July 14, 2025 • 19 mins
Shep reacts to Goff's ranking in the latest ESPN article that highlights the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL according to anonymous executives, coaches, and scouts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It kind of brought me from this moment of like
picking up the pieces to like reinvigorated with this energy
of like, oh, like, this is what it feels like
to truly be wanted and to have, you know, these
guys behind you, and I hadn't felt that in quite
some time.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Very cool. Don't get enough of that. I mean, it's
it's really cool. It's Jared Goff in the Netflix series
Quarterback feeling wanted in Detroit by his teammates and by
you the fans. So I think it's it's really awesome.
Is he a top ten quarterback in the National Football League? Well,
(00:42):
we have done this on the show for a while now,
ever since ESPN has put it out, and let's give
some you know, we've we ripped on a lot of
ESPN programming and some of the people who say just
things for what they say. But here's what they do provide.
They provide really really strong content on their websites and
(01:04):
writers are out there giving us something to think about.
So Jeremy Fowler for ESPN dot Com. He does television
work for him as well. He's very good at what
he does. He is he has polled executives, coaches, and
scouts to rank players at different positions. This week it's
(01:26):
the quarterback. Who do you think is number one?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Patrick Mahomes? That's correct, no reason, no very act to
the super Bowl. He's still the best.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Right. Here's what they give you. They give you the
highest ranking, the lowest ranking, and where they were ranked
a year ago. So for example, we had edge rushers.
We've done running backs and edge rushers so far, remember yep,
And there was the edge rushers with Aiden Hutchinson. The
lowest ranking was unranked. And you know when we got
(01:58):
done lighting up the blunt asking people, what in the
hell are you doing? Un ranking the guy? Like if
you don't think he's top three or four or five, okay,
how can you say he's not top ten? I mean,
put it down, squash it out on your foot, and say, okay,
I've had enough pot for the day. Patrick Mahomes is
(02:20):
number one, lowest ranking four last year's ranking one.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Do you think that lowest ranking four is as ridiculous
as I think? It is surprising to me? And yes,
how can you argue he's any lower than two?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Like?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
If you want to be a contrarian and you think
someone else might be better Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
There's three quarterbacks better than Patrick Mahomes right now.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I would find that hard lower than two. If I
said to you Lamar Jackson and josh Allen, who just
won the MVP and they've won combined the last three MVPs,
would you have a problem with that? Maybe they haven't
won the last three. I'm sorry, but they've won the
last two.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
I know you mean.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
If I said to you the other three ahead of
them are josh Anna, Lamar Jackson, and.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Joe Burrow, Yeah, I'd have a problem with that. With
which one Lamar and Joe Burrow?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Okay? I really like Joe Burrow, not because of Netflix, Okay,
and that's fair. Remember this is year by year, okay,
so it's based on their last year. I'm going to
read you the numbers for a guy I wants you
to tell me if they're worthy. You ready yep. Led
the league with four nine and eighteen passing yards, led
(03:32):
the league in touchdowns with forty three, and only threw
nine picks. Also was second in the league, third in
the league. I'm sorry. In rating quarterback or overall rating,
not QBR, but overall rating, that's Joe Burrow, Right, that's
Joe Burrow.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, you had a terrific statistical season.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
He also completed seventy and a half percent of his passes.
So that's a tough one. If I said to you,
this is the only guy in league history who's you know,
Lamar Jackson, what Lamar Jackson did last year? And I
think what kills what kills it for me is Lamar
Jackson's post season numbers?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Yep?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Should I let that cloud my judgment on how good
he's been during the regular season. I look, if you're
going to hold that standard for Clayton Kershaw or a
guy like Justin Verlander before, as before, as of late,
why wouldn't you hold it for Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
It's hard not to let it cloud your judgment because
here's another thing, Sep. Joe Burrow hasn't even made the
playoffs last two years, so he hasn't even had that
chance to maybe have a bad game.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Right, Yeah, it is a team sport. I don't think
it's on him.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
No, I get that, but Lamar's doing what he's doing statistically,
and the Ravens missed the playoffs, we don't get to
see him break down in the playoffs and then we
don't have that clouded judgment.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
That's right, that's right, That's that's well said anyway. So
Mahomes is one, number two, is Josh Allen highest ranking
one lowest ranking four? So I think there's a consensus
on who the top four are is what I'm getting
at here, And there's a good debate between Josh Allen
(05:16):
and Lamar Jackson. Last year for MVP, Lamar Jackson actually
had a better year last year than he did the
year before in terms of you know, numbers. He had
forty one touchdowns and only four interceptions in comparison, so
he threw for more yards than Patrick Mahomes, had a
lower completion percentage. That's been my knock on Lamar Jackson
(05:38):
more than anything else. Some of its drops, but completion
percentage there, and he threw only four picks Patrick Mahomes
twenty eight and eleven. What are the numbers you used
to define? I mean, I think completion percentage is really important.
If they're all checkdowns, what difference does it make, Hello,
Joey Harrington. I think it's about you know, stretch in
(06:00):
the field. I think it's about decision making. I think
it's about controlling an offense. I think Patrick Mahomes I
don't think he had a great offensive line. He got
sacked thirty six times. Joe Burrow got sacked forty eight times.
If Joe Burrow can put up numbers and get sacked
forty eight, now he's got a better wide receiving corps.
But if he can do that, why can't Patrick Mahomes.
(06:21):
I don't remember every single play, but Joe Burrow's number three,
highest ranking one, lowest ranking five. So with Mahomes, you're saying,
how could anyone have three? How can anyone have four
over Joe Burrow based on last year's numbers?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Yeah, I agree with you there completely.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That to me is crazy, all right, dude's average He
threw for two hundred and eighty nine yards per game
and his defense was awful, terrible.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
But this is where shepis gets interesting because you have
the execs, coaches and scouts that are ranking these these
quarterbacks right, So there probably is at least one guy
in there who puts making the playoffs high on his
criteria list, right or wrong. So he's probably the guy
that put Burrow at five.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Absolutely. Lamar Jackson is at four, highest ranking one, lowest
ranking six. You and I both know we've already talked
about it. Probably one of the it's one of the
most incredible seasons we've ever seen. It really is. For
what he did a year ago, a ten to one
(07:28):
touchdown to interception ratio, the completion percentage led the NFL
and QBR, and yards per dropback, set a new career
high in passing tds, passing yards per attempt, and touchdown
to interception ratio. On top of that, his ability to
run the football. Okay, that has there ever been a better,
(07:51):
as somebody put it here, space runner in the NFL
at the quarterback position than Lamar Jackson. Now, each of
the past two years he has ranked in the top
five in QBR. That's pretty damn good. But I think
it's the postseason that clouds the judgment. All right, Number
five may stun you. Jaden Daniels ooh, highest ranking five,
(08:19):
lowest ranking ten.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I think five's a little seep, But I understand where
they're going with it. I can see the logic. You know,
I think it's too much. If you're gonna I think
it's way too much.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
But yeah, if you're gonna rank him that high, and
it's based on one year, and that's all you can
do with Jayden Daniels and the one year that Joe
Burrow had Trump's everything.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Yeah, well, let me ask you this too. A couple
of years ago, would we have put CJ. Stroud in
the top five after the year he had no.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I remember what the I gotta remember what the others did.
I mean, it's Mahomes and Allen of course, and Jackson
h All part of that. Yeah, I don't know. I mean,
that's a good question. That's a really good question. I
think some people did. I think some.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Pere sudd but I guess the consensus, which is what
this article is, probably wouldn't have added up to top five.
So maybe this is a little premature. Is that a
fair word. Yeah, I think it's premature. Yeah, that's CJ.
Stroud a year ago, eighth in the league in passing.
The twenty three touchdowns weren't eye popping, but the five
(09:27):
picks were, and his completion percentage of sixty four percent
was just so you're probably right, would not have done that,
would not have put him in a top five or
probably even the top ten.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
I thought people went a little bit overboard. He came
down to earth a little bit last year. Number six
I think will surprise you again. This is based off coaches, executives,
and front office personnel scouts. Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Oh wow, people still believe in them.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah, highest ranking four, lowest ranking un ranked, So not everybody.
One NFL coordinator said, I put him because he's a
tough ass or tough as blank is what it is,
elite poise and toughness in the pocket. Boy. It's interesting
(10:21):
that that phrase comes out in that quote because when
he was here it was a stupid linebacker and the
named Zach Vollet who called him a China doll.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
And look at how things change in the pocket. The
ability to throw with timing and location while he's about
to get hit in the chin. He's among the best.
He was great in two areas after his after the
break that put thirty nine touchdowns after the break, and
(11:00):
then play action. He is great at play action. Number
seven I think will startle you. Justin Herbert. Number three
of the highest ranking unranked is the lowest rank.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Someone ranked him three.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Somebody ranked him three, but he ended up seven.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Is his name? Jim Harbaugh I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
He did, but I don't even know if he was.
He was pulled, but yeah, he would put him top three. Yeah,
hearing the names, do you think Jared Goff is ranked?
Speaker 4 (11:35):
He's got to be next.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
He is next. He's a eight highest ranking, five lowest ranking, unranked.
Here's what they say. Three years ago, heck even two,
placing Golf from the top ten was a bold move.
Now it's easy on the final ballot without his name
on a Golf appeared on eighty two percent of the
(11:59):
top ten submissions. One NFC defensive coach said he's developed
into one of the game's best pure passers. He doesn't
turn the ball over like he used to, except against Washington.
He's a reliable quarterback with a real alarm, not just
a drop back passer who can make blank happen. He's
become more than that. Ranked second in the NFL in
(12:19):
yards per attempt last season. Blah blah blah blah blah.
Coming from an air raid offense at Cal Golf end
of the league. Is a rhythm and timing thrower. He
struggled when pass rushers disrupted that timing. He has committed
to that weakness and elevated his game. He's improved in
his ability to reset his feet and deliver the ball accurately,
(12:40):
says one AFC veteran scout. The coaching staff in Detroit
gave him a greater sense of calm in the pocket,
and he's capitalized on it. I like that. You got
two spots left. Who do you think gets them?
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Jalen Hurts has to be in there.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Jalen Hurts his next he's at number nine, highest ranking, six,
lowest ranking unranked.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
I mean, the guy just won the Super Bowl for
crying out loud. I don't care if you can put
him at, but he's got to be in the top
ten somewhere. Yeah, and then that ten spot is tough.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Chef. I could go Stroud, you could go Jordan Love,
you could.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Go about Baker Mayfield. Love it great. He's more than
earned that.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Highest ranking, five, lowest ranking unranked. So then I immediately
go who are the honorable mentions? In other words, they
have a lot of guys who went unranked. That means
somebody's being put in there instead of those guys, instead
of Jared Goff, some of these executives, some of these scouts,
some of these coaches are saying, I like this guy more.
(13:51):
Even though Goff was on eighty two percent of the
top ten ballots, which is impressive. Who are those guys?
Who's the next tier? CJ. Stroud? The voting for spots
eight through eleven was close. Stroud appeared on nearly half
of those ballots, but struggled to capture the same momentum
that landed him at number seven after his rookie year,
(14:15):
so he was ranked in the top ten last year.
Jordan Love is the other. He appeared for the top
ten status by the end of twenty twenty three, or
appeared ready for that. He was blanking outstanding, said one
of NFL personnel play Action on time Big Arm confidence
(14:37):
shifted slightly in twenty twenty four, also receiving votes. So
there's only there's those two guys, when really, when you
look at the guys who lowest ranking would have been unranked,
that's Baker Mayfield, That's Jalen Hurtz, which kills me considering
what he did. It's Jared Goff. Those are the guys
(14:58):
who and and Justin Herbert those are the guys who
lowest ranking unranked, And actually Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So outside the top five pretty much. It gets murky. Okay,
my question would be, who are the next five. Let's
say it's even. Let's say you didn throw C. J.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Stroud in there, and let's say you throw in Jordan Love,
Kyler Murray, brock Purty. Stop me when you say, okay,
this is one of the other three spots. To get
those other guys out of there because they're unranked. Here
are the other three you ready, Kyler, Murray brock Purdy, No,
Dak Prescott, Aaron Rodgers, bow knicks to a tongue of
(15:43):
a loa, give me the two or give me the three.
They're not there.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
There's no three there.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
And by the way, I'm a little shocked, not really,
because you know how I feel about this guy with
Sam Darnold, Sammy Darlings right, and he's going to be
a starter in Seattle, so he's eligible for this list.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, that's the whole thing. I mean,
you're I understand why you don't like him. You don't
believe in them, fine, but based on last year, you're
crazy not to think that he doesn't belong considered somewhere
in the conversation even if it's honorable mention. Okay, if
you're going to unrank six, seven, eight, nine, ten, you've
(16:22):
got to have five replacements for those. I didn't give
you the five names that could have possibly been in there,
and I didn't even mention Caleb Williams, not that I should.
I'm just saying that's to me, that's crazy. Here's what else.
It tells you? How deep? How deep is the quarterback
position in the NFL right now?
Speaker 4 (16:39):
As deep as I can ever remember it being.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
See, I don't I don't think that.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
You don't think so. Hell no, you think it's as
top heavy as it's ever been.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Dude, But perhaps as it's ever been. You know, remember
I watched lay Marino and Montana play at the same time.
I would say, maybe top may be maybe top heavy.
But listen, I just read you those receiving votes. Okay, Yeah,
(17:09):
you're trying to tell me that those guys are deservative
of being in that upper echelon.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
No, I don't think so. But what I'm saying, Chefin,
maybe you'll agree with me. Here is after that top four,
and it is pretty much a consensus top four, there
are fifteen guys that people are voting for these are
NFL coaches, execs and scouts that are voting for to
be to fill out that top ten. So it gets
like to be somewhat of a gray area after that
(17:37):
top four. And yes, I think Stafford.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That doesn't That doesn't mean they're they're the this is
the best top ten you've ever been around?
Speaker 4 (17:46):
No, of course not. I'm just talking about the depth
of the position.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, because I was going to say, I mean, even
in your lifetime, forget about my lifetime, you know, way
back when, even in your lifetime, if you're talking about
Tom Brady, Brett, favre Arson, Palmer, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees,
Steve McNair, Philip Rivers, how about those names compared to
(18:10):
what you just gave me.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Yeah, that's pretty good. You're right, that's a good point.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Kurt Warner. I mean, this is two thousand and two
thousand and five, Donovan McNabb, Come on, is that those
are just some names that come to mind? Would that
be deeper than what I just mentioned? I think so.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Probably you're right.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I think so. But I hear where you're coming from
in that regard. Look, when we see these younger players,
specifically a guy like Jayden Daniels and Caleb Blints. When
we see them grow, then we might be talking about
the same thing. But I just I don't get how
you get past You can question Baker Mayfield, I suppose,
(18:52):
but how do you get past the twelve anybody after
those honorable mentions? I don't think it's worthy of it
at all. I don't even consider them among elite. I don't.
They don't even come to mind. I'm sorry, Braat Purty
doesn't come to mind. And it's not that I don't
like the guy. I just don't. I don't see how
it comes to mind.
It kind of brought me from this moment of like
picking up the pieces to like reinvigorated with this energy
of like, oh, like, this is what it feels like
to truly be wanted and to have, you know, these
guys behind you, and I hadn't felt that in quite
some time.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Very cool. Don't get enough of that. I mean, it's
it's really cool. It's Jared Goff in the Netflix series
Quarterback feeling wanted in Detroit by his teammates and by
you the fans. So I think it's it's really awesome.
Is he a top ten quarterback in the National Football League? Well,
(00:42):
we have done this on the show for a while now,
ever since ESPN has put it out, and let's give
some you know, we've we ripped on a lot of
ESPN programming and some of the people who say just
things for what they say. But here's what they do provide.
They provide really really strong content on their websites and
(01:04):
writers are out there giving us something to think about.
So Jeremy Fowler for ESPN dot Com. He does television
work for him as well. He's very good at what
he does. He is he has polled executives, coaches, and
scouts to rank players at different positions. This week it's
(01:26):
the quarterback. Who do you think is number one?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Patrick Mahomes? That's correct, no reason, no very act to
the super Bowl. He's still the best.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Right. Here's what they give you. They give you the
highest ranking, the lowest ranking, and where they were ranked
a year ago. So for example, we had edge rushers.
We've done running backs and edge rushers so far, remember yep,
And there was the edge rushers with Aiden Hutchinson. The
lowest ranking was unranked. And you know when we got
(01:58):
done lighting up the blunt asking people, what in the
hell are you doing? Un ranking the guy? Like if
you don't think he's top three or four or five, okay,
how can you say he's not top ten? I mean,
put it down, squash it out on your foot, and say, okay,
I've had enough pot for the day. Patrick Mahomes is
(02:20):
number one, lowest ranking four last year's ranking one.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Do you think that lowest ranking four is as ridiculous
as I think? It is surprising to me? And yes,
how can you argue he's any lower than two?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Like?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
If you want to be a contrarian and you think
someone else might be better Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
There's three quarterbacks better than Patrick Mahomes right now.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I would find that hard lower than two. If I
said to you Lamar Jackson and josh Allen, who just
won the MVP and they've won combined the last three MVPs,
would you have a problem with that? Maybe they haven't
won the last three. I'm sorry, but they've won the
last two.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
I know you mean.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
If I said to you the other three ahead of
them are josh Anna, Lamar Jackson, and.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Joe Burrow, Yeah, I'd have a problem with that. With
which one Lamar and Joe Burrow?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Okay? I really like Joe Burrow, not because of Netflix, Okay,
and that's fair. Remember this is year by year, okay,
so it's based on their last year. I'm going to
read you the numbers for a guy I wants you
to tell me if they're worthy. You ready yep. Led
the league with four nine and eighteen passing yards, led
(03:32):
the league in touchdowns with forty three, and only threw
nine picks. Also was second in the league, third in
the league. I'm sorry. In rating quarterback or overall rating,
not QBR, but overall rating, that's Joe Burrow, Right, that's
Joe Burrow.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, you had a terrific statistical season.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
He also completed seventy and a half percent of his passes.
So that's a tough one. If I said to you,
this is the only guy in league history who's you know,
Lamar Jackson, what Lamar Jackson did last year? And I
think what kills what kills it for me is Lamar
Jackson's post season numbers?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Yep?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Should I let that cloud my judgment on how good
he's been during the regular season. I look, if you're
going to hold that standard for Clayton Kershaw or a
guy like Justin Verlander before, as before, as of late,
why wouldn't you hold it for Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
It's hard not to let it cloud your judgment because
here's another thing, Sep. Joe Burrow hasn't even made the
playoffs last two years, so he hasn't even had that
chance to maybe have a bad game.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Right, Yeah, it is a team sport. I don't think
it's on him.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
No, I get that, but Lamar's doing what he's doing statistically,
and the Ravens missed the playoffs, we don't get to
see him break down in the playoffs and then we
don't have that clouded judgment.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
That's right, that's right, That's that's well said anyway. So
Mahomes is one, number two, is Josh Allen highest ranking
one lowest ranking four? So I think there's a consensus
on who the top four are is what I'm getting
at here, And there's a good debate between Josh Allen
(05:16):
and Lamar Jackson. Last year for MVP, Lamar Jackson actually
had a better year last year than he did the
year before in terms of you know, numbers. He had
forty one touchdowns and only four interceptions in comparison, so
he threw for more yards than Patrick Mahomes, had a
lower completion percentage. That's been my knock on Lamar Jackson
(05:38):
more than anything else. Some of its drops, but completion
percentage there, and he threw only four picks Patrick Mahomes
twenty eight and eleven. What are the numbers you used
to define? I mean, I think completion percentage is really important.
If they're all checkdowns, what difference does it make, Hello,
Joey Harrington. I think it's about you know, stretch in
(06:00):
the field. I think it's about decision making. I think
it's about controlling an offense. I think Patrick Mahomes I
don't think he had a great offensive line. He got
sacked thirty six times. Joe Burrow got sacked forty eight times.
If Joe Burrow can put up numbers and get sacked
forty eight, now he's got a better wide receiving corps.
But if he can do that, why can't Patrick Mahomes.
(06:21):
I don't remember every single play, but Joe Burrow's number three,
highest ranking one, lowest ranking five. So with Mahomes, you're saying,
how could anyone have three? How can anyone have four
over Joe Burrow based on last year's numbers?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Yeah, I agree with you there completely.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That to me is crazy, all right, dude's average He
threw for two hundred and eighty nine yards per game
and his defense was awful, terrible.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
But this is where shepis gets interesting because you have
the execs, coaches and scouts that are ranking these these
quarterbacks right, So there probably is at least one guy
in there who puts making the playoffs high on his
criteria list, right or wrong. So he's probably the guy
that put Burrow at five.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Absolutely. Lamar Jackson is at four, highest ranking one, lowest
ranking six. You and I both know we've already talked
about it. Probably one of the it's one of the
most incredible seasons we've ever seen. It really is. For
what he did a year ago, a ten to one
(07:28):
touchdown to interception ratio, the completion percentage led the NFL
and QBR, and yards per dropback, set a new career
high in passing tds, passing yards per attempt, and touchdown
to interception ratio. On top of that, his ability to
run the football. Okay, that has there ever been a better,
(07:51):
as somebody put it here, space runner in the NFL
at the quarterback position than Lamar Jackson. Now, each of
the past two years he has ranked in the top
five in QBR. That's pretty damn good. But I think
it's the postseason that clouds the judgment. All right, Number
five may stun you. Jaden Daniels ooh, highest ranking five,
(08:19):
lowest ranking ten.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I think five's a little seep, But I understand where
they're going with it. I can see the logic. You know,
I think it's too much. If you're gonna I think
it's way too much.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
But yeah, if you're gonna rank him that high, and
it's based on one year, and that's all you can
do with Jayden Daniels and the one year that Joe
Burrow had Trump's everything.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Yeah, well, let me ask you this too. A couple
of years ago, would we have put CJ. Stroud in
the top five after the year he had no.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I remember what the I gotta remember what the others did.
I mean, it's Mahomes and Allen of course, and Jackson
h All part of that. Yeah, I don't know. I mean,
that's a good question. That's a really good question. I
think some people did. I think some.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Pere sudd but I guess the consensus, which is what
this article is, probably wouldn't have added up to top five.
So maybe this is a little premature. Is that a
fair word. Yeah, I think it's premature. Yeah, that's CJ.
Stroud a year ago, eighth in the league in passing.
The twenty three touchdowns weren't eye popping, but the five
(09:27):
picks were, and his completion percentage of sixty four percent
was just so you're probably right, would not have done that,
would not have put him in a top five or
probably even the top ten.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
I thought people went a little bit overboard. He came
down to earth a little bit last year. Number six
I think will surprise you again. This is based off coaches, executives,
and front office personnel scouts. Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Oh wow, people still believe in them.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah, highest ranking four, lowest ranking un ranked, So not everybody.
One NFL coordinator said, I put him because he's a
tough ass or tough as blank is what it is,
elite poise and toughness in the pocket. Boy. It's interesting
(10:21):
that that phrase comes out in that quote because when
he was here it was a stupid linebacker and the
named Zach Vollet who called him a China doll.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
And look at how things change in the pocket. The
ability to throw with timing and location while he's about
to get hit in the chin. He's among the best.
He was great in two areas after his after the
break that put thirty nine touchdowns after the break, and
(11:00):
then play action. He is great at play action. Number
seven I think will startle you. Justin Herbert. Number three
of the highest ranking unranked is the lowest rank.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Someone ranked him three.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Somebody ranked him three, but he ended up seven.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Is his name? Jim Harbaugh I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
He did, but I don't even know if he was.
He was pulled, but yeah, he would put him top three. Yeah,
hearing the names, do you think Jared Goff is ranked?
Speaker 4 (11:35):
He's got to be next.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
He is next. He's a eight highest ranking, five lowest ranking, unranked.
Here's what they say. Three years ago, heck even two,
placing Golf from the top ten was a bold move.
Now it's easy on the final ballot without his name
on a Golf appeared on eighty two percent of the
(11:59):
top ten submissions. One NFC defensive coach said he's developed
into one of the game's best pure passers. He doesn't
turn the ball over like he used to, except against Washington.
He's a reliable quarterback with a real alarm, not just
a drop back passer who can make blank happen. He's
become more than that. Ranked second in the NFL in
(12:19):
yards per attempt last season. Blah blah blah blah blah.
Coming from an air raid offense at Cal Golf end
of the league. Is a rhythm and timing thrower. He
struggled when pass rushers disrupted that timing. He has committed
to that weakness and elevated his game. He's improved in
his ability to reset his feet and deliver the ball accurately,
(12:40):
says one AFC veteran scout. The coaching staff in Detroit
gave him a greater sense of calm in the pocket,
and he's capitalized on it. I like that. You got
two spots left. Who do you think gets them?
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Jalen Hurts has to be in there.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Jalen Hurts his next he's at number nine, highest ranking, six,
lowest ranking unranked.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
I mean, the guy just won the Super Bowl for
crying out loud. I don't care if you can put
him at, but he's got to be in the top
ten somewhere. Yeah, and then that ten spot is tough.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Chef. I could go Stroud, you could go Jordan Love,
you could.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Go about Baker Mayfield. Love it great. He's more than
earned that.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Highest ranking, five, lowest ranking unranked. So then I immediately
go who are the honorable mentions? In other words, they
have a lot of guys who went unranked. That means
somebody's being put in there instead of those guys, instead
of Jared Goff, some of these executives, some of these scouts,
some of these coaches are saying, I like this guy more.
(13:51):
Even though Goff was on eighty two percent of the
top ten ballots, which is impressive. Who are those guys?
Who's the next tier? CJ. Stroud? The voting for spots
eight through eleven was close. Stroud appeared on nearly half
of those ballots, but struggled to capture the same momentum
that landed him at number seven after his rookie year,
(14:15):
so he was ranked in the top ten last year.
Jordan Love is the other. He appeared for the top
ten status by the end of twenty twenty three, or
appeared ready for that. He was blanking outstanding, said one
of NFL personnel play Action on time Big Arm confidence
(14:37):
shifted slightly in twenty twenty four, also receiving votes. So
there's only there's those two guys, when really, when you
look at the guys who lowest ranking would have been unranked,
that's Baker Mayfield, That's Jalen Hurtz, which kills me considering
what he did. It's Jared Goff. Those are the guys
(14:58):
who and and Justin Herbert those are the guys who
lowest ranking unranked, And actually Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So outside the top five pretty much. It gets murky. Okay,
my question would be, who are the next five. Let's
say it's even. Let's say you didn throw C. J.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Stroud in there, and let's say you throw in Jordan Love,
Kyler Murray, brock Purty. Stop me when you say, okay,
this is one of the other three spots. To get
those other guys out of there because they're unranked. Here
are the other three you ready, Kyler, Murray brock Purdy, No,
Dak Prescott, Aaron Rodgers, bow knicks to a tongue of
(15:43):
a loa, give me the two or give me the three.
They're not there.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
There's no three there.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
And by the way, I'm a little shocked, not really,
because you know how I feel about this guy with
Sam Darnold, Sammy Darlings right, and he's going to be
a starter in Seattle, so he's eligible for this list.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, that's the whole thing. I mean,
you're I understand why you don't like him. You don't
believe in them, fine, but based on last year, you're
crazy not to think that he doesn't belong considered somewhere
in the conversation even if it's honorable mention. Okay, if
you're going to unrank six, seven, eight, nine, ten, you've
(16:22):
got to have five replacements for those. I didn't give
you the five names that could have possibly been in there,
and I didn't even mention Caleb Williams, not that I should.
I'm just saying that's to me, that's crazy. Here's what else.
It tells you? How deep? How deep is the quarterback
position in the NFL right now?
Speaker 4 (16:39):
As deep as I can ever remember it being.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
See, I don't I don't think that.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
You don't think so. Hell no, you think it's as
top heavy as it's ever been.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Dude, But perhaps as it's ever been. You know, remember
I watched lay Marino and Montana play at the same time.
I would say, maybe top may be maybe top heavy.
But listen, I just read you those receiving votes. Okay, Yeah,
(17:09):
you're trying to tell me that those guys are deservative
of being in that upper echelon.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
No, I don't think so. But what I'm saying, Chefin,
maybe you'll agree with me. Here is after that top four,
and it is pretty much a consensus top four, there
are fifteen guys that people are voting for these are
NFL coaches, execs and scouts that are voting for to
be to fill out that top ten. So it gets
like to be somewhat of a gray area after that
(17:37):
top four. And yes, I think Stafford.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That doesn't That doesn't mean they're they're the this is
the best top ten you've ever been around?
Speaker 4 (17:46):
No, of course not. I'm just talking about the depth
of the position.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, because I was going to say, I mean, even
in your lifetime, forget about my lifetime, you know, way
back when, even in your lifetime, if you're talking about
Tom Brady, Brett, favre Arson, Palmer, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees,
Steve McNair, Philip Rivers, how about those names compared to
(18:10):
what you just gave me.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Yeah, that's pretty good. You're right, that's a good point.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Kurt Warner. I mean, this is two thousand and two
thousand and five, Donovan McNabb, Come on, is that those
are just some names that come to mind? Would that
be deeper than what I just mentioned? I think so.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Probably you're right.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I think so. But I hear where you're coming from
in that regard. Look, when we see these younger players,
specifically a guy like Jayden Daniels and Caleb Blints. When
we see them grow, then we might be talking about
the same thing. But I just I don't get how
you get past You can question Baker Mayfield, I suppose,
(18:52):
but how do you get past the twelve anybody after
those honorable mentions? I don't think it's worthy of it
at all. I don't even consider them among elite. I don't.
They don't even come to mind. I'm sorry, Braat Purty
doesn't come to mind. And it's not that I don't
like the guy. I just don't. I don't see how
it comes to mind.
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