The Athletic Football Show: The Jets-Titans Trade, the Malik Willis Market, and News from Combine Week

Date: February 27, 2026
Host: Robert Mays
Guests/Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman

Episode Overview

The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast closes out combine week from Indianapolis, offering an inside look at the biggest stories and movements from around the league. Host Robert Mays is joined by Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman to break down a notable Jets-Titans trade, the rapidly changing Malik Willis quarterback market, and major roster and coaching developments discussed on the ground at the NFL combine. The trio dig into both headline and under-the-radar moves and provide expert, candid analysis rooted in their conversations with league insiders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Combine Week Atmosphere and Insights

[02:01]–[04:43]

• Robert sets the tone with reflections on combine week as the NFL’s off-field convention:

  “This is our convention. Like, this is the opportunity for everybody in our business to get together and just kind of chat, shoot the shit, learn stuff.” – Robert Mays [02:15]

• The combine is bustling, so much so that Robert missed news like the major trade that happened the same day.
• Light draft chatter: Discussion of Reuben Bain’s notably short arms and how busy the week keeps everyone.

2. The Jets-Titans Player-for-Player Trade

[04:43]–[10:41]

Trade Details

• Jermaine Johnson (Jets) to the Titans
• T’Vondre Sweat (Titans) to the Jets

Analysis

• Jets Perspective:
  • Robert Saleh’s influence is clear, as Sweat fits the new defensive regime.
  • “When regime changes happen, that’s when you can see opportunity… just because you have a scheme change.” – Robert Mays [06:21]
  • Jets fill a major defensive tackle need and clear cap room, anticipating an Edge pickup with their #2 draft pick.
• Titans Perspective:
  • Edge rusher is a dire need: “They need bodies and bodies and bodies at edge.” – Derek Klassen [09:16]
  • Johnson gives the Titans a high-upside, still-young edge rusher with a relatively low $13M salary—“that’s still a bargain for a really good edge rusher.” – Robert Mays [08:36]
  • Titans free up cap by releasing Lloyd Cushenberry and Xavier Woods; still flush with cap room.

Notable Quote

“It’s always fun when you try to solve all these problems and you solve none of them and you have to do it all over again.” – Robert Mays on the cyclical nature of Titans’ rebuilds [11:06]

3. The Malik Willis Market and Quarterback Carousel

[11:06]–[25:52]

Malik Willis Free Agency

• Reports (Jordan Schultz) peg Willis’ market at upwards of $30M/year—“The 30 million says more about desperation than it does about Malik Willis.” – Derrik Klassen [12:18]
• Every QB-needy team is at least ‘talking’ about Willis, confirmed by John Eric Sullivan (Dolphins GM):

  “If they tell you they’re not talking about Malik Willis, that would be a lie.” – paraphrased, [11:24]

• Players like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold signed modest "second chance" deals in prior years—now Willis’ market is 8x what it was for Mayfield.

Is $30M Justified?

• Will teams really go that high, and which ones make sense?
• “When you break it down and look across the landscape, it does get harder to find a suitor.” – Dave Helman [14:38]
• Potential fits discussed: Jets, Cardinals, Browns, with a nod to Miami (complicated cap).
• Risk: Spending $30M on a bridge QB may cost a team the flexibility to draft a rookie if things go bad—“Now you’re stealing one year of the rookie quarterback contract window if you have to draft one.” – Robert Mays [15:29]

Willis vs. Kyler Murray

• The crew debates whether teams should pursue Willis ($30M/yr) or try to trade for Kyler Murray, who has more of a track record. Derek is clear:

  “The worst Kyler Murray is better than the best Justin Fields has ever been.” – Derek Klassen [30:34]

Anthony Richardson, Matt Jones, and More

• Vikings could be an interesting fit for Anthony Richardson, who’s apparently been cleared to seek a trade [37:48].
• Mac Jones is likely not moving unless someone’s willing to pay a steep price (possibly a 2nd-rounder) [39:32].
• Kirk Cousins’ market may be evolving toward high-end backup/insurance on a contender.

4. Team-Specific Quarterback & Roster Moves

[25:52]–[41:51]

Cardinals Optimism

• Replacing Kyler Murray with Malik Willis, adding a top OL in the draft, and using cap for guard reinforcements could retool the offense effectively.
• “I cannot believe it’s February 26th and I’m starting to talk myself into the Arizona Cardinals again.” – Robert Mays [25:52]

Vikings QB Plans

• Internal debate on whether Minnesota should ride with JJ McCarthy or take a swing at Kyler Murray/Anthony Richardson.

  “I would feel worse having this roster and not giving ourselves the best chance, even if it blows up and we nuke ourselves in two years.” – Derek Klassen [34:44] “Hoping that it’s better than awful again...doesn’t sit well with me, when Justin Jefferson has already been in the league for six years.” – Dave Helman [35:54]

Steelers & Aaron Rodgers

• “I’m going to spend no time or energy talking or thinking about [the Rodgers situation] until we have clarity.” – Robert Mays [41:28]

5. Cowboys Contract Moves and Roster Rebuild

[45:12]–[54:37]

• Tagging George Pickens for $28M; discussing restructures for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and possibly Tyler Smith.
• Cap-clearing options (possibly moving Kenny Clark), and the flexibility it creates: “If you cut Kenny Clark that’s a linebacker and a safety [you can add].”
• The Cowboys’ off-season patience/frustration cycle: “We’re going to get all excited, like, oh, they freed up all this money...then free agency...it’s just crickets on the Cowboys front while the first tier of free agents fly off the board.” – Dave Helman [50:32]
• Hypothetical trades: Would Dallas deal Pickens for a 1 and a 3? Most would prefer to keep the star WR but consider moving a #1 pick for Max Crosby.
• Max Crosby to Cowboys/Rams/Bears/49ers? All discussed, but cap and fit make it tougher for some.

6. A.J. Brown Trade Possibility

[56:24]–[59:34]

• Sourcing from the combine suggests the Eagles’ relationship with A.J. Brown may have “reached the end of the road.”
• Likely cause: Brown’s desire to move, not Philly pushing him out.
• Possible cost? “A two and some scraps is possible.” – Robert Mays [57:26]
• Financial breakdown: acquiring team gets flexibility, and “for a team that needs a player like this, it’s Buffalo. It has to be.” [58:53]
• Realistically, deal gets done after June 1 due to cap/dead money implications.

7. Play-Calling Shifts Among Coaches

[60:10]–[63:37]

• Sean Payton gives play-calling to Davis Webb in Denver:

  “I would have guessed you’d have to pry play-calling out of Sean Payton’s cold, dead hands.” – Dave Helman [65:09]

• Dave Canales hands play-calling to Brad Idzik in Carolina – indicative of head coaches expanding into CEO roles and preparing assistants for future head coaching opportunities: “Usually when the head coach is your play-caller, they don't give it up.” – Derek Klassen [61:49]
• Webb is “about to be a rock star” among coordinators.

Noteworthy Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Player-for-player trades are consistently my favorite thing that happens in the NFL because I always find them so compelling.” – Robert Mays [05:00]
• “The 30 million says more about the desperation than it does about Malik Willis.” – Derrik Klassen [12:18]
• “If you’re spending $30 million on Malik Willis, though...you’re likely devoting an amount of resources...where if you are one of the worst teams...now you’re stealing one year of the rookie quarterback contract window.” – Robert Mays [15:29]
• “I just want to say one more time...there are intriguing options out there for the Pittsburgh Steelers and it...doesn’t sound like they’re interested in any of it. And maybe that’s wrong...but doesn’t seem like it.” – Dave Helman [41:14]
• “When you do what the Dolphins did...and leverage your finances...when you’re trying to maximize these windows, the end is going to be messy. And that’s exactly where the Dolphins sit right now.” – Robert Mays [32:21]
• “Hoping that it’s better than awful again...doesn’t sit well with me, when Justin Jefferson has already been in the league for six years.” – Dave Helman [35:54]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [02:01] – Combine week reflections, setting the scene
• [04:43] – Breakdown of the Jets-Titans trade
• [11:06] – The Malik Willis market and depth of the QB carousel
• [25:52] – Arizona Cardinals’ off-season blueprint if they move on from Kyler
• [34:04] – Vikings QB outlook and urgency for new direction
• [41:28] – Steelers’ potential indecision regarding Aaron Rodgers
• [45:12] – Dallas Cowboys’ cap and contract machinations
• [56:24] – The A.J. Brown trade scenario
• [60:10] – Head coach play-calling handoffs, career pathways

Final Thoughts

With free agency and the draft fast approaching, the episode delivers a dense, insightful rundown of the league’s evolving landscape, focusing intently on the domino effects of a few key trades, the escalation of the “second-chance” QB market, and the ways cap space, draft picks, and internal politics are shaping team strategies. The hosts blend sharp analysis with humor and candid war stories from the combine floor, making this an essential listen for NFL fans wanting both news and context.

Next Up: Combine recap show with Dane Brugler, and a free agency mailbag (submit questions at athleticfootballshowmail.com).

(Advertisements, extended intros/outros, and sponsor reads have been omitted for clarity and focus.)