Bijan gets a bag 💰 + why the Crosby situation Bears watching
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
38 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Aug 4, 2026
Published
Tue, August 4, 2026
8
Player insights
7
Players mentioned
Topics
Baker MayfieldBijan RobinsonChris OlaveGarrett WilsonJahmyr GibbsJonathan TaylorTerry McLaurin
Player analysis
Player insights
Baker Mayfield
PositiveRole22:06
The source notes that Baker Mayfield is playing with a chip on his shoulder after feeling disrespected by contract negotiations, which the source identifies as the 'best version' of the quarterback.
Insight pagePositiveValue31:37
Despite a frosty contract negotiation where Baker Mayfield felt disrespected by the Buccaneers' offer, the source notes the team offered a two-year extension worth over $100 million. The source believes a 'bitter Baker' is the best version of the quarterback and expects him to remain the starter.
Insight pageBijan Robinson
PositiveValue4:05
Bijan Robinson signed a 3-year deal worth up to $75 million, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. With $57 million guaranteed, this contract resets the market and confirms his status as a top-tier fantasy asset.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveValue35:11
The source highlights Chris Olave's massive four-year, $132 million contract extension as part of a trend of high-earning Ohio State wide receivers.
Insight pageGarrett Wilson
PositiveValue35:26
The source notes Garrett Wilson's four-year, $130 million contract extension.
Insight pageJahmyr Gibbs
PositiveValue5:36
The source believes the Bijan Robinson contract provides a roadmap for Jahmyr Gibbs to secure a new deal, as both players were viewed in the same bucket as top fantasy picks and high-level producers.
Insight pageJonathan Taylor
PositiveValue5:56
Jonathan Taylor is expected to be next in line for a new contract following the market reset by Bijan Robinson. The source notes Taylor has been a 'good soldier' by practicing throughout the process.
Insight pageTerry McLaurin
PositiveValue35:28
The source notes Terry McLaurin's three-year, $97 million contract extension.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So, you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for.
0:08You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist.
0:14The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew.
0:18Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for.
0:23From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook.
0:28Welcome back to The Adam Schefter Podcast, and welcome back to football.
0:32The first preseason game of the summer of the season is this week, the Pro Football Hall of Fame game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers.
0:41All those people saying, can't wait for football. Well, here it is.
0:45And let's see how long it takes those same people to say, I'm sick of preseason football.
0:50Let's get to the regular season. Should take about a week or two.
0:54We'll find out. Nevertheless, Panthers, Cardinals, Thursday night, Pro Football Hall of Fame should be fun to watch and to help us
1:01get ready for Thursday night and everything going on across the league.
1:05We now welcome in my friend, my colleague, the co-host of the Pat McAfee Show, Ty Schmidt for this week's six-pack, which is brought to you by ZipRecruiter.
1:14Try it for free at ZipRecruiter.com slash Adam. Meet your match on ZipRecruiter.
1:19Hi. Thank you very much, Shefty. Good to be with you as always.
1:23I think that might be wishful thinking. I agree.
1:26People, hey, listen, we can't wait for football to get back.
1:29Usually, I think it takes maybe about two to three drives in the Hall of Fame game for people to say, enough of this garbage.
1:38Let's get to the regular season. But I will say, I wasn't completely there yet.
1:42I mean, it's awesome seeing training camp videos and highlights and all that kind of stuff.
1:48But it's still, I mean, you kind of, you know what it is.
1:52We've done this song and dance before. But I was in Latrobe yesterday for Steelers training camp and we stuck around for a walkthrough that they had.
2:01And that kind of got me back in the mode.
2:04I was like, okay, we're here. This is incredible.
2:07You know, seeing Rodgers out there throwing balls to DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman and Pat Friermuth and all the new faces that are there.
2:15It finally felt like football was here. So I don't know about the Hall of Fame game and getting too excited about that.
2:22I've been burned by that one too many times.
2:25But you're right. Football is here. And man, it's we're just going to the season, the actual season is going to be here before we know it.
2:34And here it is Thursday night. Yeah, well said.
2:37All right. With that in mind, Shefty, we got a lot of stuff to cover today.
2:42So let's get right in to this week's six pack.
2:45Topic number one. Earlier this morning, B. John Robinson signed a new deal that makes him the highest paid running back in the NFL.
2:53What can you tell us about that? And what does that mean for some of these other running back holdings that are going on right now?
3:02Well, B. John Robinson becomes the highest paid running back in NFL history.
3:06It's a three year deal worth up to $75 million.
3:09The base value in those three years is $66.75, $22.25 million per year.
3:13He had two years and $15 million left. So he's under contract to the Falcons for five years at about $90 million.
3:21He gets a huge amount of guaranteed money up front.
3:24I think it's 57 guaranteed, 31 at signing. A lot of big numbers.
3:28And it resets the running back market and elevates these players to a higher tier, which is what they should be paid to begin with.
3:36What's interesting about this deal to me is I think everybody viewed B.
3:40John Robinson and Jameer Gibbs in the same bucket, two great running backs, two top fantasy picks, two running backs, both staging holdings there, but not practicing.
3:49But what the B. John deal does is I believe it not only helps Jameer Gibbs, but I also think it provides
3:56a roadmap for another running back in Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis.
4:00And I think this deal now will spearhead the way for two other running back deals, not just one that we've been talking about, B.
4:08John and Jameer. I think it's two other deals that potentially are going to be impacted.
4:13And I think we haven't heard more about Jonathan Taylor because he's been there.
4:18He's been practicing. He's been a good soldier. You haven't heard as much about it, but I think B.
4:24John, that deal is going to help produce two more running back deals.
4:28Now we'll see how quickly they move. My guess is sooner rather than later, because we have the roadmap.
4:34We have the numbers. We know what the value is going to be.
4:39And I would think that these two other running backs, Jameer Gibbs and Jonathan Taylor now will be up next.
4:45Yeah, I think that would make sense. I mean, we talked about this or we, I guess we've talked about it a
4:52couple of times, but it did seem like it, especially with Gibbs and Bajon, they were just kind of waiting for whoever was going to get done first.
5:01Then boom, the second one was going to get done shortly thereafter.
5:05I agree with the John and Jonathan Taylor stuff, especially being here in Indy.
5:10We remember a couple of years ago when it got really bad in Shane Steichen's first year, the optics didn't look great.
5:17You know, him standing on the sideline of training camp with his hood up and all that kind of stuff.
5:23But, you know, after last year, after, I mean, he was what, an MVP front runner through the first eight weeks of
5:31the season when they were one of the best offenses in the NFL.
5:35So I think that's well-deserved as well. I don't think any of this stuff is particularly surprising.
5:40I think it was always kind of just a waiting game.
5:44Like you said, we knew this stuff was going to get done and well-earned for all these guys, especially whenever Gibbs and
5:51Jonathan Taylor get theirs done as well. All three of these guys have earned that massive paycheck because, boy, are they crucial to their team's success.
5:59And all the other running backs are taking note and all the other running backs are rooting for the market to go as high as possible.
6:08And it's now begun to recalibrate to where the top running backs are making over $20 million a year.
6:14And the guys that produce at that position now will be paid accordingly as they should be.
6:20Absolutely. Yeah, it's nice to see. I remember a couple years ago when, you know, all the running backs were getting on
6:27Zoom and trying to say, hey, let's hold the line.
6:30Let's stand firm. We're far removed from that situation.
6:33And, you know, with the NFL being cyclical and the running back position being more valued now than it was a couple
6:40years ago, especially when you're one of those guys who can go out and catch 85 to 100 balls, well-earned, well-deserved, glad those guys are getting paid.
6:49All right, Cheptie, let's move on to topic number two of this week's six-pack.
6:53We mentioned this last week and the week before.
6:56We're going to do it again here. We need an Aaron Donald update.
7:01Where are we at right now? Sean McVay has kind of, you know, sprinkled some breadcrumbs along the way, but still no
7:08definitive action in terms of if he's coming back.
7:11What kind of update do you have for us?
7:14Well, that to me is the biggest hint that anybody has provided when the Rams head coach, Sean McVay, says it's heading
7:21in the right direction and trending upward, which were the exact words that he used.
7:26I think that's telling. And I think that tells you that it's tracking for him to come back.
7:31But I do want to say this also. I've spoken to some people who have said that Aaron Donald is intent upon
7:39recapturing as much Aaron Donald form as he can.
7:42If he doesn't feel like he can do that, he won't come back despite all this training.
7:47Now, it's hard to imagine that somebody is going to put on football pads and a helmet in August and Sean McVay
7:54is going to say what he did and then the player is not going to come back.
8:00But I've spoken to people in and around him that have said he has been very private about this matter and he's
8:07only talked about his actual plans with his family, or so they say, and nobody truly knows what he's thinking.
8:13Now, I go back to McVay saying what he did, but I don't know how Aaron Donald is feeling about how he
8:21feels about himself when he's on the practice field going through football drills.
8:25He doesn't want to come back at 60% of Aaron Donald.
8:28He wants to come back at 97, 98, 99, 100% of Aaron Donald.
8:33And is that possible? That is the only way in my mind that this doesn't get done and he doesn't come back.
8:40If after a couple of weeks when they get back from training camp later in the week and he doesn't feel like
8:47he's there, he doesn't want to go out and be an embarrassment to himself.
8:51He wants to feel like he's getting the job done, that he's a great compliment to Miles Garrett.
8:57And so we've all assumed that he's going to come back.
9:01And I still think that that's the most likely course of action.
9:05And I think I'd be surprised if he didn't.
9:08But my point is there are internal questions that the man himself has to answer before we know what he's going to do.
9:15Make sense? Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, I mean, he's not chasing a paycheck.
9:20Anything we know about Aaron Donald, he's... Correct. He's talked about as maybe the greatest defensive player of all time.
9:26He's certainly in the conversation for maybe the best NFL player of all time.
9:31Guys like that aren't coming back just to play grab ass and, oh, I have a chance to win another Super Bowl.
9:38If he has even the slightest inkling that he can't go and produce the way he did before he retired, why would you come back?
9:46Because then it just leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
9:50You know, then we start talking about... I don't want to say it will alter his legacy because I don't think that happens.
9:57But if that's the lasting image that people have of you is, you know, a guy who couldn't quite get it done
10:04anymore and maybe should have just stayed on the shelf.
10:07Like, he doesn't want that. He wants people to remember how dominant of a player he was.
10:13So, yeah, that makes perfect sense to me. But I agree with you.
10:17I'm in the same boat. I think ultimately we are going to see Aaron Donald on the Rams this year.
10:24It's just a matter of when. And the other thing that was interesting is I know everybody's making a big deal about
10:31him playing with Miles Garrett, which is true. That'd be unbelievable.
10:34But my understanding is he loves Kobe Turner and he loves Brandon Fisk and he loves some of those other guys that
10:42he already knows and that he'd be doing it as much for them as he would be to play with Miles Garrett.
10:49We've all operated under this idea that Miles Garrett is the linchpin to all this.
10:54And certainly it helps. Don't get me wrong. But I think his love of the guys that was there, he knows how special the group is.
11:02He loves Sean McVay. Loves Matthew Stafford. Loves Kobe Turner.
11:05Like, he wants to be around those guys if that's what he ultimately decides that he can do.
11:11Yeah, I mean, obviously he would love to play with Miles Garrett, I would assume.
11:16But I always kind of thought that was a little more media driven because we have seen the stuff of like, he
11:23still works out with some of those guys from time to time.
11:27We've seen videos of him lifting with, I mean, so like he obviously still has a very close relationship with a lot of those former teammates.
11:36So yeah, that, I mean, again, that makes perfect sense to me.
11:39And then being able to play with Miles Garrett kind of just seems like the cherry on top.
11:45So who knows? We'll probably be back here next week with another update and maybe we won't be any closer to it.
11:52Yeah, but it'll be a staple in the six pack until we know, Ty.
11:57Exactly. And it needs to be because this, this would be massive news if he decides to go back to the Rams.
12:04So people might be sick and tired of hearing about it because maybe they just assume it's going to happen.
12:11And why are we delaying the inevitable? But we don't know yet.
12:15It's still up in the air. It's not, it's not a foregone conclusion.
12:19So we're still going to talk about it as we should.
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13:47So, you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for.
13:52You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist.
13:59The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew.
14:02Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for.
14:08From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook.
14:12All right, Cheptie, let's move to topic number three of this week's six-pack.
14:16Let's stay in L.A. There was a Sean McDermott spotting at Rams practice.
14:20Does that mean anything to you? What can we kind of pull from?
14:25I mean, I know this happens a lot with coaches who either get fired or step away.
14:30They have a lot of friends around the league, and they bounce around to different training camps.
14:36Does this mean anything to you? Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
14:39I'll tell you what it means. When you hear that Sean McDermott is at the Rams camp, and he's talking with Sean
14:46McVay for 15 minutes on the practice field, and Sean McDermott was at the Giants off-season program one day visiting with John
14:53Harbaugh, and he's going around, and he's probably going to visit more camps.
14:57I think he'll surface elsewhere. What that tells me is that Sean McDermott is intent upon returning to coaching in 2027, and
15:04Sean McDermott is taking this year wisely to study how some of the top coaches and top organizations handle their business so
15:11he gets a different perspective and different ideas. So this to me is very wise, and it's an advertisement that he will
15:19be, I believe, one of the most sought-after head coaching candidates in the 2027 coaching cycle, and he will have a different
15:26renewed, refreshed perspective that he brings to his new employer, whoever that is, and I believe he'll be hired and be back in the league coaching in 2027.
15:35I remember when Mike Shanahan, when I was coming to the Broncos, was out of football.
15:40He went around to Pittsburgh and New England, and even when he was fired from Denver as an offensive coordinator, he went back to San Francisco.
15:48He always viewed his time there, working with George Seifert and the Bill Walsh offense and being around those players and different
15:56ideas as something that helped him grow as a coach, and I think Sean McVay is taking that same approach right now,
16:03studying other people, and he's telling everybody without telling everybody, yeah, I'm taking this seriously.
16:08I'm going to use this time wisely. I'm going to gain an added and new perspective, and he's going to be back coaching in 2027, I believe, Ty.
16:17Yeah, I couldn't agree more. And we'll obviously see how things shake out and who becomes available down the road, but if
16:24you were to take a straw poll right now, he would be the bell of the ball in terms of coaches that
16:31are available next year, and that's not to mention, I mean, I don't think anyone necessarily believes it's going to happen, but
16:38we'll see what happens with Buffalo's season this year.
16:41If they make the playoffs, but they maybe don't look the same, or, you know, they don't have another 12-win season, which
16:48it seems like he was just ripping off year after year after year, then that kind of outside noise, or I guess
16:55the narrative might be, how the hell did they let this guy out of the building in Buffalo, and it kind of
17:03just improves his stock even more, so we'll see what happens there, but I couldn't agree more.
17:08Sean McDermott is going to be the head coach of an NFL team next year.
17:13I think that's a very easy thing to bet on.
17:16I'd say the odds would tilt in his favor massively.
17:19All right, Cheptie, let's move on to topic number four of this week's six-pack.
17:24We talked about this with you last week, and I don't know if there's really any movement.
17:29The Baker Mayfield situation, he kind of aired everything out, all his grievances, said, hey, I'm going to talk about this once, and then I'm done.
17:38I'm not going to be answering questions about it.
17:41I'm not going to be doing any contract negotiations during the season.
17:45Where do we leave off with that, and also Vita Vea, who we know hurt his neck and is still looking for a contract.
17:53There were trade talks a little bit, but where do we stand with both of those guys?
17:58Before we get to Baker Mayfield, we'll start with Vita Vea, and that situation sounds more dire and more negative than the Baker Mayfield one, which is interesting.
18:07Vita Vea is in the last year of a deal that's scheduled to pay him $18 million in a market that has
18:14been continually reset with defensive tackle salary. So if anybody has a reason to really feel disgruntled, it would be Vita Vea.
18:21And I don't think that this situation is a peaceful one right now.
18:26And he's asked for a trade. The Bucks have said we're not interested in trading him.
18:31But I think this one could develop into a Micah Parsons-like situation, a Khalil Mack-type situation where the team doesn't want to trade him.
18:39He's going to trade him. But it's not getting him back on the practice field.
18:44And the longer it goes on, the more it recognizes that the only choice it might have would be to trade him.
18:51So again, nothing now. But I won't be surprised if later this summer, something comes down like that.
18:57It develops in that way. Now as for Baker Mayfield, he aired his grievances and wasn't happy with the Bucks, felt in
19:04his words disrespected by what they offered. And I think the Buccaneers feel like, look, we did the best we could.
19:11Both sides have their stances. Baker disrespected, not happy.
19:14The Buccaneers believe that they've offered a two-year extension worth over $100 million, according to Jeremy Fowler.
19:19My understanding is the total money on the three years of the deal would place Baker amongst the top five highest paid quarterbacks in the game.
19:27So he can feel disrespected by the years, which two on an extension, giving him three years in Tampa is light.
19:34But the money seems to be understandable, like respectable to a certain extent.
19:39Now he might feel like he's a 60, 60 plus million dollar quarterback.
19:43And Baker, a bitter Baker is the best version of Baker and they'll probably get a great version.
19:49But here's the point that I just want to go back to always.
19:53I don't care how frosty intense it gets between the two sides.
19:57The Buccaneers still have their franchise tag available for the next two years.
20:01If they want to franchise tag Baker Mayfield next off season, it would cost them roughly $47 million.
20:07And if they want to tag him again, it would cost them $57 million the next year.
20:12So that would be about $105 million over two years.
20:16They're already offering a two-year extension over $50 million a year average.
20:19I don't know the exact number. Let's call it 101, 102, whatever it is.
20:24We're not far off from the franchise number. So it's a tough situation for both sides.
20:29They have to do what's right for them, the Bucs.
20:32Baker has to do what's best for him. But what I don't see happening is Baker having a great year and Tampa
20:40just saying, Baker, thanks for the memories and letting him walk out the door.
20:44Two franchise tags available for the next two off seasons if that's what Tampa wants.
20:49So to me, the two sides should revisit their conversations, open it up.
20:53Why does that have to get closed off? I know Baker said his deadline was the start of training camp.
21:00I don't know. To me, I'd be open to having more conversations and saying, you know what?
21:05We've aired our grievances. We understand each other better.
21:08Let's see if we get something done by Labor Day.
21:11And if we can, great. And if we can't, then we go on and we'll revisit it after the season.
21:18Yeah, I mean, it's unfortunate that the situation is what it is.
21:22But I mean, he's going to be in Tampa Bay.
21:25You know, it just kind of is what it is.
21:28The Bucs know all too well post-Jameis, before Tom got there, when they were kind of in no man's land trying to
21:36figure out what they, you don't let a guy like him walk out the door.
21:40You know, quarterbacks, good quarterbacks in the NFL don't go on trees, especially in that division where, you know, I mean, no disrespect to everyone else.
21:49And there are several teams in that division who look to be much better this year.
21:54But the Bucs are truly a threat to win that division every single year.
21:59And I don't know how many teams are like that in the NFL, where you can point to it and say, hey,
22:06listen, going into training camp, like we're probably the favorites this year.
22:10It seems like it's been that way pretty much since Drew Brees retired.
22:14And, you know, the Saints are having a little bit of a resurgence.
22:18But like you said, they're not going to let him walk.
22:22That's not, that's just not going to happen. So at the very least, what, he gets franchise tagged a couple more times and then goes somewhere else.
22:30We won't get to two, we won't get to two franchise.
22:34I don't think so either. We could get to one.
22:37We could get to one depending on how it goes.
22:41And I understand Baker's side of it, you know, feeling disrespected by, hey, I feel like I've done enough.
22:47I've proved that I am a franchise quarterback for you guys.
22:50I played hurt. I played through a lot and given me, you know, just a couple more years, like doesn't really give
22:57me the same peace of mind that I believe I have earned and deserved.
23:02But, you know, we'll see what he does like this year.
23:06Like you said, the best version of Baker Mayfield is when he's pissed off and when he has a chip on his shoulder.
23:13And he is. Yeah. So I think that, that is huge.
23:17The Vita Veya thing is, is very interesting because I, I just assumed eventually something's going to get done here.
23:23We don't know when, when it will be, but you bring up Micah Parsons, you know, the same thing.
23:29I mean, I don't, no one thought Micah Parsons was actually going to get traded.
23:34We know how frosty things were between him and Jerry Jones, but I think ultimately, you know, thinking back to it, it
23:41was like, listen, Micah Parsons isn't going to get traded.
23:45They're not going to let a guy like that walk.
23:48They're going to figure something out. And then of course he did.
23:52So who's to say that the Bucs won't do the same thing with Vita Veya.
23:57So we'll see that. And that would be a, boy, that would be a massive addition for, I mean, the amount of teams who would be lining up.
24:06Now, granted you have to pay him, but boy, not many guys can do what Vita Veya can do on a football field.
24:13Worth watching. I'm just saying like that one, I don't think it's peaceful.
24:17Okay. Perfect. That one I think is in play.
24:20We'll see. Okay. So that's something to really keep an eye on.
24:24This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for.
24:32You sent a message and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist.
24:39The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew.
24:42Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for.
24:48From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook.
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26:17All right, Chepti, let's move to the fifth topic of this week's six-pack.
26:21Another thing to keep an eye on, Max Crosby.
26:24We've talked about this a bunch since Jerry had his whole deal about the Oregon Trail and burning wagons and losing a couple weeks.
26:32And people kind of immediately associated that with, hey, maybe Jerry's going to trade for Max Crosby.
26:37We don't know how that situation is there. But you think that the Bears might be in play?
26:43Well, here's how I assess the Max Crosby situation.
26:46Have you noticed he's talking about how happy he is back in Vegas?
26:50He wants to be a Raider. He doesn't want to go anywhere else.
26:55This is what he wants to do. And he was the one, really, that jump-started all that talk and all the movement
27:02that wound up with him being traded to Baltimore before he didn't pass the physical and the trade was voided.
27:08So I do think right now Max Crosby is in Vegas.
27:12I do think that that's their plan right now.
27:15But here's where I think it gets interesting. Do I think Max Crosby is going to be traded this summer?
27:21That would surprise me. Anything is always possible in this league.
27:25We'll have to see. I don't think that that's the time frame.
27:29I think he's there and they're going to play with him and use him.
27:33And he's the face of the franchise, one of the faces of the franchise and beloved out in Vegas, as he should
27:41be for all the effort and energy that he's brought to that team through some dark years, dark lean years.
27:47But here's where I think it could change in time.
27:50Nobody's going to say it now. But what if the Raiders are not winning regularly?
27:55What if the Raiders are one in five, two in six, and we're coming up to the trade deadline in the first week in November?
28:03And there's a team out there that could use a pass rusher.
28:07And Max is playing at the level that we think he can at another high level.
28:12I think that's when the trade potentially could come back into play down the line.
28:17I don't think he's looking for it now. I don't think the Raiders are overly thinking about it right now.
28:24But if the season doesn't go the way that they want in a very tough division with the Denver Broncos and the
28:31Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, where they're rebuilding, but they're an ascending team with some great young players, but
28:38they might be another year or two away. Tough schedule, too.
28:42Tough schedule. If they're not there right away, I think as the trade deadline gets closer, I think that's when we could start hearing Max Crosby's name again.
28:51And I think that's when it might be time to start paying attention.
28:55Now, maybe I'm going to be surprised and they trade in the summer, but that's not what I'm expecting.
29:01It's not what I'm hearing. Okay. I think it changes if and when the season starts to go south, which no team
29:08is thinking their season is going to go south right now.
29:12I don't care what team it is. Yeah, no.
29:15And you mentioned the Raiders, you know, with all the young pieces and all the money they spent this offseason.
29:21I'm sure they feel like they're ascending and there's a lot of optimism, especially with the new head coach.
29:27Everything's fresh. Everything feels new. So, yeah, I can't imagine that they're even considering that, thinking about that at all.
29:34But I think you're probably right. I mean, listen, we've talked about this quite a bit in here and it's, you know,
29:41I understand he wants to be a Raider for life and all that kind of stuff.
29:46This front office has already traded him once. So that's why that's why the time to pay attention to a potential Max
29:53Crosby trade wouldn't be now, but it could be later in the season if the Raiders are not where they want to be.
30:01Okay. Yeah. So that I mean, that'll be something to keep an eye on because I think that probably does make sense.
30:08I mean, it feels like it's been three to four years in a row where his name is floated at the trade deadline.
30:16And maybe that's more of an outside thing, a media-driven thing where everyone's kind of saying, this guy's so good.
30:22He's an unbelievable player. We want to see him out of Vegas and on a contender so that he can get the
30:29chance to play in the playoffs and all that kind of stuff.
30:33But again, they traded him this offseason. They got rid of him.
30:37They were okay with getting rid of him and kind of moving on.
30:41So yeah, like you said, they have a really tough schedule this year.
30:45We have no idea how the quarterback competition is going to shake out.
30:50You know, who knows where they'll be at come trade deadline?
30:53And I think you're right. I think if they're, and it might not even be, it might not not even be them pushing for it.
31:01But like you said, if they're one and six, two and six, who's to say a team like the Cowboys or the
31:09Bears or a team that needs that extra little piece to get over the edge and really make a Super Bowl push?
31:16It doesn't come calling. And the Raiders, as they've already proved, are going to be more than willing to listen, I would assume.
31:23All right. So yeah, that's good to know because it did seem weird that Max Crosby would get traded before the season.
31:30When people were making those connections to Jerry, I just, that didn't really make sense.
31:35But I don't think that's the player that's in play now, but again, we'll see how the summer plays out.
31:42Right. Okay. And we'll keep an eye on the trade deadline.
31:45All right, Shefty, let's move on to the sixth and final topic of this week's six pack.
31:51Like I mentioned at the top, we've got so many camp highlights coming out from every single team.
31:57And it seems like a lot of defensive rookies have, have really been making an impact early turning heads.
32:03Who is one that really stands out to you?
32:06Well, look, I keep hearing that David Bailey is tearing it up in Jets camp and Arvel Reese has been impressive in Giants camp.
32:14But I want to direct your attention to the Dallas Cowboys and Caleb Downs.
32:18And you listen to the quotes coming out of there and you listen to what people are saying about him.
32:25They're already looking at him as a game changer, as somebody who's changing their defense, their culture, as somebody who's won at
32:32all levels of football, as somebody who they're lining up as their nickel cornerback, deploying them all over the field.
32:38He's a rookie who plays like a veteran, who thinks like a veteran and the Dallas Cowboys.
32:44And it's early on look like they hit the lottery on Caleb Downs, who slid right into their laps.
32:50It worked out perfectly. A lot of people thought he would go in the top 10, maybe to Washington, but Washington took Sonny Stiles.
32:58And somehow Caleb Downs fell a little bit down the board, right to the Dallas Cowboys.
33:03And we've seen rookie defensive backs come in and make a huge difference.
33:07And we'll see how this one plays out. But the early signs are that Caleb Downs is going to make an enormous difference in Dallas's defense.
33:16It sounds like he's going to be square in play for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
33:21And if Caleb Downs is what they say he is and what they think he is, well, guess what?
33:28But Dallas's defense is going to take a dramatic step forward and have a lot of improvement from that one guy, not
33:35to mention all the other pieces that they picked up on their defense to try to improve it.
33:41Caleb Downs, watch out for him. We knew that, but it's been reaffirmed so far through the early part of training camp.
33:48Yeah, and I don't think that surprises anyone. I mean, his name was thrown around in there with Jeremiah Love is kind
33:55of, hey, this guy might be the best overall player in the class.
33:59And then there was that weird thing about his knee and did he have, like, degenerative knee issues?
34:05And maybe that had to do something with his slide.
34:08But I think back to we were down in Tuscaloosa doing a college football simulcast several years ago.
34:14It was his true freshman year at Alabama. And Pat and D-Butt were talking to an Alabama staffer, one of their former teammates, before the game.
34:23And he pointed at Caleb Downs and he said, that guy's a gold jacket.
34:27You know? And you watch him play. Every time we watched him play, it was like, that guy, he's playing today.
34:34He could suit up tomorrow. He could play tomorrow for any team in the NFL.
34:39So as long as he stays healthy, yeah, I don't think that surprises anyone.
34:43And I think that could go down as one of the bigger steals of the draft.
34:49And I think it certainly sounds like it will be.
34:52And, again, you start to get a lot of training camp buzz early on.
34:56And we're only about a week, 10 days in.
34:59But there's been an awful lot of buzz surrounding Caleb Downs.
35:03All right. You know who? Congratulations are also in order for Ty.
35:07Speaking of the former Ohio State safety, all the former Ohio State wide receivers.
35:11Chris Halavi gets a four-year $132 million extension. And think about all the wide receivers that have come out of Ohio State.
35:18This offseason, Jackson Smith and Jigba, four years, $168.6 million.
35:22Garrett Wilson on a four-year $130. Terry McLaurin last summer, three years, $97 million.
35:26No school has had wide receivers make more money than this group of wide receivers.
35:31And Jeremiah Smith is still to come. And who knows what he's going to make if Jackson Smith and Jigba is over $40 million a year.
35:40And Chris Halavi is at four years, $132 million.
35:43Jeremiah Smith, if he's as good as we all think, he's going to change everything and be incredible in the NFL.
35:49And his earnings are untapped. Also, we mentioned the Pro Football Hall of Fame game Thursday night.
35:55I want to congratulate in advance the five new members of the 2026 Hall of Fame class, which will be broadcast Saturday, August 8th at noon on ESPN.
36:04Those players in alphabetical order, Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Keekly, Adam Vinatieri.
36:09They've combined for 38 Pro Bowl appearances. A great class.
36:12Brees, as important as any player in Saints franchise history.
36:15Roger Craig was this great all-purpose running back. Larry Fitzgerald was such a pro and has run his life like that.
36:22And I love that guy. Just class, personified, Luke Keekly, intense.
36:26Now going to be with, what is it, Amazon Prime as he's doing the game?
36:31Is it Amazon or Netflix? He's one of these streaming.
36:34Netflix. And Adam Vinatieri, to me, made the greatest kick in NFL history in the snow to beat the Raiders and launch the Patriots dynasty.
36:42So we've got a great Pro Football Hall of Fame class this year that'll be inducted Saturday.
36:48And we want to send our sincerest and truest congratulations to this great Hall of Fame class.
36:53All right, Ty, we're back. Great job today by you.
36:56Football's back. Great job by our producer, Dan Stanczyk, Ben Smith.
37:00And for the listeners to tuning in to another Adam Schefter podcast, please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to the Adam Schefter podcast.
37:08We'll be back in this spot next week with the latest training camp buzz and NFL storylines.
37:13Until then, enjoy the start of preseason football. When you're locked in, focused and fearless.
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