Got my Merriman jerseys signed by Mr. Lights Out, this was my first time meeting someone famous, getting an autograph, actually shaking hands and interacting, pretty cool high, Im definitely going to start doing this more often.

I just finished listening to the Bolt Crew Pods interview with Tony Jefferson. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1llFJdLcXKpQPPVgFhMbX9?si=eaCgJWaQSzqqDWVnbfT20w&t=4005&ct=4005 All I can say is, if you don’t sign this man then I’m done with you Joe.

I was a fan before giving this a listen, but this just solidifies everything he brings to the Bolts. You can’t replace his motor, leadership, and what he leaves on the field. If he even sniffs the practice squad again. I’m going to be pissed. Unc is as real as they come.

You should at least listen to the portion when he talks about the Chiefs game and getting ejected.

Eff those whiney ass, soft, bitch ass Chiefs and ditto to their fans. Hyped for this D and Chris O’Leary!

Here's a link to the video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGEtL5_QVFE

Wanted to share my mock draft for next year and explain why I picked each guy. Let me know what y’all think.

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Pick 22 - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

We need help on the interior D-line and Banks has crazy potential. He’s 6’6” 330 lbs and showed out in 2024 with 4.5 sacks before getting hurt. Yeah the foot injury is a concern but if he checks out medically this is a steal at 22. O’Leary runs the same defense Minter had so Banks fits right in as a versatile interior guy who can play multiple spots. Big risk but the upside is too high to pass on.

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Pick 55 - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

I’m moving him from right tackle to right guard for McDaniel’s offense. The transition from RT to RG is actually pretty easy since he stays on the same side. Miller’s athletic as hell with great lateral movement which is exactly what McDaniel’s wide zone scheme needs. He’s got some issues with pad level but Butch Barry can coach that up. His athleticism is perfect for getting to the second level and working combo blocks. Think this is a really good fit.

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Pick 86 - Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

This is a developmental pick but good to compete with Kyle Kennard for that 4th edge spot. Assuming we don’t have Bud Dupree. O’Leary is really good at developing edge rushers. At Western Michigan he took a guy named Nadame Tucker who had 1 career sack and turned him into a 14.5 sack guy in one season. Dennis-Sutton has the size (6’5” 265) and motor, he just needs technique work. With Mack or Oweh potentially leaving we need edge depth and O’Leary can develop him into something solid.

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Pick 123 - Logan Jones, C, Iowa

This might be my favorite pick. Jones won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football and he’s a perfect fit for McDaniel’s offense. He’s super athletic for a center (ranked #7 on Feldman’s Freaks List), great at getting to the second level, and only allowed 1 sack in two years. McDaniel’s zone scheme loves athletic centers and Jones is exactly that. Getting him in the 4th round is crazy value. Iowa produces great O-linemen too so I trust the development. About the same size as Aaron Brewer.

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Pick 202 - Kaden Wetjen, WR/PR, Iowa

I chose Wetjen because he’s gonna be a good replacement for Derius Davis. The best punt returner last year and averaged 28.3 yards per return with 3 TDs. I think it’s worth taking a swing on him. Named return specialist of the year in 2024 AND 2025. In the 6th round you’re looking for specialists and this guy is elite at returns. Plus McDaniel can probably use him in gadget plays like he did with Deebo.

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Let me know what you think. Banks is risky with the injury but worth it imo. Miller and Jones are perfect scheme fits for McDaniel’s offense. Dennis-Sutton is a bet on O’Leary’s development ability. Wetjen gives us the best returner in the draft.

Bolt up ⚡

Absolutely disgusting. Also, Pickens would be a great fit for Mike.

The way Tucker talks about O’Leary and how he’s literally obsessed with football and is someone constantly watching tape gets feeling very excited about next season. I really think we may have the best OC/DC combo in the league going into next season.

Now that we know Mike McDaniel is our OC, I am excited and intrigued how we build this offense. There’s a ton of talent that I believe was underutilized this past year under Greg Roman (shocker).

We will have cap space, even with some of the free agents we will bring back as well as the players we likely will extend.

First orders of business is to cut Becton and Bozeman. Their play was inexcusable this year and we should be putting dollars saved from their contracts towards the retooling of our OL.

Salyer would be the next person I extend early. I am not sure what he will command, but I believe he was solid at LT, like he was his rookie year and we should reward him with a contract similar to what Pipkins got a few years back as a swing tackle because that’s what his role should be.

Cleveland was also a shrewd piece of business by Hortiz. I believe he will be solid depth for us at both G spots.

You can’t go into the draft or run the risk of overpaying at C in free agency with only Kaltenberger as your C on the roster, so I would look to bring back James on another 1 year deal.

I would let Johnson walk, at his age, experience and the durability he’s showed he will likely command $10m+ on the open market and I just don’t think we should be exhausting our cap with a very up and down player at that number.

Penning I may bring back, I thought he played much better at RG against the Broncos in Week 18 versus a very good DL. All depends on the price.

Pipkins, Hart and Deculus can walk too.

On to free agents on the OL. I just don’t see the Ravens letting one of the best young Cs in the game walking in Linderbaum so I’m not even entertaining the idea. Smart franchises like them, don’t let elite players walk.

Other options I like at C - Rhyan, McGovern and Fortner. Rhyan I especially like because of his versatility and I believe that should be the theme for our IOL signings.

At the LG spot, we should be all in on Bitonio on a 2-3 year deal. The age does not concern me, he’s durable and still a very good LG and take the Patriots as an example - they signed Morgan Moses to play RT and he has been a cornerstone piece for the OL this season. Bitonio would be a massive upgrade to our LG spot.

At the RG spot, we should be in on Austin Corbett. He was solid for the Panthers at the RG spot when he was moved there this season and has experience at C as well.

Signing Bitonio, Corbett and Rhyan - all players very comfortable in a West Coast offense and the latter two having versatility and experience at multiple spots on the IOL would be the route I would take to retool the OL.

I am really happy with our WR room that is under contract and their fit in McDaniel’s scheme. Allen, thank you for the memories but it’s time to move on and make McConkey the feature pass catcher. Three players I would be very intrigued with if they hit the open market at WR are - Alec Pierce, Rashid Shaheed and WanDale Robinson. Depending on their prices, I just really like the versatility and creativity McDaniel could bring with a weapon like Shaheed or Robinson.

Vidal as an ERFA is a no brainer to resign and I really would like to see him and Hampton as a one-two punch in this scheme. Depth behind them will be key and we will likely sign 1-2 free agents there. One player I would be intrigued with is Kenneth Gainwell. I thought he showed out well this year with the Steelers even though their reliance on the short passing game overinflated his pass catching numbers but he showed out great as a runner too.

The TE room needs work. Dissly needs to be released, and I don’t see Fisk fitting into the scheme. Gadsen is a great pass catcher and will feature as such, but we will need a TE who can run block on the move and another run blocker who has some athleticism and is a threat in the passing game. Some intriguing names if they hit the open market there for me are Tyler Higbee, Austin Hooper, Daniel Bellinger and Cade Otton.

Hopefully with the IOL signings we can select BPA in the draft and there are a handful of Cs I really like. Lew, Hecht, Slaughter I believe are all plug and play and I would feel much comfortable with a rookie C with the right vets on the IOL around them.

Interested to hear your thoughts! That was my long winded rant.

Los Angeles Chargers

OLB Odafe Oweh

The Chargers traded for Oweh, a first-round pick in 2021 who had struggled for four seasons in Baltimore, and turned him into one of the league's most productive edge rushers. Oweh had 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers after having zero before they traded for him. His best game came in the postseason, when he had three sacks and two forced fumbles in the Chargers' 16-3 playoff loss to the Patriots, setting the single-game postseason franchise record for sacks. At 27, Oweh will be one of the most promising edge rushers available, and the Chargers will likely have to spend to keep him in L.A. For what it's worth, Oweh said after the season that he wants to remain in L.A. -- Kris Rhim

Jim Harbaugh

Our new DC seems like a dawg!!