Best of The Herd

Here we go on a Thursday with way more drama than expected, headlined by the Steelers’ so‑called brotherhood and why it’s boiling over.

Seven broke the brotherhood by airing Steelers business, and that’s not what a good teammate does. We protected him, but he shouldn’t be on a mic talking team matters.

If Ben and James don’t buy into the brotherhood, maybe the brotherhood isn’t the answer. Pittsburgh’s been stuck in old habits, light on creativity, and it shows against real contenders; stop attacking the messengers and start modernizing the offense the way grown‑up teams do.

Drew, does Sam Darnold’s path remind you of your early years working through adversity?

Adversity shaped him. He kept improving, learned where he needed to, and now leads in a way that inspires others.

That had me thinking of Arch Manning, who stayed, took his lumps, and finished strong instead of bailing at the first bad week. Transfers can be smart opportunities, but you still need to stare down adversity because the NFL is adversity.

If the Jets are serious about their future, they should tank correctly and go get Arch or the next guy instead of settling again.

They may not need to try; the way things are going, it looks like unintentional tanking already.

On Fernando Mendoza, I’m higher than most. He’s a bigger, stronger, more mobile Matt Ryan type—accurate, tough, franchise‑ready if coached well—while many scouts just like him.

Daniel, where is this draft thin enough to drive a busy free‑agency market?

Running back lacks top‑end depth, and quarterback has one clear one‑one with a debate after that. That scarcity will push teams toward veteran backs and creative trade calls at quarterback.

How do you grade Mendoza compared to the comps being thrown around?

Think the Jared Goff–Matt Ryan family: poised, accurate, and clutch in big moments. The portal also clarified his eval—better coaching and talent elevated him all the way to a perfect ride, top hardware, and a title.

What about Ty Simpson—late first or second, and who fits him?

I have him around fortieth overall, though late first isn’t crazy. He’s precise and calm, but plays a little small under heat and needs protection and time, which makes a patient, stable spot like the Rams logical.

Roll back to your Sam Darnold report—what did you see then, and what changed?

He was my QB1 for that class: fluid athlete, live arm, big‑game flashes. Leaving New York and soaking up Shanahan’s system was career‑smart and set up what we’re seeing now.

Why does John Schneider keep stacking hits in Seattle—what’s the through line?

He lets value fall to him and targets hyper‑competitive, high‑character guys. It’s a locker room with edge and no ego, and it keeps paying off.

Project the Chargers with cap space and a new offensive direction—what should they prioritize?

Build the interior offensive line every way possible and add depth behind elite tackles. That unlocks their cheap, talented skill group and lets the defense shop for an interior piece while sorting out edge contracts.

Best overall player, not just who goes first—who’s the safest blue‑chip this year, and how does he stack against last year’s top quarterbacks?

Mendoza is my top player in this class and a safe bet. Last year I graded Caleb, Drake, and Jaden higher; Drake’s the more natural mover, while Mendoza is steadier and a bit more mechanical.

Great stuff as always. And yes, this is a Dodger show, even if their spending never stops.

Good to be here—and for once the Dodgers didn’t add another star during this segment.