NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Quarterback Island: Who are the 12 Defining QBs in the NFL?

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

It's the return of Quarterback Island! Gregg Rosenthal, Jourdan Rodrigue, Colleen Wolfe, and Steve Wyche decide which 12 QBs have played well enough to make their way onto Quarterback Island, starting with those who are on the Island and have played well enough to stay (04:00), followed by those who have played their way off of the Island (08:40) and voting on those who have played their way onto the Island (27:08). The show is wrapped up with a preview of the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Eagles and Giants (01:02:05) and a reaction to the Ravens trading Odafe Oweh to the Chargers (01:10:39).   Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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That's the problem. I ain't right back. Let's go. This is quarterback Island. Yes. Yes. Yes, we are back on Island Time. It is quarterback island for the first time during the 2025 regular season.

And I hate to see it, but we might be writing off Gino Smith again. I am here in the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio. And I am joined by an esteemed group of quarterback island voters, Steve Weiss, Jordan Roderig. And back from another island of Ireland. That's right. Colleen Wolf. Back from Dublin, Ireland, I have my sweatshirt on. Yeah, it's been great.

Yes, for everyone listening on audio, the Trinity College sweatshirt. Yeah, they don't really wear college sweatshirts over there, but I wear college sweatshirts. And even though I didn't go there for classes, I did go there. The campus is beautiful. I sort of put myself in the mind of many different Sally Rooney characters, you know, from normal people, conversations with friends. It was beautiful. I bought a similar sweatsher for my wife.

Did you see the book of Kells? I did see the book of Kells. It all happened. But that's not the island. We're talking about quarterback island. And there were some trades in the NFL today. We're going to get to those later. We're going to get to the TNF preview as well a little later.

But for anyone who's joining us midstream, Jordan, why don't you explain what quarterback island is and how we got here? quarterback island is both a place and an idea it is the place for the quarterbacks who most define the sport right now there's lots of movement on quarterback island sometimes some illegal rule changes on quarterback island controversy overall though 12 quarterbacks right now rules changes later in the season but right now 12 quarterbacks have a place on quarterback island and these are the quarterbacks who we decide as a voting group are defining the position right now. Yes. And every voter can decide in different ways, but whether it's

best, whether it's defining. However, however it is. It's pretty subjective. It's pretty subjective. In the past, we haven't allowed any injured quarterback to be on the island, although Lamar Jackson's going to be an interesting conversation in just a little bit. Before we go, yeah. But George's saying, this is how it's being played now and an idea. I'm waiting for Jude Law to walk in. Yeah. Every performance. I mean, I've been waiting for June. A lot of walk in my entire life, Steve. That is absolutely amazing. So we did an episode before the season started, and we are going to remind everyone who the 12 quarterbacks are on quarterback island.

They were entering this season. So, yes, we love it. If you watch us on YouTube, and if you do, give us that like. Great starting list. Subscribe. And the group to start the season was Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Kind of the big four there. And then it was Jared Goff, Jalen Hertz, who was controversially left off the island at the end of the regular season last year, and he stuck it to us.

Jaden Daniels, Dack Prescott, Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert, Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud were the last two on the island. That's a good starting 12. That was a great starting 12. I think there's going to be some people that are coming off quickly. how we'll start this here and the early part of the show is the easiest part. No math.

It's kind of just like who's definitely staying on? My favorite part. You can go on and say something about them if you want but I wrote down six players who I think are just definitely staying on that we don't even need to

have a formal vote by vote for each quarterback. And if you guys disagree then we could have the conversation and those six based on how they've played so far, Josh Allen and Dak Prescott to me have played the position at a higher level than anyone.

Right. Patrick Mahomes. Yep. He essentially just lives on quarterback island and he's playing fantastic. Baker Mayfield. Yes. Oh, yeah. Very often been a controversial topic in this room.

To you. Slam dunk. He's no longer renting on the island. I think that he's buying. He is just there. And then Justin Herbert and Jared Goff, they started the season on the island. I think they've played at a consistently high level. And ultimately, I don't think there's much debate over those two guys either.

I'll throw it to you, Colleen. Is it anyone in that group stand out to you that you just want to, you want to talk about or that you disagree with me? No, I think. I think all of these quarterbacks are firmly on the island right now. And I think the fact that Baker Mayfield was a discussion last year and a back and forth. You were the one, right, that wanted Baker. Oh, I'm a big Baker guy.

Yeah, me and George. Right. Okay. So I just look at the way he's playing right now. And my goodness, in that game against you have him and. Sam Donald. They're going back and forth. I mean, just that game as an example, he's just so good. And he just makes everyone around him better. So I feel like he kind of started as like the idea of him, people were just rubbed the wrong way after what happened in Cleveland and then what happened in Carolina. And then he kind of had that stigma to him. But now I think we're completely past it. Yeah, I agree. No, you don't think so. No, I think so. But I think he's got some of that some of that gunslinger to him as well where he'll have. games, but it is working right now. Yeah. And even, I mean, honestly, we saw a couple games where it maybe wasn't working for him

personally last season, but the team still plays through him. Like, they still, they take on his sort of on-field persona that he has. And that to me is also the mark of, of defining quality of a quarterback. I agree. I think Baker, maybe as much as any of these quarterbacks, get extra in terms of the intangibles in terms of the if we're talking about defining the position right now I mean last season he did finish the season it was only 10 quarterbacks and he was one of them on the island this season I mean having four game winning drives

to start the season like he would you think quarterback in 2025 like he is right at the very top and here's the other part right there's only like two or three guys who're like okay if they get the ball with a minute and half left you got a shot right it's usually like Patrick Mahome Josh Allen. Josh Allen and the guy who played quarterback in Pittsburgh, Greg's favorite player. But, you know, he's a good clutch.

Baker's in that category now. I want to drop in another name because you and I both talked about a quarterback who I think is on autopilot now. And that's Jared Goff. Okay. Change coordinators, change position coaches, tweak a little thing. He is doing it. I mean, and they are so creative with some of the things they're doing, these half-back passes, some of the creativity, you know, the flip to him on raw and they're doing this.

it's it's so you know when you think about all the changes he's gone through the different OCs he's gone through from Jeff Fisher to everything to now again he's got the game on autopilot I salute Jared Goff and the way he is adjusted and now to me he's one of the premier quarterbacks in the end of he really is because if you even just look at total EPA he's top seven EPA per play he's top seven and then passing EPA number one yeah weirdly it's gone under the radar, and Michael David Smith of pro football talk wrote about this today, or else I wouldn't have known that they're on pace for the second most points

in NFL history. The lions are easily the highest scoring team in the league right now. First impressions matter so much that you just remember that week one game. We've moved on. All right, so he is locked in. Six players are on the island. Congrats to Josh Dak, Patrick, Baker,

Justin Herbert, who has some faulty protection issues in front of them right now, but has been playing great and Jared Gough. Okay. Of the 12 players that were on the island, I actually, I think it's, maybe we could debate one of them, but I kind of think there's three players that are clearly off. Are we knocking off the injured guys too? We're knocking off one injured player, which is Joe Burrow.

Right, okay. He's gone. Brock Purdy has not been on the field this year and enough. And when he's been on the field, it's been a little iffy. And so that's two guys. And then as exciting as it was to, Watch C.J. Stroud spin it on Sunday against Baltimore. I don't know that he has any case versus some of the guys off the list.

You disagree. Wait, what are we doing about Lamar? Well, we'll get to that. Because to me, I thought, I thought these three guys would just easily, we're booting them off the island. I think we better take a beat on. On Sage. Okay, so we will table.

Oh, well, yeah, we're going to table him. We will table him. And the other guys on the island to discuss that I think are at least worth the discussion. I need a pen. Hold on a second. It does get confusing. We have allowed Colleen to leave the studio temporarily. He's got the headphones in her ponytail. That's a producer right there. It's a beautiful high ponytail. Oh, this is a podcast. Yes, Kaliana Grande is back. Kaliana Grande. I said she has it left. Harry on her. That's so much worse. All right. Orders restored. I'm a professional. Let's go. Okay. The other guys on the island who I think we could

table and have a deeper conversation in a little bit. It's up to you guys. It would be Lamar. Because of the injury. Dalin Hertz. Yep. Jaden Daniels missed a couple games. Hasn't been playing.

I think he's at least worth talking about. We can talk about him, but. And then CJ. Let's have the CJ thing now, because I want to open up some spots to start this thing. And he is one of my favorite quarterbacks ever. I have to just admit it. He just is.

but he was piloting the worst offense in the league through three weeks. And even if it's not all his fault, I think when you start comparing him to the players that are on the island, even to Hertz and Jaden, who we're talking about here, and then the list of players that we'll talk about later, and they're not surprises. You know, Danny Dimes, Stafford, Drake May, Jordan Love, Sam Darnold, like these are some of the names.

I don't think he's been in the class of any of those guys this year. and so I think it's just time for it to take a step back. I think the math could math him, but I do think he is worthy of discussion because I don't think... Discuss him. I don't think he's played poorly.

He's got to knock out all those other guys, though. I don't think he's played poorly. I think he's had some garbage drops from his receivers. I think his offense was a quizzical mess until the last couple weeks. Sure. Okay.

So again, we're talking about the guy. He's played the position best. You know, again, that's why I think the math can map. him. I'm willing to stand down on TJ if we just think the other guys are playing better, which is a legit possibility.

But, I mean, he's still playing his tail off. I have no doubt or I don't question what he's putting into it. And I don't question that this is on the right track now moving forward. I mean, Houston looked at total

mess on offense to start the season. Some of that was the quarterback, too. I mean, it was mostly the offensive line. Yes. No run game. No receipt. And no receivers. But there are a couple of things that popped in the preseason where it's like, yes, they are giving him more control at the line of scrimmage. They are giving him more autonomy to change things and to call protections and to do these types of things that he was really hamstrung by because he can do these things. We saw him do it at such a high level in college. And then

it starts getting taken away from him. Okay, now you're starting to understand what all this looks like together. Plus feeling out your new offensive coordinator and all of those things. That's going to take some time. I don't think he's on the island right now because I have four names here that I think are playing better than him that aren't currently on the three names that are currently not on the island. But I also think that this is a guy who

we can almost be sure that he will play his way back on. But for now, I would probably take him off. I could see the math, math. It was an incredible performance, too, against the Ravens. But ultimately, we've only had. We can no longer use them. We've only had five. We've only had five. We've only had five. How much are we taking away

from playing the Ravens' defense without almost the The throws were pretty, though. They were. That kind of analysis always bothers me a little bit because it's like he still was throwing into some really tight

coverages. If you go watch that game, it was a beautiful game. But yeah, can help him build confidence. But I can't ignore the Bucks game. I can't ignore the Jagger's game. And I think he's on the right track.

I'm calling a vote. I don't care. Wow. We're going to call an early vote and not table. I vote no on C.J. Stroud. No. No means he should not be on the island.

Yes. And Steve is voting yes. as a protest vote. It is a protest vote. I just wanted to open up. That's a smart play though, Steve, because I know you know that the math will take them off.

That's what I mean. I've got a long memory. You got the good PR. I don't want to hear some stuff later. We've crossed three players off the list. It's Joe, CJ, and Brock. Will table Hertz and Jaden. Because Lamar's such a unique case,

I guess we could just bring it up now. What is your, I don't know what to think about Lamar. Because in the past, You had said, Jordan, we had a soft rule. Injured players can't really. It was a pretty hard rule. Beyond the island.

It was a soft rule. In Lamar Jackson's case, we know he's returning relatively soon. He sounds unlikely to play this week. Then they have a buy. Then they have a buy. The full expectation is he would be back after the buy. He has played three and a half games at an MVP-ish level. He is Lamar Jackson.

I do think different rules. Well, so here's the thing. That's a three-week window, though. But here's the thing. Here's the thing. Because, okay, well, we decide that with the next quarterback island, what this next window is. In three and a half games, that's almost our full sample size of what we're evaluating

right now. And I think how many games has Jaden Daniels missed, too? Right. And we did that with Justin Herbert last year when the rule was initially set. Justin Herbert was only out for like three weeks. Yeah. And so for me, I am fine keeping Lamar on. But by actually the same reasoning, I don't know that Jaden Daniels stays on

because he's just missed more time. It's kind of an incomplete. I say we take Lamar off based on the rule you designed last year. I think it's a hard, fast rule. Yeah, we take him off because last year, remember, Justin Herbert, we didn't put him on the beginning of the season. And he only missed, I think, two weeks with that ankle. He started, he started out off because he was, he didn't start the season.

Correct, because he was wounded. It was like an ankle injury or whatever. Yeah. And, but he was on three weeks later. So I'm just saying if we're you. But he's not Lamar, you know. And he didn't put together some electric performances are already. He was a hard.

It is tricky. Oh, I think the two, I think the two actually that we're discussing here, because it's either or to me, not both. Is Jaden and Lamar? Because they both, you know, only one of them has played well enough to be on this island despite the injuries. And that's Lamar.

And I think Jaden Daniels' performance coupled with the injury. Don't put words in my mouth, correct. Is a factor though. Is combined, to Colleen's point, combined very heavily with the fact that he's missed more games than Lamar. It's a weighted grade here. And I, and I just,

I think in the beginning of the season watching the commanders looked a little a little loose. Now I think this offense is going to be humming down the stretch. I thought he played great against the Chargers in the second half. The second half of that game was kind of peak. Yes. But to finish the sentence that I was just saying, at the beginning of this

at the beginning of the season, like I just thought their entire operation looked too loose. And that that was everyone, including the quarterback. And then they started getting, you know, that rhythm back with Terry. And then Debo got more involved. And the run game. started going off the getting off the ground and everything started clicking better now all i'm saying is if we are going to factor in the injury question he has missed more games than lamar that's all i'm saying

is like right if we i don't know the lamar's still out so yeah it is all tricky yeah to think about because lamar and then he has the bye week for what for what your honor your honor let's just table one of you two honors we'll table them for now we'll table table them but then see how the math so for now um lamar jaden Daniels and Hurts are tabled because I think we should talk about Hurts. Let's just go through quickly who's definitely off. So that's five. And see if you guys disagree.

That's three. We have so far booted three people off the island, total, and then we've tabled another three. So six people are locked in. Right now we kind of have six open spots if you would consider Lamar and Hertz. You want to go through who is not on the island? Let's just go through.

and see if you guys disagree. Just to cover the quarterbacks of it all. Like for sure not. Yeah, for sure not. Yeah. In the NFC, these are the starting quarterbacks right now who would for sure not be on the island. Jackson Dart, Carson Wentz for the Vikings.

Michael Pennix, you know, has had some moments, but certainly not elevated to where I think he's having a discussion. Right. Bryce Young, overall, a little disappointing starts of the season. Spencer Rattler, you know, he's doing better than expected. And then when you talk about the math-mathing, I don't think that Kyler or Caleb Williams really have a case even though, okay.

Oh, wow. Okay, I thought maybe someone would. No. Because some of Caleb's traditional numbers are pretty good, but I'm with you guys. We would talk about. Okay. So they're all.

Factoring in numbers, tape, all of that. Okay. They're all off. In the AFC, the players I would say are definitely off. Tua with a rough start of the year. Justin Fields hasn't happened. Yep. Dylan Gabriel just got that job.

Cam Ward. Gino has had three of the worst games of his career. Although last week when I went... How are doing with all that, Greg? I mean, I'm doing fine. The Raiders are in trouble. That's for sure. Trevor Lawrence is interesting because I kind of think he's playing worse this season than usual.

Until Monday night. But even... I thought he played bad Monday night. Even at that game, it was a little up and down. Oh, minus those two girls. just throws back to back that he made and some of the run plays. I mean, you can count this is the thing that is infuriating with Trevor Lawrence. You almost want him to play this like berserker type of football because that's the way that these big plays start. Clums for Trevor. Yeah. You almost

want to cut him loose and like you then you also accept the fact that like some real sloppy crap's going to happen. And that's dumb mistakes. Just mistakes that you in your fifth year you're not supposed to make and and not seeing the line of scrimmage or running, you know, out of bounds. you're supposed to slide inbounds or these types of, you know, the time on the clock, the play clock running out and having to take penalties, like these types of things, the fumble, you know, these types of things you're going to get with him and you still are getting all these years in. But also when you cut him loose and give him and have, he's confident and kind of angry,

like then you get like these incredible highs. Yeah. His anger sort of centers him. Yeah. It just is like, like I said, it's like this berserker mode that he, vacillates between that and then like, oh, God, what's going to happen? So we're just waiting for a breakout in year six, maybe.

I think traditional, we can't, we can, let's not, let's not laugh at all. We're seeing Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield and guys like that. Let's not laugh at all. I wouldn't be shocked if, because of the foundation that they're setting now and him getting used to that offense, that at the end of the year,

he's a really serious conversation, or he makes it onto that. I think right now, having a defense, it gives an short feels like some of these other quarterback. Right. The advance stats are, are great to look at and they're not great for Trevor Lawrence. But like, I think it's tough to even think about him as an option when like his yards per attempt is everything is actually way down than ever before. So Trevor, Trevor is out.

All those players, I don't think you guys would disagree. And then I'll throw in the Bengals starting quarterback here too. Joe Flacco is the Bengals starting quarterback, apparently, for this Sunday. For anyone that's just learning about this via quarterback island, and let's have a quick Joe Flacko talk. He was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday. That's fun. The Browns get a fifth round pick,

but it's not for a fifth round pick because they sent a six back. All it was was a small move up on day three of the draft. Essentially, I would say a salary dump, except he's barely making any money. The Cincinnati Bengals are betting on Joe Flacco to have a better chance to keep them afloat for when Joe, Burrow possibly returns in December.

Try to get to Joe Burrow at 7 and 7 or or even 6 and 8 or something. Steve, you look skeptical. Do you think Flacco can do this? First off, Jake Brown is going to start this week. Do we know that? Joe's not going to have enough time to get it going, even though he did in Cleveland.

These are like two totally unimaginative organizations right now. I mean, for real. I want whatever's in the jar that they're snack. on because some gummies you're saying late night okay whatever I'm kind of I'm sitting here like Joe Flacko behind that offensive line and those really quick passing game in Cincinnati um well he moves so fast you know he's still he's so very Bengals have these five second developing pass plays right so you need somebody who can move a little James can move a little

and he's going to make it interesting. I don't. So you're going to go with the dude, Joe Flacco, who you've seen for a couple years in Indianapolis, you know, I thought maybe he can get something

to go to Cleveland. It's the same Joe. I mean, would you rather Joe Flacco be with the Bengals or Andy Dalton if we're talking about guys? That would have been fun.

I don't think we're in his back. He's looked good whenever he's played. Yeah. I mean, but there were so many, it just felt like other options. And I'm with you. The James one would have just made

so much more sense with those receivers too. With those receivers and it's kind of like really what and then the Cleveland like oh we're going to be slick here we're going to give her to Joe so we can move up to Shador so we can politically let him get shorter on the depth chart.

Ooh, that was creative. So now if you're the other 50 if you're the other 52 for the Browns and you're like we're rolling we have what 12 more games left and we're rolling with this? I think Dylan Gabriel is an upgrade from Joe Flacco based on one game

which is not much sure but I mean I'm like I'm like fine right but if you're the Joel Betonio is going to be talked out of retirement yeah if you're guys like to say this is how we're going this is we're going through this is again also what are the vibes in that quarterback room yeah because there's no middle child anymore

there Joe Flacco's not in there breaking up any of the like kind of awkward I don't know if they I mean it's I can't presume there's been some statements yeah there's no middle child anymore Less than ideal. Chitur Sanders is listed as the number two quarterback. Maybe they'll bring in a veteran at some point. It is really funny to me, by the way,

that Bailey is also in that room. Exactly. Who was kind of famous in New England for absolutely campaigning to get Mac Jones bench. They didn't get along. Like, it's just like, man, it's so ugly. I could see a scenario. I don't want this to have him,

but I could see a scenario where they bring in another quarterback and then Chador is still not the backup. They move him back again just that would be I know it would be crazy it would be chaotic I mean right now I'm kind of like what do you know you know you know our expectations were low but holy cow so Jake Browning looked so overmatched in the first three quarters of that game and just like he had lost so much confidence that I did start to think and I'm sure Bengals fans were thinking this way is like is this it for Zach Taylor like if it goes this way like if it goes this way the rest of the year where they pack it in and they just get blown

out every week like they have the last few weeks. Like, is that the time that they think about doing it? So I think when you see a move like this, it might be a little bit of them thinking we think Joe Flacco is our best chance to save our jobs by just putting it up there. Because one thing,

he made mistakes for the Browns this year and he was terrible under pressure, but he's not holding on to that ball. He's got to go throw it down the field. He can rip it. He's going to give T and Jemar and Yoshavas a chance. Well, here's the thing. How many more years is Zach Taylor having his contract?

Because if he's got two... Didn't they extend it? He's coaching too. They do not fire coaches with time left on their deal. So he's good. I like the concept of not giving up on this season in the middle of Joe and T and Jemar and Tray Hendrickson's prime. So I just don't necessarily like the quarterback they choose.

Correct. That's why I hate it. Like go get somebody who's, got some type of pedigree. I didn't even think about Andy Dalton. Right? That would be a great. It makes too much sense. I feel like to say I like that they're not giving up on this season, I think is giving them a little too much credit because yes, they have these players who are incredible in their prime, but what else were you going to do but make a move? I mean, the product, I said this earlier. It's not like

Zach Taylor does not know what he's watching and does not see how depressing it is when you trot Jake Browning out there to get killed every day. Like, it's not like he's not aware. So it's more like, well, what else were you going to do? It's not, to me, it's not like some valiant effort fight to like keep our dreams alive. Jake Browning is the least of their problems. Like, Joe Burrow, sneaky wasn't that effective in the five, six quarters he played. Joe Burrow is a superhero.

And so that means that everything around Joe Burrow, whether it's the coaching, especially the offensive line, the running game is one of the worst in NFL history. And the defense has never gotten any better. So Browning's taking all this heat. But when he was in a better situation a couple years ago and maybe got a little you know, just caught a hot streak. Like, it looked better. But now they're one of the worst teams in the NFL.

And so are the Ravens. What a world that we're living in. Let's put a pin in all that. Let's take a quick break, actually, now. And then let's get to the good stuff, which is nominating some players for the open spots on quarterback. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here.

And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside. the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies coaching trends in how front offices construct winning rosters every week we study the tape talk to decision makers and share the insights you won't find anywhere else it's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow we break down the draft analyze matchups and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day plus we dig in the coaching strategies roster construction and the trends that share

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Listen to the NFL fantasy football podcast On the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Back on quarterback island. I want to live in a world where at the end of every season, you know how on pro football reference,

they list all the postseason honors, they have like the all pro teams. They also list stuff like the PFF, all pro teams, or the top, you know, they put top hundreds. We should have end-of-season quarterback island resident as one of the things. We should send it to the players. We should send some type of award to the players. A little.

We'll print it out. There has been some talk of sending to the players. I don't know what, a little piece of a palm tree or something like that. That would be beautiful. It's sponsored. And so that's why like. We'll go outside and grab them from the back. You know, someday, Gino would be like, yeah, it was rough in Las Vegas.

but he shows his kids. Look at that. End of season resident, 2024. Look at this four foot hot. Quarterback Allen. In my backyard. I planted that, kids. Back when I was made on quarterback island.

I can't wait until Dylan Gabriel gets a short to his kids. So we basically got six spots available. Like we tabled three. It had been cautiously maintained by Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hertz, and Jane Daniels. But we definitely have three spots totally available. There was one name that to me actually didn't fit on the list of guys that I think have any chance to be nominated or definitely off. So I'm just going to start by voting no,

but just mentioning bonus. He's not played well enough. My guy is not there. He's on his way. I just felt bad just saying that like you're, you're on the definite nose, but he hasn't played well this year. That Eagles game was kind of a great way to end the game,

but he was the problem for three quarters in that game. He's got the jets over in England, baby. He's going to start taking his way. That will help. That boat's leaving the pier. Because he's in such a good situation, I think he might have a case by the end of the year, but not happening right now.

Why don't we... Oh, Nick's just call his boat the boat. Oh. Oh, wow. Here you go. Sorry. Like AT is under, you know, not capitalized. Let's go, Colleen.

Why don't you throw out a player that you want to nominate for quarterback island? Okay. I would love to see. I think Sam Darnold is right. On to the island. Guys, I'm back on the Sam Darnold. I've never left, actually.

I never left the bandwagon. I'm also back on the Colts bandwagon, by the way. She never left that. She kind of left that. She never left. No, never. But Sam Arnold has been playing so well. And I'm so happy for him because it's like he's continued.

He had that terrible ending in Minnesota after such a great season. And then he went to Seattle. And now he's still continuing on that larger sample size that we saw from his time with Kevin O'Connell and the. Vikings and his numbers back it up too. So I think he absolutely deserves a spot. 50%. I mean, Jackson Smith and Jigbas, that's a pro bowler right now. And him and Sam have something to go on the way he's distributing it to the tight ends. Yeah. The running game is an all pro maybe. Not that, not that it really matters five games into the season, but I was like,

JSN, yeah. I think JSN would be my first team all pro wide receiver. One of the, Buk. It's crazy. How about that? My guy. It's incredible. And I, what I really like about what the Seahawks are doing this year. And Sam is really thriving within the. this as well is they're staying patient, even if their run game is not necessarily as efficient, which for the first few weeks of the season, it really wasn't. But like Steve and I talked about before, you could see the theory behind it. And they would not quit using it. They wouldn't quit trying to stabilize and continuing to run those plays because they know that it helps stabilize the quarterback. And it gets their play action passing game going. He is

thriving in a heavier personnel offense, 12 personnel two tight ends. Some, times 21 using a full back. And it's just cool to see how... I just love how the hair stands up on the back of your neck when you talk about using a full back. I know. Okay, listen, Jude Law and a fullback. Oh, my God.

That's my wish list. Hey, you've never seen them together. Robbie Oots. Yeah, Darnold would have been one of the guys if he was on the island that I would say we don't even need to discuss. I think he was easily the first one. No, I like discussing because he's earned it.

I think he's playing at a significantly higher level so far than even than he was in Minnesota. I think he's being asked to do more in a way when they do drop back. They do limit him on some level. Like compared to, he will have the fewest pass attempts of anyone that makes it on to quarterback island. So in a way that is helping to protect him, but he, he's just throwing dime. He doesn't need to be protected. No. We saw it last year when he had to throw it 45 times in Minnesota.

He's fine. He's not the throws he has made. Like, when he gets his spot. and he's, and he has, you know, the, the autonomy to kind of go through his reads. And he has hit some throws. Oh, man. Under pressure, too. Like, a lot of more creativity out of him this year.

Yeah. And it's, and I like that he doesn't, he's not pressed to have to make that play every single time. Like, that's what I love about this offense in Seattle is how much balance it has. And it's also like they've built, like, just like a human wall in front of them, whether or not they're always going to be great in pass pro. They've been shaky a little bit with their run blocking come along the last couple of weeks. Like, like you mentioned,

but like it's it's massive tight ends it like I said it's it's the 21 personnel when they get that going it's their running backs are huge and pretty so been pretty solid in past pro as well like it's just it's it's it's all about settling him and allowing him to pick his spots where he is maximizing his comfort level and and I really like that because he thrives in that he's all right to get better guys Kubiak bloodline I mean voting yes or no around the room we have four on yes is okay yes for what it's worth I decided to like look at just like write it down for spots of like different advanced stats and plus the PFF grade and Darnold is in the top four of

everything yeah yeah like first number two second QBR first in PFF first in like the EPA completion percentage over expected fourth in football outsiders is you don't even have to dig that deep crazy no I didn't I just like to see it because compared to every other quarterback in the league he actually had the most like the most consistent across the board in every way you can measure it all right Steve, why don't you? Okay, I'm not going for necessarily slam dunk.

Okay. I'm going for the alley. I want to see if you guys hoop it. Ooh. So Darno is on, by the way, is the seventh player on. And we have two totally open. Since my guy, Bo Nix is not on.

Yeah. I'm going for my other young fave. Drake May. Mm. Ooh. Now Greg's neck, the hair on his neck is dressed in. Look at his smile.

Oh, yeah. Let's go. I mean. Well, I'm just surprised he brought it so early. Oh, no. Let's go there. I mean, we did it last time. I just think the way he is leading, he is playing.

We know, we also, oh, Josh McDaniels, isn't he going to try to overdo it on him? Josh McDaniels overdoes it on everybody per game. He's handling everything. You're seeing receivers now. Stefan Diggs is getting healthier. He's playing at a higher level. Their running game is working,

but he has got that Baker-Mayfield stuff to him. And I've talked about it since I saw him get his butt kicked over, in England he's got something to him and you're saying it get better and better and I'm not necessarily saying he needs to boot anybody off the island

but if we've got an open spot Drake Mayson he needs to me he needs to be on this island that game on Sunday night certainly helps because I think he needed a defining sort of moment where everyone could see what he does

and you said it really well that there's the out of structure stuff and the Josh Allen type stuff well, you know, defenders are hanging off them, but there's a lot of instructor stuff. In fact, I would say this offense, and that speaks to his ability to handle things, has been changing more on a week-to-beak, weak basis

in terms of how they attack opponents as much as any team in the league. And it's amazing that he can handle that. He's playing well enough to overcome their turnovers. When they were fumbling the ball and he's playing well enough. Although he's been part of that. You were going to make a case against him, a few too many negative plays and a few too many sacks. So that's where if we're comparing him to some other great quarterbacks,

which we will be, that that could work against him. If you're curious on the metric, 14th in QBR, 11th in PFF, fourth in EPA per play plus completion, and seventh in adjusted yards over replacement. So like right in the mix of where you would think he would make it. I mean, my instinct is yes, certainly. But it's going to be tricky because we're going to be comparing him to other players that are coming up.

I mean, he, he had, he was electric in that game in Buffalo, especially in that environment with the white out and everything. And it's, you know, a division rival. Just he looked so poised, so confident, just so chill about everything that was going on. But also, the way that he played in the game against Pittsburgh, like there were, there's moments. Right. look back where it's, I don't know if he's on yet or if he's on his way or maybe he's

arrived because of that last game in Buffalo, maybe that cemented his spot. Is he helping to define the position this year? I'm seeing the crescendo. Stock up for sure. And I think he is. When we're looking at how the quarterback position is being played, that is being decisive right away, whether you're passing it or

running it. Right? That's something you're saying, Bo Nix is starting to do. You saw Trevor Lawrence started to do it. Now those guys aren't going to beyond, but you look at the way the position is being played now because defenses are better. They've caught up, right? You're not seeing a ton of necessarily pressure. You're seeing a lot

of four-man fronts, stacking five man, not necessarily on first down, and quarterbacks are figuring it out and he seems like he's one of these guys who's figuring it out. And he's forcing the opponents to play more zone because they're so afraid of his legs, which

opens it up. I was talking to Ali Connolly last week about that off air, just that so much of the defensive game plan against Drake May is a living fear of how he's going to run downhill. Yeah, I remember back, you know, he's getting these comps already and is certainly coming off

of the game that he just had with Josh Allen on the other sideline. I would not necessarily one-to-one comp them, but remember back many years ago at this point when we saw everything with Josh Allen and we also, but we also saw some of the erratic decisions and we saw some of the mistakes and the plays,

I think Drake May's playing more disciplined than that guy was. I would not have expected him to be, like, among the league leaders and completion percentage. Like, there's the occasional one where he'll take the sack and it'll just freeze a little bit. Josh McDaniels. But, yeah, he wants them to take a sack versus.

Do we want to vote on him? The trick is we're going to be, like, would we take him over Jaden Daniels, for instance, two second year players? Would we take him over Stafford and Daniel Dimes? Like, all these things are going to have to think about that. I will say, like, I'm also, and this might just be me personally, but I'd love to hear from you guys on. this. Like, I'm weighing in Jaden Daniels missing games. That's the thing. Yeah, I think that's fair.

That's why I would vote. Specifically, that's why I would vote May over him because I'm weighing in. All right. Let's vote then. I'm also projecting forward and I'm looking at the Patriot's schedule to see how he will do. And not fair, but that's it makes us. They have the saints coming up, the Titans, the Browns, the Falcons, the Jets. Like schedule helps. I mean, the Brown, the Browns aren't. You got to say your vote out loud. Colleen. Yes. I'm going to put them on the island. This feels crazy. Yes, I will also put him on the island. Yeah, I'm the one who freaking campaigned for him.

Look at that. I didn't even have to vote. There's no bias involved. Drake May. Wow. Good hosting, there. Who knew he would be achieving the highest honor possible in his career? So early.

No, no, we'll be fine. All right, Drake May is on. Both him and Sam Darnold have joined the island. Darnold for a second time. It was off and on throughout last year. and he's back in 2025. It sure is. We've got eight players totally locked in.

Jordan, why don't you nominate so? Well, you're about to have nine with nine because Matthew Freakin' Stafford is getting my nomination. I know you're all shocked. You're all so surprised. Oh, this chick's talking about Matthew Stafford again. Won't she ever shut up about Matthew Stafford? No, I will never ever quit that guy

because if you go and watch some of the throws that he is made, yes, he's had some bad quarters. he's had some bad halves, but overall, through the first four weeks this season, he is playing among one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now. He is up in the top five in EPA per drop back right now, just purely looking at statistics. But if you look at the arm angles are still there, the no looks. I mean, that game against Indianapolis, watching his miced up and some of the angles that they were able to showcase more clearly of the throws that he was making, and then going back and watching the All-22 of the precision that he was able to place some of those passes with.

And Puka Nakua is on track for a record-breaking season, not just because he is one of the best, if not the best receiver in the NFL right now, but also because number nine is getting him the football. Yeah. At any type of plain bending, brain-breaking throw that you want this guy to make, oh, and then he's feeling it because he will talk smack to you in your face right afterward. don't effing look at me. Don't effing look at me.

After he hits a no look touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts. I mean, he is playing outstanding football. I feel like this will be unanimous, but I just had to have my spiel.

Yeah, I mean, NFL leader in passing yards. Yeah. He makes calling a game so much fun for Sean McHay. You know, you think about if... Yeah, so maybe, hey,

don't take the ball out of his hands on... Oh, my God. What are we doing? Anyway, I... I didn't love the call, but I am kind of a guy, like, if you can't get a yard

when you need it, you don't deserve to win. He's also one of those guys. He's just like the center of the end. He's one of the center pieces of the NFL right now. He's like just been involved in so many great moments and games this season that I think it's beyond beyond the numbers, which are good but like it's even better than that.

Yeah. And I'm also just looking at who could possibly go on still who's like hanging out there who we've tabled. Yes. And so if it's Stafford up here on the top, we haven't have we decided on Lamar? We haven't really Lamar Hertz and and Jaden Daniels have been tabled and I would put

Stafford over all of them. So that's why it makes it an easy yes. Thank you for making. My points for me is a yes. Number nine. Yes. Yes. Yes for nine. Yes. The number one PFF quarterback. I know you don't like PFF, but I don't mind when they put Stafford in number one. Yeah. I was surprised. He's great. He's great. He's great across the board in the advanced stats except for like adjusted EPA

per play where he's 15th. I'm curious like what goes into that, but everything else he's electric and he's just as obvious I think right now. So we have nine quarterbacks on the island. We have three players that we've tabled. So now, look,

Eric would think about it like the island's kind of full right now. And if we add anyone, we have to take someone off. All Eric Roberts cares about is that we don't lose track. I've been living here for a year and a half now. I

know how to do the island. Wait a second. Can we just check in with you? How are we doing so far? I will say this has been the smoothest, but now that I'm saying it, this has been the smoothest go around. I'm following you. Still time.

Good job. Okay. Okay. The trick is if we do put someone else new on the island, that means we are accepting that someone else has to come off or, you know, we figure it out. I think some of the injury discussions we were having. Yes. It absolutely factor.

Okay. There is a major name. Yeah, to me, there's one more name. There's a couple more names to discuss. I think there's one more name that I will voice. Who is it? Strongly. And it's Daniel Jones.

I do it. I mean, come on. Let's not be stupid. Okay, you go then. Let's go with our boy. Okay, listen, it's not like the flashiest throws or anything like that, but they're efficient. And he's, like, he is Sam Darnold of this year. Yes.

Even though, Sam Darnold is still Sam Darnold of this year. But came through the same train there up in the app. Sam Darnold's graduated, though. He's backing it up. Now Sam Darnold is kind of like Baker. We let him off to fly now. He's kind of like Gino in year two or three of Seattle. Like he's a made man.

Daniel Jones we did not expect. No, Daniel Jones, and I couldn't believe it when I was looking up all of the metrics this morning. And he, Daniel Jones, because he's been so efficient and he's not really making boneheaded mistakes either. He's in the top of so many of these categories. He's playing so well. And the fact that they're what, four and one? the Colts right now. Yep.

Is that right? Yeah. And he passes the eye test, don't you think? They just love it. He is. They used to have it. That's their own. I know.

I know. But they lost because like Jonathan Taylor dropped a ball. Listen, but you just let me. I've been holding it in for weeks. You just let me have that one. This is rest of us. I do like that.

He's taken. Jordan has embraced. For her voting stafford off last year. So she's, it's the boomerang. He is. To Colleen's point, like he's taking care of the football for the most

part, he's not making a lot of negative decisions, but he's also, the one thing I worry about him sustaining through the course of the season is the hits that he takes. He takes some hard hits. He's obviously using his legs a little bit. But he allows Shane Stuyken to come alive the way that Shane Stuyken, you could just, you could feel it. He's like, he was like crawling out of his own skin last year, just really wanting to devise a game plan for somebody who's going to not just make the throws that he tells him to make, but also make some tough throws too. I'm glad you said that because I've been saying that Shane Steichen can coach. For whatever

people want to say he won seven games at Gardner Minchu who almost got them to the playoffs a couple years ago. He can coach. Now he's got a quarterback and boy are the Colts making a lot of people look bad. Right? They got rid of what, two if not three starting offensive linemen. Offensive line is playing pretty good. They made a change at D.C. Oh boy,

Loua in a room. He was really the problem of Kennedy. That defense is playing well. But look at Jonathan Taylor now. You got teams having to adjust how they play the Colts defensively And boy, that Tyler Warren picket tight ends looking really smart. Perfect. Yeah.

He's been perfect. He's been incredible. And the numbers do back up. He is first in ESPN's QBR. He is first in FDN's defensive yards above replacement. He's ninth in terms of PFF and sixth in like EPA. Like either way, it's all in the top 10. And a couple, he's right there at the top.

And more than anything, like when you think about the first five weeks, weeks of the 2025 season. Obviously, surprises are going to stand out more than, like, what you expect. To me, the fact that we're talking about Daniel Jones at all. Good for him. Like, that's such a huge surprise. Yes, on Danny Dimes. Indiana Jones.

He doesn't like it. He's no fun. He doesn't like it. He's on. What a world that we live in. He's going to have so much fun on this island. Danny Dimes. Oh, he's the party guy.

He's on. Let your hair down a little bit. Let your hair down a little bit, Daniel. Okay, there's only one other player that hasn't been tabled that I think is worthy of at least discussing and that's Jordan Love.

That's a great point. I mean, I'm sitting here like... That's it. I think we've gotten to the end of the list. Those are, yeah, the same exact one. So we have 10 people on the island for sure. We've tabled Lamar, Hertz, Jaden, and Love. That's four players.

So two of those four are going to get on the island and two will not be. So I think keep that in mind when we're going through these four players. Well, I mean, I'm with Jordan. I think if Lamar didn't play last week, he's not going to play this week

then they have a buy. That's three weeks. He's shelved and just using the same rules we applied to Justin Herbert at the start of last year. And that we would apply to Jaden. And when we apply to Jaden. They don't qualify because of that. I mean, Jay, we need to kick someone off to make room for Clapper. Because Lamar is different.

a because he played better than because he played so well that matters and then B because he's Lamar Jackson he was the first team all pro last year and he was playing fantastic this year so I do think it's a little different I think it's just sliding scales in terms of rules

but I don't know what to do about that so I have him he was insane I mean I've I covered some of their games and he was really all they had going off yeah just feel weird kicking him off Jordan loved to me too I would rather put Jordan Love on the island than keep jaden Daniels on within these parameters because jordan i had no problem with that jordan loves

epa per drop pack dropback is right up there with jared goff and gosh allen and and he's playing really really well and especially i mean they people people forget they've banged up with injuries too they're missing some offensive linemen at a certain point they were also dealing with the receiver kind receivers kind of shuffling around and i think and i think he's playing really well i you're gonna get some weird games with him but i do think he's playing i agree but when it comes to the intangible of like defining the position and has he really put his stamp on the season. He is someone I just struggle with because you're right. The numbers back you up.

Sixth in PFF as well. Second in EPA plus completion percentage over expected. 11th in QBR, 11th in the in the defensive yards adjust. So a little lower there. That's filled in top 12. But so much of that is off that Cowboys game, which was a defining game of this season. And he was fantastic. But, you know, opponent in that game.

It did feel like. defense is playing better now. Yeah, it did feel like he got carried a little bit the first couple weeks. And so when I think of like defining the position this year, it's, I would have a hard time with, I think him versus Hertz is a very interesting. I think so do. Let's talk about jail freaking hurts. All right. Yeah, because, um, that's good. Don't tell anyone this, but I think we might have to kick him off. Really? I don't know. I just, when I look at the performances and even the numbers and even just the dysfunction that is happening right now in Philadelphia with that offense. They have no identity. Their identity should be the running game and Saquan Barclay

and then everything else builds off of that. But because with the new offensive coordinator, it just feels like it's so erratic every week. You're having something different and you're having receivers that are upset. You're having just it's not, I feel like the quarterback in Jalen Hertz, he's not the one that even though their record. it is so good right now, I just don't think that he is playing as well as he could.

And other quarterbacks right now are playing better than him. I just don't think he's the problem. I think he's far from the problem. I think they're offensive line. They're beat up. The fact that, I mean,

he can't call us, he's not calling his own plays here either. But if we're just talking about the results. The run game, but is he helping to call his own plays? That's something like, you're just trying to guess

what, the problem is here. And I think part of the problem might be like they've made it the Jalen Hertz offense because we have heard this about play callers in Philadelphia before of like, how come they're not doing this? How come they're not doing that? Well, you know what this offense reminds me a lot of like almost every Eagles offense? Like they play to Jalen Hertz's strengths, which might be a little more limited than other people. And I think he's been empowered as he should be to have a strong voice in like what they do. And maybe I don't know what you've been hearing, Steve, because I'm not hearing anything. I'm basing this up reporting.

I'm not hearing anything. Like, is that what AJ Brown and Devante Smith are upset about? You're kind of walking me down the Russell Wilson path, right? When early in career, when Russell was doing things, they were playing for championships,

he didn't necessarily have that autonomy that he got paid and he started doing some stuff and there's Russ's show that Russ Cook and he saw what happened. I don't think that's what's going to happen here. And we are not giving enough credit to what defenses are doing to offenses.

This is where now the offenses have to adjust. For the past five years, defenses are trying to have to figure out, Okay, how do we stop Sequan? Because they've got A.J. Brown over here. And they've got Devante Smith. Well, you know what? Let's just stop Sequan and make everybody else adjust to us.

Let's stop Derek Henry and make the Ravens adjust to us. Let's figure it out. Defenses are becoming so much more athletic. Jordan, we see it all the time. You're seeing odd, even odd. It doesn't matter the down anymore. It used to be four and five on first down. Now we're seeing three.

We're seeing six back. Yeah. Defenses are doing things now. analytically, tendencies, position to field to put all kind of question bubbles above these quarterbacks and offensive coordinators, I think that's more of the issue. And I think some of these quarterbacks are going to, I don't think Jalen is necessarily the issue. But I'm wondering, when Greg was talking about, what Greg was intimating is he doesn't have that

Drake May ish to him. So he doesn't have the dude like, hey, you shut up, you shut up. Let's go in a ball game. And let's make that happen. That could be happening behind closed doors. We don't know. What I would say, here's what I would do with Hertz because Hertz right now is just someone

who is making me nervous about being on the island and the way that he is playing and the team in general, the entire offense, the way that it's working. I, looking at who is on the island and who has come off the island, I would not vote him off the island because I would put in Daniel Jones and Jordan Love

and I would take off Lamar Jackson. Daniels is in. Daniels and Jayden Daniels because of the injury rule. then leave Hertz in there, and that's it. There's no open, there's no more open spots. So the debate is Lamar. Yeah. The debate here is.

The Hertz thing is so weird, too, though, because I kind of think he's playing a little better this year. He's actually made really good. I think he's doing what he should do. He's coming off his best game, which I feel like got lost because they lot, but like he had a number of big time throws in that game, but they lost. So we react so much to the win or the loss. And we struggled, they got their butts kicked.

Right. I thought he struggled a lot more in the Rams game and in the Bucks game. It's so funny because I do think if he gets booted off. He struggled in the second half in the Bucks game. The first half, he was perfect. Right. That's okay, the buck. They're so weird.

They're the best defense. Yeah, they got a bunch laid on him by Seattle, but the Bucks, one of the best defense. Denver arguably the best defense. I just mean, I've seen a little growth. I actually think he's playing better than he did in the regular season last year. So I really struggle, but the numbers are with you. Of all these players, his numbers are the most. middling, anywhere from 10th to 17th in all these sort of advanced or PFF number.

Let me phrase it like this. If Joe Donut all of a sudden pops on quarterback island and he sees Jalen Hertz on and Lamar off, what's you're going to think about our credibility? Well, that's where I wanted to go next. That's a thing. Okay. Let's all stand on the table for one quarterback that's remaining and who you feel the strongest of these four quarterback.

So there's two open spots. And this is regardless of the. injury rule. And this doesn't mean they're on, but I've just wanted to see what everyone say, no, the injury rules, whatever is in your mind of how you want to handle that is involved. May I interject? Sure. I feel like if, I feel like if we're going to apply it, we apply it. If we don't, we don't. And I'm fine not applying it because it's almost too nebulous to apply to one and not the other.

What if we have an asterisk? So that would say like either, you're saying either Lamar and Jaden are on together or they're off together. Well, I'm saying I think they're, you know. I think Jaden's off. All right. Should we vote on Jaden Daniels? Because I do think there's some agreement there. Because I think there's a couple guys playing better than him right now.

Yeah. I think that's that's cool. It's close, but I agree with you. I'm voting no on Jaden Daniels. Same. Yeah. Okay. Jaden Daniels is off.

He's going to make us look bad for this one. I love it. I want him to. Yeah. I want him to look like. We want to be the motivation. Jayden's off. Jaden's off.

Jaden Daniels. Which means we have Lamar. We have. Low on the list. Jordan Love. those two right and who else now i finally it finally happened it finally happened what's what do you mean that's down to those two wait wait like calling got it like calling jalen or jalen that's it that's it yeah so we have one spot for jalen hertz lamar or two spots for jalen hurts lamar and jordan love that

that was that was it i feel i feel the strongest i'm just curious this is not binding but i just want to get a feel of how the room is feeling, because I don't know. Like, of those three players, who do you want on the most, Steve? Between Jalen Hertz, Lamar, and Jordan, who would be your number one? And I am applying the injury rule because we decided last year that Justin Herbert was not going to start the season because of the ankle injury, even though we know Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Lamar can get back on. Right?

So I would say Jordan Love because he's healthy, he's on the field, and he's playing well. I am adhering to the Jordan rule. But I think that when we put this out there for the people to see, there should be some type of asteris that they are on injury island right now. What about you? Who would be your top one? I recognize my own hypocrisy here, but it's Lamar for me. If I'm looking at it, throw for throw.

I just feel like Lamar breaks the rules. I don't care. Well, if you're going to soften it, it's absolutely. Oh, no, it is a soft rule. All right, let's vote. Let's vote. Let's vote on Lamar. I vote yes on Lamar, Jackson. I just can't do it.

I can't take him off the island, but I know he's returning. I'm not going to have everyone come after me for this. I mean, obviously, he's a great quarterback and he should be on quarterback island. You are, I, by the way, not enough space taken. Colleen was like one man show manning this game when we all lost it there for a second. I got it. I had it. Yeah.

I have a year. By the way, I want to make sure that's clear. All right. You went to Trinity College. So I also think that it's really funny that Greg asked me for my opinion, then waited until I almost nodded the affirmative, then jumped right back in because he knew someone was going to agree with him. I love that. What's going on? I love that. I feel like Jordan is tired of doing the show with this one day.

It's not just the reality. Remember how she started. It's not just a reality. It's the idea. It's the idea. She's hanging. She's hanging over here. Should we vote on Jordan Love versus Jalen Hertz?

That's what it came down to. We have one spot left on quarterback island. I got to say, I don't have a super strong feeling. Where are you leaning? Well, I'm going to keep Hertz on the island. over Jordan Love. That is where I'm leaning to. But it's tough because the numbers

suggest that he should not be on the island. Maybe I'm reacting to last year where we didn't have Hertz on for so long and he's not playing amazing. But I do think to make Kubey Island, you sort of, you have to almost put no doubt to it.

Like you have to do it Danny Dimes or Drake, you got to like just be falling out. It's either a hell yes or a hell no. falling out so much like the tie goes to the guy on the island and to me this is about a tie new rule i don't know i love it i love it no no no i love it i love it there's a new rule the tie goes to the person on the island already also it's jalen hurts like he is defining the position in a way whether you like it or not yeah yeah we got at you know the run game the tush push all like so what about you so we haven't we haven't heard from jordan and steve in terms of this to be he was in

on love i was so it's really up to jordan whether we're at a deadlock or Hertz versus Love or whether Jalen Hertz stays on the island. Well, either way, it's Jalen Hertz because the tie goes to the guy on the island. Okay, or, or let me just throw this out there. What if it is Jalen Hertz or, wait, damn, and I lost it. She was almost there. She was almost had it. Oh, I got it back.

I got it back. I got it back. What if it is Jordan Love versus Drake May? I'd put May probably. Okay. All right. Okay. No, that's a good thing.

That's a good thing to bring up to not assume that love is behind all those guys. Yeah. Because we put May on, we put Dimes on. We put Darnold on and Stafford. May would be the last guy. He would be my 11th guy right now.

So you were right to say that, to suggest that name. I would have him behind Dimes and certainly Stafford and Darnold so far. But the last spot, Jordan Love just make us feel something more. Do more. I have a feeling he's going to be there

but should we call it? So who are we voting on? I think it's going to be Jaylen Hertz. I vote yes on Jalen Hertz. These days. I'll vote yes. Oh, a resigned yes.

I feel like this was a begrudgingly, I don't know, we kind of. And not can we reopen the government? Oh, my God. Discuss that amongst yourselves while we take a quick break. We have reached the end of quarterback island, the second episode of this season.

And let's go over. We're all sweating a little bit. I loved this episode. Has made it. You had followed. I loved it. I mean, we need customs and TSA to get the quarterback island. Josh Allen, you're still on the island.

Dak Prescott. You're in the MVP mix. You're definitely on the island. Baker Mayfield, you're one of the first people we knew. We're on the island. Patrick Nohomes, I see you. You're making football fun again. Herbo, golf, we can count on you.

We absolutely love you. Sam Darnold was the biggest no-brainer. of all the guys to jump on the island. That's growth, not just for him, but for me. Matthew Stafford, easy one. Danny Dimes somehow was not a heavy conversation. Drake May is on the island. And yes, even though you're hurt, Lamar Jackson,

you are there and you can talk with Jalen Hertz about what it's like to play in Super Bowl. Can I make one? Multiple. Can I make one observation? Yes. There's a quarterback we did not mention one time. All shit.

No. This is my nightmare. A. A. He was supposed to be on my long list. This is my nightmare, says Greg. He was, I did not put him down on the ones who were definitely off, but he was definitely off. I looked at his name and put a question mark next to it. I've got a hollow bubble. No bubble nothing.

We left him in the dark. He's coming off a nice game. You saw him in Dublin. Yeah. Coming off a nice game. There were three games before that. They were three games before that. They were three games before that.

Just throw it up to D.K. Maybe they're just like getting going now. you know we go uh let's Greg's exhausted a little TNF in a couple trades quickly after the break what's up everybody

Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks on move the sticks we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies coaching trends and how front offices

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Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fulrio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football. Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet.

We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Back on NFL Daily, the Eagles and the NFL. Giants have a lot to live up to in terms of taking a prime time spot, making it your own. That Bill's Patriots game was a great time game in the end. And last week's Thursday night game, the Rams Niners game was a game.

One of the best games of the season, I think. And then the Jags and the Chiefs. Great game. Just days, Jordan, after we spent an entire segment, an entire show naming the Jaguars, It's kind of the unofficial team of NFL daily, but calling them the most messy fun team in the NFL. They showed up and they made it happen. Like, that game was so fun.

I don't know if Giant Eagles is going to be that fun. Yeah, I never roll out weird stuff happening. But this, yeah, I don't, it's just, it's weird watching the Eagles right now. We mentioned this earlier in the show. They are banged up along their offensive line. Saquan Barkley. He's going for 200.

Yeah, reportedly, yes, going to play, but feeling some knee soreness. earlier this week. It's a short week. Obviously, that's tricky. Psych job. I love it.

He's excited. Hey, I got a sore knee. When I pounce you for 200, I'm like, yeah, my knee feels so sore. And their run defense is so bad.

The Giants. So you have Seekwon going in there, playing them for the second time. And yeah, this is like a perfect matchup for him. But their running game is so bad. It's so crazy to think about it. Oh, they're slump busters.

They might be. It's the interior of their offensive line. tackles are great. They're fine. Lane Johnson looked back to being himself. But Cam Juergens admit he's playing banged up. He's not playing well. Landon Dickerson has a million injuries.

He might not play in this game because he has the ankle injury. And then Steen. And you just think about the identity of what the Eagles have been over the last 10 years, really. And it's like this offensive line. And it's their pass rush. And they're one of the, they're not in the top 20 in the league right now in terms of quarterback hits or pressures from a four-man pass rush. One in the trenches.

And that's the whole Eagles thing. So there is something about like all the negative attention on the Eagles kind of makes sense to me because I think they're searching a little bit for who they are. Well, I mean, look, we saw the Chiefs go through it, right? It's like whoever's on top, okay, what are the flaws? We saw the Patriots go through it for years. What are their flaws? Oh, they're starting two and two or two and three.

And then they go ahead and marching on. I think the Eagles, again, they're nicked up. But they're going to be just fine. And it's Thursday night, though. So you can't count the Giants up. You know, everyone thought that the Niners were going to get ten-spotted. Because the Eagles have legitimate flaws. Yeah.

And everyone thought like the Niners were going to get ten-spotted last year. All their injuries coming here to L.A., and they came in here and they showed up. So you just don't know what's going to happen. I expect the Eagles pass rush to, I mean, I feel like Jackson Dart is just going to be under pressure all night long, especially because he doesn't have Malik neighbors or, you know, that's a rough one. And Jermaine Illumanor has been out of practice this week. Granted, it's Tuesday. It's tough to note.

He's quietly had one of the best years of any. impending free agent contract. He's playing really well at right tackle. Like he is, oh, he's, he's pretty high on the list because there's never a tackle. I think, I think Devon Lloyd is number one on that. That's a high one. So if he doesn't play, then suddenly, yeah, that could wake up the Eagles pass or or maybe they'll keep blitzing more.

You know, they're having to come out of their comfort zone a little bit. Yeah, Vic Fangio calling still not like in exorbitant amount of blitzes, but more than we're used to seeing from him, especially in the first half, halves of games when their four-man front is not getting home. But yes, I think you do that, but you also have to be aware of Jackson Dart on the move. And this is where I think Quignan Mitchell and Cooper DeGine come in so handy as like such an incredible tandem.

Yeah. You cannot get anything into the flat against Cooper DeGine when he is playing in the slot. That's just, that's basically a no run, no passing zone at this point. And who is Jackson Dart, aside from his legs where he's,

yes, he's running up some of the middle creases, but he's also been trying to hit the perimeter a little bit. So those flats on the left and right sides. Okay, but so, okay, you can't do that because Cooper Dejean's there. And Quiguan Mitchell manning down the other side and locking things down so well. And then he's also hitting the tight end a lot. Theo Johnson, we predicted with Malik neighbors out, he would kind of become a little bit more of a security blanket. And he very much has been.

And so, okay, where are you trying to hit Theo Johnson in Cooper DeGine territory? Well, it sounds like a Zach Bond game, too. Yeah. Jack can cover the tight ends and it's by. So, you know, knowing how Vic loves his outside linebackers and be created with him, Zach Bond could be a factor in this game. Yeah. Let's listen to Brian Dable talking this week.

I just love the way he ended this little clip. A little bit of a stinky Davis. Yeah, you watch all the games, and you watch him when he's out there, get open, big, strong, fast, as good hands. Can run any route you want him to run. I'm sure they can throw in the ball as many times as they want. I mean, Saquine doesn't get it or give it to Saquine and AJ doesn't get it. There's one ball.

They're all really good player, Smitty. I mean, I've been around Smitty. I think he's an exceptional receiver too. So I think what I'm sure whatever they want to do or think they need to do, that's what they'll do. Oh, no. You have to watch the tape. AJ's open a lot. Oh!

Your reaction, Colleen. Oh, you know what? I actually like Dave Allmore for that, though. That's awesome. That is insane. I love it. You got problems in the building? He's trying to sew a little discord.

I like how that's just like petty a little bit. When your team isn't great, let's go to the dark arts of let's mess them up a little more. AJ's open a lot. He's open a lot. That's fantastic. I tell you what, though, I was too distracted because I know it's the cancer awareness month that he has on the giant thing,

but I need 3D glasses to watch that thing on the chest. Yes, another invitation to check out that the YouTube just so you can. Brian Dables. Absolutely. And look, there will be open. He will get open against the Giants kid. That's what you wish for because the giant's secondary is completely outmatched and outmanned by this group of receivers.

They would outmatch an outman most secondaries in the league should they decide to throw the ball down the field. They got to protect, you know, against Abdul Carter, who continues to be on fire. And so to block up those. But honestly, they kind of did it pretty well against the Broncos who have maybe the best form. in pass rush in the league. I don't think pass protection was the problem in that game. And so, yeah, I think we could see some AJ Brown down the field. Is there a metric, by the way, that measures receivers or pass catchers who are open?

Yes, but it's not reliable because of... Really? I mean, no offense, next-gen stats, people. There is separation score from ESPN. There's how open you are, but it really depends a lot on, like, what your role is in the offense to where you are and scheme. So it's tough. We're not there yet. I don't think we're there yet.

I am curious to see how, you know, our guy, Jackson Dart, looks in this game. There was a lot of hope balls. That's what I call them in the game in New Orleans, where it was just like, and he's taken too many. I don't know what's going to happen. So I'm just going to hope and I'm just going to throw it up there. Oh, gee, and Brandon Staley plays the same defense as who, Vic Fangio. Because they had a beat.

And that works maybe if you have, if you have T. Higgins and A.J. Brown. That's not going to work with these giant. receivers like hope balls don't really work to these receivers yeah and then another i guess security blanket although like a very angry and violent one emerging for jackson dart is cam scataboo yes so someone said on social media that he runs like the kool-aid man like bursting through the door which now i can't that's perfect unsee that so he he's playing uh both of these guys are are uh playing without regard for their own lives essentially i love it jackson dart and camp scataboo which is with the Giants, I guess, you know, they need it, right? And that's part of the game, of course.

But Jackson Dart specifically is taking too many hits already. And Cam Scadaboo, I don't know how sustainable his particular style of play is. He's taken too many hits, which is weird to say about a running back. It's like, he's like looking for hits. Like extra hits. Yeah, which, yeah. Don't expose your numbers and he exposes his number. Yeah. Yeah. So just something to keep an eye on, him in the past seven's a lot, but I do like a championship team to respond after. We got Jailin on the island. He lost. Yeah, Jail's one I got to do it.

Stick up for us. Okay, that's Thursday night football. Just quickly, as we were taping, we had a very surprising trade come down. Adafi O'A, the first round pick of the Ravens four years ago, is going to the Los Angeles Chargers. Steve, what was your first reaction when you saw it? Well, my first reaction is fascinating.

Aloi Gilman is going back. Alohi Gilman, the safety's going back. But this has an addendum to it. Earlier in the day, the Raven signed. C.J. Gardner Johnson. Second safety. Who didn't play last week for the Ravens? Kyle Hamilton. This is telling me that maybe something's brewing with Kyle Hamilton.

Injury-wise, if they go back and they get two veteran safety, a younger one, and an older one, one's going to add a little spice to the defense. You know C.J. Gardner Johnson, who did not play well or fit in in Houston. Yeah. But you don't go to the Ravens kicking that noise. How many weeks is he there?

No, no, no. No, no. And that Gardner Johnson? No, no. It's just funny. We were keeping tabs on it because it's like he goes to these different stops and it gets shorter and shorter every single time. He has been humbled, I am sure. When I saw that he signed

for their practice squad, I thought, man, what have the last couple weeks been like for CJ Gardner Johnson and the fact that he's having to sign of the practice squad? I feel like he's going to have learned and he's a good player.

Oh, yeah. I'm going to say, all right. Weeks left. He'll be there through this season. And I'm going to give him one more year. 30 weeks left. I think he gets a solid year and a half. Well, he be benched at any point.

But this is. And then it'll kind of expire. I mean, he could, but look, last year, when the Ravens defense took a turn, they adjusted their safeties, right? That's right. Williams, they brought in Ardarius Washington, who's hurt, pulled a, uh, Achilles before the season, and their defense got better. They adjusted Kyle Hamilton.

Maybe they think they can, you know, reset in some way here. They've got bigger issues because when I watch the Ravens, to me, it's not schematics. I was watching them get blocked all up and down the field and guys not get off blocks. DBs in position to make plays and not making plays. So I think maybe adjust like this Always a good player So away A little brotherly love too

Because it's the Harbaas And then that front office Comes from out of the Ravens Yeah I think they both know That they're trading players They're not completely happy with You know always at the end of his contract

He's going to be a free agent this year He had 10 sacks a year ago But even in that season I think he's viewed as an inconsistent player like he can get washed out a little bit in terms of the running game. And in general, like, been a very up and down throughout his career.

He doesn't have any sec, like hasn't had a lot of pressure this year. And to give up a first round pick pass rusher, that's a pretty strong statement that like contract year two. It might be some cap clearing stuff, knowing that the Ravens got to clear from. And the charges early when they're going to move. They move.

Yeah. And the chargers have like no pass rush right now whatsoever. They also got, I mean, it's Tulean. Who else? That's it. A fifth round pick in the deal. So Oway goes for a fifth for Gilman and a seven.

So it's a trade back essentially. And that's saying that O'A has more value in the trade. But just kind of fascinating. Welcome to L.A. It almost feels like at first I was like, are the Ravens giving up on this season? But no, the Gilman part way. Jesse Mentor, I mean, again,

they run the similar schemes. So Owe will fit right in. Yeah. And he needs, Jesse Mentor needs a player who has the potential that O.A. has in order to maximize, what this defense actually can be and rush the way he wants to rush,

then his coverages can deploy the way he wants to deploy them. We haven't seen the same version of this Chargers defensively. No. Things change fast in the NFL. If you had told me that the Ravens are... It's a wild how much a change. One in four, trading a pass rusher off the worst defense in the league.

We'll see. I mean, the Browns trading Joe Flacco. He's got to get to Pittsburgh, and then he will complete the... set. Okay, so we did Quarterback Island a little later than probably we would have

because I was overseas. Thank you for your patience and that extra time I think helped to get Drake May on, so I'm happy. Congratulations to everyone who made it to Quarterback Island. We will do another quarterback island episode in about four weeks.

I cannot wait. One of my favorite days of the season. We will be back on Wednesday. We're back to the normal preview shows, double-barreled action from the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio. Maybe we'll have some funky trades. Tuesday's really the day for trade in the NFL. Get excited.

Quarterback Island. It's always Island time here in the Chris Wesley podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching, trends and how front offices construct winning rosters.

We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fiorio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.

Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. iHeart podcast.