Best of NFL News Part 1: Kyler Murray still a FRANCHISE QB or WASHED UP, ROASTING Cowboy Fans for BELIEVING 30 Years of Jerry Jones “Our Year” Lies

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Come for the sports, stay for the story. 30 years since the Cowboys' last Super Bowl appearance, Jerry Jones says he had let the fans down with his team's championship drought. Jerry said, I really can't accept just the thought of winning one Super Bowl. And then what? I've got more time on my clock than in my mind. And so I don't see it that way. I see a chance to put the team together and basically be knocking at the edge and get another one or get another chance at another one. It runs that way in my view. Make no mistake about it. If you told me I could because I've done a lot of hitchhiking in my life. And I'd like to start you right now and hitchhike back to Dallas to win a Super Bowl. After 7-9-1 finished in 2025, Jerry promised changes. One change will be the team's approach in free agency. Jerry said, I would bet you that we'll spend more money in free agency than we have. he talked about, Ocho, they're going to redo the restructure contracts of CD, Tyler Smith and Dak Prescott. That'll free 60-plus million. Now, they also talked about doing something with the 3D tackles contract. That might free up another $20, $30 million. Now, you're going to have to overspend for George Pickens. We know that. You know that. I know that. You're going to have to overspend. But you should be okay with that. you brought a new I think they're going to a 3-4 I think they're going to a 34 defense right you can go whatever you want, you can go to a 34, you can go to a 25 you can go to a 3-3-5 you better have some hell raisers over there yeah, you got to I'm going to say it over and over again I'm not sure why Jerry always does this every offseason, gets everybody hyped up says all these things that he's going to do he doesn't really do him he never really does him No. He never really does them. And he gets everybody excited because they always believe in some of the things that he says over the years. He's convincing now. Hell, he had me believe. I'm like, damn, Jerry about to spin it. And Jerry don't spin it for anything. You could have had Derrick Henry. I mean, you played Javante Williams 6 million. You could have had Derrick Henry for eight. Never mind. But go ahead, Ocho. I see what you're saying. Yeah, yeah. But listen, we all know what the Cowboys' problems are. We all know what the Cowboys' struggles are. It's never been on the offensive side of the ball. Never been on the offensive side of the ball. They've had great offense, but the issues of always their Achilles heel has always been on the defense end. So, again, obviously you've made some moves, you know, in the interior. But that's cool. But you still need impact players. You need one on the outside. Yeah, for sure. You need another one in your back line. You know, your secondary. You need someone to anchor that defense, you know, in the secondary. You don't have that. There's so many. You need definitely. Bland got to play better. He needs to play, have the type of season that he's played to get that contract, Ocho. You remember he's picking off everything, taking it to the house? The PBUs were on point. He needs to play. He needs to have that type of season again. They need a backer. They need an inside backer. They need an inside backer. They do. They hadn't had one in a very long time. Once Vanden Bosch, the Wolfhunter, got hurt and continually had the neck issues and had to retire, they haven't had somebody in that position. But they got to get a Hellraiser in that position. And as you said, they got to get somebody to go hunt the quarterback. Yeah, man. It's tough. I'm excited. I'm excited for the Cowboys. I'm not a Cowboy fan. I'm a fan of the players that play for the Cowboys. There's a difference. I get you. I'm excited for Dak and what they're going to do. I'm excited for CD. And I'm very, very excited because he's been through a lot, obviously, based on what he's caused most of it. But I'm excited for Pickens as well, you know, to have a season, whether it's in Dallas, whether it's somewhere else. I just know he deserves to get his like everyone else has already gotten that and came out with him. So hopefully Jerry does right by him. The fans obviously believe in the organization. They believe in Jerry, even though things haven't worked out the past 30-plus years and not having any success. So, I mean, listen. You can be good, Ocho. You don't realize how successful you can be as long as you don't care who gets the credit. Yeah. hey you see that situation in Seattle you see the situation in the Rams yeah Les Need and McVay John Snyder, McDonald Brett Veach, Andy Reid you look at Howie Howie Roseman in Philly and what's the guy's name, the coach of Philly who, Sirianni? yeah Sirianni but as long as you don't care who gets the credit you'll be fine yeah oh man Jerry said he would hitchhike back to Dallas to win a Super Bowl Jerry you said a couple of years ago you don't know the size of the checkout would write if you would guarantee me a Super Bowl. Well, ain't no guarantee. That's the thing we love about sports. Ain't no guarantee. No, no. Ain't no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Ain't no guarantee. And it's easy for you to hitchhike. Hell, everybody gonna pick your ass up because they recognize who you are. You got to be careful. Are they picking up for the right reasons or for the wrong reasons? Yeah, yeah. I mean I can't believe people still actually hitchhike I mean I see people I mean it used to be a big thing when I was a kid I mean y'all grew up I grew up and came up in the late 60s early 70s when hitchhiking was really a thing and people would like to hitchhike where you going well I'm headed that way too I'm headed that way too yep what the hell today hell nah ain't no telling what's going to happen to you It is way, way, way too dangerous. So we're going to see what Jerry says. They're going to spend more money than they have, which is not true. Nobody has more money than the Cowboys. Nobody has more money than the Cowboys. But we're going to see. They're going to need to do something with Steele. I don't know if they restructure his contract. Maybe they release him. I don't know. But they have said that Dak, CeeDee, Tyler Smith restructures. They're going to look at the restructure of those 3D tackles. That's a great start, but they need great exemplary quarterback play. They need a hell raiser in the middle of the defense. And they need an edge. They need an edge. Now, I don't know if they're going to go with Trey Hendrickson in free agency. I don't know. I don't think that D-line, I think his name was Blaine, that ran like 4-6 from Texas Tech. He was booking. He was booking. So, I think that's what it was. but Cowboys y'all gotta keep Dak healthy that's your best chance keep Dak healthy and upright upright and healthy but your defense you can't have your offense score 35 your defense give up 38 it's time it's time up for that Ocho yeah but I look you know they got two quality receivers Ferguson look he's solid he doesn't he's not going to do anything extraordinary. I don't think he's a top five, top eight tight end, but he's solid. You know, you throw the ball, he'll catch it. Is he McBride or he one of these, you know, Harold Fanning Jr., he one of those guys? No, he's not. He's not. Warren, Loveland, he's not that. Hawkinson, Laporta, he's not that. But he's a solid guy. He can make plays when given the opportunity, and he should have a lot of opportunities because you got those two guys outside. Yeah. And I had Aaron Rod, I said, I was feasting. Oh, say I'm about to, oh, I'm about to kill you today. My gosh. And Dak loves throwing to the tight end. Oh yeah. Dak loves throwing to the tight end. So this is, look, Cowboys, y'all got some catching up to do because I don't believe the Rams stepped back and based on the way a less need for the Rams and John Snyder from the Seahawks, the way they draft and the way they put teams together, you know how it's going to have a bounce back year, that ain't going nowhere, bro. So, and it's time, hey, the Lions get Laporta back. Yeah. So now he's in the mix with Amin Ra and J-Mo. Oh, yeah. Bears ain't going to. So, at worst case scenario, Cowboys, you start like the seventh or the eighth best team in the NFC, Ocho. Because you're not putting in front of the Rams. You're not putting them in front of the Seahawks. You're not putting them in front of Chicago. You're not putting them in front of the Lions. You're not putting them in front of the Bears. I'm not sure you put them in front of the Packers. That's six teams right there. Are you putting them in front of the 49ers? No. You know what's funny? That's seven teams right there. Only seven teams make the playoffs, don't you? Yeah. Outside of all those teams you made, outside of the 49ers and all those teams you named, all of them continue to get better year in and year out. Yes. Defensively. Yes. Defensively. So, with that being said, Jerry, you got your work cut out for us, but you say you're going to write some checks? Man, we're going to see. Oh, you got to take him out of the work. The man say he's going to do that? I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it. He say the same thing every year. He just says it in a different way to get you excited. Every year, There's something different. Every offseason. You know what? They not talking about us enough. You know, let me come out and say something. The move, the move, the needle. And as soon as they win one game, everybody gonna say, we them boys. We still them boys. Y'all not though. I like them. But hey, I tell you, I give them credit, Ocho. Yeah. They done drunk the Kool-Aid for so long. Yeah. They believe in it. They believe in it. Hell, I'm starting to believe too, shit. We're going to see what the Cowboys do. 791 last year. Let's see if they can expand on that in 2026. Bill's GM, Brandon Bean, is ready to forget about the past with Keon Coleman following an underwhelming start to the career. Bean cited Joe Brady's promotion to head coach and the arrivals of offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. and wide receivers coach Drew Terrell, Terrell, Terrell, as moves that will help Keon have a clean slate. I think there is a new energy, and it's year three, and we're going to hit full reset with Keon. Keon had a very good offseason last year, and we honestly had a very good training camp. We played the Ravens in the first game, and he had 100-whatever yards. And it's just some things from the maturity standpoint after that, but Keon has said all the right things. I give him this. He's very accountable. He's never made an excuse. We're all hands on deck and we're going to do our part. And I know Joe and those coaches are very excited for what's in store for year three. I agree. Yeah. You got to know, bro, if you do some things and you're not playing through your own fault, Ocho, you can't be on the field dancing. No. You just can't. You just can't. And that's what they were talking about, the maturity thing. Right. Right. I'm like, bro, really? The stuff that people find funny in your rookie year, they're not going to find it funny the second year. And they're definitely not going to find it funny the third. You don't really know. You don't know what you don't know. But now, Ocho, they're going to find it even less funnier in year three. Yeah. Because they're saying, hold on, all these guys that we expect you to be a thousand yards. We expect you to be 85, 90, 100 catches. We expect you to be double-digit touchdowns. That's what the expectations are. Yeah. I mean, listen, he's one of those that can do that. He's one of those that can do it. He has the size. He has the speed. He has the hands when he's locked in to be able to be a complementary piece for that offense. And he should be the go-to guy. It's just about working on that craft. Not when you get in season, off season. This is where you get better. This is where you get good. This is where you polish up your game, you know, in the off season. Because once you get back, that ain't nothing but F and F and I almost curse. That ain't nothing but X and O's, huh? That's all it is. It's X and O's. You're already supposed to be able to. in the offseason you want to go back with the mentality how can I make everybody's job around me easier yep my quarterback how can I make my officer coordinating job easy you don't have to worry about me I'm somebody you know you can count on every time it's time to call a play but god damn it's third and short I don't know what to do you know what I can call on 85 because I know we're going to be open I'm going to call just make everybody else's job around you easy that should be every player's mentality in the offseason when I go back they've watched me in the offseason program, but God damn, who is this? Completely different. Completely different. Whatever it may be. Hey, you're going to have to get me the ball. I'm going to make it so hard for you to want to go to throw to somebody else. You got to get me the ball. Call play. Right. Right. Right. Right. Hey, 84 going to be first and second read in all the plays that you call. Even if I'm last read, you're looking at me first anyway. Because you know I'm going to win. That's how he has to approach it. I agree. Brandon B said look last year was last year the year before whatever the case may be this is a new reset We got a new coaching staff We know what this kid can do We believe he had an excellent offseason He had an excellent training camp He had an excellent first game. Okay? Those are some nice things to build on. Yeah. But you're not going to continue. They're not going to give you grace forever, Ocho. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You get one year. You get one year, especially if you don't have any issues and no hiccups. but if you have hiccups, you have issues and problems and you're not playing well, okay, some got to give. Some got to give. So, with the young man all the best, but you got to take it serious. You got to take it serious. All that joking and clowning around, there's a time and a place for all that. There'll be a time and a place for all that. Are you going to be all right? Take care of what you need to take care of. You heard me on? Huh? He's going to be all right. He's going to be down here with me. All right. Yeah, he's going to be there. Him and X. I think I got about seven more guys coming down with me. Leggett. About a month, yeah. We get a month, a month. This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards. Live from South by Southwest, March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative, talented creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is... See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals all in one easy app, Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free trial at audible.com. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stops. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Absolutely. It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Munch Street. Arizona Cardinals are reportedly expecting to release Kyler Murray barring a last-minute trade per Ian Rapoport. Kyler is reported to receive interest from the Vikings as well as Pittsburgh, New York Jets once Kyler hits free agency. The Vikings intend to bring another quarterback in to compete with J.J. either to raise his level of play or to take the job outright. Well, if you bring Kyler Murray in there, he's probably going to take the job outright. Yeah. But anyway, Ocho, is Kyler Murray still a franchise quarterback? Absolutely. He's a franchise quarterback in the right situation. And I think about what certain teams need. I think Kyler Murray to the Vikings, I don't like that move. I like Kirk Cousins going back to the Vikings instead, being a pocket passer based on the talents that they have around them. You think about Kyler Murray and Trey McBride, right, when Kyler Murray was quarterback. You look at the difference in when Brissette came in as a quarterback. You see how McBride's number changed? Yes. You see how the offensive play calling changed based on having a pocket passer and not having someone who's a good quarterback in the right situation, like Kyle Murray, who always has to be sprinted out, whether left or whether right. So it changes everything. I like Kyle Murray with the Jets. I like him better with the Jets because I think in that environment and what they have going on, I think he'd be better suited with AG. But the Vikings, it wouldn't make sense. It wouldn't make sense because now you're going to have the receivers pissed and angry again, and you're going back into one situation where they're not getting the productivity that they would want. It's hard, and I've said this, it's hard playing with a guy that runs the football because, Ocho, I'm running the comeback, and the crowd's screaming. I'm like, what the hell are they screaming for? And he over there. Like, what the hell? I wrote a square out and like, hold on, wait a damn minute. It's hard to play with a guy like you said, and you play with dropback quarterbacks and I play with dropback quarterbacks to know that, okay, back foot hit, the ball's coming out. Yeah, on time. On time. I understand that. Three step, five step, seven step. Now, most guys, you know, they don't take seven steps anymore because very few teams have their guy up under center. Guys are taking fewer and fewer snaps, even though Ben Johnson and his group still put the guy up under center. But for the most part, we've seen Stafford's up under center a lot too. Kyle Shanahan still has his guys. But for the most part, they've gotten just as pure up under center guys are taking shotgun snaps at an all-time high. With that being said, I mean, how this man get a super duper contract three years ago, Ocho, and here we are to release? Yeah. But Ocho, I ain't trade because I already know you want to release him. I ain't giving you market value for him. I'm not. Because guess what? I get him and pay him what I want to say and not have to pick up that contract. I know you got to get rid of him, Ocho. I know you got to. Yeah, most definitely. So why, why when I know you got to get off something, would I come in, hey, I'm going to let you put the estate sale I'm going to let you put it on your yard put it in your yard and I'll come look at it but I'm not going to make you an offer on it because I know you got to get rid of it I mean he's probably going to get released obviously there are going to be suitors I just think offensively from an offensive standpoint you look at what Kirk Cousins did when he was with the Minnesota Vikings and you look at what Sam Donald did when he was with the Minnesota Vikings offensively the production that the receivers had and you look at Kyler Murray when he had Trey McBride, the numbers weren't the same. Then all of a sudden, Jacoby Brissett is a quarterback, and now Trey McBride goes crazy. Yes. So now that gives you a better understanding. Kyler Murray needs to be in the right situation, not a team where you have that type of talent where you're throwing volume. You're throwing volume passes. I think somewhere like the Jets, where it's somewhat balanced. You have Garrett Wilson. You have, I mean, Brees is coming back, right? Yeah, they say. I mean, it's being reported that they're going to put the franchise tag if they can't get a deal done, a long-term deal. Okay, okay, yeah. I think over there would be dope. I mean, it would be the right situation for Kyler Murray. I think Jazz fans, of course, knowing them, they'll probably say no. And, I mean, it is what it is. And, you know, they got A.D. Mitchell. Remember they traded for A.D. Mitchell? Hey, that's right. I like A.D. Yeah. How are we going to view J.J.? because this is going to be his third year. He didn't play his first year. He got nicked deep and missed a couple of games last year. How soon before we like, okay, Ocho, I don't know. I don't know. It ain't really too soon. It ain't not going to be too soon because obviously the patience is growing thin. The players offensively and those that are seniority, they're going to go frustrated. They're going to get angry. Now, Jedis was able to hold it together last year. how much longer do you think he's going to be able to hold it together even though he's a team player he's a team player but obviously there are frustrations that go on when as a team collectively you're struggling because the most important position is not playing well and not only is he not playing well when he is when he's available he's not playing well he's always hurt so I mean something's going to happen you know what happens because he look around he's like damn damn Chase had another 120-catch season. Damn, hookah, JSN, this one, that one. And I know what I had when I had my quarterbacks. Nobody had the first two, three, four, five years like I had. Yeah. Now I feel like I'm running in mud. It lets you know how important that position is. You're like, hold on. pick leave Pittsburgh and come over to a new team and damn near get 1500 go crazy easy I know I'd have had me a season I'd have had me 1700 1800 oh hell now y'all better get somebody in here before I start throwing breaking chairs I don't want to do it I don't know hey it sucks It sucks. Because first thing, because pretty soon y'all going to start saying, at least right now y'all still got me in that top five. But pretty soon you're like, Ocho, I don't know if we can put Jetta. I don't know if we can keep Jetta in the top five because, hey, JSN and we got Puka and we got Chase and we got Pick and we got CD. I don't know, Ocho. Yeah, and everything. A thousand yards receiving ain't going to keep you in the top five. You got to be 13, 14, 15, 16, 100, 105, 110, 115, 20 catches. Yeah. That's what it is. It is what it is. And we, and what, in sports, the thing that I love about sports on show is that you got to constantly update your resume. This ain't no lifetime achievement award. We'll give you a lifetime achievement award once you're done. That's what they give to Scorsese. That's what they give to Spielberg. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh. And you see... The Oscar for Best Director goes to... Who did it this year? I know Jaws was great. E.T. was unbelievable. Chandler's List was another outstanding movie. Gangs of... What's that? What's that with Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorsese did? We know what Scorsese... We know it's worked. But this year, he deserved the Best Director Oscar. Yeah. So... That's kind of how we do it. We base everything. Okay, yeah, we'll give you a great shoot. You know, you have a little off year. It's like, Ocho, you had a little off year. He bounced back. Right. But Chase keep churning him. Puka keep churning him. JSN. He done put that. JSN went 100. Now he went 126. Yeah. 1793. Yeah. Super Bowl. Super Bowl. Chase, another outstanding season. Another 13, 1400. Another 120. Yeah. You got Puka. You got CD. You got Chase. They're going to be all right. The Vikings' next move has to be their best move, especially at that position. It has because the window of opportunity to contend is going to close, especially with the defense you have. what Mr. Flores has to work with right now is your best window of opportunity but you got to fix that position you got to get that position together to me if JJ is not the answer based on the small semblance I've seen the past two years Kirk Cousins is the best option there's nothing else out there Tom Brady ain't walking through that door Brett Carb ain't walking through that door I'm just saying to give you a better understanding on how difficult it is to find a competent quarterback to run your team. It's not easy. Is there anything in the goddamn draft? They definitely not going to draft another quarterback. That ain't happening. You just took him with eight three years ago. But you remember we were growing up and you going to such and such? Yeah, I'm going to be there. Save me a seat. Hey, you get there before me, save me a seat. If I get there before you, I'll save you a seat. Uh-huh. We don't get to save no seats when we ranking. Oh, yeah. Somebody come and occupy that. Somebody come and... Yeah. now that you just said that I'm glad you said that I'm glad you just said that that was a great analogy too you still believe Justin Jefferson in the top five right now chat I would love to hear your response too because I got my chat on to the right of me that's why I keep looking to the right it's close Ocho it's close because Puka and JSN has put together back to back right now I still got Chase at one for me based on what he's done since he's been in the league and he's shown no slippage. So for me, Chase is number one. Now, you get to battle out between, for me, for two, is Puka and JSN. That'll be two and three for me. Put them in whatever order you want. Now, top three. Woo! I mean, top five. So we got three slots. So now you got Jetta, you got CD you got Pick hold up I'm trying to think who else we got Ocho so I mean AJ Brown was once in a conversation AJ Brown yeah AJ had a down year Reek got hurt who else is out there Ocho Zay Flowers nah he ain't top five uh uh here's no no that's just for me that's just that's just me that's something those guys that we mentioned they might be top five for somebody but i'm just saying based on what i say a top receiver is uh consistency that they bring i would say yes i would say yes but he's gonna have to pick it up this year because i don't know if i could hold i could hold that spot much longer see yeah I mean, we know what he can do Yes, oh absolutely But I don't understand And I saw somebody in the chat just say Why bring in Kirk Cousins? Why would you want to go backwards? Well, hell, you're not going forward with what you got You're not going forward with what you have So having someone that's been able to get it done I mean, from a productive standpoint, obviously And hoping you get over the hump But what's the point of having something where you ain't going no goddamn where you don't have a chance at all True. True. But they got some, you know, what you call them got hurt. Mike Evans got hurt this year. But Tech, Carolina, I love the kid in Arizona. Wilson, I love him. Oh, yeah. He nice. Isn the first name not Cedric is it No I think it Mike Mike Michael Wilson I think that his name I not sure And that why I just said Wilson because I didn want to say a no He's really good. With the way Wilson played last year, and we get Marvin Harrison, we get Marvin Harrison Jr. back healthy and back playing to how we know he can play, playing with confidence. But they got a nasty duo over there. Yeah. They got a nasty duo. It is Michael Wilson? Mm-hmm. Okay. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, I agree with you, Ocho. We know what this guy can do. It's just a matter of getting a quarterback that can get him to football. And that's why, you know, you play a dependent position and you've got to have somebody that can get you the ball. Yeah. So we're going to find out. JJ, it's not, never. The last thing you want to be labeled is injury prone. Oh, yeah. He missed the first year with an injury and then he got nicked. Remember, he played the first game, came back, beat Chicago. He missed three or four games, comes back, gets nicked again. He's going to have to find a better way. He's going to have to find a way to stay on the field because the best ability is availability. I don't care how great you are. If you're not on the field, what can I do with that? Can't even evaluate that. What am I supposed to do with that? Can't evaluate it. So it's going to be incumbent to him to get into that playbook, understand, stay on the field. because like you say, Jetta, guys are going to get frustrated. You look at what they have, Addison and Hawkinson will be back. Jetta, I read, I think they're moving on from Aaron Jones. Yeah, I saw that. I saw that earlier. We're going to try to move you, and if we can't, we're going to end up releasing you and save some money. This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards. Live from South by Southwest, March 16th, We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative, talented creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is... See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free trial at audible.com. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stops. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Yeah, absolutely. It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm the cap. Boy, I don't know how much of that combine you watch. Yeah. This combine here? Hey, I didn't miss nothing. Obviously, even if you don't watch the combine, Unc, if you have social media, you get to see everything. You get to see everything. I've never seen nothing like this I've never seen nothing like this this was the fastest combine on record it had to be the DB ran the fastest the wide receivers ran the fastest the tight ends ran the fastest the D linemen the O linemen everybody was outstanding hey did you see you see young bull from Miami the 6'9 6'9 340 some pounds ran a 5 something yeah how you that big moving like that man and I like when they simulcast against Rich. Man, them just going to be blowing the doors on Rich. The Dibliber give Rich a four-yard head start and catch him at the 30. Hey, Unc, them boys was moving. They was moving, they was moving, they was moving. And what I don't like, this is one of the things I don't like, and I would love to sit down and talk to some of these players. With some of the times that I'm seeing, based on what I saw at the Combine, if you're running that fast, why is it not popping up and showing up on tape like that. Like with that kind of speed, you should be dominating at said position at the collegiate level. So something is disconnected in a sense. You run a full, do you understand what you're supposed to do if you have the agility, the thing that can be taught? You can't teach speed. So you add that in addition to all the other qualities and intangibles and qualities that make you good or great at said position, there's no reason. I don't understand. With all those times and watching college football all season long, like we've done, nothing jumped out. Nothing was like every week. When Reggie Bush played, Unc, we tuning in because it's Reggie. You got to see it. Peter Warwick, Andre Johnson. I mean, Michael Vickery was at VTAC. Like, you tune in to see it. And it just, I didn't have that. Based on what I saw today or the past this weekend from the combine. Well, wait a minute. Why did all these fast time, but everybody flew under the radar in season? There's a difference between running fast and playing fast. Those are two different things. You didn't run fast, but you played fast. There are a lot of guys that ran for it. John Ross ran fast, but he couldn't play fast. He was, hey, hey, I don't see how the body, boy. But see, and the thing is, I mean, his body wasn't made because he was a track guy. See, Tyreek has track speed, but he's a football body. Tyreek has a football body. And sometimes, Ocho, what you get is guys going and training for a specific task. I'm going to train to run the 40, stand in long jump, the short cone, divert. I'm going to train for that. Right. Okay, you can train for it, Ocho. that doesn't mean it translates to what you're doing on the field. Right. Like when I see some guys, when I see like an offensive lineman run, when are I going to need my offensive lineman to run 4-6, 4-7, 4-8? Let me see your kick. Let me see what you do on this combo. Let me see what you do on this slip bop. Yes, yeah. That's what I need to see. All that running fast, your offensive lineman, I don't give a damn about that. Right. Defensive lineman, all I want to do is see your 10 yards. Yeah. What does that look like? If you run farther than 10 yards, bro, I'm sorry, you're chasing somebody in the end zone. Mm-hmm. So that's the thing, Ocho. I think the thing is that we see guys, and they're training for a specific thing. Right. As opposed to as a football player. Yes. I mean, most of the guys in the Hall of Fame didn't have pop-out stats, unless it's Randy. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Hey, Randy Pro Day was stupid crazy. Yeah. But if you look at most of the guys. Yeah. Average. Yes. Average. Because, I mean, the game is not based on running in a straight line in a sense. No. You think about all the 40 times. Chad, stay with me real quick. Stay with me. You think about all the 40 times from all the fast receivers today, right? How do you stop someone that runs that fast, right? We're not scared. We're not scared of that. Our speed is a great thing. How do we stop it? You put somebody in front of them. Yeah. You put somebody in front of you because most of the time, if you're somebody that's that fast, yes, you're explosive. But can you do it when there's a body in front of you? Do you have the lateral movement and quickness to be able to get back? Are you twitchy enough? Look at Miles Garrett. Look at Miles Garrett and how he rushed the passer. You see he doing all this. He's like a damn wide receiver tight end trying to get off the ball. He ain't supposed to be able to do that. No, absolutely not. How he fake one outside, take one giant step outside and come across any offensive lineman face he want to. That's the difference. Look at Vernon Golston. Go back and look at his times and what he ran. He should have been ripping people's head off on the field. Right. Look at a guy like Sean Oakman, 6'5", 6'6". I don't want to know, can you play football? I'm looking for football. That's it. I ain't looking for Usain Bolt. I ain't looking for Bob Beeman. somebody going to jump 30 feet? Can you play football? And that's what it comes down to at the end of the day. The 40 time is great. Being that fast, it's really great. It's a great quality to have. It's a great trait to have because it can't be taught. Then I look at things like Cardinal Tate. Cardinal Tate ran 4-4-4-5 from Ohio State. I don't care about that. I don't care about that. Turn on the goddamn film. What does it look like when Brother Tate is playing for the goddamn Ohio Buckeyes every goddamn Saturday. What is he doing? Proud example. Look at the receivers we just talked about. What did Chase run? What did JSN run? What did Puka run? What did Jetta run? What did Pickens run? Ain't nobody in no four threes. Ain't nobody no 11 foot standing long jump. Ain't nobody got no 40 inch vertical. Bro, can you play football? Yeah, that's all it comes down to. Now, if we go to the Football Olympics, I'm glad I got you on my team because you're going to bring home the gold. Yeah. But, mm-mm. Hey, I would love it. Look at Mike Mimoula. Y'all see what, and people say, well, the combine, bull jive. We've seen guys go up and slide down based on what they did at the combine. So don't tell me the combine, or yes, it does. It play a big role. A huge role. Sonny Stiles' brother, his brother ran Lorenzo. He ran 427. Yeah. A safety. He was moving, boy. 4-2-7? He was moving. And then Jeremiah Love, you see what he ran? He ran 4-3. Yeah. He ran 4-3. He ran, you know what? Hey, it don't look, you know what Jeremiah Love, you know what he remind me of? What is it? He runs so smooth and there's no irky, jerky, like, where it looks like he's being explosive. He reminded me of Aaron Foster. when Aaron Foster Aaron Foster was fast but he glided in such a way where it looked so effortless like he wasn't even trying but they moving and you don't know they moving until somebody trying to catch their ass this kid here got I knew it was fast I thought he was low 4-4 I didn't think he was going to go sub 4-4 right yeah that was nice I mean them guys them guys were rolling they were moving them guys were rolling this weekend I mean, the tight end run 4-3-9. 40-inch vertical. Lem 2. Guys standing long, Burke, 45 and a half. Yeah. I do, I don't want receivers to understand. If you have that kind of speed, you're running 4-2s and you're running 4-3s, you should be able to go if you understand the game of football and how to manipulate and get open and manipulate and understanding leverage and coverages, you should dominate the game. But there's so many other factors that aren't there in your game and you're not polished enough to understand that. I would love – obviously, I don't have the opportunity to do so, and I don't want to step on other people's toes that are training said receivers that are coming out and doing all this stuff. But there is so much where they can come in and dominate right away if you have that kind of speed, if the rest of your game is just polished up. there's no way. It's simple. What you're saying is, can you do something other than run a goal? Can you run an out? Can you run an in? Can you run a dig? Can you run a comeback? Can you run an over? Yeah. Because what makes Tyreek so unique is that people are afraid of that speed, but he can stop on a dime. He can run that speed out. He can run that dig. He can run that comeback. He can run that over. He can run the shallow. He can do everything else. Can you tie everything together to make everything look like you're running a goal ball? because that guy don't get his backpedal. I don't give a damn what you're running. He ain't, you ain't beating him. He gonna drive his ass off on it. Yeah. You better get, you better break that cushion and make him think you about to get up out of there. Mm-hmm. Because if that guy don't respect you, okay, good luck. Yeah. Funny thing about it, the funny thing about it, if you're fast as hell, all these people run these fast times, right? And this is where you get exposed because if you can't, for one, if you can't get off the bump, you're done. You're not going to last long anyway. If you can't run fast and be able to stop a transition, well, I mean, you're done also. Got to be able to control it. You got to. Speed without control ain't do you no good, Ocho. At all. That's like having a Ferrari with no brakes. Mm-hmm. I got a nice car. Can you drive it? Nah, man, you know, man, I don't get it out of third. What the hell, dude? Ocho, what the hell? You got a Ferrari and you can't get it out of third gear. the hell I think Ferrari got six gears now you only get half of it because you don't know what to do with that yeah I was excited though I was excited now look what he did it was his name brother wasn't it he a receiver you talking about Trey Lance's brother Arkansas had a quarterback that ran 4-3 he ran the second fastest 40 times he had this long jump he had like a 40 something inch vert it's 6'6 yeah 6'6 yeah joda hit me up somewhere you see you see the homeboy in front of you see the awesome come on yeah uh yeah they got uh ash what was the quarterback name what was his measurable but he's like he had the highest vert the highest standard long jump the second fast is 40 right i mean he was i ain't know i ain't know a boy had it like this. I did not. But again, it comes back to this though. What did it look like when you turn the film on? But that's what I'm saying. All those stuff, Ocho, a 40-inch vertical, 11-2 standard, not for a quarterback. No, bro. I want to know how he process information. How soon can he get the ball? How soon can he see it, process it, and get the ball gone? That's all I care about. I don't care about that. It'd be nice if you break away. The likelihood of a quarterback taking off and going 80, there probably been less than, there probably been less in the history of the game. There been a problem. How many times do you think a quarterback has taken off and gotten 80? Maybe five times in the history of the game. Yeah. Remember Terrell Pryor? Yeah, he went 93. And he cleared it and went 80. Yeah That the longest run He went 93 Yeah it was that long Yeah Uh I can think I mean Michael Vick done it a few times Maybe not 80 plus, but he done broke some long ones. Yeah. So my thing is, Ocho, I want to know, can you process information? Can you get the ball in hand? How soon can you detect what the defense is doing and get the ball going out of your hands based on what you want to do? Mm-hmm. After making a run to the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots and veteran wide receiver Stephon Diggs are parting ways. The Patriots have reportedly informed Diggs that he will be released at the start of the new year next week, just one year after he signed a three-year $69 million deal with the team. Damn. Hold on, Ocho. Yeah. Now, I thought he'd done a great job in the locker room. Superb. I thought he was great being available when he played. Like, you know, he balled out. A good veteran president of the locker room. What's up? What's going on? I think the distractions off the field is too much for them. Now, all this, everything is an allegation. None of it has been comproved. But I just think he, for that, Ocho, you played in that organization. And even though the coach isn't there that coached you, the principles still apply. Yes, sir. I think that, for me personally, I could be wrong. I could be totally off. But I think, I just think the constant and that, I think it just, it's like, nah, this is not what we're looking for. Probably too much. I mean, also that too, obviously, NFL, most teams, they're going younger too. I mean, I think Diggs had a great season, Joe. He had a thousand-yard season. He's going to get picked up. He's going to be somewhere else. I won't be surprised if he ends up in Baltimore. I'm just throwing it out there right now, being that that's not too far from not mistaken. He's from the DMV area. Yeah, he's from the DMV area, so don't be surprised if he ends up in Baltimore. just know I said it first. And every time I say something on the show, for some reason, Unc, I'm always right, and it always happens. But that's neither here nor there. But he had a good season last night. A true leader. He led the team. He played well. He did what they brought him there to do. I thought he did a great job. Look, I thought he did a great job of catching the ball. I thought he did a great job with Drake May. I thought he didn't have any bad mannerisms when he was on the field. He wasn't pouting on the sideline. He wasn't loafing on the field. I loved everything. I loved everything about what he was doing on the field. Hey, whatever happened with his relationship, I don't care anything about that. I wish both of them the best. If they're together, stay together. If not, that's okay too. But I just think knowing the Patriots and that organization, how they, if it ain't football related, they ain't trying to hear about it. Damn. Yeah, he got some juice left though. I know he does. Absolutely. And you got to think about it. Absolutely. So now he's going to get another year. So he'll be two years removed, Ocho, from that ACL. So he should be better. Better than he was this year. I totally agree with that. Chiefs trade McDuffie to the Rams. The Chiefs get the 2026 first-round pick, which is their pick because, you know, they have two first-round picks. They got one of those. They got Atlanta's first-round pick. They get a 2026 fifth-round pick, a 2026 sixth round pick and a 2027 third round pick for Trent McDuffie services. Ocho, we talked about this. Remember, we talked about this. I said, Ocho, I'm not going to be surprised at all. Hey, you was right. I'm not going to be surprised. You was right. Based on what they have, what they need, knowing they can't pay him. And the thing that I like about him, they asked him a couple of weeks ago or maybe a month ago, if he were to get traded, where would he like to go? He's a Cali kid. He said, I guess I'd like to go back to the Rams. Back home, yeah. Where did they turn it? Tennessee Titans. Got the big contract. That's one thing. You can say whatever you want to say about the Chiefs, but Andy and Brent, they do a great job. When you play and do what you're supposed to, they will try to put you in the best situation to help you considering what you've done to help them. With them, yeah, that's a good thing. Most of the time, you don't have owners. You don't have head coaches that operate in that manner and understand the value that you bring. And that value that you do have, we can't reciprocate what you've earned to this date but we appreciate your services and we're going to allow you to go somewhere else and continue to blossom and we're going to do what we need to do and fill whatever areas we need to and one of the reasons you know they can do some of the things that they do Unc because they got one of the best players in the game one of the best players to ever play this game you can make moves like this unless he can make up for the absence of not having a great DB like like Mr. McDuffie is on the defense side of the ball. They did that with Tyreek. Tyreek, they say you want to go to the Jazz or you want to go to Miami? Okay, we'll put you in Miami. So, and knowing what they need, Ocho, they don't, Ocho, what do they need, a $30 million corner in Kansas City? They got too many other needs. Other PTF. They got too many other needs. And so it just, it didn't come, it didn't come, you know, it became cost prohibitive. And you know, obviously you, we got, got my homes base. I think they still need it. They need a running back. They need a running back. Big time. They need to receive. Big time. I still believe they need a big time receiver. I just, the little small guy Ocho, they need, they need a stud. Go ahead Ocho. I have a question. What's the chances that Kansas City Chiefs pick at number nine, if I'm not mistaken? I think if Jeremiah Love is there, they take him. I'm going to say I would hope they climb up to go get him. You think he's going to be there now? I don't know. Absolutely not. I don't think so. Yeah, boy. I need those picks, Ocho. I need those picks because I've neglected so long. Now I need to put pieces around Patrick Holmes. Plus, he's coming off an injury, Ocho. Now, we don't know if he's going to be able to start the season. I know that's his goal. his goal is to be able to start the season. But what if that's not his goal? And moving forward, could there be a situation he goes higher? Hell, Ashton Gentry went sixth. Here's a guy that's more of a home run threat than Ashton Gentry, a power back. Now, Ashton Gentry, for a guy his size, he runs with great power, great leverage. He runs with power, yeah. But I love Jeremiah Love. I think that's what they need. But Kansas City just has too many holes to fill to pay a corner. to have a $30 million corner and a $30 million knee tackle. And you got Corloftus making a boatload of money. You just gave the middle linebacker a boatload of money. So I'm not surprised based on their recent history and what they need and what it was going to cost for them to keep him. And, you know, that's what happens. When you draft and they've done a great job of drafting, no joke, at some point you can't pay everybody. You just can't. You're going to have to let – it's the same thing with Willen. You're going to have to let him go. you're gonna have to let him go and the only thing is is that you're not gonna get compensation for it I mean you get you get you get compensation because he'll go and you get a third round pick but you can't trade him and get the value that you could got if you had his rights and traded him right because you got the new spoon and you got JSN coming and I'm in Wari it's gonna be up in a year two years yeah he nice and we talked about this I was like look if you're prioritizing K9 is on the bottom of the list because what he's going to want is top five top three top five quarterback running back money and they don't view him as a top three top five back which would be in the 15 million dollar range 15 seven he's not going to they can't pay that thank you helping us win a Super Bowl congratulations on your league on your Super Bowl MVP but I mean, Unc and Joe, there's tiers to everything. There are tier one running backs, and it's only a handful. Now, he's a very, very, very, very good running back. But is he in the same conversation with the Saquons and the Jameer Gives? B. John Robinson and the McCaffrey. The B. John Robinson. No, he's not. No, he's not. He's tiers. He's not. Yeah, he's very, very good. He's very good, though. And that's okay. He parlayed it at the right time, Ocho. I'm a free agent. I go on this great run. I win the Super Bowl MVP. Damn. You can't ask for anything better than that, Ocho. You got Charbonneau. And the thing is, Ocho, they always feel that they can get a back. They feel they can get a back. Because the freshest of back is going to be Ocho when he's coming out of college. It's 20 years. Because think about it. When they put the... They're going to put the... Hey, if you were that back, they're going to put 250, 300 carries on your legs before you get another contract. So you're talking about 250 to 300. You're going to get 1,000 carries in your first three years. And they don't, Aiyunk, you know how it is. They don't value that position the way they once did. No, they don't. They don't value it. And you have to be extremely special for you to hold any kind of value at the running back position in this day and age, in this past and era. and to get multiple contracts at their running back spot oh it's hard hey joe it's hard joe it's hard i already know like like c-mac and derrick henry and uh who else has got multiple contracts at the running back position mccaffrey yeah i said c-mac first yeah um yeah that's it l-a-minute hey it's hard hey joe It was hard, boy. Well, there's some guy. The Cardinals have informed Kyler Murray that they intend to release him at the first day of the league year next Wednesday, barring a trade between 9 and then. Arizona already owes him almost $37 million in guarantee for 2026, and another 19 and a half would have been triggered on the 15th of March. He will now be moving on. Kyler took to social media to address the news to everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in Arizona from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77 year drought for this organization. I feel I'm sorry I failed us. I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best. I'm no stranger to adversity. I'm prepared for whatever's next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed. Ugh. What you thinking Ocho? Hey, I'm curious. I'm curious on the destinations that make sense for him. And a whole lot of places out there. I'm curious. Hey, Miami. It's a couple though. Yes. Stay with me. Stay with me real quick, Uncle Joe. Miami, New York, or Minnesota. Yes. Now, those are the only three I can think of. The one that I would like him to go to the best, you know? Minnesota. I would, me personally, Joe, I would prefer a pocket passer in Minnesota because of all the weapons they have. I would like Kyler maybe in New York or maybe in Miami. That's just me. I would prefer to see Kirk Cousins come back to Minnesota or maybe. He would get him to pick back up where he was. I don't want to see Kirk Cousins go back to Minnesota. Hey, Joe. You got to see the numbers, Joe. You got to see one thing Kirk could do. Boy, he going to let that thing fly. Ocho, he going to have a few good games here and there, but come on, man. He ain't going to be the same Kirk. You know what I mean? I don't know. I don't know, Joe. But I just think from a passing standpoint, listen, Kyler Murray is very good. Very good. Very good dual threat quarterback. But I think it limits some of the things you can do when you have that kind of talent over there in Minnesota. when you have a mobile quarterback like that. But the thing is, Ocho- He's not your traditional drop back pass quarterback. And I think with that offense, what they have, they need a traditional drop back pass quarterback like a Aaron Rodgers or like a Kirk Cousins that can sling it. You don't really need a dual threat. I don't know if you noticed, Ocho, but Malik Willis is gonna be available and he's going somewhere. Oh, hey. He gonna get his start, y'all? He's going to the highest bidder. That's where he's going. So Miami, Arizona. I can see him in Miami. Arizona would be a good one too for Malik. Hey, what's Wilson's first name? Mike Wilson? Yes, Michael Wilson. Hey, Joe, boy, it's a young bull named Mike Wilson. He came out of nowhere. Yeah. He came, I don't know if you've been around, Unc, Joe, he came out of nowhere. That's about like playing like true number one. Yeah. Oh, my God. Well, he nice. All year long, Joe. He making play after play after play after play. If they get Marvin Harrison Jr. up to speed, they got Trey McBride, best tight end in football. So they got weapons. They got to redo the offensive line. They got to get better at the offensive line, don't you? They got to get better at that. Yeah. But. Hey, what do you think about Malik Willis coming down? in Miami. I said I think Miami or Arizona. If I had a choice, I would pick Arizona. McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Wilson. Yes, absolutely. I would too. Connors. Connors is coming back next year. Hold on. Who got the head job in Arizona? Wasn't it the guy from Green Bay? Yeah. Yeah. Ocho. Yeah. Where did he have success at Green Bay. What type of offense they're gonna run? Green Bay. The brother. It's boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. You see how that thing lines up in Arizona? Oh, he in Miami. No, no, no. LaFleur's in Miami, isn't he? Is he in Miami or Arizona? Because Willis is probably going where the other LaFleur brothers went. Right. Or the Cardinals. He's going to Arizona, Ocho. He came from the Rams, yeah. But he knows that system because the systems are very similar. Okay. 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