1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Falcons fans. What's up. We are here to introduce you 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: to the Atlanta Falcons twenty twenty five rookie draft class. 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: Tory mclaney here with me and Tory. The Falcons have 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: wrapped up Day three of the NFL Draft. They made 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: two selections. 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 2: Yep. 7 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: Today, it's it's been a long weekend. It's been an 8 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: exciting weekend. The defense feels like it's in a very 9 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: different place. But let's start before we kind of get 10 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: into the entirety of the class and also maybe take 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: a quick look around the division in kind of our 12 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: wrap up two draft weekend. What do you think of 13 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: Day three? 14 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 2: I was very interested in Day three. I think that 15 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: it's actually it was actually a very productive day for Atlanta, 16 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 2: specifically because of pick onein eighteen, Billy Bowen Junior. Yeah, 17 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: I truly was not. I mean, I'm in the same 18 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: camp as I think what ARIA scouts are saying, what 19 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 2: Jeff Albrick was saying. I don't think think anyone truly 20 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: thought that he was going I don't think anyone thought 21 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: that Bowman was going to be there at eight when eighteen. 22 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 2: That was the prevailing theme of that pick was that 23 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: they were shocked that he was going to be there. 24 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 2: I mean, I I the video which I think people 25 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: can see this on our social channels, the video of 26 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 2: Jeff Olbrick not in the war room but the room 27 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 2: next door banging on the wall when this pick came 28 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: through because he was so excited about it. Yeah. 29 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 3: I just I think that. 30 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: He again he is so We've said this, I think 31 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: on every podcast, but like the energy from Olbrick has 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: been so palpable this week. 33 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: And well, if you're a defensive coordinator and you just 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: got four potential starters ye that have kind of the 35 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: ceiling of being full time starters for your defense very 36 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: early on in their careers, you do feel pretty good 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: about it. I think that we said it on day one. 38 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: We said it again last night when we were talking 39 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: about Xavier Watts. This is a team, an organization that 40 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: just took a major step forward defensively because of the 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: picks made. And then of course there's Jack Nelson kind 42 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 2: of to round out the group. I think that was 43 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: a very safe, solid pick. You go out and you 44 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: get an offensive line. When you build up along the 45 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: offensive line, you can always, always, always, always use offensive lineman. 46 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: There's never a time when you don't need one. So 47 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: I think collectively Day three was a little bit surprising 48 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 2: because of Billy Bowman Junior, and then the Jack Nelson 49 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: pick makes a lot of sense. I just I think 50 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: when I look at this draft class in totality, this 51 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: is I think has the potential to be one of 52 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: Terry font knows best. 53 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: I agree, and it is his smallest. It ties for 54 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: the fewest number of picks in Falcon's history with that 55 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: two thousand and six draft class, which our guy DJ 56 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: Shockley was part of, but it will be I think 57 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: an impactful one. And that was kind of the theme 58 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: leading into it. Was Terry Fondo, you know, sitting there 59 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, saying, yeah, we only have five picks, and 60 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: who knows I load more or not. But like, regardless 61 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: of how many picks you have, you have to hit 62 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: on the players that you take, and you need to 63 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: get impact players, and that was their goal and time 64 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: will tell ultimately, Like we're in reactive mode, but like 65 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: we got await a couple of years to really evaluate 66 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: a draft class, and I think though we will look 67 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: back on it feeling the same way that we do now, 68 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: which is Okay, you went and got some really proven 69 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: high level SEC pass rushers to come in here and 70 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: you know, together kind of take on as James Pierce 71 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: called it, a mission. Yeah, and then you added two 72 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: guys on the back end, one of whom will truly 73 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: be in kind of the back end with the safety 74 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: and Billy sorry not Billy Bowman, say you're w Yeah, 75 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: and then Billy Bowman will be the kind of nickel 76 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: like inside competing with the Alford Clark Phillips like that 77 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: type of role. So and Billy Bowman. It's interesting because 78 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: I agree, like I didn't expect him to be there 79 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: either in the fourth round. He's actually a player. When 80 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: we were doing our Day two like best available prospects, Yeah, 81 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: that I put down and I. 82 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: Put him down. 83 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: I did you put him out? 84 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 3: I put him down? 85 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: Okay, well I thought about putting him down. I may 86 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: have then put him down again for Day three or 87 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: I wrote about but yeah, yeah, he was saying I 88 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: seriously considered as well. But yeah, I wrote Jalen Reid, 89 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: So I think I debated between both of those guys. 90 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: You were smart enough to go with the Billy Bowman. 91 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: I went the wrong direction, but yeah, he so then 92 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: when I saw him for the Day three one. I 93 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: was like, do I even dare, Like, what's going on here? 94 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: So if him being available it at first blush is 95 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: like they doubled up on edge and then they doubled 96 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: up on safety, But that's not it's how you're using 97 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: it exactly. 98 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: Also like okay, doubling up on edge. When you're talking 99 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: about doubling up on edge with Jalen Walker and James 100 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: Pierce Junior, it's like, okay, kind of yeah. 101 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: Sort of, but it's not the same as like ezeraku 102 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: and and James Pearce right exactly. 103 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: They're different mechanics, different type of players in different builds, 104 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 2: different ways that they're going to play. Even though Jeff 105 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 2: Oulbrick did say today we had a media availability with 106 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 2: Jeff Ulbrick and he kind of reiterated what he told 107 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 2: me earlier in the week where he's like, you know, 108 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 2: I really want Jalen Walker to be able to focus 109 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 2: on like one thing, really finding him a home specifically 110 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 2: as an edge rusher. And I think like that was 111 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 2: very evident in his press conference today to kind of 112 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: be like, look, yes he can do all these things, 113 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: but they do feel like they're in a good spot 114 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: with Kaden Ellis. They do feel like they're in a 115 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: good spot with Divine Diablo Troy Anderson, So that inside 116 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: linebacker group is an okay spot. Being able to bring 117 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 2: Jalen Walker up from here to here, and I know 118 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 2: if you're listening, you're like, where is she going? But 119 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: to take him up a level in terms of his 120 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: pass rush is only going to pay dividends moving forward 121 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: when you potentially could get him moving around and doing 122 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 2: more things in the versatile style of which we've known 123 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 2: him to be the last year at Georgia. So he's 124 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: a completely different player than what James Pearce Junior is. 125 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: James Piers Junior is a guy who's gonna come off 126 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: the edge and literally go do one thing. Go get 127 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: the quarterback, beat your guy, beat your guy, then get 128 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: the quarterback, whatever comes first. 129 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 3: Honestly, he's probably beat your guy and then get the quarterback. 130 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 3: But that's the deal. 131 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: And then with Xavier Watts and with Billy Bowman Jr. 132 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: Xavier Watts is somebody who is going to be kind 133 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: of this like almost like mirror to Jesse Bates in 134 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 2: a way. And obviously his player comp is Jesse Bates. 135 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 2: He says, he's marveling. He's he's taking his game and 136 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: mimicking it with Jesse Bates. And that's something you said 137 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 2: all the time throughout the pre draft process. So that's 138 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: his role, that's his niche. And then Billy Bowman junr 139 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: I was talking to Jerry Gray today, you were talking 140 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 2: to tarn was talking to Jeff all Brick this morning, 141 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: and both of them confirmed, They're like, we're moving him 142 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 2: to nickel. They're like, we're going to see what he's 143 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 2: most comfortable in. We're gonna kind of see. And he's 144 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 2: done a little bit of everything for Oklahoma. He's been 145 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: a four year starter there in the box, in the slot, 146 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: nickel safety, like field safety, Like he's done just about 147 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: everything at the position. But they really really valued him 148 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: at nickel for one his speed, his toughness, and I 149 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: think that is where he could really hone in find 150 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: a niche. And I think that's something that was a 151 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: theme for these picks, especially these four defensive guys, is 152 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: there is a very specific role that this coaching staff 153 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: wants to carve out for each of them to go 154 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 2: and be successful. 155 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's important and I think Honestly, if anybody 156 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: hasn't yet, go listen to Jeff ulbricks press conference today, Like, yeah, 157 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: go listen to everything. Go check out all the great 158 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: video content that when you were saying from here to here, 159 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: and even though again this is an audio medium unless 160 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: you're watching on our YouTube channel, I was like, if 161 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: anybody's seen Terry Fonteau over the last three days, they 162 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: know exactly what you were doing, because. 163 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, this is this is this movie, he lives in this. 164 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. But Olbrick is very I think intense and mindful 165 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: of exactly how he wants to use these guys. And 166 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: when you have a player and I wrote about this 167 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: a little bit today on Saturday as we record about 168 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: Jalen Walker and kind of a player who he has 169 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: watched closely, who he has a relationship with in Micah Parsons. 170 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: And I know that is a weighted comparison to make, 171 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: and I'm not even necessarily making the comparison because they 172 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: are different players. But in kind of talking about that, 173 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: Olbrick said, yeah, versatility can be a superpower, but it 174 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: can also be your kryptonite a little bit. And one 175 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: of my favorite players as a prospect in like draft 176 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: history is Isaiah Simmons coming out of Clemson. Unfortunately, his 177 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: career just didn't turn out the way that I thought 178 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: it was going to. And when you have somebody who 179 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 1: can do a little bit of everything you do, kind 180 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,079 Speaker 1: of get that like jack of all trades, master of none, 181 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: that can be a version of your story. So I 182 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: think it's exactly the right approach for the Falcons to say, yeah, 183 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: you can do all of that, and that's great that 184 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: we know one day we can build you out in 185 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: some of these other skill trees. But to start, we 186 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: got to kind of focus you in on year one. 187 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: Here's what we're really going to have you work on. 188 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: And the benefit in the luxury of having a guy 189 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: like the Divine Diablo and ktan Ellis and Troy Anderson 190 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: and even honestly like Leonard Floyd, Braylan Trice, Arenold eb Katie, 191 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: the guys that they do have all over the place 192 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: will allow them to maybe more specifically narrow in Jalen's role. 193 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: So I think that even though there is some redundancy 194 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: on paper when you look at the positions these guys play, 195 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: no they've added, for true kind of like pieces to 196 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: this defense that should have a role day won. 197 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, and I think it's really interesting if 198 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 2: we're just talking about like drafting strategy. 199 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 3: And I'll probably write this. 200 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 2: In a column as we're recapping this specific draft class. 201 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: But something that I was just thinking off the top 202 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 2: of my head is the surprise of what this draft was. 203 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 2: And I think the Falcons are a really interesting case 204 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 2: study in how the draft ultimately fell and being pleasantly 205 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: surprised by what you had and not so obviously, it's 206 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 2: no secret they did not think that Jalen Walker was 207 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 2: going to be there at number fifteen, right, Yeah, they 208 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 2: didn't think he was going to be there. I think 209 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 2: James Pierce Junior was their guy through and through. They 210 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 2: wanted him, they liked him. 211 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 3: He's a jeff. 212 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 2: Oldbrig type of player, and they fell in love with 213 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 2: him and the way his play style. But when you're 214 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 2: sitting there at fifteen and you're looking dead in the 215 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 2: eyes of Jayleen Walker. 216 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: They've been listening to you just literally raft season, being like, 217 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: he's not getting past Carolina. Guys, I don't know what 218 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: you're thinking, Just go ahead and take Jaylen Walker made. 219 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: Me feel better that they also were as shocked as 220 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: I was that he fell to fifteen, and so he 221 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: falls to fifteen and they're staring at him. 222 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 3: They're like, we can't, you can't, you can't. 223 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: Pass this up. 224 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 2: You gotta go get him, and they go get them 225 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: and they make do, and then they move up and 226 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 2: get James for junior. But then fast forward it's Xavier Watts. 227 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: You're like, no way, this guy's getting out of he's 228 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: the third best safety on the Like he's not. He's 229 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 2: literally not falling out of the second round. There's no way. 230 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 2: And then there they are, and it's like, we can 231 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 2: move up and we can grab him, and you give up, 232 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 2: you know, a few picks here and there, you give 233 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 2: a future fifth and you move up to ninety six 234 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: and you get Xavier Watts, and then fast forward again 235 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: Billy Bowman junior. No, Jeff Olbergler said, no way, he's 236 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 2: gonna be there at one eighteen, not a chance. 237 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 3: All of a sudden, he's there. You gotta get him. 238 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: And I think that that, to me, was indicative of 239 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: this entire drack class and how it really was a 240 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 2: very random class and how it fell and how teams 241 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 2: are valuing certain position groups, and it was very fascinating, 242 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 2: but also in that in the randomness of it, in. 243 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 3: The like holy cow, like Jalen Walker's there, let's get him. 244 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 2: Like even in that there is this idea of aggression 245 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: by Terry Fono in the front office. They wanted James 246 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: christ Jr. They went up and got him. They wanted 247 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 2: Xavier Watts. And even though they're like, oh, he's falling, 248 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: he's falling, we're gonna have a chance of getting him, 249 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: they didn't think that they would. He would fall to 250 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 2: one on one, so they move up to ninety six 251 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 2: to get him. So like there is this almost like. 252 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: It's like a game within a game. 253 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 3: A game within a game of aggressive in a random. 254 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: Choosing your spots, it's picking, yeah, picking your moments. All right. 255 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:20,719 Speaker 1: I don't have the ability to go all in all 256 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:22,719 Speaker 1: the time, so I got to pick my hands and 257 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 1: fold here and then say all right, this is the 258 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: card we're going to play, right And they I think 259 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: they did that really well this weekend. 260 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 2: I do too, And I think that that's why this 261 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: was such a fun draft, Like for me personally, I 262 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: think last year, I think having to play this role 263 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 2: of like explaining to people why the Michael Pennocks pick 264 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,719 Speaker 2: a number eight, and that kind of was the dominant 265 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 2: conversation of last year, and then last year's draft class 266 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 2: not panning out, I think the way people wanted to 267 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,599 Speaker 2: in their rookie years. You're not seeing a lot of 268 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 2: them on the field when you were they were hurt, 269 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 2: and you don't get to see Brayln Trice at all, 270 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: and Ricca Roro is kind of going through an AKL 271 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,719 Speaker 2: thing like there you don't really see Brandon Dorless at all, 272 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 2: and Michael Pennix you don't see until the last three 273 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 2: games of the season. So last year's draft class was 274 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: a lot of just like you're just trying to to 275 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 2: get to the point of wanting to feed in optimism 276 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 2: and hope about it as a team employee to kind 277 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 2: of to the fan base. If I'm just being completely honest, 278 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 2: but this long like. 279 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: You and I like to put ourselves in their shoes, 280 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: like I think actually we like to be like, okay, 281 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: so what is the way, Like let me, I'm right, 282 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: I'll work with you here, I can get where you're at. 283 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 2: I'm gonna question it a little bit like and I'm 284 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: going to ask some questions and I'm gonna kind of 285 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: be like, well, I don't really understand this. 286 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: But it's not like always blind optimism, right, Sometimes we 287 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: are like, okay, well, like let's let's put ourselves in 288 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: the shoes and like walk through it and game it 289 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,199 Speaker 1: out and okay, the strategy there. So yeah. 290 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 2: But my point in saying that is the feeling I 291 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 2: have sitting down and talking about this draft class in 292 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 2: comparison to last year. It feels nine and to day 293 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 2: in terms of I think the ability to get guys 294 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 2: who can go and be playing as day one, and 295 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: that is what you needed, especially defensively. I think it 296 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,599 Speaker 2: was a big thing that I even said on a 297 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 2: podcast not too long ago. It's like, you need starters 298 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 2: like you need at You only have five picks. You 299 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:15,079 Speaker 2: gotta get a lot of stars. And I said this 300 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 2: at the top of the pod. I really think that 301 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 2: there's a good opportunity that in either this year or 302 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 2: next year for the five or starting for this team. 303 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I think you're mentioning last year's class and 304 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: kind of the the year one like developmental year we'll 305 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: call it for some players, but with the player like 306 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: Braylon Trice whose year kind of ended before it even started. 307 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,359 Speaker 1: There's a big chance that we get out there in 308 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: August September and this Falcons defense has a ton of 309 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: new faces on it, Like, yeah, that's the expectation, right, Yeah, 310 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: So it's almost going to be like you have two 311 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: draft classes in one. You get a guy like Brayln 312 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: Trice back Boom, he's a new addition in there. You 313 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: get Ruker Roro and Brandon Dorles like playing more snaps, 314 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: having a bigger role right out of the gate, and 315 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: really seeing the vision for what they will be and 316 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: how they want to deploy them. That's going to be 317 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: just adding into this draft class. So yeah, it's going 318 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: to be a very unique feel for this upcoming season 319 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: just because of kind of like the combination of those 320 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: two factors, and then again just the real heavy approach 321 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: on defense, but an approach that is tailored specifically to 322 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: what Raheem Morris, what Jeff Ulbrick want to do. And 323 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: you and I have talked on the background kind of 324 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: like about the ping pong nature of almost the Falcons 325 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: defense under a bunch of different defensive coordinators who have 326 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: different philosophies and things like that. So I really do 327 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: like the fact that the Falcons over these last two 328 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: years have been like, let's not make this a longer 329 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: process that it needs to be. Let's go ahead and 330 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: get a bunch of guys who fit exactly what we're 331 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: looking for and shorten this window of time to turn 332 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: this around and turn it over a little bit. And 333 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: so they should have a lot of the skills and 334 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: qualities and traits that they need to have this defense 335 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: function in the way they envision and that excites me 336 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: more than anything. 337 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, because you need this defense if you believe that 338 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 2: everything you've done for this offense, all the money you've 339 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 2: pumped into it, all the first round picks that you've 340 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 2: pumped into it, those first round picks, their rookie deals 341 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 2: are running out. And Kyle Pitts is on his fifth 342 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 2: year option. We literally were talking about Drake London and 343 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 2: the Falcons potentially picking up his fifth year option today. Like, 344 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 2: but Jean Robinson a couple of years left on his 345 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 2: Like Michael PENICKX, Yes, Like you're in year two with him. 346 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: Don't make my start thinking about the end of Michael 347 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: Pennocks's deal. 348 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 3: It just got him. 349 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 2: I know, I'm sorry, but that's the reality of what 350 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 2: we're living in and I think like, if you feel 351 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: you know you have a good offensive line, they've been 352 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 2: working together a long time, like Darnelle Mooney, you have 353 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: a really solid place where your offense is, especially with 354 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: the carryover of having Zach Robinson going into year two, 355 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: with Michael Penicks and with all of these guys. 356 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 3: So I say all of that to say the. 357 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 2: Time was more than I to look at the defense 358 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: like it was. It was time if you were being 359 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: serious and that you feel really good and you feel 360 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: really strongly about your offense, you've got to go get 361 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 2: a defense to compliment it. Because that was something that 362 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 2: Jeff Olbrick and I were talking about the other days. 363 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 2: He's like, I do feel so confident in this offense 364 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 2: being able to be a high powered, high functioning and 365 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 2: scoring a lot of points. 366 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 3: And that's the. 367 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 2: Thing is like, if we're having the same conversation last year, 368 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 2: there was a time with this defense that I was like, 369 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:26,479 Speaker 2: if Atlanta is not scoring thirty five or yeah, if 370 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 2: they're not in the upper thirties, they are probably going 371 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 2: to lose. And you needed to get to the point 372 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 2: where you didn't rely so heavily on that and them 373 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 2: being able to do that, and I think like it 374 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 2: was very very obvious from go that they were going 375 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 2: to get players that were exactly what to your point 376 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 2: what Jeff Oulbrick, Terry Fano, Raheem Morris. They kept saying 377 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 2: over and over and over in every interview, we want 378 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 2: to go get impact players. We want to go get 379 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 2: impact players. We want to go get impact And it 380 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 2: got to the point where that word was just like 381 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: ping ponging in my brain impact. 382 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 3: Impact. 383 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 2: And I am sitting here now looking at this group, 384 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 2: I said, I was like, I don't think there was 385 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 2: a safety in college football the last two years that 386 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 2: was as impactful as an exavier. Wise, h, I don't 387 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 2: know if last year there was a even Georgia defender 388 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,959 Speaker 2: that was as impactful in that defense as Jalen Walker. 389 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 2: You went out and you got impactful players, and now's 390 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: the time now moving forward, it's like, how impactful can 391 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 2: they be early on because you're going to need them. 392 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: To be you absolutely will again. I think that it's 393 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: it is a great class, even though it's a smaller 394 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: class right now on paper. I love kind of the 395 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: names that Atlanta added. I'm excited to see what they 396 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: look like on the field and how it all comes together. 397 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: But I want to ask you two more questions about 398 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: this class in particular, and then we'll wrap up by 399 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 1: kind of taking a look around the division and see 400 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: how the NFC South has changed over the course of 401 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 1: this weekend. But first, do you have kind of a favorite? 402 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: Just pick not necessarily, like we love all of our children, right, so, 403 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: like I like this guy more than this guy, but 404 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: just was there either hey, just when it happened. It 405 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: was a surprise and the best way for me, or 406 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: I really attached to this guy in the pre draft process. 407 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: What stands out to you from this class? 408 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 3: It's it's Xavier Watts. 409 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 2: I feel kind of silly by not saying either Jaalen 410 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 2: Walker or James Pierce Junior, because it was I know, 411 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 2: I do love both of them. I can let yeah, 412 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: But I think everybody can talk about those first round guys, 413 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 2: and everybody has talked about those first round guys. 414 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 3: I think that Xavier. 415 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 2: Watts is going to be exceptionally impactful if he becomes 416 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 2: the player that I think he has the capabilities to 417 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: be and who's on an upward trajectory after only playing 418 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 2: this position for two years, Like I have big expectations 419 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: for someone like Xavier Watts, and I think the value 420 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 2: of him at as a number ninety six overall pick 421 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 2: is I mean value is high. 422 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 3: I think ceiling is high. 423 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 2: And I'm if you listen to our podcast breaking down 424 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 2: that pick, I was as excited as I have been 425 00:19:58,920 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: in this podcast. 426 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 1: To do you have for the thumbnail used, he must 427 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: have been just floating in the air. 428 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 2: It was just like my ponytail was just like straight up. 429 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 2: I was so I hope they don't clip that and 430 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 2: make that the thumbnail. 431 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: It don't do that. 432 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: But I I truly he was just he was the 433 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 2: type of player that I fell in love with in 434 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 2: the pre draft process, not that I didn't with Jaylen Walker. 435 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: You knew, like I kept saying, I'm not even going 436 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 2: to entertain the thought of Jalen Walker because I don't 437 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 2: think he's gonna be there, like and then he was, 438 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: and it's like, oh wow, that's fun, Like that's great. 439 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 2: And then to meet Jalen Walker and to meet James 440 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 2: christ Junior and to get into their heads and hear 441 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: their stories is fantastic. But Xavier Watch the player is 442 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 2: the one that I personally gravitated towards the most out 443 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 2: of this group in what he could be if he's 444 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 2: partnering with Jesse Bates. 445 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: You love a ball hawk, I do, of course. That 446 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: would Actually, that would be a fun episode. Like what 447 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: are the types of players if we were going to 448 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 1: power rank, if you could have any archetype, Yeah, the 449 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: player like a gunslinger versus just like a scap. 450 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 3: That would be fine. I would love it. 451 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: I'm a very traditional though I do think I am 452 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 2: way more traditional than I am not. 453 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: Okay, it's fair, but I'll go with Jalen Walker. It 454 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: kind of obvious, feels like, and I have high hopes 455 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: for James Pearce. I have high hopes for everybody. It's 456 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: more the kind of characteristics, the leadership traits, like being 457 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: able to talk to him in that press conference when 458 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: he was introduced to the Atlanta media. It's very clear 459 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: how thoughtfully is how smart of just kind of like 460 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: composed all of those things. And I was just thinking about, 461 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: you know, in the same offseason that you part ways 462 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,679 Speaker 1: with Grady Jarrett, who has forever been kind of like 463 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: viewed as the leader, the central figure. 464 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 3: The heart and soul of the defense. 465 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, the statesman of this Atlanta Falcons defense, You kind 466 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: of have a void there, right, and Jesse Bates incredible 467 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: leader in his own right of defensive team captain, like 468 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: I would expect him to step in there, right, Leonard 469 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: Floyd probably as well as like the connection of Raheem Morris, 470 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: things like that. I think, yeah, they'll all emerge to 471 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: leadership naturally takes kind of like it falls as it does. 472 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: But I think it is important that you drafted a 473 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: player who is universally like Kirby Smart, all of his 474 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: Georgia teammates a school of alphas. Yeah, honestly, the University 475 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 1: of Georgia is and. 476 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 3: As too alphas ourselves exactly. 477 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: And Jalen Walker is the alpha of alphas, right at 478 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: least according to everything I've read, everything I've heard. But 479 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: sitting there in that first press conference, I was like, 480 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 1: all right, I get it. I get it. So if 481 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: he's even, you know, three quarters of as good on 482 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: the field as I expect him to be, I'll be thrilled. 483 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 1: But like the leadership qualities, I just can't wait to 484 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: continue to talk to him to see how he grows 485 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: and matures as a player, because that's one of the 486 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: fun parts of this job is seeing a fresh face 487 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: Grady Jarrett in your one and then kind of talking 488 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: to him in your seven ye and you did the 489 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: whole decade like peace on him, and I'm sure that 490 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: was a lot of reflecting for you as well. And 491 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: it's just cool to see these guys grow and change, mature. 492 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 2: And like, well you think about Ajtrell coming out of here, 493 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 2: Yeah too, I remember, and I won't say names, but 494 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 2: I remember one time being like, I was talking to 495 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 2: a friend of mine who covered AJ at Clemson and 496 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 2: and they were like, he doesn't really talk. 497 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 3: All that much. He's not really a big talker. 498 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 2: And now seeing how AJ has blossomed into a he 499 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 2: still is not a huge talker, but he's so confident 500 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 2: in himself and you trust and he has such a 501 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 2: like presence about him, and he's kind of become so 502 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,239 Speaker 2: comfortable in his own skin and so confident in his 503 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 2: own skin that even when I did a podcast with 504 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 2: him recently and thinking back, because he was the very 505 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 2: very first podcast guest that I did for Falcons and 506 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 2: Focus like at the Stadium, it wasn't it was just 507 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 2: kind of the original idea that we had and he 508 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 2: was the first one I remember even then thinking back 509 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 2: on like he's now been in the podcast chair with 510 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 2: me three times and who he was, Like even this 511 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: is even in like year two or year three that 512 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 2: he was here, but now going into like his contract 513 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 2: extension and having him talk about his career, I mean, 514 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 2: that's there's something validating in that. And it's also not 515 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 2: just validating, but it's I think the human experience not 516 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 2: to get philosophical on this, but the human experience of 517 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 2: like people changing, people grow, and who people are in 518 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 2: their first year in the league when they're drinking water 519 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 2: out of a fire hydrant in their rookies and they'd 520 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 2: never stop and it's just all the time, non stop, 521 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 2: is not who they're going to be down the road, 522 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 2: and they're going to grow and change and evolve, and 523 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 2: give them the chance to give them the chance to 524 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 2: get better, give them the chance to make their mistakes 525 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: and grow from those. And I think like that's something 526 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 2: that if these players have the opportunity to be starters 527 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 2: very early on, they're not going to be one hundred 528 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 2: percent all the time. 529 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 3: No player is. 530 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 2: But I feel really good about where they could be 531 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 2: and honestly, where. 532 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 3: They may even be seven or eight games in too. 533 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 3: You know, you don't know. Right now, we're in. 534 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 2: The very early stages of evaluating these players. We haven't 535 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 2: even seen them in a Falcons uniform yet. We haven't 536 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 2: even seen them on the practice field yet. Even though 537 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 2: I can look at James Friers Junior and be. 538 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 3: Like, you're a tall dude, Like you're huge, how do. 539 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 2: You run a four four seven? But like, we haven't 540 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 2: seen them yet, we don't know what the vision is. 541 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 2: We can hear Jeff uhlerbrig talk about what he would 542 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 2: like to do with these guys. Maybe that changes, maybe 543 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,239 Speaker 2: that evolves very early on. 544 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:13,919 Speaker 3: We don't know. 545 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 2: I think ultimately there is optimism about this draft class 546 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 2: and the impact they can make. 547 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. I like your perspective there, though, because we are 548 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: viewing them like it's so easy to forget that when 549 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,880 Speaker 1: when Jayalen Walker and James Pearce walked in this facility 550 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 1: like bright wide eyes, like oh my god, I've just 551 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: gone through the craziest period of my life. This is 552 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: my dream coming to and we're all sitting here being like, yeah, 553 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: but how versatile can you really be? Are you biting 554 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 1: off too much before you can do one thing? Or 555 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: should you do. And like now they're nick picking and 556 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 1: doing all this and they're just like, you know, mini 557 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: camps a little while away, right, I just got selected, 558 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 1: I got my new job, my family's here. So it's like, 559 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 1: it's a great kind of let's keep perspective. Let's let's 560 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: not put the cart before the horse. They'll get out 561 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: there on the field, we'll see how they grow mature, 562 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: we'll see the rules they'll change. 563 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 3: And I'm excited about it. 564 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're not. They're not stuck in in cement right now, 565 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: and they're not a finished product at all. But there's 566 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: so much exciting about their game and the possibility of 567 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: what they could become. So let me ask you, after 568 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: the draft, free agency, you know, the waves have come 569 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,399 Speaker 1: and gone. There will be a small mini wave, as 570 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: there usually is after free agency, But what else is 571 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: left for the Falcons to do with their roster? 572 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 3: So I think that one a is Kirk Cousins. 573 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 2: He's going to continue to be the elephant in the 574 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 2: room until he's not and whatever that means. And I 575 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,959 Speaker 2: think that seeing how the quarterback market shook out from 576 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 2: the draft is going to make some other dominoes across 577 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 2: the league fall I think that there is going to 578 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 2: be some quarterback movement, some quarterback conversations, probably in the 579 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 2: next week or two, especially when you get closer to 580 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 2: that June one cut off date. 581 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 3: So that's one A, and'll. 582 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: Be we'll be keeping track of that monitoring in so Yeah, Kirk. 583 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 2: Cousins watch is it's gonna be again. It's gonna be 584 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 2: a thing until it's not a thing. So that's one A. 585 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 2: I do think just kind of looking at the scope 586 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 2: of what the Falcons need, I do want to see 587 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 2: them bring in a little competition for Ryan Noozle at center. 588 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 2: I know I've said this a couple times over the 589 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 2: podcast the last couple of days. I didn't think it 590 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 2: was absolutely necessary that they drafted a center, but let's 591 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 2: see kind of some guys that they get off the 592 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 2: UDFA market that bring in and who can kind of 593 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 2: push Ryan Newsal a little bit. It's like, you need 594 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: you need someone in there. You can't just kind of 595 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 2: give the guy no no player, whether it's Drake London, 596 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 2: Jon Robinson, Michael Pennix, like you gotta have a little 597 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 2: bit of that pushing. 598 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, how single coach wants to create competition right, right? 599 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 3: That's that's what you do this for. So I would 600 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 3: really like to see them go. 601 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 2: And maybe that's a veteran somewhere that may still be 602 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 2: out and about roaming around, or someone off of a 603 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 2: practice squad. So cinner is kind of a little bit 604 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 2: of a question mark. 605 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 3: Dot dot dot for me. 606 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: I also think that if there are some big time 607 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: D tackles out there, you know, if there are some 608 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 2: big body D tackles that are coming off of the 609 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 2: they're still on the free agency market or their UDFA. 610 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 1: Who's this year's Eddie Goldman? 611 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 2: Right? Yeah, Who's who's this big body defensive lineman that 612 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: can come in and eat up space in the middle 613 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 2: and be a rotational player if and when needed. 614 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 3: Those are the two areas. Again. 615 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 1: It's funny the guys like right across from each other. 616 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 2: Literally is right in the middle of that of the 617 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,959 Speaker 2: line of scrimmage is where I'm looking in terms of 618 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 2: this this roster. 619 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: You want a package deal? Yeah, I think makes a 620 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: lot of sense. And it's kind of as Day three 621 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: was going along and everybody was like who should we 622 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: still take, Like who's on the board, I was kind 623 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: of defaulting to some of those same things. Because when 624 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: you're looking at the roster, you're like, all right, if 625 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: I was going to pick and choose and plug you 626 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: know here, here, and here, the one I will say 627 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: in addition to those two would be wide receiver. Right. Yeah, 628 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: it was kind of the other spot that I thought 629 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: the Falcons could could maybe target in the seventh round. 630 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: There there were some interesting players, but they chose not 631 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: to of the positions though, like center, a big more 632 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 1: run stuffing tackle, and a third slash fourth receiver. Those 633 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: you can find those. Yes, I think the Falcons will 634 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: be able to add those as the summer takes along, 635 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: Spring turns into summer or whatever. So yeah, if those 636 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: are your kind of needs coming out of the draft. 637 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 3: I'll take it. 638 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: You're you're sitting pretty pretty I'll take. 639 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 2: It, especially considering how many defensive needs we have talked about. 640 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 1: O crazy howver again gotten here from where they were 641 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: in the off season. 642 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, very beginning of the off season. 643 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 2: Because remember I think I even said a podcast very 644 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 2: early on and we kind of you kind of gave 645 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 2: me a look. I remember this because I was like, 646 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 2: you know, there may be seven or eight starters of 647 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 2: the Falcons are looking to get like defensively, and I 648 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 2: think I said maybe I said six or seven, not. 649 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 3: Seven or eight. 650 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 2: And here we are now at the end of the draft, 651 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 2: and it's like, there's to your point, there's gonna be 652 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 2: a lot of new faces and a lot of new 653 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 2: rotations and a lot of new groupings, and I'm very 654 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 2: excited to see kind of what everything pans out to be. 655 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: Cool. Well, let's go ahead and wrap up today's podcast 656 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: with a quick look around the division. The Panthers made 657 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: seven picks. I believe the first round pick Ted McMillan, 658 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: out wide receiver, a bit of a surprise for everybody. 659 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: But then they did double up on the defense side 660 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: of the ball with a pair of edges, Nick Schurtzen 661 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 1: and Princely Uman Milan. There you go, I maybe I 662 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:35,239 Speaker 1: don't know, do you stick the landing judges? Okay, it was. 663 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: They also got a you know, our George boy Trevor ETN, 664 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: Lathan Ransom out of Ohio State, Cam Jackson defensive tackle 665 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: out of Florida, Mitch Levin's out of Notre Dame tight end, 666 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: and then they wrapped it up in the sixth round 667 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 1: with Jimmy Horn junior of Colorado. Any of those picks, 668 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: like really stand out to you for what Carolina did. 669 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 2: I mean, Carolina pumps so much into their defense during 670 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 2: free a free agency, so I was even though I 671 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 2: kept giving them Jalen Walker, I understand the Tet McMillan pick, 672 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 2: and I understand the Trevor ETN pick, and I the 673 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 2: Travis Sorry whichever one Trevor sorry. I'm like I literally 674 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 2: went I was like, that's not right, and then I 675 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 2: was like, no, that is right, It is right. 676 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 3: I was second guessing myself, but. 677 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 2: I understood the strategy behind that, and I understood after 678 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 2: all of it was said and done, why they valued 679 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 2: Tet McMillan so highly, because they had they pumped their 680 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 2: free agency resources into that defense. A lot of free 681 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 2: agency resources into that defense. That defense I think has 682 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 2: fundamentally changed. Yes, so you needed someone who can move 683 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,479 Speaker 2: the needle for you offensively, and I think they went 684 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 2: out and got the guy. 685 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. It's interesting to me that he was comped so 686 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: often too Drake Lennon during the pre draft process, and 687 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: it's like the Panthers have just watched Drake London just 688 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: tear them up and like do great things for the 689 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: last three years and they were like, we'll take one 690 00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: of those. Please. What's that table over there? Eating? Man 691 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: looks good? Can I get one of those? Yeah? Yeah? 692 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 1: So and also his size if your quarterback is smaller, 693 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: you know, Drew Brees had a lot of tall, wide receivers. 694 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure that that helps, you know, just being able 695 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: to lob it up there. So that is what the 696 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: Panthers did. Are you feeling better or worse about the 697 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: Panthers at this point? Are the same? I feel feel worse. 698 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 2: Honestly, I feel I just feel like the Panthers have 699 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 2: really are really going to take a step in and 700 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 2: be more competitive in twenty twenty five because I really 701 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 2: liked the the the Bobby Brown, the third yeah pick 702 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 2: up extending J C. Horn like they went and got 703 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 2: to think a pair of ed Rusher or another Oh 704 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 2: to shn Wharton. Yep, there are some guys that some 705 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 2: dudes that I think they got for their defense that 706 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 2: I again I think is gonna move the needle for them. 707 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: I agree. They were one of the fun kind of 708 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: like stories late in the year, right, So it would 709 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 1: be all right if the Panthers kind of do well. Right, 710 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 1: So let's have them take a step forward and the 711 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 1: Bucks and the Saints can just stay at the bottom 712 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: new era. Speaking of this, Saints though, they made let's 713 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 1: see what we have eight selections, starting with Kelvin Banks Junior, 714 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: the offensive tackle in the first round of pick number nine. 715 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: What were your thoughts when they went offensive tackle? 716 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 2: I did give I drafted them. I mocked a couple 717 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 2: of offensive tackles to them because I did know that 718 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 2: was in need for them. They were in need of 719 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 2: a starting tackle more often than not. I went defense though, 720 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 2: I even like cornerback. I went linebacker with them. I 721 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 2: went edge rusher with them. So to see that they 722 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 2: were valuing offensive tackle that need I think so highly, 723 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:39,040 Speaker 2: was very interesting. What's more interesting about the Saints. 724 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 1: Though second round pick is their second round pick, Yeak 725 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: Tyler Tyler Shuck out of Louisville quarterback. Everybody you know, 726 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: when the Derek Carr kind of reports started coming out, 727 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 1: the Saints were talked about as a shadoor team. Maybe 728 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: they didn't do it in the first round. They waited 729 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: until the second round. What do you think about Tyler Shuck? 730 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 2: I I'm so interested to see what shakes out with 731 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 2: the quarterback situation with the Saints, Like, it's that quarterback 732 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 2: room is fascinating. You can kind of joke about how 733 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 2: some quarterback rooms, like you can talk about the Browns 734 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,320 Speaker 2: who did get sor Sanders and they got Joe Flacco 735 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:15,720 Speaker 2: and they got Kenny Pickett. 736 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: Or like the Seahawks, you know, yeah, Sea Hawks, we 737 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,720 Speaker 1: came out before they traded Sam Howell back to the Viking, right. 738 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, Like there are some interesting like groupings of 739 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 2: quarterbacks across the league, and the Saints are one of 740 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 2: the weirder ones. And what happens if Derek Carr isn't 741 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 2: one hundred percent in twenty twenty five? Who are you 742 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 2: gonna run out there? Like do you do you run 743 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,720 Speaker 2: out Taylor? Do you run out Spencer Rattler? 744 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 3: Like, yeah, I don't know, And. 745 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 2: I'm glad I don't have to make any decisions on 746 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:50,759 Speaker 2: that because that that whole situation seems really kind of 747 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 2: up the creek without a paddle. It's like nice, that's 748 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 2: that's kind of how I feel about it, that quarterback situation. 749 00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:59,359 Speaker 1: Well, they've they've gotten out of the creek, they've found 750 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,799 Speaker 1: their banks, and now they can move forward with the 751 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 1: offensive line. You're looking at me like I was ready 752 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: to just end this. 753 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:07,320 Speaker 3: I was going back. 754 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 2: And forth between like just booing on the spot or 755 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:11,760 Speaker 2: like throwing my computer. 756 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,239 Speaker 3: It went back and forth. I didn't either. I kept 757 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 3: it together. 758 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:18,280 Speaker 1: This is a very regular occurrence. So I am totally 759 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 1: normal and cool with this, and we'll take it in shred. 760 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:25,240 Speaker 1: Moving on, Vernon Broughton, the defensive tackle out of Texas 761 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: with the third round pick. Jonas Sanker, safety out of Virginia. 762 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:32,520 Speaker 1: Another third round pick for them, Danny Streutzman, Oklahoma linebacker. 763 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 1: A lot of Oklahoma defenders kind of in this cycle, 764 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 1: Notre Dame, like good, good, solid, like big school defensive players. 765 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: I always like to see that. Quincy Riley cornerback out 766 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 1: of Louisville, Devin Neil running back Kansas, Malachy Mataveo, Yep, 767 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 1: pretty sure I nailed that one. Yep, tight end UCLA 768 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: and Fidel Diggs wrapping it up in the seventh round. 769 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,360 Speaker 1: The Edge out of Syracuse, who was somebody like I 770 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: kind of kept looking at just going through the mock 771 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,920 Speaker 1: drafts in the seventh round for the Falcons. So did 772 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:03,439 Speaker 1: the Saints move the needle in any way for you? 773 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 1: With kind of their offensive tackle selection in the first round. 774 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 2: No, no, no, because I think they have bigger issues 775 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,720 Speaker 2: than offensive tackle. I think they have bigger fish to fry, 776 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 2: and I don't know what's gonna happen with them. 777 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:15,560 Speaker 3: So the needle didn't. 778 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 2: I mean, I can say that it got like worse, 779 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:19,880 Speaker 2: like you know, like I can't say that it dipped, 780 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:21,840 Speaker 2: but I don't think it moved. 781 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 3: For me at all. 782 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:25,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, I gotcha. I feel the exact same way. So 783 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:28,440 Speaker 1: moving on to Tampa Bay, who won the NFC South 784 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:31,640 Speaker 1: last year, they went with Amikagbuka in the first round 785 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: of again a kind of a surprise. I watched a 786 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: receiver pick for the Bucks. He's somebody who's constantly kind 787 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 1: of comped to Chris Godwin. Right, so now you got 788 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 1: just a couple of them. 789 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:45,400 Speaker 2: Hey, you know they're kind of just trying to outscore 790 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:47,279 Speaker 2: people at this point, you know, like they're just like, 791 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 2: we feel good about Baker, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin. Now 792 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,520 Speaker 2: now you have a third option, which, like, at. 793 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 1: That's a good third receiver. 794 00:36:56,040 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 3: He is, the fact that. 795 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 2: Your third receiver is a number well, but also the 796 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:05,239 Speaker 2: number nineteen overall first round pick is kind of like bananas. 797 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,359 Speaker 2: But like when you have Mike Green or Mike Green. 798 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,959 Speaker 2: When you have Mike Evans and then you have Chris 799 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,960 Speaker 2: Godwin out there, it's kind of like, well, dang, Like. 800 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I'm looking, didn't they draft last year McMillan 801 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 1: out of Washington? Did they? So don't they have I'm 802 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: trying to the internet here. We have body all the weekend. 803 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:29,880 Speaker 2: That is one thing that is we've all been working 804 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 2: so hard. There's so many people in Flowery Branch that 805 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 2: the Wi Fi is like. 806 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 1: All right, but I got their roster pulled up. Let's 807 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:41,759 Speaker 1: see wide receiver. Yeah, Jalen McMillan. They drafted them right 808 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 1: last year, so they are just like draft picks, draft picks, 809 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:47,520 Speaker 1: draft picks at wide receiver. Yeah, you know, you can't 810 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:50,719 Speaker 1: blame them, but it feels like there's a logjam a 811 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: little bit. 812 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:52,319 Speaker 3: It does well. 813 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 2: It's like with the same conversation that you always have 814 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:56,720 Speaker 2: with the Falcons when you have coll Pits, Drake London, 815 00:37:56,760 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 2: but John Robinson, Tyler Algier, Darnelle Mooney, like, you have 816 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:02,960 Speaker 2: so many offensive weapons, how can you possibly make all 817 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 2: of them happy? 818 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:05,319 Speaker 3: How can you possibly get the ball in all of 819 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 3: their hands? And the truth is you can't. The truth is, 820 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:11,959 Speaker 3: it's like you have to hope that like. 821 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,600 Speaker 2: Egos don't stand in the way, because then there's like 822 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,080 Speaker 2: if they do, then then you got guys being pissed 823 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:18,719 Speaker 2: that they're not getting the ball and they're not, you know, 824 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:21,640 Speaker 2: potentially gonna get paid their next contract. But I think, 825 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:24,240 Speaker 2: like that's not been a problem here in Atlanta. It'll 826 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:27,560 Speaker 2: be interesting to see kind of what happens with the 827 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:31,840 Speaker 2: Bucks moving forward. They're a lethal offense, though they have 828 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 2: been I think for a while. Ever since Baker Mayfield 829 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:38,239 Speaker 2: has really dug his heels down in that offense, they've 830 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:41,439 Speaker 2: been really good and they're hard to stop. I think 831 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 2: they just got harder to stop. But I don't know 832 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 2: if they did anything to shure up like certain positions 833 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:50,680 Speaker 2: future Like that was the big thing with me, is 834 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 2: why I kept going to hide Campbell to them linebacker 835 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 2: Ount of Alabama at nineteen. It was because Levonte David 836 00:38:58,600 --> 00:38:59,720 Speaker 2: is not getting any younger. 837 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,279 Speaker 1: He's been not getting any younger for like seven years, right, 838 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: And I. 839 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,800 Speaker 2: Think at a certain point you got to start thinking about, Okay, 840 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:08,200 Speaker 2: like what is the the kind of second wave of 841 00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:10,840 Speaker 2: your defense look like? And what does it look like 842 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:14,320 Speaker 2: when some of these guys who are aging are aging out, 843 00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:16,440 Speaker 2: and what do you do next? So I think it's 844 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 2: it's interesting, it's an interesting strategy, and we'll kind of 845 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:21,960 Speaker 2: see where those holes are for the bucks. 846 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:23,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, but it's kind of like, what was that space 847 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:27,640 Speaker 1: for improvement? If you are already A, if you're already minus, Like, yeah, 848 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:29,680 Speaker 1: you go to an A is like a small jump 849 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:31,480 Speaker 1: as already C plus to a B plus. 850 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:33,520 Speaker 2: Right, when you already have Mike Evans, when you already 851 00:39:33,520 --> 00:39:35,960 Speaker 2: have Chris Gonw when you already have like million, what's. 852 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,400 Speaker 1: The opportunity costs for another position to get better? Right, 853 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:42,239 Speaker 1: to make an incremental gain for a fourth receiver? Ye, yeah, 854 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:44,440 Speaker 1: that's I'm with you on that. It's interesting. But they 855 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:48,239 Speaker 1: Kate Oughten too, right, And plus Baker Mayfield noted dual 856 00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:50,400 Speaker 1: threat quarterback. He's got to get his touches, got to 857 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:54,320 Speaker 1: design some bootlegs for him. They they went defense. So 858 00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:57,720 Speaker 1: the next four picks doubled up at corner Benjamin Morrison 859 00:39:57,760 --> 00:39:59,319 Speaker 1: out of Notre Dame. A lot of people, you know, 860 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:02,680 Speaker 1: some mocked him to the Falcons, tied him to the Falcons. 861 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:06,480 Speaker 1: Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish was their third round pick, 862 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:09,400 Speaker 1: and then they went edge with David Walker from Central 863 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:12,560 Speaker 1: Arkansas or no, I'm not even gonna try to say 864 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 1: how the the like Irish LA a lot of international fans. Yeah, yeah, 865 00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 1: but it was it was like an Arkansas in there. 866 00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: And then Elijah Roberts out of SMU, another edge defender, 867 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 1: before they wrapped it up with Oregon wide receiver Tes 868 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:28,480 Speaker 1: Johnson in the seventh round. Who was I know, he's tiny. 869 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:30,399 Speaker 1: He was one of my favorite players at the Senior Bowl, 870 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:32,959 Speaker 1: but he lit it up at the Senior Bowl. Yeah, 871 00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:36,719 Speaker 1: so two wide receivers. I like both of them there 872 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:41,600 Speaker 1: their corners. I do like Benjamin Morrison. David Walker somebody 873 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:44,400 Speaker 1: I looked at, but he makes sense for them. Not 874 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 1: so much Atlanta because like he could be a fourth 875 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:49,239 Speaker 1: or fifth pass rusher and more of a designated like 876 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:54,040 Speaker 1: go get them kind of guy. But out of everybody 877 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:57,000 Speaker 1: aside from Atlanta, the other NFC South teams, I kind 878 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: of liked the Bucks draft. 879 00:40:58,160 --> 00:40:58,640 Speaker 3: Yeah. 880 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 2: Well, to me, it's the most interesting, it's the most intriguing. 881 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:04,600 Speaker 2: It's the one that I'm most curious about. And I 882 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 2: think that I said the Saints didn't really move the 883 00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:10,319 Speaker 2: needle for me, I said, the Panthers, you know, kind 884 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 2: of maybe did a little bit the Bucks. I do 885 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:17,359 Speaker 2: think according to how some of these second third round pick, 886 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:19,399 Speaker 2: the day two picks kind of pan out for them, 887 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:21,680 Speaker 2: I think will be very interesting to see something that 888 00:41:21,719 --> 00:41:23,839 Speaker 2: I want to bring up though, before we hop off, 889 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 2: as Warren Sharp just tweeted the best value twenty twenty 890 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:31,799 Speaker 2: five NFL draft classes, Atlanta Falcons came in at number one. 891 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:32,840 Speaker 1: Let's go. 892 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,520 Speaker 2: So, I think, how about that and by a pretty 893 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:41,239 Speaker 2: significant margin, I'm looking at most valuable based on that. 894 00:41:41,239 --> 00:41:43,200 Speaker 1: Goes to your point though, they let the draft come 895 00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:45,319 Speaker 1: to them right right, And we're always saying that about 896 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 1: teams like the Eagles and the Steelers and the raven 897 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:51,799 Speaker 1: and it's like, hey, look at us, Yeah, who would 898 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:52,080 Speaker 1: have thought? 899 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:55,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, in terms of like values versus reaches, Atlanta is 900 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:57,920 Speaker 2: way on the value side number one. 901 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:00,560 Speaker 1: In fact, top two hundred and fifty picks, Falcons had 902 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:04,240 Speaker 1: five of them. That means a lot of value. Nailed 903 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:06,120 Speaker 1: nailed all their their picks. 904 00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:08,480 Speaker 2: And it's what they to your earlier point and what 905 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:10,680 Speaker 2: you wrote about earlier this week, it's what they had 906 00:42:10,719 --> 00:42:11,000 Speaker 2: to do. 907 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:13,680 Speaker 1: Yep. So that's a great place I think to wrap 908 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:17,600 Speaker 1: up this podcast, wrapping up the twenty twenty five NFL 909 00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:20,319 Speaker 1: Draft for the Atlanta Falcons. So thank you so much 910 00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:22,840 Speaker 1: for joining me for each of these. Tory, thank you 911 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:24,960 Speaker 1: to Jared, our producer for all of these. He's been 912 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:27,759 Speaker 1: pulling some late nighters, early mornings to make sure that 913 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:30,360 Speaker 1: we get that out there. But I am Will McFadden 914 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:32,920 Speaker 1: for Tory mclaney. Thank you guys for following along all 915 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 1: draft weekends. Stay tuned for some more excellent coverage, But 916 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:38,000 Speaker 1: until then, take care 917 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:39,440 Speaker 3: And we're going to go get some sleep.