NFL Vets Ronnie Stanley & Matthias Farley - Drafted vs Undrafted Route

Introduction

In this section, the hosts introduce themselves and their guests, Ronnie Stanley and Matthias Farley, who will be discussing their experiences with the NFL draft.

Hosts and Guests

• Sean Crawford and Carl Jones are the hosts of the Varsity House podcast.

• Ronnie Stanley is a former first-round draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2016.

• Matthias Farley is also from Notre Dame's 2016 draft class but went undrafted.

Two Sides of the Spectrum

This section discusses how both Ronnie Stanley and Matthias Farley have had long careers in the NFL despite having different experiences with the draft.

Draft Experience

• Ronnie Stanley was a first-round pick, fulfilling his dream of walking up on stage at the draft.

• Matthias Farley did not get drafted, but he has still had a successful career in the NFL.

• Both guests provide unique perspectives on what it's like to go through the NFL draft process.

Excitement for Draft Weekend

The hosts express their excitement for draft weekend and discuss how being drafted can change an athlete's life.

Changing Lives

• Being drafted can change an athlete's life and outlook, regardless of where they end up in their career.

• The hosts reflect on their childhood dreams of being at the draft or shaking hands with the commissioner.

• They are excited to hear from both guests about their experiences with the draft.

Preview of Discussion

The hosts introduce the topic of discussion for the episode and preview what they will be covering with their guests.

NFL Draft Discussion

• The hosts will be discussing two different ends of the NFL draft spectrum with Ronnie Stanley and Matthias Farley.

• They hope to provide insight into what it's like to be in the Green Room, have your name called, and shake hands with the commissioner.

• The goal is to give fans an exclusive look into an athlete's life and connect them with important figures they look up to.

The Process of Becoming a First Round Pick

In this section, the speaker talks about the process of becoming a first-round pick in the NFL draft. He discusses the distractions and challenges that come with it, as well as the importance of staying focused on football.

Going Through the Draft Process

• The speaker describes how teams want to meet with potential first-round picks and how exciting it is to be in that position.

• He talks about how being a highly sought-after prospect can be distracting and overwhelming, but he tries to stay focused on football.

• The speaker explains that he didn't want to focus on anything other than being the best player he could be during his rookie year.

• He discusses some of the tasks involved in preparing for the draft, such as finding an agent, vetting financial advisors and accountants, and training for combine prep.

Agents and Accuracy of Information

• The speaker doesn't believe that agents have accurate information about players' potential or where they will get drafted. He thinks that much of what is reported is meant to throw people off.

Draft Day Experience

In this section, the guest talks about his experience on draft day and how he felt when he was drafted.

The Day of the Draft

• The guest describes the day of the draft as a dream come true but also nerve-wracking.

• He got invited to attend the draft but wanted to spend it at home with his family.

• When he got drafted, he was excited because it was a dream come true, but also knew that he had to put in work on top of that.

• Finally understanding where he would be playing helped him mentally prepare for what's next.

Being Drafted by the Ravens

• The guest reveals that he talked extensively with the Ravens throughout the draft process and had a good feeling about them drafting him.

• He knew that Laramie Tunstall and himself would be the first two tackles off the board, but didn't know which one would go first or who would take them.

Undrafted Experience

• The guest shares his undrafted experience. He knew he wasn't going to get drafted so instead of waiting around all day, he went fishing with his brothers for the weekend.

• A couple of teams called just to see how he was doing during the draft.

• After choosing between offers from Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts, he ended up signing with Arizona.

Getting in the Door

In this section, Carlos and Ronnie discuss their experiences of getting into the NFL as undrafted free agents.

Starting Point

• Carlos talks about how he got into the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

• He emphasizes that he had to give himself a chance by getting in the door.

• Carlos mentions that he did more than he remembers doing.

Proving Yourself

• Once you are in the building, you have to earn your keep one way or another.

• It does not matter if you are the first guy or last guy in the building.

• You have to prove yourself regardless of whether you were drafted or not.

Realistic Expectations

• Carlos's family was realistic about his chances of making it into the NFL.

• They did not put pressure on him to get drafted or make a team.

• Carlos planted this seed long before draft time.

The Undrafted Route

In this section, Carlos talks about his experience with phone calls after being undrafted and what happens when you get into the building.

Phone Calls After Draft

• Teams start calling right after the draft ends.

• Teams that showed interest throughout the process call first.

• They tell you they want you and offer signing bonuses.

Quick Decisions

• You have only a few minutes to decide because teams are trying to sign everyone they can.

• If you take too long, they move on to other players on their list.

Getting Into The Building

• Coming from high school and college, getting into an NFL team is different for undrafted free agents like Carlos.

• There are already guys in the building who coaches are familiar with.

Preseason Mindset

In this section, the speaker talks about his mindset during preseason and how he approached it as an opportunity to prove himself.

Auditioning for All Teams

• The speaker came into preseason with the mindset of auditioning for all teams.

• He believed that if he played well, he had a good chance of sticking somewhere else.

• His goal was to prove that he could play at a high level.

Learning from Experienced Players

• The speaker knew that there were experienced players in the safety room who were better than him.

• He went in with the intention of learning as much as possible from them.

• He wanted to showcase his ability to compete and do the job at a high level.

Gaining Confidence

• The speaker gained confidence through the process of competing against established players.

• He tried to communicate every day and be vocal, even when he was wrong.

• He absorbed as much knowledge as possible from experienced players.

Importance of Special Teams

In this section, the speaker talks about how special teams played a crucial role in making the team.

Defensive vs. Special Teams

• The speaker took both defensive and special teams seriously but knew that special teams were more important for making the team.

• Missing a block on kickoff return or punt return could hurt his chances more than missing a check on defense.

Advice for Young Players

In this section, the interviewer asks the speaker what advice he would give to young players going through a similar journey.

Starting Point Mentality

• The speaker advises young players to have a starting point mentality.

• Going into a new team or job as the low man on the totem pole can be challenging, but it's important not to get in the way of your own blessing.

• The speaker emphasizes that getting into a building is an achievement in itself and advises young players to focus on learning and improving.

The Importance of Focus and Hard Work

In this section, the speaker talks about how being an undrafted player in the NFL has motivated him to work harder and stay focused. He emphasizes the importance of controlling what you can control and not comparing yourself to others.

Undrafted Players

• Being an undrafted player in the NFL motivates players to work harder and stay focused.

• Majority of NFL rosters are made up of undrafted players.

Controlling What You Can Control

• It's important to focus on what you can control, such as attitude and effort.

• Comparing yourself to others is counterproductive because everyone's career path is different.

Appreciating Your Career Path

In this section, the speaker talks about appreciating his career path despite not having been drafted into the NFL. He also discusses how he stays grateful for all that has happened in his life.

Gratitude

• It's important to be grateful for your career path regardless of where it takes you.

• Even if you're not a first-round draft pick, playing in the NFL is a good life that many people aspire to have.

Staying Positive

• Attitude and effort are key factors in staying positive throughout your career path.

• Focusing on other people's success will only hinder your own progress.

Financial Stability in the NFL

In this section, the speakers discuss financial stability in the NFL and how it differs between drafted and undrafted players.

Financial Stability

• Being drafted into the NFL provides financial stability, including hiring a financial advisor and accountant.

• Undrafted players may struggle financially and have to rely on free housing options.

NFL Draft Preview

In this section, the speakers discuss their thoughts on the upcoming NFL draft and some of the players they are excited to see.

Top DB Prospects

• Carl discusses his top DB prospects for the draft, including Christian Gonzalez from Oregon who is 6'1" and has great movement skills.

• He also mentions Devin Witherspoon from Illinois who is known for his hard hits and physical play.

• The speakers also mention Jalen Carter as a top prospect, but note that he has had some off-field issues.

Quarterback Predictions

• The speakers predict that Bryce will be the number one pick in the draft, but note that there is still uncertainty around other picks.

• They discuss how agents and media personalities can influence draft predictions and create smoke screens.

Other Thoughts on the Draft

• The speakers note that this year's draft is particularly unpredictable compared to previous years.

• They discuss how certain players may be hyped up by media outlets despite not being likely to be drafted high.

NBA Playoffs Discussion

In this section, the speaker discusses the ongoing NBA playoffs and shares his thoughts on various teams and players.

Cavs vs Knicks Series

• The speaker talks about the Cavs vs Knicks series and how he initially thought it was a 50/50 chance of winning.

• He shares his disappointment with how the Cavs have been playing in the series so far.

• The speaker mentions that game five is coming up, and he hopes that the Cavs will come out strong and play hard in front of their home crowd.

Other Teams and Players

• The speaker briefly mentions other teams and players who have been performing well in the playoffs, such as Jimmy Butler, Brian, KD, Devin Booker, etc.

• He notes that injuries are starting to happen to some players.

Thoughts on Cavs' Performance

• The speaker expresses his disappointment with how the Cavs have been playing compared to their reputation as a tough team with a blue-collar mentality.

• He notes that it hurts more when it seems like the other team is working harder than you are.

• The speaker remains hopeful for game five but acknowledges that it will be challenging to close out against New York at Madison Square Garden.

NBA Playoff Predictions

In this section, the speakers discuss their predictions for the NBA playoffs.

Eastern Conference Finals

• The Celtics are predicted to come out of the East due to their overall health and depth.

• The Heat, Bucks, Cavs, and Knicks are all potential competitors in the East.

Western Conference Finals

• The Warriors are predicted to make it to the Western Conference Finals due to their experience and talent.

• Potential competitors in the West include the Lakers, Nuggets, and Clippers.

Championship Predictions

• The speakers do not give a definitive prediction for who will win the championship but express interest in seeing a matchup between LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

LeBron James and NFL Draft Talk

In this section, the speakers discuss LeBron James' performance in the NBA playoffs, his foot injury, and his defensive skills. They also talk about the upcoming NFL draft and their excitement for more football content.

LeBron's Performance and Injury

• Despite looking old, LeBron still finds a way to be a top five player in the game.

• He just came off of a foot injury and it's not all the way where it needs to be yet.

• It's enjoyable to see him play defense because that's how you know somebody is saving all their energy for the other end of the floor.

NBA Playoffs and Kawhi Leonard

• The injuries put a damper on these playoffs, but it would have been interesting to see Kawhi Leonard play against KD.

• Nonetheless, Lakers are different completely different.

NFL Draft Talk

• The speakers are excited about the upcoming NFL draft in Kansas City Missouri.

• They are also excited to get more football content going with trades like Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers signing with new teams.

• They plan on having NFL players back on their podcast during this offseason to update them on news.

• Next week they will have an episode featuring either an NFL player or Braxton Miller.