The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 3 – Mark Schlereth Weighs in on Ravens Report, What Would the Giants Do with the No. 1 Pick?
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)
Notable Guests: Mark Schlereth (former NFL player, radio host), Jeff Schwartz (Fox Sports analyst)

Episode Overview

This hour of The Herd zeroes in on two of the NFL’s most intriguing current discussion points:

• The fallout from a Baltimore Sun report on Lamar Jackson, with Mark Schlereth breaking down the possible implications for the Ravens’ future.
• The debate over what the New York Giants—and other teams—should do if they secure the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, with special focus on top quarterback prospects.

The conversation expands with analysis on quarterback leadership, late-game winning culture, college football scheduling drama (Notre Dame vs. USC), and a fun detour into fantasy football. The hosts and guests pull no punches as they weigh big decisions facing NFL franchises and debate college and pro rumors.

Key Topics & Discussion Breakdown

1. Broncos’ Loss to Jaguars & Attention Dynamics [03:10-06:17]

Main Point:
Host Jason McIntyre invites Mark Schlereth (Stink) to discuss the Broncos’ unexpected loss to Jacksonville and the impacts of prolonged winning streaks.

• Small Market Disrespect: Comments by Sean Peyton about attention disparities between markets.
• Streak Pressure: Schlereth explains that winning hides “operational issues”—mistakes that catch up when a streak ends.
• Media Invasion: Winning teams lose locker room privacy, disrupting routine with an influx of national reporters.

Notable Quote:

“When you go on a win streak like that, you just kind of lose your facility, and it drives you crazy as a player.”
— Mark Schlereth [05:55]

2. Lamar Jackson Report Fallout & QB Franchise Logic [06:17-10:00, 20:57-25:21]

Main Point:
Jason and Colin react to a Baltimore Sun story detailing behind-the-scenes issues with Lamar Jackson—disengagement in meetings, resistance to criticism, injury concerns—and speculate on Jackson’s future in Baltimore.

• Leaks Mean Someone Wants it Out: Jason: “A story gets out when somebody wants it out...plenty of secrets in this league that are hidden forever…” [06:17]
• Franchise Tier System: Colin categorizes QBs as untouchable, maybe-tradable, and actively shopped. Suggests the report moves Lamar down a tier.
• The Quarterback Lifestyle: Mark Schlereth recounts asking Garoppolo what Brady taught him: “Playing quarterback is not a job. It is a lifestyle...You got to be the first guy in, last guy out...deflect all the praise, take all the blame…” [09:10]

Notable Quotes:

“Sometimes you have to let, you know, really good players leave a year or two early just to maintain and manage your franchise.”
— Mark Schlereth [07:43]

“If you’re not getting that out of [your QB]...then certainly you take those phone calls and you listen.”
— Mark Schlereth [09:56]

Cap and Trade Speculation:

• In the news segment, Jason and Tony Fusco dissect possible landing spots if the Ravens trade Lamar: Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders.
• Jason on Miami cap gymnastics: “If you nail the quarterback in the draft, then it’s fine if you have to pay...some of Lamar’s contract.” [24:00]

3. Late-Game Team Culture & Caleb Williams’ Skillset [10:00-12:51]

Main Point:
Discussion of the Bears’ string of late wins and how culture and quarterback play factor in.

• Winning Close Games: Is it luck? Culture? Colin says, “...the more you win, it flips...teams are like, oh, I love this.”
• Caleb Williams’ Talent:
  Mark emphasizes Williams’ ability to make plays off-schedule:

“His ability to manipulate the pocket...his arm talent is supreme...Is he a finished product? No.” [11:10]

• Transition from College to NFL: Up-tempo situations benefit QBs like Williams, who thrive “off schedule.”

4. Bryce Young’s Future & QB Evaluation Philosophy [12:51-14:34]

Main Point:
Should the Panthers extend Bryce Young’s contract? Is he a franchise QB?

• Schlereth’s Take:
  • Use the fifth-year option, no long-term deal yet.
  • Young is improving but has “limitations” due to size and physicality. He’s “operationally big. He’s just not a big...physical guy.” [13:23]
• QB Leadership Intangibles: Colin: “Quarterback is a lifestyle. Are you obsessed with it?”

5. Baltimore Ravens’ Future & Lamar’s Contract [20:57-25:21]

Main Point:
Digesting the local reporting on Lamar, its credibility, and the ripple effects for team-building.

• Team Rules vs. Star Exemptions: “There are team rules and then there are rules for Jackson...” [20:57]
• Roster-Building Handcuffs: Tony Fusco: “You can’t build a roster around [Lamar’s cap hit]...There’s no path to fixing the offensive line magically.” [21:49]
• Speculation About Trade Partners: Raiders, Dolphins, Cardinals all discussed as possibilities, but each comes with big cap or competitive risks.

6. Raiders/Giants Tank Watch & Draft Talk [25:44-27:55, 42:10-45:25]

Main Point:
Assessing how the Raiders and Giants might approach the “Toilet Bowl” amid calls to tank for draft position, and what they should do with a No. 1 pick.

• Player Mindsets on Tanking:
  Jason relays Max Crosby’s fiery refusal:

  “Yeah, I don’t give a...about the pick. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world.” [26:10]

• Fan Favorites & Draft Debate:
  • NY Giants fans high on Jackson Dart.
  • Tony: “Fun story out of New York. You can always find good angles in the NFL.” [27:11]

Schwartz & Panel on the No. 1 Pick:

• Jeff Schwartz: “The Giants have so many holes in their roster. They might not be like a Mendoza away from being good.” [42:54]

7. QB Prospect Assessment – Mendoza, Dart, Caleb [42:10-45:25]

Main Point:
Rapid-fire analysis on the top QB prospects for the draft.

• Fernando Mendoza:
  • Positives: Big, pocket passer, quick release, less risk of injury.
  • Negatives: Not a “runaround guy”; some analysts lukewarm.
• Jackson Dart:
  “He has all the physical skills,” but recent struggles noted (tape, injuries).
• Industry Perception:
  Tony: “[Daniel Jeremiah] doesn’t love [Mendoza]...He doesn’t have Caleb's talent...not as good a prospect as Drake May.” [45:25]

8. College Football Scheduling & The Notre Dame-USC Saga [34:33-40:29]

Main Point:
Colin and Jeff Schwartz discuss why USC is canceling the annual Notre Dame matchup.

• USC’s Schedule Hardship:
  Multiple tough conference games plus Notre Dame—USC wants flexibility.
• Notre Dame’s Preferential Treatment:
  • “Notre Dame gets the BNF for top 12 team. ...They basically have to be in the top 12.” [35:28]
• Cultural Shifts:
  Saban paved the way for avoiding tough out-of-conference road games.

9. **Fun & Fantasy:

J. Mac vs. Jeff Schwartz for the Fox Sports Fantasy Championship [43:42-44:49]**

• Joking about lineup decisions, humility, and the limited priority fans/analysts place on fantasy versus real football.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Mark Schlereth on locker room distraction:

  "Every week, more and more national media, more and more people want your time....There’s more national media in that locker room than players." [05:20]

• On Lamar/Franchise Decision-Making:

  "If you can get...multiple first-rounders, if you want to change the way your organization is structured, then certainly you take those phone calls and you listen." —Mark Schlereth [09:53]

• Jason on cap flexibility:

  "If you nail the quarterback in the draft, then it’s fine if you have to pay some of half of Lamar’s contract." [24:00]

• Tony on tanking:

  "I try not to bet on games I don’t want to watch...I literally called the dentist and said, can you get me in on a Sunday?" [27:04]

• Jeff Schwartz's refreshingly honest take on fantasy football:

  "Out of all the things I care about, football-wise, I hate to admit it, but fantasy football is at the very, very bottom of it." [44:24]

Key Takeaways

• The Ravens’ relationship with Lamar Jackson is at a crossroads, with credible local reporting suggesting organizational fatigue with his leadership and lifestyle. The cap implications and his future are the story of the 2025 offseason.
• Winning streaks bring unwanted distractions for NFL teams, disrupting routines and exposing hidden weaknesses.
• Young quarterbacks (Bryce Young, Caleb Williams) show both immense potential and critical developmental needs.
• Franchise quarterback evaluation is not just about stats—it's “a lifestyle” (Schlereth)—and both leadership and obsession with the craft matter almost as much as talent.
• The Giants and Raiders, both bottoming out, face franchise-defining decisions at the top of the draft, with debate swirling over the merits of big-armed pocket passers versus more mobile prospects.
• College football scheduling politics (Notre Dame-USC) reveal how much the modern game has shifted from tradition toward playoff optimization.

This summary captures all major discussion threads, key quoted moments, and encapsulates the flowing, candid tone of the hosts and guests. It is designed for listeners who want a detailed overview and direct speaker insights from the hour’s most impactful segments.