Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: W VUA FM, Tuscaloosa.
Thank you for listening to 90.7 the Capstone. My name is Tanner Thompson along with Jalen Brooks and Connor Rouse. You are now listening to the student section. Today we're going to be talking exclusively NFL. We have a few interesting topics, so we are going to bring throughout the rest of the show, but for now I think we're going to start with our personal NFC and AFC pretenders and contenders. Does anybody want to start?
[00:00:36] Speaker B: I'll start it off, but first of all, I just want to say it is good to be back. Oh my God.
[00:00:40] Speaker C: Very, very good.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: It is so good to be back. Feels good to be just hopping back.
[00:00:43] Speaker A: On the radio, just talking ball.
[00:00:44] Speaker B: Talking about what we miss talking about ball.
[00:00:46] Speaker C: If you all caught me in the Friday student section last year, all I have to say is I'm doing quite swell. I just had to get that out the way.
My signature go to.
[00:00:57] Speaker B: You guys aren't used to that. You're going to be hearing that a.
[00:01:00] Speaker A: Lot throughout this year. Oh no, let me just get you excited for that. I'm not excited about it.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: But to get back to your question to kick us off, are contenders and pretenders. What do you guys want to start with, the AFC or the NFC?
[00:01:10] Speaker A: Let's start with NFC. Let's do NFC contenders and then we'll do pretender after.
[00:01:15] Speaker B: Well, it should be no question that I'm an Eagles fan, so obviously I'm going to stick with my Eagles and the 49 Ers. I mean, we saw the matchup last year in the conference championship game, but I think those are the two teams that the whole league runs through in the NFL.
[00:01:28] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:01:29] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:01:29] Speaker B: Although I am a little scared about some of these teams that I think are going underneath the radar. I think you could make a case for like the Giants. I think the Giants, I really love what they did in the offseason, adding Darren Waller, that cornerback that they drafted. I'm blanking on his about the Giants something.
[00:01:45] Speaker D: Banks.
[00:01:45] Speaker A: Deontay Banks out of Maryland Banks. He's good, man. I like Deontay Banks.
[00:01:50] Speaker B: I hate to say it, but the Giants are looking really good and also the commanders, too.
I think he's going to Surprise a lot of people.
[00:01:58] Speaker C: I think he will surprise people, but I still don't think that roster is ready for that defense. You don't think that defense hits? No, I think the defense is good. It's just the running back room. It's a lot of, I say good depth pieces, but there's no main guy.
[00:02:10] Speaker A: How dare you talk about Brian Robinson.
[00:02:12] Speaker C: Brian Robinson is a great short line. Kind of he is, but he's not a three down back.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: Yeah, I do like that wide receiver tandem, though.
[00:02:21] Speaker C: I think it's an underrated wide receiver.
[00:02:24] Speaker A: Dotson is a little bit underrated and I think he could really come out this next.
[00:02:29] Speaker C: I'm just worried about the O line. And then also Sam Howe. Sam Howe hasn't proved much. I mean, he came in, what, two games last year or one game?
[00:02:36] Speaker A: I think it was two games.
[00:02:37] Speaker C: He beat mean.
[00:02:39] Speaker B: But you heard Ron Rivera. He said he wish he had known.
[00:02:41] Speaker C: How good he was to start him early. And any coach would say that Ron Rivera doesn't. I don't think Ron Rivera is a clown. In my opinion.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: Ron Rivera is a clown.
[00:02:51] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:02:52] Speaker A: I get those words out of your.
[00:02:54] Speaker C: Didn'T last year, didn't last year he say something about, oh, wait, are we eliminated from the playoffs after we lost? He didn't know that. He didn't know that.
[00:03:01] Speaker A: He's focused on the team, man. He's focused on winning. So I'm just saying he wants to win every game.
[00:03:05] Speaker C: He needs to be more inclined to be aware of his team. He said he was more focused on the team but started Sam Howell so late and then said I should have started him sooner.
[00:03:18] Speaker A: Okay, so a rookie quarterback comes in who was taken in the third round. Carson Wentz taken in the third round.
[00:03:24] Speaker B: Beginning of that year, he's projected to get a late first round.
[00:03:27] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:03:27] Speaker A: Which is crazy, but that whole draft was just, but that quarterback goes in the third round and he starts Carson Wentz, who is an NFL veteran, who has played for good teams and played a lot of good football. Obviously not a lot of good football recently. Yeah, but he's played good football. Who are you going to play? The third round quarterback you just drafted? You see, or you're.
[00:03:46] Speaker C: This is what you're doing. This is what you're doing. We're starting into the season because I would have started Carson once into the season as well.
[00:03:51] Speaker A: Right.
[00:03:52] Speaker C: But then he comes out and just lays an egg each week. And after that point, it's like I kind of have to make a switch. I mean, you got Taylor Heinecke, proven guy.
[00:04:04] Speaker A: Right.
[00:04:04] Speaker C: But at the same time, it's not like he did anything either. Yeah, the season was already gone. So I'm saying you should have started Sam Howe. You at least put him in.
[00:04:12] Speaker B: You didn't like Taylor Heinecke's celebration after.
[00:04:14] Speaker C: He beat the Eagles after a terrible roughing the passer call and he celebrated like he won the Super Bowl.
[00:04:19] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:04:19] Speaker A: Oh, man.
That was the easiest way to see the Salty Eagles fan in him right there. Mentioned one thing and said the BS roughing the passer call.
[00:04:28] Speaker B: I used to root for him because he went to, I think, Odu.
[00:04:30] Speaker A: Oh yeah.
[00:04:31] Speaker C: Old Dominion.
[00:04:32] Speaker B: Yeah. Close to home from where I'm from.
[00:04:34] Speaker C: Travis Fulgum, legend. Also.
[00:04:38] Speaker A: I love it.
[00:04:39] Speaker C: So for my contender from the NFC, I'm also going to have to say the Eagles, and I'm going to explain. I know we have a rough, rough schedule this year, but I think we did end up getting better. We lost Javon Hargrave, great leader on the D line.
[00:04:55] Speaker B: He 49 ers out of all teams.
[00:04:57] Speaker C: Yeah. I was like, really?
[00:04:59] Speaker B: And then he has the audacity to say that the 49 ers were the.
[00:05:02] Speaker C: Better team when he played for the Eagles.
[00:05:05] Speaker B: What is going on?
[00:05:06] Speaker A: Talk about somebody who's impartial.
[00:05:08] Speaker C: I'm just saying I think Jalen Carter will end up being better than Javon Hargrave. I feel like it's not like a hard thing to predict. I think he's in the right system with the right leaders with Brandon Graham, Fletcher, Cox.
He's got his friends, Jordan Davis, Nakobi, Dean Nolan, Smith to all hold him accountable.
[00:05:24] Speaker A: Right.
[00:05:24] Speaker C: I think he'll end up being the guy when time comes. But you look at the DC and the offensive coordinators, we lost Shane Steichen.
[00:05:34] Speaker A: Who I thought was a great man.
[00:05:36] Speaker C: He was so good. He development with Hertz, development with Herbert. I think he's going to do great things in Indianapolis with Richardson, but DC, JonAthan Gannon, I will say he is probably the worst head coach hiring I've seen in the last.
[00:05:50] Speaker A: I'm so glad you say most. I think it's such an obvious. Maybe it's not, but I think it's a pretty obvious tanking move, dude. Yeah, we're taking him to that a little bit later.
[00:06:03] Speaker C: Yeah, it's the worst thing because it's a Super bowl and he's over here worried about his head coaching job and not trying to.
[00:06:09] Speaker A: It's ridiculous.
[00:06:10] Speaker C: I will never have any love towards him ever again.
[00:06:16] Speaker A: You or the Eagles front, dude, I won't go too far into it. But with him in just. Yeah, it was spies and it was the most stock defense you've ever seen in your life because he had such an elite roster on defense.
[00:06:29] Speaker C: Literally, we had so much talent and we played this base like cover three, cover two. We don't try to give up anything deep and we let everybody like the short yardage, short stuff. And then he has the audacity to say, why is Eagles media or whatever coming after us after we won? You allowed like 37 points to the Detroit Lions in the home opener. That's not a good thing.
He's got to realize you can do stuff with your personnel when you have the personnel to do something. You can't play these basic coverages and not blitz when you have one of the best, Elines, who had 70 sacks without blitzing, which is impressive, I will say. But you have Darius Lay, all pro, James Bradbury, you had CJ Gardner Johnson, you had Michael Marcus Epps, who was a good safety, like a chip who came in and had some good plays, TJ Edwards, because you're white, who all got bags this offseason and you're over here playing basic coverages.
[00:07:23] Speaker B: It's going to be interesting. But I like what they did in the offseason.
[00:07:25] Speaker C: Boy was my blood.
[00:07:26] Speaker B: The Cardinals, I think I like the draft picks.
[00:07:28] Speaker A: I like back.
[00:07:29] Speaker B: They got more depth and like more draft.
[00:07:30] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:07:31] Speaker A: That trade back and getting Paris Johnson, that was a really good move.
[00:07:34] Speaker C: It was a good move.
[00:07:36] Speaker B: I know I said that we were going to talk about it later, but I think it'd be kind of cool to just talk about it now to kind of go into it a little bit. But I think what you're seeing is you can make the case that they are tanking and they're going for Caleb Williams, which is funny because when they had the 11th overall pick way back when they took Josh Rosen, and then the next following year, you got the.
[00:07:54] Speaker A: Number one pick and it worked. Kyler, the kind of the conversation around that was like, wow, what a ballsy move. But it worked.
[00:08:01] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:01] Speaker A: And here we are, a little repeat.
[00:08:04] Speaker B: Of history going on.
[00:08:05] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:08:05] Speaker B: Unfortunately, Jonathan Gann is the leader of that.
[00:08:09] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:08:09] Speaker C: So I don't see much success coming from that organization anytime soon.
[00:08:13] Speaker A: I don't either.
[00:08:14] Speaker B: So who's your NFC contender?
[00:08:15] Speaker A: So my NFC contender is. You guys are going to love this answer, but it's the San Francisco 49 ers.
[00:08:21] Speaker C: Wow, that's amazing. Who's their quarterback again?
[00:08:23] Speaker A: It's going to be Brock Purdy, and Brock Purdy is going to do everything that he needs to do for that offense to work well. The real quarterback of that team is Kyle Shanahan. If we're being completely real.
[00:08:34] Speaker C: That guy, the choke artist, Kyle Shanahan.
[00:08:36] Speaker A: The choke artist, Kyle Shanahan.
[00:08:38] Speaker B: At some point you do have to look at his record. I'm not saying he's a choke artist. I'm not going to go that far. But we'll say like the Falcons Super bowl, right? Offensive coordinator for that. And you look at all the times like he fell short, you got to start to ask yourself like, is he a guy that can get it done?
[00:08:53] Speaker C: Regular season coach.
[00:08:55] Speaker A: Regular season coach. Okay.
Regular season coach is a really funny phrase.
[00:09:00] Speaker C: It is very funny.
[00:09:01] Speaker A: I don't know if I can back that take at all, but I think Kyle Shanahan has cemented himself and remains a top. He's top two offensive coach in the league, I would say behind kind of the combination of BNM and Andy Reid. I think it's the only offense that designs a better offense than Kyle Shanahan.
[00:09:21] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:09:21] Speaker A: I think he's proved that over and over again. The 49 ers were an elite team last year and don't get me wrong, I know quarterback away from possibly.
They were literally just not, I want to say literally just a quarterback, but talk about being a quarterback away. It wasn't like they had when that game came up, when Josh Johnson came in, it wasn't like it know there's somebody in there, but you don't have that guy who's going to take him to the next level. They didn't need a quarterback to take him to the next level. They needed a quarterback.
[00:09:50] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:09:51] Speaker A: Just somebody who could throw the ball. And that's what Brock Purdy brought. And I honestly don't think Brock Purdy, he got a little bit overhyped last year when he was playing those games. But I really don't think that he gets the appreciation for just doing all the small things right, which I think is what Kyle Shanahan likes about him and wants to keep him playing. Obviously letting go of Trey Lance this offseason, going to the Cowboys. But again, that is a weird situation. I'm not going to say that anyone did that. Right, exactly. Because I don't think anyone can for sure say who was correct there.
But I think he wants the guy who will do what he's asking will do it well, and he's not going to ask. He doesn't need a guy like Trey Lance for something like that. And that's why I say Kyle Shahan in a sense, is the quarterback of that team because I see what you're saying.
[00:10:40] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:10:41] Speaker A: And I think Brock Perry doesn't really get the appreciation for the small stuff just because he's not top end. Arm, talent, athleticism, things like that. But regardless, he stepped up and he played well and I think he's going to play that offense in the exact same way I think he's going to do his role. And I think they're going to be carried by the elite roster outside of the quarterback, which may still be. I mean, in terms of rosters and football, the Niners should still be considered top two, if not one, in my opinion. Two.
[00:11:10] Speaker C: But behind who? The Eagles?
[00:11:12] Speaker A: Duh.
[00:11:13] Speaker C: No, but the thing I was going to say about the Brock Purdy, I think Brock Purdy got overhyped because there's not enough film on him there ever wasn't. Because you look at quarterbacks who come in with these injured rosters, like Jared Sitham last year with the Raiders.
[00:11:27] Speaker A: Right.
[00:11:27] Speaker C: He came in one week and threw for almost 300 yards.
[00:11:29] Speaker A: Right.
[00:11:30] Speaker C: So there's not a lot of film on this guy. So teams don't know how to play him.
[00:11:33] Speaker A: Right.
[00:11:33] Speaker C: And I think that's what happened until the playoffs happened. I know against the Dallas Cowboys, he didn't have a good game. He got carried by the defense. Then the Eagles happened and they decided to put a backup tight end on the Hassan Reddick, the second NFC leader in sacks.
[00:11:49] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:11:49] Speaker C: Not the bright decision by the second best offensive coordinator in the NFL. So I'm just saying.
I do agree what you're saying, but I just think, I just don't like the move. Trading the twelveth overall pick, the 29th overall pick, the 101st overall pick, and the 29th overall pick for Trey Lance to just trade him for a fourth round pick in 2024.
[00:12:10] Speaker A: I mean, yeah, we know that was a bad. Yeah, that's not up for debate. We know that the Tray Lance move was pretty much or was all bad.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: You can't predict injuries and then.
[00:12:18] Speaker A: Exactly.
And also, for the record, Shanahan did not want Trey Lance. Shanahan wanted Mac Jones at three, which.
[00:12:25] Speaker C: Still wasn't a great pick.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: It could have been. Look at what Brock Purdy did. It could have been Mac Jones is a souped up Brock Purdy in my eyes.
[00:12:32] Speaker C: But the thing is, I also meant to say this. Kyle Shanahan, bad luck with quarterbacks and their injuries because the scheme he runs, the quarterbacks love to run the inside zones through the middle. You look at Trey Lance, he get hurts.
He got hurt. Brock Purdy, you know, backup tight end Hassan Reddick, not the best idea. Josh Johnson.
[00:12:51] Speaker A: Just Josh Johnson, man. Yeah, it's just Josh, respectfully.
[00:12:54] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:12:54] Speaker C: But every year it seems like Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt under his system. Every year there's always a quarterback going down so at some point you got to look at it and it's like sometimes he's got to change something so his quarterback can just maybe make it through a year.
[00:13:09] Speaker A: Yeah, my only thing is, I mean, don't get me wrong, I know there's probably something.
[00:13:14] Speaker B: That's what CMC is for this year, though.
[00:13:18] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:13:18] Speaker A: Okay. But I see what you're saying. Systematically, I think it's a little hard to narrow down what causes a quarterback injury when a quarterback role in that system is not to put yourself in danger that much in the protection scheme, maybe a little bit because he gets really creative with where he puts guys, who's pulling whatever, what gap someone's responsible for. He gets really creative with that and I guess that could put the quarterback in danger. But even then, I still think that to say that he needs to change something to protect the quarterback, I think that may be a little bit of a reach.
[00:13:51] Speaker C: It's a little bit of a reach, but it happens every year. Every year.
[00:13:53] Speaker A: Yeah, but the thing is, though, Niners get injured every year.
[00:13:56] Speaker C: That's also true.
[00:13:58] Speaker A: That's kind of my argument is that we see that happen constantly, whether it was kittle or Bosa or Jimmy G. There was so many Debo, there's so many injuries that, yeah, I think roster, top to bottom, I think it's more of a top heavy roster than the Eagles are. The Eagles are definitely deeper, but the top heaviness of that team is unreal. I think it is such a stacked team and I think with a little bit more luck on their side for the full season, I think they could really become a good team. And also with the film thing you said earlier, I'll make this quick, but with what you said about the quarterback film, with Brock Purdy, there are guys, and I know you like when it comes to film, there are guys like maybe your athletes and playmakers and things like that that you're going to watch the film be like, oh, this guy likes to, he likes to move right when pressure comes or he doesn't step up in the pocket much, you're going to do that. But with Brock Purdy, and again, the way that offense is designed, he knows where he is supposed to go, no matter. Like, there isn't a whole lot of creative freedom for him when the play is starting. And so that's kind of why I think that the film is still a valid point. But I don't think it's at as valid a point with, I think it's.
[00:15:14] Speaker C: More like the touch on throws and.
[00:15:17] Speaker A: How you can play the velocity. Yeah, I understand.
[00:15:20] Speaker C: It's more like how Nick Foles. It's all that stuff. I remember watching hard knocks when it was the Browns. You had Michael Kendricks talking about Nick Foles likes to put a lot of air under his balls, right? So that could also play a role in just how he throws a deep ball or like how he does the velocity and the throw. That's all I was trying to make a point about.
[00:15:38] Speaker A: No, that's fair. That's fair. Excuse me. I think we have time for probably one more pretender before we go to break.
[00:15:45] Speaker C: Should we do pretender? AFC Pretenders? Actually, no, let's do NFC because let's finish NFC.
[00:15:52] Speaker B: All right. So do you want to lead it off?
[00:15:53] Speaker C: Yeah, I'll lead it off. Now, my NFC pretender, it's not the 49 ERs, so you can just. Okay, but they've been getting a lot of media recently talking about how they've been doing good recent years and they expect to keep it up. It's the Vikings.
[00:16:08] Speaker A: Oh, absolutely.
[00:16:09] Speaker C: I think the Vikings, absolutely. I mean, they lose Eric Hendricks, they lose Patrick Peterson. I know that's not that big of a loss, but they lose Adam Thielen, they lose Zadaria Smith, they lose a lot of these people. And you expect Kirk Cousins to just take some step of faith and become God, and then you have Justin Jefferson come out and be Rainey Moss times two and carry everybody.
[00:16:36] Speaker B: Kirko changed.
[00:16:38] Speaker A: Kirko, dude, big Kirko.
[00:16:40] Speaker C: I just think there's no faith for the Vikings.
[00:16:42] Speaker A: Oh, I absolutely honestly, because this year.
[00:16:45] Speaker B: We'Re actually going to see how their head coach really responds because no one was kind of expecting the start they had last year, then they kind of exceeded expectations. But I think this year is going to be a real test for them.
[00:16:57] Speaker A: But, Dana, you were honestly, in terms of the Vikings, since I think it makes sense to put this now, that was also my pretender. I'm a strong believer in if you're not getting better, you're getting worse. And I don't think that the Vikings have gotten better. I mean, their most notable pick was Jordan Addison, who I think is going.
[00:17:15] Speaker C: To be a good player.
[00:17:16] Speaker A: I do.
[00:17:16] Speaker C: It's too early.
[00:17:18] Speaker B: Brian Murphy was a really good signing for them.
[00:17:20] Speaker A: That is true. They needed good. They needed help. And I was also going to make that point that they need so much help on defense, so much.
[00:17:26] Speaker B: Davenport could be really huge this year.
[00:17:28] Speaker A: You think so?
[00:17:28] Speaker B: Coming into a sophomore season?
[00:17:30] Speaker D: I think so, yeah.
[00:17:30] Speaker A: I'm not a huge believer in that defensive line, dude, I don't know. I don't think there's anybody on that team that's going to third down and you need to put guys in coverage and you need someone to go get home on four sacks or get sacks, then I think you're kind of pushing it with anybody on that line. I don't think there's a guy who can go do that.
[00:17:51] Speaker B: But yeah, I 100% agree with you guys. And just for my NFC pretender, it's the Cowboys like, same reason you just said. I don't have to go into it. They already know.
[00:17:59] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:18:00] Speaker A: We'll talk about the Cowboys when we get back for just a little bit, but for now we are going to go to break. Thank you so much for listening and we will see you guys in a few minutes.
WVuaFM Tuscaloosa welcome back once again to the students section. You are now listening to our continued conversation, I guess, of our pretenders and contenders of the NFC and AFC. I believe we left off with Jalen talking about the Cowboys as a pretender in the yeah, I mean, I don't.
[00:18:47] Speaker B: Have much to add to that, but.
[00:18:49] Speaker A: We all know it's every know.
[00:18:53] Speaker B: Jerry Jones is just now starting to figure this out. It's kind of the same thing and he's already making moves. We'll get that into that a little bit later. But same old story like you said with the know if you're not getting better or they're just what, what's going on.
[00:19:08] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:19:09] Speaker B: I literally think we've watched the Cowboys probably have the best option of getting to the Super bowl over the past couple years, and they blew it because I think everybody in the NFC east is going to be good this year except for the Cowboys.
[00:19:21] Speaker C: Maybe Washington as well, but that's, I.
[00:19:25] Speaker B: Really like Washington, but we'll revisit that a little.
[00:19:28] Speaker A: Washington will be taking a big jump.
[00:19:30] Speaker C: I think Washington will be a sleeper.
[00:19:32] Speaker B: I, and that's what I'm going off.
You want to I can give you my AFC contender.
[00:19:38] Speaker A: Yeah, let's run it.
[00:19:39] Speaker D: Yeah, do it.
[00:19:39] Speaker B: So for the AFC, I think it's no choice, but I'm over the Bills. I think they're starting to enter that same conversation we just had with the Cowboys and the Vikings.
[00:19:46] Speaker C: Is this contender?
[00:19:47] Speaker A: It's contender or pretender?
[00:19:48] Speaker B: Contender.
[00:19:48] Speaker C: Contender.
[00:19:50] Speaker B: I'm not talking about the Bills anymore. So give me the Bengals.
[00:19:53] Speaker C: The Bengals. Okay.
[00:19:54] Speaker B: I think they're a little, that rivalry is one of the best rivalries.
[00:19:57] Speaker A: It's so fun, man. It's amazing cheese.
[00:19:59] Speaker B: Versus Bengals. I think it's a great matchup every single time, no matter if it's the regular season. Well, I mean, even in the regular season, it feels like a postseason game.
[00:20:06] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:20:09] Speaker B: Big time plays after big time plays. And I just really think Joe Burrows just went to that Super Bowl. He lost. He wants to get back. You know how Mahomes lost but lost it and then he came back. I think it's the same thing that's happening with the Bengals. I think in the same way, like I mentioned with the NFC, it's the same thing going on with the Eagles. So give me the Bengals and give me the Eagles.
[00:20:28] Speaker A: Love it.
[00:20:29] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:20:29] Speaker C: So my contenders for the AFC are the.
[00:20:36] Speaker A: Contender.
[00:20:37] Speaker C: Contender.
[00:20:38] Speaker A: So when we're talking about contender here, you're talking about your favorite for the AFC or you're talking about a team that just could be more of a contender than people think?
[00:20:46] Speaker B: That is a good question.
[00:20:47] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:20:48] Speaker C: So I think they're already a contender after how they finished the season last year. They almost beat the Chiefs. They did all this. They did that. I think they have a shot to be in the Super bowl next year.
[00:20:57] Speaker B: I do, too.
[00:20:57] Speaker C: That's actually, I think because under the radar team.
[00:21:00] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:21:00] Speaker C: I think that's know coaching. Doug Peterson, he's already done this before. He's done this with Trevor Lawrence. Trevor Lawrence took a huge jump last year. Just a normal coach.
[00:21:07] Speaker B: Now he has a wide receiver one.
[00:21:08] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:21:08] Speaker C: Calvin Ridley. I think he's already shown in camp that he's been the best had. I think Evan Ingram, who had a great year last year, will continue what he did.
[00:21:18] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:21:19] Speaker C: I think Travis Etienne is going to be a great running back. And they also got Tank Bigsby, who I think will be a like little ground and know just change of pace kind of running back. I think Josh Allen and that defense is really going to take a big step. I just think that team has a really sneaky way to get to the playoffs with the weak division, with the Colts, the Titans, the Texans. I think they'll easily win the division and you never know. I think they could honestly make the Super bowl next year.
[00:21:46] Speaker B: I think we're also expecting Trayvon Walker.
[00:21:48] Speaker A: To make a really big.
[00:21:49] Speaker B: Yeah, I think a lot of people forget he went number one last year.
[00:21:53] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:21:53] Speaker A: I'm a big believer you when you're talking about a team that is Super.
[00:21:57] Speaker C: Bowl contender and they're very young.
[00:21:59] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:21:59] Speaker A: Very, very young. I think when you're talking about a Super bowl contender team, I think having two edge rushers that can go get the quarterback consistently is huge. And that's why, like you saying Dravon Walker needs to take a big step because Josh Allen doing it by himself. I really just think in a lot of Super bowl teams, you see to be able to get that pressure from both sides on the quarterback completely changes that offense, especially in today's game. It completely changes that defense. But overall, I do like the Jaguars pick as a. I think I'm probably thinking about a little bit more of as a sleeper than you are, than a contender. Kind of like the question I asked.
I do. I respect that.
[00:22:40] Speaker C: So what's your AFC contender then?
[00:22:42] Speaker A: My AFC contender is going to be the Baltimore Ravens. I think the Ravens are poised for a really good season here.
[00:22:50] Speaker C: If Lamar can stay healthy.
[00:22:52] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:22:54] Speaker C: And Odell can stay healthy, there can't.
[00:22:57] Speaker B: Be any more excuses from Lamar's contract. He's got his money. They fired the offensive coordinator.
[00:23:03] Speaker A: Right.
[00:23:03] Speaker B: I think all the tools, all the keys to this offense are in his hands.
[00:23:07] Speaker C: Absolutely. I do agree. I do.
[00:23:09] Speaker A: And I have that faith in Lamar Jackson. I think he's poised for a huge comeback personally. And Again, we know how good the defense is.
[00:23:16] Speaker C: We know that secondary is Marcus Peters is gone.
[00:23:19] Speaker A: That's Marcus Peters is gone. I still have a lot of faith in that secondary, though.
[00:23:22] Speaker C: I have a lot of faith in Marlon Humphrey and the rest of the secondary. Marcus Peters was a good corner.
[00:23:27] Speaker A: He was a really good corner and he brought a lot to that defense. But I think there's not a lot of teams that can match up on the Ravens as well compared to. Because again, the Ravens are a pretty unique team in terms of, I guess the closest thing coming now is kind of the Bears and where they run a truly eleven on eleven kind of football, where the quarterback is just as much a participant in the game as much as everybody else. And again, quarterbacks are always participants, but they're not on the ground exactly in the run game, being always having the threat of anybody you can rush and that gives you a true Eleven on eleven scheme that is huge for a team and teams don't deal with that as much in the league right now. I think when you're building a defense, I don't think you're building a defense to play the Ravens as a coordinator or as a GM. I don't think you're building a defense to play the Ravens. You're building a defense to play the Bills. You know, those high power slinging the ball downfield.
Yeah, I am. I'm pretty big on the Ravens. And again, it's also kind of a sleeper.
Not, they're not my favorite in the AFC, but I think they're probably in my top three for the AFC.
[00:24:41] Speaker C: The thing that worries about their roster, I love their roster and I love what they've done with the coaching and I love how they got rid of their OC because their OC I think really held back their offense because it wasn't very wide receiver friendly so he couldn't get the weapons he wanted.
[00:24:54] Speaker A: Right.
[00:24:55] Speaker C: But everyone on that team I feel like is extremely injury prone. You got Lamar. Lamar has been hurt back to back years. You got Odell who had had knee problems his whole career.
[00:25:05] Speaker A: Right.
[00:25:05] Speaker C: JK Dobbins, is he going to get back to his healthy self?
[00:25:09] Speaker B: The whole running back rOom? You could.
[00:25:10] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:25:11] Speaker A: I mean, literally, what was it two seasons ago, one season ago that almost the whole running back room got?
[00:25:16] Speaker C: So it's, I agree with like, we need them to stay healthy.
[00:25:21] Speaker A: It is definitely a volatile team. I think if everybody stays, not everyone's going to stay healthy. That's just not how football goes. But if the major players there stay healthy, I think Odell can come back and he can be a really good receiver again. People doubted him when he went to the Rams and he, in that playoff run. Still on a bad knee was do what?
[00:25:41] Speaker B: Apparently. Still on a bad knee. Yeah, he was a fully.
[00:25:44] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly like. But he was still such a contributor for that Rams team and I'm a big believer in zay Flowers.
[00:25:50] Speaker C: Zay Flowers is. He has caught my eye.
[00:25:52] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:25:53] Speaker C: I think he's the second best receiving rookie out of the draft this year, probably.
[00:25:56] Speaker A: I think he just moves.
[00:25:57] Speaker C: Quentin Johnson is number one in my opinion. I think that's going to be.
[00:26:01] Speaker B: That's going to be interesting. I think that's going to be Justin target this year.
[00:26:05] Speaker A: Boiling hot take.
[00:26:06] Speaker C: I think Quentin Johnson will be the guy.
[00:26:08] Speaker D: You think.
[00:26:08] Speaker A: So it's interesting.
Do what I like.
[00:26:14] Speaker B: Jackson, the receiver out of the Seahawks.
[00:26:16] Speaker C: Seattle Jackson Smith and Jackson Smith and Jackson.
[00:26:19] Speaker A: Just say JSN, bro. That's the JSN. That's my favorite way. But I think he's confidently better than Quentin Johnston.
But obviously they're two different players, serve two different roles. I honestly, this is a little bit off topic, but I do think that JSN could have a really good season really fast.
[00:26:34] Speaker C: I think he fits into that, especially at number three.
[00:26:36] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:26:37] Speaker A: And that wide receiver room is just perfect. Now DK as your textbook X wide out, then Lockett as your deep threat and JSN as your slot. I think that's a real, like, in terms of fitting stereotypes as wide receivers, that's probably the most perfect setup in the league.
[00:26:55] Speaker C: But yeah, that is your pretender.
[00:26:58] Speaker A: My pretender for the, the. This may be a little bit of a reach for a pretender, but it's only because I hear a weird amount of hype around them. But it is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
[00:27:09] Speaker B: Okay, yeah, I get that. But also, at the same time, I feel like it's one of those seasons because Mike Tomlin's never had a losing, so. And I just feel like they're going to have a healthy TJ watt this think. I think Kenny Pickett's going to have a great year this year. I think he's going to have definitely a better year. I don't know if he's going to have a breakout like, whoa, it's Kenny Pickett. I think he's going to definitely take a couple of steps ahead.
[00:27:33] Speaker D: But yeah.
[00:27:36] Speaker C: The running back room. I like nausea. I do Oline. It's like Oline receiving core. George Pickens.
[00:27:45] Speaker B: Pickens is the best wide receiver in the league.
[00:27:47] Speaker C: Okay, moving on.
[00:27:50] Speaker B: I love those videos.
[00:27:52] Speaker C: My AFC pretender, y'all might not like, tell you what, I'm going to tell you why, dude, the Kansas City Chiefs. I know it sounds crazy to doubt Patrick Holmes because it is crazy. But there's a lot of turmoil in that locker room with the Chris Jones situation of him holding out. There's trade rumors going around. Are they going to trade him? I think that's a huge part of the defense. He had 15 and a half sacks last year.
[00:28:20] Speaker A: He's a Deep boy candidate, man. Literally 15 and half a sacks is an interior guy.
[00:28:24] Speaker D: Is.
[00:28:24] Speaker C: It's crazy. So I'm saying so good. That defense was so good because he was able to get pressure all the time and it made everything easier for the DBS. It made everything easier for the linebackers. All that right. Travis Kelsey hyperextended Disney off to a slow start this year. That's pretty sure that's going to hurt the offense a little bit. They have known wide receiver, one Marquez Valdez Gantling Sky Moore.
[00:28:45] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:28:46] Speaker C: I think that team, I'm not going to say they're going to be bad. They're still going to be in the contention for the Super bowl, but I think people are giving them too much credit for how the offseason has been so far.
[00:28:57] Speaker D: Gotcha.
[00:28:57] Speaker B: And I kind of just want to add to your point. I'm on the boat with you on Chiefs the only reason I say this, because like you said, Chris Jones is going to be out to like what, week eight, I think wE're hearing. And then also the guy who's going to be taking his place, Turshan Wharton, he's just coming off of ACL injury off of last year, so he's going to be kind of slow to go. And then now they're going to have a couple rookies like Keandre Coburn and some old veteran players like Neil Farrell, but they're no Chris Jones.
[00:29:24] Speaker C: Now, I will say if Chris Jones gets his contract settled, like he's actually going to play, they're off the list for pretenders. That's all I have to say.
[00:29:33] Speaker A: All right.
[00:29:35] Speaker B: Also, just to add, just like what Connor speaks to the right receivers, it's Sky Moore, Kadarius, Tony who always battles with injuries, and then Marquez Valdine, scandaling Justin Ross, who's a rookie, or Rashee Rice, I think that's his name.
[00:29:50] Speaker A: How you pronounce Rashee Rice?
[00:29:51] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:29:51] Speaker A: SmU, I think.
[00:29:53] Speaker B: I think so.
[00:29:53] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:29:53] Speaker B: So you just look at these receivers and they're all very young. I mean, it's Patrick Mahomes and you got to, you know, Patrick Mahomes, I think can make the most out of thing, but at some point you got to question these guys. Going to be ready to take on more as Travis Kelsey gets older and their bets get older. So I don't know.
[00:30:09] Speaker A: All right, I'm going to begin my rebuttal for this. Please.
[00:30:13] Speaker C: Please.
[00:30:14] Speaker A: So the things I want to start with, one, just for the.
This may be wrong of me to say, but for the sake of listeners of this radio, both of the people who just talked are Philadelphia Eagles fans. So that is important. We might have a slight bias that is important now.
So let me continue a little bit. I'm going to say, might be hating a little bit. Maybe just a little bit.
[00:30:39] Speaker C: No, I'm hating more on the 49 ers than the Chiefs. I respect the Chiefs, just Andy Reid, but.
[00:30:43] Speaker A: Right. All right.
[00:30:44] Speaker C: I mean, there might be a little.
[00:30:45] Speaker A: Bias with the Chiefs. One, I think that Chris Jones ends up back in Kansas City. I'm pretty confident in that. I think we've seen this situation a million times where somebody is all, they're unhappy, they're going to go somewhere and they go back. I think that so many times does.
[00:31:00] Speaker C: Happen actually, where they actually do leave. So it's.
[00:31:02] Speaker A: Good point. You got me.
[00:31:03] Speaker C: You never know.
[00:31:04] Speaker A: You got me.
[00:31:05] Speaker B: And I honestly am leaning, but I want to say it's getting to that point, I really do.
[00:31:09] Speaker A: That's fair.
[00:31:09] Speaker B: We'll see.
[00:31:10] Speaker A: That's fair.
[00:31:10] Speaker B: That's just my hot take.
[00:31:11] Speaker A: And also, we have used every single doubt that was about the Chiefs last year. We have just recycled in the past five minutes.
[00:31:20] Speaker C: I had them as pretender last year as.
[00:31:22] Speaker A: So why on God's green earth would you put him as pretender again?
[00:31:27] Speaker C: Why not? I mean, it just looks perfect.
[00:31:30] Speaker B: I just think that Chris Jones thing is huge.
[00:31:32] Speaker A: It is huge.
[00:31:34] Speaker B: And also, just like losing Juju is.
[00:31:36] Speaker C: Also very big, too.
[00:31:37] Speaker B: There's a reason they got Juju last year. It's just like, I don't believe in their wide receiving core. Isaiah Pacheco.
[00:31:44] Speaker C: Pacheco.
[00:31:45] Speaker A: Isaiah Pacheco.
[00:31:46] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:31:46] Speaker B: I think he's a tough runner and I love him as a running back. Definitely an upgrade, but we'll see what happens. But, yeah, I guess I don't doubt Patrick Mahabhar. So it would not shock me if they somehow just do what the Chiefs do and make it back, but.
[00:32:02] Speaker D: It.
[00:32:02] Speaker A: Wouldn'T shock me because it's Patrick Mahmoud.
[00:32:04] Speaker C: But at the same time, it's like.
[00:32:06] Speaker A: This called backing off of your take.
[00:32:08] Speaker C: I don't think it's going to happen.
They're a pretender. They'll be out.
[00:32:12] Speaker A: I don't think they're going to.
[00:32:14] Speaker C: Out by the wild card.
[00:32:16] Speaker A: Out by the wild card.
[00:32:18] Speaker C: That's my hot take.
[00:32:19] Speaker A: Are we my hot take?
[00:32:21] Speaker B: I'm going to go with Division.
[00:32:22] Speaker C: I'm going wild card.
[00:32:23] Speaker B: No, actually, I kind of want to go with wild card, too, but I'm.
[00:32:26] Speaker C: Going to Jags versus Chiefs wild card and I think Chargers might win the division.
[00:32:35] Speaker A: Okay with that, Coach?
[00:32:38] Speaker C: It's not happening. It's not happening. It's probably going to be divisional.
[00:32:41] Speaker A: I mean, dude, they are Super bowl champs with and they lost.
Not. That is absolutely legit. Andy Reid is an offensive, you know, he had a lot of control, but.
[00:32:59] Speaker C: Enemy also held it down.
[00:33:01] Speaker A: And I know what Eric Bienemi brings, and I do think he's a huge factor. I really do. But when it comes to what we've said about the team so far, like you talked about the receivers as well, again, we've been over that and it's not like Juju was this electric guy who saved that team. And also they added Rasheed Rice, who his tape in college. His tape in college was good, but he doesn't exactly move into it. For me. Justin Ross could be very good. I think those are two legit additions.
[00:33:37] Speaker B: Before those injuries he suffered from, he.
[00:33:41] Speaker A: Was balling and I think those are two legit guys they added, and I don't think the team has changed enough to say that they're out in the wild card.
[00:33:48] Speaker C: I took it.
[00:33:51] Speaker B: So tough.
[00:33:53] Speaker A: The AFC is tough. The AFC is absolutely tough, depending on.
[00:33:56] Speaker B: How long Chris Jones is out. And they use like they don't have home court.
[00:33:59] Speaker A: I mean, home court, home court, home.
[00:34:00] Speaker B: Court, home field advantage.
[00:34:02] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:34:02] Speaker B: I don't know, but we'll see.
[00:34:04] Speaker A: That's fair.
[00:34:06] Speaker B: They've barely won on some miracles for the past couple of years and I just think it might be the year that miracle doesn't happen for.
[00:34:12] Speaker A: I think they've won on miracles because of who that team is.
[00:34:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:15] Speaker C: They won on miracles because of Patrick Mahomes, but then also it's just also miracles.
[00:34:19] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't know. I think more about the miracles thing. I think you said they won off Miracles because of Patrick Mahomes, but there's still miracles.
[00:34:30] Speaker C: There's still miracles.
[00:34:31] Speaker B: I mean, like Tyree kill 13 seconds is not a miracle, but at the same time it's like a wild play.
[00:34:36] Speaker A: Yeah, no, it's absolutely wild in that game. Oh, my God. That's an incredible, one of the best games I've seen. Yeah, but I don't know, man. I think even, just as it, even if you take away all the reasonings we've named in the past, however many minutes, I think saying that a defending champ is, and don't be wrong, it's happened before. But a defending champ that has their core being Patrick Holmes and Travis Kelsey, who are the two best at their position in the league, and Chris Jones, who is probably the best defensive tackle in the league right now, who is not playing, who is, I think is probably going to stay on the team.
[00:35:13] Speaker B: Sitting out half the season, not going to be in shape when he gets back.
[00:35:16] Speaker A: Not going to be in shape when.
[00:35:17] Speaker B: He gets back, probably.
[00:35:19] Speaker A: I don't know.
I See where you're coming from. I obviously disagree as we have found.
[00:35:25] Speaker B: We can get more into this when we come back from.
[00:35:27] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. We can definitely do that. Does that cover our pretenders and contenders in total?
[00:35:33] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:35:33] Speaker A: We're missing anything.
[00:35:33] Speaker D: We're not. That's all. We're all good. Sweet.
[00:35:35] Speaker A: All right, in that case, we're going to go to break for a few minutes and we'll be back to talk about our holdouts for this season. And by holdouts we're just talking about important guys on teams who have some contract issues, some disagreements with upper management, whatever it may be, again, that they are not quite signing a contract, and it puts that team in a little bit of conflict.
Who do we want to start with?
[00:36:26] Speaker B: Guys, I think you should start off.
[00:36:27] Speaker A: You'Re a Brian with Mr. Brian Burns.
[00:36:31] Speaker C: All right, before I say it's a great superhero name, Brian Burns just rolls all the tongue.
[00:36:37] Speaker A: Awesome.
[00:36:39] Speaker C: Just had to add that out. Thanks, man.
[00:36:43] Speaker A: So Brian Burns again.
When I say premier, I'm going to say premier is in like a top ten edge guy. I think it's pretty easy to say Brian Burns, top ten edge defender.
If you look at the numbers, when it comes to Sacks pressures, he floats around like eight or nine in the league for this past year. And he also has improved every year. That is big. I think year one he had seven sacks. I think he was like five sacks, seven sacks, nine sacks, twelve sacks. He's literally improved incrementally every year, and I think that's important to note. And also with Brian Burns, he's a 2024 free agent, so he's going to play this season. And you know what to say about contract years in the NFL.
It could be one of those things where he decides that he wants this contract and he plays for it like guys have done before.
Shout out, Josh Jacobs. One of the best contract year seasons ever.
[00:37:39] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:37:40] Speaker C: Crazy.
[00:37:40] Speaker A: But yeah, Brian Burns, he's improved every year. He did not take as much of a step as I would have liked this past season. I thought that he would be better.
He was around again, kind of 14th, 15th in productivity just because from again, numbers standpoint, he was rushing a passer a lot. Obviously he's an edge rusher, but when it comes to payment, though, which kind of is the other half of this argument, I guess he is 53rd in average salary among edge rushers, which again, looking at that, he's a top ten guy, 53rd.
[00:38:13] Speaker D: He should.
[00:38:14] Speaker A: I absolutely understand where he's coming from with wanting to be paid, and I do think he should be paid.
And he's again 60th in total value just to get that number out. But already with the Panthers, he is making the most money from a total basis and from a yearly basis, he is making the most money.
Panthers are going to be, I think, about third in cap space. Something along those lines. When it comes to the 2024 offseason, we can do it. I think it's going to ride pretty heavily on what we see from him this year. I think the ODs are he becomes a pre elect, at least. My ideal scenario is he becomes a son. First of all, when Hassan Reddick was on the team he was regardless, Brian Burns, I think obviously a lot rides on this year.
[00:39:03] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:39:03] Speaker A: He's not holding out, so he's not going to not play football for the team, which is very fortunate for us because that would really suck. Part of me wants to know you sign him to something now and then he goes off this next season and know now you're looking at a solid contract.
[00:39:20] Speaker B: If I may add something, I think what's actually going on is, you know, if I had to take a guess, I think Brian Burns is. He's waiting on that Nick Bosa extension.
[00:39:29] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:39:29] Speaker B: And then that way he can see how much heat the go off of that.
[00:39:32] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:39:33] Speaker B: Yeah, that's the big puzzle piece.
[00:39:35] Speaker A: Absolutely. It's funny how that works in the league with market. They all try to position and Christian Kirk just completely destroyed the yeah, I think, you know, by looking at the numbers like, you know, the pay and the play does not exactly line up and the Panthers, I really think we could afford to do it. And I do really like your point about Nick Bosa and seeing what goes with him because that is the chance to reset the market with edge rushers. It really does. Especially him being a defensive player of the Year. That could completely reset everything. But I don't really want it to because next season I want the Panthers to be able to sign a good wide receiver because we have a decent core right now. But they're getting old.
[00:40:17] Speaker B: DJ Moore's gone now.
[00:40:18] Speaker A: DJ Moore's gone. And so now we're looking at Adam Thielen, DJ Chark Terrace, Marshall Jr. You know what I mean?
[00:40:25] Speaker C: Solid players.
[00:40:26] Speaker A: Solid players. But I think you want to get a guy for one. Exactly. If we're lucky, Jonathan Mingo turns into that.
[00:40:36] Speaker C: I'm high on Mingo.
[00:40:38] Speaker A: I am high on needs. I would love for him to take that step. If he doesn't.
This is a little bit off topic, but T. Higgins contract also goes up. I think the Bengals aren't going to be able to keep him.
I think he'll be going and the Panthers will be third in cap space and I think.
[00:40:55] Speaker C: Interesting.
[00:40:56] Speaker A: I really think that that would be an awesome pickup for Panthers because I am a huge T. Higgins fan.
[00:41:02] Speaker C: Keep going.
[00:41:04] Speaker A: But yeah, I do think he should get paid. I think the Panthers can do it. I am very pro Brian Burns getting paid. Obviously, like you said, that Nick Bosa deal makes it significant because if it turns out has to be some crazy contract, then it will make me a little bit more hesitant. But as of right now, I do believe he should be paid and I think he needs to stay in Carolina.
[00:41:22] Speaker B: Is there any part of you that wishes that the Panthers, the Carolina Panthers accepted the LA Rams trade offer of two first round picks? Because we know how valuable those first round picks, right?
[00:41:31] Speaker A: Do you remember what those years were for those picks?
[00:41:33] Speaker B: I want to say it was 2026 and 2027, but don't quote me on that.
[00:41:37] Speaker D: Okay?
[00:41:38] Speaker C: I can look it up right now.
[00:41:40] Speaker A: Those, those are definitely valued picks because those Rams are going to be bad for a minute. Whether they like it or not.
[00:41:49] Speaker B: They have sets in.
[00:41:50] Speaker C: Bennett.
[00:41:50] Speaker A: They do have Stetson Bennett. Dude, never mind. I take everything back.
I think they were right to hold out on that. Also, I think it shows Brian Burns that we care about him, that we want him here.
[00:42:02] Speaker B: Speaking very highly of the Panthers since this.
[00:42:04] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:42:04] Speaker D: Yeah, he's been there.
[00:42:05] Speaker A: And again, honestly, not a lot of people speak poorly of the Panthers except for Cam Newton. His situation with mean, that was years ago at this.
You know, it's a somewhat respected up organization and even as a GM, I think Fitterer is respected as just what he can do. He's made really good moves this offseason. He really did a great job. If there's anything we needed, it was weapons. And then he got us. Miles Sanders, Hayden Hearst and Adam Thyl and DJ Chark just completely revamped the offense.
[00:42:34] Speaker C: He revamped it. So the trade was the Rams would give up a 2024 first, a 2025 first, and a 2023 2nd round pick for Brian Burns.
[00:42:41] Speaker B: Yes, I was way off, but yeah.
[00:42:45] Speaker A: Looking back at it now, yeah, that's really good, man. That is a really good trade. I mean, that is still tough.
[00:42:52] Speaker C: It's tough because you make that trade, the Rams might not be as bad as they are now.
[00:42:58] Speaker A: Exactly. And I really do think they'll be bad. But I think, I mean, dude, edge rushers are so valued. They're so valued and I think that's maybe why find it's tough enough just finding one to actually be on your team. Retaining them is even harder. So I think that's probably why they decided to retain him because they already know how hard it is to find a legit edge guy with how good play is in the league right now.
[00:43:22] Speaker C: But speaking of great Edge guys, Nick Bosa, he's also holding out due to his contract. And even though he's holding out, I do think they're going to get a deal done before the season. It's already like, I feel like set in stone that they're just working out the numbers now, I think it's going to happen soon.
[00:43:40] Speaker B: At least I think he's 100% going to be back with the 49 ERs. I think we spoke about this a little bit before we came on there. This is just what the Bosa family does. I mean, if you take a look back in history, when his brother, Joey Bosa was drafted third overall in the 2016 draft, he didn't report to Camp, the rookie camp, until the end of the sEason, until right before the season started, because he was holding out for a higher rookie contract.
And even then, he already had the highest offer for a rookie at the time. So it's kind of like the same situation. We're hearing that he's already been offered 30 million per year, just a little bit under Aaron Donald's contract.
But we're waiting to see because apparently that's what they're waiting on because apparently he wants to be the highest paid. Now, I don't know if that's true, but we'll see what happens there.
[00:44:22] Speaker C: He definitely deserves it. I think he does. Because coming off a DPOI and just everything he did last year, what did he have? Like almost 19 and a half sacks? Something like that.
He still has so much on the table. He has a bright future. I think he'll probably be one of the best DNS or edge rushers for a long, long time. Absolutely.
[00:44:42] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:44:42] Speaker C: I just think the way the market goes right now, it's kind of tough to pay somebody that amount of money, but he definitely deserves it.
[00:44:48] Speaker B: Yeah. And then my other guy we wanted to talk about, but I feel like we said enough on him with Chris Jones.
[00:44:53] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:44:54] Speaker B: We found into detail about him, but it's interesting to see what the Chiefs are going to do. You know, Tanner, you mentioned earlier T Higgins and that idea and how you said T Higgins could be a perfect wide receiver, one for the Panthers. Now that got me wondering, who are your favorite, who are the best wide receiver twos in the NFL?
[00:45:10] Speaker C: If you had a who's your favorite and then who's your top three? I would say, I guess.
[00:45:15] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:45:16] Speaker A: Favorite, who's your top three?
[00:45:17] Speaker C: Start off with top three, and then you go with your favorite.
[00:45:20] Speaker A: Okay. I think the top three is going to be pretty easy, honestly. Yeah, I think we'll honestly all the same top three because I think pretty undebatable, but I do think the one will probably be different. Do you guys want me to start? Is that what we're.
[00:45:29] Speaker B: Yeah. Should we all just go name a name and then go in order or just name all three.
[00:45:33] Speaker A: I think, honestly, we should just do all three.
[00:45:35] Speaker D: Yeah. Okay.
[00:45:36] Speaker B: KEep it.
[00:45:36] Speaker A: So, yeah, I'm going to say my three is Waddle. Higgins Smith.
[00:45:40] Speaker C: Same.
[00:45:41] Speaker A: Jillian Waddle. T. Higgins. DeVontae Smith. I'm pretty.
[00:45:44] Speaker B: I would like to make the case that Waddle could be number one this year.
[00:45:47] Speaker A: I would also agree.
[00:45:48] Speaker B: Oh, boy.
[00:45:49] Speaker C: Oh, boy.
[00:45:51] Speaker A: I'm pretty confident in Waddle being the best wide receiver, too, in the league right now. But let's let Connor. Let's let Connor talk for a second and we'll go from there.
[00:46:00] Speaker C: The thing with Waddle is I think Waddle undoubtedly has the best speed, and that helps with all the stats. You look at his 75 catches, 1300 yards, you can't deny that. You can't. But how much of those are like little dumps and he just runs straight?
[00:46:17] Speaker A: Does that make him a worse receiver?
[00:46:19] Speaker C: It doesn't make him a worse receiver, but I think being a better receiver just means more well rounded.
Okay, so, like DeVontae Smith, I would say DeVontae Smith would be my number one. No bias here, though, of course.
[00:46:30] Speaker A: No bias. There's been none so far.
[00:46:33] Speaker C: None. But I'm just saying.
[00:46:34] Speaker B: No, not at all.
[00:46:35] Speaker C: The way he has the best route running out of this trio, I think, in my opinion.
[00:46:40] Speaker D: Right.
[00:46:40] Speaker C: I think T Higgins can probably go get the ball. The is going to get it.
[00:46:45] Speaker A: Absolutely. T Higgins.
[00:46:46] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:46:46] Speaker C: Devante has proved that he can do that. Jalen Waddle really. Hasn't he just been like that one big play, like screen or just go so it's right system. I think he can be that guy because he can just run straight and blow by everybody. Like Tyree kill, he can get the ball and just make magic happen. But I think DeVontae Smith is just the most versatile of the can. If he gets the ball, he can shimmy, shimmy, go. But it's like the route running is there, the go up and get it. We saw him do that against Washington, and I just think Waddle might have the better stats and people will make the case. He's a wide receiver, one. I just think Devante is the best well rounded receiver that you can see. And I feel like I would rather that as a wide receiver, too.
[00:47:33] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:47:34] Speaker A: For me, I think in the league, especially now, well roundedness does not equal best in my eyes, especially with the existence of Hill. You know, in terms of well roundedness, I don't think many people are saying that Tyree kill is the most polished route runner or the best 50 50 ball winner in the league. But regardless he is almost always top three regarded and I think that same thing goes for Jalen Waddle.
The way you said something about him getting the ball on screen plays and going to get a lot of yards, that makes him a better player. That does not make him worse.
[00:48:16] Speaker C: I'm not saying it makes him worse, I'm just saying it doesn't take away from specific play. For it to happen, he needs to.
[00:48:22] Speaker A: Be in a specific play.
[00:48:24] Speaker C: I'm not saying like, okay, I sound like really bad right now, I will admit. I'm just saying I think DeVontae Smith just the way he know do everything instead of just do one thing really well.
[00:48:35] Speaker A: I think DeVontae Smith is absolutely when it comes to skill, when it comes to just refined aspects of his game. I do think you have that argument, but I also don't think he can deny 13, 58 touchdowns. I think that's huge.
[00:48:52] Speaker C: Massive.
[00:48:53] Speaker A: And also, dude, when you're watching football, man, it's just who's running past guys, who is taking the ball the furthest? You know what I mean? That's what football is. Who is taking the football the furthest. And however you do it is up to you. But if you have a tool that works really well, I guess there's a better way to phrase this, but if you have one dimension, but it is a really good dimension, then that's all you need. That's all you like. Just for as a comparison, I assume you think, I think this too, but Justin Jefferson being the best, I think.
[00:49:29] Speaker C: Justin Jefferson is the best receiver.
[00:49:30] Speaker A: Let's talk about DeVontae Adams and Tyreek Hill. Who do you think is better of those two?
[00:49:35] Speaker C: Now, I would probably say Tyreek, but overall, in career wise, I would give it to DeVontae.
[00:49:40] Speaker A: That's probably fair. And that's honestly, those are two guys. That's a different comparison because DeVontae Adams is on another level.
But it is kind of in the same thing, though, that I bet if we look at the Numbers, man, that Tyreek probably on a better numbers, I think probably has better numbers than Devontae Adams. Maybe not as consistent, actually, probably definitely not as consistent. But I mean, what Tyreek Hill is capable of doing. And again, it's the plays. It's what you said earlier, you got to have a play designed for you, I guess. But I think if you, again, like I said, if your dimension is the best, then it's the best. It is, and that makes you better. I don't think you have to be well rounded to be a better player. Obviously there are scenarios, but I just.
[00:50:25] Speaker C: Think he does everything so, like, he does everything so well. He doesn't have the speed as Jalen Waddle, but it's like, doesn't have close.
[00:50:31] Speaker B: To the speed at all. Close to have this argument with my friend. Like DK and Smitty. Like when comparing the two, when DK first got into the league, you knew this guy's an absolute athletic freak. But at the same time, at the same time, when you take a look at Devontae Smith, he could run every route in the book straight from the draft.
[00:50:51] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:50:51] Speaker B: DK could not. But the reason a lot of people put DK higher than Smitty is just.
[00:50:55] Speaker A: Because he's a freak.
[00:50:57] Speaker B: Exactly. So I understand where both of the conversations you guys are making, but let me ask you guys this. Where do you guys rank Mike Williams or a Chris Godwin?
[00:51:04] Speaker C: I think they're just outside of the top three. I would probably say Mike Williams would probably be either five or six, probably because he has the potential to be that, but there's a lot of on and off with him.
[00:51:15] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:51:16] Speaker C: So it's one week he can go off for 181 yards, eleven catches, two touchdowns, another week where he goes three catches for 30 yards and no touchdowns. So it's up in there.
[00:51:28] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:51:28] Speaker A: Mike Williams is definitely. He's also a little bit one dimensional in this game. Just in the. Send him up the sideline and let him go get it, which he is really good at.
[00:51:36] Speaker C: He's really good at it.
[00:51:37] Speaker B: That one skill set.
[00:51:38] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly.
But, yeah, I think the age of the guys that we're talking about also helps with their top Threeness. The fact that these guys are on this level and they're all young in their first three years no matter what.
[00:51:55] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:51:56] Speaker A: So I think that probably helps their case and puts them above, but I would also agree with the Chris Godwin and Mike Williams that they're probably in the five to six.
[00:52:04] Speaker B: They're right there.
[00:52:05] Speaker A: They're right there.
[00:52:06] Speaker C: I think Chris Godwin was up there, but just injuries set him back a little bit and just being on the Buccaneers with, I guess now Baker Mayfield is not going to really help him.
[00:52:14] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:52:15] Speaker A: Hey, man, you never know.
[00:52:15] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:52:16] Speaker B: My hot take, well, we'll see what happens with the Mike Evans situation, but my hot take is like, I think the Bucks are going to surprise a lot of people this year. I don't think they're going to be like, make the playoffs. I'm not saying that, but I think they're going to be a team that gets five games. Yeah. Gets a win every now and then. Or gets that upset win, like, nowhere.
[00:52:30] Speaker C: Like Monday Night Football win that. Just random win.
[00:52:32] Speaker A: Baker Mayfield's kind of a guy who's poised for one random game where he just, like the Rams game where he had two days of prep and he came in and won the Browns versus.
[00:52:40] Speaker B: Ravens game, like, way back, that great duel against Lamar, which is crazy. Where Lamar had to use the bathroom, apparently. Or like, something like that. Something like that.
[00:52:49] Speaker A: Something like that. We won't speculate, but yeah. All right. I think. Do we feel good about our rankings of our wide receiver twos?
[00:52:57] Speaker C: I think so.
[00:52:57] Speaker A: I feel good, too.
[00:52:58] Speaker C: I think Smitty and Waddle are honestly interchangeable for me.
[00:53:01] Speaker D: Yeah, that's fair.
[00:53:03] Speaker A: I think we would probably somewhat agree. I think Waddle has the edge, but Smitty's a confident.
[00:53:08] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:53:08] Speaker C: I just like the versatility more with the goal line fades or like the short.
[00:53:12] Speaker B: Not biased at all.
[00:53:14] Speaker A: Not biased at all. Not biased with all. All right. And with that, we are going to close this show out. Thank you so much for listening and we will see you guys next week.
Tuscaloosa.
