April 16, 2025 • 34 mins
Ep. 870 – It’s become an annual spring tradition: the pre-draft press conference. GMs, and often head coaches, meet with the media and answer questions ahead of the NFL Draft. A lot of words are spoken, but not a lot is said. To put it another way, no one is going to tip their hand or show their cards. Everything is kept very close to the vest. (Have we used enough idioms?!) Still, that doesn’t stop people, including Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck, from trying to read between the lines. Will Monti Ossenfort stick-and-pick at 16? Trade down? Trade up? All options appear to be on the table. All positions, or most positions, seem to be on the table with that first-round selection regardless of what the team has done in free agency. In other words, stay tuned.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
We listened, so what did we hear? Welcome Bird Gang.
On today's show, Danny Surrek joins me. A week out
from the twenty twenty five NFL Draft, GM montiasin Ford
and head coach Jonathan Gannon met the media. We dissect
their pre draft press conference. It's Cardinals Cover two, Episode
eight seventy and it starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
POA Baker, What Heart? What rent? This guy's unbelievable?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again,
so more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Whow Here's Craig Griolo.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So are we sick of the pre draft talk yet
because we're almost done? Or Danny? Do you do enjoy
the talk, the chatter, the gissing, predicting, speculation, both both.
I do think you reach a point where, maybe in
February leading into the scouting combine, you do enjoy the talk.
(01:17):
Getting to know these draft prospects and looking at mock
drafts and the different takes and then all of a sudden,
you reach this point here a week out and you're like, okay,
let's just get to it already.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's waves.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
The combine is definitely a wave. And then you get
another wave in free agency, especially when you're a team
as active as the Cardinals were and addressing needs, big
needs for the team, and so you talk about the
acquisitions and how that transfers over to draft needs if
it changes anything at all.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
And now we're at the.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Point where it's like, Okay, I'm ready for the draft.
We're a week away, so that's great news. Well a
week in a day from recording this close enough to
a week.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Yeah. By the way, if you want, I want to
be a part of the first round and the spectacular
that is or the spectacle that is day one Thursday
April twenty fourth one or mind everyone, you can be
a parts of the draft party the official Arizona Cardinals
Draft Party at State Farm Stadium Thursday April twenty fourth,
four to nine pm and mission is free, Parking is free.
(02:21):
We do ask that you got Azycardinals dot com forward
slash Draft Party to register for digital tickets. Our colleague
Paul calvic am seeing the events Cardinal players, Cardinals cheerleaders
Big Red all will be in attendance, and yes, a
special post draft fireworks show following the conclusion of round one.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You had me at Paul Calvec. Not really, because I'll
be here in the building. If I didn't have work
obligations here, I would be there for Paul.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Funny, Paul does not get mentioned in the press release
for item. That's why I always throw it in every
single time.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You're a good friend.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Come to meet Paul. On Wednesday, we actually came here
and met with the general manager, the Austin Ford, and
the head coach, Jonathan Gannon about a thirty minutes pre
draft press conference. It's an annual ritual before we get
into what was said and maybe what was not said.
I just want to point this out to everyone that
might have been watching the stream or going back on
(03:15):
Easycardinals dot com and watching some of the comments. A
person's cell phone went off and many Austin Ford mentioned
that that's a fine and mentioned the reporter's first name
just happens to share the first name of myself. I
want to make sure it's very clear for everyone that
it was not my cell phone.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
I don't know Craig.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
I was sitting there at the same press conference, and
I cannot confirm nor deny that you are the Craig
he was referencing.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
That is true because you were in the first row
and I was in the third row. Okay, but it was.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Not to be determined.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
It was not myself cell phone. All right. Here we
are year three for Moni and JG going into the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft. Last year eleven picks going
into the draft, they made twelve selections. This year they
have six, one in each of the first five rounds
and then a seventh round pick. A little bit different though,
(04:11):
and I believe it was the first question asked Demani
this year compared to the two previous years, because year
one third overall, Year two fourth overall. Now here in
round one they've got a waits until pick sixteen. Now
it's where you want to be. In fact, you actually
want to be in the late twenties, if we're being
(04:31):
honest with ourselves. But it's the hard part now when
the draft is upon us, that you have to sit
and waits and you like certain players and they go
off the board, do you get a little anxious? Do
you hit the panic button. We've got to get trade
up to get our guy, or are you calm and
relaxed going no, We've got a half a dozen players
that we're comfortable with. We'll just wait to see who
(04:53):
falls to us.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
You have to be patient.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
You don't want to be nervous or anxious and start
making emotional decision rather than logical ones. Now awesome for
it does not seem to strike me as someone who
is making emotional decisions, especially with the sort of preparation
he and his scouting department in the front office, along
with the coaching stuff all do leading up to draft weekend.
(05:15):
It is gonna be a lot of sit around and wait.
Even if the Cardinals do end up making a trade
of some sort, that's not something that's going to happen
until the Cardinals would be on the clock or the
team they would trade with. And so when you're at sixteen,
I would imagine those serious conversations aren't going to start
occurring until probably around pick eleven or twelve. It's gonna
(05:39):
be closer to sixteen, especially because the first round it's
ten minutes when you're on the clock, so there's a
lot of time to have some phone conversations there, So
it is gonna be a lot of sit around and wait.
And while awesome Ford confirmed that their board is roughly
ninety five percent done, they're going to leave a little
wiggle room because you don't really know what's going to happen,
(05:59):
especially with the draft class this year. When you're looking
at the projections the top ten, it's not as solidifies
as it typically is in years past, which hindsight is
always twenty twenty. Given the first couple of years of
what this front office has wanted to do, kind of
turning the tide of things first two years to have
(06:21):
as many picks as they did, that's the time to
do it. That is the time to really rebuild from
the ground up when you're talking about performance on the field,
when you're talking about setting a new standard with the
culture and having buy and that comes from younger players.
So there's going to be a year in the first
three where you drop to half the amount of picks.
I would want it to go from two to three
(06:42):
because the Cardinals have such a strong foundation now and
that's because of the work and the amount of picks
that they have had, and that doesn't always guarantee that
the foundation's going to be set. The fact that they
had twelve picks and they got as many solid reps
from rookies last year as they did is very impressive.
So I'm not stressed about only having quote unquote only
(07:02):
having six picks because one, again, the foundation is set.
You're looking at the veteran pieces that have been brought
in with proven production throughout free agency, and truthfully, awesome
for it has proven that he is good in the draft.
He is drafting the right type of players, the right
type of people, and then you pair that with Jonathan
Gannon and his coaching staff and how they have gotten
(07:23):
the most out of these young players. I know you're
sitting at sixteen and that might not be a sexy
pick for fans, but you got to feel good about
what you have seen from this staff the.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
First two years.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
All twenty one picks in those first two drafts remain
on the roster, and that's unheard of. As you mentioned,
it is a difficult draft to predict this season. Outside
of maybe the top three, and maybe there's some there's
not really a consensus in the top three. So if
you don't have a lot of picks, and we were
(07:55):
in Indianapolis at the scouting combine and the amounts of
depth that they have at certain positions within this draft
sixteen is not a bad spot to be in because, yeah,
you might like different players, but every team is going
to have its own evaluation, and what you believe might
(08:15):
be a top three defensive player could be another team's
bottom three if you're looking at the top ten or whatever.
There's that much uncertainty and how do you evaluate what
you need as a team first and foremost what kind
of person you're bringing into this Cardinals locker room. That
was made very clear several different times on Wednesday. It's
(08:38):
the person first, then the player. Then what role do
we see that player within our system, whether it's offense
or defense.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
That's not lip surface when you look at the rookies
and the free agents that haven't brought into this building
with Austin Ford at the helm, so that is a
very real ranking of what they're looking for and play
is the person first and then the player and making
sure you're one not only going to be a good
player in this game, you're also going to be somebody
who isn't selfish. You're going to put the team above yourself,
(09:08):
because that's how ultimately you are going to win and
win on a consistent basis.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I think.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I think it's just it's very interesting when you're talking
about the draft and sixteen specifically, because not every team
is in a great position. Not every team necessarily at
sixteen would be in as good of a position as
Arizona is. When you're looking at what the needs of
(09:36):
this team are and where the depth is now from
draft analysts and experts, there isn't a ton of quote
unquote star power right but if you're going to look
at the positions that have the most of that in
terms of players that could come in and be a
starter for you right away, the top positions defensive line,
edge and offensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Not as much depth on.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
The O line. The good news for the cardinalson at
as all three of those positions are still in need.
The discussion has tweaked just a little bit given the
amount of attention that the defensive line in the edge
room has received in free agency, leaning the question of
does offensive line now take precedence because that depth is
not there the way it is for the other positions.
(10:19):
At maybe forty seven, their first pick in the second round.
I still think that defensive line and edge are very
much on the table, and I feel that way even
more so after hearing what Austin Fort had to say,
because when you look at the depth in those rooms,
not a lot of contracts pass twenty twenty six. Not
a lot of contracts of those have guaranteed money into
(10:40):
twenty twenty six, So things could change after this twenty
twenty five season. So if there's a year where you
are looking to add depth at a position that has
a lot of the quality in this draft, I am
all for striking while the iron is hot and taking
a defensive lineman or an edge sixteen.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Still, yes, the Cardinals added Josh Sweat, they re signed
Baron Browning, they added Dalvin Tomlinson, they have a young
Darius Robinson coming back. Justin Jones bowl All Nichols, you
resign LJ. Collier, Kalaias Campbell is back in the building.
That's a solid defensive front. Yet at the same time,
to your point, Okay, how many of those players are
(11:24):
signed long term contracts? How do those look beyond twenty
twenty five? Because the draft is not just about the now,
it's about the presence and the future. And then, as
Mani mentioned, injuries happen during the course of a season,
and who's to say the ten defensive lineman the Cardinals
currently have on the roster, or the seven outside linebackers,
(11:46):
what happens between now and September When you make your
final cuts, you know, you think about our gay how
many are you gonna keep? And I can name seven
defensive linemen, Well, chances are pretty good that not all
seven that everyone believes are going to be your week
one week one depth chart might not all be healthy
(12:07):
week one. Now, all of a sudden, you need that depth.
And that's I think that's why I'm in complete agreement
with you. Yes, the Cardinals are in position to where
at sixteen they can go any direction they want to
go offense defense. But to me, it goes back to
the line of scrimmage, whether that's O line or D line,
because of the depth and the uncertainty, and those are
(12:30):
high injury positions along that line of scrimmage, that anything
can change between now and that first game in September.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
When I had asked Awesome for it about that in
their joint press conference, of defensive line and edge are
two position rooms that are being projected to have not
only the depth, but the most star power and quality
of their other positions in this draft. And those are
also two position groups that have been addressed heavily in
free agency. And I the GM how that, if at all,
(13:02):
affects the philosophy at sixteen of it's not the same
type of need that we had before a couple of
weeks ago. And he said that they don't make a
specific position a priority in the first round per se
based on what they have done in free agency. So
they just care about good football players and good people.
(13:24):
So if they feel like at sixteen the right pick
for them to elevate this team and bring in competition
for the short term and the long term success is
on the defensive side of the ball, then that's what
they're going to do. I completely understand the argument though,
of offensive line at this point, do they feel strongly
and the projected starters right now for all five I'm
(13:46):
sure they would say yes. I could also understand why
people would maybe have question marks there, and when you're
talking about depth and injuries and the need of versatility there.
So it's a really intriguing conversation. Assuming that the Cardinals
even stay at sixteen because we know that is also
a possibility to not be the case. So I think
either way, if you go right now, defensive line edge
(14:08):
or offensive linemen at sixteen, I don't think there's a
wrong choice in that.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I can talk myself into cornerback. Sure, I can talk
myself into wide receiver even but it's.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Further along I can do that.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
It's further along down my list of priorities because you
can make the case certainly at cornerback you can never
have enough, and there's some uncertainty within that room right
now with some young players not quite proven themselves completely.
And then wide receiver, Yeah, you got Marvin Harrison junior,
but who after that do you really have one hundred
(14:42):
percent belief in moving forward? Yes, Michael Wilson is a
great possession receiver, but he's really taken that next step forward.
And then within this offense, the argument that I'm gonna
make against myself is, Okay, you've got Marvin, but Ally
McBride right now is your number one pass catcher. Don't
forget about James Connor. And yes, Kyler Murray is an
(15:05):
offensive weapon, So how much do you really need another
wide receiver, especially when you're talking about that sixteenth overall pick.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
I agree with you that something has to be elevated
from what we saw in the pass the game last year.
It was not consistent. And while I think it's great
to have the type of as Kyler Murray say, security
blanket and a tied end and Trey McBride and as
reliable as McBride is as a pass catcher, you drafted
Marvin Harrison Junior fourth overall, and I think it's a
(15:34):
strong argument to say you want him to be your
number one receiver and you need more out of him,
and therefore you need more out of the pieces around
him to help that. My follow up question to you is,
I don't disagree that you probably need help in that
wide receiver's room. Is that help at sixteen or are
you stretching there at that point?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
It depends on who's there and how they evaluate that
particular wide receiver. Is it a tall wide receiver, is
it someone who's got some Is it a wide receiver? Again,
whether that's sixteen or forty seven, if it's among your
first two days, is there a wide receiver out there
that can be that potential push Michael Wilson to be
(16:11):
that two or at least be a solid three, but
also have the ability to return punts or maybe even
push DJ Dallas as kickoff return because now all of
a sudden, if you are that second or third wide receiver,
you might not be getting as many touches, but your
value elevates because you're valuable to Jeff Rodgers, especially returning punts.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
And what are you doing with Greg Dortch.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Well, Greg Dortch technically right now, not on the roster
Dann He's only been tendered. I mean, he's not going anywhere.
He's gonna be there, but that's just the player right now.
We always bring up Greg Dortsch every single offseason and
it's just hasn't materialized.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
You don't have a hole in your argument of needing
a wide receiver. I just I think when you're looking
at the needs of this team, paired with where so
much of the quality is, I just it does not
seem realistic to me that at sixteen that's where the
Cardinals will go. Now, if you start looking on day two,
(17:10):
I would even say probably not in round two. I
would say probably round three. Let's say in this hypothetical
that Arizona goes offensive lineman at sixteen, how do you
not go defensive line or edge at forty seven? And
then on top of that, you could double up on
defense at seventy eight in round three. So I don't
disagree with you. It's just when you're looking at all
(17:32):
of the different pieces of this team and the draft
and the needs wide receiver is not something I'm gonna stand,
sit here and pound my fist on the table for
strongly at sixteen.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
It's the value of pick sixteen. And how do you
rank potential needs or wants? And yeah, you're right, wide
receiver is further down the list because yeah, it's a
line of scrimmage, it's edge rush, and then it's cornerback
for me, and then wide receiver. But again, depending on
how the board falls, and if someone you fall in
(18:06):
love with someone again, put it this way, I would
be shocked if a wide receiver is selected with the
sixteenth overall pick. But I can come back in here
that night with you or Paul or Darren or Zach
and have a conversation. Okay, I can see how this works.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yes, you can still find the excitement there. And I
think it's so intriguing thinking about all the factors that
go into the decisions being made by this front office.
And we're going to be able once to pick us
in in hindsight and kind of work backwards and see
what their thought process was. But there's a lot that
(18:44):
goes into it. I mean, you're not just looking at
tape and having the scouts talk to coaches and try
and get a feel for the type of player while
they are in school. It's the All Star Games, it's Combine,
it's the thirty visits. It's having to project whether or
not a production player in college is going to have
that same production in the NFL. Maybe not year one
(19:05):
or year two, but can you see that progression? What
about players who aren't playing in the SEC right? What
about players who aren't going up against the same type
of caliber of players as maybe one of the Power
five conferences? And how can you evaluate somebody's what's the
word I'm looking for there?
Speaker 1 (19:26):
The potential?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Yes, as I just completely blanked on it is having
to evaluate somebody's potential in the NFL that they didn't
see in college because they weren't going up against the
same type of caliber of players.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
And that's why the draft is such an inexact science
and money referred to to your point, the production versus
the potential as a challenge because what you did in college,
does that mean you're going to have success at the
pro level? No? Not necessarily. Did you struggle in college
or show flashes? But you have success and you're an
(20:00):
All pro in the NFL. Yeah, that's happened. Those that
tests really well at the scouting combine, those are just numbers.
You're in T shirts and shorts. You're a quarterback throwing
on air pro days. You're meant to look good. If
you look bad, that's a concern. So how do you
take all of that? And you'll always hear gms and
coaches say it always goes back to the film. Yet
(20:23):
we talk with Dame Brugler of the Athletic in Indianapolis
talking about production versus potential, and everyone points to Shamar Stewart,
the edge rusher out of Texas, A and M. He
has all of the measurables, tests really well, but the
production wasn't there a second and a half in each
of his three seasons. But there are some out there
(20:45):
draft analysts that love what he has, what he has
shown and project him to be an eight nine ten
SAC guy or a disruptor or someone who can affect
the quarterback. Like Jag likes to say, forget the sack numbers,
but can you consistently affect the pass rush or the
pass or now all of a sudden, is that the
(21:09):
pick or do you want someone who's been more consistent
in their production for a year or two in college.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
I think it's a preference of GMS. I think it's
a preference of the position and the pick number and
the player and all those things going in is is
what's going to make you take that risk? And Shamar
Stewart is a great example. Shadoor Sanders is another great example.
I think those are two players that you could argue
are probably all across the board for different teams. Mock
(21:38):
drafts right now that they're doing in the war room
of everybody probably has them slated to go somewhere kind
of different. That's what makes this draft a little bit
different than a year's past, and that all starts with
quarterback evaluation.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Of course, I'll give you another example along the offensive line.
Gray's Abel out of North Dakota State FCS, solid player,
button did not face the competition of an SEC or
a Big ten. Yet you hear from guys like Daniel Jeremiah,
who did mock Zabel to the Cardinals in his most
(22:12):
recent mock draft, and all of a sudden, it's okay, well,
what are you seeing on tape even though it was
North Dakota State and not in Alabama or a Georgia
to where all of a sudden you project Gray's able
to be a starting guard or a starting center or
someone along that offensive line. And again, it's all about
projection because no one knows even if you have the
(22:34):
number one overall pick. There is no such thing as
a can't miss prospect. Now we can throw out a
dump couple of different names like Andrew Luck was a
can't miss prospect, didn't win a Super Bowl though got
the clst to the playoffs. So there's no there's no
sure thing because if there was then one, this wouldn't
(22:56):
be any fun, right.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Look, it's it's a science to a certain extent, and
you're not gonna hit on every single player and every
risk that you take. And that is scene in every draft.
Every organization has their own list of players that you
stand on a table for and it doesn't end up
panning out the way that you had hoped. And that's
why these all these steps leading up to the draft
(23:19):
are just so crucial to try and get as much
information as you can. I think the top thirty visits
are so interesting in how teams supposedly use them a
little differently. Awesome for it did clarify that, yes they're
called top thirty, it's not necessarily the top thirty players.
Sometimes it's just players where you want to learn a
(23:39):
little bit more of them as you get to this
point in the process. Those combine interviews are only eighteen minutes.
That might not be enough. That doesn't necessarily mean the
Cardinals bring a player in that's one of the three
to six players they have mocked, possibly at sixteen or
forty seven by chance. Reportedly online, it seems like some
teams don't fully participate, right, They're not getting even close
(24:01):
to having thirty visits. Some teams it might be more
of a mind a mind trick game of Hey, I'm
gonna bring you in, but I'm gonna ask you a
lot of questions about your teammate that I'm not gonna
bring in, or things like that. So I do think
it's a little interesting how it appears that team's utilize
the thirty visits a little differently.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
How much is it a smoke screen? MANI looks at
what we look at as far as who's been reported
to have visited with different teams, and okay, well, then
all of a sudden, MANI thinks, well, why would be
doing that? And how much of that? Because no team
confirms a thirty visit until after the fact. So what's
been reported is that reported by the team, No, that's
(24:44):
by the agent.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Is the player posting on social media?
Speaker 1 (24:48):
And that's where you get more definitive? Okay, yes, the
player was really in the building. It's a fascinating game,
chess game, mind game, smoke screen if you will. As
far as are you bringing in a player because you
really like the player on film, you want to get
to know him. You hope he's available when you pick
(25:08):
at sixteen where the Cardinals are currently this season, or
is it well, we didn't get a chance at the
scouting combine scheduling wise, he wasn't available. We really want
to know, so you bring him in for that particular reason,
and then your reason is okay, well we like this
player a little bit, but probably not at sixteen or
forty seven. But he played with that wide receiver, and
(25:33):
we want to get to know a little bit more
intel on that potential wide receiver that we might like
at sixteen or forty seven.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Maybe these are our deeper discussions about picks between sixteen
and forty seven, picks seventeen to forty six on the
off chance that the Cardinals do make a trade in
some sense there right, Maybe that's what they're utilizing some
of these thirty visits for, is not just who they've
been talking about with the first pick at sixteen, but
maybe slide up or down the board. You want to
(26:02):
talk about mind games, though, I would love to know
the organization or the GM that awesome for it was
talking about when he had a smirk on his face
when I had asked him if, now that he's more
established as a general manager going into his third draft,
the phone conversations he has about potential traits, if they're
different in a'll know that he has some deeper connections
(26:23):
with gms around the league. And he had a smirk
when he was saying, no, you know, the conversations haven't changed,
per se but he has a better feel for when
he sees the area code or the organization name pop
up on the phone, and he knows whether or not
it's a conversation he will be able to take seriously,
or if it's going to be not so serious or
(26:43):
maybe even ridiculous I think was the word he used,
And I would love to know who he was envisioning
while he had that smirk on his face.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Yeah, ridiculous was the word. And would we ever get
money to divulge that at some point, maybe when he retires,
maybe when he is no longer the Cardinal general manager.
Based off his success, he decides to walk away. And
we had that one final interview. You get him in
studio Danny for a one on one and you go back, Hey,
twenty twenty five, you mentioned that there are certain caller
(27:11):
IDs where you're like, oh, yeah, this is this just
might be a waste of my time, or even better,
someone just could be having fun with Monty. He's on
the clock, the phone rings and you pick it up,
say hello, and it's like, Hey, what are you doing
Jeff for dinner? Or just like, you know, what are
you thinking about vacation in the off season? Well, your
off season plans just kind of break the ice a
little bit. But yeah, it's I'm now I'm surying to
(27:35):
think of different area codes and figuring out all right
three one ohero la area is you know, rams calling
up and saying, hey, what about this? And then there's
others just like I'm not even gonna bother.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Even gets you know, they're less neat at consent. Hey,
remember when we drafted Brent Fists last year, he's sure
you don't want to take an offensive lineman? The cover
we also drafted Jared Are you sure you don't want
to take an offensive lineman?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yeah? How much of that? And again, you have ten
minutes in the first round, five minutes in rounds two
and three? Correct? Is it five? I believe it's five
minutes belief, So I'm gonna look real quick because I
want to make sure I'm accurate here seven.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Minutes in round then it drops to five.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Rounds three and six five minutes, and then in the
round seven it drops to four. I think they tweaked
the numbers or the time per selection this year. So
but yeah, that you have you have ten minutes seems
like a lot of time. Yet at the same time
you're looking and trying to field a number of different
phone calls and making sure you get to picking on time,
because there have been teams where they miss their window,
(28:39):
and the Minnesota Vikings can tell you all about it.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
There's only seventeen players physically going to be in Green Bay,
so it seems like a lot of players are going
to be having watched parties at home.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Jalen Milroe accepted an invite, yet I can't get anyone
to say publicly or write anywhere that he is a
day one draft pick. Now some maybe just want the
experience of going to Green Bay this year and being
a part of that festivities. But then you're sitting there
(29:11):
and the Aaron Rodgers video will resurface if Milroe is
in there on day two and all of a sudden,
Aaron Rodgers is sitting there pick after pick after pick,
and Drew Rosenhaus once upon a time had to manufacture
a phone call to get and I believe I'm blanket
on the running back out of Miami, and it wasn't
(29:33):
Clinton Portos, but it's You're sitting there waiting for that
phone to ring, and all of a sudden, drews picks
up his own phones to call his player's phone to
get it to ring, just to kind of break the
tension a little bit. It's again, it's it's a fascinating
draft process. It's a fascinating three days worth of draft coverage,
(29:55):
which we'll have it all right here on Easycardinals dot
Com and a number of different Cardinals cover too. We're
gonna we're gonna put Danny to work, which we typically
do during the draft, and of course your one on
one interviews knock on would with the general manager and
perhaps the head coach as well.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
And then when the first round draft pick gets here,
he's well, big car wash of all the different media stops.
It's it's a long weekend, but it's fun.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
I believe though, just one first round draft pick this year,
I'm gonna go out. I'm gonna go out on a limb.
I'm gonna say that. And then all of a sudden,
I get a scenario where you get back into the ladder.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Hey, that's what That's what JG joked about with Moni
that he's telling him, Hey, just get rid of all
of our picks so we can have three to four
first rounders this year.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Yeah, and then just have no draft capital for the
next several.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Years, several several years.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Several several years. Anything else stand out from either what
Moni and jaj again, it's we do it every year.
Nothing really, I mean a lot gets said, but nothing
really gets said, and you're just kind of left to
figure out, all right, can you read between the lines
or what he meant to say was.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
This it's He was pretty straight up when he said
he's not gonna tell us what he's gonna do at sixteen.
He was pretty straight up when he said that his
phone has not rang yet with any sort of trade offers,
and I believe awesome for it, at least on those
two things for sure.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Early in the press he mentioned we quote, we have
our board set, and then he ended with saying we're
about ninety five percent done. That might have been more
with the pre draft prep. Like the board. I do
believe their board is done then ninety five percent meaning okay,
we still have to other some background checks, some mock drafts.
Are we going to raise or lower a guy maybe
(31:43):
a spot or two, But I do believe their players
that they like and have evaluated, that's not going to change.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
And maybe even that extra five percent of the quote
wiggle room has to do with what they think other
teams are going to do. Just to make sure they
are prepared for every scenario.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
And again, and it's gonna be a lot of fun.
We are one week removed from the twenty twenty five
NFL Draft, and again, still time to dissect, and still
time for maybe a couple more smoke screens coming up there.
Just be prepared, Danny for anything.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
I am always prepared for anything.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Craig, here's a question for you.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
I'm not prepared for that.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Although you are not eligible, I'll ask anyway, would you
like to win a Kyler Murray autographed football?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Dang it?
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Because I sure would.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Bird Gang.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Does it say I'm not eligible?
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Well, on this read, you've assume that on this read
it does not. I'm just gonna go out and say
you and I are not eligible to win as Cardinals
employees if you will. But for those that are not
Cardinals employees, it's the Arizona Cardinals podcast Sweepstakes. It is
(32:52):
open now through April twenty fourth. You can enter at
Azycardinals dot com forward slash listen to win. That's asy
See Cardinals dot com Forward slash listen to win, then
subscribe to Arizona Cardinals podcast on Apple Podcasts Spotify to
boost your chances to win again. That's Asycardinals dot Com
forward slash listen to win. I believe this is the
(33:14):
first ever sweepstakes we've ever had on Arizona Cardinals podcast.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
I love it exciting times.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Now we need, in addition to a Kyler Murray autograph football,
can we get Danny Sirek to autograph a football or
a microphone or something.
Speaker 4 (33:29):
I don't know that the demand is high enough for that.
I feel bad for the few autographs I have given.
Before I sign anything, I always tell them, look, you
are about to have this incredibly devalued.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Are you sure?
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Come on, it's happened a couple of times at training camp.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Correct, Yes, it has.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
All right, Well, we'll let Danny go autograph some merchandise
or memorabilia out there for all her fans when she
meets them. Come training camp out at State Farm Stadium
and again. And one week from Thursday is the first
round of the NFL Draft. If you want to be
a part of the official Arizona Cardinals Draft party at
State Farm Stadium next Thursday, April twenty fourth, at four pm,
(34:12):
go to Azycardinals dot com Forward Slash Draft Party to
get your digital tickets. Admission is free, Parking is free.
A lot of fun will be had for all ages
for all Cardinals fans as we get closer and closer
to when the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock. And
on that note, we will put a lit on this
edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by a Hundai, proud
(34:32):
partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to
our executive producer Jim on one Hundre, our associate producer
Cody Pincher. For Danny Sirek, I'm Craig Rayal Lou. We'll
talk to you next time here on Cardinals Cover two
We listened, so what did we hear? Welcome Bird Gang.
On today's show, Danny Surrek joins me. A week out
from the twenty twenty five NFL Draft, GM montiasin Ford
and head coach Jonathan Gannon met the media. We dissect
their pre draft press conference. It's Cardinals Cover two, Episode
eight seventy and it starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
POA Baker, What Heart? What rent? This guy's unbelievable?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again,
so more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Whow Here's Craig Griolo.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So are we sick of the pre draft talk yet
because we're almost done? Or Danny? Do you do enjoy
the talk, the chatter, the gissing, predicting, speculation, both both.
I do think you reach a point where, maybe in
February leading into the scouting combine, you do enjoy the talk.
(01:17):
Getting to know these draft prospects and looking at mock
drafts and the different takes and then all of a sudden,
you reach this point here a week out and you're like, okay,
let's just get to it already.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's waves.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
The combine is definitely a wave. And then you get
another wave in free agency, especially when you're a team
as active as the Cardinals were and addressing needs, big
needs for the team, and so you talk about the
acquisitions and how that transfers over to draft needs if
it changes anything at all.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
And now we're at the.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Point where it's like, Okay, I'm ready for the draft.
We're a week away, so that's great news. Well a
week in a day from recording this close enough to
a week.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Yeah. By the way, if you want, I want to
be a part of the first round and the spectacular
that is or the spectacle that is day one Thursday
April twenty fourth one or mind everyone, you can be
a parts of the draft party the official Arizona Cardinals
Draft Party at State Farm Stadium Thursday April twenty fourth,
four to nine pm and mission is free, Parking is free.
(02:21):
We do ask that you got Azycardinals dot com forward
slash Draft Party to register for digital tickets. Our colleague
Paul calvic am seeing the events Cardinal players, Cardinals cheerleaders
Big Red all will be in attendance, and yes, a
special post draft fireworks show following the conclusion of round one.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You had me at Paul Calvec. Not really, because I'll
be here in the building. If I didn't have work
obligations here, I would be there for Paul.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Funny, Paul does not get mentioned in the press release
for item. That's why I always throw it in every
single time.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You're a good friend.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Come to meet Paul. On Wednesday, we actually came here
and met with the general manager, the Austin Ford, and
the head coach, Jonathan Gannon about a thirty minutes pre
draft press conference. It's an annual ritual before we get
into what was said and maybe what was not said.
I just want to point this out to everyone that
might have been watching the stream or going back on
(03:15):
Easycardinals dot com and watching some of the comments. A
person's cell phone went off and many Austin Ford mentioned
that that's a fine and mentioned the reporter's first name
just happens to share the first name of myself. I
want to make sure it's very clear for everyone that
it was not my cell phone.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
I don't know Craig.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
I was sitting there at the same press conference, and
I cannot confirm nor deny that you are the Craig
he was referencing.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
That is true because you were in the first row
and I was in the third row. Okay, but it was.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Not to be determined.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
It was not myself cell phone. All right. Here we
are year three for Moni and JG going into the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft. Last year eleven picks going
into the draft, they made twelve selections. This year they
have six, one in each of the first five rounds
and then a seventh round pick. A little bit different though,
(04:11):
and I believe it was the first question asked Demani
this year compared to the two previous years, because year
one third overall, Year two fourth overall. Now here in
round one they've got a waits until pick sixteen. Now
it's where you want to be. In fact, you actually
want to be in the late twenties, if we're being
(04:31):
honest with ourselves. But it's the hard part now when
the draft is upon us, that you have to sit
and waits and you like certain players and they go
off the board, do you get a little anxious? Do
you hit the panic button. We've got to get trade
up to get our guy, or are you calm and
relaxed going no, We've got a half a dozen players
that we're comfortable with. We'll just wait to see who
(04:53):
falls to us.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
You have to be patient.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
You don't want to be nervous or anxious and start
making emotional decision rather than logical ones. Now awesome for
it does not seem to strike me as someone who
is making emotional decisions, especially with the sort of preparation
he and his scouting department in the front office, along
with the coaching stuff all do leading up to draft weekend.
(05:15):
It is gonna be a lot of sit around and wait.
Even if the Cardinals do end up making a trade
of some sort, that's not something that's going to happen
until the Cardinals would be on the clock or the
team they would trade with. And so when you're at sixteen,
I would imagine those serious conversations aren't going to start
occurring until probably around pick eleven or twelve. It's gonna
(05:39):
be closer to sixteen, especially because the first round it's
ten minutes when you're on the clock, so there's a
lot of time to have some phone conversations there, So
it is gonna be a lot of sit around and wait.
And while awesome Ford confirmed that their board is roughly
ninety five percent done, they're going to leave a little
wiggle room because you don't really know what's going to happen,
(05:59):
especially with the draft class this year. When you're looking
at the projections the top ten, it's not as solidifies
as it typically is in years past, which hindsight is
always twenty twenty. Given the first couple of years of
what this front office has wanted to do, kind of
turning the tide of things first two years to have
(06:21):
as many picks as they did, that's the time to
do it. That is the time to really rebuild from
the ground up when you're talking about performance on the field,
when you're talking about setting a new standard with the
culture and having buy and that comes from younger players.
So there's going to be a year in the first
three where you drop to half the amount of picks.
I would want it to go from two to three
(06:42):
because the Cardinals have such a strong foundation now and
that's because of the work and the amount of picks
that they have had, and that doesn't always guarantee that
the foundation's going to be set. The fact that they
had twelve picks and they got as many solid reps
from rookies last year as they did is very impressive.
So I'm not stressed about only having quote unquote only
(07:02):
having six picks because one, again, the foundation is set.
You're looking at the veteran pieces that have been brought
in with proven production throughout free agency, and truthfully, awesome
for it has proven that he is good in the draft.
He is drafting the right type of players, the right
type of people, and then you pair that with Jonathan
Gannon and his coaching staff and how they have gotten
(07:23):
the most out of these young players. I know you're
sitting at sixteen and that might not be a sexy
pick for fans, but you got to feel good about
what you have seen from this staff the.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
First two years.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
All twenty one picks in those first two drafts remain
on the roster, and that's unheard of. As you mentioned,
it is a difficult draft to predict this season. Outside
of maybe the top three, and maybe there's some there's
not really a consensus in the top three. So if
you don't have a lot of picks, and we were
(07:55):
in Indianapolis at the scouting combine and the amounts of
depth that they have at certain positions within this draft
sixteen is not a bad spot to be in because, yeah,
you might like different players, but every team is going
to have its own evaluation, and what you believe might
(08:15):
be a top three defensive player could be another team's
bottom three if you're looking at the top ten or whatever.
There's that much uncertainty and how do you evaluate what
you need as a team first and foremost what kind
of person you're bringing into this Cardinals locker room. That
was made very clear several different times on Wednesday. It's
(08:38):
the person first, then the player. Then what role do
we see that player within our system, whether it's offense
or defense.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
That's not lip surface when you look at the rookies
and the free agents that haven't brought into this building
with Austin Ford at the helm, so that is a
very real ranking of what they're looking for and play
is the person first and then the player and making
sure you're one not only going to be a good
player in this game, you're also going to be somebody
who isn't selfish. You're going to put the team above yourself,
(09:08):
because that's how ultimately you are going to win and
win on a consistent basis.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I think.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I think it's just it's very interesting when you're talking
about the draft and sixteen specifically, because not every team
is in a great position. Not every team necessarily at
sixteen would be in as good of a position as
Arizona is. When you're looking at what the needs of
(09:36):
this team are and where the depth is now from
draft analysts and experts, there isn't a ton of quote
unquote star power right but if you're going to look
at the positions that have the most of that in
terms of players that could come in and be a
starter for you right away, the top positions defensive line,
edge and offensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Not as much depth on.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
The O line. The good news for the cardinalson at
as all three of those positions are still in need.
The discussion has tweaked just a little bit given the
amount of attention that the defensive line in the edge
room has received in free agency, leaning the question of
does offensive line now take precedence because that depth is
not there the way it is for the other positions.
(10:19):
At maybe forty seven, their first pick in the second round.
I still think that defensive line and edge are very
much on the table, and I feel that way even
more so after hearing what Austin Fort had to say,
because when you look at the depth in those rooms,
not a lot of contracts pass twenty twenty six. Not
a lot of contracts of those have guaranteed money into
(10:40):
twenty twenty six, So things could change after this twenty
twenty five season. So if there's a year where you
are looking to add depth at a position that has
a lot of the quality in this draft, I am
all for striking while the iron is hot and taking
a defensive lineman or an edge sixteen.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Still, yes, the Cardinals added Josh Sweat, they re signed
Baron Browning, they added Dalvin Tomlinson, they have a young
Darius Robinson coming back. Justin Jones bowl All Nichols, you
resign LJ. Collier, Kalaias Campbell is back in the building.
That's a solid defensive front. Yet at the same time,
to your point, Okay, how many of those players are
(11:24):
signed long term contracts? How do those look beyond twenty
twenty five? Because the draft is not just about the now,
it's about the presence and the future. And then, as
Mani mentioned, injuries happen during the course of a season,
and who's to say the ten defensive lineman the Cardinals
currently have on the roster, or the seven outside linebackers,
(11:46):
what happens between now and September When you make your
final cuts, you know, you think about our gay how
many are you gonna keep? And I can name seven
defensive linemen, Well, chances are pretty good that not all
seven that everyone believes are going to be your week
one week one depth chart might not all be healthy
(12:07):
week one. Now, all of a sudden, you need that depth.
And that's I think that's why I'm in complete agreement
with you. Yes, the Cardinals are in position to where
at sixteen they can go any direction they want to
go offense defense. But to me, it goes back to
the line of scrimmage, whether that's O line or D line,
because of the depth and the uncertainty, and those are
(12:30):
high injury positions along that line of scrimmage, that anything
can change between now and that first game in September.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
When I had asked Awesome for it about that in
their joint press conference, of defensive line and edge are
two position rooms that are being projected to have not
only the depth, but the most star power and quality
of their other positions in this draft. And those are
also two position groups that have been addressed heavily in
free agency. And I the GM how that, if at all,
(13:02):
affects the philosophy at sixteen of it's not the same
type of need that we had before a couple of
weeks ago. And he said that they don't make a
specific position a priority in the first round per se
based on what they have done in free agency. So
they just care about good football players and good people.
(13:24):
So if they feel like at sixteen the right pick
for them to elevate this team and bring in competition
for the short term and the long term success is
on the defensive side of the ball, then that's what
they're going to do. I completely understand the argument though,
of offensive line at this point, do they feel strongly
and the projected starters right now for all five I'm
(13:46):
sure they would say yes. I could also understand why
people would maybe have question marks there, and when you're
talking about depth and injuries and the need of versatility there.
So it's a really intriguing conversation. Assuming that the Cardinals
even stay at sixteen because we know that is also
a possibility to not be the case. So I think
either way, if you go right now, defensive line edge
(14:08):
or offensive linemen at sixteen, I don't think there's a
wrong choice in that.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I can talk myself into cornerback. Sure, I can talk
myself into wide receiver even but it's.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Further along I can do that.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
It's further along down my list of priorities because you
can make the case certainly at cornerback you can never
have enough, and there's some uncertainty within that room right
now with some young players not quite proven themselves completely.
And then wide receiver, Yeah, you got Marvin Harrison junior,
but who after that do you really have one hundred
(14:42):
percent belief in moving forward? Yes, Michael Wilson is a
great possession receiver, but he's really taken that next step forward.
And then within this offense, the argument that I'm gonna
make against myself is, Okay, you've got Marvin, but Ally
McBride right now is your number one pass catcher. Don't
forget about James Connor. And yes, Kyler Murray is an
(15:05):
offensive weapon, So how much do you really need another
wide receiver, especially when you're talking about that sixteenth overall pick.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
I agree with you that something has to be elevated
from what we saw in the pass the game last year.
It was not consistent. And while I think it's great
to have the type of as Kyler Murray say, security
blanket and a tied end and Trey McBride and as
reliable as McBride is as a pass catcher, you drafted
Marvin Harrison Junior fourth overall, and I think it's a
(15:34):
strong argument to say you want him to be your
number one receiver and you need more out of him,
and therefore you need more out of the pieces around
him to help that. My follow up question to you is,
I don't disagree that you probably need help in that
wide receiver's room. Is that help at sixteen or are
you stretching there at that point?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
It depends on who's there and how they evaluate that
particular wide receiver. Is it a tall wide receiver, is
it someone who's got some Is it a wide receiver? Again,
whether that's sixteen or forty seven, if it's among your
first two days, is there a wide receiver out there
that can be that potential push Michael Wilson to be
(16:11):
that two or at least be a solid three, but
also have the ability to return punts or maybe even
push DJ Dallas as kickoff return because now all of
a sudden, if you are that second or third wide receiver,
you might not be getting as many touches, but your
value elevates because you're valuable to Jeff Rodgers, especially returning punts.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
And what are you doing with Greg Dortch.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Well, Greg Dortch technically right now, not on the roster
Dann He's only been tendered. I mean, he's not going anywhere.
He's gonna be there, but that's just the player right now.
We always bring up Greg Dortsch every single offseason and
it's just hasn't materialized.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
You don't have a hole in your argument of needing
a wide receiver. I just I think when you're looking
at the needs of this team, paired with where so
much of the quality is, I just it does not
seem realistic to me that at sixteen that's where the
Cardinals will go. Now, if you start looking on day two,
(17:10):
I would even say probably not in round two. I
would say probably round three. Let's say in this hypothetical
that Arizona goes offensive lineman at sixteen, how do you
not go defensive line or edge at forty seven? And
then on top of that, you could double up on
defense at seventy eight in round three. So I don't
disagree with you. It's just when you're looking at all
(17:32):
of the different pieces of this team and the draft
and the needs wide receiver is not something I'm gonna stand,
sit here and pound my fist on the table for
strongly at sixteen.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
It's the value of pick sixteen. And how do you
rank potential needs or wants? And yeah, you're right, wide
receiver is further down the list because yeah, it's a
line of scrimmage, it's edge rush, and then it's cornerback
for me, and then wide receiver. But again, depending on
how the board falls, and if someone you fall in
(18:06):
love with someone again, put it this way, I would
be shocked if a wide receiver is selected with the
sixteenth overall pick. But I can come back in here
that night with you or Paul or Darren or Zach
and have a conversation. Okay, I can see how this works.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yes, you can still find the excitement there. And I
think it's so intriguing thinking about all the factors that
go into the decisions being made by this front office.
And we're going to be able once to pick us
in in hindsight and kind of work backwards and see
what their thought process was. But there's a lot that
(18:44):
goes into it. I mean, you're not just looking at
tape and having the scouts talk to coaches and try
and get a feel for the type of player while
they are in school. It's the All Star Games, it's Combine,
it's the thirty visits. It's having to project whether or
not a production player in college is going to have
that same production in the NFL. Maybe not year one
(19:05):
or year two, but can you see that progression? What
about players who aren't playing in the SEC right? What
about players who aren't going up against the same type
of caliber of players as maybe one of the Power
five conferences? And how can you evaluate somebody's what's the
word I'm looking for there?
Speaker 1 (19:26):
The potential?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Yes, as I just completely blanked on it is having
to evaluate somebody's potential in the NFL that they didn't
see in college because they weren't going up against the
same type of caliber of players.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
And that's why the draft is such an inexact science
and money referred to to your point, the production versus
the potential as a challenge because what you did in college,
does that mean you're going to have success at the
pro level? No? Not necessarily. Did you struggle in college
or show flashes? But you have success and you're an
(20:00):
All pro in the NFL. Yeah, that's happened. Those that
tests really well at the scouting combine, those are just numbers.
You're in T shirts and shorts. You're a quarterback throwing
on air pro days. You're meant to look good. If
you look bad, that's a concern. So how do you
take all of that? And you'll always hear gms and
coaches say it always goes back to the film. Yet
(20:23):
we talk with Dame Brugler of the Athletic in Indianapolis
talking about production versus potential, and everyone points to Shamar Stewart,
the edge rusher out of Texas, A and M. He
has all of the measurables, tests really well, but the
production wasn't there a second and a half in each
of his three seasons. But there are some out there
(20:45):
draft analysts that love what he has, what he has
shown and project him to be an eight nine ten
SAC guy or a disruptor or someone who can affect
the quarterback. Like Jag likes to say, forget the sack numbers,
but can you consistently affect the pass rush or the
pass or now all of a sudden, is that the
(21:09):
pick or do you want someone who's been more consistent
in their production for a year or two in college.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
I think it's a preference of GMS. I think it's
a preference of the position and the pick number and
the player and all those things going in is is
what's going to make you take that risk? And Shamar
Stewart is a great example. Shadoor Sanders is another great example.
I think those are two players that you could argue
are probably all across the board for different teams. Mock
(21:38):
drafts right now that they're doing in the war room
of everybody probably has them slated to go somewhere kind
of different. That's what makes this draft a little bit
different than a year's past, and that all starts with
quarterback evaluation.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Of course, I'll give you another example along the offensive line.
Gray's Abel out of North Dakota State FCS, solid player,
button did not face the competition of an SEC or
a Big ten. Yet you hear from guys like Daniel Jeremiah,
who did mock Zabel to the Cardinals in his most
(22:12):
recent mock draft, and all of a sudden, it's okay, well,
what are you seeing on tape even though it was
North Dakota State and not in Alabama or a Georgia
to where all of a sudden you project Gray's able
to be a starting guard or a starting center or
someone along that offensive line. And again, it's all about
projection because no one knows even if you have the
(22:34):
number one overall pick. There is no such thing as
a can't miss prospect. Now we can throw out a
dump couple of different names like Andrew Luck was a
can't miss prospect, didn't win a Super Bowl though got
the clst to the playoffs. So there's no there's no
sure thing because if there was then one, this wouldn't
(22:56):
be any fun, right.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Look, it's it's a science to a certain extent, and
you're not gonna hit on every single player and every
risk that you take. And that is scene in every draft.
Every organization has their own list of players that you
stand on a table for and it doesn't end up
panning out the way that you had hoped. And that's
why these all these steps leading up to the draft
(23:19):
are just so crucial to try and get as much
information as you can. I think the top thirty visits
are so interesting in how teams supposedly use them a
little differently. Awesome for it did clarify that, yes they're
called top thirty, it's not necessarily the top thirty players.
Sometimes it's just players where you want to learn a
(23:39):
little bit more of them as you get to this
point in the process. Those combine interviews are only eighteen minutes.
That might not be enough. That doesn't necessarily mean the
Cardinals bring a player in that's one of the three
to six players they have mocked, possibly at sixteen or
forty seven by chance. Reportedly online, it seems like some
teams don't fully participate, right, They're not getting even close
(24:01):
to having thirty visits. Some teams it might be more
of a mind a mind trick game of Hey, I'm
gonna bring you in, but I'm gonna ask you a
lot of questions about your teammate that I'm not gonna
bring in, or things like that. So I do think
it's a little interesting how it appears that team's utilize
the thirty visits a little differently.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
How much is it a smoke screen? MANI looks at
what we look at as far as who's been reported
to have visited with different teams, and okay, well, then
all of a sudden, MANI thinks, well, why would be
doing that? And how much of that? Because no team
confirms a thirty visit until after the fact. So what's
been reported is that reported by the team, No, that's
(24:44):
by the agent.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Is the player posting on social media?
Speaker 1 (24:48):
And that's where you get more definitive? Okay, yes, the
player was really in the building. It's a fascinating game,
chess game, mind game, smoke screen if you will. As
far as are you bringing in a player because you
really like the player on film, you want to get
to know him. You hope he's available when you pick
(25:08):
at sixteen where the Cardinals are currently this season, or
is it well, we didn't get a chance at the
scouting combine scheduling wise, he wasn't available. We really want
to know, so you bring him in for that particular reason,
and then your reason is okay, well we like this
player a little bit, but probably not at sixteen or
forty seven. But he played with that wide receiver, and
(25:33):
we want to get to know a little bit more
intel on that potential wide receiver that we might like
at sixteen or forty seven.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Maybe these are our deeper discussions about picks between sixteen
and forty seven, picks seventeen to forty six on the
off chance that the Cardinals do make a trade in
some sense there right, Maybe that's what they're utilizing some
of these thirty visits for, is not just who they've
been talking about with the first pick at sixteen, but
maybe slide up or down the board. You want to
(26:02):
talk about mind games, though, I would love to know
the organization or the GM that awesome for it was
talking about when he had a smirk on his face
when I had asked him if, now that he's more
established as a general manager going into his third draft,
the phone conversations he has about potential traits, if they're
different in a'll know that he has some deeper connections
(26:23):
with gms around the league. And he had a smirk
when he was saying, no, you know, the conversations haven't changed,
per se but he has a better feel for when
he sees the area code or the organization name pop
up on the phone, and he knows whether or not
it's a conversation he will be able to take seriously,
or if it's going to be not so serious or
(26:43):
maybe even ridiculous I think was the word he used,
And I would love to know who he was envisioning
while he had that smirk on his face.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Yeah, ridiculous was the word. And would we ever get
money to divulge that at some point, maybe when he retires,
maybe when he is no longer the Cardinal general manager.
Based off his success, he decides to walk away. And
we had that one final interview. You get him in
studio Danny for a one on one and you go back, Hey,
twenty twenty five, you mentioned that there are certain caller
(27:11):
IDs where you're like, oh, yeah, this is this just
might be a waste of my time, or even better,
someone just could be having fun with Monty. He's on
the clock, the phone rings and you pick it up,
say hello, and it's like, Hey, what are you doing
Jeff for dinner? Or just like, you know, what are
you thinking about vacation in the off season? Well, your
off season plans just kind of break the ice a
little bit. But yeah, it's I'm now I'm surying to
(27:35):
think of different area codes and figuring out all right
three one ohero la area is you know, rams calling
up and saying, hey, what about this? And then there's
others just like I'm not even gonna bother.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Even gets you know, they're less neat at consent. Hey,
remember when we drafted Brent Fists last year, he's sure
you don't want to take an offensive lineman? The cover
we also drafted Jared Are you sure you don't want
to take an offensive lineman?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yeah? How much of that? And again, you have ten
minutes in the first round, five minutes in rounds two
and three? Correct? Is it five? I believe it's five
minutes belief, So I'm gonna look real quick because I
want to make sure I'm accurate here seven.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Minutes in round then it drops to five.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Rounds three and six five minutes, and then in the
round seven it drops to four. I think they tweaked
the numbers or the time per selection this year. So
but yeah, that you have you have ten minutes seems
like a lot of time. Yet at the same time
you're looking and trying to field a number of different
phone calls and making sure you get to picking on time,
because there have been teams where they miss their window,
(28:39):
and the Minnesota Vikings can tell you all about it.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
There's only seventeen players physically going to be in Green Bay,
so it seems like a lot of players are going
to be having watched parties at home.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Jalen Milroe accepted an invite, yet I can't get anyone
to say publicly or write anywhere that he is a
day one draft pick. Now some maybe just want the
experience of going to Green Bay this year and being
a part of that festivities. But then you're sitting there
(29:11):
and the Aaron Rodgers video will resurface if Milroe is
in there on day two and all of a sudden,
Aaron Rodgers is sitting there pick after pick after pick,
and Drew Rosenhaus once upon a time had to manufacture
a phone call to get and I believe I'm blanket
on the running back out of Miami, and it wasn't
(29:33):
Clinton Portos, but it's You're sitting there waiting for that
phone to ring, and all of a sudden, drews picks
up his own phones to call his player's phone to
get it to ring, just to kind of break the
tension a little bit. It's again, it's it's a fascinating
draft process. It's a fascinating three days worth of draft coverage,
(29:55):
which we'll have it all right here on Easycardinals dot
Com and a number of different Cardinals cover too. We're
gonna we're gonna put Danny to work, which we typically
do during the draft, and of course your one on
one interviews knock on would with the general manager and
perhaps the head coach as well.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
And then when the first round draft pick gets here,
he's well, big car wash of all the different media stops.
It's it's a long weekend, but it's fun.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
I believe though, just one first round draft pick this year,
I'm gonna go out. I'm gonna go out on a limb.
I'm gonna say that. And then all of a sudden,
I get a scenario where you get back into the ladder.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Hey, that's what That's what JG joked about with Moni
that he's telling him, Hey, just get rid of all
of our picks so we can have three to four
first rounders this year.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Yeah, and then just have no draft capital for the
next several.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Years, several several years.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Several several years. Anything else stand out from either what
Moni and jaj again, it's we do it every year.
Nothing really, I mean a lot gets said, but nothing
really gets said, and you're just kind of left to
figure out, all right, can you read between the lines
or what he meant to say was.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
This it's He was pretty straight up when he said
he's not gonna tell us what he's gonna do at sixteen.
He was pretty straight up when he said that his
phone has not rang yet with any sort of trade offers,
and I believe awesome for it, at least on those
two things for sure.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Early in the press he mentioned we quote, we have
our board set, and then he ended with saying we're
about ninety five percent done. That might have been more
with the pre draft prep. Like the board. I do
believe their board is done then ninety five percent meaning okay,
we still have to other some background checks, some mock drafts.
Are we going to raise or lower a guy maybe
(31:43):
a spot or two, But I do believe their players
that they like and have evaluated, that's not going to change.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
And maybe even that extra five percent of the quote
wiggle room has to do with what they think other
teams are going to do. Just to make sure they
are prepared for every scenario.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
And again, and it's gonna be a lot of fun.
We are one week removed from the twenty twenty five
NFL Draft, and again, still time to dissect, and still
time for maybe a couple more smoke screens coming up there.
Just be prepared, Danny for anything.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
I am always prepared for anything.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Craig, here's a question for you.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
I'm not prepared for that.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Although you are not eligible, I'll ask anyway, would you
like to win a Kyler Murray autographed football?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Dang it?
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Because I sure would.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Bird Gang.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Does it say I'm not eligible?
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Well, on this read, you've assume that on this read
it does not. I'm just gonna go out and say
you and I are not eligible to win as Cardinals
employees if you will. But for those that are not
Cardinals employees, it's the Arizona Cardinals podcast Sweepstakes. It is
(32:52):
open now through April twenty fourth. You can enter at
Azycardinals dot com forward slash listen to win. That's asy
See Cardinals dot com Forward slash listen to win, then
subscribe to Arizona Cardinals podcast on Apple Podcasts Spotify to
boost your chances to win again. That's Asycardinals dot Com
forward slash listen to win. I believe this is the
(33:14):
first ever sweepstakes we've ever had on Arizona Cardinals podcast.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
I love it exciting times.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Now we need, in addition to a Kyler Murray autograph football,
can we get Danny Sirek to autograph a football or
a microphone or something.
Speaker 4 (33:29):
I don't know that the demand is high enough for that.
I feel bad for the few autographs I have given.
Before I sign anything, I always tell them, look, you
are about to have this incredibly devalued.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Are you sure?
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Come on, it's happened a couple of times at training camp.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Correct, Yes, it has.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
All right, Well, we'll let Danny go autograph some merchandise
or memorabilia out there for all her fans when she
meets them. Come training camp out at State Farm Stadium
and again. And one week from Thursday is the first
round of the NFL Draft. If you want to be
a part of the official Arizona Cardinals Draft party at
State Farm Stadium next Thursday, April twenty fourth, at four pm,
(34:12):
go to Azycardinals dot com Forward Slash Draft Party to
get your digital tickets. Admission is free, Parking is free.
A lot of fun will be had for all ages
for all Cardinals fans as we get closer and closer
to when the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock. And
on that note, we will put a lit on this
edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by a Hundai, proud
(34:32):
partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to
our executive producer Jim on one Hundre, our associate producer
Cody Pincher. For Danny Sirek, I'm Craig Rayal Lou. We'll
talk to you next time here on Cardinals Cover two
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