Let’s face it – every day we are routinely bombarded with questions. When you’re an emerging media company in Nashville, people just want to know what your opinions are on everything. It’s only natural. And, since our duty is to serve the people, well, we have no choice but to be present. That’s the SoBro Way. Also, aren’t mailbags just a barrel of laughs anyway? Welcome to the newest weekly recurring feature up in this bitch: The SoBros Mailbag. As always, hit us with those mailbag questions @SoBrosNetwork on Twitter, email ’em to me anonymously at thesobrosnetwork@gmail.com. And, holy shit, I need to update this terrible intro paragraph that I’ve been using literally ever since I started writing this column…
Question:
How do you feel about Funko Pops being referred to as Precious Moments dolls for millennials?
— el hijo del gary (@thebrettclark) April 23, 2024
Answer:
You know…I totally get it. They really are like Precious Moments for millennials. I take no offense. Hell, if anything, it’s been the kick in the pants I’ve needed to get my collection trimmed down. Why? Have you seen what Precious Moments are worth these days? I gotta get out of these Funko Pops before I’m stuck with a bunch of inventory that isn’t worth shit!
Question:
What team makes a move first on Thursday and with whom? For whom?
— McCash (@MC_Cash75) April 23, 2024
Answer:
I’m still leaning Minnesota because they do have the ammunition to actually move up. I think they jump up to 3 after Washington goes with Jayden Daniels, trade with New England, and get their guy (Drake Maye).
Question, from Sean on Instagram:
Where are the top six quarterbacks going?
Answer:
Here’s how I have ’em ranked in the Stacking The Inbox Draft Guide:
- Caleb Williams – Chicago
- Drake Maye – Minnesota
- Jayden Daniels – Washington
- JJ McCarthy – New England
- Bo Nix – Denver
- Michael Penix Jr. – Las Vegas
Question:
So what’s gonna be the grub of choice to nosh on during three days of the NFL draft? Is it gonna be something safe or might you try new food choices?
— Ed Helinski 🇺🇸🇵🇱 (@MrEd315) April 23, 2024
Answer:
I’m going to be at the 440 Sports Draft party Thursday and Friday night – sounds like we’re having Edley’s and Lockeland Table, but honestly, last year, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off watching the draft, so I have no idea if or when I’ll even eat. It might be one of those “Whataburger at midnight” situations. On Saturday, we’re going live for the entirety of the draft. I can already see myself eating an entire pizza from Papa John’s after we’re finally done. Nice and safe choices – I’m just trying to get by, Ed! I’m saving the new stuff for when my wife and I can have a nice date night after all of this draft work blows over.
Question, from John on Twitter:
Question for the mailbag: If trying to produce a competitive on-field product in 2024 to maintain momentum of the team & franchise as well as a young QB1’s confidence—while also trying to build a roster from a “big picture”/long-term perspective—the concept of drafting BPA is lauded and encouraged, while seemingly difficult to unwaveringly implement.
Without strictly going by football’s Wins Above Replacement equivalent in an Expected Points Added metric from a prospect’s college production or predicted pro profile, what are some prospects/picks that you feel could most materially impact the franchise with a 4-year rookie contract in mind, were this to be a “Super Bowl window”? (Obviously tough to project without a feel for either side of the ball’s scheme, but just figured it’s what Brinker’s algorithm and the entire league is shooting for).
TLDR: Posit a few key “BPA” draft picks with some freedom to try and pick from a ~4 year perspective and long-term fit as opposed to as much pressure to immediately improve as many are understandably doing in their own mock iterations. One qualifier you may feel free to rebut: I still feel the primary objective has to be to definitively answer the question of whether you have the QB of the future on your roster, so as to either protect that investment accordingly or move on to take your next stab at face of the franchise and building depth across the rest of the roster.
Answer:
What a fantastic question, John, and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head in terms of the sweet spot that this regime will be looking to hit in the draft this weekend. Ultimately, I think that’s why setting expectations are so important. I’m sure they’ve done that with Amy Adams Strunk, but they’ve also been dropping a hint or two with fans that they’re hoping we’ll all be patient with this rebuild. Now, that doesn’t mean they’re going to ignore need, but here’s the part that is working in their favor: it’d be really fucking hard to draft a player at a position they don’t need help at. That’s how bad the roster is! Unless they spend a draft pick on a quarterback, I’m not going to really complain about any position they choose to attack in this draft.
I actually think they’re in an awesome spot. It is imperative that they get at least one offensive tackle that is capable of starting in 2024, but other than that, they can be pretty fluid in this thing. It’s the exact opposite of how we usually say “they’re just drafting best player available!” Usually, it’s like the roster is so good and deep that a team can’t go wrong. In the case of the Titans, the roster has so many holes that it’ll be hard to draft someone that doesn’t fill one of them.
For me, when I’m factoring in ways a guy can help immediately and also be a solid building block for years to come, I’m looking at versatility. I know that Taylor Lewan famously said something along the lines of “the more you do, the less you get paid.” But, I’m looking at this particular situation with the Titans as “the more you do, the more likely you are to stick around for awhile.” For example, when tackling the defensive line, there’s room to draft a guy that can line up inside and fill run gaps and that can line up outside and rush the passer. There’s room to draft a defensive back that can play safety, nickel, or maybe even outside too! That way, as holes open up due to injury/free agency, there’s already a pipeline of guys that can step in and help out in multiple ways. With that in mind, these are some of my BPA unicorns that can play multiple spots in this class:
- OL Troy Fautanu (Day 1)
- OL Dominick Puni (Day 2)
- OL Graham Barton (Day 1)
- OL Delmar Glaze (Day 3)
- OL Brandon Coleman (Day 3)
- RB Kimani Vidal (Day 3)
- WR Luke McCaffrey (Day 3)
- TE Tip Reiman (Day 3)
- DL Darius Robinson (Day 1-2)
- DL Gabe Hall (Day 3)
- LB Marist Liufau (Day 3)
- DB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Day 1-2)
Question, from McCash on Instagram:
What would your last meal be?
Answer:
I’m starting with a gin and tonic. Then, I’m going medium tenders from Hurts Hot Chicken, fries, with extra pickles and extra sauce. For dessert, it’s the olive oil cake I just had from Sixty Vines on Saturday night.
Keep the questions coming – catch y’all next week!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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