The Fumblerooski Podcast - Edged -Ep 456 The Fumblerooski Podcast

Episode Date: June 16, 2026

On today's episode, we give our Top 5 Edge Rushers and a preview of the AFC West. Will the Broncos repeat and can the Chiefs return to old form? Along with this we touch on the life and career of Aldon Smith after his passing over the weekend. CJ Medeiros and Chris Costich talk all this and more!

On today's episode of the Fumble Ruski podcast, we're going to look at the top five edge rushers heading into the 2026 season and a preview of the AFC West. And boy, did it get a little just that much more loaded out in the Wild West for this season. This is the Fulmuriski podcast. It may not have always showed it in the stat sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides.

Welcome to the Fulburowski podcast by Power 8018 Radio and Secret Weapon Consulting. I keep saying Power 8018 radio and here we are still. Come on. We're here. Welcome to the Fulner's podcast by Secret Weapon Consulting. We got CJ. We got myself Chris for today. After my little hiatus last week.

How's the weekend for you, C.J.? You know, I was fine. Yeah, I enjoy my weekend, you know, hung out with a friend, you know, for some reason, watch some World Cup, which, you know, honestly, I enjoy more than I thought. Yeah, it was a good time, good time. Yeah, obviously, World Cup, full-fledged. I currently had the Men's College World Series on right now, or Texas is beating Alabama 3-0 in the second inning.

But that's because there's no game going on as of right now. I'll even see what the next game is. Obviously, we're recording this. At 238 Eastern Standard Time on Monday, June 15th, Belgium, Egypt. That's the next game that's about a kickoff. Hmm. I think that might be a fun one. Who knows?

Have you seen the videos of the Scotland fans? going nuts in Boston. Yeah, I did see that. That was funny. So awesome. I love it. One of the better times of the year, well, every four years, I should say, the World Cup, gives you so many amazing stories. But I guess heading into podcast world now of NFL world, we're going to start on more of a somber note.

Saturday, former standout linebacker Alden Smith, or excuse me, defensive lineman Alden Smith passed away. The official cause of death still unclear, 36 years old, and hadn't played in league since 2020, which was his first and only season with the Dallas Cowboys. At the height of his game, Smith was a game record, total 33 and a half sacks in his first 32 games in the league. And as you may remember, had a bit of a substance abuse problem that derailed his career.

Basically the early to mid-2010s, pretty much really just the early 2010s that he was around. Excuse me. He took a hiatus from the league from 2016 to 2019. Faded from the spot. Wow. throat's getting a little scratchy all of a sudden. Smith had faded from the spotlight after his NFL career, but struggled financially returned to the Bay Area.

A friend told the San Francisco Chronicle in the wake of Smith's passing. On his final day, Smith was delivering pizzas to a charity for homeless people. Unfortunate, man. Just unfortunate. And obviously, a lot of people probably think maybe drugs are overdosed because of the substance abuse problem that he dealt with through his NFL career, hoping it's not that. But other than that, it's unfortunate.

It's unfortunate. And this is another one in a line of athletes, stars that are, I guess, former stars in this case that have passed away a little too soon. Yeah, it's just depressing on. honestly, all this, like, you know, it seems like every other week there's like a new star athlete, whoever, that's just like, oh, hey, yeah, they're dead now. And it just makes you wonder, you know, like they're dying so young, like, what, what's going on? And like you mentioned, we don't even know the official cause of death. Like, genuinely, I hope to God, it's not anything

overdose related. That's not where my mind immediately went. but to know that his last act was literally delivering pizzas to a charity, I mean, that just tells you everything you need to know, doesn't it? Yeah. For the most part, I watched a YouTube video about his life that I, before this actually happened. And for the most part, it did seem like he genuinely turned it around. Because, you know, if you or anyone you know deals with, any sort of addiction, then you probably know that it's just vicious.

It gets stigmatized a lot. Some people say, oh, you know, it's an issue of personal discipline, which if you're a dick, it is. But honestly, I just, I genuinely feel so horrific about this. And for his family especially, like, I just, I don't know, like, my, my, my, my, my, my thoughts are with his family. That's pretty much it. Yeah, 100%. And of course, if you were a loved one is struggling with addiction or struggling with any sort of mental health issues as well, you know, don't be afraid to let him a hand, him or her a hand, make sure they're getting help that they need.

Side note, I was one of my buddies sent into a, sent this TikTok into our group chat. And this kid that we used to go to high school with was turned out. He or not high school. We went to middle school or something with him. Maybe a little bit of high school. I forget. Timelines a little foggy at the moment. But it was a TikTok video of him getting into a car with this vlogger or this TikTok or

YouTube or whatever. And he was going to and he was helping him now because he was dealing with a drug addiction, a pretty big drug addiction. And he was finally getting to help that. he needs and all that. So it's possible. It is 100% possible. Just remember that.

All right. Other general NFL news that you have on your mind? Not really. I mean, the NFL wrapped up its investigation to Stefan Diggs. Yep. Just saw that as well. Insufficient evidence of a personal conduct policy violation. So I would assume.

And he didn't do it? Like, I mean, that's really the only way there. I mean, if you, you at home, if you watch the trial or if you read up on it, you would know that his accuser made a complete ass of herself on the stand. Yeah. Yeah. So I think this is kind of just more, you know, obviously, Diggs is currently not signed to a team. He was released by the Patriots pretty shortly after the Super Bowl or one of the new. league year was starting up.

Yeah. So I would assume that a lot of outside of like the obvious that, you know, Diggs is 34, 33 or however old he is and he's got the off the field, uh, issues and drama and all that other jazz. Um, I would assume that most team that teams were probably waiting to see what the NFL had to say or the court case in general before probably contacting him.

And a lot of people are trying, mainly Pat's fans, are looking for the Patriots to get Diggs back on the team, mainly just from his leadership role on the team from last year and how big of a party. He was the number one receiver on the Patriots, 82 catches, thousand yards. Yeah, they got his replacement in A.J. Brown. But, I mean, Grant still have a pretty stuffed receiver room outside of that. but I mean, there's also so many other rumors going on with the paths, especially the receivers like Kishon Booty could potentially get moved for all we know. So, yeah, that's just that's just one of the many little silly storylines going on in Boston sports in general. Not to turn into a Boston sports podcast for like five seconds.

But yeah. anything else they have on your on your temple nothing not really no like yeah it was a bit of a bit of a slower news week compared to compared to like the last couple weeks i feel like well we ought to get used to it because this is the off season and you know it nothing happens in the off season or rarely rarely yeah like the the real peak was that was june first of course with miles garrick and traded to the Rams and AJ Brown getting to trade to the Patriots. So that was the, that was really the peak of it. I don't really see any other big stories coming out for pretty much until August. Yeah, usually the big stories come out at the end of training camp about, you know,

cap casualties and surprise cuts. Yeah, exactly. All right. Let's take a quick break. we come back, we'll get into our top five NFL edge rushers and a preview of the AFC West. It may not have always showed it in the stat sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie.

Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. All right. Top five edge rushers in the NFL heading into the 2026. season. CJ, we discussed none of this. This is like the first, I feel like this is the first time where, one of the first times where we really did not discuss a single thing in regards to the four teams we'll be talking about or any, of any mix of five players that are going to be putting into a list.

So we're both going into this pretty blind, what's they expect on the other side. I mean, I feel like that you and I are probably going to have very similar top five here, if not the same top five. It's possible. Or a bare minimum, the same players. Yeah. Well, should we just get number one out of the way real quick?

I would imagine so. Number one, of course, is Draymont Jones of the past. Obviously, Chris, I feel pretty confident in speaking for you here. It's Miles Garrett, number one, and it's not particularly. close. No. He broke the sack record. That's all you need to know. And, and I know some people are throwing a astroskella sack record saying, oh, it was because of the 17th game, it doesn't count, you know, with the whole Michael Strayhan, T.J. Watt thing. My counter to that is, well, that is true. He also did it in less snaps than literally both of them. And not like five

less snaps or two less snaps. No, no, no. It was like a significant number. I don't know the exact number on my head, but I remember seeing it, and when I saw the difference in snaps played between Strahan and Watt and then Garrett, I said, okay, well, no, that completely in my eyes nullifies the extra game argument, and then some.

Yeah. I don't have much else to add. I mean, this dude gets fucking triple-teamed. That's really all you need to know about the type of player that Miles Carrad is. He's debatably one of the best defensive players since Lawrence Taylor. He'll probably go down as a top five defensive player of all time for all we know, depending on how the rest of his career shapes up.

And ship, he may have. Right now, there's a gold jacket in his future. Oh, yeah. And he's probably, like, there's a very good chance he ends, like, by this time next year, we're talking about Miles Garrett as a Super Bowl champion. So it's very possible. very possible. And for those of you who don't know about all Miles Garrett, he has played in the NFL for nine seasons now. He has played in 134 games, starting in 131 of them. Okay, we all, do we have that? Everyone got that?

He has a combined 412 tackles total, 149. tackles for loss, 239 quarterback hits, and 125 and a half sacks, along with 23 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, and 18 passes batted down at the line. That's pretty good. Yeah, literally, like, if he were tired right now, he's probably going to Canton. Yeah. I wonder where he is all time right now in, like, Sacks leader. and show like that.

I, well, being the 100 sack club is impressive enough. Oh, yeah. And, yeah, I mean, not to mention he is a five-time first-team all pro. I believe a seven-time pro bowler, a two-time defensive player of the year. So, you know, the fact that he's only turning 31, And edge rushers a lot of the time seem to have some stang power. Like they age really well in the NFL. So he definitely has at minimum, I would say, three, four more years in the tank.

That's like worst case scenario. Yeah. Miles Garrett's currently tied for 20th all time in sacks with Dwight Freeney. And I mean, even if he gets like 15 sacks this season, he'll move himself into seventh all time in front of Jason Taylor and behind Michael Strayan. So he's a good chance he's probably going to, I would say he's definitely going to be playing for another five years at least. Absolutely. Like, just an absolute monster.

You know the nicest thing is about Miles Garrett. This is something I was thinking about. He's genuinely one of the most just likable players like in the NFL. fell. Yeah. I had a one contract dispute he had with Cleveland, which, come on, Cleveland. Yeah, I was about to say, like, the only real controversies he's ever had has been that contract dispute.

Or maybe that. Oh, and the helmet. Oh, I forgot about that. But even still, it didn't really damage his rep all that much. Like, it's become of a meme more than anything. If you know how he is off the field and, like, how passionate he. he is about his interests, right? And because I see, like, on Instagram, especially, because I follow Miles Garrett.

Like, I'll see, like, art posts and, like, comic posts, and he'll just, like, be liking him and stuff. It's, it's really cool. Like, yeah, like, like, I said, like, that's the nice thing. He's, like, he's genuinely one of the most just likable players in the league. Where were you when Miles Garrett swung a helmet at Mason Rudolph? I remember watching that game. That was, I gave me or spit out my drink.

I was like, wait, did he just try to decaditate Mason Rudolph? I mean, and we've all grown. Yeah, I was sitting in my freshman year dorm room and I think my roommate, my best friends, he was at a basketball practice. And I saw it happen. And I was like, what the fuck did I just watch? And he didn't get back to the dorm until after the game. And I told him the whole thing.

He's like, what the fuck? And then, like, lo and behold, I, geez, I shit you not. So this was still playing ball at Plymouth State. And, like, later that week in practice, we had this one kid, I think I forget what his name was, but he was just, he was a vicious. guy like you you did not want to cross this dude he was absolutely tapped and he was going at it with uh he started going out out with one of the fullbacks and he's he was an edge rusher he's

going at it with one of the fullbacks and they had been going at it with each other like all practice all of a sudden basically recreated the miles garret thing without like making didn't somehow missed he swung and missed i was like what the fuck And then the funniest part about it probably was the The So our head coach did the usual old school way of

Making two guys amends with each other after fighting and practice And force each other to hold hands and take a lap Wait, what? Yeah, that's an actual thing Huh Like you force a couple of like two guys that are deep with each other. You make them take a lap together in some shape or form.

And a lot of times, like, you force these guys to hold hands. See, I don't think that's going far enough. If I were a coach, I would tie, like, one guy's right leg and their guys, like, left leg together and make them do, like, a three-legged, like, lap. There you go. Now we're cooking here. I mean, if I were a coach, that's happy what I would do.

Yeah, I like it. I like it. All right, back to the top five. Who do you have as number two? My number two is Michael Parsons, honestly. I was going to go, Micah as number two as well. And his entire resume is just insane so far. Five years in the league, four Dallas, one went Green Bay,

has not had a single season without double-digit sacks thus far. three-time first-team all pro, five-time pro bowler, before getting hurt last year, you know, playing in 14 games, getting 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits, 12 and a half sacks, along with two forced fumbles. I want to see how he heals up. Honestly, I think he'll heal up fine,

and I think he's going to be right back at it again next season. Yeah, no, I agree with that. I like that. I got nothing else to add. This is another guy where, like, you could watch the film. It's another guy that low-key gets tripletined almost every fucking play. And, yeah, that's really, like I said, nothing really else to add. Third, what do you have as number three?

My number three, now that we're working backwards, is maybe a bit of a reach, but I kind of have to go with Aidan Hutchinson on the lines. Yeah. Yeah, so he's a two-time pro bowler, obviously. But considering the fact he got hurt last season, only getting seven and a half sacks and five games, look at the way he came back to this season with 54 total tackles, 14 and a half sacks and 35 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles as well, and three passes bad at the line as well as an interception.

I just, I want to see him stay healthy another year. year. But overall, like, I felt like he probably should have been a first team all pro, but it was absolutely stacked that year. So I kind of get it. But he's one of the best pure pass rushers in the entire league. Yeah. No, he is.

I'd say for my number three, I was going to go Max Crosby. Hmm. Okay. Outside of, like, the sack, because obviously Hutchinson has, uh, four and a half more sacks than Crosby this season, and Crosby ended up playing two less games as well. The other numbers as well, total tackles, TFLs as well, and I mean, Max Crosby is also still one of the best in the game.

I think that's enough to go three, and I'll just skip to four. Aiden Hutchinson is going to be my four. Basically everything that you just listed, the way that he was able to bounce back after that horrific knee injury that he had from the season prior. and the way basically just reverted back to what we saw pre-torn knee. It's almost, you didn't miss a step.

Didn't miss a step at all. And I feel like you kind of got overshadowed because of how horribly the lion is underperformed as well. 100%. 100%. So my four is Satan Hutchinson. My three is Max Crosby. Who's your four? My four is Will Anderson of the Houston Texans.

Look, 12 tackles, or 12 sacks, excuse me, 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three passes bad at the line. I love his game. He was first team all pro last year. He was a pro bowler last year, defensive player of the year, runner up. And to me, what I like the most is probably is versatility. You know, that's really what it comes down to for me, is the sheer versatility of him. Because, you know, a lot of these guys are just pure pass rushers or maybe they could drop back and play coverage.

Will Anderson can stop the run like nobody's business, hence the 20 tackles for loss. I am a huge fan of Will Anderson, and I definitely think he's coming for that three or two spot next year. year. Yeah. I think Will Anderson's my five. And I think that if anything, Will Anderson can definitely make a run at being a top three edge rusher for next season. Yeah. Obviously, in past years, I've just, I've kind of gone above and beyond in terms of predicting who would end up being the top five and shit like that. And this year, I've been a little bit more keen, on just keeping it based off of what happened last season. But I could definitely see him being a top three edge rusher after the 2026 season.

My number five, by the way, Chris, is Max Crosby of the Raiders. Okay. So, you know, he has a total of 10 sacks from last season. He's another one that's an absolute four. in the run game. The thing is, he has these weird hot and cold stretches where he's tearing the league up, or he's a complete non-factor, but it kind of averages out to get him to be top of the pack. He's a good volume tackle guy as well.

He got back to double-digit sacks, which across seven seasons he has four double-digit sack years, which I'm glad that we're seeing more of that. I still think he's the fifth best edge rusher in the league. Yeah. Yeah, I went three because I think that when you look at what happened in last year, the Raiders were just a fucking mess per usual. And I'm hoping that this year, I guess you could consider me predicting Max Crosby's going to be a top three edge rusher for this season from my ranking.

But I'm hoping that with the little bit more stability. now in Vegas, along with just the upgrades they've made in general, especially on the other side of football and on offense. I'm hoping that that can probably that could probably help them

elevate to an even higher level. Yeah. Yeah. That's our top five. So we literally had the same like top five. Yeah. We're both the same players of the top five, just in different order. Yeah, like I predicted.

Yeah. How about that? You got a dark horse to be in the top five this year? You know, call me crazy. But I actually do. Yeah. I don't know if this is a reach or not. But I just want to say outright.

I am going to butcher his name. And I'm sorry if somehow he hears this. I am very, very sorry. But I'm also giving him his flowers. It's Tully Poloto from the Chargers. Yeah. I mean, last season, he made a Pro Bowl, but he had 49 tackles, 20 tackles.

for loss, 13 sacks and three, I know, two force fumbles, three passes out the line. This was his true breakout year, and I would just want to see him do it again, because this man is an absolute menace. I like it. Do you have any breakouts per chance? I mean, if you want to consider Jared Versa breakout, sure. I think this could be definitely a year where he cracks double-digit sacks. But, I mean, yeah. that's that'd be my pick if we're going to consider jerry versus breakout guy or a guy that hasn't

broke out yet yeah that would be acceptable yeah because i because i keep feeling like he's on the cusp of breaking out and he just doesn't and for what it's worth i think he's a very good player i think the sky's the limit for him but the problem is you're a defensive lineman on the rams right and you are coming after Miles Garrett. I'm not Miles Garrett. Aaron Donald. Hall of Fame are arguably the best defensive tackle of all time, Aaron Donald. No matter what you do, like unless you can physically, like, block out the sun and make the tides shift, then everything you do is going to be looked at as inferior. And let's be real. Not being as good at Aaron Donald at rushing the passer is not a sin. Not by

any stretch of the imagination. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. But, but I mean, that being said, I do want to see him get double-digit sacks. Yeah. I think he very well could. I think he very well could. All right.

AFC West preview heading into 2006 season. This is your first time joining us. We go from last place to first place. So in this case, We will start with Las Vegas Raiders. Three and 14 last year.

They had a point differential of minus 191. You'd be surprised to hear that was only the third worst, the third worst point differential, only behind the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans. Yeah, I believe it. Raiders had one of the, while they're off seasons a team could possibly have. Obviously, Fernando Mendoza, the number one overall pick.

You draft him as your new quarterback. But hold on. Wait a minute. You also have Kirk Cousins. Yolly. And that's not even to mention the Max Crosby shit that happened as well, sending him to Baltimore, only for him to fail a physical, and then get sent back to Vegas, just a wild turn of events. but lo and behold thankfully bringing Max Crosby back

doesn't hurt you salary cap-wise with the with the other guys they brought in or at least for this season I haven't looked at what it could look like for next year but Raiders are looking pretty freaking good for next season. Yeah.

I personally don't have the Raiders making the playoffs but this is another team like I said, well, when you're that, bad you're not really supposed to make the playoffs you definitely are looking for development that's the name of the game is promise and not to mention chris they have a new head coach yep right oh of course uh so honestly i i do think that's going to be a huge part of that and the head coach of course I believe is Clint Kubiak. They'd be correct.

Who they signed to a fire their contract. You know, Super Bowl winning OC. So, you know, definitely good to bring in an offensive-minded guy there. The free agent class, I think was really good. They grabbed the Ravens Superstar Center, Tyler Linderbaum. They reunited Georgia linebackers Quay Walker and Jacoby Dean. They grabbed Eddrusher Quitty Pay. They signed wide receiver Jalen Naylor, who's like a career third.

three, but he has two potential, I think. Not crazy if they didn't address the receiver room more, but I guess, man, it's the next year thing. They grabbed corner Eric Stokes and a quarterback Kirk Cousins and Matt Gaye is a kicker. That's awesome. Then, of course, for the draft, Bernada Mendoza, number one, we all knew it was happening. But what about everyone else?

In the second round, they grabbed Trayden Stukes from, Arizona. He's a corner safety hybrid. He's very versatile, high football IQ. I thought it was a solid pick, maybe a little bit of a reach. In round three, they took a defensive end from Auburn, Keirond Crawford, and Texas A&M Guard, Trey Zoom the third. Both, I think, are acceptable picks. They took a swing on corner Germad McCoy from Tennessee, who most of us thought could go in the first round, but instead he was a fourth round pick. I think the first pick in the fourth round, because apparently his knee was really iffy and he didn't heal up the way that people thought he would.

So if he can get past that, he's going to be an amazing value pick. I just know it. Then they grabbed Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr., great value pick in the fourth round. Then the rest of the way, they picked Arizona Safety, Dalton Johnson. California corner has Akaya Masses, which I think was a great steal. Oregon-wide received from Malik Benson and North Carolina State defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland.

A great free agency, solid draft class. I definitely think they're primed for improvement. Yeah, I concur with that. Over under three and a half. Over. Yeah, definitely over. I can see them winning seven. Yeah, definitely seven, eight.

Yeah. I think your absolute ceiling, though, is like nine. Yeah. Absolute ceiling, like everything goes right. Yeah. And even then, like, you probably still won't make the playoffs, but you're going to be in a really good spot. Moving on to the team that finished in third place, the Kansas City Chiefs, six and 11 last year.

Overall, more of a disappointing season. Obviously, you factor in. Patrick Mahomes, tearing his knee. so that blows they're saying that there's a chance that you could be ready to go week one who knows I don't I'm going to stop taking guesses on this shit at this rate but their big move this off season well they got Kenneth Walker that was their big move probably the one of the biggest moves

that you could have made they replaced Fred McDuffie with Mansour Delane they re-signed or I guess we'll call it resign. Ligerius Sneed from the Titans after a very, very disappointing tenure in Tennessee. So it's, you know, if you're looking at the Chiefs from last year, the story with them was that the shit that they were able to get away with the year prior in 24, basically the opposite happens in 25. And that, like, all the close games that they won in 24, they went the opposite way in this past season.

Yeah. You remember what I said about the Chiefs when we were summing up their season, like months ago? I literally said that how their 2024 season, like we all knew they were fraudulent. They were eking out one score wins. They were extremely iffy. And at least four to five of those wins were handed to them thanks to some really horrific officiating.

And we said, okay, well, Super Bowl's here. And they got obliterated. And I said outright, it was that simple. Their luck just ran out. And you could say, oh, well, good teams find a way to win. But I would argue good teams don't need wins handed to them. That's really what it comes down. down to. And once again, flat out, their luck just ran out. And I know some cheese fans and they

have said to me, well, it only happened because Mahomes got hurt. Like, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Mahomes got hurt in December where your ass was already like one loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs. You were below 500 with him. And you were underperforming with him. So we only know if he's going to be ready to start next season. So moving on, how do they address this? They were kind of strapped for cash. So the cash they didn't have, they poured into three big names mostly. Kenneth Walker, you know, Super Bowl MVP running back.

Eloy Gilman, safety from the Ravens and Kairis Tonga, defensive tackle from the Patriots. It's a little bit of an overpay, but there. And they got Cater Kohu on a one-year prove-it deal from Miami. But honestly, even when you factor in the Mahomes extension, the extensions of Kelsey and Thornton and Drew Tranquil, I just don't feel like they did enough. But their draft class I like. I do. You got Mansour de Lane at pick number six. Peter Woods at 29, the defensive tackle from Clemson.

And on top of that, you grabbed edge rusher R. Mason Thomas out of Oklahoma. Jaden Kennedy from Oregon, a defensive back, which I thought was a bit of a reach. Emmett Johnson running back from Nebraska, who I myself would not particularly high on, but you guys have upside. Cyrus Allen, wide receiver from Cincinnati, and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeyer in round seven. I just, like, I get you want to retool the defense, but I just don't think they did enough for the offense. Don't get me wrong, they did bring back former offensive coordinator, Eric Bianney me, after giving Matt Nagy,

or O.C. The heave-ho, and rightfully so, I would add. But we need to see this is still the same Biennemi as before. Yeah. Like, I think the run game is still going to be, like, they improved in the run game. The run game is going to be really good next year, just because you have Kenneth Walker in the backfield. The receiver room is still, it's still lackluster.

Like, yeah, you still have Rhee. have her she rice. We really shouldn't have her she rice, but here we are. Xavier Wardy and Taekwon Thorne are your other two wide receivers in terms of like the top three. Like that's like the past, like Mahomes is going to figure it out one way or another,

but it's going to be, that's definitely going to be the weak spot here. Like these are like maybe outside of her she rice. these are guys you can just go man up all the fucking day. Yeah. Over under six and a half wins. Over. Over. Yeah, over, but I think the low end they get seven.

Yeah. I'll tell you, though, for the Chiefs, it's kind of like watching the Brady Patriots or no matter how bad the roster is, as long as they have QB1, they're always going to be in it. Like, no lead is safe. No game is put away until the clock hits zeros.

But I won't say they're completely defanged, but they don't scare me like they used to. Yeah, 100%. No, I would agree with that as well. I don't think the Chiefs... This version of the Chiefs doesn't put fear into, like, say the 2018 Patriots. Yeah, yeah, I agree.

Yeah. Moving on to the second place team, the Los Angeles Chargers 11 and 6 got themselves a wild card spot where they lost to the Patriots in the wild card round. Another, uh, huh? I think it, yeah,

no, the wild card, right? I was a divisional for some reason, but it's not. I always forget the change. We're only the ones so you get some buy now. Yeah,

yeah, it's always weird. But, yeah, coming off of a wild card rounds lost to the Patriots from last season, Justin Herbert again,

didn't have a great game. And back-to-back years where the Chargers are in the playoffs and Herbert, Loki, no-show. It's, how you,

How do you see the 2026 Chargers? Because, like, yeah, they battle with injuries last year. But that, like, yeah, as a Pat's fan, that was definitely a game that the Chargers probably could have won just from the way that that game was playing out. Yeah, the Chargers have a really good defense. And I don't think that part's going to decline. But I will tell you this, it's all on Justin Herbert.

It's literally, entirely, squarely on Justin Herber. And it gets to a point where the injury excuse doesn't really do a lot for me anymore. Until he can at least make it to an AFC championship game, I'm sorry, I'm calling him if man. Because whenever you debate a Chargers fan about the stay of their team, it's always if, if, if. but it's all for the chargers and especially herbert it's always if and never when it's always if and never is and it's like well because every year you know like i say there's a new there's a new excuse well if the defense was good well if the old line was healthy well if we had better receivers well if we had a better coach then it's like okay like no more ifs no team is going to have anything complete every

team, every Super Bowl winner has some kind of flaw. There's a weakness to everyone. Like there's no team that I think is built perfectly. There are some teams that I think are damn close, but there's no teams I would say, yeah, that's perfection. You know, there are teams that come close, but, you know, I can't step. I don't know. Although a step further too, especially, you mentioned the receivers.

Like, I was going to say one more thing. Oh, yeah, yeah. If you're telling me that you need everything to be perfect to be good, if everything has to go your way, then maybe you're just not that good. Yeah. And that's not even to say that Justin Herbert isn't a good QB either. Oh, he is.

He's just, he just hasn't been able to perform to playoff expectations. Or for that matter, I mean, what he's had, three playoff appearances. Something to that effect. Yes, I believe he's one and two. Yeah, and one of them was a blown 24 point lead, which I'm not going to put all that on him, but it is on his resume. It's the same reason why Victor Wemigniama is going to have a blown 29 point lead in the NBA finals on his resume, whether it was completely his fault or not. But the fact of the matter being like, yeah, this is what year, what year he's. Is this six, seven?

We're at the point, though, where like, yeah, you may be the franchise guy, but you got to start putting some bread on the table here. You got the money. You got the girl. Make a fucking run. And Chris, there is something that I would like to add. Yeah. Justin Herbert, we said like seven, maybe six. years he's been in the league now he has one playoff win i believe or does he have none this is

going to be his uh um like 21 two 3 4 5 this is going to be his 7th year yep and how many playoffs does he have chris i don't think he has a single one okay all right i'm just checking pretty sure he's o'n three okay i thought he was too long because i thought but then i forgot they blew that lead. How can I forget? No, what a surprise. The Chargers blew a lead. Yeah, they peak charging.

But when you take this into consideration, right, I would like to let all the Herbert Truthers know that they will literally try to look at me with a straight face to try to tell me that he's better than another quarterback in his draft class, Joe Burrow. Well, Burrow has more playoff wins. I'm sorry. And when you look at quarterbacks from recent vintage, CJ Stroud has more playoff wins than Justin Herber.

And not even just by one, he is two. And let's go a step further, 2024. Bonix, Rake Mae, Caleb Williams, and Jane and Daniels all have more playoff wins than Justin Herbert. So it gets to a point where I'm sorry, I just can't anymore. I just, I'm done with the excuses. It's literally time to put up or shut up. And if you do not win a playoff game this year, remember how I always said last year,

if they didn't win a playoff game, we need to have an uncomfortable conversation. Let me tell you, if they don't want a playoff game this year or even go to the playoffs, you know, unless Herbert gets hurt, which is like a totally different animal, then that conversation is going to have to be 10 times more uncomfortable.

Because this off season, they got Tyler Beattis to be a center. You know, they got him in. They grabbed tight end David and Joku, Keaton Mitchell as a good dual threat running backs, solid guard and Cole Strange. They brought back guys like Khalil Mack, Trey Pipkins, and Denzel Perriman. And the draft, I wasn't a huge fan. Akeem Messador is fine, a little old, but I think he's got some good game.

Jake Slaughter, the Florida Center in round two, should be competing for the starting center spot, and I think we'll be a starter in the future. Brennan Thompson, the wide receiver from Mississippi State, was a solid pick. That other than that, Travis Burke, Genesis Smith, Nick Barrett, Logan Taylor, and Alex Harky. I don't, maybe outside of like Genesis Smith, I don't see, and maybe Travis Burke, he's solid at Memphis.

I don't see many needle movers personally. And I think a lot of it will just come down to health. Yeah. I'd go over under 11.5 wins, but let's just run through the schedule. That might be the easiest thing here. Yeah, I couldn't see them getting like 11 exactly. Yeah. Arizona. Home.

Javier. Vegas, home. When? Buffalo on the road. Loss. Two and one going into Seattle on the road. Boss. Two and two going into Denver at home.

I think if it's in L.A. they win. Yeah, I'll give them three and two. I'll give them the win against Denver here at Kansas City. I see him winning against Kansas City. I think they can. I think they can do it. They did it last year. Yeah.

So, yeah, I think they can do it. That's four. Four and two heading into the buy week. Then we head across town, take on the ramps. L. Yeah. I think we said this like immediately after the Miles Gyrtree. I wouldn't be surprised if they go 17 now.

That's how fucking that they are. I don't think so. There's always that one game that you drop the, you know, business drop him, but it could very well be. It's possible. Yeah. So we're four and three, Houston at home. I think it's a win, but an ugly win. Yeah, I was just about to say this says, this is going to be a defensive slugfest.

Yeah, slob or knocker written all over it. Mm-hmm. So we are five and three Monday night football against Baltimore. In Baltimore. Oh, in Baltimore. Baltimore is wearing the all-black. Then that's an L. L.

L. 5 and 4 heading to this game against the Jets at home. Win. Yeah. I don't care where it is when. Yeah. Six and four taking on the Pats, Sunday night football at home. Ooh, I just, maybe you're really good on prime time last year.

I could see this being a loss. Yeah. You know, maybe if they had a bigger crowd in their stadium and like, you know, that it was. Basically, the thing is that they basically play 17 away games. That's the joke. But honestly, I think New England's going to come in and handle the. This might be a good game, but I don't see the Chargers winning. Yeah.

I'm just doing quick research right now. The Patriots since 2000, 13 and 5 against the Chargers. Yeah. So we're at 6 and 5 heading into Tampa Bay on the road. Ooh, that's a game. I lean Chargers. but I think that's a game that can go either way. I'll give them the win this time.

Yeah. 7.5 taking on the Raiders. Win. 8 and 5 heading to Thursday night football against the 49ers. 49ers are a weird one. I feel like they play a little weird on primetime. I feel like I'd have to look at San Francisco's schedule. and say they're a bit of an every other prime time team.

So I'm going to give the Chargers the win here. Yeah, I think we could probably give them a win. So nine and five going into Miami. I think that's a win. Yeah, that's a win. Miami may go 0.17. Kansas City, final two games, home against Kansas City and on the road against Denver. Both are flexed.

I think they split it. Yeah. So that is, well, that's 11 and 6th. So I guess slightly under. Yeah. Slightly, yeah. Slightly under. Let's go to the Broncos, the winners of the AFC West and the runner-ups for the AFC crown last season.

Losing to the Patriots and the AFC championship. Chip and obviously beating the Buffalo Bills in overtime, a Bonex masterclass, which also saw him breaking his ankle in that game. That was very unfortunate, honestly. Yeah. I mean, outside of that, just seems like the Broncos, well, they're just running it back. They're just running it back with the same guys. Yeah, but they do have a big train.

of course. They grabbed Jalen Waddle. That's right. That's right. For the Miami Dolphins for a first, third, and fourth. For Waddle and a fourth. Now you have, so they need a receiver, and they got him. You got him and Cortland Sutton and Mims, who's sneakily good. I want to see more from Troy Franklin as well. But honestly, that plus grabbing or resigning Adam Troutman as well,

extending linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Sternad and getting J.K. Dobbins back. You know, Denver wasn't a team that spent a lot of money, but their big move was a good one with Jalen Waddle. Was not huge on the draft class in PICTO round three. They had Tyler, I think it's Oniadim, the defensive tackle from Texas A&M, who I did not have going in the top 100, honestly.

Jonah Coleman running back from Washington. I think it was a solid pick-up in round four, along with offensive Lyman Cage Casey from Boise State. Tight end, Justin, I think it's Jolie from NC State. I liked. Then Miles Scott from Illinois, the safety, was a bit iffy for me. Dallin Bentley, tight end from Utah. I don't know how he fell to seven, but I'll take it if I'm them.

and Mr. I don't actually I don't know if he was Mr. Irrelevant or not, but because I, because pick 257, that is Mr. relevant, right?

That's a good question. Because with their final pick, and I do believe he actually was Mr. irrelevant, was a Buffalo line doctor, Red Murdoch, who was a player that I really liked. Yeah,

257th. Yeah, so we got Mr. Relevant Red Murdoch from Buffalo. I like him as a prospect. Yeah. Kind of an iffy class for me, but overall, I think they might have some gems. Yeah.

Like, they're mostly running it back. Yeah. The big thing with me this year is I just want more overall consistency because, like, remember last, because you remember last year, this team, like, they started one and two, first of all. They beat the Titans in a game that they low-key probably should have lost. Like, Sean Payton was acting like a fucking. 88 in that game. Bo Nix had sub 200 yards. Then they lost the Colts in that shootout.

Then they lost to the Chargers by three. And then they started to go on a roll. Then they rattled off 11 wins in a row. Then they then lost by 14 to Jacksonville. And then they kind of slugged their way the rest, the final two weeks heading into the playoffs. But there were so many games where it was like, how are we talking about the Broncos?

is one of the best teams in the league when they're winning 13 to 11 against the Jets. They're winning 10 to 7 against the Raiders. It's like, brother. And on top of that, too, like two of the final three games that they had in the season, including playoffs, Bo Nix was their leading rusher. Yeah, there were many times throughout the season where their ground game just vanished. and Bo Nix, who's a sneaky scrambling guy, definitely was able to shoulder the workload.

But I wouldn't put the game manager title on Nix, I think. The thing is, I don't view Bo Nix as a superstar quarterback, but I also think the term game manager, which a lot of people put on him, I think, is a little harsh. I think there's like a tier between where I think he's, very good. And I think he is the franchise guy. Next season, I want to see him hit 4,000 yards. I want to see him get over 30 touchdowns, you know, barring injury, of course. But I definitely think the potential is there.

I just need to see if they run it back. Like, prove to me you're for real. Yeah. 100%. Like, that's really my whole thing, too. I just want them to show me that they are actually for real. You know, I don't, I don't want to hear this shit about, oh, if Bow, B'Nix played an NFC championship, like they would have won, like, and all this other crap. Like, realistically, when you look at the rest of the, how they play it through the regular season, I don't fucking know. Yeah, like those games against the Jets, that game against the Jets really was, it was not good. And also, Bo Nix is not better than Drake May, cry me a fucking river. Yeah.

you disagree. And to say that he would have done better in the elements, I think is dubious at best and a lie at worst. Yeah. It's like when you look at the games that they won, there's only a very select view that were actually blowouts. Yeah. Cincinnati, 28 to 3.

Dallas, 44 to 24. They got blown out by Jacksonville. We touched on that. If you want to go. Consider the Chargers game week 18, a blowout 19 and 3, fine. But Chargers were also resting their guys. Every, like all these other games, especially the ones where they should have really put belt to ass on. All those games.

We fucking mentioned the Jets game 13 to 11. Like, ow, how? And then you look at like a team like the Patriots where everyone was like, oh, the schedule this, schedule that. They fucking blew out those teams. people about those same teams. Yeah. I mean, the thing is, you can say anything about the schedule, but at the end of the day, you have to beat the teams that you're supposed to beat. And I've said this before, not just about New England, but just in general.

There's a saying, a win is a win is a win. I disagree. I do not believe all wins are created equal. If you are caught in a 13 to 11 slugfest against the New York Jets, like, yeah, it's a win you can be happy about it. Like, it's a win, but. So there are wins that raise more questions than they answer. I never had a lot of those last year. Yeah.

All right. Over under 14 and a half. I'm going under, but they'll probably get like 12 or 13. It's really hard to replicate getting 14 wins, unless you're a fucking dynasty. True, true. Yeah. It's, yeah. People forget how hard.

is to get that many wins, back-to-back seasons. So, yeah, 12, 13 wins, I think is a good placeholder. And I see the Broncos winning the division again. Yeah, right off the bat they are. I think they might not get that coveted 14 win mark, but I could definitely see them at worst 11 and 12. Yeah. At worst.

I think, especially with the addition of Jalen Waddle, they're going to be just fine. Yeah, yeah. Receiver rooms already improved. A lot of things have improved for that fucking matter. Yeah. Cool. Anything else regarding the NFC West do you want to touch on?

No, not really, unless you want to do an emaculate grid. We have some a little bit of time. I don't have much time myself. Oh, okay. Unfortunately, but, yeah, that was our preview of the AFC West, heading into the the 2006 season. We'll do Immaculate Grid or one of the many immaculate

things that we do next episode. But yeah. All right. That'll do it for us today. Thank you for tuning into another Tuesday episode of the Fulmaruski podcast. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. And we also have

all our episodes available on all streaming platforms. Be sure to follow our Instagram Fulmaruski underscore podcast to keep up with the pod and the latest coverage on the NFL. Otherwise, we'll see you next week. Next Tuesday, over and out.