I'm gonna run right out to the KOA Commas Sparrel hotline. My boy,
Eric galco director of the Shrine Game, former director scouting for the x FL.
Eric, how you doing to see me? Good money? How you
doing? I'm doing great? Man. We Uh we got some Shrine Game
alumni out of this draft, whether it was draft or uh post draft.
I guess with some of the udfa's First off, well, can you tell
us about the edge rusher Ellis out of Utah and what he I mean,
obviously I don't think you get the play down there at the Shrying Game because
the injury, but what he is as a person and uh, and then
some of the other guys we got, like Blake Watson, Yeah, with
Joan Allis as a person, I made very clear company football background. High
football IQ smart, intelligent can play a lot of spots early on too when
as a player flip three, high motor edge rusher can really make some plays
on the perimeter as a wide nine, coming inside, stunding inside to so
kind of a complete guy that you'd love to have as your third edge rusher
early on in his NFL career because you can make your other headdressers petting your
in your defensive line room and has a lot up to be a starter for
the future too. So it's a great value at the back end of the
day too. When you know, it's funny because Ellis is, you know,
football family. Obviously, his father was the Super Bowl uh fifty team
chaplain for the Broncos, played here for a minute, they played to the
high school ball here, and he's got brothers all over the league, like
three of them. They're like the I guess the Elysis are like the mccaffreys
of defense when it all all comes down to And I asked him, I
asked Jonah. I was like, look, man, with how many guys
you guys got in the league. You guys have a sister somewhere that's like
a rocket scientist. That's the family disappointment. Uh. And he's like,
now she's playing safety for the Jets. So I guess, uh, you
know, I guess uh, I guess their family is maybe defense doesn't get
what what the offense does in terms of royalty like that, you know,
with the with the lineage. But uh, he seemed like a sharp,
well spoke. What did you choose him for the shrine game? Yeah,
he's a guy we invited early, and like you mentioned too, he was
un will be fully healthy for the time in the Shrine Bowl two. And
you know my philocity is we don't invite players because they get hurt one hundred
percent. So he's the guy that we we love as an dresser for the
NFL. I think a lot of schemes with value him as well to any
guy. I think he's not a power rusher on a guy you want coming
off the edge of just bul rushing instead of the edge like other guys in
this class too, But if you want a slippery highim on a edge rusher,
I think every Gonna Tell team wanted that guy in this draft class with
a somewhat weaker edged class. Overall, funny guy like Ellis who was a
slam dunk third edge rusher for any defense think would be a number two guy
and maybe number one guy in time. I think was a great value.
Yeah, I love love the idea of him opposite Nick Bonito and rotating it
with you know, with Baron Browning and Jonathan Cooper. Well, we'll see
how that works out. We did get some some undrafted guys from the Shrine
Game as well, I know we obviously drafted the running back Audri guest to
me out a Notre Dame, but paudfa Blake Watson out of Memphis for three
nine forty guy, but he's in speed. As the Broncos continue to stockpile
that running back room, what can you tell us about Blake Watson out of
Memphis? Yeah, not just come to the Shrine Bowl guy. I think
he was maybe just probably the most surprising UDSA running back talking to teams after
the draft too, and I think he had a lot of good offers to
go elsewhere, but a guy that off film. Every area scout him a
lot. The only question they had was what's this time seed going to be?
And then he ran a four and foward as Brody also jumped I think
almost eleven feet in the broad jump in at thirty eight plus inch vertical.
So a really really good athlete who just really looked at times on film like
Antonio gets it at Memphis. I mean, a really dynamic guy who could
do some receiver stuff come out of the backfield. He gives that for as
a pass blocker and a really dynamic athlete, and I think he you know,
the Trian bole two is great that we could practice and out of the
backfield stuff and as a pass blocker. And I think he's the guy that
if you get him on prize squad for a year, that'd be great.
But I wouldn't be surprised at all if he really plays a role in this
running back room by the end of a key year. He's a high character
guy who will do anything for the team, can return a little bit if
need be as well, And I got a guy I think a lot of
NFL teams were surprised at Foot out of the draft because a lot of area
scouts really really liked them. Yeah, and I think there's I think that
the Broncos are paying a special emphasis on special teams in that new kickoff rule.
He could be one of the two returners back there if they do carry
well in the active roster. The one question I had for you really about
him is what is he like in past because last year when they put speed
on the field with Julia McLoughlin, he was just undersized and did not have
the ability in pass protection. When he put him on the field, you
knew what was coming. Is Blake able to at least do something even at
a buck eighty nine. I think importantly he's going to give effort. He
is a guy that I think will walk in the door and be willing to
do whatever he has to to make that roster and not think twice about it.
The Shrine Bowl. Is that his strength, No, But he handled
our linebackers pretty well and we had some two hundred and thirty five round,
forty pound guys, Guys like Lavelle Bailey, who also was the PFA for
the broadcast, was there blitzing, and Blake held his own, And I
think that can come in time. Obviously, adding some more weight getting a
one ninety five can help them there for sure. But I think maybe better
than McLaughlin. He's not going to hurt you that much out there either.
I wouldn't call him a win and pass protection, but I think in time
he's a guy that gives a lot of effort. And you know Ben giving
effort as a pass blocker sometimes half the battle. Well yeah, I mean,
you know Sharp when he was a tight end here, you know,
as a converted receiver, just said, you know, efforts half the battle,
and so I think that applies, you know, kind of across the
board. One of the guy where I really want to ask you about before
we get some of these others. He was Omar Brown out in Nebraska.
Six foot two, a one four five too, started off at Northern Iowa,
transferred to Nebraska, really got himself on people's radar at that point.
What can you tell us about Omar Brown? He'll play both safety spots,
can do some hybrid stuff as well too, can fly in the nickel and
a pinch of him as well too, But really high football, like you
the Nebraska program and Matt Rule obviously you know didn't recruit that kit too much.
But a guy they were loving that program as well too. He was
the guy you called Nebrassa's coaching staff. That was a guy they rid about
as a person, as a character and obviously a common beat in lebroncos udfas
and draft picks were high character guys. I think he fits that bill entirely
too. So what he's on the roster day one because you can do some
new kickoff real stuff and play those seven to eight more snaps a game,
or he's a practice square for a year. Two. He's a player and
in a lot of area scouts like him a lot too. Like Blake Watson,
and I think he's a guy that they stole as a PFA because he
can be your third safety board safety in time for sure. Yeah, and
that really is a hallmark of what George Payton and especially but it also Sean
Payton have tried to do high character guys with high intelligence. You look at
of course, the kid that got near the end of the draft, the
offensive lineman out of South Carolina who's whose name escapes me, but his haircut
goes on in my mind. Yeah, I go to, well, that's
right, his his hair lives on in my mind. A double double major
from Yale in economics and political science. I mean it just goes to show
that, you know, how they value that you mentioned. I think you
mentioned one of the other guys from from the striking. Who else did we
Yeah, Lavelle Bailey, that's right, Laville Bailey, Yeah, linebacker Presno
State. He had an incredible I think he had three interceptions this year at
Presno State and really has great ball skills as a coverage guy. But really
getting into box linebacker who's an underrated athlete too, and I think would hurt
him and maybe not being a draft because a he wasn't of the combine and
b he didn't really test as well as he could have, but he played
a lot faster and more explosive on film. And I think he's a guy
that has some sneaky coverage ability that again, he did a breach up of
Presno State this year playing against some of the Power five teams, did an
awesome job working in space. He had a game winning interception twice this season
too. So I think he's kind of a playmaker and a guy that they
again, if he makes a roster that'd be the greatest at PFA too.
But he's the guy that will give a lot of compition and came too.
And I bet he has a couple of really big plays in camping and preseason
because he's a he's a gamer and a guy that steps up in the big
opportunities. To get a President's Day for sure, Well he's gonna have an
opportunity because the inside backer. You know, here in Denver, the inside
backer spots are in a bit of a state of flux. I mean,
you got Alex Singleton, who they're paying, uh, Cody Barton, you
know, I mean he's kind of a step slow. I know, He's
supposed to be the Josie Jewel replacement, but that's not a sure thing.
Jonas Griffith has battled injuries, justin Sternad has battled injuries. Drew Sanders has
been more of a tweeter. Uh, So Bailey has a real shot I
think at getting this. His competition I think will be Sternad, Griffith and
then of course Alec Mack as well. So it'll be interesting to see what
he's able to do there. Corner shift gears a little bit when we're looking
at this draft where first of all, were you surprised by what Atlanta did
at eight? And what did you think about that move to the draft picks
after paying a hundred million the kirk Cousins. No, I was the one
who knew was gonna happen. Then the whole time, I think everybody else
I was. I was shocked by Pennix, And you know, I think
it's I always tell people too, you can you be mad at it,
or you can assume people in these decision making powers are smart and why would
they do that? And I think what that move kind of signals is the
Falcons GM and hopefully ownership is on board to two saying hey, we're going
to invest a lot of resources into the most important position. And I think
if one of Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix really works out, then in five
years we'll look back and say it was a good move. But I think
the only downside is that it kind of works out in the middle and it
looks like you may have wasted both Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix's development as well
too. So I think everyone think get one around. Lee was pretty surprised
by that. I don't know any team that told me, yef we had
that Narmock draft, and hey, I bet Spencer Ratley's my mom too,
because he was going to be a Falcon if not for that pick at eight.
So I think a lot of people were surprised by that pick. I
think for good reason. Well, I was talking to sorry to a good
buddy your report. We were chatting before the draft or whatever. He had
mentioned, you know, the Pennix Falcon thing, and we were both kind
of laughing about it, like not being serious, you know, not realizing
that that was going to end up, you know, kind of becoming a
thing. I get it from the one perspective. I get it from the
ideas that you're never going to be picking this high again if you've got Kirk
Cousins and you're in position to do it. I don't get the Jordan Love
comparisons because the age gap there is wildly off. But I sort of conceptualize
now having taken a step back from it, what they did there. Uh,
the Broncos take Bonix at twelve. I know you weren't the biggest bone
Knicks fan, but what can you tell us about bow and he'll be competing
with Zach Wilson, Cherifs Stidham and Ben Denucci for the starting quarterback job here
in Denver. You know, I think it's you know, the Pennix dynamic
is for God's whe you think of Michael Pennix. I think the decision could
be questioned. I think I did the Broncos. Sean Payton knows quarterbacks,
he's on the whole career, and if he thinks Bonix is good, who
admire anybody to think that maybe not? It'd be a good pick as well
too. And if you'd like the quarterback I saw some stuff before the draft
bot maybe trading back and getting Bonix if you think Bonnicks is the first round
quarterback, you should be looking my trading up, not trading back to go
get him. So I think if they think he's the guy, and a
lot of comparisons to Drew Brees or whoever else Sean pagnsid before are great too,
it's a lot of pressure on bo now, and I think the questions
NFL teams had around the league about bo was kind of what's the upside?
Right, is a guy that can be a guy that's going to make your
receiver room better, a guy that's going to be able to make plays when
the offensive line is not there. I think that's what you want in a
first round quarterback, especially for a Broncos team that didn't have a lot of
draft access this year either. So I think it's not as about his boat
going to be fine, that's you hold to be a first round pick,
but he's got to elevate that young receiver room, make Marvin Mims better,
make that pass touch, and they may not be better, start a lot
better for the future too. Be a guy you can rely on, then
answer the question that the Broncos them confident Bonus can do. So I think
if you thought he was your quarterback and they thought he was the second third
best quarterback in this draft class. That's a good value to get at the
twelfth overall pick for the never Broncos team looking for the franchise quarterback. And
I'm going to put himself in a little bit of pickle here because they entered
the draft and everyone knew they had a draft somebody and they kind of leaked
out. They kind of like Bonus quite a bit too, so I think
they had to make their move at twelve. And if he's the guy,
it's a great pick. Talk with ericco, director football Operations player personnel at
the Shrine Bowl, also used to be the director scouting for the ex FL.
Who's somebody that after this draft has passed, that the udfas are mostly
signed, Who's somebody that nobody's really talking about that you expect to make an
impact in the league this year. That's a good question. Yeah, I
would say one guy, and from a Broncos standpoint, that we didn't talk
about actually putting the Shrine Bowl too, that I know the Broncos likes quite
a bit, and that's Jordan Miiller, their nose tackle. I think the
Broncos have a defensive front seven that is going to have some transition the next
year or two, as you well know, right, and that some guys
competing as well too. But if they really like Jordan Miller, I think
he's an impact nose tackle has in comparisons around the league, the guys like
Tank Johnson kind of undersize and high motor, high effort, no cycle as
well too. But you know, I think in this draft class, a
lot of teams felt there are about two hundred and fifty three hundred guys that
they liked that. I think that a lot of teams spend a lot of
money and we're very proactive and getting top udfas, and I think even though
it's a weaker draft class, don't be surprised if some of udfa's include some
guys on the Broncos make the roster and contribute. You know, we had
Ivan Pace a year ago with the Minnesota Vikings. We had Jack Sandborn the
year before with the Chicago Bears, and a couple more guys as well too
that I think a lot of these udfas the top here what especially get a
chance to contribute. So hope if I has a couple of udfas make rosses
and play early on despite it being perceived as a lesser draft. Bust Eric,
last question here I got for you. I think everybody knows about Carson
bach schador quhen you were, you know, the top more of the top
quarterbacks. But were some guys that people should have their eye on this season
that could be rising as it heads into next year. People do know Sagar
Sanders, right, he is a well known guy, especially in Unick of
the Woods too. No, I would say Dan Mood from the Washington State
quarterback going to Miami of Florida. He's a guy that got to know quite
a bit the last year and a half two years and was coming to the
Shrine. Bull if he came out this year as well. But he's at
Miami now and talking to Cam you know, I think talking to him from
the league, he would have been probably the quarterback draft, but after bo
Nix, right, if there was the checkon round, third round, whatever,
but he was that kind of next guy and maybe competes further going through
a draft process and he said I want to be a first overall pick.
And he goes to Miami and they've got a ton of weapons, but that
they kept at school as well can transfer, so he's got a great offensive
line, just got a new running back in the transfer portal, whole bunch
of receivers. Like it's also up for cam Ward and Miami to have an
awesome season. If they go eleven and one or twelve and zero, gam
More might be the guy that's at the top of the draft next year and
be interesting. I'd certainly love to see him make that kind of leap like
the Eric, always good to talk to you, looking forward to the Shrine
game and then all the tweets you put out on on Twitter and the prep
leading up to look forward to seeing you out there again next year. Thanks
so appreciate man. Absolutely take care, Eric Galco