NFL Cutdown Day Reaction: Ernest Jones traded to Titans, Jets roster 3 UDFA DL & more!

it's been a busy 48 hours for NFL teams across the league as we are now on the other side of the roster cutdown we're reacting to all of the cuts all of the transactions here today on locked on NFL scouting you are locked on NFL scouting with the draft dudes your daily podcast for NFL and college football scouting part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day what's better than this it's guys being and dudes here on the locked on NFL scouting podcast we're the draft dudes I'm Joe Marino from locked on bills he's Kyle Krabs from locked on dolphins and we are your NFL experts here with you daily to talk team building across the league on the locked on NFL scouting podcast with the draft dudes part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day want to is you a big thank you shout out and Welcome to our every dayers those of you who never miss a single episode we appreciate yall being here very very much today's episode is brought to you by Game Time download the game time app create an account and use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase terms apply what time is it it's game time it's time for us here on this show Joe to react to a slew of moves players that made teams players that didn't make teams the waiver wire names that are interesting on the waiver wire roster cutdowns udfa to make 53 initial 53 man rosters some of the math juggling the teams are doing in order to keep the players they want to prioritize and putting non-sustainable rosters on their initial 53 and of course the Ernest Jones trade that got done yesterday should we start there with the Ernest Jones trade cow crabs probably because we have to start somewhere and this feels like as good of a place that we can start so go ahead I'm pop a C4 going to keep the energy High all show yeah let's go you're familiar with the song Give It Away by George Straight No Just Give It Away Ernest Jones just gave him away man team captain a team that had all the turnover on the defensive side of the football your veteran Mike linebacker team captain they said get out of here we'll send you and uh six we'll get a five back bygones will be by gone Sean mcve telling you it's a football decision short and long term it's a football decision got all pissy on the press conference this a weird KY crabs very snippy and I I think that's as good of a clue as you can get as for whatever reason now was a good time for Ernest Jones and the Rams to go their separate ways and we may never know all of the Dynamics that were involved in that decision sha McVey alluded to is a short-term and long-term football decision it's what was best for the team and got real short and real sassy about it when he was pressed about it in his press conference yesterday I don't want the ey of Shawn McVey so like I'd be irresponsible to speculate on anything right but from a player perspective we looked at that player and we said hey maybe early day three pick might get it done right and it ended up being a a pick swap of a five and a six meanwhile goes to the Titans like maybe a little bit of a golf clap here for the Tennessee Titans I feel like that's a good trade for them one of our questions was their linebacker and Know Jack Gibbons had shown some promise and he's going to be relied upon this year but Kenneth Murray kind of the other guy in contention to start there and I think eres shones can step into that room and and probably be their their best option and I think he's also a pretty good fit for the style of defense that they want to run so so hat tip to the Titans I think it's a good trade for you listen the the spine of this defense in Tennessee now tandre sweat and Jeffrey Simmons with Ernest Jones playing behind them and then you have ammani hooker and quandre Diggs I'm I'll mention the name Jamal Adams but just know that I'm not really gassing up that acquisition for Tennessee but like he exists you look up the middle of this group they're really strong spine of this defense and then you consider lerus need in his acquisition on the outside and what is chidobe like how close can he get to his ceiling I don't know but you still have Roger mccre uh this was one of those teams that kind of did the the numbers game that you looked at and you're like that ain't gonna stay like that they have four corners on the 53 yeah Cale Farley pour one out yeah but uh some some flowers for Tennessee in the evolution now whether it all comes together with so much new is fascinating we we've gone over their early season schedule it's a really tough slate early on yeah but um I think they have a chance to be that team late in the year that you don't want to see on your schedule if they get everything to click in place yeah and shout out to Jarvis brownley who's one of the mid- round corners that I really liked out of last year's draft class I think for Tennessee there's a lot to like your questions are do we have enough Edge Rush do we have is can the offensive line come together you certainly love uh the coaching there um and Bill Callahan to be able to help with that yeah and how does will Levis acclimate to this offense big questions but at the same time I think this defense is going to give them a reasonable floor and then I think there's going to be some fun elements to this offense like yeah Tennessee is not a pushover I don't know that I'm gonna predict him go to the playoffs I think it's GNA be a reasonable football team I uh I believe I saw they have tyus Bowser coming in for a visit now too okay and he's obviously familiar with this defense with dinard Wilson being in Baltimore and that's where Bowser was when he was a good player now unfortunately injuries have kind of taken their toll there but I mean you're you're talking about potentially Ardon key avoided suspension which is massive for them with the appeal so that helps them out in that regard from an edge Rush perspective anyway and then if you got Bowser and Rashad Weaver as your your three four guys on your Rush rotation would you ideally like another guy yeah do I think you can get by with it if the guys stay healthy for sure yeah all right uh Ernest Jones to start things off KY I got a list a mile long I know you do too what do you want to get into next um why don't you give me your next biggest headline in the last 24 hours oh God uh I'll just pick something how about the Jets rostering three undrafted free agents for the defensive line I'm glad you mentioned this um pretty pretty exciting for them on one hand but I also think it speaks to something that you have mentioned uh on more than one occasion on this show which is like the the depth of this Jets team is a little suspect on defense in particular yeah yes yeah and so Leonard Taylor which I mean we all know Leonard Taylor's had a lot of promise it just hasn't really come together no question he had a great preseason earns earns a roster spot here uh Brandon McGregor toolsy dude out of Michigan makes it and then Eric Watts who's probably the player I'm least familiar with out of this group but to McKinley also makes this roster and I know he had a pretty good preseason as well so a lot of new names here for this Jets defensive line I know like if they can figure out something with reic that would be huge but quite a bit of transition for what has been such an important part of this team being able to be a seven- win team the last two years despite atrocious offense so we'll see how that comes together so how about how about Leonard Taylor I mean when when you look at the defensive interior for this group it's Quinn Williams and Solomon Thomas and I made a decision not to mention Javon kinlaw in the first two names right those are the top three guys there's a lot of opportunity for a guy like Leonard Taylor who this time last year I looked at and said man he he's got potential first round physical Talent yeah and it never really came together because Miami had him playing on the nose right out of position it sound like he you know in the midst of all of that uh didn't necessarily ingratiate himself to the coaching staff throughout that process it clearly dogs him through the pre-draft process because he goes undrafted this was not an undraftable talent in the draft right who who slid for lack of talent so from the Jets perspective that it's really exciting to for me to think about Leonard Taylor playing behind quinnon Williams and Solomon Thomas as a guy who can learn from those guys but then can apply the physical tools and the fact that he did go undrafted you're either going to fold your cards on that or you're going to step up to the plate on that and if he's got the fire lit under him I think that could go down as like a total steal for the Jets the contrast of Leonard Taylor as a udfa versus Mason Smith as a top 50 pick you know you know like how do you reconcile that type of stuff man it's kind of crazy yeah so okay that's our initial 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today what time is it game time time I'd like you and I and everyone listening or watching the show to raise your glass what about my gatorade bottle it's great you might want to put the cap on because I'm gonna ask you to pour one out for Desmond Ritter okay so I I guess this draft class in general is is a storyline for Desmond Ritter has now had two teams throw up the hands and say you know what no thank you Clayton ton is going to be our backup quarterback in Arizona for a player in Ritter who had a very successful college career at Cincinnati was in the conversation for the U I'm gonna use air quotes here best quarterback in the 2022 NFL draft which saw Kenny pyo in the first round nobody else go until the third round and that's where you had Ritter and Matt carral and Malik Willis and Malik Willis got traded to Green Bay for a seventh round pick and rter got traded Arizona and then got cut and maal has been on four teams already and um you always have the debate about middle class quarterback prospects and their Merit as far as like when it makes sense to draft a guy or when it doesn't make sense to draft a guy and if you're drafting a guy in a certain range should you really be drafting him because that means there's probably questions that would prevent him from being what you would want when you draft a quarterback with a certain caliber pick and I guess I thought now was a good time to revisit that conversation because we did see Malik Willis get traded Matt carral got brought back by Minnesota Minnesota for a cup of coffee um Desmond Ritter was there are a lot of people in this industry who I have respect for their opinions on who really liked Desmond Ritter I thought he would be a quality St starting quarterback and it hasn't happen Kyle is is um is Skyler Thompson and Brock py the only two quarterbacks from that draft that are still on the team that drafted him still with their original team yeah the last two correct to pick 247 and pick 262 yeah picket Ritter bik Willis carral bayy zappy who has been released Sam how has been traded Chris udun he's not on the Steelers anymore nope Skyler Thompson Brock pretty yeah boy they some some people say draft a quarterback every year Kyle crabs you know and there's there's probably something to be said about developmental upside and coveting physical traits and that was the appeal on Kenny picket was he was an athlete that was the appeal on Desmond he is the big time armor the prototypical size and you got Skyler Thompson who's my size like 61200 and Brock pie who who's 6 foot was he 210 like not big guys with not big arms um from the Big 12 rip the old I'm gonna use the Old School Big 12 because it's no longer the big I gotta learn the conferences that's part of my on my agenda today I figure out what team's in which conference um yeah man it's it's a really fascinating case study on quarterbacks for how that class has turned out with all of the questions and look we went through that draft process we were full-time in the draft in that that cycle and how hard of a time did we have identifying a player that we really liked at quarterback we we we never did you talk yourself into like things about these guys that you're like okay if it's going to work that's what we're point to but neither neither you nor I had a first-run grade on any of these guys correct which is probably a you don't got to talk yourself into it right and we'll see what this year's has that's great advice right there don't don't talk yourself into it if you don't see it right because this is the case study for every 2020 class where you got five guys that all hit and Joe you can even go back to the 2021 class that's what I was waiting to kind of get to I think those two class those two quarterback classes kind of yeah set it set pack the quarterback landscape I think that's why you have so many teams in the spot that they are is that we just didn't get enough out of two consecutive draft classes to help replenish the landscape of the league so tough scene there okay Kyle Krabs I guess I'll take the next talking point here go right ahead I would like to just lump in wide receivers can we like there's a lot Brown interesting names Noah brown terrace Marshall Jr cadarius Tony was released after the Chiefs traded a three and a five I know he helped them win the Super Bowl with the return that Aaron cyos line drive to him um you don't got to do that come on dude I I was quarreling with Chiefs fans for half the day yesterday all I heard about is that cadarius Tony and mvs have two Super Bowls why didn't they keep them why I mean if the Chiefs don't who cares if they have two Super Bowls what what argument are they trying to make this is all I want to say is if the Chiefs don't three repeat we'll always wonder if things could have been different if they still had mvs and cadarius Tony you know I have and I'm sure everybody who listens to this program is a very well-grounded no question rooted in reality individual and fan of their favorite team but some of the insecurity that you see from Kansas City Chiefs fan it's like okay laugh turn off your phone go outside and think about winning the last two super bowls and three of the last five and that you're probably gonna win multiple again in the next five years right what could possibly hurt you right like you're it's expected to kiss kiss the Rings all the time don't don't turn yourself into the Patriots because when Pat goes away we want to be able to sympathize with you helicopter into every conversation they can K right let's let's inject the the NFL world revolves around us so let's inject ourselves into every conversation we get meanwhile you got Bill Bel out here crying about taxachusetts on the Pat McAfee show I'm like Bill I don't feel sorry for you one bit brother yeah but I do love post I love bill now that he's out of the league man he's he's so much better to me than Brady I I strongly disagree I know well we could fundamentally disagree on that but I'm team Bill postretirement give me B the bill bellich I can get and then Tom Brady can just you know disapp you know who's doing a good job in media is Nick San oh yeah yeah I always like anything ni has to say I want to hear it I have very much enjoyed Nick's perspective take I think Nick's a better Coach than Bill oh Kyle Krabs are you kidding there's no question about that I just he went to multiple places and won championships with multiple different interations of his teams that's probably a hot take for some but I I really on the pantheon of like all coaches at all levels I think Nick savin's higher up than Bill belich oh I think that's super true I'm glad we can fundamentally agree on that wow okay that's cool so who I think the fun thing about these receivers is I think both you and I want one for our respective teams we might want the same I can't believe sha Shavers didn't make the cut in Buffalo I heard about how great of a camp he had I don't know what to tell you can you believe can you believe Ben denucci air mailed that ball maybe should have caught that ball he would Big Red Zone Target falling all over himself trying to catch a wide open TouchDown I I think the the next observation that I had had with the cuts was you saw where teams were and weren't willing to take risks on raining Talent how many teams kep 10 plus offensive linemen a bunch I'm sure you know the answer to that yeah I don't know the answer I don't have the exact number but I know it seems like every team graphic roster announcement that I've seen put out teams kept like 10 offensive line yeah meanwhile teams are keeping Four Corners teams are keeping four wide receivers teams are keeping how many running backs does Cleveland have right now is it two yeah the receiver numbers are low across the league it feels like yeah yeah so the Browns kept four quarterbacks and two running backs now granted Nick chubs not among the two running backs their active roster running backs are Jerome Ford and Pierre strong right now four quarterbacks yeah that's big that's the big talking point I had down was the Brown's keeping four quarterbacks and I think I well I mean first of all last year happened right that and teams are always going to overcorrect when something like that happens right but Deshawn can he can he can he throw a football consecutive day is Jame is too good to cut DTR too much promise because maybe he's your guy maybe he's your long-term guy if Watson can't get it together and then Huntley and Pro Bowl quarterback you know so let let's agree I think jamus is too good to cut right you agree with that that's exactly what I say uh I think DTR is too good to be the one that you part with because there's long-term potential there right and he's also in the second year of a rookie contract as a day three pick and you're looking at and things don't work out with DeShawn Watson and you really like DTR and he develops in your system you'd love to have two years of day three pick rookie contract at quarterback while you get through two years of deadcat for fully guaranteed contract to% 100% if they're gonna can they get something for Tyler Huntley I think they could prob they could probably get a late if Malik Willis gives for a seven I would like to think Tyler Huntley who's proven more at the NFL level can can get you a a late dat three pick too correct correct so that's what I'm looking for and it's like look deadline spur action we got to cut the roster down but at the same time I don't want to get rid of this asset that I really believe I can get something for just because I have to cut to 53 I'll cut something else that I feel like is more tangible for me to find an alternative with or bring a player back on the practice squad yeah all right Kyle Krabs will'll continue reacting to all the stuff that happened recently in the NFL on the other out of it be sure to stick with us what do you got next how about these kickers Chad Ryland and Anders Carlson disasters as rookies cut on on waivers team never draft specialist now oh no I I I I don't agree with that that um just draft the right ones right draft the good ones kicker feels like such a high variance position though killing me yeah you know because it's like at some point you you are kind of at the mercy of your Snapper and your holder to to consistently and effectively kick the ball I'm not saying that's the issue with what these guys had but at the same time a guy's process can be exactly the same and depending on the other variables around him he might be a 78% kicker he might be an 89% kicker n 11 teams last year were 90% or better make kick and field goals and I don't know I have high expectations for these kickers in the NFL I and and kickers are typically good until they're not can these guys bounce back right and they'll get opportunity right because I think there's a lot of teams that are nervous about their kicker situation across the league so they'll get chances what do they do with it I mean think about um Daniel Carlson right like what he was originally with Minnesota he goes to the Raiders he's like one of the best kickers in the league yeah so like we'll see but I don't want to spend too much time there but that's interesting to I don't know dude like Dallas got Brandon Aubrey off the street right there's all different ways to find pro best kicker in the league was unbelievable 10 for 10 Beyond 50 last year yeah just a an automatic kicker they found him kicking XFL yeah well did he even do that he was like from Australia or something and then remember they had the kicker they had The Yips couldn't even make an extra point remember this one of the most ridiculous things you've ever seen what the heck was that guy's name McMain it was a m i don't remember his name I don't want to throw him out the bus but right don't throw the wrong guy on the bus for for the record Aubrey was in the usfl and was was like his only year two-time usfl champion in 22 and 23 you know what the good thing about field goals and scouting it is it either goes in or it doesn't you know what I mean kind of an easy thing to Dynamic motion you know I don't know what the hell you talk about with that but so Aubrey first round 2017 MLS draft by Toronto FC guys's this guy's a came in last year 28y old rookie kicker best kicker in the league so I guess there's also it feels like there's vets that even if they're at the end stage and their legs aren't as big as they used to be you can find a guy I I think I'm Gonna Fall Into Me Justin Tucker one of the most uniquely valuable players in the league do you like how I'm playing with my daughter's hairbrush too by the way buddy I get it I get it I got a bath bomb I got a bath bomb toy here you know I just realized I just held it up and pointed to myself with it and handle here and they're like better go and clarify what the hell that is right yeah no I got a little hairbrush here my daughter brought it in for me so I'm playing with it um me Justin Tucker like you uniquely valuable player and weapon in the NFL is now saying I don't think I would ever draft a specialist this is coming from our debate of what was it Justin kick Tucker trade yeah I always said you trade for Justin Tucker and you're like I wouldn't I just simply wouldn't do it yeah it wouldn't right I still May and I feel like you're coming on to my side of this well Brandon aubre is changing some things for me a very good yeah um speaking of change how about this 2023 Washington command ERS draft class that's going to go down as just a flush I mean already KJ Henry gone Ricky Stromberg third round pick gone G no you don't see the path for Forbes or Martin that's a tough man it's tough I mean obviously Washington's been through it in a regime change and I get all that but like you'd like to be able to look and identify parts of that that can help you but they're going to have I mean even the year before with like Johan doson and F matth this like you're you're going to have multiple draft classes in a row that just are not going to help your football team and that's going to I think it's going to make it further uphill climb for them to get it going how about how cursed do you think John Ridgeway feels that he he came into Dallas with Dan Quinn and they got rid of him and then he goes to Washington and Dan Quinn comes to Washington and now they're trying to get rid richway in Washington it's tough seeing he never he probably never thought saw that coming as a possibility right yeah I don't know Dan Dan Quinn is one of that's gonna be a fascinating team because they they spend some money they have some really intriguing pieces they move on from Jan doson get what they can um Jaden Daniels just I'm watching Will Campbell their their left tackle on film and you see all of the dynamic play and and I remember seen him in the preseason and had joint practices and and I had that exposures to him I think he's as long as he plays responsibly and doesn't expose himself to unnecessary risk I think he's one of the more fascinating players in the league this year they they're total wild card team for me um but then you look at the roster and the corners are St juice Michael Davis Emanuel Forbes no bagy and Mike Sam Hill that's the corners on this team right the wide receivers is Terry mccl dami Brown ol AE Jame Jameson Crowder Byron Pringle and a third round picking Luke mcaffrey I don't know I I don't know I could see it going good and I could see it going bad I feel like we need to shout out Tony Jefferson made the Chargers initial 53 like out of nowhere come back from the league played what 2013 through 2022 injuries like crazy yep it's really starting in 2019 he never played that frequently made the Chargers initial 53 that's a cool story did you see um Lawrence guy taking a visit to the Ravens today too that'd be a nice pickup for them I thought we were kind of told that he was yeah we kind of under the impression that he was gonna be done right he got the itch he's like ah you know what training Camp's over but don't you see this happen sometimes and guys sign and then three days later they retire like yeah I shouldn't have done that yeah I mean shoot Shaq Barrett yeah I mean I5 million signing bonus and you know what Brandon shell never mind Brandon shell Anquan Bal Legends Legends of the game absolute Legends what else you got my list is exhausted AJ Dylan's out for the year that's that's a neck yeah and he got he was brought back on a one-year deal so he's yeah probably done in Green Bay yeah Mark big big opportunity for Marshon Lloyd of course behind Josh Jacobs certain Packers he'll be fine um yeah they're they're both top two running backs in the NFL right like it'll be fine yeah lisine cut first round pick sa I have I have a followup on Josh on Josh Jacobs and the Packers but I want to look it up so just give me a sec okay I'll continue to say things that are interesting galani Woods back-to-back years on season ending injured reserve promis yeah promising start for him as a rookie and then two years in a row just nothing that's disappointing dvin Cook's working out with the Dallas Cowboys I mean why not I mean d Zeke Elliott and dvin cook is your running back tandem cow crabs I mean what what could go wrong there that looks interesting SM a Perron cut 50 last year I got it and it's the Josh Jacobs contract all right he's here this year AJ Dylan's obviously down Marshon Lloyd fourth round pi yep promising player but durability is kind of a question are they are they they're not are they just not gonna ride Josh Jacobs into the ground this year no he has no guarantee money after this year yeah he just signed a foure 48 million contract and has no guaranteed money after this year I think that was probably the cost of doing business right correct but if if you're Green Bay I mean he's got a roster bonus that's due the fifth day of the league calendar year but he had a $12.5 million signing bonus and $12.5 million in guarantees that's it you get a signing bonus this year that's it they can R they could do 400 carries and then say say lovei thank you probably will the Packers I probably would yeah kind of dress up a deal and then reality it's a one-year deal and move on and maybe marshan Lloyd will show you enough he's your lead back draft some other guy to be his compliment and move on with your life enjoy Jordan love in the Legacy that's ahead stop I can't my my larger takeaway here being um and to to Josh jacobs' credit I didn't realize this um through his first five seasons in the NFL he made less than $24 million and he gets 50% of what he made in his first five years this year in Green Bay I'm guessing last year was pretty good on the cap was it the tag right 11.79% of his career earnings across five years this year save your money Josh so it's probably not a bad thing for Josh Jacobs either like hey I'm healthier this year than I was last year we're in a tote to rock I'm gonna get 350 touches I'm still gonna be 26 years old yeah somebody he'll get 10 he'll get 102 million next year right if he gets cut he'll go and he has a good year which which don't you see him kind of going back and getting 11 12 million yeah you would think so yeah just keep bouncing around taking it one year at a time so that's all I got you good I'm good all right let's get out of here I'm KY Krabs he is Joe Marino you can find us on YouTube or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast we appreciate you guys for checking out the show we are going to continue to break down some of the shuffling across the league but tomorrow putting on our draft hats and looking at three top level prospects for the 2025 NFL draft LSU offensive tackle will Kimbell Colorado question mark player Travis and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham coming your way tomorrow we're going to be breaking those guys down and what we see in them we're looking forward to that we hope you will come back and join us as well but that is it for today we're out of here