Draft Week Means Lying Season

Draft season means lying season, and Rich leaned into it with a segment built around general managers trying to say as little as possible while saying something.

Adam Peters of the Washington Commanders fielded the trade-back question at pick seven. His answer: more likely than not they stay and pick, but never say never. Peters said they're assessing options, not actively shopping the pick, but ready for the circumstances. Rich could not understand the appetite for trading back from a top-ten spot in a draft where the value is concentrated at the top. Not positional value, just pure talent value. If Jeremiah Love or Carnell Tate is sitting there at seven, why would the Commanders pass? They already lack a second-round pick, which makes accumulating capital a reasonable justification, but only if you don't love a player at your slot.

Daniel Jeremiah and Todd McShay both have Carnell Tate going to the Jets in mocks that send the Commanders all the way back to sixteen. Rich pushed back on the logic for Washington. Pair Tate with Terry McLaurin, give Jayden Daniels another weapon, and let the roster-building compound.

The Browns segment pivoted off Andrew Berry's masterclass answer to Mary Kay Cabot. Berry talked about maximizing the asset, selecting players, trading veterans, trading down, trading up. Rich called it brilliant. Berry said absolutely nothing and made it sound comprehensive. Cleveland drafted Quinshon Judkins and Mason Graham last year, picked up extra capital by letting another team take Travis Hunter. They had a really good draft. So what do they do at six? Pass on Tate? Take another offensive lineman? Take Jeremiah Love if he's the best player on the board?

The segment closed on the Dolphins. Rich likes what Miami has done since Stephen Ross walked into an exit meeting three days late and told Mike McDaniel his coach was no longer his coach. Ross brought in Troy Aikman to consult, and John-Erik Sullivan got the job. Sullivan's answer on whether he has to run every pick by Ross was direct: it's my call. Rich wants that as a drop. Aikman will apparently be in the draft room but not offering opinions on picks, which Rich doesn't buy for a second.

Miami is replacing Jaylen Waddle with a rookie on a rookie contract, pairing him with the new quarterback, and extending De'Von Achane. One week from Pittsburgh, the answers are coming.