The Herd with Colin Cowherd – “3 & Out: Massive Mailbag”

Date: March 20, 2026
Host: John Middlekauff
Podcast Feed: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (The Volume/iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This Fugazi Friday edition of the Three & Out podcast is a packed, high-energy mailbag where John Middlekauff tackles a barrage of listener questions on the latest moves in NFL free agency, draft strategy, team-building philosophies, and broader issues around the business of football. Middlekauff mixes in personal anecdotes and candid takes on topics ranging from the fading relevance of reality TV to living in Arizona, always maintaining his signature no-nonsense, conversational tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pop Culture Digression: Reality TV & ABC’s Branding Flop

• [03:05 – 07:14]
  • Middlekauff opens on a “Fugazi Friday” note, teeing off on the decline of reality TV shows like "The Bachelor" and a failed crossover with a controversial “Mormon Wives” participant.
  • Quote:
    “What did you think was going to happen? … Don’t make deals out of desperation. … Live television with sports is really the thing keeping everyone humming. And this is a good example of swinging for the fences and striking out.” (John Middlekauff, 06:01)

2. Mailbag – NFL Free Agency, Draft, and Team Strategies

A. Chiefs’ Offseason & NFL Draft Philosophy

• [07:27 – 08:53]
  • Chiefs likely to prioritize the trenches high in the draft, but WR is a clear option at pick 29.
  • NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) isn't deterring elite prospects, but impacts depth: more mid-round prospects stay in school due to lucrative deals.

B. How NIL Impacts NFL Draft Classes

• [08:53 – 10:01]
  • Not seeing top talent stay, but “the meat” of the draft—third/fourth rounders—are increasingly likely to return to college.
  • Quote:
    “The amount of underclassmen over the course of the last couple years has dropped dramatically.” (Co-host, 09:54)

C. Coaching Hot Seats & Contracts

• [10:26 – 11:46]
  • Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur is on stable ground; only back-to-back really bad seasons (~6 wins) would endanger his job.

D. Eagles’ Free Agency Approach (Becton & O-Line)

• [11:46 – 12:35]
  • Eagles not re-signing Mekhi Becton may be more about price and negotiations than talent.

E. Personal Anecdote: Driving to the Hospital for Childbirth

• [13:07 – 14:02]
  • Middlekauff shares humor and realness about his own recent, scheduled c-section experience:
    “The last nine weeks… feels like seven years. … So it was… just drive there. It was less of a rush.”

F. Quarterback Blockbusters & QB Chemistry

• [15:10 – 16:08]
  • Theoretical Burrow-for-Hurts QB swap dismissed as unlikely; Bengals would “never do that deal.”

G. Fan Etiquette Story (Eurosports in Greece)

• [16:15 – 17:02]
  • Advice: If you run into the opposing coach after a game and they get mad at your gloating, “Just keep laughing… Improve your tactics, bro.”

H. Waddle vs. DJ Moore Debate

• [18:12 – 19:44]
  • DJ Moore lauded as a great trade for Buffalo, questions why Waddle is often considered the more valuable receiver.
  • Quote:
    “I love the DJ Moore trade. … You live in the home, you like the home, no big deal. But… they overpaid.” (Co-host, 19:44)

I. Inside “The Herd” – How the Show Works

• [20:05 – 23:46]
  • No rigid rules for talking with Colin Cowherd—chemistry is built over time.
  • Quote:
    “You just, you talk when he throws it to you. … There's no, you talk now. When you do that role on a show, the news, it's like your turn to talk.” (Co-host, 20:26)
  • Pre-show prep starts early and is “a pretty high-level operation.”

J. Arizona vs. California: Lifestyle and Taxes

• [28:28 – 31:16]
  • “I wish I had moved here sooner… This area is one of my favorite areas in the country. …I don't have to defend it ever.” (John Middlekauff, 29:43–31:04)

K. Bengals’ Quiet Free Agency and AFC Prospects

• [31:21 – 33:42]
  • Bengals’ under-the-radar veteran signings improve their defense, which only needs to be “solid” for Cincinnati to be AFC contenders.
  • Watch for breakout growth from 2025 first-rounder Shamar Stewart.

L. Bills, Josh Allen, and the Franchise Trajectory

• [33:52 – 36:07]
  • Despite playoff heartbreaks, Middlekauff is bullish: “As long as they got Josh… I would not only hold my stock, I would keep buying.”

M. Should NFL Field Goals Be Worth 2 Points?

• [36:09 – 38:07]
  • Open to debate, but tradition and changing “feel” due to rules (kickoff location, field-goal length) complicate arguments for a scoring change.

N. Chargers’ Quiet Free Agency & Organizational Philosophy

• [38:19 – 40:33]
  • Ravens’ front-office mentality (draft, develop, avoid overpaying) informs new Chargers GM Joe Ortiz. Cites Harbaugh’s history for “under-the-radar” rather than splashy signings.

O. Peptides, Fitness & Self-Improvement

• [40:44 – 41:34]
  • Open discussion of Middlekauff's supplement routine:
    “BPC and the CJC—one’s like gut skin health and the other is like the growth hormone slash fat burning… just dissolvables, put in my mouth.”

P. Packers QB Jordan Love: Media Narrative and Ceiling

• [41:34 – 42:45]
  • Love is “a good starting quarterback,” but jury remains out on whether he’s a Super Bowl-level guy.
  • Quote:
    “Is he just like in the DAC Purdy… world? There's nothing wrong with that.” (John Middlekauff, 42:12)

Q. Trade Value of Tyson Bagent & Small School QBs

• [43:19 – 44:48]
  • Interest in Bagent as a possible trade target, especially for the Steelers.
    “…be risky. I mean there’s no guarantee. Comes from Division 2… but Ben Johnson likes him, I like him.”

R. On Will Campbell & Draft ‘Busts’

• [45:05 – 46:55]
  • Too early to label Campbell a bust; technique and health are critical. “You can’t be a bust after your rookie year.”

S. Fan Suffering: Perennial Contending vs. Hopeless Teams

• [46:59 – 49:11]
  • Being a Bills, Ravens, or Niners fan is like being “Brad Pitt at the bar but still going home alone,” but that’s way better than hopeless futility.
    Quote:
    “You would much rather go through this Eagles season and host a playoff game than be the Browns or the Jets.” (Co-host, 48:59)

T. Competitive Advantage: No-State Income-Tax Teams

• [52:04 – 56:52]
  • Despite surface-level logic, having no state income tax hasn’t made teams more successful—players and agents focus on gross contract value, not net.
    “I actually don’t think it has… I think it has none because… why do the Jags always suck?”

U. Podcast Production: Preparation, Not “Just Winging It”

• [56:55 – 58:09]
  • Middlekauff clarifies that the content is well-prepared, even if it sounds spontaneous:
    “When I do a podcast, I have a notebook. I break down topics… but I write out my thoughts and the main topics or the main angles.”

V. Broncos, Seahawks & Free Agency

• [59:28 – 67:38]
  • Broncos fans urged to stay calm—“the Waddle move was a bold play… that’s chips all the way in the middle of the table.”
  • Seahawks GM John Schneider’s conservative approach defended:
    “You want to keep your powder dry. …They didn’t let Witherspoon walk. JSN was up and… they couldn’t get a deal. That’s not what we’re talking about here.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ABC’s Reality TV Flop:
  “It shows you… don’t make deals out of desperation. …Live television with sports is really the thing keeping everyone humming.” (06:01)
• On NIL Impact:
  “The depth of the draft… a lot of underclassmen over the course of the last couple years has dropped dramatically.” (09:54)
• On Arizona Living:
  “I don’t defend it ever. I love this area… I wish I had moved here sooner.” (29:43)
• On Fan Suffering (Brad Pitt at the Bar):
  “You’d 100% rather be loved and left than never loved at all… You would much rather go through this Eagles season and host a playoff game than be the Browns or the Jets.” (48:44–48:59)
• On Player Contracts and Taxes:
  “I actually don’t think it has… I think it has none because… why do the Jags always suck?” (55:03)
• On Podcast Prep:
  “I don’t really think that much about it. I also don’t wing the show. … I approach it much no different than… Colin (Cowherd).” (56:55–58:09)

Summary Table of Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------| | 03:05–07:14 | Bachelor/Bachelorette, reality TV industry woes | | 07:27–10:01 | Chiefs’ draft needs, NIL impact on NFL draft | | 10:26–11:46 | LaFleur’s job security at Green Bay | | 13:07–14:02 | Childbirth anecdote | | 18:12–19:44 | DJ Moore vs. Waddle trade value | | 20:05–23:46 | Inside “The Herd” production & show dynamic | | 28:28–31:16 | Arizona’s life advantage vs. California | | 31:21–33:42 | Bengals’ “quiet” free agency, AFC prospects | | 33:52–36:07 | Bills, Josh Allen, and long-term hopes | | 36:09–38:07 | Should FGs be reduced to 2 points? | | 52:04–56:52 | No state income tax teams—not a true advantage | | 59:28–67:38 | Broncos, Seahawks, & the art of free agency |

Tone & Style

Middlekauff’s tone is direct, irreverent, and insightful, effortlessly moving from league-wide strategy and CBA intricacies to personal stories and deadpan humor. His advice for fans—“live where it’s going to make you happiest”—encapsulates the show’s ethos: real talk, no fluff, lots of actionable analysis for diehards.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a treasure trove for NFL fans seeking unfiltered analysis on March’s most burning questions: how NIL is reshaping the draft, why some teams refuse to overpay in free agency, which GMs deserve trust, and how franchise philosophies can make or break a title window. For listeners who want big-picture perspective and locker room candor, Middlekauff delivers.