PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
The insiders Podcast: Cowboys Sign Edge Von Miller, Colts Sign WR Keenan Allen, and Falcons Sign DE Za’Darius Smith
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
46 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Aug 19, 2026
Published
Wed, August 19, 2026
20
Player insights
19
Players mentioned
Topics
Mike EvansAlec PierceBreece HallChristian McCaffreyDeshaun WatsonFernando MendozaJuJu Smith-SchusterKeenan AllenKeon ColemanKirk CousinsKyle JuszczykKyler MurrayMalik NabersMichael Penix Jr.
Player analysis
Player insights
Alec Pierce
NegativeInjury22:42
Alec Pierce is currently recovering from ankle surgery, which adds context to the Colts' decision to sign Keenan Allen.
Insight pageBreece Hall
PositiveInjury23:05
Breece Hall is dealing with a groin injury that will keep him out for two to three weeks, but coach Aaron Glenn expects him to be ready for Week 1.
Insight pageChristian McCaffrey
NegativeInjury16:45
Christian McCaffrey has missed over a week of practice due to tightness. Kyle Shanahan stated that if it were a game week, McCaffrey would be playing, and he is trending toward being ready for Week 1. The absence is not contract-related.
Insight pageDeshaun Watson
PositiveRole27:00
Deshaun Watson is currently in the driver's seat and is the favorite to win the Browns' starting quarterback job over Shedeur Sanders.
Insight pageFernando Mendoza
PositiveUsage0:56
Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza received first-team reps during a joint practice against the Texans. While Kirk Cousins remains the confirmed starter for Week 1, the organization is intentionally elevating Mendoza's workload to accelerate his development and comfort with the speed of the game, though he is not expected to start immediately in 2026.
Insight pageJuJu Smith-Schuster
NegativeDepth Chart44:10
The Giants have officially released Juju Smith-Schuster following their signing of Najee Harris.
Insight pageKeenan Allen
PositiveDepth Chart22:34
Keenan Allen has signed a one-year, $8.3 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, providing a shrewd addition to their receiving corps.
Insight pageKeon Coleman
NegativeInjury22:52
Keon Coleman has been diagnosed with a sprained foot and a toe injury, requiring him to wear a walking boot, though Joe Brady does not seem overly concerned.
Insight pageKirk Cousins
NegativeRole1:40
Kirk Cousins remains the confirmed starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. The team values his experience to manage the offense while the roster, particularly the offensive line and wide receiver corps, continues to stabilize, ensuring he acts as a bridge while rookie Fernando Mendoza develops.
Insight pageKyle Juszczyk
NegativeRole41:06
Kyle Juszczyk recounts his Super Bowl touchdown reception from Jimmy Garoppolo, highlighting his role as a fullback who can contribute in the passing game.
Insight pageKyler Murray
PositiveRole29:48
Kyler Murray has been named the starting quarterback for the Vikings, with the team looking to utilize his mobility and a revamped run game to elevate the offense.
Insight pageMalik Nabers
NegativeInjury44:12
Malik Nabors is back on the practice field as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury. The team is monitoring his progress to ensure he can protect himself and produce before he is fully cleared by doctors.
Insight pageMichael Penix Jr.
NegativeInjury25:21
Michael Penix Jr. has not been cleared for 11-on-11 team drills as he continues to recover from a torn ACL, making a true quarterback competition with Tua Tagovailoa currently impossible.
Insight pageMike Evans
NegativeInjury16:54
Mike Evans left 49ers practice early due to tightness. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated the issue does not appear serious, and Evans may return to practice later in the week.
Insight pageNegativeInjury29:34
Mike Evans was seen with a taped ankle and appeared to tweak it at the end of a joint practice against the Chargers.
Insight pageNajee Harris
NegativeDepth Chart43:51
The Giants signed free agent running back Najee Harris to a one-year deal. He joins a crowded backfield that already includes Cam Scadaboo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary.
Insight pagePuka Nacua
NegativeValue9:35
Despite elite production (129 receptions, 1,200+ yards, 10 TDs), a contract extension for Puka Nacua is not considered imminent. The Rams are monitoring off-field issues and potential league discipline, suggesting the team may wait until after the season to address a long-term deal.
Insight pageSam LaPorta
PositiveValue32:33
Sam LaPorta is currently engaged in contract negotiations with the Lions and could potentially become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
Insight pageShedeur Sanders
NegativeRole26:52
Shedeur Sanders will start the preseason game against the Bills, providing him an opportunity to challenge Deshaun Watson for the starting job.
Insight pageTucker Kraft
PositiveInjury31:37
Tucker Kraft is returning from an ACL tear and is participating in team drills; he is expected to potentially become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL soon.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. NFL: The Insiders are wherever you get your podcasts.
0:05We hear from Von Miller on this fresh edition of NFL: The Insiders.
0:09And with that we welcome you into the show along with Ian Rappaport.
0:13I'm Mike Amini and I look I'm still new to the show here.
0:17I'm trying to gauge what happens when one of our guys is making a maiden voyage.
0:22Dan Graziano ready to go first edition of The Insiders is there.
0:26Oh it's all right. We'll just clap it up.
0:29We'll just clap. Dan welcome to the dance man.
0:31What's up Dan? Thank you very much. Great to be here with you.
0:36Dan Graziano. There's going to be a lot of insight that I know you're going to be able to offer us during the course of this hour.
0:44Keep in mind we're knocking on the door of some real significant news.
0:48Puka Nakua wide receiver maybe the league's number one wide receiver.
0:51We got some news on him coming up in just a bit but new today.
0:56Let's go Fernando Mendoza. So much conversation about the number one overall pick.
1:00We've been watching Kirk Cousins quarterback in that Raiders first team offense throughout training camp.
1:05But today it was the rookie who took some first team work at that joint practice against the Texans.
1:11Here's his head coach Clint Kubiak. I wanted to see him you know going against the Texans ones.
1:16That was our plan all along. I thought he did some good things.
1:20Look forward to watching the tape. But just he and his teammates all these young guys that were playing.
1:26We got to get them up to speed real quick.
1:29It's such a blessing and honor to be able to play with the ones but it's also a blessing honor to play
1:36with the twos and the threes and get reps in general.
1:40I would say I'm very blessed and I see it as an opportunity of the coaching staff believing in me and whatever
1:47opportunity I get I want to take advantage of and make sure that if there are positives from that, learn from it.
1:53If there's negatives from that, learn from it. If there's neutrals, learn from it.
1:58So I think it's great to get the speed of the game because every group is fast but the ones might be elevated a little bit more.
2:06So to get that speed of the game, be in there, be able to not only execute the play but also command
2:13the huddle, see and read the defense pre-snap, post-snap.
2:16There's so many different elements that I think are elevated and accelerated with that group.
2:21Is this like the nicest dude in the NFL by the way?
2:24You guys are just smiling here. Like, let's go.
2:27Everything is peaches and cream for Fernando Mendoza because look, got some first team reps here.
2:32I don't know, Ian, I'll start with you man.
2:35Like, does the fact that he got those reps, does that signal anything to you about week one starting quarterback position here for the Raiders?
2:43First of all, my understanding is still Kirk Cousins to be the starter for the Las Vegas Raiders.
2:48That has been the plan throughout. They have announced it.
2:51They've been very clear. I don't believe that has changed at all.
2:55But if you were wondering why Clint Kubiak and the Raiders organization wants to get Fernando Mendoza those snaps with the first
3:02team, I can't explain it better than the number one overall pick did.
3:06You got to get in and out of the huddle.
3:09You got to do it at the speed that is required with the starters.
3:14And yes, it is a little bit faster just like games are a little bit faster than preseason games.
3:20Just like those are a little bit faster than practices.
3:23There are different levels and bringing Fernando Mendoza along the right way, Dan, means you have to elevate his game just a little bit.
3:30It does sound based on my understanding like today was a really good day, made some good throws.
3:36Someone I spoke to who was watching this said they noticed how well he does so many of the little things.
3:42It is all positive. This is a very good day for the Raiders because this guy, Dan, will help.
3:48It just doesn't seem like it is going to be right away in the 2026 season.
3:53It's not. And obviously his press conference game is week one ready.
3:57There's no question about that. He's a starter in terms of his handling of the podium.
4:02However, the Raiders want to bring him along at the correct pace.
4:06They do not want him to feel rushed. They want him to play when he is ready.
4:11Also, when you talk to Raiders people, they would tell you we also want to make sure that we are ready for him.
4:18Meaning they want to make sure and get the offensive line squared away.
4:22The wide receiver situation has some things that need to shake out.
4:26It's not that they're trying to put Kirk Cousins there behind a line that isn't any good or that, you know, like to be a sacrificial lamb.
4:34They just feel like because of Kirk Cousins experience, he's better suited to handle whatever problems might result from the fact that
4:41this is a team that honestly is still sort of putting its roster together.
4:46So when Fernando Mendoza does become the starter, which is inevitable, he was the number one overall pick.
4:51The Raiders want to make sure they are putting him in the best possible position to succeed right away.
4:57That's why they have Kirk Cousins there. They do not want Mendoza to feel rushed and they do not want to feel rushed to get him in there.
5:06I'm still smiling thinking about those. Blessed to be with the bonds.
5:10Blessed to be with the twos. Can you imagine if you said, hey, Fernando, tell me who your favorite teammate is?
5:16His head might explode like he might name check every guy on the roster just so that no one feels left out.
5:23It is absolutely amazing. Look, we'll find out exactly what's going to happen in week one.
5:28But Danny hit the nail on the head. He's going to be out there at some point as the number one overall pick.
5:35We got some good news from a chiefs perspective after missing minicamp.
5:39A lot of limitations during training camp because of a shoulder injury.
5:43Mansour Delane back on the field in full pads.
5:45Dan, explain to me this ramp up phase. How did we get here for first rounder?
5:50So Mansour Delane had an injury that was like a hairline fracture on his scapula in the back of his shoulder.
5:57So that happened in the spring. And when he got to training camp, they did tests on it and they still saw
6:04something there that concerned them enough that they put him in a yellow non-contact jersey throughout training camp.
6:09He was still taking all the reps, first team reps with the defense.
6:14But they didn't want him in a position where he was either going to get hit or make a tackle.
6:20So the plan all along was to image it again last week, which they did.
6:24And they got good news, which is that it's cleared up and he is cleared for full participation in practice.
6:31You see there he's wearing his number five jersey in white, no longer in yellow.
6:35So a good bit of good news for the Chiefs as they're revamping their secondary this year and the number one pick
6:42their first round pick in this year's draft. Obviously, they expect to be a big part of that.
6:48And Dan, they're not just revamping their secondary. They are revamping a lot of their defense.
6:53Mansour Delane is going to be a huge part of the retooling of the defense.
6:58This really brings me back to four years ago after they traded Tyreek Hill.
7:02And they said, you know what, we're going to take all those draft picks and all the money.
7:07We are going to just rework this entire thing.
7:10And they did it. And it was a great draft class.
7:14And the Chiefs got back to where they needed to be by drafting really good players.
7:19And they played immediately. If they can do that, the Chiefs are going to be more than fine.
7:24Look offensively, they got Patrick Mahomes. They got some receivers they like.
7:28They signed a running back in Ken Walker. Offensively, hopefully for them, we're going to be back to what they should be.
7:35But if they can get Delane, Peter Woods, another first rounder who has been really, really promising.
7:40Our Mason Thomas, their edge second rounder, really quick first step.
7:44You got Omar Norman a lot, the defensive tackle last year in the second round.
7:48Missed all the seasons with his ACL. He's coming back.
7:51This can be the young defense that they can build around as they get toward the next act of Mahomes' career.
7:58Yeah, 2.0 for a young defense because that 1.0 defense the first time around, good enough to win this team some Super Bowls.
8:05Dan, I know you spent some time obviously training camp around this Chiefs team.
8:10We spent a lot of time talking about quarterback battles.
8:13And by the way, we got more of that coming up, especially what's happening in Cleveland in just a bit.
8:19But offensive line, kind of important right now for Patrick Mahomes coming off the injury.
8:24What do I need to know about what's happening there?
8:27Interesting development on the right side of the line.
8:29They have an undrafted rookie from Indiana, Khalil Benson, who really impressed them throughout the spring.
8:34And they kept moving him up. He was with the third team.
8:38They moved him up to work with the second team.
8:41He started at right guard for them in the preseason game this past weekend because Trey Smith is working through something.
8:48And they're starting him at right tackle in practice the last couple of days.
8:52It sounds like they're going to give him a shot to start at right tackle in their next preseason game.
8:58Jalen Moore is the veteran tackle they have there.
9:01He's penciled in as the starter at right tackle.
9:04But Benson has been impressive enough throughout the offseason that they are actually considering the possibility of starting him at right tackle,
9:11an undrafted rookie when the season starts. If he shows enough through the remainder of the preseason, he's got a real chance to win that job.
9:19All right. Benson in Indiana kid. You want to go back to Fernando Mendoza.
9:23Ask him how good of a teammate he is.
9:26I'm sure Fernando would tell us he was blessed to go and play with Benson.
9:31Some other news to get to, and it comes from a Rams perspective.
9:35129 receptions over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. Puka Nakua has made the case he's the NFL's wide receiver one.
9:41Now, the in terms of the production, it's out of out of this world.
9:46Significant payday, though, potentially is looming. Dan, should I be looking at my watch right now?
9:51And are we on the clock for an extension for Puka?
9:54It doesn't sound and Ian can correct me if he's hearing differently.
9:58It doesn't sound to me like anything's particularly close on that front.
10:01When Jackson Smith and Jigba got his extension with Seattle earlier in the offseason, it felt like, well, Puka, it makes sense that he'll land in that neighborhood.
10:10But remember, he's had some significant off-field issues that have come to light this offseason.
10:15The Rams are, you know, he entered some programs to help him deal with some of the issues he's going through.
10:21And it's possible the league would look into potential discipline on a personal conduct policy violation.
10:26So there are some unanswered questions still with Puka Nakua.
10:30The Rams still believe in him as a player, as a person.
10:33They told me he's in a good place right now with everything that's going on.
10:38But the big money contract extension might not be imminent.
10:41It might be something that kind of bleeds into the season here.
10:45Yeah, I said it perfectly, Dan. I don't get the sense anything is coming as well in making Puka Nakua go out,
10:52play it out on the field and off the field as well.
10:55He's been very upfront about some of the struggles he had this past offseason over the course of the last calendar year.
11:02That seems to be in the cards. And when you look at what the Rams have done this offseason, they do have several players.
11:10It's not just Puka Nakua. It's several other players on the defensive line as well.
11:14Do big contract extensions, could potentially be working out some deals.
11:18They really have opted not to. Instead of what they did was basically go all in with players from other organizations.
11:24Obviously, Miles Garrett would be one. Trent McDuffie swung a big trade, paid him as the highest paid corner in the NFL.
11:31After they traded with the Chiefs for him, he would be another.
11:35We'll see if Aaron Donald comes in more money.
11:38That would be another. Seems the Rams say, you know what?
11:41We've got a lot of good young players we need to pay.
11:45Maybe we can just wait, take care of this year and worry about everything else after.
11:50We'll see how it all turns out. Yeah, I got to imagine once that deal does come to fruition, we will be
11:57talking about Puka Nakua as the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL here on the Insiders.
12:02Joint practice, Chargers, Niners. Steve Weich was just telling me Chargers looked really, really good.
12:07We'll hear from him in just a moment. Star power all over the field.
12:11But it was interesting to hear who Jim Harbaugh wanted to spend some time with.
12:16Yeah, I want to meet Brock Purdy. I want to shake his hand.
12:20Hopefully Kyle will introduce me to him. I want to say hi to George Kittle.
12:25I want to meet him. Kind of the same way I think of Kyle, you know what I mean?
12:31It's cool. A lot of the stuff he puts on tape.
12:34I love his demeanor. I love how he, love the toughness of his teams.
12:38I love that they're really good at football. And, you know, great.
12:42Great to be around it. I have so much respect for the kind of players they are and people they are.
12:49So, and it's a roster full, you know, of great guys and great players.
12:53Our guys are great guys and great players. And so, I mean, that's, it's super fun.
12:58That's super fun to, to be, to be on the same field and talking and talking ball.
13:03Hard not to co-sign on everything Harbaugh just said about his team and the San Francisco 49ers.
13:09One thing coach did not make reference to was just the injuries for the Niners that continue to mount up year in and year out.
13:16And if you're calling a spade, a spade, that's probably a reason why there's some hesitation about picking this team to come
13:23out of a division that's already loaded. Maybe even get back to a Super Bowl man who was at that practice today.
13:30He saw great players and great guys on both sides of the football field.
13:34We just showed some injuries there. I couldn't help but notice Mike Evans, but take me through some of the things that you saw and the injury.
13:43Maybe that's catching your attention. Well, first off, Jim Harbaugh's availability was pre-practice.
13:47That's how come it was a little more upbeat than would have been post-practice.
13:51But Tyler Biotis, the starting center who the Chargers signed to a three-year $30 million contract in the offseason, was carted off
13:58the field after getting rolled up on 11 on 11 drills.
14:02We have no diagnosis yet, but we've seen these before and it was a very somber approach from his teammates and coaches afterwards.
14:09So everyone was hoping that Biotis gets well soon.
14:12But until we get a diagnosis, we don't know.
14:14So stepping into his place though was rookie Jake Slaughter, who they drafted in the second round out of Florida.
14:21Now Slaughter, who played center at Florida, had been working mainly at left guard, but he'd been cross-training some at center and
14:27he stepped in and had a good practice with starting center as a starting center.
14:32He could be starting at Thursday when these teams do square off at SoFi Stadium.
14:37Jim Harbaugh said the starters will play at least a series.
14:40And so Slaughter is going to be the starting center.
14:43He's got to get that time with Justin Herbert because they have not worked together much this offseason.
14:49This has been a revolving door of injuries at this offensive line the last couple of years.
14:54And I can't help but think some of the results for this team may be different if guys like Slater, for example, are completely healthy.
15:02By the way, I don't know how many fantasy leagues you're in at this point, but if you're in a league with
15:09Steve, you don't want to listen to what he's about to say because he's going to target a guy.
15:15You have been loving up Hampton. I was talking to you in the newsroom before you got out here like dude was cooking today.
15:22I'm saying it for weeks because this new offensive zone scheme by coached down by Mike McDaniels outside.
15:28Stretch zone scheme really favors what Amar and Hampton really can do the second year player.
15:33Big physical running back got some stuff to him some explosiveness and man did he have a practice today.
15:39Even coming in after Biotis went down. He had a couple runs.
15:43We boom just rolled over the tackle. This is a thud right.
15:46You hit contact. You don't bring them down. That was a thud thud and he did it again on that drive twice
15:53came in and want some of this. No, you don't.
15:56To the point where the third time he carried on that drive towards the left sideline the defenders came up on him
16:03kind of sized him up a little bit. Gave him a little extra mustard on there because they were sick of getting beat on.
16:11But again, Amar and Hampton a very strong practice.
16:13And like I mentioned before we could see him for about a series if maybe not a little bit more when the
16:20team square off Thursday in their preseason second week to game.
16:24All right, you cover football. Yeah, you show up to a practice.
16:27You're probably looking at it a little bit differently.
16:30But at the same time, you want to see the stars that are out there.
16:35It's like a fan who shows up that you see someone and when they're you know, a scratch.
16:41It's a it's a buzzkill. Christian McCaffrey hasn't been out on the football field.
16:45We've done these updates. We did it yesterday on insiders.
16:48What's the latest on his status? Well, first off, let's start off with wide receiver Mike Evans, who of course comes over
16:55to San Francisco from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He left practice early with what has become a term that the 49ers using a lot with tightness.
17:03But again, head coach Kyle Shanahan said it didn't seem like it was anything serious with Evans.
17:08So we'll see if he plays Thursday or return room practice a little bit later in the week.
17:14But in terms of Christian McCaffrey, he did not practice again with the aforementioned tightness that has kept him out of practice
17:21for a little bit more than a week. But Kyle Shanahan did say, look, if it weren't Christian and if this were
17:28a game week, he would be playing. It does not seem like a significant concern.
17:32And the McCaffrey is trending towards playing in week one.
17:35Same with defensive end Nick Bosa. Right. Remember, some tendonitis flared up.
17:39That's kept him out of practice for more than a week as well.
17:43And his surgically repaired knee. He did not practice again today.
17:47But Kyle Shanahan said he is trending in the right direction to get back for week one in Australia against the Rams.
17:54Real quick on CMC. There's some speculation, at least on social media, about contracts.
17:58We've seen a bunch of them paid. John Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Jameer Gibbs all got new contracts.
18:03Do you think that it's at all a factor here?
18:06Kyle Shanahan said that is nothing more than a wrong assumption that it could be a contract issue.
18:12And I will say this. With Christian McCaffrey out, Kalen Black, the rookie out of Indiana who has missed some time with
18:19an adductor injury, he came into practice today and he was doing work.
18:23You hear me talk about what Amari Hampton was doing.
18:26Some of the inside run drill stuff, finishing with physicality and a couple explosive runs.
18:31He is someone that we should see Thursday in this preseason game week two again at SoFi.
18:36So again, the starter for both teams are going to play at least a series.
18:41Again, Kalen Black, if he starts someone to keep an eye out on to spell Christian McCaffrey in a regular season.
18:47It's like we're 20 minutes into the show, third or fourth reference to an Indiana dude.
18:52You know how college football has really changed. They were really good.
18:56You know, back a couple years ago, we're just talking about like SEC dudes.
19:00Now all of a sudden, you know, we got a guy like, you know, in the Big Ten.
19:06We've got an Indiana supporter, NIL. That is really changing.
19:09College football. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
19:13It's just the reality of things. We're talking about this Niners team Chargers Thursday night, 10 Eastern time NFL network.
19:20You'll be able to catch it. I know we started the show talking about Fernando Mendoza Raiders, the Texans, their joint practice today.
19:27The big story, Fernando Mendoza getting some first team reps.
19:30You can catch that one ESPN. Do not forget all of the games in the preseason.
19:35You'll be able to watch on the ESPN app.
19:38Yesterday, we were spending some time talking about the Cowboys newest edition of future Hall of Famer Von Miller heading to Big D.
19:45We hear from him coming up next. You know the feeling.
19:48You make a pick in your fantasy draft and the entire room groans because they wanted that player.
19:54Or you grab a small school rookie off waivers and you start him right before he goes off in prime time.
20:00There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league.
20:04I'm JJ Zacharisen, host of the late round fantasy football podcast.
20:07Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off.
20:14We've got data driven analysis, historical trends and the strategies that separate winners from the rest.
20:19And your dominance doesn't stop with the draft. All season long, we have our 15 transactions, 10 trends, sleepers and the mailbag
20:26data driven quick hitting episodes to help bring home that league trophy.
20:30Listen to the late round fantasy football podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
20:36Back here on the Insiders yesterday on the show, we told you about this man going back to Texas, the future Hall
20:43of Famer Von Miller is going to be a member of the Cowboys.
20:47Played his high school ball in the state, eventually was at A&M and he gets a homecoming in his 15th NFL season as he addressed the media today.
20:56Yes, it's really cool. It's like that movie Inception, like a dream within a dream.
21:01You know, I always want to play in the National Football League and then you play for the Dallas Cowboys.
21:07You know, we're just going deep. We're going deep with your 16 dream within a dream.
21:12It's super cool. I mean, being here, I know a lot of guys already know a lot of coaches to being here, being in this atmosphere is surreal.
21:21So this year I really want to be intentional with, you know, the decision that I made and what team that I went to.
21:28And it's crazy because I ran into Dak in Vegas probably like a month ago.
21:33You know, he was sitting in the High Limit Gambling.
21:36I just sat down with Dak and we just started gambling together and talking.
21:40And I was like, hey man, it's about time for Dak.
21:44It's about time. You know, you got to break through one of these teams.
21:48You got to break through one of these years.
21:51I think this year you'll be able to do it.
21:54Like you got everybody to do it. And that was I had I didn't have any inkling on, you know, being a Dallas Cowboy.
22:01It just happened naturally. And then the Cowboys reached out and I was just like, right.
22:06This is this is a sign like this is a sign for me.
22:10And, you know, we worked on it, talked to some other teams.
22:14But ultimately, you know, my love for Dallas Cowboys, my my chicken farm is here.
22:19My family's here just by being a Dallas Cowboy and wearing that star.
22:23It was beneficial to me and my family. And that's what ultimately made the decision for me.
22:28Dallas certainly loading up on defense from a 15 year NFL vet to a 14 year vet.
22:34And Keenan Allen's got a new home, a one year, eight point three million dollar deal with the Colts.
22:39Shrewd move by Indy. Remember, Alec Pierce coming off the ankle surgery.
22:43Michael Pittman now playing in Pittsburgh. Some other wide receiver news for you.
22:47I was watching Josh Allen do Josh Allen things in week one of the preseason.
22:52Found Keon Coleman for a touchdown. That was the good news.
22:55The bad. Coleman diagnosed with a sprained foot and a toe injury.
22:59So he's been dealing walking around with the boot.
23:02Joe Brady did not, though, seem overly concerned about that injury.
23:05Told you yesterday about the groin problem for Brees Hall and that injury that he suffered.
23:10The Jets running back is going to be out two to three weeks, according to his coach Aaron Glenn.
23:16But coach said today he should be good for week one.
23:20Remember, he is coming off a one thousand yard season on the ground last year.
23:24Falcons still trying to figure out their quarterback situation, but their defense.
23:28It got a boost. Defensive's end Darius Smith's on a one year six million dollar deal could get pushed up to eight million.
23:35Smith, remember, actually played for Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland back in the twenty three and twenty four campaigns.
23:41For a little bit more on this, we bring in back Dan and Ian.
23:45You know, just explain to me the significance on the defensive side for Smith now rocking an Atlanta uniform.
23:51Yeah, this was a badly needed edge for the Atlanta Falcons.
23:55Remember, earlier this offseason, earlier this training game, they've had some significant news surrounding both of their starting edges.
24:01Actually, two first rounders from last year. First of all, Jalen Walker tore his ACL the day.
24:06Actually, Steve Weiss and I were there at practice.
24:09He, of course, is out for the season that created one need on the edge.
24:13And then James Pierce, their other starting edge, really promising rookie from last year.
24:18Now a second year player suspended eight games because of an off the field matter, a criminal matter that he has been dealing with.
24:25So that created the need. So Zedaria Smith, who last year played a little bit for the Eagles, then retired and was
24:32open to unretiring and coming back, worked out for Kevin Stefanski's old team, the Cleveland Browns.
24:37I think a lot of people assumed that he would just sign with the Browns.
24:42The Falcons, knowing then the news of James Pierce, you know what?
24:45We want to get involved as well. They had him in for a workout, ultimately paid him a lot of money for a player coming off the couch.
24:54One year, as you mentioned it, $6 million can be $8 million with incentive to Darius Smith now has a new home in Atlanta.
25:02Yeah, they're going to need him. And you made reference to it.
25:05They had some hits in terms of that draft a couple years ago with Walker and Pierce with those guys not out there.
25:13Definitely going to fill a nice void. But from an offensive standpoint, Dan, we keep calling it a competition.
25:18I haven't seen Penix out there at this point.
25:21At what point do you think they just focus their attention on the guy that's healthy enough to play into it?
25:28I think it's coming pretty soon just because the season is.
25:31Michael Penix Jr. has not been cleared for 11 on 11 team drills, those kinds of activities yet.
25:37Still coming back off of that torn ACL. So until that happens, until he is cleared for that work, this can't really be a quarterback competition.
25:45Tua Tagovailoa is healthy. Michael Penix Jr. is not.
25:48The season starts in a little over three weeks.
25:51So at this point, the Falcons are doing a lot of what a lot of what they're doing is trying to get Tua ready to start week one.
25:59Because unless Penix jumps back into action here really soon and makes it a close race, that does seem to be the way things are pointing.
26:07Now, Tua starts week one. Penix gets healthy. Do the Falcons want to see Penix at some point eventually to figure out
26:14if he can be still their franchise quarterback that they thought he could be when they drafted him in the first round?
26:21Not entirely possible. But as of right now, it's not an option for them and Tua is.
26:26Yeah, they've also spent about 300 over 350 million dollars this offseason on that team's offense.
26:31Whoever QB one is is definitely going to have some pieces around them to work with.
26:36There is another quarterback competition because, you know, there can only be one.
26:40I think I just aged myself with a Highlander reference.
26:44QB one status for the Browns still undetermined. Tom Monk you gave Deshaun Watson the start of week one.
26:50Sanders should do that as we'll start Saturday against the Bills.
26:53A game you can watch here on NFL Network and the ESPN app.
26:57And Dan, handicap the state of this competition for me.
27:00Todd Monk in the new head coach has said all along that he wants to give each of these guys an equal opportunity to win the job.
27:09So Deshaun Watson started the first preseason game last weekend in Chicago.
27:12Shadur Sanders will get the start this weekend at home against Buffalo.
27:16After that, I would anticipate Monk and will make an announcement decision and an announcement about his week one starter.
27:22To this point, everything we've heard out of Cleveland throughout the summer has been that Watson has been in the lead and
27:29is probably the favorite to win the job. Can Sanders do something Saturday to change that?
27:34Entirely possible. But right now it feels like Watson is in the driver's seat in this competition in Cleveland.
27:40Yeah, I would agree with that. Certainly it has been like that for the Cleveland Browns with Deshaun Watson.
27:46Having the leg up here. The only thing I would say is there is something about Shadur Sanders and the organization knows
27:53this that when the lights come on, something happens.
27:56There's is a lot to like and he will go out there and he will make plays and he's got a sort
28:02of magnetic thing going on where guys will play for him.
28:06And yes, there is a chance that he goes out plays plays well and forces around.
28:11So you know what? We're going to maybe take another week to consider that said if Deshaun Watson is the starting quarterback
28:18wouldn't be surprised if at some point this season probably the same like Dan was just talking about with Atlanta.
28:24You know, wouldn't be surprised if we end up seeing both quarterbacks.
28:28The only thing that matters for the Cleveland Browns this year besides just getting this team to a point where they could
28:35win consistently is knowing if they have their starting quarterback for 2027 on their roster right now.
28:40If not, they're going to have a big offseason.
28:43If yes, everything gets much easier. But that's the answer they would like to find out and that might take playing multiple quarterback.
28:50Yeah, they've been taking some swings and looking for a hit at some point.
28:54Guys, we do have some sad news to report.
28:57In fact, the man who actually shaped how we consume sports passed away today.
29:01ESPN's co-founder and first president Bill Rasmussen actually came up with the idea for the world's first all sports cable network with his son Scott.
29:09Back in 2019, Bill announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2014.
29:14ESPN chairman Jimmy Pataro called him a remarkable man, a visionary and an innovator.
29:18The father of sports television was 93. Week two of the NFL preseason.
29:22We got you covered. It was in fact our top story today.
29:26Fernando Mendoza getting some first team reps in that joint practice against the Texans.
29:30That matchup Thursday on ESPN. Steve Weich was at Niners Chargers joint practice.
29:34Keep in mind Mike Evans had a taped ankle at the end of practice.
29:39A little bit of a tweak there. All of these matchups you can catch on the ESPN app.
29:44When you know, you know. And Kevin O'Connell knew early, made the call.
29:48Kyler Murray is his starting quarterback. Got a glimpse of him against the Giants.
29:53Played just one series, two or three passing for 10 yards.
29:56But that's not really the story here. It's what's about to happen in week number one of the NFL season.
30:03Dan, I know you spent some time around this squad.
30:06What's exciting the Vikings and this fan base and this front office and this coaching staff?
30:11Well, it's the run game on offense. They really set out this off season to make some changes in that aspect of
30:17their offense, bringing in Frank Smith, who was Mike McDaniels offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins for the past several years.
30:24They feel like Smith has brought some new ideas to the run game.
30:28They're running more wide zone stuff. I had a chance to talk to Aaron Jones, their running back in one of the
30:35running backs in camp, and he went on and on about Frank Smith and his football mind and how much he's already learned from him and all that.
30:44So they really believe that the run game is going to be a benefit to, as it turns out, Kyler Murray, but
30:51whoever ended up playing quarterback for them and also that Kyler can be a factor in the run game as well with his mobility.
30:58So it's really not just the quarterback situation that was occupying the Vikings mind in terms of their offense this off season and where they could improve it.
31:07They really feel like they have a chance to elevate their run game as well and that that'll benefit Kyler, Kyler Murray,
31:14and you know, whoever else might end up playing quarterback for them this year.
31:18I can't wait to see him buy some time with those legs.
31:22We saw it in Arizona, but I got Justin Jefferson.
31:25I got Jordan Addison. There's some wrinkles to this offense with Kyler Murray at the helm that could be very entertaining from a fan's perspective.
31:33Hopefully it means wins for that organization. Now, I remember when Tucker Craft season ended.
31:37Boy, it was catastrophic playing some of the best ball in the NFL.
31:41He's coming back from that ACL tear and could be in line for a big payday.
31:46Here's their general manager, Brian Gunekust. Him getting back in the team drills really had no effect on anything, but it's good to see him out there.
31:55I mean, you know, he's worked his tail off.
31:58You know, congratulations to him. I mean, these are little things that are big things, you know, when you're coming off an injury like he's coming off.
32:06And so I know he was really excited to get out there and join his teammates.
32:11As far as the contract goes, it doesn't have any really effect on that.
32:15That's a whole part of this process is me day in and day out coming in, being consistent, stacking days without setbacks
32:22and accumulating these reps now in a team setting so that they can see my health and we can just keep taking the talk from there.
32:30To Jason's point, did you think about not doing the 11 on 11 and stuff until you- Never crossed my mind.
32:37Yeah, the dude wants to be out there. Wants to show that he's healthy and I got to mention, he wants to get paid.
32:44Ian, how do we handle this contract from a Green Bay perspective?
32:48The Packers really need to, I would say just watch, watch football, watch the field, watch, watch him go out there and
32:55play because there really is no doubt one, he's healthy.
32:58Two, you watch that interview and I mean this is a guy who wants to be out there, didn't consider holding in.
33:05It is really the exact kind of guy that the Green Bay Packers have wanted to draft and develop, which they did.
33:12When he gets a new contract, which I would not be surprised at all if it is this year, might be the preseason.
33:19You hope it's a preseason, but it might not be.
33:22Going to be the highest paid tight end in the NFL.
33:25And of course, he is not the only one.
33:28You also have the Detroit Lions and Sam Laporta also engaged in contract negotiations.
33:33Won't be surprised if he also was the highest paid tight end in the NFL.
33:37What Tucker Craft has on his side, not that he really needs anything, and now that he's shown that he is healthy,
33:44what he has on his side is just how good he was last year, Dan.
33:49And then when he came off the field, when he suffered his injury, the offense looked different.
33:54And if he needed to argue for his value as a star on this field, that probably spoke as loud as anything.
34:01Certainly the offense, their explosive element of their offense suffered a great deal once Tucker Craft went down last year and was difficult to replace.
34:09So they're hoping to get some of that back.
34:12We talked about, you guys talked about the Detroit Lions and Sam Laporta also in that tight end extension market.
34:18The Lions are in an interesting situation this offseason.
34:21They had four draft picks from the 2023 NFL draft that they felt like they wanted to keep around long term.
34:27Jack Campbell, linebacker, first round pick. Jameer Gibbs, first round pick at running back.
34:32Those guys both got deals. Sam Laporta still doesn't have one.
34:35And safety Brian Branch still doesn't have one. So the Lions are a team that has almost kind of drafted too well
34:42for its own good and ends up having to pick and choose which of which guys get extensions and which guys don't.
34:49You do wonder whether at some point there will be one that can't get done just because there were so many to do.
34:56Brian Branch still working through an injury. That one might take a little more time.
35:01But Laporta is a guy that the Lions would like to find out if they can keep around long term.
35:07Yeah, it's kind of wild man. Like, especially when it's not your you're the person not writing those checks, but you really
35:14can't pay everyone and they have dished out a whole lot of money this offseason.
35:18So we'll continue to monitor that situation. More to come here on the insiders.
35:23Terri on Arnold, a former first round picks been facing some serious legal trouble.
35:27We have the details on what's potentially next for the corner.
35:31You know, the feeling you make a pick in your fantasy draft in the entire room groans because they wanted that player
35:37or you grab a small school rookie off waivers and you start him right before he goes off in primetime.
35:44There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league.
35:47I'm JJ Zachary, host of the late round fantasy football podcast.
35:50Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off.
35:57We've got data driven analysis, historical trends and the strategies that separate winners from the rest.
36:02And your dominance doesn't stop with the draft. All season long.
36:06We have our 15 transactions, 10 trends, sleepers and the mailbag data driven quick hitting episodes to help bring home that league trophy.
36:13Listen to the late round fantasy football podcast on the I heart radio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
36:20Back here on the insiders, former Lions first rounder Terri on Arnolds was arrested this summer in connection to an armed robbery and a kidnapping case in Florida.
36:29Now the felony charges carry a potential sentence such a life in prison Detroit releasing Arnold as the legal situation continues to
36:35unfold for a little more context on what's next.
36:38Ian Rappaport back with us. Ian, what more can you add to the story?
36:43Well, I'll tell you about the timing and then what is going to happen to Terri on Arnolds.
36:48And this is something I reported earlier today with colleague Mike Garofalo.
36:52So our understanding is Terri on Arnold will be placed on the NFL's commissioner's exempt list, which means he'll be not able
36:59to practice and not able to play in games until and unless his legal situation gets resolved in whatever way it gets resolved.
37:06So that is likely going to be some time.
37:09He is still planning to sign with the Seahawks and they are not backing away from this.
37:14They're not walking away from them. They are going to sign him, but it's not expected to be for at least a couple of weeks.
37:22The Seahawks are still working through the timing of this.
37:25But our understanding is this is not immediate. And as far as him being placed in the commissioner's exempt list, our understanding
37:32is teams that were interested in him and he took several visits, they were told that this was the likelihood.
37:38So all would have signed him knowing that he might have to put him essentially to the side for a little bit as his situation gets resolved.
37:46So that is where Terri on Arnold is. Expect him to sign perhaps by the end of the summer.
37:52And then we'll see when he's able to get on the field or how his situation is resolved.
37:58And I know whenever those updates come in from a legal perspective, Ian, you and Mike will have us covered on that story.
38:05Some other news to get to here from a Seattle perspective to former Cowboy Trevon Diggs worked out for the Seahawks today.
38:12Corner also worked out for the Lions earlier this month.
38:15So there's some connections here with the Arnold story.
38:18Now, last year, he played in nine games with Dallas and Green Bay.
38:22No picks, 27 tackles. We're also waiting. You've been talking about contracts this offseason on Christian Gonzalez, certainly in line for the
38:29next big deal at the corner spot in the NFL.
38:32We saw Seattle pay Devin Witherspoon, making him the highest paid corner in the league.
38:37Conventional wisdom would tell you Gonzalez in line for a big deal.
38:40Dan, the cadence usually works like this. One really talented guy gets paid, sets the market a day, two days, three days later.
38:48The next guy, he then becomes the highest paid player.
38:51So Witherspoon already set the bar. What's the process?
38:54What's the holdup here right now for Gonzalez and the Patriots?
38:57Well, I still expect this deal to get done at some point.
39:01But, you know, unlike the running back situation from a couple of weeks ago where Bijan Robinson signed one day and then
39:08Jameer Gibbs signed the next day for a little bit more, this is taking a little bit longer.
39:13And it's probably not as simple as just Devin Witherspoon's getting $33 million a year.
39:18Christian Gonzalez should get $33.1 because Seattle has a specific way of doing their contracts with their guarantees and their cash flow.
39:25They do not guarantee money beyond the first year.
39:27In this case, it's the second year because they already had guaranteed the fifth year option.
39:32They don't do rolling guarantees a year ahead where, like, the 2028 guarantees on Devin Witherspoon's contract would trigger in 2027.
39:39He has to wait until 2028 to get that guaranteed.
39:42So all that said, if Christian Gonzalez wants year three guarantees or early triggers on the guarantees, then the Seattle contract with
39:49Devin Witherspoon does not establish a precedent that he can work off of.
39:53These tend to be all about cash flow, guarantee structure, basically when does the guy get his money.
39:59And the Patriots and Christian Gonzalez continue to work through that.
40:02But if you're wondering why it wasn't as simple as, oh, Devin Witherspoon got done, now Christian Gonzalez gets done, it gets
40:09to the issue of how different teams handle long-term contract structures differently.
40:13And that could be why it takes a little while for Gonzalez to get paid.
40:17Yeah, Dan, great stuff. I love that context because I don't think people will realize sometimes how the different teams work on some of these deals.
40:25I think it was Ian or Mike G yesterday on the show that told us they have the same representation.
40:32So maybe that's another point here as we just wait to find out exactly when this deal eventually comes together for Gonzalez and the Patriots.
40:40My name is Kyle Juszczyk. I play fullback for the San Francisco 49ers.
40:44And I scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
40:46It's the singing of the national anthem and America the beautiful that probably it settles in for these players as they look
40:53into the stands and see the family and friends certainly among them.
40:57My brothers are my biggest fans in the entire world.
41:00My brothers, my mom, my wife, like nobody goes to bat for me more than them.
41:05You just want to make the people that you care about proud of you.
41:09To feel that and genuinely feel that you've made them proud, like that's a job well done.
41:15It's about time to kick it off. We have been waiting for this.
41:19It's time to play some football. And these guys are ready to go.
41:23You are on the biggest stage in the world and you're experiencing the biggest high you could ever possibly imagine.
41:29It's hard to even wrap my head around because I go back to me playing with my brothers in the backyard and
41:36us pretending, you know, we're in the Super Bowl and you got to go score a touchdown to win.
41:42Five first downs, last five plays for the Niners off set up.
41:46The Chiefs 15, San Francisco first and 10, trailing by seven.
41:49Garoppolo under center. Jimmy Garoppolo was booting out to the right.
41:52The other guys weren't open. He came to me and I turned up field and I remember seeing the goal line and
41:59just like immediately my eyes, you know, blew up super wide.
42:03It was like, oh my gosh, I'm about to score.
42:06Like there's actually some room here. Your side gets caught at the 10 breaking attack.
42:11You check five. Got a block. Cuts into the end zone.
42:14Touchdown 49ers. Right after I scored, it was such a special moment because my family was in that end zone.
42:20They were probably 20 yards away from me. And after I scored, I pointed right to them.
42:26I'm going to get emotional. I'm so thankful too that just a random fan happened to be sitting behind my family, didn't know that they were my family.
42:34And he filmed the whole shot of me scoring, panning to my brothers, and they're just losing their minds.
42:40I'm the youngest of three boys. And all we did was play football in the backyard growing up.
42:4615-yard touchdown pass by San Francisco quarterback Kimmy Garoppolo to the fullback Kyle Hughes-Chek, weaving his way for the touchdown.
42:52And now an extra point away. The Niners could tie the game.
42:56And when we were playing ball in the backyard, you know, that last play is always, all right, the seconds are ticking down.
43:03You're in the Super Bowl. You've got to score a touchdown.
43:06And so to actually do that in real life and have my brothers, my wife, and my mom right there, and I'm
43:13pointing at them, like, it was just so cool.
43:16You have a second to catch your breath, and you're just like, and I do remember, like, I'm just looking around.
43:23I'm like, no, I just scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
43:26This is pretty cool. What an unbelievable moment. Cool doesn't even begin to describe it.
43:31Some other news to get to. Ben Johnson gave us some tough news.
43:35Running back Kyle Manunga week to week after sustaining a knee injury in practice on Sunday.
43:40Dude rushed for almost 800 yards, five touchdowns as a rookie.
43:43Also caught 18 passes for 164 yards. Some other running back news.
43:47How about this? Told you that this might happen here on the Insiders.
43:51Yesterday, Giants signing free agent running back Najee Harris.
43:54He gets a one-year deal. He's coming off the ACL.
43:57Joins a crowded running back room. Cam Scadaboo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, just to name a few.
44:03But Harbaugh obviously familiar with Harris and his time in Pittsburgh inside that division.
44:07Some other Giants news to get to. Adam Schefter.
44:10Giants officially, yes, signing Harris, but releasing Juju Smith-Schuster.
44:12Which also has us thinking about Malik Nabors. Continues to come back from that ACL.
44:17Back on the practice field. Yesterday, we heard him say on the show, my soul's been dead for so long just being away.
44:24John Harbaugh would love nothing more for him to come back from the dead.
44:29Is he ready or not? You know, I think the doctors will know.
44:33But also, the knee is stable. The knee is stable.
44:36Now, he's got to be in those situations where he just relearns how to play the game and protect himself.
44:42So, I think the doctors are going to know at the same time we're going to know because we're all going to
44:49see it and he's going to feel it. You're going to see him playing the game the way that's going to be,
44:56you know, first of all, he can protect himself.
44:59And secondly, that he can produce, right? So, I think we're going to know it when we see it, all of us.
45:05But, you know, ultimately, the doctors have to clear him.
45:09That's it. Giants could use him. He'd be a difference maker for that offense.
45:13The expanded footprint for the NFL continues to be a major storyline.
45:17Roger Goodell saying, quote, at some point, there will be NFL teams outside of the United States of America.
45:23Ian and Dan, pick the spot, man. Where are we going?
45:26Where are we landing a franchise, Ian? So, my wife and I took a lovely trip to Portugal this summer.
45:32All over Portugal. Had a great time in Porto.
45:35Nice. Which is a lovely city right along the Dura River.
45:39Look how beautiful that is, Dan. That is a great place for an NFL team.
45:43I will go a couple times a year just to visit.
45:47I would happily cover the Paris team. I would happily cover the Rome or Florence team.
45:52I think this is a very exciting opportunity for those of us who cover the league.
45:57Go sign it. We're all ready to go. The entire draft room groans because you just took the guy they wanted.
46:03There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league.
46:06I'm JJ Zacharyson, host of the award-winning Late Round Podcast.
46:09Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off.
46:17Listen to the Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
46:23This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.
