4-22-24 - Mo Egger with Eric Eager

Eric Eager co-hosts the Sumer Sports Show.

He knows a lot about football.

So he joined us on ESPN1530 to discuss the Bengals and the draft.

Check out the Sumer Sports mock draft here.

Download the Sumer Sports NFL Rookie Guide here.

Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.

Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.

Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen

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Episode Transcript

(00:01):
It is thirteen away from four o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty on Moeger
NFL Draft Fast approaching Thursday, Roundone. We are broadcasting from the Holy
Grail downtown Eric Eager from Suomer Sports. We've had Eric on I think two
or three other times this offseason.He is always very insightful. We had

(00:23):
him on I Guess about a monthago to talk about his bullishness. His
bullishness a right word, his bullishnesson the Bengals with what they have done
in free agency. I retweeted hedid a Bengals mock draft using the mock
draft tool that ESPN has and he'sa great follow on social media. Suomer
Sports show is outstanding and he's agreat guest, especially this time of year.

(00:45):
Eric, what's going on, Moe. It's good to hear your voice.
Yes, it's the Holy Grail isa great spot that should be fun
for Bengals fans. It's my favoriteshow to host because it's the only show
we do where what you're talking aboutis happening in real time. Everything else
is what we did the night before. What's happening the NFL Draft is happening

(01:07):
in real time. It's a greatvenue in a great show, and I
can't wait. Yeah, and everybody, everybody's optimistic. It's the rare event
where every sports fan is enjoying it. Yes, that and schedule release night,
everything else. There's pretty much someonemiserable. Your your mock draft.
I tweeted it out. Folks cancheck it out. You have them taking

(01:27):
a Maria Sims. This is aplayer who has often been mocked to Cincinnati.
If he's the guy at eighteen,how happy should we be? I
think pretty happy. I think theBengals, oh, you know, you
know Duke Tobin, you know saida couple of months ago, the right
tackle spot for the Bengals is goingto be you know, a combination of

(01:51):
a veteran and a young person,you know, young player Orlando You know,
they had Trent Brown there, rightand he's probably going to man that
spot as long as you can.And he played well last season. Uh
you know, Orlando Brown play okaylast season. But he's the long term
answer at left tackle. But thisis always a team mo right that that

(02:12):
they draft a year ahead of time, right there. You know, you
look at their depth chart right now, their first round pick from last year
is not projected to start. Theirfirst round pick from two years ago is
not projected to start. You evengo all the way back to you know,
the the Barvin Lewis days, allthe way back to like the Mike
Zimmer d C days, you gotDrake Kirkpatrick took a while, and then

(02:36):
you have the you know, someof the failures, the Jake Fishers of
the world and the Cedricuboies of theworld. Those guys were drafted and even
though you know they didn't work,some of them, it wasn't a catastrophe
for the Bengals because they were draftedto to for the future and not to
fill immediate need. And that wasthat's what you know, that's what Mims
would do, uh, you knowfor this team. Yeah. Also,

(02:59):
you know they were lucky last yearthey had the same five offensive linemens start
all seventeen games. That's probably notgoing to be the case this year.
Just doesn't work that way. Idon't love their backups, so I just
I need better backups, and ifI could find one for the short term
in the first round of the draft, I'm all in. What was interesting
to me about your exercise is youhad them taking three offensive linemen within the

(03:21):
first two days. They obviously havetwo third round picks. Kind of walk
me through that because I think you'dhave a lot of people who had said,
well wait a minute early in thisdraft, they need a defensive tackle,
and you don't have them taking onesuntil late on Saturday. Yeah,
that was just kind of how theboard shook out. And there's you know,

(03:42):
that is an issue, right,I mean, they it has to
shake out nicely. There aren't Thereare dtackles who I think are going to
be good players even later. Obviously, you know the kid from Texas Sweat.
You know, he had his issuesoff the field with the with the
dui. That will drop him alittle bit. But there are other players
at that position where you know there'svalue a little bit later. And you

(04:04):
know, when it comes to offensivelineman, I think that there's a ton
of value early nine and a half. Ten actually, if you look at
the Jews on the in the sportsbooks, ten projected offensive lineman going in round
one, and you know a fewothers that I think are going to be
good players going earlier in Day two. It falls off precipitously for lineman and
almost always has you know, fordefensive linemen, especially some of the guys

(04:29):
who are going to be less youknow, everything everywhere all at once,
but more like you know one gaffers, guys you know who are going to
replace DJ Reader for example, youknow types you know they're going to be
you know, available later. Thinkingabout Travis Jones during the draft that also
gave us Jordan Davis. Travis Joneswas multiple rounds later than Jordan Davis.

(04:49):
But as basically plus as value,your dog doesn't seem to agree no,
does not agree no, and yeahalmost always seems to make a yeah to
make to make a thing. EricEager from u suomer Sports. By the

(05:09):
way, go to suomer sports dotcom and you could download their free twenty
twenty four NFL Rookie Guide, whichis a terrific resource. Getting back to
round one now, obviously a lotof conversations here have focused on taking an
offensive lineman, specifically taking a righttackle Mims as a kid. We have
talked about a lot. You willhave folks who say that's fine, but

(05:30):
if Pyron Murphy's there, you gotto pull the trigger. What do you
say to that? I do thinkthat there is some some value in thinking
about you know, Murphy being thebest interior defensive lineman. Newton actually I
think is a little bit underrating thedraft as well the kids from Illinois.
But as opposed to taking let's saythe fifth or sixth best offensive lineman,

(05:56):
I think that there is some valuein that. For sure. I think
Murphy is climbing up boards like Ithink that you know there are you know,
I think that there was a prettysharp better who took fourteen to one
on him to be the first defensiveplayer taken, which would would certainly be
a surprise, I think, givenall that if you were to fall to
eighteen. I know, you knowthat Duke doesn't really you know, like
to trade up as much in thedraft. If he does fall to eighteen,

(06:19):
that would be a value that Ithink would be too good to pass
up to the Bengals. What ifBoers is there. I'm not a huge
fan of taking tight end high.I mean, Tyler Eifert was, you
know, a classic success story inthat realm, and I think Bengals fans
will will kind of you know,maybe maybe twins and eyebrow at that because

(06:41):
Eifort had the kind of the onegreat year in twenty fifteen, but was
mostly injured during his time with Cincinnati. But it's just a position that's really
hard to acclimate at the NFL level. You have to learn how to block,
you have to learn how to youknow, catch, The physicality,
the speed of the game, bothof those things are hard to acclimate to
when you are you know, whenyou're coming up at eighteen, though,

(07:04):
when everybody's mocuum ten, that mightbe where I break a rule and just
say, look like this, thisis the kid you bring in. You
have Gseki as well, yet youknow, hopefully you don't make the kid
block too much. He might bethe one exception in this particular offense,
especially considering this team lost Tyler Boyd. You know, I think our box

(07:28):
drafted Schumer. On our website,seamer sports dot Com has them going with
Brian Thomas, the LSU receiver.I think he's a good third option.
This team does need a third optionin the passing game losing mixing and also
Boyd, I think that I thinkthat Bowers to me at eighteen is a
spot where if they took him,the historical hit rate is not high,

(07:49):
but I would I would not givethem any flascor it. Eric Eager Sumer
Sports. You mentioned wide receiver.They they they are. I think I
would be stunned if if we getto late Friday night and they haven't addressed
that position. There's the Tyler Boyddeparture, There's what's likely to play out
with T Higgins and him not beinga Bengal beyond twenty twenty four. I

(08:11):
would be surprised that they took awide receiver on Thursday, so it's probably
gonna happen on Friday. Who isthe wide receiver on Friday? I should
be most hoping they can take Oh, that's I think. Now this guy
is probably gonna fall and and hehe does kind of remind me of of

(08:33):
Higgins in some you know, realisticways in that his on field speed is
much better than his you know,his casting speed, and that's Keon Coleman
of Florida State. Like, Ithink that he is a player that can
compliment what Shakes does really well forthis team. Now, you know,
six four, two fifteen, he'sonly he's not even twenty one years old

(08:56):
yet, you know, the fortytime and all that not gonna look great,
But the on field speed is quitegood. I think he's gonna fall
now for a lot of wide receivers, it just takes one team. So
I I you know, Nikhil Harry, for example, went a whole round
ahead of DK Metcalt so who knowsthat he'll be there. But that's when
I I do like I also,uh, you know one guy that I

(09:18):
like a little bit a little bitlater is Malekai Corley out of Western Kentucky.
I think that that offense was veryproductive. He was a better uh
player in his second to last yearthan his last year. He's not quite
as big, but but very productiveat Western Kentucky. An offense, as
you guys know, kind of fromthat you know, in that in that
kind of region, throws the footballlot. So he's gotten a lot of

(09:41):
a lot of reps there. Sothose are two guys that I like there.
Uh And and also you know,this is kind of a wild card
because he's a six foot seven,two thirty seven receiver. But Johnny Wilson
out of Florida State, a redshirtjunior, also very interesting in this particular
offense right where you know you're youhave the kind of every you know,
amazing all around player and Chase andyou're kind of looking for a bailout player,

(10:03):
which Higgins has been for them forever. A guy that's six foot seven
that can move the way that JohnnyWilson can is intriguing. Eric Eagersumer Sports
dot Com. He is terrific.I know you are doing a lot of
these this time of year, soI do appreciate it. By the way,
your dogs seem to agree with thatlast take, which is good,
right it was. Yeah, thankyou, awesome stuff. Man. I'm

(10:30):
gonna bother you after the draft.We'll talk about what they did. I
appreciate it as always anytime. Oh, have a good one, you too,
You're the best. Eric Eager SumerSports Show is outstanding and check out
suomer sports dot com. They're free. Twenty twenty four Rookie Guide is available.
Download it now and you'll be betteroff for it. Yeah. Our
Thursday is going to be a busyday. So here's what I want you

(10:52):
to do, Okay, I wantyou to just clear out all of your
time on Thursday and join us atthe at Long Next broadcasting from there on
Thursday afternoon from three to six.Uh. And if you can't make that,
then come to the Holy Grail andbroadcasting from there. Tony and I.
Our portion of the draft show willbe from eight to ten on seven

(11:13):
hundred WLW. So what you cando is go to Long next and then
join me at the Grail. That'sthe plug they wanted. UH Long Next
three to six, Holy Grail.I'll be there with Tony from eight to
ten. Lance and Rocky do thefirst two hours, then Tony and me
and then the Chickster and authenellmore uhfive point three fifteen thirty and eight six

(11:37):
six seven oh two three seven sevensix. I think you know with the
offensive line, we we we keeptalking about a long term right tackle solution,
a long term replacement for Jonah Williams, and somebody that could maybe compete
for a starting job UH and playas soon as Week one this year.
What is not likely to happen.And this is gonna sound pessive mystic,

(12:00):
It just it reflects the statistical probabilityof guys getting hurt. Last year.
The Bengals were amazingly healthy on theoffensive line for all of the individual games
missed, for all the injury issuesthey had, with the exception of Cody
Ford having to play a handful ofsnaps they were remarkably healthy on the offensive

(12:20):
line. That's probably not going torepeat itself this year. So the good
news is and Cody Ford came inand played capably, but their depth wasn't
tested. I know as much todayas I did a year ago about the
backups on the offensive line. Ido believe had some of those backups had

(12:43):
to play last year could have beenquite rough. So they need some depth.
They need some better backups that couldbe addressed in the draft as well.
It's a four o'clock on ESPN fifteen, third Cincinnati Sports Station. This
is Sports Cup. I'm Christine Leaciquestion Mark surrounding a pair of seventy six

(13:09):
Ers players for Game two of theirfirst round NBA playoff series against the Knicks
tonight seven Eastern ESPN Radio. CenterJoel Embiid left knee injury recovery and point
guard Tyrese Maxi with an illness,both listed as questionable. Philly's down one
game to none. Stanley Cup Playoffsmaple leaves Ford William Nielander with an undisclosed
injury game time decision Game two againstthe Bruins Tonight's seven Eastern ESPN. That's

(13:31):
followed by Game one Golden Knights Stars. It's a tough way for defending champion
Vegas to kick off its title defense. Notes ESPN, NHL analyst PK Sue
Ban Dallas keep team hungry, JamieBen Tyler, Sagan, the whole crew,
Matt Fushang Heiskinen at during that theseguys are boys to want to make

(13:52):
a deep run, But you knowwhat, you want to beat the chaps.
You gotta beat the jams, andVegas has only gotten better picking up
Thomas Hurdle, Anthony Manta Noah hadn'tbeen on the back end. Golden Knights
captain Mark Stone returns from a laceratedspleen to play tonight. NFL Jets trading
former number two overall pick Zach Wilsonand his seventh round pick to Denver for
sixth rounder. Feeling great starts witha great shave, and great shaves start

(14:16):
with Barbisol's shaving cream. That's Barbisol'sshaving cream, an American classic for over
one hundred years. Close Shave America, Close shaved Barbisol the NFL draft to
Cincinnati Bengals selects. He's an ESPNfifteen thirty cruise development Orange and Black Draft

(14:39):
Profile, Chew's Cruise presented by PellowWindows, Indoors, Greater Cincinnati and Northern
Kentucky, Boxer Gas and Holman RVdot Com. Now here's Moegger with a
name you need to know. WithTyler Boyd hitting free agency, the Bengals
could use this year's We have tofind a replacement in the slot. One

(15:01):
player who could fill that role asMichigan wide out Roman Wilson. Wilson led
last year's National champions in receiving,and he was a second team All Big
Ten player for the Wolverines. Wilsonis a sure handed pass catcher. He
only had one drop in sixty seventargets last season, and he can be
explosive, with more than a thirdof his catches going for more than twenty
yards. He also had twelve touchdownreceptions last season. He does have what

(15:26):
scouts call a smallish frame, andgiven that he played almost entirely in the
slot in college, there's likely alimit as to how he can be used.
Still, Wilson has a combination ofspeed and reliability with his hands that
make him an intriguing prospect. Keepan eye on Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson
so has more listening for the nextplayer profile on ESPN fifteen thirty, the

(15:50):
official home of the Bengals. Thisreport is sponsored