Podcast Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: NFL Team Reviews Have Leaked, Live from the NFL Combine, Robert Mays (Hour 2)
Date: February 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd is joined by Robert Mays (The Athletic, The Athletic Football Show) live from the NFL Combine. The discussion centers on recently leaked NFL player association team report cards, their impact on team and owner accountability, and dives deep into NFL off-season moves, combine storylines, quarterback market trends, and team-building philosophies. They also touch on NBA news—particularly Deandre Ayton’s struggles—and banter on topics such as the use of AI in sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFLPA Report Cards Leak: Owner Accountability

• Colin sets the stage: The NFLPA has released its annual “report cards” on all 32 NFL franchises, rating everything from locker rooms to treatment of families and facilities.
• Steeler spotlight:
  • The Steelers received a slew of poor grades—especially on team travel, treatment of families, and locker room (“F”s and a D- for ownership).
  • “How can you butcher team travel? ... Are they taking like a biplane? Is it an open cockpit?” (Colin, 05:44)
  • Despite a reputation for decency, the Rooneys are critiqued as “good people, but cheap.”
  • Colin emphasizes the importance of public accountability for billionaire owners, especially since NFL players lack the leverage their counterparts have in other leagues.

Timestamp: [03:15–06:46]

2. Cowboys’ Front Office Philosophy and Personnel Windows

• Cowboys & Value:
  • Colin and Robert discuss how Dallas rarely gets “discount” players compared to teams like the Rams or Seahawks.
  • “They impose their own tariff. Everybody's expensive ... and when Pickens is franchised, what jumps out?” (Colin, 06:46)
• Robert Mays’ Take:
  • Dallas’s best window was when Dak Prescott was cheap: “Them not winning when Dak was the cheapest contract ... that was their best window. Now it just becomes harder.” (Mays, 07:45)
  • Mays is frustrated the Jones family doesn’t spend like other cash-rich organizations, but is hopeful given the big spring ahead.

Timestamp: [06:46–07:45]

3. Baltimore Ravens: Extending the Window with Lamar?

• Colin poses: Does a new Lamar Jackson deal close the Ravens’ Super Bowl window, given the looming cap hit and roster depth concerns?
• Robert Mays: The Ravens are unusually thin at key positions this offseason—especially edge, interior O-line, and DB—after years of deep pipelines.
  • “The degree of difficulty for them right now is harder than we typically ascribe to a Ravens roster.” (Mays, 10:06)
  • However, with smart restructuring and savvy moves, Mays sees a path to “thread the needle.”

Timestamp: [07:45–10:06]

4. The Quarterback Trade Market: Malik Willis & Aggressive Young GMs

• QB scarcity & value inflation:
  • Colin notes the “hot real estate market” for QBs, referencing how the bar for average starters (Willis, Fields, Mac Jones) is rising.
  • “I’ve watched Malik Willis ... He looks really talented to me.” (Colin, 11:22)
• Mays on Malik Willis:
  • Expects a robust FA/trade market: “If you’re a QB-needy team and you’re telling me that you’re not looking at Malik Willis, you’re a liar.” (Mays, 11:22)
  • Cites the domino effect since Baker Mayfield’s bargain deal: prices have skyrocketed for reclamation or bridge QBs.
  • “Malik Willis is going to make $30 million a year in free agency, it just shows you how fast things change.” (Mays, 12:34)

Timestamps: [10:06–12:34]

5. Pass Rushers: Kayvon Thibodeaux and Max Crosby Trade Scenarios

• Kayvon Thibodeaux:
  • “There always is for edge rushers… he’s still a below market level contract for guys at that position…” (Mays, 12:43)
  • Value as a rotational or third rusher, but not a dominant player.
• Max Crosby & the Bears:
  • Colin proposes a bold target for Chicago, given a rising rookie QB (Caleb Williams) and few offensive holes.
  • Mays points out the Bears’ cap is already locked in with big money to edge rushers; adding Crosby would mean $65M+ to one position group.
  • “I just wonder, with everything they’ve committed there and the other holes, can they actually afford somebody like that?” (Mays, 14:07)

Timestamps: [12:43–15:01]

6. Kansas City Chiefs’ Roster Reset: The Importance of “Down Years”

• Draft Leverage from Rare Down Year:
  • Mays: “It’s actually beneficial for [good teams] ... to have one really bad season … allows you to restock with talent you wouldn’t get otherwise.” (Mays, 16:26)
  • Chiefs need pass rushers at #9, can fill RB/WR needs in FA.
  • “In this offseason, specifically ... I do think they have an opportunity to feel different by the midpoint of this season.” (Mays, 17:53)
• Division is brutal now; game plan critical for continuing Mahomes’ window.

Timestamps: [15:01–17:53]

7. Potential Top 14 NFL Draft Trades & QB “Overdrafting”

• Colin asks Mays: Which team could make a blockbusting trade in the top 14?
  • Mays: “I’m interested in Dallas. They’ve got those two first round picks… I would keep an eye on [them] being aggressive for a linebacker or edge.” (Mays, 18:30)
• On Ty Simpson and QB “reaching”:
  • Colin and Mays agree teams reach for QBs when the market is poor: “If you don’t have a quarterback, just take shots ... the upside is absolutely enormous.” (Mays, 20:33-21:26)
  • Even with low experience, as with Ty Simpson or Tyler Shuck, it can be worth the gamble.

Timestamps: [17:53–21:26]

8. Back Half: NFL Team Facilities, Eagles’ Offensive Coordinator Struggles, NBA Segment

• NFLPA Report Cards: Packers, Steelers, Owner Spending:
  • Packers declining (from #7 to #21 overall), partly due to lack of traditional “big money” owner.
  • “Some of these owners, these old-school owners ... the Rams have a lot more money than the Chargers.” (Colin, 30:17)
• Eagles’ OC Search:
  • Multiple OC candidates passed on interviewing for the Eagles’ job—concerns about Jalen Hurts, Nick Sirianni, and organizational stability.
  • “Offensive coordinators do not buy into Jalen Hurts.” (Colin, 32:33)
• NBA: Deandre Ayton’s Disappointing Attitude:
  • Ayton complains about being used “like Clint Capela.”
  • “He is completely hit and miss on effort and energy.” (Colin, 34:31–35:24)
  • “You can’t play with Luka Doncic and LeBron and show up every three games with the dog mentality.” (J. Mac, 35:24)

Timestamps: [29:45-37:48]

9. Sports AI and Fun Banter

• Fox Sports App launches new Sports AI:
  • The company integrated two years of Colin’s “opening rants” into an interactive AI for stats, food tips, and predictions.
  • Examples: World Cup predictions, Bears coach compatibility, and dinner recipes. (41:36–43:38)
• Light banter: JMac and Colin tease about golf matches, wardrobe, and more.

10. Final Thoughts and Free Agency “Wild West”

• Colin recap:
  • Cowboys spend right, but lack discounts.
  • Giants’ dubious top-10 picks (Thibodeaux, Neal) and management shake-up.
  • “The cap is $301 million … there’s money to spend if you have a quarterback on a rookie contract. Load up.”
  • Malik Willis likely to get $30M+ somewhere: “I think Malik Willis is going to get paid.” (Colin, 47:52)
• NFL urgency & volatility: Owners and GMs fire more quickly, cap rises, and “desperation” drives teams to swing big on QBs.

Timestamps: [44:45–49:35]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “How can you butcher team travel? Are they taking like a biplane? Is it an open cockpit?” —Colin Cowherd, [05:44]
• “Them not winning when Dak was the cheapest contract in the NFL for a starting quarterback and probably the biggest bargain in the entire league. That was their best window.” —Robert Mays, [07:45]
• “The degree of difficulty for [the Ravens] right now is harder than we typically ascribe to a Ravens roster.” —Robert Mays, [10:06]
• “If you’re a QB-needy team and you’re telling me that you’re not looking at Malik Willis, you’re a liar.” —Robert Mays, [11:22]
• “Malik Willis is going to make $30 million a year in free agency.” —Robert Mays, [12:34]
• “You can throw around money like the Eagles do ... not every organization can.” —Robert Mays, [07:45]
• “Pass rushing juice is the number one thing this team needs.” —Robert Mays, on the Chiefs, [17:53]
• “Offensive coordinators do not buy into Jalen Hurts … Jalen Hurts is one of the shortest quarterbacks in the league.” —Colin Cowherd, [32:33, 33:41]
• “He is completely hit and miss on effort and energy.” —Colin Cowherd, on Deandre Ayton, [35:24]

Key Timestamps (MM:SS)

• [03:15] NFLPA Report Cards: Steelers’ F grades & owner accountability
• [06:46] Cowboys’ lack of bargains & cash philosophy (w/ Robert Mays)
• [07:45] Dak’s contract, ownership frugality, and missed window
• [10:06] Ravens’ thin roster, cap issues, and higher degree of difficulty
• [11:22] Malik Willis market and the “new normal” for QB prices
• [12:43] Edge rusher trade market: Thibodeaux, Crosby
• [16:26] Chiefs’ need for draft reloads; the value of a “down year”
• [18:30] Teams to watch for bold draft moves (Dallas)
• [20:33] Justifying reaching for a QB in a thin class
• [29:45] Packers’ declining NFLPA score & facility arms race
• [32:33] OC hesitance with Eagles; Jalen Hurts’ perception
• [34:21] NBA: Deandre Ayton’s effort issues dissected
• [41:36] Fox Sports AI demo and banter
• [44:45] Cowboys, Giants, and the fate of top talent
• [47:52] The “wild west” of free agency and quarterback money

Conclusion: Tone & Takeaways

The dialogue is energetic, candid, and opinionated—classic “Herd.” Colin and Robert mix granular team-building analysis with league-wide trends, cutting through cliches to highlight front office philosophies, market realities, and player valuation. Notably, there’s skepticism about overpaying for reputation, and a sense that aggressive new GMs, a rising cap, and supply-demand mismatches (especially at QB and edge) are remaking NFL team construction. The hosts also underscore that even perennial contenders can drift quickly if they don't adapt, and that bad owners and ill-conceived contracts remain key obstacles.

This summary captures all main topics, key opinions, and memorable exchanges—useful for anyone who missed the episode or wants to revisit its essential sports business insights.