06-09-25 KOA Sports Hour 2 with Orlando Franklin

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the Kawai Common Spirit Health Highline to bring on
our NFL network insider Ian Rappaport is powered by Chevron.
Chevron the human energy company committed for local communities and safety,
delivering affordable, reliable, ever cleaner energy.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good afternoon, Ian, Thank you so much for the time.

Speaker 3 (00:14):
Man.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
How are you well?

Speaker 3 (00:16):
What's going on?

Speaker 1 (00:16):
How are you? We're doing great, just seeing the news.
Nick Chubb officially now with the Houston Texans. One years,
two and a half million, can up to five million.
That deal came together pretty fast. It seems like.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
It actually came together really slow. Okay, it has been yeah,
it's been forever. So basically Chubb was in talks with
the Cleveland Browns, the old team of course, really right
up until the draft. I actually thought it might get
done draft week. It eventually did not get done, and
so then it was like, what are the Browns gonna do? Well,

(00:49):
they drafted a running back, Okay, well, then the door
was still open for Chubb, but probably not going to
get the money maybe he wanted. And then like about
a week or so after, the Texans stepped right in
and it probably took another two weeks at the least
to do. This deal got done over the weekend, got
him in past, this physical signed, now officially official. And

(01:09):
you know, it's weird because we spend so much time
in free agency and big money contracts and who's signing
and who's getting dealt in March and then here's the
signing in June. That could be a really really important
signing for the technique. If Nick Chubb is healthy, I
mean he's got the physicality, he's got the playmaking ability,
He's a veteran leader, I mean the kind of guy
who can really really help the Texans offense.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Ian what does this mean for Joe Mixon?

Speaker 4 (01:33):
Because last year I thought he was that bellcal for
that Houston Texan offense and you know what Lobby Slowan
brought to it, and also just kind of taking a
little bit.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
Of pressure off of CJ. Strout. But what does like
a sign of Chubb mean for Joe Mixon?

Speaker 3 (01:48):
Now? Yeah, I mean I think we'll start with the
second part. First, taking pressure off Straut is important. I
mean they fix the offensive line, they think, and you know,
maybe still as a ways to go, but fixing offensive line,
and then you know you have two veteran, good physical
bruising running backs. That's a great way to make sure
that your quarterback has as little pressure as possible. And

(02:10):
you know, I think for Joe Mixon, you know, they
remember that the Bengals cut him thinking that maybe he
was headed the wrong direction. Ended up having a good
year last year when healthy. When he wasn't healthy, they struggled.
So they got they drafted a runner. They got another
runner and Nick Chubb, who can you know, sort of
compete with flush fill in for mixing if something happens.

(02:32):
And like, the Texans look like a team that's going
to go deep in the playoffs. If you do, you
need good players. If you do, you need depth. This
checks all boxes, really really like this signing for the Texans.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
And speaking of depths, JK.

Speaker 5 (02:46):
Dobbins was in town at a meeting with the Broncos.
They didn't get a deal done for whatever the reason.
With Chubb now going to Houston, does that at all
alter sort of the landscape for running backs in particular
Dobbins connected with the Broncos.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
You know, I think what it does. And first of all,
I don't get the sense the conversation is over with JK.
Dobbins to the Broncos. But I would say sometimes when
a similar player, now Nick Chubb is older, But when
a somewhat similar player who's been productive, who's been a
good guy, who's trying to find with a contender, Sometimes

(03:24):
when the price is one thing, it helps that the
parameters of what another thing should be. So like, I
kind of wonder maybe the Nick Chubb deal helps the JK.
Dobbins deal get done because it's like it kind of
sets where a price should be. So like, maybe JK.
Dobbins would take a two and a half million dollar
deal worth up to five Maybe he'd like a little
more incentive because he was more productive last year. But

(03:46):
sometimes these sort of similar veteran deals can help set
a baseline. And I think, so that could be good.
You know, maybe this is the thing that ends up
getting the JK. Dobbins to the Broncos deal. Just to me,
that actually makes a ton of sense for a lot
of the same reasons that detections one makes sense. Takes
pressure off the quarterback, like I can really really be

(04:09):
physical and really explosive. I would like that, you know,
signing as well.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
Ian rappborre joining us is your life a little I
guess a little we're boring now that you're not asked
every single day what's going on with Aaron Rodgers and
why has he he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah, it's weird, definitely. I'm serious, Like I've been answering
the same question over and over for four months. And
now it's like you see people and they're like, all right,
so Rogers sign. What does it mean?

Speaker 4 (04:36):
You know?

Speaker 3 (04:36):
I kind of say it and it's like okay, uh okay,
and I got it. So that's sort of you know,
when it was like when he wasn't signed, it was like,
what does this mean for Kirk Huntins? What if he retires?
Could he retire? What's going on? Why had he signed?
What does me for my comin? Now he signs and
it's like, okay, they got their quarterback, moved on, you know,

(04:58):
like that's that's kind of what it's like, and that's
good and that's good because that brings, you know, peace
to an organization. You know, there's going to be plenty
to talk about doing him you wrong? Like it lets
them just sun settle in and exist and some regular
questions will meet the media tomorrow. I think the way
this summer and that'll be that and that's okay, and.

Speaker 4 (05:22):
The offseason, well on this way, Mantory Minikam's coming up.
When you look at just the draft and teams retaining
their own guys and free agency that we've seen and
then the free agents after the draft, who are your
teams that you think that you just really like what
they've done this offseason?

Speaker 3 (05:43):
You know, I would say that the teams that are
sort of looking to make a little bit of a
leap are the teams that I'm looking at. Like I
would say teams like the Patriots, for instance, would be
a good one of like, all right, like didn't have
a year to have last year, have a young quarterback,
think he's really good.

Speaker 2 (05:59):
I don't think we're for that one hand.

Speaker 4 (06:01):
I really don't think we're They had their they had
like two decades plus. I don't think we're ready for
them to come back yet.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
Hey, they've had a tough couple of years. You got
to have your fun with them having to you know,
being bad for a couple of years. I think they're
getting ready to be good, That's what I say. I
think they're getting ready to be good. The Raiders would
be another interesting one, and I think for similar reasons,
really good head coach, really smart culture builder team that is,
you know, sort of improved in the middle class. I

(06:29):
would put those the spotlight on those two guys. Now,
I don't know that they're like done, like finished products.
We all good, but I do expect that to improve.
And I would think free agency, you know, Patriots with
some weapons and offensive lineman raiders with a quarterback and
some weapons like I think that that.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
Helps always right in.

Speaker 1 (06:48):
We will let check in with you next week. Although
mentoring mini camp rats, are are you going? Are you
going all the way through the summer? You can take
some time.

Speaker 3 (06:54):
Off, probably take about four weeks off, So I'll talk
to you next week, and then that might be until
we get to a training camp, which you know is
always a fun time of year as well. But I'll
talk to you next week. Don't worry about.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
Okay, all right, loving forward to my friend. We'll talk
to you then. Thanks, Thanks Ian, Okay, appreciate it in thank.

Speaker 1 (07:13):
You, And this could be here before we know what
I mean, it's I think training camps could be around
the twenty fourth, twenty third of July.

Speaker 2 (07:20):
It's fast approaching. Yeah, I think a lot of people.
You get to this point of the season where.

Speaker 5 (07:28):
Hockey and basketball wrapping it up, both in their their finals.
It's like baseball, you know what, You're not to the
All Star break yet, but baseball will go till October
in some markets, and so people now have a chance
to meet. Ian's going to take four months off, four
weeks off, and training camp will be here and then

(07:51):
football is back right around the corner.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
Bit very excited, all right, So it is official.

Speaker 1 (07:55):
Nick Chubb signs is a one year deal two and
a half million, can be worth up to five with
the Texans. We're gonna talk about that a little bit
more on the other side part our NFL Network Insider.
We'll get that interview up at Koacolorado dot com. We
invite you to subscribe to our podcast on the completely
free and totally awesome iHeartRadio app, which is now redesigned

(08:17):
like you have in your car. So set us KOA
as well as KO Sports as a preset today.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
That way you never miss an episode of the show.

Speaker 1 (08:25):
You can all stream us there, which is on the
crystal clear iHeartRadio app. Definitely go check that out. So
I thought that was an interesting answer. He gave you
Dave because you asked him about JK. Dobbins and what
maybe the Nick Chubbs signing, which is now official with
the Texans, could mean. And I thought he framed that
in a very interesting way, especially for the Broncos. He said,
first of all, doesn't mean that the Broncos and JK.

(08:47):
Dobbins are out. He's like, I don't think that just
because he left the building that that's not a thing
that could happen. And he said, I think that the
price being set with Nick Chubb's contract could maybe impact
things getting into with Dobbins.

Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, I think I think that could happen.

Speaker 5 (09:03):
I have been in the mind that even even when
we found out that the Dobbins and the Broncos did
not strike a deal, we talked about that on the
show and I said, I don't think that means necessarily
that that will not happen. I think that that means
for whatever the reason, that maybe the asking price was

(09:23):
a bit too high, maybe there was something that they
were uncomfortable.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
I mean, if again, I think whether they sign JK.

Speaker 5 (09:33):
Dobbins, or whether they signed another veteran running back, or
whether they sign nobody in that room is will not
be financially driven. They've got the wherewithal they decide to
do it to make that happen. That move would be
driven by the Broncos brass Sean Payton, George Payton in particular,
looking at the running backer room and saying we had it.

Speaker 2 (09:56):
RJ.

Speaker 5 (09:57):
Harvey, I'm still not out on Audrick Estimay. I think
we're good. If if Sean Payton feels that way, then
maybe the Dobbins thing doesn't get good. But to me,
as you and I talked about Ryan when we open
the show, I think it's important. If I were I mean,

(10:18):
if I were George Peyton sitting in a room with
Sean Payton, my point to Sean would be, Okay, here's
how I want you to.

Speaker 2 (10:25):
Look at this. If if something happens to RJ.

Speaker 5 (10:30):
Harvey, like early in the season, are you good with
the running back room as it's presently constituted. Can we
overcome that loss and still be a playoff caliber team?
Because that's to me why the Texans signed Nick Chubb. Right,
They've they've got a guy. I mean, they've they've got that.

(10:52):
That's why the Chargers drafted Omari and Hampton and then
signed Najee Harris. Right, if something happens to a Marion Hampton,
you've got to proven back that you can still okay.
Now Here in Denver, you know they want RJ. Harvey
to step up and really be the guy that he

(11:14):
looks like he's he's got that kind of capability. But
we also know in the NFL, anything can happen. If
something happens to RJ. Harvey, are you set at running
back in the room? And that's a question if I'm
George Payton that I'm posing to Sean Payton and making
sure that he thinks about.

Speaker 2 (11:31):
That before we either do or don't go on JK.

Speaker 4 (11:34):
Dobbins, I also think that you know, there's also other
things that's right, Like at this time of year, when
running backs on the road, like Sean Payton, you bring
in JK. Dobbins, you're telling him about a defined role. Now,
maybe JK. Dobbins doesn't see himself in that particular role today,

(11:55):
right because now there's always injuries. We still have plenty
of time left of you see running backs, You see
other players getting drafted off the or get you know,
called up from being on their couch.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
And now you're a part of a team.

Speaker 4 (12:07):
So do you necessarily love that role that's being presented
to you when you go on this visit? Right, Maybe
that might also kind of aid and not getting a
deal done a couple of days ago while he was
in town. But I also look at it from the
other perspective where you're JK. Dobbins and you could go
on these visits, you could like really get to know
some of these coaches and there's not a real pressing

(12:28):
matter of hey, you got to sign right now, you
got to sign right now, so you could really take this,
take your time on this. And you know, Ian was
on talking about Nick Chubb and the deal. He said,
what it was slow to get done. I knew that
he was going on some visits, but I felt like
that deal came out of nowhere. But for the player
that's in that situation, yeah, the deal comes slow because

(12:49):
you're wondering, Man, these guys are OTAs or these guys
know where they're getting ready to go when OTA started,
and you're still out there on the street.

Speaker 5 (12:55):
So what other teams are in the market. I know Chicago,
I don't know Chicago. I believe I've read and heard
the Chicago because there was there was initial thought that
maybe Nick Chubb.

Speaker 2 (13:10):
Went to Chicago.

Speaker 5 (13:11):
So you'd have to think that the Bears might be
interested in a veteran running back anybody else out there
that we know of that would be in the and
who are the other I really don't know who are
the other veteran running backs that right now would be
available for a team to sign.

Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well, the names that.

Speaker 1 (13:30):
Are available, you know, I'll tell you what. I have
that list right in front of me. We can get
to that when we come back. We'll go through that
list and yeah, maybe we'll have some teams as well.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
We'll get to that next.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
Land of Franklin in Studio five six six nine zero
or KWA con Spirit Health text line.

Speaker 2 (13:47):
All right, so we're.

Speaker 1 (13:48):
Talking about in the previous segments specific speaking on now
what JK. Dobbins market might look like, what teams might
be out there, and what running backs might be available.
So I guess we could start with some of the
running backs that are available, some of the free agent
running backs.

Speaker 2 (14:03):
I mean JK.

Speaker 1 (14:04):
Dobbins, I think he's got to be near the top
of the list, but other running backs that might be
in the same range as far as market. Jamal Williams,
formerly with New Orleans, might be named Gus Edwards is
still a free agent's.

Speaker 5 (14:17):
Hard headed, tough inside runner, two hundred and thirty five pounds.
Now he to me, just briefly, he's a little He's
a little bit more like Audric estimate than I would
want the other back to be.

Speaker 2 (14:32):
But so be it.

Speaker 5 (14:34):
Els Jeff Wilson, he used to be It's Dolphins and
the forty nine ers, right, So was he out there
when you were out there?

Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (14:41):
Yeah, what kind of player? Really good player, but also
had a really good coach. You know, my father and
law shot up Bobby Turner. But Jeff, I would say,
as far as comparable to the running backs that the
Broncos have, he would bring something a little bit different.
But I don't think you get better as a like
I don't did you say, hey, let's go get Jeff Wilson,

(15:04):
Like I think did you do that with JK.

Speaker 2 (15:07):
Dobbins. For sure, he.

Speaker 4 (15:09):
Brings something to the table, like Jeff would be like, hey,
we just had an injury. Jeff Wilson's you know out there,
we could get him out here. And also the scheme
more of a stretch running back. It's always kind of
been in that system. Leaving San Fran.

Speaker 1 (15:22):
Going to Miami, naim Heinz and yep, yeah, and I
think it was with Cleveland last year. A mirab Doula
with the Raiders ten years into the league.

Speaker 5 (15:33):
Holy cow, you know what, he's still even for playing
that long. He can still run. His thing is quicking
some speed. Yeah, but he's I mean, he's been a
productive guy in the league. But I would think he'd
be beneath or or behind I should say.

Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yeah, just a couple more.

Speaker 1 (15:54):
Just want to throw them out there, because I mean,
should we get into the like Jamichael Hasties and all
that kind of thing. I'd say, Cam Akers, there's another
kind of interesting name on here with He was with
LA and Minnesota last remember late.

Speaker 5 (16:07):
I'll tell you what, another productive guy. He's been a
productive kid.

Speaker 4 (16:11):
I would take a look at him actually, because just
how Minnesota kind of ran their scheme last year. They
weren't really a run heavy team and they kind of
got away from the run early in games.

Speaker 2 (16:19):
So I would take a look there.

Speaker 1 (16:20):
And then the last one I'll just throw is Denis Johnson,
who Johnson who ran up and down on the Broncos
that one night against the Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 2 (16:29):
Remember that a few years ago he's in the league
six old. That was a game in Cleveland. Yeah, yeah,
remember that he went just nuts in that game.

Speaker 5 (16:36):
He was a guy that on his first carry, I
had to check the board like, okay, where what numbers that?

Speaker 2 (16:42):
Where did this guy come from? Yeah?

Speaker 1 (16:45):
So that that's by and large the biggest names that
are available still running back.

Speaker 2 (16:49):
So but for me, what for you guys?

Speaker 1 (16:52):
For me?

Speaker 2 (16:52):
JK. Dobbins stands out like pretty far ahead names. What
what teams?

Speaker 1 (16:59):
Well, team was based on a couple of articles that
I was able to grab. You mentioned Chicago, they're going
to be still in the market. The Dallas Cowboys are
another team. Of course, they had a Javante at free agency,
but behind him, trying to remember off.

Speaker 2 (17:14):
The top of my head, Miles Oh, they added Miles Sanders. Okay,
so that's an auto. Miles Sanders will be their their
lead back.

Speaker 1 (17:24):
I would think, Yeah, Pittsburgh is another team on here,
and again they had a kil Johnson.

Speaker 2 (17:29):
You like Jalen Warren a lot, but I would.

Speaker 5 (17:31):
Say Pittsburgh is probably not interested in spending a lot
more money in I mean, Jalen Warren, I think is
going to be an excellent player for them, and then
you get your you know, second or was he second round?

Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah? Second round? Kill choice. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (17:47):
And in the Kansasy Chiefs it was the other team
that showed up on this list.

Speaker 4 (17:54):
If I'm the Broncos, I would be absolutely sick to
my stomach of JK.

Speaker 2 (17:58):
Dobbins went to the Kansas City too.

Speaker 4 (18:00):
I mean, you look at what the Chargers did this
past offseason with Nanja Harris and going and get Hampton
out of UNC. Like that backfield is going to be
like here comes thunder, Here comes thunder, Here comes thunder.
Stop right, we're gonna trying to run through people's faces.
But to give Patrick Mahomes another weapon like JK. Dobbins
where he could check into the run at the line

(18:21):
of scrimmage, I think if you're the Broncos, you do
not want that. That's like your worst nightmare right there.

Speaker 1 (18:26):
Now, that'd be a pretty miserable situation here. I think
the Eagles were mentioned as well, and that would be
it makes some sense they always continue to invest in
their running game.

Speaker 2 (18:35):
But yeah, I mean I think the Broncos they're not
gonna be out there.

Speaker 4 (18:38):
They're not.

Speaker 2 (18:39):
They're competing. I guess a lot of teams for JK Dobbins.

Speaker 1 (18:41):
So to what Orlanda's point earlier is that JK might
decide to slow roll this a little bit, see what
his market developed.

Speaker 2 (18:48):
We said it on last Thursday.

Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think it was that you got to clearly three
and a half million, because that's what that transition or
not transition tag whatever. The free agent tag that they
put them on with the the Chargers is three point four,
so you have to clear that beginning there, which is
interesting since Chubb just signed two and a half million today.

Speaker 2 (19:12):
Yeah, I'm not sure.

Speaker 5 (19:13):
I understand completely understand the transition tag thing.

Speaker 4 (19:18):
So they could put a tag on you and you're
a free agent. But what if no team comes and
says they want JK Dobbins? Does the Charges retain his
rights now? And that's right, and they say here's open
the doors, and like, here's your playbook.

Speaker 2 (19:34):
I see.

Speaker 5 (19:34):
I don't think that. I don't think that's right. I
don't think I think we're missing something. I'm not exactly
sure what it is, but that's that's a real curious
rule if in fact we have it right, yeah, I.

Speaker 1 (19:49):
Mean it's it's an unrestricted free agency tag, and it's
it's pretty rare and so.

Speaker 5 (19:56):
Well, the term unrestricted would lead us to believe that
it says it's on restricted.

Speaker 1 (20:04):
Will see a minimum contract for the player, and if
either of those players are unsigned on the first day
of the NFL training camp, then the Chargers would retain exclusive
negotiating rights with.

Speaker 5 (20:15):
Them would retain exclusive. What does that mean other than ambiguity?
What do you mean you have so you're the only
team that can negotiate with him.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
By the if by the start of the first day
of training camp, if if no other team has has
signed him, then they have exclusive rights to negotiate that.

Speaker 2 (20:44):
Does that mean he's going to get three point four
three million from them? Maybe not?

Speaker 1 (20:48):
Maybe that that's just they just put that tag on
there saying this. But but I would imagine if you're him, like, well,
then every.

Speaker 2 (20:56):
Team that brings you in price tag.

Speaker 4 (20:58):
But also they're also already there, right, They're already at
that number, that three point five number. And California taxes
versus Colora is just a weird deal.

Speaker 3 (21:07):
Better.

Speaker 5 (21:07):
Yeahstcted, I don't think I've ever heard in all my
years in the NFL. I don't think I've ever heard
of that kind of contract setup.

Speaker 1 (21:15):
That's why again it keeps being described as rare.

Speaker 5 (21:18):
I mean, what you needed to do for both of
your daughters is just say once they get into high school,
preferably when they when each become a senior Hodie, your
curfew tonight is unrestricted. See what what do you think
that would mean to them? That would mean I don't
have a curfew a right, So unrestricted veteran free agent

(21:41):
to me means you can go sign with whomever you
want to. I don't get the Hey, if you're not
signed by the first day of training camp, we hold
the exclusive negotiating rights. Okay, break that down. What does
that mean nobody else? I can't negotiate with anybody else.
And if you and I cannot reach a deal, what
happens to me?

Speaker 1 (21:59):
Then?

Speaker 2 (22:00):
Well you already have a crowded backfield too, if you're
the Chargers. That's what I mean.

Speaker 5 (22:03):
The Chargers very clear that they're really not interested in
bringing JK.

Speaker 2 (22:08):
Dobbins back at three and a half million. No, absolutely not,
so I think that I'm not sure. I'm not sure
what that means.

Speaker 1 (22:16):
All right, Well, Anyways, that's something as monitor. But I'm
fascinated to see here for JK. Dobbins, now that Nick
Chubb is officially signed, if maybe we see some movement.
I was going to ask you a question a little
earlier than we kind of got off the track because
of that photo of you in a farmer's overall next
to Rick Lewis. But what would you say, and this
is kind of coming off of Sean Payton talking about

(22:36):
the offensive line and the intentionality that they had of
building up the offensive line, what would you say is.

Speaker 2 (22:40):
The strongest position group for the Broncos?

Speaker 1 (22:42):
Dave, Like, if if somebody asked you, what's the strength
of the Broncos position group wise?

Speaker 3 (22:48):
What is it?

Speaker 5 (22:49):
Vacuumed? Vacuumed the zeacony? Yeah, I think. I mean if
if J. D. Barn is as good as I think
he's going to be, and you had him to Pat
Sertan junior and you throw I mean people have sort
of forgotten about Riley Moss, and I know there were
a couple of games last year that that's just the

(23:12):
nature of the Beast.

Speaker 2 (23:13):
When you play corner in this league, you're.

Speaker 5 (23:15):
You're gonna have games where it's like wow, and Cincinnati
was kind of a wild game and Baltimore a little
bit of a wold game in a negative sense. But
I thought Riley for the most part, played pretty damn
well in what turned out to be his first year.

Speaker 2 (23:33):
Basically as an NFL guy. I mean, he didn't play
the year before, so this was his first.

Speaker 5 (23:39):
Time lining up against NFL receivers and all that. And
I think, I think the Broncos have a guy that
can play.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
So now you've.

Speaker 5 (23:47):
Got Baron, You've got him, and you've got Patzertan, and
I like the safeties the addition there. Hufanga is going
to be a guy that I think is going to
be a home setter. And I think Brandon Jones also
is a guy that will knock the taste out of
your mouth. I think the back end of the defense
looks real salty to me.

Speaker 2 (24:11):
What would you ear pick Orlando For me?

Speaker 4 (24:13):
I got to go on the other side the back
end the defense goes against every single day. I got
to go wide receiver, and I think, really it's been
a strength for the Broncos for the last couple of years.
You know, I don't see a world where at the
end of this thing. Training camp is where we're keeping
all these guys. I think we were able to move
some guys get some draft capital. I think the Broncos
are going to be in a really, really good position

(24:34):
where they're looking around and say, man, we already got
the quarterback, the guy that knows how to kind.

Speaker 2 (24:39):
Of check it down.

Speaker 4 (24:39):
We got Ingram now in the middle of that thing,
and now we shored up some things in our running
back room. How do we get enough balls out to
get these guys active, and hey, we might need another
player or two in another position where we have the
luxury now of move with some guys. But there's going
to be a lot of guys knocking on special teams
go saying, hey, how do I get on the Big four?
How do I on all these things? Because I want

(25:01):
to make myself valuable to the Broncos where they don't
go away from me, because man, I want to make
the team. Yeah, I want to make the team. I
want to stay here in Denver, right, But I think
the wide receiver room, and it's been deep the last
couple of years too.

Speaker 2 (25:15):
I mean, they got a lot of guys there.

Speaker 1 (25:17):
They because I wouldn't think that most people would describe
the wide receiver room as a strength from the outside
looking in, you know, like I think we all sit
here and talk about, well, if this guy pops and
this guy pops and only how the room could be
really special.

Speaker 2 (25:31):
But until then it's just a projection.

Speaker 1 (25:33):
Just like last year, it was just a projection on
the hope that some of those guys would get there,
and some of them didn't. I mean at least not
in year one. I mean, Davon Vailey had some nice flashes.
I think we're expecting more out of him, especially Dave.

Speaker 4 (25:45):
Well, you look at them like memes, right, I mean,
so we know, like Veile's going to get his opportunity,
but like where does memes fit in? And we know
that Sean Payton likes mems, put some in the backfield
and does little gadget things. And now you start looking
at Troy Franklin and you start looking at okay, we
brought in Trent Sherfield, and okay, we drafted another guy.

Speaker 2 (26:02):
That's our guy.

Speaker 4 (26:03):
When we draft that guy too, or what do you
keep like five or six? You keep five on Activicyes.

Speaker 1 (26:10):
They're already six right now. Really, like once you go
out surefield, it got to six.

Speaker 4 (26:15):
Yeah, and then like the quarterback, I think the quarterback
and the continuity allows those guys to actually take that
next step forward as well.

Speaker 2 (26:24):
What do you think about that, Dave? But the wide
receiver room maybe being well, you're a wide receiver guy, Dave. Yeah, I.

Speaker 5 (26:33):
Think the room is better than a lot of people
who from a national perspective follow the Broncos like more casually,
even people that I mean write about him and national
people that do a good job. I mean, I don't

(26:54):
know that that room would be perceived by many of
those people as a strength, but I do think I
think it's a bit underrated. I've been high on Devon
Vailey since he got here. I think you'll see more
of what I'm talking about this year. I think Troy
Franklin is a guy that how he finished last season

(27:18):
has been really enticing to the Broncos coaches in terms of, Okay,
do we have a guy like we used to call it,
one of those guys? Do we have one of those guys?
Even back when I played and one of those guys
was I mean, we would do a lot of the
dirty work and then one of those guys would just

(27:41):
run by your fastest guy and catch big, big plays.
So Franklin and Mims to me are your sort of
home run deep threat guys. Mims again, you got to
find creative ways to get his hands on the ball
because he's still got that punk ritch turn gene in

(28:02):
him which is so dynamic. So it doesn't have to
be basic routes at twelve. But then if to be,
comebacks don't have to be deep posts where you move
the free safety out of the whole, throw it a mile.
It's got to be three or four times a game.
It's got to be I'm just gonna shovel you the ball.
You do your thing, and then I think sort of

(28:23):
the wild card is Pat Bryant.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
I think I think it's gonna be interesting to.

Speaker 5 (28:29):
See how quickly he can work his way into a
prominent role. I think when the head coach likes you
and drafts you, he's going to give you every opportunity
to get your butt on the field. You're gonna have
to prove to him that you can't. You're not deserving

(28:49):
of it. You're not doing your homework, you don't know
where you line up, you've been late to prep. I mean,
any of those things then that's not good for But
by all indications people fellows that we talk to, that's
not who Pat Bryan is. Pat Bryant is everything you
want and more in a receiver.

Speaker 4 (29:06):
You know what's scary about all of that? Yes, they
didn't even touched on Courtland Sutton. And he's going into
a contract here yep. And now not only he's going
to a contract here, this is the best situation at
Courtland Sutton has been in.

Speaker 2 (29:18):
His entire career. I agree where I agree.

Speaker 4 (29:21):
You got this quarterback that you had such a great
year last year and your turning, like you became like
his whoop, be his fail safe at one point, and
now you get him back for the first time in
your career. Where's he's not afraid to run, and he's
not afraid to do these things, and yet he's going
to put you in the right position to succeed. That's
what's scary about this whole entire situation when I look
at the wide receiver room, because you go down a

(29:43):
list of other guys and you don't even talk about
the guy.

Speaker 1 (29:47):
Listen, I like how bullish you are in the wide
receiver room. Like when I was thinking about this topic,
I was thinking about in terms of the strengths Dave
laid out the secondary, defensive line, offensive line. I think
those are kind of the top of the level when
we're talking about position groups for the Broncos of strength.

Speaker 2 (30:03):
But one thing I was going to ask you guys.

Speaker 1 (30:04):
Is one that maybe by the end of the year
we would be talking about and then the wide receiver.
Sounds like it might be the case. But again it's
it's all kind of projection. I mean, you laid it
out there, Dave. All those players, we can see a
vision of what the upside looks like for them, but
to actually show that on the field, it's a little
bit of a different deal. I mean, listen, I'm I'm
just as excited about Pap Bryan as you are.

Speaker 2 (30:25):
I mean, just just.

Speaker 5 (30:26):
Bates on hold one.

Speaker 2 (30:30):
Keep paying.

Speaker 3 (30:32):
I like what.

Speaker 1 (30:35):
I've seen out there at ot As and what we
saw last year the stars of training camp, no doubt
about that. And he caught as you mentioned, eight and
passes on his first game.

Speaker 2 (30:47):
I liked von Vle.

Speaker 1 (30:49):
If the Bronx, if the Broncos society to move Portland
and Sunton tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (30:56):
Then we're having a real conversation. Is he wide receiver
one for you and who you have who you have
in that conversation with well, with you, I'm shutting it down.
That's what you're trying to tell you. I tell you
that conversation.

Speaker 5 (31:07):
Last year that I thought Devon Vley could develop into
a number one receiver and you, to put it, mildly.

Speaker 2 (31:17):
Poo pooed the idea. I panicked it was gray poopom.
So you did panic?

Speaker 5 (31:25):
Yeah, I said, I said, are you gonna trust if
I want to listen, if I want to find out,
if I want to do a deep dive into flannel,
I'm calling you. I'm calling you. Who you calling a
deep dive into wide receiver play.

Speaker 2 (31:40):
It's going to be asking for a friend. It's going
to be you. Thank you easily, easily you will be
the first call man special.

Speaker 5 (31:47):
To him, There's no doubt. It's uh, he's just he's
just the ball catcher. He's not the fastest guy in
the world. But now I think Devon Maley and Pat Bryant,
I think it's interesting with those two, you know in
the next three, four, five years how that thing plays out,
because man, they're similar.

Speaker 2 (32:08):
I think they're similar.

Speaker 5 (32:09):
Now if Sean were sitting here, maybe he'd say, you
don't know what you're talking about because I'd watched film,
and i'd have to defer to him. But just as
I look at both of them and what they're asked
to do and how they go about their craft, and
I say, man, those guys are a lot alike to me.

Speaker 4 (32:27):
I do a really good job of creating separation, and
they like blocking. And you got to be fired up
about this wide receiver room. You bringing the tight end,
Like I fully believe that the Broncos are going to
be night and day in the run game alone, and
that makes a world of difference for wide receivers and
just pass catchers. All eleven guys on that defense is

(32:50):
kind of taking a step forward looking out for the run,
knowing that that's something that this team can rely on.
Right now, you get these guys that are just going
to blow past secondaries and be able to create that separation.
I think they're very unique in crafty already in that.
So you know, John Payton has got to put it
all together now and go whin's the football games.

Speaker 1 (33:10):
Let me ask you this, as we're talking about position
groups and groups that could be maybe top ten I
think for the secondary, they could be a top unit
in the league. We're about a quarterback. Could we have
a top ten quarterback? Do we already have a top
ten quarterback?

Speaker 2 (33:29):
I think.

Speaker 5 (33:31):
Are you talking strictly from a statistical standpoint?

Speaker 1 (33:35):
I guess your view of him, whether it's statistics or
the eye test, or where he sort of slots in tonight.

Speaker 5 (33:42):
I would say not necessarily based on statistics only. I
think Bonnicks going into a second year. For me, I'm
thinking about quarterbacks now ding Ding ding Ding. As we
go down the list, I think bon Knicks is a
I could make the case that he'd be a top yeah, ten,

(34:06):
ten to twelve, ten, ten to twelve. There's thirty two
NFL teams. I mean, just off the top of your head.
If you were taking quarterbacks, and you're being completely honest
about this, So the quarterbacks that you would say are
in the top ten, you'd have Patrick Mahomes. We're all agreed,
Lamar Jackson, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. That's three.

Speaker 2 (34:30):
I would I would take Joe Burrow. I would take
Joe Burrow. I would take Herbert Austin, Herbert No, I
would take.

Speaker 5 (34:39):
Yeah, I think he'd be I think this because of potential.
He would be a top ten quarterback. That's five. I
would take Matthew