PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
The Insiders Podcast: Jalen Carter’s Record-Setting Contract Extension and Updates on the Patriots
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44 min
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Jul 29, 2026
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Wed, July 29, 2026
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Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. On this edition of The Insiders, which starts now.
0:05Hey everybody, welcome to this Tuesday edition of The Insiders, Patrick Claiborne.
0:09Here's Steve Weiss, Mike Garofalo and Ian Rapoport on his journalistic travels.
0:13Shout out to the industry where we all love deadlines and we had another today.
0:17That's what's new today coming into our newsroom. It was the self-imposed July 28th deadline by Baker Mayfield.
0:23The day veterans report for Tampa Bay for him to get a new deal with the team.
0:28And now he ultimately reports to camp with no new deal in place.
0:33So, Ian, we'll start with you. Where do we go from here?
0:36Yeah, first of all, my understanding is this is a pretty real deadline for Baker Mayfield.
0:41It's not one of those things where you're like, well, you know, I'd like a deal and then maybe, you know, I might consider one at another day.
0:50No, Baker Mayfield said the deadline is the camp reporting date.
0:54He meant it. I do not expect any other contract negotiation conversations to go forward.
0:59Baker Mayfield is set to play this contract out and really be in a place where he has been not only his
1:05most comfortable, but at his best where he is betting on himself.
1:09He's going to make $27 million this year, the last year of a three-year, $100 million contract extension that was very front loaded.
1:17He believes he is do a lot more. There's several quarterbacks starting quarterbacks in the fifties.
1:22Pretty clear. That is where Baker Mayfield believes he could be in the fact that had any extension happened, it would not
1:29have included hardly any, if any at all money that would any increases right now.
1:33Not any deal really would have paid him in the latter parts of next year and the following year.
1:39Just not really something like that Baker Mayfield was going to accept.
1:43So no deal for Baker as he now is set to be a free agent after the season.
1:49Look, the Bucs don't tend to respond to pressure when it comes to contracts.
1:53And last night we were on this show talking about Vita Veya coming out with a trade request now because the defensive tackle wanted to be paid.
2:02In this case, Baker Mayfield setting a deadline right at the start of training camp.
2:07They didn't buckle to that and all of a sudden say, OK, here's $60 million.
2:11From their perspective, if he plays so well that you have to pay him next offseason, that's a good problem to have.
2:18That means that he really balled out this year and showed that this is not a short-term thing by any stretch and
2:25that he can continue to be a long-term guy for you.
2:29It also keeps him on the field, which frankly, he doesn't need the money motivation to do that.
2:34This is a guy that's tough and willing to play through things no matter what the contract situation is.
2:40So from the Buccaneers' standpoint, it sounds like they're comfortable taking this into the season, into the offseason.
2:46Now look, there's nothing that says they can't just come with an offer and say, OK, here's $55 to $60 million.
2:53And Baker Mayfield can go, oh no, you missed the deadline.
2:56Like, no, no, he could take that deal at that point.
3:00But Veya had a trade request and a hold-in that was in the spring and now potentially could carry into the summer.
3:07Baker Mayfield is a starting quarterback. He can't play those cards.
3:10So this was his way of creating leverage. He set the deadline.
3:14It passed. I'm with Ian. It does feel very real.
3:17Potentially it could change. But from his standpoint, that's the approach.
3:21Yeah, look, and Baker Mayfield, salute to him for betting on himself.
3:24A lot of players won't do that because what's a player's biggest fear?
3:29That is injury. We talk about Baker Mayfield. He's tough.
3:32He plays through, you know, being hurt. And of course, there's a difference between being hurt and being injured.
3:38If he's able to avoid injury, and like you said, Mike, if he plays well, great problem to have because at the very least, he can get franchised.
3:47That franchise number is going to be up near $50 million if he's willing to play for that.
3:52But of course, it's always better for a team salary cap-wise to do an extension to amortize some of the money and
3:59some of the cap hits over several years instead of one year, which the franchise tag does.
4:05But again, good for Baker Mayfield. The key for everything to this, if he decides to stick to this route, is staying
4:12healthy for all 17 games because an injury, of course, could sabotage all of what he's banking on and risking if he
4:19decides to better himself throughout this season. Yeah, four teams for Baker Mayfield.
4:23We saw injuries kind of derail the end of his tenure in Cleveland.
4:27A little bit of experience with this process. As the process continues, Baker looking for that starter-type deal.
4:32There was veteran backup-type money for Kirk Cousins, where it's not going to be a backup.
4:37The Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach, Clint Kubiak, they would love to see Fernando Mendoza thrive in his rookie year.
4:44But to make it on the field, he now will have to supplant Kirk Cousins, who is the starter, according to the head coach.
4:52I would say his value as a player on our team is the most important thing.
4:57You know, his leadership, his veteran presence, you know, the way that he played in the spring was excellent.
5:03So that's, we brought him here to play really good football.
5:06And obviously the mentorship, that's a byproduct of that.
5:09That's the kind of guy that Kirk is. But Kirk knows, and Fernando knows, and Aiden knows, and Jacob knows that, you
5:16know, they're here to play great football. And, you know, that's our job as coaches to get them ready for the other stuff.
5:23In Minnesota, the quarterback picture a little more cloudy at the moment as we get to the competition between Kyler Murray and J.J.
5:31McCarthy, expecting that to heat up head coach Kevin O'Connell on how they administrate that particular quarterback battle.
5:36Kyler and J.J. will take reps with the first team.
5:39They'll also take reps with the second group. And I think that gives different layers to the evaluation as well.
5:46We want, you know, we want an elevator at the quarterback position.
5:50And in many ways doing that in this system is kind of a do your job mentality, which is, you know, running
5:57the show, throwing completions and just showing the ability to execute our offense with comfort.
6:01You know, we want to be thorough. We want to be comprehensive with this.
6:06But at the same time, I think it's important when we feel good about a decision, you know, as a group and we're ready to move forward.
6:14It'll be good to do that so we can prepare that player for the season.
6:19Prepare that player. Got a placeholder there, Ian. Both guys taking first team reps.
6:23It seems like he could go either way. Yeah, I think that's fair to say.
6:28But let's take a look at the landscape of the situation.
6:32First of all, Kyler Murray was a free agent last year.
6:35And of course, we know the Arizona Cardinals are paying the bulk of his salary.
6:40Cost nothing. And really had his choice of teams.
6:43He chose Minnesota. They really seem to be the prime spot for any quarterback who wanted a starting job.
6:49They found each other in a place where both were extremely excited and satisfied for it.
6:54I don't know if that puts Kyler Murray in the driver's seat here, but at least it shows there was mutual interest
7:01in making this happen and making this a very, very real quarterback competition.
7:05Kyler Murray is not an older dude. I mean, no, it seems like he's been in the league for a while.
7:12Still young, still can run, still has a ceiling that Kevin O'Connell could take advantage of.
7:17And for JJ McCarthy, Mike, this is a make or break year.
7:20He's a first round draft pick for various reasons that not quite lived up to it.
7:25Left the door open for a veteran. This is pretty open, but I will say this, the talent that Kyler Murray still
7:32has will certainly seems like it'll be tough for JJ McCarthy to beat here.
7:37A big challenge for Kyler Murray is going to be just spitting out the play call, just getting in the huddle, getting the terminology right.
7:45It's going to be very different for him. And that's also going to be the case with Fernando Mendoza.
7:51Kirk Cousins, not so much. A bit familiar with the system that Clint Kubiak is implementing.
7:56He has been through other branches of it. I like to call it the branches on the old Shanahan McVeigh-ish tree.
8:03And Clint Kubiak making it clear that Cousins is going to be the guy, as he said, taking the reps with the ones.
8:10Stopped a little bit short of declaring him the week one starter, but that is where this one is heading.
8:16But said he expects both Fernando Mendoza and Aiden O'Connell to push Cousins.
8:20I mean, this is consistent. Even before the Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza.
8:24Kubiak was at the league meeting in March in Arizona, and he said, you prefer a young guy to sit and watch first.
8:31Now, it was clear he was talking about Mendoza.
8:34I'm trying to remember at the time if they even had signed Cousins.
8:38I don't know that they had. But once he came into the fold, it was like, OK, Kirk Cousins is not taking
8:45that job at that point in the calendar unless he feels really good, sort of like you said about Kyler Murray, Ian,
8:52really good about his prospects of being the week one starter.
8:56That is going to be the case. I expect Mendoza to play early in the season.
9:01And look, he may light it up in training camp, take all the information in, spit it all out and say, hey,
9:08I got to play as soon as possible. Maybe that forces their hand earlier than expected.
9:13But right now, Cousins is going to be the guy.
9:16Yeah, you know, Clint Kubiak is steadfast. I think you nailed it.
9:20They had not signed Cousins yet when he made that statement about having a veteran quarterback kind of teach a younger quarterback.
9:27But we heard the same thing about Russell Wilson and Jackson Dart last year, right?
9:31We've covered this league long enough to know that almost any time you draft a rookie quarterback, even number one overall, well,
9:38we've got this veteran here who's going to take the day one snaps, the first day of practice until our young guy is ready, so to speak.
9:47That doesn't go saying, but we know that's the messaging.
9:50Look at the Raiders schedule in October. Kansas City at New England, Buffalo, the Rams.
9:55Okay, if Kirk Cousins gets through that, but not too well, that might be the time we see Mendoza come in.
10:01Now let's go to something Kevin O'Connell said about the Minnesota Vikings situation.
10:06They want one of these quarterbacks to be an elevator.
10:09Kevin O'Connell is wise enough to know it's not just what these guys do in the huddle and getting the play calls.
10:16It's how the other 10 guys in the huddle respond to them.
10:20And that's why he said they're each going to take first team reps and second team reps.
10:25And if they elevate the other guys around them, those guys will tell the coaching staff through their trust and their behavior, which quarterback they prefer.
10:33And that could go well into deciding who's going to be the starter in Minnesota.
10:38As both Kyler Murray and Kevin O'Connell have said, they would like to get this conversation finished.
10:43So whoever is the starter will have an opportunity to prepare for this upcoming season in which the Vikings expect to contend.
10:50We'll be back with Steve Weiss coming up a little bit later on as we get to some guys who could elevate our perception of them.
10:58But we start with elevating the pocketbooks for Denzel Ward.
11:02Congratulations. This tweet from Ian, a two-year, $62.2 million extension, making him the highest paid DB NFL history for the second time in his career.
11:10So congratulations to the history maker there. And also this tweet from Adam Schefter as we send out congratulations to Jalen Carter.
11:16A four-year deal could be worth up to $160 million.
11:20106 of that guaranteed the highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history as the Eagles, Ian, are able to lock up the
11:27centerpiece of their defense for a while. Yeah, they certainly are.
11:30And look, for Jalen Carter, he's taken up a lot of headlines.
11:34For some good reason, he is extremely talented, extremely hard to block.
11:38And when he is on the field, he is no doubt one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.
11:44But there's also been the other stuff. There's a spitting incident.
11:47He's been dealing with a shoulder injury, which caused his play to dip a little bit last year.
11:53What the Eagles are doing is betting on the potential.
11:56It is a huge deal. So four years, $152 million at the max.
12:00It's $40 million per year. And obviously this is a bigger deal, Mike, toward the back end of it.
12:06But Eclipse is Jeff Simmons' record-setting deal. They also paid Jordan Davis, another really good defensive tackle.
12:12Which means Mauro Ojambo probably going to end up as a free agent there.
12:16But clearly, the Eagles putting their money where the priority is, which is in the offense and, in this case, the defensive line.
12:24Yeah, the Eagles have had the depth at the defensive tackle position.
12:27Milton Williams, sort of in the Ojambo role a couple of years ago, wound up getting a huge bag from New England.
12:34So Mauro Ojambo could be the guy that we're talking about soon, getting that from another team.
12:40You're right. They paid a lot of money. $26 million a year and $38 million a year combined.
12:45That is $64 million a year, if I just did my math correctly, for their two defensive tackles.
12:51In Vic Fangio's scheme, that is extremely important. Now, the defensive tackle market was sort of stuck for a couple of years.
12:58Chris Jones was at $31 and change. And then Jeffrey Simmons goes to $35.
13:02Now it's $38. Well, if you're Vita Vea with the Buccaneers, who we talked about earlier in this segment, asking for a
13:09trade because he's been frustrated with the contract offers from the Bucs, you're saying, I am making $18 this year.
13:16Now, it's a good chunk of money. I'd like to make $18 this year.
13:20I'm not. But Vea is looking at $38 now and going, wait a minute.
13:25Am I getting less than half of the top of the market right now?
13:29So that's where you get his frustration. You also understand what the Bucs are trying to do.
13:34They want to get the best possible deal. They also appreciate Vita Vea.
13:39Jeff, I'm curious to see how they're going to handle this situation because I know that they still want to mend fences
13:45here and find a solution if they possibly can.
13:48Again, I talked yesterday. It's an experienced front office.
13:51They're not going to panic. They wouldn't panic at Baker Mayfield's situation either.
13:55So let's see how that develops. But that gives you a little perspective for Vea.
14:00He knew this deal was coming. He knew even in the spring Jeffrey Simmons' deal was coming.
14:05Wanted a big bump. And that's why he has gotten to the point that he's requested a trade, which can always be
14:12rescinded as soon as he signs a deal. Yeah, I would imagine Vita Vea has a pretty easy solution to this problem for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
14:21We will have more from our insiders as we get started on the farewell tour for Aaron Rodgers.
14:27We'll see Ian and Mike then. Maybe some of these teams would like to acquire the services of one Vita Vea, the longest NFC championship game droughts.
14:35How about that team right there at the top?
14:38The Dallas Cowboys. It has been since 1995, but they have hope.
14:42They have hope to get past that game as we go to Oxnard, where Jane Slater is standing by.
14:48Jane, good evening to you. They got no players on the pup list.
14:52There's no really publicized contract holdouts or dispute. It seems like it's been relatively quiet.
14:57Is that because they haven't done anything or are they just really good at keeping secrets now?
15:02Well, well, well, Patrick. You know, Jerry Jones acknowledged the lack of offseason drama, but and he even said he wasn't planning
15:09on stirring things up in the next few days.
15:12But leave it to Jerry. A few moments later, he told us that he wasn't opposed the idea of making a big
15:19significant move if it meant that it could improve the team.
15:22In fact, Patrick, he followed it up by telling us that he had been on the phone with a team and an owner as early as Monday.
15:31Listen in. I talked about a situation yesterday with another team, another owner yesterday.
15:35Very interested. I'd give up future to add substantive to where we are today as to a player to give you an
15:42idea about would I invest something substantive to get the right kind of deal to improve us opening day?
15:48I would. I feel that good about this thing this year.
15:52That one word that he used there caught my attention, the word substantive.
15:56Now, when I think of that word, that is a word that he has used in past aggressive pursuits.
16:02One aggressive pursuit that comes to mind was Max Crosby.
16:05As you will remember back then in the offseason, he made an offer to the Raiders, according to multiple sources.
16:11It included at least a first round pick and a player.
16:15Might that be in play here? He was a player they thought highly of.
16:19I circled back on this with Jerry. Why did you walk away from Max Crosby when it fell apart with the Ravens and not revisit that then?
16:28We didn't. No, because there's nothing more to elaborate about.
16:31But we did not walk away. Would a player of that caliber be someone that you would be willing to engage with
16:38another team in two weeks so that we're not all speculating?
16:41Again, let's don't hypothetical here and be you specifically a player in a hypothetical situation.
16:46That is tampering. That really is. And so we don't want to talk like that and act like that.
16:52But we that is a good example of what you can stand ready.
16:56If, in fact, you think the rest of your team is coming along well, then those things stay alive.
17:02Now, to be clear, I wasn't trying to have an I got you moment.
17:07And Jerry and Steven made it very, very clear that Max Crosby is a Raider.
17:11He wants to be a Raider. And talking about a player, even if it's in a hypothetical situation, is, in fact, tampering
17:18and they are not going to go there at all.
17:22With that being said, Max Crosby has the type of resume that would be quite intriguing.
17:27It would be the caliber of player that they would be interested in.
17:31Now, I also want to point out that a lot of things have to happen, right?
17:36He says that the reason why he's even entertaining these thoughts is because he likes what he saw from the offense last year.
17:43And if the defense continues to trend and he likes what he's getting from the offensive line, he doesn't want to wait until midseason.
17:51He would be happy trading something away in the future in order for this year to get off to a great start.
17:58As for Max Crosby, I did think it was interesting that Clint Kubiak, his coach with the Raiders, pointed out this week that, quote, he's ready to go.
18:07He's ready to practice and he'll get first team reps tomorrow.
18:10So his health is good to go. Now, again, whether this is a player they're poking around on guys, I don't know.
18:17But he's at least telling us that it might be quiet.
18:20But behind the scenes, Jerry's still cooking in the kitchen.
18:24Yeah, they didn't walk away. And also a hypothetical player who may or may not be another player that is very good.
18:31The Cowboys would like to have Jane Slater with the latest on the Dallas Cowboys after a relatively quiet offseason in Oxnard.
18:38Thank you, Jane. Fantasy draft rules to live by not draft by live by.
18:42That's coming up with Adam Rank on this edition of the Insiders and this next camp for Aaron Rodgers.
18:48The last camp for Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback on his farewell tour coming up next on the Insider.
18:54Back here on the Insider Sounds, what's new today coming into the NFL LA newsroom.
18:5849ers head coach Kyle Shanahan detailing and clarifying some information related to his car crash that happened earlier this month.
19:05Speaking to a small group of reporters saying he was going 20 miles an hour, dropped his phone, it was stuck in his seats, slid off, looked up.
19:14Eventually, his airbags were hitting him in the face.
19:16said the accident was his fault, not the fault of the 21-year-old woman who was driving the other vehicle.
19:22The Steelers reporting to training camp in La Trobe.
19:25Aaron Rodgers highlighting this week brought him back as well as how he realized this might be it for his playing career.
19:32I thought last year might be it. And then Mike got hired and I talked to the wife and she said, you can do one more year.
19:41So I said, well, let's see if it works out.
19:44And then it kind of all came together. We got 13 years together, got a long track record of success and playoff run, Super Bowl championship.
19:52And then just the full circle, seeing each other now where we're at in life.
19:57I think I'm the same age that he was when he got hired in Green Bay.
20:02So that's a nice full circle moment for both of us.
20:05And so it gets his old coach back, Mike, and the farewell tour begins.
20:10Brittany Rogers coming through here and being the influence that we didn't even know.
20:14It's Brittany with an I, by the way. That's how it's spelled.
20:18That is his wife that behind the scenes made the push to Aaron Rogers for him to come back for one more season.
20:25No wiggle room on this one. He making it clear that he has made his decision.
20:30And I do. I'm trying to remember last year because, you know, Mike Tomlin was a big push and I'm pretty sure
20:37that there was a little bit of wiggle room.
20:40So now for him to be so firm in saying that this is it now.
20:45Now, this feels like a lot of loops being closed.
20:48Mike McCarthy, the reunion with him. One more season here with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well.
20:53Also reuniting with his family off the field recently, making that clear via his Instagram post.
20:58So this does feel like a lot of the things that needed to be tied up in Aaron Rogers' life and in
21:05his football career coming to a close. And obviously he'd like to do that while holding a Lombardi trophy.
21:11Steelers going to have some work out ahead of them to do that, Ian.
21:16Yeah. And it does really feel like in this back half of Aaron Rogers' career, there has been obviously some unfinished business that he'd like to handle.
21:24You mentioned the family off the field. Certainly heartwarming to see that.
21:28Now says he is married, has a wife who has weighed in on football decisions, certainly seems to be in a very good place in life.
21:36Had the sort of divorce, for lack of a better word, with the Green Bay Packers and with Mike McCarthy.
21:43Now reunited here with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We've seen some storybook endings in the NFL, but for Aaron Rogers and the Pittsburgh
21:50Steelers, what they hope is that they are starting to write one.
21:53They have a team that is plenty talented enough.
21:56They have a coach in Mike McCarthy, who in weirdly underrated fashion has always, always, always had an excellent office.
22:03Now the offense now, if Aaron Rogers can play a little bit like the Aaron Rogers that we have seen at the
22:10end of last year, this can be a very, very good Steelers team.
22:14We'll see Patrick, if Rogers gets the ending he wants.
22:17Yeah. There will be no more deals for Aaron Rogers to worry about and no more decisions.
22:22One more run. By the way, Patrick, Patrick, we're all married here, right?
22:26Like he's at the point now where he's referring to the wife, like the old ball.
22:31And it seems a little early for me. Well, yeah, it's fair.
22:35It's fair. 22, 22 years. Lots changed for Aaron Rogers and congratulations to him on concluding that story.
22:41It's a different story elsewhere where Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Saturday said there was an offer out to Christian Gonzalez that
22:48would allegedly make him the highest paid corner ever.
22:51Christian Gonzalez says he's going to have those discussions actually in private.
22:54Everybody knows what Mr. Kraft has done. A ton of respect for Mr.
22:59Kraft and what he's done with this franchise. And, you know, it's just something we don't want to handle to the media.
23:06You know, I keep that with the team and my team and go on about that.
23:11I mean, it's ball. I'm going to come out and play some ball and have fun.
23:16You know, we had a tough ending of the year, you know, that sits on everybody's mind all year and just wanted
23:23to get on the field and do what I do.
23:26So, Ian, we have the player in this instance deciding to keep it the Patriot way.
23:31And the owner who was the owner during the heyday of the Patriot way, deciding to, you know, just say some things about the contract.
23:39We didn't necessarily give us years and guarantees, but he said some things.
23:43Yeah. Well, first of all, one of the big parts of this, Christian Gonzalez is an excellent player who deserves all the money, right?
23:50Like, I don't believe that is in his speed.
23:53The Patriots making an offer to make him the highest paid corner in the NFL, which as we learned earlier in this
24:00show has now the ball has been raised a little bit because Denzel Ward eclipsed that, but this is a clear view
24:07for the Patriots that this is a guy who deserves it and should get paid.
24:12This also is interesting because he has the same agent as Devin Witherspoon with the Seahawks certainly feels like that contract extension
24:19is further along than that of Christian Gonzalez. And to me, this seems just my read on the situation very far off.
24:26Like, it does not seem like there's any work movement toward this deal actually getting done.
24:31You hope it would for all sides. It's still early.
24:34That being said, he is still going to go out there this year and be an excellent, excellent player, which only raises his price tag.
24:42He doesn't get a deal done. Devin Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez, both represented by the same agency, both players.
24:48Like what you try to do, you'd love to do if you're an agent is sign one and then have the other
24:55ones just like Denzel Ward with that point two that got them over that.
24:59Then you can be like, we had the highest paid corner in the NFL twice.
25:04But if you're the player, you don't want that to be short-lived and you don't want to be the first guy only
25:11to get leapfrogged by the second guy. So there's a lot of dynamics at play.
25:16And that's why Mike Vrabel came out day one and said, we're negotiating with Christian Gonzalez.
25:21We're not negotiating with the Seahawks or Devin Witherspoon.
25:24This is all we're trying to do. I understand your point, Patrick, about asking Robert Kraft a follow-up question.
25:30Like, you know, the guarantees. Guarantees. Like, I just don't know that he would have been ready.
25:35Does he know the three-year cash flow? Like, you know, I don't know.
25:39Are there offsets on the guarantees in year four?
25:42I don't know. But, you know, he got the CliffsNotes version that we made him a huge offer.
25:48Yeah. And that's ultimately what I would like to have fully-fledged contract discussions in the media because it behooves us and our opportunities.
25:55Yeah. So we are doing it. Yeah. That's how we would like to operate.
26:00The Miami Dolphins veterans reporting to training camp in Miami Gardens.
26:03It was in Green Bay where Jeff Halfley and Malik Willis kind of got this opportunity.
26:08And they look ahead to the opportunity for both of them in 2026.
26:12I think the key for Malik will be it is his confidence.
26:16And it is his chemistry with those wideouts. And we need to figure out exactly who those wideouts are and what the chemistry is going to look like.
26:25But I want to see his confidence. And I want him to focus in on that and let me take care of the rest.
26:32But I'm excited for him. He worked really hard this summer.
26:36He was in Jacksonville a bunch of training. He had a bunch of the receivers running routes, running the plays with them,
26:43holding workouts out there, which was really cool to see him kind of lead that charge.
26:48So we'll see. We all play football at a high level where we want to be in the NFL.
26:54Every team has good players. It's just putting them in position to be successful.
26:58And all the guys that have big names at one point didn't have a big name.
27:03And I think that's how it goes. You just got to prove it.
27:08And that's where we're at right now. It is time for the Wolf of Ball Street as Cam Wolf joins us here
27:15on this edition of the Insiders, taking us through some camps.
27:18And I hear, Cam, that there's a word that they're avoiding there in Miami Gardens.
27:23Patrick, don't say rebuild in Miami. Nothing more important than figure out who are the offensive core players they can build around for the future.
27:31And let's start with Malik Willis because he is the guy that starts this engine.
27:35You see the throwing right here. He had a Jacksonville camp this earlier this offseason, this summer, where he had seven or
27:42eight guys come from a three-week camp. I learned about this.
27:46His quarterback coach, Sean McAvoy, quarterback takeover, ran 12 throwing sessions.
27:49Guys came in and out. Guys like Malik Washington, Greg Dolsage, Jalen Tolbert, Terrace Marshall.
27:54Some guys did a week. Some guys did two weeks.
27:57The goal was really to get the chemistry, getting in and out of breaks, knowing each other.
28:03So when you get into training camp, you can be ready to eat.
28:07I've talked to a lot of people this offseason who have wondered, Does Malik Willis have a real chance to show who he is?
28:14He scoffed at that idea. He said, this is about my opportunity, our opportunity, and why can't guys step up?
28:21I'm looking at Malik Washington in this training camp.
28:24Can him and Malik Willis create that chemistry to be guys we can remember at the end of this season?
28:30And let's go to the Carolina Panthers, who I got to see last week in training camp.
28:35And there's two players that stood out to me that I was buzzing on.
28:40Let's start with running back Jonathan Brooks. He hasn't played much in his first two years, but multiple people on that staff
28:47tell me he is the X factor for our season.
28:50One coach told me he just has another gear that can take our offense to the next level.
28:55I saw it in practice. He made a juke move and made me say, wow.
29:00Today, I'm told he made a cut so deep.
29:03It made Devin Lloyd, one of their top free agents, miss and went upfield.
29:07Now, the big thing for Brooks is health. He has not been healthy, but if he can stay healthy, they believe he
29:14is not only going to form a one-two punch with Chuba Hubbard, but he's eventually going to be the lead backfield.
29:21And Devin Lloyd on the other side is that green dot in the middle.
29:26I talked to their defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero. He said, I haven't had a linebacker that does on all three levels.
29:32What Lloyd does since Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willis.
29:35Yes, huge names. They think that these two guys can help this Panthers team be next level when they come into the season.
29:42And finally, let's go to the New England Patriots.
29:45A lot of talk about AJ Brown and Drake May.
29:48From my talks with people there, it's been a slow start for these two chemistry-wise.
29:53Just four days, so don't overreact. But it's a sign that talent doesn't always equal immediate chemistry.
29:58The Patriots staff know AJ Brown well, but Drake May doesn't.
30:02So these next few weeks are going to be really important to see what AJ likes, what Drake May likes.
30:08AJ talked about trying to get a chemistry with Drake, learning what makes him go.
30:13He also talked about Mike Vrabel chewing him out on a play that he thought AJ should have made.
30:19These are things that are going to help them grow and a sign that it could be rocky in the beginning.
30:26But the hope is that AJ is eventually that guy for Drake May.
30:30We're going to watch this throughout camp. I'm also watching the back end of the New England Patriots receiver room.
30:36With these additions, they have a crowded jumbo receiver room.
30:39And so there could be some guys on that back end of the roster that are trade candidates at the end of
30:46training camp that could be a playmaker for another team.
30:49Yeah, as the training camp goes on, unfortunately, and you saw it at the start of Panthers camp, that need could arise
30:56for some other teams, the way the injuries operate.
30:59The Wolf of Ball Street, Cam Wolf, here with us on the Insiders.
31:03Folks, football's back. Back to the end of the weekend.
31:06Kicks off August 1st with live coverage from NFL training camps all over the league.
31:11Tune in Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Eastern on ESPN and NFL Network.
31:15And coverage continues throughout the weekend on NFL Network.
31:18Back here with Mark Ross and Steve. Why is Mark has something special for us, Steve?
31:23Because, you know, as media, as folks with microphones, we're constantly scanning for stars.
31:28Mark has found these stars that are under the radar for 2026.
31:31I love it. I can't wait. Mark's always got something in the bag for us.
31:36So who are you picking up on your highly attuned scanners right now, Mark?
31:41Well, I'm going to drop three guys on you.
31:43And the first guy is wide receiver Parker Washington from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
31:48Patrick, you know, when we did game day live all year, we go to the Jags games.
31:53This guy is just making plays. And that was in spurts.
31:56Week 1 to 15, he only averaged 38.5 yards per game.
32:00But then the last three weeks, he averaged almost 116 yards per game.
32:04All the big plays there seem to go his way.
32:07Let's check this out. The first player since Deshaun Jackson in 2009 to have 750 receiving yards and multiple punt return touchdowns in the same season.
32:15So I expect him to become even more integral of a part of that offense this season.
32:21Then I will go to my next guy on defense here.
32:24That's Edgerin Cooper, the linebacker from Green Bay. When he came out, he was my favorite defensive player in the draft.
32:31First year showed huge flashes. He had three and a half sacks.
32:35Last year, his first as a full-time starter. Had 118 tackles, second on the team.
32:39And really, this season, he kind of was out of position last year where he had to play middle linebacker.
32:46They signed Zaire Franklin to play the middle. Quay Walker is gone, which will allow Cooper to really roam free, which is what he does best.
32:54And after his first two years, his stats really favor.
32:57We mentioned Patrick Willis earlier. Very favorable with Patrick Willis.
33:00My last guy is Jamison Williams, the wide receiver from Detroit.
33:04Kind of overshadowed in an offense there by Amon Ross, St.
33:07Brown, and Jameer Gibbs. But this guy has been ultra productive.
33:11First in the NFL since he's been in the league with 17.2 yards per catch.
33:16First in the league tied with Jamar Chase with 10 catches over 30-plus yards.
33:20And has had back-to-back 1,000-yard receivers with seven touchdowns.
33:23So, Steve, all three of these guys will even have more of a breakout season to come when more people will know who these guys are.
33:31I love that trio. I mean, I'm a big Parker Washington guy.
33:35And Edwin Cooper also, a real good coverage linebacker.
33:38Mark, one of your favorite players I hear you talk about you didn't have on the list.
33:43And that is running back Kenneth Gainwell, who was Pittsburgh's best player last year, who now is in Tampa Bay.
33:49We were talking about Baker Mayfield earlier when you've got a running back who caught 73 balls last year.
33:55He's the ultimate dump-off and outlet player, but also is a much tougher runner and moves the sticks and makes plays like people don't give him credit for.
34:04So, you talk about a player under the radar now in Tampa Bay?
34:08This is one of those guys at the end of the season we could be talking about is the swing vote is
34:15the difference maker to getting a team to the playoffs.
34:19And he's one of your favorite guys, man. That was a good one, Steve.
34:23Steve, that's why you're the veteran. That's why you're a Hall of Famer.
34:27You know, you scooped me on that one. Took my own guy from me, but that's why you do what you do, man.
34:34Can't get a ball, bro. Yeah, that's the thing.
34:37You've got multiple layers of scanners here getting all the top options there.
34:4173 catches for a guy who only started two games.
34:44Folks, when we come back, all kinds of rules in our world, but some of them actually help you.
34:50Adam Rank's five rules for fantasy drafts coming up next.
34:54And we are continuing our 2026 fantasy football primer.
34:56Your drafts on the way. Adam Rank is on our show with five absolute rules people need to follow.
35:02Yeah, thanks so much, Patrick. I'm back. Not a moment too soon because the fantasy football season is upon us.
35:09So that's right. I'll do the top five things you need to know heading into your fantasy football season.
35:15We start at number five with the most basic rule ever, and that is to know your league scoring settings.
35:21Do you start three receivers, multiple flex? Do you have a crooked commissioner that pushed through a tight end scoring premium option
35:28that nobody thought that he thought that nobody would notice?
35:31That seems really personal. Oh, it is because sometimes you will get a commissioner who's trying to push across the waiver wire
35:38amendment, maybe mixing in some new fun scoring options, but don't fall for it.
35:43You know what? When in actuality, that commissioner is doing nothing more than to disenfranchise a lot of league owners by stripping away your voting rights.
35:51I shouldn't need a passport to vote on rules changes.
35:54This isn't Olive Garden. Of course not. But number four, you don't need to shop for brand names.
36:00There's going to come a time in your draft when you're looking at some familiar names like Tyreek Hill, Stefan Diggs, Brandon Ayuk, guys who are not playing.
36:09So don't do this. It's a lot like when you're flying into New Orleans and you head to the nearest Chipotle instead
36:16of going somewhere else, which actually happened. I'm not naming any names.
36:19They might know who they are. They might be related to somebody who works here.
36:24But listen, I get the allure. However, you want to try something cool.
36:28The kids are in the back. Listen, the kids are in the back complaining they want to go to McDonald's or doing whatever.
36:36And you got veterans out there. Listen, here's the thing.
36:39Go look for something new and something exciting. Look for some of the rookies.
36:43Last year, I took Harold Fanning Jr. in the Scott Fishbowl Fantasy Draft, and it worked out pretty sweet for me.
36:50And that's something else you need to keep an eye on.
36:53Number three, familiarize yourself with coaching changes. Yes, Clint Kubiak is no longer the Seahawks coach.
36:58He's the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Does this mean JSN takes a step back?
37:03Is Trey Tucker a breakout guy? And what about Mike McDaniel coaching with the Chargers?
37:08The khaki king working with the jogger jester. This is a collaboration that you want to be a part of.
37:14Quinton Johnson could be reaching his full potential. Amarian Hampton is this year's version of Devon HN.
37:20I'm not saying that it's an absolute lock, but these are the kind of things that you need to be on the lookout for.
37:27Which leads me to the next point. Draft this year's team, not a reboot of last year's team.
37:33Too often, people try to recreate the past instead of looking forward, which is why we come up with shows like The
37:40Mentalist, which was clearly a ripoff of Psych. Or like Friends and Living Single.
37:44Yeah, exactly. Good point, Patrick. Yes, indeed. So instead of recycling last year's draft sheet, look forward and project who is going to take a giant step forward.
37:53Pick. And here's number one. Number one, pick who you want.
37:57Don't let anybody talk you out of what you want to do.
38:01I told you last year, draft JSN. And yet there were people online who tried to bully me out of that pick
38:08because, you know, they didn't think they thought it was an idiot, thought it was stupid.
38:13And I'm like, why am I letting the South will rise again, 8-6-8-6 on Twitter talk me out of anything?
38:19He's got 37 followers. Why should his opinion matter?
38:22And I will say this, too. You don't need to necessarily listen to what I say, either.
38:27I spend a lot of time studying this, trying to come up with the most reasonable outcomes.
38:33But even sometimes I get it wrong. Like 2024 Cal Pitts.
38:36All right. Listen, the names are not important, Patrick.
38:39That's a little too close to home. But listen, this year, if you think that Luther Burden III is going to break out, follow your gut.
38:47Don't listen to the other dorks who don't know anything else.
38:51Go out there. Do the work. Put in your time.
38:54And you've got to go out there and make picks that you're comfortable with.
38:58And for more insights like this. I can't let you do that.
39:02No, I was going to say, tune in to NFL Fantasy Live this season.
39:06I thought you were going to pitch your podcast.
39:09Oh, no. But I will say this about my podcast.
39:12We'll have Draft Dr. Phil on this week. We can't do that.
39:16Dr. Phil? Draft Dr. Phil. Not that Dr. Phil.
39:19Oh, okay. This guy's actually cool. Yeah, I was getting worried there.
39:23No, no, no, no, not him. ESPN Fantasy Football, the official fantasy game in the NFL and new this season, knockout leagues.
39:30Each week, the lowest scoring team is eliminated until only one is left standing.
39:34Download the ESPN Fantasy app for free today and sign up to play the number one fantasy game.
39:40Time now for leaving a mark as Mark Ross joins me, Mike Garofalo and Ian Rapoport for some hot takes.
39:46He's going to leave his mark with what he's about to lay on you here with these hot things.
39:52Go, Mark. Let's leave these marks. First of all, we talk about worst to first.
39:57Well, let's go first to worst. And that's going to be the Chicago Bears in that NFC Central.
40:03And what they did last year was unbelievable because they led the league in 33 takeaways and the first interceptions with 23.
40:10And they were 9-0 when they created multiple takeaways, but only 2-6 when they had one or fewer.
40:15In all other defensive categories, they pretty much bottom five, sometimes bottom three in the league.
40:20So those turnovers are really the key. The big problem is the three players that created 20 of those turnovers, Nashawn Wright,
40:27Kevin Byard, and Tremaine Edmonds, are all gone. So that, to me, is not really sustainable for next season, unless Caleb Williams just takes a huge leap.
40:36What is sustainable is, on the flip side, the Houston Texans, who had arguably the best defense in the league last year,
40:43first in total defense, second in points per game, it's going to take them to the Super Bowl.
40:49We're going to see one of those classic years where they just absolutely dominate.
40:53Last season, they were great during most of the game.
40:56And then they were even better in the fourth quarter where they just absolutely shut teams down.
41:02They had 73 drives, fellas, where they didn't even allow a first down.
41:06And, of course, they've got the Daniil Hunter-Will Anderson combination, the best pass rushing duo in the league, and they've got the best corner.
41:13And I love the addition of Caden McDonald, the rookie from Ohio State, who will make them even better and more nasty.
41:20Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke got my number one vote for assistant coach of the year.
41:25Last year was shocked he wasn't even named a finalist.
41:29Maybe that changes this year if this defense does show out the way that Mark said that.
41:34As for the Bears, we showed some, what we call in the business, B-roll of Ben Johnson.
41:39He was, like, staring right through you, Mark. I think he actually heard what you were saying there.
41:45And Ben Johnson is trying to guard against that second-year letdown.
41:48Let's see if it can happen there, Ian. I hear you, Mark.
41:52It does feel like the Caleb Williams is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
41:58Leap is coming. Just hard to schedule. I get it.
42:01Reading the TV. Meanwhile, nothing wrong with the Houston Texans defense.
42:05Maybe my favorite defense to watch over the last 10 years.
42:08I am on that hot take. You know what I'm also all in on?
42:13Football. It is that time of year. Football is back.
42:16Back Together weekend kicks off August 1st with live coverage from NFL training camps across the league.
42:21Tune in Saturday starting at 9 a.m. on ESPN and NFL Network and continues throughout the weekend on NFL Network.
42:28Where will I be? I have no idea. You should watch.
42:31Back here on the Insiders arriving today, the veteran young star quarterback Jaden Daniels for the Washington Commanders camp.
42:37Rocking the Simpsons shirt. And the reason, I can tell you now, that we've had Ian Rappaport joining us from one of
42:44the esteemed airport lounges around this great nation of ours is Ian was there reporting on the Commanders earlier today.
42:50What can you tell us from your work today, Ian?
42:54First of all, Jaden Daniels was referred to the Simpsons as a classic.
42:58I told him how my son Jude is also a fan.
43:01He liked that very much. One of the names we've associated with the Commanders over the last several months, Brandon Ayuk, it
43:08certainly seems like those close that includes some in the Commanders building are much more concerned with his well, making sure he is okay than signing.
43:16And that seems to be a long shot right now.
43:20Plenty of other. On day, a lot of sense.
43:22Keenan Allen also available. Brandon Ayuk, though, man, just just as like football right now is where he's headed.
43:28Right. Latest from Peter's general manager was asked about that today and said creatively by JP Finley, our buddy down there, who
43:35said, do you take in the social media cases?
43:38Not usually. And then he smiled. He said, usually.
43:41So in this case, yeah. Yeah. Thank you guys for taking in our show today.
43:46We'll be back tomorrow with another edition of the Insiders.
43:49Jane Slater live from Oxnard. We'll see you then.
43:52Good night, everybody. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.
