February 21, 2025 • 42 mins
NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo is joined by Adam Rank, draft expert Lance Zierlein, and the 2025 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Arik Armstead. Garafolo shares the latest news from around the league, including the Jaguars hiring a new general manager and the Saints hiring a defensive coordinator. Plus, Brian Dawkins tells the story of trailblazer Dr. Guion Bluford in honor of Black History Month.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Sam Darnold Aaron Rodgers, who are two guys who used
to play for the Jets that are now slated to
be free agents in just a couple of weeks. We're
going to talk about where those two might wind up
and maybe how much money they're going to make. Darnold
more than Rogers for sure. Meanwhile, guys who are set
to begin their professional careers at the quarterback position, Shador
(00:29):
Sanders and Cam Ward. Our guy, Lancerline going to join
us in a couple of minutes for his mock Draft
one point zero to tell us where he thinks these
guys might wind up and coming up in just a bit,
Eric Armstead, the Jaguars defensive end and the Walter Payton
NFL Man of the Year, set to join us to
talk about what he's done off the field and on
(00:52):
the field, and what he plans to continue to do
in both places. Welcome inside with the Insiders. Adam Rank
joining me the Friday pre scouting Combine edition of The Insiders.
So glad to have you Rank. Like I said, we're
going to have Lance Zerline in just a couple of
minutes because as always, we've got a lot to get
(01:13):
through the news never stops in the NFL, even on
a Friday in February, and it happened in a few
places earlier today. A matter of fact, this a short
while ago, Ian Rappaport and I reported that Eagles pass rush.
This guy's a young studup. You haven't seen the baldy
breakdown of Nolan Smith recently. You got to go check
that out. He's smiling here after the Eagles won the
(01:33):
Super Bowl, and I don't know how because he had
torn triceps. He had surgery this week. He's going to
miss obviously the off season program, but the expectation is
that he's going to be ready for the start of
the season. So Nolan Smith impressive at the Super Bowl,
in the postgame locker room and at the parade, did
most of it with a torn triceps. So he is,
(01:55):
as I put in my tweet quote super tough, super
with a capital S. James Gladstone the new general manager
of the Jacksonville Jaguars, coming over from the Rams, just
thirty four years old. He's been a big part of
the scouting process with the Rams under Lesnied, the general manager. Yes,
it's close to Joey Gladstone, who is Dave Coolier's character
(02:20):
on Full House. But that joke has been made plenty
of times today, so if you final making it again,
you can cut it out right, all right? That was
the last one. And Brandon Staley, yes, with the San
Francisco forty nine ers actor being the head coach of
the Los Angeles Chargers now the defensive coordinator of the
(02:40):
New Orleans Saints, says we reported earlier today. That was
Ian Rappaport's tweet right there, So Staley once again a
defensive coordinator joining Kellen Moore's staff down there in New Orleans. Okay,
I mentioned Rogers, Yes, the Jets are moving on from him.
They have made it clear. Rogers working out in California TMZ.
He caught up with him and did a deep two
(03:02):
question interview asking him what do you need to see
in your next team? Rogers said, one, they need to
want me and two no, they need to be good.
That's what Rogers is looking for at this point in
his career. Obviously, Rank we're talking about potential fits or
maybe even does Aaron Rodgers play in the NFL this
upcoming season. I think there are enough chairs left with
(03:25):
teams needing quarterbacks. That he will what are you seeing
in Rogers future?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But is it the right situation? Because a couple of
years ago, when Rogers went to the New York Jets,
that was a team that a lot of people felt
was on the cost of going to possibly the Super Bowl,
that we're just a quarterback away. So when you're talking
about these teams that need a quarterback, are they really
set up to make a run for the Super Bowl?
I would argue that a lot of them are not.
(03:50):
And for me, I actually believe that Aaron Rodgers is
in the perfect position for himself. Number One, He's in
a spot where he's not going to have to go
to training camp because we know he does like that.
He's probably got a trip planned a Mazetlaine or something
him and him and Vince Mann are going to go
hang out somewhere, So he doesn't want to go to
training camp, and he wants somebody to want him. I
(04:10):
think what's going to happen is he's going to wait
and he's going to see if there's going to be
an opportunity with one of these teams. And it's an
unfortunate business. You're not necessarily rooting for somebody to get injured,
but there have been instances in the NFL where a
good team has lost its quarterback. Aaron Rodgers doesn't want
to go and be a backup somewhere. We can wait
and possibly get into a situation where he arrives as
(04:32):
the hero, which again is something that he loves to do.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah, there are a few ways for Rodgers to play this.
To sign somewhere immediately and maybe with a team like
you said. I know a lot of folks have connected
them to Tennessee. Is Tennessee all of a sudden gonna
be a Super Bowl contender? Or to wait it out
like you said, maybe be the Sam Bradford. Remember that
one when Teddy Bridgewater went down for the Vikings in
training camp. All of a sudden they needed a quarterback
they traded with the Eagles. Aaron Rodgers could be that guy.
(04:56):
From a free agent standpoint, I like your approach on
this one, Adam. Let's see if Rogers likes it as well. Meanwhile,
Sam Donald, this one's gonna be a quick one. This
is going to be the first free agent quarterback Domino
to fall foreshore. Yes, the Vikings would like to have
Sam Donald back, but it's going to be at quite
the number, and they're in the position now where they
(05:17):
want to be able to capitalize on the rookie quarterback
contract with JJ McCarthy. You can't do that if you're
spending forty million dollars per season plus on Sam Donald,
which is what we expect. So where do you see
Donald fitting in when it comes to the free agent market.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, this is going to be a very difficult situation because, again,
the teams are going to be available to him are
not close to being competitive in the NFL. Whereas if
you didn't take as much money and let's say you
went out there for one more proven year deal with
the Minnesota Vikings, an opportunity to once again work with koc.
We do not know where JJ McCarthy is on his rehabilitation.
(05:54):
He might still be a ways away. So if Sam
Donald gets another chance to go out there, maybe prove
the last season and was not a fluke to go
out there and win fourteen games, perhaps he goes out
there does it again on a one year prove it deal.
Then he's got a lot more juice and a lot
more leverage of the following year. But at the same time,
he might be looking at this as a situation of like, look,
my stock has never been higher. I've never been hotter
(06:17):
than I am right now. Listen, I just starred as
Hans Solo in the Star Wars franchise. I'm gonna sign
on to be Indiana Jones, So I wouldn't be upset
with him if he would go out there and take
that money.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
The next thing you know, you're playing a guy psychiatrist
with Parkinson's and shrinking, which is an amazing show if
you haven't watched that one yet, it's the many facets
of Harrison Ford that we're seeing. Sam Darnold say, don't
listen to that man. Capitalize right now, Sam, He's right.
The last thing he said is correct. Russell Wilson. Meanwhile,
his stock has been higher in the past. Yeah, it
(06:49):
was an interesting season in Pittsburgh, a lot of ups
and downs. In the middle of the season looked like, Wow,
this guy's setting him up for himself, up for a
long term deal. Not quite the case right now, and
the Steelers looking at him and Justin Field saying, well,
we'll bring back one or the other, but not both.
So what do you see from Russell Wilson and the
only other team he met with last often I believe
(07:10):
it was the only other team was the Giants. They
need a quarterback, so potentially they're still in play. What
do you see for Wilson, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Think there's an opportunity. I think he should take a
trip to Las Vegas. Maybe he's strolling across the lobby
of the Wind he sees his ex Pete Carroll. Hey,
you know what, the sparks fly again. Maybe they go
to Tao, have a little dinner, then all of a sudden,
next thing, you know, back together. Let's make it happen.
I would love to see Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll
back together once again. Listen, Marshawn Lynch was there at
(07:38):
the introductory press conference for Pete Carroll. I don't think
it's atlandish to think that Russell Wilson could end up
being there. It depends on what the Raiders do at
the quarterback position. I know Lance is going to come
on here in a couple of minutes and talk about
whether the Raiders will be drafting a quarterback or not.
But as a bridge quarterback in Las Vegas, I think
Russell Wilson makes a lot of spends a lot of sense,
especially with the milliere he has with Pete Carroll.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I'm expecting new general manager John Spytech and head coach
Pete Carroll to throw multiple missiles there at the quarterback
position to try to land one, basically, whether it's a
free agency or the draft or trading for one. So
Russell Wilson is a guy that maybe could fit in
that formula. We shall see Russell Wilson looking for a
(08:23):
team that needs help with the quarterback position. Teams with
that need help with the quarterback position, looking at free
agents like Russell Wilson, but also toward the draft. Our
guy Lance Zer lines mock Draft one point zero here
has the Titans starting the run on quarterbacks right there
with the number one pick. It's very interesting across the
(08:43):
mock draft world. Who thinks the Titans go quarterback? Who
thinks they go position player? Who thinks they trade out?
Lance is here with us to discuss the whole deal.
So let's start right there. Number one, Lance cam Ward
being pretty much the consensus pick for the first quarterback
off the board. The question is where he goes? You
think it's to Tennessee at one?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
I think it really could be It really comes down
to the internal discussions. You know, Mike, how this goes
late in the process, or really in the middle of
this process is when you start having the ebbs and
flows of the discussion about what position you're going, who.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
You like, and a lot of things can change after
a combine.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So I'm really interested to see how cam Ward performs
at the combine. But maybe more importantly, you know the
buzz from NFL teams about his interviews.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
I've heard that he is going to interview.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Well, I think his personality is going to play well
in those in those meeting rooms, and so I think
there is still a chance that the Tennessee Titans or
another team could still have a quarterback potentially targeted with
that first pick.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, and then you've got the Raiders at number six
going with Youador Sanders, with some teams in between, whether
we'll get to in a second, but your door Sanders
at six.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah, So you know, Okay, Look, when you look at
cam Woard, cam Ward's the.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Guy that has all the physical attributes.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
He's got the arm, talent, he's got mobility, he's got size.
When you look at Shador, it's a little different because
Shador Sanders is intriguing because he is a game manager
on the next.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Level, not in college.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
In college, he fancies himself as a playmaker, as every
quarterback does. But when you look at his strengths and weaknesses,
he's got poise, He's got great confidence in the pocket.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
I think that just comes from the.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Bloodlines, frankly, and then when you watch his accuracy, it's
really really good. And we start talking about poise and
accuracy and confidence, those are the elements that we really
like from an intangible standpoint, And that's why I think
Shador Sanders is going to make for a great game manager.
I don't use that phrase, you know, in a derogatory sense.
I think it's really I think it's what most quarterbacks
(10:47):
should aspire to.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Not everyone can be Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
And Shador Sanders has a chance to be a good
game manager, which would mean a good starter.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
So we got Browns of two, we got Giants at three,
we got the Jets. Also in the amongst the teams
that do need some quarterback help, you've got them going
non quarterback take us through the thought process in all
three of those teams.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So look, I just don't think that the Browns are
going to do it. I think when you look at
Andrew Brown, you look at the general manager. He is
analytics driven. I know they need a quarterback, but you
don't force an issue unless you love quarterback, and I
think the Browns just won't love a quarterback enough to
take a quarterback in that spot. When you look at
the Giants, you know, I still think the Giants could
(11:28):
be in play for Matthew Stafford. That's kind of popped
up here recently. So let's see what the Giants have
up their sleeves before draft day if nothing happens. And
of course I think quarterback is potentially on the board
for them as well.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
And the Jets.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
You know, the.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Jets could look at quarterback, but I think it's a
huge reach once you get past your doors Sanders, if
he's off the board, you're really reaching in the first round.
And sometimes the quarterback of the future is just not
in the draft, so you don't force it. You wait
until you know, you roll the dice and wait until
the next year. That's all you can do.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
The Giants, the Jets, excuse me, just getting started. So
they have the luxury the general manager and the head
coach of time. The Browns and Giants maybe not so much,
so they may have to think longer and harder about
the quarterback position. You're also going to see the Browns
and or the Giants maybe both will do something when
it comes to free agency or via trade to add
a quarterback before the draft, which could allow them the
(12:23):
flexibility to do what you're seeing them doing in your
mock draft. Okay, overall, in the first round, what's going
to be the surprise group position group of the first round?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Well, I think it's going to be defensive line, and
we can start with the edge. I mean, the defensive ends,
the edge players, and defensive tackles are going to be
the stars. And let's look at the edge players right here,
Abdell Carter, Michael Williams, Mike Green, Nick Skurtin, Schamar Stewart,
James Pierce. Those are guys in my mock draft. But
you know, you could have some other guys popping there.
(12:53):
It depends on what you think of Jalen Walker from Georgia.
Is he a linebacker?
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Is he an edge player? Doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
It's going to be a loaded edge class from rounds
one all the way through round four. But I think
the same thing can be said about defensive tackle. So
if you're looking for a guy to rush the passer,
and we know it's a copycat league, everyone wants to
do what the Eagles have done.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
That means get rush, whether it's on the inside or
the outside. This is going to be a draft for you.
May not be a great draft.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
If you need quarterback, but if you need somebody to
go hunt quarterbacks, I got some guys for you rounds
one through four, and a lot of the stars are
going to be in around one, where I think we
could see eleven to twelve defensive lineman going to first round.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
I should note the Abdel Carter selection to the Cleveland
Browns at number two could potentially provide them the flexibility
to trade away Miles Garrett, although they have still indicated
privately that they don't want to do that and they
believe that Miles Garrett in the end will return to Cleveland.
But again, if this should happen this way, perhaps it
provides that flexibility moving forward. Lanceerline his mock Draft one
(13:57):
point zero. Go check it out at NFL dot com.
Dig into all that lanch coming back in a little
bit here on the Insiders, and this guy will be
joining the Insiders next. Eric Armstead, the NFL's Walter Peyton
Man of the Year, is going to talk about that
what he's doing off the field and what he's doing
on the field in Jacksonville. That's up next on the Insiders.
(14:27):
This was the moment Eric Armstead won the most prestigious award,
hand it out at NFL Owners the NFL pay NFL
Walter Peyton Man of the Year for twenty twenty five.
Congratulations to Eric, and I'm going to tell him that
to his face right now because he's joining us. Eric
Armstead from the Jacksonville Jaguars joining us right now. Congratulations
(14:50):
once again on that award. Talk to us about the
impact that that award has had on you since you
won it. Their Super Bowl week in NFL Owners.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Definitely a great experience.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
Really, the whole week was amazing, and being a nominee
for the past, you know, five years was a great experience.
Speaker 5 (15:09):
But you know, finally winning the award.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
And having a chance to see how prestigious it is,
and you know, meet so many people and feel the
support and of love from you know, not only the
football community, but you know, all the communities that I'm
connected to in my hometown of Sacramento, Jacksonville in the
Bay Area, everyone that supports me. But the most amazing
(15:35):
thing about it, I feel is the opportunity I have
to use the platform to serve more use and more
families at an even higher level.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
And it's going to open up doors to be able
to do that.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
It's going to allow us to reach more people and
get young people the resources that they need. And that's
what I'm most excited about, is what I'll be able
to do with the platform in the future.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
And the doors that will open. So definitely was a.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Huge honor and I'm very excited to, you know, represent
so many people who you know, have poured so much
into me to get me to this point and by
no means have did anything on my own. And you know,
we're as an organization, the arm second different project. We're
very excited to serve serve our families at.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
An even higher levels. So it was it was an
amazing we.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Eric, and you know, we had an opportunity to talk
before the show started here and I really got a
great sense of you that you appreciate sport, you appreciate history.
Now Obviously you're not you're not old enough to have
ever seen Walter Payton play. But what does it mean
to be a part of that legacy of one of
the greatest players of all time.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
It's huge didn't get a chance to see Walthor Peyton played.
You know, of course I've heard about him my whole
life and heard a lot about what he did on
the field, But being a part of this award, you know,
for the last five years, I've had the opportunity to learn.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
More about him as a person.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
And all the things that he's not off the field,
and how he was such a light in his community
and you know, had a huge positive impact on everyone
that was around him.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
And have an opportunity to meet his family.
Speaker 6 (17:23):
You see how special that family is, and you know
that started with Walter and they're continuing to carry his legacy.
And now being a part of this fraternity of winners,
you know we're able to you know, continue that legacy
and pass the torch and continue to inspire one another
(17:46):
to do what's really the most important thing that we
have opportunity to do, which is bless other people and
use our platform for good. And you know, being a
part of such an elite group of guys throughout the
years that have done that is inspiring and inspires.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Me to do to do more.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
Really, you know, these are guys that I looked up
to at a young age that I've won this award
and they inspired me both on and off the field.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
So I'm excited to continue that legacy.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yeah, you talked about doing more. You know, some might say, oh,
this is an accomplishment. This is sort of the end
game of all the work. I can gather that you
and your wife, doctor Mindy Armstead, are looking at this
as a springboard for the Armsteed Academic Project to do
even more. What's in the future for you and your foundation.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
Yeah, we have a lot in our future that I'm
excited about.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
We focus on literacy. I think everyone saw that, you
know in the video.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
At NFL Honors, literacy is one of our focuses, but
also we focus on STEM education and.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Career in college exploration with our youth.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
We do teacher siation events, so we're honoring our teachers
throughout the year and make sure they're not getting burned
out and they're getting shown that the respect that they
deserve as the most important members and they have the
most important job in our society, so we're honored to
serve our teachers as well. And we have something coming
(19:21):
up real big with Sex State University in a few
weeks that we're going to be very excited to share
with a lot of people as well.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
So we'll continue to grow.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Year on end, and you know, like I said, excited
to continue to impact thousands of thousands of people and
it just doesn't stop. You know, I was really blessed
and fortunate to have opportunity to come to Jacksonville, and
now our reach is kind of nationwide. You know, we're
serving youth in Jacksonville, we're serving youth and Sacramento where
(19:55):
I'm from, and continue to serve them in the Bay Area.
And you know, we have other initiatives that I'm excited
to that I.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
Think are replicable all over our country and our nation.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
So I'm excited to bring those to the forefront of
people's minds.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
You know, Eric, I love talking to you, and again
going back to the conversation that we had before the show,
you're a big Sacramento guy. You said you're from Sacramento.
My eyes lit up, you know, because I remember Lakers
King's rivalry. They ringing the cow bells and all that stuff.
Great part of sports tradition. Now you're down in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville also has a great tradition and they go out
(20:31):
there and the fans just love the chance. And yet
you guys hired a new coach, and I got to
be honest with you, Well, let's just take a look
at uh. Let Liam Cohen introductory press.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Coming Jacksonville the community, duv.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I love, I love Liam, but we got to work
on that. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:59):
Hey, I've been telling people, you know, we get good,
we you know, going to run win some playoff games.
That's going to be the new due ball. So it's
all it's all funny games right now. But you know,
we get good and we get things turned around, which
I feel like we will, especially with the players that
(21:21):
we have in the building and this new regime. You
know that that might become something that people start saying
for real. So but no, it's having an opportunity to
meet him. You know, he's a he's a young guy
who you know, I'm sure he just you know, took
it and rolled with the punch.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Definitely was you know, hilarious.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
A lot of people had a lot of fun with it,
but you know, it went viral and that could be
the new dow Ball.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
You never know.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Uh, talk to us about your defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanelli.
I don't know what kind of interactions you've had with
him so far, Jersey guy, as the resident Jersey got here,
I've got to make a point of owning that. But yeah,
Jersey tough, what have you seen so far?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Every guy from Jersey that I know, and you know
that they're from Jersey, So that's good. You guys have
to be where you're from. I'm proud to be where
I'm from as well. How to how to a couple
of conversations with them? And you know, I know a
lot of coaches that coach with him as well, and
(22:24):
I heard a lot of great things about him, that
he brings intensity.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
That we need and that fire.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
And you know, I always always believe it starts with
the human element, you know, with coaches and players of
us coming together and you know, really liking each other
and like you know, working together and like you know,
playing alongside of my other teammates, but also like being
coached by who is coaching us, and so you know,
(22:52):
I think those things talked.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
To a whole bunch of other guys had a lot
of great.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Things to say about him as well too, So I'm
really excited to play him, and I know he's going
to bring that fire that we need.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
That's awesome. Eric Armstead continuing to do great work on
the field and off the field. We're looking forward to
more of that from you in twenty twenty five. Best
of luck to you. You've got an open invite to
join us here on The Insider whenever you'd like. Appreciate man,
appreciate you guys.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
Thanks Arch, Yeah, I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
The NFL Scouting Combine is almost upon us, the NFL
Network and NFL Plus. We'll have your coverage February twenty
seventh to March second, all the drills, all the commentary
from Rich Eyes and Daniel Jeremiah and our team of
analysts and reporters. The Insider is going to be there,
by the way, even before that. We're starting on Monday,
so tune in for The Insiders Alive from Indianapolis. We'll
(23:47):
have some visits with head coaches and general managers, as
well as all the updates on all the latest news
developing in Indianapolis. We know what happens there. A lot
of things happen there. Lances are line back with us,
including players starting to make their name. Basically entrenched in
the minds of these evaluators as they get closer to
the draft. What they see on tape is confirmed by
(24:10):
what happens in the drills and in Indianapolis for a
lot of guys. So take us through your players. Were
getting close people. You gotta know who these people are.
Take us to your players to watch here at the scouting.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Combine's take you to school with the freak daddies. These
are the freak daddies.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
And I'm going to start off with one of the
freakiest guys of the combine is going to be nick
Emon Worried. Nick Emon Worry from South Carolina, six foot three,
two d and thirty seven pounds of twisted steel and
combine appeal. Look for him to jump over forty inches
in a vertical. He's going to go over eleven feet
and broad jump. Those two numbers are spectacular. He's expected
(24:46):
to run in a low four to four range, or
maybe even into the four threes. At this size. It's
incredible and I'll tell you something. We saw what happened
with Kyle Hamilton and the excitement that he's generated in
the NFL since he was drafted. I think Iman Worry
could be the same type of build up talent where
he gets really hot after the combine. He's great on
(25:07):
the back end. He's a player with great instincts, five
star wide receiver type ball skills, and it's just a
matter of him learning to really crank the motor up
play in and play out. But man, he's got all
the talent and all the traits you could possibly hope for,
and the combine is gonna it's gonna be his place
to shine.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
The Calton at six y four, I believe. So he
got a man Worri at six three, although the official
measurements also a big part of the combine going to
come through. We're going with a defensive tackle from Michigan,
but not the one that most people have been talking
about earlier in the draft. Who you got here?
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yeah, hey, look, Mason Graham's going to test well, But
Kenneth Grant's.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Going to be the star of the combine, I think.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And when I talk to people over at Michigan, they
think Kenneth Grant has a chance to potentially have a
higher ceiling than Mason Graham. And one of the reasons
is because the freaky traits. This is what the combine's about,
unleashing the size, the length, the movement skills.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
He ran a sub five forty.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
At three hundred and sixty pounds when he first came
into Michigan and he has only gotten faster, he's gotten
in better shape, and he's extremely explosive. Now his best
football is not at Michigan. It's going to be in
the future. He's not where he needs to be. But
the combine is where teams click that projection box and
they say, all those traits push them up the board.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Love it. So keeping an eye on Grant as well
as Graham out of Michigan. The two g's out of Michigan.
I like it. We got multiple positions that we're working here.
Let's go to the linebacker position.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Linebacker Jiad Campbell from And it's weird because this is
a guy from Alabama who when we talk about different positions,
you like different position groups. I'm not even sure what
his position's going to be. He's listed as a linebacker,
but he's going to run in a four to four range.
That's going to get everyone excited. He's going to jump high,
he's going to test well. He's going to look great.
But when you watch him on tape, he's not as
(27:01):
instinctive and physical as most of the Nick Saban caliber
linebackers that he recruited were.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
That's not what we see on tape.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
But what I do see when it turns into a
passing down is a really effective blitzer, a really good
cover man with great instincts in coverage and great ball skills.
So what we might see is someone who plays first
and second down at linebacker, and then on third down
they either turn them loose off the edge as a rusher,
you use them on blitzes, or you just sit them
in coverage and go man a man on some matchup
(27:30):
tight ends that you don't have reached havoc in the
league over the last few years. So he's a unique
piece who's going to be a great tester. You just
have to figure out where you want to play him.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
All right, we broke down a defensive side of the ball.
Now let's flip to the offense and the guys that
maybe are going to keep some of these defenders up
at night.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Basically, okay, so Ben shall tooton running back from Virginia Tech.
I'm trying to figure out why this guy doesn't have
more buzz. I'm trying to figure out why people aren't
talking about him. I think you will be after the
combine when he busts a four three forty and everyone says,
wait a minute, who's this guy. He's about five foot nine,
about two hundred and eight to two hundred and ten
pounds compact. You can see him here. He's got amazing
(28:09):
track speed. He's a track guy with breakaway speed. Anytime
you have that, it's exciting in a league. Right now
that the covete chunk plays, but he's going to jump
thirty nine to forty inches as well. And then what
I think you're going to see him do is he's
going to look good out in the drills as well.
So now that we have a running back class, so
a very deep running back class, but it's time to
start putting Baishall Tuton at maybe not the top of
(28:33):
the class, but he needs more consideration. He needs more discussion.
And that's what the combine is about. It's about shining
a light on guys like this. We're going to be
starters in the league in the future.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, six point three yards per carry for him last
season with the Hokies. All right, Now to the guys
clearing the lanes for running backs like Tuton armand Membo.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Look, I'm the son of an offensive line coach, and
so I wish my dad had this guy with the
Steelers or the Arizona Cardinals because this guy goes to work.
I love our Membo. He's three hundred and thirty pounds
at the combine and it's good weight. I mean his
lean mass numbers. When they put him in the Dexas scan.
These teams are going to freak out when they see
his lean mass, his true power potential. He plays with
(29:17):
great hands, excellent technique, fantastic body control.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
I think you're going to see all of this on display.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
He didn't do anything at the Combine because he was
or rather at the Senior Bowl because he was sick.
But at the Combine, we're going to see him move.
We're going to see what he looks like from a
body control standpoint, and look at not playing football, but
we can see what he kind of looks like in
terms of going through some of the important drills. Some
of them I don't get much out of, but there
are some that I get a lot out of. And
(29:44):
I think there's going to be some coaches in general
managers who see certain things on the field that they've
already seen on tape and they go, yeah, this is
our guy. This is a guy who's going to get
pushed up potentially into the top twelve by the time
the combine's over.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Nice offensive lineman b roll around draft season and what's
what we call when we should show those plays like that?
You want to see a guy manhandle a few guys.
You saw it right there with Membo Lanzerline. We're gonna
be leaning on you for the next couple of months
here or just outside two months to the start of
the draft. Here for all the draft information we appreciated,
and you can get that draft information that even the
(30:18):
teams are going to be gathering in Indianapolis. Here's the
breakdown of when you can see these drills for the
NFL Scouting Combine exclusively on NFL Network and NFL Plus,
presented by Microsoft co Pilot. Looking forward to the Scouting Combine,
Brian Dawkins, the former Eagles and Broncos safety. He is
up next for us with a Black History Month vignette
(30:42):
that you're not gonna want to miss. He honors a
trailblazer for Black History Months. Coming up next to the
Insiders this Black History Month, NFL Hall of Famer Brian
Dawkins shares how doctor Guyan Blueford made history by becoming
(31:05):
the first African American to go to space.
Speaker 7 (31:10):
This Black History Monk, the NFL honors the resilience and
contribution of Black American laborers whose hard work and determination
have shaped our nation's history and progress. Doctor Guyan Blueford
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in nineteen forty two. As
a kid, he dreamed of being an aerospace engineer. He
(31:34):
turned that dream into reality when he graduated.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Penn State in nineteen sixty four.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
He continued to break barriers and made history in nineteen
eighty three by becoming the first African American astronaut in space.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Yep kids from Philadelphia.
Speaker 7 (31:54):
In twenty ten, he was inducted into the US Astronauts
Hall of Fame. So doctor guy On Blueford, we salute you.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
And we thank you for paving the way for others.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month. Don't miss
the debut of Shallow Water, which highlights Queen TAIJ. Williams,
whose logo design for Super Bowl fifty nine pays tribute
to New Orleans and the enduring history of its people.
That's tonight after the Insiders HBCU Legacy we continue today
in New Orleans with players from historically black colleges and
(32:33):
universities attending a career fair. The players then getting ready
for tomorrow's HBCU Legacy Bowl at four pm Eastern on
NFL Network. Mike y m and Bucky Brooks and Steve
Weish helping us to get ready for tomorrow's game.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
Well, we're certainly excited for Saturday's game, but the culmination
of the week is a two day career fair. Over
one hundred companies have shown up here to New Orleans.
We got sixty HBCUs just under that total, wouldn't parents. Man,
I saw some players during the week fully padded, ready
to go. They were suited and booted today.
Speaker 9 (33:04):
Well, Mike, you know, Bucky and I have been here
for from the origin to now four years for this
whole career fair in the game.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
And I think the first year.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
People were very curious, is this a gimmick?
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Is it going to last?
Speaker 9 (33:14):
It has evolved now to a very high caliber of
student being sent here and to the point where these
players understand we have to come suited and booted because
this is a business trip.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Like you know, look at my gear compared to yours.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Steven was also a speaker today.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
I'm telling you how many students came up to me saying,
I know Steve wycheck O, so do I. There is
a game to be played here. We got two talented quarterbacks,
actually more than that. But the guys that really stood
out this week Miles Crowley, Eric Phoenix, who I did
see in a suit.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
He looked pretty slim. They're going to have their hands
full against those defenses.
Speaker 10 (33:43):
Absolutely, And the guy that has been the best player
on the field has been Elijah Williams from Morgan State,
MIAG Defensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 4 (33:49):
He's been unblockable the entire week.
Speaker 10 (33:52):
But it's not only his ability to stay unblocked, the
splash plays that he's created. When we talk about this
and the career for those things just being the ault
job interview, he certainly has aced a.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Test as one of the best players in attended.
Speaker 9 (34:04):
Yeah, Bingley, We're hoping that the team can block him
to keep him off the quarterbacks and we can.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
Get some points.
Speaker 9 (34:09):
But look the player who kicked things off at the
HBCU combine, Joaquin Davis, the sixty four wide receiver from
North Carolina Central. He's got all the scouts writing his
stuff down, going back and checking his film. I want
to see if he can make plays because he's gonna
be playing for Team Gay through THEA team going up
against Team Robinson. Loaded in the secondary Kendall Bowler from
Florida A and m rob McDaniel, the player who most
(34:31):
scouts say is most draftable out of Jackson State. Those
types of players as well as cornerback the All Americans
James Burgess. Let's see if the guy who wants talking
about can handle it on the field against those studs.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
At the end of the day, all thirty two teams
were represented here this week down in New Orleans. We
want to see some talent out on the football field.
We will see that on Saturday. You do not want
to miskickoff. All three of us ready to rock and
roll with Charles Davis. We got you covered. On NFL
Network at Flour Eastern.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Travis Kelcey, much like his brother did a times, taking
time after the season, after the season to mow his
future and decide what he is going to do. In
the meantime, the Chiefs have a decision to make. It
seems on Travis Kelsey he's got a bonus coming out.
They can always move that back and give him more
time to decide. But Adam Rank is here to talk
(35:19):
about the possibility of cutting Travis kelce I guess this
is what I'm seeing here in the rundown. It would
save seventeen point three million million against the cap if
they cut. I don't think they're going to cut Travis
kelce But what say you, Adam Rank?
Speaker 2 (35:34):
I can't imagine it. I mean, like the NFL had
I mean, we saw Aaron Rodgers wearing number eight for
the Jets. We've seen Jerry Rice wear number nineteen for
the Denver Broncos. But it wouldn't seem really strange to
see Travis kelce in any other uniform but that of
the Kansas City Chiefs. And honestly, how am I going
to explain it to my nine year old if he's
(35:54):
not with the team anymore, and she's got to start
rooting for somebody out They're not going to I don't
want to have that conversation. I'm not ready for that yet.
And honestly, like Travis Kelce, I believe doesn't get paid
for what he does during the regular season. It's what
he does during the three games in January and February.
He was a huge part of the Chiefs run to
(36:14):
the Super Bowl. I think that these cop numbers are
always fun. It's like a buzz speed article. It's something
for us to get excited about, Like, what is this
he's gonna get They're going to know. Yeah, they'll extend it,
they'll find a way. If he plays football next year,
it's for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
You've got your daughter's art behind you. I've got my
daughter's art behind me. My daughter did draw a picture
just randomly today of Travis Kelce that I would have
held up right now, but her grandfather took it home
with him. Oh, to hang up somewhere. I'm sure to
make himself look like he's the proud grandfather. When I
could have put it right here anyway. Yeah, you're talking
about what it means to the kids, and we don't
(36:51):
want to have that conversation just yet. So Chiefs, you know,
don't do anything crazy. Ravens Mark Andrews. Yeah, it didn't
end well this season for Mark Andrews. The numbers weren't
the same. Obviously still a key part of what they do.
I think they're in Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Well, I think that when you look at the season
to total on a total basis, like, yeah, they weren't
the season totals that you expected. But he obviously was
coming off an injury in the early part of the
year and everybody remembers Isaiah Likely going out there killing
it in Week one and be like, oh my gosh,
they don't even need Mark Andrews anymore. But then during
the big stretch of the regular season, Mark Andrews was
(37:27):
the guy. He was the dude scoring all the touchdowns.
He's a huge part of this offense, much like Travis Kelsey.
I'm not going to say that he's a Kirkland version
of Travis Kelcey, but he's just as important to this
Ravens offense and their success. And again, I think they
will find a way to make sure that he is
a member of the Ravens next year. I would find
it hard to believe or hard to stomach to see
(37:49):
him playing for anybody else. I'm sure Lamar Jackson feels
the same way. So again, if Mark Jackson is playing
football next year, I assume it's going to be for
the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Yeah, I'm with you on these two. Just can't see
these guys playing anywhere else. If Travis Kelsey does decide
to play, Mark Andrews is certainly going to continue to play.
So yeah, in Baltimore makes the most sense. Now, let's
get to the point where we can go. Now we
can see the team moving on. Because we talked about
a cap saving this seventeen point three million, eleven million,
how about thirty million saved against the cap? If the
(38:18):
Jets cut DeVante Adams, yeah, he's gone, Like he's not
gonna be in New York anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
He's gonna be looking for anything. Really, this is perfect
for him. And honestly, like I still believe that he's
got a lot of juice left in him. And if
you're Devonte Adams and you're trying to find a situation
that works the best for you, where that maybe money
isn't the biggest factor, your biggest motivation. I look at
the two teams that were in the NFC Championship Game
this season. You look at the Lions, you look at
(38:43):
the Washington Commanders. Both of them could use a player
like DeVonta Adams, especially Washington. So if I'm the Commanders
right now, the moment that he's released, I would be
making a call because I think he could be a
huge asset. You pair them out there with Terry McLaurin.
Now you've got something for Jayden Daniels going into year two.
I think there's gonna be a lot of there's gonna
(39:03):
be a lot of people looking at Devanta Adams, even
in a free agent class that could possibly include T Higgins.
But you got Chris Godwin who will be available, You
got Stefan Diggs, Amari Cooper. I'm Devanta Adams might be
the most attractive outside of T Higgins.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Just check to your computer. Make sure that wasn't the email,
the news alert that Devanta Adams had just been been cut.
There was that you that I just heard in my ear.
I'm pretty sure it was your computer. I'm trying to
have some fun here rank with you.
Speaker 4 (39:31):
But what I'm no, I'm joking.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
I heard an email come across as you were talking.
I was trying to.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
I'm sorry, this is a working set, Garafallo. I can't
help it.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
How many computers you got there. I figure you're like
a day trader. You got like four of them going.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
I got four, I got I got some soccer algorithms
going over here. I've got a huge tournament this weekend.
So there's a lot of things going up here in
the home office.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Not just all right, well some it's got to be
the numbers on Joey Bosa, who we thought maybe last
year we get cut and then he and the Chargers
beat the clock to renegotiate to keep them there. Twenty
five point four against the Caps saved if they cut
Joey Bosa.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Yeah, this is a situation where obviously he's had a
long career with the LA Chargers and there's a lot
of nostalgy there. But Jim Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh is not
about that. Jim Harbaugh wants to go out there and
wain and change the culture of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Obviously getting to the playoffs this season was a huge step,
but he wants to go Further, I think there's a
possibility he does get cut and one of those teams
(40:33):
that's looking for help defensively, I think Joey Bosa makes
a lot of sense for them.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
I feel like now it's like when a teacher gets interrupted.
What couldn't wait? Now, you must share with us what
the latest email was. What couldn't wait until the end
of class?
Speaker 5 (40:48):
Here?
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Adam right, what couldn't wait? It's said that we need
two people for field maintenance for our team, Team Fearless,
which was named after the Taylor Swift song Fearless, which
is why Travis Kelsey leave the Chiefs. This is why
he's got to stay with that team. Okay, so I'm sorry.
There's a lot of important information going on.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
We asked aj Brown yesterday how long he would take
off before he started working toward next season. He said, yeah,
give me a couple of weeks. Lane Johnson, on the
other hand, that's three p fifteen in the bar right there.
It feels like a late day for Lane. I guess
he's working his way back into him. That is a
deep squat there. You gotta love the process if you
want to be great, like Lane Johnson elsewhere with the Eagles.
(41:28):
So this was found by Amy Randabarger, fellow Lesal graduate.
What's up explorer. This note said, I found this jacket
at the last Super Bowl. I intentionally left it here,
So don't return this. I intentionally left it. You hold
on to it, whoever finds it, and then the next
Super Bowl parade leave it for the next sort of
pay it forward thing here from the Eagles. You know,
(41:49):
his fan base gets a lot of flack, but Rank
this is pretty awesome.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
No, it is pretty cool. It's one of the things
that's great about sports is that the common bond with
everybody under those parades and all that stuff is always
a lot of fun. So I now growing up going
to NBA championship parades all the time, having stuff like
that and having little momentos like that. That's pretty cool.
So Paul done Eagles fans.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
Yeah, it was found on a light post that she thought, well,
somebody left this behind. It said no, no, no, don't return it.
Oh keep it, so Amy, take good care of it.
Ray appreciate you. Tonight Lands theirline as well. Next week,
starting Monday, Insiders Live at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis
will be dressed to the Nines join us. Then
Sam Darnold Aaron Rodgers, who are two guys who used
to play for the Jets that are now slated to
be free agents in just a couple of weeks. We're
going to talk about where those two might wind up
and maybe how much money they're going to make. Darnold
more than Rogers for sure. Meanwhile, guys who are set
to begin their professional careers at the quarterback position, Shador
(00:29):
Sanders and Cam Ward. Our guy, Lancerline going to join
us in a couple of minutes for his mock Draft
one point zero to tell us where he thinks these
guys might wind up and coming up in just a bit,
Eric Armstead, the Jaguars defensive end and the Walter Payton
NFL Man of the Year, set to join us to
talk about what he's done off the field and on
(00:52):
the field, and what he plans to continue to do
in both places. Welcome inside with the Insiders. Adam Rank
joining me the Friday pre scouting Combine edition of The Insiders.
So glad to have you Rank. Like I said, we're
going to have Lance Zerline in just a couple of
minutes because as always, we've got a lot to get
(01:13):
through the news never stops in the NFL, even on
a Friday in February, and it happened in a few
places earlier today. A matter of fact, this a short
while ago, Ian Rappaport and I reported that Eagles pass rush.
This guy's a young studup. You haven't seen the baldy
breakdown of Nolan Smith recently. You got to go check
that out. He's smiling here after the Eagles won the
(01:33):
Super Bowl, and I don't know how because he had
torn triceps. He had surgery this week. He's going to
miss obviously the off season program, but the expectation is
that he's going to be ready for the start of
the season. So Nolan Smith impressive at the Super Bowl,
in the postgame locker room and at the parade, did
most of it with a torn triceps. So he is,
(01:55):
as I put in my tweet quote super tough, super
with a capital S. James Gladstone the new general manager
of the Jacksonville Jaguars, coming over from the Rams, just
thirty four years old. He's been a big part of
the scouting process with the Rams under Lesnied, the general manager. Yes,
it's close to Joey Gladstone, who is Dave Coolier's character
(02:20):
on Full House. But that joke has been made plenty
of times today, so if you final making it again,
you can cut it out right, all right? That was
the last one. And Brandon Staley, yes, with the San
Francisco forty nine ers actor being the head coach of
the Los Angeles Chargers now the defensive coordinator of the
(02:40):
New Orleans Saints, says we reported earlier today. That was
Ian Rappaport's tweet right there, So Staley once again a
defensive coordinator joining Kellen Moore's staff down there in New Orleans. Okay,
I mentioned Rogers, Yes, the Jets are moving on from him.
They have made it clear. Rogers working out in California TMZ.
He caught up with him and did a deep two
(03:02):
question interview asking him what do you need to see
in your next team? Rogers said, one, they need to
want me and two no, they need to be good.
That's what Rogers is looking for at this point in
his career. Obviously, Rank we're talking about potential fits or
maybe even does Aaron Rodgers play in the NFL this
upcoming season. I think there are enough chairs left with
(03:25):
teams needing quarterbacks. That he will what are you seeing
in Rogers future?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But is it the right situation? Because a couple of
years ago, when Rogers went to the New York Jets,
that was a team that a lot of people felt
was on the cost of going to possibly the Super Bowl,
that we're just a quarterback away. So when you're talking
about these teams that need a quarterback, are they really
set up to make a run for the Super Bowl?
I would argue that a lot of them are not.
(03:50):
And for me, I actually believe that Aaron Rodgers is
in the perfect position for himself. Number One, He's in
a spot where he's not going to have to go
to training camp because we know he does like that.
He's probably got a trip planned a Mazetlaine or something
him and him and Vince Mann are going to go
hang out somewhere, So he doesn't want to go to
training camp, and he wants somebody to want him. I
(04:10):
think what's going to happen is he's going to wait
and he's going to see if there's going to be
an opportunity with one of these teams. And it's an
unfortunate business. You're not necessarily rooting for somebody to get injured,
but there have been instances in the NFL where a
good team has lost its quarterback. Aaron Rodgers doesn't want
to go and be a backup somewhere. We can wait
and possibly get into a situation where he arrives as
(04:32):
the hero, which again is something that he loves to do.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah, there are a few ways for Rodgers to play this.
To sign somewhere immediately and maybe with a team like
you said. I know a lot of folks have connected
them to Tennessee. Is Tennessee all of a sudden gonna
be a Super Bowl contender? Or to wait it out
like you said, maybe be the Sam Bradford. Remember that
one when Teddy Bridgewater went down for the Vikings in
training camp. All of a sudden they needed a quarterback
they traded with the Eagles. Aaron Rodgers could be that guy.
(04:56):
From a free agent standpoint, I like your approach on
this one, Adam. Let's see if Rogers likes it as well. Meanwhile,
Sam Donald, this one's gonna be a quick one. This
is going to be the first free agent quarterback Domino
to fall foreshore. Yes, the Vikings would like to have
Sam Donald back, but it's going to be at quite
the number, and they're in the position now where they
(05:17):
want to be able to capitalize on the rookie quarterback
contract with JJ McCarthy. You can't do that if you're
spending forty million dollars per season plus on Sam Donald,
which is what we expect. So where do you see
Donald fitting in when it comes to the free agent market.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, this is going to be a very difficult situation because, again,
the teams are going to be available to him are
not close to being competitive in the NFL. Whereas if
you didn't take as much money and let's say you
went out there for one more proven year deal with
the Minnesota Vikings, an opportunity to once again work with koc.
We do not know where JJ McCarthy is on his rehabilitation.
(05:54):
He might still be a ways away. So if Sam
Donald gets another chance to go out there, maybe prove
the last season and was not a fluke to go
out there and win fourteen games, perhaps he goes out
there does it again on a one year prove it deal.
Then he's got a lot more juice and a lot
more leverage of the following year. But at the same time,
he might be looking at this as a situation of like, look,
my stock has never been higher. I've never been hotter
(06:17):
than I am right now. Listen, I just starred as
Hans Solo in the Star Wars franchise. I'm gonna sign
on to be Indiana Jones, So I wouldn't be upset
with him if he would go out there and take
that money.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
The next thing you know, you're playing a guy psychiatrist
with Parkinson's and shrinking, which is an amazing show if
you haven't watched that one yet, it's the many facets
of Harrison Ford that we're seeing. Sam Darnold say, don't
listen to that man. Capitalize right now, Sam, He's right.
The last thing he said is correct. Russell Wilson. Meanwhile,
his stock has been higher in the past. Yeah, it
(06:49):
was an interesting season in Pittsburgh, a lot of ups
and downs. In the middle of the season looked like, Wow,
this guy's setting him up for himself, up for a
long term deal. Not quite the case right now, and
the Steelers looking at him and Justin Field saying, well,
we'll bring back one or the other, but not both.
So what do you see from Russell Wilson and the
only other team he met with last often I believe
(07:10):
it was the only other team was the Giants. They
need a quarterback, so potentially they're still in play. What
do you see for Wilson, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Think there's an opportunity. I think he should take a
trip to Las Vegas. Maybe he's strolling across the lobby
of the Wind he sees his ex Pete Carroll. Hey,
you know what, the sparks fly again. Maybe they go
to Tao, have a little dinner, then all of a sudden,
next thing, you know, back together. Let's make it happen.
I would love to see Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll
back together once again. Listen, Marshawn Lynch was there at
(07:38):
the introductory press conference for Pete Carroll. I don't think
it's atlandish to think that Russell Wilson could end up
being there. It depends on what the Raiders do at
the quarterback position. I know Lance is going to come
on here in a couple of minutes and talk about
whether the Raiders will be drafting a quarterback or not.
But as a bridge quarterback in Las Vegas, I think
Russell Wilson makes a lot of spends a lot of sense,
especially with the milliere he has with Pete Carroll.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I'm expecting new general manager John Spytech and head coach
Pete Carroll to throw multiple missiles there at the quarterback
position to try to land one, basically, whether it's a
free agency or the draft or trading for one. So
Russell Wilson is a guy that maybe could fit in
that formula. We shall see Russell Wilson looking for a
(08:23):
team that needs help with the quarterback position. Teams with
that need help with the quarterback position, looking at free
agents like Russell Wilson, but also toward the draft. Our
guy Lance Zer lines mock Draft one point zero here
has the Titans starting the run on quarterbacks right there
with the number one pick. It's very interesting across the
(08:43):
mock draft world. Who thinks the Titans go quarterback? Who
thinks they go position player? Who thinks they trade out?
Lance is here with us to discuss the whole deal.
So let's start right there. Number one, Lance cam Ward
being pretty much the consensus pick for the first quarterback
off the board. The question is where he goes? You
think it's to Tennessee at one?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
I think it really could be It really comes down
to the internal discussions. You know, Mike, how this goes
late in the process, or really in the middle of
this process is when you start having the ebbs and
flows of the discussion about what position you're going, who.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
You like, and a lot of things can change after
a combine.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So I'm really interested to see how cam Ward performs
at the combine. But maybe more importantly, you know the
buzz from NFL teams about his interviews.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
I've heard that he is going to interview.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Well, I think his personality is going to play well
in those in those meeting rooms, and so I think
there is still a chance that the Tennessee Titans or
another team could still have a quarterback potentially targeted with
that first pick.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, and then you've got the Raiders at number six
going with Youador Sanders, with some teams in between, whether
we'll get to in a second, but your door Sanders
at six.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah, So you know, Okay, Look, when you look at
cam Woard, cam Ward's the.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Guy that has all the physical attributes.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
He's got the arm, talent, he's got mobility, he's got size.
When you look at Shador, it's a little different because
Shador Sanders is intriguing because he is a game manager
on the next.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Level, not in college.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
In college, he fancies himself as a playmaker, as every
quarterback does. But when you look at his strengths and weaknesses,
he's got poise, He's got great confidence in the pocket.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
I think that just comes from the.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Bloodlines, frankly, and then when you watch his accuracy, it's
really really good. And we start talking about poise and
accuracy and confidence, those are the elements that we really
like from an intangible standpoint, And that's why I think
Shador Sanders is going to make for a great game manager.
I don't use that phrase, you know, in a derogatory sense.
I think it's really I think it's what most quarterbacks
(10:47):
should aspire to.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Not everyone can be Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
And Shador Sanders has a chance to be a good
game manager, which would mean a good starter.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
So we got Browns of two, we got Giants at three,
we got the Jets. Also in the amongst the teams
that do need some quarterback help, you've got them going
non quarterback take us through the thought process in all
three of those teams.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So look, I just don't think that the Browns are
going to do it. I think when you look at
Andrew Brown, you look at the general manager. He is
analytics driven. I know they need a quarterback, but you
don't force an issue unless you love quarterback, and I
think the Browns just won't love a quarterback enough to
take a quarterback in that spot. When you look at
the Giants, you know, I still think the Giants could
(11:28):
be in play for Matthew Stafford. That's kind of popped
up here recently. So let's see what the Giants have
up their sleeves before draft day if nothing happens. And
of course I think quarterback is potentially on the board
for them as well.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
And the Jets.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
You know, the.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Jets could look at quarterback, but I think it's a
huge reach once you get past your doors Sanders, if
he's off the board, you're really reaching in the first round.
And sometimes the quarterback of the future is just not
in the draft, so you don't force it. You wait
until you know, you roll the dice and wait until
the next year. That's all you can do.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
The Giants, the Jets, excuse me, just getting started. So
they have the luxury the general manager and the head
coach of time. The Browns and Giants maybe not so much,
so they may have to think longer and harder about
the quarterback position. You're also going to see the Browns
and or the Giants maybe both will do something when
it comes to free agency or via trade to add
a quarterback before the draft, which could allow them the
(12:23):
flexibility to do what you're seeing them doing in your
mock draft. Okay, overall, in the first round, what's going
to be the surprise group position group of the first round?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Well, I think it's going to be defensive line, and
we can start with the edge. I mean, the defensive ends,
the edge players, and defensive tackles are going to be
the stars. And let's look at the edge players right here,
Abdell Carter, Michael Williams, Mike Green, Nick Skurtin, Schamar Stewart,
James Pierce. Those are guys in my mock draft. But
you know, you could have some other guys popping there.
(12:53):
It depends on what you think of Jalen Walker from Georgia.
Is he a linebacker?
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Is he an edge player? Doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
It's going to be a loaded edge class from rounds
one all the way through round four. But I think
the same thing can be said about defensive tackle. So
if you're looking for a guy to rush the passer,
and we know it's a copycat league, everyone wants to
do what the Eagles have done.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
That means get rush, whether it's on the inside or
the outside. This is going to be a draft for you.
May not be a great draft.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
If you need quarterback, but if you need somebody to
go hunt quarterbacks, I got some guys for you rounds
one through four, and a lot of the stars are
going to be in around one, where I think we
could see eleven to twelve defensive lineman going to first round.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
I should note the Abdel Carter selection to the Cleveland
Browns at number two could potentially provide them the flexibility
to trade away Miles Garrett, although they have still indicated
privately that they don't want to do that and they
believe that Miles Garrett in the end will return to Cleveland.
But again, if this should happen this way, perhaps it
provides that flexibility moving forward. Lanceerline his mock Draft one
(13:57):
point zero. Go check it out at NFL dot com.
Dig into all that lanch coming back in a little
bit here on the Insiders, and this guy will be
joining the Insiders next. Eric Armstead, the NFL's Walter Peyton
Man of the Year, is going to talk about that
what he's doing off the field and what he's doing
on the field in Jacksonville. That's up next on the Insiders.
(14:27):
This was the moment Eric Armstead won the most prestigious award,
hand it out at NFL Owners the NFL pay NFL
Walter Peyton Man of the Year for twenty twenty five.
Congratulations to Eric, and I'm going to tell him that
to his face right now because he's joining us. Eric
Armstead from the Jacksonville Jaguars joining us right now. Congratulations
(14:50):
once again on that award. Talk to us about the
impact that that award has had on you since you
won it. Their Super Bowl week in NFL Owners.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Definitely a great experience.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
Really, the whole week was amazing, and being a nominee
for the past, you know, five years was a great experience.
Speaker 5 (15:09):
But you know, finally winning the award.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
And having a chance to see how prestigious it is,
and you know, meet so many people and feel the
support and of love from you know, not only the
football community, but you know, all the communities that I'm
connected to in my hometown of Sacramento, Jacksonville in the
Bay Area, everyone that supports me. But the most amazing
(15:35):
thing about it, I feel is the opportunity I have
to use the platform to serve more use and more
families at an even higher level.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
And it's going to open up doors to be able
to do that.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
It's going to allow us to reach more people and
get young people the resources that they need. And that's
what I'm most excited about, is what I'll be able
to do with the platform in the future.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
And the doors that will open. So definitely was a.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Huge honor and I'm very excited to, you know, represent
so many people who you know, have poured so much
into me to get me to this point and by
no means have did anything on my own. And you know,
we're as an organization, the arm second different project. We're
very excited to serve serve our families at.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
An even higher levels. So it was it was an
amazing we.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Eric, and you know, we had an opportunity to talk
before the show started here and I really got a
great sense of you that you appreciate sport, you appreciate history.
Now Obviously you're not you're not old enough to have
ever seen Walter Payton play. But what does it mean
to be a part of that legacy of one of
the greatest players of all time.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
It's huge didn't get a chance to see Walthor Peyton played.
You know, of course I've heard about him my whole
life and heard a lot about what he did on
the field, But being a part of this award, you know,
for the last five years, I've had the opportunity to learn.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
More about him as a person.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
And all the things that he's not off the field,
and how he was such a light in his community
and you know, had a huge positive impact on everyone
that was around him.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
And have an opportunity to meet his family.
Speaker 6 (17:23):
You see how special that family is, and you know
that started with Walter and they're continuing to carry his legacy.
And now being a part of this fraternity of winners,
you know we're able to you know, continue that legacy
and pass the torch and continue to inspire one another
(17:46):
to do what's really the most important thing that we
have opportunity to do, which is bless other people and
use our platform for good. And you know, being a
part of such an elite group of guys throughout the
years that have done that is inspiring and inspires.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Me to do to do more.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
Really, you know, these are guys that I looked up
to at a young age that I've won this award
and they inspired me both on and off the field.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
So I'm excited to continue that legacy.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yeah, you talked about doing more. You know, some might say, oh,
this is an accomplishment. This is sort of the end
game of all the work. I can gather that you
and your wife, doctor Mindy Armstead, are looking at this
as a springboard for the Armsteed Academic Project to do
even more. What's in the future for you and your foundation.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
Yeah, we have a lot in our future that I'm
excited about.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
We focus on literacy. I think everyone saw that, you
know in the video.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
At NFL Honors, literacy is one of our focuses, but
also we focus on STEM education and.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Career in college exploration with our youth.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
We do teacher siation events, so we're honoring our teachers
throughout the year and make sure they're not getting burned
out and they're getting shown that the respect that they
deserve as the most important members and they have the
most important job in our society, so we're honored to
serve our teachers as well. And we have something coming
(19:21):
up real big with Sex State University in a few
weeks that we're going to be very excited to share
with a lot of people as well.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
So we'll continue to grow.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Year on end, and you know, like I said, excited
to continue to impact thousands of thousands of people and
it just doesn't stop. You know, I was really blessed
and fortunate to have opportunity to come to Jacksonville, and
now our reach is kind of nationwide. You know, we're
serving youth in Jacksonville, we're serving youth and Sacramento where
(19:55):
I'm from, and continue to serve them in the Bay Area.
And you know, we have other initiatives that I'm excited
to that I.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
Think are replicable all over our country and our nation.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
So I'm excited to bring those to the forefront of
people's minds.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
You know, Eric, I love talking to you, and again
going back to the conversation that we had before the show,
you're a big Sacramento guy. You said you're from Sacramento.
My eyes lit up, you know, because I remember Lakers
King's rivalry. They ringing the cow bells and all that stuff.
Great part of sports tradition. Now you're down in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville also has a great tradition and they go out
(20:31):
there and the fans just love the chance. And yet
you guys hired a new coach, and I got to
be honest with you, Well, let's just take a look
at uh. Let Liam Cohen introductory press.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Coming Jacksonville the community, duv.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I love, I love Liam, but we got to work
on that. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:59):
Hey, I've been telling people, you know, we get good,
we you know, going to run win some playoff games.
That's going to be the new due ball. So it's
all it's all funny games right now. But you know,
we get good and we get things turned around, which
I feel like we will, especially with the players that
(21:21):
we have in the building and this new regime. You
know that that might become something that people start saying
for real. So but no, it's having an opportunity to
meet him. You know, he's a he's a young guy
who you know, I'm sure he just you know, took
it and rolled with the punch.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Definitely was you know, hilarious.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
A lot of people had a lot of fun with it,
but you know, it went viral and that could be
the new dow Ball.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
You never know.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Uh, talk to us about your defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanelli.
I don't know what kind of interactions you've had with
him so far, Jersey guy, as the resident Jersey got here,
I've got to make a point of owning that. But yeah,
Jersey tough, what have you seen so far?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Every guy from Jersey that I know, and you know
that they're from Jersey, So that's good. You guys have
to be where you're from. I'm proud to be where
I'm from as well. How to how to a couple
of conversations with them? And you know, I know a
lot of coaches that coach with him as well, and
(22:24):
I heard a lot of great things about him, that
he brings intensity.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
That we need and that fire.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
And you know, I always always believe it starts with
the human element, you know, with coaches and players of
us coming together and you know, really liking each other
and like you know, working together and like you know,
playing alongside of my other teammates, but also like being
coached by who is coaching us, and so you know,
(22:52):
I think those things talked.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
To a whole bunch of other guys had a lot
of great.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Things to say about him as well too, So I'm
really excited to play him, and I know he's going
to bring that fire that we need.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
That's awesome. Eric Armstead continuing to do great work on
the field and off the field. We're looking forward to
more of that from you in twenty twenty five. Best
of luck to you. You've got an open invite to
join us here on The Insider whenever you'd like. Appreciate man,
appreciate you guys.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
Thanks Arch, Yeah, I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
The NFL Scouting Combine is almost upon us, the NFL
Network and NFL Plus. We'll have your coverage February twenty
seventh to March second, all the drills, all the commentary
from Rich Eyes and Daniel Jeremiah and our team of
analysts and reporters. The Insider is going to be there,
by the way, even before that. We're starting on Monday,
so tune in for The Insiders Alive from Indianapolis. We'll
(23:47):
have some visits with head coaches and general managers, as
well as all the updates on all the latest news
developing in Indianapolis. We know what happens there. A lot
of things happen there. Lances are line back with us,
including players starting to make their name. Basically entrenched in
the minds of these evaluators as they get closer to
the draft. What they see on tape is confirmed by
(24:10):
what happens in the drills and in Indianapolis for a
lot of guys. So take us through your players. Were
getting close people. You gotta know who these people are.
Take us to your players to watch here at the scouting.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Combine's take you to school with the freak daddies. These
are the freak daddies.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
And I'm going to start off with one of the
freakiest guys of the combine is going to be nick
Emon Worried. Nick Emon Worry from South Carolina, six foot three,
two d and thirty seven pounds of twisted steel and
combine appeal. Look for him to jump over forty inches
in a vertical. He's going to go over eleven feet
and broad jump. Those two numbers are spectacular. He's expected
(24:46):
to run in a low four to four range, or
maybe even into the four threes. At this size. It's
incredible and I'll tell you something. We saw what happened
with Kyle Hamilton and the excitement that he's generated in
the NFL since he was drafted. I think Iman Worry
could be the same type of build up talent where
he gets really hot after the combine. He's great on
(25:07):
the back end. He's a player with great instincts, five
star wide receiver type ball skills, and it's just a
matter of him learning to really crank the motor up
play in and play out. But man, he's got all
the talent and all the traits you could possibly hope for,
and the combine is gonna it's gonna be his place
to shine.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
The Calton at six y four, I believe. So he
got a man Worri at six three, although the official
measurements also a big part of the combine going to
come through. We're going with a defensive tackle from Michigan,
but not the one that most people have been talking
about earlier in the draft. Who you got here?
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yeah, hey, look, Mason Graham's going to test well, But
Kenneth Grant's.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Going to be the star of the combine, I think.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And when I talk to people over at Michigan, they
think Kenneth Grant has a chance to potentially have a
higher ceiling than Mason Graham. And one of the reasons
is because the freaky traits. This is what the combine's about,
unleashing the size, the length, the movement skills.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
He ran a sub five forty.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
At three hundred and sixty pounds when he first came
into Michigan and he has only gotten faster, he's gotten
in better shape, and he's extremely explosive. Now his best
football is not at Michigan. It's going to be in
the future. He's not where he needs to be. But
the combine is where teams click that projection box and
they say, all those traits push them up the board.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Love it. So keeping an eye on Grant as well
as Graham out of Michigan. The two g's out of Michigan.
I like it. We got multiple positions that we're working here.
Let's go to the linebacker position.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Linebacker Jiad Campbell from And it's weird because this is
a guy from Alabama who when we talk about different positions,
you like different position groups. I'm not even sure what
his position's going to be. He's listed as a linebacker,
but he's going to run in a four to four range.
That's going to get everyone excited. He's going to jump high,
he's going to test well. He's going to look great.
But when you watch him on tape, he's not as
(27:01):
instinctive and physical as most of the Nick Saban caliber
linebackers that he recruited were.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
That's not what we see on tape.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
But what I do see when it turns into a
passing down is a really effective blitzer, a really good
cover man with great instincts in coverage and great ball skills.
So what we might see is someone who plays first
and second down at linebacker, and then on third down
they either turn them loose off the edge as a rusher,
you use them on blitzes, or you just sit them
in coverage and go man a man on some matchup
(27:30):
tight ends that you don't have reached havoc in the
league over the last few years. So he's a unique
piece who's going to be a great tester. You just
have to figure out where you want to play him.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
All right, we broke down a defensive side of the ball.
Now let's flip to the offense and the guys that
maybe are going to keep some of these defenders up
at night.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Basically, okay, so Ben shall tooton running back from Virginia Tech.
I'm trying to figure out why this guy doesn't have
more buzz. I'm trying to figure out why people aren't
talking about him. I think you will be after the
combine when he busts a four three forty and everyone says,
wait a minute, who's this guy. He's about five foot nine,
about two hundred and eight to two hundred and ten
pounds compact. You can see him here. He's got amazing
(28:09):
track speed. He's a track guy with breakaway speed. Anytime
you have that, it's exciting in a league. Right now
that the covete chunk plays, but he's going to jump
thirty nine to forty inches as well. And then what
I think you're going to see him do is he's
going to look good out in the drills as well.
So now that we have a running back class, so
a very deep running back class, but it's time to
start putting Baishall Tuton at maybe not the top of
(28:33):
the class, but he needs more consideration. He needs more discussion.
And that's what the combine is about. It's about shining
a light on guys like this. We're going to be
starters in the league in the future.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, six point three yards per carry for him last
season with the Hokies. All right, Now to the guys
clearing the lanes for running backs like Tuton armand Membo.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Look, I'm the son of an offensive line coach, and
so I wish my dad had this guy with the
Steelers or the Arizona Cardinals because this guy goes to work.
I love our Membo. He's three hundred and thirty pounds
at the combine and it's good weight. I mean his
lean mass numbers. When they put him in the Dexas scan.
These teams are going to freak out when they see
his lean mass, his true power potential. He plays with
(29:17):
great hands, excellent technique, fantastic body control.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
I think you're going to see all of this on display.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
He didn't do anything at the Combine because he was
or rather at the Senior Bowl because he was sick.
But at the Combine, we're going to see him move.
We're going to see what he looks like from a
body control standpoint, and look at not playing football, but
we can see what he kind of looks like in
terms of going through some of the important drills. Some
of them I don't get much out of, but there
are some that I get a lot out of. And
(29:44):
I think there's going to be some coaches in general
managers who see certain things on the field that they've
already seen on tape and they go, yeah, this is
our guy. This is a guy who's going to get
pushed up potentially into the top twelve by the time
the combine's over.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Nice offensive lineman b roll around draft season and what's
what we call when we should show those plays like that?
You want to see a guy manhandle a few guys.
You saw it right there with Membo Lanzerline. We're gonna
be leaning on you for the next couple of months
here or just outside two months to the start of
the draft. Here for all the draft information we appreciated,
and you can get that draft information that even the
(30:18):
teams are going to be gathering in Indianapolis. Here's the
breakdown of when you can see these drills for the
NFL Scouting Combine exclusively on NFL Network and NFL Plus,
presented by Microsoft co Pilot. Looking forward to the Scouting Combine,
Brian Dawkins, the former Eagles and Broncos safety. He is
up next for us with a Black History Month vignette
(30:42):
that you're not gonna want to miss. He honors a
trailblazer for Black History Months. Coming up next to the
Insiders this Black History Month, NFL Hall of Famer Brian
Dawkins shares how doctor Guyan Blueford made history by becoming
(31:05):
the first African American to go to space.
Speaker 7 (31:10):
This Black History Monk, the NFL honors the resilience and
contribution of Black American laborers whose hard work and determination
have shaped our nation's history and progress. Doctor Guyan Blueford
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in nineteen forty two. As
a kid, he dreamed of being an aerospace engineer. He
(31:34):
turned that dream into reality when he graduated.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Penn State in nineteen sixty four.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
He continued to break barriers and made history in nineteen
eighty three by becoming the first African American astronaut in space.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Yep kids from Philadelphia.
Speaker 7 (31:54):
In twenty ten, he was inducted into the US Astronauts
Hall of Fame. So doctor guy On Blueford, we salute you.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
And we thank you for paving the way for others.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month. Don't miss
the debut of Shallow Water, which highlights Queen TAIJ. Williams,
whose logo design for Super Bowl fifty nine pays tribute
to New Orleans and the enduring history of its people.
That's tonight after the Insiders HBCU Legacy we continue today
in New Orleans with players from historically black colleges and
(32:33):
universities attending a career fair. The players then getting ready
for tomorrow's HBCU Legacy Bowl at four pm Eastern on
NFL Network. Mike y m and Bucky Brooks and Steve
Weish helping us to get ready for tomorrow's game.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
Well, we're certainly excited for Saturday's game, but the culmination
of the week is a two day career fair. Over
one hundred companies have shown up here to New Orleans.
We got sixty HBCUs just under that total, wouldn't parents. Man,
I saw some players during the week fully padded, ready
to go. They were suited and booted today.
Speaker 9 (33:04):
Well, Mike, you know, Bucky and I have been here
for from the origin to now four years for this
whole career fair in the game.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
And I think the first year.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
People were very curious, is this a gimmick?
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Is it going to last?
Speaker 9 (33:14):
It has evolved now to a very high caliber of
student being sent here and to the point where these
players understand we have to come suited and booted because
this is a business trip.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Like you know, look at my gear compared to yours.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Steven was also a speaker today.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
I'm telling you how many students came up to me saying,
I know Steve wycheck O, so do I. There is
a game to be played here. We got two talented quarterbacks,
actually more than that. But the guys that really stood
out this week Miles Crowley, Eric Phoenix, who I did
see in a suit.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
He looked pretty slim. They're going to have their hands
full against those defenses.
Speaker 10 (33:43):
Absolutely, And the guy that has been the best player
on the field has been Elijah Williams from Morgan State,
MIAG Defensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 4 (33:49):
He's been unblockable the entire week.
Speaker 10 (33:52):
But it's not only his ability to stay unblocked, the
splash plays that he's created. When we talk about this
and the career for those things just being the ault
job interview, he certainly has aced a.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Test as one of the best players in attended.
Speaker 9 (34:04):
Yeah, Bingley, We're hoping that the team can block him
to keep him off the quarterbacks and we can.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
Get some points.
Speaker 9 (34:09):
But look the player who kicked things off at the
HBCU combine, Joaquin Davis, the sixty four wide receiver from
North Carolina Central. He's got all the scouts writing his
stuff down, going back and checking his film. I want
to see if he can make plays because he's gonna
be playing for Team Gay through THEA team going up
against Team Robinson. Loaded in the secondary Kendall Bowler from
Florida A and m rob McDaniel, the player who most
(34:31):
scouts say is most draftable out of Jackson State. Those
types of players as well as cornerback the All Americans
James Burgess. Let's see if the guy who wants talking
about can handle it on the field against those studs.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
At the end of the day, all thirty two teams
were represented here this week down in New Orleans. We
want to see some talent out on the football field.
We will see that on Saturday. You do not want
to miskickoff. All three of us ready to rock and
roll with Charles Davis. We got you covered. On NFL
Network at Flour Eastern.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Travis Kelcey, much like his brother did a times, taking
time after the season, after the season to mow his
future and decide what he is going to do. In
the meantime, the Chiefs have a decision to make. It
seems on Travis Kelsey he's got a bonus coming out.
They can always move that back and give him more
time to decide. But Adam Rank is here to talk
(35:19):
about the possibility of cutting Travis kelce I guess this
is what I'm seeing here in the rundown. It would
save seventeen point three million million against the cap if
they cut. I don't think they're going to cut Travis
kelce But what say you, Adam Rank?
Speaker 2 (35:34):
I can't imagine it. I mean, like the NFL had
I mean, we saw Aaron Rodgers wearing number eight for
the Jets. We've seen Jerry Rice wear number nineteen for
the Denver Broncos. But it wouldn't seem really strange to
see Travis kelce in any other uniform but that of
the Kansas City Chiefs. And honestly, how am I going
to explain it to my nine year old if he's
(35:54):
not with the team anymore, and she's got to start
rooting for somebody out They're not going to I don't
want to have that conversation. I'm not ready for that yet.
And honestly, like Travis Kelce, I believe doesn't get paid
for what he does during the regular season. It's what
he does during the three games in January and February.
He was a huge part of the Chiefs run to
(36:14):
the Super Bowl. I think that these cop numbers are
always fun. It's like a buzz speed article. It's something
for us to get excited about, Like, what is this
he's gonna get They're going to know. Yeah, they'll extend it,
they'll find a way. If he plays football next year,
it's for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
You've got your daughter's art behind you. I've got my
daughter's art behind me. My daughter did draw a picture
just randomly today of Travis Kelce that I would have
held up right now, but her grandfather took it home
with him. Oh, to hang up somewhere. I'm sure to
make himself look like he's the proud grandfather. When I
could have put it right here anyway. Yeah, you're talking
about what it means to the kids, and we don't
(36:51):
want to have that conversation just yet. So Chiefs, you know,
don't do anything crazy. Ravens Mark Andrews. Yeah, it didn't
end well this season for Mark Andrews. The numbers weren't
the same. Obviously still a key part of what they do.
I think they're in Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Well, I think that when you look at the season
to total on a total basis, like, yeah, they weren't
the season totals that you expected. But he obviously was
coming off an injury in the early part of the
year and everybody remembers Isaiah Likely going out there killing
it in Week one and be like, oh my gosh,
they don't even need Mark Andrews anymore. But then during
the big stretch of the regular season, Mark Andrews was
(37:27):
the guy. He was the dude scoring all the touchdowns.
He's a huge part of this offense, much like Travis Kelsey.
I'm not going to say that he's a Kirkland version
of Travis Kelcey, but he's just as important to this
Ravens offense and their success. And again, I think they
will find a way to make sure that he is
a member of the Ravens next year. I would find
it hard to believe or hard to stomach to see
(37:49):
him playing for anybody else. I'm sure Lamar Jackson feels
the same way. So again, if Mark Jackson is playing
football next year, I assume it's going to be for
the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Yeah, I'm with you on these two. Just can't see
these guys playing anywhere else. If Travis Kelsey does decide
to play, Mark Andrews is certainly going to continue to play.
So yeah, in Baltimore makes the most sense. Now, let's
get to the point where we can go. Now we
can see the team moving on. Because we talked about
a cap saving this seventeen point three million, eleven million,
how about thirty million saved against the cap? If the
(38:18):
Jets cut DeVante Adams, yeah, he's gone, Like he's not
gonna be in New York anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
He's gonna be looking for anything. Really, this is perfect
for him. And honestly, like I still believe that he's
got a lot of juice left in him. And if
you're Devonte Adams and you're trying to find a situation
that works the best for you, where that maybe money
isn't the biggest factor, your biggest motivation. I look at
the two teams that were in the NFC Championship Game
this season. You look at the Lions, you look at
(38:43):
the Washington Commanders. Both of them could use a player
like DeVonta Adams, especially Washington. So if I'm the Commanders
right now, the moment that he's released, I would be
making a call because I think he could be a
huge asset. You pair them out there with Terry McLaurin.
Now you've got something for Jayden Daniels going into year two.
I think there's gonna be a lot of there's gonna
(39:03):
be a lot of people looking at Devanta Adams, even
in a free agent class that could possibly include T Higgins.
But you got Chris Godwin who will be available, You
got Stefan Diggs, Amari Cooper. I'm Devanta Adams might be
the most attractive outside of T Higgins.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Just check to your computer. Make sure that wasn't the email,
the news alert that Devanta Adams had just been been cut.
There was that you that I just heard in my ear.
I'm pretty sure it was your computer. I'm trying to
have some fun here rank with you.
Speaker 4 (39:31):
But what I'm no, I'm joking.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
I heard an email come across as you were talking.
I was trying to.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
I'm sorry, this is a working set, Garafallo. I can't
help it.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
How many computers you got there. I figure you're like
a day trader. You got like four of them going.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
I got four, I got I got some soccer algorithms
going over here. I've got a huge tournament this weekend.
So there's a lot of things going up here in
the home office.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Not just all right, well some it's got to be
the numbers on Joey Bosa, who we thought maybe last
year we get cut and then he and the Chargers
beat the clock to renegotiate to keep them there. Twenty
five point four against the Caps saved if they cut
Joey Bosa.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Yeah, this is a situation where obviously he's had a
long career with the LA Chargers and there's a lot
of nostalgy there. But Jim Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh is not
about that. Jim Harbaugh wants to go out there and
wain and change the culture of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Obviously getting to the playoffs this season was a huge step,
but he wants to go Further, I think there's a
possibility he does get cut and one of those teams
(40:33):
that's looking for help defensively, I think Joey Bosa makes
a lot of sense for them.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
I feel like now it's like when a teacher gets interrupted.
What couldn't wait? Now, you must share with us what
the latest email was. What couldn't wait until the end
of class?
Speaker 5 (40:48):
Here?
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Adam right, what couldn't wait? It's said that we need
two people for field maintenance for our team, Team Fearless,
which was named after the Taylor Swift song Fearless, which
is why Travis Kelsey leave the Chiefs. This is why
he's got to stay with that team. Okay, so I'm sorry.
There's a lot of important information going on.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
We asked aj Brown yesterday how long he would take
off before he started working toward next season. He said, yeah,
give me a couple of weeks. Lane Johnson, on the
other hand, that's three p fifteen in the bar right there.
It feels like a late day for Lane. I guess
he's working his way back into him. That is a
deep squat there. You gotta love the process if you
want to be great, like Lane Johnson elsewhere with the Eagles.
(41:28):
So this was found by Amy Randabarger, fellow Lesal graduate.
What's up explorer. This note said, I found this jacket
at the last Super Bowl. I intentionally left it here,
So don't return this. I intentionally left it. You hold
on to it, whoever finds it, and then the next
Super Bowl parade leave it for the next sort of
pay it forward thing here from the Eagles. You know,
(41:49):
his fan base gets a lot of flack, but Rank
this is pretty awesome.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
No, it is pretty cool. It's one of the things
that's great about sports is that the common bond with
everybody under those parades and all that stuff is always
a lot of fun. So I now growing up going
to NBA championship parades all the time, having stuff like
that and having little momentos like that. That's pretty cool.
So Paul done Eagles fans.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
Yeah, it was found on a light post that she thought, well,
somebody left this behind. It said no, no, no, don't return it.
Oh keep it, so Amy, take good care of it.
Ray appreciate you. Tonight Lands theirline as well. Next week,
starting Monday, Insiders Live at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis
will be dressed to the Nines join us. Then
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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