April 13, 2022 • 45 mins
In this episode, we kick off Part 3 of our four-part “Roster Reset” series where we’ll go in-depth on the offseason moves made by all 32 teams, and how they could impact the upcoming season. Today, host Rhett Lewis is joined by insider Mike Giardi to discuss moves made by the AFC West and East teams. Mike starts off answering if any teams in the AFC East can topple the Buffalo Bills. Later, Mike hands out offseason grades to each team and explains how the Miami Dolphins offseason could look like an A or a D based on how Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill mesh. And, with less than a month until the 2022 NFL Draft, Rhett and Mike go deep on what each team needs to address when they’re on the clock, with Mike sharing how important the cornerback position has become in the AFC West. Thursday, in Part 4 of the series, we’ll go in-depth on the AFC North and South. You can read more about the “Roster Reset” series on NFL.com/rosterreset.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm Reread Lewis and this
is NFL Inside Report. We're back with you this week
(00:25):
to continue our Roster Reset series, taking a look at
the offseason wheeling and dealing from all thirty two teams
and how it will impact this upcoming season. Last week,
we reset the entire NFC. This week it's the a
f C s turn, and today we're tackling the East
and West with our pal here from NFL Media, Mike
(00:46):
g rd And Mike, We're gonna start with the East
in a division this century that has been dominated by
the Patriots, but they are not the top dogs anymore.
The Buffalo Bills now went back to back a f
C East Crowns looking to make it three in a row.
And that's kind of what we expect here, Mike, with
Josh Allen establishing himself as one of the most elite
(01:08):
quarterbacks in this entire league. But how competitive do you
expect the division to be to try to topple the
Bills at the top there? Yeah, I don't know that
anyone has done enough at to this point, even though
Miami has done some splashy things, um to close the
gap on what Buffalo is. Because Buffalo has done a
(01:29):
really nice job again this offseason and sort of maintains
that distance I think between them and the other teams
in the division. And you know, it's gotta be a
little disheartening, I think maybe for New England. Uh. And
if I'm Miami, like, look, they're feeling good about what
they did, but man, there's still a long gap. There's
still a large gap rather between you and Buffalo in
my opinion. Yeah, I would agree there, you know as well,
(01:52):
and despite all the moves and all the trades and
a new regime. Um. And we're gonna get into that
with the Dolphins, Like, it really comes down to the
quarterback in this division, and there's not one that is
on the level of Josh Allen at this point. But
let's start there with the Bills. Then how would do
great with the Bills did this offseason, which you know
clearly has been impacted by the marquee signing of Von Miller. Yeah,
(02:16):
I give him. As I was looking at it last night,
I'd say a minus. And I'd say the only reason
I would go a minus and not higher is that
Brandon being talked about the need for some more speed,
I think on both sides of the ball, and I think,
you know, von Miller certainly gives them some of that,
but I think there's offensively they could use another guy
that has the ability to take at the distance. And yeah, Diggs,
(02:38):
you have Gabe Davis, but I think maybe whether it's
someone in the slot, maybe it's another big outside receiver
we can take the top off, or maybe if you
can start running back. I think that's an area where
wouldn't surprise me come draft time if that's what they address.
And they're they're going to be some receivers that have
you know, that have gone. Some of the top receivers
will be gone by the time the Bills are on
(02:58):
the clock. Here. We'll get to that here just a
little bit, but there could very well be uh still
one of the top flight wideouts in this year's class
of ailable for them there. And look, I think you
mentioned it, but Gabe Davis. You know, Emmanuel Sanders told
us on g MFB last week when he was with
the crew that Gabe Davis is one of those dudes
that is going to become a household name. And I
think he kind of asserted himself into, you know, the conversation,
(03:20):
inserted himself into the conversation in that divisional game loss
to the Chiefs. But you have three touchdowns in that
game against Kansas City, So I think we're gonna see
a lot more from him. But you're right, I think
a little more speed could certainly benefit what the Bills
want to do, especially after locking up Stefon Diggs to
(03:41):
that contract extension. Let's move on then to the Patriots
right there in New England. As we mentioned, a lot
of staff turnover this year, clearly with Josh McDaniels out
and no clear successor as an offensive coordinator, which has
obviously been one of the storylines here. So if you
if you factor that in, you know, to the grade here, Mike,
how are we are? We looking at the Patriots? C
(04:02):
minus for starters are mentioned the coaching staff, right, I
think unless Bill O'Brien had come to be the offensive coordinator,
I think replacing Josh was gonna be hard to do.
Gonna be hard to do this season. I mean, he's
been calling plays for basically twenty years. Uh, he's helped
be the architect of this offense and the way it's
developed over the course of twenty years. Um, and he
(04:24):
did a terrific job I think with Mac Jones. And
you saw the pictures if you're watching the games, after
every series that goes to the bench, Josh goes there
right next to him. Now, who's gonna be doing that
this year? Is that Joe Judge? Is that that Patricia?
Isn't Nick Cayley? Um? No one knows for sure. I
do know that Bill Belichick has a large steak in
(04:44):
Mac Jones and his future, and I believe that Bill
Belichick will be more involved with Mac Jones. I think
that's the feeling inside the building. But again, what does
that really mean? Does that mean an extra meeting a
week with him? Does that mean he's watching the offense
more closely and during games and paying less attention to
the big picture. Like I don't. We haven't seen it yet,
(05:05):
so I don't know how it's gonna go. I just
know that with Josh there, Bill was able to turn
his back on the offense at times and talk to
the defense because Josh was essentially the head coach of
the offense and had you know, Carpe launched to do
what he wants so that, to me is a massive
issue for this team. And then I think the other thing,
right I look at is they lost some good players
(05:25):
that they haven't replaced. J. C. Jackson is gone, Right,
what's the replacement plan? Terrence Mitchell? No, Malcolm Butler, Like, okay,
that's a nice dice roll. But theyn't really guarantee any
money from Malcolm. So they're telling you right there, like, well,
if it works, it was worth the risk. And if
it doesn't, well we didn't pay anything to do it.
And then I started go down the line too, and
(05:47):
it's like, okay, they brought Devin mcquarterback. That makes sense, right,
you're going through some turnover. He's a culture guy. He
still played at a pretty high level to keep him.
But then I thought Trump Brown was gonna be gone.
They got him back, They didn't pay him a ton
of money. How much is he gonna play. He's had
a hard time staying on the field. He's miss basically
half his games over the last three years. Um, he's
a big man. He's got lower leg issues like those
(06:10):
don't get better. He's not gonna be two eighty five
anytime soon. Right, they got a weight clause inform to
stay under three sixty. But I think he's just at
the point of his career now where if he plays
double digit games in the season I'd be surprised, or
maybe you'd be excited by that fact. You bring James
White back again, sort of been a key guy for
you coming off a really bad hip injury. Wasn't walking
(06:33):
for the first couple of months after the injury, Like,
so where is he? Like he's making progress, but again,
no guaranteed money. Jabrol Peppers people are trying to get
excited here about he projects as a depth piece and
maybe a return guy. Like there's just I look at
the roster and I say, man, there are a lot
a lot of holes in this roster and a lot
(06:54):
of things that need to be addressed. And look, I
think it was it was probably it would probably be
a little foolish to expect them to spend another you know,
three hundred and whatever million like they did this two
off seasons ago. Now when they brought in you know,
Hunter Henry and John new Smith and and spent all
that money with Matthew Judan and that whole crew, and
would love to get a little bit more out of
(07:14):
that tight end room, particularly with John new Smith for
some of the money that was spent, certainly got a
lot out of Matthew Judan was was one of the
best free agent signings of the twenty one off season period,
not just for New England. So yeah, still someone answered
questions there for the Patriots. Let's move to the Dolphins.
Mike McDaniel the only new coach in the division this
(07:40):
offseason and seems dead set on rolling to a tongue
of viola out there again and trying to support him.
How much does that factor into the grade here? Yeah,
I'm giving him. I'm giving him a B. And this
could this could be at a if Tyreek Hill meshes
with the quarterback and turn Armstead stays on the field,
(08:01):
because we know when he is on the field he's
one of the best left tackles of it. Well, it
also can slide to a D because I don't know
that Tyreek Hill meshes with who two is as a quarterback,
right and he's going from Patrick to to ah too.
Is still trying to prove himself in the landscape. Patrick
is the best quarterback in the league or one of
two or the three best quarterbacks. Right, there's there's no
(08:22):
question about that. Um and Armstead, Like, if Armstead there's
a big investment in him financially, and if he has
another one of these seasons where he's playing six games,
that that's a massive issue. And look at this point
in his career, does it get better? You know, like
you hope it does because you want to see the
guy on the field. We all want to see the
best players on the field every week. But that's not
(08:43):
a that's not a lot considering his his past history.
But to your point, like it really is, it's all
about Toah because now they've given him pieces, They've got
a coach who at least publicly is saying he believes
in him. Although the signing of Teddy Bridgewater at the
number that they gave him makes you wonder like and
look to it hasn't been healthy a lot either, so
(09:03):
he's miss games. He I guess you have to have
a viable back up there. But again it just sort
of it makes you think a little bit um. But look,
I think probably McDaniel got the job in part because
he said I can make this work with Tah. I
think the owner wants it to work with Tah. But
now we'll see they've got all the pieces for Tah.
They gave him a much better offensive line than he
had last year. Connor Williams add into the mix as well. Um,
(09:27):
so you know now it's it's it's time, it's trying
to prove your worth. Or next year they got multiple
first you know, they'll be in the quarterback market again.
I would believe. Well, so that's the thing. I kind
of look at this as a win win for the
Dolphins in this situation, and the first win would be
to a thrives in this new environment, in this new system,
(09:47):
with this new supporting cast that he has now, and
they're ready to roll him out here for the future
and he becomes you know, the face of the franchise,
you know, without question, or they find out for sure
this year that he is not the guy and then they're,
like you said, in the quarter back market again. So
it's either we have found our solution or we know
(10:09):
we need to find the solution. There's no middle ground
after this year. Yeah, I mean, just think about how
they started last year and look, the stories are pretty
well documented now that Floors is not a believer in
to and wanted them to move in a different direction
prior to even last season. But they can't have another
start like that too. We can't have another start like
that because he won't be playing. It'll be it'll be
Teddy Bridgewater, and they'll have already made the decision we're
(10:32):
moving on in the off season to go ahead. Uh.
And obviously, because of all the chips they put in
on Tyreek Hill, the draft is basically a non starter
for them as their first pick as in the fourth round, right,
So you look at it, maybe you could steal a
starter somewhere out of there in the in the latter picks,
but most likely you're just looking for death pieces, or
maybe you're you're rolling the dice on someone who, from
(10:53):
whatever reason you know, had a second round grade, but
now he's slid into the fourth round because of injury
or off field stuff or whatever it may be. And
then maybe you hope you can you can you know,
salvage that. But their team is pretty much their team
at this point. Yeah, that's a good point. And look,
they'd love to to see some of those offensive linemen
that they spent high draft resources on in recent years,
(11:16):
Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, leam Mykenberg, that whole crew really
kind of step forward even more so this year too,
you know, either jump into one of those best five
starting positions or provide, you know, real quality depth on
that roster as they look to continue to support in
front of two a tug of Voloa in addition to
around him. Let's move to the final team of the division,
(11:37):
the New York Jets, year two of the Zach Wilson
Robert sala Era as head coaching quarterback. What did you
see from this offseason? You know, they have gotten a
lot of attention from people I talked to around the league,
a f C, NFC executive, scouts. There's a plan in
place like that. People are seeing a good execution of
(11:59):
a plan and a step forward from this team here
in this offseason. I say, it's a B plus offseason
for them. Like, you have the floor's offense, right, so
what do you do? He needs tight ends? You didn't
have any tight ends. So you go out and sign
basically the two best guys that ended up being free
agents in Conkman and Uzama. Right now, if they can
get sort of mirror of the production they had last year,
that's a great at And even if that production comes
(12:20):
down a little bit. Still, they got nothing out of
that position. They haven't had a good tight end since
Dustin Keller. I mean it's been that long, right, So
now you've got two guys that are have proven to
be more than competent at the position. I love that
Lake and Tomlinson on the front line. You know, maybe
over paying for a guard, but obviously they know him
from the San Francisco days, and look much like with
(12:42):
we talked about, you know, to ah, this is a
lot about Zac now, right and the second year, we
saw some signs, especially I thought later in the year
of like, okay, he's he's grown a little bit. We're
seeing some things here, and now let's protect him better.
You know, they were had problems to tackle Beckton gets
hurt last year early, doesn't play the rest of the season,
maybe got three or four games in there. So like,
(13:05):
if they can protect him better, they've got a good
plan in place to maybe take some pressure off him,
get him some safety security blankets there and maybe you know,
now all of a sudden, we'll we'll see what Zach
Wilson is all about. Because let's face you can have
a B plus offseason and if Zach Wilson doesn't take
a step forward this year, then it probably is all
for not and they may find themselves, like several other teams,
(13:27):
back in the market for a quarterback a year or two.
Double line. Yeah, and that's something that's that you just
can't do it at this point. If you're the if
you're that Jet, that Jets regime with GM Joe Douglas
and head coach Robert sala Um, you know, you can't
go back to ownership and me like, hey, sorry about that.
Let's let's try that quarterback thing again. It's just you
just don't get that many opportunities. I mean, it's very
(13:48):
It is rare for a GM and a coach to
get a second opportunity to draft a quarterback up high.
Ryan Pason, Matt Naggie did uh and only lasted one
season with the new quarterbacks. So you really gotta you
gotta look at that as this is the guy we're
riding with. How do we make it work? And I
think a big part of how they will make it
work as we start to look at some of the
(14:08):
draft needs here. We'll start right there with the Jets
and keep this conversation rolling is what they do at
four and ten because Mike, I see the ability there
to yes, get an edge rusher if you really want.
And as long as the top three guys aren't gone
at number four, because then you're looking at you know,
let's get another tackle. Why not continue to support Zach Wilson?
Maybe bounce back at ten with a white out? How
(14:29):
do you see it? Yeah? I think they're in a
position where, uh, and Joe Douglas said it, like the
opportunity with four picks in the top thirty eight, five
in the top sixty nine, they can get some impact
players and really help shape their future going forward. Um,
and I look at it, You're right. I mean you
could go pass rusher, you could go offensive tackle, you
can even go corner. I mean to me, Gardner is
(14:52):
probably the safest pick in the draft. Maybe, Um, would
you do it? Is it too high at forward? Do
you think you can get him at ten? You know?
I I just think they're in a position where they
can just look at it and say, like, if we
get this position, we can still help ourselves at ten
as well, or as we've heard, and I think it
is clearly part of their thinking is, you know, can
(15:13):
we yo get a number one. Is Deebo Samuel gonna
get put out there? Is DK Metcalf gonna be put
out there? I mean, as of right now, you're getting
pushed back and there's nothing gonna happen, and there's still
time to fix this. But I don't know. You know,
they put an offer on the table that Kansas City
was willing to take without the two first round picks
for Tyree Hill, and he'll eventually chose the Dolphins over
(15:34):
the Jets. But if you had dangled that ten for
someone like DK or Devo, would that be you know,
enough to convince the that side to say, all right,
well we love our player, but we have to pay
him twenty thirty million a year. We get a ten,
we can get a good, good wide receiver there and
start the clock over on that position. That's just I
think they have a lot of options. Yeah, I think
(15:56):
they did well last year. And then you know, as
you mentioned, I just if you can get if you
can get one of those top wideouts without giving up
four and ten, you know, like they were poised to
do with Tyreek Hill would have done that deal all
day long. But at ten, I think you get a
wide receiver with five years of cost control, you know.
And I think that pays off because I think there
are players, you know, those two dudes that you mentioned
DK Debo, they're one of one in terms of skill set,
(16:18):
in terms of build, but there are guys that are
similar in terms of the impact that they can make
that they could get their attend Drake London being one
of them as a bigger target. Right. You hear London's
name attached to the Jets quite a bit here during
this process, dating back to the combine, and it hasn't
hasn't died down at all. You know, they feel like
they've got some smaller guys that they can work underneath,
(16:40):
and then let's get that big receiver to you know,
contested catch to help bail out Zach and times when
you know the window is not that big or maybe
he just needs to throw one up there and trusted
your guy can go get it. And I think there's
a feeling in New York that that maybe London is
that guy. I would agree. Let's go back up the
totem pool here with the Miami Dolphins, as you mentioned,
(17:00):
like get their first pick is coming in the compensatory
area of the third round at number one hundred and two.
Um So look, I I we're not gonna identify a
player here, but again, like I think trying to find
you know, another edge rusher there to kind of bolster
that unit. Um, I think, you know, linebacker, I think
(17:23):
offensive line as as a possibility. There just anywhere where
they can get some really good football players that are gonna,
you know me, either compete on special teams immediately or
provide depth is what they're looking for here. Yeah, that
to me, like I said, it's almost like you're in
a dice roll situation there because you're you're not picking
for so long. It's just like, what's there? Is there
somebody that we liked it again for whatever reason, has
(17:43):
slipped down the board a little bit, or is there
someone we project and maybe he's a little bit of
a project, but like, hey, if we can maximize this guy,
knowing that we're essentially having an opportunity to red shirt
him this year, that you know, maybe that's a guy
that can impact our football team, you know, two years
from now. And you know, with what they've done this offseason,
I don't know that they necessarily desperate for impact pieces
right away. Up. Let's move to the Bills, who have
(18:07):
eight picks in total starting with number twenty five overall.
I skipped the Patriots will get back to them here
in a second. Um, but we talked about that is
maybe a spot for another wide receiver or you know,
if one of those guards is available, as you continue
to try to, you know, kind of beef up up
front and get a little bit more to that run game,
could be something they could consider. Mike. Yeah, you know
(18:28):
it's interesting is as you kind of keep hearing from
Buffalo that maybe there might be a surprise here and
maybe running back is a place where even though no
one likes first round running backs, that maybe they look
at a piece there and say there's someone here who
can help put our offense, which is already and an overdrive,
and maybe take us to another place again looking for speed.
I mean, the other thing you have to look at
(18:49):
here is Tnevious Whites coming off the A c L.
I've heard he's the head of schedule, but you know
you still gotta get on the field and start doing stuff.
Um so is he gonna be ready for the start
of the season and their number two corner to Levi
Wallas is now with Pittsburgh, so Bean has not drafted
Brandon Bean is not drafted a cornerback higher than the
fifth rounds since he's been there. But maybe this is
(19:10):
the year where you go in and you find that
corner opposite of trade Avious when he gets right and
feel like, you know, we're looking at a f C
where all the quarterbacks are at right now, all these
weapons are at. You're gonna need to be able to
handle the pass, and um, it might be a perfect
opportunity there someone like Andrew Booth. I know they've had
him in for a top three visit. Uh, someone like
(19:31):
that who can slide right in right away your number
two corner and then who knows, you know, a couple
of years down the road where that player develops and
what he becomes. But you know, I would I would
look at that area if I was them, A yeah,
and if you know Booth is gone, you're looking into
the you know, the Kyler Gordon from Washington neighborhood, You're
looking at the Roger McCreary from Auburn neighborhood there as well.
(19:52):
At twenty five running backs, Wiz Kenny Walker, Briest Hall, Uh,
Brieste Hall of Iowa State. Uh, you know Blaze, the
both those guys really did, really did well in the
athletic Hall's name is I've heard Breese Hall's name come
up a few times in connection with Buffalo. So again,
just something to kind of keep an eye on there.
And Leslie for the Patriots picking four spots in front
of the Bills there in my list, Yeah, run it
(20:16):
down all right, left guard, left tackle, cornerback. Uh, looking
for a Devin mccordy replacement, you know, thirty four going
thirty five, a playmaking linebacker. Don't have enough speeded linebacker level. Uh.
They were as bad against the run last year as
they were the year before and that was a concentration
for them during this previous off season. So maybe another
(20:40):
run stuffer. And you know, if you want to be
nice to Mac Jones, especially after what you've done to
the offensive coaching staff here, maybe get him a shifty
slot receiver, which is how they've really thrived in that
offense for twenty years. And you know, give him that guy.
They can get open in one point eight seconds. So
if your offensive line isn't getting it done, you can
get the ball out to someone you trust you can
(21:02):
make a play. I'm into that as well. Love those
choices there. As we look at the a f C East,
the roster reset here, assessing what these teams have done,
what they will do in the upcoming NFL Draft up
next on the docket. Mike's back with us as we
dig in on the a f C West back here
(21:36):
on NFL Inside Report, Red Lewis and Mike Gardi here
with us as we continue our roster Reset series. Did
the a f C East at the top part of
the show here, getting into the a f C West now,
But want to remind you that you can read more
on the Roster Reset series on NFL dot com slash
Roster Reset, and we'll be hitting all the angles as
(21:58):
well throughout all eight divisions here in the NFL on
NFL Network all week long. We should have tuned into
NFL Now and all of our platforms for that information.
Back here now with Mike, Mike most competitive division in football.
It's like, um, you know, it's it's literally like like
a I don't watch wrestling, but if I did, this
(22:18):
would feel like each team getting up on the top
ropes and delivering, you know, like the diamond cutter to
every every single team, like with the moves that they
were making. You know, started with Russell Wilson and we
got the vote. Adams is the Entyree Hill is out.
You know, Khalil mac J C. Jackson come over to
the Chargers. This was an insane a couple of weeks
for the a f C West. Um any reason to
(22:41):
believe that it is not the best division in football? Yeah,
I can't see it. I mean I just think that
everybody has done so much UM and it just oh well,
the Chargers just did. Then the Chiefs did the like
it's just like they it was almost like clear, look,
we know they do it. I mean teams look at themselves,
but they also have to pay attention to the competition.
And it was almost like, oh man, well we can't
(23:03):
stand we gotta go and do something like hey, let's
go get Colombette. Like they're just there were so many
things that happened that make you believe, like every one
of these games, especially when they play each other, when
they have those interdivisional matchups, like you're gonna you're gonna
wanna DV on the game if you're not watching it live,
because it just has the potential to be so much fun.
I think there's gonna be a lot of competition, and
I think, you know, when you get to this level
(23:23):
and this level of competition and the way each team
sort of feels about themselves, I think there'll be some
hatred involved in the Division two, which I kind of like,
you know, you get get a little nasty between. You
know what's funny is that, like you literally with this division,
you could make a case for each one of these
teams to finish first, in each one of these teams
(23:44):
to finish last, like can you believe that? Like we
could be talking about the Chiefs, you know, won the division,
you know, five straight years here finishing last in the
division and you know what, they still might make the
playoffs like doing that, which is also insane. And the
Broncos who finished last each of the last two years,
even though they acquired Russell Wilson, because of the strength
(24:05):
of the division of the division, they could still finish
last again but again could make the playoffs winning tenoral
eleven games. Like that's how crazy it is. So let's
kind of set the scene here for each one of
these divisions great their off season moves. Let's start with
those Denver Broncos and obviously the Marquee transaction trading for
Russell Wilson. Yeah, I say it's an a minus. You know,
(24:27):
you gave up the five picks and some players to
go get them. But when you consider where they've been
since Peyton Manning retired, um, desperately seeking that next guy.
Um they got him. Now. To me, I'd be a
little bit worried about what I've seen from Russell the
last year and a half. Uh, sort of an unwillingness
to run as much um. And obviously we know there
(24:49):
was some friction there with Seattle Nathaniel Hackett's the first
year head coach, Like, how does that? Mary? I know,
right now everything's wonderful, But when they start calling runs
and Russell wants to throw it every play, like, does
that lead him to the same place he was in Seattle?
That has me curry us to see how that looks,
you know, in September and October. But for now, obviously
you just have to love the idea. They finally don't
(25:11):
have to answer questions about that position or try to
talk themselves into Teddy Bridgewater or um, god, how many
other guys have they gone through, right, It's just like
one year yo, yeah, right, like yeah, there's nicer yeah right,
ripping right, like it was the market Margaret was not
(25:32):
markets and whatever the other one the other rippon. So like, yeah,
you got to this point where you're like, you're trying
to commit yourself. That maybe just made Drew lock that
this could be the next guy. You don't have to
worry about that anymore. This is the guy. You're gonna
tire yourself to this guy long term and now hopefully
you're gonna get yourself out of that rotten back in
the playoffs. So they can, you know, with the consistency
that again has been lacking for the last seven or
(25:53):
eight years. Randy Gregory comes back over as well to
provide that edge, pairing with Bradley Chubb, who hope is
even healthier you know this year for the Brocos. And
otherwise it's a defense that was pretty darn solid. Let's
it to the Las Vegas Raiders who made a marquee
transaction on both sides of the ball. Mike, Yeah, they did,
and I don't know how you're not excited about that either.
(26:14):
It's certainly Josh McDaniels going out and trading for our
number one ride receiver is absolutely the opposite of what
his mentor, Bill Belichick would ever do. Remember he's the
guy who told Thomas demutrof in Atlanta, now, Julio Jones,
you don't trade it for that, You can get Jonathan Baldwin.
They'll be about the same guy. Jonathan Baldwin I think
had like five catches in his career. And you know,
we know what, we know what Julio Jones went on
(26:37):
to become for Atlanta. UM, so I say, b plus, here,
there's a you know, a lot to give up for Adams.
And again that's an interesting position. But now everybody, all
the elite guys are getting paid there. But I just
think the synergy between him and car the idea that
he wants to be there, that he wanted to come
home to play for them, I think it's pretty exciting.
Chandler Jones is still a really good pass rusher. You
(26:57):
pair him with Max Crosby, Um, you know, Crosby and
and Gockway were great last year. Chandler is a bit
better player against the run than in Gotways, so it
should be an upgrade there. And I like and this
is you know, kind of a further down. They signed
to Ron Harmon, former Patriot, former Falcon deep safety guy,
Jonathan Abram. It's an interesting player, you know, drafted up safe.
(27:20):
It hasn't happened for him. Can't can't play deep, you know,
it's more of a box safety. So Abrams is still
gonna play. But I think having someone that they can
put back there and sort of quarterback that defense and
that unit and sort of communicate what Patrick Graham, the
new d C wants from his defense, I think it
is important. You know, like he's not like he's not
gonna make game changing plays weekend and week out, but
(27:40):
he's a smart player, and I think that will just
help that unit become cohesive, you know, maybe quicker than
it would take in a normal season where you don't
have a veteran that that knows the system and sort
of can be leaned upon to to help things out there.
Kind of view, Abram is like Jamal Adams light. You know,
it's like a player of that ilk that you would
want to put in that kind of position to succeed
(28:01):
rather than force him, you know, to be a little
bit more out of his comfort zone because you have
to um and so now maybe a player like Harmon,
you know, can help alleviate some of those concerns on
the back end there as well. All right, let's get
to the l A Chargers trade for Khalil. Max signed
j C. Jackson in addition to some depth pieces up
front to kind of bolster what was one of the
worst rush defenses in the league last year. And man,
(28:24):
I'm feeling pretty good if I'm l A right now. Yeah,
it's an A RNA minus. I mean, I think that
j C is a is a perfect fit for what
they want to do. I think the way he and
Brandon Staley are already vibing is to me, it's a
really I think it's pretty clear um Staley's respect for Jackson,
and I think Jackson always felt like he didn't necessarily
(28:45):
get that respect here in New England. So I think that,
you know, could help take him to another level just
feeling more confident because they're feeling confident in him and
trusting him to do what he does. I mean, the
Mac thing, he wasn't very good last year, but now
he's got both On the other side, I think Max
thing might have been a little bit about health too,
So now if he comes back and he's healthy. He
(29:05):
and Bosa like that helps guys like j C. Jackson,
the second hair I maag just helps the whole unit entirely.
And but keeping Mike Williams maybe it's a little bit
of an overpay maybe, And I know all the receivers,
they are getting paid a lot of money. Maybe they
want a little bit further than I would have gone
for him. But look great synergy with Herbert um Keenan
(29:26):
Allen's getting a little bit older, maybe he can make
that transition and eventually become a number one Sebastian day
in the inside, like they did a lot of good
things for their football team that have to make them
feel great, you know, missing the playoffs last year. But
I have to make them feel great rolling into you know,
the draft and the upcoming season. But Mike, I mean,
what a shrewd move by G M. Tomp Kalesco. Because
(29:48):
the contract from Mike Williams three years and sixty million
probably would have cost three and ninety million about three
weeks later Son early rightin mill per year right there.
Based on the way that Davante Adams got paid, the
way that Tyreek Hill got paid with stuff I think
about how teams have gone into the off season, so
(30:09):
many of these some of these receivers that were in
free agency, and like I know in New England, you know,
they end up trading for DeVante Parker. And as people said,
it's a classic Belichick move, Well, why because he doesn't
want to pay twenty five million or he doesn't want
to pay twelve million for mvs So this guy, pretty
good player, has our time stand on the field all
the time. But like for the production for the cost, like, okay,
(30:30):
that makes sense. And I wonder if they're gonna be
more teams that sort of trying to mind that middle class,
if you will. Um because of the escalating cost for
receivers and particular the receipt if the receivers weren't going
to come off the board early and often in the
draft this year before all this happened, they are now
Like wait till you see how many white outs go
(30:50):
in the first three rounds of this year's draft. Like
just because of that salary effect that we're talking about here,
our final team for an offseason grade, the Kansas City Chief,
the perennial champion in this division. How do you see it?
C plus and look, I like some of what they
did to react to the trade of Tyreek Hill. I thought,
bringing in mvs and Juju, they got a little bit
(31:12):
more physical and wide receiver. I think they're they're kind
of giving you the idea that maybe this offense is
gonna morph a little bit from what it's become, what
what has been, to maybe what it's going to become. Now.
I think they can be a little bit bigger, they
can run the ball a little bit more. I think
because they got two pieces. Honestly, a wide receiver that
blocked very well. Harry Kill is not a blocker. These
guys are big guys, physical guys. I mean, obviously that's
(31:34):
not what you're paying them to do, but that is
part of the equation. But I just I look at
it and say, how can you take someone who he's
a top five receiver and is a complete freak in
terms of his speed and how he stresses a defense.
How can you remove that player still in his prime
from the equation and think, at least in the short term,
(31:54):
that you got better. You know. Now, look, there's still
draft picks, and there's a lot of different ways they
can build this and address that position and how they
play offense. But until we see it, and I think
it's probably to take a little time to until we
see it, until we see it developed, then I don't
know how you can be super high on what they did.
I do like the Justin Reid signing. Honey Badger is
(32:14):
a great leader, but I think you're seeing now even
they're sort of a slowing Yeah, he's not he's not
a he's not a peer like Tyrone Matthew is in
terms of awareness, but he's a better he's a better
athlete at this point. Yeah, absolutely, And I think that's
the reason they moved on, right. I think they just
felt like, all right, we've gotten a lot of mileage
out of this player, and maybe now he's starting to
(32:36):
show some tread on his tires. You gotta get younger,
we gotta hit more athletic. They did that, So I
like that move, But again, now you're removing a leadership
piece as well. Honey Badger clearly one of the heartbeats
of that defense. So you know, again, I think it's
gonna take them a little bit of time, and by
no means am I writing them off. To your point,
you can finish and last and still be in the playoffs,
And would you want to see them in the playoffs
(32:56):
if they're healthy and Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback. The
answer is hell, no, you would not. So they're still
dangerous to me, but I think it's gonna it might
take a little time to gotta hit their stride. And
by the way, Marquez vald Is scantling well not on
Tyreek Hills level. Is as close as it gets in
the league. Like, dudes got some speed. In fact, was
the second fastest ball carrier this past season in the
(33:17):
NFL according to Next Gen Stats as they do the
miles per hour. Uh stat there, okay, Uh let me
start back here with the Chiefs as we get into
the draft now, Mike, because I'm gonna pose this question
to you because it's something Daniel Jeremiah and I talked
about and moved the sticks a couple of times when
this trade went down that sent Tyreek Hill on his way.
I think the Orlando Brown franchise tag at left tackle
(33:42):
hamstrung the Chiefs a little bit in the amount of
money that they were willing to commit or could commit
to Tyreek Hill. So let me ask you this, um,
because they couldn't get a deal done with Orlando Brown.
What if they would have just let him walk for
now and say, we'll keep Tyreek Hill, will give him
the money, and we'll take let's say Bernard Ryman out
of Central Michigan with the twenty nine pick in the
(34:04):
draft or wherever they were tween or thirty, which whichever
one was the original pick that they had, Like, would
you would you take that? Or would you take Orlando Brown?
And let's say Christian Watson from North Dakota State at
a wide out. That's a good that's a good little
brain vender right there here. So I would side with
keeping Orlando Brown. But I don't think Orlando Brown played
(34:28):
great last year, and I think there's still some concerns
about him as a pass blocker, as a left tackle.
So you know, they gave up capitol ago get him.
He's younger. Maybe they look at Tyreek and say, sometimes
the hamstrings, like you know, when's the when has all
of a sudden that going to turn sideways? And when
it does, then the impact of the player. So I
(34:49):
guess I would say Brown. But boy, that is a
tough one. It really is a tough one. I think
about it. I just you basically remade your offensive line
and I and and they were pretty good last year,
So I guess I would I would say I'd want
to keep them together and see if they continue to
blossom as a group. I I I agree with that
part of it too, because we saw what not having
a marquee tackle meant for Patrick Mahomes down the stretch
(35:12):
in the in the Super Bowl loss to the Bucks,
you know, year year plus ago. Now. But let me
but I'll bring this up to you, um as well,
because you know, now this is with the benefit of time.
But if you had not given Orlando Brown the franchise tag,
Look how long it took for to Ron Armstead to
get that deal with Miami. Like as the clocks kept ticking,
and the clock kept ticking on Orlando Brown, and you
(35:35):
could say, all right, we gave Tyreek Kill the extension.
Oh this is what we got for you. Is it
gonna be enough? Um? Or was he gonna get that
amount of money out on the open market? I don't know.
With the Colts have backed up the brink struck for him, um,
whereas they didn't for to Ron Armstead. You know, I
think there's there's not a Chris ballad move right that
tends not to delve into it that way. There are
(35:58):
people around the league, and you talk to people like
there are some people around the league that still believe
Orlando Brown's a right tackle. I'm not a left tackle, sure,
and they feel they feel even more emboldened by their
their thought process before last year by the way he
played this year. But you know, smallish wide receiver. I
know he had the freak speed, But like I guess,
at the end of the day, I'm gonna stick with
(36:18):
protecting Patrick and hoping that he can elevate whatever receiver
you decide to go with in the draft, because I'm
assuming they willn't take at least one in the draft
um and the other pieces juju and mvs and and
and elevate them because well, quite frankly, that's what you're
paying him to do, exactly exactly. Okay, let's then move
back in order with the l A Chargers here as
(36:40):
we go back up the way, we started Chargers on
the clock at number seventeen overall, hit it out of
the park last year at thirteen with Rashon Slater. Wouldn't
hate it if if they got one of the top
tackles in this year's Class two and moved slided him
right over there to right tackle. Because at some point
you're gonna be paying justin Herbert fifty bill a year. Yeah,
in that time is coming sooner rather than later. I'm
(37:01):
a pent with it that. I think Storm norton uh
struggle last year right tackle. I think there's an obvious
area for an upgrade. I think that you know, when
you look at the tackles, I think, really, if you're
not getting a tackle in the first round, you are
rolling the dice. I think that's where the good ones are.
I think that's historically where you find the good ones.
So this is what I'm doing. You know, whether it's
someone like Trevor Penning, whether it's Charlie Cross, like somebody
(37:26):
there that can. Again, you want to keep Herbert upright,
you want to keep him healthy. Norton was a problem again.
I'll go back to just watching that Patriots game, and
they just tortured Storm Norton on that right side. It
was a massive issue of Judean. They were all eating
off him. Um, you know, you've you've got upgrade that spot.
And I think that's that makes a heck of a
lot of sense. Any other position I kind of look
(37:48):
at is linebacker. Kenneth Murray hasn't developed. Now. I don't
know how Brandon Staley sees Kenneth Murray and and if
he foresees him making a leap as a player, but
to me, that's been an area of concern for them,
and I think the potential upgrade now know Devin Lloyd,
would that be something you would do there? I mean again,
(38:09):
I would stick with offense because I think my team
has built around Justin Herbert and I think I've done
enough defensively at least to get significantly better than I
was last year. So maybe linebacker is a luxury pick
or something you look at the second, second, or third round.
But you know, for me, that's another area that I
kind of look in and say, I need more out
of that spot and I gotta find someone for for
(38:29):
Staley's defense to be the quarterback there. Yeah, and look,
and by the way, if you want to look at
the third round pick of the Chargers, that's number seventy
nine overall. If they want to if they want to
look at a linebacker there, some names to follow would be,
you know, Leo Chanal from Wisconsin. Um with big strong
dude Trey Anderson from Montana State might be gone by
that time. Um, but man Cheney can can. I WT
(38:52):
the sneaky one. So he's not big, he's I think
he's five eleven. He's about two thirty. But I have
become enamored with Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez. That dude, that Rhett,
just like I know your Bucky and and DJ they
might shoot me down. I just every time I've watched
him now, he finds the football. It's like he has
(39:14):
an unbelievable mac for finding the football. Sometimes he takes
weird roots to get there, but he gets there and
he makes plays. Uh, you know he I think he
was a high school wrestler, like a really good high
school wrestler. I think he was also, Uh, I think
he was a pretty good running back as well. I
think if I had my memory or maybe he was
a quarterback whatever, he was a good offensive player. I
remember that. So like he's just he's an intriguing guy
(39:35):
for me. And again, like then now we're talking, he's
probably a fourth or fifth round pick. But you know,
beauties in the eye of the beholder and right now.
He's pretty beautiful to me. There you go. Yeah, Darien
Beavers from Cincinnati. Another one that I like. Joe Joe
Dolman from Nebraska. Um, you know that kind of has
some of that versatility that I think Brandon Staley would
get into. So um, there's you know, just the thought
(39:57):
there um on what the Chargers might do. Then let's
get into now the Las Vegas Raiders, who again, look
they're not gonna be on the clock until the third
round after the Davante Adams trade eight six overall, but
a a position group or another need that you'd like
to see filled their offensive line. I think if you
looked at their offensive line last year, Colton Miller played
(40:18):
really well, in fact, kind of established himself as one
of the better young left tackles in football. Um, but
I think pretty much the rest of that offensive line struggled. Uh.
You know, Alex Leatherwood first round pick, they put him
a right to like, maybe he's better suited inside. I
just think at that spot that's I kind of be
looking to to to add some competition there and maybe
(40:39):
get an upgrade because I just think they need to
be better in front of Derek. I think there's there
are too many holes and too many questions with that
offensive line. So that's something I think makes a lot
of sense. And you know Josh's offensive background, Like, let's
all right, we got pieces on offense, we've got skilled players.
Now let's fortify up front and that you know, a
third round guard. Now, that's more in line with the
(40:59):
way Bill Belichick has thought all those years, right, and
McDaniel seeing that up close and personal as well, Yeah, yeah,
I know exactly right. Um, and again, they really only
have five picks, and they've got two in the fifth
round and then one's in the third, fourth and at seventh.
Let's move to the Denver Broncos, who will not pick
in the first round because of the Russell Wilson trade,
(41:20):
and say that's a a plus move from that perspective,
essentially sending the number nine pick this year and a
couple of players as well over to Seattle. So they're
on the clocket number sixty four. This is uh the
pick they got, one of the picks they got from
the Rams for the von Miller trade. So here we
are at sixty four. Were not like there for Denver.
(41:44):
So I think another cornerback here and I think there's
plenty of guys to choose from that will be in
and around that area. You know, something like Martin Emerson
from Mississippi State Camp, Taylor Bread from Nebraska, Kobe Bryant, who,
by the way, I really like from Cincinnati. You watch
Sauce and nobody threw it sauce they're throwing at Kobe
and Kobe handled his business over there in Cincinnati pretty well.
Like to me, that would make a lot of sense. Again,
(42:06):
we're talking about the division we've we've rattled off these
teams Mahomes Herbert car like, you need to have good corners.
I think that's an area would make a lot of
sense for me. I think another one, um, you know
you traded fan as part of the deal to get Wilson.
How about McBride from Colorado State? Right, Like, would that
you know in your backyard it was the top tight
(42:28):
end in the in the country last year won the award,
right might be a you know, nice little fit there
and give give a security blanket for for Russell with
a with a you know, treasure trove of weapons on
the outside between Judy and Sutton and Patrick like they've
got plenty of pieces outside, but maybe someone who can
work the middle of the field a little bit. That
would be uh, that would be a luxury pick for them.
(42:51):
I think I'd probably go a corner first, but McBride's
a pretty good player. Might be hard to pass him up. Yeah,
if he's there, that that could make some sense that
you have albert A koy boon him who provides the
speed at the y position. Um, you know. And if
McBride not there, Isaiah likely from Coastal Carolina, um has
you know, is a guy that has been asked to
do a bunch of things there for Coastal and really
(43:13):
gets into it in the blocking game too, So could
help that offense in a variety of ways. And look
at interior defensive line um as well. Maybe a guy
like Travis Jones from Yukon after they said Shelby Harris
on his way, Um, just kind of beefing up the
front of that defense. Try to collapse the pocket from
a number of different areas. I dug up a good
little nugget. Um. They added ten players in free agency,
(43:38):
Red who played forty four playoff games between them and
their roster prior to had like nothing there was like, yeah,
you know Jstin Simmons is one of the best players.
He's one of the best safeties in the league. Right
He's never played in the playoff game. They added and
it's not just Russell, you know, it's a d. J. Jones,
It's Randy Gregory, Krowan Williams, Billy Turner, Tom Compton. Like,
they added a lot of pieces that know how to
(44:00):
play in January, you know, and know how to play
in some of them in February. And I think that's
a nice little addition for that team too, just in
terms of leadership. You know, you're you're bringing some young
players onto a team that that's got some pretty good
guys that know how to point you in the right
direction to where you want to go. I love that.
That's a great nugget in fact, because playoff experience, while
(44:20):
you know it is oftentimes something we talk about, it's
more tangible than I think people people realize when you
get in the locker room and people see the habits
and other guys see the habits, the daily work habits
of those who have been there and knows what and
know what it takes to get to the top of
the mountain. So I think that's that's a good point there, Mike.
(44:41):
Already on the Denver Broncos now with some playoff experience,
with some Super Bowl experience with Russell Wilson coming over
as well, so a lot of like there in Denver.
It's going to be a wild ride in the a
f C West. Thanks for setting to straight like but
(45:03):
all right, that's gonna do it for this episod hide
of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so much for being with
this reminder to download, rate, and review our show and
the I Heart Radio app on Apple podcasts or wherever
you get your podcast We appreciate you guys being along
for the ride. For our producers Thomas Warren, Tim Paracca,
and Harrison Stanford. I'm your host, Brett Lewis. We'll catch
you next time. NFL Inside Report is the production of
(45:25):
the NFL and partnership with I Heart Radio. For more
official podcasts from the NFL, visit the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm Reread Lewis and this
is NFL Inside Report. We're back with you this week
(00:25):
to continue our Roster Reset series, taking a look at
the offseason wheeling and dealing from all thirty two teams
and how it will impact this upcoming season. Last week,
we reset the entire NFC. This week it's the a
f C s turn, and today we're tackling the East
and West with our pal here from NFL Media, Mike
(00:46):
g rd And Mike, We're gonna start with the East
in a division this century that has been dominated by
the Patriots, but they are not the top dogs anymore.
The Buffalo Bills now went back to back a f
C East Crowns looking to make it three in a row.
And that's kind of what we expect here, Mike, with
Josh Allen establishing himself as one of the most elite
(01:08):
quarterbacks in this entire league. But how competitive do you
expect the division to be to try to topple the
Bills at the top there? Yeah, I don't know that
anyone has done enough at to this point, even though
Miami has done some splashy things, um to close the
gap on what Buffalo is. Because Buffalo has done a
(01:29):
really nice job again this offseason and sort of maintains
that distance I think between them and the other teams
in the division. And you know, it's gotta be a
little disheartening, I think maybe for New England. Uh. And
if I'm Miami, like, look, they're feeling good about what
they did, but man, there's still a long gap. There's
still a large gap rather between you and Buffalo in
my opinion. Yeah, I would agree there, you know as well,
(01:52):
and despite all the moves and all the trades and
a new regime. Um. And we're gonna get into that
with the Dolphins, Like, it really comes down to the
quarterback in this division, and there's not one that is
on the level of Josh Allen at this point. But
let's start there with the Bills. Then how would do
great with the Bills did this offseason, which you know
clearly has been impacted by the marquee signing of Von Miller. Yeah,
(02:16):
I give him. As I was looking at it last night,
I'd say a minus. And I'd say the only reason
I would go a minus and not higher is that
Brandon being talked about the need for some more speed,
I think on both sides of the ball, and I think,
you know, von Miller certainly gives them some of that,
but I think there's offensively they could use another guy
that has the ability to take at the distance. And yeah, Diggs,
(02:38):
you have Gabe Davis, but I think maybe whether it's
someone in the slot, maybe it's another big outside receiver
we can take the top off, or maybe if you
can start running back. I think that's an area where
wouldn't surprise me come draft time if that's what they address.
And they're they're going to be some receivers that have
you know, that have gone. Some of the top receivers
will be gone by the time the Bills are on
(02:58):
the clock. Here. We'll get to that here just a
little bit, but there could very well be uh still
one of the top flight wideouts in this year's class
of ailable for them there. And look, I think you
mentioned it, but Gabe Davis. You know, Emmanuel Sanders told
us on g MFB last week when he was with
the crew that Gabe Davis is one of those dudes
that is going to become a household name. And I
think he kind of asserted himself into, you know, the conversation,
(03:20):
inserted himself into the conversation in that divisional game loss
to the Chiefs. But you have three touchdowns in that
game against Kansas City, So I think we're gonna see
a lot more from him. But you're right, I think
a little more speed could certainly benefit what the Bills
want to do, especially after locking up Stefon Diggs to
(03:41):
that contract extension. Let's move on then to the Patriots
right there in New England. As we mentioned, a lot
of staff turnover this year, clearly with Josh McDaniels out
and no clear successor as an offensive coordinator, which has
obviously been one of the storylines here. So if you
if you factor that in, you know, to the grade here, Mike,
how are we are? We looking at the Patriots? C
(04:02):
minus for starters are mentioned the coaching staff, right, I
think unless Bill O'Brien had come to be the offensive coordinator,
I think replacing Josh was gonna be hard to do.
Gonna be hard to do this season. I mean, he's
been calling plays for basically twenty years. Uh, he's helped
be the architect of this offense and the way it's
developed over the course of twenty years. Um, and he
(04:24):
did a terrific job I think with Mac Jones. And
you saw the pictures if you're watching the games, after
every series that goes to the bench, Josh goes there
right next to him. Now, who's gonna be doing that
this year? Is that Joe Judge? Is that that Patricia?
Isn't Nick Cayley? Um? No one knows for sure. I
do know that Bill Belichick has a large steak in
(04:44):
Mac Jones and his future, and I believe that Bill
Belichick will be more involved with Mac Jones. I think
that's the feeling inside the building. But again, what does
that really mean? Does that mean an extra meeting a
week with him? Does that mean he's watching the offense
more closely and during games and paying less attention to
the big picture. Like I don't. We haven't seen it yet,
(05:05):
so I don't know how it's gonna go. I just
know that with Josh there, Bill was able to turn
his back on the offense at times and talk to
the defense because Josh was essentially the head coach of
the offense and had you know, Carpe launched to do
what he wants so that, to me is a massive
issue for this team. And then I think the other thing,
right I look at is they lost some good players
(05:25):
that they haven't replaced. J. C. Jackson is gone, Right,
what's the replacement plan? Terrence Mitchell? No, Malcolm Butler, Like, okay,
that's a nice dice roll. But theyn't really guarantee any
money from Malcolm. So they're telling you right there, like, well,
if it works, it was worth the risk. And if
it doesn't, well we didn't pay anything to do it.
And then I started go down the line too, and
(05:47):
it's like, okay, they brought Devin mcquarterback. That makes sense, right,
you're going through some turnover. He's a culture guy. He
still played at a pretty high level to keep him.
But then I thought Trump Brown was gonna be gone.
They got him back, They didn't pay him a ton
of money. How much is he gonna play. He's had
a hard time staying on the field. He's miss basically
half his games over the last three years. Um, he's
a big man. He's got lower leg issues like those
(06:10):
don't get better. He's not gonna be two eighty five
anytime soon. Right, they got a weight clause inform to
stay under three sixty. But I think he's just at
the point of his career now where if he plays
double digit games in the season I'd be surprised, or
maybe you'd be excited by that fact. You bring James
White back again, sort of been a key guy for
you coming off a really bad hip injury. Wasn't walking
(06:33):
for the first couple of months after the injury, Like,
so where is he? Like he's making progress, but again,
no guaranteed money. Jabrol Peppers people are trying to get
excited here about he projects as a depth piece and
maybe a return guy. Like there's just I look at
the roster and I say, man, there are a lot
a lot of holes in this roster and a lot
(06:54):
of things that need to be addressed. And look, I
think it was it was probably it would probably be
a little foolish to expect them to spend another you know,
three hundred and whatever million like they did this two
off seasons ago. Now when they brought in you know,
Hunter Henry and John new Smith and and spent all
that money with Matthew Judan and that whole crew, and
would love to get a little bit more out of
(07:14):
that tight end room, particularly with John new Smith for
some of the money that was spent, certainly got a
lot out of Matthew Judan was was one of the
best free agent signings of the twenty one off season period,
not just for New England. So yeah, still someone answered
questions there for the Patriots. Let's move to the Dolphins.
Mike McDaniel the only new coach in the division this
(07:40):
offseason and seems dead set on rolling to a tongue
of viola out there again and trying to support him.
How much does that factor into the grade here? Yeah,
I'm giving him. I'm giving him a B. And this
could this could be at a if Tyreek Hill meshes
with the quarterback and turn Armstead stays on the field,
(08:01):
because we know when he is on the field he's
one of the best left tackles of it. Well, it
also can slide to a D because I don't know
that Tyreek Hill meshes with who two is as a quarterback,
right and he's going from Patrick to to ah too.
Is still trying to prove himself in the landscape. Patrick
is the best quarterback in the league or one of
two or the three best quarterbacks. Right, there's there's no
(08:22):
question about that. Um and Armstead, Like, if Armstead there's
a big investment in him financially, and if he has
another one of these seasons where he's playing six games,
that that's a massive issue. And look at this point
in his career, does it get better? You know, like
you hope it does because you want to see the
guy on the field. We all want to see the
best players on the field every week. But that's not
(08:43):
a that's not a lot considering his his past history.
But to your point, like it really is, it's all
about Toah because now they've given him pieces, They've got
a coach who at least publicly is saying he believes
in him. Although the signing of Teddy Bridgewater at the
number that they gave him makes you wonder like and
look to it hasn't been healthy a lot either, so
(09:03):
he's miss games. He I guess you have to have
a viable back up there. But again it just sort
of it makes you think a little bit um. But look,
I think probably McDaniel got the job in part because
he said I can make this work with Tah. I
think the owner wants it to work with Tah. But
now we'll see they've got all the pieces for Tah.
They gave him a much better offensive line than he
had last year. Connor Williams add into the mix as well. Um,
(09:27):
so you know now it's it's it's time, it's trying
to prove your worth. Or next year they got multiple
first you know, they'll be in the quarterback market again.
I would believe. Well, so that's the thing. I kind
of look at this as a win win for the
Dolphins in this situation, and the first win would be
to a thrives in this new environment, in this new system,
(09:47):
with this new supporting cast that he has now, and
they're ready to roll him out here for the future
and he becomes you know, the face of the franchise,
you know, without question, or they find out for sure
this year that he is not the guy and then they're,
like you said, in the quarter back market again. So
it's either we have found our solution or we know
(10:09):
we need to find the solution. There's no middle ground
after this year. Yeah, I mean, just think about how
they started last year and look, the stories are pretty
well documented now that Floors is not a believer in
to and wanted them to move in a different direction
prior to even last season. But they can't have another
start like that too. We can't have another start like
that because he won't be playing. It'll be it'll be
Teddy Bridgewater, and they'll have already made the decision we're
(10:32):
moving on in the off season to go ahead. Uh.
And obviously, because of all the chips they put in
on Tyreek Hill, the draft is basically a non starter
for them as their first pick as in the fourth round, right,
So you look at it, maybe you could steal a
starter somewhere out of there in the in the latter picks,
but most likely you're just looking for death pieces, or
maybe you're you're rolling the dice on someone who, from
(10:53):
whatever reason you know, had a second round grade, but
now he's slid into the fourth round because of injury
or off field stuff or whatever it may be. And
then maybe you hope you can you can you know,
salvage that. But their team is pretty much their team
at this point. Yeah, that's a good point. And look,
they'd love to to see some of those offensive linemen
that they spent high draft resources on in recent years,
(11:16):
Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, leam Mykenberg, that whole crew really
kind of step forward even more so this year too,
you know, either jump into one of those best five
starting positions or provide, you know, real quality depth on
that roster as they look to continue to support in
front of two a tug of Voloa in addition to
around him. Let's move to the final team of the division,
(11:37):
the New York Jets, year two of the Zach Wilson
Robert sala Era as head coaching quarterback. What did you
see from this offseason? You know, they have gotten a
lot of attention from people I talked to around the league,
a f C, NFC executive, scouts. There's a plan in
place like that. People are seeing a good execution of
(11:59):
a plan and a step forward from this team here
in this offseason. I say, it's a B plus offseason
for them. Like, you have the floor's offense, right, so
what do you do? He needs tight ends? You didn't
have any tight ends. So you go out and sign
basically the two best guys that ended up being free
agents in Conkman and Uzama. Right now, if they can
get sort of mirror of the production they had last year,
that's a great at And even if that production comes
(12:20):
down a little bit. Still, they got nothing out of
that position. They haven't had a good tight end since
Dustin Keller. I mean it's been that long, right, So
now you've got two guys that are have proven to
be more than competent at the position. I love that
Lake and Tomlinson on the front line. You know, maybe
over paying for a guard, but obviously they know him
from the San Francisco days, and look much like with
(12:42):
we talked about, you know, to ah, this is a
lot about Zac now, right and the second year, we
saw some signs, especially I thought later in the year
of like, okay, he's he's grown a little bit. We're
seeing some things here, and now let's protect him better.
You know, they were had problems to tackle Beckton gets
hurt last year early, doesn't play the rest of the season,
maybe got three or four games in there. So like,
(13:05):
if they can protect him better, they've got a good
plan in place to maybe take some pressure off him,
get him some safety security blankets there and maybe you know,
now all of a sudden, we'll we'll see what Zach
Wilson is all about. Because let's face you can have
a B plus offseason and if Zach Wilson doesn't take
a step forward this year, then it probably is all
for not and they may find themselves, like several other teams,
(13:27):
back in the market for a quarterback a year or two.
Double line. Yeah, and that's something that's that you just
can't do it at this point. If you're the if
you're that Jet, that Jets regime with GM Joe Douglas
and head coach Robert sala Um, you know, you can't
go back to ownership and me like, hey, sorry about that.
Let's let's try that quarterback thing again. It's just you
just don't get that many opportunities. I mean, it's very
(13:48):
It is rare for a GM and a coach to
get a second opportunity to draft a quarterback up high.
Ryan Pason, Matt Naggie did uh and only lasted one
season with the new quarterbacks. So you really gotta you
gotta look at that as this is the guy we're
riding with. How do we make it work? And I
think a big part of how they will make it
work as we start to look at some of the
(14:08):
draft needs here. We'll start right there with the Jets
and keep this conversation rolling is what they do at
four and ten because Mike, I see the ability there
to yes, get an edge rusher if you really want.
And as long as the top three guys aren't gone
at number four, because then you're looking at you know,
let's get another tackle. Why not continue to support Zach Wilson?
Maybe bounce back at ten with a white out? How
(14:29):
do you see it? Yeah? I think they're in a
position where, uh, and Joe Douglas said it, like the
opportunity with four picks in the top thirty eight, five
in the top sixty nine, they can get some impact
players and really help shape their future going forward. Um,
and I look at it, You're right. I mean you
could go pass rusher, you could go offensive tackle, you
can even go corner. I mean to me, Gardner is
(14:52):
probably the safest pick in the draft. Maybe, Um, would
you do it? Is it too high at forward? Do
you think you can get him at ten? You know?
I I just think they're in a position where they
can just look at it and say, like, if we
get this position, we can still help ourselves at ten
as well, or as we've heard, and I think it
is clearly part of their thinking is, you know, can
(15:13):
we yo get a number one. Is Deebo Samuel gonna
get put out there? Is DK Metcalf gonna be put
out there? I mean, as of right now, you're getting
pushed back and there's nothing gonna happen, and there's still
time to fix this. But I don't know. You know,
they put an offer on the table that Kansas City
was willing to take without the two first round picks
for Tyree Hill, and he'll eventually chose the Dolphins over
(15:34):
the Jets. But if you had dangled that ten for
someone like DK or Devo, would that be you know,
enough to convince the that side to say, all right,
well we love our player, but we have to pay
him twenty thirty million a year. We get a ten,
we can get a good, good wide receiver there and
start the clock over on that position. That's just I
think they have a lot of options. Yeah, I think
(15:56):
they did well last year. And then you know, as
you mentioned, I just if you can get if you
can get one of those top wideouts without giving up
four and ten, you know, like they were poised to
do with Tyreek Hill would have done that deal all
day long. But at ten, I think you get a
wide receiver with five years of cost control, you know.
And I think that pays off because I think there
are players, you know, those two dudes that you mentioned
DK Debo, they're one of one in terms of skill set,
(16:18):
in terms of build, but there are guys that are
similar in terms of the impact that they can make
that they could get their attend Drake London being one
of them as a bigger target. Right. You hear London's
name attached to the Jets quite a bit here during
this process, dating back to the combine, and it hasn't
hasn't died down at all. You know, they feel like
they've got some smaller guys that they can work underneath,
(16:40):
and then let's get that big receiver to you know,
contested catch to help bail out Zach and times when
you know the window is not that big or maybe
he just needs to throw one up there and trusted
your guy can go get it. And I think there's
a feeling in New York that that maybe London is
that guy. I would agree. Let's go back up the
totem pool here with the Miami Dolphins, as you mentioned,
(17:00):
like get their first pick is coming in the compensatory
area of the third round at number one hundred and two.
Um So look, I I we're not gonna identify a
player here, but again, like I think trying to find
you know, another edge rusher there to kind of bolster
that unit. Um, I think, you know, linebacker, I think
(17:23):
offensive line as as a possibility. There just anywhere where
they can get some really good football players that are gonna,
you know me, either compete on special teams immediately or
provide depth is what they're looking for here. Yeah, that
to me, like I said, it's almost like you're in
a dice roll situation there because you're you're not picking
for so long. It's just like, what's there? Is there
somebody that we liked it again for whatever reason, has
(17:43):
slipped down the board a little bit, or is there
someone we project and maybe he's a little bit of
a project, but like, hey, if we can maximize this guy,
knowing that we're essentially having an opportunity to red shirt
him this year, that you know, maybe that's a guy
that can impact our football team, you know, two years
from now. And you know, with what they've done this offseason,
I don't know that they necessarily desperate for impact pieces
right away. Up. Let's move to the Bills, who have
(18:07):
eight picks in total starting with number twenty five overall.
I skipped the Patriots will get back to them here
in a second. Um, but we talked about that is
maybe a spot for another wide receiver or you know,
if one of those guards is available, as you continue
to try to, you know, kind of beef up up
front and get a little bit more to that run game,
could be something they could consider. Mike. Yeah, you know
(18:28):
it's interesting is as you kind of keep hearing from
Buffalo that maybe there might be a surprise here and
maybe running back is a place where even though no
one likes first round running backs, that maybe they look
at a piece there and say there's someone here who
can help put our offense, which is already and an overdrive,
and maybe take us to another place again looking for speed.
I mean, the other thing you have to look at
(18:49):
here is Tnevious Whites coming off the A c L.
I've heard he's the head of schedule, but you know
you still gotta get on the field and start doing stuff.
Um so is he gonna be ready for the start
of the season and their number two corner to Levi
Wallas is now with Pittsburgh, so Bean has not drafted
Brandon Bean is not drafted a cornerback higher than the
fifth rounds since he's been there. But maybe this is
(19:10):
the year where you go in and you find that
corner opposite of trade Avious when he gets right and
feel like, you know, we're looking at a f C
where all the quarterbacks are at right now, all these
weapons are at. You're gonna need to be able to
handle the pass, and um, it might be a perfect
opportunity there someone like Andrew Booth. I know they've had
him in for a top three visit. Uh, someone like
(19:31):
that who can slide right in right away your number
two corner and then who knows, you know, a couple
of years down the road where that player develops and
what he becomes. But you know, I would I would
look at that area if I was them, A yeah,
and if you know Booth is gone, you're looking into
the you know, the Kyler Gordon from Washington neighborhood, You're
looking at the Roger McCreary from Auburn neighborhood there as well.
(19:52):
At twenty five running backs, Wiz Kenny Walker, Briest Hall, Uh,
Brieste Hall of Iowa State. Uh, you know Blaze, the
both those guys really did, really did well in the
athletic Hall's name is I've heard Breese Hall's name come
up a few times in connection with Buffalo. So again,
just something to kind of keep an eye on there.
And Leslie for the Patriots picking four spots in front
of the Bills there in my list, Yeah, run it
(20:16):
down all right, left guard, left tackle, cornerback. Uh, looking
for a Devin mccordy replacement, you know, thirty four going
thirty five, a playmaking linebacker. Don't have enough speeded linebacker level. Uh.
They were as bad against the run last year as
they were the year before and that was a concentration
for them during this previous off season. So maybe another
(20:40):
run stuffer. And you know, if you want to be
nice to Mac Jones, especially after what you've done to
the offensive coaching staff here, maybe get him a shifty
slot receiver, which is how they've really thrived in that
offense for twenty years. And you know, give him that guy.
They can get open in one point eight seconds. So
if your offensive line isn't getting it done, you can
get the ball out to someone you trust you can
(21:02):
make a play. I'm into that as well. Love those
choices there. As we look at the a f C East,
the roster reset here, assessing what these teams have done,
what they will do in the upcoming NFL Draft up
next on the docket. Mike's back with us as we
dig in on the a f C West back here
(21:36):
on NFL Inside Report, Red Lewis and Mike Gardi here
with us as we continue our roster Reset series. Did
the a f C East at the top part of
the show here, getting into the a f C West now,
But want to remind you that you can read more
on the Roster Reset series on NFL dot com slash
Roster Reset, and we'll be hitting all the angles as
(21:58):
well throughout all eight divisions here in the NFL on
NFL Network all week long. We should have tuned into
NFL Now and all of our platforms for that information.
Back here now with Mike, Mike most competitive division in football.
It's like, um, you know, it's it's literally like like
a I don't watch wrestling, but if I did, this
(22:18):
would feel like each team getting up on the top
ropes and delivering, you know, like the diamond cutter to
every every single team, like with the moves that they
were making. You know, started with Russell Wilson and we
got the vote. Adams is the Entyree Hill is out.
You know, Khalil mac J C. Jackson come over to
the Chargers. This was an insane a couple of weeks
for the a f C West. Um any reason to
(22:41):
believe that it is not the best division in football? Yeah,
I can't see it. I mean I just think that
everybody has done so much UM and it just oh well,
the Chargers just did. Then the Chiefs did the like
it's just like they it was almost like clear, look,
we know they do it. I mean teams look at themselves,
but they also have to pay attention to the competition.
And it was almost like, oh man, well we can't
(23:03):
stand we gotta go and do something like hey, let's
go get Colombette. Like they're just there were so many
things that happened that make you believe, like every one
of these games, especially when they play each other, when
they have those interdivisional matchups, like you're gonna you're gonna
wanna DV on the game if you're not watching it live,
because it just has the potential to be so much fun.
I think there's gonna be a lot of competition, and
I think, you know, when you get to this level
(23:23):
and this level of competition and the way each team
sort of feels about themselves, I think there'll be some
hatred involved in the Division two, which I kind of like,
you know, you get get a little nasty between. You
know what's funny is that, like you literally with this division,
you could make a case for each one of these
teams to finish first, in each one of these teams
(23:44):
to finish last, like can you believe that? Like we
could be talking about the Chiefs, you know, won the division,
you know, five straight years here finishing last in the
division and you know what, they still might make the
playoffs like doing that, which is also insane. And the
Broncos who finished last each of the last two years,
even though they acquired Russell Wilson, because of the strength
(24:05):
of the division of the division, they could still finish
last again but again could make the playoffs winning tenoral
eleven games. Like that's how crazy it is. So let's
kind of set the scene here for each one of
these divisions great their off season moves. Let's start with
those Denver Broncos and obviously the Marquee transaction trading for
Russell Wilson. Yeah, I say it's an a minus. You know,
(24:27):
you gave up the five picks and some players to
go get them. But when you consider where they've been
since Peyton Manning retired, um, desperately seeking that next guy.
Um they got him. Now. To me, I'd be a
little bit worried about what I've seen from Russell the
last year and a half. Uh, sort of an unwillingness
to run as much um. And obviously we know there
(24:49):
was some friction there with Seattle Nathaniel Hackett's the first
year head coach, Like, how does that? Mary? I know,
right now everything's wonderful, But when they start calling runs
and Russell wants to throw it every play, like, does
that lead him to the same place he was in Seattle?
That has me curry us to see how that looks,
you know, in September and October. But for now, obviously
you just have to love the idea. They finally don't
(25:11):
have to answer questions about that position or try to
talk themselves into Teddy Bridgewater or um, god, how many
other guys have they gone through, right, It's just like
one year yo, yeah, right, like yeah, there's nicer yeah right,
ripping right, like it was the market Margaret was not
(25:32):
markets and whatever the other one the other rippon. So like, yeah,
you got to this point where you're like, you're trying
to commit yourself. That maybe just made Drew lock that
this could be the next guy. You don't have to
worry about that anymore. This is the guy. You're gonna
tire yourself to this guy long term and now hopefully
you're gonna get yourself out of that rotten back in
the playoffs. So they can, you know, with the consistency
that again has been lacking for the last seven or
(25:53):
eight years. Randy Gregory comes back over as well to
provide that edge, pairing with Bradley Chubb, who hope is
even healthier you know this year for the Brocos. And
otherwise it's a defense that was pretty darn solid. Let's
it to the Las Vegas Raiders who made a marquee
transaction on both sides of the ball. Mike, Yeah, they did,
and I don't know how you're not excited about that either.
(26:14):
It's certainly Josh McDaniels going out and trading for our
number one ride receiver is absolutely the opposite of what
his mentor, Bill Belichick would ever do. Remember he's the
guy who told Thomas demutrof in Atlanta, now, Julio Jones,
you don't trade it for that, You can get Jonathan Baldwin.
They'll be about the same guy. Jonathan Baldwin I think
had like five catches in his career. And you know,
we know what, we know what Julio Jones went on
(26:37):
to become for Atlanta. UM, so I say, b plus, here,
there's a you know, a lot to give up for Adams.
And again that's an interesting position. But now everybody, all
the elite guys are getting paid there. But I just
think the synergy between him and car the idea that
he wants to be there, that he wanted to come
home to play for them, I think it's pretty exciting.
Chandler Jones is still a really good pass rusher. You
(26:57):
pair him with Max Crosby, Um, you know, Crosby and
and Gockway were great last year. Chandler is a bit
better player against the run than in Gotways, so it
should be an upgrade there. And I like and this
is you know, kind of a further down. They signed
to Ron Harmon, former Patriot, former Falcon deep safety guy,
Jonathan Abram. It's an interesting player, you know, drafted up safe.
(27:20):
It hasn't happened for him. Can't can't play deep, you know,
it's more of a box safety. So Abrams is still
gonna play. But I think having someone that they can
put back there and sort of quarterback that defense and
that unit and sort of communicate what Patrick Graham, the
new d C wants from his defense, I think it
is important. You know, like he's not like he's not
gonna make game changing plays weekend and week out, but
(27:40):
he's a smart player, and I think that will just
help that unit become cohesive, you know, maybe quicker than
it would take in a normal season where you don't
have a veteran that that knows the system and sort
of can be leaned upon to to help things out there.
Kind of view, Abram is like Jamal Adams light. You know,
it's like a player of that ilk that you would
want to put in that kind of position to succeed
(28:01):
rather than force him, you know, to be a little
bit more out of his comfort zone because you have
to um and so now maybe a player like Harmon,
you know, can help alleviate some of those concerns on
the back end there as well. All right, let's get
to the l A Chargers trade for Khalil. Max signed
j C. Jackson in addition to some depth pieces up
front to kind of bolster what was one of the
worst rush defenses in the league last year. And man,
(28:24):
I'm feeling pretty good if I'm l A right now. Yeah,
it's an A RNA minus. I mean, I think that
j C is a is a perfect fit for what
they want to do. I think the way he and
Brandon Staley are already vibing is to me, it's a
really I think it's pretty clear um Staley's respect for Jackson,
and I think Jackson always felt like he didn't necessarily
(28:45):
get that respect here in New England. So I think that,
you know, could help take him to another level just
feeling more confident because they're feeling confident in him and
trusting him to do what he does. I mean, the
Mac thing, he wasn't very good last year, but now
he's got both On the other side, I think Max
thing might have been a little bit about health too,
So now if he comes back and he's healthy. He
(29:05):
and Bosa like that helps guys like j C. Jackson,
the second hair I maag just helps the whole unit entirely.
And but keeping Mike Williams maybe it's a little bit
of an overpay maybe, And I know all the receivers,
they are getting paid a lot of money. Maybe they
want a little bit further than I would have gone
for him. But look great synergy with Herbert um Keenan
(29:26):
Allen's getting a little bit older, maybe he can make
that transition and eventually become a number one Sebastian day
in the inside, like they did a lot of good
things for their football team that have to make them
feel great, you know, missing the playoffs last year. But
I have to make them feel great rolling into you know,
the draft and the upcoming season. But Mike, I mean,
what a shrewd move by G M. Tomp Kalesco. Because
(29:48):
the contract from Mike Williams three years and sixty million
probably would have cost three and ninety million about three
weeks later Son early rightin mill per year right there.
Based on the way that Davante Adams got paid, the
way that Tyreek Hill got paid with stuff I think
about how teams have gone into the off season, so
(30:09):
many of these some of these receivers that were in
free agency, and like I know in New England, you know,
they end up trading for DeVante Parker. And as people said,
it's a classic Belichick move, Well, why because he doesn't
want to pay twenty five million or he doesn't want
to pay twelve million for mvs So this guy, pretty
good player, has our time stand on the field all
the time. But like for the production for the cost, like, okay,
(30:30):
that makes sense. And I wonder if they're gonna be
more teams that sort of trying to mind that middle class,
if you will. Um because of the escalating cost for
receivers and particular the receipt if the receivers weren't going
to come off the board early and often in the
draft this year before all this happened, they are now
Like wait till you see how many white outs go
(30:50):
in the first three rounds of this year's draft. Like
just because of that salary effect that we're talking about here,
our final team for an offseason grade, the Kansas City Chief,
the perennial champion in this division. How do you see it?
C plus and look, I like some of what they
did to react to the trade of Tyreek Hill. I thought,
bringing in mvs and Juju, they got a little bit
(31:12):
more physical and wide receiver. I think they're they're kind
of giving you the idea that maybe this offense is
gonna morph a little bit from what it's become, what
what has been, to maybe what it's going to become. Now.
I think they can be a little bit bigger, they
can run the ball a little bit more. I think
because they got two pieces. Honestly, a wide receiver that
blocked very well. Harry Kill is not a blocker. These
guys are big guys, physical guys. I mean, obviously that's
(31:34):
not what you're paying them to do, but that is
part of the equation. But I just I look at
it and say, how can you take someone who he's
a top five receiver and is a complete freak in
terms of his speed and how he stresses a defense.
How can you remove that player still in his prime
from the equation and think, at least in the short term,
(31:54):
that you got better. You know. Now, look, there's still
draft picks, and there's a lot of different ways they
can build this and address that position and how they
play offense. But until we see it, and I think
it's probably to take a little time to until we
see it, until we see it developed, then I don't
know how you can be super high on what they did.
I do like the Justin Reid signing. Honey Badger is
(32:14):
a great leader, but I think you're seeing now even
they're sort of a slowing Yeah, he's not he's not
a he's not a peer like Tyrone Matthew is in
terms of awareness, but he's a better he's a better
athlete at this point. Yeah, absolutely, And I think that's
the reason they moved on, right. I think they just
felt like, all right, we've gotten a lot of mileage
out of this player, and maybe now he's starting to
(32:36):
show some tread on his tires. You gotta get younger,
we gotta hit more athletic. They did that, So I
like that move, But again, now you're removing a leadership
piece as well. Honey Badger clearly one of the heartbeats
of that defense. So you know, again, I think it's
gonna take them a little bit of time, and by
no means am I writing them off. To your point,
you can finish and last and still be in the playoffs,
And would you want to see them in the playoffs
(32:56):
if they're healthy and Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback. The
answer is hell, no, you would not. So they're still
dangerous to me, but I think it's gonna it might
take a little time to gotta hit their stride. And
by the way, Marquez vald Is scantling well not on
Tyreek Hills level. Is as close as it gets in
the league. Like, dudes got some speed. In fact, was
the second fastest ball carrier this past season in the
(33:17):
NFL according to Next Gen Stats as they do the
miles per hour. Uh stat there, okay, Uh let me
start back here with the Chiefs as we get into
the draft now, Mike, because I'm gonna pose this question
to you because it's something Daniel Jeremiah and I talked
about and moved the sticks a couple of times when
this trade went down that sent Tyreek Hill on his way.
I think the Orlando Brown franchise tag at left tackle
(33:42):
hamstrung the Chiefs a little bit in the amount of
money that they were willing to commit or could commit
to Tyreek Hill. So let me ask you this, um,
because they couldn't get a deal done with Orlando Brown.
What if they would have just let him walk for
now and say, we'll keep Tyreek Hill, will give him
the money, and we'll take let's say Bernard Ryman out
of Central Michigan with the twenty nine pick in the
(34:04):
draft or wherever they were tween or thirty, which whichever
one was the original pick that they had, Like, would
you would you take that? Or would you take Orlando Brown?
And let's say Christian Watson from North Dakota State at
a wide out. That's a good that's a good little
brain vender right there here. So I would side with
keeping Orlando Brown. But I don't think Orlando Brown played
(34:28):
great last year, and I think there's still some concerns
about him as a pass blocker, as a left tackle.
So you know, they gave up capitol ago get him.
He's younger. Maybe they look at Tyreek and say, sometimes
the hamstrings, like you know, when's the when has all
of a sudden that going to turn sideways? And when
it does, then the impact of the player. So I
(34:49):
guess I would say Brown. But boy, that is a
tough one. It really is a tough one. I think
about it. I just you basically remade your offensive line
and I and and they were pretty good last year,
So I guess I would I would say I'd want
to keep them together and see if they continue to
blossom as a group. I I I agree with that
part of it too, because we saw what not having
a marquee tackle meant for Patrick Mahomes down the stretch
(35:12):
in the in the Super Bowl loss to the Bucks,
you know, year year plus ago. Now. But let me
but I'll bring this up to you, um as well,
because you know, now this is with the benefit of time.
But if you had not given Orlando Brown the franchise tag,
Look how long it took for to Ron Armstead to
get that deal with Miami. Like as the clocks kept ticking,
and the clock kept ticking on Orlando Brown, and you
(35:35):
could say, all right, we gave Tyreek Kill the extension.
Oh this is what we got for you. Is it
gonna be enough? Um? Or was he gonna get that
amount of money out on the open market? I don't know.
With the Colts have backed up the brink struck for him, um,
whereas they didn't for to Ron Armstead. You know, I
think there's there's not a Chris ballad move right that
tends not to delve into it that way. There are
(35:58):
people around the league, and you talk to people like
there are some people around the league that still believe
Orlando Brown's a right tackle. I'm not a left tackle, sure,
and they feel they feel even more emboldened by their
their thought process before last year by the way he
played this year. But you know, smallish wide receiver. I
know he had the freak speed, But like I guess,
at the end of the day, I'm gonna stick with
(36:18):
protecting Patrick and hoping that he can elevate whatever receiver
you decide to go with in the draft, because I'm
assuming they willn't take at least one in the draft
um and the other pieces juju and mvs and and
and elevate them because well, quite frankly, that's what you're
paying him to do, exactly exactly. Okay, let's then move
back in order with the l A Chargers here as
(36:40):
we go back up the way, we started Chargers on
the clock at number seventeen overall, hit it out of
the park last year at thirteen with Rashon Slater. Wouldn't
hate it if if they got one of the top
tackles in this year's Class two and moved slided him
right over there to right tackle. Because at some point
you're gonna be paying justin Herbert fifty bill a year. Yeah,
in that time is coming sooner rather than later. I'm
(37:01):
a pent with it that. I think Storm norton uh
struggle last year right tackle. I think there's an obvious
area for an upgrade. I think that you know, when
you look at the tackles, I think, really, if you're
not getting a tackle in the first round, you are
rolling the dice. I think that's where the good ones are.
I think that's historically where you find the good ones.
So this is what I'm doing. You know, whether it's
someone like Trevor Penning, whether it's Charlie Cross, like somebody
(37:26):
there that can. Again, you want to keep Herbert upright,
you want to keep him healthy. Norton was a problem again.
I'll go back to just watching that Patriots game, and
they just tortured Storm Norton on that right side. It
was a massive issue of Judean. They were all eating
off him. Um, you know, you've you've got upgrade that spot.
And I think that's that makes a heck of a
lot of sense. Any other position I kind of look
(37:48):
at is linebacker. Kenneth Murray hasn't developed. Now. I don't
know how Brandon Staley sees Kenneth Murray and and if
he foresees him making a leap as a player, but
to me, that's been an area of concern for them,
and I think the potential upgrade now know Devin Lloyd,
would that be something you would do there? I mean again,
(38:09):
I would stick with offense because I think my team
has built around Justin Herbert and I think I've done
enough defensively at least to get significantly better than I
was last year. So maybe linebacker is a luxury pick
or something you look at the second, second, or third round.
But you know, for me, that's another area that I
kind of look in and say, I need more out
of that spot and I gotta find someone for for
(38:29):
Staley's defense to be the quarterback there. Yeah, and look,
and by the way, if you want to look at
the third round pick of the Chargers, that's number seventy
nine overall. If they want to if they want to
look at a linebacker there, some names to follow would be,
you know, Leo Chanal from Wisconsin. Um with big strong
dude Trey Anderson from Montana State might be gone by
that time. Um, but man Cheney can can. I WT
(38:52):
the sneaky one. So he's not big, he's I think
he's five eleven. He's about two thirty. But I have
become enamored with Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez. That dude, that Rhett,
just like I know your Bucky and and DJ they
might shoot me down. I just every time I've watched
him now, he finds the football. It's like he has
(39:14):
an unbelievable mac for finding the football. Sometimes he takes
weird roots to get there, but he gets there and
he makes plays. Uh, you know he I think he
was a high school wrestler, like a really good high
school wrestler. I think he was also, Uh, I think
he was a pretty good running back as well. I
think if I had my memory or maybe he was
a quarterback whatever, he was a good offensive player. I
remember that. So like he's just he's an intriguing guy
(39:35):
for me. And again, like then now we're talking, he's
probably a fourth or fifth round pick. But you know,
beauties in the eye of the beholder and right now.
He's pretty beautiful to me. There you go. Yeah, Darien
Beavers from Cincinnati. Another one that I like. Joe Joe
Dolman from Nebraska. Um, you know that kind of has
some of that versatility that I think Brandon Staley would
get into. So um, there's you know, just the thought
(39:57):
there um on what the Chargers might do. Then let's
get into now the Las Vegas Raiders, who again, look
they're not gonna be on the clock until the third
round after the Davante Adams trade eight six overall, but
a a position group or another need that you'd like
to see filled their offensive line. I think if you
looked at their offensive line last year, Colton Miller played
(40:18):
really well, in fact, kind of established himself as one
of the better young left tackles in football. Um, but
I think pretty much the rest of that offensive line struggled. Uh.
You know, Alex Leatherwood first round pick, they put him
a right to like, maybe he's better suited inside. I
just think at that spot that's I kind of be
looking to to to add some competition there and maybe
(40:39):
get an upgrade because I just think they need to
be better in front of Derek. I think there's there
are too many holes and too many questions with that
offensive line. So that's something I think makes a lot
of sense. And you know Josh's offensive background, Like, let's
all right, we got pieces on offense, we've got skilled players.
Now let's fortify up front and that you know, a
third round guard. Now, that's more in line with the
(40:59):
way Bill Belichick has thought all those years, right, and
McDaniel seeing that up close and personal as well, Yeah, yeah,
I know exactly right. Um, and again, they really only
have five picks, and they've got two in the fifth
round and then one's in the third, fourth and at seventh.
Let's move to the Denver Broncos, who will not pick
in the first round because of the Russell Wilson trade,
(41:20):
and say that's a a plus move from that perspective,
essentially sending the number nine pick this year and a
couple of players as well over to Seattle. So they're
on the clocket number sixty four. This is uh the
pick they got, one of the picks they got from
the Rams for the von Miller trade. So here we
are at sixty four. Were not like there for Denver.
(41:44):
So I think another cornerback here and I think there's
plenty of guys to choose from that will be in
and around that area. You know, something like Martin Emerson
from Mississippi State Camp, Taylor Bread from Nebraska, Kobe Bryant, who,
by the way, I really like from Cincinnati. You watch
Sauce and nobody threw it sauce they're throwing at Kobe
and Kobe handled his business over there in Cincinnati pretty well.
Like to me, that would make a lot of sense. Again,
(42:06):
we're talking about the division we've we've rattled off these
teams Mahomes Herbert car like, you need to have good corners.
I think that's an area would make a lot of
sense for me. I think another one, um, you know
you traded fan as part of the deal to get Wilson.
How about McBride from Colorado State? Right, Like, would that
you know in your backyard it was the top tight
(42:28):
end in the in the country last year won the award,
right might be a you know, nice little fit there
and give give a security blanket for for Russell with
a with a you know, treasure trove of weapons on
the outside between Judy and Sutton and Patrick like they've
got plenty of pieces outside, but maybe someone who can
work the middle of the field a little bit. That
would be uh, that would be a luxury pick for them.
(42:51):
I think I'd probably go a corner first, but McBride's
a pretty good player. Might be hard to pass him up. Yeah,
if he's there, that that could make some sense that
you have albert A koy boon him who provides the
speed at the y position. Um, you know. And if
McBride not there, Isaiah likely from Coastal Carolina, um has
you know, is a guy that has been asked to
do a bunch of things there for Coastal and really
(43:13):
gets into it in the blocking game too, So could
help that offense in a variety of ways. And look
at interior defensive line um as well. Maybe a guy
like Travis Jones from Yukon after they said Shelby Harris
on his way, Um, just kind of beefing up the
front of that defense. Try to collapse the pocket from
a number of different areas. I dug up a good
little nugget. Um. They added ten players in free agency,
(43:38):
Red who played forty four playoff games between them and
their roster prior to had like nothing there was like, yeah,
you know Jstin Simmons is one of the best players.
He's one of the best safeties in the league. Right
He's never played in the playoff game. They added and
it's not just Russell, you know, it's a d. J. Jones,
It's Randy Gregory, Krowan Williams, Billy Turner, Tom Compton. Like,
they added a lot of pieces that know how to
(44:00):
play in January, you know, and know how to play
in some of them in February. And I think that's
a nice little addition for that team too, just in
terms of leadership. You know, you're you're bringing some young
players onto a team that that's got some pretty good
guys that know how to point you in the right
direction to where you want to go. I love that.
That's a great nugget in fact, because playoff experience, while
(44:20):
you know it is oftentimes something we talk about, it's
more tangible than I think people people realize when you
get in the locker room and people see the habits
and other guys see the habits, the daily work habits
of those who have been there and knows what and
know what it takes to get to the top of
the mountain. So I think that's that's a good point there, Mike.
(44:41):
Already on the Denver Broncos now with some playoff experience,
with some Super Bowl experience with Russell Wilson coming over
as well, so a lot of like there in Denver.
It's going to be a wild ride in the a
f C West. Thanks for setting to straight like but
(45:03):
all right, that's gonna do it for this episod hide
of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so much for being with
this reminder to download, rate, and review our show and
the I Heart Radio app on Apple podcasts or wherever
you get your podcast We appreciate you guys being along
for the ride. For our producers Thomas Warren, Tim Paracca,
and Harrison Stanford. I'm your host, Brett Lewis. We'll catch
you next time. NFL Inside Report is the production of
(45:25):
the NFL and partnership with I Heart Radio. For more
official podcasts from the NFL, visit the I Heart Radio app,
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