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The Washington Commanders will have a big decision to make with their first round pick in this year's NFL Draft! Commanders Reporter John Keim from ESPN joins The Kevin Sheehan Show to give his analysis on which players he believes will be available for the Commanders to pick at 7th overall on draft night and if the team will consider trading back.
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00:00Kime joins us right now, of course, at John underscore Kime on X.
00:06First of all, before I get to why Delane and we can talk about the other players.
00:11I mean, this year, I talked about this a little bit yesterday, and I'm curious if you agree or if
00:17you've thought about this.
00:18After Mendoza, I'm not sure we've seen more uncertainty between, say, 2-9, 2-10, picks 2-10, than this
00:32year.
00:33I think at least, I can name them, at least five players minimum have been mocked to Washington at 7.
00:41We've had multiple players mocked to every team from 2-9, basically from the Jets to the Chiefs.
00:48I don't remember less certainty in a draft like we have this year after number one.
00:55I 1,000% agree, and I know people in the league agree because I had that conversation with them,
01:00and it's been consistent over the last month or two, right?
01:04Like, you know, and when these teams are doing internal mocked, you can draw up scenarios where David Bailey falls
01:12to Washington.
01:14Arbel Reif falls to Washington.
01:15Now, they may be unlikely, but I think it just speaks to, hey, what if they do this?
01:21Now, there's always what ifs versus they could do this.
01:23Like the Cardinals, you know, now you, over the last week or so, you're starting to hear them more attached
01:29to Jeremiah Love.
01:30Is that a smokescreen? Is that real? Would they really do that? Because it hasn't been there.
01:35That hasn't been there for a while, right, or up until recently.
01:39And I think with the Giants after the trade, too, like what do they do?
01:42And there's been doubt with them. Tennessee, would they really, if Love is there, would they take him or would
01:47they take an edge?
01:48And Cleveland, like, you know, you hear various things out of there about, like, are they in love with some
01:53of these offensive guys or not?
01:54And, you know, would they move out? So, yeah, I just, I think it's as unpredictable as ever.
02:01And it's when you're doing these mocks, and fortunately, I don't have to do a lot of them.
02:05I'm not Ben Standig. I think Ben's on Mach 20.0 by this point.
02:08Yeah, he is. Yeah. Let's give him credit, though. He's a multi-time champion as a Mach drafter.
02:15Well, yeah, he is. And if you do enough, like, you're going to get this pick right, I hope.
02:19Because if he doesn't pick the right guy at some point, I'm going to have to give him some grief.
02:23But, yeah, I love Ben. Anyways, but it makes it hard to really know because, like you said, way back
02:31when, when this, early in the draft process,
02:33I remember doing something on, you know, just for my podcast about, like, here are, like, five different moths,
02:41and they all have someone different for Washington, and they all make sense.
02:45And you could say, like, yeah, that's a good pick.
02:48Like, so it's just really, I think it makes it fun, but it's also difficult to pin down what you
02:55really think they might do.
02:56Like, you can have an idea.
02:58You can read.
02:59You can listen to things.
03:01You can read the, you know, try to, like, you know, see which way the wind is blowing.
03:05But it's an incomplete, you have an incomplete puzzle to try and put these pieces together.
03:10And so you're just guessing what that final puzzle looks like versus knowing.
03:14Yeah, the preparation for this one, especially now that there are only eight minutes instead of the 10 between picks.
03:21I mean, they're going to have to simulate out so many different possibilities.
03:28Let's just, for the purpose of this conversation, assume that Mendoza, Reese, and Bailey don't make it to seven.
03:37Because I think that those three are the safest bets.
03:39Everybody else is in play.
03:41I mean, I would love it personally if Bailey dropped to seven.
03:44He's my favorite player.
03:46But I don't think he does.
03:48So after those three, I know what you picked, but you picked based on what was there and what had
03:58happened in front of Washington.
04:00You guys were gone that I would have picked.
04:02Yeah, so give me, before we get to who you would like and who you think they like, give me
04:09an order out of the rest of the players, like, the most likely to be there.
04:16Oh, to be there.
04:17Yes, Stiles, Love, Delane, Tate, Bain, Downs.
04:23Who are the most likely out of that group to be there at seven?
04:28I would say Delane, Tate, Downs, or Bain.
04:32You know, because it just, I have a hard time believing that Love falls there.
04:38I think if you consider him the best player in the draft, I think somebody will take him.
04:42I actually believe that Washington is actually the best place for him, given the infrastructure of the offense, compared to
04:49where else he, like, if you go to Arizona or Tennessee, I don't think they have an infrastructure in place.
04:55But I think Washington does.
04:57But I think if you think he's the best player in the draft, I think he goes.
05:00I think Stiles, I could see, I could see Stiles or Downs, like, for the Giants.
05:05I think, you know, I think that would be, maybe, I don't know, I know there's a lot of smoke
05:09about Jordan Tyson that feels high for a guy that's very talented, but also often injured.
05:18So, but, like, so I think, like, I would put Stiles there, but I was talking to one of our,
05:24some people the other day, like, where Stiles fell to Washington.
05:27But I think Stiles and Love would be the most likely to be gone by that point.
05:31So you're looking at, that's where, when I chose, that's obviously what I was choosing between Delane, Tate, and really,
05:38you know, Downs and Bain.
05:40And I think you can make a strong case for any of them.
05:43So, were you picking in that spot based on what you think they would do or what you would do?
05:50I think what they would do, what they would do.
05:52And again, like, so, and you're trying to, you, again, you get little pieces of information, whether from around the
06:01league, talk to people here.
06:03And it's like, that's where, now here, I'll say this too.
06:06Like, we had to make this pick almost a week and a half ago.
06:10And so, because we get everything in, you get the videos in, blah, blah, blah.
06:14And so, like, you're going on what you know at that time.
06:17That's not, well, like I say, I don't want to say it's not to make an excuse, but, you know,
06:21you don't have the, all the bits of information you want.
06:25But then sometimes, like, all right, I don't know if it's going to change, so let's just go here.
06:29And that's what we do.
06:31If we take Mendoza, Bailey, and Reese out of this conversation, who do you think among the rest of them
06:39is number one on their board?
06:42Just give me a guess.
06:44I would, I'll say either Stiles or Love.
06:48And I don't know which one would be first.
06:54I would, I think if they're both sitting there, I think that's hard.
06:56I think, but I, I might give the edge to Stiles just because of what he could mean.
07:03Well, they both would mean a lot for them.
07:05I think they're both can be high impact players.
07:08So, but I think those would be the two.
07:10And I'm not positive which one would be.
07:16Some days I would lean to Stiles and some days I would lean to Jeremiah Love because I think he
07:20can be a home run hitter and you don't have, like, who else you've got on the offense that's going
07:23to make the kind of impact he could.
07:25And I think he could add a lot to them.
07:27All right.
07:28What are the possibilities, do you think, of a reasonable, decent offer to trade back?
07:37I think then it depends on, again, I go back to Bailey.
07:40What if Bailey somehow, and again, it may be a 10% chance.
07:45What if he somehow fell to seven and then there's a team picking in the next several spots and like,
07:51that's the guy that we want.
07:53That's the scenario, right?
07:54You know, maybe.
07:55So you think it's Bailey that's got to fall, not Love or Stiles.
07:59Don't you think if Love or Stiles were available there, they'd get offers?
08:03I think if Love or Stiles there, I don't think they're taking the offers.
08:07Okay.
08:08Well, that was my next question.
08:10Okay, so that's why I say, like, and I don't know that they would with Bailey either, because I'd never
08:15really, like you, I don't expect him to be there.
08:18Like, everything, he's very talented.
08:21I think it'd be silly to see him drop to seven.
08:23You know, if the Jets take Reese and the Cardinals take Love, well, then I can see Tennessee taking Bailey.
08:29Like, it makes sense.
08:30So I don't see him there, but I think it has to, you know, and I do think you'll get
08:34an offer for Love or Stiles, right?
08:37But how high up would be someone willing to go for them?
08:40I don't think they would want to move back more than a few spots.
08:45That has been my sense.
08:47Because, you know, if you get there, and let's say Love is there, and you have Love, and then Tate,
08:54and then Delane, and Bain, like, all right, we like any of these guys.
08:58We'll move down to 10 or 11 and still get one of them.
09:02You know, if you like them somewhat equally, right?
09:06That's the scenario.
09:07So I just don't see it.
09:08To me, I don't think you want to fall in love with just adding picks.
09:14I think it has to make sense.
09:16And there's been too much history here and with other teams.
09:19Like, just having more picks doesn't make it – doesn't mean you're going to have a good draft.
09:25You know, obviously it gives you more chances.
09:26Yeah, of course.
09:28But I think, to me, get an impact player in here.
09:31We got on the side of the ball.
09:33Get an impact player because you don't have enough of those.
09:37That's 100% true, and based on what everybody believes about this draft,
09:41this is a limited group of blue chippers in this year's draft.
09:46We are talking to John Kimes.
09:48So who do you like?
09:50You and I usually have these conversations in advance, and we haven't had many of them this year,
09:54partly because there's no quarterback need.
09:57But who do you hope falls to seven and that they take?
10:02Listen, man, if they had styles of love,
10:04I think that would be terrific.
10:06And, you know, love is just – and I know, like, the running back value and all that.
10:11He's a high-impact player.
10:12And, you know, every time I talk about him, I go back to Tyler Linderbaum
10:16because they went after him hard.
10:18And it wasn't about, oh, we need a center.
10:20It was about, like, oh, we think – and, of course, speaking as if I'm them, not me.
10:24But we think that he can be a high-impact player regardless of position.
10:29And he can be an impact player in the run game.
10:31So I think you apply that same sentiment toward a guy like Jeremiah Love
10:36and what he would mean to this offense is, you know, he can run routes.
10:40He's not just a pass catcher.
10:41He can run routes as a – like a receiver almost as a running back.
10:45And then you have the game-breaking ability.
10:48So I think you have, like, that – you know, one of those guys in styles.
10:52You know, when this – when the draft stuff started in January,
10:55I was always a little bit surprised that he wasn't getting more attention
10:59or no pun intended but love from whatever.
11:03Because, like, I thought he was really, really good last year.
11:06And it's not – it was the – like, he's not a finished product at linebacker.
11:11And I don't think – I don't know, you necessarily want a finished product
11:14because you want to see guys improve in the NFL.
11:16But he only played two years at the position.
11:18And he made a big jump from year one to year two.
11:21Right.
11:21And so I think that's – the safety – and he was a safety.
11:25But you get that size and length and speed at the position combined with, like,
11:30Leo Chennault and, like, you know, I know Jordan McGee's there.
11:33He's got speed.
11:33You can use him.
11:34Yeah, Frankie Lou was still.
11:35You now have a really good, deep linebacker core.
11:38Is that the most important thing to have?
11:40You know, you could debate that.
11:43But I think with what they want to do with Jones and with what he likes to do up front,
11:48I think Stiles would be really good.
11:50And I think the key is, Kevin, too, if they believe he can be a very good pass rusher
11:56when needed, like not putting him on the edge or anything like that,
11:59but as a blitzer, et cetera, then you have something more.
12:02And it's – you know, the only – the one caveat,
12:05and I was talking to someone about this, too, is, all right, like,
12:09so you want to go – you want a coach who can use him creatively.
12:12I think you have that with both Jones and the system he came from
12:16and Quinn with guys that he's used in the past.
12:19So I think you'd be going to a right system for him,
12:21but the question someone else said, well, what if this season doesn't go well for them
12:25and they have to end up changing, then what?
12:27Then do you just have a three-down middle linebacker?
12:30But if you can use him creatively and unlock some more from him,
12:34then you have a guy that can do something a lot for you.
12:38So I think those would be the two.
12:39And then after that, listen, man, like, I'm a big fan of Caleb Downs.
12:44I love watching him.
12:45Carnell Tate, of course, the school I went to, so I know them very well.
12:48I also like the lane quite a bit.
12:51And Reuben Bain, I like.
12:52I just don't know that I trust the arm length and the history of that,
12:55but I love the way he plays and the strength he plays with.
12:59Yeah, I love Bain.
13:01Love Bain and I love Bailey.
13:03Those are the two that, you know, you mentioned styles and love.
13:07The two that I wouldn't even consider trading back off of would be those two.
13:11But, you know, Bain's got the short arms,
13:13and I'm sure their analytics department has a feeling about that.
13:16You know what I learned actually today is that Mansoor Delane's got,
13:21you know, basically the shortest arms of almost any corner in this draft.
13:26And Quinn's preference has always been longer armed corners.
13:30It has been.
13:31And that's the one thing that helps him is that he's at least like he's about six foot.
13:36So, you know, that least that you have that part.
13:40And he's sticky.
13:41And he's sticky, right?
13:42Which means your closing speed is important,
13:46but part of that closing is also arm length.
13:49So maybe, you know, the way he plays it, it's less important.
13:54Right.
13:54But like I said, like,
13:55because then you also have two corners who are about 5'9",
13:59and Sammerstiel and then Robertson.
14:02I mean, Amos is taller, yeah, but yeah.
14:04Amos is taller, and Widdleston is a little bit more, you know,
14:06but you're right.
14:09Like, that is one thing, because when you're closing,
14:12and they even said, like, if you're a 5'9 corner,
14:13but you have long arms,
14:15that's the equivalent of a guy who's a couple inches taller, right?
14:18But if you're six foot and you have average or short arms,
14:21like, you can still, because you're six foot,
14:24and if you're, like you said, if you're sticky,
14:26then it's okay.
14:27But yeah, like, I think part of the reason I like him, too,
14:30is, you know, he continued to elevate his game.
14:33He had a good last year at Virginia Tech,
14:35and then he really elevated it in a harder league,
14:37and the versatility that he has.
14:39I think for a coach that wants to disguise coverages,
14:42like Jones does,
14:43I think that to have a corner who can play man zone
14:47and then play different styles of press man,
14:51you know, just what he does,
14:52the quote-unquote toolbox he has at the line,
14:55I think that also helps, too.
14:56And so, I think that's why, you know,
15:00I think that's why I thought that would be where they would go.
15:03And here's the other thing, Kevin,
15:05like, it's, after watching bad defense for a number of years,
15:09it'd be nice to see this organization build a strong foundation
15:14on that side of the ball,
15:15because I think you have a good one on the offense already, too.
15:18Yeah.
15:18So, last question.
15:20I'm up against a hard break,
15:22but give me the answer to the following.
15:25Do they end up with one receiver between now and opening day?
15:29And if so, who is it?
15:31Or is there a chance they end up with more than one additional receiver
15:36between now and opening day?
15:38And who are those two?
15:40Well, I'd say more than one,
15:41and one's Ayuk, and then one's a third-round pick.
15:44That's what I would look at.
15:45Now, you know, I think even if they get Carnell Tate at seven.
15:48Yeah.
15:49Doesn't discount Ayuk?
15:51No.
15:52And I still think he'd want,
15:53I think he'd want to come here still.
15:57And so, you know,
15:59I think that would give you a health receiving core.
16:02Right.
16:03You know, for sure.
16:04Like, I mean, it'd be five times better than it was last year,
16:08potentially.
16:08So, like, yeah, but I think it's going to be two,
16:11because I think somehow they'll still get Ayuk.
16:14And I think you have to, I think you get Ayuk,
16:17but you cannot let that,
16:19you cannot let the potential of landing him stop you from doing what you need
16:23to do, which is to add more right now.
16:25Because there's a chance Terry's not going to be here next year.
16:28So, receiver's got to be a priority regardless.
16:31Yes.
16:32Yeah.
16:32And I think there's a lot of depth at receiver.
16:34There's depth at corner, too.
16:35So, if you go the opposite,
16:36you can do that the same thing and go that route, too.
16:40So, you both make sense.
16:42If they do either one of those, like, yeah, that makes sense.
16:44But I think it's two receivers.
16:48All right.
16:49Thanks for doing this.
16:50I'll talk to you later.
16:51Thanks, Kevin.
16:52John Kime, everybody.
16:53Bye.
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