The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Final Herd Hierarchy, more on the Micah Parsons trade, Nick Wright
Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Nick Wright
Contributors: Jason McIntyre

Overview

In this football-season kickoff episode, Colin Cowherd delivers his highly anticipated final “Herd Hierarchy” of the NFL’s top teams before the new season begins. He’s joined by Nick Wright to break down the list, debate the controversial Micah Parsons trade, and discuss Bill Belichick’s legacy after another tough loss. The episode also covers hot quarterback topics, notable preseason moves, and previews key storylines heading into Week 1. The tone is classic Herd: direct, conversational, and full of sharp, occasionally irreverent takes.

Herd Hierarchy: Top 10 NFL Teams Entering the Season

Starts at 03:36

Colin presents his last power ranking—“Herd Hierarchy”—of the top 10 NFL teams for the season opener:

10. Detroit Lions

• Losing two offensive linemen and coordinators; expects a pullback.
• “They are so good upstairs. They built a really cool culture. I’ve always liked Jared Goff more than the rest of the media...” (Colin, 03:56)
• Prediction: won’t win division, drop from last year’s 14-15 wins.

9. LA Rams

• Young defense, solid coaching, but left tackle just started practicing. Dangerous opener against Houston.
• “They played more rookies than anybody... yet were the least penalized team. That’s a completely buttoned up organization.” (Colin, 04:35)
• Key: QB and LT are big question marks.

8. Green Bay Packers

• The “Jordan Love” question: Is he good? Division record (1-5 last year) will improve.
• “Jordan Love starts the season slow... but reasons I don’t know... The Micah trade is absolutely worth a win.” (Colin, 05:08)
• Believes they will win the division.

7. Washington Commanders

• Oldest team in league; 5 primetime games may disrupt rhythm.
• Statistical regression predicted; not likely to score on 50% of drives again.
• “The Debo Samuel chess piece is really interesting, but I have them at 7.” (Colin, 06:04)

6. Seattle Seahawks

• Higher on them than most; rising with new coach, coordinator, and QB upgrades.
• Expect run-first, physical team. “I don’t think there’s a better personnel guy in the league than John Schneider.” (Colin, 06:34)

5. Kansas City Chiefs

• The Rashee Rice suspension and reliance on Travis Kelce’s longevity are concerns.
• Outstanding in close games last year (“12-0 in one-score games”), predicts some regression.
• “I feel like they’ve been bailing water at wide receiver for three years, and it’s worked. But, you know, let’s be honest...” (Colin, 07:18)

4. Denver Broncos

• High on Bo Nix’s potential; expects improvement in one-score games.
• Brought in productive veterans, not just depth.
• “They didn’t just go to the transfer portal and get rotational guys, they went and got productive stars in this league.” (Colin, 08:16)

3. Baltimore Ravens

• “Structurally like Kansas City. I don’t see holes in the organization.”
• Critique: Postseason success lacking, but #1 for rushing O/D.

2. Buffalo Bills

• “I think Josh Allen is the most talented football player in the world... Size, strength, movement, I don’t think there’s anything quite like it.” (Colin, 09:13)
• Roster upgrades, focus on defense.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

• “Best overall roster composition in the league. Don’t love their head coach, but what do you want me to say? In the trenches, O-line and D-line—can’t find a hole on this team...” (Colin, 09:43)
• Quietly under the radar despite blowing out the Chiefs.

Nick Wright Reacts to the Herd Hierarchy

Starts at 10:43

Nick brings trademark candor, immediately panning Colin’s list:

• “In all our time knowing each other, this is a bottom two or three Herd Hierarchy.” (Nick Wright, 10:45)
• Defends Eagles atop the list, but questions Denver/Seattle’s high ranking and Tampa’s exclusion.
• “Where are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Colin?” (Nick, 12:02)
  • Colin: “11.” (12:14)
  • Nick (mocking): “You always say 11 whenever I bring up the team... I feel like the Bucs are a little disrespected...” (12:16)
• Calls for more respect for Chargers and Bears, doubts about Denver’s “0-7 against good AFC teams.”

In-Depth: The Micah Parsons Trade

13:00

Colin and Nick break down the high-profile trade of Micah Parsons from Dallas to Green Bay.

• Colin argues Parsons was the “icing” for Green Bay—a finishing playmaker—while Dallas needs flexibility and more picks.
  • “Dallas needs players and flexibility... next year could be an exceedingly promising quarterback draft.” (Colin, 13:23)
• Nick agrees trading a talent like Parsons is never ideal but says Dallas had no good financial path forward.
  • “If the breaking news...was not that Micah’s traded, it was that the Cowboys signed Micah to the exact contract Green Bay did, everyone would be killing the Cowboys.” (Nick, 14:23)
  • “I don’t like how it got here, but once they got there... [the return is] fine.” (Nick, 15:28)

Examining Bill Belichick’s Legacy Post-Tom Brady

Timestamps 15:37 → 18:57

Colin and Nick discuss Belichick after another offensively anemic loss:

• Colin: Belichick’s teams average 19 points/game without Brady, can’t be ignored.
  • “Andy Reid got to five NFC championships pre-Mahomes. Andy Reid wins everywhere. I cannot be the only person that watches that game last night and think it’s hard. This is not aging well.” (Colin, 15:37)
• Nick: Early defense wins should not be discounted but admits recent years damage legacy.
  • “There’s no argument that it helps now. How much does it hurt? I’m not ready to go there yet.” (Nick, 16:21)
  • Points out Belichick’s coaching decisions, draft misses, and awkward blending of personal/professional life.
• Nick on the current team: “They’re now projected to win five and a half games... that team doesn’t look anywhere close to competing for anything significant.” (Nick, 18:48)

Arch Manning’s Rocky Debut at Texas

Timestamps 18:57 → 22:28

• Colin: Arch “looked about as bad as it could be... sometimes he faded into pressure.”
• Nick compares Arch’s debut anxiety and lack of dominance to the immediate college success of Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams.
  • “Caleb Williams... gets dropped into the Red River Shootout, down two scores and cooks... Trevor Lawrence as a true freshman goes undefeated and beats Alabama.” (Nick, 19:51)
• Nick’s bottom line: “I think we can write him off on this year’s Heisman Trophy... I do think he was anointed without having accomplished in a way we hadn’t seen recently in college football.” (Nick, 22:18)

Side Debate: Seahawks vs. 49ers

23:08 onward

• Jason McIntyre criticizes San Francisco’s absence from the top 10.
• Colin stands firm, riding with Seattle over the 49ers.
  • “This is not a... schedule ranking. It is your personnel, your coach... you lose Hunga, Greenlaw... I think Seattle beats San Francisco.” (Colin, 23:22, 23:47)
• Friendly wager proposed, back-and-forth on rosters, betting, and dinner/golf outcomes.

On Saquon Barkley and RB Value Debate

29:31 → 30:27

• Short debate on the top 100 NFL players list, with Barkley ranked No. 1 by his peers.
  • “I contend it was one play... but the idea that running backs are treated unfairly—it’s a game of regulated violence. Certain positions just don’t last.” (Colin, 29:57, 30:18)
• Value of RBs is more about second contracts and position wear-and-tear than talent.

NFL Quarterback Hot Takes

31:06 → 34:52

• Jaden Daniels named top young QB execs would start a franchise with, even ranked before Lamar Jackson.
  • Colin: “He’s viewed as better at this stage by a long shot in the pocket.” (31:33)
• J.J. McCarthy’s rookie expectations discussed, with Colin pointing out McCarthy’s supporting cast might ease his transition compared to other young QBs.
  • “This is keys to the Mercedes. Don’t run it into the local tree. So it’s made to win.” (Colin, 34:33)

College Football Trash Talk: NIL and Spend-to-Win Mentality

36:10 → 38:37

• Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy critiques Oregon’s NIL spending; Oregon’s Dan Lanning fires back.
  • Lanning: “If you want to be a top 10 team... you better be invested in winning. Some people save to have an excuse for why they don’t.” (36:37)
• Colin sides with Oregon and emphasizes recruiting/development over NIL as a reason for their success.

Belichick, Personnel, and the Transfer Portal

44:26 onward

• Colin compares NFL free agency, college transfer portal, and the “mirage” of talent acquisition as quick fixes.
  • “It’s a little like the junk food aisle at the grocery store... it’s not sound nutrition. Most of the guys you get in the transfer portal, if Georgia likes a player, he’s not leaving Georgia.” (Colin, 44:40)
• Nick’s earlier critique on Belichick: “His talent evaluation was questionable. His coaching staff decisions were outright bad... The only way that’s going to be okay is if you continue being excellent.” (Nick, 46:37)

Mahomes’ Place in the Top 100 and Why Environment Matters

47:10 → 53:05

• Colin argues Mahomes benefits from possibly the best situation in QB history (Andy Reid, weapons, stability).
  • “I don’t think there’s ever been a quarterback who had more things set, moving and headed in the right direction than Patrick Mahomes...” (Colin, 52:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick Wright on Colin’s rankings:
  “This is a bottom two or three herd hierarchy. I just have to...” (10:45)

• Colin on the Commanders’ age:
  “They’re the oldest team in the league. Did you know that? Looked it up this morning.” (06:00)

• Colin on the transfer portal:
  "It's a little like the junk food aisle at the grocery store... it's not sound nutrition." (44:40)

• Nick Wright on the Micah Parsons trade:
  “I don’t like that they got to the place, but once they got there, two first round picks and in my opinion, a good player in Kenny Clark, it’s... fine.” (15:28)

• Colin on Mahomes’ rise:
  “When you’re young, you’re getting molded. And I don’t think there’s ever been a quarterback... who had more things set, moving and headed in the right direction than Patrick Mahomes.” (52:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:36 — Herd Hierarchy begins
• 10:43 — Nick Wright trashes Colin's rankings
• 13:00 — In-depth on Micah Parsons trade
• 15:37 — The decline of Bill Belichick
• 18:57 — Arch Manning’s rough start
• 23:08 — Seahawks vs. 49ers debate
• 29:31 — Saquon Barkley/RB value
• 31:06 — Jaden Daniels QB ranking
• 36:10 — College football NIL/spend-to-win
• 44:26 — Transfer portal & NFL personnel discussion
• 47:10 — Mahomes and top 100 players
• 52:30 — Why environment matters in QB success

Conclusion

This episode of The Herd is a spirited, season-opening volley of opinions, packed with lively debate, bold rankings, and no shortage of industry wit. Colin’s willingness to stand by his controversial NFL hierarchy, Nick Wright’s frank skepticism, and strong takes on trades, personnel, and the quarterback landscape keep the show engaging for new and returning football fans alike.