Drive10.28.26Hr2: Around Campus

0:03 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

0:07 Steelers Nation Radio.

0:22 Good evening, Steelers Nation. How we doing? Well, that's good. Us too. It is hour number two of The Drive here. Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, and it is a Wednesday afternoon. And so that means a few things around here. Namely, it is time to go around campus where we talk about some collegiate prospects more often than not quarterbacks, but we've been sprinkling in some other stuff this year. And remember, Matt, I had kind of last year when we first did this, it was a little bit, um, I still think it was a good segment.

0:51 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

0:51 But it would be, we would just run through the 12 quarterbacks and what they did every weekend.

0:56 They completed this many passes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

0:58 It was kind of just like a roundup of the previous week. This year, we've been doing some different stuff, talking about risers, talking about fallers, just kind of, instead of throwing a dozen names at you every week, highlighting a couple who maybe had a really good game or who had a poor performance. What I thought we would do this.

1:16 Week, and we're kind of- I'm going to hijack it a little. Okay. Cut.

1:19 I just wanted to revisit some of the big names that we've been discussing since July, August, and tell you if I think their arrows pointed up, if their arrows pointed down, or if maybe they're just, you know, kind of plateaued a little bit or still maybe even incomplete.

1:35 So I've mentioned, I do the six pack show. And so the theme of it is you pick six, six things, you know, whatever, these are my six favorite offenses or whatever. Um, but because of the, uh, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore the Dante Moore news he is out for the season yes he my co-host is like hey I'm not real dialed in you want to pick six quarterbacks to talk about and kind of the nature of the draft at this point and we rarely talk draft on there during the regular season it's just there's enough going on across the league sure so coincidentally I don't see if you agree with me and I've heard this from a few of the analysts and experts that I really like, and we talk about them all the time, Dane and Todd, et cetera, blah, blah, blah.

2:19 Nate Tice, all these people. Yeah, that the quarterback situation seems to be shaping up at Halloween. And I heard, I wish I remember who said this because I thought this was phrased really well. We were hoping it was going to be May, Daniels, and Caleb. Which one's your favorite? They're the top. They're awesome. Where a lot of the people that have kind of phrased it along the lines of this might not be the best year to be the first or second overall pick. Cause all these guys kind of are either beholder or not what you thought.

2:53 I'm glad you said that.

2:54 Cause you know what I was going to say to you at some point in this segment, this reminds me of the Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen.

3:00 Josh Rosen, Lamar Jackson.

3:02 They're all pretty different. They're all going to get drafted in the first round, but one will be first. One will be in the thirties.

3:09 That's what I was going to say.

3:09 That's the year that it's reminding me of.

3:11 And that's exactly what they said too, is like for the price of, You might rather be picking 18, 20, you know, and just see what's there. And if it's not as big of an investment or there's someone's going to trade in like the dart move or the shock early second pick might be every bit as good as the first one overall, you know, or if you're Miami, you might take Jeremiah Smith and be like, Let's trade back into 25 and get Chambliss or whatever. You know what I mean?

3:39 I think so.

3:40 Which in the Steeler world, it's kind of exactly what you want to hear. I mean, if the guy you get a 20 might be the exact same prospect that you get a one. Okay. Or you only move up three spots and not 13 or whatever. You know what I mean?

3:52 That I'm glad you actually went there to start. Cause I think that's a good way to preface this. It's reminding me a lot of that was a 2018 was the Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Alan.

4:00 It's funny. I kind of brought that up too. Like, cause Alan and Lamar were the best two when it's all said and done, but they did not go in the top couple.

4:08 I would say that there would still, it's not going to be the one, two, three, you.

4:14 Know, they may go one, two, three, but it's not like, Oh, there's a no brainer.

4:18 Four guys go in the top 10.

4:19 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

4:20 But right now, Matt, if you made me guess a number, I would say that there will be, there certainly could be, even should be, five quarterbacks taken in the first round. If you put the number at four and a half, I would take the over. If you put the number at five and a half, I would probably take the under.

4:35 As I stated there, and you've brought up a million times, we have no clue who's even going to declare. That's the hardest part. That's the hardest part today.

4:40 Here's where I'm going to start with you. I think there are four people that are clear risers, that are clear. I would trade the Steelers first round pick for them. They're a first round quarterback. if the season ended today and that's saying a lot, but we're also more than halfway into this thing. Yeah.

4:55 Last thing I have for you though, because I just did this like two hours ago. We, we, it is a six pack situation. So he's like pick six quarterbacks just to talk about. That doesn't mean they're my favorite six or in any order. Like who are the most noteworthy guys to discuss today? And it was actually happened to work out. I think six stand out. It's arch.

5:16 It's more chambliss car. mess the maker and the u mensa matt i tell you what it just happened to work out that way you read in my mind this morning when i was putting this exercise together those are the six and you know i feel like there's others there's a lot of other names.

5:35 I will say if his last name was williamson and not manning i don't know if arch would be in the conversation with those other five.

5:42 I know but Because Peacock, he's still going to go first overall, right? I'm like, oh, I don't know, man.

5:48 If his name was Arch Williamson, I don't think we'd even be having.

5:51 A conversation with him going first overall.

5:53 If he's Arch Euler, we're like, is he going to go in the first round? Is he going to be a Tyler Shuck early second round? But there are undeniable traits.

6:00 And then there'd be off-the-field stuff with that guy, too. A lot of off-the-field stuff.

6:05 So the format that I think, without a doubt, you would have to say the arrow has pointed up for them this season. They are having the type of year that they would have signed up for before it started. Drew Mestemaker from Oklahoma state. Clearly we've talked about him to death. Um, he just, he has all the tools.

6:21 He's got the body frame. He's got the arm strength. He's got the athleticism.

6:25 He moves up from a small school to a bigger school and has elevated an Oklahoma state program that had two of their worst seasons in 30, 40 years, right before he got there.

6:37 Replace their head coach, Mike Gundy. He's a man. He's 40. He was there for 19 years and he's like an icon of the program. They have, with their first year head coach, Eric Morris, his former head coach at North Texas, they have turned that thing around very quickly.

6:53 And he's the biggest reason why.

6:54 He would be a nailed on candidate to be the first overall pick in the draft if the season ended today. Mastomaker's arrow, straight up.

7:01 And both of us in a heartbeat would give up your first-round pick for him today.

7:05 I would give up the next two for him today.

7:06 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

7:07 Another guy, Matt, that has just lit the absolute world on fire this season is Darian Mensah, the Miami quarterback. Those two right now, I think it would be similar to maybe like a Caleb Williams, Drake May. If the combine was next week, we would be arguing who's QB1, and they're probably both set to go in the top five.

7:28 You know, they might be the Baker and Sam Darnold equivalent of that year that we were just referencing in 2018. I can't remember if Sam went second or third, but he went fourth. He was right there.

7:40 Right ahead of Barkley.

7:41 Right ahead. You're right.

7:42 Yeah.

7:42 I forget who went to exactly right.

7:45 But Mensah, my goodness, if you were a pit fan, you watched him running a seven on seven drill against you last weekend. And he's been doing that to everybody this season.

7:55 I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but when I was describing these guys, very vague thumbnails to my co-host who hasn't watched a lot of them, I kind of put Carr and Mensa together in that they have a lot around them. They have not had crazy hard schedules.

8:11 That's fair to point out.

8:12 Physically, they don't have the Josh Allen traits or the Lamar traits, but they're very efficient and accurate, and they.

8:20 Kind of win this.

8:21 And they're not small or frail at all.

8:23 No, they didn't have glaring negatives either, but they kind of win the same way. Yes, yes.

8:29 So let's mention CJ Carr. He's another one. I think everything you just said is apt.

8:34 There's some... There's some Joe Burrow vibes there with CJ Carr.

8:39 I mean, that is a compliment.

8:40 Of course.

8:41 But another one who, man, I tell you what, I believe it's not this weekend, but next weekend, I believe, is the Miami-Notre Dame game finally.

8:48 And that's going to be one of those must-see TV.

8:52 Appointment TV because neither has played a very tough schedule to this point. And both are first-round-type quarterbacks.

8:59 And they have a lot around them.

9:00 And they've got a lot around them. They've got receivers that are going to be first-round draft picks this year and next year. and in the days to come. Um, and it's just both of those guys, I think along with Mesta maker, it is, it's impossible to deny that their arrow has been straight up this season.

9:17 No, I think that's a hundred percent true. Like they're in like Heisman conversations too. Like they're really good college players, obviously too.

9:23 Mesta would probably win the Heisman if it was, uh, if it was, if the ceremony was this week.

9:28 You think he'd beat Smith, Jeremiah Smith?

9:30 Eh, I mean, his numbers are insane.

9:33 I know, I know. It would be one of those two, though.

9:35 Yeah, okay.

9:35 They're the two frontrunners.

9:36 It's a quarterback award, you know what I mean?

9:37 Yeah, yeah.

9:38 Jason White won the frigging thing over Larry Fitzgerald.

9:41 Oh, I remember.

9:43 The other one, Matt, I would have him in the tier with these other three, but I do think he's the clear-cut fourth one. But you can't deny that his arrow is pointing up this season. Although he did not play his best on Saturday, it's trended at shameless.

9:56 Yeah, but good.

9:58 They, he threw three interceptions at, I didn't know that Austin against Texas. They, they were down 24 to three at halftime. Ole Miss was, And so he was trying to play some Superman ball. If he got them back, they only ended up losing by a touchdown.

10:13 I thought the second half was a lot better.

10:15 They had a chance at the end of the game to get back into that thing. But I tell you what, both quarterbacks made their plays. They scored a lot of points. But Trinidad threw three interceptions. Arch threw two interceptions. But still, overall for Trinidad, I think you can kind of, if you zoom out in that game, he's down 21 at halftime.

10:33 He's trying to play some Superman hero ball. He turned the ball over a little bit too much. They had him throw the ball 52 times. But I'm still arrow up on Trinidad overall this season.

10:43 For the season.

10:44 For the season at this point, yes.

10:46 I'm very impressed when I watch him. I might sour on him because of his size. Who knows? I don't care about the age.

10:53 That's the only thing you don't like.

10:54 So when I described him to Peacock, you know, Brian's like, so what's he like fourth round pick then? I'm like, I don't think so. He's like, you sure you want like win the win to like day three? I'm like, I don't think so. Again, he's going first round.

11:09 A lot can change between now and then, but those four.

11:13 And he has to come out.

11:14 If the draft was this weekend, I would be confident in wagering good money that those four would be first-round picks.

11:20 Me too. Me too.

11:21 Two of them might be in the top five. One might be 14th, and one might be 27th. But four of those guys in the first round.

11:29 All day long.

11:30 All day long, I would take that bet. The other two, Matt, that we have to discuss, of course, are Arch Manning and Dante Moore. Let's go to Arch since we've referenced him, and we were just talking about that game against Trinidad. I think it's impossible to deny that the arrow for him this season has been downward firmly. I mean, it's, and we have talked about this a million times and we talked about it last season. He's so tough to evaluate because he's got the prototypical frame and, and the arm strength and the intangibles and the athleticism and a lot of that stuff that you do want to see.

11:58 And every once in a while, he makes those plays and he makes those throws and you're like, Whoa, baby.

12:02 Quarterback coach like i can work with that yes yeah yeah.

12:05 But it's just it has it has never been consistent enough and last year it was easier to excuse because it's his first year as a starting quarterback all this.

12:13 Yeah but now man he's boy he'll be the best player in the nation this year you know he's expectations are of course too high he's he's.

12:19 Over 20 starts now in his collegiate career and you still there's so much around him yes and there's so much around him But it.

12:25 Sounds like everything's crumbling there.

12:27 A top 10 wide receiver, a top 10 left tackle.

12:29 I guess the left tackle now, people are talking about he's playing like a third or fourth rounder. The whole organization seems like it's a mess right now.

12:34 Which I think is an indictment on the head coach, Steve Sarkeesian, who I've never been a huge fan of.

12:40 I mean, I've heard a lot of people say, Arch should transfer somewhere. And then it'll really boost his stuff. Maybe. I don't know.

12:46 He's a tough eval because I think I would be naive if I said I wouldn't trade the Steelers first round pick for him right now because the potential upside is obviously still there. But I continue to go back to if he was Arch Williamson or Arch Euler or Arch V or Arch TV, would we be really still talking about this guy as a bonafide prospect?

13:06 I don't know. I think it was two or three weeks ago when we did this segment. I'm just trying to look at it through all lenses. I liked how this description was of him, that Arch, the college football player, clearly is not what we wanted or expected or was expected of him. Clearly. I mean, we thought he was going to be.

13:24 I think I know where you're going with this.

13:25 But Arch, the prospect.

13:26 Two different things.

13:27 It's two different things. And that arrow's not as firmly down as Arch, the player's arrow's down.

13:33 I've told you this before, Matt, Patrick Mahomes is two years starting at Texas tech. They went five and seven and seven and five.

13:41 He was unbelievable. He did crazy things, right?

13:44 Like you're watching them and you're like, Oh yeah, this guy could play on Sunday.

13:46 Oh, I remember he was my top quarterback in that draft.

13:48 But then people are like, well, why is his team going five and seven? Cause it's a team game.

13:52 It's a team game, right?

13:53 He's thrown for 700 yards and they're losing to a, to Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield and.

13:59 But that's not the case with Arch right now. It's not like Arch is always the best player on the field. No, it's kind of the opposite. You should be winning more.

14:07 You should be winning more.

14:08 Exactly right. Speaking of more, look at us.

14:14 I think you do have to say the arrows pointed down for a guy that would have been a top five pick last year, but it's more of an incomplete than a down because we only saw him play a couple of games before.

14:23 They weren't great injury.

14:24 They were not great.

14:25 Right. But an injury almost, it has to be arrowed out.

14:28 And you know, my belief in this, I care a lot more about in the NFL. I would say I care a lot more about your last 11 games than I do your first six or your last 12 games than I do your first five. You're it's going to take time. You're going to need to knock rust off. You're not going to be at your best in September.

14:43 That's just not the case. I would say some of that is similar with Dante Moore. He was not overly impressive in his first three or four games. He wasn't a disaster, but he wasn't overly impressive.

14:54 And Oregon hasn't lived up to expectations either. No, they have not.

14:56 This would be the time of the year that you'd be like, all right, Dante Moore has settled in and he's figured it out and he's knocked off the rust and it's not September football anymore, but we never got to see him get that opportunity.

15:06 And he's not going to play again this season. No, they've rolled him out for the year. Even if they go to the national title game.

15:10 Bummer news this week on that front. Cause not just him, but Camario Taylor, Mississippi state. And we've talked about, he's not draft eligible until next year.

15:17 They're already talking about him being the first week.

15:18 Of draft surgery on his foot. And he's going to miss the rest of the season too. So it's just a bummer from those two quarterbacks that were a lot of fun to watch play.

15:26 Matt, I don't know how to comment on more.

15:28 If you said to me right now, though, here's, here's the best way I think I could lay it out for you. If you said to me, Wes orange pill, Arch Manning, green pill, Dante Moore, get it. Cause the color, I get it. Burnt orange pill, green green pill you can take one to be the Steelers quarterback.

15:43 You know and it's gonna cost you your first round pick it's.

15:45 Gonna cost you your first round pick you have to take one of these pills which you take and I'm taking the green pill.

15:49 Are you okay yes because I've seen it a lot more you've seen more good football than I have from Arch Manning at a high level yes now we'll we'll jump we'll come to this bridge when we come to it but I assume by draft time I mean, it's easy for me to say it's not my concussion, but I assume he'll be okay. I mean, is this a career-threatening concussion?

16:08 That's a great question.

16:09 I mean, it's rare that a football player gets shut down for the year from a concussion at any level. I mean, usually you go through concussion protocol, and maybe it takes longer for some. But is this one so bad that he's a medical red flag by combine time?

16:24 I mean, there was like some Tua similarities there to the type of hit that he took.

16:29 I mean, it was violent and ugly.

16:31 Yes.

16:31 Yes. It's a great question. I'll have to look into that more.

16:33 I don't know that we know that anyone knows that answer, you know, but the one thing I did say is if I'm him, I no longer have the luxury of, I'm not going to go to the senior bowl or I'm not going to take every visit, you know, like you better be really proactive through the whole process and throw it to combine and all those things. You have to shine when you are actually able to do football stuff, assuming you can.

16:56 Matt, two more categories here. I've got two guys for you. That I want to see more of. And then I've got two guys for you that I think are starting to ascend.

17:08 Okay.

17:10 Which one? What do you want first?

17:11 I don't care.

17:12 Let's go with the two guys I want to see more of. Number one is Austin Simmons, the Missouri quarterback.

17:17 Yeah, he's been buzzy.

17:18 He is. I'm trying to think of an example. Um... Maybe he would have been Kind of like a Dante Moore This time last year Okay And just His sample size is so small He sat at He sat at Ole Miss Behind Jackson Dart And behind Trinidad Chambliss.

17:34 And now he's No shame in that No shame in.

17:36 That Now he's at Missouri, and he's had some weeks where he looks great.

17:41 Yes.

17:41 And he's had some other weeks like he looks like he's a college quarterback who still only has a handful of starts.

17:46 Like I've seen him in mocks in the first round. It's the Ty Simpson.

17:49 Yeah, okay, okay.

17:50 Not Dante Moore.

17:51 He's Ty Simpson.

17:51 From last year.

17:52 Okay, okay. Man, you see it sometimes.

17:54 You're like, oh, buddy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

17:56 But it's just there's so little on tape, and then you also have seen the downside.

17:59 Which probably means you should go back, but if counsel tells him he's going to go in the first round— Go in the first round.

18:06 Want to see more of Austin Simmons? Show me state Missouri.

18:10 Show me some more.

18:12 We're making all the bad puns today. And then the other one is a name we talked about a lot at the start of the season, but haven't mentioned much lately. Sam Levitt, the LSU quarterback. New system with Lane Kiffin. New school with LSU. He picked up an injury early in the season. A lot going on.

18:28 It's safe to say it hasn't gone to script, though.

18:31 No, it has not.

18:32 But his best football has been played lately.

18:35 And if that continues for five or six more games here, and then they get into the playoff.

18:41 Our six-pack could become seven pretty quick if he keeps it up.

18:44 I am still saying no on Austin Simmons and Sam Levitt giving up a pick for them right now. But I also want to see more.

18:50 Yeah, okay. Their story for this season is far from written.

18:55 Exactly right and then the two matt that i think uh are um are i had the two yeah i had two for you that i wanted to see more from sorry i got that backwards the two that i wanted to see more from were austin simmons uh who who we just mentioned.

19:10 Just because there's not a lot of body of work there.

19:12 And jayna miava the usc quarterback oh okay okay because it's been so he he's had times last year where he looked really good he's had times this year where he's looked really good but it just hasn't been consistent.

19:23 It's like week after week.

19:24 And they've got some turmoil with the program. Like they host Ohio state this weekend. And they're talking about if Ohio state goes in there and blows out USC, they might fire Lincoln Riley, their head coach. Who's, you know, like the quarterback guru who coached Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams. So it was Jada Meava who like right now I would give up a Steelers day 2 pick for him.

19:43 And you'd love to get a hold of him.

19:44 But I want to see more of him and Austin Simmons the rest of this season. And then the ones with the arrows that I think are starting to point up. Sam Levitt was the first. And our guy, Lenore Sellers, is the other one.

19:56 Yeah, it sounds like he's starting to... The game started to slow down a little bit for him.

20:00 They're playing better after being a mess at the start of the season.

20:03 He is really settled in. I mean, the ability is crazy.

20:06 He showed some of that flash that we've seen over the years and had all the hype with him a couple years ago.

20:12 He could be one of those transfer.

20:15 To Ohio State next year.

20:16 Yeah.

20:17 Or transfer to wherever next year.

20:19 And win the Heisman and be the first pick of the draft.

20:21 And we could be singing a real different tune on him.

20:25 Okay. Would you give up the Steelers' second-round pick for him right now? Yes. Okay.

20:30 Some people might call me an idiot, but I just.

20:32 Just say, Coach McCarthy, there's a lot of stuff here to work with. Have fun.

20:36 Exactly right. Second-round pick, I'd give up for a lot of these guys because the juice is worth the squeeze.

20:40 Yeah, yeah.

20:42 But so those were the top-tier guys, the want-to-see-a-little-bit-more guys, and the I-think-they're-starting-to-play-their-best-football-at-the-right-time guys.

20:52 Odd question, and I don't think he's even in this conversation, but is the Northwestern quarterback a pretty good player, too? I've just heard that they've been, I don't know if he's a great prospect, but it sounds like they are a surprising people.

21:08 Aiden Childs is his name.

21:09 Yeah, that's his name.

21:11 I tell you what, Chip Kelly has got him moving in the right direction.

21:14 Yeah, I don't think he's overwhelming or anything from what I understand, but I just knew that he's doing good things so far as a college player in Northwestern.

21:20 He's got 12 touchdown passes and one interception, 1,600 yards.

21:25 Okay. He's 6'4, 225, Matt. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

21:28 He is a senior.

21:28 He's just a name to know.

21:29 He is draft eligible. That's a good one to throw in there. He was at Michigan State.

21:34 Yes.

21:34 I was trying to think where he came from.

21:35 He was at Michigan State and is now at Northwestern, which, man, if you would have told us that a few years ago, that people were transferring from Michigan State to Northwestern.

21:43 On purpose.

21:43 Mike Pursuta would not have been happy.

21:45 No.

21:46 Mike Pursuta would not have been happy there. But he is– no, I'm glad you mentioned him.

21:52 Just another name that could be in the mix. Maybe it's fourth round.

21:56 And as I mentioned to you, there's some others. Like I'm still kind of intrigued by this Kleinholz guy from Louisville because he's just got such a prototypical NFL skill set. Matt, another name along the lines of mentioning Childs, the Northwestern quarterback, is I think some people should start talking– about Connor Wegman, who is the Houston quarterback.

22:18 He keeps popping up on lists now, too. 20 touchdowns and two interceptions.

22:21 He's lighting it up. Over 2,000 passing yards.

22:24 Okay.

22:24 He is 6'3, 210, so he fits our you-must-be-this-tall-to-ride-this-ride. He spent three years at Texas A & M and now two years at Houston, so I do think he has to come out after this year.

22:38 Okay. I think he was a big-time recruit.

22:40 He might be one of those— Tyler shuck types that when we get into draft season gets a lot of buzz and I don't know if he'll be a first round pick, but could be a top 50.

22:49 Yeah.

22:49 Yeah.

22:49 Yeah.

22:50 Okay.

22:50 He has, I mean, Houston is having a really good year. I think they're, I think they're ranked like, let me, I could probably, I know they're ranked. I think they're ranked 18th right now. 16th right now. And they just beat– he just out-dueled Mestemaker last week.

23:07 I'm glad you brought him up because I keep seeing that name too.

23:09 I'm glad you brought up Giles, and we should be talking about those two probably, Conor Wegman and Aiden Giles, a little bit more than we have because.

23:18 Sounds like they both will probably be in the draft. I believe they have to.

23:22 I believe they have to. So we're starting to get to that. I know a lot of people have just looked at Arch and Dante Moore and said, well, here we go again. This quarterback class is going to underwhelm, and it's not what all the scouts said it was. Not so fast, my friend, as Lee Corso would have said.

23:38 I think, Matt, right now, I think there's already four nailed-on first-round draft picks, and we could get the five or six and a couple second-rounders.

23:45 And this probably goes without saying, but some people listening might not be draft Knicks. So these guys still haven't been gone through with a fine-tooth comb yet. That's exactly right. We'll start finding things. I'll be shocked, even though a lot of these guys sound encouraging. Four of the six sound very encouraging. I doubt it's going to be Daniels, May, and Caleb, where you're just happy to have any of them.

24:08 Yeah.

24:08 You know what I mean?

24:09 No, I think it's more.

24:10 I think it's more the Darnold. Baker Mayfield, Darnold, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, who you want. And you might get Lamar at the end of the first round.

24:17 That wasn't the Jalen Hurts year, too, was it?

24:19 No, he was Love and Herbert and Tua and Burrow. That's not bad either. Yeah, yeah.

24:25 So I'm excited. I know a lot of people all of a sudden are like.

24:29 Oh, man. Everyone tells me next year's better. I'm telling you, it's not.

24:32 Just because Arch and Dante Moore aren't the proverbial, which one's going to go one? We're not doing that thing with him this whole year. Everyone else is like, arrow up.

24:41 Yeah.

24:41 And it's been a lot of fun to watch.

24:42 There's been a lot of those years like Winston Mariota, Mariota Winston, Wenzel Goff, Wenzel Goff, you know, like, and it's not more in Manning like everyone thought it would be.

24:51 No, but there's, man, I tell you what, there's a lot of really good, really talented guys in there. Let's table that for another week, and we will revisit that next Wednesday with another set of data points. But when we return, I want to have a little trade conversation with Matt Williamson as there's been some trade requests, and that picture is starting to get a little bit clearer.

25:10 I think there's going to be a lot of dudes that move.

25:12 Six days away from it.

25:13 Yeah, yeah.

25:13 I think we'll be talking about it a lot here over the next six days, especially heading into the bye week next week. We'll get to that when we return. Euler and Williamson, it's The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

25:28 And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light. There's nothing better than the clean, crisp....

25:35 There's nothing better than the clean, crisp....

25:39 Uh, what if we just got out of here and grabbed some Bud Lights? But man, we're on air for four more hours.

25:44 I'll figure it out.

25:45 Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste of Bud Light.

25:50 Stock up now. Bud Light.

25:52 Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch Bud Light Beer, St.

25:57 Louis, Missouri.

25:58 I used to have cable internet, but I'm a 100% kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon Fios. It's 100% fiber internet that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% of the NFL draft live with ultra low lag.

26:08 And after what went down in.

26:09 The first round, still getting video calls from my best friend, rubbing it in that he called all the picks.

26:15 I told you they were building their own line. I win the bet.

26:18 Get 100% fiber internet with Verizon Fios, because when it comes to your team, it's 100% or nothing. Call 1-833-VERIZON to switch today.

26:25 Get that hot dog costume ready.

26:27 Bruh.

26:32 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

26:36 Steelers Nation Radio.

27:05 Matt the trade deadline looms just six days away from uh where we are at right now and it has uh become a very fun um date in the nfl calendar as we're getting more and more active with these deadlines over the years you and i've talked about that during off seasons just the more aggressive nature of general managers in the nfl in this current era.

27:25 And as the league always does it's become more and more of an event too like There's articles all week now. These are the 50 best players that could get traded. It's almost like when free agency hits. Build your list of the best possible trade candidates. That stuff never happened even like five years ago.

27:41 Madden culture, baby.

27:43 Yeah.

27:44 Matt, before we get into some of these other names, the question that all Steelers fans have been kicking around today. Josh Downs, wide receiver of the Colts, has put in a trade request.

27:52 Yeah, that just happened.

27:53 Would you be interested in nabbing another wide receiver from Indianapolis?

27:56 Yes. The other names have gotten thrown around or I'm often asked about. I don't know if the Steelers have any interest at all. Or Brian Thomas Jr.

28:03 And Ladd McConkie.

28:04 And McConkie.

28:06 Now, here.

28:11 I don't know exactly what style receiver I would prefer for the Steelers. Now we're going to see a lot of this against Cleveland. They play the most man coverage or any team in the league. The Steelers are not great verse man coverage. I think they're getting better because frankly, Bernard's better at it than Pittman Metcalf's fine, but early in the year in particular, their man beaters at the wide receiver position aren't good enough, you know, and it seems to be getting a little better. But I don't know if the Saints and Colts are the toughest tests out there either. You know what I mean? Sure. But, you know, like Downs, for example, is a very good verse man. He's a sharp route runner. I mean, he's

28:52 a very precise break in and out of his breaks. He's like 170 or 175 pounds. And I would prefer to have, I guess where I'm going with this is, would you rather have a slot that's little, like a McConkie or a Downs, or would you rather have the outside Brian Thomas Jr., Big, strong, fast guy. And I would prefer to keep Bernard in the slot because then you're big across the board, too. And he's done his best work in the slot.

29:21 And that would fit in with what we want this offense to be.

29:23 Exactly. But Thomas isn't exactly your man-beater. You know, if you would go the McConkie or Downs route, especially Downs, yes, they can line up outside. In two receiver sets, they're on the field in their respective teams. But they're better in the slot, too. And they're smaller. You know what I mean? Like you take a little bit away from the big identity and you're also asking a little more from Bernard than I want in terms of being inside, outside versatile. And I know that coach stresses inside, outside versatile, and that's great, but you still have a better spot.

29:56 You know, there's still the best usage of the players. So I'm interested in all three of those. Downs is a rental. You could talk extension with them, but I don't, I don't know if they breach their policy for guys they just traded for, you know, you know what I mean? I don't think he'd ever be good enough to franchise them.

30:15 McConkie's not on the field enough. Thomas is kind of a one trick. He's better than that, but he's an outside the numbers, big, strong, fast guy.

30:24 Yep.

30:25 All have their strengths and weaknesses, you know, Downs to me is probably the cheapest because of his contract situation. But he might only be a rental.

30:34 We'll continue to monitor that situation.

30:36 But I would be interested in adding a receiver.

30:38 If he's only a rental for the right price, then it's a conversation.

30:42 I'm thinking he's a fifth.

30:43 Yeah.

30:44 A fifth or a sixth, then it's a conversation.

30:46 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because he's good. I may sound like I don't have any interest. I mean, he's good at what he does.

30:52 The wide receiver market will certainly be interesting to follow here over the next six days. Let's kick around some of those other names that keep ending up on these lists that you referenced, Matt. And we might as well just stay in Indianapolis because.

31:02 It is a fire sale. I think you can get anybody you want.

31:04 Jonathan Taylor. Man, would he look good on a lot of different contending teams.

31:08 You and I were talking on TV.

31:09 We were talking about this a little bit before we started today. There's, I think, a lot of teams that should be picking up the phone and calling the Colts and just asking what the asking price is for Jonathan Taylor.

31:18 The one that should do it most, which I really hope doesn't happen, is the Cincinnati Bengals.

31:22 Cincinnati Bengals. Yeah.

31:23 I mean, think of that offense with him.

31:24 Bengals.

31:26 I know.

31:26 Chase Brown's been a high pick in fantasy, but that's all because of volume. He's not a very talented player. He scores a lot of fantasy points because he's on the field, kind of a great offense.

31:35 Because he's on the field a lot and a good offense.

31:37 And this year he has not been good. He's kind of fallen back to earth talent-wise. You put him on that offense? Good Lord. I mean, that's a field, that's a flipper. If I'm the Minnesota Vikings, I'd be super interested.

31:47 If I'm the Green Bay Packers, I'd be thinking about it. Yeah.

31:50 I don't think Seattle would be in that market anymore. What about the L.A.

31:53 Rams?

31:54 Maybe. They love Kyron Williams. I don't, but they do. I don't think they should be, but I think the Giants could be in the running back market. I mean, it's really just Scadaboo, and I don't think you can trust him to be healthy all the time. But Taylor should be sought after, and I think you could get him.

32:13 I think most contending or on the fringe of contending teams should be very interested.

32:20 No way they trade him in division, but how about Jacksonville?

32:23 We were talking about that TV and I earlier today, too.

32:28 I was on a fantasy show today. I know Saquon's hurt, but Jacksonville can roll with Tootin' for a month while Barkley's hamstring gets ready and then look out.

32:39 I mean, Kansas City's not going to call about him, obviously. No, no, no. The Bills shouldn't call about him because they've got James Cook. But a lot of those teams that are in the top 10, 11, 12 of the power rankings that we did last hour, I think they should at least be. The Broncos, be on the phone asking what the cost is.

32:55 I mean, Taylor's a game changer.

32:58 He absolutely is.

32:59 Absolutely is.

33:01 Matt, another name that keeps popping up is Jeffrey Simmons, the absolute stud interior defensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans.

33:07 I never know how to handle some of these conversations because, like, he's still young. He's a absolute stud. They just paid him. Just because you stink doesn't mean you need to trade all your good players because, I mean, it just creates another big hole. It's not like he's a free agent to be, but kind of like the Miles Garrett situation, the Browns were better off trading Garrett because they got a lot of stuff that they could have because they have so many other needs and Simmons to me is kind of like two firsts. I mean like that, that, that gets you to the table. You know, I don't have to move this player, but if I can get two firsts out of them, maybe I think I would just roll with them. And at least you can't just

33:49 keep selling all the time. You know, eventually you need to build around somebody.

33:52 You know, it's hilarious.

33:54 Trade Pollard. Yeah.

33:56 Yeah.

33:56 Yeah.

33:58 Yeah, Trey Paul. I mean, he's doing good stuff for me in fantasy.

34:00 Oh, he is.

34:00 It was like my last pick in the draft.

34:02 But he's not going to be good by the time they're good. Correct. You know.

34:05 Matt, what's funny is Alex Highsmith is popping up on a lot of these lists. I don't understand. Do these people not know how the Steelers operate?

34:10 No. No chance.

34:12 What are we doing here? Absolutely no chance. What about Mojoro Ojomo of the Philadelphia Eagles?

34:19 He's a free agent at the end of the year. He's a really good young player.

34:21 I don't know if you're going to be able to get Jalen Carter or Jordan Davis.

34:24 No, I don't think you get those guys.

34:25 Quignon Mitchell.

34:26 I think you get Barkley. I don't think you want to. Zach Vaughn?

34:32 Maybe.

34:33 I don't think this team's like the Colts. I think there's 10 untouchables still on the Eagles, and the guys that we're not going to invest in or a Barkley at that position, we'll take all the picks we can get. As it stands right now, they have like the fifth pick of the draft. I mean, that's so crazy. They could take a quarter.

34:51 They'll look at it and they'll say that we might have to bite the bullet the rest of this year, but we're going to be right back to being just fine.

34:58 I think so. I think they're a lot more like the Chiefs from a year ago. Like a great organization that bad things happen to you. You get the lane and another first-round pick, Kansas City, and get right back at it.

35:12 Woods, right, from Clemson?

35:13 Yeah, yeah.

35:14 You know, yeah, the defense tackle.

35:16 It was the defensive tackle from Clemson.

35:18 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

35:19 But yeah, I think that's a good callback.

35:20 Except they had their quarterback, and I don't know if Philly does.

35:23 That's a good point.

35:24 Good point.

35:25 Matt, there's a couple chargers on this list. Derwin James, Khalil Mack.

35:29 I think Mack definitely goes.

35:30 I would be shocked. Why would you keep him?

35:32 Yeah.

35:33 I mean, I think there's 10 teams we could list that anyone's a free agent to be, you could probably get. I'm not sure if Jordan Brooks' contract's up, but I think he's a linebacker for Miami that definitely could go. I think the chargers... Anyone that's a free agent to be definitely should go. I think the Colts are the point where you get anyone you want from them, including Sauce Gardner. You know what I mean? The guys that they thought maybe were foundational players, if the price is right.

35:59 I think this will be really interesting, though. I mean, I've seen these lists of 30, 40, 50 names. I could see a dozen going that aren't just like throwaway backups. They're guys that actually matter. And I kind of bet the Steelers make a move. I think so, too. It might not be earth-shattering. He's been bad, and I'm not a fan of him. But would you give him a 6th or 7th round pick for Quentin Johnston? Former first round pick from the Cardinals. Or from the Chargers. He's not very good.

36:34 I'd rather do someone like Josh Downs at that.

36:36 Me too.

36:37 Me too. That reminds me of the Mike Williams move a couple years ago.

36:41 A little underwhelming.

36:43 Yeah.

36:43 A little underwhelming.

36:44 That's probably not going to pay off.

36:46 Matt, some Cardinals that are on this list. Buda Baker, certainly one of them. That one's super intriguing. Sweats on this list, too. Both of those guys could really help a contending defense.

36:57 Yeah. I mean, if you're the Bills, what do you want for both of them?

37:00 Bears.

37:00 What do you want for both of them? Right, right, right.

37:03 Yeah.

37:04 That's a good call by you. Anyone else that we haven't mentioned that we should throw into this conversation here?

37:09 Trying to think who some of the names are.

37:15 Alvin Kamara?

37:16 I don't think he's got any left.

37:17 I don't know what value there is there.

37:23 There's always sneaky names that you don't think of.

37:26 Will McDonald from the Jets?

37:28 Maybe. Maybe.

37:29 Because they're going to. pay david bailey in a couple.

37:32 Years maybe i mean oh and i mean he's kind of another one like you just can't just get rid of everybody that's a.

37:38 Good point too yeah um jordan brooks is on this list.

37:41 Jordan brooks makes some sense yeah that's j that's jacob rodriguez's uh yeah rodriguez is playing well and right you wondered what lengths like the chargers would go like could you get twoy toopalopo you know i mean like he's a good player too they could get a lot for mcconkey's not up after the year.

38:00 Um we mentioned the you know the commanders i don't know maybe there's a defensive piece or so but i'm just trying to think of some of the bad teams.

38:07 I think that's i think we i think we covered most of them yeah there's a lot of bucks on this list too but i don't know if they're ready to sell.

38:13 Yeah that's a tough team too like i don't think you're getting vita i was.

38:17 Gonna say he's on a couple of these lists but he just signed.

38:19 A big contract he's.

38:20 A franchise legend and all that and i just don't think that they're gonna want to.

38:24 Well, I know the Browns are in first place. I think Jerry Judy.

38:27 He was the last one I had to ask about. Not the Steelers, obviously, because we know that that wouldn't happen.

38:31 If that's like the best I can do is the Chiefs.

38:34 All right.

38:34 I'll give you a six round pick. Yeah.

38:36 Yeah. Make your room better.

38:37 Make your room better.

38:38 I don't think you and I are both over the moon about Jerry. He would definitely make a lot of wide receiver rooms better. There's no denying that. Yeah.

38:44 Yeah.

38:44 I mean, they could use that. I think Seattle needs a number two receiver. Good call.

38:49 There's your little trade deadline primer. Obviously, we will be discussing that much more as the moving and shaking gets going here over the next week or so. One segment to go. On the other side, we will hit on some of your questions, comments, concerns, and reactions. Before we get up out of here, you'll learn Williamson. It's The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

39:13 And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light. There's nothing better than a clean, crisp, There's nothing better than the.

39:21 Clean, crisp....

39:24 Uh, what if we just got out of here and grabbed some Bud Lights? But man, we're on air for four more hours.

39:28 I'll figure it out.

39:30 Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste of Bud Light.

39:35 Stock up now. Bud Light.

39:36 Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch Bud Light Beer, St.

39:41 Louis, Missouri.

39:42 I used to have cable internet, but I'm a 100% kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon Fios. It's 100% fiber internet that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% of the NFL draft live with ultra low lag.

39:53 And after what went down in.

39:53 The first round, still getting video calls from my best friend, rubbing it in that he called all the picks.

39:59 I told you they were building their own line. I win the bet.

40:02 Get 100% fiber internet with Verizon Fios, because when it comes to your team, it's 100% or nothing. Call 1-833-VERIZON to switch today.

40:10 Get that hot dog costume ready.

40:11 Bruh.

40:15 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

40:19 Steelers Nation Radio.

40:33 Final segment here.

40:34 Just a few minutes left on today's episode, today's show on The Drive. And we go to, of course, questions, comments, concerns, and reactions. Before we get up out of here, a funny one from Max who said the way that the Steelers defensive line are getting their hands on football, they're playing like a top five secondary in the NFL.

40:53 Wow. Love it.

40:54 I thought that was pretty good.

40:55 That is.

40:56 That's pretty good.

40:58 I'm always excited about Matt's stats. This week, I found a lot of stuff more than ever. And one of the things that we always talk about is the batted down passes. I mean, they're at the top of the league every year. This year is no different. But it amazes me now all of a sudden why A-Black's good at it and Benton's good at it. It's not just Cam and TJ. They must teach. I've told you this theory, right?

41:23 That the Steelers got good at swatting passes basically the day J.J. Watt retired, who was the best I've ever seen at it. And I think he came and hung out with TJ and Cam one day and like, here's the secret. Here's the secret. And ever since, the Steelers get better and better and better at it. The other thing I dug up is the Steelers have the most PBUs in the league. They had a bunch against the Saints, and I'm like, I wonder where they're on the list.

41:49 I'm like, they're number one. I mean, in terms of defense getting hands on footballs that aren't interceptions, those are the two ways you do it. You bat them down at the line of scrimmage or you swat them in air, and they're number one in both.

42:02 I love it.

42:02 Yeah.

42:03 Absolutely love it. Sticking with that side of the football.

42:05 Which makes you wonder, maybe they'll turn into more, if you're getting that close, More turnovers.

42:09 Right, right, right.

42:10 And tips turn into turnovers.

42:12 Staying on the defensive side of the football, Jim Bodine tweets us and says, I thought our inside linebackers were excellent in this game, Peyton Wilson in particular, and I think they've been strong for most of the season.

42:21 I agree. 100% agree.

42:22 Especially since I don't think they were great in the first two games of the year. Bijan was a handful. No one played well against the Patriots, and maybe even the Browns game was a little bit of a struggle too, but I think they've really turned.

42:34 I think they've really acclimated the new system. I think they're reading and reacting and triggering. I think this is also true for the defensive backs against the run and the pass. It's more of a downhill feel to the back seven coming up for those PBUs, attacking the run even though you have lighter boxes. People are playing downhill more, and it shows with the speed of those inside linebackers.

42:56 Side note, I've often referenced that on Thursdays, Missy and Rob and I go do a video of the matchup show. Well, I'm going to stick down there for another 15 minutes and do some sort of video for Steelers.com on the inside linebackers. So I don't know when that'll go live or whatever, but it might be something for people who might be interested. Love it. Absolutely.

43:15 Andre says, given the dynamics of this offense and the injuries at wide receiver, am I crazy to say Darnell Washington should be pass catcher number one? Yeah. Yeah.

43:25 That's great.

43:26 I think that's a little too much. Now he says, I mean, that means he says maybe at least, maybe at least in the red zone. Now that I.

43:32 Can, well, he may be number one, number.

43:34 One inside the five yard line inside the 10 yard line.

43:36 Roger shows it to him.

43:37 It seems like stop throwing the fades.

43:39 I mean, I definitely enough fades, right?

43:42 Yeah.

43:42 The only fade I want to see is if someone's getting a new haircut.

43:45 So I forget who tweeted me this, but they, they showed the Darnell Washington touchdown and it cracked me up. They're like, This is the uncle that's had nine Miller lights playing against the 13 year old Thanksgiving. You know, right.

44:07 Yeah.

44:07 Just rumbling, bumbling. Get off me. So great. So good.

44:12 We got a lot of, a lot of trade deadline questions and wide receiver questions and downs and lad and Brian Thomas jr. I think we addressed that.

44:20 I would kick the tires on all three. You know, right.

44:23 I'd like, I'd like one of the three.

44:24 Absolutely.

44:24 Absolutely.

44:25 Um, and we will, I know we.

44:26 Have Wilson coming back to mix too. I mean, you can have a really strong room.

44:29 I know we haven't lately cause we've had so much going on, uh, done a lot of audience participation, but I promise you next week during the bi-week we'll be hitting on it. So keep the tweets rolling in, keep the YouTube comments rolling in. We'll bookmark them, we'll save them, and we'll have plenty of time for that next week.

44:46 Maybe we'll do like two draft segments too, like a quarterback one and all the other positions or something. Ooh, I like that too, yeah.

44:53 Last one of the day goes to a Vegas TJ who says, Wes is bougie now. I bet instead of a donut, he had a victory croissant on Monday. You're darn right, man. At the hotel before we left, those croissants and charcuterie that we were just talking about with Rob King.

45:09 Charcuterie sounds so good for breakfast. Yeah, that is.

45:12 Dude, the big buffet breakfast buffet at the hotel. It was like all this bread, all this cheese, all this meat.

45:18 And hey, I love greasy bacon and sauce like everybody else. But that sounds a little different.

45:22 And that stuff was there, too. But I barely touched it.

45:25 Why would you?

45:26 I was like, I want the croissants. I want the baguettes. I want the meat. I want the cheese.

45:29 Yeah, yeah.

45:30 It was incredible.

45:31 And like, we're obviously just kind of sit around in a different environment. It's not like scarf everything down. You're like, you know, sticking it in your pockets and running out the door.

45:39 Vegas, TJ and Matt, I think you'll relate to this. Croissants to me now will forever be like Guinness.

45:46 Only good in one.

45:47 I still love it and it's still good, but it's like, you.

45:49 Know, I've had the best.

45:52 And now it's hard to forget that.

45:53 Okay.

45:54 It's hard to forget that.

45:55 Ruins it just. 2% for the ones at home.

45:58 It's like no matter how good any Steeler safety plays for the rest of my life, I'm always going to be like, you're fabulous, but you're not Troy Palomaro. You know, this Guinness is really good, but it's not the one I got in Dublin. This croissant is fine, but it's not what we had in Paris. That will do it for us today. Thanks to Rob King for joining us earlier.

46:16 Thanks to everybody who always participates on Twitter, on X, in the YouTube comments. You know, we appreciate the heck out of you. Big shout out, as always, to Mr. TV, intrepid video producer. For Matt Williamson, I'm Wes Shuler. Take care, everybody, and we will talk to you tomorrow. As always, you know where to find us. It's on your 24-7 home of the black and gold. Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

46:43 And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light. There's nothing better than the clean, crisp.

46:50 There's nothing better.

46:51 Than the clean, crisp.

46:54 Uh, what if we just got out of here and grabbed some Bud Lights? But man, we're on air for four more hours.

46:59 I'll figure it out.

47:00 Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste of Bud Light.

47:05 Stock up now. Bud Light.

47:06 Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch Bud Light Beer, St.

47:11 Louis, Missouri.

47:12 I used to have cable internet, but I'm a 100% kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon Fios. It's 100% fiber internet that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% of the NFL draft live with ultra low lag.

47:23 And after what went down in.

47:24 The first round, still getting video calls from my best friend, rubbing it in that he called.

47:28 All the picks.

47:29 I told you they were building their own line. I win the bet.

47:33 Get 100% fiber internet with Verizon Fios, because when it comes to your team, it's 100% or nothing. Call 1-833-VERIZON to switch today.

47:40 Get that hot dog costume ready.

47:42 Bruh.