Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 3 – The Needs of NFL Teams, Top Prospects of the NFL Draft, Todd McShay
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Todd McShay (ESPN College Football Analyst & NFL Draft Expert)
Theme:
Insightful, fast-paced breakdown of NFL teams’ needs for the upcoming draft, analysis of top 2026 NFL draft prospects, and sharp opinions on quarterback development and team strategies, with prominent input from draft expert Todd McShay.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode focuses on the strengths and peculiarities of the 2026 NFL Draft class, dissecting teams’ primary needs (especially at quarterback), and profiling the best prospects. With Todd McShay as guest, the discussion weaves through prospects’ attributes, the importance of coaching fits, trade scenarios, and speculative team strategies. As always, Cowherd steers the conversation towards evaluating talent against NFL success stories and cautionary tales.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strength of the 2026 NFL Draft Class

• Notable for Talent, Non-QB Depth:
  Cowherd opens by noting this draft is "one of the stronger drafts in a while" (02:13), but not heavy on high-end quarterbacks.
• Todd McShay: "It's a really good draft and it's a lot better than some people may think because the quarterback class isn't great." (09:24)

2. Raiders’ Offensive Direction & Mendoza’s Fit

• Raiders' Coaching/Quarterback Fit:
  Kubiak’s offensive system demands a quarterback proficient in play action and outside zone schemes.
• Prospect Focus – Fernando Mendoza:
  • Tall, mobile (6'5", 220 lbs), high energy, but not the physical outlier compared to recent drafts ("he's not Caleb, he's not Jaden, he's not Drake...") (03:44-04:18).
  • Strength is in structured play-action, but panic under pressure and turnover-worthy plays remain concerns.
  • Quote: "I loved him... but I also recognize it's just far too many turnover worthy plays... eyes drop when that initial pressure comes and there's this little quarter count of panic in his game." – McShay (05:20)
• Kubiak’s scheme could replicate the growth curve Darnold showed, bottling up tendencies and keeping reads simple.

3. Top Prospects and the Best Player Debate

• Definitive Top-15 Rule:
  General draft principle for early picks: take best available.
• Who’s the #2 Prospect After Mendoza?
  • Arvell Reese (LB, Ohio State):
    • "Best prospect in this class is Arvell Reese. But he is a projection..." – McShay (06:49).
    • Uniquely rangy, athletic, but raw as an edge rusher.
    • Career arc compared to Micah Parsons – could develop into an edge disruptor.
  • Jeremiah Love (RB, Notre Dame):
    • "Player is Jeremiah Love, but he's a running back…" – McShay (07:13).
    • Compared to Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, Bijan Robinson for his speed and power; "Most teams I've talked to, if he's not one, he's two or three on their board." (07:56-08:55)
    • May fall further in the draft due to RB value, but could be “a treasure there for the Chiefs at nine.”

4. Wide Receiver & Other Position Groups

• Depth at WR, EDGE, OT:
  • Four WRs are projected as day-one impact starters: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Makai Lemon (USC), Jordan Tyson (ASU), Denzel Boston (Washington) (09:54).
  • "There are four guys that I think are day one impact starters in the league…" – McShay (09:54).
  • Value extends to early-to-mid second round; not a year for teams to give up too much to trade up.

5. Draft Trades and Team Strategy Speculation

• Limited Trade Appeal This Year:
  • "I don't know outside who's trading up. I can get this similar level or caliber offensive tackle or edge or wide receiver or cornerback like later in the first early in the second..." – McShay (10:30)
• Giants, Jets, Chiefs, Saints: teams to watch for potential trade moves depending on how their needs align and how the draft board falls (08:55-09:24).

6. Quarterback Profiles & Outliers

• Ty Simpson (Alabama):
  • Not a "wow" physical traits guy; only 15 college starts is a concern.
  • McShay: "The thing I will say with Ty and I'm probably more on on board with Ty Simpson than a lot of other people if you go back ... Ty Simpson was the best quarterback in college football. Processing, ball out, anticipation..." (12:30-13:08)
  • Belief in processing speed, football IQ, and lineage (coach's son) to overcome limited starting experience and physical tools.
  • Compared to Josh Allen, Mahomes as rare start-outliers.
• Sam Darnold “Vindication” and Development:
  • McShay plants his flag:
    • "I saw something in Sam that I thought was special. The creativity, the arm, enough mobility in the pocket, aggressiveness." (20:00)
    • Still stands by his evaluation; “haven't gotten any fruit baskets or, like, apology letters... so I'm waiting on those.” (20:00-22:01)
• Darnold compared to NFC QBs:
  • Cowherd: “If the question is... NFC quarterbacks you want for the next three to five years... would I rather have Darnold or Hertz? I would rather have Darnold. Would I rather have Darnold or Purdy? I would rather have Darnold.” (33:17)
  • Value placed on traits: arm strength, athleticism, durability.

7. Caleb Williams, Bears & Changing Perceptions

• Williams’ 1st Year with Bears:
  • Dramatic improvement, high praise from Brian Urlacher ("should be in Chicago's future for the next 20 years") (23:54)
  • Stats: 11-4, 255 yards/game, strong TD:INT (23:56)
  • “Caleb Williams is on our short list... by Thanksgiving, Caleb Williams, top five quarterback, that's not a reach...” – Cowherd (24:54)
• Evolving NFL QB “Big 4”:
  • New info moves Hurts and others out; question marks for Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Jaden Daniels regarding health, room leadership, and on-field progression.

8. Super Bowl Odds and Future Speculation

• Best Bets & Surprises:
  • Rams, Seahawks, Bills enter as favorites; Patriots/Eagles considered overrated relative to realistic expectations (26:44)
  • Bowen cites Vikings as a 60-1 long shot, met with skepticism by Cowherd (27:32).
  • Bears at 25-1: "I'm gonna bet a lot on Chicago... Bears at 25 to 1 is a bargain." (28:09-28:28)
• Debate on the Ravens’ Roster Strength:
  • Disagreement about how strong Baltimore's actual roster is, despite Pro Bowl counts (36:44-37:44)

9. Brief NBA Segment (James Harden & Cavaliers)

• Harden & Donovan Mitchell Dynamic:
  • “We're just hooping on vibes right now.” – Donovan Mitchell (29:47)
  • Top East teams according to Cowherd: “Detroit, Celtics, Knicks” (30:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mendoza:

  "He could be a first round pick but I also recognize it's just far too many turnover worthy plays. Yeah, eyes drop when that initial pressure comes and there's this little quarter count of panic in his game."
  – Todd McShay (05:20)

• On Jeremiah Love:

  "It's like this combination of poetry and beauty... but also just devastation of running through tacklers. That's what Jeremiah Love is… He's that caliber of talent."
  – Todd McShay (07:56-08:55)

• On Ty Simpson:

  "Processing, ball out, anticipation... I'm telling you this guy's got something in him... He's different. He's different than some of those other young, immature guys that have come out with the fewer than 20 starts."
  – Todd McShay (13:08)

• On Trading Up:

  "I don't know outside who's trading up. I can get this similar level or caliber offensive tackle or edge or wide receiver or cornerback like later in the first, early in the second..."
  – Todd McShay (10:30)

• On Sam Darnold’s Development:

  "Stay true to your evaluation. It's about the talent, but also, you got to figure out what's here, and you got to figure out what's here. The mind and like that, that toughness, the heart, all that. And I saw all those things in Sam."
  – Todd McShay (20:00-21:00)

• On Caleb Williams' Rookie Year:

  "I don't think it's wild to say Caleb Williams is on our short list. If I said to you by Thanksgiving, Caleb Williams, top five quarterback, that's not a reach..."
  – Colin Cowherd (24:54)

Segment Timestamps

• [02:13] Colin introduces the strong, but non-QB-focused draft class.
• [03:44-06:12] In-depth: Fernando Mendoza as prospect, strengths, system fit, and concerns.
• [06:49-08:55] Debate over best non-QB prospects: Reese and Jeremiah Love.
• [09:24-11:04] Trade scenarios, positional depth, which teams might move up or down.
• [11:04-14:30] Quarterback evaluation: Ty Simpson’s unheralded attributes, risk factors.
• [20:00-22:01] McShay defends his high evaluation of Sam Darnold, discusses talent vs. situation.
• [23:54-25:26] Caleb Williams' impact, Bears' outlook, top QB "Big 4" shifting.
• [26:44-28:30] Super Bowl odds discussion: best value picks, Bears, Vikings, long shots.
• [29:25-30:48] Brief NBA detour: Harden & Mitchell, East contenders.
• [33:17-36:10] NFC QB rankings: Darnold, Hurts, Dak, Goff; why traits matter.
• [36:44-37:44] Arguments about Pro Bowl value and the Ravens' true roster quality.

Tone and Language

Dynamic, analytical, and occasionally self-deprecating. Neither Cowherd nor McShay shy from bold pronouncements or defending prior mistakes and positions, lending the episode a conversational "insider" feel while peppered with quick-fire stats and wry commentary.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This hour delivers a comprehensive, nuanced look at the 2026 NFL draft class and the evolving dynamics across QB-needy franchises, blending player profiles, team strategies, and “big picture” NFL speculation. Whether you’re a draft junkie or a casual NFL fan, Cowherd and McShay’s dialogue offers both broad context and minute scouting details—along with the strong opinions and banter you expect from The Herd.