With the First Pick: An NFL Draft Podcast from CBS Sports · CBS Sports, NFL Draft, Mock Draft, NFL, 2023 NFL Draft, NFL Combine, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud

Favorite Player Comps For 2026 NFL Draft Prospects + How Trent McDuffie Trade Impacts The Draft

·49 min·4 clips

Trent McDuffie is traded to the Rams, and Ryan Wilson breaks down why it's a game-changer for both teams.

This episode of "With the First Pick" is hosted by Ryan Wilson and features former Tennessee Titans general manager Rand Carthon. They analyze a major NFL trade and discuss player comparisons for prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. The hosts begin by breaking down the breaking news that cornerback Trent McDuffie has been traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Los Angeles Rams. The reported compensation sends McDuffie to the Rams for the 29th overall pick in the 2026 first round, a fifth- and sixth-round pick in the current draft, and a 2027 third-round pick. Rand Carthon immediately grades the trade as an "A" for the Los Angeles Rams. He cites a statement from Rams GM Les Snead that hinted at acquiring an All-Pro cornerback. Carthon emphasizes that McDuffie is a young, versatile, and highly respected player who fills a major position of need for the Rams. He notes that virtually every mock draft had the Rams selecting a cornerback in the first round prior to this trade. Carthon argues the move aligns with Les Snead's famous "F them picks" team-building philosophy of acquiring proven talent over draft gambles. The acquisition of McDuffie gives the Rams an All-Pro caliber player at nearly every level of their defense. The hosts plan to later discuss intriguing 2026 draft prospects and the NFL player comparisons that best explain their games. Ryan Wilson previews that some of these comparisons will feel intuitively correct, while others might surprise listeners or even provoke disagreement. He references his own track record with player comparisons, suggesting a mix of hits and misses. The episode promises analysis that could have listeners "yelling at their screen" in reaction to certain player comps. The discussion is framed as an early look at a draft class two years away, focusing on projecting player styles and ceilings. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending immediate news reaction with forward-looking prospect evaluation. It is styled as an insider discussion between a host and a former NFL general manager. This episode would appeal to NFL draft enthusiasts and fans who enjoy deep roster construction analysis and early prospect scouting. Listeners primarily interested in immediate, current-season news might find the 2026 draft segment less relevant.

As heard by us

A trade discussion that turns into a sharp, useful comp breakdown.

This episode starts with a trade that gives the conversation real snap: Trent McDuffie, formerly of the Chiefs, is on his way to the Rams, and Ryan Wilson and Rand Carthon work through the compensation, the Rams' thinking, and why it earns an A on the Los Angeles side.

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Why you'd press play

You want draft talk that starts with the Trent McDuffie trade and stays inside the board.

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