1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Inside the Draft, a weekly preview of the 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: upcoming NFL Draft with insiders from around the country. Inside 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: the Draft is back our weekly look at the upcoming 4 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: NFL Draft, which goes down at the end of April. 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: High everybody, I'm Matt Taylor with Casey Valier. We're inside 6 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: the Indiana Union Construction Industry radio studio and the Colts 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: currently hold the fourth overall pick in the draft and 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: speculation running wild on what the Colts will do picking 9 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: that high in the draft following a four twelve and 10 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: one season in twenty twenty two. To help us or 11 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,959 Speaker 1: doll out, today, we welcome in. Luke Easterling is our 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: guest NFL draft analysts from the Draft Wire and USA Today. 13 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: You can follow him and his work online on Twitter 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: at Luke Easterling. Luke, thanks for the time today. Always 15 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: good to have you back for another year talking draft. 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: How you doing today, Hey, it's my pleasure, guys. I'm 17 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: doing great. Obviously, my favorite time of year here, getting 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: into the real thick it right with Combine season and 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: the Bowl has already done, so it's it's obviously my Christmas. 20 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: I've been doing this for a long time and still 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: haven't still haven't gotten old yet. So I think that's 22 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: a good sign, right, no doubt about it. And you know, 23 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 1: obviously a lot of intrigue here with the Cults sitting 24 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: there at number four and could be looking at a quarterback. Luke, 25 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: So tell us how good this quarterback class is compared 26 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: to last year and just how top heavy it is. 27 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 1: I mean, definitely a lot lot better than than last year's, 28 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: especially at the top. Right. Last year we saw you know, 29 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: one quarterback in the first round, and that was at twenty, 30 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: which means it could have been you know, it could 31 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: have very easily been no quarterbacks at all. And I think, 32 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: you know, even just the little sample size we saw 33 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: from them last year, the difference between what we saw 34 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: from Kenny Pickett, who was the first quarterback off the board, 35 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: and the difference between that and Brock Purty, who was 36 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: the last pick in the entire draft, just shows you 37 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: what an interesting class that was. But this is this 38 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: is a whole different ball game this year. This year, 39 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: the conversation is driven by four names at the top. 40 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: There's a couple of intriguing guys after that, and then 41 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: it's kind of, you know, maybe just waiting and not 42 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: drafting anybody after that, there's going to be an interesting 43 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: it's gonna be interesting to see how the rest of 44 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: that class goes. But at the top, you've got four legitimate, 45 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: probably top ten guys. I would separate them into two tiers. 46 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: I think Bryce Young from Alabama and c. J. Stroud 47 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: from Ohio State are in their own TIERA, and I 48 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: think the next two we'd be Will Levis from Kentucky 49 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: and Anthony Richardson from Florida. Obviously, I think those guys 50 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: on a potential ton of upside, but you know, more flaws, 51 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: more inconsistency, more concern, more of a boom er bust 52 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: to their game than I think we have with Young 53 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: and Strout, who I think could be immediate day one 54 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: starters and play at a high level. All right, So 55 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: within that, as you said, you've got two tiers, right, 56 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: two different guys in two different tiers. When you look 57 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,399 Speaker 1: at the first tier, if you will, right, Bryce Young 58 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: and c. J. Strout, how much separation is there between 59 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: those two guys in the same tier, if you will, 60 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: not a lot, not a lot. And I think what 61 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: it will come down to, what it usually comes down to, 62 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: It for for every team is you know, certain traits, 63 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: certain styles of play, how these guys fit into your scheme, 64 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: And obviously that applies that every position, but quarterback even 65 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: more so right because it's such an important position. All 66 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: of those things are just kind of heightened at that 67 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: position and it has to be the right fit right, 68 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: And that goes for you know, the mental makeup as 69 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: well in terms of the scheme, personality, all of those things, 70 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: those interviews behind the scenes that the teams have, all 71 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: of that plays into the evaluation and how a team 72 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: likes the quarterback to fit. But in terms of just 73 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: in a vacuum, the way I have to do things right, 74 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: I have to look at it across the board. I'm 75 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: not a specific team. So the things that differentiate those 76 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: two guys for me is that obviously there's the size issue, right, 77 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: Bryce Young's listed at six ft one five. We know 78 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: what the word listed means in this business also, where 79 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: you know it's usually I just go back when I 80 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: was playing in high school. I remember I was a 81 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: Sophomoreum just for reference, I'm like five eleven and like 82 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: shade over two hundred. Right now, I'm thirty eight years old. 83 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm my sophomore year. The newspaper said I was six 84 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: two and like one eighty five, but yeah you were, 85 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: Yeah you were, And I say, I go back to uh, 86 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: I go back to something that Jared Lorenzen said when 87 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: he was at Kentucky UM. Somebody said, as somebody said 88 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: to him in an interview, it's like, you're listed at 89 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: two hundred and eighty five pounds. What do you think 90 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: about that? It says that in the media guide. What 91 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: do you think he's like, I think that's a really 92 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: nice media guy. And so that's that's kind of how 93 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: I feel like your driver's license, right, yeah, two ten, 94 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: I think exactly. So that's kind of how we feel 95 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: about that word in this industry. Right when you see 96 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: a guy is listed at a certain level, certain numbers, 97 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: and you can't you look at him and you're kind 98 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 1: of like, probably not, probably not, but uh, that's kind 99 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: of the concern with bright Young, Right, if he's listed 100 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: at six foot ninety five, he's probably less than both 101 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: of those numbers, And since six foot one ninety five 102 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: is already pretty small, not just in a high standpoint, 103 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: but but it's the bulk, right, if you're gonna get 104 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: knocked around. As an NFL quarterback, you got you gotta 105 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: be able to hang in the pocket. You gotta be 106 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: able to take that beating at times. And he's he's 107 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: a small guy, you know. It just it is what 108 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: it is. So that's obviously the biggest and really the 109 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 1: only concern with Bryce Young, and I think that's it. 110 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: The fact that a guy his size is still in 111 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: the conversation to go number one overall. Go back five 112 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: ten years and tell me that a guy that big 113 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: would be good enough to still be in the conversation 114 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: to go number one overall despite that, it just hasn't 115 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: been the case for most of the league's existence. And 116 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: that just speaks to how good he is at everything else, 117 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: all the important stuff. Right, Size isn't really a skill. 118 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: You are what you are what you are. He can 119 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: do so many things, really everything you need a franchise 120 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: quarterback to do at such a high level that we're 121 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: still talking about him going number one overall because despite 122 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: the size, and it is what I mean, And so 123 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,679 Speaker 1: obviously with Steve CJ. Stroud, you don't have those concerns. 124 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: He's got the prototypical size in frame six four six three. 125 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,799 Speaker 1: You know, the weight, everything you'd look for. He looks 126 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: the part of the franchise quarterback. Right. The difference comes 127 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: in the play that we've seen over the last two years. 128 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: I think CJ. Stroud picked the best possible time to 129 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: have the best game of his life when he went 130 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,799 Speaker 1: in and played Georgia in the College Fold place. Honestly 131 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: reminiscent of of what Justin Fields did against Clemson in 132 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: the semifinal as well a few years back. Right went 133 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: in against the dominant defense, one of the best, if 134 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: not the best, in the country, and lit them up. 135 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: And didn't just light them up. He did it without 136 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: Marvin Harrison Junior for a lot of that game after 137 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: the first quarter. He did it in ways that we 138 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 1: were waiting to see him do it. Right. The book 139 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: on Stroud up to that point was in the pocket. 140 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: When things go well, he is surgical, right, he will 141 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 1: pick you apart all day long. When things get muddy, 142 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: when things get messy and he's got a out of 143 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: the pocket and he's got to make things happen, it's 144 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: not as consistent, right. That was what we what we 145 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: saw from him up to that game. The Georgia game, 146 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: we saw it all He was making plays outside the pocket. 147 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: He was creating on his own, making big throws on 148 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: the run, and no matter what happened against the best 149 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: defense in the country on the biggest stage, he made 150 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: enough plays to make to put them a position to 151 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: win that game and really should have won that game. Right, 152 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: So big plays in the clutch using his legs and 153 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: athletic sys them. I mean everything, we every question we 154 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,679 Speaker 1: had about c J. Strout he answered at the best 155 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: possible time, right. So the only difference I would say 156 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: in terms of their on field play, if we take 157 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: the size thing out of it, is that while it 158 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: was great to see c J. Strout answer those questions 159 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: against Georgia, Bryce Young played that way for two years straight, 160 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: so he was he was that type of performer every 161 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: week for a longer period of time, versus just seeing 162 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: it that one time. And yes it was a big moment, 163 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: and yes it was very important for Stroud. That's what 164 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: I think would still separate Bryce Young for me is 165 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: that on big stages against small teams, big teams, no 166 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: matter who they were playing, and honestly, they lost a 167 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: lot of talent, particularly at wide receiver this past season, 168 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: and he had a lot more on his shoulders. Bryce 169 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: Young did and the output was basically the same. So 170 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: you know, go back and look at the clutch comebacks 171 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: against Auburn two years ago, the Texas game this past year. 172 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: He's a guy who who can put his team on 173 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: his shoulders and make it happen week in and week out. 174 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: That's what gives him the edge still to me is 175 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: that we saw that consistent body of work on a 176 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: weekly basis for two full seasons. Row did it really 177 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: once in the big moment, in the big stage. So 178 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: that still leaves a little bit of a question market 179 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: to whether he can be that guy consistently on a 180 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: weekly basis. Now that second tier you talk about with 181 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: Will Levis and Anthony Richardson, they both kind of have, 182 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: you know, these high ceilings potentially at the low floor. 183 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: When you look at those two guys, what is the 184 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: biggest thing that's holding him back? Is it just the 185 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: people they get the weapons around them? Is that at 186 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: all what affects Richardson and Levis in their inconsistencies. I 187 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: think that's part of it. I think the big thing. 188 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: And for me, Richardson would be ahead of Levis right now, 189 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: and I don't know how popular that is or not, 190 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: but but for me it was going into this season, 191 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: we had a little bit more of a sample size 192 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: with Levis, right, and Richardson hadn't been the full time 193 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: starter until this past season, which is its own kind 194 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: of concern, right. I know, a lot of teams want 195 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: to see more than a year's worth of starts from 196 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: a quarterback, especially if they're going to use a top 197 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: ten pick on him. And the way Richardson started this 198 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: season was rough. I mean, I went to USF, so 199 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: I was happy to see him play poorly in the 200 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: USF game and the Bulls almost won that game in 201 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: the swamp. That was pretty fun. But in terms of 202 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: evaluating him, he had a really rough start to the year, right, 203 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: more turnovers and touchdown passes for a lot of that season. 204 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: But I think I think a lot of people wrote 205 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: him off after the first few weeks of the season 206 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: and really didn't pay close enough attention to the progression 207 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: that he made, particularly as a passer throughout the rest 208 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: of the year, because he got a lot better in 209 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: terms of his processing his pocket maneuverability. Could you could 210 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: argue that he's got some of the best pocket presents 211 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: in this entire class, still as raw as he is, 212 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: but you see the arm talent, you see the athleticism, 213 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: the speed, There's so much there to work with that 214 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: If you go back and look at some of the 215 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: riskier quarterbacks that have panned out in recent years, obviously 216 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes come to mind, and that's 217 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: too lofty of a comparison to make. But if you 218 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: were to go back and say that about those guys 219 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: back then, it would have seemed justice silly, right, No, 220 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: But you know that there was that was the book 221 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: on both of those guys. Too high risk, high reward, 222 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: big physical tools, lots of potential, but a lot of 223 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: bus potential because the inconsistency was there. So Richardson, I think, 224 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: better athlete, more speed, the arm strength is probably you know, 225 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: the same, in the same atmosphere as Levis, and I 226 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: feel like he got better as the season progressed. I 227 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,719 Speaker 1: feel like Levis coming into the season had a lot 228 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: of those questions from last year. Consistency, decision making, accuracy. 229 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: We knew he had a big arm, We knew he 230 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: was a good athlete, we knew he was a tough, 231 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: competitive leader, but we wanted to see the consistency with 232 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 1: the turnovers again, the decision making, the accuracy, and I 233 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: just don't think he got better. I don't think the 234 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: film showed a guy who made the kind of progression 235 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: that we saw from Richardson, particularly down the second half 236 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: of the season. So I think that in general, the 237 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: lack of polished, a lack of consistency, the lack of reliability, 238 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: that's what separates the two tiers. And within that second tier, 239 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:36,239 Speaker 1: I feel like Richardson has more athleticism and more upside 240 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: and showed more improvement and progression down the stretch last 241 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 1: year that would give him the nod to me make 242 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: me more excited and more kind of confident in his 243 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: ability to continue that progression at the next level as 244 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: opposed to let us now Luke. One of the guys 245 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: that's kind of on the outside of those tiers is 246 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: hen and Hooker look to be a guy who was 247 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: probably going to be in that Heisman conversation but then 248 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: had that acl and it definitely took at a dip 249 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: in his draft stock as well. Where do you see 250 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: a guy like Hendon Hooker, you know, ending up in 251 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: this draft. Yeah, he is the big wildcard. Right, I 252 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: talked about there's only a couple more guys that I 253 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: might think are even draftable. Tama McKee from Stanford is 254 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: the other guy. But Hendon Hooker is going to be 255 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: the very interesting study for the entire league. Right, how 256 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: do you value a player that had when he was healthy, 257 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: had such an incredible season, And go back and watch 258 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: the Alabama game. Obviously the big you know, upset win 259 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: and a what a huge win that was at that 260 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 1: point in the season. The way he played, I mean, 261 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: the athleticism, the arm, talent, throws maybe the best deep 262 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: ball in this entire class. Just a beautiful deep ball thrower. 263 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: But the two biggest concerns you're going to have is 264 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: you have a late season acl It's not like it 265 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: happened in September, So you have a concern about how 266 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 1: healthy he's going to be to start his first NFL 267 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: training camp. And I think exacerbating that concern is the 268 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: fact that he's gonna be a twenty five five year 269 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: old rookie. So in terms of development, in terms of 270 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: investing in a rookie, you know, if you're talking about 271 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: a first round pick, it's a very different conversation. Is 272 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: if you're talking about a third round pick, right if 273 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: he because of the injury, because of the age, and 274 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: the fact that, I mean, you might not get him 275 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: fully healthy through an off season until he's twenty six 276 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: years old, And so it just depends on what type 277 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: of team you are, what kind of investment you're willing 278 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: to make, how patient can you be, and obviously how 279 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: healthy he can get before you know he's able to 280 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: be the player we saw for the first two thirds 281 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: of that season. I mean, that guy can be a 282 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: franchise quarterback. It's just you've got to be comfortable with 283 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: the age and you've got to be comfortable with the 284 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: medicals to the point where you could invest an early 285 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: round pick. Again, quarterbacks are just too important. So would 286 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: it surprised me at all to see somebody particularly trade 287 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: into the bottom half of the first round because they 288 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: think he's just too good and regardless of whenever he 289 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: gets healthy, they'd rather have him healthy at twenty six 290 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 1: on the rookie contract with a fifth year option to 291 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: take advance image of those talent, of that talent and 292 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: take their chances. That wouldn't surprise me at all. It's 293 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: too important of a position would it surprised me if 294 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: all of those teams say, you know what, we just 295 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: we can't do it. We're not comfortable with the knee. 296 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: We're not comfortable with spending a first round pick on 297 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: a guy at that age who's going to be coming 298 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: off a knee injury and wait until the third round, 299 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: maybe even the fourth to take a chance on a 300 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: guy like that. Wouldn't surprise me either. I love the upside. 301 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: I'm obviously rooting for him. You always want to see 302 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: a guy bounce back from that, especially as it electrifying 303 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: of a playmaker as he was for the first two 304 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: thirds of that season. You're obviously rooting for him. But 305 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: he's going to be the wild card in this group. 306 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: Those four, those top four guys are probably all going 307 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: in the top ten, definitely all in the first round. 308 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: Like Hooker's probably going to be the next guy off 309 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: the board, and it could be a long wait to 310 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: see that next quarterback. It's good stuff. Luke Easterling is 311 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: the NFL Draft analysts from The Draft Wire and USA Today. 312 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: Follow him on Twitter at Luke Easterling. Luke doubling back 313 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: to the Colts and I know you don't you obviously 314 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: don't cover the Colts, and you've got to cover the 315 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: draft from a big broad you know, standpoint. If you 316 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: can focus on the Colts for just a second, how 317 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: much urgency would you have if you're the Colts to 318 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: move up to number one and grab the quarterback that 319 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: you deem the best fit in the draft, considering they're 320 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: already at number four. Just the idea of going up 321 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: to number one to get the guy that they deem 322 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: is the best quarterback in the draft, so that no 323 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: one else, including the Houston Texans at two, don't have 324 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: that guy. Yeah, so's there's a lot of dynamics here 325 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: that are very unique. Right. You've got the fact that 326 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: obviously you need a franchise quarterback. You're gonna have to 327 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: you know, probably jump ahead of not just any team, 328 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: but a team in your division. Right, So obviously, you know, 329 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: when it comes to quarterback, it's just too important if 330 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: you identify a guy. And I say this all the 331 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: time about quarterbacks that go in the second round. If 332 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: a quarterback has a second round grade, you're gonna have 333 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: to take him in the first round. It's just too important. Okay, 334 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: that's just the way that the league goes. So when 335 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: you talk about being at the top five, if a 336 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: quarterback should go number four, if you're that if you're 337 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: that committed, if you're that sure that he can be 338 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: a franchise guy that you'd spend the top five pick on, 339 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: it's too important to not just go get him at 340 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: the number one, Okay, whatever that will cost. And again, 341 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: these guys in a vacuum. Again, the way I do 342 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: this work is a very macro how would this apply 343 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: as closely as possible to any general team? And in 344 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: that respect, obviously Bryce Young and CJ. Strout are very similar. 345 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: You know, Chris Ballard may have a completely different idea 346 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: of what exactly he wants the Indianapolis Colts quarterback to be. 347 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: And that might be Bryce Young, that might be CJ. Strout, 348 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: But whoever it is, you can't let your division rival 349 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: get that guy instead if you're that sure that he 350 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: can be the guy. Right. So that's what I think 351 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: will ultimately propel the Colts should be very aggressive in 352 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: trying to move up. If they're convinced one of those 353 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: guys is that much better or that much more of 354 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: a fit. It could very easily be that they're very 355 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: comfortable with both of those guys. I don't think that 356 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: happens very often. I think usually usually these decision makers 357 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 1: get in a room with a guy and really like 358 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: one guy, particularly a quarterback. It just it matters that much. 359 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: So I think at the end of the day, it's 360 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: it's more likely that they would move up again. You 361 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: don't want to face that guy two times a year. 362 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: If you're convinced he can be a game changing quarterback. 363 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 1: You just don't want that. So that's what I think 364 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: will ultimately get the deal done. And you obviously have 365 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: a very motivated seller in the Chicago Bear. Right. You 366 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: know they end up at number one, they don't need 367 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: a quarterback. I'm sure they'll pretend that they might take 368 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: one to try to drive the price up. I don't 369 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: think anybody should buy that. But you know, there's leverage 370 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: on both sides, right, The Bears will be able to 371 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: leverage the fact that Houston is at too and say, hey, 372 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: if you don't want to if you don't want your 373 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: guy going to your division, right, well come up here 374 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: and get him. And the frustration kind of for the 375 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: Colts is that that trade is probably gonna involve next 376 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: year's first round pick probably gonna involve the thirty fifth 377 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: overall pick, that second round pick, and there's a lot 378 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: of things, a lot of other things the Colts need, 379 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: particularly in the second round. There would that would you know, 380 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: that's be a great spot for a left tackle, be 381 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: a great spot for a pass rusher or a corner, 382 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: some other things that they need. But again, at the 383 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 1: end of the day, it's a quarterback league. Man. If 384 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: you if you don't have one, you better get one. 385 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: And I think the Colts are in a great spot 386 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: because let's play it out in the other way, right, 387 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 1: let's play it out the other way. You said that 388 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: you think, you know what, there's two of these quarterbacks 389 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: we like, we'll call the Bears bluff that they won't 390 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: take one, and they don't, and then you get to 391 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: Houston and they get to take their pick. Arizona is 392 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 1: at three. They're obviously not going to take one. But 393 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: the problem with doing that is it you have Vegas 394 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: at at seven, you've got Carolina at nine, you've even 395 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,479 Speaker 1: got Detroit at six. They probably won't take the quarterback, 396 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: but you can't be so sure that some other team 397 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: that needs a quarterback that's close enough to make a jump. 398 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: Isn't going to get enamored with whoever the other guy 399 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: is to jump up with Arizona. You think Arizona would 400 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 1: mind coming down from for number three with all the 401 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: needs that they have and get in the haul to 402 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: go back to seven or nine with Vegas and Carolina. 403 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: And now all of a sudden, you sat at four 404 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: thinking you're gonna get the second best guy that you're 405 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: okay with, and now somebody's jumped you and you're left 406 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 1: with you know, Levis and Richardson at four, if that's 407 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: what you want to do. So it's just again, if 408 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: you identify a franchise quarterback that you think can be 409 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: the guy for you, it's it's just not worth the risk. 410 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: It's worth whatever it will cost to go up and 411 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: get him. Go. Ask a lot of the teams that 412 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: have made the move to be confident in their guy again. 413 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: The Bills traded up for Josh Allen, the Chiefs traded 414 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,199 Speaker 1: up for Patrick Mahomes. It doesn't always work out, but 415 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: you have to believe it. If you believe in that guy, 416 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: you have to put your money where your mouth is, 417 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: so to speak, and invest what it takes to go 418 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: get that guy. If you play it safe, if you 419 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: risk losing that guy because you think the board will 420 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: fall a certain way, it can come back to bite 421 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: you really, really bad. And again, the fact that it's 422 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: Houston of all teams, is a team in your division 423 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: who also needs a quarterback at two. I say, if 424 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: you fall in love with a guy, you got to 425 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: call up Chicago, give them what they want, and go 426 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: make it happen. Now, one of the things you mentioned 427 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: there with getting a quarterback how important it is, but 428 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: it's also important to surround him with weapons. And over 429 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: the last handful of years, it seems like you can find, 430 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: you know, the top six wide receivers turn out to 431 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: be potentially Pro Bowl guys as rookies. Where is this 432 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: wide receiver depth in this upcoming draft. I haven't heard 433 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: as much nearly like you had the last handful of years, 434 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: but it seems like it's still a pretty deep one. 435 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: And you look at this Colt's roster, You're not sure 436 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: where those draft picks are going to see. But you've 437 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: got Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Paris Campbell had a decent 438 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,199 Speaker 1: year but as a free agent, so they definitely need 439 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: to add some weapons around a potential franchise quarterback. How 440 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: deep is this receiver group? I like the depth overall. 441 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 1: I think that I don't think there's a top tier, 442 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: if that makes sense. There's no you know, Jamar Chase, 443 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 1: There's no you know, elite number one. This is definitely 444 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: the best receiver in this class. Who should be a 445 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: top five, top ten pick. There's nobody like that, but 446 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: that that next tier, if there's no top tier, in 447 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 1: the second tier probably has you know, four or five 448 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: guys that if any of them were the first one 449 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: off the board, it would be it would be okay 450 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: with me, It would make sense right for me. Quintin 451 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: Johnston from TCU still the guy at the top of 452 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,640 Speaker 1: that list, just because I love his potential. I don't 453 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: think he's quite a finished product yet. He's not not 454 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: the most polished guy in the world. But when you're 455 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: six four two fifteen and you can run like that 456 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: and jump like that in your arms are that long, 457 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: I'll take my chances, right, I'll I'll get that into 458 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: building and trust my coaching staff to get the most 459 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: out of those traits, because it's just so rare to 460 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 1: have a guy at that size who can do what 461 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 1: he can do. Um, but this is this is a 462 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,239 Speaker 1: weird draft in that the bulk of the of the 463 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: best receivers in this class are really small. They're really 464 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 1: small guys. Josh Downs from North Carolina, Day Flowers from 465 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: Boston College is really small. Tank Dell from Houston. And 466 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: first of all, anybody who's like five to eight and 467 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty five pounds who calls themselves Tank 468 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: is amazing. Draft him. Yeah, exactly, Just just get that 469 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: guy in the building. If he walks in and his 470 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: name is Tank, it, that's not give me that guy. 471 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: But but um, Marvin Mims Junior from Oklahoma. There's so 472 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 1: many of these smaller but explosive, big play, deep ball 473 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: after the catch type of guys that I think it's 474 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,400 Speaker 1: gonna be a really interesting class. We've we've got this. 475 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: We've come to this like understanding that in order to 476 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: be a quote unquote true number one wide receiver, you 477 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 1: have to be a certain size, you have to be 478 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: big enough. And I feel like the way offenses have 479 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: moved in the NFL lately, I feel like that's been disproven. Right. 480 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: You have to have a playmaker, you have to have 481 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 1: a guy Tyreek Hill is not a big guy, but 482 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: he's ridiculously fast, so it doesn't matter. And he's a 483 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,239 Speaker 1: great route runner, a great hand. So you don't have 484 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: to be six two plus and be a big, physical 485 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: guy who can quote unquote do it all in order 486 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: to be the number one receiver in your offense. You 487 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 1: just have to have an offense that puts you in 488 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 1: position to use your particular skill set in a way 489 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,199 Speaker 1: that makes you that valuable to the offense, if that 490 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: makes sense. So you know, it's going to be an 491 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: interesting class with the wide receivers to see where they land, 492 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: what those offenses want to do with them, because again, 493 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: it's just one of those things. Even Jordan Addison, the 494 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: the litnuk Off winner from two years ago who transferred 495 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: from PIT to USC, he's not a big guy. He's 496 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: not a physical you know, presence at that at that spot, 497 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: but he's an incredible route runner. He's great after the catch, 498 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: the short area, quickness, the explosiveness to be able to 499 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: stop and start. He's a playmaker even though he's not 500 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: a bigger guy. So can he be a number one 501 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: receiver and offense? Absolutely so. The order in which those 502 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: guys come off the board is going to be really interesting. 503 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 1: Not to say there aren't some bigger guys that I'll 504 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: find their way in there Cedric Tillman from Tennessee, but 505 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: Jalen Hyatt is another guy who's smaller. You know. It's 506 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: just it's a very interesting class. Doesn't look like we're 507 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,959 Speaker 1: used to seeing. But there's a lot of explosiveness, a 508 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,719 Speaker 1: lot of big playability in this class, and I'm interested 509 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: to see where these guys land and how that's taken 510 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: advantage of at the next level. Indeed, that's Luke Easterling 511 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: final one. Luke, You've been so gracious with your time. 512 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 1: Who is the best non quarterback in this draft class? 513 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,479 Speaker 1: And how far back can the Bears afford to trade 514 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: back and still being ranged to get that guy. So 515 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: this is why I think the marriage with the Cults 516 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 1: is perfect for the band right because four is probably 517 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: as far back as you want to go. And honestly, 518 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: it's even a little bit risky on its own, because 519 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: if you're telling me that Demiko Ryans, who played linebacker 520 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: at Alabama, won't be tempted to put his foot down 521 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: for Will Anderson if he's on the board, I don't agree. 522 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: With you. I think that he's gonna have a very 523 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: strong opinion about doing that. And obviously it comes down 524 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: to how they feel about the quarterbacks, and you got 525 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: to have one of those. But if I mean, I 526 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: don't know how they feel about Davis Mills. If they 527 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: feel like they can get somebody in free agency that 528 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 1: will free them up to take Will Anderson if he's there. 529 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 1: But Will Anderson and Jalen Carter are those two guys, right, 530 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: if you're Chicago, if they used stay at number one, 531 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: it's gonna be one of those guys. That's the conversation, right, 532 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: So you feel like Houston, it too is risky because 533 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: you know, if Ryan's wants his guy, he's gonna maybe 534 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: he gets his guy. If Arizona at three will take 535 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: whoever the defensive player is that that is still there. Right, 536 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: So if they're both there, they get depicted between Will 537 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 1: Anderson and Jalen Carter, whoever they don't take. Chicago would 538 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,160 Speaker 1: be hoping to get at four if they trade down. 539 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: But that's the risk, right, you trade with India four, 540 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: Indie goes up and gets their quarterback, Anderson goes two, 541 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 1: Carter goes three. Now you're sitting at four with some 542 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: extra picks, but nobody who feels worthy of that spot, 543 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: especially at a position of needs. So that's the risk 544 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: for Chicago and why at the end of the day, 545 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 1: if they don't want to make a deal that might 546 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: that might have a lot to do with them. Again, 547 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: a lot of that depends on the intelligence they'll gather. 548 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 1: If they're any kind of worried that they moved down 549 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: to four and they missed out on both Anderson and Carter. 550 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 1: I feel like they stay at one unless they get 551 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: blown away by an offer from Indie, because even that 552 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: might be too far. Anderson is worthy of the number 553 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: one pick. Carter is worthy of the number one pick. 554 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: They need both of them, right. I know they have 555 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: one hundred million in cap space to spend, so the 556 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: needs they have today aren't going to be the needs 557 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: they have necessarily on draft day. But that's the risk, right, 558 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,719 Speaker 1: Even trading down to number four, I feel like if 559 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: they were willing to do that, they might be willing 560 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 1: to just go ahead and trade down to seven with 561 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 1: Vegas or nine to Carolina if Carolina wants to come 562 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: all the way up there so they can get more 563 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,479 Speaker 1: picks and just load up that way and give up 564 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: already on losing out on the top guy, because even 565 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:12,880 Speaker 1: going down to four it's a little bit risky. We'll 566 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: see how it all shapes out. A lot to happen 567 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: between now and then the combine next week. That's our 568 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 1: first installment of Inside the Draft with Luke Easterling, NFL 569 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: draft analysts from the Draft Wire in USA Today. Great 570 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: follow on Twitter at Luke Easterling for all of his content. 571 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,920 Speaker 1: Luke can't thank you enough, man, Really appreciate the time 572 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 1: and the insight, and maybe keep your phone on between 573 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,160 Speaker 1: now and the draft into April. We enjoyed it so much, 574 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 1: so let's do it again soon if you don't mind. Hey, 575 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: it's my pleasure. I have to keep my phone charge same, 576 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: that's kind of how it goes. But no, it's my pleasure. 577 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,239 Speaker 1: Always have a great time. It's the guys, and call 578 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 1: me up anytime. We'll talk. All right, man, Thanks so much, Luke, 579 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: have a great spring you two guys. Take care.