Tony Pauline On The Commanders: "I Know Washington Likes Tai Felton"

WJFK-FM / 106.7 The Fan

Tony Pauline, NFL Draft analyst for SportsKeeda.com, joins G&D to discuss the latest NFL Draft buzz.

Transcript

00:00Tony Pauline is outstanding when it comes to breaking down the NFL draft,

00:04consulting editor and NFL draft analyst at sportskeeda.com.

00:07Tony, thank you for hopping aboard.

00:09How are you?

00:10I'm okay.

00:11Thank you for having me.

00:13Always a pleasure.

00:14What's the story of this draft?

00:16I mean, just sort of thinking about this up at the top,

00:18I don't know who's going second.

00:20I don't know who's going third.

00:22I think now we kind of have the intrigue starting there.

00:24Is that how you see the story of this draft?

00:28Yes, to an extent.

00:29Because I think whoever doesn't go second will go third.

00:32And whoever goes third didn't go second.

00:34So I think those, I don't think we, you know, there's going to be a surprise.

00:38I think the story, which is really driven by the media,

00:42is where the Shadur Sanders end up.

00:45Because, you know, that story has seemed to have taken all the oxygen out of the room.

00:49People say he should go second or third.

00:51People say, like me, say later in the first round.

00:54I think that's one story.

00:55The other story is Tyler Warren, the tight end from Penn State.

00:58You know, where does he end up?

01:01Some feel that he's going to be a top ten pick.

01:04Does he really deserve to be a top ten pick?

01:06And as far as I'm concerned, the last big story is Shamar Stewart.

01:10You know, the Olympic type athlete from Texas A&M,

01:13who had one and a half sacks last year and four and a half sacks in his college career.

01:17Where does he end up?

01:18So, I think it starts with, I think what you bring up is a storyline.

01:24But I think it starts with Shadur Sanders and there's a couple other players involved.

01:28All right, Tony.

01:29So, let's talk Shadur Sanders.

01:30What is the best case scenario for him in terms of how high he could go?

01:35What is the worst case scenario if he falls?

01:38And then what are some pivot points of interest?

01:40Well, I think the earliest he goes is New Orleans Saints,

01:44although I'm not convinced of that at all with, you know, what's going on with Derek Carr.

01:49And we haven't had any finality as far as that's concerned.

01:52If he doesn't go nine to New Orleans, which I don't think he's going to,

01:56I think you've got to look at the Pittsburgh Steelers at number 21,

02:00who need a quarterback.

02:01As I reported yesterday, Mike Tomlin is in favor of drafting Shadur Sanders.

02:08Mike Tomlin doesn't feel he really needs Shadur Sanders because he's happy going into the season

02:11with Mason Rudolph.

02:13If he gets past Pittsburgh at 21, I think what happens then is you've got to look at teams

02:18that may want to trade back into the bottom part of round one from the early part of round two

02:24to maybe draft Shadur Sanders.

02:26But really from nine to 21, you look at those teams there,

02:31maybe the Seattle Seahawks, although they just signed Sam Donald.

02:35You know, I don't see any team in between those selections taking Shadur Sanders

02:41because they need Shadur, they need a quarterback.

02:45Is there a chance then, it sounds like you're saying maybe,

02:49that he could fall into the end of the first round?

02:51I mean, there's no way he would get to the second round, right?

02:53And I ask this because Washington's got the 29th pick.

02:57If somehow, someway he hasn't been drafted,

02:59I feel like that helps them with somebody possibly coming up to pick up an extra year

03:03as a fifth-year option for a quarterback.

03:06Or they just want the quarterback.

03:08I mean, I do think, like I said, if he gets past Pittsburgh at 21,

03:12there's a good chance that one of those teams in the bottom part of round one

03:16trade out to a team that, you know, is selecting at the top of round two,

03:21whether it be Cleveland, whether it be the New York Giants,

03:24whether it be the Las Vegas Raiders, you know,

03:26on and on that didn't take a quarterback early in the first round

03:30but need a quarterback for the future.

03:32Tony Pauline with us here on Grant & Danny.

03:35So, Tony, where would you have Sanders, and then by extension Cam Ward,

03:39in terms of quarterback hierarchy, maybe if they were in last year's draft

03:42where Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, Drake May went 1-2-3,

03:46not long after Penix, J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix went.

03:48Where do you have these two guys this year ranked maybe in comparison

03:51to those guys last year?

03:53I think Cam Ward is maybe number four.

03:56He's battling for that fourth, fifth spot after your top three guys.

04:01I don't think any of these guys come close to the top three quarterbacks

04:04that were selected last year.

04:06I think Shadour Sanders is probably battling with Bo Nix for that spot

04:13as the sixth quarterback selected.

04:16I mean, you know, a lot of teams and people like myself put a premium

04:21in a quarterback entering the draft off a tremendous season,

04:27off a high point.

04:29Jaden Daniels, Michael Penix, Bo Nix, even J.J. McCarthy.

04:33You could throw his name in that area.

04:35And that is Cam Ward.

04:37That is definitely not Shadour Sanders who really there's not a lot of difference

04:40between the tape from 2023 to 2024.

04:45In fact, you can make the argument that in some areas he regressed.

04:49Tony, who's the best player in this draft, regardless of position?

04:52In my opinion, it's Abdul Carter.

04:54It's not even close.

04:54I mean, people are going to, I think, mischaracterize him as an edge rusher.

04:59And he showed himself to be a terrific edge rusher last season

05:03when Penn State primarily used him, you know,

05:06out of a three-point stance at defensive end.

05:07But you go back to the 2023 film where he was playing more of a true linebacker spot,

05:12and he was terrific.

05:13I mean, he was dominant.

05:14He pursues sideline to sideline, stacks well against the run,

05:18showed ability and coverage.

05:19And even though the league is quarterback crazy now,

05:23you go back in a draft 25 years ago,

05:25it was the impact defensive player that everybody wanted at the top of the draft.

05:30And I feel Abdul Carter is exactly that.

05:33So if he's there for the Giants at three, you think they run the card up?

05:37Oh, absolutely.

05:38I mean, I think it checks a lot of boxes for him.

05:41And, you know, with the third pick of the draft,

05:44you potentially get the best player in the draft.

05:47And the Giants, like the Browns, you know,

05:49they have a head coach and a general manager that's on a very short leash.

05:53They've got to get immediate impact from whatever player they select next week.

05:57That player's got to be on the field week one, positively producing.

06:02And I think Abdul Carter can do that.

06:04Tony Pauline on Grant and Danny talking NFL draft.

06:06You're on a DC.

06:07Let's get to the commanders.

06:09They have the 29th pick in round one.

06:11Obviously a light haul of picks after some offseason trades.

06:15What's your outlook for Washington in the first round at pick 29?

06:19Maybe the needs that you like or don't like for them.

06:21And then what kind of rumblings, if any,

06:23are you hearing about players they may be in on?

06:26Well, I think they would want an edge rusher right off the top.

06:30I think that is still a position of need for them.

06:33I think at some point in time, they want to get a running back.

06:36This is a running back deep class.

06:39I think they also want to add, they want to add another receiver.

06:43They've done a good job in the offseason addressing some needs.

06:48So I think where they are selecting at number 29 and using picks to acquire veterans,

06:55as you mentioned, I think they just have to wait for the draft to come to them and see

07:01what is available to them.

07:02Are there any good pass rushers still available when they're called to the clock?

07:07Is James Pierce of Tennessee there?

07:09And if he is there, does he fit their system?

07:12If none of the edge rushers are there, do they look at an O'Marion Hampton?

07:16If he's there, O'Marion Hampton may not even be there.

07:19Or as we mentioned before, are there any possibilities for them to trade down,

07:24collect some extra picks, and then load up on those positions

07:27or address those positions in day two and three?

07:30Tony, are there guys that you just kind of referenced some of those scenarios there?

07:34And this is kind of what Grant and I have been sort of dancing around here

07:37for a couple of weeks leading up to this draft.

07:39Are there guys, like you mentioned for the Giants, if Abdul Carter's there,

07:42you set a record, Usain Bolt style, run the card up.

07:45Is there a run the card up guy that might be there at 29?

07:48Or are they best served trading back because now you're in kind of that

07:51eye of the beholder, six one half dozen of the other range?

07:55Well, I mean, talk to me next Thursday.

07:57You know, we don't know that.

07:59Obviously, if a highly rated player happens to fall, again, James Pierce,

08:05if he falls to 29, there are obvious reasons why he fell to 29.

08:09There are some off the field and character concerns.

08:12You know, from an ability on the field point of view,

08:16yeah, I'm running the card up from James Pierce, who I like.

08:19But are you comfortable with all the other issues?

08:23If Shamar Stewart of Texas A&M falls to them at 29, great athlete.

08:28I mean, fantastic in shorts and a T-shirt.

08:31But are you going to be able to teach him to transition that athleticism

08:35onto the football field, assuming he's even available to them?

08:39I mean, they're in a position where, you know,

08:42I don't expect any big names except for the ones that I mentioned

08:46to potentially be there for them.

08:48Just have to wait and see, you know, let the draft come to them.

08:51So, Tony Pauline with us here on G&D.

08:53Are there some players in this draft that you aren't sure why they're getting

08:57as much praise or hype or attention that you've seen in mocks

09:01or otherwise that are going to go high that you kind of say,

09:02you know what, you enjoy that.

09:04That's not for me.

09:05Yeah, well, I mentioned one in Tyler Warren.

09:08Tyler Warren, the tight end from Penn State, you know, he's a nice tight end.

09:12He's not Brock Bowers.

09:13In fact, Colston Loveland of Michigan is more Brock Bowers than Tyler Warren.

09:17But he's a solid pass catcher.

09:19He's a solid blocker.

09:20He does everything very well.

09:22But he's not a great prospect, especially for some people talking about him

09:26potentially being the seventh pick of the draft to the New York Jets

09:29or the ninth pick of the draft in the New Orleans States, where he could end up.

09:32I think what Tyler Warren does is he brings the ability to start on day one

09:36for a team and produce very early on.

09:40I think that, you know, Ted McMillan is a guy who's falling.

09:43And I think what's going to happen is Matthew Golden, the receiver from Texas,

09:49could be the first receiver off the board.

09:50But he's still very rough around the edges.

09:53You know, he's not as dominant as Ted McMillan, the receiver from Arizona was.

09:57But he really done a good job in the pre-draft process.

10:01Ran 4-2-9 at the combine.

10:03Had a great pro day.

10:04And you just hope that you can transition all those skills onto the football field

10:09if you're going to take him in the top 15.

10:11Tony, speaking of wide receivers, Ty Felton at the University of Maryland here in the DMV.

10:16I know you've been very high on him.

10:18He caught 96 balls for 1,125 yards and nine touchdowns last year.

10:22And you had a report this week that you're being told the commanders are pretty high on him.

10:27Where might he go?

10:28And what can you tell us about the relationship between Washington and Felton,

10:32who's been in their backyard?

10:34Yeah, well, like I said, I know that Felton would love to play for the hometown commanders.

10:39And I know that Washington likes him.

10:40In fact, during their local pro day, they had him in.

10:43And after all the on-field drills, I was told they took him out.

10:46For half an hour, they had him field punks.

10:48Now, the thing about Felton and the commanders is, you know,

10:53Felton projects as a middle of round three type of prospect.

10:58Maybe late part of round three.

11:00Commanders don't have a selection there.

11:01So, as I said in my report, you know, what do they do, the commanders?

11:07Would they take him with the 61st selection?

11:10Seems a little bit early as far as my board is concerned.

11:13Do they wait and cross their fingers and hope that he's around in the fourth round?

11:16I don't think that's going to happen.

11:17But, again, you know, we talked about maybe them potentially, speculatively, let's say,

11:23trading down in round one, getting a pick back in the third round, maybe even trading down.

11:28I think for them to take Ty Felton where he deserves to be selected in a draft,

11:33they're going to have to be creative.

11:34Tony, really appreciate the time.

11:37I know you've got to jump.

11:37Thanks for hopping on with us.

11:39Thank you for having me.

11:40Tony Pauline, NFL draft analyst, with some good insight on what the commanders might be able to do at 29.

11:47Thank you for having me.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended