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387 episodes

The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL, page 7

by The Athletic · English

The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast covers the league like only The Athletic can. Host Robert Mays and co-hosts Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive into the biggest stories, break down the Xs and Os, and tackle the ins and outs of roster building. They meticulously follow the details of why we all love this sport and have plenty of fun along the way, bringing the expertise necessary to cover the NFL at the highest level. You want year-round draft coverage? You'll get that here, too, with draft expert Dane Brugler. Whether it’s happening on the field or behind the scenes, you’ll get an in-depth look at all things NFL on The Athletic Football Show, available wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All episodes, page 7

Which NFL division has the best quarterbacks in 2026?

The Athletic Football Show’s Mailbag Monday discusses offseason NFL hypotheticals and roster-building.

11 May 2026 · 49m · 16 chapters

Revisiting our coldest takes from the 2025 NFL season

The Athletic Football Show revisits “cold takes” from the 2025 NFL season—what the hosts predicted wrong and what lessons to apply for future previews/postmortems.

7 May 2026 · 1h 9m · 25 chapters

Is the fifth-year option still a viable option for team building?

The Athletic Football Show episode analyzes whether NFL teams still view 5th-year options (for 2023 draftees) as viable for team-building, using the 2023 option decisions as evidence.

6 May 2026 · 57m · 18 chapters

Buy or sell their offseasons: The Middle Class

The Athletic Football Show’s “Buy or Sell their Offseasons: The Middle Class” (2nd of 4 parts), debating whether eight NFL teams’ 2026 offseason moves improve them enough to be…

5 May 2026 · 1h 24m · 24 chapters

How long can an NFL team sustain an elite defense?

Mailbag on NFL roster-building, especially (1) which draft class could produce the best “all-first-pick-by-position” team, (2) whether tight end usage is making a second/third TE more like an extra…

4 May 2026 · 49m · 21 chapters

Buy or sell their offseason: The Rebuilders

The Athletic Football Show’s “Buy or sell their offseason” series continues with the “rebuilding teams” bucket, judging offseason moves for the Jets, Browns, Titans, and Raiders.

1 May 2026 · 1h 12m · 23 chapters

The 2026 NFL Draft dust has settled, but we still have questions

Post-2026 NFL Draft roster questions, focusing on receiver/TE needs, veteran free-agent landing spots, and major positional gaps (especially center).

30 Apr 2026 · 57m · 22 chapters

Now that you've slept on it...NFL Draft takeaways

Post-draft (2026) NFL Draft takeaways after “sleeping on it,” focusing on how perceptions shifted once the news cycle passed.

29 Apr 2026 · 1h 3m · 18 chapters

The messages teams sent in the 2026 NFL Draft

The hosts recap the “messages” NFL teams sent through their 2026 draft choices, arguing that once the draft is over, teams’ priorities are visible.

28 Apr 2026 · 1h 5m · 27 chapters

Full recap of the 2026 NFL Draft

The Athletic Football Show recaps Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, highlights notable picks, debates quarterback/DB value, and grades draft classes overall (including which classes looked strong vs…

26 Apr 2026 · 1h 40m · 49 chapters

2026 NFL Draft night two recap

The Athletic Football Show’s recap of the 2026 NFL Draft night two (second and third rounds), including favorite picks, biggest surprises, best “hauls,” and notable veteran trades.

25 Apr 2026 · 44m · 13 chapters

2026 NFL Draft first round recap

The Athletic Football Show’s Robert Mayes and guests recap the 2026 NFL Draft first round, focusing on notable picks and themes: favorite picks/fits, biggest surprises, “Costco All-Stars” teams with…

24 Apr 2026 · 1h 9m · 28 chapters

Our final questions before the 2026 NFL Draft

The Athletic Football Show’s pre-2026 NFL Draft episode (four-person panel: Robert Mays, Dane Brugler, Dave Hellman, Derek Klassen).

23 Apr 2026 · 1h 13m · 17 chapters

Are we wrong about running back value?

A debate on whether NFL teams are wrong to undervalue running back (RB) draft capital—specifically whether a top-five RB pick (Jeremiah Love) can be justified.

22 Apr 2026 · 1h 23m · 26 chapters

Which Fringe Prospects Will SNEAK Into the First Round?

Final “On the Clock” mock-draft discussion for first-round picks 26–32, debating which fringe prospects could realistically sneak into the late first round.

21 Apr 2026 · 1h 12m · 26 chapters

Are "bad" drafts an advantage for the NFL's best or worst teams?

NFL roster-building and draft strategy—whether “bad” drafts (or bad early picks) can be an advantage, plus mailbag questions on trades, positional drafting patterns, special teams value, GM…

20 Apr 2026 · 1h 11m · 25 chapters

Why we're planting our flags for these day 2 & 3 prospects

The Athletic Football Show draft episode focuses on “planting our flags” for the 2026 NFL Draft’s Day 2 and Day 3 prospects—specifically players the hosts like most, not the obvious top-10 stars.

17 Apr 2026 · 1h 6m · 21 chapters

Which offensive lineman has the highest ceiling in the 2026 NFL Draft class?

The Athletic Football Show breaks down the 2026 offensive line class and debates which tackle has the highest ceiling, plus other offensive line superlatives (favorite OT, favorite swing tackle,…

16 Apr 2026 · 1h 24m · 29 chapters

Is Sonny Styles the only standout linebacker in the 2026 Draft class?

Building the Beast linebacker position preview for the 2026 draft, plus a late-breaking update on Miami edge rusher Ruben Bain Jr.’s fatal 2024 car crash.

15 Apr 2026 · 1h 2m · 25 chapters

On the Clock, picks 19-25: How many offensive linemen will be taken in the first round?

The Athletic Football Show’s “On the Clock” episode uses a draft exercise to simulate picks 19–25 in the first round.

14 Apr 2026 · 57m · 14 chapters

Mailbag Monday: How many true #1 pass rushers are there in the NFL?

The Athletic Football Show’s Mailbag Monday discusses NFL roster-building and draft evaluation, with a focus on the Ravens and broader scouting trends.

13 Apr 2026 · 58m · 20 chapters

The 2026 NFL Draft prospects you're wrong about...and why

The Athletic Football Show discusses how the “draft industrial complex” warps narratives about 2026 NFL Draft prospects, using college-football context to correct common misconceptions.

10 Apr 2026 · 1h 10m · 27 chapters

Edge rusher draft class breakdown with Dane Brugler

The Athletic Football Show breaks down the 2025 edge rusher draft class using “The Beast” digital scouting guide, then ranks “superlatives” (best overall edge, best run defender, best for early…

9 Apr 2026 · 1h 6m · 27 chapters

The Beast is Built! Hidden gems in the 2026 NFL Draft class

A throwback episode celebrating the release of Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” 2026 NFL Draft guide (The Athletic), then debating “hidden gems” in the 2026 draft class: back-end first-round surprises,…

8 Apr 2026 · 1h 2m · 18 chapters