NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Judy Battista and Ian Rapoport welcome back the NFL as several teams begin voluntary offseason programs today. They share insight on the mutual agreement between the Titans and Shedeur Sanders to cancel his private workout with the team. Geno Smith spoke to the media for the first time since signing his contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Insiders break down why Pete Carroll was adamant about signing his former QB in Seattle. Florida State CB Azareye'h Thomas speaks with Tom and Ian about his preparation for the NFL Draft and opens up about what he's picked up from fellow Seminole Jalen Ramsey to add to his game. Stacey Dales and Marc Ross speak with Judy about the beginning of the Bears' voluntary offseason program and discuss Pete Carroll's ability to get the best out of geno Smith. Plus, Lance Zierlein explains why Shedeur Sanders' pro day didn't impact his prior evaluation of the Colorado QB and why he has Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty falling to the Bears at 10!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Football is back, or at least something loosely resembling football.
It is April seventh. We will take what we can get.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Off season programs are underway, and we're gonna break down
the reasons for optimism about Caleb Williams and Drake May
with new head coaches in year two. Gino Smith is
officially a Raider, almost a month after we reported Gino
Smith was officially a Raider. As Ian might say, now
it's officially official. The contract's done, and Gino speaks and
(00:37):
why he wanted to reunion with Pete Carroll and why
he believes Las Vegas can compete Right now, the draft
just seventeen short days away. All signs pointing toward cam
Ward going number one to the Titans, which would mean
the Browns are on the clock at number two. Could
Cleveland shake up the rest of round one. We'll tell
you what we know and not just keep guessing until
(00:59):
ultimate leave. One of them has to be right. Welcome
inside with the insiders alongside Judy Batista and Ian rappaport
I am Tom pelicerro Azari, a Thomas Florida State cornerback,
potential first round pick. He's gonna join the show in
just a little bit tonight. Like I said, seventeen days
until the draft. Land Zerline will be here breaking down
(01:21):
his latest mock and exactly how far he had Shador
Sanders falling this time. But then I mentioned football is back.
If you love guys walking into a building and short videos,
you're gonna love this show. Kayleb Williams in the house
because Ben Johnson has a new head coach, gets a
two week jumpstart on everybody else, the first time that
(01:42):
he can truly begin within limitations the process of working
with Caleb and the rest of that bears roster. Justin
Field's also at work his new head coach, Aaron Glenn
in the building with the Jets. Justin Field's coming over
from Pittsburgh on a two year deal. He's about so
much business. We couldn't even get the video of him walking.
We did get the Patriots longer camera angles on this one.
(02:04):
Drake may though, among those who reported you would think
today a bunch of other guys you can see from
an instance across the sidewalk right here. I'm not gonna
let that damper my enthusiasm because five teams are back
to work. Today the Bears, the Patriots and the Jets,
the Jaguars and the Raiders will begin their work on Tuesday.
More on Las Vegas in just a little bit, but Judy,
(02:27):
let's start out by talking about those Patriots back to
work today, Mike Vrabel as the head coach, Josh McDaniels
back in the fold as the offensive coordinator. It is
all about getting Drake May headed the right direction. I
think it is fair to say there is optimism after
a couple of years the Robert Kraft said was the
most difficult of his ownership, that maybe, just maybe now
(02:50):
is the time to start bringing this thing for.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Well.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
If Robert Kraft speaking last week at the annual meeting
is any indication, there's an awful lot of excitement anticipation
about what Mike Rabel is going to do with this franchise.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Let's be clear.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
The start of the off season program, they're not practicing, right.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
This is all about.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Conditioning and meetings and you see this weightlifting, maybe running
a little bit, but not anything that looks like a
football practice. Really, this is an opportunity to get to
know each other, the coaches and the players, certainly the
Drake May Josh McDaniel's relationship is going to be very important.
It is also an opportunity for new head coaches like
(03:30):
Mike Rabel in particular, to set a tone, and there
is certainly going to be a different tone in Foxborough
than there was last season. Mike Rabel is expected to
be much more of a task master, a harder coach,
I think than we saw last season. They are certainly
going to be more detail oriented. This is an opportunity
(03:51):
for him to be in front of the players for
the first time, a lot of new faces in that building.
They did an awful lot of work in free agency.
Certainly we are all going to pay the most attention
to Drake May and Josh McDaniels, But I think more broadly,
the tone that Mike Vrabel sets in these early days
is going to be really critical to where this team heads.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Patriots certainly put in work, as you saw in that
has hastily cut together video right there, Ian, I feel
like if they've edited together all my reps I get
in the morning, it would also look like I got
a heck of a pump in the New York Jets.
Also back to work here, we're talking about the Patriots.
They're uphill climb within that division that's been dominated for
so many years now by the Buffalo Bills. The Jets
have the same task in front of them here, a
(04:35):
little different approach though in terms of how they're putting
that thing together with off season workouts beginning today under
Aaron Glenn.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
By the way, I kind of like that Patriots video
kind of pum me up a little bit, Watson. Everyone
lift weight so quickly and so efficially.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
It's just like.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
This.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I feel like it's like.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
When you want some bo make a video like a
million Punches tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Yeah, that was like a rocky talk about I want
a montage you.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I've seen I've been in a hotel, gym or something
with someone does that. It's very, very weird and off putting.
But anyway, let's not talk about my last experience at
the scouting combine anyway. Uh, Let's talk about the New
York Jets instead. We showed a still of Justin Fields
walking into the building. There's a lot going on with
the Jets. There's a new general manager and Darren Mougey.
There's a new head coach in Aaron Glenn.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
But so much of this is.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
About Justin Fields, because if you look at this Jets roster,
Yes there were some signings, for instance, jeam In Sherewood,
really nice signing, really good player, got in ans contract.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
He was there.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
You know, there were a lot of players that are
already there. I mean, this is a talented team.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
I know.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The record last year was bad.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Quarterback play, Aaron Rodgers wasn't good. Head coach gets fired
early in the season. The whole thing is a mess.
There is, though a foundation. If you look at what
the Jets did in free agency, it wasn't an overhaul.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
It was more tweaky.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
It was more sort of middle class free agent signings
to kind of bolster the foundation.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
The biggest one.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Was Justin Fields, and Justin Fields when he played last
year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a good enough starter
to lead them out to a winning record before he
eventually got bench Russell Wilson that.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
It all went the wrong direction.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Justin Fields is out to show that he is a
bona fide starter in the NFL. If he is, if
he is better than average, if he comes in and
is a secure quarterback, this could be a really really
fast turnaround for new head coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Two years, forty million, a strong bridge deal, though apparently
they forgot to negotiate him a shirt. There's no way
it was warm enough to justify the shirtless videos.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
But this again, this is what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
On April seventh, so one spot in New York for
starting quarterback is taken. The guy who competed with Justin
Field beat him out lastyear. Russell Wilson now with the Giants,
but could Schenor Sanders ultimately join him in New York.
Here's what we know as of now. Again nothing official.
Titans insists not decided, but all signs continued to point
to cam Ward going number one, including Ian. The Titans
(07:00):
decision to not even follow through and work out two
of the four players privately that Brian Callahan told me
just last week are among the four elite prospects in
this class.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Well, let's focus on one of those players, right, because
if the Titans have the number one overall pick, presumably
if they keep the pick, it'll be a quarterback. So
really this is about Shador Sanders and several Titans people.
We're at his workout. A really impressive Colorado showcase last week.
Now mutually they decided Shador Sanders, his people, Tennessee Titans
and their people that this workout didn't make a lot
(07:34):
of sense, and there are obviously reasons for that. Signs
continue as you mentioned a point to the Tennessee Titans
drafting cam Ward as their number one overall pick. If
that is a fact, that it is not a fact yet,
but if that is a fact, in working out Shador
doesn't really make a whole lot of spense sense, especially
because you just did it in front of them a
couple days ago. No one wants to waste anyone's time.
(07:55):
That's why this decision was made. And if you needed
further proof though of where the Titans are and what
they are considering what they're leading, this was it. Yes,
there is interest from teams in trading up to one.
I just don't really get the sense of those have
gained any traction. Tom and them deciding with Sue door
Standers not to do his workout just put you know,
(08:17):
more evidence that that is the case.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
If it's not cam Ward number one to the Titans,
this is going to be one of the great fakeouts
in NFL draft history. But that means that the draft
essentially would start at number two with the Cleveland Browns
and then the Giants at number three. This is going
to be fascinating over the next seventeen days until we
get to draft night. What direction the Cleveland Browns going,
(08:43):
because they obviously need a quarterback too. They have Kenny
Pickens on the roster who they got this offseason, but
they could use a quarterback if they decide to draft one.
Would they draft Shitdoor Sanders number two or would they
go with the two superstars? One of the two superstars
who are available there Travis Hunter, the two way player
who Andrew Berry, the general manager of the Browns, has
(09:04):
already indicated they view mostly primarily as a wide receiver,
although Travis Hunter has made clear he wants to play
both ways in the NFL. Or with the edge rusher
Dull Carter from Penn State. Those two guys, if you
assume that the Titans are going to go with a quarterback,
those two guys would be on the board and available
for the Browns. Would they pass on them to take
(09:26):
a quarterback. That decision, of course, would then impact what
the Giants do. They too need a quarterback, would they
draft Shador Sanders or would they take whoever? The Browns
don't take so many moving parts, a whole lot of indecision.
It's going to lead to a really fascinating draft, Knight.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
And if Shdor Sanders does not go at two or three,
the next team that even plausibly could take one will
be the Raiders at six, although they already invested a
third round picking a new contract. And the other quarterback
who is now a member of the Raiders, that is
Geno Smith for the first time, dawning that Raiders had
officially signing his new contract and fair to say, ecstatic
(10:06):
but reunited with his old head coach.
Speaker 7 (10:10):
I think there is unfinished business, and I think, you know,
when when people think about my story, you know, Coach
Carroll was a big part of that. You know, he
gave me an opportunity when not many people would have.
And he saw, you know, the hard work that I
was putting in. He saw the things behind the scenes
that I that I do that allowed me to get
this opportunity. But to be able to play for him
and again to be a part of this organization, it
(10:31):
means everything to myself and my family. Uh.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
I was just telling them man, I'll run.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Through a wall for him and he knows that, and
I'll do the same for my teammates and for this organization.
And so I just want that to be, you know,
kind of who I am, and I want that to
be the statement of who I am as the quarterback
of this team.
Speaker 8 (10:49):
That I might hit that wall before you get there.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I've seen it, and sometimes he's forget duty that. Gino
Smith a few years ago was a thirty one year
old scent, a journeyman, a backup, whatever you wanted to
call him. Nobody thought Gino Smith would be sitting here
now with his second team, in the second phase of
his career, getting a starting opportunity. But you got that
(11:12):
sense that this trade was about more than money for
Gino Smith, who got exactly the same amount this year
from the Raiders that he would have gotten on the
new deal that the Seahawks offered him here. This was
about reuniting with the guy who really was a big
part of giving him that opportunity to revive his career.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Well, it's a guy who led to his renaissance and
who believed in him, and now who clearly believes in
him still a second time in Pete Carroll. I think
it's also indicative of what the Raiders want to get
from Gino Smith. First of all, Pete Carroll mentioned stability,
which certainly that franchise could use at that position after
having a revolving door for the last few seasons. But
(11:50):
also Pete Carroll is looking for a messenger of his culture.
When they hired Pete Carroll, Loop was clear they wanted
a culture center. That is Pete Carroll's game here, and
Gino Smith is going to be the guy to deliver that.
Pete Carroll talked about He'll represent us in a magnificent way,
and he said, you know, he does things we believe in.
(12:12):
He talked a lot about the way Geno prepares his
work ethic, So clearly is not just looking for Geno
Smith the quarterback. He is looking for Geno Smith the
role model and the mentor and somebody who can deliver
to the Raiders organization the type of player that Pete
Carroll wants to have on his roster.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
If the Raiders had not made the Gino Smith trade,
they would have a lot of pressure on them right
now to go find a quarterback at number six. Instead,
they have optionality, which could include giving him a guy
in the backfield who might be able to help him out.
Ashton Genty is going to be visiting the Raiders, as
Ian reported earlier today, a guy Ian who has been
connected in a lot of mock drafts a lot of
speculation to landing right there in Vegas.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Right, And you know this is one where of course,
as Genty is visiting the Las Vegas Raiders, and you know,
if you have a team that picks that early, you
have a player, this dynamic who really could be a rare,
rare top ten running back. Makes a lot of sense
that the Raiders are visiting with them, also visiting with
Quinn Ewers, who would be a potential option for them
at quarterback maybe in the second round.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
We'll see what ends up happening there.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
But specifically to Genty, this certainly is one time that
the fans, especially Raiders fans.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Have grabbed hold of, right.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
I mean, he is, he's a fun player, he's a
dynamic player. He is to kind of do everything running
back you rarely get. And this is a team that
does seem to be overall pretty solid, just don't really
have that bellcal game breaking running back. So yeah, I
would say, there's a lot of dot connecting here. There's
a lot of fans being like, see, see, they're interested.
(13:47):
This is obviously one to keep an eye. We don't
know right now whether or not the Raiders will take
Ash and genty, but I do know this, if they do,
there'll be many Raiders fans who go, I told you so.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Quin you were was also among the visits upcoming for
the Raiders, a potential target, not at number six, but
potentially maybe on Day two if they decided to add
a young guy to that room with old Gino Smith
who's still getting paid at this phase in his career.
That's not the only pre draft visits in recent days
and coming up here. Mason Taylor's son of Jason, visited
the Chargers last Thursday. He's got a few more visits
(14:22):
coming up, including the dad's old team in Miami, Carson
Schwessinger having time with the Ravens, Joshua Farmer visiting these Steelers,
and Savon Ravel Junior, really interesting prospect coming off of
torn acl first round talent all Day visiting the Bills,
the Colts, and the Vikings. Also going to be back
for his combine recheck on that visit to Indianapolis, all
(14:42):
signs pointing toward him being cleared shortly after the draft
to get back out on the field. Jennings wants to
throw gonna sail it down the field, but sorry, A
Thomas put a nail in it.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Hey see big time.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Here come pressure black leg brawled it up near aside
by courting.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Good go.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Zori. A. Thomas not just one of the most fun
names to say in this NFL draft, but one of
the top quarterbacks too. And our guest right now on
the Insiders with me, Tom Pelasero and Ian Rappaport, seventeen
eight days out from the draft. Here, where have you been?
Where are you going? What all is happening in your
life right now?
Speaker 6 (15:34):
Man, it's sir, So I've been training back in Tallahasseem.
I had a well, I have a post pro day
packet that I'm going by standing football shape. I'm going
on team Team visits Team Zoom. So it's pretty busy,
but at the end of the day, it's a blessing.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
So uh, before we get to what I was going
to ask you, what teams you go into any any
plans you can share coming up the next couple.
Speaker 6 (15:59):
Days yes, sir, So I've visited with the Stillers and
I and the Saints.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Okay, so you're a Florida State corner. Obviously someone who's
going to be drafted early in this draft process. There
have been a lot of very good Florida State corners
I think about it. First in that comes to mind,
of course, is Jalen Ramsey. What do you think of
the lineage of Florida State corners and who did you
kind of want to model your game.
Speaker 6 (16:26):
After most definitely, Now, I wouldn't say model, but just
something that I can just learn, somebody that I can
learn from and see what he's good at and see
just the different types of tools that he uses that
I can add.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Into my toolbox.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
So it will most definitely be Jaalen Ramsey, just his
his lenk and just his swagger and his confidence and
how the opposing team may not even know that he's
on the field just looking at them physically, but they
can feel him out there. And so that's just one
guy that I proub myself in watching as well.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Somewhere out there, Dion Sanders just heard in say the
first Florida State corner that comes to mind is Jalen
Ramsey and shudder a little bit and let that well,
let that slide. Literally one of the greatest players Cenvil history. Yeah,
it's jale Ramsey, also a really really good player. I
know it was Aria though you're also you're also a
Cam Newton fan. Did you ever have designs on playing
the other side of the ball? Could we have seen
(17:23):
a parallel universe where you're on offense?
Speaker 6 (17:25):
Yes, sir, I actually played both sides of the ball
my whole life and growing up high school, I had
offers at receiver actually, so the players and other people
may not even know that.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
So I had sec offers to play receiver as well.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
But I just like the Lord led either play dB
and I'm here now, so I'm thanksul.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
So you have a brother in the NFL, je Ye,
who has has been playing for the Dallas Cowboys, obviously
someone who can give you a little taste of what
the NFL is like before you get there. What kind
of a role model or example was he and then
what advice has.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
He given you? Yes, my brother is somebody that I
look up to.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
I don't have anybody that I idolize really outside of
my two brothers.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
So I actually have an oldest brother.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
As well as in they ray, but one year since,
since he's in the league, I was speak about him.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
But growing up, they said, they said the blueprint out
for me. I didn't.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
I didn't really have to stress about anything about how
I was going to figure things out. They already prepared
me before I even entered those certain stages.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
That I've been in my life. And now I'm about
to go to the league.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
The main thing that he's been telling me and uh
and just reminded me the harp on is the same
thing that got you here in the league is not
is not what's going to keep you here. So you
have to enhance your habits. You have to change your habits.
You have to you have to watch who you're listening to.
You have to watch who you're hanging out with, and
uh and the and and another thing is the higher
you go is the louder it gets. And so that's
(18:58):
just one thing that he's been telling me in some
that I've been harping on and something that I've been
preparing and already telling myself before.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
I even make it there.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
So she also named checked your older brother. There the
entire family ends with yay in the name. I'm very
curious what is the backstory on that, particular the way
that all your names are formatted with your brothers and sisters.
Speaker 6 (19:19):
Look, man, it got till I was about ten years
old where I realized, like, allthough my siblings' names, Yeah,
I'm just as lost as you are. But my mother
always tells me. She always tells me like the meeting
of it, but I always forget. So that's something that
(19:41):
that I got to catch up with my old mom about.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
So all right, so after you get drafted, we figure
out where you go. We'll get your mom and she
can explain the whole thing to us. I like this idea, gotcha,
I want to go. I want to go back to
Florida State a little bit because Florida State has been
obviously a traditional power for for the last several decades.
This year, not as much, was a very difficult year
(20:06):
to be a Florida State football player. You are still
a top draft pick despite all that. How hard was
that to go through and kind of keep your performance
where it needed to be knowing of the struggles that
the entire team went through.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
Yep, Honestly, man, it was tough. It was coming in
a lot of agents try to hit you up, so.
Speaker 6 (20:28):
It's so easy to get distracted by that and be like, oh,
we're losing. Oh this is happening. So I'm gonna just
focus on myself. But man, before anything. Number one, I'm
gonna follows christ And number two, I'm a servant, and
so I had to serve my teammates like I had to.
Speaker 9 (20:41):
I could not feel my teammates, and so I knew I.
Speaker 6 (20:43):
Was a leader that the younger guys looked up to,
and so I had I had to set that blueprint
out and I had to set that example each and
every day, whether we were losing or not. And so
I felt like earlier on, I kind of felt I
kind of gained my joy from winning and not and
not the process of it all. And so I like,
if you idolize winning, if you don't win, and you
think you have a bad life, you think you have
a bad age, you think you're a bad player. And
so just the main thing, man, was just coming in
(21:06):
and just being that servant and coming in the building
with the same attitude, the same mindset, the same approach,
so others can feed off of me because I knew
others was looking to me as one of the leaders,
and so if I came in frown and if I
came in being selfish, then all the other ident I
would have failed my teammates and it would have looked
even worse out there. And so I feel like we
(21:26):
put some good stuff on film, we just could not
put a full game together. And so it's something that
I look back on that I'm thankful that I went
through though, because I grew as a person truly, I
grew as a young man, and I truly kind of
got a glimpse of really real life because we all
have these expectations, we all have these goals that we set,
but who are you if you don't achieve them?
Speaker 5 (21:47):
And so that was just the biggest thing that I learned.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
That was the biggest thing that I tried to harp
on it, and that was the biggest thing that I
preached to my brothers as well.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
That is tremendous perspective from a guy who is still
only twenty years old as he gets ready to go
into the NFL Draft. It's all upside for Azaria Thomas Man,
thank you so much for being your best. Luck these
next seventy to eighteen days here. Can't wait to see
you in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Man, Yes, sir, thank you all man, God bless man, thank.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
You, thank you.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Mary appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
A lot more to come on this edition of The Insiders,
including the guy who's dream of going number one came
through a year ago. About this time, Caleb Williams and
the Bears back in the building with their new head coach,
Ben Johnson. Our Stacy Dales joins us from on the site.
Right after this on The Insidives.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Chicago Bears got their off season program underway today with
new coach Ben Johnson. There is Caleb Williams arriving for work.
Looks like a good day to go inside for meetings
because it does not look like the best winter weather
in Chicago or spring weather in Chicago today. We can
check in with our own Chicago residents, Stacy Dale's and
Mark Ross. Stacy, let's start with you first day under
(23:07):
Ben Johnson. What do we expect the development of Caleb
to look like?
Speaker 10 (23:13):
Hello, guys, I did snow today in Chicago, by the way,
so that's fun.
Speaker 11 (23:17):
Temperatures are still increasing here in this part of the country.
Speaker 10 (23:22):
But listen it's a new era once again. I feel
like I kind of say this almost every year, but
the Bears really feel like they did some good things
in their trench work, and those are the foundational pieces.
But really today it's the start of strength and conditioning.
So let's not get too overly excited, but it's also
the start of being in person to develop language. I
kind of look at the Chicago Bears like a new
(23:44):
band forming, if you will. You've got your drummers, you've
got your bass guitarists, you've got your electric guitarists. Maybe
you've got an acoustic guitarist over there. You've got your
lead singer and Caleb Williams. You've got somebody on the saxophone.
You've got somebody on the trumbone. I mean, I could
go on and on and on, and what they have
to do is figure out what that language is to
play their music. And that's what the Bears are doing
(24:06):
right now at Hallis Hall.
Speaker 11 (24:07):
They're developing that language.
Speaker 10 (24:09):
So that they can speak in Unison and so that
they can better understand this offensive philosophy that Ben Johnson
wants to institute with his new staff.
Speaker 11 (24:16):
And really for Caleb Williams.
Speaker 10 (24:18):
That development started a couple of months ago when Ben
Johnson was hired, and ultimately.
Speaker 11 (24:24):
Ben has alluded to this.
Speaker 10 (24:25):
They want to get him under center more, Mark and Judy,
and we've seen him so often, even back to high
school through his college days Oklahoma, us see so much
of his play out of the shotgun, getting him under
center more and trying to make him uncomfortable.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
Mark.
Speaker 10 (24:40):
I would say to get to get this group to
figure out what he's comfortable doing.
Speaker 11 (24:46):
And Ben Johnson has always says, I need.
Speaker 10 (24:48):
To see the lens through the lens of the quarterback
the offense, and that's what they're going to be doing.
Speaker 11 (24:53):
They want to get the ball.
Speaker 10 (24:54):
Out quickly, really like to use that play action like
they did with Jared Goff and really keep the change
moving with this new offense in Caleb Williams.
Speaker 12 (25:04):
Stacy, sorry about the snow and two hours ago, I
was on the beach in Miami.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Not to rub that in.
Speaker 12 (25:09):
But if we're sticking with the band references here, you
know Ben Johnson and Paul McCartney and Caleb Williams, Is Lennon,
John lenn and me, you know, get that centergy of Hey,
I'm going to teach you how to do this. And
for Caleb Williams year two, as you mentioned, it's about consistency.
It's about learning the new offense and becoming a leader.
(25:31):
You know, year what everyone just assumes you're the first
pick in the draft. Everything should be easy. You should
just step in and go crush it. You know, there's
always exceptions. What Jayden Daniels did last year, but even
growing pains for him. But Caleb Williams is about the consistency.
You saw the flashes, you saw the big time flashes.
It's about the consistency. And I'm sure Ben Johnson is
doing everything possible. What's salivating to say, I can't wait
(25:54):
to get my hands on this guy and design an
offense to make him a perennial pro bowler and the
MVP type Candy.
Speaker 8 (26:03):
All Right.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
At this time last year, we were pretty certain that
the Bears were going to take Caleb Williams with the
first overall pick at number nine. They got the receiver
Romagensey as well. This year they picked tenth overall. Stacey,
what direction you think they're going in?
Speaker 10 (26:20):
I think they could go in a number of directions.
Who's going to be their keyboardist, right, who's their pianist? Like,
what are we going to see added to this group?
Because I mentioned when I started this that they really
like what they've done in the trenches. It doesn't prohibit
them from drafting there at number ten in the trenches,
whether it's a pass rusher or it's an offensive lineman.
(26:41):
We know right now they have seven picks currently in
this draft. But the uniqueness of the Bears is they've
got four through seventy two.
Speaker 11 (26:47):
They've got a first, they've got two seconds, and they've got.
Speaker 10 (26:49):
A third that is draft capital at the top, that
is value. So they could very well move up if
they so choose too and be aggressive. Maybe they love
Abdul Carter. We'll see you, so none of us can
really see. Mark, you know more about this than we
do because you've done this. You've literally sat and looked
at the big board of the team that you worked with,
(27:11):
and that's always the fly on the wall that I
would want to be. But it's going to be really interesting, guys,
because obviously cam Warden, Shudeur Sanders are probably going to
go pretty high. Travis Hunter is probably going to go
pretty high. There's a chunk and cluster of players, though
at different positions. Mark and Judy that could go in
this top ten. I mean I could run through them,
and Tyler Warren the tight end who pretty much ran
the offense for the Penn State.
Speaker 11 (27:32):
And at allions a Mason Graham who can stop.
Speaker 10 (27:35):
The run equally as well as he can plug the
middle and get after the passer in the middle of
a defensive front.
Speaker 11 (27:41):
Will Campbell forget the arm.
Speaker 10 (27:43):
Size, the guy didn't really miss a start LSU in
his career. And then Ashton Genty sitting there. So like
I'm looking at really those four and I'm very curious
to see how this board falls at the top of
this draft and where that premium pick will be. For
the Bears, because they're going to best available, that will
be a value pick because they really think that they've
(28:04):
done some good things in free agency to allow them
to have that flexibility.
Speaker 12 (28:09):
Stacy, you mentioned the value, and that's you're leading up
to the draft.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
It's always the value and the need of what you.
Speaker 12 (28:15):
Have, and that's why you have to be so important
on the self evaluation of your own team. And in
free agency they had a glaring need and Ben Johnson
coming from the Lions with that offensive line. He said,
we are going to go attack this glaring need and
free agency and not lead it. Leave it up to
the hands in the draft of fine players. I hate
to help Caleb Williams. So they did a masterful job
(28:37):
with that. That being said, I think that is still
wide open if a Will Campbell gets to ten or
go another direction with oh well, also, the head coach
likes to form the team in his image. Well, I
had the dynamic due of Montgomery and Gibbs, I've got
the DeAndre Swift, maybe an Omarion Hampton, the running back
from North Carolina. Well our defense really isn't we need
(29:00):
some help there for Montewat we can go pass rusher.
So I think a lot of the positions are still
on the table for the Bears and to really let
the draft fall to them there and Stacy, as you
mentioned after the third pick, you of the certainties of
Pam Ward and now Duel Carter and Travis Hunter. It
could go so many different ways. There's a cluster of
(29:21):
about twenty five players that could be any sort of
different ways and orders on teams draft boards. So the
Bears have a lot at their disposal and a lot
of good players. I think they'll have a chance to
choose from to match the value and the need.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Judy.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Awful lot of intrigue at the top of the draft,
and the Bears are certainly squarely in the middle of it.
Stacey Mark, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Shador Sanders finally got his opportunity to perform in front
of NFL scouts and coaches at the Colorado Showcase on Friday,
and with the Titans and Sanders camp mutually agree to
cancel his private workout. That is just about a rap
on one of the fascinating draft prospects pre draft process.
(30:06):
Welcome back to the Insiders, Tom Pelli, Serai and Rap
Point join now by our guy land Zerline Lancey. Watch
that pro day. There's been a lot of debate about
what we saw from Shador Sanders in that. Tell me
what you've seen now and also how would impact to
where Shador is going in your latest mock draft.
Speaker 9 (30:22):
Just doesn't impact anything for me.
Speaker 13 (30:24):
I mean, you know, I've only seen one bad quarterback
pro Day and that was, I mean really bad when
that was Teddy Bridgewater kind of famously back in that draft.
Speaker 9 (30:33):
But other than that, I really haven't seen a bad one.
Speaker 13 (30:35):
Guys are throwing without pressure, They're throwing on air to
wide receivers are comfortable with. And I understand it you
do that instead of the combine. But I think Chador
showed who he was. I mean, he's an accurate quarterback
in general. I thought most of his throws were fairly accurate.
I think, you know, with Shador Sanders, it's really not
about he's an accurate quarterback.
Speaker 9 (30:54):
It's not gonna be about the arm strength.
Speaker 13 (30:55):
He's got kind of an average arm and he's not
a guy's going to make a ton of plays off
platform on the NFL level. But what you love about
him is the personality. You like the way he can
handle the moment, The composure he has in the pocket,
I think really resonates with a composer he's going to
have on an NFL stage. Now, you still have to
be good enough, but I think what Sanders, what we're
(31:16):
seeing with him is, look, he's either going to go
three to the Giants or he's gonna slide. I think
that's the that's basically one or the other right now.
It's an if then statement, And so I basically think
what we're doing is keep an eye on Shador Sanders
at number three, and if he doesn't go number three,
then he may need to buckle up a little bit.
Speaker 9 (31:33):
But good pro day didn't move the needle for me
one way or another.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Let's talk about another player, Liane, who was at that
not Pro Day, but at that Colorado showcase. Travis Hunter
didn't do dB drills, didn't run a forty, did run
routes for Shador Sanders, which was interesting. What did you
make of Travis Hunter's performance at the showcase.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Well, first of.
Speaker 13 (31:57):
All, good teammate, you know, to go out there and
run routes for his quarterback.
Speaker 9 (32:01):
I think that shows who Travis Hunter is. He's a
good teammate. Number two, he.
Speaker 13 (32:05):
Wants to catch passes. He wants to be a wide
receiver and he wants to be a cornerback. It's not
a lot of talk when Travis Hunter says that he
wants to do both things.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
And I think what's.
Speaker 13 (32:13):
Intriguing is in all of our mock drafts, we're kind
of putting him either two with Cleveland or three with
the Giants for the most part. Well, if he goes
to the Giants, I think he's a for sure cornerback
if he goes to the Browns, though, I think it's
kind of interesting because you might see him play more
receiver than cornerback potentially in the first year.
Speaker 9 (32:30):
Now, can he do both? Yes, he can do both.
Speaker 13 (32:32):
Will he hold up well physically? I think it's going
to be tough over the length of an NFL schedule,
But I think what Travis Hunter is showing you is
that he wants to do both. He means it, and
he's ready to do both. And I think he can
do both. I think it's a question of who drafts him,
the Giants or the Browns. That could have a big
determination on how many reps he gets at either position.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Lance not a lot of questions at Ashton genty, one
of the top prospects in this draft, but with running
backs you never know in terms of the positional value
and when they actually go. Where do you have him
in your latest month?
Speaker 13 (33:05):
So my latest, monk, I have him at number ten
with the Bears. But listen, the question is for me,
does he go six to the Raiders. If he goes
six to the Raiders, then that sets in motion a
lot of different dominoes falling in different directions. When I
went Jalen Walker at six. You know, it's just you
just kind of decide who is willing to take that
running back early, and I had him going to the Bears,
(33:26):
and I think they'd be a great fit for both
parties if he is able to fall to ten. For me,
he's the best player in this draft purely, the guy
that I believe has the best chance to go get
that gold jacket by the end of his career.
Speaker 9 (33:39):
I think he is. I think he's a tremendous talent.
Speaker 13 (33:42):
I think what he does in terms of being able
to control games is very, very important.
Speaker 9 (33:46):
And so you know, when you.
Speaker 13 (33:47):
Look at where he could fall, you kind of want
to look for teams that have young quarterbacks because a
good running game takes a lot of pressure off young quarterbacks.
So I think ten would be an incredible spot form
But you know, we're walking him there a lot either
six or ten that could lead a team that really
loves him to shoot above those numbers and go try
to trade up ahead of the Chicago Bears to grab
(34:10):
genty if he does fall past six.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Now let's talk about draft day trades. You know, Daniel
Jeremiah does a mock draft and in his mock no
trades until the last mock, you say hogwash, nonsense, you
like trades. You have one involving Jackson Dart and the Saints.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Tell us where you see him going?
Speaker 13 (34:31):
Bully bully, I say hogwash all those old sivin terms.
Speaker 9 (34:36):
Yeah, you know, for me, I think Jackson Dart is
the real wild card here.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Jackson Dart.
Speaker 13 (34:42):
Let's talk about the Saints liking Jackson Dart, the Steelers,
and I know the Steelers recently had him in for
a visit. Although I think that's an interesting fit with
the Steelers having so many vertical targets like like DK
metcalf now and and Pickens, and then you've got a
quarterback who I think has to struggle a little bit
to push it with velocity down the field. But Jackson
(35:02):
Dart is a real wild card in this one, and
I had the Saints trading up to number thirty two
to grab him. But there's a lot of talk that
he could be the second quarterback off the board here.
So Jackson Dart is one to really keep an eye on.
I think he goes in the first I'm just not
sure where it's going to be. Is it going to
be a trade end spot. Is it going to be
a trade back spot or is it going to be
(35:22):
somebody that really shocks and surprises us. That's going to
be the question. And another guy he didn't ask me
about it, but I think the battle between Shador Sanders,
Jackson Dart and then Tyler Tyler shut from Louisville, who
you guys are spoken with, I think that is a
really really interesting battle for who the second and third
quarterbacks are off the board.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
That's always great stuff. Sure, we'll talk to you again.
My one request next time we have you on, I
want the entire segment in the fog Horn Leghorn voice just.
Speaker 9 (35:54):
For you, Tom. I've got it in my bag for.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
You, full draft reviews in that voice next time we're
doing at Lance. Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Gino Smith and made it official today, finally signed his
extension with the Las Vegas Raiders that of course reunites
him with head coach Pete Carroll. We heard earlier in
the show from Gino talking about Pete. Let's hear from
Pete talking about Geno.
Speaker 8 (36:17):
Well, he's going to bring us great stability in belief
in the kinds of things that we stand for. His
habits are so stellar. The way he works, the way
he looks at the game, the way he looks at
the challenges of it all is exactly in line with
the way we think, and so he'll represent us in
magnificent fashion. I think it gives us instant stability at
(36:41):
a crucial spot. The history that we have and my
understanding of g and how to help him be the
best he can be. And he knows how to bring
out the best in our system because he'll stand for
the competitiveness and the things that we believe in.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
It's just a.
Speaker 8 (36:57):
Great fit and I'm so thrilled to this has been coming,
but today feels like the real deal.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Well, Pete and Gina are going to get right to work.
Mark Ross back with us on the Insiders because their
off season program begins in Las Vegas tomorrow. What do
you expect the emphasis to be there, Mark.
Speaker 12 (37:16):
Well, of course, with Gino and Pete being together, they
know what they will expect from one another. It's not
a situation where you have a new head coach going
or drafting a pick, a first round pick, or bringing
in a freeze if they don't know. Gino knows what
to expect from Pete coaching him, and Pete knows what
they expect from Gino as far as working, and don't
(37:36):
forget the owner there, Tom Brady might be able to
dip into some meetings or some practices and give his
advice to Gino.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
And Geno's the ultimate professional.
Speaker 12 (37:45):
And Judy, if you remember, it's just so ironic and
unbelievable that Geno Smith when we were with the Giants,
we started him against the Raiders when they were in Oakland,
which caused the windfall of a lot of people getting fired.
So it's just so unreal that now he is starting
for the Raiders and got a couple of Pro bowls
under his belt, and it's got that whole new contract.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
To say that he is the man.
Speaker 12 (38:06):
So I'm supposed to root for people at my job,
and I root for Gino Smith is because I know
all that he went through, and Judy, I think you
might covered that a little bit there back in the day.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I did, and also his years that the jets Ie
two rooted for Gino Smith. All right, they are still
doing a bit of rebuilding though in Las Vegas. They've
got the number six pick in the first round of
the draft, where you think they're going to head with
that pick.
Speaker 12 (38:31):
Well, you know, we had it on earlier that they
brought in Aston Gent And it all doesn't always mean
that that's your guy. If you bring some win a
lot of smoke screens, but it does for me make
too much sense, and that Assden Genty by far, in
my view, is the best running back in the draft.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Can be an ultimate playmaker.
Speaker 12 (38:47):
And what we learned from last year with running backs,
it's don't draft a running back or sign a running
back to save your franchise. If you bring a great
running back onto a team with an established quarterback, as
we saw with Saguan going to the Eagles, Dereck Henry
going with Lamar Jackson, then it takes it to another level.
So the Raiders and Pete Carroll have to be looking
at it as Esson Genty is my Marshawn Lynch. I've
(39:09):
got my Russell Wilson and Gino Smith and now I
can go build my offense around that. And when Pete
Carroll won the Super Bowl with Super Bowl with the Seahawks,
it was Doug Ball wins and the Golden Tates of
the world. So okay, now the rest of the draft
go find me some receivers later on the draft to
pair with Brock Bauers genty and Gino Smith.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
That would be a fun pick. Mark Ross, thank you
so much for joining us. And when we return, if
you are Detroit Lions fan, stick around because we have
a site for sore eyes for you. There's a teaser.
Aiden Hutchinson is involved. Join us when we come back.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Chris McCaffrey. Everyone looking forward to seeing him back on
the field soon. But for now, Ell, he's got a
pregnant Olivia Coppo and he's got his jersey being retired
at his high school alma mater, Valor Christian in Colorado.
Congratulations to Christian. The Rams announcing plans today for a
fifty two acre development in Warner Center in Woodland Hills, California.
(40:16):
It's going to be called Rams Village at Warner Center.
Entering their tenth year now in Los Angeles. Sean mcveigu
joked at one point that they promised him when he
was hired back in twenty seventeen. They were in temporary facilities.
Temporary became a nearly decade long stay. But Woodland Hills
here they come pretty futuristic looking right there and how
(40:37):
about this a site for sore eyes. Aiden Hutchinson running
full speed on a field again, changing directions right here.
Probably not surprising because Aid Hutchinson thought if the lines
had made the Super Bowl, he had a chance to
play in that game. But Ian, it's almost like if
we zoomed the camera, you can see a sign at
the other end saying forty million a year. Run this way,
(41:00):
forty million dollars a year, A contract that's probably coming
soon and later. For Aden Hutchinson short term, it looks
like he's just already to get back on the field.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
I mean, I have two thoughts watching this one. He
was adamant that if they made the Super he would
have played. Would he I have no idea, but I
would have liked to see if that actually took place.
The other thing, Judy is Aiden Hutchinson's gonna be very rich.
We've seen several pass rushers get rich this offseason. He
doesn't have to do anything else except show he is healthy.
(41:32):
And I don't know, looks like he's pretty healthy to me,
just saying.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I would just say, didn't we see the last video
was like two months ago, and I thought that looked
pretty good. I am certainly no running expert, no physiologists,
but this looks so much better. He is running so
smoothly and changing direction. It's great to see. Pay him
all the money awesome. Can't wait to see Aiden Hutchinson
back on the field.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
There was all this speculation from fans and media this offseason.
I get a trade for a big time pass rusher.
This is your acquired big time pause rusher. A guy
got injured in Week six last year. Aiden Hutchinson is
your guy. Whoever's on the other side is probably gonna eat,
just via osmosis, the process of elimination. We're back tomorrow,
seven of you at Measter time. See you
Football is back, or at least something loosely resembling football.
It is April seventh. We will take what we can get.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Off season programs are underway, and we're gonna break down
the reasons for optimism about Caleb Williams and Drake May
with new head coaches in year two. Gino Smith is
officially a Raider, almost a month after we reported Gino
Smith was officially a Raider. As Ian might say, now
it's officially official. The contract's done, and Gino speaks and
(00:37):
why he wanted to reunion with Pete Carroll and why
he believes Las Vegas can compete Right now, the draft
just seventeen short days away. All signs pointing toward cam
Ward going number one to the Titans, which would mean
the Browns are on the clock at number two. Could
Cleveland shake up the rest of round one. We'll tell
you what we know and not just keep guessing until
(00:59):
ultimate leave. One of them has to be right. Welcome
inside with the insiders alongside Judy Batista and Ian rappaport
I am Tom pelicerro Azari, a Thomas Florida State cornerback,
potential first round pick. He's gonna join the show in
just a little bit tonight. Like I said, seventeen days
until the draft. Land Zerline will be here breaking down
(01:21):
his latest mock and exactly how far he had Shador
Sanders falling this time. But then I mentioned football is back.
If you love guys walking into a building and short videos,
you're gonna love this show. Kayleb Williams in the house
because Ben Johnson has a new head coach, gets a
two week jumpstart on everybody else, the first time that
(01:42):
he can truly begin within limitations the process of working
with Caleb and the rest of that bears roster. Justin
Field's also at work his new head coach, Aaron Glenn
in the building with the Jets. Justin Field's coming over
from Pittsburgh on a two year deal. He's about so
much business. We couldn't even get the video of him walking.
We did get the Patriots longer camera angles on this one.
(02:04):
Drake may though, among those who reported you would think
today a bunch of other guys you can see from
an instance across the sidewalk right here. I'm not gonna
let that damper my enthusiasm because five teams are back
to work. Today the Bears, the Patriots and the Jets,
the Jaguars and the Raiders will begin their work on Tuesday.
More on Las Vegas in just a little bit, but Judy,
(02:27):
let's start out by talking about those Patriots back to
work today, Mike Vrabel as the head coach, Josh McDaniels
back in the fold as the offensive coordinator. It is
all about getting Drake May headed the right direction. I
think it is fair to say there is optimism after
a couple of years the Robert Kraft said was the
most difficult of his ownership, that maybe, just maybe now
(02:50):
is the time to start bringing this thing for.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Well.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
If Robert Kraft speaking last week at the annual meeting
is any indication, there's an awful lot of excitement anticipation
about what Mike Rabel is going to do with this franchise.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Let's be clear.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
The start of the off season program, they're not practicing, right.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
This is all about.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Conditioning and meetings and you see this weightlifting, maybe running
a little bit, but not anything that looks like a
football practice. Really, this is an opportunity to get to
know each other, the coaches and the players, certainly the
Drake May Josh McDaniel's relationship is going to be very important.
It is also an opportunity for new head coaches like
(03:30):
Mike Rabel in particular, to set a tone, and there
is certainly going to be a different tone in Foxborough
than there was last season. Mike Rabel is expected to
be much more of a task master, a harder coach,
I think than we saw last season. They are certainly
going to be more detail oriented. This is an opportunity
(03:51):
for him to be in front of the players for
the first time, a lot of new faces in that building.
They did an awful lot of work in free agency.
Certainly we are all going to pay the most attention
to Drake May and Josh McDaniels, But I think more broadly,
the tone that Mike Vrabel sets in these early days
is going to be really critical to where this team heads.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Patriots certainly put in work, as you saw in that
has hastily cut together video right there, Ian, I feel
like if they've edited together all my reps I get
in the morning, it would also look like I got
a heck of a pump in the New York Jets.
Also back to work here, we're talking about the Patriots.
They're uphill climb within that division that's been dominated for
so many years now by the Buffalo Bills. The Jets
have the same task in front of them here, a
(04:35):
little different approach though in terms of how they're putting
that thing together with off season workouts beginning today under
Aaron Glenn.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
By the way, I kind of like that Patriots video
kind of pum me up a little bit, Watson. Everyone
lift weight so quickly and so efficially.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
It's just like.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
This.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I feel like it's like.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
When you want some bo make a video like a
million Punches tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Yeah, that was like a rocky talk about I want
a montage you.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I've seen I've been in a hotel, gym or something
with someone does that. It's very, very weird and off putting.
But anyway, let's not talk about my last experience at
the scouting combine anyway. Uh, Let's talk about the New
York Jets instead. We showed a still of Justin Fields
walking into the building. There's a lot going on with
the Jets. There's a new general manager and Darren Mougey.
There's a new head coach in Aaron Glenn.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
But so much of this is.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
About Justin Fields, because if you look at this Jets roster,
Yes there were some signings, for instance, jeam In Sherewood,
really nice signing, really good player, got in ans contract.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
He was there.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
You know, there were a lot of players that are
already there. I mean, this is a talented team.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
I know.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The record last year was bad.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Quarterback play, Aaron Rodgers wasn't good. Head coach gets fired
early in the season. The whole thing is a mess.
There is, though a foundation. If you look at what
the Jets did in free agency, it wasn't an overhaul.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
It was more tweaky.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
It was more sort of middle class free agent signings
to kind of bolster the foundation.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
The biggest one.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Was Justin Fields, and Justin Fields when he played last
year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a good enough starter
to lead them out to a winning record before he
eventually got bench Russell Wilson that.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
It all went the wrong direction.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Justin Fields is out to show that he is a
bona fide starter in the NFL. If he is, if
he is better than average, if he comes in and
is a secure quarterback, this could be a really really
fast turnaround for new head coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Two years, forty million, a strong bridge deal, though apparently
they forgot to negotiate him a shirt. There's no way
it was warm enough to justify the shirtless videos.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
But this again, this is what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
On April seventh, so one spot in New York for
starting quarterback is taken. The guy who competed with Justin
Field beat him out lastyear. Russell Wilson now with the Giants,
but could Schenor Sanders ultimately join him in New York.
Here's what we know as of now. Again nothing official.
Titans insists not decided, but all signs continued to point
to cam Ward going number one, including Ian. The Titans
(07:00):
decision to not even follow through and work out two
of the four players privately that Brian Callahan told me
just last week are among the four elite prospects in
this class.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Well, let's focus on one of those players, right, because
if the Titans have the number one overall pick, presumably
if they keep the pick, it'll be a quarterback. So
really this is about Shador Sanders and several Titans people.
We're at his workout. A really impressive Colorado showcase last week.
Now mutually they decided Shador Sanders, his people, Tennessee Titans
and their people that this workout didn't make a lot
(07:34):
of sense, and there are obviously reasons for that. Signs
continue as you mentioned a point to the Tennessee Titans
drafting cam Ward as their number one overall pick. If
that is a fact, that it is not a fact yet,
but if that is a fact, in working out Shador
doesn't really make a whole lot of spense sense, especially
because you just did it in front of them a
couple days ago. No one wants to waste anyone's time.
(07:55):
That's why this decision was made. And if you needed
further proof though of where the Titans are and what
they are considering what they're leading, this was it. Yes,
there is interest from teams in trading up to one.
I just don't really get the sense of those have
gained any traction. Tom and them deciding with Sue door
Standers not to do his workout just put you know,
(08:17):
more evidence that that is the case.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
If it's not cam Ward number one to the Titans,
this is going to be one of the great fakeouts
in NFL draft history. But that means that the draft
essentially would start at number two with the Cleveland Browns
and then the Giants at number three. This is going
to be fascinating over the next seventeen days until we
get to draft night. What direction the Cleveland Browns going,
(08:43):
because they obviously need a quarterback too. They have Kenny
Pickens on the roster who they got this offseason, but
they could use a quarterback if they decide to draft one.
Would they draft Shitdoor Sanders number two or would they
go with the two superstars? One of the two superstars
who are available there Travis Hunter, the two way player
who Andrew Berry, the general manager of the Browns, has
(09:04):
already indicated they view mostly primarily as a wide receiver,
although Travis Hunter has made clear he wants to play
both ways in the NFL. Or with the edge rusher
Dull Carter from Penn State. Those two guys, if you
assume that the Titans are going to go with a quarterback,
those two guys would be on the board and available
for the Browns. Would they pass on them to take
(09:26):
a quarterback. That decision, of course, would then impact what
the Giants do. They too need a quarterback, would they
draft Shador Sanders or would they take whoever? The Browns
don't take so many moving parts, a whole lot of indecision.
It's going to lead to a really fascinating draft, Knight.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
And if Shdor Sanders does not go at two or three,
the next team that even plausibly could take one will
be the Raiders at six, although they already invested a
third round picking a new contract. And the other quarterback
who is now a member of the Raiders, that is
Geno Smith for the first time, dawning that Raiders had
officially signing his new contract and fair to say, ecstatic
(10:06):
but reunited with his old head coach.
Speaker 7 (10:10):
I think there is unfinished business, and I think, you know,
when when people think about my story, you know, Coach
Carroll was a big part of that. You know, he
gave me an opportunity when not many people would have.
And he saw, you know, the hard work that I
was putting in. He saw the things behind the scenes
that I that I do that allowed me to get
this opportunity. But to be able to play for him
and again to be a part of this organization, it
(10:31):
means everything to myself and my family. Uh.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
I was just telling them man, I'll run.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Through a wall for him and he knows that, and
I'll do the same for my teammates and for this organization.
And so I just want that to be, you know,
kind of who I am, and I want that to
be the statement of who I am as the quarterback
of this team.
Speaker 8 (10:49):
That I might hit that wall before you get there.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I've seen it, and sometimes he's forget duty that. Gino
Smith a few years ago was a thirty one year
old scent, a journeyman, a backup, whatever you wanted to
call him. Nobody thought Gino Smith would be sitting here
now with his second team, in the second phase of
his career, getting a starting opportunity. But you got that
(11:12):
sense that this trade was about more than money for
Gino Smith, who got exactly the same amount this year
from the Raiders that he would have gotten on the
new deal that the Seahawks offered him here. This was
about reuniting with the guy who really was a big
part of giving him that opportunity to revive his career.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Well, it's a guy who led to his renaissance and
who believed in him, and now who clearly believes in
him still a second time in Pete Carroll. I think
it's also indicative of what the Raiders want to get
from Gino Smith. First of all, Pete Carroll mentioned stability,
which certainly that franchise could use at that position after
having a revolving door for the last few seasons. But
(11:50):
also Pete Carroll is looking for a messenger of his culture.
When they hired Pete Carroll, Loop was clear they wanted
a culture center. That is Pete Carroll's game here, and
Gino Smith is going to be the guy to deliver that.
Pete Carroll talked about He'll represent us in a magnificent way,
and he said, you know, he does things we believe in.
(12:12):
He talked a lot about the way Geno prepares his
work ethic, So clearly is not just looking for Geno
Smith the quarterback. He is looking for Geno Smith the
role model and the mentor and somebody who can deliver
to the Raiders organization the type of player that Pete
Carroll wants to have on his roster.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
If the Raiders had not made the Gino Smith trade,
they would have a lot of pressure on them right
now to go find a quarterback at number six. Instead,
they have optionality, which could include giving him a guy
in the backfield who might be able to help him out.
Ashton Genty is going to be visiting the Raiders, as
Ian reported earlier today, a guy Ian who has been
connected in a lot of mock drafts a lot of
speculation to landing right there in Vegas.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Right, And you know this is one where of course,
as Genty is visiting the Las Vegas Raiders, and you know,
if you have a team that picks that early, you
have a player, this dynamic who really could be a rare,
rare top ten running back. Makes a lot of sense
that the Raiders are visiting with them, also visiting with
Quinn Ewers, who would be a potential option for them
at quarterback maybe in the second round.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
We'll see what ends up happening there.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
But specifically to Genty, this certainly is one time that
the fans, especially Raiders fans.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Have grabbed hold of, right.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
I mean, he is, he's a fun player, he's a
dynamic player. He is to kind of do everything running
back you rarely get. And this is a team that
does seem to be overall pretty solid, just don't really
have that bellcal game breaking running back. So yeah, I
would say, there's a lot of dot connecting here. There's
a lot of fans being like, see, see, they're interested.
(13:47):
This is obviously one to keep an eye. We don't
know right now whether or not the Raiders will take
Ash and genty, but I do know this, if they do,
there'll be many Raiders fans who go, I told you so.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Quin you were was also among the visits upcoming for
the Raiders, a potential target, not at number six, but
potentially maybe on Day two if they decided to add
a young guy to that room with old Gino Smith
who's still getting paid at this phase in his career.
That's not the only pre draft visits in recent days
and coming up here. Mason Taylor's son of Jason, visited
the Chargers last Thursday. He's got a few more visits
(14:22):
coming up, including the dad's old team in Miami, Carson
Schwessinger having time with the Ravens, Joshua Farmer visiting these Steelers,
and Savon Ravel Junior, really interesting prospect coming off of
torn acl first round talent all Day visiting the Bills,
the Colts, and the Vikings. Also going to be back
for his combine recheck on that visit to Indianapolis, all
(14:42):
signs pointing toward him being cleared shortly after the draft
to get back out on the field. Jennings wants to
throw gonna sail it down the field, but sorry, A
Thomas put a nail in it.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Hey see big time.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Here come pressure black leg brawled it up near aside
by courting.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Good go.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Zori. A. Thomas not just one of the most fun
names to say in this NFL draft, but one of
the top quarterbacks too. And our guest right now on
the Insiders with me, Tom Pelasero and Ian Rappaport, seventeen
eight days out from the draft. Here, where have you been?
Where are you going? What all is happening in your
life right now?
Speaker 6 (15:34):
Man, it's sir, So I've been training back in Tallahasseem.
I had a well, I have a post pro day
packet that I'm going by standing football shape. I'm going
on team Team visits Team Zoom. So it's pretty busy,
but at the end of the day, it's a blessing.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
So uh, before we get to what I was going
to ask you, what teams you go into any any
plans you can share coming up the next couple.
Speaker 6 (15:59):
Days yes, sir, So I've visited with the Stillers and
I and the Saints.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Okay, so you're a Florida State corner. Obviously someone who's
going to be drafted early in this draft process. There
have been a lot of very good Florida State corners
I think about it. First in that comes to mind,
of course, is Jalen Ramsey. What do you think of
the lineage of Florida State corners and who did you
kind of want to model your game.
Speaker 6 (16:26):
After most definitely, Now, I wouldn't say model, but just
something that I can just learn, somebody that I can
learn from and see what he's good at and see
just the different types of tools that he uses that
I can add.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Into my toolbox.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
So it will most definitely be Jaalen Ramsey, just his
his lenk and just his swagger and his confidence and
how the opposing team may not even know that he's
on the field just looking at them physically, but they
can feel him out there. And so that's just one
guy that I proub myself in watching as well.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Somewhere out there, Dion Sanders just heard in say the
first Florida State corner that comes to mind is Jalen
Ramsey and shudder a little bit and let that well,
let that slide. Literally one of the greatest players Cenvil history. Yeah,
it's jale Ramsey, also a really really good player. I
know it was Aria though you're also you're also a
Cam Newton fan. Did you ever have designs on playing
the other side of the ball? Could we have seen
(17:23):
a parallel universe where you're on offense?
Speaker 6 (17:25):
Yes, sir, I actually played both sides of the ball
my whole life and growing up high school, I had
offers at receiver actually, so the players and other people
may not even know that.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
So I had sec offers to play receiver as well.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
But I just like the Lord led either play dB
and I'm here now, so I'm thanksul.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
So you have a brother in the NFL, je Ye,
who has has been playing for the Dallas Cowboys, obviously
someone who can give you a little taste of what
the NFL is like before you get there. What kind
of a role model or example was he and then
what advice has.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
He given you? Yes, my brother is somebody that I
look up to.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
I don't have anybody that I idolize really outside of
my two brothers.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
So I actually have an oldest brother.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
As well as in they ray, but one year since,
since he's in the league, I was speak about him.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
But growing up, they said, they said the blueprint out
for me. I didn't.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
I didn't really have to stress about anything about how
I was going to figure things out. They already prepared
me before I even entered those certain stages.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
That I've been in my life. And now I'm about
to go to the league.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
The main thing that he's been telling me and uh
and just reminded me the harp on is the same
thing that got you here in the league is not
is not what's going to keep you here. So you
have to enhance your habits. You have to change your habits.
You have to you have to watch who you're listening to.
You have to watch who you're hanging out with, and
uh and the and and another thing is the higher
you go is the louder it gets. And so that's
(18:58):
just one thing that he's been telling me in some
that I've been harping on and something that I've been
preparing and already telling myself before.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
I even make it there.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
So she also named checked your older brother. There the
entire family ends with yay in the name. I'm very
curious what is the backstory on that, particular the way
that all your names are formatted with your brothers and sisters.
Speaker 6 (19:19):
Look, man, it got till I was about ten years
old where I realized, like, allthough my siblings' names, Yeah,
I'm just as lost as you are. But my mother
always tells me. She always tells me like the meeting
of it, but I always forget. So that's something that
(19:41):
that I got to catch up with my old mom about.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
So all right, so after you get drafted, we figure
out where you go. We'll get your mom and she
can explain the whole thing to us. I like this idea, gotcha,
I want to go. I want to go back to
Florida State a little bit because Florida State has been
obviously a traditional power for for the last several decades.
This year, not as much, was a very difficult year
(20:06):
to be a Florida State football player. You are still
a top draft pick despite all that. How hard was
that to go through and kind of keep your performance
where it needed to be knowing of the struggles that
the entire team went through.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
Yep, Honestly, man, it was tough. It was coming in
a lot of agents try to hit you up, so.
Speaker 6 (20:28):
It's so easy to get distracted by that and be like, oh,
we're losing. Oh this is happening. So I'm gonna just
focus on myself. But man, before anything. Number one, I'm
gonna follows christ And number two, I'm a servant, and
so I had to serve my teammates like I had to.
Speaker 9 (20:41):
I could not feel my teammates, and so I knew I.
Speaker 6 (20:43):
Was a leader that the younger guys looked up to,
and so I had I had to set that blueprint
out and I had to set that example each and
every day, whether we were losing or not. And so
I felt like earlier on, I kind of felt I
kind of gained my joy from winning and not and
not the process of it all. And so I like,
if you idolize winning, if you don't win, and you
think you have a bad life, you think you have
a bad age, you think you're a bad player. And
so just the main thing, man, was just coming in
(21:06):
and just being that servant and coming in the building
with the same attitude, the same mindset, the same approach,
so others can feed off of me because I knew
others was looking to me as one of the leaders,
and so if I came in frown and if I
came in being selfish, then all the other ident I
would have failed my teammates and it would have looked
even worse out there. And so I feel like we
(21:26):
put some good stuff on film, we just could not
put a full game together. And so it's something that
I look back on that I'm thankful that I went
through though, because I grew as a person truly, I
grew as a young man, and I truly kind of
got a glimpse of really real life because we all
have these expectations, we all have these goals that we set,
but who are you if you don't achieve them?
Speaker 5 (21:47):
And so that was just the biggest thing that I learned.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
That was the biggest thing that I tried to harp
on it, and that was the biggest thing that I
preached to my brothers as well.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
That is tremendous perspective from a guy who is still
only twenty years old as he gets ready to go
into the NFL Draft. It's all upside for Azaria Thomas Man,
thank you so much for being your best. Luck these
next seventy to eighteen days here. Can't wait to see
you in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Man, Yes, sir, thank you all man, God bless man, thank.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
You, thank you.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Mary appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
A lot more to come on this edition of The Insiders,
including the guy who's dream of going number one came
through a year ago. About this time, Caleb Williams and
the Bears back in the building with their new head coach,
Ben Johnson. Our Stacy Dales joins us from on the site.
Right after this on The Insidives.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Chicago Bears got their off season program underway today with
new coach Ben Johnson. There is Caleb Williams arriving for work.
Looks like a good day to go inside for meetings
because it does not look like the best winter weather
in Chicago or spring weather in Chicago today. We can
check in with our own Chicago residents, Stacy Dale's and
Mark Ross. Stacy, let's start with you first day under
(23:07):
Ben Johnson. What do we expect the development of Caleb
to look like?
Speaker 10 (23:13):
Hello, guys, I did snow today in Chicago, by the way,
so that's fun.
Speaker 11 (23:17):
Temperatures are still increasing here in this part of the country.
Speaker 10 (23:22):
But listen it's a new era once again. I feel
like I kind of say this almost every year, but
the Bears really feel like they did some good things
in their trench work, and those are the foundational pieces.
But really today it's the start of strength and conditioning.
So let's not get too overly excited, but it's also
the start of being in person to develop language. I
kind of look at the Chicago Bears like a new
(23:44):
band forming, if you will. You've got your drummers, you've
got your bass guitarists, you've got your electric guitarists. Maybe
you've got an acoustic guitarist over there. You've got your
lead singer and Caleb Williams. You've got somebody on the saxophone.
You've got somebody on the trumbone. I mean, I could
go on and on and on, and what they have
to do is figure out what that language is to
play their music. And that's what the Bears are doing
(24:06):
right now at Hallis Hall.
Speaker 11 (24:07):
They're developing that language.
Speaker 10 (24:09):
So that they can speak in Unison and so that
they can better understand this offensive philosophy that Ben Johnson
wants to institute with his new staff.
Speaker 11 (24:16):
And really for Caleb Williams.
Speaker 10 (24:18):
That development started a couple of months ago when Ben
Johnson was hired, and ultimately.
Speaker 11 (24:24):
Ben has alluded to this.
Speaker 10 (24:25):
They want to get him under center more, Mark and Judy,
and we've seen him so often, even back to high
school through his college days Oklahoma, us see so much
of his play out of the shotgun, getting him under
center more and trying to make him uncomfortable.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
Mark.
Speaker 10 (24:40):
I would say to get to get this group to
figure out what he's comfortable doing.
Speaker 11 (24:46):
And Ben Johnson has always says, I need.
Speaker 10 (24:48):
To see the lens through the lens of the quarterback
the offense, and that's what they're going to be doing.
Speaker 11 (24:53):
They want to get the ball.
Speaker 10 (24:54):
Out quickly, really like to use that play action like
they did with Jared Goff and really keep the change
moving with this new offense in Caleb Williams.
Speaker 12 (25:04):
Stacy, sorry about the snow and two hours ago, I
was on the beach in Miami.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Not to rub that in.
Speaker 12 (25:09):
But if we're sticking with the band references here, you
know Ben Johnson and Paul McCartney and Caleb Williams, Is Lennon,
John lenn and me, you know, get that centergy of Hey,
I'm going to teach you how to do this. And
for Caleb Williams year two, as you mentioned, it's about consistency.
It's about learning the new offense and becoming a leader.
(25:31):
You know, year what everyone just assumes you're the first
pick in the draft. Everything should be easy. You should
just step in and go crush it. You know, there's
always exceptions. What Jayden Daniels did last year, but even
growing pains for him. But Caleb Williams is about the consistency.
You saw the flashes, you saw the big time flashes.
It's about the consistency. And I'm sure Ben Johnson is
doing everything possible. What's salivating to say, I can't wait
(25:54):
to get my hands on this guy and design an
offense to make him a perennial pro bowler and the
MVP type Candy.
Speaker 8 (26:03):
All Right.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
At this time last year, we were pretty certain that
the Bears were going to take Caleb Williams with the
first overall pick at number nine. They got the receiver
Romagensey as well. This year they picked tenth overall. Stacey,
what direction you think they're going in?
Speaker 10 (26:20):
I think they could go in a number of directions.
Who's going to be their keyboardist, right, who's their pianist? Like,
what are we going to see added to this group?
Because I mentioned when I started this that they really
like what they've done in the trenches. It doesn't prohibit
them from drafting there at number ten in the trenches,
whether it's a pass rusher or it's an offensive lineman.
(26:41):
We know right now they have seven picks currently in
this draft. But the uniqueness of the Bears is they've
got four through seventy two.
Speaker 11 (26:47):
They've got a first, they've got two seconds, and they've got.
Speaker 10 (26:49):
A third that is draft capital at the top, that
is value. So they could very well move up if
they so choose too and be aggressive. Maybe they love
Abdul Carter. We'll see you, so none of us can
really see. Mark, you know more about this than we
do because you've done this. You've literally sat and looked
at the big board of the team that you worked with,
(27:11):
and that's always the fly on the wall that I
would want to be. But it's going to be really interesting, guys,
because obviously cam Warden, Shudeur Sanders are probably going to
go pretty high. Travis Hunter is probably going to go
pretty high. There's a chunk and cluster of players, though
at different positions. Mark and Judy that could go in
this top ten. I mean I could run through them,
and Tyler Warren the tight end who pretty much ran
the offense for the Penn State.
Speaker 11 (27:32):
And at allions a Mason Graham who can stop.
Speaker 10 (27:35):
The run equally as well as he can plug the
middle and get after the passer in the middle of
a defensive front.
Speaker 11 (27:41):
Will Campbell forget the arm.
Speaker 10 (27:43):
Size, the guy didn't really miss a start LSU in
his career. And then Ashton Genty sitting there. So like
I'm looking at really those four and I'm very curious
to see how this board falls at the top of
this draft and where that premium pick will be. For
the Bears, because they're going to best available, that will
be a value pick because they really think that they've
(28:04):
done some good things in free agency to allow them
to have that flexibility.
Speaker 12 (28:09):
Stacy, you mentioned the value, and that's you're leading up
to the draft.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
It's always the value and the need of what you.
Speaker 12 (28:15):
Have, and that's why you have to be so important
on the self evaluation of your own team. And in
free agency they had a glaring need and Ben Johnson
coming from the Lions with that offensive line. He said,
we are going to go attack this glaring need and
free agency and not lead it. Leave it up to
the hands in the draft of fine players. I hate
to help Caleb Williams. So they did a masterful job
(28:37):
with that. That being said, I think that is still
wide open if a Will Campbell gets to ten or
go another direction with oh well, also, the head coach
likes to form the team in his image. Well, I
had the dynamic due of Montgomery and Gibbs, I've got
the DeAndre Swift, maybe an Omarion Hampton, the running back
from North Carolina. Well our defense really isn't we need
(29:00):
some help there for Montewat we can go pass rusher.
So I think a lot of the positions are still
on the table for the Bears and to really let
the draft fall to them there and Stacy, as you
mentioned after the third pick, you of the certainties of
Pam Ward and now Duel Carter and Travis Hunter. It
could go so many different ways. There's a cluster of
(29:21):
about twenty five players that could be any sort of
different ways and orders on teams draft boards. So the
Bears have a lot at their disposal and a lot
of good players. I think they'll have a chance to
choose from to match the value and the need.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Judy.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Awful lot of intrigue at the top of the draft,
and the Bears are certainly squarely in the middle of it.
Stacey Mark, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Shador Sanders finally got his opportunity to perform in front
of NFL scouts and coaches at the Colorado Showcase on Friday,
and with the Titans and Sanders camp mutually agree to
cancel his private workout. That is just about a rap
on one of the fascinating draft prospects pre draft process.
(30:06):
Welcome back to the Insiders, Tom Pelli, Serai and Rap
Point join now by our guy land Zerline Lancey. Watch
that pro day. There's been a lot of debate about
what we saw from Shador Sanders in that. Tell me
what you've seen now and also how would impact to
where Shador is going in your latest mock draft.
Speaker 9 (30:22):
Just doesn't impact anything for me.
Speaker 13 (30:24):
I mean, you know, I've only seen one bad quarterback
pro Day and that was, I mean really bad when
that was Teddy Bridgewater kind of famously back in that draft.
Speaker 9 (30:33):
But other than that, I really haven't seen a bad one.
Speaker 13 (30:35):
Guys are throwing without pressure, They're throwing on air to
wide receivers are comfortable with. And I understand it you
do that instead of the combine. But I think Chador
showed who he was. I mean, he's an accurate quarterback
in general. I thought most of his throws were fairly accurate.
I think, you know, with Shador Sanders, it's really not
about he's an accurate quarterback.
Speaker 9 (30:54):
It's not gonna be about the arm strength.
Speaker 13 (30:55):
He's got kind of an average arm and he's not
a guy's going to make a ton of plays off
platform on the NFL level. But what you love about
him is the personality. You like the way he can
handle the moment, The composure he has in the pocket,
I think really resonates with a composer he's going to
have on an NFL stage. Now, you still have to
be good enough, but I think what Sanders, what we're
(31:16):
seeing with him is, look, he's either going to go
three to the Giants or he's gonna slide. I think
that's the that's basically one or the other right now.
It's an if then statement, And so I basically think
what we're doing is keep an eye on Shador Sanders
at number three, and if he doesn't go number three,
then he may need to buckle up a little bit.
Speaker 9 (31:33):
But good pro day didn't move the needle for me
one way or another.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Let's talk about another player, Liane, who was at that
not Pro Day, but at that Colorado showcase. Travis Hunter
didn't do dB drills, didn't run a forty, did run
routes for Shador Sanders, which was interesting. What did you
make of Travis Hunter's performance at the showcase.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Well, first of.
Speaker 13 (31:57):
All, good teammate, you know, to go out there and
run routes for his quarterback.
Speaker 9 (32:01):
I think that shows who Travis Hunter is. He's a
good teammate. Number two, he.
Speaker 13 (32:05):
Wants to catch passes. He wants to be a wide
receiver and he wants to be a cornerback. It's not
a lot of talk when Travis Hunter says that he
wants to do both things.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
And I think what's.
Speaker 13 (32:13):
Intriguing is in all of our mock drafts, we're kind
of putting him either two with Cleveland or three with
the Giants for the most part. Well, if he goes
to the Giants, I think he's a for sure cornerback
if he goes to the Browns, though, I think it's
kind of interesting because you might see him play more
receiver than cornerback potentially in the first year.
Speaker 9 (32:30):
Now, can he do both? Yes, he can do both.
Speaker 13 (32:32):
Will he hold up well physically? I think it's going
to be tough over the length of an NFL schedule,
But I think what Travis Hunter is showing you is
that he wants to do both. He means it, and
he's ready to do both. And I think he can
do both. I think it's a question of who drafts him,
the Giants or the Browns. That could have a big
determination on how many reps he gets at either position.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Lance not a lot of questions at Ashton genty, one
of the top prospects in this draft, but with running
backs you never know in terms of the positional value
and when they actually go. Where do you have him
in your latest month?
Speaker 13 (33:05):
So my latest, monk, I have him at number ten
with the Bears. But listen, the question is for me,
does he go six to the Raiders. If he goes
six to the Raiders, then that sets in motion a
lot of different dominoes falling in different directions. When I
went Jalen Walker at six. You know, it's just you
just kind of decide who is willing to take that
running back early, and I had him going to the Bears,
(33:26):
and I think they'd be a great fit for both
parties if he is able to fall to ten. For me,
he's the best player in this draft purely, the guy
that I believe has the best chance to go get
that gold jacket by the end of his career.
Speaker 9 (33:39):
I think he is. I think he's a tremendous talent.
Speaker 13 (33:42):
I think what he does in terms of being able
to control games is very, very important.
Speaker 9 (33:46):
And so you know, when you.
Speaker 13 (33:47):
Look at where he could fall, you kind of want
to look for teams that have young quarterbacks because a
good running game takes a lot of pressure off young quarterbacks.
So I think ten would be an incredible spot form
But you know, we're walking him there a lot either
six or ten that could lead a team that really
loves him to shoot above those numbers and go try
to trade up ahead of the Chicago Bears to grab
(34:10):
genty if he does fall past six.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Now let's talk about draft day trades. You know, Daniel
Jeremiah does a mock draft and in his mock no
trades until the last mock, you say hogwash, nonsense, you
like trades. You have one involving Jackson Dart and the Saints.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Tell us where you see him going?
Speaker 13 (34:31):
Bully bully, I say hogwash all those old sivin terms.
Speaker 9 (34:36):
Yeah, you know, for me, I think Jackson Dart is
the real wild card here.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Jackson Dart.
Speaker 13 (34:42):
Let's talk about the Saints liking Jackson Dart, the Steelers,
and I know the Steelers recently had him in for
a visit. Although I think that's an interesting fit with
the Steelers having so many vertical targets like like DK
metcalf now and and Pickens, and then you've got a
quarterback who I think has to struggle a little bit
to push it with velocity down the field. But Jackson
(35:02):
Dart is a real wild card in this one, and
I had the Saints trading up to number thirty two
to grab him. But there's a lot of talk that
he could be the second quarterback off the board here.
So Jackson Dart is one to really keep an eye on.
I think he goes in the first I'm just not
sure where it's going to be. Is it going to
be a trade end spot. Is it going to be
a trade back spot or is it going to be
(35:22):
somebody that really shocks and surprises us. That's going to
be the question. And another guy he didn't ask me
about it, but I think the battle between Shador Sanders,
Jackson Dart and then Tyler Tyler shut from Louisville, who
you guys are spoken with, I think that is a
really really interesting battle for who the second and third
quarterbacks are off the board.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
That's always great stuff. Sure, we'll talk to you again.
My one request next time we have you on, I
want the entire segment in the fog Horn Leghorn voice just.
Speaker 9 (35:54):
For you, Tom. I've got it in my bag for.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
You, full draft reviews in that voice next time we're
doing at Lance. Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Gino Smith and made it official today, finally signed his
extension with the Las Vegas Raiders that of course reunites
him with head coach Pete Carroll. We heard earlier in
the show from Gino talking about Pete. Let's hear from
Pete talking about Geno.
Speaker 8 (36:17):
Well, he's going to bring us great stability in belief
in the kinds of things that we stand for. His
habits are so stellar. The way he works, the way
he looks at the game, the way he looks at
the challenges of it all is exactly in line with
the way we think, and so he'll represent us in
magnificent fashion. I think it gives us instant stability at
(36:41):
a crucial spot. The history that we have and my
understanding of g and how to help him be the
best he can be. And he knows how to bring
out the best in our system because he'll stand for
the competitiveness and the things that we believe in.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
It's just a.
Speaker 8 (36:57):
Great fit and I'm so thrilled to this has been coming,
but today feels like the real deal.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Well, Pete and Gina are going to get right to work.
Mark Ross back with us on the Insiders because their
off season program begins in Las Vegas tomorrow. What do
you expect the emphasis to be there, Mark.
Speaker 12 (37:16):
Well, of course, with Gino and Pete being together, they
know what they will expect from one another. It's not
a situation where you have a new head coach going
or drafting a pick, a first round pick, or bringing
in a freeze if they don't know. Gino knows what
to expect from Pete coaching him, and Pete knows what
they expect from Gino as far as working, and don't
(37:36):
forget the owner there, Tom Brady might be able to
dip into some meetings or some practices and give his
advice to Gino.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
And Geno's the ultimate professional.
Speaker 12 (37:45):
And Judy, if you remember, it's just so ironic and
unbelievable that Geno Smith when we were with the Giants,
we started him against the Raiders when they were in Oakland,
which caused the windfall of a lot of people getting fired.
So it's just so unreal that now he is starting
for the Raiders and got a couple of Pro bowls
under his belt, and it's got that whole new contract.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
To say that he is the man.
Speaker 12 (38:06):
So I'm supposed to root for people at my job,
and I root for Gino Smith is because I know
all that he went through, and Judy, I think you
might covered that a little bit there back in the day.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I did, and also his years that the jets Ie
two rooted for Gino Smith. All right, they are still
doing a bit of rebuilding though in Las Vegas. They've
got the number six pick in the first round of
the draft, where you think they're going to head with
that pick.
Speaker 12 (38:31):
Well, you know, we had it on earlier that they
brought in Aston Gent And it all doesn't always mean
that that's your guy. If you bring some win a
lot of smoke screens, but it does for me make
too much sense, and that Assden Genty by far, in
my view, is the best running back in the draft.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Can be an ultimate playmaker.
Speaker 12 (38:47):
And what we learned from last year with running backs,
it's don't draft a running back or sign a running
back to save your franchise. If you bring a great
running back onto a team with an established quarterback, as
we saw with Saguan going to the Eagles, Dereck Henry
going with Lamar Jackson, then it takes it to another level.
So the Raiders and Pete Carroll have to be looking
at it as Esson Genty is my Marshawn Lynch. I've
(39:09):
got my Russell Wilson and Gino Smith and now I
can go build my offense around that. And when Pete
Carroll won the Super Bowl with Super Bowl with the Seahawks,
it was Doug Ball wins and the Golden Tates of
the world. So okay, now the rest of the draft
go find me some receivers later on the draft to
pair with Brock Bauers genty and Gino Smith.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
That would be a fun pick. Mark Ross, thank you
so much for joining us. And when we return, if
you are Detroit Lions fan, stick around because we have
a site for sore eyes for you. There's a teaser.
Aiden Hutchinson is involved. Join us when we come back.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Chris McCaffrey. Everyone looking forward to seeing him back on
the field soon. But for now, Ell, he's got a
pregnant Olivia Coppo and he's got his jersey being retired
at his high school alma mater, Valor Christian in Colorado.
Congratulations to Christian. The Rams announcing plans today for a
fifty two acre development in Warner Center in Woodland Hills, California.
(40:16):
It's going to be called Rams Village at Warner Center.
Entering their tenth year now in Los Angeles. Sean mcveigu
joked at one point that they promised him when he
was hired back in twenty seventeen. They were in temporary facilities.
Temporary became a nearly decade long stay. But Woodland Hills
here they come pretty futuristic looking right there and how
(40:37):
about this a site for sore eyes. Aiden Hutchinson running
full speed on a field again, changing directions right here.
Probably not surprising because Aid Hutchinson thought if the lines
had made the Super Bowl, he had a chance to
play in that game. But Ian, it's almost like if
we zoomed the camera, you can see a sign at
the other end saying forty million a year. Run this way,
(41:00):
forty million dollars a year, A contract that's probably coming
soon and later. For Aden Hutchinson short term, it looks
like he's just already to get back on the field.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
I mean, I have two thoughts watching this one. He
was adamant that if they made the Super he would
have played. Would he I have no idea, but I
would have liked to see if that actually took place.
The other thing, Judy is Aiden Hutchinson's gonna be very rich.
We've seen several pass rushers get rich this offseason. He
doesn't have to do anything else except show he is healthy.
(41:32):
And I don't know, looks like he's pretty healthy to me,
just saying.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I would just say, didn't we see the last video
was like two months ago, and I thought that looked
pretty good. I am certainly no running expert, no physiologists,
but this looks so much better. He is running so
smoothly and changing direction. It's great to see. Pay him
all the money awesome. Can't wait to see Aiden Hutchinson
back on the field.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
There was all this speculation from fans and media this offseason.
I get a trade for a big time pass rusher.
This is your acquired big time pause rusher. A guy
got injured in Week six last year. Aiden Hutchinson is
your guy. Whoever's on the other side is probably gonna eat,
just via osmosis, the process of elimination. We're back tomorrow,
seven of you at Measter time. See you
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