The Draft Show: "How to Build a Board"

Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Voch Lombardi, Nick Harris, Tommy Yarish
Location: SWBC Studio, The Star in Frisco

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the process of building an NFL draft board as the 2025 draft approaches. The panel discusses strategies for evaluating prospects, updates on key events like the Senior Bowl and the Shrine Bowl, debates around Dallas Cowboys’ draft needs and scenarios, and personal favorite prospects ("pet cats"). The conversation offers inside perspectives on evaluation methods, position value, draft-process nuance, and lots of Cowboys-specific analysis, all in the panel’s familiar energetic, humorous style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Countdown to the Draft & All-Star Games

• Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl:
  Hosts share their excitement for hands-on evaluations coming up at the Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) and Shrine Bowl (held at The Star). Highlighted is the increased quality of talent at both games this year, particularly at linebacker and tight end.
  • Voch: “I really love about the Senior Bowl is…there’s a bunch of top 100 type guys in there competing... I need to figure this out, y’all versus y’all.” (02:00)
  • Nick: “The linebacker class for the Shrine Bowl is really, really strong.” (04:33)

2. Early 2025 Mock Draft Reactions & Cowboys Scenarios

• Dane Brugler’s Mock Draft Highlights:

  • Discussion on the top players by position, surprising early selections (e.g., tackles Monroe Freeling & Spencer Fano), and Dallas’s picks at 12 and 20.
  • Cowboys’ options at 12 included Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) or Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU).
    • Voch: “Would you guys rather have gone cornerback Mansour Delane from LSU than Sonny Styles?” (07:03)
    • The table splits: some prefer Styles’ upside and communication, others like Delane’s immediate impact and smarts.

• Debate: Styles vs. Delane at 12th pick:

  • Voch (pro-Delane): “I think Delane in the long run can help you quicker now…he’s an everything guy. I like the versatility there.” (07:16)
  • Kyle and Tommy (pro-Styles): “But if you’re going to find a guy for the middle of your defense for the future that can do everything, I think Styles is your guy.” (12:37)
  • Notable exchange:
    • Voch: “I want Fred Warner coming..., Miles Jack coming out of UCLA was everything I wanted in a linebacker... If you give me a Miles Jack type guy... then you can talk me into a linebacker at 12. I don't think Sonny does all those things.” (08:13)
    • Tommy: “When’s the last time you had a communicative linebacker that isn’t a medical red flag?” (14:54)

• Position Value & Roster Construction:

  • Is it easier for Dallas to patch linebacker or cornerback in free agency?
  • Impact of injuries on evaluating draft prospects—especially at corner.

3. How to Build a Draft Board: Insider Methods

Starts at [22:11]

• Nick Harris:

  • Starts with “known” players with one year of eligibility; color-codes probable underclassmen declares as the season progresses.
  • “Stacking” (ranking) isn’t firm until after the combine: “This is a data acquiring time.” (22:11)

• Voch Lombardi:

  • Focus on film, minimizes outside data to avoid bias: “I don’t wanna know what high school you went to... I just wanna watch the film.” (23:40)
  • Initial ranking is by position, then blends position groups later (“Jordan Tyler WR vs. Ruben Bane EDGE…”).
  • Relies on memory, less on notes.

• Kyle Yeomans:

  • Broad tracking: huge spreadsheet by position, cross-references several websites, notes on all watched players.
  • Ensures at least basic knowledge even of late-round guys.

• Tommy Yarish:

  • Blends film study, in-season observations, and notes.
  • Places extra value on Senior Bowl/Shrine Bowl, Combine; likes to see measurables, position variety among prospects.

• Kyle: “There’s no right or wrong way. Everyone is gonna have their own opinion....that’s what’s so beautiful about this process.” (28:17)

4. Special Teams Value & Day 3 Gems (29:10)

• Dallas’s special teams struggled; discussion of targeting special teams aces in late rounds.
• Notable names mentioned:
  • Nick: “Josh Cameron out of Baylor…walk on to captain, core special teamer…would be a home run Day 3 pick.” (30:28)
  • D’Angelo Pons (CB, Indiana) as both a defensive and special teams contributor—even if undersized.

5. Running Back Value: Jeremiah Love at 12 or 20? (32:14)

• Weighing need vs. positional value; panel skeptical of spending top-12 pick on a back but open to it at 20—contingent on free agency and board wipeouts.
• Voch: “It’ll be incredibly irresponsible at 12...But if he make it to 20, we can talk though.” (33:44)
• Other RBs: Jadarian Price (Notre Dame), Penn State’s duo.

6. Player Trades for Draft Picks? (37:24)

• No realistic Cowboys currently worth trading to regain a 2nd rounder; core players are needed for their push.

National Championship Prospects / All-Star Game Watchlist

Starts at [43:08]

Miami (FL)

• Mark Fletcher (RB): Fast riser; top Day 3/early Day 2 potential.
• C.J. Daniels (WR): Liberty/LSU transfer; productive, interesting study.
• Mesador (EDGE): Old prospect (will be 25); question is whether he can show full potential as a rookie.
• Keontae Scott (CB/NB, possibly S): Standout playoff run; debated best fit as safety or nickel. Senior Bowl invite.

Indiana

• Fernando Mendoza (QB): Expected #1 overall pick by Vegas; highly efficient playoff performance.
• Pat Coogan (C): Rose Bowl MVP; heart of Indiana’s O-line.
• Aiden Fisher (LB): Tackling machine; potential contributor/special teamer Day 3.
• D’Angelo Pons (CB): Undersized but fearless, plays bigger; special teams plus.

Sleeper/“Pet Cat” Prospects

• Elijah Surratt (WR, Indiana):

  • Voch: “If I could just time machine project who’s gonna be real good in the league... I think Elijah Surratt is Keenan Allen...he’s gonna outplay where he gets drafted.” (48:04)

• Kieran Crawford (EDGE, Auburn):

  • Tommy: “He’s everywhere, super quick, extremely powerful, great build...I think this kid can play.” (50:25)

• Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State): Physical, aggressive; improved discipline, long arms.

• Safety Class:

  • Tommy: “I just love this safety class…”
  • A.J. Halsey (LSU), Bray Hubbard (Alabama), Dylan Thiemann (Oregon) all noted.

• Dominique “Big Orange” Orange (DT, Iowa State): Run stuffer; must-watch vs. Kansas State (Week 0).

• Chris Brazell II (WR, Tennessee): Midland product, productive after transferring from Tulane.

• Eli Heidenreich (Navy, RB/WR):

  • Kyle: “Does a little bit of everything…block, receive, run routes, line up in backfield…the reason that offense worked.” (54:00)

• Kaden Proctor (OL): Long, powerful; inconsistent but massive upside seen in past tape.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Evaluating the Unknown:
  • Voch: “The cool thing about this thing…these people that we don’t know, that we learn.” (03:13)
• On Positional Scarcity:
  • Voch: “As far as Sonny [Styles] goes…to be taking linebacker 12th overall, I want a Fred Warner type guy.” (07:16)
• On Building Your Board:
  • Nick: “This is a data acquiring time.” (22:11)
  • Voch: “I just like to kick it and tell y’all what I saw in the player.” (24:53)
• On Pet Cats:
  • Voch (on Elijah Surratt): “If I was working for the Cowboys and they say, Voch, you can irresponsibly overdraft somebody at your 20th overall team, it would be Elijah Surratt.” (49:16)
• On Age in Prospects:
  • Voch: “Get old, stay old. I love the old...they probably got a little more experience, a little more nuanced.” (58:57)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Senior Bowl/Shrine Bowl Preview: 01:32–05:00
• Mock Draft Discussion (Cowboys focus): 05:28–11:12
• Linebacker vs. Cornerback Debate: 11:16–16:00
• Draft Board Building Strategies: 22:11–28:17
• Special Teams/Sleeper Picks: 29:10–32:14
• Running Back Value (Jeremiah Love): 32:14–36:35
• National Championship Prospects/All-Star Watchlist: 43:08–49:43
• Pet Cats Roundtable: 49:43–57:49

Podcast Panel’s Tone & Style

• Lively, playful banter: Frequent jokes and asides (e.g., Dr. “HellaTrash” for NFL team doctor, playful scuffles re: prospect names and methods).
• Cowboys-focused but draft-nutty: Obsessed with positional fits and deep prospect profiles; conversations jump from “big board” theory to anecdote and back swiftly.
• Informative, open to disagreement: Debates welcome; hosts comfortable sharing different processes and interpretations.

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode is a treasure trove for draft fans who want to understand the how and why of constructing an NFL draft board—from different methods (film-first, data/stat-leaning, broad touch, position stacks) to debates about positional value and favorite prospects. It also gives Cowboys fans a grounded, insider perspective on how the team could approach its key picks, which positions have more value in this class, and introduces a robust group of sleeper prospects that could come up in key All-Star showings. The panel’s humor, camaraderie, and willingness to disagree respectfully makes the complex process accessible—and fun.

If you want to know how draft insiders think, which prospects are making noise, or how the Cowboys’ draft priorities might play out, this episode is a must-listen.