With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, Tiki Barber and Brandon Tierney unveiled their predictions for the top five picks.
Both hosts have the Cincinnati Bengals taking Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick – although neither is convinced he’s the best quarterback prospect in the draft.
“As much as I think that Tua is the better guy and has more certainty to him, even despite the injury issue, I think the Cincinnati Bengals [will] take Joe Burrow,” Barber said on Tiki & Tierney. “I don’t see it going any other way, unless somebody offers them something that is just astronomical and stupid. I think the Cincinnati Bengals are going to get their franchise quarterback at No. 1.”
Brandon Tierney is in lockstep with that.
“I’m not convinced he’s better than Tua – as a matter of fact, I like Tua better – and I’m not convinced he’s better than Herbert,” Tierney said of Burrow. “But [considering] all factors – where he’s from, how mature he is in terms of age, how he played on the big stage – I’m with you. But boy, that would change everything if we get a trade atop the board, which I don’t think we will.”
While neither host anticipates a trade at No. 1, Barber sees one coming at No. 2. He has the Carolina Panthers moving up from No. 7 to take Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.
“I think Chase Young is the best defensive player in this draft by far,” Barber said. “Isaiah Simmons, he’s comparable [in terms of] his impact because he’s so versatile. But I think [Young] is the second-best player in the draft. I just don’t think the Redskins need him.”
Tierney, on the other hand, believes the Washington Redskins will stand pat at No. 2 and take Young – as opposed to drafting a quarterback or moving the pick.
“If I’m the Redskins, I’m going to give [Dwayne] Haskins a little bit of a chance here,” Tierney said. “I’m going to. There was a little evidence at the end of the season last year, he had a couple of flashes. Nothing great, not like a comet flashing across the universe, but enough of a flicker for me to say, ‘You know what? Chase Young is that good. I’m not messing around. I’m taking Chase Young [at No.] 2, and I’ll see what Haskins has before I reevaluate if I have to.’”
Barber has another trade at No. 3, with the Los Angeles Chargers moving up from No. 6 to take Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. Tierney, meanwhile, has the Detroit Lions staying at No. 3 and taking the aforementioned Simmons.
Both hosts believe the New York Giants will take an offensive tackle at No. 4. Barber has his former team taking Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, while Tierney has them taking Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.
And finally, both have the Miami Dolphins rounding out the top five with Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.
Click below to hear more analysis of the NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-25.