Latest / Know Your Personnel Pod / 2026-2027 NFL Predictions | The AFC East Pats Regress, Bills Reclaim Their Crown, Phins & Jets Stink
Transcript
- Nathan Hawthorne: I don't like it, and I don't like the Patriots this year. I think they're buns. Jarod McInroy: we might have one of th if not the best linebacking core in the NFL, we have a top five linebacking core. in Jordan Brooks, and now we got Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech. Nathan Hawthorne: Josh Allen's gonna be great. He's got DJ Moore. He only needs one receiver. And he's got the best rushing attack. They're almost their entire offensive line is coming back. Jarod McInroy: I've never felt better about the direction the Jets are heading than right now. If I was a Jets fan, I'd feel like this is the best position you have been in in decades. since what's that that guy's name didn't he shank someone in an alley? Or what what was the deal with that? Mark Sanchez Nathan Hawthorne: What? Now I have no idea what should I We are so close to the start of the NFL season. Training camp has just about wrapped up. We're starting to see teams cut players. They're moving on. It's getting sad. I'm getting a little bit teary-eyed, but hey, here we are. It's almost the start of the NFL season. And we are doing another special episode of KYP for you, the division breakdowns. Today we are doing the AFC East. And I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't think you guys are gonna like what we have. So, Jared, break it down like we usually do. Give us Vegas' numbers. And we will break down the AFC East division. Jarod McInroy: Yeah, let's so starting with the numbers, they have the Dolphins at four and a half. It it was actually at three and a half at one point. So four and a half. Patriots at ten and a half, Bills at ten and a half, and Jets at five and a half. So my my initial reaction is they they think of it as a pick'em at the top, you know, and then kind of a pick'em at the bottom for who's gonna get that number one pick. but also No expectations of the Patriots to regress on on Vegas aside. I have a little bit to say on that later. but they also expect the Bills to kind of take a step forward. So lot of a lot of interesting takes from Vegas here. Let's let's see what you have to say. Let's start with the Patriots at ten and a Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Jarod McInroy: half. What what do you have for me? Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, before I get into the Patriots, just overall this division it's a battle of the just above mid, and then yeah, garbage teams. But the New England Patriots, fourteen games was a miracle last year for the New England Patriots. Four of those wins came literally for free against the Jets and the Dolphins. And then who else did you play? You played Tennessee, you played the Browns with Dylan Gabriel, you played New Orleans, you played the Bengals with no borough. Like Your your quality of wins were not good. So thirteen wins in and of itself was ridiculous. Okay. This team is gonna regress. And again, it's a lot of wins, but here's the deal. I'm just I'm taking the under. I don't like the Patriots. It's a little bit personal mixed with I don't think that they have what it takes to go out and compete again this year. I think the division that they're in with the Bills, I think the Bills are gonna be a better team this year. I think the Bills beat them twice. And I think Drake May makes a slide as well. Now I love a lot of things that they have on the roster. You know, obviously the addition of AJ Brown. But after that, you got Romeo Dobbs. He might play, he might not play a lot of games. Pop Douglas shows flashes sometimes, but other times can be completely checked out. Trevion Henderson or Mondre Stevenson, that's a solid, you know, one two run game. The defense is going to be great under very under Vrabel. But to look at last year and be like, my gosh, they won 14 games. There's no way that they, you know, they don't win over 10 games. No, they don't. They take a massive step back this year. I think Drake May in particular takes a massive step back this year. And things don't look the same. They got exposed at the end of last year. As soon as they had to play a quality defense with match with an offense that could push back, things looked really, really bad for them. In this in particular for Drake May. Did they get to the Super Bowl? Yeah. But I again, I'm I'm not convinced by what I saw. There's a little bit of off season noise. Obviously, the Ray Bel Rossini situation. I don't like it, and I don't like the Patriots this year. I think they're buns. Jarod McInroy: Why the end was uncalled for. Nathan Hawthorne: It it maybe, but I think I you know, I'm gonna be honest with you. This to me, it says more about what happened last year than about the Patriots this year. You know, if they win 10 games, I think I think that's Jarod McInroy: Yeah, that's fair. Nathan Hawthorne: solid. Ten games is good. If they happen to hit the over and win eleven, Jarod McInroy: Ten games is good. Nathan Hawthorne: that's you know, that's that that's cool. But again, I just think it says more about what happened last year than the reflection on them this year. Last year was a total fluke to Jarod McInroy: I hear ya. I hear ya. it total f they're not gonna win fourteen games again. That's that's not ups n it's not feasible at all. I really tried to look at this team and be like, okay, why do I think like I feel like they're gonna regress, right? Everybody thinks they're gonna ri gonna regress and they're gonna regress from fourteen wins. But outside of the off the field stuff, what on the field did they really get worse at is what I was trying to figure out. I mean they added Caleb Lemu from Utah. So you know, they get a little O line help. added AJ Brown, which in my eyes is a better receiver than Stephon Diggs, which is the only person you really lost on that offense. so you replaced him with somebody better. I I I just I don't understand why we think they're gonna take a step back outside of the off the field stuff. And then I I look at who's gonna win the I look at the ten and a half number, right? Who's gonna win the division? I'm split between them and the Bills right now. I think the winner of the division is gonna get 11 wins, and I think the second place team of this division will be a wild card at 10 wins. So it's it's again, Vegas, they put out these perfect numbers. They I mean, they got somebody, you know, behind the computer just crunching these numbers to try and figure it out, and they're always spot on. So I I love the ten and a half from both teams, but it could be a head-to-head matchup that decides who gets eleven and who gets ten. But I'm less focused on the number and more focused on who the division winner is gonna be and I think the Patriots will win the the division. So I'm gonna give them the over. I'm gonna give them the Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. I Jarod McInroy: over and call it eleven wins. Nathan Hawthorne: and I and I respect that. I just don't think it I don't think they're gonna do it. Again, their offense was second in the NFL last year. Again, just playing against horrible teams. They had hardly any quality wins last year. So that's what's frustrating for me. And is the positive things you're winning games, you're supposed to win. Yes, absolutely. But again, I don't see Drake May repeating that performance. And you talked about the difference between Stefan Diggs and AJ Brown. Like they're just different receivers. AJ Brown doesn't have nearly the bag in in terms of route running capability that Stephon Diggs does. Now, does he have does he have does he have the Jarod McInroy: Maybe like old Stefan Diggs, current Stefan Diggs? Nathan Hawthorne: the even current Stefan Diggs would absolutely obliterate AJ Brown in any sort of route running? AJ Brown can run a fade. He can run a stop and a comeback. That's that's about it. And I'm sorry, in a slant. But he also has less less consistent hands. I'm not trying to say AJ Brown's a bad wide receiver. Let me be very clear. I'm just saying that security blanket you had Jarod McInroy: What it sounds like. Nathan Hawthorne: of Stefan Diggs being able to hit those dink and dunk plays, that's not AJ Brown's game. He wants the ball fade up the sideline, which Drake May will give him the opportunity to do, to have those 50 50 balls that Jalen kind of stopped throwing him in that last year and probably and probably is what upset him. 4300 yards, I think almost 4400 yards for Drake May last year. I think that number comes down. And again, you've got a full year of tape on Drake May, what he wants to do, how he wants to do it. There's a number of teams in the playoffs that really prove that okay, you take away the middle of the field and you take away Stefan Diggs, kind of the outlet. He doesn't throw the ball very well. He doesn't throw the ball with a ton of velocity either. He has a good arm. He doesn't have an excellent arm. And it's again, I'm just fourteen wins was ridiculous last year. And I think that the schedule that they've been given this year, on top of probably taking a step back offensively now that people are more aware of Drake, what Drake likes to do, everybody's gonna give be giving you your best swing. I don't think it helps. I will say though, the defense it's gonna be great. you still got Christian Barrymore, Milton Williams, and Dremont Jones. That's an incredible front. You don't wanna have to deal with that. But it I'm also not quite sure how good this defense is, knowing that last year they didn't really face a lot of talent. if Gabe Jacket is good, that was a great draft pick for them. He should take care of them and and kind of give them depth on the D-line. But I I don't know. Your safeties, you've got an old Baird or Bayard, who's again great, but just old. And then Craig Woodson just doesn't really have a lot of high quality experience, if you will. So I know that Vrabel's gonna put together a good defense, but I don't see the two matching up and just getting graced with all of the all of the fortune that they had last year. A lot of bounces went their way last year. Jarod McInroy: Fine by me. I'll tell you what though. I look at their division, I think they're gonna get four free wins on the Jets and the Dolphins. Can they go Nathan Hawthorne: Are they? Jarod McInroy: yes, one thousand percent. They w both the Bills and Patriots will sweep both of those teams. So Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, they will. They will. They will. Jarod McInroy: it just comes down to the rest of the schedule. Can they go seven and seven? That's all you have to do to win this division, right? Or wait, no, seven and six rather. wait. Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: All I'm saying is they start with the Seahawks, the Steelers, the Jaguars, then the Bills. Seahawks, Steelers, Jaguars, Jarod McInroy: Seventeen games? Yeah. Yeah, quick math. Okay. Nathan Hawthorne: Bills. That's tough. And then you get the Raiders, maybe a scary team. Then you get the Jets. Yeah. But then you then Jarod McInroy: Good teams have to be good teams. That's all I'm saying. Nathan Hawthorne: you get the Bears. And then you get the Packers. Then you get the Lions. Then you get the Chargers. Then you get the Bills again. Then you get the Vikings. I again and and you got the Chiefs late in the season as well. You've got the Broncos, the second to last game. I just I just named what seven, eight losses for them right there. Jarod McInroy: Seven and six is seven and six is completely in their cards if they are a good football team, which I think they are. That's all I got on the Patriots. I can't get sit here and go, you know, seven rounds with you. We can talk about it more later. Nathan Hawthorne: There's there's a little bit of just personal dislike for the Patriots. Jarod McInroy: And I I hate everyone in this division. I have so much personal dislike in everybody. So I'm I'm trying to be objective here. Cause I'm a dolphin fan. Miami Dolphins. Nathan Hawthorne: That is true. And tell us why. Tell us why you have that anger. Does it perhaps have to do with your Miami Dolphins? Tell you know, you did start us off. Talk to us about the Dolphins. Jarod McInroy: Four and a half wins. Not a high number. I think we all can tell why. I think we'll very much be, you know, in that realm of let's not, you know, win too many games. I would love for us to be under that number. I would love to take the under. I'm gonna put money on it so I can at least, you know, you know, celebrate when we do lose for multiple reasons. High draft picks, winnings, all those things. Here's what I'm gonna say about the Dolphins. I'm trying to be objective, but I think we're a lot closer than everybody thinks we are. I I really do. I look at the roster and but tr just follow me here. Chris Bellant and Caleb Douglas are both gonna hit. They're both they were both great picks. I've already seen what they're doing and they were great, dude. Trust me, these these dudes are the truth. Adding them to a core with Malik Washington who's proven that he's a legitimate NFL receiver. He is. Look at the Nathan Hawthorne: Okay. Jarod McInroy: stats. It they don't lie. and so we have a revamped wide receiver room, running back room, we have A Chan and Ollie Gordon. the jury's kind of out on Jalen Wright. Like, you know, he can't really stay healthy, but in terms of like skill set, he's right there on any featured back. so running back room solid. It it's all gonna come down to this year and trying to figure out if Malik Willis is a viable quarterback or not. I don't think he is. he could prove us wrong though. That the talent's there, the skill set's there, but we've seen a bunch of talented, skillful quarterbacks who don't work out in the NFL. So this is the year. It's the this is the year, figure it out. Is he the guy? It it's one year. Do not miss out on next draft. If you are not 1,000% confident in confident in him after this year, go draft a quarterback. If you are 1,000% confident in him, go Go get Jeremiah Smith. Those are the two options. We need a playmaker on offense, whether it be our quarterback or another receiver. and then the rest of the draft we have to go heavy on defense. Our defensive we might actually have one of the Nathan Hawthorne: You guys did that this last draft. You guys went like almost all defense. Jarod McInroy: Yeah, and we need to do it again. and we need to focus on different parts. specifically the secondary is atrocious. but we might have one of th if not the best linebacking core in the NFL, we have a top five linebacking core. in Jordan Brooks, and now we got Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech. And then we get to our secondary. And it's a trocious man. It's absolutely Nathan Hawthorne: Ye you guys moved off of a lot of staples in the secondary this year though. You moved off a lot of staples in the secondary. Jarod McInroy: A lot of them. Where we we've committed to rebuilding that entire entire secondary. And the in the f our our D line isn't terrible either. I mean we have Chop Robinson still. Zach Sealer, Kenneth Grant, you know, like these are these are good players. we have no pass rushing depth outside of Chop Robinson, which is an issue. but I think between Sealer and and Grant, like, we're holding down the middle of the line. It's it's we need We need depth and we need more pass rushers because we got rid of bat Bradley Chubb, we got rid of Jalen Phillips, like all of our you know, all of a sudden our insane pass rushes one guy. So We're lot closer than you think. I promise you. We're we're right there. One one or two more good drafts, you know, maybe a couple Nathan Hawthorne: Close Jarod McInroy: pickups in the off season. we're right Nathan Hawthorne: I guess Jarod McInroy: there. Nathan Hawthorne: I guess the question is closer to what? Jarod McInroy: Closer to being a competitive football team and getting out of a rebuild. Nathan Hawthorne: Ma in that's and that's the bar, it's just competitive foot competitive football team. Like we're not we're not talking about getting to a a couple of years away from an elite team. I'm trying to I give you more context to answer the question. Jarod McInroy: Yeah, because I think your I think your first goal can can I answer your question? Let me answer your question. No, I understand your question. I understand you. What I'm going to say is we you have to become a competitive football team before you make the leap of becoming a Super Bowl contender. We are not competitive. We really no one has taken us seriously the last five, six years. Even in twenty twenty three when we were killing everybody, we'd ran up eighty points on the Denver Broncos. Like w no one really took us that seriously because we didn't have the firepower. Our defense we had a lot of injuries. but y you have to be a a good competitive football team before you can make that jump. What what teams have we seen go from a a tanking, terrible team well, well last year's Patriots, but outside of them How many of them really come from just a tanking terrible football team into a real Super Bowl competitor? None of them. They all take steps. Look at the Seahawks last year. They went from, you know, coming from their down years after having Russell Wilson and moving on from that era into, okay, what is this Geno Smith era looking like winning a lot of football games? And then they make the big step last year. Like that's the recipe. That's the more common theme that we see with with these football teams. So just getting back to like we feel confident and then we can retool, add pieces here and there to really make the jump. That's that's the goal, that's the dream. and I think we're right there. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, I think Halfley this year has a long leash to lose a lot of games and not be punished for it as a head coach. And he's a good guy at the podium. He's cool, calm, and collected. He's gonna talk about the team and how supportive we all are of one another, blah, blah, blah. But in reality, he's not getting paid to win games this year and there's zero incentive to win games. I do think outside of Devon A chain, there's not a lot of talent on this offense. Malik Washington, again, talented. He only had three hundred yards last year. Caleb Douglas and I and Chris Bell, I hope that they pop, but we know absolutely nothing. Jarod McInroy: They will. Nathan Hawthorne: We know absolutely nothing about how this offense is going to work. You've got Bobby Slowick, right, as the offensive Jarod McInroy: Yep. Nathan Hawthorne: coordinator. And his last several years as an offensive coordinator have not been good. Have not been good at all. And that includes being the an passing game coordinator with the Dolphins. Right. Jarod McInroy: Fine by me. That's how you lose. Nathan Hawthorne: So I'm saying, like, this is this is this is looking really weird. You know, Malik Willis is getting. You know, however many, sixty some odd million dollars, but forty five million of it is guaranteed. That just feels really expens the Jarod McInroy: Only two years. Nathan Hawthorne: I know, but the guaranteed money feels really expensive for this two year experiment. I just I don't entirely love Jarod McInroy: Not my money. Nathan Hawthorne: that. This guy is so passionate. But I mean that yeah, there's there's pieces in some places, you know. You drafted Caden Proctor to help sure up the O line, he's gonna be a hit. the defense, like you mentioned, you've got chop chop Robinson. Jarod McInroy: Don't get me started on crispy, bro. He's he he's a big boy. Nathan Hawthorne: Jordan Brooks comes back. Listen, I there's just no incentive again to win games and that's truth for a couple of teams this year. I just I don't like the look of How do I say it? I don't like the look of this team where there's enough talent to actually be a competitive team this year. But again, you have to kind of retool and take those steps. But they hired like they wanted it to be for next year. You know what I mean? Like who like somebody Jarod McInroy: For sure. Nathan Hawthorne: like somebody would they're lo the the Dolphins staff is losing heads this year. I'm not sure whose it is, whether it's the defensive coordinator help for Halfly, who's a first time head coach, or whether it's Bobby Sloak, but somebody's gonna be gone. And then it's just more turnover. Jarod McInroy: Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: So I I don't know. I don't have a lot to say about the Dolphins. I think this is gonna be an interesting year, but I mean, if they want to turn this around quickly, Jarod McInroy: Talent everywhere. Nathan Hawthorne: all thirteen of your guys' draft picks have to hit, and they have to hit ASAP. Period. Jarod McInroy: They will. Nathan Hawthorne: And then you gotta do it again next year. That was 13 draft picks. That's insane, by the way. Jarod McInroy: I believe in our new GM man. I I believe Nathan Hawthorne: All right. Jarod McInroy: in him. So let's pop on over to the Bills. Let's let's get back to a c real competitive team here. Ten and a half. Tell me what you got. Joe Brady taking over. Taking over. yeah. Go for it. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Yeah. It's listen, this this Bill's team is business this Bill's team is business as usual. They're gonna win twelve games easy this year. And the question is, is can Jim Leonard get a defense that doesn't give up thirty points a game in the big game? That's all we're looking for out of this out of this new system that we have with Joe Brady. Josh Allen's gonna be great. He's got DJ Moore. He only needs one receiver. And he's got the best rushing attack. They're almost their entire offensive line is coming back. They've got Deion Dawkins. they've got who's my guy? Connor McGovern, I believe, is their center. Like they've got all the continuity that they need. They've got their signal caller back in being and Joe Brady. Like this team is fine offensively. It's just defense. Can you not give up 30,000 points when it matters? And will somebody on this team hold Josh Allen accountable for the bad turnovers? He's gonna throw interceptions, you know, trying to fit one in that he shouldn't or taking a risk. But if I see one more PR movement, it's an arm punt. No, it's not. Take care of the football. Stop taking bad sacks and make the good decisions when it matters. Somebody has to hold Josh accountable for that, and somebody has to be able to build up this defense. Can Leonard do it? We'll find out. But again, this is the best team in the division. I don't think it's particularly close. Last year, things were just weird. Sean McDermott was. pretty much on the way out. Like there was nothing really clicking because that ca 'cause it was the hot seat. If you get a fully focused Bills team, I think that they are head and shoulders above the rest of this division. That's the clip right there. Jarod McInroy: Armpunt is crazy. That's so funny, bro. Nathan Hawthorne: Was isn't that insane? Look at this Josh Allen armpunt on third. What do you mean? The interception he threw? There's no such thing as an arm punt. Are some interceptions maybe better than others? Sure, but guess what happens as soon as it's intercepted? You give the defense momentum and say, hey, we can go after we Jarod McInroy: I hear ya. Nathan Hawthorne: can get the Jarod McInroy: The the cornerback celllies, like they they yeah. here we go. Got a question for you though. Nathan Hawthorne: It ha it's it's the hype. I don't care how far you're throwing it down there, talk to me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jarod McInroy: Did he not at least look better last year than previous years? Josh Allen, in terms of like just the egregious turnovers, the turnovers and bad moments. I feel like last year he showed a lot more composure and and a lot of improvement in terms of that that side of his game. Do you disagree? Nathan Hawthorne: I disagree. I think some he had some of his worst sacks last year and highest and and most games with multiple Jarod McInroy: Sax okay. Nathan Hawthorne: turnovers last year. You could argue Jarod McInroy: Okay. Nathan Hawthorne: in general he did, yeah, but no, I do not think he took a step forward. If anything, he took a step back in terms of the way he takes care of the football. Okay. Jarod McInroy: Well, I disagree. I thought he looked a lot better. Yeah, I mean you kinda you nailed it on the head. The the Joe Brady thing is like it's it's tough for me, mostly because we see a lot of these offensive coordinators step into the head coaching role and it just doesn't land the same. He's not the personality of a head coach, but you know, he's a good enough OC, don't you think? I he's he's decent. Their offense has looked Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Jarod McInroy: good. in a lot of ways. But yeah, I think I think adding extra pieces in there and adding context to why their offense struggles, which is they're always on the field. They're always in shootouts. they need a lot of a lot more consistency. They need a lot more consistency on offense and they need to do it in those important games against really good teams and in the playoffs more than anything. I I th the regular season's just gonna go by. They're gonna be in the postseason. It it we're not focused on that. We're not worried about that. It it is a great time to I prepare yourself for the postseason and practice those things in real time, but they're gonna be in it. They're gonna be there. It all starts when the playoffs start, and they need to prove that they can do it. If he doesn't get to the Super Bowl this year, man, I I don't know what you do from here. I I like I how many more years can we give him before he at least gets an appearance? Like I I I don't really know. It it doesn't make sense to me. That was the Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Last year last year was the year and things were just falling apart. Things were just falling apart. Jarod McInroy: and that was the blow up year, but then you go and hire the OC that's on the staff. Like you didn't really make that big of move. So I I don't know how many more tim I would be going crazy, man, if I was a Bills fan. I I I would hope that this is the time and it works out and it it all all the stars align. But man, if the Patriots last year's team was the representative of the AFC and you weren't in that mix, that kind of sucks. Like I don't know. that's tough. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. But yeah. Yeah, schedule sets up nicely for you play New England late in the season at New England. That's I think that's gonna be hard. That's week thirteen. But then you play Miami and New York late. Both teams at this point should have completely tanked everything. It's it's a scrimmage, it's a little tune up for the playoffs. Again, I think that they are gonna win this division going away. I don't think it's going to be the Patriots, and I don't think it's gonna be close between those two teams. Jarod McInroy: Mm. I have finishing second behind the Patriots. I I don't think they'll Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, and that's totally fair. That's totally fair. Jarod McInroy: They're right there. It again, if they pull it out, it they get eleven wins and and the Pats get ten. It's w it's it's right there. speaking of the Jets, we don't need to spend a ton of time on these guys, huh? It's one stinker in every division, but Nathan Hawthorne: No no but I ha no, but I got a few things to say about you know? Jarod McInroy: I feel like you might go off on a little more than I'm going to, but five and a half. Gino's gonna win you out of a good pick, man. He's so bad, but like he's just good enough to win enough games to win you out of a good pick. and here's the thing. I I I hate when teams do this. I hate when they go get an old vet who clearly is not gonna be their quarterback of the future and they're not gonna be competitive this year. You drafted Kate Klubnick. You're you're get like You want to lose games. Do you not agree? Like why why are we not all on the same page right now? Like Nathan Hawthorne: Mm-hmm. Jarod McInroy: you just had a really good draft. You took one gigantic step forward. you know, adding Kenyan Sadiq, Omar Cooper, D'Angelo Pons, David Bailey, like those are real impact players. Both on both on the defensive line, secondary, wide receiver room, tight end, like these are these are great places that you needed pieces in addition to, you know, your big names. You'd gotta get rid of Garrett Wilson. I will say it the entire year. From beginning to end. Get rid of Garrett Wilson because I know I I hear ya. He's your best player. He's fantastic. But these are the moves that get you a lot of picks in return. And if he hits free agency, he's not re signing with you. He's he's gonna need some money. He's not he's not there. He's he's gone. He's not a part of your future. He's disgruntled. He doesn't want to be there. He's not bought in. he doesn't fit your timeline anymore and when it's time to move on, move on. However, I've never felt better about the direction the Jets are heading than right now. If I was a Jets fan, I'd feel like this is the best position you have been in in decades. Since since what's that that guy's name who was didn't he shank someone in an alley? Or what what was the deal with that? Mark Sanchez Nathan Hawthorne: What? Now I have no idea what should I my gosh. Since the Mark Sanchez Rex Ryan era, I've got no idea. Bar fight Jarod McInroy: Yeah what what was up with that Nathan Hawthorne: knifed somebody. I have no idea. Is he calling games this year? Is he officially in out? Jarod McInroy: Something happened. I don't think he's ever allowed in that building again. I'm not gonna lie to you. Nathan Hawthorne: Woof. Woof. Jarod McInroy: But yes. Moral of the story. I think they're headed in a great direction. you're Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Jarod McInroy: gonna go tell me why that's all wrong, but go for it. Nathan Hawthorne: I'm really not. The Jets have the talent to win 10 games, but they have the coaching staff to win three at the most. I Aaron Glenn messed up so bad with his head coach, or I'm sorry, with his coordinator hires this year. I can't tell you his defensive coordinator's name for some reason it's blanking me. But for an offensive coordinator, you went out and got Frank Reich. That was your that was your solution, Frank Reich to work with Geno Smith. Jarod McInroy: You're you're focused on the wrong things, man. Nathan Hawthorne: No, I'm not focused on the wrong things. I'm I'm gonna get to what I'm t I'm gonna get to what I'm Jarod McInroy: They're all gonna get fired. Nathan Hawthorne: talking about this year. But that's what I'm saying. Aaron Glenn, the defensive head coach whose defense was ranked 31st last year, Robert Sala would never allow that as a defensive head coach, being thirty-first in overall defense. Like i giving up twenty nine points a game with having zero interceptions. Now, here's the good part. You've acquired a lot of talent and like you mentioned, they're taking a lot of really positive steps. Brees Hall, hopefully he stays healthy. Goodness gracious. you've got Garrett Wilson, but maybe he's in the plan, maybe he's not. I'd like to think he is. You've got Omar Cooper, you drafted Ken Yon Seneq, your O line is sneaky good with Parham and Tipman. Like there's pieces there. I love it. And then Geno Smith's your quarterback. Listen, if you're the Jets, Cade Klubnick needs to be playing minimum 12 of your games this year. I don't care if Gino starts the first whatever, or he does the classic, starts till Thanksgiving. Or until the bye week or to, you know, maybe they go, I don't know if they have an international trip or not, but maybe that's how it works. But it needs to be Clay Cade Klebnick. And it's not because Geno Smith is bad and you have to lose games. It's because if you're gonna lose games, let's see what our draft pick looks like. Cade Klubnick was the number one quarterback out of high school. He was out in and he went to Clemson. And we know how things went in in Clemson with Dabo Sweeney, it did not look very good. so maybe he's got more talent than we're giving him credit for. Defense. You took a swing on David Bailey. I like that. It looks like he still needs work. D'Angelo Pons is kind of that weapon that maybe Aaron Glenn needs to unlock that aggression he wants to have in his defense. Kind of like a Brian Branch type guy, somebody who's be able, you know, can get after you from the safety position. But I don't know. I I like that they added the veterans Minka Fing Minka Fitzpatrick. They added Demario Davis, Tavondre Sweat. Again, they've got the talent for 10 wins, but they've got the staff for three. Jarod McInroy: I got the talent for seven wins. ten's crazy in this league, in that schedule. Good luck. Nathan Hawthorne: Dog, hey, we need the listen, we need the clip. We need the clip. It's all about the clip. Ten wins for the Jets. No, and maybe that's a Jarod McInroy: Okay. Nathan Hawthorne: you could say that that's exaggerating just a touch, but the the point is, is that they are collecting talent. They just do not have the right staff in house. I'm sorry, they don't. They don't. Jarod McInroy: Yeah. I hear you. Alright, let's rank these these four teams, huh? So I I think I think I personally have the Jets above the Dolphins, so I I have the Dolphins finishing dead last at at in fourth. I have the Jets third. again I think they're gonna they're gonna mess up and win too many games. I I have the Bills at second and Patriots finishing first in the division. both of those two teams making the playoffs though. Nathan Hawthorne: Hmm, interesting. I've got the Bills winning the division. I've got the Patriots finishing second. And then in this race for the bottom, I I kind of had him tied, you know, based on tiebreaker, what happens, but you made a great point about the Jets winning too many games. Aaron Glenn has to win more games. He's not going to be allowed to have this atrocious-looking tankier again. They have to at least take a micro step forward and look better. Is that the right thing to do for the franchise in terms of setting yourself up for getting another high overall pick, potentially the first overall pick? No, it's not. But again, you can't afford to just look like ass cheeks. If your defense Jarod McInroy: Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: looks horrible again, you're out. You're gone. And maybe Frank Reich takes over head coach halfway through the year. but that for that reason there, I'm gonna put the Jets just above the Dolphins. Dolphins, like I said, Halfley's got a long leash to lose a lot of games this year in Miami. So that's it. Jarod McInroy: Sure does. Do you have to ask me the the final question before we wrap up? Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, I I I I do because I think I think one and two are interesting. Jarod McInroy: Okay, go ahead. Ask the question. Nathan Hawthorne: Okay, so rank rank these quarterbacks for me. Josh Allen, Drake May, Malik Willis, Geno Smith, slash Kate Club. Jarod McInroy: Josh Allen. S significantly number one. He's he's number one. Then it's Drake May. No, I'm saying it. Then it's Nathan Hawthorne: Okay, okay, that that's all. We don't have to say the rest now. Okay. Jarod McInroy: Drake May. Then it's Malik Willis. Baby not last. And then throw whoever's starting for the Jets at the Nathan Hawthorne: There it is. Okay. Well yeah, Jarod McInroy: ball. Nathan Hawthorne: I had Malik Willis over Geno Smith for sure. for sure. It's a SEC Jarod McInroy: Thank God. Yeah, some people it's the SEC. Nathan Hawthorne: But that is going honestly, real quick though, I'm glad you said that Josh Allen was the best. There's a lot of people that have, I think, too much faith in Drake May. And I get it, last year, his passer rating, I think, led the NFL. They were second in offense. So many things look good. I'm just not I'm not convinced. I'm not convinced. But if you are convinced and you are a New England Patriots fan out there and you're upset, leave a comment. Talk to me. That's what we do. And we're gonna talk back. If it's about the Patriots, I'll be the one talking back. Jared's not gonna be one talk talking back on that one. So With that being said, that is going to do it for the AFC East breakdown. We are doing several of these a week now leading up to the NFL season, and we will conclude it with our final look at contenders and pretenders. So stay tuned. Once again, my name is Nathan Hawthorne. This is my co-host, Jared McEnroy at KYP AKA. Know your personnel, and we will see you on the next one.