The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode Summary: "What's Wright - GIANNIS TRADE COMING? Cowboys season IN JEOPARDY vs. Lions? Texans-Chiefs MUST-WIN | Nick Wright"

Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Nick Wright (with Damanze)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nick Wright and his co-host Damanze tackle the biggest developments in sports right now. They dive into the likelihood of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade from Milwaukee, analyze the pivotal Cowboys-Lions matchup and the NFL playoff picture, discuss the high-stakes Texans-Chiefs game for Patrick Mahomes, and finish by picking their 2025 NFL Hall of Fame selections.
The episode brims with bold takes, informed breakdowns, and a conversational, engaging style that brings listeners right into the studio.

Key Topics and Highlights

Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Watch

[08:10 – 27:49]

Is Giannis Finally Leaving Milwaukee?

• Tension Building: Giannis’s relationship with Milwaukee seems strained, with conflicting signals about his future.
  • “He wants to be beloved in Milwaukee and doesn't want to play for Milwaukee anymore.” — Nick Wright [09:36]
• Injury as a Tipping Point: Giannis suffered a scary non-contact injury that appeared serious but turned out to be a calf strain. This leads Nick to speculate the Bucks might be ultra-cautious and move on.
  • “It is very possible that last night was Giannis's last game with the Bucks. That’s on the board…might even go as far as to say it's the most likely reality.” [13:13]

Trade Scenarios Analyzed

Nick runs through five ESPN-vetted trade packages, breaking them down for realism, basketball sense, and the likelihood that Giannis would approve the destination.

• Atlanta Hawks Deal:

  • Giannis and Cole Anthony for Trae Young, recent #1 pick Reccesey, plus juicy draft assets.
  • “That to me is really interesting. If you keep Jalen Johnson, you keep Dyson…from a basketball perspective, you stay in the Eastern Conference. The team keeps really good pieces…I think there's a lot of reasons for it.” [17:01]
  • Least likely because of Giannis’ preferences, but best fit for both teams.

• Houston Rockets Offer:

  • (“Giannis for Sengun and VanVleet”) Both hosts call it underwhelming for both sides — not enough return for Milwaukee, and awkward fit for Houston.
  • “As much as I love, I love Shingoon, that's to me not enough because you've traded away so many of your own future picks. Like, you need more draft capital.” [19:33]

• New York Knicks Package:

  • Giannis for Karl-Anthony Towns and a so-so protected first. Nick derides it:
  • “That's a tough sell. Yeah, that's a really tough sell if You're Milwaukee.” [22:25]

• San Antonio Spurs Proposal:

  • Focuses on whether Spurs would part with their top young talent (Castle, Dylan Harper) to pair Giannis with Wembanyama.
  • “Sometimes when you have a great, really young player…let's wait to make the move. I'm saying if you're San Antonio, it might make sense to accelerate because you don't—your best chance to win might be right…the next four years.” [24:48]

• Golden State Warriors:

  • Based on Draymond/Kuminga/Hield and picks—Nick thinks it’s a bad deal for Milwaukee.
  • “I totally get why the warriors would do this, but…I don't know why [Milwaukee would].” [26:30]

Final Word

• Wright's bold prediction:
  • “I think we now—it is more likely than not that…the next game Giannis plays in the NBA will be for a different team, which is crazy.” [27:49]

NFL: Cowboys-Lions & Playoff Race

[33:47 – 42:15]

Dallas Cowboys: Do-or-Die vs. Detroit Lions

• Playoff Stakes: If Dallas loses, their playoff odds drop below 10%.
• Nick’s Take: Even with a loss, Dallas isn’t out, but they’ll need to run the table and get help.
  • “Even if the Cowboys lose tonight, I don't think we're going to be done talking about them…they would have, like you said, 10% chance, maybe a little better than that because I do think the Cowboys are playing at a super high level right now.” [34:46]
• Detroit's Must-Win: Lions' division hopes are minimal even with a win, and almost dead with a loss.

Dak Prescott’s MVP Candidacy

• “Dak, if Joe Burrow last year ended up getting votes and finishing fourth or fifth for a team that missed the playoffs, if Dakota gets this team back from the dead…then I think he might be…him, Stafford and May will be a real discussion.” [37:35]

Who Wins?

• Nick picks the Lions (“I've got the Lions tonight.” [41:18]), citing their resilience and Dallas’s tough schedule stretch.

Texans vs. Chiefs: Mahomes' MUST-WIN

[42:54 – 50:30]

The Biggest Regular Season Game of Mahomes’ Career?

• High Tension: With the AFC playoff picture crowded, Kansas City needs this win against the Texans’ (league-best defense).
  • “The next two weeks for Mahomes are the biggest regular season games of his career…He’s played in 21 playoff games…so they are the 22nd and 23rd biggest games of his career, but that's still something.” [45:58]
• Stat Breakdown (via Mina Kimes):
  • From 2022–2024, when the Chiefs blitzed: “first in yards per play, second in pressure rate, third in sack rate, first, second, third. This year, 31st, 28th, 31st.” [47:18]
• Injury Woes: Chiefs' O-line decimated by injury—Nick warns this could be disastrous against Houston’s rush.
  • “If Josh Simmons and your right guard and your right tackle are out against this Texans team, it is going to take one of the most brilliant Andy Reid game plans of his life and a 10 out of 10 even by his standards, Patrick Mahomes performance…” [48:28]

How do Chiefs win?

• Need to run, rely on crowd and hope for defensive help.
  • “If you could hand the ball off 35 times…you would love it. I don't know that the Texans defense is just so good…” [50:04]
• Final assessment: Waiting on injury reports; if too many linemen are out, “That might be a bridge too far against this defense.” [50:30]

Eagles-Chargers: Nick Forced to Root for Philly

[54:25 – 56:49]

• With his Chiefs needing help to make playoffs, Nick must root for the Eagles to beat the Herbert-less Chargers—a weird feeling as a long-time Eagles antagonist.
• “All of that, with that said, and maybe this is a little heart overhead, but I don't think so because the Eagles are favorites…I think the Eagles D line should be able to disrupt a battered Justin Herbert…” [56:11]

NFL Hall of Fame 2025 Predictions

[57:12 – 67:38]

Roster Breakdown and Logic

• First-ballot locks: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald
• “Snap” eliminations: Rivers, Gore, Witten (not first-ballot), and numerous prior semifinalists.
• Down to three spots: Debate between Tori Holt, Reggie Wayne, Venatieri, top O-linemen, Keuchly, Suggs, Woodson.

Nick’s Final 2025 Predictions

• “So Brees, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Keakley and Terrell Suggs along with offensive lineman Willie Anderson. That is my projection for this year's hall of Fame.” [65:19]

His Dream Patriots “Dynasty Class”

• Wants to see a future class of only Patriots dynasty members—Brady, Gronk, Vinatieri, Wilfork, Rodney Harrison, etc.—for “a Patriots dynasty sweep the board.” [67:06]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Giannis trade signals:

  “He wants to be beloved in Milwaukee and doesn't want to play for Milwaukee anymore.” — Nick Wright [09:36]

• On stakes for Dallas:

  “Even if the Cowboys lose tonight, I don't think we're going to be done talking about them…They would have, like you said, 10% chance, maybe a little better than that because I do think the Cowboys are playing at a super high level right now.” [34:46]

• On Mahomes’ playoff push:

  “If Josh Simmons and your right guard and your right tackle are out against this Texans team, it is going to take one of the most brilliant Andy Reid game plans of his life and a 10 out of 10 even by his standards, Patrick Mahomes performance…” [48:28]

• On rooting for the Eagles:

  “It's going to feel weird, man. I, I don't even know, like…now they are…your fans regularly accost me on the street. And so I've been, you know, pretty ardently not a big fan of Philly…” [54:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [08:10] — Giannis trade speculation and injury fallout
• [14:18] — Best and most realistic landing spots for Giannis
• [33:47] — Cowboys-Lions playoff implications
• [37:35] — Dak’s MVP candidacy and Dallas/Lions season outlook
• [42:54] — Chiefs-Texans: Mahomes in a must-win
• [47:18] — Chiefs’ defensive issues & statistical dropoff
• [48:28] — O-line injury crisis and Chiefs' offense
• [54:25] — Eagles vs. Chargers (Chiefs’ playoff scenario)
• [57:12] — NFL Hall of Fame breakdown and picks
• [65:19] — Nick’s final Hall of Fame selections
• [67:06] — Future Patriots “dynasty” class discussion

Conclusion

This episode gives a comprehensive, opinionated, and entertaining tour through the day’s top sports questions. From the blockbuster potential Giannis trade and its ripple effects, to the razor-thin margins in the NFL playoff race and hearty Hall of Fame debates, Nick Wright’s takes are engaging, informed, and delivered in his signature direct style for both hardcore and casual sports fans.