The Dan Patrick Show (Hour 3 – March 2, 2026)

Guests: Jeremy Fowler (ESPN Senior NFL Reporter)
Main Theme: NFL offseason developments – player trades and quarterback carousel, plus insights on athletic measurements and football value

Episode Overview

In this lively hour, Dan Patrick and the Danettes break down the latest NFL news, focusing on the David Montgomery trade, shifting attitudes about athletic testing at the NFL Combine, and the rapidly changing market for quarterbacks. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler joins to offer exclusive insights on what these moves mean for teams and players around the league. The tone is conversational but sharp, mixing analysis, humor, and personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insider Insights

1. NFL Combine & Player Evaluation (02:20–06:47; 09:51–13:45)

• Combine Performance vs. On-Field Production:
  Dan opens with a spirited defense of “football value” over combine speed, citing receivers who ran “only” 4.5 in the 40-yard dash but became stars (e.g., CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Keenan Allen).
  • Dan Patrick (04:26): “I just want to know how you run your route, not necessarily how fast you are… It’s getting in and out of your cuts. Can you play football? That’s what I want to know.”
• Cautionary Tales:
  Discussion points include John Ross and Darius Hayward-Bey—speedsters who disappointed at the pro level.
• Importance of the Combine:
  • “I think it’s really important for those [small-school] players... to be able to showcase your talents, I think that’s essential for you to be able to make a roster.” (Dan Patrick, paraphrasing—09:51)
  • Consistent agreements that teams often overvalue combine numbers over actual football skill.

2. David Montgomery Trade & RB Market Impact (06:47–09:43, 22:10–23:54)

• Breaking News:
  The Detroit Lions have traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, reportedly for a fourth and seventh rounder (Fowler notes price was higher than expected, possibly “a little rich” given his $6 million salary).
  • Jeremy Fowler (22:56): “Montgomery felt like at age 28 he still had miles left… Houston gave up a lot to get him... Nick Caserio [Texans GM] is one of the most aggressive in the league, he will do a trade like that and get ahead of it… Montgomery will go into Houston as the number one back.”
• Implications for Joe Mixon:
  • Mixon likely out in Houston, a “cap casualty,” with Montgomery’s arrival seen as the clear signal (23:44).
  • Fowler: “That marriage is probably over at this point, barring a surprise… the writing’s on the wall with this Montgomery trade.”

3. Quarterback Contract Trends & Market Updates (24:00–27:05)

• C.J. Stroud Extension?
  Discussion on whether teams should rush to extend QBs after a few years, especially if not top-tier. C.J. Stroud’s case: Houston values Stroud but may wait for a contract to avoid overpaying for “pretty good” QBs (24:00).
  • Jeremy Fowler (24:02): “I’m not wholly convinced they’re going to do it. I think they could kind of wait this out a little bit… build the team around him. I think he values being in Houston, doesn’t want to cripple them long term as well.”
• Kyler Murray’s Future:
  • Cardinals face a cap hit; likely to cut Murray before a mid-March deadline. Fowler: “That is a hot team right now for the quarterback market… Minnesota is considering Kyler Murray… along with Geno Smith.” (25:44)
• Minnesota QB Situation:
  • J.J. McCarthy might not get cut, but Minnesota is “hedging both ways”—they want a competition in camp but see where the situation is headed. (27:05)
  • Fowler: “Like when you get broken up with and somebody starts seeing other people… it’s kind of clear it’s probably over.”

4. The Ongoing QB Carousel (28:09–35:20)

• Steelers:
  • Fowler: Plan B is likely Will Howard; but Pittsburgh is also scouting the draft, possibly targeting Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier (28:20).
• Jets:
  • Likely to end up with a “bridge” QB (e.g., Jacoby Brissett), as New York is seen as a less attractive landing spot by QBs (29:26).
  • Fowler: “You have to overpay in New York to get the guy you want. It’s not an attractive spot for these quarterbacks.”
• Kirk Cousins:
  • Could be a third-option backup in Minnesota, waiting for other dominoes to fall; strong consideration for media/broadcasting future (30:55).
• Malik Willis:
  • Contract offers likely to fall in the $20–25 million range, not the $30 million speculated (31:53).
• Cleveland & Deshaun Watson:
  • Watson still likely to get a “shot,” especially with system changes (new OC Todd Monken). (32:44)
    • Fowler: “Let’s try this… We owe him $46 million. Nobody’s gonna take him.”

5. Raiders, Bridge QBs, and Free Agency (33:47–35:20)

• Raiders QB Plan:
  • Fernando Mendoza likely not starting week 1; expect the team to bring in a veteran to mentor until Mendoza is ready.
  • Fowler: “They’re trying to play the long game there… They know they need a lot of [pieces]. They’re going to be active in free agency because they have to. They got $100 million to spend.”

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Combine Numbers:
  Dan Patrick (04:26): “I just want to know how you run your route, not necessarily how fast you are… I think that’s far more important.”
• On John Ross:
  Dan Patrick (12:42): “He was just really fast. He was not a great football player… You can be fast in college and get away with it. In the NFL… you gotta be able to run some routes.”
• On David Montgomery Trade:
  Jeremy Fowler (22:56): “Houston gave up a lot to get him… Nick Caserio is one of the most aggressive in the league… Montgomery will go into Houston as the number one back.”
• On Quarterback Contracts:
  Jeremy Fowler (24:02): “I’m not wholly convinced they’re going to do it [extend Stroud now]… I just think by and large, teams are going to start to wait.”
• On the Jets’ Attractiveness:
  Jeremy Fowler (29:26): “It’s not an attractive spot for these quarterbacks. Like I mentioned, Minnesota… both [Arizona and Miami] are probably slightly more attractive than the Jets right now.”
• On Being Fast but Not a Football Player:
  Dan Patrick (12:43): “All right, can you catch it in traffic?”
• On A Bridge QB’s Legacy:
  Dan Patrick (30:33): “Can somebody build a bridge and name it the, you know, Jacoby Brissette Bridge?”

Memorable Moments & Lighter Side

• Callback to Dan’s earlier emotional interview with Robert Horry and the importance of vulnerability in player interviews (14:15)—“These interviews aren’t good unless they share.”
• Dan and the Danettes hilariously recount a small fire in the studio (16:43, 35:46, 43:10), comparing it to George Costanza’s infamous Seinfeld fire scene:
  • Caller, Mike in Illinois (35:46): “When you told that story…the first thing that immediately popped into my head…was [George] barreling through the apartment to the front door, knocking over women and children….”
• Friendly roasting among the hosts—Todd’s “fire drill dash” (16:59), references to 40-yard-dash times and combine drills.

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [02:20–6:47] – Combine metrics vs. football skill; value of 4.5 40-yard dash
• [06:47–9:43] – David Montgomery trade news breaks and reaction
• [09:51–13:45] – More combine, draft evaluation, John Ross & Darius Hayward-Bey
• [14:15–16:43] – Reflections on Robert Horry interview, importance of sharing/vulnerability
• [16:43–17:24; 35:46–37:22; 43:10–47:59] – Fire incident in Dan’s office provides comedic relief
• [22:10–27:05] – Jeremy Fowler joins, deep NFL offseason/QB talk
• [27:05–35:20] – Team-by-team QB situation (Vikings, Steelers, Jets, Browns, Raiders, etc.)
• [47:59–51:17] – Listener calls: sports Emmy talk, more fire jokes, personal anecdotes

For New Listeners

This hour is a smorgasbord of NFL expertise with Dan Patrick’s trademark blend of candor, curiosity, and humor. Sports fans will appreciate the inside reporting, especially on under-the-radar quarterback developments and the real value of combine performances. In between, the show’s dynamic banter and the now-legendary fire scare offer plenty of personality and laughs.