Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Why Patrick Mahomes may not be enough to turn around the Chiefs in 2026?

Host: The Athletic’s Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini, James Palmer, and ex-QB Chase Daniel
Date: February 23, 2026

Overview

In this episode, James Palmer and Chase Daniel take listeners inside “combine week,” delving into what it's really like for quarterbacks preparing for and performing at the NFL Scouting Combine. They offer a candid look at the mental, physical, and emotional challenges faced by prospects, and dissect why some traditional evaluations—like combine throwing—may be outdated. The hosts also predict which NFL teams will rise or fall in 2026, with a strong focus on whether Patrick Mahomes’ singular greatness can overcome the Chiefs’ current roster concerns. The episode wraps with a humorous viral moment as Chase Daniel defends wearing backward hats against a wave of internet ageism.

Key Topics & Timestamps

1. Inside the NFL Scouting Combine for Quarterbacks

Starts: [02:19]

• Combine Week Logistics & Preparation

  • Chase Daniel offers a vivid, behind-the-scenes breakdown of how quarterbacks prepare leading up to the combine, from focused weight/conditioning work to countless hours on whiteboards relearning play schemes.
  • “Everyone understands you’re out there in your underwear, you’re running a 40, you’re throwing… What a lot of people don’t understand is the other part… that’s probably the most taxing mentally on these guys.” — Chase Daniel [06:39]

• The Interview Gauntlet

  • The combine isn't just physical—it’s psychological warfare. Daniel describes two key types of team interviews: “speed dating” rounds for personality/character vetting, and intense, film-review sessions seeking accountability and resilience in the face of adversity.
  • “My goal is to get under the guy’s skin… and then the player leaves and they all laugh like, 'Did you see what he did?'... Oh my God, you’re wrecking these kids mentally.” — James Palmer [08:42]
  • “The worst thing you can do is lie… you’re not draftable.” — Chase Daniel [10:27]

• The Whiteboard Test

  • Teams send mock playbooks for study in advance; prospects must diagram and explain complex NFL offenses from memory under pressure, with every detail—including penmanship—graded.
  • “Every single aspect of it is graded... Extra credit if you go to another marker color like a blue, so you use red. And then you draw the defense, right?” — Chase Daniel [12:43]

2. The Value (Or Not) of On-Field Combine Throws

Starts: [13:52]

• Debate: Should QBs Throw at the Combine?

  • Many top prospects now skip throwing at the combine, preferring their controlled pro days. Daniel calls the combine passing drills “dumb” and often useless for evaluating quarterbacks.
  • “You can’t move up in the draft and you can’t move down in the draft based on 10 throws… I think throwing at the combine is completely dumb.” — Chase Daniel [16:22]

• Coaches’ Perspective

  • Some coaches still love the “eye test”—seeing QBs throw back-to-back to observe mechanics, arm strength, and processing. Palmer highlights the fleeting hype caused by a single “wow” throw (e.g., Zach Wilson’s pro day).
  • “Did this throw just make him the number two pick? That’s insane to me.” — James Palmer [18:29]

3. Character Checks: What Teams Really Evaluate

Starts: [19:10]

• Small Moments, Big Impact
  • Teams look for small indicators of character: Did a QB help clean up after his pro day? Does he know the names of support staff? Even viral acts of decency (like Malik Willis giving food to a homeless man) factor into evaluations.
  • “Are you a guy who picks up your trash? And it sounds crazy, but it’s really not. You’re paying this 22-year-old, 21-year-old multiple millions of dollars a year.” — Chase Daniel [20:35]

4. 2026 Team Outlooks: Who’s Up? Who’s Down?

Starts: [24:10]

Bounce Back Teams

• Kansas City Chiefs

  • Though the Chiefs missed the playoffs, Daniel is bullish on their return—provided Mahomes rebounds from injury and the front office upgrades key positions (OL, WR, run game).
  • “If I am betting on someone to come out of the AFC, I’m going to bet on the quarterback and I’m going to bet on him coming back.” — Chase Daniel [25:14]

• Impact of Eric Bieniemy’s Return

  • Both agree Bieniemy’s fiery style will help refocus the team.
  • “There is a certain level of accountability that comes with E.B… I think the team… is going to have that fire.” — Chase Daniel [28:51]

• Draft Needs

  • Debates over whether K.C. should target a dynamic RB or WR at pick #9, and the need for another edge rusher.
  • “If I feel really good about an electric playmaker, I take him. If not, you go O-line, D-line.” — Chase Daniel [31:41]

• Baltimore Ravens

  • Despite a down year, Palmer forecasts a Ravens resurgence, hinging on Lamar Jackson refocusing and the defense getting healthy.
  • “We know Lamar was not healthy at all… if you want to get to the next level, we need to start building this relationship as quickly as possible.” — James Palmer [33:29]

Teams Likely to Regress

Starts: [34:46]

• New England Patriots

  • Daniel warns that the Patriots, despite their recent Super Bowl run, could easily slip due to regression to the mean and roster concerns—especially if they don’t add a true #1 receiver.

• Denver Broncos

  • Palmer (quoting a pro personnel exec) flags the Broncos’ extraordinary injury luck as unsustainable, along with their reliance on narrow fourth-quarter wins.
  • “I just don’t know if they can replicate that again. I think they’re a good team… but doing it each and every week is maybe a little bit tougher.” — James Palmer [37:43]

5. Bonus: Chase Daniel’s Viral Backward Hat Moment

Starts: [41:43]

• The Hat Incident: Defending Style and Ownership
  • Daniel describes getting roasted online for wearing his hat backwards at age 39, sparking a flood of support (and a few trolls) in defense of hat-wearers everywhere.
  • “I’m a backwards hat guy... I wear my hat backwards. I’m 39 years old and I proudly wear my hat backwards… I’m allowed to wear a hat backwards until I’m dead.” — Chase Daniel [41:58]
  • The “Mizzou Mafia” (his alma mater’s alumni network) leaps to his side.
  • “When I can get the Mizzou Mafia behind a troll or a clown… they run deep.” — Chase Daniel [44:02]

Notable Quotes

• “These are the worst plays they could possibly find… They want to see, are you accountable to what happened? Did you learn from what happened?”
  — Chase Daniel [11:17]

• “It is 90% all mental and emotional and meeting with guys… they put you in bad positions just to see how you're gonna handle it.”
  — Chase Daniel [19:24]

• “You can’t go put the same team back out there.”
  — James Palmer [38:14]

Episode Highlights & Memorable Moments

• Best Inside Intel:
  Daniel’s detailed walkthrough of the combine process is a rare look at what truly separates draft prospects—hint: it’s not their 40 time, it’s their personality, resilience, and football acumen.

• Peak Real Talk:
  Both hosts call out outdated combine practices, with Daniel repeatedly calling on the NFL to evolve past meaningless drills.

• Most Fun:
  The spirited—and ultimately wholesome—defense of wearing hats backward, which evolved into a segment on online community, confidence, and internet absurdity.

Conclusion

This Scoop City episode delivers a sharp, insider’s look at the NFL combine process, the annual churn of roster changes, and what it truly takes to rebuild (or sustain) a Super Bowl-caliber team in an era defined by quarterback greatness and relentless off-field scrutiny. The hosts’ personal stories, insider anecdotes, and willingness to question sacred NFL traditions make this a must-listen for fans wondering what it’s really like behind closed doors.

For more NFL combine stories & draft analysis, subscribe to Scoop City for new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.