- 2 days ago
Shan, RJ, and Bobby broke down Dane Brugler’s top 100 draft guide, highlighting Caleb Downs, Mansoor Delane, and Keldric Faulk. They debated where the Cowboys might find value at 12 and 20, discussed potential trade scenarios to add Maxx Crosby, analyzed the team’s needs at cornerback, safety, and more.
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00:00Bobby, a NFL draft moment that is celebrated every single year is the release of Dane Brugler's Draft Guide.
00:09Let's look at what came out to determine who may be available for us in round one.
00:15The Beast, as it is called affectionately, and named by one Brian Broaddus.
00:20Broaddus named it The Beast years ago.
00:22He getting kickbacks on that?
00:23Well, he was able, I definitely was listening to the podcast yesterday,
00:27so I was listening to the Athletic Podcast with Hellman and Brugler,
00:31and they decided that for the release episode they were going to do a special thing,
00:33and they invited Brian Broaddus onto the Athletic Podcast.
00:36And so while they were on there, that's how I was reminded of it was Broaddus made sure to say,
00:40I just want it out there for the record.
00:42Remember, I named this.
00:43Wow.
00:43I named The Beast.
00:44He birthed all these draft analysts and named it.
00:48He birthed all these draft babies, and some were better than others.
00:54You think NFL, either Cowboys front office hates Broaddus for that?
00:59Jerry probably loves it for the increased interest.
01:01I'm sure Will McClay and everyone else is like, way to go, Brian.
01:04Way to have everyone in the FW second guess us.
01:07I think, you know, I would hate it if I was Will.
01:10I think that they, I think they don't, I would imagine they don't like everybody thinking they're an expert.
01:15I think they do, I think everybody in that industry would give a thanks to Brian for bringing prominence to
01:26what they do.
01:27Yeah.
01:27Like, Brian definitely does.
01:28I think Brian has had an impact on the draft analysis community in a way that stretches way outside of
01:38just Dallas.
01:39And in a way that, like, I think has really contributed to, like, if they're going to write about the
01:45draft analyst explosion in a hundred years, like, some historian is going to talk about, well, there's this guy, Brian
01:50Broaddus, actually.
01:51Because he really was a big part of what Dane started doing and other, and Dana, that everything that's flowed
01:58out from that.
01:59So, no, I actually do think Brian's done a massive part in growing that.
02:03And I think that.
02:03Is that his radio legacy?
02:05Yeah, I'd say so.
02:06Yeah.
02:06Which is a significant one.
02:08Yeah.
02:08Because, I mean, it's its own little industry now.
02:12But, Dane had his top 100 release yesterday, which they talked about.
02:15They said, I guess years later now we can admit that when we used to print it, all 600 pages
02:21of it, we used the Cowboys mailroom printer to do it.
02:24Oh, wow.
02:24They would sneak in there to do it, I guess, print it off.
02:27Ouch.
02:27None of them are employed over there anymore, so it's okay now.
02:30But he did release his top 100 as part of this, or The Athletic went and cultivated his top 100.
02:36100, Dane Brugler, after he released The Beast yesterday, which you can get with an Athletic subscription and is highly
02:41worth it.
02:42Number one player on the board.
02:45Arvel Reese.
02:46Ooh.
02:47Wow.
02:48Yep.
02:48Arvel Reese is the top player on the board, which is somebody he's had up there, I think, the entire
02:52time.
02:52I don't know that he's moved that really since the fall.
02:54The paintball player.
02:55Yep, that's the one.
02:56I'm going to give you the Vegas over-under on where they have these guys going after you name each
03:01player.
03:02Okay.
03:02So, at Reese, the over-under is two and a half.
03:06Yeah.
03:07That's obviously the Jets and David Bailey decision.
03:12Yeah.
03:12And there's an increasing amount of people who are saying David Bailey at two.
03:15So, right now, I would think that would be over.
03:18Number two on this list is Jeremiah Love, and I'll just round out the top ten, and then we'll take
03:21some larger takeaways.
03:22But number two is Jeremiah Love, the running back from Notre Dame.
03:24What's the over-under there?
03:26Four and a half.
03:27That one feels all over the place as to where he could end up.
03:31Number three, Fernando Mendoza, Indiana.
03:33That's not even on the board, is it?
03:35Wow.
03:35Man, I'm surprised it's not on the board.
03:38So, he's – okay, I'm surprised, too.
03:40Go ahead.
03:41I mean, I like him.
03:42I like Fernando a lot, but generally, like, quarterbacks that aren't, like, Andrew Luck,
03:47or whatever, are lower on the big board.
03:50I'm surprised that he has Fernando Mendoza as the third best player in the draft.
03:53I don't think that's going to end up being the case.
03:56He said – I think – I'd have to ask him about this.
03:58I think in the past he has weighted it a little bit for position.
04:01So, a quarterback who is maybe just raw value, the seventh best, would be the third.
04:08Okay, so he would never put – if there's a kicker who's never missed a kick,
04:12it kicks 70-yard field goals.
04:13Yeah, he would not be number one.
04:14He would never put him number one, even – so he's weighting it.
04:16Yes, I mean, you have to a little bit.
04:18He says, Mendoza will need to prove himself with more full-field reads in the NFL,
04:21but his intuition, throwing accuracy, and play confidence are superpowers
04:25and will smooth his transition to the next level.
04:27He projects as a mid-level NFL starter and a more mobile version of Bernie Kosar.
04:32Wow.
04:33Bernie was smart.
04:34You loved Bernie.
04:35I loved Bernie.
04:36Bernie didn't have a great arm, but he still made Cleveland work somehow.
04:39Mid-level NFL starter.
04:42Three overall.
04:43All right, now here you go.
04:45Number four.
04:46Ohio State player, the second one on the board.
04:49It is not Caleb Downs.
04:51It is Sonny Stiles.
04:52It's number four ahead of Caleb Downs.
04:53He says Stiles is an outstanding-sized speed athlete who is comfortable in space,
04:57reacts well to what he sees, and plays with the physicality to mark up the stat sheet.
05:01With elite sub-package value, he has the talent to become an impact linebacker early in his NFL career,
05:05and he is over under what?
05:07Five and a half.
05:08Ooh, yeah.
05:09Giants.
05:10That feels pretty...
05:11I think that's where the Giants are going to end up going, is Stiles.
05:14Number five on this list.
05:16Our favorite.
05:17Sean's dream at this point.
05:19Caleb Downs.
05:20Safety from Ohio State.
05:22He says,
05:22Downs sees the field like it's a chessboard and plays with an exceptional combination of intelligence,
05:27urgency, and toughness, allowing him to be disruptive from anywhere on the field.
05:30His intangibles and on-field versatility will make him an impactful NFL starter early in his career.
05:35There's two of the four guys that you're targeting if you're a Cowboys fan.
05:38They're in the top five rate.
05:40Yeah.
05:40So, is this going to be an instance of, maybe you should tailor your expectations to something
05:45more in your range, guys?
05:47Nine and a half for Downs, the over-under in Vegas.
05:50He must...
05:51And by the way, is over meaning he gets drafted in the first nine?
05:56Yes.
05:56Okay.
05:57How else would you...
05:58You're the gambling expert.
06:00Yeah, but I would think under would mean one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
06:06Like, lower than that nine number, I would think.
06:08I would think nine is under nine and a half.
06:12Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:12But, like, I guess, yeah.
06:14Yeah, over-under is nine and a half.
06:15Yeah, I guess I just...
06:15So, if he gets taken in nine and I bet the under, I should win.
06:18I'm just thinking of lower numbers being...
06:20Right, but also, like, over means the...
06:23If he's drafted a ten, I lose.
06:25I know, but I would think over would be, like, better.
06:28Like, it's like, you know, so you're a lower number...
06:32In the NCAA tournament, you're a higher seed, but a higher seed is the one seed, you know,
06:38as opposed to the lower seed is the 16.
06:41Let's get clarification on that underdog.
06:43You know, because it's like...
06:44Are you doing semantics on me?
06:47No, no.
06:47Listen, if it's nine and a half and you bet on him going eight...
06:52Yeah, I would think that's betting over.
06:54Okay, so you are doing semantics on me.
06:56I would think it was under.
06:57Who cares?
06:58I'm just saying.
06:58The point is...
06:59Move on.
07:01Both you idiots.
07:02No.
07:026.
07:04Mansoor Delane, quarterback, LSU, another Cowboys target.
07:08He writes that Delane plays with the route, anticipation, and temperament to stay attached
07:12in coverage and squeeze catch windows.
07:14He projects as a starting outside NFL cornerback with the skill set to move inside over the slot.
07:20So, again, three players in a row that the Cowboys covet.
07:23But number seven, a guy the Cowboys want to trade up for, and lower than I would have
07:27him.
07:28David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech.
07:30He says Bailey is still developing his rush counters, but he is an explosive, quick-to-twitch
07:35athlete with the power.
07:37I said Titch.
07:38Length and desire to be a disruptive rush piece.
07:41He projects as a versatile NFL starter.
07:43His over-under is four and a half.
07:46Okay.
07:46Seems fair.
07:46I would bet the lower number.
07:50Spencer Fano, tackle Utah, is number eight.
07:53Number nine.
07:55You are now officially out of real Cowboys targets.
07:58I feel like Reuben Bain.
07:59Oh, my Lord.
08:01Edge rusher from Miami.
08:01Now, obviously, the rankings doesn't mean it'll fall this way, necessarily.
08:05But he says about Reuben Bain.
08:07Bain has some size, speed constraints, but his power profile, leveraged attack, and tenacious
08:12play style show in all areas of his game and directly lead to backfield disruption.
08:16He projects as a scheme-versatile NFL starter who can line up wide over the tackle or inside
08:21as a three-technique.
08:22And then the final one on his top ten list is number ten, Carnell Tate, receiver from
08:26Ohio State.
08:27But Bain is eight and a half, by the way, over-under.
08:29Carnell Tate's seven and a half.
08:31That does make me a little concerned.
08:34Yeah.
08:34I did some more thinking yesterday about your possible Crosby scenario.
08:38Mm-hmm.
08:39And if this all happens, I'm signing up for drafting a wideout, trading a second, which
08:47I don't think gets it done, by the way.
08:48Trading my second for Max, and then bye-bye George.
08:53What do you think it would cost as the king of compensation?
08:56To get Max?
08:57Yeah.
08:59I think it's going to be...
09:03Less than what it was, right?
09:05I think it's going to be...
09:05I think you could get it done with a 20.
09:08I think 20 could get it done.
09:10Not next year's one?
09:12Next year's one?
09:13Yeah, I think you could get it done for next year's one as well.
09:15Would you buy into that?
09:17Well, what happened at two?
09:19Well, no, because I'm fine with two, but you just said you didn't think that was realistic.
09:23Yeah, I think that's a little light.
09:24I think that's a little light.
09:26For next year's one...
09:28You want it a little girthier as the king of compensation.
09:30What I want is...
09:32Okay, if you tell me I get downs at 12, I want to build my dream scenario.
09:38All right?
09:39I want downs, I want...
09:43Oh, God, I guess I'm going to have to say Hood or McCoy.
09:48I need to get a cut-up for you of Hood now.
09:51Yeah, I play every day.
09:52And then if I get 12 and 20 and I'm like, okay, it's screaming here that Max Crosby can be
10:02added to a corner and a safety,
10:04I'll do next year's one.
10:06If you get downs at 12, are you automatically just saying, I need to get the top pass rusher at
10:1320 then?
10:14It doesn't matter who it is?
10:15Or are you fine just saying it can be secondary both times?
10:18I'm fine getting a corner as well, and I know RJ is too.
10:21I am.
10:24Bobby has more faith in Bland and Revel and Durant.
10:31Not faith, more confidence than we do, of bounce backs.
10:37I'm more scared.
10:39Bland I do for sure, and I think Durant is a good player.
10:41Revel, I don't know.
10:44That is just, we still haven't seen it yet.
10:46Did the Jets get the...
10:48Let me ask something real quick.
10:49If it was...
10:51If it was without injury...
10:57Well, no, I'll factor in the injury.
11:00If it was McCoy, Hood, Revel, would it go Hood, Revel, McCoy?
11:09For me?
11:10Yeah.
11:11Hood, McCoy, Revel.
11:13Hood, McCoy, Revel.
11:16Okay, in terms of disability?
11:18In terms of, yeah, my faith that they will be a solid player.
11:22Because I think we need a little reminder.
11:24If everybody's healthy, Revel is clearly third to me.
11:27Okay.
11:27I didn't love Revel coming out.
11:28Oh, you didn't?
11:29No.
11:30I thought he was pretty limited.
11:32Like, I thought what he did, he did really well, but I thought it was pretty narrow.
11:34Okay.
11:35And the pick they traded to the Jets is the higher of the two?
11:39Yep.
11:40It's like a pick swap.
11:41So, if Green Bay wins the Super Bowl, it's the 30-second pick.
11:45Yeah.
11:46So, no matter whether Green Bay is worse than Dallas,
11:48next year Dallas is worse than Green Bay, whichever one is worse, they get it.
11:51I hate giving up a first.
11:54Yeah.
11:55You know, but a potential 28th pick in the draft, you know, a year from now,
11:59just the time value of the pick, I'm less concerned with that.
12:03Yeah, if I clean up and do great at 12 and 20,
12:08I'm confident that my pick will be lower than 20 next year.
12:11If I end up giving up the 25th...
12:13And I already feel like Green Bay's pick is going to be lower than 20.
12:17Oh, you do?
12:18Yeah, they're over.
12:18Over, under?
12:19I think they're a playoff team.
12:21Wait, so higher than 20, you think their pick will be above 20?
12:27Yeah, I think they'll be the playoffs.
12:29Okay.
12:29I think they'll be the playoffs.
12:31Yeah, I...
12:33I don't know.
12:33I'm trying to think of it.
12:34If they were to...
12:35If they wanted to...
12:37And we can actually get into some of this at 840,
12:39just the idea of guys they might be able to trade,
12:41but I kind of wonder if they start feeling a little uneasy about Tyler Guyton
12:46or something like that,
12:47I wonder if they would be able to flip a...
12:49If they really want to go get Max,
12:50could they flip player and pick or something,
12:52and then maybe not have to give up as much capital if they go,
12:55well, bank on a guy who's got some upside here on the offensive line or something.
12:58Pei, Pei, what are the Tolo's saying?
13:00903 says,
13:01I think Ruben Bain will be just like Thibodeau.
13:04817 says,
13:05you can't include any first round or any future picks
13:07because this team will be dog-ass this next season.
13:10817,
13:10is Delane a better prospect than Claiborne Command of LSU?
13:13And another question for Bobby,
13:15214,
13:16he says,
13:17Bobby, could you just do Pickens for Max straight up,
13:19or is Pickens not enough?
13:20Pickens has to be under contract.
13:22So Pickens,
13:23he can't just move his thing.
13:26And Delane is a better prospect.
13:27Delane's a more solid prospect,
13:29the more Moe Claiborne was,
13:30but Claiborne as an upside guy was considered to be a superstar.
13:34All right,
13:34Dane Bruegler's top 100,
13:36those are the top 10.
13:37Some of the other takeaways really quickly,
13:39he had three quarterbacks in the top 100.
13:41Just go 11 down.
13:42Okay,
13:4211 down to where?
13:43How far do you want to go?
13:44Just to us say.
13:45Okay,
13:46number 11 on this list is Francis Maui Noah.
13:48That's the offensive lineman from Miami.
13:51Number 12 is Vega Yolani.
13:53That's the guard from Penn State.
13:55All right.
13:55Number 13,
13:56Makai Lemon,
13:57receiver from USC.
13:58All right,
13:59I'm trying to,
13:59the point of me,
14:00continue to go through this.
14:01I want to hear if Dane has someone higher up than what we've been seeing mocked at 12 and 20,
14:07to where I'd be like,
14:07okay,
14:07I can,
14:08you can wipe down.
14:09I'll be fine with this at 12.
14:10We're about to hit somebody that he's probably got higher than some others.
14:13Number 14,
14:14Jermod McCoy,
14:15Tennessee.
14:17Give me the write up.
14:17Okay,
14:18on Jermod McCoy,
14:19he writes that,
14:21he says,
14:22where's the,
14:22okay,
14:22he says McCoy needs to hone his discipline to hold up versus NFL competition,
14:26but he is a twitchy mover with the spatial instincts and ball skills to create plays and coverage.
14:31If there are no concerns with his knee,
14:33he should be an early NFL starter as a rookie.
14:36In fact,
14:37he mentions,
14:37he says,
14:38the bad news on McCoy is that he doesn't have any 2025 tape.
14:41Good news is his 2024 tape is really,
14:43really good.
14:43But he's patient,
14:44agile,
14:44and balanced,
14:45impressed man,
14:45and has the reactive athleticism to gear up or down quickly.
14:48So how much is Dane factoring in the injury for the board?
14:53Dane tries,
14:54Dane will mention it,
14:56but he'll say,
14:57clearly,
14:57since I don't have the medicals,
14:59I can't tell you what it is.
15:00Okay.
15:01But he'll,
15:02he'll try to like reference it as like,
15:03this is a concern that exists.
15:05But apart from that,
15:06this is where he is.
15:08So he's not necessarily screaming,
15:11take,
15:12take him at 12 or 20.
15:13No,
15:13likes him.
15:14Doesn't they like it does not.
15:15I mentioned this earlier.
15:16I think he does think Dane is a better player.
15:18Okay.
15:19So Montser Delane from LSU number 15.
15:21And this is one that I've wondered if this would be a parachute player for
15:24Dallas.
15:25If they get stuck at 12,
15:26they don't have anybody there that they can pick.
15:28And we have not talked a lot about him.
15:30And when he does get brought up,
15:31there are a lot of people in the draft space who just start losing their
15:33minds.
15:34Keldrick Falk,
15:34edge rusher from Auburn.
15:37His very brief summary at the top is has more almost plays than impact plays
15:42on tape,
15:42but a player worth betting on.
15:44And that's kind of his MO is the guy who it's like,
15:48man,
15:48that looks like that looks like a defensive end.
15:52And Oh,
15:52look at it.
15:53This looks like it should be really good.
15:54But then the production is just not there.
15:57In fact,
15:57it got a little worse.
15:58He said,
15:59Falk has more almost plays than impact ones on a state,
16:01but you bet on a developing 20 year old player with his exciting traits.
16:04He's similar in several ways to Mikel Williams as a prospect.
16:08It was the edge rusher from Georgia last year.
16:10Dallas liked Mikel Williams a lot.
16:12That's who we're going to end up with the character and upside are promising,
16:15but how early a team drafts him is dependent on its appetite for risk.
16:19He could be the defensive end for technique head up in a three down lineman.
16:25Look,
16:25he could stand up potentially.
16:28He could play inside a defensive tackle on some,
16:31you know,
16:31four man looks.
16:32He's got versatility and he's a really high upside guy.
16:35It's just,
16:35it's not,
16:36it's all projection with him.
16:39That's who you think it's going to end up being.
16:40Yep.
16:41Just because it's.
16:41Yep.
16:42That feeling.
16:43I know that feeling is coming Friday morning.
16:45I know we're coming in with that feeling.
16:46That's who it is.
16:47That there will be some people freaking out on Twitter.
16:50I would hate the idea.
16:51I don't think he's bad.
16:52I think he's fine.
16:53that's fine.
16:53And I don't,
16:54I hate that.
16:55Description.
16:56I hate that reaction though.
16:58I hate that.
16:58Yeah.
16:58I hate that.
16:59They're picking 12.
17:00I get a draft.
17:01That feels like there's like 10,
17:02like true players.
17:03I would like,
17:04if it's me and I don't really like,
17:07I'm just like,
17:08whatever.
17:09I would think my first thing would be to trade down.
17:12And if they,
17:12nobody wants to trade down,
17:13I would lower my price to trade down.
17:16I don't,
17:16I don't take less.
17:18Like if they,
17:18if,
17:19if like the Travis Frederick trade,
17:20where they bail from like 16 to 31 and they pick up a third from San
17:23Francisco years ago,
17:24pick up something.
17:25Just get out of that pit.
17:27Just give me something.
17:27They may do.
17:28I think that's,
17:29I think they would,
17:30I don't think their first thought is bailout.
17:32I think their first thought is go up.
17:34I think they want to go up.
17:36And then when they look at it,
17:37they're going to go,
17:38okay,
17:38the board's falling sort of way.
17:39And then I think they're trying to bail out.
17:41And then if they're stuck,
17:43then they pick,
17:44they reach on somebody a little bit,
17:46or they take a receiver and they just go,
17:48okay,
17:48well let's figure some things out here.
17:51Rest of the board,
17:5216 Kenyon city tight end from Oregon,
17:55Monroe Freeling tackle from Georgia at 17.
17:57And this is Dane Brugler.
17:58Stop 118.
17:5919 Dylan Thienemann safety,
18:00Oregon 19 Caden Proctor tackle,
18:03Alabama 20 Jordan Tyson,
18:04the receiver from Arizona state.
18:07Do you want me to jump down and see what he says about Mesidor and hood?
18:09Yes.
18:10Okay.
18:1028 is a key Mesidor,
18:11which is lower than where you're picking 28,
18:1328 overall is a key Mesidor.
18:15His write-up on Mesidor is that Mesidor won't be universally loved because of his age and injury history,
18:20but he is a disruptive force off the edge who is always playing a hundred miles per hour.
18:25He projects as a three down NFL starter with interior value on sub packages.
18:29That doesn't sound so bad.
18:31If you're telling me you get somebody in the first round as a defensive end,
18:33it's like he can play all three downs and he's a starter.
18:36That sounds pretty good.
18:37Yeah.
18:37Better than mid-level Bernie Kosar,
18:39for instance,
18:40which is what he projected.
18:41Would you rather have Mesidor or Falk?
18:43Mesidor,
18:44probably.
18:46Colton hood.
18:46He said hood embraces press man challenges.
18:48And what numbers hood?
18:50Hood is 30.
18:5130.
18:51Yep.
18:52He said hood embraces press man challenges and is the type of balanced,
18:55scrappy athlete who can attach himself to receivers and make things difficult for the offense.
18:59He has the talent and wiring to be an early NFL starter.
19:02That's what we're going to end up with.
19:03Falk and hood.
19:04That's what's going to happen.
19:05And they're,
19:05they're better than they are last year to me.
19:07If that's the final touch on their defense.
19:10All right.
19:10Well,
19:10what do you do?
19:11Like,
19:11I mean,
19:12no offense to you,
19:12but yeah,
19:13you're better than you are.
19:14I would hope.
19:15I think hood's going to be,
19:15I think hood's going to be a pro ball.
19:17Defense.
19:17You're better than you are.
19:18Uh-huh.
19:18I think hood's going to be a pro ball corner at some point.
19:20Oh,
19:21I like him a lot.
19:22Okay.
19:23The thing a lot of people don't like about him is he,
19:25or I guess the thing that people are hesitant on him with in regards to Dallas is he,
19:30he just doesn't play inside.
19:31He is an outside corner.
19:32He's not going to play in the nickel at all.
19:33And so some people are like,
19:34well,
19:34he doesn't have the flexibility.
19:35Is that going to be somebody they can use if he's only got to stay outside?
19:38I think that,
19:39and I told you,
19:40if Bland was the nickel,
19:41you would feel,
19:42I don't,
19:43so I don't think shoddy has said we want Bland outside.
19:47I think that's also just like we want Zach Martin on the inside.
19:51Yeah.
19:52Cause Bland doesn't want to play there,
19:53but I think it's going to be a rotation of,
19:55I think their nickel is likely going to end up being,
19:57if they don't get downs,
19:58their nickel will end up being a combination of Kobe Durant,
20:02Duran Bland,
20:02and Jalen Thompson.
20:03And it'll just be rotation.
20:04As the grouch told me,
20:06Oscar.
20:07Yeah.
20:07Oh,
20:08Scandrick.
20:08You don't draft a corner in the first round to play inside.
20:12Those were the old days.
20:13That was the old days.
20:14That's true.
20:15Under the old systems.
20:16That's true.
20:16The same with CP.
20:18Same with Christian Parker.
20:19The old days,
20:19and you're supposed to be,
20:20I mean,
20:20they want you to do both.
20:21Yeah.
20:21A lot of times.
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