WEBVTT - Draft Show: Combine Check-In 0:00:02.200 --> 0:00:08.160 Z is the Dallascowboys dot Com Draft Show, your war 0:00:08.320 --> 0:00:12.039 room for insder news and draft analysis from deep within 0:00:12.160 --> 0:00:17.000 the confines of Cowboys Headquarters at the Star Infrasco. 0:00:19.320 --> 0:00:24.400 Today is a leap day, Thursday, February twenty ninth, twenty 0:00:24.520 --> 0:00:28.080 twenty four, and we are officially fifty six days away 0:00:28.520 --> 0:00:31.480 from the NFL Draft in Detroit, Michigan. Welcome into the 0:00:31.560 --> 0:00:35.199 Draft Show, presented by Miller Lte a taste you can 0:00:35.280 --> 0:00:38.520 depend on. We've got the NFL Combine to break down 0:00:38.560 --> 0:00:42.680 media availability kicking off yesterday, and plenty of news and 0:00:42.800 --> 0:00:45.199 notes to get to here over the next hour as 0:00:45.240 --> 0:00:48.800 we continue to lead you into NFL Draft process twenty 0:00:48.840 --> 0:00:52.519 twenty four. Today, we've got Aisha Morrison, Bobby Belton then 0:00:52.560 --> 0:00:55.440 live from Indianapolis. Here in a couple of moments, We've 0:00:55.440 --> 0:00:59.000 got Nick Harris out there from Radio Row. I'm Kyle Yeomens, 0:00:59.040 --> 0:01:01.440 Chris Beaman the back, and Bobby. This is always a 0:01:01.440 --> 0:01:03.279 fun time of year because this is really where the 0:01:03.320 --> 0:01:08.839 information starts to gather. You've got all of the scouting, 0:01:08.920 --> 0:01:11.600 all of the film, and all of the gathering of 0:01:11.640 --> 0:01:13.840 information initially. Now you get to share that information. 0:01:13.959 --> 0:01:18.200 Yeah, this is the super Bowl of the off season. Yeah, 0:01:18.480 --> 0:01:20.440 not just because of what it is for the draft, 0:01:20.480 --> 0:01:23.080 but naturally you get all these powerful decision makers out there. 0:01:23.160 --> 0:01:24.839 Gives them a chance to, hey, let's check in before 0:01:24.920 --> 0:01:28.479 free agency, let's talk about trades, let's do some different things. 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:32.280 So to me, this is the pinnacle of the NFL offseason, 0:01:32.319 --> 0:01:34.639 even though it hasn't officially gotten underway yet. This week 0:01:34.720 --> 0:01:37.000 right here, and what you get to learn about the players, 0:01:37.319 --> 0:01:39.640 whether it be in the meetings, on the whiteboard, when 0:01:39.640 --> 0:01:43.800 you see their testing, it's just a it's a great 0:01:43.880 --> 0:01:46.119 week where I think everything sort of starts to come 0:01:46.160 --> 0:01:47.920 into form for the NFL off season. 0:01:48.080 --> 0:01:51.760 It's crazy how quickly it got here. Please, I felt 0:01:51.800 --> 0:01:54.400 like yesterday we were watching the Chiefs play the forty 0:01:54.480 --> 0:01:57.040 nine Ers in Las Vegas, and all of a sudden, 0:01:57.360 --> 0:01:57.880 here we are. 0:01:58.080 --> 0:01:58.160 No. 0:01:58.280 --> 0:02:01.400 Absolutely, it does go back quick and before we know it, 0:02:01.400 --> 0:02:04.280 it'll be I mean, right after combine it's free agency. 0:02:04.480 --> 0:02:07.360 So to your point, Bobby, it does start to get real. 0:02:07.480 --> 0:02:10.160 It starts you start to really feel like what happens 0:02:10.320 --> 0:02:13.280 in this next few months it does impact next season. 0:02:13.680 --> 0:02:16.840 So in regards to the combine, it's it's about that 0:02:16.880 --> 0:02:19.920 time for these guys too. This is what I said 0:02:19.960 --> 0:02:21.560 on our show. It's one of the few times in 0:02:21.600 --> 0:02:23.840 the NFL that you will get to display what you 0:02:23.840 --> 0:02:26.400 can do as an individual, and so I think it's 0:02:26.480 --> 0:02:28.720 important for these guys to come out and perform. 0:02:29.200 --> 0:02:32.840 That is interesting because it is a team game. That 0:02:32.919 --> 0:02:35.280 always is a team game, but the NFL Draft is 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:38.919 very individualistic, and so is the combine. The one time 0:02:38.919 --> 0:02:42.320 where you are the microscope and under the microscope, so 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:45.440 scrutinized all the way across the league, both from a 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:48.440 draft standpoint and scout standpoint, but also from a media 0:02:48.480 --> 0:02:49.240 standpoint as well. 0:02:49.280 --> 0:02:52.000 Absolutely, these interviews are super important as well. I mean 0:02:52.080 --> 0:02:54.440 sometimes that I learned that last year being down there 0:02:54.440 --> 0:02:57.760 with y'all. It's just you hear little whispers about interviews 0:02:57.800 --> 0:03:00.320 or hear little conversations, and it's like, okay, cool, Okay, 0:03:00.360 --> 0:03:02.720 this guy gets it, this guy doesn't get and stuff 0:03:02.840 --> 0:03:05.600 starts to make sense. And it's easier for us too, 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:08.280 especially because we can start really putting our boards together 0:03:08.320 --> 0:03:11.239 because those medicals and things kind of add clarity as well. 0:03:11.560 --> 0:03:14.880 Yeah, this is I mean, this right here is just 0:03:15.080 --> 0:03:18.639 from the perspective of like I remember years ago when 0:03:18.960 --> 0:03:20.480 the same years ago. Now it seems like it just 0:03:20.480 --> 0:03:22.359 got in the league. But years ago when TJ. Watt 0:03:22.400 --> 0:03:25.080 was at the combine, Yeah, and you saw the type 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:27.880 of athlete he was in his testing, and it's like, oh, okay, 0:03:27.919 --> 0:03:31.280 that didn't that didn't necessarily show up with what Wisconsin 0:03:31.320 --> 0:03:32.280 asked him to do. They asked him to do a 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:34.480 lot of push pull stuff. You didn't necessarily get to 0:03:34.480 --> 0:03:37.800 see those athletic trades and you had no idea Max Crosby, 0:03:37.800 --> 0:03:39.440 another edge rusher who had the same sort of thing, 0:03:39.480 --> 0:03:42.920 goes out there performs big. You start to hear some 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:45.839 of the buzz about like who do teams like who 0:03:45.840 --> 0:03:47.520 are they impressed by? And not even just at the 0:03:47.520 --> 0:03:50.080 top of the draft, you just start to hear about 0:03:50.120 --> 0:03:53.080 their draft crushes on Day three or like, oh, man, 0:03:53.120 --> 0:03:56.040 this third round guy, you know, maybe he's lacking this 0:03:56.400 --> 0:03:57.880 in terms of his test or whatever else. But man, 0:03:57.920 --> 0:03:59.400 when we sat down with him for those twenty minutes 0:03:59.440 --> 0:04:02.160 in a formal ene interview, you see the type of 0:04:02.440 --> 0:04:04.760 you know, football character he has and the demeanor he has, 0:04:04.840 --> 0:04:07.400 and you know then this is also the time of 0:04:07.480 --> 0:04:09.400 year where drama can come out of it. A couple 0:04:09.440 --> 0:04:11.800 of weeks from now, you start hearing about medicals, maybe 0:04:11.840 --> 0:04:14.520 you hear about tests at the combine that didn't go well, 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:19.040 and so this is a absolutely critical week to every 0:04:19.200 --> 0:04:21.440 team's you know, team building philosophy. 0:04:21.800 --> 0:04:24.080 Oh, it's so much fun and you've got some great 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:27.159 connections just based off of what you've heard through the 0:04:27.160 --> 0:04:29.240 first couple of days of the combine. What's the first 0:04:29.279 --> 0:04:30.240 thing that stuck out to you? 0:04:31.120 --> 0:04:32.919 You know, I think that and the first thing I 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:34.400 want to say, because you know, we're gonna have Nick 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:36.080 on here in a second, he's gonna talk about all 0:04:36.120 --> 0:04:38.440 the different formal and informal interviews. One of the things 0:04:38.480 --> 0:04:40.640 that's always stuck out to me that I've heard from 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:43.760 people around the league is that they'll say, like, hey, 0:04:43.880 --> 0:04:47.480 you need to really understand how sincere that split between 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:50.599 formal and informal is, Like that's it. That's a serious 0:04:50.640 --> 0:04:53.080 dividing line, because one of them is you're sitting in 0:04:53.120 --> 0:04:55.960 a suite or a conference room with five decision makers 0:04:55.960 --> 0:04:58.840 from the team or whatever else and getting whiteboard work, 0:04:58.880 --> 0:05:01.719 and an informal can be as much as somebody going 0:05:01.720 --> 0:05:03.960 down to somebody after workout and going like, hey, we 0:05:04.000 --> 0:05:06.560 went to the same high school. That's pretty cool. Do 0:05:06.600 --> 0:05:08.719 you know what? Yeah, like, do you do you know 0:05:08.800 --> 0:05:10.280 this fast food joint there? 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:10.600 All right? 0:05:10.640 --> 0:05:12.679 Great talking to you. That can be an informal like 0:05:12.839 --> 0:05:16.880 counted that way. So I think the it's absolutely important 0:05:16.880 --> 0:05:20.080 to keep track of the type of formal interviews that 0:05:20.480 --> 0:05:22.719 they're having. And so I think the big thing coming 0:05:22.720 --> 0:05:25.520 out of this so far to me is that there's 0:05:25.560 --> 0:05:27.920 an understanding just from what Stephen Jones is saying when 0:05:27.920 --> 0:05:29.800 you look at some of these formals that they've had 0:05:29.839 --> 0:05:33.640 already and just some of the buzz coming out of there, 0:05:33.720 --> 0:05:37.559 it's that the Cowboys, I think, recognize that, hey, middle 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:39.800 of the defense, we want to be better, like you know, 0:05:40.040 --> 0:05:43.120 on all three levels, the interior of the defensive line, 0:05:43.360 --> 0:05:46.080 linebackers on the second level, the safeties in the secondary, 0:05:46.240 --> 0:05:48.400 we want to be better there. And so I think 0:05:48.400 --> 0:05:50.240 that that's one of the things that you start to 0:05:51.040 --> 0:05:53.640 hear the buzzwords around this time of year. You know, 0:05:53.680 --> 0:05:55.680 Steve and I think said three times the other day, 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:58.880 had used the phrase holistic. So like you start hearing 0:05:58.960 --> 0:06:00.320 like an idea of like, oh, okay, this is how 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:02.640 they're processing the off season, this is how they're approaching it, 0:06:03.080 --> 0:06:05.840 and that's one of the things that you're consistently hearing 0:06:05.920 --> 0:06:08.320 chattered about I think right now is just they want 0:06:08.360 --> 0:06:10.200 to be better in the middle of the defense. 0:06:10.480 --> 0:06:12.520 Oh yeah, I mean that's what I took from it 0:06:12.560 --> 0:06:14.400 as well, looking at a lot of the guys that 0:06:14.520 --> 0:06:17.840 they were able to speak to. Thank you for even 0:06:17.880 --> 0:06:20.120 bringing up the formal and informal saying. I think it 0:06:20.160 --> 0:06:22.640 is important to remind people because even me, I'm still 0:06:22.680 --> 0:06:25.159 fresh to some of the conversation and what some of 0:06:25.160 --> 0:06:25.880 the meanings are. 0:06:25.960 --> 0:06:28.360 So I thought that was important that you guys clarified that. 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:31.800 Thank you, bod Yeah, because formals, like you said, you're 0:06:31.800 --> 0:06:35.480 in a room full of scouts of the front office, 0:06:35.560 --> 0:06:38.280 and you even can FaceTime Mike McCarthy who's back here 0:06:38.279 --> 0:06:41.400 in Dallas, Mike Zimmer, who's back here in Dallas. You'll 0:06:41.400 --> 0:06:44.320 have those conversations and then early in the week, especially 0:06:44.360 --> 0:06:46.680 whenever these position groups, because you go day by day 0:06:47.080 --> 0:06:49.000 with position groups. That's why we've heard a lot of 0:06:49.000 --> 0:06:51.080 the defense and seen a lot of those names early 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:55.479 because the first position groups have been deficient. Right. But 0:06:55.520 --> 0:06:59.240 they'll put together these mixers where you get some cocktail tables, 0:06:59.279 --> 0:07:02.719 not cocktails. But you've got different tables through an open 0:07:02.800 --> 0:07:05.359 room in the convention center, and you send these position 0:07:05.400 --> 0:07:08.720 groups in there, and each table has the Cowboys or 0:07:08.720 --> 0:07:11.920 the Raiders or the Commanders, and it's it's exactly what 0:07:12.000 --> 0:07:12.760 it is. It's speed. 0:07:12.720 --> 0:07:15.120 Ba's how it looks. That's what it looks like sometimes. 0:07:15.680 --> 0:07:17.840 And I mean, look at it from this perspective. One 0:07:17.840 --> 0:07:19.360 of the things we're hearing about. I know Stephen talked 0:07:19.360 --> 0:07:21.640 about he I don't think we we have issues with 0:07:21.680 --> 0:07:23.680 the culture. I think the culture is strong here, but 0:07:23.760 --> 0:07:26.640 I think they definitely want they want some more toughness. 0:07:26.680 --> 0:07:30.080 I think they want some more cerebral football players this 0:07:30.160 --> 0:07:33.960 spring that they're looking at acquiring. And this is a 0:07:34.040 --> 0:07:36.600 great opportunity in those twenty minute sit downs to sit 0:07:36.640 --> 0:07:39.280 there and go what kind of football character does this 0:07:39.320 --> 0:07:41.400 guy have? How does he respond to this? What kind 0:07:41.400 --> 0:07:43.680 of answers has he given me? Like you get a 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:46.160 sense of the edge that they have, the competitiveness and 0:07:46.200 --> 0:07:49.240 things like that. And so it's an absolutely great week. 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:51.360 It didn't work out well for the Eagles a couple 0:07:51.320 --> 0:07:53.040 of years ago, but again a couple of years ago, 0:07:53.080 --> 0:07:56.040 we're talking eight now. But like Carson Wentz. Carson Wentz. 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:58.440 In large part the reason they went up and got 0:07:58.440 --> 0:08:00.640 Carson Wentz was from the formal that they had at 0:08:00.640 --> 0:08:02.480 the Combine where they were really impressed with him on 0:08:02.520 --> 0:08:04.360 the whiteboard and some of the stuff he said, and 0:08:04.360 --> 0:08:06.400 they went, Okay, we feel good about this, let's trade 0:08:06.440 --> 0:08:07.920 up to two. We're gonna go get him. So this 0:08:07.960 --> 0:08:10.840 is a big week for these meetings are very critical, 0:08:10.880 --> 0:08:12.840 I think to them forming a lot of their opinions 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:13.280 about guys. 0:08:13.320 --> 0:08:15.240 And I'm not gonna lie. It's a little weird not 0:08:15.320 --> 0:08:18.000 being out in Indianapolis this week, but we do have 0:08:18.040 --> 0:08:21.600 boots on the ground. We do have representation from the 0:08:21.640 --> 0:08:25.160 draft show. Nick Harris is down in the media center. 0:08:25.280 --> 0:08:28.680 Nick looking great, by the way, you don't look tired 0:08:28.800 --> 0:08:31.560 at all. You look like you've had a week full 0:08:31.720 --> 0:08:34.480 of reporting. You look like you've had a week full 0:08:34.520 --> 0:08:37.559 of information. What's been the biggest standout piece of info 0:08:37.640 --> 0:08:38.400 you've heard so far? 0:08:39.880 --> 0:08:44.679 Yeah, it's just another day, another dollar. But yeah, it's 0:08:44.720 --> 0:08:46.720 been really fun out here in Indianapolis. My first time 0:08:46.760 --> 0:08:48.679 you got the combine. I think probably a couple of 0:08:48.679 --> 0:08:50.600 the biggest nuggets that I've been able to take away 0:08:50.600 --> 0:08:53.280 from these first couple of days of media availabilities. We 0:08:53.360 --> 0:08:56.520 could start with yesterday defensive tackles to five formal interviews 0:08:56.520 --> 0:08:59.040 at the Cowboys are participating in over the course of 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:01.440 this week to Andre Swi out of Texas, McKinley Jackson 0:09:01.440 --> 0:09:03.079 out of Texas, A and m just a couple of 0:09:03.120 --> 0:09:05.000 the names that are standing out from that group. But 0:09:05.040 --> 0:09:07.520 then also today they're looking at a couple of high 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:11.040 round corners. Formal interview with Nate Wiggins out of Clemson 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:15.480 and I wake Forest is Kayln Carson a formal interview 0:09:15.520 --> 0:09:18.160 with him, Georgia Corner Kamari Lasseter. You know, I've talked 0:09:18.200 --> 0:09:21.520 about him as potentially being a fun Jordan Lewis replacement 0:09:21.559 --> 0:09:23.240 if they are able to if they're not able to 0:09:23.240 --> 0:09:25.360 bring Jordan Lewis back onto the team next season, So 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:28.280 they're looking at some of those day one, day two 0:09:28.280 --> 0:09:30.440 type corners. I think that's a position that, you know, 0:09:30.440 --> 0:09:32.520 at least for me, I'm starting to take more seriously 0:09:32.520 --> 0:09:34.679 as we look at draft needs coming out of free agency. 0:09:35.320 --> 0:09:37.480 It seems like that might be a sneaky need. 0:09:37.520 --> 0:09:40.600 Though, Yeah, Nick, do you when you see them meeting 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:43.880 having formal interviews like that, do you think that's indicative 0:09:43.920 --> 0:09:47.480 of any potential vulnerability of like, hey, Stefan Gilmore is 0:09:47.480 --> 0:09:50.040 a free agent, and you know, we got to make 0:09:50.080 --> 0:09:52.320 sure that things work right for us here to ted. 0:09:52.440 --> 0:09:53.760 Do you think that they look at that as like, hey, 0:09:53.760 --> 0:09:55.080 we got to make sure our bases are covered and 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:57.600 have an understanding of who's potentially available at the top 0:09:57.600 --> 0:09:59.440 of the draft in case we're we're sitting there needing 0:09:59.480 --> 0:10:00.120 a third corner. 0:10:01.640 --> 0:10:03.160 Yeah, that's certainly insurance as well. 0:10:03.200 --> 0:10:05.040 I mean, if they aren't able to bring back either 0:10:05.080 --> 0:10:07.439 Stefan Gilmore or Jordan Lewis and they need a guy 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:09.600 that can step in and start on day one, then 0:10:09.640 --> 0:10:12.240 a guy like Nate Wiggins or potentially Kamari Laster could 0:10:12.280 --> 0:10:14.679 fit that mold. They would just need to bring him 0:10:14.679 --> 0:10:15.959 in camp and be able to work him up and 0:10:15.960 --> 0:10:17.920 get him ready for those type of moments. But you know, 0:10:18.000 --> 0:10:20.800 you're only guaranteed bringing back Trayvon Diggs and de Ron Bland, 0:10:20.840 --> 0:10:23.160 so it wouldn't make to plan for any scenario. 0:10:24.520 --> 0:10:31.280 What's been the outside of the defensive early media buzz, 0:10:31.800 --> 0:10:34.439 have you heard anything on the offensive side of the football. 0:10:34.440 --> 0:10:36.760 Do you feel like, I know those position groups will 0:10:36.800 --> 0:10:38.640 come later in the week. But what have you started 0:10:38.640 --> 0:10:40.400 to hear from your conversations out there. 0:10:41.960 --> 0:10:45.160 Yeah, tight Ends coach Lunda Wells is out here meeting 0:10:45.200 --> 0:10:47.360 with a ton of these titands informally. You know, I 0:10:47.360 --> 0:10:50.000 don't feel like there's an approach to even drafted in 0:10:50.120 --> 0:10:53.600 this draft cycle. But he's still having those conversations and 0:10:53.640 --> 0:10:55.959 he'll actually be working out with him during the combine 0:10:56.000 --> 0:10:58.800 as well. But receivers, I think that's probably the biggest 0:10:58.800 --> 0:11:01.120 thing I'm looking at as well as I think once 0:11:01.120 --> 0:11:03.800 we have conversations with those guys that'll be tomorrow, I 0:11:03.800 --> 0:11:05.640 think we'll have a lot more clarity about the type 0:11:05.640 --> 0:11:07.319 of running back they will be looking for here in 0:11:07.360 --> 0:11:09.680 this draft cycle. For me, I would expect them to 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:11.880 go out in a free agency to try to find 0:11:11.920 --> 0:11:15.000 that scatback, type of small back that can be a 0:11:15.080 --> 0:11:17.240 dynamic weapon in the receiving game and also be able 0:11:17.280 --> 0:11:19.640 to get some things done maybe on second down and 0:11:19.679 --> 0:11:21.959 type of like a counter or draw situation. But then 0:11:22.040 --> 0:11:24.520 have that bruising running back to draft out of this 0:11:24.640 --> 0:11:26.959 draft class. You know, that's something they didn't have last year. 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.680 They needed those short yardage type of runs. They tried 0:11:29.679 --> 0:11:31.600 it with Hunter Lppy on a couple of occasions, and 0:11:31.679 --> 0:11:34.079 while it did work that Miami fumble definitely did leave 0:11:34.120 --> 0:11:36.840 the leave me in the press box wiping my tears 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:38.600 a little bit. But I think if they can go 0:11:38.640 --> 0:11:40.400 out and get a guy like Braylan Allen or a 0:11:40.480 --> 0:11:44.319 Ray Davis, we've talked about, goodness, I'm blanking on the 0:11:44.320 --> 0:11:48.160 guy from Tennessee, Jalen Zach Walchuck's guy. Yeah, right, and 0:11:48.480 --> 0:11:50.559 I think will get a big guy like that. I 0:11:50.600 --> 0:11:52.280 think it would be I think it would be big time. 0:11:53.240 --> 0:11:53.480 Nick. 0:11:53.840 --> 0:11:56.840 I'm not giving you pushback, but I'm also I am curious. 0:11:56.920 --> 0:11:59.080 So you mentioned that the tight end position is somewhere 0:11:59.120 --> 0:12:00.600 that you don't think that they with draft. 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:04.160 Why is that? What? 0:12:04.400 --> 0:12:08.320 To this point, the room is the room, Okay. 0:12:08.000 --> 0:12:08.880 The room is developed. 0:12:08.880 --> 0:12:11.559 I mean you have you have Jake Ferguson starting, You 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:14.080 got a couple of established backups. They spent a second 0:12:14.160 --> 0:12:17.560 round pick on Luke schoon Maker last year, Peyton Henderstott's 0:12:17.559 --> 0:12:20.120 coming in, and then John Stevens Junior's coming off of injury. 0:12:20.200 --> 0:12:21.600 They're gonna have to figure out how to work him in. 0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:23.520 Sean McEwan is a free agent, so they have a 0:12:23.559 --> 0:12:26.080 decision to make with him, but I don't really feel 0:12:26.120 --> 0:12:28.160 like there's a need for that position whenever you look 0:12:28.200 --> 0:12:30.680 at the number of draft picks that the Cowboys have 0:12:30.760 --> 0:12:32.959 this year in comparison to their needs as well. 0:12:33.160 --> 0:12:36.199 Ok you know, Nick, when we talk about some of 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:37.880 the stuff you're seeing on the offense side, you mentioned the 0:12:37.960 --> 0:12:40.800 receivers and the running backs. Steven are obvious to talk 0:12:40.840 --> 0:12:42.439 this week, and one of the big headlines coming out 0:12:42.440 --> 0:12:45.280 of there was the Tyler Smith comments, like is he 0:12:45.440 --> 0:12:48.680 starting to give an indication potentially that you know, maybe 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:51.599 the interior is Tyler Smith's future? Are you going to 0:12:51.640 --> 0:12:55.079 have extra attention on Okay, let me see formally if 0:12:55.080 --> 0:12:57.840 there's a greater focus maybe on some of these tackle 0:12:57.880 --> 0:13:00.960 specific players rather than guys who have that flexibility playing side. 0:13:01.360 --> 0:13:03.120 Are you looking to see if there's any any indication 0:13:03.240 --> 0:13:05.160 like that given what they said about Tyler Smith. 0:13:06.800 --> 0:13:09.560 Yes, absolutely, We'll be able to talk to offensive linemen 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:11.959 on Saturday, but I think there will be a bigger 0:13:11.960 --> 0:13:14.360 focus whenever you look at the tackle position as opposed 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:17.080 to interior, because you saw what Tyler Smith was able 0:13:17.080 --> 0:13:19.240 to do right there at left guard last season. I mean, 0:13:19.280 --> 0:13:21.160 he played like he could be a perennial All Pro 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:22.880 as long as he stays healthy throughout the course of 0:13:22.880 --> 0:13:25.200 his career. In my opinion, I think he was the 0:13:25.200 --> 0:13:27.280 best guard in the NFC East this past season, and 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:29.320 just being able to carry that in year two and 0:13:29.360 --> 0:13:32.600 be able to still grow and project be even better 0:13:32.760 --> 0:13:35.160 over the course of the next few seasons. I understand 0:13:35.160 --> 0:13:38.200 why Steven Jones made that con made that comment. I 0:13:38.200 --> 0:13:40.160 think there's an opportunity for him to really shine over 0:13:40.160 --> 0:13:41.840 the course of the next few years. Let him hone 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:44.000 in right there in the interior. Bring in a first 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:47.199 round tackle, especially given this tackle class. If you want 0:13:47.200 --> 0:13:49.040 to go grab one in round one, this is a 0:13:49.040 --> 0:13:50.959 perfect opportunity to go do that with the guy that 0:13:51.000 --> 0:13:54.079 could start either in replacement of Tyron Smith or be 0:13:54.160 --> 0:13:55.280 waiting in case he goes down. 0:13:55.920 --> 0:13:58.480 So we've already hit a little bit of how important 0:13:58.520 --> 0:14:01.960 these interviews are, how important the information sharing is. But 0:14:02.000 --> 0:14:03.959 of course drills are a big part of this as well, 0:14:03.960 --> 0:14:06.240 and you finally get some of the numbers and some 0:14:06.320 --> 0:14:08.760 of the tactical evidence for a lot of these players. 0:14:09.040 --> 0:14:12.840 Which are you more excited about. Are you looking forward 0:14:12.920 --> 0:14:15.320 to the forty yard dash or the rest of the 0:14:15.400 --> 0:14:17.760 drills for each of these positions as you're going on. 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:20.520 Yeah, I guess it just kind of depends on what 0:14:20.560 --> 0:14:23.040 position we're talking about, right, because if we're talking about 0:14:23.040 --> 0:14:25.320 offensive line, a defensive lineman. While I do want to 0:14:25.320 --> 0:14:27.680 see those big boys run and get up there, I'm 0:14:27.720 --> 0:14:30.280 not necessarily looking at their forty necessarily. I'm maybe looking 0:14:30.320 --> 0:14:33.760 at the French press or you know, some other power elements. 0:14:33.800 --> 0:14:35.880 But you look at these dbs, these skill. 0:14:35.720 --> 0:14:38.760 Guys, receivers, running backs, would love to see how they run, 0:14:38.760 --> 0:14:40.680 but also those catching drills as well. Those are big 0:14:40.720 --> 0:14:43.120 parts of what this combine is and what it can bring. 0:14:43.320 --> 0:14:45.200 Got a good group of quarterbacks that will be throwing, 0:14:45.200 --> 0:14:47.680 even though Caleb Williams will not, so there's still a 0:14:47.680 --> 0:14:50.000 really good opportunity for these guys these offensive weapons. 0:14:50.320 --> 0:14:53.920 Yet I'm curious, Nick, and obviously not Cowboys specific we're 0:14:53.920 --> 0:14:55.600 talking about top of the draft, but just some of 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:58.800 the chatter you've heard around there, some of the media availability. 0:14:59.280 --> 0:15:02.320 Has there been any discussion or any thought about this 0:15:02.440 --> 0:15:04.520 idea of Kayleb Williams saying I'm coming in or I'm 0:15:04.560 --> 0:15:07.120 not throwing. I'm not coming into the NFL with an agent. 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:09.920 I already feel like I've answered enough of these questions. 0:15:10.000 --> 0:15:12.080 Have you heard any chatter about that or just in 0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:14.080 general some of the stuff about what the Bears are 0:15:14.080 --> 0:15:15.200 thinking at the top of the draft. 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:18.920 Yeah, as it sounds right now, it doesn't really feel 0:15:18.920 --> 0:15:21.400 like the Bears have a final decision. They will have 0:15:21.440 --> 0:15:24.240 to come to a final decision before that March eleventh, 0:15:24.240 --> 0:15:27.160 March thirteenth range, before free agency comes. That's what the 0:15:27.200 --> 0:15:28.720 chatter has been around here that they want to have 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:30.960 a decision before then so they know the direction of 0:15:31.000 --> 0:15:33.840 the team before you know, they really dive into free agency. 0:15:33.880 --> 0:15:36.080 But if I'm a betting man, I think they keep 0:15:36.080 --> 0:15:37.960 the number one pick and they roll with Kayleb Williams. 0:15:38.000 --> 0:15:39.680 But I think it would be an interesting future for 0:15:39.720 --> 0:15:40.280 them for sure. 0:15:40.520 --> 0:15:42.480 Do you feel like that's the first domino that needs 0:15:42.480 --> 0:15:46.120 to fall for other draft trades to start happening, because 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:50.280 it feels like even though they have that top pick 0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:51.960 in the draft, and of course they're picking a little 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:53.960 bit later in the top ten as well, but you 0:15:54.080 --> 0:15:56.280 have to know what the Bears are thinking before the 0:15:56.320 --> 0:15:59.040 rest of the teams can be certain in pulling the 0:15:59.040 --> 0:16:00.800 trigger and deals that we're looking at. 0:16:02.680 --> 0:16:04.160 I'm sorry to say that one more time, Kyle, I 0:16:04.200 --> 0:16:05.000 lost you there in the middle. 0:16:05.680 --> 0:16:07.640 Do you feel like that's the first domino that needs 0:16:07.640 --> 0:16:09.720 to fall from a trade perspective. 0:16:10.800 --> 0:16:11.640 Yeah, I would say so. 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:14.600 I mean, that's that's the easy, easy pick that that 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:17.000 would be traded first. That would kind of just set 0:16:17.040 --> 0:16:20.200 off the open market. As far as being able to 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:21.760 move around, I think there's gonna be a lot of 0:16:21.800 --> 0:16:24.120 moving in that top ten. But everyone wants to know 0:16:24.160 --> 0:16:25.520 what's going on with the Bears for sure. 0:16:26.400 --> 0:16:28.840 All right, what does your schedule look like as you 0:16:29.040 --> 0:16:32.200 continue on for Combine coverage and then we'll get you 0:16:32.280 --> 0:16:35.120 back for next week. But what do you got going 0:16:35.160 --> 0:16:36.960 on the docket today? 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:38.080 Yeah? 0:16:38.120 --> 0:16:40.640 Here, in about five minutes, I'll be meeting with Will McLay. 0:16:40.640 --> 0:16:42.640 We'll have an interview up on Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:16:42.720 --> 0:16:45.480 here soon, just kind of talking about Combine, draft strategy, 0:16:45.520 --> 0:16:48.720 things of that nature. And then tomorrow it's quarterbacks, receivers 0:16:48.880 --> 0:16:51.080 and running backs that we'll be able to talk to 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:54.000 you during media availabilities, and then tomorrow getting Jerry Jones 0:16:54.040 --> 0:16:56.320 and getting his his take on the offseason and the 0:16:56.400 --> 0:16:57.359 draft as well. 0:16:57.360 --> 0:16:59.680 What's one question, Bobby that he needs to ask Will McClay. 0:17:00.520 --> 0:17:06.840 Oh my gosh, that's a good question. How much are 0:17:07.240 --> 0:17:10.119 as we talk about the offensive line? How much is 0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:14.800 position flexibility still something that they're really gauging versus how 0:17:14.840 --> 0:17:16.560 much do they want when we look at the interior 0:17:16.560 --> 0:17:19.280 offensive line? Guys who that is their specialty? 0:17:20.920 --> 0:17:22.800 Yeah, I got you, Bobby, I'll throw that in for 0:17:22.880 --> 0:17:23.239 thank you. 0:17:23.320 --> 0:17:25.520 I want you to ask what does the all in 0:17:25.600 --> 0:17:28.840 approach mean to Will McLay too. I think that's been 0:17:29.000 --> 0:17:31.760 a buzz topic, that's been a buzzword throughout and I 0:17:31.760 --> 0:17:34.360