May 2, 2023 • 27 mins
The NFL Now Podcast begins with reports from the NFL Insiders on 5th year options around the league.
Host, Andrew Siciliano, has an update on Texans wide reciever, John Metchie and his progress towrds returning to the field. Also, a conversation on the Colts & Panthers draft. Plus, the teams that improved the most in the 2023 draft.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
with iHeartRadio, Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Alright?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Alright, alright? Ryce Young, Welcome to the National Football League,
Bryce Young, c J.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Stroud will the interview Junior Houston Texans aren't messing around, guys.
Speaker 5 (00:24):
I love it Jack, Hot, Hot, hot hot.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Guess what Joan lovely ess a little hill for you?
Did I say something? He went through the first night,
did not get drafted.
Speaker 6 (00:36):
Who are the Titans coming up to get?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Is truly a moment of suspense right now for Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 7 (00:41):
Select will loveth and last night?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Which long is night?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Quite short?
Speaker 8 (00:46):
Sam?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
That is a plot twist.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
TJ's you guys probably just got Jon Scott this. He
is a game changer. He's a field changer for remember
this moment.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Oh that was fun, wasn't it? Two hundred and fifty
nine picks later, here we are, everybody back at the
desk for another edition of NFL Now on NFL networked
from our news room in Los Angeles.
Speaker 7 (01:31):
My name is ANDREWS. Cicili. I know this right.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Here's the guy that was working on weekend as well
for the draft all three days now that it's finally done,
we had puppies, we had music, we had fun, We.
Speaker 9 (01:42):
Had fun, and you know, now we see a lot
of teams where hope springs eternal because we got the
draft pick that's going to put us over the top.
But I love this fact ause lives have been changed
for a lot of.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
People, especially these young men.
Speaker 9 (01:53):
And salute to a lot of those guys who waited
until the third, fourth and fifth round, sixth round, seventh round.
We have opportunities now to show why they're deserving.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
NFL or players that have signed US undrafted agents who
undoubtedly make teams and make plays this coming year, where
one hundred and twenty nine days away from the Thursday
kickoff game with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting somebody.
Speaker 7 (02:15):
We'll figure it out later.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
However, the trade keeps on moving and there is business
to be done.
Speaker 7 (02:18):
It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Ian Rappaport, Hello there, great draft weeknd. How we immediately
turned to another deadline, another day of business here for
the NFL, and that is tomorrow being the deadline to
pick up fifth year guaranteed options for the first round
class of twenty twenty Let's start in Green Bay because
this is interesting here for Brian Gudacuins and the Packers.
(02:40):
They have a quarterback now that they are handing the
keys to in Jordan Love. Yet he has only started
one game. Yet they have to decide by tomorrow do
they want to pay him in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 6 (02:53):
Yeah, there were a couple of fascinating decisions as we
got closer to the fifth year option deadline, which, as
you mentioned, is tomorrow. There was the Chase Chase Young
deadline that was interesting, did not pick up the option?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
No, was the toa.
Speaker 6 (03:05):
Decision which, of course the Dolphins did pick up his
fifth year option, and Jordan Love is probably the last
and most interesting one would be about twenty million dollars
if they picked up the fifth year option. But here
is really the decision for the Green Bay Packers. First
of all, there's no decision he is going to be
their starter next year. But this is similar to what
the Giants faced about a year or so ago with
(03:26):
Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Do they pick up the fifth year option.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
About twenty million dollars for Jordan Love and protect themselves
Casey goes out in balls, which they believe he will
or do they just say, you know what, we got
the franchise tag, We're not going to lock ourselves in
to a fully guaranteed contract in twenty twenty four. That
is what the Giants did, But then it got tough
because Daniel Jones played well and they had to pay
a little bit more. So that's the decision for the
(03:49):
Green Bay Packers fifth year option overlying the franchise tag,
and they'll probably have a decision too much.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Yeah, they moved on from Aaron Rodgers. Jordan loves the guy.
They're adam bit about that. But are they Are they
saying right now, we are willing to make a two
year financial commitment to Jordan Love.
Speaker 7 (04:04):
And you're fine.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
I twenty twenty four would be locked in at twenty
million dollars if they wanted to pick it up, even
though he has started only one game. You see the
quota from Brian Kutakunz. It's a lot of money for
a guy that has only started.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
That one game. All right.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Meantime, in Denver we heard his name of the trade
block a couple of weeks ago. That is not going
to happen now. Sean Payton has also been out of it.
We're not trading Jerry Judy, but ian they are picking
up his option.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Yeah, the Broncos are officially picking up the fifth year
option for standout receiver Jerry Judy. And had you asked
about a month ago, I would say this was up
in the air, because there was a time when it
looked like, given the interest around the league, that it
looked like Jerry Judy might actually be traded rather than
a big part of the Broncos future. But one of
the decisions that Sean Payton and George Payton made together
(04:49):
was this guy is a big part of our future.
So the Broncos officially pick up the fifth year option.
He is not going anywhere under contract for two years.
A couple other big ones. Jedrick Wills, the standout lineman
for the Cleveland Browns. He also had his fifth year
option and picked up today. Again not a surprise. He's
a starter, he is very good. They lock him in
the twenty twenty four season. And then this kind of
(05:12):
interesting one. Jeff Akuda, who's the number three overall pick
for the Detroit Lions, was then traded to the Atlanta Falcons.
As part of that trade, the Lions paid one point
five million dollars of his salary to facilitate the trade.
Because his contract was adjusted because the Lions paid for it.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
He is not eligible for.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
A fifth year option, so it's not the Falcons declining.
It just can't happen. So he is now heading into
a contract year in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Which gives him the opportunity with a new team and
a new defense, to play well this year and maybe
get a nice second contract as a free agent in
year five. All right, let's get to Houston. Obviously, they
made the big splash. They traded up on Thursday. They
got both the quarterback and Will Anderson. They also get
back John metchi Ian. This is a great story.
Speaker 6 (05:59):
It is a great story, and you know, from a
human standpoint, it's amazing. Obviously, sat out last year with leukemia.
Apl was the specific form of leukemia, as he said
in the statement at the time, very treatable but still
very serious. Did not play last year and then the
previous year in college towards ACL. So this is a player,
a person who has been through so much and considering
(06:21):
he was on the field for the Houston Texan during
the second phase of their offseason. Conditioning is amazing. And
you know when Mechi announced that he was not playing
last year, he said, I cannot wait to come back stronger,
and that basically is the position that he has put
himself in. It's incredible. Nick Cassario was talking to reporters
after the draft and said, and I'll read this to
(06:41):
make sure I get it right. There are a lot
of people that deserve a lot of credit that could
have helped him get to this point. Start with John.
I would say, it's kind of inspiring for someone to
do that.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, it's great.
Speaker 7 (06:52):
We're going to see him on the field, and we're
going to see him on the field with C. J.
Stroud among others.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Here Will Anderson when they have their rookie medi camp.
Thank you, Ian Rappaport our NFL network inside. The Panthers
don't do their rookie media camp until next weekend. However,
let's focus on the Eagles here first, Philadelphia. Here's a
picture of the Eagles two first round picks here, Jalen
Carter and Nolan Smith with last year's Jordan Davis. Yes,
(07:22):
the entire band is back together. And then we got
Bryce Young and Brian Burns. This is not bring your
son to workday in Carolina. This is former first round
pick Brian Burns and the first overall pick here, Bryce Young.
Massive size difference and look, I know, redd it like
in the internet and Twitter when crazy with that picture here, Like,
(07:46):
look it's perspective, like it's just the way it's framed.
Speaker 7 (07:50):
Okay, that's the way I look at it.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
As we look at the Panthers draft picks Bryce Young,
Jonathan Mingo, DJ Johnson, Chandler Zavalla, and Jamie Robinson the
Florida State safety there in the fifth round. However, all
eyes are the chiny outject. All eyes here, Hi there,
camp Wolf, and Hi there, Mark Ross, Happy Monday with
the draft is over all eyes cam on Bryce Young.
From listening to press conferences over the weekend, how have
(08:14):
you gathered they're going to use him and get him
up to speed in this offense?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (08:18):
Andres So it was always Bryce and being in the
Panthers headquarters all week, everybody I ran into had this
giddy smile or smirk, and the word I kept hearing
was point guard. They didn't want to say Bryce Young
until he was the pick, and so every time they
wanted to talk about Bryce, they used the word point guard.
And so I talked with their offensive coordinator Thomas Brown
maybe six hours before they took Bryce Young. And he's
(08:39):
such an important part of this development of Bryce because
Frank Reich has empowered him to put this offense together
to eventually be the play caller. And frank Reich said,
twenty to thirty percent of our offense will be the
Rams offense, and then our ideas mixed with my former
offense to create a quarterback friendly offense initially for Bryce
that eventually becomes Cubic centric in his own mind. And
(09:00):
so Brown told me about that point guard comparison. He said,
we agree with the Steph Curry comparison like everyone else,
but I also think of him as Magic Johnson, a
guy who is a past first player who can score
the size differences aside, you look at a player where
we are building this offense with him in mind. They
have five top receivers who are six two or taller.
They just added Jonathan Mingo, a guy they loved to
(09:21):
be in that group. Bryce can hit those as a playmaker,
he keeps his eyes down field as a scorer. They
saw several elements on tape. We're on third down fourth
quarter two minute drill. He makes that play. He puts
the team on his back when you need him to,
and that final part of the triple double, the rebounding,
is how he has an impact on everyone on the team.
They said there was times where he covered for a
(09:43):
left tackle who missed an assignment or a receiver who ran.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
The wrong route.
Speaker 10 (09:47):
Those are the things that you don't see a lot
of times that are important for a team, and I
saw that this year in the facility Mark there was
a moment where he was asked, how do you lead
a team coming in here as a number one overall pick?
And he said, I want to come in here and
learn and earn the locker rooms. Trust nothing I've done
in college follows me.
Speaker 11 (10:06):
Well, Cam The Panthers are hoping that the Bryce drops
fifty like Steph dropped last night to secure that win there,
so they'll take a few of those. But look, I
thought it was Bryce Young all along. I love Bryce Young,
and you're talking about being the number one pick. Some
people are just built to handle this. Bryce Young has
been a star basically since eighth grade, big time high
school player of course, Alabama, winning the Heisman Trophy trophy
(10:29):
so mentally he was ready to handle this.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
He was built for this. On the field, He's built.
Speaker 11 (10:35):
For that pressure, the pressure that comes with being an
ultimate playmaker. So the talent and the mine and the
pressure just is supreme for me with Bryce Young, not
just in this draft class, but comparing him to the
great quarterbacks that have come out in the last few
draft classes, but also the foundation that the Panthers have
put in place for Bryce with the all Stars coaching staff,
(10:57):
and they got a ton of talent on that offense now,
great offensive line led by ike Iguano. So the foundation
on and off the field for Bryce Young along with him,
I think just being built from being a star. I
think we're going to see some huge dividends coming out
of this.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
A great anecdote from Scott Fitter the GM said, I know, Caam,
you've heard this as well that after sitting with Bryce
Young and having him go through his weekly schedule, his
routine at Alabama, they said it was like you were
sitting with a forty year old man, not some kid,
but like a forty year old that the level of
maturity in preparation was off the charts.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
Camp, what else stood out to you yeah.
Speaker 10 (11:32):
Paranthers owner David Tepper came out the day after the
day they drafted him and said the expectation is Super
Bowls multiple So we.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Asked Bryce Young what he thinks about that.
Speaker 10 (11:41):
He said, I'm one day at a time, but every
time I'm faced with pressure, I view it as an opportunity.
And so this is a franchise changing piece for the Panthers.
They've had eight starting quarterbacks in the last five years.
They've been waiting the last two years to find the
guy that could be the guy that puts them over
the top. And I still remember that scene Friday. We
did a lot of videos of it, of him coming
(12:02):
on for the intro that got the bands playing, a
bunch of fans there. You can tell that's not really
his thing, but what was his thing. He's spent about
thirty minutes sitting out there on the stadium with Frank Wright,
with Josh McCown, just talking ball, envisioning what it will
be like to be the Panthers quarterback. And another moment
I will remember.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Is the CJ.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Stroud moment.
Speaker 10 (12:22):
The CJ Stroud picked that Bryce Young going about He's
yelling for his guy.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
For CJ.
Speaker 10 (12:27):
Stroud as he's getting picked, that's one of his closest guys,
and that's the type of person they are getting in
Bryce Young to lead this franchise. And as I kept
talking with people throughout the organization, they talked about his maturity,
his preparation, and as they look at this NFC South
and say we can own this division for years and
years to come, we feel like we have the right
player on and off the field to.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Do that for us.
Speaker 9 (12:49):
Steve Well, it choose you important, especially when you go
in that first overall pick, because that player is going
to be expected to start right away.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
What else the Panthers have done to support him?
Speaker 9 (12:57):
Besides all those angelary pieces that Mark was talking about
offensive line coaching staff. They drafted Jonathan Mingo in the
second round. You talk Cam earlier about the wide receiver.
I have covered teams personally as a beat writer nationally,
where teams like the Bengals, you get a quarterback, you
get a wide receiver. At the same time, we saw
it with Kenny Pickett last year when they Seeler's got
(13:17):
George Pickens. These are guys who come in and grow together, right,
They're gonna go to rookie mini camp together, they're gonna
go to all the rookie symposiums and all the programs together.
So to have that battery from the beginning grow over
the years together where they can do so many things.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
That's hugely important.
Speaker 9 (13:32):
Now you get a guy like Mingo, he's a possession
type receiver, right, but we also see some Mississippi.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Receivers do big things.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Translated to the NFL round, Mississippi receivers do well.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Yeah, ud got mean aj Brown.
Speaker 9 (13:42):
You know, we got dk Metcalf first round receiver. Those
guys step up and they play ball. So again, having
that chemistry with somebody from his own draft class hugely important. Again,
well thought out and well done by a Panthers organization
that should compete for a playoff berth this year because
they competed, as you for a playoff berth last year
(14:03):
without him and going through a lot of change trading
Christian McCaffrey, having Matt real Good fired in the middle
of the season. So again some pieces are in placed
on the compete right now.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Well and meing Go one of the few guys in
this trapt at wide receivers really out this year that
had the size yep, six.
Speaker 7 (14:16):
' to two and you want to throw in another
second round?
Speaker 1 (14:19):
All miss wide receiver Elijah Moore, not known for his size,
also pretty good from the same school, in the same round.
Thanks Steve, Thank you Mark, Thank you Cam. We go
from one to four? Coming up next. How quickly might
we see Anthony Richardson on the field and wait to
hear what your mersey said about where they would.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Have taken.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Dear Anthony, I just wanted to take this move to
express how incredibly proud I am of you. You have
accomplished so much and have shown so much determination throughout
your life. Your hard work and dedication has feed off
in so many ways, and it is truly inspiring to
see the person you have become, whether it is your
academic achievements, your athletic achieved personal growth. You have to
(15:07):
constantly pushed yourself to be the best you can be.
I am an honor to have a brother like you,
and I'm grateful for the examples you have said for
me and others. Keep up the great work and know
that I'm always here to support you all your future adventures.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
I love you, bro.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Ay many man appreciate that little bro Dan.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
Doesn't get old yet.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
A couple of days later, Anthony Richardson the fourth overall pick,
with his brother Corey sending him a message after Richardson
found out that he was going to Indianapolis. Here is
the entirety of Chris Ballard's draft class. From Richardson at
four overall, the tightest leo from Wagner at two eleven.
Listen to what Jim Ersay had to say when the
(16:09):
draft ended about the fourth overall pick.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
You know, we kind of felt like if we had
the first pick in the draft, we'd probably take Anthony.
Speaker 8 (16:18):
You know that.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
You know that. That's how much we liked him.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Look, a lot of owners and GMS and coaches said
that they want to pump up the guy they picked, right.
We hear that very often, but I believe him there
They liked Anthony Richardson that much. Steve White's with me,
Stacy Dale's was there, Mark Ross as well, You're gonna say.
Speaker 9 (16:38):
Here, Carolina did a lot of work on Anthony Richardson.
I mean there was a thought bubble, you know, help
for however long Carolina that Anthony Richard could be in
play at number one.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Now, the thought bubble and Stacy the thought experiment here
is how quickly do we get Richardson up to speed
and how soon could we see him on the field
and actually playing in a regular season game.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
As quickly as humanly possible. I mean, that's the objective here.
I watched that clip with Anthony and his younger brother
seven years younger. They bounced around from home to home
in Florida, right, grew up without a father figure lived
with his granddad.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
I mean, he.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Basically raised his brother. So I get emotional watching that
being around this young man. They fell in love with
him through this process despite thirteen games starting, because of
those traits and those that part of the humility that
comes with him, and he was absolutely the target. Let
me take you back into the draft room really quickly.
They're sitting there at four and they are concerned. There
(17:37):
is palpable tension because does somebody else want our guy
and move up to three. Well, then the Houston the
Arizona deal happened at BAM.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
It was a no brainer.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
All of that tension lifted off of their shoulders. Morocco Brown,
who's their chief personnel executive and just such a fine
talent evaluator, saw this guy in Florida at Florida back
in August. You guys, he said he had a different
rhythm and bounce to his step, he told us in
his post press conference. And then the ball as we
watch him here from the combine, the ball just flew
(18:11):
out of his hands. He initially thought about Michael Vick,
but then he texted Chris Bell or the GM and said,
you could charge admission to watch this young man throw
the football. Guys, he is twenty years old. And again,
the plan is get him in, teach him the playbook,
understand the lingo, the terminology, get those fundamentals in order
over the next three months, and then get to it
(18:32):
on the field. Let that talent Mark Ross come to life.
Speaker 11 (18:36):
Yeah, that's what the Colts are hoping for, right, letting
the talent shine and grow. But that's a quick time
period there. You know, we just expect him to get drafted. Hey,
go through mini camp, training camp, you'll be ready to go.
I think the best thing for Anthony Richardson because he
has not played a lot of football. There's a reason
he has not played a lot of football. It's like
he might not be one hundred percent ready to just
(18:57):
go in.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
There and get it done. There's a lot to learn.
Speaker 11 (19:01):
There's a lot to learn about leading eighteen. And this
is something unlike Bryce young who I referenced earlier about
he's built for that has always done it, Anthony Richardson
has not done this yet, so this will be somewhat
of a new experience for him taking all of this on.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
So I think the best thing.
Speaker 11 (19:18):
For him is to, hey, no pressure to beat our
day one starter. Let's learn to be a pro. Let's
learn at your pace. Let's not throw everything at this
young man right away and say, hey, go out there
and do it.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
We don't want him to go out there and.
Speaker 11 (19:31):
Get crushed at the expectations of losing games, losing.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
His confidence right away.
Speaker 11 (19:36):
We saw Malie Willis last year, who was considered raw,
how that looked when he got on the field. Anthony
Richardson supremely more talented. But the similar mental aspect where
we got to wait till he's ready steam.
Speaker 9 (19:46):
Yeah, these are both great point because Mark, you and
I have both probably talked to a lot of the
people who will tell you this about Anthony Ritchets, and
it's so many minor nuances, smaller nuances of the game
that he's got to learn. He just hasn't had the experience.
He hasn't had specific position coaching. His collegiate head coaches
were also his position coaches. He wasn't always with thequarterback
coach to work with him at different parts of the
(20:08):
game all of the time, and so those are things
that are going to be very important. That said, he's going
to be competing against Gardner Minshew. We know physically he
is going to win that battle. Out of the gate,
he's going to look good. But in the meeting rooms,
if he can get up to speed with Gardner Minshew
and he can prove to his teammates that maybe he's
the better guy.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
How do you not play him? Again?
Speaker 9 (20:30):
This is an organization that started Peyton Manning again far
more accomplished coming out of college. Let him go three
to thirteen as a rookie with twenty eight interceptions. So
that's going to be in their minds a little bit,
especially the owner's mind.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
So there's a lot of things you have to balance here.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
But if he ends up being the best quarterback on
the roster and training camp, yeah you may want to
see him to have him learned.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
But if he's the best player.
Speaker 9 (20:53):
The other fifty two, we're going to say, play the
best player.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Because our livelihoods are at stake as well.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Exactly, even if that best player may have some bumps
along the way, Chris Ballard say, yeah, he may have
a nine for twenty day, but guess what, he might
also run for one hundred yards in that game and
keep you in that game. And therefore, just get him
out there and let's watch him learn. One thing stood
out Stacey Dale's Daniel Jeremiah pointed this Saturday, as every
(21:21):
Chris Ballard pick came in traits athletes Julius Brentson and
Blake Friedland and at A Tamua, at A bar A
and Titus Leo.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
I mean, this is an athletic class, Dales.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
That was the objective.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
The Colts wanted to get more explosive this season, and
Richardson is a reflection of that, and they wanted to
get more athletic. I thought this was a win win, win, win,
win win draft for Chris Ballard and his team. I mean,
when you consider which brought up a great point in
the last segment, Hey, going to draft a quarterback, a
rookie quarterback, why don't you add a receiver, and we're
talking about Josh Downs out of North Carolina. One of
(21:57):
their area scouts, Chad Henry, called him a human chain mover.
He is going to jump right into that slot. He
is a production sheen. Obviously Paris Campbell is no longer there.
And then defensively, I love this. They draft three d backs,
two cornerbacks. Juju Brents out of Kansas State, who returns
(22:18):
home guys to Indianapolis. He is right around the corner
from their facility where he grew up. Long athletics six
three two hundred thirty four inch arms. He jumped in
near forty two inch vertical guys like I just applaud
this in so many ways. Obviously got to se him
on the field as Colts, But great job, Chris Ballard.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
But it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
When teams were drafting home town guys like, we talked
a lot about the possibility of Peter Skronski to the Bears.
Obviously didn't happen, but Juju Brentz did happen. The Chargers
in Henley into he Polotu drafted a couple of LA guys.
You could basically ride their bikes from their parents' homes
to SOFI Stadium.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
Those are always for me.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Really cool stories.
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Thank you Dale's, thank you Mark, thank you Steve Listen.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
I know it gets a lot of high but the
draft truly does matter.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
Think about this.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Jacksonville had the number one overall picking consecutive years and
then last year they went to the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
Not only did they go to the playoffs after.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Winning the AFC South, they won a home playoff game
in spectacular fashion. So yes, the moves made Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday do matter. We're now going to take the
big leap and try to figure out which of those teams,
which of the thirty one not named the Jaguars.
Speaker 7 (23:28):
Improved the most with this draft.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
You're watching NFL Now, NFL Network, Steve Mark, Mark, you
go first. The team that is better today than it
was last Thursday morning is.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
The Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 11 (23:43):
And usually in the draft, it's the team that's trying
to completely rebuild, they got no talent, bad team, or
a team that's just trying to go from good to great.
But this is a team that was in the super
Bowl last season and with an MVP caliber quarterback, with
a roster.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Full of talent.
Speaker 11 (24:01):
We know they lost some pieces in free agency, but
surprisingly size them back and Sleigh.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
And Brad Barry.
Speaker 11 (24:07):
But then you just have an infusion of talent there
with the outstanding value. You know, they crushed night well
with ch Hail and Carter and Nolan Smith there, but
even the rest of the draft where they got Sidney Brown,
my favorite player on the defensive side there, and then
Keeley Ringo, who I thought could have been taken in
the bottom of.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
The first So they addressed a lot of.
Speaker 11 (24:27):
Needs but also got impact type talent and players, but
also they wanted just because of the way Howie Roseman
once again maneuvered trading up. Let's go get Carter, let's
trade back, go get some more picks. Oh and by
the way, let me just give away a fourth couple
of years from now and get DeAndre fitzswipp who has
a chance to really make an impact on the run game.
So when you put all the facets together with the
(24:48):
expectations of Man, how could the Eagles get better? Well,
they got a ton of impact players, but also the
ability to maneuver around the draft board and then trade
picks to get established players.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Thought it was a masterful job there.
Speaker 9 (24:59):
Andrew I'll say this, I mean Philly, I mean loaded
up town. Now they got such whatch depth in all
this talent from the basically University of Georgia North. But
Mark talked about all the great trades and stuff that
hy Rosenbates salute to that nobody made more gangs or
trade than omar Con the Pittsburgh Steelers to come up
to fourteen to get offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who the
(25:22):
Jets were gonna take at fifteen.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
And I think overall what the Steelers.
Speaker 9 (25:27):
Did in their draft, Mark, we're going to stay in
the Keystone State. They even proved themselves the most because
they get Broderick Jones, they're a play offensive line. Then
to kick off the second round, they get Joey Porter
Junior at corner a knee position, a stud player, someone
that Mike Tomlin knows exceptionally well, who he's going to
know how to coach him to develop into a great player.
(25:50):
And they get Keanu Betten out of Wisconsin right to
fortify the front. And then they add Darnell Washington out
of Georgia.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Some people had at the bottom of the first whose some.
Speaker 9 (25:59):
People wo had bottom birs early second I mean here's
a tight end who can make plays, but also he's
a great blocker. So yeah, University of Georgia actually won
the draft, you know, based on all the players that
they're putting in here in the early rounds.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
But I love what Pittsburgh diggs.
Speaker 9 (26:13):
I thought they're going to be a competitive team anyway
to add this type of immediate impact talent, so that
the two teams at the Keystone State, we're kind of
doing this right now.
Speaker 7 (26:22):
Hey, I look at it this way. I'm a Browns fan.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
You guys know that I hated the Steelers draft because
it was good.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
It's really good.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
You're looking at it going like, really.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
They did oh man, and it's you're talking about football's family.
You got Porter obviously, his old man played there coach there.
They also now have both her big brothers. Right, they
might bring Derek Wapak that have both Watt brothers. They
have both Hayward brothers, and now Joey Porter Junior. NFL
(26:56):
Now is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
with iHeartRadio, Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Alright?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Alright, alright? Ryce Young, Welcome to the National Football League,
Bryce Young, c J.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Stroud will the interview Junior Houston Texans aren't messing around, guys.
Speaker 5 (00:24):
I love it Jack, Hot, Hot, hot hot.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Guess what Joan lovely ess a little hill for you?
Did I say something? He went through the first night,
did not get drafted.
Speaker 6 (00:36):
Who are the Titans coming up to get?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Is truly a moment of suspense right now for Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 7 (00:41):
Select will loveth and last night?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Which long is night?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Tonight?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Quite short?
Speaker 8 (00:46):
Sam?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
That is a plot twist.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
TJ's you guys probably just got Jon Scott this. He
is a game changer. He's a field changer for remember
this moment.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Oh that was fun, wasn't it? Two hundred and fifty
nine picks later, here we are, everybody back at the
desk for another edition of NFL Now on NFL networked
from our news room in Los Angeles.
Speaker 7 (01:31):
My name is ANDREWS. Cicili. I know this right.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Here's the guy that was working on weekend as well
for the draft all three days now that it's finally done,
we had puppies, we had music, we had fun, We.
Speaker 9 (01:42):
Had fun, and you know, now we see a lot
of teams where hope springs eternal because we got the
draft pick that's going to put us over the top.
But I love this fact ause lives have been changed
for a lot of.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
People, especially these young men.
Speaker 9 (01:53):
And salute to a lot of those guys who waited
until the third, fourth and fifth round, sixth round, seventh round.
We have opportunities now to show why they're deserving.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
NFL or players that have signed US undrafted agents who
undoubtedly make teams and make plays this coming year, where
one hundred and twenty nine days away from the Thursday
kickoff game with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting somebody.
Speaker 7 (02:15):
We'll figure it out later.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
However, the trade keeps on moving and there is business
to be done.
Speaker 7 (02:18):
It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Ian Rappaport, Hello there, great draft weeknd. How we immediately
turned to another deadline, another day of business here for
the NFL, and that is tomorrow being the deadline to
pick up fifth year guaranteed options for the first round
class of twenty twenty Let's start in Green Bay because
this is interesting here for Brian Gudacuins and the Packers.
(02:40):
They have a quarterback now that they are handing the
keys to in Jordan Love. Yet he has only started
one game. Yet they have to decide by tomorrow do
they want to pay him in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 6 (02:53):
Yeah, there were a couple of fascinating decisions as we
got closer to the fifth year option deadline, which, as
you mentioned, is tomorrow. There was the Chase Chase Young
deadline that was interesting, did not pick up the option?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
No, was the toa.
Speaker 6 (03:05):
Decision which, of course the Dolphins did pick up his
fifth year option, and Jordan Love is probably the last
and most interesting one would be about twenty million dollars
if they picked up the fifth year option. But here
is really the decision for the Green Bay Packers. First
of all, there's no decision he is going to be
their starter next year. But this is similar to what
the Giants faced about a year or so ago with
(03:26):
Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Do they pick up the fifth year option.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
About twenty million dollars for Jordan Love and protect themselves
Casey goes out in balls, which they believe he will
or do they just say, you know what, we got
the franchise tag, We're not going to lock ourselves in
to a fully guaranteed contract in twenty twenty four. That
is what the Giants did, But then it got tough
because Daniel Jones played well and they had to pay
a little bit more. So that's the decision for the
(03:49):
Green Bay Packers fifth year option overlying the franchise tag,
and they'll probably have a decision too much.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Yeah, they moved on from Aaron Rodgers. Jordan loves the guy.
They're adam bit about that. But are they Are they
saying right now, we are willing to make a two
year financial commitment to Jordan Love.
Speaker 7 (04:04):
And you're fine.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
I twenty twenty four would be locked in at twenty
million dollars if they wanted to pick it up, even
though he has started only one game. You see the
quota from Brian Kutakunz. It's a lot of money for
a guy that has only started.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
That one game. All right.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Meantime, in Denver we heard his name of the trade
block a couple of weeks ago. That is not going
to happen now. Sean Payton has also been out of it.
We're not trading Jerry Judy, but ian they are picking
up his option.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Yeah, the Broncos are officially picking up the fifth year
option for standout receiver Jerry Judy. And had you asked
about a month ago, I would say this was up
in the air, because there was a time when it
looked like, given the interest around the league, that it
looked like Jerry Judy might actually be traded rather than
a big part of the Broncos future. But one of
the decisions that Sean Payton and George Payton made together
(04:49):
was this guy is a big part of our future.
So the Broncos officially pick up the fifth year option.
He is not going anywhere under contract for two years.
A couple other big ones. Jedrick Wills, the standout lineman
for the Cleveland Browns. He also had his fifth year
option and picked up today. Again not a surprise. He's
a starter, he is very good. They lock him in
the twenty twenty four season. And then this kind of
(05:12):
interesting one. Jeff Akuda, who's the number three overall pick
for the Detroit Lions, was then traded to the Atlanta Falcons.
As part of that trade, the Lions paid one point
five million dollars of his salary to facilitate the trade.
Because his contract was adjusted because the Lions paid for it.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
He is not eligible for.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
A fifth year option, so it's not the Falcons declining.
It just can't happen. So he is now heading into
a contract year in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Which gives him the opportunity with a new team and
a new defense, to play well this year and maybe
get a nice second contract as a free agent in
year five. All right, let's get to Houston. Obviously, they
made the big splash. They traded up on Thursday. They
got both the quarterback and Will Anderson. They also get
back John metchi Ian. This is a great story.
Speaker 6 (05:59):
It is a great story, and you know, from a
human standpoint, it's amazing. Obviously, sat out last year with leukemia.
Apl was the specific form of leukemia, as he said
in the statement at the time, very treatable but still
very serious. Did not play last year and then the
previous year in college towards ACL. So this is a player,
a person who has been through so much and considering
(06:21):
he was on the field for the Houston Texan during
the second phase of their offseason. Conditioning is amazing. And
you know when Mechi announced that he was not playing
last year, he said, I cannot wait to come back stronger,
and that basically is the position that he has put
himself in. It's incredible. Nick Cassario was talking to reporters
after the draft and said, and I'll read this to
(06:41):
make sure I get it right. There are a lot
of people that deserve a lot of credit that could
have helped him get to this point. Start with John.
I would say, it's kind of inspiring for someone to
do that.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, it's great.
Speaker 7 (06:52):
We're going to see him on the field, and we're
going to see him on the field with C. J.
Stroud among others.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Here Will Anderson when they have their rookie medi camp.
Thank you, Ian Rappaport our NFL network inside. The Panthers
don't do their rookie media camp until next weekend. However,
let's focus on the Eagles here first, Philadelphia. Here's a
picture of the Eagles two first round picks here, Jalen
Carter and Nolan Smith with last year's Jordan Davis. Yes,
(07:22):
the entire band is back together. And then we got
Bryce Young and Brian Burns. This is not bring your
son to workday in Carolina. This is former first round
pick Brian Burns and the first overall pick here, Bryce Young.
Massive size difference and look, I know, redd it like
in the internet and Twitter when crazy with that picture here, Like,
(07:46):
look it's perspective, like it's just the way it's framed.
Speaker 7 (07:50):
Okay, that's the way I look at it.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
As we look at the Panthers draft picks Bryce Young,
Jonathan Mingo, DJ Johnson, Chandler Zavalla, and Jamie Robinson the
Florida State safety there in the fifth round. However, all
eyes are the chiny outject. All eyes here, Hi there,
camp Wolf, and Hi there, Mark Ross, Happy Monday with
the draft is over all eyes cam on Bryce Young.
From listening to press conferences over the weekend, how have
(08:14):
you gathered they're going to use him and get him
up to speed in this offense?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (08:18):
Andres So it was always Bryce and being in the
Panthers headquarters all week, everybody I ran into had this
giddy smile or smirk, and the word I kept hearing
was point guard. They didn't want to say Bryce Young
until he was the pick, and so every time they
wanted to talk about Bryce, they used the word point guard.
And so I talked with their offensive coordinator Thomas Brown
maybe six hours before they took Bryce Young. And he's
(08:39):
such an important part of this development of Bryce because
Frank Reich has empowered him to put this offense together
to eventually be the play caller. And frank Reich said,
twenty to thirty percent of our offense will be the
Rams offense, and then our ideas mixed with my former
offense to create a quarterback friendly offense initially for Bryce
that eventually becomes Cubic centric in his own mind. And
(09:00):
so Brown told me about that point guard comparison. He said,
we agree with the Steph Curry comparison like everyone else,
but I also think of him as Magic Johnson, a
guy who is a past first player who can score
the size differences aside, you look at a player where
we are building this offense with him in mind. They
have five top receivers who are six two or taller.
They just added Jonathan Mingo, a guy they loved to
(09:21):
be in that group. Bryce can hit those as a playmaker,
he keeps his eyes down field as a scorer. They
saw several elements on tape. We're on third down fourth
quarter two minute drill. He makes that play. He puts
the team on his back when you need him to,
and that final part of the triple double, the rebounding,
is how he has an impact on everyone on the team.
They said there was times where he covered for a
(09:43):
left tackle who missed an assignment or a receiver who ran.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
The wrong route.
Speaker 10 (09:47):
Those are the things that you don't see a lot
of times that are important for a team, and I
saw that this year in the facility Mark there was
a moment where he was asked, how do you lead
a team coming in here as a number one overall pick?
And he said, I want to come in here and
learn and earn the locker rooms. Trust nothing I've done
in college follows me.
Speaker 11 (10:06):
Well, Cam The Panthers are hoping that the Bryce drops
fifty like Steph dropped last night to secure that win there,
so they'll take a few of those. But look, I
thought it was Bryce Young all along. I love Bryce Young,
and you're talking about being the number one pick. Some
people are just built to handle this. Bryce Young has
been a star basically since eighth grade, big time high
school player of course, Alabama, winning the Heisman Trophy trophy
(10:29):
so mentally he was ready to handle this.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
He was built for this. On the field, He's built.
Speaker 11 (10:35):
For that pressure, the pressure that comes with being an
ultimate playmaker. So the talent and the mine and the
pressure just is supreme for me with Bryce Young, not
just in this draft class, but comparing him to the
great quarterbacks that have come out in the last few
draft classes, but also the foundation that the Panthers have
put in place for Bryce with the all Stars coaching staff,
(10:57):
and they got a ton of talent on that offense now,
great offensive line led by ike Iguano. So the foundation
on and off the field for Bryce Young along with him,
I think just being built from being a star. I
think we're going to see some huge dividends coming out
of this.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
A great anecdote from Scott Fitter the GM said, I know, Caam,
you've heard this as well that after sitting with Bryce
Young and having him go through his weekly schedule, his
routine at Alabama, they said it was like you were
sitting with a forty year old man, not some kid,
but like a forty year old that the level of
maturity in preparation was off the charts.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
Camp, what else stood out to you yeah.
Speaker 10 (11:32):
Paranthers owner David Tepper came out the day after the
day they drafted him and said the expectation is Super
Bowls multiple So we.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Asked Bryce Young what he thinks about that.
Speaker 10 (11:41):
He said, I'm one day at a time, but every
time I'm faced with pressure, I view it as an opportunity.
And so this is a franchise changing piece for the Panthers.
They've had eight starting quarterbacks in the last five years.
They've been waiting the last two years to find the
guy that could be the guy that puts them over
the top. And I still remember that scene Friday. We
did a lot of videos of it, of him coming
(12:02):
on for the intro that got the bands playing, a
bunch of fans there. You can tell that's not really
his thing, but what was his thing. He's spent about
thirty minutes sitting out there on the stadium with Frank Wright,
with Josh McCown, just talking ball, envisioning what it will
be like to be the Panthers quarterback. And another moment
I will remember.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Is the CJ.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Stroud moment.
Speaker 10 (12:22):
The CJ Stroud picked that Bryce Young going about He's
yelling for his guy.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
For CJ.
Speaker 10 (12:27):
Stroud as he's getting picked, that's one of his closest guys,
and that's the type of person they are getting in
Bryce Young to lead this franchise. And as I kept
talking with people throughout the organization, they talked about his maturity,
his preparation, and as they look at this NFC South
and say we can own this division for years and
years to come, we feel like we have the right
player on and off the field to.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Do that for us.
Speaker 9 (12:49):
Steve Well, it choose you important, especially when you go
in that first overall pick, because that player is going
to be expected to start right away.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
What else the Panthers have done to support him?
Speaker 9 (12:57):
Besides all those angelary pieces that Mark was talking about
offensive line coaching staff. They drafted Jonathan Mingo in the
second round. You talk Cam earlier about the wide receiver.
I have covered teams personally as a beat writer nationally,
where teams like the Bengals, you get a quarterback, you
get a wide receiver. At the same time, we saw
it with Kenny Pickett last year when they Seeler's got
(13:17):
George Pickens. These are guys who come in and grow together, right,
They're gonna go to rookie mini camp together, they're gonna
go to all the rookie symposiums and all the programs together.
So to have that battery from the beginning grow over
the years together where they can do so many things.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
That's hugely important.
Speaker 9 (13:32):
Now you get a guy like Mingo, he's a possession
type receiver, right, but we also see some Mississippi.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Receivers do big things.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Translated to the NFL round, Mississippi receivers do well.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Yeah, ud got mean aj Brown.
Speaker 9 (13:42):
You know, we got dk Metcalf first round receiver. Those
guys step up and they play ball. So again, having
that chemistry with somebody from his own draft class hugely important. Again,
well thought out and well done by a Panthers organization
that should compete for a playoff berth this year because
they competed, as you for a playoff berth last year
(14:03):
without him and going through a lot of change trading
Christian McCaffrey, having Matt real Good fired in the middle
of the season. So again some pieces are in placed
on the compete right now.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Well and meing Go one of the few guys in
this trapt at wide receivers really out this year that
had the size yep, six.
Speaker 7 (14:16):
' to two and you want to throw in another
second round?
Speaker 1 (14:19):
All miss wide receiver Elijah Moore, not known for his size,
also pretty good from the same school, in the same round.
Thanks Steve, Thank you Mark, Thank you Cam. We go
from one to four? Coming up next. How quickly might
we see Anthony Richardson on the field and wait to
hear what your mersey said about where they would.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Have taken.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Dear Anthony, I just wanted to take this move to
express how incredibly proud I am of you. You have
accomplished so much and have shown so much determination throughout
your life. Your hard work and dedication has feed off
in so many ways, and it is truly inspiring to
see the person you have become, whether it is your
academic achievements, your athletic achieved personal growth. You have to
(15:07):
constantly pushed yourself to be the best you can be.
I am an honor to have a brother like you,
and I'm grateful for the examples you have said for
me and others. Keep up the great work and know
that I'm always here to support you all your future adventures.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
I love you, bro.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Ay many man appreciate that little bro Dan.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
Doesn't get old yet.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
A couple of days later, Anthony Richardson the fourth overall pick,
with his brother Corey sending him a message after Richardson
found out that he was going to Indianapolis. Here is
the entirety of Chris Ballard's draft class. From Richardson at
four overall, the tightest leo from Wagner at two eleven.
Listen to what Jim Ersay had to say when the
(16:09):
draft ended about the fourth overall pick.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
You know, we kind of felt like if we had
the first pick in the draft, we'd probably take Anthony.
Speaker 8 (16:18):
You know that.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
You know that. That's how much we liked him.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Look, a lot of owners and GMS and coaches said
that they want to pump up the guy they picked, right.
We hear that very often, but I believe him there
They liked Anthony Richardson that much. Steve White's with me,
Stacy Dale's was there, Mark Ross as well, You're gonna say.
Speaker 9 (16:38):
Here, Carolina did a lot of work on Anthony Richardson.
I mean there was a thought bubble, you know, help
for however long Carolina that Anthony Richard could be in
play at number one.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Now, the thought bubble and Stacy the thought experiment here
is how quickly do we get Richardson up to speed
and how soon could we see him on the field
and actually playing in a regular season game.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
As quickly as humanly possible. I mean, that's the objective here.
I watched that clip with Anthony and his younger brother
seven years younger. They bounced around from home to home
in Florida, right, grew up without a father figure lived
with his granddad.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
I mean, he.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Basically raised his brother. So I get emotional watching that
being around this young man. They fell in love with
him through this process despite thirteen games starting, because of
those traits and those that part of the humility that
comes with him, and he was absolutely the target. Let
me take you back into the draft room really quickly.
They're sitting there at four and they are concerned. There
(17:37):
is palpable tension because does somebody else want our guy
and move up to three. Well, then the Houston the
Arizona deal happened at BAM.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
It was a no brainer.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
All of that tension lifted off of their shoulders. Morocco Brown,
who's their chief personnel executive and just such a fine
talent evaluator, saw this guy in Florida at Florida back
in August. You guys, he said he had a different
rhythm and bounce to his step, he told us in
his post press conference. And then the ball as we
watch him here from the combine, the ball just flew
(18:11):
out of his hands. He initially thought about Michael Vick,
but then he texted Chris Bell or the GM and said,
you could charge admission to watch this young man throw
the football. Guys, he is twenty years old. And again,
the plan is get him in, teach him the playbook,
understand the lingo, the terminology, get those fundamentals in order
over the next three months, and then get to it
(18:32):
on the field. Let that talent Mark Ross come to life.
Speaker 11 (18:36):
Yeah, that's what the Colts are hoping for, right, letting
the talent shine and grow. But that's a quick time
period there. You know, we just expect him to get drafted. Hey,
go through mini camp, training camp, you'll be ready to go.
I think the best thing for Anthony Richardson because he
has not played a lot of football. There's a reason
he has not played a lot of football. It's like
he might not be one hundred percent ready to just
(18:57):
go in.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
There and get it done. There's a lot to learn.
Speaker 11 (19:01):
There's a lot to learn about leading eighteen. And this
is something unlike Bryce young who I referenced earlier about
he's built for that has always done it, Anthony Richardson
has not done this yet, so this will be somewhat
of a new experience for him taking all of this on.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
So I think the best thing.
Speaker 11 (19:18):
For him is to, hey, no pressure to beat our
day one starter. Let's learn to be a pro. Let's
learn at your pace. Let's not throw everything at this
young man right away and say, hey, go out there
and do it.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
We don't want him to go out there and.
Speaker 11 (19:31):
Get crushed at the expectations of losing games, losing.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
His confidence right away.
Speaker 11 (19:36):
We saw Malie Willis last year, who was considered raw,
how that looked when he got on the field. Anthony
Richardson supremely more talented. But the similar mental aspect where
we got to wait till he's ready steam.
Speaker 9 (19:46):
Yeah, these are both great point because Mark, you and
I have both probably talked to a lot of the
people who will tell you this about Anthony Ritchets, and
it's so many minor nuances, smaller nuances of the game
that he's got to learn. He just hasn't had the experience.
He hasn't had specific position coaching. His collegiate head coaches
were also his position coaches. He wasn't always with thequarterback
coach to work with him at different parts of the
(20:08):
game all of the time, and so those are things
that are going to be very important. That said, he's going
to be competing against Gardner Minshew. We know physically he
is going to win that battle. Out of the gate,
he's going to look good. But in the meeting rooms,
if he can get up to speed with Gardner Minshew
and he can prove to his teammates that maybe he's
the better guy.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
How do you not play him? Again?
Speaker 9 (20:30):
This is an organization that started Peyton Manning again far
more accomplished coming out of college. Let him go three
to thirteen as a rookie with twenty eight interceptions. So
that's going to be in their minds a little bit,
especially the owner's mind.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
So there's a lot of things you have to balance here.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
But if he ends up being the best quarterback on
the roster and training camp, yeah you may want to
see him to have him learned.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
But if he's the best player.
Speaker 9 (20:53):
The other fifty two, we're going to say, play the
best player.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Because our livelihoods are at stake as well.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Exactly, even if that best player may have some bumps
along the way, Chris Ballard say, yeah, he may have
a nine for twenty day, but guess what, he might
also run for one hundred yards in that game and
keep you in that game. And therefore, just get him
out there and let's watch him learn. One thing stood
out Stacey Dale's Daniel Jeremiah pointed this Saturday, as every
(21:21):
Chris Ballard pick came in traits athletes Julius Brentson and
Blake Friedland and at A Tamua, at A bar A
and Titus Leo.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
I mean, this is an athletic class, Dales.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
That was the objective.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
The Colts wanted to get more explosive this season, and
Richardson is a reflection of that, and they wanted to
get more athletic. I thought this was a win win, win, win,
win win draft for Chris Ballard and his team. I mean,
when you consider which brought up a great point in
the last segment, Hey, going to draft a quarterback, a
rookie quarterback, why don't you add a receiver, and we're
talking about Josh Downs out of North Carolina. One of
(21:57):
their area scouts, Chad Henry, called him a human chain mover.
He is going to jump right into that slot. He
is a production sheen. Obviously Paris Campbell is no longer there.
And then defensively, I love this. They draft three d backs,
two cornerbacks. Juju Brents out of Kansas State, who returns
(22:18):
home guys to Indianapolis. He is right around the corner
from their facility where he grew up. Long athletics six
three two hundred thirty four inch arms. He jumped in
near forty two inch vertical guys like I just applaud
this in so many ways. Obviously got to se him
on the field as Colts, But great job, Chris Ballard.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
But it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
When teams were drafting home town guys like, we talked
a lot about the possibility of Peter Skronski to the Bears.
Obviously didn't happen, but Juju Brentz did happen. The Chargers
in Henley into he Polotu drafted a couple of LA guys.
You could basically ride their bikes from their parents' homes
to SOFI Stadium.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
Those are always for me.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Really cool stories.
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Thank you Dale's, thank you Mark, thank you Steve Listen.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
I know it gets a lot of high but the
draft truly does matter.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
Think about this.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Jacksonville had the number one overall picking consecutive years and
then last year they went to the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
Not only did they go to the playoffs after.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Winning the AFC South, they won a home playoff game
in spectacular fashion. So yes, the moves made Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday do matter. We're now going to take the
big leap and try to figure out which of those teams,
which of the thirty one not named the Jaguars.
Speaker 7 (23:28):
Improved the most with this draft.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
You're watching NFL Now, NFL Network, Steve Mark, Mark, you
go first. The team that is better today than it
was last Thursday morning is.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
The Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 11 (23:43):
And usually in the draft, it's the team that's trying
to completely rebuild, they got no talent, bad team, or
a team that's just trying to go from good to great.
But this is a team that was in the super
Bowl last season and with an MVP caliber quarterback, with
a roster.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Full of talent.
Speaker 11 (24:01):
We know they lost some pieces in free agency, but
surprisingly size them back and Sleigh.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
And Brad Barry.
Speaker 11 (24:07):
But then you just have an infusion of talent there
with the outstanding value. You know, they crushed night well
with ch Hail and Carter and Nolan Smith there, but
even the rest of the draft where they got Sidney Brown,
my favorite player on the defensive side there, and then
Keeley Ringo, who I thought could have been taken in
the bottom of.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
The first So they addressed a lot of.
Speaker 11 (24:27):
Needs but also got impact type talent and players, but
also they wanted just because of the way Howie Roseman
once again maneuvered trading up. Let's go get Carter, let's
trade back, go get some more picks. Oh and by
the way, let me just give away a fourth couple
of years from now and get DeAndre fitzswipp who has
a chance to really make an impact on the run game.
So when you put all the facets together with the
(24:48):
expectations of Man, how could the Eagles get better? Well,
they got a ton of impact players, but also the
ability to maneuver around the draft board and then trade
picks to get established players.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Thought it was a masterful job there.
Speaker 9 (24:59):
Andrew I'll say this, I mean Philly, I mean loaded
up town. Now they got such whatch depth in all
this talent from the basically University of Georgia North. But
Mark talked about all the great trades and stuff that
hy Rosenbates salute to that nobody made more gangs or
trade than omar Con the Pittsburgh Steelers to come up
to fourteen to get offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who the
(25:22):
Jets were gonna take at fifteen.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
And I think overall what the Steelers.
Speaker 9 (25:27):
Did in their draft, Mark, we're going to stay in
the Keystone State. They even proved themselves the most because
they get Broderick Jones, they're a play offensive line. Then
to kick off the second round, they get Joey Porter
Junior at corner a knee position, a stud player, someone
that Mike Tomlin knows exceptionally well, who he's going to
know how to coach him to develop into a great player.
(25:50):
And they get Keanu Betten out of Wisconsin right to
fortify the front. And then they add Darnell Washington out
of Georgia.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Some people had at the bottom of the first whose some.
Speaker 9 (25:59):
People wo had bottom birs early second I mean here's
a tight end who can make plays, but also he's
a great blocker. So yeah, University of Georgia actually won
the draft, you know, based on all the players that
they're putting in here in the early rounds.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
But I love what Pittsburgh diggs.
Speaker 9 (26:13):
I thought they're going to be a competitive team anyway
to add this type of immediate impact talent, so that
the two teams at the Keystone State, we're kind of
doing this right now.
Speaker 7 (26:22):
Hey, I look at it this way. I'm a Browns fan.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
You guys know that I hated the Steelers draft because
it was good.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
It's really good.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
You're looking at it going like, really.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
They did oh man, and it's you're talking about football's family.
You got Porter obviously, his old man played there coach there.
They also now have both her big brothers. Right, they
might bring Derek Wapak that have both Watt brothers. They
have both Hayward brothers, and now Joey Porter Junior. NFL
(26:56):
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