The McShay Show - McShay Show Offseason Mailbag! The 2026 Quarterback Class, Our Scouting Process, and More.

Episode Date: July 14, 2025

Welcome back to The McShay Show! Today, Todd and Steve are answering mailbag questions from premium subscribers of The McShay Report. The guys discuss their scouting process, positional draft value, the 2026 quarterback class, and other offseason odds and ends. (0:00) Welcome to The McShay Show! (2:05) Summer Mailbag Special!(2:45) Kyle: Which 2026 QB Prospect Has the Highest Ceiling? (Excluding Arch)(8:30) Michael: Who's This Years Cam Ward?(12:20) Kevin: Is Carson Beck An NFL Prospect?(17:15) Ron: What are the Premium Draft Positions?(26:20) Andrew: How Has Michigan's O-Line Been Dominant without Top Prospects?(30:40) Robert: Evaluating Logan Fano & Caleb Lomu (Utah O-Lineman)(34:15) Erik: Importance of Year to Year Evaluations(38:50) Robert: Expectations for Indiana's Football Program(44:05) Devin: What is Your "Enarmored Trait?"(50:35) Matt: Most Memorable College Gameday Atmosphere?(55:45) John: Can a Running Back Improve Vision?(57:30) Jonathan: Draft Grading 101(1:02:35) Michael: How Far Out Do Front Offices Plan Drafts?(1:08:07) Josh: What are your strongest Scouting Skills? Subscribe to The McShay Report for access to all of Todd’s scouting reports and tape notes during the Summer Scouting Series, and for access to all of his content throughout football and draft season. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Todd McShayGuest: Steve MuenchProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Mark Panik, Conor Nevins, and Daniel ComerSocial: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've got questions. We've got answers. Today's a fun one, Stevie boy. Mailbag day. College football, NFL draft, and details of the scouting process. We're covering it all. Just 283 days until the NFL draft. Mench, you good?

I'm good, man. What's DJ Duck got queued up for the kids today? This is where it pays to be a premium subscriber, Munch. If you're a premium subscriber to the McShea report, You got to get your questions in. We're answering them today. This is fun. I like to do this.

It's the middle of the summer. Like sometimes our audience needs to be our producers. That's what you guys are doing for us today. Truly. Like we've covered wide receivers. We've covered like eight different quarterbacks, the Manning Passing Academy, Clemson's prospects, all that stuff.

We've kind of come up with the content. I've traveled out in New Orleans, mentions watch a ton of tape. We've got it all leading up to the spot. But like sometimes we've just got to take a step back. Let our audience drive the train. And today, that's what we're doing. So McShay report premium subscribers.

And if you have not subscribed yet, please do so. Just Google the McShay report. Let's go. I don't even think we've got 11,000 subscribers yet. Like, what are we doing? We're building this thing. We need help. We need support.

You guys have been awesome with us. Please continue to subscribe on YouTube. Hit the likes. Do all the things that you know you need to do on Apple. Obviously on Spotify and everywhere else you get your podcast. but another way you can support what we're trying to build here. What we want to be the smartest NFL draft community or whatever. I'm going to come up with a better.

I fucking hate community. But a better group, a better crew. We just want like a smarter messaging out there. If you want to be a part of this, please subscribe. The subscribers sent in questions. We're answering them today.

Also important to note before we get started, if you are a subscriber, a premium subscriber, I'm doing a whole separate mailbag. Dan's, I mean, maybe Dan didn't get the memo. It's July. It's the summer. I want you to look at all these pages.

Like, look at all this. I've got like, who, Lord knows how many pages worth of questions, but I'm going to answer him because that's what we do. We want your support. Then we better step up. And that's what we're going to do. So that's the deal. Mench, why don't you get us kicked off?

We're going to get to as many questions as we can today. Try to keep it under an hour. But let's have some fun with it. So go ahead. What's the first question for? We've got some great ones, man. Here's the first one. Hey, Todd, love the content. My question is, out of all the QBs in the 2026 class, excluding Archmanning,

who do you think has the highest ceiling and the lowest floor? Thanks. That's what Kyle. All right, Kyle. We appreciate you. Good start. Yeah, it's a tricky one. Ceilings a tough one because, like, I think Kate Klubnick might be the best quarterback in this class,

excluding Arch Manning. And we don't know about like, he's just not included yet simply because we don't have a cat, enough of a catalog on them. From a, but like when I think ceiling, the highest ceiling, I think like if,

if they develop perfectly and they become everything that physically and mentally they can become over time, I'm going to say Lenora Sellers, the South Carolina quarterback. I just think like you can't coach what he has. most importantly the athletic traits the speed the agility the ability to extend plays and then he's got the big arm to go with it now refinement and more consistency we we did the whole you know the whole story on on lenores and if you haven't by the way all these quarterbacks and a lot of the other

stuff that we've covered the clemson defense the manning passing academy it's it's on the mitche page or the McShay show page for YouTube. Same for Spotify. Same for Apple. Same for everywhere you get your podcast. We go back and just, listen, everyone's been busy. It's the summer. I get it, but we're getting closer now.

And so go back and listen or watch to some of the past shows and you'll get a much more detailed breakdown on Lenora Sellers. Good luck finding a more detailed breakdown of Lenora Sellers. I don't know that Lenora Sellers parents know as much about Lenore Sellers as we do. And we provided, obviously they do. So do you think it's the same answer? Do you think he has the lowest floor too? No. I think Drew out. I think Drew Aller has the lowest floor. We agree. Yeah, because for Sellers, you could say that he is not as developed as Alar. And I get that. But Sellers always has that strength and mobility to lean on. So the floor is a little higher for him because of the

mobility. Whereas Alar is a big boy too. But he doesn't move like that. So if he's He doesn't, if he's not good in the pocket, if he's not, you know, doesn't have a great year, then he's got the lower floor in my opinion. I totally agree. And there's two things I told you when we went through the Drew Aller breakdown. Again, you can go back and watch the whole show. It's like an hour long. His inability to accurately throw to receivers that are running away from him, to visualize it, to lead receivers open is concerning. Okay.

then you add the fact that the lack of mobility in today's day and age he doesn't have like this is 1995 he's the number one prospect right he doesn't have the mobility and the ability as a result to get himself out of as much trouble especially when you're young and you don't have all the answers to the test at the line of scrimmage and post snap so i worry about that with aller you combine those two things that's a scary combination I also want to know why the hell is knee down in, in, in,

in Tibino, Louisiana. Because I've heard reasons why that I will not share, because I only share things that I confirm and know for facts. But like, why? It's been a few years, different opportunities. It's not the coaching staff. So there's just some stuff that's concerning there. So it's interesting.

Let me, let's also get, I mean, we're doing this for the subscribers. These are my rankings as of right now for the quarterbacks. I'm going rogue. And I got a bonus question from Michael. Then I'll let you get us back on the tracks with the question too. But this is already off the rails. Already off the rails.

Eight minutes in, seven minutes in. Cade Club, Nick one. Garrett Nussmeyer, too. I'm like a dog, like dog with a bone on Nussmine. Yeah, man. Sellers three. Fernando Mendoza, four. And by the way, we both.

both want to see Sellers, unless something drastically changes this year. And depending on circumstances, I think Sellers is best suited to play 2025 and 2026 in college football and come out for that 2027 draft. Whether Arch Manning is in that class or not, we want to see his development. I think the best thing for him would be two years. So it's Club Nick Nussmeyer Sellers, Fernando Mendoza, the Cal Transfer to IU, Sam Levitt, Arizona State, then Drew Aller. I know that surprises a lot of people because everyone's got a lot of people.

When I did my reading when doing that stupid way too early mock draft, a lot of people had him as QB1 or QB2. John Mateer, Oklahoma, transfer two from Washington State this year. Love that cat. Looks like a fullback. I love it. Then kind of the next tier, and we'll get to some of these guys, maybe in a little bit.

Sawyer Robertson, Baylor, Avery Johnson, Kansas State, Miller Moss, Louisville now, transferred from USC, and Carson Beck, Georgia transferred to Miami. And obviously, Arch Manning is not on that list for all the reasons we've talked about. So that's a little bonus nugget for everyone. And mention doesn't have to agree or disagree. We'll just move on. Bonus question. We'll call it 1A.

from Michael. And this will appear in the newsletter. It's a little taste of what you can get in the newsletter for the McShay report tomorrow, okay? And I will answer in more detail there. Who could this year's Cam Ward be? I love this question. Someone who is projected day two, day three at this same point, who winds up going around one. I'm going to jump off with this.

I'm not saying he's going round one. And obviously we didn't, I wouldn't have said Cam Ward necessarily last year. You know, Sawyer Robertson has my attention. And the reason why I love doing this is Michael forced me to go and watch tape. I finish up a wide receiver I haven't done this morning. And I was like, nah, I got to do it. So I went and watched Sawyer Robertson's tape. He was the most pleasant surprise of all the quarterbacks.

I told you from the Manning Passing Academy. Transferred to Baylor after three seasons of Mississippi State. One is a starter plus four games in, excuse me, in 2023. I told you he won the first round of the competition at Friday night, the Manning Passing Academy, just like deadly accurate, on the move, all the stuff. Father Stan, first round draft pick. Remember, if you go back to the show we did on the Passing Academy, his father, Stan was a first round draft pick of the Expos,

1990 Major League Baseball Draft, also cousin of Jarrett Stidham. So that's kind of the backdrop. So I watched his tape. He throws really well on the move right and left. I'm not going to, he's not a running threat, but he's a lot more mobile than I thought, even watching him at the passing academy, okay? Really good job sliding, boots out.

His Baylor protection wasn't very good. Let's call it what it is. So he's on the move a lot, forced to be. But knows when to climb, knows when to roll out right and left. throws really well, like almost more accurately and better on the left to the left side than he does the right. His arm's not elite, but it's a plus arm. I would say his mobility's plus.

He's got like this suddenness to him, very comfortable running, when he's supposed to, when it's necessary, buys time. He's not overly shifting and elusive, not overly fast, but he's a pretty athletic kid for six, four, 220 pounds. but he's just highly accurate throwing the football the ball's on a string the intermediate stuff just puts it where it needs to go throws to spots between zones all that stuff leads receivers open the one knock is down the field when he misses he's got a tendency to miss high and the further down the field the less accurate he becomes and the ball start to sail a little bit So I'll be looking for that this year. But Sawyer Robertson in a class where I just mentioned,

names like Clubnik Nussmeyer, Sellers, Mendoza, Levit, Aller, Mateer, Archmanning. We'll see where he comes out. Avery Johnson, Miller Moss, Carson Beck. I haven't heard anything about this guy. And he caught my eye down in Tibado, Louisiana. I just watched a good, not all of the tape, but I think four games. And I like them. So when Michael asked me, who could be a guy that climbs?

I'm not saying round one, but he's a guy that's not really on the radar that I think as we get closer, he's a name that's going to be in the mix a little bit. Like it. I'm going to try to get you back on track here. Okay. Thanks. Hey, Todd. Love the content in the summer scouting series.

You have talked and written a lot about the quarterback position, but there has been no mention of Carson Beck. So just now, is he not? not viewed as a viable NFL quarterback. I see a lot of this on our socials, too. This is a big question that people have about Carson Beck. I'm as interested as anyone else to hear what you have to say right now. I appreciate it, Kevin, because I've been kind of trying to avoid the subject.

He's big. He's had some really good moments. The beauty of what we do on the McShay show, the Saturday Night Live shows, we kind of were like, it's kind of like a running journal, if you will, of like where we are in the process. Like we watched the Nussmeyer, the ups, the downs, that he's not ready. Jalen Milrow, Carson, Ben. He's got a good arm. There's some throws, like the inbreaking stuff.

He does a nice job with. He's really good off of play action. He has moments, okay? I go back to what we said constantly last season. he just makes his receivers work for it okay that's one thing when i watch other quarterbacks when they're throwing the ball i cam ward last year the same class um jackson dart he's he's they're spotting the ball receivers are running to it it it's shouldor sanders like making things easy on receivers they're laboring they were laboring down in athens inconsistent with decisions

I thought there was games or even parts of games really smart made good decisions other parts where it was like what are we doing we played too much ball for this do you trust the guy and I'm not talking about the quarterback I'm talking do you trust the guy

I'm not telling you I'm asking you do you trust the guy and I'm not asking you Steve I'm asking audience, people, what they read, people, do you trust what your eyes and your ears and your common sense are telling you? Why is UGA kind of, we're good? Is Gunner Stockton that good? Why is Georgia like, we're good with him moving on?

I just saw Gunner Stockton down at Banning Passing Academy and I saw him last year at the end of the year. He does some really good things. He's athletic. He's competitive. He's a grinder. He fits exactly what the program wants. He ain't that good. He's not a world beater.

He's not Archmanning. This is not Arch coming back and he's ready to go. And Quinn, it's time to move on where the NFL are your grad transfer. This is not that deal. Gunner's good. He's not that good. Miami's got money. They ain't got that much money.

You're telling me in Georgia's budget if this guy was that good, And more importantly, if they trusted him and they love the guy and they loved elevate the team and it was about the team and about the guys in his huddle, the guys in the locker room, if it was about the right things, you're telling me the dogs wouldn't have come up with the money and made sure that this was the number one priority. Okay. So I'm asking you as our audience. If you're asking me the question, I'm going to throw a little bit back on your plate. And I'm going to ask you, what are your senses tell you? Okay. I also, I'm not going to share details or certain things.

And I share almost everything. And I'm probably too transparent with a lot of stuff. But I know why he's not, he wasn't at the Manning Passing Academy. I don't know definitively, but I get a good idea why Drew Aller wasn't. And people who make decisions are the ones telling me why. It's not some vendetta. They want to know the whys. They know why Fernando Mendoza wasn't there.

Coach decided. First year with the program, we need him here. Frustrating but understandable, Mendoza was here the year before. Awesome guy. Grindr, great with the campers, does all the right things, wanted to be back, made the right calls,

personally, respectful. Okay? So go find out. Why is he not there? Why is Georgia letting him go? Those are my answers. Yeah, I thought you're being, I was going to call you out for being too cryptic at first, but I think you covered that well.

Yeah. You're saying it without having to really come out and say it. The next one, this is a good one because I think there are we, there are times where we say things that I think people understand that we go through too fast and that we need to stop and clarify. So Ron asks, I think, a good clarification question. He says, what positions would you classify as premium positions as of today? And does that change over time because of how all, Offenses, utilized players, which then correspondingly has an impact on premium defensive positions

run smart. Purely how teams assess value, running back still seem to be used quite a bit, but it seems like teams treat them more and more as commodities that can be easily replaced, or some other factors. Can we look at the last few drafts to see first and second round position selections? And that may begin to suggest the emergence of reduction of positions of value that you currently don't classify as premium positions. Thanks as always for your insight. Let's work backwards on this a little bit, okay? I mean, this is a, it's a super smart question, and we could actually do like close to a show on it, but I'll try to be concise. I think and Ron, I want to make it perfectly clear, like, you're going down the right road with this.

I've always said, and I'll continue to share, like, talent trumps trends, okay, and trends being positions, you know, positions of value. If there's an elite first round, like, can't, like, if there's, if there's an Ashton Jinty's going in the first round. If there's an Omari in Hampton, he's going in the first round, okay? But there's some other guys that was really damn good. And we thought maybe Trayvion Henderson could go. We thought maybe, you know, Judkins could sneak in. We thought, you know what I mean? So like, so the market tells you the value.

Just like that 2017 class with Leonard Fournette and Christian. in McCaffrey. We told you there were 30 running backs taken in that class. But it was really backloaded. And we warned you as we got closer to the draft because we spent months. And I always wanted to like pump the brakes a little like, this class is awesome. And it turned out to be awesome. It was four shy of that number 30 running backs, which is like, I don't know if it's a modern

day record, but it's like in the last couple decades. There were 26 running backs taken. But guess what? 20 of them were on day three. And let me read some names to you. Only six went in the first three rounds, not first two, first three rounds. Let me read some names to you, okay? Caleb Johnson, who was third, sorry,

Bashul Tutin, who like had a combine workout that was Cam Scadabo who carried Arizona State. And we talked about how great his tape was. Dylan Samson, the Tennessee offense, ran through him. Jordan James, we both were in love with out of Oregon. Gaden Blue. Even your boy, the Kansas State guy. Devin Neal. No, Devin Neal is Kansas.

And Kansas State. The glitch, DJ Gideon. Gideon. They all went on day three. Okay. So that's like, that kind of addresses running back. If they're elite, elite, they're going to go. But there's just like, hold.

old pattern going on in draft rooms, right? Now, let's talk premium picks at all position. This is my opinion. You can chime in when I finish this rant quickly. Quarterback is number one, pass rushers number two. Then I think it kind of depends on what you're trying to do, what your systems are, all that. But the next three, in my opinion,

and you can rank them in any order you want, pass protector, pass catcher, cover corner. Cover corner is doesn't go as high in the first round, all this stuff. But so the premium positions are here. Quarterback, pass rusher, pass protector, and I'm talking perimeter, blind side protector, basically. Receivers and cover corners. Last year was highly unusual, okay? And we said it leading up.

It was just a different draft. It was, we had a couple of special tight ends. We had a couple special running backs. So that threw it off. the percentages off a little bit. But it also was a, this isn't a great draft at the top. Let's hit some doubles.

Let's get on base. Let's not swing for the fences. Because there was a lot of character stuff. There were some durability stuff. There weren't elite players that were worth taking risks on. So you saw three guards come off the board. You saw two linebackers come off the board. You did have elite tight ends and running backs.

So you saw four at those two positions. So it turned out there were nine. nine players in the first round that went, which was highly unusual, running back, tight end, guard, center, linebacker safety, okay? Those are the non-premium positions, in my opinion. 2024 was a lot more of a normal sample size, okay?

In 2024, there were just three tight ends running back center, guard, linebacker safeties that went off the board in the first round. 29 were quarterback, left tackle, wide receiver, defensive line, pass rushers, and cornerbacks. That's 9%. 80. 9%, so 91% were the premium positions. Now, in the first two rounds last year, or 2024, I should say,

that's 64 picks, just 17%. But then you get to round 3, where it's like, okay, now we'll take our running back. Now we'll take our tight end. Now we'll take our linebacker. Now we'll take our safety. You ready for this? 37 picks were in round three in 2024.

20 of them were running back tight end, center guard, linebacker safety. Only 17. So it flips when you get to the middle rounds. Now we go get those non-premium positions. And we've already taken a good deal of the premium guys and we can come back to them later. 54%. So we went from 9% in the first round, 17% in the second round to 54%. majority were non-premium positions.

Yeah. It makes sense. I do want to say two things. One is that I think pass blocker is right on par with that edge rusher. And I get the argument for putting edge rusher as number two. But I think those are really the three. I think you need to score more points than the other team in this league. You need guys you can pass block.

And I think it's getting tougher and tougher to find those great offensive tackles. That's where they always get driven up the board because they're so hard to find. Of course. Yes. So I agree with you on the top three that they would be pass block. It would be obviously quarterback, defensive end, pass blocker. I think you know argue about that a little bit in terms of the order. I do think that when you're looking at the evolution of positions and players and all that,

I think corners start to become more important because it's harder to find corners than it is safeties. I think more kids want to play wide receiver now. I think it's harder to find that. The other thing that's interesting to me is, and I think Ron, kind of gets to this about the evolution of the game. And I think we anticipate market shifts a little bit. And then the anticipation of two positions to me specifically is interesting of whether or not they're going to be valued more going forward.

And one is being that nickel defensive back, that nickel safety specifically, I think, the guy that plays inside because no one plays, everyone plays the five defensive backs now. That's just the nickel is basically the base. So that guy, that nickel safety, and the reason I think the value hasn't gone, up because teams have had success finding players outside the first round and the second round. They don't need to go find those players early on. They can find them later on. The other position is tight end.

And I mean the versatile tight ends, the Colson Loveland's of the world who can make you multiple on offense when you want to go tempo, a guy who can line up in the slot, can line up wide, can line up in line, is competitive enough, all of those things. I think that position has become more important on the field. The problem with that is there's been a flood of tight end talent. they don't really need to. The league hasn't decided that it needs to change the way addresses the position and get those players earlier. It's a little confusing, but that's why the premium positions still are the way they are. Quarterbacks are hard to find, man. Offensive

tackles are hard to find. Edge rushers are hard to find. They're just tough to find. You've got to get them early and take your shots early. Whereas I think that some of these other positions are becoming more important when you show up on Sundays and you play. And just like running backs are super important when you get into the game. But if you can find talents of running backs outside the first round, if you can find talented tight ends, if you can find talented nickel guys, you're not going to go and reach it and try to get them earlier. And that's why the board's set the way it is. All right. Let's get a couple for the big fella. For Mench, Andrew writes, as an offensive line guy, how is the Michigan offensive line able to dominate over a three-year span from

2021 to 2023 without having premium talent across the board sans zach zinter who was even injured uh during the rose bowl and national championship wins in their respective drafts only zinter went in the top 100 he was pick 85 and most were day three selections is actually a great question 2021 starters were ryan hayes kegan uh vist vistartis zinter stuber then it was hayes kegan uh oh luatami Oluatimi, Zinter, and Barnhart. Then in 2023, it was Laderius Henderson, Keegan, Drake Nugent, Zinter and Barnhart, then Barnhart,

Trent Jones. So thanks for everything, guys. Andrew. Go ahead, sort it out, Munch. I think it's a great question. And, I mean, you want to look at some of these stats here. One, the national championship in 23, you got to look at. Two, first ever team to win back-to-back Joe Moore Awards, which is awarded to the best college offensive line. These guys were, I mean, you look at the situation.

They were first in rushing, rushing yards per game in the Big Ten for two years in row, 22, fourth and 23. Then you look at 21, few as sacks allowed. The next year, 22, third few of sacks allowed. This is all Big Ten numbers. The next year after that, third few of sacks allowed. Statistically, this all adds up, and they were a championship team. And look, I love those offensive lines.

As a former offensive line, and those guys were tough. They played together. They were smart. But there is one downfall. And I think that, again, you're going to look at the, I will say this before I talk about the one fatal flaw, I think, for them not producing early round guys. You also remember their offensive line coach is now their head coach, Sharon Moore, outstanding offensive line coach. I think that has to be said. You also had a running back in Blake Corum, who was an outstanding college running back, who you could hand the ball 20 times.

I know he had some injury issues, but when he played, I mean, I remember pictures of the game's bloody face. I mean, he would run through a brick wall for those guys. He got them everything that they gave them. That offensive line must have love blocking for him because he got everything that they gave him, plus a little more every single time. And you had a damn good quarterback, JJ McCarthy. So it was a good supporting cast to that offensive line as well.

You got to look at that a little bit too. But the fatal flaw for them was they are not great pass blockers. And I remember writing up all those guys in 23. I think I wrote up six offensive linemen for Michigan. I wrote six reports, and all of them projected as guards. because there was a concern with all of them about their ability to pass block on the outside. They did not have as good as those lines were as a unit and they were awesome, awesome.

They did not have a Taylor-Li-Luant. They did not have a Jake Long. There was not that elite Michigan offensive lineman that you think about in the past. They just didn't have that guy. So as a unit, and I love this about offensive line play, outstanding, outstanding. The collection is better than the individual. I can't say it enough about those groups. They just didn't have those elite

offensive line prospects that could pass block, really. And you look at that Penn State game in 23 where J.J. McCarthy had eight. He went seven for eight in the first half and he threw one time in the second half and it was a pass interference call. So it ended the game seven for eight. The reason they didn't run the ball

wasn't because of J.J. McArthur. It was because they couldn't pass block that Penn State defensive line. And that's an issue. The name of the game, do that. That's their identity of Michigan. Pound the rock, play great defense, and it works. When you get to the NFL,

you're going to face guys, you've got to pass block one-on-one, and they don't really have players like that on those units. Andrew, are you not entertained? Holy fuck. That's the longest offensive line breakdown I've ever heard in my life. Meanwhile, all I can think about

is if you hear young kids screaming in the background, college football is coming and EA, EA sports college football just dropped when we're taping it today. And they're maniacs. PlayStation and Xbox we had to get it for. Don't even ask me why. All right.

Next one for you, Munch. Let's keep it under 40 minutes. From Robert. Thoughts on the two Utah offensive linemen. Rich coming from me, by the way. Thoughts on the two Utah offensive linemen, Fanoo and Lomu, showing up in some mocks.

Also love you guys. No podcast, I'd rather develop a parisocial relationship. Do you know what that means? I don't even know what that means. No, but I love it. Keep him coming. I'll parissocial with you all day, Robert. What do you got, Munch?

Really, you're going to throw this. I know you texted me earlier. Listen, I got to. I'm going to go in with Lomu first. He's a red shirt sophomore. First year starting last year, very encouraging. Very exciting. off he plays left tackle

he plays left tackle for Utah he is a 6 foot 6 he's a taller guy I think well I'm gonna start with the flaws first some of the things that I want to see him improve on he's a taller guy the pads rise a little bit he can get battles to a stalemate a little too much in the run game he can falls off blocks I think he's got to do a little bit better job

of keeping his pads down but this guy can move man he is he's gonna be great in his own scheme he's a great positional blocker already I watch him in pass pro and I'm like damn He is, if he was to come out, I really believe this, if he was to come out, and if he has the same kind of year as he had last year and he came out, I think he would be a second round pick. And depending on how he tested and interviewed, he'd be in the mix. So that's how much I like Lomu. But God damn with Fano.

I mean, I can't, there are, from a technical standpoint when you watch him, you got to clean up that footwork, man. You got to clean up some of the footwork things that you're doing. But what it gives you an opportunity to see is how freaking explosive and athletic he is. You texted me one clip and I was like, whew. And he wasn't even doing anything. He just set outside and redirected inside. He is 6 foot 6.6. He's 300 pounds.

I'll start in the run game. I think he's an elite run blocker despite all his limitations. He is explosive off the ball, knockback power. He's going to drive guys. He can reach linebackers. He can fit in a zone heavy run scheme. He's got all of those tools. And yes, he plays his base narrows and he can fall off blocks,

but he's so aggressive. He stays connected. And he gets away with some of the flaws and the technique because of how aggressive he is, how athletic he is, how talented he is, and how quick he is. It's incredible to watch. And it's the same thing at Passpro, man. There are times when he gets beat, you're like, oh, well, that's, you know, like that's a problem.

And then the way he recovers, the way he gets bad, is outstanding. I mean, it is outstanding. I have no other word for it. And so to me, I'm looking at a player that can already has the athletic ability and the natural ability overcome all these flaws.

And then maybe you get him in there and you refine to get all this polished. I mean, he is scratching the surface as how good he is. The one thing I will say, I wonder about the length a little bit. I know no one wants to hear about length about offensive tackles right now.

We'll do it farther down the road. Literally nobody. In the middle of July, but I will say this. You'd be breaking down the length of a Utah offense. When Robert's asking me thoughts on him showing up in mocks, damn right he is. Damn right he is.

And I think when you do your appropriately early mock, I'm going to be pounding the table for this guy to go early. Noted. What do we get next? Up next. We got a question from Eric. When I'm going through my own evaluations on players, I think it's a good one too,

especially quarterback. How important is it to go back to the, year before and see where the prospect was compared to the now of where they are. I always do it. It tells a story. And it's the reason why we're doing it this summer. I now know the baseline for Klubnik and Nussmeyer and sellers, especially a guy like that. I want to see is there, I know it for Aller.

I know the areas they need to improve. I want to see like not only are we improving upon it, but like are they putting in the work to do it? Like part of this whole thing, man, it's like anything in life, any job you do, any relationship you have. None of us was born perfect. And so like not to get too weird about it, but like I want to know what I'm getting. I want to know that I want to know that DeAndre Moore who will get to next week at wide receiver for Texas. saw that he had 11 point whatever drop percentage and was battling the football and his body catching. I want to know, okay, he's on, he's, he's, he's, like, it's been very clear to him.

I'd be shocked if it's not a point of emphasis for coach Sark and that staff. And I'm not to single him out here, but I'm just saying that everyone has their, their weaknesses in areas they can improve. He comes out and he's attacking the ball with his hands and he's plucking and he's, and he's aggressive and more confident. I'm like, not only do I see that trade on the field. I know this is the same cat that was running 40 yards down the field blocking. And so now I start to see a whole picture of who he is. What's my investment?

And every position. So I think it's really important. We've done it for 25 years here. Go ahead. The other aspect of this, and this happens a fair amount, guys have bad years. And God forbid something like this happens, maybe there's something off the field that this distraction, maybe a family member is sick. Injury reports aren't the same in college

as the NFL, all of it. Maybe they're battling an injury. Maybe there's something going on within the program where they're not getting along with a new coach or the scheme doesn't fit them. I think it's always good. And I remember our good friend Joe Douglas told me this once, you know, former GM for the Jets.

Hugh told us, you know, some, you guys can have a bad year. What did they do the year before? Don't give up on those guys. I think Malachi Stark is sort of an example of this, the Georgia safety who went to Baltimore in the first round. I didn't think he had his grade a year last year. Two years ago, he was awesome.

Derek Stingley. Derek Stingley is a much better example. Derek Stingley at LSU is a much better example because he had that bad last year. And you could look at these players, but what was going on? So there's not only the arc and you're hoping to see the development, but there's also, well, why didn't this guy play the guy he did the year before? You dig in, you find out what was going on. And you're like, you know what?

This guy's still a guy that can go in. and help someone in the league. This is still a guy that a team should invest in an early round pick on it. So there's that side of it as well. You know, the other thing I do just as a side note, Eric, I'll go back before I do a position group and I'll go back and watch, I'll newsreel it, who are the top two or three guys that got drafted last year? Like last year when we started on Cam Ward and Shador Sanders and Jackson Dart

and all those guys, before I even started on that, I went newsreeled Jaden Daniels. Caleb Williams and Drake May. They were the top three quarterbacks taken, right? And so I do that, and I'm not watching the NFL tape, although there are times I go do that during the process as well to see where they have to get. And I'm like, you're always training your eyes, okay?

And so you do that to help remind, like, that's what it looks like. And no one from this class looked like those guys. Drake Mainwin is in a system that didn't translate. And Caleb went through his stuff at USC with the turnovers and the Notre Dame game. And Jaden made a huge jump. But when I was done with that, my eyes were trained. Okay, that's what it looks like. And I didn't see anything from this class that was at that level, but I still saw a lot of good.

And so it helped keep perspective because we're going to keep year-to-year grades, you know? So I know that's not exactly what he asked, but that's in addition to. All right. Next one for you, Munch. If you gave me that long on Utah, offensive. I'm going to pack a lunch, Tucker and Van. All right. I'm trying to be quick here. Mark and Eduardo. What's the future of Indiana football? Do you think that the 2024, that 2020 was an anomaly, or are we building something sustainable in Bloomington? Loved your write up slash podcast on Fernando Mendoza. We appreciate that, Mark. here's the thing. I'm more optimistic now that Signetti's there. I like what they're doing with

the program. They're spending a little bit money of money. But this is a new world and you have to be a little bit of a realist here and say, are you going to spend Ohio State money? Are you going to spend Michigan money? Are you going to spend Oregon money? And we're talking about just within the conference and then talking about getting back in the playoffs and being able to compete with these playoff teams. Look, I think Indiana is in a better spot that they were. I think they were really, to be honest, to be a

basement dweller in the conference. And now they're a middle of the road program that I think, depending on the schedule, like happened last year where they got a, I think that schedule favored that that run, depending on the schedule, Signetti's going to get good players, he's going to coach them well.

If everything falls their way, they can make a run, they can be an interesting team. But I'm being a real here. They are still not, I mean, they're building something sustainable and something competitive, but am I ready to put them in the top part of the league and say that they're a team that's going to go to the playoffs every year? I can't do that. I mean, I've heard they're spending $20 million, which seems like a lot of money. I try to get the exact numbers for this, and maybe I should have asked someone else. I couldn't do it, but I'm hearing teams are spending, the top teams

are spending $40 million now a year in Indiana's in the 20s. I say this, though. Okay. I hear you. You're not wrong. But he's asking, is it an anomaly? I don't think so. I think their schedule played out well. And I think they cut going to the college football playoff. Yes. But I want to say this, man, like they're also one of the best coach teams I watched on table last year. Agree. So give me, I'm not saying give me 20 million and I don't want to say better coaches. But like, but the product is being coached. with that 20 million, they're heading in the right direction. I also want to remind I.U fans, and I don't think we have to remind Mark or anyone, like, remind you, Mitch. They, CJ West and Curtis Rourke, I believe were there two draft picks last year, right? Yes. You know how many draft picks they had in 2024?

Guessing none. 23. None. 22. I'm trying to, let me, I can't even think of the last guy that was drafted out of there. 2020 was the last guy who was drafted was a tight end micha mcfadden linebacker okay 2021 Lamar johnson defensive back fifth round both fifth round okay 2020 they had one draft pick 2019 they had one draft pick none before of the fourth round

2018 is the last time that they had two 2018 six years ago seven Okay. The last time they had three drafted was back in 2016. So it would be a decade when we come up on this draft. That they had three. That was Jason Sprague's in the second round. Jordan Howard, the running back went to the Bears in the fifth. And Nate Sudfield, the quarterback who went in the sixth round to the,

they were the Redskins then, the commanders now. But 2026 draft prospects. You ready? Fernando Mendoza could be a late first. or second round pick, day two maybe. Elijah Surratt, we'll talk about on the wide receiver podcast next week, show next week. DeAngelo Pons, cornerback, Mikhail Kamara, Edge, Pat Coogan, Notre Dame transfer, right? That's five guys right there that I really believe will get drafted.

I think they're definitely going on the right direction. Look, I was concerned about their schedule. I just pulled it up. I hadn't really looked at it. They're at Oregon in October, and they're at Penn State in November. Those are two tough games. They're competitive, if not winning the rest of the,

I think the rest of those. I mean, they got Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State for Mendoza to get his feet wet. Right out of the gate, they got three opponents that they fare well against. They got Illinois at home to open the Big Ten schedule. Illinois has been tough this year. Illinois is tough.

I know, but I know. Illinois, then they got. Google me, bro. Google me. Michigan State's going to be better, I think. I mean, you're playing a Big Ten schedule. I get that. But they're competitive in the rest of those games.

All right. Next up. Go ahead. Yeah. I mean, if everything comes together. Yeah, Tucker, I might need you to bring back the music for me this time. Anyways, number, another, our next question is from Devin. We hear about GMs and or owners who get enamored with a specific trait,

whether it be speed, arm length, character, rabble strength. I like that. what do you think you would be enameled trait? What would be your enamored trait if you were in a front office? I think we'd all like to think we wouldn't get caught up in a specific trait. That's what I'd like to think too, Devin. But it probably happens to all front office personnel. And I think you're right about that too, Devin.

General, like 30,000 foot view. I used to lean more speed. Mm-hmm. And now I lean more sturdy strength power. because it's a man's game and I've learned my biggest mistakes, obviously not a quarterback or even skill positions,

but wide receiver. Some of my bigger mistakes have been, God, that speed, my goodness, it's, you know. But if you don't have the power behind it, it doesn't, it typically doesn't work out the way that you expect it to. So, he mentioned,

character in this. So I'm going to, I'm going to address it that this is what my hope would be. The first two things I would look at are, are they a student of the game and what's their work ethic? Because when I hear the greats talk and they talk about, you know, I talk, you know, again, I'm going to reference a video about Devante Adams playing wide receiver. I love this video. He talks about talking to Doug Baldwin about his release and Doug Baldwin talks about watching Alan Iverson's crossover to learn about. about his release. Same video, Adams is talking about a 2017 route that he ran, that they tweak to run another way in a later game.

This is a guy who's a student of the game, who he wants to learn. And some guys aren't students in the game in college, they haven't been exposed to it, but when you bring them in, do they get excited about their crafts? Do they get excited about what they can do better and about what you think you can do with them? And then, do they have the work ethic

to reach that potential? And to me, all of it's important. Like Devin said, I don't want to get enamored with one trait. Every player is a cocktail of different things that can get you to where you want to be. It's a very complicated process. But for me, I'm looking at work ethic and are you a student of the game? Because I think those two things are way more important than any physical trait. Yes, there are things that you cannot play in the NFL.

You cannot play wide receiver in the NFL if you weigh 290 pounds and you're on 6. You just can't do it. Like, those are things that will knock you out. But those will be the two traits that I would look for. for it. Yeah, I guess I'm, yes, no question. But I do, there is definitely a, a psychological profile for every NFL team. Right. I do find it laughable sometimes that, that general managers who are most successful in the world talk about like the makeup of their team and the psychological, and then they go draft a player who's like had all the stuff. And then the immediate, not excuse,

the immediate response is, well, we built such a character, high character locker room. And I believe it. Like, I'm not saying they're wrong. And you can pluck a guy here or two, you know, one or two guys here or there, if they're that talented and you've got enough veteran leadership and all that stuff. I'm just saying like, if on board with my coaching staff and you have to be to be successful in this, I'm going to build, and I'm talking, traits. I'm going to build a roster that is more built on physicality, strength, 17 games,

grown-ass men versus Philadelphia, Baltimore. Yeah. They're all the same. All these teams that are winning over the Packers, like you said, the Ravens, the Bills now, They're built on the powerful. That's what lasts in the NFL. I agree. I also, it's just a side note.

I was talking to a head coach once and he said, you know, we were just talking philosophy in it. And he said, it's so hard to do. Just like Schottenheimer told me once on the ESPN set, when they were on commercial, like the hardest thing to do as an evaluator is predict what a human being is going do with more money, free time and fame than they've ever had before, right? It's a heart that combination going to be deadly, deadly to predict.

This other head coach, we're really like digging into the psychology of all of it. And he said, it's hard to find, but I'm when I'm going through this interview process and I'm talking to our psychologists and I'm reading all the tests that they take and I'm going, I'm going into these all of this with the mindset of i'm trying to find this perfect blend of in a player i absolutely need football like a rabid animal i need it i don't have a family to rely on i don't have money and i don't have i don't have a support group i don't have any like literally my whole fucking life is football. I have to have. There's nothing else. I'm not, I can't go work a job. I don't have any, I got nothing. And I'm coachable. And it's hard to find that because this comes from

not a lot of good upbringing times or time. And it's not forever, but I'm just, it was an interesting conversation of like, like, this is the only thing for me. I'm not going to have any, like, I have to have this. So I'm going to give every little, and I don't know any better than, like, give it, give everything. But then to have that personality that's also trustworthy, shows up on time, coachable, listens, trusts me. It's fascinating, right? Yeah. All right.

You don't seem so fascinated. I was. Go ahead. Todd, Mench. What has been your absolute most memorable college game day atmosphere? and you have a you're going to have this is going to be tough for you and what region's school towns do you most enjoy visiting if you're ever in south florida would love to host you at our restaurant mandolin aegean bistro in miami i've never been to miami mc shay that's from matt we're going to

reach out to our boy magnus see if he's been i love miami man that does not surprise me i love Miami. I love going out to L.A. for the USC games, UCLA games, Rose Bowl. I have my own little world in both of those spots. I don't do like what everyone else does. Don't. Don't throw out 50 places. Give me the one. Give me the- So I grew up going to Ohio State, Michigan. My grandfather, as I've told a lot of people, Marshall Brown, worked as a back in the day where they used to have probably legal now again, they used to have area recruiters. And he had the Sandusky, Northeast, Ohio area. for Michigan, okay. Bo Schembeckler, he went to college with, my grandmother went to college with,

my grandmother and Bo were from the same small town, Barberton, Ohio, okay? And so they grew, like, when my grandfather passed, Bo was there. Like, that's how close that they were. Like, it was at the actual funeral with, like, security, bringing them in the whole deal and hugs and talks and all that stuff. And so, like, there's nothing more special to me because of my, you know, the nostalgic aspect of it, my family and all that, Ohio State, Michigan, and it is wonderful.

But I'll never forget the first time I did early, early in my career working for ESPN, the first time I ever got down to the SEC, I was working with Ron Franklin and Mike Godfrey, who actually just called me the other day. Most of you go come down and speak this fall in Mobile, Alabama. And Mike, I remember talking to him early in the week, and we were talking, he's like, have you, because we had now, I had been to like Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, like, I've been to a bunch of good games. We got the Iron Bowl. Wow, yeah. And it was like my first year covering college football.

Wow. I was, I was like kind of a spotter would write football notes and was there to do a bunch of stuff, including babysitting. Ron and Mike when they were getting feisty. I remember those stories. But like Ohio State, Michigan was passionate, but they had a lot of like friendly fire jokes. And it was passionate and it was deep rooted and it was family. And you don't talk about, but it was like a certain level of sophistication and

respectfulness, but like anger and hate and all that stuff. The Iron Bowl was different, man. Gloves off, huh? Well, like, people die over the Iron Bowl. Like, families, like, and so you get there, and you're walking down the street, and it's like, roll tide, like, War Eagle, you know, like, it was just a different, and I remember walking in the stadium at Jordan Hare and Auburn

and being like, oh, my, like, the cracking of the pads and like, I don't know, all of it. So that was my first entree into, like, Oh, it is. Yeah, that's cool. But honestly, the Rose Bowl, like, I would never forget. It was Brian Greasy versus Brian Leif. I went to that Rose Bowl with my grandfather towards some of his last years.

I went to that Rose Bowl with him. I went on to work with Brian for like five years and we're really good friends now. So like, but like having that memory and then coming full circle and going back and working, you know, doing pregame with ABC and ESPN, the Rose Bowl, like, tough to beat how special that is to me and my family um but ls u night game dude you can't help yourself ls u night game uh the cuisines the cuisines the the smells the two days leading up going all the we did a whole no one watched it but we did a whole thing on where would tod be scouting this week this week and uh

There's nothing like, literally nothing like. If you have one shot, if you're in the audience, you got one shot. Someone says you get one opportunity or you can scratch up the money, you have one chance to go to one place, one environment. I love Georgia. I love Tennessee. I love all the places. Do an LSU night game.

The swamp's pretty cool too with Tom Petty. All right. Here we go. All right. Next question. Yes. I, yeah. It's funny.

I love it. I you, I you for 40 minutes and Utah tackles. All right. Big Chargers fan here. This is from John. Big Chargers fan here. It sounds like the knock on Omarin Hampton is it his vision is inconsistent. Is that something that can be approved upon as a pro?

How much do scouts weigh that running back evaluations? I'm going to throw it back to you real quickly in this. To me, if there was one like flying the ointment with Hampton, it was, tight quarters got to make a got to make a quick lateral he wasn't like a runway back where he needed but like if you got him going then he had to make a quick and in like tight quarters that's when he got tripped up okay um but i love him in that offense the vision thing what wasn't as much a thing for me but go ahead it wasn't for me either but it's interesting the way he phrases it here and says his vision is inconsistent which maybe to

me is suggesting that he's not synced up with that offensive line in that system yet. I think that maybe that's the problem is that he's still learning to read some of those blocks. I don't think his vision was an issue. I'd be surprised if it was an issue going forward, but I do think there's a time where you've got to sync up with your offensive lineman, you're understanding how they do things. It's a new kind of way. There's an adjustment period. I will say this, it's a big deal for scouts. I mean, there have been some big name running backs that came out and I'm thinking about one from Alabama specifically I'm not going to say who didn't do that well in the pros and a lot of it there's a lot of video of him just missing

gaps it is an issue like it's an important trait for running back to have people want to know whether or not you can read your blocks and get to the right right spot it's a huge deal of a running back evaluation I'm going to keep this one short all right what do we get next next we got hey guys love the content and being ahead of the game when it comes to players before the season begins. It's been phenomenal. I've always wondered how grading gets tabulated when we get close to the draft. I've seen numbers like 93, 90, 85 thrown out there, but have never known how you've gotten there. Is there a specific formula or is it more of a feel that brings you there? I apologize if you've gone over this before and I missed it. Appreciate everything you and the team do. Jonathan.

No, it's just experience. It's 25 years of doing this. It's making mistakes. It's overgris. It's over. great, you know, being too high on one and learning. I've often compared our process to air traffic control. Like you start out in May for the next year and like we're just trying to get all the planes up in the air and had them point them in the right direction. And then kind of as we get into the fall, we're kind of figuring out a, you know, a landing pattern who, which, which planes are going to land in this, you know, certain airports and kind of shepherd them all there.

Then when we get to the pre-draft process, like the, from the combine on, but even a little bit before that, we're trying to figure out exactly like flight, you know, arrival times, like, 9.53, six minutes later, like, 9.59. You know what I mean? Like, so that hopefully, Jonathan, that provides like a little. But bigger picture, you just kind of know through experience. It seems like a cop out. Like that guy.

And here's what we just kind of said it. A few answers ago, I always, when we start out the process, I'll go back to the last three years all the time. I keep the tallies. I keep, get a sense of, all right, here are the guys. Where does he fit? So when we get done with a Nussmeyer, it's like, is he between a Cam Ward and a Jackson Dart?

is he better than could he be better than cam ward where where's he project like where's where's his uh assent uh and then two years ago we talk about is he is he is he Caleb is he jaden is he drait you know and so that helps formulate and then you look at their grades and you're just like you know i'm going to give them a 92 right now that's comfortable for me it's in the ballpark we're heading towards it knowing that i got a lot of time to figure out exactly like what altitude how they're coming in, what exact landing time and all of that stuff. So grade-wise, though, let's get more into this because I think that's more of a, and I think that addresses part of the question about ranking, where you rank a guy.

And we have discussed this before. I think it's good to go over it again. What is a 90 in our system, a 90 to a 99? So we didn't design it this way, and quite frankly, we had a different grading. You hear a lot about like the Ravens and the Eagles and a lot of them have the statement. It's like 6.7, 6.2. Originally, Gary Horton, who started this whole thing back at the war room and turned into ESPN Scouts Inc. when the ESPN bought us out.

They were like, we get your system, but like it seems like we're going to spend a lot of time on air. And we have graphics and all that. So can you give us one to 100? Okay. So we, 100 is, is not reachable. I think like Andrew Luck was a 99. It used class with like a 97, 99. you know um first round is 90 and again it's if you go through we i could read you our grading

scale the 90 to 99 is essentially like these are all pro consistent like we believe that this player is going to be a consistent year in year out all pro we should get this in a mailbag by the way this would be good to get in a mailbag that but i'm happy to do it yeah okay these are like really good starters, impact players, but but 70s, and that equated, that it's just worked out where the 90s are typically first round, 80s or second, 70s or third, that 70 range is where it starts to shift to like, maybe it's a nickel corner, maybe, you know, maybe it's a backup who's going to develop. Maybe it's someone who's not quite there yet, but we're betting on the potential,

all those sorts of things. 60s or fourth round, typically. 50s or fifth, 40s or six. 30s are 31 to 39 is seventh round and then we give 30s for undrafted free agents. 30, like the actual number, not 31, 30. Yeah, I think that helps clear it up a little bit. And it is a field thing, though. When you're looking at it, it's still a feel of, I think this guy could be this in the league.

And that's how you're kind of ending up with that grade. And we do this position specifics and those are an aid too. When you go through the position specifics and the highway speed, all those helps get you to the grade, but at the end of the day, it really is a feeling. All right, next one. How far out are front offices thinking about the quality of an upcoming draft class and how does that play into their personnel moves and planning strategy? For example, let's say the class of quarterbacks next year doesn't look great,

but the early read on 2027 is strong. Does that impact how they manage draft capital or structure contracts, Michael? It does. And I don't want to overplay it, but I don't want to underplay it here. there's always an eye towards okay there's always an eye towards what's coming up everyone in the scouting community

knows that Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams and probably Arch Manning are all going to mean the 2027 draft what does happen though and this is where I think it's really applicable and I think the Rams just were an example of it and I think the Eagles and Howie Roseman annually are

and there are several other teams, but I'm just trying to give recent examples of this year's class isn't as good maybe overall, or this year's class isn't good at a position we need, specifically quarterback for the Rams. So let's, and combine that with, we got one,

Matthew Stafford for one more year definitively. So let's, let's move out of the first round, pick 26. The Giants came up, I believe it was, for Jackson Dart. and let's get the second let's get a first rounder next year so now we get two maybe arches in that class maybe we're in love with klebnik okay so that's an example um i hear stories i talk to

people shouldn't say like i talk to people who are telling me stories of we kind of we knew next year's group was going to be great so we weren't as desperate to do it this year plus combine that with what do we have under contract that's the part where i think everyone's like it's gm good how did he draft like it's just a tiny part of what they do man when you talk to like when we sat down and talked to howie when we talk to eric de costa when you talk even when we're talked off mike about like the contracts that are coming up and how we manage the cap but also is this guy aging or we set behind him. And then you look at, you look at Howie and what he did with the Eagles and like how deep they are on the defensive line. Well, it wasn't just, let's just draft all Georgia defensive line.

And it's, I know this contract's coming up. So I got to bring somebody in to be in the back end because I can't afford to pay him, him, him, him and him, you know? Yeah. I think you make a really good point about the Rams. I think the Browns are another good, good example of a team that picked up another the first rounder as guys that can go up and get a talent maybe in two years, you know, if you're going to do that. If you're looking at someone, that's why the Cleveland Brown thing was so fascinating to me was why if you got those two first round picks and you're thinking about getting a quarterback in this draft, why are you then later on drafting too? That's something that didn't make sense to me. I guess you can't have enough. You can't have enough and maybe one of them is great.

And then maybe so you can't have enough. No, you can't. I don't think you can have enough edge rushers. I don't think you can have, like there are positions you can't have enough. Quarterbacks, not one of them. You are saying you can't have enough. Let's have them work all off season in training camp and then next off season.

And like, and look at, Matt Flynn. It's a great idea in a bubble, man. I get it. It's a great idea of bubble. Look at Matt Flynn coming. When I start naming players,

look at when I start naming players that they could have gotten with that Dylan Gabriel pick in two years in three years and about places they have need and they have a different quarterback. What if Dylan Gabriel is awesome? And now I get two first round picks. I get a pass rusher and a star wife. Candy and nuts. We'll see, man.

So then I'll tell, then I'll name the players. If Gabriel hits, I'll name the players they could have got when they got Sanders. It's great idea in a bubble. And I like drafting a quarterback every year. You were probably the one who thought it was crazy to draft after drafting RG3 to draft Kirk Cousins.

I had questions about it. Yeah. There was questions about it. And that worked out. That worked out. There's no question that worked out. They drafted Kirk Cousins' third round and then then draft another quarterback after that. I mean, like, listen, I get it.

There's certain times where you can do an unorthodox thing. I get that. Getting back to this question specifically, I will say this. Such a friendly afternoon. Yeah, do you drive me nuts with that. You can't have too many. So there's a kind of a loser's mentality with looking too far ahead. You really want to address your team.

You don't want to be in a position where you're going to get Jeremiah Smith. So you have to have draft capital to go get them. because if you're getting draft Jeremiah Smith and you have an eye towards that and you're not addressing your roster because of that, man, that's a bad look because you're hoping to get a top three pick. So I think that I understand the teams do it a little bit,

but you really have to address. And it's a dude, you got to win now. So I do think there's more of an immediacy to what teams do and they do, they have an idea of what's going on. They're not, you know, they have more than idea of what's going on, what's coming on and what's coming on the pipe,

but they're not waiting for someone to save their team two years from now or a year from now because they just can't do that. They don't know what's going to happen. God forbid someone gets an injury. God forbid something else happens. All of those things. You got to address and build the best team that you can,

I think, year by year. Hey, Josh, you had no way of knowing it, but you picked a really shitty time to ask. First of all, congratulations to you, Mench and the producers and behind the scenes crew for building the mickey. Shay show into a must watch podcast. My question for both of you, what do you believe the others greatest scouting strength is? I want to leave it open-ended for a 10,000-foot view answer

or a more or a more granular one, Josh. So thank you. It's the 13th and final question. It was not great timing. You had no idea on it, but I can put our differences aside and I'll start. And you just saw, and as this is the case with everybody in the world, their greatest strength can also be your, your kryptonite, right? Like how you're saying, it's also a flaw. Thank you. No. My greatest strengths are my flaws, I promise you. But as you just saw for my good friend, Steve, he's emotionally invested.

And sometimes it creates a blind spot, but like, 99% of the time, it's, it's, I'm grinding the work. I trust the work. I trust the process. Todd, I don't give a shit what anyone else says. Why is, why is this great change? But, but, but, but, but. So as a compliment to one another, one of the strengths I appreciate,

and obviously it takes a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of tape study. It takes an eye for talent. But the nuance part that I appreciate about Steve is there's no fucking wavering with this man. it is what it is. It's black and white. I may have to run off and do TV.

I've got to do this. I've got to do that. I've got all sorts of things big picture to worry about. Steve keeps us right here where we belong. Our grade is our grade. We don't care about anybody else. Don't care about what shows up on TV. Don't care about how long a player is going to be waiting to have his name on the board.

If we say he's a 94 and he doesn't go to the fourth round, I don't give a shit. We gave him a 94. that part i many many things i could go on for half hour even though he's annoying me right now of all the strengths dementia has but he is not afraid to break the norm he is going to stick with it and that that is a great compliment for me and all the kind of the peripheral stuff that i have to deal with all right i'm gonna there's going to be some groans with the guys guys listening in but i'm gonna go three i'm gonna go quick there's going to be three the first is is Todd's ability to develop relationships

and gather information and develop trust and get really good information and know how to use that information, know who to trust. That's something I admire. It's something that you've done. You started early on in your career, and I think it's paid off in big ways

over the course of your career. The second thing I'm going to say is work ethic. You know, we do, Todd and I do do do different things. over the week, we develop different roles. So it's not like he's doing the same things that I'm doing, but I know he's always working when I'm working. There is no easy way to do what we do. There is no shortcuts.

And I think that's true about anything in life, whether it's playing an instrument, whether it's learning, whether you're writing a book. There are very few shortcuts in life, man. And so the work ethic for me is something that stands out. And the third one is one that I think that was a weakness for you early on. And I think you've gotten way better at, and that's listening.

I think that earlier on, you were, you know, as bullish as I can be at times, and I think as you've gotten older and as you've gotten more experience, you're much better at listening to, and not necessarily just, you know, when I don't say listening, I'm not saying, oh, I tell him something and he goes and does it or he changes something. It's, okay, I have to reconsider. I think you've gotten to be a better listener as you've gotten older. This is such a sweet way to end. Yeah. Thank you for your kind words. My blood is boiling. Yeah, you're still pissed off of a, can't have enough quarterbacks. All right, this is fun.

Thank you again. Tomorrow, the McShay report, premium subscribers. We've got, I've got a whole stack of papers. Great, freaking questions, by the way. Great questions. So we're going to keep doing this.

This is going to be a consistent thing that we do. I don't know if it's going to be quarterly every couple months, what we're going to do, but we're going to put this in the spinning wheel of content that we're going to continue to do. We appreciate you guys taking the time to write it. We appreciate you watching.

We appreciate you downloading, subscribing, liking, all of it. We really do. We're getting fired up for the season, but I'm more fired up to go barbecue right now and see what these kids are up to and see if they've finished the first game of EA college football. Mench, I appreciate you, brother. I appreciate you too, ma'am.

All right, we'll see you guys next week. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-888-88-889-77777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut or visit MD gambling help.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gambling helplinema.org or call 1-800-327-50-50 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts. Or call 1877-8-8-Hope-N-Y or text Hope NY in New York.