The McShay Show – Summary
Episode: Our Post-Combine Top-100 Big Board! Plus, Trent McDuffie Trade Reactions
Date: March 5, 2026
Hosts: Bucky Brooks & Daniel Jeremiah (Guest)
Platform: The Ringer
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the NFL offseason drama, spotlighting the just-released post-combine Top 100 Big Board and offering instant reactions to the blockbuster Trent McDuffie trade between the Chiefs and the Rams. Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah dissect the implications of the move, run through the most significant risers and fallers in the updated player rankings, and provide loads of front-office insight. The discussion is peppered with their honest takes, war-room banter, and plenty of big board nerdery.
1. Trent McDuffie-to-Rams: Trade Analysis & Reactions
[02:25–13:27]
Background and Details
- The Rams acquired star Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie, addressing a crucial need as they chase another Super Bowl with a potentially closing Stafford/McVay window.
- The Chiefs receive a package headlined by the Rams’ 2026 first-rounder (No. 29), as well as a 5th and 6th this year and a 2027 3rd, giving them ammunition for a retool as Mahomes recovers from injury.
Key Discussion Points
- Rams’ Sense of Urgency: With speculation about McVay’s possible exit alongside Stafford, the Rams "are so damn close" (Bucky Brooks, 05:08). Opting for proven talent over a rookie CB reflects a chips-all-in approach.
- Chiefs’ Perspective: Facing aging pillars and Mahomes’ injury, KC “has to quickly rebuild this in the trenches and get weapons,” and the draft capital aids that (Brooks, 06:01).
- Trade Value: Some surprise from both sides about how rich the package was for a non-QB, considering McDuffie’s impending payday.
Notable Quotes
- On Les Snead's mentality: "My guys, Sean McVay, ride to the end...we only get Stafford for one, maybe two. We are so damn close. We need cornerback help. We don’t need a young guy to develop." – Bucky Brooks [05:08]
- “F them picks” T-shirt legacy, humorously referenced regarding Rams’ draft strategy [05:47].
- “Sometimes, everyone’s digging, you gotta zag.” – Daniel Jeremiah [07:19]
- “No time to mess around. You know what you’re getting with Trent McDuffie.” – Jeremiah [07:51]
2. Draft Fallout: The Ty Simpson Domino
[08:29–13:27]
- Rams were rumored Ty Simpson (QB) suitors at 29, but the McDuffie trade removes that scenario.
- League chatter: Several teams remain lurking for Simpson, but the "storybook" Rams landing is gone; alternative QB plans now shape for LA and others.
Quote
- “Before today...I just felt like it was a done deal. I thought Ty Simpson was going to be in a Rams uniform next year. This is not ideal for the Ty Simpson camp.” – Daniel Jeremiah [12:26]
3. Post-Combine Top 100 Big Board: Breakdown & Insights
[13:27–56:00]
Top 10 – No Major Surprises, But Big Moves
- No change at No. 1: RB Jeremiah Love (“run a 4.36, interview well, catch and run...there’s no movement there,” Brooks [13:50]).
- Biggest Move: S Sonny Styles up to No. 2.
- Caleb Downs at 3, Fernando Mendoza at 4—an eyebrow raiser.
Top 10 List Sample [14:49]
- Jeremiah Love (RB) – Maintains spot due to combine performance
- Sonny Styles (S) – Rises after strong showing
- Caleb Downs (DB)
- Fernando Mendoza (QB) 5-10: Run of edge rushers (Arvel Reese, David Bailey), Venga (G), Reuben Bain, Francis Maui Noah (T), Carnell Tate (WR)
Offensive Line Class: Weak at the Top, Steep Fall-Off
[18:00–22:11]
- Debate over Freeling, Fano, Maui Noah: OTs all have holes in profiles. There's a steep drop-off after the first 7-8 in the class.
- “Short arms for Vano, maybe kick Maui Noah inside…Freeling most talented but only 18 starts” – Brooks [18:00].
- Wide receiver and edge classes, on the other hand, are “loaded, especially between picks 10 to 50” (Brooks, 20:14).
Cornerback Speech
- Mansour Delaine at 11; lots of rising corners but none elite-elite.
Tiers and Position Debates
[22:59–32:02]
- First tier: “Ends with Ioanne” (Penn State G, best OL in class).
- Next tier: Playmakers, lots of WRs/CBs/Edge.
- Sadiq (TE): “Top 10 talent,” but trust issues/internal interviews drop him a few spots.
Quote
“I got a running back, an off-ball linebacker, and a safety at the top. PTSD, man. Filling out your top 100.” – Bucky Brooks [22:15]
- Ongoing flip-flop between Fano and Freeling at tackle, “betting on upside.” Heavy OT trait dependence this year.
- “Every single one of these offensive tackles you can poke a hole…When that falls off, we might get to pick 80, maybe third round...” – Brooks [19:05]
4. Pass Catcher and Interview Goss
[32:09-41:14]
- Agent/Pro Day Antics: FPAs (first player agents) called out: “People in the league are so fed up with his agent...just reporting, that’s a big topic of conversation.” (Brooks, re: Jermod McCoy [32:55])
- WR Interview Standouts (or not): Carnell Tate, Jordan Tyson ace interviews; Makai Lemon gets flagged for being “a little bit of a bullshitter” but talent keeps him high [35:12–36:54].
- “At least 50%, probably higher, of wide receivers are a pain in the ass, man.” – Brooks [36:54]
5. Edge & D-Lineman Depth, Mid-First to Second Round
[43:10–53:41]
- “From 18 [Falk] down to 35 there are a bunch of guys with very similar grades. You’re picking style, not substance.” [43:13]
- Edge group deep: “That's eight [edges] in my top 30. That’s wild” (Brooks [46:17]); likely some early-second steals.
- Interior D-Line down year: Only 3 DTs between 30 and 47, “bad update for defensive tackles, man” (Jeremiah [50:28]).
6. Grade Comparisons & Player Comps
[53:42–56:34]
- RB Jeremiah Love’s Grade: 94 (“Bijan was a 95, Saquon a 96”) [53:52–54:04].
- Comp for Jeremiah Love: “He was Darren McFadden coming out of Arkansas. Same frame, same kind of speed…” – Jeremiah [54:37]
- High praise for Love’s advanced receiving skill and competitive makeup.
7. Big Board Philosophy, Risers/Fallers, Depth Comments
[Throughout]
- Distinction between rankings vs. mock: “This is not a mock draft. This is just the rankings. In terms of his tape...he is just too damn good” (Jeremiah on Ioanne [16:32])
- Tiering & grade clustering mean spots 15-45 are very similar grades – “one big ass bucket” (Brooks [49:39]).
Memorable Moments & Quotes
- “F them picks!” recurring motif, joking about Rams’ anti-draft-pick philosophy [05:46–06:01].
- “Vulnerability...I’m excited and I’m vulnerable. This was harder than I thought it was going to be” – Brooks on his top 100 [13:27]
- “The difference between 18 and 31 [on the big board] isn’t much...you’re picking flavor, not tier” – Brooks [43:13]
- “It’s a trades position...betting on upside, not just tape” (Jeremiah, on OT prospects [25:36])
Key Segments & Timestamps
- McDuffie Trade Analysis: 02:25–13:27
- QB/Ty Simpson Draft Fallout: 08:29–13:27
- Top-100 Big Board Summary (with position debates and tiers): 13:27–41:14
- Edge/DT/Rosters Depth: 43:10–53:41
- RB/Comparisons & Top Grades: 53:42–56:34
Useful for Non-Listeners
This episode offers a candid, detailed look into how NFL front offices are retooling in response to a dramatic trade, how post-combine performances shake up draft boards, and how hard it is to rank prospects at premium (and non-premium) positions this year. Position strengths/weaknesses, key prospects' character, and draft strategy are all discussed with specificity and humor. The hosts frequently point listeners to the McShay Report newsletter for the full 100, but this episode provides a comprehensive, inside-the-war-room kind of breakdown of 2026’s NFL draft class and the real ripple effects trades have on both team building and player destinies.