3 & Out - NFL Offseason Mailbag: State of the Denver Broncos, Justin Herbert’s Offseason, Eagles won A.J. Brown trade?

What’s up, everybody—John Middlekauff, Three and Out. We’re running a two-part mailbag, so hit my Instagram DMs, and make sure you’re subscribed. Quick note up top: I’m locked in on the World Cup. I’m not a soccer diehard, but the scale is unreal, the U.S. needs to cool the parade talk, and it’s awesome seeing games in NFL stadiums.

Question: Will the NFL expand the playoffs again? Answer: Seven per conference is plenty. The regular season has to matter, and we don’t need to copy the NBA’s participation vibe.

Question: Which schools are still ‘Position U’? Answer: That label used to stick—think DBU, Linebacker U, Tight End U—but NIL and the portal broke the mold. Players move, brands blur, and those pipelines don’t define recruiting like they once did.

Question: How is NIL changing NFL scouting? Answer: It’s massive. FCS talent gets poached up, which helped produce a draft with no FCS players in the first three rounds. That says it all. If you’re the student working on this story, reach back out and I’ll help.

Question: Could the NHL pass the NBA in viewership? Answer: The NHL playoffs are phenomenal and the product’s great, but hoops still owns American culture and the big-market pull. Knicks, Lakers, Yankees-type gravity still tilts ratings.

Question: Thoughts on the NBA lottery and tanking? Answer: The league had to curb serial tanking, but the real fix is simple—teams need to try. Adam Silver feels hands-off; Stern would’ve cracked skulls. The product suffers when franchises plan to lose in June.

Question: Did people around the NFL really resent the Patriots during Spygate and Deflategate? Answer: People resent winners. Sign-stealing was widespread; New England pushed it too far and got caught, but that didn’t fuel a two-decade run. Don’t hate success. And leaving Belichick out of the Hall on first ballot is insane.

Question: Should Chargers fans worry about Herbert doing a music video and skipping a voluntary? Answer: It depends on discipline. Relationships can distract or motivate. He needs to balance life and the film room; I wouldn’t panic off a voluntary day.

Question: Is Bo Nix unfairly criticized in Denver? Answer: Draft stigma lingers, but Sean Payton clearly believes. Keep it simple—win and stay healthy. The flashes need to outweigh the rough patches.

Question: Will Sean Payton make a splash move at quarterback? Answer: Only if health or performance forces it. He thinks his roster can contend now, so the bar for change is high.

Question: Who wins the sports media money wars—streamers or legacy TV? Answer: Streamers like Amazon and Apple can outspend but don’t live or die on rights the way networks do. They’ll wait as contracts plateau; legacy outlets probably get one more big cycle before the balance shifts.

Question: Did Howie Roseman crush the A.J. Brown trade-back? Answer: Philly did well, but context matters. Tennessee got prime years of elite production and then recouped value. Usage plus return is part of the math, and Philly also benefited from perfect fit and some luck.

Question: Are teams doing enough to prepare athletes for life after sports, especially after Claude Lemieux’s passing? Answer: Teams focus on winning; post-career is mostly on the individual and their circle. Money helps, but mental health requires real support and willingness to seek it. There’s no simple programmatic fix.

Question: Should Anthony Richardson or Justin Fields switch positions? Answer: Position changes almost always happen before entering the league. Mid-career conversions are rare outliers.

Question: Can Andrew Berry redeem the Browns after the Watson move? Answer: The roster is strong, the picks are smart, but it all rides on quarterback play. They don’t need a superhero—just a steady, winning starter.

Question: Jordan Love as MVP if the Packers lean pass without a stable backfield? Answer: Expect Josh Jacobs to play and be featured. If Love wins MVP, LaFleur probably wins Coach of the Year, but health at receiver and tight end makes this feel like a transition season.

That’s it for Part One. Appreciate you all. Back tomorrow with more. Adios.