- 16 minutes ago
Washington Commanders Reporter John Keim joins The Kevin Sheehan Show to break down the Commanders signing Stefon Diggs, how the deal came to be, if the team is done looking for wide receivers and how impactful will the move be for Jayden Daniels and the offense.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00All right, joining me right now, my good friend John Keim from ESPN at John underscore Keim on X.
00:08John's got a podcast, the John Keim Report, and of course you can read him and his coverage of this
00:14team.
00:15So we can do a more in-depth conversation as we approach the end of camp or the beginning of
00:23the regular season,
00:23but let's focus on digs here.
00:25How did it happen?
00:27How did it come together?
00:29So they've been talking to him for a while, and I don't use words like monitoring, but it's the same
00:36thing, right?
00:37You know what's going on.
00:39So they've definitely had interest for a while.
00:42For a long time, it certainly seemed like digs may be a little bit more costly than what they want
00:49to spend,
00:50but there was another guy that they thought might be here.
00:53This is a few months ago, right, with Brandon Ayuk.
00:55But they stayed in touch with digs.
00:57They knew he wanted to be here, and I know certainly over the last month you would think that this
01:04got a little bit more realistic,
01:06a lot more realistic.
01:07And I knew earlier this week that there was definite optimism that this would occur.
01:12So I think it's a combination of things.
01:14I don't think they were looking at anybody else.
01:17Certainly nobody else that was free because nobody else really made sense for them.
01:21And so it's a natural fit, man.
01:25He wanted to be here.
01:26They needed another guy, and they finally got it done.
01:31And so here we are.
01:33We did this the last time we talked, which I think was on radio, but we both understood that eight
01:41weeks ago,
01:42we'll go back to pre-the video series on social media with Brandon Ayuk,
01:46that that was a definite possibility until he started the video series.
01:55But I just want to make sure that we had ruled it out a week ago when we talked.
02:02I mean, now it's absolutely ruled out, correct?
02:05Yeah.
02:05I mean, listen, everything I always hear is, well, you can never say never.
02:10Of course.
02:11And I think in this, so...
02:12But 27 maybe, not 26.
02:16Right, right, right, right, right, right.
02:17It wouldn't make sense.
02:18Like, there's...
02:19Yeah, it just...
02:20Honestly, man, like, I'd want a lot of distance between last month and anything beyond that.
02:27So if I were them, you know, I just...
02:29I just...
02:30I don't know...
02:31You don't need to invite that into anything right now.
02:35I just...
02:35I think they're in a good spot.
02:37I think they're in a really good spot.
02:40And I think that would be the thing.
02:42But yeah, the phrase I would always hear is, never say never.
02:46But, you know, it would represent a dramatic change.
02:53Yeah.
02:53Is it fair to say, with this signing, that while they've been telling us that they're completely
03:00pleased with what they have, and, you know, essentially implying they're willing to go
03:05into the season with what they have, that they weren't?
03:11Well, I think...
03:12So there's two things here.
03:14They liked the room.
03:15I don't think that was...
03:16I don't think that at all was insincere.
03:19The room is better than it was in terms of the depth.
03:21It's better than last year.
03:22So you can like that part like you likely have.
03:25Clearly, they wanted something a little bit more.
03:28Because they've looked for it all offseason, right?
03:31You know, Alec Pierce, they would have been able to sign him.
03:34You know, Dobbs, they ran him.
03:35I mean, possibly Carnell Tate if he had fallen to seven.
03:38So my point is, like, while you can say, like...
03:42And I don't...
03:43You know, again, you can like that room and realize that there's a little bit more that
03:49you need.
03:50And I think that's where they were always at.
03:52Because, again, they monitored him.
03:54I think sometimes, too, like, you know, get in here and see what you have.
03:57Like, what if you...
03:59If you remember, like, when Terry McCorn was a rookie, you knew he was going to be really
04:03good.
04:03You just saw it in practice.
04:04Like, I don't remember too many rookies, certainly after the first round, you come in and say,
04:10like, wow, that kid's going to be good.
04:11But you saw it.
04:12So maybe you see something like that from, like, a Williams or something like that.
04:15And you're like, okay, maybe you don't need to go out and do something.
04:19But I know, like, this was always an option.
04:22They had always been looking for something more.
04:25And so I think, like I said, while you can like it, you liked it.
04:28I mean, the depth is better.
04:29Like, look at what they have now compared to what they had last year.
04:32The guys that they were bringing in off, you know, from the practice run last year compared
04:36to now.
04:37It's just ridiculous.
04:38So you like that, but you knew you needed more.
04:41The deal ends up being reportedly from Adam Schefter, right?
04:46A one-year, $13 million deal.
04:49Are you hearing that Diggs, that the holdup on money may have just been years?
04:53He wanted another year?
04:55I'm not positive on that.
04:57So I don't know.
04:58Listen, man, what would make sense, right?
05:01If you, it's almost always that.
05:03And he hasn't been a one-year guy.
05:05So that would make sense, right?
05:07But I don't know that for certain.
05:09All right.
05:11What version of Stefan Diggs do you think the team is getting at this point in his career?
05:17Good question.
05:18Listen, I don't, listen, man, like, is he going to be the guy who was a pro bowler a few
05:22years?
05:23That'd be, he's going to be 33.
05:26Like, there's a natural de-evolution of a player's game, right?
05:31Like, we always see that.
05:32But I think what you need to get from him is be a solid target for Jaden.
05:38You know what I mean?
05:39Give someone else good opposite Terry McCorn.
05:42The difference for Diggs here is he doesn't have to be the guy.
05:46That's Terry.
05:47You know, I think for him, can you come here and be, like, if he came here and caught 60,
05:5365 passes, that's pretty good.
05:55That'd be really good for them.
05:57You know what I mean?
05:57Like, so be that guy and be a guy that you can rely on, you know, be more than just
06:02a
06:03possession, you know, like, you just say, okay, you're just a guy who's catching.
06:06No, you can do a little bit more.
06:08And, you know, he's coming off a year where he averaged, I think it was like 4.1 after
06:13the catch, which is like his best since 2019.
06:16He had like 20.7% of his catches were for 20 plus.
06:21That was one of his better year, you know, numbers in recent years.
06:24So there's still some things you can do, but like, you get into the situations.
06:28Red zone, seven touchdown catches the last two years out of 14 catches overall.
06:33Like, help them in those areas.
06:35Be a solid guy opposite McCorn.
06:37And if something happens to McCorn, can you be that guy for a few games?
06:41And here, the other thing, like, when you look at his numbers last year, he had like
06:45five 100-yard games, but he had a lot of games, like, I think everything else was under
06:5070.
06:50So it's not like there was this, you know, it was like, hey, you're capable of some
06:54really good games, but maybe in other games you're going to be a solid guy here, here,
06:58and here.
06:59You know what I mean?
07:00And that's, they would take that, I mean, that's, that'd be a good thing for them.
07:04This is the best guy that Terry's played alongside.
07:06Oh, no doubt.
07:08Yeah, you're right.
07:09Yeah, I pointed out, too, for Diggs, what's really interesting is other than the eight games
07:13he played in Houston with Nico Collins, he's never been anything but the number one.
07:20And this will be a new spot for him to be in.
07:24And he did say a few weeks ago, I'd be the best number two in the league.
07:30I do think it'll be interesting.
07:32I think most people will view it.
07:34It doesn't need to be viewed in this context really anymore.
07:37I mean, the NFL seems to be moving towards positionless football like basketball has.
07:42But, you know, Terry's the number one, and Diggs is the number two in this offense.
07:48Yeah.
07:48Yeah.
07:50Automatically.
07:51Yeah.
07:52They didn't solve a challenge that I think they wanted to solve in this offseason, and
07:59I think you obviously have talked about this a lot as well.
08:02And that is a true vertical speed threat.
08:06You know, Pierce could have been that.
08:07Ayuk could have been that.
08:09But my question is, because they haven't solved that true vertical stretch the defense speed
08:18threat, are they done at wide receiver?
08:24I don't know that you're ever done, are you?
08:26Like, what if somebody else good becomes available and he's like, hey, this guy would help.
08:29Like, you can't be done.
08:30You know what I mean?
08:31So, I think sort of something else popping up that was unexpected, you know, but who
08:38knows what happens in final cuts, et cetera, who might come free that, like, oh, this guy
08:43could help just because of his speed.
08:46That we'll see.
08:47Like, maybe there's a guy at the midseason.
08:49I don't know.
08:49But I don't think they're...
08:51Listen, man, you're 5-12.
08:53You should never be done.
08:54Yeah.
08:55Right?
08:55So, I don't think they're...
08:56I don't think they're done, but I don't know that...
08:59I don't think he can...
08:59There's nobody on the open market right now that would be...
09:02That's going to be coming in here.
09:04No, the suggestion that a guy like Kayshaun Booty could be available in New England because
09:09of Dobbs, because of A.J. Brown, because of the depth they all of a sudden have...
09:13I mean, he's been...
09:13But that's been true since...
09:17For how long?
09:18Like...
09:18I know.
09:19But New England, there's no urgency post-draft to do it.
09:25We'll see what happens in camp if they got to the point where they were interested in it.
09:30And I don't know that New England would be doing that, and I don't know what his value
09:35would be, but, you know, I don't know.
09:38I think...
09:40I just...
09:40I don't...
09:42I think they feel pretty good.
09:44I think they feel pretty good right now.
09:46But, yeah, like, could you claim Booty is a guy that you can get down the field, right?
09:51Yeah, definitely.
09:52But, you know, what's the cost?
09:54What's the cost?
09:54And, you know, then...
09:55I know there's a lot of things with that one.
09:58I would...
09:58Okay.
09:59I don't know that right now.
10:00I see that, but it's definitely not something I've heard.
10:04I do know that from the time that they signed those guys that his name kept popping up and
10:08nothing has ever happened.
10:09The other thing, too, is to see, okay, now that you have this guy, and they say, yes, you
10:14definitely still could, you definitely still like something else that's more explosive.
10:18How does this offense help you get there as well with now with what you have?
10:23Because Terry can still be that guy.
10:26Oconquo, a tight end, can be a guy at that position that gives you some of that.
10:30Can you get more of that?
10:31That's the thing we'll have to see.
10:32And if you don't, and maybe Booty's available down the road, then maybe something like that
10:37would make sense.
10:39Whose chances did he hurt the most of making the team?
10:47I'd say right now, probably Van Jefferson.
10:52But that's just...
10:54Because I look at it like, obviously you've got Terry Diggs and then Antonio Williams.
11:02Jan Lane is a really good punt returner.
11:05So, Diami, they like Diami, and Trey Burks has had a good start to camp.
11:10And Luke McCaffrey has made some plays in camp, like he, you know...
11:15Plus he's a kickoff returner.
11:16A kickoff returner in these special teams.
11:19But there's a lot that they like.
11:20Whether or not people think, like, he should do more having been a third-round pick, they
11:26do like what he gives them now.
11:29I mean, you'd want...
11:29Listen, we all know, like, if you've been getting more out of the position, you don't
11:34have to make these moves.
11:35But you're not.
11:36But he still has value for them.
11:39And so, like, when you...
11:40I mean, how many receivers are you going to keep?
11:42If you wanted to keep Van, that's number eight.
11:44But he's also a guy that he does have some speed.
11:47I know.
11:47So we're talking about that.
11:48And he's a...
11:49I've been telling people, they like him because he's a pro's pro.
11:55This guy does everything well.
11:58Right.
11:59And so, like, I say that, and then I think, well, maybe not.
12:02Yeah.
12:02Because of those.
12:04Like, he does offer something that you don't have.
12:09And so you always look for those kind of guys, too.
12:11But, like, are you really going to keep eight?
12:13You know, maybe there's a trade in there at some point.
12:17I don't know.
12:18You know?
12:18Can I tell you what I threw out in the open?
12:21Sure.
12:21Yeah.
12:22San Francisco needs receivers desperately.
12:26Luke McCaffrey to San Francisco for a pick.
12:30And who's going to return kickoffs?
12:31You've got options.
12:33You've got Jeremy McNichols.
12:36You've got...
12:37Well, you've got...
12:38Listen, Rashad White.
12:39Rashad White.
12:40You've got Bill.
12:41Bill could do it.
12:42You've got Bill.
12:43You can have Antonio Williams can do it.
12:45Right.
12:45So, I mean, he hasn't...
12:46I don't think he did it in college.
12:47He did a punt.
12:48Yeah.
12:49But, you know, they're going to work him in there.
12:51Like, they're going to see...
12:53Listen, Luke can do that.
12:55We're not talking about Brian Mitchell.
12:57No.
12:58No.
12:58But he was pretty good last year.
13:00It's a different kickoff return, obviously, than we've ever...
13:03I'm not taking anything away from it.
13:04Yeah.
13:04My point is, like, we're not...
13:06We're, you know, perspective.
13:07And so, like, if he makes the team, this is what it is.
13:10But could you see value somewhere like that?
13:13Like, I mean, I think you're going to...
13:15Because I could see that.
13:17Because I think each one of these guys can make a case for belonging on the roster.
13:22You're the best.
13:23I know you're busy.
13:24I appreciate you doing this.
13:25We'll talk in a few weeks before, you know, they wrap up camp.
13:28Thanks.
13:29All right, Kevin.
13:30Look forward to it.
13:30Thanks.
13:31John Kime, everybody.
13:35John Kime, everybody.
Comments