Free Agency Grades: AFC Edition

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the On
the Sideline podcast of Jackson and Kyle. I am Jackson
and I'm joined here as always by the man who
also signed a deal to play quarterback with the New
York Giants. Kyle, Ka, how are you doing?

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Uh? Doing pretty good? Yeah, we had some moves after
our NFC grades, so you know, maybe we have to
reevaluate our Giants ranking. I don't even remember what I
gave him for a grade. But you know, some activities
still late in free agency. I like to see it,
you know, there's still things to talk about. It's fun.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, that they're still I mean, like Aaron Rodgers is
still on the market. That feels like that's gonna you know,
someone will probably touch on a little bit as we
go through one of the teams here, but yeah, it's
it's fascinating. I don't know, I mean, do you want
to talk about the Russell Wilson move or do you
want to get into this list?

Speaker 2 (01:30):
I mean, we could talk about it for a second.
Why not. Let's you know, we talked a little bit
of NFC last week, so we can kind of put
a bow on it because it seems like the last major,
major move at least for the off season, for now
until post NFL Draft. And yeah, so they get Russell
Wilson and Jameis Winston, and you know, quite frankly, I
think it's the right move because essentially all of the

(01:52):
reporting leading up to this draft is that the Giants
we're going to miss out on quarterback at the first
two picks. Now, maybe they drake a you know, by
all accounts, this is a two quarterback draft at the top.
Maybe they grade the third quarterback a little bit higher
and could have taken him third. I kind of doubt it,
but we'll see. But at the very same time, like

(02:12):
it seemed like they're gonna miss out on the top
two quarterbacks, So I still think they should draft a quarterback.
But this at least gives you insurance, is that you're
not putting a quarterback in a bad situation and you're
still giving your other young players a chance to develop.
Is Russell Wilson going to be the answer long term
for the New York Giants. Absolutely not. I think everybody
knows that. But I just think having the seventeenth best quarterback,

(02:34):
sixteenth best quarterback in the NFL is the heck of
a lot better for a lot of your young talent
trying to develop than having the thirty second best quarterback
in the NFL for next season. And I think that's
what they assured themselves with this move.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, it's almost like remember when the Panthers benched Bryce Young,
and it was almost like, at a certain point, we
have to just evaluate everybody else on the roster. Obviously
turned out to Bryce Young when he came back in
and played well, But you know, but similar to that, Yeah,
I get that, And I mean who knows too, Like
I think, you know, you brought up on a podcast earlier,
is it possible to giants just think they're better than

(03:07):
we think they are. Where it's like, as it possible.
They just think they're kind of good and maybe if
they have a quarterback they can be effective and maybe
it's like, hey, maybe Russell Wilson's kind of bounces back.
I thought it's pretty good if the Steelers has another
good year and you say, let's give them another two
year deal and see what happens.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah. Yeah, he's got a pretty good receiver that he's
throwing too. They got a good offensive line or a
decent offensive line. I'd say when it's healthy and yeah,
I mean, I still think they need some help in
the secondary, even though they were aggressive about it this offseason.
But you know, there's a pretty good cornerback at the
top of the NFL draft. Maybe that's where they're looking
to fix that one too. So I think the Giants
have some options. I don't know how much, Like I'm

(03:44):
not betting on them to be like competitive, like playoffish.
Maybe this year, maybe they will, I don't know, we'll see.
I still think they're a little bit away from that.
But I just think it gives them the insurance that
they don't have to feel forced to take a quarterback
immediately in the first two rounds of they don't love anybody.
You know, it could be the best case scenario that
like maybe they draft a guy like Jalen Milroe in

(04:06):
the third or fourth round and he's gonna learn behind
Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and get that time and
in the meantime, your other guys are gonna get a
chance to play behind a veteran quarterback that's going to
help enhance their games as well. And it's not you know,
affecting long term salary it's a one year deal, and
I think it's I just think it's a good move
all around to do something like that and just get
a better player in the building to help you out.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do we want to learn behind Jameis Winston? Is that
the guy we want?

Speaker 2 (04:33):
He's at least gonna be there for some comedian relief,
right So.

Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, it'll be fun of behind him for sure.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
I don't know. Yeah, I mean, as long as he's
not saying, yeah, you can make the throw through that window.
You know I can too. You know, it's a what's
the worst that could happen? I mean, look, it just
is what it is, right Like, I like Jameis Winston,
I think more than conventional people. But I think he's
a good backup. I think he's a nice safety valve
to have. But yeah, I think it's a the Giants

(05:01):
had to start somebody, and I think it's a better
situation for the team all around to force themselves to
start one of these guys rather than panic and feel
like they have to start a Jalen Miler or Jackson
Dart who they would get in maybe the second or
third round right away and when they're not ready.

Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, I agree, let's let's move on. Let's get into
the list. We're gonna go through the entire AFC. Uh
if you missed it, we did the NFC last week,
so you can check that one out on this channel.
But yeah, let's get into the Let's just start the top.
Let's go with the Buffalo Bills, the raining AFC runner
ups who you know made made some small moves here

(05:38):
with Josh Palmer, uh, they re signed Khalil Shakir. They
also extend uh Josh Allen, which is a big move,
and then adding some smaller pieces as well, like the
Joey Bosa move is a deal I find interesting. They
you know.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (05:54):
They also added like Larry Ogunjobi. Who that guy. The
amount of money that guy brings in is truly impressive.
This is a I don't know. Also resigned Greg Russell.
I think this was a fine offseason. Didn't have a
ton that they could do and interesting sing how to
boast a move works out. Definitely a risk, but I'll
go like a C plus year just because again they

(06:14):
weren't going to be able to move the needle much
either way.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, I mean I had to be think. I think
there are things you could really like I mean, they
prioritized in house signings right, that was their priority. They
got extensions done, and I think that was the right
move overall. The tough thing is going to be the
receiver room. Now. I think Josh Palmer could be an
upgrade on Mac Collins, who did have a good year

(06:40):
for last year for Buffalo. I think he could be
an upgrade still, and you know, it's a little bit
of an overpay for me, but I think still, like
I said, he could be a good player on this team.
So we'll see how that works out. The tough thing
is going to be I still think they need to
bring back Amari Cooper and I don't know what their
financial situation looks like after all of this, but I
do think that they still need his skill set on

(07:04):
this team, So maybe that happens later in free agency.
I haven't seen has he signed anywhere? Did I miss
that one?

Speaker 1 (07:10):
I always signed?

Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, So maybe they're just drawing that out something like that,
So that could be something. I think they overpaid some
of these guys, and that's probably where I dock it
a little bit, because like I said, I think Palmer
is a bit of an overpay Ogunjobi is an overpay.
There has to be something that like teams see that
like analytically isn't tracked that they just love about this guy.
I don't know what it is, but you mentioned the

(07:33):
Bosa thing, you know, I think it could be it's
a great Bilo situation, right, Like, I'm not really really
like this guy has dealt with so many injuries in
his career. It could obviously go bad, but I'm just
not ready to say Joey bosas washed up at this
point of his career. So was it a poor season

(07:57):
last year? Yeah, a little bit, But like I wouldn't
be surprised as if he's sick next year for Buffalo, right,
I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to be awesome.
And I think that's what the Buffalo Bills would have
to lean towards, is that they can get whatever they
need to out of them. And the good news for
them is that, like, yes, twelve million dollars is still
a decent amount against the cap, but they have great
Russo they have all these pieces on the defensive line.

(08:18):
It's not like they're dependent on Joey Bosa to be
awesome for them to be successful. So I think it's
a great, low risk, high reward move for them.

Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean, I get it. It's it's the move
that if it works out, everyone's like, why the hell
did the NFL teams let the Bills get Joey Bosa
for this kind of money, But like, you know, the
re audience. He's played a thousand snaps in the past
three seasons combined. I mean, he's struggled to stay on
the field, and you're right, he wasn't great last year,
so well, I agree, I don't. It's not to play

(08:47):
on the field that I'm concerned with too much, it's
just the he just he keeps getting injured that I
just I have the concerns that way. But again, I
mean like AJ Brown kept getting hurt with the Titans,
then he goes to Eagles and his durable Like sometimes
it just works out.

Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it's a big it's a big
wild card, but I do think it would work out
for them. I do see a scenario where Jolie Bosa
is like an all pro level player for the next season, right,
Like it just maybe not all pro, but at least
like pro bowler, you know, that level.

Speaker 1 (09:15):
Maybe I don't know. I don't know if they're gonna
give me a ton of playing time. I think the
idea might be similar to but with Von Miller last year, Like,
let's just let's let's not have you play fifty snaps again,
Let's just have you play.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
Thirty and be the most impactful thirty snaps he can get. Yeah,
I mean, yeah, there's a scenario for it. I mean,
I guess it just depends on how good he looks
in camp and how healthy he is, if he's able
to play, Like I could see them ramping up his
his pass or his snap right, but you know, it's
it's a risk you're gonna have to play because he's
been injury riddled basically his entire career.

Speaker 1 (09:44):
Mm hmm yeah, any more thoughts are ready to move
on the next thing.

Speaker 2 (09:48):
Uh No, we can keep going.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
Okay, let's go on. Let's go to the Miami Dolphins here.
Who so again? You know, uh, the team was probably
gonna lose some pieces Jevon Holland, even though it didn't
seem to cost a ton to keep him in house,
they did add guys like James Daniels, A Faith, Dave malfon,
wu and Zach Wilson, who I don't really get the

(10:11):
the Zach Wilson move at all. I don't like this,
uh this this what happened here with the Dolphins too much.
I would have rather them kept uh you know, that
kept Jevon Holland. I don't get why Zach Wilson is
still is their backup. I don't know why they are
allergic to just signing a decent backup. So, yeah, D
minus here for me, Kyle, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's a D for me. I mean there there's a
lot of things. I mean, they were gonna probably lose
pieces again this offseason. I mean it felt like it
was gonna happen, but it felt significant again, Like they're
banking on James Daniels, who looked good before he hurt himself.
You know, he tore his achilles in Week four last season,
so it's a very small sample size, but he played

(10:53):
well to start the year. He just hasn't really been
that guy consistently throughout his career, right, Like this is
his ninth season coming off of tour achilles. Like, I
just don't know how much I can convince myself that's
gonna be an awesome you know, play overall, So we'll
see how that works out. They they put it, brought
in molafan Wu to replace I'm assuming Javon Holland, which

(11:15):
I don't love, and then uh yeah, I mean I
in a vacuum, like I like Nick Westbrook akine as
like their third receiver next to their guys, but like, yeah,
I don't know. It just felt like this Miami team
missed their window, and it just felt like the last
two offseasons they've they've taken some hits of guys having
to leave the team because of financial situations, and I
think they're in a worse spot now than they've been

(11:37):
in a couple of years.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yeah, you know, key Ran says, when did Jackson turn
on Zach Wilson thought he would love the signing for
the fans. I mean, the thing is, like I would
love that signing for like the Browns, or like for
a team that doesn't have a quarterback, of hey, let's
just go out and take a flyer on Wilson. I
don't get like the Dolphins have missed the playoffs and
like have really struggled, including losing a playoff game, because

(12:00):
they just don't have competent backup quarterback play. I don't
get why this team did sign signed Jameis Winston. You know,
get someone who can just give your team a chance
when he's imagine Jameis Winston throwing to these weapons. That
would be great.

Speaker 2 (12:13):
I mean, look, Zach Wilson didn't beat out Jared Stidham
last year. Yeah, and now he's their backup quarterback. They
could have signed Jared Stidham, yeah right, yeah, you know,
they could have brought in the guy who beat Zach
Wilson last season. I just you know, they there there
was options there. It felt like on the table, like
maybe like he clearly still has the raw talent, but

(12:36):
I mean, he hasn't proved in the NFL. He's been
bad in the NFL. And then in another stop in Denver,
he was the third guy in a you know, quarterback
room we weren't very optimistic about, but Knicks turned ended
up working out. But like he was still the third
string on that team.

Speaker 1 (12:52):
Karen says, to be fair, Huntley was a play away
from beating a good Mangals team. Yeah, but didn't go
to school. Into the season with Huntley, he was They
signed him off the street in the middle of the year.

Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yeah. Yeah, they just haven't prioritized in the off seasons.
It's it's bizarre.

Speaker 1 (13:05):
Yeah, any more thoughts on this. They're ready to move on?

Speaker 2 (13:08):
Uh No, I think Dolphins fans are ready to move on.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
So it's possibly. Kyle, let's talk about your team. I'll
give you the floor. What do you what are your thoughts?

Speaker 2 (13:16):
I liked everything, you know, obviously it worked out that
we we I like most things. We'll get to it.
I I really enjoy I like that we waited an
extra week because we got the receiver in the room
with Stefan Diggs.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
I like that.

Speaker 2 (13:30):
I love the Morgan Moses signing. I think he's going
to be a really good right tackle and help solidify
this offensive line a little bit more. And yes, they
they had some overpays I think overall this off season,
but I think overall this team got better, which was
the first priority. And the second part of it is
that they had plenty of money to spend. Like, none

(13:52):
of these things are ever going to affect like a
Drake May extension if Drake May continues to play well
and develop or anything along those lines, or any of
their young players. You know, these contracts work in a
vacuum because the salary cap is what it is for
the next few years, and it's going up still, and
they don't have to worry about long term extensions for
their best young players. So yeah, I think it's a BEE.

(14:12):
I would probably lean being plus, not quite an A
because they still have some things to work out. But
this team was so bad last year there is no
way they were going to fix all of their problems
with just free agency. But I think they did a
really good job of landing the plane on a few
of these important pieces for their team that I think
they're a lot better and if Drake May continues to develop,

(14:33):
like we think, this could be a sneakily competitive team,
but you know, still a long way to go from
where we're getting to that.

Speaker 1 (14:40):
I think I'm cooler on it than you, which is
kind of expected. I'm going to see plus for the Patriots.
I think that there is somebody's move. You were correct
that they're moving the needle into correct direction. They're getting better,
but obviously they're spending a ton of money, and the
question is how much better are you getting with that money.
It's just the best allocation of resources. I mean, this

(15:01):
is just a team voding philosophy thing. For me, I
would be going out of my way to help build
the offense and trying to pump resources there, which they
finally did do adding Steffan Diggs, you know, adding Moses
like you mentioned. But you know, I still feel like
there were a lot of overpaced pretty much every player,
and you kind of have to do it right. Like
guys weren't gonna take a hometown discounts for the Patriots,

(15:23):
But you know, losing out on Chris Godwin despite the
fact there's essentially signing him a blank check like that.
That sucks. Like this was not a not an ideal offseason.
Wasn't a horrible one, but it wasn't an ideal one.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, I mean, there is definitely things that could have
worked out a little bit better. I would have preferred
Godwin or Cup to Stefan Diggs, but before his injuries,
Steffon Diggs looked really good and I still think he
could be a pretty valuable player. I still think they
need to address receiver, but I think he's gonna be
helpful for next season, no doubt. The big things I
still think the Patriots seem to address is pass rusher

(15:58):
receiver in the left side of the offensive line. They
haven't really got all of that. They address some key
areas that they need to improve, but those are still
probably areas they need to address going into the draft
and trade season and all that. There are options out there, Like,
you know, you could still get someone mentioned to Jedrick
Wills in the chat. That would be one that I
really like. I really wanted Tevin Jenkins. I know he's

(16:21):
dealt with injuries too, but he's a talented player, but
he signed with the Browns. But like they could get
someone like that to help solidify left tackle at least
for a season. And then yeah, I think that the
pass rush. You know, I'm not big on the Heroin
Landrys signing. I think that was an overpay, but that
was verybel signing one of his guys. That being said,

(16:41):
I kind of like the Chase On signing. He played
well last season, he sho had a lot of development
and they got him for really cheap, so maybe that counteracts.
Not to mention, I think they're probably gonna end up
in a good edge rusher in the draft, so we'll
end up with that, maybe with the fourth pick. So
I like all the things overall, there's still things to
address in I think just in a vacuum. I was like,

(17:02):
the Patriots weren't gonna become a ten win team off
a free agency alone, but they did a really good
job of getting players that were gonna help them right away.

Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, I mean, I'll push back a little bit just
on the like, again, they're probably gonna go defense in
the draft just because that's kind of how the how
it's built. I guess they could go with an offensive player,
but like you're probably you're right, you're probably going like
edge rusher or defensive linemen or corner. There. It feels like,
I just I can't help but feel with the Patriots,

(17:32):
like you're not doing enough to help out Drake May.
What if Stefan Diggs isn't good and now you don't
have that What if Morgan Moses gets hurt again and
now he's back to what he was last year.

Speaker 2 (17:41):
Yeah, I mean there's definitely some concerns with it, but
you know there is still you know, there's more than
one round in the draft, right, Like they're gonna have
to prioritize this the right way. You know, you have
to probably if you if you do go defense. With
the way the draft seems like it's gonna shake out,
if they go with Abdul Carter with the fourth pick,

(18:01):
Let's say Travis Hunter goes third, even though I would
probably like Travis Hunter more. If they go out Bill
Carter with the fourth pick, who is still very good
and probably the best player available at that point, you're
gonna have to prioritize offense with the rest of the draft,
whether it's running back, left tackle, receiver, any one of
those positions I think needs to be addressed immediately after that.
So you know, you're gonna have to nail some of

(18:23):
those picks, and we'll see if they're able to do it.
But yeah, I mean, it's gonna be a very it's
gonna be a very interesting rest of the off season
for them because they still need help and maybe there's
a trade looming, or maybe there's a pick looming that
could work out, but they definitely need to address some
things before the beginning of the season or they got
to see some internal development, which I'm not as optimistic about.

Speaker 1 (18:44):
But isn't that kind of like fair to criticize the
grade then if it's they spent one hundred million dollars
and still haven't fixed a ton of those issues.

Speaker 2 (18:54):
Well, they fixed I do think they fix a ton
of those issues. That's how bad this team was.

Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, I mean the.

Speaker 2 (19:02):
Issue I have like, yes, what I have liked a
better receiver to an extent, Like, I just think the
problem is like they offered Chris Godwin thirty million dollars
a year and they didn't get DK Metcalf, Like what
was their other option because beyond Stefan Diggs at that point. Like,
I think they did a pretty good job given the circumstances.
You know, I think they did a pretty good job

(19:22):
of addressing the rest of the team. This wasn't an
awesome like left tackle free agency class, Like they had
to get someone, especially when Ronnie Stanley re signed before
the free agency period started. You know, they had to
get somebody basically to help out at that position. So,
you know, we'll see how the rest of the offseason works.
But I think they did a good enough job addressing
areas because yeah, I mean, there's just so many holes

(19:45):
in this team. This team didn't have blue Chippers and
now we're going in with Christian Barmore and Milton Milliams.
That's one of the I would say better interior defensive
lines in the league. And I mean you could argue
they have the best man corner duo in the NFL
now with car Alton Davison Christian Dea Dallas, Like that's
gonna be really tough. Like this, this Patriots team healthy

(20:05):
could be one of the better defenses in football if
they get another ed rusher.

Speaker 1 (20:09):
Yeah, I agree, No, I think they've gotten better. I
just think I would have put more into offense. But
also I understand only so much you can do. Uh,
but yeah, let's let's move on to the New York
Jets here. Who uh you know, they kind of they
add justin Fields, lose Aaron Rodgers, so to have that
situation going on, they let DeVante Adams walk. Turns out
that one year rental did not work as as you wanted.

(20:31):
They also add DJ Reed kind of a bilocal move
with Brandon Stevens as well, and and Andre Cisco trying
to prove the defense a little bit, adds. Andre Cisco
just feels like he's meant for like an Aaron Glenn team.
That's a perfect fit. There Again, they didn't have a
ton of I mean they're they're weird spot where they're
not good and they don't have cap space. Like at
least the Patriots, like, well, did you did you spend

(20:53):
as one hundred million correctly?

Speaker 2 (20:55):
Uh?

Speaker 1 (20:56):
And there's question to be made the Jets. It's like,
did you, you know, spend the little bit you had correctly?
I don't know. This is it's again, I'll go see
plus here, it's fine. I don't hate it. They kind
of had to let some players go and they did
what they could. I'll go I'll go see because I
don't love letting DJ read walk, but I'm gonna go see.

Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, I mean, I guess the thing the conversation you
have to have with the Jets is like, if you're
just grading this off season and what they could do
versus what they did, it's probably like a see, if
you're grading basically the situation where they were last year
at this point to where they are now, it's probably
not right, Like because yeah, they lost so much talent.

(21:37):
I mean, they didn't, like you said, they didn't really
have the financial situation to make a lot of moves
that could be impactful. But like, yeah, I mean there's
a lot of flyers on this team. Basically from the
off season. Man, you're replacing DJ Reid with Brandon Stevens.
You know, you're replacing You're putting Andre Cisco in the secondary,

(21:58):
which maybe that works out, so we'll see. You're putting
Josh Myers at center, who also has had some good
years but also has not you know, including.

Speaker 1 (22:08):
That's known for being drafted before Creed Humphrey.

Speaker 2 (22:11):
Right, and then Justin Fields is you know, the ultimate flyer.
You know, you're gonna see what you get out of that. So, like,
given their circumstances, I give it a C two because
they did fine. But like you said, like if you
just go in the totality of what the talent on
the roster was last season to what it is now, like, yeah,
I mean this might be one of the worst teams
in football next year.

Speaker 1 (22:32):
Well, Kyle, of course they're adding guys who are flyers.
They're the Jets.

Speaker 2 (22:36):
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 (22:38):
Every now and then I get to get a get
a good grown out of you.

Speaker 2 (22:41):
Yeah, let's move on.

Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah. I don't know. I mean I don't have too
much else to add to that. Do you have anything?

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Uh, yeah, no, I mean, like we'll see, Like I
think it's gonna take a long time. I think it's
tough for Aaron Glenn. I didn't love this situation for
a new coach. You knew that there was gonna be
some and over here. But yeah, it feels like it's
a full rebuild.

Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, let's go to the Ravens, who uh you know
again kind of a big move. We already mentioned re
signing Ronnie Stanley, who is you know, really good player.
I think that's the right move there. Don't let guys
let that go. They also take a flyer on DeAndre Hopkins.
They had Cooper Rush as the backup, which is the
weirdest backup Lamar Jackson has ever had in his career.

(23:25):
But then you know, they lose Brandon Stevens, love lose
Patrick McCarry. But ultimately, again, there just wasn't a ton.
It's weird how so far into AFC, we've got a
lot of these teams like, yeah, there wasn't wasn't really
a ton they could do. I do love the Chidobi
a woozy signing though, so I think that's a really
fun one. He's going to be a star with them.
You can already tell, uh.

Speaker 2 (23:44):
I'll go be I would be too, like I think
a woozy a could be. I'll say right now, it
is gonna be better than Brandon Stevens next year, Yeah, probably,
I think so.

Speaker 1 (23:55):
Yeah, Okay Stevens last year, which is not good.

Speaker 2 (24:00):
Yeah, exactly, he wasn't and I'm not expecting him to
get better away from the Ravens system. If the Ravens
don't have a corner that plays well, like, I'm concerned,
I'm concerned for the future of that player. So yeah,
losing McCary stinks, But at the same time, I stilling
they're gonna be Okay. They brought back Stanley. I think
that's a good signing. And I don't if DeAndre Hopkins

(24:22):
as anything to this team. It's a bonus, like it's
just it's a cheap signing. I think it's a good player.
But this receiving room is still built around Ze Flowers
and Rashad Bateman plus the two tight ends, so I'm
not expecting a whole lot of that. But yeah, I
think they upgraded a corner, which could be scary. And
then yeah, I think that this is still gonna be
a really good team. They didn't have a whole lot

(24:42):
to do.

Speaker 1 (24:43):
Yeah, I agree. Let's move on to the Cincinnati Bengals,
who had a couple of big couple big moves with
the resigning bow for their receivers. What was your thoughts
on this.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
I really like those two signings. Yes, it's expensive, people
are freaking out about that, but we continue to see
this cap space go up and up and up and up. Like,
I don't know if these are gonna look like egregious
contracts in a few years. They bring in bring a
J Hill back. You know, I think they got some
decent players here. I have a b overall. I think

(25:15):
they prioritize keeping their guys in house. You know, this
Trey Hendrickson continued story continues to be a weird one. Like,
I just don't know how competitive this defense is going
to be without him. But they did what they had
to do with their guys in free agency. I can't
grade something that hasn't happened yet. We'll see if the
trade Hendrickson trade does happen and what that looks like

(25:37):
and what this defense looks like to start next season.
But I think they did a good job given what
they needed to do.

Speaker 1 (25:42):
Yeah, I have a bee. Yeah, I'm with you. I
mean it's it's uh. They had a little couple mostly
resigned their guys like they did ad orn Bergs, which
that's up on flyer for just a you know, for
a cheap deal, Like that makes sense to me. Get
get a guy who was good as a backup for
in a really good team, maybe he'll be good as
a starter here. But like, yeah, I mean the way

(26:03):
I view it is everyone freaking about the money. What
do you trust more to Cincinnati Bengals to spend seventy
million and get more value than Jamar Chase and t
Higgins or for them to just get the value of
Jamar Chase and Tiggins. Like I feel like that I'm
trusting Jamar Chason Higgins will exceed the value that the
Bengals with seventy million would generate would figure out how
to add.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, and then the big thing is, like I just
think you have to keep your strength. Like I understand
people are saying the defense cost him a playoff spot
last year, but I also think there was like seven
or eight things that just happened last year that also
cost them a playoff spot beyond the defense just being bad, right,
Like it also took some bad luck for that to happen.
And you know what I would like. I would like

(26:44):
a Bengals If I'm the Bengals, I would rather just
have a great offense at a bad defense than a
bad defense in a slightly less good great offense, right right,
Like I would just continue to have the great offense
and just hope the defense gets good enough to make
it competitive. Like there are three or four different things
that could have happened last year that this Bengals team
would have made the playoffs and we wouldn't have been
talking about it as a dire situation. So I'm just

(27:07):
not gonna worry about it. And I think, you know,
the luck will bounce back onto their side by next season.

Speaker 1 (27:12):
Yeah, I mean. And the thing too, is, like, you know,
they've had opportunities. It's not that they haven't been able
to spend money on, Like I guess the offensive line
stinks and the defense thanks, But you look at like
the guys they had last year. It's Amarius Mimms who
was a first round pick. It's Orlando Brown Junior who
is a free agent signing, Alex Kappa who is a
free agent signing, Ted Carris who is a Chris who
was a free agent signing. They threw money on those

(27:34):
guys and none of them were really great. They did
have a fourth rounder at guard as well, but that
was essentially what they did. Their issue is they keep
drafting like bad, badly basically. I mean you look at
these are this is the list of their top of
guys they drafted in the top three rounds in the
past three years. You have Daxton Hill, Cam Taylor Britt,

(27:54):
Zachary Carter who's off the team, Miles Murphy, DJ Turner,
Jordan battle Or Mary and Jermaine Burton. I mean that's
like a couple of playable guys. I like Kim Taylor Britt,
But like that's not like that's like for first, second,
and third rounds, Like you would kind of take that
like that would be underwoman for one draft, little in three.

Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yeah, I mean they have to draft better, that's the
simple thing. Like they have to get better in those spots.
And like I also just think, like who are they
going to sign in this free agency that was gonna
fix it. They were priced out of the best corners,
you know, they were priced out a lot of the
best players, Like they just there weren't a lot of
options for them in this free agency class that were
really going to be like, Okay, we fixed the defense,

(28:36):
here we go sort of things. So I just don't
know who they were supposed to sign. That makes everybody happy.
It comes down to the draft process, like you can
have these big contracts and still win football games. You
could still win Super Bowls with big contracts. You have
to draft well, and they haven't done a good enough
job of it. So it's gonna be very interesting to
see how the rest of this offseason plays out because

(28:56):
they have to hit on a few picks for this
team to really hit its full potential.

Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yeah, let's move on to the Cleveland Browns, who their
big thing is what are they going to do with
Miles Garrett. They decided to extend him for a four year,
forty million a year deal, which is quite the quite
the contract to three quarters of that is guaranteed. They
couple of small moves. I think they won the Kenny

(29:21):
Pickett trade. I'm not sure if that's the trade you
want to would be winning, but I think that they
got the better player there at least Joe try and
Choying just seems like a solid flyer. They really don't
have any more money to spend at this point, because
essentially it's what this is probably the second highest like
top two paid players for one team any team has

(29:42):
with the Shaun Watson and Miles Garrett at this point,
behind Burrow and Chase. I know that Dak and Ceede
Lamb are both getting a lot too. Maybe it's a
hot take. I don't care. This is an f for me.
I don't get why we're not blowing this up.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
I feel the same way. Yeah, I also had an
we're we're green too much, and that's fine. I mean
they have let me look at it. Next, When is
the when is the contract kick in for this guy? Like,
I mean, it's it's an insane amount of money. They
have essentially nine one hundred million dollars almost dedicated to

(30:18):
Denzel Ward, Deshaun Watson, and Miles Garrett, like for the
next three years at least. Like, that's just not a
sustainable model for competitiveness. It's just not like we just
said it on the other side of the Browns, but
like or the Bengals. But the difference is, like, you know,
Joe Burrow is an MVP candidate, Jamar Chase is an

(30:39):
offensive player, of the Year candidate year after year? How
many of those of those three guys? Like Denzel Ward's
a good player. I like him a lot, He's a
really good player. He's not a Defensive Player of the
Year candidate year after year. He's not an All Pro
candidate year after year. Miles Garrett is like, if it
if they had other pieces around these guys and it
was just the Miles Garrett signing, I'd be like, Okay, fine,

(31:00):
and you're paying the best defensive player in football, go
for it. The issue is that you're paying Miles Garrett
on top of a guy who's not gonna play probably
next season in an albatross contract, and then a really
good player on a great player contract, and I just
I don't think that's gonna work. So, yeah, it's an f.

Speaker 1 (31:18):
Yeah, I will say, just looking at the way this
contract is built. I mean, you hear about the fact that, Okay,
his cap hit is going to be fifty seven million
when he's thirty five. That sounds horrifying. It is worth
mentioning that is. None of that is guaranteed at that point.
So there are ways you can get out of this,
maybe after like three years. But again, you don't sign
contracts just to get out of it. I just think

(31:39):
the value you could have gotten both cap space and
draft pick wise from getting rid of Miles Garrett could
have done you a lot of good here. And they just,
you know which, they desperately need cap space because like
you want to try and get a way to get
out of these contracts earlier is to have cap space
now too, So this is hurting the rebuild that way
as well. So it's just if if the Bengals signed

(31:59):
this move, I wouldn't hate it, because it's you're adding
a great player to a team that's trying to be competitive.
But that's just not what the Browns should be doing
right now in my opinion.

Speaker 2 (32:08):
Yep, I completely agree with that. So it's a it's
a it's a tough situation, like they clearly have a
different belief of what they can be mm hmm, or
at least just don't want to say we want to
be bad for the rest of it, you know. I
guess you could take it from the Bronze perspective of
like how bad they were for over a decade. They

(32:30):
don't want to go back to being that, But like, yeah,
I mean, it just feels like this entire franchise needs
a cultural reset at this point. And this was the
easiest out, right, this was the easiest out you're gonna
get in a huge haul for Miles Garrett. And yes,
it stinks to lose a player like Miles Garrett, who's
you know, it seems like a great guy, all around,
great player, all that kind of stuff, But you know,

(32:52):
this team needs to start over.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
Yeah, and the fans wouldn't have been mad at you
because he requested a trade, so you could have said, hey, like,
what are we supposed to do? Like the guy wants out?

Speaker 2 (33:00):
Yeah, yeah, I agree.

Speaker 1 (33:03):
Well, let's move on to the thing that's probably the
toughest to talk about is the Pittsburgh Steelers because they
have let multiple quarterbacks walk justin Fields and Russell Wilson
also let Najie Harris and James Daniels walk. Did add
guys like Darius Lay. They brought Mason Rudolph back, They
traded for DK Metcalf. Obviously, how do we grade this

(33:24):
team without the knowledge of, you know, what they're gonna
do at quarterback? We have guesses, but you know, we'll
see Kyle, what's where, what's your grip.

Speaker 2 (33:34):
I'll be m h. They're gonna sign Aaron Rodgers. It's happened.
Like I'm just gonna go under the pretense that they're
signing Aaron Rodgers because everybody like the who who else
is he gonna play for? Like, explain to me the
other scenario of where Aaron Rodgers would play or who
the Pittsburgh Steelers are gonna play a quarterback next season?
None of it makes sense inside of signing Aaron Rodgers.

(33:56):
So they're gonna sign Aaron Rodgers, and I think it's
a good move, just becau because like, is it perfect?
Was Aaron Rodgers good last year? No one? Or was
he great last year?

Speaker 1 (34:06):
Yeah? It was horrible, but yeah.

Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah he's gonna be fine, you know, and that's what
they're going to bank on for this season.

Speaker 1 (34:13):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (34:13):
The priority here was getting DK Metcalf and getting what
I thought was a steal in Darius Slay. I didn't
really get the situation there for Philadelphia. I don't know
the full financials of it, but cutting him and then
getting him for only ten million dollars feels like a
huge win. And then getting DK Metcalf like they have
a you know, very very good and interesting receiver duo

(34:38):
in George Pickens and DK Metcalf, maybe the most aggressive
receiver duo in the league. And yeah, that's gonna be
really good. That's gonna enhance this offense, and the defense
should be even better with the player like Darius Slay.
So yeah, I think it's a beat and they're gonna
get Aaron Rodgers and it's fine.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
The uh we needed Steelers to go on a deep
run here, right, And this is this is pretty similar
to Brett farm. I know it's not the Vikings, but
this is almost like this is like you know, the
the Okay, you know, if you want to copy my homework,
change it a little bit so it don't doesn't look
like it's copying like it's it's it's in the ballpark.

Speaker 2 (35:11):
I think the difference is that Minnesota is a tortured
franchise and the Steelers have won plenty, so it's fine, Like,
you know, Minnesota was you know that the potential Super
Bowl run for Minnesota would have been insane. You know,
that's that's a that's a really bad franchise for the
fan base. I feel bad for those guys sometimes.

Speaker 1 (35:29):
Yeah, it's tough, Yeah, especially when you know they Yeah,
especially the division rival aspect of it two has to
have the factor. And but uh that's fair, literally the
best franchise in the Super Bowl era versus you know,
one of the best franchises but probably one of the
most tortured as well with the Vikings.

Speaker 2 (35:47):
Yeah uh so, yeah, I think that is a big
difference to it. But yeah, I mean I think I
will it work. I have no idea, Like, I still
think they have some concerns on their offensive line that
Aaron Rodgers is going to step into. But he's gonna
have two really good receivers to throw to over the top,
and if he can hit on those passes, Like, yeah,
I think it's gonna be good. Like I don't care
about Najie Harris. I don't like, I don't think Naji

(36:10):
Harris changes a whole lot. I think he played pretty
well last season, but like I think Jalen Warren could
be better this next year. Like I'm just not worried
about stuff like that. Like, I think it's the same
Steelers in the added Darius lay and DK Metcalf, So
I think it could be a pretty good situation.

Speaker 1 (36:24):
Like not you Harris, but I get your point, that's
not the not not moving to the too much. Uh. Yeah,
I'm with you. I think b feels fine if we're
gonna say that, you know, after Aaron Rodgers. But also
part of like what I'm doing here with this is
if Aaron Rodgers is going through the Steelers, Mike Tom
isn't gonna treat Aaron Rodgers differently the way the Jets
kind of did.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
You don't think Nathaniel Hackett will show up.

Speaker 1 (36:47):
If that happens, just as enough the f minus.

Speaker 2 (36:49):
Nathaniel Hackins and Alan Lizzard show.

Speaker 1 (36:53):
Up the right Randall Cobb comes comes back.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
I would love to see Randall Cobb.

Speaker 1 (36:59):
Yeah, I don't know. Let's let's move on. We have
we're halfway halfway through here. Let's go to Houston, Texans,
who uh you know, uh lose Laramie Tunsle Uh end
up the big trade ends up being a one year
rental that in hindsight doesn't look good, but at the
time it's kind of what they, you know, thought they
wanted to do. I get it. Uh, losing Console is tough.

(37:21):
I do like uh, you know, adding Lake and Tomlinson.
I like adding CJ. Garner, Johnston and I like adding
Christian Kirk. I think that's kind of an underrated move,
but I still just feel like they didn't the tounsil
move is not the right move to be making here.
So this is I'm gonna go D plus here.

Speaker 2 (37:35):
Yeah, I was gonna go see, but it's probably more
leaning C minus. You'll lost You lost your best offensive
lineman and left tackle on a bad offensive line. Yeah, Like,
I think that's gonna be really tough to overcome. Like,
I just, yes, you lost Kenny and Green too. That
is good, But I think it's gonna be a really
tough offensive line next season for CD Strode to be successful.

(37:58):
So I think that's a lot to over come as
it is.

Speaker 1 (38:02):
And you.

Speaker 2 (38:04):
Like, what's the most impactful signing or move from this offseason?
Like CJ. Gardner Johnson, Like I like him in a vacuum,
but we haven't really seen him be like a high
impact player outside of Philadelphia. You know, he was a
okay player for the Saints they went to Philadelphia, was good,
then was a frankly bad player for the Lions before

(38:24):
going back to Philadelphia. And so now we're expecting him
to be better again outside of Philadelphia for the third time, Like,
I just I don't know. I think that's a tough
situation for them, So I would go see minus.

Speaker 1 (38:35):
And you know, maybe lean Dee honestly, yeah, I mean,
I uh, you know if they did add uh should
you mentioned they did? They did bring up ad Tackles
as well Camp Robinson. But again, I don't think either
one of us are cam fans.

Speaker 2 (38:52):
No, I would rather have Laramie Tunzel.

Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yes, I think so. I think I think that's fair. Yeah,
what about Trent Brown.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
You're not gonna get me to say anything good about
Runt Brown. You're good, I'm good.

Speaker 1 (39:05):
What if it's twenty twenty eighteen, Sure, yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:08):
Twenty eighteen trend Brown, Yeah, sign me up.

Speaker 1 (39:10):
Then yeah, I take that over Larry Huntsll.

Speaker 2 (39:12):
Maybe. Yeah. I mean, it's not a whole disaster. Like,
I don't think the Texans are always gonna fall off
a cliff. Like if I if I were to say
it on face value right now, I would still pick
him to win the AFC South. But maybe that's a
little bit more by default. But yeah, I think it's
a really tough situation for them that, you know, until
we see the moves on this offensive line materializing what

(39:33):
this is gonna look like next season. I think it's
a much worse offensive line losing its best player, and
I'm not sure they did enough to actually improve some
of their areas. Like, I'm just not convinced CJ. Gardner
Johnson is gonna fix every you know, this is a
good defense last year, I'm not sure he's gonna add
that much more to it. Away from Philadelphia and then, yeah,
Christian Kirk is probably gonna be worse than what Stefan

(39:55):
Davis was pre injury.

Speaker 1 (39:57):
Yeah, yeah, let's move on to Indianapolis Colts. Who the
busy Indianapolis Colts. That's not something we usually see. But yeah,
they were making moves, adding Shabavi's Award, adding Cameron Binnam,
adding Daniel Jones, which is a move I like personally.
I mean, I think for a flyer, someone who has
potential upside if you get him in a better situation,

(40:17):
but also isn't so good that you like you can't
play Richardson if he plays well in the preseason. Losing
Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, that's tough. I don't hate
losing Dio and Dagobo. Give him the contract he got
but losing the other two offensive linemen that is that
is difficult. But I'm just gonna go be here for
the Colts.

Speaker 2 (40:35):
I have an a like, I liked everything they did, Like,
I think they really enhanced his secondary. I love those
two players that they signed. And then yeah, like, is
Daniel Jones perfect? Obviously not because he was a free
agent and cut by his team last season, but it
at least gives the option to where if Anthony Richardson
and honestly, quite frankly, when Anthony Richardson gets hurt, at
this point, the season is not over. Like he's gonna

(40:56):
be able to come in and play capable quarterback play.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see him maybe even
help these receivers at times. So yeah, I think this
is a I think this is a good team that
got better. So yeah, I like what the Colts did.

Speaker 1 (41:11):
Are you how do you feel about to lose the
offensive lineman? I mean.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
It's not easy. Would they lose Dolmon? Was that what
it was? Yeah?

Speaker 1 (41:20):
Well they lost Ryan Kelly and Wilfries.

Speaker 2 (41:24):
Oh yeah, that's right. Yeah, So while Ryan Kelly, I mean,
like it's not ideal, but I still think it's going
to be a pretty decent offensive line, right, Like they
still have good players on that group. Like they'll have
to address it obviously in the draft, but like it's
not perfect, but at the same time, like I still
think it's going to be a pretty good group overall.

Speaker 1 (41:41):
Yeah, yeah, I agree. I think that, you know, and
if the defense works and we'll see what happens that
they feel like they can make. They say, you're right,
they still do have offensive lineman players. I give it
a positive grade. I'm with you. I just I think
that there's I'm hurting that a little bit more because
they didn't have to lose some to gain some.

Speaker 2 (41:56):
Yeah, I mean, we'll see. Like at the same time,
like the benefit of having two athletic quarterbacks like they
do now is like, you know, that helps your offensive
line at times too, as long as they don't hold
onto the ball too long.

Speaker 1 (42:08):
I don't know if I'm right. I mean, I don't
know if I'm looking at Anthony Richards and saying, oh,
who help the offensive line?

Speaker 2 (42:13):
Yeah, that's fair. We'll see, But.

Speaker 1 (42:16):
Jones, I agree with. Yeah, let's move on to the
Jacksonville Jaguars, who I think win the award of most
boring offseason?

Speaker 2 (42:24):
Did they do anything they did?

Speaker 1 (42:27):
Look at the biggest additions. Jordan Lewis is number one
on the ESPN Biggest Editions.

Speaker 2 (42:32):
Lest Yeah, not a whole lot of action here, so
uh not not too much to gray on. I mean,
I guess it's probably Uh. I mean, this was another
team that kind of lost out on the the uh,
the Chris Godwin thing. You know, it was pretty clear
that they wanted him. You know, they lost you know,

(42:55):
they lost Cisco and then brought in Eric Murray. Like
I think that's a bit of a downgreat. Uh they
bring him McCary, who I think could have a better
season next year.

Speaker 1 (43:04):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (43:04):
But yeah, I mean overall, I give I give them
a CE. Like I don't know how much better they got,
but like I don't think they got wheat worse.

Speaker 1 (43:12):
Yeah. Uh yeah, I mean I think c is kind
of what you have to give it was, you know,
they did they didn't add Patrick McCarry, which they needed
to add offensive lineman. They didn't get the Robert haynesy
picked edition was one I just don't didn't really understand, Like,
I mean, he was a fine backup, but they did
the Buccaneers drafted a center in the first round in
part because they really needed to improve their interior. So

(43:33):
it's kind of weird to give him seven million a year.
So yeah, uh, you know, someone's bringing up they did
try fire Trent Balpi. How is that not an a plus?
Well I'm not counting that in, but yes, that would
definitely move the needle in a big way. Yeah, maybe
changed my grade now, no, yeah, that's a great point, actual, Yeah,
yeah a plus. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (43:53):
So they got two backup offensive linemen and then swapped
his safety for a slightly lesser safety. That's about all
they did.

Speaker 1 (44:00):
Yeah, but they didn't make any bad moose.

Speaker 2 (44:02):
That's true. They didn't overpay Cam Robinson.

Speaker 1 (44:05):
That that's that's true, or Juwan Taylor.

Speaker 2 (44:10):
It is kind of weird that they didn't splash sixty
million dollars on some random guy that nobody was expecting. Like,
that's just kind of what we wait for for Jacksonville.
That's their job and get the most athletic guy in
the draft.

Speaker 1 (44:22):
Yeah, that's that's yeah. Well hey, new era, new era, indeed,
what what pick did they even have? Really put them
on a spot here, Kyle.

Speaker 2 (44:36):
I know, I'm sorry. I'm gonna look up the draft order.

Speaker 1 (44:38):
Okay, we'll both look it up together. See who gets
it quicker. Let's see it's the fifth overall pick, all right.

Speaker 2 (44:46):
I don't even know who they're gonna get at that point.
So they can't get the most athletic I don't know.
Maybe they will find the most athletic player somehow. But yeah,
this team, I don't know. It was a boring offseason. Angry.
I'm filling their time here.

Speaker 1 (45:00):
I did the pff mock draft simulator. They said, will
Campbell with the fifth overall pick?

Speaker 2 (45:06):
M all right, I mean he's supposed to be falling
in the drafts because of his small arms. We'll see.

Speaker 1 (45:13):
Those store lines that come out during the draft process
are so funny.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
Well, you're the only person who doesn't care about Garver's tackle.

Speaker 1 (45:22):
That's true. Yeah, I guess that's fair. Yeah, but I'm
also the only person who seemingly has done the research
and noticed that the small arms doesn't doesn't make you
a bad worse tackle.

Speaker 2 (45:32):
I mean, I don't know. People are convinced.

Speaker 1 (45:35):
I guess so I don't know. Uh whatever, Let's move
on through. The Tennessee Titans finish off this division. Yeah.
I mean, they paid a lot of money for Dan
Moore junior. They paid Kevin Zeitler as well. But again,
I think they're gonna draft cam Ward. I think that
it's the kind of thing where I'm okay with the

(45:56):
Christian Kirk contract. That's kind of the main thing I
bring up where it's like the Jaguars had a horrible
receiving room to overpay Christian Kirk, but then Trevor Lawrence
got better, and it's like, sometimes you just have to
do that. So I kind of like being more as
a player. And again it's it's an overpay in a vacuum.
But I get while you're doing that. You know, this
offensive line looks significantly better now than it did. It

(46:16):
was horrible last year. So like, I'm not mad at this. Uh,
I'm not mad at this the way other people are.
I'm actual. I'm gonna give us a positiverad. I'm gonna
give us a beat.

Speaker 2 (46:26):
Yeah. I under the pretense that they're drafting a quarterback,
which obviously makes sense. You know, you add three offensive linemen,
you still have a guy like Scronsky, who I think
has some stuff in his game. He needs to play better.
But you know, he had a good pass blocking grade
last season a PFF. He was the twelfth highest graded
pass blocking guard. You add Dan More to that, you

(46:47):
add a center to that, or add Kevin Zeitler to that. Sorry,
it's the makings of a good offensive line for cam
Ward for next season. I think that's what they prioritize,
and I think they did good a job of that.
So yeah, I agree with you. It's a be they
get some good players there. They're like the eighth team
to talk themselves. It feels like in the Cody Barton
being like a high impact linebacker, which he has some

(47:08):
highlights that are exciting, but like, I don't know if
it really translates into being a good player on a
down to down basis. But yeah, I mean I think
that they got better on the offensive line and they're
gonna help their young quarterback develop.

Speaker 1 (47:20):
Yeah, Dreymond Jones to that guy. That guy's another one
who like whoever his agent is like, they do they
do good work.

Speaker 2 (47:25):
Yeah. I just I feel like every off season is like, oh,
watch out for Cody Barton, and it's like yeah, he's
just like yeah, I think there was somebody who said
that they should have Washington should have brought him back
instead of Bobby Wagner, and it's like, oh, wa is
still better, Like yeah, I don't know, it's not working
out for him.

Speaker 1 (47:45):
Yeah, but uh, let's move on. Let's go to finally,
the Final Division, which is always one of the most
interesting divisions to talk about. Let's start off with the
Denver Broncos, who were busy here adding guys like Evan
Ingram who and Joy Greenlaw, a couple guys coming off
of an injuries. The green Law a Keeleyes injury does

(48:05):
always scare me, but they could be really helpful if
they can come back and play well. They lost Cody Martin,
so they're in trouble there, also losing Javonte Williams. And
then again, if Zak Wilson's on your Biggest Losses section
on ESPN, you're not doing horrible here. I like this
with this offseason. I'm gonna get this an as a.

Speaker 2 (48:25):
Plus my favorite offseason. I think they have a great job.
This is an early candidate for best defense in football
for next season. It's gonna be sick. Adding green Law
and Hufunga, who I think has a bounced back season
in him. Dealt with so many injuries last year. I
really like that group. I like you know, Sherfield as
a slot receiver for this team. I like Evan Ingram

(48:48):
is a tight end option for this team. I just
could just see bow Nicks using him a lot. A plus,
I think this team got better across the board. This
team should be fun, and I think they're gonna have
the best defense in football next year.

Speaker 1 (48:59):
So yeah, interesting, we'll all push back a little bit,
just even though I gave this an a minus because
just how high you were. I guess my my critiques
are for one thing. Uh, you know, I'm I'm always
concerned signing guy off of an achilles' injury.

Speaker 2 (49:15):
Sure, but like you know, they they had. They had
a great team last year without very defensively. Like again,
like I'm not the biggest Cody Barton fan, Like I
think I.

Speaker 1 (49:30):
Think that's established we are. We are Cody Barton haters
on this podcast.

Speaker 2 (49:33):
Yeah, I mean, like, I still think they're gonna have
a pretty good linebacker room if green Law is even
not one hundred percent, But if he is one hundred percent,
then I think that's gonna be a really sick linebacker room.
Like they could still have the best Drake green Lawn
could not play for this team, and they could still
have the best defense in the league next year. Like
that's still kind of where I view it. They paid him,
so they're hoping he works out, but they still got

(49:56):
him kind of under what I thought he would go.
He willing for thirty five million dollars for three years,
and overall, like, yeah, I think he's He's simply an
additive piece for me, Like I don't. I think it's
a good high reward situation if it works out, So
I think it's gonna be fine. I'm really just looking
at the Hufunga piece for this to adding to this defense.
And then overall, like yeah, I think they got better

(50:18):
than offense too with those two pass catchers.

Speaker 1 (50:21):
Yeah, here's my counter is, according to points per drive,
they were the best defense last year. Is that where
we're pumping more resources into when again, I get it,
there isn't a great receiver option, like you know, are
you really gonna add digs? What's the move here? And
there still is an entire Giraft to help that, but
this is still one of the worst receiving rooms in

(50:41):
the league on paper. There's there's some guys I like,
but it's still just you know, it's not a great
receiving room.

Speaker 2 (50:47):
It's not great. I know, it's kind of receivers in
Sean Payton. We trust situation, but I do expect them
to add some guys. That twentieth pick could be a
tannelizing the spot for a receiver like a Matthew Golden
or something like that. It depends on how they they
view their big board. And yeah, I mean, like it's
just really hard because I feel like we keep saying this,

(51:08):
like you could have added another pass catcher, but at
the same time, we've also said multiple times this wasn't
a great pass catching free agency. Not every team could
have added DeVante Adams, you know. And it's like, for
their perspective and the Patriots perspective, I don't think Devantae
Adams was really interesting going in into those situations. So
I think they did hold on.

Speaker 1 (51:27):
There's a bit of a difference between Denver and New
England right now.

Speaker 2 (51:31):
Yes, I agree, but yeah, yeah, I think it's a uh,
I just think it's one of those things, and yeah,
it's just gonna be it's it's gonna be an interesting thing.
There's just not a situation that every team could have
added an elite pass catcher because there's one. There's one
out there, and one team got them.

Speaker 1 (51:50):
Yeah, no, you're right. Uh no, I had to push
back a little bit. But I mean it was a
good offseason. They did a good job. This is we're
both we're both in agreement here.

Speaker 2 (51:59):
What would be your best off season if it's not
this one or so five season?

Speaker 1 (52:04):
Ah? Well, now again I'm kind of getting put on
the spot here of what the you know, what was
the idea? I made a video on it, but now
I forgot who I U who I said. I can
look it up and remind myself. But I was also
I think.

Speaker 2 (52:16):
It was this one in Minnesota for me, and then
I would probably have Chicago as like a third, like
those will probably be the big three for me.

Speaker 1 (52:23):
Interesting, Yeah, I don't know. I mean again, it's weird
too because it depends on uh depends on who you
are and what you're you know, what you're doing, like
we're like for me Denver.

Speaker 2 (52:36):
Is oh can we lose.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
P Just like if I'm a team like Chicago was
a really.

Speaker 2 (52:55):
Mine?

Speaker 1 (52:55):
Looks fine?

Speaker 2 (52:56):
Can you can you hear me, you broke up a
little bit, therefore you're.

Speaker 1 (53:00):
Me, okay, gotcha, it was weird. I can still see
you in everything, so I don't know what was going on.
But it looks like my internet is a little bit lower, So.

Speaker 2 (53:07):
Yeah, it was a little blurry for me. So so sorry,
what was that? What? What did you say? You want
to repeat that?

Speaker 1 (53:16):
I think I was just kind of rambling a bit,
but it was. It's more so like it depends on
on where I'm on, what teams I'm like, uh, on
what the team is trying to do. I think Chicago
their rules are different than Kansas City. Uh I put
uh oh yeah, I put the the Chargers I never
won on my list, which we'll get to in a
second spoiler.

Speaker 2 (53:38):
Yeah that's fair. I yeah, I mean every this is
a nuance discussion because, like you said, every team's in
a different spot because this team objectively got better where
we'd say that in Cleveland's in a different situation for them, right,
and that's why they got an f But like, I
think this team that made the playoffs last year was
probably a surprising playoff pick for many many people, and

(54:00):
better is the important part of that. So yeah, I
think that they enhanced themselves. And you know, if if
we were to do a season preview right now before
anything else happens, obviously there's a lot still to happen,
I think I would pick the Denver Broncos to make
the playoffs based on what's happened so far.

Speaker 1 (54:15):
Yeah, yeah, I agree. I think the question is the
goal wasn't make the playoffs anymore. They made the playoffs
last year, so we'll just get them over to hump
and maybe I mean, listen, having the best defense in
football and then making it better and having that be
a strategy is not the worst strategy in the world.

Speaker 2 (54:31):
Yeah, And then tough thing is I mean the next
level for them is their quarterback going up another level,
their young rookie quarterback, right, not young their rookie quarterback.
Not young rookie quarterback going up another level. So that
has to happen for them to make that work. And
that's something beyond free agency and off season control, right.

Speaker 1 (54:50):
Yeah, although you could add a receiver to help that,
but we've already done that. We don't need to go back.
Let's move on to the Kansas City Chiefs, who had
a unique offseason. A couple moves. I like adding Christian
Fulton to this, I like that, and Gardner Minshew as
a backup. I'm surprised he, you know, only got a
backup job here, although maybe he just wanted to play
for the Chiefs and try to win a ring. Jalen Moore, listen,

(55:13):
it's it could work. It does, and like you said,
you know, it's a buyer's market when it comes to tackles.
But I don't know how much I love this move,
especially when you lost Joe Thuney. I just don't really
love that trade. And they lost some other pieces which
they were just gonna have to lose. So I'm not
crazy about this this offseason by the chief I'm gonna
gvet this a D plus.

Speaker 2 (55:34):
Yeah, I mean, I ended up going to see, like
there's two folds of this, Like the Jalen Moore move
is risky. But at the same time, could you also
say that Jalen Moore is the best left tackle they've
gotten the last few years, or best offensive tackle they've
gotten the last couple of seasons.

Speaker 1 (55:52):
Probably Sin Orlando where I'm sure, but at least previous
years there was only one hole there. Now there's two.

Speaker 2 (56:00):
Yeah, yeah, I mean the tough thing. I mean, losing
Dooney is a big part of this, and that's where
you could really dock it. Because they had the best
interior offensive line in the league last year and they
still have Trey Smith and they still have Creed Humphrey.
It's still gonna be pretty good, but it's a little
bit worse now. And so that means Jalen Moore has
to be better, you know, and I think he will
be better, so maybe it works out. But I really

(56:24):
kinda I just it feels like they could have enhanced
this group a little bit more. And I really think
they're just banking on having a really dynamic receiver room,
which could happen. You know, they got to stay out
of legal trouble, that's the first goal, but like it
could be a really awesome receiver room overall though, with Rice,

(56:45):
with uh Worthy and with Marquise Brown. So I think
you have to kind of bank on that making up
for the offensive line mishaps.

Speaker 1 (56:53):
Yeah, I get it. I just it's not what the
Joe Thuney one is when I'm talking. I just I
don't like that trade. I don't think it was smart
to do that. I think that they need to be
you know, improving. They are not going backwards. But again,
as you brought up earlier, I'm the one person on
the planet who values guards as highly as I value tackles.

Speaker 2 (57:09):
Well, the fact is that it's going to be a
lot easier to draft a guard at thirty than it
is a tackle because of that positional value. You know,
they could get a very good guard at thirty. That
changes this formula altogether, because if they get a good player,
though for a rookie contract, then that makes it easier
to make this you know, swallow all of this.

Speaker 1 (57:27):
That's part of what I'm factoring as well is I've
heard reports that they want to go into the season
with Kingsley Sumotea at guard, which to me, that's just
like a horrifying prospect. It could work, but like a
guy who already struggled with technique now playing a new
position and you need him to be good. Like, if
that's the case, then I'm that's also part of why
I'm talking.

Speaker 2 (57:44):
Yeah, I can't get over that report. That was so funny. Yeah,
like they were so impressed with Kingsley Sumatte at offensive
guard that they didn't start him at all in the
playoffs at offensive guard when they moved Joe to the
other tackle, Like, that's just such a that's such a
bad report, that's so stupid, Like that takes that takes

(58:05):
like two seconds of critical thinking.

Speaker 1 (58:08):
Yeah, I mean, well, maybe maybe the logic is we
play him for a you know, once we have a
full training camp, in full preseason, then we feel what
he can do.

Speaker 2 (58:17):
That I'm one thousand percent convinced they're drafting an offensive
guard in the first two rounds.

Speaker 1 (58:23):
Yeah, that could be. Yeah, that that's that's that's much
more reasonable. And I think that they would look a
lot better. I think all all retroactively bumped this great
up if that's what they do.

Speaker 2 (58:33):
Yeah, yeah, I think that they have to. I think
they still need some help in the secondary. Like you said,
Fulton's a good bi low candidate, but that has to
get a little bit better. But like I mean, look
like that they're there. Their skilled positions are Travis Kelcey
at tight end, Rashid Rice Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brennett receiver,
and then Kareemumm and Isaiah Pacheco in the backfield. Like

(58:55):
that is a really really good group. That's one of
the more talented groups Mahomes has had in the line
few seasons.

Speaker 1 (59:01):
Yeah, no, it's uh, it's I mean it could work.
And someone brings up a good point as well. Uh,
this is uh Sam Kay saying or the logic is
we're taking a guard, so don't jump us with saying
that sum MATEO will be there. That's fair as well.
That's that's that could be part of it. Listen. I mean,
although I will say teams are still gonna jump you
if they want a guard, Teams aren't gonna fully fall

(59:22):
for that.

Speaker 2 (59:23):
Yeah, that that is gonna be the case. But yeah,
I mean the fact of the matter is, like, if
you're great in this Chiefs team, they are worse right
now than they were heading into the postseason last year
or at this point last year. That's that's the fact.
It just is.

Speaker 1 (59:39):
Exactly and that's kind of my main my main point.
So that's why I have it a little bit lower.
But they still made some mentioning moves. Inter still the Chiefs,
They're still gonna be great next year. Let's move on
to the Raiders, who Kyle I have a simple role.
If you can get a very good quarterback with only
spending a third round pick. I'm gonna give you an A,
So this is an A for me.

Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
I tend to agree with that. Yeah, I mean I
think that they got better at the position. Long term,
is it gonna work out? I mean, obviously he's what
in his mid thirties, so it's probably not. But at
the same time, we'll see how long he can play.
So yeah, I think that's a really good move. And
they bringing a guy like Malcolm Coon's back, and I
think that's a good deal. And yeah, I think overall
this is gonna be a more competitive team than last season.

(01:00:23):
So yeah, I give it an A two.

Speaker 1 (01:00:25):
Yeah, and again for the Raiders too, I kind of
view this as like, what is your goal here? They
brought in Pete Carroll. They want to be competent again.
They're trying to walk before they try and run. This
should help them be able to walk. They did lose
a couple of defensive pieces I like Nate Hobbs, but
ultimately I think they're okay with the pieces that they lost.
You know, they did take a couple of flyers on
guys who have shown flashes like Jeremy Chan and Eric

(01:00:47):
Stokes in the secondary, so they're still in a rebuild.
But we'll see. I mean, they'll get Christian Wilkins could
be should be helpful next year, like healthy next year,
that should help things with him next to Max Crosby.
Like there is ways they're moving into our directions. So
that's just kind of how I view it.

Speaker 2 (01:01:03):
Yeah, I mean you look at all these guys and
it's either like veterans who you kind of think are
going to be okay, or you know, they're taking a
flyer on a guy like Eric Stokes and overall, I
think that's over that's the right way to handle this thing.
And then this this this Raiders off season is going
to be evaluated by They obviously added Gino Smith, that's

(01:01:23):
the big thing, that is the big move, But the
rest of this Raiders offseason is going to be evaluated
by the draft because that's where they're gonna put their
chips because this is still kind of a rebuilding team
in a lot of ways. So they need to add
some talent through there and some good young talent, and yeah,
I think that they have a chance to be pretty good.

Speaker 1 (01:01:39):
Yeah, let's move on. So I teased this team earlier,
so now we'll you know, explain why with the Chargers,
who I'm gonna give I guess I gotta give an
a plus, right, I can't not give out an a
plus if I said they're my favorite pick. Yeah, I mean,
I just think they did a lot of really smart things.
I like adding Nachi Harris apparently. I guess I'm the
running back guy now because I think that's a really
smart move for a team that wants to run the ball.

(01:02:01):
For a one year, five million dollar deal. There's teams
talking about should we spend a top ten pick on
a running back? You can get like a top like
fifteen running back in the league for one year five million,
that feels like a much better way to handle that
Mike Williams getting bringing him back of Herbert. We'll see
if it works. Sometimes those things don't work. Sometimes they do,
adding guys like Bradley Boseman and Andres James. I really

(01:02:21):
liked the Mkai Beckton signing, and I really like bringing
back Khalil Mack on a one year, eighteen million dollar deal.
I think these are really smart moves. And hey, Pro
bowlpunter JK. Scott that or no, I don't think he's
but uh anyway, good moves, good moves here.

Speaker 2 (01:02:36):
Kyle, Yeah, there are a lot of good moves of role.
I like bringing back Mike Williams. I like bringing in
a guy like Khalil mack back too. I think those
are both really important moves. And like you said, they're
building on their strength, which is which was their offensive
line last season, and they had two really good tackles
and then they're going I had a guy like McKai
becktonto that group. Jim Harbaugh is building through the trenches,

(01:02:58):
and I think the trenches look very good right now
with that group, and they should be pretty darn good.
I really like that. I like that overall, they're gonna
protect Justin Herbert and they're gonna run the football. I'm
not the biggest Naji Harris fan, but I don't think
he sucks. I just think, like I just wouldn't be
surprised if Jalen Warren's better than him next season for Pittsburgh.
But at the same time, I think he's gonna be

(01:03:19):
okay in this group because it is a good offensive
line in front of him, and they have a good
tow over in front of him that's gonna run a
lot of play action off of Najia Harris and that's
gonna keep a lot of defenses. Honest. So we saw JK.
Dobbins really excel in this offense. I think Najia Harris
could have a similar output as well.

Speaker 1 (01:03:35):
I think I'll have a bigger output. To be honest,
I don't think it's I don't think he's a Saquon Barkley.
But I think we're gonna see, like I could see
people having a similar like Saquon Barkley vision's history things
saying like why did the Steelers let him go?

Speaker 2 (01:03:48):
Yeah, So basically you're saying that the three yards in
the cloud of dust thing was the Pittsburgh offensive line
and lack of passing game, and now with this situation,
he's gonna be a lot better.

Speaker 1 (01:03:57):
Well, I don't think it was fully three yards in
cloud of dust to pass couple of years. I mean
I think he just was, you know, he was playing
pretty well. I mean and but yes, I mean, when
you have a bad offensive line in front of you,
like that's gonna massively change things. When you have a
great offensive line in front of you.

Speaker 2 (01:04:11):
Should they bring Keenan Allen back to Yeah?

Speaker 1 (01:04:14):
Why not?

Speaker 2 (01:04:15):
Yeah? I mean it wouldn't hurt. I think so maybe
maybe they go for it. But yeah, I mean I
think this could be an interesting Chargers team next year
as well. I agree with you. I think it's a bee.

Speaker 1 (01:04:25):
I have it as a bee.

Speaker 2 (01:04:26):
I'm not like jumping through the hoop, jumping through the
roof about this Chargers team. But I think they got
better as well.

Speaker 1 (01:04:32):
Yeah, in fairness too, Like part of how I view
this is like how much valued could you have added
and did you maximize that value? And I think they
did a great job of that. So it's not like
if they spent fifteen million on Najia Harris, I'd say
what are you doing? But the fact that they got
him for five million, who was you know last I've
probably missed my last dodge Harris point. But he can
do anything too. He can catch out of the backfield,

(01:04:52):
he can block as well, really well, which is what
I like about him. But yeah, ultimately, like getting ma
Kai back then bringing back Mike Williams. These are really small,
but I think move that can help you. These are
what that's what the Eagles did that allow them to
win a Super Bowl, Right, It's these kind of moves
along with you know, a couple of the big ones.

Speaker 2 (01:05:10):
Yeah, I think if I'm gonna criticize this team for anything,
you know, they overperformed expectations defensively last year, just because
it seems like the Jim Harbaugh thing to do. I
still think this team needed a corner. And I mean
I don't think they haven't re signed to Sante Samuel Junior.
He's still out there. Maybe they bring him back. But

(01:05:32):
if there was anything for free agency that was pretty
good this year, it was corner and they didn't add one.
And I think that they really could have added a
piece there for sure. But you know, maybe that's the
thing they want to their draft, or maybe they bring
back Samuel Junior and it's okay, But I do think
they could have used one more guy.

Speaker 1 (01:05:47):
That's fair. That's a fair criticism. If they don't go
after that, what do you mean, Cale, I have Benjamin
Saint Juice.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
Now I would have liked a little more of an upgrade.

Speaker 1 (01:05:57):
Yeah, I think think think perhaps, Yeah, that's that's fair.
Kyle Lamone, we can find us on Twitter before we
head out.

Speaker 2 (01:06:04):
Oh, I didn't realize it was the last team. Make
sure to follow us on Twitter. That is a at
Jackson Krueger makes sure to follow me at by Kyle
Gronnin and make sure to follow the account page at
on the Sideline JK. That is at on the sideline JK.

Speaker 1 (01:06:15):
Of course, if you're like audio only podcast, anywhere you
get your podcast, search on the Sideline podcast it should
be available there. Uh yeah, Kyle, that's there. That's their show.
I know you don't want talk hockey, so I think
we're good.

Speaker 2 (01:06:28):
Yeah, not talking hockey. Hockey sucks. Bruins suck. Baseball season
starts tomorrow, right, yeah? Or is tomorrow? Is it tomorrow
or Thursday? Friday?

Speaker 1 (01:06:40):
I don't wow, I'll check.

Speaker 2 (01:06:42):
By the way, Opening Day is happening right now. I
am insanely optimistic about this Red Sox team, which means
I'm just set up setting myself up for disappointment. But
between the Yankees losing Jan Soto and their injury issues
right now tomorrow, yeah, games start tomorrow. So between that

(01:07:03):
and the Yankees having these injury issues and also losing one,
So do I really think this team could win the
division and maybe go on a run, because I don't
think there's a great team in the American League this year?
And yeah, so I'm setting myself up for major disappointment.

Speaker 1 (01:07:17):
Cool. Well, yeah, that'll be that'll be. That'll be fun.
We played a Rockies opening day. That's weird.

Speaker 2 (01:07:22):
Yeah, I don't like this whole Uh that they integrated
the interleague thing so that you play all the teams more.
Should just be you know, American League in the National League.
Just keep it separate.

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
I like, and why do we even do night games?
Should we all during today?

Speaker 2 (01:07:37):
I don't know about all that I had.

Speaker 1 (01:07:39):
I had a in little league. There was a guy
I played, well if that was upset that they started
night games. He was that much of like a baseball purist.

Speaker 2 (01:07:48):
Yeah, that's funny. I know Rigley started them really late.
But uh, are you going to the uh the stadium
and all this year? Gonna check out the new field?

Speaker 1 (01:07:57):
I think I have to. I mean I've been to
a game every year, uh since I was three years old.
Uh so every year to chopicate a fields better in existence,
so kind of like I have to go to one
in Tampa.

Speaker 2 (01:08:07):
Yeah, I think I'm gonna go to the early Red
Sox series. I think I'm going to because I'm gonna
head to Boston for a couple of months in in
like middle of May, so it might work out and
it won't be too.

Speaker 1 (01:08:18):
Hot, which will be nice, and it'll be easy to
get to for us.

Speaker 2 (01:08:22):
Yeah, driving to Tampa and said that Saint Petersburg is
gonna be a heck of a lot better for you.
So I appreciate that. But yeah, I'm excited to see.
It'll be interesting. It's a weird, weird, weird situation. But uh,
you know, obviously they had to do what they had
to do in the meantime, So I'm just I'm optimistic,
and I know it's gonna set me up for failure,
but we'll see.

Speaker 1 (01:08:43):
I'm just hoping we get a stadium. That's where that's
where our expectations are different. I'm just hoping, like, like,
you know, things go okay.

Speaker 2 (01:08:50):
I thought you wasn't there one agree to for Saint Petersburg.

Speaker 1 (01:08:54):
It's kind of fall it's falling apart.

Speaker 2 (01:08:56):
Oh boy.

Speaker 1 (01:08:57):
Yeah, well we'll see and then I guess it's like,
oh it's gonna have I now it's not gonna happen.
So I'm kind of just waiting until even thinks seem
official they don't end up being official.

Speaker 2 (01:09:05):
Yeah, I don't know. What's going on there? Your owner
needs to sell is a big.

Speaker 1 (01:09:09):
Thing, Like yeah, I agree, I agree, but I don't
know how to fix that.

Speaker 2 (01:09:14):
Buy the team.

Speaker 1 (01:09:16):
Yeah, hey, super chats. I mean they're available if you
want me to buy a team overlap. Where are you?

Speaker 2 (01:09:23):
It's the viewership numbers looking like lately, I mean, yeah,
it's just a it's a tough situation. I agree.

Speaker 1 (01:09:30):
Yeah, well again that is can we get a live
pod in Tampa? That seems like technically difficult, so probably not.

Speaker 2 (01:09:37):
Yeah, we'll see on that one.

Speaker 1 (01:09:40):
Okay, but again, thank you everybody for watching next week.
Top ten Quarterbacks of the Draft. We're we're doing it's
draft season officially, we will we will give our top
ten quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, which is ten is
an overkill, but it's it makes for a fun podcast.

Speaker 2 (01:09:56):
Ten is an overkill for this draft, so we'll get
into that. Yeah, yeah, do you have any hot takes
so far? You think you don't have to, you know,
have to say, I'm outright, but do you know, tease
it for the next show.

Speaker 1 (01:10:06):
Do you think I'll have some hot I'll have at
least one hot take.

Speaker 2 (01:10:09):
All right, I'm looking forward to hearing that. So yeah,
we'll see you next week.

Speaker 1 (01:10:13):
Okay, yeah, see you next week. Everyone be on the
lookout for that. It'll be six pm Eastern next week,
not tomorrow next week, being able to over that until then,
have a good one, peace,