Why Klint Kubiak and Tom Brady will be the perfect pair in Vegas

Summary

Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Why Klint Kubiak and Tom Brady will be the perfect pair in Vegas
Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: James Palmer, Zach Berman, Dianna Russini (with guests Vic Tafer and Alec Lewis)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the biggest offseason moves and storylines in the NFL, with a special focus on the Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach, Klint Kubiak, and his dynamic with team ownership—particularly Tom Brady. The hosts unpack the managerial shifts in Vegas, the future of defensive star Max Crosby, and speculate on impacts for the draft and roster construction. Segments shift to other critical narratives around the league concerning the Minnesota Vikings’ front office overhaul, franchise quarterback development, and the continuously evolving Philadelphia Eagles.

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Main Segments & Key Insights

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Klint Kubiak Era and Tom Brady’s Role

Guest: Vic Tafer, longtime Raiders reporter
[04:26-17:24]

Raiders’ Coaching Cycle and Kubiak’s Appeal

• Kubiak is considered highly qualified among 2026’s coaching hires, boasting a Super Bowl ring and offensive vision.
• Quote (Vic Tafer, 04:26):
  “This coaching cycle did not really wow me. But of the 10 job openings, I think Kubiak is pretty high on the list as far as qualifications…he’s not the huge personality that Gruden is…as long as you’re drawing up winning plays, the rest you can figure out.”
• Kubiak’s style is described as quiet but resolute—someone who commands respect and doesn’t back down, a trait he shares with his father, Gary Kubiak.

Power Dynamics: Kubiak, Tom Brady, and John Spytek

• The organizational structure is unusual: Tom Brady (owner/decision-maker) and GM John Spytek are hands-on.
• Despite Brady’s larger-than-life presence, Kubiak is expected to stand his ground.
• Quote (James Palmer, 06:11):
  “I don’t see Clint backing down to Brady just because he’s wired that way…His dad benched Peyton Manning!”

The Max Crosby Question

• Uncertainty surrounds Max Crosby’s future as a Raider.
  • Crosby wasn’t at Kubiak’s introductory press conference; signaling possible disconnect.
  • Mark Davis (owner) appears to be less involved in football decisions, potentially deferring to Brady and Spytek.
• Quote (Vic Tafer, 08:59):
  “I think at this point I’d be very surprised if Max Crosby was a Raider next year.”
  • Teams like the 49ers, Buccaneers, and Patriots are mentioned as possible trade destinations.
• The philosophy: maximize draft capital, refresh the roster, and align with new leadership.

Offense Under Kubiak: Building Around Weapons

• Brock Bowers (TE) and Gentian (RB) seen as focal points for Kubiak’s system.
• Comparison made to how Jackson Smith-Njigba was utilized in Seattle.
• Focus on strong foundational offense and fixing the O-line.
• Quote (Vic Tafer, 11:35):
  “[Kubiak] looks at the roster, looks at Brock Bowers, looks at Gentian…these are guys who can be really exciting pieces for him.”

Derek Carr Comeback Rumors

• Carr’s possible return to the league is debated—suitors may include teams with uncertain QB rooms.
• Memorable Moment (14:14): Palmer jokes about Carr’s “debilitating” shoulder injury, seeing him golfing soon after announcing retirement.

Who’s Really in Charge?

• The Raiders’ power structure remains unclear—even to insiders.
• Brady’s active/inactive role is seen as fluid and opportunistic.
• Quote (Vic Tafer, 15:55):
  “There’s people in the building still who have no idea who hired Chip Kelly last year…there was a question mark who has the final say.”

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2. Minnesota Vikings: Culture, GM Uncertainty & The Quarterback Carousel

Guest: Alec Lewis, Vikings beat reporter
[19:50-37:21]

GM Search and “Who’s Steering the Ship?”

• After firing Quese Adofo-Mensah, Rob Brzezinski takes over as interim GM.
• Vikings may wait till May 1st to start the official hiring process.
• Ownership trusts Brzezinski, a longtime salary cap expert, to steady the franchise.

The Analytical vs. “Football-Guy” Pendulum

• Discussion about whether the Vikings, after betting unsuccessfully on an analytics-forward GM, will move back toward hiring a traditional “old school scout” personality.
• Quote (Alec Lewis, 24:50):
  “Being the general manager in 2026 is less about your background than can you get an entire organization to…believe wholeheartedly in the processes and the decisions that you’re making.”

Lessons from Sam Darnold’s Seahawks Season

• Darnold’s recent success in Seattle is credited to organizational support and complementary football.
• Alec’s reporting emphasizes that the QB does not have to be elite if the defense/special teams/run game is strong.
• Quote (Alec Lewis, 27:35):
  “You can have the Sam Darnold level of quarterback play if you have such an elite defense, airtight special teams, and a run game that is serviceable.”

J.J. McCarthy: Development and the QB Room

• Vikings are determined to foster competition at QB in 2026.
• McCarthy’s job isn’t guaranteed—expectation is for a huge offseason, possibly revisiting fundamentals.
• Quote (Alec Lewis, 32:40):
  “Over the long haul, do folks internally believe that J.J. McCarthy can be a really talented quarterback? Absolutely. The problem is…regimes don’t have five to seven years.”

Who Could Join the Room?

• Potential names: Mac Jones, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Derek Carr.
• But attracting a vet without promising a starting role will be a challenge.

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3. Philadelphia Eagles: Roster Futures, Manion’s Offense, and the Pursuit of Balance

Guest: Zach Berman, Eagles beat reporter
[39:36-51:45]

Top Offseason Questions: A.J. Brown’s Status

• A.J. Brown’s future looms large—whether he will remain, seek a trade, or be moved for compensation.
• The foundational look of the offense depends on the outcome.

Unlocking DeVonta Smith

• There’s a sense the team hasn’t maximized DeVonta Smith’s potential, even with A.J. Brown on the roster.
• Quote (Zach Berman, 41:57):
  “Frankly, I think this coaching staff hasn’t done enough to maximize DeVonta Smith…he can be a high-volume receiver.”

“Intense, Not Dysfunctional” Philadelphia

• While outsiders sometimes perceive Philly as dysfunctional, those within characterize the mood as driven and demanding—especially after an 11-win season without postseason success.
• Quote (Zach Berman, 43:47): “They won 11 games and everyone has their antenna up…It’s intense for sure.”

New Offensive Philosophy Under Sean Manion

• The offense is expected to evolve with more under-center snaps and motion, leaning into the Shanahan/McVay tree.
• Will be tailored to Jalen Hurts’ strengths; Hurts’ ability to win with his legs remains central.
• Quote (Zach Berman, 48:20):
  “What every franchise is looking for is a quarterback who you can win a Super Bowl with—and the Eagles have won a Super Bowl with Jalen Hurts.”

Potential for a Max Crosby Trade

• In previous years, the Eagles might have been aggressive in pursuing a player like Max Crosby, but now salary cap constraints and a need to allocate resources toward the offense make that unlikely.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kubiak’s Quiet Confidence:
  “He’s not going to back down too easily…they’ve paid their dues, they’ve won. He has a pedigree now with a ring.”
  — Vic Tafer [06:14]

• On Derek Carr’s Retirement & Possible Comeback:
  “Was he swinging a golf club with that shoulder over there in Tahoe? I heard this shoulder was debilitating!”
  — James Palmer [14:14]

• On the GM’s Role in 2026:
  “It’s less about background than can you get an entire organization to believe wholeheartedly in the process and decisions you’re making.”
  — Alec Lewis [24:50]

• On Eagles’ Culture:
  “They won 11 games and everyone has their antenna up…It’s intense for sure.”
  — Zach Berman [43:47]

• On Jalen Hurts’ Value:
  “I’ll defend Jalen on this every day…Jalen Hurts wins games, and that’s not an accident.”
  — Zach Berman [48:20]

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Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:26-05:15 | Vic Tafer rates the Kubiak hire; compares Raiders’ methods to past eras | | 06:14-06:50 | Kubiak’s personality and capability to stand up to big names like Tom Brady | | 08:10-10:37 | Deep dive on Max Crosby’s future, trade markets, and Mark Davis’ evolving role | | 11:35-12:20 | How Kubiak can quickly maximize Brock Bowers and Ashen Gentian | | 13:09-15:05 | Derek Carr’s “retirement,” comeback intrigue, and realistic options | | 15:55-17:24 | Power struggles: Who really runs the Raiders? Unclear hierarchy post-Gruden | | 21:06-23:17 | Vikings GM timeline and Rob Brzezinski’s status | | 24:50-26:34 | The real challenge of NFL GM jobs—building trust and cohesion | | 27:35-29:28 | How the Vikings’ experience with Darnold changes their future roster approach | | 30:25-32:40 | J.J. McCarthy’s offseason stakes and developmental pressure | | 39:36-41:11 | Zach Berman on the Eagles’ most pressing question: the A.J. Brown situation | | 43:41-45:25 | Eagles’ environment: a culture of high standards and pressure for quick results | | 45:59-47:22 | What will Sean Manion’s offense look like in Philly? | | 48:20-49:18 | “Quarterback style matching” — defending Jalen Hurts as a proven winner | | 49:49-51:24 | Are the Eagles real players for a Max Crosby trade? |

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Summary Takeaways

• Raiders Outlook: The new Klint Kubiak regime represents a break from the “rah rah” past, but faces an immediate litmus test with Max Crosby’s unresolved future and ambiguity about the true power center—Brady and Spytek loom large, while Mark Davis steps back.
• Vikings at a Crossroads: The franchise is recalibrating—after a high-minded analytics experiment, it might revert to proven old-school evaluators. The quarterback room remains uncertain, hinging on how much patience leadership can afford with J.J. McCarthy.
• Eagles’ Fork in the Road: Decisions about A.J. Brown, finding a true offensive identity under Sean Manion, and building around Jalen Hurts’ unique strengths will define 2026. While aggressive trades are always possible, the team is likely to shift resources to the offensive side of the ball.

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This episode is loaded with insider nuances, quotes, and context that NFL fans won’t want to miss as the league heads into a pivotal, storyline-rich offseason.

Transcript

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[James Palmer]

Dude, you already came out with a mock draft league wide.

[Zach Berman]

Every beat has to do that.

[James Palmer]

How quickly. I have a hard time changing my brain. Like, do you? Yeah, I have a hard time, like.

[Zach Berman]

Okay, now, last year was. It was the super bowl. And then it's like, there was. It was the parade, and then the next week I left for Indianapolis. My wife was like, there literally is no off season. This year it's been a little different, right? It's been, yeah, four or five Weeks. Yeah.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, seriously. But I mean, no shortage of storylines. But you're home. Talking about.

[Zach Berman]

Exactly.

[James Palmer]

At your home.

[Zach Berman]

Exactly.

[James Palmer]

You know what I mean. Welcome into Scoop City on a Wednesday. I'm James Fomer. Don't forget to like and subscribe. We're going to be with you throughout the course of the entire off season with all of our writers across the Athletic giving you everything you need to know about what's going to happen in each building when we're getting ready for 2026, the draft, free agency, all of it. Like and subscribe, you'll get everything right here. Speaking of that, we are going to touch base on what happened with Clint Kubiak in his introductory press conference with the Las Vegas Raiders. What could we expect for him? Max Crosby and company. We'll cover that. As well as Sam Darnold and his on what's going to happen with the Vikings this season. Yes. His former team. And could they be adding to that quarterback room? We'll touch base with Alec Lewis on that. Also, what's happening in Philadelphia always. We're really wondering, you know, what's happening in Philly. Zach Berman's going to cover everything with Shawn Manion and how that offense could look different with Jalen Hurts. Let's kick this thing off, though, with which I mentioned Clint Kubiak, the Raiders, and Amanda knows it well. Vic Tafer.

[Zach Berman]

All right.

[James Palmer]

One of my good buddies, Vic Tafer joins us now, covering everything for the Athletic, but spent a lot of time with the Las Vegas Raiders. Spent a lot of time with the Raiders when they were in Oakland. You know this organization probably better than anybody we work with, Vic. The first thing I thought of when I see these hall of Famers come out for this press conference was, and I believe you were there, too, when we were there and the lunacy that was up in Oakland when Jon Gruden got the job and there was a red carpet and there was people with Chucky dolls outside. Why is this going to be different than what we've seen over the years, or will it be the same?

[Vic Tafer]

No, it's a good question. Obviously, they have a lot of these over the years. I think they're just. They're kind of set up. Well, I think they set up with the first pick in the draft. They did the research. I think this coaching cycle did not really wow me. But of the 10 job openings there were, I think Kubiak is pretty high on the list. I think as far as qualifications, coming off a ring Sunday, did a great job. Again, just Having control of his offense, what he wants to do as soon as he reads defensive really well. So obviously he's not the huge personality that Gruden is. He's kind of, we saw yesterday, kind of a quiet guy. That's fine. I mean, who cares cares if as long as you're drawing up winning plays, the rest you can figure it out. So I think assuming they get Mendoza in the first with the first pick, they have definitely a play caller, they have some offensive talent. So I think there's a plan in place where Raider fans can at least say, hey, this makes sense. What we're doing now makes sense. Let's see how it works.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, I agree because I kind of want to stick with that personality you hinted on there. With Clint Kubiak, we've seen a lot of rah rah. We've seen a lot of looking back in the past to the black and silver and paying homage to that and maybe just almost a lot of mouth service. In a sense, Clint isn't that. And if you know his dad, Gary and I was a beat reporter for him for a few years in Houston and in Denver, they don't say much, but they get their point across and they don't back down. What I was curious about with you is, you know, you have Tom Brady and John Spytek running this organization essentially. I don't think many people may know this, but I don't see Clint backing down to Brady just, just because of the way he's wired. He may be quiet, but him and his dad have some something to him to where Gary was able to handle Peyton Manning and bench Peyton Manning, which nobody's really ever been able to do. And he's been that guy with John Elway as well. Big personalities, big egos. And I'm kind of curious if you think even though he doesn't say much, you get that same vibe from, from Clint Kubiak?

[Vic Tafer]

Yeah, I do. I think the whole Kubiak family is definitely quite confident stuff and they've kind of paid their dues and they've kind of, they won. He has a pedigree now with a ring. So I think definitely can kind of say, hey, this is what I think and he's not going to back down too easily. At the same time, I'm sure, like in terms of like everyone else know about Max Crosby. He mentioned Max yesterday. They had coffee yesterday. I and they can have a matcha today, but it doesn't really matter because that's not going to be his call. It's Going to be spy tech and Tom Brady as far as what happens with Max Crosby. So obviously there's some things out of his control, but for the most part, I agree with you in terms of the football part of it and the day to day and what they're going to run. I think he'll definitely have his ideas and stand by them.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, you want me to date myself here, Vic, real quick. I attended Clint Kubiak's pro day at CSU at Colorado State University. I was there to watch Clint Kubiak, safety for the Rams, get him up there, go through his pro day. So now he's the head coach of the Raiders. You mentioned Max. I don't know what else Clint could say in that press conference. Right. Other than what he did. Where does your gut really tell you this is going to go with Max Carson? Because you've covered him for a long, long time.

[Vic Tafer]

Yeah, I'm not there now. I haven't talked to him recently. But I do think Danny Rossini and Jake Leon, the right track. I definitely think this is kind of probably run its course at this point. I think it was telling that Max was not there. I mean, he was in the building. I guess he wasn't at the actual press conference. Was a year he was like, you know, front row and center with Pete Carroll. And I think. I think. I just think he wants to win. He's definitely paid his dues. And you hear about Mark Davis afterwards, was asked about him at the little scrum and said, you know, he's a Raider, he wants to be here. And that was true of Josh Jacobs and all the guys before him, Khalil and Mack, all these guys who were great players who at some point it just runs its course and they need a fresh start and the team needs, at this point a bunch of draft picks will be good for the team to kind of get the more talent and kind of young talent and rebuild with this new staff and these new young guys on the team. So I think at this point I'd be very surprised if Max Crosby was a Raider next year.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, I agree with you, Vic. At the same time is, I don't know if Max is going to be very vocal with this. I think he can get it out there without saying anything. And at the same time, I don't know if you want the face of your franchise, the best player on your team essentially, who doesn't want to be there, and you're forcing him to be there as the way you want to start your new regime as the first time as a head coach. If you're Clint Kubiak and you're right, there's plenty of holes on that roster and we can get into it. Of all the different things that they could do with the draft capital they could get for Max, you mentioned Mark Davis, that relationship with him and Max. Do you see that playing into Max's favor? Perhaps. I know there's some people around the league that think that's the case to where, you know, Max has done a lot for this organization. Not to say they take less capital, but they might want to find a proper landing spot for him. Where do you think he could potentially land if you had your pick? Just throwing it out there. Where do you see Max going?

[Vic Tafer]

Well, there's a lot of teams. Officers could use him. I mean, mentioned all of them. Yeah, there's a hometown team here on the line. Like the 49ers. Make a lot of sense. The Buccaneers. I mean, the Patriots. I mean, I know he's mentioned he likes Varble's energy. Who doesn't? So I just think there's a lot of teams where could use him. He's obviously not just a pass rusher. He's also gotten better against the run. He's kind of a, you know, a set the culture kind of guy as far as his work ethic. He's not like a rah rah leader, but he's definitely a guy. Like he always says, he's there six in the morning, first guy in, last guy out, which definitely can show young guys how to do it. So I just think there's a lot of teams that want him. I think Mark Davis, he wants to win and obviously he wants to start players to stay Raiders. And ideally, you know, like, Josh Jacobs was a guy he absolutely adored. So Josh Jacobs left. And so I just think that's if it's time you've paid your dues and I think it's best for everybody to leave. Mark's like, you're going to stand in the way and say, no, he has to stay here. I think at this point, I thought yesterday it was interesting that I've done a bunch of these. This is the first one I haven't done. In terms of these new coaches, press conferences. I think it's the first time that Mark was not on the stage. He was not. He actually was in like four, third row, whatever. I think he's trying to take more of a backseat and kind of let the other guys drive the engine now. So I think we saw it yesterday. So I'M not sure it's Mark's decision anymore. I think he's deferring to other guys now. So I think if they decide, the football people decide it's time for Max to go and he wants to go. Mike's like, that's fine. I just want to win however we get it done, whenever it happens, I just want to win at some point because it's been now, I want to say 23, 24 years since they won a playoff game. So that's an amazing number. I'm sure it makes Mark sick. So.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, I agree with you. That was one of the things that I thought had a different feel to it when I heard our boy Will Kiss announcing all those guys going up there and I'm like, I don't see Mark Davis up here. I don't see him up here. And that did feel a little bit different. As you've been to a lot of them. I've been to a couple. Let's get on the field a little bit. I think people have maybe just the way the Raiders season went, Vic, and the way the season transpired and forgot about what two years ago was like with Brock Bowers and how unguardable of a player he was, I kind of got this sense and you were there for the super bowl and know a lot about that Seahawks offense as well. Like when I see all the different ways Clint Kubiak found to put Jackson, Smith and Jigba in different spots and had an offense maybe even focal around one player essentially. I mean, he had 44% of the receiving yards. I'm kind of excited to see what Clint could do with different spots he can put Brock in and find favorable matchups. Do you see that being something that he leans on early because of the versatility and how tough of a matchup Brock is.

[Vic Tafer]

Yeah, I think if you're, if you're Kubiak and you're taking this job because clearly he could have stayed, he still is a no brainer, but he could have stayed in Seattle for a year and got another job next year if he wanted to. It'd be easy, easy call on his part, but I'm sure he looks at the roster, looks at Brock, Bowers looks at Gentian like these are guys who can be really exciting pieces from him to work with. I think it also he's going to defer the Mendoza question, but clearly he's done his research on Mendoza and the Raiders have. So there's a pretty good idea he's their guy, number one. That must Excite could be at some point. So I think in his mind, he's got Bowers, he's got Gente, he's got Mendoza. He's got to fix the own line just a little bit and make it, you know, a professional one. Last year was not professional offensive line. So they get that going and that's a good start for him as a play caller. It definitely is a nice foundation for him to work with and can build around the Bowers and those guys.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, I think you're right. He's a guy that will not get away from the run either, which is something that, you know, you picked a guy in ashen genti that high. Let's make sure we use him and find different ways to use them. I wanted to pivot real quick and talk about a former Raider that, you know well as surprise, surprise. Somehow all of the insiders across the NFL at the same time came out and reported that Derek Carr would like to come back and possibly play football. How wild that works. Vic, what do you see in terms of Derek Carlos and where this could go this year? Because I think it's a really. You mentioned Mendoza after him in the draft pick. It might be. We'll see. So this, this quarterback landscape with some teams in the names in terms of Kyler Murray or TUA or Derek Carr is kind of a wild, you know, hodgepodge group. Where do you see Derek fitting into that? And are you surprised that he wants to come back?

[Vic Tafer]

No, I saw him last year, the Tahoe golf tournament when he retired. And I told him I wasn't buying it. I'm not buying his retirement. And he kind of deferred, like, oh, no. I'm like, yeah, whatever. But. So I'm not surpr. Clearly, I think didn't want to go out the way he did, you know, I think he's still young enough and he still can throw the ball well enough. Where, like you mentioned, there's some really bad quarterbacks in this league. So Derek Carr definitely could jump in tomorrow and be probably like, you know, 15 to 20, I would think at this point. But yeah, I don't know. I think he wants to win. Obviously, Aubrey wants to win. I'm not sure if those jobs are available, but like you said, I don't know if he wants to be a guy who competes with someone. Like, does he want to compete with a young guy like, you know, J.J. mcCarthy or like, you know, or I mean, or just be a backup and kind of work his way in. So that's up to Derek, as far as what his level of desire is based on, if he wants to really, you know, if it's start or bust or if it's a good team or bust. I mean, he's got some options, clearly has some things off the field which work well for him. So I'm not surprised. I think he will come back. I think he's. Depends on him if he wants to, like, you know, be a backup or actually just come back just to start or not start.

[James Palmer]

Wait, this is kind of breaking, though. Vic, Was he swinging a golf club with that shoulder over there in Tahoe? Was. I heard this shoulder was debilitating. It can't. We couldn't play football anymore.

[Vic Tafer]

No, he played. He played in the golf tournament last year. It was. What was it? What is that Tahoe thing? Is that in July or August? But, yeah, I mean, I'm not sure if he was playing 100% or 80%, but he was in that. Deciding if he was gonna have surgery or not. I'm not sure what he actually did. I don't think he did, but he thought he could do it without surgery. So I think it's just a matter of, like, you know, with New Orleans, they had run its course, and he also wasn't feeling well. He didn't want to come back and be somewhere where he wasn't playing until, like, you know, November, December. So he decided to retire. And I'm sure at that point he thought he was going to not play. But in the back of his mind, I think he always thought, you know, haggis will do this. And I'm sure it still talks to him about, you know, the way he went out was not the way he wanted to go out. So I'm not surprised at all by Derek coming back. Hey.

[James Palmer]

Walking away from 30 million, though, Vic.

[Vic Tafer]

Yeah. I mean, how you doing? But, I mean, he's got a lot of money. I don't think with Derek. I think he's got plenty of money. So I'm sure he could. I mean, who knows? Yeah.

[James Palmer]

Tough problems. Okay, last one. Essentially, I heard this from a couple of candidates and agents and other people around the league when they interviewed with the Raiders. It was. Some candidates came away, Vic going. I'm not entirely sure still, who runs this team. Like, Brady was there for some of them. Brady wasn't there for others. I believe Joe Brady was having his interview with the Raiders while Brady was calling the NFC Championship game in the same day. And so what should we keep our eye on as this offseason continues? And we go through this first one with Spytech and Tom and all these different pieces. What should we be watching for, Vic?

[Vic Tafer]

It's a good question. I think there's people in the building still who have no idea who hired Chip Kelly last year. I think no one really ever took credit for that one. Like if it was Brady or if it was Pete Carroll, if it was somebody else, there was a question mark of who has the final say. Yesterday, Davis was asked about Tom Brady's role, if it will grow this year and be more. He's like, well, we have to wait and see. So I think it's definitely a question mark. I think you have the other owners who are in the background kind of taking on a stronger role for sure. And I think with Brady, he'll probably. My guess is when they start winning, he'll start saying, oh, yeah, I was a part of this process. And until then he's like, I don't. I mean, they stink. I'm just kind of in the background, so. But I'm sure he's involved. He was involved last year. I'm sure he's heavily involved. And I'm sure. You know, I think, like you mentioned, Spytek is a key guy at this point. Him and Kubiak must have a sense they can work together and build a roster up, and that's really where they're at. I mean, they're so far from winning, I think, at this point, just trying to build a roster and go from there.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, good point. And I don't think anybody's going to put their finger or their name on that Chip Kelly hiring. But you're right, there's definitely some similarities and some connections between Spytech and Denver and Kubiak and Denver. And there's definitely some carryover with some. Some people that they mutually know. And I know that Spytech respects and asks the opinion of in that building specifically about Clint Kubiak. So they seem to have gotten their man. Vic. We'll see if we're doing this again next year. I hope not. I did. Like how record?

[Vic Tafer]

No chance.

[James Palmer]

No chance, right?

[Vic Tafer]

Two years at least.

[James Palmer]

Okay, perfect. On record. Love it. Appreciate it. Enjoy the. Enjoy the rest of some time before we see each other at the combine, man.

[Vic Tafer]

All right, boss. Take care. All right.

[James Palmer]

Coming up next on Scoop City on a Wednesday, Alec Lewis joins us. What impact did Sam Darnold's success in Seattle, not just the super bowl, but how they played as an offense. Impact. What Kevin O' Connell and company want to do with JJ McCarthy. We'll break all that down next with.

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[James Palmer]

All right, welcome back to Scoop City on a Wednesday. James Palmer with you, Alec Lewis joining me now. Who I just have to say this, Alec, before we get started, the reporting that you you and Diana Rossini did together on Quesia Dofumensa. Outstanding. And I just wanted to put that out there in the beginning. One of the best articles I read this year, honestly, in terms of giving me stuff that I had no clue was happening. So happy you're back, buddy. What's going on?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

Thanks for having me. First of all, thanks for saying that. I wish the common folk understood the time and what that story Entailed from a lack of being able to be a human standpoint. I mean, Diana, we were on call Saturday afternoon. She's got her boys running around screaming in the background. And. And I will also say Dan Steinberg, who helped edit that story, was spectacular. And it was one of those stories that is a great reminder of what that type of editor can do. So thanks for saying that. It was. It was. I wouldn't call it fun. It's never fun to see somebody lose their job, but it did for me, reveal a lot of things about both the Vikings organization and the NFL as a whole. So appreciate that.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, yeah, really good point. And we could get into that if you'd like. But I want to start there, actually, before we get into some of this quarterback talk and Sam Darnold and what's next for J.J. mcCarthy. Who else could be joining that room? All of that. What is the timeline, you think? Because they do essentially have. Do you call Rob an interim gm, essentially, they have somebody they know so well in the ownership trust so much. Can they take their time filling this role like that is wait a year for George Payton's contract to expire. Can they like just in terms of their timeline and who they're looking at, where do we stand at the GM spot?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

Yeah, they have said, I mean, ownership and Mark Wolf made it pretty clear on the day that Quasi had offered, it was announced that he was let go, that they're going to wait until at least May 1st to really begin what they've described as a thorough process to replace Quasi Dofo Mensah in that general manager role. It is my understanding that Rob Brzezinski is going to shepherd this thing until that point and in the past. I mean, you mentioned it. Rob Brzezinski, for those who don't know, is someone who has worked for the Vikings since 1999, when Red McCombs was the owner and has seen as many changes, transformations both within the league and the Vikings team, that he would have as much institutional knowledge of where they've been and where they want to go than anybody. In the past, I don't believe he's really sought the general manager job. He's worked mostly as a salary cap whiz and just liaison with ownership. But this could be a point in his career where he feels like, look, you know, I've done. I've worked for this organization for 27 years. I know what it's like to manage these personalities. Why not give it a run in this job? And then if you need Evaluator help maybe down the line. That's where a guy like George Payton could come in. So I fully expect Robert Rob Brzezinski to get a look for this job and I think it's deserved considering the amount of respect he has from all parties of the organization to kind of get the train back on the tracks.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, you're right. And I think coaching staff is a big part of that as well in the way that they feel about Rob as part of this. You mentioned kind of getting a chance to see how the NFL views a variety of the people that fill this role. And I say variety because a lot of them in the general manager role in the NFL now Alec, come from different backgrounds. Right. And there's been this surgeons of maybe this Harvard Ivy League league analytical side of the general manager coming in. And I do think anytime you look outside the box and make a move outside the box, it is, if it doesn't go well, criticized across this league that is just embedded in doing the same thing over and over again. And that's why I think a lot of teams, in my personal opinion, don't take a lot of risks. Because when you go outside the box, it does get criticized in a sense. Does this move that didn't work with Kwasey make the Vikings just almost locked to swing the pendulum back the other way and go more the traditional NFL route of just we want to evaluate talent and who does this guy know and has his family worked in the NFL?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

Yeah, I mean I definitely think, you know, if they are to bring in external evaluator chops in that lead personnel position, it is going to be that old school scout who spins 14 hours a day buried in the film room and you know, nitpick. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Clicking over and over. I mean, I, I'm a tape guy.

[James Palmer]

I, I, I love it.

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

But I will say this. If I've kind of taken anything, me personally, from the path that has been in terms of hiring Quesiedo Fomensa, who was a, a Wall street trader who entered the NFL through analytics and obviously got to the place he did and the last four years played out the way they did. If I kind of take anything from it, it is this role. Being the general manager in the year 2026 is less about what is your background than it is about can you get an entire organization to come alongside you and to believe wholeheartedly in the processes and the decisions that you're making. The way I've compared it, it's like a coach with the Locker room. You hear all the time, has that coach lost the locker room? And the general manager role is like, do you have the faith of the front office? Do you have the faith of the coaching staff? Do you have the faith in people on the business side of the building that how you're operating can lead you to that ultimate destination. And so however the Vikings approach it, you know, it would be my, for my analytical seat. It's, it's, hopefully you do it with that in mind. And I think it's a lesson externally. Like you look at John Schneider in Seattle and you hear how much Mike McDonald wanted to work with him and you see a staff that has a lot of conviction in the decisions he makes. And I think that is so important in that seat in this era of where the NFL is, regardless of where that person comes from or what they've done getting to that role.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, that's a really good point. And oftentimes you're at your best. And we've seen this in the NFL, Alec, like if you have the trust of the ownership to ie, take chances, make mistakes, correct quickly and pivot from the mistakes you make and make sure you don't put the organization back too far, I think that's the similarities you see in say, John Snyder or Howie Roseman, who have a ton of trust from ownership to go out and make these decisions and go out and take some of these chances and think outside the box at times. But also don't get too far away from what makes them really, really good talent evaluators. You mentioned John Schneider and he just won a Super bowl with one Sam Darnold. You wrote an article on the athletic. Everybody go and read this. What the Vikings can learn from how the Seahawks supported quarterback Sam Darnold. I think that is a big part the word supported in that title, Alec. I think we put too much on quarterbacks in this NFL because there are so few of them that can just carry teams. What did the Vikings do wrong? What did they learn when you put this piece out that they can change for 2026?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

Yeah, I've reflected so much on my year covering Sam Darnold and how I, you know, just wrote about him on a week to week basis. And I think early on it was like an inherent skepticism of how real is some of the production. And then he struggled throughout the middle of the 2024 season and it's maybe this is the real Sam Darnold and then he has a great back half of the season. You're like, how could the Vikings move on from this guy. And then the last two games go how they go. And it's like, you know, what decision are they now going to make for the future at the quarterback position? And I think it's, if anything, what I've reflected on and what I hope the Vikings have too, is an understanding that you can have the Sam Darnold level of quarterback play if you have such an elite defense, airtight special teams and a run game that is serviceable. And I think so so often, you know, over the last few years, in terms of evaluating and analyzing the NFL, it's like this binary thing of you either have the Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or you have the rookie quarterback contract. And thought less about of, as coaches always say, like the complimentary football nature of what are we, what do we have in all of these phases and how does that dictate the level of quarterback play we actually need for this specific team? And so that's where it's an interesting conversation of, if you bring Sam Darnold back in 2025 for the Vikings, do you have the other elements of that team at a certain bar that allows you to get to the place that Seattle did? And so for me, it will inform how I probably think about how these teams are structured and designed moving forward in a complimentary sort of way.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, that's a really good point. And it's hard because the contract just keeps going up. No matter how talented the quarterbacks are, the number for the position keeps going up. It's almost like nobody, no quarterback was like, you're right, I am worth 30 million. Like, nobody wants, no quarterback wants to say that. You know what I mean? And that's, I think, what we're going to be looking at when, you know, Carolina and Houston are going to have to make these decisions over the next year or so about are we going to give these guys C.J. stroud and Bryce Young 50, $60 million contracts? Because that's where it's going. But are they playing like a 50, $60 million quarterback? And yes, then that contract hinges upon what we can do with the rest of the roster. With that said, you mentioned it, some of these teams are looking to bank off of that rookie quarterback contract. The Vikings are in that group. Where do things stand with J.J. mcCarthy? What kind of leash do you think he has in 2026 and what kind of offseason do you think he needs to have to get maybe this thing turned around? What are they looking to do?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

Yeah, he needs to have a massive offseason both in terms of just the amount of conviction that he supplies to the team, in terms of his, the work habits, in terms of leadership, in terms of just the consistency on a day to day basis. And then from a, I mean, you could dive even deep to the mechanical side of how he needs to rework some of his fundamentals. When we're, you're talking footwork, I mean, there's potential for a more even drastic change a la Josh Allen early in his career. So it'll be interesting to see how far he goes in terms of trying to tweak some of his motion and mechanics. But this is a fascinating situation in that Kevin o' Connell has been very open that he wants competition for the 2026 season and they don't want to repeat the mistakes of 2025 where they don't have a quarterback room that allows them insurance in the event of JJ struggling or in the event of, of injury. And so the question becomes, how can you acquire a quarterback you have a certain amount of trust in while you're also still committed to JJ McCarthy? Like, if you're not guaranteeing the starting spot to a free agent or a potential acquisition, are they more willing to go somewhere else? And so does that dictate the level of quarterback play? You're then pairing with JJ McCarthy and these are conversations that are happening on the third floor of the TCO Performance center right now. These are conversations that agents are very aware of and, and queued into over the next couple weeks. And I mean, the Vikings are going to make, and have to make a big decision in terms of the type of quarterback they try to bring in to engage in that converse in that competition and, and provide the quarterback room overall. And it's going to be fascinating to see how they try to go about that.

[James Palmer]

Yeah. With that said, I know they haven't said it publicly, but do you get the sense that anybody there is concerned right now that they made a mistake with J.J. mcCarthy?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

I would say that. I would say no in the sense that, you know, over the long haul, do. Do folks internally believe that J.J. mcCarthy can be a really talented quarterback? Absolutely. The problem is, and I, I've, I've told a lot of people here this because you've had a lot of fans locally say, look at Sam Darnold's arc and it took him seven years to get to the place at which he has gotten to. And, and I fully understand that. And on one hand, quarterbacks need a lot of time to develop, but you juxtapose that with regimes front offices, coaches don't have five to seven years, especially if they' entering their fifth season not having won a playoff game and they have a player in Justin Jefferson on the roster who expects to be in that conversation every single year. And so threading that needle and, and maintaining faith in J.J. mcCarthy is almost like this diametrically opposed thing. It's just really difficult to continue on this path of long term quarterback development when you really need short term wins. And that, that I think component and those circumstances are widespread throughout the NFL and have probably affected quarterbacks and their development and teams and coaches and front offices for a long time.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, it's one of the conversations and we have hundreds of these over the course of our time covering this league. Alec, that Brandon Bean told me several years ago, we don't have Josh Allen. If Terry Pegula doesn't tell me you guys have all the time in the world with Josh Allen, that doesn't happen for most owners. Right. That is not a universal opinion across the league. And you said it eloquently there about the way that this all works and everybody's looking to make sure that they keep their job. And patience is something that just as being said to me in that conversation. We don't have patience as a society, James. We don't have patience specifically in the NFL. And so that is a big part of the way this works. Do you see somebody, and I talked to, you know, Vic Tafer a little bit earlier in the show about Derek Carr. Do you see Derek, that's a hot name with the Vikings. Do you see him going, I could go there and I could maybe win the job or I could be part of that room. What do you see in terms of the other names that could be potentially thrown around as pairing with jj?

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

Yeah, the names that are common and frequent and make sense are. I mean you talk to Vic, but like a Mac Jones. Could he. Could you acquire a guy like that? Kirk Cousins has familiarity with the system, familiarity with the place. The idea of that brings very passionate responses from people here. Geno Smith would be another guy if you could acquire him who has, you know, you could, you could probably convince yourself that plugged in this system with these circumstances, it probably looks better than it did in Las Vegas. And then Darren Carr is another name that definitely would be able to run this system, certainly. But the question is, with a guy like that and with a lot of the names I just mentioned, if you aren't committing to those guys being a starter again. Yeah, exactly. From a Money standpoint and also just from a guarantee and pitch standpoint, are they more willing to go somewhere else? And, and so you get into a very complex conversation to where then you're, you're asking, well, if you can't acquire those guys, what are you trying to pair this thing with? Maximum upside with acquiring a guy like Anthony Richardson? It's. It's a tough kind of needle to thread. It's a tough situation to be in, and it's part of the risk you run when you, when you go this young quarterback route. Like, you just run the risk of ending up in a situation where you're trying to kind of damage control it to where you give yourself a floor that makes it serviceable.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, it's so difficult, Alec, that I do feel like, and this sounds skeezy in a way, you almost as an organization and as a head coach have to talk out of both sides of your mouth. You need to tell JJ he's the guy. And when you talk to these guys, you need to tell them you have a legitimate chance to win this job. And so I feel like you have to do that. That's essentially you mentioned with Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones in Indianapolis. That's kind of the way it went down there. And you got to kind of find a thread. That needle is the best way you put it, and I think that's the only way you can put it. This is fascinating. We're probably going to continue to talk about this. We could talk about it for the next couple of hours, but you've been grinding, man. You deserve a little bit of break. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for hanging out with me. Appreciate it. And I know we will be discussing this further anytime.

[Podcast Host - Ad Read 3]

James, thanks for having me. Appreciate the kind words. And it is, is. It's a very interesting kind of fork in the road point for an organization that hasn't won a playoff game since 2019, has never won a Super Bowl. And the people here, I think, are on the edge of their seat to get to a point at which they feel like that's possible. So it's going to be interesting. That's for sure.

[James Palmer]

Fascinating. Fascinating. Love it, man. Appreciate the time. We're going to stick with offensive football in our debate about if it's going to be successful in a building or not, because Zach Berman joins us next. A new offensive coordinator once again in Philadelphia. What should we see from Jalen Hurts and Company? We'll have that next on Scoop City.

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[James Palmer]

All right, moving right along. Welcome back on a Wednesday for Scoop City. James Palmer here with you, a good friend of the show. Zach Berman covers the Eagles brilliantly for us here at the Athletic. He joins us once again. And Zach, I was going over this. I'm going over questions, all right, what can we talk about? What kind of discussion can we have? And right off the top of my head I go, all right, I'm going to ask Zach, which one of these is he keeping his eye on most in the next several months? Is it Lane Johnson? Landon Dickerson? Is it A.J. brown? Is it Dallas Goddard? Is it how this offensive scheme when you talk to people come together, there's like no shortage of really things that you have to monitor this offseason. And oh, yeah, Jeff Stoutland's gone that one. You probably won't be able to tell as much until you guys hit the field in Philadelphia. But what are you, what are you looking at most right now that you say I, Zach Berman, need to keep my eye on? Blank.

[Zach Berman]

Yeah, the operative word is right now. And right now it's AJ Brown and AJ Brown status because I, I think that's the big one here. Whether he wants to stay in Philadelphia, whether he wants to trade, whether the Eagles trade him take on that cap hit for the compensation that they would get back. And so I, I think that's the biggest offseason question because the complexion of the offense looks totally different one way or the other. You know, if they have AJ or they don't. I understand the Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson questions. I, I think those have have to do more with how those players feel physically and I think the Eagles will have a good sense of that going into the combine and into free agency. It's the A.J. brown question that really lingers.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, that's a really good point. And what's tied to that? And I wanted to ask you this because I feel like we're not focusing on this aspect enough. Everybody's debating where is AJ Brown in his career. Some people I talked around the league say he's right at the peak. I'm not sure if there's better football ahead for him. I'm not sure. There's varying opinions on then where he'll be playing, what fit he could be having, what could be the compensation, all of those things. The other receiver in Philadelphia in Devonta Smith. When I have conversations with people around the league about him, Zach, it's, I would be kind of excited now. These are other teams, right? Excited to see what Devontae Smith would be like as a true number one and utilized in a more variety of fashion within an offense. Is there any thought in that building of just like there's so much more to Devonta Smith than what we've seen so far in his young NFL career.

[Zach Berman]

You hit it on the head, James. Absolutely. And frankly I think this coaching staff hasn't done enough to maximize Devontae Smith during the past two, three years in terms of how to use him, different ways to get him the ball, where to get him the ball, how to get him the ball. I think he can be a high volume receiver. I think when we, we just saw Jackson Smith jigba the season he had. I'm not saying Devontae Smith can have that season, but I think Devontae Smith can be a comparable type of player and yeah, so, but where I would push back is I don't think he requires devonte being the unquestioned number one for that to happen. I know it's easy to kind of draw the parallel. The Seahawks trade DK Metcalf, Smichigma has, has that type of season. I saw, for instance, in 2022, AJ and Devonte combined to just give defenses nightmares and that's what the Eagles need. So whether AJ's here or not, they need to maximize Devontae Smith.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, that's a really good point. And it's up for the building to figure this out. And I was talking to a coach the other day about this and we're kind of having, I hate to say a lot laugh about it, but I want to know where things stand in Philadelphia right now. Essentially, his take was this. I feel like there's so many of us around the league that envy the way that Philadelphia Eagles organization operates, right. How forward thinking they are, Zach, and how they're able to put this roster together and how he operates and how that building works. And it's almost an envy of some people when you talk to them around the league. But at the same time, there's that adverse time that comes up once in a while where everybody says, wow, man, that building seems to be a bit dysfunctional right now, now and how it's operating. It's funny to this coach about how both of those things can be true about the Philadelphia Eagles. Where is the building right now, in your opinion?

[Zach Berman]

Yeah, I wouldn't use the term dysfunctional. I've heard.

[James Palmer]

An easy place tense.

[Zach Berman]

Yeah, intense for sure. And it's inter, you know, they won 11 games and it's, and it's intense. They want 11 games and everyone has their antenna up. Like, man, we need to win, we need to fix this. Right? And it's, it's, it's interesting when it's framed that way because there are other franchises here who, when they win 11 games, everyone gets contract extensions. But, but it's, it's the nature of, you know, you know, Howie Roseman, Jeffrey Laurie, kind of the, the environment, the culture they've, they've, they've created is. There aren't many true down years. And, but what, what to the point of, of being forward thinking. They, they do try to see if that dip's coming, when that dip's coming and try to get ahead of it. And I think this is, this is a crucial year for the Eagles. Like if if there's any regression for the Eagles this year, then I would imagine there, there will be changes because, you know, you can kind of see where it's going. They, they need this, this change here, if you will, to look more like 2024 than, let's say, 2020. And I bring up 2020 because that was a point where the Eagles lost in the opening round of the playoffs at home. They, they have some changes to their offensive coaching staff. They're trying to implement different schemes in there, and it was just a disaster that year. And the next year, there was a complete change in terms of coach and quarterback. I'm not saying it'll get to that, but I'm saying the Eagles need this to be like what it was in 2024. When Kellen Moore comes in, there's a, there's a different coordinator, and you just see it turn back the other way. And Eagles go on, win 14 games, win the Super Bowl.

[James Palmer]

Okay, well, let's stick there. Then back Sean Manion comes in. You mentioned Kellen Moore. There was a lot of people that said, okay, we're not seeing what we thought we'd have from Kellen Moore, although they do win the Super Bowl. But it didn't seem like the offense looked that different in a lot of people's eyes. I think there were some differences that maybe people overlook, but that's neither here nor there. Now into 2026, Shawn Manion, is it going to look vastly different from what we've seen? Is Jalen Hurts going to be under center? Are we going to see some things that really look. Look different than what they've looked the last couple years? And is Nick Sirianni giving Sean Manion that Runway?

[Zach Berman]

Well, to the latter part of the question, yes, he is. He is giving Sean Manion that. A Runway. That's been clear to the overall question. It better look different because one of the best assistant coaches who has come through Philadelphia is no longer here. And I think a big reason why is this. There are going to be scheme changes, in particular with some of the run game concepts. Concepts and how this offense is going to look. You've, you've seen coaches from the outside come in mostly from that Shanahan McVay tree. And that's, that's not an accident here. I, you know, I think this, this offense will incorporate more under center, will incorporate more motion. The caveat is in any, in, in. In all the buildings you're trying to build around your quarterback, right?

[James Palmer]

Yep.

[Zach Berman]

So they, they need to maximize the quarterback. So I so. So conversations that we're having now. There were some of these conversations when Kellen Moore took over and the offense. I agree it did look different than kind of the years prior, but I think Kellen Moore adjusted to the personnel that he had. And so the question becomes, is this going to be what you see in San Francisco and Los Angeles and Minnesota and Green Bay, or is this going to look closer to kind of what the Eagles have low with some of those wrinkles in it? And a lot of that depends on how Jalen Hurts is best utilized.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, that's a really good point. And I want to make a clarifying statement here because I feel like as this conversation has gone on and it's been in the public eye quite a bit, Zach, about is this a Jalen Hurts quote, unquote problem or you have to work with Jalen Hurts? I want to make this clear because I was actually having a conversation with a coach about Patrick Mahomes in the way he played just yesterday, and it was specifically this. Pat is a field quarterback. You need to have an offense that is in players around him that play with that same sort of feel and spatial awareness style. My point is your offense needs to play into the style of your quarterback because that's the best quarterback on the planet. And everything doesn't work for Patrick either. So this isn't a knock on Jalen Hurts the way he operates. You have to work within what makes your quarterback his best. And if that. That's very specific for Patrick Mahomes, obviously it's specific for a lot of other quarterbacks, and you need to find a way to make it work. So I kind of want to make sure that we're not just throwing shade on Jalen over and over again as we debate on how this offense is going to look.

[Zach Berman]

I'm glad you brought that up because I do think that's important to note. I'll defend Jalen on this every day. What every franchise is looking for is a quarterback who you can win a Super bowl with. And Eagles have won a Super bowl with Jalen Hurts. They've been to another one with Jalen Hurts. Every year he's been the starting quarterback. They've been to the playoffs. So I would imagine most offensive coaches you talk to would sign up for that. Right, because that's. That's a. That's. That's difficult to achieve. Now. There are things that, as you know, I. I think Jalen needs to use his legs. I think that's part of what makes him special. There are nuances to the passing game, that as he continues to grow in his career, he can continue to add and evolve, and he's shown in his career that he can add different things. But yet to the bottom line, Jalen hurts, wins games, and that's not an accident. It doesn't happen every year for five years unless he's able to do it. So I will defend Jalen every day on that.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, I love that we had that conversation right there. Honestly, to be fully true that Mahomes, they just popped into my head and I was like, you know what, we got to stop having this through just one lens with Jalen, in all honesty. Okay, before we go, Micah Parsons. Parsons came out and said, you know, I almost went to Philadelphia. We know that Howie swings big. Max Crosby is the name that's out there. Zach, do you think Philadelphia would either be in or out? We know how he always makes the phone call. But do you think they would legitimately be interested in, say, trying to make a trade for Max Crosby?

[Zach Berman]

Great question. One year ago, I would have said yes. Now I would lean toward no, depending on the price, of course. And the reason I say that is because Howie, I think, sees a shift here in terms of how they're going to have to pay players and they're going to need to use premium draft picks on the offensive side of the ball. They've spent the past three years really loading up on defense. They've drafted well. They have young cost control players on defense, and those players are going to be eligible for contract extension soon. Whether it's Jalen, Carter, Quinion, Mitchell Cooper, the Gene, Jalex Hunt, Nolan Smith, you go, Jordan Davis, you go on down the list. Right? There's a lot of players there, there. And so it needs to shift in the other direction here and to get Max Crosby, I imagine you're giving up premium draft picks and the Eagles are going to need that to add to their offensive line. They haven't drafted an offensive line in the first two rounds in the purse since 2022. In Howie Roseman's time, since he came back, he hadn't gone back to back years without doing that. So that's why you don't have this pipeline that you've had in the past.

[Vic Tafer]

The.

[Zach Berman]

The pass catchers in this offense, they drafted a pass catcher, used a pick on a pass catcher for the first two rounds from 2018 to 2022. They haven't done it since then. So you're going to need young wide receivers, a young tight end in the building here. And if you give up your first round picks for the next two, three years, it's going to be harder to add to that offensive side of the ball. So that's why I, I, I think a year ago I would have said yes. Now I'm less inclined. But with half Howie, he always makes the call. If the price is right, he'll do it.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, that's outstanding. I, I, I totally agree with that. And it's funny the way that pendulum has been swinging for Howie. It's like, hey, we have this offense, we're paying this offense, guys. We need young defensive, cheaper talent now. We gotta swing it back the other direction a little bit as well. Zach, appreciate it, man. We'll be seeing you soon. Uh, hopefully in Indy, uh, we can have a cold one. How about that?

[Zach Berman]

I look forward to it. Thanks, James.

[James Palmer]

All right, brother. I hope you guys love these shows as much as I do. Jumping inside all of these facilities across the NFL, getting the inside scoop with these guys who know these teams better than anybody else on the planet. I want to thank Vic Tafer, I want to thank Alec Lewis, I want to thank Zach Berman, all of them for joining me. We're going to have the league covered across this offseason, so stay with us. Don't forget to like and subscribe. James Palmer, I will see you on Thursday.

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