Speaker 0: How many discounts does USAA auto insurance offer? Too many to say here. Multi vehicle discount, safe driver discount, new vehicle discount, storage discount,

Speaker 1: legacy How many discounts will you stack up? Tap the banner or visit usaa.com/autodiscounts. Restrictions apply. Traditional home security only alerts you after a break in, and that's too late. SimpliSafe is changing that.

Speaker 2: Stop. This is SimpliSafe. Police are on the way.

Speaker 1: We don't just alert. We stop crime before it starts. SimpliSafe, plans starting around a dollar a day. Save 50% on your new system with professional monitoring at simplisafe.com slash Spotify or with promo code Spotify.

Speaker 3: Outdoor deterrence requires a SimpliSafe active guard Protection Plan starting at $49.99 a month. Visit simplisafe.com/ licenses for alarm license information. Tennessee 2012.

Speaker 4: What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Bischoff and Brown right here on the Detroit Lions podcast. I'm Russ Brown. He's Scott Bischoff. We're back. We were off last week. Apologies to everybody. We wanted to do a live mock draft, but, I was out of town in Chicago, completely forgot that we had the trip booked. That's the perks of your wife handling the calendar. But, yeah, spring break, went to Wrigley Field, had a good time in Chicago. But, Scott, my man, how the hell are you?

Speaker 5: I'm good. I was all pissed off at you because we didn't do our mock draft and saw you gallivanting around in Chicago and thinking, what the hell?

Speaker 4: Well, at at least I was telling everybody to f the bears, so we were good there. I I Represent. Good deal. Yeah. I I did wear a Cubs hoodie just for, you know, the the sake of everything, but, I'd get, like, people walking by, go Cubs, and I'd, like, be like, go Cubs, and then turn the corner and be like, f the bears and just keep on walking. So, no. It was a good time.

Speaker 5: It's good.

Speaker 4: Yeah. Yeah. No. Didn't, didn't ruffle too many feathers, so it it was a good time. But but we're back, two weeks from today, the NFL draft. Well, fifteen days from today, the twenty twenty six NFL draft, will kick off. We'll get an idea of what the lions are doing at pick 17 or maybe not doing at pick 17. Maybe they move the pick. We'll see. But there's been an interesting kind of debate over the last or, I guess, information, some intel that has dropped in in recent days, from the national media, the NFL media of, you know, Daniel Jeremiah, Peter Schrager, you know, whether it be from ESPN, NFL Network, you name it. We're talking about Alabama offensive tackle, Caden Proctor, and his importance, to potentially not only the Detroit lions, but just where he ends up going in this first round. And there's a lot of thought that he won't get past the lions at 17. Specifically, that's what Daniel Jeremiah said on the Mina Kaim show, on her podcast. And, he he had said specifically yet, there's no way Procter gets past the lions at 17. So I don't know where and I don't know if I necessarily buy that unless it's like a team like Cleveland, maybe Arizona surprises the hell out of everybody at three and takes Caden Proctor, but I just I don't know what to make of it if he goes to the lions at seventeen. What's what's your thought there with Procter being a potential option with the lions at seventeen?

Speaker 5: So, I mean, I think that I I would imagine Arizona wants to get the hell out of pick three. And I would I would imagine they would love to they would love for all this, Jeremiah loves going at pick four to Tennessee. They would love for somebody to jump Tennessee and come and get Jeremiah Love and maybe go back to, say, seven or seven or whatever.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 5: And take Francis, Maui, whatever Maui, Maui, Maui, Noah.

Speaker 4: Maui Noah. Yeah.

Speaker 5: Maui Whatever. I don't I'm not gonna pretend to have to to even I don't even know how to say your name sometimes. Yeah. I Brown's tough, man.

Speaker 4: Yeah. It is. It is.

Speaker 5: But yeah. So, I mean, I would imagine, there so I it just I guess the what I'm trying to say is Arizona holds the keys to to imploding the entire everybody's mock draft, whatever the whatever that means. As far as, Proctor going there, I I mean, is it was it a tongue in cheek kind of, you know, hey, if Arbel Rees is there at 17, he's not getting past the lions kind of a comment? Right. Or was it really do is there really some sort of, in intel that the lions really like Procter and would love for him to be there at 17 so they could take him? I don't know. Let's talk about it, though. Like, I mean, what do you feel What are the lions doing at seventeen, or what are they getting at seventeen if that's if that is what the play is?

Speaker 4: Yeah. So, I mean, if if they go out and they get Caden Proctor, like, you're getting a guy that is a left tackle that may end up moving inside. And and I'm not gonna sit here and say he's gonna be an all pro guard because, one, that's too premature. And, two, I don't think it's fair to the player to just justify and say, hey. He's gonna be, you know, this good or he's gonna be x or or whatever the case may be. But I I view him more more as a late second round pick just based off of film. That's how he graded for me. I didn't love three of the four games that I watched. You know, there were there were flashes, but then there were a lot of inconsistencies between Wisconsin, Georgia, and Oklahoma. You know, six seven three fifty two, really big tackle. That's, you know, good athlete. He's gonna be able to reach. He's gonna be able to pull. I think he does a really good job transferring his weight from his post foot to his set foot, but he struggles with balance. And there are times that he gets knocked off his, off his course simply because he's oversetting or trying to operate maybe too fast. The game's a little bit too fast. And also, I think he was playing closer to, like, three seventy this season. So he's gotta find a weight that's, like, comfortable for him. Yeah. But to your point, like, is it just more of, like, yeah, if he gets to 17, there's no way. There's just a bunch of teams that are super high on him, like like your point to, like, Arvell Reese, bunch of teams, obviously, probably really high on him, but there's no way he makes it past team x. So Yeah.

Speaker 5: I was I mean, that's that's firmly tongue in cheeky, but you get what I was saying.

Speaker 4: Right? A 100%. And I think that's the thing with Procter. Like, I've heard a lot of stuff as far as, like, him being an option in the top 10 for teams, and that could be, you know, Cleveland, I guess, at six. It could be Kansas City at nine. I don't think it would be Washington or New Orleans. Cincinnati at 10, they always could use offensive line help, but they don't necessarily need a tackle per se. But, again, Procter might be viewed more as a guard for teams. So

Speaker 5: so Where do you think if the Lions take him? And and let's just I guess we have to make some assumptions that they're the Lions are moving Panay Sule to left tackle. Yeah. And I think looking at all the options at 17, the likely is the likeliest outcome is that, yeah, he does move. Does that mean that Caden Proctor starts does that mean that Caden Proctor is a right tackle? And part two of that question then is, does he start in week one for you? And I have ideas on that, but what do you think?

Speaker 4: Yeah. I mean, I would personally if like, I think the ideal landing spot for him is a place like Philadelphia, like, where he can not necessarily get thrown into the fire right away. He can sit behind a a very quality offensive tackle, both of them there, in Lane Johnson. And, I just think giving him an opportunity to sit for a minute and get some things under control and figure some things out is a benefit for him. But at the same time, I do understand, like, giving players the runway to go play and prove their worth, but also learn on the fly. And you've gotta learn the game by being in the game. So I I think if they were to take him, I I think he's a right tackle all day long for us, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Lions were like, hey. We're gonna we're gonna bring him in, and we're gonna try him at left tackle. We're gonna give it a couple of weeks, a couple of practices, whatever, and we're gonna see what he can do. And if he works, great. He might step in and be just awesome, you know. Yeah. He's he's only gonna be 21 years of age, still relatively good athlete, understands how to play with leverage, super strong. So, like, there's a lot of positives with taking him, and it's again, I I you know, I guess at the end of the day, like, you're adding to the offensive line. You're adding to to some of the problem that that there was. So I'm I'm on board with that. I just I think there are better tackles over Procter. And if they're available

Speaker 5: I do too.

Speaker 4: I just I think you take the guys that are better specifically at left tackle because I I I'm okay with Sewell playing left, but I like them at right. And if you can bring in a left tackle, by all means, bring in that left tackle. So if that's Caleb Lomu, do that or if it's Monroe Freeling, do that because I think Caleb Lomu is almost like the, his name's escaping me now. It's, the kid that came out of Northwestern a few years ago went to Tennessee, Peter Skorronski. Peter Skorronski.

Speaker 5: Yeah.

Speaker 4: He's I'm not saying he's that level of player, but just steady, consistent. That's Caleb Lomu in a nutshell. And it's like, you get him at 21 years of age, bring him in to play your left tackle spot at 17. Like, that just makes more sense to me. But at the same time, I get

Speaker 5: it. Yeah. I just with him, it's I I don't love how passive he is with his hands and how how willing he is. And this is a this is a huge problem for a majority of the players who who at 17 would be available to them. Hey, here's my chest, run through me. Right? I'm not he doesn't fit his hands great. I mean, he does at times, but but there are but he's passive with his hands, and he is gonna get moved a little. Back to Procter. Procter to me has you mentioned the balance stuff, and it's it's like I just don't know how that guy ends up on the ground as much as he does. Also, it's, I I see issues with him redirecting. So I don't wanna say he oversets because because, you know, it takes a lot of movement ability to get for him to get to go. And he is he does have good first step quickness. But if you just watch his losses, a lot of those are where he gets all of his weight onto his outside foot, and he's and again, he's not great with his hands, so his inside arm is a little softer than it needs to be. And guys start out outside and then go back inside and beat him inside. So you see a lot of him losing that way. So and I think that you can look at you can look at some of the the drills that we saw at the combine where where, you know, the the mirror, the wave drill, or whatever you wanna call it, where where he does struggle to change direction laterally. You can see it. It's like there's a there is such a a different movement ability between him and some of the some of the the better athletes at the position that are gonna go in also in round one. Mhmm. So you can you can mitigate some of that stuff by by playing him playing a tight end next to him and just technically asking him to sort of settle in settle inside first instead of being so worried about losing on the edge because, you know, he's a huge dude, and he and he should be able to use his length and all that stuff. But it's a long way to go to say so to say that, you know, if if the lions make this choice at 17, I kinda think they're settled on, him either starting as a right tackle for them or possibly

Speaker 6: This episode is brought to you by Google Health. Stop chasing someone else's definition of health. What matters is what's healthy for you. Google Health offers a new kind of coach built with Gemini for effortless tracking, sleep insights, and holistic coaching tailored to you. Visit googlestore.com to learn more and start a new relationship with your health. Requires Google account, Google Health app, Internet, and Google Health premium subscription. Features subject to change. Availability and results vary. Not intended for medical purposes. Works independently of Gemini apps. Check responses for accuracy.

Speaker 3: Hey. It's Bill from the Bill Simmons podcast. FIFA World Cup twenty six fans, listen up. As the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup twenty six, Michelob Ultra, is giving away $1,000,000 worth of FIFA World Cup twenty six tickets and prizes. Enter now at micolovulture.com/superioraccess/ FIFA World Cup twenty six. Michaelob ultra FIFA World Cup twenty six. Superior access, no purchase necessary. Open US residence twenty one plus begins on 12/01/2025, ends on 07/31/2026, multiple entry periods. Visit www.michaelobultra.com/superioraccess/ FIFA World Cup two six for free entry, entry deadlines, prizes, and details.

Speaker 5: Just looking at a scenario where you're playing your best five in week one, and it that might mean he is a starting left guard for you in week one. Yeah. Which I I think he would be to me, looking at his post foot, stuff and the way he the way he moves as a naturally, as a left tackle, I think that as a left guard, he probably would have a much easier time, playing in in, you know, limited lateral space.

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: And I and I kinda like that stuff. Right? So so you think, alright. If if this guy plays boy, I'm all over. If this guy plays a left guard for you in year one, you're getting something out of your first round pick.

Speaker 4: Mhmm.

Speaker 5: And especially if down the in year two, he's gonna play right tackle for you. But you kinda would like to know whether he can do that in year two before year two gets here. So that's that's the tough part is that there's I'm I'm doing something with with him that I don't think necessarily the lions will do unless unless he falters in camp. And that means Borum is your starting right tackle, at least for for at least, you know, in the short term. And I know how that sounds. So I get I get the concerns about what what Proctor might be. That naturally I go ahead. What do you think?

Speaker 4: No. I was gonna ask a question. I I don't think I I don't think it had happened, but, I mean, Taylor Decker is still available. Do you think in a world, like, they go get Procter at 17 and then after the draft, go out and sign Taylor Decker? And maybe the deadweight of the team is some of these veteran players like a a Michael, a Michael Neece or something like that. That that's kind of the deadweight of the roster, and those are gonna be guys that you move on from, when we get into the summer. And then, you know, in a hypothetical, plan your best five, you could keep Pena at the right tackle. You have Decker, and then you have Decker and Procter. You've got Mahogany and Frazier. You've got Cade Mays and Scruggs. That's at center. Right guard is Ratledge. And then you have at right tackle Larry Borum, and then you're kinda your swing is Geo Manu. At that point, you're talking, you know, 10 offensive linemen there. So Yeah. That's about what they ran with last year, maybe nine. But then, you know, you've got enough I think that's the best offensive line group that they've had in a while if that were the case. So maybe that maybe that's something that they're thinking, but I will say like with Procter, the first time that his name has been mentioned or linked to the Lions during this draft process. Colton Pouncey of The Athletic has, I believe, often mocked, Caden Procter to the Lions. Think he's I'm sure he's thrown in a TJ Parker or a Zion Young or something like that. But with just certain mock drafts and certain tea leaves, I feel like Proctor and the lions at 17 has been something that has has been often discussed. So I think there's definitely truth to this, and it's worth having the conversation. It's not like this is some pipe dream where we're like, hey. You know, there's you go through the draft order of the first 16 picks, like like we were doing earlier. Like, Arizona would be the wild card or the absolute curveball if they took them. You can make a case for Cleveland. You can make a case for for Cincy. I think you can make a case for the Jets, kinda feels somewhat like some maybe the Jets would do. I've mentioned that before we got on, potential landing spot for him. And I know they've got two tackles there with Fashanu and Mambo, but this is a, you know, potential opportunity to move Proctor in as a guard. And if Vega Ione is gone, maybe that is the player that you pivot to if you're the New York Jets and you bring in Proctor to just shore up the offensive line. So I think it's really

Speaker 5: interesting for do if all those teams are doing all that, they're either playing him as a right tackle or jamming him inside.

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: And that's that's sort of framing the mentality around what I think he will end up with in Detroit, if that's the case, is best your best case scenario there is probably for him to play right tackle. If he fails, he probably plays left guard for you. But then I think to myself, you know, the pens the Vega Ioni, Can't believe I said it that way. I'm gonna say it a 100 different ways.

Speaker 4: I'm with

Speaker 5: you. Would the lions be smarter just taking Vega if he's there? And just and just kinda settling so let's suspend reality for a moment.

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: Everybody. Okay. So you have Tate Ratledge, Cade Mays, and in that scenario, you you have Vega. I don't I don't think Jared Goff would look at that and be unhappy. Right. If anything, I think Jared Goff would would look at the at the play style there. And remember, we're talk we would be we we would be talking about a pretty dominant interior as far as as the ground game goes. So Gibbs would I'm sure Gibbs would be just he'd be ecstatic with that kind of an outcome. But with the kind of quarterback that Jared Goff is, as a player who is not athletic enough to scramble outside the pocket, so I think he's better dealing with edge pressure than he is dealing with interior pressure, and then last year was a perfect example of all that stuff. And as a player who wants to climb in the pocket and distribute the ball, I think that the idea of just locking up the three interior spots might just be a better way about going about things.

Speaker 4: I Go ahead. I I think that I think that makes a lot of sense, and I would be all for it if they they went that route simply because I don't know if I mean, per like, my gut says Christian Mahogany is not part of the long term plans in Detroit. It's Jonah Jackson two point o. Like, that's what that feels like with kind of the trajectory that he's going as a player. You've already had some of these injury concerns. It just it just kinda feels like that's the direction that we're headed. So I do wonder if, like, that gives Miles Frasier a little bit of run this year. But to that point, like, maybe they just say, hey. That's gonna be our backup right guard, maybe a swing tackle for us, and we can go out and get the sure thing. And then we'll make Mahogany the backup, and maybe that's a player that you end up dealing or that's a player that you let go and you get a comp pick for it because he signs for bigger elsewhere. I I think it becomes really interesting, and I think the Lions will definitely look at all the cards on the table there. And I mean, everything leads, at least to me, points to them going offensive line in the first round. I don't see how they walk out of round one without an offensive lineman. It just wasn't

Speaker 5: I have thought that for the longest time too, but then that makes me think that there's because of because we're both so on board with this, there's just no way that that happens. Yeah. We know it's not happening. They can thread the needle. There are there are options for them. You know, let's let's say they let's say it's edge somewhere for them in round one, which nobody I don't think anybody would really complain too much about. What's the plan? What's the long term plan at tackle then? And there are there's we'll get to a player in a few minutes who is one of my later one of the guys I I would love for them to to go to to attack later in a scenario where you do take Vega

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: There's there are, you know, there's there's things there's things that you can do there. And and I guess I'm just saying that there there's a bunch of ways they can do this, but one of the looks if you if you have Penny Sewell starting at left tackle, and you and you have Vega as your left guard, and Mays as your center, and Ratledge as your right guard, that's, like, damn.

Speaker 4: Right? Yeah.

Speaker 5: So, I think that to me, it it makes some sense. Not that I think Vega will be there at 17. I I can't imagine that he would be, but that's what Schrager had. Schrager had Vega going to Detroit. And I think it it it it warranted a little bit of conversation because I think it in a, you know, in a big picture, it does make sense. Mhmm. Jeremiah has has is out there. Obviously, we were talking about it. He's got he's saying that there's no way Proctor falls past seventeen. So Yeah. And and so what we're all we're we're kinda talking about the same sort of stuff. It's what's the best five. Right? And

Speaker 4: Mhmm.

Speaker 5: If if you take Proctor, it's because it's because you hope that he will, some point soon and in the future, play as you're starting likely right tackle if you're moving Sewell. I can't imagine them moving Penny Sewell this year and then moving him back to right like, it just that doesn't seem to make a bunch of sense to me.

Speaker 4: No. And and to and to add to that, Dan Campbell at the owner's meeting pretty much said, like, I I you know, Pena Sewell's the luxury. He can play either side.

Speaker 5: Yeah.

Speaker 4: He's done a great job on the right side. But, you know, essentially, what he what he did say was, you know, I I wanna move him to left tackle. And Yeah. I think that's him living in the reality knowing that Caleb Lomu and Monroe Freeling are really the true left tackles at the position this year outside of maybe Caden Proctor, but he doesn't know if they're gonna have the luxury of getting any of those guys. So Yeah. Yeah. And and at the same time, like, those guys could come in. Are they are they the better left tackle of the two that you have, you know, between Pena Sewell and that player? So I think that's something that he's living in. And if if Dan Campbell wants the tackle, to me, they're getting the tackle. It's not gonna be a debate of, like, well, we need this, this, and that. He wants the tackle. They're getting the tackle, and they'll address their

Speaker 5: And then the the the the whole thing is what happens in week one. Is it is whoever they take at pick 17 good enough to beat out Larry Borum in week one? I don't know. I mean, I think people need to prepare for that. Right? So

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: And then it's what are you getting out of out of year one? If you let's say you take Procter and he and he doesn't beat out Borum in week one. Is he is that a player you're really gonna just sit on the bench in this Super Bowl window? I I mean, I get it. And I also understand that I I I made the the comment around Vega, about that's better for golf, but are you really taking are you I know the Detracting from that is the idea that are you really drafting a guard because your quarterback prefers it that way? I don't know. I don't know. So there's a lot. There there's a there's a lot involved in this pick. And if there like, with the Procter thing, it's like, alright. If if that's the way they go about it

Speaker 7: Are all batteries the same? That's like asking if all soccer players are the same. Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that? No. Just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with power boost ingredients inside? No. Just Duracell. Remember, goats only trust goats because they're built different, and Messi only trusts Duracell.

Speaker 8: Wishing you could be there live for the big game, soaking up the atmosphere in the crowd? But too often, life gets busy or the price holds you back. Priceline is here to help you make it happen. With millions of deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars, you can go see the game live. Don't just dream about the trip. Book it with Priceline. Download the Priceline app or visit priceline.com. Actual prices may vary. Limited time offer.

Speaker 5: That's cool. Mhmm. It's just we all have to prepare for it. It's either he's a right tackle or he's gonna play he's gonna play inside in year one, which it's not the worst case outcome, but there are better there's a better way to go about things if you're if you're looking at what does year one look like. It's just you still don't have the tackle resolved going forward, but maybe year one, you're in a better position with Vega. I have no idea. It just those are the two things that are being talked about out there at pick

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: 17 for Detroit.

Speaker 4: Yeah. We'll see. I don't I mean, it's it's it's it's it's super interesting. Like we said, it's one of those things where, like, the closer you get to the draft, you start getting the tea leaves, always there's smoke and fire. We'll see. It could just be a a smoke screen for Procter to to get taken and somebody else falls. We'll we'll see how it goes. But day two and day three, Lions have plenty of draft capital, specifically day three. So we probably won't touch on on many day two guys here, but there's a chance that that one or two of these guys sneak in there and become second or third round picks. But we wanna talk about our favorite players on day two and three for the Detroit Lions, in the twenty twenty six NFL draft. And we've got three players a piece, so we'll just kinda snake it. We'll go back and forth. But I think it's interesting to look beyond the first round because we can sit here and talk about every offensive lineman till we're blue in the face. But the line still have other needs, and they could still go different ways. Right? Like, they could still go with the edge, and they could still go with best player available, and that might be a receiver. It might be a tight end. Who knows what you know, anything that could happen

Speaker 5: Yeah.

Speaker 4: On night one. But day three, I think, is always the meat and potatoes of the draft where you can find some really good rotational players. And the Lions have done kind of an interesting approach with one year deals on the defensive side of the football. I'm not gonna go into to crazy detail, but I don't think that necessarily means that taking certain players and positions and doubling up, at corner or at defensive tackle or whatever. I don't think that's off the board for them. I think they need to understand that, hey. We've gotta continue to add to the rotation. We've gotta add more depth. We've gotta get younger. And I I'll be curious how they address the the board and and certain players, but defensive back has been a busy, busy position group for Detroit. They've added tons of of safeties and corners. I don't necessarily know how soon they would take a defensive back in this draft, but I certainly think it's on the table, and I think it's probably more on the table for day three. And you bring up an interesting player that you wanna talk about, Kansas State defensive back Vijay Payne, maybe a a round four ish option here for the Lions. What do you like about VJ Payne? How does he fit Detroit, and and what's your viewpoint here?

Speaker 5: So, first, I think we just need to recognize that trying to project where these guys are gonna go is of all of the really awful things that that I that I'm incapable of doing, and it's a huge list, this is one of the things that I cannot do. Just awful. Right? And you know that.

Speaker 4: He

Speaker 5: could be he could go in round, he could he's gonna go somewhere between round one and round seven. And if that's not the case, then he'll be an undrafted free agent. And that's about the best I can tell you. No. I think he's gonna be, like, a round four sort of player, in that range. I mean, he can be, I suppose, late day three or a late round three into maybe early round five is a range. But one of the things that we don't have is think about Kirby Joseph as a free safety, as a deeper safety where where he's reading and reacting. And and also, I I everybody remember what Kirby Joseph was like coming out coming into the draft. Right? He was he had really good coverage skills, but it wasn't like he was a very physical player. And I think that I see the same kind of stuff with Payne where where I to me, I don't know that I I think he's exactly like what Kirby Joseph offers as a single high player. But as a post safety, as a player who you you can divide at least divide the field in half, does it make sense what I'm saying?

Speaker 4: Yeah. With him.

Speaker 5: So I I think that he's got enough range where he I I think he can do a lot of the Kirby Joseph things as far as in coverage, covering ground. He's really long. He's he's tall. He's disruptive. He's you know, I I think he'd be a pain in the ass for tight ends to run routes against. So I think I think that in in terms of, like, looking at how the the lines have done their business with trying to protect themselves with, we don't know what's happening with branch, it seems like they really haven't protected themselves with the Kirby Joseph knee situation. But even even in the best case scenario, let's let's say Kirby Joseph returns and is fine. You still need to plan out into the future with with a player who can play in space, like, large parts of the field. And and to me, Payne is a guy that can easily do those things. Now this is not he's not a I mean, he can he he he'll hit, and he'll he'll do a lot of those things. He just I don't think he's great technically as a tackler. So I I you know, so there's some of that where where does he wanna does he always run through as a tackler? No. There's not a lot of I mean, he'll hit, but it's not like that's not that's not why you're drafting him. You're drafting him because of his coverage abilities and his abilities to read and diagnose and then to to move and to get into position to make plays. He's intriguing. You know? I don't know what you what you've seen from him. To me, if you're drafting a player like this in round four, I think that's good I think that's good business. The only the only detractor there, the only negative is that I don't know I don't know that he's gonna play on special teams right away. And that's a problem for a roster like the Lions. Like, if you're if you're adding a player like this and he doesn't play on special teams, what exactly are you getting? Right. So I understand all that. It just to me that this is a a player who can make plays as as a as a, you know, deeper safety.

Speaker 4: Yeah. No. I I'm all in on on VJ Payne being a potential lion. I the physicality really, you know, just pops. You know, he's not always gonna have great form tackling to your point, but there's definitely times where he can just drill a dude.

Speaker 5: Yeah.

Speaker 4: So super fun player. For me, LSU linebacker Harold Perkins. I've talked about him a a ton on this show, and I'll continue to talk about him because I think he's worthy of it. You know, for me, he he earned a third round grade, a six point o on my board. But at six one two twenty three, I mean, explosive first step if he's rushing the passer, effective blitz Blitzer. He can move from, you know, various alignments. He can play in a 20. He can play in a 50. He can play in a 30. He can just move all over those linebacker alignments. He flashes good range and speed to scrape over the top, and he can bend and dip when he's rushing the passer. I think there's definitely times in coverage he's gonna get lost. He's not playing with disciplined eyes. He drifts a little bit, but he played a a variety of roles and he really excelled as a pass rusher. So he kinda got utilized a little bit more than he tore the ACL. That's another issue. But you're talking about a 21 year old prospect, should should have a clean medical at this point as far as rechecks and those types of things. So you're just dealing with, you know, this this the stemming of what what occurs after a torn ACL. So there might be some limitations, but with a linebacker room that has a ton of one year deals on it, you know, you've got Derek Barnes who's entering either the last year of his deal or second to last year of his deal. Trevor Nowakowski, Malcolm Rodriguez, Damon Clark, there's not much there. You've gotta resign, Jack Campbell. So as long as far as as far as longevity, there's not a lot there. So you've gotta go out and get maybe somebody else. And I think Harold Perkins is interesting. Just an LSU kid, They put out in man Mansoor Delaney for a visit. Is that more so to, you know, show interest in Delaney, or is that more so to show, hey. We wanna get to know more about Harold Perkins, and some of these other players that you have. So I I think Perkins is just super interesting. You know, round four, round five, Lions have enough capital there where maybe they roll the dice and they bring in this guy that maybe has a little bit of a hybrid role for them. Maybe Zenit ends up being like a big nickel from time to time and and can be utilized on blitzes and and those types of things. But you you need a weapon on defense, and I think Perkins can be that guy. So, big fan of his game.

Speaker 5: It's interesting going back in time too and looking at him, what he looked like as a freshman. It's like

Speaker 4: Man, eighteen, seventeen. Yeah. Yeah. He was he was so good. Speaking of a kind of a total dude, as far as just being built as a brick, shithouse, that's Markelle Bell out of Miami, Florida offensive tackle. Lions may pivot away from offensive tackle as we talked about in the first round earlier here on the show, but Markelle Bell could be a potential day three option for Detroit. What do you like about Markelle Bell? And and I know you've been in on him for a little while.

Speaker 5: Yeah. It's the pass pro stuff with him. We're we're it's like, he is just this huge, long dude. I mean, like, it's crazy how big he is. And I wrecked I mean, you know, like, I recognize fully that he is that he looks there is a his his body is just it's uniquely built where he's it doesn't look like he has he has much going on, you know, and as far as, like, size in his lower half, but he I mean, he's a huge dude. Right? But when you watch him in Paz Pro and how he how he uses his length, it's not always, like it's not beautiful, but I don't think he gave up a sack last year in Miami's offense as their left tackle. This is the scenario where if the Lions were to go Vega in round one, and this guy in round four, or three, or four, whatever it is, to me, it makes so much sense that you would do this, and you would you would just let him play in pass pro as as a right tackle. If they're if they're gonna move Sewell, I think he could play left tackle too. But I but I do think that, you know, his ability just to smother smother defenders with his length and his and his surprising foot quickness for such a huge guy is impressive. And then yeah. I mean, I I you know, we all saw the rep at the Senior Bowl where where Derek Moore headbutts him and puts him on his back. And it's like, yeah. You know, that's gonna be his issue is that he might he might mistime some things. Right? But just watching the film and watching him in pass pro, it's super impressive.

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: I also understand that you're not it's not like with him, you're gonna not it's not like he's gonna be digging out, you know, defensive ends or or three techs. He's not that's not his game. So if you're gonna ask this guy to come in and be a people mover as a run blocker, you're asking him to do the wrong things. I'm I'm not saying he's I'm also not saying he's not capable as a run blocker, but his his the superpower with him is is the size and the length. And, you know, just making making defenders run around the arc as much as far as they'd have to go to turn the corner on him. Yeah. That's he did that so effectively last year. I wanna I mean, I think he had over a thousand pass rush snaps.

Speaker 2: Right now, get up to 15% off Select storage solutions. Put heavy duty HDX totes to good use, protecting what's important to you. The solid impact resistant design prevents cracking, and the clear base and sides make items easy to find even when the totes are stacked. Find select shelving and tote storage up to 15% off at The Home Depot to organize every room in your home, from your garage to your attic. Visit homedepot.com, how doers get more done.

Speaker 4: He did. You're right.

Speaker 5: Impressive stuff. Like, you know, just just as I mean, it's better it's just better to look at the the overall product than look at it from a snap to snap basis because it's not perfect and it's not always beautiful. But you're you're playing that many pass rush snaps. It's impressive. It's very impressive.

Speaker 4: Yeah. No. I I love Mark Albell. He's he's awesome. I I have him in a similar range, you know, late third. Just a good developmental tackle that there's so much to work with. I mean, he's just so he's just so big. Six foot nine, three forty six, not really bad weight on him. He can move. So they're they're just there's so much to like.

Speaker 5: And I inch arms. Like, come on. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 4: He just and he he can anchor, and he he doesn't he doesn't really need to anchor down because he's just so big. But Yeah. He man, he he's interesting, and I think he's a football guy. I think he's a guy that loves football from things that I had, like, kinda researched on and and all of that. Like, I I think he's a a guy that likes studying the tape. Trent Williams was a player that he really liked and, yeah, there's some there's so much to work with. And he he actually, went the JUCO route before going to Miami. Yeah. But I think that was simply because he, like, just built a strong bond with the the o line coach. So I think he's a super coachable player, and a guy that's just I think he's a a strong fit for what they're trying to build. So maybe worth a swing, but, again, if they go offensive tackle in the first round, who knows what that's gonna look like. So, but moving on, my guy, I'll go quick here. Penn State running back, Caitron Allen. Not necessarily a need to go after a running back, because you have Isaiah Pacheco, but Pacheco has struggled to stay healthy. And I think it's important for the Lions to consider an off or, I almost said offensive tackle because we've been talking about it so much. No, you're right. But I I want them to consider, you know, a running back as well, simply because I just have some of those concerns, with with, Pacheco and the health stuff. And I think, you know, do they commit to Jacob Sailors? That's a question or not, you know, to be had later. But if you go out and get a Caitron Allen, I think there's some David Montgomery to his game. I mean, he's got really good body control, five eleven, two sixteen. Not, you know, not overly fast, but good enough burst through the hole, And and he's good enough to get through the second level and and gain additional yardage and have some of those longer runs. But I like the contact balance. I like some of the change of direction and how he lowers his pad level, but stays square, doesn't get too narrow. He absorbs that contact well, and I think he's a guy that fits really well with what the Lions wanna run with pin and pull, duo, specifically duo. I think he's gonna do such a good job there, kinda one cut. If you can't get to the linebacker, can he wiggle, kinda take take on a hit from that linebacker coming down off that duo? So I think Caitron Allen, is is super, super intriguing, as a day three pick for Detroit if they wanted to consider adding adding to the offense. So

Speaker 5: Yeah. And it seems like they are set up to draft a running back because they have you got Pacheco for one year, and it would be just a much more efficient route to go with a draft pick.

Speaker 4: Yeah. Yeah. No. A 100%. So, I got one guy left. You got one guy left. The next guy, each tape blocker, just such a fun player. You put me on him. Indiana tight end Riley Nowakowski, round six ish, maybe around sooner, maybe around later, maybe he's in UDFA. Either way, a strong option for Detroit if they're gonna go big personnel with twelve and thirteen. What do you like about Riley Nowakowski?

Speaker 5: I and so to me, I would prioritize him simply because of his ability to block. I know he catches the ball and he he did it. He's an older player also. I wanna say he's not quite 24, but he'll be 24 in a few months. I hope I'm not making that up. I think I think I'm right about that. He's older, though. But he is, it's interesting because you watch Indiana, what Indiana did with him. And And and no matter what they asked him to do, he he was very, very effective doing it. Whether that was blocking on the move, hitting targets in space, if it's on the backside, just, hey. You handle the defensive end on the backside here. We're not gonna give you any help. We expect you to win that battle, and he did almost all the time. It's just it's so impressive to watch him as a blocker. How fundamental he is, where he puts his hands, how easy at times he makes it look. You know, I wouldn't expect him to have to be a guy that you would target a lot. It just he's he's got he catches the ball fine. It's just that's that's not necessarily exactly what he should be doing. But if you're running 12 personnel and and he's and you attach him at the hip of let's just say you go with Larry Borum as your right tackle, and you give him some help. Riley Nowakowski is that guy in this class. Like, he is he is an incredible blocker. And, you know, there's so many ways to watch what what he did at Indiana last year, and and it's just it's all of it's really impressive. Now he's six one. He's two hundred fifty pounds. He's got shorter arms, but he's winning the leverage battle. I think that he's gonna get it talked about as a fullback too. He'll be he'll be your tush push. Like, that's your guy to do that kind of stuff. So there's a lot of ways in which he would be very effective if the Lions were gonna go twelve and thirteen. I know you have Laporta, and you hope he returns just fine.

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Speaker 5: You you have Conklin. And to me, you add you add Nowakowski in the mix there. I think you're good long term. I think you're good run-in 12. You're good run-in 13. He's reliable. I think he is that gritty player who loves the game, who who absolutely reeks reeks Detroit Lions. This is the guy in this class.

Speaker 4: Yeah. No. I'm with you, a 100100%. He screams Detroit, would be a great just third, fourth tight end, to have. And I think you can find a ton of value there because you have Brock Wright, you'll have, you you know, Tyler Conklin, and and then obviously Laporte and you add in this. You got special teams guy. You could play him in the backfield. You could, you know, you you could do, you know, the two the out of shotgun and put them right next to to, Goff and Gibbs back there. And there there's so many variations that you can can have with Riley Nowakowski. So I love that. And I'll follow this up same round for me. And this is a little bit different from what we've talked about. We haven't talked a bunch on the defensive line outside of edge. I don't necessarily think going defensive tackle is, a huge need, but I definitely think it's worth looking at. You know, Makai Wingo did not play a bunch last year. How healthy is he? Are are there any issues with that knee after the injury? And if there is, I think going day three and finding a a developmental defensive tackle is worth looking at. And this guy might not necessarily be a developmental tackle because he's not very young, but this is Auburn defensive tackle Bobby Jamieson Travis. And I just I can't stop watching this tape. I watched two games last night. I'm gonna watch two or three more games today. He's not in my big board of top 110 players, but he was a Juco player. And and this was a guy that, you know, did not, get a ton of opportunities to, you know, get recruited in those types of things. Former basketball player, former wrestling kid, track kid, but he plays with such good leverage. And at six foot four, three hundred and twenty three pounds, I just I I can't get over that nobody's really talking about him, with the length. I mean, almost thirty five inch arms and he plays low. He creates separation and I'm not watching his tape going, Yeah, but he doesn't do this, or Yeah, he doesn't do that. He's a really good two gapper. He drops the knee and tries to anchor, against double teams. And then there are times that he pops up and and and things like that, but that's natural. But I just feel like it's not it hasn't been as consistent. He didn't play every single snap, so there's some of that where, like, he was used on a rotation, but that's what you would be bringing him in to do anyways here. So if he can provide a spark and kind of have that Roy Lopez role for you, I think that's a positive. So Yeah. I I I think it's I I think it's worth mentioning too, like they brought in USC defensive tackle, former USC defensive tackle, Jay Toffili for a visit, and he played for the Bengals and Jaguars and those types of things. But, like, they're looking at defensive tackle. So this, I think, is worth looking at. Yeah. There there's a lot there's a lot

Speaker 5: For you, would he would he kinda like a rotational one?

Speaker 4: Yeah. Absolutely. I mean, he played a ton of nose, two eye. He could definitely be a zero shade in there as well. So, yeah, I definitely think he's more of a nose, but he would be I I just think a great addition behind Ali McNeil and, Tylek Williams. So Bobby Jamieson, Travis, put them on your board, pay attention to them. And the Lions have been linked to Kelldrich Falk too through the pre draft process as well. So like Yeah. Maybe maybe there's some of that because of this kid, and maybe they're just getting to know a little bit more about Bobby Jameson Travis. So those are day two, day three players that we really like here on the show for the lions in the twenty twenty six NFL draft. We could do this obviously for hours, but that that those are the six guys. You got anything to add here?

Speaker 5: No. No. I think, I think we're good. It's good to be back.

Speaker 4: Yeah. We're back. We'll we'll we'll have a couple more episodes here between now and the show. I think I'm gonna be going live on Thursday night, with with mister Gray and Chris. I think we're doing a live mock draft. I know you and Riz are gonna be out of town and doing things like that. But, yeah, we'll we'll be back. We'll be doing more stuff next week. We'll look into doing more live mock draft stuff as well. Yeah. If you if you want mock draft stuff from us, you wanna reach out to us, find us on Twitter or x at Russ NFL draft at Bischoff underscore Scott. Be sure to smash that follow button, rate, review, and subscribe to the Detroit Lions podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast podcast platforms. That's it. That's all we got here two weeks out to the twenty twenty six NFL draft. He's Scott Bischoff. I'm Russ Brown. This has been Bischoff and Brown right here on the Detroit Lions podcast.