Inside The Pylon Quick Kicks Podcast

It is a 2-for-1 special on the ITP Mock War Room Draft today, as the Green Bay Packers kick things off with only two days until the NFL Draft. Green Bay saw its typically-strong offense sputter due to injuries to Aaron Rodgers over the course of the season, though the Packers typically build skill position depth in later rounds. They may look to bolster a defensive line that has eroded in recent years as they look to improve on a defense that was inconsistent in 2015. Tune in to see what happens as the Packers make pick twenty seven today.

The NFL Draft is just days away, and the ITP Mock War Room Draft rounds into its final week as the Seattle Seahawks make pick twenty six to kick off the home stretch. While the retirement of RB Marshawn Lynch made waves earlier this offseason, Seattle looks to fill several other needs as well, including bolstering an offensive line that struggled at times last season. Danny Kelly of Field Gulls heads up the Seahawks as they look to make another run to the Super Bowl in 2016. Tune in to see who they select.

ITP Mock War Room Draft - Pick 25, Pittsburgh Steelers by Inside The Pylon

ITP Mock War Room Draft - Pick 24, Cincinnati Bengals by Inside The Pylon

ITP Mock War Room Draft - Pick 23, Minnesota Vikings by Inside The Pylon

ITP Mock War Room Draft - Pick 22, Houston Texans by Inside The Pylon

ITP Mock War Room Draft - Pick 21, Washington by Inside The Pylon

The fourth week of the ITP Mock War Room Draft draws to a close as the New York Jets are on the clock with the 20th pick in the first round. GM Jeff Lloyd leads the war room as the Jets look to build on a strong 10-6 campaign that saw New York narrowly miss the playoffs. The retirement of OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson is an issue that must be addressed, but the Jets might also look to build depth amongst the skill positions on offense. Tune in to see who goes off the board as the Jets make pick twenty today.

With the ITP Mock War Room Draft still ongoing, Mark Schofield of the ITP Quick Kicks Podcast sits down with Matt Waldman, creator of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio. Mark and Matt touch on a number of topics, both on and off the field, as Matt details his work on the 2016 draft class and the preparation that goes into putting together the RSP. Topics this show include: -What is Matt's process for putting together the RSP, from the film study to the process of evaluating the players? How has his process evolved over the 11 years the RSP has been in publication? (4:06) -What are Matt's thought on the WR class, and how does he evaluate the position? Who are some players he thinks are underrated, as well as some who are perhaps overrated? (17:01) -What are Matt's thoughts on the QB class? Is this a good class, a deep class? Or perhaps both? We then dive into his top guys, as well as one name he and I are not as high on (21:53) -A few thoughts on Darkness to Light, a group helping sexual abuse survivors that Matt

The Buffalo Bills are on the clock as we head to the 19th pick in the ITP Mock War Room Draft. With QB Tyrod Taylor showing growth in his first year as a starter, the addition of RB LeSean McCoy, and the development of WR Sammy Watkins, the Bills constructed a capable offense that is able to compete in the AFC East. Buffalo's defense ranked in the middle of the pack in a number of categories, and with a deep defensive draft class, that could be the direction the Bills go in. GM Chris Trapasso of NFL.com heads up the Buffalo front office as the Bills make pick nineteen. Listen in for the selection.

We head out to Indianapolis as the Colts make pick eighteen in the Inside the Pylon Mock War Room Draft. Indianapolis was in the bottom third of the league in both points scored and points allowed, with holes to fill on both sides of the ball. There are significant needs on the offensive line, with the pass rush needing a boost as well. GM Lance Poirrier leads the Colts war room through the pick, so listen in to find out what direction he and his staff go in for Indianapolis.

The ITP Mock War Room Draft moves into the second half of the first round as the Atlanta Falcons are on the clock. Despite spending a large amount of draft capital in recent years on offensive acquisitions, the Falcons offense sputtered at times in 2015. With several high-profile wide receivers on the board, this could be an area targeted by GM Matt Caraccio of Inside the Pylon and the Saturday 2 Sunday Football Podcast. But with a number of strong defensive talents still available, Atlanta may look to bolster a defense that took a step forward last season. Tune in to see what happens when the Falcons make pick seventeen.

We enter the fourth week of the ITP Mock War Room Draft as the Detroit Lions make pick sixteen. The Lions saw the surprise retirement of WR Calvin Johnson earlier this offseason, but also have holes to address on the defensive line. Tackle and cornerback are also possibilities at this pick, though the talent available might not be the best value at this point in the draft. What will GM Jeff Risdon of RealGM, SideLionReport, and Draft Breakdown do? Listen in and find out.

The Rams have moved back to Los Angeles and now get to make their first selection in their new old home. After seeing quarterback issues throughout the 2015 season, there are still several signal-callers on the board who may interest the Rams as a long-term solution. Wide receiver is also a position of need that could be filled on offense, and the defense could also use an infusion of talent in the secondary. Where will GM Kyle Crabbs of NDT Scouting go with this pick? Tune in to find out.

The Oakland Raiders are on the clock in the ITP Mock War Room Draft as they prepare to make the fourteenth pick. With a year of growth from QB Derek Carr and the emergence of Khalil Mack as a force on defense, Oakland has stars on both sides of the ball to build around. The addition of Amari Cooper last season gives Carr a weapon to pair up with for the next decade, but Oakland may look to add additional firepower on offense. They could also seek to boost what is quickly become a stout defense with one of the many strong front seven prospects as Justis Mosqueda of Playmaker Mentality heads up their draft room as the Raiders make pick #14. Tune in to find out who heads out to Oakland for the 2016 season.

Hump Day is here but so is the ITP Mock War Room Draft to get you through it. We are now on to the thirteenth pick in the draft, with the Miami Dolphins on the clock. After a pre-draft trade with the Philadelphia Eagles netted them cornerback Byron Maxwell and dropped them five spots in the first round, the Dolphins still find themselves needing a cornerback opposite Maxwell. There are also needs in the front seven of the defense, as well as at running back, as Mark Schofield of Inside the Pylon heads up the war room in this episode as the Dolphins make pick thirteen. Listen in to find out what direction they go.

The 12th pick in the ITP Mock War Room Draft is here as the New Orleans Saints are on the clock. Long plagued by salary cap issues, the Saints now look to rebuild through the draft as they attempt to gear up for another set of runs with Drew Brees at quarterback. With a defense that gave up the most points in the league in 2015, there are a number of holes on that side of the ball that New Orleans can address. In a year with a deep defensive class, Dave Archibald of Inside the Pylon heads up the war room as the New Orleans Saints make pick number twelve. Listen in to find out who is taken.

It is the third week of the ITP Mock War Room Draft, as the Chicago Bears make pick eleven with only three and a half weeks until draft day. The Bears struggled to put points on the board, in part due to struggles on the offensive line to provide a consistent pocket for quarterback Jay Cutler, who was sacked 29 times on the year. But Chicago could also look to bolster the weapons around Cutler after the departures of tight end Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte. Bryan Perez of Draft Breakdown and The Bears Wire heads up a knowledgeable front office as the Bears look to retool heading into 2016. Tune in to see who they take with the eleventh pick in the draft.

The second week of the ITP Mock War Room Draft draws to a close as the New York Giants make pick #10. While the Giants scored the sixth-highest point total in the 2015 season, they also gave up the third-most points, and as a result, were the only team in the top seven in points-scored to miss the playoffs. Ronny Carlton of IBN heads up the New York front office as they decide whether to address the dreadful defense or instead look to bolster an already-strong offense.

The ITP Mock War Room Draft saw quarterbacks taken with the last two picks, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make pick number nine in the first round. After taking QB Jameis Winston with the first overall pick last year, the Buccaneers appear to be set at quarterback, making it unlikely that we will see three signal-callers in a row. Luke Easterling of Bleacher Report heads up the war room for Tampa Bay as they look to continue their climb heading into the 2016 season.