The McShay Show — "Rough Draft 1.3: Mailbag! Untold Kiper Stories, Best Non-QBs 2026, Coaching Carousel & More"

Date: October 30, 2025
Podcast Host: Todd McShay
Analysts: Steve Muench (“Mensch”), Dan Comer (mailbag moderator)
Theme: Listener Mailbag — Draft Prospects, Coaching Carousel, Kuiper Stories, and NFL/CFB Scoops

Episode Overview

This high-energy mailbag episode is driven entirely by listener questions, with Todd McShay, Steve Muench, and Dan Comer answering fan-submitted queries about:

• Untold Mel Kiper stories & their current relationship
• Top non-QB prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft
• The ever-moving college football coaching carousel
• How coaching changes affect recruiting and NFL draft prospects
• Scouting players out of position or with poor coaching
• Favorite scouting “hits” of McShay/Muench’s careers
• Saturday routines and much more

Tone: Fun, candid, insider-heavy, with plenty of jokes and a touch of family/parenting advice at the end.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FanDuel Picks of the Week (05:01–10:10)

• Muench: Cincinnati +9.5 over Utah (road dog, strong defense, “could pull the upset”)

  “I just feel like Cincinnati... I wouldn’t be surprised if Cincinnati wins that game. Nine and a half seems high to me. — Steve Muench, 08:13

• McShay: Oklahoma +3.5 over Tennessee (“live dog” pick, expects outright win, vulnerable Tennessee pass defense)

  “I think the Sooners are going to storm into Knoxville... I think Oklahoma is the pick of the week for FanDuel.” — Todd McShay, 10:10

2. 2026 NFL Draft: Best Non-QB Prospects (11:06–17:30)

• Who could go No. 1 over a QB?
  • McShay & Mensch agree it’s rare, but possible in 2026 due to the QB class possibly lacking experience/star power if underclassmen return.
  • McShay’s shortlist:
    • Reuben Bain (Edge, Miami)
    • Caleb Downs (Safety, Ohio State) — questionable as a top-10 pick given size/safety value
    • Peter Woods (IDL, Clemson)
    • Jeremiah Love (RB) — "No way he's going number one."
    • Spencer Fano (OT, Utah)
    • Jordan Tyson (WR), Arvell Reese (off-ball LB/Edge hybrid)

      “I don’t see a wide receiver or a corner that you could feel comfortable taking first overall...” — Todd McShay, 17:25

  • Muench on positions valued at 1.1: Still expects the premier edge rusher (Bain or Kelderick Falk) to be the top non-QB option.

3. Coaching Carousel & Impact on Recruiting/Transfers (17:48–25:12)

• How fast do schools hire?

  • Immediate hires stem recruiting/transfer leaks, but top candidates are coaching elsewhere (no mandatory waiting period).
  • Saban/Urban talk: McShay doubts Saban would return, even if LSU makes a hefty offer.
  • Hot Board: Lane Kiffin, Dan Lanning, Marcus Freeman, Jeff Brohm, Matt Campbell, Rhett Lashlee, James Franklin, Jon Sumrall, Alex Golesh, Bob Chesney (Holy Cross/James Madison rising), and top college/NFL coordinators (Joe Brady, Brian Johnson).
  • NFL coordinators to watch: Brian Hartline (OSU), Will Stein (Oregon), DeAnton Lynn (USC), Brian Haynes (Indiana).

  “Your number one concern should be... Who’s the coach that’ll lead you into the next era of your program.” — Steve Muench, 23:53

  • Direct “curveball”: Should Penn State call Brian Kelly?

    “Would you do that? How much money... It limits how much they have to pay him off the $54 million [buyout].” — Todd McShay, 24:34

4. Program Instability and NFL Prospects (25:12–30:24)

• Does turmoil hurt prospects?
  • Muench: “No one gets overlooked by NFL scouts. Scouts are too damn good at their jobs.”
  • McShay: Tape stands on its own; interviews address “what happened?” but draft position is about ability.
  • QB prospects at turbulent programs get more scrutiny—McShay cites Josh Rosen (UCLA, top-10 despite a disappointing team) and Jay Cutler (Vandy) as examples.

5. QB Class Uncertainty for 2026 Draft (30:28–36:33)

• What if Ty Simpson, Dante Moore, Lenora Sellers, and Fernando Mendoza all return to school?
  • It could leave a vacuum: “What if there’s just Mendoza? ...Then you get Garrett Nussmeier and a massive drop-off.”
• Could force desperate teams to "inflate" other QBs, but historically, teams are reluctant to reach for Day 2/3 talents ("If you're not going in the top 40, you are a backup — prove us otherwise.")
  • McShay: “This is the biggest story of the 2026 draft, no question about it.” (36:33)

6. Let Mensch Cook: O-Line and Scouting Deep Dives (39:45–47:13)

a. Caleb Lomu (Utah OT) — Top 32?

• Jake writes in: Why did Lomu get dropped down McShay’s board?
• Muench: “Texas Tech game wasn’t as bad as remembered... He’s as good, if not better than Kadyn Proctor. Absolutely a top 32 player if he comes out.” (41:13)

b. Best Interior O-Line Prospects

• Connor Liu (Auburn, C), Jake Slaughter (Florida, C), Ioni Lalou (Oregon, C/OG), Parker Brailsford (Alabama), Vega Ione (Penn St.), Kaden Green (Missouri, OT/OG), Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon, OG), Billy Shrouth (ND, OG)
• Vega Ione (“dude”): “He’s probably going to be the first interior lineman to go, if he comes out.” — Steve Muench, 44:40
• Interior class: Not super exciting outside Ione.

c. Iowa O-Line Prospects (Jones, Dunker, Stevens)

• Logan Jones: Prototype center, day 2 pick, “center only.”
• Rusty Dunker: “Bare knuckle boxer,” likely OG in NFL.
• Bo Stevens: Mauling, more of a gap scheme, probable day-3 pick.

7. Behind the Scenes: Saturday Setup (48:01–50:49)

• No joint watching or Zooms: Both prefer independent reactions, group chat limited to jokes/catches (“What’s a catch anymore?”).
• Family chaos for McShay: Kids’ activities, back-and-forth during early games, locked in by 1pm — “Marissa always has a spread.”
• Muench: Prefers raw reactions and unscripted disagreement.

8. Playoff Hopes: Texas Tech’s Defense (50:49–54:13)

• Can Texas Tech get in with 2 losses?
  • McShay: “I think they gotta win [the Big 12].”
• Defensive stars: David Bailey (edge, “first rounder”), Romello Height, A.J. Holmes, Skyler Gill Howard (cornerback, injured), Lee Hunter (DT), Bryce Pollock (CB, team INT leader), Jacob Rodriguez (“grandpa” of the group), Cole Wisniewski (FS, potential Day 3 pick).

9. Scouting Out-of-Position Players & with Poor Coaching (56:01–60:02)

• Traits vs. Positions: Measurements, traits, and frame dictate where players project; position at college may not match NFL spot.
• O-line is most frequently converted; versatility in OL/DL/DB a big plus.
• All-star games matter: “Great thing about all-star games is some guys go kick inside or change positions and teams get a look.”
• Poor coaching: Focus on traits/experience; harder to “prove” but scouts account for it.

10. Most Accurate/Favorite Scouting Predictions (60:06–65:05)

• Todd McShay: Jordan Love (“Stood on the table”), Devante Adams, Jalen Pitre, Dallas Goedert, Nick Bolton, Jake Ferguson, Grady Jarrett (“Me and Kevin Whitelaw, loved him.”)
• Steve Muench: Le’Veon Bell, Grady Jarrett, Baker Mayfield (“Had him late first/early second before his last season, higher than most”)

“You have your kid. I have four... It is 100% the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do — and 100% the most rewarding.” — Steve Muench, 81:08

11. Untold Mel Kiper Stories & Espn Fallout (65:17–75:14)

• McShay on Mel: “I was his unaccompanied minor.” (67:05)
• Mel’s quirks: Doesn’t use an ATM card, wife Kim manages logistics & phone, needs navigational help, “doesn’t know buildings at Bristol after 30 years.”
• Relationship status: “We’re great... I talked to Mel a lot after I was laid off, he got a better contract because of it. He should finish where he started.”
• No appearances together: “ESPN has flatly refused to allow Mel and I on together... They don’t want to remind people of the dynamic we had.”
• On ESPN’s draft coverage: “Field Yates is good, but he’s not a draft analyst. Daniel Jeremiah’s fantastic, but it won’t recreate what Mel and I had. It’s just petty, petty shit.” (70:06)
• Warmth for Mel: “He’s one of the nicest, most supportive people I’ve ever met. Our relationship could not have been better.” — Steve Muench, 75:52

12. Life Advice: Becoming a Father (79:19–83:13)

• Todd: “There will be nights you want to walk your child to a different doorstep... It’s OK. Survive the first 12 months, get them sleeping.”
• Steve: “Hardest, most rewarding thing... Don’t sweat what you can’t control, be present in those first four years — they go fast.”

Notable & Memorable Quotes (attributed)

• On being overlooked as a prospect:
  “No one gets overlooked by NFL scouts. Scouts are too damn good at their jobs.” — Steve Muench, 25:33
• On draft vacuum if QBs go back to school:
  “This is the biggest story of the 2026 draft, no question about it.” — Todd McShay, 36:33
• On the McShay-Kuiper ban:
  "They absolutely refuse to allow Mel and I to be on the air together on any platform. Why? They’re rightfully worried... it will remind the audience of the obvious." — Todd McShay, 70:06
• McShay on parenthood:
  “There are going to be times at 3, 4 in the morning... you literally want to walk your child across the street and put them on someone else’s doorstep... and it’s ok.” — Todd McShay, 80:06
• Muench on parenthood:
  “Be present as possible. They’re only really little for four years—you want to be there as much as you can.” — Steve Muench, 81:41

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 05:01–10:10 — FanDuel Picks
• 11:06–17:30 — 2026 Draft: Non-QB prospects
• 17:48–25:12 — Coaching Carousel
• 25:12–30:24 — Draft prospects & program instability
• 30:28–36:33 — Quarterback class uncertainty
• 39:49–47:13 — O-Line “Let Mensch Cook”
• 48:01–50:49 — Saturday setup
• 50:49–54:13 — Texas Tech defense/CFP
• 56:01–60:02 — Scouting out-of-position/poorly coached players
• 60:06–65:05 — Favorite “hits” in scouting
• 65:17–75:14 — Untold Kuiper stories & ESPN backstory
• 79:19–83:13 — Advice for new fathers

Takeaways

• McShay, Muench, and Comer foster an authentic, occasionally irreverent, but deeply insightful vibe that gives listeners NFL draft advice, behind-the-scenes media tales, and even parental wisdom.
• The episode is especially valuable for draft nerds, Media industry-watchers (relational drama!), and listeners craving a true “insider” voice rather than sanitized network coverage.

“It’s not about being the biggest — I’m finally happy, and I think it shows in what we’re doing.” — Todd McShay, 74:07