Lance Zierlein, a Houston radio personality and NFL Draft analyst for NFL.com, will undoubtedly be watching MoTown this weekend. Zierlein joined TexAgs Radio on Tuesday to discuss the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night in Detroit.
Key takeaways from the Lance Zierlein interview
Two years ago, I had no idea the Houston Texans were picking Kenyon Green, but that’s what I had in my mock draft.
I believe Edgerrin Cooper will be selected in the second round, but he will be the first linebacker taken. It will be him or Junior Colson. Cooper’s speed is invaluable, and many teams appreciate his ability to move from one sideline to the other. He can also blitz. Cooper has a bigger upside than Colson, who is more stable. With his speed, visibility, and ability to play on third down, I believe Cooper will be selected in the top 44 choices.
Layden Robinson vs. Mckinnley Jackson being the second Texas A&M product off the board is a difficult one. The former may go anywhere from the fourth to the sixth round, while Jackson is most likely a fifth-round pick. I would not rule out Ainias Smith, however. He was a different player before to the injury. He has the potential to be the second Aggie off the board, but that depends on how people want to use him.
I believe Demani Richardson will go undrafted. This is not a decent safety draft. Teams that may have considered him in recent selections will most likely pass him up in favour of a priority free agency opportunity.
For the Texans, it began with the right head coach, and DeMeco Ryans is wired correctly. Ryan never goes too high or too low. He gets along with the other players in the locker room. He played the game and appears to be capable of continuing to do so. Players put forth their best effort for him. They acquired the right quarterback, and C.J. Stroud is developing as a leader and doing things other than tossing the football. Hannah McNair’s assistance in removing some of the snakes from the facility has been really beneficial from an ownership aspect. Cal McNair can now sit back and let others perform their jobs. It is not a meddlesome ownership group. When you have the appropriate personnel in place, things shift. Did I expect change to happen so quickly? Absolutely not.
The top two quarterbacks in this draft have the ability to walk in and have a season like Stroud’s, but that is extremely difficult. He had the most successful rookie season since Dan Marino. I believe Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are capable, but they will require assistance. Stroud had help right away. No matter where Daniels goes, he’ll need that, and the Bears have begun to develop it around Williams. Chicago also owns the ninth pick, and it will be intriguing to watch how they use it.
I have four quarterbacks in the top ten. In the worst-case scenario, Minnesota will trade to nine or something to acquire the fourth quarterback available, whom I believe is Drake Maye. J.J. McCarthy is the quarterback who could slide. The quarterback ranking remains uncertain, depending on what Washington does at No. 2.
McCarthy has some flashes. He leads the team effectively. He didn’t face much difficulties at Michigan. He won at two separate high schools, and he won twice at Michigan before earning the national title this year. When I watch him play, I don’t see many individual games or halves when he has to carry the load. We haven’t seen him do it at the next level, so it’s difficult to predict his ability.
The Dallas Cowboys are difficult to project, and they could use offensive line help. You must keep your head on a swivel with them. Over the years, they have refocused the organisation on making prudent draft plays rather than flamboyant ones. I wonder if Dallas could be more aggressive at wide receiver. I believe they consider running back, but not in the first round. I believe Dallas let the draft come to them. They need an offensive tackle. Receivers will be present. A pass rusher could be present. I believe the Cowboys will be looking at offensive tackles and an offensive centre.