Draft Season | New York GiantsJohn Schmeelk and Tony Pauline discuss Tony’s latest mock draft and answer draft questions submitted by fans.
:00 - Picks 1-8
10:56 - Picks 9-16
19:21 - Picks 17-24
25:47 - Picks 25-32
32:35 - Fan Questions
Draft.
It's now officially open. This is draft season. Johns, Shmelc, Tony Pauline with you. It's all brought to you by Moody's, a proud partner of the New York Football Giants. Thank you so much for being with us. Everybody always good to talk to you. Moodies is a proud partner of the New York Giants. Decode Risk, Unlock Opportunity. Learn more at moodys dot com. Tony. Last week, you put on your first mock draft since the All Star Games over at sportskida dot com leading up to the NFL Combine. Before we get into the individual picks, we'll get into all thirty two of them, and then we'll take your fan questions as well. Right here. What was the most difficult part of this for you doing your twenty twenty five mock draft?
Probably limiting limiting it to just two quarterbacks in the first round because there's probably gonna be three, maybe four quarterbacks selected in the first round. But when I did this, I'm just gonna look at the team needs. I'm gonna go best player available all the way through until I start to maybe get more news come combine that is there a team late in the first round, maybe the Rams, maybe the Lions, who are really heavily leaning towards taking a quarterback in the first round. So reducing the number of quarterbacks in the first round was pretty It was difficult. You know, there's a lot of teams that need edge rushers, that's a top priority, and the edge rushers quickly came off the board, so you try. I want to try and stay on my board, not make any crazy picks. So sometimes you have to go to what is perceived to be the second or third need because that may be the best player on the board available when they are on the clock. Per se.
Yeah, Tony, I gotta imagine because teams always will reach at the end of that first round, another team will trade back in if they missed that on the first go around. In the quarterbacks, and then you have those I think the issue with this draft. You're right, you know certain positions are deep. So when do teams start attacking those deep positions even though they know maybe later in the draft they can get a good player at that spot because the position is so deep. But at the same time, you want to pick the best player that's on the board.
When you go right, or vice versa, you know, whenther they say, well, maybe we better get a defensive tackle or cornerback now because the you know, it may fall low or are safety now because the talent is really going to fall off later on, and if we don't get one now, you know, we are out of luck later on.
All right, let's get to it. And we should know too. This is pre free agency obviously, so team needs right now are relative. Team needs can change a lot once we get through the free agency period. Here, Tony, so we'll focus more here rather than on team needs. We'll focus on the players and how they fit because needs can obviously change once we get through that free agency period in the middle of March. All right, times number one, Tony. There's been a lot of noise that they are not looking for a quarterback, that looking to trade out of this pick. But you decided to go with the obvious here.
Yeah, you know, it's pre free agency. It's also pre combine, and what's gonna happen is a lot of things are going to happen at the combine. And if you look at history, if that first pick is traded, it's usually within a week or so after the combine or our team moves up. You look when the Jets move up to get San Donold. You look at when the Bears, you know, traded that pick for Carolina who took Ryce Shong. It's usually right after the combine. So if there is legitimate news about a team wanting to trade up to that first pick, I think, you know, and the Titans moving down, that will come during the combine and kind of sift through who may be interested in it. I've mentioned the Raiders before, but I think, you know, I just stuck with what I heard at the shrineball. Cam Ward's gonna be the first quarterback off the board. And if the draft were held now, when I did this mock draft, the Tennessee Titans were going to take would take Cambellward with the first pick of the draft. I mean, you know, I don't know Will Levis is their future. Yeah, they have a lot of needs on the team. You have a lot of areas to fill, but sometimes you can't draft today for what you expect to happen next year. What we'll get our quarterback next year? Well, how do you know you're gonna be in the top ten next year? How do you know the quarterbacks is going to pan out next year, So that was why I selected Ward or I chose Ward to the Titans with the first pick.
Yeah, I say, if you like the player, don't wait on a quarterback right to take the swing when you can, because to your point, you don't know who's around next year or when you're going to be picking. I'm with you on all those things. Yet with the second overall pick, you do not give a quarterback to Cleveland Browns, which are also a quarterback needy team given the Shaun Watson's injury situation.
Yeah, I mean they are, but as I mentioned, you know again, I reported it at the from shrine Ball. A couple of things. Number one, we're going to see what happens with that trade with Garrett Miles. Is he traded? Know? Does that come to fruition? What do the Browns get in return for Garrett Miles if they if they ship them out.
I'm sorry, Miles Garrett said Miles.
Garrett, I'm sorry, Miles gott I apologize. Uh. And then the next thing is is the deal I'm gonna.
Put you inside Tony's head here when we track these guys. We said a lot of times you do last name come a first name on R and I think that's what bit Tony.
There or Tony just get has brain fox, so the you know got to give you dude, Let's let's be honest. And I'm not even I got it written here and I'm not even I'm not even reading here. But you know, again, as I reported from the Shrineball, there is a concern Dean Sanders is said all along that you know, there are going to be some teams that he's going to tell don't draft my son, don't draft Travis Hunter. And the speculation is the Cleveland Browns could be one of those teams. Again, more will come out as we get closer to the draft, but that was the rationale behind this selection.
All right, let's go pick them three for the New York Football Giants. Tony, who do you have them picking and what's your rationale?
Well, shed Door Sanders, Obviously they need a quarterback. They can't go into the season with the quarterbacks they have on the depth chart. Now, maybe they signed somebody in free agency, you know, Derek Carr, somebody like that, but still you're gonna need a quarterback for the future. He's got great upside. He does have a lot of holes in his game that will talk about in our combine preview. But I mean, I think it's a it's a nice fit. They need a guy for the future, they need a guy who could potentially help them right away. I don't know that Door Sanders is going to do that. And plus go back to the you know Dion Wood, Eli Manning would probably love to have his kid playing in New York City, and.
He thought on giving the Giants Travis Hunter, who you do have going to the Patriots at number four.
I mean, I think it would be nice, but I think you'll be able to get a good receiver later on, maybe good cornerback in the second round. I just think that the quarterback position is such a glaring hole for the Giants. I mean, they need somebody, whether it be a veteran a rookie, to start in twenty twenty five.
Yeah, I'm with you, all right. And then the Patriots, is this just best offensive player available to try to give Drake May as much help as you can.
Yeah, And also they could also need help at cornerback. I mean, as we'll talk about in a combine preview, Travis Hunter was designated as a cornerback, but he can do a lot of different things. And you know, you get you want to make Drake May more successful, give him more weapons. Also, you got to protect him. And I just don't think Will Campbell is worthy of going this early in the draft.
Fair point. And by the way, Tony's mentioned a couple of times our combine preview. Will era next Monday before everything kicks off at the Combine. Then Tony Will and I will be back the following week to talk about everything that went down in Indy. All right, pick number five, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tony, you go with a very very safe player in my opinion, Mason Graham, defensive tackle out of Michigan.
Yeah, Jaguars do not want to miss on this first pick. Now they have an offensive mind you head coach. I mean, could it be Ted McMillan, possibly, But I think the Jaguars have to get a safe pick in there they can't miss. And Mason Graham is a guy that also fills the need because they need help on the interior defensive line, the other area, the other position that they could address this cornerback. But Mason Graham is significantly safer than Will Johnson.
Yeah, I'm with you, all right, then pick number six the Las Vegas Raiders. You're not doing trades in this mock, by the way, we should make note of that. So no trades yet. We'll wait till we get through free agency and all that stuff before we start having fun with trades. Antonio and I will start doing every month or so a mock draft with the two of us on this show. Raiders Ted McMillan. They traded Devonte Adams last year. They need a receiver. We'll see who the quarterback is, but at least you'll have somebody to throw too.
And he's just it's phenomenal receiver. I mean, he's not a big play receiver, but he's a lot like the Vonte Adams and that he's natural, he's fluid, he's a game controlling wide out. I mean, the Taypon McMillan is really impressive. He's not just not very fast. Now, I do think, as I've reported, that the Raiders will be in conversation to move up to get a quarterback, because like the Giants, they need a signal caller for twenty twenty five.
Absolutely, all right, let's go to the New York Jets at number seven, and you already mentioned the player that you have going to them, Will Johnson, the cornerback out of Michigan.
Makes a lot of sense. DJ Reid, who's probably the Jets' best cornerback last year. I know I'll get backlash for that statement. He's not expected to be back. They bring in Aaron Glenn. What position did Aaron Glenn play? Right cornerback? And it's a position of need, so I think it's a nice fit. Johnson does have some downside though he played better in twenty twenty three than he did in twenty twenty four, but he's told and you go back to that early film and he was a lockdown corner.
And we'll talk about him in the Combine preview as well. I have some questions there. Number eight, Carolina Panthers, the first edge player off the board. You consider him an outside linebacker as well. Jaylon Walker out of Georgia.
I think Will Johnson would be a consideration if he's there, but Jayalen Walker is a natural fit. And the more i watch Jaalen Walker, and I'm pretty much done with my sec film work, the more in love fall I fall with this guy. I mean he's more than an edge rusher. I mean he's a terrific edge rusher. And when you watch him on film, he's not just a guy who tasts wide angles. I mean he meets those tackles head on and he will stand those tackles up. But he also gets tremendous steps on his past drops. You can put him on the field on third and six and you can either send him up the field as a pass rusher or have him cover the tight end in reverse play on the field. Is u is really impressive? We'll talk about something in our Combine preview. The only really bad portion or or kinking his game that I'm hearing from scouts.
All right, let's go to pick number nine, the New Orleans Saints. They draft the Weapon and Luther Burden wide receiver out of Missouri.
Badly needed weapon. I mean, they need help on the offensive line, but this team has spent so much draft capital on the offensive line ahead of times you got. You've got to stop the bleeding and say just go with what you got or go a different direction. You know, they need another weapon there to match up with chrys Olave. Lave's had some injury concerns. Burden's a consistent receiver, he's a stout guy, he's got a he's got a bigger build than chrysal Lava. So I think it's a good compliment to their former number one pick.
Then you the Bears, Ben Johnson, the line's former OC. Now the Bears HC coming from a program in Detroit where they had a terrific offensive line. You have a young quarterback. No surprise that. I'm sure they're thrilled that Will Campbell dropped all the way to them at ten at LSU.
Yeah, I mean, move on from Braxon Jones. This is a new regime there. Caleb Williams had his issues last year. You got to protect him. You want your young quarterback to develop. You can't make another mistake as you have in the past with some of the early first round selections that the Bears have made at the quarterback position. You've got to get some protection in there for Williams.
All right, let's go to the next selection, the forty nine ers. They select Mikel Williams out of the University of Georgia.
Yeah. I think with the Niners, edge is a primary concern. I think Williams has got a lot of upside. He's an explosive guy. He's a good fit for the system because I like him in the fore man front. I think it's a great pairing with Nick Bosa.
Okay, pick number twelve the Dallas Cowboys, and this is a pick I'm sure we're going to see a lot as the year goes along. Ashton Genty running back out of Boise State, and this is one of those picks Tony where I kind of mentioned earlier right as great as Genty is and I think he's very deserving of the selection. It's such a deep running back class. How early do you want to pull the trigger? If you think you can get another guy thirty picks later, that's almost as good.
Go back to the Senior Bowl, when I reported on Sports Skeeter that the Cowboys really want a receiver with the early selection, I said in my mock draft that if a top receiver a Luther Burden, I doubt a Tech McMillan Fallstrom, that would be their pick. They would jump over a receiver, a jump on a receiver. Now, earlier this week, ESPN is reporting that the Cowboys would look to trade up to get a receiver, so I was pretty much on the mark. But since when I'm not dealing with trades, I think genty, who's one of the higher rated players on my board, makes just too much sense unless otherwise, unless there's a receiver available.
Surprising, I thought they might try to go offensive line again with the issues that they had last year, but they need weapons too, I think it makes sense.
Well, let me just let me just address that. I mean, there's talk there was, and I reported this again on Sports Skeeter from the Senior Bowl. They think that they have talent on the offensive line, but they're just not developing the talent. So they want to get maybe better coaching, better offensive line coaching in there to basically develop the players that they're already on the depth chart.
Cooper Babe Tyler gotting a couple of those guys among a couple other young guys at Garden Center as well. All right, let's go next selection, pick number thirteen, Miami Dolphins. Malachi Starks, safety out of Georgia. Third Georgia player in the top thirteen.
Defensive tackle was a consideration here, but really Miami could use two safeties and it's not a deep safety class. If you want a really good one, you better get get him early and starts as an explosive defensive back. He's more than a safety. I mean you can play him over the slought receiver to do a good job for you. He's explosive against the run. So this was sort of where need fits, best player available. Good for the Dolphins, all right.
Pick number fourteen the Indianapolis Colts. I think it was a tight end Colston Lovelin out of Michigan. U surprised maybe to some people that he's the first tigh end off the board. That's a conversation we could certainly have in another show. But Tony, you give Lovell and another weapon to the coal to been drafting receivers high. It seems like the last three seasons.
Yeah, And Malachi Starks would have been the pick here if I had not given him to the Miami Dolphins. And you're right, I mean it's going to be a surprise to somebody. You look at the system, you look at who the quarterback is. Anthony Richardson, and I think that Loveland is more of a down to the field threat and Tyler than Tyler Warren is. And I think he's a better fit because he's more of a past catcher first, blocker second and even a downfield threat, better intermediate threat than Warrem nothing against Warren, and I know people's you know, heads are gonna explode, and you know, talk about this a little bit later on. I just think that Lovelan is a better downfield threat and a better fit for the for their system. And I have Lovelan and Warren rated very close together.
Yeah, totally so do I I did even though I was off last week. I had a week off. I did some I wanted to catch about some tapework, and I watched both tight Ends back to back. I watched pretty much all their targets. I watched a lot of their run blocking in the game, in the run game, And to me, I'm with you, I have them like, I think, like two hundreds or something of a point apart from each other in terms of the grading scale that I use, And but they're just different types of players, right, do you want that? Darren Jeremia tweet this other day, I was kind of annoyed and is I feel like that's something I want to talk to you about this weekly. I watched both tight ends where he's kind of classifying his tight ends. Now, are you a gronk or are you a Kelsey Colston. Lovelin's a Kelsey Tyler, Warrens a gronk. Right, Do you want the guy that's bigger, run after the catch, can run through you, or do you want the guy that's more of a fast route runner type that can get open and you know, win on the route tree. So I think they're both good players. It all depends on which style of tight end you're looking for, the move tight end or you're looking for the guy that's the why that's gonna play in the line of scourage.
Yeah, exactly, and block as well, and Warren's a much better blocker. I think what happens is, you know, people see the highlights, they seem Warren, you know, at center taking snatcher, and they fall in love with him. But again, when you look at the fit, when you look at the ability to break it downfield, which Loveland has shown. And Loveland doesn't have a lot of good film from twenty twenty four because he was injured. He had a shoulder issue once you had all that turnover at Michigan, which hurt him. So if you're just watching twenty twenty four. I can understand why people would like Tyler Warren more than Callston Loveland, but you got to go keeper.
And I'll say that's about Warren too. There's some like highlight blocks on his tape where he makes some really nice blocks. He has some whips in there too, so he needs to get more consistent in that area in terms of technique and things like that. But it certainly just because of his size, he is much more upside at that spot as a blocker. But yeah, I think you're on the point there, Tony Falcons. They're still in an ever never ending search for an edge rusher Tony. They try to find one with this pick with James Pierce Junior out of Tennessee.
And it is kind of funny, right, I Mean, you got teams who always he's looking for quarterbacks. You mentioned, you know, the New Orleans Saints always selecting offensive linemen. And I think it's going to be a defensive minded or a defensive concentrated draft with the Falcons, and I think they go with James Pierce, who Pierce is a terrific athlete. I mean, he's explosive, he can rush the passer, he shows a variety of moves. He gets out into space, making plays. He shows the ability in pursuit. He's got to get bigger and he's got to get stronger. I mean he looks like a thinner type guy. We'll see what happens with the combine, but I think this is a good fit for not only need, but the system as well.
All right, then the Cardinals, they need playmakers up front on defense, they try to select on you. With Kenneth Grant defensive tack out in Michigan, the fourth of Wolverine taken in the first sixteen picks of the draft, they're twenty five percent. That's pretty good.
No, I didn't even count, but thank you for bringing that up. But again, I mean, another team that has consistently drafted in the front seven took the kid from Missouri, Darius Robinson a year ago. I think Grant is an outstanding fit for their system. I think Mason Graham is the safer pick. But when you look at the size, you look at the movement skills, you look at the athleticism, I don't think it's far fetched to say that if Kenneth Grant continues to improve and he hits his upside, he could be as good, if not a better NFL player than Mason Graham.
Ah, that's a nice preview for what we'll talk about on the Combine Show next week, as Keneth Graham might blow up and own a good portion of that combine all right, Pick number seventeen, Tony Calvin Banks out of Texas tackle guard. It depends on what scout you talk to, and.
The Bengals need both. So they need a left tackle, they need an offensive guard. Granted, he can't play both positions at the same time, but he's a real good player with a high upside. Just got to get his game back to where it was early in the season. You watch Calvin Banks the early portion of twenty twenty four, he was so much better than it was later on when he struggled with a little bit of injury. But again, you know, a good zone blocking offensive lineman, effective on the move and could play or project so one of two positions, one of the most important positions, left tackle.
Pig number eighteen a Mecca ag Buca wide receiver out of Ohio State, first Buckeye taken off the board Tony. They might tie or set the record for most players drafted this year, breaking Michigan's record from last year. But their first player doesn't go off the board until pick numbers eighteen to the Seahawks, who already of Jackson Smith, Jigba, another Buck Eye, and DK Metcalf, but you wanted to give him another weapon.
Well, they may move DK all that. There's rumors that they may move Metcalf in ufseason. We'll have to see what happens there. I think with Abuka this is a little bit earlier than I had on my board. Offensive line is also in need for the Seahawks. I didn't see any offensive lineman really worthy of being selected at the point. At this point, I think with Abuka, you're getting a guy who's consistent and safe. He's not spectacular, but he's the type of rookie who can start early in his first year in the NFL and produce. I don't think he'll ever be spectacular, but he's very dependable and reliable.
I picked them in nineteen. The Buccaneers, they're trying to redevelop that defensive line. Joining an edge player here with Nick Scarton out of Texas A and M Tony. He's a guy that I'll talk to some people down at the Senior Bowl. He did not participate there because of injury. A lot of people thought he maybe put on some weight going to Texas and m and I'm curious to see what he weighs in down there in India at the combine and just kind of what his body looks like.
Well, not only that, but what is your weigh in at and what his testing, because that's both that's important. Guy puts on, you know, ten to fifteen pounds. Is he the same athlete with the testing that he showed on film? You know, the Buccaneers have one of those teams that they can't seem to find the formula for the pass rushing, big pass rusher that they need. They've gone and they've used a lot of early draft capital skeleton. Is he's very athletic on film. I mean he's explosive up the field. There are times where they play him awful line of scrimmage on zohe blitzes and he moves around while shows some ability and coverage or enough that he's not a liability and coverage. So this and I like his upside. I think Scourton is a good player now that can be a real good player two or three years down the road.
Then, mean le Broncos at twenty Tony they picked Tyler Warren tight end out of Penn State. Any thought here to maybe giving them a running back? They were kind of punting pecking for a running back. Do you think it was a little bit too early for that second back to go off the board?
Way too early for that second back? I mean, could they do it at Sean Payton? I mean not a lot of people thought he was going to take bo Nicks as early as he did last year and it worked out for him. So yeah, could they go with an o'marion Hampton type at this selection? Possibly because it's Sean Payton, But they also need a tight end badly, and I think Warren is a Sean is a Sean Payton type of player, a lunch pale, punching him out type of type of tight end that can do a lot of things.
Well, absolutely, all right, let's go to pick number two, twenty won the Pittsburgh Steelers. They like the draft guys up front, Tony on defense, and they get one here in Walter Nolan.
What do they do with the quarterback position? I think this is an area where Jalen Milroe could potentially be selected, but I think they need laid light the big playmakers up front. That's what Walter Nolan is, especially on film. He flashed it during the Senior Bowl. And there were times during the Senior Bowl where you know he was also stimied at the point of attack, but you get him playing at his best, and Walter Nolan is a guy who can play in at three man front and still make plays.
All right, let's go to pick number twenty two, Josh Connery the Chargers. I assuming they're picking him, to move him in the guard, right, Tony, because they have two tackles in Alton Dershawn Slater already in hand, and.
That's exactly where I have, Matt. If you saw the mock draft, they Josh Connelly at guard, I would have preferred a tight end here. If one of those two tight ends falls to the Chargers, I would have considered a wide receiver. But listen, what is Jim Harbaugh. What is his m His mo is our offensive lineman? He said, offensive linemen are a weapon you make Justin Herbert a better quarterback by protecting him. And that's what Josh Connelly does at guard for the Chargers.
All right, let's go to the Packers a pick number twenty three, Ty League Williams out of Ohio State. It's a very Packers pick. It's just a really good, solid football player. Probably not going to be a star, but he's going to be a good defensive tackle.
For you would have liked an edge rusher here, but you look at Williams. What Williams has done throughout his career to house date, through the season last year. You watch him during the college football playoffs, which we talked a lot about on this podcast. He's an athletic big man. Going to be really interested to see how heavy heat or high and I'll say heavy what he weighs in at the during the combine the workouts. You know they're saying three twenty. But if you watch the film, he doesn't look like a three twenty pound defensive lineman on the field he played. He looks like he's a you know, small less the way he moves in his achility. So and again I think for the Packer system, this is an excellent fit.
All right, Let's go pick number twenty four the Vikings Benjamin Morrison, a cornerback out of Notre Dame. We got to find out about the medicals with him Tony at the comment. We'll talk about that on next week's show. But a very talented player that some people had projected in the top twelve, top ten before the season began.
Yeah, and again the Vikings always looking for the cornerback. Can't get that recipe right. You know you said it correctly. I mean you go back and you watch the film in twenty twenty two, in twenty twenty three, and Morrison was a lockdown corner I mean you could be They've got another budding cornerback at Notre Dame. Now you got to look at the you gotta look at the medicals, the hip injury. When is your gonna be back? When is he gonna be a hundred percent? The film was also not that great this year. I mean, like will Johnson, I think Morrison played hit played his better football a year or so ago. That's also going to be something to that's discussed.
All right, Let's go to the Texans at twenty five. Derek Harmon out of Orion.
I would have liked the bigger defensive tackle. I think Tyler Leak Williams. It would be a it would be in the conversation here, But they do need a defensive tackle. He's explosive, he's a playmaker, he plays with great leverage, and I think Demiko Ryan's being a defensive minded coach with pound the table for him.
All right, let's go to pick number twenty six, Los Angeles Rams. Linebacker, not an edge rusher, a linebacker. Jee Hot Campbell out of Alabama.
Well, they have some good edge rushers there already, and when with Sheared the first last year, you got to kid Young from Tennessee who's a good player. So they really need.
A regular no, if Tony, you're right, they have a desperate need for a linebacker. They traded mid season Ernest Jones, right, they traded mid season this year.
So well, former South Carolina right. And Johad Campbell is the best off the ball linebacker in this draft. I mean, we talk about linebackers and arrest the passler. You watch Jehad Campbell and he's a guy who's making place sideline to sideline in pursuit. He's the guy that can drop in coverage. He's got some upside needs needs a little polish on his game. But if you're looking for a free down linebacker, who on third and six can cover the tight end or cover the running back. It's John Campbell and that's what the Rams need see.
If this even happen to the Ravens and Tony's fictitious mock drafts, they sit at twenty seven and the guy that could be the best left tackle in the draft just drops to him and Josh Simmons out of Ohio State, they're starting left tackle as a free agent. The Ravens. We got to see if they bring him back. But if they can get Josh Simmons at twenty seven, that is an absolute steal.
And with Josh Simmons, it'll depend on the medicals. I mean, when is he going to be ready to play? Are they going to Josh Shimmons injury happened what the middle of the beginning, middle of October? So when is he going to be one hundred percent? How much of training camp is he gonna miss? Is he going to miss any of training camp? But like you said, if Josh Simmons had remained healthy and basically was able to play hesse at Oregon game and assist Ohio State through the College Football Championship, he's probably the first I don't think it is. He's the first offensive tackle taken and you know, we're maybe talking about the Patriots selecting him with the fourth selection of the draft. He was that good. But it's not just the injury. It's the fact that not playing the last two months kind of stunted the development that he had showed a year and a half prior at Ohio State.
Ronnie Stanley, that left tackle, that's a free agency. He's had some injury issues too, so that'll be a tough decision for the Ravens. Let's go to the Detroit Lions Tony and we saw when Adan Hudginson got hurt this year, they had a tough time generating pass rush without having the blitz a whole lot. They're trying to solve that problem. They select Mike Green, the edge rusher, out.
Of Marshall and this is another area, you know, do they look at their quarterback of the future, But Mike Green was just the higher rated than any of the quarterbacks on my board. Obviously we saw what he could do with the singer ball. We had talked about him on this podcast going back to September. He's an explosive edge rusher, standing over tackle out of a three point stance. It's got to get a little bit stronger, it's got to get a little bit had some a bulk to his frame that should come once he enters an NFL weight training program. Compared to what he was doing at Marshall, Washington.
Commanders need desperately a help on defense, specifically in the secondary. They try to get some here in Shavon Revel out of East Carolina, Tony. If he was healthy, he could be a top fifteen pick. He's not. Commander's get a potential steal here, and he was all the way back I think in September, right, so probably better chance he's ready to go by the start of the year.
I think it was early October, and it was a practice. It was an injury in practice. It was a I believe it was a non contact injury and practice that happened. You know, they took the kid from Mississippi State Forbes, Malcolm Forbes, who has not worked out, and I'm not surprised by that.
I was never by He's not even on the roster anymore. They could have last year.
So yeah, you know, with Revel, he's sort of a mini version of Josh Simmons, although he's not as far along in his game in Josh Simmons in a sense that he's got great measurables. When you look at him, he showed a developing game. I was more impressed with him the beginning part of twenty twenty four than I wasn't too twenty twenty three. Showed the ability to make plays with his back to the ball. But again you've got to look at the injury. When is he going to be ready, and you know, not just when he's gonna be ready health wise, when he's going to be ready on the field. Is he going to be able to carry that momentum that he showed during the early portion of twenty twenty four through the twenty twenty five NFL season and then.
Back to that corner is Johnny barn Out of Texas Tony at number thirty to the Bills.
Carrie lomp has not panned out for him. The kid from Florida, former for former first round pick Baron will talk about because I know people have questions about him. He's an opportunistic corner, needs some work on his technique, but he is a guy that when the interception is available or when the balls in the air. He's making plays on the ball. Not the biggest guy in the world, but a guy who just is a is a ball magnet.
All right, Let's go to the Chiefs at thirty one. Watch that Super Bowl. You know they need offensive line help. Tony arianta Ursii at of Minnesota, big man, big enough to play tackle, is just a foot speed.
And I've said, and I said in my mock draft, this is a pure need pick. You know, depending on what Kelsey does, maybe tight end, they could have a good need some help at the receiver. But you know you got Joe Tooney left tackle. The other the kid from BYU has not panned out that they selected the second round last year. Wayna Moore from Oklahoma has not panned out. They better, you know, if you want Patrick Mahomes to have a long career and you want to win more championships, you better protect the quarterback. So this was a pure need selection. And as I said, sometimes the Chiefs are a bit unorthodox with their selection. Remember the kid from Makansas State that they took in the first round two years ago and he's not panned out. So I mean it would not be surprising if the Chiefs went in this direction based on their history and the need.
And then the Eagles at thirty two they select armand Membo out of Missouri. I'm not sure he's gonna get this far Tony, given the dearth of tackles. But to me, this is a real small move for Philadelphia. Right, they haven't need a right guard mc Kaie Beckton is probably not going to come back, and Lane Johnson's probably going to retire in the next two years. It could be almost like the Cam Jurgen situation. Right, you're throwing them off the guard and then all of a sudden, Lane Johnson's retires, You shift him out the tackle and you're good to go.
Yeah, And people laugh when I said Jurgens wouldn't get past the Eagles that year in the draft, and he didn't. And look at the dividends, and we know one thing, Howie Roseman loves selecting offensive linemen. They do a great job developing their offensive lineman. We'll see if Memo gets there. I can understand why he would be selected earlier than this, especially after those measurements at the Combine probably put a lot of people's minds to rest about his ability to play tackle. The question is, you know, do you think he can play left tackle in the NFL? Or is he strictly a right tackle? I would be leaning towards the ladder right tackle.
Moodies is a proud partent of the New York Football Giants Draft season has brought to you by Moods, uniting the brightest minds to turn today's resk into tomorrow's opportunities. Lordmore Moodies dot com. All right, Tony, we got some questions in from the fans here. Let's get two of them and we'll do another couple of these after we get through the combine. This one from a nineteen twenty five for I'm sorry, at nineteen twenty five Wrecking Crew. What's the top three areas of need where best player available could be in play? This is for the New York Football Giants, specifically at number three, Tony. And you know, I think when you're talking about best player available for me that early in the draft, Tony, you're talking about one of the quarterbacks, which is probably more need than pure grade. But then you're looking at either Abdul Carter or you're looking at Travis Hunter. Those to many are the three spots where you're really making a call which quarterback you like better? Then you have Hunter, then you have Carter, And to me, they're a tier above the next set of guys with you know, Mason, grand Tech, McMillan and kind of the next set players.
You'd like to throw offensive line in there, because the Giants has struggled on the offensive line. But there's really no I mean, Will Campbell is not worth the third pick of the draft.
Yeah, I'm with you one hundred percent, all right, this one from Big Blue Huddle. Want to know what Tony is hearing about?
Where?
Where? And when he's at top five to ten? Ten's a little tough where and when you think the top five quarterbacks in this draft will be drafted?
Well, just based on my I mean, obviously Kim ward Is I would say right now ninety five percent is going to be the first pick of the draft, whether it's the carol whether it's the Tennessee Titans, whether it's a team that trades up with the Titans. But I would be shocked if he's not the first selection of the draft. Shador Sanders, I mean, could he slide past the Giants? Possibly? He watched the door Sanders and we'll talk about this as the combine. The fundamentals are not good, but he's incredibly athletic. He's got upside and coaches are going to try and you know, coach coach him to his best. That's why they're football coaches. But I would be surprised. I mean, I think it would be manna from heaven for the Raiders if Shad Door Sanders slid to seven. I don't think that happens.
So, all right, let's go to Marty Jenneire. So, Tony, what are your opinions on the three players coming out of Syracuse. Colum McCord, Aronde Gads in the third and then they're running back to.
La Quinn Allen. Thank you, right, I love two of them. I think Laquin Allen and Ronde Gatson are just insanely underrated. I mean la Quinn Allen he is a tough between the tackles, downhill ball carrier, but he's also a sensational pass catcher out of the backfield. I mean a sensational pass catcher out of the backfield. He'd be a good fit for the you know, the Miami Dolphins who need a bigger, powerful guy to you know, to work with h On the kid from Texas A and m the game breaker that they had that they selected a couple of years ago. And he's also Allen is a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield. I think he's going to be underdrafted in the sense that he's probably an early Day three pick who should be a Day two selection. Arondez Gatson. I just did my report on Rondez Gadson and I said it wouldn't shock me if two or three years down the road, Rondez Gatson is the best tight end to come from this class. He's as he's much more natural catching the ball than any of the top the Dean Roya. He's as natural as Colston Lovelin at Tyler Warren. He definitely has a speed advantage. I mean he's the former receiver. His measurements at the Shrine bowler what two hundred and forty seven pounds, arms that were over thirty three inches, hands that were almost ten inches and when we were a try and bol practice, I mean he looked like a receiver playing the tight end position. Now he's got to learn.
People got his dad, He's the thing.
He's got the blood lines right now, he's got to learn the block. But he's two hundred and forty seven pounds, and I go back to what I said earlier. You know, if you put on ten to fifteen pounds, how do you move? He looked like he was a two hundred and thirty pounds two and twenty five pounds, you know, oversize receiver catching the ball, which is why I think he's going to be a Day two pick. I have him as a second round selection, but I think in time wouldn't be surprised if he's the best tight end to come from the twenty twenty five draft, if he's developed correctly, if they coaching correctly. Kyle McCord. I spent time with Kylin McCord at the Shrine ball. He's a good guy. He's an honest guy. We talked about his history of Ohio State. When you look at it from a physical point of view, Kyle McCord ranks with the top quarterbacks in this draft as far as his size, his arm strength, his ability to get the speed on throws. The thing about Colin McCord that scares me is he never sends his backside pressure and he's very slow to move his head from the primary target. That was a big problem at Ohio State, which he kind of improved because Ohio State he would just lock onto the primary target and not move his head. Sometimes those things can be coachable. I think Kyle McCord has done a great job this year. He rebounded well after a four season Ohio State. He rebounded well during the season. I mean, he had that five interception game against Pittsburgh. He came back. I think they won five of the next six games. He's got a lot of upside. I just think he needs a lot of a lot of proper coaching to get the batter aspects staring down the primary target and not sensing the backside pressure out of the way. That can be tough though. All Right.
This one from Big Dogs thirteen eighteen, Tony. If you're the Jets general manager and Tony did not get selected out of that hiring process a couple of weeks ago, Tony, Mike condolences to you. Will Johnson and Mason Graham are both available at seven, along with any offensive tackle you want in the draft. Who are you taking?
Why I'm not taking Will Johnson there because I mean the Jets helpfully have their left tackle of the future Will Campbell. Well, camp I'm sorry, I'm not taking Will Campbell because I don't know Will Campbell can play right tackle. The Jets hopefully have their left tackle of the future from last year's draft. I would lean towards Mason Graham, but I think with Aaron Glenn being a former cornerback in the needed cornerback with the DJ Reed the leaving, I think that they would take that, they would lean towards Will Johnson and I you know, he says the general manager. One of the reasons Mooie was brought in was because he could work with UH with Aaron Glenn, sort of what you got have going on in Houston with the head coach to Meeka Ryan and Nick Saesaria where they work together. So I don't think in New York with the Jets anyway, it's gonna be a situation where the general manager is basically going to have the file say this is my guy. I don't care what the head coach wants.
And I think that's how I worked in Detroit too, right, the head coach in a GM very much in Unison there with the players they selected, which where Aaron Glenn came from So I think that's another good way to see how that might work. All right, This one from at Eli manning Hof. Since the player is more apt to be injured the more snats he plays, what's the point of having Travis Hunter play on both offense and defense. If he sits due to injury and you had him playing both ways, don't you really lose two players as a result. So I'll just start by saying this, He's never going to be a full time player on both sides. That's not gonna happen in the NFL. Zero chance of that happening. It's impossible. Just the way meetings you're structured, practice is structured. He can't practice both, So that's not gonna happen. So I think full time corner, part time wide receiver is the most likely Tony. I know you might see it a little bit differently, Bubbo. You want your best players to help your team as much as possible. You can't run scared dude injuries.
I think what's gonna happen is exactly what you said will happen. But I think if he really takes off at one position. If I'm wrong and he takes off as a cornerback. Well, he's going to be more of a full time cornerback than he is a receiver, and maybe they put him in special packages at the receiver position. Likewise, if he develops incredibly well at the receiver position, well maybe he now is a dinback on occasion in the defensive backfield on certain situations.
All right, and why football Jins fan, what are the differences Tony for you between Jack Besh and Isaiah Hodgens. They seem like similar players. Yeah, what I mean, Besh is a better more of a he's a better athlete and not as big as Hodgens. But they both have really good hands, and they.
Both have the same sort of mentality, the same I'm going to go get the football. You know, it doesn't have to be a perfect pass. I'm going to go up in a crowd and I'm going to come away with the with the with the reception no matter what. Sacrifice my body in a crowd or you know, take a pounding and hold on to the football. They're also both very smart. You know, it's not just running routes, it's recognizing coverages, coming back to help the quarterback, following the quarterback across the field, which they both do well.
All right, this one from at n Hasting one is Abduall Carter closer to Michaeh Parsons or Caveon Thibodeau heard some from Penn State, heard from some Penn State fans. It's the latter, not the former.
Which Abdul Carter are we talking about? Are we talking about the Abdul Carter in twenty twenty four? The Abdul Carter in twenty twenty three. I could understand that opinion that he's more cave On Phibideaux based off the twenty twenty four film. Now, if you watch the show regularly, which we hope you do, you go back really when we started the season, I said, all along, I thought they were doing Abdull Carter, and I said, a couple of times, a disservice they being Penn State by using him as a defensive end, because he's so much more than that. You go and if you just watch this year, you can make that comparison to Keevon Thibodeaux. You go back to twenty twenty three, where he was more of a pure linebacker who would occasionally rush the passer, not coming out of a three point stance. You say, wow, Michael Parsons, because you know, go back to what I said about Jalen Walker during the mock draft. Can play off the line, sideline to sideline range, can play and coverage. We just didn't see that in twenty twenty four because of the scheme that Penn State employed and they used him up at the line of scrimmage, oftentimes out of a three point stance.
All right, now, we got last question at Mets MAVs nine to ten. Strange off season from Mets MAVs. They lose Luka Doncic, but they do get all Wan Soto, so he's had some some some good, some bad there for Mets MAVs. DJ Daniel Jeremiah is Monk Draft a few weeks ago had Will Johnson at fifth team, later than Jade Baron, and his blurb said that Johnson is polarizing amongst NFL teams. What Tony, are you hearing regarding Johnson and what are the chances he's not the first cornerback taken off the board.
Well, he had some Lady's season injuries, so you got to check that out. Nothing major, But go back to what I said about dual Carter, I mean Johnson's twenty twenty three film. And I even said this when in the mock draft. His twenty twenty three film is a lot better than his twenty twenty four film. He watched twenty twenty four. He was backed off the line of scrimage. He gave up a lot of underneath receptions. I think what's going to happen is the general managers, coaches, et cetera. Will talk to the college coaches. So and I know a lot of giant fans are going to cringe when I say this name. When they talked to Wink Martindale to find out what was the situation with Will Johnson? Was he just playing football? Excuse the expression, half asked, or was it a scheme thing where you specific had him backed off that that far from the line of scrimmage. That will be the determining factor.
Tony, good times. We're gonna have our combined preview next week.
Sounds good job.
To Tony Pauline from sports Key to check out all his work. I am John Schmolke. It's Draft Season presented by Moody's. We'll see you next time. Everybody
