It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. There's so much going on in the NFL. We got guys getting traded like Geno Smith.
We got guys who won out like Kirk Cousins and Miles Garrett. And of course, we're still more than a month away from the NFL Draft where the Tennessee Titans have the first pick overall to talk about some of the things that are taking place in the NFL. What the heck is going on with the Titans?
What's their thought process and what we could look forward to next month as someone who keeps up with college football across the country. He keeps up with the Titans based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Joining us right now is Joe Rexrope from the Athletic Show. How are you, man? I'm doing great, JR. How are you?
I'm very well. I appreciate the time. You joining us at a very busy time in the NFL, huh? No doubt. Well, yeah, the Geno news pops today and I love that for the Raiders.
I do. I kind of like the Pete Carroll-Geno reunion and now I'm very intrigued. I wonder what Seattle is going to do at QB. Maybe that's the Sam Darnold landing spot, I guess, huh? Yes, Sam is going to have to figure out, I guess, does he want to take the money?
Does he want to stick with somewhere familiar? So we got a lot of questions in the NFL right now. I don't think there's any bigger question next month in Green Bay than what the Tennessee Titans do with that number one overall pick. What are your thoughts?
I know you keep up with everything in college as well as the Titans. What do you think they're going to do? They're not going to trade out. Are they going to take a QB?
What are you thinking? You know, I've been pretty convinced that they do not want to take one of these quarterbacks and that they want to trade out and they want to get the best possible, you know, obviously they need picks badly. The roster is in very bad shape. And you know, this is somewhat reminiscent of nine years ago, John Robinson came in as the new general manager and Jared Goff was the clear top QB, you know, in that draft and the Rams gave the Titans a ton of picks to, to move up to one. And it really helped build that, that led to Derek Henry, Kevin Bayard and other good players that they ended up building, you know, a really nice era of, of, uh, teams with. So, yeah, I think I I've, I've been convinced that that's been their mindset, but I'm less convinced now. And, you know, I mean, some of this is, I think you have to do your due diligence and they are, but I'm having cam ward in, I think he's actually in town now to do her Sanders due in, I believe Sunday, you know, so there, and they're also having a Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, you know, the other guys that could get at the top of the draft in. So they're going to, they're going to do their homework and I, and I do feel like there's a possibility that they stick there, take a quarterback. I think ideally, you know, the, the giants really want cam ward and the giants move up from three and they, and they're convinced that they need to move up from three, which part of that could be also what they think the Browns might do. And then the Titans could still get a Hunter or a Carter and, and then add to their picks. But then the question would be, of course, then who the heck is playing quarterback for them next year? Because, you know, I don't think it, I don't think Will Levis is a realistic option to get another year to start.
Well, that was going to be my next question. Joe Rexroad is joining us from The Athletic. What's the deal with Will Levis?
We saw all the turnovers and I mean, Brian Callahan looked like he wanted to pull out every strand of hair in his head. We're not going to, it doesn't matter if they take a QB or will I, yeah, I mean, it doesn't matter if they trade out of the spot. Will Levis is not going to be the starter later this year. You don't think so?
I don't think so. I think the most likely scenario where he, of course he's under contract is under his rookie deals, second round pick. I think the most likely scenario where he is on the roster and may start is if, you know, they do go with a rookie. And so then it's like, okay, well, the rookie can compete with Will and yeah, maybe the Levis is obviously a year in Callahan system. You could see Levis winning that job, maybe in camp, if they actually do a split reps thing. And then, yeah, at some point probably being replaced, but yeah, I think last year, yeah, there was, there was a fair amount of excitement about Levis after what he did in the second half of the 20, 23 season, but you just saw, and look, the conditions have been bad for him.
So you have to be fair. I mean, they've had some of the worst offensive line play in the NFL last couple of years. And, you know, Calvin really kind of got going last year, but it's not like he has great targets around him either, but he just, you mentioned the turnover Jr, but also just, just a little late, you know, and a little bit missing some throws that you just have to have every time he has a huge arm, very good athlete. And you know, he's a, he's a tough minded, you know, I think he's a good leader and all that stuff, but you know, you, you gotta, you gotta be able to get that ball on time and on target over and over again. And I think what we saw last year is he just, it's just too many throws get away from him.
You take you to add that in with sort of every once in a while, I guess, you know, whatever you want to call it a little bit of hero ball where it's like, you know what you just take, just eat that one, you know, don't, don't try to flip it to somebody underhanded. And I just, I think that eventually the Titans kind of ran out of patience and yeah, I don't think he's a serious part of their future. And Joe Rex wrote us here with us on the JR sport re-show Coast to Coast. I know you keep up very in depth with the college game as well. And we know with the number one overall pick, we have a prospect who's unique in that he can play offense and defense.
That's Travis Hunter. How do you think his transition will be from college to the NFL, given the workload and what do you think the best team is to, to grab him? Do you think Tennessee Titans fans would even embrace him with open arms?
Or is that too much of a reach given everything they need? Yeah, I know some fans definitely are like, well, the corner is like our best position, you know? And of course that's like a little, the jersey needs to play next year in two W was they, and they have depth. They have some good players there, but look for me, if I had the number one pick I'm running to the podium, I'm drafted him and I'm, and I'm thrilled and I'm, and I'm playing him at quarterback. That's I think he's going to be one of the great cornerbacks.
I really do. I think he's that level of quarterback prospect. I understand what people say about, you know, he didn't play a ton of man at Colorado.
I just watching him. I think the change of direction, the anticipation of ball skills, I think he's going to be on all timer. And I also, the whole idea that he could really be involved in an offense is fascinating, man. My thing with that, you know, it's like you play enough snaps in this league, you are going to get hurt, right? Like it's just, so I have my, I'm skeptical, but I certainly would give him some stuff in an offense and try to, you know, get some big plays going with them. But yeah, you know, look, I think ultimately Titans fans, they need great players.
They really don't have great players anymore. You know, Derek Henry moving on to Baltimore, Jeffrey Simmons getting a little older now and they just, they need great football players. So there may be some skepticism at first. And I know, I know some teams like him better as a receiver. And so, you know, look, I'm not saying he couldn't be great if he was a devoted receiver. And I, I understand it seems like he would prefer that.
I don't blame him. I'd probably rather play receiver too. You know, you're going to make more money. You can score touchdowns.
I said they pay more money. That's right. Yeah. But I just, I can't wait wherever he goes. I think he'll fit in. I think he's just going to be a great football player.
I do. I think he's, you know, I think he was the right winner of the Heisman and I think he's just going to be great. But I think that corner is where I think he could be one of those guys that you talk about, like you talk about, you know, Dion and you talk about Charles Woodson and guys like that. Well, you talk about Dion. I feel like over the past week, especially since the combine, we've heard everything under the sun about his son, uh, Chador.
He didn't take this seriously. And this is that, and I've heard positive things and we know at this time of year, things, things can get rather interesting when it comes to the stories about, uh, prospects, whether it's being leaked on purpose and what have you, what is your evaluation of what we saw from his progression from Jackson State to Colorado, what we might see in the league and where he might land? Yeah. Well, first of all, to your point on, on all this stuff.
Yeah. Like I just, I haven't heard anything that's really that compelling. Like, you know, I guess I heard what, what didn't, wasn't that interested in what a team thought of him and stuff like that. It's like, that's just, I don't know, it seems kind of weird. I think back to Will Leviss a couple of years ago, there was a lot of stuff about him and some people just didn't like him.
And that's fine. So sometimes teams don't like people, but I do think that he, because of his dad, I think that there's already, there's a, there's a preconceived notion with him. And so, you know, I think that, I think that probably hurts him with some teams and I know teams, I guess, think that it's going to be like a potential distraction. I just, I can't imagine it enough or franchise being that bothered if like Deion Sanders at his press conference, you know, says that I need to give shooter a better protection. Okay, fine. I mean, is that really going to be like some big distraction in your locker room? I just, I think that's overrated, but I will tell you, Jr. He's my favorite quarterback in this class.
Wow. If I was drafting a quarterback, it would be him. And it's because fast processing and accuracy, there's nothing more important, you know, again, talking about, well, Levis huge arm, great athlete, but you know, are you getting the ball there every time over and over again.
And that's what Chidor does. And I, you know, you look at the protection he didn't get at Colorado. I don't know if people realize how bad that offensive line was, but it was bad. And you know, obviously he had good receivers, you know, Hunter among them and some other good, good receivers too. I mean, will shepherd is a good player, but I just, I really was impressed with him, really impressed. Um, I watched a lot of Colorado and I think he's got it.
I do. And I think it's going to be fascinating because I could absolutely, I know some people, you know, other reporters who cover the NFL who think that's really possible, like Cleveland could be perfect for him. So, you know, go number two to Cleveland.
There was some talk of the Raiders. I think we can probably, and then although I guess, you know, you know, so, yeah, but I also like if I get Gino now, I think I'm using that pick to probably give them help. Right. Like you've kind of said like, okay, it's a little bit of a shorter window.
I don't know. That'll be interesting, but I can see Shidoor being a guy who falls, you know? Um, I think it seems like the consensus from a lot of personnel people is that like cam ward is the, is the more, you know, coveted prospect. I could see, like I can see cam ward. I would, I look at it this way. Cam ward to me, I could buy higher ceiling.
I think definitely higher floor with Shidoor. And so I would go with the more known commodity who I think is going to be a good quarterback cam ward. If he puts all together, he could be ridiculous, you know, but also like, if you watch him, you know, there's some times it's like, kind of like will others or it's like, man, are you going to throw across your body like that? You know, jumping out of bounds in the NFL that doesn't work in the NFL or trying to throw like Superman. I just, uh, yeah, leave that, leave that to Patrick Mahomes.
Hey Joe, let me ask you this. We know about the top prospects. Is there a particular player that you've watched over the past couple of years that you think is going to get, or be an impact player that is not getting attention? Oh, well, I'll tell you a player who I think has fallen, who I think has gotten some negative attention and someone is gonna, is gonna hit the jackpot. That's James Pierce from Tennessee. You know, there, there's some, this is another prospect where, you know, there's some, I don't know, I, you know, character concerns, they're vague term.
I don't know of anything that's really a concern, like any bad behavior, but you know, there, there was talk of that. And now you see some mock drafts where people don't have him in the first year ago. I think right after this draft, I think there were some mock drafts that had him going one overall.
He didn't have huge production for Tennessee this year, but you know, teams doubled him and tripled them to that. He is, he is going to be a problem in the NFL and you know, what's going to happen here is like the Eagles are going to get them. Right. So the Eagles are the chiefs are going to get the, get him. Yeah. And, uh, and he's going to come out and get, you know, get a dozen sacks as a rookie, but that's a guy, it's a good edge class.
You know, a lot of guys I think who can be good players, but man, if James Pierce junior goes, uh, you know, late first or in the second round, that is going to be, to me, a steal for someone. Well, Joe, it's just the time of year. We looking at a bunch of spring games. We got teams that are eliminating spring games.
We got Nebraska out here getting ready to run. I don't even know. It just many games. Are we done? Are we done with spring games? Is, is it, is it legitimate that the teams will get or guys will get snatched up from the portal?
So now we have to kill it off. Yeah, I know. I know that's what Matt rule said and I've heard some other coaches have said that, you know, and then some other coaches are like, yeah, I don't think that's a, you know, they got film. I mean, I know like you can look at some young guys who you don't really have a lot of film on, I guess.
Um, I don't know. I mean, frankly, I hate spring football, so I'm fine with it because like it's so rare now that you even get an actual game. Like most teams don't have enough offensive lineman, right?
They're really, so you can do some scrimmaging like one D versus, you know, one D versus one though, stuff like that. Um, you know, it's some places there's still a big event. Um, now you Ohio state, it's still a big deal.
They're packed the place or close to it for a spring game. So look, if you've got something like that and it can be a moneymaker for you, great. But I mean, I, it's going to be interesting. I don't know.
I don't know if that's going to become like a big trend, but at some places it really is like, it's just, it's almost pointless to do it anyway. The final question for you, Joe, we got Joe Rexrow joining us from the athletic. We know bill Belicheck, he just started his first practices. What do you expect this upcoming season? What do you think is going to happen into the future?
Is it too soon to even think about what are your thoughts on Belicheck at UNC, man? I, you know, I, I, this is probably a cop out answer. I don't know.
I have no idea. You know, I don't think it's going to be great. Um, I could see it being good and I, you know, I think there's obviously some cashier there and, and they are, they are certainly investing and you have to do that. And so they've gone about the right way with like, look, I mean, you know, this has gotta be major investment in IL and everything. If this is going to work and they're trying, you know, they're calling it the 33rd team and trying to run it like a, like a pro franchise. Um, you know, it's interesting in North Carolina too, because they're never at North Carolina going to settle for their basketball program, not having the best of all things.
Right. So at times they're going to be a resource battle there at some point, but I just, I think he'll be good. I just don't know that it'll be great. You know, like, is he going to be like, you know, in a content for a national championship, but you know, the 12 team and you know, if we go up 14, 16, whatever it is, the one thing about that is, you know, I mean, you can be a very good team.
You can lose three games potentially and still, you know, and still get into the playoffs. So it's, it's going to be just fascinating. Um, but I, I'm, you know, honestly, I don't know exactly what to expect. Yeah. Bill Belichick has ventured into the, the great unknown. Hey Joe, thank you so much for the time.
Where can people follow all of your work on the college side? You cover it all. Joe, fill us in. Yeah.
Well, uh, at Joe Rexroad on Twitter and uh, yeah, you know, you know, the athletic.com and lots of different stuff. Do a lot of hoops now with March man is coming up and yeah, so no, I really, thanks for having me, Jara. It was a great conversation. Thanks so much. A pleasure.
We'll, we'll be chatting with you on down the line, Joe. Have a good weekend. All right. Okay. Thanks. You too. No doubt about it. That Joe Rexroad covers all things college basketball and football and Tennessee joining us from the athletic. It's the JR sport brief show here with you coast to coast on the infinity sports network phone lines open. If you want to give me a holler, that's eight five five two one two 42 27 that's eight five five two one two 42 27.
