Joining us now is our good buddy Max Chadwick on the Engles sideline. Max.
Welcome back, Bud. That's going, guys, it's going, man.
Listen. In the first segment, we were playing a clip today from
Dave Tube, who is the special teams coordinator from the Chiefs, and I
don't think you and I have talked about this new kickoff rule to an extent,
and I think it's worth bringing up because it's flying under the radar a
little bit in terms of the drastic change. And Dave brought up the fact
that and I don't know if he's bluffing or not, but hey, we
may take Harrison Butker off the field and put Justin Reid out there because the
central in fact that we don't go Butcker getting blown up six times a game
as a potential tackler. What's your overall sense of what this kickoff rule will
mean, not only the offense to defense, but just special teams construction in
general. Yeah, obviously it's going to be a brand new kickoff that we
have this year that hopefully the main purpose of this is to limit injuries.
Right, you know, kickoffs is one of the most dangerous plays in football
before this where guys are just running, you know, thirty yards downfield without
anyone touching them in an obviously kind of a car crash, and every play
for kickoffs so off of this, this a little bit injury is really why
they designed it this way, and I'm excited for it, honestly. I
think it's a good rule change that we've seen you done well in the XFL
before and the UFL as well, and obviously the NFL took note of that
and this is a way for that to make it a lot safer. So
it's going to be interesting to see how the kickoff rules adjust teams in terms
of special teams and how the returners have to adjust to it. But I
do think it's a great rule that we have now to make the game a
little bit safer. Yeah, safer and exciting too, because I mean the
kickoff's been dead for about a decade now. I mean touchback is now going
to be a thirty yard automatic, so I mean there's a lot of situational
football involved. Max Chadwick is our guest from PFF dot com. So we've
seen receivers getting paid now. Obviously Jalen Wabble got a big contract here.
We saw Nico Collins get a top ten type of deal the other day,
but still looming here there are a couple of guys for Cincinnati, Jamar Chase
and notably Tea Higgins right down here from the road to Clemson on the franchise
tag. How do you see this Cincinnati situation working out with these two very
talented wide receivers, one of whom's on the tag, the others looking for
I would argue, the largest contract in his position's history. Yeah, I
think it's They're in a really tough spot right now, right where I think
Jamar Chase is most likely against signed to a long term deal and probably the
highest paid receiver in the league, at least until Joseph Jefferson gets his contract.
I think he and Jefferson are kind of weeding each other out right now.
I've see former college teammates, former best friends. I think both of
them they might be a little bit of a friendly back and forth of them
saying, hey, you know, whoever signs first is going to get paid
less, obviously because whoever, whatever their number is, the next one's going
to want to beat it. See. Higgins is a more interesting case.
I don't really think he'll be a Sinstani Bengal for much longer than this upcoming
season. Honestly, I think there's a really good chance that he's gonna be
on his way out. He's also you know, he's requested the trades before.
Obviously that hasn't happened yet, But yeah, I think I think he's
probably gonna play for the Bengals this year. But I think there's a pretty
good chance that Bengals just can't afford to pay both of them, honestly,
and Teague's probably gonna want a lot of money deservedly, so I think it's
a good chance that he he goes elsewhere for the twenty twenty five season.
Now it's time for our obligatory Cowboys talk. I mean, you can't do
a show without talking cowboys. And here they sit right now, a team
that's had twelve win seasons the past three years. I mean, they've been
right there on the doorstep. The seat has to be kind of hot for
Mike McCarthy right now, Dak his contract situation is interesting, and they've still
got other guys to secure up. Do you think they've regressed a little bit?
I mean, obviously you lose Dan Quinn, you bring in Mike Zimmer,
you still got a lot of your core intact. You bring Zeke back
in, you lose Pollard. What's your overall estimation of what Dallas is going
into this season. Yeah, I think they have regressed a little bit.
I still think this is one of the top teams the NFT and they should
be competing for to be in the Bold next year. I think, you
know, they will be again, like I said, like a top three
or four team in the NFC. But I don't think they're as good as
they were last year. Honestly, I think, you know, I love
their draft this year. I think the offensive line got a little bit worse.
Obviously Tyron Smith, they're a long time left tackle left for the New
York Jets. Yeah, I think there's a Yeah. I think they definitely
got worse this offseason. And you know, Stefan Gilmour so a free agent,
I believe right now. So yeah, I think there's a really good
chance that Dallas is not as good as they were last year. I still
think it's some really good players in the team will be ground like Dak Prescott's
a really good quarterback, and we'll see how that situation plays out, because
he's on the last year of his contract too. But yeah, you lose
Tony Pollard, you don't really get too much better at running back either.
Yeah. I think Dallas at Dallas definitely did get a little bit worse this
offseason. But I still think they're good enough to be, like I said,
one of the top teams. And what is a weaker NFC? Right
now, Max, I've got an obligatory Steelers question, if you'll indulge me.
So, Steelers have obviously made a lot of moves this offseason, still
probably some moves to make. I would think I would like to get on
here and be like, oh, Max, what do you think Is this
a super Bowl caliber team? Can they make the run? Let's start with
baby steps. Is this a team they can make it to the playoffs and
win a playoff game? Because I don't think we won one in what like
seven years? Yeah, I think, yeah, it's probably been that long,
right, I think. I think I think it's a chance. Yeah.
I think with Mike Tomlin, obviously he's like the king of always going
above five hundred even with bad rosters. And I think obviously they improved most
importantly, they improved the cordback situation. They got Russell Wilson and Justin Fields
in there now, which I think I much rather have than Mitchell Trubisky and
can you Pickott last year? So definitely improved there. Obviously, they lost
Deontay Johnson, they got a little bit worse a receiver, but I'm excited
to see what Roman Wilson could do for them. Yeah, I think they
got any offensive line, they completely revamped, and I think they're draft overall.
They had an excellent draft. So I think Pittsburgh, Yeah, I
mean it's maybe the best division in football right now, the AFC North.
But I do think it's a chance in Pittsburgh can make a playoffs next year
and be above five hundred and But I don't know about win a playoff game
considering how good the AFC is, right, but I do think making the
playoffs is certainly a possibility for the Steers. I don't know if it's likely,
but I do think it's a possible for Pittsburgh. And then do you
think that there is any possibility that the con artists Omar Khan is willing and
Delan do you see another big trade coming through for the Steelers something like,
I don't know, if it doesn't pan out in in UH with the Vikings,
maybe a Justin Jefferson or like maybe a DK Metcalf or just something.
Give me, give me another wide receiver please. Yeah, honestly, as
a as a lifelong Steerers fan, I'm with you that I definitely want to
get another receiver in that uh the in Pittsburgh. I think Brandon Ayuk has
been the guy that's been rumored to go there all obviously that that has not
happened yet and has got a really interesting dilemma because they got to pay both
him and Deebo Samuel who leaves choose between them? So I high it's very
anti Steelers to make a major splash by getting an a Justin Jefferson or anything
like that. So I don't I don't think that's in the cards. But
I could see like a Brandon Ayyuk or or maybe even a worse receiver than
that, Like maybe he definitely wouldn't get traded, but I can see them
maybe going after a guy like maybe T Higgins if he's a free agent.
Yeah, obviously, Daddy, we're not traded seeing us to a division rival
but I could definitely see Pittsburgh going after another receiver right now. But I
also can see them just being happy with what they have. You know,
they have always done an amazing job of drafting receivers in recent memory. And
I like Roman Wilson I Stiel, think they need another guy other than him
and George Pickens. But yeah, I think I think I guy like Brandon
on you is probably the one guy would keep an eye on for the Steers
or now. I don't know if Stafon is gonna let him walk though my
opinions. Well, you know, the big scud about now is how great
Kenny Pickett looks out there in Philly. Tray, So, I mean,
apparently I was trying to stay away from the headlines from like NFL notified NFL
rumors this, oh man Kenny Pickett challenging Jalen Hurt, So like, get
out of here with that. Come on, it's May thirtieth. Next chat
is our guests from BFF dot com. I was looking at some teams yesterday.
Tray and I both were Max and we played a little game here sort
of yeah maybe or nah, teams that have a chance to really make a
playoff run and the uestion about the Bears keep coming up. I mean,
look, I like their secondary a lot. They're very young, they're active,
they get a lot of interceptions. I think they've done a better job
building their front four at this point. Their offensive line is so have questions.
Caleb Williams is an X factor there. How will he fare in year
one? Do you think they can make the push in year one with Williams?
Yeah, yeah, I absolutely do. I think there's a really good
chance. I would say really good, but I think there's a really I
would say Bears probably one of my wildcard picks, honestly for the for the
NFC right now, and obviously going for the ninth worst team in the NFL,
the wildcard team is a pretty good jump. I really think Kayla Williams
is that special. I think he's one of the best correct process we've seen
over the last decade and a half. Probably he's up there probably with Andrew
Loucke and Trevor Lawrence. In my opinion. You got Roman Tuesday in there
for maybe the best trio wide receivers and certainly up there in the NFL with
him and Keenan Allen and DJ Moore there as well. The offensive line is
up and coming. I am, I'm really all in on the Bears right
now, and I think their defense is really better than people thought they were
last year. Really with the offense that kind of held them back. And
like I said, you got Kayla Boyams and they're now well, I could
not be a bigger fan of so uh I think, uh yeah, I
think Chicago I think, you know, making a Texans type of leap,
you know, year one of Kayleb Boyams and him having a CJ. Strout
type of year certainly within the Cars, I think I think he could,
uh he could leave the Bears to the UH to the wildcard round. Don't
know about much more than that, and I Stroud did the divisional round,
but I do think, uh yeah, I think a wildcard is certainly possible
for Chicago next year. You look at the division now, I mean it's
suddenly becoming a little bit of what the uh the North Division in the AFC
is over in the NFC. You've got the contenders across the board, including
Minnesota. I think they'll be in a bit of a rebuild a reload here
with a new quarterback. You got Sam Darnold in the building as well.
When you look at like the Rams what they were able to do last year.
Max Chadwick PFF dot Com is our guest here. It's a fascinating team,
a lot like the Packers that they sort of came on strong late.
They got some great play from some guys that we didn't even know about,
most of general fans didn't know about. Can the Rams do you think keep
that momentum going not necessarily challenging for that division with San Francisco being the standard,
Do you think they're a ten win team again? Yeah, I think
there's definitely a chanst. Los Angeles is a scene that compete in that division
next year. Kind of a down division right now, I think, and
I think with them in San Francisco, they're certainly positioned to to fight for
a walker spot along with the Bears, I think, honestly, and I
think Matthew Stafford being healthy is huge. Uh. You have Cooper Cup and
Pooka Kuo's one of the best duos that we have in receiver duels in the
NFL right now. Obviously, losing Aaron Donald hurts, but they did address
the defensive line significantly by getting guys like Jared Vers and Bradon Pitts in the
draft. So yeah, I think, uh, I think Lost's can have
an interesting year. And I shore I still think got defense is not great
overall, but it did make some mix of splashes to try to get it
better. And I'm still a big fan of Matthew Stafford even if he gets
up there in age too. So yeah, I think Los Angeles is definitely
another team that I'm I'm you know, considering for one of those fine wild
card spots. Fantley too, Yeah, Stafford can still sling it if he
stays healthy, They've got a chance. Okay, So the Carolina Panthers,
We've talked about them on and off here with the mas define success for this
team in Dave Canals' first year, what are you looking for? What would
you like to Obviously a playoff push, I feel like it's a bit of
a reach for this team right now. Things do happen, But given what
they've added to the roster, given the turnover with the coaching staff, what
are you looking for for this franchise to stabilize? Honestly, more than just
wins and losses. I just want to go into year three of the Bryce
Young era and be confident that he's your starting quarterbacks for the future. Right
if you spend the number overall pick on him. You traded a lot of
assets to get him, which actually include basically the rights to Caleb Williams in
addition to DJ Moore. So I mean you traded away a lot to get
him. I think that the more than wins and loss, I care most
about just going into twenty twenty five and saying, Okay, we at least
know that we have our quarterback in the future in Bryce Down. Well,
I'm still a big fan of I don't think Carolina did a really good job
of supporting him last year. I think I'm doing a little bit better job
now, obviously be hiring dates coming house. It's huge the drafted Xavier.
Look at they got Deontay Johnson in that room as well. They did a
much better job of riding Bryce down with talent. Now it's not Bryce down
to show that hey, I am, you know, a potential franchise quarterback
as well. So that is I think the most important thing for Carolina this
year more than because I, like you mentioned, they're not going to be
a playoff team next year, I'd be really surprised if they weren't. Most
likely they're going to be picking on the top five again. But I just
the one thing if I'm Panthers fan, the one thing I want more than
anything else is just know that, hey, Bryce, we are confident that
Bryce Young is our franchise quarterback for the future. Well said Max Chadwick PFF
dot Com. Last question, this is our question of the day, brought
to you by Ingles and just putting me on the spot here. When you
look at the current state of the NFL, what are like the two or
three most important position groups aside from quarterback in your mind as a receiver,
edge rusher, what you look at building a team? What comes to mind
from Max Chadwick to say, hey, okay, in the quarterback these are
the groups we need to solidify. Yeah, I think I think the two
positions that I look at and where I think teams need to address the most
is just wide receiver and corner. Honestly, I think those are the two
positions that obviously the effect of passing game the most, and whatever effects passing
game the most is going to be the most coveted part of a team.
Honestly so. Wide receiver as we've seen now are now becoming like the highest
paid non quarterbacks in the NFL for a lot of them. So I think
the teams are kind of coming around on that and saying, hey, if
you don't have a good receiving court, more than just one out and number
one receiver, you need multiple, multiple options that receiver even tight ends so
is the pass catching is huge. And then defensively, I think coverage.
I think we've done studies at PFF the coverage translates more of winning than a
pass rush does. The problem with that, though, is that corner is
a very vollatable position year over year, where a guy can be great one
year and then you can struggle the next year. Whereas you know, the
top pass rushers are usually going to always be the top pass rushers, So
that's why they're a little bit safer to find lead as defender than his final
league corner. But I think the way I would try to build a team
though, is instead of going to be trying to find one elite corner,
you want to find five capable defensive backs that you're willing to trust out there.
So I think it's really important nowaays. Besides obviously finding an elite quarterback
in the NFL, you need to have great pass catchers, and you need
to have a great coverage unit or else that you're really good to struggle and
then to hiss past happy game. No question and last question for you,
I know you cover the college game is as well as anybody there at PFF.
Clinton right down the road here, one of our schools we cover quite
often. Here on game on, They're opening up with Georgia. They're a
thirteen point underdog. It looks like the early lines will tell you what are
some of the things there that Clinton has to do to keep this competitive,
because that's a hell of an opening game for the Tigers. Yeah. I
think Clemston defensively, they have no issues. I think they're gonna have one
of the best defenses in college football next year. Peter Wood was their sophomore
to attackle I'm expecting a major, major breakout year. He was unbelievable as
a true freshman, kind of the rotational player for them. I'm expecting huge
things that a fam of the sophomore. I think he will staff himself is
one of the top defensive linemen in colleg football next year, so keep an
eye on him. So really the question is offensively, can k Clubnick finally
be you know, the number one quarterback coming out of high school that he
was billed to be. He hasn't really shown that in a in a couple
of years as Clemson's starting quarterbacks. So this is a uh, this is
a big year three for him now. Uh So I'm really excited to see
what he could do uh for them. And obviously getting the receiving corp better
is really really important. They haven't really used the transfer portal at all,
which is a big mistake in my opinion. Uh. But I think the
passing game is so so huge and we'll see if Garrett Riley can you know,
he he was, you know, the Royals Award winner at TCU as
their officer coordinator, didn't obviously do that well at Clemson this past year.
But I think the biggest thing for Clemson this upcoming season is just get that
passing game right man, because you have a talented quarterback in K Clubnick,
he just hasn't put it together yet. And make sure you find some capable
receivers right now. He's going to us another big problem the Clemson has had
over the last few years. You can find his work at PFF dot com,
at Max Chadwick CFB on the old Twitter slash x ap Max. It's
always good to catch up my friend. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks guys,