The McShay Show

Host: The Ringer

Episode: The Big Board: First-Round Locks, Finding QB3, and Post–Senior Bowl Buzz

Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off The McShay Show’s new run on Netflix, as hosts dive deep into the 2026 NFL Draft class just 80 days ahead of the big event. The focus: nailing down first-round locks, breaking down buzz from the Senior Bowl, and the ongoing debate over who should be considered QB3 behind expected top picks Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson. With a blend of tape study, insider league intel, and spirited debate, Todd McShay and Bucky Brooks deliver a comprehensive state-of-the-draft update, referencing both their own big boards and the latest risers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. First-Round Locks – McShay’s Initial Top 20 (04:00–25:20)

Notable Players & Positional Value

• Top Five (Non-Traditional Positions Highlighted)

  • Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana) – Near-consensus No. 1 pick.
  • Arvell Reese (LB/Edge, Ohio State) – Not a true Micah Parsons, but “off the ball linebacker who can wind up being... [an] edge” [06:00].
  • Jeremiah Love (RB, Notre Dame) – The only elite RB, considerable gap to next back. “You’re gonna have to take Love earlier than... considered.” [11:46]
  • David Bailey (Edge, Texas Tech)
  • Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)

• Changing Opinions on Positional Value

  • McShay reflects on valuing game-changing talent over positional bias:

  “Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s wisdom. I’m turning the page on how important the numbers are... give me those first four or five years.” (07:00)

  • Bucky highlights shrinkage in “safe” picks at RB/S: “There’s a massive gap between [RB]1 and 2 in this class.” (11:46)

• Historical Comparisons

  • Last year: Trayvon Henderson’s RB impact for Patriots cited as parallel for taking elite, but low-value positions high [07:38].
  • Hamilton/Iman Worry/Downs at Safety: Don’t need to test off charts if tape is special [10:13].

Tackle & Receiver Heavy

• After top five, run on OT/WR: Makai Lemon (WR, USC), Carnell Tate (WR, OSU), Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami), Jordan Tyson (WR, Arizona State), Ruben Bain (Edge, Miami), Spencer Fano (OT, Utah), Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU), Denzel Boston (WR, Washington).
• Note: Four WRs in McShay’s top 13.

Grading Philosophy & Board Size

• Bucky: “Do you have a list of how many first round grades you have?” [15:06]
• McShay: “I don’t even know that there are [as many as 21–22].” [17:10]

First-Round Debate: Offensive Guards, TEs, and Defensive Linemen

• Vega Ioane (OG, Penn State), Jad McCoy (CB, Tennessee), Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon), Peter Woods (IDL, Clemson) make back half of top 20.

• Tight End Talk: Loveland & Warren of last year preferable to Sadiq, who’s viewed as less of a sure thing despite upside [21:06].

  “I trust Loveland and Warren at the same points in their career... more than Sadiq.” — McShay [22:24]

• Defensive line depth concerns: Peter Woods’ stock potentially falling amid strong Senior Bowl performances by others (Lee Hunter, Caleb Banks, etc.) [23:35–25:20].

2. Senior Bowl Stock Watch — Eye-Catching Risers & Top 50 Prospects (30:54–51:01)

Clear Standouts

• Lee Hunter (IDL, Texas Tech)

  • “When he fires out with leverage… quickness, power, motor — is different.” — McShay [31:45]

• Malachi Fields (WR, Notre Dame)

  • Major riser, perhaps WR5 in McShay’s eyes.

  “Six foot four, 218 with long arms… catch radius is a dream for any quarterback.” [33:27]

  • Bucky: “I’d love to get him in the second round – a home run pick there. Not sure he’s a first round guy, but you see the path.” [34:46, 39:16]

• Other Standouts

  • Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee) – “Fluid, smooth, fast, competitive as hell—just see a starter.” — McShay [39:45]
  • TJ Parker (Edge, Clemson) – Huge bounce-back week; “completely shifted all the negative momentum” [41:13]
  • Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona State) – “Best OT at the Senior Bowl” [44:00]; background as late football convert, “kind of mean too” [44:07]

Discussion on “Senior Bowl Hype vs. Reality”

• Both hosts urge caution — Senior Bowl shows a lot but beware “pendulum swings” and overcorrection [16:38, 33:17, 44:25].

Top 50/Day Two Talent

• Derek Moore (Edge, Michigan), Zion Young (Edge, Missouri): Both likely top 50, not locks for round one [44:25, 45:29]

  “More probable than not that those guys go in the top 50.” — Bucky [45:53–46:05]

• Caleb Banks (DT, Miami): Physically immense, but “buffet effort,” questions about plan/consistency/motor. Both McShay and Bucky fall short of first round grade after week in Mobile [47:47–50:40].

Secondary and “Buzz” Players

• Malik Muhammad (CB) & Chris Johnson (CB) – Disappointing weeks, drop into day two for now [51:10–51:34].
• Sam Roush (TE, Stanford): “Best blocking tight end in the class” and likened to “oatmeal on a cold morning—comfort, reliable, gets you going” [54:19–55:34].
• Multiple honorable mentions/respect given to Mike Washington (RB, Arkansas), Gabe Yakis (Edge, Illinois), and Gabe Yakt (C, Kansas) [52:46–52:53].

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Shifting Draft Philosophy:

“Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s wisdom. I’m kind of turning the page on how important the numbers are...At the end of the day, who are the best football players?”
— McShay [07:00]

On Malachi Fields’ Upside:

“That catch radius…it’s a dream for any quarterback at any level... It won’t shock me if he sneaks into the late first round.”
— McShay [33:27, 39:06]

On Senior Bowl Standouts:

“There’s always these guys…by the end of Wednesday…‘Oh, yeah, he’s different.’”
— McShay [31:23]

On Lee Hunter:

“Lee Hunter’s combination of quickness, power, motor is different…He was devastating versus the run.”
— McShay [31:45]

On Kenyon Sadiq:

“Absolutely a first rounder. He’s gonna go somewhere in the top 25…just not sleeping as easy after I use a first-round pick on Sadiq as I would’ve with Loveland or Warren."
— McShay [22:36]

On Mobile “Pendulum”:

"You get a little... pendulum sways a little too far on some of the Senior Bowl guys. Right. And then we gotta fight it back.”
— McShay [16:38]

On Max Iheanachor:

“He’s kind of mean too…He threw hands during one-on-ones, which you don’t want too much of, but it was the appropriate amount.”
— Bucky Brooks [44:00, 44:08]

4. QB3 Battle: Sorting Out the Next Tier (62:31–73:31)

• Clear Top Two:

  • Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) — Universally viewed as QB1, “expected no. 1 to the Raiders.”
  • Ty Simpson — “Odds-on favorite” for QB2, projected fit with Rams as a Stafford understudy.

• QB3 Debate:

  • Contenders: Carson Beck (Miami), Trinidad Chambliss (pending class status), Garret Nussmeier (LSU)

  • Nussmeier’s Case:

    • Massive Senior Bowl boost; won SB MVP.
    • “He knew when to like is that cover two, cover three match…the processing…he got to show all that this week.” — McShay [66:31]
    • “He plays with urgency and anticipation—his superpower is his mind.” [66:36]
    • “At worst, I’m getting a guy who’s going to be in the league a really long time, who’s going to help my starter out…can step in and will know the offense.” [73:04]

  • Host Picks:

    • Bucky: Leans Carson Beck — “Like the experience, the frame, when in rhythm he’s really good,” but sees it as a close trio. Needs more info on Chambliss’ size.
    • McShay: Sides with Nussmeier — “I'm still taking Nuss’s football intelligence, moxie and anticipation, especially in the right system.” [72:26]
    • Both intrigued by Chambliss but want physical/character data.

  • Memorable Final QB Segment:

    “We could have this as a recurring segment—this conversation is long from over.” — Bucky [73:28]

5. Draft “Buzz” and Producer Notes (57:34–62:31)

• Reuben Bain & Akeem Mesidor (Edge, Miami): NFL teams see them both as first-round locks, with Bain getting Brandon Graham comps [57:34].
• Dylan Thieman (S, Oregon): “Will test through the roof…Tosh LaPoi says he’s the best nickel/star he’s ever coached.” Not just a workout guy—production and football obsession stand out [57:47].
• Jacob Rodriguez (LB), Adam Randall (RB), Gabe Yakis (Edge): All impressed in interviews/workouts.
• Bryson Eason (DT, Tennessee): “Officer and gentleman in interviews—a madman on the field. Will go day two after a strong six-year, stick-with-it development arc.” [61:11]

Additional Noteworthy Segments & Moments

• WR Depth Tiering (35:39–37:13): Zackariah Branch, Casey Concepcion, Chris Bell, Jeremy Bernard among WRs populating a talented "next tier" after the projected top four/big five.
• TE/“Oatmeal” Tangent (53:03–54:19): Humorous digression linking TE Sam Roush’s reliability to “oatmeal on a cold morning.”
• Risers Outside Top 50 (52:14): Arkansas RB Mike Washington, Illinois Edge Gabe Yakis, Kansas C Gabe Yakt, Stanford TE Sam Roush get quick-hit attention.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Episode Scope: 00:00–04:00
• First-Round Locks/Big Board Debate: 04:00–25:20
• Senior Bowl Standouts & Top 50 Risers: 30:54–51:01
  • Lee Hunter, Malachi Fields: 31:45–34:46
  • Colton Hood, TJ Parker: 39:24–41:13
  • Max Iheanachor: 42:10–44:25
• Edge Rusher Depth & Senior Bowl Impact: 44:25–49:50
• Banking on Caleb Banks: 47:47–50:40
• Receivers “Next Tier”: 35:39–37:13
• QB3 Battle & Senior Bowl Recap: 62:31–73:31
• Nussmeier’s Case as Top QB of the Week: 65:35–66:50
• QB3 Debate, Final Picks: 68:18–73:28

Conclusion

This episode delivers a comprehensive, highly detailed look at the state of the 2026 NFL Draft as of early February. From dissecting draft philosophy changes, arguing positional value, and assigning first-round locks, to identifying combine and Senior Bowl risers and debating the crucial QB3 slot, McShay and Brooks combine scouting acumen with inside info and candid conversation. Buyers beware of Senior Bowl overreactions, but the consensus is forming on the blue-chip talent. As for QB3? The battle’s just heating up.

For full rankings, inside info, and detailed draft analysis, subscribe to The McShay Report.