February 20, 2025 • 43 mins
In the first episode of "Bending the Edge with Beef and Lettuce," Ryan Coyle and Nick McClay look at the Quarterbacks ahead of the #NFLDraft.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you can wager on it, We're talking about it.
It's the Gambler. Fox Sports Radio, The Gambler. Fox Sports
Radio in Philly is the Gambler, The Gambler, Philly's home
for all things sports. Gambler.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
All Right, the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Party and celebration here in Philadelphia is officially over, and
it is time to turn the page to the twenty
twenty five twenty twenty six season. And when you win
the Super Bowl, when you make the Super Bowl, whatever
you want to say. This comes a little bit quicker
than usual, so we're getting right into it today a
new I guess kind of episode or show under the
(00:41):
our Beef up Front umbrella.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Here at Fox Sports The Gambler, we are.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Introducing our new show, Bending the Edge with Beef and
let Us, hosted by Ryan Coyle and Nick McLay where.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be doing a bit
of a deep dive on some of the top prospects
at all the important positions. Now as we get closer
to the draft post combine, get into April, do some
more rankings, do some mock drafts, and try and hit
(01:05):
on just about everything important in the draft. The Eagles
picking thirty two this year, So you're gonna have to
get into the weeds a little bit more on some
of these prospects. But Nick, welcome, how are we It's
excited to get into this little series with you going
forward and right down the quarterbacks today.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yeah. Man, I'm excited now that the season's over. We
got the offseason to look forward to a ton of
holes for a ton of teams, a lot of changes,
a lot of moving pieces between all these teams, especially
the lesser teams. They're going to be changing a lot
going into it. Now we're talking about quarterbacks, one of
the weaker classes that we have seen. So I'm interested
(01:43):
to see how the top of the you know, board
shakes out what teams really value quarterbacks and or going
forward into this season, and what teams really would rather
go into free agency. So I'm very excited to see
how this all plays out before the draft and the
buying and the pro days and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, so you kind of touched on it where this
is really regarded kind of as a weak quarterback class,
a weaker quarterback class when you look at some of
the teams at the top here, whether it's the Browns,
whether it's the Titans, whether it's the Giants, A lot
of these teams are in the market for quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So do you think this.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Is a draft where you know it's worth taking a
swing on some of these guys, even if they don't
look like, you know, home run type prospects like it
in the past few years, whether it's been Caleb Williams
has been really praised, you know, back a few years,
Trevor Lawrence, guys like that. There's not one of those
top tier kind of quarterback prospects. Do you think it's
worth it before we start diving into it to potentially
take a risk on one of these top guys or
(02:44):
would you look more so to get like a bridge
type quarterback. Go get a veteran, whether it's an Aaron Rodgers,
you know, say Joe Flacco, someone like that, just for example,
and put you in position to get a higher pick
next year with one of these young quarterbacks, whether it's
Nico or arch Manning.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
It it's looking like the next class is going to
be a lot stronger.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yeah, I think I personally would lean towards the free
agency route and head for a bridge type of a
quarterback rather than hit this quarterback class coming into the year.
I think, like you said, next year's class is very
strong with Nico and Arch. I mean, there's plenty of
(03:23):
guys that are coming out that can make a difference
in next year's class rather than this year. Like Titans
and the Browns like they're players in this draft. Like
I think Abdul Carter is one of a generational player.
I think he can change a complete defense. At me personally,
I think I would take him if I'm Tennessee and
(03:44):
have that bridge guy. And I know Will Levis hasn't
really done much, but maybe you can get a bridge guy.
See how he Will Levis develops under say, you know,
like you said of Flacco or Rogers. But yeah, I
think I'd rather lean towards the bridge option and go
for next year's draft if it were up to me.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah. And it's really, you know, interesting kind of spot
because you don't know if you're going to be picking
you know, this high again. Number one said, do you
kind of take that risk? Do you take that chance
on the quarterback if you're the Titans or the Browns.
And that's why those guys get paid the big bucks.
That's why you know they have the discussions and go
through all this and the ex sense of research, and
(04:26):
I'm sure they'll come to a conclusion, but a real
interesting kind of to be because also who knows if
the Titans do really believe in Kim or do you
really believe in shuroor Sanders And they're not even considering
anything else at this point, you know, there's a.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Lot to go into it.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
February nineteenth the draft a little bit under two months away,
so I'm sure we'll hear everything and anything in between
now and then. But the guy I want to start
with at the top is cam Ward. I think consensus
and we talk about with Mark all the time. Like
the draft boards this year, there doesn't really seem to
be a consensus like overall, but I think if you
(05:00):
looked at eight or ten big boards in terms of
quarterback rankings, eight or nine of them probably have cam
Mood at the top.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
The senior out of Miami six to two hundred and
twenty three pounds, played.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Two years at the FCS level at Incarnate Word, then
went two years up to Washington State and played this
last year at Miami. Was one of the best quarterbacks
in the country this year A little over forty three
hundred passing yards, thirty nine passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, sixty
seven point two percent completion percentage, two hundred four rushing yards,
and four rushing touchdowns. Nick, just tell me kind of
what you like about him, what you don't like about him,
(05:33):
and how and how he projects to the next level. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
I think he's got pretty like one of the best
arm talents in this draft. Great velocity on all his throat.
He's very smooth in the pocket, great pocket awareness. He
escapes a lot of stuff that you think the plays
dead and then all you see him is just coming
out escape the pocket. Great poise in the pocket. He
always seems under cool, calm, collect it. A good body,
(05:59):
good frame. He's a good athlete. He can change speeds,
he's got good touch, good power. He does make a
lot of those head scratching decisions where you're like, there
was nothing there, what are you doing? Why you're forcing
that pass. I think you do get in an NFL system,
You get under an NFL scheme that can limit him.
(06:21):
I think that will only make him better. He's very
fundamental arm talent, has the experience, Like you said, two
years at Incornate word two years at Washington State. He
can get stuck on his first reads a lot, and
once that happens, he can't really get off of it.
That's where he tends to kind of run out of
the pocket too early. Then leads to a lot of
(06:41):
those head scratching plays. He had ten games over three
hundred passing yards and nine games of three or more
passing touchdowns, so the production is there. ACC Player of
the Year All American. I think he kind of reminds
me of like a shorter Jordan Love with his motion
and his mechanics and his ability to escape the pocket.
(07:03):
I think his combination of his arm and his size,
his willingness to be to do whatever, he really will
just let it fly. I think he'll be He'll be
an okay starter in the league. I don't think he'll
really over change or overcome like a lot of these
teams or change a lot of these offenses. But I
think he'll be a productive NFL quarterback.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
The thing with cam Ward that really, you know, stuck
out to me watching I was a big Miami backer
this year. I thought he was the quarterback that you know,
could take him to New heights, and he did for
what we've seen out of Miami in recent years. You know,
obviously they fall short terrible defense, but he had that
kind of ability to put the team on his back
a lot of times and will them to victory. Scored
(07:47):
in the forties the high thirties a lot of times.
The thing though, that suck out to me the most
about him and you touched on it's like he always
seemed like calm, cool and collected, but like at times
a little bit too much.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It seemed like a little too casual.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
That's something that at the NFL level is something that
I'll probably get coached out of them trying to play
more kind of instructure, but you don't want to take
away that ability to make those second reaction type of plays.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
But if you are the Titans, would you.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Feel comfortable taking him and taking the risk on him
as the guy there at number one?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
I think they will end up doing it, just because
of their quarterback production in the last few years. They
really haven't done anything with Levis. I personally, I think
I would go ab Dual Carter or Travis Hunter, whatever
you think. Whatever their GM thinks is that generational talent.
But I do think that they the decision will be
(08:40):
came more just based off what the Titans need in
that offensive system. I think they've kind of run that
Will Levis train as far as they really want it to.
So yeah, I think they do go came Ard. If
I were in control, I think I would go Carter.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
I think that's going to be the kind of main
bait as we get to April, whether it's Kim Ward
or Carter or potentially the next guy will touch on
with with Shador Sanders And obviously, you know the big
thing with him is with Dion and we've already heard
the rumors, the murmurs, whatever you want to call him,
that he's gonna have a lot of saying where he goes,
Like I can't see the Browns being like Dean being like, yeah,
(09:21):
we're going with my son going to the Browns. I
could definitely see him steering his direction to whether it's
the Giants, whether it's the Raiders. You know a lot
of quarterback needy teams here at the top, but Shador
Sanders another guy, it's pretty rare.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I mean, I don't think I can.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Ever remember it, but probably the two top quarterback prospects,
both being former FCS guys and then transferring up. Obviously,
Chaudor's story a little bit different, just playing for his father,
but winds up transferring to Colorado coming out as a
senior this year, six two, two hundred and fifteen pounds,
not anywhere near the athlete.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
As his father.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
When you think Sanders, you probably think of more of
an athletic guy, more speed, but he's his pocket passer.
As it get, it seems like twenty twenty four stats
include forty one hundred passing yards, thirty seven passing touchdowns,
ten interceptions, seventy four percent completion percentage. I think you
can make an argument that he is the most accurate
quarterback in this entire draft class. Four rushing touchdowns as well,
(10:15):
finished with negative rushing yards. That is just a product
of playing behind the Colorado offensive line. You got to
keep in mind in college they take rushing yards off
for sacks. So, Nick, do you think it's a close
debate between Sanders and Ward at one? And if you
have a you know, a personal preference, who would you
take between the two?
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Yeah, I think it's a lot closer than kind of
people are saying. I do think it's a little one
A one B. They're not there. Games aren't very like
for there. They are similar, but at the same time
they're very different. Like you said, Sanders is probably the
most accurate quarterback in this draft. While Er should or
just lets it fly. He does have the elite ball placement,
but he he's his timing, he's very off. He that
(10:57):
does come with having a terrible offensive line. He can
make very he can make quicker decisions. He holds onto
the ball a lot, takes bad sacks when he needs
to throw it away, but when he is protected, he's
very good in the pocket. When he has time, Like
I guess most quarterbacks are. With a well protected pocket,
it's easier to make decisions. He's been in those tough,
(11:19):
competitive games where he's been clutch. He offers some value
as a scrambler. Like you said, he's not the most
athletic as you would think as a Sanders or Sanders son,
but he does have that athletic ability to escape the
pocket and make plays. Yeah, like you said, two years
at Jackson State where he put up just under seven
(11:41):
thousand yards and seventy touchdowns in two years, and then
he in Colorado in two years seventy three hundred yards,
sixty four passing touchdowns with eight rushing touchdowns. So the
production is there. It was Big twelve Offensive Player of
the Year had seven games with three hundred or more
passing yards and seven games with three or more passing touchdowns.
(12:01):
So I think you give him a clean pocket. I
think he can make some things happen, but his timing
needs definitely needs to improve and his game and I
think that will improve once he gets under an NFL scheme.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Yeah, it's one of those things like we're Sam Darnold
said before, like seeing ghosts, like you feel like watching
him that he was just so used to getting pressured
sometimes he just fled the pocket without even being pressured
or whatnot.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
And as you.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Said, that's something that a better surrounding cast, better supporting
system in front of him on the offensive line, and
obviously played with great receiver Travis Hunter. Jimmy Horn is
a good receiver, but you know, everything gets thrown off
when you don't have a clean offensive line. And two
years ago they were terrible. They give up I believe
the most sacks in the country. Last year were definitely better,
(12:48):
but still wasn't an elite unit by any stretch. I
remember the first time watching him was that TCU game
two years ago. The first like drive down the field,
I was like, holy crap, this dude throws lasers and
he was just dropping of wherever he wanted, all over
the field. So in terms of like a quarterback, I'm
interested to see if you agree with this, like a
quarterback out of this entire class where it's like, all right,
(13:10):
we're just going out there play seven on seven.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
You just need to basically be accurate.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
You don't have to worry about paths, r USh, you
don't have to worry about about mobility or anything.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
What would Sanders be your guy out of this draft?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
It probably would be, honestly that his accuracy and his
ball policeman is elite when he doesn't have any type
of pressure in his face, Like we've seen that this year,
Like you said, the well TCU game, but we've seen
him with a clean pocket deliver some crazy throats like
you said he had Travis Hunter, he had horn to throat.
(13:42):
So but he delivered in those moments and some of
the balls that he placed are in crazy windows that
you would look at and you're like, why are you
throwing it? And then you see it and it's right
on the numbers. But like you said, he needed that
clean pocket to do so once he escapes that pocket,
he kind of tends to get you know, wayward and
here and there stuff like that. But he's been reliable
(14:03):
when the game's on the line, and he can withstand
some hits. But at the same time, it's it's hard when,
like you said, seeing ghosts, and sometimes when there's nothing
even there, he'll he'll act like there is something there
and he'll force something. So getting that timing and he
has natural playmaking ability which really helps at his timing
(14:25):
has been so off.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I see your comparison for him here as Geno Smith,
and it kind of goes to the conversation with me
where it's like, you know, how much do you actually
take like player comps into consideration, because it's like, all right,
if I'm considering taking Shure stars in the top ten
and like I'm getting Geno Smith, basically, like why the
hell would I do that? Like Gino Smith is a
(14:49):
fine player, but he's been a starter pretty much as
long as he's been a backup in the league. Like
he's gotten an extended chance here in Seattle but I
would never consider taking him as a top ten pick
in an NFL draft, like if I was a redraft
of any year recently. Like, I think he's a fine player,
but why would I take Shrero Sanders at hide? Does
(15:09):
that kind of go into your mindset as well? It's
like he doesn't. He doesn't seem even like a round
one type player for me.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Yeah, I would say maybe like the late en round one,
but like like a Geno Smith, I would not be
taking him in the top ten, you know what I mean.
I don't think he is really the quarterback to change
an offensive system. Like you said, or like I said earlier,
there's there's defensive players, there's offensive line, and this defensive
line class is crazy, like I would take I would
(15:38):
prefer that and have a cornerstone defensive line rather than
a risky quarterback. And you don't know really what you're
getting into, because we've seen quarterbacks have, you know, good
talent in college and then come into a terrible system
and not be able to produce. So you put a
quarterback with the talent that he really has in a
(15:59):
terrible systems not going to succeed. So I think, like
the Geno Smith, comp Now, I don't know that isn't
really the complayer comparisons are more just their play style
and not really how their career is going to play
play out. Yeah, Like I see him and I see
a little bit of how Geno slings it, you know
what I mean. But I don't really think the career
longevity is going to be the same, honestly. But I
(16:23):
would he Like I said earlier, this this timing is everything.
His timing. If he can get on time with his
offensive system, his routes is O line. I think he
could be a sustainable NFL quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah. When you look at the top ten picks in
the NFL draft this year, you got the Titans at one,
Browns at two, Giants at three, Patriots at four, Jags
at five, Raiders, six Jets, seven Panthers, eight, New Orleans nine,
Chicago ten. So you can look at Titans, Cleveland, Giants, Raiders,
Jetz Saints.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
I think you can look at six teams.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
I could protay actually consider a quarterback there in the
top ten, especially now that Kellen Moore is down in
New Orleans, Like, does he want to get his own
guy at quarterback? Las Vegas brings in a new coach
in GM, do they want to get their guy at
quarterback to Giants Brian Dable and Joe Shane probably coaching
and drafting for their job this year. Do they are
(17:19):
they going to trust a rookie quarterback with that spot? Like,
there's a lot of quarterback needing teams, and you know
whether one of Shador or Kim Mordell guarantee goes in
the top ten, even though if they don't deserve it.
We see it all the time in the NFL draft
that these teams reach for these quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
But there's a third guy.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
That's been kind of creeping into the picture where it's
maybe he's even the second quarterback. I haven't heard necessarily
the first, but my guy from Ole Miss the past
couple of years, Jackson Dark has been getting a lot
of love recently. Senior six two two, twenty five, twenty
twenty four stats forty two hundred passing yards, twenty nine
passing touchdowns, six interceptions, sixty nine point three percent completion percentage,
(17:59):
four undred ninety five rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
By far more of a runner than both cam Ward
and shroudor Sanders. He uses his legs a lot better.
And I think one thing that we'll get to. One
of the guys on our list is Will Howard six
four to two thirty five. But all these other guys
sixty three six two six two six two six two
six two, not many ideal like Justin Herbert, Josh Allen,
(18:23):
Trevor Lauren sixty five sixty six quarterbacks in this class.
A lot of more kind of undersized guys. And I
guess that also kind of goes into the you know why,
maybe this isn't viewed as such a great quarterback class.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Not ideal size in that ideal talent.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
But what are your thoughts on Jackson Dart and the
potential of him rising into a potential first round player himself.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
I'm a big fan of Darth. The last two seasons
I've bet him the Heisman hasn't really worked out, but
I think he is a player that can produce. He's
very accurate, and he's a good athlete too. Looks composed
a lot of times, calm in the pocket. Always his
eyes are always downfield, so he's looking at he's always
looking to sling it. Good athlete, as I said, very
(19:05):
good in a well protected pocket. As we touched on earlier,
most quarterbacks will be good if a well protected pocket
goes through his progression as well. He doesn't sit on
that first read. If his first read isn't there, he'll
move on to the next and make a good decision.
Good accuracy, and those mid those short level throws can
definitely improve on the deep ball. He has the arm strength,
(19:25):
but the accuracy isn't really always there. His footwork and
mechanics can sometimes get off kilter, and he'll tend to
like just muscle throws out there, which tends to you know,
he needs to use more effort than he really has to.
Can learn to throw his receivers more open, those anticipation
throws I think he can work on, but the production's
(19:47):
been there. He has eight games over three hundred yards,
four games with four plus passing touchdowns. Just had twenty
nine passing touchdowns and only six picks, so he doesn't
really turn the ball over. We've seen a couple of
head scratching plays like in that in that last game
against I think it was Florida, had a couple bad
passes that you're like, well, what are you doing? Had
(20:07):
fifteen hundred rushing yards in at Ole, Miss, So twelve
touchdowns in three seasons. He can produce on the on
the run, two use his legs, So I think he
I think he'll be able to produce in the NFL,
maybe obviously as a backup. I think a couple of
years down the line, we might see him come started.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
All right, Mike get bashed for this one.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
And I'm not saying this is a direct comp but
having watched him closely over the past few years and
watching Jalen Hurts, you know, develop at an early stage.
I feel like their play style is like kind of
similar where it's like they're very good athletes. They are
talented throwers, but they also show a kind of a
need for a lot of growth in throwing. Like Jalen
coming into the league is a much different player than
(20:51):
he is right now, obviously being a Super Bowl MVP.
But like Dart, when you think of Dart and when
I when I think of Hurts, I don't think it's
just like a pure runner like coming out of college,
like I thought of Lamar as more of a runner
when you think of running quarterbacks, more so like Mike
Vick and Cam Newton. But Jalen Hurts and Jackson dar
are two guys I think, like Ken run if they
need to, but also are good in design runs like
(21:13):
but they're not looking to necessarily run first. And you
look at even just Jackson Darts game logs, like you
talked about his rushing production. His numbers are down obviously
because sacks get involved there, but like twelve carries, thirteen carries,
fourteen carries, ten carries, fifteen carries, thirteen carries. This is
the guy that ran the ball one hundred and twenty
four times this year, Like his number gets called and
(21:34):
he's able to use his like so like a plus athlete.
To said, I think a much better athlete than both
Shador and Campboard. And I think that's something too that
can get him on the field a little bit at
the beginning. Kind of interested to hear your thoughts on that.
And also like coming out of the Lane Kiffin system,
the Ole Miss system. The last guy we saw in
the NFL draft come out of that is Matt Carrall
and he's already out of the league, I believe, like
(21:56):
playing in the end.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I think I lost you there, But going on Jackson Dart,
I completely agree with you with the athleticism. I mean,
I think he's an athletic, composed quarterback. Like you said
with Hurts, he has a lot more room to grow.
He's very productive in the three years, had over ten
thousand yard seventy two passing touchdowns, only twenty two picks
in three seasons. So yeah, I completely agree with you.
(22:23):
I think he can be a very developmental, developmental, low
end starter and like you said with Hurts, he's gonna
have to grow in a lot of different ways, but
I think he's able to do it. Being in that
Lane Kiffin system, even though the last one coming out
was Macarel, I think he can definitely produce as as
a sustainable backup.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah, he's a guy that has been talked about, I
think the most out of the quarterback group as a
riser so far, and I want to be surprised if
he's one of those guys that goes in between like
twenty and thirty two, maybe even the teams with like
an older quarterback and they look to take a developmental.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Type of player.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
All right, we go on to another guy that screams
developmental type of player. When he was at his best
this year, he was one of the best players in
all of college football.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
He was the favorite for the Heisman Trophy at one point.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
You saw when he looked at his best against Georgia
and then you saw a game like against Michigan in
their bowl game, the downfalls of him. And that's Jalen Milroe,
quarterback out of Alabama, junior six to two hundred, twenty
five pounds. That definitely the best athlete that we've talked about,
probably maybe the best athlete on the offensive side of
the ball not named Travis Hunter. I think we could
(23:38):
argue like he's another guy that maybe one day he
does get just shifted into a running back, because I
think it was Kirby said it after the Georgia Alabama game.
They basically said, like their quarterback is just a running
back that can throw, and that's a's a big advantage
to them. Jaylen Milroe this year only twenty eight hundred
passing yard, sixteen passing touchdowns, eleven interceptions, sixty four point
(24:02):
three percent completion percentage. I think that's the thing he's
got to work on the most if he's going to
be an NFL quarterback. But as we talked about with
a lot of the other quarterbacks, you gotta remember rushing
yards take a hit with sacks. He still found a
way to seven hundred and twenty six rushing yards and
twenty rushing touchdowns this year. So a gifted thrower, or
excuse me, a gifted athlete, a gifted runner at times,
(24:22):
a gifted thrower.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
He's got a gifted.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Arm, but certainly has some tools to work with, but
he thinks he needs to work on as well.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
What are your thoughts on Jaylen Milroe?
Speaker 4 (24:31):
Yeah, I completely agree with you. He's a great athlete,
very good out of the pocket. With a runner, he
lacks a lot of accuracy and decision making. He's got
a strong arm, great speed, But I agree with you
if he doesn't really make it as a starter, I
find it hard for gms and coaches to look at
him and not try to involve him in like package
(24:53):
plays like a Malik Willis. Like you said, he had
thirty two or twenty rushing touchdowns this year. The last seasons,
he's or total for seventy one touchdowns and thirty two
of them have been rushing touchdowns. So he is a
very good runner, but that arm is just such a
question mark. He's got great strength, high velocity, but no accuracy.
(25:16):
He's got a weird throwing motion too. It's kind of like,
I feel like a shortstop, Like it's a short and
sweet throwing motion, quick trigger. He's most of his production
has been inside of a like I keep talking about this,
but a well protected pocket. And with him he tends
to bail out a lot and early when he doesn't
(25:37):
have to. But at the same time, he stays in
there too long and takes sacks that he doesn't have to.
So I think he's more of a project. He's more
of a package player. I don't think he really will
develop his arm that much. If he does, good for him,
But I really don't see much more of a Malik
Willis type of player in.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Jalen Milrow.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
And Malik Willis this year, Like he played pretty well
in Spurts, he was obviously called upon in Tennessee struggled,
but obviously the set, the surrounding situation wasn't that wasn't
that great. If if Jalen Milroe, like I think, if
you put him on the Eagles, and I would say,
you know, have McKee or excuse me, Kenny Pickett back
(26:21):
back up Jalen again this year but just work with
Malik Wilson, excuse me, work with Jaylen Milroe and develop him.
Like that's a nice kind of long term back up
there for Jalen Hurts, especially with not really having to
change the offense much like obviously there's going to need
to be some more emphasis on the run.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I think when when Jalen.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Milroe was in the game, but he's a guy that
he's got stuff that you can't teach. And when you've
been a team like Philadelphia that's been so good on
hitting on draft picks knock on wood in recent years,
you can take some swings on guys like this, and
I don't think they think Kenny Picketts necessarily long term backup.
Tanner mcke's a guy too as well. If he goes
out and plays well in the preseason, I could see
(27:01):
him being a guy that other teams are interested in
to have a situation where he could potentially go play
more So. Jayla Murrow is a guy that you know,
obviously have to get get him for the right price,
like a fourth or the fifth round maybe at this
stage of the game, but a guy that I would
look at even if I was like Washington Buffalo Baltimore
teams with guys that are mobile quarterbacks, take a risk
(27:23):
on some high talent here and look to develop them.
What are your thoughts kind of on that.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah, I would that would be cool to see him
back up Lamar or something or Josh Allen in that
in like a run package system like that, those two
elite athletes at a quarterback. That would be fun to
see them see him in a system like that. But
I really if he really has to use his arm,
I don't see him being successful unless he really does
(27:48):
get that development in a good system, and that is
very much in play, Like he could easily develop a
more accurate arm putting in those reps, and if he does,
that could be a very ski a dangerous piece in
an offense. If he could develop that arm and he
has the athleticism that he does, having that in your
in your quarterback room is would be.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Scary in the sale.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
A lot of the same things we're said about Jalen
Hurts coming out like, you know, he's an athlete. I
think Jalen Milro is probably a better athlete, definitely faster,
a more gifted runner. But a lot of people didn't
believe Jalen was an NFL thrower. Even you know, heck,
you're going into the Super Bowl year, the first Super
Bowl year, like, people were still very critical, get your
(28:33):
if you put in the work. Jalen showed the ability
that you can get better, and Milroe's got the talent.
So he's a guy that I would definitely consider taking
a chance on. A high ceiling, kind of low floor
type of player, but still a player that I think
worse comes worse. You'd be able to find ways to
get the ball in his hands and make some plays
at the end of the day if he completely flames
(28:55):
out as a quarterback. Next guy is a guy that's
been an SEC starter, gone up head the head against
Jalen Milroe before. That's Queen Ewers at Texas, another player
that had a chance to go back this year. Both
Milrow and yours I think would have benefited from another year.
Youers probably wasn't gonna get to play at Texas this year,
but he would have plenty of other suitors out on
(29:15):
the open market. Six two, two hundred and ten pounds,
the former number one overall recruit coming out.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Of high school.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
He was at one point twenty four to seven sports
that I don't know if he still is or if
arch overtook him for that, but the number one recruit
that they ever had in their system, like the perfect
prospect zero point nine nine nine nine, repeating on because
I don't think they give out one hundred, but Queen
Ewers was at one point the highest ready to recruit
ever coming out of high school. This past year at Texas,
(29:41):
he throws for thirty four hundred yards, thirty one passing touchdowns.
Missed some time as well with some injuries. Twelve interceptions,
sixty five point eight percent completion percentage, two rushing touchdowns.
Not much of a runner for sure, but a guy
that has over three years starting at Texas missed a
handful of time, and I think injuries are one of
the best concerns in his game.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
What do you think of Quinn you or Janick?
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:04):
I think he's shown a lot of flashes of being
a very good quarterback, especially with the experience in the SEC.
Obviously been a five star recruit then transferred over. He
has put up over nine thousand passing yards, sixty eight touchdowns,
and added on eight rushing touchdowns. I think he's got
great mccan, he's great footwork, nice touch. I think his problem,
(30:25):
like you said, is the injuries and the inconsistencies. He's
has a little bit too much. He forces it a
little bit too much. But I think he has good
pocket presence, good mobility in the pocket can evade some pressure.
I know we didn't see that against Jack Sawyer to
end that game, but at the end of the day,
I think he still has He's an experienced quarterback that
(30:47):
has seen a lot as playing in a lot of
big games. I think he can be a very serviceable
quarterback in a nice system. I think he could probably
be like that same Hall type of player, like come
in and if he needs to lead a team, think
he can be able to do it. I don't know
if he'll be able to become that full time starter,
but I think he has the ability to develop into that.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
One of the things with quarterbacks in recent drafts, it's
like the guys that have limited college experience and they've
been thrown kind of into the fire right and went
right away in the NFL have struggled it and have
found their way kind of out of.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
The out of the league.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
When you look at a guy like quin you were
as he has three years pretty much full starting in
the SEC for one and in the Big twelve for two,
and then also he had that one year at a
highest state where he was around some great quarterbacks as well.
So this is a guy, as you said, has seen
a lot. I really like that same Howel kind of
comparison where he can go out there and he can
have some really good games, but then as well you
(31:42):
can have some some head scratchers. The injuries is the
biggest concern for me, Like does that get any better
going to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
I mean, it's a lot of them have been contact injuries,
whether it's been like shoulders he's had, he had, the ankle,
I believe this year a lot of them have just
been have been like weight type of stuff where he
just wasn't with with able to with able to withstand
excuse me, the contact and the injury. So something that
I think his teams are certainly going to be keeping
(32:11):
a close eye on with him more more than a
lot of these prospects. The the injury history, but you
got to look at the experience. I think he's got
a lot of that on his side. He's he won
a lot of games at Texas. I think you could
say he kind of brought helped really bring that Texas
program back.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Yeah, I completely agree with you. Like like you said,
the experience is a big thing, like going into the
NFL and not having the experience or the playtime where
the the time in those critical games where meet or
meaningful games like you've got to be able to have
those games under your belt to be able to succeed
in the NFL, especially nowadays with how these offensive these
(32:51):
offenses are run. I think you got to have that experience,
and he really does so I think he'll he has
the opportunity, as I mean everyone does, to develop into
that full time backup, backup role that like you said,
can come into a game, can play maybe three games
straight if you want, and then that fourth game I'll
(33:12):
have that bottom out, you know what I mean. But
I think at the same time, he's no more than
really that at the next level.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Yeah, two more I want to hit on and then
maybe we'll have time for one more potentially at the end.
But this guy led the country in passing this year
out of the ACC was a former high state player
transferred to Syracuse for one year, and I think he
made the most of his opportunity this year, and that's
Kyle McCord. Sixty three to two hundred twenty pounds, four
seven seventy nine passing yards this year, which led the country,
(33:45):
thirty four passing touchdowns, twelve interceptions, be four of those
came in one game two against Pitt That was by
far his worst game of the season. Other than that,
he was an awesome player this year. That was a
really fun Syracuse team to watch. They really kind of
unleashed him and he had an awesome year, sixty six
percent completion percentage, three rushing touchdowns. Kind of got pushed
(34:05):
out the door last year at Ohio State, but as
I said, made the most of his opportunity at Syracuse
this year. And I've seen a few things like post
like the Shrine Bowl that his name's a guy that's
been rising as well.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Yeah, I mean, he had an insanely productive year this year,
like you said, lead the nation in passing yards with
just over forty seven hundred added on thirty four passing touchdowns.
He had twelve of his thirteen games through for over
three hundred and twenty yards, So he slings it. He's
a very smooth and like technically sound, fundamental, nice touch
(34:41):
type of quarterback, good accuracy in those tight spaces, he
knows when they used that touch, and then velocity. I
think he can. He's not the most athletic or mobile,
but I feel like he is able to do so
if he really wants to or if he really has to.
He throws with that good anticipation, leads his receivers open.
(35:02):
We saw that a lot at Syracuse. A good decision
maker once he's under pressure. Though, once he that pocket
starts collapsing, fundamentals start getting that a whack gets flustered,
can fade off his back foot a lot that I've
seen then loses that velocity, loses that power. I think
he can deliver as a solid NFL back or at backup,
(35:26):
But like you said, I kind of see some similarities
with him and yours with that same how comparison. If
he can come in if a quarterback has an injury,
lead them for a few games, then kind of dies out.
Teams start to you know, know his tendencies. But I
think with the production that he put up with Syracuse,
(35:47):
he he'll be able to sneak in these this top
maybe top three rounds, maybe even sneak into two.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Yeah, I'm interested to hear for me, why do you think,
I mean, other than the competition being worse in the
ACC than the Big Ten, why do you think he
had so much such a more better year at Syracuses
here than Ohio State considering all the weapons he had
around him there.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Yeah, I was gonna say, with the weapons that he
has at an upper echelant school at Ohio State and
then compared to Syracuse, I guess maybe I'm going to
look at the stats.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Now.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
Did did he throw a lot more? Did he have
a lot more attempts? I'm not sure, but either way,
I think the production is very eye opening because at
school like Ohio State, you should be putting up those
good numbers, that productive numbers. But I mean, I don't
really know. I think like in a system like Syracuse,
(36:42):
you don't really expect to put up numbers like this.
But he just went out there and did it. So
I think that kind of shows his leadership, shows his
role in the locker room, shows that he can be
able to, you know, lead a team. So I think
teams in the NFL GM's ahead guys will see that
and be like, Okay, I kind of want that in
my system.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Yeah, I feel like Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
I mean they kind of did it with Will Howard
throughout part of the season, but it was basically like,
don't ruin the game for us.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
We have so much talent around you.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
They didn't really unleash him, and I think we saw
this year go to the ACC obviously, and with less
talent around him, Syracuse kind of had to unleash more
and he certainly made it most of his opportunity because
I don't think he was a guy even going into
the season really considered on draft boards. But this is
also another player. He was a top fifty recruit coming
out of high school, a crazy high school career at
(37:33):
Saint Joe's Prep. So we'll see what happens with Kyle McCord.
He's a guy that I'm rooting for because I think
he got, you know, ll deal there at Ohio State,
and he had a really nice bounce back as Syracuse
this year. All right, last guy we just talked about
a former Ohio State quarterback.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
We will touch on now.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
The Ohio State quarterback from this past year who had
a great playoffs. I think he made himself a lot
of money in the playoffs. Another guy that you know,
maybe it was like a seventh round project type of consideration.
I think this year or after that that playoff run,
he's more of a fourth round, fifth round type guy
that's gonna get, you know, a chance to compete for
maybe a backup spot as soon as this year. And
(38:13):
I think he's a good enough athlete where you can
use him in some like power run type situations, see
like what Taysom Hill has done with the Saints, things
like that. That's Will Howard six four, two hundred and
thirty five pounds Ohio State quarterback, National champions transfer from
Kansas State. Four passing yards thirty five passing touchdowns was not,
(38:33):
I guess impressed, but I was surprised to see this
number was as high seventy three point one percent completion
percentage was very accurate. Ten interceptions. He had some kind
of head scratching interceptions this year. I think that is
really what held the Ohio State team back during the
regular season. But two hundred twenty six rushing yards, seven
rushing touchdowns as well, I don't think he's as quick
as he once was. He might be a little bit
(38:54):
bulk here, but he was much more of a runner
at Kansas State. They made him into a better passer
at Ohio State. What are your thoughts on Will Howard
and does he have a chance to stick around in
the league too.
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Yeah, I think he does. He's got that prototypical NFL size.
It's like you said, six four, two thirty five. Great.
He's a good athlete for his size that he uses
legs a lot more in Kansas State. Like you said already,
I think he can extend plays that really you see
that aren't open, and he can evade a lot. That
does help when you have the offensive line of a
(39:25):
higher state. Even though they battle some injuries. He knows
when he used that touch, the velocity. He is very accurate.
He has those developmental traits that you can see an
NFL quarterback coach can develop it, you know, in a
skill set and continue his growth. I think he can
improve on the turnovers. The last two seasons he had
(39:48):
twenty picks combined, ten in each. I think he can
limit that. He's a bit of an older prospect. I
think he'll be like twenty four by the time the
seasons turns. Earth starts and nothing really pops out like
elite about him. He's just very you know, above average
and all or well rounded throughout. I think he's more
(40:09):
like more athletic Mason Rudolph. If that is a good comparison,
I don't know. I don't think his career will end
up like that. I think he'll be a little better
than him, But if you get him in the right system,
I think he can very well develop into I don't
know that that QB one, but I think he'll be
able to fight for that spot.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
I don't know if I ever see him being a starter,
but I do see him as kind of a guy
that could go in there and start you two to
three games and you don't really feel like it's a
It's a completely massive drop off. Obviously depends on who
your starter is, but you know, he's He's nowhere near
Josh Allen and that type of uh, that level of
a player, but like similar styles at times where you
(40:49):
can run him. He does have the ability to make
some throws Like could he be kind of a long
term back up there in Buffalo? I could see that
maybe being a fit. We'll get into team fits, team
needs and stuff more as we go. I just wanted
this to be kind of a crash course on some
of these top top quarterback prospects, even though they're they're
not really considered great for this year. We got one
question in the chat. It's a running back question. Huge
(41:13):
fan of Joe Ardia sub is Gens really all that
people comparing him to Marshawn Lynch? Is he a better
prospect than beje On? Our next episode will be running back,
So little kind of teaser here.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
Yeah, I mean, Marshawn is a big comparison. Marshall is
one of my favorite running backs ever, so I don't
I think he's kind of got that bully ball play
style like him. He's got the he can be versatile,
versatile two out of the backfield, which Marshall Lynch wasn't
really all that. I mean, I guess he could be.
But Genty's way more of that pass catcher he's They're
(41:48):
both insanely hard to tackle. Their contact balance is absurd.
You can just lay right into him and he'll still
still bounce off. I kind of lean towards like a
Maurice Jones drew for Ashton Jenny, that smaller bowling ball,
like you need four guys to bring him down. Very patient,
He's smart and he lets his block set up. Very fluid,
(42:11):
smooth athlete can I think he's a good pass blocker.
I think he could probably improve on that. But the
size is five nine two fifteen. He's not going to
be out there blocking edge rushers. So I don't dislike
the Marshall lynch just because I have Marshall Ltz on
another pedestal, But I think Maurice Jones Drew is more
(42:31):
of like the comparison for me.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
All right, well, that'll wrap it up with the quarterback episode,
as we talked about not the greatest class, but a
little kind of teaser there into the running back episode,
which I think people are a lot higher on obviously
Ashton Gens and then I think this is one that
we could see like three to four to maybe even
five running backs going in the first kind of top
(42:55):
sixty to seventy five picks. Seems like that's the kind
of consensus out there right now. But any last second
comments on the quarterback snick Now.
Speaker 4 (43:04):
I think we kind of talked on it all that's
really it's not the greatest class. I don't think it's
as bad as the twenty two class. Twenty two class
was brutal. Can you pick it? The first one off
the board. So I don't really think it's that bad.
But yeah, I think we touched on it all and
I can't wait to get to the running backs next week.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
All right, Well, that will do it for Bending the
Edge Episode one, Quarterbacks this week.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Running backs will go to pass catchers.
Speaker 5 (43:32):
The following week, cutting on the receivers and the tight end,
move on to some offensive linemen, hit all defensive stuff,
and we'll get a little bit more specific in some
mock drafts as we go. Thank you everyone for tuning
in here to Fox Sports a gambler. If you're watching
on YouTube, please drop a light, drop a subscribe, and
we'll talk to you next week.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
Here at Bending the Edge.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
Spreads Total and all the prop bets in between. It's
the Gambler.
If you can wager on it, We're talking about it.
It's the Gambler. Fox Sports Radio, The Gambler. Fox Sports
Radio in Philly is the Gambler, The Gambler, Philly's home
for all things sports. Gambler.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
All Right, the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Party and celebration here in Philadelphia is officially over, and
it is time to turn the page to the twenty
twenty five twenty twenty six season. And when you win
the Super Bowl, when you make the Super Bowl, whatever
you want to say. This comes a little bit quicker
than usual, so we're getting right into it today a
new I guess kind of episode or show under the
(00:41):
our Beef up Front umbrella.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Here at Fox Sports The Gambler, we are.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Introducing our new show, Bending the Edge with Beef and
let Us, hosted by Ryan Coyle and Nick McLay where.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be doing a bit
of a deep dive on some of the top prospects
at all the important positions. Now as we get closer
to the draft post combine, get into April, do some
more rankings, do some mock drafts, and try and hit
(01:05):
on just about everything important in the draft. The Eagles
picking thirty two this year, So you're gonna have to
get into the weeds a little bit more on some
of these prospects. But Nick, welcome, how are we It's
excited to get into this little series with you going
forward and right down the quarterbacks today.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yeah. Man, I'm excited now that the season's over. We
got the offseason to look forward to a ton of
holes for a ton of teams, a lot of changes,
a lot of moving pieces between all these teams, especially
the lesser teams. They're going to be changing a lot
going into it. Now we're talking about quarterbacks, one of
the weaker classes that we have seen. So I'm interested
(01:43):
to see how the top of the you know, board
shakes out what teams really value quarterbacks and or going
forward into this season, and what teams really would rather
go into free agency. So I'm very excited to see
how this all plays out before the draft and the
buying and the pro days and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, so you kind of touched on it where this
is really regarded kind of as a weak quarterback class,
a weaker quarterback class when you look at some of
the teams at the top here, whether it's the Browns,
whether it's the Titans, whether it's the Giants, A lot
of these teams are in the market for quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So do you think this.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Is a draft where you know it's worth taking a
swing on some of these guys, even if they don't
look like, you know, home run type prospects like it
in the past few years, whether it's been Caleb Williams
has been really praised, you know, back a few years,
Trevor Lawrence, guys like that. There's not one of those
top tier kind of quarterback prospects. Do you think it's
worth it before we start diving into it to potentially
take a risk on one of these top guys or
(02:44):
would you look more so to get like a bridge
type quarterback. Go get a veteran, whether it's an Aaron Rodgers,
you know, say Joe Flacco, someone like that, just for example,
and put you in position to get a higher pick
next year with one of these young quarterbacks, whether it's
Nico or arch Manning.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
It it's looking like the next class is going to
be a lot stronger.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yeah, I think I personally would lean towards the free
agency route and head for a bridge type of a
quarterback rather than hit this quarterback class coming into the year.
I think, like you said, next year's class is very
strong with Nico and Arch. I mean, there's plenty of
(03:23):
guys that are coming out that can make a difference
in next year's class rather than this year. Like Titans
and the Browns like they're players in this draft. Like
I think Abdul Carter is one of a generational player.
I think he can change a complete defense. At me personally,
I think I would take him if I'm Tennessee and
(03:44):
have that bridge guy. And I know Will Levis hasn't
really done much, but maybe you can get a bridge guy.
See how he Will Levis develops under say, you know,
like you said of Flacco or Rogers. But yeah, I
think I'd rather lean towards the bridge option and go
for next year's draft if it were up to me.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah. And it's really, you know, interesting kind of spot
because you don't know if you're going to be picking
you know, this high again. Number one said, do you
kind of take that risk? Do you take that chance
on the quarterback if you're the Titans or the Browns.
And that's why those guys get paid the big bucks.
That's why you know they have the discussions and go
through all this and the ex sense of research, and
(04:26):
I'm sure they'll come to a conclusion, but a real
interesting kind of to be because also who knows if
the Titans do really believe in Kim or do you
really believe in shuroor Sanders And they're not even considering
anything else at this point, you know, there's a.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Lot to go into it.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
February nineteenth the draft a little bit under two months away,
so I'm sure we'll hear everything and anything in between
now and then. But the guy I want to start
with at the top is cam Ward. I think consensus
and we talk about with Mark all the time. Like
the draft boards this year, there doesn't really seem to
be a consensus like overall, but I think if you
(05:00):
looked at eight or ten big boards in terms of
quarterback rankings, eight or nine of them probably have cam
Mood at the top.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
The senior out of Miami six to two hundred and
twenty three pounds, played.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Two years at the FCS level at Incarnate Word, then
went two years up to Washington State and played this
last year at Miami. Was one of the best quarterbacks
in the country this year A little over forty three
hundred passing yards, thirty nine passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, sixty
seven point two percent completion percentage, two hundred four rushing yards,
and four rushing touchdowns. Nick, just tell me kind of
what you like about him, what you don't like about him,
(05:33):
and how and how he projects to the next level. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
I think he's got pretty like one of the best
arm talents in this draft. Great velocity on all his throat.
He's very smooth in the pocket, great pocket awareness. He
escapes a lot of stuff that you think the plays
dead and then all you see him is just coming
out escape the pocket. Great poise in the pocket. He
always seems under cool, calm, collect it. A good body,
(05:59):
good frame. He's a good athlete. He can change speeds,
he's got good touch, good power. He does make a
lot of those head scratching decisions where you're like, there
was nothing there, what are you doing? Why you're forcing
that pass. I think you do get in an NFL system,
You get under an NFL scheme that can limit him.
(06:21):
I think that will only make him better. He's very
fundamental arm talent, has the experience, Like you said, two
years at Incornate word two years at Washington State. He
can get stuck on his first reads a lot, and
once that happens, he can't really get off of it.
That's where he tends to kind of run out of
the pocket too early. Then leads to a lot of
(06:41):
those head scratching plays. He had ten games over three
hundred passing yards and nine games of three or more
passing touchdowns, so the production is there. ACC Player of
the Year All American. I think he kind of reminds
me of like a shorter Jordan Love with his motion
and his mechanics and his ability to escape the pocket.
(07:03):
I think his combination of his arm and his size,
his willingness to be to do whatever, he really will
just let it fly. I think he'll be He'll be
an okay starter in the league. I don't think he'll
really over change or overcome like a lot of these
teams or change a lot of these offenses. But I
think he'll be a productive NFL quarterback.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
The thing with cam Ward that really, you know, stuck
out to me watching I was a big Miami backer
this year. I thought he was the quarterback that you know,
could take him to New heights, and he did for
what we've seen out of Miami in recent years. You know,
obviously they fall short terrible defense, but he had that
kind of ability to put the team on his back
a lot of times and will them to victory. Scored
(07:47):
in the forties the high thirties a lot of times.
The thing though, that suck out to me the most
about him and you touched on it's like he always
seemed like calm, cool and collected, but like at times
a little bit too much.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It seemed like a little too casual.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
That's something that at the NFL level is something that
I'll probably get coached out of them trying to play
more kind of instructure, but you don't want to take
away that ability to make those second reaction type of plays.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
But if you are the Titans, would you.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Feel comfortable taking him and taking the risk on him
as the guy there at number one?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
I think they will end up doing it, just because
of their quarterback production in the last few years. They
really haven't done anything with Levis. I personally, I think
I would go ab Dual Carter or Travis Hunter, whatever
you think. Whatever their GM thinks is that generational talent.
But I do think that they the decision will be
(08:40):
came more just based off what the Titans need in
that offensive system. I think they've kind of run that
Will Levis train as far as they really want it to.
So yeah, I think they do go came Ard. If
I were in control, I think I would go Carter.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
I think that's going to be the kind of main
bait as we get to April, whether it's Kim Ward
or Carter or potentially the next guy will touch on
with with Shador Sanders And obviously, you know the big
thing with him is with Dion and we've already heard
the rumors, the murmurs, whatever you want to call him,
that he's gonna have a lot of saying where he goes,
Like I can't see the Browns being like Dean being like, yeah,
(09:21):
we're going with my son going to the Browns. I
could definitely see him steering his direction to whether it's
the Giants, whether it's the Raiders. You know a lot
of quarterback needy teams here at the top, but Shador
Sanders another guy, it's pretty rare.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I mean, I don't think I can.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Ever remember it, but probably the two top quarterback prospects,
both being former FCS guys and then transferring up. Obviously,
Chaudor's story a little bit different, just playing for his father,
but winds up transferring to Colorado coming out as a
senior this year, six two, two hundred and fifteen pounds,
not anywhere near the athlete.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
As his father.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
When you think Sanders, you probably think of more of
an athletic guy, more speed, but he's his pocket passer.
As it get, it seems like twenty twenty four stats
include forty one hundred passing yards, thirty seven passing touchdowns,
ten interceptions, seventy four percent completion percentage. I think you
can make an argument that he is the most accurate
quarterback in this entire draft class. Four rushing touchdowns as well,
(10:15):
finished with negative rushing yards. That is just a product
of playing behind the Colorado offensive line. You got to
keep in mind in college they take rushing yards off
for sacks. So, Nick, do you think it's a close
debate between Sanders and Ward at one? And if you
have a you know, a personal preference, who would you
take between the two?
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Yeah, I think it's a lot closer than kind of
people are saying. I do think it's a little one
A one B. They're not there. Games aren't very like
for there. They are similar, but at the same time
they're very different. Like you said, Sanders is probably the
most accurate quarterback in this draft. While Er should or
just lets it fly. He does have the elite ball placement,
but he he's his timing, he's very off. He that
(10:57):
does come with having a terrible offensive line. He can
make very he can make quicker decisions. He holds onto
the ball a lot, takes bad sacks when he needs
to throw it away, but when he is protected, he's
very good in the pocket. When he has time, Like
I guess most quarterbacks are. With a well protected pocket,
it's easier to make decisions. He's been in those tough,
(11:19):
competitive games where he's been clutch. He offers some value
as a scrambler. Like you said, he's not the most
athletic as you would think as a Sanders or Sanders son,
but he does have that athletic ability to escape the
pocket and make plays. Yeah, like you said, two years
at Jackson State where he put up just under seven
(11:41):
thousand yards and seventy touchdowns in two years, and then
he in Colorado in two years seventy three hundred yards,
sixty four passing touchdowns with eight rushing touchdowns. So the
production is there. It was Big twelve Offensive Player of
the Year had seven games with three hundred or more
passing yards and seven games with three or more passing touchdowns.
(12:01):
So I think you give him a clean pocket. I
think he can make some things happen, but his timing
needs definitely needs to improve and his game and I
think that will improve once he gets under an NFL scheme.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Yeah, it's one of those things like we're Sam Darnold
said before, like seeing ghosts, like you feel like watching
him that he was just so used to getting pressured
sometimes he just fled the pocket without even being pressured
or whatnot.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
And as you.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Said, that's something that a better surrounding cast, better supporting
system in front of him on the offensive line, and
obviously played with great receiver Travis Hunter. Jimmy Horn is
a good receiver, but you know, everything gets thrown off
when you don't have a clean offensive line. And two
years ago they were terrible. They give up I believe
the most sacks in the country. Last year were definitely better,
(12:48):
but still wasn't an elite unit by any stretch. I
remember the first time watching him was that TCU game
two years ago. The first like drive down the field,
I was like, holy crap, this dude throws lasers and
he was just dropping of wherever he wanted, all over
the field. So in terms of like a quarterback, I'm
interested to see if you agree with this, like a
quarterback out of this entire class where it's like, all right,
(13:10):
we're just going out there play seven on seven.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
You just need to basically be accurate.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
You don't have to worry about paths, r USh, you
don't have to worry about about mobility or anything.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
What would Sanders be your guy out of this draft?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
It probably would be, honestly that his accuracy and his
ball policeman is elite when he doesn't have any type
of pressure in his face, Like we've seen that this year,
Like you said, the well TCU game, but we've seen
him with a clean pocket deliver some crazy throats like
you said he had Travis Hunter, he had horn to throat.
(13:42):
So but he delivered in those moments and some of
the balls that he placed are in crazy windows that
you would look at and you're like, why are you
throwing it? And then you see it and it's right
on the numbers. But like you said, he needed that
clean pocket to do so once he escapes that pocket,
he kind of tends to get you know, wayward and
here and there stuff like that. But he's been reliable
(14:03):
when the game's on the line, and he can withstand
some hits. But at the same time, it's it's hard when,
like you said, seeing ghosts, and sometimes when there's nothing
even there, he'll he'll act like there is something there
and he'll force something. So getting that timing and he
has natural playmaking ability which really helps at his timing
(14:25):
has been so off.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I see your comparison for him here as Geno Smith,
and it kind of goes to the conversation with me
where it's like, you know, how much do you actually
take like player comps into consideration, because it's like, all right,
if I'm considering taking Shure stars in the top ten
and like I'm getting Geno Smith, basically, like why the
hell would I do that? Like Gino Smith is a
(14:49):
fine player, but he's been a starter pretty much as
long as he's been a backup in the league. Like
he's gotten an extended chance here in Seattle but I
would never consider taking him as a top ten pick
in an NFL draft, like if I was a redraft
of any year recently. Like, I think he's a fine player,
but why would I take Shrero Sanders at hide? Does
(15:09):
that kind of go into your mindset as well? It's
like he doesn't. He doesn't seem even like a round
one type player for me.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Yeah, I would say maybe like the late en round one,
but like like a Geno Smith, I would not be
taking him in the top ten, you know what I mean.
I don't think he is really the quarterback to change
an offensive system. Like you said, or like I said earlier,
there's there's defensive players, there's offensive line, and this defensive
line class is crazy, like I would take I would
(15:38):
prefer that and have a cornerstone defensive line rather than
a risky quarterback. And you don't know really what you're
getting into, because we've seen quarterbacks have, you know, good
talent in college and then come into a terrible system
and not be able to produce. So you put a
quarterback with the talent that he really has in a
(15:59):
terrible systems not going to succeed. So I think, like
the Geno Smith, comp Now, I don't know that isn't
really the complayer comparisons are more just their play style
and not really how their career is going to play
play out. Yeah, Like I see him and I see
a little bit of how Geno slings it, you know
what I mean. But I don't really think the career
longevity is going to be the same, honestly. But I
(16:23):
would he Like I said earlier, this this timing is everything.
His timing. If he can get on time with his
offensive system, his routes is O line. I think he
could be a sustainable NFL quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah. When you look at the top ten picks in
the NFL draft this year, you got the Titans at one,
Browns at two, Giants at three, Patriots at four, Jags
at five, Raiders, six Jets, seven Panthers, eight, New Orleans nine,
Chicago ten. So you can look at Titans, Cleveland, Giants, Raiders,
Jetz Saints.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
I think you can look at six teams.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
I could protay actually consider a quarterback there in the
top ten, especially now that Kellen Moore is down in
New Orleans, Like, does he want to get his own
guy at quarterback? Las Vegas brings in a new coach
in GM, do they want to get their guy at
quarterback to Giants Brian Dable and Joe Shane probably coaching
and drafting for their job this year. Do they are
(17:19):
they going to trust a rookie quarterback with that spot? Like,
there's a lot of quarterback needing teams, and you know
whether one of Shador or Kim Mordell guarantee goes in
the top ten, even though if they don't deserve it.
We see it all the time in the NFL draft
that these teams reach for these quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
But there's a third guy.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
That's been kind of creeping into the picture where it's
maybe he's even the second quarterback. I haven't heard necessarily
the first, but my guy from Ole Miss the past
couple of years, Jackson Dark has been getting a lot
of love recently. Senior six two two, twenty five, twenty
twenty four stats forty two hundred passing yards, twenty nine
passing touchdowns, six interceptions, sixty nine point three percent completion percentage,
(17:59):
four undred ninety five rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
By far more of a runner than both cam Ward
and shroudor Sanders. He uses his legs a lot better.
And I think one thing that we'll get to. One
of the guys on our list is Will Howard six
four to two thirty five. But all these other guys
sixty three six two six two six two six two
six two, not many ideal like Justin Herbert, Josh Allen,
(18:23):
Trevor Lauren sixty five sixty six quarterbacks in this class.
A lot of more kind of undersized guys. And I
guess that also kind of goes into the you know why,
maybe this isn't viewed as such a great quarterback class.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Not ideal size in that ideal talent.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
But what are your thoughts on Jackson Dart and the
potential of him rising into a potential first round player himself.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
I'm a big fan of Darth. The last two seasons
I've bet him the Heisman hasn't really worked out, but
I think he is a player that can produce. He's
very accurate, and he's a good athlete too. Looks composed
a lot of times, calm in the pocket. Always his
eyes are always downfield, so he's looking at he's always
looking to sling it. Good athlete, as I said, very
(19:05):
good in a well protected pocket. As we touched on earlier,
most quarterbacks will be good if a well protected pocket
goes through his progression as well. He doesn't sit on
that first read. If his first read isn't there, he'll
move on to the next and make a good decision.
Good accuracy, and those mid those short level throws can
definitely improve on the deep ball. He has the arm strength,
(19:25):
but the accuracy isn't really always there. His footwork and
mechanics can sometimes get off kilter, and he'll tend to
like just muscle throws out there, which tends to you know,
he needs to use more effort than he really has to.
Can learn to throw his receivers more open, those anticipation
throws I think he can work on, but the production's
(19:47):
been there. He has eight games over three hundred yards,
four games with four plus passing touchdowns. Just had twenty
nine passing touchdowns and only six picks, so he doesn't
really turn the ball over. We've seen a couple of
head scratching plays like in that in that last game
against I think it was Florida, had a couple bad
passes that you're like, well, what are you doing? Had
(20:07):
fifteen hundred rushing yards in at Ole, Miss, So twelve
touchdowns in three seasons. He can produce on the on
the run, two use his legs, So I think he
I think he'll be able to produce in the NFL,
maybe obviously as a backup. I think a couple of
years down the line, we might see him come started.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
All right, Mike get bashed for this one.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
And I'm not saying this is a direct comp but
having watched him closely over the past few years and
watching Jalen Hurts, you know, develop at an early stage.
I feel like their play style is like kind of
similar where it's like they're very good athletes. They are
talented throwers, but they also show a kind of a
need for a lot of growth in throwing. Like Jalen
coming into the league is a much different player than
(20:51):
he is right now, obviously being a Super Bowl MVP.
But like Dart, when you think of Dart and when
I when I think of Hurts, I don't think it's
just like a pure runner like coming out of college,
like I thought of Lamar as more of a runner
when you think of running quarterbacks, more so like Mike
Vick and Cam Newton. But Jalen Hurts and Jackson dar
are two guys I think, like Ken run if they
need to, but also are good in design runs like
(21:13):
but they're not looking to necessarily run first. And you
look at even just Jackson Darts game logs, like you
talked about his rushing production. His numbers are down obviously
because sacks get involved there, but like twelve carries, thirteen carries,
fourteen carries, ten carries, fifteen carries, thirteen carries. This is
the guy that ran the ball one hundred and twenty
four times this year, Like his number gets called and
(21:34):
he's able to use his like so like a plus athlete.
To said, I think a much better athlete than both
Shador and Campboard. And I think that's something too that
can get him on the field a little bit at
the beginning. Kind of interested to hear your thoughts on that.
And also like coming out of the Lane Kiffin system,
the Ole Miss system. The last guy we saw in
the NFL draft come out of that is Matt Carrall
and he's already out of the league, I believe, like
(21:56):
playing in the end.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I think I lost you there, But going on Jackson Dart,
I completely agree with you with the athleticism. I mean,
I think he's an athletic, composed quarterback. Like you said
with Hurts, he has a lot more room to grow.
He's very productive in the three years, had over ten
thousand yard seventy two passing touchdowns, only twenty two picks
in three seasons. So yeah, I completely agree with you.
(22:23):
I think he can be a very developmental, developmental, low
end starter and like you said with Hurts, he's gonna
have to grow in a lot of different ways, but
I think he's able to do it. Being in that
Lane Kiffin system, even though the last one coming out
was Macarel, I think he can definitely produce as as
a sustainable backup.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah, he's a guy that has been talked about, I
think the most out of the quarterback group as a
riser so far, and I want to be surprised if
he's one of those guys that goes in between like
twenty and thirty two, maybe even the teams with like
an older quarterback and they look to take a developmental.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Type of player.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
All right, we go on to another guy that screams
developmental type of player. When he was at his best
this year, he was one of the best players in
all of college football.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
He was the favorite for the Heisman Trophy at one point.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
You saw when he looked at his best against Georgia
and then you saw a game like against Michigan in
their bowl game, the downfalls of him. And that's Jalen Milroe,
quarterback out of Alabama, junior six to two hundred, twenty
five pounds. That definitely the best athlete that we've talked about,
probably maybe the best athlete on the offensive side of
the ball not named Travis Hunter. I think we could
(23:38):
argue like he's another guy that maybe one day he
does get just shifted into a running back, because I
think it was Kirby said it after the Georgia Alabama game.
They basically said, like their quarterback is just a running
back that can throw, and that's a's a big advantage
to them. Jaylen Milroe this year only twenty eight hundred
passing yard, sixteen passing touchdowns, eleven interceptions, sixty four point
(24:02):
three percent completion percentage. I think that's the thing he's
got to work on the most if he's going to
be an NFL quarterback. But as we talked about with
a lot of the other quarterbacks, you gotta remember rushing
yards take a hit with sacks. He still found a
way to seven hundred and twenty six rushing yards and
twenty rushing touchdowns this year. So a gifted thrower, or
excuse me, a gifted athlete, a gifted runner at times,
(24:22):
a gifted thrower.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
He's got a gifted.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Arm, but certainly has some tools to work with, but
he thinks he needs to work on as well.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
What are your thoughts on Jaylen Milroe?
Speaker 4 (24:31):
Yeah, I completely agree with you. He's a great athlete,
very good out of the pocket. With a runner, he
lacks a lot of accuracy and decision making. He's got
a strong arm, great speed, But I agree with you
if he doesn't really make it as a starter, I
find it hard for gms and coaches to look at
him and not try to involve him in like package
(24:53):
plays like a Malik Willis. Like you said, he had
thirty two or twenty rushing touchdowns this year. The last seasons,
he's or total for seventy one touchdowns and thirty two
of them have been rushing touchdowns. So he is a
very good runner, but that arm is just such a
question mark. He's got great strength, high velocity, but no accuracy.
(25:16):
He's got a weird throwing motion too. It's kind of like,
I feel like a shortstop, Like it's a short and
sweet throwing motion, quick trigger. He's most of his production
has been inside of a like I keep talking about this,
but a well protected pocket. And with him he tends
to bail out a lot and early when he doesn't
(25:37):
have to. But at the same time, he stays in
there too long and takes sacks that he doesn't have to.
So I think he's more of a project. He's more
of a package player. I don't think he really will
develop his arm that much. If he does, good for him,
But I really don't see much more of a Malik
Willis type of player in.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Jalen Milrow.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
And Malik Willis this year, Like he played pretty well
in Spurts, he was obviously called upon in Tennessee struggled,
but obviously the set, the surrounding situation wasn't that wasn't
that great. If if Jalen Milroe, like I think, if
you put him on the Eagles, and I would say,
you know, have McKee or excuse me, Kenny Pickett back
(26:21):
back up Jalen again this year but just work with
Malik Wilson, excuse me, work with Jaylen Milroe and develop him.
Like that's a nice kind of long term back up
there for Jalen Hurts, especially with not really having to
change the offense much like obviously there's going to need
to be some more emphasis on the run.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I think when when Jalen.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Milroe was in the game, but he's a guy that
he's got stuff that you can't teach. And when you've
been a team like Philadelphia that's been so good on
hitting on draft picks knock on wood in recent years,
you can take some swings on guys like this, and
I don't think they think Kenny Picketts necessarily long term backup.
Tanner mcke's a guy too as well. If he goes
out and plays well in the preseason, I could see
(27:01):
him being a guy that other teams are interested in
to have a situation where he could potentially go play
more So. Jayla Murrow is a guy that you know,
obviously have to get get him for the right price,
like a fourth or the fifth round maybe at this
stage of the game, but a guy that I would
look at even if I was like Washington Buffalo Baltimore
teams with guys that are mobile quarterbacks, take a risk
(27:23):
on some high talent here and look to develop them.
What are your thoughts kind of on that.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah, I would that would be cool to see him
back up Lamar or something or Josh Allen in that
in like a run package system like that, those two
elite athletes at a quarterback. That would be fun to
see them see him in a system like that. But
I really if he really has to use his arm,
I don't see him being successful unless he really does
(27:48):
get that development in a good system, and that is
very much in play, Like he could easily develop a
more accurate arm putting in those reps, and if he does,
that could be a very ski a dangerous piece in
an offense. If he could develop that arm and he
has the athleticism that he does, having that in your
in your quarterback room is would be.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Scary in the sale.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
A lot of the same things we're said about Jalen
Hurts coming out like, you know, he's an athlete. I
think Jalen Milro is probably a better athlete, definitely faster,
a more gifted runner. But a lot of people didn't
believe Jalen was an NFL thrower. Even you know, heck,
you're going into the Super Bowl year, the first Super
Bowl year, like, people were still very critical, get your
(28:33):
if you put in the work. Jalen showed the ability
that you can get better, and Milroe's got the talent.
So he's a guy that I would definitely consider taking
a chance on. A high ceiling, kind of low floor
type of player, but still a player that I think
worse comes worse. You'd be able to find ways to
get the ball in his hands and make some plays
at the end of the day if he completely flames
(28:55):
out as a quarterback. Next guy is a guy that's
been an SEC starter, gone up head the head against
Jalen Milroe before. That's Queen Ewers at Texas, another player
that had a chance to go back this year. Both
Milrow and yours I think would have benefited from another year.
Youers probably wasn't gonna get to play at Texas this year,
but he would have plenty of other suitors out on
(29:15):
the open market. Six two, two hundred and ten pounds,
the former number one overall recruit coming out.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Of high school.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
He was at one point twenty four to seven sports
that I don't know if he still is or if
arch overtook him for that, but the number one recruit
that they ever had in their system, like the perfect
prospect zero point nine nine nine nine, repeating on because
I don't think they give out one hundred, but Queen
Ewers was at one point the highest ready to recruit
ever coming out of high school. This past year at Texas,
(29:41):
he throws for thirty four hundred yards, thirty one passing touchdowns.
Missed some time as well with some injuries. Twelve interceptions,
sixty five point eight percent completion percentage, two rushing touchdowns.
Not much of a runner for sure, but a guy
that has over three years starting at Texas missed a
handful of time, and I think injuries are one of
the best concerns in his game.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
What do you think of Quinn you or Janick?
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:04):
I think he's shown a lot of flashes of being
a very good quarterback, especially with the experience in the SEC.
Obviously been a five star recruit then transferred over. He
has put up over nine thousand passing yards, sixty eight touchdowns,
and added on eight rushing touchdowns. I think he's got
great mccan, he's great footwork, nice touch. I think his problem,
(30:25):
like you said, is the injuries and the inconsistencies. He's
has a little bit too much. He forces it a
little bit too much. But I think he has good
pocket presence, good mobility in the pocket can evade some pressure.
I know we didn't see that against Jack Sawyer to
end that game, but at the end of the day,
I think he still has He's an experienced quarterback that
(30:47):
has seen a lot as playing in a lot of
big games. I think he can be a very serviceable
quarterback in a nice system. I think he could probably
be like that same Hall type of player, like come
in and if he needs to lead a team, think
he can be able to do it. I don't know
if he'll be able to become that full time starter,
but I think he has the ability to develop into that.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
One of the things with quarterbacks in recent drafts, it's
like the guys that have limited college experience and they've
been thrown kind of into the fire right and went
right away in the NFL have struggled it and have
found their way kind of out of.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
The out of the league.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
When you look at a guy like quin you were
as he has three years pretty much full starting in
the SEC for one and in the Big twelve for two,
and then also he had that one year at a
highest state where he was around some great quarterbacks as well.
So this is a guy, as you said, has seen
a lot. I really like that same Howel kind of
comparison where he can go out there and he can
have some really good games, but then as well you
(31:42):
can have some some head scratchers. The injuries is the
biggest concern for me, Like does that get any better
going to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
I mean, it's a lot of them have been contact injuries,
whether it's been like shoulders he's had, he had, the ankle,
I believe this year a lot of them have just
been have been like weight type of stuff where he
just wasn't with with able to with able to withstand
excuse me, the contact and the injury. So something that
I think his teams are certainly going to be keeping
(32:11):
a close eye on with him more more than a
lot of these prospects. The the injury history, but you
got to look at the experience. I think he's got
a lot of that on his side. He's he won
a lot of games at Texas. I think you could
say he kind of brought helped really bring that Texas
program back.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Yeah, I completely agree with you. Like like you said,
the experience is a big thing, like going into the
NFL and not having the experience or the playtime where
the the time in those critical games where meet or
meaningful games like you've got to be able to have
those games under your belt to be able to succeed
in the NFL, especially nowadays with how these offensive these
(32:51):
offenses are run. I think you got to have that experience,
and he really does so I think he'll he has
the opportunity, as I mean everyone does, to develop into
that full time backup, backup role that like you said,
can come into a game, can play maybe three games
straight if you want, and then that fourth game I'll
(33:12):
have that bottom out, you know what I mean. But
I think at the same time, he's no more than
really that at the next level.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Yeah, two more I want to hit on and then
maybe we'll have time for one more potentially at the end.
But this guy led the country in passing this year
out of the ACC was a former high state player
transferred to Syracuse for one year, and I think he
made the most of his opportunity this year, and that's
Kyle McCord. Sixty three to two hundred twenty pounds, four
seven seventy nine passing yards this year, which led the country,
(33:45):
thirty four passing touchdowns, twelve interceptions, be four of those
came in one game two against Pitt That was by
far his worst game of the season. Other than that,
he was an awesome player this year. That was a
really fun Syracuse team to watch. They really kind of
unleashed him and he had an awesome year, sixty six
percent completion percentage, three rushing touchdowns. Kind of got pushed
(34:05):
out the door last year at Ohio State, but as
I said, made the most of his opportunity at Syracuse
this year. And I've seen a few things like post
like the Shrine Bowl that his name's a guy that's
been rising as well.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Yeah, I mean, he had an insanely productive year this year,
like you said, lead the nation in passing yards with
just over forty seven hundred added on thirty four passing touchdowns.
He had twelve of his thirteen games through for over
three hundred and twenty yards, So he slings it. He's
a very smooth and like technically sound, fundamental, nice touch
(34:41):
type of quarterback, good accuracy in those tight spaces, he
knows when they used that touch, and then velocity. I
think he can. He's not the most athletic or mobile,
but I feel like he is able to do so
if he really wants to or if he really has to.
He throws with that good anticipation, leads his receivers open.
(35:02):
We saw that a lot at Syracuse. A good decision
maker once he's under pressure. Though, once he that pocket
starts collapsing, fundamentals start getting that a whack gets flustered,
can fade off his back foot a lot that I've
seen then loses that velocity, loses that power. I think
he can deliver as a solid NFL back or at backup,
(35:26):
But like you said, I kind of see some similarities
with him and yours with that same how comparison. If
he can come in if a quarterback has an injury,
lead them for a few games, then kind of dies out.
Teams start to you know, know his tendencies. But I
think with the production that he put up with Syracuse,
(35:47):
he he'll be able to sneak in these this top
maybe top three rounds, maybe even sneak into two.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Yeah, I'm interested to hear for me, why do you think,
I mean, other than the competition being worse in the
ACC than the Big Ten, why do you think he
had so much such a more better year at Syracuses
here than Ohio State considering all the weapons he had
around him there.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Yeah, I was gonna say, with the weapons that he
has at an upper echelant school at Ohio State and
then compared to Syracuse, I guess maybe I'm going to
look at the stats.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Now.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
Did did he throw a lot more? Did he have
a lot more attempts? I'm not sure, but either way,
I think the production is very eye opening because at
school like Ohio State, you should be putting up those
good numbers, that productive numbers. But I mean, I don't
really know. I think like in a system like Syracuse,
(36:42):
you don't really expect to put up numbers like this.
But he just went out there and did it. So
I think that kind of shows his leadership, shows his
role in the locker room, shows that he can be
able to, you know, lead a team. So I think
teams in the NFL GM's ahead guys will see that
and be like, Okay, I kind of want that in
my system.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Yeah, I feel like Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
I mean they kind of did it with Will Howard
throughout part of the season, but it was basically like,
don't ruin the game for us.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
We have so much talent around you.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
They didn't really unleash him, and I think we saw
this year go to the ACC obviously, and with less
talent around him, Syracuse kind of had to unleash more
and he certainly made it most of his opportunity because
I don't think he was a guy even going into
the season really considered on draft boards. But this is
also another player. He was a top fifty recruit coming
out of high school, a crazy high school career at
(37:33):
Saint Joe's Prep. So we'll see what happens with Kyle McCord.
He's a guy that I'm rooting for because I think
he got, you know, ll deal there at Ohio State,
and he had a really nice bounce back as Syracuse
this year. All right, last guy we just talked about
a former Ohio State quarterback.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
We will touch on now.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
The Ohio State quarterback from this past year who had
a great playoffs. I think he made himself a lot
of money in the playoffs. Another guy that you know,
maybe it was like a seventh round project type of consideration.
I think this year or after that that playoff run,
he's more of a fourth round, fifth round type guy
that's gonna get, you know, a chance to compete for
maybe a backup spot as soon as this year. And
(38:13):
I think he's a good enough athlete where you can
use him in some like power run type situations, see
like what Taysom Hill has done with the Saints, things
like that. That's Will Howard six four, two hundred and
thirty five pounds Ohio State quarterback, National champions transfer from
Kansas State. Four passing yards thirty five passing touchdowns was not,
(38:33):
I guess impressed, but I was surprised to see this
number was as high seventy three point one percent completion
percentage was very accurate. Ten interceptions. He had some kind
of head scratching interceptions this year. I think that is
really what held the Ohio State team back during the
regular season. But two hundred twenty six rushing yards, seven
rushing touchdowns as well, I don't think he's as quick
as he once was. He might be a little bit
(38:54):
bulk here, but he was much more of a runner
at Kansas State. They made him into a better passer
at Ohio State. What are your thoughts on Will Howard
and does he have a chance to stick around in
the league too.
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Yeah, I think he does. He's got that prototypical NFL size.
It's like you said, six four, two thirty five. Great.
He's a good athlete for his size that he uses
legs a lot more in Kansas State. Like you said already,
I think he can extend plays that really you see
that aren't open, and he can evade a lot. That
does help when you have the offensive line of a
(39:25):
higher state. Even though they battle some injuries. He knows
when he used that touch, the velocity. He is very accurate.
He has those developmental traits that you can see an
NFL quarterback coach can develop it, you know, in a
skill set and continue his growth. I think he can
improve on the turnovers. The last two seasons he had
(39:48):
twenty picks combined, ten in each. I think he can
limit that. He's a bit of an older prospect. I
think he'll be like twenty four by the time the
seasons turns. Earth starts and nothing really pops out like
elite about him. He's just very you know, above average
and all or well rounded throughout. I think he's more
(40:09):
like more athletic Mason Rudolph. If that is a good comparison,
I don't know. I don't think his career will end
up like that. I think he'll be a little better
than him, But if you get him in the right system,
I think he can very well develop into I don't
know that that QB one, but I think he'll be
able to fight for that spot.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
I don't know if I ever see him being a starter,
but I do see him as kind of a guy
that could go in there and start you two to
three games and you don't really feel like it's a
It's a completely massive drop off. Obviously depends on who
your starter is, but you know, he's He's nowhere near
Josh Allen and that type of uh, that level of
a player, but like similar styles at times where you
(40:49):
can run him. He does have the ability to make
some throws Like could he be kind of a long
term back up there in Buffalo? I could see that
maybe being a fit. We'll get into team fits, team
needs and stuff more as we go. I just wanted
this to be kind of a crash course on some
of these top top quarterback prospects, even though they're they're
not really considered great for this year. We got one
question in the chat. It's a running back question. Huge
(41:13):
fan of Joe Ardia sub is Gens really all that
people comparing him to Marshawn Lynch? Is he a better
prospect than beje On? Our next episode will be running back,
So little kind of teaser here.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
Yeah, I mean, Marshawn is a big comparison. Marshall is
one of my favorite running backs ever, so I don't
I think he's kind of got that bully ball play
style like him. He's got the he can be versatile,
versatile two out of the backfield, which Marshall Lynch wasn't
really all that. I mean, I guess he could be.
But Genty's way more of that pass catcher he's They're
(41:48):
both insanely hard to tackle. Their contact balance is absurd.
You can just lay right into him and he'll still
still bounce off. I kind of lean towards like a
Maurice Jones drew for Ashton Jenny, that smaller bowling ball,
like you need four guys to bring him down. Very patient,
He's smart and he lets his block set up. Very fluid,
(42:11):
smooth athlete can I think he's a good pass blocker.
I think he could probably improve on that. But the
size is five nine two fifteen. He's not going to
be out there blocking edge rushers. So I don't dislike
the Marshall lynch just because I have Marshall Ltz on
another pedestal, But I think Maurice Jones Drew is more
(42:31):
of like the comparison for me.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
All right, well, that'll wrap it up with the quarterback episode,
as we talked about not the greatest class, but a
little kind of teaser there into the running back episode,
which I think people are a lot higher on obviously
Ashton Gens and then I think this is one that
we could see like three to four to maybe even
five running backs going in the first kind of top
(42:55):
sixty to seventy five picks. Seems like that's the kind
of consensus out there right now. But any last second
comments on the quarterback snick Now.
Speaker 4 (43:04):
I think we kind of talked on it all that's
really it's not the greatest class. I don't think it's
as bad as the twenty two class. Twenty two class
was brutal. Can you pick it? The first one off
the board. So I don't really think it's that bad.
But yeah, I think we touched on it all and
I can't wait to get to the running backs next week.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
All right, Well, that will do it for Bending the
Edge Episode one, Quarterbacks this week.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Running backs will go to pass catchers.
Speaker 5 (43:32):
The following week, cutting on the receivers and the tight end,
move on to some offensive linemen, hit all defensive stuff,
and we'll get a little bit more specific in some
mock drafts as we go. Thank you everyone for tuning
in here to Fox Sports a gambler. If you're watching
on YouTube, please drop a light, drop a subscribe, and
we'll talk to you next week.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
Here at Bending the Edge.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
Spreads Total and all the prop bets in between. It's
the Gambler.
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