the whole philosophy, which I'm
a fan of, is if you're going to lose games
as a bad team with a rookie quarterback, I want
to lose those games twenty twenty eight to twenty four.
I don't want to lose those games thirteen to nine.
Want to show some progress and some hope.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I hear that, And I love the offensive line coach.
Of course, Bill Callahan is there, the son of the
head coach. My biggest fear with this team, just for
camp ward, is that it could be a Caleb Williams situation,
that the roster overall is not that talented and then
you're starting over with a new head coach, new regime.
So I hope that doesn't happen. And how did you
(06:23):
pronounce it, Ao Manor?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Seeing it, I said aomannor. But I'm not super confident
on that. It's been a long time since I had
that guide in front of me for the draft.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
More on them in a little bit at the wide
receiver position, but I've heard he's getting a lot of
targets in camp.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right, let's go to your your second rookie.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
All right, So that's the first high profile guy. We
go to the next one and that's probably the biggest
high profile rookie in the NFL this year. That's Travis Hunter.
So with the Jags corner receiver, the big trade was made,
which you know, Cleveland fans I think are still upset
about because they wanted a chance to you know, to
see Travis Hunter and what all he could do. By
all accounts and talking to Bucky who's there all the
(07:01):
time and doing their games, the plans seems to be,
you know, offense, you know, pretty much full time, and
then defense picking their spots that's third downs, that's maybe
down in the red zone, but trying to pick and
choose there. But in terms of where he's spending the
bulk of his time, it's a lot more time to
learn all the language on offense than to be able
(07:23):
to learn what he's going to be asked to do
on defense. So he's spending a lot more time with offense.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, and according to the practice reports there too that
they have a great beat writer, John Shipley, I think
he was maybe not playing as fast as he's trying
to figure it out early in camp, and then as
camp has gone on, the lights kind of come on
for him as well, and he's making a lot more
plays on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
You mentioned Browns fans are mad. I'm mad. I mean
you got a chance.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
You got a chance to take a guy who could
be in your Ring of Honor one day, you know,
who could make the Hall of Fame one day.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
He's that type of prospect. DJ, why are you.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Not more excited about Travis hut I still don't quite
get why people just aren't excited about the show, Heyotani
of football.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Maybe it's your Dodgers hatred.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
No, well, first of all, I had this I called
the je Ortiz this last week and was laughing because
I'm like, you know, Travis Hunter getting all this talk.
You know, he's you know, going both ways to show.
Hey Otani, I mean, hey, I think what Scott Mattlock's
doing a little more difficult. He's doing it on the
line of scrimmage. Maybe let's get some Scott Mattlock love
out there for someone who's already been going both ways
(08:28):
at the NFL level and banging with three hundred pounders
on both sides of the line. But no, I am
very excited about him. Greg from the Cleveland standpoint. I've
said it though I understand it, which is this has
been a journey and they've tried everything humanly possible for
the last twenty five years to find their quarterback, and
they decided at this point in time, as special as
(08:50):
Travis Hunter is, as great as he is, they want
another another lottery ticket, you know, for next year. So
they get the Jags first rounder. They have two picks
that could potentially be top ten picks, which maybe they're
in position to get the quarterback. If not, they'd be
you know, loaded with assets to try and move and
get them. So that's that goes back to just a
Cleveland obsession. You know, we know all the different turns
(09:12):
that's taken, but they're obsession with finding the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, that makes sense, And there's gotta be a lot
of pressure on Hunter. And yet when I look at
how he fits into this group, and it'll get to
my free agency choice for the Jaguars too in a second,
I kind of like it. He's not necessarily having to
be the number one receiver. You've got Brian Thomas, and
then he moves the other receivers on the team down
in the pecker pecking order, like Parker Washington was getting
(09:39):
to that word.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Parker Washington has had a really great camp.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, all right, can I sidebar you here for I
just looked at this today. I don't know why I
never hit never thought of this two parter. Do you
think that it ends up this way with these top
four receivers and then how would you stack them? I'm
gonna go I'm gonna make Greg Rosenthal go into the
draft room right now. But at the end of the year,
are the top four wide receivers in the NFL in
(10:04):
terms of yardage? All LSU Tigers? Is it Jamar Chase,
Justin Jefferson, Malik Neighbors, and Brian Thomas Junior? Last year
they were one, two, three and seven. I believe I
think there's a real chance there one, two, three, four
all LSU, And to be honest with you, the next
two probably have a high likelihood of being USC wide
(10:25):
receivers in Amara Saint Brown and Drake Lennon. But if
I took the four LSU receivers, Greg and you can
you can weasel out of it and just say for
fantasy purposes, then you're not saying who's the best player.
But if you were going to stack the LSU receivers,
how would you stack them?
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Man, that's where you're going with this. To me, as
great as Jamar Chase is, it's like one A, one B.
I have been convinced justin Jefferson is the most complete
best wide receiver in the league essentially since he got
to his peak. So I go JJ, then you go Jamar.
I mean, at this point, I love Brian Thomas Jr.
(10:59):
But man, it's it's hard to not take Molik Neighbors.
But because I planted my flag in Brian Thomas Jr.
And he came through for me. Is a guy that
just moves different. The size and the speed, the fact
that Neighbors is always out of practice, been out for
much of I'm going to go Brian Thomas Junior over Neighbors.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
How about that. I'm telling you right now, I would
not be shocked at all in any order of Like
if we looked at stats at the end of this year,
if these four are in any order, if you told
me that BTJ had the best season of these four guys,
I wouldn't bad or not. He's elite, elite, elite talent.
Neighbors if they can get solid quarterback play. Could be
(11:35):
he could have the best season of all these guys.
And we already know what Chase and JJ can do.
So it's pretty fascinating. Man. What a heck of a
job by LSU that they the four best receivers in
the NFL went to the same college. That's pretty bonkers.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
It's it's totally insane.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And on your point for neighbors, they you know, they
track the targets in practices and it's hilarious to watch
the Giants target distribution and practices like Russell Wilson, it's
molik neighbors is you know, in the forties or whatever,
and the next closest wide receiver is like ten and
it's like running backs in between, just on dump dumb bops.
It's all molik neighbors all the time. So I mentioned Hunter,
(12:09):
I don't think is having to do too much too
fast because because they have some depth a receiver Dami
Brown is there too. But I'm not choosing Diami Brown,
who's a second. I'm actually choosing the cornerback pick up
Jordan Lewis, And this is partly based on the camp reports.
He was a guy kind of like my first guy
Dan Moore. People are like, wow, Jordan Lewis is now
the highest paid slot cornerback in the league. It's one
(12:30):
of those agent driven advertisements. First of all, not really
if you drill down, but yeah, if it's the guarantee money.
So second of all, he's actually got to play on
the outside plenty for them. And like I said, I
have a reporter, I really trust her, and he said
since the day the ot started, he's probably been their
best practice player consistently from May through now. A leader,
(12:54):
a guy who's been around the league, and to me,
adds a real solid starter to that corner. They have
Tyson Campbell back healthy, then you don't need Travis hunder
to be like the superstar cornerback right away. You feel
a little better at cornerback so that he can just
kind of mix in there. So I've liked what I've
heard out of Jordan Lewis, and that was a bad
secondary last year. That was why they were not a
(13:15):
good defense, and he's a good guy to help upgrade them.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Yeah, that's it's interesting when you see the you know,
kind of the the slot players, guys who've been designated
too players to have the value in that just overall
in the league, and we've we've talked about him being
starters for a decade, and you know, everybody's kind of
gotten to that point. But there's a lot of the
best teams in the league if they're going to play
somebody inside, they have impact players on a lot of
the best teams that can play inside. There. So interesting,
(13:41):
I'm going to go. I'm gonna go to Houston Texans
their second round pick, arionte ersri who's going to start
a tackle for him? Who was a tough player for
me to evaluate, and I'll pull up my notes on him.
He was massive. He's six six, three hundred and thirty
one pounds. He ran a five zho one, so he
actually moved pretty well. Just he's huge. I didn't I
think he ben was able to bend well. He was
(14:04):
you know, could pin and seal on the run game,
he was okay on short polls. I thought he could
anchor a well against power. But I just thought he
was on his heels a little bit. I didn't think
he was. I don't think he played super loose and
bendy and athletic. And you know, we'll see, we'll see
how he's gonna get challenged inside this division, but much
of their success this year is going to depend on
(14:24):
this offensive line that they've tried to remake, not only
in talent, but really trying to remake kind of the
identity and the makeup of that offensive line. So I'm
still I love this Texans defense so much. I love
the quarterback, I just to me the offensive line. I'm
still I'm a little nervous there.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah, I could have tried to shoehorn in one of
the free agents they picked up, but I couldn't choose
one between them. You know, they signed like seven different
guys and they're just hoping one of them works. I
have heard out of that that camp seth pain is great,
but that they're optimistic that it's gonna be a little
bit and more cohesive this year.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And your guy, they were terrible against games last year,
awful against any stunner game that they saw, Like the
next one they pick up will be the first.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
So maybe that means they'll be better coach and it's
going to be a totally different group. Ursery, maybe more
than any rookie that I feel like, was very divisive.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I think a lot of people were down on him.
Some people loved him.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
He has really gotten big upt for what it's worth,
by the coaches, by the reporters, by the teammates. He
is an immediate starter for them. He is going to
be in that starting lineup, and they've they've thought, like,
for instance, I heard on the ESPN reporter DJ bi
Enemy say that in the way that Blake Fisher just
(15:46):
isn't coming along and kind of didn't have that professional
look to him right away. Ursies come out there and
he's kind of looked like their guy. So there's been
a lot of positive reports about him. That's a good sign.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
No, that's good. And this is why I love doing
these episodes because I kind of go off of what
I see from above, you know, looking at the roster,
and then also going back to my draft stuff, and
then you are dialed in with with how training camp's
been going. So it's fun little back and forth here.
I just give you a small little compliment I won't
don't get used to it.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Well, yeah, and I'll give you one too.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I've heard that the DJ digging into the notes section
is one of our listener's favorite bits here. You know,
my coworker Jordan Rodrieg loves it, and it got me thinking.
You have this database right in your computer, and it's
going back to a couple of decades at this point,
back to when.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
You were in the league.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Yeah, are you thinking about you could possibly sell that.
You know, people have these the substacks, the Patreon, if
you just had a subscription to your draft notes. You know,
I know those season tickets for the padres are expensive,
your kids are starting to go to college. You could
get a little extra scratch here.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
So this would be the equivalent in terms of putting
all of my reports and rankings over the years. This
would be the equivalent of me loading a gun and
handing it to a crazy person. So that's what that
would be.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
That's fair, that's fair.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
We could we could bring up the Justin Herbert.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
But you know what's great about that whole thing is
if you go back through if I don't tell you
the grade, if I go and just read the description,
the descriptions almost always because it's just there's no it's
just what what you see. That's what it is. The
tricky part is then where did you word you grade him?
And how did you stack the players? But the notes,
like if I read you the notes on these players,
(17:30):
you go, Okay, that's kind of who he is. But
how do you value that? That's where the trick is.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
You can't hit them off people. People would honestly pay
for that. But that's that's maybe in a future life,
you know, that's that's ten years from now when you're
just looking, you know, looking for some extra money.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Well, let's see if ESPN can get me to work
on the outdoor games and like, uh, when when this
thing goes through? And maybe if that doesn't happen, then
maybe that's what we got to do.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Okay, where do I want to go. Let's let's talk Texans.
Christian Kirk is my choice. He was actually a trade
acquisition and they kept him. They didn't adjust this contract,
so he is a free agent after this year. So
he has a lot to play for and I chose
him because, look, they're the favorites in this division. They
need their offense to improve. I love CJ. Stroud, I
(18:14):
love his anticipation. What can you really count on with
this offense. I'm not sure about the running back position
right now because Mixon is hurt.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
I'm not sure about the offensive line. He talked about it.
We can count on CJ.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Stroud, I think in Nico Collins, but after that it's
a lot of question mark. You have some rookie wide receivers,
so they could really use Christian Kirk to have a
healthy season. To me, he's a reliable player as long
as he's on the field and moving well. He's got
that speed up the slot, and if he's out there,
I think he's gonna make a big difference for this team.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
So I'm gonna skip around then because my wildcard, which
we do the five to keep an eye on, and
we do the wildcard, this is the time to talk
about it. So my wildcard was Jayden Higgins. So they
go out and get both the Iowa state receivers, two
guys I really really liked, and so with Jalen Nole
and then Higgins. So Higgins size wise is huge. So
you're trying to figure out who's going to be that
(19:08):
compliment there to Collins and Kirk. You know, how does
he factor in. Kirk's totally different receiver, he's more similar
to to nol So with Higgins six', four two hundred
and fourteen, pounds you, know my comp was Form Greg Nico.
Collins oh that was?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Right is that?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Weird is that? Weird that's about the Any noel To, Kirk,
yeah that's exactly like. Two there are duplicates of each.
Other On, higgins he can, accelerate he can go get the,
ball a lot of fifty to fifty, wins vertical. Stuff
he drew a ton of penalties down the, field AND
i thought he had some stop start quicks for a big.
GUY i think he's a really talented. Player he was
my forty sixth player in the, draft SO i think
(19:48):
both those guys are good to. ME i put him
as a wildcard just because how is the rotation going to?
Work what's his role going to? Be did they see
him more as he was a nice compliment To nico
or is you know how to that? All how does
it all factor? In because they have two and. Two
it's like they got two guys the same and another
two guys are the.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Same, yeah and they're really county ON.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Cj, STROUD i think to take charge of this, offense
they're saying giving him a lot of choices in terms
of the protections and all, that like counting on his mental,
acuity which is off the. Charts to really carry. Them
but it's a LOT i wouldn't be surprised because the rookies.
Involved kirk is new the offensive. Line maybe they get
off to a little bit of a slow, start but,
yeah he's SOMEONE i really wanted to. WATCH i haven't
(20:29):
heard a lot about, him but nothing negative or anything like.
That let's take a quick break and then we'll wrap
up THE Afc south after, this back on forties and free.
(20:51):
Agents all, right give me another rookie that you.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Got all, Right i've got two, cults SO i. Can i'll.
Mention i'll mention both, names and then we kind of
go wherever you want to go with. It But Tyler,
WARREN i, mean all it took was the first preseason
game to see that he's going to be a, major you,
know target guy in this, offense someone who there was
a little bit of debate about coming out just because you,
know they used him all over the. Place he played
(21:13):
some in The Wildcat he you, know he's not as
maybe as quick in as sudden at the top of
routes As loveland was coming out Of, michigan but he.
Is he's a, big physical guy who can win on
contested catches and who's just a monster after the. Catch
SO i think he's going to be a big part
of their. Offense control in the middle of the. Field
and then on the defensive side of the, BALL. Jt,
(21:33):
tamolau they have a they actually have a good front.
There they have a good defensive, line And tamalaut can move,
outside he can rush inside in one of the things
he's excellent. At he's awesome on. Games so he's that's
kind of a feel and instinct thing and can you you,
know how are you on? That he's someone you could
line up outside and twist him. Inside you could line him,
inside swing him. OUTSIDE i think he's going to be
(21:54):
a fun chess piece for them to kind of move,
around and the guys just knows how to rush the.
Quarterback what is it ABOUT.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Jt toomalo that all the tape heads they love?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
HIM i really it feels like the more you watch this,
film like people just love this. Guy and you're. Right
he showed up immediately on film by the way, too
in the.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Preseason, yeah he's he's not a huge tester and this last,
YEAR i think we talked about it in some of
these shows running up to the. Draft so none of
these guys. TESTED i mean it was like if you
looked at like the top fifteen edge, guys maybe four
of them ran a Forty, like so you don't have
testing numbers on. HIM i don't think he would have
ran super, fast But i'm going back through. Here he
(22:34):
was six four a little over six, four two hundred
and sixty five. Pounds he doesn't wow you with like
his get off or his burst or any of those.
Things but he knows how to. Rush he used that long,
arm he kills tight, ends just bullies the cred out of.
Him Michigan. State he hammered that offensive tackle as. Well
so he's a power. RUSHER i see it with the
comp with Two lee a little bit Tweyt polo two
(22:57):
with The. Chargers he's got that same body. Type and
just he's a good football. Player he's not gonna he's
not Gonna you're not gonna be watching, it like watch
his get off or watch him win right away and
be like, whoa it's just like shocking. You just the
guy's gonna have five tackles and a couple pressures at
the end of every.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Game, hey he's just a football, player you. KNOW i
just know how to play.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Ball as we're recording, this it's A mayock's, birthday by the,
Way SO i Think mike just kind of he just
kind of entered into your psyche there without even knowing.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
IT i MISS i miss Hearing Mike, mayak although he
does the radio sometimes When i'm driving The Westwood one.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Game, yeah Like thursday night. Games, yeah does a great
job with.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
That, Okay SO i GOT i got A colt.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Too but BEFORE i get Off, warren BECAUSE i wouldn't
SAY i was a, doubter BUT i would have rather
to Have colston lovelhim just because to, ME i felt
like you kind of knew what he was and you're
betting on an outlier And warren and it so far
it looks like that outlier is gonna pay. Off back
in the in the day with The, colts it was
like they had a good offensive, line but they didn't
have any skill position. Players that's what's got to Kill
(24:00):
Chris ballard, now because If warren hits in, it it
looks like he. Will it's a good receiver. Group Michael
pittman is a quality starting. Receiver Alec pierce led THE
nfl in yards Per Catt Ady mitchell's having a great.
Camp Ady mitchell looked good in the first preseason, Game
Like Josh downs is one of my favorite slot. Guys
(24:22):
he's kind of a, prototype like what you want out
of a slot. Guy and then you Got Jonathan taylor
who's healthy last. Year like that's a great group and
a pretty good offensive, Line like they do have some.
Upside they're Adding warren if they can just get a
little quarterback play and an improved. Defense so the defense
Lou An arumo's. Revenge i'm adding my last player before
(24:44):
my wild card, Here Charvarius. Ward physical corner before free,
agency had him very highly ranked on my, board AND
i just, thought if you can get a guy who
in two of the last three or four years played
at an all pro, level known as a great guy
(25:05):
in the locker, room just Like, physical that those are
the quarterbacks THAT i like and just competes like, Heck
and unfortunately you're getting him at a. Discount AND i
bring up his personal situation BECAUSE i think it helps
explain why he struggled last year and wasn't on the.
Field he went, through you, know the greatest, nightmare and
(25:26):
any parent can go through you know him and his
wife when they lost the, child and he spoke about
it very openly and very emotionally that he just wasn't
there last, year wasn't there, mentally he said he needed
a fresh. Start he just said he wanted to get
out Of San francisco just because it was just too.
Heavy and he's here With Louanna. ROUMO i think that's
(25:48):
a nice, fit and all the reports are, great And
i've heard him speak about it too In. INDIANAPOLIS i
think he's just ready to have a nice rebound season
and make a really big impact as a cornerback there
for The.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Colts, nah you won't find anybody easier to root for
either after being through what he's been. Through but that you,
know when it comes to the big picture of their,
DEFENSE i like the way that they. Rush they're. Aggressive
i'm curious to see with with An rumo coming in,
there how if anything changes with that Quin he pays,
got he's got, ABILITY i. KNOW i think there's more
in the tank there with. Him we'll see what happens With.
(26:20):
Lattu another young player who's got a you, know has a,
skill knows how to. Rush they've got some pieces, there
so we'll see if it all.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Comes Forrest, Buckner Grover.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Stewart still they're like they're they're, good And I'm i'm
still very high on on lat too and uh AND
i think this could be lose. Revenge you got blame
for everything In. Cincinnati like he's a good he's a
good defensive. Coordinator you did.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Your wild, card you're out of. Players i'm, Out i'm,
Out you're.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
UP i have one more wild, card and it's a man,
who for the longest, time was uniformly called the most
underrated receiver in, football to the point where if every
single person is saying, it it doesn't really. Qualify can
you guess WHAT Afc south acquisition this offseason for a
(27:08):
long time was called the most underrated wide receiver in.
Football you went to this team's training, Camp?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Lockett are you talking About? LOCKETT i am.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Talking About Tyler.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
LOCKETT i gave you too many hints BECAUSE i felt
bad that.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Was coming out OF i was pulling up our.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
LADS i was going to the depth. CHARTS i THINK
i would have found. It but, YEAH dj was, like.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Oh, no like everyone's going to figure it.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
OUT i really.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
CAN'T i really not don't know, No Tyler, lockett they
didn't give him much.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
MONEY i bring him.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Up as a wild card partly BECAUSE i am worried
about the drop off After Calvin. Ridley he's their, Starter
Tyler lockett and maybe didn't have quite the same speed In,
seattle and that's why they were comfortable getting rid of
them at the end of last. Year And i've heard
from camp like it's a lot of, oconquo it's a
lot of. Throwing To, pollard it's a Lot. Ridley haven't
(28:01):
heard a lot About lockett or The you mentioned the rookie.
Receivers they need to be part of. That SO i
bring him up as a. Wildcard more that. Man Kim
ward might not be playing with a fully stacked, deck
but Maybe Tyler lockett poosy.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Rof so haven't been. THERE i will Say Calvin ridley
is going to get five billion. Targets he is by
far their best, receiver and he's someone That cam loves
and the, offense everybody on the whole staff loves, him
and he's ready to have a good. Year he's gonna
draw a lot of. Attention so we'll see where those
secondary targets. GO i would just caution against your wildcard
(28:36):
by saying they have the two veterans And lockett And,
jefferson and at least WHEN i was, there there was
not enough separation between them AND dk and aomannor, however
we want to pronounce his name The stanford receiver their
fourth round picks. Respectively to, me if it's close at,
all this is about the future with The. Titans it's
about Cam ward and who's going to grow up with.
(28:57):
HIM i maybe THOSE i start out being, guys BUT
i think when they go eleven personnel week, six it's
gonna be the two rookies In Calvin.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Ridley that makes more, sense and that'd be more.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Interesting, frankly and for what they Paid, lockett, like that's
not a total disaster for their front office because he's
a leader in that. Room they didn't pay him really
like a starting. Receiver they paid him more like a
fourth fifth. Receiver they just don't have anyone else that
that we really know that's Produced AND i have received
confirmation it's Pronounced Io, Manner so that's, Good.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Ao Manor Io. Manner Io manner is easier to, remember,
Right you just just gotta went to that little li
ball right.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
There that was THE Afc.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
South it gets it gets slept ON, dj but a
lot of FUN i missed.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Those do you think this is gonna be Our do
you think? This do you think this this is gonna
be the most downloaded forties and free? Agents do you
THINK Afc? South don't be rude about. It i'm asking
maybe there is a Sneaky maybe there's a sneaky following
there that we don't.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Know all, Right titans, Fans jaguars, Fans colts, Fans texans
their their divisional round year after.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Year why didn't? WE i, mean can this is too?
Late can we in? Post can we just Have can
we just Have Maurice Jones drew say? Hi then we
can promote it on the tweet that Like Maurice Jones
drew joins us to chat and then he sends it
out to his you, know his, following so he can
just pull in the Whole jags nation into this. Thing
that would that would.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Help he owes me literally and not, literally BECAUSE i
was happy.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
You guys went To. Japan he showed me PICTURES i
PICKED i.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Picked up dinner At.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Japan that made me feel like a big man picking
up dinner In asia for a FORMER nfl rushing.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Champion he did showed me a picture of your father
in law kissing him on the cheek with no, explanation
and there's a whole story that has to go along with,
that which is probably a separate, Podcast but, UH i
did see the, picture so that. Exists that is.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Amazing AND i really want to put that on social.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Media and my wife was, like you were not putting that.
Out she was too imposed by her.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Father but, Yeah maurice a great hang in any any.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Country any.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Continent we will be back on forties and free agents
later in the week with THE Nfc south
Host
Gregg Rosenthal
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