*NOTE: This episode was recorded just prior to the player releases made by the Jaguars on Thursday March 6th*

In this episode of PSP, hosted by Nii Wallace-Bruce, the focus is on the NFL Draft process, with Brock Vierra, writer at Sports Illustrated. Vierra provides detailed insights from the Draft Combine in Indianapolis [0:32], highlighting standout players [2:18] and potential draftees. Key topics include the strategic moves for multiple teams including the Rams [25:07], Chiefs [10:52], and Jaguars [15:51] in the draft and free agency, with deep dives into team-specific needs and prospects.

Vierra also shares perspectives on the emerging talents and his bold predictions for the 2025 NFL season [33:13]. The discussion also touches on the international expansion of NFL games, player trades, and coaching changes.

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Brock Vierra:

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Check out our website

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Opening and closing music courtesy of Jeremiah Alves - "Evermore".

Welcome.

2

This is PSP, and I am your host, Mr.

3

N.

4

E.

5

Wallace Bruce.

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Football season is now in the draft phase.

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Draft Combine was last

week in Indianapolis.

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Fast forward to Monday, it'll

be The start of freigency, or

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the period, as they call it.

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It's essentially freigency.

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And then after that, it'll be the

draft, and before you know it, OTAs, and

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training camp will be in session, and

football will be back in full effect.

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to take us through that, we

have a guest in Indianapolis.

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at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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It is Brock Vieira.

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a writer at Sports Illustrated.

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he's going to take us

through what he saw and more.

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check him out on Twitter at MNS Today.

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Brock, how's things?

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Brock Vierra: It's going good, just,

getting back from Indianapolis,

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fighting off a head cold since that

cold weather, shocked my system, but,

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it was a great experience so many

great players and so much great insight

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that we were able to discover that.

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Really helps us try and figure out

exactly what's going to happen over

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these next couple of months, through

free agency and the NFL Draft.

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PSP: 100%.

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the draft combine is like a max version

of the senior bowl you get all the

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scouts, all 32 teams represented.

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It's a bit like baseball's

winter meetings, would you agree?

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Brock Vierra: I love that

comparison and could not agree more.

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I wish I was telling people this, that

we could have seen a full contact game

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at the NFL Con Monday at the Senior Bowl.

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They do the exact same test, the

exact same type of interviews.

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And it's just fantastic because I've

never been down to Mobile, Alabama, but at

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Indianapolis, it's such a central location

to speak with everybody conveniently,

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and that's what I love about it.

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PSP: No doubt about it, Brock.

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Now, in terms of you, personally,

you write on the Rams, Chiefs,

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and Jaguars, if I'm not mistaken.

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correct?

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Brock Vierra: my official title is beat

writer for Rams on SI, or Rams on Sports

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Illustrated, but I also contribute

to Jaguar, Chiefs, and UCLA Bruins.

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PSP: Wow.

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Brock, that's three NFL teams

across three different time zones.

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How do you manage that?

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Brock Vierra: I love football.

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fortunately the modern era where

things are so easily accessible

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through the internet it's a lot

easier to do it nowadays than it

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was let's say 10 to 20 years ago.

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PSP: social media has helped in that

regard, I'm sure, getting updates.

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Why don't you give us an update on

what you saw at the Combine last week?

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What were some takeaways in

terms of the prospects on the

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field of play with drills?

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Brock Vierra: So in terms of the drills

there was some standout performances

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that it really just depends what do

you value when it comes to the drills.

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I know the popular one is the 40 yard

dash because everyone loves speed and

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there's the adage that speed wins.

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But you look at some of the other drills,

the vertical, the three cone, the bench

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press, things of that nature, and you can

get a little bit of information from it,

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but what I love is when players compete

against one another in, those individual

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drills, where At least mimic what

we're gonna see on the football field.

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That's where I get most of my

takeaways from the combine.

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For me I don't do a lot of

evaluation at the combine.

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I'm a film guy.

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I like to see what players do

in pads compared to shorts.

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But it's nice to see differences in

movements, certain players have that

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fluidity and that's the difference between

a good player and an all time great.

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PSP: You would have been

on a few player interviews.

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did anyone impress you or

stand out with what they had to

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say to the media during week?

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Brock Vierra: To get into specifics,

I'll name some players that were

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the highlight of the week for me.

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One was Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr.

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His play speaks for itself

and I always felt he would be

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a good fit wherever he went.

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But getting an opportunity to hear

him speak, , to hear, how articulate

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he is, especially about the game of

football, was a joy to listen to.

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This guy is gonna be a excellent player,

but what I love about him is that his

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ability to communicate at all levels of

defense is gonna elevate a defensive unit

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So whoever grabs him.

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They grabbed a guy that can

be a commander, a leader,

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and an excellent player.

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Another player that I had a ton of

joy talking to was, Carson Vinson

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from Alabama A& M, offensive tackle.

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You don't get to see a lot of HBCU players

at the NFL Combine, which unfortunately

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is a shame because HBCU historically Has

produced it has produced tons of talent

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and even now despite more PWI institutions

recruiting all over the country.

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There's still a ton of gems

we don't get to listen to.

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Vincent is a lot of people like

six or seven tackle on the board.

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I have this guy as an

all pro caliber player.

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I think it's gonna be fantastic.

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I love the way he talks about the game.

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I love the way that how he broke

down how he breaks down film when

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he looks for other players and

just talking about how he would.

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in two different offenses.

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Another player that I would have

to say really stood out to me.

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Maybe not necessarily what he said,

but what was said about him was

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Georgia offensive guard, Tate Ratnage,

both of Texas offensive linemen,

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which I believe at the time was,

now, defensive lineman, the names

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are slipping my mind at the moment.

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But they both said Ratledge

was the, best offensive lineman

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that they faced all season.

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So if a team looking for a plug

and play guard, I would say Tate

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Ratledge is definitely that guy.

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Darion Porter from, Iowa State or Dorian

Strong, he had a great quote about how

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he would fit into the Rams defense, which

I really appreciated and, I can't stay

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here all day and talk about all these

great players, but the last person I

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was really impressed with was Florida

State defensive back, Azaria Thomas.

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just the way he talks about the game

of football, it was really impressive

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considering his statistics, how

people don't like to throw his way,

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how he comes from an established

defensive back university, and his

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play on the field, I think he's

going to be another star in the NFL.

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PSP: The future is bright and it

seems like we're going to have

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a strong defensive showing in

the first round of the draft.

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Would you agree with that?

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Brock Vierra: I would

absolutely agree with that.

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Last year we saw an Early runner offensive

players, of course perpetuated by what

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six quarterbacks going in the first round.

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I think it's gonna be that

Complete opposite this year.

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This is gonna be and perhaps an over

exaggeration But I would not be surprised

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if we go to the NFL draft and we see

eight edge rushers drafted in the first

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round I think the class is truly that

deep and there's so many phenomenal

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players that can contribute in many

ways Plus, the NFL is a copycat league,

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and everyone had just watched what

the Eagles were able to do with the

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Chiefs, to the Chiefs offensive line.

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So I think that they're going to load

up on edge rushers across the board,

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especially in the back half of the

draft, championship teams, the Eagles

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Chiefs, the Lions, the Commanders, so

and I think that's where you're going

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to see a strong run on edge players.

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PSP: Yeah, football is

definitely one of the trenches.

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You only need to look at the last Super

Bowl to see what the Eagles defensive

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line did to the chiefs offensive line.

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We'll get to the chiefs in a moment

'cause they've done a bit of work

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in the last week I wanted your

thoughts on players under the radar,

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especially Canadian college players

who went through the combine process.

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Alec I.

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Menor, the wide receiver

coming out of Stamford.

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Did you get a chance to

see him during the week?

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Brock Vierra: I did not get a

chance to see him in person.

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I only got caught up on him.

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But I didn't need to see him because, A.

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O.

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Menor, has been high

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he's a first round talent without a doubt.

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I love the way he plays.

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his aggressiveness.

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the only reason he's not a top 10

pick, in my opinion, is that he played

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at Stanford, not one of the more.

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Bigger caliber programs where he could

have truly displayed his talents.

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This guy is a fundamentally sound

wide receiver who possesses that go

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get it attitude never say die will

and I just think that no matter

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where he goes as long as there is

competence In the offense coordinator

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room and a good enough quarterback.

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He's going to be a thousand yard wide

receiver for majority of his career.

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PSP: It'll be interesting to see

if he can fold to a team like San

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Francisco who have wide receiver

vacancies before free agency is done.

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One other player I wanted to ask

about is quarterback Curtis Rock.

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With Indiana University getting

to the college football playoff.

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What did you see from him in the combine?

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How do you see his prospects?

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Brock Vierra: Now you know

what people are talking about.

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I first heard about him because

of his brother, the Warwick family

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produces strong quarterbacks.

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Nathan, I enjoy watching him play.

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Warwick is a hard eval because he had a

phenomenal season at Indiana, but there

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were some things that make you question

how can his game translate to the NFL,

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especially since we haven't seen him As

a quarterback that could play on the 7th.

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The other thing is he was

hurt most of the year.

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So you're also seeing a product that

was not the standard of what he can be.

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Unfortunately for him right now in

these conversations, he is not within

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the top five or six quarterbacks.

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you have Ward and Sanders, one and two.

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Many believe Jackson Dart is

number three out of Ole Miss.

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They can throw in, Jalen

Milrow, Kyle McCord, and other

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quarterbacks ahead of Wark.

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But in terms of what you're getting

from a floor, I think Wark has a

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higher floor than most people think.

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a good friend of mine, Michael, once

said the best ceiling is a high floor.

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And that's how I feel about Wark.

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at his minimum, he's gonna be a

10, 12, 15 year backup in the NFL.

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But if you throw him in the

starting role, He can produce

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wins for your NFL franchise.

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PSP: his story is yet to be written But

I don't think the story is finished on

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his brother Nathan Rock He spent time

with the Jaguars Patriots and Cowboys.

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I still think he has something

to give, whether as a backup

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or third string quarterback.

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we may see him back in the

NFL in the near future.

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Now, one player we might also see in

the near future is someone you may have

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seen a little bit through your UNLV

coverage, and that is Jackson Woodard.

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Look at the defensive side the

linebacker, the inside linebacker.

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What are your thoughts on

him going into the draft?

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Brock Vierra: Been a big fan of Jackson

for a long time, had the opportunity to

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speak with him at Mountain West Media Day,

before this last season, you talk about

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a guy built for football, that's Jackson.

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a leader on and off the field, that's him.

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incredibly talented player,

only problem is his size.

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That might be his only detriment.

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I do think once he gets into a proper NFL

strength and conditioning program, he's

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definitely going to balloon in weight.

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And considering the direction the modern

NFL is going, I think that he's going

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to be a long time player in the league.

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I do think that his floor

is a special teams ace.

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I would like to see his hands get a

little bit better because unfortunately

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he did drop the game winning interception

against Kyle McCord in Syracuse, but in

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that game he played lights out and also

had an interception against McCord earlier

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Jackson is a guy you just

have to ask yourself.

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Why not?

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you turn on his film the guy is carving

people He's playing strong in the run and

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without him UNLV does not have the success

they have He was Barry Odom's commander

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on the football field and commanded

that defense to take the program to new

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heights Would you have a person that is

just a great locker room guy like that?

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Why wouldn't you want him as a

potential day two day three acquisition?

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PSP: you've inspired me, I love the

defense side of the ball, so say no more.

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Big fan, You're listening to PSP

with Niemoller Spruce, and our guest,

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Brock Vieira from Sports Illustrated.

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Make sure you check out his work.

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Free agency starts next Monday.

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Brock, you're the beat writer

for the Rams, you also cover

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the Chiefs and the Jaguars.

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I wanted to ask, what are you seeing

The Chiefs, because the Chiefs got

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it handed to them in the Super

Bowl, Travis Kelce, seems like

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he'll be back, the star tight end.

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They did trade away Joe Tooney though, it

seems like he'll be going to the Bears.

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What do you see for the Chiefs going

into free agency and the draft?

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Brock Vierra: I don't see that making

a tremendous amount of moves because

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it still has some other players

that they might consider re signing,

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such as Nick Bolton and Justin Reid

on the defensive side of the ball.

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But, Thuning's trade did surprise me.

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Obviously this was made in

order to help keep Trey Smith.

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I understand why he do it, Thuny is

older, while he's a great guard, he

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did play out of position last year,

not Thuny's fault, unfortunately, he

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got called into the emergency service

because he didn't have a proper left

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tackle, but We see this with them before

where they'll try and get rid of aging

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early in order for younger replacements.

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the best example would be

Tyra Matthew for Justin Reed.

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That helps bring on two more Super Bowls.

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So that's what I see the Chiefs doing.

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In terms of free agency, they

could bring in a veteran left

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tackle to balance out that room

as they look for a younger answer.

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Kingsley Suamatia, if I alphabetically

mispronounce his name, is just not

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going to work out that position.

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So that would probably be the only place

I could see them attacking in free agency.

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they might add a utility running

back, maybe a little depth on the

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defensive line, especially the defensive

interior, since they're losing so

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many players outside of Chris Jones.

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But, in terms of a major

purchase, I don't see anything.

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However, do not be surprised

to see Trivarious Ward return

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on a team friendly deal.

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Ward's career has been great, but

he suffered a tremendous tragedy in

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his personal life that he should be

applauded for trying to play through

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during his final months in San Francisco.

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I think he's looking for a new situation

to round out his career where he can play.

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call home, and that's why I could

see him return to Kansas City.

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that would be, the only big

name on the radar so far.

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However, Hatchimal Holmes contract

is the most flexible contract in the

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history of the NFL because they signed

the 10 year deal and keep putting

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years on it, freeing up more cap space.

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The bigger question is, how are they

gonna manage Travis Kelce's contract

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he only has one year left and he's

not the player he once was anymore.

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PSP: he's not, the, first

option for Patrick Mahomes.

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I feel like nowadays he'll be

the third or the fourth receiving

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option in the Chiefs offense.

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Now, one guy who was acquired during the

season for the Chiefs was DeAndre Hopkins.

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He's set to hit free agency.

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with DK Metcalf requesting a trade from

Seattle, could you see the Chiefs moving

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for a player of his caliber, or would they

try and go for a less expensive option?

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Brock Vierra: I don't think it

will happen because the Chiefs are

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comfortable in the draft strategy.

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That's how I recall Trade brought

about two more Super Bowl rings

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because they were able to use those

high quality picks to reinforce,

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their roster outside of my homes.

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That's why you had guys like Trent

McDuffie and George Carlofnis and company

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come in and be big time contributors.

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With that being said When it comes to

the wide receiver position, I don't

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think that they're going to address it

in a major way until after the draft.

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We're expecting a massive run

on defenders in this draft.

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while Seattle, moving on from Metcalf

and also Tyler Lockett, puts them in

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position to draft the wide receiver, I

think that their belief in the Chiefs

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camp, that if they hold out, they

could get a player like Luther Burden.

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With the 31st pick.

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They have four picks in the first three

rounds, so I think that they don't want

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to spend that capital for one player

when they feel that their scouting

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department can get three or four caliber

players at a fraction of the cost it

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would take to not only bring DK Metcalf

on, but also extend him since he's

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also on the final year of his deal.

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PSP: Chiefs will have

Hollywood Brown back.

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Marquise Brown should be fit for 2025

after missing much of the season.

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he might have received rights

available, subject to NFL

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investigation and potential punishment.

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Not like the wide receiving room

is thin, it's just that it's not

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what we're used to with the Chiefs.

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Brock Vierra: when it comes to

Rasheed Rice, it depends on Hollywood

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Brown he might go somewhere else

for a little bit more money.

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Because I'm sure the Chiefs are going

to offer him a very low one year

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deal because , Hollywood Brown was

injured for most of the year and he

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wasn't that big of a contributor.

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But, I think about the prospect of

having Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown.

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Rashi race and quite frankly, I

think Rashi at most will get a four

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game suspension for his issues.

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The nice part about it is that

since he got injured, no one's been

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talking about him in the media.

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And as we all know, the media drives

the punishment given by the NFL.

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there's been a lot of other massive

off field conduct issues since then,

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which might help ease the punishment

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PSP: in the off season, the Chiefs are

getting good luck One team that had no

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good luck is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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they moved on from head

coach Doug Peterson.

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They've also moved on

from GM Trent Balkin.

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A chaotic manner towards the end of

the hiring cycle, and essentially,

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Ben Johnson interviewed with the

Jags for the head coaching role.

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Said, I won't work with Trampalki.

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Knocked it back, and then days later,

Trampalki was let go of his GM.

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nowadays, Liam Cohen is the head

coach of the Jaguars, former offense

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coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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they have one of the

youngest GMs in the chair.

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His name is on the tip of my

tongue, but you can help me out.

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Brock, take us through that

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Brock Vierra: Yes, I'd love to

because the Rams team I cover are

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directly associated with that.

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That's James Gladstone.

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he worked for the Rams for eight years.

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he was the director of college scouting

for the Rams for the past four years.

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that helped accelerate the Rams

rebuild after their victory, in

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the Super Bowl, when they sent F 10

picks and trained away everything.

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When you wonder how they were able to

get successful so fast, it's because

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of Gladstone's scouting department.

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Getting guys like Pukunukuwa

in the 5th, Quinton Lake in the

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6th, Kobe Turner and Byron Young

in the 3rd, so on and so forth.

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Gladstone knows how to pick gems.

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And even the UDFA market, they've

had a tremendous amount of success.

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that entire defense for the Rams last

year once they figured it out had it

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rolling There's only one first rounder

defensive rookie of the year Jared

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Furst The defensive line was Two second

year guys and a another rookie when

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they have the three, four, they put in

Bobby Brown, who's a fourth year guy

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as well, but he's another, non first

round draft pick, but you start looking

336

at the secondary, you get some third

fourth and fifth, Jacksonville, needed a

337

full cultural reset and one of the nice

parts about it for them was that the

338

owner Sean Conn and even the son Tony.

339

They don't get involved that

much in day to day football

340

operations, which is always great.

341

So football people can do football

things, and that's what I would

342

expect from Jacksonville Jaguars.

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They are in a very advantageous position,

especially after getting rid of Christian

344

Kirk and his cap hit, They have the

fifth overall pick, which they can

345

potentially use to trade back, especially

depending on how the quarterback market

346

shapes out in these next coming months.

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Gladstone knows how to

pluck talent from anywhere.

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Around the country.

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They already have an impressive team.

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They have a very strong defensive line

with two double digit sack headdressers.

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Eric Armstead, who was playing

out of position last year,

352

wants to return inside.

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if Tyson Campbell, can stay

healthy, they have a good outside

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inside duo with Jerry and Jones.

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Let's say they go get a guy like

Travis Hunter or perhaps Will Johnson.

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Yeah, strong.

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Cornerback room, or they can go

get a guy like Mason Graham, should

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they want to boost on their inside,

or Will Johnson, I don't know if

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I mentioned him, for the outside.

360

There's so many things that they can do.

361

, on the offensive side of

the ball Cohen is genius.

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Baker Mayfield had career highs in almost

every statistical category he was in.

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Bucky Irving was

fantastic in that offense.

364

Mike Evans put in another 1, 000

yard season despite being injured.

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And realistically, the only reason why

the Buccaneers often started to suffer

366

is because everyone started getting hurt.

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I truly believe had Evans and

Godwin stayed healthy the whole

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season, the Buccaneers would

have had an even better season

369

PSP: Yeah, I've got to agree with that.

370

They limped into the

division title NSC South.

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It was really Atlanta losing to Carolina,

as much as it was them winning on the

372

day against New Orleans, I would expect

a better season from the Buccaneers,

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they had the talent there, Deacon

Mayfield was starting, Mark Evans was

374

balling out another thousand yard season,

got his bonus, they were killing it.

375

The Jags, did you see this story from

Diana Rossini in the last 5 10 minutes?

376

Brock Vierra: I have not.

377

Unfortunately, you're interviewing

me right now, so I haven't,

378

what did the report say?

379

PSP: The Jags traded Christian Kirk

to the Texans for 7th round pick.

380

They were going to release him,

but it looks like they were able

381

to find someone to take him away.

382

I know it's hot off the press.

383

, but give us your take on that.

384

Brock Vierra: Love it.

385

I love Christian Kirk, and I was

never one to hate on his big contract.

386

I always felt that he was extremely

underutilized in Arizona, when

387

healthy, he's a thousand yard receiver.

388

great speed, great skills, never

heard anything negative about

389

him as a locker room player.

390

The problem is his health the

past two years has been terrible.

391

Was his health really that bad?

392

Or was he getting hurt as

they're playing through it?

393

He just decided to say this situation

with the coaching staff for the

394

front office is so messed up.

395

I don't want to put my body through this

no more, I'm just going to take it easy.

396

that's my question.

397

when it comes to Kirk on the Texans,

that's a move that I understand why

398

Houston made, especially with Tank

Dell, especially, expect them to miss

399

next season, Stephon Diggs isn't coming

back, you need to have a deep threat

400

to help stretch the field, it just

feels like Will Fuller all over again.

401

You gotta get a speech

with an injury history.

402

I get it that he's a 7th

round pick, but I don't know.

403

I just feel that the Texans are

struggling to squeeze the most out of C.

404

J.

405

Stroud.

406

And while they've had impressive post

seasons, they have a clear ceiling.

407

Kirk can play a role in breaking

through that ceiling, the

408

best ability is availability.

409

right now, Kirk does not have it.

410

Great for the Jags to get something

for him because they were going

411

to release him, it should be a

red flag when a team is willing to

412

trade a player to a division rival.

413

PSP: that was one of the first free agency

414

didn't mind paying, so The incoming GM

has to correct the previous GM's mistakes

415

they have to pay a price by trading within

the division, but again, desperation

416

does set the in these markets sometimes.

417

When you look at the Jags, the

division is definitely taken.

418

Houston have won the division,

they've made the playoffs

419

the last couple of seasons.

420

Indianapolis fell back a bit.

421

Anthony Richardson.

422

took a series off during a game.

423

They're going to bring

in competition for him.

424

You look around the division.

425

Do you get the sense that with the right

moves made this offseason, the Jaguars

426

can return to division contention?

427

Brock Vierra: I think with the

right moves, there could be

428

a potential contender to go

to the AFC championship game.

429

You already have your

quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

430

This quarterback that shined in college,

and when you ask, Oh, why hasn't

431

he been able to produce in the NFL?

432

His first head coach in

the NFL was Urban Miner.

433

So that already, you're

already off on the wrong foot.

434

When he had Doug Peterson, He looked good.

435

They won the division and made it

to the divisional round where there

436

were a few plays away from knocking

off the Chiefs and narrowing him.

437

Then when you had the second half

438

Plus, I'm getting reports

that Doug Peterson took the

439

year off in his final year.

440

He knew he was getting fired,

so the same, effort level wasn't

441

there in terms of preparation.

442

he ended up getting hurt By Aziz Alshair.

443

I think that they have a promising

quarterback for Trevor Lawrence

444

that has the right offensive

line backing him and Liam Cohen.

445

the strength of their team, continues

to be their defense, as I mentioned all

446

those names earlier, is they make the

proper selections in this upcoming draft.

447

They already have strong pieces in play.

448

They do need to upgrade

the linebacker room.

449

Devin Lloyd, Chad Mumma, and

company are not cutting it.

450

They need to add another cornerback,

and find a replacement for

451

Andre Sisco in the safety room.

452

However, their new defense coordinator,

Ashley Kampnile, is a Defensive

453

back whisperer, to say the least,

so I think that their issues and

454

coverage will cease to exist.

455

And like I said, they already have double

digit pass rushers across the board.

456

I think the division

should be the favorites.

457

Honestly, it should be Tyler Houston,

because Houston hasn't shown me

458

the consistency that I wanna see

to say that they're gonna win the

459

division for the third straight year,

Indianapolis and the Dumpster Fire,

460

and they don't have a quarterback.

461

You have a lame duck GM who continues

to have a job for some reason.

462

I don't want to be rude,

463

PSP: Okay.

464

Brock Vierra: that's the consensus around

the league why wasn't Ballard fired?

465

I do think Jeremy Irsay doesn't

want to fire one and keep another.

466

he felt it was unfair to fire both

Ballard and head coach Shane Stankin.

467

he's giving both of them one

more year to figure it out.

468

As they don't, I think

he's going to clean house.

469

Shane Stankin doesn't have a

quarterback, like I mentioned.

470

His offense system is good.

471

His system as a team is poor.

472

They seem to have a divided locker

room where the aging vets are

473

disgusted with the mentality shown.

474

They haven't shown they can be a

legitimate playoff contender since

475

Andrew Luck retired outside of

that one year with Phillip Rivers.

476

when you look at Tennessee, it's

just not gonna work this year.

477

While Tennessee does have some nice

pieces on their line of scrimmage,

478

they don't have a quarterback, a

strong line of supercore, they don't

479

have a defensive secondary, and

they don't have a linebacker core.

480

Like I said, I think the Giants can

take the division, and depending on

481

who they play and who they face off

with, I truly believe they can make

482

a potential deep run in the playoffs.

483

I don't think they're Super Bowl bound,

but they could have a strong home win

484

and knock off somebody in the divisional

round, as they've done in the past.

485

PSP: There we go.

486

I got a co sign that you look at the

defensive line for the Jags, you've

487

got Josh Hines, Alan, Trayvon Walker,

who was drafted very early I think

488

the value is still there with him.

489

It just hasn't been brought

out by the right coach.

490

think Saxonville 2.

491

Hopefully, James Gladstone can

channel his inner Les Snead and

492

bring out some splash moves.

493

AFC South is there for the taking.

494

is picking first for a reason.

495

you don't get first overall picks for

being good, there's problems in that

496

franchise, Houston have won the division,

but I think that's default, as opposed

497

to being the best team out of the four.

498

So we'll see what happens there.

499

One quick question.

500

Brock, have you been to London?

501

Brock Vierra: I've never been to a London

gig, but I have been to London, yes.

502

PSP: Okay.

503

I've always wondered about going to an

international game for the NFL, because

504

there's London on the menu, we've got

Dublin next season, Berlin, Munich

505

Brock Vierra: Yes.

506

PSP: Madrid.

507

Brock Vierra: the Rams are

508

Chargers going to Brazil next season

509

PSP: It's all happening.

510

the Rams are in for a treat, because

the Melbourne Cricket Ground is

511

a sporting maker, if you will.

512

Up to a hundred thousand fans.

513

You've got or three levels.

514

It'll be sold out.

515

I don't think people in North

America understand the appetite

516

that Australians have for NFL.

517

People get up at 1, 4 in the morning

to watch games on a Monday Not just for

518

fantasy, but because they love the game.

519

when that regular season game gets

out there, it's gonna be huge, whoever

520

the Rams play, it's gonna be a huge

game, Matthew Staff is gonna be there,

521

cause was about to go to the Raiders,

but he's did a 180 degree turn and

522

he's back in the blue and yellow.

523

huge is that for LA going into 2025?

524

Brock Vierra: For Stafford to return?

525

PSP: Yes.

526

Brock Vierra: I think it's huge.

527

They were a play away from being

the Super Bowl champion, right?

528

And they are able to score that

touchdown against the Eagles late,

529

which they had the play set up.

530

Unfortunately, Jalen Carter blew it

up because Kevin Dotson and Bo Lerner

531

missed the combo block against them.

532

They beat Philadelphia.

533

They have the same strong

defensive line that Philadelphia

534

had that would have given Jalen.

535

Daniel's problems with the NFC title game.

536

Plus, the Rams would have been hosting

that title game too in Los Angeles.

537

And then, of course, I guess the

Chiefs, like I said, they have

538

the same strong defensive line.

539

Chris Shula, the defense coordinator,

was in his bag at the end.

540

It was the greatness, of

Saquon Barkley and the strong

541

Eagles defense that ruined it.

542

Why want a new quarterback

when you were a play away?

543

you're reinforcing

deficiencies this off season.

544

So that's huge.

545

I think that the rounds are in

my top four teams that I have

546

predicted to win the Super Bowl.

547

They are the number two team

in the NFC we'll see what

548

happens in the regular season.

549

But if it comes to a rematch where the

Rams have to host the Eagles, or even

550

if the Rams have to go up to the link,

I think the Rams would it this time.

551

PSP: the Rams have done a fine job.

552

Arradona retired, but they

managed to replace his production

553

through not one, but two rookies.

554

And you've got Jareb Verst, Defensive

Rookie of the Year, Byron Young,

555

Kobe Turner, these young guys

all across the defensive line.

556

can beat you in many ways.

557

If you were watching the game

without sound, you wouldn't

558

know Aaron Donald had retired.

559

They've done a fine job

560

Brock Vierra: Yeah, Colby Turner is

a top five defense tackle in the NFL.

561

said that at his, podium

session at the Combine.

562

And for Turner, To have

learned under Donald for that

563

one season, I think was huge.

564

the worst part is I would love if

Aaron Donald came back for one more,

565

I'll be honest As much as I'm supposed

to maintain professionalism and

566

unbiased nature, I just love football.

567

I love the game so much.

568

And even though I covered the Rams, even

if I was covering a team besides the

569

Rams, I would still love to see Aaron

Donald come back I truly believe Outside

570

of three months or so with Von Milton,

Jared Verse would be the best Ed Rusher

571

Aaron Donald would be paired against.

572

I think he'd be better than Chris Long.

573

Robert Quinn.

574

Leonard Floyd.

575

the list goes on.

576

It starts with Ipicum, that's

why I would love to see it.

577

But I get to see a glimmer of it in

Colby Turner she has that never say die

578

attitude I'm literally gonna run through

two offensive linemen because I'm that

579

guy and for the new generation who may

have not had a chance to experience the

580

greatness That was Aaron Donald they

get a taste of it in the modern era.

581

PSP: Absolutely, that Super Bowl

LVI team, was Led Snead's he went

582

all in and they got the glory.

583

Banners lasts forever, man.

584

Banners lasts forever.

585

I don't care what anyone says.

586

SoFi Stadium has a new one.

587

One of the guys from that Super

Bowl team was MVP, Cooper Cupp.

588

He is Stafford's to Batman.

589

How likely is it that the Rams

hold on to Cupp this season?

590

Brock Vierra: If you were to ask me

that yesterday, I would say it's 30 to

591

70 percent that they hold out to cut.

592

Unfortunately, that's about

a 2 percent chance today.

593

they just re signed Tutu Atwell.

594

To a one year, ten million

dollar guaranteed contract.

595

considering how much cap that eats

up, it guarantees Cup is gone.

596

It's unfortunate, because I

think there was ways to keep him.

597

I think that if they told Cup, Hey,

you gotta take a paid cut to stay,

598

I think he would've been willing to.

599

But no conversation like that happened.

600

it feels a little bit bad.

601

I get it's business, and I get

their ready to move on from Cup.

602

I think he provides a

tremendous amount of value.

603

And his influence on the football

field, even if he doesn't have the

604

same production as he would have had in

years past, continues to be one of the

605

things that makes the Rams offense run.

606

Also, his brainpower and his ability

to be a mentor played a strong role in

607

why Puka No Kua was so good so early.

608

So I think that the Rams are

really gonna miss that once he

609

truly does leave the building.

610

To, , answer your question,

I say 2 percent chance.

611

2 percent chance that Cups lose.

612

PSP: End of an era.

613

who do the Rams pivot to?

614

I'm sure Snead has a plan,

but what does that look like?

615

Will that be the draft?

616

I'm sure they won't be ringing up

San Francisco for Brandon Ryuk, but

617

would they be looking for player

like De'Andre Hopkins or maybe

618

even Tee Higgins from the Bengals,

619

Who would they be looking

to replace Kup with?

620

Brock Vierra: Unfortunately,

Higgins is out, and the reason is

621

that he's maybe too expensive for

the draft picks the Rams have.

622

The Rams do not have a second round

623

they used that to trade up for Brady

Fisk, last season, so that's gonna

624

prohibit that trade for Higgins.

625

Plus, Joe Burrow, would, throw a

mutiny if, Higgins left Cincinnati.

626

who was the other, person you suggested?

627

PSP: Oh, I mentioned Aigbo,

that was tongue in cheek.

628

I'm a Niners fan, so I just

wanted to throw that out there.

629

If you could

630

Brock Vierra: Ah, gotcha.

631

PSP: that would be great, thank you.

632

Brock Vierra: as much as I would love

to relieve you of your financial burden

633

as the commanders did of Deebo Samuel,

no , but I think the number one answer

634

in terms of free agency is Devonte Adams.

635

Devonte has expressed he wants

to return to the West Coast at

636

his original home growing up.

637

I think right now the competition has

come down between the Rams, the Chargers.

638

potentially the Seahawks, but

I doubt that there may be that

639

much of contenders in there.

640

And honestly, perhaps your 49ers,

depending on how much money Devontae

641

Adams is willing to eat on his contract.

642

I don't see the Niners working

out because, unfortunately,

643

they just don't have the money

644

Though they have the money this

645

old, Lori, so that could prohibit

Devontae from going to the Niners.

646

I think Devante is the guy.

647

there is a belief within the Rams

organization that whatever issues with

648

Devante are only perpetuated because

of the media presence of New York, of

649

the Be the Jets, and Aaron Rodgers.

650

Now that Aaron Rodgers would not be

part of that equation, Devante as

651

a stand alone player was fantastic.

652

Realistically The only reason why it

didn't work out with the Raiders was

653

because Josh McDaniels screwed that team.

654

I could spend hours talking about

why Devante Adams and Josh McDaniels

655

did not work out in Las Vegas,

but that's not here nor there.

656

turn on our TVs and watch Duvante saying

that because of terrible quarterback

657

play, he's getting hit the most amount

that he's ever gotten hit in his career.

658

He wants a quarterback to keep him safe.

659

He wants to go to a situation

where he can win a Super Bowl.

660

He already has made about 130 million

in his career, so money isn't everything

661

The Rams allow him to move back

to California, for his family

662

he doesn't have to be Superman.

663

Fukuda Kuo is Superman.

664

He can just be that guy that,

gets the advantageous matchup

665

and goes out there and dominates.

666

PSP: There we go, that's

great stuff, Rock.

667

we can find your work on

Twitter slash X at MNSToday,

668

where else can we find your social media?

669

Brock Vierra: Yes, sir.

670

You can check me out.

671

follow my instagram.

672

It's private, but I accept

people all the time.

673

PSP: Yeah.

674

Brock Vierra: So brock

viera, brock dot viera.

675

You can find my instagram over

there but really simply please just

676

check out my work Rams on si, chiefs

on si, Jaguars, on SI UCLA on si.

677

You please read some of my articles.

678

You like what I have to say?

679

Shoot me a DM on Twitter

or at me on Twitter.

680

And I love engaging

conversations with everybody.

681

If you don't like what I have to say.

682

Still at me and we'll talk I love

football So that's the best way

683

to reach me and find my work.

684

PSP: Now Brock, before we get you out

of here, give us a ball prediction.

685

Could be Chiefs, Jabs, Rams,

686

Brock Vierra: Ooh a bold prediction.

687

All right.

688

Oh, you're putting me on the

spot with this one brother.

689

Bold prediction is that

690

I'm gonna do two for you.

691

One's a Homer prediction and one is

a cross the board NFL prediction.

692

PSP: Okay.

693

Brock Vierra: my homework prediction Puka

694

PSP: Wow.

695

Brock Vierra: Yep.

696

if you break down his, per game,

statistics and compare them with

697

Jamar Chase, who just won the Triple

Crown, and Justin Jefferson, they're

698

very close outside of touchdowns.

699

the Rams are expected to

improve in red zone efficiency.

700

But for the rest of the NFL, my prediction

is that four NFL coaches will be fired

701

before the end of the 2025 season.

702

PSP: Boom.

703

That's the final word from Brock Vieira.

704

I've been your host, Nimalos Bruce,

and this is another episode of PSP.