The McShay Show – Episode Summary

Episode: "Our Top-200 Big Board: Stacking Safeties, Second-Tier Edges, and WR Intel"
Date: April 13, 2026
Hosts: Todd McShay & Steve Muench (with frequent contributions from Daniel Jeremiah)
Duration Covered: Main content (skipping ads/housekeeping)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the unveiling of Todd McShay's first Top 200 Big Board for the 2026 NFL draft season, packed with over 150 live player evaluations and prospect insights. With less than two weeks until draft night, Todd and Steve unpack major draft news—including the leaked story about Miami DE Reuben Bain—while providing granular analysis of position groups, evolving draft board debates, team intel, and the traits that define prospects’ rises and falls. Special focus is given to the safety class, second-tier edge rushers, and the nuances of the wide receiver group.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reuben Bain Story: NFL Fallout and Media Ethics

• Context: Miami DE Reuben Bain, a projected top-15 pick, has been in the news due to a fatal 2024 car crash in Miami involving Destiny Betts.

• Timing & Coverage: McShay criticizes the timing of the news leak:

  “The timing of the Ruben Bain story leaking is predictably disgusting, but it’s still tragic.” (00:00, Todd McShay)

• NFL Team Awareness:
  Todd emphasizes that NFL franchises have known about this incident for months, and he details the behind-the-scenes context.

  "Teams have vetted it. They understand the situation… They were aware of it for a long time.”
  (04:27, Todd McShay)

• Team Approach:
  Some organizations may use Bain’s “short arms” as cover for passing on him due to PR, but character and scheme fit will drive his draft fate.

• Draft Impact:

  “Reuben Bain is going to be drafted where he’s going to be drafted... It’ll be about the football stuff versus, versus that situation.”
  (13:04, Todd McShay)

• Big Picture:
  Conversation draws parallels with past draft controversies (e.g., Jalen Carter, Laremy Tunsil), highlighting differences.

2. Top-200 Big Board Is Out: Behind the Rankings

• Unveiling:
  The top 200 list is live, with 150+ detailed evaluations, giving fans and teams depth through late rounds.

  “All of our top 200 rankings is out. Top 150 full evaluations are on the site now... we got you covered well into the... fifth round.”
  (15:29, Todd McShay)

• Process:
  Player movement this close to the draft isn’t based on new film, but on updated medicals and off-field info:

  "When there's movement now, it's not like Muench and I are going back and watching three more tapes… it's going to be based off... character stuff."
  (16:08, Todd McShay)

3. Position-by-Position Analysis & Debates

Tight Ends – Deep and Uncertain

• Depth and Value:
  Teams expect a massive day-three run—tight end is deep but tough to slot in the top 100.
• Justin Jolly (NC State):
  A consensus Top 3 TE, lauded for his hands, separation, and competitiveness.

  “He’s just a good pass catcher, man... catches the ball really well, separates really well, big play ability, competes like a son of a gun too.”
  (20:14, Todd McShay)

• Draft Dynamics:
  “It's a game of hold, hold. And then once one goes, we could have 12, 14, 18 tight ends drafted on day three.”
  (18:03, Todd McShay)

Safeties – Strong, Varied Tiers

• Top Tier:

  • Downs (elite, could go top-10)

    “Teams are higher than on Downs, by the way. Don’t get twisted by the media.”
    (24:08, Todd McShay)

  • McNeil, Warren (Toledo) and Thienaman: Late 1st–early 2nd, with scheme/fit crucial.

• Wildcard:
  Vijay Payne (TCU) comped to Nick Emmanwori, versatile but scheme-dependent.

  "He’s going to bring a lot of versatility and can drop the hammer and has speed and has some pop..."
  (23:09, Todd McShay)

• Emergent Name:
  Kamari Ramsey, whose earlier tape pops, and Trade In Stukes (Arizona), praised for range and ball skills:

  “If you want to find one play on the best interception by any defensive back all year..., that interception vs. Arizona State… head top, awesome.”
  (71:45, Todd McShay)

Offensive Guards – Grading the Logjam

• Top Names:
  Keelan Rutledge, Emmanuel Pregnon, Chase Basantis—all with similar grades (mid-2nd).

• Key Debate:
  Basantis is divisive on arm length and trustworthiness as a pass blocker, with Miami tape a flagged concern.

  “He was not good in the Miami game. That's how he ended his career. It's hard for me to get it out of... my mind...”
  (37:13, Daniel Jeremiah)

• NFL Teams’ Mentality:
  Interior OL evaluated based on reliability, scheme fit, intangibles.

  “Our line coach loves this guy, man. He fits what we do. He's the character of that offensive line room. He's... an additive.”
  (37:54, Todd McShay)

Edge Rushers – Sorting the Second Tier

• Top Group:
  • Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Reuben Bain, Mesidor—likely all top-20.
• Next Wave:

  • Keldrick Falk is projected 5th edge off the board.

  • Teams especially curious about Malachi Lawrence (toolsy, boom-or-bust skillset):

    “Malachi Lawrence is going higher than people are trying to indicate... he might not get out of the top 50.”
    (46:42, Todd McShay)

  • Daniel Jeremiah draws a Khalil Mack ceiling comp for Lawrence:

    “He’s got the same frame that Khalil Mack had coming out of Buffalo. Tape’s not as good, but... there are shades of that.”
    (47:17, Daniel Jeremiah)

  • Day 2–3 edges to monitor: Joshua Josephs, Denai Dennis-Sutton, L.T. Overton, Derek Moore, Jayshawn Barham (Michigan; praised for “psychotic” edge mentality)

Wide Receivers – Separating the Pack

• Elite, but Hotly Debated:
  Teams split on order and medicals for Carnell Tate, Jordan Tyson (knee), McKale Lemon.

  “Tate’s the safest… Tyson’s got the most upside… Lemon is the guy that, like, he’s a really good player. Yeah.”
  (63:06, Todd McShay)

• Chiefs at No. 9:
  Interested in Tyson if medicals check.

• Wild card risers:
  Chris Bell (Louisville, injury flag but dynamic with the ball), Bruzilii (Tennessee), and Branch—“The Killer Bees” as second-round upside picks.

• Omar Cooper:
  Some media hype, but true league consensus might be lower.

  “Is he that dynamic... when we're talking about a top-15 pick?”
  (57:12, Todd McShay)

• Other Notables:

  • Jeremy Bernard (Alabama), Zachariah Branch (“late 2nd, early 3rd”), Dejon Stribling (Ole Miss)—“not as explosive, but... when you’re that big and run a 4.36...” (69:23, Todd McShay)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media Draft Scavengers:

  “For all the scumbags that get their pen and paper out right now, we’re giving you a lot of like, what’s really going on with the NFL teams.”
  (27:12, Todd McShay)

• Humor in Analysis:

  “Our O-line room should be the dependable, consistent force with intelligence and no nonsense and an element of toughness...”
  (38:22, Todd McShay)

• Edge Evaluation Philosophy:

  “I need my edge guys to be absolute psychos, you know...”
  (51:49, Todd McShay)

• Position Buckets:

  “There’s like 15 guys... that honestly could go late third, early fourth. ...I’m leaning on intel to separate this bucket of players.”
  (53:51, Todd McShay)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–13:04: Reuben Bain story, NFL team reactions, media parallels (Jalen Carter, Laremy Tunsil), ethics in pre-draft reporting
• 15:29–17:25: Top-200 big board launch, process of finalizing grades, how new info (not film) necessitates board changes
• 17:25–23:09: Tight end group analysis, Justin Jolly breakdown, likely Day 3 run at the position
• 23:09–28:42: Safety tiers, scheme fits (Downs, Payne, McNeil Warren), sleep names (Ramsey, Stukes), comparison to previous safety prospects
• 29:52–39:33: Guard class logjam (Rutledge, Pregnon, Basantis), discussion of arm length, “Twitter mafia,” evaluator philosophy
• 39:49–53:33: Edge rush discussion: after the top 4-5, which traits separate Day 2/3 options (including Malachi Lawrence, Barham, Falk, Overton, Moore)
• 53:33–64:07: In-depth WR tier/talent analysis; debating the upside and safety of Tate, Tyson, Lemon, and wildcards like Bell & the ‘Triple Bs’
• 69:23–72:28: Later round WRs and safeties, including strong praise for Stribling and Stukes

Final Thoughts

The episode’s depth and tone matches Todd McShay’s signature style: detailed, candid, and laced with industry cynicism and dry humor. The hosts lay out not only “who’s rising/falling” but the nuances underpinning draft board movement as we reach draft week. For teams, it’s medicals, scheme, and culture fit—the tape only tells part of the story. For listeners, this is a roadmap to understanding why a mock draft shifts in April, or why some coveted “sleepers” are, in fact, well-known to league insiders.

For more board updates, position rankings, and the evolving rumor mill, visit theringer.com/mcshay and sign up for The McShay Report newsletter.