NFL Offseason Mailbag: Mendoza Overhyped? Herbert, Hurts, or Darnold? Criticism for Dak?

·58 min·5 clips

Why John Middlekauff believes Mendoza's toughness and size make him a 'damn good' NFL quarterback prospect.

John Middlekauff opens the episode from Los Angeles, mentioning his travel plans and teasing a deep dive into the NFL Draft for the following week. He dives into the mailbag, starting with a question about whether he misses scouting days, prompting a discussion on the perceived lack of star power in the upcoming draft, particularly at quarterback and wide receiver. A listener questions the hype around quarterback prospect Mendoza, leading Middlekauff to a detailed defense of Mendoza's traits, including his size, toughness, football IQ, and performance in big games. Another question asks about a timeshare deal for Lake Tahoe, which Middlekauff enthusiastically endorses, especially for summer visits. The scandal involving Mike Vrabel and reporter Diana Russini is addressed at length; Middlekauff offers a nuanced perspective, questioning assumptions about their personal relationships, criticizing the social media pile-on, and reflecting on his own non-journalistic role in the media ecosystem. A question about 49ers owner Jed York not knowing a free agent signing leads to an analysis of how involved owners should be in minor transactions. Middlekauff discusses the fragmentation of sports broadcasting across streaming platforms, acknowledging consumer frustration but accepting it as the new reality. A listener proposes giving the Super Bowl winner the first overall pick to prevent tanking, which Middlekauff engages with before explaining why the NFL doesn't have the same tanking issue as the NBA. The topic of college football eligibility is raised, with Middlekauff pondering the implications if schools separated from the NCAA and allowed players to stay indefinitely, potentially disrupting NFL talent flow. He analyzes the problem of overpaying good-but-not-elite quarterbacks, using examples like Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa. Middlekauff ranks Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Sam Darnold as starting quarterbacks, choosing Herbert despite his playoff struggles. He defends Dak Prescott against claims he avoids criticism and discusses the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' recent struggles under Todd Bowles. The episode concludes with quick takes on OJ Simpson's potential inclusion on the Bills' new stadium, Middlekauff's commitment to his podcast over a full-time TV role, and a Masters golf update.

As heard by us

A sports-show episode pairs sponsor-heavy pacing with a blunt aside about public criticism and a resort visit.

This episode sits in the shape of a sports-audio entry, though its strongest impression is the rhythm around the conversation: a run of sponsor reads, a few platform cues, and one candid detour that carries more editorial weight than the surrounding football framing.

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Why you'd press play

Want a sports-talk episode that starts in football territory, then lets the conversation veer into a blunt resort aside?

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