The McShay Show - Rookie Class Predictions, Award Winners, and Superlatives

Episode Date: May 14, 2026

Welcome back to The McShay Show! Today, the guys are spinning the rookie-class conversation forward with bold predictions, award winners, and superlatives.(00:00) Welcome to The McShay Show!(03:55) Better as a Pro Award(10:05) The Missing Piece Award(17:15) The Outlier Didn’t Matter Award(24:15) “How Did He Fall?” Award(30:35) Should’ve Gone Top Five Award(36:40) Extend the GM Award(41:35) Future 'Madden' 99 Overall Club Member(45:40) The Muench’s Trenches Award(48:30) The McShay “Sam Roush Oatmeal” Award(53:15) Offensive Rookie of the Year(55:15) Defensive Rookie of the Year The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines. Host: Todd McShayGuest: Steve MuenchProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Conor Nevins, and Daniel ComerSocial: Abou Kamara Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We got a fun one today. 26 NFL rookie class predictions and award winners. It's a Dan Comer joint. I'll explain in a little bit. Just 350 days until the NFL draft. You good, Munch? I'm not in the backseat of a waymo, so yeah, I'm pretty good. What is wrong with you?

Tucker, roll the beat, please. Dan Comers are producing. He's fully producing this show. We finally have just given him the green light. All right, I've heard enough. You don't like the way I structure things around here, Dan. So you produce the band thing. And that's what he's done.

And I think it's actually turned out to be a pretty good show. We'll see how we execute it. Mention it's all on us now. Rookie class. It's the rookie class is in. And we've kind of dissected by round. We've gone over fits. We've done every which way.

Let's kind of spin it forward, right? Right? Like we've done all those, the things that we normally do. So now we're spinning it forward with the rookie predictions. And yeah, we're talking some fake awards, some real awards, and kind of everything in between. So, and we'll continue to project the rookie class when we come back on Monday. Monday show is going to be fantasy football expectations. It's also going to be a Dan Comer joint.

See how things go. See if he gets a third joint come middle of next week. But the third joint in middle next week, just a reminder to everyone, if you're not a subscriber to the McShay report, subscribe now. Google it, the McShea report, and you can subscribe there. Or you can jump on our website, and I'm sure a lot of people, traffic's been awesome there, man. The website that we're developing, and we saw phase one of phase one of, I like to call it, for the 2026 draft.

It's the ringer.com slash McShay. It's going to develop into our all-encompassing database. And on there, you can just go and right there is the McShay report. If you subscribe, you get all our pre-Shay. medium content, and for this situation, you're going to get an email to your inbox directly from me, asking for questions. Send in those questions, and we're going to do a whole show, just answer your question. We can finally take a deep breath, right?

And there's a lot of big picture questions that were asked about our scouting process or what people in the league are doing, or how do you attack this? Those are some of the questions we'll get to, and then any other specific questions, how's this guy going to fit our team? what you know what uh what uh what i get excited about for for the third or fifth round pick whatever you want to ask throw it in there we'll get to as many questions as we can middle of next week um all right man let's open this thing up let's go we got a few short awards we're going to end with offensive defensive rookies of the year

okay and i should note as dan put in his trusty notes if you ever see me looking down during the show today. It's because I'm trying to follow the producer's lead. I'm trying to be a good boy. This is why we need Dan on camera, by the way. So he can roll in here, like, here we go. I've already talked to the executives. They are in the process of shipping a camera and lighting to him so we can get more.

He's bulked up now, man. We got to get him on camera. Bulking season. It's bulking season post draft. All right, let's just kick it off. But we're going to revisit these predictions at the end of the year, which will be the end of the NFL season, right? So we'll have some good laughs, I'm sure. All right, I'll throw it to you, Munch.

The better as a pro award, this goes to a good college player. Obviously, they were drafted, but maybe someone that were expecting to kind of come in their own and blossom and maybe have a better pro career than even the one that got them drafted from their college ranks.

I'm starting off with Marlon Klein, the tight end, the Texas. took. I like that. We've hit on him a little bit, right? I mean, he 38 catches for 364 yards and a touchdown in college. And it's kind of easy to see why, to be honestly. Michigan's passing attack has been a mess the past two seasons.

I think that's really hurting. I don't know what was a harder experience. Let's just call it what it is. Watching Underwood try to hit the broadside of a barn or Marcel Reed? It's not good. And I hope that Underwood turns around, man, because he's so talented. But whatever. I'm not falling down that rabbit hole.

Okay, go ahead. I'm not going down. I'm not falling into that trap. But let's focus. Let's spin it forward because I think we've talked about that a lot. And why I think where he landed with Houston is going to be a big deal for him. And when you look at it, first of all, who's your offense coordinator? It's Nick Cayley.

And what was Nick Cayley before he was an offense coordinator? He was the tight ends coach for the Rams. And he was the tight ends coach for the Patriots. These are two organizations that really know how to develop and use tight ends. And I know that they had some talented guys there. I know that Rob Grunkowski was going to be good wherever he went. I understand all of that. But this guy has a tight end background.

You look at Dalton Schultz last year. He had 106 targets. And I know Dalton Schultz is still there for another couple of years. I understand that. I think they're going to get Marlon Klein involved. And here's why he's 6'6. He's 248 pounds. He runs a 461.

When you watch them on tape, and he gets an opportunity to make a play. He's going to make a play. And then out onto that, think about the rash of injuries that the Texans have dealt with at the outside receiver position. I think Marlon Klein's going to get more run

that people might realize, even with Dalton Schultz, still there. I think they know how to use tight ends. I think this kid is so talented. It's going to be hard not to get him the ball. And immediately, it would not surprise me if he had better numbers as a rookie that he did his entire career at Michigan,

which is three seasons. It wouldn't shock me either. And I can remember sitting here doing his tape study and watching specific plays being like, oh, I wish there was more of this. And to see him drafted where he was drafted was like the league saw it too. Like I told you that like that seam route against Texas in the bowl game, just getting whacked.

But down the scene, popping right up, the speed. He's got some tools. man. That's a good call. I'm going to go with the first rounder, and you say, well, he got drafted in the first round. He obviously had a good college career, and he did. But Keldrick Falk out of Auburn, I just have this clear vision. And I think that was the thing when talking to some people in the league is they felt like they lacked a clear vision. Well, my clear vision for what he could be when I did his report was, and I saw some shades of Rishan Gary, but a lot more shades of Eric.

Armstead. Love it. Love that comp. Yeah, especially this defense, but go on. Sorry. And then they get, and then he gets drafted by the Titans. Guess who was Eric Armstead's coordinator at San Francisco? And I'm like, you know?

Fox, just for folks who maybe, you know, are clued in on all. Six foot six, two hundred and seventy-six pounds, 34 and three-eighth inch arm length. His sack production was not great. I get it. Of the top 10 edge rushers in this class, he had the lowest pass rush win rate, I think it was 11.3. But, man, did I see flashes when he kicked inside, you know?

And thinking about him, the utilization, excuse me, and Robert Sala and that defense for the Titans, they traded up for him for a reason. They didn't want to wait until the early second round and risk a team taking him in those handful of picks between where they moved up to get him. And thinking of Sala, like, utilizing him on the first and tens

or like second and threes or, you know, like obvious, not obvious, but higher percentage rundowns on the edge, setting a hard edge with his length, and then kicking him inside on third and 13, you know, third and nine even, second and 14, whatever it is. And like I can still in my mind see him. There are like a handful of plays

where it's like that quick first step with his length against short-armed guards. It was such a mismatch when he was reduced inside as a pass rusher. So I'm intrigued by that fit. And we knew like Edge was certainly a neat area even though they brought in Germain Johnson. They brought in Franklin, John Franklin Myers.

They still needed defensive line help. and they need some. Oh, Dejo coming back. They, yeah, but they. Right. But we knew that they were going to take a guy and to bring in a DeForest Buckner, Eric Armstead type for Sala. I just think that this is a great fit.

I think you're going to see some of his best past production, whether that's in the form of a sack or pressures, whatever it is, it's kind of that three technique and some obvious passing notes. Right. This whole thing of is it a three-man front, is a four-man front, those things. People need to kind of get out of that. that thinking. Everybody's multiple. And Keldrick Falk is going to be that three.

He's going to be that four. I's going to be a five. You're going to see him moving all around, around offensive tackles and guards, super talented player. I think he's probably the best example of a dude is going to be, especially in the first round. Maybe Monroe Friling, the offensive tackle with the Carolina guy could be another guy that we could have targeted.

But I think Keldar Falk's a really obvious one. I like that one. All right. On to the next one. I like this one. The Missing Peace Award. This is for a player that you feel like, okay, they insert them already a playoff team or like a team that just needs to take that next step, whether it's get into the playoffs, deep run in the playoffs. Like this is a piece that that organization, that football team needed. And you feel like they got it in the draft.

And we could see them being a part of why this organization takes that next step. I'm going to Eli Stowers. Another second round guy for the Philadelphia Eagles. And don't give me McCai Lemon because I like McKay, Lemon. I like that pick. He's not an upgrade over AJ Brown. If AJ Brown is leaving the building, you didn't get better at wide receiver, and that's why I couldn't go there.

But Eli Stowers is interesting to me, man. Sean Manion, the new offense coordinator, is a little bit of a wild car, but we can expect because he coached under Matla floor in Green Bay and that he played in some McVeigh systems. I think we're going to see some wide zone. I think we're going to see some play action against systems that know how to use

the tight end. And I imagine these, you know, kind of play action boots where you have Stowers as your backside tight end engages for a second and then releases and Jalen Hertz just dumps the ball off to the flat and this guy and he has the wheels to make plays after. I hate when other people say this.

I am such a hypocrite, but I think you have to look at Stowers as a weapon more than just a tight end and I should take all kinds of heat for that because I give everyone else a hard time about it. I think they're going to use them in a number of different ways. I think he is, I like the Dallas Goddard's coming back. I like that he doesn't have to be the number one tight end because now you can use them in different ways.

The other thing I think we'll see for Manning is motions. And this guy, because of his frame, his mind, his ability to exploit different coverages, and his speed is a matchup nightmare. And when you put in the element of motion and now you have defenses declaring coverages, I think the Eli Stowers pick, when we look back at it all, people are going to be like, wow, how he did it again. That was a great one. I don't disagree.

And essentially he's another essentially those two picks were on wide receivers. Pass catchers, right? Whatever way you want to look at it, yeah. And teams more so, and I feel like we'd throw that out a lot pre-draft, but teams more so were looking at him as like

in the receiver room than they were in the tight end room. The more I dug in and talked to teams. So they're clearly planning for life after, after A.J. Brown. And, and, and that's a pretty good way to do it with, with, like, proven commodities, guys that are really good at what they do in Lemon and Stowers. But I agree with you. Stowers, Stowers could be a weapon that diversifies them a little bit, right?

Yeah. I'm going to go with Edge, Akeem Messador, Chargers. It's a good one. I, I, um, I texted Joe Ortiz after that. And I was like, you must have said your prayers, taking your vitamins, and done all the right things to have Messador fall to you at 22, man.

Like, I just didn't think he was going to get that far. There were a lot of teams. He's old, Todd, but he's too old. He's going to retire in two years. He's got, he's already, like, looking at timeshares in Buena Vista, Florida or somewhere like that. No, I know. And Joe told me that he and Jim were really, really worried about

in six, seven, seven, eight years what was going to happen with that. What are we doing? It was like broken up about, you know, in five years, like we'll have to re-evaluate. I'm not sure this is going to be the right. What are we talking about? It's crazy.

Good point. But I don't know. I was not the biggest, I was not like an anti-Herbert coming out. I was not the biggest fan. Because everything that I said about Herbert coming out, is believe it or not, and I took so much shit for it, it's exactly what's happened.

It doesn't take a Super Scout to figure out this guy's supremely talented. But Winners win was my argument. And I just didn't, having sat in the room with him, where an offensive linemen are kind of talking for him and see, like, I just didn't know. But I'm seeing Herbert develop, and I don't mean as a quarterback. It's like, I'm seeing him develop like an edge about him. And like, and last year I thought could be.

the breakthrough year. That's a different Justin Herbert than I sat within the room in Eugene Oregon. I have a troubled time. A tough time talking today. And so that part's exciting, but then the offensive line collapses and all the injuries. I'm telling you, man, this Chargers team

is, in my estimation as we sit here in May, might be the scariest team in the league. It just might be. Because they were so close and then the injuries, but now you get the guys back healthy. And so then you look at all right, personnel-wise,

they lost Odafei away, right, and free agency. Yep. You've got one edge in Tully, the other edge in Khalil, but you got to have a third. You got to have that, like, that closer, that ringer that you bring in on third downs and keep these guys fresh and allow you to be a little like NASCAR and do some unconventional things.

So that's what Messador is. And he's an absolute dog. and guess what? Yeah, you can look at his career and the production wasn't there for a while and he had some injuries and he's 25 years old, but the light came on. You know why he came on?

Because he learned how to do it. And he learned how to do it from one of the NFL's greatest of all time and Jason Taylor, right? And you don't just forget how to do it the year after. So this guy's coming in loaded for bear and he's going to bring a nastiness and like an extra surge.

I honestly like, give me, give me all day long, Messador, over Odafei all day long. Yeah, I agree. So this, and what looked like, oh, I don't like the fact that they lost their third, third edge rusher and pass rush specialist, this is actually an upgrade. So that's why I think they could put, this Chargers team, I got to find, Tucker, find out for Fan duel. What's the Chargers odds to win the Super Bowl next year?

I think I might put a little I'm going to encourage that let's put it that way all right who do you well you want stowers okay next next category the outlier

didn't matter a word plus 1,600 plus 1600 just saying it's interesting that's wow I my brain just caught up with what you were saying

I like that, man. Plus 1600. How many teams are ahead of them? I would guess they're like seventh on the list or something, if it's plus 1600. It could be wrong. All right, outlier that didn't matter. That's sixth.

Six on the list. Yeah. Outlier that didn't matter. A player most likely to overcome the red flag measurable that we talked about so much leading up to the draft. Who's that guy for you? This is like role reversal because I already know who you're going to talk about. And I just want to make it clear that you clearly stole him from me.

But that's fine. because I'm going to go, I'm going to go with a guy that you, you could have talked about. Well, that's what happens. You get your answers into your producer first. You, I don't know what you were doing yesterday, but apparently you were just waiting for Dan. You and I don't know if Dan gave you some kind of a heads up and you just got the answer. You got the questions before. I didn't.

It felt a little bit. It felt a little bit. Maybe you guys were going behind the big guy. Well, you guys were, no. No, I was actually in a meeting. I was tied up. I got done with something. and I looked down and you guys had like 47 texts back and forth.

And so when you guys were done with your cute, like, you know, oh, that's such a great job, Dan. You produced such a great show. Maybe we could break it into two shows, all that stuff. I just got hammering on answers. Go ahead. There, yes. Good for you.

Dan did say it had to be immeasurable, by the way. I don't listen to Dan all the time. Sorry, Dan. Because I'm going with a guy who's an outlier for a different reason. I didn't fall into the trap of Ruben Bain Jr., who I love and I think he's going to be a guy who overcomes the outlier. it's not going to matter. Cassius Howell I'm more concerned about. But the guy I went with was our boy Ty Simpson and the starts and how he has way too many

starts for a guy to be successful. But it comes back to this. He has a general manager in less need who knows how to build a roster is going to continue to put him or whoever the quarterback is, but in this situation, it's going to be Ty Simpson. He's going to put the quarterback in the best position to succeed, whether that's through trades or the draft or whatever they got to do to build that roster the right way. And then you have Sean McVeigh, who's one of the greatest play callers, I think in the history of the game,

and I'm not going to, I'm not, I don't think that's hyperbole. I think he's that good. And you have a quarterback who's one of the reasons why he can overcome this lack of experience is he has a different kind of brain. And he can process and handle information in a different way,

and he can handle the McFey offense. One of my favorite clips of all time is Matt Stafford in the huddle with McVeigh, calling the play and Matt Stafford saying he's still going. He's still talking because that's what that offense is. It's so designed. And I mean, it's so, I don't like to use the word complicated.

I will use the word sophisticated. And I think that Simpson can handle that sophisticated kind of offense. So even though I'm not convinced that Simpson's going to get there, I'm still not. These are the reasons why I think he's in the best position to overcome, overcome being an outlier. I love that you're coming aboard on the Ty Simpson. And we knew it as soon as he went to the Rams, by the way. We knew that this was going to be the conversation. We covered that in nauseam.

There's a lot. There's a lot that has to play out before I feel like, you know, I have conviction and how it went down and feel good about that. But let's, you know, the verdict's still out. I'm going to go with, yeah, you're right. It is role reversal. Spencer Fana, your favorite offensive lineman in the draft and you're our offensive line guy.

But I just, I like this fit. And at the end of the day, I think this is the case for both of these guys, two of the biggest outliers at their respective positions in Simpson and Fano. Ruben Bain was the other one. He fell a little bit, so I felt more comfortable. Fano was the first offensive lineman off the board with those short arms as a projected offensive tackle, right? 32 and 1 eighth of an inch was 32 and 3.3.3.

quarters at the Utah Pro Day. Why, first of all, Cleveland saw what I think, what I know you saw and what I saw, this guy can be different and be an outlier because a character,

the way he's wired, B, athleticism, C, experience, and on both sides. D, versatility. And E, fit for Cleveland, okay? with that Todd Monk in offense, with the different things, especially some of the outside zone stuff that he majored in

in kind of a unique Utah offense where I'm watching, and he's like running out to the sideline more than most tackles you've ever seen in your life. Yeah. But I just look at this situation, right? And I jot it down some notes. This organization has tried for so long. I can think of all the times they had two picks in the first round.

They took a skill guy, whether it was like a corner or receiver, and they took a quarterback, you know, and whether that was, I'm trying to think, Brady Quinn, Brandon Whedon, oh, Johnny Mansell, right?

And they never felt like they, Baker Mayfield. They never felt like they had the, the offense or the organization, the roster, set to plug said quarterback in two. And so they put him in, they put all of them in awful situations.

No, I wasn't a Quinn fan, and I thought Whedon was a total reach. And Johnny Mansell had Johnny Mansell issues. But Baker, look at him now. So I went through this note. Titus Howard, an offensive tackle, acquired in a trade with Houston. Elgin Jenkins signed in free agency after being released by the Green Bay Packers. Zion Johnson signed in free agency to help solidify the intent.

Interior. Tevin Jenkins, re-signed, okay? Potentially a starter right guard, if not worse, not worst case, best case, he's depth. Spencer Fano, they drafted, offensive tackle with the ninth overall pick after trading back. Would have taken him six if they were stuck. Parker Brailsford, they drafted. Austin Barber, right? So now I look at the depth chart. Let's go right to left.

Titus Howard is your starting right tackle, solid. Zion Johnson could play center, but starting right guard. Parker Brailsford and Luke Wepler are going to compete for that starting job at the center spot. Elgin Jenkins, as I mentioned, with Zach Zinter behind him at left guard, and Spencer Fano with DeWan Jones, if he wins that spot, which I assume he's going to be if he's the ninth overall pick, and then Austin Barber providing depth. That's an NFL offensive line. And this is all in preparation for hopefully Shador surprises us this year. If not, we're going to draft one of those quarterbacks in 2027. I think Fano, the outlier didn't matter.

And I'm excited to see him prove that beyond just where he was drafted, you know? Yeah, I hear you. I'm a preach. I think he did a good job. I know it was hard for you for talk about an offensive alignment for three minutes, but he did it. How did he fall award is the next category? Given to a late or mid. round player who fell in the draft but proves to be a star right away.

Who's your prediction on that? The bucks got Keante Scott, the versatile defensive back at pick 116, and a lot of this is where do guys end up and what's the fit? And Keante Scott had five sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year. He, that's why his stock skyrocketed it in Miami is because they knew how to use him, which was very aggressively, he is a 5'11, 193 pound defensive back who put up those kinds of numbers.

That is unusual. Now you're sending him to Tampa Bay where Todd Bowles, the head coach, is also one of the most aggressive defensive play callers in the league and will know exactly what to do with this kind of a player and will use him as a pass rusher. We use them as aggressively on rundowns. And I think that when you look at the fit and just the skisks, you know, and just the skisker, you and the play caller, it's a match made in heaven. And so to me, this is going to be quick production with a talented player who is probably

dropped because he's not a traditional safety or corner, depending on what kind of scheme you're looking at. But for the bucks is perfect. I think he's going to be someone where people are going to be like, how in the world, was this guy there in the fourth round? Look at his numbers. Yeah. He's got this tone setting.

and there's certain guys coming in the league where you're like, I hope it translates. He has all the talent in the world, you know, and then there's certain guys like, this guy's just a football player and he's going to bring,

he's going to bring that into like, I feel like getting out of training. Those Miami kids play hard, huh? Those Miami kids play hard, man. I mean, beyond. I'm going to go with Jonah Coleman. And he didn't fall, really. It's exactly where we projected him to go in the fourth round.

and thought he was, I thought he was the third best back in the class, but I've said all along, it won't shock me if he winds up being the second most productive. Or like when we look back or like he was the second best back of that class. Now, it's uphill sledding against with knowing the most talented one, one of the highest grades ever in Jeremiah Love.

And then his backfield made at Notre Dame is now going to Seattle where he's the clear cut number one back, right? But I'm not talking about just rookie year, but I think you're going to see early on. Like, don't forget that Sean Payton, like, we loved RJ Harvey last year in the draft. You and I agreed on that one. And still, it was kind of early. You know, we talked about this the other day, like, when you see a player that you have, uh, uh, Kaelin Black from a media or Malachi Lawrence was the other one.

We love them, but like, you know, that's a little, like, a little rich, right? right? So that's, that was a situation with Harvey a year ago. And Harvey, like, not great in past pro, even though he's, he's nasty and he's, he's tough and he's got all those things. And, and dealt with some durability stuff. And then you've got J.K. Dobbins, hopefully coming back and we'll return to form. So you look, you look at this and you're like, Dobbins could easily just be the third back in a rotation and get like 70 carries this year, you know? Yeah. Or, or. he could just turn out to be the best back in that backfield.

Coleman, you mean? Jonah Coleman. Yeah, sorry. Okay. I want to make sure we're clear there. Yes, Jonah Coleman, who I'm obsessed with. I just think he's like this bowling ball. I get it.

The body type is so awesome. Like a bowling ball, but I told you on like it with like a joystick attached, you know. One fumble lost in four years. 25 touchdowns. last two seasons. So we're not, this isn't about the fantasy stuff, but he could be your, your short yardage goal line guy, you know, you get in there. Yeah, I just, I've got a sense for him. I just, I think that he's going to come in and be a little bit like the guy that Peyton starts to lean on and rely it, rely on. But we'll see how it plays out. I want to throw in an honorable

mention and he's one of your guys. Of course you do. Of course you do. So don't get mad at me. Don't get mad at me. Here we go. How do you not get fired up? I don't think we talked about enough. Chandler Rivers, I love Chalmers. You were first to market on him. He's this undersized slot corner who plays the game. And it pissed me off because you got to him before I did on tape.

And so I'm the slot guy. Like slot receivers, slot corners. They're like, I have a thing for him. I don't know why. I just, I love them. And I've always, and I've said for a few years now, like we're watching the rise. I think the Ravens in the fifth round, 162 overall in Chandler Rivers, found their slot corner.

You know, he's the only one, only one in the FBS with 20 pressures and 20 past breakups. That's a wild, that tells you everything you want to know about a slot corner. Yep, I agree. This Raven Secondary allowed 4,21414 pass yards last year, third most in the NFL. He's going to come in and make a difference. So watch out, he's going to be a player that we look back on.

Oh, this is interesting because this is a Dan Comer joint. right? And Dan couldn't look any different than Spike Lee. And no one's comparing him to it. But this is a Dan Comer joint. But it's interesting how now it's our fault that the show's going long. And he's texting us to her. Hey, Dan, reap what you so, bro. You know, you know who your two hosts are here.

Rep what you so, bro. This is, by the way, this is a third of the show that he wanted to do it first. Two and a half hours. I do not. And he's sweating, I don't either because I know you have a heart out this afternoon. Okay, here's the next award. Should have gone, and I'm not cutting it short, we're going as long as these questions are here. Could have, there should have gone top five award.

I want to preface this, not what we thought leading up in the draft. This is the first rounder who will be, who will, when we get to the end of the year, we always do our, our, look, our redraft. right? When we redraft at the end of the NFL season, as we always do, this will be a guy that you're convinced will be in the top five because you think he's headed towards stardom and we're going to look back and be like, yeah, he should have been a top five pick. Yolo. Do we say that anymore? Does anyone, no one says yellow anymore, right? I literally, I just physically cringed. It's tough. It's tough to be my friends sometimes. I understand that. This is what I will say. Okay. Well, you got a bad hat on and you're a bad man. man, but in hearing you yell yolo, just.

Comer says it all the time, apparently. This is a Comer joint, so I'm allowed to say it, apparently. I'm stunned. I think maybe we should both stop saying it, Dan. That aside, I'm going Caleb Banks, the defensive tackle from Florida, drafted by Minnesota. Whoa. I get it, man. To be, really.

Where we stand right now, I think Vikings fans are like, hey, Minch, don't jinx this. We just want him to get healthy after the surgery and be okay and ready to play. play by this year. I'm looking at a player who's that talented and I'm taking the optimistic view. I think he's a great favorite for what Minnesota does. I think he's an absolute game wrecker if he's healthy and I'm taking a shot. Now I could go here and be like, oh, this guy went, you know, 10th and I think he should be a top five pick or this, you know, we can do the safe thing. I think Caleb Banks, if he's healthy and if he's right, is going to be an absolute force in this league. And so I'm not going to sit here and be like, you know what? Well, we'll say,

and wait and see, I think I'm going to be optimistic and say, this guy's going to play early. And in December, we're going to be like, yeah, that's why they took the shot. That's why they took the chance. And this time it paid off. Honest to God, I would love to just beat you over the head with this one. Yeah. I know you. I'm not sure you're wrong. Right? I, I, I, I promise you. I promise you. His best tape is among the best, I could say 10 players in this draft when you get the best up.

Now, a lot has to happen. Foot has to recover. He's got to stay healthy. He's got to play with his pads down. They've got to find the right. What kind of playing shape is going to be early in the year? There's a lot of things in the air. I get it.

But if you're to take a shot on this of a guy that's not charged, like you said top 10 that's a pretty good shot I hope people I hope we did him enough justice explaining how talented he is because I know we spent a lot of time on the pad level

inconsistency what he wasn't and what he should have been but I also know we spend a lot of time on what this dude is when he's right and that's special I'm not going to go top 10 but I'm going to go 11 Caleb Downs

you know the Dallas Cowboys had a bad 2024 defense and then things got worse in 2025. 377 yards allowed in the passing game per game. 30th in the NFL, 30.1 points. 30.1 points per game allowed. 32nd. There's only 32nd. There's only 32 teams in the NFL. So what do you do? You just, you tear it down and build it back up. If you go off of last year's starting lineup, week one, eight new starters will be your week one starters this year, is what it's lining up to be. And they did that, obviously, getting rid of their best player, Michael Parsons, but they brought in, you know, some, they have overhauled the whole thing, including bringing in the young Wonderboy from University of Richmond, Christian Parker, defensive coordinator, who was with Vic Fangio, and was the past game coordinator, secondary coach, and played an integral role in what Philadelphia has done. on the last few years.

And quite frankly, like Seattle last year, but the year before it was it was the Eagles in terms of like the defense you just didn't want to face. And so he brings a lot of those intricacies and complexities to Dallas. And what does he need? He needs all new personnel and he's got it. Jerry and Stephen run the, run the organization. They're like, here you go. Why is down so important?

important because Caleb Downs is going to be the glue. And you don't often say that about a rookie, but that's why he's so special. That's why he's a safety who's not that tall, not that long, not that fast. There was taking 11 overall, higher than Kyle Hamilton, right?

And he plugs in as this, this nickel, not nickel, this like slot, big corner, big safety that can play this. Swiss Army Knife. Swiss Army Knife. He becomes the communication hub. Yep.

He becomes a little bit of an enforcer and an intimidator around the line of scrimmage. Christian Parker was going to utilize him as the chess piece. And I'm here for it. And I think we're going to watch a Dallas defense go from among the worst in the last two years in the NFL to maybe a top 10 unit this year. I really feel like we're headed towards that.

And I think we're going to be like, how did that guy, who's among the best players on that defense already, not get drafted in the top five. And we'll probably look at, I don't know where we would say, like the Giants would have been a possibility, any one of those teams,

but I think you will view him as a potential top five pick when we come to December, January, when we do that exercise. All right, next up, extend the GM, the player that makes the GM look like a genius. Go ahead, Mench. Can't wait for the L.A. Wolf and Columbine this year, man.

Because this is a pick that when I'm digging through these, and I'm like, well, you know, I don't want to go with, you know, like, I love Ryan Poles getting Dylan Thineman at 25 for Chicago, but I think that was kind of like, that just fell into his lap. I'm looking at some of these picks and I'm like, what's one that really jumped out to me? And the more I thought about it, Elliot Wolf from the New England Patriots drafting, Notre Dame, tight end, Eli Raredin in the third round is one, I think they were all going to look back and be like, of course. And for two reasons, Drake May and Josh McDaniels. Drake May loves throwing to Hunter Henry. Henry's number one in targets two years ago, second in targets this past year. He likes throwing the big guys over the middle, and I think a lot of quarterbacks do.

He's going to love the 6-foot-6 Raritan who's got big mitts and can make plays over the middle form. He's also going to like the fact that Raritan runs a 4-6 and can take the top off the coverage or at least make plays down the seam because Drake May likes to throw down field too. And Josh McDaniels loves talented tight ends, and you look at some of the top. some of the tight ends, the titan tantams that he's had. Like I think of Grunkowski and Martellus Bennett, those two tight ends and what he can do with that kind of a personnel setting with 12 personnel on the field where he has two tight ends on the same time.

This is one we're going to look back and say, why didn't we see that? I mean, they always, always looking for a talented second tight end, and they now have this kid coming in and who's probably flown under the radar a little bit at Notre Dame. I mean, can you tell I like the tight end class? This is another player that I think is going to be way more productive in the pros than he was in college. It just makes way too much sense. I think it's one of those ones where it's like, wow, that's going to be a third round steal for them. Well, I'll take a former Patriot executive and one up you here.

Nick Casario is getting a heater, by the way. This draft is insane. It's the best roster in the NFL with the quarterback. position is the question mark. It absolutely is. And it's moves like this, moving up to 36, just ahead of the New York Giants who were going to take Caden McDonald. I was a, I think, one pick later, right?

Do you know that for fact? If they weren't, they should have their heads checked. I mean, that should have been running to the podium if he was there. Honestly, honestly, that is a fact, and I have not fact checked it, and I refuse to believe anything else besides that. And they will certainly never say that because they're not going to admit. that they wanted somebody else over their 37th pick. I can't even come to mind at this moment,

but I'm sure you guys can look it up. The point here is Caden McDonald, right? Number one defensive tackle on our board. He had 65 tackles. He was fourth on the team. Think about that team in tackles from the defensive tackle spot. He's 6'2. He's 326 pounds.

He played 34 games at Ohio State, but only started 14. He is 21 years old and just turned. it. I'm telling you, man, it won't shock me if we see a, Dexter Lawrence wasn't the pass rusher that Dexter Lawrence is in the NFL when he was in college, right? And I'm not saying he's going to become Dexter Lawrence, but I'm telling you there's a hell of a lot more pass rush in him. And even if not, man, even if not, they knew exactly where to go get him. And he's a first round talent who's the only guy left in the green room, because the everyone in the league was surprised it didn't go.

Peter Woods gets drafted ahead of him as we projected that. And Caleb Banks, your guy, what, 18 to the Vikings? Yeah. It gets drafted ahead of him. So it was the third defensive tackle off the board. Unexpected. 21 years old and now you plug it. The Texans for their lack of holes, they did need someone like this.

Maybe not this level or this caliber. now they get a guy who I honestly God think he's going to come in and be one of the best interior run stuffing defensive lineman very quickly emerges that in the NFL like top five yeah they've been good on the inside but not elite but this guy can be

he can be elite and it's like how does that make sense he gets to play next to next to play next to um will Anderson and yeah and um and and and and and Neil Hunter yeah stop

I just think this is that was an awesome pick They could have gone some different directions, gotten cute. Let's go get this guy. When you don't have a lot of holes in your roster, then go ahead and trade up and go identify a couple guys. And if they had taken him with that first pick in the first round, I would have been like, awesome pick. I may have even mocked that there, you know?

All right, next one. Future Madden 99 overall club member. By the way, we're huge with the Gen Z. I found that out at the sales meeting, at the meeting with the buyers. for Spotify the other day. And females. Let's go.

I love that. I'm not ignorant. I know it's mentioned the beard and the awesome hats every week. I doubt that. And his yolos. But anyway. I just like the idea that we've created a community

that everyone feels like they can come and hang out. That's what I like. I love it too. Future Madden 99 overall club member. Basically, who will ultimately be the best player in the 2026 NFL draft? when we look back on it.

Nice try, Comer. Not falling for your bait. Not falling for your little trick here of who's the guy. What are we talking about? I don't even know what we're talking about. And shame on you, because I already know you picked another name.

It's Jeremiah Love. Like, I'm not going to forget what's in front of my face. Like right here, staring me in the eye, which is the best running back prospect to come out in like quite some time. One of, you know,

right up there with, I think, some of the great running back prospects of all time. Here's why is it not Jeremiah a lot? I'm not going to let you. I'm not going to let you finish. Here's so flustered. I can't even make a coherent point.

It's Jeremiah alone. Here's where I'm going to argue with you. Is there, you could, you could argue quarterback. Let's throw quarterback. Let's talk position players, the other 21 starters on a football team, offensive defense.

Is there a position more reliant upon what is around him than running back? I mean, quarterback. I just said. The other 21. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Yeah.

I don't know. No, probably not. And do you, by saying that when we look back, he will be the best of that you, and yeah, you could argue maybe he gets traded or maybe the Cardinals, everything works out great. But you're reliant upon that that organization is going to allow him to be the best version of himself. Or do we have a Sequan Barclay. And if he doesn't find another home that he's not going to be, because Sequin Barclay was not the best player from that draft.

until he got to the Eagles, and I don't know if we'd go back and look at that draft class. You could argue that a little bit, but a position player, you could probably argue that he is. But we weren't saying that when he left New York for Philly. So my only, and I'm not saying that Jeremiah Love won't be, I'm kind of just saying it won't shock me at all if Arvel Reese is. Because I think everyone was nervous, and by everyone I mean the three teams beyond the first pick that Rvel Reese isn't going to develop into what you hope he can be because it's not proven yet.

And yeah, he had a split of like 371 edge snaps versus 278 or whatever it was off ball linebacker last year and he's a one-year starter. I don't even know that it has to be. I just love the way they're going to utilize him. He's 6'4 and change. He's 241 pounds. Probably play closer to 250 in the league. And he runs a 4-4-6.

He's got power. He's got like this. this leverage ability to drive guys back. He's also got spatial awareness. He's also one of the guys that when we talk to Scott Goldman, like talk about someone who's like uniquely equipped to handle a role that requires him to do different things on the line of scrimmage, off the line of scrimmage in the NFL when the AIQ intelligence testing.

So it just won't shock me. I'm not saying he's the best or else I would have had a number one overall. It won't shock me with the giants, how they utilize him. and then his development over the next few years, if we're looking back and saying, man, he was, I mean, Micah Parsons was what, the 12th pick? Yeah. So I'm not saying he's going to be Micah.

I'm just saying it won't shock me if we're like, that guy would turn out to be the best. And we knew. We called him a cyborg. We should have known, you know? It's Jeremiah. All right. Okay, moving on.

Mensius Trenches Award, given the best offensive linemen in this class, regardless of position. When we look back on it, who this is us projecting. I found it fascinating that you participated here. I believe it's called Menace Trenches just because it's, it's, if you aren't watching on Netflix,

then I won't, you're listening at home. I, McShadis gave me an eye roll that would rival any that I've gotten from my six-year-old daughter, Stella. I mean, a hard eye roll. I was always known for that. That's what I've got a lot of trouble for.

Go ahead. Yeah. I, I think there's a lot of trouble for. there's a lot of good answers here, man. I like this offensive line class. And there was just one name that, you know, just spoke to me and it kept popping up in my head. I'm going to go with it.

And that's going to be the Texans offensive guard, Keelon Rutledge, and out of Georgia Tech. And maybe it's just because I think he's the perfect combination of athletic ability, aggressiveness. I think he's got some polish to him. I think he steps in immediately as a starter. and I think the Texas, that Texas team is, like you said, dangerous.

I think that they're going to have a really good year, and I think he's going to be a big part of it. I could have gone with maybe five other names. I think there's going to be a lot of young offensive line that are going to play well this year. I'm just going with Rutledge, because he's the guy who I think he's captured my heart. I'm going to take the better guard from this class,

and that's Van Gaijuanay. You could argue that Maui Noah is the better guard too, by the way. I mean, that's something to keep an eye with the Giants. It's a good offense. group. I hear you, man. I hear you. Go ahead. Sorry. That's all right. Ben-Gu-Yuanay goes to a situation where I thought the Ravens, you could argue

had the worst guard tandem in the league, right, with Fa'alei and Andrew Vorhys, right? And now they bring in John Simpson and they draft Yuanai. I like latch and mash guys

as guards. Latch on and mash, man. He's a mover of men. And protecting the quarterback in any systems, the priority. Protecting Lamar is absolutely a priority. But it's part of protecting Lamar is being able to line up and run the football with that big badass in your backfield in Derek Henry.

And this guy's just going to step in and provide just that, right? So I think when we look back on it, it's not going to be sexy. He's not going to be a left tackle. He's not going to get the big contract. all of it. But 13, 15 years from now, he's still going to be, it's like kicking people's asses

in the inside and the NFL. And I'm here for it. So Juana is going to be my Mench's Trenches Award winner and you're going with Rutledge. The McShay Sam Roush Outmeal Award. To be given to any player but Sam Roush, these are the

parameters, to the I see, this is where, Jeremy Bernard, I think, was also removed from the equation. I don't think, because we love those guys so much. No, I understand. But here's the problem. As the producer of this show, that means you've probably listened and watched this entire show.

I know. Every, every episode, maybe some of them twice. I wasn't calling Roush boring. You were calling Jeremy Bernard boring. Roush is oatmeal because, my gosh, you guys, as a quarterback, you got to wake up in the morning and I'm going to go chop wood out in the field. I need nourishment. I need something

to just feel much. I need something I can count on in the eighth hour because I don't have a lunch break. I can count on this guy. And that guy's oatmeal, right? And that oatmeal is Sam Roush. So to say boring

means you're not even listening to the show. But semantics aside, who is your guy that whether you're calling him boring, oatmeal equals boring is what Dan's saying. This is why we're going to get you a mind. I love it. I've had enough of the text messages that I have to relay to folks.

Who's the guy that you think is just like oatmeal or boring if Dan wants to call it that, but is going to just be a really damn good pro. What a complicated relationship former Clemson offensive tackle. Blake Miller and I have had so far. I started last year at this time when I told you he's going to be a first, when I said I don't know. By the way, you're pretty close about where he went. too, which is a little eerie, a little weird.

I just think he insert him at right tackle and you worry about it in 15 years. Like, I just think that he's that kind of a player. I think he's going to be maybe not all pro, but a great fit for what Detroit does, solid starter. And when you look back at it, you're going to, Lions fans are probably going to have very fond memories of that player because of how steady and solid he was. And I mean, there's not much else to say about it. I just think that that is who Blake Miller is for the Lions.

Yeah. And if it's not a tight end, as a quarterback, there are two guys that are your oatmeal in the morning, you know? And it's the tight end and it's your center. Your center is your guy, right? You think about like Jeff Saturday for Peyton Manning. Like he's, you just, you got to count on that guy. I think Logan Jones is going to be that. And I think the Bears made a statement by taking a guy who could have been there in the third round, but we're not letting him go.

anywhere else. Now, he's the center. You use the second round pick on a center, and he's from Iowa, and there's nothing flashy about this. But like, I like my oatmeal. Jesus. I can't wait for this to be over. I like my oatmeal. Like, there's a, there's a specific way, and you don't just eat a, oh, I know. You only have the steel cut, fancy rich boy oatmeal. Well, there's two boilers going, right? And you've got to mix the, mix two, types of oats. That's for sardis, but that's not even what I'm talking about. I'm talking on top of, like, what you're getting that's nourishing your soul, not to mention your body, is you've got to melt a little piece of butter on the top. It's a sprinkle of cream.

It's brown sugar, salt. You don't, right? The flaky salt. Okay. Muldens, I think it is. Muldan. Here we go. I don't mind a little bit of, if you want to throw some fruit. and stuff in there. And so for Logan Jones is an Iowa center, there's some, there's some accoutrements with it. You're in the fastest 40 of the offensive linemen. All of them.

Okay. Second fastest short shuttle. Excellent broad jump. Lower body explosion, you see it. So those are like the, the sprinkles on. And this guy's going to step in right away. And like 50 college start, former defensive tackle.

He's your center. He comes in for the Bears and he's going to upgrade. The retirement of Drew Dalman is concerning. You get a quarterback, by the way, who's entering just this third year, second year in the system. So they better get this pick right. He's my oatmeal, Logan Joneses. And he's going to you, you ask Caleb at the end of this year who his oatmeal guy is.

It's not going to be. I can't wait. It's not going to be cold. If I get one question of Caleb Williams will be, hey, man, who's your oatmeal guy? I bet you he'll know. It'll be Logan Jones. All right, offensive rookie of the year. Who is it for you, Mention?

I'm stunned right now. It's going to be Carnell Tate, I think, from the Titans. Jeremiah Love is plus 430, tied with Mendoza at plus 430. So you're going away from chalk. Yeah, I don't think that's easy to do it because of those are the first. I think we're going off a draft order, really, there more than anything else. And Jeremiah Love is just an elite talent, but he's going to be. teams are going to focus on him like they did with Ashen Gentie and the Raiders last year.

And it's just going to be tough for him to put up the kind of numbers to win that award. And then Mendoza, I have a hard time believing that, I mean, how many games is he going to start as a rookie? Although there's just too much up in the air there. Give me the two guys who are in the top 10 picks for wide receivers, and that's Tate or Jordan Tyson. I'm going Tate. If you tell me, I think you took Dyson or I don't know, but if you take Tyson, I get that too. it's one of those two in my mind. Yeah, I'm going to go with Jordan Tyson.

Chris Olavet obviously is opposite him. You don't have that caliber player, but Olavet has had trouble staying healthy, and we'll see how that works. And I just envision Jordan Tyson in that Kellynmore offense is they're trying to, you know, with a second year starting quarterback.

And I just, Jordan Tyson, according to Fandual, plus 650, let me throw one out to you. If you're looking for a... Let's do seven honorable, mentions. We haven't gone long enough today. If you're looking for a balloon pick here, right?

I don't even know what that means. What's a balloon pick? Educate the guys who aren't as good at gambling as you. If you're looking for some, I wanted to just try to hit the, you know, hit a gold rush on. Okay. Gotcha. Antonio Williams, a wide receiver

for commanders. I can't you just see him coming in and being like an 85 catch guys or rookie? You know? Haman McClellan or something. Oh, meal for Jane Daniels. Plus 3,300, Antonio Williams is a third round pick of commanders. I'm just saying, it's a long shot.

Defensive rookie of the year, who you got? Manso, I should start. Ruben Bain and David Bailey. That's interesting enough because Bain was the 15th overall pick. Bailey was the second, currently tied on Fanduil at FD Sportsbook, by the way. Best partner we have here, I promise you. If you like this show, you love Fandul. they're currently tied at plus 500 to be defensive rookie of the year.

What's interesting about this is you wouldn't think off ball linebacker, but Carson Swessinger won it last year for Cleveland. And you have Reese could be an offball linebacker this year with that pass rush. And then Sonny Stiles, that's really surprising to me. I get leaning edge rusher, but I didn't think it would be Bain there. I like Delane. Look, Brett Veach wasn't the general manager when they took Marcus Peters in 2015 in Kansas City, but he was there.

He was the co-director of player personnel. I feel like I think Mansour Delane is going to have that kind of an impact on the Chiefs this year. And I think because he's a rookie teams are going to test them, and I think that they're going to get burned. I think that he's going to stand up to the test and he's going to do really well. I really like Mansour Delane in that system with those coaches and that scheme. Give me Mansour Delane. Yeah, if they can get pressure on the quarterback,

then there's going to be opportunity. And there was no cornerback in this class that is more zen-like or at peace when the ball is in the air. And that is one of the most important parts of playing in that position. So that'll be fun to watch. I touched on it earlier on all the reasons why, but I'm just going to reiterate. And I'm doubling down on my stance. Caleb Downs, that defense is going to skyrocket from what it was a year ago. And I could see him in Dallas, the star, attention every week.

he's got two or three highlight plays every week. He's getting everyone lined up, you know? Yeah, and also they've done enough to help around him, too. You know what I mean? That's what I'm saying. Yeah, he doesn't have to be the savior. He just has to be, yeah, I get what you're saying. It's a really good spot.

And they're like deep in past rushers now. And they, you know, so like there could be opportunity for him to be that impact player. But interestingly enough, style. is plus 1,000. I could see him having a monster year, too, in Washington. Yeah. But if I had to put, if you told me I only got one shot at it, I would say Caleb Downs plus 850.

In fact, just looking at that now, I'm like, I might pull up my app. I like that number, yeah. All right. I think we kept it around an hour, too, which kind of pisses me off because I was hoping that we were going to go really long here to pay Dan back, but maybe he produced a good show.

Hey, should we do a quick retirement ceremony for oatmeal or no? Are we going to keep doing that? I'm done with it. I was done with it a while ago. You guys just keep bringing it back. Here we go. It was a Dan Comer joint. And for all the that we like to do to Dan, this is well done.

And if you like the Dan Comer joins, on Monday you'll be thrilled. We're back with another one. So come join us. Don't forget the website, as I mentioned before. Theringer.com slash McShay. any scouting, like as you're going through and you want any scouting report, what we said, it's all in there. And we'll have opportunities with the newsletter coming out with the McShay report.

The next opportunity is next Wednesday, Thursday. We're going to have a show coming out with all mailbag, all of your questions for premium subscribers. And if you enjoyed this show, send Dan some love. I don't know what his handle is. Does he have an X handle? Send it to us. He's off grid. You good, Munch?

I know he's at Instagram. Kind of a wild ride in his Instagram, if I'm being honest. At you good, Munch, and at McShay 13. I love when I get Midge laughing so hard that he can't even compose himself. Munch, for that smile and for all your content, five stars, brother. Thanks, man. 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., Kentucky or Wyoming.

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