THE UNOFFICIALFOOTBALLERSFAN ARCHIVE↗Transcript links use the exact YouTube video’s clock. Machine transcripts can contain errors.
An almost-stereo trumpeter combine and Jared Goff horn introduce the drawing for everyone who preordered the UDK by March 1. Jordan K wins the Listener League seat and is called roughly the second official member, although the hosts discover during recording that the winner has not yet been notified.
The previous free-agent prediction champion is acknowledged, then undercut when the scorecard shows only three correct landing spots. The hosts note that predicting every player to re-sign would maximize the score, but the champion chooses risk and glory.
While mapping the free-agency production calendar, the hosts call 'legal tampering' the worst possible name because tampering is inherently wrong, compare the temporary negotiation window to The Purge, and schedule the next recording to capture its first deals.
The hosts preview a multi-game Game Time episode containing Who Am I, Gut Feelings, and Liar Liar, then escalate a game-show-host outfit suggestion from permission to encouragement and finally a mandatory full fitted or wedding suit.
The show draws its first UDK-preorder Listener League winner. After demanding an announcement sound, the desk gets an almost-stereo trumpeter combine and what it identifies as a Jared Goff horn. Jordan K is named as the winner among everyone who preordered before the March 1 deadline; the hosts call Jordan roughly the second official member of the upcoming league, note that the person has not yet been messaged during recording, and promise that notification will happen before release. The main show format is the recurring free-agent prediction contest. A host is declared last year's champion, only for the scorecard to reveal that winning required merely three correct landing spots; the hosts joke that predicting every player to return would maximize points, but the champion chooses glory. The NFL's legal-tampering period is branded the worst-named event because tampering is inherently wrong, then compared to the lawless window in The Purge; the recording schedule is adjusted to capture its first reported deals. At the close, the next Game Time episode is defined as multiple games—Who Am I, Gut Feelings, and Liar Liar—and a host is pressured from permission to wear a fitted or wedding suit into a full-suit requirement. Brooksie and Papa Josh also receive a quick off-camera news check.
And I am going to go with the Chicago Bears. It makes sense. The Chicago Bears, I think, will do everything they can this offseason. You'll see it in the rest of the predictions to equip Caleb Williams for the most success he could possibly have. They're a competitive team with a good defense. They need a running game to take the pressure off. They have the fourth most cap space. And I think Josh Jacobs is, I think, in a lot of GM's minds. He's going to be the cream of the crop of this entire group. When you have the aged combination with his ability to be effective in the passing game between the tackles, what he did two years ago leading the league and rushing, I'm going to go with the Chicago Bears. It's almost a twofer of should you trade Justin Fields, reset your rookie contract at the quarterback position that, and you have all that cast space, okay, we can pay a premier running back for three to four years.
because it balances off with the quarterback. So it does, it makes logical sense to me. Yeah, and I would love to see it too. I think that would be a really fun destination, much better than where I've got him going, but another team with a ton of cap space. I have seen this rumored. That needs offensive weapons and has a new head coach that wants to run the ball, wants to establish it. And so I've got him going to the New England Patriots. at 26 years old. All the remandre managers just dying on the inside. Mm-hmm. That would be brutal for remandre. He would clearly usurp him in the packing order. And it would be kind of brutal for Josh Jacobs because remandre would not go away. It would probably be a, you know, a 45-55 split. I think that would be brutal for Jacobs. Most landing spots for running backs. Someone's party's getting ruined.
All right, so what party are you ruining? I'm going to the Buffalo Bills. Oh, you're ruining James Cook's party. And I don't think I've seen this rumored anywhere. It's to me is just the Buffalo Bills for so long now. Keep getting linked to high profile running backs. And as good as James Cook was, they still wanted other guys involved. Like they wanted, you know, a bigger body guy. We want. Latavius Murray's getting goal line carries. They brought in Leonard Fournett to not really use him, but they still brought him in because they were hopeful. And I don't know what the cap space is. I don't know if they have the least cap room in the league. Yeah. The teams can figure things out. And just say one of these guys would not shock me at all if he ends up with up there in Buffalo as they want, they seem to want this. Derek Henry, the Yeti.
Why don't you guys go first? You have the same destination. Well, this is this one's this one's selfish guys. I had to make the trade for Derek Henry last year in the dynasty in league to make my run. It worked out knowing that trade for Derek Henry is truly playing with fire for any future purposes as he is over 30 years old. He's a free agent. So I am sending him to Baltimore. I'm wheeling it into existence for touchdown upside. I think it makes sense for both sides. It is. I believe it's also like the favorite. It's been rumored. There was, you know, trade rumors at the end towards the trade deadline last year. I think it makes sense for all parties and our champ champ champ team.
That seems too. It could also use it. It makes too much sense for you guys. I'm not going to Baltimore. I love where you put. I don't think Henry's going to Baltimore. I think he's going to a different team that also had trade deadline rumors around the running back. A perfect bell cow for the change of pace, Kenneth Gainwell. It is Derek Henry to Philadelphia. It is the most Philadelphia type of move I think that they could make. Could need the tush push to. Slow down. You know, Henry, Henry to Philly will bring some question marks around the goal line, I think. Could you imagine Henry helping to push? No, he would. He would help push. Now, he's done it. First and 10. Tush push. First down. Got a question here. If Jalen Hertz is lifted into the air and never actually comes down in bounds. Yeah. Is it still a touchdown? Absolutely it is. Cross the plane.
It's just never been done from the front out the back of the end. That's what I'm talking. Oh, I hear you. You're saying he crosses the goal line in the air and flies through the back of the end zone. Yeah, perhaps through the uprights. Perhaps. So I'll go Philly. I'm not going to rule it out. I'm going to go Philadelphia a little different than you guys on that one. Okay. Not sure about the upright thing, but otherwise that's my prediction. This one. All right. Austin Echler. Not yet 29 years old, difficult injured year, no quarterback, not the kind of display he wanted to put out on film for free agency. So we have three destinations, Mike. Let's start with you. I'm going boring. I'm going with him back to the Los Angeles Chargers on a, and they, I mean, they have a cap problem. But I think that this is a Echler's.
where he's played his entire career, give me a one year, prove a deal, and then I'll go get my money. I'll try to go get my money afterwards. I just, it's hard to see the market being really hot for Echler, unfortunately. I'm going to, I'm going to go with a team. This is the one that I have the most kind of like secret confidence about. Oh, really? Wow. It's not a secret anymore. I think Austin Echler ends up. Maybe a similar scenario like you just said where he doesn't find a big market. I think he becomes the new Sima J.P. Ryan in Denver. We know that Peyton wants to run the football. And I think Austin Echler is a perfect fit there to be part of a run-centric offense in Denver. So I think they find a way. A running back-centric one for sure. I think they find a way to get Austin Echler in my high city. That would be very interesting. I agree with.
Mike's assertation that the market will not be there for him. You know, there's only going to be a couple of teams that are willing to go out and spend a big bag on a free agent running back. And Echler's just not at the top of the list. But I think he is still really valuable to a quarterback to being able to dump off the passes, pass protect. I think he is a quarterback's best friend at running back. And that's the type of player that I could see the Houston Texans going after. and finding someone for C.J. Stroud to just help take the offense to the next level. Devin Singletary is a free agent. I think, you know, look, Devin Singletary played very well. But, you know, Echler is an upgrade from Devin Singletary, and I think that'll help the offense. They got the money to do it. Yeah, and I'll kick off the next one just because I have that destination for this next gentleman. Tony Pollard, a little bit younger. Going to be probably more expensive. It could be a one-year deal.
I have him going to Houston, where you just had Austin Echler going. They've got so much cap space. I think they're going to be able to pay up for Tony Pollard. And so that is my destination for him. Yeah. Where do you got Pollard going? Makes complete sense. I see what you did. You see what I did having him go to the Giants? He has already replaced Ezekiel Elliott once. Now, I have him replacing Sequin Barclay. Now, does Pollard get on the plane right after Barclay? like it arrives or is it the other way around? I think it will be after. Or do they high five in midair? No, it'll be after. All right. I'm going Eagles. We've kind of laid out their situation, but they're going to need some help of running back. Tony Pollard, if he is actually healthy and can get back to really explosive Tony Pollard, he would fit the scheme. All right. Last one we'll predict it running back before our next break. DeAndre Swift, just 25 years old.
He looked really good at times in Philadelphia. His season's weird. He was set up in the most opposite of Sequin kind of way, you know, where he took advantage of a great offensive line, great situation with the quarterback and the read option. 47% of DeAndre Swift's yardage came before contact. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Highest among all running back. Which is why I'm putting him in Washington to become the next Antonio Gibson in Washington. It seems too perfect to me. Washington has cap space, and I think they will add a body after losing Gibson. You guys have had the Eagles signing a running back because they will need one. The Eagles just don't spend up at the position. I don't think DeAndre Swift's going to cost a lot, so I've got him returning to the Eagles. Yeah, I have Swift probably not costing a lot, too, and I'm going to send him to the Kansas City Chiefs where Clyde Edwards-Alaire will be gone.
I don't know McKinnon's contract status. I believe they, I think he was just a one year. And it was like they waited a really long time. They waited until after the draft. They're like, yeah. Can we get our guy? Nope. So bad for him at the Super Bowl because it seemed like he was working so hard to get back. Yeah. And just it wouldn't work out. But Swift has that second option behind Pacheco not costing them very much. It will be helpful. The chiefs are an interesting destination because they do right now that both those guys are. Go on. It's just Pacheco on the roster? Yeah. Who's been banged up many times. All right. Quick break. Back with some more. And just to recap the other running backs that will be available, no predictions here. But Dobbins, Gus Bus is gone. Gibson, Singletary, Zeke out there, Moss. A.J. Dillon finding a new home. Clyde. Clyde. Finding a home. And Kareem Hunts out there. Cam Acres off of what, the second Achilles. Oh, gosh. Yeah, that, but man.
And Tony Gibson, just be a fun location. Just be a fun place. Well, the Chiefs would be perfect for that because as a pass catcher in doing the McKinman rule, if Gibson goes the Chiefs, I will be so happy. Snip, snap, snap, snip, snip. All right, the wide receivers, look, we've got franchise tags and contracts now. T. Higgins, franchise tag. Back to Cincinnati was going to be one of the jewels of the wide receiver. free agent pool. Mike Evans. Contract. Contract. So Michael Pittman, we... He's going to have a contract or franchise tag. This is not really a prediction. We all have the Colts. Well, I imagine by the time you're hearing the show, he will have been franchise tag or extended. So I might throw another name or two out there for you to just improv a destination for fun. But the two that we'll focus on to begin, Hollywood Brown, who is still not yet 27 years old,
pretty much non-existent last year. The scheme in Arizona did not work. They did not have Kyler Murray for part of the year. And he was just not a part of the offense under the new offensive regime. Where do you have Hollywood Brown landing this off season? He's going to need to go to a team that has a scheme that he likes. He wanted out of Baltimore because they didn't throw it enough. The Steichen speed and the cap space that the Colts have. I think equipping the young quarterback with another wide receiver. I've got them going to Indy. All right. And I have them going to the Atlanta Falcons to join Drake London, put some serious speed over there. And their depth chart, I mean, as long as what I'm looking is accurate, I'm looking at our lads. We have under-contract, we have Drake London, we have Josh Ali, Chris Blair and Austin Mack.
I believe that's... So they have Drake London on a contract, huh? So they're going to have to make a splash here, and if they... We'll see. Like, does Hollywood still have it? I don't know. He was... He was hurt the whole year. I think he takes the biggest bag, and I think it comes from Carolina. I think Hollywood just finds the biggest bag, and I think Carolina is the one that's going to have to write that check to kind of promise somebody to... you know, come and give Bryce Young a try. So that's where I'm going. Calvin Ridley as well, I mean, the rumors to me, I think Calvin Ridley gets paid pretty handsomely. I'm going to say that. I don't think there are doubts in the general manager universe about Calvin Ridley the way that there might be in the fantasy community with how up and down he was. I think he goes to the team with the fourth most cap space.
that I already had making a splash. I think they make another one. Oh, my goodness. And they equip Caleb Williams. I've got Calvin Ridley to the Bears, opposite of DJ Moore. And probably Rome. Probably. Well, possibly, yeah, unless they go, I don't know, offensive line or something. Yeah, yeah. I mean, if a team could actually do that, have gotten DJ Moore, who is a wide receiver one, in my opinion, Calvin Ridley. It could be. And then someone, you're drafting who you're drafting that this person could be a wide receiver one. To start a rookie with that, with those three weapons would be, that would be just like a really special situation to watch Unlock. Yeah, and similar to you, Andy, you paired your running back destination with Calvin Ridley, having both go to the Bears. I'm pairing Calvin Ridley with my Josh Jacobs destination for the Patriots.
Didn't I put Jacobs to the Bears? Yeah. Yeah, so we both did the same thing. Yep, we just got different teams. Yeah, and you went Patriots. So Ridley to the Patriots with insert quarterback here, right? Yep, I'm putting them on the Titans. Yeah, shoot. They need help. They got tons of money, right? They do. Okay, good, because Calvin Ridley. Thirdmost. The way you were talking about Hollywood Brown of. Yeah, take the bag. I think he's going to go get a bag of money. I think Calvin Ridley's going to go get himself a bag of money. I agree. And the other name I wanted to throw out there in case you want to just, top of head. How about this? Gabe Davis, because age-wise could be an attractive name now that some of these other big names have been picked up. You know, I'm not really, you know, worried about projecting the Beckham, Curtis, Samuel, Noah Brown destinations. But Gabe Davis, I don't know. It's fun to think about. Yeah, so.
obviously both of these won't come true, but I'm going to go with the Colts here because they've got a quarterback. You're putting everyone on the Colts? I think the Colts are going to go after a wide receiver for Anthony Richardson and whether that's paying up top of the market for Marquis Brown or whether that's going and getting a guy that they see was helpful for Josh Allen, you know, the similar arc type of quarterback. So obviously they're not going to sign both guys, but I think either one of them could go to the Colts. That would be my top of the head.
I'll go Houston for Gabe Davis. Ooh, that'd be nice. Deep threat. Yeah. Not scare off too many fantasy managers from Tankdale and Nico. I wonder if... You wouldn't be freaked out, would you if he went there? No. No. Yeah, see? But what would you think of him? What would you? Not much. Yeah. No, it would be... He would help Strout. I think good things of Stroud. But like Noah Brown. Exactly. Had, you know, some monstrous performances. Yeah, just, just you didn't know win. Best ball. Yeah. Best ball. Gabe Davis. Uh, what's going on with the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver situation? They've got CD Lamb. They're okay. I am aware. I'm aware they have CD Lamb, but like they. So is Brandon Cook under contract. Brandon Cooks is under contracts. He will be a hundred years old. Oh, sorry. Sure.
He would be a $10 million cap hit should they keep him and $6 million dead cap if they were to cut him. I saw a lot of rumors floating around of Michael Gallup maybe getting cut after that contract extension that they had just given him a couple years. That looks like a huge flop right now. Yeah. Kyle, do you know what the dead cap would be for that? It would be 13 million. It's not happening this year. Okay. So maybe not Dallas. Cool. So your prediction is not Dallas. Is that where you think? No, I'll still go with it. But you can go Kansas City. I think that one's interesting. Can I go AFC? For no credit, yes. All right. I'll take it. I'll take it. All right. And then Dalton Schultz, he's the only tied in that we're predicting here. But we all have them going back to the Texans. Yeah, boring. Yeah, I hope he does. I mean.
He was good there. And if he doesn't, then they need to go sign Hunter Henry or, you know, I want them to have a good pass catching tight end there. Dalton should go back to Dallas. Get out of here. Do that to Ferguson. All right. Well, next Monday, the legal tampering period, the purge begins. And then Wednesday, the new league year. And it's time. It'll be time to. Find out whether that dynasty player your rostering, if it's one of these running backs, lands in a great place. I feel good about the Mike Evans deal. Maybe you'll end up with a situation like that. Or maybe you'll end up with the Romandre getting squashed by another running back or something like that. How do you feel about a guy like DJ Moore if Calvin Ridley landed in Chicago? Is that concern you at all with a rookie quarterback coming in and maybe they draft? Like if they legitimately drafted,
Roma Dunzae and signed Calvin Ridley, your DJ more enthusiasm might be stifled. It would be. So it'll be a very interesting off season. I can't believe we're already near the free agent period. It's crazy. Absolutely crazy. All right. We've got, what do we got coming up on Thursday, gentlemen? We got a fun game time episode. Game time episode. I like games. Wait, so we got multiple games for playing on Thursday. Yeah, we're so many games. Got some Who Am I? Some gut feelings and some liar, liar. You got a liar liar liar. Now, are you wearing like kind of like a game show host type of outfit for Thursday? I would never. Oh, okay. Oh, man. I wanted to see him in his wedding suit. I thought maybe we could, I mean, you got a fitted suit, right? I do. Yeah, I'm just saying.
Chance to use it. Permission granted. Encourage. Encourage. Is it required, though? Permission required. Permission required. I like it. All right. That'll do it for today's episode of the show. Make sure you like and subscribe. And we'll be back very soon for that game time episode. Yeah, it's required now. Full suit. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on join thefoot.com and follow us on Twitter at theFF ballers.