Monday Mailbag: Coordinator hires, the Steelers' QB situation, draft day shockers, and more
One of the many things we love about the TAFS mailbag is that it reflects the conversations real football fans are having in the moment. As such, it should come as no surprise that this edition of the mailbag is heavy on draft questions. What are some plausible draft day surprises we could see this year? Why do certain players seem to have dramatic climbs or tumbles down draft boards in March and April? Should teams recalibrate how the think about premium positions in a draft like this one? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those questions, and a whole lot more.
Rundown
How much do teams know about other teams draft boards?
Evaluating contact balance for college prospects
Favorite coordinator hires this cycle
Surprising draft day trades
How the Steelers have handled the QB position
Why do players rise or fall on draft boards
Draft day shockers
Premium position vs. premium talent
Which Georgia EDGE defender is the better bet?
Favorite and least favorite metrics
How many Hall of Famers were active in 2024?
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Host: Derrik Klassen
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Producer: Michael Beller
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Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
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1:29:09
Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, and a loaded defensive line draft class
Dane Brugler has been telling us for months that this is a good draft to need defensive players. That's exemplified by a defensive line class that features 28 players inside the top 100 of The Beast. Dane and Fran Duffy from the ALLCITY Network join Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show to break down the DL class in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Rundown
Abdul Carter
Mason Graham
Mykel Williams
Jalon Walker
Walter Nolen
Derrick Harmon
Shemar Stewart
Mike Green
James Pearce Jr.
Kenneth Grant
Landon Jackson
Get The Beast: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/the-beast/2025/
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Host: Derrik Klassen
With: Dane Brugler and Fran Duffy
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Producer: Michael Beller
Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...
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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dane on Bluesky: @danebrugler.bsky.social
Follow Fran on Bluesky: @fduffy.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @robertmays
Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass
Follow Dane on X: @dpbrugler
Follow Fran on X: @FDuffyNFL
Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:20:10
The most polarizing players in the 2025 NFL Draft
Everyone likes Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. There's a widespread consensus that Cam Ward deserves to be the top quarterback on the board. After that, though, opinions vary more so than in most drafts in recent memory. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dane Brugler dig into the players driving that disagreement on this episode of The Athletic Football Show, breaking down the most polarizing players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Host: Derrik Klassen
With: Dane Brugler
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Producer: Michael Beller
Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...
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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dane on Bluesky: @danebrugler.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @robertmays
Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass
Follow Dane on X: @dpbrugler
Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:19:09
On the Clock, picks 13-18: Teams chasing needs, teams chasing dreams
We're back On the Clock on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Ben Solak from ESPN joins Robert Mays to make picks 13 through 18 in the 2025 NFL Draft. That covers first-round picks for the Dolphins, Colts, Falcons, Cardinals, Bengals and Seahawks. The Dolphins and Bengals get some offensive line help! The Falcons take another swing at ending the John Abraham bit! The Seahawks bring in another receiver for Sam Darnold! Come and join the draft fun.
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Host: Derrik Klassen
With: Ben Solak
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Producer: Michael Beller
Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...
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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Bluesky: @benjaminsolak.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @robertmays
Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass
Follow Ben on X: @BenjaminSolak
Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:10:27
Monday Mailbag: Head coach trades, the case against Travis Hunter, the most fun trade-up scenarios in the first round, and more
The TAFS mailbag is once again chock full of great questions from all of you out there. This time around, the mail carrier brought us questions on head coach trades, GM job security, the Lions' approach to the regular season, the most fun trade-ups that could happen in this year's draft, and a whole lot more.
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Host: Derrik Klassen
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Producer: Michael Beller
Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...
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Spotify
YouTube
Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @robertmays
Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass
Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast covers the league like only The Athletic can. Host Robert Mays and co-host Derrik Klassen dive into the biggest stories, break down the Xs and Os, tackle the ins and outs of roster building, follow the details of why we all love this sport, and have plenty of fun along the way, bringing the expertise necessary to cover the NFL at the highest level. Whether it’s happening on the field or behind the scenes, you’ll get an in-depth look at all things NFL on The Athletic Football Show, available wherever you get your podcasts.