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Daniel Jeremiah
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Robert Mays
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Daniel Jeremiah
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Robert Mays
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Daniel Jeremiah
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Robert Mays
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Daniel Jeremiah
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Robert Mays
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Daniel Jeremiah
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Robert Mays
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Robert Mays
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Daniel Jeremiah
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Robert Mays
Welcome to the Athletic Football Show. I'm Robert Mays. It's another mailbag Monday here in the off season, I am Actually on vacation when you guys are going to be listening to this. Sincerely appreciate everyone holding down the fort while I'm gone. Still having three shows a week coming your guys way kicking things off with the mailbag today. A lot of really good questions. A lot of really good fun offseason questions. Just me and Derek. Sincerely appreciate everyone who spent the time to send these in. The reason we do them is because we love the questions so much. So thank you very much to everyone who participated. For now, let's get to it. Another mailbag Monday here on the Athletic Football Show. It's another Mailbag Monday here on the Athletic Football Show. These will be happening when we're on vacation, but it's always good to keep doing them over the course of the off season. I really enjoyed the set of questions that we had for this one and the next mailbag. So excited to dig into these. I'm going to read the questions today. Bell's having some Internet net issues. So let's start with Tristan. He said recently there's been some discussion about what constitutes a successful number one overall pick. Specifically, Robert saying the pick doesn't need to turn into an MVP to be a successful pick. With that in mind, what is the line for current NFL quarterbacks who would be worth straight up trading for the number one overall pick? Specifically, which quarterbacks would the Raiders have traded the number one overall pick for this year? Straight up.
Daniel Jeremiah
So when you say straight up, like you have to account for age and all that stuff, right? Like I think Jared Goff, quality wise, I think clears that bar. But he's 32 and you're paying him what you're paying him. Like, I think at that point, like you would want more of a Runway for your number one overall pick, right? So to me the answer is probably like Trevor Lawrence. Like I would straight up trade the number one overall pick for Trevor.
Robert Mays
That's interesting. Okay, so you would, you, you would rather have Fernando Mendoza right now than Trevor Lawrence?
Daniel Jeremiah
No, no other way around. I would rather have Trevor Lawrence than the mystery box. And I like Fernando Mendoza, obviously, to be clear. But like I with what I see in Trevor Lawrence, like I'm confident that's a like above average NFL quarterback and I still think has a little bit more to reach in his potential. Whereas, you know, maybe Mendoza can be that. But I think it's, it's a complete mystery box.
Robert Mays
See, I think I'd still rather have Jared Goff over the next four years than Fernando Mendoza. Even at that price tag. I think we're Underrating how hard it is to be as good at quarterback as Jared Goff is at playing quarterback.
Daniel Jeremiah
So I think that that's fair. But how long do the Raiders have to go before they are as good of a roster as like the 23 lions or the 24 lions, you know, like I feel like it would still be a one or two year Runway. By then Jared Goff is 34, 35. And then what? You have a two year window with him.
Robert Mays
All right, yeah, I'll concede that golf is right there on the line. Okay, let's. So the guys defy definitively above the line right where like if the this and obviously like this team would have to want to do this. So for these our purposes here, let's just say they're willing to trade you their quarterback for the number one overall pick. Mahomes, Alan, Lamar Burrow, Herbert. All yeses Drake May easy yes. The other 20, 24 guys, I think Caleb and Jane Daniels. I think I'd probably rather have Caleb and Jaden Daniels than the number one overall pick. Even a couple years into their rookie contracts. The guys that are closer to the line for age, price, all that other stuff. I think Stafford's an interesting one. Like I think even coming off an MVP season, if you were the Raiders specifically, there's a chance you only get one year. What are you doing in one year with Matthew Stafford?
Daniel Jeremiah
Like this roster is not nearly good enough for that. Like he obviously clears the bar talent. I think Dak Prescott is in like a similar boat where he probably has more of a Runway than Matthew staff. But with how old he is and what you're paying him, like I, I just, I don't know.
Robert Mays
So you'd get Dax age 33, 34 and 35 season.
Daniel Jeremiah
I guess he isn't as old as I thought. Yeah, Dak I might be willing to do because he is like seven to me. Yeah, yeah, I think I would do that.
Robert Mays
I think Dak and golfer similar. I mean I'd rather have Dak, I think but I think Dak and golfer is similar. Enough conversation where I still think I'd rather have Jared Goff. A couple of the other guys that I think are on the line. Would you rather have the number one pick in this year's draft or Brock Purdy?
Daniel Jeremiah
Man, the Purdy one is hard because I think it's really hard for me to divorce him from Shanahan.
Robert Mays
Of course, man, that, that, that to me is one of.
Daniel Jeremiah
This is where it gets really because it, because too like they're paying him, but I they're not paying him quite as much as like the elite, elite tier. And he is young, he is athletic. I might still want to say like generally have the number one overall pick, though. Maybe I'm being ridiculous. Brock is good. I don't know.
Robert Mays
He's good. And again, that one's hard.
Daniel Jeremiah
That one is really hard, actually.
Robert Mays
It is hard to play quarterback in the NFL as well as Brock Purdy has played quarterback in the NFL. And so I to me, he's above the line. I have Goff, Trevor, the one where I kind of drew my cutoff point where it was like, all right, I think this is it for me. Would you rather have CJ Stroud or the number one pick in the draft?
Daniel Jeremiah
I think I would rather still have C.J. stroud. And I say that for a couple reasons. One, in his class I would have been willing to take him number one overall. So like he is. He was of that caliber of prospect. And two, we've seen him play pretty well. And I don't think that many first overall picks in what he's had to play behind the last couple of years would have looked very good either. And so I think we're colored by how he hasn't taken the steps that we thought he would take after his rookie year. But I just like, I don't think Fernando Mendoza behind that offensive line with no run game will look very good either. And so I think I would probably still lean. C.J.
Robert Mays
stroud, my. That is also my answer. So I this depend on how you stack up the quarterbacks. But the next group that I had was like Darnold, Bow and Baker. And obviously those guys are all in different scenarios. Like Darnold and Baker are obviously at the same point in their career in terms of how old they are. So let's take those two guys first. Would you rather have the first overall pick in this year's draft or Sam Darnold?
Daniel Jeremiah
And Sam I would probably still have rather have the first overall pick. I think Sam Darnold is really good at a specific few things, but I think he is a good quarterback. I think he is closer to like what the 20, like 18 Titans with Ryan Tannehill were and that team over all was just better with the Seahawks than than some of those Titans teams were.
Robert Mays
Can I talk you into picking Darnold? Because Darnold is locked in for the next three years at a reasonable price.
Daniel Jeremiah
So if anything, yeah, like you're not paying him $55 million a year and
Robert Mays
that's The Tannehill problem. Right. Is that Tannehill was cheap for a very short period of time. And then Tannehill got paid market level value. Tannehill got paid what Darnold makes now.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah. Because of the money. You can maybe get me there on that one, but I. I don't think I could. I could take that same argument for, like, Baker Mayfield a little bit.
Robert Mays
Like, Baker's a free agent after this year, and so I think that that one's kind of dicey. And then I don't. You're maybe not the right person to ask about this, but Bo Nicks are the number one overall pick in this year's draft.
Daniel Jeremiah
Number one overall pick.
Robert Mays
I think that's where my cutoff line is, too. I think it's like Stroud, and then Darnold is like, right there. And I think I'd still rather have Darnold. And then below that, I had like, Bo Baker. Jalen Hurts is in that range for me. And then the guys that I think are interesting just because it's a kind of a different set of considerations than everyone else. Would you rather have Jackson Dart or the number one overall pick in this
Daniel Jeremiah
year's draft for the number one overall pick? And, like, Dart had some flashes, but I. I would rather have the number one overall pick.
Robert Mays
And I assume you'd say the same about Shuck.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yes.
Robert Mays
All right.
Daniel Jeremiah
So I think, like, they've got paths, but, like, I. I would rather have the prospect who I think was better from the jump. And it's not like any of those guys blew our socks off as rookies. They were fine and you can see the path, but it's not like it. It wasn't like 2016 Dak Prescott, where you're just like, oh, is. Is obviously an NFL, like, starting quarterback,
Robert Mays
so everyone's list is going to be unique and tailored to their own preferences and tastes. But right around quarterback, like 14, 15 is. We're sitting where we're sitting.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah, I. I think that you would need to be like, I would need to be. Have some amount of confidence that you are just a. But like in that top half of NFL quarterback. And then with a couple of them, you have to, like, think about money and age and stuff like that. But that. That probably is the range. Yeah.
Robert Mays
And I. I feel like this is justification for my viewpoint on this, because this is kind of where it's like, hey, if it's quarterback 14 and you're paying that guy on his rookie deal, you'd probably be pretty happy with that. So I think that's a good cutoff. And obviously like this is not a pure ranking of a quarterback quality. Like Caleb Williams is not the 10th best quarterback in the league right now. But when you bake in how young they are, development flashes that we've seen from them, that's part of this consideration. Like if I was trying to win a Super bowl this year, I'd absolutely rather have Dak Prescott than Caleb Williams. But that's not the. This is about long term assets and multi year assets. All right, next one here from Rev Vest, Rev West. If you look at the five first five years of each coach's tenure, they're strikingly similar. Mike Tomlin and Nick Sirianni. The biggest difference in my opinion is that Tomlin inherited a team that was less than a year removed from winning the super bowl with a Hall of Fame defensive coordinator, a young franchise quarterback, and a very talented roster built by a GM that looked like a surefire hall of Famer where Sirianni inherited a team moving on from its franchise quarterback without in house, in house options at OC or DC if Sirianni's next 14 years goes the way Tomlin's did, he'd be such an abject failure that I think it'd be hard to imagine him lasting two years, let alone 14. So for their respective successful teams, Tomlin was not more involved in the X's and O's on the roster or the roster construction than Sirianni. And yet Tomlin is treated like a great coach and Sirianni is treated like he's constantly on the hot seat. What gives, what do you make of this?
Daniel Jeremiah
I. I think that there are a couple of considerations. One, I do think it is a good question for.
Robert Mays
It's a good question.
Daniel Jeremiah
Our priors a little bit like, is that.
Robert Mays
Yes, I agree.
Daniel Jeremiah
Cause like I've been. I was a huge Tomlin guy obviously before. I mean for a while, like it's easy to be. I think he was a very good coach. And then Sirianni I think has been a little bit more of a complicated situation obviously. I think at least I have given a lot more credit to like how, how he's built the roster and some of the star players and obviously having Vic Fangio being there as the defensive play caller and stuff like that. And so I think a big reason, I think it's a fair question in terms of how we perceive them. But I think the primary difference is like it's how those fan bases and how those buildings also perceive like what the head coach is supposed to be like, it just feels like there is a different amount of pressure to being the Philadelphia head coach. And so that's why there's always a little bit more heat on a guy like Sirianni, even if it's like similar accomplishments over that span, where I think there's a little bit less urgency and rabidness to what Pittsburgh was doing. Like, I think they had always felt more comfortable, like kind of playing the long game, just being respectable every year. Like, it just felt like they were more comfortable with that. So you just didn't get the heat turned up quite as hot. Whereas with Sirianni and the Eagles, and this isn't even just the Sirianni thing, it's. With any Eagles head coach, anything short of like 10 wins in a playoff win is like, it's not good enough. Whereas I just don't think you got that amount of year to year volatility and rabidness with, with like the Steelers fan base.
Robert Mays
I'd say a couple things. I think our patience is different now than it used to be, period. Like, the expectation for when you're going to get results from a head coach. Those expectations have changed now compared to where they were a decade ago. And I think that some of that's justified. Like, I thought a lot about this recently, just in how quickly you know about a coach, how quickly you should understand, like, this guy's a difference maker, this guy's not. And I think in this day and age, we do get a pretty fast understanding of who is and who is not a needle mover when it comes to the head coaches that we hire in the league, especially now that more and more of them are play callers, because their impact on the team, I think is a lot more tangible. And so it's easier to draw that direct connection. So I think that's part of it. I also think that with the Eagles over the last few years, there's just an inherent understanding that they have one of the best rosters in the league. Like, if you look at the talent top to bottom, I think that there's a collective understanding that this is one of the most talented teams the NFL. The Steelers, if you look at it. So they made the playoffs all the way through 2011. Their downturn was in like 2012 and 2013. They went 8 and 8. Both of those years they did not make the playoffs. If you look at, and I assume that's what Rev west is talking about here. If you look at those teams in those years, in 2012 and 2013. I had to go back and look at this. I not intimately familiar with the 2012 Steelers roster and like where they were and what the talking points were. The offense was very much in a state of transition in those two years. The offensive line was really banged up. Pouncy played one game I think in 20. In 2013, their tackles were kind of on and off the field. And then they drafted the Castro right in there. And then Pouncy got back healthy and then in 2014, that's when Le'Veon Bell really broke out and the offense became like a top 10 offense. If you look at the defense in 2012 and 2013. Paul Mollo only played seven games in 2012. That was James Harrison's last year there before he spent that one random year in Cincinnati. Like there just weren't that. Cam, Cam Hayward was in year two. So the Steelers, top to bottom, I just don't think had nearly as much talent as the Eagles have had over the last couple years. And so that's my read on it. Again, that may be imperfect and an imperfect kind of representation of what those teams actually were, but I think right now we can all collectively understand that when you have the talent on the Eagles roster, you should be double digit games every single year. So those are kind of the two considerations to me, just the lack of patience we have now and the fact that we know what the Eagles are. I think you could make an argument about truly how good those 2012, 2013 Steelers teams were when they had that kind of two year swoop.
Daniel Jeremiah
And I think that that's a really good way to frame like the rosters and stuff because part of the question frames is like, well, Tomlin stepped into a roster that had just came off of a Super bowl. And so you could say maybe in year one, like Stephen, and then he won one. He won and then he won one. So he made good on it. But then yeah, too to what you were saying, like, sure, maybe the Eagles year one roster was not as good as what the Steelers year one roster was for Tomlin, but since year two, year three, year four of Sirianni, they've built consistently one of some of the best rosters in the NFL. Like the cupboard has never been bare in Philadelphia. And so, and I think again, I don't remember some of like what the reporting or, or what the vibe was during some of those Steelers seasons in like 2009 or whatever it be when they were winning eight games and winning nine games. But, but whenever the Eagles have downturns there's always so much pressure of like, what's going on in the building and all this stuff. And it just again, I think the scrutiny now is a little bit different than it might have been 15 years ago. And so. And then I think part of the other question too is like, you know, we've gotten to year 13 of Tomlin and then he had continued to get this benefit of the doubt and it's like, well, yeah, he had done it for over a decade, whereas with Sirianni, we're so much shorter into his tenure that I just don't feel like, like that has been built up as much, if that makes sense.
Robert Mays
In year one of Tom 1, they go 10 and 6, they lose in the wild card round. In year two, he wins the Super Bowl. And so just think about how much leeway, especially in that era that buys you. They go nine and seven in year three. So that's like a small step back. Then they lose in the Super bowl. Then they go 12 and 4 again in 2011 before that kind of two year downturn. And so after winning the super bowl, they had one small step back and then two 12 and four seasons and so. And again, I think that just how much the Eagles have bottomed out in some of those years where they haven't necessarily gotten all the way to the super bowl. The way those years have ended, how kind of hopeless those couple years have felt. I mean, if you look at the Steelers, the Steelers did kind of come to this place where they also had like an offensive coordinator that just kind of ran its course. Like they. Bruce Arians was the offensive coordinator there until 2011 and remember he left and went to the Colts and then they replaced him with Todd Haley. But I don't think there was ever. They finished 21st and on in scoring in 2011. But I still don't think there was the feeling of like, this is so ugly, everyone has to be fired. Like Bruise Arians immediately got another offensive coordinator job. It wasn't like they ran him out of town on a rail. And so at least how I remember it. So I just think that the dynamics at play are just a little bit different for how we talk and think about the the Eagles roster and expectations than they were for the Steelers at that point. All right, before we move on, let's take our first quick break.
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Robert Mays
NEXT one here from Tuxedo Cats. What is the best coaching staff you can assemble using only the current NFL head coaches? Finally, if given an average NFL roster, how far could your team advance in the playoffs? I built like full staffs on each side of the ball.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah, I, I went down to like TVs coach and all that stuff. I didn't necessarily do like pass Game. I didn't, I didn't go like 14 layers deep, but I have, I named,
Robert Mays
I have pass game coordinators and run game coordinators on both sides.
Daniel Jeremiah
Okay. And that's fair. Some of them I think I could, I could fit into here and it would work. But I have like 10 or so names. So let's just start.
Robert Mays
Who did you.
Daniel Jeremiah
Who? Okay, I'm going to start with head coach. I'm taking Sean McVeigh. I just think that has the best quality of offensive head, you know, play calling, head coach. And also just, I think his overall scope for what the building can do is just the best at oc. I, I don't think he's necessarily the second best offensive mind, but I put Ben Johnson in part because I wanted Kyle Shanahan somewhere else.
Robert Mays
Interesting. Okay, so where'd you put Kyle Shanahan?
Daniel Jeremiah
I have Kyle Shanahan actually as my wide receivers coach because I think he is excellent at that. And so if I'm truly trying to maximize the quality of what I'm getting out of that position, that's where I think I can get that. And then I don't think I'm losing anything by not having Kyle at offensive coordinator because I think Ben Johnson also does such a fantastic job. And so that was where I put him.
Robert Mays
The one question I was going to have for you before I run through mine. If you were hiring a coach solely to handle, I guess not solely because you, you're incorporating some action passes in there too. But if you had somebody to solely handle the passing game, like that was their purview, who do you think is best in that role specifically? That's the one where I didn't have like a clean answer. All of the other ones, I felt like, all right, I can, I know who I want in these spots, but passing game coordinator on offense specifically was the one where I, I have a name, but it's not one that like was very clearly and quickly apparent to me.
Daniel Jeremiah
If I had not put Ben Johnson, I think it might be him. And I, I used Sean Payton for something else, but it might be Sean Payton, which is funny because they have a little bit of shared DNA and, but I just think that that coaching tree, if I'm thinking where I want to make sure I cover my bases a little bit better with pure pass, it, it's probably that tree.
Robert Mays
All I considered Sean Payton for that reason. Just like the drop back world of that offensive system compared to like the McVeigh world. I eventually went with Liam Cohen just because I Think it's clean enough, like if he's just, if he's handling the past game. So on offense I had McVeigh as my head coach. Shanahan is my offensive coordinator. I had Liam Cohen as my past game coordinator. I had Ben Johnson as my run game coordinator.
Daniel Jeremiah
Okay, that's, that's, that's fair. I think I like that.
Robert Mays
I, I think if you talk to other guys around the league and just how involved he is in, in the creation of the run game, I, I think he has a really good reputation in that area. Specifically among all these play calling head coaches, I had Kevin o' Connell's my quarterback's coach.
Daniel Jeremiah
See, that's where I started. And then I actually, I ended up landing on Jim Harbaugh.
Robert Mays
Interesting. Yeah, interesting.
Daniel Jeremiah
Dynamically that might be a little bit weird, but his track record is like pretty undeniable with, with what he's gotten out of this quarterback. So basically every stop Canalis I had
Robert Mays
as my receivers coach. Cause he's done it. And then I had Dan Campbell coaching the running backs. Just like purely for vibes.
Daniel Jeremiah
I had him as my tight ends coach. I mean he, he's, he's played the position, he's done it before. Like that would also probably be, I hadn't put a run game coordinator, but he probably would be mine.
Robert Mays
I, I'd originally forgot to put an OC and had Shanahan as the tight ends coach. And so that's why I, I, I don't have one on this list. What'd you do on defense really quickly?
Daniel Jeremiah
O line coach was harder to find. Cause there's just not, yeah, that idea of them too. I put Andy Reid, he's really the only guy who like has been one of the, and is a NFL head coach right now. But that was hard to find.
Robert Mays
I think that, or I think you could probably, Dan Campbell could probably coach the offensive line too if you're a tight end coach.
Daniel Jeremiah
Like that's, he was my first guest and then I was like there has to be somebody who's done it before. And so I, I, I went looking.
Robert Mays
I think it's just Andy Reid. There's, there is some overlap. If you look at like tight end coach history and offensive line coach history, there are guys who have moved from one to the other. Like to me, I'm just off the top of my head. The best example, Clayton Adams is the tight ends coach in Indy for several years before he ended up becoming the offensive line coach in Arizona. So I think there's at least some Overlap. If you've been a tight ends coach before, what'd you do on defense?
Daniel Jeremiah
So defense I've got Mike McDonald calling plays. I mean why would you not? And then I did D line coach, linebacker coach and DB's coach. D line. I put Robert Sala. That was actually a little bit trickier for me to find, but I just think that his defenses have always had that.
Robert Mays
Dan Quinn has been a defensive line coach. That's why I picked Dan Quinn.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah, I almost did Quinn, but I think, I think I kind of just like Salah's defenses a little bit more in general. So I ended up picking. Picking. But you're kind of going for the same thing, right? Where it's like this four down, just like get after it, off of the edge kind of front. So Dan Quinn does actually make a lot of sense because he's done it. D', Amico, Ryan's linebackers coach, that one felt pretty easy to me. And then dbs, I know he was obviously not a good head coach in his first year with the jets, but like Aaron Glenn's track record as a DBs coach is very good. And so I also had Aaron Glenn take him there.
Robert Mays
The other ones I had among the head coaches, Jesse Minter, pass game coordinator on defense.
Daniel Jeremiah
I almost made him DB's coach.
Robert Mays
So I like that I had Solid as the run game coordinator.
Daniel Jeremiah
Okay, that makes sense too.
Robert Mays
So that, that, that's fun. I think with an average roster that coaching staff can win a playoff game.
Daniel Jeremiah
Oh, I think so. I, I, I think that could, that maybe even like they could get you probably run out of road in terms of star power by the time you get to the conference championship. But you could win like a divisional game.
Robert Mays
I think, I think a wild card round weekend game that, that to me feels realistic when you get into divisional round and while and actual conference championship Sunday, I think the talent starts to
Daniel Jeremiah
shine through this would get closer to like we would have to find what we think is roster 16 right now in the NFL and then be like what would they do with that? It's going to take a little bit more time, but.
Robert Mays
Well, let's, let's, let's do it.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah, let's try to find this.
Robert Mays
Look at, let's look at all 32
Daniel Jeremiah
teams or actually what are super bowl odds right now? Which is going to be a little bit shaded a little bit by who these teams coaches are at the moment. That's true, but still.
Robert Mays
All right, so looking at it right
Daniel Jeremiah
now, it's basically the Jaguars like do do you think that they could get to the conference championship game with the Jaguars?
Robert Mays
Yeah, if it's the Jaguars, I think, yes.
Daniel Jeremiah
Cause that's.
Robert Mays
I think the Jaguars could get to the conference championship game with this. With this group of coaches. Yes.
Daniel Jeremiah
Cause that's like, somewhere between roster, probably 14 and 17, just depending on how you feel about it, I think that they could get there. It.
Robert Mays
Yeah. When you actually put it in, like, real terms, like practical terms like that, I. I could buy that team with that coaching staff winning two playoff games. I absolutely could. All right, next one here. Eric said, Tim Robinson showed us that sharing nachos is a better window into a person's character than having a beer. So pick a table of people to split a p platter with. A head coach, a GM and a starting quarterback who would all share nachos with integrity. I saw an amazing viral tweet, I think it was yesterday or the day before, where somebody was saying that when they're sharing nachos with somebody, they're always thinking two steps ahead, which I, I. It's exactly how I see a plate of nachos, where it's not just what I'm going to do this time. It's like, what are the next two? And then I also saw bites are left. Yes. Like, where. Where am I going? Like, it's almost like a chessboard. So I've had a lot of nacho content for me recently, but what is your answer to this? Who are you sharing a plate of nachos with?
Daniel Jeremiah
I. So this one was. Was interesting. I think for head coach, I would want someone who feels a little bit more chill, a little bit more slow. And so I was kind of debating between, like, d', Ameco, Ryan's, and maybe, like, Kevin Stefanski. Those two guys seem like, chill. They're not going to dominate the nacho platter here. That's kind of where I started at head coach.
Robert Mays
So I had two different answers. Okay, is this a group of people that I think would be, like, you just said, pretty chill, laid back, normal experience. Like the three people in those roles, head coach, GM and starting quarterback, who feel most just like a person you would run into at a sports bar and have a conversation with. My answer was Kevin Stefanski, Joe Ortiz, and Jared Goff.
Daniel Jeremiah
Golf, I almost had for quarterback. I think quarterback is actually the easiest to find good answers for here. I thought GM was hard. And then head coach is like, there are a couple of good answers, but I think that was also a little bit tricky.
Robert Mays
Just having had conversations with all of those people, I think that would just be, like, the most. This is a group of actual human beings that I can sit here and have a conversation with. The other answer I had was just what would be the most entertaining hour of my life or two hours of my life? That answer was John Schneider, Todd Monken, and Josh Allen.
Daniel Jeremiah
See, I would almost want a quarterback who's a little bit more insane than Josh Allen and really just, like, turn that up to an 11.
Robert Mays
I still want it to be a place I'd want to be.
Daniel Jeremiah
Fair enough. Fair enough. You can't. You can't go, like, overboard. I think that's fair. I did have Josh Allen on my short list for quarterbacks. Quarterbacks was hard. Like, I like. I think Trevor would be incredibly chill. Sam Darnold, I think, seems like a very delightful man.
Robert Mays
Darnold would be my other answer if it wasn't Jared Goff.
Daniel Jeremiah
There you go. Okay. Like, I think Tyler Schuck seems like a good time. Jordan Love is one of the few players that I have met. I think he is like, my tempo. He's just a very laid back sort of guy, and I think that that would be a good time. So my short list for quarterbacks ended up being not very short.
Robert Mays
You a big nacho guy?
Daniel Jeremiah
I don't know if I order them all the time, but it's like, how could you not enjoy them whenever they're there? If they're there, I will go to town, but I don't feel like I'm always the guy pushing for it.
Robert Mays
My problem is most of the time, I feel like a place that serves nachos. Like any sort of sports bar. The nachos are like a C minus. Like, there just aren't that many places where nachos are available to me that I think the nachos are worth getting. There are a couple places in the city, though, where I'm like, I. The nachos, I think, are very, very good.
Daniel Jeremiah
I would rather make them or also, again, this gets tricky if you're talking about sports bars, because they can be pretty mid, too. But I have a friend who just makes, like, incredible quesadillas and dips. And, like, if I'm doing just like a dippable, a cheese sort of thing, I kind of lean there a little bit.
Robert Mays
All right, before we move on, we're going to take one more quick break. It's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day and with Discover, you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show see terms@discover.com creditcard self directed investing Trading
Daniel Jeremiah
Full Service Wealth Management Automated Investing Financial Planning Thematic Investing Retirement Planning Phew. And to think that's just a small taste of what Schwab offers. Because Schwab knows that when it comes to your finances, choice matters. No matter your goals, investing style, life, stage or experience, Schwab has everything you need all in one place so you can invest your way. Visit schwab.com to learn more. If you've used Babbel, you would Babbel's conversation based technique teaches you useful words and phrases to get you speaking quickly about the things you actually talk about in the real world. With lessons handcrafted by over 200 language experts and voiced by real native speakers, Babbel is like having a private tutor in your pocket. Start speaking with Babbel today. Get up to 55% off your Babel subscription right now at babbel.com acast spelled B A B B E L.com acast rules and restrictions may apply.
Robert Mays
All right, next one here from Shrilly Said. This is a question based on some of the dialogue in this and other discords. How many backfields are there where both the first and second running back are debatably as good as each other? So more 1a 1b instead of a clear pecking order rotation, how many teams did you have for this?
Daniel Jeremiah
So I had I think three that I felt decent about. And then there are like four or five backfields that I just like genuinely do not know what to do with at this point. State in time. And so the three that I landed on were New England. I feel like that feels like a legitimate like 1A 1B with Stevenson and Travion Henderson. Pittsburgh to me with Jalen Warren and Rico Dowdle. I think that that's like a relatively fair one two split and then I actually want your thoughts on this. Where are you at with Chicago? Like do you think DeAndre Swift and Kyle Menon guy is close enough that that's like a 1A 1B.
Robert Mays
Yes, that that is, that is one that I had on my list. I had way more than that.
Daniel Jeremiah
I there were a few that I just like genuinely don't know how it's going to shake out. Like Jacksonville, for example, with Facial Tootin and like Chris Rodriguez and Allen. Like I just that One, I just genuinely don't know how that's going to shake out. Washington. I felt similarly about Carolina, New York. I think there were teams where I like a team like the Patriots. I know that those top two guys are going to get the majority of the carries and I feel good about what the share is going to be with teams like New York or Washington. Like, I. I actually just don't know what the share is going to look like. So it was harder.
Robert Mays
I just think right now on May 20th or whenever we're recording this, which ones do you feel like there's a clear pecking order delineation between them and so. And which ones are a little bit murkier. I had Jags, I had the Titans. Just because, like, I don't know, Tony Power is whatever. Like, I. That. That's one where I think that says more about Tony Pollard standing than it does about Tajie Spears. The Broncos. Like, we'll see what happens with year two of RJ Harvey. Like, obviously year one wasn't very good, but I think that one could be a little bit murkier by the end of the year. Washington, the Bears. I had the Vikings with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. I had the Bucks.
Daniel Jeremiah
That was one. Kenny Gainwell and Bucky Gainwell and Bucky Irving. Yeah, that's a good one.
Robert Mays
Obviously Bucky Irving had a fantastic rookie year, was banged up last year, but the Bucks made Kenny Gainwell $7 million a year. Like, I think that is going to be a little tighter than it might seem. And I also even think after spending a first round pick on him, think about the way they've used their backs in the past when Kenneth. When Zach Charbonnet is healthy. I think the Seahawks are going to be one of these teams. Yeah, that one.
Daniel Jeremiah
I push that on my pr. I think you're totally right because Price had never been a lead back, even in college, and so he probably will be splitting time in the NFL. That's true.
Robert Mays
Patriots is a good one. And then I also had the Steelers. So I had. I mean, what is that? That's ten teams.
Daniel Jeremiah
I. That's. Well, that was. The thing is I think that there are a lot of teams that do not clearly have a bell cow back. I just, I guess in my mind I was imagining this more as like, what teams have two actually good backs that also are definitely going to get carries. Where I think some of these teams, like, it's not necessarily two very good players splitting carries. It's just like that's where the backfield is at.
Robert Mays
So you read more into the 1A 1B thing than I did. To me it was just like where is there a clear line of demarcation
Daniel Jeremiah
who doesn't have a guy?
Robert Mays
Top guy on the next guy.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah.
Robert Mays
Next one here from Headline Plays. Bit of a silly one, but who is the best player on any team you would sacrifice for a game if it guaranteed you a pick six at some point in said game? It's the biggest swing play in football. Is it worth missing say a T. Higgins caliber guy? There's no injury involved. Basically the Jalen Carter spitting incident for profit. Who is your answer to this?
Daniel Jeremiah
So it has to depend on the team. Like I wouldn't want to do T. Higgins because I just don't think the Bengals have enough options to score points if they don't have a T. Higgins. And so I know you're getting the free six points, but like that one seems a little bit tricky to me, especially with how bad their defense is. I do think someone like Jalen Carter is a good one because the rest of that Eagles defense is still really good. And so getting a free six points for that defense to play with is good. I was also trying to find a Texans player I felt was a good answer for that exact reason. Where it's like elite defense, defense that can afford to lose a very good player. If you give me a free six points. The problem then is that not just
Robert Mays
a free six points, it's more than six points.
Daniel Jeremiah
Right. You're also stealing a possession six points. Right, right, right.
Robert Mays
I, I think you are underrating how important that sort of swing is. I was looking up just random pick sixes over the course of the season just to see like what the EPA swing is on a, on a pick six. And some of these are a little bit skewed because a team was deeper into the opposing territory before the play happened.
Daniel Jeremiah
Well, so that's where it gets tough. Right? Exactly.
Robert Mays
But so like for example, the Ernest Jones pick against Max Brosmer was a 10 point swing in EPA.
Daniel Jeremiah
Because yeah, they were on what like the 10 yard line or whatever.
Robert Mays
It was 10 points.
Daniel Jeremiah
It's a lot.
Robert Mays
Even. Even if it's eight points. There is no non quarterback in the NFL that's probably worth eight points in a single game. I don't think, I don't know if there is a position player that would
Daniel Jeremiah
justify this in terms of how they end up shaping the betting odds. That is true, but I don't think that is actually true. To be clear, my answer that I actually put down was Daniel Hunter. I think the Texans could afford to lose Daniel Hunter because they have Will Anderson for seven points worth of. Of. Of value.
Robert Mays
I think maybe, maybe there are a few examples of this over the years you could point to like the Eagles on off splits without Lane Johnson at times and how crazy those looked like maybe somebody like Christian McCaffrey just like how much of an engine of the offense he is. But even with those like one off examples, I'm not sure there's any non quarterback for one game that I would pick over something like this. If, if you don't have any sort of option as a swing tackle, maybe that's it. But you can spend all game chipping that guy. Like I just think that you can account for any player, almost any player you would miss in this scenario in a way that eight points, like an eight point swing in EPA like we're talking about here would be worth it.
Daniel Jeremiah
I think maybe too I've been. I, I think maybe too I was struggling with. I think when I took this question I was imagining it as like every game of the season. This is how I'm doing it. It probably is different. If it's like can I survive for one game?
Robert Mays
It's one game.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah. I don't know. Even then I don't think the betting odds do a good enough justice to like how important some of these players are.
Robert Mays
All right, so who are the actual examples? Like if, if we're. If. If we're willing to play in the sandbox, we're like non quarterbacks. It's very, very hard to get there. Who do you think are the non quarterbacks that are that load bearing where they would be. They wouldn't be worth sacrificing in something like this.
Daniel Jeremiah
I think there would be a lot of them. I think there would be almost like a dozen tackles. I think the top three or four corners.
Robert Mays
Tackles.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yes. It's a, It's a deeply important position and some of these teams only have one good one.
Robert Mays
I think you are drastically overrating. So in your mind the Vegas odds just are wrong in terms of like how the line would swing if one of these players was missing. They're just wrong.
Daniel Jeremiah
Depending on how important I think the players. If you're missing like all pros. Yes, I, I do believe that they are wrong.
Robert Mays
Give me an example.
Daniel Jeremiah
Like Patrick Surtan. Like if the, if the Broncos lose Patrick.
Robert Mays
Absolutely not. Absolutely not.
Daniel Jeremiah
I would, I would rather have Patrick Surtan.
Robert Mays
You, you think that the downgrade from Patrick Surtan to Jede Barron is eight points.
Daniel Jeremiah
They can only play the way they play because they have Patrick Shan. Yes.
Robert Mays
I'm just not sure there's any non quarterback that's going to clear this bar for me. Even the guys who are like completely,
Daniel Jeremiah
I think operates, I think that they're. I, I would have a good amount.
Robert Mays
I'm gonna ask a couple coaches this question.
Daniel Jeremiah
Okay. I'm gonna, I would wanna hear what they say. Yeah.
Robert Mays
Because this is always fun. I remember because for them it's also.
Daniel Jeremiah
Is it worth the headache of having to like re game plan for, for like not having these guys? Obviously seven points is a lot but
Robert Mays
the one that feels similar to me. This was a question we got. It's crazy that I remember this. It's almost five years ago.
Daniel Jeremiah
Wow.
Robert Mays
We, we got a mailbag question that was. Would you rather for the rest of the season be guaranteed that your team would not suffer another injury or be guaranteed to never turn the ball over again? And the coach I asked like emphatically was like turnovers, like if you promised me I would never turn the ball over again. And so that this reminds me of that because it's like I think you are understating how crucial in a one game sample it would be to know going in that you were going to have a pick six at some point in the game. It's like a massive game swinging play.
Daniel Jeremiah
I probably am, but I just, I think it's hard for me to say like I don't want Kyle Hamilton on the field or whoever it is. Like I, I, it's hard for me to emotionally get there.
Robert Mays
I still think the list is much, much shorter than you're making it out to be. All right.
Daniel Jeremiah
I think it's long.
Robert Mays
Next one here. This one doesn't really apply to you and we're tweaking it a little bit, but Captain Punches says high fidelity style. Question your all time top five football breakups in autobiographical order. Autobiographical by pain level. So I don't really have these like a coach or player leaving the team where like truly like broke my heart. There are guys that, they retired and like I was sad to see them go, but I think that's a little bit different. I'm changing this. I'm going to do heartbreaks, like top five football heartbreaks. When it comes to like a moment that just left you emotionally devastated and the fallout and having to deal with that. My number one still to this day is not the Bears losing the super bowl. It's the NFC championship game lost to the packers in 2010. That, that one still lingers with me in a different way than even losing the Super Bowl. The super bowl season. I was a freshman in college. It was so magical. Like I, it was a hard day. Like I, I watched that game in my, my college girlfriend's dorm room, which was a terrible mistake. Like, I, I cannot believe that's how I watched the Super Bowl. I think I wanted to be alone. I, like, I don't want to try to figure out what my 18 year old brain was thinking. But the 2010, that was my senior year of college. I was at a bar in Chicago. Like, I love that 2010 team. That was the Julius Peppers year. Like, it just. I really, really love that team losing to the packers in that way. For the quarterback to get hurt during the game. Like speaking of pick sixes, like the first BJ Raji play that I still like, see in my nightmares, like that one still is probably number one. Weirdly number two. I'm. There's a lesson to be learned here in terms of like heartbreak in the moment because it was the last play of the game, the 2013 Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb walk off in week 18 that won them the game that Chris Conti played. That honestly might be number two.
Daniel Jeremiah
Really? Even even though it's a regular season
Robert Mays
game, Just because it was the end of the game, right? Just because it was the end of the game. Like, it swings in that moment. Like the emotional kind of yank from they're going to the playoffs to this is over and this guy tore our hearts out again. That might be number two. Super bowl is number three. Double doink is probably number four.
Daniel Jeremiah
Is that one at least funny though?
Robert Mays
No, no, no.
Daniel Jeremiah
Yeah, maybe this is me just being removed. That one is funny to me.
Robert Mays
That that's. That is One of the 2018 team is one of the. The times I'm like, I was most susceptible to being blinded by the excitement that comes with having a team that wins more games than it should. Like, for whatever reason at that point I was also like, I'm was. My wife was a mess at that point. But I was just in a place like watching that 2018 team where like, even if like logically I knew that that team wasn't good enough, the defense was so good and so fun that you can convince yourself it's capable of more than it actually is.
Daniel Jeremiah
And they stopped the Rams. Who was stopping the Rams at that time?
Robert Mays
It just. So that one, that one was tough. Cause I think I had deluded myself into believing that that team could win a playoff game or two. And then the 2005 divisional round game with Steve Smith just like absolutely burning down that Bears defense. Like, that was the first year 04. You could see the glimpses of it. But then in 05, that 05 bears defense, that was like they were a truly great defense that year. And so to kind of really start falling in love with that version of the rant of the, of the team in that era of the team. And then for Steve Smith to come in and just like, like rip out your hearts and like stomp on it, like, that was, that was a really, really tough one. So those are probably the five that I would say in order of pain and suffering that they caused.
Daniel Jeremiah
See, those are interesting. Yeah. Because those are really not like players stepping away or situations breaking and stuff. Those are just the moments that never really.
Robert Mays
In terms of football, I don't. Maybe I'm far enough removed from it now and how I think about it that it. I don't. I've kind of like, I've forgotten whatever emotional toll like a player leaving end up. There are weird ones. Like, they're, they're. They seem small, but in the moment, they bum me out. Like the Bears trading Greg Olson like that, that bummed me out. And weirdly, both of these were to Carolina. The Bears letting Chris Harris go, like when they let Chris Harris go sign with the Panthers, that was. Even in the moment. I was like, this is stupid. Like, I can't believe this is happening. But like, those are probably the two that would stick out and those just aren't that monumental. Like, they're just, they're very small ones. And so I think heartbreaks is probably a better set of answers. And I would say those are the five.
Daniel Jeremiah
Okay, that, that's good. Yeah. See, I, I don't really have as. As much of those. I will say in terms of like quarterbacks I have adored and like them stepping away. The Andrew Luck one hurt a lot. Like, I, I was genuinely distraught as a human being when Andrew Luck stepped away. Most of my other like fan related ones would just be like esports ones. Like I had when I first started watching League of legends again in 2018. I was a 100 Thieves fan and they had had this player named Someday on the roster and he was just a rock for like five years. And then when he stepped away and played for a different team, that was one where I was like, I. It. It felt weird seeing him in another jersey, even if he probably passed his prime.
Robert Mays
Watching Julius Peppers play for the, for the packers after playing for the Bears was a tough one.
Daniel Jeremiah
That's brutal. That is.
Robert Mays
That, that. That was a tough one. Seeing him do like a Lambo leap, even if he wasn't somebody that obviously the French guys can claim because he's still a Panther first and foremost. It was still like watching him go from Chicago to Green Bay. That one I did not really enjoy. All right, that is all we've got for today. We'll be back next week with our next mailbag. Sincerely appreciate everyone who took the time to send in some questions. We'll talk to you very soon. Thanks for tuning in. Make sure to hit that subscribe or Follow button so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed what you heard, please like like comment and leave a rating. We'll see you next time.
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Robert Mays
a few financial goals, and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover, you can get this Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show. See terms@discover.com creditcard self directed investing, Trading
Daniel Jeremiah
Full Service Wealth Management Automated Investing, Financial Planning, Thematic Investing, Retirement Planning.
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Daniel Jeremiah
And to think that's just a small taste of what Schwab offers. Because Schwab knows that when it comes to your finances, choice matters. No matter your goals, investing style, life stage or experience, Schwab has everything you need all in one place so you can invest your way. Visit schwab.com to learn more.
This episode of The Athletic Football Show centers on intriguing NFL hypotheticals and offseason debates. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dive deep into NFL quarterback value, dissecting which quarterbacks would be worth trading straight up for the #1 overall pick—a thought experiment driven by a listener mailbag. They also explore coaching legacies, assemble dream coaching staffs, debate the value of a guaranteed pick-six, discuss running back hierarchies, and reminisce about personal football heartbreaks. The tone is lively, substantive, and at times playfully argumentative, embodying the show’s signature blend of deep football knowledge and fandom.
(03:28–10:34)
Tier One: Definite Yes (Would trade #1 for)
Recent High Draft Picks
The Line: Debate Zone
Jared Goff: On-field quality, but older and expensive—short window.
“Even at that price tag, I think we’re underrating how hard it is to be as good at quarterback as Jared Goff.” —Robert Mays (04:21)
Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott: Still productive, but age and cost temper value.
Brock Purdy: Hard to separate from Shanahan’s influence; youth helps, but still a tough call.
“Man, the Purdy one is hard...I might still want the number one overall pick, though. Maybe I’m being ridiculous. Brock is good.” —Derrik Klassen (06:23)
CJ Stroud:
Below the Line: Prefer #1 Pick
Takeaway:
Consensus forms around quarterbacks in the league’s top-14 tier as being worth the #1 pick, especially factoring in youth, cost, and team context.
(12:03–17:24)
(21:17–27:46)
Hypothetical Task: Assemble the best NFL coaching staff using only current NFL head coaches, filling all position and coordinator roles.
Robert’s picks (offensive side):
Derrik’s picks:
Defense: Debate over Mike Macdonald vs. Jesse Minter as playcallers; Dan Quinn and Robert Saleh considered for DL coach.
How Far Would They Go?
(27:53–31:23)
Question: Create the ideal nacho-sharing trio: a head coach, GM, and QB who would share the platter with integrity.
Robert’s “normal guys” table: Kevin Stefanski (HC), Joe Ortiz (GM), Jared Goff (QB).
Other notable QBs for this honor: Sam Darnold, Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love.
“Goff I almost had for quarterback. I think quarterback is actually the easiest to find good answers for here.” —Daniel Jeremiah (29:39)
For entertainment value: John Schneider (GM), Todd Monken (HC), Josh Allen (QB).
(33:23–36:49)
Challenge: Which teams have genuine 1A/1B RB situations with no clear pecking order?
Robert lists ten teams: Jaguars, Titans, Broncos, Washington, Bears, Vikings, Bucs, Seahawks, Patriots, Steelers.
Derrik more narrowly defines “quality” dual backfields, but agrees on New England, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.
“There are a lot of teams that do not clearly have a bell cow back.” —Daniel Jeremiah (36:17)
(37:14–42:45)
Hypothetical: Would you sit any non-QB player for one game if it guaranteed your team a pick-six in that game?
Robert’s view: The value of a pick-six far outweighs even elite non-QB contributions.
Derrik’s view: Some non-QBs (top tackles, corners) are irreplaceable due to scheme and team structure.
Debate: Names like Christian McCaffrey, Lane Johnson, and Patrick Surtain considered as possibly load-bearing enough to not sacrifice.
Robert: “I think you are understating how crucial…a pick-six would be to know going in.” (41:01)
(44:47–48:13)
Robert’s top five Bears “football heartbreaks:”
On players leaving/retiring: Robert felt less pain over most player departures, but notes Julius Peppers going to Green Bay was tough.
Derrik’s football heartbreaks: Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement (48:13); also references esports star departures.
| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | 1 | Main mailbag intro & format overview | 01:56–03:28 | | 2 | QB-for-#1 Pick debate | 03:28–10:34 | | 3 | Tomlin vs. Sirianni perceptions | 12:03–17:24 | | 4 | Ultimate coaching staff draft | 21:17–27:46 | | 5 | Nachos “integrity test” for NFL personalities | 27:53–31:23 | | 6 | RB 1A/1B situations across NFL backfields | 33:23–36:49 | | 7 | Would you sacrifice a star for a pick-six? | 37:14–42:45 | | 8 | Football heartbreaks—the fan’s perspective | 44:47–48:13 |
In this episode, passionate debates and creative hypotheticals make for both enlightening football analysis and relatable, fandom-driven banter. Whether you’re tracking quarterback debates, NFL coaching trees, or longing for your own team’s heartbreaks and triumphs, this episode delivers both laughter and sharp insight for NFL die-hards and casuals alike.