The Fumblerooski Podcast - The Most Important Position -Ep 369 The Fumblerooski Podcast

Episode Date: July 1, 2025

In a blockbuster trade, the Dolphins send Jalen Ramsey and a 5th Round Pick over to the Steelers for Minkah Fitzpatrick…. But wait, there’s more! Jonnu Smith also getting sent to the Steelers for ...a 7th Round Pick? What ‘s going on here? How does this affect the Dolphins and Steelers? Chris Costich and CJ Medeiros also get into a preview of the NFC West, as well as their Top 5 QBs heading into the 2025 Season.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Well folks have finally happened Jalen Ramsey finally gets traded but that's not all blockbuster news Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers For Ninka Fitzpatrick Let's do John who Smith in there while we're at it John who Smith now pairing up with Pat Friar Muth as the two side ends in Pittsburgh. Holy Molly two tight ends in Pittsburgh. Holy moly. Offseason just got off to a great start or pardon this week just got off to a great start. Whoo baby. Top five quarterbacks and a preview out of the NFC West coming up next as well. This
Starting point is 00:00:37 is the full Maruski podcast. It may not have always showed it in the staff 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 gotta 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 Fumbarooski Podcast by Powerade 18 Radio and Secret Weapon Consulting. He's CJ Madero, I'm Chris Kostich. And you heard that right. Jalen Ramsey finally traded away from Miami in a blockbuster deal.
Starting point is 00:01:11 So there ended up being two separate trades that happened today. We're recording this on Monday, June 30th. So once you listen to this on Tuesday, July 1st, by the way, happy July. That's when you'll actually be able to listen to this. But recording on Monday right now. And originally it was Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh for Minka Fitzpatrick with a fifth round pick tag to it as well that. That Pittsburgh would be getting correct.
Starting point is 00:01:46 Yeah. Pittsburgh's game. That is you hit that nowhere on the head, man. Yep. And then John who Smith separately was traded to Pittsburgh for a seventh round pick. Yes. Yes. So right off the bat, just looking, let, let's look at these two teams separately.
Starting point is 00:02:05 Right. So we'll start with the Steelers. I don't know how much this makes them better. Like it makes them maybe slightly better more so on the offensive side, I guess. But I CJ you alluded to this earlier prior to the show, seeing who their offensive coordinator is, it kind of more or less seems that or is going to sound like one one more offense a player is going to be shellacked by Arthur Smith
Starting point is 00:02:37 and that is Pat Fryermuth. Yeah, that's right. And I literally put this in our group chat. I literally said and I'm going to say to the people listening pat friarmouth Prepare to speak tight end too Because for some reason That is unknown to both man and god alike Arthur smith as this weird borderline creepy infatuation with john who smith
Starting point is 00:03:04 Could it be because they share the same last name I don't know. We gotta remember when he was head coach in Atlanta like John who would literally He was t1 everywhere with the depth chart I mean the Jeff char always said it was Kyle Pitts But he always put John who Smith out there and it got so weird So if you have Pat Firemuth in any Dynasty fantasy league, I'm so sorry. But for like 99.9% of the country I would say fantasy drafts have not started yet. Unless you're that one lead that doesn't
Starting point is 00:03:35 weirdly early, in which case shame on you. But yeah, I don't understand that whole part of it. But John who's... I had small potatoes now. Let's get to the real meat of it You know what I mean? Yes, so looking at the defense right now For Pittsburgh, so at least the secondary so you traded for Jalen Ramsey You now pair him up with Darius Slay Since he got rid of making Fitzpatrick, now it's Deshaun Elliott and Juan Thornhill in your secondary as your safeties, along with Joey Porter Jr.
Starting point is 00:04:15 Shout out Joey Porter, legend, Pittsburgh. But also, oddly enough, was also a Miami Dolphin at one point. We've come full circle. Oh my god. Oh my god But uh looking at the Dolphins now are speaking of the Steelers real quick since we're on them TJ watt will not be getting traded by Pittsburgh anytime soon For sources and they're gonna keep focusing on trying to extend his contract looking at the Dolphins now You bring back Minka Fitzpatrick solid. Somewhat even say a possible upgrade because now you brought some youth back into your secondary with this player swap and sure you traded away aging veteran in jail and Ramsey
Starting point is 00:05:03 who's not age hasn't caught up to him just yet, but he is getting up there. Whereas Mika Fitzpatrick, a younger safety who we all believe is probably the best safety in the league, right? So you'd have to say that in terms of the defense, you got yourself a little bit of an upgrade, but offensively kind of a loss trading away your tight end who is one of your bigger performers last year. Yeah. Yeah pretty much and I guess I just don't understand. Look I'm sorry I don't care if the stat sheet says, I don't really view Jalen Ramsey
Starting point is 00:05:46 as a top five quarterback anymore. And yeah, you could throw the injury excuse at me too. Yeah, I don't know. Adam asked us a question about how he was just on the Dolphins. Yes, making his path from the Dolphins to the Steelers, I'm pretty sure in a trade scenario. Now he's been sent back to Miami And I checked myself on the trade scenario, you know, he was I think it was a second year
Starting point is 00:06:16 After being drafted in the first round out of Alabama by Miami. He was traded to Pittsburgh. I He was traded to Pittsburgh. I can't necessarily speak to what they got for him off the top of my head, but the more you know. Yeah. 2018-2019 he was in Miami and then after that he was traded to the Steelers. Nice. But of course, you know, social media being social media, a lot of people reacting to the news. It's big news, right? Ray Mooster took to X Twitter, whatever you want to call it. And he said, hot take, be a pro bowler on the Dolphins, get treated like shit. Happy for my guys though, go ball out.
Starting point is 00:07:11 Interesting, interesting stuff there. Uh, yeah, interesting is certainly a word. I would say even more interestingly because, you know, we're a couple months out of the player report cards, right? Or almost half a year at this point. I forget when those player report cards came out, but We're pretty much away from that at this point Mighty Dolphins are usually at the top in terms of player report cards They have they're usually have a's lined up and down those things especially this year.
Starting point is 00:07:46 Yeah, well, you gotta realize something. This is something that I think I may have said last year about the Miami Dolphins always getting an A, is that, I'm trying to think of how to put this. A lot of it seems to be, the Miami Dolphins are a team that I feel like tries to vibe their way to success. Because that's what Miami is. I mean, these players aren't going to complain because, you know, they're in Miami, you know, it's the sun and the beach and, you know, like you got everything you want right there, low taxes. So they can
Starting point is 00:08:20 stomach playing for a team that's not that great. And you know when they're asked to like rate their coach weak Daniel gets high ratings because He's not really I mean He's more of a friend rather than someone they respect and literally like we heard last year How you know what's going on in India with players always showing up late how no one respects their coach It's the same thing down in Miami, but you know, but oh Mike McDaniel He's known for his zingers. Remember the Iconic and for those of you listening I did air quotes I wish it were colder shirt, you know when he's chirping bills fans and he lost remember that remember?
Starting point is 00:08:57 Yeah, I wish it were colder game. He lost that's just realized I thought that was the Kansas City game No, it was in Buffalo. Either way, where it is, he lost. Like that's the thing, but it's like, oh, look at Mike McDaniel. He vapes, he's funny. Like that's the thing, like that's why they don't. Like the locker room doesn't respect him. The thing is, he's a stats guy.
Starting point is 00:09:19 He's a coordinator. He's just not, to lead a football team, you have to be a dog. He has no grit, he's not tough. He's not a dog, he's just not to lead a football team you have to be a dog he has no grit he's not tough He's not a dog. He's not an alpha. He can't lead and Players kind of like that because then you know no one gets held accountable Because let me tell you something if accountability was a thing in Miami Would they really have the wife and child beater Tyreek Hill still on the team probably not facts big facts the wife and child beater Tyreek Hills still on the team probably not facts
Starting point is 00:09:46 big facts One last time on the fact check makeup Fitzpatrick was traded to Pittsburgh right before week one of the 2019 season That's the last fact check for today or at least in this segment, but um Yeah, anything else you want to you got to say about this? Yeah, no, not really. I think we've covered it. Good job. Yes. Got to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to get into our NFC
Starting point is 00:10:12 West preview for the 2025 season. Can the 49ers pick up the slack from last year or can the Rams repeat as division champs? You're listening to the Fumbaruski Podcast. It may not have always showed it in the staff 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.
Starting point is 00:10:37 Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. Welcome back to the Fulmerusk podcast. He's CJ. I'm Chris. Technically, we're both Chris. But yeah, good, good poll there. But let's get into the NFC West. Your division winner was the LA Rams making it to the divisional round of the playoffs
Starting point is 00:11:06 After beating the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card round who they lose in the playoffs again. Oh is the Eagles stuff? Yeah Seahawks coming in second ten and seven record as well, but Missing out on the playoffs in week 18 Cardinals a nine finishing third, very up and down year. And the 49ers just couldn't figure it out, especially with all the injuries that they had to deal with all season long. And that's where we'll start is San Francisco 49ers finishing in last place. Just extended Brock Purdy, just extended George Kittle,
Starting point is 00:11:46 and he just extended Fred Warner. But you also lost Debo Samuel and a handful of names from the defense in general. So this is going to be kind of interesting. Brandon Iyuki got him back after he was out for the entirety of last or almost the entirety of last season. Christian McCaffrey should be good to go. Shouldn't be dealing with the Achilles bullshit or whatever the hell was going on last year. So he's going to be back. And.
Starting point is 00:12:20 Excuse me. Other than that, I think the biggest question is really gonna be how this defense holds up because that was where the biggest losses came from Yeah Yeah The Niners if you have a friend who's a Niners fan that you are absolutely done with Fear not my friends. I have a solution done with. Fear not my friends. I have a solution. You gotta say, hey, that Brock Purdy contract was really stupid. And and then they'll be like, well, actually, that's what they'll hit you with, right? Here's what they're gonna say. Actually,
Starting point is 00:12:59 everybody was hurt, so it's not on him. That's why his stats for bags everyone's hurt But then you could turn around and say okay, so you just admitted That he needs an all-star cast around him to keep him as possibly a top-10 quarterback And then you get to sit back and watch the brain short circuit and point and laugh Yeah, cuz that's that's what it was for me Sure, you know he had a down year because everyone was hurt. But at the same time, as much as I've kind of been a purty apologist,
Starting point is 00:13:28 that does more or less prove that he needs that all-star cast. Because now you got Ayuk, will he come back well from injury? Nobody knows, that's really not fun. And then there's Kittle. I expect Kittle to be fine. I expect McCaffrey to be fine
Starting point is 00:13:46 But the real problem is the defense Dre Greenlaw town Oh Fonga, you know, like all among others Leonard Floyd also, I believe gone but their defense got picked clean in free agency If you are the night the Nin defensive coordinator, you are now hoping that draft picks, you late-rounders pan out. That's the only way it gets better. And honestly, with that huge Brock Purdy contract extension, especially that's going to kick in next year, it's going to be tough. It's gonna be really tough. It's really all I got is just, they kind of back themselves into a corner here.
Starting point is 00:14:29 I will say I'm looking at the cap breakdown or the breakdown of his contract. So you mentioned that it's not kicking in till next year. And really the meat of the contract doesn't really set in until 2028. So you could still make some sort of grounds in the next two years before like, in turn, I'm just talking base salary right now, right? Yeah1 and he's making 49 the last two years
Starting point is 00:15:10 of his contract. Yeah. I mean, you're right about that, Chris. I mean, there's really no debating there. That's obviously without looking at like the other contracts. that I already got his extension. Oh, he did you're thinking are you thinking of Mekosa or did he already get his extension? There's too many too fucking many No, I hear you man, but no no there is I don't remember who but I know there's like some other big name It like means an extension or unless you're trying I have Warner he got that three three year extension through 2029. Maybe I was thinking about him.
Starting point is 00:16:10 Yeah, it was finalized back in May, I believe. Yeah. But regardless, no, just that's also gonna hurt you. And that extension also kicks in next year. So even though the meat of Purdy's contract hasn't kicked in until two years from now, the meat of Warner's extension is gonna kick in next year. And once again, the Niners are quickly backed into a corner.
Starting point is 00:16:37 And then of course there is Nick Bosa where it's a five year, $170 million deal. It's a five year $170 million deal. And that was two years ago. And now you're so paying for that. Yeah. So that's kicked in right? Well, right now their highest paid guy is Trent Williams and he's 37. So he's going to probably retire. At some point within the next couple of years,
Starting point is 00:17:07 if not, imagine so so that you're going to get a bit of a break with that. I mean, unless he retires while he's still under contract and they still have to pay him that massive amount of guaranteed money. Yeah, obviously, But they do have a potential out though after this season in terms of Trent Williams. So if he were to opt out for 2026, then there would be $34 million worth of dead cap.
Starting point is 00:17:43 Oh. million dollars worth of dead cap. I mean, well, thank God we are not a Niners fans because I can't lie to you folks, the future for them is looking bleak. Yeah. All right. Prediction for them this year. Definitely better than six and 11 unless they get riddled with injuries again, I could see them going like honestly
Starting point is 00:18:11 Devin and 10 really or maybe like 9 and 8 ceiling I mean just there I just I don't know even if their offense gets healthy their defense Which was literally their strong suit is now going to be their weakness Yeah It is it really is unless like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa just round the fellas together and put up a solid season the defense is going to be a Pretty big factor and if this team struggles a pretty big factor and if this team struggles, the offense should be very fun to watch though.
Starting point is 00:18:48 I'm very excited to see a full season out of Ricky Pearsall. Hopefully. Yeah. Moving on to the team that finished in third in the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals finished eight and nine last season. This was such a frustrating team to watch in its entirety because like just so inconsistent, just a team that was so inconsistent, week in and week out,
Starting point is 00:19:21 like this felt like a team that should have made bigger strides than it did. And now it's like, I don't even know what to think of the Cardinals for this year, because I feel like that I had an idea of what it was going to be last year, and it wasn't even close to that. So CJ, what do you have in your mind about this team? I don't know anymore, man. They're like you said, they're just such an enigma. I think a lot of it comes down to Kyler Murray. He's been flirting with taking that next step for a while,
Starting point is 00:20:00 but I'm going to need to see him probably eclipse 4,000 yards, 30 touchdowns. Like he's gotta take control. And a lot of it too is I wanna see more out of Marvin Harrison Jr. And don't get me wrong, his rookie year was so eerily similar to his dad's, but a lot of it is Murray and Harrison,
Starting point is 00:20:22 like you don't wanna hear me say this if you're a Cardinals fan, but flat out they don't have chemistry. They just don't. It has become abundantly clear that I don't know if Murray doesn't trust him, if Murray doesn't like him or whatever, but the chemistry that you need between QB1 and wide receiver one, it's just not there. And Murray is more comfortable going to Trey McBride or hell, he threw the ball to Greg Dortch a lot, if that tells you anything. And I'm like, and which is frustrating
Starting point is 00:20:59 because there are times where Harrison had his man deep, beat deep, I mean, he would get wide open and Murray just wouldn't see him. And man, that's a Murray thing because look, it's unfortunate, I mean, it sounds like slander, but it's true. Shorter quarterbacks struggle to see over the line, they might miss guys that are wide open down the field.
Starting point is 00:21:22 And when he has a guy wide open, like you gotta hit him. I mean, there's one play. I don't remember like what he was against but I remember Marvin Harrison Jr. They might have been the Rams got wide open had his guy beep like a solid ten yards and
Starting point is 00:21:37 Murray took a check down. I know it's what you're talking about. Yeah and the announcers were like stunned and the defense look the defense in Arizona. It's no longer like I mean, it's not really that good. I mean, I the the the the the
Starting point is 00:21:58 the the the side, Josh Sweatt on the D line, Buddha Baker, still your safety. Oh yeah. I forgot that they got Josh Sweatt. So they've, so they've made some improvements, but now they have to put it together because the Arizona Cardinals have never really been bad lately. They've just been. Okay. They are always seen as, you know, the scrappy underdog, right?
Starting point is 00:22:21 They're there. They get called cutesy names for underperforming teams like scrappy plucky among other things Well, no, I don't want you to be a plucky team. I don't want you to be a scrappy underdog. I want you to be good so my record prediction for them, honestly price names the Niners like four eight wins I mean, I'm saying that's like the Niners floor but we're gonna end up around the same floor eight wins ceiling ten Yeah, I i'm seeing that i'm probably gonna think the same thing here like unless they can figure out a way to go from like
Starting point is 00:22:55 Blowing out new england and then losing carolina in overtime like the very next week like like stuff like that If they're able to like get out of that whole situation, then I think they'll be... I'm looking at like just their schedule from last year. There was so many games where it was like, oh that's a great win. Oh there's a four game. Oh now there's a three game losing streak that shouldn't be here, but it's there for some reason. Or like they had a really good game against Buffalo week one. Then they followed it up with a blowout win against the Rams week two.
Starting point is 00:23:31 And then they fell flat the two weeks after that. So it's like, I don't know if I can trust a, it's kind of like you said, like they look like a team that should be making that extra step, but they just haven't been able to, I don't know. And I don't think that they'll be able to do that this year. Maybe they do but in other ways that still doesn't change the record. I don't know but I'm going to stick with you on this one. They're going to hang around 500 this year. All right second place team from last season the Seattle Seahawks finishing 10 and 7
Starting point is 00:24:07 In its second place as mentioned came down to week 18 They lost And they now they're out so or then they were out Kind of kind of in the or pardon they won but because it was the Rams and they already had it figured out so in terms of the Seahawks I kind of saw them in the same vein as the Cardinals last season now yeah they had nine plus wins in three straight seasons now but last year I mean the NFC in general last year was just Absolute shit show in terms of like so many teams
Starting point is 00:24:53 We're gonna qualify for the playoffs or could qualify for the playoffs Like the Seahawks were one of those teams that were at 10 wins in the NFC But they couldn't but there was just so many other better teams with that being said they were I felt like they you could throw them in the same vein as Arizona where it's like They had some good wins, but then they ended up following up with like a terrible loss, right? So They started out the season three and one all of a sudden They lose 29 to 20 against the Giants at home shit like that Just stuff that shouldn't be happening and
Starting point is 00:25:29 now granted like the kind of suffered in the running department a little bit with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonne a being hurt for like it just like you didn't have Charbonne or Walker for Like at the same time for the majority of the season Like it just like you didn't have Charbonne or Walker for like at the same time for the majority of the season, which I love both running backs, but it seems that the only and the running game should be their strongest part of their offense,
Starting point is 00:26:03 but it's hard to do that when you're relying solely on one guy. Yeah. Man, Seattle. You've set up to be like the whole running back committee type of thing. But yeah, to Seattle, man, their team, nine or more wins in three straight seasons, they're a battle man. They're a team that you know, nine or more wins in three straight seasons. They've never been world beaters as a
Starting point is 00:26:30 weight, but they're not terrible. They're just another team that's just firmly suspended in mediocrity like I don't know like what it's going to take. I mean, I'm willing to give their head coach Mike McDonald the benefit of the doubt. Yeah. because I think he's good, but you know first years always that learning curve But overall, I don't know man Do you really think Sam Darnold we gave that massive deal to you like you really think he's gonna move the need the needle After like one season and like one good season in Minnesota. We're like don't get me wrong, he's good. But you know,
Starting point is 00:27:08 you're going from Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to now Jackson Smith and Jigbo, who is like one good year under his belt and a aging Cooper Cup. You're also going from TJ Hockinson to Noah Fant as well. And then a solid offensive line to an offensive line that the They also added a Marcus Lawrence as well to their linebacking core. Well, one, he's more of an edge rusher and two, he's more of a run defense of lineman, like run oriented than an actual like sack threat. He's not a pass rusher. He's more of a run stuff and type guy, but,
Starting point is 00:28:01 but either Arnold, he gives him a shot, but, oh man, if he regresses in Seattle, that's going to be a really bad look. Yeah. Yeah. I think this is really going to. It's all dependent. That's the thing. Very Donald dependent for this season. I really would love to see a JSN breakout season, especially with the D.K. trade. At least it seemed like that prior to Cooper Cup being added to the squad but I Don't know mm-hmm. I see the Seahawks
Starting point is 00:28:36 Where where do you where do you see the Seahawks? How about that? Would it be a cop out if I just said probably the same as the Niners and Cardinals because obviously, you know, one's going to finish first. One's going to finish second. One's going to finish third or
Starting point is 00:28:57 first or whatever, but they just they just don't have it. Yeah, I don't think you can win a Super Bowl with Sam Darnold. I don't know if he can win a playoff game with Sam Darnold. I mean, he looked good last season, but you gotta remember those final two games, he just completely imploded. It all came crashing down and now he doesn't have that support system, that coaching in Seattle. He's gonna have to show we can do it and if he can't I don't know
Starting point is 00:29:26 Probably we've seen that you can that Sam Darnold can take you to the playoffs. But yeah, like you said, it's Probably just the situation itself now you're going to a different situation. How is he gonna perform in that? But yeah, I'd have to probably agree with you that it's probably gonna end up being like the 49ers and the Cardinals for the Seahawks this year. I could see them being in third place and it's 49ers taking back second place. But I feel like in terms of the NFC West, it's really gonna just be a race for second place and I'm assuming you got the Rams winning the division. Yeah, I do Spoiler spoiler alert. I have the Rams win the division the other three are just gonna be duking it out for a second
Starting point is 00:30:18 Yeah, looking at the Rams now So you lose Cooper Cup? Okay, it's not great. What are you going to do though? Well, let's go get Devonte Adams. Let's get him on our roster to pair up with Pooka Nakua. Predicting it right now, Devonte Adams career is going to be revitalized this year. I can only imagine the season and the numbers he's gonna put up with Stafford as his quarterback and Sean McVay as the head coach. I can see you smiling right now, CJ. I know that you're getting excited just thinking about it.
Starting point is 00:31:01 Interesting way to put it, but yeah. Honestly, what's there to say about the Rams has been said sure no Cooper Cup but arguably an upgrade with Devante Adams a healthy puka Nakua and The Eternally underrated running back whose name escapes me. That's probably why he's underrated I'm willing Yeah, Kyron Williams, man. Yep. And defense now with a year under their belt, guys like Braden Fisk and Jared Vse. Man, sign me up. I mean, like, they should win. Barring some sort of like catastrophic injury bug,
Starting point is 00:31:46 there's no reason they shouldn't win the division. Honestly, I won't call it a cakewalk, because it's not, it seems like one of those teams, like they're filled with teams where anyone can win on any given Sunday, but they can also lose just as easily. But the Rams, they definitely stand above. Yeah, they do. And a lot of it just has to come down with coaching. McDonald was unproven, right? The Cardinals head coach, I'm not sold on with Ganon. And I don't care that he's been in two Super Bowls,
Starting point is 00:32:19 I'm not sold on Shanahan. He's not, he's a certified choker. But McVeigh, like I said, just in coaching alone, they're going to have a staggering advantage. Then you pair that offense with a young defense that's only going to improve. There's no reason they won't win. I feel they could get probably if they play their cards right, 12 to 14 wins on the high side. Yeah. The defense was a bit of a problem last year, but now you're in year two of Jared Versland, which fantastic rookie season showed out in the playoffs now again, as getting to see his second season. Excited to see if he can really turn it up an extra notch for this year and
Starting point is 00:33:01 really improve on an insane rookie season. Defensive rookie of the year, right? Yeah. So I'd have to agree with you. I could see them going maybe not 14 wins. I think that might be a little high. I think with the Rams, you definitely have to consider potential injuries, especially with that happening last year, especially with
Starting point is 00:33:27 Puka and Devonte Adams. Puka only had the one injury from last year and missed like a month or something like that. Devonte Adams is a little bit here and there with the injury bug. So hopefully, I think if they can get a full season with everybody and that's hard to say because no one can really ever do that. I can also see it being 12 wins. Yeah. I definitely think so. Yeah. And you see that stat there about the Rams having a 7, have a winning record in their last seven of eight seasons and let's face the other reason why they didn't have that record after
Starting point is 00:34:08 they well lost the Super Bowl just because everyone got her won the Super Bowl strictly because everyone got hurt yeah that's more than injury asterisk than anything exactly all right it's good preview of the NFC West heading into the 2025 season we're gonna take a quick break, come back. CJ and I are gonna give our top five quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season. It may not have always showed it in the staff sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back to back games where he has three touchdowns.
Starting point is 00:34:39 Someone's gotta get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-l lose scenario for both sides. Welcome back to the Fulmerusky podcast, Powerade 18 radio and secret weapon consulting. He's CJ, I'm Chris. Top five quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season. I feel like we should put a disclaimer first before we get into this that we have the same five quarterbacks for the top five. It's pretty, should we just reveal who our top five, like who the five quarterbacks are and then rank them or should we just go? No, no, I don't know. No. Okay. CJ top top five go All right. Well, my number five is
Starting point is 00:35:27 Jalen hurts and Honestly, you know, I'm not an Eagles fan. In fact, I'm very much not an Eagles fan like at all but The Jalen hurts slander is to stop the people will erm, didn't crack 3k yards, only 18 passing touchdowns, and yeah, that in a vacuum is terrible. However, he's one of the best scramblers in the league. Give him an additional 630 yards on the ground and an extra 14 rushing touchdowns. So this dude has over 30 total touchdowns. He could do it in the air. He could do it on the ground.
Starting point is 00:36:07 This guy, he just gets it done. And also when the lights were brightest, he made it happen. He transformed to that pocket pass that everyone wants him to be. And you see that, that's how it's done. That's just, that's Jalen Hurts. What do you want? He's definitely, now that he's got a ring. He's definitely top five. I'm sorry
Starting point is 00:36:28 Moving on to my number four, uh, man Josh Allen I Don't care that he's raining MVP 3731 yards 28 touchdowns, six picks. I mean, it's good that he's good at not turning the ball over, but seriously, like I don't know if I've seen an MVP
Starting point is 00:36:55 get those bad numbers since I rock Lamar Jackson the year before, but man. And I know that he's also a scrambler, but 531 yards, 12 touchdowns. He got the MVP, so I respect it. And I did put him above hurts just because he's able to get more yards. He's more arguably dynamic. But once again, by the way, about Josh Allen, he keeps falling short in the playoffs because every time he beats Mahomes regular season,
Starting point is 00:37:28 Mahomes always takes his lunch in the postseason. That's just how it is. And I might give him the benefit of, and I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt though, because I do not think Sean McDermott is a very good coach. And I think he's holding Allen back. But I'm just, I'm so unimpressed with Josh Allen.
Starting point is 00:37:46 I really am. But I have to respect the talent level. He did get MVP and he is really good. I just, I want more if that makes sense. So, moving on to number three, and this is where the great unwashed masses are gonna disagree, Patrick Mahomes. You will not like this, but I don't care. He is not the best quarterback in the league.
Starting point is 00:38:15 I guess it depends on what it means to you. He, she's been 15-2 last year, but how much of that was really Mahomes? Last year, plain and simple, he was a game manager. His stats have been, I mean, ever since he had that really great 2022 season where he won MVP, his stats have been declining ever since. As the Chiefs move away from being a Mahomes-led team to being a defense first team, right? Had 3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 picks. I'm sorry, those stats are not the stats of the best quarterback in the league. Everyone's like, oh, but the wins, the wins are what matters. And by the way, everybody's saying Mahomes is the best quarterback in the league because of the cheese in a 15-win season.
Starting point is 00:39:08 I'd like to point out are also the same people that will go, erm, wins aren't a QB stat. So I'm sorry, Mahomes lovers. You can't have your cake and eat it too. And by the way, everyone loves to talk about, and I quote, the Mahomes magic where it's like, oh, you never want him to get the ball in his hands in the last play of the drive. Ironically, when all the pressure's on him and he had to make the play, I never thought I'd say this about Mahomes, but he folded.
Starting point is 00:39:39 He folded in the Super Bowl. He can't play from behind. Like, I don't know if it's an Andy Reid thing I don't feel down here but two straight years of statistical decline I can't put him there but it is Mahomes I recognize the win so he's at three my number two is the guy who should have won MVP last season Lamar Jackson man I can't believe I'd say this but he got shafted but well, we know we're getting now two MVP's and by the way, this man is an elite pocket
Starting point is 00:40:13 passer now got over 4000 yards 41 touchdowns for picks and he got it done on the ground as well with 915 yards and four rushing touchdowns to boot. He showed one MVP last year. He outclassed Josh Allen and every stat. Josh Allen kind of got the pity MVP because if Mahomes always takes Allen's lunch in the playoffs, then Lamar takes Allen's lunch at NFL honors.
Starting point is 00:40:42 So yeah, Lamar. However, the only reason Josh Allen also picks Lamar's lunch in the playoffs, the NFL. It's Alan's launch at and you can't change my mind on that and but the reason lamar's not won is because he's another quarterback where I just want more out of him I don't care how many mvps he has where's the playoff success? And i'm not afraid to And i'm not afraid to say this You know how I always give the bills head coach sean mcdermott a lot of grief We need to start doing that to John Harbaugh I'm sorry, and don't give me the whole erm, but he has a ring. Okay, so The ring is appearing to be the exception and not the rule
Starting point is 00:41:38 He has one ring that I think he got what I was like, I don't know, in fifth grade or something like that. He, I said, he hasn't been back to the Super Bowl. He's a one and done guy. And I feel like Lamar could do better. And my number one, you all will not like this. However, I don't care what you think. If you're not controversial in life, that means you didn't stand for anything. It's Joe burrow
Starting point is 00:42:06 It's got to be Joe burrow. He's my number one 70 percent complete percentage 4918 yards 43 touchdowns only nine picks. He led the league in Completions Passing yards and passing touchdowns. And you wanna know the truth? He didn't go to the playoffs last year because his defense decided not to show up and it won't.
Starting point is 00:42:31 Again, I would imagine, but he's still gonna stuff the statue. He's got all his guys on offense. Chase Brown looks good. He got Chase, he got Higgins. Statistically speaking, he is the best quarterback in the league. However, not only does his defense not support him, he's got an absolute bungler of a head coach.
Starting point is 00:42:54 Old Zach Taylor, whatever that NPC's name is. And it sucks. I mean the fact that he got that horrible Bengals defense and offensive line, which I still haven't given him, two, nine, and eight is nothing short of a miracle. And it really does suck. But here's the thing. I don't care if they're wild card, even if he doesn't win the division.
Starting point is 00:43:17 If the Bengals just squeak into the playoffs, Joe Burrow's MVP. In fact, statistically speaking, he should have been MVP. But I digress. Joe Burrough is number one. And if you don't like it, in the words of the immortal Chris Kostich, argue with your mother. Nice. Very nice. Yeah, so I got the same five, right? My five is also Jalen Hurts. It's hard not to put the Super Bowl MVP as number five.
Starting point is 00:43:45 You said it best CJ is that when the lights shine brightest, he showed up. In the Super Bowl, Saquon was shut down. He averaged like what? Three yards of carry, three and a half maybe. It was one of the less efficient days for Saquon that he's had in his career. And who shows up? It's Jalen Hurts. Super Bowl MVP was well-deserved. And he's just the perfect court. He's probably the perfect quarterback for the Eagles as well. Along with everything else that you said about him, CJ. Number four for me, Patrick Mahomes.
Starting point is 00:44:25 I don't have him at three, I got him at four. And it's all about what he's just been doing with this, like as the quarterback with guys that just receive a room that has regressed since his rookie season. I'm not saying that the talent on the team isn't good. It's still solid. Like still got Rashid Rice. Still got Hollywood Brown.
Starting point is 00:44:51 See what Xavier worthy can do. But like, other than that, it hasn't done a whole lot, especially like, yeah, he's bringing his team to the Super Bowl. But as CJ said, it's more in a game manager sense Like he's still making the right plays But the statistics aren't there. They're just aren't there But it's you still can't have them not in the top five because it's Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is inevitable Number three Lamar Jackson
Starting point is 00:45:27 It's hard not to have Lamar as a top three quarterback in the league. It's really hard not to. He is all that in a bag of chips. Now I'm not going to be here to say if he should have won MVP or not, because that's not the discussion here. The thing with me about Lamar is that he just doesn't, it's just not able to do more with what he's got in the playoffs. And you could say that for the other two that like Josh Allen per se, but that's one of the biggest reasons why he won MVP was that he did more with less.
Starting point is 00:46:06 But before I get to that, Joe Burrow is my number two. I feel like that. You could easily have him as number one, but it's kind of the same thing with what I just said about Lamar. Josh Allen was able to do more with less. Josh Allen is my number one. Adam, you can just throw up the graphic at this point. He was just able to do more with less. I'm about to pull up the depth chart that they had from last year. Never mind. It's not going to show up. But like Khalil Shakur, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, they had enough. They had Curtis Samuel at one point who didn't do really anything.
Starting point is 00:46:51 They had a Mari Cooper who didn't do anything. Like, yeah, they had names, but names of guys that didn't produce as well. And that's just, that's just the receiving court. Dawson Knox and Dullen Kincaid did very well as well. And that's just, that's just the receiving core. Dawson Knox and Dull and Kincaid did very well as well. And they do have a, a very good running game at with James Cook in the battlefield. But when you compare it to some of these other teams that like say Lamar Jackson has,
Starting point is 00:47:18 I would take what Lamar Jackson has over what Josh Allen has in my opinion. Joe Burrow, I don't know how much of the same statistics he's having with the bills. And obviously if you swap him, I think that Josh Allen could very well have the type of year that Joe Burrow has. It could go both ways, but that's just my opinion on it. And that's why I got Chow Chow and it's number one. Yeah, I understand. I agree with your placement of Jaylen Hurts though. Yeah,
Starting point is 00:47:56 yeah. No, but I mean at least we agree you know that like these are the top five QBs in the league you can kind of just shuffle them any which way and I do appreciate the Joe burrow respect because man he's gonna be wasted since he but you know, sometimes you got to leave Yeah, like if Joe burrows defense wasn't so terrible. He was winning MVP And that's the sad reality of it because we've had this discussion many many times Team that has the best record their quarter quarterbacks just going to win it at that point, like Joe Burrow obviously had much better stats than Josh Allen. But you can also attribute that to his top two receivers being
Starting point is 00:48:38 top 20 guys in the league. Jamar Chase being top two and debatably not number two as well. Yeah. Would you like to respond with anything, CJ? Anything on this list? Anything that I have said about any of these top five guys? Honestly, no, I think I agree with your point. I mean, I agree that you got them all there,
Starting point is 00:49:07 and I understand your reasoning, but we were far apart on Alan, I guess, but I just, I don't know, man. He just, especially after last season, it just, it didn't really do it for me. I think the problem is that the Bills just rely too much on Alan. That's what they have been doing all regular season, right? But when it comes down to it,
Starting point is 00:49:34 you do need more than just Josh Allen. You do need more than your quarterback. And I do disagree with what the bill's given. They signed Khalil Shakir to that extension and they just overpaid that Palmer dude from the chargers. And I'm like, really? Really? Okay, whatever. Yeah. No, I full heartedly agree.
Starting point is 00:50:00 They literally gave them Stefan Diggs, traded him and then just said, okay, well, that's all. It's like, well, that's all now. Yeah, like get rid of Diggs. Figured out Josh figured out. Yeah. All right. Well, that is all the scheduled content that we have for today. I guess the only other bit of news is the Dallas Cowboys Netflix documentary. That's going to be coming out at some point.
Starting point is 00:50:25 Netflix just released the trailer for it. Um, you don't think they even have Netflix. I'll pass. Yeah, I'll probably still watch it because you know, the Cowboys do have a very rich history. Granted, they are the, they are the butt of the joke of the last 20 years, but prior to the 2000s, they were the cream of the crop. They were the part of the class of the NFL. So I'm very, I'm very interested to see the history like Roger Stabach, um, Pearson, uh,
Starting point is 00:51:02 Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, guys like that. So that'll be fun. Now I hear you. We should probably wrap up though, we're over 50. Yeah, I was kind of seeing if you were gonna say something after that, but. Yeah, nah, I don't know. I'm not a big documentary guy regardless, so.
Starting point is 00:51:20 Really? No. I feel like you would be. Yeah, everyone thinks that, but no, I just, it's gotta be something I'm really interested in, I feel like you would be yeah, everyone thinks that but no I just it's gotta be something I'm really interested in I guess I'm big on doc. I like documentaries, but especially sports documentaries. I love those But that'll do it for us tonight. Thank you for tuning in new episode coming out next Tuesday at 730 Eastern Standard Time be sure to subscribe to our
Starting point is 00:51:43 YouTube channel and also have all our episodes available on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Google Podcast, and so much more. Be sure to follow our Instagram, Fumbaruski underscore podcast, keep up with the pod and latest coverage on the NFL. And well, coming up for next week, basically got done with all of our player rankings. So next week we're gonna do our NFL team rankings. So that should be a fun show for you guys.
Starting point is 00:52:16 Otherwise from PCJ Madero, Sam Kresc-Caostich, we'll see you next Tuesday for those team rankings over now.

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