This week’s radio drops…

Joining Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where something a little dirty went down during the Jeffery Simmons trade (click on photo):

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And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where quarterback Shedeur Sanders is getting first team reps and preparing for his first start of the season with Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol (click on photo):

The Baltimore Ravens have chosen their quarterback to potentially ride out the 2026 season. What happens after that is a bit more complicated.

With Jacoby Brissett traded to the Ravens, Baltimore chose a cheap-but-experienced option to stabilize an injury-riddled season. He also isn’t any kind of threat to a Lamar Jackson extension, which continues to be the best avenue to resolving an $84 million cap charge that is hanging over the 2027 season. One way or another, that’s going to have to be dealt with by the Ravens. But the choice also isn’t entirely in the hands of the franchise.

Lamar Jackson has leverage. He also has a history of using it throughout his football career.

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I joined Robert Mays on The Athletic Football Show to dig into the Ravens’ immediate plans and ponder how the team’s future will be calculated within them. It includes a look back to a piece I wrote about Jackson earlier this week. We also took a look at potential trade suitors and how Jackson can name his own market … or simply ride out his contract and hit free agency in 2028. Make no mistake, this is going to be one of the biggest stories of the offseason and potentially beyond.

Robert and I also examined a trade market for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, which is shaping up nicely. The Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants are worth watching, given that their quarterback calculations are arguably just as important as a Taylor acquisition. The roster window for both those franchises matters, especially when you consider the cautionary tale illustrated by the Colts in 2025 with a regrettable trade deadline blockbuster for Sauce Gardner.

Among other topics? How the Colts’ Josh Downs has become the focal point of the wide receiver search for several franchises, plus the availability (or unavailability) of Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr. and Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack.

You can watch the full conversation below. As always, thank you for supporting NFL Blue Book. If you’re enjoying the work, please pass it along to a friend.

It’s officially an NFC arms race approaching the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline — and thus far, the weapons are being supplied by the AFC.

Guard Quenton Nelson has gone from the Indianapolis Colts to the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts’ next fire sale piece? It was defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who was shipped to the San Francisco 49ers. Elsewhere in the AFC South came the real stunner, with the Tennessee Titans sending All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears. All useful deals that should have implications in January … and maybe even February’s Super Bowl. The Bears paid the biggest price, but they also landed the biggest difference maker. And frankly, they needed it.

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I joined Josh Graham and Westwood One Sports Night to explore the moves we’ve seen and how relationships in the front offices helped to get them done. We also looked at the Minnesota Vikings, who seem to be positioned to add an offensive piece at the deadline. That would help balance out the load being carried by defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his chaos-creating unit. The Vikings are kicking tires on running backs, with the Titans’ Tony Pollard, Colts’ Jonathan Taylor and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley all potential targets.

Josh and I also dug into the fading expectations for the 2027 QB draft class, which was once expected to offer multiple cornerstone players but now looks a bit more complicated. We discussed a piece on NFL Blue Book from earlier this week, which looked at the class and explored how NFL executives are feeling about it halfway through the college football season. There could still be five first-round quarterbacks in the 2027 draft, but there is clearly some work to do.

You can watch the full conversation below. As always, thank you for your support of NFL Blue Book. If you’re enjoying the content, please share it with a friend.

This week’s radio drops…

Joining Unsportsmanlike Conduct in Omaha to talk about Arch Manning’s future and a 2027 NFL QB draft class that is getting messy (click on photo):

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With Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where we tried to contextualize the first 24 games of Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi (click on photo):

And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where we discussed the Cleveland Browns’ trade deadline outlook and a big opportunity this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers (click on photo):

Would the Indianapolis Colts sell after the ouster of GM Chris Ballard? The answer was a resounding yes. Guard Quenton Nelson? Gone. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner? Gone. Wideout Josh Downs? Pushing for a trade. It all sends a resounding message about where this franchise is heading and how involved owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon will be as the Colts move forward. It also hints at the future of the coaching staff and quarterback Daniel Jones, whose security likely rests in the hands of the next general manager.

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I joined Mike Patton on Touring the AFC South to unpack those moves, along with what I’ve heard about Irsay-Gordon’s involvement and what it all means for the decisions ahead. We also dug into Houston’s confusing regression this season, which has included a defense that has seemingly lost its edge and an offense that is now tasked with figuring out how to fit new receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. into the fold and make him consistently productive. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, there are signs of growth but also some trade deadline questions. We shot the show before defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was dealt to the Chicago Bears, but we discussed how the prioritization of deadline moves had to be about building around quarterback Cam Ward. And in Jacksonville, there appears to be a need for another cornerback as we ponder how many offensive snaps cornerback Travis Hunter is going to see and how that will impact a trade deadline decision on wideout Brian Thomas Jr.

Around the rest of the league, we looked at how the New York Giants have achieved early-season success despite having started three different quarterbacks, why the Cincinnati Bengals can’t rely on explosive second halves to win games, and game management issues putting some heat on Aaron Glenn’s job status with the New York Jets. We also discussed the encouraging balance the Tampa Bay Buccaneers found in the return of quarterback Baker Mayfield and had a discussion about the NFL’s Paris game showcasing a need for some backup options when an international game gets threatened by surrounding issues in host cities.

You can watch the full conversation below. And as always, thank you for supporting NFL Blue Book. If you are enjoying the content, please share it with a friend.

Jalen Hurts’ heath has become a question that reaches beyond the Eagles. The NFL and players’ union are facing off, and the quarterback’s decision to align himself with the team’s messaging on his blood clots adds another layer of intrigue. Why are the league and union at odds? And why did Hurts choose to stand behind the franchise’s account of events?

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I joined Jim Rome on The Jim Rome Show to unpack that dispute, the questions surrounding Hurts’ health and why his position matters in the broader disagreement. Jim and I also discussed Chris Ballard’s end in Indianapolis and why he got nearly 10 years and multiple coaches and quarterbacks to try and get things right. Ballard’s exit also leaves a pressing question for Shane Steichen: Is he fighting for his job? We look at what has changed for the Colts and Steichen.

Tune in and enjoy the conversation. And as always, thank you for supporting NFL Blue Book.

This week’s radio drops…

Joining Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where we hit multiple major news stories across the league this week (click on photo):

And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where there’s some growing nervousness about the star-studded 2027 quarterback class that is already getting a little wobbly midway through the college football season (click on photo):

Thursday’s radio drops…

Joining Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where there’s building concern over an 0-5 start toppling into 0-17 finish (click on photo):

And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where quarterback Shedeur Sanders has finally hired an agent. The question is, why now? (click on photo):

The Houston Texans have their first win and a new weapon in Marvin Harrison Jr. Now comes a trip to London and a chance to chip away at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ early control of the AFC South. At 4-1, Jacksonville keeps finding ways to win. Houston is still trying to find its footing, with a significant investment in Harrison adding another layer of intrigue to a team that has plenty left to prove.

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I joined Mike Patton on Touring the AFC South to unpack that trade, the risks for Houston and whether the Texans can make a run at Jacksonville. Mike and I also dug into the Jaguars’ resilience and Parker Washington’s emergence, along with some increasingly familiar questions in Nashville: How much worse can an 0-5 start get, and would another round of changes at head coach, quarterback or general manager actually help? Plus, a look at Daniel Jones, the Colts’ disappointing defense and how the cost of the Sauce Gardner trade weighs on Indianapolis’ path forward.

We also went around the league, starting with the unexpectedly unbeaten Vikings and whether Brian Flores’ defensive work can put him firmly back into the head coaching conversation. Other stops included the Cowboys’ looming test in Green Bay and what Mike Pettine can offer Christian Parker, how much faith to put in Cincinnati’s defense and playoff potential, and a messy but entertaining 49ers win over Seattle — complete with Mike Evans’ impact and an early Brock Purdy MVP discussion.

Tune in and enjoy the conversation. And as always, thank you for supporting NFL Blue Book.

Thursday’s radio drops…

Joining Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where recent executive firings and an 0-4 start have fans reaching for early-season pitchforks (click on photo):

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And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where optimism is starting to creep into the Browns fan base — with an ideal schedule through the Week 11 bye (click on photo):

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the surrounding NFL world in July that his mentality might be changing — that saving future resources and starving present improvement might no longer apply.

With the echoes of so many empty “all-in” promises in our heads, many of us rolled our eyes.

Then came the trade for offensive tackle Broderick Jones in August. And last week, the acquisition of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. All told, the Cowboys unholstered four draft picks and fired — a second, third and two sixth-rounders — in exchange for Porter Jr., Jones and a fourth-rounder.

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On Wednesday, Jones said the Cowboys still may not be done, noting that “the door is always open,” while speaking to Dallas’ flagship radio station 105.3 The Fan.

“I said at the start of training camp — I’m willing to put some things out there that are for today, lean more [toward] today than they would be three years from now,” Jones said.

Last week, I joined The DLLS Cowboys Podcast with Kevin Gray Jr. to discuss the Porter Jr. trade and what trade could still be in the works.

On Thursday, NFL Blue Book will be diving into which players are likely to be on the Cowboys’ radar as the deadline approached. But until then, enjoy the trade thoughts shared on The DLLS Cowboys Podcast…

Even with Joey Porter Jr. in the fold, I’m not convinced the Dallas Cowboys are done poking around the trade market.

Despite a stockpile of draft picks that is down to nine over the next two years — three in 2027 and six in 2028 — I still think Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will tinker with another deal heading into the November trade deadline. Maybe it will aim at a pass-rush need, or address a hole created by injuries. Whatever the move, it will be calculated to give a talented roster every chance to win. Especially knowing this will likely be George Pickens’ last season in Dallas.

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I joined Sports Night’s Josh Graham to chop up that possibility, along with how Porter Jr. gives the Cowboys defense some much-needed flexibility moving forward. Josh and I also touched on the Houston Texans’ struggles, the surprising aspect of J.J. McCarthy’s Minnesota Vikings exit, and the Raiders’ potential luxury dilemma: weighing Kirk Cousins’ strong start against the need to get Fernando Mendoza some snaps this season.

Tune in and enjoy the show. And as always, thank you for supporting NFL Blue Book.

Thursday’s radio drops…

Joining Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where the Cam Ward conversation is pondering a benching (click on photo):

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And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where the Browns are positioned to gain some clout on Thursday Night Football:

Thursday’s radio drops…

Joining Robby & Rexrode in Nashville, where there are signs of life for the Tennessee Titans:

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And with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland, where Deshaun Watson has earned himself additional runway as the starter for the Browns. Click on the photo to watch the spot:

Promises were made when I crossed paths with Touring the AFC South podcast host Mike Patton in training camp.

We were both taking in a Tennessee Titans practice — cooking in the Nashville heat and humidity — when we made a plan to link up and dissect the AFC South’s start to the season. The division has fared…well…poorly through the first two weeks, with a 1-7 start. We’re here to break down what broke down and how it projects out to Week 3 and beyond.

There’s also some bonus talk about some 0-2 and 2-0 teams, including a winless franchise that has missed 22 (!) tackles through two games and an undefeated team that might have the league’s best single-unit turnaround thus far.

Tune in to find out which is which!