Best of The Herd

Let’s roll—Monday of draft week and we’re live; big weekend move on the board and more coming, so thanks for hanging with us.

New York flipped Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for pick ten, which makes sense for two timelines: the Giants need cheap, flexible pieces around Jackson Dart, while the Bengals, living on Joe Burrow’s clock, buy a proven interior anchor now.

I’m all for paying offense and keeping defense lean unless the player is truly special; this fits Cincinnati’s urgency and lets the Giants stack starters across multiple spots in a draft that favors edges, receivers, and tackles over defensive tackles.

In the NBA, the first round felt lopsided, but the headline was LeBron, who controlled the game with defense and pace while Durant sat; stars rise in series because scouting strips away the tricks and the best player usually decides it.

Quick hits—Right and Wrong: Boston looks like the East’s adult in the room; the Lakers’ opener was better than I expected even with KD out; the Bengals finally got aggressive; high-payroll baseball teams are stumbling; Rodgers being unreachable is on brand; first-round NBA series are too long; NIL is keeping real talent in college and the sport’s better for it.

All right, DJ, if you’re the Chiefs and you rarely pick this high, is it worth moving up to grab a top edge like David Bailey and just solve it?

Bailey’s pass-rush arsenal translates cleanly and he’s explosive off the snap, so if you’re a contender with a rare shot at premium talent, pushing up the board is a defensible swing.

For the Giants with two firsts, I’d make one pick for right now and one for later, and at least one has to serve Jackson Dart—probably protection given the tackle health issues.

That’s how teams talk; the first selection is a tone-setter, and while I’ve heard they may pass on Sunny Styles, one of those picks should directly help Dart, either with a protector or a true playmaker.

People keep calling this a so-so receiver class, but I see plenty of useful pieces—am I off?

Think starters, not headliners: there’s a deep pool of quality wideouts with different superpowers, so fit will drive boards more than a single consensus star.

At four, the Cardinals are being linked to a running back; would you lean offense-heavy there or build the base first?

There’s buzz on Jeremiah Love, but it might be a smokescreen; I’d fortify the line, then circle for a quarterback like Ty Simpson later and add a receiver after trading down.

What’s AJ Brown worth if New England pushes?

You’re talking a first-rounder plus a modest add-on or swap, with timing likely making it a June move.

Give me the quick scouting card on Fernando Mendoza, and explain the throw style.

He’s tough, smart, and durable, and he’s a drive thrower—firm velocity to the outside and up the seams—versus a layered thrower who wins more with arc, anticipation, and touch.

How do you see Omar Cooper?

He’s a yards-after-catch engine in a two-high world; get it to him early and let him turn routine touches into explosives.

LSU’s top corner looks effortless but isn’t a size monster—why isn’t he higher?

He’s a bit undersized and not long, yet he ran fast and just blankets people; maybe not Sauce-level traits, but he’s relentlessly solid.

I’ve heard Sunny Styles called the cleanest player—what does that really mean?

He checks every on-field and off-field box—rare size-speed blend, intelligence, and leadership—so the profile lights up across the board.

So don’t get paralyzed by positional value and whiff on a great player.

Exactly—lean to value on ties, but don’t bypass an All-Pro safety just to force an average edge.

I’m fired up for draft weekend; I’ll be doing the chores with the TV on and living in the picks—see you there.