1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,599 Speaker 1: Before we get started, please rate and review our show 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: that helps people find us. On this episode of Sports 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: Illustrated Weekly with NFL training camps upon us, s I 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: Senior writer Andrew Brandt joins me to explain how a 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: trade by the Eagles to find the off season and 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: underscores how teams and general managers across the league have 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: placed added an emphasis on one position in particular. I'm 8 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: your host, John Gonzaltz from Sports Illustrated and I Heart Radio. 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: This is Sports Illustrated Weekly. It's been a wild offseason 10 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: for the NFL. Big name quarterbacks like Matt Ryan and 11 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson have changed teams, and during the NFL Draft 12 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: and I popping nine trades went down. But according to 13 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: Andrew Brant, our SI columnist and a former executive for 14 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packer, one move in particular stands above 15 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: all the others and signals the new way of thinking 16 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: in front offices all over the NFL. WHOA, the Eagles 17 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: are trading for A J. Brown. This is the court 18 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: in the seven it's happening. O God. Wow a Draft 19 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: night stunner. Howie Roseman has done it again. Wow. We 20 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: thought it was gonna be Deebo Samuel turns out A J. 21 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,639 Speaker 1: Brown stole the show here. Yeah, the Eagles getting A J. Brown. 22 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: Andrew Bryant, Welcome to Sports Illustrated Weekly. Good to be 23 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: with you, John. We're colleagues now. I've been at Sports 24 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: illustraight a long time and it's good to get on 25 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: the podcast side of things. Yeah. Yeah, we've messaged each 26 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: other back and forth, but now we're we're finally getting 27 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: to do some content together on the show. So we're 28 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: excited about that. And I was especially excited about the 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: story that you wrote about. There was a lot of 30 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: activity during this NFL offseason, particularly around the time of 31 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: the draft. There were a ton of trades, but there 32 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: was one trade in particular that you singled out, and 33 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: you wrote that it defined this NFL offseason and especially 34 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: how front offices have changed the way they view and 35 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: value one position in particular. Tell us about why you 36 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: flagged that specific trade. A. J. Brown is now an 37 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: Eagle and he was a Titan, as everyone knows for 38 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: three years. To me, it's a fascinating study of the 39 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: off season with that just one trade. But there are 40 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: a couple of ways to unpack this, John, I think 41 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: The first way is A J. Brown is a very 42 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: good receiver, but his track record, his longevity, his skins 43 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: in the game in the NFL are not what we 44 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: could typically associate with a receiver forcing leveraging his way 45 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: out of a situation into it for him a better one. 46 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: But it usually happens with players that have been around four, six, eight, 47 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: ten years that have established themselves at the top of 48 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: the wide receiver market or any position, and not players 49 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: that are still in their rookie contracts and leave raging 50 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: a situation where they're getting out and there's a willing 51 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: suitor to take them away not only on a trade 52 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: but also compensation levels at a vastly, vastly different factor. 53 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: That just crystallized the offseason to me, John, because I 54 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 1: know the big moves at quarterback with Matt Ryan and 55 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson, I know everyone's going to focus on that, 56 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: But to me, the story of the two offseason I'm 57 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: always looking at it from the business side is the transformation, 58 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: an elevation of the wide receiver position like we've never 59 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: seen before, and A J. Brown was a microcosm of that. Yeah, 60 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean, it absolutely blew me away when the trade 61 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: went down. I should note that you live outside of Philadelphia. 62 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: I am from Philadelphia. That is not why we're doing 63 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: this story. But it didn't hurt. So I'm also curious 64 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: from the Eagles perspective, it seems to make a lot 65 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: of sense because they get this young, talented wide receiver. 66 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: He's only A J. Brown, is only twenty four, he 67 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: doesn't turn twenty five until June. They lock him into 68 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,119 Speaker 1: this massive contract. Why was it such a big deal 69 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: for the Eagles, and how does it underline how gms 70 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: are thinking differently about wide receivers than maybe they did 71 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: in the past. The Eagles, on the one hand, have 72 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: spent now three number one picks in a third round pick, 73 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: so three ones in a three on the wide receiver 74 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: position the last three years. That's a lot to spend 75 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: on that position. Have they gotten it right? I know 76 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: everyone's got their opinions about Jalen reagor, everyone's got opinions 77 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: about Davante Smith, but I think there's very little negative 78 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: opinion about getting it right this time with A J. Brown, 79 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: who's a stud young receiver at an ascending level at 80 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: a very young age. H hit his last six a fross. 81 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: The mental who else H J. Brown, Tannehill under pressure 82 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: fires pot Browns had a tremendous year. I think how 83 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: we navigated his draft stock very well. The past couple 84 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: of years. We can go back to Carson Wentz, but 85 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: even this year picking up an extra pick for next 86 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: year's draft from the Saints and then using one of 87 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: the ones this year with a three. He also had 88 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: an extra three from the Carson Wentz trade two package 89 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: into A J. Brown. And I think the decision was 90 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: made on a couple of things. Number One, while DeVonta 91 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: Smith isn't ascending him receiver himself, here's a chance to 92 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: get someone that is established as a true number one 93 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: and lock him in along with the young developing receivers 94 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: they have. Number two is what I talk about all 95 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: the time. The money side to get him. There were 96 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: two negotiations, one the trade negotiation with the Titans, but 97 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: maybe more importantly the financial negotiation with the agents, and 98 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: I think how he navigated that shrewdly because it became 99 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: a time clock issue, right they weren't going to make 100 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: this trade, and it all happened on Draft Day without 101 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: a contract in place, so it locks that in and 102 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: then you have this transformative player coming to Philadelphia to 103 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,799 Speaker 1: be a true number one receiver and bring along the rest. 104 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: So that's their position. The thing that we can't underestimate, though, 105 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: is financial stability within the franchise. Jalen Hurts is the 106 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: established quarterback for now. Jalen Hurts makes two million dollars 107 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: a year, right, so between quarterback and number one receiver, 108 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: they're paying, say twenty three million a year. Most veteran 109 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: quarterbacks make thirty million a year that are at a 110 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: high level. Not saying Jalen Hurts is the level of 111 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: those players, but you have more flexibility. And kudos to 112 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: the Eagles for jumping in and taking this risk while 113 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: Jalen Hurts is on a extremely undervalued contract. No matter 114 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: what you think of Jalen Hurts, he's on extremely undervalued contract. 115 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: So that's the Eagles side of things, all right. So 116 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: it makes sense for the Eagles. They've got that financial flexibility. 117 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, they got full marks for this trade. 118 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: Everybody agrees that a J. Brown is a star. What 119 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: about though, for Tennessee? Does that trace back to the 120 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: money as well? What was their decision? What was their thinking? 121 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: You do have the opposite on the quarterback money side, 122 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: Ryan Tannehill has taken up a big chunk of cap 123 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: and cash. Ryan Tannehill was extremely effective quarterback and kind 124 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: of tailed off at the end of the year, so 125 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: people do have mixed opinions about that. But notwithstanding that, 126 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: and notwithstanding the fact they drafted a quarterback in the 127 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: third or fourth round that may replace him, that's not 128 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: happening this year. So he's got a fully guaranteed twenty 129 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: nine million dollar number. Again, that twenty nine million is 130 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: more than a j Brown and Jalen Hurts put together, 131 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: and that may have been part of it. But what 132 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: I could glean from the media reports John is that 133 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: negotiations weren't going well. Now, whether the discontent was about money, 134 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: or about being in Tennessee or about whatever it may be, 135 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: there's something brewing beneath the surface here. And again GMS 136 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: know this, like Howie Rosman, there's there's a little trouble 137 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: in paradise in Tennessee. We could potentially nab that receiver. 138 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: Of course they did, so I think it was financial. 139 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: I don't know if there was more than that, but 140 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: my senses they weren't willing to go to that extension 141 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: number of year, which became the standard, but not until 142 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: this year. So starting in February, that became the standard. 143 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: And that's a new standard. But what I keep coming 144 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: back to about Brown is that he was not Hill 145 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: and Adams. He's a young player. He does not have 146 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: the skins on the wall those players, but he hit 147 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:51,719 Speaker 1: that number. And I totally understand why Tennessee was. If 148 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,719 Speaker 1: I'm a negotiator, which I did for ten years in 149 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: the NFL, I'm saying to A J. Brown's people, we're 150 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: not paying that. Those guys have skins on the wall 151 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: from to three veteran contracts. Those guys have been performing 152 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: for six, eight, nine years. They're not a J. Brown. 153 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: And if I'm a J. Brown's age and I'm saying 154 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: that's the market, it doesn't matter. He's only a young player. 155 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: I think that's where it broke down, and I think 156 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: they said, Okay, where can we go? You know, so 157 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: again deadlines spur action, the deadline of the draft, how 158 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: are we doing the deal? And the money deal. At 159 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: the same time, there was trouble in paradise in Tennessee. 160 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: That was very clear. The best wide receiver in the 161 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: goree of the franchise. I'm still tripping on the I 162 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: can't believe it. Let him go. J He's definitely adult, 163 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: He's a tone setter. As you wrote, the old way 164 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: of doing things with respect to younger receivers is not 165 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: the current way of doing things, and I wish it. 166 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 1: Note as well that you said that you really liked 167 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: the spot for Brown, that he sort of hit the trifecta. 168 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: He gets out of Tennessee, he gets a new contract, 169 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: and he it's a reunion with Jalen Hurts. But that's 170 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: sort of the new standard here with wide receivers deciding, hey, 171 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pick up and go to some new place. 172 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: Jacksonville paid Christian kirk a ton during the offseason, or 173 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: as you wrote, overpaid Davanta Adams forced his way to 174 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: the Raiders five years, one forty one point to five 175 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: million dollars. That makes him, by a long shot, the 176 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,959 Speaker 1: highest paid player on a traditional extension at the wide 177 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: receiver position. Tyreek Hill force his way to the Dolphins. 178 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: Batman is now a Dolphin, and that man is getting paid. 179 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: We've heard so much about Deebo Samuel's saying that he 180 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 1: wants out of San Francisco is this what we can 181 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: expect in the future is that this does this signal 182 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: a shift in the power dynamics for the position. Okay, 183 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: so let's talk Eagles, Raiders, Dolphins. Right, We're gonna jump 184 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: on these top players Hill, Adams and Brown, and we're 185 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: gonna pay a new rate that was set by Christian 186 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: Kurk and Adams of about twenty three to twenty five 187 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: a year, and that is going to happen now. I 188 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: think that's a new rate. I think that this has 189 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: become a high value position. But I think the real 190 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: impact about my column is this has extended to the draft. 191 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: So we have six receivers first round. We have twenty 192 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: in the first three rounds. This is all connected. This 193 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: is my point. Teams are seeing what's happening to the position, 194 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: and teams are seeing what A. J. Brown has just 195 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: done and Deebo Samuel has been trying to do, which 196 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: has forced their way out after they established themselves for 197 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: three years at low, low, low money. So I'm looking 198 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: at these teams jumping in and saying, let's get them now, 199 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: and if they hit, we'll deal with it. But we're 200 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: going to get him at a low price because we're 201 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: not paying dollar year for number one receiver. And this 202 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 1: is the altern out side of this. This is the Packers, 203 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: this is the Chiefs, and this is the Titans. So 204 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: they have decided we're going young, we're going cheap, and 205 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: we're using the cap space elsewhere. So we have a 206 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: line in the sand now, right, John, We have three 207 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: teams I talked about earlier, Raiders, Dolphins, Titans all in 208 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: on that position, and we have three teams to signed 209 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: to go another way. I mean, think about Davante Adams 210 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: and Tyreek Kills I wrote about they left what are 211 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: considered the two best quarterbacks in the NFL for lesser 212 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: teams and lesser quarterbacks. Think about that. So that doesn't 213 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: happen often, and that just shows you who's prioritizing the 214 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: position and how it jives with other positions on the team. 215 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: From the perspective of Adams and Hell, I get it right, 216 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: I mean, go where the money is you're worth with 217 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: the market, but bear it. But then for these other 218 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: teams have decided no, no, no, we're gonna go young 219 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: and cheap and allocate the cap space in a different 220 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: way because we're trying to build an entire team here. 221 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: I get that strategy as well. I mean, you did 222 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: this for a long time. Which avenue would you pick? 223 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: Because it seems like there's two lanes here and everybody's 224 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: deciding on which one they like. Yeah, it's a great question, 225 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: And if I had to, I'm probably gonna stay with 226 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:25,119 Speaker 1: my Packer affiliation and say I picked the more conservative 227 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: approach because I'm just playing the odds. I'm saying that 228 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: two things. Number One, Tyreeke and Davonte have hit their peak. 229 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: Not this they would be going downhill, but I don't 230 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: know if they're going to go uphill. And you're getting 231 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 1: out at a level of they're both being paid in 232 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: the sixteen to seventeen male million dollar range, and you're 233 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: getting out at that level rather than going up to 234 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: a whole new level of year, and you're getting younger players. 235 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: So what I raised in the article is the players 236 00:13:58,440 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: that are going to replace them are not going to 237 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: place them. Right. But Christian Watson with the Packers, Traylon 238 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: Burke's with the Titans, Sky More with the Chiefs. Okay, 239 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: all first or high second round picks. Let's say they're 240 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: making two to three million dollars a year and Let's 241 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: say these other players are making twenty four million a year, right, Basically, 242 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: these other teams are saying Davante Adams is eight times 243 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: the player Christian Watson, A J. Brown is eight times 244 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: the player of Treylon Burks. We'll see. I mean, I 245 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: don't want to sit here on your podcast or my 246 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: column or anything and suggest that Christian Watson or is 247 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: the equivalent of Davante Adams. There's no way in the world, 248 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: and Aaron Rodgers is not gonna have that production with 249 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: him even as Aaron Rodgers. But over time and as 250 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: his money is so low, those are fair questions to ask. Yeah, 251 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: I don't know how it's gonna work out for the 252 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: Raiders or Dolphins. I do like the idea of A. J. 253 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: Brown being eight is better than everybody else for the Eagles, 254 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: but we'll see how that works out. You can read 255 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: his column about how wide receiver values have changed on 256 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: SI dot Com, which we will link to on our 257 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: show notes. He has unquestionably one of the most valued 258 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: members of the Sports Illustrated family. Andrew Brandt, thank you 259 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: for this. Always a pleasure, John, I'm good to be 260 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: with you. Thanks for listening, and a reminder to please 261 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: rate and review our show that helps people find us. 262 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated Weekly is at production of Sports Illustrated and 263 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio. From more podcasts from I Heart Radio, 264 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 265 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: you get your favorite shows. And for more Sports Illustrated's 266 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: best stories and podcasts, visit SI dot com. This episode 267 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: of Sports Illustrated Weekly was produced by Cooper McKim, Jessica 268 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: your Moski, Jordan Rizzieri, and Isaac Lee, who was also 269 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: our sound engineer. Our senior producer is Dan Bloom. Our 270 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: acting senior producer is Harry swart Out. Our executive producers 271 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: are Scott Brody end Me John Gonzalez. Our theme song 272 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: is by Nolan Schneider. And if you've stuck around this song, 273 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: we leave you with this. So I assume this means 274 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: the Eagles are gonna win the Super Bowl, right? Actually, 275 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: you know what, don't answer that. I'll just take that 276 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: as yes.