Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode Title: MOCK DRAFT 1.0 with Matt Miller | Fernando Mendoza Ceiling | Drafting Character
Release Date: February 12, 2026
Host: David Pollack
Featured Guest: Matt Miller

Episode Overview

In this episode, David Pollack welcomes NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller to discuss their first mock draft of the season, the importance of adversity and character in player evaluation, the NFL Combine process, and shifting power dynamics in college football talent. The episode blends practical, behind-the-scenes scouting philosophy with lively stories, sharp takes on recent Super Bowl performances, and a comprehensive breakdown of top draft prospects—especially focusing on quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s NFL ceiling and what teams are really looking for when they draft.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Super Bowl Reflections and Player Development

• Mike McDonald’s Coaching Journey (00:22)
  • The hosts reflect on McDonald’s surprising rise—from nearly leaving football for finance to climbing the coaching ladder via the Ravens and Michigan.
• Sam Darnold’s Career Resurgence (01:13)
  • Matt Miller celebrates Darnold’s perseverance and warns against "giving up on players too early":

    “Development matters, situation matters, experience matters... We want to toss guys out at the first sign of a little bit of a bump in the road.” (Matt Miller, 02:13)

The Value of Adversity and Drafting for Character

• Why Adversity Matters (03:24)
  • Miller describes his unique player evaluation column on adversity:

    “I prefer players, especially quarterbacks, that have gone through something… You have to experience adversity to be great in the NFL.” (Matt Miller, 04:16)

  • References to Joe Burrow and Cam Ward as examples of players who flourished after facing setbacks.

The Ceiling of Fernando Mendoza

• Mendoza’s Character and Untapped Potential (05:38)
  • Miller and Pollack agree Mendoza’s clean image, competitiveness, and processing speed set him apart.
  • His pro day, combine opting out, and draft status:

    “You’re gonna be the number one overall pick. All you have to do is stay clean for the next three months.” (Matt Miller, 07:05)

• Mendoza’s NFL Fit and the Raiders (07:06)
  • Teams may petition to trade up to five future draft picks for a chance to land Mendoza, reflecting his elite perceived value.

Shifting Draft Trade Strategies

• Comparisons to the NBA's “All-In” Mentality (07:56)
  • Miller and Pollack debate if NFL teams will follow NBA's strategy of leveraging future picks for short championship windows.

    “If you’re the Chiefs…why would you not say, 'alright, let’s go all in'?” (Matt Miller, 08:18)

Combine Insights & Fringe Prospects

• How Players Get Invited (12:46)
  • Insight into behind-the-scenes scouting and combine selection; positive mention for scouting standards but also focus on the few snubs like Ethan Burke and Noah Thomas, and why pro days still matter for overlooked players.

Depth in This Draft’s Receiver Class

• Wide Receiver Overview (14:28)
  • Exceptional depth but not one clear top star: top names include Cardinal Tate (Ohio State), Makai Lemon (USC), and Jordan Tyson (Arizona State).

    “This is a really deep wide receiver class. At some point you just run out of numbers.” (Matt Miller, 15:18)

Quarterback Class Analysis

• First Round QB Prospects (16:52)
  • Only Fernando Mendoza is a clear first rounder; Ty Simpson is a fringe candidate; teams may wait for a QB or gamble late first round.

The Underappreciated Importance of Combine Interviews

• Character & Medicals Over Measurables (18:45)
  • Most crucial combine elements are team interviews and medical evaluations, not the events broadcast on TV.

    “Anything that could be considered, you know, a character issue… that stuff’s going to get hammered so hard by these teams.” (Matt Miller, 19:41)

  • Both share stories about odd combine interview questions and how NFL teams probe for honesty and red flags.

Drafting Character vs. Talent

• Lessons from Players with “Red Flags” (21:18)

  • The story of James Pierce—talented but with major maturity questions.
  • Contrast to misconceptions about Jalen Carter’s “laziness”: distinguishing between “football character” and off-field issues.

    “You want an edge rusher that’s a little bit unhinged, but also is going to show up to practice.” (Matt Miller, 24:14)

• Anecdote about NFL Greats' "Edge" (25:10)

  • Pollack:

    “You’ve gotta be a little bit psycho slash egotistical…you either sink or swim. There is no in-between, man. You gotta be a psycho.” (David Pollack, 25:10)

Draft Power Shifts: Big Ten Takes Over

• Big Ten Talent Supremacy (28:34)
  • 2026 draft is unusually Big Ten heavy, with Ohio State dominating potential first round picks (e.g., Carnell Tate, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese).
  • Indiana “will have a run” starting in rounds 3–5, and Miami, Texas, Georgia still strong in pure volume.
  • Ohio State could have three top-six picks (31:44).
  • SEC has depth, but not as many elite first round prospects this year.

Final Thoughts: The New Draft Paradigm

• Transfer Portal, NIL, and Evaluator Challenges (35:01)
  • Tracking talent is more complex with player movement, and knowing a player’s true hunger is easier when they’re already making money via NIL.

    “Now we know, okay, Fernando Mendoza wants to play football. That guy, I don’t think he cares about the money. He just wants to play football. That’s what we’re looking for ultimately.” (Matt Miller, 36:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On not giving up on prospects:

  “Development matters… We got to stop giving up on people too early.”
  (Matt Miller, 02:13)

• On adversity and QB evaluation:

  “I prefer players…that have gone through something. I would love for you to have been benched in college… I think that type of adversity is something you have to experience to be great in the NFL.”
  (Matt Miller, 04:16)

• On the combine process:

  “The two most important things that happen at the combine are the things that you don’t see on TV… the medicals and then the interviews.”
  (Matt Miller, 18:45)

• On evaluating edge rushers:

  “You want an edge rusher that's a little bit unhinged, but also is going to show up to practice.”
  (Matt Miller, 24:14)

• On football mentality:

  “You gotta have a little bit of crazy to you... you gotta be a psycho.”
  (David Pollack, 25:10)

• On shifting player motivations (NIL era):

  “Do you want to play football or be a football player? Now we know.”
  (Matt Miller, 36:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:22] – Mike McDonald’s Journey & Super Bowl reflections
• [02:13] – The lesson of Sam Darnold’s career
• [03:24] – Evaluating adversity in QB prospects
• [05:38] – Fernando Mendoza’s ceiling & character
• [07:56] – Teams trading future picks NBA style
• [12:46] – How the Combine invitations really work
• [14:28] – Wide receiver class depth discussion
• [16:52] – Quarterback class overview
• [18:45] – Why interviews and medicals trump 40 times
• [21:18] – James Pierce, Jalen Carter, and drafting character
• [25:10] – The “psycho” mindset needed for NFL success
• [28:34] – Big Ten’s dominance in the 2026 draft
• [35:01] – Transfer portal and NIL add complexity to scouting
• [36:11] – The new clarity about player motivation in the NIL era

Conclusion

This episode delivers a lively, detail-packed look at the 2026 NFL Draft class, underscoring how player character, adversity, and adaptability are more important than ever. David Pollack and Matt Miller combine insider stories, concrete draft takes, and straight talk about scouting’s new challenges post-transfer portal and NIL, making it a can’t-miss for serious football fans following draft season.