March 31, 2023 • 24 mins
The NFL Now Podcast begins with news on Calais Campell's deal with the Atlanta Falcons, as well as other signings.
Host, Omar Ruiz interviews De'Jahn Warren. Jane Slater tells us what the Cowboys need in their draft.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
with iHeartRadio. Happy Friday and Welcome into NFL Now, presented
by IKEA. He's Steve whichaimom Race in the NFL Network
(00:26):
news room. Steve, we're less than a month away from
the NFL Draft starting tomorrow. We can say the draft
is this month. What are your thoughts setting in Well,
I mean, the Carolina Panthers will officially be on the clock,
but who's our quarterback going to be? You know, we're
gonna have more on that discussion because I don't think
it's actually settled yet as it continue to hit every
Pro day. And same with the Seattle Seahawks. We're picking
(00:47):
at five. Talk to the head coach Pat Carroll at
the league meetings and he made it sound like they
are very much in the quarterback market. We can't wait
to show you some of those highlights from those interviews
where we're going to start with some veterans making their
way through free agency. New right now into NFL Network,
it is official. Class Campbell sign a one year deal
with the Atlanta Falcons. He's heading into his sixteenth season
(01:11):
at five and a half sacks last year with the
Baltimore Ravens. According to our and if ON network insider
Ian rappaported, so one year deal for seven million bucks
could be nine million with incentives. In Buffalo, Taylor Rapped,
the former LA Ram, has signed a one year deal
with the Bills. He started every game the last couple
of years, full time starter, part of the Super Bowl
(01:32):
Championship winner there with the Rams. A former second round
pick in twenty nineteen. Speaking of former second round picks,
te Higgins is heading into the final year of his contract,
of course. A twenty twenty second round pick of the
Cincinnati Bengals, he has been nothing short of a spectacular
a consistent performer for Cincinnati, but he is heading into
(01:53):
that contract year. He addressed that with Pat McAfee yesterday.
You're going into your contract year, and obviously we are
another situation in Cincinnati. Where's your mindset? Where's your head
going into the year? Obviously, contract years normally everybody's best year,
and obviously it's a great time to prove to everybody
how great you are. Would you have done in an
(02:15):
weapon littered offense over there in Cincinnati? Where's your mind
friend going into the season? What are you thinking? About Yeah,
right now, I'm just preparing for the season. I'm not
really worried about the contract. Obviously, I want to get
a deal done, but I'll let my agent handle that,
and you know, right now just for me to get
my body right for next season. We are now joined
(02:35):
by Mike Garifula with the latest on that t Higgins contract.
A lot to sort through, Mike, with those superstars waiting
in the wings with Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase. Like
I talked about, what is the latest on the te
Higgins contract situation. Well, there's no question that the Bengals
value te Higgins because any notion of a possible trade,
remember that was the talk leading up to the combine.
(02:55):
Duke Tobin, the Bengals executive, squash that and said, I'm
not in the business of making other teams better. Te
Higgins as an integral part of what we're doing with
the Bengals. It's paraphrasing what he said there. So if
that was the notion toward a possible trade, you know,
in the end, the Bengals would love to keep Higgins
under contract and keep him for the long haul. Now,
(03:16):
we talked about and have talked about how much business
they have to do, including the quarterback, so this is
going to be a piece of that. Joe Burrow also
going to be a piece of that. So I just
I don't sit here in sense that there's any rush
to get either of these deals done. They want to
get them done at the right price and at the
right pace as well. Now, both sides not really divulging
(03:37):
anything on Burrow. Katie Blackburn of the Bengals made it
clear at the league meetings that they're not going to
talk about anything either side of the Borough discussion until
there's really something to discuss. But I expect that one
to take some time as well. So a couple of
orders of business that will continue to track for the Bengals,
but a couple of orders of business that the Bengals
themselves would love to get done before the start of
(03:58):
the season. Yeah. Meanwhile, the Eagles dealing with a similar situation.
They have a superstar quarterback heading into the final year
of his contract with Jalen Hurts. Where do things stand there, Mike,
The Eagles and Jalen Hurts continue to work on a
deal there, try to get that thing done. The Eagles
got Carson Wentz done sometime in the spring when they
did that extension. So I'm sure that that is a
(04:21):
rough timeline in which they would like to get this
Hurts deal done. But they have conducted business the last
couple of weeks knowing that this Hurts extension is coming.
They've had to make some tough decisions. Ce J Gardner
Johnson was one of them. They wound up bringing back
some players that maybe they thought we're going to go elsewhere,
so they brought him back. Now, when you have to
pay a quarterback, that makes it tough to bring all
(04:41):
of those players back. So some guys had to go,
and some guys had to accept the lower price or
move on. But that's what Howwie Roseman has made clear
that they can't rebuild. They retool in the market of Philadelphia.
Excuse me, Omar, remember a couple of years ago when
they retooled, got themselves some draft pick capital as they
were moving on from Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts emerging. That
(05:05):
was a retool, not a rebuild. If there was a
rebuild for the Eagles, it was a couple of years ago.
It's certainly not what's happening now. It is a retool.
You can't do that in Philadelphia. I agree with Howie
Rose would never be accepted that way. And you're right
the rebuilding year that they had there in twenty twenty
one was a nine and eight playoffs season, if that
speaks to anything about the demands of the Eagles fans.
As for the Steelers, they made a move to add
(05:27):
to their defense yesterday. Tell us about that Keyan O'Neill
coming over to the Steelers on a two year deal. Now,
if you remember, he visited the Eagles recently, and then
the Eagles wound up signing Terrell Edmonds from the Steelers.
So now Keian O'Neill goes over to the Steelers. A
bunch of moving parts here when it comes to free
agency and the start of the league year. But Neil
(05:48):
got a two year deal here, and got a legit
two year deal from what I'm told here. It wasn't
just a minimum base salary deal that I'll see a
lot of guys signing for right now. No, this is
going to be a legit deal with some upside for
him to make some decent money in the first year.
So the veteran Keyan O'Neill who's bounced around the league,
change position safety, linebacker, safety. He's gonna be a safety
(06:08):
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not quite signed yet, but his
agent David Kenner announced that the deal has been agreed to. Yeah,
t J. Watt came here. Hey, we're getting a new
friend back there on that Steeler defense, Mike Carofolo, Thank
you very much. Meanwhile at Ohio State, CJ. Stroud kicked
off the pro day circuit with those big four quarterbacks
(06:29):
of course, all thirty two teams, several big name GM
head coaches in attendance to watch. CJ. Stroud, potentially the
number one overall pick in the draft, of course, met
with the Panthers there. Here he is, in his own words,
a part of our first draft series. Strout fires deep
down to the zine and it is grande Ohio State touchdown.
(06:53):
A solid play is free c free flowing but discipline
dynamic playmaker clob Geter Wow is kind of letting WHI
the game comes to me. I'm not forcing anything, but
still making sure that my footpayer gets put in the
game to make play and then show my gut gaming
talented touch down. J Strout CJ. Stroud the Ohio State
(07:16):
University quarterback. I'm from the Inland Empire of California, about
an hour east of LA Definitely appreciate where I come from.
When we grew up there, you have to be really tough,
and that's something that I'll probably myself on its my toughness.
Strout fires up the right sideline at its cart. My
first time ever played football wasn't I was five years old.
I remember seeing a football field and a whole bunch
(07:37):
of kids out there playing. Look like they're having fun.
I was like, Dad, I don't want to play. They're like,
what physician do you want to play? My dad said,
say quarterback. And I love Michael Vick and my dad
used to always making me watch Michael Vick. And I
was like, I want to win number seven. And I
got to play with the s y Fail in Snoop League.
And when I played with them, that was kind of
where I got that dog into me. That's when I
learned how to play free flowing and elusive CJ. Strout
(07:58):
shook off multiple defenders man touchdown at the coach and
coach Tojo who kind of taught me how to play
quarterback because I would always try to run and he
was like, no, you're gonna stay in the pocket. You're
gonna be paid millions to do this one day. And
he told me that at seven years old. I thought
he was just talking, but he probably knew what he
was talking about. So shout out, cust tell Joe honestly
(08:18):
who kind of motivates me to do well? And it's
a multiple people, but really my mom seeing her sacrifice
and really doing anything she could to put food on
her mouse and close on her back and it wasn't
easier all the time, but she got up every morning
and go to work and never complain about it and
definitely try her best to make sure that we were
successful as kids and growing up to be not only
(08:41):
good sons and daughters, but great people in our community
and great men and women of God. And that's something
that my mom set the foundation on. So shout out
to my mom. Drive Day will be a wonder her experience.
It's been a long time coming. I'm during about day
really since I've been five years old. So just to
hear my name called and well across that stage and
(09:02):
seeing my mom's face, I know she's gonna be yelling
and imaming. I don't know how I'm going to hear,
but I know that I'm excited and really give him
all aware of our goal. We take a look at
the mock draft projections out there. Quoting NFL dot Com,
Daniel Jeremiah has c J. Stroud going second to the
Houston Texans, but Bucky Brooks, Charles Davis, Eric at Holm,
(09:25):
and Cynthia Freeland all have him landing as the top
pick to the Carolina Panthers. Here's Panthers head coach Frank
Reich on how he's evaluating these quarterbacks. For me, you know,
having been in that process, there's a lot that's similar,
but it's not all similar. It's tweaked a little bit.
Just going through that process and knowing to be patient.
(09:48):
You know, you might see a throw, or you might
sit down with guys a while. I love this guy.
Just finish the process. Just be patient, be patient. You
got time. We don't have to make this decision today.
Stay stay true to the process. A lot of it
was confirmation because our stouts do such a good job
on the front end, right and all these guys at
the top are worthy of being in this discussion, some
(10:10):
for different reasons than others. You know, some are the same,
but those things I think get confirmed. That was Frank
Reich at the NFC head Coach's breakfast at the annual
meeting earlier this week. Steve, you were there. What are
you hearing about the Panthers and the number one overall pick? Yeah,
pretty much. The company line that you heard Frank Reich
say there is that they're not set on exactly who
(10:30):
they're going to take, and I think there's a lot
of truth to that. I mean, they've done their homework
on all four of these top quarterback prospects. I did
have somebody from the organization and telling me that it's
it's really two that they're focused on. And we know
that CJ. Stroud, who we just saw, and Bryce Young,
the quarterback from Alabama. Those are the two top players. Now.
The one thing that the Panthers have done this is
(10:52):
where whoever goes there is in such an ideal situation.
Not only do they have just a large amount of
great offensive mind starting with Frank Wrich, Jim called Well,
Thomas Brown, John McCown, I mean, just all of these people.
They signed Andy Dalton, right, the veteran quarterback. Now, if
they come out and say, hey, you know we're gonna
(11:12):
let us bring our guy around slowly. No one's gonna
want to hear that about the first overall pick. But
having Andy Dalton there to be in a quarterback room
to help a young quarterback and to have that type
of staff. We always talk about young quarterbacks going to
the right situation, regardless of who it is. Going to
the Carolina Panthers, they have really built a nice cocoon
for this rookie quarterback to land in and learn from.
(11:36):
An important to note about Andy Dalton there, he knows
that he's there to be a mentor. He's been open
about playing that role there with the Carolina Panthers. And
let's not forget this is a team that won seven
games last year. It's not a three fourteen total rebuild.
Bested in the offensive line. They added Miles Sanders at
running back. I think they will strengthen some things a
wide receiver. But the defense is also there too. So
(11:58):
this is a team that's ready to make a move
in a division where there's been nothing but quarterback turnover. Yeah,
and NFC South, the entire thing has been turned over. Well.
Speaking of the Florida Gators, Anthony Richardson had his pro
day yesterday, but also oh Cyrus Torrance drawing a lot
of attention. Six foot five, three hundred and thirty pound
(12:18):
offensive guard was a transfer from Louisiana rage In Cajuns
and now a Florida Gator. Are Tom Pellicero caught up
with him at his pro day yesterday. How did you
feel about your pro day? I feel great. I feel
like I camera here, put on a good showing. I
camera here, and me and my teammates had one one
of last good workout together, and I feel like we
(12:39):
all did good. When you're a big man in this setting, like,
what are the things you're trying to put on display? Oh?
Just my athleticism, my mobility, like my feedwork, my hills,
like things someone that I can move and not just
moving fast and moving fluid at the same time and
showing that I could be from point A to point B.
Really yeah, speaking of feetwork, put your shoe up for
a sec. I want people to see what size is
(13:01):
that shoe right there? Size eighteen? Where do you get
to size eighteen shoe? I gotta imagine, even for a
program like Florida that you gotta go on Google then
type of size eighteen shoes for sale there just first
ones that Papa gotta heard him and get him for that.
Somebody else bown got you got raging several years there,
you got Florida Gators. On the other one, we were
talking to Billy Napier about your journey here. Just just
(13:23):
tell me about tell me about the progression and coming
near to Florida. Um, the progression it was. It was smooth.
I mean I came here to compete and like get
the looks that you would get an SEC level, but
also just to better myself and my career as a player.
Like I knew, like the difference of playing a SEC
to why I was it, and then like the opportunity
that I had to come in and pay on the
coach Apier again the same system. Just was this opportunity
(13:43):
I knew I couldn't pass up and what it would
do for my career. And as it show at this
protey that was packed out, I mean I feel like
it did hit. It did one just for it, and
I'm glad I made the decision to come here. We
just watched Anthony Richardson put on a show out here.
In his throwing says, just just tell me about that
guy both as a player and a dude. Him as
a player is you know, he's a great player, Like
I enjoyed he may he may my time here even
(14:06):
more like in job or there, and without originally thought
because of him being my quarterback, like knowing here in
the backfield anything crazy it might happen, like he might
see a goal of taking fifty yards like happened a
few times. So just him being my quarterbasis and made
my job a little bit easier, honestly because like he
was gonna break the first talk or that somebody tried
to get on him. So it's just made my job
easing him as a person, like he just the way
he approached it every day, his leadership, the way the
(14:29):
system changed from the new coaching stuff came in. But
he was one of the ones that didn't complain, Like
he didn't he didn't question anything. He just accepted the
processing and like took lead and like led the team
to the year we had. And like I can't thank
him enough for that because it's our last year and
just you wanted to have it as best you can
and probably didn't win as miss games as we did.
But the camaraderie and the brothers ship and the things
that we was able to build, like it gonna last
(14:50):
with me for a long time. So I'm just glad
about all that. We saw Anthony do some freaky stuff
in games. What kind of scept would you see from
on a daily basis and practice? Just the throw he
did in Utah, I've seen that like five times before
he did it in Utah. So just just stuff like
that words, you look like you're playing, but he's really trying.
It didn't like it's really worker. So it's like you
can't they say that yell and I'm to tell him
(15:11):
not to do it because it's working. So it's like
it just it just comes with the territory with him,
and it's just exciting to see him and he's just
not somebody you want to miss plan when he's playing. So, yeah,
you're widely projected as a first or second round pick
right around there. Give me your pitch right to the camera.
Give me the pitch why Cybo should be a first
round draft pick in the NFL because on the most
dominant interior guard interior office alignment in the draft. And
(15:33):
I feel like any team that gets me gonna get
a day one start and somebody who's coming ready to play,
somebody who's gonna take it like a pro, or somebody
who's just gonna come in and give you all you got.
Thanks Lovespo, appreciate it. Dion Sanders, the Colorado who had
football coach and former Jackson State coach twoting this out earlier,
praying for all our guys competing at pro Day which
(15:54):
was Monday at Jackson State. Relax and exercise the gifts
that God gave you. You have what it takes now
to take what you have and do your fang. God
bless all of you. Hashtag proud coach Prime, love you
all to life. Hashtag truth. One of those players that
was there, de John Nugget Warren who joins us now,
Deshaun How did you get that nickname? Nugget? So? Back
(16:17):
in high school, I was a smaller guy. I went
to high school in Super Maryland, and basically I was
trying to earn a spot in the ninth grade as
a freshman. So, um first, I started off as special
team so I was returning to punt and practice, and
what I did was I scored a touchdown on the
starting punting and my coach he asked me what my
name was. So, as me being the other guy, the
(16:37):
first thing I thought was first impression, best impression to
give maricouta. So I ripped off my helme. Ever was fast,
and I said, coach, my name is the Dejoon Warren.
So back then the head a little hat top feet
with a blonde pass right here. So he looked at
me and he laughed and he said, I'm gonna call
you nuggets. So every since they just stuck. All right,
Well I love it. So y'all, look, you know, besides junior,
(16:57):
think last season, the last couple of seasons at Jackson State.
You know, we saw you at the HBCU Combine and
the HBCU Legacy Bowl for whatever it is, only the
only postseason bowls you went to. How much did those
exhibitions springboard you, you think into more of the consciousness
of NFL teams and NFL scouts. Um, I say, I
would like to say, first, before I came there, I
(17:19):
got a lot of I had a lot of competition
and practice. So I say that those moments prepared me
for the celebration vote because it was a lot of
competition there as well. So I guess that's going harder.
That's going hard every day and that's all given one
hundred and ten percent. It is preparing me. That's the
showcase with God gain the ability to do so. You
know at the Legacy Bowl, the All Star Game in
New Orleans where you really did your thing, I mean
(17:40):
a lot a lot of teams were talking to you there.
You had your Pro day Monday. Have you heard from
some teams along the way in this process? Um, the Raiders,
The Raiders service starts to my ease, and he told
me that they're very interested. But I know, coming into
the pro day, one thing I really wanted to work
on with my ball, my ball skills and my disp
so a boy me doing those things, those blessed me
(18:00):
to be able to talk to someone guys today and
you know there's a week going. Hey, nugget your teammate
last year at Jackson State, James Houston was drafted in
the sixth round last year to the Detroit Lions. Has
a great season there in his rookie year eight sacks,
second in the entire league in terms of rookies with sacks.
Seeing one of your teammates do that coming out of
(18:21):
Jackson State, how much confidence does it give you to
make an impact in the NFL? Man, I was moning
decided to see James do what he was blessed to
do because I got to see that every day, like
day in and day out. So just to be able
to see him doing on the next level, I knew
he had an in them. And as I've been going
through this process, I've been reaching out them, picking up,
picking his brain a little bit so I can know
(18:41):
how to kind of move around this time. So day, John,
we're talking about you possibly getting to the NFL, but
your path to get to this point, he's been absolutely incredible.
You know, coming out of high school, going to lack
of Wana Junior College, being the top rated corner coming
out of Lackawanna, committing to Georgia after getting offers from everybody,
but then you opting to go to Jackson State and
(19:02):
then at Jackson State because you talked about the competition
there earlier. You know, we don't see a ton of starts,
we don't necessarily see a ton of stuff that shows
up on the stat sheet. Yet here you are under
the microscope to go play football in the NFL. What
about that journey and why can't people just look at
the stats from Jackson State and get a true evaluation
(19:23):
of you. One thing my grandmother always told him is
the stock and shine no matter where is that so
everywhere I want to always had that mentality that no
matter where you are, you can you can make it,
no matter no matter what's your circumstances are. So coming
into Jackson State, I just kept that mentality and like
I said before, God he just gave me an opportunity
to showcase that. And now you guys are able to
(19:43):
see that I am who I am even in high school.
Ugget you had to overcome some academic adversity. It would
have been very easy for you to quit at that point.
What caused and fueled all the perseverance you've shown to
get to this point now, a month away from the
NFL draft. I say the one the one main thing
it taught me. It humbled me a lot because it
(20:05):
showed me that in order to be after you gotta
be a student first. You can't do nothing without the grades.
And it had a lot of good a lot of
good people in my corner as well, because it was
times I wanted to give up. And it's times I
almost hand gave up. But it was just the people
I had around me. Man, they got me out of
the house. They kept my mentality strong. And one friend
he used to he had an ID for the military
base and basically they got a free gym as long
(20:26):
as you get the correct paperworking, you know whatnot. So
every day we'll go to the gym and we'll just
work out all the way uprom those two all the
way until it was time for me to go to
lackom On to college. Also, my younger siblings that just
pushed me. That just pushed me the most because I'm
the oldest out of all my siblings. I got four
brothers in one system. I just wanted to show them like,
no matter how hard things you can always make way. Man.
(20:49):
I mean, these are great things to hear. I mean,
you're inspirational and you know, I'm sure the story is
not hardly finished. I want to ask you quickly about
a couple of year Jackson State teammates. You're linebacker Aubrey Miller,
your fellow corner Isaiah Bolden. I mean, these are guys
who are all show on on too NFL team's radars
espec Arrey Miller, the way he played in the Senior Bowl.
What can you tell us about those two teammates, viewers,
(21:10):
I say, those two teammates, they're awesome guys owning off
the field, those are two guys I used to always
come to four of vices will because you know the
way I came up, I really gonna have much football spreads.
But luckily I was able to have a dB as
a e boding that he had a lot of experience
and his father he was in the n the field's wheel,
so he had a lot of tips that I can take.
And him as a person, he was awesome, awesome teammates.
(21:30):
Like if I had if I needed some help with
a playbook or something, or if I wanted no different coverages,
He'll talk to me like with respect and we'll just
move from there. Army Miller heck of a dude. Heck
of a dude on in order to feel love's football,
loves contact, love being physical. And he's a questionnaire as well.
Like anything that he made not know one hundred percent,
(21:51):
he will get to know one hundred percent so he
can take on a leadership bro. Both two awesome guys
Nugget Warren from Jackson State Corner. You're a likable guy.
Look at that smile. You're an easy guy to root man.
We're gonna be pulling for you at next month's draft
and look forward to following your NFL career. And I
appreciate you guys to having me as well, though this
(22:13):
means more than ya, more than you guys knowe. Yeah,
we appreciate you, Nugget. We'll hopefully speak to you down
the road. Best of luck still to come. Here on
NFL Now presented by IKEA Dallas Cowboys post Ezekiel elliott Era.
We'll have a discussion with Jane Slater next NFL Now.
(22:38):
Cowboys finishing twelve and five and twenty twenty two, second
year in a row, they had at least twelve wins,
first time they've done that since the dynasty days of
the nineties. They want a playoff game, first under Mike
McCarthy and now going into twenty twenty three, Mike McCarthy
will be the offensive play caller now that Kellen Moore
has moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers in that
(22:59):
same role. For much more on the Cowboys, we welcome
in Jane Slater, Jane, we've seen them make some moves
to add to their defense. How might that affect their
draft plans heading in the next month's draft. Well, given
the fact they've addressed so many positions on defense through
free agency and brought back a number of their guys omar,
I expect that they're going to lean heavily on offense
(23:19):
this time around. In the last couple of years, they've
really seemed to address that defensive side the ball, and
it's shown when you look at the box score at
the end of some of these games. Offensively, though, Mike
McCarthy wants to put his stamp on this team, and
we've seen the departure of guys like Dalton Schultz, who
of course went to the Houston Texans, and Ezekiel Elliott,
who's still working to see where he's going to land
(23:40):
next year, although Jerry Jones didn't quite close that door,
did he at owners meetings. They are going to need
to find a running back. They're gonna need some tight
in depth, although I think Peyton hinter Shot Jake Ferguson
are going to be pretty good at that spot for
them this season, and then they're going to need some
offensive line help their Tyrant Smith is projected to be
their left tackle again this year. He played at right
(24:01):
tackle last year, but they're going to need to shore
up what they're going to do in the future because
I don't know how many more years you're going to
have Tyrn Smith in the building, you know, center, they
could use some backup there, and I think swing tackle
would be important for them as well. So I think
when we look at this draft, that's going to be
an area need not to mention wide receiver just because
they addressed it with Brandon Cooks in free agency, and
they've got CD Lamb and they of course have Michael Gallup,
(24:24):
who they hope will bounce back a little bit quicker
than they did last year from the Acyl injury. I
fully expect wide receiver to also be a position of
need that they address in the draft. Interesting you mentioned that, Jane,
because I was at Tennessee prode yesterday and Cowboys wide
receiver coach Robert Prince was one of the coaches leading
Jalen Hyatt and Cedric Tillman through those positional group workouts.
(24:44):
So something to watch here heading into next month's draft.
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NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
with iHeartRadio. Happy Friday and Welcome into NFL Now, presented
by IKEA. He's Steve whichaimom Race in the NFL Network
(00:26):
news room. Steve, we're less than a month away from
the NFL Draft starting tomorrow. We can say the draft
is this month. What are your thoughts setting in Well,
I mean, the Carolina Panthers will officially be on the clock,
but who's our quarterback going to be? You know, we're
gonna have more on that discussion because I don't think
it's actually settled yet as it continue to hit every
Pro day. And same with the Seattle Seahawks. We're picking
(00:47):
at five. Talk to the head coach Pat Carroll at
the league meetings and he made it sound like they
are very much in the quarterback market. We can't wait
to show you some of those highlights from those interviews
where we're going to start with some veterans making their
way through free agency. New right now into NFL Network,
it is official. Class Campbell sign a one year deal
with the Atlanta Falcons. He's heading into his sixteenth season
(01:11):
at five and a half sacks last year with the
Baltimore Ravens. According to our and if ON network insider
Ian rappaported, so one year deal for seven million bucks
could be nine million with incentives. In Buffalo, Taylor Rapped,
the former LA Ram, has signed a one year deal
with the Bills. He started every game the last couple
of years, full time starter, part of the Super Bowl
(01:32):
Championship winner there with the Rams. A former second round
pick in twenty nineteen. Speaking of former second round picks,
te Higgins is heading into the final year of his contract,
of course. A twenty twenty second round pick of the
Cincinnati Bengals, he has been nothing short of a spectacular
a consistent performer for Cincinnati, but he is heading into
(01:53):
that contract year. He addressed that with Pat McAfee yesterday.
You're going into your contract year, and obviously we are
another situation in Cincinnati. Where's your mindset? Where's your head
going into the year? Obviously, contract years normally everybody's best year,
and obviously it's a great time to prove to everybody
how great you are. Would you have done in an
(02:15):
weapon littered offense over there in Cincinnati? Where's your mind
friend going into the season? What are you thinking? About Yeah,
right now, I'm just preparing for the season. I'm not
really worried about the contract. Obviously, I want to get
a deal done, but I'll let my agent handle that,
and you know, right now just for me to get
my body right for next season. We are now joined
(02:35):
by Mike Garifula with the latest on that t Higgins contract.
A lot to sort through, Mike, with those superstars waiting
in the wings with Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase. Like
I talked about, what is the latest on the te
Higgins contract situation. Well, there's no question that the Bengals
value te Higgins because any notion of a possible trade,
remember that was the talk leading up to the combine.
(02:55):
Duke Tobin, the Bengals executive, squash that and said, I'm
not in the business of making other teams better. Te
Higgins as an integral part of what we're doing with
the Bengals. It's paraphrasing what he said there. So if
that was the notion toward a possible trade, you know,
in the end, the Bengals would love to keep Higgins
under contract and keep him for the long haul. Now,
(03:16):
we talked about and have talked about how much business
they have to do, including the quarterback, so this is
going to be a piece of that. Joe Burrow also
going to be a piece of that. So I just
I don't sit here in sense that there's any rush
to get either of these deals done. They want to
get them done at the right price and at the
right pace as well. Now, both sides not really divulging
(03:37):
anything on Burrow. Katie Blackburn of the Bengals made it
clear at the league meetings that they're not going to
talk about anything either side of the Borough discussion until
there's really something to discuss. But I expect that one
to take some time as well. So a couple of
orders of business that will continue to track for the Bengals,
but a couple of orders of business that the Bengals
themselves would love to get done before the start of
(03:58):
the season. Yeah. Meanwhile, the Eagles dealing with a similar situation.
They have a superstar quarterback heading into the final year
of his contract with Jalen Hurts. Where do things stand there, Mike,
The Eagles and Jalen Hurts continue to work on a
deal there, try to get that thing done. The Eagles
got Carson Wentz done sometime in the spring when they
did that extension. So I'm sure that that is a
(04:21):
rough timeline in which they would like to get this
Hurts deal done. But they have conducted business the last
couple of weeks knowing that this Hurts extension is coming.
They've had to make some tough decisions. Ce J Gardner
Johnson was one of them. They wound up bringing back
some players that maybe they thought we're going to go elsewhere,
so they brought him back. Now, when you have to
pay a quarterback, that makes it tough to bring all
(04:41):
of those players back. So some guys had to go,
and some guys had to accept the lower price or
move on. But that's what Howwie Roseman has made clear
that they can't rebuild. They retool in the market of Philadelphia.
Excuse me, Omar, remember a couple of years ago when
they retooled, got themselves some draft pick capital as they
were moving on from Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts emerging. That
(05:05):
was a retool, not a rebuild. If there was a
rebuild for the Eagles, it was a couple of years ago.
It's certainly not what's happening now. It is a retool.
You can't do that in Philadelphia. I agree with Howie
Rose would never be accepted that way. And you're right
the rebuilding year that they had there in twenty twenty
one was a nine and eight playoffs season, if that
speaks to anything about the demands of the Eagles fans.
As for the Steelers, they made a move to add
(05:27):
to their defense yesterday. Tell us about that Keyan O'Neill
coming over to the Steelers on a two year deal. Now,
if you remember, he visited the Eagles recently, and then
the Eagles wound up signing Terrell Edmonds from the Steelers.
So now Keian O'Neill goes over to the Steelers. A
bunch of moving parts here when it comes to free
agency and the start of the league year. But Neil
(05:48):
got a two year deal here, and got a legit
two year deal from what I'm told here. It wasn't
just a minimum base salary deal that I'll see a
lot of guys signing for right now. No, this is
going to be a legit deal with some upside for
him to make some decent money in the first year.
So the veteran Keyan O'Neill who's bounced around the league,
change position safety, linebacker, safety. He's gonna be a safety
(06:08):
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not quite signed yet, but his
agent David Kenner announced that the deal has been agreed to. Yeah,
t J. Watt came here. Hey, we're getting a new
friend back there on that Steeler defense, Mike Carofolo, Thank
you very much. Meanwhile at Ohio State, CJ. Stroud kicked
off the pro day circuit with those big four quarterbacks
(06:29):
of course, all thirty two teams, several big name GM
head coaches in attendance to watch. CJ. Stroud, potentially the
number one overall pick in the draft, of course, met
with the Panthers there. Here he is, in his own words,
a part of our first draft series. Strout fires deep
down to the zine and it is grande Ohio State touchdown.
(06:53):
A solid play is free c free flowing but discipline
dynamic playmaker clob Geter Wow is kind of letting WHI
the game comes to me. I'm not forcing anything, but
still making sure that my footpayer gets put in the
game to make play and then show my gut gaming
talented touch down. J Strout CJ. Stroud the Ohio State
(07:16):
University quarterback. I'm from the Inland Empire of California, about
an hour east of LA Definitely appreciate where I come from.
When we grew up there, you have to be really tough,
and that's something that I'll probably myself on its my toughness.
Strout fires up the right sideline at its cart. My
first time ever played football wasn't I was five years old.
I remember seeing a football field and a whole bunch
(07:37):
of kids out there playing. Look like they're having fun.
I was like, Dad, I don't want to play. They're like,
what physician do you want to play? My dad said,
say quarterback. And I love Michael Vick and my dad
used to always making me watch Michael Vick. And I
was like, I want to win number seven. And I
got to play with the s y Fail in Snoop League.
And when I played with them, that was kind of
where I got that dog into me. That's when I
learned how to play free flowing and elusive CJ. Strout
(07:58):
shook off multiple defenders man touchdown at the coach and
coach Tojo who kind of taught me how to play
quarterback because I would always try to run and he
was like, no, you're gonna stay in the pocket. You're
gonna be paid millions to do this one day. And
he told me that at seven years old. I thought
he was just talking, but he probably knew what he
was talking about. So shout out, cust tell Joe honestly
(08:18):
who kind of motivates me to do well? And it's
a multiple people, but really my mom seeing her sacrifice
and really doing anything she could to put food on
her mouse and close on her back and it wasn't
easier all the time, but she got up every morning
and go to work and never complain about it and
definitely try her best to make sure that we were
successful as kids and growing up to be not only
(08:41):
good sons and daughters, but great people in our community
and great men and women of God. And that's something
that my mom set the foundation on. So shout out
to my mom. Drive Day will be a wonder her experience.
It's been a long time coming. I'm during about day
really since I've been five years old. So just to
hear my name called and well across that stage and
(09:02):
seeing my mom's face, I know she's gonna be yelling
and imaming. I don't know how I'm going to hear,
but I know that I'm excited and really give him
all aware of our goal. We take a look at
the mock draft projections out there. Quoting NFL dot Com,
Daniel Jeremiah has c J. Stroud going second to the
Houston Texans, but Bucky Brooks, Charles Davis, Eric at Holm,
(09:25):
and Cynthia Freeland all have him landing as the top
pick to the Carolina Panthers. Here's Panthers head coach Frank
Reich on how he's evaluating these quarterbacks. For me, you know,
having been in that process, there's a lot that's similar,
but it's not all similar. It's tweaked a little bit.
Just going through that process and knowing to be patient.
(09:48):
You know, you might see a throw, or you might
sit down with guys a while. I love this guy.
Just finish the process. Just be patient, be patient. You
got time. We don't have to make this decision today.
Stay stay true to the process. A lot of it
was confirmation because our stouts do such a good job
on the front end, right and all these guys at
the top are worthy of being in this discussion, some
(10:10):
for different reasons than others. You know, some are the same,
but those things I think get confirmed. That was Frank
Reich at the NFC head Coach's breakfast at the annual
meeting earlier this week. Steve, you were there. What are
you hearing about the Panthers and the number one overall pick? Yeah,
pretty much. The company line that you heard Frank Reich
say there is that they're not set on exactly who
(10:30):
they're going to take, and I think there's a lot
of truth to that. I mean, they've done their homework
on all four of these top quarterback prospects. I did
have somebody from the organization and telling me that it's
it's really two that they're focused on. And we know
that CJ. Stroud, who we just saw, and Bryce Young,
the quarterback from Alabama. Those are the two top players. Now.
The one thing that the Panthers have done this is
(10:52):
where whoever goes there is in such an ideal situation.
Not only do they have just a large amount of
great offensive mind starting with Frank Wrich, Jim called Well,
Thomas Brown, John McCown, I mean, just all of these people.
They signed Andy Dalton, right, the veteran quarterback. Now, if
they come out and say, hey, you know we're gonna
(11:12):
let us bring our guy around slowly. No one's gonna
want to hear that about the first overall pick. But
having Andy Dalton there to be in a quarterback room
to help a young quarterback and to have that type
of staff. We always talk about young quarterbacks going to
the right situation, regardless of who it is. Going to
the Carolina Panthers, they have really built a nice cocoon
for this rookie quarterback to land in and learn from.
(11:36):
An important to note about Andy Dalton there, he knows
that he's there to be a mentor. He's been open
about playing that role there with the Carolina Panthers. And
let's not forget this is a team that won seven
games last year. It's not a three fourteen total rebuild.
Bested in the offensive line. They added Miles Sanders at
running back. I think they will strengthen some things a
wide receiver. But the defense is also there too. So
(11:58):
this is a team that's ready to make a move
in a division where there's been nothing but quarterback turnover. Yeah,
and NFC South, the entire thing has been turned over. Well.
Speaking of the Florida Gators, Anthony Richardson had his pro
day yesterday, but also oh Cyrus Torrance drawing a lot
of attention. Six foot five, three hundred and thirty pound
(12:18):
offensive guard was a transfer from Louisiana rage In Cajuns
and now a Florida Gator. Are Tom Pellicero caught up
with him at his pro day yesterday. How did you
feel about your pro day? I feel great. I feel
like I camera here, put on a good showing. I
camera here, and me and my teammates had one one
of last good workout together, and I feel like we
(12:39):
all did good. When you're a big man in this setting, like,
what are the things you're trying to put on display? Oh?
Just my athleticism, my mobility, like my feedwork, my hills,
like things someone that I can move and not just
moving fast and moving fluid at the same time and
showing that I could be from point A to point B.
Really yeah, speaking of feetwork, put your shoe up for
a sec. I want people to see what size is
(13:01):
that shoe right there? Size eighteen? Where do you get
to size eighteen shoe? I gotta imagine, even for a
program like Florida that you gotta go on Google then
type of size eighteen shoes for sale there just first
ones that Papa gotta heard him and get him for that.
Somebody else bown got you got raging several years there,
you got Florida Gators. On the other one, we were
talking to Billy Napier about your journey here. Just just
(13:23):
tell me about tell me about the progression and coming
near to Florida. Um, the progression it was. It was smooth.
I mean I came here to compete and like get
the looks that you would get an SEC level, but
also just to better myself and my career as a player.
Like I knew, like the difference of playing a SEC
to why I was it, and then like the opportunity
that I had to come in and pay on the
coach Apier again the same system. Just was this opportunity
(13:43):
I knew I couldn't pass up and what it would
do for my career. And as it show at this
protey that was packed out, I mean I feel like
it did hit. It did one just for it, and
I'm glad I made the decision to come here. We
just watched Anthony Richardson put on a show out here.
In his throwing says, just just tell me about that
guy both as a player and a dude. Him as
a player is you know, he's a great player, Like
I enjoyed he may he may my time here even
(14:06):
more like in job or there, and without originally thought
because of him being my quarterback, like knowing here in
the backfield anything crazy it might happen, like he might
see a goal of taking fifty yards like happened a
few times. So just him being my quarterbasis and made
my job a little bit easier, honestly because like he
was gonna break the first talk or that somebody tried
to get on him. So it's just made my job
easing him as a person, like he just the way
he approached it every day, his leadership, the way the
(14:29):
system changed from the new coaching stuff came in. But
he was one of the ones that didn't complain, Like
he didn't he didn't question anything. He just accepted the
processing and like took lead and like led the team
to the year we had. And like I can't thank
him enough for that because it's our last year and
just you wanted to have it as best you can
and probably didn't win as miss games as we did.
But the camaraderie and the brothers ship and the things
that we was able to build, like it gonna last
(14:50):
with me for a long time. So I'm just glad
about all that. We saw Anthony do some freaky stuff
in games. What kind of scept would you see from
on a daily basis and practice? Just the throw he
did in Utah, I've seen that like five times before
he did it in Utah. So just just stuff like
that words, you look like you're playing, but he's really trying.
It didn't like it's really worker. So it's like you
can't they say that yell and I'm to tell him
(15:11):
not to do it because it's working. So it's like
it just it just comes with the territory with him,
and it's just exciting to see him and he's just
not somebody you want to miss plan when he's playing. So, yeah,
you're widely projected as a first or second round pick
right around there. Give me your pitch right to the camera.
Give me the pitch why Cybo should be a first
round draft pick in the NFL because on the most
dominant interior guard interior office alignment in the draft. And
(15:33):
I feel like any team that gets me gonna get
a day one start and somebody who's coming ready to play,
somebody who's gonna take it like a pro, or somebody
who's just gonna come in and give you all you got.
Thanks Lovespo, appreciate it. Dion Sanders, the Colorado who had
football coach and former Jackson State coach twoting this out earlier,
praying for all our guys competing at pro Day which
(15:54):
was Monday at Jackson State. Relax and exercise the gifts
that God gave you. You have what it takes now
to take what you have and do your fang. God
bless all of you. Hashtag proud coach Prime, love you
all to life. Hashtag truth. One of those players that
was there, de John Nugget Warren who joins us now,
Deshaun How did you get that nickname? Nugget? So? Back
(16:17):
in high school, I was a smaller guy. I went
to high school in Super Maryland, and basically I was
trying to earn a spot in the ninth grade as
a freshman. So, um first, I started off as special
team so I was returning to punt and practice, and
what I did was I scored a touchdown on the
starting punting and my coach he asked me what my
name was. So, as me being the other guy, the
(16:37):
first thing I thought was first impression, best impression to
give maricouta. So I ripped off my helme. Ever was fast,
and I said, coach, my name is the Dejoon Warren.
So back then the head a little hat top feet
with a blonde pass right here. So he looked at
me and he laughed and he said, I'm gonna call
you nuggets. So every since they just stuck. All right,
Well I love it. So y'all, look, you know, besides junior,
(16:57):
think last season, the last couple of seasons at Jackson State.
You know, we saw you at the HBCU Combine and
the HBCU Legacy Bowl for whatever it is, only the
only postseason bowls you went to. How much did those
exhibitions springboard you, you think into more of the consciousness
of NFL teams and NFL scouts. Um, I say, I
would like to say, first, before I came there, I
(17:19):
got a lot of I had a lot of competition
and practice. So I say that those moments prepared me
for the celebration vote because it was a lot of
competition there as well. So I guess that's going harder.
That's going hard every day and that's all given one
hundred and ten percent. It is preparing me. That's the
showcase with God gain the ability to do so. You
know at the Legacy Bowl, the All Star Game in
New Orleans where you really did your thing, I mean
(17:40):
a lot a lot of teams were talking to you there.
You had your Pro day Monday. Have you heard from
some teams along the way in this process? Um, the Raiders,
The Raiders service starts to my ease, and he told
me that they're very interested. But I know, coming into
the pro day, one thing I really wanted to work
on with my ball, my ball skills and my disp
so a boy me doing those things, those blessed me
(18:00):
to be able to talk to someone guys today and
you know there's a week going. Hey, nugget your teammate
last year at Jackson State, James Houston was drafted in
the sixth round last year to the Detroit Lions. Has
a great season there in his rookie year eight sacks,
second in the entire league in terms of rookies with sacks.
Seeing one of your teammates do that coming out of
(18:21):
Jackson State, how much confidence does it give you to
make an impact in the NFL? Man, I was moning
decided to see James do what he was blessed to
do because I got to see that every day, like
day in and day out. So just to be able
to see him doing on the next level, I knew
he had an in them. And as I've been going
through this process, I've been reaching out them, picking up,
picking his brain a little bit so I can know
(18:41):
how to kind of move around this time. So day, John,
we're talking about you possibly getting to the NFL, but
your path to get to this point, he's been absolutely incredible.
You know, coming out of high school, going to lack
of Wana Junior College, being the top rated corner coming
out of Lackawanna, committing to Georgia after getting offers from everybody,
but then you opting to go to Jackson State and
(19:02):
then at Jackson State because you talked about the competition
there earlier. You know, we don't see a ton of starts,
we don't necessarily see a ton of stuff that shows
up on the stat sheet. Yet here you are under
the microscope to go play football in the NFL. What
about that journey and why can't people just look at
the stats from Jackson State and get a true evaluation
(19:23):
of you. One thing my grandmother always told him is
the stock and shine no matter where is that so
everywhere I want to always had that mentality that no
matter where you are, you can you can make it,
no matter no matter what's your circumstances are. So coming
into Jackson State, I just kept that mentality and like
I said before, God he just gave me an opportunity
to showcase that. And now you guys are able to
(19:43):
see that I am who I am even in high school.
Ugget you had to overcome some academic adversity. It would
have been very easy for you to quit at that point.
What caused and fueled all the perseverance you've shown to
get to this point now, a month away from the
NFL draft. I say the one the one main thing
it taught me. It humbled me a lot because it
(20:05):
showed me that in order to be after you gotta
be a student first. You can't do nothing without the grades.
And it had a lot of good a lot of
good people in my corner as well, because it was
times I wanted to give up. And it's times I
almost hand gave up. But it was just the people
I had around me. Man, they got me out of
the house. They kept my mentality strong. And one friend
he used to he had an ID for the military
base and basically they got a free gym as long
(20:26):
as you get the correct paperworking, you know whatnot. So
every day we'll go to the gym and we'll just
work out all the way uprom those two all the
way until it was time for me to go to
lackom On to college. Also, my younger siblings that just
pushed me. That just pushed me the most because I'm
the oldest out of all my siblings. I got four
brothers in one system. I just wanted to show them like,
no matter how hard things you can always make way. Man.
(20:49):
I mean, these are great things to hear. I mean,
you're inspirational and you know, I'm sure the story is
not hardly finished. I want to ask you quickly about
a couple of year Jackson State teammates. You're linebacker Aubrey Miller,
your fellow corner Isaiah Bolden. I mean, these are guys
who are all show on on too NFL team's radars
espec Arrey Miller, the way he played in the Senior Bowl.
What can you tell us about those two teammates, viewers,
(21:10):
I say, those two teammates, they're awesome guys owning off
the field, those are two guys I used to always
come to four of vices will because you know the
way I came up, I really gonna have much football spreads.
But luckily I was able to have a dB as
a e boding that he had a lot of experience
and his father he was in the n the field's wheel,
so he had a lot of tips that I can take.
And him as a person, he was awesome, awesome teammates.
(21:30):
Like if I had if I needed some help with
a playbook or something, or if I wanted no different coverages,
He'll talk to me like with respect and we'll just
move from there. Army Miller heck of a dude. Heck
of a dude on in order to feel love's football,
loves contact, love being physical. And he's a questionnaire as well.
Like anything that he made not know one hundred percent,
(21:51):
he will get to know one hundred percent so he
can take on a leadership bro. Both two awesome guys
Nugget Warren from Jackson State Corner. You're a likable guy.
Look at that smile. You're an easy guy to root man.
We're gonna be pulling for you at next month's draft
and look forward to following your NFL career. And I
appreciate you guys to having me as well, though this
(22:13):
means more than ya, more than you guys knowe. Yeah,
we appreciate you, Nugget. We'll hopefully speak to you down
the road. Best of luck still to come. Here on
NFL Now presented by IKEA Dallas Cowboys post Ezekiel elliott Era.
We'll have a discussion with Jane Slater next NFL Now.
(22:38):
Cowboys finishing twelve and five and twenty twenty two, second
year in a row, they had at least twelve wins,
first time they've done that since the dynasty days of
the nineties. They want a playoff game, first under Mike
McCarthy and now going into twenty twenty three, Mike McCarthy
will be the offensive play caller now that Kellen Moore
has moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers in that
(22:59):
same role. For much more on the Cowboys, we welcome
in Jane Slater, Jane, we've seen them make some moves
to add to their defense. How might that affect their
draft plans heading in the next month's draft. Well, given
the fact they've addressed so many positions on defense through
free agency and brought back a number of their guys omar,
I expect that they're going to lean heavily on offense
(23:19):
this time around. In the last couple of years, they've
really seemed to address that defensive side the ball, and
it's shown when you look at the box score at
the end of some of these games. Offensively, though, Mike
McCarthy wants to put his stamp on this team, and
we've seen the departure of guys like Dalton Schultz, who
of course went to the Houston Texans, and Ezekiel Elliott,
who's still working to see where he's going to land
(23:40):
next year, although Jerry Jones didn't quite close that door,
did he at owners meetings. They are going to need
to find a running back. They're gonna need some tight
in depth, although I think Peyton hinter Shot Jake Ferguson
are going to be pretty good at that spot for
them this season, and then they're going to need some
offensive line help their Tyrant Smith is projected to be
their left tackle again this year. He played at right
(24:01):
tackle last year, but they're going to need to shore
up what they're going to do in the future because
I don't know how many more years you're going to
have Tyrn Smith in the building, you know, center, they
could use some backup there, and I think swing tackle
would be important for them as well. So I think
when we look at this draft, that's going to be
an area need not to mention wide receiver just because
they addressed it with Brandon Cooks in free agency, and
they've got CD Lamb and they of course have Michael Gallup,
(24:24):
who they hope will bounce back a little bit quicker
than they did last year from the Acyl injury. I
fully expect wide receiver to also be a position of
need that they address in the draft. Interesting you mentioned that, Jane,
because I was at Tennessee prode yesterday and Cowboys wide
receiver coach Robert Prince was one of the coaches leading
Jalen Hyatt and Cedric Tillman through those positional group workouts.
(24:44):
So something to watch here heading into next month's draft.
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.