Justin Melo and what he saw at the combine

0:00The ticket, Lady Jennifer of Coons. Well, many thanks, good sir. Here is my Discover Card. They accept a discover at Renaissance Fairs? Yeah, they do here. Discoverers accepted at the places I love to shop. Get it with the Times! With the Times! You're playing the loot. Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right? Discoverers accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nilsen report, I'm done carrying around bulky drinks. And I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five-hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket-sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow five-hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor. With a tasty caffeine kick.

1:01That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade. And it's not just one flavor. Five-hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors. 17! So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos. But actually want energy that works? Grab fruity rainbow five-hour energy shots. Pocket-sized zero sugar big flavor. Available now at fivehourenergy.com or on Amazon. I'm Spencer and I work at United Healthcare. Suspenser, why do you care? I care because my daughter Adeline has special needs. I am motivated by Adeline who inspires me every day. I am driven to help families like mine navigate the healthcare system. I'm so blessed to lead an amazing team at United Healthcare focusing on the member experience and making that better. I'm Spencer and I'm committed to care.

2:03I have a leg injury and a foot injury, right? A leg and a foot are they on the same side of my body? Yes. Okay. Left. What happened to you? I got sung by a bee. And then I think I got sung by another bee. Oh, come on. I think I did. Last night. Last night. Last night. Who knew? It's my show. Just never thought about getting sung by a bee at night. I don't know. But there would still be bees at night. I guess. That just sounded like the flat earth thing. The bees just don't disappear when it gets dark. Okay. But I've never seen one at night. Well, it's dark. And the bulldog. Maybe they would not be out at night but you disturbed it. So it came out and said, hey, where are you going? Yeah, they weren't expecting me. I mean, I'm in here trying to watch the Vietnam War on PBS. And what are you doing sitting down in the chair? It's my time. You are not supposed to do that, right? This is our time, right? That's what the bee said. Right. So on behalf of the other bees, not WGR. Sports Radio 550. Speaking of bees.

3:04Birds. Maybe you've noticed. They're around. They're around. There are some birds now hanging out. Remember where you sat when we did the show the day of the eclipse? Inside my front door there. Yeah. There's a birdhouse there. And today, a couple of them are circling, making plans. That's what they're doing. Did the bird. The ticket. Lady Jennifer of Coons. Well, many thanks. Good, sir. Here is my discover card. They accept a discover at Renaissance Fairs. We do hear discoverers accepted at the places I love to shop. Get it with the times. With the times. You're playing the loot. Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right? Discoverers accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nilsen report, I'm done carrying around bulky drinks. And I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets.

4:07So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor. With a tasty caffeine kick. That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade. And it's not just one flavor. Five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors. Seventeen. So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos. But actually want energy that works? Grab fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. Pocket sized zero sugar, big flavor. Available now at fivehourenergy.com or on Amazon. I'm Brian, I work at United Health Care. So Brian, why do you care? I care because I don't want to leave anybody behind.

5:07I oversee one of the biggest resource center in United Health Care. I see people walked in in my office every day, just like my parents. They have no idea about the health care. I feel like they are my uncles, aunties. I treat these people like family. I'm Brian and I'm committed to care. Just build their own house or did you provide them the? I have a burn house. They use all the burn house there. Yeah. Are they paying you at all? Just in the joy I get from seeing them and hearing their little chirps. That's enough for me. I don't need money. With us now on the Western hotline is Justin Mello. NFL draft on SI. Your sports illustrated. Justin's been in the business of covering the draft for many years. And thank you for your time today, Justin. There's all mine. You know, the NFL combined in our rearview mirror. Created to you next week. We're full steam ahead here on the NFL off season. Excited for what's coming next.

6:07Yes, sir. What are a couple of the general takeaways you have from the combine? What are two or three of the big stories? I thought some of the top prospects. The ones who made the biggest impressions. Were the ones we were kind of banking on to do so. You know, if you ask me. Three players who impressed more than anyone else. I'd probably go, you know, Jeremiah loves running back out of Notre Dame. Sonny styles, the linebacker out of Ohio State. And Kenyam Tadeek is tied in out of Oregon. If you had, you know, looked at my top 100 big board pre-draft. There really any big board. You know, those three are in the top 15 for most for most people. Certainly. And the first two are no brainer top 10 picks. But, you know, and participation is down. There were a lot less participants in this year's combine. I think that's a trend that's been emerging with each passing year. As, you know, prospects and agents try to take more control. If you will of the pre-draft processing and kind of taking it away.

7:09For NFL teams, if you will. You know, other than that, I thought the main performers were kind of the players I expected to be the case. What kind of feedback, if any Justin, do you get on that last point there about guys opting out? I feel like, I don't know, maybe 10 years ago, it was a bigger deal. If a top quarterback or any top player, it's not going to run. It's not going to throw if it's a quarterback, whatever. It was a big deal. Like, oh, you're making a bad impression. These are job interviews. I feel like it's just kind of generally accepted now that many of the top guys aren't going to do it. And prefer whether it's because of injury or just protected environment, want to do it on their own school's pro day or even their own thing outside of the school. What kind of reaction do you get from like NFL people about guys who skip it? You're absolutely right about that. I can tell you with a sense of definitiveness that fans care way more about it than teams do.

8:09You know, the general managers, scouting directors, you name it, head coaches. They're not bothered by it. You know, when a top prospect opts out and chooses not to perform, it doesn't really change anything for them. It just doesn't. I mean, listen, most of their evaluation is based on the tape throughout the year. Like, yeah, I think fans get this impression that the NFL combines drastically altars the teams, you know, pre-trapped board. And it's just not the case. I'll tell you what can do that is the medical checks. Like the medical checks that most of us don't hear about, you know, or the general public doesn't hear about, you know, most of the time, that has a way bigger impact on a draft board than any 40 time, that any broad jump or bird or anything like that. So teams have come to accept it. I mean, a lot of them will tell you, I mean, two of them stayed home this year, right? Like the tag in the RAM, they didn't even go to the NFL combine. I think most people who were there would tell you that the best part about being there

9:10is being there, right? Like every, you know, it feels like everyone's there. The rumor mill, the bar is that night, you know, it's a small town. It's not a very big place. So everyone's kind of hanging out at the same, you know, handful of places. The stuff that gets done, you know, the trade talks that start, maybe a little illegal tampering in free agency, you know, who knows, a couple of whispers here and there. But if, you know, that's really the best part of indie for these guys. It's not beyond field testing. That, you know, generates all the headlines and captures our attention. We love watching the guy run a 427-40, you know, an NFL is capitalized on it too, right? Like they've made this more of a prime time event as the years have gone on. But no, teams don't care when one of the top guys opts out. You know, Justin, that point about the teams that didn't go is interesting to me too. And, you know, I can get it on a certain level. I can watch the whole thing. I think interviews can even be misleading because your biases enter in and I can respect a team for not wanting, not feeling like they need to go through that.

10:12But yeah, what you miss out on, not just like steak, but what you miss out on, but, you know, from not having the opportunity as easily anyway to communicate with each other and what you might hear, I think you would know this probably from experience. Don't teams sometimes, you know, not to put it in a certain way, but use the media to find out like, you know, the rumor mill and everything like that. Why wouldn't a team find it at least worth something to go and play that game? It's incredibly interesting. And the Los Angeles Rams, you know, they're the ones who kind of spearheaded this, right? They were the first ones, I believe, to stop going. And by the way, they also don't have any top 30 visits. Like they don't bring any prospects to the facility either. And they're reasoning behind that is we don't want let that to cloud our judgment on a prospect. They are the literal definition of trust the tape. And listen, they're going to do their homework. They'll talk to coaches and janitors and whoever else to get character feedback.

11:12They just don't want to get it directly from the source. And they want to try. They sometimes will say, well, but we might bring a guy in. We might really like him. In fact, we might like him in person more than we like the pleasure on tape. And we don't want that to allow us to sort of make a mistake. Right. And it's incredibly cutting edge. It's unique. But let's analyze the results a little bit too, right? They've got a pretty darn good job drafting lately, right? Like after Aaron Donald retired, they'd ever thought it was going to be a death blow to the defensive line. I mean, they drafted bread and fish. They drafted Kobe Turner. They drafted Jared Burst. They hit on everything they did to retool that defensive line. And they did it all through the draft. And they've gotten a lot of gems, you know, Kobe, a Kobe Durant in the defensive backfield. So at corner and safety, they've done really well drafting there too. They drafted Kyron Williams in the fifth round. Who can the cool was a day three pick? Like they've done an unbelievable job hitting on their draft picks.

12:12I probably wouldn't be the one to caution them to start doing things differently. And then with Jacksonville, they came from the rounds, right? Like the GM and James Gladstone, Lee and head coach Liam Cohen worked there for a couple of years under Sean McVeigh in two separate stints. But they are adopting that model, right? And by the way, you talk about like the rumor mill. It doesn't sound like it hurt the Rams very much, right? They executed a blockbuster trade today. You heard the early award at the Columbine last week. Going to get Trent McDuffy a star corner back for a first round kick plus more. So they feel like they've done terrific work done in the draft. They've adopted this model. It's definitely worked for them according to the tangible results. And I guess they didn't miss out on the late round bar conversation with, you know, the Kansas chief either because they executed a major deal today. Yeah, he managed to pull it off without eating shrimp the size of your fist somehow. They pulled it off. So good for them. You know, this is the first time we've been talking about this.

13:14Mike and I have been together here Justin for many, many years, 23 years doing this show together. And the point about the interview process clouding your judgment has been made many times in this room by Mike. And I would tell you that almost every time I've heard the point made, I think of it in a negative connotation. In other words, I'm going to eliminate you because of your bad manners. Or you didn't look me in the eye or you didn't shake my hand the right way. Or you weren't yes or no sir enough or you know, whatever kind of old school nonsense, right? What you wear. Right. But for the first time ever, I'm able to see a scenario where you could fall in love with a guy's personality, fall in love with his story to the extent that you want him on your team because you're rooting for the guy. Right. That happens with young athletes with scouts all the time. I'm sure you just get a crush on this guy man. You got to hear this guy's story what he's been through.

14:15And that's not always the best way to evaluate guys either. I'm just admitting I guess you could make a mistake on the I like this guy more than I thought I would because of the interview process too. It's not just, oh, he had his hat on crooked or something. No doubt about it. In fact, I've got an example that I'm happy to share with you with a personal one. I shouldn't be embarrassed to share it, but I'd like to think and just want to show you how hard this process is. I've interviewed upwards of a thousand prospects draft picks in these last 10 draft. I've had a lot of experiences. I like to think I'm pretty good judge of character happens to me. I fall in love with some of these prospects and thankfully I'm not running a team because I would probably make some of those emotional decisions. But I can't remember what draft it was right now, but we're going about six, seven years back. If you would have asked me which but I didn't, you know, 150 interviews that year, give me your three favorites. Who was a guy that just blew you away with this personality and how polite he was and I was asked this question that year.

15:20And I foolishly answered for job as to tackle Isaiah Wilson. He was one of the nicest guys I interviewed during that pre draft process. I don't know if you remember how Isaiah Wilson's NFL career went. Well, the time cut him about a year and a half into the problem. They traded him. I think to Miami, if I'm recalling correctly, about a year and a half of the process because I don't know he had about 13 run-ins with the law. And that first year and a half, he started skipping meetings. He wasn't even showing up the meetings. He was mapping in front of the head coach when they're in, you know, he like, he was a full blown disaster. And the times of the DM at the time and essentially come out and admitted he fooled us. You know, he wasn't the same guy that he was. You know, during the pre draft process. He was playing COVID for it a little bit. You know, we couldn't bring them here for a past 30. I don't know that that really made a difference because a lot of these guys, they're not stupid.

16:21They know this is the biggest job interview in the level. How many times have you gone to a job interview and been on your best behavior? Right? So that does happen. And sometimes it can lead to a colossal mistake. And that's what the Rams and the Jags have tried to remove from their processes. And the times probably worst they did the same before they spoke with Isaiah Wilson. Good stuff. Justin Mellow, our guest, Mike Schopen, the bulldog here on WGR. Let's talk bills now, Justin. So I know you wrote recently. I think you did. It was referred to anyway. An idea for the bills in their never ending. Well, I'm not sure it's their quest. It's our quest for them to find better talent at wide receiver. So Tray Lance has a brother, they say. They sure he sure does. Sorry. He is. No, no worries. He sure does. And his name is Bryce Lance out of North Dakota state. And he posted some absolutely freakiest testing numbers at the NFL combine.

17:26So I had him as a borderline top 100 pick before the combine, right? And then you go into. You go into it and he leads. Well, it wasn't like a 43 and a half inch vertical. Something just totally outrageous. He just he put out a pretty performance out there. It was a 40, a 434 40, by the way, at 630, 204. Sorry, 41 and a half inch vertical and an 11 foot one broad. He scored 18 touchdowns in 2024. It's an outstanding number. And about another 9 or 10 this past year. I posed the question for an article that's publishing tomorrow. But I don't think this is an outrageous question. How high can he go? A couple of years ago, a receiver from the same school. Kristen Watson put up similar numbers at the combine. In fact, Bryce Lance actually run faster and jumped higher than he did.

18:26And then with the same school. So you can remove the small school competition stuff. Yada yada. Similar level of production as well. And Kristen Watson ended up going 40th overall. What does that do to Bryce Lance? PDD not saying he's going to be a first round pick. But those who are saying he's going to go 90, 95, 100. I wouldn't be so sure based on recent history. The production is there. The size is there. There's a big line speed. He average like 20 something yards for cash. Something outrageous. He is a big play generator. And there's a place for those guys. In fact, one of them. Alex Pierce in the NFL. About to be the highest paid receiver in free agency this year. Assuming he actually hits the market a couple days from now. So that was only a place where a guy like Bryce Lance wouldn't shock me. I think he's elevated his stock. Certainly into that day two conversation. Well, maybe that's a place the bills end up looking. Day two. Do you think 26 is a good value spot for receiver while we're here on the subject?

19:29I think it is. I think they'll have some options there. Not saying all of these guys are going to be there. But I look at a guy like Omar Cooper Jr. The receiver out of Indiana who is climbing draft boards rapidly. Had a really good combine. I think he's established himself as a first round pick. He's been, you know, thick lower half creates yards after catch. Really, really good player with the ball in his hands. I look at a guy like Denzel Boston who by the way. I'm off to the bills the other day. And I think I've got a bone that kick with bill fans. I have the key on Coleman kick hurt you guys that much. Because I couldn't believe how much negative feedback I got on the Denzel Boston thing. Because he's a big strong fast wide receiver. Well, I check those types are still in. Apparently there. I had one guy tell me well. Josh Allen doesn't do well with big receivers. Everyone does well with big receivers. The guys who can catch the ball generate because I understand the key on Coleman thing isn't. I haven't quite met expectations yet.

20:30And it's looking like it's, you know, probably going to go. You know, in the direction of regret. But a guy like Denzel Boston doesn't even, you know, the Denzel Boston's very tea higgins like. You know, the big bodied guy contested catch winner. Also, I think separates vertically. You have some of the strongest hands in the class. Uh, you know, who hurt you bill fans? I think Denzel Boston would still be a good fit there. There's also case he can set the on right out of Texas A&M. Who I think some that, you know, the late first round mix as well. Dynamic electric game breaking speed was a big tragedy in 2024. But I thought this past year took a huge step forward as a legitimate receiver who ran a real route tree. Especially in the short to intermediate areas. If you want the anti big guy and you want to go in a different direction. You know, case he concept she on might be the guy dynamic game breaking feet. Really good on special teams to if you want to use in there can return kicks and puns. Depends what type of flavor I guess the bills are looking for at receiver. But I think there is, you know, it doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all.

21:32There's the bigger contested catch winners. But there's also the sort of, you know, smaller intermediate, you know, to, you know, short to intermediate. You know, you know, winners as well who can create yards after catch. Maybe I should want to defend bills fans on this one. Big, fast, good hands. Yeah, it sounds terrible. I don't think I want that combination of traits either. But you know, Coleman, I don't know Justin. I don't know your opinion of him coming into the league. He was a controversial idea right from the start. That member that draft process a couple of years ago. He had his fans and he had his detractors. I'm not sure how many fans he has left, but he's still young. What did you think about him originally? And do you think there's still hope for him? I did have my questions coming out. And a lot of them circled around the deep speed, right? The ability to kind of, you know, separate. And I can't remember what a 40 time was. But if I recall correctly, it was pretty bad. And that kind of, you know, generated a lot of confidence.

22:33It was high for low for sixes, even if I recall correctly. But there was certainly some concern with the 40 time. And the bigger issue that I had with it is I thought that did reflect on take. You know, going into the calm mind, I had circled what's he going to run? Because on tape, I did not think he was a very good separator. I thought he was maybe a little overly reliant on the contested catch opportunities. And probably not those fans anymore, but I think NFL fans in general have a tendency to sort of romanticize. The contested catch winner. Because it looks really good. Isn't it fun when a guy climbs the ladder and mosses and the festive back and and bear it to ship? And it makes all the highlight reals. And we all, you know, get out of our seats. You know, it's even better than that. Not making contested catches. Getting so open. Separation. You're so open. There's no defensive back within, you know, six yards of you. And I could make the throw, right? Like that's what quarterbacks really want, right?

23:33I want a guy who's open. I make it just hit with an easy one. And, you know, unfortunately, that hasn't been key on Coleman. I thought the concerns were there. Now, Denzel Boston, you know, he didn't run the 40 at the combine. So those questions do exist. But I, you know, my personal evaluation. I got the impression on tape that he is a better separator than key on Coleman was that Florida state. Now to answer the latter part of your question, there's always hope when you're a young player, you're going into what I believe this is here. Three for him. Correct. No book should be closed. Going into year three, except Isaiah Wilson. You know, that one goes pretty quickly. But no book should be closed. No book shouldn't be closed. Going into year three. I think it's still very much open for key on Coleman. I will say that I do feel a change of scenery might be best for all parties involved. I know the owner up there had some, you know, pretty controversial things to say during one of the press conferences.

24:34It was kind of one of those moments where I think everyone in the room was saying, please stop talking. Or they were thinking, you can't say it, but please stop talking. Please stop talking. You know, that might have been on some people's minds who are sitting in that room. Maybe even Brandon. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of natural ability there. Maybe Joe I mean, Joe Brady was obviously there last year. But maybe as that coach, still there's not some different ways to use them things they weren't doing with him in the past. And they could salvage the thing, but it certainly feels like it's headed in the wrong direction. Justin Melo, our guest sports illustrated, Justin, what's the best way to follow you and get your content? Twitter. you're calling it nowadays at Justin M. underscore NFL. I've got the NFL draft on SI as you mentioned a sports illustrated powered channel. We're

25:37covering the NFL draft extensively head over to my Twitter find the link you know and it's SI dot com backslash NFL backslash draft slash on SI so a couple of flashes in there you Google NFL draft SI you shouldn't be able to come up with it rather quickly or find the link directly on my Twitter page lock drafts positional rankings at every position top 100 big board individual winners at every position at the combine winners losers late-round sleepers late-round gems who elevated their stock we got a ton of content on there right now and if you're not familiar with my prospect interview series I do a series every year while I interview about 150 drafts we are full steam ahead on that right now in fact I just got off the fold with one earlier today bit of a spoiler alert I don't think this is out there yet the reporting at some point to just got back from a top 30 visit with the bills he was in Buffalo for two days I don't think that's out there in the Twitter verse yes there will be exclusively in my story probably this Monday I'm

26:39thinking so head over to the SI dot com slash you know NFL slash draft on SI and make sure you're up to date on everything that's happening in the NFL draft world willing to squeeze in in only a few seconds to take on like Washington junior big fan you know RB two for me probably in this class I think he established that at the combine 433 ran the fastest 40 excellent at the senior bull I think we all went into the combine wondering who the RB two is and I'm not saying it's for sure him but I think he might have closed the gap I think the early favor was generic price at an order day in Jeremiah love back up I love Mike Washington wouldn't shock me if he's a second running back off the board thank you for your time Justin love to do this again closer to the draft if you want pleasure is always you know where to find me thank you Justin mellow who just ran down where you can sort of get more from him that's a lot of content he had a lot there yeah yeah Washington is the running back who used to

27:40play for you be that went to arch eventually dark and saw new Mexico state and then Arkansas I think and had a great combine he's from the Syracuse area born in Utica I think so there's one guy to follow I'll save it to sort of push on bulldog is an idea for the bills because you got to be with bulldog you'd be very careful when you bring up drafting running backs as a topic yeah I can lose it already I'm at you want to make a case that the bills are gonna take the second running back off the board yes are you high yes wrong with you correct the case that's exactly why I want to do that 803 0550 for your calls lines are open sabers to we will talk about their incredible season really right is that too strong look at all this so we'll be eager to get back into that as well and maybe you'll join us Mike's open the bulldog here WGR oh could this vintage store be any cuter right and the best part except

28:45discover except discover in a little place like this I don't think so Jennifer oh yeah huh discover's accepted where I like to shop come on baby get with the times right so we shouldn't get the parachute pants these are making a comeback I think discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide based on the February 2025 Nielsen report I'm done carrying around bulky drinks and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets so yeah I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots these little guys are as pocket sized as any candy but instead of a sugar crash you get a zero sugar caffeine boost candy can't even compare at this point fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick that's right caffeine just got a flavor upgrade and it's not just

29:45one flavor five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors 17 so if you're craving that candy flavored chaos but actually want energy that works grab fruity rainbow five hour energy shots pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at five hour energy.com or on Amazon I'm Spencer and I work at United Healthcare so Spencer why do you care I care because my daughter Adeline has special needs I am motivated by Adeline who inspires me every day I am driven to help families like mine navigate the healthcare system I'm so blessed to lead an amazing team at United Healthcare focusing on the member experience and making that better I'm Spencer and I'm committed to care. Did you know that you can buy your car completely online on auto trader really just visit autotrader.com filtering search through dealer listings for the car you want make model color and

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