- 6 weeks ago
Carl Dukes and Mike Bell react to rumors of a potential trade sending Kyle Pitts to the Chiefs and discuss the Falcons' approach to the upcoming NFL draft. They explore the future of the quarterback position with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.
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00:00Mike, let's talk about 10 days away from the NFL draft.
00:03Ian Cunningham, our general manager, is saying that the Falcons are sticking with their current stock of five picks next
00:10week.
00:10We don't alter the plan.
00:13Worst case scenario, as he stated.
00:16And what he means is, you know, again, he's already stated we won't be in this position again.
00:20We're going to have multiple picks as the years continue, and hopefully he's in charge here.
00:24But he's saying we're staying where we're at and we're not going to do anything.
00:28You just told me there are still varying reports out there about what we could do.
00:32It all involves a trade and acquiring more picks.
00:35We're not going to get nothing for nothing.
00:37Right.
00:37And again, this is just one.
00:39And the Falcons wire, and they follow us.
00:40We appreciate the love guys on Twitter.
00:42But there was a story that was written saying, hey, how about we get a bunch of picks of the
00:46Chiefs?
00:46Hey.
00:47Hey, hey, you know, for Kyle Pitts.
00:49And I said to Carl, I go, you know, what would the going rate for Kyle Pitts be if you
00:53wanted to?
00:54You know, even if you were inclined to do so.
00:56You know, I mean, I'm intrigued as a Falcon fan to see how he would, you know, play in a
01:01Kevin Stefanski offense.
01:02But gets his back to that old quarterback situation.
01:05Who's delivering the football?
01:07T-U-A.
01:09I mean, so could you get, I mean, again, this is from the Falcons wire, which is a spinoff of
01:14USA Today.
01:15What could you get from the Chiefs?
01:17I don't know.
01:18I mean, could you get a second round pick?
01:21You know, a single day two pick, would they consider it?
01:25I don't know.
01:26I mean, a second and a, I mean, could you try to get a second and a fourth?
01:28I'd love, we want picks, but I still want to see what Pitts would do in a Stefanski offense.
01:33So I'd say thanks, but no thanks.
01:35I agree.
01:36Because for where I'm at right now, look, Pitts is as much as I still think there's untapped potential.
01:41He's proven.
01:43You're going to get a second or third round pick, and then you're going to draft a guy who you
01:47hope can play.
01:48I at least know Kyle Pitts can play.
01:50Has he played up to the level in which we want him to?
01:52No.
01:53But he's had really good seasons here, and to do what the Falcons did to franchise tag him, it tells
01:59us the new regime believes that he can be utilized even bigger.
02:02So I'm with you.
02:03I just don't want to get picks to pick for picks, guys.
02:06It's got to make sense.
02:08And it also, Mike, can't hurt your team.
02:10I mean, right now, we keep talking about the wide receiver position, and you're going to trade Kyle Pitts, and
02:16then what you're going to do?
02:16You're going to go draft a tight end and a wide receiver?
02:19Right.
02:19And hope that Austin Hooper can get back some of his form.
02:23He's been a solid career in the NFL.
02:25The scenario, this is from Falcons.
02:27Well, again, there's many articles similar to this, but I chose this one.
02:30Fantasy Sports on SI.
02:32Thomas Corelli has us sending Pitts.
02:34Again, just all fantasy and making things up.
02:35But his valuation has the Kansas City Chiefs giving us a second rounder, their second rounder, this year, and a
02:412027 fourth rounder.
02:44Okay, so a second and a fourth for next year.
02:46I mean, I don't hate it, but I still would love to see what Pitts could do with this team,
02:50with this coaching staff.
02:51And the Hooper thing, here's the deal.
02:53If you believed in Austin Hooper wholeheartedly and you had this in mind, you would have given him more than
02:59one year.
02:59You would have said, here's a multi-year deal.
03:01We still believe that you can do a lot of good things.
03:03They didn't do that.
03:04But it's also a new regime.
03:05They're auditioning him, too.
03:07Is Matt auditioning a guy he threw the ball to?
03:10And then I went away, and I came back.
03:12And so did Pitts' game.
03:14He went away, and he came back.
03:15I think if anybody's vouching for Hooper, though, it's probably Matt Ryan.
03:18Right.
03:18But I mean, I just don't know how they look.
03:22I mean, I would like to think that they're going to try.
03:24Good situation, okay?
03:25We ball out.
03:26Pitts gets traction.
03:28He becomes like the de facto third receiver or whatever he's going to be.
03:31The hybrid we thought he was always going to be, right?
03:34And then we were able to do some things, and maybe we even win this division.
03:39There's half the audience right now wants us to go get a quarterback next year in the draft.
03:42The other half still wants to see this ridiculous eight-year drought end, right?
03:46And let's get back to the playoffs no matter how we get there.
03:48And then, as you said last week, maybe we'll have to have a conversation about what a new tour contract
03:52would look like if he balled out.
03:54Yeah, look, can we have both?
03:56Can we have a successful season, go to the playoffs, break our drought, feel good about our team?
04:01You mean like the Hawks?
04:02And then realize, you know what?
04:04This is still not going to get us where we need to be.
04:06And still go get maybe a quarterback.
04:08Can we have both worlds?
04:10The best-case scenario is, and this is unlikely, possible but unlikely, Mike, that both quarterbacks play well.
04:16That then you have a real decision to make, okay?
04:20And we are not in the quarterback business come 2027.
04:23That Tua's done enough where you believe in him, and if he wants to stay, and you want to pay
04:26him the money,
04:26or Michael Penix is here, and he's played enough, and has done enough where you go, you know what?
04:30We are going to move forward, Michael Penix, as the former regime did.
04:34And you have a real hard decision to make.
04:37That's a great place to be in.
04:39But the thing that would suck is, if Tua's not good, and Penix isn't ready, and then he gets out
04:43there and wets the bed,
04:44and then by the end of the season, we're still not in the playoffs, and now all of a sudden
04:47you're going,
04:48well, what are we doing at quarterback for 2027?
04:50Right.
04:50So, I mean, first things first.
04:52I want Pitts.
04:54I'm intrigued by getting as many picks as I can.
04:56I love a find-away.
04:57We talk about Jesse Bates today, and again, a lot of the stuff, the chatter, comes from other teams' websites.
05:02So the Eagles, they traded their backup safety to us.
05:05They go, ah, well, we all got Jesse Bates.
05:07I don't want to part with Jesse Bates either.
05:09I think there's certain guys that are, and it's not like he's 36.
05:12It's not like giving Jesse Tuggle that huge contract at the end of his career, which didn't make a lot
05:15of sense at the time.
05:16This is Jesse Bates in his prime, declaring he wants to be here beyond next year.
05:21I agree with that.
05:21404-726-0929.
05:24You know, it's that time of year where you start talking about, you know, setting a team up for success
05:30and how they go about their business with the draft.
05:32If we just have five picks, that's all we've got.
05:34I just don't want to start trading guys that are established, guys that have made plays, guys that have really
05:41good potential to be even better
05:42just because you want draft picks.
05:44By the way, you know what draft picks are, right?
05:47Potential.
05:47It means they haven't done anything.
05:49I would rather take a proven guy right now, Mike, over any of these draft picks because they come to
05:55the league,
05:55and you say it, 50-50.
05:57Half these guys hit, the other don't.
06:00And then you're right back in the same scenario.
06:02So having picks is great, but I'm not going to hurt my team in that process.
06:07The only way I'm trading a guy, the two guys you're talking about, is if I know, Mike, something's wrong
06:11or I feel like they can't play anymore.
06:13And do you feel that way about Jesse Bates?
06:14No, I don't.
06:15I love Jesse Bates' game, and I still think, you know, Pitts, we joke around all the time.
06:20We spend more time about this guy, untapped potential, and what has it been?
06:24Some years you could say really not his fault.
06:26Absolute terrible quarterback play.
06:27Then the injury, which took almost a full second season out.
06:30And then he finally, then last year, you know, he gets it in gear, and all of a sudden he
06:34shows you those moments
06:35like against Tampa Bay the last two seasons where that's what he's supposed to be.
06:39So I'll roll the dice one more time with Pitts, and then we, as a guy just hit up on
06:43the text line,
06:44then you're going to have to give Pitts another contract.
06:46You can franchise him one more time.
06:47You don't have to.
06:48You can even let him go if you want it.
06:49But I'm saying you could tag him one more time.
06:52It goes up.
06:53It's a top five plus a percentage raise, but it's still not the worst-case scenario.
06:57All right, man.
06:58Interesting stuff.
06:59We got a lot to get to between now and the draft.
07:01And by the way, we are your home for the NFL draft and all things Atlanta Falcons.
07:06Mike and I are going to do an extra two hours, actually an extra hour of show that night
07:10leading into our draft coverage with Mike Conte, Wes Durham, and of course Dave Archer,
07:15who called the games for the Falcons.
07:16We always have you covered.
07:17First round for us, the only intrigue is going to be us following guys that we thought may end up
07:23certain places.
07:24But we don't have that first round pick to get excited about this year.
07:28We'll get that back hopefully next year.
07:29And then obviously, Mike, you know, the second day is when we'll be Friday.
07:33We'll be like amped up to see where this thing can go.
07:35I mean, it's tough because you're so juiced to have the buzz.
07:38You know, it's a buzz kill because you would never have complained about your first round pick
07:42if your first round pick's career wasn't in limbo.
07:44Talking about James Pierce Jr.
07:45And April 21st apparently is now the clock is ticking because what is today?
07:49We get the 13th.
07:50So we got just over a week for these guys to show what they've got to the prosecutors
07:54and maybe try to pull some kind of plea bargain deal off.
07:57And only time will tell where that goes.
07:59There was an article, and Josh Kittle had this on Friday, and you and I were talking about it this
08:03morning,
08:03about maybe we go wide receiver with the 48th pick.
08:07And they talked to a bunch of experts and draft analysts, and the guy they went with was Jamie Bernard.
08:13And Jeremy Bernard, I should say, from Alabama, who was really good.
08:17They said, you know, not exactly great at this.
08:19He kind of does everything well and would certainly fit into what we're going to try to do.
08:23Then there were some guys who said, you know, no, I like Zachariah Branch because he's that kind of X
08:28-Factor guy.
08:28We're going to play the audio later in the show.
08:30Stephen A. Smith.
08:31Stephen A.
08:32What did I do now?
08:33Not the – just Stephen Smith.
08:35Oh.
08:36Steve Smith.
08:36Okay, gotcha.
08:37You know, the former great wide receiver and guy who gave us trouble.
08:40I like him, too.
08:41Thanks, Stephen A.
08:42Stephen Smith.
08:43Stephen Smith basically went on and said, Zachariah Branch is going to be a tremendous pro.
08:46No, he was not utilized the right way at Georgia.
08:48And that's – and I would agree.
08:50Oh, snap.
08:51You know where I feel on this?
08:52Bobo didn't use him right.
08:53Whoa, whoa, whoa.
08:53Who said this?
08:54Steve Smith.
08:55A guy who kind of knows something about catching the football in the NFL.
08:58Yeah.
08:59No, look, this has been my argument.
09:01We've had this argument with Georgia insiders as well, and everybody said, well, he's not that guy.
09:07Okay.
09:08Because, look, I said it, Mike.
09:10You run 4-3, just go out there and beat your guy.
09:14Okay?
09:15Find a way to run a fly or whatever you want to run, and I'm going to throw it out
09:20there.
09:20But that's not how they utilize him.
09:22And, look, I think NFL teams sometimes – the way a guy is used in college does not dictate how
09:27he will be used in the NFL.
09:28No.
09:29I mean, sometimes – you know, who the hell do you know where Pukinokua was?
09:33Right?
09:33I mean, we get lucky.
09:34What's a Pukinokua?
09:35Yeah, exactly.
09:36Who?
09:37Yeah, Steve Smith says, UGA's use of Zachariah Branch, pathetic.
09:41And you got it on.
09:42We're going to save it for later, but we'll find it before you get the audio.
09:45But, yeah, I mean, tremendous athlete.
09:47Says, love his game.
09:48We'll just give him the ball in his hands.
09:49I just wish Georgia would have given him some different routes to display his versatility,
09:52something you and I talked about every single week.
09:55No, that's fair.
09:55It is.
09:55You know, and he's the hot hand, and they're giving the ball to Cash Jones.
09:58What the – are you doing, man?
10:00Yeah, look, I like Cash, but he – I would have liked to have seen this more.
10:04Right?
10:04Right.
10:05Your best athlete is your best athlete.
10:06End of story.
10:07Well, look, this is something that Georgia has been dealing with, Mike.
10:10When we talk about these elite wide receivers, and I said it, I'm looking around the SEC,
10:15and it feels like a lot of other teams, including Alabama, are bringing in these elite wide receivers,
10:21and they're putting these elite guys in the draft every year.
10:23I mean, there was a stretch, guys, when Saban was there, like the last five years,
10:27there was quarterbacks and receivers going in the draft first round every year.
10:30Go back and look.
10:31Right?
10:32It even goes back to Calvin Ridley when we drafted him.
10:34I just feel like that's one element where, again, is Georgia winning?
10:38Yes.
10:38Is it the best program?
10:39Do I believe in the United States?
10:41I do.
10:42But why is it that I see these other premier wide receivers, and it's almost like we have –
10:46it feels like, Mike, we have gap guys.
10:49Like, they can play, but are they special?
10:51Right.
10:52I mean, like, you brought – the thing about Zach Branch is – and this goes back to how did
10:56you get there?
10:56You're a transfer portal player.
10:58You were hyped.
11:00We heard about what he was, you know, at his previous spot.
11:03Maximize it.
11:03Steve Smith goes and says, you know, utterly pathetic, talking about how Georgia used him.
11:08Branch only ran a corner comeback or post-run on 1% of his total routes run.
11:12That's not on him.
11:13He runs the routes he's told to run.
11:15That's the coaching.
11:16Who do you blame?
11:16Mike Bobo.
11:17I mean, who else – he's the O.C.
11:19I mean, look, he had a great year last year.
11:22I didn't really – the only thing I complained about was the usage rate of your best athlete on offense,
11:27whose name is Zachary Branch.
11:30And Steve Smith, game – recognizes game here, and he's saying you didn't use him right.
11:34All right, so with that information from Steve Smith, you're taking him at 48?
11:38I'm intrigued by it.
11:39I don't know what the Falcons – I mean, look, you'll have your choice based on all the mock drafts
11:42of Jeremy Bernard or –
11:44and, again, this is where it gets more into how much of a deep dive did you do.
11:48Antonio Williams from Clemson.
11:50You know, there's a bunch of guys.
11:51Malachi Fields from Notre Dame.
11:53And then you get down to where he would certainly be there.
11:56I mean, and 65 – ESPN Analytics says there's a 65% chance Zachary Branch is there for us at
12:0048.
12:02So stay tuned.
12:03Okay.
12:03Look, I like it.
12:05I like that we're going to have these options of the big defensive tackle, the stud linebacker, the wide receiver,
12:13because – and, again, for me, I always say, Mike, give me the best player at the position.
12:19Look, I'm not taking the fourth best defensive tackle if I can get the best wide receiver on the board.
12:24Right.
12:24And that's where we get – and then you get into, as you guys know, you've been watching the NFL
12:28for years, there's tears.
12:29There's tears to this.
12:30It's like, okay, there's guys who can plug and start.
12:32The NFL – guys are always asking – it's funny.
12:34We assume people know this stuff.
12:35Go to NFL.com.
12:37Just type in the guy.
12:38If you see a guy, if you're doing a mock draft and you don't know, you just type his name
12:41and go, NFL draft profile.
12:43And then – and Carl and I always laugh because it'll tell you the positives, and then one paragraph below.
12:48Then it just rips them apart.
12:49So it tells you all the good things he does and then he says, you know, he can't do that.
12:53But anyway, that's how I look at it.
12:55Look at what the NFL network and the draft com.
12:57NFL.com says about the guys, and then see what you think.
12:59All right, coming up a little bit later in the show as we get more Falcons conversation, what defines a
13:05successful year for Kevin Stefanski as we're talking about building this team.
13:09He is a part of this right now, but this is really about Ian and Matt Ryan.
13:12This is about the front office and the scouting department.
13:14When these guys get on the field, whoever they are, then it's going to be about Kevin Stefanski.
13:18He's going to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about
13:18to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be
13:18about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to
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13:18to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be
13:18about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to
13:18be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about
13:18to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be
13:18about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to
13:18be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about
13:18to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be about to be
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