April 26, 2025 • 16 mins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Assistant General Manager Rob McCartney spoke to the media following Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. McCartney discussed WR Tez Johnson’s electricity, DL Elijah Roberts’ ability to make plays and OLB David Walker’s dominance on the field.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Thank you, Thank you all, Thank you all. Appreciate it.
Appreciate it. That's the first time I'm going to do this.
This would be good, all right. I just want to
start in honor of spy Tech last year.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
In the last few years, we spent all the time
talking about this and wanted to be able to do
it again. So proud to be able to stand up
here and represent all the people that were so impactful
to the draft this year, starting with the college scouts,
Tony Hardy, Byron Keefer, Antoine Murray, Andy Speier, Brian McLaughlin,
Caesar Rivera, Zack Smith, mcclifford, Cory Finney. He's got to
spend a lot of time on the road, very impactful
(00:34):
to everything we do with the draft, all the character stuff.
They're crucial to that, all the culture in the locker
room that we all speak about. They're the lifeblood of that.
They get that process started. They do a tremendous job.
The pro scouts to help out with the draft, Sean Connley,
Donovan Cott and Shannon Hoague, Shane Scannell as.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well with all the team needs football technology.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Spencer Dill, Joey Larva wouldn't be able to do this
without those two our scouting assistants, Jeremiah and Jordan, all
the point of attack tape they make labels magnets along
with Peyton Roth, our scouting coordinator. Shout out to our
player engagement staff, Duke and Tyler. We got all the
medical assistance we had too. You know, we had a
lot of conversations with Bobby and his crew, Duchy, John,
(01:13):
Sammy and all the doctors a lot of great conversations
with them over the past few weeks, trying to make
sure we're on our peas and q's with all the
medical stuff. The video staff for all the help, Brett
Matt rj Levi and Justin Ces guys, Timmy Zach, and
then Joe Dout for driving them everybody around on all
the thirty visits did a great job too.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And then lastly, shout outs obviously Jackie and.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Greeney for all the stuff they support us with through
throughout the last few weeks. And then Bill, who you
guys got to talk to yesterday, and then obviously Jason
and everyone else that comes with this process.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
You know, we're jacked upstairs.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I think the theme of this was we got to
meet a lot of we got to draft a lot
of the guys that really brought joy to us in
this process. We're fun to watch throughout the whole whole
entire process. I think there's been a lot of energy
I saw from some of the guys you got to
talk to already.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
So I was definitely a point.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Of have assist there too, So opening up to whatever
questions you guys have.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Speaking advantagy Tess Johnson has a lot of tell us
about about your your process with him. And you know,
kind kind of a rare breed at one hundred and
fifty four pounds, four or five one speed. He's not
a four to three guy. But do you see some
tank Dellenham that's one of the players he said, he
kind of models his game out.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, for sure. We talked about that.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
There's not a lot of guys that have you know,
cracked it under one sixty. But you got the two
two at Wells. You got a guy like tang Dell.
He doesn't play four or five. He plays a lot
faster that there's a lot of instances when he's the
fastest player on the field. There's multiple games, so I
thought he was the best player on the field too,
and his roommate two years.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Ago, Bucky. He will vouch for that guy every day.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
He's he's one of his best friends, plays the game
the same kind of way. So that really excited us,
and then got a chance to spend time with him
at the at the Combine.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
He was one of our former interviews and he just
lights up a room.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So I think will be a great impact in the
locker room and then on the field with his ability
to with with the ball.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
In his hands. Special teams too, for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah, I mean he was a really good pubby turning
for them, and I think we'll have a chance to
compete for that job with us here too.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Do you see Elijah Roberts kind of filling in that
Williams him kind of Logan Hall type role or do
you see an expanded role beyond that from.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I think he's got the ability to a lot of things.
You know, he's a pressure player that can get to
the quarterback. I think you start there and you see
he's two eighty five and he runs in the four hs.
He's got long arms, a lot of production both TFLs
and sacks, So I think his role on third downs
and sell packages, he's gonna be a guy that we
can move around. He can stand him uplay him off
the edge. I think he's gonna be really good rushing
inside over guards too, and the base stuff. I think,
(03:36):
you know, there's a chance we get creative with him too.
I think he can play, and I think he'd be
the four I five Tech two and we can also
stand him up. So I think there's gonna be a
lot of versatility he's gonna be able to offer us.
Probably gives me a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Of success with small school guys over the year when
I expect what about David Walker would give you the
competence to think that he.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Can maybe have the exact same numbers but have success
at this level.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think we probably always talking about this. He was
the most dominant player on the field, and when you
watch those small score guys, it's kind of a thing
everyone always says and our professions like, if he's not
the best player on the field, then probably gives you
some pause. But time and time again, David Walker showed
up and goes to mobile and does the same thing there.
So there was a lot of positivity take from from
his time down at this at the at the senior
(04:17):
bowl too, But that was another guy we spent time
with at the combine and fair really good about not
only athlete, but the instincts, the power of the speed,
his ability help us on special teams too, and you know,
rush from off the edge. But I think he's another
guy that we have some versatility with too.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Benjamin Morrison was talking about having that hip surgery, that
bilateral surgery, and it seemed like from what he was
saying it was it was the kind of correct a
condition rather than.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Like an injury.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Did did that Did that kind of help you in
the decision making process because he had the other surgery
done on the other hip high school and certainly played
well at another game, right you just speak to that.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, it was definitely a conversation.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I'll probably try to keep all the medical stuff between
us and the dock, but it was something that was
discussed and it does make us.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Feel a little bit better.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
You guys made some additions to your defensive backfield, you know,
addressing outside corner and also well actually both guys can
play outside corner, but one likely going to be inside it. Nicol,
Can you just speak to that and what they bring
to the table.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, I think when you watch Benjamin Morrison, you watch
Notre Dames defense, they're really well coached on defense. He
likes to be up at the line of scrimmage. That's
where he does his best work. And then going back
through his career, he's a guy that can take the
ball away.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So he's a big corner. He's young, he's instinctive.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
It means a lot to him, and you can take
the ball away, perish. Another guy that was down a
mobile stood out there for his athletic ability. I think
he's got a chance to be a really good nickel,
but also he's got the athletic ability and man cover
skills to play on the perimeter too. You know, we
had him in here for a visit and he was
he has a wrestling background as well. His whole family
wrestled and he messed around with a little bit. But
(05:50):
i'm multi sport athlete that ran really fast and has
a wrestler's mentality in a in a nickel corner is
always a rare and fun combination.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
We were able to address inside linebacker in this year's draft.
I'm sure you'll probably sign you know, a couple in
draft the free agency, but can you kind of speak
to maybe how weak that position was. You looked at
only four drafted in the top one hundred, it wasn't
a great year for inside linebackers. Can you just touch
on that.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, we definitely, you know, we went through the process
with it with all those guys. Had had some guys
in play today, they just happened to go in a
spot where we couldn't get to them. Obviously, really happy
with the guys we got, but we feel good about
obviously Vante Voss, Anthony Walker. We've got Dean Jones flashing
things late in the season last year.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So we think we got a pretty good group in there, and.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
We'll try to supplement after the draft here with some
good players, most of the guys that can probably help
us on special teams in year one and see where
it goes from there.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Offensive line, you're looking at it, there's some some players
on the board. I guess haven't really drafted a depth
offensive game player in a while. It's been guys to
hopefully be starters, and you've gotten that out of all
of them as you've drafted. Was there any interest in
maybe looking at a depth slid tackle or interior guy
can playing maybe you know, center because Ben can play it,
but you really don't want Ben to play it because
(07:04):
now you need to put someone that left guard. Is
there someone that kind of fills out that?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, that's another position.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Obviously we talked about everything, but tackles are always hard
to come by, and I think Eli can do both
center and guard, and Ben can do center and guards.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
I think we've gotten a pinch. And obviously we've got
rakwon here.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Too, and superstory happen a little bit, but I think
he's gonna be in a good spot too. So we
have bodies there that can make our team and compete
and help us there. So that's another spot post draft
that we're definitely gonna put an emphasis on.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
The second year in a row, Jason hasn't made a
draft a trade.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Greenie's beside himself, So Greene and Jackie are on the
phones this year. I don't think anyone else's phone rang.
And after the Thurrough was like, this is gonna be
the round.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
We're gonna trade back and then we're not gonna pick.
We like this guy.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
So we've we've done pretty well sticking and picking lately,
so I think we've got a nice little groove of
of doing that.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
But I know Greens getting a little antsy upstairs.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
So we're most excited to see come back from last
year's draft class in the year two. Maybe not the
marquee picks, but the undrafted guy who worked behind the
scenes that you know, safety is a position that you
guys didn't address in the draft, but you did pick
up two in a days last year in Wisdom and Banks,
and they stayed with the team the entire season. Who
(08:12):
are some guys that in that kind of role that
you're excited to see come back.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I just shout out those two guys. Those guys
are here every day in the off season.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
Two.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Cam Johnson's another one that has had some injuriesties last year,
but he will be a guy that will be in
the mix with test to compete for that return job too.
But those two safeties. Just talking about those guys too,
like they're here all the time. They represent all the
character stuff that we're about too. So it's good to
see those guys around and really committed to.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
The process too.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
And that that that group last year, I think we
got a chance to have somebody pop out of that too.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
So hope hopefully we can do as good this year,
like how much these rookies will contribute.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
I mean like last year it became you know, there
was injuries, but there was you know, you had some
elite guys steps, you know, Bucky and Jalen and different
ones and of course.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
You know I mean Graham. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Do you know when you come out of these drafts
that like, hey, we got three or four or five
guys here.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
There's gonna absolutely rip it for us.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I think when we're starting and we're stacking the board
trying to figure out best best player versus need, it
does come into play there.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Obviously.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
I think Mecca is gonna have a big impact for us.
I think both corners are going to play a lot,
and I think we're scited about trying to find walker
away to get on the field, and it's probably gonna
be third downs come early. We do, as everyone said,
we do feel good about that room with yah Ya
Hassan Nelly braz So, like he's gonna have to really
prove himself, but I think he's got the ability to
(09:34):
do it. And then I think the D line too,
like he's gonna be able to get into the rotation
pretty pretty quickly, and again also on the third downe stuff.
But I think I just gonna have a good chance
to help us a little bit too.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
So that do you think you're going to be a
better team to pressure the quarterback? That was the big thing.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Is I think we're going to be better team pressing
the quarterback and a better team probably taking the ball
away to look.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
You know, with Benjamin Morrison and especially Jacob Parris, they're
really good in impressed coverage as well too. And obviously
you guys haven't been able to play press as much
because you haven't been able to get home before, so
more responsibility on the corner, it's easier to kind of
put them in the zone coverage. That way, if you're
not getting pressure, at least you're not giving up a
big play. With that philosophy of bringing in Reddick, getting Locker,
(10:17):
getting Roberts, do you guys feel like maybe it's something
you could kind of go towards more if you can
get pressure with the guys that you brought in to
help supplement.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I think that's always the goal, is to be able
to get pressure with four and have corners that make
it really hard no matter they're off for their impress
their maner zons just to disrupt the catch point. And
I think now we have guys that can that can
take the ball away and two guys that can really
run too. So I think if we can get pressure
with Ford, I think we'll be better at and then
that will allow us to be a lot more versatile
and hopefully press a lot more and coverage.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
The most notable Day three pick that you guys have
had recently was Buck here and a phenomenal rookie season.
At what point did you know? What point did you
feel like we've got something special?
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Yeah, there's a lot of talking camp, there's a lot
of talk that this this looks a little different.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
And then was at the Washington game early on.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I mean he had some big runs there and then
Denver too, So I was always there and you're kind
of always like, we'll see, we'll see. But I mean
he's just wired the right kind of way, and he's here,
He's he's still the same, he's still coming in here
early morning and busting his butt.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
So we do have a clearly Morrison, who was coming
out the injury, wasn't really able to run the forty
and do some of those athletic testing things, and maybe
because he was an underclassman, didn't really have like that
junior day in Notre Dame. How do you get a
gauge on on his speed? Do you do you rely
on on what the Notre Dame training staff says as
(11:38):
a freshman or sophomore he ran this, or do you
use some technology to find out the miles per hour
on film? How do you how do you glean how fast.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And what he is?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
You guys aren't gonna be surprised, but we just watched
the tape and if he's playing fast, then we pretty
much stick with it. That's kind of how we are
there is. We have dabbled into a little bit of
like the GPS stuff in the in the in the
player tracking stuff, not always the most reliable, Like you
get the instincts of like, hey, he's running with a vertical,
so he's going to open up more.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
I think Ben's got the.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Instincts where he's normally in phase in position, so he's
not stressed to have to run like that.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
So we do have access to some of that stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
But really, I mean, I don't think I think you
guys have been around this long enough you know.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
We're basing up base on mows, everything off the tape
and how fast we think they play.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
He said he had a showcase about four days ago.
For I guess now would be five days ago. What
was he able to show during during that workout? They
gave you, guys the confidence that that he can.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
I think that he's trending in the right direction. Obviously,
his tape speaks for itself. He's a very talented player,
and just for us to see kind of we talked
about that. That was another guy we spent time with
in Indy and just to see the progression, see him
at Notre Dame, he was at the pro day, and
then to see him be able to work out out
in Arizona last week, just to see really like our
medical stuff we had that in one area, but then
to see him progressing, get some updates there and then
(12:52):
see that he is working, he's on the field, and
he's in shape.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So I think that'll be the big thing for.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Us is not to push him until we feel great
that he's in good enough shape actually go out there
and do it, which hopefully is not too long.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
What was reaction when you saw the phone call that
Jason Todd made to him.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I mean that might have been one of the.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Most emotional draft reactions I've ever seen in recent memory.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, they're all great and it's a
huge moment for these guys. That in these guys' lives
and it's really the start of something bigger. But it's
really a combination up to this point of what they've
been able to do and have all their families around.
That was a rare one though, you know, just to
see all the emotion that that that was that was
definitely different. That was cool to see and it kind
of gives you positive player. We're talking about all these
(13:31):
players and we as you guys know, we're going deep
into the character. But just to see how much this
means to him is very impactful.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
A player match the talent with with his character as
much as a Mecca did. It just seemed like everybody,
you know, just slid right in like he he's the guy,
you know, like.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Yeah, there's a few guys in the draft.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
You know, we've kind of you know, like we have
our grading scale, like our our tier system for the character,
and he really like was above the best of the.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Best there, like you know, there's a chance.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I mean, I don't I don't think we spent time
with everybody in the draft, but just for the guys
that we've been around the last however many years, like
he was elite at the elite. Everyone you talked to
Ohio State or from his back back home out in Washington,
or just anyone that spent time with the kids, just
they're all raving about him. I think you guys got
to see that. And then we got to meet his
family the other day, took him into the draft room,
(14:23):
and you know, it's just you can see why he's
wired the way he is. And yeah, so we're definitely
I mean even Graham last year was really similar, and
so it's obviously the standard that we have and we're
really and we're.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Really glad to keep doing that.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Probably supposed to be a fairly good draft for undrafted
this year, do you know, I think right now you
have eleven spots.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah, he's at the planet.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I think we're at what seventy four before the draft,
So we'll try to get to Yeah, so we'll sign
ten guys probably and go from there.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
You draft two edge guys.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
I know one guy would you would potentially move around
a little bit, But just what do you like about
them that they could potentially, you know, in the ways
that they could potentially packed a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Yeah, I think David Walker's proven that he's a super
instinctive pass rusher.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
He knows how to win the high side with his speed.
He loves to go speed to power.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
He doesn't have long arms, but he uses what he
does have with his length really well. He's really powerful
and he knows how to take the inside too, So
it's really like a unique presentation of how he looks,
but it's really works for him, and he's super effective.
He's got great feet, so I think like just his
anactic at the passer, he's been super productive at every
stop every year, So I think there's a lot of
(15:30):
confidence there. And then Elijah, like we're down at the
East West game and seeing him rush over guards, which
he didn't do too too much at SMU he was
mostly off the edge and realize he's two eighty five
with the quickness and then the length plus the power.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I think they can win from different spots.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
But I think, you know, they've both been really productive,
which for us is a big indicator, and they both
play really really hard.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Pro day, so he's putting that bulk on and when
he was working, he's got that nasty and side counting
that he does for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Okay, thank you, good, thank you for work. Thank you
Thank you, Thank you all, Thank you all. Appreciate it.
Appreciate it. That's the first time I'm going to do this.
This would be good, all right. I just want to
start in honor of spy Tech last year.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
In the last few years, we spent all the time
talking about this and wanted to be able to do
it again. So proud to be able to stand up
here and represent all the people that were so impactful
to the draft this year, starting with the college scouts,
Tony Hardy, Byron Keefer, Antoine Murray, Andy Speier, Brian McLaughlin,
Caesar Rivera, Zack Smith, mcclifford, Cory Finney. He's got to
spend a lot of time on the road, very impactful
(00:34):
to everything we do with the draft, all the character stuff.
They're crucial to that, all the culture in the locker
room that we all speak about. They're the lifeblood of that.
They get that process started. They do a tremendous job.
The pro scouts to help out with the draft, Sean Connley,
Donovan Cott and Shannon Hoague, Shane Scannell as.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well with all the team needs football technology.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Spencer Dill, Joey Larva wouldn't be able to do this
without those two our scouting assistants, Jeremiah and Jordan, all
the point of attack tape they make labels magnets along
with Peyton Roth, our scouting coordinator. Shout out to our
player engagement staff, Duke and Tyler. We got all the
medical assistance we had too. You know, we had a
lot of conversations with Bobby and his crew, Duchy, John,
(01:13):
Sammy and all the doctors a lot of great conversations
with them over the past few weeks, trying to make
sure we're on our peas and q's with all the
medical stuff. The video staff for all the help, Brett
Matt rj Levi and Justin Ces guys, Timmy Zach, and
then Joe Dout for driving them everybody around on all
the thirty visits did a great job too.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And then lastly, shout outs obviously Jackie and.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Greeney for all the stuff they support us with through
throughout the last few weeks. And then Bill, who you
guys got to talk to yesterday, and then obviously Jason
and everyone else that comes with this process.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
You know, we're jacked upstairs.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I think the theme of this was we got to
meet a lot of we got to draft a lot
of the guys that really brought joy to us in
this process. We're fun to watch throughout the whole whole
entire process. I think there's been a lot of energy
I saw from some of the guys you got to
talk to already.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
So I was definitely a point.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Of have assist there too, So opening up to whatever
questions you guys have.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Speaking advantagy Tess Johnson has a lot of tell us
about about your your process with him. And you know,
kind kind of a rare breed at one hundred and
fifty four pounds, four or five one speed. He's not
a four to three guy. But do you see some
tank Dellenham that's one of the players he said, he
kind of models his game out.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, for sure. We talked about that.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
There's not a lot of guys that have you know,
cracked it under one sixty. But you got the two
two at Wells. You got a guy like tang Dell.
He doesn't play four or five. He plays a lot
faster that there's a lot of instances when he's the
fastest player on the field. There's multiple games, so I
thought he was the best player on the field too,
and his roommate two years.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Ago, Bucky. He will vouch for that guy every day.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
He's he's one of his best friends, plays the game
the same kind of way. So that really excited us,
and then got a chance to spend time with him
at the at the Combine.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
He was one of our former interviews and he just
lights up a room.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So I think will be a great impact in the
locker room and then on the field with his ability
to with with the ball.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
In his hands. Special teams too, for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah, I mean he was a really good pubby turning
for them, and I think we'll have a chance to
compete for that job with us here too.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Do you see Elijah Roberts kind of filling in that
Williams him kind of Logan Hall type role or do
you see an expanded role beyond that from.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I think he's got the ability to a lot of things.
You know, he's a pressure player that can get to
the quarterback. I think you start there and you see
he's two eighty five and he runs in the four hs.
He's got long arms, a lot of production both TFLs
and sacks, So I think his role on third downs
and sell packages, he's gonna be a guy that we
can move around. He can stand him uplay him off
the edge. I think he's gonna be really good rushing
inside over guards too, and the base stuff. I think,
(03:36):
you know, there's a chance we get creative with him too.
I think he can play, and I think he'd be
the four I five Tech two and we can also
stand him up. So I think there's gonna be a
lot of versatility he's gonna be able to offer us.
Probably gives me a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Of success with small school guys over the year when
I expect what about David Walker would give you the
competence to think that he.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Can maybe have the exact same numbers but have success
at this level.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think we probably always talking about this. He was
the most dominant player on the field, and when you
watch those small score guys, it's kind of a thing
everyone always says and our professions like, if he's not
the best player on the field, then probably gives you
some pause. But time and time again, David Walker showed
up and goes to mobile and does the same thing there.
So there was a lot of positivity take from from
his time down at this at the at the senior
(04:17):
bowl too, But that was another guy we spent time
with at the combine and fair really good about not
only athlete, but the instincts, the power of the speed,
his ability help us on special teams too, and you know,
rush from off the edge. But I think he's another
guy that we have some versatility with too.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Benjamin Morrison was talking about having that hip surgery, that
bilateral surgery, and it seemed like from what he was
saying it was it was the kind of correct a
condition rather than.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Like an injury.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Did did that Did that kind of help you in
the decision making process because he had the other surgery
done on the other hip high school and certainly played
well at another game, right you just speak to that.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, it was definitely a conversation.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I'll probably try to keep all the medical stuff between
us and the dock, but it was something that was
discussed and it does make us.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Feel a little bit better.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
You guys made some additions to your defensive backfield, you know,
addressing outside corner and also well actually both guys can
play outside corner, but one likely going to be inside it. Nicol,
Can you just speak to that and what they bring
to the table.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, I think when you watch Benjamin Morrison, you watch
Notre Dames defense, they're really well coached on defense. He
likes to be up at the line of scrimmage. That's
where he does his best work. And then going back
through his career, he's a guy that can take the
ball away.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So he's a big corner. He's young, he's instinctive.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
It means a lot to him, and you can take
the ball away, perish. Another guy that was down a
mobile stood out there for his athletic ability. I think
he's got a chance to be a really good nickel,
but also he's got the athletic ability and man cover
skills to play on the perimeter too. You know, we
had him in here for a visit and he was
he has a wrestling background as well. His whole family
wrestled and he messed around with a little bit. But
(05:50):
i'm multi sport athlete that ran really fast and has
a wrestler's mentality in a in a nickel corner is
always a rare and fun combination.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
We were able to address inside linebacker in this year's draft.
I'm sure you'll probably sign you know, a couple in
draft the free agency, but can you kind of speak
to maybe how weak that position was. You looked at
only four drafted in the top one hundred, it wasn't
a great year for inside linebackers. Can you just touch
on that.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, we definitely, you know, we went through the process
with it with all those guys. Had had some guys
in play today, they just happened to go in a
spot where we couldn't get to them. Obviously, really happy
with the guys we got, but we feel good about
obviously Vante Voss, Anthony Walker. We've got Dean Jones flashing
things late in the season last year.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So we think we got a pretty good group in there, and.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
We'll try to supplement after the draft here with some
good players, most of the guys that can probably help
us on special teams in year one and see where
it goes from there.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Offensive line, you're looking at it, there's some some players
on the board. I guess haven't really drafted a depth
offensive game player in a while. It's been guys to
hopefully be starters, and you've gotten that out of all
of them as you've drafted. Was there any interest in
maybe looking at a depth slid tackle or interior guy
can playing maybe you know, center because Ben can play it,
but you really don't want Ben to play it because
(07:04):
now you need to put someone that left guard. Is
there someone that kind of fills out that?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, that's another position.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Obviously we talked about everything, but tackles are always hard
to come by, and I think Eli can do both
center and guard, and Ben can do center and guards.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
I think we've gotten a pinch. And obviously we've got
rakwon here.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Too, and superstory happen a little bit, but I think
he's gonna be in a good spot too. So we
have bodies there that can make our team and compete
and help us there. So that's another spot post draft
that we're definitely gonna put an emphasis on.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
The second year in a row, Jason hasn't made a
draft a trade.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Greenie's beside himself, So Greene and Jackie are on the
phones this year. I don't think anyone else's phone rang.
And after the Thurrough was like, this is gonna be
the round.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
We're gonna trade back and then we're not gonna pick.
We like this guy.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
So we've we've done pretty well sticking and picking lately,
so I think we've got a nice little groove of
of doing that.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
But I know Greens getting a little antsy upstairs.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
So we're most excited to see come back from last
year's draft class in the year two. Maybe not the
marquee picks, but the undrafted guy who worked behind the
scenes that you know, safety is a position that you
guys didn't address in the draft, but you did pick
up two in a days last year in Wisdom and Banks,
and they stayed with the team the entire season. Who
(08:12):
are some guys that in that kind of role that
you're excited to see come back.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I just shout out those two guys. Those guys
are here every day in the off season.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
Two.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Cam Johnson's another one that has had some injuriesties last year,
but he will be a guy that will be in
the mix with test to compete for that return job too.
But those two safeties. Just talking about those guys too,
like they're here all the time. They represent all the
character stuff that we're about too. So it's good to
see those guys around and really committed to.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
The process too.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
And that that that group last year, I think we
got a chance to have somebody pop out of that too.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
So hope hopefully we can do as good this year,
like how much these rookies will contribute.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
I mean like last year it became you know, there
was injuries, but there was you know, you had some
elite guys steps, you know, Bucky and Jalen and different
ones and of course.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
You know I mean Graham. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Do you know when you come out of these drafts
that like, hey, we got three or four or five
guys here.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
There's gonna absolutely rip it for us.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I think when we're starting and we're stacking the board
trying to figure out best best player versus need, it
does come into play there.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Obviously.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
I think Mecca is gonna have a big impact for us.
I think both corners are going to play a lot,
and I think we're scited about trying to find walker
away to get on the field, and it's probably gonna
be third downs come early. We do, as everyone said,
we do feel good about that room with yah Ya
Hassan Nelly braz So, like he's gonna have to really
prove himself, but I think he's got the ability to
(09:34):
do it. And then I think the D line too,
like he's gonna be able to get into the rotation
pretty pretty quickly, and again also on the third downe stuff.
But I think I just gonna have a good chance
to help us a little bit too.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
So that do you think you're going to be a
better team to pressure the quarterback? That was the big thing.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Is I think we're going to be better team pressing
the quarterback and a better team probably taking the ball
away to look.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
You know, with Benjamin Morrison and especially Jacob Parris, they're
really good in impressed coverage as well too. And obviously
you guys haven't been able to play press as much
because you haven't been able to get home before, so
more responsibility on the corner, it's easier to kind of
put them in the zone coverage. That way, if you're
not getting pressure, at least you're not giving up a
big play. With that philosophy of bringing in Reddick, getting Locker,
(10:17):
getting Roberts, do you guys feel like maybe it's something
you could kind of go towards more if you can
get pressure with the guys that you brought in to
help supplement.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I think that's always the goal, is to be able
to get pressure with four and have corners that make
it really hard no matter they're off for their impress
their maner zons just to disrupt the catch point. And
I think now we have guys that can that can
take the ball away and two guys that can really
run too. So I think if we can get pressure
with Ford, I think we'll be better at and then
that will allow us to be a lot more versatile
and hopefully press a lot more and coverage.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
The most notable Day three pick that you guys have
had recently was Buck here and a phenomenal rookie season.
At what point did you know? What point did you
feel like we've got something special?
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Yeah, there's a lot of talking camp, there's a lot
of talk that this this looks a little different.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
And then was at the Washington game early on.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I mean he had some big runs there and then
Denver too, So I was always there and you're kind
of always like, we'll see, we'll see. But I mean
he's just wired the right kind of way, and he's here,
He's he's still the same, he's still coming in here
early morning and busting his butt.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
So we do have a clearly Morrison, who was coming
out the injury, wasn't really able to run the forty
and do some of those athletic testing things, and maybe
because he was an underclassman, didn't really have like that
junior day in Notre Dame. How do you get a
gauge on on his speed? Do you do you rely
on on what the Notre Dame training staff says as
(11:38):
a freshman or sophomore he ran this, or do you
use some technology to find out the miles per hour
on film? How do you how do you glean how fast.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And what he is?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
You guys aren't gonna be surprised, but we just watched
the tape and if he's playing fast, then we pretty
much stick with it. That's kind of how we are
there is. We have dabbled into a little bit of
like the GPS stuff in the in the in the
player tracking stuff, not always the most reliable, Like you
get the instincts of like, hey, he's running with a vertical,
so he's going to open up more.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
I think Ben's got the.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Instincts where he's normally in phase in position, so he's
not stressed to have to run like that.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
So we do have access to some of that stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
But really, I mean, I don't think I think you
guys have been around this long enough you know.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
We're basing up base on mows, everything off the tape
and how fast we think they play.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
He said he had a showcase about four days ago.
For I guess now would be five days ago. What
was he able to show during during that workout? They
gave you, guys the confidence that that he can.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
I think that he's trending in the right direction. Obviously,
his tape speaks for itself. He's a very talented player,
and just for us to see kind of we talked
about that. That was another guy we spent time with
in Indy and just to see the progression, see him
at Notre Dame, he was at the pro day, and
then to see him be able to work out out
in Arizona last week, just to see really like our
medical stuff we had that in one area, but then
to see him progressing, get some updates there and then
(12:52):
see that he is working, he's on the field, and
he's in shape.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So I think that'll be the big thing for.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Us is not to push him until we feel great
that he's in good enough shape actually go out there
and do it, which hopefully is not too long.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
What was reaction when you saw the phone call that
Jason Todd made to him.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I mean that might have been one of the.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Most emotional draft reactions I've ever seen in recent memory.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, they're all great and it's a
huge moment for these guys. That in these guys' lives
and it's really the start of something bigger. But it's
really a combination up to this point of what they've
been able to do and have all their families around.
That was a rare one though, you know, just to
see all the emotion that that that was that was
definitely different. That was cool to see and it kind
of gives you positive player. We're talking about all these
(13:31):
players and we as you guys know, we're going deep
into the character. But just to see how much this
means to him is very impactful.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
A player match the talent with with his character as
much as a Mecca did. It just seemed like everybody,
you know, just slid right in like he he's the guy,
you know, like.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Yeah, there's a few guys in the draft.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
You know, we've kind of you know, like we have
our grading scale, like our our tier system for the character,
and he really like was above the best of the.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Best there, like you know, there's a chance.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I mean, I don't I don't think we spent time
with everybody in the draft, but just for the guys
that we've been around the last however many years, like
he was elite at the elite. Everyone you talked to
Ohio State or from his back back home out in Washington,
or just anyone that spent time with the kids, just
they're all raving about him. I think you guys got
to see that. And then we got to meet his
family the other day, took him into the draft room,
(14:23):
and you know, it's just you can see why he's
wired the way he is. And yeah, so we're definitely
I mean even Graham last year was really similar, and
so it's obviously the standard that we have and we're
really and we're.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Really glad to keep doing that.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Probably supposed to be a fairly good draft for undrafted
this year, do you know, I think right now you
have eleven spots.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah, he's at the planet.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I think we're at what seventy four before the draft,
So we'll try to get to Yeah, so we'll sign
ten guys probably and go from there.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
You draft two edge guys.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
I know one guy would you would potentially move around
a little bit, But just what do you like about
them that they could potentially, you know, in the ways
that they could potentially packed a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Yeah, I think David Walker's proven that he's a super
instinctive pass rusher.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
He knows how to win the high side with his speed.
He loves to go speed to power.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
He doesn't have long arms, but he uses what he
does have with his length really well. He's really powerful
and he knows how to take the inside too, So
it's really like a unique presentation of how he looks,
but it's really works for him, and he's super effective.
He's got great feet, so I think like just his
anactic at the passer, he's been super productive at every
stop every year, So I think there's a lot of
(15:30):
confidence there. And then Elijah, like we're down at the
East West game and seeing him rush over guards, which
he didn't do too too much at SMU he was
mostly off the edge and realize he's two eighty five
with the quickness and then the length plus the power.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I think they can win from different spots.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
But I think, you know, they've both been really productive,
which for us is a big indicator, and they both
play really really hard.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Pro day, so he's putting that bulk on and when
he was working, he's got that nasty and side counting
that he does for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Okay, thank you, good, thank you for work. Thank you
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