The Athletic Football Show: Biggest Questions of the 2026 NFL Offseason

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman

Overview

In this flagship offseason episode, Robert Mays is joined by co-hosts Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman to dive deep into the looming questions, rumors, and wildcards heading into the 2026 NFL offseason. The trio tackles quarterback dominoes, potential blockbuster trades, strategic pivots for contenders, and the seismic ripple effects of this off-season's roster-building moves. The tone is a blend of expertise, wit, and realism, with a few memorable analogies and candid admissions of what the hosts are rooting for or dreading.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Quarterback Carousel Chaos

[04:17-23:09]

• Vikings’ QB Dilemma:

  • Dave is most intrigued by the Vikings’ crossroads at quarterback, using their situation as a stand-in for many others.
  • Options Discussed: Keeping JJ McCarthy (after just 10 starts), trading for Kyler Murray, targeting Geno Smith, or a "tread water" option like Mac Jones.
  • Robert: "If you're Minnesota and you're Kevin O'Connell, you can't waste another season... even if [McCarthy] rehabs somewhere else, that can't matter more than now." [07:19]
  • Geno Smith as a “Best-Case Stopgap”: The hosts are divided but agree he could stabilize Minnesota, with Kyler offering higher but riskier upside.
  • Kyler Murray’s Market: Estimated as worth "a two and change," i.e., a 2nd-round pick plus more; his contract structure makes him a feasible two-year rental.
  • On Mac Jones: "He is Mac Jones...He’s not gonna take this team all the way, and I’m not sure Kyler is going to either. But I have more faith that if necessary Kyler could take over a game." —Derrik [15:57]
  • General consensus: No one sees a “sledgehammer” move possible with this QB crop, barring a bold swing for Kyler.

• Other Team QB Situations:

  • Dolphins: Likely moving on from Tua, facing a full rebuild.
  • Cardinals: Kyler’s uncertain future, could spark a trade market.
  • Jets: Could circle back to Geno Smith as a full-circle move [20:40].
  • Steelers: Aaron Rodgers rumors resurface—met with disgust by the hosts ("The entire thought... just makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills." —Robert [23:26]).

• Malik Willis' Free Agent Potential: His looming payday and possible landing spots briefly discussed; Dolphins and Jets are candidates, though both with financial and organizational landmines. [21:21]

2. Blockbuster Trade Candidates

[28:38-43:41]

• Maxx Crosby (Raiders):

  • "It feels like nut cutting time," Dave says, noting Crosby could fetch two firsts, and the clean contract makes it feasible. [29:11]
  • The group debates whether it’s smarter for Las Vegas to stockpile picks now or keep their star to anchor a rebuild.
  • Best Fits: Tampa Bay is a sleeper, Rams are a maybe, Patriots are practical if they “want to win now,” and Robert floats the 49ers as a "push all in" destination—though Dave cautions that’s risky given their aging core. [36:33]

• Other Names:

  • AJ Brown (Eagles): Could become a post-June 1 trade; money makes it complicated, but Philly writers believe it’s doable. [39:02]
  • DJ Moore (Bears): Trading saves $28M in cap hit, could portend a bigger Bears shake-up.
  • Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars): Robert raises him as a buy-low, high-upside trade target for a WR-needy team like Buffalo; Derrik argues for his value even as a “vertical piece” in Jacksonville ("...top-end field stretcher," Derrik [41:53]).

3. Team Strategy Overhauls and Existential Questions

[43:41-55:18]

Eagles: "Just a Cosmetic Makeover, or Is the Foundation Rotten?"

• Departures: Star OL coach Jeff Stoutland leaves amid rumored discord; Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson could retire; Vic Fangio reportedly almost bolted.
• New Faces: Sean Mannion in as OC (unproven), offensive line is eroding, Saquon Barkley aging.
• Derrik: "You’ve pissed off maybe the most important man in the building." [44:24]
• Dave: "Is this a minor retool or is a whole shitload of stuff about to change?" [48:38]
• The hosts can fathom both a bounce-back and a total spiral into dysfunction.

Drake Maye in the Narrative Machine

• Derrik’s wish: No “insane takes” on the young Patriots QB after a bad playoff run, reminding listeners that growing pains (Lamar, Luck) are normal.
• Robert: "So many people’s first instinct when a quarterback has a bad game in the playoffs... is to sharpen the knives." [54:03]
• Consensus: Maye’s regular-season brilliance as a 23-year-old shouldn’t be erased by postseason struggles, and he can still easily be a top-10, ascending QB. [55:36]

4. Cowboys and Bengals: Contenders at a Crossroads

[57:29-67:59]

Cowboys: Can They Finally Go “All-In”?

• Dave wants to believe they’ll leverage their two first-round picks (thank you, Micah Parsons trade), fix the defense, and push their chips in while Dak is in his “final prime window.”
• Need to extend George Pickens instead of tag/holdout dance, and fix the entire edge rotation.
• Robert: "They're in a race to fix the defense while the offense is still in this space. That's it." [62:03]
• Warning: Don’t cut Terence Steele just for money—OL is a strength.

Bengals: “Microwaving the Defense” Again?

• Robert predicts Cincy’s company line: Use $54M in cap to sign several mid-tier defenders, as in 2021, to support a still-elite offense.
• Derrik is skeptical: Worked before due to Lou Anarumo, but he doubts Al Golden can have similar results. [66:09]
• Dave: Points out “eerie” Cowboys/Bengals parallels—pro-bowl QBs, two star receivers, bad defense, and an owner-GM.

5. Other Notable Player/Team Subplots

[68:08-74:36]

• Namdi Madabike (Ravens DT): Mystery surrounds his neck injury and possible return; his status could reshape Baltimore’s defensive ceiling.
• Draft Pick Power Teams: Rams, Jets, Cowboys, Browns all have two firsts in 2026; Rams and Cowboys poised to retool or double-down; Browns most likely to trade down for 2027 assets; Jets stuck at 2nd overall—“It sucks to have the second overall pick in this class.” [73:03]
• Rams: Debate whether to target a QB or use both picks on immediate help.
• Dave: “My intuition says…we won’t get to the draft with all four of those teams holding their picks.” [71:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It feels like nut cutting time." — Dave, on the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby decision [29:11]
• "If you're Minnesota and you're Kevin O’Connell, you can't waste another season." — Robert [07:19]
• "This entire Eagles run... I can't remember anything like this where you—it is—it's so over and so back every offseason." — Robert [49:38]
• "I think the only dog I have in this fight is getting Geno back to a place where he can play competent football next year." — Robert [24:55]
• “Please everyone, do not say insane things about Drake Maye.” — Derrik [51:40]
• "They're in a race to fix the defense while the offense is still in this space. That's it." — Robert [62:03]
• “The parallels between the Bengals and Cowboys are getting pretty eerie if we’re being real.” — Dave [67:30]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Intro to Offseason Questions | 02:14–04:17 | | Vikings & QB Carousel | 04:17–23:09 | | Maxx Crosby & Trade Bucket | 28:38–39:02 | | WR Trade Scenarios (AJ Brown, DJ Moore, Thomas Jr.) | 39:02–43:41 | | Eagles Existential Crisis | 43:41–49:38 | | Drake Maye Narrative | 51:30–56:39 | | Cowboys, Bengals Strategic Pivots | 57:29–67:59 | | Madabike/Ravens, First Round Power, Draft | 68:08–74:36 |

Takeaways

• The 2026 offseason features several “no perfect solution” quarterback situations—especially in Minnesota—and a lack of clean, slam-dunk veteran or rookie answers.
• The trade market could deliver fireworks: Maxx Crosby (edge) is the most likely blue-chip to move, with teams like Tampa Bay, New England, and the 49ers as wildcards.
• Several perennial contenders (Eagles, Cowboys, Bengals, Rams) are at franchise-altering crossroads, weighed down by both internal drama and the brutal arithmetic of the salary cap.
• The hosts urge context, patience, and realism in evaluating young QBs like Drake Maye—reminding fans that playoff stumbles are normal, and overreactions are rampant.
• The allocation of draft capital will heavily influence how a handful of franchises can quickly reshape their rosters or even extend their contention windows.

For those who missed the episode, this conversation offered a fascinating blend of high-level strategy, granular cap/trade analysis, and the human drama of pro football’s never-ending team-building cycle.