1 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: Okay, Omer, let's start with the quarterback position. In less 2 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: than twenty four hours, you signed Russell Wilson, trade Kenny Tickets, 3 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: you a choir, Justin Field. 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 2: What was that world wind like for you? You know, 5 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: it was really all all the free agency. 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 3: During this time of year, things get a little hectic 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 3: and crazy, and you know, I like where we ended up. 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 3: You know, we ended up with Russell and Justin. We 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 3: signed Patrick Queen. We had a good few days there. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 3: I think we made we're better. 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: You talked about having a good visit with Russell Wilson 12 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: when you talk to dissembled media. What does that mean exactly? 13 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: What is a good visit? 14 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 3: You know, he came in that weekend. He came in, 15 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: We spent a whole day with him, got to know him, 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 3: he got to know. 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: Us, talk a lot of ball, and just just felt right. 18 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna speak for him, but I think he'll 19 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 3: tell you the same thing that just felt right. 20 00:00:58,120 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: Felt like it was a good a good match. 21 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: There are always rumors going on in the offseason, as 22 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're well aware of what you might or 23 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: might not be doing. Reports that you talked to Chicago 24 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: prior to the Fields trade. Did that make it easier 25 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: if that report is true, to kind of culminate that 26 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:12,839 Speaker 1: trade when it happened. 27 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 3: We always tries to stay abreast of everything that's going 28 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 3: on league wide. 29 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: You know, obviously not everything makes sense. 30 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 3: For us, But you know, when we decided to make 31 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 3: the trade for Kenny with the Eagles, the opportunity was 32 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 3: still there to trade for Justin and I'm steel fortunate that. 33 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: It worked out last thing on that position. You feel 34 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: better about your quarterback room right now as you head 35 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:36,839 Speaker 1: into this season. 36 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,839 Speaker 3: I do feel really good about it. I feel great 37 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 3: abouthere we're at. And you know, I think they having 38 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 3: Arthur Smith around is really an awesome also, and I 39 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 3: think he'll be great for those guys. 40 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: You mentioned Patrick Queen. What was significant for you that 41 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: made you decide, Hey, this is a guy we have 42 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: to pick up. 43 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: Really a good football player. 44 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 3: There was an opportunity, he was interested enough, We were 45 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: obviously interested in him. 46 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: We've gotten to know him over the. 47 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 3: You know, years he's played in Baltimore, he played him 48 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 3: twice a year. You know, knew him coming out of 49 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 3: college and the strong character and the person he is, 50 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 3: and obviously a talented player and he's still young, and uh, 51 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 3: it was one of those things where we were interested 52 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 3: and he was interested in us, and we were Fortunately, 53 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 3: we were able to put a deal together that made sense. 54 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: Made a couple of trades you talked about earlier at 55 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: the quarterback position. You also made a trade sending Deontay 56 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: Johnson getting Dante Jackson back. What was he impetus for 57 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: that trade? 58 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: So, you know, corner was a need position and Dante 59 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: is somebody that we we've got to know well through 60 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: the draft process. 61 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: And you know, he was a free agent a few 62 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: years ago. 63 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 3: And you know, really followed his game, played him a 64 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 3: couple of times, and the opportunity was there. 65 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 2: They were interested in trading. 66 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: Him, and it just felt like it was a win 67 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 3: win for both sides. 68 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: And you know, we're excited to have him. Think he's 69 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: gonna be a good a good fit for us. 70 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 1: Sometimes when you add somewhere, it creates maybe a whole 71 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: somewhere else. You know, we're able to add a couple 72 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: of wide receivers. Is that still a position you're looking 73 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: to add to. 74 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: Get rob I'd say we're always trying to add to 75 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 3: every position. I'd say it's a position that you know, 76 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 3: will continue to evaluate. 77 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: You got Deshaun Elliott at the safety position. How do 78 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: you feel about that signing? 79 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 2: Awesome? 80 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 3: I mean he's a little bit of a throwback, I 81 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 3: guess strong safety. You know, ten years ago we probably 82 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 3: talking about him a little differently than. 83 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: Where the game is today. 84 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 3: But he fits our defense perfectly, I think, and you 85 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 3: guys have seen the clipse of him tackling the new 86 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 3: running back in Baltimore that we're going to be facing 87 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 3: a couple of times a year. He was an awesome player. 88 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:34,679 Speaker 3: But just think he's a good fit. He's gonna fit 89 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 3: well into our defense. 90 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: She added. 91 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: Cameron Johnson in the punting game, that's an upgrade statistically. 92 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: You bring Miles Killer Brew back. I'm sometimes an overlooked 93 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: aspect of a team for fans, but obviously important for 94 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: you enough to make some moves. 95 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 3: We've all addressed the fact that our punt and game 96 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 3: has to be better than what it was. 97 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: And Cam was free, and we. 98 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 3: Had opportunity that he was interested in us. 99 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: We were interested in him. 100 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 3: He lives up in Columbus down the road, and uh, 101 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 3: we really leaned on our analytics team heavily on the 102 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: decision to help identify the guys that'll be right for us, 103 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 3: and we're just fortunate we got them. 104 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: What do you think are the strengths of this year's draft? 105 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,119 Speaker 1: As you head into the draft. 106 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: You know, it's really a good draft. 107 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 3: I mentioned this in Indie and I can tell you 108 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 3: just being in the going through the pro days over 109 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 3: the last couple of weeks and having some preliminary draft 110 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 3: meetings and get more and more excited about this draft. 111 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: It's it's some good football players, you know. I think 112 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 3: the receiver positions deep. You know, you look at the 113 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 3: offensive line, you know, the tight end position's got some 114 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 3: good players. Defensively, the corner position's got a lot of 115 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 3: fun corners that are that are going to. 116 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: Be out there. 117 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 3: The safeties, this is a great, really good safety draft. 118 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 3: But it's it's just a good draft. I'm excited about 119 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 3: it in total. Knowing that guys can sign late. You 120 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 3: signed Kwan Alexander very late last year, knowing that the 121 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 3: draft isn't the end of the line, Knowing there's time 122 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 3: between now and the draft. How do you feel about 123 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 3: where the team is now? There's a lot of times 124 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: now in Latrobe. I like where we're at that's not 125 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 3: to say we're not gonna keep trying to find ways 126 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: to improve in all areas. Uh, but I like where 127 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 3: the teams that I feel like we've we've got some 128 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 3: really good core guys coming back and we've added some 129 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 3: pieces to that and uh, but we're. 130 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: Never we're not done. 131 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 3: You know, there's a lot of time between now and 132 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 3: the Latrobe and a lot of time before now in. 133 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: The start of the season. 134 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: Oh, Mark, thanks for the time 135 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me appreciate it.