Best of the week on The Herd

Tuesday on The Herd and I’m back for Colin, and of course a trade drops right before we go live: the Broncos nab Jalen Waddle, the Lakers keep rolling, Kevin Durant has a rough night, the World Baseball Classic finale is set, and the AFC just got louder.

Perfect sports week energy and the NFL still finds a way to jump into the mix.

Denver lands Waddle and a fourth for a first, third, and fourth, and I read Miami’s moves as a full reset despite all the ‘we’re not tanking’ talk, because shipping out stars, stockpiling picks, and handing Malik Willis the keys screams long play.

Flip side, this is a slam dunk for the Broncos: Waddle’s speed and middle‑of‑the‑field juice fit Sean Payton’s scheme, he complements Courtland Sutton, they’ve got a rookie‑deal QB, and with uncertainty around the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens, Denver can crash the AFC party fast.

Waddle adds the explosive element they lacked, they tried this before the deadline, and paying up now tells you they think they’re ready to push with Bo Nix if he’s their guy.

On the Lakers, JJ Redick is pushing the right buttons: he dialed up blitzes on Durant, forced panicky mistakes, and rode a defense‑first, pick‑your‑spots LeBron while wringing timely boards from Deandre Ayton to close Houston.

They’ve stacked wins over legit teams, look like a top‑tier West threat, and the plan finally feels like it’s snapping into place.

Let’s bring in Matt Leinart—before we talk draft, clear the air on that jersey chatter from your pod.

Context matters: years ago USC asked if I’d unretire my number for a big recruit and I said no, because that number’s for my boys someday and it represents what we built; it wasn’t Lincoln calling recently, and I’m not handing it over to a high‑dollar kid who might bolt in a year.

What if a star wants to wear it for one special season to honor you and chase a title?

If his last name’s Leinart, sure; otherwise I’m keeping that standard, because that 11 is tied to our USC legacy and I’m proud to protect it.

Quick draft pivot—give me your read on Fernando heading to the league.

He’s bigger than advertised, accurate, processes fast, and would thrive in Clint Kubiak’s Shanahan‑tree offense with the Raiders, which is built to help quarterbacks play on time and in rhythm.

And Ty Simpson—boom or wait‑and‑see?

He had thin help at Bama and still flashed NFL‑window throws, he’s not huge but he’s a leader and a gamer, so the tape makes him a fascinating eval.

Albert Breer joins—walk us through the Maxx Crosby trade saga that evaporated.

Deal was struck Friday, Crosby stayed for his sobriety anniversary Saturday, flew in Monday, did medicals Tuesday, and Baltimore cooled citing knee longevity while gauging a cheaper Trey Hendrickson market—so the optics are that cost, picks, and medicals all converged.

Doesn’t feel like the buttoned‑up Ravens we know, especially with that ‘castle’ reputation.

That’s why it raised eyebrows—traffic from D.C., no quick face‑to‑face with the GM or new coach, and the experience didn’t match their first‑class brand, which dings perception.

How much is Lamar’s contract situation quietly shaping decisions there?

History shows his injury absences track with contract friction, his run‑heavy style complicates long‑term math, and if they don’t extend him with two years left you risk another season where business hovers over availability.

Back to Denver—Waddle feels like the last offensive puzzle piece, so why I’m flirting with them as AFC favorites isn’t crazy, right?

They rebuilt despite the Wilson dead money and lost picks, have a top‑shelf defense and line, needed a coverage‑dictating weapon, and got Waddle on three years at roughly twenty‑two to twenty‑three million a year, which even slots under Sutton while they’re still in the rookie‑QB window.

Sean Payton giving play‑calling to Davis Webb—what should we read into that?

Webb’s a fast‑riser who nearly landed head jobs, and Payton ceding the sheet signals serious trust and invites a fresh viewpoint on how to deploy all that speed.

Miami’s side feels like a tank, so does Malik start rethinking his deal?

New leadership is leaning into draft‑and‑develop and listening on everyone, but you still need locker‑room buy‑in right now, so Malik is the respectable bridge while they stack picks and rebuild the foundation.

Breer’s the oracle, the show’s flying, Colin finally texted me and I’m pretending to play it cool, and now after some dating‑etiquette banter we pivot to MVP talk.

We absolutely shouldn’t host a dating pod, but I’ll laugh through it with you.

I’m recalibrating MVP: my five goes SGA, Jokic, Jaylen Brown, Wemby, and Luka on top, because the Thunder’s depth props SGA, Denver’s seeding dings Jokic, Brown’s carried Boston stretches, Wemby is must‑watch dominance, and Luka’s on a historic tear night after night.