Post-Draft Questions for EVERY NFC Team

19:31Patrick Claybon:Maybe it was the search firms, because we did have multiple search firms involved. Maybe they wanted to hold on to that last little glimmer of power to say to Schefter that he was available. Well, and we'll see if James Pierce gets suspended by the NFL. I would suspect that they do. How about Avion Terrell and AJ Terrell? Six years apart in school, though. So I'm thinking about that. My kids will share a high school senior freshman. That's pretty exciting, just that one year. But these two guys have been so far apart, six years apart. And now you come together.

20:03Gregg Rosenthal:I just love it. Are you surprised he fell? I mean, I'm not really a draft Nick, but are you surprised he fell that far? Not that surprised because he had some injuries late in the process, and it's not a fast or big corner. He's just, like, good at covering. Yeah, and he's really aggressive and smart. The type of guy that does tend to fall, though, is, like, it wasn't necessarily, like, a physical specimen. Yeah. But he's a player. I really like him. Let's talk about the Carolina Panthers. Normally, this is a Jordan spot, but what I did here was I just, I randomized the divisions, and then I was like, Cowboys are up first.

20:38I was like, I want to talk Cowboys. And then I just kept the list the same. And so whatever team you landed on, that's what you landed on. No preferential treatment for Jordan and the Panthers. You get the Panthers.

20:47Patrick Claybon:Okay. Well, I would yield to Jordan. Thanks for explaining all that, Greg. On the carol. Just wanted to let people know about the process. Yes. The most important thing in the process was Greg got the team that he wanted. They get Monroe Freeling as their number one player, number 19. the tackle that a lot of people had questions about athletically not so much the questions it's just the playability and so they take uh what you know i don't want to call them a reach uh there but they do uh take a player with a high upside uh we'll say they get they add uh chris brazil to the wide receiver room they get lee hunter a defensive tackle it's important to remember that the carolina panthers had two of the biggest uh free agent acquisitions in the entire league both on defense devon lloyd and jalen phillips added to a defense that was able to have success late in the season by being opportunistic and taking the ball away.

21:38Patrick Claybon:My question is with this assembly, because they did get, they go cornerback safety linebackers while they get a center in the back end. Is this defense going to be able to be consistently successful in 2026 without necessarily relying on playmakers to take the ball away?

21:57Gregg Rosenthal:Hmm. Well, I think they still could try to cause their, their rush allegedly on paper, It looks like it'll be better, which will set the corners. The corners were creating some things out of really nothing last year in terms of their the way the perimeter corners, especially were able to to make plays on the ball and really played well throughout, especially the back half of the season. And I feel like, you know, I thought what they were going to do in free agency was then say, OK, our outsides are good. Let's focus on the the seams and the insides of our defense and on our interior defensive line.

22:28Gregg Rosenthal:well they did that not just by you know adding to the pass rush but also basically solidifying the spine of the defense with what they did in free agency but then they kept doing that in the draft and also getting depth guys as well to some of the players that they already have that did succeed for them this lee hunter pick it really is one that says hey you're going to be potentially a bobby brown replacement at some point someone who they think can free up derrick brown a little bit more as is his prerogative. And I feel like this Chris Brazel pick is also, you know, they, they said they weren't going to be shy about continuing to add receivers because they're still trying to figure out what that concoction looks like.

23:07Gregg Rosenthal:And unlike a lot of other teams, Ollie made a great point about this, Greg, on you guys last episode, unlike a lot of other teams right now, they're going to be determined to continue to spread everything out in these empty sets and use three receivers. So they're going to keep adding receivers specifically of certain skill sets in order to do that. I think they did something similar to what we'll talk about with the Patriots when they draft. I think they did a good job getting good players at the end of the runs before a big fall-off at those positions. So Monroe Freeling, like Ali's number one tackle.

23:38They get that towards the end of the tackle run. Lee Hunter, differing opinions on him while we're citing Ali. He hated Lee Hunter, thought that was an overdraft, but he was kind of one of the last of the defensive tackles. And then Brazel, he's got sky-high upside for a late third-round pick, and they still got to meaningfully add to that position without taking one early. So it all makes sense to me. I really think they need to add an edge. They do not have enough pass rush, and I think they will in free agency. I am honking, but there are a lot of free agent, like older guys out there. Hassan Reddick, Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney.

24:15Like there are some guys who are going to be added to these teams, and the Panthers to me seem like an option.

24:20Gregg Rosenthal:Don't sleep on Nick Scorton. I thought he played really well. But even then, like if that if that's your two, you need a veteran, I think three or you don't feel great. I have the Saints next. I feel weird that they've just done sensible things this offseason. You're you're you're making a face. You don't think so? No, I'm just wondering, is an apology in order? No, because we evaluate. Well, they did keep Mickey Loomis in a world where I didn't want that to happen. He's had a good he's had a good year since. Yes. He's got his groove back. We'll see about Jordan Tyson. That's a high upside, high risk pick.

24:57I wasn't as big on, but Kristen Miller in the second, as a run stuffing with some upside to be a pass rusher at defensive tackle, thought they timed his pick really well. Oscar Delp could be a really good tight end. I think a little higher ceiling than some of the earlier tight ends that went. And then a potential Cesar Ruiz backup. Can you give me, this is my question, a word? You're a wordsmith here, Jordan. for being really encouraged by what the Saints have done this offseason while also recognizing the roster has a ways to go?

25:34Gregg Rosenthal:I can give you two words. Okay. Cautiously optimistic. Okay, that's fair. Like, it's easy to get from the worst team in the league or expect it to be the worst to where they were last year, which was like, oh, they were kind of frisky and beat some bad teams. It's harder to make the next step. So I think expectations has to stay low. but uh what's your word greg i don't have a word oh i thought you were setting me up then have a better word no it's more like it's more like germany they also signed martin emerson by the way coming off uh torn achilles yeah uh from the browns do you know it's i was wondering if you saw that phone the video of the phone call it was uh jeff ireland who was calling a prospect and the player referred to him as the general manager and mickey loomis was sitting right next to Jeff Ireland.

26:19Gregg Rosenthal:Jeff Ireland goes, oh, oh, I'm not. Let me, he's right next to me. I was like, oh, interesting, interesting reveal dynamic there. Absolutely. And I think that's maybe been the case for a while. And it might be becoming that way even more that Mickey Loomis almost acts like the owner. Like he's maybe a little closer to like a team president. And maybe Jeff Ireland and his scouting staff is doing more. And maybe that's why it seems all more sensible.

26:46Patrick Claybon:Yeah.

26:47Gregg Rosenthal:Do you have a word?

26:48Patrick Claybon:Tepidly hopeful. I can't think of one word. Yeah.

26:51Gregg Rosenthal:Tepid is good. I think tepid is like, maybe it's going to be a downslide. Yeah. You know, lukewarm. No, better than that. No, better than that. You're happy with what's going on. And yet, I think just maybe rein it in a little bit. Let's not get over it. I don't know that it necessarily needs to be reined in.

27:09Patrick Claybon:Okay. I think they're in that.

27:10Gregg Rosenthal:Let people be happy.

27:11Patrick Claybon:That interesting spot where kind of like the Bears were. Yes. Last year.

27:16Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah.

27:17Patrick Claybon:Where it's like, hey, let's have fun. Where now the Chicago, if it doesn't work out, they got to win the Super Bowl in order for people to be happy. I think the Saints are in a spot where they could make it to the divisional round. And it's like, wow, this is what I'm talking about. I think if they won, there's a scenario where they win six games this year. And I think it's a good year if the offense moves forward. That defense has no juice on it right now. It has a bunch of like pretty good players and not many difference makers. There's not, well, we'll have a off season to talk about the scenes and we will.

27:52The bucks are up. The team with the best roster in the division by far. That's sort of where I'm getting at.

27:57Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah, they just got better. I mean, God, Jason Light has really become one of the more dependable general managers in the draft. I mean, and he has a type and he's pretty overt about that type. You know, he picks up Ruben Bain, our short arm king, and he pairs him with Kalijah Kansi, another short arm king. and now they've got Vita Vea in the mix as well. And so that defensive line is very like Todd Bowles, Jason Light, kind of exactly what those two like to do and how they like to build. And I think that this is another example of, you know, I think everybody was wondering about Todd Bowles and maybe his job security at the end of last year.

28:35Gregg Rosenthal:But the players that they pick up in Bain, first of all, and then also Josiah Trotter, like they're very, they feel very like these are Todd Bowles players. Like he, these are players that he cannot wait to maximize. You know, they won't, they won't have Mike Evans, but they're still rolling really deep at receiver again, because of the way they've drafted in the past. It's funny because the biggest question to me, and I know they've got depth questions, especially in a, you know, a corner and all that. But like the biggest question to me is still Baker Mayfield. Will Baker ball keep on rolling baby?

29:07I think he's set up to do so. They're another team with incredible continuity. They lost Mike Evans. I think Ted Hurst obviously is not going to replace a future Hall of Famer, but he is that style of wide receiver. One of your favorites, Patrick. My absolute favorite player in this draft. I loved that pick by them. And this is a great, if you love Ted Hurst, I think it's a great situation for him.

29:27Patrick Claybon:Yeah, or both of those guys, both Bain and Hurst, where you could say, you can make a case that they could have gone a lot earlier in terms of their production that they had, the way that, And, you know, people have questioned because people question the competition for both guys because nobody blocked Rupert Bain all season long in terms of the top tackles. There weren't that many on the schedule. The best one was playing on his team with him. And with Ted playing in the Sunbelt Conference where a lot of people see Georgia State and they start to ask questions. But he goes to the combine. He goes to Mobile.

29:59Patrick Claybon:He answers all of those. One minute. Where it's tough to pick the spot where this draft could have been that much better. No, Keontae Scott. This is an awesome draft. One of my we had to pick our favorite players on 40s and free agents, and he was one of my three favorites. And I think it's a great landing spot for him. Disappointing he goes on day three in the fourth round. But Todd Bowles knows how to use a safety nickel with a lot of different talent. And so, look, Baker, they brought everyone back other than Mike Evans. It's a big other than. But you have a healthier Chris Godwin. You get year two of a book on the offensive line is pretty great.

30:33I think he set up for success.

30:34Gregg Rosenthal:Well, and health was really a big issue with the offensive line. You know, even when they had Tristan Wirfs was on the field, off the field, like banged up all year. Some of the guys on the interior were banged up. Like, I just, I trust his drafts. I trust Jason Light's drafts. And we talked about this in an earlier episode this season. But I look at all of these players and I see a future for them. Like, I see a path for them because of the way that they develop players and the way that they identify them. How about the Trotter dynasty at linebacker right now? Jeremiah Jr. in Philadelphia. And we got another one here in Tampa Bay.

31:09Let's take a break. That's right, Gene. Let's take a break. We have two divisions to go. And we'll hit the NFC West where a lot of spice. After the break.

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35:00Back on NFL Daily. Starting off in the NFC West. The most talked about, most important team of the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals. I don't think this is that bad a roster. Patrick, do you disagree?

35:17Patrick Claybon:yeah it's gonna be hard for me to find rosters that i feel especially if you know if it if it's a minshu uh playing situation where it looks a little funny uh in the light but they get a great number three overall pick in jeremiah love uh the circumstances around and the conversation about running backs i i will acknowledge that you get that extra year of control the vast majority of what's going to be somebody's career. Is it fair to the player? No, because they get ground into pace and they never get really an opportunity to earn the actual value they produce by the team. But as long as the draft exists, this is a way to get a really good player and have control of their aspects for a very long time.

36:03Patrick Claybon:Good thing the Rams drafted Ty Simpson in the first round. Otherwise, the Carson Beck pick would look a little funny in the light because they do have, I guess, a need at quarterback. They chose to address that in the draft. They get not the other Caleb Proctor, but the defensive Caleb Proctor out of southeastern Louisiana, very athletic player. But my question with regards to Arizona is, despite the fact that we know the names and the faces, all the coaching staff, do we know enough about how they are going to use these players to be confident about the outcome in any particular way? not particularly, but on offense, you have a wide receiver group of Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison, and Kendrick Bourne.

36:47That's better than a lot of groups out there. I love me some Michael Wilson right now. You have an offensive line where you add a Chase Pasantis early in the second round. You have a plus starter in Paris Johnson, a popular free agent pickup in Samalu, Frohold at center, like plus player. You have an all pro at tight end. You have a potential all pro at running back. I mean, honestly, the expectations for Mike LaFleur, I think should be reasonably high on their offense or else why hire him?

37:14Gregg Rosenthal:But they won't be because the rest of the division is that good. Right. But I just mean for the offense to be good, to be solid. Well, he has to show his work. I think where he really has to show his work because they didn't, they picked up Reggie Virgil in the fifth round here, but otherwise didn't do a ton of work at receiver. Obviously because of the names that you just listed off. So he's got to show his work in the passing game. and certainly, you know, as they always say, when you're a coach that comes out of this tree, marrying that with the running game in a way that doesn't just make sense but also sets up more explosive plays than they were able to get in the past.

37:47Gregg Rosenthal:And by the way, how are you going to do that? Because you don't know who's going to be throwing the ball, which I think is the reason why everybody would be rightfully skeptical of this offense in general and of this entire team because Jacoby Brissett wants a new contract, wants to get paid like a starter. We know that I love that energy. Keep that up. Ask for what you want. And then if you don't get it, at least you asked. And Gardner Minshew is the backup. They're really going to be answering the quarterback question next season versus this season. And the Carson Beck fans out there, the people who like him, like really, really, really, really like him, think he's the best quarterback in the class, like love the guy.

38:26Gregg Rosenthal:But the ones who don't are completely opposite on him. It's like there's no middle ground with him. I feel like it was a crazy pick. They would have, I think, taken Ty Simpson at some point. Maybe not at the top of the second. Maybe. Maybe they would have traded back in, and it feels like they just burned a pick because they wanted someone. But why bother? Just go with Minshew and Jacoby. They didn't add anything to their defense. Maybe we should just quit. Nothing matters. I mean, they didn't add anything to their defense all offseason. Honestly, if you gave that – I know we're going over on the Cardinals of all teams.

38:58If you gave that offense an average starting quarterback, If you gave that offense even Baker Mayfield, who I'm not a huge fan of or whatever. I mean, I think the expectation should be that's a better than average offense. It's actually pretty good on paper. Let's go to the Rams. Much better than average offense year after year. This is a team that returned 22 of 24 starters from a year ago. They literally just swapped out the cornerbacks. It was like they took the most basic evaluation of their team and they did what everyone said. They said, this team's great except for the cornerbacks. We have talked Ty Simpson at length on this show.

39:38I think it's a, when you look up the opportunity cost of who they passed on, that's where I have a problem with it. Max Clare right now might be tight end four on their team, but they obviously hope he develops into more. They have, they have a guard who will try to get into the mix. Do you think they, like, I think they need a third receiver, you know, or are the tight ends, you know, enough? Do they feel like that's all going to keep working? Like just go crazy with 13 personnel? And my question for you, are you at all worried about the vibes? I'm going to go completely off the radar here and just go like, do you worry at all about the vibes coming off one of the toughest losses in franchise history and then followed by this Ty Simpson McVay stuff?

40:22Gregg Rosenthal:Well, less so than those variables, really, Greg, More so, this is a team that's been constructed to push for specifically a Super Bowl this year. They want to max out this roster. Some people don't really want to hear it, but it is why, and 13 is still crazy to me, but it is why they picked Ty Simpson, because they need to make sure they have the quarterback question answered on the other side of however much it costs in waves all the way up into the trade deadline to build this into the best possible team that they possibly can create in order to win a Super Bowl. That is what they are trying to do.

41:01Gregg Rosenthal:They've made that very clear. They have not been shy about that at all. And also with contracts coming up, to me, these draft classes represent guys who are maybe going to play for them in two years, maybe going to play for them in three years even. But keeping those guys cheap because you're going to extend a couple of people at least from your 2023 class coming up, And so all of that puts such a strain and a stress on a team. The declaration of what you know you must do and anything else is failing. That is what puts a strain on a team. And I think they can get production from their 25 draft class would really help because they really didn't much last year.

41:41So if Terrence Ferguson and Josiah Stewart and even Mumfield, who played a little bit for them, like if they can get more out of last year's draft class this year, that would help quite a bit.

41:50Patrick Claybon:Yeah, it would help, and they would need it because the best-case scenario for the Los Angeles Rams in 2026 is Ty Simpson does not play a single snap, meaningful snap of the entire year. And if that's the case, then it's tough for me to envision, and I understand you need to address the position. If I thought the player, like if the evaluation of the player at 13 was there when we talked about all of these guys are going to have impact and play in the 2026 season that were drafted after Ty Simpson. Yeah, but you mentioned the guys from last year's draft. At a certain point, you're going to need people to contribute from these draft classes.

42:29Patrick Claybon:Right. Otherwise, it all again looks very funny in the light. This is how, you know, really great rosters do decline is to have back to back draft classes where you don't get a lot of production like in the short or even medium term. It's what happened to the Chiefs. So they're hoping that doesn't happen to them. Same thing with the 49ers who have been a little up and down with the draft lately. What do you think, Jordan?

42:50Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah, kind of a perplexing draft in many ways. Several reaches specifically in the context of the consensus board, which I know is a big time dialogue over the weekend. I'm sure everybody changed each other's minds on that with their internet comments. They were IDing needs and depth and players that they internally liked, according to them. Externally to me, it looked like they followed a couple of patterns. DeJuan Stribbling is a pick that I liked for them. He reminds me actually of Juwan Jennings. Ted Wynn turned me on to kind of like his game of what he does well and how he could potentially fit into a roster.

43:23Gregg Rosenthal:I think everybody was like, is this Debo? And it's not. And then also they kind of followed their pattern of taking a middle round running back who's probably not going to play for them. And also say that Jaden, is it Duggar? Reminded them of KJ Wright. It's a really top-heavy team all over the place, including the guy that they did bring in to answer some questions that they have. And they still have questions about their receivers room in Mike Evans. They have a lot of guys returning from injury. That would have been my question is what they're going to look like, you know, on the other side of getting all of those older players, veteran players, back into the mix in George Kittle and Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.

44:01Gregg Rosenthal:But actually a spicier question came from one of the reporters after one of the rounds of the draft asking John Lynch a question. This is a local reporter slash commentator, Grant Cohn, who was asking John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan about their drafting last week.

44:18Patrick Claybon:John, your draft board seems to deviate quite a bit from the consensus. Why are you confident with that given your track record drafting the last few years? It seems like it leads to you making reaches. I appreciate that you think that. Depends who's consensus. We got consensus in this building. That's the consensus I care about. No reaction whatsoever from Kyle Sanahan. the entire time. Incredible poker face. He could have asked that question like 25 % nicer, but I appreciated it. Let's bring back tough questions. That was the question.

45:01Gregg Rosenthal:You know, that was his question. So he just asked it the way he had the question.

45:05Patrick Claybon:And then the follow-up would be because, you know, I believe it was in that same newsletter about the usage of a large language model, which is essentially the consensus of data on the internet, right? as like they're using AI as a part of their evaluation. Well, like why is consensus so unimportant when it's different from your draft board, but it's something worth mentioning? You know, I understand that you drive past 26 office parks on the way into the facility, and you got to shout out, you know, potential local investors and all those things. But there appears to be a contradiction there.

45:41And so you don't have to like the question,

45:45Patrick Claybon:but you could go some ways into entertaining specifically why your evaluation is different from the consensus.

45:51Gregg Rosenthal:They like to run it back. They're just running it back over and over and over again. And every year we're like, is this the last year they're going to be able to actually do this? And then they say, you know, hold our beers. We're going to do this for one more year. But they also run it back in terms of the type of guys they like. John Stribling makes sense. Romello height to me seems like kind of a Bryce Huff ish player for them as like a designated pass rusher in the third round. Like they have their types and they keep going after him. Seattle is the same and they got a couple of players in the secondary along with the running back in the first round.

46:24Patrick Claybon:Yeah, they go safety corner, corner, corner to finish things out. Sprinkling in a guard in a wide receiver there where you see the departures on a part of the team strength. and they add to that. They get Janarian Price out of Notre Dame, the backup to a very good player. We've seen that work out where a lot of times a very good running back is behind somebody else who's getting a lot of energy and attention. And I think he can come in and fill a need where, again, people question the first-round running back thing. I think it's very viable to a team that had one of their tandem running backs tear in ACL, the other who win the Super Bowl MVP and sign a free agent contract there.

47:01Patrick Claybon:Also get Bud Clark out of TCU. And then Julian Neal is the corner in that safety corner designation where it's a solid draft, almost to the extent where it feels boring. Yeah. And that the Seahawks are this dominant Super Bowl championship team. And that's my question. Are we bored of the Seattle Seahawks already?

47:26Gregg Rosenthal:They get a full eight hours of sleep every night. And, you know, okay. But on the Jadarian price pick, I think that's what's the draft grades, whatever they are, what they are. But I think that's what's lowering them because it's a first round running back in this draft though. You heard teams, they, their boards in the first round, they didn't have grades beyond like 12 players, 15 players, 17 players. You know, this is basically a second round pick here. And so like, I have no issues with it. And I think he's a great, like I thought the Jaguars were going to come back up and get him. And if you can criticize the Rams for taking guys that aren't going to contribute, Janarian price is going to start for them.

48:03Yeah. And they found guys that will start for them. Bud Clark, like he, he's going to be in the mix to, to beat out tie a CUDA, like at, at safety, Julian Neal, even like you think Josh job is there on the outside, but like, that's a guy that's probably going to end up competing for snaps with Josh job. So if you can find guys that can be inserted into your lineup and give, I think Mike McDonald, some of his own picks in the secondary specifically, we already saw what he did with even worry. That was really the first one. Like, let's see what he can do with some fresh new picks in the secondary.

48:37It's exciting.

48:38Gregg Rosenthal:I like the way the Seahawks draft because the Seahawks also draft sometimes in ways where you wonder if maybe they're talking in the room among their scouts and coaching staff, like what's a way we can like twist a knife in some of our division. rivals, right? And some of it's like Emmanuel Henderson Jr., the receiver, like they're fine at receiver. You know, they've got the three guys that they're running it back with from last year, but he's like a speed threat who could also be a kick returner. Well, a lot of the edges that they got, especially in division last year, and some of the game changing differences came via courtesy of special teams.

49:12Gregg Rosenthal:Okay. You guys aren't going to prioritize this, you know, your 49ers and your Rams, like this team is definitely going to find edges here. And so I like the way they think about the holistic team building, less so one side of the ball, or maximizing even offense and defense, both. Ooh. Just in time. The Chicago Bears are up next. I was surprised sometimes you hear about the fan reaction after the fact, and apparently Bears fans weren't necessarily thrilled with this. Now, they needed an edge, I guess. They could have taken Kieran Crawford. That was maybe the one spot instead of the center Logan Jones if you wanted.

49:54But in general, I think they found players at positions they need. Garrett Bradbury is not a long-term solution at center. Max Rauch is going to eventually replace Cole Komet. That would at least be the hope. Zavion Thomas is another weapon, and I kind of trust in Ben Johnson to take mid-round type weapons. Maybe he's a little bit of a Kalief Raymond-y type, but more of your long-term guy. So all the picks to me made sense. And then I think they are absolutely a team that's going to go swimming in the Hassan Redick, Jadavian Clowney. Maybe we're expecting Joey Bosa to just go to the 49ers. We'll see.

50:32There's been some talk about that. But they are absolutely a team that could use a veteran addition. But I'd rather a team do that. How are we feeling about the Chicago Bears, Patrick Claibon as the NFC North favorites after this draft. Do you see them that way? Yeah, I do. You do.

50:50Patrick Claybon:I saw them that way coming into the end of the season. I think obviously the ability of Micah Parsons to come back fully healthy kind of impacts those things. But based on the way the Bears played at the end of the season and the growth of, you know, not even necessarily about this draft, but of Caleb Williams, Luther Burden, guys on that roster, I think you feel confident about them being the favorite, which is the curse. It's now the Bears fans don't get to enjoy the season anymore.

51:19Gregg Rosenthal:Well, I think it's their pattern that they're starting, you know, a very superstitious fan base. You know, every time they perceive themselves as a fan base as the offseason winners, their season was in the toilet. Now they've been worried about each particular offseason in the Ben Johnson era. So maybe some of this is manufactured worry. Like, don't jinx it. It's all fine. I think that all of these picks, two things can be true and are true in my head. Yes, they still need edge rushing help, but also every single one of these picks is a really good scheme fit offense and defense. And I want to, you know, the Dylan Thieneman with Dennis Allen and then Logan Jones is going to be a value add to this offensive line.

51:57Gregg Rosenthal:I think probably sooner rather than later. Sam Rausch, if you are going to play 12 and 13 personnel like Ben Johnson wants to do and wants to do more of, It's the same as if you're going to play three receiver sets and you activate six of them or five of them on game day. If you are going to play with three tight ends and two of them at least are going to be pass catchers, and maybe three of them are going to be predominant volume targets in your offense, you will activate four and even five tight ends, and they need viable players to do that. Sam Rausch, to me, is a perfect fit schematically for this and a long-term player after the departure of Cole Komet eventually.

52:34Gregg Rosenthal:And this is a position I believe they'll keep restocking every single year. It's that important, not just for blocking, but as a skill player, as a target in Ben Johnson's offense. All right, Jordan, you are back up with the Detroit Lions. Yes, this was a vibes draft. I like this draft a lot. But one thing that really stood out to me about the Lions draft this year is they seem to be like refinding themselves and refinding that identity. They've sort of been in this all out sprint. First, their Ascension and their team build that got really, really solid with Dan Campbell. And then the turnover, you know, Ben Johnson leaves, Aaron Glenn leaves, and they figure things out with new coordinators.

53:16Gregg Rosenthal:They're doing that again, bringing Drew Petzin into the mix as their offensive coordinator. And it almost seems like they've been a little bit unsteady, still moving forward, of course, and still competitive. but a little bit like, okay, let's take a beat and remember who we are and what we're trying to build our culture and how the types of players that come in and do that. And with their picks, it really does seem like they were reiterating a lot of this. Blake Miller being not just a need for them, but also in my opinion, best player available for them to take at that pick point. And also a player who's going to come in immediately and play tackle for them.

53:52Gregg Rosenthal:uh penesual moving over obviously to to the left side he's somebody who gives them teeth immediately um i just all the way through the draft pick by pick you can just sort of see um this is a alliance team that's that's resetting itself but not in a rebuild kind of way in a gathering itself for like a real a real push like trying to be what they believe they can be again after a little bit of unsteadiness a lot depends on their second round pick derrick moore who they traded up for They have not done well taking edges other than Aiden Hutchinson. They have invested a lot of blown picks in the Brad Holmes era.

54:28That's probably where he's been the worst is on the defensive line. And like he might be starting for them. I mean, it's hard to expect a second round pick to start, but they don't really have another option. They could be looking for veterans as well. But man, their offensive line in one offseason, they did what we wanted. Cade Mays at center, Blake Miller. Now you move Sewell to left tackle. but now they look like one of the better offensive lines in the league again.

54:51Patrick Claybon:And they sprinkle in a little Brad Holmes fun in Kendrick Law. I love it. Where it's like, ah, this draft is going on. The Lions don't have anything fun, explosive. And then here comes Kendrick Law, who's kind of in that Jaden Reed body type where he's 5 '11", 200 pounds, ran the 4-4s, had some kick and punt return in his game. And it's just another fun aspect where it feels like a Lions draft where you get what you need, and you also get that little bit of bonus, is that sprinkle of fun like Isaac to slot getting better but again they've missed a couple drafts in terms of you know since that great one uh three years ago now so they need the classroom two years ago for instance the one with Terry on Arnold and Enos Rakestraw who hasn't given them much of anything Tyleek Williams a year ago and they need some of those picks to to get better yeah and I

55:39Gregg Rosenthal:to Patrick to your point I like when you also get a fired up Brad Holmes in the post-draft pressers basically telling the beat writers, see, I drafted an edge rusher because you guys have been on my ass. Like, it just, it's like, you can always tell when they feel like they're returning to themselves is kind of what my point is. They're feeling spicy. It is an incredibly good division. I don't know if I can remember a division that looks any more balanced and quality from top to bottom as the NFC North entering this year. That includes the Green Bay Packers who have an offense that's returning mostly intact.

56:16What do you think, Patrick?

56:17Patrick Claybon:Yeah, the offensive returning mostly intact, although they will lose some depth at certain spots, which will lead into my question, but we'll talk about the draft picks. No first-round pick. Obviously, you could say that's Michael Parsons, pretty good at going to Pro Football Hall of Fame, all that. Yada, yada, yada. Brandon Siste out of South Carolina, very good corner. In tandem, got a chance to see a lot of him in watching the Nicky Manwari tape, where he was making plays, and you see the way that he got deployed and had a solid season last year. Chris McClellan out of Missouri, another good defensive player.

56:48Patrick Claybon:In fact, they get Trace Mack, the kicker, and it's all defense other than Jagger Burton out of Kentucky. And I just look at when I think about this era of the Green Bay Packers, I think about massive depth at wide receiver. And now Dontavian Wicks and now Romeo Dobbs, the departures there, have they taken what was a strength in terms of their depth at wide receiver and now turned it into a little bit of a weakness where these guys are helping guys on other rosters i think that the hope is that clarity in roles if christian watson matthew golden and jaden reed are all healthy that they have specific roles with tucker craft it's a big if i think you would like to add one more player probably to that mix but they have a third round pick from a year ago savihan Williams to maybe step into that role.

57:38So it's risky because these guys have missed a lot of games, but they're investing. Watson might get a new contract and Reed just got a new one.

57:44Gregg Rosenthal:Yeah. I remember the high points of their offense last season, which was of course, when Tucker craft was healthy. And so I have to think that the plane is being built in the passing game around Tucker craft in the future. If you can return to, to full health. And then also, I think to answer your question, Patrick, I think that it's almost funny, even if they won't overtly admit it, what it seems like they're doing is making the path easier for themselves, understanding almost that they overcomplicated things by saying everybody eats. Well, okay. They had issues figuring that out for years out of that strategy.

58:19Gregg Rosenthal:And so now if you almost like declutter the room or declutter the ideas and the styles in the room, like maybe you can start to sort things out a little bit better. Now that's a problem of your own creation, but it's also a solution of your own creation potentially too. And I do think that all of this will focus around the existing ability of Tucker craft. I think their coaching staff is always put in a tough spot and there's talk of like, do they spend as much on assistants? They ask the most out of their coaching staffs to develop CSA kind of a developmental guy. They always take these raw developmental guys on defense and they're always the youngest team in the NFL.

58:59They got to coach him up like do we have faith in the in the matt lafleur assistant and the rest of that coaching staff i think they're they're putting a tough spot a little bit we'll see too because man

59:08Gregg Rosenthal:i have never seen a coach have to go on like a explanation tour of keeping his job and getting a contract extension the way that matt lafleur had to this off season and it was prior to an extension there were questions and and they were losing games and all of that but then he had to go and basically explain, you know, and say how unbothered he was by the entire conversation. While that was happening, KOC was getting more important at work than ever in Minnesota coming off his worst season. And, you know, he zags in his first draft alongside Rob Brzezinski and they go heavy defense. Caleb Banks with just a total wild home run swing, boomer bust pick at defensive tackle.

59:54It could work out. Great fit. I think if Brian Flores wants him, I believe, but the injuries are a concern. Jake Galday, the second round pick is feels like kind of a one to one comp for Andrew Van Ginkle in terms of the style of player that he could be. Not many of those guys out there. So great that he landed with Minnesota and then big citrus Dominique Orange in the third round kind of doubling up at defensive tackle, which I like my only question. And this gets to the Juwan Jennings news. As we're taping, he's visiting the Vikings. Usually a veteran visiting at this time of year, he's going to sign.

1:00:29I was going to ask, are we concerned that they haven't touched the offense almost at all this offseason? I think Jennings adds real dimension to the receiver group. They were 29th in DVOA last year. And I know J.J. McCarthy didn't play well, but it's kind of a lot to say like, oh, 29th in the league is all on J.J. McCarthy. Let's run it all back the same. Juwan Jennings would make me feel better about it. What do you think about the offensive plan here, Patrick?

1:00:56Patrick Claybon:Yeah, I mean, the biggest acquisition in the offseason was Kyler Murray.

1:00:59Gregg Rosenthal:They're not running it back. Right, other than that. Other than that.

1:01:03Patrick Claybon:The significant upgrade there. But I can see where you're getting at like a little. Same running back, same receiver, same offensive line. But yes, it's obviously my point was like, OK, we're just going to replace the quarterback and everything's better.

1:01:16Gregg Rosenthal:They're telling you what they think the problem was. Yeah. In terms of whether. And you could get old, you could get old quickly, but maybe that's not a 2026 problem. That's a life lesson.

1:01:25Patrick Claybon:And the evaluation on what the actual like the sumnation of the problems in Minnesota versus there. We clearly know like it was all J.J. McCarthy's fault. and the person who had the title when J.J. McCarthy was picked is ousted. And so here we are now. One minute. Maybe the microscope will be turned on a little bit. Well, they did take a third-round tackle, Caleb Tiernan, and then they took a fifth-round fullback, which was very Kevin O 'Connell, a C.J. Hamm replacement in the fifth round. A little wild.

1:01:58Gregg Rosenthal:And the future. I'm just realizing that Kyler's previous organization, it was deemed that he was, of course, the problem. for everything now goes to a an organization where he is the solution but everything and other people

1:02:12Patrick Claybon:were the problem when you're when you're the solution to everything if it doesn't work out

1:02:17Gregg Rosenthal:you can also be the problem and i'm curious who their general manager is going to be uh yes just a reminder they still have an interim general manager robert brzezinski and they allegedly will open up that search uh to a lot of different candidates and i guess we'll see because they still don't have one but it was Kevin O 'Connell and Brian Flores like you could see their fingerprints all over this and that's seems to me probably what at least one of those guys wanted was that amount of say over the draft quietly they needed some youth on that defense all their best players essentially have been free agent pickups or trade pickups and other than Dallas Turner there's not a lot of high octane like homegrown guys now I have a question for you Greg.

1:02:59Yes, we did it. That's the end by the way of the NFC.

1:03:02Gregg Rosenthal:Did you know that you assigned me the Minnesota Vikings initially? Yes. And then I, I, uh, I did fix it. I don't know if you saw that, you know, I did fix it because we were going to that little, it took so much off my plate. We did go in that order the whole time. I did notice that this morning that I had written JR twice, like almost back. I was ready to be the workhorse here. And you know what you, you gave me a gift today. I appreciate that. Hey, you know what? We're going to be counting on you for the AFC coming up. Yeah. It's crazy. I wore the same outfit. Patrick, Jordan, it's been a pleasure.

1:03:36Love to do this. And this is like the real offseason now.

1:03:40Patrick Claybon:Oh, this is it? Well, the regular season's over. Right. Draft season's over. This is time where we just like kick back and have some fun.

1:03:50Gregg Rosenthal:Menergy. While also producing a daily show, which is going to have a lot of great content. I can't wait for it. We'll see you with the AFC next time around.

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