KSR - NFL Cover Zero: NFL Free Agency and Chargers CB Cam Hart

Episode Date: March 19, 2026

Drew Franklin and Billy look at NFL Free Agency and the changes we've seen so far.  The Bucs lose Mike Evans to the 49ers.  Kyler Murray is headed to the Vikings, will there be a QB competition in the Minnesota?  Travis Kelce is headed back to the Chiefs.  What does the future hold for Maxx Crosby? Plus, Drew is enthused by the changes with the Titans!  Revisiting the Super Bowl and San Fran, Chargers Cam Hart dropped by to discuss the big steps the franchise is taking towards the future, including adding OC Mike McDaniel.  Cam reveals why he dislikes Michigan and his first interactions with Jim Harbaugh!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. Welcome in to a new edition of NFL Cover Zero. Drew Franklin here filling in for Matt Jones with Billy Relage. Matt is up in Bristol, Connecticut, trying to get a flight back to Kentucky as we have some bizarre snow situations on March 17th, Billy. But we'll fill in for him as we set up our next interview from the Super Bowl back in San Francisco.

We're going to continue to play these out. Today we got a little Cam Hart, got from the Fighting Irish. And speaking of the Fighting Irish, Billy, to St. Patrick's Day, and you're not wearing green. I'm not wearing green. I just have to throw that out there first. You're not a participant to wearing green? I just forgot. I normally take part in drinking green beer and maybe Skyline chili with green noodles. But I just didn't wear my green.

Back in the day, that would get me pinched. But Drew, don't pinch me. I don't think we need that, right? Yeah, it's not middle school. I won't pinch you, but I did notice as soon as I walked in, you weren't wearing green. but I am wearing my green. I did notice you have on your Super Bowl hat. I don't have mine on today, but I've been accused of wearing it way too often.

My wife even said recently, did all the other hats go away in the closet? But we wear it because we're still kind of pinching ourselves when we were there. I'm still there mentally, actually. I've come back. I'm just, I'm a shell of myself. It was definitely one of the best trips of my life. And, you know, the NFL not going on right now, but yet we've still got a lot of news recently. You know, and then it never stops, right?

Free agency season's been wild. We won't break it all down for you. We've got to get to this Cam Hart interview, but I mean, there's been a few topics we should address. We got a little time here before we toss back to San Francisco. Did you have any favorite free agency signings? I mean, we could just go down the list, but I'll let you lead off. Is there something that stood out to you that you want to brag about or complain about? Well, I'm very biased as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, but Kenneth Gainwell was named the MVP of the Steelers last year from the team and how he goes to Tampa.

but I'm really still trying to get over Mike Evans leaving to go to San Francisco. Not only that, Drew, but to take a low amount of money, it was not about the money for him. He felt like he would go win a championship over there. I would argue there's an electrical substation that could screw with his hamstring. Of all the places. I mean, he's a guy that hasn't played a full season in years. So I wish him nothing but the best,

but he's taking some shots on the way out. And I really don't know how to handle it, Drew. He is, and he can't help that. You know, he got paid well to go to a contender. But on the 49ers end, with all the end, with all the injuries they've had the last several years, I was a little surprised that they went after a guy with, you know, back in his career,

coming off recent injuries. That was a surprise move, but I guess in some ways I'm happy for him, a guy that's been awesome. I don't want to downplay your bucks. But for him to at least, as you see many guys do, try to go get a ring on their way out.

Well, the 49ers feel like they're a piece away, and Mike feels like he's that piece. He actually said that verbatim. But I don't know. I've given Ollie Pops a try for Christian McCaffrey. Remember he was sporting those. during our interview and I mean I like the root beer one Drew but I can't say I like many more but I tried Christian I tried that's all right and we're still pinching ourselves that

Christian McCaffrey I mean come on Drew that we sang to Bryce Young the Carolina Mike song I still never get over that speaking of quarterbacks how do you feel about uh Kyler murray going to the Vikings another surprise move we talked a lot about Kyleer Murray and the struggles in Arizona throughout our cover zero season we also talked about the Vikings QB situation a lot how could we not I think yeah there you go you even had a few things to say about all nine. Now, they're rolling the dice with Kyle Murray to see what he still has left. Man, did they have egg on their face?

Sam Darnold leaves and then goes wins a Super Bowl and J.J. McCarthy really struggles. I had no idea. Kyler Murray grew up watching the Vikings. So when he's like very earnest saying, I grew up watching these games, Brett Favre throwing a touchdown made me cry, things like that. Like I love when people return home like that. And he's still got some left in the taste, right? And with a good defense and some weapons, Kyler can play ball.

He just needs to get in. to his playbook a little bit more. Yeah, there's no doubt he's got plenty of targets in Minnesota, so maybe this can revive him a little bit after he got pretty disappointing there in Arizona. Have you been keeping up with Donna Kelsey's home renovations? I actually, that internet joke's been going for a couple weeks, and I thought we were past it, and yesterday, TMZ shared a photo of a man installing a window saying the windows you're in.

So it looks like we as a society are just all in on following the Donna Kelsey home renovation. Well, they know it gets the clicks, and it's the Swifties. Are you clicking new window or? arrives at Donna Kelsey's house? I'm not, but there are a lot of crazy people out there, and I understand what TMZ is doing. You've seen these newspapers nowadays and some of the crazy headlines that their online version will have. So keep me posted, though, Drew. I mean, what else is going to happen with the renovation? You know, I'm on Penz on Needle's wondering if they're going to read Blacktopper driveway or, you know, maybe some fresh landscaping. I'm actually

refreshing Twitter right now hoping someone will update me, but for now, we just know that the windows are here. But a surprising topic this offseason. Kelsey's back for another year. she stole the headlines. Travis, coming back to Kansas City. I think most of us thought it was kind of the end last year. Do we think the disappointment in how the chief season went? He just couldn't go out like that. 100%.

Yeah, left a bad taste in his mouth. I feel like he's kind of borderline, still got it. And when you still got it, I'm sure there's a yearning to compete at this highest level. So a couple more years, maybe one more. And then he can go off into the sunset. They just signed Justin Fields as their backup to Patrick Mahomes, one of the many additions that we've seen over the past couple weeks. A few more things.

just off the top of my head. There's been so much. My brain's spinning. But the Max Crosby trade, that was an adventure. How bizarre was that? It looked like the Ravens are just loading up on defense to try to get that Super Bowl ring. You know, they're on the edge of the Lamar, Henry. You know, you've got to win now mode. I know we have a lot of Bengals fans, and they did not love the thought of Max Crosby going to the Ravens. And then he gets there and that gets nixed, and he and the Raiders both are putting on a big smile like that never happened. And then how about the reporting that Trey Hendrickson is in the building thinking he's going to be teaming up with Max Crosby? and then Max Crosby's deal falls through.

It had to be a little bit of buyer's remorse, right? The market for Henderson went down a little bit. They were like, are we really going to give away two first-round picks for this guy? But they knew what was happening with the physical. It's not like that was late-arving news. So, I mean, a very bizarre situation, no doubt for a superstar in this league. That added to the Bengals frustrations, having Hendrickson involved too. Yeah.

Pro bowler. Still a little bit of life you left, getting a big deal there. I think it's going to be good in Baltimore. more. I think I really do. Speaking of being good, I put this on the back of our news. My Titans are back. Oh, yeah. You know, I was pretty grumpy last year. I've been grumpy for a few years.

We haven't been in the best spot. But we're back. You're back. We're all the way back. You can digs. The Wondell Robbins. Yeah, the new digs, that's also a part of being back. I love the Wondell Robinson signing. It's no secret. We're Kentucky guys. Wondell played here for maybe one of UK's best seasons in a long time, if not ever. And now you're telling me, after the great season he had in New York.

I get to watch him in Nashville. He's two and a half, three hours from his hometown in Frankfurt, Kentucky, and another weapon for Cam Ward. You know, they loaded up on defense, made a lot of moves. I like a lot of it. But the Juan Delwyn really stuck out to me and says a lot with Brian Davo coming over his offensive coordinator from New York, how much he really believed in him too,

because that wasn't a well-kept secret. The moment Daveo got the job, there were whispers he's bringing Robinson with him. A thousand yards last year, the smallest guy to do that in a while, and maybe he can do it again. I love the addition of Wondell Robinson. And don't undersell it, Drew. You were in Nashville last week, and the Titans surprised you with cheerleaders and a new uniform with your name on the back. That was wild.

I mean, the Super Bowl thing still has me grinning from ear to ear. But we were just at the SEC tournament a week ago in Nashville. We do our show at Ten Roof on Broadway before every UK game. This year was very early in the morning. Kentucky playing the first game every day. So our KSR show was there at 8 a.m. local time every morning. I'm there Friday. just thinking it's regular day, got my coffee, got my Kentucky gear in.

And the other guys keep talking about a surprise at 930. And I'm like, oh, that's cool. I guess they're not going to tell me. And as it goes on and on, I'm wondering, am I involved in this surprise? Because everyone's talking about it, but no one is really including me in the conversations. And then I look up and there's a commotion in the very back of the bar. I see what looks to be the Titans cheerleaders. And I thought, well, that's weird.

I mean, if the Kentucky cheerleaders came here, that would make sense. play here in an hour. Why are the Titans cheerleers walking? And as they get closer and closer, I think they even say on the radio, are they here for me? They walk up to the stage and presented me with the new Titans uniform,

which had just been released the night before at a big party in Nashville. I couldn't even get in. I tried. It was so popular. Cover Zero couldn't even get in the house. But then they surprised me the next morning and I heard through the Gravevine.

You played a role in setting that up. So thank you and to the Titans. I was absolutely blown away about that surprise last Friday. Yeah, it was really happy for you. The Titans, reached out to me. I didn't have to give them my digital business card. They just looked

up my number on LinkedIn, so I guess more power to them. But we are luckily able to make it work. So now, what do you think of the uniform and the logo? You can't bad mouth it now, right? Well, I certainly couldn't bad mouth it. Now, I genuinely like it. I will say I'm going to miss the Navy a little bit. I hope we do an alternate of throwbacks with some Navy, because it's always been the two-tone

blue for me. Now, I've enjoyed the Oilers alternate throwbacks. Don't get me wrong. I like these, but they have gone all in on the throwbacks. Might even be needling Houston a little bit as they fight over that. So I do like them, but I hope the Navy isn't gone forever. And it's one more year at Nissan Stadium before the new stadium, right? Yeah. And I drove by that thing. My goodness, it had been a while since I'd been to Nashville. And it is coming along, you know, sitting right next to the old one that's in pretty rough shape. And it is a monster. And I can't wait for it to be done and get inside there.

I almost bought season tickets. I wanted to be on the ground floor of something. You know, you got friends who were like, my grandpa had the first seat in Rupp Arena and it's passed down. And I thought, you know what, I don't really have a connection. You know, UK's work. I love UK, but I don't get to buy tickets and do the fan experience. So when the Titans announced this new stadium, I thought, this is my chance to be the part of something at the beginning. I went down to the Titans house. I did the tour where you can pick your seat.

Went through the whole process. They called me 42 times. And then at the end of the day, I realized that two of my best friends in Nashville bought six tickets each. And I thought, why would I need tickets if they do? So the dream of me having my own PSL died, but I'm still very excited to see that and be a part of it, even if I didn't fully commit. I thought it would be, you know, living three and a half hours away,

be a tough commute to make home games. Well, people without short-term memory loss will remember that the Titans kind of broke up with you last year. And the Bills had quite the pitch to get you to come to Buffalo. So you've really, I guess, come full circle with the Titans now. We're back in the good graces. I do think there might have been they saw my flirtation with Buffalo. I enjoyed being a part of Bill's Mafia.

They still live in my heart. But, you know, my real love reminded me that we have a real love. You got dressed up. You went out to the bar. The Titans saw my wondering eyes and they said, hey, lock in. We're on the couch tonight watching Love is Blind Marathon. We're in a relationship. I'm glad you think Buffalo's cute, but stay right here.

And I'm not going anywhere. But that really was cool that the Titans did that. And thank you for setting it up. We're not just going to go over all of free agency. We've got to get to the Cam Hart interview. Again, I love that we're doing a little fighting Irish captain here on St. Patrick's Day. And these interviews on the last day were a little different, right? We had much less preparation time.

They were kind of throwing us names we hadn't heard of before we got up there. And honestly, Drew, I think they all turned out. Like, we got some interesting conversation out of every interview. Oh, they were great. Day one, we were star-struck because we didn't even know what we were walking into. They have a set there with our names on it and we're like, what is going on? And the next thing, you know, you're talking to Terrell Davis, the first interview we do.

Then you got Bryce Young, Christian, me, I mean, we are just, our brains are spinning. Like, how did we get here? By day three, we had kind of gotten the routine, and we had a full list, five or six guys, which we were going to replay throughout the summer. And not that they were like secondary in our brains, but we had kind of settled in a little bit. And then they were all awesome. And a lot of them really funny, including Cam Hart, had some great moments. I talked about being out in L.A. with the Chargers, where we've always wondered if they have fans.

I believe we talked a little Mike McDaniel with them as he goes out there. So everyone sit back, take a listen, cornerback, Cam Hart from the Irish on St. Patrick's Day when Billy didn't decide, decided not to wear green. Go back to San Francisco with us. Here's KSR and Cam Hart. All right. We are back with Cam Hart. He is the defensive back for the L.A. Chargers. I'm going to go ahead and tell you the normal thing here to do would be to start talking about football. Yeah. And I'm going to. I'm just going to warn you. I saw you have a political science degree. So I'm going to make you rough up on little politics here because that's kind of much. my bag and you probably don't get asked a lot about that, do you? I don't. I don't.

But we will get to that in a minute. You, Chargers this year, tough ending to the season. Yes. But I thought in a lot of ways, took a bunch of steps forward with the new coach. Tell me about the difference in the philosophies and how this season went for you guys. I think it was just a building point. Honestly, obviously, like you said, it didn't end how we wanted to end. I would much rather be getting ready for the game right now and then, being here, but like, I think we're returning in the right direction. I think the hires that we made this off-season with Mike McDaniel and Chris O'Leary are two great hires. Are you going to make fun of the way Mike McDaniel dresses?

I won't make fun of it, no. Just having to get a little bit longer pants. Can you, I mean, you got to. You got on the other side. I mean, he's on the other side, so he's not telling. Like, you just tell him, like, the glasses and the, like, looking like he's on the one. and twos, I like it. I like it. You got to be yourself, man. You got to be yourself.

On a serious note, you all had some unfortunate luck with injuries this year that I think really held you back. It seemed like every Sunday I'm hearing about another offensive line injury. On one hand, you know, how much do you think that really impacted you? And two, did they ever ask you to block in practice because they were short on bodies so much? Man, I would have did it. I would have did it. I'd do anything for take that dude, Justin. But no, yeah, I think it impacted us a lot. I mean, you lose two our pro tackles. I mean, that's going to impact any NFL. Any football team, honestly.

And then I think we had like nine different combinations of offensive line. And, you know, offensive line is a position where, like, camaraderie is a big thing. And just having that many different combinations, it has to be tough. And those dudes, I wouldn't stay at first hand. And, yeah, I mean, I couldn't do that. I couldn't do it. But, yeah. Tell me a little bit about Notre Dame.

You were a captain there, right? I was. Yeah, so, like, was that important to you? I mean, did that mean a lot? And how did you take on that leadership role? That's something I remember for the rest of my life. I mean, being a cabinet under a name, and I wasn't one of my dreams.

That wasn't something I thought that was possible. But it just happened. And just having the respect and respect from my teammates and the coaches, that's a big thing for me. And I'll carry that for the rest of the life. Coach Freeman's hair a lot. Okay, it's absolutely like, it's perfection. It really is perfection.

Yeah. Do you, how much time do we spend, does you think he spins working on that? Because I will say to you, he's the first, he's the first coach that I was watching a game with a woman I was dating and she was like, who's that? No, I would have to first say, I think he gives his hair cut

probably three times a week. Three? Yeah, yeah, he gets it touched up a couple times a week. Three times a week. He gets it touched up. And the barber date, that does it, he's pretty good. He cuts everybody on the two weeks. What makes him so successful?

Like, why has he been? Coach Freeman? Yes. He's very personable. You can go to Coach Freeman about anything, and I think he understands his players. And I think that's a huge thing about coaching. Understanding who you're working with,

a lot of coaches, I don't know if they spend the time understanding their players. That is, oh, I don't know. I don't like to get into that. But I think Coach Freeman, I like to get into it. I mean, college is a different thing. Yeah. So college, there's a lot of times, I think,

college coaches, they feel like they're more the authority figure versus the younger guys. Where in the pros, it's almost like a, you're almost a mutual respect thing. A mutual respect thing. And so it does seem like Freeman takes that attitude. I feel like he would be successful in the NFL. Do you think he would? I believe so. I think just how, like you said, I think he takes that mutual respect approach in college.

And I don't know when he's going to make that jump or if he's going to make that jump, but I do think that he would be successful in the NFL. He's played in the NFL. He has experience and he understands what it's like to be a player at a high level. So I think he'll be successful with it. You play a position that's known. Do a little trash talk. I'm not saying you in particular, but traditionally.

I've seen you trash talk on the end. Do you like to get into that a little bit? I do. And who's a receiver that is as good at giving it back? I would say this year, it's not a lot of receivers that talk trash, honestly. Really? Did you shut them up? Or maybe I just be shut up.

I just stay in my bag. But Stefan Diggs talks a lot of trash. We went to the same high school, so that was a battle that I always looked forward to, and I finally got the opportunity to guard them. And, yeah, we were talking trash. Hasn't some juice to the game talking? Yeah, it does. It does.

Who's the receiver on the other side that you see? And I'm not saying you're scared of him, but you're the one that goes, that's going to be my toughest match. That's the one that is going to push me to the limit the most. Two guys come to mind, or three guys come to mind. Jamar Chase, Puka, the Kula, and J.S.N. Now, those are three very different types of receivers.

What makes them each so difficult? I think Puka and Jemar Chase is very similar, what they can do after the catch. And then JSN, he's just very creative in his route running. It makes everything looks the same. I played him in college. I'm going to play them next year. think he makes everything looks the same and just very deceptible how he runs around. All right. So I want you to be able to take up for a group of people that have been often

criticized on this show. I used to always say that I'd never met a Chargers fan. I did that literally like of all the 32 fan bases, the one fan base that I'd never met was a Chargers fan. You used to have them in San Diego, but then they moved. Take up for the Chargers fan base. People always say, oh, they have. No home fielded bench. If you look at the attendance from the NFL, charges is top 10. Boom, eat those numbers, man. There you go.

There you go. No, the charges, I mean, the fan base has backed us all year. I think it's continuing to grow. I mean, we're freshly new in Los Angeles over the past five years. So, like, I just think it's continuing to growing. Yeah. How cool was the international game you all played in the beginning of the year? It was pretty cool.

It was being in Brazil. I mean, you're looking at a single. stands and you see all the different types of jerseys. I don't know. Yeah, they don't necessarily just wear the jerseys of the team's play. You don't see a champ belly jersey up there. Yeah. Yeah. All right, so Justin Herbert comes in and says, hey guys, got a new lady. Her name's her name's Madison Beer. What's the locker room's reaction when he comes in with, you know, kind of a famous new lady? Honestly, I didn't know it to the, I didn't know it to us on social media.

Yeah. Okay. Like, Justin, he's a very quiet guy. I mean, he doesn't talk about much other than football in the locker room. He's about his business. And once social media started posting, that's when I find out about it. So then do people give him a hard time? They're like, or they're trying to get hooked up. Probably trying to get into those friends or not. Yeah. Is Harbaal just always drinking milk behind the scenes? Did he's a big milk? He's a big milk drinking. He's a big drink. He's a khaki. He's a khaki pants milk guy. He's one of those people. Does he just have a gallon of milk all the time? or do you all have not seen that?

I've never seen. Okay, my being, it's probably. Like anything, no. Okay. But I mean, there's a Michigan, Notre Dame thing. They used to be kind of a little bit of a rivalry. Do you, uh, do you guys, you ever talk trash? I personally hate Michigan.

Oh, really? I hate Michigan. Why do you hate Michigan? I think because I wanted to go to Michigan in high school and coach Harbaugh didn't offer me. Oh, no. Wait a minute. So, wait a minute. So, wait a minute.

You wanted to go to Michigan. Hardball doesn't recruit you. Yeah. you're kind of like blank that Jim Harbaugh. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then all of a sudden. But then when it becomes your coach, how do you get over that? Just talk about it?

No, I asked the white. I mean, I can help you all bring that together. Oh, what did he say? Why did he? I don't remember what he said. I think he was like, I, you wasn't going to come to Michigan or something like, something like that. Something, some de yes. I've grown, I've grown to love Coach Harbaugh.

I mean, the dude knows how to win. All he cares about is football, and that's all you can ask for it. a head coach. All right. Last question. It politics. Your political science mates. Now, I'm not going to ask you who you voted for. No, no. Because I will judge you if you went the other way. But, but, but did you, are, do you follow it?

I mean, like, you don't see a lot of football players who majored in political science. So do you, so do you follow what's going on in the world? Well, one, that was my, I always wanted to go law school. I went to law school. So, yeah. Okay, okay. I always wanted to go law school and that was the faster track I know a day and go law school just to get your, your, your, your, you know, I guess reading, writing, all that stuff. But no, I don't follow politics as much as you would think so.

I think this was very polarizing. Yes, and you're a unified. The word is crazy. And I think the more people talk about, the more the crazier he gets, I guess. So I just try to stay away from it. I'm up to date with what's going on, but I don't give my opinion on it much. I understand. Well, I can tell you one thing you.

did do correctly was not becoming a lawyer. I was a lawyer for a few years and it's the worst. So you had a much better decision. I want to be an agent. I want to go to law school and become a You can still do that, but you see the agents walking around here. They all kind of look a little sleazy, don't they? Don't they? Maybe. It's a very sleazy business. It's a very sleazy business. Cam Hart. Thank you very much. We appreciate it. I appreciate y'all. Thank you. All right. A great interview with Cam Hart. As we promised. Billy's still not wearing green. I tried to find him a button as that was playing. But you enjoyed the Camhart interview. That was when we moved to that other stage with the comfortable seating. We were kind of more in

our zone there too, I think. Yeah, the lounge. The lounge, as they call it. I mean, we had two different sets to choose from. And we, I think we hit our stride on that final day. Learned a lot of interesting things about these guys. And look, I'm going to be rooting for Camhart now over the Chargers. They're going to be making some noise, Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert. So I think we'll have to keep an eye on him. Absolutely. Keep an eye on cover zero because we're going to keep releasing these interviews from the Super Bowl in our lead-up to the NFL draft. Today was Cam Ward. Next week we'll have Brown's cornerback, Denzel Ward, who tells us all about what it's like playing in Cleveland.

I remember asking him a lot of Miles Garrett questions, because I want to know what it's like working alongside that beast of a human being. And I think we talk some fashion with him, too, because he had diamonds in his hair, grew. Anytime somebody shows up with diamonds in the hair, you've got to get some fashion advice. So looking forward to that. Of course. And if we're lucky enough to go back to the Super Bowl. next year I will have diamonds in my own. Well, probably cubic's cronium.

I don't know that I'll do actual diamonds, but we will try to mimic the look because he looks so good. But for now, this is your Cam Hart interview. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Matt should be back next week. If not, do we have issues with him, not getting back from Bristol? But thanks for listening to another episode for Drew Franklin, Billy R. Sports. We'll talk to you again next week with Denzel Ward from the Browns. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast.

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