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To our number two of the drive here on this Thursday. And we have got to get into a big board here.
Final big board from one of our guys that we know that's been a guest at the combine before.
Nate Tyson, of course, of Yahoo Sports. Former college football quarterback was teammates with
Russell Wilson at Wisconsin. Yeah, Mike Tyson's son. Mike Tyson's son. Yeah, there's a good word for
Yahoo. He sure does. And he was one of our fate. We get some awesome guests. It's impossible to
pick our favorite when we're out at the combine. But he is one of our favorites certainly around
this time of year. No, no. I've not read it, but I was really impressed. He writes up every prospect.
Pretty in depth here. Like a lot of times you'll see these big boards. It's like one blurb or,
you know, a sentence or two. But Nate took some time. And there's like a pretty beefy paragraph on
all these guys. For a lot of you guys that are listening that are kind of new to the draft or
just tuning in because the draft right around the corner might be a good place to start. That's
a pretty digestible, but also pretty good write up in terms of learning these guys thumbnails.
You know, sure. That makes makes makes a ton of sense. It really does. And no surprise. Actually,
I guess this kind of is surprising when you consider that it's a big board. Not surprising, but
just notable. He has for me Fernando Mendoza number one overall. And coincidentally,
Nate, a former quarterback had like a 30 minute interview with Mendoza last week. That's pretty good.
And it was really good. Yeah, it was really good. And then you could see them kind of comparing notes
and some of the intricacies of the position and Mendoza is not afraid to like shy away from what
you need to work at things like that. So that was pretty good. Really likes the comparison to Matt
Ryan just with with a little more athleticism and a little more size to him. I did find it funny too.
So the first thing that I did when I was looking through this was like, I was like, all right,
where has he got the other quarterbacks? Yeah, he also did nice right up about comparing Simpson
and Nussmire. Yes. And he has Nuss ranked as QB two ahead of Ty Simpson. I didn't look at the
list, but they were close. Yes. Nuss was 40th overall. Simpson was 44th. And he sees a lot of
similarities in the two. Yeah, you know, little early scout for you last night. Yeah,
I like to bring this up in our weird worlds of Matt Williamson and Wes Euler where we find ourselves
sitting around in the evenings thinking about football things. I opened up I was on my laptop doing
some work after recording our WVU show in college football was fresh on my mind. And I just opened
up a notes and I'm thinking about quarterbacks. And I was like, let me jot down the names that I
think we'll talk about in around campus next year. Yeah, we've talked so much about how it's going to
be a quarterback heavy class that you get like maybe first round buzz. How many do I think they could
get first or certainly, you know, top 100 type buzz. Maybe starters. Yes. Yeah, yeah.
Just in a five minutes of sitting there, I killed with 10 legitimate names. 10. Wow. Just quarterbacks
that I think could be top 50 top 100 picks next year. I know, you know, the names and we'll go
over them so much starting probably next week or week after, you know, move on next year. But
how many of them have to come out? That's a good question. I mean, I know like,
Chandler's will have to come out finally. Like I don't understand college eligibility very well.
And I don't know if you even do. I don't think. Yeah, okay. Sellers, I think we'll have to come
out. Chandler's will have to come out. Matier will have to come out. Sam Levitt, I think we'll
have to come out. Brandon Soresby will have to come out more because he was on offense. Yeah,
but I think he could even. He can still. Yeah, I think he doesn't have to come out.
I think Arch could have another year if he wanted to. I think Jayden Miava from USC has to come
out. I think Julian Sayin from Ohio State could have another year if he wanted to. I thought he
was kind of young. I think Marcel Reed from Texas A&M could have another year if he wanted to.
Okay. So someone has a decision because remember, we didn't get a final answer on Trinidad
Chambles until a month ago. No, I know it's not right. But he's he's done though, right? I mean,
he's done. He's done. Yes. So Mendoza number one on his bigboard. Nate Tyson number two is
Arvel Reese. Okay. I think Reese would be my one. Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I don't hate it. Love
would be really high too. If you're not accounting position value this year, maybe and I'd have to
actually go back and look to really back this up. But I feel like this year more than ever before,
it's harder to pick who is just number one. Oh, yeah. Bigboard. The hardest year I can remember.
Three Jeremiah love running back Notre Dame. Four sunny styles. Ohio State. There's a big curveball
coming up here soon. Five Caleb Williams. Oh, hi, so Caleb Williams. That's the quarterback
for the Bears. Caleb Downs. Ohio State. So three of those Ohio State. Yeah, there's a blue team.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, six Monroe Freeling out of Georgia. Wow. Okay. Left tackle with excellent size
and frame who can add more weight. He's an easy mover who can get to the second level in a hurry
with agility and balance to adjust to a moving target in space. I bet he goes really high.
I mean, top 15 for first half of the first round, I think for sure. There's always one of those
that were not surprised. He gets taken in the first round just how highly he gets taken in the first
round. And if Monroe Freeling is off the board, it's six to the Browns. I could see it. Yeah. Seven
Rubin Bay Jr. Bet you they don't trade out. Yeah. Yeah. Seven Rubin Bay Jr. Eight Mansor Delane.
Nine David Bailey. Ten Carnell Tate.
11 Max E and H or really Arizona State number 11 on his big board.
I tease this in the first hour. I'm going to do a 10 player big board for offense and
defense for Steelers.com as well Max as we'll pursue. I assume Max will be in my top 10 offense.
I love it. He says I know Venga will and Venga's not been mentioned. He says E and H or can
easily be labeled as a project, but his film indicates more polish and refinement than you'd
expect. He has ideal size and is an excellent athlete. I'm bullish on E and H or well, Nate good news.
So is my co-host Matt. Yeah. And you're starting to make me believe too, baby. Nate's dad was
a big time blocking tight end O-line expert guy. You know, so Nate has some serious O-line roots.
He's got some chops in that department. 12 Caldric Falk Ed Drusher at Auburn. That's one I don't see.
I say I mean, I get that he's pretty and he can go inside but he doesn't make any plays.
He you turn on his film and he's an excellent run defender, but that's you don't go you don't
go in the first round of the NFL draft anymore for being an excellent run. Right. And he's pretty.
You know, well, there's nothing wrong with being ready. I'm pretty.
Yeah, like McDonald's a great run defender, but that's not a first round player. No.
Dramat McCoy 13. So he's got delaying in McCoy 8 and 13. I get that. They'll both be in my top 10
defense. Maui Noah 14. A little bit lower than we've seen for him. Yeah, that's just what third O-Line
man. 15 Denzel Boston. There are some lovers out there. And it wouldn't shock me if the
Steelers love him. I mean, I know some people are like, that's too redundant until the receivers
they have. But two or three years from now, it might not be. And one of you think he's a top 10
receiver in the league at that time. And I don't know that being big in redundancy is a bad thing.
Right. Like we have too many good looking receivers. We need a little guy. Like I don't know
that that's a problem. He's always where he's supposed to be. Rodgers would love him. I mean,
just in terms of how this offense is set up. I mean, I think Boston could be in the mix.
I would prefer to take a bit like 25 though and a trade day. Caleb Lomu 16. Spencer Faun who's 17.
Wow. I bet he's a little partial to pure left tackle. That's his reason. Yes.
Because Freelings high too. Yes. Keep it going. Blake Miller at 18. Now, I know he's right side,
but traditional tackle. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, starting tackle. 19. Can you on Sadiq?
20. I don't know if Sadiq will make my top 10 offense. Really? I have
you get there pretty quick. I mean, true. I mean, Mendoza's going to loves going to.
There's going to be a couple receivers. And there's going to be a lot. I mean, Vanga's definitely
you get 10 pretty quick. 20 Peter Woods. Wow. That's pretty high. I'm not. I'm not a big fan.
21 KC. So this is kind of a statistical, you know, like analytics thing,
defensive tackles under 300 pounds that don't blow up testing almost always fail. And that's
what he was under 300. Yeah. He was like doing eight or something like that. And that was at the
combine too, or you know, he's trying to put on weight. Right. Right. Right. And he just does.
And he's not a great tester. And he's not a great athlete. I mean, if you're under 300 pounds,
Aaron Donnell's like the poster boy, but you need to be a big time athlete.
You know, I know Briggs was the linebacker. Who was that? Tommy Harris was. Tommy Harris. Sorry
from that from that bear's defense. I wasn't letting you slide. No, don't let me slide.
Correct me on the spot. All right. I'm going to be a friggin idiot out here. 21 KC.
I'm just going to backhand. Who we got here? I've met Williams in that longer arm.
Just backhand. It would be more devastating. That's why I have. You're like you Ruben Baynes.
I have a second round mocked backhanded slapper. 21 KC. You're
lucky Ruben Bay. KC concept. She all at 22 or 21. He's going to be my wide receiver too.
22. He's is where he has Venga, Yohane. So a little bit lower, a little bit lower on him
than than we are. A little bit lower. A little bit lower on Fanu too. I think then we
just are. Yeah, for sure. He's actually his off other than freeing most of his offensive
linemen are graded a little bit lower than we've seen. Yeah. What's he say about Venga?
Does he say anything? A big guard prospect who has a wide frame in place with a consistent,
sturdy base. He has good strength. And once he latches onto a defender, it's hard for an
opponent to disengage because of his strong hands. He can struggle at times to adjust to
moving targets in space, but his quickness and imbalance were improved in 2025. Ideally,
he would play in a gap or duo based run scheme as opposed to one that majors in zone runs. But he
looks like a solid starter who can contribute right away. Okay. I'm 99% of it's positive.
23 Jordan Tyson, wide receiver at Arizona State. That's about right. 24 manual McNeal
Warren, the safety from Toledo, 25 Dylan Thenderman, the safety from Oregon. I prefer Thenderman,
but same, but I like both. Same church. Different from you. 26 Colton Hood to the other corner at a
Tennessee. Some questions about him too. He's a low Hansey. Yeah. He's a low Hansey. I don't
love his awareness. Now they said that about Joey Porter, Jr. And he's doing all right.
No, you did correct that did take some time. 27 Chris Johnson, the corner from San Diego State.
28 big boy from Ohio State, Kate and McDonald, the defense of tackle.
He had tough guy to rank. Yeah. What he does, he does phenomenal. But it's just how much do you
prioritize that? 29 Caleb Banks out of Florida. I had banks as my detackle one and McDonald too,
but that's really based on upside and, you know, now, Matt, if you notice this, we are into the
30s now. And there's two big names that we have not mentioned. And I don't mean Ty Simpson,
30 TJ Parker at Drusher out of Clemson, 31 McKay lemon wide receiver from USC.
I didn't put two into the other one. Wow. That's his receiver for from what I'm gathering.
He had Boston, he had Concepcionia Tyson. And he had lemon.
He was in and Tade ahead of him. So yes, so five. Yeah, 32 Avion Terrell at a Clemson.
I don't know if he'd be in my top 50 at this point. 33 Kaden Proctor at Alabama at 30.
He's a little harsh on alignment in general. He's a little harsh on alignment. Yeah. Yeah.
He also, there's another wide receiver that we've talked a lot about in the first round that he
hasn't mentioned that's coming up here. Anthony Hill Jr. Texas linebacker at 34, chase
Byzantis guard from Texas A&M at 35, Zion Young, edge rusher from Mizzou at 36, Omar Cooper Jr.
wide receiver from Indiana at 37. I think he's in that top six. I don't know that he's
if he six, he's not a distance six for me. I get what you're saying. Yeah, I think they're all
they're pretty close. 38 Akim Mesador, edge rusher out of Miami. I'm fine with that.
39 CJ Allen linebacker from Georgia. And 40, as I mentioned earlier, Nuss, Garrett Nuss,
Meyer the quarterback from LSU. I'm curious where he goes. Me too. Ty Simpson was at 44. Like I
said, he's got ponds 42 Dominic Orange, big citrus 43. Let's see any other notable
Bryce Lance at 45. I was listening to an interview or a run down on ponds recently too.
And I know he's tiny because I just did my corners. I had him five. I had banks or not the
Tennessee dude for ponds five. In my original list, I'm just like he's too small. I can't put
ponds in there. But I put him at five before and turned it in before listening to the cornerback
breakdown. But there were some really good points made about, and you'd know this even better
than me too, that if you look at Indiana's opponents, especially down the stretch, he's going against
both those Ohio state dudes. He's going against Boston. I mean, he's going against big time
and not only just big time, but huge wide receivers and shutting them down on the outside.
I mean, Jeremiah Smith. I mean, like, I mean, he's way before your time, but I'm sitting
there thinking, is he Daryl Green? Is he the little guy that he had like a 45 inch vertical?
But even if he's short, he still plays above the rim and handles these big dudes and is a
ridiculous athlete, I just so quickly wrote him off as slot only because he's tiny.
But he might be a lot more. He's one of the, he might be the exception.
Interesting. Yeah. There's always an exception to the road. Yeah, right. So let's talk a
little bit more about some guys like that. Yeah. Who could rise up, maybe into the first round,
fall out. Like people say this stuff all the time, but if he's six foot, I think he's cornerback one
or fighting the lane in McCoy for sure. I mean, he isn't and he never will be. It's not like if
we fix his feet or you're right. He's never going to be. Sure can't. Let's let's pick up on that
conversation and add add some names. We'll talk about who do we think's going to fall out of the
first round that's been mocked there a lot. Who could climb into the first round that hasn't been
discussed as much as we think they should be. That's where we'll go when we return. West
Williamson. It is the drive Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio. And now a word from
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We're going along here on this Thursday as it is draft, draft, draft, and then some more draft
conversation as we're getting closer and closer a week away from the real thing and a lot of these
questions and hypotheticals and speculation becoming answers Matt Williamson. Yeah.
I'm very excited. And just like now I'm starting to feel like I really have a good feel for it.
You don't. I mean like it's real easy to like there's a lot of group thing involved more than ever
because of I mean this sounds so old because of this new internet thing and you know right?
Everyone just knows everybody's ideas and stuff. Let me get my mouth kiper blue book out.
Right. From the attic. Everybody has some connection blah blah blah. But
this year's weirder than ever. I think one thing. I was asked this question today because
this is a week draft and it's a week draft. It just is especially the top. Do you think
there'll be less value on position or and I answered by saying this. I'm like there's one line
of thinking I bet of okay this isn't a great draft. Therefore we're just going to draft really
good players. I don't care what position it is. Sure. I'm taking vanga. I'm taking love blah blah blah
even though those aren't the smartest positions to take. I'm just going to take good players and I
don't want to miss in round one. But I think there's a totally different avenue that says I know
this isn't a great draft. So I'm only going to take edges and tackles. So I don't have to go shop
for them in three years on the open market. You know what I mean? Sure. So I don't know what to think.
But listening to that podcast today that Dane was on, he thinks there's like eight guaranteed
offensive linemen in the first round. Maybe as many as 10, which kind of brings us to this
conversation. Like Brasantis could be a surprise first round. Yeah. You know what I mean?
One of those guards if someone falls if someone's like we need a guard and we love this crop and we
know Yoana is not going to be there. Yeah. If you're 30 or whatever or 20 and other than quarterback
offensive line might be the position group that gets reached for the most. I think so. But
people don't want to take guards and centers in the first round because of the lender bomb,
shift your option situation. But I need a starting left guard and see there's a perfect example.
I mean, he even mentioned he's like we talked about this in hour one. Steelers at 21,
chargers at 22 both need a guard and they're like it probably wouldn't be ideal for their board.
But Brasantis could go there. You know, like he's like I wouldn't be blown away or yeah,
even Rutledge. I mean any of those guards could go whoever their guard they like best.
And maybe if we redo our top 21, those guards should be in there. You know, pull people out though.
That's the thing. That's the thing. You know, like would you actually take them over McCoy?
I don't know if I would. Yeah. I don't know if I could do that. Yeah. You know what I mean?
Especially when there's so many tweeners in that offensive line group too that you can kind of
get away with with this guy could serve dual purpose. And contrary to popular belief left guard
is a need. Don't get me wrong. But if you spent the whole year playing Hoffman and Anderson,
I don't know that you to be a disaster. I don't think you'd be a disaster is long though.
The only thing that gives me pause is if you've kind of got two question marks on that left side
of the offensive line. And that's what you really need to avoid. Because I would say I'd say hey,
if you got a good left guard and then Dylan Cook or Broderick Jones is the worst of your five
starting offensive lineman. Great. It's a weak link position. Or if you're going Hoffman and Anderson,
but you've got a solid left tackle. Hoffman or Anderson is the worst of your five starters.
Absolutely. Right. Right. Right. Right. You know, that's like, okay, this is my fifth ace
starting pitcher, but he's a really good. You know, like we can we can live with fire than with injuries
and stuff too. Yeah. You know, like Jones isn't ready or he's not good. And Anderson gets hurt.
Yeah. Like oh no. I mean, trust me, they're going to draft an offensive lineman high. I mean,
it's so much to consider the time here to convince me to take one. Yeah. But I don't know if I can
take person on this at 21. I couldn't at 21, but maybe at 30 if I'm one of these other teams.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right, Matt. So I told you my guy that I think has a chance to of the
consensus. Yeah. He's going in the first round that could fall out. I think it's
messador because of some of the age stuff. I would actually pick probably the same guy if we only
picked one. And we kind of discussed that is well too. I mean, he's 25. He was in the same high
school recruiting class as Zach Frazier, who's now heading into when I saw that last night. Like,
I don't know if I could take you. He's a first. So I'm picking on that. I wanted to go back and look
because like Zach was a fine recruit, but he was a three star guy. Like he wasn't some super
prospect. He's from small Fairmont, West Virginia. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He was a he was a three star
recruit who had offers, but I wanted to look. I was like, who are the guys that are ranked higher than
him in that in that class? And I'm scr... Was he one of them? A key messador. Yeah. He was a big recruit.
He was a three star guy too, but he was ranked a little bit higher than Zach was. And I was just
like, wow, man. Like we're getting to the point where we're starting to talk about contract
extensions pretty soon for Zach Frazier. Yeah. And this guy was established in the league at this
point. And this guy was still playing college football a couple months ago. Do you have any any other
ones that you'd like to for the fall out to conversation? Well, I think people need to think
in this light too. And the Steelers are somewhat of an exception from what I understand. I am not
in their war rooms or anything like that. But I do know Mr. Rooney is going to be a little more
dialed in than many owners in terms of the football players. I'm not implying he's sitting there
with a clicker watching every left guard, you know, and breaking them down. Of course he's not.
But I think he's a little more involved than a lot of these owners that might own like
Manchester United or whatever. You know what I mean? Like they are the family or you know,
whatever. Family owns Manchester United also owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And we know like
Jerry Jones is very involved. But what I'm saying is in most towns, I think it's hard for
whoever your decision maker is, whether that was Bella check or GM or whoever's finally in charge
of making the decision to go to the owner and say, I'm going to take me as a door in the first round.
Okay. But why are you going to do that? Well, he's good at football. Like I probably knew that part.
But what about this other stuff? Well, what kind of track record do you have of six year
guys at that age doing really well? Well, I don't really have any sir. Well,
they do are phenomenal. Yeah, like well, I don't think you should take him in the first round.
Because your seat gets real hot. I mean, like I don't we're not implying like Baines not going to
be a first round pick. But if he was 85% of the player he is now, it's hard to go to your owner and
be like, yeah, okay, what's his strengths and negatives? Well, he's really good player. He plays
hard. Love the way he plays against the run. Good dude. Okay, what's his negatives? Well, he's
gone unusually short arms. All right. Well, who are some guys that really succeeded in the first
round with really short arms in his position? Oh, no one. Oh, well, why do we think he's going
to be the first one in history? And why am I going to make him why we think he's Neil Armstrong and
he's going to lay the moon all the sudden. And why am I going to make him the face of this draft is
the 33rd pick is way different than the 32nd. It shouldn't be. It's so dumb. But and it's a first
round pick. And that's all the news is going to talk about it. You know what I mean? Something
that owners don't aren't cool with that. Something that Dale used to reference when the
Steelers would draft 20-year-old Devon Bush 20-year-old Juju Smith Schuster is like, you love these
type of guys because by the time you're deciding to give them a second contract, they haven't even
turned 25 yet. Yes. And by the time if you want to and if you want to give them a third contract,
they're still 28 years old 27 years old years out of these dudes, right? As opposed to a key
messador who will be about to turn 30 when you decide if you want to give them a second contract
or not. Yeah. And I think there are two lines of thinking on that nowadays because even like the
Steelers used to draft a lot of young dudes. The whole league started to draft over guys. First of
all, because the best players come out are older. They're staying in college longer because they're
making money. Right. Right. And and and also how well do these guys play as 20-year-olds? Like Juju
was great, but Bush wasn't. You know what I mean? Like they're playing against 30-year-olds.
They're playing as 32-year-olds. They're playing against grown men. Yeah. Quit Nelson. Yeah.
Cam Hayward. Right. You know, dudes with kids and mortgages. Yeah. You know, like as much as we
love Vega, if the Steelers draft Vega, and I don't know what this coaching staff would do, but
I know what my Tom and would do. His first snap in La Trobe would be against Cam Hayward. Yes it
and that's not Ohio State or the Big 10 at all. Yeah. He threw Pat Fryer-Muth right into that
fire. He does that with a lot of these guys. I don't remember. You were covering the team then,
but Arty Burns, every rap AB. He didn't win many of them. He did not. Not many more. Not many.
He did. Right. Right. Right. You're absolutely right. It was the different world. It was the same way
when when Highsmith was drafted right into back on backers against Najee Harris. Yeah. Sure.
It's that kind. And when Najee was drafted, it was probably right into back on backers against
TJ. TJ. Yeah. I'm pretty. Whatever. What a benefit. Yeah. Yeah.
Matt, I have a candidate for you to climb because I was in the beginning of the show. I said,
fall into the first round, fall out of the second or the first round. I don't think you can fall
into the first round. So maybe climb into the first round. Malachi Lawrence. Yes. I'm leaning
towards like if it's a yes, no conversation. And you see a couple mocks where he goes
they end of the first round of Buffalo or the Patriots or something or yeah. But I bet you more
than 50% of the time, probably 75% of the time. He's an early second round of these mocks. More
often than not. I just for an edge rusher, I think he has all the stuff that you want. And we
talk trights all the time this year, right? Great one. He plays hard. He's tall. He's big. He's got
length. He's got athleticism. And as you mentioned, his pedal is to the metal 24 seven.
You get off the ball and tested well. And yeah, he's got the right height. He's got the right
weight. He's got the right length. He's athletic. He is full speed rocket ship 24 seven.
I am really starting to warm up to Malachi, Lawrence. I have told this to you before, but I
it's definitely not a blessing. I don't know if it's a curse somewhere in between. I watch a lot
of big 12 football because I'm such a wv fan when it's guys like David Bailey or Fanu or Jordan Tyson.
And I'm like, okay, is this guy really as good as I think he is? And then I go and I look at the
big boards and the town evaluators and okay, you know, he's not just bigger fish in a smaller pond.
Malachi, Lawrence was one of those guys that for a while, I thought, okay, he's at UCF,
good competition, good school, not great. And he's just, he's, you know, he's a big fish and a
medium pond. Yeah, yeah. But the more and more I watch him and think about him and listen to people
in this process that I really trust. What don't we like? What don't we like? Yeah, yeah. So
if he was, if he was at Auburn instead of UCF, or Florida instead of UCF, if he was at Bama or
high, close drives, I imagine, Ohio State. He's a top 25. I think so too. I very much believe so.
And I wonder if Hurst is a lot closer being a first rounder if he's in a, even Pitter-W. You
let him learn about Georgia State. Yeah, yeah, sure he don't need those guys. It's a different
conversation than the segment we started, but it's very, very similar. That I know, I think
they still do it, that Vegas and these betting sites will put out over under draft position. Yeah,
18.5 is where you're likely to go. The two guys that I would go lower, but I mean earlier are
Lawrence and Blake Miller. Yeah, Blake Miller is a good one. Yeah, I just don't see many
negatives with him either. I don't think see a plus traits anywhere. Super reliable, pure tackle,
never misses time. And maybe plus athlete, maybe along with Venga, the only one of those top
prospects that you go, this is exactly where he's going to play. There's no question of is he a
guard? Is he a tackle? Is he right? Is he left? Maybe there's some of that with Monroe Freeling too,
but yeah, but still he hasn't been as consistent through his career. Miller's got a ton of starts,
and he's still young and he's not the seventh year guy this year guy. It's not so I mean,
he's really saved. Yeah, like he's an easy sell to your owner. Yes, he's our right tackle. We
certainly need a right tackle. He's a right tackle and he's got 54 stars at a high level program.
And I think he goes high. I think he goes above what people are projecting him to his chance of
busting feels insanely low. So again, that podcast stuck with me because I was listening on the
way here, but Danes is something really good that is absolutely true from my experience. He said
there isn't a descriptive word in NFL scouting reports used more often than the word adequate.
Okay, now like I thought it would be instincts. Like people are probably like adequate. I don't
want to be adequate. If your dad's like, yeah, you're adequate. Yeah, you're an adequate son.
Yeah, that's not exactly a raging compliment. That's what my dad used to say to me when I would
ask about that. How do I sound playing this guitar riff? That's adequate. Right. But in terms of
projecting someone from the college level to the NFL level, adequate, it's a compliment.
He can adequately handle cam Hayward. You know what I mean? Like he can adequately diagnose
defenses. Right, right, right. And should get better as he does this as a professional, you know,
and does it full time. And I think Miller has a lot of adequate in a good way, you know,
adequate or above. That's a that's a very good way to describe it. And I think you need to look
at prospects that way. Like if you got, I mean, if you can check that box of being adequate or
better in most areas, you're going to go pretty high because it does sound funny. You're right,
but that's a pretty high bar to clear when you really kind of hash it out. Yeah, it's a hard jump.
Sure is. Sure is. So let us know your thoughts on that. If you've got anybody you want to throw
into the conversation, someone that you think is going to get drafted higher than the experts
predict, someone that might be lower. McNeil Warren's one. I just don't know three safeties can go.
So it's funny. You say he was one other than Mesa door that I couldn't. He was one other than
Mesa door that I considered. And I'm trying to think who my my third was.
Scanning thing. It was I think it was one of the six wide receivers, maybe, maybe Cooper Jr.
Mm hmm. But, but, but these new locks. A manual McNeil Warren was the other one that I
thought about really have three safeties. And just some of the where exactly does he fit? Is he
strong? Is he free? What, you know, like, sentiment, I think, has a clear cut role. Whereas there's
some more questions about what puzzle piece exactly is a manual McNeil Warren. Yep. One more segment to
go. You know what that means? YouTube comments. X Twitter questions. All of your participation will
hit as much of it as we can before we get out of here. It's the drive. Steeler's Nation Radio
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Final segment, you know what that means? It's your participation time. Let's buzz through as many
of these questions, comments, concerns and reactions possible in the next 15 minutes before we get
up out here. Here's a mint chocolate chip discussion. All right, so let's go right into it. A lot of
people on the YouTube comments, apparently, a mint chocolate chip civil war broke out yesterday.
I think it's a very decisive ice cream apparently. Or that's not the right word, divisive.
And I had said, like, my daughter was not going to like it. It's going to taste like toothpaste.
And some people came at me. I have no beef with mint chocolate chip ice cream.
I have a semi beef. It's just not at the top of my list. I said to these guys during a break.
To me, it's like a harsh, if I'm going to the gas station and buying a candy bar, it's like a
Hershey bar. Do I dislike Hershey bars? Absolutely not. They're good. I'm just getting a Reese's cup
or a butter finger or a fast break. There's just other things that I would choose in front of it.
Never what you would pick off the menu. If someone walked in here right now, you know, if,
if Tom and Mark Madden walked in here and were like, hey, some ice cream company brought us
mint chocolate chip ice cream. There's an ice cream truck in the, then all they have is a
mint chocolate chip. I don't get one. I'd probably get one. Absolutely. But that
chances are if they had anything else, I'd probably get the other one.
Correct. Well, not not anything else. Nothing with marshmallow or like birthday cake.
I am a big birthday cakeator. I'm with you. I'm with you. I mean, you can keep it. If it's only
a birthday cake, I'm like, no, but I said this. We're at a training camp for three, four weeks,
doing a lot of dining in the cafeteria as people can imagine. And they every day have five or
six different ice cream flavors. And I, and I hit the mint chocolate chip once or twice every
camp because I don't think I ever would. I can only have so much bread. And I'd choose brownie. I'd
choose cookie dough. I'd choose those things ahead of it. But I also can only have so much of those
before I do every day. Yeah. Yeah. I will say the ice cream sandwich look kind of appealing
mint chocolate. Very good. It's like, ooh, I've never seen this before.
Joby tweeted us and said never buy green mint chocolate chip ice cream. That's like green beer to
an Irishman. The good stuff is white period full stop. I love it, Joby. Wow. Green beer does not
appeal to me at all either. Same. It's a turn. I mean, I was 19 in college once too. But yeah,
then I grew up and discovered Guinness. It's like, why would you put food coloring in my beer? Don't
mess with it. And I grew up and discovered Guinness, baby. Sue Dash tweets and says at what point should
we consider extending Zach Frazier, Mason McCoymic and Troy Faltano. I don't think you can for
another year. There's rules. Yeah. A year from now. Yeah. But as soon as possible. As soon as possible.
But especially the center right now. But but but yes, as soon as as soon as you play that final
game next year, that's got to be high on the priority list. Uh, Lou tweets and says since 2002.
So Omar Khan time frame there. Steelers first round pick has always come in for an in-person visit
and since 23, the second round pick has come in for an in-person visit. Does that change
who you think will go in the first and second rounds for the Steelers? I can't fact check that,
but I think it's I'm pretty certain that he's correct on that matter. I've seen some other people
post some similar. So that sounds similar. So that sounds right. Yes. And I apologize. Someone sent
us a chart of all their visits during the Omar era. And there's like first one picks on there
and then whatnot. Yeah. I wouldn't look too much into that. I mean, it's still only what three years of
fourth. We're going to have to be a fourth draft draft. Yeah. Um, I think it's an indicator.
But I would not say that's gospel yet. Right. Like they didn't have Carl Tate in for a visit.
If he's there at pick 21, I bet you they'd take him. Right. You know, right. They didn't have
they didn't have Maxie and a chore in for a visit. But I bet you if he was there at pick 53,
they'd take him. Mm hmm. Like I'm trying to think who were the first round guys that were in
Boston, Venga, Boston, Venga, Lemon, uh, Fanu, um, I say there's only a manual McNeil Warren.
I can't imagine being the 21st pick though. I don't. Him and Johnson, the two that don't add up to me,
the corner who's probably the first round. But I don't think the Steelers are taking 21. I'll
think it's going to take me a warrant 21. So really, there's only four names to pick from
to being the first round pick. Does it have to be one of those four? I don't believe so. No,
and if we're doing if we're doing Vegas odds, those would be the odds on favorites more or less,
but it doesn't have like they've been listed linked to Cooper a time. And you know, if he wasn't
in that doesn't mean they don't know. I'm sure they have a real, I know they have really good
Indiana sources. They might know, know all they need to know. We'll see how I would look
too much into this out, but it's not, it's a very good question. Steeler Nation 920 tweets and says,
is the public allowed near the dorm rooms at St Vincent. I don't smoke, but I'd light up a
Stogey just to hear I tailor tell stories. What are your guys most memorable training camp
moments? And what would you trade for AJ Brown if it was an option for the Steelers? Okay,
from the top. No, the public is not allowed near the dorm rooms at St Vincent. There's fences,
there's security. And if you try and even get close someone on a on a golf card or something
like that will cost you quickly. Yes, most get to the parking lot where the players cars are,
you can't we park there too, but they're not worried about us. And there's also we're not in
the same dorms as the players. Correct. No, for people that know, but and I couldn't be either. I
could be with us. I think because Max is with us and wolf was most memorable training camp
moments. I think it's just some of those times that we tell the times we're all sitting around
the bonfire. The times we're all sitting at sharkies. Tunch wolf, Dale, you know, people that like
people like pursuito that we get to hang out with a lot of those times. It's just the whole
atmosphere. It's just just getting everybody together. I think his camp is a good word for it.
Because it's kind of a way of camp. It is. If you asked me to say on field, though, it was my
first year watching Antonio Brown and Joe Hayden just want to murder each other in every single rep,
just going at it. I mean, that in a good way. Yeah, yeah. It was to watch though, you should have
to pay the price of admission in 2018 to watch those two just go at it every single every single
camp practice. I'll be honest. I mean, spending a year more like a month or less than a month
around Aaron Rogers is pretty cool. That's a good one. That's a really good one too. He's one of
the best guys. Best quarterbacks ever lived. It's a really good one too. What would I trade for AJ
Brown? If it was a Steelers option, I wouldn't give up a ton at this point because not as much
that the Eagles would say yes. Exactly right. I mean, if the Eagles are like, well, we'll give you AJ
Brown for pick 53. I would probably say, I'll walk you 53. But that's the best I could do. I think
that's what they came back to be like, I need 53 and one of your fourths. All right. I guess he
convinced me, but they're not going to do that. I don't know if they'll even get a first for him,
but they're not going to get enough for me to give him. Yeah. I mean,
good one here from Jonathan along the lines of the Max E&H, who are love in a lot of the
conversation about his potential. How does Mad Max differ from Brodrick Jones? And if Mike McCarthy
likes to have four tackles on the offensive line, do you think he is more open to giving Brodrick
Jones a shot at guard? Two good questions there from Jonathan. Yeah. Maybe. I mean, a lot would have
to happen for Jones to be in the guard mix. First off, cook would have to beat him out of tackle.
And I assume that won't be, I assume that's going to be a left tackle camp battle,
assuming Brodrick's healthy. Well, first of all, he has to be healthy. Check one. And indicators are
that's likely or, you know, at least optimistic. But he'd have to lose the camp battle quickly.
To be like, all right, let's, yeah, which cook then would have to be awesome. Sure.
Which he might, I mean, I thought his tape was better than Brodrick's last year. Maybe it's clear
that he's the guy, but you'd have to move him in. You can't just move him in two days before
the game in week one. You'd have to season him there to some degree. Now injuries could happen
and you get forced to do a lot of these things. Sure. And I, it maybe it would work to some degree.
It's just, you'd have to have another tackle option too. Like you, it's okay, you draft max or
proctor or one of those dudes and your initial plan was play them a guard and then maybe next year,
they get involved with a left tackle. But you realize either they're not really suited to guard
like you thought they were or holy cow is he a good left tackle? Why would I not play him a left
tackle? Then something like that could force those type of moves, you know what I mean? But a lot
of dominoes have to fall for that to happen. You know, just think of logistics of it all.
And along the lines of the potential conversation and comparing Brodrick Jones and Max in that regard,
it's a good question. Here's a key difference though. Brodrick Jones started 14 games in his career
at Georgia. Yeah. Mad Max started that many last year and 14 the year before and five the year
before that. He's 33 collegiate starts first 14. That's a huge difference. And I was going to say
that too. But I was also going to counter it by saying Brodrick Jones started playing football
way earlier than life than Max. I mean, he picked up football in college in college. Yeah.
At like East LA community college or whatever. He's just walking around campus and someone's
like, hey, dude. All right. I mean, he grew up. I was pleased to you where I don't know when he moved
to America, but he grew up in Africa. Yes. You know, other sports. But they both have some
rawness and a lot of God given ability. If that's you. And I can see if you're a steward fan and
you're being like, I feel like I just heard this whole song and dance with Roger Jones. I want
something a little more sure. I understand that. I understand that too. But there's also
two different human beings and you know, like way back when I was like six weeks ago, I posted a
mock with the Steelers taking free Ling in round one. Now, I don't think that's going to happen
anymore. And I don't even think it's an option. Why on earth would we take a Georgia tackle that
doesn't have a lot of experience? We've been down that road before. That doesn't mean the thought
process then was wrong. Sure. And it's not like Brodrick has zero value. We talk like this guy
has no chance to, you know, like it wasn't a faulty thought process here. You know, no, it was not.
Yeah. You got to know history and consider history, but you can't let it dictate the future.
They're the same time human beings. First of all, that goes the same.
Dorkman becoming one of our regulars asks, along the lines of you guys have, you know,
discussed how the draft could fall badly, could break badly for the Steelers or a given team,
you know, you take a guard in round one, and all the wide receivers are gone in round two
ago. Really wrong. He says he said and he asks, you know, you guys have kind of talked about it
and I get it in round two, but is there a scenario where you could see that happening in round one?
That's why we do our top 21, you know, if you're picking like 18, 19, 20, 21, and you're top
21, things went badly. I mean, you'll never pick 21. There's no way that the worst 20 guys to
to get drafted, go, you know, the ones that hurt you the most, but you're picking.
You can have a scenario where in the top 20 picks, then goes off the board for five wide
receivers are off the board could very well happen. Right, right, right. I think that
would kind of be the, oh, man situation for the Steelers at 21. Now, like, I really like
these players, but I wouldn't want to be forced to take like McCoy either because all
you other picks, then get detoured, you know, like, now I'm reaching for Lyman and receivers
around two and three. So I knock on McCoy. It's just the path to get to the best roster is
a different road than the one you planned on, which is funny actually because Craig here,
this transitions nicely into this question from Craig. Say the board forces you to pivot
from going preferred wide receiver offensive line or offensive line wide receiver and your
approach to the top two picks, what then becomes the plan for the order of positions
drafted with, you know, with your picks there, because, you know, it feels like corner
or safety could be possibility based in round one off the top 30 visits.
I thought that the Miami dude going in the. It's a great question, right?
It's a great question, Craig. The beauty of it is you three thirds and two fours that
you could make someone offer you can't refuse to move up and get, you know, get back in
a second round or whatever. That's, I think the answer is you start to get aggressive
with those other 10 picks, 11 picks that you would have and move yourself back up some
boards and find some guys that you like. Yes. RJ asks, who on the roster currently? Would
you guys deem untouchable and trade conversations? He says, I think I would go with most of the
defensive line, most of the offensive line. And maybe PO, wait, who's PO? I don't know
if maybe he had a little typo there. That'd be PQ. PQ. That's what I was thinking.
Maybe he meant to say Porter and it just didn't type out all the way. Okay. Deem untouchable
and trade negotiations right now. There's some like Howard that you would would never
do that. I'm going like high, like, I bet you I could list them all on one hand, maybe
a couple extra. Because everybody's touchable. And like, I was going to say Howard just
because like no one's going to give you enough to make it worth your time. You know what
I mean. And like, I was going to say, okay, so Joey Porter Jr. would be one of mine.
Frazier, but if the Raiders called right now and said, we'll give you the first overall
pick for Joey Porter Jr. I don't know how I could say no. I'm not sure there's anybody
you'd say no to for the first overall pick. Yes. But if you want to go within a realistic
scenario, JPJ, Frazier, Faltanu. Cam's different. Cam's different. What isn't different
to me? What I can listen off the year that he's just having. But if he comes back here
and has 13 more and kind of more on the edge than I do with the line and Cam. And that's
why too. Like maybe I would put her in that conversation, but you're strong in that.
Right. Again, like if the eagle said, I'll give you AJ Brown for her big one. Well, we can
talk about it. You know, yes, we could talk about it. Those, it's really though, like
at JPJ, those two young offensive linemen, right here in Faltanu. Like you could get, that's
why Rob Will Howard. You could get real deep. Be like, you know, the maybe the best offer
you'd get for Jalen Warren is a fifth. Well, that's not even close. So it doesn't do
me any good. You know, I'm going to want to force. I'm going to want at least a fourth
or a third. I want to at least see what he has. And no one's going to offer you that when
he went in the sixth round and hasn't shown any tape to the rest of the league. So he's
not tradable. Not being tradibles different than I won't ever listen. You know what I mean?
Well said. Well said. Last one of the day quickly. Ian asks, my company plan or sales meeting
the week of the draft in Charlotte. How should I respond? Option A, show up in full Steelers
gear. And I meet including helmets, pads and pants. Option B, quit my job. Option B,
mouthguard. Option B, quit my job. Option C, cry myself to sleep. Well, you can still
watch the draft and listen to us. Is your is your sales meeting going to be like at eight
o'clock at night? Right. I don't think so, right? I mean, it stinks. I mean, you have a phone,
right? I think he's saying he was planning on being here in Pittsburgh. And now that's
a Charlotte part two of my response, which stinks. But you know, what what you do, Ian, quit your job.
It's tough. No, listen, as somebody is showing up in full years, someone who's had to make plenty
of sacrifices. You know how many holidays and how many backyard brawls I've missed for this job.
And yeah, put your big boy pants on. You drink some beers and you deal with it. All right,
that's how you get through with it. And then you lose depends what you do for a living. And then
you lose to me at Halo 2. Is that that that's it? Yeah. Okay. There was some ping pong stuff going
around too. They're sure was a meal was posting some stuff on his, uh, we got a response from John
ledgered on that stuff. I don't know if you saw that. Did they go to college together? I know
with the same school where they're together. Okay. Cool. I think ledgered was part of the ping pong
Wow. Stravaganza. Okay. We might have something about be it can be left handed or whatever. We
might have to make a offseason like remote like do a show somewhere. There's a cool ping pong
table when you walk in here ledger day and get a meal in. Yeah. I told you my buddy's great at
ping pong was a great tennis player. And he's like, Matt, I'd beat you with a spoon. And he probably would.
We talking to teaspoon or like a big wooden spoon. I was wondering like a big wooden spoon.
I think I'd be in trouble. But teaspoon. I like your chance to play with a teaspoon.
Fun show today. We will close down the week tomorrow with our what's become a tradition here
over the last month plus the mock draft Friday. We're going to do a full seven rounds again tomorrow.
I think we might I think we might as well. All right. I think we might as well. We'll have some fun
closing down. I might be our last full seven round. Yes. I think so. So we'll have some fun with
that tomorrow. You know where to get at us. If you want to get involved, but that will do it for
today, big thanks to Nate Dogg on the ones and the twos. And to Mr. Tyler V TV for keeping us
nice and handsome on the video on the YouTube side of things for Matt Williams and I'm Wes Uler.
Take care everybody. We will talk to you tomorrow. As always, you know where to find us. It's on
your 24 seven home of the black and gold. Steelers nation radio on the Steelers audio network.
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