The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Live from the NFL Combine

Date: February 26, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Bruce Feldman (The Athletic)

Episode Overview

This episode, broadcast live from the NFL Combine, focuses on the rapidly changing landscape of college football talent, insights into the 2026 NFL Draft prospects (notably Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson), and the evolving dynamics between the collegiate and professional levels. Colin welcomes Bruce Feldman for a deep dive into draft stories, quarterback prospects, and notable Combine "freaks." The episode closes with topical NFL quarterback debates and NBA commentary on the Lakers’ transition period.

Featured Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. Fernando Mendoza’s Unlikely Rise & NFL Draft Prospects

(04:10 – 07:07)

• Fernando Mendoza’s Journey:
  Bruce Feldman recounts Mendoza's rise from a two-star recruit in Miami, with almost no FBS offers, to potentially the first pick of the NFL Draft.

  • No sense of entitlement: “He is a former two-star guy with zero sense of entitlement, you know, high academic guy.” (06:10)
  • Cowherd and Feldman discuss how the developmental trajectory of Mendoza mirrors that of successful late-bloomers like Aaron Rodgers and Justin Herbert.
  • Important trait highlighted: Mendoza’s resilience and mental focus, especially in high-pressure situations.
  • Notable Moment: Coach's assessment – “You can affect him but you can't rattle him.” (06:55)

• Draft Context:

  • This year’s quarterback class lacks a clear can't-miss superstar, placing more value on intangibles and development curves.

2. Sea Change: Big Ten Surpassing the SEC in NFL Talent

(07:07 – 09:31)

• Big Ten Ascendancy:
  • Cowherd and Feldman point to a remarkable turnaround: “It used to be Georgia, Bama, it was linebackers, defensive tackles, edge. Those are all Big Ten in Miami guys now.” (07:22)
  • Linked causes: better NIL deals at larger (Big Ten) universities, transfer portal impact, and broader talent distribution.
  • Data Point: In Daniel Jeremiah’s top 100 draft list: “There were only two [SEC players], there was 10 from the Big Ten…” (08:24)
  • Feldman notes it’s "pretty staggering" to see fewer top SEC draft prospects than from Miami or Big 12 teams.

3. Draft Standouts & Combine ‘Freaks’ to Watch

(09:31 – 11:58)

• Tight End Prospects:

  • Spotlight on Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon/Idaho): “He vertical jumps 42 inches. He's really explosive." (10:36)
  • Sadiq compared to Brock Bowers, noted for his explosiveness and versatility.

• Ohio State’s Defensive Freaks:

  • Sunny Stiles: “He looks like he was created in a lab…There could be four Ohio State Buckeyes go in the top eight or at least in the top 10 in this draft.” (11:29)

4. Quarterback Deep Dive: Ty Simpson and Day 3 Gems

(15:58 – 20:16)

• Ty Simpson (Alabama):

  • High on potential, but criticized for lack of starts: "He didn't have a lot of college starts...but he does have a good arm...What do you hear about Ty Simpson?" (15:58)
  • Feldman notes the Rams and a few teams are interested late in the first round. Simpson lauded as a "coach's kid," very talented, capable of sitting and learning behind a veteran like Stafford.

• Small School Quarterbacks/Hidden Gems:

  • Cole Payton (North Dakota State): Seen more as an athletic project: “He's more in the mold, quite honestly, of Taysom Hill where he's a big athlete...he was really more of a running quarterback, but he started to blossom a little bit this past year." (18:28)
  • Mentions Bryce Lance, Trey Lance's younger brother, as a notable NDSU receiver.
  • Also highlights Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) as a possible third- or fourth-round pick who could rise due to QB class's lack of depth.

5. Quarterback Development & Traits

(20:16 – 21:04)

• Gratitude/Drive in Low-Star QBs:
  • “It's pretty consistent—when somebody like Cam Ward is a no star quarterback or a two star quarterback, they're incredibly grateful, they're incredibly driven, they're pretty humble because they didn't get anything handed to them.” (20:28)
  • Half of five-star QBs fail to pan out—humility and gratitude are defining traits for those who beat the odds.

6. NFL News Roundup

(21:06 – 30:14)

C.J. Stroud’s Rocky Postseason & Trade Speculation

(21:06 – 23:39)

• Texans GM Nick Caserio squashes trade rumors:
  • “We’re not trading a guy. He’s our quarterback, so he’s gonna be playing Quarterback for the Houston Texans in 2026." (21:45, Caserio via B at 21:48)
• Both Cowherd and his co-host discuss Stroud’s regression, blaming lack of run game and O-line issues, but agree he is "absolutely" a top-15 quarterback, not top-10.

Minnesota Vikings & Quarterback Carousel

(23:39 – 25:44)

• Discussion about the Vikings’ QB situation post-Sam Darnold. Possible veteran options include Mac Jones, Tua, Kyler Murray, and internal candidates.
• Mac Jones: “Do you have to give up like a 3 or a 5?” (24:47)
  • Vikings' coaching staff under pressure to rebound; QB decision is pivotal.
• Insight into NFL roster and travel challenges for the Niners.

Shador Sanders vs. DeShaun Watson QB Battle in Cleveland

(26:54 – 28:49)

• Coach Todd Monken says it's "an open competition"—“I don't know why it wouldn’t be an open competition.” (27:16)
• Cowherd is skeptical about Shador’s NFL traits: “He doesn't have any great traits. He's not a great athlete. He's not big. He didn't have a huge arm. He didn't have any trait. He didn't have a wow trait. But I do think he can make plays.” (27:49)
• Subtext: Browns likely keeping options open for a QB in the next draft (Arch Manning, etc.).

7. NBA Segment: Lakers’ Changing Identity

(34:15 – 40:27)

• Laker Ownership Direction & LeBron-Luka Dynamic:
  • Lakers hire Tony Bennett to help transition towards a draft-and-develop model; focus shifts toward Luka and Austin Reeves as foundation.
  • Rachel Nichols: “Building around Luka does not involve LeBron James. I don't really blame some of the lazy plays or the not getting to the rim as much or some of the falling apart that we've seen, because I think everyone's mind on that team is we're going to fight as hard as we can, but we all know we're not Finals contenders right now.” (34:15 – 34:42)
  • Cowherd uses data to illustrate that LeBron-Luka pairing doesn’t work—“They’re the worst Laker tandem, the worst on the team, the worst tandem.” (34:42 – 35:31)
  • Looks ahead to offloading LeBron, possibly trading Austin Reaves with picks for another star (e.g., Giannis), and cementing J.J. Redick, Luka, and Reeves as foundational pieces.

Notable Quotes

• On Mendoza’s Mentality:
  “You can affect him but you can't rattle him.” — Bruce Feldman (06:55)

• On SEC to Big Ten Shift:
  “There was 10 [Big Ten players]...That was something that nobody would have expected.” — Bruce Feldman (08:24)

• On Humble QBs:
  “When you do get that two and three star guy that pops, there's almost always humility and gratitude...” — Colin Cowherd (20:28)

• On Shador Sanders:
  “He doesn't have any great traits...But I do think he can make plays.” — Colin Cowherd (27:49)

• On Lakers Future:
  “The numbers are in...For LeBron and Luka, they're the worst Laker tandem, the worst on the team, the worst tandem.” — Colin Cowherd (34:42)

Key Takeaways

• The Combine spotlights not only blue-chip talent but also the importance of intangibles and developmental backgrounds, especially at quarterback.
• The Big Ten, powered by NIL and the transfer portal, has overtaken the SEC as the major NFL pipeline—an unprecedented shift.
• There’s broad skepticism about this year’s QB class, with teams likely to “reach” for developmental projects and athletic outliers.
• In the NFL, teams face tough choices on young quarterbacks, often weighing immediate performance against long-term potential and fit.
• In the NBA, as indicated by the Lakers example, big-name star pairings are only as successful as their actual on-court synergy and fit with evolving league structures (e.g., the need for homegrown talent).

Timestamps

• 04:10 — Fernando Mendoza’s journey and traits
• 07:07 — Big Ten vs. SEC and draft trends
• 09:31 — Combine "freaks" and key prospects
• 15:58 — Ty Simpson and late-round quarterback prospects
• 21:06 — C.J. Stroud trade rumors and performance review
• 23:39 — Vikings’ quarterback future and Mac Jones trade talk
• 26:54 — Browns QB competition: Shador Sanders vs. DeShaun Watson
• 34:15 — Lakers organizational reset, LeBron/Luka analytics, and future direction

This summary captures the core sports insights, memorable lines, and key NFL/NBA debates discussed in "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" live from the NFL Combine (Hour 3, Feb 26, 2026).