Speaker 1: All right, is that time of year. It is finally
here Draft Day and we are here to talk about
it with you folks on the Matt Thomas Show with
Ross with Shane Hallam. We oh, thank him draft Strucks.
We do need to thank him.
Speaker 2: Shane.
Speaker 1: Is like, before we get to the nuts and bolts
of it, we have tried for many weeks to get
people on the show and you are available nice enough
to come out. So thank you to Houston from us
for coming on the show. I know you've been busy time.
How are you, sir? Thank you for being on our program.
Speaker 2: Oh no, I appreciate you guys having me. It's like
Christmas Eve here. You know. I'm just waiting to wake
up and open the Presence and in a couple hours
so I'm pumped up. All right.
Speaker 1: So before we get to the to the nuts and
bolts of the Texans and what they should be doing,
how do you set up your day? You're in front
of a television, you are making some phone calls. First
of all, just generally speaking, do you think there's going
to be a massive amount of up and down with
guys and teams shifting draft oders or do you think
things will stay pretty much sedentary.
Speaker 2: I think we're going to see some movements just because
this draft really falls off after the top three picks.
I think maybe teams have kind of a second tier
there in that four through twelve range. I think it's
where you'll see some teams that jump up from maybe
the late teams early twenties into that top twelve, and
then I think it will kind of settle down. Then
we get late in the first teams are going to
be hitting the end of the who they great as
first round draft picks, and that's when you see those
teams popping. We saw last year the last two picks
the first round. We're trade ups from the second round,
so I think that might happen again tonight.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and Shane, I'm also going to ask you just
in general this draft, how do you see it in
terms of it being top heavy players that you have
with the first round grade and some positions of strength
and weakness in this draft.
Speaker 2: I think it's top heavy. I think there's kind of
a big three in this draft. We have cam Ward
who's obviously going to go number one, Travis Hunter, the
receiver corner from Colorado who's probably going to go number two,
and then I'm dum Carter of the edge from Penn State.
It's probably going to go number three. I think those
guys are the elite prospects in this draft. And then honestly,
from there it really falls off. You know, Ashton Jt,
the running back from Boise State, if he wasn't a
running back, I think would be in that conversation. But
positional value, you know we're hearing he's probably going to
go in the top five. Because after those big three
it kind of falls off. I mean, I think it's
a strong draft in certain areas. Running back, offensive line,
corner are all pretty strong, but not you know, not
necessarily players that you look at and you say, wow,
this is a blue chip, can't miss prospect. Everyone kind
of has flaws after those top three, and that's what
makes this draft difficult.
Speaker 1: Shane, if the Texas day at twenty five, would you
be satisfied with a potential tackle guard available to them
or do you think if they really want to make
a difference maker get a guy that could start potentially
Week one, they've got to move up in the draft.
Speaker 2: I think it's want that difference maker. He has to
move up probably for Kelvin Banks out of Texas or
Arma Membo out of Missouri, and those two are projected
to go in the top twelve. So I think if
Houston's probably making those calls gauging how much it would take.
And you know, we know that the next area has
been aggressive in the past, so it certainly could happen.
But I'm kind of comfortable with the choices they may have.
Josh Connery, the tackle from Oregon, maybe doesn't have this
kind of upside that those top guys have, but it
really rock solid in a major program going up against
pass rushers that are going to get drafted today and tomorrow.
I'd be comfortable with taking him. I think Josh Simmons,
the off stack of Ohio State, it really depends on
the medical on his knee that he injured this year
is a pretty devastating injury. So you could have those
options sitting there. The question is do you want to
wait and maybe just see those off of the tackles
fly off the board and get stuck. Yeah.
Speaker 1: And another position of need that the Texans a lot
of people have them getting mocked is wide receiver. How
do you have the top of your wide receiver board ordered,
and who do you think that the Texans could get
around twenty five.
Speaker 2: I have Teed McMillan, the receiver from Arizona, just after
Travis Hunter from Colorado. I think ket McMillan is going
to go in the top twelve. I'd be surprised if
he falls past the Dallas Cowboys. I think for the
Texans at twenty five, you're looking at Anika Guka, the
wide receiver from Ohio State. It's probably the staatest option.
He's going to be a solid pro slot receiver. He's
not going to be a number one. Texans don't need
number one. They have Nico Collins, So I think that
buk would be a really good choice if he's there,
or do you swing for the upside Matthew Golden out
of Texas. I have Rayton as a second round pick.
I'm not a big fan, but he did run a
four two nine, did play with some inconsistency at quarterback
with Queen Evers. The Texas had a great college football playoff.
I think those are the first round possibilities at receiver.
If I was the Texans, I would wait. I like
DA two in that wide receiver mix just as much
as some of those ways.
Speaker 1: First, guys, I'm curious, Yeah, you and a lot of
people are down on Matthew Gold and I guess is
it just the lack of consistent production that bothers you
or what else would it be.
Speaker 2: I think the lack of consist of productions there. He's never
led his team in receptions in college, and you know,
played at Houston, so I think you wanted to see
a little bit more of that earlier in his career.
The other thing is he doesn't separate really well for
his athleticism. I want to see a main coverage if
you have that kind of speed app lessons and that
you're getting away from these corners and slays on out
on ends, and he's not doing that. Too many contested
catches for his speed. My other question with him is
I don't think he plays at four two nine. I mean,
he got caught multiple times this season. I think he's
more of a four to four speed player. So all
these things mixed, I would rather be more comfortable with
him in round two.
Speaker 1: Shane Hallum joining US Shane P. Hallam on Twitter, Draft
Sharks dot Com as the website, Shane shad Or Sanders
everybody's got an opinion, what's yours.
Speaker 2: I'm not there with with youador I have him. He's
thirty ninth on my big board. I haven't readen this
the second round pick. I think he's I think he's good,
but it feels to me like this quarterback class outside
of cam Ward, is a lot of reaching for what
you hope can become a franchise quarterback instead of a
player with the traces of a franchise quarterback. I think
Sanders is really smart between the ears. He knows how
to manipulate safetyes. He does a lot of advanced things well,
but his arm is average. And in today's NFL, where
the defense is like the two deep safeties, you have
to have a cover two beater on the sideline, you
have to have a cover three beater, and I don't
think he has the arm to do that at the
NFL level. And a lot of the just just tendencies
in the pocket, bad habits of drifting backwards when there's
no one wide open. I think there's a lot of
development that he needs. So if he goes in the
top ten, I think it's a mistake. Now he goes
late first, or we've seen some mocksers fall into the
second round, then I'm all for it. Draft them, developm
and sit them behind someone. But I don't think he's
ready to be an NFL quarterback yet.
Speaker 1: So as you know, teams can find some good value
in the third and fourth rounds. I see you have
Jalen Royals of the Utah State mock to the Texans
in the third round. Who are some guys? Can you
just tell us some more about him? And then some
other guys you think they could provide some value in
those middle rounds.
Speaker 2: I'm a really big fan of Jalen Royals out of
Utah State. I think he'll be a solid third round pick.
Turns into a running back with the ball in his hands.
Their whole offense was get the ball to him and
let him do great things. I questioned his route running,
and then as a Senior Bowl he tore it up.
He beat first round corners in one on one route.
So I think Runs could be a Rashi Rice type
of player that you're using in different ways and can
have a lot of production. I really like some of
the tight ends too. On Day two, which the Texans
could potentially look at. Terence Ferguson the tight end of
Organ is really interesting. He's explosive. Organ's offense doesn't really
utilize the tight end. He was so good old stick
Jason Whitten route that they had to use him and
force the passes that way. So I like him, and
I'll drop one more name, Charles Grant. You ot to
the tackle out of William and Mary is getting a
lot of push up the board. I played almost surely
its own blocking scheme of William and Mary added some weight.
Looks really good in this offseason. So for a small
school player, I think he someone's going to go in
the top one hundred and be a difference maker on
the office line through Day one.
Speaker 1: Shane, Tonight will be the biggest night for at least
the casual fan to watch the draft, not so much
to the Friday and Saturday. So tonight, as we're sitting
back having a couple of cold pops and joining this thing,
give me one or two names that you're going to
hear in the first round to night. But you're thinking
this is a mistake. Now maybe not well, maybe you'll
be in the NFL, but way overrated. Way shouldn't be
a Day one pick. And ultimately, remember if you if
you goof up on first round picks, it does cost you.
Are there one or two names on that list, or
maybe you don't have one that you go tonight? Better
not hear those names of those hes are gonna be
in trouble.
Speaker 2: I always have a couple of those things, so but
don't worry. Michel Williams, the edge rusher out of Georgia.
It looks like he's probably going to go in the
top twelve. I think it's a big mistake. Never had
the production there with a five star recruit. Long, big, rangy, explosive,
but he gets pushed out of so many plays with
just bad technique. Often want to get their hands on him.
He's down for the count. I think he's a rotational
pass rusher. At bet you're taking him that high. I
think it is a big mistake. And I'll mention another
name that may pop into the first round. We'll see
Trey Amos, who's a corner out of Mississippi. I have
rated more as a third round pick. He's big, he's physical,
he can jam up the line, but he's so stiff
turning and running. I think it's day's NFL. Some of
these smaller receivers. He's going to really struggle if he
doesn't get them at the line. I think that would
end up being a mistake if he's drafted in the
first round.
Speaker 1: Shanehallum draft sharks dot Com. Thanks for the time, Shane.
I'll just let the folks know where they can find
your stuff at.
Speaker 2: Go to draftsharts dot com. You can see my seven
round mock draft pick for every single pick in the
NFL draft, so check that out before it launchess tonight, Shane.
Speaker 1: Thank you for the time and enjoy this evening. All
this hard workship pay off for you this evening.
Speaker 2: Thanks for the visit, No thanks, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1: You got it, Shane Hallim Shane P. Hallim on Twitter
Follow him tonight.