Best of The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Guest Host: Jason McIntyre)

Date: March 17, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

Episode Overview

On this jam-packed episode of The Herd, Jason McIntyre sits in for Colin Cowherd and is joined by Rachel Nichols and special guests. The episode covers breaking NFL trades, a revealing Lakers win and Kevin Durant’s struggles, as well as in-depth, lively analysis of the college basketball landscape in the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament. The discussion is energetic, opinionated, and alternates between rapid sports news reactions and smart, analytical breakdowns, all in the show’s signature conversational style.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Blockbuster NFL Trade: Broncos & Dolphins

[03:29–07:30]

• Trade Breakdown:
  • Broncos acquire Jaylen Waddle and a 4th-rounder from the Dolphins.
  • Dolphins receive 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks.
• Miami Dolphins’ Intentions:
  • Jason calls out Miami for entering “tank” mode, referencing their recent roster purges:

    "The Miami Dolphins roster is horrible. Did I say horrible? Horrific." — Jason McIntyre [05:00]

  • Miami is “clearing up cap,” targeting the 2027 draft, presumably eyeing top QB prospects like Arch Manning.
  • Malik Willis is now faced with a rough season in a depleted roster context.
• Denver Broncos’ Outlook:
  • Jason sees this as a win for Denver:

    "The arrow is clearly pointing up. This qualifies as a splash." [07:00]

  • Detailed talk about Waddle’s fit: pairing with Courtland Sutton, potential to move Marvin Mims, strong supporting cast.
  • Jason speculates Sean Payton will unlock Waddle’s potential, positions Denver as possible AFC favorite due to shifting AFC landscape (coaching changes, Mahomes injury doubts, uncertainty in other contenders):

    "Sean Payton Co. in Denver have done a phenomenal job pivoting from Russell Wilson's disaster to quickly number one seed in the AFC." [09:54]

2. NBA: Lakers’ Surging Form & J.J. Redick’s Impact

[10:37–15:41]

• Lakers’ Hot Streak:
  • Nine wins in ten games, six straight, notable recent victories over playoff teams.
• LeBron’s Evolution:
  • Rachel Nichols praises LeBron’s adaptability within JJ Redick's system:

    “Continue to be the best transition player in the NBA. And it's such a dynamic force for our offense.” — Rachel Nichols [11:36]

  • Jason details how LeBron is excelling: defense, facilitating, “pulling back and picking his spots,” following Redick’s analytic, numbers-driven coaching.
• Redick’s Coaching Approach:
  • Redick’s successful defensive adjustments against Kevin Durant cited:

    "J.J. Redick has been magnificent... If you listen to any of Redick's podcasts, you know the sun rises and sets with the numbers—he is very analytically based." — Jason McIntyre [12:00]

  • Lakers now being called "one of the best teams in the league" with their recent wins.
  • The “A-Team” analogy for Redick’s plans coming together.

3. Kevin Durant’s Meltdown & Questions of Leadership

[16:36–21:16]

• Durant’s Struggles:
  • Only one basket, six turnovers, flagrant foul in critical second half, visibly flustered by Lakers’ game plan.
  • Jason calls out Durant’s lack of leadership and ability to handle double teams:

    "I've never seen a superstar, top 15 player in NBA history have an eight second violation, bringing the ball up the court because he was nervous about the double team... Durant was totally rattled." — Jason McIntyre [12:55]

  • Discussion of Durant’s playing style—dependent on strong point guard play, not wanting to be a locker room leader:

    "I don't want to be a leader in the locker room. He’s made that clear and that's fine. That puts a ceiling on what you can be all time." [22:26]

  • Notable Durant Quotes (postgame):

    "I lost the game for us tonight. That simple... It's all me." — Kevin Durant (paraphrased by Jason) [22:35]
    "You just got to convert... I think I just need to get out the way and let other guys dribble." [25:25]

  • Comparisons to LeBron, speculation on internal team conversations.

4. College Basketball Breakdown: NCAA Tournament Preview

[30:48–52:41]
In-depth roundtable with college hoops experts Aaron Torres and Rachel Nichols and host Jason McIntyre.

• Duke & Cam Boozer:
  • Cam Boozer labeled as potentially the best player in college basketball right now.
  • Major injury questions for Duke (point guard Caleb Foster and center Pat Gongba); Pat Gongba expected back, but possibly not for the first game [34:00].
• Arizona Wildcats:
  • Jason and panel tout Arizona as tournament favorites; four projected first-rounders in the starting lineup, best backcourt among contenders [34:22–35:24].
  • Discussion of their favorable path, but injury status of Jaden Bradley noted.
• Comparing Top Guards & Tournament Paths:
  • Debates about Darius Acuff vs. John Wall and Derrick Rose in college; high praise for Acuff’s efficiency and decision-making [38:04].
  • Injuries and depth discussed for UCLA and Louisville, with insider speculation on player returns [39:26–41:16].
• Purdue’s March Outlook and BYU's AJ DebonSA:
  • Debate on whether Purdue can finally avoid a tournament letdown.
  • BYU’s AJ DebonSA cited as a possible #1 NBA Draft pick due to Big 12 dominance despite team adversity [42:01–43:13].
• Draft Hot Takes:
  • Discussion on the difficulty and pressure of having the #1 pick in a loaded draft class with multiple elite talents [43:14–44:24].
• Other Tournament Storylines:
  • Miami of Ohio's undefeated season and at-large selection challenged social media narratives:

    “You dumb. You have to be to think that you can schedule your way to a 31–0 regular season.” — Rachel Nichols [49:19]

  • The story of Yachts Ockels transferring, huge NIL offers (claimed $7–$9 million), and the shifting landscape of college sports recruiting [50:13–52:18].

Memorable Quotes

• On Dolphins’ Intentions:

  “The signal is out, Miami is tanking.” — Jason McIntyre [05:48]

• On the Broncos:

  “I think this is a home run for the Denver Broncos. Just an outstanding move.” — Jason McIntyre [10:09]

• On Lakers' Turnaround:

  “There’s something about JJ Redick unlocking the best version of Austin Reaves, of LeBron, Marcus Smart.” — Jason McIntyre [13:28]

• On Durant’s Problems:

  “He looks so confused last night. Here he is talking about the double teams and the turnovers. We're talking about like a 37-year-old veteran here.” — Jason McIntyre [24:46]

• On Cam Boozer:

  “Cam Boozer is probably the best player in college. He's going to be national player of the year and it's deserved.” — Rachel Nichols [32:20]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Highlight | | --- | --- | | 03:29–07:30 | Blockbuster Broncos-Dolphins Trade Breakdown | | 10:37–15:41 | Lakers’ Win, JJ Redick Impact, LeBron’s Adaptability | | 16:36–21:16 | Kevin Durant’s Meltdown, Leadership Questions | | 30:48–52:41 | NCAA Tournament Preview, Injury Updates, Draft Hot Takes | | 49:19 | Rachel Nichols critiques NCAA selection/social media takes | | 50:13–52:18 | NIL recruiting stories and their impact on the sport |

Summary Structure

• Main Theme: Rapid-fire analysis and strong opinions on breaking NFL trade news, NBA storylines, and a comprehensive college basketball preview.
• Tone: Conversational, analytical, punchy, with moments of humor and playful debate.
• Key Insights:
  • Miami Dolphins are entering a multi-year rebuild while the Broncos are aggressively pursuing AFC supremacy.
  • JJ Redick is earning league-wide respect as the Lakers thrive under his analytic, adaptive coaching style.
  • Questions arise about Kevin Durant’s leadership and adaptability as his team falters.
  • NCAA Tournament analysis highlights depth of talent, key injuries, and how NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping college basketball.

This episode is a must-listen for sports fans wanting smart, energetic commentary on breaking stories across football, basketball, and college hoops, with lively debates and expert insights throughout.