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Sam Robinson
5:04
Hey guys, happy Sunday. Let's get started!
Unqualified Bengals GM
5:14
Not a question but The Bengals traded for Sexy Dexy!  Who Dey!
Sam Robinson
5:14
I was talking to a friend who's a Bengals fan and heard a similar sentiment. Before diving into the trade component, I suppose it is important to address the arrival of Lawrence to a defense that badly needed (even after an active free agency) more punch.

Lawrence joins former teammate B.J. Hill (Cincy kind of won that trade a while back, didn't they?) and T.J. Slaton at DT. Boye Mafe's routes to QBs will be made easier by this addition, and this will help the team find out what it has in Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart as well.

Lawrence is a two-time All-Pro in his prime. He was coming off a season-ending elbow injury last year. Even before a staggering nine-sack showing in a 12-game 2024, he combined for 13 sacks and 49 QB hits from 2022-23. Cincy also (somewhat surprisingly) did not need to dole out a monster extension. I was a bit surprised by the short-term pact here. There are reasons for optimism.
Kodiak
5:22
I am seriously perplexed by the Bengals trade of the #10 pick for Dexter Lawrence, although since it's the Bengals, maybe I shouldn't be. With the plethora of defensive gems available in the draft that would be cost controlled for up to 5 years, what could be their motivation?
Sam Robinson
5:22
Kodiak, now we get to the trade piece. I was also surprised to see this return. Only two teams this century, as ESPN's Bill Barnwell noted, had knowingly traded top-10 picks for veterans -- the 2005 Randy Moss-Oakland trade and the Broncos' 2022 Russell Wilson fiasco. Both returns bombed (though, the Vikings drafted WR bust Troy Williamson with the '05 No. 7 pick as well).

Giving up the No. 10 pick for a player who will turn 29 by year's end is risky, but it reveals a few things. The Bengals do not view Lawrence's 2025 as his true form. They also may not have liked who they were ending up with at 10 in mock scenarios (it is possible Styles, Downs and Delane will be gone at 10). Teams continue to trade out of the 2026 first round, sending more signals about this draft's talent (or lack thereof).

The Bengals also may be sending a signal to Joe Burrow, who had given Carson Palmer-y vibes about the team's willingness to spend to win. This uncharacteristic buyer's trade shuts that down. But wow is it risky
Donkos
5:31
I’m torn between the Broncos doubling up on LBs in the 2nd and 4th rounds or taking a TE in the 2nd then LB in the 4th. I also have faith in Engram, so I’m leaning towards doubling up. What do you think??
Sam Robinson
5:31
We saw enough from Engram in 2025 to temper expectations. Plus, the Broncos received a 16-game season from a 31-year-old TE. I'm not sure they should expect Engram to play 16 games at 32. With Trautman not being much of a receiving threat, I think they need to leave at least Round 4 with young pass-catching TE.

Not many needs are present here, but you're not wrong to zero in on LB. Denver will be relying on a 32-year-old Alex Singleton and 30-year-old Justin Strnad by Week 1. The team needs to give strong consideration to the position in Round 2. I don't know if the Broncos need to double up necessarily, but I'd be surprised if one of their first three picks was not used on an ILB.

Denver did find value in Singleton and Josey Jewell (Round 4), but it can be argued the team has not had true difference-makers here since the Super Bowl 50 team's Danny Trevathan-Brandon Marshall duo (which was helped by a ferocious pass rush and an elite secondary). This need is a long time coming
Footsteps Falco
5:43
Do you think AJ Brown to NE is all but done? Literally just waiting for June 1st? If so, what do you expect the trade package to look like?
Sam Robinson
5:43
Shane, Brown certainly seems done in Philly. I'm not sure I'd close the book on this trade market just yet, but plenty of smoke points to the Pats. They added Romeo Doubs as a (slightly) lower-tier Stefon Diggs replacement but need another weapon. And Brown would arrive during the likely final year of Drake Maye's rookie-deal tenure.

The Texans' Diggs trade in 2024 is a notable comp for Brown, who is also a pricey (and high-maintenance) WR with multiple years left on a contract. Houston sent Buffalo a second for Diggs and two fifths. Then again, we just saw Jaylen Waddle (one year younger than Brown with lesser accomplishments) go for first- and third-rounders with a swap of fourths.

What about something like a 2028 first-rounder and a 2027 second/third? We have heard for a while teams have been leery of giving up firsts in 2027. This would still give Philly a first, and as shown by the Carson Wentz and Haason Reddick trades, Howie Roseman is fine taking the reward down the road rather than immediately.
Draftnik
5:50
What do you see the Giants doing with their two first-round picks? Maybe defense at 5 and WR at 10?
Sam Robinson
5:50
Let's shift to the New York side of this blockbuster...I like this a lot for the Giants. Even though the team's Thibodeaux/Neal haul with two top-seven picks underwhelmed in 2022, I have more confidence in a John Harbaugh-led operation holding two top-10 choices.

I'd lean toward Styles or Downs being Big Apple-bound to go with a wide receiver -- likely either Tyson (lot of recent smoke here) or Lemon. Ely Allen's PFR mock draft sent Francis Mauigoa there. In that scenario, Mauigoa would slot in at guard while Thomas and Eluemunor man the T spots. Mauigoa could be an Eluemunor successor at RT.

While teaming one of the Buckeyes with a WR makes sense, Ely's Mauigoa reality has my antennae up due to the team struggling -- maybe going back to the post-Super Bowl XLVI groups -- to find steady OL play. Mauigoa at 5 would remind of Washington's Brandon Scherff play, if the plan is a guard move, and could solve the RT issue post-Eluemunor. In that reality, a WR or Delane at No. 10 should be in play.
South Florida Steve
5:56
Aside from CB/WR, what do you see as the Dolphins' top draft needs?
Sam Robinson
5:56
South Florida Steve, Miami may not have gutted its roster like 2019, but there are plenty of needs. Tight end (Dulcich can't really be the plan there, can he?) and the right side of the O-line need help. As Ely noted in his mock, the team has not done enough to replace Chubb and Phillips opposite Chop Robinson. EDGE is a need.

The team can probably get by at linebacker with holdovers, but safety looks like a glaring need too. Best-player-available moves in Round 1 make sense for Miami, though WR and CB are obvious holes. I would think the team owes Malik Willis a weapon after trading Waddle days into the QB's South Florida tenure.

Good thing the Dolphins have seven top-100 picks in this draft. Trade-down buzz has emerged as well. With astonishing dead money ($179MM as of April!), amassing rookie-deal cogs will be pivotal
Unclemike1526
6:04
If I was doing this draft for the Bears I would wait until 25 and if I couldn't get one of the Safeties I would trade back and get more picks in a spread out draft. What do you think? I think the real value is in the depth of the draft not in the A-1 candidates. I think you are just as likely to get a starter at #40 as at #5.Thoughts? Thanks
Sam Robinson
6:04
UncleMike, this is not a bad idea at all. The Bears would probably like McNeil-Warren or Thienman to fall to 25. But they also could use help at other spots (WR, CB, to name two).

I'm also curious how they will proceed at LT and C. LT may not be a true draft need -- since Trapilo could be back late in the season or, at the latest, Week 1 in 2027 -- but finding a post-Dalman answer at center (with Bradbury a clear stopgap) is.

Trading back from 25 would be a smart way to, even after accumulating another second-rounder in the Moore trade, stockpile more capital to address these issues and find some rookie-deal pieces to complement Williams' likely 2027 extension.
walterj23
6:14
Do you think Highsmith will be traded by the steelers  this week   and what will they be able  to get for him ?
Sam Robinson
6:14
Hey Walterj, I think that is a scenario to monitor closely now. Super Bowl winners like the Seahawks, Eagles, Broncos and back to the NASCAR-package Giants of 2011 have shown value in overcommitting to edge rushers. But the Steelers need to begin charting a path to a franchise QB. Finding a way toward the upper reaches of the 2027 draft will not be easy for a team that never has losing records, but it should be on the club's mind a year out.

Signed through 2027, Highsmith will play an age-29 season in 2026 and is tied to a fairly team-friendly deal ($17MM per year is now 23rd among edge rushers). Jaelan Phillips went for a third-rounder in a contract year, and other walk-year edges (like Chase Young, Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler) did as well.

I'd think Pittsburgh will chase a second-rounder for Highsmith. Something like a third-rounder and a Day 3 pick could be in play as well in a scenario in which the team transitions from Highsmith to Herbig as Watt's top sidekick
Kodiak
6:20
This year's draft seems to be one of the most wide open in a long time. For instance, it seems that Mendoza is the only lock, and while Reese and Bailey are expected to go shortly after, I have noticed that just about anyone but Mendoza could be available for the Commanders at #7 or the Saints at #8. Any idea who these clubs secretly want to fall to them? At what pick does the top tier end and the next tier start?
Sam Robinson
6:20
Good observation, Kodiak. This draft does not have some of the mega-prospects or QB talent others have in recent years, but there does look to be a line that comes in the back half of the top 10. Perhaps that contributed to the Bengals' willingness to trade No. 10 for Lawrence. You can maybe say the line comes a bit earlier even, but Washington and New Orleans sit on that fringe.

I'd think both teams are sitting as fascinated Carnell Tate observers, as each team (both already with Ohio State-developed WR1s) needs clear help there. Styles would upgrade both teams' ILB units, too. The Saints eyeing Delane at 8 would make sense as well, seeing as they've lost Lattimore, Adebo and Taylor over the past two years.
Mosi
6:29
How does waiting until after the draft affect the Eagles return on AJ Brown, assuming he’s dealt (consensus says yes)?  I’m thinking the ‘27 draft is supposed to be pretty good, will teams be more hesitant to part with picks?  And if it is the Pats, can you see any players going back to Philly?
Sam Robinson
6:29
Mosi, well, cap consequences are simply too dire for Philly to unload Brown. Otherwise, the Eagles would have done so by now. This reminds of the Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey or the Falcons and Julio Jones a few years back. Both needed to wait until after June 1 to spread the dead money pain over two years.

I agree that teams will be more hesitant to part with 2027 first-rounders. We have seen some buzz on that topic emerge recently. I suggested earlier a trade package in which the Eagles take a 2028 first and a 2027 pick (Day 2 if Philly had its way). That would be a decent compromise.

I wonder if the Eagles would ask about Belichick-era draftee Mike Onwenu as a potential option in addition to the 2028 first. He would help a team immediately at guard and has plenty of RT experience (which would matter if Lane Johnson gets injured again and/or retires after 2026). But Onwenu is in a contract year. It is harder to project players in such a swap, but PHI will be seeking a first to anchor the deal
Sam Robinson
6:29
We will wrap there for today. Thanks for the questions, everyone. Get ready for draft week!
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