The Insiders Podcast: First Day of the New League Year, Latest Free Agency News, Likely Landing Spots for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and MORE!

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
The Insiders here on Wednesday as the start of the
new league year, meaning the official release of Cooper Cup
taking place.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
So where does Cup runneth over to?

Speaker 1 (00:18):
We get into some potential spots for the former Triple
Crown winner Aaron Rodgers still waiting on.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Him to make a decision.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
That decision with some impacts that could affect other quarterbacks
world tours. What tour it could be the Russell Wilson
World Tour that could see a little bit of consternation
from Aaron Rodgers as we do have some visits lined
up by Russell Wilson with a team in the AFC
and a team in the NFC. Those stories and more

(00:49):
today on this edition, this New League Year edition of
the Insiders. Hey everybody, Patrick claibhn here in the nfl
LA newsroom where they finished up the Frenzy guys, there's
still some new League year A pair for them, joined
by Tom Pellisero, Ian Rappibord, Judy Batista and Mike Garifolo
are insiders bringing you the news all week, getting.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
You that inside information.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
As for the stories of today, let's go over some
of them, some of them that we have seen come
into this NFL LA Newsroom, starting with the quarterback situation
as Cooper Cup. Actually just the fact that the new
league year being official today means that the release of
Cooper Cup was official. A very heartfelt thank you going

(01:30):
out from Cooper Cup via Twitter today celebrating his eight seasons,
including a World championship and arguably the best receiver season
that we've seen in the NFL. Cooper Cup available services,
and I'm sure there will be more than a few
teams interested in acquiring those services. A few teams interested

(01:51):
as well in the former Packer, former Jet soon to
be former Jet Aaron Rodgers, expected to be released by
New York at some point, as a couple of teams
waiting on the potential decision that Rogers will make at
some point, presumably to what he wants to do with
his twenty twenty five season, and a player that could

(02:11):
have some impacts on former Steelers quarterback former Seahawks quarterback
Russell Wilson taking a couple of visits, one coming up
very soon with the Cleveland Browns, potentially later on this
week with the New York Giants, who are still currently
waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers. Here to analyze
these decisions and trips our NFL Network Insiders.

Speaker 3 (02:34):
Thank you very much, Patrick, and welcome inside with the
Insiders once again. Let's start out with that story Ian
that we reported right at the start of the new
league year, which also happens to be the time that
those visits can officially begin and be scheduled. Here for
Russell Wilson, we've talked a lot about the Steelers, who
still have an interest in bringing him back if they

(02:55):
can't get something done with Aaron Rodgers. The Giants also
potentially beat involved the Browns. They acquired Kenny Pickett this week.
They've obviously got the Sean Watson's contract.

Speaker 4 (03:04):
On the books.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
They've been looking though for a starting quarterback, and this
seems like we'll see what happens, but it seems like
this is an actual possibility for Russell Wilson.

Speaker 5 (03:13):
What do we know, Oh, it's absolutely a possibility for
Russell Wilson. So, first of all, the nuts and boltimate
he is visiting the Browns this week.

Speaker 6 (03:22):
He is visiting the Giants this week.

Speaker 5 (03:24):
We've already known he has been considering the New York
Giants as a potential landing spot. Obviously, does depend some
on what Aaron Rodgers chooses to do. But as far
as Russell Wilson goes, the Browns edition is an interesting
rink at least because you're right they traded for Kenny Pickett.
They have Deshaun Watson not expected to play this year,
the neatest starting quarterback in Kenny Pickett, has a ton

(03:46):
of experience that started plenty of games for Pittsburgh guys,
by the way, has Russell Wilson. But the Browns also
have the number two overall selection. And if Russell Wilson signs,
which obviously the Browns are considering him enough to have
him visit there, and you know, we'll see how quickly
this could go. But curely there is a possibility if
he's visiting that he could sign. If they sign him

(04:08):
and they have Kenny Pickett, does that decrease the possibility
that they take a quarterback at two? Perhaps it does
in my mind, it certainly would. And then they say, well,
maybe they're taking the best position player. Maybe then the
Giants who have the number three pick, could end up
with the number two quarterback of the draft if that's
who they want.

Speaker 6 (04:24):
If they don't get.

Speaker 5 (04:25):
Aaron Rodgers, there's a lot of things to discuss, but
pretty significant to me that Russell Wilson is taking two
visits this week.

Speaker 7 (04:33):
Yes, and flashback to last year, Russell Wilson visited the Giants,
but that was more initiated on Wilson's side because at
the time the Giants had Daniel Jones as their franchise quarterback.

Speaker 4 (04:45):
YadA, YadA, YadA.

Speaker 7 (04:47):
This time the Giants are more of the interested party
in meeting with Russell Wilson, a YadA.

Speaker 8 (04:53):
YadA, the Daniel Jones part.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
But yes, no, this is this is.

Speaker 7 (04:56):
Their fallback plan for Aaron Rodgers, who could right now,
I'll end all this and say, hey, Giants, I've decided
I want to come play in East Rutherford. I want
to stay in the New York market. But for now
the Giants are sitting there and giving Rogers time and space.

Speaker 4 (05:11):
But in the meantime, we've.

Speaker 7 (05:12):
Got to work on our contingency plan. So that's why
it's later in the week. Perhaps they'll have a decision
from Rodgers by then. I saw a bunch of things
that said, oh, today is the day that Aaron Rodgers
makes his decision.

Speaker 4 (05:25):
I'm not convinced of that.

Speaker 7 (05:26):
I've talked to a lot of people, including people at
the Giants, who are not convinced of that, and nobody
really knows when that decision is going to come.

Speaker 8 (05:32):
Maybe Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 7 (05:33):
Doesn't even know when he's going to make that decision.
So in the meantime, the Giants setting up this visit
for Russell Wilson later in the week.

Speaker 9 (05:40):
Well, as you mentioned, Russell Wilson is the contingency plan
for the Giants and even for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where
he played last year. But the Browns are a different thing.
He's not really the contingency plan. I mean, he would
be the plan if he goes there as the starter.
They could pitch him on the idea of you would
be the starting quarterback. Theoretically, even if they did draft

(06:01):
a quarterback at number two, he could still be the
starting quarterback if they want the rookie to sit for
a while. But you're right Ian what she said. That
certainly opens the door to the question of Mike. The
Browns not take a quarterback at number two, take somebody else,
maybe a Travis Hunter, a Duel.

Speaker 8 (06:17):
Carter, whoever, and then Russell Wilson.

Speaker 9 (06:20):
Would maybe compete with Kenny Pickett or go in there
as the starter for the Cleveland Browns. So it's certainly
a different job that they would be selling him on
than the Steelers, and the Giants can sell him on
because of course, for them, he is planned b.

Speaker 3 (06:37):
Russell Wilson certainly has not given up hope of going
back to the Steelers. If you followed his social media
continues to post things about Pittsburgh and Steelers colors and
happy birthday to certain teammates here. But right now, the
Steelers are continuing to await a decision from Aaron Rodgers,
who's released from the New York Jets. Has always been
scheduled to take place after the beginning of the league year,

(06:58):
which was a couple of hours ago. That is a
salary cat mechanism. That's why they had to wait for.
Rogers is free to go someplace else and make his decision. Judy,
he is forty one years old. We know there are
a lot of different things that he values in his
life and that he chooses to spend his time on.
One of them continues to be football, and he's talked

(07:18):
even going into last season coming off the torn achilles.
But hey, I like to play two three more years.
He was thinking at that time and talking about playing
two three more years with the Jets. But now that
he is once again a free agent and a street
free agent for the first time in his career, how
do you envision this entire thing plan out?

Speaker 9 (07:38):
Well, I think it's playing out exactly the way you expect.
He's taking his time. He is a very deliberate thinker.
He thought through things before he even went to the Jets,
and now he is thinking through things. He clearly wanted
to get a look at what the playing fields was
going to be, because once the Jets announced that they
were going to release him, he was free then to

(08:00):
talk to teams, and free then even to come to
an agreement with teams, and that didn't happen, even though
the Giants were clearly interested. After Matthew Stafford decided to
return to the Rams, he didn't close a deal with
the Giants. He clearly wanted to see what other options
might be available. Then, of course, the Steelers entered the
picture when Justin Fields went to the New York Jets.

(08:21):
So he is waiting, he is seeing I don't know
if he is still waiting to see if other teams
jump into the pool now. But this is exactly how
you would expect Aaron Rodgers to approach this. We're all impatient.
We want an answer, fans want an answer. The teams
are playing it cool, but I'm sure eventually.

Speaker 4 (08:38):
They will like an answer.

Speaker 9 (08:40):
But Aaron Rodgers can do this on his own schedule.
There is no deadline unless one of the teams imposes
a deadline on him. There's no reason for him to
hurry up and make a decision. He can contemplate things.
There was a picture somewhere online of him on a
beach somewhere. Looks like he's enjoying himself. I wish I
were on a beach right now. Aaron Rodgers will make

(09:01):
this decision on his timetable, and everybody else will follow afterwards.

Speaker 6 (09:07):
I'd like to be on a golf course right now.
Forget beach. I don't know what good at beach is.

Speaker 5 (09:11):
He gets sand in your toes, and he's just kind
of boring golf courses. It's a great better place to
be beaches or whatever.

Speaker 6 (09:17):
Anyway, Yes, first of all, I would agree with Mike
on this.

Speaker 5 (09:21):
Is that anyone who says they expect a Rogers decision
fill in the blank is wrong. I mean, Aaron Rodgers
makes his own decision. He is on his own timetable,
He does his own thinking, and this is the way
it is, and this has been the way it is
for the last several years of his career, which of
course is amazing because the parallels to Brett Favre continue
because for so many off seasons it was like waiting

(09:42):
on what Brett Favre decides to do. Now we're all
waiting on Aaron Rodgers, who is methodical, who is plotting,
and who does because of his talents and because of
the opportunity that he presents teams, he can just kind
of do what he wants, which is really the way
it has been, especially in the latter part of his career.
If you're the Giants or if you're the Steelers, the
only options are just to wait, which is what they're doing,

(10:03):
or to say we need a decision by right now,
to which he would say, cool, I'll just choose the
other guy. And nobody wants to be that. Nobody wants
to do that, So we're in a waiting game.

Speaker 2 (10:13):
You know.

Speaker 6 (10:13):
Aaron Rodgers, it seems, is considering.

Speaker 5 (10:16):
Playing it seems leaning toward playing. The retirement option is
of course still there. If he doesn't find an option
that he likes, could just say, you.

Speaker 6 (10:23):
Know what, I'm good.

Speaker 5 (10:24):
I'm just gonna be a full time panelist on the
Pat mcaviee Show and have that be it. We are
all in Aaron Rodgers world right now and we have
nothing to do, which is kind of wait for him
to speak his It's.

Speaker 7 (10:36):
So funny, from when is that sentence gonna end? I
kept trying to start my sentence and you just kept going.
Spent along three days of us just virtually being together.
I don't remember what I was gonna say.

Speaker 8 (10:51):
Oh, you talked about retirement.

Speaker 4 (10:52):
It's like so funny.

Speaker 7 (10:52):
I was just thinking about all like where could he go?

Speaker 4 (10:54):
Could he lend?

Speaker 7 (10:55):
And the thought of retirement, which was always sort of
part of this whole thing, sort of escape my mind.
I was just thinking, like which team is he going
to play for? And knowing that or not realizing that
no team could be a possibility. The beach picture is
funny because you know the teams that were involved the
other day, there was communication between them and Rodgers camp,
and I heard that they were waiting for Rogers he
went for like a two hour swim in the ocean

(11:16):
and he wasn't by his phone, which is totally completely
on par with Aaron Rodgers who went into the Darkness
retreat a couple of years ago. He's taking his time,
He is thinking this one throughly, thoroughly, and that is
something that he has always done and always prided himself on.

Speaker 4 (11:33):
No different in this case, and I think he kind.

Speaker 8 (11:35):
Of likes that we're all waiting for his decision.

Speaker 3 (11:38):
Another player that was formally released after the start of
the league year today Cooper Cup, the longtime Rams wide
receiver who has doubled injuries in recent years. We certainly
continue to see flashes of the old Cooper Cup when
he is on the field. I would anticipate Mike that
as this thing moves forward, they couldn't trade him, in
large part because take on twenty million dollars in total

(12:02):
compensation and giving up a draft pick is a lot
for a guide his age, with his injury history. But
now that he's free, now that you're not worried about
twenty million or giving up a pick, it certainly sounds
like this is going to be a robust type of
market for Cooper Cup.

Speaker 7 (12:15):
It sounds like it already is, and it sounds like
there are plenty of conversations that are happening, and this
could happen extremely quickly. I heard you say that, Tom,
that could be the case. And there are teams that
need Cooper Cup to fit a certain role in their offense,
and there are certain offenses that fit what he does
as well. We've talked about them plenty, and there are
connections between Cooper Cup and the Los Angeles Rams and

(12:37):
some of the teams that have people from the Rams
who have now gone there. The Jacksonville Jaguar certainly would
be one of them, with their coaching staff and their
front office being a connection there. So we're going to
continue to watch how this goes for Cooper Cup. But
if we're talking about an agreement between Cooper Cup and
a team by tonight later this evening would surprise me

(12:58):
at all.

Speaker 4 (13:01):
Not a surprise at all.

Speaker 9 (13:02):
He is still a valuable contributor loved Injuries have slowed
him down in the last few seasons, but when he
is on the field, he's been really productive.

Speaker 8 (13:11):
You mentioned the Jacksonville jack Wars.

Speaker 9 (13:13):
That sounds like such a great spot for somebody like
him a veteran presence with an otherwise young team, a
first time head coach as well. He could bring all
of that veteran wisdom to the locker room and of
course the championship experience. He's just one of the big
name wide receivers who are out there as a free agent.

Speaker 4 (13:32):
To Maury.

Speaker 9 (13:32):
Cooper is still out there, Stefan Diggs is still out there.
Of course, Diggs is coming off the big knee injury,
so he might take a while. But Amari Cooper is
also available, so we might see some big name wide
receivers come off the board pretty soon.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
Here.

Speaker 5 (13:47):
This is kind of a weird situation because we've known
for weeks that Cooper cub is available. No one's traded
for him, which sort of creates the perception publicly that
like his market is kind of met.

Speaker 6 (13:57):
Like I don't think it is. I think it's pretty strong.

Speaker 5 (14:00):
You know, I don't think it's going to be twenty
million dollars a year, Otherwise somebody would have traded for him.
But you know, if it's eleven twelve, like Josh Palmer
in Fregency, got to believe it was twelve, Like I
could see Cooper cup in that range you guys mentioned
the Jaguars makes a ton of sense. Texans make a
lot of sense, even though they traded for Christian Kirk
the Saints. What about the Seahawks who have some familiarity there,

(14:20):
just scheme wise, system wise and personnel wise. From the ramsers,
there's a lot of There's going to be a lot
of teams available, and you know, he is at the
stage in his career now where he's probably not going
to be setting the all time record and receptions. I
don't want to doubt him. Anything is possible, but I
would I would not. I'm not so sure that's where
he's going to be. But as a valuable security blanket

(14:43):
for a quarterback, as a smart receiver who can keep
the chains moving, he has perfect a potential final piece
for a really good offense. Cooper Cup is going to
be in demand, and I would agree with you guys.
I think it happens pretty fast.

Speaker 3 (14:55):
So a lot of great names on the board, players
who have had illustrious careers in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (15:00):
There's so much action to come.

Speaker 3 (15:01):
Patrick Clay Bond that I'm just going to sit back
here with my Patrick Claybond mug and enjoy this next
segment to we're back in just a little bit the.

Speaker 1 (15:09):
Mug where Doug and Tom are prominently featured on the
other side. But I appreciate you, Sippy, there we go.
We'll get them in there as Yes, Doug and Tom.

Speaker 2 (15:20):
Yeah, that's how it should be. I appreciate you guys.

Speaker 1 (15:23):
Thank you for keeping the relationships going because I know
that the amount of time could be tough coming in
with what is new today in the NFL LA newsroom.
Former charger Joey Bosa agreeing to a one year deal
could be worth twelve point six million dollars.

Speaker 2 (15:38):
With the Buffalo Bills.

Speaker 1 (15:41):
If everything works out and he hits all his incentives,
deal could climb up to fifteen point six million dollars.
So Bosa to the Bills and there is a Bill
staying put. We're a comeback player of the Year. Damar
Hamlin staying in Buffalo agreeing to a one year contract

(16:01):
with the Buffalo Bills not the only prominent Bills contract
news as Yes, the quarterback the MVP Josh Allen got
a new deal that got him one of the biggest
guarantees in NFL history two hundred and fifty million dollars
six years could be worth up to three hundred and
thirty million dollars to keep Josh Allen in Buffalo long term,

(16:22):
and the MVP had his thoughts on his deal with
his team.

Speaker 10 (16:27):
That's the only thing I've ever wanted to do in
my life is play football, and now I just get
to continue to do it. And that's that's the main
main thing is The main thing is going out there
and playing the best football that I can. And in
no way does this mean I need to stop working
hard or stop getting better. It almost promotes more of
that for me, going out there and making sure that

(16:49):
I'm still earning my keep and getting better as the
years come by. And that's all I'm trying to do
is progress each year.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
He says.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
He has to continue to find ways to get his
team over the humping in the Super Bowl two hundred
and fifty million dollars guaranteed the biggest in NFL history.
Here to discuss the Buffalo Bills, our very own CAM
will spending time covering the division in the AFC East.
Good evening to you, Cam. So they get the deal
done with Josh maybe needed to as they have to
move some money around to get some deals done.

Speaker 2 (17:18):
Let's start with the quarterback. What does this mean for Buffalo?

Speaker 11 (17:22):
Well, first of all, it means they have their MVP,
their franchise quarterback taking care of happy up to market
value GM. Brandon Bean has definitely prioritized resignings, draft and
develop is their philosophy and nobody more important than Josh Allen.
So he was under market on his deal previously. This
gets him at least up to snuff close to what
he should earn. That was interesting hearing Josh Allen talk

(17:45):
today because there's certainly an idea that he could be
he's underpaid. He could have made sixty sixty five million
dollars a year given how the salary cap has jumped.
He said, what's five extra million for me at this
stage of my life? You know, off a house, I'm
a car, I'm happy. And so he told his agent,
if there's anything that can help the cap situation, I'm
all for. And it's funny because Brandon Bean, the general manager,

(18:07):
has talked about how active Josh Allen is in off
season planning, whether it's freegency or the draft. He said
he makes about one hundred and fifty to two hundred
mock drafts every off season. I'm not sure if that's
a real number of faith, but maybe Josh Allen is
just like us in doing mock drafts, except he's a
top quarterback in football. But he has paid attention to
their free agency moves. He definitely applauded, said it was

(18:28):
pretty cool seeing Joey Bosa become a Bill because he's
got him on the sack a few times and now
he's on his team. But it opened up an idea
to get a Joey Bosa they outbid the Miami Dolphins
for or a Josh Palmer who he can throw the
football with and separate down the field and so take
care of your guy. Also create a little bit more
of a cap structure to add to this Bills team

(18:51):
that feels like they're just one or two pieces of
the way for getting a title.

Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, Josh, a few pieces away from getting wedding planning
finished out.

Speaker 1 (18:57):
I have to imagine and two hundred mock drafts today,
it's gonna have to take a backseat eventually. Cam you
mentioned draft and developed something that they were able to
do for Greg Russo aj Epanessa.

Speaker 2 (19:07):
But they don't have to play against Josh Allen.

Speaker 1 (19:09):
Do you have to play against Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes,
Joe Burrow always need help at defensive end. They try
to get it with Vaughn. Looks like they go out
and get it with Bosa. Does that mean it's over
for VN as a Buffalo Bill.

Speaker 11 (19:21):
No, not necessarily. So Patrick pass rush was their big issue.
They wanted to address that heavy and so you bring
in a Joey Boza. As I mentioned earlier, they ponied up,
brought him the money to keep him away from San
franc keep him away from Miami, get him in as
a pass rusher. He's a little younger than Vaughn. He
hasn't been healthy a lot the last few years, but
when he's healthy he's been really productive. They hope he

(19:42):
can help. It's like to get off the field guy
when you need it on third down against the Patrick
Mahomes in an AFC Championship game? Can he get you
off the field. Also, Larry Ogunjob they brought in he
was released from Pittsburgh. He's a pass rusher interior at
this stage of his career. So they hope those two
guys help in that pursuit. They did have early conversations
with Vaughn and they're still interested in bringing him back.

(20:04):
This bose Of deal probably decreases the chances a little bit,
but if Vaughn is willing to come back at a
lower number, they have not ruled that out as well.
They want to add as many talented pass versus as
they can in that room so they can rotate them
and get after the quarterback.

Speaker 2 (20:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (20:18):
Again, something that they are able to do in a
big part because of the restructure for Josh Allen. Yes,
it's a two hundred and fifty million dollars pay day,
but it also provides more opportunity for them to compete
and win right now, something they've been doing. Cam Wolfe
with the latest look at the Buffalo Bills, Thank you
Tech Camp. Speaking of the Super Bowl champs, they go
out and get a former Packer A J. Dillon signing

(20:40):
with the Philadelphia Eagles. This on the heels of Kenneth
Gainwell's signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers saw some change in
the City of Brotherly Love, and that change continues, especially
on the defensive side of the ball. Darius Slay with
a opportunity to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He takes
that deal and it now leads to seven seven of

(21:02):
Vic Fangio's defensive players.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
Some of them that were downright stars.

Speaker 1 (21:06):
Especially like Milton Williams, Josh Sweat down the stretch, Darius
Slay with the interception in the playoffs as well, including.

Speaker 2 (21:13):
Aaron Burks and James Bradberry.

Speaker 1 (21:15):
Didn't get a lot of run this past season, but
it was a part of a team that also made
it to the Super Bowl. So let's discuss all of
these departures for the World Champions, Jane Slater joining us
as well as Bucky Brooks Jay looking over at the
Champs and what they.

Speaker 2 (21:29):
Were able to do.

Speaker 1 (21:31):
These departures are going to They have to add up
and show results at some point.

Speaker 2 (21:35):
They've lost seven people.

Speaker 12 (21:38):
They have lost seven people and namely a lot of
players on the other side of the ball here on defense.
The issue I think for them is they've got a
really young group on defense. They feel good about the
core and the nucleus, but they also have to take
care of some of their starters, guys that helped them
get to the Super Bowl this year, and one of

(21:59):
those was Saquon Barkley. So they've made a lot of
moves in recent years, but they've essentially got to take
care of the core now. I know a lot of
fans for Eagles are upset right now because they want
to see Howie Roseman out there doing something sign an
outside free agent. He'll likely do that here soon. He's

(22:19):
just again making sure they're taking care of their core group.
I think the other bigger issue right now is when
you're looking at Washington and seeing some of the moves
that they've made, just the division in general is getting better.
I mean, Washington though, has a lot of picks to
work with, remember in recent years, but they went out,
they showed a lot of aggression when they signed and

(22:41):
got a Hall with Deebo Samuel, they were able to
resign a guy like zach Ertz, they got Javon Kinlaw,
they were able to retain Bobby Wagner, so.

Speaker 8 (22:50):
That was huge. So I think as you're looking at.

Speaker 12 (22:52):
The rosters right now, it's looking like the Eagles haven't
upgraded their roster through free agency, but they've certainly been
able to do that through the drive often in recent years.

Speaker 13 (23:02):
You know, Jay, you bring up a great point in
terms of why the Eagles aren't making a bunch of
moves in free agencies because they've drafted, well what Howie
Roseman and his staff have done it. They've kind of
operated two or three years out ahead of where their
knees are going to happen. So when you think about
Jordan Davis coming on board, while they still have Fletcher
Cox and those voys, drafting Jalen Carter before they needed

(23:23):
to use him, drafting Nolan Smith before they needed Brandon Graham.

Speaker 2 (23:27):
And Josh went to get up out of there.

Speaker 13 (23:28):
They have young guys that are already serving in apprenticeships,
guys that have been working on the practice field readying
for their turn. That's why they're able to move on
from Bradbury and Jerry Slay because Cooper Dejean and quin
Young Mitchell are ready to go. So to me, I'm
not concerned because I heard Howie Roseman talk about the
last time they went to a Super Bowl they were

(23:49):
sentimental and nostalgic and kept on to a bunch of
people to help them get there, but it ended up
costing them in the end. This time, they're treated like
true business. It's not personal. Love you for doing what
you were able to do to help US win, but
now we're own to twenty twenty five. To me, it's
a very shrewd but a very needed strategy if you

(24:09):
want to stay at the top.

Speaker 1 (24:12):
We've seen some of those departures come back, like CJ.
Cartner Johnson did last season, so perhaps even though it's
the end for right now, may not be the end altogether.
The Eagles are still dealing with all of those losses,
but as Bucky said, they are prepared to do so
thanks to Jane Slater and Bucky Brooks.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
Well, look at the world chance.

Speaker 1 (24:29):
When we come back, it was one game away from
DeAndre Hopkins trying to win a Super Bowl in Kansas City.
What can he contribute to the Baltimore Ravens. Greg Rosenthal's
got him and he can discuss what does nuke mean
to the Ravens.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
He's on his way to the desk right now.

Speaker 1 (24:45):
They're from Greg when we come back on The Insiders.
Back here on the Insiders, two of those players that
were featured on that video, amari Ku Cooper and Stephan
dig still available on Greg Rosenthal's top available free agent list,
a Marii Cooper sitting there at the absolute very top

(25:09):
of that list. There is one notable name that is
not featured on this particular graphic of top available free agents.
As Greg Rosenthal joins us now on the Insiders Live
in the nfl LA newsroom, that is Cooper Cup.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Why do you hate Cooper cuppri?

Speaker 14 (25:22):
I love Cooper Cup. You know, Cooper Cup. Me and
my daughter very happy right across the street there. But
he's at the point of his career. I think he's
a role player. Why are you getting that after me?
He's on the list, He's like seventieth something.

Speaker 1 (25:33):
He's on the list, But it's just that it finally
becomes official Cooper Cup released by the Rams.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
So after the new league year starts, what's the what's
the place? Where are we putting Cooper Cup in twenty
twenty five?

Speaker 14 (25:47):
You know, Jacksonville, I think could make a lot of sense.
You look for a team that needs a secondary receiver,
and I think when you listen to Ian Rappaport and
the Insiders talk about his market, it is aggressive, but
you're talking about twelve, three teen million dollars, And sometimes
it's easier to accept a lesser role and lesser money
when you're not in the uniform that you helped to

(26:10):
bring a Super Bowl too, and so I think Cooper
Cup is entering a part of his career Seattle, which
Ian also mentioned, would make a lot of sense to me.
A secondary receiver that's gonna show you how to block,
that's gonna maybe get better coverage than he had in
the past because he's not the true number one receiver
but ultimately has looked on as a role player. I
do find it interesting though that if he signed soon,

(26:32):
and it sounds like it could happen because Sean McVay
has former coaches that he was with all over the league.
He's getting signed a lot quicker than some of these
other guys out there, like a Keenan Allen for instance,
or Stephan Diggs who's coming off of an injury.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
Yeah, if it was Seattle, there would be two revenge
games every year. So Cooper Cup that that would be
fun to see. You mentioned Stefan Diggs. There's one signing
of a veteran wide receiver that's already gone down that
is DeAndre Hopkins. So the Baltimore Ravens, how do you
feel that's going to play off?

Speaker 14 (26:59):
I think he kind of like what I was talking
about with Cup, is entering a part of his career
where he is depth, and I know Patrick who's watching
those Ravens games closely. When you have an injury or
two at wide receiver. In Baltimore, it was a big
cliff drop where you maybe weren't getting as much help
from the third and the fourth receivers as you would like.
So now you bring in DeAndre Hopkins. He has an

(27:20):
entire offseason, unlike in Kansas City where he joined mid season,
and there is something unique about Hopkins where sometimes he's
not running the route exactly as you written it up
in the playbook. But I think with an offseason and
a quarterback that's so smart and Lamar Jackson, these two
guys can get on the same page and he seems
like a guy when the play breaks down a little

(27:41):
bit for Lamar and you use him in the red zone.
They're not asking him to be the one or the two.
Zay Flowers and Rashad Bateman are that and I think
it was really smart for a team that didn't have
a lot of cap space but got some good depth
at an important position.

Speaker 1 (27:54):
Yeah, as you mentioned, it's a skill set that's not
really readily available out there. It's just six million dollars.
It will probably be a little bit hire of a
pay day for Amari Cooper coming off of what was
a disappointing finish to his season in Buffalo double some
injuries as well.

Speaker 2 (28:07):
He's number one on your board? How long are we
going to be looking at him?

Speaker 15 (28:10):
Mark?

Speaker 14 (28:11):
He's eleven, He's just sitting up there. He's the only
guy left in the top twenty. Did I overrate him?

Speaker 2 (28:15):
Or do you believe it could be?

Speaker 1 (28:17):
It could be the GMS that are wrong, or perhaps
Amari is taking his time. Notably, not one of the
top available quarterbacks in years is making everybody wait?

Speaker 2 (28:26):
So why can an a Mark Cooper?

Speaker 8 (28:28):
Why not?

Speaker 14 (28:29):
I asked the NFL general managers, Like, why do you
guys hate Amari Cooper so much? Maybe in this theory
was thrown out there by our friend Steve, which Amari
Cooper kind of You know, he does what he wants
to do. He just might not be that interested in
signing early in free agency. He'll pick up team when
he wants to pick a team. He's already made a
lot of money in his career. He has a one
year on, one year off tendency to his career, and

(28:50):
so that would actually make twenty twenty five one of
the on years. A little up and down as a player,
but he fought through injuries to be on the field
for the Bills. I think there are still good years
left for a Mari Cooper. And so you look at
the entire market, I don't know if there's anyone that
I see as a locked in number two type of
receiver that's out there except for Amar Cooper. So I

(29:11):
think he could find a team. The Jets are a
team for any wide receiver that's out there. I think
would be an intriguing fit because they could use one
or two.

Speaker 1 (29:19):
Now it becomes a problem because Stefan Diggs had the
injury later on in the season, but still a valuable
receiver who was contributing a big part to the Texans
last year.

Speaker 2 (29:28):
What is the story for him.

Speaker 14 (29:30):
Yeah, he's coming off of a serious injury and that's
probably affecting his market. I think the Houston Texans would
like to bring Stefan Diggs back. And if you watch
Stefan Diggs last year, I think it showed that he
was ready to transition to a new phase of.

Speaker 8 (29:42):
His career, mostly as a slot receiver.

Speaker 14 (29:44):
There you see him beating Christian Gonzales, who was on
the All Pro team, one on one. Just the quickness
that he has. You don't need long speed necessarily to
win in the way that Stefan Diggs wins. And I
still think that route running ability, that savvy. They're using
him as a running back back in Houston, and I
think the willingness to kind of accept the role that
he's going to be, which is going to be as

(30:05):
an inside receiver. I think he can extend his career
for a while. And maybe he's not someone that comes
off the board right away. He waits for the perfect fit.
The Green Bay Packers are a team I think that
could be adding another receiver at some point and it's
not going to cost you too much. Coming off the injury.
I still like Stefan Diggs in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 1 (30:23):
Yeah, the receiving court really when Diggs went down as
well as Tank Dell, the long term aspirations of the
Texans kind of got dead in the water.

Speaker 2 (30:31):
We'll see what happens with the future.

Speaker 1 (30:33):
And if you want to just watch the signings roll
in while looking at Greg Rosenthal's top one O one
that's how free agency should be consumed. Go to NFL
dot com slash Rosenthal to see all of Greg's hard
work and some of these guys, some of the quarterbacks,
All the quarterbacks that carousel featured in the top one
on one. Geno Smith gets traded to be with his
old coach in Las Vegas. Sam Darnold moves to Seattle,

(30:55):
taking Gino's play. A three year, one hundred million dollar
deal gets fifty five guaranteed. After a great comeback season
last year, Justin Field's got bench still able to get
a starting spot two year, forty million dollars deal with
the Jets. Kenny Pickett making his way onto the carousel
agains not like the.

Speaker 2 (31:11):
Other hey, Kenny Thickets still making it, so does the pastornap.

Speaker 1 (31:15):
Josh Dobbs goes to Greg Rosenthal's beloved Do England Patriots
three point eight million dollars guaranteed.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
How about Zach Wilson on.

Speaker 1 (31:22):
His way to Miami after it appears the quarterback battle
finally won for backup in Denver and Danny Dimes a
one year deal thirteen point one million dollars guaranteed with
the Indianapolis Colts. Let's look at some more quarterback circumstances
with our NFL Network insiders.

Speaker 3 (31:42):
Some of the top quarterbacks available on bearded Greg Rosenthal's
list of the top quarterbacks that were available in free agency.
One person who is not on that list because he's
not a free agent is Kirk Cousins, who is under
contract for three more years. He's due twenty seven point
five million dollars fully guaranteed in twenty twenty five. Another
ten million dollars would vest on Sunday if he's going

(32:05):
to be on the roster, but that's twenty twenty six
base salary. Falcons seem to figure Judy that if he's
played in twenty twenty six, we're not going to end
up paid it anyway, So who cares? It really seems
as if they're serious about continuing to hold on to
Kirk Cousins, who, let's also remember, has a no trade clause.

Speaker 4 (32:23):
Take me through the nuts and bolts this. How does
this whole thing play out?

Speaker 8 (32:28):
Well, let's go back a little bit.

Speaker 9 (32:29):
Was it like about a week ago that Kirk Cousins
asked for and got a meeting with team owner Arthur
Blank and expressed his presumably displeasure with the current situation
and said he wants to be with a contender. He
wants to be someplace where he can start. Okay, except
that doesn't seem to be what the Falcons have top
of mind. Their priority, of course, is doing what is

(32:51):
best for the Atlanta Falcons, and in their mind what's
best for the Atlanta Falcons right now is to hold
on to Kirk Cousins, presumably wait for trade opportunities to
come along, although they have also said publicly that they're
perfectly happy to go forward with Kirk Cousins on the
roster now. Of course, Michael Pennix is the starting quarterback.
He got the starting job midway through last season when

(33:14):
things went south for Kirk Cousins, and they're happy with
Michael Pennix. They should be happy with Michael Pennix. He
is only in his second year in the NFL and
he is on the rise. It would seem to me
to be an incredibly awkward and not really productive situation
for anybody for Kirk Cousins to still be on the roster,
least of all Michael Pennix.

Speaker 8 (33:33):
But here we are.

Speaker 9 (33:34):
He is on the roster right now, and there are
certainly teams out there that could use Kirk Cousins and
would be interested in him if he were available, but
not quite yet.

Speaker 7 (33:43):
The question, Judy is how long do the Falcons want
to carry out the fake here? And I say, you know,
I think carry out a fake because I just I
don't see and you alluded to this, why Kirk Cousins
being a backup on this team would be beneficial for
everybody involved.

Speaker 6 (33:57):
It doesn't seem like it would be.

Speaker 7 (33:58):
So you can this maybe up to and perhaps through
the draft.

Speaker 4 (34:02):
And I know that I've mentioned this.

Speaker 7 (34:03):
Kirk Cousins has that no trade clause and doesn't want
to happen to him this year what happened to him
last year, which was going to a team, and then
that team drafts a quarterback. So you can protect yourself
against that by blocking any and all trades through the draft.
The question is to the Falcons hold, I mean, it
doesn't hurt them right now. He probably wouldn't show up
for anything in the spring, which is fine, And then

(34:24):
you carry it through the draft and then oh, team
missed out on a quarterback or you know there's still
an opportunity. Well, let's go see if we can trade
for Kirk Cousins at that point, and then if you're
the Falcons, you're getting picks next year and what many
considered to be a better draft anyway. So all these
factors combined for me to think that Kirk Cousins is
not going anywhere anytime soon, and then perhaps with a

(34:45):
chance to start somewhere once we get through the draft.

Speaker 5 (34:48):
You want to talk about carrying out the fake, let's
talk about it. The Atlanta Falcons, who are already paying
the salary anyway, can carry out this fake as long
as they want. Mike, let's close the door of your
off well.

Speaker 6 (35:00):
People come in it.

Speaker 4 (35:01):
I will clos's how loud they are.

Speaker 6 (35:05):
No, close the door, office lock, it's worktime. It's fine anyway.

Speaker 5 (35:09):
They can carry out the fake as long as they
want because they're already paying the salary. No matter what,
the Falcons are paying the salary for Kirk Cousin. He
could be the backup quarterback, no big deal. He could
be the backup quarterback till September when someone else sustains
a quarterback injury and they're like, hello, we got a guy,
send us a third round pick for a starting quarterback,
and here we go. They can do this for as

(35:31):
long as they want, because it doesn't hurt them at
all once they get past Sunday. They're paying the twenty
seven million dollars, they're paying the ten million dollars next year,
and it doesn't matter because Michael Pennix is cheap and
they've already committed to this contract. So to me, I
don't think it's a fake at all. I think the
Falcons can carry him. I think they will carry him.
I think the next time Kirk Cousins changes teams it's

(35:51):
gonna be when someone trades for him. And if I'm wrong,
you're gonna be posting this an old takes exposed anyway,
for the second year in a.

Speaker 1 (35:57):
Row, late discussions regarding Matthew Stafford remaining in Los Angeles
worked out with the quarterback remaining in Los Angeles with
restructure of the Stafford deal that pushes the decision ahead
to next.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
Year once again.

Speaker 1 (36:13):
As Matthew Stafford was on the New Heights podcast with
Travis and Jason Kelcey to discuss twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (36:20):
You finally got yeah, the elephant out of the room
of the offseason.

Speaker 16 (36:23):
I guess yes, that was a little nerve wracking there
for a little bit, just trying to figure out what
was going to go down, but happy to be back
wharing you know, Rams Colors, playing the so far doing
the thing.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
Hell yeah, hell yeah, Ma.

Speaker 1 (36:33):
What was ultimately did the siding factor to come back
and resign with LA.

Speaker 16 (36:36):
I think it was kind of a joint process, right, Like,
it wasn't just I wasn't a free agent. You know,
I still had two years left on my deal, and
we kind of worked something out last year, you know,
at the eleventh hour to kind of figured it out
right for a training camp, with the understanding that Okay,
we're going to come back and readdress this if I
want to play again the next year. Obviously there was
some trade rumors and some things like that. A little
bit tough on your family, just because you don't really
know what's going to be next. I remember, sure when

(36:57):
I was getting traded from Detroit to LA really a
couple weeks before that, you know, I'd made it known
that I wanted to be traded from Detroit. And I
can't tell you how much time I spent on Zillo
at that point, looking at houses in.

Speaker 6 (37:07):
India there and all these places back then, right and.

Speaker 16 (37:10):
I'm sitting there going, man, where am I gonna be?
Where my kids going to school? All this kind of
stuff a little bit of a similar situation, just because
what was out there and what was going on?

Speaker 1 (37:17):
All right, We had some titles available for those of
you who can't deal with Ohio in Texas Accents Omar
Ruiz in studio with us on The Insiders to discuss
the Rams as well as the rest of the division.
Uh So, we had Cooper Cup on the show earlier
today about how he's looking for a spot. They release him,
but they bring in Davonte Adams. Omark, what's gonna be
left for Devonte? For Matthew Stafford to load them.

Speaker 2 (37:39):
Up with targets.

Speaker 17 (37:39):
I think it's an exciting pairing when you talk about
Matthew Stafford and the Rams and how they took Philadelphia
Eagles to the brink in the divisional round during the
playoffs this past season, and now they add Davonte Adams
and what are they getting in Davonte Adams. I'm gonna
read you a list here, Patrick Garrett, Carr, Jarrett Stidham,
Aid and O'Connell, Jimmy Garo, Brian Hoyer, and Gardner Minshew.

(38:02):
Those were the six different quarterbacks he paid with in
the two plus seasons in Las Vegas, and he goes
with Aaron Rodgers and he still produces with those quarterbacks
in Vegas. Goes to Aaron Rodgers for eleven games, sixty
seven catches, eight hundred and fifty four yards, and seven touchdowns.
When you project that out to a full season, that's
more than one hundred catches, better than thirteen hundred yards

(38:24):
eleven touchdowns. So you had the experience there of him
essentially being maybe a number two receiver opposite Garrett Wilson
in New York. Now he comes to Los Angeles opposite
Puka Nakua, and there you see him still getting past defenses,
still getting out of the brakes, creating separation as good
as he's ever been, seemingly so. Now to factor that
into the Rams, who were already a confident group going

(38:46):
into twenty twenty five, to add a talent like Devonte
Adams another sign that they are going all in and
going for it in twenty five for the Super Bowl and.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
Beyond, yeah, and elsewhere in the division.

Speaker 1 (38:57):
Omar a team that has been in contention for you's
the San Francisco forty nine Ersnics. Good buddy, Kyle Shanahana
seen a departure of talent just this week. Twn no Hufunga,
Dre Greenlaw, juice check, Deebo Samuel trade. That trade becomes official.
So where's the positivity? What can folks in Santa Clara
look for too?

Speaker 17 (39:15):
Yeah, I'm mister optimist, right because the Niners, you look
at all that roster depletion and they were six and eleven,
the windows closed, the sky is falling. But when you
look at that offense, and this is all accounting for
Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Brandon Ayuk all coming back healthy,
that offense is still going to go through those guys.

Speaker 4 (39:35):
Not to mention George Kittle.

Speaker 17 (39:36):
You saw that they signed DeMarcus Robinson to add to
the wide receiver room with Jawan Jennings and Ricky Piersall
as well, all that talent around Brock Pritty. So theoretically
with Kyle Shanahan, he's going to have loads of talent
to operate with on offense. Defensively, obviously, Robert Salad now
their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Remember when he

(39:57):
first took over with the forty nine ers in twenty
seen took them a couple of years before they gained
that form that got them to the Super Bowl, became
one of the top defenses around guys like Fred Warner there,
Dre Greenlaw became stars under his tutelage. Nick Bosa was
a draft pick there under Robert Sala. Now he has
players like diamed Or leonor Fred Warner, nick Bosa to

(40:19):
build around. So they have those four picks in the
top one hundred. The youth movement we should see on
defense as the forty nine ers go forward, and they
shouldn't need a couple of years. They're obviously pleased with
guys like Maligue Mustafa last year coming on as a rookie.
So a lot to build around with the forty nine ers,
both offensively and defensively when you look at the pieces

(40:40):
that are already in place.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
So perhaps this.

Speaker 17 (40:42):
Guy is not falling as dramatically as it seems to be.

Speaker 4 (40:45):
In Santa Clara.

Speaker 1 (40:46):
Y always just jarring to see the guys that have
been a part of such a great run in Niners sistory,
And yeah they didn't necessarily complete the task, but still
worth celebrating considering what.

Speaker 4 (40:55):
They were able to do.

Speaker 17 (40:56):
And when I went down that list and you think
about all the names that we're talking about that left,
it really is remarkable how much talent they've had on
those teams and why they went to four NFC Championship
games in five years, including a couple.

Speaker 1 (41:09):
Of Super Bowls, and John Lynch and company a part
of building that team, perhaps an opportunity to build this team.
Aaron Rodgers has made a decision at some point in his.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
Past, but when's he make the run? It's coming up
at this point as a teams. We got that next
here on The Insiders on NFL Network. After years as.

Speaker 1 (41:39):
The Rams top option, Cooper Cup will have some options
in free agency. What are the potential landing spots for
the former Triple Crown whinner? We hit that on this
hour of The Insiders, and speaking of options, Aaron Rodgers
has a few, not as many as he once did,
but the weight continues for the former Packer and soon
to be former Jet Which neighborhood will he inhabit?

Speaker 2 (42:01):
We asked that question to our Insiders.

Speaker 1 (42:04):
And Russell Wilson scheduling some trips around the NFL one
team in the AFC, one team in the NFC. Could
he be added to the quarterback carousel as we get
through one.

Speaker 2 (42:17):
It's been a frenzied start to the.

Speaker 1 (42:18):
Free agency period, and congratulations to our NFL Network insiders
Tom Pelisaro Rapport, Judy Batista and Mike Garrifola who have
held it together maintain their relationships despite this frenzy period.
TBD on those relationships, as we've had a bit of fun.
Yeah seeah on this edition of the Insiders. We continue
though to look at these stories. Yes, new today coming

(42:40):
into the nfl LA newsroom as the new league year
did begin at at.

Speaker 2 (42:45):
Four o'clock Eastern today.

Speaker 1 (42:46):
The release of Cooper Cup, the former Triple Crown winner
for the Los Angeles Rams, did become official after eight seasons.
As the offenses proliferated around the NFL, should not be
a shortage of teams interested in acquiring his services. Elsewhere,
the New York Jets expected to release Aaron Rodgers, with

(43:08):
a couple of teams still looking for a starting quarterbacks
still in play, still waiting for a decision from Aaron Rodgers,
and another quarterback set to take some visits this week.
Russell Wilson visiting with the Browns and coming up later
on in the week the New York Giants, as the
former Bronco Seahawk and Steeler quarterback is.

Speaker 2 (43:30):
Looking for his new spot.

Speaker 1 (43:32):
Let's get over to our NFL Network insiders for more
on some quarterbacks as well as Cooper Cup.

Speaker 4 (43:40):
Thank you very much, Patrick.

Speaker 3 (43:41):
This is the first time as a four pm Eastern
that free agents can take visits that's not allowed during.

Speaker 4 (43:46):
The negotiating windows.

Speaker 3 (43:48):
So here we are Ian and one of the least
highest profile free agents still on the board, Russell Wilson
about to get some frequent flyer miles.

Speaker 5 (43:55):
What do we know, Well, I don't know if Russell
Wilson's going to get frequent flower mouths. Might be flying
in private, might fly himself private. There's actually a lot
of options, so we'll see. I mean, is he gonna
get upgraded from comfort plus to anyway? We'll figure all
that out later as we do a little more reporting
into this. But the most important thing is that Russell
Wilson is going to visit the Browns and the Giants

(44:16):
this week. Kind of an old school free agency situation.
Rarely now do players take visits.

Speaker 6 (44:22):
Almost never unless there's some sort of an injury concerned.

Speaker 5 (44:24):
Maybe that'll be the case, take a visit, get a medical,
and then do a deal.

Speaker 6 (44:28):
This is not the case.

Speaker 5 (44:29):
Is Russell Wilson has been waiting like all of us
on Aaron Rodgers to decide where's going to go.

Speaker 6 (44:35):
Is it gonna be the New York Giants? Is it
going to be the Steelers.

Speaker 5 (44:38):
Wilson seems to be the backup option for both of
those places, but he also has other options, and the
Browns really are an intriguing option. They traded for Kenny Pickett,
they have the number two overall pick. They may take
a quarterback, they may not. If Russell Wilson signs, you
would think that it makes it less likely they would
take a quarterback. And it does seem like Russell Wilson's

(44:59):
a pretty strong op for them if he wants to
come in and start, if he wants to really fight
for playing time and have the best opportunity for playing time,
the Browns might make.

Speaker 2 (45:07):
The most sense.

Speaker 6 (45:08):
This is certainly one to watch.

Speaker 5 (45:10):
In the fact that Russell Wilson has taking some trips
this week, I think spices it up a little bit, you.

Speaker 7 (45:14):
Know, the Browns, I know, the Browns are looking at
different routes to get to the quarterback position, to attack
the quarterback position, maybe more of an entrenched veteran or
a veteran that's longer in the tooth. I would say
that would be Russell Wilson versus Kenny Pickett, who is
more of a younger veteran. And then there's the developmental

(45:35):
potential for a quarterback or a reclamation project. I heard
that they were looking at some of those options as well.
Plus they've got the Shawan Watson coming off that double
achilles injury here. So Russell Wilson's looking at this and
seeing an opportunity with a competitive team, you know, a
team that won three games last year, but the year.

Speaker 2 (45:54):
Before was in the playoffs.

Speaker 7 (45:55):
And yeah, I think he's got the shot to go
in there and compete, and he's looking at it as
a legitimate opportunity for him.

Speaker 4 (46:00):
So let's see how this one goes.

Speaker 9 (46:03):
Yeah, the entry of the Browns into the Russell Wilson
stace is certainly a twist because earlier in the day
it seemed that the Steelers and the Giants were waiting
for Aaron Rodgers and whoever didn't get Aaron Rodgers would
then turn to Russell Wilson. Of course, Russell Wilson had
already been with the Steelers last year and that seemed
to fit so neatly. And now, of course here come

(46:25):
the Cleveland Browns into the mix, and they can sell
Russell Wilson on something the other two can't. The other
two are like, well, you're our contingency plan, so just
sit tight. But the Browns can say, hey, we want
you to be our starting quarterback. Even if we draft
a rookie, you could still be the starting quarterback if
we want to keep the rookie on the bench to
learn for a little bit. And as Ian pointed out,

(46:47):
maybe it makes it less likely that they would draft
a quarterback in the first round, and then it's probably
Russell Wilson's starting job for this season. I mean, maybe
they have a competition in name with Kenny Pickett, but
you would expect that Russ Wilson would win that competition.
So that is a very intriguing option for Russell Wilson
to consider. We will see how it plays out. But again,

(47:09):
I think the entry of the Cleveland Browns certainly throws
a wrench into what had seemed to be a very
clean plan with the Giants and Steelers.

Speaker 3 (47:19):
Let's talk about Aaron Rodgers, who kind of is the
lynchpin to this entire thing getting moving here. Judy for
Rogers officially released once the new league year began this afternoon.
So how does this thing play out with one of
the NFL's mystery men.

Speaker 8 (47:36):
Slowly, That is how it is playing out.

Speaker 9 (47:38):
It is playing out slowly, totally, not entirely a surprise.

Speaker 8 (47:43):
This is how.

Speaker 9 (47:43):
Aaron Rodgers operates. He is very deliberate, He takes his time.
You can't really blame him. He's got a lot to
think about, including the fact that, I mean even retirement
is an option. Theoretically we think he wants to play,
but he could theoretically retire if he doesn't really like
his options right now. But he's got what looked to
be two teams that are interested in him, the Giants

(48:04):
and the Steelers. He has to weigh where he wants
to be, what he's most comfortable with, who he's most
comfortable with, And the fact that it's taking a long
time again should not be any surprise. There's no deadline here.
I mean, there's nothing in like the league calendar that
forces a decision. So unless the Steelers or the Giants
give him an ultimatum, which neither one of them are

(48:27):
going to do. Unless they give him an ultimatum like
this could keep going, He could keep taking his time.
There's again, and there's a picture out there of him
walking on the beach, wrapped in a towel with his
headphones in. He looks very chill, looks like he's enjoying himself.
I mean, the fact that we're all stressed out does
not seem to be impacting Aaron Rodgers' decision making timeline.

Speaker 4 (48:48):
Yeah, I don't think he cares.

Speaker 2 (48:49):
Judy.

Speaker 5 (48:49):
I was talking to so pretty well connected on on
Aaron Rodgers today and I was like, well, obviously it's
going to be today because it's the start of the
league year.

Speaker 6 (48:57):
And the response I got was you think he cares?
And I'm sure he does not.

Speaker 5 (49:01):
I think he's more concerned with being on a beach
and wrap him the towel. That's a good call right there,
and just kind of relaxing and working his way through
his decision. And I understand it is a consequential decision.
It is he gonna go be the quarterback of one
storied franchise or another storied franchise, or go be the
quarterback of nothing and go into retirement and go join
his friend Pat mcabee.

Speaker 6 (49:22):
A lot of really good options for Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 5 (49:24):
But the reality is though two franchises are just waiting,
you know, really nothing they can do.

Speaker 4 (49:29):
But wait.

Speaker 5 (49:30):
I don't get the sense either of them are gonna
give him a deadline or tell him, hey, we need
this now or else. There's nowhere else because where we're
at now is there's two quarterbacks left to where starters
as Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. Rogers obviously one A
and nobody can poke him or produm to get going.

Speaker 6 (49:46):
So we'll get a decision. Will we get a decision?

Speaker 5 (49:49):
I don't know how that's gonna happen, Maybe through us,
But until then we're just gonna wait on Aaron.

Speaker 6 (49:54):
Rodgers, which we've been doing for the last several weeks.

Speaker 7 (49:57):
The thing I do wonder is if he sees some
of these other guys in the potential for a move
to be if he if A factors into his decision
and timing at all, Like if he's looking at the
Giants meeting with Russell Wilson.

Speaker 2 (50:08):
I don't think so.

Speaker 7 (50:09):
I think he's just going to go on his own timeline,
whatever that may be. Ian you, we talked about this
being the day where everybody said, oh, today is decision day.
I don't know what even spurred that, is the fact
that it was the start of the league year.

Speaker 8 (50:21):
I have no idea, but I read that this morning.

Speaker 7 (50:24):
I thought, like everybody I talked to says, they have
no idea when this is going to come. We don't
even know if Rogers knows when it's going to come. Look,
he's taking this time. He he You can criticize Aaron
Rodgers for a lot of things. Maybe he's not your
kind of guy in a lot of ways, but he
does take his time when he makes decisions, and he
thinks through them thoroughly. And that's what he's doing again here,

(50:46):
trying to figure out what the next step is for
him in his NFL career.

Speaker 4 (50:49):
We'll see how long it thinks.

Speaker 3 (50:51):
There are some other people who have made decisions even
in the past twenty four hours.

Speaker 4 (50:56):
So a lot of news throughout the course of the.

Speaker 3 (50:58):
Day, including some of the guys who got released quickly
landing on new deals We'll start out with Javon Hargrave.
I I reported a day or two ago, who knows
what day of the week it is right now that
they were closing on a deal with Minnesota once his
release from the forty nine Ers became official.

Speaker 4 (51:12):
That happened this afternoon.

Speaker 3 (51:13):
Hargrave now locked in on a two year, thirty million
dollar deal, now joining forces with Jonathan Allen, the former
Washington commander who also signed a multi year deal with
Minnesota in a lot bigger and they hope more physical
upfront Dean.

Speaker 5 (51:29):
Who's also a deal for another player who was a
post June one designation, and that's Darius Slay, the former
Eagles cornerback who has been in the league for a
long time, has been one of the best cornerbacks in
the NFL for a long time, and talk publicly about
how he just wanted to play one more year, maybe
might even go back to Detroit, which seemed to be
the feel good store here. Instead, he does actually kind

(51:50):
of the same thing that Patrick Peterson did, which is
go to the Steelers for what is likely his final year,
for a strong, fully guaranteed deal to come in and
really be the final piece of a team that's ready
to compete. As we may or may not have mentioned,
we don't know who the Steelers quarterback is. Maybe we'll
find out at some point soon, but until then we
know this. Their defense is going to be balling. They

(52:11):
always are, and Slay still can do it. So add
his one year, fully guaranteed ten million dollars to the
thing and.

Speaker 6 (52:19):
Send them loose in Pittsburgh. And that's a really solid addition.

Speaker 7 (52:21):
Late in free agency, in news that in news that
has hit since we just started this segment.

Speaker 18 (52:27):
Rico Dowdell, Uncle, Rico, Rico Swellbey, whatever you want to
do with the Rico there, the running back that was
formerly with the Cowboys headed to the Panthers one year
up to six point two five million.

Speaker 7 (52:38):
Sources tell the Insiders, Tom is busy hosting the show,
so he's getting all these texts and just then to
have a time to post them. Sources tell the Insiders
that deal they're replacing Miles Sanders, who couldn't work out
a restructure there headed to the free agent market so
he might land elsewhere. Meanwhile, Dowdell slots in behind Cuba Hubbard,

(52:59):
a deal that happened early tight end Evan Ingram, and
I call him tight end even though he's sort of
a tight end slash wide receiver and always has been.
But that's okay because it works well in Sean Payton's offense.
He signed a two year, twenty three million dollar contract.
I gotta be honest. When he left the Broncos building
after visiting and headed to the Chargers, I said, oh,
I don't think it's going to.

Speaker 4 (53:18):
Happen in Denver.

Speaker 7 (53:19):
But Denver looked up and said, well, we'd rather have
him playing for us or for our arrival in the
AFC West. They said, you know what, how the sixteen
and a half million fully guaranteed sound. So Evan Ingram
heading into Sean Payton's offense where he could be incredibly
productive this upcoming season.

Speaker 8 (53:33):
Bo Nicks, you should be very happy.

Speaker 9 (53:37):
And after eleven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. This happened
earlier today. DeMarcus Lawrence is headed to the Seattle Seahawks.
It's a three year deal with eighteen million guaranteed. He
is a four time Pro Bowl defensive end. He played
in just four games last season. I think he suffered
a foot spring against the New York Giants. He probably

(53:57):
could have returned late in the season if the Cowboys
had a more relevant season and it made a push
into the playoffs. They did not, so he was shut
down for the rest of the year. He's a really
versatile defensive end. He can rush the passer, he can
stop the running as sixty one and a half career
sacks now joining the Seattle Seahawks.

Speaker 8 (54:14):
As they move forward.

Speaker 9 (54:16):
We have talked an awful lot about the exits from Seattle.

Speaker 8 (54:18):
This is an arrival.

Speaker 4 (54:21):
And here's another addition.

Speaker 3 (54:22):
Mark wez Valdez Scanting, the veteran wide receiver, also headed
to Seattle. It is a one year deal worth up
to five point five million.

Speaker 4 (54:31):
Got to the Saints for the end of last season. Show.

Speaker 3 (54:33):
He's still got the Spain scored four touchdowns with him.
Seattle's got a vision here as they really make over
that offense with Sam Darnold now at quarterback. So much news, Patrick,
it's even coming down men's segment.

Speaker 4 (54:45):
You never know.

Speaker 3 (54:45):
We still got like another what forty six minutes or
so here who knows? Who knows what we'll have by
the end of the show.

Speaker 2 (54:50):
Now here on the zarts.

Speaker 1 (54:51):
What's noon today into the NFL LA Newsroom, NFL Network
Ittsider again, Rapper what reporting?

Speaker 2 (54:55):
Levi on Zerique just off a good year staying with Detroit.

Speaker 1 (55:00):
Oh, it's coming back from a back injury that Adam
kind of hurt from a couple of seasons, but in
twenty twenty four played well. It's a one year, five
and a half million dollar deal for Levi odz Arique
for the division champs. Let's discuss the NFC North with
our very own Stacey Dale's good evening to Stacey. The
Lions not just bringing back on Zaike, also Marcus Davenport,

(55:21):
Derek Barnes back on a defense that was very, very
hurt towards the end of the.

Speaker 2 (55:24):
Year last year. How do you think it pushes them
forward in twenty twenty five?

Speaker 19 (55:29):
Yeah, I love that own Zerique is coming back and
Derek Barnes and they're bringing back their own because they
have a really talented roster.

Speaker 8 (55:35):
Unfortunately, I mean you said they were very hurt.

Speaker 19 (55:38):
I think at one point, Patrick, they had like sixteen
guys on ir it was insanity and they still went
to the divisional round in the playoffs, unfortunately losing to
the Washington Commanders.

Speaker 8 (55:48):
But Aden Hutchinson should be healthy.

Speaker 19 (55:50):
Right, he's coming back from injury, Marcus Davenport coming back
from injury, Derek Barnes, who you just saw right there
coming back from injury. Own Zerike is one of my
favorite Lions. But they also made a splash losing Carlton
Davis of course, the cornerback, and Iffie Mill and fonn
Woom that secondary. But they made a splash bringing in
DJ Reid, who kind of flew under the radar a

(56:10):
little bit opposite Sauce Gardener there in New York with
the Jets. He's a feisty guy and he's going to
be fun to watch opposite, paired and opposite with Terry
on Arnold. A lot of changes though for these Detroit Lions.
They obviously have a new defensive coordinator in Kelvin Shephard,
a new offensive coordinator in John Morton.

Speaker 8 (56:30):
Kevin Zeitler's gone from.

Speaker 19 (56:32):
Their offensive line, so we'll see how they kind of
fill that hole with, which was one of the best
groups in the league last year. And you know where
Brad Holmes is going to do his damages in the draft.
He's done such a masterful job patrick drafting. I believe
right now they have seven picks starting at twenty eight
sixty and one oh two in the first, second, and
third rounds. But I really feel like if they can

(56:55):
stay healthy, they can improved defensively. We'll see if anything
changes inter of their scheme. The energy will be there
defensively with coach Shepherd. I know that to be true.

Speaker 1 (57:04):
Yeah, absolutely, And of course Dan Campbell's going to maintain
his energy as always in the rest of the division
looking up trying to catch the Detroit Lions. I have
a feeling Stacy Packers fans coming off of twenty twenty.

Speaker 2 (57:15):
Four and free agency.

Speaker 1 (57:16):
They get an NFL interception leader, a former NFL leading rusher.
They're thinking, yeah, we're going to be active in twenty
twenty five.

Speaker 2 (57:23):
Hasn't been a lot, but they do get Aaron Banks.

Speaker 19 (57:27):
Yeah, they got Aaron Banks, and that's good for them
because Josh Myers is now New York Jet, so their
centers gone. Elton Jenkins is so versatile and has such
great position flex which is something that general manager Brian
Gudokunz covets always. He loves flexible offensive lineman. Aaron Banks
comes in and listen. They came a ground and pound
type team last year. You mentioned Josh Jacobs Patrick. They

(57:51):
did some really good things actually with their offensive line,
actually pretty good protection for Jordan Love as well.

Speaker 8 (57:57):
So he's a big dude man.

Speaker 19 (57:59):
He's going to help push three year starter there for
the San Francisco forty nine ers. He's going to help
them push the pocket and hold things firm in there
for Jordan Love and for Josh Jacobs.

Speaker 8 (58:10):
But listen, I just Cooper Cup I.

Speaker 19 (58:15):
Mean, can we I know he's had some injury issues.
Christian Watson isn't going to be around probably until November
because of his knee injury from last season. I just
am so anxious to see if the Packers can add
a perennial wide receiver to this group. Brian Gudukunst has
a young team. I believe it's the youngest roster in

(58:36):
the NFL. I'm just kind of waiting right. Like, they've
got a pretty good offensive line, Walker Banks, I mentioned
Elton Jenkins, Sean Ryan and Zach Tom. We know the
running back's good, and then they're by committee with their
receiver group. But to me, you know, like they could
be a player or two away from being from chasing

(58:58):
down the Detroit Lions to de throwing them.

Speaker 8 (59:00):
It's a really good division.

Speaker 19 (59:00):
We saw three teams go to the playoffs last year
with the Vikings in there. But like Trey Hendrickson is
still available. I'm just very anxious to see how they
bolster their defensive line in Green Bay. And you know,
Josh Jacobs a forget me saying it. Josh Jacobs came
out publicly and said get us number one. And that's

(59:21):
no slight to the other guys. And they are by
committee and they've got talent. Jayden Reid's really good and
Romeo Dobbs is pretty good too.

Speaker 8 (59:28):
But it'd be fun to add another name, a big name.

Speaker 1 (59:31):
Yeah, just just that one piece, because Margins are so small.
And yes, they had problems with the Philadelphia Eagles in
the playoffs, so did everybody. It was a common problem
in the NFL. Stacey Dale's.

Speaker 8 (59:42):
Yes, Jeff Kalett is nodding his head in the control.

Speaker 2 (59:45):
Room, by the way.

Speaker 1 (59:45):
Yeah, well, we had to do a Packers segment purely
just so we could maintain Jeff Collet's attention, Stacy.

Speaker 2 (59:51):
So we have done that.

Speaker 1 (59:52):
We've accomplished that goal. Thank you to Stacy Dale's with
the latest in the NFC North. The Washington Commanders also
ran into the to share problems with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Speaker 2 (01:00:01):
So they go and get nineteen of them.

Speaker 1 (01:00:03):
The official announcement from the Commander's Twitter account the official
trade for Deebo Samuel, which was finalized as a four
o'clock Eastern today, the start of the new league year.

Speaker 2 (01:00:14):
We'll welcome in Jeffrey Chedia.

Speaker 1 (01:00:15):
As we discussed this week on The Insider, some winners
and losers in free agency. Who's the winner of this
Commander's offseason thus far?

Speaker 8 (01:00:23):
Jeffery, Oh, Adam Peters.

Speaker 20 (01:00:25):
Got to feel pretty good about the way things going,
but out there with Jayden Daniels, I think you look
at what Adam Peters did for Jane Daniels. He went
out and got Deebo Samuel in that trade, which was
huge as far as getting one more option at offense
to take some pressure off Terry McLaurin at wide receiver.
They re signed zach Ertz, which gives him a security blanket.
Jane Damson is a great connection with Ergin and finally

(01:00:46):
that trade to bring Larry Tunsel to town. You know,
Jayde Daniels didn't have to worry about his back his
blindside anymore. He knows that he's gonna be protected. And
so when you're talking about a team that had eighty
million dollars plus in salary cat space coming into this season,
already had a quarterback who won Rookie of the Year,
Jane Dams has got to see pretty good about what
the Commanders did for him.

Speaker 1 (01:01:05):
Yeah, a promising start for the Rookie of the Year.
We'll go back to a former MVP. It was we're
waiting on Aaron Rodgers. Also familiar with waiting on Aaron
Rodgers was Davante Adams back in his time with the
Green Bay Packers, who waited so long they didn't get
the deal that he wanted. He eventually left, reunited with
Aaron Rodgers, and now he's here in Los Angeles. So
a lot of teams evolved in that. Who's the winner

(01:01:27):
of the Davante Adams last few seasons? Right now, Jeff,
that ends up with him on Los Angeles.

Speaker 20 (01:01:32):
Well, it's DeVante Adams and he finally got realized stop
chasing quarterbacks around.

Speaker 2 (01:01:37):
He wanted to play with Derek Carr and Vegas. That
didn't work out.

Speaker 20 (01:01:40):
He went to the Jets to be with Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 2 (01:01:42):
That didn't work out so well.

Speaker 20 (01:01:43):
But now he's landing in a place that gives him
a lot of things that any receiver would love to have.
Won a great offense with Matthew Stafford, Sean mcfayk, call
in the place, cooking the coop. On the other side,
he's on the West Coast where he wanted to be,
but also a team that could actually win a championship.
After being with the Jets and the Raiders and going nowhere,
DeVante Adams has to feel pretty good about at thirty

(01:02:04):
years old, having a chance to win a championship with
this team.

Speaker 2 (01:02:07):
Yeah, a chance to win.

Speaker 1 (01:02:09):
As we do a winners and loser segment. I mean,
somebody's got to have a chance to lose. And we
discussed the way the season ended for k Cousins and
the Atlanta Falcons. Some promise for the rookie, not a
lot of promise for Kirk. How do you see free
agency going for Kirk right now? Jeff, Yeah, it's crazy.
I think last year at this time he was feeling
pretty good about life because he was the big free

(01:02:29):
agent catch and got a one hundred million dollars from
the Falcons and now he's sitting around wondering where's my
career going to go? And look, I understand the Falcons,
the perception and all this a perspective, which is.

Speaker 20 (01:02:41):
You know, somebody might trade for this guy, but he's
not gonna be playing Atlanta anymore. No, Michael Pennix has
that job. And the way this team blamed out the
thing about Kirk Cousins, he's like a running a NFL
and saying, wait a minute, Russell Wilson's out there, Aaron
Rodgers is out there. There's jobs to be had in
Cleveland and with the Giants and with the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (01:02:58):
Why can't I get a piece of this?

Speaker 4 (01:02:59):
And I think he's got to be thinking, man, things
change in a hurry.

Speaker 1 (01:03:04):
Jeffery, we discussed one veteran wide receiver and Davante Adams,
the stars of free agency last year. A thirty one
and a twenty eight year old running backer would go
one to two in rushing totals for the season. But
it seems like these older veteran I'll say veteran, I
don't want to call.

Speaker 2 (01:03:19):
Them old because they're all young. To me, wide receivers
still on the outside waiting what's going on?

Speaker 4 (01:03:24):
There.

Speaker 20 (01:03:25):
Yeah, the free agent market for older receivers looks pretty
rough right now. If these guys it was five years ago,
you'd be saying, man, Stefan Digs is out there, Cooper
Cup's going to be out there a little bit. We've
got Amari Cooper. DeAndre Hopkins just signed. But you know,
really it's been tough because you look at what the
way the market played out with all these trades with
Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf and a Christian Kirk. You know,

(01:03:47):
nobody knew these guys were going to be out there,
and so all of a sudden, these older guys got
to sit and wait for their opportunities and we'll see
what they get. Probably a lot of one year deals,
veteran minimums coming their way.

Speaker 1 (01:03:58):
How quickly, just a sign of how quickly the landscape
can change here in the NFL, bringing us our free
agency winners and losers thus far. Here on Wednesday, Jeffrey Toda, Thanks,
Jeff wore to come here on the Insiders. As we
continue to wait for one quarterback. One quarterback says, I'm
not waiting. I'm taking visits. Russell Wilson, going to see
the Browns and the Giants this week. What does that

(01:04:20):
mean for some of the other quarterbacks of a stussion
coming up next on The Insiders.

Speaker 2 (01:04:32):
Back on the Insiders, this was no Today.

Speaker 1 (01:04:33):
Coming into the nfll A newsroom, DeMarcus Lawrence, the former
now former Dallas Cowboy actually fourth all time sack leader
for the franchise, signing a three year contract worth up
to forty two million dollars eighteen million guaranteed for the
man with sixty one and a half career sex as
a Dallas Cowboy.

Speaker 2 (01:04:54):
Former Giant, and now former Jacksonville Jaguar.

Speaker 1 (01:04:56):
Evan Ingram signing a two year, twenty three million dollar
con with the Denver Broncos. That deal gets having Ingram
sixteen point five million dollars to be a tight end
for Sean Payton running routes for bo Nicks elsewhere.

Speaker 2 (01:05:11):
The Buffalo Bills get a defensive end.

Speaker 1 (01:05:14):
It's Joe Ebosa signing a one year deal with a
maximum value of fifteen point six million dollars if Bosa
is able to hit his incentives on the contract, and
another Buffalo Bill coming back, that is DeMar Hamlin, the
former Comeback Player of the Year, gets a one year
contract to return and remain in that secondary for the

(01:05:34):
Buffalo Bills taking a couple of visits this week. Former Seahawks,
former Broncos, and former Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson visiting with
the Cleveland Browns as well as the New York Giants
this week, while both of those teams presumably waiting on
a decision from Aaron Rodgers as well. Let's bring in

(01:05:57):
Sarah Walls to discuss this Cleveland Browns and I guess
Giants quarterback search as well as Russell Wilson.

Speaker 2 (01:06:05):
Will start with the Browns visiting there.

Speaker 1 (01:06:08):
What do you think goes on for Russell Wilson on
these visits and where's the potential landing spot.

Speaker 21 (01:06:13):
Well, here's the thing. Let's make it the Steelers and
the Browns. Let's just scroup this into the AFC North Patrick,
because it's actually getting wild there. If you think about
the scenario and you're trying to move these chess pieces around.
For example, you signed DK metcalf, who's his quarterback in Pittsburgh, Well,
it potentially could still be Russell Wilson. It's not going
to be Justin Fields, who is on the move to
the Jets. The Jets former quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He could

(01:06:35):
be going to Pittsburgh for all we know. It's just
been a rotating carousel. And now Russell Wilson from the
Steelers to potentially the Browns as he meets with them.
I did several Browns games last year, and in the
span of the Browns games I did, I saw Deshaun
Watson play quarterback. I saw Dorian Thompson Robinson play quarterback.
I saw Jameis Winston play quarterback. Now, of course dtr

(01:06:58):
is in a swap with the Eagles to Kenny Pickett,
who also formerly played for the Steelers, a former first rounder.
He is currently on the Browns roster, as is Deshaun Watson,
who we don't expect to see next year after we
retour that.

Speaker 8 (01:07:10):
Achilles in January. So a real carousel.

Speaker 21 (01:07:13):
But until the Browns get this solved, get this solidified,
they're going to continue to have the same problems. And
I don't have to tell Browns fans that they have
had over the last couple of years. And then, of course,
the Browns hold the number two overall pick in the draft,
they could go that way, although it feels like they're
going to do something to solidify that quarterback room really fast.
And the other thing is I didn't throw this name

(01:07:33):
at Kirk Cousins could still be in the mix to
go to Cleveland, who is still on the roster in Atlanta,
but we do not believe he will be on the
roster when that season kicks off. So there are a
lot of moving pieces. But this is a Browns team
that I was at training camp with them a year
ago and optimism was really high when you consider what
they did in twenty twenty three and the wheels came
off in twenty twenty four, and you know that there

(01:07:54):
is no way that they want to go into this
season again having that type same type of feeling.

Speaker 8 (01:07:58):
Right.

Speaker 21 (01:07:59):
They want to get this fan, they want to get
this solved. But they're going to have to figure out
who is their starting quarterback.

Speaker 2 (01:08:04):
And that has been the thing, Sarah.

Speaker 1 (01:08:06):
As the Browns had that championship window, the missing piece
was the quarterback. But as time has gone on, there's
other problems on the roster that aren't just limited to quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (01:08:16):
So how do they go about addressing those?

Speaker 21 (01:08:18):
Yeah, I don't think anyone believed when the season kicked
off that if you said this team given the talent that.

Speaker 8 (01:08:23):
They had on that roster, was going to finish with
three wins. Really hard to believe.

Speaker 21 (01:08:27):
And it's also why really understandable for Miles gear who's
been so good for so long, when he said he
wanted a trade because he wanted to win. You don't
think anybody would have faulted him, right. This is a
guy that has been at the top of his game.

Speaker 8 (01:08:40):
Understandably frustrated.

Speaker 21 (01:08:41):
I think one of the biggest surprises in the last
couple of days is the fact that they were able
to get this guy who wanted to leave to stay.

Speaker 20 (01:08:47):
Now.

Speaker 8 (01:08:47):
Changing a bank account can certainly do that, but you.

Speaker 21 (01:08:49):
Have to believe that they gave him some assurances that
this thing was on the right track.

Speaker 8 (01:08:54):
There have not been a.

Speaker 21 (01:08:54):
Lot of splash plays, although I know Ian Rappaport just
reported a little earlier today that defensive tackle Malik Collins
is on his way to Cleveland.

Speaker 8 (01:09:02):
I can also tell you Joe.

Speaker 21 (01:09:04):
Tryon Schoyanka, who went from the Bucks now to Cleveland.
I'd cover him in the last couple of years. He's
a former first rounder and edge rusher, came out really raw,
a lot of potential. The Buccaneers never really got the
production out of him that they were hoping for, but
because of his physical build, because there is still that
people love potential, and I think that there's still a
lot of optimism that he could turn into the player

(01:09:26):
that the Bucks ultimately thought that they were getting when
they drafted him. But the Browns have a lot of
moving parts. They have pieces distill fill. You have Miles
Garrett leading this defense, which is obviously something you feel
really really good about, and then they're going to continue
to add and you believe that they continue to add
these defensive pieces in the draft as well.

Speaker 6 (01:09:44):
Patrick.

Speaker 1 (01:09:44):
Yeah, it's ultimately, Sarah a case for positivity. If whatever
pitch was made to Miles Garrett had some symbolans of
a planet was good enough for Miles that perhaps Browns
fans can look at that and say, well.

Speaker 2 (01:09:55):
It's good enough for us. Hope Springs Eternal in Cleveland.
Sarah Walsh was the latest.

Speaker 1 (01:10:00):
Greg Rosenthal's Top one hundred and one free agents.

Speaker 2 (01:10:05):
This is the big board. The players still remaining on it.

Speaker 1 (01:10:07):
You see they're down at number eleven, Amari Cooper, number
twenty one, a Sante Samuel Junior. It's a testament to
Greg's work that most of these players have got teams
beside of them. Greg, your players are flying off the board,
specifically because of what you.

Speaker 14 (01:10:22):
I've never seen the first day of free agency officially
the new league year, and seven players only remain in
my top fiftye.

Speaker 1 (01:10:30):
It's a grap There's one player not on the list
because he's currently still a Jet. That is Aaron Rodgers
expected to be released. A lot of thoughts can be
had about Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
What are your thoughts about Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 14 (01:10:41):
My thoughts are that this is one of the all
time great players, and yet we're at a point of
his career where the New York Jets, a team that
desperately wants good quarterback play, are saying, we don't want
this guy so much in our building that we are
willing to take forty nine million dollars in dead Capin so,
if we're positioning it as like it's a sweepstakes for

(01:11:01):
Aaron Rodgers, that Jet said no, thank you, please, Giants
take them like these are two organizations that don't get
along well at all. These are two proud organizations in
the Steelers and the Giants, and they're just hoping for
scraps and they're not in a good position at all.
Pittsburgh spends all this money at wide receiver with DK Metcalf,
they don't have a quarterback. The Giants spent all last

(01:11:22):
season realizing they made a mistake with Daniel Jones and
they're just hoping Aaron Rodgers picks them. Okay, so they're
in a bad spot. Then let's talk about where Rogers
is at. I was listening to the insiders in the
last hour say, oh, he doesn't really care about what
people are saying, and he's at the beach having fun
and he doesn't care. This is a man who allowed
a show that was all about him to be called Enigma.

Speaker 4 (01:11:44):
He cares very much.

Speaker 8 (01:11:45):
He wants us to talk about him very much.

Speaker 14 (01:11:48):
I mean, that's the whole point is he wants to
seem like he doesn't care. And I think he's going
to own this next month. He is like the Dallas
Cowboys of players. He knows when attention is on him,
and if he stretches this thing out, he could just
have all the attention on him. I also do wonder
if he's just trying to get revenge for the twenty
fourteen NFC championship against the Packers because poor Russell Wilson,

(01:12:11):
he's the only one in a worse spot. He's just
waiting to find out what Aaron Rodgers does. He's the
next guy behind him.

Speaker 1 (01:12:16):
Yeah, a few folks, I guess you could be getting
revenge against an entire apparatus by delaying this decision.

Speaker 2 (01:12:21):
But there it's going to have some stakes with regards
to that.

Speaker 1 (01:12:25):
Of course, having the top one on one leads to
stakes and potential criticism. We got a new segment dropping
today on the inside.

Speaker 2 (01:12:31):
It's called you better be.

Speaker 1 (01:12:33):
Right with Greg Rosenthal because there have been some moves
and you feel those moves are very consequential and somebody
better be right. First up, Sam Donald.

Speaker 14 (01:12:42):
I like it when teams are bold. But John Schneider,
the Seahawks general manager, trading Gino Smith away to bring
in Sam Donald. It all makes sense on paper, but
you better be right. And when you bring in Sam Donald,
part of the argument is we have that money to
go spend on the rest of the team. Let's improve

(01:13:02):
the offensive line. I haven't seen any improvements on that
offensive line. Yeah, I've seen some good defensive signings. De
Marcus Lawrence goes there Ernest Jones comes back. But to me,
this is John Schneider, who, in a somewhat surprising move,
got to be one of the more powerful general managers
in the league when Pete Carroll got sent out to
Las Vegas, sending Gino and saying, okay, you can have

(01:13:26):
him back. This is your guy, Gino Smith. He better
be right on Sam Darnold this year. This is a
team that won ten games a year ago with Gino
Smith and they got to win now.

Speaker 1 (01:13:35):
Yeah, he better be right, otherwise consequence is coming for
John Schneiner.

Speaker 2 (01:13:39):
Let's look over to the.

Speaker 1 (01:13:40):
Houston Texans and Nick Cassario making a move bringing up
some space, trading Laramie Tunzel to the Washington Commanders.

Speaker 2 (01:13:46):
You feel like Casario better.

Speaker 14 (01:13:48):
Be right, and he might be right because I got
to admit Nick Casera has done a great job with
that rebuilding effort in Houston, the talent based and Jamiko Ryans,
I think this is an organization that makes decisions together,
where the CO and the GM are on the same page.

Speaker 4 (01:14:02):
But man CJ.

Speaker 14 (01:14:03):
Stroud last year was under so much pressure week after week.

Speaker 4 (01:14:08):
It was a.

Speaker 14 (01:14:09):
Problem the year before that. So they haven't shown a
nobility to solve this problem. The reporting is that Titus
Howard is going to play left tackle. They bring in
a new offensive coordinator, Nick Kyley, that could help the
offensive line. But if you're sending out one of the
best pass protectors of his entire generation.

Speaker 8 (01:14:25):
If CJ.

Speaker 14 (01:14:26):
Stroud is taking six seven eight sacks a game early
in the season, that is going to reflect very poorly
on the Texans management. So they better be right.

Speaker 2 (01:14:34):
They better be right about it.

Speaker 1 (01:14:36):
And our last team that better be right is the
Dallas Cowboys. And I'm looking for what they better be
right about.

Speaker 2 (01:14:41):
What is it great?

Speaker 14 (01:14:42):
Well, just this whole selective aggression. You know, you let
DeMarcus Lawrence Lee if you do sign Osa Idga Zuez,
so you kept the guy in the building that I
think is going to be a productive player. But ultimately
they're doing what the Cowboys do, which is not much.
In free agency. Javonte Williams, you bring him in for
a little bit money. You let Rico Dawbdell leave. You
make these trades for first round picks that you had

(01:15:05):
evaluated a few years ago very highly. Kenneth Murray and
Kyrie Elam. You're not giving up much for him, But
we saw them do this with Jonathan Mingo too, and
they're just not being aggressive in free agency, and last
year it certainly didn't work out for them, and I
just think this year begged for them to be a
little more aggressive. So they better be right about that, all.

Speaker 1 (01:15:25):
Right, Folks in Dallas, you better be right. Aaron Rodgers,
the Dallas Cowboys of quarterbacks. We had we come full
circle here, and you better be right if you want
to see the top one on one, which you should.
It should be a part of your free agency consumption
every single day.

Speaker 2 (01:15:40):
NFL dot Com slash Rosenthal.

Speaker 14 (01:15:42):
Also check out the NFL Daily with Greg Rosevel with
Patrick Claibon. And I mean, like you imagine how many
meetings there were and everyone was just okay with calling
the Aaron Rodgers show enigma. I'm just saying, just saying
I had.

Speaker 1 (01:15:53):
To run it by one person in particular, the person
who does care. I hey, we care about the Georgia
Pro Day going today. As the players get there, testing
a few combine invites, got Balk out there to go again.
Jalen Walker is the number one linebacker on Bucky Brook's
Top five linebacker prospects right ahead of Jahad Campbell, Danny Stutsman,

(01:16:16):
Barrett Carter, and Carson Schweizer out of UCLA. Jalen Walker
with our Taylor Brashati at the Georgia Pro Day today.

Speaker 22 (01:16:25):
Jalen, We're gonna have to wait another month to see
you on the field running and doing drills. You injured
your quad. How are you feeling?

Speaker 15 (01:16:30):
Yeah, I feel great. I mean, I had that mishap,
but I feel good. I mean I'm back doing the
drills and running. I feel good and I feel very
published about the seventeenth.

Speaker 22 (01:16:40):
You're gonna have your own pro day, Like you said
on the seventeenth, what are you wanting to show to
teams when you do work out that?

Speaker 15 (01:16:47):
My movement is pretty special. I got a good twitch
to myself, and I'm very smooth, and I'm very versatile,
just because the way I might rush a lot, I
can drop and I can do a lot of these things.

Speaker 22 (01:16:58):
Speaking of that versatility, you call yourself an HLB. Explain
what that means to us.

Speaker 15 (01:17:03):
Yeah, I'm a hybrid linebacker. The opportunity to do both,
to be an outside backer and an inside backer. And
actually I played a lot of star this year as well.
Played over the guard a little bit as well. It's
just what I am. I wanted to be different and
that's my different tag.

Speaker 22 (01:17:18):
Well, you've shown that you can play truly, you can
play it all, inside, outside, defensive end. What do you
like the most?

Speaker 15 (01:17:24):
I like getting to the quarterback the most. You put
me at any anywhere, secondary, d line, inside backer, start,
I'm going to get there. You tell me to go get
the quarterback, and go get them.

Speaker 22 (01:17:34):
Okay, there's got to be one quarterback that you've circled
that you're dying to get to. Which one is that man?

Speaker 15 (01:17:41):
The one on the on the schedule for the week,
I don't really know. I'm excited just to have the
opportunity to get to the to the NFL and a
week the week I'm gonna have somebody circle on my list.

Speaker 22 (01:17:51):
What's the pre draft process been like for you? Have
you gone on any visits.

Speaker 15 (01:17:55):
I haven't gone on any visits yet, but I do have,
you know, plans to go. Pre draft process has been great.
I mean I enjoyed my time, you know, training with
the guys at the facility in Plano, at Dallas, XOS.
The opportunity to come back to Athens and enjoyed pro day.
It's been well man. I'm a joining the process and
the people I've been meeting.

Speaker 22 (01:18:14):
Thank you so much for the time. We can see
where you go next month.

Speaker 1 (01:18:17):
Thank you thanks to Jalen as well as Taylor Beshott
a couple of dogs there. Let's get Bucky Brooks in
to discuss that Georgia linebacker prospect. Bucky said, the versatility
he's playing the star for Kirby Smart. He says, Nika
Fitzpatrick played the start. Just how versatile is Jalen Walker.

Speaker 2 (01:18:33):
I think what was.

Speaker 13 (01:18:34):
Really revealing in that interview he called himself an h LB.
So now the next time that we have a top five,
I got to make sure I put a special column
in there for the hybrid linebackers because, honestly, Patrick, when
I look at him, he's like so many of these
guys in the draft class where they are doing what
I call the Micah Parsons thing, meaning they line up

(01:18:55):
on at linebacker on first and second down. On third down,
they put their hand into the dirt, naked, come off
the edge. You can see them at times line up
in the slot and run down the seam. And because
of the versatility and what I would say the deep
bag that they possess. It allows defensive coordinators to get
really creative. Walker is a unique playmaker, one that defensive

(01:19:15):
coordinators cover it. But his partner, Michael Williams is another
one that you have to talk about because when he
puts his hand on the dirt, he gets after the
quarterback first step quickness, burst, nastiness when it comes to
being able to utilize his hands, and then he is
relentless with the kind of competitive stamina that you love
to see from past rushers. He hasn't put up the

(01:19:36):
big numbers yet, but you can see the potential.

Speaker 23 (01:19:39):
And I'll say this, he has a nice kind of
way about him with the physicality and toughness that makes
defensive coordinators believe that you can be a double digit
sack artist at the next level.

Speaker 1 (01:19:51):
And we've seen plenty come out of the program in
recent years, also in the secondary as well. Or Malaco
Starks one of your top safeties participating in there and
pro day.

Speaker 2 (01:20:00):
At Athens today. What do we look forward to from
Malakos Starks buck.

Speaker 13 (01:20:05):
So when you look at him, the biggest compliment of
Scout can give to a player is to call him
a football player, meaning that they do all the things
that you want to see from your high level football players, IQ,
diagnostic skills, toughness, they're willing to tackle, that can make plays.

Speaker 8 (01:20:22):
On the ball down the middle or all the way
to the numbers.

Speaker 13 (01:20:25):
When you watch the tape of Malacot Stars, particularly last year,
you see all of those things.

Speaker 2 (01:20:30):
His final season, he didn't show up as much. But
part of the job of.

Speaker 13 (01:20:34):
A scout is to look at the entire body of work.
This is a plug and play player, someone to step
in and have immediate success as one of those BALLHWK
and safeties.

Speaker 8 (01:20:43):
This dude is really talented.

Speaker 13 (01:20:45):
He's really good and even though people will say, oh,
you know, the combined time wasn't what we wanted, at
the end of the day, the game is played in
helmets and pads. Don't overlook a really good player because
he didn't light him to combine physically.

Speaker 1 (01:20:58):
Yeah, plenty of film player against high level competition. Hopefully
one run in Indianapolis does it change the long term
outlook for Malacow Stars. Bucky Brooks looking at some of
the dogs after Georgia's Pro day here in twenty twenty five.
When we come back we got a chance to look
at all the news that came into our newsroom today
here on one of the final days of coverage of

(01:21:18):
the frenzy.

Speaker 2 (01:21:19):
But the frenzy continues when we come back here on
the NFL Network.

Speaker 1 (01:21:29):
In fact, on the Insiders, the Jets releasing five time
Pro Bowl linebackers CJ. Moseley, a top free agent acquisition
a few years ago. Linebacker now available after CJ. Moseley's release.
Also linebacker news Denzel Paraman back with the Los Angeles
Chargers as he agreed to terms on a new deal.

(01:21:51):
And also the acquisition of AJ Dillon led to this post.

Speaker 2 (01:21:56):
From the NFL account.

Speaker 1 (01:21:58):
There's four heads of the quadrcep muscle, all four of
them very visible for both Saquon Barkley and AJ Dillon.
As we get back out to our Insiders, what more
time on today's show, What's up?

Speaker 2 (01:22:08):
Guys?

Speaker 3 (01:22:10):
The new league year has officially started. Patrick, There's so
much that can happen now. Trades can be finalized, contracts
can be signed. Mike, what else are we looking at
here as we roll into twenty twenty five officially by
NFL standards.

Speaker 7 (01:22:26):
Yeah, one of the more interesting pieces of pieces of advice,
pieces of news that came today. Brock Purdy got a
check for eight hundred and fifty and forty two and
performance based pay, which is how they compensate guys who
sort of outperform their contract. His base salary last year
was only nine hundred ninety three thousand. Was doubled his salary. Well,
he's gonna get a lot more coming up.

Speaker 8 (01:22:45):
Nothing in in it there.

Speaker 2 (01:22:46):
They have started talks.

Speaker 7 (01:22:47):
They're off to a good start, but it's just the
start as of right now.

Speaker 9 (01:22:52):
I have really enjoyed spending the first half of this
week and free agency frenzy in Aaron Rodgers watch like
we were doing this only a few years ago before
he decided he would come to the New York Jets.
Hope we are not doing this again next year.

Speaker 6 (01:23:09):
Here's what I will remember a free agency frenzy. Literally nothing.
I have no idea what happened.

Speaker 5 (01:23:14):
I cannot wait to go back and look at all
the tweets and be.

Speaker 6 (01:23:17):
Like this guy side with that team for how much?

Speaker 5 (01:23:20):
And then go to training cap be like, wait, Milton
Williams is on the Patriots.

Speaker 4 (01:23:24):
Thanks, We're marking sevent eastern tomorrow

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Insiders Podcast: First Day of the New League Year, Latest Free Agency News, Likely Landing Spots for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and MORE!