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Top 2025 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Prospects | Travis Hunter, McMillan, Golden & More!
20 Plays1 month ago
Welcome back to the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast!
In this jam-packed episode, Fabio, Rog, and Anthony go deep on the top WR prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft! We break down scouting reports, comps, landing spots, and fantasy outlooks for stars like Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden, Tre Harris, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins
🔥 Can Travis Hunter be a two-way unicorn in the NFL?
🔥 Who’s the better WR2: McMillan or Golden?
🔥 Emeka to the Steelers?!
🔥 Deep sleepers, fantasy takes, and draft rumors.
Plus: Geno Smith to Vegas, Joe Milton to Dallas, Rodgers Watch, Jets RB committee talk, and so much more NFL news.
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Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Host Welcome
00:00:06
Fab
but butpa Welcome back ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another episode of the Bush League Huddle Fantasy Football Podcast. I am Fabio, and I'm joined as always with Roger Emeka, Nack Anthony, Nack Arato.
00:00:19
Fab
How are you guys? How's it going?
00:00:20
Roger Emeka
Was that for Ja Morant, the gunshots?
00:00:20
Fab
Let's keep this...
00:00:24
Fab
Yeah, am I going to fined by, what's his name, Silver?
00:00:26
Roger Emeka
she
00:00:28
Fab
David Silver? He's not the NFL commissioner, that's not going to happen
00:00:30
Roger Emeka
Adam. Adam.
00:00:33
Fab
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for being on this wonderful, wonderful episode with us today. um we got We got a great episode you.
NFL Draft Wide Receiver Preview
00:00:40
Fab
going previewing some wide receivers. going coming up in the upcoming NFL draft.
00:00:44
Fab
ah But before we jump into that, ladies and gentlemen, and please, please, please follow us, like us, subscribe to all of our social medias. We're on TikTok. We're on YouTube. We're on Instagram. We're on...
00:00:56
Fab
Apple Podcasts, we're on Spotify, everywhere where you get your podcasts, that's where we're going to be. We interact with our fans, that's right, that's you guys, on a regular basis, daily, weekly, hourly if necessary.
00:01:07
Fab
Please don't be shy ask us your questions. The NFL season is never over and neither are we. So we're going to keep this train rolling as we keep things going. We got some news and notes to jump into right now.
NFL Trades and Contracts Update
00:01:18
Fab
Geno Smith, new quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, has signed a contract extension, a two-year contract extension worth $75 million. dollars 66 and a half of it is guaranteed. Essentially keeps him Vegas for the next three years, ah which is very good for him.
00:01:33
Fab
Fantastic. But another another quarterback move, you want to call it that. Joe Milton.
00:01:38
Roger Emeka
Thank
00:01:39
Fab
Traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas get him for a 2025 seventh round pick. New England gets the 2025 fifth round pick, which is interesting because think New England used a sixth round pick on him last year for Joe Milton.
00:01:53
Fab
i I thought that was a but that was pretty acceptable price, to be honest with you. and dallas so Dallas only trading off their 2025 fifth round pick for him, and they're getting a seventh round pick back. I heard that the offers for him were a lot higher.
00:02:08
Fab
but apparently knowing they want to do right by Joe and send them over to Dallas. So Dallas now get their, their backup quarterback that had signed with Baltimore over the off season. and
00:02:18
Nacc
I wonder why Dallas was his like preferred destination, knowing that like you're back up there 100%.
00:02:24
Fab
Yeah, that's true.
00:02:25
Roger Emeka
He's going to be a backup everywhere, though. like I don't know where he would have gone to compete really for... Like, after one start?
00:02:31
Fab
The Colts.
00:02:33
Nacc
No, well, the Colts have two now.
00:02:34
Roger Emeka
No. I...
00:02:35
Nacc
But I'm saying, I know i know Pittsburgh was interested. like
00:02:38
Fab
Yeah.
00:02:38
Nacc
Why wouldn't you go to a scenario like that where like the mesh the leash, if they don't sign Rodgers, couldn't be insanely long on Mason Rudolph, right?
00:02:48
Roger Emeka
Yeah, I think Dak is a candidate to have what he did to Tony Romo happen to him in like ah in a few years. And milton Milton is like 23, 24.
00:02:56
Fab
hundred percent
00:02:56
Nacc
Maybe. Interesting.
00:03:00
Roger Emeka
If he could sit down sit sit back for a few years, it actually is a pretty decent opportunity in my opinion.
00:03:06
Fab
And how many times in the last few years has Dak played a full season?
00:03:07
Nacc
Interesting.
00:03:11
Roger Emeka
Exactly, that too.
00:03:12
Fab
Like we touched upon that um a few episodes past, right? Excuse me. work When Cooper Rush signed with the Ravens, it's like, okay, you know what? Like, does this affect CeeDee Lamb's stock at all? Because Dak's not going to play a full season. And Cooper Rush, by all accounts, was serviceable enough for CeeDee Lamb.
00:03:27
Fab
Now they have Joe Milton.
00:03:27
Roger Emeka
you
00:03:28
Fab
I mean, not ah Raj, that's ah that's actually a very good point. Joe Milton could could supersede Dak, mind you, with that contract, though It's going to be hard for Dallas to ever get get rid of him, I guess.
NFL Draft Prospects and Rumors
00:03:39
Fab
Well, remains to be seen.
00:03:41
Fab
Jalen Milrow, so a quarterback prospect that we spoke about a few weeks ago, is rumored to be invited to attend the the draft in Green Bay. this is This is notable news because only a certain number of prospects that are expected to be drafted are allowed to be present physically at the draft.
00:03:59
Roger Emeka
Thank
00:04:03
Fab
but only, I think, 30. So that means that the expectation is that judge Jalen Millarill will be drafted in the first round as per the NFL. I mean, these are rumors, obviously. I don't think it's been confirmed yet, but...
00:04:16
Nacc
He's a quarterback. I think we saw what happened last year with quarterbacks going.
00:04:23
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:04:23
Nacc
Six of them went in the first round. This could happen, but there's always players that get invited and are not ah not drafted, right? So I guess they're just trying to make sure if there is a chance, you invite the QB there.
00:04:39
Fab
Yep.
00:04:40
Roger Emeka
Apparently he had a really good private workout with the Browns. I thought I saw that going through my Twitter feed today.
00:04:45
Nacc
He did.
00:04:46
Roger Emeka
But also schter not afterter Rappaport was on McAfee.
00:04:46
Nacc
Yeah.
00:04:50
Roger Emeka
He didn't seem to want to corroborate that report. I don't know it was a report from Schefter, but he didn't seem to want to confirm that report. So um I feel like there's more to it than than that with regards to Monroe.
00:05:04
Roger Emeka
But either way, it's like potentially a good sign for
Ongoing NFL Situations
00:05:07
Roger Emeka
him for sure.
00:05:07
Fab
ye We are, ladies and gentlemen, we would be remiss if we would not bring you another Aaron Rodgers watch update. We are now on day 31 and things have not changed.
00:05:20
Fab
Thank you very much for that update. We're going to keep on moving right along.
00:05:23
Nacc
Big night out.
00:05:23
Fab
um
00:05:24
Nacc
Big night out on Wednesday.
00:05:24
Fab
Yeah.
00:05:27
Nacc
We'll see what happens.
00:05:28
Fab
We'll see what happens indeed. Why not? Why? Why was happening on Wednesday? why don't you fill in our our listeners? What's happening on Wednesday?
00:05:33
Nacc
Yeah, Pat McAfee's having a big night at at in Pittsburgh PPG Arena, I believe it is. a Sold-out crowd. Speculation is that Aaron Rodgers is going to show up and announce that he's signed, which I still don't buy, and a lot of Steelers insiders kind of agree, where it just wouldn't be his style, especially especially knowing that it could happen, like knowing that it's been around the the atmosphere. like i don't It's very not Rodgers, I find.
00:06:02
Nacc
So I don't think it happens then. Yeah,
00:06:05
Fab
Or maybe because it's not Rodgers, it is very Rodgers since he goes against the green.
00:06:09
Roger Emeka
reverse psychology
00:06:10
Nacc
yeah who knows, man. I can't see it happening, but we'll see.
00:06:14
Fab
But that's a very good point though. Especially we're going to see how things shape up on Wednesday.
Fantasy Football Implications
00:06:19
Fab
Another little piece of news over here that could impact the fantasy season. The Jets are apparently leaning toward RB committee as per comments from new head coach Aaron Glenn.
00:06:29
Fab
So, Nak, does that mean we're going to stick with you, Nak? You've been pretty vocal about this. Brees Hall stock down. Is that a thing? Are we going to be pushing or after those comments, are you going to be not so high on Brees Hall?
00:06:42
Nacc
I've seen um some trade rumors swirling as well today ah surrounding Brees Hall. ah and Look, if it's definitely a committee, i um stock goes a little bit down.
00:06:54
Nacc
He's been ah consensus top five running back pick the last few years. Maybe may not get top 10 if this happens. like Is it really going to be committee? Are we going to really see what the Lions did?
00:07:08
Nacc
And even if we did, i mean if they deploy him like Jameer Gibbs... Maybe it it does work, but I don't know. To me, once you start hearing committees, you kind go stock down.
00:07:20
Roger Emeka
you
00:07:20
Nacc
But I don't know. With Justin Fields, it's kind of a wild card. It might work. and my work
00:07:25
Fab
Well, that's what I was going to say. I think, to be honest, and i'm um this is so very early on, I think the only viable, not only viable, I think Justin Fields would be the most viable fantasy starter on that team.
00:07:37
Fab
I think Garrett Wilson will bring you back some wide receiver. Yeah, Rodgers is looking at me all confused. I don't think Garrett Wilson would be able to come back with those wide receiver one numbers and neither will Brees Hall with the RB1 numbers either.
00:07:47
Roger Emeka
ah DJ Moore had 93 catches of 1,300 yards with Justin Fields in 2020.
00:07:51
Fab
I agree.
00:07:52
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:07:52
Fab
That was one year.
00:07:56
Fab
just saying, but it remains to be seen. i don't know. I think for me, Garrett Wilson, you could get him at a value pick later on. I was listening to a podcast about that today. Some guys having Garrett Wilson ranked very low, like mid mid tier wide receiver to even low end wide receiver to.
00:08:12
Nacc
I don't see like a Joey B chase like combination. Like they, they really like, they were only one year apart. It's been a few years now that these Ohio state guys have been apart. It doesn't just come back. I feel
00:08:28
Fab
Remains to be seen indeed. But we had some excellent TV over the weekend, especially for Colorado Buffaloes having their pro day. So Shader Sanders, as well as Travis Nutter, excuse me, showcase.
00:08:41
Nacc
Not a pro day. Showcase.
00:08:45
Fab
Thank you, Nak, for that correction.
00:08:46
Nacc
Leon Sanders would be very upset to hear you say pro day.
00:08:48
Fab
He would be upset. We don't want to get Papa Sanders upset now, do we?
00:08:51
Nacc
Friend of the pod.
00:08:52
Fab
Friend of the pod indeed. ah So they had their showcase on April 4th, which I think was Friday or yeah friday of last week.
00:08:59
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:08:59
Nacc
Mm-hmm.
00:08:59
Fab
And now by all accounts, ah Sanders really showed up and showed out. There was a lot of questioning about his deep ball, but from what I was watching, his deep ball was was on point. It was really, really good. um We're going to jump into Travis Hunter a little bit later on in the podcast. We're not going to talk too much about that.
00:09:15
Fab
ah But interestingly enough, though, Titans canceled their in-person interview with Sanders and Hunter, which pretty much confirms they're going to be ca more going Cam Ward at one. Now the latest is that the Browns are expected to take Hunter at two.
00:09:31
Fab
Giants might might be forced to pivot and take Carter at three, from what I've been reading. So I think the Giants are pretty much off out on Sanders. So does that mean that Sanders is going to be dropping? Is this going to be Aaron Rodgers 2.0, Rog? And if he does fall how fall, how far do you think he's going to fall?
00:09:49
Roger Emeka
I think the Saints is the jump-off point where... there's a good chance that he gets taken there considering I think we've bandied about how bad Derek Carr is as a quarterback.
00:10:00
Fab
Thank you.
00:10:04
Roger Emeka
um The cap hit is brutal though, but I think they need they need to move off from him. The thing is the move the moves they made this offseason are are more win now moves. If you look at what they've done, they they still have Cam Jordan, they still have Tyron Matthew, Chris Olave, Avan Kamara. So I think it's it would be interesting if they they draft him, set him aside, and then move on from Carr next year the year after, whereas Capit, I think, is more on the 23, 24 million.
00:10:33
Roger Emeka
But, yeah, i don't know. I think i think from the Pro Day perspective, like, Pro Days are, like, I'm starting to feel it's a bit of BS, to be honest. Like, it's a lot of fluff. It's a lot of talking. Like, yeah, he did look good, but I've always been a fan of Shudder anyways.
00:10:50
Roger Emeka
And now we're talking about, like, padding you know how how long is he patting the ball? ah Like, it's it's absolutely ridiculous.
00:10:54
Fab
Oh, that's ridiculous.
00:10:56
Roger Emeka
And, like, anyone who's anyone who's using that as ah as a way to discredit him is, like, stop talking about football.
00:10:57
Fab
That's ridiculous.
00:11:02
Roger Emeka
Like, just everyone pats the ball.
00:11:02
Fab
Yeah.
00:11:04
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:11:06
Fab
Yeah, it's funny you say that. Darius Slayton and Micah Parsons got into a little Twitter spat about that, actually, which is extremely comical for a Giants fan to see that happen.
00:11:17
Nacc
I think it was just because there was a couple of instances where he was like, it was a long pat of the ball. So it was like obvious that the the throw was coming. But I think I agree. People are just looking for any excuse to put this guy down at this point, I feel.
00:11:32
Fab
Yeah. And you're going to tell me that he's the only QB prospect to ever pat the ball before he throws it. Like how come this is only coming up and being relevant now? Right. So exactly.
00:11:39
Roger Emeka
Everyone pats the balls.
00:11:42
Fab
Uh, but with that being said, Fandle actually have the best, have given the best odds to the saints to draft them at plus three 70 giants. Sorry. Plus two 70, excuse me. Giants at plus three 70 Pittsburgh plus 600 and Cleveland plus 700.
00:11:56
Fab
And Adam Schefter actually went on, uh, went on to talk show today or radio show or whatever, but there was a clip of him on on Twitter. and And basically, Adam Schefter, wildcard scenario, what happened what could happen to Shudder Sanders. So if he gets passed on by all these guys, there's Miami at 13 that apparently is interested.
00:12:15
Fab
Arizona at 16. Los Angeles is 26. Schefter mentioned that Shudder is most likely going to go to the Saints at nine or probably Pittsburgh at 21 if he goes that far. The only reason why i bring this up is because I mean, everyone might poo-poo on Schefter, but last year he did correctly predict Michael Penix going as early as eight, which is exactly where went.
00:12:38
Fab
So I think there's a little bit of credence that could be added to these crazy scenarios that he has. i thought it'd be interesting to mention.
00:12:46
Nacc
who I don't like Arizona or Miami, to be honest.
00:12:49
Fab
Arizona makes no sense to me. Miami, maybe if you're concerned about Tua.
00:12:54
Roger Emeka
um How long has Tua has how many years is left?
00:12:56
Nacc
He just signed it.
00:12:57
Fab
But even then, Los Angeles makes the most sense out of those three.
00:12:58
Roger Emeka
Four years left.
00:12:59
Nacc
Yeah.
00:13:01
Fab
LA makes the most sense.
00:13:02
Roger Emeka
Yeah. LA would be fantastic for him.
00:13:06
Nacc
Talk about spotlight.
00:13:07
Fab
Yep.
00:13:07
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:13:09
Fab
And ladies and gentlemen, we'd be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to bid a very fond farewell to two players that retired over last week. We have Miami Dolphins left tackle, Taron Armstead. only reason why I'm bringing this up is because it might impact the draft from Miami's point of view. Maybe they'll be looking for a tackle.
00:13:24
Fab
And Quintorius Lopez Jones Jr., also known as Julio Jones, retired this over the weekend. Is he a Hall of Fame or Hall of Very Good?
00:13:36
Nacc
Hall of Fame.
00:13:39
Fab
I'm not going to disagree with you.
00:13:41
Nacc
I think he has six or seven All-Pros.
00:13:44
Roger Emeka
Five.
00:13:45
Nacc
Five?
00:13:45
Roger Emeka
Seven Pro Bowls, five All-Pros.
00:13:47
Nacc
Pro Bowls.
00:13:48
Fab
Seven Pro Bowls, yeah.
00:13:48
Roger Emeka
seven proles five vol operas
00:13:50
Nacc
Five All-Pros gets you in.
00:13:52
Fab
Yeah.
00:13:53
Nacc
Five in 13 seasons and arguably the last two seasons were was just old with Tampa and the Eagles and really did nothing.
00:13:53
Fab
Yeah, he deserves
00:13:58
Fab
They barely even counted. Yeah.
00:14:02
Nacc
It's like half the years he was an All-Pro.
00:14:02
Fab
Yeah.
00:14:07
Fab
Yeah. He was a, he was a fantastic wide receiver.
00:14:10
Roger Emeka
I hope he gets in first ballot. I think what might ding him is the touchdowns, like 66 touchdowns.
00:14:14
Fab
Yeah.
00:14:15
Nacc
Yeah, he doesn't have as many
00:14:15
Roger Emeka
And like it's like it's like tight end level. And he's never broken 10.
00:14:18
Fab
don't think he's ever broken 10 or double.
00:14:20
Roger Emeka
Yeah, he's never broken 10.
00:14:21
Fab
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:22
Roger Emeka
That might hurt him a bit. But I hope he gets in. he's He was probably one of the best. you it's It's the one of our wide receivers who could literally say that he can easily be top two wide receivers during his generation, top three wide receivers.
00:14:36
Fab
Yeah.
00:14:36
Nacc
Which is the ram that's not in? Is it Holt?
00:14:39
Fab
Yes.
00:14:39
Roger Emeka
It's a hold, yeah.
00:14:40
Nacc
how is this How do his stats compare?
00:14:43
Roger Emeka
Holt had 1,300 yards, and I believe he I want to say, around 60 touchdowns well.
00:14:43
Nacc
Is he like
00:14:48
Roger Emeka
Let me see. Holt had 74. they're both around 13,000. Holt has 74 touchdowns. as well see
00:14:54
Nacc
he may not get in first ballot, but I feel like he'll get in.
00:14:54
Fab
ah who
00:14:57
Roger Emeka
hol that and
00:14:57
Fab
Well, Julio has more yards, right?
00:14:58
Roger Emeka
wholet seventy four
00:14:58
Fab
Doesn't he have 16,000 yards?
00:15:00
Roger Emeka
and they're both are on the thirteen thousand
00:15:01
Nacc
Yeah.
00:15:03
Roger Emeka
wholet has seventy four touchdown
00:15:05
Nacc
Okay, and he's yeah and he's still not in.
00:15:05
Fab
Yeah.
00:15:06
Nacc
i don't know how many All Pros.
00:15:06
Fab
and son up
00:15:07
Roger Emeka
two
00:15:08
Nacc
Okay, so the All Pros I feel like supplant you a little bit.
00:15:12
Roger Emeka
What but dings Holt is he played with Isaac Bruce. that's I think that's really, really what hurts him a lot.
00:15:15
Nacc
Yeah.
00:15:17
Nacc
All right.
00:15:18
Fab
Also, I think Jones also made the all-decade team, all-pro-decade team or something like that. He has one of those accolades as well, like a top 100 player or like an all-decade team or something like that that could be looked at as well.
00:15:33
Fab
like when they're comparing or when they're deciding on who goes into the Hall of Fame. Anyways, I hope he gets in. We're going to see. But now to the fun part of the episode, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to do a wide receiver deep dive. We're going to compare it the wide receivers that are up for being drafted in this 2025 NFL going to compare them to the 2024 draft class.
00:15:53
Fab
going to over some big marquee names like Travis Hunter, Tetroia McMillan,
00:16:00
Fab
little Matthew Golden too. And maybe some other guys that might squeak into the first round. But we're going to start off with the number one rated prospect in the draft. Arguably the number one rated prospect in the draft.
00:16:12
Fab
ah He's PFF's big board ranked number two. So depending on what day you see his stats or you see his information, he might be one, he might be two, but he's really right up there. ah Travis Hunter, he's projected to go round one. He's projected to go in the top five, probably in the top three realistically.
00:16:30
Fab
We got some wide receiver comps to Chad Johnson, Devante Smith. We got some
Player Skills and Comparisons
00:16:35
Fab
cornerback comps to Darius Slay, Chan Bailey. We got an MLB comp to Shohei Otani because this guy does it all.
00:16:45
Fab
If you would have listened to podcast episodes maybe three months ago, I was like, okay, how is this even possible? How can a guy be this good at wide receiver and this good at cornerback and play 100% or 95%, let's say,
00:16:58
Fab
of both the offensive and defensive snaps. But I'm here to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, I'm eating my words. This guy's very good. He, on his pro day, he was very fluid. I know he was just running without pads on and all that stuff, and we get it, but you can see his cuts. You can see the way he breaks in and out of routes.
00:17:17
Fab
And i don't know about you guys, but he was catching all of his balls without gloves. Maybe that's interesting. Maybe it's not. I thought that was just like, you know what? He didn't have to wear gloves, and he's still snagging all those balls. um We're looking at a marquee, marquee, marquee prospect in Travis Hunter.
00:17:33
Fab
Raj, what do you like about him? What's your take on him? Where do you think he's going to go?
00:17:37
Roger Emeka
For me, it's the feet. Like, the way he moves, the the release at the line is just magical. That's where the the Chad Johnson, Ochoa Cinco comp really resonates with me a lot.
00:17:50
Roger Emeka
ah So just very fluid, high catch, not catch radius, but ah body control. You mentioned the hands as well. And, like,
00:18:03
Roger Emeka
The thing is just the fact that he plays cornerback or wide receiver is, you know, just not sure whether or not he is 100% wide receiver or 100% a cornerback.
00:18:12
Fab
yeah Yeah, I don't disagree with that at all.
00:18:13
Roger Emeka
That's kind of what the only really big concern you have. I mean, the fact he's a bit wiry, a bit he's a bit slender. But overall, for me, it's a total package. ah Love watching him play.
00:18:25
Roger Emeka
And if you see year-over-year improvement in terms of the the production at the wide receiver, there's been a but and remarkable improvements.
00:18:35
Fab
I mean, he really is a true, true unicorn. When you're that good on both sides of the ball, like you got, you got to, You have to be drafted as such, in my opinion. And then it's just like whatever team takes you, they decide on where they're going to put you and going to play you.
00:18:50
Fab
not Where would he rank amongst 2024 wide receivers, in your opinion?
00:19:00
Nacc
ranking I feel like it's, it's again, it's, it's hard to say cause you've seen them play a year. So it's kind of hard to, to, to comp them, but, uh, I don't know if I have them above neighbors.
00:19:08
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:19:16
Nacc
I don't think I have them above neighbors. I don't know if I have them above Harrison. I know that he struggled in his rookie year, but somewhere along those lines, maybe just below those two guys.
00:19:27
Nacc
Um,
00:19:27
Fab
Yeah.
00:19:29
Nacc
The thing is with him is like he needs like a specific refinement. right like he needs to I feel like in order to thrive in the NFL, he's going to have to pick a position. I actually had him comp like Stefan Diggs actually as a wide receiver.
00:19:42
Nacc
um But he does. He has exceptional skills, ball skills. He's like he's really, really, really good. But it's just that if you're going to start playing two ways, practice is going to be tough to kind of learn specific things.
00:19:56
Nacc
duties on both sides of the ball, especially at the NFL level.
00:19:57
Fab
yeah
00:20:00
Nacc
And I think Raj mentioned that his slender frame might have, you know, he might struggle versus more physical corners.
00:20:04
Roger Emeka
Thank you.
00:20:07
Nacc
So yeah, I don't know. I think, I think in between, i think there, i think Harrison neighbors and then, and then Hunter for me.
00:20:18
Fab
Do we see a scenario where he only exclusively plays one position?
00:20:22
Nacc
Yes, I think so.
00:20:23
Fab
Yeah.
00:20:24
Nacc
I think at at least to start. And if he i think he would be well-suited to play wide receiver to begin. And then if you want, you put him into some like dime or nickel packages where you have slot corner style. like i i can see him going all out as a WR1 or 2 and then going on defense and playing the number one wide receiver on the other team. like
00:20:44
Roger Emeka
Well, the wide receiver, that's where the money is as well.
00:20:45
Nacc
Tough.
00:20:46
Fab
Yeah.
00:20:49
Nacc
Yeah, of course.
00:20:49
Fab
Yeah.
00:20:50
Roger Emeka
So I agree. i think he'll play mostly full-time wide receiver. And then, like you said, maybe 20, 30 snaps a game at corner.
00:20:59
Roger Emeka
But I think...
00:20:59
Nacc
Or be a returner.
00:20:59
Nacc
Maybe he'll be a returner too.
00:21:02
Roger Emeka
I don't know if he has the profile to be a returner.
00:21:02
Fab
Yeah, I don't know about that.
00:21:04
Roger Emeka
or turn And then that's that's a lot to put on him. Like, return like as there's some guys who've done it, but it's it'd be a lot to put on him. i But the thing is, him playing both positions keeps his edge on understanding.
00:21:16
Roger Emeka
That's why he's so good man versus zone. Like, i remember we we saw that that reception perception.
00:21:18
Fab
yeah
00:21:22
Roger Emeka
ah data stat on he's 97th percentile in terms of man 92nd percentile in terms of zone i think playing both of those positions cornerback and receiver allows him to have a level up at the wide receiver position being in those db meet being in those db meetings uh meeting defensive coaches as well i i think that has a big impact so i would almost at at the very least hope he doesn't lose that aspect in terms of being able to at least be in those meetings as well
00:21:49
Fab
So I remember on one of the one of the kelsey podcast one of the Travis Kelsey and and Jason Kelsey podcasts, they were talking about what the hardest position is to play. And Travis Kelsey was like, it's cornerback, 100%. Or it was Jason Kelsey was like, it's cornerback, 100%. It's one of the very few quarter it's one of very few positional classes where you have to like you don't see any white people there.
00:22:14
Fab
It's all black. It's like you need to be the most athletic possible to be those positions. It's so hard. It's such a tough, tough, tough position.
00:22:20
Fab
And true. that's Well, that was before he actually got drafted, but prior to that episode came out before Kovacian.
00:22:20
Nacc
Cooper de Jeanne, hold my beer.
00:22:25
Roger Emeka
Thank you.
00:22:29
Fab
But he's the exception, obviously, but still. like I agree with you, Roger, 100%. I think the fact that he can play both positions just shows how intelligent of a football player is.
00:22:41
Fab
And getting those reps at cornerback will make him be a better wide receiver. But you know at the same time, you follow the money. He should. I mean, you would think he'd be drafted as a wide receiver, but it's going to be we're going to see in a few weeks from now when the Browns take him at two, I guess.
00:22:55
Roger Emeka
do Do you guys think he's an all-pro wide receiver?
00:22:59
Fab
I think that's potential for it.
00:23:01
Nacc
Maybe, but
00:23:04
Fab
i think that's potential for it
00:23:06
Nacc
it's tough to, it's tough to say, like tough to call a guy like all pro because you could be like really, really good and never be an all pro.
00:23:14
Roger Emeka
Well, if you're picking him as a wide receiver and as a third overall pick, he better be an all-pro.
00:23:15
Fab
yeah
00:23:19
Roger Emeka
Just like Marvin Harrison better be an all-pro. Malik and neighbors basically had all-pro stats for the most part.
00:23:22
Fab
Well, true.
00:23:25
Roger Emeka
like wide receiver that high, if you look at Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones was sixth, AJ Green was third, ah Jamar Chase...
00:23:34
Fab
Jamar Chase is fifth.
00:23:37
Roger Emeka
Like the last wide receiver was tight end.
00:23:38
Nacc
Kyle Pitts.
00:23:41
Roger Emeka
But yeah.
00:23:42
Nacc
don't know.
00:23:42
Roger Emeka
But I don't know if you guys remember Charles Rogers.
00:23:42
Nacc
I'm just...
00:23:42
Fab
Future All-Pro.
00:23:42
Nacc
It's
00:23:43
Fab
Future All-Pro tight end.
00:23:47
Roger Emeka
Rest in peace. Second overall for the Lions. And he was an absolute bust, right? like And even Corey Davis, fifth overall.
00:23:55
Fab
Yeah.
00:23:55
Roger Emeka
So you pick that high, a wide receiver, he better be an all-pro.
00:23:55
Nacc
fifth overall.
00:23:56
Fab
Yeah. For the Titans.
00:23:59
Roger Emeka
And i I think he he will be.
00:24:03
Fab
I like it. You heard here first, ladies john and gentlemen. We're going to keep this trade rolling.
00:24:08
Roger Emeka
Thank
00:24:08
Fab
We're going to move on to Knack's favorite wide receiver. That Troy McMillan coming out of Arizona. The PFF big board have him ranked as a top 15 prospect. So he is the second rated wide receiver out of this draft class. He's being comped to Drake London. I've seen that a lot.
00:24:26
Fab
I've seen Drake London a lot. Uh, Nikhil Harry, Mike Evans. Recently, I saw T Higgins and AJ Green, which I thought were very appropriate to similar profiles to Sammy Watkins, Kenny Britt and Mr. Nick Westbrook.
00:24:39
Fab
Keeney.
00:24:40
Nacc
Well done.
00:24:40
Fab
Um,
00:24:41
Roger Emeka
Nice.
00:24:41
Fab
Thank you. Thank you. I've been practicing. That's why I need a little bit of prep on this. I think the biggest thing about McMillan is the fact that he's he's a big, tall prospect, big, tall wide receiver, but catch radius is huge.
00:24:55
Fab
Does most, if not all, the routes on the route tree. So, Nak, I want to get your take on and what do you think about him?
00:25:01
Nacc
Tetroia. I just love that name. I want to draft him in fantasy just for his name.
00:25:03
Fab
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
00:25:06
Nacc
Tetroia. um No, you hit it, man. You hit it right on the head, I think. 6'4", 219. This guy is a big body. I think my comp I had was Mike Williams as well.
00:25:18
Nacc
ah Contested. good Good contested ball catcher. So really good comp to to him. and a ah red zone mis mismatch. This guy in the red zone is goingnna you're going to be ah targeted early and often, I think even in his ah rookie season, depending obviously where he goes, but
00:25:28
Fab
yeah
00:25:33
Fab
I like that.
00:25:37
Nacc
um
00:25:40
Nacc
doesn't consistently separate, which is obviously an issue, but We've seen how bigger, stronger receivers don't really need that separation in order to catch.
00:25:53
Nacc
um There's George Pickens that comes to mind. was also a wide receiver last year. i forget the name. i i don't know why I'm drawing a blank, but him too. He had trouble separating, but it's that 50-50 balls that Keon Coleman,
00:26:04
Roger Emeka
Keon Coleman.
00:26:07
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:26:07
Nacc
But it's that 50-50 ball ability that you have to to make these contested catches that that keep you... is His frame is going to keep you always in on any any ball that you that shoots its way. But... um Roger, something?
00:26:21
Roger Emeka
So my take on that is the 50-50 guys who do that consistently have the dog in them. Like DeAndre Hopkins built basically Hall of Fame career on not being able to to separate worth a lick.
00:26:33
Nacc
Hmm.
00:26:37
Roger Emeka
And he is as intense of a wide receiver as there is. i think that's that's like the concern i have with McMillan and what I've seen about him is that you There was that like as those that stuff, that video running around where he doesn't watch film, he doesn't watch football, he doesn't watch tape of himself...
00:26:50
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:26:54
Nacc
yeah.
00:26:54
Roger Emeka
That to me is like a big concern. I don't know if you saw it, but it was going around quite a bit. And even Steve Smith did a really nice breakdown about McMillan, showing how he tends to get down on himself if he's being unphysical.
00:27:09
Roger Emeka
A guy who's 219, should not actually be be getting unphysical, and he is.
00:27:13
Nacc
yeah
00:27:14
Roger Emeka
And then he said he he ends up giving up on a lot of plays and a lot of routes. And Steve Smith actually did a... If you guys want to check it out, it's really good. like he He breaks down where... Even though it was an interception that was thrown, McMillan completely gave up on the route. So that's where like the the size is very, very intriguing, the high air yards. But, man, you got to have more intensity as a player, in my opinion.
00:27:41
Nacc
especially in the NFL.
00:27:42
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:27:42
Fab
Yeah, that's a very good point. But to Naik's point, though, he was tied for third with the most amount of contested catches with 18 amongst the draftable wide receivers. So that's still going to be a very, very important piece of his physicality. The fact that he's still getting up there and getting those contested catches.
00:28:00
Fab
I mean, maybe you would think that all of the concerns that Steve Smith has might be coached out once he gets to a real NFL program. Remains to be seen, I suppose. But I still so obviously like him a lot as a prospect.
00:28:11
Fab
Curious to think where you guys is going to be drafted at. Like if take a look at the teams that are but like, cause this is really the first wide receiver we can like Travis Hunter, obviously he's a, he's a unicorn here, right?
00:28:21
Roger Emeka
Yeah. So. Okay.
00:28:24
Fab
But, and he's he's going to go regardless of what position he's going to play for the most part. But this is the first real wide receiver. We can all agree that he's ranked the number one wide receiver out of this draft class. I saw him going as, as early as the Panthers at eight, which I like a lot.
00:28:39
Fab
I think that makes a lot of sense. I even saw him going to the Cowboys at 12.
00:28:44
Roger Emeka
so
00:28:45
Nacc
I could see him going, sorry, Raj, to cut you off, but I could see him also going to the Patriots at four if Hunter and Abdul Carter are not on the board.
00:28:53
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:28:56
Nacc
They need a wide receiver. This is a big guy. They have to hit. They need an all-pro wide receiver um in that locker room.
00:29:03
Fab
just You just know McMillan is going to be a bust if he goes to the Patriots.
00:29:07
Nacc
I just like...
00:29:09
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:29:11
Fab
because they've been doing so well at drafting wide receivers.
00:29:14
Nacc
Yeah, they've never... Look, to their to there i guess chagrin, they've never drafted one this high. They've never gotten to the point where they're able to draft one this high.
00:29:21
Fab
True.
00:29:23
Nacc
So I think i think they're a team definitely to watch on the...
00:29:23
Fab
True.
00:29:27
Nacc
Look, they're loaded up on defense, right? like They're completely loaded.
00:29:31
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:29:32
Nacc
Unless they want to really turn heads and go genty for some reason, which I still think the Jaguars might do. But i think I think he might... I think and don't think he gets past New England if...
00:29:44
Nacc
If Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are gone.
00:29:46
Roger Emeka
that as a trade down or you take him forth?
00:29:50
Nacc
No, I think they'll take him at four.
00:29:51
Roger Emeka
because he's he's like there's a lot of I mean we'll talk about him after but there's a lot of people who think Matthew Golden's better but um one that could be interesting would be the Raiders the Raiders and maybe as a trade maybe as ah either as a trade down but I thought the Raiders just as a fit could be interesting and the Mike Evans comp is interesting to me because ah John Spitek the current GM was ah with the Bucks for almost 10 years
00:29:52
Fab
ah Yeah.
00:30:02
Fab
Yeah.
00:30:03
Nacc
If Gentis, like if they don't go Genti.
00:30:06
Fab
Yeah.
00:30:21
Roger Emeka
And they need have they have a need for a an ex-somewhat physical wide receiver there.
00:30:24
Fab
They do. They do. Yeah.
00:30:26
Roger Emeka
um So if it's not Gentie and they want to bolster the offense, I thought um the Raiders could be interesting for for McMillan.
00:30:32
Nacc
I like that. i like I definitely like the fit.
00:30:33
Fab
Yeah.
00:30:34
Nacc
I just, I don't know, I don't see them passing on Gentty.
00:30:37
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:30:38
Fab
Yeah. I think it's going to come down to one of those two, to be honest with you, for the Raiders. But I've seen McMillan going mock, being mocked to the Raiders too. I think it just depends on what part of their offense they're evaluating the most, I suppose.
00:30:51
Fab
But Gentie, they have no running back. My God. What's this? Cinerese? Who are they running back?
00:30:57
Roger Emeka
Mustard.
00:30:58
Fab
Who?
00:30:58
Roger Emeka
Mustard.
00:30:59
Fab
Mostert? Yeah, exactly. um And I love Mostert. I do. But it's a little bit long in the tooth there.
00:31:05
Nacc
No, you don't. You liar.
00:31:06
Roger Emeka
You didn't even know it know he was with him.
00:31:07
Fab
I do like Mostert.
00:31:10
Fab
Nobody else knew.
00:31:10
Roger Emeka
Mustard.
00:31:10
Nacc
So much you like him.
00:31:13
Fab
I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.
00:31:15
Fab
oh Hopefully we'll see when we go to Vegas. So we're going keep the train rolling over here. We got Matthew Golden, wide receiver route out of Texas. Again, big board ranking, PFF, big board ranking, 17.
00:31:15
Nacc
Right.
00:31:27
Fab
So right behind Mr. Tetroy McMillan over there. We see some comps to Jalen Waddle, maybe without the yards after catch upside. Curtis Samuel.
00:31:38
Fab
Recently today, I saw Chris Olavi and Stefan Diggs, which I thought was very appropriate because I feel like Olavi and Diggs play a very similar style of wide receiver. um
00:31:47
Nacc
Tyler Lockett.
00:31:47
Fab
So this is another guy that, that you know, i like, what was that?
00:31:49
Roger Emeka
Yeah, that's That's good yeah.
00:31:50
Fab
Sorry, Nick.
00:31:51
Nacc
Tyler Lockett.
00:31:52
Fab
Tyler Lockett, too. Yeah, Tyler Lockett, too. It's another wide receiver that, you know, Roger, you just alluded to him, so we're going to jump off right with you over here where this could be a potential, you know, that the wide receiver either taken before McMillan or right after him. It seems to be consensus wide receiver three if we're including Travis Hunter into the conversation.
00:32:10
Fab
So yeah I think you like him more than McMillan, right?
00:32:13
Roger Emeka
Yeah, this is the wide receiver archetype that I geared more towards, the 200 pounds.
00:32:18
Fab
Yeah.
00:32:20
Roger Emeka
He ran the 40 at 4'29", so he has extremely in good speed.
00:32:25
Nacc
It's very fast.
00:32:26
Roger Emeka
When i when it yeah when i saw his ah I saw his highlights, really good stretching the field.
00:32:26
Fab
Yeah, it's ridiculous.
00:32:30
Roger Emeka
He separates as well. like He was open on every single downfield play. His average depth of Tark is actually 13.5, so it's really good. And um for a guy his size, 61% contested catch rate. That is fantastic for a guy who's who's six foot. so And he you could get him on special teams as well. He was all Big 12 second team punt and kick return. So really, really like this guy. um I thought DJ Moore could be a really good comp too, where if you look at him, you look at his highlights, you you could tell he has a bit of dog with dog in him too.
00:33:03
Roger Emeka
And he could be a yak guy as well. So...
First-Round Draft Picks Discussion
00:33:05
Roger Emeka
I think the only thing that might be concerning is the the production. It's not elite production from him. 58 catches, 950 yards in 2024.
00:33:10
Fab
no
00:33:15
Roger Emeka
And he's had some injury issues as well over the past couple of years.
00:33:20
Nacc
Yeah, I was going to say he's he's a guy to watch in terms of dangerous after the catch. um he could He could definitely you get him the ball on on ah and some shallow crosses or just get the ball in his hands on wide receiver screens. I think that's how he's going to eat for the most part of his rookie season.
00:33:37
Nacc
um I know you touched upon the limited production, but ah slight frame, like you said, so durability concerns with him.
00:33:45
Fab
Yeah.
00:33:45
Nacc
And I feel like he needs to improve and develop his release moves on, uh, on press coverage, uh, maybe a little bit slower off the line, but, um, definitely a wide receiver. That's going to be going in the first round.
00:33:59
Nacc
I know you, we, like we, we can, after that first one goes, so if you're, but if you're talking maybe Patriots Raiders, if they don't go genti, like you have obviously Carolina that keep keeps to be, seems to be linked again with, uh,
00:34:12
Roger Emeka
think
00:34:12
Fab
yeah
00:34:12
Nacc
with wide receivers. They were in on on DK Metcalf before he chose Pittsburgh. So I think maybe like San Fran, no, but I could see a Dallas Cowboys a link there.
00:34:28
Roger Emeka
i think you
00:34:29
Fab
Yeah.
00:34:29
Nacc
Potentially, like, I don't know if he gets really past the Cowboys played at Texas. There's a, there's a, there's a same kind of, you know, like the Cowboys love those type of players, homegrown kind of talent.
00:34:35
Roger Emeka
yeah
00:34:40
Roger Emeka
So he started in Houston, actually, University of Houston, and then moved to to to Austin.
00:34:44
Nacc
yeah Yeah, Houston's at picking 25, though.
00:34:46
Roger Emeka
So i actually, i don't I don't think he gets past ah one of the Texas teams, actually, and he'd be perfect for the the Texans.
00:34:52
Fab
I was going to say Houston. And yeah, Roger, I agree. He would be perfect for them because now even I was reading today, Tank Dell might miss all the 2025 season.
00:35:00
Roger Emeka
Yeah, ACL.
00:35:04
Fab
Yeah.
00:35:04
Nacc
i think a team like i think pittsburgh I think a team like Pittsburgh might snag him at
00:35:06
Fab
I don't think it's impossible that if if he goes that far.
00:35:12
Nacc
and then you have You have even... Like Tampa Bay. Mike Evans is kind of getting up there in age. They're going to have to replace him. Would they potentially go for a wide receiver?
00:35:23
Roger Emeka
I've seen that too. I've seen that too.
00:35:26
Fab
Well, they have, what's his name?
00:35:28
Roger Emeka
McMillan.
00:35:28
Fab
ah Yeah, McMillan. I thought I was going to make a mistake there, so stopped myself from saying it.
00:35:32
Nacc
Is he a WR1 though? Is he a really... like is he Yeah.
00:35:35
Roger Emeka
He's a bit too similar to to Godwin too.
00:35:37
Fab
Yeah.
00:35:38
Nacc
yeah that's my yeah That's my general consensus.
00:35:39
Roger Emeka
um ah seattle Seattle needs wide receiver help. Seattle has not done anything aside. Correct me if I'm wrong. the day They just have JSN, right?
00:35:49
Nacc
And Bobo.
00:35:50
Fab
And Bobo, yeah.
00:35:50
Roger Emeka
Yeah, and exactly. And Jake Bobo. That would be, it'd be a nice little pairing to to pair him, ah Golden, with JSN, kind of bring back the, to to your point, Knack, Tyler Lockett, Golden Tate, smaller wide re receivers that could stretch the field.
00:36:00
Fab
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:36:03
Roger Emeka
Just one more thing on on Golden. It's really interesting to see the wide receivers have been drafted from Texas. So that might be what has um ah kind of neutered his production recently.
00:36:16
Roger Emeka
But Xavier Worthy, A.D. Mitchell, Matthew Golden, I think Isaiah Bond is supposed to get drafted too this year. um So I think he's the best of the bunch, but lot of good wide receivers that come out of Texas recently.
00:36:29
Nacc
I keep saying Steelers, but once and once once Roger signs, he's going to go get Alan Lazard and he's going to go see if Bob is still looking for a place.
00:36:36
Roger Emeka
i have
00:36:40
Roger Emeka
try to Try to trade for Devontae.
00:36:43
Fab
He's going unretire Jordy Nelson.
00:36:47
Nacc
Give me Donald Driver.
00:36:48
Fab
Give me Donald Drabber.
00:36:48
Roger Emeka
my god.
00:36:49
Fab
um Yeah, so Matthew Golden, another potential wide receiver to go in the first round and looking like six foot, 198 pounds. I do like that from a prototypical wide receiver that could really play all across the lines.
00:37:04
Fab
Definitely, definitely, definitely. Solid boomer bust wide receiver too, though. i think I think that the the limitation from him, he's ever going to be wide receiver one, but then again, he's he hasn't even been drafted yet. So I think that's unfair to say, but he's going to be definitely one to look out for too next year, depending on where he goes. We're going to move on to my favorite wide receiver.
00:37:27
Nacc
No, this is my favorite wide receiver.
00:37:28
Fab
No, this is my favorite wide receiver.
00:37:28
Nacc
You're you're lying. No, sorry.
00:37:30
Fab
Okay. No, I said it first and I'm the host. So you shut it and you zip it and you secure it. We are... <unk>re We're referring to Roger's namesake over here. Emeka Ekbuka out of Ohio State.
00:37:43
Roger Emeka
Oh, well done.
00:37:44
Fab
Thank you, sir.
00:37:45
Nacc
thought that was being butchered for sure
00:37:47
Fab
Thank you, sir. We are here to play.
00:37:50
Roger Emeka
B is silent.
00:37:51
Fab
Don't even say it. I'm going to call him Emeka for the entirety of the episode.
00:37:54
Nacc
the book
00:37:55
Fab
um For the entirety of the episode, I'm calling him Emeka. Roger's namesake. I like him already. He's out of Ohio State. Oh, H. I-O. So, Uh, PFF big board has him as ranked number 15. I think this guy is just a slot merchant. I think the majority of his snaps in college have been out of the slot. If I'm not mistaken, uh, he's been comped to his boy also out of Ohio state, JSN, Jackson Smith and Jigba Lam McConkey. I also got a nice comp to Amon Ross St. Brown, which I, I liked a lot because I'm on Ross St. Brown is a PPR demon when it comes to that type of stuff.
00:38:30
Fab
Um, Raj, Raj, tell me about your boy. Tell me about your namesake.
00:38:36
Roger Emeka
ah'll like I'll let NAC take him because NAC has some some favorites in terms of where he might land, I think.
00:38:42
Fab
Oh, yes. Very true.
00:38:44
Nacc
Yeah, I don't know.
00:38:44
Fab
Knock the floor.
00:38:45
Nacc
hello This guy ah here has been my top guy um for a while. Watched him a lot, actually, this year. And like that route running is just ah incredible.
00:38:57
Nacc
And he is beautiful player um in in the slot. um He could make every route. like his his He's such a pristine route runner. I find like any team is going to enjoy...
00:39:08
Roger Emeka
you
00:39:09
Nacc
um this guy on their team. Definitely reliable hands, not a lot of drops, and versatile. He could play kind of every wide receiver slot on the line. So he could play as your X, he could play as your slot guy.
00:39:25
Nacc
um The only, I guess, knocks you have on him, he doesn't have that elite speed, but I think his route running is going to make it so he doesn't really require that 4-2 or 4-3 speed.
00:39:37
Nacc
Injuries have kind of slowed his development a little bit, and he may not be a true WR1 physically, but he would slot in it as a great and a high-end WR2 on your team. Something like a Chase Higgins kind of comparison where he could be like the
00:39:56
Fab
Yep.
00:39:57
Nacc
the the the
00:39:58
Fab
The 1B to the 1A.
00:39:59
Nacc
1B.
00:39:59
Fab
Yeah.
00:39:59
Nacc
Exactly, exactly.
00:40:00
Fab
yeah
00:40:01
Nacc
That's the ah analogy I was looking for. um Yeah, look, he's definitely been mocked to um Pittsburgh quite a bit, and I think the fit is excellent, bias aside.
00:40:13
Nacc
they They're missing that that possession possession slot guy, wide receiver. I think they ah Calvin Austin's that small guy. We thought maybe he'd be a slot, whatever, but it's just he's too small. It's not the it's not his game.
00:40:26
Nacc
They really need this type of player back in their lineup, kind of like a Heinz Ward type player, you know, where... third down comes around, you know this guy is going to catch the ball, is going to make those tough catches and and and whatnot.
00:40:34
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:40:39
Nacc
so
00:40:39
Roger Emeka
Do you think Roman Wilson being drafted last year would stop them from picking JSN? Not JSN, Emeka Buga.
00:40:47
Nacc
I don't think so, and the reason why is because i think this is George Pickens last year. i don't think they're going to trade him. The reason why they wouldn't trade him is because if he does sign a contract elsewhere, he'll get like a third round comp pick.
00:41:01
Nacc
So They're not going to trade him for less than a second round, and I'm not sure there's a team out there that's willing to to to pay a second-round pick on a guy on an expiring contract. So I think they're going keep him.
00:41:13
Nacc
It's going to be a lame-duck year. Hopefully he doesn't hold in or hold out at camp, but they're going to need a wide receiver eventually next to next to DK, and um I think Ibuka fits that profile beautifully.
00:41:17
Fab
Thank you.
00:41:27
Nacc
like Wilson is good. Third-round pick. Didn't really impress and in terms of being ready for game time last year. I know he was injured a bit, but wasn't Tomlin's favorite player. Didn't get to see the field as often. So hopefully that changes. But i think they're going to still need another, a leader, more elite guy than and Roman Wilson. I don't see Roman Wilson being more than a high-end 3-2 wide receiver.
00:41:54
Fab
i would be, it would be very difficult for me to root for this guy if he's wearing a Steelers uniform, but it does make sense.
00:42:01
Roger Emeka
yeah seriously that changed my name that changed my name
00:42:02
Fab
It does make sense for him.
00:42:03
Nacc
Don't you like football? I'm
00:42:05
Fab
Yeah, seriously. it it
00:42:09
Nacc
buying you a jersey if he's drafted with the Steelers, 100%.
00:42:13
Roger Emeka
about yeah that should be pretty cool that'd be
00:42:13
Fab
It does, it does make sense though, just from, just from the positional needs standpoint, mind you, like, I feel like a lot of teams can use a player of his qualities of, of a, like a slot merchant like him, like everybody wants that,
00:42:23
Roger Emeka
Thank you.
00:42:24
Fab
reliable wide receiver coming out of the slot like he does and polished route runner and all that stuff. ah But like the Steelers haven't had a player like this in ah in a long, long time. And you have Pickens already there. You have DK there and they just, those guys are outside guys. Right. So this, this does make sense in my opinion.
00:42:43
Roger Emeka
So I want to hold the brakes on him being a slot merchant. ah He had, in his career, 1,300 air yards and 1,200 yards after the catch. So I think he has more juice than JSN.
00:42:55
Roger Emeka
like he he looked He literally looks like JSN, and I think because he went to o OSU, and they do have a very similar skill profile. It's an easy comp to make, but I do think he has more juice to him.
00:43:07
Roger Emeka
If I just play the devil's advocate in terms of maybe, i don't want to say weaknesses, but what would make people want to fade him is maybe the fact that he played with Jeremiah jeremiah Smith, like the crazy, amazing freshman, crazy amount of talent at OSU.
00:43:22
Roger Emeka
So, you know, he's always, he's played with Garrett Wilson. I believe he was there the same time as Garrett Wilson. He's obviously played with Chris Olave as well, Marvin Harrison Jr. um So has that maybe...
00:43:32
Nacc
JSN.
00:43:33
Roger Emeka
JSN, has that maybe helped him have better better better production than you know what is what he's capable of?
00:43:33
Fab
Yep. Yep.
00:43:39
Roger Emeka
Maybe. But it just shows that ohio's Ohio State's a factory. And you know even if you think maybe what the worst case scenario could be, again, Marvin Harrison Jr., Curtis Samuel, Wilson, Olave, JSN, Terry McLaurin, it's been wide receiver you for the past over a decade now, if not longer.
00:44:00
Fab
Yeah, honestly, that them and LSU are right up there, I feel like, when it comes to wide receiver universities.
00:44:02
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:44:04
Fab
And just ah just on your point about Marvin Harrison Jr., so only two wide receivers in Ohio State history have recorded multiple thousand-yard receiving seasons. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Buka.
00:44:16
Fab
So, that's a very, very rare company to be in.
00:44:16
Roger Emeka
That's crazy.
00:44:21
Fab
yeah, I like them a lot. Honestly, I know, Roger, you sort of put in the show notes together, which thank you very much. They're making my job a lot easier. You put them at four. I would have him at three in my opinion. I would have him before Matthew Golden, right around Ted McMillan. I like him that much too.
00:44:37
Fab
I just feel like he's such a polished, polished route runner. And we all seen what being a good route runner can do to um a rookie wide receiver. see it often. and So I like this a lot.
00:44:48
Roger Emeka
high floor, like very low failure rate, I think.
00:44:49
Fab
Yeah.
00:44:52
Nacc
right.
00:44:52
Fab
Yeah. Yeah, definitely. ah Will he go in round one? According to Naki Will at 21 for the Steelers. We're going to keep it rolling. We got Luther Burden III coming out of Missouri.
00:45:05
Fab
ah PFF Big Board ranking him at 32. Comp is a bit of a Swiss Army knife from what I can see so far. ah Debo Samuel, potentially with a better route runner.
00:45:16
Fab
and We have Brandon Ayuk. And I actually recently saw today Percy Harvin, which is probably the OG when it comes to being the Swiss Army knife in the and the NFL from a wide receiver standpoint. um So, Raj, we're going to jump it back to you since you so graciously gave Mr. Ibuka over to Knack.
00:45:33
Fab
want to get your take on...
00:45:34
Roger Emeka
he was He was just chomping at the bit. i had to add and give it to him.
00:45:36
Fab
Yeah, he was. He was salivating. He was drooling. It's
00:45:39
Roger Emeka
It had been too long, so we had we hadn't mentioned the Steelers. Yeah.
00:45:43
Nacc
There here we go.
00:45:44
Fab
only been 14 minutes.
00:45:46
Roger Emeka
ah yeah
00:45:46
Nacc
top I'll see you next time, guys.
00:45:51
Roger Emeka
I think for Burden, it's ah yeah the the yak a ability. So 7.26 yak, yards after cats per per reception, 64 avoided tackles. So that's where think the Debo comp makes a lot of sense.
00:46:03
Roger Emeka
think the issue with Burden is a really good 2023 year, catches, yards, a in 2024, 61 receptions, 676 yards, and 6 touchdowns. fell off ah quite a bit in twenty twenty four sixty one receptions six hundred yards and six touchdowns and Look, when you talk about this type of archetype, when you say Debo Samuel, it's very easy to see what the other
Player Strengths and Weaknesses
00:46:24
Roger Emeka
weaknesses are.
00:46:24
Roger Emeka
It's limited route tree.
00:46:25
Fab
Mm-hmm.
00:46:26
Roger Emeka
It's, you know, can you beat? Are you only going to be good at man coverage or zone coverage? We know Debo is very good against man on crossers or anything where where he's in movement. But afterwards, anything else, I think it's it's really tough for him. So...
00:46:39
Roger Emeka
ah 29th in total air yards, 33rd in ADOT at 4.57. So um this is the type of guy where, you know, maybe maybe if the if the Niners want to get back to having a Debo-like player, i know their wide receiver core is is pretty full now, but that could be an interesting one.
00:47:00
Roger Emeka
um Titans could be interesting as well, I think. You know, maybe i add a bit more juice to their to their wide receiver core, but I think he's more of a... that's going to be a high variance type player.
00:47:12
Fab
Actually, I saw him mocked to go to the Titans in round two. i think I think now we're getting to the point where, like these like we spoke about the first four wide receivers, we expect these guys to go in the first round.
00:47:22
Fab
I think now we're thought' we're starting to talk about the day two guys, and sorrow or round two guys and round three guys.
00:47:24
Nacc
Thank
00:47:28
Fab
Yeah.
00:47:29
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:47:31
Nacc
Yeah, he's, look, he's definitely great comp with demos Debo Samuel. That's who i had. um That's who I had as well. He has ah strong hands and he's, he's a fearless wide receiver over the middle, pretty explosive off the line as well. um a lot of cons though is his route tree needs a little bit of, of, of development.
00:47:50
Nacc
And um he sometimes plays too physical as well, which could draw a lot of flags in the, um and in the NFL. And, I think he might have to clean up a little bit of footwork um also to get um regular playing time ah in the NFL and especially in his in his rookie season.
00:48:09
Fab
Yeah, I've seen some issues too. Well, I've seen some comps where he's having some problems just separating from a single-man coverage, so that could also translate to some difficulty in the NFL, but I think this guy can be still a valuable asset just for the fact that he is a bit of a susarmy knife. He can do a lot of different things.
00:48:26
Fab
um we're going to keep it moving on to our sixth-ranked wide receiver, Mr. Trey Harris out of Ole Miss. PFF have him as a big board rank for number 47. I've been seeing cops for this guy. He's looking like an A.J. Brown light, Allen Robinson, Alec Pierce.
00:48:43
Fab
So more of the stretch-the-field type guy, I think, is what we're looking at over here. um You know, his 2024 season stats, he has 60 receptions, 1,030 yards, and seven touchdowns in eight games, mind you.
00:48:55
Fab
Mac, I want to get your take on him. how are you feeling about mr Trey Harris?
00:48:59
Nacc
Yeah, i had a um I had an actually Cortland Sutton comp for um for him.
00:49:05
Fab
Let's see now.
00:49:05
Nacc
and Decent production, yes. like As you mentioned, he only he only played eight games last year, but definite wide receiver build at 205 pounds. Combined a little bit slow at four five I would say, the 40. But again, I don't know how much we take into account these 40s too, too much. um Definitely wins on the on the boundary and has great um ball tracking skills.
00:49:30
Nacc
An amazing catch point and body control, which is definitely a plus in the NFL. And then maybe some some weaknesses might include, again, needs to polish a bit on his route tree. And ah from what I've been reading, can disappear in games. So maybe if he's not getting the ball that often, doesn't really...
00:49:52
Nacc
you know contribute as much and maybe tends to pout a little bit in in those scenarios. um But yeah, nothing nothing really more to add on this guy. He's probably going to somewhere on the lines end of round two, beginning of round three type wide receiver. Again, maybe Titans wait wait a little longer and get him at the beginning of the ah the third round.
00:50:19
Roger Emeka
Ole Miss wide receivers have a type. So AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, I believe Debo. think Debo went to Ole Miss as well. and So this is the type of wide receiver they like. Physical, athletic, high A dot, but also yards after catch.
00:50:35
Roger Emeka
I think out of like all the guys who are you know second round and and further, him definitely more than Burden. I mean he has a chance to to potentially break out. because i think AJ Brown was second round wide receiver, if I'm not mistaken. Debo as well.
00:50:50
Roger Emeka
DK Metcalf as well.
00:50:51
Nacc
Debo was third, I think.
00:50:53
Roger Emeka
Debo was third.
00:50:53
Fab
Yeah.
00:50:53
Roger Emeka
There you go. And and dk was DK was definitely not second.
00:50:54
Fab
Debo was a little bit later on.
00:50:56
Roger Emeka
So um they they have a very, very good track record of producing stars at the wide receiver position.
00:51:07
Fab
Yeah. I'm just, I'm just concerned about, he might have a limited route tree. Like if you're looking at the routes that he did play a lot last year, he was mostly on hitch and post routes, right? So more of that vertical type of route, which makes sense for his,
00:51:19
Fab
Yards per catch is super, super high. Just to correct you a little bit, Raj, want to keep everyone honest over here. ah Debo Samuel went to USC, but
00:51:27
Roger Emeka
Yes, so South Carolina, that's it. Yeah. Thank you.
00:51:29
Fab
it's okay. It's okay. We all make those mistakes, and myself included. ah So we're looking at a potential wide receiver two guy. RPO, ah sorry, excuse me, no, pardon of me. They got a wide receiver two, wide receiver three, really on a vertical offense. So definitely a downfield weapon who could be used in some interesting situations.
00:51:47
Fab
um Next on the docket is Mr. Jalen Noel. Is it Noel?
00:51:52
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:51:52
Fab
Is it Noel?
00:51:53
Roger Emeka
I was hearing Noel. I was hearing Noel.
00:51:54
Fab
Noel. There's no accent on that.
00:51:55
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:51:56
Fab
These guys don't live in Quebec. So this is Jalen Noel out of Iowa State. ah PFF big board ranking 68. We're getting some comps of him to T.Y.
00:52:07
Fab
Hilton and Khalil Shakur, which for me, those are fantastic comps.
00:52:11
Nacc
Shaka!
00:52:15
Fab
2024 season stats. He had 80 receptions for 1,100 yards, about 1,200 yards, let's say, and eight touchdowns. Nice build, Raj, just like how we were talking to before. you know um i think it was Matthew Golden.
00:52:28
Fab
You were mentioning how he has the perfect ideal Wide receiver bill, this guy's 5'10", 200 pounds, right around there at Wichuaka as a wide receiver.
00:52:32
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:52:36
Fab
How are you feeling about Mr. Jalen Knoll?
00:52:40
Roger Emeka
So the the size is small, but 23 bench press ram reps at the combine. So that's at, I believe, 225. So the the guy's pretty, very strong, actually, for a wide receiver and still 439 40-yard dash.
00:52:54
Roger Emeka
What I love is that he improved every year. If you look at his 2021 to 2024, he finally got that 1,000 yards 2024.
00:52:56
Fab
Mm-hmm. Yep.
00:52:58
Roger Emeka
he finally got to that a thousand yards in in twenty twenty four And um the comps, I really like the comps, but I find he actually plays bigger and more physical than, say, a T.Y. Hilton and and maybe to some extent even a Kaleer Shakir.
00:53:13
Roger Emeka
um We'll talk about his his counterpart, Higgins, as well. But I think if you were to maybe dock Noel noel no in terms of any type of weaknesses, the fact that he he played with a another really, really good wide receiver ah next to him, but To me, this the type of player that slots deep threats, for sure is going to be a number two or number three wide receiver.
00:53:38
Roger Emeka
ah you know He might have issues with physicality being soluck he's still only 5'10", but I really like his profile, and I think he can be a pretty decent player in the NFL.
00:53:50
Nacc
I had Hunter Renfrew, but faster as a comp. Pretty shifty shifty, quick separations, quick movements.
00:53:55
Fab
Yep. Mm-hmm.
00:53:58
Nacc
um Drop rate a bit of a concern, though, 7.2%.
00:54:01
Roger Emeka
Yeah.
00:54:03
Fab
yeah
00:54:04
Nacc
That could be an issue. um Can't be dropping the ball in the NFL, asked Quinton Johnson. And I guess doesn't add much versatility in the red zone. Smaller frame and in in the red zone, so might have to get it done after the catch in in in those terms. And I think you said it right, Raj. He probably benefited from another wide receiver ah beside him, and and therefore his stats were kind of, I guess, blown up a little bit.
00:54:32
Nacc
Decent player for sure, but i definitely leaning towards a day three, more day three pick, I think, for ah nor
00:54:41
Roger Emeka
Thank
00:54:42
Fab
Yeah, just as we're talking about it right now, I can see this as Wandel Robinson type of comp too, right? This guy's going to playing primarily out of the slot, I think, and that might might hinder his upside from fantasy perspective. this He can be definitely a contributing member to any NFL team he goes to because want to keep this very clear. We're talking about real-life NFL, not just fantasy.
00:55:01
Fab
But from a fantasy perspective, his ceiling might be capped a little bit just from you know just from the limited route tree and the limited role he's going to play in the offense. Yeah.
00:55:10
Roger Emeka
It's the with the Rams a Like, bigger outwell.
00:55:14
Fab
Yeah, I like the Rams a lot.
00:55:15
Roger Emeka
ah bigger tu two at well
00:55:17
Fab
Yeah. Yeah, because they don't really have that slot guy anymore.
00:55:18
Nacc
Yeah, for sure.
00:55:21
Fab
Now the Cooper Cup is gone. Mind you, you play a little bit everywhere. i can I can see him being... I can see him going to the Rams.
00:55:27
Nacc
Well, Puka is going to be the slug guy there. Adams with your ex.
00:55:31
Fab
Yeah, I guess so, right? He's going to take up all those targets.
00:55:36
Fab
Yeah, I don't disagree with that at all. um We're going to move on to... The last wide receiver that we're going to be covering. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the eighth one. This is this is a heavy full-packed episode, guys. You're welcome.
00:55:50
Fab
All right? You're welcome. Jaden Higgins, Iowa State. So this is the second Iowa State wide receiver, the one that Roger was alluding to beforehand.
00:56:02
Fab
Jaden Higgins, PFF Big Board has him as 57th overall. Comp, we've been seeing Eric Decker, little bit of Drake London in there. Tim Patrick, I saw a Kenny Galladay, and I was like, oof. I'm like, you know what?
00:56:13
Fab
He did have some good years at one point. um So he's, you he's a big wide receiver. Looking at 6'4", 210. ah Last year, 2024, he had 87 receptions for, again, 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns.
00:56:27
Fab
Looks more of a deep threat, Knack. What do you think?
00:56:31
Nacc
I like him as a big-bodied possession receiver, um actually, and and he's ah he's actually a very good blocker. So I think that gets him into the lineup for NFL run-heavy systems at the moment, and that will get you on the field right away, especially as rookie.
00:56:37
Fab
Yeah.
00:56:46
Nacc
And he does have like he has really reliable hands, so he's not going to drop um many balls. That's why more possession-y type of ah wide receiver. um I feel like he does, he lacks some speed and separation, so not sure he's that home run hitter.
00:57:01
Fab
and happy.
00:57:03
Nacc
The route running is still a little raw, and his ceiling might be, I feel like, WR3, a little bit of a red zone specialist. He's going to be, obviously, heavily targeted in the red zone, but um yeah, definitely...
00:57:20
Nacc
definitely would thrive in a run-heavy offensive system, especially as a rookie.
00:57:29
Roger Emeka
Yeah, I agree with what Nex says. I think the the red the red zone aspect, nine TDs in the red zone in 2024, so that puts him in an area where, you know, jump ball, maybe it could be a jump ball merchant, fade routes and in the red zone.
00:57:34
Fab
No.
00:57:40
Nacc
Mm-hmm.
00:57:43
Roger Emeka
think he he just, like, I saw Steve Smith, come he did a ah draft comparison with him and McMillan. It sounded like Steve Smith liked, actually liked Higgins more. He felt like very similar profile, but had a bit more dog in him.
00:57:54
Roger Emeka
um more intensity so we'll see but this type of player like not a yak threat at all so it's really kind of have to be with a specific type of offense x receiver he's not going to move around a lot
00:58:01
Nacc
Yeah.
00:58:01
Fab
no
00:58:07
Fab
Well, that's why I really like the Kenny Galdi comp because that's exactly what Kenny Galdi was, right?
00:58:10
Roger Emeka
yep yeah
00:58:13
Nacc
Hopefully has better hands.
00:58:15
Fab
Yeah. Hopefully he doesn't get drafted by the Giants. um There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. well we yeah We went through a gamut of wide receivers over here. We got the got really some Really nice prospects. You know something? When I was diving deep into the wide receiver prospect pool, I was like, you know what? It won't be as good as last year's, and probably not.
00:58:36
Fab
But at the same time, there is still some quality to be had, though, amongst the the eight guys that we spoke about and also about the other wide receivers that we didn't get a chance to speak about either. um But we do want to thank everyone for taking the time to listen to our podcast. You guys could have been anywhere in the world, but you're here with us, and we really appreciate that.
00:58:54
Fab
Please don't forget to listen to our previous episodes where we spoke about QBs and also running backs. um Obviously, find us on all the social medias, on Twitter, on TikTok, on Instagram, on YouTube.
00:59:06
Fab
Listen to us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I mean, just share, subscribe, like. Let's continue rolling on this train because we're having a lot of fun and we want you guys along here with us.
00:59:17
Fab
So for Roger, Knack, and myself, Fab, Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. We appreciate you all. Have a good night. Peace. Roger, cue the music.
00:59:28
Nacc
I can't wait to get Raj an Ibuka jersey, black and gold. It's going to look so nice on you, Raj.
00:59:36
Fab
I hate that. Honestly, he's a fan.
00:59:38
Nacc
I might even you the...
00:59:38
Fab
I'm really excited for him as a prospect.
00:59:38
Roger Emeka
I hope needs to go he needs to go to the Packers, honestly.
00:59:40
Fab
I really don't want the Steelers to drop him.
00:59:41
Nacc
Maybe I'll get you the Bumblebee jersey too.
00:59:45
Roger Emeka
mean it's They need a real...
00:59:45
Fab
Yeah, because the last thing they need right now is another wide receiver.
00:59:48
Roger Emeka
they need a guy who can catch.
00:59:51
Nacc
Yeah, that that would be a good start, yeah.
00:59:54
Fab
Unlike Max's favorite player, Dontavian Wicks. Good night, everyone!
00:59:58
Fab
Peace out!
00:59:58
Nacc
It's Roger's favorite.
00:59:59
Roger Emeka
Not anymore. Bye, everyone.
01:00:02
Nacc
Goodbye.
01:00:02
Fab
Peace.