 Everybody traveled safe everybody's doing well. I'm ready when you are Yeah, well, this is we're excited to be here at the combine and this is an important exposure We went through a very productive round of February meetings So we're able to set the board based off the film and now we get into this part of the process And I know different people see the combine different ways But this is a very important exposure for us any touch point with the players that we can have is Critical the the interviews the formals the informals Seeing them work out and compete and just being here with all our peers agents if you handle this week the right way It can be very productive. So we're excited about being here. Yeah, well, the most important thing is the makeup We're we're here working to build a championship roster one player at a time and to build a championship roster you have to have championship makeup and you have to have the right kind of culture and So assessing the makeup and assessing the character Making sure the players fit our ethos smart tough highly competitive players That's always gonna be number one and what we do everything else matters the tape obviously matters and and what kind of football players they are and their talent level and yes, the measurables and The statistics and all those things matter. It's all a part of the equation But number one is always gonna be the makeup Yeah, well are the elephant the room, right? We have some big numbers associated with four players Particularly our quarterback. We have a big cap number and all those players with the big cap numbers. It's not their fault They're just good professionals that come in and do their job and I want to be clear with that But it is a challenge. It's not a I wouldn't say it's a It's a problem. I would say it's a challenge and something we have to work around so it's important to Make sure we go through the process of finding the right ways to open up some cap space and And we have to add players and we have to improve this roster. That's important and when you're at different points There are times where you'll handle the salary cap and handle contracts a different way Some some teams feel like they're one player way and they're gonna make a big splash in free agency and spend a lot of Money. We're not at that point. We have to be patient. We have to be patient We have to be selective and we have to be cost-effective So where we are with our team, we have to figure out ways the right ways to create cap space and then make sure we're patient And and we make we find value Well, there are a lot of different ways whether you're talking about contract extensions Whether you're talking about they're gonna be cuts. They're gonna be trades They're gonna be contracts that we do convert and we don't I think another elephant the room is Are we rebuilding are we are we trying to win now and I would say we're trying to have our cake and eat it too We want to be smart and and we don't want to make decisions that are gonna hurt us in future years But we also want to build the best team that we can so we're gonna work hard to To be smart and calculating our decision-making, but we also have to improve this roster this offseason and add competition Well, I think I think every the seat I sit in I'm a general manager. I'm one of the 32 So what I have to do is look in the mirror and and look at what we're doing in Atlanta I can focus on that area. We're doing in Atlanta To help this part of the process And so I have to make sure that number one is whether we're talking about people in the person in doing that And then also the pipeline every time you're bringing in people whether you're bringing in Coaches scouts or any area of the organization Make sure you're bringing in minorities and and everyone has opportunities to get in your organization and then grow So for me personally, I just look in the mirror and make sure that we're doing the right things here in Atlanta Yeah, absolutely. I think it is and and look the league is is gonna look at The situation every year and and I know the league is is trying their best to improve in the areas that they can But I do I think for me I can I Can't solve the we can't solve the problem for every single team But we can look in the mirror and do the best we can for the Atlanta Falcons Well, we look for succession plans at every position we have to add to the roster at every single position and I think where you can get in trouble is if you if you reach and you feel desperate in certain areas and But we're not going to do that and and yet we're gonna evaluate We got to we actually had formal interviews with several quarterbacks yesterday and there's a good group in this draft There's different flavors and so we're gonna evaluate those players and at the appropriate time we'll add to that position But I think you can get yourself in trouble if you if you reach and you don't feel good about what you're doing I'm not gonna say anything about any particular players or any because if I answer that question We can go through the entire roster and talk about who they are But I would say we're gonna look to add to every position And try to improve this roster Well, I would say if you go through each position in the draft There's there are some positions where they can be a little more top-heavy and it's not a strong midway through the draft And there's some positions that there might not be a player at eight that we love but yet we know there's depth in the draft So we're still going through that process and I wouldn't say where we see the strengths and weaknesses But but but I would say they're good players at every position the the wide receivers There's some we met with a lot of those guys last night, too And there's some real good receivers in the draft again some different flavors depending on what you're looking for But and there's value at the top and throughout the draft at receiver I'm glad you got the question in because you've gotten interrupted like four times, man. You're persistent So Cosmith's a stud it's funny when people ask about Cosmith always showing my phone Because I get texts from him or calls every night about 10 10 30 11 o'clock and he's watching film And he wants to talk through something and he just doesn't stop This is all he does all he cares about his football and building a good team his his mind's always going That's the way he's wired So he's a he's a stud. He's a really hard worker, and he's just obsessed with what he does Well, I think of that position when you when you go historically and look at edge rushes that have been successful They've come in all shapes and sizes. You've had the tall long You've had the undersized and you've had guys with great 40 times guys that don't have great measure balls They come in all shapes and sizes and so it's just about assessing can that player get to the quarterback And is he a true pressure player does he win because when you start focusing on just the measure balls And you try to create something sometimes you can get yourself in trouble So I would say the most important part is is he winning those one-on-one matchups? It's not something we can talk about right now. There's there's no update on it And when there is we'll let you know it's it's great Matt He's a great professional and he works it from my vantage point from my standpoint I really appreciate Matt and what he's been in terms of a leader in terms of a worker In terms of professional everything he's done here in Atlanta and So I would say for from my standpoint from my vantage point. It's been excellent. I appreciate him Yeah, that's exciting and I've said it before obviously Kirby and that whole staff that whole building They did a great job building what they've built there and and it is kind of overwhelming when you look at all the players on that roster particularly on defense but also on offense they have some really good players and so and there's so many local Players from Georgia that are really good. I'm hoping we actually can have the local day We weren't allowed to have it last year with COVID But if we can have that that's exciting because there's a lot of kids That that grew up in the Georgia area that ended up in some different areas that are really good football players So but we're excited about spending a lot of time with those Georgia players So you're asking if the Calvin Ridley situation? Got it. Got it. Well, well again, that's a question for Calvin I can't address that how he's particularly doing but I will say yes, the receiver position is important and But it's a complimentary game So our goal is to improve our team overall because when you when you have a when you protect when you have a good run game Then receivers are gonna be more open when you're when you're playing good defense and you're playing with leads It changes things so I would say it's a complimentary game So our goal this offseason is to improve the entire roster and Obviously the receiver position that's an area we have to improve as well the value of being here at the combine Yeah, and and it really starts with with assessing the makeup and we have to take advantage of every touch point We have with our with with with the players in this draft process because the most important thing is the makeup And so whether it's the combine whether it's pro days personal visits We have to take advantage of getting around those players getting our hands on them our coaches our scouts and make sure The players that we pull the cards off the board and the players we sign and bring into the building We're bringing in the right culture and we're bringing in the right types of players. So it's it's extremely valuable Last year from being virtual What did we learn? What do we learn from last year being virtual? I guess I can say we we're still going to utilize as As long as as much as the league allows us to do in terms of virtual meetings and we're going to utilize that and We'll still utilize that part of it. You can be pretty you can be really efficient Still having virtual meetings and virtual interviews as long as we're allowed to do that So so we'll utilize that we did learn some things last year, but being in person is important as well Thank you, ma'am well number one when The first thing we have to do is create a little cap space and and then number one is is our players and we have a lot of players I won't talk specifically about CP But we have a lot of players that that we want to resign and that's important now It's important for us to you're never a player away so we have to look at each specific player evaluate the player and Look at the parameters of the types of contract that we can sign and what makes sense for us And we have to stay disciplined with that because we're not trying to sign one player We're trying to build a team so we have to make sure we assess the value and stay within our parameters with every player And on the other side of it It's important for players to assess their market value along with their agents and their families and find the best situation for them Because they have a small amount of time to make as much money as they can and so we respect going through that process of the Business so with that they're going to be some players that we're going to be able to resign Some players are going to move on and and we understand that but talking specifically about CP That's an example of what we have to do this year in free agency That was a situation where it was a month in a free agency when we signed CP He wasn't getting the offers he wanted and and again a month into it We signed him. We had a clear vision for him It says a lot about him the success that he had because he's a great man He's a great player. He added on and off the field and it says a lot about our coaching staff And that they were able to find What he does well and and he had the most productive Season of his career as an offensive player So that shows the way we were able to find value in that and and I believe it It really shows the league that this is an attractive place to be and you look at our coaching staff and and you look at what they're able to do with players and you look at Atlanta and living in Atlanta Whether you're young and single or whether you you're married whether you have a big family It's a great place to live. So living in Atlanta the The opportunities that we have in all three phases because we have opportunities here And we have a coaching staff that's going to get the most out of players So I think cp is an example of what we have to do especially with the constraints we have here this year Yeah, because a lot of things we do and we evaluate value is we look at comps position comps And so when when it is kind of that hybrid unique position, it's tough to have You know a rolodex of a lot of comps with players like that So it's tough to value but at the end of the day for us It boils down to assessing that make up assessing the fit and looking at at what we can do Currently with our specific team. So it's not always easy to value that specific position, but It's something we have to do Say it again Yeah, yeah, just like just like our whole rookie class and a lot of young players It's important this offseason for them to to work and come back In a better situation, but he did some really good things this year and we're excited about him in the future Well, like I said with any measurable, it's all a piece of the puzzle, right? It's all a part of it any measurable any statistic It's all a part of the evaluation But there's never going to be one thing that that makes the decision It's it's all it's all a part of it It all factors in but there's never going to be one thing that completely Eliminates or or makes a decision for us, but we're going to look at everything Well, like I say, we do have goals at every at every with every measurable with every statistic So it's things we look at but the key is is it's all that does is it makes that particular player or that particular Whatever we're talking about it can make them an exception in a certain category But it's never going to make a decision All right. Thank you. All right d led Yeah, we're looking for anybody Like most teams and so we're trying to do our due diligence and making making sure we know every one of these players are and You know for me, this is just a Kind of beginning stages of the personnel evaluations Obviously our scouts and our personnel staff have been working on this class for several years Well, we'd had a few coaches that had worked with them in chicago had had been with them and You know daver going charles london had been with them in chicago and so His name obviously was up in free agency and they kind of Pitched atary and i hey this guy. We think he can do a little bit more that some of the things we dabbled in in chicago And so Obviously, like I said, we're looking for help anywhere we can get it cp Did a terrific job and embraced the role and took off from there I do Yeah, no, I don't I'd coach terrific person and he'll do a heck of a job Sure Yeah, I think you you understand where your issues are Obviously When it deals with protection and you're you're involved in everything you've got to work your straight get the play started So ben's got a great mind great football mind and I've never worked with him professionally But I've known him for a long time and I'm sure he'll do a great job in detroit We have a plan d led that we feel good about Whether we have an offer out for him now or not I mean that's their prerogative and that's what the the rule set up for right I mean that You do Obviously, this is like for me, you know, this is the first time and some of these guys we saw at the senior bowl But as as coaches it's a good opportunity You know, we'll have our formal interviews and we'll certainly have guys that we will meet with at night Some of them in the morning, but So it's just beginning stages to get to know who these who's yeah, I know d led and these guys that He is Like all of our guys that are up for free agency You know russell did a terrific job, you know, he Got injured early in the season and came back. I thought he was really productive late in the year and helped us Right. Yeah, you had to do it by zoom. It's good to be back. I mean, it's it's good to be in person I like being around People and getting to know them everybody's got different strategies. I mean, you'll see throughout the league It makes it fun. Some teams are here. Some teams aren't from a coaching side, but Personally, it helps me I'd like to get to know them and and it's like the early stages of is get to Put a name with a face and see who they are as people Yeah, I don't think you're gonna make a snap judgment off of 18 minute speed dating meeting But I think you look at their body of work and again, it's just a part of the process I've seen guys come in there and they light up the room and they're Um, that's you know, they can fake it for 18 20 minutes I've seen other guys that you know, that's not their setting and you gotta look at their body of work So it's just a small part of it Uh, I don't subscribe to a one-size-fits-all. Um, you know, I still believe in due process And so I just you gotta dig into it and don't take it You know, you may hear a story or somebody may have agenda that they've talked to at the school and Again, you just try to look at somebody's body of work and I'll give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove you wrong Um, and you just take a case by case Well, I saw some of them down at the senior bowl. Um, like every year, you know, I don't subscribe. I mean, I know It's a great The build up to the drafts are great. I love the hot takes this time of year. There's always players There's always good players at every position. There's somebody kind of emerge and A lot of us are gonna look stupid because we passed up on so-and-so. So Uh, you do do diligence every year and there's a good group of right. I guess I was pretty born Certainly that's You know, we're we're matt's ad. I mean, I Obviously we just watched in our division. I mean tom tom played till he was maybe a still play. I don't know He certainly didn't look his age And that is a lot younger than tom and I understand there's only one tom brady But I think you don't ever back yourself into a corner somebody gives you an offer You can't refuse. I mean matt knows how we feel about him and I think matt's got a lot of good football left in him. Well, I think every year. I don't think Certainly you look at the history of the draft. Um And that's at every position So, you know, you may feel good about your running back room or your receiver room and Somebody may fall that you think's a generational talent. Well, you ought to take them Or you make sure you do your due diligence. I mean, I think that's at every position I think in hindsight Been a part of it where hey, you think you're set at this position and you passed up on some good players So I don't think every year that's your charge is to make sure you know this draft And obviously, uh, you that's the one thing about the NFL So it's not like recruiting where you can take 25 Really, you know top top in players that you know, that are all first-rounders I mean, you've got to do your due diligence and make sure you get the right fit for you Yeah, I think that's every year, um You know, we certainly Guys you can find players and you better You can't skip steps because there's really good players that come out of that are undrafted every year And uh, it's always an open competition and obviously You know on the surface, you know, if you invest in a first early-round pick, you know You know what the salary cap structure is right there But if a guy's a better player that you that's an untrafted he's gonna play for us Excuse me. I couldn't really hear you Depends what the offer is. I mean like I said, like it's like the old Don Corleone Like if you give him offer, you can't refuse. I think you got to take it But that's what every I'm sure that Somebody, you know, you know as Terry if somebody wanted to give a bag of balls for me He may he may you know push push me out the door. So That's it. All right. Thank y'all