Inside the Draft returns this week, bringing expert insights from the top NFL Draft insiders leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. This week, Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor return chat with David Bearman, Chief Content Officer and NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network. Bearman analyzes why the Colts should be targeting a tight end at the top of the draft, the team's biggest draft needs following the first wave of free agency, discusses which quarterbacks he's high on in this year’s draft and how the veteran wide receiver market impacts the receiver prospects in this year's class.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Inside the Draft, a weekly preview of the
upcoming NFL Draft with insiders from around the country. Hello there,
thanks for joining in on this episode of the Inside
the Draft podcast here in the Colts Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
H'm Matt Taylor.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Welcome back inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio,
and believe it or not, we are less than a
month away from the twenty twenty five NFL Draft. The
weather is starting to turn, spring is getting closer to
consistently being here weatherwise in Central Indiana, and the first
round of the draft unfolds the night of Thursday, April
(00:43):
twenty fourth, and it's coming around the bend fast and furious.
This series is with you every week in the months
of March and April, taking you all the way up
to round number one, and the Colts are sitting in
the middle parts of that first round. They have the
fourteenth overall selection and they also have a pick in
all seven rounds of the draft this year as of
right now. As you know, things can change, and they
(01:06):
often do, especially with GM Chris Ballard at the Helm.
He likes to move up and down the draft when
he feels it's appropriate.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
But today we're.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Bringing you another great draft conversation with a draft insider.
Joining us today is David Berman, the chief content officer
and NFL Draft analysts for Pro Football Network. David joined
myself and Jeffrey Gorman to discuss who we as the
Colts picking in the first round, what the Colts' biggest
draft needs are now following the first wave of free agency,
(01:37):
and where the Colts can get good value in the
secondary and also along the offensive line in this year's
draft class. So David is very plugged in, he knows
this stuff. We think you're gonna like this conversation. So
let's get it fired up here. Let's talk some draft
and let's talk some Colts on another edition of Inside
the Draft.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Here's David Berman.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
We are joined now by David Beerman, chief content officer,
NFL Draft analysts for Pro Football Network. A lot of
years spent at ESPN. Thanks for your service at the mothership.
Obviously you turn that right into this Pro Football Network.
I like what you guys are doing over there are things.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Thanks though, I appreciate it. This is the time of
year you get through the regular season, which is a grind,
as everybody knows, and it pays off by a trip
to the super Bowl, and then you turn around and
it's the combine. You turn around and it's free agency,
and now I get to you know, sleep for twenty
four hours in the draft time. So it's a lot
of fun and a I still live up here right
next to the mother ship. I live seven minutes down
(02:34):
the road. Haven't moved. But then obviously change jobs and
love and building Pro Football Network.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Absolutely and to do a great job.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I'm glad you're taking the time to talk to us today.
I want to get to the recent combine in the
upcoming NFL draft, looked at a couple of mock drafts
that you had saw some free agent moves that Chris Ballard,
the GM of the Colts did obviously defensive help with
Ward and buying him in there, Daniel Jones at quarterback.
They got a little running back help in there as well.
But in the after a lot of people, including you
(03:01):
at Pro Football Network, David, have this Tyler Warren the
tight end to come out right there. Are you confident
that a guy of that magnitude and skill set is
there at the fourteen when the Colts pick.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
I'm not one hundred percent confident that he's gonna be there.
But I think if he's there, that's the pick for
the Colts who have long looked for that great tight
end to complete the offense for years of in missing
that tight end. I for one love Tyler Warren. Watched
him throughout the College Football Playoff and thought he's a
guy that not only is a good tight end, but
(03:33):
he's a good athlete. The guy can line up in
plan any where. You saw him in the backfield, you
saw him in motion, you saw him on the end,
this and that, and I mean he was a quarterback
in high school. So this guy can play anywhere. But
I do think if they don't get Tyler Warren, and
it might be liter early, but Colston leveland is also.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Good tight end.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, I wanted to go there are they different players
because I know that you know he's lumbers and Tyler
Warren he's a big, hawking guy leveland more of a
receiver type. See that fur him in when they play
on Sundays.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, I think the biggest difference. Like Warren, you could
almost do anything with You wanna line him up in
the backfield and run. You want to line him up
in the in the slot you want to line up
about wide, sort of a you know, comparison to a
couple of the like the Tony Gonzalez is the world
that you can line up anywhere Loveland. You know what
you're getting in Loveland. He's gonna run right down the
scene and he's gonna score on a fifty yard touchdown.
(04:24):
He's gonna break some tackles. The guy's probably the best
seam stretcher of the tight ends out there. He's just
not a good blocker. So you're not gonna put him
in the backfield because then he's not gonna block anybody.
You're not gonna keep him in on running downs. I
think the difference between Warren and Levelin is you can
scheme more with Warren because you can do anything you
want with him. If you want to spread him out
on the hash, if you want to bring him in.
(04:45):
You don't know what you're what what the coats are
gonna be doing with Loveland. If he's in the game,
he's passing, he's going out for a pass and you
gotta cover him. So I think the element of what
are the coats lining up and doing for your offense
is different with Warren David.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
We talked about Warren and Loveland, and obviously those are
the top two tight ends or you know what people
designate as the top two tight ends in this draft class.
But the tight end depth is pretty deep. So what
other tight ends? While we're on that topic, what other
guys at that position?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Do you like?
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Guys that might be there on Day two that are
worthy of being picked if the Colts pick a different
position in the first round.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I think one guy you gotta watch for, and this
is a guy who led the nation in pretty much
every category as a tight end last year was the
Bowling Green guy, Harrol fannin junior hit. His knock is
he's not huge like Leveland and Warren. He's not as
strong as them. But twenty twenty three first team All Mac.
He was first team All American last year. Here's a
guy that I think you could get in the mid
(05:45):
forties if you decide to go offensive line or linebacker
in the first round. Yeah, and you want to get
a tight end later. I think that's someone that you
can grab right around forty four, you know, the forty
forty five range. I think Terrence Ferguson from Oregon. He
showed late in the year. How good he is. He's
had a huge, vert, well rounded receiving threat. Not as
(06:06):
fast four six three speed, not as fast as these
other guys, but Ferguson's probably the best well rounded blocker
and receiving threat. He's someone that could be around in
either the forties or I believe you have a nineties
pick as well. Having those type of numbers out there
that I think you can look at and get someone
like them.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
All right, David, based on what the Colts have done
in free agency to this point, addressed a lot in
the secondary. Obviously, what's your biggest need for the Colts
in this draft?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Is it indeed tight end like we've been talking about.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I think it's tight end. But if you don't go
tight end, I think you go offensive line. Obviously, you
lost two guys from your offensive line and Fries and Kelly,
and you need to replace them. I don't know if
you need to replace them in the first round. But
when looking at the Pro Football and Sports Network metrics
that we have at PFN, Colts came in at twenty
third in the rankings at the end of the year,
(06:56):
which is a combination of a whole bunch of different
category metrics. Offense and defensive metrics are involved in that,
and both the offense and defensive metrics for the Colts
ended outside of the top twenty. So they do need help,
and I think tight end would help their offense. You
need help at the line. I wouldn't be surprised if
maybe a Jihad Campbell went to them at linebacker in
(07:17):
the first round. And then the other thing is what
is the planet quarterback? Listen, we all know about Anthony
Richardson what he can and cannot do. I know more
than anybody, having watched the University of Florida for years
and watch what he did there. You bring in Daniel Jones. Great,
this competition. I know Shane wants competition, but what is
(07:38):
the long term answered. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere
in the draft they take a quarterback and you have Hey,
we're gonna go with Jones or Richardson for now, but
if it doesn't work out, maybe we get this guy later.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
David, I don't want to have a debate with you
on this. You I'm getting smarter listening to you talk.
But I do want to talk about Daniel Jones for
a second. Here, he's thrown into a fishball out of
Duke immediate. He has looked at as the savior there.
It doesn't happen. He's thrown to the Wolves.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
With the media.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
It's not been a very comfortable place to play for
certain quarterbacks, and that is New York. And then they
deal him to Minnesota. Afterwards, he sits and watches. My
point is, I think he's coming here to a situation
where they're not going to be, you know, writing down
every time. He doesn't use his term signal when it
comes to the media pressure here in Indianapolis, and he
does have a chance to kind of blossom his game
a little bit without this. Do you think something's there
(08:27):
with this young man six overall pick not too many
years ago.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
I mean, I think as possible we've seen it multiple
years in a row in the NFL, where a quarterback
gets highly drafted doesn't work out because of the situation.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Ball Baker Mayfield, Sam Donald, Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Baker Mayfield, Sam Donald. You could see it with you know,
with Justin Fields in New York. He started out well
in Pittsburgh this year. So I'm not saying Daniel Jones
couldn't fit that because You're right. Playing an Indy is
different than playing New York and there's less pressure. And
there's a reason why this guy was a high first
round pick, although men people thought it was too high
(09:01):
for him. Listen, he can throw the ball. We've seen it.
You know, we can roall with his legs. We've seen it.
Maybe a situation with which Steakan's offense in a quieter
city with less pressure, in a winnable division. Do I
see Sam Donald MVP type numbers or Baker Bayfield? Probably not.
I think those were extreme circumstances where Donald happened to
(09:23):
just jump into an offense that was already loaded. Maybe
Indy can pull that because they do. You got a
good running back in Jonathan Taylor, and you've got really
good receivers out there. But Jones is not a guy
I'm gonna want to play it behind this offensive line
as it's currently structured. So I think you can get
more offensive line depth than Jones could be the answer.
But I also don't think, and you guys would know
better than I would, having known that organization better than me.
(09:46):
Are they giving up on Anthony Richardson or they just
want to test them?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Talking to David Berman, chief content officer and NFL Draft
analyst for Pro Football Network. Follow him on Twitter x
at David Berman PFN. Okay, we got some free agents here,
could you just give me some just once over on
when you saw these signings or for a lot of
money too. The first one that went off the board
for the Colts was Cam buying them the safety from Minnesota,
and then Sharvarius Ward, who's an interesting cat. They're both
(10:11):
getting big paydays to come here to Indy. Do you
like to fit for them defensively?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I do with buying them. I thought Biden was a
great signing. I like him. I know there were a
lot of money. I was kind of surprised the Colts
let their offensive lineman go so easily, but then again,
one team grab both of them. But I do of
all the moves, I do like Byn. Them's the best.
I think the Colts had a decent defense last year
and they didn't lose many pieces, but they did gain
(10:37):
buying them, and I think that will help them in
the long run, especially when you're going up against quarterbacks
like CJ. Strout and like Trevor Lawrence multiple times. I
think you're gonna need a guy like buying them back there?
Speaker 2 (10:47):
All right, David, who's your sleeper quarterback? Right?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
We've talked a lot about Shador Sanders and Cam Ward.
Is there a wild card somewhere? I mean, somebody that
could come in and compete for a starting job if
the situation is right for him, or does that guy
even exist in this draft.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
I'm gonna throw two names out there. One's not gonna
surprise you because it's been talked about. Jackson Dart out
of Old Miss can potentially be this year's bow Knicks,
where a team later in the draft thinks they want
a quarterback like Denver did and trade it up and
got bow Knicks. I think Jackson Dark can be that
guy for somebody down there. I like him. I like
him a lot. I think he is just as talented
(11:25):
as Warden Sanders, who are obviously gonna go in the
top five the draft. Knicks love Warden Sanders a lot better,
but this is not a great class. The other name
I'm gonna throw out there just because I loved watching
him in college. Got the same in person once or twice.
I think people are sleeping on him. And that's Dylan
Gabriel out of Oregon. Like, the guy's got skills. He
(11:45):
can run, he can pass, he can see the field great.
Granted I saw him against Purdue, who I think I
could have thrown four touchdowns against.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
But I think take it easy, Salar. We're in ten
country here now, all right.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
That's right. An Indy radio by man for Dolphins Colts
last year and that Friday night before Dolphins Colts, I
went and saw Perdue Oregon and was very, very impressed
by that Oregon offense. Listen, it wasn't the offense that
lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. I think
the way the the way the CFP was scheduled, where
(12:19):
you had the best two teams in the country playing
in the quarterfinal was a sham. And I think Oregon
could have been there in the end with a different draw.
And I think Gabriel is fantastic. He's someone that will
probably go end of Day two, maybe early day three,
that someone's gonna be like, how did we flip this guy? Slip?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Yeah? All right?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
You talked about the offensive lineman that the Colts lost
in free agency with Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. So therefore,
David Tanner, Bordolini and Matt Gonzalvez could be in line
for bigger roles and the Colts could be in line
for more depth offensive line wise in the draft. So
how does that look in the first couple of rounds
in this draft?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
I think the Colts need to go and fill that
offensive line position. Not sure they need to necessarily do
it in the first round. If they go tight end
or linebacker somewhere else in the first round, I think
there's a couple of options for them. The center from
Georgia Jared Wilson, which would be a really nice fill
in for Kelly to backfill that position. He's been going
in a lot of mock drafts in the mid forties
(13:17):
and the Cults are taking forty five. The North Dakota
State guy Gary Zabel plays center and guard, so he
could fill in at a couple of different positions. He's
going between forty five and fifty. Might be a little
bit of a stretch to get him, and if they
wait until the third round or their later picks. Texas
offensive tackle Cameron Williams and LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones
(13:40):
Junior are two guys that are being mocked right around
the eightieth pick, where the Colts picked next. Those are
guys I think that can be especially Wilson and Zabel
could be Day one starters for the Colts to replace
them or at least give the Colts some competition in
training camp.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
All right, David.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
For me, obviously, during the regular season, like you say said,
everything's just crazy, busy, hair on fire, deadline and you know, rent,
swash and repeat, getting ready for the next week. You
do that for eighteen straight weeks in the regular season.
But I do watch a lot of college football, but
I watch it differently than you do. I watch it
for the entertainment value of it. I watch it as
(14:17):
a fan. So I didn't realize until this draft process
started that the wide receiver group and classes is not
that deep. So the best wide receiver in this draft
is Arizona wide out Tatayora McMillan. I'm starting to play
catch up a little bit because I don't stay up
and watch a lot of West Coast football. The guy
(14:38):
plays for a non powerhouse, if you will, in Arizona,
but the guy is huge. What's his early NFL ceiling
and where do you have him? As it relates to
some of the other top wide receivers we've seen go
in the first round in the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
It's funny you bring this up, because I think the
wide receiver position is the most fascinating one of the
draft because we're coming off of back to back years
where wide receivers were taken all over the first round,
right all over the place. But we're also coming off
the second consecutive offseason where these guys have gotten paid
as well. So a lot of these NFL teams are
(15:13):
now spending for We saw what happened in Cincinnati yesterday
with Higgins and Chase. These teams are now investing thirty
to forty million dollars a year on some of these
wide receivers. They aren't necessarily gonna go Draft one in
the first round anymore if you just signed two guys
to eighty million dollars. So the wide receiver position has
dropped a couple of reasons. One because of the talent
(15:35):
we've seen the last couple of years, and second because
it's just not as good as it used to be
with the prospects coming out. McMillan is a fascinating one
because I've seen him as high as Top ten. I've
also seen him drop out of the out of the
first round, depending on who you read. When I sat
there and did my mock two weeks ago, I'm mocking,
I'm doing it. I'm doing I'm doing it. All of
(15:57):
a sudden, I got to like twenty three and I said,
Holy moly, haven't had a wide receiver yet. And that's
what mock draft people have been doing and scratching their heads,
staying there's other needs these teams need. Yes, everybody could use.
And Muka the guy's fantastic. McMillan, these guys are big dudes.
Luthor Burden the third another big one. There's other needs.
(16:19):
You need offense linemen, you need linebackers, you need tight ends.
You never really see tight ends go in the top
fifteen picks, and we're talking about two of them. So
the wide receivers seem to have fallen. But to answer
your original question, of those guys, I like Igbuka the best.
His size, ball control, doesn't have top end speed, but
speed enough. What I saw from him during the college
(16:39):
football playoff was awesome. He'd be my first one off
the board if I was choosing McMillan and Burden again,
back and forth, they both have been taken in the
top ten, and they both have disappeared out of the
first round, So I guess it depends on who you ask.
I don't understand why Luthor Burden has fallen so much.
I've watched him in the SEC. The guy's a monster,
is huge. He's the guy that I want through to
(17:00):
in the end zone in the red zone every single time.
So those are the three big ones to me. The
kid from Texas is also good. So I think you
have four potential guys that will go in the top
forty or fifty picks. I just don't think you're gonna
see anybody in the top ten. A couple of other
ones I would keep my eyes on, just based on
watching the kid out of Miami's Xavier Respecto. I mean,
(17:22):
the guy broke every Hurricane wide receiver record, which says
something when you've got like Michael Irvings and Andre Johnson's
of the world have played there, so he's the guy
to watch. And LSU's Kyraen Lacy just the next iteration
of the LSU wide receiver. When you look at guys
like Jamar Chase and other receivers that have come out
of LSU, All.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Right, last one for me, David on the draft, we
always keep one eye on what's going on inside the division,
the AFC South. The Titans are picking first, the Jaguars
are a top five team. But as it relates to
what's going on in Nashville, sort of in the trenches
type of a draft this year right, kind of chronicle
the lack of depth of the wide receiver spot. And
(18:03):
at quarterback. What are you hearing about what the Titans
are looking at in terms of trade partners or what
they're looking at with some uncertainty at quarterback with their
situation currently right now on Will Levis.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
I could be wrong, but I don't we say this
every year. I don't see outside of the New York Giants,
I don't see anybody trading up to get Warter Sanders.
You know, the Jets made their piece with getting Justin Fields,
and maybe they can get Sanders at seven or eight.
Like the Browns are set right there at too. They're
(18:36):
going to take whichever quarterback is available. The Giants are
really the only ones that need to trade up because
they don't have a quarterback and they might not get
a quarterback if tennessee Cleveland go one two. I have
Tennessee taking Albo Carter Edge out of Penn State. I
think he's the best player in the draft, and I
think they be foolish for sacrificing long term gain for
(18:56):
either a Ward or Sanders, which I'm not in love with.
At the end of the day, teams quarterback and they'll
probably go quarterback, and if they do, they're gonna go
cam Warden. Then I think the Browns, who are desperate
for a quarterback, will go Sanders, and that screws the
Giants over. I would like to see the Titans take
Carter and figure out the quarterback position. It's you know,
maybe you shouldn't have gone with wool Levis early, but
(19:17):
I would give him another year and if it stinks,
you go get a quarterback next.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Year, excellent. I'll tell you what.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
You You're a fun talking to because we could talk
about golf, we could talk about college basketball, talk about
pro football.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
I'd love it.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
You gotta follow this man online if you're on Twitter.
Exits at David Berman PFN three sixty five and then
at David Berman PFN. But he is a chief content
officer in NFL Draft analyst at Pro Football Network.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
So a lot of people are right in me.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
They're saying, hey, you got Barman on the line, and
ask them who the hell is Aaron Rodgers is gonna
play football for in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I would love for him to just go off to
some dark retreat and disappear.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
It seems like.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
It's like the Brett Farresting all over the third Just
The only difference now is that I got two young
kids that I know they're Aaron Rodgers is going to
sign right in the middle of the kids event. You
just know it's gonna happen because he did it. Two
years ago. I was going to my kids little league,
first Little League practice of the year, and as I'm
driving to the field, Aaron Rodgers traded to the Jets.
That was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah, wellly shouldn't have a quarterback retire in the middle
of a preseason game.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
So I think I got you beat there, David, Yeah, yeah,
that one.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
We were going through the top stories over the last
two decades, and that one still stuns me. I remember
where I was, wasn't covering it like you, but that
was an amazing one, no doubt, no doubt. If I
had to put my finger on it. I think he
goes to Pittsburgh. I don't think the Vikings are as
interested as people think they are. Like, if you've made
the decision to move on from Sam Darnold, you're all
in on JJ McCarthy, you know, bringing a backup to compete.
(20:44):
And I listen to I'm not going to call out
the network, but I was listening to an analysis the
other day and someone was saying how the Steelers and
Vikings are automatic contenders if Aaron Rodgers signs there, And
I'm thinking, has anybody paid attention to what Aaron Rodgers
has done over the last three seas. He had his
worst season as a pro with the Packers and his
last year there he obviously didn't play more than four
(21:05):
plays with the Jets, and then he was a train
wreck last year with a roster that he organized. So yes,
Minnesota's got tons of talent. They were one quota away
from getting the buy in the one seed in the NFC,
and that would have drastically changed their tune last year.
I don't see Rogers making a big difference at in Pittsburgh.
Like is Aaron Rodgers currently at ninety seven years old
(21:28):
that much of an upgrade from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. No,
like Pittsburgh was overrated last year. I don't see Aaron
Rodgers coming in here and changing that just because they
got DK Metcalfe, I had Garrett Wilson and receivers of
choice in New York. So I hope he retires. It
was a good run. I don't see him winning a
Super Bowl with any of these teams. And I think
he'd be an absolute moron if he took the Giants job.
(21:50):
There's just no logic to that one. If he takes
the Giants job, he just wants the money and the
fame and to annoy the crap out of us for
the next six months. So I don't see that happening.
I see. I think it's gonna be Pittsburgh because it's
a better fit, and I think Minnesota would be ruining
things and JJ if they took him, And I see
(22:11):
no reason why he would even entertain the Giants too.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
There is no sugarcoating with David Berman. Follow him on
Twitter x at David Berman PFN. Also, if you want
to follow Pro Football Network, that's at PFN three sixty five.
So appreciate the time. We could do this all afternoon,
and of course we appreciate the time talking football.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
David.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Thank you. I appreciate having it, having me on, and
don't forget to plug in Florida for six wins and
those bracket challenges. You guys are on.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Hey, this guy's on it.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
You want a pulse on Florida basketball, he says it
right now, they're taking the title. So fall in line, folks.
He knows what he's talking about. Thanks so much, David.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
All right, have a good one, guys.
Welcome to Inside the Draft, a weekly preview of the
upcoming NFL Draft with insiders from around the country. Hello there,
thanks for joining in on this episode of the Inside
the Draft podcast here in the Colts Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
H'm Matt Taylor.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Welcome back inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio,
and believe it or not, we are less than a
month away from the twenty twenty five NFL Draft. The
weather is starting to turn, spring is getting closer to
consistently being here weatherwise in Central Indiana, and the first
round of the draft unfolds the night of Thursday, April
(00:43):
twenty fourth, and it's coming around the bend fast and furious.
This series is with you every week in the months
of March and April, taking you all the way up
to round number one, and the Colts are sitting in
the middle parts of that first round. They have the
fourteenth overall selection and they also have a pick in
all seven rounds of the draft this year as of
right now. As you know, things can change, and they
(01:06):
often do, especially with GM Chris Ballard at the Helm.
He likes to move up and down the draft when
he feels it's appropriate.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
But today we're.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Bringing you another great draft conversation with a draft insider.
Joining us today is David Berman, the chief content officer
and NFL Draft analysts for Pro Football Network. David joined
myself and Jeffrey Gorman to discuss who we as the
Colts picking in the first round, what the Colts' biggest
draft needs are now following the first wave of free agency,
(01:37):
and where the Colts can get good value in the
secondary and also along the offensive line in this year's
draft class. So David is very plugged in, he knows
this stuff. We think you're gonna like this conversation. So
let's get it fired up here. Let's talk some draft
and let's talk some Colts on another edition of Inside
the Draft.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Here's David Berman.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
We are joined now by David Beerman, chief content officer,
NFL Draft analysts for Pro Football Network. A lot of
years spent at ESPN. Thanks for your service at the mothership.
Obviously you turn that right into this Pro Football Network.
I like what you guys are doing over there are things.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Thanks though, I appreciate it. This is the time of
year you get through the regular season, which is a grind,
as everybody knows, and it pays off by a trip
to the super Bowl, and then you turn around and
it's the combine. You turn around and it's free agency,
and now I get to you know, sleep for twenty
four hours in the draft time. So it's a lot
of fun and a I still live up here right
next to the mother ship. I live seven minutes down
(02:34):
the road. Haven't moved. But then obviously change jobs and
love and building Pro Football Network.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Absolutely and to do a great job.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I'm glad you're taking the time to talk to us today.
I want to get to the recent combine in the
upcoming NFL draft, looked at a couple of mock drafts
that you had saw some free agent moves that Chris Ballard,
the GM of the Colts did obviously defensive help with
Ward and buying him in there, Daniel Jones at quarterback.
They got a little running back help in there as well.
But in the after a lot of people, including you
(03:01):
at Pro Football Network, David, have this Tyler Warren the
tight end to come out right there. Are you confident
that a guy of that magnitude and skill set is
there at the fourteen when the Colts pick.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
I'm not one hundred percent confident that he's gonna be there.
But I think if he's there, that's the pick for
the Colts who have long looked for that great tight
end to complete the offense for years of in missing
that tight end. I for one love Tyler Warren. Watched
him throughout the College Football Playoff and thought he's a
guy that not only is a good tight end, but
(03:33):
he's a good athlete. The guy can line up in
plan any where. You saw him in the backfield, you
saw him in motion, you saw him on the end,
this and that, and I mean he was a quarterback
in high school. So this guy can play anywhere. But
I do think if they don't get Tyler Warren, and
it might be liter early, but Colston leveland is also.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Good tight end.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, I wanted to go there are they different players
because I know that you know he's lumbers and Tyler
Warren he's a big, hawking guy leveland more of a
receiver type. See that fur him in when they play
on Sundays.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, I think the biggest difference. Like Warren, you could
almost do anything with You wanna line him up in
the backfield and run. You want to line him up
in the in the slot you want to line up
about wide, sort of a you know, comparison to a
couple of the like the Tony Gonzalez is the world
that you can line up anywhere Loveland. You know what
you're getting in Loveland. He's gonna run right down the
scene and he's gonna score on a fifty yard touchdown.
(04:24):
He's gonna break some tackles. The guy's probably the best
seam stretcher of the tight ends out there. He's just
not a good blocker. So you're not gonna put him
in the backfield because then he's not gonna block anybody.
You're not gonna keep him in on running downs. I
think the difference between Warren and Levelin is you can
scheme more with Warren because you can do anything you
want with him. If you want to spread him out
on the hash, if you want to bring him in.
(04:45):
You don't know what you're what what the coats are
gonna be doing with Loveland. If he's in the game,
he's passing, he's going out for a pass and you
gotta cover him. So I think the element of what
are the coats lining up and doing for your offense
is different with Warren David.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
We talked about Warren and Loveland, and obviously those are
the top two tight ends or you know what people
designate as the top two tight ends in this draft class.
But the tight end depth is pretty deep. So what
other tight ends? While we're on that topic, what other
guys at that position?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Do you like?
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Guys that might be there on Day two that are
worthy of being picked if the Colts pick a different
position in the first round.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I think one guy you gotta watch for, and this
is a guy who led the nation in pretty much
every category as a tight end last year was the
Bowling Green guy, Harrol fannin junior hit. His knock is
he's not huge like Leveland and Warren. He's not as
strong as them. But twenty twenty three first team All Mac.
He was first team All American last year. Here's a
guy that I think you could get in the mid
(05:45):
forties if you decide to go offensive line or linebacker
in the first round. Yeah, and you want to get
a tight end later. I think that's someone that you
can grab right around forty four, you know, the forty
forty five range. I think Terrence Ferguson from Oregon. He
showed late in the year. How good he is. He's
had a huge, vert, well rounded receiving threat. Not as
(06:06):
fast four six three speed, not as fast as these
other guys, but Ferguson's probably the best well rounded blocker
and receiving threat. He's someone that could be around in
either the forties or I believe you have a nineties
pick as well. Having those type of numbers out there
that I think you can look at and get someone
like them.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
All right, David, based on what the Colts have done
in free agency to this point, addressed a lot in
the secondary. Obviously, what's your biggest need for the Colts
in this draft?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Is it indeed tight end like we've been talking about.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I think it's tight end. But if you don't go
tight end, I think you go offensive line. Obviously, you
lost two guys from your offensive line and Fries and Kelly,
and you need to replace them. I don't know if
you need to replace them in the first round. But
when looking at the Pro Football and Sports Network metrics
that we have at PFN, Colts came in at twenty
third in the rankings at the end of the year,
(06:56):
which is a combination of a whole bunch of different
category metrics. Offense and defensive metrics are involved in that,
and both the offense and defensive metrics for the Colts
ended outside of the top twenty. So they do need help,
and I think tight end would help their offense. You
need help at the line. I wouldn't be surprised if
maybe a Jihad Campbell went to them at linebacker in
(07:17):
the first round. And then the other thing is what
is the planet quarterback? Listen, we all know about Anthony
Richardson what he can and cannot do. I know more
than anybody, having watched the University of Florida for years
and watch what he did there. You bring in Daniel Jones. Great,
this competition. I know Shane wants competition, but what is
(07:38):
the long term answered. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere
in the draft they take a quarterback and you have Hey,
we're gonna go with Jones or Richardson for now, but
if it doesn't work out, maybe we get this guy later.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
David, I don't want to have a debate with you
on this. You I'm getting smarter listening to you talk.
But I do want to talk about Daniel Jones for
a second. Here, he's thrown into a fishball out of
Duke immediate. He has looked at as the savior there.
It doesn't happen. He's thrown to the Wolves.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
With the media.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
It's not been a very comfortable place to play for
certain quarterbacks, and that is New York. And then they
deal him to Minnesota. Afterwards, he sits and watches. My
point is, I think he's coming here to a situation
where they're not going to be, you know, writing down
every time. He doesn't use his term signal when it
comes to the media pressure here in Indianapolis, and he
does have a chance to kind of blossom his game
a little bit without this. Do you think something's there
(08:27):
with this young man six overall pick not too many
years ago.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
I mean, I think as possible we've seen it multiple
years in a row in the NFL, where a quarterback
gets highly drafted doesn't work out because of the situation.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Ball Baker Mayfield, Sam Donald, Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Baker Mayfield, Sam Donald. You could see it with you know,
with Justin Fields in New York. He started out well
in Pittsburgh this year. So I'm not saying Daniel Jones
couldn't fit that because You're right. Playing an Indy is
different than playing New York and there's less pressure. And
there's a reason why this guy was a high first
round pick, although men people thought it was too high
(09:01):
for him. Listen, he can throw the ball. We've seen it.
You know, we can roall with his legs. We've seen it.
Maybe a situation with which Steakan's offense in a quieter
city with less pressure, in a winnable division. Do I
see Sam Donald MVP type numbers or Baker Bayfield? Probably not.
I think those were extreme circumstances where Donald happened to
(09:23):
just jump into an offense that was already loaded. Maybe
Indy can pull that because they do. You got a
good running back in Jonathan Taylor, and you've got really
good receivers out there. But Jones is not a guy
I'm gonna want to play it behind this offensive line
as it's currently structured. So I think you can get
more offensive line depth than Jones could be the answer.
But I also don't think, and you guys would know
better than I would, having known that organization better than me.
(09:46):
Are they giving up on Anthony Richardson or they just
want to test them?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Talking to David Berman, chief content officer and NFL Draft
analyst for Pro Football Network. Follow him on Twitter x
at David Berman PFN. Okay, we got some free agents here,
could you just give me some just once over on
when you saw these signings or for a lot of
money too. The first one that went off the board
for the Colts was Cam buying them the safety from Minnesota,
and then Sharvarius Ward, who's an interesting cat. They're both
(10:11):
getting big paydays to come here to Indy. Do you
like to fit for them defensively?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I do with buying them. I thought Biden was a
great signing. I like him. I know there were a
lot of money. I was kind of surprised the Colts
let their offensive lineman go so easily, but then again,
one team grab both of them. But I do of
all the moves, I do like Byn. Them's the best.
I think the Colts had a decent defense last year
and they didn't lose many pieces, but they did gain
(10:37):
buying them, and I think that will help them in
the long run, especially when you're going up against quarterbacks
like CJ. Strout and like Trevor Lawrence multiple times. I
think you're gonna need a guy like buying them back there?
Speaker 2 (10:47):
All right, David, who's your sleeper quarterback? Right?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
We've talked a lot about Shador Sanders and Cam Ward.
Is there a wild card somewhere? I mean, somebody that
could come in and compete for a starting job if
the situation is right for him, or does that guy
even exist in this draft.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
I'm gonna throw two names out there. One's not gonna
surprise you because it's been talked about. Jackson Dart out
of Old Miss can potentially be this year's bow Knicks,
where a team later in the draft thinks they want
a quarterback like Denver did and trade it up and
got bow Knicks. I think Jackson Dark can be that
guy for somebody down there. I like him. I like
him a lot. I think he is just as talented
(11:25):
as Warden Sanders, who are obviously gonna go in the
top five the draft. Knicks love Warden Sanders a lot better,
but this is not a great class. The other name
I'm gonna throw out there just because I loved watching
him in college. Got the same in person once or twice.
I think people are sleeping on him. And that's Dylan
Gabriel out of Oregon. Like, the guy's got skills. He
(11:45):
can run, he can pass, he can see the field great.
Granted I saw him against Purdue, who I think I
could have thrown four touchdowns against.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
But I think take it easy, Salar. We're in ten
country here now, all right.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
That's right. An Indy radio by man for Dolphins Colts
last year and that Friday night before Dolphins Colts, I
went and saw Perdue Oregon and was very, very impressed
by that Oregon offense. Listen, it wasn't the offense that
lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. I think
the way the the way the CFP was scheduled, where
(12:19):
you had the best two teams in the country playing
in the quarterfinal was a sham. And I think Oregon
could have been there in the end with a different draw.
And I think Gabriel is fantastic. He's someone that will
probably go end of Day two, maybe early day three,
that someone's gonna be like, how did we flip this guy? Slip?
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Yeah? All right?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
You talked about the offensive lineman that the Colts lost
in free agency with Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. So therefore,
David Tanner, Bordolini and Matt Gonzalvez could be in line
for bigger roles and the Colts could be in line
for more depth offensive line wise in the draft. So
how does that look in the first couple of rounds
in this draft?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
I think the Colts need to go and fill that
offensive line position. Not sure they need to necessarily do
it in the first round. If they go tight end
or linebacker somewhere else in the first round, I think
there's a couple of options for them. The center from
Georgia Jared Wilson, which would be a really nice fill
in for Kelly to backfill that position. He's been going
in a lot of mock drafts in the mid forties
(13:17):
and the Cults are taking forty five. The North Dakota
State guy Gary Zabel plays center and guard, so he
could fill in at a couple of different positions. He's
going between forty five and fifty. Might be a little
bit of a stretch to get him, and if they
wait until the third round or their later picks. Texas
offensive tackle Cameron Williams and LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones
(13:40):
Junior are two guys that are being mocked right around
the eightieth pick, where the Colts picked next. Those are
guys I think that can be especially Wilson and Zabel
could be Day one starters for the Colts to replace
them or at least give the Colts some competition in
training camp.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
All right, David.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
For me, obviously, during the regular season, like you say said,
everything's just crazy, busy, hair on fire, deadline and you know, rent,
swash and repeat, getting ready for the next week. You
do that for eighteen straight weeks in the regular season.
But I do watch a lot of college football, but
I watch it differently than you do. I watch it
for the entertainment value of it. I watch it as
(14:17):
a fan. So I didn't realize until this draft process
started that the wide receiver group and classes is not
that deep. So the best wide receiver in this draft
is Arizona wide out Tatayora McMillan. I'm starting to play
catch up a little bit because I don't stay up
and watch a lot of West Coast football. The guy
(14:38):
plays for a non powerhouse, if you will, in Arizona,
but the guy is huge. What's his early NFL ceiling
and where do you have him? As it relates to
some of the other top wide receivers we've seen go
in the first round in the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
It's funny you bring this up, because I think the
wide receiver position is the most fascinating one of the
draft because we're coming off of back to back years
where wide receivers were taken all over the first round,
right all over the place. But we're also coming off
the second consecutive offseason where these guys have gotten paid
as well. So a lot of these NFL teams are
(15:13):
now spending for We saw what happened in Cincinnati yesterday
with Higgins and Chase. These teams are now investing thirty
to forty million dollars a year on some of these
wide receivers. They aren't necessarily gonna go Draft one in
the first round anymore if you just signed two guys
to eighty million dollars. So the wide receiver position has
dropped a couple of reasons. One because of the talent
(15:35):
we've seen the last couple of years, and second because
it's just not as good as it used to be
with the prospects coming out. McMillan is a fascinating one
because I've seen him as high as Top ten. I've
also seen him drop out of the out of the
first round, depending on who you read. When I sat
there and did my mock two weeks ago, I'm mocking,
I'm doing it. I'm doing I'm doing it. All of
(15:57):
a sudden, I got to like twenty three and I said,
Holy moly, haven't had a wide receiver yet. And that's
what mock draft people have been doing and scratching their heads,
staying there's other needs these teams need. Yes, everybody could use.
And Muka the guy's fantastic. McMillan, these guys are big dudes.
Luthor Burden the third another big one. There's other needs.
(16:19):
You need offense linemen, you need linebackers, you need tight ends.
You never really see tight ends go in the top
fifteen picks, and we're talking about two of them. So
the wide receivers seem to have fallen. But to answer
your original question, of those guys, I like Igbuka the best.
His size, ball control, doesn't have top end speed, but
speed enough. What I saw from him during the college
(16:39):
football playoff was awesome. He'd be my first one off
the board if I was choosing McMillan and Burden again,
back and forth, they both have been taken in the
top ten, and they both have disappeared out of the
first round, So I guess it depends on who you ask.
I don't understand why Luthor Burden has fallen so much.
I've watched him in the SEC. The guy's a monster,
is huge. He's the guy that I want through to
(17:00):
in the end zone in the red zone every single time.
So those are the three big ones to me. The
kid from Texas is also good. So I think you
have four potential guys that will go in the top
forty or fifty picks. I just don't think you're gonna
see anybody in the top ten. A couple of other
ones I would keep my eyes on, just based on
watching the kid out of Miami's Xavier Respecto. I mean,
(17:22):
the guy broke every Hurricane wide receiver record, which says
something when you've got like Michael Irvings and Andre Johnson's
of the world have played there, so he's the guy
to watch. And LSU's Kyraen Lacy just the next iteration
of the LSU wide receiver. When you look at guys
like Jamar Chase and other receivers that have come out
of LSU, All.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Right, last one for me, David on the draft, we
always keep one eye on what's going on inside the division,
the AFC South. The Titans are picking first, the Jaguars
are a top five team. But as it relates to
what's going on in Nashville, sort of in the trenches
type of a draft this year right, kind of chronicle
the lack of depth of the wide receiver spot. And
(18:03):
at quarterback. What are you hearing about what the Titans
are looking at in terms of trade partners or what
they're looking at with some uncertainty at quarterback with their
situation currently right now on Will Levis.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
I could be wrong, but I don't we say this
every year. I don't see outside of the New York Giants,
I don't see anybody trading up to get Warter Sanders.
You know, the Jets made their piece with getting Justin Fields,
and maybe they can get Sanders at seven or eight.
Like the Browns are set right there at too. They're
(18:36):
going to take whichever quarterback is available. The Giants are
really the only ones that need to trade up because
they don't have a quarterback and they might not get
a quarterback if tennessee Cleveland go one two. I have
Tennessee taking Albo Carter Edge out of Penn State. I
think he's the best player in the draft, and I
think they be foolish for sacrificing long term gain for
(18:56):
either a Ward or Sanders, which I'm not in love with.
At the end of the day, teams quarterback and they'll
probably go quarterback, and if they do, they're gonna go
cam Warden. Then I think the Browns, who are desperate
for a quarterback, will go Sanders, and that screws the
Giants over. I would like to see the Titans take
Carter and figure out the quarterback position. It's you know,
maybe you shouldn't have gone with wool Levis early, but
(19:17):
I would give him another year and if it stinks,
you go get a quarterback next.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Year, excellent. I'll tell you what.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
You You're a fun talking to because we could talk
about golf, we could talk about college basketball, talk about
pro football.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
I'd love it.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
You gotta follow this man online if you're on Twitter.
Exits at David Berman PFN three sixty five and then
at David Berman PFN. But he is a chief content
officer in NFL Draft analyst at Pro Football Network.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
So a lot of people are right in me.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
They're saying, hey, you got Barman on the line, and
ask them who the hell is Aaron Rodgers is gonna
play football for in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I would love for him to just go off to
some dark retreat and disappear.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
It seems like.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
It's like the Brett Farresting all over the third Just
The only difference now is that I got two young
kids that I know they're Aaron Rodgers is going to
sign right in the middle of the kids event. You
just know it's gonna happen because he did it. Two
years ago. I was going to my kids little league,
first Little League practice of the year, and as I'm
driving to the field, Aaron Rodgers traded to the Jets.
That was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah, wellly shouldn't have a quarterback retire in the middle
of a preseason game.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
So I think I got you beat there, David, Yeah, yeah,
that one.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
We were going through the top stories over the last
two decades, and that one still stuns me. I remember
where I was, wasn't covering it like you, but that
was an amazing one, no doubt, no doubt. If I
had to put my finger on it. I think he
goes to Pittsburgh. I don't think the Vikings are as
interested as people think they are. Like, if you've made
the decision to move on from Sam Darnold, you're all
in on JJ McCarthy, you know, bringing a backup to compete.
(20:44):
And I listen to I'm not going to call out
the network, but I was listening to an analysis the
other day and someone was saying how the Steelers and
Vikings are automatic contenders if Aaron Rodgers signs there, And
I'm thinking, has anybody paid attention to what Aaron Rodgers
has done over the last three seas. He had his
worst season as a pro with the Packers and his
last year there he obviously didn't play more than four
(21:05):
plays with the Jets, and then he was a train
wreck last year with a roster that he organized. So yes,
Minnesota's got tons of talent. They were one quota away
from getting the buy in the one seed in the NFC,
and that would have drastically changed their tune last year.
I don't see Rogers making a big difference at in Pittsburgh.
Like is Aaron Rodgers currently at ninety seven years old
(21:28):
that much of an upgrade from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. No,
like Pittsburgh was overrated last year. I don't see Aaron
Rodgers coming in here and changing that just because they
got DK Metcalfe, I had Garrett Wilson and receivers of
choice in New York. So I hope he retires. It
was a good run. I don't see him winning a
Super Bowl with any of these teams. And I think
he'd be an absolute moron if he took the Giants job.
(21:50):
There's just no logic to that one. If he takes
the Giants job, he just wants the money and the
fame and to annoy the crap out of us for
the next six months. So I don't see that happening.
I see. I think it's gonna be Pittsburgh because it's
a better fit, and I think Minnesota would be ruining
things and JJ if they took him, And I see
(22:11):
no reason why he would even entertain the Giants too.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
There is no sugarcoating with David Berman. Follow him on
Twitter x at David Berman PFN. Also, if you want
to follow Pro Football Network, that's at PFN three sixty five.
So appreciate the time. We could do this all afternoon,
and of course we appreciate the time talking football.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
David.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Thank you. I appreciate having it, having me on, and
don't forget to plug in Florida for six wins and
those bracket challenges. You guys are on.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Hey, this guy's on it.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
You want a pulse on Florida basketball, he says it
right now, they're taking the title. So fall in line, folks.
He knows what he's talking about. Thanks so much, David.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
All right, have a good one, guys.
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