Speaker 1: NFL Inside Report is a production of the NFL in
Speaker 1: partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm Red Lewis and this
Speaker 1: is NFL Inside Report, double Dose of the pod. This
Speaker 1: week we're back to bring you part two of our
Speaker 1: Roster Reset series, where we go in depth on the
Speaker 1: off season moves and draft needs of all thirty two
Speaker 1: teams around the league. And today we're going in on
Speaker 1: the NFC East and West squads. On yesterday's episode, we
Speaker 1: tackled the North South, which you should listen to as
Speaker 1: well if you haven't already available wherever you are getting
Speaker 1: your podcast. NFL Media's Bridget Content and Jim Trotter are
Speaker 1: with us today to break it all down. Are looking
Speaker 1: at the NFC West here, guys, home to the Super
Speaker 1: Bowl champion l A Rams, but also home to drama
Speaker 1: when it comes down to how this division is usually settled.
Speaker 1: You know, before we had eighteen weeks, it was usually
Speaker 1: settled in Week seventeen, was settled in Week eight. Team
Speaker 1: this year with the Rams and the forty Niners, and
Speaker 1: expect the Seahawks perhaps to be back into the mix,
Speaker 1: certainly the Cardinals as well. Here. But Jim, as you
Speaker 1: look at this division, I mean, is there any reason
Speaker 1: to believe that this is not going to come down
Speaker 1: to the very end once again to decide who's on
Speaker 1: top of this division. No, it's such a competitive division
Speaker 1: outside of the a f C West. I would say
Speaker 1: that it may be the most competitive division top to bottom.
Speaker 1: The thing that's fascinating me about the NFC West actually
Speaker 1: is just we talked about how it's a quarterback driven league,
Speaker 1: and really there's only one team in the NFC West
Speaker 1: that that's settled at quarterback if you will, or doesn't
Speaker 1: have the big question marks. You know, the forty Niners
Speaker 1: we know or we believe strongly they're gonna go to
Speaker 1: train Lands this year. Um, you know, in terms of Arizona,
Speaker 1: the question is can Kyler Murray take that next step
Speaker 1: and begin to lift his team, particularly late in the year.
Speaker 1: And then in Seattle, we still don't know who it is.
Speaker 1: As much as they say they love Drew Lock, is
Speaker 1: he going to be the guy? So it's interesting to
Speaker 1: me that in this division there's only one team, and
Speaker 1: that's the defending Super Bowl champion that has some the
Speaker 1: least amount of questions. If you were at the quarterback
Speaker 1: position and Bridget how do you see the division playing
Speaker 1: out here after watching you know, the forty Niners and
Speaker 1: Rams kind of go at it uh this year to
Speaker 1: decide who won it last Yeah, I think it all
Speaker 1: came down, like you mentioned, to that last game and
Speaker 1: we all the forty Niners for whatever reason have a
Speaker 1: leg up on the Rams going back the past like
Speaker 1: six games that they've played each other. I think it
Speaker 1: will be a battle again. You know, we thought this
Speaker 1: year the Rams were definitely going to beat them, and
Speaker 1: that was one of those games that tripped them up
Speaker 1: the first time they played UM. I do think that
Speaker 1: the Ramp have a little more stability, as you were
Speaker 1: mentioning Jim, because they're getting back Matthew Stafford, they have
Speaker 1: Cooper Cup, they have that chemistry on offense that a
Speaker 1: lot of these teams we don't know if it's going
Speaker 1: to exist when we come to this season. Kyler Murray
Speaker 1: has been a huge question mark. What's going on with him?
Speaker 1: Like you mentioned, can he take this team to you know,
Speaker 1: win the division and Drew lock Is I just don't
Speaker 1: see him the answer for Seattle UM and Trey Lance.
Speaker 1: You know, I don't know if he can bring it.
Speaker 1: I just think the Ramps have that leg up right now,
Speaker 1: even though they did they did lose some some key pieces,
Speaker 1: you know. Sure. What was fascinating to me is that
Speaker 1: we talked about Drew Lock and I remember having the
Speaker 1: conversation with John schnyder Um, you know, after that deal
Speaker 1: was made, and I said to him kind of where
Speaker 1: Bridget said, I don't see Drew Lock being the answer,
Speaker 1: and John seemed almost, I don't want to say offended,
Speaker 1: but really surprised, you know that, you know I would
Speaker 1: have that that feeling. And look, the thing they're resting
Speaker 1: on with Drew Lock is that his first year in
Speaker 1: Denver he played in a similar system and when he
Speaker 1: played late in the year, he went four and one.
Speaker 1: Um I think he had seven touchdowns, three interceptions or
Speaker 1: something like that. And so their belief and Drew's believe
Speaker 1: is that not that he's gonna hit the ground running,
Speaker 1: but that there is a greater comfort level in this
Speaker 1: offense and he has had success in it in the past,
Speaker 1: and we know that Pete is going to try and
Speaker 1: run the ball and not throw it as much as
Speaker 1: Russell did. They also believe that Drew is going to
Speaker 1: be better in terms of timing in the passing game.
Speaker 1: One of the criticisms of Russell and Seattle privately was
Speaker 1: that he held onto the ball too long looking for
Speaker 1: the big play. But defense is gonna pick up on
Speaker 1: that at some point if that's what they're doing, and
Speaker 1: they're gonna start taking away those quick passes, and then
Speaker 1: the question becomes what can Seattle do offensively? Because Russell
Speaker 1: was such a master at at escaping the rush, evading
Speaker 1: the pressure. Can Drew Lock do that as well? We'll
Speaker 1: find out. Okay, guys, since we're talking about the Seahawks
Speaker 1: there and we've kind of divided this division up between
Speaker 1: you guys and Bridget, I want you to focus in
Speaker 1: on the Seahawks here for us as we look back
Speaker 1: on their offseason moves, look, which you know are always
Speaker 1: going to be headlined by the fact that they traded
Speaker 1: Russell Wilson away. How does that factor into a grade
Speaker 1: that you would give the Seahawks for what they've done
Speaker 1: the last few weeks? Can we give them an S?
Speaker 1: I don't think so. Um, I'm actually that hard, but
Speaker 1: I think what they've done in the off season is
Speaker 1: is headlined by dk metclass metcalfs uh Diet of candy
Speaker 1: like that. That showed them up a little bit in Uh,
Speaker 1: I can't see my ranking. I'm gonna give them a
Speaker 1: C plus for what they've done. Um this offseason. Of course,
Speaker 1: Russell Wilson leaving their franchise quarterbacks, Pete Carroll says, we're
Speaker 1: not rebuilding. So when I look at the Seahawks, I think,
Speaker 1: how are you not rebuilding when you just let go
Speaker 1: of the only quarterback that we've known as a Seattle Seahawk. Um.
Speaker 1: I think they did make some moves. They brought in,
Speaker 1: uh the linebacker from the Chargers Duos. I know you said,
Speaker 1: Jim that even though GM had a had trouble saying
Speaker 1: to his name, So I apologize if I'm saying it wrong.
Speaker 1: I think that's an underrated move that you know he
Speaker 1: of course Bobby Wagner. We haven't even talked about that.
Speaker 1: They let Bobby Wagner go the way that they let
Speaker 1: him go. He talked this week on when he was
Speaker 1: introduced by the Rams and said they didn't even call him. Um.
Speaker 1: You know that left the bad taste I think in
Speaker 1: a lot of people's mouths. Um. But you know Ken
Speaker 1: Nuels who fill that whole at linebacker Um Drew Lock.
Speaker 1: I don't Again, I don't see him as the answer
Speaker 1: at quarterback. I think it's gonna be interesting to see
Speaker 1: what they do. They do have what two first round picks,
Speaker 1: one first round pick at number nine, and will they
Speaker 1: go with a quarterback? Can they take is a Malik
Speaker 1: Willis still on the board at number nine? Can they
Speaker 1: take a quarterback who can compete Withdrew Lock? To me,
Speaker 1: whoever they take, if they take a quarterback, I don't
Speaker 1: think this is somebody that is going to make, you know,
Speaker 1: an immediate impact on Seattle this season. I think they're
Speaker 1: more planning for with whoever this is. But it will
Speaker 1: feel someone to get into practice to have competition Withdrew Lock,
Speaker 1: and you know, many elevate the game there um some
Speaker 1: of the good things they did. They resigned Rashad Penny
Speaker 1: on the running back again. I think there's a lot
Speaker 1: of questions. It will be interesting to see when the
Speaker 1: draft comes in a couple of weeks. I think quarterback,
Speaker 1: offensive tackle, and cornerback our holes that I see this
Speaker 1: roster needing to still. Yeah, there you go, and look,
Speaker 1: I think it's rare that you see a team lose
Speaker 1: their franchise cornerstone on both the offensive and defensive sides
Speaker 1: of the ball in the same offseason, which the Seattle
Speaker 1: Seahawks certainly done here finishing last place in the division
Speaker 1: very unfamiliar spot for Pete Carroll's crew um in his
Speaker 1: tenure as the head coach. Let's move them up in
Speaker 1: ascending order in the division here and go with the
Speaker 1: San Francisco forty Niners, of course, found their way into
Speaker 1: the postseason late ten and seven as the final record there,
Speaker 1: and then even advanced into the playoffs of course as
Speaker 1: well with that win over the Dallas Cowboys. And now
Speaker 1: for Apps getting ready jim to turn the reins over
Speaker 1: to Trey Lance as they're starting quarterback. With all the
Speaker 1: Jimmy Garoppolo trade rumors, how do you evaluate what they've
Speaker 1: done this offseason here these last few weeks. Are you
Speaker 1: asking for a grade? Sure, give me one. Oh, it's incomplete,
Speaker 1: because for me, everything, so many things revolve around what
Speaker 1: they do with Jimmy having They did not plan on
Speaker 1: having Jimmy on the roster this late into the off season,
Speaker 1: and the expectation that he would be gone, that his
Speaker 1: salary would be removed from the camp and that they
Speaker 1: could then proceed with trying to do extensions for Deebo,
Speaker 1: Samuel and Nick Bosa and everything has kind of been
Speaker 1: held up now because of that. Um. So that's why
Speaker 1: I've given an incomplete. Once Jimmy is gone, then they'll
Speaker 1: be better positioned to address those extensions that they know
Speaker 1: and want to do. Having said that, I think, um,
Speaker 1: they went out and they got a young cornerback and
Speaker 1: is Ward and that was a position of need for them. Um.
Speaker 1: I still say defensively, they need more help upfront in
Speaker 1: terms of edge rush. They you know, DeFord has been
Speaker 1: injured every year but one that he's been there, and
Speaker 1: they've got to find a compliment for Nick Bosa. And
Speaker 1: I think that they look in the draft for that
Speaker 1: because there are some some folks there and it's considered
Speaker 1: to be a deep draft there. Short of that, everything
Speaker 1: in San Francisco is gonna gonna come down to quarterback play.
Speaker 1: And Trey Lance, I do believe will be that guy.
Speaker 1: That was the plan to have him play this year
Speaker 1: and year two, and the question becomes how quickly does
Speaker 1: he come along and at this point we just don't know.
Speaker 1: I think that's a fair assessment um certainly, you know
Speaker 1: you don't you don't take a guy number three overall,
Speaker 1: you know to stash him forever. So when you've seven
Speaker 1: up what they gave up to exactly exactly, and like
Speaker 1: this is a team you know that we felt like
Speaker 1: it was in a pretty good spot rosterwise. You know
Speaker 1: last year even before they went and took you know,
Speaker 1: Trede Lance, so you know this red for them. It's
Speaker 1: their roster is is solid, if not loaded. So for
Speaker 1: them the last few years, it has always come down
Speaker 1: to help in terms of how they play. You go
Speaker 1: back to last year and you see the emergence of
Speaker 1: Deebo Samuel. It wasn't necessarily out of creativity by the staff.
Speaker 1: It was out of necessity because their running back position
Speaker 1: was depleted because of energy, because of injuries. You look
Speaker 1: at the changes on the defensive line that were made.
Speaker 1: It was not because of creativity. It was because of
Speaker 1: necessity because of injuries. So if they can just stay healthy,
Speaker 1: they have a roster to compete for um a spot
Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl. As we know, last year they
Speaker 1: went to the NFC Championship Game and and we're very
Speaker 1: close to advancing. So this team is not far away,
Speaker 1: um at all in terms of getting back to the
Speaker 1: Super Bowl as it was, what to three years ago,
Speaker 1: whenever it was, it seems like a lifetime ago. It
Speaker 1: at this point they all run together. I think you're right, Bridget,
Speaker 1: let's come back to you here with the defending Super
Speaker 1: Bowl champion l A. Rams Uh and um as as
Speaker 1: you were mentioning there, you know, we we talked about
Speaker 1: a team that you know, that lost Von Miller, you know,
Speaker 1: who was a big part of their postseason success certainly,
Speaker 1: and and their success the second half of the season.
Speaker 1: But did bring in Allen Robinson. How do you grade
Speaker 1: what they did this offseason? I'm going to give him
Speaker 1: a B plus. I think there weren't a ton of
Speaker 1: slashing moves from the Rams, but I do think that
Speaker 1: they filled some holes that left von Miller look leaves.
Speaker 1: They bring in Bobby Wagner. I think that was a
Speaker 1: really smart move, both for on the field and in
Speaker 1: the locker room. I think those two guys kind of
Speaker 1: bring similar veteran style, you know, support that some of
Speaker 1: this younger team needs in the locker room. UM letting
Speaker 1: go of Robert Woods was really hard to see such
Speaker 1: a great guy, such a great player. Of course, he
Speaker 1: was injured last season um Alan Robinson though, I think
Speaker 1: that was a great pick up on for them. I
Speaker 1: think they have one of the strongest wide receiver cores.
Speaker 1: And we still don't know what's happening with Odell Beckham Jr.
Speaker 1: Right it seems like they might still want to pursue him.
Speaker 1: I know he's dealing with the torn a c l
Speaker 1: and recovering there that's the question mark. We did find
Speaker 1: out this week that Aaron Donalds will be back, which
Speaker 1: is huge for them because there was talks. You know,
Speaker 1: he just put his Calabassa's house up, which is really
Speaker 1: nice by the way, if you haven't seen it, um
Speaker 1: put it up for sale. So there was questions about
Speaker 1: if he's retiring, but I think he's ready to run
Speaker 1: it back. I think the thing is the biggest question
Speaker 1: for me is can they repeat right. The last time
Speaker 1: that happened for two teams to win back to back
Speaker 1: Super Bowls was I think, oh four oh five with
Speaker 1: the New England Patriots. It's not very common and I
Speaker 1: think the biggest struggle or the Achilles heels for the
Speaker 1: Rams will be their depth, specifically on the offensive line.
Speaker 1: When we get into weeks ten, week twelve, you know
Speaker 1: where players are really banged up. Do they have enough
Speaker 1: depth there to support them if somebody gets injured. I
Speaker 1: think that's the position in the draft that they need
Speaker 1: to look at, along with edge and cornerback. Um. But
Speaker 1: I do think they have all the pieces. I just
Speaker 1: think they need to make sure that line is there
Speaker 1: to support Matthew Stofford. Right, he's always better when he's
Speaker 1: standing up on his two feet than then on the ground.
Speaker 1: Absolutely right. I couldn't agree with you more there. Let's
Speaker 1: finish this, uh, this grading of the offseason moves in
Speaker 1: this division gym with the Arizona Cardinals, how do you
Speaker 1: see it? Yeah? But I think right now I would
Speaker 1: give him a C minus. Um and and and you
Speaker 1: could say that's being generous. Um. Look, they've got some
Speaker 1: major issues in my opinion. You know. Number one, if
Speaker 1: you look offensively, I think they continue to need to
Speaker 1: want to upgrade the offensive line. Number two, wide receiver.
Speaker 1: We saw what happen when d Hop went down last year.
Speaker 1: How that impacted kyler Um. His play truly fell off.
Speaker 1: And so if they stay healthy, you say, Okay, you've
Speaker 1: got hot, you've got um more and you think maybe
Speaker 1: you're okay. I don't think they have enough there. But
Speaker 1: my biggest concern for them is defensively. Chandler Jones are
Speaker 1: all time SAX leader is gone, and the question becomes
Speaker 1: who is going to to pressure off the edge. Now
Speaker 1: we know Marcus Golden had what led them in sacks
Speaker 1: last year, but part of that is because Chandler Jones
Speaker 1: occupied the minds and the game plans of so many
Speaker 1: defensive coordinators. Protections were slid in his direction. Who's gonna
Speaker 1: bring that element now to free up other guys? J J.
Speaker 1: Watt as much as we love them and as great
Speaker 1: as he was in his prime, and Shaun he can't
Speaker 1: stay healthy. And well, I don't know where it's coming from. Now.
Speaker 1: I know they feel good they went out and got
Speaker 1: a corner and free agency and so they kind of
Speaker 1: feel like that's the draft pick at that position. But
Speaker 1: they also need more help in the secondary. So I
Speaker 1: look at all that they've lost and I say, I
Speaker 1: don't think that A replaced those players. You know, it
Speaker 1: was big that they resigned James Connor, who was one
Speaker 1: of the better goal line um players last year running
Speaker 1: backs last year, but you lose at Chase Edmonds, who
Speaker 1: was tremendous for them when he was healthy. Um offensively
Speaker 1: at wide out, you lose Christian kirk Um, who was
Speaker 1: an ascending player and a guy that you spent one
Speaker 1: at number three on, I believe UM. So normally when
Speaker 1: you spend or when you use draft capital on a
Speaker 1: one to three and it's and he's an ascending player,
Speaker 1: those are guys you want to keep. They're supposed to
Speaker 1: be the nucleus and foundation going forward. Well he's gone now.
Speaker 1: So I just think they have a lot of questions
Speaker 1: to me. They tried the RAMS formula last year in
Speaker 1: terms of going out getting veterans making that run, whether
Speaker 1: it was J. J. Watt, A J. Green, all these
Speaker 1: types of players, and it didn't work out for them.
Speaker 1: And so now it's kind of like what now? And
Speaker 1: I'm intrigued to see what they do U I I
Speaker 1: am too. And so with that, then let's go dig
Speaker 1: a little bit deeper into some draft I don't know priorities.
Speaker 1: Need is always a difficult question when it comes to
Speaker 1: the draft, right because every GM will tell you they're
Speaker 1: just gonna take the best available player. UM, So let's
Speaker 1: start with the Cardinals, Jim who you know, as they
Speaker 1: sit there in the first round, could have some real options.
Speaker 1: You know, maybe is it best available edge rusher you
Speaker 1: know that's there for them at that pick in the twenties,
Speaker 1: No question, the Cardinals need to address edge rusher, as
Speaker 1: we just said, and then I think after that the
Speaker 1: priorities should be um either line. To me, football teams
Speaker 1: are built inside out, and so I would look on
Speaker 1: line or D line at that point. Yeah, I think
Speaker 1: that's a great a great spot. I'd love to see
Speaker 1: a player like boy mafe edg rusher around of Minnesota
Speaker 1: if he's there at twenty three when the Cardinals are
Speaker 1: on the clock. You know, if that fourth tackle is there,
Speaker 1: Trevor Penning, you know, maybe from Northern Iowa, UM as
Speaker 1: you mentioned some of those potential positions of interest there
Speaker 1: for the Cardinals at twenty three. All right, Bridget you
Speaker 1: touched on it briefly there with the Seahawks at nine.
Speaker 1: Really interesting spot for them. Is it quarterback you know,
Speaker 1: to develop behind Drew Lock or you know what, is
Speaker 1: there another position that you could see of interest there?
Speaker 1: You know what, I'm mad that I didn't even bring
Speaker 1: up when we first talked about the Seahawks. I think
Speaker 1: it's still too early, Like my brain is not fully functioning.
Speaker 1: What if Baker comes on the table, right, that's it's
Speaker 1: a possibility that we haven't talked about. Can the Seahawks
Speaker 1: find a way to get Baker Mayfield? I think he
Speaker 1: would be a good fit for them at quarterback and
Speaker 1: if that were to happen, though, I think maybe if
Speaker 1: that does happen, it happens after the draft today, it
Speaker 1: happens before the draft. Of course, don't go for a
Speaker 1: quarterback at number nine. I think there are some good
Speaker 1: um offensive tackles in this class. Uh if a quantum
Speaker 1: I covered at NC State, if he's still there at nine,
Speaker 1: I'll be shocked. But I think he would be a
Speaker 1: great fit in the Seahawks program. Um. Yeah, So I
Speaker 1: think it's gonna depend what they're able to do. Also,
Speaker 1: there was talk, you know, I think there's still some
Speaker 1: talk about, you know, met Calf if they if they
Speaker 1: you know, they said that they don't want to trade
Speaker 1: him or whatever. But if the right deal was in there,
Speaker 1: what could they get from for him? Um, that'll be
Speaker 1: interesting to see. Two. And then cornerback, I think that's
Speaker 1: another position. I don't know that they should go for
Speaker 1: a cornerback at nine. Um, but I'm not a GM.
Speaker 1: I guess it's okay. There you go. M So, look
Speaker 1: in the Rams and the forty Niners. Guys don't have
Speaker 1: first round picks. We won't see the forty Niners until
Speaker 1: number sixty one. Yeah, so there there's a there, you know,
Speaker 1: just another chance for the forty Niners to get some
Speaker 1: good football players to continue, you know, to bolster their death.
Speaker 1: And then for the Rams, you know, maybe maybe in
Speaker 1: the third round there at number one oh four overall,
Speaker 1: there's a couple of edge rushers that they like. Perhaps
Speaker 1: it's you know, a guy like j Sanders, you know
Speaker 1: how a Cincinnati or D'Angelo Malone out of Western Kentucky. Uh,
Speaker 1: there in that range that are there. So Um, it's
Speaker 1: a great point that you make in terms of the
Speaker 1: Rams not having first round picks and their abilities to
Speaker 1: go to win a championship, and I think a lot
Speaker 1: of it. Yeah, you have to give a lot of
Speaker 1: credit to less Need and their scouting department because they
Speaker 1: have hit on so many of those mid round and
Speaker 1: late picks and turn them into productive players and whatnot.
Speaker 1: If you're gonna if you're gonna try and follow the
Speaker 1: blueprint that the Rams used in terms of going all
Speaker 1: in and getting these veterans and that sort of thing,
Speaker 1: you better have some young inexpensive talent who perform, and
Speaker 1: they do, and and again I think we should tip
Speaker 1: our caps to UM to less need in that scouting department. Yeah,
Speaker 1: less than his crew has been as good on Day
Speaker 1: two of the draft rounds two and three is any
Speaker 1: team in football, and they've had to be without a
Speaker 1: first round pick for the last decade. So with that said,
Speaker 1: we are going to switch gears here and get to
Speaker 1: our final division in the NFC. We're talking NFC East
Speaker 1: right after this all right back here on NFL Inside
Speaker 1: Report with our NFL media colleagues Jim Trotter and Bridget Condon.
Speaker 1: We've talked NFC West at the top of the show,
Speaker 1: now shifting our focus to the East. Always hotly contested
Speaker 1: in this division. Not necessarily UM, the team with the
Speaker 1: that ends up winning the division doesn't necessarily end up
Speaker 1: with one of the best records in the NFC, as
Speaker 1: we've seen in recent years. But let's see how it
Speaker 1: chakes out this year. As we look at these four teams,
Speaker 1: and look, I think one of the biggest you know,
Speaker 1: the question is are the Cowboys still the favorite to
Speaker 1: come out of the NFC East after kind of being
Speaker 1: that team the last two years. I know they didn't
Speaker 1: win back in, but we're one of those teams we
Speaker 1: thought could. Obviously the injury attack Prescott, you know, played
Speaker 1: a big part of that. But they get back to
Speaker 1: the top of this past season. So as you look
Speaker 1: at it here, Jim, um, is this the Cowboys division
Speaker 1: at this point? No, not at all. Um. I think
Speaker 1: they actually took a step back this offseason. You know,
Speaker 1: when you're losing to Marii Cooper, they've still got to
Speaker 1: show me the ceedee Lamb's number one. Um, when you
Speaker 1: lose out on Randy Gregory, who's going to be that compliment,
Speaker 1: who's gonna be that other guy up front to really
Speaker 1: get it done with DeMarcus Lawrence. They're just they're just
Speaker 1: some questions that I have and as that offensive line
Speaker 1: gets older, I'm not sold on the Cowboys, and I
Speaker 1: think the Eagles, um, if Jalen Hurst does take that
Speaker 1: next step with all of the draft capital they have,
Speaker 1: with the fact that they were not that far out
Speaker 1: of it last year. In terms of that division, I
Speaker 1: think I would keep my eye on the Eagles more
Speaker 1: than I with the Cowboys, although we know the Cowboys
Speaker 1: are gonna generate all the headlines and the coverage. But
Speaker 1: ibably look at Philadelphia and we'll get it to your
Speaker 1: grade for the Cowboys offseason here in just a moment.
Speaker 1: But Bridget, as you look at this, does it still
Speaker 1: feel like the Cowboys Division to you? I think this
Speaker 1: is one of my favorite divisions, just because it's always
Speaker 1: such a scramble and like what was a couple of
Speaker 1: years ago when no one, nobody was winning and it's
Speaker 1: like you have to pick a winner from this division?
Speaker 1: How because all the teams were so bad? Um, I
Speaker 1: don't I kind of agree with with Jim, I think,
Speaker 1: and I'm gonna say something a little crazy here. I
Speaker 1: do agree that if Jalen hurts, you know, pulls together,
Speaker 1: that the Eagles team can be really good. I also,
Speaker 1: this is gonna sound absolutely insane and people are gonna
Speaker 1: come for me. I am a fan of the Giants
Speaker 1: New GM, and I do believe that he made a
Speaker 1: couple like very intelligent moves during this offseason. What can
Speaker 1: he do you know, with their draft picks. During the draft,
Speaker 1: I don't think we've seen Daniel Jones play his best football.
Speaker 1: I might have a little bias that covered him at Duke,
Speaker 1: but I don't know, Like I would love to see
Speaker 1: a total turnaround. I don't think it's gonna happen. This
Speaker 1: is me being super optimistic, but there are some pieces
Speaker 1: that they get an old line fixed. Can they make
Speaker 1: a splash? I don't know. Yeah, Look, I think that's
Speaker 1: a that's a fair point. I mean, look, when the
Speaker 1: owner comes out and says we've done everything possible to
Speaker 1: screw up our quarterback, um, you know you'd like to
Speaker 1: You'd like to see them now do the opposite and
Speaker 1: put him in a position to succeed and perhaps then
Speaker 1: we see him thrive one way or another. I feel
Speaker 1: like we're gonna know a lot more about where the
Speaker 1: Giants feel about Daniel Jones when this season is over,
Speaker 1: and we'll get your grade on the Giants here in
Speaker 1: just a moment, Bridget. But let's go back to where
Speaker 1: we left off. Jim at the top of this division
Speaker 1: last year with the Dallas Cowboys disappointing early exit from
Speaker 1: the playoffs as a result of the forty Niners coming
Speaker 1: into a T and T stadium and getting the win there,
Speaker 1: But how would you you know, you kind of touched
Speaker 1: on all the departures. Then what kind of grade does
Speaker 1: that translate to for the Cowboys offseason? How corny? Can
Speaker 1: I be here right? Oh? Too early? I'm sorry, you know, Um,
Speaker 1: I haven't had my coffee yet, but then I don't
Speaker 1: drink coffee. So but anyway, no, I give him a
Speaker 1: d red. I just I don't get some of the
Speaker 1: moves that that they've made. Um letting in Amari Cooper go.
Speaker 1: I know he was a twenty middle of year, but
Speaker 1: as we've seen in the wide receiver market now, that's
Speaker 1: almost becoming a bargain. The guys that they are now
Speaker 1: going to rely on in that passing game. I'm not
Speaker 1: certain that that their true number ones yet. And you
Speaker 1: can go back and watch the film and see times
Speaker 1: that a Mari was open and Dad didn't get him
Speaker 1: the ball for whatever reason. So that's why we heard
Speaker 1: a Maori kind of speak out some last year, which
Speaker 1: was so out of character for him. I'm not buying
Speaker 1: into Dallas at this point. I'm really not. Um. The
Speaker 1: other thing that that Bears watching. There is the way
Speaker 1: that Jerry Jones has handled this coaching situation. You know,
Speaker 1: he and so many words, has said to Mike m carthy,
Speaker 1: I don't have full confidence in you. Yes, you're my coach,
Speaker 1: but Dan Quinn is the one that Jerry made a
Speaker 1: point of saying, I want to make sure he's here
Speaker 1: in And then we have the whole Sean Payton thing
Speaker 1: hanging over everyone's head beyond this season. So I just
Speaker 1: think there's too much inner turmoil, if you will, and
Speaker 1: questions that I can't I can't buy into it. Let's
Speaker 1: then move bridget to the Washington Commanders, who, as we
Speaker 1: all remember, one this division back in two thousand twenty
Speaker 1: and came pretty close to knock it off the eventual
Speaker 1: Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucks. Did not go as
Speaker 1: well this past season for Ron Rivera's crew, and this
Speaker 1: offseason marked by the big trade for Carson Wentz. How
Speaker 1: do you grade their moves? So I wrote down to
Speaker 1: c but I have to give him a C plus
Speaker 1: because while we forget, they also got to name this offseason.
Speaker 1: So congrats to the Commanders. Um. The Carson Wentz move
Speaker 1: puzzles me from what I've read and you know, we've
Speaker 1: reported on NFL Network. I do believe they were trying
Speaker 1: to push for Russell Wilson and that came up short.
Speaker 1: But then you go and get Carson Wentz. A is
Speaker 1: he an upgrade over Taylor Heineke. I don't know. He
Speaker 1: ended the season five straight games less than two thirty
Speaker 1: passing yards. I don't think he's the answer. I think
Speaker 1: the Commanders to have had this spot at quarterback that
Speaker 1: they have not been able to address over the past
Speaker 1: couple of years. It kind of haunted Ron Rivera. You know,
Speaker 1: he's dealt with the same thing in Carolina and then
Speaker 1: felt like he came talking about the ghost of Kirk Cousins.
Speaker 1: Hats Is that what we're talking about here? Okay? I
Speaker 1: think that's what we're talking about. Um. I think that,
Speaker 1: you know, they do have some some good pieces they
Speaker 1: were able to bring back, UM, you know, some stars
Speaker 1: on offense. But you're gonna need You're gonna need a
Speaker 1: quarterback who can throw to some of these players like
Speaker 1: Terry McLaurin, and I don't see Carson Wentz being the
Speaker 1: answer being the guy that can win the division for Washington. Yeah,
Speaker 1: that's a big part of it. Right. But if you're
Speaker 1: the commanders, you better go all in on it, right.
Speaker 1: I mean, you spent the two and a three to
Speaker 1: go get him, So let's figure out a way to
Speaker 1: support him. We'll see if we can do that him.
Speaker 1: If you're in the locker room rut, are you better?
Speaker 1: I mean, like you got no other choice here at
Speaker 1: this point. But I understand your point. Um. You know
Speaker 1: the way that the Colts talked about his departure there,
Speaker 1: it does make you wonder, let's move Jim to the
Speaker 1: Philadelphia Eagles and a grade that you would give Howie
Speaker 1: Roseman for some of the moves that he's made here
Speaker 1: B plus. And the only reason it's not in a
Speaker 1: is because I want to see what they do with
Speaker 1: their draft capital. Um. You know, first of all, they
Speaker 1: were able to resign the players that they wanted to
Speaker 1: bring back, which is so important in the NFL, I believe, um.
Speaker 1: Too many times we think the unknown is more valuable
Speaker 1: than the known. And when you have players who have
Speaker 1: performed for you, you you know what they're about, they understand
Speaker 1: the culture of your organization or locker room, etcetera. Um,
Speaker 1: I think it's important to maintain some sense of continuity.
Speaker 1: So I like that they've done that in terms of
Speaker 1: restructuring some of the guys to bring them back and
Speaker 1: then making the trade to give away one of the
Speaker 1: or trading one of their three first round picks for
Speaker 1: more draft capital next year. Um in terms of another
Speaker 1: first round pick next year and beyond. I think it
Speaker 1: was just smart. Um. So when I look at all
Speaker 1: the moves that that Howie Roseman has made, I'm I'm
Speaker 1: all in on this that. I think it's a B
Speaker 1: plus and potential A depending on how they use their
Speaker 1: draft capital. And the fact that they were able to
Speaker 1: turn one of their first round picks, essentially one of
Speaker 1: their three first round picks this year into a future
Speaker 1: one a future too in an additional third round pick
Speaker 1: this year. Really nice. Were kind of move maneuvering around
Speaker 1: the draft board here with that trade they made with
Speaker 1: the New Orleans Saints. Let's finish up this division here,
Speaker 1: Bridget with a grade on the New York Giants. I'm
Speaker 1: gonna give him a. See. I think you know the Giants.
Speaker 1: One of the biggest problems with them is the salary
Speaker 1: cap in the space, the money that they don't have,
Speaker 1: and I think Joe Shae. The new GM was able
Speaker 1: to make some moves that were cheap and bring in
Speaker 1: some veterans. Um. You know fix he brought in some
Speaker 1: veteran alignemen and you know that provides some stability and
Speaker 1: they weren't that expensive. Um. I think again, it's one
Speaker 1: of the problems that has been haunting them for years.
Speaker 1: How are they going to fix that offensive line? How
Speaker 1: are they going to protect Daniel Jones? I think they
Speaker 1: have picked five and seven, unless trades have already started. UM.
Speaker 1: In the draft, I think they have They have the
Speaker 1: ability to make, you know, to to draft somebody who's
Speaker 1: going to make an immediate impact and fix some of
Speaker 1: those holes that we're seeing. The other question is still
Speaker 1: up in the air. Is sa Kwan? Is he going
Speaker 1: to be healthy? We forget how fun he is a
Speaker 1: player to watch and such a good running back. If
Speaker 1: he keeps stay healthy, I think that totally changes the
Speaker 1: dynamic of this team. Yeah, I think you're right. You
Speaker 1: touched on the draft situation there as we kind of
Speaker 1: switch gears here. I think the Giants offseason essentially hinges
Speaker 1: on what they do in the draft because of the
Speaker 1: nature of their salary cap and how strapped, they were
Speaker 1: in that regard, and so that's where they're They're big
Speaker 1: improvements are going to come this season, especially with with
Speaker 1: high priority picks there two inside the top ten at
Speaker 1: five and seven. I see maybe one of the best
Speaker 1: corners in the draft and Sauce Gardeners being an option
Speaker 1: there at five or seven. And then I'd love to
Speaker 1: get the best offensive linemen off the board there too.
Speaker 1: So I think two huge needs for the New York Giants.
Speaker 1: They were present at UM when I was there, and
Speaker 1: I know that you know, if he's still on the
Speaker 1: board at offensive tackle, he's pretty pretty I think he's
Speaker 1: going to be a really good player for years to come.
Speaker 1: So that would be You're not alone. You're not alone
Speaker 1: in assessment, I agree, as do most of our draft
Speaker 1: experts here at NFL Media. Jim. Let's then go to
Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys, who you know have got really good
Speaker 1: players each of the last two years in Ceedee Lamb
Speaker 1: and Michael Parsons. I mean, one was of course the
Speaker 1: defensive rookie of the year, but weren't necessarily a positions
Speaker 1: of need at the time. They were best players available. UM.
Speaker 1: When the Cowboys were on the clock, and Jerry Jones
Speaker 1: alluded to the fact that you know, if there's a
Speaker 1: player like that, you know they're at twenty four, they
Speaker 1: do that, they follow that same strategy once again, But
Speaker 1: where else could you see what other positions could you
Speaker 1: see the Cowboys kind of making a priority when we
Speaker 1: get to April. I think offensive line is definitely a
Speaker 1: priority for them. Um, Look, they needed to upgrade before
Speaker 1: Connor Williams signed with Miami and leoll Collins was released,
Speaker 1: in my opinion, so they've got a lot of age
Speaker 1: there um from that unit that was so dominant for
Speaker 1: so many years. So again, I think football teams are
Speaker 1: built inside out, and I think that Dallas hopefully recognize
Speaker 1: that from the success that they had um while this
Speaker 1: unit was together. You know when we talk about how dominant,
Speaker 1: you know, Tyren Smith and Zack Martin and all those
Speaker 1: guys were together. So I would like to see them
Speaker 1: go there. The other thing I still think they need
Speaker 1: help with is in their secondary I think they can
Speaker 1: get better there. Look for all of the plays that
Speaker 1: Diggs made, he also gave up a number of plays
Speaker 1: as well, So I think they need more consistent, more
Speaker 1: consistency their overall and Look, we talked about this all
Speaker 1: the time. Red does a pass rush make a secondary
Speaker 1: or does secondary make a pass run? And I still
Speaker 1: believe Dallas also needs help upfront when it comes to
Speaker 1: pressuring the quarterback. Yeah, I think that's a fair point. Um.
Speaker 1: I'd be really curious if David ja Jabo is on
Speaker 1: the board there at twenty four after the rupture to
Speaker 1: kill he s tendon. I know he's not. You can't
Speaker 1: counter an immediate impact, but man, with ready Gregory gone,
Speaker 1: you would love to eventually, you know, put him out
Speaker 1: there and perhaps pair amount up with DeMarcus Laurence, a
Speaker 1: really good player at that point. But yeah, I could
Speaker 1: see offensive line certainly being a priority here for the
Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys. All right, Bridget, let's go back to you.
Speaker 1: For the Commanders here, we're sitting at number eleven overall,
Speaker 1: not necessarily out of the quarterback market if their guy
Speaker 1: is there to maybe developed behind Carson Wentz, but otherwise,
Speaker 1: is it all about supporting him there with that pick
Speaker 1: in the first round. Yeah, I didn't even have quarterback
Speaker 1: really on my list of what they should go for
Speaker 1: for eleven. But that is a good point, interesting point
Speaker 1: you make, But I would say, wide receiver. I think
Speaker 1: you need somebody that he could throw to. If somebody,
Speaker 1: I think the way that the draft is going, they
Speaker 1: could get a top wide receiver even out of eleven
Speaker 1: UM that can make a splash. They also lost two
Speaker 1: safeties in the off season, so I think that's the
Speaker 1: position that they wouldn't be uh opposed to going. I
Speaker 1: don't know if they're eleventh pick would be the right
Speaker 1: place to go. Um and then cornerback as well. They
Speaker 1: get some support on defense, yep. I like that. And
Speaker 1: as far as receivers go, I really like Drake London
Speaker 1: as a nice compliment to what they already have. Their big, tall,
Speaker 1: physical wide receiver, big target, contested catches. Think about the
Speaker 1: way that Carson Wentz plays the game, you know, off
Speaker 1: oftentimes off schedule, sometimes a little bit risky. I think
Speaker 1: Drake London for yeah, that is just trying. I think
Speaker 1: Drake of the philosophy. Hey, come on, all right, let's
Speaker 1: put a shelf the draft priorities here. Jim. With the
Speaker 1: Philadelphia Eagles, who have now gone down from three first
Speaker 1: round picks to two first round picks, they'll go at
Speaker 1: fifteen and eighteen after their trade with the Saints. I
Speaker 1: didn't get go in a lot of different directions here.
Speaker 1: How do you see it? I'm gonna say edge. From
Speaker 1: this standpoint, last year they were thirty feet and sack right,
Speaker 1: So I think they've got to find a way to
Speaker 1: get more pressure on the on the quarterback um. Look offensively,
Speaker 1: I think that they had started to put pieces around
Speaker 1: Jalen Hurts. Never heard even more weapons. But I agree
Speaker 1: with you. I think they can go a number of
Speaker 1: different directions, but at some point you gotta make stops.
Speaker 1: And at some point, we know it's a quarterback driven league,
Speaker 1: so you're going to have to be able to consistently pressure.
Speaker 1: And so from that standpoint, for a team that was
Speaker 1: thirty first in sack rate last year, I'm gonna say,
Speaker 1: go get a pass rushing Yeah, guy like George carloftis
Speaker 1: how to Purdue might be a choice there at fifteen
Speaker 1: and whereas at eighteen, I'm wondering if maybe they see
Speaker 1: the future at center, if this is Jason Kelsey's last
Speaker 1: year with Tyler Linderbaum one of the best center prospects
Speaker 1: we've had in recent years coming out there, So a
Speaker 1: couple of names just to consider there for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 1: Uh Bridget Jim, fantastic work for us previewing and resetting
Speaker 1: the NFC East and NFC West roster. Certainly appreciate your time, guys. Thanks,
Speaker 1: thank you. All right, that's gonna do it for this
Speaker 1: episode of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so much for being
Speaker 1: with us. Reminder to download, rate, and review our show
Speaker 1: and the I Heart Radio app on Apple Podcasts or
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Speaker 1: along for the ride. For our producers Thomas Warren, Tim Peraca,
Speaker 1: and Harrison Sanford. I'm your host, Bret Lewis. We'll catch
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