The latest episode of “Who Will Be King👑,” brought to you by Fans First Sports Network’s NFC North Roundup Show, was a football fiesta. Our hosts – Pay from Da Bear Claw Podcast, June & Foster from the Bleachers To Speakers (Lions) podcast, and Dave Stefano from Vikings 1st & SKOL – analyzed the recent Pro Days, discussed the upcoming NFL Draft, and made insightful predictions.

We gathered the best of the NFC North. Our regular hosts, Pay, June & Foster and Dave Stefano, dove into the recent league rule changes, the Minnesota Vikings’ draft strategies, and Detroit Lions’ Cam Sutton’s off-field issues. Then the hosts focused on the Pro Days and preparations for the upcoming NFL draft.

Pro Days – The Defining Moment Before the Draft
Kicking off the show, our hosts dived into the recent Pro Days. These pre-draft events are critical in the scouting process as they give potential draftees a chance to showcase their talent and skills for NFL teams. The hosts discussed several top prospects who have been gaining attention in the football landscape.

Pay was full of admiration for J. J. McCarthy’s Pro Day performance. He said, “J. J. McCarthy’s pro day has just been icing on the cake, the cherry on top. Of how his stock has come, come a long way from the National Championship game. I would have told you that is a, that is a game manager right there. He is a game manager through and through. Now, listen, he might, he might be the second best quarterback in this draft.”

Dave reinforced Pay’s sentiments and added that McCarthy is comfortably in the top four. He quoted Coach O’Connell from the Minnesota Vikings, who was full of praise for McCarthy’s third down tape. This, combined with McCarthy’s impressive stats, makes him a top contender in the upcoming draft.

June, a dedicated Michigan fan, brought a unique perspective to the discussion. He gave an in-depth analysis of McCarthy’s Pro Day, saying, “He [McCarthy] had a great day throwing… showed his arm strength, his accuracy…the buzz is high.” However, he also pointed out McCarthy’s risk-taking tendencies.

Caleb Williams – A Future NFL Star?
The hosts then shifted their attention to another top prospect, Caleb Williams. Pay described Williams as looking “very relaxed, very comfortable,” during his Pro Day, while June lauded his accuracy and improvisation skills. June was particularly impressed with Williams’ improvisation during games, describing it as “crazy.”

Dave mentioned that Williams has been intriguing teams in private meetings, with the Chicago Bears’ Matt Eberflus gushing about his leadership skills. This leadership, combined with his physical prowess, makes Williams a strong contender for the draft.

Tackling Rules – A New Challenge for the Players
The conversation then took a turn towards the recent changes to tackling rules in the NFL. The league has introduced penalties for hip drop tackles with the aim of preventing injuries. Dave explained the reasoning behind this rule, but also raised questions about how players will adapt to this change.

June humorously suggested hoping for a flag football scenario as a solution, while Dave suggested that players will need to “tackle through” the opponent and possibly implement a leg sweep when tackling from behind to avoid penalties.

The Impact of Kickoff Rule Changes
The conversation took off with Pay highlighting the recent changes to kickoff rules. He humorously claimed that these alterations seem to be borrowed from the XFL, stating, “I’m gonna call it what it is, they stole another thing from the XFL.”

The hosts took the time to dissect the new rules, pointing out that the game’s dynamics could significantly shift due to these changes. Dave expressed optimism that the changes would make the game safer without losing its excitement. He said, “What this helped in the XFL is they had zero concussions, whereas in the NFL, the old style, that’s where a lot of the concussions came from because everyone’s running at each other at full speed.”

Dave continued to explain that the changes would give special teams coordinators plenty to ponder and plan. This new approach could bring back the thrill of the kick returner, as kickers wouldn’t just be blasting it through the end zone anymore. This change introduces a fresh dynamic to the game, making it all the more interesting to watch.

The Vikings: Gearing Up for the Draft
The focus then shifted to the Minnesota Vikings and their strategies for the upcoming draft. The Vikings’ two first-round draft picks have led to much speculation and anticipation. Dave shared insights into the team’s potential plan, revealing that the team’s owner, Mark Wilf, had shown considerable excitement about their strategy.

Dave also dropped some intriguing news about the Vikings’ pre-draft preparations. He disclosed that Paul Allen, the voice of the Minnesota Vikings, had suggested the existence of handshake agreements with other teams. Allen’s statement intensified the suspense around the Vikings’ draft plans.

Dave also shed light on the role of the players in the draft decision-making process. He revealed that players like Justin Jefferson were involved in discussing potential draft picks, showing the team’s inclusive approach. This player involvement adds an interesting dimension to the draft process, making it a collaborative effort.

The Detroit Lions and Cam Sutton’s Situation
The hosts also delved into the recent news surrounding Cam Sutton of the Detroit Lions. Sutton’s arrest warrant following charges of domestic battery by strangulation has been a significant talking point. Foster and June provided a local perspective on the situation, noting that the team had decided to cut ties with Sutton.

The hosts discussed the implications of the situation, highlighting its impact on the team and Sutton’s career. The Lions’ decision to move forward and address the situation head-on was seen as a positive step. However, their decision has also stirred up discussions about player conduct and the responsibilities of teams in managing these issues.

An Insightful Look at Pro Days
Pay asked the panel about their thoughts on the recent Pro Days. These events are a crucial part of the pre-draft process, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers, and scouts.

June shared some specific insights from Foster about the Pro Days. He explained, “Foster has been doing player profiles on the 2024 NFL Draft Prospects. A lot of those, people he’s doing profile pic, profiles on will not be there at 29.” It’s a clear indication of Foster’s detailed approach to understanding the prospective players, even if they may not be available when the Lions take their turn to pick.

Dave, on the other hand, added his thoughts on Pro Days from a Vikings perspective. He mentioned their mock draft strategy, saying, “We’re doing a mock draft where every, for just the first round, where every, he picks every single team. And we’re going to go through to look at where quarterbacks fall, where trades need to be made.” This approach helps them anticipate various scenarios and be prepared for the actual draft day.

Draft Preparations in Full Swing
After the discussion on Pro Days, the conversation naturally shifted toward how each podcast was preparing for the draft. With the draft date inching closer, the hosts shared their unique plans of coverage.

June mentioned that they were planning to do a simulated draft on the Bleachers To Speakers podcast. “We’re going to actually simulate the seven-round draft where me and Foster are actually picking the players as we go,” he said. It’s a fun and interactive way to engage their audience and give them a feel of the draft process.

Dave shared that Vikings 1st & SKOL were going to have comprehensive coverage on Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft. He said, “We’ve gone three days, non-stop, wall to wall coverage In the past].” This year, we are going with days 2 and 3 mentioning that they would be bringing in beat writers and giving commentary on the various picks, making it a thorough source of draft information for Vikings fans.

Pay then shared his plans for the Bear Claw. With fewer picks in the draft, their approach was different. “We only got four picks in this draft, so only concerning ourselves with four picks. We’re going to make this real. This is going to be a Saturday morning sitcom. That’s how long that mock draft is going to be,” he explained. Despite the limited picks, they plan to make the most out of it, creating an engaging mock draft experience for their listeners.

Where to Follow Our Journey
As the episode drew to a close, the hosts shared where listeners could find their content. Dave mentioned that Vikings 1st & SKOL can be found across all platforms, including YouTube and podcast aggregators. “Minnesota can be found at Vikings 1st & SKOL across all platforms,” he said.

June shared that listeners can check out Motor City Metrics, Bleachers Speakers, and their new channel, Bleachers 2 Speakers on YouTube. “Right now, we’re trying to build it. Uh, you can also catch us on all podcasts, streaming platforms, Bleachers 2 Speakers, FFSN, in the search,” he added.

Finally, Pay wrapped up by saying that listeners can find The Bear Claw Pod on YouTube under Frustrated Chicago Sports Fans, as well as on TikTok, Facebook, and podcast platforms. “We’re dropping stuff all throughout the week. If it’s not an actual episode, we’re dropping some information, clips, memes, fan polls, stuff like that. All to keep you engaged about the Bears and what they’re doing now,” he said.

Draft Predictions and Final Thoughts
As the episode wound down, the hosts shared their predictions for the NFL Draft. June declared his top two picks to be Jaden Daniels and Caleb Williams. He also expressed his hope that the Bears would pick Williams over Daniels, saying “I have JD number one, and I wouldn’t be mad if you guys passed him up for Caleb.”

Pay, a Bears fan, was more optimistic about Williams joining the Bears. He stated, “Caleb Williams era has begun. The bum quarterback train is done.”

Listen:

In conclusion, this episode of “Who Will Be King?”👑 dissected some crucial developments in the NFC North. The hosts shared their expert analysis, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of these issues. As fans eagerly anticipate the next episode, they have plenty of food for thought from this engaging and insightful discussion. With in-depth analysis of Pro Days, tackling rules and draft predictions, it was a comprehensive rundown of the latest happenings in the football world. As we countdown to the draft, fans can anticipate more insights and predictions from the Fans First Sports Network’s NFC North Roundup Show.

As we head closer to the draft, make sure to stay tuned for the next episode of “Who Will Be King👑.” We’ll continue to countdown to the draft, bringing you insightful discussions, predictions, and all things NFC North.

Watch the 1st-Round Draft here:

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Pay @TheRealPayday, host of Da Bear Claw Podcast, June @asgjune & M Foster @Mbrfosterchild, hosts of the Bleachers To Speakers [Lions] podcast, and Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare, from @Vikings1stSKOL. This has been a joint podcast production partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and Fans First Sports Network’s NFL feed @FFSN_NFL.

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