The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1

Date: February 26, 2026
Episode Theme: Examining the NFL's shifting power dynamics, with focus on the Ravens’ changing Super Bowl prospects amid Lamar Jackson’s contract, the Chiefs' post-dynasty outlook, and key NBA/Lakers front office developments.

Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd opens the show discussing key NFL offseason moves and team trajectories, with a strong focus on how quarterback contracts—including Lamar Jackson’s massive cap hit—are reshaping teams’ competitiveness. He also analyzes the Chiefs' looming roster challenges and pivots to NBA topics, zeroing in on the Lakers’ unusual hiring of college coach Tony Bennett. The episode weaves in broader themes of roster building, organizational culture, and the evolving landscape in both major sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ravens Out of the Super Bowl Bubble: Lamar Jackson’s Contract

• Main Point: Colin argues that the Ravens are effectively finished as a title contender due to the crippling cap hit from Lamar Jackson’s new contract.
• Example by Colin (03:00): “His current cap hit is $74 million. That would pay for Sam Darnold, JSN, Devin Witherspoon, Nick Omanwary, Gray Zabel and DeMarcus Lawrence. And you'd still have $3 million left over to buy every Seattle lifetime Starbucks card.”
• NFL Trend: Depth and flexibility beat mega-contracts. Teams with team-friendly QB deals (e.g., Seattle, Chicago, Denver, New England) have more options.
• Cautionary Patterns:
  • Highest paid QBs (Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott) have missed playoffs;
  • Lamar compared to Kawhi Leonard for being “mercurial, mystery family, maybe too involved” and issues like missing team camps and rumored lack of commitment.
• Notable Quote (07:04): “Did John Harbaugh escape a potential mess for the next several years?”

2. Lakers’ Surprising Tony Bennett Hire & Drafting Instincts

• Lakers’ Move: Hired former Virginia coach Tony Bennett to help with draft and personnel decisions.
• Colin’s Initial Skepticism Turned Approval:
  • At first “kind of a weird hire,” then pivots, reflecting on Boston’s Brad Stevens success moving from college to GM/scouting role.
  • “The Lakers have always been a transactional franchise… They just don't draft.”
• Why This Matters Now (NBA CBA Context): New rules make blockbuster trades and free agent signings tougher; building through the draft is more important.
• Draft Record Critiqued:
  • “When they draft and do get… really good picks, they've shown no ability to land them. And… they're not terribly patient.”
• Bennett’s College Resume Praised (13:12): “Tony Bennett is the guy who got Klay Thompson to go to Washington State… recruited Joe Harris… Malcolm Brogdon, Rookie of the Year… He's good at finding diamonds in the rough.”

3. Luka Dončić & Roster Building Challenges

• Guest Chris Broussard on Luka (11:48): “I don't know if he's ever going to win a championship... it's not because he's not individually good enough. It's because of the way he plays. He is so hard to build around because he's so ball dominant.”
• Historical Parallel: Ball-dominant, shoot-first stars are hard to construct balanced teams around.
• Team Needs: Dallas (or the Lakers with Luka) must find “athletes, wing defenders and catch-and-shoot guys because Luka plays no defense and has to have the ball.”

4. Chiefs’ Offseason & Dynasty Dilemma

• Mahomes Era Analogy (18:00): “Patrick Mahomes 1.0: five Super Bowls, three trophies. That’s like Brady 1.0 in New England.”
• Key Differences:
  • Andy Reid is aging (68 years old);
  • The AFC West is now tough, unlike Brady’s era with weak AFC East rivals;
  • Only one playoff bye per conference now, so path to Super Bowl is tougher.
• Roster Holes & Cap Strains:
  • “This Kansas City roster does not feel close. Too many holes… a really expensive weapon [Mahomes], a really expensive defensive tackle [Chris Jones].”
  • Need to “hit on more draft picks”; “It’s not a team-friendly deal like Seattle or Chicago.”
• Colin’s Divisional Prediction (21:44): “I know where J. Mac falls on Kansas City, but I don't have them winning the division again this year. I think I'm taking Denver to win the division.”

5. Chargers, Jets, and AFC Offseason Moves (24:10)

• Chargers: Mike McDaniel hired as OC to maximize Justin Herbert’s strengths.
  • “He’s a coach that will literally create his scheme, create his offense based around the players we have.”
• Optimism for Herbert’s MVP Season:
  • “Herbert carried last year, just carried the team.” (27:11)
  • Projecting a leap with a healthier, creative offensive coordinator.
• Jets-Titans Trade:
  • “Huge trade… Jermaine Johnson to Tennessee, Jets get Tavandre Sweat. Good for both; both get starters.”
  • Jets shifting to a 3-4 defense with new personal (27:11–28:59).

6. NBA MVP Race & Load Management Debate (28:59)

• 65-Game Minimum’s Ripple Effect: SGA and Jokic may be ineligible for MVP due to missed games.
• Cade Cunningham Emerging:
  • Not most talented, but “only dependable scorer for Detroit. ... Cade Cunningham is carrying that franchise.” (29:31)
• Colin’s Principle: MVP should factor in availability.
  • “In football, could you win MVP if you play 13 games? No.”
• Broader Legacy Conversation:
  • MVP awards don’t drive the all-time legacy debate.
  • “Steve Nash has two MVPs and Kobe has one. … None of us think Nash is better than Kobe.” (32:34)

7. Raiders, Cardinals & QB Market Strategy (34:00)

• Colin’s Aggressive Trade Pitch: If Cardinals want Fernando Mendoza, offer Raiders three first-round picks to jump to the No. 1 pick.
  • “The Cardinals are such a landfill. ... And it could all be solved by getting the clean cut, hardworking, incredibly humble Fernando Mendoza.” (39:00)
• On ‘First Round Pick’ Myths: “If first round picks are so valuable, then ask yourself, how come the Jets, Giants, and Browns aren't great?... Once you get a quarterback, if you don’t have a quarterback in this league, it’s just a ship with no captain.”
• Kyler Murray Critique: “He is small, he's a bit entitled, he's semi committed, he's not terribly verbal… Mendoza is the opposite: big, committed, humble.”
• Albert Breer’s Take on Raiders' Flexibility (41:59): “If the Raiders are offered something that is just completely off the charts… you have to consider it.”

8. College Basketball’s Darren Peterson Conundrum (43:31)

• #1 NBA Draft Prospect’s Red Flags:
  • Darren Peterson seen as clear top talent but is missing games due to “perpetual injuries and cramps.”
  • Mental hurdle suspected as much as physical, referencing Jeff Goodman’s comments: “I think it's gone from physical to now mental as well… he doesn't know how to work through it.” (45:00)
• Contextual Anxiety:
  • Mentions athlete “mental blocks” derailing prior top prospects: Royce White, Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons.
• ‘Load Management’ at the College Level?
  • Matt Barnes suggests this could be “the new load management of top college players” (46:00).
• Colin's Take: “If you're playing one year of college basketball, just go play. If you're thinking about injuries, you're getting bad advice… He is $100 million player. But it also looks like he doesn’t… have the elevation he had six months ago.”

Notable Quotes by Segment & Timestamps

Ravens, Lamar Jackson, Super Bowl Window

• “There’s no possible way with what they’re going to pay him. [The Ravens] are out of the Super Bowl discussion with this new contract.” (03:00)
• “Whenever I hear fans say, ‘Give Blank Star the bag…’ Depth and flexibility win in the NFL.” (04:20)

Luka and Lakers’ Draft Struggles

• “The Lakers don’t draft and develop. ... It’s going to be important because the NBA now is not a transactional league.” (09:00)
• Chris Broussard (11:48): “He is so hard to build around because he’s so ball dominant… ball dominant players that shoot and score a lot are really tough.”

Chiefs Dynasty Transition

• “This Kansas City roster does not feel close. Too many holes. ... Andy Reid’s 68… this is not a seven, eight-year window.” (18:30)
• “You don’t have to be great everywhere in the NFL to win the super bowl. But… you can’t be lousy anywhere.” (22:15)

Chargers & Jets Moves

• “Mike McDaniel is a coach that will literally create his offense based around the players we have.” (24:28)
• “Herbert... just carried the team.” (27:11)

MVP & Load Management

• “If you can't get to 65 [games], then you’re... not playing 20% of the games. I’m not giving you MVP.” (30:44)
• “Steve Nash has two MVPs, and Kobe has one. … None of us think Nash is better than Kobe. That’s a straw man argument.” (32:34)

Cardinals, Raiders, and QB Draft Strategy

• “If I'm the Arizona Cardinals at number three… I would offer them three first round picks if we can draft [Mendoza] and you can draft three.” (35:00)
• “The Cardinals are such a landfill… it could all be solved by getting the clean cut, hardworking, incredibly humble Fernando Mendoza.” (39:00)

Memorable Moments

• Colin rapidly firing off the list of what $74M can buy in Seattle compared to Lamar’s single cap hit (03:00).
• His joking proposal that the Cardinals “should have waste management ads all over their stadium” (39:00).
• Direct critique of the Lakers’ poor drafting history, including missed opportunities (Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, Devin Booker).
• Honest discomfort with current NBA MVP rules, pushing for more “availability” in criteria (30:44).
• Exploration of the college basketball mental/physical grind with Peterson’s cramps, and tying to larger “load management” debates (43:31–46:00).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ravens/Lamar Jackson contract, Super Bowl Bubble: 02:00–09:00
• Lakers/Tony Bennett hire, Draft Philosophy: 09:00–13:35
• Luka & NBA Roster Building: 11:40–12:58
• Chiefs Outlook & Division Strength: 17:22–24:10
• Chargers Offseason, Mike McDaniel: 24:10–27:11
• Jets-Titans Trade & NFL draft notes: 27:11–28:59
• NBA MVP and Load Management: 28:59–32:59
• Raiders, Cardinals, and QB Draft Trade Discussion: 34:00–43:31
• College Basketball, Darren Peterson, Load Management: 43:31–End of Hour

Conclusion

This episode of The Herd delivers Colin Cowherd’s signature blend of sharp NFL and NBA commentary, mixing long-term roster-building analysis with timely hot takes on quarterback contracts, the shifting balance of NFL power, and the importance of organizational acumen, whether on the field or in the draft room. The conversations are peppered with historical context, critical observations, and the ongoing theme that true success—pro or college—relies on depth, culture, and the right leadership at the right price.