The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd

Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests: Greg Cosell (NFL Films), John (The Herd producer), selected soundbites from NFL coaches
Producer: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This "Best of" edition centers on the themes of quarterback evaluation, NFL roster-building challenges, and how savvy coaching and front office moves define team success. Colin uses analogies, strong opinions, and expert guests—most notably film analyst Greg Cosell—to dissect preseason concerns for teams like the 49ers, Broncos, Browns, Bears, Rams, and Seahawks. The episode focuses on:

• The difference between managing a "crisis" in parenting and in NFL quarterbacking
• The real test for QBs when the roster is banged up
• Smart front office moves (with a highlight on Sean Payton)
• Deep-dive film analysis of young and veteran quarterbacks
• Caleb Williams’ development, and the ripple effects of coaching styles and offensive schemes across the league

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quarterbacking as Crisis Management

[03:13–08:18]

• Main Theme: Colin opens with an analogy comparing parenting to quarterbacking in the NFL: It’s not about day-to-day peace, it’s about handling chaos and adversity.
  • “Parenting is not about when your kids are eating their vegetables... That’s easy. Parenting is crisis. What happens when there’s fire starters?” – Colin Cowherd [03:39]
  • The same applies to quarterbacking: True value emerges when the roster is battered—not when everything is perfect.
• He illustrates with examples:
  • Jalen Hurts and the challenge of losing top talent.
  • Justin Herbert making the playoffs despite a decimated receiver corps.
  • C.J. Stroud winning a playoff game with injured receivers.
  • Josh Allen excelling with limited supporting talent.
• Key Point: No excuses for Brock Purdy—this preseason, the 49ers face serious injuries among wide receivers, and the test is whether Purdy can rise above personnel setbacks.
  • “That is quarterback play for Michael Penix, and this is quarterback play for Brock Purdy. Nobody’s healthy at wide receiver.” – Colin Cowherd [07:32]

Kyle Shanahan on Niners WR Injuries

"It's pretty tough. I promise you guys, if it's a challenge for the fans, I promise you guys, it's a bigger challenge for me just dealing with all this... It's a tough situation. You got to keep practicing... but it does make that a huge challenge with the number of guys we've had down."
— Kyle Shanahan [07:54]

2. Why Great Offensive Coaches Win the "Art of the Steal"

[08:18–13:38]

• Broncos–Saints Trade: Colin breaks down Sean Payton’s trade—a textbook “sell high” move on an aging receiver to a delusional, rebuilding Saints front office.
  • “This was Art of the Steal—the Saints are delusional. They don’t realize they’re in a rebuild... The sharks eat the minnows, the hammers meet the nails.” – Colin Cowherd [10:04, 11:34]
• Pattern Across the League: Offensively-minded coaches (Payton, Shanahan) consistently find late-round value, rapidly develop them, and either sign or flip them for future picks.
• Culture Change: Sean Payton’s impact in Denver is visible—not just in roster construction, but in mindset.

Sean Payton on Culture

"The difference between last year and this year was last year we hoped we could win. This year we know we can win. ... We got rid of popular players that weren't the right guys. Guys that want to be here, want to contribute, work hard, sacrifice for one another. That's how we're building this roster."
— Sean Payton [13:10]

3. Film Room with Greg Cosell: QB Deep Dive

[18:47–34:17]

Greg Cosell joins Colin for an extended, detailed breakdown of current quarterback battles and evaluations using game film.

Browns QB3 Battle: Dylan Gabriel vs. Shedeur Sanders

[19:29]

• Dylan Gabriel: "Stylistically similar to Tua Tagovailoa—hits his back foot, ball comes out, rhythm/timing player, which fits what Stefanski wants.”
  — Greg Cosell [19:34]
• Shedeur Sanders: “Not quite as rhythmic, tends to drift and retreat in the pocket; came from a Colorado system heavy on easy throws (tunnel screens). Needs to clean up navigating the pocket.”
• Sanders' injury and absence from practice hurts his chances.
• Colin's Summary: The battle is about 'scheme adaptability,' and coaches favor players who consistently run the designed play.

Brock Purdy’s Ceiling when Things Get Tough

[22:05–24:16]

• “Purdy is a high-level post-snap operator... such an intuitive feel for what he sees, a really, really good timing and anticipation thrower.”
  — Greg Cosell [22:59]
• Not a Mahomes or Allen, but elite in processing and executing the timing-based offense.

Evaluating Top Young Quarterbacks

• Caleb Williams (Bears): Arm talent isn’t in question; the challenge is mastering NFL-level complexity pre-snap with shifting/motions and getting set for the play Ben Johnson calls. [24:56]
  • "Ben Johnson will set you up... but it's really from the huddle until the ball is snapped. That's going to be the main part he has to become efficient at."
    — Greg Cosell
• Jackson Dart (Giants): Has been set up for preseason success—lots of empty sets, tempo, kept reads simple to build confidence. Real tests begin once defenses game plan. [27:01]
  • “They did a lot of things that help him really get comfortable... efficiency is what you want.”
    — Greg Cosell

Veteran QBs in New (or Challenging) Situations

• Aaron Rodgers (Steelers): Still throws well, but question is combining Arthur Smith’s offense with Rodgers’ penchant for controlling things at the line. The fit and freedom to audible will be crucial. [29:07]

• Matthew Stafford (Rams): Rams’ offensive success is mostly "Stafford + McVay brilliance" as the supporting offensive roster is thin. Stafford's health (especially with recurring back injuries) is a concern. [31:24]

  • “I love watching Matthew Stafford play... But I'd be a little concerned about that back injury.”
    — Greg Cosell

• Sam Darnold (Seattle): Chosen because new OC Kubiak will run many of the Vikings’ play-action-heavy concepts that suited Darnold. He thrives with a clear offensive identity but isn't a transcendent talent who can thrive in any system. [33:03]

  • “Most quarterbacks need a particular style, a particular philosophy to be effective... that's the way it is with most quarterbacks.”
    — Greg Cosell

4. Browns Quarterback Room & Draft Realities

[37:56–45:02]

• Colin recaps Cosell’s Browns QB3 analysis: Dylan Gabriel is a clear scheme fit for Stefanski, who values process over raw talent. Shedeur Sanders' skillset is less plug-and-play in the system; the league sees him as a "fifth round" guy, and the Browns do too.
  • “The entire NFL told you he's a fifth round pick, and the Browns are telling you he's a third-string quarterback.”
    — Colin Cowherd [40:32]
• Colin challenges fan optimism: No “conspiracy”—if Sanders/anyone emerges, it’s an enormous win. The team has every incentive to promote talent, not bury it.

John on Stefanski & Browns Decisions

"Didn't Stefanski tell you what he thought about Shedeur when he had the chance to take him in the third round and he took another quarterback? ...He clearly likes Dylan Gabriel. That's not debatable."
— John [44:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Parenting is crisis. What happens when there's fire starters? ...That's a little bit like being a quarterback in the NFL.”
  — Colin Cowherd [03:37]
• “Art of the Steal. The sharks eat the minnows... in every business, the smart guys, the haves, are working, and the distracted and delusional, the Saints, are being eaten.”
  — Colin Cowherd [11:30]
• “Brock Purdy is a high-level post-snap operator... He sees it really quickly.”
  — Greg Cosell [22:59]
• “Ben Johnson will set you up beautifully with defined and clean reads and throws. Caleb Williams throws it as well as anybody... but it's really from the point of the huddle until the ball is snapped.”
  — Greg Cosell [24:56]
• “Matthew Stafford's injury, the back particularly... I'd be a little concerned about that back injury.”
  — Greg Cosell [32:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• QB & Parenting Analogy: 03:13–08:18
• Niners WR Injury Crisis/Kyle Shanahan: 07:54
• Sean Payton’s Roster Moves & Culture: 08:55–13:38
• Film Room with Greg Cosell (Browns/Young QBs): 18:47–34:17
  • Browns QB3 (Gabriel vs. Sanders): 19:29
  • Purdy’s Play with Beat Up Roster: 22:05
  • Caleb Williams’ Next Step: 24:56
  • Jackson Dart’s Readiness: 27:01
  • Aaron Rodgers Fit in Pittsburgh: 29:07
  • Matthew Stafford’s Value & Injury: 31:24
  • Sam Darnold in Seattle: 33:03
• Colin on Browns, Draft Reality, Fan Hype: 37:56–45:02

Conclusion

This episode presents a comprehensive, opinionated analysis of NFL quarterback dynamics and roster-building philosophies. It spotlights the difference coaching makes, the real validation of NFL QBs in adversity, and why the "real" experts (not fans or outsiders) tend to get it right. Greg Cosell provides film-driven context and nuanced observations, supporting Colin’s central themes with examples and historical perspective.

Whether you're a fan eager to know if your team’s QB3 has a future or just want to understand why some franchises stay winning, this episode is filled with digestible, passionate sports analysis.