April 26, 2025 • 15 mins
Tori McElhaney and Will McFadden recap the second day of the Atlanta Falcons' 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. They give their thoughts on what he brings to a new look Falcons defense as well as look ahead to what the Falcons might add on the final day of the draft.
0:00 - Intro
0:44 - Safety Xavier Watts
11:41 - Day 3 Preview
14:32 - Outro
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Falcons fans. What's up.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
It is Day two of the NFL Draft. We have
just wrapped. It is twelve twenty seven am. I'm here
with Tory mclaney to briefly go over what the Falcons
did on Day two, another trade which landed them a
player that they feel really, really good about. So we're
gonna get into real quick our thoughts on Xavier Watts.
(00:23):
We're gonna have a bigger picture kind of recap of
the entire draft after Round three concludes on Saturday. So
whether you want to hear that Saturday evening or Sunday
when you're taking a break from everything, or Monday, if
honestly like that's the healthiest choice, I think so too.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yeah, it do it on Monday.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
That's my recommendation, Monday morning, driving into work exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So we're gonna quickly Xavier Watts. Tory, what was your like?
I can see it in your face. I already know
the answer to this. Tell us how excited you were
that Davier Wats was the pick.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
I was so excited.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
If you guys know, I picked Exavier Watts in the
second round of my seven round mock draft when I
acquired a second second round pick. He is somebody who
I have written about a couple of times because I've
name dropped a couple on podcasts a couple of times,
because I think in terms of defensive impact players, there
(01:17):
is arguably none at the safety position that had the year,
or let's be honest, the two years that Xavier Watts
has had with Notre Dame. And I mean I can
talk about the stat line alone, thirteen interceptions, thirty one
passes defended. And this is also a guy who as
the nearest defender never gave up a touchdown catch Like
(01:41):
this is someone who I have thoroughly even before I
went into draft evaluations, like even before I really started
thinking about this stuff just watching him play at Notre
Dame when Notre Dame is kind of ascending amongst the
college football ranks.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I have so keenan you Notre Dame in Texas, Notre
Dame in Tech year you've been. I just know all
about Texas players.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Right because if everybody should know Matthew Golden. I loved
watching Matthew Golden, Texas guy I very much with.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
With Xavier Watts, I did.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Not think that he was going to be available to
the Falcons at all. When the Falcons did not have
a second round pick, I was like, that's it. No
Xavier Watts for Atlanta. I'm sad, but you know, you
move on.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
You can't have them all.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
But then to see them put the trade together that
they did to move up to ninety six, give up
the one pick that they acquired with the trade with
the Rams, and then also a future fifth round pick
in twenty twenty six to move up to pick ninety
six five spots, five spots where the Philadelphia Eagles were
(02:48):
originally picking, to get Xavier Watts.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I was.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I was pretty over the moon about it.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I was almost like the palpable excitement of which I
felt and still feel in this moment. I think I
was a bit more even reserved with them moving back
into the first round, like I think it was because
Xavier watches somebody who you talk about draft crushes a lot,
like I know you and Maxwell Harrison that was yours.
(03:14):
Everybody gets, yeah, wishing well, but everyone gets that person
that the farther they dig in, the more they dig in,
the more they watch film and everything, they just fall
you fall in love with them.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Xavier Wats was that player for me and I can talk.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
I mean, I can talk NonStop about why, but I
just think he's I mean, he's such a playmaker and
for what he lacks maybe in size or speed or
athletic ability, he makes up for in toughness, in leadership,
in football, IQ in instincts. That's something that I spoke
to position coaches and area scouts about literally tonight, probably
(03:55):
an hour ago. This is someone who has instincts that
I don't think you can teach. He just has them.
And I want you to ask me a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
About Yeah, like you're trying to get me the ball back.
I can see in your eyes it's so hard. But
I well, here, I'll just talk right over you go
go No. I love what you said about the draft crushes,
and it's it's interesting in my experience, like I've kind
of found that it is the day two players, or
sometimes maybe a fourth round player or something that I
often feel like I gravitate towards. I come away from
(04:24):
a draft being like, yeah, I really like their first
round pick, good job there, or you know, sometimes maybe
you feel differently, but it's usually like a third round
pick where I'm like, but my favorite guy in the
draft that they got is this player, right, Like Braylan
Trice last year was awesome, and I think Michael Pennox
is gonna be amazing and all that stuff, Like you
just come away with the guy and people aren't talking
about as much. Yeah, and Xavier Watts is one percent
(04:47):
that person for you this year and for good reason.
You mentioned the instincts and the playmaking ability, Like obviously
we've seen Jesse Bates have that in spades, but adding
another player with kind of that at high football IQ.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
He's played fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Five games at Notre Dame, I mean big, big football,
like against the best of the best, and he has
picked him off more than anybody else in the last
two years. That is something that I think the Falcons
keyed on. Yeah, they said that's worth getting in the
third round, right, because when you get to this point,
everybody's got a question mark or two, whether it be
athletically or whether it be production wise. Right, So to
(05:26):
get somebody two time team captain, two time consensus All
American only he and Travis Hunter have done that the
last two years. Like that's the company that he's in.
Oh and by the way, more interceptions than Travis Hunter too,
So out there right. I think Xavier Watts is a
great pick, But I what do you think his potential
starting chances are as a rookie, Like we know that
(05:47):
they went and got Jordan Fuller this last year, to
Marcohellum's coming back, Like, how do you see all that
shaken up?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I feel pretty good about it.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Actually, I think that he is really going to compete
for a starting spot. I think that, yes, Jordan Fuller
has the experience and he's been in the league the longest.
To Marco Hellms, it's unfortunate, you know that he had
his season last year cut short when I really felt
like he was on an upward trajectory. But I feel
like in terms of a guy who can come in
(06:16):
and immediately push for a job alongside Jesse Bates the third,
it's Xavier Watts.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
And I've said that before he was even on this team.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
And I think I want to talk a little bit
about something that you brought up in terms of his
football IQ. Something that I think is overlooked.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
In his game and the way that.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
He plays the game is this is a guy who
came to Notre Dame as a wide receiver. He then
moved to kind of this like Rover linebacker for a
little bit, moved back to receiver, and then moved and
found a niche at safety going into his senior season.
So this is someone who hasn't played safety very very long,
(06:57):
but because of the experiences that he had as a receiver,
as a former linebacker, and now a safety, all of
those things, all of those different position points show up
in his journey, and not only in his journey, but
how he plays the game today.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
You see the ball skills that's wide receiver through and through.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You see the angles he takes on a running back,
and the tackles that he makes in the physicality and
the instincts that he shows in coverage. Sometimes that comes,
I think from that linebacker time period, and then it
just all encompasses into the safety that he is. I'm
talking very highly of this guy because I feel to
(07:39):
the point of the question that you're asking is like,
can he be a starter even in year one? I
think he has a good shot because of the instincts,
because of the ball skills, because of everything that he's
shown over the last two seasons, only two seasons as
a starter at safety, only two seasons really going.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Full time safe since exactly. I don't know how he
fell to the.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Third round crazy.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
I don't know, but I'm not gonna what is it?
Don't look a gift horse in the mouse mouth. Whatever
the saying is not mouse that mouth it is. It
is twelve thirty in the morning. I'm losing it, but
I'm so excited about this pic. I really am.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I mean, I love what you said.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
He's an amalgamation of his experiences at different positions, right,
And that's a word, thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I was thinking about it the whole time.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
That's a ten dollars word right there.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
You asked me what you just said. I couldn't answer you,
but I can say the word amalgamation. I think that
it's like, you know, if you are in a restaurant
or something, and you work up at the front, and
then you work in the back with the line cooks,
and then you're working you know, like bussing tables or
being a way to like you then understand all of
the different parts and how they come together and how
they work together and make the whole machine work. And
(08:50):
so I think that that is a position uniquely suited
to allow experiences to sometimes true trump athleticism and We've
seen it again with Jesse Bates. No slight to his athleticism,
Like he's fifty times the athlete I will ever be
so like.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Still in the top one percent.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Good job, but.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's like it's the combination of that good enough functional
athleticism with elite, top tier intelligence and the ability to
anticipate yes. And again, if we're talking about being a
rookie starter, the experience that he had at Notre Dame
is very, very notable in that direction because he's not
he's a two year starter at safety. But like, he's
(09:29):
played a lot of football, and he's played a lot
of high level football, and he comes from a good program,
and I again, I think that he's going to be
in an environment that sets him up nicely to contribute
early on. And so if you're looking at the Falcons
draft class at this point in time, you got to
feel pretty good about adding three defensive players you would
expect to make an impact in twenty twenty five, right.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
I mean if they're not, something's gone wrong, you know, Like,
and I think that's that's where I land. I know,
yesterday we were talking with Rackley and he asked kind
of like your thoughts your feelings. They went back and
they got two first round head dressers like, whoo, let's go.
What's your optimism? And I set a seven and I'm
not gonna like go back on that, but I am
feeling the longer this thing goes. It's been twenty four
(10:16):
hours since those decisions were made, those picks were made.
We had the chance to speak with Jalen Walker today.
We had the chance to speak with James Spears Junior.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Today.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
We got the chance to see the Falcons move back
up in the third round a few spots and get
someone like an Xavier Watts. If I'm a fan and
I'm watching the Falcons do these things, I am really
excited about what this defense could look like, especially after
speaking with Jeff Ulbrick last night as.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Well, and he's like the winner of the weekend.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Truly is the biggest winner of this whole entire weekend
across the league. Jeff Olbrick and I really want to
recommend people go and watch the interview that I did
with him. It's up on Atlanta falcons dot com and
our YouTube. It was an exclusive interview after the Falcons
moved back up into the first round. Got James Pierce
(11:11):
Junior and Jalen Walker and I we were kind of
having this bigger picture conversation about what all of this means,
and at the time hadn't even gotten Xavier Wats yet,
who I.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Know he's really excited about.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
So I think, like that interview, go just go watch
it because it really sets the expectation and the foundation
for I think where this defense can go, especially with
these three type of players that are now included in
that conversation.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, so where do we think the Falcons can go
on day three? What do you think are the kind
of remaining needs that they could target? They've got one
eighteen and two eighteen. They're going to be kind of
right back on the clock much earlier than they were
on day two. When you know, like with we won't
get into too many details today. It was a long
damn sure for ever.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
We were sitting around a long time.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Yes, lovely rainstorm, lovely storm.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Yeah, yeah, er you played some games.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Yeah, they'll they'll be picking much much quicker, thankfully. Who
would you like to see? You're not necessarily who, but like,
what position do you think makes sense for them to target?
Now that they've tripled dipts? On the defense.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
You can go back defense. I am standing firm in
what I said literally twenty four hours ago. Either a
defensive tackle or a center. Those are the two positions
at this point in time that I think you can
get a lot of value still out of.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I think you can.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I was again shocked that Xavier Watts was there, but
I think that at this point in time, looking at
kind of how certain draft boards have fallen, I think
you still have a lot of good options at center.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
I think you still have.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
A lot of good options at defensive tackle that I
think you could very much value for the Falcons at
one point eighteen, specifically that that fourth round pick, And honestly,
if they want to try and get rid of the
seventh rounder, I'm not gonna say anything. I actually I
will say something, get rid of the seventh rounder, figure
(13:05):
out a way to leverage it in some way, and
maybe move back into the fifth or the sixth.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Do what you can, and then I'll be a Okay,
I'll be more than good.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
All right, Yeah, I think I think defensive tackle makes sense.
I think center makes sense.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
We're gonna siver.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
I knew you're saying You're about to say it.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Only Seth McLaughlin is still there, so he's kind of
the only center that I really that does anything for me. Yeah,
so that's kind of the reason hesitant. I like Ty Robinson,
we vote do out of Nebraska.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Keep saying his name until something happens.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
To me doesn't necessarily fit. I think the mold or
theme of what they've been going for. So he would
be a little bit of a change up the wide receivers.
I think there's just a few more players there that,
like I mean Ted Johnson, Xavier or Streppo still on
the board, not to mention Tory Horton, Isaiah.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Bond, like Jalen Royan steeper there.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
That's the run I expect to start in round four,
and it makes sense that that's kind of where I
think the run would go. So maybe the Falcons get
kind of caught up in that run, maybe they start
the run, who knows, but I think wide receiver makes
a lot of sense there. And then seventh round if
they don't trade it away.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Which.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
We've been together for a while, ladies and gentlemen, so
many hours. I you know, I would expect them to
target a big school, big program player a lot of
experience that's generally been the profile of a you know,
maybe it's a Malachi More out of Alabama.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Maybe not.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
They just want safety, hey, but that type of a profile.
So we will be back tomorrow, Saturday. It's really confusing
me because I keep looking at my.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Computer right now and it says Saturday.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
But we will be back man in mere hours to
recap the entire twenty twenty five draft. I can't believe
I'm saying those words. It has been a long draft season.
We really appreciate you guys following along bear through it
to the finish line with us, because we've got our
picks tracker, We've got analysis on every pick. It's been
really fun and we are excited to close this out
(15:00):
with you all. So for Tory mclaney, I am Will McFadden.
We will see you all tomorrow for the conclusion of
the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Let's go
Falcons fans. What's up.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
It is Day two of the NFL Draft. We have
just wrapped. It is twelve twenty seven am. I'm here
with Tory mclaney to briefly go over what the Falcons
did on Day two, another trade which landed them a
player that they feel really, really good about. So we're
gonna get into real quick our thoughts on Xavier Watts.
(00:23):
We're gonna have a bigger picture kind of recap of
the entire draft after Round three concludes on Saturday. So
whether you want to hear that Saturday evening or Sunday
when you're taking a break from everything, or Monday, if
honestly like that's the healthiest choice, I think so too.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yeah, it do it on Monday.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
That's my recommendation, Monday morning, driving into work exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So we're gonna quickly Xavier Watts. Tory, what was your like?
I can see it in your face. I already know
the answer to this. Tell us how excited you were
that Davier Wats was the pick.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
I was so excited.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
If you guys know, I picked Exavier Watts in the
second round of my seven round mock draft when I
acquired a second second round pick. He is somebody who
I have written about a couple of times because I've
name dropped a couple on podcasts a couple of times,
because I think in terms of defensive impact players, there
(01:17):
is arguably none at the safety position that had the year,
or let's be honest, the two years that Xavier Watts
has had with Notre Dame. And I mean I can
talk about the stat line alone, thirteen interceptions, thirty one
passes defended. And this is also a guy who as
the nearest defender never gave up a touchdown catch Like
(01:41):
this is someone who I have thoroughly even before I
went into draft evaluations, like even before I really started
thinking about this stuff just watching him play at Notre
Dame when Notre Dame is kind of ascending amongst the
college football ranks.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I have so keenan you Notre Dame in Texas, Notre
Dame in Tech year you've been. I just know all
about Texas players.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Right because if everybody should know Matthew Golden. I loved
watching Matthew Golden, Texas guy I very much with.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
With Xavier Watts, I did.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Not think that he was going to be available to
the Falcons at all. When the Falcons did not have
a second round pick, I was like, that's it. No
Xavier Watts for Atlanta. I'm sad, but you know, you
move on.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
You can't have them all.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
But then to see them put the trade together that
they did to move up to ninety six, give up
the one pick that they acquired with the trade with
the Rams, and then also a future fifth round pick
in twenty twenty six to move up to pick ninety
six five spots, five spots where the Philadelphia Eagles were
(02:48):
originally picking, to get Xavier Watts.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I was.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I was pretty over the moon about it.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I was almost like the palpable excitement of which I
felt and still feel in this moment. I think I
was a bit more even reserved with them moving back
into the first round, like I think it was because
Xavier watches somebody who you talk about draft crushes a lot,
like I know you and Maxwell Harrison that was yours.
(03:14):
Everybody gets, yeah, wishing well, but everyone gets that person
that the farther they dig in, the more they dig in,
the more they watch film and everything, they just fall
you fall in love with them.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Xavier Wats was that player for me and I can talk.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
I mean, I can talk NonStop about why, but I
just think he's I mean, he's such a playmaker and
for what he lacks maybe in size or speed or
athletic ability, he makes up for in toughness, in leadership,
in football, IQ in instincts. That's something that I spoke
to position coaches and area scouts about literally tonight, probably
(03:55):
an hour ago. This is someone who has instincts that
I don't think you can teach. He just has them.
And I want you to ask me a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
About Yeah, like you're trying to get me the ball back.
I can see in your eyes it's so hard. But
I well, here, I'll just talk right over you go
go No. I love what you said about the draft crushes,
and it's it's interesting in my experience, like I've kind
of found that it is the day two players, or
sometimes maybe a fourth round player or something that I
often feel like I gravitate towards. I come away from
(04:24):
a draft being like, yeah, I really like their first
round pick, good job there, or you know, sometimes maybe
you feel differently, but it's usually like a third round
pick where I'm like, but my favorite guy in the
draft that they got is this player, right, Like Braylan
Trice last year was awesome, and I think Michael Pennox
is gonna be amazing and all that stuff, Like you
just come away with the guy and people aren't talking
about as much. Yeah, and Xavier Watts is one percent
(04:47):
that person for you this year and for good reason.
You mentioned the instincts and the playmaking ability, Like obviously
we've seen Jesse Bates have that in spades, but adding
another player with kind of that at high football IQ.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
He's played fifty.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Five games at Notre Dame, I mean big, big football,
like against the best of the best, and he has
picked him off more than anybody else in the last
two years. That is something that I think the Falcons
keyed on. Yeah, they said that's worth getting in the
third round, right, because when you get to this point,
everybody's got a question mark or two, whether it be
athletically or whether it be production wise. Right, So to
(05:26):
get somebody two time team captain, two time consensus All
American only he and Travis Hunter have done that the
last two years. Like that's the company that he's in.
Oh and by the way, more interceptions than Travis Hunter too,
So out there right. I think Xavier Watts is a
great pick, But I what do you think his potential
starting chances are as a rookie, Like we know that
(05:47):
they went and got Jordan Fuller this last year, to
Marcohellum's coming back, Like, how do you see all that
shaken up?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I feel pretty good about it.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Actually, I think that he is really going to compete
for a starting spot. I think that, yes, Jordan Fuller
has the experience and he's been in the league the longest.
To Marco Hellms, it's unfortunate, you know that he had
his season last year cut short when I really felt
like he was on an upward trajectory. But I feel
like in terms of a guy who can come in
(06:16):
and immediately push for a job alongside Jesse Bates the third,
it's Xavier Watts.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
And I've said that before he was even on this team.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
And I think I want to talk a little bit
about something that you brought up in terms of his
football IQ. Something that I think is overlooked.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
In his game and the way that.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
He plays the game is this is a guy who
came to Notre Dame as a wide receiver. He then
moved to kind of this like Rover linebacker for a
little bit, moved back to receiver, and then moved and
found a niche at safety going into his senior season.
So this is someone who hasn't played safety very very long,
(06:57):
but because of the experiences that he had as a receiver,
as a former linebacker, and now a safety, all of
those things, all of those different position points show up
in his journey, and not only in his journey, but
how he plays the game today.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
You see the ball skills that's wide receiver through and through.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
You see the angles he takes on a running back,
and the tackles that he makes in the physicality and
the instincts that he shows in coverage. Sometimes that comes,
I think from that linebacker time period, and then it
just all encompasses into the safety that he is. I'm
talking very highly of this guy because I feel to
(07:39):
the point of the question that you're asking is like,
can he be a starter even in year one? I
think he has a good shot because of the instincts,
because of the ball skills, because of everything that he's
shown over the last two seasons, only two seasons as
a starter at safety, only two seasons really going.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Full time safe since exactly. I don't know how he
fell to the.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Third round crazy.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
I don't know, but I'm not gonna what is it?
Don't look a gift horse in the mouse mouth. Whatever
the saying is not mouse that mouth it is. It
is twelve thirty in the morning. I'm losing it, but
I'm so excited about this pic. I really am.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I mean, I love what you said.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
He's an amalgamation of his experiences at different positions, right,
And that's a word, thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I was thinking about it the whole time.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
That's a ten dollars word right there.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
You asked me what you just said. I couldn't answer you,
but I can say the word amalgamation. I think that
it's like, you know, if you are in a restaurant
or something, and you work up at the front, and
then you work in the back with the line cooks,
and then you're working you know, like bussing tables or
being a way to like you then understand all of
the different parts and how they come together and how
they work together and make the whole machine work. And
(08:50):
so I think that that is a position uniquely suited
to allow experiences to sometimes true trump athleticism and We've
seen it again with Jesse Bates. No slight to his athleticism,
Like he's fifty times the athlete I will ever be
so like.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Still in the top one percent.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Good job, but.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's like it's the combination of that good enough functional
athleticism with elite, top tier intelligence and the ability to
anticipate yes. And again, if we're talking about being a
rookie starter, the experience that he had at Notre Dame
is very, very notable in that direction because he's not
he's a two year starter at safety. But like, he's
(09:29):
played a lot of football, and he's played a lot
of high level football, and he comes from a good program,
and I again, I think that he's going to be
in an environment that sets him up nicely to contribute
early on. And so if you're looking at the Falcons
draft class at this point in time, you got to
feel pretty good about adding three defensive players you would
expect to make an impact in twenty twenty five, right.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
I mean if they're not, something's gone wrong, you know, Like,
and I think that's that's where I land. I know,
yesterday we were talking with Rackley and he asked kind
of like your thoughts your feelings. They went back and
they got two first round head dressers like, whoo, let's go.
What's your optimism? And I set a seven and I'm
not gonna like go back on that, but I am
feeling the longer this thing goes. It's been twenty four
(10:16):
hours since those decisions were made, those picks were made.
We had the chance to speak with Jalen Walker today.
We had the chance to speak with James Spears Junior.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Today.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
We got the chance to see the Falcons move back
up in the third round a few spots and get
someone like an Xavier Watts. If I'm a fan and
I'm watching the Falcons do these things, I am really
excited about what this defense could look like, especially after
speaking with Jeff Ulbrick last night as.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Well, and he's like the winner of the weekend.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Truly is the biggest winner of this whole entire weekend
across the league. Jeff Olbrick and I really want to
recommend people go and watch the interview that I did
with him. It's up on Atlanta falcons dot com and
our YouTube. It was an exclusive interview after the Falcons
moved back up into the first round. Got James Pierce
(11:11):
Junior and Jalen Walker and I we were kind of
having this bigger picture conversation about what all of this means,
and at the time hadn't even gotten Xavier Wats yet,
who I.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Know he's really excited about.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
So I think, like that interview, go just go watch
it because it really sets the expectation and the foundation
for I think where this defense can go, especially with
these three type of players that are now included in
that conversation.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, so where do we think the Falcons can go
on day three? What do you think are the kind
of remaining needs that they could target? They've got one
eighteen and two eighteen. They're going to be kind of
right back on the clock much earlier than they were
on day two. When you know, like with we won't
get into too many details today. It was a long
damn sure for ever.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
We were sitting around a long time.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Yes, lovely rainstorm, lovely storm.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Yeah, yeah, er you played some games.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Yeah, they'll they'll be picking much much quicker, thankfully. Who
would you like to see? You're not necessarily who, but like,
what position do you think makes sense for them to target?
Now that they've tripled dipts? On the defense.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
You can go back defense. I am standing firm in
what I said literally twenty four hours ago. Either a
defensive tackle or a center. Those are the two positions
at this point in time that I think you can
get a lot of value still out of.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I think you can.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I was again shocked that Xavier Watts was there, but
I think that at this point in time, looking at
kind of how certain draft boards have fallen, I think
you still have a lot of good options at center.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
I think you still have.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
A lot of good options at defensive tackle that I
think you could very much value for the Falcons at
one point eighteen, specifically that that fourth round pick, And honestly,
if they want to try and get rid of the
seventh rounder, I'm not gonna say anything. I actually I
will say something, get rid of the seventh rounder, figure
(13:05):
out a way to leverage it in some way, and
maybe move back into the fifth or the sixth.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Do what you can, and then I'll be a Okay,
I'll be more than good.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
All right, Yeah, I think I think defensive tackle makes sense.
I think center makes sense.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
We're gonna siver.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
I knew you're saying You're about to say it.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Only Seth McLaughlin is still there, so he's kind of
the only center that I really that does anything for me. Yeah,
so that's kind of the reason hesitant. I like Ty Robinson,
we vote do out of Nebraska.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Keep saying his name until something happens.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
To me doesn't necessarily fit. I think the mold or
theme of what they've been going for. So he would
be a little bit of a change up the wide receivers.
I think there's just a few more players there that,
like I mean Ted Johnson, Xavier or Streppo still on
the board, not to mention Tory Horton, Isaiah.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Bond, like Jalen Royan steeper there.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
That's the run I expect to start in round four,
and it makes sense that that's kind of where I
think the run would go. So maybe the Falcons get
kind of caught up in that run, maybe they start
the run, who knows, but I think wide receiver makes
a lot of sense there. And then seventh round if
they don't trade it away.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Which.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
We've been together for a while, ladies and gentlemen, so
many hours. I you know, I would expect them to
target a big school, big program player a lot of
experience that's generally been the profile of a you know,
maybe it's a Malachi More out of Alabama.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Maybe not.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
They just want safety, hey, but that type of a profile.
So we will be back tomorrow, Saturday. It's really confusing
me because I keep looking at my.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Computer right now and it says Saturday.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
But we will be back man in mere hours to
recap the entire twenty twenty five draft. I can't believe
I'm saying those words. It has been a long draft season.
We really appreciate you guys following along bear through it
to the finish line with us, because we've got our
picks tracker, We've got analysis on every pick. It's been
really fun and we are excited to close this out
(15:00):
with you all. So for Tory mclaney, I am Will McFadden.
We will see you all tomorrow for the conclusion of
the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Let's go
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