The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - NFL Futures: Division Winners, Wild Card Picks, NFL MVP + Major Award Predictions

Episode Date: September 8, 2026

On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into the latest NFL news before making his 2026 NFL predictions, including his picks for division winners and the teams he believes will make the playoffs. John starts with Tua Tagovailoa starting for the Atlanta Falcons, discussing the quarterback situation and what expectations should be heading into the season. He also breaks down Deshaun Watson being named a captain by the Cleveland Browns and what that says about his standing within the organization. The Patriots and Christian Gonzalez are also on the agenda, as John examines the latest surrounding New England and one of the team's most important players. Plus, John discusses Tony Romo and the latest NFL storylines around the league. Then it’s prediction time. John gives his picks for the AFC and NFC division winners, before laying out his AFC Wild Card and NFC Wild Card selections. Which teams are positioned to make a run, and which playoff contenders could surprise? From Tua and Watson to Christian Gonzalez, Tony Romo, and John's full NFL playoff predictions, it’s all covered on this episode of 3 & Out. Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.  #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's back. The NFL is here this week. We've had college football a weekend. We are on no more preseason games or training camps. Just actual football. And I think I just have a bigger smile on my face just because it's football season. It's also why I want to talk.

I do want to talk about Trinity. at Chambliss off the top, some other NFL stories. I'll make some, I'll just give out my picks. My playoff teams, my division winners, my MVP coach of the year, defensive rookie of the year, or defensive player of the year and rookie of the year. But that's what we'll do today. So you guys know the drill. I also did a podcast with Colin.

You can check that out, YouTube podcast, wherever you may listen. But you guys know the drill if you want to listen to the three and out podcast. Never miss a thing. If you listen through Colin, just subscribe to Three and Out podcast. We're up on Netflix. So hit the alert button. You'll never miss a podcast if you want to watch the video.

Also going to be doing a ton of content this year on the YouTube channel. So you can check that out as well. Just Three and Out, John Middilcoff, that'd be me, YouTube channel. And let's just talk quarterbacks. There was a movement that happened close to 15 plus years ago. Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round and then became a superstar and opened the door for a lot of short quarterbacks. And guys that never, not in a million years, would have been drafted number one or in the top five or top 10, started going really high because of what he did. Kyler Murray is a great example.

Bryce Young's an even better example. Baker Mayfield was a guy who's six foot one, who I would say historically never would have been drafted that high. and all these guys, you know, were Bama, Oklahoma, like incredible talents. I mean, Kyler was drafted in top 10 in baseball. But, like, I've been around the NFL for a long time, used to go to a lot of games. A lot of guys running out the tunnel were Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Joe Flacko, Benaroffusberger. They look like Draymond Green.

They're 6'5, 6 foot 6 foot 6. They're enormous human beings, and the world changed. And then we started drafting these guys, and some of them, you know, haven't quite lived up to the hype. and you just go, can short quarterbacks play in the league? And I think it's a valid question. I think you have to be very, very unique. Russell Wilson was an extremely unique player. I just saw Sierra is pregnant again.

I think like baby number five. I think it's his fourth kid. Russell, say what you want about him. He gets it in. But I will never take away. It ended since he went to Denver. It got a little weird. I attended probably four Russell Wilson games in his prime

as electric of a player I've ever seen Lod. right up there with Aaron Rogers. Maybe it would have been because he was always playing the Niners and he played the Niners. He looked like John Elway meets Steve Young when he played him. He's one of my favorite players ever in his heyday. And I do think the NFL has pivoted back. They want bigger guys, sturdier guys in college.

He's giving them more of those. Over the last couple years, you look at Jaden Daniels is taller. He's thinner, but Drake May's big. You know, Caleb's a little shorter, but he's 200. 30 pounds. And then you get Trinidad Chambliss, who I don't know if he's the best quarterback in college football, but you couldn't convince me there's anyone better. And watching him on Sunday night, I think he's a combination of Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.

I was texting with Daniel Jeremiah. He kept saying, you know, Russell Wilson. Kyler was definitely faster than Trinidad. but I do think Trinidad's closer to his size than he is. Russell's one underrated part about Russell is Russell was just built like a little tank, a lot like Jalen Hearst. And I think Trinidad's somewhere in the middle. Kyler was so fast, it didn't really matter.

You watch this guy play and you go, well, what can he do? He's incredible in the pocket. He's extremely accurate, short, intermediate, and his deep ball is absolutely beautiful. his mobility running two-pass and where I think he has a lot in common with Russell. In Wilson's heyday, sacking him was an extreme challenge because he had these eyes in the back of his helmet where he would avoid pressure.

How did he know that was coming and run away? And sometimes it will just be a throwaway. But instead of it being second and 18, it was second and 10. And you watched Trinidad, there is an instinctive nature to his game that like you just can't teach. Now, he will be 25 next August. So as a rookie, he will be 25 years old.

Personally, I don't care as much. Honestly, because if I'm a GM, it's like, well, what's going to happen the next 10 years? Well, in 10 years, it'll be 2037. I mean, half of us might not even be alive, let alone the majority of the GMs and the coaches will probably get turned over by then. I'm just trying to win the next couple years. And this is a guy, he didn't even start at Ferris State, who is basically the Alabama,

saving Alabama, even though I think DeBore actually has a pretty good team this year. But of Division 2, until he was 22 years old. Like he did not play early on there for a while. And then he finally starts and they win the national championship, as they do a lot. They're an excellent program. And then he transferred to Ole Miss. He wasn't even supposed to be the starting quarterback.

And then he becomes a starting quarterback and never looks back. become second team all SEC last year. Looks like he's going to be first or second team all SEC this year. And he's just a remarkable player. It's one of those when you're watching television. You don't need to be Bill Pollian or Howie Roseman or Andy Reid or Sean Payton to know. That is electric. That you can't take your eyes off of them.

And the deep ball, the accuracy over the middle of the field, there's an instinctive nature to them. And this is, you know, people on comments think I'm, being mean to Bryce Underwood. Some guys just can't play quarterback, right? And you typically know that coming from college, though we get a lot of bus. But I think a lot of reasons for bus in the pros, there's a whole handful of different reasons. But definitely from high school to college, the gap between playing at Alabama, Ohio State to the NFL is much smaller than high school to college.

and you see a lot of guys that don't work out in college football, these huge recruits that are big-time athletes, right, that have the size, the speed, and they're just not accurate enough. And some guys develop, right? I wouldn't say Bryce Underwood is a good example, is never going to be able to play, because I might have said Nico a couple years ago,

like, I don't really see it. Now I watch Nico, I think, like, kind of reminds me of Josh Allen. But Trinidad, the moment he started playing, you're like, this is just, this is Electric City. There is something he brings to the table that these GMs and coaching staffs and front offices, I'm going to be fascinated at what happens. Because if he keeps playing like he did last year and what we saw on Sunday night throughout this season,

I don't see how he's not in the mix to be one of, if not the top pick, right? Because I think his comp, if it goes to Russell Wilson, it's going to be prime Russell Wilson. the character, the leadership, being able to handle all the craziness with lane leaving and not skipping a beat and clearly they love them. Here's the other thing. If I just remove Trinidad Chambliss for a random quarterback that Ole Miss will probably have moving forward, is that like a five-win team? Like, what would they, what, if I just put like Arch on that team? Like, listen, I gave Arch's flowers, looked a little bit better. I know they played Texas Southern State West.

It's like, okay, he improved a little bit. If I put Arch on Ole Miss, that team, Trinidad is DBs can't tackle a soul. No one knows where to line up. He has to be superhuman. Now, I do think in a couple weeks when they play LSU, that is going to be a difficult assignment for the young fella, but young, I mean, he's 24, so older,

which again, I view that as a positive. This is a guy that you're getting, who's a plug-and-play guy. It was my issue with the Michael Penix to a situation. Part of drafting Michael Penix was you get an older player who's a plug-in-play starter. Now, is he good enough? I don't know. I personally loved him at Washington.

Bet on him and DeBore a lot. One of the biggest bets I've ever made was on those two guys against Texas. And I had to sweat it out at the end, but it was incredible. I'm a Michael Pennix fan. But like I never understood the cousins. I just, the Tua now, if Pennix is his leg healthy, just start. him. What are we doing? And to me, that's Chambliss. Like, if he keeps playing like this, to me, I think he's going to go in the top five, unless he is way shorter and smaller,

unless you tell him he's like actually 5'8, a buck 50. But if he ends up being 5-11, six feet tall, 210 pounds, like Bryce Young, again, at 5'9, I know he weighed in at 200, but as someone that was in the weight room at the combine when it happened, told me he waddled up there. He had about 75 protein shakes over a 24-hour span. He's small. And I'm rooting for Brian. Loved him in college too. But once you see a guy in that NFL uniform and they're small, it can be difficult. Well, Russell was such a magician. It didn't matter. And I do think Chambliss has some of that magic. I'm a massive fan. I think, you know, Mesa at Miami, Dante Moore at Oregon, I think Chambliss is going to be right in the conversation.

Every single team in the league, especially the quarterback ones. You're going to treat this no differently than you treat those guys. You do all the work and this guy's in the mix. A couple other stories just from around the league. We mentioned the Pennix Tua thing. It is pretty crazy that Tua and Kyler are being paid a combined 55, 35, 35. I mean, you're talking like $90 million to start for other teams. shows you how far the NFL has come.

Like Roger Goodell, why did you get a four-year extension? Because teams like the Arizona Cardinals, who are by far one of the poorest teams in the league, can just pay a guy $36 million to start for someone else. Now, Stephen Ross has money, but still, in what time, in football history, would you pay someone 50-plus million dollars to literally be the starter for someone else?

Now, you could also say, To talk about Lowe is actually starting for someone else? Yeah, he is. I don't know. I talk with Colin about it. I was like, I don't even know what to say. Personally, I think Stafansky, I'm not, seems like a nice guy.

I feel bad because I didn't meet him at the Combine one year and he was cool. But I just, I don't think he has a great feel for what actually plays at quarterback. Like he liked Dylan Gabriel. He likes Tua clearly. Canaan Cunningham and Matt Ryan not step in? I just don't quite get it. Kyler thing I get. Like, I mean, Kyler, I don't think it's going to work, but I always understood it, right?

His attributes were just so elite. To me, I, listen, it's going to sound like I'm playing Monday morning quarterback here. I didn't understand Tua coming out of college. I'm like, he's already had a hip injury. He's injured. He's small. He's got a weak arm. He plays with like four first rounders at wide receiver in the peak of the Bama dynasty.

So it's like, well, he wasn't going to go one with Burrow. But, yeah, I guess. get Herbert has some question marks, but you're telling me this guy, 6-6, 240 pounds, runs like a deer with a huge arm, you're going to take this little guy over him? Now, obviously, I would say Herbert's become better than I even would have envisioned, but still, I never understood that one. One thing, listen, we make a lot of fun of this guy. He takes a lot of heat, his own fans, boot him in a preseason game.

They boot him when he tours Achilles. Team likes them. Team captain. The Cleveland Browns have five. I repeat, five captains, which some teams have like 10 to 15. Jim Tom Sulla one year, like 27 captains. They had like the guys on the practice squad were captains of the practice squad. It was crazy.

But Charles was a captain. So we say what you want. You know, you talk about got to know your locker room. Maybe guys in the locker room like them, coaching staff likes them. The fans just hate them. But it's, you know, if you would have told me the weekend, I guess it would have been the second preseason game when he got booed and he had the fans. Yeah, in a couple weeks, he's not only going to be named the star, he's going to have a sea on his chest.

I'd be like, I don't see that coming. But that's what happens. What else do we want to do before the predictions? Bill Simmons had a funny tweet today that Robert Kraft, who I guess is the leader of the competition committee, put out a statement about Roger Goodell's contract extension, a little four-year extendo. My guess, four years, like 200 mil, so basically like a James Harden type contract,

before they signed Christian Gonzalez. You know, Belichick, the Belichick family's under a lot of heat right now, right? But Belichick took a lot of crap over the course of his career for being cheap with contracts and being a tough negotiator. And I'm not saying he was, anti-pinching pennies in trying to get people at discounts. It's not like he would have just wanted Albert Hainsworth, right?

I'm in agreement that he was on board with that. But can we also acknowledge that Robert Kraft, this is where I defend like the Bengals. Because everyone's like, the Bengals, I don't know, they just traded pick 10 for Dexter Lawrence and then gave him an extension. They paid their second wide receiver, $28 million or $30 million a year

to go with Jamar Chase, who for my money is the best wide receiver in the league. They gave Joe Burrell an unlimited amount of money. They're not as cheap as the way they get talking. Robert Kraft legitimately for a guy with, I mean, an ungodly amount of money at this time, they fight tooth and nail over these contracts. Like, the market's the market. So if you want Christian Gonzalez on your team, pay them.

They kind of got him by the balls. Like, what's he supposed to do? Not play in the game. He wants to play football. But like, this to me, I saw a headline today. that like their assistant GM has been the guy running point and he's been the pain in the ass. I'm calling bullshit.

Like to me the crafts love, I've been saying there's about the Spanos's forever. No team in the league has been less cash than them. Like actual cash to the players, right? The cap, everyone's around similar money, a couple teams that have, you know, well under the cap. But the Chargers, they have this quarterback, and you're telling me that they're like consistently,

every year the bills the ravens the niners the eagles jimmy haslam you know he spent a sum of that's de shan but he spent a lot of cash on his football team the rams this year spent a lot of money it's like if you just robert just the contract's a contract what it shouldn't be this complicated there's always the jerry thing and i think jerry's more he likes the headlines than he'll end up paying the premium but i think craft seriously thinks like i'm going to get a deal like what are you actually going to save a couple million dollars total what are we talking about just giving the money this is what do we talk like we're at the point now with the premium players that you're not arguing with some random guy in free agency this

guy you drafted who was by far your best defensive player last year who's a elite player at a position that is very very valuable so i i think crafts kind of get a pass on being really really cheap at least nationally i think locally they talk about it a lot one thing that's always been a pet peeve of mind. This happened, I think, last week, that, you know, this happened to Phil Mickelson, maybe however five, four months ago when he got in trouble with some of the allegations with women at some of the golf courses. And then his lawyer comes out and was like, I'm suing you. If you alleged that I did something, and it obviously with women, but it could even be a DUI or whatever. You need to speak for yourself. Like you're not the CEO of fucking Navidia here.

Like you're a human being. You are the corporation. Speak for yourself. I thought feel like, feel like you need to say something. So when Tony Romo gets the DUI and it, you know, to me, he didn't even look that drunk that I saw his breathalyzer, shows you to Duke and Booze, come out like his representation give a statement. And, you know, and he's, you know, he's a statement. And And then a couple days later, he, like, Tony, just speak for yourself, man. I never understand these guys that can't just, like, type up a little thing on a notes app. This isn't that complicated. People aren't just be like, hey, man, I screwed up.

I've been boozing too much. I got back pain. I've always supported some of these guys, like Tiger Woods or Tony Romo. Tony Romo has to, like, withdraw from golf tournaments in his late 40s because his fucking back doesn't work. Like, we get it. You're in a lot of pain. even humans like myself who's not in that much pain we've all seen our parents seem people in our lives have injuries it could be as simple as car you name it like we understand like i whether you

lose or keep your job that's out of all of our control but just be a human being like you're not you're not taylor swift or michael jackson here you can release a statement and i just thought like you can't hang your hat on being like the every man this relatable guy like Phil Mickelson or Tony Romo and then when something weird happens you just go silent and having like your law team speak for you if I need a lawyer to speak for me I don't even know where I'd start I have to start in Google because I don't have a lawyer I'd have to figure out one to represent me that's I think most human beings so when the first statement it's like bro's the why it's not the end of the world here

You could just say, hey, made a mistake. I've got a problem. I got to figure it out. Okay, keep it moving. You know, Tiger Woods pleads guilty or whatever. Can't drive for five years. That's going to be a job that some people are going to be lined up for. You know, now, tigers, you know, kind of like the crafts.

Pretty cheap. So it's, tigers like, yeah, I need a full-time driver. I'll pay you $37,000. And a $10 stipend for lunches. Don't sleep on Eldrick. You know, he took out the Marines and made them pay for their cheeseburgers, famous story that Wright Thompson wrote about. Can I tell you about my friends at Quince?

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Will the pastos survive the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all? And will you finish episode 8 before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything.

When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. I survived and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the Survivor Files. I just remember this low, taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up, without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed, and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced.

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and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people and they were like, you smiled at us. Not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies you're sold about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind, or wake up to a new version of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran

or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's just do some predictions. I've been thinking a lot about this. I spend so much time thinking like, well, I've got to leave people out. If I take the AFC and NFC West to get three teams in the playoffs, what do I do?

So I've just spent so much time thinking about my wildcard teams, because I've been pretty confident about my division winners. So if we just go, we'll start the AFC and we'll make our way through the NFC. AFC East. I'm just betting on Josh Allen until I'm wrong. Now you'd be like, well, you were wrong last year, Middle Coff? Yeah, I was. And the coach got fired.

Like I'm pretty confident that Josh Allen, he's the best player in the division. I think he's the best player in the league. I think most people would agree with me in the peak of his powers and I'm just picking him on a yearly basis to win the division. Doesn't mean he's going to win it every year. Didn't last year,

but I feel pretty good about my spot when I picked Josh. I also talk to Joe Brady at the Combine. I'm just a believer. I just guys got some swag. I think he's really good at his gig. Jim Leonard always been a fan of

defensive coordinator, former safety for Rex. I think they're going to be good. This is one, I feel very confident on this. I think this team can win the Super Bowl I think they definitely can be in the AFC championship game

I think they are going to be a major major factor in that Cincinnati Bengals I'm a believer now they have started slow it feels like every year which can be a problem I need them to start fast they got week one that game's gonna be a little tricky you know playing the bucks

but I love the Bengals this year I love them and let's not forget like well what about the Ravens or McCarthy and the Steelers both those two games You know, a game could have ended in a tie week 18. Like, let's not act like those two teams were, you know, beating the shit out of everyone last year,

especially the Ravens. AFC South, this is actually probably the easiest pick. I think the Houston Texans, CJ Stroud could play like me and they'd win 11 games. If he just play solid, like this team could win 14, 15 games. I think their defense, which has consistently been, is going to be the best in the league in 2026. The AFC West, I'm just going to ride Denver.

You can convince me on the Chargers. The Chiefs still have too many question marks to put them back in there. I think they're probably a year away from getting back in that conversation, but I mentioned this to Coward. You remove the quarterback. So you just took all 32 teams, no one has a quarterback, but you have your entire roster non-quarterback. I think you could make the argument Denver's best team in the league,

just roster-wise. So I'm going, Bill's, CINC, Texans, Denver. In the NFC, I've been hammering this for a while. I'm not pivoting now a couple days before the season. I'm taking the Cowboys. I don't like the Cowboys. I love the Cowboys.

Now, I'm betting on this young hot shot defensive coordinator, Christian Parker. I'm betting on Caleb Downs. I'm betting on some of these defensive line coming together more as a unit. Mike has gone because last year was an abomination on defense. We know their offense is going to be awesome, even though all pro guard just had a finger injury, it's out of month. Listen, we can fill in with a guard. Like, we can make it happen.

Not ideal in one of your good players, but it is what it is. I'm betting on this defense just being middle of the pack because I think they're going to have one of, if not the best offense in the league. And I think, you know, you go back and forth with them in Philly. I just got question marks in Philly. You know, I mean, this new offensive change is dramatic. You see it in college a lot, right, where a prominent program will just change its offense.

And sometimes it works, and other times it is an abomination. Now, I've never disputed that the Eagles roster isn't high end, but I'll give Nick Wright credit on this one. I heard him say this. I don't know if it was TV or with Colin on a podcast. There's probably not a team in the league that has a bigger swing of wins and losses than the Eagles.

You can convince me it works and Philly wins 13, 14 games. You can convince me it just unravels and their roster still too good. They go 8 and 9. So to me, they're probably 9, 10 wins because I think their defense is going to be so awesome. I just got too many question marks on office.

You're just telling me this guy, it was all the coordinator. It was all the coordinator. And A.J. Brown. I don't know. The quarterback is just, and part of it is, can you run the ball? Because last year they couldn't. So this offense in theory is easier to run the ball.

I know the Cowboys offensive elite. And it's kind of an offensive league. That kind of matters. The NFC North, who I probably picked to be the one seed. You know, I think in the AFC, it'd be sincere Denver to be the one seed. In the NFC, I think I'd go Detroit. I think Detroit's going to be awesome. I just, you know, last year, he just made a mistake.

He hired his buddy and the players turned on him. And the one thing I respect about the kind of the, modern day NFL. Like, players have a lot of juice, right? Players in college and the pros have a lot of power. 20 years ago, 30 years ago, the equivalent of Dan Campbell, the players, this isn't Magic Johnson or John Elway here. You know, I don't think they could have forced the coordinator out, but it was clear. I saw this a couple years ago with the 49ers with the defensive coordinator, when Fred Warner turned on you, you're done. And that happened in Detroit. And I think Drew Petzing, I watched a lot of Arizona down the stretch because there weren't that many

games in the afternoon window on Sundays. They didn't win a lot, but offense wasn't the problem. Jacoby was slinging that thing around. Mike Wilson, who just got a big contract, lapped Marvin Harrison. I'm a believer in Detroit. I think offensively they are going to be unbelievable. Now, defense, you know, they obviously had to cut a first round corner because of the kidnapping thing and John Snyder's like, come over.

But I'm a believer. I'm a believer in Dan Campbell. Maybe I've watched too many interviews on YouTube with them. I think they're going to be excellent. This is a little bit of my sleeper pick, even though I've heard so many people pick this team. It's no longer a sleeper. I don't like the Saints.

I love the Saints. I think the Saints, you're looking at 10 plus wins. I think Tyler Shuck is going to be a quarterback that is consistently talked about moving forward. Now, we have a couple issues is some of the injuries on offense. You know, Jordan Tyson, who I, depending on zero. And Chris Alave, like, has, rightfully so, like a concussion thing in his contract because he's had a lot of concussions.

But if Alave's on the field, like, I think that guy's a pro bowler. Their tight ends good. They sign E.T.N. Kamar got hurt. It's like, Camar. Well, they signed Travis E.T.N. Who I think is a big reason. I don't like the Jags as much because he was such a big, kind of blanket, a safety, you know, safety

blanket for Trevor Lawrence. So Dallas, Detroit, New Orleans, and I'm just sticking with what I know. And Seattle, I'm just not picking the Rams. I just don't think it's that easy. I know everyone does, and I'm not saying they're not going to be good. I'm not saying that the game won't come down. I think they play the second to last week of the season, which is like January 3rd. I think it has a lot of similarities to this year, where we have seen now pretty consistently in the NFC

that a game a couple years ago was Detroit, Minnesota. I remember years before that, multiple times it's been Seattle, San Francisco. It was Seattle, San Francisco, technically last year. Seattle, San Francisco in 2019, I think we get some similarities this year with that Seattle Rams game at the end of the season dictating it. And I'm just, I'm just leaning in Seattle. It will stick with the Rams on the wildcard teams.

I'll take the Rams. I think then we have a group of teams in the Bears, the Niners, the Eagles, and Green Bay. I'm not picking Green Bay. You know, they've won nine games two of the last three years. Now, you would say they punted the last week of the season. Okay, but this is not some team that is just rattling off 12, 13 win seasons. They have a ton of turnover on their team. The best player on their team, the reason they don't have a first round pick who is going to contribute to this team,

is currently not going to be available for who knows how long, which I'm not a doctor, I just follow sports, so I feel I have a good understanding of timelines. All these other guys with all these injuries and all these positions are back. And he'd be like, well, quarterback's different.

Okay, George Kittle tore his Achilles. And it looks like he's going to play here in a couple days. My could think, was his injury actually worse than we thought? Are they just being extra cautious because of how much they gave up? I'm not acting like Green Bay is going to be the Miami Dolphins this year. I don't think they make the playoffs. So then I'm basically down. If the Rams, Seattle, you know, Seattle wins at Rams, give them the first wildcard spot,

is down to three teams. The Bears, the Niners, and the Eagles. I'm going to lean the Bears. I got it wrong last year early in the season. I'm like, Caleb and Ben's not going to work. By the end of the season, I'm like, this is magic. And once he becomes a more consistent pass, they're like, this is going to work. Now, the bears have some question marks.

you know, Kobe Bryant gets injured, basically out for the season, pretty dependent on some random guys on the defensive line. I just think offensively, I just think Ben Johnson's too good. I'm going to give the Niners the edge over the Eagles because they play the second to last week of the season on NBC. It's a Sunday night game. And I think that's a little loser leaves down, winners in the playoffs. because I think to me the Bears, Niners, Philly

all kind of hover around, you know, 10-ish wins. And I saw that song and dance last year. More than the 49ers in a must-win game having to go to Philly. What happened in the playoffs? So I could be wrong on Philly. I'm not a Philly hater by any means. I think their roster's fantastic.

I just think they got a lot of moving parts. I think the NFC, I mean, look at what we're talking about. It's just way deeper. I don't have the Packers to make the playoffs. Packers make the playoffs every year. You know, I'm just going to not have Kyle Shannon in the playoffs. Last year, he won 12 games with me and you playing defense for half the season. So it's hard to do, but Philly's out.

Let's go wild card teams in the AFC. L.A. is just a football town. USC's back. Rams are the, you know, everyone thinks they're going to, go 20 and 0. To me, the Chargers, you could convince me the Chargers to win the division. If you want to take the Chargers to win the AFC West,

all for it. Not even against it. Might dabble on them a little bit. But I just think that the Chargers are a lock to be good. Now, they're sealing, the pressure in the playoffs, Jim, Herbert, got to win a playoff game. But regular season, you tell me they get their tackles back.

I'm not the biggest old Marion Hampton fan, but I was texting Daniel Jeremiah who calls the Charger games who's at every practice. He's like, bro, he's pretty solid. He's a good outside zone runner. He's a physical player. He's fine.

It might not be Earl Campbell or Adrian Peterson, but he's going to be a good player. It's like, okay, maybe I'm being a little too harsh. But Chargers to me are a block playoff team. I mean, they couldn't have had any more injuries they did last year and they were in the playoffs. You know, I think the Chiefs are a pretty polarizing team. because last year went so bad.

They got, you know, dad bought Travis Kelsey. They got Mahomes coming back off the ACL. I, I, AI did it today. I'm like, how many times Andy Reid been in the playoffs since 1999? The answer is 20. He's been to the playoffs half of my life. Andy Reid goes to the playoffs. 11 of those are with the Chiefs.

What happened last year is beyond an outlier. Remove Philly. just say his chief's tenure. Like, I'm just betting on Andy Reed and Mobs. And it's going to be a transition year. They had that a couple years ago when they traded Tyreek. They won the Super Bowl. Now, I'm not picking them to win the Super Bowl.

I think, hell, it would be hard. You know, getting a seven seed, getting in at like 10 wins. That'd be an impressive bounce back, especially off your quarterback being injured. But I just, I got to pick the Chiefs to make the playoffs. And I like the Chargers more than the Chiefs, so they got to be in. Then all of a sudden I go,

why only got one spot? The Patriots were in the Super Bowl last year, and I got the Bills win the division. The Steelers were in the playoffs last year. I don't have got them win the division. The Ravens, who honestly, their schedule, if they beat the Colts, which I think is kind of a sneaky game.

So I got Steelers, the Ravens, and New England, all for one spot. I originally put Indy in that mix, but I think if I just make a living, not riding Daniel Jones, I'll be okay. So I'll remove Indianapolis and just have New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh for one spot. I think this is a lot like the Niners-Filly thing.

They're all around 9-10 wins. Who's the best quarterback of this bunch? You know, historically, over the course of his career, you would say Lamar. Drake had the better year last year. You know, Aaron Rogers at this point in time of his career is the worst of the three. Who's the best coach of the three? Right. Well, I would say McCarthy's resume is better.

Brabils and we just don't nothing about Jesse Minter. The other thing with the Ravens is first time play caller. Sometimes that goes great. Ask the Eagles. Sometimes that is a nightmare. So I struggle with this one because I'm going to take the Steelers. I'm going to take McCarthy. I'm going to take one last ride, Aaron Rogers.

And I think all three of these teams, it all comes down to tiebreakers. But I'm taking the Steelers with that last wildcar. spot. So I got the Chargers, Chiefs, and Steelers in my wild card, and I got the Rams, Bears, and Niners in my wild card. My MVP, if I love the Lions, I also love the Cowboys, but I just think Jared Goff is your classic. I think Dak would fall under this a little bit, but I think if you pulled most people, they would say Dak is better than Goff. I might disagree. You know, Dak used to give you more mobility. We have just had, for a stretch of just jogging. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Aaron Rogers, these all-time

great Hall of Fame type guys win MVP's. Every once in a while, you get like Matt Ryan wins the MVP. Even Cam, by far had the best year of his career, won an MVP. Cam feels less crazy than Matt Ryan, given that Heisman Trophy, won the national championship, number one overall pick higher ceiling than Matt Ryan Matt Ryan was just more consistent but I would put both those guys in a similar category of like not quite the same I'd say Cam's got more star power than Matt Ryan but both of them in the category of like yeah it's not exactly Mahomes or Brady you know

and I think if you like the Lions to be really good this year and their offense on paper looks fucking fantastic Jared got the last two years is 71 touchdowns to me So that's averaging about 35 and a half. If you can get to the point where that number gets to like 42, and this is a team that wins. I mean, a couple years ago, he threw 37 when they were the one seat, and he had to because that's the other thing. Their defense is not going to be great.

It's a little Trinidad Chambliss. I need you to score because if you don't score, we're not going to win. I think Jared Goff wins it. I'm going Jared Goff MVP. Coach of the year. I'm going Brian Schott, Knomer. because if you tell me the Cowboys win the East, I don't see how he doesn't win Coach of the Year.

They're just, they're talked about too much. He's, it's just too, the microscope on that franchise and the lights on that franchise are just too bright. Plus, a couple years ago, everyone thought it was the biggest embarrassment of a hire of all time. So if you go from biggest embarrassment of a hire of all time,

two years later winning the division against, you know, a franchise that is, consistently, I don't know, what are the Eagles? Top three or four franchise in the league? Just consistently year and year out over a 25-year period. I'm going Brian Chottinheimer. Defensive player of the year. This is actually a pretty easy one for me.

I think this guy is going to be viewed when it's all said and done as one of the best players of all time. His play style, his violence, the unit in which he plays on, and just, this guy is a dumb. player. Now there are some sexier names. You know, Miles Garrett, could he win it again? But I'm taking Will Anderson. I think the Texas has the best defense in the league. And I think Will Anderson just jolts himself to, I mean, this is a guy that was top three pick from Alabama, who just a blue chip recruit, no nonsense, no bullshit. I mean, everything you would want in a superstar player in terms of the character, the work ethic, the no drama. I barely even hear the guy. I love this guy.

I think defensive player of the year, he is going to have a massive season. Rookie of the year, again, if I'm in on the Cowboys, turning around on defense, I got to be in on Caleb Downs. And offensive rookie of the year, a lot of these quotes coming out of Seattle.

I like Seattle this year to win the division. I think whether you like him to win the division or not, I think everyone would agree Seattle's going to be good. Well, if they're going to be good again, you know, the running game was a huge part of their operation. Kenneth Walker's gone. Charvone's coming back off the injury. You know, the guy's a little under the radar in Judarian Price

just because he backed up the number three overall pick. So I like Price. I can see 1,000 yards. The other thing is, like, he's going to score a bunch of touchdowns. Like, Wachiaki, if he has 7, 8 touchdowns, he's playing in all these marquee games. So I'm going Caleb Downs and Price is my offensive and defensive rookie of the year.

Went it on that. Adios. The entire draft room groans because you just took the guy they wanted. There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league. I'm JJ Zachary Eisen, host of the award-winning late-round podcast. Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off. Listen to the late-round fantasy football podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On Big Lives, we take a single cultural icon.

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