Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Adam Kaplan is our NFL insider, almost three decades covering the NFL.
00:07You can follow him on X for free at Kaplan NFL.
00:10He's on coast to coast regularly, just the way it ought to be.
00:13And that's all year long because the NFL is open for business 365, baby.
00:19All right, Adam, today the Titans signed Jamal Adams.
00:24I have to tell you, I'm not buying that.
00:29And I'll believe it when I see it.
00:31And I'll even say this, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even make the team.
00:35Yeah, in fact, he's made a ton of money.
00:38So let's pick it up what you just talked about and why he's not the player he once was.
00:43With the Jets, he was their tone setter.
00:45He's a box safety.
00:46He's not good in coverage, but when he's at his best, he's physical, he sets the tone,
00:52he's an intimidator.
00:53You could blitz him.
00:54He's a great blitzer.
00:55He's had a bunch of sacks in his career.
00:57He also, by the way, as I understand, has played linebacker before, more of an inside
01:00backer in a 34 front.
01:02And by the way, that's what the Titans run.
01:04Now, the Titans were looking for depth and competition, strong safety, which he could
01:08play.
01:09That's what he's played his entire career.
01:10Again, he could play a little bit of linebacker.
01:12And also, when they go what's called big nickel, their three safety alignment, he could be
01:16there in that position.
01:18They're not very good at safety.
01:20That's a position they needed.
01:21Scott, you and I have talked about the Titans.
01:23They spent a ton of money for agency.
01:25That's not what this move is about.
01:26This is not a money issue here.
01:28This is a veteran who's 28 years old, but the problem that you have is he has not played
01:34well since the 2020 season.
01:36It did not work out.
01:37That trade that the Seahawks made with the Titans didn't work out.
01:41Adams suffered a torn quadriceps.
01:43It was a bad injury.
01:44He's never been the same.
01:45He was on IR 21, 22, and 23.
01:48But again, it's a veteran team that's gotten younger.
01:51They're mixing some veterans in this offseason.
01:55And look, Scott, they had a bad roster last season.
01:57Let's call it like it is.
01:58That's why they had the biggest free agent spending spree in the history of the franchise.
02:03They're looking to compete in that division that's been highly competitive, surprisingly
02:07the AFC South.
02:08Yeah, I don't buy that he could stay healthy for five minutes.
02:13I mean, his body has broken down like nobody's business.
02:17That's all there is to it.
02:18He hasn't literally played in four years.
02:21I mean, he's done absolutely nothing.
02:23It's like that signing is a waste of time.
02:27It's a waste of time.
02:28Now, I will keel over if that guy ends up being healthy and having a big season.
02:32I don't deny that he was great once, but it has been so long since he's played football.
02:38It's not even funny.
02:39All right, let's talk about the NFC West.
02:44We've been doing pre-training camp breakdowns of all the divisions.
02:47Let's start with the Niners.
02:49Yeah, and talking to people around the league, everybody sees this team as the NFL's best.
02:54It's incredible, but right now, it looks like the Niners are going to bring back all 11
02:59starters on offense now.
03:01That includes Brandon Ayuk, who wants his new deal.
03:03We'll see over the next two weeks where they can get that extension.
03:06The Niners have made it clear they want him there.
03:08They've tried to get an extension done.
03:10They're not close.
03:11Let's see what happens as they get closer to training camp.
03:13But this is a big year, by the way, for Brock Purdy.
03:15Brock Purdy could get his contract extended as soon as after this season is completed,
03:20where he'll have played three seasons.
03:23He's clearly their guy.
03:24What a great story of development.
03:26Really when you look at it, it's defensively in the secondary.
03:29They're not great at corner, opposite Shavarius Ward.
03:33Great front.
03:34They play that wide nine where the ends play out there, and they get a field.
03:37Nick Bost is phenomenal.
03:39Best linebacker group in the National Football League.
03:41This is the NFL's best roster.
03:43By the way, their win total of 10.5 points.
03:45If you want them, it's going to cost you.
03:47Over 10.5 is minus 185.
03:50The under is plus 145.
03:52Win that division, they're minus 200.
03:56They're the clear favorite of all eight divisions.
03:59They're the one where I look at it and go, you know what?
04:00They're pretty much a lot to win that division at minus 200.
04:05Famous last words.
04:06Then their what?
04:07Favorite to win the Super Bowl too, or is it the Chiefs still?
04:12The Chiefs are by a little bit.
04:13Of course, the last time I said that, that was the Jaguars that bit me, and you know
04:16what, in the second half of last season, but the Rams, by the way, let's look at the Rams
04:20here.
04:21They lose Aaron Donald.
04:22Their win total will reflect that.
04:23Eight and a half.
04:24The over is minus 155.
04:26The under is plus 130.
04:27To win the division, plus 325.
04:31The strength of their offense, and this is interesting, their interior of their offensive
04:34line has been completely revamped.
04:36It looks really, really good.
04:38Protection is going to be fine.
04:39That's not the issue.
04:40The issue was on defense.
04:42They lose Aaron Donald to his retirement.
04:44The secondary, not great.
04:46I worry about that.
04:47You worry about the pass rush.
04:48Kobe Turner is that other defensive tackle who's terrific, who had a breakout season
04:52as a rookie.
04:53They added Braden Fisk early in the draft here as a defensive tackle, and also, I like
04:59Jared Verse, who's a pretty strong pass rusher, but again, they lose Donald.
05:03They're not winning that division, and I would agree with that eight and a half wins here.
05:06I think they're an eight to nine win team there, and they probably will not make the
05:09playoffs.
05:10I've actually heard some people suggest that Stafford could win the MVP.
05:15Well, they're loaded.
05:17When you look at their offense, all their receivers are back.
05:21That's not the problem.
05:22The problem is that on defense, I just don't think they're going to be good enough, and
05:24Stafford, by the way, he wants a contract adjustment.
05:28They're not there yet, but again, they can get that done closer to training camp, and
05:31then you got Seattle.
05:33The Pete Carroll era.
05:34Remember now, he was the head coach starting in 2010 with John Schneider as the GM.
05:39John Schneider now has personnel control, and now they brought in really not only brand
05:44new staff, new offensive, defensive schemes.
05:47Ryan Grubb is their offensive coordinator.
05:48He came from the University of Washington, so they knew him.
05:50He's going to have more spread concepts.
05:53They're going to change their philosophy.
05:55This will not be a run first offense.
05:57They're going to spread things out there.
05:58They're going to have a better ... They're going to be more thought processed here.
06:03It's not going to be run, run, run the ball.
06:04They're going to be a little bit more aggressive.
06:06The problem is on defense, Scott, and it's the reason why they're not going to be a playoff
06:10team to me.
06:11Not great at inside backer, but the big thing is they don't have a good enough pass rush,
06:14and their win total of 7.5, I actually like the under, which is plus 155.
06:19The over is minus 140.
06:21So, McDonald was such a great coach in Baltimore with Dee.
06:26Do you think he can coach them up defensively?
06:30You said that that's their weak point.
06:31Yeah, I just don't think the talent level is going to be good enough.
06:35He's a terrific young coach, 36 years old.
06:38He did a phenomenal job.
06:40He's going to bring his defense in there.
06:41Now, it's going to take time.
06:42You can't solve every issue, as John Lynch told me years ago, he actually has it in his
06:46office laminated.
06:47You can't solve every issue in one off season, so it's going to take time.
06:51Offensively, it's not going to be the problem.
06:53It's defense.
06:54Now, I know with his scheme, McDonald's scheme, it'll help.
06:57I don't see them being a playoff team this season at all.
07:00All right, Arizona.
07:03Boy, you and I talked about this, 10 draft picks.
07:07Everybody loves their draft.
07:08Look, they weren't a very good team last season.
07:09Kyler Murray came back late, actually looked good, had that great win in Philly.
07:13This is going to be a run-based offense.
07:15They're running the Kevin Stefanski offense under Drew Petzing, who is Stefanski's right-hand
07:20man with the Browns.
07:22They also work together in Cleveland.
07:24Petzing did a good job with their offense last season.
07:26Start with James Conner in the run game.
07:29Watch Trey Benson, the rookie out of Florida State.
07:31He'll be his backup.
07:32He'll be a future starter there.
07:33Now, the problem, Scott, is on defense.
07:36Lack of a pass rush.
07:37Not very good in the secondary.
07:38They're a long ways away from being a playoff team.
07:41But they're one of these teams, if you don't take them seriously, you're going to be in
07:46for it.
07:47As I mentioned, in Philly, the Cardinals beat the Eagles.
07:49That was a really bad loss for the Eagles when they were in the midst of losing six
07:53out of seven games.
07:54But they'll be competitive around Jonathan Gannon.
07:56They fight hard.
07:57And by the way, their win total is six and a half.
07:58The over is minus 160.
08:02That tells you people think it's going to go over.
08:03The under is plus 135.
08:04And win that division, they're plus 1,200.
08:08Well, what would happen if Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. start hooking up every single
08:16week and they stun everyone and go over that win total and turn into something?
08:22Their defense might suck, but who cares if you're scoring all kinds of touchdowns?
08:26And they're going to have to watch Trey McBride, the tight end, and the aforementioned Marvin
08:30Harrison Jr., who's going to be probably my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year,
08:34who's phenomenal.
08:36They're not very deep, by the way, at wide receiver.
08:38They're more of a 12 personnel team, a lot of two tight ends and two receivers.
08:42But they will be fun to watch.
08:43They're not going to be a playoff team.
08:45Someone's going to come out of nowhere, by the way, in the NFC.
08:47It's probably going to be Washington who's going to push for a wildcard spot, but it's
08:50not going to be the Cardinals.
08:51Yeah, I got to be honest with you.
08:54I'm sick and tired of the Chiefs and Niners.
08:59I'm sick and tired of them.
09:01I'll literally take anyone besides them again, the same two teams every year.
09:08I'm sick and tired of it.
09:09Honestly, I can't take it anymore.
09:10In fact, I talked to a guy yesterday who said that he's just excited to see how much Patrick
09:15Queen hates the Ravens.
09:16And when the Steelers and Ravens hook up, that's a war.
09:19That's great stuff as always.
09:21Thank you.