The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 2): Top 5 Moves of the NFL Offseason

Date: March 12, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

Episode Overview

This hour of "The Herd" zeroes in on Colin Cowherd’s take on the NFL’s most impactful offseason moves, examining the teams and players who will shape the 2026 season. In addition to football, Cowherd goes deep on the current identity crisis in the NBA, especially around the dominance of three-point shooting, and weighs in on the evolution of college sports amid NIL and transfer portal changes. Throughout, Cowherd’s opinionated and irreverent style keeps the conversation lively, analytical, and quintessentially Cowherd.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Colin’s Top 5 NFL Free Agency Moves

Timestamp: 03:09 – 09:10

• 1. Raiders’ Free-Agent Haul

  • Tyler Linderbaum (Center) and Jalen Naylor (WR, fastest Viking last year) are highlighted as “game-altering.”
  • Naylor is “under the radar,” and combining him with new draft picks (Brock Bowers, Ashton Gentry) signals a strong offseason:

    “The Raiders nailed it.” — Colin Cowherd [03:45]

  • Linderbaum is “the second-best center in the sport.”

• 2. Rams Strengthen Secondary

  • Trent McDuffie and Jalen Watson are instantly transformative for the Rams, making them “Super Bowl favorites in Vegas.”

    “Rams are not paying anybody on that defense for another year or two… Very young, and now get a veteran who can match up…” — [04:38]

• 3. Dolphins Bet on Malik Willis

  • Only six starts, but completed “30 of 35 with five touchdowns, no picks.”
  • Jeff Hafley, new head coach, “watched him for two years,” and the contract makes Willis the 17th-highest paid QB:

    “Very realistic Malik Willis is at least the 17th-best QB next year… I feel very confident saying that.” — [05:14]

• 4. DJ Moore to Buffalo

  • “Very good player, never misses starts, five years.”
  • Will pair well with Josh Allen, providing deep threat that was underutilized in Chicago:

    “He can go over the top. Josh Allen, like Caleb Williams, strong-arm quarterback… Great move by [Buffalo GM] Brandon Beane.” — [05:55]

• 5. Eagles Add Tariq Woolen

  • Only NFL team with “three elite trait corners.”

    “Stacked secondary… joins Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.” — [06:24]

• Honorable Mentions:

  • Bradley Chubb to Bills, Trey Hendrickson to Ravens:

    “Solid. Those are good plays as well.” — [07:00]

2. NBA’s Aesthetic Crisis: Too Many Threes

Timestamp: 09:00 – 18:34

• Cowherd criticizes the NBA, arguing that the league’s issues aren’t tanking or dynasties, but that “the game’s gotten boring and repetitive with too many threes.”

  “I would eliminate the corner three and make it easier to defend the arc.” — [08:40]

• Cites Daryl Morey’s revisionist perspective:

  “Daryl Morey… has now said, you know what, we’ve overcorrected.” — [09:00]

• Statistical Grievance:

  • “Most NBA teams shoot about 35% from threes. If you’re only succeeding at 35% of anything... it would be unwatchable.” — [10:00]
  • “52 clanks a game… you could join a union.” — [11:30]

• The Artistry Argument:

  • Cowherd: “Greatest athletes in the world shooting 35% on the shot they take the most... Michael Jordan's midrange game—that's beautiful.” — [13:20]
  • “The threes are formulaic… Vince Carter and Dr. J highlights—now that’s art.” — [14:30]

• Counterpoints from Co-host:

  • “Art evolves... threes are artistry. I love threes.”— [16:22]
  • Colin retorts that the NBA regular season malaise is unique compared to other booming sports ratings.

3. NFL Quarterbacks: The Importance of Environment

Timestamp: 23:12 – 25:14

• Only 3 of 29 first-round QBs from 2010–2019 are still with their drafting team: Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen.

  “Quarterbacks, kids, and actors—you’re a product of your environment.” — [23:20]

• Example: Joe Burrow’s excellence despite “second-tier franchise” Cincinnati.
• Kyler Murray to Minnesota could be his chance for a reclamation project, akin to Sam Darnold.

4. Baltimore Ravens & Max Crosby Rumor Mill

Timestamp: 25:14 – 27:47

• The narrative “Ravens had buyer’s remorse” on Max Crosby is overblown.
  • Ravens GM Eric DeCosta:

    “Nobody is more upset about this than me. Gutted by it, actually… but we will move on as a football team.” — [25:38]

  • Cowherd highlights Ravens’ lost players—Keaton Mitchell, tight end to Giants—and Harbaugh’s exit as signs of trouble.

5. Chicago Bears’ Status Check

Timestamp: 27:47 – 30:11

• Bears criticized for not making a “giant move,” but Cowherd is bullish:

  "After Adunze, the Chicago Bears are talented enough today to win a Super Bowl… There are 7 or 8 rosters good enough." — [28:18]

  • On roster depth:

    “If their first pick is a corner, suddenly now they’ve only got one real need and that’s an edge rusher.” — [29:56]

6. Caitlin Clark’s Debut & Basketball Artistry

Timestamp: 30:11 – 32:12

• WNBA/FIBA: Caitlin Clark “is a Curry/Magic Johnson combo as a point guard in women’s basketball.”

  “If Clark’s playing... I'm tuning in.” — [32:01]

• On Clark vs. NBA Threes:

  “I don’t mind her shooting threes because she’s revolutionized women’s basketball. I don’t want Wemby shooting 400.” — [31:00]

7. College Sports: NIL & Transfer Portal

Timestamp: 32:14 – 36:18

• NIL/Portal make the landscape volatile, but haven’t killed the sport. In fact, ratings are up.
  • “Transfer portal… you can course correct so much more quickly if you get the right coach.” — [34:56]
• Tom Izzo (guest last hour):

  “The great players want to be coached. Everybody’s got to be pushed… if it was easy, everyone would do it.” — [34:04]

8. Raiders’ Identity & Max Crosby’s Leadership

Timestamp: 42:37 – 44:28

• New Raiders acquisitions Tyler Linderbaum and Quay Walker praise Max Crosby:

  “[Max has] the ability to lead a team… not fun to go against… I can’t wait to play alongside him.” — [42:52]
  “Max Crosby feels like a Raider… that has value.” — Colin [43:05]

• Matt Hasselbeck on Crosby:

  “Max Crosby has respect… not a one-trick pony. The real deal in every way. Identity setter. He’s a dog.” — [44:01]

9. AFC Playoff Picture & Chiefs-Raiders Debate

Timestamp: 47:30 – 51:34

• Cowherd speculates Raiders’ roster is now “not that far off Kansas City's roster—it may be better.”
• Discusses Chiefs’ aging stars, lack of picks, and cap issues—implies they could regress out of the playoffs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The Raiders nailed it.” — Colin Cowherd [03:45]
• “The Rams getting two corners, including Trent McDuffie, made them literally, in Vegas, Super Bowl favorites.” — [04:38]
• “Ravens are not paying anybody on that defense for another year or two... They get a veteran that can match up... I love that move.” — [04:50]
• “NBA’s problem isn’t tanking or dynasties... it's too many threes. The game’s gotten boring and repetitive.” — [08:37]
• “If you have any more bricks, you can join a union.” — [11:30]
• “Michael Jordan’s mid-range game—that’s beautiful… The threes are formulaic.” — [13:20, 14:30]
• “Quarterbacks, kids, and actors—you’re a product of your environment. Joe Burrow can only do so much.” — [23:20, 24:28]
• “Caitlin Clark is a Curry/Magic Johnson combo as a point guard… revolutionizing women’s basketball.” — [31:00]
• On Max Crosby: “Not a one-trick pony… he’s the real deal in the run game, pass game… an identity setter.” — [44:01]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• NFL Top 5 Offseason Moves: 03:09 – 09:10
• NBA’s Three-Point Problem: 09:00 – 18:34
• NFL QBs & Environment: 23:12 – 25:14
• Ravens’ Max Crosby Fallout: 25:14 – 27:47
• Bears Roster & Prospects: 27:47 – 30:11
• Caitlin Clark/Artistry in Basketball: 30:11 – 32:12
• College NIL & Transfer Portal: 32:14 – 36:18
• Max Crosby: Raider Identity: 42:37 – 44:28
• Raiders vs Chiefs Roster Debate: 47:30 – 51:34

Tone and Language

Colin’s style is sharp, measured, and laced with colorful analogies (“if you have any more bricks, you can join a union”; “quarterbacks, kids and actors—you’re a product of your environment”). The exchange with co-hosts and guests is lively, often argumentative, but always rooted in opinion and evidence.

Summary

This episode remains true to The Herd’s DNA: a fast-paced, provocative, and deeply informed sports talk show. With detailed takes on both the macro (league-wide trends, cultural shifts) and micro (individual player moves) levels, Cowherd keeps listeners engaged and challenged. The episode is a must-listen for NFL fans curious about the 2026 competitive landscape, NBA die-hards pondering the league’s future, and anyone interested in the larger forces shaping modern sports.