The Herd with Colin Cowherd
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PodcastThe Herd with Colin Cowherd
Publisher/creatoriHeartPodcasts and The Volume
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About this episode
On this episode of 3 & Out , John Middlekauff dives into the idea of an NFL Draft Lottery and whether the league should consider changing the current draft order system. Would it help competitive balance, or create even more problems for struggling franchises? John also reacts to the Cowboys and Giants landing the Week 1 Sunday Night Football spotlight and what the matchup says about the NFL’s biggest brands and scheduling priorities. Plus, the Seahawks are still searching for new ownership, and John breaks down what potential changes at the top could mean for the future of the franchise. The conversation then shifts to quarterback battles, as J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray become the focus in the Vikings’ QB competition. Who has the edge, and what’s the best path forward for Minnesota? To wrap things up, it’s the Middlekauff Mailbag , with John answering your questions and covering a wide range of NFL topics. Follow John on Twitter , and Instagram for the latest. All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet #Volume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode summary
What’s up, my people—John Middlekauff, Three and Out; it’s toasty in Arizona, the schedule drop is here, the lottery got me thinking, and we’ve got Vikings news plus a fat mailbag, so let’s talk some football.
Q: Should the NFL borrow from the NBA and add a draft lottery? A: I’d do a top ten, heavily weighted for the worst teams, run it during Combine week as a made‑for‑TV moment; tanking barely exists in football, but fans would still watch the balls drop.
Q: Why limit it to ten? A: You avoid playoff‑adjacent teams jumping to one, keep parity intact, and still create drama without rewarding clubs that were close to decent.
Q: Would owners buy in? A: The league lives on off‑season tentpoles, and this would juice interest like the schedule reveal and free agency while still protecting the truly bad with better odds.
Q: Early schedule vibes? A: Niners Rams opens in Australia, Cowboys Giants is the no‑brainer Sunday night splash, and Monday can be anything—they love big brands when everyone’s still undefeated.
Q: Who should Seattle draw in that Wednesday opener? A: Cross off the Pats and Chiefs, and give me Bears at Seahawks—Caleb, Ben Johnson versus Mike Macdonald, playoff energy right out of the gate.
Q: What’s up with sky‑high franchise prices? A: There aren’t many humans who can cut eleven‑billion‑dollar checks, and if you already own a cash machine your lifestyle barely changes by selling, so most will just keep the team.
Q: Is there really a Vikings quarterback competition? A: Call it what you want, but Kyler signed to start and it’s his job unless something weird happens; J J McCarthy beating him out in August is fantasy, and I’m not even sure J J is on the Week One roster.
Q: How does Jauan Jennings fit in Minnesota? A: It’s a value add—physical slot, third‑down money downs, blocks in the run game, up to thirteen million with incentives, and he compliments Jefferson and Addison while O’Connell lets it rip.
Q: Ravens offseason, temperature check? A: They draft well on repeat, the defense should hum under Jesse Minter, but the whole season swings on Lamar’s health and usage as a real dual threat—anywhere from eight wins to right back in the mix.
Q: New England outlook after a busy spring? A: The roster nudged up, but the biggest variable is the coach’s off‑field swirl and how that settles; add in a premium lineman and some speed, and they can be good with a tougher slate.
Q: NIL and the portal—are guys getting softer? A: I’m hearing the opposite; big money raises expectations, and the portal actually pushes small‑school stars into the SEC or Big Ten, which bumps their draft slot a round or two.
Q: Rookie wearing a beloved number, yay or nay? A: I’m old‑school on position ranges and I’d keep truly retired numbers off‑limits, but I’m not losing sleep over it; save the outrage for All‑Pro, not jersey feng shui.
Q: Do execs care about fan tweets and media takes? A: They listen because they love ball, but if you let Twitter steer decisions you’re lost; relationships with insiders matter, just do not let noise set your board.
Q: Ashton Genti year‑two forecast? A: Pencil in thirteen to fourteen hundred rushing yards, around ten on the ground, and push those catches toward six hundred receiving yards if they scheme him in space.
Q: How do quarterback battles actually get decided? A: Reps and tape from OTAs through preseason matter, but money, command of the operation, and belief in the room usually tip it; true one‑versus‑one competitions are rare now.
That’s the run—heat’s rising, schedules are popping, mailbag stays open on Instagram, and we’ll keep it rolling; this is The Volume.
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