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Fifty Picks of Grey
51 Plays6 months ago
Tristan and Miles talk about the Seahawks’ meat-and-potatoes picks, the Seahawks’ luxury picks, and if John Schneider took notes on drafting from Kevin Costner.
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Transcript
Introduction of Guests
00:00:00
Tristan Amundson
Miles Mel Kiper Jr. joining us on the podcast today. um tod Todd McShea is going to be our second guest. And then we have Daniel Jeremiah as our third guest today. It's a star studded.
00:00:15
Tristan Amundson
You had Rich Eisen on, right? But he he had to drop off because of ah another engagement. We almost had Rich as well. Is that correct?
00:00:23
M dub
Tristan, that is correct, but um I'm having the feeling with our pre-taping meeting that we had such fantastic opinions about the Seahawks draft between the two of us.
Initial Reactions to Seahawks Draft
00:00:33
M dub
ah Spicy opinions, hot opinions. let's Let's just keep it between the two of us today. I'm not sure if any of those people can really contribute to the level that we're going to be able to contribute to the conversation today. What do you think? i just kind of go through and cancel those calls? They're kind of on hold right now. What do you think?
00:00:50
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, and i just go ahead and drop those calls. I don't think DJ was going to be super additive to the conversation.
00:00:53
M dub
Got it, got it.
00:00:56
Tristan Amundson
So we can we can just kind of do this one classic ah podcast style, man. What a fun draft weekend this was. And I'm glad that we're talking. It's it's Tuesday, April 29th.
00:01:10
Tristan Amundson
I'm glad we're talking right now because, frankly, it's really fresh on my mind. I think it's fresh on your mind. We've had a couple of days to digest just a little bit.
00:01:20
Tristan Amundson
um What's what's transpired over this last weekend? um where Where do we start? Do we just start going down one by one? What do you think? What's the smartest way to to talk to the people today about these picks?
00:01:34
M dub
Tristan, I think we should do it one by one. But first off, we have a difference of opinion between the two of us about the actual draft broadcast itself. I'd like to stay away and just get that list of names after the fact, catch up on on some videos here and there. But Tristan, you're a man. you like to get You like to get into the muck of the fifth round, the sixth round. We're not going to say you watched all...
00:01:59
M dub
innumerable hours of the broadcast, but you like to get in there. Tristan, what was one of the highlights of your draft watching experience as as a consumer?
Personal Reflections on the Draft Experience
00:02:08
Tristan Amundson
Um, yeah, it's, it's something I'm most, um, disappointed in myself, uh, disgusted. i I'm not proud of the fact that I actually legitimately enjoy watching the draft.
00:02:24
Tristan Amundson
I, to your point, I certainly don't watch the whole thing, but I was there for pick one. And, and then I think I was barbecue and I was kind of going back and forth, but I was in and out of the entire first round in and out of, of day two,
00:02:38
Tristan Amundson
um And then I'll say this, when the Seahawks came up, I was i was involved for the for the rest of it as well. In fact, my sickness, my disease went so far in that I went on a run on Saturday and I realized I could just listen to 710 ESPN Seattle's broadcast on my phone.
00:02:59
Tristan Amundson
So i I went on a run and I had... uh, the, the, the C the seven, 10 folks in my ear as I was running and they were continuing to update me on the Seahawks perspective. So yeah, not, not proud. Um, what was my favorite?
00:03:17
Tristan Amundson
What was the favorite drama for me?
Focus on Shadur Sanders
00:03:19
Tristan Amundson
Well, I mean, Shadur, is It's hard not to you can't talk about this draft without Shador Sanders, obviously, in some ways that kind of bummed me out because I was I felt bad for the other draft picks is you know, you're going through all of these other guys that are having the best moment of their life is happening. And we're just talking about the guy who's not getting picked. It it kind of that that kind of felt like a bummer. But that happens every year, I suppose.
00:03:44
Tristan Amundson
Yeah. Nick, Edmund Rory, I think that was a that was a moment when when they traded up for
Seahawks Trading Strategy
00:03:53
Tristan Amundson
that. And and i obviously we'll get into this pick.
00:03:56
Tristan Amundson
But and i'll I'll reveal my cards as far as the conversation with this pick. Whenever John moves up, though, I get pretty excited because he has a great track record of of moving up when he sees his guy.
00:04:09
Tristan Amundson
So that that got the blood pressure up a little bit in the Amundsen household. How about how about you? I mean, you were watching it in the background, right? Or or how were you consuming just at the end of it?
00:04:19
M dub
Oh, yeah. I was tracking things every few hours, not necessarily with the broadcast itself. I will say, we're goingnna i think we're going to wrap up our Shadour Sanders takes out pretty quickly. ah you know ah Hard to avoid it, but here here's my take, which is it will be pretty funny for the Seahawks if he ends up being a fantastic player because the Seahawks were really right there and passed a couple times.
00:04:43
M dub
Take quarterback Jalen Milrow with the 92nd overall pick. Of course, that's that's also a pass on Shedore Sanders. And then deep pick, the most famous pick 144 in NFL draft history.
00:04:56
M dub
Traded from the Seahawks to the Browns in order for them to draft him.
00:04:57
Tristan Amundson
Crazy.
00:05:00
M dub
Definitely wouldn't want to have ah two rookie quarterbacks in the same draft. I appreciate that. Nonetheless, it is funny that the Seahawks ultimately provide that ah crucial pick, that historic pick. So um if it does end up working out, um ah i think I think it's kind of the funniest from the Seahawks perspective.
00:05:20
M dub
but Actually, you know what? There's also the Pittsburgh Steelers have kind of assembled an entire football team without really that one key position. But the Seahawks are up there in the potential egg on the face power rankings.
00:05:27
Tristan Amundson
It's incredible.
00:05:33
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, no, absolutely. um Dude. So let's, can we just start with the big guy in the middle?
00:05:39
M dub
Let's
Gray Zabel's Draft Analysis
00:05:40
M dub
start. First round, pick number 18. Hometown Pierre, South Dakota. Tristan, i I drove through South Dakota about five, six years ago. It blew my mind that it's logistically possible to live out there.
00:05:54
M dub
think I talked about this with Ryan Grubb as well because he's from South Dakota. It just blows my mind that South Dakota exists. It was almost terrifying how wide open the space was I was going through.
00:06:05
M dub
it blows my mind that even if you're Gray Zabel, an offensive lineman growing up in Pierre, South Dakota, they will find you and get you to the NFL if you're good enough. The man...
00:06:15
Tristan Amundson
That's right.
00:06:16
M dub
Plays the last, oh gosh, the four years or five years at North Dakota State. Experience on all five positions on the offensive line in the press conference. Coach Mack and John Schneider talking about him coming in as a guard.
00:06:32
M dub
Tristan, what were your thoughts on Gray Zabel?
00:06:36
Tristan Amundson
Give us a guard. Give us a guard. I mean, it's it's been the clamoring of Seahawks fans for, i guess, the last decade. And ah it felt very nice. It's the least sexy pick the Seahawks ever could have made.
00:06:52
M dub
Thank you.
00:06:52
Tristan Amundson
And yet I know i speak for all Seahawks fans when it was a sigh of relief of like, thank God. We have addressed this position with some but some some top asset, some some top real estate. Bam, we're going to spend the money.
00:07:09
Tristan Amundson
We're going for it. Give us a guard. Let's solidify the left side. I think we all remember the days of Steve Hutchinson. We all remember what happens when you actually have a dynamic left side of your of your line, what you can do.
00:07:24
Tristan Amundson
Um, when you have a left guard and ah a left tackle working in tandem together. So, yeah, I mean, in one word relief, that's, that's how I felt. Can you give me what your one word or your sentence to describe Gray's able?
00:07:39
M dub
Yeah, my my one word was 2025. And it it was because it was making, this is such a 2025 pick. I appreciate the pick. You appreciate the pick. I think just about everybody across this great nest appreciates the pick.
00:07:53
M dub
People were really stoked on this guy's great mustache. People were really stoked on this guy having Settlers of Catan set up on the team, which takes quite a bit of foresight, actually.
00:08:01
Tristan Amundson
yeah
00:08:05
M dub
It's it's not really what would come out first in my mind. um you know my favorite board game to put along in the camera. And it was just making me think, what's the most recent year where this exact pick could have happened?
00:08:21
M dub
and like the Seahawks fan base would have been underwhelmed. We're talking an offensive guard out of North Dakota, and it's so 2025. We have so much football resources at our fingertips as a general public that we're so stoked on it, realize it's a position of need.
00:08:40
M dub
I feel like if this happens... I mean, in 2009, I think that recently, I think people are really underwhelmed. Do you think you think people are underwhelmed if this happens in 2009?
00:08:51
M dub
Or do you have to go a little further back?
00:08:52
Tristan Amundson
that's That's a really interesting question. but you know When did people or have have fans always really appreciated the importance of the O-line or is it the proliferation of information? Is
Seahawks Draft Strategy Insights
00:09:06
Tristan Amundson
that kind of what you're saying, that information is so prolific that we understand kind of oh the the the hows and the whys behind what makes a football team work? Is that kind of your your inference?
00:09:18
M dub
Absolutely. And there's also the North Dakota State of it all. I mean, that's a pretty far-flung place.
00:09:23
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:09:23
M dub
where're We're far from your, you know, you got 80,000-seat stadiums across the nation watching college football games, North Dakota State. we We know the program.
00:09:33
M dub
but We all kind of ambiently know about it. I don't think we're necessarily watching them defeat Montana State in the FBS or whatever it is, the 1AA Bowl each year. But they got about 20,000 people in that stadium. i mean, it's a small school.
00:09:49
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, yeah. it's Listen, man, i and that's a really interesting thought. I haven't thought of it from that perspective, but I think there is probably some truth in that, that we understand...
00:10:01
Tristan Amundson
We can dig into the numbers and, you know, quote unquote, the next gen stats, right? So much more than we used to, to be able to understand um what makes a player tick and, um and, and kind of how to get excited about the right player.
00:10:13
M dub
Thank
00:10:16
Tristan Amundson
I was listening to Mitch Levy was interviewing Ray Roberts, big Ray. And he was talking about when he actually, I thought this the interesting kind of connection between Ray and gray.
00:10:28
Tristan Amundson
Oh, I didn't even think about the rhyming nature. until just now. um Ray Roberts. So so something that that Gray's able, one of the reasons why he jumped up draft boards was because he had such a great senior bowl, right? Because the the question was, hey, he's in this smaller school.
00:10:43
Tristan Amundson
Can he actually compete against great talent? He goes to the senior bowl and he he wipes the floor with everybody there. And now people are thinking, hey, well, listen, yeah, it looks like this guy actually has, you know, the, the chops to get this done.
00:10:58
Tristan Amundson
And they had him at the senior bowl. Um, apparently, you know, basically, ah play every position so that he could showcase, Hey, you know, I'm versatile and yeah I can do this.
00:11:12
Tristan Amundson
Apparently they did the exact same thing for Ray Roberts back in the nineties when he came out in the draft. Um, He went to the senior bowl and his story is the exact same. He said that the Raiders were the Raiders coaching staff was running the senior bowl that year.
00:11:29
Tristan Amundson
And they basically said, hey, we're going to get you drafted really high. And the way we're going to do it, you're you're going to play every position and you're going to showcase what an athlete you are. And so I just thought that's kind of an interesting little tidbit of connection between old to new. and And the Senior Bowl is not a thing that I've ever really put much stock into. And this is the first year for me personally, I've been like, oh, and I understand the value of the Senior Bowl for a guy like Gray.
Nick Emanwari's Selection and Comparisons
00:11:55
Tristan Amundson
don't know if that makes sense or not, but I thought it was kind of a fun little story connecting past the present.
00:12:00
M dub
Absolutely. I would not have thought the senior bowl went back that far. I mean, I know it's gained popularity lately, but yeah, didn't know went back that far.
00:12:05
Tristan Amundson
Me too. Yeah.
00:12:10
Tristan Amundson
Meat and potatoes though, right? We started this draft, it you know, and you and I both last week or the week before when we spoke, obviously our number one priority, the one of one was let's let's address the offensive line.
00:12:23
Tristan Amundson
In fact, you said on that um broadcast to our millions of listeners that you might've been okay with three offensive linemen in the first five picks.
00:12:34
Tristan Amundson
We settled on two and a half being the maximum number number of offensive linemen we would want ah the Seahawks to draft in those first five picks. And they use their top real estate, their their highest asset to go after and take care of this problem, which i think maybe counts for a little bit more. Maybe we call this one and a half picks because they they use the real estate for it.
00:12:57
Tristan Amundson
um What a relief. And and to have the the line solidified the way that Gray does. And I'll say this before we get on to the next one. And I want to hear your thoughts on this.
00:13:10
Tristan Amundson
I was hoping for another high offensive lineman pick, as I think you were as well. Um, whether that be a center or, or a guard as the draft went on, I was tracking the best centers available.
00:13:23
Tristan Amundson
And there was a guy, the the center for, um, uh, Ohio state. I think his last name was mcauugh McLaughlin or something like that. I was watching him and he was still available towards the end of the draft.
00:13:35
Tristan Amundson
And I was thinking, come on, let's, let's go up and get him. And then I did a little research and I listened to John Schneider, apparently a maybe three or four weeks ago, specifically say that this wasn't a good draft for centers, that there just wasn't a lot of good center talent in this draft, which I thought was interesting.
00:13:52
Tristan Amundson
ah So that's certainly, if we're looking for interior um offensive linemen, that gives you less choices, right? This is the way I'm looking at this. And I'm i'm curious your thoughts.
00:14:06
Tristan Amundson
Left guard is now solidified. Check. Center, I guess it's Olu Oluwutimi, and I guess I'm just hoping that they feel good about Olu. I don't know the answer to that.
00:14:18
Tristan Amundson
But at right guard, now we have about five or six guys competing for one spot. I think that that... I think that that is acceptable. I think that that makes sense. Like having five or six guys competing for two spots makes me kind of scared.
00:14:34
Tristan Amundson
But if you're telling me, hey, we got five or six guys and they're all competing for one spot and we'll pick the best one, that makes me feel a little better. what what What are your thoughts on that as it pertains to, hey, we only got one guard in these first five picks, but but we did solidify one spot, 20% of the line, check, we're good.
00:14:55
M dub
I actually was thinking a lot more about right tackle. And I think it's i think there's really the there there's a lot of dice being rolled on Abe Lucas being healthy. I think we both appreciate Abe Lucas when he's on the field.
00:15:09
M dub
It was for seven games in 2024, and it was for six games in 2023. um There's a lot more games on your schedule outside of that. And in both cases...
Concerns Over Right Tackle Position
00:15:18
M dub
I believe they were both kind of lingering issues where the timeline just kind of kept on unfolding. So I know the team and brought in Josh Jones in free agency.
00:15:28
M dub
And he there's there's a lot of players with like a lot of flexibility across different positions, which which I think does make it difficult to predict. Yeah. which which which is cool that you have the versatility. It's a little less cool because it's, it's, yeah it is hard, I think, to say who the starting five offensive linemen are going to be on opening day.
00:15:49
M dub
And um yeah, ah the team also takes a ah guard in the sixth round of this draft and, and doesn't really address tackle. So I, I do, I would have preferred still that, that the team addressed tackle specifically right tackle in the top 100 picks.
00:16:07
M dub
I think whatever your board was saying, I do think that will, it's it seems a little bit like flying without insurance for this year, just knowing Abe's recent injury history.
00:16:18
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, and i'm I'm looking at it right now because I wanted to be reminded just to to make sure i i was looking at it correctly. And it does look like Abe. So his first the first week he was able to play was week 11, game 10, week 11 last year.
00:16:32
Tristan Amundson
he did play week 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Now, what remember and he did play week eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen now what i don't remember is And maybe it was because it was a a game that didn't matter.
00:16:48
Tristan Amundson
i don't remember. He did not play week 18 of last year. And I don't remember if that was due to injury or if, you know, there just was no reason for him to play. I can't remember that. it it seems a little odd that he didn't. So I do remember, did he get hurt by the end of last year or was he okay?
00:17:06
M dub
I don't remember, but week 18 was the the wonky one up against Jimmy Garoppolo, just shredding the defense. and
00:17:13
Tristan Amundson
That's right. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. So I don't remember the the circumstances around that. um So, yeah. Anyway, it's funny that you're thinking about it from a tackle perspective. I've I've kind of.
00:17:28
Tristan Amundson
I guess I felt better about Abe. I've kind of felt like he's we're fine there. Guard has been the thing that I'm most worried about that offensive guard spot. But you're right. i'm I'm probably just willing to roll the dice that Abe's going to be fine, which that might be a little foolish. I don't know.
00:17:44
M dub
I do think I said at some point this offseason that I felt like a successful offseason would be able to say after the draft, boom, here are your five starting old linemen.
00:17:54
M dub
We know what plan A is with the starting five, and i don't think we're all the way there. I feel good about Oluwabitemi and what he contributed in the second half of last year.
00:17:54
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:18:00
Tristan Amundson
yeah
00:18:04
M dub
actually feel comfortable. ah with him at center, but I do think on the right side ah between Abe's injury history and the sense of open competition, I would have liked that. That was kind of the situation we walked into last year, and it didn't go that well. So I would have, ah it seems like a different approach could have been helpful.
00:18:25
Tristan Amundson
So we have, and I think I agree with you. So we have, from your perspective, 60% of the line taken care of locked and loaded, but but we just don't know those last two spots.
00:18:32
M dub
Locked up to 80.
00:18:38
Tristan Amundson
It's a little scary. um Any other thoughts on, on, on big gray to start out this draft before we move on?
00:18:47
M dub
Tristan, I'm ready to move on to the Seahawks' biggest trade of the draft weekend. pretty monster one.
00:18:53
Tristan Amundson
Breaking.
00:18:53
M dub
Got the juices flowing for you, I'm sure.
00:18:54
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:18:56
M dub
In the second round, the Seahawks trade to the Tennessee Titans, pick number 52 and 82, combine those up to move all the way up to number 35. They draft safety Nick Emanwari out of South Carolina.
00:19:11
M dub
Tristan, last time out, I talked about not wanting the Seahawks to move up the draft board. They did it. They did it, and they got a lot of praise around NFL circles I do think um from what it sounds like that Nick Emanwari on uh kind of a neutral person's big board was very close to Gray Zabel in that kind of 17 to 22 range so I think the Seahawks are walking away thinking that uh they got two first round picks um but uh
00:19:34
Tristan Amundson
Yep. Yep.
00:19:43
M dub
This should kind of happen every time. Like the draft, you know, yeah the team's internal board is not going to match up with the actual draft board. So I think if you are drafting at the front of the second round,
00:19:56
M dub
You should pretty much always feel like you're walking away with two first-round picks. you know um so
00:20:00
Tristan Amundson
yeah
00:20:02
M dub
hard so ah This was the type of draft capital to give up where it will feel painful if Nick Emanwari doesn't work out as an exceptional starting caliber player.
00:20:15
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:20:15
M dub
and it will feel very inexpensive if you start to think of this man as the the second coming of ch camp chancellor. ah that's That's where I felt about the trade.
00:20:25
Tristan Amundson
No, i I couldn't agree with you more. And i the way that I look at from like ah if you're in the draft room and and just from hearing John and Mike talk about post-draft press conferences,
00:20:41
Tristan Amundson
the The feeling in the room was Gray Zabel's our number one interior offensive lineman. he's He's the number one guy on our list with a bullet. We're not going to get cute. We're not going to trade back. We're taking him. We're taking him right now. We're not you know we're not going to mess around with this. We we got our guy.
00:20:58
Tristan Amundson
the The feeling to me that was very clear from John was that in their draft room, they there was a consensus. We have to have Nick.
00:21:09
Tristan Amundson
Have you seen the movie Draft Day, Miles? there have you how Have you enjoyed Kevin Costner in a good draft day?
00:21:16
M dub
You know, I keep hearing more and more. I've i heard about this movie so much this year. It's like 10 years old, right? I haven't seen it.
00:21:21
Tristan Amundson
It's pretty old. So funny enough, it's about the Seahawks. Kevin Costner's the Seahawks. Isn't that weird? Like they.
00:21:28
M dub
I thought it was about the Cleveland Browns for some reason. That's funny.
00:21:30
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, so it's kind of crazy. they They chose the Seahawks as as the guy, but or as the team. Kevin Costner, though, has this great moment. And I think this is I really do think this is how they felt about Nick.
00:21:43
Tristan Amundson
Before the draft starts, he wrote down on a piece of paper, do not leave the draft without. And I don't remember the name of the player in the movie, but, you know without Nick and Rory, right? Like, do not. We are not going to leave without him.
00:21:57
Tristan Amundson
And I got the impression from from listening to
Confidence in Seahawks' Picks
00:22:01
Tristan Amundson
Pete or Pete.
00:22:01
M dub
Thank you.
00:22:02
Tristan Amundson
Oh, man. That's the first first time that's happened in a while. From listening to John and Mike that. they they weren't They did not want to leave this draft without this guy.
00:22:13
Tristan Amundson
um To your point, they had him dressed they had him ranked similarly as ah as a ah ah solid first round pick on their board. And I do like the way that um that John framed it during the press conference. He just said, for us, the way we looked at it was we gave up a third round pick to get a first round pick.
00:22:33
Tristan Amundson
And that's that's what they did. I mean, they that's exactly what they did. They gave up a third rounder to get a first rounder. And for them, that made that made sense to get this guy. um I've heard a lot about Kyle Hamilton as the comp here.
00:22:48
Tristan Amundson
i I love the idea of giving coach... a piece on the chessboard to move, a piece that he can move anywhere he wants, that he can deploy in different ways.
00:23:00
Tristan Amundson
On our little um Google sheet that we share as we go through this show, you've noticed that i've highlighted four guys. And the four guys I've highlighted, the reason why I highlighted them is I'm thinking about guys that are going to affect the run game, ah either on defense or offense, right?
00:23:17
Tristan Amundson
So obviously, Gray Zabel, that's a draft pick that is going to affect the run game in a big way. I think that Nick is another draft pick playing, let's call it that big, strong safety, maybe kind of a nickel type safety closer to the line of scrimmage.
00:23:34
Tristan Amundson
um I think about the way that Spoon um really affects the the the run game from a ah cornerback perspective. um but I mean, listen, The way that Jamal Adams, I feel weird using his name because ah he didn't have a great Seahawks career, but we all had moments where you saw Jamal affect the run game and like really cause problems, get tackles in the backfield for massive losses.
00:23:59
Tristan Amundson
The way that Cam affected the run game. I think that's what we're looking here for Nick to do. and And because of that, I love the ethos of the pick, if that makes sense. I love the ethos of...
00:24:14
Tristan Amundson
philosophically, what are we trying to do? we're We're trying to stop the run in every way possible. As we spoke about last time, you already really like your front seven. You've already invested quite a bit, frankly, in your front seven.
00:24:27
Tristan Amundson
So I do kind of like this pick. I like the idea of of having another versatile piece for a guy like Mike to be able to deploy how he wants. What say you?
00:24:39
M dub
I do think, having just watched a couple minutes of Nick Emanwari's tape, what really stood out to me was the tackling ability. Really just strong tackles, doesn't doesn't let the guy get out, and that really felt like a signature of Mike McDonald's 2023 Baltimore Ravens, who ah completely decimated the Seahawks and ultimately landed Mike McDonald the job a few months later, is oh open field.
00:25:01
M dub
but the It just kind of like sticks. like the The tackle is just...
00:25:03
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:25:04
M dub
I don't know. It just... It sticks like tape and and the offensive player is down. And that to me stood out as one of the strengths of, of yeah, Nicky Manwari. So we'll see what happens. It'll be, it'll be really interesting to see. um Yeah. I mean, I'm assuming he would be a starter from day one.
00:25:22
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, and listen, I'd be crazy if I didn't mention this as we spoke, because to me, the big takeaway is when I think of a guy like Nick, when I think of trading up, right? John Schneider's track record when he's trading up in the draft is impeccable.
00:25:39
Tristan Amundson
I mean, really, he has a sixth sense for the moment when he sees a guy that he wants to get. Yeah. And the word that I wrote down when I was thinking about this is conviction.
00:25:50
Tristan Amundson
I think when John has conviction about a player, maybe going back to that draft day analogy, we're not walking away without getting this guy. The last three that I looked up quickly that really stood out to me of John Schneider conviction picks that he went and traded up, right?
00:26:08
Tristan Amundson
Talk about his track record. I'm going to trade up early in the draft, second, third round to get my guy. Tell me if you like these names. You might hate these players. I don't know.
00:26:19
Tristan Amundson
you You might really not like these guys at all. Tell me how you feel about Tyler Lockett.
00:26:24
M dub
I have studied his his path up the NFL all-time receptions chart quite closely.
00:26:31
Tristan Amundson
How do you feel about Jaron Reed?
00:26:34
M dub
yeah yaka Yeah, love it. Still here. so many years later.
00:26:37
Tristan Amundson
all then How do you feel about DeCaylen Metcalfe?
00:26:42
M dub
It worked out pretty well. It worked out pretty well.
00:26:44
Tristan Amundson
great Pretty doggone good. So I guess my point just being, and and this is why the blood pressure went up for me a little bit in a good way. When I saw them move up that aggressively in the draft, I just think it it it foretells good things because...
00:27:00
Tristan Amundson
I think that John has the track record for us to trust him when he decides to move up to pull the trigger. i Typically good things happen. So um was was very happy about that.
00:27:11
Tristan Amundson
and And frankly, if if you're following at home, folks, so far this tracks exactly with Tristan and Miles' wish list from two weeks ago, which is start with an offensive guard and then go to a secondary player, which I'm i'm quite impressed with us, man. we we have We are on the right track, Nostradamus style, as we look at the big board.
00:27:34
M dub
And here's where our track record comes to a screeching halt with the next couple picks. So just just a few picks later in the middle of the second round with the 50th overall pick. Seahawks go Elijah Arroyo, tight end out of Miami.
00:27:48
M dub
Could you call it a luxury pick, Tristan? The tight end room is is already full it's already pretty stacked. Noah Fant, A.J. Barner, the ultimate journeyman, Eric Saubert. we We got three guys already. This is number four picked pretty high in the draft.
00:28:01
M dub
Um... What do you think?
00:28:04
Tristan Amundson
Not on my bingo card. No, not on my bingo card was, was not looking for tight end help specifically. Wasn't looking for a pass catching tight end. I have to say this does feel like a bit of a luxury pick for a team that probably should stick with meat and potatoes.
00:28:21
Tristan Amundson
Um, you know, maybe maybe we just decided we had to have a piece of chocolate cake. Um, This is the, listen, I hope Elijah is great and he probably will be.
00:28:32
Tristan Amundson
This is the one pick that kind of gave me trepidation and it has nothing to do with the player per se, right? It has everything to do, obviously, just with, is this what we needed? Like, could could could have we used another defensive tackle here? Could have we used another offensive guard? Could have we used a little bit more trench play?
00:28:51
Tristan Amundson
And so, yeah, this one gives me a little bit of heart power palpitations, but I also would like to think, Maybe this is just a moment where in in John, we trust and we just have to lean in with it. I don't know.
00:29:04
M dub
I agree with you as well. Obviously wish nothing but the best for Elijah Arroyo, but seeing this, seeing, I mean, seeing what a high draft pick this is on a, on a ah position that's, that's really stocked completely full by, by what John's already created.
00:29:20
M dub
Um, when I see Elijah Arroyo tight end, I do think of right tackle and and that offensive line and, Again, just like Nicky Manwari, there's the potential. Noel Faham will be a free agent after the next year. So so this could become a need very quickly, as as often does in the NFL. And Elijah Arroyo could be an an incredibly important part of the Seahawks, twenty twenty six the Seahawks.
00:29:45
M dub
And we're we're feeling relieved that he was taken. But for now... um it It is an interesting question. Like once, as you start to get further away from the first round, drafting your board versus drafting need, it felt like the needs were pretty strong here in Seattle with the historic issues on the offensive line.
00:30:06
M dub
ah But they drafted their board. That was, that was what they wanted to do with this draft, especially with their next pick as well. And so we'll see what happens if if the board, ah the board doesn't lie.
00:30:17
Tristan Amundson
No, absolutely, man. it's it It is fascinating that they they went this way. um i will say this, and I think you're totally right about drafting the board. This, to me, really smells like, hey, Tristan Miles, if if there was an offensive guard or offensive tackle that we really liked at this spot, we would go for
Talent Shelves and Elijah Arroyo
00:30:38
Tristan Amundson
it. But I just wonder if this is one of those deals where they're looking at their draft board And one one of these is not like the other, right? they They're looking at him and they're thinking, this guy's an outlier compared to everyone else these other positions we would have liked to pick, right? Hey, um the the right tackles that we wanted...
00:30:58
Tristan Amundson
ah John always talks about how every position there's a shelf and yeah you have ah a couple of players in each tier. And then when when you get out of that tier, there's suddenly a massive drop off.
00:31:10
Tristan Amundson
um And so I just wonder if offensive guard, offensive tackle at that point in the draft for the value that they had, if there was just too big of a drop and it was just too big of a shelf. Okay.
00:31:22
Tristan Amundson
listen, this guy's too good for us to pass up on Let's go for the talent. and And to your point, he fits a future need. So, and who knows, maybe this means, um you know, that Noah Fant is now on the trading block. I don't know what that would look like, but maybe there's some movement or or some other things they end up doing. So that's an interesting one.
00:31:42
Tristan Amundson
um should we Should we go on to probably the most intriguing pick in the draft? and Any others on Arroyo before we move on?
00:31:51
M dub
Uh, well, the, the Green Bay Packers at 54 did, did pick an offensive tackle, Anthony Belton. Not sure if he plays on the left or right side, but, uh, so, you know, somebody was in range. So we'll, we'll, we'll see what happens. You know what? I'm not going to see what happens. and Now that Elijah's on the team moving forward, going to trust in his development, but, um,
00:32:08
Tristan Amundson
yeah He's in the nest. Yeah, he's he he deserves as many worms as the next bird in the nest. He's he's a part of the family now.
00:32:17
M dub
As far as the draft goes and maybe what the Seahawks could learn when the board comes around next year, might want to check in on Anthony Belton and the Packers at that point.
00:32:26
Tristan Amundson
Now, this next pick... really kind of ruins the analogy of meat and potatoes versus dessert or luxury pick versus non-luxury pick because because it's a quarterback.
00:32:42
Tristan Amundson
You can make an argument either way here. yeah I want to say that this next pick was a bit of a luxury pick and it didn't make a lot of sense. i Listen, I will be very clear with you. When they made these, when they picked Elijah and then next Jalen Milrow, I was not super happy.
Jalen Milrow's Potential Impact
00:33:02
Tristan Amundson
I was thinking they they've lost their minds. Like what's wrong with these people?
00:33:07
Tristan Amundson
The problem though, is that Jalen Milrow, if If he's the guy that they want him to be, he completely changes the trajectory of this team.
00:33:18
Tristan Amundson
um Obviously, just, you know, and in case someone is what literally listening only to us for news, pick 92, Jalen Milrow, quarterback, Alabama.
00:33:31
Tristan Amundson
If this guy hits, man, it's the, the, the entire team is different. I mean, if this guy hits, the entire team is different.
00:33:35
M dub
Thank you.
00:33:38
Tristan Amundson
The more I look at this pick, the more excited I get about it. It's not the meat and potatoes we were looking for or expecting, but man, I have a hard time not being really excited about Jalen Milrow.
00:33:52
M dub
I got more excited about the pick the more I learned about Jalen Milrow.
00:33:55
M dub
I mean, number one, number one we learned he's like an A-plus in all these interviews, which is fantastic. That feels like a very Seahawks trait to really value that, and I appreciate that.
00:33:55
Tristan Amundson
Me too.
00:34:07
M dub
The more I looked into his career and getting acquainted with a major character in college football over the last few years, to me, I really thought that I thought a lot about Taysom Hill.
00:34:18
M dub
And because our offensive coordinator, Clint Kubiak, was with the Saints last year. That was one year Taysom Hill. Taysom Hill's been there a while. Hill was only healthy for eight games last year.
00:34:30
M dub
And here was the stat line. So Clint Kubiak used Hill as a quarterback less than ever. And in eight games... Taysom Hill had 39 rushes for 278 yards and six touchdowns and 23 receptions for 187 yards.
00:34:46
M dub
So a healthy season. but let's Let's just double the rushing numbers. 80 rushes for about 600 yards and 12 touchdowns. That was kind of that was what Taysom Hill was on pace for.
00:34:57
M dub
And to me, i i kind of think that at least in year one and year two, when Sam Darnold is still around, and you also still have Drew Locke on this team as well. I do think, though, that there will be somewhere between 50 and 100 meaningful offensive snaps where Jalen Milrow is on the field, and ah we're we're getting into a little bit of a positionless, bizarre package thing here that
00:35:13
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:35:24
M dub
could give some really creative looks that are are not what defenses are used to looking at. that That's how I was thinking about it and less about like, is he the 2027 starter full time? You know, is this Russell Wilson coming in and going to steal somebody's job like like Sam Darnold as Matt Flynn?
00:35:39
M dub
That's how I was thinking. that what you were thinking about in terms of like the potential of this pick?
00:35:44
Tristan Amundson
i I really think you have to... It's a head on a swivel pick because you have to look at it both ways in my mind. It was really fun. So the the process of me realizing, man, this is a pretty intriguing pick.
00:36:00
Tristan Amundson
Number one was... coach saying he's going to probably pay, play about 10% of the snaps of quarterback this year. Um, that Sam would get about 90 Jalen would get about 10.
00:36:12
Tristan Amundson
That's exciting, right? That, that speaks to, to your point that speaks to having special packages, That speaks to um our version of the Tush Push, which, frankly, Mike was outspoken about this last year, saying that he's in favor of it. So I think this is an interesting pick in the context of Mike is in favor of the Tush Push. OK, that's OK. That's an interesting piece of information for us to have.
00:36:37
Tristan Amundson
um I think it's also interesting when when you look at, to your point, what Clint was able to do with Taysom. When you look at what a problem it is to have um to have a quarterback like that and someone who can throw the ball and also move a little bit.
00:36:56
Tristan Amundson
i I have to say this. I love the idea.
Rookie Quarterback Success Stories
00:37:00
Tristan Amundson
of Well, and I'm sorry. here's Here's the last piece of that. Mike coaching laba ah Lamar for you know multiple years, being with Lamar in Baltimore, I think is ah an interesting angle to all of this. I think it's an important angle.
00:37:15
Tristan Amundson
What I love and the thing that I got most excited about is when I was reminded this week that Patrick Mahomes sat his first year in the NFL. Lamar Jackson sat his first year in the NFL.
00:37:30
Tristan Amundson
Josh Allen, I don't think he sat immediately, but like needed some development. Josh Allen sucked his first year in the NFL. Now he's unbelievable. He could not hit the bar. He was a terrible passer.
00:37:40
Tristan Amundson
I mean, it's crazy. Josh Allen did the impossible. He improved his accuracy. And so the idea Jalen Mahomes, Being in special packages this year, right? Giving us the edge, helping us get a few first downs when we need it, getting us a couple of extra touchdowns while he develops behind Sam, I think is really, really cool. So I think the the macro and the micro, the short term, the long term, I like both paths. I think it's a really interesting pick.
00:38:12
Tristan Amundson
And the more I think about the pick, I think he's actually a pretty high floor pick. I think most, if you pick Tom Brady and he's a bust, Tom Brady is a low floor, high ceiling bust, right? Because it's like he can play quarterback. He can sit in the pocket and throw it or he can't.
00:38:30
Tristan Amundson
That's all he can do. That's not Jalen. Jalen is, I would argue, a very high floor, um ah high ceiling type of ah type of pick, because even if Jalen turns out not to be the quarterback of the future, he's still going to be an awesome asset for us.
00:38:49
Tristan Amundson
yeah Case in point, Anthony Richardson was pretty bad last year with Indy as their quarterback, but he could still run the football and everyone knew he was going to run it and he still could.
00:38:56
M dub
Thank you.
00:39:01
Tristan Amundson
Now he didn't protect himself enough and he has his own problems in that way. But I just think it's a really intriguing pick. I love... the creativity that it's that it's signaling to me about this offense, right? i I love that we seem to be listening to Clint Kubiak and what he wants to do offensively.
00:39:19
Tristan Amundson
And and that per like I think that really shows and is is kind of projecting into, um i think it's going to be a really fun, interesting, dynamic offense to watch with multiple packages and special packages. So yeah, I'm all in, man. I love it.
00:39:36
M dub
That was my big takeaway from this pick is how much this team is listening to Clint Kubiak. And I almost feel bad for Ryan Grubb because he was kind of expected to make things work in in the doghouse, but...
00:39:46
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:39:47
M dub
But yes, this this does feel like, ah i mean, all three of these offensive picks, Zabel, Arroyo, Milrow, they all feel very informed by what Clint Kubiak wants to do um Mobile players, I don't know, yak potential.
00:40:01
Tristan Amundson
yeah
00:40:01
M dub
And just to recap on Milrow, his running stats from last year, 168 rushes. Most of those were designed, very few scrambles. 726 yards. That's a relatively low...
00:40:13
M dub
um yardage average compared to like Lamar Jackson scrambling in the open field I think a lot of those were short yardage situations he also gets into the end zone 20 times that's a monster amount of touchdowns and all three of those categories he led Alabama last year no running back uh uh had more in any of the categories I do want to say
00:40:28
Tristan Amundson
Whoa.
00:40:34
M dub
I almost feel bad for for mentioning this guy's name because things didn't really work out from ah you know that the the many hallways of draft history.
00:40:45
M dub
But do you remember Denard Robinson coming out of the University of Michigan to the Jaguars about 10 years ago?
00:40:51
Tristan Amundson
I don't.
00:40:51
M dub
And if you don't, if you don't, he was a fifth round pick.
00:40:54
Tristan Amundson
I do not.
00:40:57
M dub
He, I think, struggled a little more with with the passing game in his time at Michigan than Milrod did at Alabama. But yeah, Denard Robinson was like listed on the official roster or something as like offensive weapon because this is kind of the idea.
00:41:13
M dub
Now, the Jaguars of 2013 are a very different context from the Seahawks of 2025.
00:41:14
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:41:20
Tristan Amundson
We hope so.
00:41:21
M dub
I think it is a very different team-building context, but I did want... It just it was it occurred to me. It occurred to me. I had to get it off my chest.
00:41:30
Tristan Amundson
No, I think that's, listen, yeah, weapon, weapon. I think that's the word. I think that he, he really opens up a lot of, um, A lot of interesting options for the offense, and he can be a short term and long term weapon used in a lot of different
John Schneider's Quarterback Vision
00:41:47
Tristan Amundson
ways. So listen, I think we should all be really excited for Jalen Milrow.
00:41:51
Tristan Amundson
um And it it does sound like this is another one of those like we got to have them. We're going to go after him. Listen, man, like we've watched John Schneider draft for the last decade. He hasn't drafted a lot of quarterbacks.
00:42:03
Tristan Amundson
And the quarterbacks that he has drafted, I mean, well, the one very in particular was was very good in the third round. And I'm not saying that Jalen is Russell, but what I am saying is,
00:42:14
Tristan Amundson
that I think John does have a pretty good eye for what he's looking for and what he's looking for, for his offensive coordinator. um And I think he has a vision. I think this guy matches that vision.
00:42:25
Tristan Amundson
And when I think about, you know, the rumors of John really wanted to go after Patrick in that draft, he really wanted to go after Josh Allen. Those are always the two names he's linked to um in past drafts that he wasn't able to able to maneuver and get.
00:42:36
M dub
you
00:42:38
Tristan Amundson
And he was regretful of those two. um Yeah, I think this is really exciting. and And more than anything, though, I love the idea that a guy like Jalen gets to go to a team where he doesn't have to start day one.
00:42:50
Tristan Amundson
The c Colts were complete idiots starting Anthony Richardson last year. It was a disaster. It was stupid. um it didn't work. And And i like, it's just, it's obvious, like having, giving guys time to develop.
00:43:06
Tristan Amundson
When you read the list of the the quarterbacks that we consider the cream of the crop, best quarterbacks in the league, and you consider they all sat behind somebody.
00:43:15
M dub
Thank
00:43:17
Tristan Amundson
And I'll just keep going back to Patrick and and Lamar. They both sat and listened and learned and that helped them develop. And here's the last thing, like, Eventually, does this slowly, is year one a tiny example of, hey, we're going to make these packages for you.
00:43:36
Tristan Amundson
The Baltimore Ravens offense is built around Lamar Jackson, like full stop. that's They have built an offense around someone's very unique skill set.
00:43:48
Tristan Amundson
Is that what this looks like going into the future, that you're building an offense around a skill set? Again, we don't know. We don't know how it's going to work work out with Jalen. At this point, he has a lottery ticket, um but I think it was really some money well spent. So um we can we can keep moving, but excited about that one.
00:44:05
Tristan Amundson
um Should we move on to the the big man from Notre Dame?
00:44:11
M dub
Oh, yeah. i was go to i was going to say, um there's seven other picks that the Seahawks brought in. Do we want to each shout out kind of our favorite? ah there There was one pick in particular that stood out to me.
00:44:20
Tristan Amundson
I think so.
00:44:22
M dub
ah from pick 142 and beyond. But yeah, it was Riley Mills, defensive tackle out of Notre Dame. was Was that, that was the next pick off the board that stood out to you.
00:44:30
Tristan Amundson
That's mine for sure. And, and that would be my, that would be my shout out pick. Um, I mean, it's hard because I really want to talk about Robbie Oots too. Maybe I'll talk you into getting, getting little fold.
00:44:40
M dub
That was my shout out pick.
00:44:42
M dub
So.
00:44:42
Tristan Amundson
Okay, good.
00:44:42
Tristan Amundson
Okay. Well, good. So I'll do mine. You do yours then. That's perfect. Uh, what I love about Riley, I love the idea that we keep, um, I love the idea that we keep investing in the defensive tackle room.
00:44:55
Tristan Amundson
I also like the idea that they liked him better with an injury than a lot of other players. And so, I mean, a lot of other players right around this pick, a defensive tackle we were taken before and after Riley.
00:45:09
Tristan Amundson
And the Seahawks looked at this guy and they said, hey, he might not be ready until November. We all know that there's a there's a very good chance that he is not a contributor this year on the Seahawks at all, because it takes a while to recover from an ACL.
00:45:24
Tristan Amundson
The fact that they think that highly of him to say, hey, we're going to go after him and and get him. I don't know if you heard this. Apparently, um i i mean, it's a joke, obviously, but John Snyder said he didn't think that A.D. would show up to work um on Monday if we didn't draft Riley because ah Dirty liked him that much.
00:45:43
Tristan Amundson
And so you you love that two time captain. You love that. You know, I mean, you love guy was a captain. He was the leader of the, of the Notre Dame defense. He got hurt in the college playoffs, meaning that he, he had a lot of reps. I mean, this guy has played a lot of football at a high level for a great, um, uh, program.
00:46:03
Tristan Amundson
I don't think there's anything not to like about this pick. Um, And ah yeah, excited to see him. Hopefully we see him this year, but we might not. And I think that's okay. I think you just, you take care of that ACL.
00:46:17
M dub
A little bit later in the fifth round, pick 175.
Robbie Oots's Role as Fullback
00:46:20
M dub
Seahawks take Robbie Outz, so it's spelled O-U-Z-T-S, but it's ah it's pronounced Outz as far as I can tell.
00:46:30
Tristan Amundson
um So you can hear it, right? You can hear it now. The calls for Oots.
00:46:34
M dub
You're absolutely right. It's going to be you know four or five touches of the ball per year, and that will be the chant. ah So this is a player who, I think this was an interesting call because this deep in the draft, I think this is a player who will see 10 to 20% at least of the offensive snaps this year.
00:46:51
M dub
He played tight end to Alabama, projected as a fullback coming into the Seahawks. Suddenly, there are a lot of, and i'm thinking of Clint Kubiak being the passing game coordinator with the 2023 49ers.
00:47:06
M dub
Let's not forget that team took the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in the Super Bowl, and they were just complete monsters with yards after the catch. They would just get in these these situations where there's just an absolute convoy of of big fellas blocking the way for a ball carrier, you know, 10, 20 yards downfield, and they're just absolutely eating up yardage.
00:47:23
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
00:47:28
M dub
And but between Robbie Outes, Jake Bobo, um you know, we got a lot of mustached men out there. But I do. And let's not forget about Brady Russell as well. But it does it does make me think that we could see a lot of those situations where the ball carriers kind of got the ball. He's got a three man convoy ahead of him and just kind of maybe waiting, you know, not running at full speed, just kind of waiting a little bit for those second level blocks to develop. I think I think it's a great way to get a lot of yardage game by game.
00:47:59
Tristan Amundson
Dude, I know. I totally agree. um I'm excited about it. I love and listen, when we talk about the dedication to the run game, he's another big part of that, right?
00:48:07
M dub
Thank you.
00:48:08
Tristan Amundson
I mean, we have not seen a Seahawks team draft a fullback in over a decade. I can't tell you the last. In fact, I can tell you the last fullback. He came from West Virginia and his first game as a Seahawk.
00:48:22
Tristan Amundson
He he like ah what was his name? Oh, my gosh. It's going to kill me. Oh, no, it wasn't Olin. It was I'm going to look it up. But he took his helmet and he smashed it against his face.
00:48:35
Tristan Amundson
Um, week one and there's like the week one, just blood rushing down his face. He was like the last, just like, Oh, you're crazy. Like crazy fullback that we drafted.
00:48:48
Tristan Amundson
i think it's great. I listened. I talked to my dad about this last night. There, there's a special place in my heart for the max strongs, um, of the world for, for the, the guys that, you know, just absolutely,
00:49:02
Tristan Amundson
ah snot bubbles and and the whole nine yards and so having having some dedication to the fullback i think is really really cool and um and listen we talk about those short yardage situations we talk about those special running packages i think it all kind of makes sense with a fullback and and dedicating to the offensive line too so let's let's run the football miles let's just run the football
00:49:26
M dub
Hey, the Ravens do it. they got They got Patrick Ricard back there. He's a big part of their offense, the running quarterback. Kyle Juszczyk with the Niners.
00:49:34
Tristan Amundson
jack
00:49:34
M dub
There's some great examples of of the modern fullback. It isn't extinct.
00:49:40
Tristan Amundson
it it It's coming back little by little. um And it's great to see that all all good things come back around. um Dude, I, you know, all in all, listen, I don't know if we need to go through the rest of them. And frankly, we don't know, you know, how these guys are all going to turn out.
00:49:55
Tristan Amundson
um But yeah I will say this, I believe it was Ricky White. I don't know if you listen to any of the audio. I'll just let let's just maybe I'll finish my my little spiel here with a heartfelt story.
00:50:08
Tristan Amundson
The emotion in this guy's voice. And it sounded a lot like um DK when we drafted him, where he's just like, you know what? What took you so long, man? Like, why? Why did it take you so long to call me?
00:50:20
Tristan Amundson
And you could just hear the appreciation in his voice. You know, basically the coach, thank you so much. I'm not going to let you down. Like, that you know, like, just thank you.
00:50:31
Tristan Amundson
And it it was just such a good reminder of this is such a big moment for these guys. And this is such a big personal life moment for them. And we're watching them get the biggest job of their career.
00:50:44
Tristan Amundson
And it was cool to hear the emotion And I'm excited to see some of these guys really just kind of blossom. And, and even if, you know, Ricky is an example, even if he doesn't make the team, which I hope he does like,
00:50:57
Tristan Amundson
what a cool moment that no one can ever take away from him, you know? So it was, it was a cool, cool thing to see that. I love these stories and the stories of these guys that this means the world to them. And, and, you know, this is their big shot. So rooting for every single one of these guys, frankly, all of these players across the league. I mean, they're all real people that are really trying to ace job interviews right now. So, um, it's a, it's a fun time of year in the NFL spring has sprung.
00:51:24
M dub
It is an amazing thing that happens. you know As many hundreds of times as it happens over the years, it is amazing every single time. And yeah easy to forget as well that that these guys are just on an absolute blender of a travel schedule. They just finished their collegiate football season. We talked about Gray Zabel being in Mobile, Alabama.
00:51:45
M dub
Everybody's going to the Indianapolis Combine. Everybody's doing their pro day. You don't just show up at these. These are you know events with a lot of preparation. You travel to do your interviews.
00:51:56
M dub
And then you kind of wait at home. And your suitcase is packed. Because wherever you're getting the call, you're you're at Rookie Minicamp and a couple days later.
00:52:01
Tristan Amundson
You have no idea. It's crazy.
00:52:04
M dub
It's like, I'm going to the airport, my hometown airport. I don't know where I'm going to, but I'm going to go to the airport and leave from there. i mean It is a crazy situation.
00:52:15
Tristan Amundson
It's so cool. um No, you're right. It's such a cool thing. And um I have to say about Robbie Oots, my favorite line from John Schneider describing him.
00:52:27
Tristan Amundson
Well, we got a 275 pound fullback that can run 19 miles an hour. That's pretty cool. Which is just like such a John Schneider line. But I love it. I mean, think about that. He's 270 pounds.
00:52:41
Tristan Amundson
And he can run 19 miles an hour like that's that's a ah pretty freaky athlete. That's actually really cool.
00:52:50
M dub
it's It's wild. and It is wild. Trish and I have takeaway from moves that the, that a move that the Seahawks didn't make throughout this entire offseason process. Just really quick here.
Confidence in Tyrese Knight
00:53:03
M dub
And that is this team really puts a lot of trust in Tyrese Knight. The man i didn't play until the second half of last year.
00:53:08
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:53:10
M dub
Still only 551 career defensive snaps. We just went through this entire free agent class and this entire draft with nobody taking that linebacker. They are really expecting... I could have wouldn't have minded a little more depth in the position, but...
00:53:25
M dub
um Out of all the players on the team, what an incredible vote of confidence that like, yeah, no nobody is going to be challenging him for the starting position.
00:53:29
Tristan Amundson
Thank you.
00:53:33
M dub
I thought that was pretty interesting and really shows, you know, this is a position that Mike McDonald started out coaching. It's a position he knows very well. And it's a really big vote of confidence through everything that happened this offseason.
00:53:46
Tristan Amundson
100% agree, man. No, that that's huge. And and listen, you know it speaks to we're not at the finish line right now. At this time last year, Ernest Jones was not a part of the Seahawks. At this time last year, okay, what role is Knight going to play at linebacker? And it took midway through the season to get that linebacker room figured out.
00:54:06
Tristan Amundson
Now it's pretty well set and it looks really good. So it's a good reminder. I love the reminder that we don't know exactly how this is all going to turn out for these guys. But Tyrese is a really, really good example of how good last year's draft was and really, frankly, the last two years.
00:54:22
Tristan Amundson
um And hopefully um we've replicated a couple of those guys, right? I mean, you hit on three, four of these guys and, um you know, the sky's the limit. It really makes a massive impact on When you think about the percentage of the roster that you're suddenly infusing with, with notable players.
00:54:43
M dub
And hey, there's a lot of draft picks we didn't talk about today. Could easily be one of those guys, the next Puka Nakua, if you will, the next
00:54:51
Tristan Amundson
That's right.
00:54:53
M dub
ah Isaiah Pacheco, who knows.
00:54:56
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, no, I mean, listen, but but there's plenty of guys we could have talked about. Tori Horton probably deserved to get talked about, but we have to stop eventually. We can't just keep, we can't just keep on yammering away.
00:55:08
Tristan Amundson
um but I think there's a reason to be excited for all of these guys. And again, it goes back to it. They're all individual stories. Um, But yeah, man, I think all in all, I'm really happy.
00:55:19
Tristan Amundson
we wanted them to make a big impact with that. Those first five draft picks, you know, as we were talking last week and little did we know it would be a big impact with four draft picks instead of five for the, you know, those top, top echelon guys.
00:55:33
Tristan Amundson
um But I think they did some really exciting things in that top 100 and it'll be fun to see where this all goes.
00:55:41
M dub
It's definitely a class that you're going to be really interested in seeing how things develop. I can just already picture the first time Jalen Milrow comes out in a home game. The crowd's going to go completely ballistic to well just what whatever situation it is when he gets out there.
00:55:54
Tristan Amundson
Yeah.
00:55:57
Tristan Amundson
Well, and you know, and I love the guys that come from the South. So it'd be Nick. Let's see. It'd be Jalen. I'm just looking at obviously Elijah. um Let's see here. Robbie and Damien.
00:56:11
Tristan Amundson
All of those guys are coming from the South. My favorite moment will be during training camp when they're practicing in June next to Lake Washington and it's 70 degrees and it's not humid.
00:56:24
Tristan Amundson
And they're just like, wait, what? yeah This is possible. It's possible to have this can be your football weather. um It always it's always funny just to hear the guys that like born and raised in the South and they're used to like high, high humidity.
00:56:39
Tristan Amundson
And I mean, I think it probably feels like a vacation for them being playing football in the summertime in Washington State. It's you know, yeah it's it's paradise. It's incredible.
00:56:49
M dub
It is one of the best kept secrets ah of the beautiful Northwest. Yeah, the summer ah could not be better, really.
00:56:55
Tristan Amundson
Yeah. Yeah. So listen, man, I'm excited about it. I'm really happy we did this today. um i think this episode went a little longer than we expected, but that's an okay thing because it's just the excitement of, ah of these players. And I think where it's going to go.
00:57:10
Tristan Amundson
I did have one last thing though, that I wanted to say to you.
00:57:15
M dub
Let's hear it Let's hear
00:57:17
Tristan Amundson
And this really comes from the bottom of my heart.
00:57:20
M dub
Oh.
00:57:22
Tristan Amundson
Go Hawks.
00:57:24
M dub
Hey, go Hawks.