WEBVTT - Drive Time: Wide Receiver Offseason Capsule 2025 0:00:09.280 --> 0:00:13.480 What is up, dollphans, and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast. 0:00:13.760 --> 0:00:16.759 I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's episode, 0:00:16.800 --> 0:00:19.799 we are right back to the positional capsules, a very 0:00:19.880 --> 0:00:23.439 important group to talk about today, both with Miami's incumbents, 0:00:23.520 --> 0:00:26.439 what might happen at the top, the draft prospects, the 0:00:26.480 --> 0:00:29.760 free agent possibilities out there. We're going to talk all 0:00:29.840 --> 0:00:33.159 things wide receivers. Plus I have some thoughts on some 0:00:33.240 --> 0:00:36.320 of the comments and content that happened during the weekend 0:00:36.479 --> 0:00:38.400 or the week that was rather at the super Bowl 0:00:38.640 --> 0:00:41.839 at Radio Row from the Baptist Health Studios inside the 0:00:41.880 --> 0:00:46.160 Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the Draft Time Podcast, Jeff. 0:00:48.200 --> 0:00:51.120 Before we dive into these wide outs, is my friend? 0:00:51.159 --> 0:00:53.959 OJ McDuffie might say, still feels very cool to call 0:00:54.040 --> 0:00:56.400 him my friend. There was a lot of material to 0:00:56.480 --> 0:00:58.760 cover from the week that was at the super Bowl, 0:00:58.800 --> 0:01:02.040 but the Monday show was already so jam packed with content. 0:01:02.440 --> 0:01:04.240 I wanted to cover some of it with you guys 0:01:04.319 --> 0:01:06.800 here on the Wednesday show. And it all kind of 0:01:06.800 --> 0:01:10.040 ties together because I have four things and they're all 0:01:10.360 --> 0:01:13.080 on the offensive side of the football. First up, Marino 0:01:13.200 --> 0:01:16.199 was talking about Tua at his Dan Marino, Tarn talked 0:01:16.200 --> 0:01:19.240 about his future, Tyreek talked about his future and the 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:25.160 apology tour, and of course the Jalen Wattle injury prone narrative, 0:01:25.280 --> 0:01:27.120 I guess is the right word out there. Let's go 0:01:27.120 --> 0:01:30.399 ahead and start with Marino in Tua off the top. 0:01:30.520 --> 0:01:33.319 Marino revealed that it was an injury akin to a 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:35.880 hit pointer, which we've discussed on this show a few times. 0:01:35.880 --> 0:01:38.480 And you know, we know that two was adamant that 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:41.320 he was going to play regardless of orders had we 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:43.920 made the playoffs, and obviously a week eighteen did not 0:01:43.959 --> 0:01:47.080 allow for that. But let's just say, with his gusto 0:01:47.240 --> 0:01:50.880 about playing, it would have had to have been pretty bad, right. 0:01:51.280 --> 0:01:53.280 Immobile is the term that I would use. 0:01:53.400 --> 0:01:55.240 I don't think he physically could have done it for 0:01:55.320 --> 0:01:59.400 them to hold him back like their playoffs lives were 0:01:59.400 --> 0:01:59.840 on the line. 0:02:00.040 --> 0:02:01.520 I just think we should keep that in mind. 0:02:01.720 --> 0:02:03.520 And that was a pretty big hit to that hip 0:02:03.560 --> 0:02:06.600 on that scramble against the Texans, and again it comes 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:08.440 with Tua as a runner. And so that's kind of 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:10.200 the conversation you have to have if you're the Miami 0:02:10.240 --> 0:02:12.240 Dolphins brass this year is how the hell do you 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:14.760 keep your quarterback safe. That hasn't proven an ability to 0:02:14.760 --> 0:02:17.880 do that, to do that outside of one season, and 0:02:18.080 --> 0:02:19.880 I don't think you can tell your quarterback to just 0:02:19.880 --> 0:02:22.280 be a statue in today's NFL. And hell, we saw 0:02:22.280 --> 0:02:24.240 some of Tua's biggest plays over the last three years 0:02:24.240 --> 0:02:27.000 come as a result of his ability to move around 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:29.720 a little bit. That famous you know, he's got to 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:33.760 Tyreek going deep speed racer. That was him jumping off 0:02:33.800 --> 0:02:35.720 off the spot and attacking the last scrimmage and throwing 0:02:35.760 --> 0:02:38.640 the ball down the field. The spin touchdown throw to 0:02:38.680 --> 0:02:41.160 River Craycraft against the Ravens back in twenty twenty two, 0:02:41.440 --> 0:02:44.240 the Buffalo touchdown last year on the move, that third 0:02:44.360 --> 0:02:47.320 and a mile conversion to Raheem Mostert against the Rams 0:02:47.320 --> 0:02:50.400 that kept our season alive at that juncture of the season. 0:02:50.760 --> 0:02:53.440 I do not want to lose those plays. 0:02:53.639 --> 0:02:56.200 But if we don't have Tua, we literally cannot beat 0:02:56.200 --> 0:02:59.280 anybody who's fielding an NFL team. And you know, we 0:02:59.320 --> 0:03:02.560 did beat Jake Brisket led Patriots, who have the worst 0:03:02.560 --> 0:03:04.760 offensive personnel in the league we've seen in the last 0:03:04.760 --> 0:03:07.519 half decade. And then Dory and Thompson Robinson, who will 0:03:07.520 --> 0:03:09.400 never start a game in the NFL ever again. So 0:03:09.800 --> 0:03:12.480 my take is I think Tua should have the same 0:03:12.560 --> 0:03:15.280 offseason regimens he had last year. But I think he 0:03:15.520 --> 0:03:18.080 just has to play smarter, which we all have asked 0:03:18.120 --> 0:03:20.600 for that for a while now. That's all it is. 0:03:20.639 --> 0:03:22.800 And I always say I understand the Houston play because 0:03:22.800 --> 0:03:25.000 it was a critical down and a critical game. Any 0:03:25.000 --> 0:03:26.920 third down in the game of that magnitude is gonna 0:03:26.919 --> 0:03:29.519 be big. You can't give away possessions. I don't want 0:03:29.600 --> 0:03:31.520 him to give up on those plays, and I'll take 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:34.399 the risks that come with that, But like the concussion 0:03:34.400 --> 0:03:38.080 against Buffalo down twenty one in Week two, we can 0:03:38.120 --> 0:03:40.440 live without those, right. That's where I come down on 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:43.000 the Tua debate. Let's just reduce the ones that we 0:03:43.120 --> 0:03:45.600 can control, and if it's still not enough, well then 0:03:45.640 --> 0:03:47.200 we kind of have our answer. At least we can 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:50.320 remove that element of it, and if he can't stay 0:03:50.320 --> 0:03:52.240 healthy still, then you know where you have to go 0:03:52.280 --> 0:03:53.760 from there. But I also know there's a ton of 0:03:53.760 --> 0:03:56.400 players in this league that were once deemed injury prone 0:03:56.600 --> 0:03:58.760 and then went on to play like iron Man streaks 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:00.760 and play for five to six years in a row 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:03.120 without missing games. So you know, it could be a 0:04:03.200 --> 0:04:05.720 damned if you do, damned if you don't situation, but 0:04:05.760 --> 0:04:08.720 we need you healthy to Let's just control as much 0:04:08.800 --> 0:04:09.760 as we possibly can. 0:04:09.840 --> 0:04:11.160 Next up was to Ron Armstead. 0:04:11.200 --> 0:04:12.640 Sure as hell sounds like a guy that thinks he's 0:04:12.680 --> 0:04:15.040 coming back to play for this football team. But we'll 0:04:15.040 --> 0:04:16.920 see how he feels, you know, come training camp and 0:04:16.960 --> 0:04:19.240 all that. But you know, will it be here, will 0:04:19.240 --> 0:04:22.080 it be somewhere else? A lot of options are punitive 0:04:22.160 --> 0:04:25.320 in terms of how it could affect the Dolphin's financial situation. 0:04:25.720 --> 0:04:28.240 And quite frankly, I think Patrick Paul is ready to go, 0:04:28.520 --> 0:04:30.799 and I don't think that Armstead of it all makes 0:04:31.360 --> 0:04:33.000 you know, for a good option there, because to me, 0:04:33.320 --> 0:04:36.280 the only option is Paul to right tackle and Austin 0:04:36.360 --> 0:04:38.520 Jackson to right guard. But I think that makes both 0:04:38.520 --> 0:04:40.799 players worse than what they would be if they played 0:04:40.839 --> 0:04:44.000 left and right tackle respectively. You know, I've opined about this, 0:04:44.040 --> 0:04:46.480 and I think that I'm settled on the idea of 0:04:46.560 --> 0:04:49.359 leaving those guys all alone and addressing the two guard 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.120 spots this offseason. I like the idea of you know, 0:04:52.200 --> 0:04:55.200 will Hernandez coming over from the Cardinals giving you some 0:04:55.240 --> 0:04:57.360 more ability to run some inside zones and due at 0:04:57.360 --> 0:04:59.520 the point of attack. A mid round draft pick and 0:04:59.600 --> 0:05:02.080 re sign and win and have those two guys compete 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:04.520 for the right guard spot, and then a heavy emphasis 0:05:04.520 --> 0:05:07.360 on a swing tackle like a Patrick McCary so that 0:05:07.400 --> 0:05:10.360 you're deep at every position and you are good with 0:05:10.400 --> 0:05:13.400 reliable guys in the top five. Now, if Armstead comes back, 0:05:13.520 --> 0:05:15.520 I think you do have to go with Paul as 0:05:15.560 --> 0:05:18.200 the swing tackle. And given Tehran's history, you know he's 0:05:18.200 --> 0:05:20.479 going to play eventually, but that's the choice you'll have 0:05:20.520 --> 0:05:22.520 to make if they go that route. I think you 0:05:22.560 --> 0:05:24.719 can get out of the Armstead business even if he 0:05:24.720 --> 0:05:27.800 doesn't retire this season, and kind of take your medicine now, 0:05:27.839 --> 0:05:30.120 but be okay down the road. And look, I'm not 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:32.440 at all saying that Tehran doesn't make you a better 0:05:32.440 --> 0:05:35.159 football team, because he does, But when you have a 0:05:35.240 --> 0:05:37.760 finite amount of resources, you have to consider what that 0:05:37.839 --> 0:05:40.240 ripple effect of those moves could be. And I'm not 0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:42.279 so sure that him being a left tackle for this 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:45.039 team right now is the best thing. Now maybe it is, 0:05:45.120 --> 0:05:47.640 but right now I kind of think Patrick Paul needs 0:05:47.640 --> 0:05:49.880 those reps and needs that job, and Austin Jackson should 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:51.800 stay at tackle, and I kind of feel like that's 0:05:51.839 --> 0:05:54.280 the best route they could take right now. Next, Tyreek 0:05:54.400 --> 0:05:56.559 Hill went on an apology tour, and my first thought 0:05:56.800 --> 0:05:58.720 regarding that. 0:06:01.040 --> 0:06:01.800 No more talk. 0:06:02.240 --> 0:06:04.640 And I do apologize for the audio quality on that 0:06:04.720 --> 0:06:08.320 best I could find, but like, shut up, dude, you know, 0:06:08.400 --> 0:06:10.320 how are you gonna sit here and talk about being 0:06:10.320 --> 0:06:12.880 the same guy who's on time to meetings? Like we 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:15.359 have examples of you not being that brother, So I 0:06:15.400 --> 0:06:17.240 get really frustrated by it all. And to me, the 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:19.280 worst thing a player can do is to put in 0:06:19.400 --> 0:06:21.400 less than one hundred percent and then go on control 0:06:21.480 --> 0:06:24.280 the fans after the fact, like Javon did on Super 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:27.120 Bowl Sunday talking about Vic FANGI like, what the hell, man, 0:06:27.279 --> 0:06:30.360 what the hell like? And then you say they're too sensitive. 0:06:30.440 --> 0:06:33.680 I just don't understand that approach. These are people that 0:06:33.720 --> 0:06:36.160 love this team unconditionally. I don't think you should go 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:40.159 after them for anything. So Tyreek as a player being 0:06:40.200 --> 0:06:42.440 here is obviously great. He makes the football team better. 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:45.719 I have no like disregard of his talent, but I 0:06:45.760 --> 0:06:47.440 gotta tell you, guys, to me, it points to a 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:50.560 limited change, and I just don't see running it back 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:53.360 as status quo is a viable option, and there's time 0:06:53.400 --> 0:06:54.960 to prove that that won't be how it is. But 0:06:55.000 --> 0:06:57.240 I'm telling you guys right now, even if they bring 0:06:57.279 --> 0:06:59.960 back Reek and they sign will Hernandez and they land 0:07:00.000 --> 0:07:02.840 and Tyler Warren, it picked thirteen. Maybe they signed Milton 0:07:02.839 --> 0:07:05.200 Williams and they hit on a free agent linebacker in 0:07:05.240 --> 0:07:07.680 safety and guard the positions they have to find this year. 0:07:08.200 --> 0:07:10.400 I'm still gonna be bearish on the entire thing for 0:07:10.440 --> 0:07:13.320 the first time in a while, because I just don't 0:07:13.320 --> 0:07:16.080 think that you can administratively do all the same things 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:18.560 again and expect to be different. So that's my take 0:07:18.560 --> 0:07:22.400 on Tyreek, and last one here is, you know, the 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:26.520 idea that all of Miami's core parts are either old 0:07:26.680 --> 0:07:29.640 or injury prone, and not that point in general, but 0:07:29.640 --> 0:07:33.680 the Wattle play that Waddle's name being listed among the 0:07:33.720 --> 0:07:35.560 injury prone players was what bothered me. 0:07:35.960 --> 0:07:36.200 To me. 0:07:36.360 --> 0:07:39.360 That's like saying this team has completely neglected the offensive 0:07:39.360 --> 0:07:41.240 line for the last decade or however far back that 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:43.440 threshold goes when I hear that point. 0:07:43.520 --> 0:07:45.200 But just want to be sure that we all. 0:07:45.080 --> 0:07:48.280 Realize he's played sixty two games out of a possible 0:07:48.320 --> 0:07:53.360 sixty eight and five five years, four years. Just so 0:07:53.400 --> 0:07:56.360 we're clear, that's the same number as Jamar Chase, same 0:07:56.400 --> 0:08:00.680 number as Devonte Smith. I'm just impartial to nonsense. That's nonsense. 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:01.080 I don't know. 0:08:01.520 --> 0:08:04.160 I mean, I might have to cut Jalen's third down 0:08:04.200 --> 0:08:06.040 reel here and show y'all how special that dude is, 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:09.680 because I just can't understand some of the conversation around 0:08:09.720 --> 0:08:10.840 his game that I've seen out there. 0:08:10.880 --> 0:08:12.760 So that's what I wanted to get off my chest. 0:08:12.760 --> 0:08:14.880 Now We're gonna go ahead and pivot forward here to 0:08:14.920 --> 0:08:17.800 the next positional capsule. And it's a long When I 0:08:17.840 --> 0:08:20.160 have eleven draft prospects I watch, I think I have 0:08:20.320 --> 0:08:22.480 nine free agents I watch as well, So we have 0:08:22.520 --> 0:08:24.600 to talk about that and our own guys, just so 0:08:24.720 --> 0:08:27.120 real quick, just so you guys are with me, here 0:08:27.240 --> 0:08:30.600 going to be a long episode Bucker Room, So go 0:08:30.640 --> 0:08:33.439 ahead and buckle up. Bucker Rooms wide receivers. In terms 0:08:33.440 --> 0:08:37.199 of what expectations were from a fantasy and counting stats perspective, 0:08:37.240 --> 0:08:39.000 I think you could say this room was the one 0:08:39.000 --> 0:08:43.280 that fell shortest of expectations. And those are three thousand 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:45.920 yards and twenty touchdowns from your top two guys, right 0:08:46.040 --> 0:08:47.439 or at least close to that, at least you pay 0:08:47.480 --> 0:08:49.360 them that much, And it turned out to be the 0:08:49.400 --> 0:08:51.559 top two receivers were a back and a tight end 0:08:51.559 --> 0:08:53.920 this year. But also you got that because of the 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:56.480 presence of Waddle and Tyreek and where that fell off 0:08:56.520 --> 0:08:58.760 from the top. I think you could say this was 0:08:58.800 --> 0:09:01.120 the best number three wide we've had under the Mike 0:09:01.200 --> 0:09:05.760 McDaniel regime, with Maleague, Washington, River Craycraft battled injuries all year, 0:09:05.800 --> 0:09:07.600 and Stuffer had that shoulder injury that he had back 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:09.840 in August. Then you've got a glimpse of guys trying 0:09:09.840 --> 0:09:13.040 to carve out a role between ds Gridge Grant Dubo's 0:09:13.200 --> 0:09:16.640 Eric Azukama never really cracked the lineup, Braxton Barrios going 0:09:16.679 --> 0:09:19.120 down after the sixth game before his first catch in 0:09:19.160 --> 0:09:22.080 the season, Taj Washington getting hurt in the summer, Anthony 0:09:22.120 --> 0:09:24.720 Schwartz getting hurt in the preseason. I think there's a 0:09:24.760 --> 0:09:27.280 ton of work. There's a ton to work with here 0:09:27.360 --> 0:09:30.040 up and down the roster, But the biggest domino or 0:09:30.120 --> 0:09:31.960 thing they have to figure out is how to get 0:09:31.960 --> 0:09:35.679 Tyreek back to twenty twenty two and twenty twenty three production, 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:37.280 and of course by now you know that I feel 0:09:37.320 --> 0:09:39.839 the toothpaste has left the tube and I don't know 0:09:39.880 --> 0:09:41.760 how you put it back in. No matter how much 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:46.040 he lies on sports talk shows like brother, you were 0:09:46.080 --> 0:09:48.960 not here all the time and at every like. You 0:09:48.960 --> 0:09:52.160 can say as much as you want, but that ain't reality. 0:09:52.240 --> 0:09:54.080 So let's go ahead and get into the players here. 0:09:54.120 --> 0:09:57.559 And to me, Tyreek Hill number ten quitting on the team, 0:09:57.640 --> 0:10:01.560 skipping walkthroughs and not practice and then blaming your coach 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:04.360 for that was weird. Being in the wrong spot, dropping 0:10:04.520 --> 0:10:08.000 critical passes in quite literally every big game this team 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:10.679 has played. I mean, point to your quarterback in those 0:10:10.720 --> 0:10:12.920 games and measure their legacy in those games. Right, But 0:10:13.040 --> 0:10:17.360 everyone outside of Dolphins Land, all the nerds commentators will 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:20.440 tell you that Tyreek made Tua. Right, he's the best player, 0:10:20.480 --> 0:10:21.880 and he is the best player on the team. I'll 0:10:21.920 --> 0:10:24.199 give him that. But if that's the case, then how 0:10:24.240 --> 0:10:26.760 about his legacy as the best player and the guy 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:29.160 that's in the MVP conversation with the quarterbacks every year, 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:31.719 and that you know they put Tyreek up there last 0:10:31.800 --> 0:10:35.679 year not to in those conversations, Well, then we should 0:10:35.679 --> 0:10:38.360 probably evaluate him in the big moments the same way 0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:40.439 you do quarterbacks. And I go back and watch a 0:10:40.480 --> 0:10:43.120 drop touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, I go back and 0:10:43.160 --> 0:10:45.079 watch a drop touchdown against the Ravens that would have 0:10:45.080 --> 0:10:47.360 given you a touchdown lead in the second quarter of 0:10:47.400 --> 0:10:49.400 that game for the number one seed in the AFC 0:10:49.720 --> 0:10:52.480 in week seventeen, the critical third down drops in the 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:54.800 finale against the Bills. A week later, and on the 0:10:54.880 --> 0:10:56.840 final drive before a pick the end of the game, 0:10:57.160 --> 0:10:59.559 The drop and the fumble against the Chiefs that same year, 0:10:59.600 --> 0:11:02.440 the two against the Niners this year, probably a third 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:04.240 that if you want to count that way. A bad 0:11:04.360 --> 0:11:07.800 route against the Houston Texans and losing a fifty to 0:11:07.880 --> 0:11:09.840 fifty ball that led to two picks, including the one 0:11:09.880 --> 0:11:12.880 on the game's final drive. I mean, if he were 0:11:12.880 --> 0:11:15.160 a quarterback, we'd be calling this guy the biggest big 0:11:15.200 --> 0:11:16.360 game choker of all time. 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:17.600 That's just how it is. 0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:20.320 And aside from this tangent, that thing that is most 0:11:20.360 --> 0:11:22.839 inexcusable of all of that, bigger than quitting on the 0:11:22.920 --> 0:11:25.960 team is the way he handled the entire aftermath. Man 0:11:26.040 --> 0:11:27.960 to get on social media and ttrol your fan base, 0:11:28.040 --> 0:11:31.000 then to come back and not understand all the unrest 0:11:31.000 --> 0:11:32.760 and negative comments that come along with that. 0:11:33.200 --> 0:11:33.760 I'm sorry. 0:11:33.800 --> 0:11:37.079 Like this is when your friends is in a terrible 0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:40.360 relationship with a horrendous person, but he refuses to open 0:11:40.360 --> 0:11:42.480 his eyes to it. This is that, Like this is 0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:46.080 a toxic partner that will make you a worse person. Geez, Travis, 0:11:46.120 --> 0:11:47.800 tell you how you tell us how you really feel, 0:11:48.040 --> 0:11:49.920 and it probably comes back to bite me because it 0:11:49.960 --> 0:11:52.000 sounds like, you know, depending on who you listened to, Like, 0:11:52.040 --> 0:11:54.560 he ain't going anywhere, so I don't know. He's arguably 0:11:54.600 --> 0:11:56.840 the most talented player on the entire planet, even with 0:11:56.960 --> 0:11:59.679 a dip in production. He commands attention and helps us 0:11:59.720 --> 0:12:02.040 have more multiple ways to play. I think the biggest 0:12:02.040 --> 0:12:04.560 obstacle here is earning back the goodwill of the teammates 0:12:04.600 --> 0:12:06.480 and the staff after refusing to go back in the 0:12:06.520 --> 0:12:09.720 game in the finale against the Jets. That's tough, and 0:12:09.760 --> 0:12:12.000 there's been a lot said about the approach and professionalism 0:12:12.080 --> 0:12:12.559 and all of that. 0:12:12.760 --> 0:12:13.720 It has to get solved. 0:12:13.800 --> 0:12:17.640 Number one up front this entire offseason, even above personnel. 0:12:17.679 --> 0:12:19.160 It starts with the best player on the team being 0:12:19.160 --> 0:12:21.640 your most committed player. I'm really curious to see how 0:12:21.640 --> 0:12:24.679 that all plays out. I think Jalen Waddle, number seventeen, 0:12:24.720 --> 0:12:26.640 could be the best player in the team if he 0:12:26.720 --> 0:12:29.440 was afforded the opportunity. I put on his third down 0:12:29.480 --> 0:12:31.520 reel the other day, and the dude just wins when 0:12:31.520 --> 0:12:34.079 he has to. And he'll get to that place. When 0:12:34.080 --> 0:12:35.240 they try to take it away from him, I will 0:12:35.280 --> 0:12:37.280 argue until I'm blue in the face. He is number 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:39.800 one receiver across all but like seven or eight teams 0:12:39.840 --> 0:12:42.240 in the NFL. He is so good off the line 0:12:42.280 --> 0:12:45.000 with his release. We heard Tua discuss the indicators that 0:12:45.040 --> 0:12:46.960 he gives and the importance of a player like him 0:12:47.200 --> 0:12:49.880 to help dictate coverage. And he counts on all those 0:12:49.920 --> 0:12:52.360 third and sevens, not on Reek, not on anybody else. 0:12:52.400 --> 0:12:53.760 But Waddle's his go to guy. 0:12:54.040 --> 0:12:56.160 When he has to win an out route against outside 0:12:56.240 --> 0:12:58.920 leverage from a squatting cornerback, he can still get there. 0:12:59.160 --> 0:13:02.040 He's a dog who competes his butts off butts. But 0:13:02.520 --> 0:13:05.560 go watch all the big plays by him or his teammates, 0:13:05.559 --> 0:13:07.120 and he's happier than those guys are to make the 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:09.640 big play. There is no shortage of will in the 0:13:09.720 --> 0:13:12.880 run game, even if sometimes he's overmatched by a bigger safety. 0:13:13.160 --> 0:13:15.000 I've said this a lot in this series. Give me 0:13:15.040 --> 0:13:17.679 twenty two Jalen Waddles and I'll go win a championship. 0:13:17.679 --> 0:13:18.480 If I have to nitpick. 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.120 He is not super creative as a runner like I 0:13:21.160 --> 0:13:23.200 thought he might be coming out of Alabama. I think 0:13:23.200 --> 0:13:25.440 he's regressed a bit in that regard in his career. 0:13:25.720 --> 0:13:28.439 Number eighty three Molik Washington. The way he closed the 0:13:28.520 --> 0:13:32.440 season has me jazzed about his projection, first off, to 0:13:32.480 --> 0:13:36.160 make an impact in this system with all the timing mechanisms, 0:13:36.720 --> 0:13:39.680 in the proficient, precise nature of how Tua plays the game, 0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:41.840 I think that says a lot about how he gets 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:44.679 himself ready to play football. He made tough catches, he 0:13:44.679 --> 0:13:47.160 bounced off tackles. He's an asset in the screen game 0:13:47.200 --> 0:13:49.400 and as a return man. I have to imagine there's 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:52.120 an expanded role for him next season. Number eighty five 0:13:52.200 --> 0:13:54.920 River Creakcraft is scheduled to be a free agent. Remember 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:56.640 him having the best camp of his life before that 0:13:56.720 --> 0:13:59.080 injury in the preseason game last year and then never 0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:01.040 really got back into the fold until like the very 0:14:01.120 --> 0:14:04.560 last game of the season. Exceptional blocker. He'll be where 0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:07.400 he's supposed to be. He'll catch everything. He just has 0:14:07.440 --> 0:14:09.760 to stay healthy. The most games he's played his career 0:14:09.840 --> 0:14:13.000 was eleven back in twenty twenty two. Number eighty four 0:14:13.080 --> 0:14:16.520 Eric Azukama played in just two games, targeted twice. I 0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:19.280 was hopeful that his development would take off, especially after 0:14:19.320 --> 0:14:21.280 that running back role he played to open the year 0:14:21.320 --> 0:14:23.800 in twenty twenty three. But he's been hurt. He hasn't 0:14:23.800 --> 0:14:27.960 been available. I don't know how how prepared he is 0:14:28.000 --> 0:14:30.080 to play in this offense. He'll be a free agent 0:14:30.080 --> 0:14:31.920 after next year, so he'll be in camp most likely 0:14:31.960 --> 0:14:33.720 this year and get another crack at it, but you 0:14:33.760 --> 0:14:36.720 know it's a long road. Braxton Burios scheduled to be 0:14:36.800 --> 0:14:39.120 a free agent zero catches this year. Number A two 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:41.960 Dwayne Eskridge, also a free agent. I thought the fact 0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:44.560 that he got as much run as he did early 0:14:44.600 --> 0:14:47.440 on was a good sign for his long term prospects 0:14:47.440 --> 0:14:49.440 here because he's a run after catch guy. We know 0:14:49.520 --> 0:14:52.880 McDaniel loves that he has returnability, screen game impact. 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:53.720 He's a good blocker. 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:56.720 I think he's worth developing in the system further should 0:14:56.720 --> 0:14:59.080 they bring him back. Number eighty eight Grant d Bo's 0:14:59.120 --> 0:15:01.920 an exclusive right free agent coming off that scary injury 0:15:01.960 --> 0:15:04.880 in Houston. His tape was one of excellent blocking and 0:15:04.960 --> 0:15:07.280 some run after the catch ability, but two long term 0:15:07.320 --> 0:15:09.120 injuries prevented us from getting a good look at him. 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:10.920 I think he'll be back in camp with a chance 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:13.720 to make the team again. Number A two TODJ. Washington, 0:15:13.800 --> 0:15:15.600 was hurt back in the summer, but he was one 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:18.120 of the most polished deep ball receivers in the nation 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:20.880 his last year at USC Plenty of speed to burn, 0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:23.640 good ball tracking. I'm excited to watch him this spring 0:15:23.680 --> 0:15:26.480 in the summer. Number eighty four Anthony Schwartz was injured 0:15:26.520 --> 0:15:29.120 in the preseason. He's a restricted free agent who was 0:15:29.160 --> 0:15:32.040 making some real noise through camping in the preseason. Another 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:34.480 speed guy that was finding his footing in the system 0:15:34.840 --> 0:15:38.200 what this room needs. I think you solve a lot 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:42.000 of problems by just moving off the top guy. Waddle 0:15:42.040 --> 0:15:45.280 becomes just peachy as your number one receiver. You remove 0:15:45.320 --> 0:15:47.480 that negative influence for how to go about your business 0:15:47.520 --> 0:15:48.960 and not give the rest of the skill guys the 0:15:49.000 --> 0:15:52.000 idea that it's okay to just be complacent, you know, 0:15:52.240 --> 0:15:55.200 in terms of not doing what needs to be done 0:15:55.240 --> 0:15:57.880 to be a great player and team and you can 0:15:57.920 --> 0:16:00.080 get more of a compliment in terms of how you 0:16:00.080 --> 0:16:02.680 you search for your new number two receiver. Especially the 0:16:02.720 --> 0:16:05.040 three is also small, and you can pivot your offense 0:16:05.080 --> 0:16:07.320 to more of a twelve personnel base attack without the 0:16:07.360 --> 0:16:09.720 thirty million dollar guy. I think we need size, we 0:16:09.760 --> 0:16:12.760 need smarts, we need blocking, we need accountability, just like 0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:14.600 the rest of the roster. We're not looking for a 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:16.960 star here, just a robin to go along with the 0:16:16.960 --> 0:16:19.680 batman one more time. I think the room needs audition 0:16:19.760 --> 0:16:21.920 by subtraction. But if it doesn't happen, we're gonna have 0:16:22.000 --> 0:16:23.760 to play that way too and try to find our 0:16:23.760 --> 0:16:28.160 fit along along in those parameters too additional assets. Tarik 0:16:28.240 --> 0:16:31.240 Black is on the reserve of futurist contract. Let's go 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:32.960 ahead and take our first break, come back and talk 0:16:32.960 --> 0:16:35.680 about the free agents. That's next Draft Time Podcast, your 0:16:35.680 --> 0:16:42.080 host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by AutoNation. Back here 0:16:42.160 --> 0:16:45.240 segment to Draft Time Podcast, talking about the wide receivers 0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:47.920 as we get closer and closer to the scout and combine, which, 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:49.880 by the way, we have some very fun coverage coming 0:16:49.960 --> 0:16:52.720 your guys away during the week of the combine gonna 0:16:52.760 --> 0:16:55.040 get some big time names on the show, and not 0:16:55.160 --> 0:16:57.840 just talking about media members. Maybe a certain coach of 0:16:57.880 --> 0:16:59.000 a certain football team might be. 0:16:59.000 --> 0:17:01.360 Joining us on the podcast. Maybe we'll talk about that. 0:17:01.640 --> 0:17:04.560 But this entire offseason kind of hinges to me on 0:17:04.560 --> 0:17:06.359 one move that may or may not happen. 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:09.159 I really don't know. I mean, I have expressed my thoughts. 0:17:08.880 --> 0:17:11.240 On what should happen, but the entire makeup of this 0:17:11.359 --> 0:17:13.800 exercise changes with Tyreek Hill and his status on the 0:17:13.840 --> 0:17:16.800 football team, which at this point, you know, I don't 0:17:16.800 --> 0:17:18.880 have a lean on what's gonna happen. Rap sheet coming 0:17:18.920 --> 0:17:22.320 out saying he's not expected to be moved. Schefter on 0:17:22.359 --> 0:17:24.359 the Pat McAfee show had a face that when they 0:17:24.400 --> 0:17:26.200 asked him a question like, I don't know about that. 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:29.800 So I think the good soldier routine has validity from 0:17:29.840 --> 0:17:32.920 two standpoints of go say nice things and we'll get 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:34.560 you the hell out of here. It also would fit 0:17:34.600 --> 0:17:36.960