The Herd with Colin Cowherd – What's Wright: Best Of – Nick Wright Reacts to Chiefs-Rams Trade, Kyler Murray's NFL Future, and More

Date: March 7, 2026
Host/Analyst: Nick Wright
Co-host: Damonte

Episode Overview

This week’s “Best Of” montage from What's Wright with Nick Wright is an insightful, fast-paced look at breaking NFL and NBA stories. Nick delivers in-depth analysis on the Kansas City Chiefs' blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Rams, Kyler Murray's uncertain NFL future, key moves (and missteps) by the Cincinnati Bengals, and a lively debate about Michael Jordan's hypothetical stats in today's NBA. The discussion closes with updates on the NBA's playoff races and injury returns shaping the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks futures.

Chiefs-Rams Blockbuster: The Trent McDuffie Trade

Segment Start: 03:13

Chiefs' Perspective

• Trade Details: Chiefs trade cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a haul of draft picks: 1st (29th), 3rd, 5th, and 6th rounders.

• Nick’s Take:

  • McDuffie is possibly "the single best slot corner in football" and was foundational in three consecutive Super Bowl runs as a rookie.
  • “He will be very, very good for the Rams. Okay, nothing, and he’s only 25.” (Nick Wright, 04:15)
  • Chiefs’ ability to coach up and develop corners gives them confidence to make trades like this.

• Strategic Rationale:

  • Chiefs are following the Patriots' model for longevity—letting expensive veterans go before they decline and stockpiling young, affordable talent.
  • “This is the only way to stay in perpetual contention. … Bill Belichick made moves like this.” (Nick Wright, 07:08)
  • Salary cap concerns: “He was about to become the single highest-paid corner in the NFL … when you have the highest-paid d-tackle, center, one of the highest-paid guards and Mahomes, you can’t. You’ve got to make these choices.” (10:27)

• Draft Strategy:

  • With the 9th, 29th, and 40th picks, expect the Chiefs to target skill positions and the defensive line, not a corner or O-line.
  • “It would be utterly stunning to me if they use either of these first round picks on offensive line or on corner.” (17:19)

Rams' Side

• Win-Now Move:

  • Rams are “more all-in than any team in the league” due to Matthew Stafford’s short remaining window.
  • “Let’s go for it right now while we have Matt Stafford and figure out the plan post-Stafford.” (05:02)
  • Their problem developing corners means trading for proven talent is their chosen path.

• Super Bowl Odds:

  • Rams become lone favorites (+750). Nick is supportive: “Why the hell not? … When you have 38-year-old Matt Stafford and you’ve been banging on the door and he’s the defending league MVP, why the hell not?” (25:10)

Notable Quote

“I am so glad the Chiefs management still has the stomach to do things like this because this is the only way to stay in perpetual contention.”
— Nick Wright (07:05)

Kyler Murray’s NFL Future

Segment Start: 26:50

• Arizona Parts Ways with Kyler:

  • After seven seasons and 87 starts, Cardinals release Kyler Murray.

• Nick’s Candid Evaluation:

  • “Kyler Murray is … a below average NFL starting quarterback. … That’s who he is.” (27:03)

• Quarterback Ranking Context:

  • Nick rattles off names ahead of Kyler, pegging him “at best the 20th-best quarterback in football.” (28:21)

• Concerns Beyond Play:

  • “He does wear down over the course of the season. He does have shaky relationships with teammates and front offices and he does have very questionable work habits.” (28:28)

• Is Kyler a Starting QB?

  • Would be an upgrade for some teams, but “do I think that means there’s any contending possibilities? I don’t.” (30:11)

• Baseball What-If:

  • Damonte and Nick briefly wonder if Murray should’ve switched to baseball:
    • “Feel like it’s probably too late for that. But … people loved him as a baseball player. Loved him.” (32:07)

Notable Quote

“He has been a major disappointment as an NFL quarterback.”
— Nick Wright (32:35)

Bengals’ Mishandling of Trey Hendrickson

Segment Start: 33:21

• Hendrickson Leaves for Nothing:

  • The Bengals fail to re-sign, trade, or tag 17.5-sack edge rusher, losing him for nothing in free agency.

• Nick’s Critique:

  • “This is just franchise malpractice … To lose Trey Hendrickson for nothing’s outrageous. Now, I do think … you can make an argument. How old is Hendrickson? 32. That might be old.” (33:33, 35:25)

• Burrow Comparisons:

  • Nick draws a parallel to the Saints “wasting big portions” of Brees’ career:
    • “A lot of Burrow-Cincy reminds me of Brees-New Orleans … you are wasting big portions of this player's career even though he is super highly productive because you can’t get the defensive side of the ball right.” (37:35)

Notable Quote

“You are wasting big portions of this player's career even though he is super highly productive because you can't get the defensive side of the ball right. And that's a damn shame.”
— Nick Wright (37:31)

NBA: Michael Jordan in Today’s League – Is 40 PPG Realistic?

Segment Start: 39:25

• Topic Sparked by Rich Paul & Max Kellerman:
  • Max claims Michael Jordan would average a 40-point triple double in today’s NBA.
• Nick’s Analytical Breakdown:
  • “If you believe Michael Jordan would average 40 in today’s game, then you must believe Dominique [Wilkins] would average 38 and peak Kevin Durant in the 90s would average like 23. I don’t think you actually believe it.” (44:27)
  • Nick uses scoring averages from multiple eras to debunk the argument, highlights the misleading impact of pace and rules changes.
• Three-Point Shooting Truth:
  • People pretend Jordan’s lack of a three-point shot was a choice:
    • “It was the one thing he wasn’t great at. … If you remove the years where they moved the line in, Michael from three was 29%.” (45:31)

Notable Quote

“…people pretend that the one weakness in Michael’s game, three point shooting, was a weakness by choice … as if he was Shaq and never shot them. When in reality, it was the one thing he wasn’t great at.”
— Nick Wright (44:45)

NBA Playoff Races, Injuries & Celtics/Bucks Situation

Bucks’ Grim Playoff Picture & Giannis’ Future

Segment Start: 51:08

• Nick’s Outlook:

  • “I think we can all agree … the Bucks have no shot of doing any damage in the playoffs. … Making the play-in is going to be hard.” (51:50)
  • Big questions loom about if or when the Bucks—or Giannis—will force a split, especially if the season ends without progress.

• Franchise Context:

  • “Giannis came into the league in 2013 … this is his 13th year with Milwaukee. That is like … as many years as Michael Jordan played with the Bulls.” (56:39)

Celtics and Tatum’s Return

Segment Start: 58:54

• On Tatum’s Comeback:
  • “What [Tatum] is saying … is we need to rehab in a way so that once I am back to whatever the peak version of me is, it’s the same as the version from before the injury.” (59:06)
• Role on Return:
  • “I think the day Tatum comes back, he’s a role player. I think within a few weeks he will be high quality starter … by round two of the playoffs, be a star and get back to superstar next season. And I think that’s realistic.” (61:21, 63:49)
• Disruption Narrative:
  • Nick dismisses the idea Tatum could “disrupt” the Celtics’ flow:
    • “What they have going is worth nothing for a team that has championship aspirations.” (64:36)
• Analogy:
  • Tatum’s return compared to a pit stop to fix a failing tire—essential for a long playoff run, even if rocky at first.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “He will be very, very good for the Rams … and he’s only 25.” — Nick Wright (04:15)
• “There is only one team ever that has done what the Chiefs are trying to do, which is for 15+ years be in the mix basically every single year.” — Nick Wright (07:20)
• “I think Kyler is a starter in this league. Yes, absolutely ... but do I think that means there’s any contending possibilities? I don’t.” — Nick Wright (30:11)
• “You are wasting big portions of this player's career ... because you can’t get the defensive side of the ball right. And that's a damn shame.” — Nick Wright (37:31)
• “If you believe Michael Jordan would average 40 in today’s game, then you must believe Dominique would average 38 ... I don’t think you actually believe it.” — Nick Wright (44:27)
• “What the Celtics are right now … is not championship caliber. And so even if the first few weeks with Tatum are rocky, that gives you a chance to become championship caliber.” — Nick Wright (66:37)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Chiefs-Rams Trade Deep Dive: 03:13–18:43
• Kyler Murray’s NFL Future: 26:50–33:21
• Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson Blunder: 33:21–39:25
• Jordan’s Hypothetical 40 PPG Era: 39:25–48:38
• Bucks, Giannis and Playoffs: 51:08–58:54
• Tatum’s Return & Celtics’ Ceiling: 58:54–67:53

Summary

Nick Wright delivers trademark candor and analytics on NFL team-building, quarterback talent tiers, NBA star hypotheticals, and the high-stakes calculus for championship contenders like the Bucks and Celtics. It’s a masterclass in both sports commentary and big-picture thinking—essential listening for fans who want more than just headlines.