Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: Cooper Flag Release Date: April 7, 2025

Introduction

The second hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd dives deep into the world of collegiate basketball and the NFL draft, offering insightful analyses and expert opinions. Hosted by Jason McIntyre and Alex Curry, with guest NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the episode provides a comprehensive look at emerging sports talents and critical developments in professional sports.

Spotlight on Cooper Flag: Rising Star in College Basketball

Jason McIntyre initiates the discussion with an enthusiastic analysis of Cooper Flag, a standout freshman from Duke University. Highlighting Flag's impressive performance, McIntyre states:

"I am extremely bullish on Cooper Flag and NBA prospects. I think he's going to be a superstar." ([04:00])

Flag's recent game featured 27 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, leading Duke in nearly every significant statistical category. McIntyre draws comparisons between Flag and NBA greats, emphasizing his multifaceted skill set:

"Kevin Garnett is the best comparison for Cooper Flag... I think Cooper Flag is going to have a more stronger impact in his rookie year for sure than KG." ([07:30])

Despite some online and in-person criticism, McIntyre defends Flag's potential, arguing that his versatility makes him a five-tool player poised for greatness. He challenges listeners with a thought-provoking question:

"If I told you over under one and a half career MVPs for Cooper Flag, are you going over or under?" ([07:00])

Alex Curry concurs with McIntyre's enthusiasm, adding:

"He is as good a prospect as we've seen to come out in the last decade... I really like him and I think he's going to go higher than most people think." ([10:34])

The hosts collectively advocate for Flag's high draft stock, suggesting that his American heritage brings a fresh dynamic to the NBA dominated by European players. McIntyre passionately concludes:

"Cooper Flag's the best white American basketball prospect since Larry Bird. It's been about 40 years, okay." ([09:30])

NFL Draft Insights: Shador Sanders and Jaylen Milroe

Transitioning to the NFL, McIntyre introduces Jordan Schultz, an NFL Insider, to discuss prominent quarterback prospects. The conversation centers around Shador Sanders and Jaylen Milroe, two quarterbacks generating significant buzz ahead of the draft.

Shador Sanders has recently been the subject of speculation regarding his draft position. McIntyre asks:

"What the hell's going on with Shador Sanders? I saw a Tennessee report using wording I've never seen before. We have mutually agreed to cancel our..." ([11:00])

Schultz explains that the cancellation likely indicates confidence in Sanders' abilities, suggesting:

"A top-level executive told me what he saw from Shador J. Mack was not just the accuracy and the catchability, but the velocity on the football." ([12:00])

The discussion delves into the challenges of evaluating quarterbacks in the NFL draft, with McIntyre expressing skepticism about teams' abilities to accurately assess QB talent:

"Nobody in the NFL knows what the hell they're doing when drafting a quarterback." ([14:59])

Alex Curry emphasizes the importance of acquiring multiple quarterbacks to mitigate the inherent uncertainties in drafting the position:

"The best solution is to get multiple quarterbacks... to give yourself the best possible scenario of getting this thing right." ([17:25])

The conversation also touches on Jaylen Milroe, highlighting his athletic prowess and potential to exceed draft expectations:

"Jalen Milroe is abundantly talented. I think he's going to go higher than most people think." ([18:17])

Both hosts agree that the fit within a team's system is crucial for the success of these quarterbacks, cautioning that situational factors could significantly impact their professional trajectories.

Shohei Ohtani’s Return and NBA Nuggets' Struggles

Shifting focus to baseball, the hosts discuss Shohei Ohtani's anticipated return to pitching:

"Shohei throwing his first bullpen session since February 25th is a really good sign." ([31:00])

Jordan Schultz emphasizes patience regarding Ohtani's recovery from injury, noting the Dodgers' deep pitching roster allows them to manage his return without rushing him:

"Shohei Ohtani will pitch again this season, but there's no need to rush him right now." ([32:00])

In the NBA segment, the conversation turns to the Denver Nuggets and Russell Westbrook's recent performance. Despite Nikola Jokic's stellar stats, the Nuggets faced a loss against the Pacers:

"Despite Nikola Jokic putting up crazy numbers in the losses last night, Denver lost 125 to 120 to the Pacers." ([36:00])

Jason McIntyre criticizes Westbrook's decision-making and demeanor, expressing disappointment over his performance and post-game conduct:

"The decision making, the inability to shoot the questionable calls, and now this. Being a jerk with the media." ([39:00])

Jordan Schultz responds by highlighting the importance of veteran leadership and the need for players to set a positive example, especially during critical stretches of the season:

"As a veteran on a team, to come in with excitement, experience, this is not setting a good example." ([40:19])

Closing Thoughts and Final Discussions

As the episode nears its end, the hosts briefly touch upon other sports highlights, including Alex Ovechkin surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time scoring record in the NHL and various other sports-related news. Jason McIntyre shares personal anecdotes and expresses his passion for sports, while Jordan Schultz offers final insights into the ongoing sports narratives.

Notable Quotes

• Jason McIntyre:

  • "I am extremely bullish on Cooper Flag and NBA prospects. I think he's going to be a superstar." ([04:00])
  • "Nobody in the NFL knows what the hell they're doing when drafting a quarterback." ([14:59])
  • "Cooper Flag's the best white American basketball prospect since Larry Bird. It's been about 40 years, okay." ([09:30])

• Alex Curry:

  • "He is as good a prospect as we've seen to come out in the last decade... I really like him and I think he's going to go higher than most people think." ([10:34])
  • "The best solution is to get multiple quarterbacks... to give yourself the best possible scenario of getting this thing right." ([17:25])
  • "I think Jackson Dart... there is a very possible scenario where he ends up going in the first and ends up being the third quarterback drafted after the top two." ([20:44])

• Jordan Schultz:

  • "A top-level executive told me what he saw from Shador J. Mack was not just the accuracy and the catchability, but the velocity on the football." ([12:00])
  • "As a veteran on a team, to come in with excitement, experience, this is not setting a good example." ([40:19])

Conclusion

In this engaging episode, The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a thorough exploration of emerging talents in collegiate basketball and the complexities of the NFL draft. With expert analysis and passionate discussions, listeners gain valuable insights into the future stars of sports and the strategic considerations shaping their professional journeys.