The Inside the Draft podcast returns in 2025, bringing you the top NFL Draft insiders every week leading up to the NFL Draft in late April. This season, we’ll dive into the Colts’ biggest draft needs, key positional prospects, and round one predictions. In the first episode, Nick Baumgardner, Senior NFL Draft Analyst for The Athletic, breaks down the Colts' key draft needs, tight end depth, and potential defensive targets. Then, Kyle Crabbs, NFL Draft lead for The 33rd Team and host of the Locked on Scouting podcast, analyzes the top quarterbacks, the running back depth the Colts could consider, and the most NFL-ready defensive prospects in this class.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Inside the Draft, a weekly preview of the
upcoming NFL Draft with insiders from around the country.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to the Inside the Draft podcast here on the
Colts Audio Network. I'm Matt Taylor, coming to you from
the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio Studio, and we are
back at it here in twenty twenty five with our
Inside the Draft series in the months of March and
April leading you up to the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
(00:30):
The draft is set to start Thursday, April twenty fourth,
with Round one and then run until Saturday, the twenty
six with rounds four through seven. On Day three, the
Colts hold seven picks in the seven round draft, including
the fourteenth overall pick in round number one. Coming off
an eight to nine season and missing out on the playoffs,
(00:51):
the Colts have a handful of big draft needs like
every team in the NFL, and this weekly series is
here to discuss those needs, talk about the top prospects
in the draft and the depth at key positions. And
today we have a pair of great guests that we've
chatted with the last couple of weeks at the NFL
Combine up first to chat with Draft insider Nick Baumgardner
(01:12):
from The Athletic. He'll talk about the Colts' biggest draft needs,
the tight end depth in this draft class, and where
the Colts could target their draft efforts on the defensive
side of the ball. And then we'll also hear from
Kyle Krabs, the NFL draft lead for the thirty third
team and the host of the Locked On Scouting podcast.
Kyle is a really good in the no draft expert.
(01:33):
He breaks down the top quarterbacks, the running back depth
of the Colts could potentially bring in to back up
Jonathan Taylor, and the most NFL ready prospects on defense
in this class. So let's get it going here. This
is all things NFL draft on Inside the Draft, the
first of mini leading into late April, and we start
first with Nick Baumgardner from The Combine last week as
(01:55):
he leads off with his top draft needs for the
Colts coming off an eight to nine twenty twenty four campaign.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Really does feel like they need a lot, but it
really does feel like that tight end spot to me,
I just keep going back to that, and it's not
just because you know, for a lot of reasons. Number one,
I think Richardson it would help him, you know, immeasurably
to have somebody like that, a reliable target that you
can go to, that can keep the change moving. It's
the same conversation that we end up having with like
Caleb Williams in Chicago, like they need to learn how
to value possessions the young quarterbacks and having a tight
(02:25):
end that can really run routes and be a three
down threat. It's important. But more than that, this is
a great, great tight end class, really really good. One
of the best ones in a long time. Stacks up
with the one from a few years ago that people
you know called like the La parter one with all
those guys and you know, Theol Warrenn and Colson Lovelin,
those two guys. I don't know if they'll make it
to the Colts, that's my one question. I don't know
if they have to move up, But like that's my
spot where I look at for them.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Is it still I mean, even with it being an
exceptional tight end draft class, it's is it still a
good idea good practice to draft a tight end in
the first round considering Yeah, you know, positional value, if
you will, historically and traditionally and based on what we've
come to understand about the draft.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, I think it depends on the team. It depends
on what you're doing, It depends on what you you know,
what your makeup is, where you're at in your development,
where you're at with everything. I don't think it's a
problem if you like, if the guy is a you know, elite,
elite process difference maker, Yeah, then I think that that's
more than fair in this draft. Warren and Loveland are
arguably top ten players in this draft, right, So they're
both for sure first round picks.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Both would be absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Fair for the cold Star at fourteen whatever at fourteen, right, Yeah,
but you know they might have to move up. One
of them might be gone if they had a preference.
So it's not going to shock me if both those
guys are off the board by twenty. But again, later
in the draft, there's guys, you know, Elijah Royal from Miami.
There's some really fun, you know options in this draft
that can do a lot of stuff. It's you know,
tight ends, a three down player run game pass, and
(03:43):
it helps so much. I feel like that's the one
spot I get the running back hesitation, but tight ends.
Sometimes I'm like people overthink it, Tawk Bowers look at him.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
At the end of the day, pass catcher right regardless
of receiver or wide receiver.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Right now, I know we're going to dive into other positions.
My final thing here on the tight ends, you talk
about the depth, and clearly you talk about Warren Loveland
there at the top of that. With it being a
deep position group, how important though, is it to get
right the top of that position group, Like if you
have an option to get even though you can get
(04:13):
really good quality day two, day three, if you can
get the top end of that, how much of the gap.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Is it in this class? I think it's sizable.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And it says that because it's going to sound like it's,
you know, downgrading the guys underneath of it, because not.
There's a lot of guys in this draft that are
going to start and be starters and solid tight ends.
But at the top here Tyler, Warren and Loveland are
you know guys, they're they're in the Bowers cut. They're
not as good as brock Powers. He was a unicorn
and there's not going to be another one of him
for a while. But those two guys, and you know,
(04:41):
Warren physically is close to Brock Powers and Loveland is
about as good a route runner, so like he does
everything they do some things that are very very elite.
So I think that in this draft you'd want to
do that. You'd want to get on top of that
a little bit because you would be giving up something,
you know, in terms of three on value lait.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Would Warren be better than Brock Bowers in the running game,
because that's really important bolts.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I think he would be. It'd be close.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I think with Warren is the one guy in this
class that has the ability to just run a linebacker
over like there's Lovelin doesn't do that.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You know, that's the one thing with him that you know.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Teams are a little bit Schemeishan because he's a little
lighter and not as physical. He plays hard all this,
but Warren is the one guy that can line up,
knock a three tech off and then climb up to
a linebacker and just run right through him, like.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It doesn't happen every play.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
But I do think with the with the offensive Colts
run everything they do with stiking everything else, I think
he would be a great.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Great fit for everything they do.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Perfect that's Nick Bumgardner with that's NFL Draft Insider from
the Athletic And as we sit here and talk right now,
the Colts have they have decisions to make along the
offensive line, right Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and then Braden Smith.
There's still some uncertainty there. So last year I thought
they drafted well Tanner Bordolini and Matt Gonzalzez. Those guys
could have bigger roles for the upcoming season. And if
(05:50):
that comes to fruition, they need more a depth along
the offensive line. So how many plug and play offensive
linemen are there at the top of the draft.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
It's you know, this is not the best.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Last year's tackle class was really really good, and we
talked about that, like if you needed a tackle, you
should have.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Done it last year kind of thing. Tackle thins out
pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
There's a lot of question marks after you know, Will
Campbell is the best one clearly. After that, it starts
to get you know, we get into guys like Josh
Simmons at Ohio State who flashed and looked elite until
he got hurt, and then he gets hurt.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You know, Arman Membu, the kid from.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Massoos a guard slash tackle Josh Connery is super athletic
and you know, really good, but also like sloppy and
you know, can make mistakes.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Every tackle.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I feel like just about except for Will Campbell in
this class has something that you're kind of like, you know,
we'll see.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
But those guys you just mentioned, those are Day two guys.
Those are probably gonna go Day one.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
They're gonna probably be in the conversation for round one
just because so many teams they're not gonna let him slide,
you know, I mean it's not they're not gonna fall
that far.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
Now, that kind of brings me to my next point.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Typically, you see the influx of those premier positions. Tackle
is always one of those receivers, edge rusher, quarterbacks, and
that kind of brings some of that other top end
talent that maybe is not those impact spots kind of
come down. So when you look at those positions, which
are going to go high, they always do. Who are
some guys you're kind of looking like laid into the
(07:06):
first into the second that are probably first round grades
that might still be available.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, I think there's some running backs.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
This is a great I mean, it's this is the
anti positional value draft really because exactly it's tight end,
running back in lineback.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I mean it feels like.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
It's nineteen ninety four, does it really does?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Teams are running the ball again too, and there's you know,
no quarterbacks, no receivers. We have running backs, tight ends
of lines and linebacker and yeah, yeah, So I do
think there's a lot of really good running backs right
there at the bottom, like Caleb Johnson, the kid from
Iowa is really really good. Omarion Hampton some people have
him in the first round too, So like you know,
you get all the way down to Judkins at Ohio State,
(07:41):
Treva and Henderson at Ohio State. You know, tight end,
you got Mason Taylor that he's like twenty years old,
the kids from LSU who was really really good. These
are all day.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
One, gonna contribute, gonna start, gonna give something to you
right away.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
It's just like do you want to do that?
Speaker 1 (07:55):
And so I think that teams at the bottom of
the first round, and if you're the top of the second,
you could really find some value here.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Now give me the difference between Shador and cam Ward.
I mean those are kind of the two polarizing quarterbacks.
Where do you have them graded and as far as
that drop off after those two, are there any other
starters in this class?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So Ward's my one, and simply I think it's awful close.
And I think it's because I think Ward's ceiling for
me is higher. I think he's a better athlete, and
I think the improvement track with him. Basically, if you
go back, you know, he was a wing t high
school quarterback, never threw the ball, was a you know,
went to incarnate word right, had one offer from the
dude who recruited Mahomes.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Matter of fact is what it was.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I was the head coach now, so he's got all
of the raw stuff, and he improved every year as
he went along.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
So I like that.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I think that track can hold for him, though he
needs some more time a little bit. I think Sanders
is actually probably more ready to go, but I don't
know if the he's more like Bo Nicks. I really
feel like he's a lot like Bo Nicks. Okay, smart player,
knows where we put the football. I think if he's
a round good people, it can be workable, but I'm
not sure it'll ever be whoa you know Do or
Cam could be. But it's also like a really big
(08:58):
question marker on. Then after that, it's mostly high end
backups who maybe have a chance, you know, like mill
Row need some time. Maybe somebody likes Cayl McCord, who's
throwing the ball really well. You know, that's winter so far,
so we'll see. But it's there's a lot of teams
that need quarterbacks too, right right, So I think a
lot are gonna go.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
And the Cults are sort of in that boat in
that they want to bring in competition for Anthony Richardson
and Chris Ballard's on record saying we're gonna explore all
avenues to make that happen, whether it's free agency or
trade or the draft. If it's the draft, I mean
you mentioned a handful of guys. I mean, like, is
youers in that conversation? Would Will Howard be? Is that
(09:33):
is that a good move? Day two, day three? Potentially?
Speaker 1 (09:36):
I don't like either of those guys on dates. Guys
I would have ahead of them. Tyler Shuck, the kid
from Louisville that he doesn't get talk about a lot.
He's older, but he's big, and he's really acurate. He
don't got the one season there, but he's really sharp
McCord Milroe due to his athleticism I think is in
that conversation as well yours. You know, he's gonna throw
here and he's gonna work out, and I think that's great.
I think he's one of the only guys that's not
(09:57):
afraid to do any things. I could see yours being
a guy that somebody falls in love with and likes
in that day two, like in that Hendon Hooker range
where he went. Now, I think that's smart for a
team like the Colts draft an older guy who's played
a lot of football, like an Ewers or Tyler Shock,
something like that. Yeah, bring him in here, and you
know that kid could probably help Anthony if nothing else
but to push Anthony though, right that the maturity level
(10:20):
of the work ethic. If you can get a kid
that knows what they're doing, it's played a lot of
ball in winning situations, I think that would help because
that's the one thing that Richardson just does not have, right,
He's no frame of reference for it.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Right, And why is the tight end or not the
tight end, but the wide receiver depth?
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Why is it different this year? Yeah, it's weird.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
We always understood there.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We were accustomed to knowing that that faucet was just
never going to turn off, and.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
This year it's still on.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
But there's a little bit of a drip if you
it's weird because like in two years here, we're gonna
have like the best of all time, Like it's going
to be you know that kid, you know, jeremih Smith
Ohio State, Ryan Williams from Alabama, it's gonna be insane.
So like that thing, it's been, it ebbs and flows,
it really does. I think that it a lot of
times you see a bunch of juniors go. You know,
COVID changed some of that, but NIL has changed more
(11:04):
of that. Guys are going back, they're getting paid NFL
ready receivers are going back and getting paid.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
So it's spread it out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
But I do think that there's still there's still a
lot of guys in this class that you could, you know,
find and help out like a Mecca. Amuka is the
real deal, right, He's very, very good. And that's a
guy that if you took him in the Tough fifteen,
I wouldn't look at you sideways like he's a really.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Good player, and I mean you brought him up.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
I mean, is it just because the guys he's played around,
he hasn't been able to highlight to be like I
am the guy when you talk about Jeremiah Smith and
we know what Marvin Harris. I mean, those two guys
have been around him. It's not really his fault, no,
it's he.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Is the most quarterback friendly receiver in the Like I
compare him to I'marros Saint Brown. That's what he is
for me in this dret for lad McConkey, who went
to Chargers last year. Like he's one of the best
spatial aware. You know, he just gets open, makes plays,
nose where he's going, is dependable, you know, comes back
to the football, will block, We'll do all the stuff.
And I think that that's the thing with the Mecca.
(12:00):
He's the guy like I like. And it's like college recruiting.
If you're a fan of a college team that gets
a commit when he's a sophomore and then everybody forgets
about him in high school.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
You know, he's been around so long we forgot about him.
That's him.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
He's just been so consistent, right and boring to a degree,
you know that. But I think NFL teams are going
to abolute love him.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Going back to the Colt tangle, you know, they're their
top two picks last year in Liatu Latu and ad
Mitchell kind of up and down seasons.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
I think more for Mitchell it was.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
You know, kind of more of a you know, trying
to figure out how to kind of work his way
into being a professional. Right, where did you have them
last year and what are your expectations for them in
year two?
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I like Mitchell a lot, and I think that that's
about what we expected that season that he had. You know,
it was going to take some time for him to
grow into and I think he kind.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Of admitted that.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I think he was going to open about that when
the seasons, which is really freshing to see.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
When it started. I liked him a lot. He's a
great athlete.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
It's I like this the fits with the offense at
the Colts too, you know, run and everything else.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
You got to have the patient like that.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
You got to be patient with guys like that because
it's going to take him minute receivers. Can he either
be right out of the box right to go or
they will take a couple of years and then we'll
see what happens, but you really got to ride it
out with some of those. So I mean that's what
lat too. Is a tough one. I didn't have him
as high as where the Colts took him, but I
know why they did it because he was the most
polished rusher in the class.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
He had all.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
You know, he's got a ton of moves, he knows
what he's doing. He's a sharp guy. I don't think
he'll ever be an overwhelming like whoa you know, presence,
but I think he'll be a solid player for a
long time. And you know, is that enough? You know,
I don't know at that spot where they got him,
I don't know. The athleticism there for me is a
little bit lacking maybe, but you know he gets it done,
you know sometimes too, So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
That's Nick mount Gardner, NFL Draft insider from the athletic
final couple of things the Tennessee Titans. Yeah he will
lemis draft a quarterback, draft a defensive end.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Trade the pick? What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (13:42):
What are we doing?
Speaker 5 (13:42):
As right?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
I would try to trade the pick, but I don't
think they're gonna it's gonna be hard. I would I
would draft Abdul Carter at one and take a quarterback
in the second round and let him work with Levis
and then next year because you're gonna be bad again,
they're gonna be terrible again. Right, So next year, if
you want to go and get one of these to
Drew Aller or one of these guys that comes out,
go for it.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
But not now.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I mean, the Titans just can't cam Ward at one
they already have if Levis they can't. It's the same
kind of thing, you know, we don't know yet, and
we don't really know what levis.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Where does this rank on worst years to have the top?
Speaker 1 (14:14):
It's not good. It's not good. It's it's up there,
you know, like a couple of years ago. I feel
like when there was no quarterbacks in the.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Pick at year. It's not that bad, but it's it's
not easy.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
The Browns, I think you're in the same spot, right
Like Carter and Travis Hunter are elite players.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
But are there gonna be Is there gonna be aybe
that wants to vote for them?
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I don't know, And I don't think anybody's gonna want
to go up for one of these quarterbacks. I just don't,
you know, We'll see, but I'd be surprised.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
With the NFL being what it is.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
How difficult is that because it's a what have you
done for me lately?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
You can't wait around? I mean, how.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Difficult is that? Because insanely tarpole quarterback play.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
You know, for the Titans, it's a bad year, but
you know they may not have the first overall pick
next year. It could be you know, we're treating three
first round picks to get this sensational guy.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
So I mean, how difficult really is that?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I think it just speaks to It is insanely difficult,
but it speaks to your coaching staff and your consistency
with your quarterback has to be the biggest. You have
to be able to ride the waves with him and
be okay when he has struggles like the Colts are
going through right now with Richardson. You've got to be
able to just understand when you drafted him, you knew
that this was going to be a change, So you've
got to dig in and go through it with him.
(15:16):
And I think that's really the like you said, the
win for me lately? Like what have you done? It's
so hard to fight against that, but you absolutely have
to at that position, there's no choice. So I'm hopeful.
And because we've seen Bryce Young got better, maybe Anthony
will get better. After sitting down, we've seen some of this.
Maybe maybe that'll change some people's minds.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Yeah, what have you done for me lately?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Nick?
Speaker 2 (15:33):
You've done a lot. I appreciate you. Man the Pride
of Van Arbor, Michigan. Nick Baumgardner, NFL Draft Insider from
the Athletic.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
I know you're a big Wolfraine fan written.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
You've written some books about the program.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Hype it up.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Tell I've got Mountaintop, the story of the ninety seven
Michigan Charles Woodson's team the year won the Heutsman Dr Redles. Yeah,
we spent like thirty hours with Lloyd. I wrote up
with Mark Snyder. It was a great book, great.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
And I got another one coming out to the program
through Triump'll be on the Fall.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
So it's like a history book with the whole Okay, that.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
One, No Home more Apps is not in that one,
but we got really the one. We got a lot
of Rick Leach, a lot of Jim Harball, a lot
of that good stuff. So a lot of eighties and
all that good stuff in Thereck yeah, man. Jammie Morris
wrote the forward, you don't love Jamie's my guy? Answer absolutely,
And so you drove down rights and a half hours.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
I got to ask you your favorite aspect of Indianapolis
in terms of the combine.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
This is the best convention center city in maybe the world,
Like I think I always say that in the country
for sure, Like they have more hotels and restaurants and
areas to walk around in like three blocks everywhere.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
It's the best.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Like I think people always like, oh, indian Plus is
a boring I'm like, it's not. It's because it's cold,
I guess sometimes where people say that, But I'm like,
for a Midwest walk around city, this is the best.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Like I think it's the best.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Anytime I would cover any event, I was like, just
keep it here, don't move them around.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
I'll go, yeah, raise your hand. Half hours.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
I'm good.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
We're biased, but we agree with you for sure, no
doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Hey, we really appreciate your time. Great to meet you,
and hopefully we can do this soon.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Absolutely, thank you.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Twenty twenty five and NFL Combine Here in downtown Indianapolis,
we bring the best to you guys to keep you
up to data what's going on, and especially in the
colts world.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
We're bringing in.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
Kyle Krabs, host of Lockdown, NFL Scouting and the NFL
Draft lead for the thirty third team. Follow him on
Twitter x at Kyle Krabs. If you're a football fan,
appreciate you being here.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It's my pleasure.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
It's a joy to come to Indianapolis every year. I
hope it stays here forever as far as I'm concerned.
And I finally figured out the skywalk, so that's a
big win.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
Can you let us know? I think the new one
gets billed about every six months.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
Yla asked me to show you around because I'll probably
get turned round or I'll go down a thing you
need a key card to get through. Yeah, all things considered.
The eighth year here and I finally got a good deal.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
Hey, you running all right? Glad that it is amazed? Yeah,
there's no doubt, all right, work in the bounce everywhere here?
All right? Top ten, let's just talk top ten right there.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
The biggest storyline for you, is it Travis Hunter or
is there something else I'm missing? When it comes to
the top ten picks, of this upcoming NFL drive.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
I think it's where QB two goes in this class
where you know that the Titans are kind of posturing
as though they may take at dull Carter out in
the public space. Is that an incentive to try to
get the Giants to trade up so that the Giant
if the Titans don't love the one of these quarterbacks,
the Browns with their quarterback contract situation, would they be
better off finding a veteran with some guaranteed money that
(18:15):
gets cut so you could sign them for the minimum
and let somebody else pay the majority of salary. Why
you still got de Shan Watson's contracts on the books.
If those quarterbacks go in the top three, I think
you could see it go fairly chalk down through the
top six picks, hypothetically with the people that you generally
perceived to be like the elite players of the elite
players of this class will go there. But if somebody
(18:38):
takes a talent over one of the two quarterbacks, that
to me is the top ten storyline of what do
the Jets do ye if one of those quarterbacks gets there?
Do they get anty and go up and get a guy?
What does the domino effect look like for them New Orleans.
You know, they seem to like Spencer Router, but he
was a Day three pick at Derek Carr. They had
to come out and say they were keeping this year.
So there's a couple different spots with that core back
(19:00):
two spot that I think is the pivot point.
Speaker 6 (19:03):
In the top ten of this year, regardless of position.
Kyle who's most NFL ready Actually who could have made
a difference last.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
Year if they were playing in the NFL but they
were in the college game. Who is that?
Speaker 7 (19:13):
Yeah, I think Mason Graham from Michigan, the defensive tackle
is probably that guy for me. With a lot of
translatable reps. You know, you see Travis Hunter on both
sides of the ball. He's a special talent. He's my
top rated player on the board. But playing both ways
the way that he did at the volume in which
he did it does kind of take away from like
I think, he's still got so much room to grow,
(19:34):
and that's what makes him such an exciting player. But
if you were asking me take a guy that played
in twenty three, Mason Graham probably played his best two
games in the two college football playoff games for Michigan
last year, he and Kenneth Grant.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
They didn't win him the Washington game in the National Championship,
but they were unblockable.
Speaker 7 (19:49):
Yeah, and guys who played like that, you know, didn't
have his best year this year. But I'm leaning on
the full body of work there for Mason Grothy.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
He's a very easy valuation.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
You said it. I'm just going back.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
Why didn't he have as good a year as he
did when they won a national championship?
Speaker 5 (20:03):
In your eyes, it's not system. System stayed the same.
Speaker 7 (20:05):
Yeah, I think there's some variance as far as you know,
Mason's not. I think Kenneth Grant is a better functional
athlete than Mason Graham is. So I think from an
athleticism standpoint, you have a little bit more variants in
finishing some plays in that regard.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I had heard some people.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
Say maybe you played a little banged up throughout the
course of the season too, So I don't know if that,
and I don't know anything on that, but that was
just kind of chatter throughout the course of this week.
Speaker 6 (20:29):
I'm a Michigan blowhard. That's why I'm staying here. Sorry
about that.
Speaker 7 (20:31):
It's they've been spoiled with those two guys in the
middle there for the last couple of years, and I
would not be surprised if both of them end up
going into the top ten too when it's all said
and done.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
It's Kyle Krabs.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
He's the host of Locked on NFL Scouting and the
NFL Draft lead for the thirty third team here at
the NFL Scouting Combine on Radio Row. Kyle, I believe
your latest mock draft for the Colts, who had them
pegged Tyler Warren sitting there at fourteen. That gets a
lot of people around here excited. Let's go, let's layer.
That's a little bit a What is most attractive to
(21:05):
you about Tyler Warren being in the Shane Stike in offense?
Speaker 7 (21:08):
So I think it's how he compliments the other pieces
that are established here with an identity that's been well
rooted in the offensive line. I know Ryan Kelly and
Will Fryes, and I think Lewinsky's also an expiring free
agent for the guys, So there's some contracts you got
to figure out there in the middle. But you've got
Jonathan Taylor with Anthony Richardson. What that does from a
(21:30):
run game perspective with the menu that you have in
the quarterback run game, with Jonathan Taylor now having a
player like Tyler Warren who you guys have had, some
big body like Moalley Cox has been here, felt like
there's been opportunities to try to upgrade him, and none
of those guys have really hit. Whether it was Ranson
Woods can't stay healthy Will Mallory I believe as well.
(21:52):
So there's been these swings at the bat to try
to get like a more influential player there. And Tyler
Warren playing in the why as the inline player who
can contribute to the core in the run game, but
then can be a size mismatch weapon as well in
the middle of the field. I think just really creates
a lot of math problems for opposing defenses to try
(22:13):
to account to Hey, they're plus one in the run
game because Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
Can run the ball.
Speaker 7 (22:17):
Hey, by the way, they can come at us and
run twelve personnel and Warren can get behind the linebackers
and it's a big time problem.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
For us, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
What makes you think he's going to be there at fourteen?
Speaker 7 (22:26):
I think positional value is part of the stigma that
you have to battle any brock Bauers.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
How good was he in here? Is he brock Bowers.
Speaker 7 (22:33):
He's a different body type than brock Bowers, and he's
a different type of player. So he's two hundred and
sixty plus pounds. He's more of the traditional hand in
the dirt type guy. But then you see the versatility
where they do put him out in the slot, they
direct snack to him. He's a high school quarterback, so
it's got they'll do power run game with him with
direct snaps. That kind of versatility with a player who
(22:54):
was his best as an inline blocker. I thought in
the final four or five games that they've played last year,
I thought he really showcased when they hit the Big
Ten championship game against Organ, I saw a different inline
blocker player than what I saw throughout the course of
the regular season. So he flipped that switch. He's gonna
have to keep that intensity up. But tight ends usually
don't go in that range, right like, So I think
(23:17):
you have Jets at seven's kind of a popular spot
to project Carolina needs offensive weapons. And then you get
into Miami at thirteen, and I think those are the
hurdles you have to clear as far as there's a
really sturdy argument for those teams to take a tight end.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Is he worth trading up for if you're the Colts,
I mean that, I mean to trade up in the
first round for a tight end right. Just the optics
alone is tough to grasp.
Speaker 7 (23:42):
It puts a lot on his shoulders and wouldn't say
he's not capable of handling that. But I think when
you foil that with the challenges of this draft class
in general, yeah, you could probably get up for relatively
cheaper because you look through the history of draft and
the last couple of years, it's been a big time
(24:03):
premium to move up because there's a lot of quarterbacks
that go they like the dynamics of the early round,
and as we said a little earlier, there's only really
consensus four to six blue chip type players in this class,
and without the quarterback demand, I think you'll see a
lot of teams that are eager to come down if
(24:23):
there's somebody that's willing to buy. And I go back
to like twenty twelve, the Dolphins went from twelve to
three for pick forty two, and that's it.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
That's all it costs because it was a bad class
in Yeah, the low hole. They drafted Dean.
Speaker 7 (24:34):
Jordan with that pick, so that's probably why it was
pretty cheap to move up. So I think the position
of value works in their favor in that regard. I
don't think you'd have to get up too far. You know,
you know, a team like San Francisco has a lot
of guys on high payroll. They have a lot of
guys who are looking to get paid new contracts. They're
picking an eleven. They might benefit from having some extra
(24:55):
draft capital after still the fallout from the Trey Lance
trade that didn't work out for them.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
At Kyle Krabs follow him on Twitter.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
X Matt talked about Anthony richardson Let's be honest, this
offense will go as the quarterback goes. We saw Flacco
come in for some spells last year and what happened
as Chris Bellard said he wants a quarterback competition, a
veteran's coming in. Regardless who's that guy? Is there a
second out There is a third out there that you
say fits in, has the ability to potentially one day
(25:22):
be a starter in the NFL. After I'm talking obviously
the top two quarterbacks in this draft Sanders Reward right.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
I think the challenges are you looking for a guy
in this draft? Are you looking for a guy in
free agency? Because I think the Sam Darnolds and the
Baker Mayfields of the world, the Genos Smith's of the world,
I think there's some really compelling stories of guys that
they maybe just need a little bit of time to
get their feet underneath of them and learn how to
read defenses at the NFL level and understand the relationship
(25:50):
between the front and what that means for the secondary
rotation based on their sho are they in an underfront
and what does that mean for which safety is gonna
end up? Like all that stuff that all ties together
that the college game is not really conducive to anymore.
It's more, okay, go out there, be an athlete. We're
gonna spread the field and take space where space is available.
So I think about a guy like Trey Lance, who
(26:11):
was a highly drafted pick, has some parallel physical tools.
If you could get a guy like that, preferably in
a multi year deal so he doesn't just come in
for one year and then you dust your hands and say, hey,
we did our part to help develop you. For whoever
you get your next opportunity with, I would be really
keen on an idea like that, and then you get
into maybe some of the high tools players at the
(26:36):
quarterback position, whether that's a Jaln Milroe, if you really
want to lean into athlete at the quarterback position.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
He is kind of Anthony Richardson though, a type of
that quarterback.
Speaker 7 (26:46):
He's that niche skill set of you know, he changes
the math in the run game, which is a big
time weapon, but he does need time and development. So
that's why I wouldn't want to just bring a rookie
and to compete with Anthony. I would want somebody that
has at least a little bit of dirt under their nails.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Level.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yes, yeah, that's Kyle Krabs with us from the thirty
third team. He knows the NFL draft inside and out right.
So the defensive side of the ball for the Colts,
lou Ana Rumos here, now, new defensive coordinator, what draft
needs do you have for the Colts on that side
of the ball in order to take that defense to
the next level. Because individually speaking, and Jeffrey's heard me
say this a million times, but individually speaking, they've got
(27:27):
players on that side of the ball in all three
levels of the defense, even though collectively the last couple
of years they haven't been able to put it together.
Speaker 7 (27:34):
Yeah, I think the athleticism on the second level is
really helpful because lou likes to heat you up selectively.
He likes to be aggressive at times. He likes to
change the picture. That's the big buzz in the league
right now. As we want to force you to do
a lot of processing after the snap and get your confirmation,
then your ticks lower and then the pass rush gets there,
no doubt.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
So I think for Indye.
Speaker 7 (27:56):
Samson Ebcom with the injury last year was a big
dup punch for me because I'm big fan of his game.
Having player a pass rush presence of what he's capable
of being like when he's healthy, I think is really critical.
When you consider Cincinnati with Trey Hendrickson and how dynamic
he's been as a pass rusher and how impactful he is.
(28:17):
I think the other thing is what does that safety
spot look like? You know, Nick Cross got a bigger
snap share this year, but how many eggs are you
going to put in that basket? And you have some
other expiring contracts back there, you know, safety difference maker
at safety. That Cincinnati defense, they really had it clicking
when they had like von Bell there, and then von
(28:38):
Bell left and they tried to bring in some young
guys to bridge the gap, and they weren't ready to
do it, and you felt the regression in the secondary.
So I think safety and pass rush are the two
big things for me for Indy.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
Let's stay there at safety.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
You're gonna know about this young man a whole lot
better than me and Matt No right now, Stark, So
get out of Georgia. Give me top to bottom off
the field. On the field, what do you like about
this young guy?
Speaker 7 (29:00):
So he didn't have his best season this year as
far as a production standpoint, but he's the prototype from
a size and stature perspective. He's got ball skills to
play in the nickel and play man coverage in the nickel.
He's had a couple of incredible interceptions down the field
isolated and man and man coverage outside the numbers on
vertical shots, and the body control for a bigger safety
at the catch point like that really pops.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
He's does he start? I mean, is he knits to
start earnestly.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
I think so because he walked into George as a
true freshman and was one of the starting safeties for
that Georgia defense. It's that Kirby defense is really intense
and complicated, and the safeties you got to tie it
all together, right, and there's a lot of zone match
where you've got to be able to understand how are
the receivers releasing, are they switch releasing? What does that
(29:47):
change for coverage responsibilities for whoever's responsible for three strong
if he goes underneath, it's just like a singular example.
And spacing all of that and processing and understanding all
that is the biggest strength I think that Malachi starts has,
so I think he's been groomed, sense of f Wishman
between the ears to be ready for NFL responsibilities on
the back end.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Talked about this a little bit, but one of the
things that I'm just so fascinated on the surface with
this draft is just how I don't want to say void,
but it's almost like going back in time, Kyle. I mean,
this is like old school smash mouth draft football, right
when we're talking about running backs and linebackers and guys
in the trenches. We're not talking about quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
I know it's an.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Isolated thing, but how did we get here within this
draft where we're talking about the first wide receiver not
going until you know, the late teens, whereas last year
that would be that's unheard of, you know, twelve months ago, right.
Speaker 7 (30:36):
I think the league has been hurting for a draft
like this for a couple of cycles now where.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
It is big time eating potatoes.
Speaker 7 (30:43):
The defensive tackle is an embarrassment of riches that position.
As far as do you do you want those tackles?
Do you want undersized penetration three techniques? Do you want
gap control guys that can play in the A and
B gap and can lock, peak, shed and deconstruct blocks
and protect their linebackers. Like the offensive line, the offensive
tackle group is not as loaded at the top, but
(31:05):
there's a lot of skills specific and scheme specific type
of guys in that regard. And then you mentioned the
linebacker group where you've got six foot four guys with
length You've got and that that's Jahad Campbell from Alabama,
that's Demetrius Knight from South Carolina. You got a one
year starter out of UCLA that I think had the
best tape out of anybody I watched this year in
Carson Sweeshinger. I'm in love with with his tape. I
(31:27):
think he's super dynamic. He's a former walk on that
they developed from a safety to a linebacker and they
had to move somebody else to get a spotform in
the starting lineup after two games this season, and like
the most instinctive linebacker.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
I've watched this season on tape.
Speaker 7 (31:42):
So with all of the fanfare around the passing game,
and that's the college direction, right is these guys the
seven on seven culture. You have no time off as
a quarterback or a dB or wide receiver because that's
year round and there's no contented and that's kind of
the roots of the game right now. Are much more
(32:03):
friendly to that, and I think you felt that with
kind of the quality and the depth of some of
the offensive and defensive lines in the league. So this
is a critical draft class, I think for a lot
of teams that haven't had the investment opportunities for cost
control players in the draft.
Speaker 6 (32:16):
Kyle Krabs joining us right here. Last one for me,
I want to talk about the running backs. Who knows
what happens after Jonathan Taylor in this Colts offense. Trey
Sermon was back there last year. One of a couple,
what is this draft? Because I'm hearing from guys like you,
the experts run here. It's a good draft. If you're
a mid round guy and you need a running back,
mid round team rather you need a running back, this
is the one to go to.
Speaker 7 (32:34):
Yeah, this has a lot of different flavors too, whether
it's base Shall Tooton from Virginia Tech who was formerly
at North Carolina A and T went down the Senior Bowl,
had a good week there. Danse build five five eight
and three quarters two hundred eleven pounds, is going to
run low four, forced, high four three late, explosive, outside.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Zone type of guy.
Speaker 7 (32:55):
He had more than if more than fifty percent of
his yards came home breakaway runs.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
He's a big time home run hitter.
Speaker 7 (33:00):
But then you got guys like Damian Martinez who is
at Universe of Miami, who is a little bit more
of a grinder between the tackles, had to create a
lot more fir him self after contact in close quarters,
getting contacted in the backfield as another power type back.
And then you got some really dynamic space players like
Trevon Henderson from Ohouse.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Sorry complement Ohause State, that's a good program, please do.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Traveon Henderson really good in pass protection, really good in
the passing game, struggled to stay healthy in the meat
of his college career. But he reminds me of like
a bigger version of Kyron Williams with the success that
he's had with the Rams, going back to when he
was at Notre Dame, and you could tell his kids
(33:45):
like one two, but he's gonna punch you in the mouth.
You try and come through the B gap and he's
gonna knock you down in pass pro and he's had
a lot of success at the NFL level because that position,
a lot of your opportunities are earned by what can
you do on passing down? So you protect the quarterback
six man protections and can you hold on the football
and protect the football?
Speaker 3 (34:04):
So the like.
Speaker 7 (34:05):
There's all kinds of flavors and there's multiple of them,
which makes it a really exciting class for teams that
want to use it.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Early day three pick late data, yeah, heck yeah. The
last one for me, this Obdual Carter thing. How do
you think this this foot fracture and surgery. No surgery
is going to impact I mean, this is a guy
that's potentially the first overall pick, and now you know
he's in danger of teams passing on him because there's
a lot of unknowns and what he's dealing with to
(34:33):
the next level in terms of injuries in the long term.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 7 (34:37):
It's been quite a twelve hours where came up said
he wasn't going to work out because the shoulder, and
then last late last night there was the report about
the foot he might need surgery, and then this morning
they came out and said, oh, just kidding, probably doesn't
need surgery.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
They don't think.
Speaker 7 (34:51):
I would say it's an unortho, unorthodox pathway to having
a resume that goes first overall with two injuries that
may ultimately prevent you from checking the boxes, right, Like
this is all risk assessment collection for teams of like
we're looking for excuses to hurt your resume and ding
you down. But the fact that he moved from off
(35:15):
ball to playing full time on the edge this year,
I thought as the season unfolded, the run defense for
him started to come into place, and obviously the pass.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
Rush profile is through the roof.
Speaker 7 (35:24):
So if Tennessee has the ability to find another pathway
that they like, or maybe if they're going to like
we talked about the very beginning, if they can coax
the Giants up from three to go get their guy
at quarterback, and then the domino effect is you might
go be able to go down to three and still
get out Bill Carter if you like him more than
the quarterback. So it's an interesting chess match that they're
(35:46):
playing at the top of the board that I think
some of their uncertainty that they're trying to put into
what they do with their pick is being aided indirectly
by this saga.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
I don't think it's going to hurt him too much
when it's all said and done.
Speaker 6 (35:58):
Kyle Krabs right there before we let you go, A
lot of Colts fans are ready.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
For to watch Leotu Latu.
Speaker 6 (36:04):
Yeah, I have one of those seasons where you got
a dominant edge guy hit this young man coming out
of UCLA. You know his history last year. Let's go
back three sixty five. What did you like about him?
Were you surprised at where he went? Or did the
Colts get a bargain.
Speaker 7 (36:16):
I think they got a bargain for what was probably
the most polished and developed pass rush IQ guy in
the class. Just the ways in which he won. He
doesn't have like the greatest length as far as like
his anatomical reach and how he can dictate tackles in
their anatomical reach. Brother Heilly has I'm throwing something, no
doubt seem like I'm sorry, But the way he he
(36:38):
crafts a rush plan to understand throughout the course of
a sixty minute game, how is he setting me? How
do I beat that set? How's he going to react
when I beat him with that set? And he was
so far ahead of most of the class and that
obviously Jared Vers had.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
A phenomenal season.
Speaker 7 (36:56):
Chop Robinson from Penn State with the Dolphins, came on
in the second half of the year. A lot based
off of athleticism. Leatsu's a good athlete, but it's the
between the ears sharpness for me that if he stays
on the field, I think he's gonna.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Be really We talked to him at the end of
the season or near the end of the season, and
that's what he said. What you alluded to is that
in college I was just more sophisticated than a lot
of these tackles up here, not nearly as much. And
I think it was a little bit of frustrating for him,
but I think that will come. But I think his
college tape was so stand out ish because he.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Was a good athlete and he just got it.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
He had an arsenal of pass rush moves that you
don't see at that level, taking advantage of all the tackles.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (37:37):
So, and then when you make that leap, your menu
gets whittled down a little bit.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Yeah, you have to go through that to learn.
Speaker 7 (37:44):
Yeah, Okay, what do I have to do differently if
you do, I have to go to that move? Yeah,
or maybe I cut down my bag a little bit
and stay more within my wheelhouse of things that I know,
play within my traits as compared to playing against guys
that aren't technically sound.
Speaker 6 (37:58):
Hey, we just got smarter thanks to Kyle Krabs at
Kyle Krabs on.
Speaker 5 (38:02):
The Twitter x NFL Draft lead for the thirty third team.
Speaker 6 (38:05):
And you guys are freaking lucky to have this young man,
and also so are we, and we appreciate you stepping
up and talking some ball with us. Let's check in
after this thing goes a little bit of draft talk,
maybe in a couple of months.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Please do be happy to hop on with you guys whenever.
Speaker 5 (38:18):
Awesome. Thanks so much, Kyle, thank you
Welcome to Inside the Draft, a weekly preview of the
upcoming NFL Draft with insiders from around the country.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to the Inside the Draft podcast here on the
Colts Audio Network. I'm Matt Taylor, coming to you from
the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio Studio, and we are
back at it here in twenty twenty five with our
Inside the Draft series in the months of March and
April leading you up to the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
(00:30):
The draft is set to start Thursday, April twenty fourth,
with Round one and then run until Saturday, the twenty
six with rounds four through seven. On Day three, the
Colts hold seven picks in the seven round draft, including
the fourteenth overall pick in round number one. Coming off
an eight to nine season and missing out on the playoffs,
(00:51):
the Colts have a handful of big draft needs like
every team in the NFL, and this weekly series is
here to discuss those needs, talk about the top prospects
in the draft and the depth at key positions. And
today we have a pair of great guests that we've
chatted with the last couple of weeks at the NFL
Combine up first to chat with Draft insider Nick Baumgardner
(01:12):
from The Athletic. He'll talk about the Colts' biggest draft needs,
the tight end depth in this draft class, and where
the Colts could target their draft efforts on the defensive
side of the ball. And then we'll also hear from
Kyle Krabs, the NFL draft lead for the thirty third
team and the host of the Locked On Scouting podcast.
Kyle is a really good in the no draft expert.
(01:33):
He breaks down the top quarterbacks, the running back depth
of the Colts could potentially bring in to back up
Jonathan Taylor, and the most NFL ready prospects on defense
in this class. So let's get it going here. This
is all things NFL draft on Inside the Draft, the
first of mini leading into late April, and we start
first with Nick Baumgardner from The Combine last week as
(01:55):
he leads off with his top draft needs for the
Colts coming off an eight to nine twenty twenty four campaign.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Really does feel like they need a lot, but it
really does feel like that tight end spot to me,
I just keep going back to that, and it's not
just because you know, for a lot of reasons. Number one,
I think Richardson it would help him, you know, immeasurably
to have somebody like that, a reliable target that you
can go to, that can keep the change moving. It's
the same conversation that we end up having with like
Caleb Williams in Chicago, like they need to learn how
to value possessions the young quarterbacks and having a tight
(02:25):
end that can really run routes and be a three
down threat. It's important. But more than that, this is
a great, great tight end class, really really good. One
of the best ones in a long time. Stacks up
with the one from a few years ago that people
you know called like the La parter one with all
those guys and you know, Theol Warrenn and Colson Lovelin,
those two guys. I don't know if they'll make it
to the Colts, that's my one question. I don't know
if they have to move up, But like that's my
spot where I look at for them.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Is it still I mean, even with it being an
exceptional tight end draft class, it's is it still a
good idea good practice to draft a tight end in
the first round considering Yeah, you know, positional value, if
you will, historically and traditionally and based on what we've
come to understand about the draft.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, I think it depends on the team. It depends
on what you're doing, It depends on what you you know,
what your makeup is, where you're at in your development,
where you're at with everything. I don't think it's a
problem if you like, if the guy is a you know, elite,
elite process difference maker, Yeah, then I think that that's
more than fair in this draft. Warren and Loveland are
arguably top ten players in this draft, right, So they're
both for sure first round picks.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Both would be absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Fair for the cold Star at fourteen whatever at fourteen, right, Yeah,
but you know they might have to move up. One
of them might be gone if they had a preference.
So it's not going to shock me if both those
guys are off the board by twenty. But again, later
in the draft, there's guys, you know, Elijah Royal from Miami.
There's some really fun, you know options in this draft
that can do a lot of stuff. It's you know,
tight ends, a three down player run game pass, and
(03:43):
it helps so much. I feel like that's the one
spot I get the running back hesitation, but tight ends.
Sometimes I'm like people overthink it, Tawk Bowers look at him.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
At the end of the day, pass catcher right regardless
of receiver or wide receiver.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Right now, I know we're going to dive into other positions.
My final thing here on the tight ends, you talk
about the depth, and clearly you talk about Warren Loveland
there at the top of that. With it being a
deep position group, how important though, is it to get
right the top of that position group, Like if you
have an option to get even though you can get
(04:13):
really good quality day two, day three, if you can
get the top end of that, how much of the gap.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Is it in this class? I think it's sizable.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And it says that because it's going to sound like it's,
you know, downgrading the guys underneath of it, because not.
There's a lot of guys in this draft that are
going to start and be starters and solid tight ends.
But at the top here Tyler, Warren and Loveland are
you know guys, they're they're in the Bowers cut. They're
not as good as brock Powers. He was a unicorn
and there's not going to be another one of him
for a while. But those two guys, and you know,
(04:41):
Warren physically is close to Brock Powers and Loveland is
about as good a route runner, so like he does
everything they do some things that are very very elite.
So I think that in this draft you'd want to
do that. You'd want to get on top of that
a little bit because you would be giving up something,
you know, in terms of three on value lait.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Would Warren be better than Brock Bowers in the running game,
because that's really important bolts.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I think he would be. It'd be close.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I think with Warren is the one guy in this
class that has the ability to just run a linebacker
over like there's Lovelin doesn't do that.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You know, that's the one thing with him that you know.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Teams are a little bit Schemeishan because he's a little
lighter and not as physical. He plays hard all this,
but Warren is the one guy that can line up,
knock a three tech off and then climb up to
a linebacker and just run right through him, like.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It doesn't happen every play.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
But I do think with the with the offensive Colts
run everything they do with stiking everything else, I think
he would be a great.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Great fit for everything they do.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Perfect that's Nick Bumgardner with that's NFL Draft Insider from
the Athletic And as we sit here and talk right now,
the Colts have they have decisions to make along the
offensive line, right Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and then Braden Smith.
There's still some uncertainty there. So last year I thought
they drafted well Tanner Bordolini and Matt Gonzalzez. Those guys
could have bigger roles for the upcoming season. And if
(05:50):
that comes to fruition, they need more a depth along
the offensive line. So how many plug and play offensive
linemen are there at the top of the draft.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
It's you know, this is not the best.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Last year's tackle class was really really good, and we
talked about that, like if you needed a tackle, you
should have.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Done it last year kind of thing. Tackle thins out
pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
There's a lot of question marks after you know, Will
Campbell is the best one clearly. After that, it starts
to get you know, we get into guys like Josh
Simmons at Ohio State who flashed and looked elite until
he got hurt, and then he gets hurt.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You know, Arman Membu, the kid from.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Massoos a guard slash tackle Josh Connery is super athletic
and you know, really good, but also like sloppy and
you know, can make mistakes.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Every tackle.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I feel like just about except for Will Campbell in
this class has something that you're kind of like, you know,
we'll see.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
But those guys you just mentioned, those are Day two guys.
Those are probably gonna go Day one.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
They're gonna probably be in the conversation for round one
just because so many teams they're not gonna let him slide,
you know, I mean it's not they're not gonna fall
that far.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
Now, that kind of brings me to my next point.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Typically, you see the influx of those premier positions. Tackle
is always one of those receivers, edge rusher, quarterbacks, and
that kind of brings some of that other top end
talent that maybe is not those impact spots kind of
come down. So when you look at those positions, which
are going to go high, they always do. Who are
some guys you're kind of looking like laid into the
(07:06):
first into the second that are probably first round grades
that might still be available.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, I think there's some running backs.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
This is a great I mean, it's this is the
anti positional value draft really because exactly it's tight end,
running back in lineback.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I mean it feels like.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
It's nineteen ninety four, does it really does?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Teams are running the ball again too, and there's you know,
no quarterbacks, no receivers. We have running backs, tight ends
of lines and linebacker and yeah, yeah, So I do
think there's a lot of really good running backs right
there at the bottom, like Caleb Johnson, the kid from
Iowa is really really good. Omarion Hampton some people have
him in the first round too, So like you know,
you get all the way down to Judkins at Ohio State,
(07:41):
Treva and Henderson at Ohio State. You know, tight end,
you got Mason Taylor that he's like twenty years old,
the kids from LSU who was really really good. These
are all day.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
One, gonna contribute, gonna start, gonna give something to you
right away.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
It's just like do you want to do that?
Speaker 1 (07:55):
And so I think that teams at the bottom of
the first round, and if you're the top of the second,
you could really find some value here.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Now give me the difference between Shador and cam Ward.
I mean those are kind of the two polarizing quarterbacks.
Where do you have them graded and as far as
that drop off after those two, are there any other
starters in this class?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So Ward's my one, and simply I think it's awful close.
And I think it's because I think Ward's ceiling for
me is higher. I think he's a better athlete, and
I think the improvement track with him. Basically, if you
go back, you know, he was a wing t high
school quarterback, never threw the ball, was a you know,
went to incarnate word right, had one offer from the
dude who recruited Mahomes.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Matter of fact is what it was.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I was the head coach now, so he's got all
of the raw stuff, and he improved every year as
he went along.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
So I like that.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I think that track can hold for him, though he
needs some more time a little bit. I think Sanders
is actually probably more ready to go, but I don't
know if the he's more like Bo Nicks. I really
feel like he's a lot like Bo Nicks. Okay, smart player,
knows where we put the football. I think if he's
a round good people, it can be workable, but I'm
not sure it'll ever be whoa you know Do or
Cam could be. But it's also like a really big
(08:58):
question marker on. Then after that, it's mostly high end
backups who maybe have a chance, you know, like mill
Row need some time. Maybe somebody likes Cayl McCord, who's
throwing the ball really well. You know, that's winter so far,
so we'll see. But it's there's a lot of teams
that need quarterbacks too, right right, So I think a
lot are gonna go.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
And the Cults are sort of in that boat in
that they want to bring in competition for Anthony Richardson
and Chris Ballard's on record saying we're gonna explore all
avenues to make that happen, whether it's free agency or
trade or the draft. If it's the draft, I mean
you mentioned a handful of guys. I mean, like, is
youers in that conversation? Would Will Howard be? Is that
(09:33):
is that a good move? Day two, day three? Potentially?
Speaker 1 (09:36):
I don't like either of those guys on dates. Guys
I would have ahead of them. Tyler Shuck, the kid
from Louisville that he doesn't get talk about a lot.
He's older, but he's big, and he's really acurate. He
don't got the one season there, but he's really sharp
McCord Milroe due to his athleticism I think is in
that conversation as well yours. You know, he's gonna throw
here and he's gonna work out, and I think that's great.
I think he's one of the only guys that's not
(09:57):
afraid to do any things. I could see yours being
a guy that somebody falls in love with and likes
in that day two, like in that Hendon Hooker range
where he went. Now, I think that's smart for a
team like the Colts draft an older guy who's played
a lot of football, like an Ewers or Tyler Shock,
something like that. Yeah, bring him in here, and you
know that kid could probably help Anthony if nothing else
but to push Anthony though, right that the maturity level
(10:20):
of the work ethic. If you can get a kid
that knows what they're doing, it's played a lot of
ball in winning situations, I think that would help because
that's the one thing that Richardson just does not have, right,
He's no frame of reference for it.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Right, And why is the tight end or not the
tight end, but the wide receiver depth?
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Why is it different this year? Yeah, it's weird.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
We always understood there.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We were accustomed to knowing that that faucet was just
never going to turn off, and.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
This year it's still on.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
But there's a little bit of a drip if you
it's weird because like in two years here, we're gonna
have like the best of all time, Like it's going
to be you know that kid, you know, jeremih Smith
Ohio State, Ryan Williams from Alabama, it's gonna be insane.
So like that thing, it's been, it ebbs and flows,
it really does. I think that it a lot of
times you see a bunch of juniors go. You know,
COVID changed some of that, but NIL has changed more
(11:04):
of that. Guys are going back, they're getting paid NFL
ready receivers are going back and getting paid.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
So it's spread it out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
But I do think that there's still there's still a
lot of guys in this class that you could, you know,
find and help out like a Mecca. Amuka is the
real deal, right, He's very, very good. And that's a
guy that if you took him in the Tough fifteen,
I wouldn't look at you sideways like he's a really.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Good player, and I mean you brought him up.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
I mean, is it just because the guys he's played around,
he hasn't been able to highlight to be like I
am the guy when you talk about Jeremiah Smith and
we know what Marvin Harris. I mean, those two guys
have been around him. It's not really his fault, no,
it's he.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Is the most quarterback friendly receiver in the Like I
compare him to I'marros Saint Brown. That's what he is
for me in this dret for lad McConkey, who went
to Chargers last year. Like he's one of the best
spatial aware. You know, he just gets open, makes plays,
nose where he's going, is dependable, you know, comes back
to the football, will block, We'll do all the stuff.
And I think that that's the thing with the Mecca.
(12:00):
He's the guy like I like. And it's like college recruiting.
If you're a fan of a college team that gets
a commit when he's a sophomore and then everybody forgets
about him in high school.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
You know, he's been around so long we forgot about him.
That's him.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
He's just been so consistent, right and boring to a degree,
you know that. But I think NFL teams are going
to abolute love him.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Going back to the Colt tangle, you know, they're their
top two picks last year in Liatu Latu and ad
Mitchell kind of up and down seasons.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
I think more for Mitchell it was.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
You know, kind of more of a you know, trying
to figure out how to kind of work his way
into being a professional. Right, where did you have them
last year and what are your expectations for them in
year two?
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I like Mitchell a lot, and I think that that's
about what we expected that season that he had. You know,
it was going to take some time for him to
grow into and I think he kind.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Of admitted that.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I think he was going to open about that when
the seasons, which is really freshing to see.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
When it started. I liked him a lot. He's a
great athlete.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
It's I like this the fits with the offense at
the Colts too, you know, run and everything else.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
You got to have the patient like that.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
You got to be patient with guys like that because
it's going to take him minute receivers. Can he either
be right out of the box right to go or
they will take a couple of years and then we'll
see what happens, but you really got to ride it
out with some of those. So I mean that's what
lat too. Is a tough one. I didn't have him
as high as where the Colts took him, but I
know why they did it because he was the most
polished rusher in the class.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
He had all.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
You know, he's got a ton of moves, he knows
what he's doing. He's a sharp guy. I don't think
he'll ever be an overwhelming like whoa you know, presence,
but I think he'll be a solid player for a
long time. And you know, is that enough? You know,
I don't know at that spot where they got him,
I don't know. The athleticism there for me is a
little bit lacking maybe, but you know he gets it done,
you know sometimes too, So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
That's Nick mount Gardner, NFL Draft insider from the athletic
final couple of things the Tennessee Titans. Yeah he will
lemis draft a quarterback, draft a defensive end.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Trade the pick? What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (13:42):
What are we doing?
Speaker 5 (13:42):
As right?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
I would try to trade the pick, but I don't
think they're gonna it's gonna be hard. I would I
would draft Abdul Carter at one and take a quarterback
in the second round and let him work with Levis
and then next year because you're gonna be bad again,
they're gonna be terrible again. Right, So next year, if
you want to go and get one of these to
Drew Aller or one of these guys that comes out,
go for it.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
But not now.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I mean, the Titans just can't cam Ward at one
they already have if Levis they can't. It's the same
kind of thing, you know, we don't know yet, and
we don't really know what levis.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Where does this rank on worst years to have the top?
Speaker 1 (14:14):
It's not good. It's not good. It's it's up there,
you know, like a couple of years ago. I feel
like when there was no quarterbacks in the.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Pick at year. It's not that bad, but it's it's
not easy.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
The Browns, I think you're in the same spot, right
Like Carter and Travis Hunter are elite players.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
But are there gonna be Is there gonna be aybe
that wants to vote for them?
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I don't know, And I don't think anybody's gonna want
to go up for one of these quarterbacks. I just don't,
you know, We'll see, but I'd be surprised.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
With the NFL being what it is.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
How difficult is that because it's a what have you
done for me lately?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
You can't wait around? I mean, how.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Difficult is that? Because insanely tarpole quarterback play.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
You know, for the Titans, it's a bad year, but
you know they may not have the first overall pick
next year. It could be you know, we're treating three
first round picks to get this sensational guy.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
So I mean, how difficult really is that?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I think it just speaks to It is insanely difficult,
but it speaks to your coaching staff and your consistency
with your quarterback has to be the biggest. You have
to be able to ride the waves with him and
be okay when he has struggles like the Colts are
going through right now with Richardson. You've got to be
able to just understand when you drafted him, you knew
that this was going to be a change, So you've
got to dig in and go through it with him.
(15:16):
And I think that's really the like you said, the
win for me lately? Like what have you done? It's
so hard to fight against that, but you absolutely have
to at that position, there's no choice. So I'm hopeful.
And because we've seen Bryce Young got better, maybe Anthony
will get better. After sitting down, we've seen some of this.
Maybe maybe that'll change some people's minds.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Yeah, what have you done for me lately?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Nick?
Speaker 2 (15:33):
You've done a lot. I appreciate you. Man the Pride
of Van Arbor, Michigan. Nick Baumgardner, NFL Draft Insider from
the Athletic.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
I know you're a big Wolfraine fan written.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
You've written some books about the program.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Hype it up.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Tell I've got Mountaintop, the story of the ninety seven
Michigan Charles Woodson's team the year won the Heutsman Dr Redles. Yeah,
we spent like thirty hours with Lloyd. I wrote up
with Mark Snyder. It was a great book, great.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
And I got another one coming out to the program
through Triump'll be on the Fall.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
So it's like a history book with the whole Okay, that.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
One, No Home more Apps is not in that one,
but we got really the one. We got a lot
of Rick Leach, a lot of Jim Harball, a lot
of that good stuff. So a lot of eighties and
all that good stuff in Thereck yeah, man. Jammie Morris
wrote the forward, you don't love Jamie's my guy? Answer absolutely,
And so you drove down rights and a half hours.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
I got to ask you your favorite aspect of Indianapolis
in terms of the combine.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
This is the best convention center city in maybe the world,
Like I think I always say that in the country
for sure, Like they have more hotels and restaurants and
areas to walk around in like three blocks everywhere.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
It's the best.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Like I think people always like, oh, indian Plus is
a boring I'm like, it's not. It's because it's cold,
I guess sometimes where people say that, But I'm like,
for a Midwest walk around city, this is the best.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Like I think it's the best.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Anytime I would cover any event, I was like, just
keep it here, don't move them around.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
I'll go, yeah, raise your hand. Half hours.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
I'm good.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
We're biased, but we agree with you for sure, no
doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Hey, we really appreciate your time. Great to meet you,
and hopefully we can do this soon.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Absolutely, thank you.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Twenty twenty five and NFL Combine Here in downtown Indianapolis,
we bring the best to you guys to keep you
up to data what's going on, and especially in the
colts world.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
We're bringing in.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
Kyle Krabs, host of Lockdown, NFL Scouting and the NFL
Draft lead for the thirty third team. Follow him on
Twitter x at Kyle Krabs. If you're a football fan,
appreciate you being here.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It's my pleasure.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
It's a joy to come to Indianapolis every year. I
hope it stays here forever as far as I'm concerned.
And I finally figured out the skywalk, so that's a
big win.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
Can you let us know? I think the new one
gets billed about every six months.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
Yla asked me to show you around because I'll probably
get turned round or I'll go down a thing you
need a key card to get through. Yeah, all things considered.
The eighth year here and I finally got a good deal.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
Hey, you running all right? Glad that it is amazed? Yeah,
there's no doubt, all right, work in the bounce everywhere here?
All right? Top ten, let's just talk top ten right there.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
The biggest storyline for you, is it Travis Hunter or
is there something else I'm missing? When it comes to
the top ten picks, of this upcoming NFL drive.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
I think it's where QB two goes in this class
where you know that the Titans are kind of posturing
as though they may take at dull Carter out in
the public space. Is that an incentive to try to
get the Giants to trade up so that the Giant
if the Titans don't love the one of these quarterbacks,
the Browns with their quarterback contract situation, would they be
better off finding a veteran with some guaranteed money that
(18:15):
gets cut so you could sign them for the minimum
and let somebody else pay the majority of salary. Why
you still got de Shan Watson's contracts on the books.
If those quarterbacks go in the top three, I think
you could see it go fairly chalk down through the
top six picks, hypothetically with the people that you generally
perceived to be like the elite players of the elite
players of this class will go there. But if somebody
(18:38):
takes a talent over one of the two quarterbacks, that
to me is the top ten storyline of what do
the Jets do ye if one of those quarterbacks gets there?
Do they get anty and go up and get a guy?
What does the domino effect look like for them New Orleans.
You know, they seem to like Spencer Router, but he
was a Day three pick at Derek Carr. They had
to come out and say they were keeping this year.
So there's a couple different spots with that core back
(19:00):
two spot that I think is the pivot point.
Speaker 6 (19:03):
In the top ten of this year, regardless of position.
Kyle who's most NFL ready Actually who could have made
a difference last.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
Year if they were playing in the NFL but they
were in the college game. Who is that?
Speaker 7 (19:13):
Yeah, I think Mason Graham from Michigan, the defensive tackle
is probably that guy for me. With a lot of
translatable reps. You know, you see Travis Hunter on both
sides of the ball. He's a special talent. He's my
top rated player on the board. But playing both ways
the way that he did at the volume in which
he did it does kind of take away from like
I think, he's still got so much room to grow,
(19:34):
and that's what makes him such an exciting player. But
if you were asking me take a guy that played
in twenty three, Mason Graham probably played his best two
games in the two college football playoff games for Michigan
last year, he and Kenneth Grant.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
They didn't win him the Washington game in the National Championship,
but they were unblockable.
Speaker 7 (19:49):
Yeah, and guys who played like that, you know, didn't
have his best year this year. But I'm leaning on
the full body of work there for Mason Grothy.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
He's a very easy valuation.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
You said it. I'm just going back.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
Why didn't he have as good a year as he
did when they won a national championship?
Speaker 5 (20:03):
In your eyes, it's not system. System stayed the same.
Speaker 7 (20:05):
Yeah, I think there's some variance as far as you know,
Mason's not. I think Kenneth Grant is a better functional
athlete than Mason Graham is. So I think from an
athleticism standpoint, you have a little bit more variants in
finishing some plays in that regard.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I had heard some people.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
Say maybe you played a little banged up throughout the
course of the season too, So I don't know if that,
and I don't know anything on that, but that was
just kind of chatter throughout the course of this week.
Speaker 6 (20:29):
I'm a Michigan blowhard. That's why I'm staying here. Sorry
about that.
Speaker 7 (20:31):
It's they've been spoiled with those two guys in the
middle there for the last couple of years, and I
would not be surprised if both of them end up
going into the top ten too when it's all said
and done.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
It's Kyle Krabs.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
He's the host of Locked on NFL Scouting and the
NFL Draft lead for the thirty third team here at
the NFL Scouting Combine on Radio Row. Kyle, I believe
your latest mock draft for the Colts, who had them
pegged Tyler Warren sitting there at fourteen. That gets a
lot of people around here excited. Let's go, let's layer.
That's a little bit a What is most attractive to
(21:05):
you about Tyler Warren being in the Shane Stike in offense?
Speaker 7 (21:08):
So I think it's how he compliments the other pieces
that are established here with an identity that's been well
rooted in the offensive line. I know Ryan Kelly and
Will Fryes, and I think Lewinsky's also an expiring free
agent for the guys, So there's some contracts you got
to figure out there in the middle. But you've got
Jonathan Taylor with Anthony Richardson. What that does from a
(21:30):
run game perspective with the menu that you have in
the quarterback run game, with Jonathan Taylor now having a
player like Tyler Warren who you guys have had, some
big body like Moalley Cox has been here, felt like
there's been opportunities to try to upgrade him, and none
of those guys have really hit. Whether it was Ranson
Woods can't stay healthy Will Mallory I believe as well.
(21:52):
So there's been these swings at the bat to try
to get like a more influential player there. And Tyler
Warren playing in the why as the inline player who
can contribute to the core in the run game, but
then can be a size mismatch weapon as well in
the middle of the field. I think just really creates
a lot of math problems for opposing defenses to try
(22:13):
to account to Hey, they're plus one in the run
game because Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
Can run the ball.
Speaker 7 (22:17):
Hey, by the way, they can come at us and
run twelve personnel and Warren can get behind the linebackers
and it's a big time problem.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
For us, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
What makes you think he's going to be there at fourteen?
Speaker 7 (22:26):
I think positional value is part of the stigma that
you have to battle any brock Bauers.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
How good was he in here? Is he brock Bowers.
Speaker 7 (22:33):
He's a different body type than brock Bowers, and he's
a different type of player. So he's two hundred and
sixty plus pounds. He's more of the traditional hand in
the dirt type guy. But then you see the versatility
where they do put him out in the slot, they
direct snack to him. He's a high school quarterback, so
it's got they'll do power run game with him with
direct snaps. That kind of versatility with a player who
(22:54):
was his best as an inline blocker. I thought in
the final four or five games that they've played last year,
I thought he really showcased when they hit the Big
Ten championship game against Organ, I saw a different inline
blocker player than what I saw throughout the course of
the regular season. So he flipped that switch. He's gonna
have to keep that intensity up. But tight ends usually
don't go in that range, right like, So I think
(23:17):
you have Jets at seven's kind of a popular spot
to project Carolina needs offensive weapons. And then you get
into Miami at thirteen, and I think those are the
hurdles you have to clear as far as there's a
really sturdy argument for those teams to take a tight end.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Is he worth trading up for if you're the Colts,
I mean that, I mean to trade up in the
first round for a tight end right. Just the optics
alone is tough to grasp.
Speaker 7 (23:42):
It puts a lot on his shoulders and wouldn't say
he's not capable of handling that. But I think when
you foil that with the challenges of this draft class
in general, yeah, you could probably get up for relatively
cheaper because you look through the history of draft and
the last couple of years, it's been a big time
(24:03):
premium to move up because there's a lot of quarterbacks
that go they like the dynamics of the early round,
and as we said a little earlier, there's only really
consensus four to six blue chip type players in this class,
and without the quarterback demand, I think you'll see a
lot of teams that are eager to come down if
(24:23):
there's somebody that's willing to buy. And I go back
to like twenty twelve, the Dolphins went from twelve to
three for pick forty two, and that's it.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
That's all it costs because it was a bad class
in Yeah, the low hole. They drafted Dean.
Speaker 7 (24:34):
Jordan with that pick, so that's probably why it was
pretty cheap to move up. So I think the position
of value works in their favor in that regard. I
don't think you'd have to get up too far. You know,
you know, a team like San Francisco has a lot
of guys on high payroll. They have a lot of
guys who are looking to get paid new contracts. They're
picking an eleven. They might benefit from having some extra
(24:55):
draft capital after still the fallout from the Trey Lance
trade that didn't work out for them.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
At Kyle Krabs follow him on Twitter.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
X Matt talked about Anthony richardson Let's be honest, this
offense will go as the quarterback goes. We saw Flacco
come in for some spells last year and what happened
as Chris Bellard said he wants a quarterback competition, a
veteran's coming in. Regardless who's that guy? Is there a
second out There is a third out there that you
say fits in, has the ability to potentially one day
(25:22):
be a starter in the NFL. After I'm talking obviously
the top two quarterbacks in this draft Sanders Reward right.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
I think the challenges are you looking for a guy
in this draft? Are you looking for a guy in
free agency? Because I think the Sam Darnolds and the
Baker Mayfields of the world, the Genos Smith's of the world,
I think there's some really compelling stories of guys that
they maybe just need a little bit of time to
get their feet underneath of them and learn how to
read defenses at the NFL level and understand the relationship
(25:50):
between the front and what that means for the secondary
rotation based on their sho are they in an underfront
and what does that mean for which safety is gonna
end up? Like all that stuff that all ties together
that the college game is not really conducive to anymore.
It's more, okay, go out there, be an athlete. We're
gonna spread the field and take space where space is available.
So I think about a guy like Trey Lance, who
(26:11):
was a highly drafted pick, has some parallel physical tools.
If you could get a guy like that, preferably in
a multi year deal so he doesn't just come in
for one year and then you dust your hands and say, hey,
we did our part to help develop you. For whoever
you get your next opportunity with, I would be really
keen on an idea like that, and then you get
into maybe some of the high tools players at the
(26:36):
quarterback position, whether that's a Jaln Milroe, if you really
want to lean into athlete at the quarterback position.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
He is kind of Anthony Richardson though, a type of
that quarterback.
Speaker 7 (26:46):
He's that niche skill set of you know, he changes
the math in the run game, which is a big
time weapon, but he does need time and development. So
that's why I wouldn't want to just bring a rookie
and to compete with Anthony. I would want somebody that
has at least a little bit of dirt under their nails.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Level.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yes, yeah, that's Kyle Krabs with us from the thirty
third team. He knows the NFL draft inside and out right.
So the defensive side of the ball for the Colts,
lou Ana Rumos here, now, new defensive coordinator, what draft
needs do you have for the Colts on that side
of the ball in order to take that defense to
the next level. Because individually speaking, and Jeffrey's heard me
say this a million times, but individually speaking, they've got
(27:27):
players on that side of the ball in all three
levels of the defense, even though collectively the last couple
of years they haven't been able to put it together.
Speaker 7 (27:34):
Yeah, I think the athleticism on the second level is
really helpful because lou likes to heat you up selectively.
He likes to be aggressive at times. He likes to
change the picture. That's the big buzz in the league
right now. As we want to force you to do
a lot of processing after the snap and get your confirmation,
then your ticks lower and then the pass rush gets there,
no doubt.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
So I think for Indye.
Speaker 7 (27:56):
Samson Ebcom with the injury last year was a big
dup punch for me because I'm big fan of his game.
Having player a pass rush presence of what he's capable
of being like when he's healthy, I think is really critical.
When you consider Cincinnati with Trey Hendrickson and how dynamic
he's been as a pass rusher and how impactful he is.
(28:17):
I think the other thing is what does that safety
spot look like? You know, Nick Cross got a bigger
snap share this year, but how many eggs are you
going to put in that basket? And you have some
other expiring contracts back there, you know, safety difference maker
at safety. That Cincinnati defense, they really had it clicking
when they had like von Bell there, and then von
(28:38):
Bell left and they tried to bring in some young
guys to bridge the gap, and they weren't ready to
do it, and you felt the regression in the secondary.
So I think safety and pass rush are the two
big things for me for Indy.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
Let's stay there at safety.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
You're gonna know about this young man a whole lot
better than me and Matt No right now, Stark, So
get out of Georgia. Give me top to bottom off
the field. On the field, what do you like about
this young guy?
Speaker 7 (29:00):
So he didn't have his best season this year as
far as a production standpoint, but he's the prototype from
a size and stature perspective. He's got ball skills to
play in the nickel and play man coverage in the nickel.
He's had a couple of incredible interceptions down the field
isolated and man and man coverage outside the numbers on
vertical shots, and the body control for a bigger safety
at the catch point like that really pops.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
He's does he start? I mean, is he knits to
start earnestly.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
I think so because he walked into George as a
true freshman and was one of the starting safeties for
that Georgia defense. It's that Kirby defense is really intense
and complicated, and the safeties you got to tie it
all together, right, and there's a lot of zone match
where you've got to be able to understand how are
the receivers releasing, are they switch releasing? What does that
(29:47):
change for coverage responsibilities for whoever's responsible for three strong
if he goes underneath, it's just like a singular example.
And spacing all of that and processing and understanding all
that is the biggest strength I think that Malachi starts has,
so I think he's been groomed, sense of f Wishman
between the ears to be ready for NFL responsibilities on
the back end.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Talked about this a little bit, but one of the
things that I'm just so fascinated on the surface with
this draft is just how I don't want to say void,
but it's almost like going back in time, Kyle. I mean,
this is like old school smash mouth draft football, right
when we're talking about running backs and linebackers and guys
in the trenches. We're not talking about quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
I know it's an.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Isolated thing, but how did we get here within this
draft where we're talking about the first wide receiver not
going until you know, the late teens, whereas last year
that would be that's unheard of, you know, twelve months ago, right.
Speaker 7 (30:36):
I think the league has been hurting for a draft
like this for a couple of cycles now where.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
It is big time eating potatoes.
Speaker 7 (30:43):
The defensive tackle is an embarrassment of riches that position.
As far as do you do you want those tackles?
Do you want undersized penetration three techniques? Do you want
gap control guys that can play in the A and
B gap and can lock, peak, shed and deconstruct blocks
and protect their linebackers. Like the offensive line, the offensive
tackle group is not as loaded at the top, but
(31:05):
there's a lot of skills specific and scheme specific type
of guys in that regard. And then you mentioned the
linebacker group where you've got six foot four guys with
length You've got and that that's Jahad Campbell from Alabama,
that's Demetrius Knight from South Carolina. You got a one
year starter out of UCLA that I think had the
best tape out of anybody I watched this year in
Carson Sweeshinger. I'm in love with with his tape. I
(31:27):
think he's super dynamic. He's a former walk on that
they developed from a safety to a linebacker and they
had to move somebody else to get a spotform in
the starting lineup after two games this season, and like
the most instinctive linebacker.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
I've watched this season on tape.
Speaker 7 (31:42):
So with all of the fanfare around the passing game,
and that's the college direction, right is these guys the
seven on seven culture. You have no time off as
a quarterback or a dB or wide receiver because that's
year round and there's no contented and that's kind of
the roots of the game right now. Are much more
(32:03):
friendly to that, and I think you felt that with
kind of the quality and the depth of some of
the offensive and defensive lines in the league. So this
is a critical draft class, I think for a lot
of teams that haven't had the investment opportunities for cost
control players in the draft.
Speaker 6 (32:16):
Kyle Krabs joining us right here. Last one for me,
I want to talk about the running backs. Who knows
what happens after Jonathan Taylor in this Colts offense. Trey
Sermon was back there last year. One of a couple,
what is this draft? Because I'm hearing from guys like you,
the experts run here. It's a good draft. If you're
a mid round guy and you need a running back,
mid round team rather you need a running back, this
is the one to go to.
Speaker 7 (32:34):
Yeah, this has a lot of different flavors too, whether
it's base Shall Tooton from Virginia Tech who was formerly
at North Carolina A and T went down the Senior Bowl,
had a good week there. Danse build five five eight
and three quarters two hundred eleven pounds, is going to
run low four, forced, high four three late, explosive, outside.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Zone type of guy.
Speaker 7 (32:55):
He had more than if more than fifty percent of
his yards came home breakaway runs.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
He's a big time home run hitter.
Speaker 7 (33:00):
But then you got guys like Damian Martinez who is
at Universe of Miami, who is a little bit more
of a grinder between the tackles, had to create a
lot more fir him self after contact in close quarters,
getting contacted in the backfield as another power type back.
And then you got some really dynamic space players like
Trevon Henderson from Ohouse.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Sorry complement Ohause State, that's a good program, please do.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Traveon Henderson really good in pass protection, really good in
the passing game, struggled to stay healthy in the meat
of his college career. But he reminds me of like
a bigger version of Kyron Williams with the success that
he's had with the Rams, going back to when he
was at Notre Dame, and you could tell his kids
(33:45):
like one two, but he's gonna punch you in the mouth.
You try and come through the B gap and he's
gonna knock you down in pass pro and he's had
a lot of success at the NFL level because that position,
a lot of your opportunities are earned by what can
you do on passing down? So you protect the quarterback
six man protections and can you hold on the football
and protect the football?
Speaker 3 (34:04):
So the like.
Speaker 7 (34:05):
There's all kinds of flavors and there's multiple of them,
which makes it a really exciting class for teams that
want to use it.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Early day three pick late data, yeah, heck yeah. The
last one for me, this Obdual Carter thing. How do
you think this this foot fracture and surgery. No surgery
is going to impact I mean, this is a guy
that's potentially the first overall pick, and now you know
he's in danger of teams passing on him because there's
a lot of unknowns and what he's dealing with to
(34:33):
the next level in terms of injuries in the long term.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 7 (34:37):
It's been quite a twelve hours where came up said
he wasn't going to work out because the shoulder, and
then last late last night there was the report about
the foot he might need surgery, and then this morning
they came out and said, oh, just kidding, probably doesn't
need surgery.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
They don't think.
Speaker 7 (34:51):
I would say it's an unortho, unorthodox pathway to having
a resume that goes first overall with two injuries that
may ultimately prevent you from checking the boxes, right, Like
this is all risk assessment collection for teams of like
we're looking for excuses to hurt your resume and ding
you down. But the fact that he moved from off
(35:15):
ball to playing full time on the edge this year,
I thought as the season unfolded, the run defense for
him started to come into place, and obviously the pass.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
Rush profile is through the roof.
Speaker 7 (35:24):
So if Tennessee has the ability to find another pathway
that they like, or maybe if they're going to like
we talked about the very beginning, if they can coax
the Giants up from three to go get their guy
at quarterback, and then the domino effect is you might
go be able to go down to three and still
get out Bill Carter if you like him more than
the quarterback. So it's an interesting chess match that they're
(35:46):
playing at the top of the board that I think
some of their uncertainty that they're trying to put into
what they do with their pick is being aided indirectly
by this saga.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
I don't think it's going to hurt him too much
when it's all said and done.
Speaker 6 (35:58):
Kyle Krabs right there before we let you go, A
lot of Colts fans are ready.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
For to watch Leotu Latu.
Speaker 6 (36:04):
Yeah, I have one of those seasons where you got
a dominant edge guy hit this young man coming out
of UCLA. You know his history last year. Let's go
back three sixty five. What did you like about him?
Were you surprised at where he went? Or did the
Colts get a bargain.
Speaker 7 (36:16):
I think they got a bargain for what was probably
the most polished and developed pass rush IQ guy in
the class. Just the ways in which he won. He
doesn't have like the greatest length as far as like
his anatomical reach and how he can dictate tackles in
their anatomical reach. Brother Heilly has I'm throwing something, no
doubt seem like I'm sorry, But the way he he
(36:38):
crafts a rush plan to understand throughout the course of
a sixty minute game, how is he setting me? How
do I beat that set? How's he going to react
when I beat him with that set? And he was
so far ahead of most of the class and that
obviously Jared Vers had.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
A phenomenal season.
Speaker 7 (36:56):
Chop Robinson from Penn State with the Dolphins, came on
in the second half of the year. A lot based
off of athleticism. Leatsu's a good athlete, but it's the
between the ears sharpness for me that if he stays
on the field, I think he's gonna.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Be really We talked to him at the end of
the season or near the end of the season, and
that's what he said. What you alluded to is that
in college I was just more sophisticated than a lot
of these tackles up here, not nearly as much. And
I think it was a little bit of frustrating for him,
but I think that will come. But I think his
college tape was so stand out ish because he.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Was a good athlete and he just got it.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
He had an arsenal of pass rush moves that you
don't see at that level, taking advantage of all the tackles.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (37:37):
So, and then when you make that leap, your menu
gets whittled down a little bit.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Yeah, you have to go through that to learn.
Speaker 7 (37:44):
Yeah, Okay, what do I have to do differently if
you do, I have to go to that move? Yeah,
or maybe I cut down my bag a little bit
and stay more within my wheelhouse of things that I know,
play within my traits as compared to playing against guys
that aren't technically sound.
Speaker 6 (37:58):
Hey, we just got smarter thanks to Kyle Krabs at
Kyle Krabs on.
Speaker 5 (38:02):
The Twitter x NFL Draft lead for the thirty third team.
Speaker 6 (38:05):
And you guys are freaking lucky to have this young man,
and also so are we, and we appreciate you stepping
up and talking some ball with us. Let's check in
after this thing goes a little bit of draft talk,
maybe in a couple of months.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Please do be happy to hop on with you guys whenever.
Speaker 5 (38:18):
Awesome. Thanks so much, Kyle, thank you
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