Kapadia Court Decides This Season’s Breakout QB With Shawn Syed

0:00Kapadia:Welcome to the Ringer NFL show. Sheil Kapadia here with my friend, Shawn Syed of Sumer Sports. And we have a job to do today. We are searching for the quarterback who is going to make the leap this year. Now, how do we define make the leap? Here's the deal. The way we talk about this quarterback at season's end will be fundamentally different than the way we talk about them now. They could go from bad to good. They could go from good to elite. They could go from unknown to competent. All those things are in play. But again, the key is they will be viewed differently four months from now than they are at this point in time.

0:38Kapadia:So to find the guy, we're going to Kapadia court. That's right. I am the judge. You might want to see what that looks like on the Ringer NFL YouTube page or on your Spotify app. Sean is the lead counsel. He will have 45 seconds to make his argument for eight different candidates. We will choose three finalists based on his arguments, and then we will rule in favor of one winner. Sean, should we go get changed and go get ready for court? Let's do it. This is the Ringer NFL show presented by FanDuel, and the NFL is officially back. So if you're going to be in it, be in it with FanDuel. They've got the goods, futures, live betting, SGPs, your way bets, all of it.

1:21Kapadia:The app's clean, it's fast, and yeah, when you win, you get paid instantly, which is nice because Sunday patience doesn't exist. So get your bets in, build something bold, and make every game feel bigger. Download the FanDuel app or head to fanduel.com slash ringer NFL to get started. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. And listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Must be 21 plus and present in select states. Or 18 plus and present in D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com.

2:02Kapadia:Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. Paid endorsement. For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Tremphaya offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya, proper training is required. Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

2:45Kapadia:serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them, and liver problems may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Trimphia today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit trimphiaradio.com.

3:23Kapadia:order in the court judge kapadia now presiding in the case of the 2025 nfl make the leap quarterback counsel please state your name for the record sean syed on behalf of the quarterbacks

3:38Shawn Syed:dressed notably in a full suit for the audio-only crowd.

3:42Kapadia:Counsel will have 45 seconds to make each argument, after which I will either move the quarterback into the group of three finalists or eliminate them. At any time, I can bump one finalist for another if I hear a more convincing argument. Counsel, do you have any questions? No, Your Honor. All right. We have the timer ready. 45 seconds. Please present your first candidate now.

4:08Shawn Syed:may it please the court your honor when drake may drops back anything can happen now that can be stiff arming a dolphin's defensive end and throwing it over the defense or that could be sailing the ball over the receiver's head for an interception against the texans the facts of this case tell us unequivocally that drake may's offensive line's performance last year left something to be desired may face the sixth highest pressure rate and even if he took off a bit early too much. Can you blame a guy for having 18 runs over 10 yards? Still, he gave us impressive moments. His offensive infrastructure should improve with new pieces including fourth overall pick, Will Campbell at left tackle and Stephon Diggs at wide receiver.

4:53Shawn Syed:And despite this court

4:54Kapadia:All right, you're right. That's it. That's it. You're out of order. Argument over. Drake May performing under tough circumstances as a rookie. Valid argument. Anything can happen could be a valid argument, which could mean he's got a little Carson Wentz to his game or could mean that he's ready to make the leap. This was the first candidate presented. Player will be considered for further argument. All right. Please present your second candidate now.

5:27Shawn Syed:Sure. It has been a winding road for Bryce Young from the depths of the first half of last season in his rookie year, but in the back half of last season, Young showed improvement. He was getting rid of the ball quicker under pressure. He could push the ball further down the field in the rhythm of the offense, and head coach Dave Canales was learning more about what would work for his young quarterback. Now, we have a situation where Bryce Young can play point guard in an open offense that takes advantage of Young's mind with the addition of wide receiver Tedaroa McMillan with the eighth overall pick and a surprisingly solid offensive line, Young can now build on a more solid foundation.

6:08Shawn Syed:Every quarterback does not need to look the same and we can't dismiss quarterbacks. All right.

6:13Kapadia:All right. That's it. Bryce Young, argument over counsel. Okay. Bryce Young, you made a compelling case. Yes, there were some, there was some improvement last year for sure. You're looking ahead to this year playing point guard. Dave Canales. Now, you fail to mention, we don't like small samples in this court. And it was a small sample of slight improvement. You didn't mention the name Adam Thielen, who the Panthers just traded. You didn't mention the fact that they're relying on three very young wide receivers who, while they could be good, have not done a thing in the NFL. And oh, by the way, left tackle.

6:53Kapadia:Yeah, could be an issue for Bryce Young this year. So I think there's a chance we look at Bryce Young as a solid starting quarterback by the end of the season. But in terms of being a true make-the-leap quarterback, Bryce Young, you are dismissed. Out of here, Bryce Young. I don't really know if that's how judges talk. All right, next argument.

7:15Shawn Syed:My client, Trevor Lawrence's reputation, has taken a hit recently. and in steps new head coach and former Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Liam Cohen, to clean it up. Cohen's Buccaneers were the best third down offense in the entire league last season and Cohen helped make things crystal clear on passing plays. Trevor Lawrence will certainly look to improve his decision-making, clean up his footwork, and will benefit from this new structure. Cohen and Lawrence get to work together where they have a future star in Brian Thomas Jr., an exciting weapon in Travis Hunter, and multiple viable running backs.

7:56Shawn Syed:Lawrence did make a leap in his second season where the Jaguars won the AFC South and then had - All right, all right, all right.

8:04Kapadia:Counsel, all due respect, did you not practice in front of the mirror? 45 seconds, we went over the ground rules yesterday. You gotta be finished at 45 seconds. And I am afraid the hipsters and the QB Intellectuals Council have gotten to you. Perhaps they have cornered you in your mansion and said, Trevor Lawrence, don't give, he is still the chosen one. Don't give, the Liam Cohen, one year. I've never seen a guy's reputation make a bigger leap in one year than Liam Cohen. My God, the guy is now Bill Walsh all of a sudden because he got the bucks to what? The first round of the playoffs? Oh my gosh, the guy can work miracles.

8:44Kapadia:So I am sorry. I do think Trevor Lawrence could be better this year, but you know what? I'm tired of the hype. I'm tired of saying, oh, it's the OC's fault. It's the O-line's fault. It's the wide. By the way, you didn't mention the O-line there, which could be a complete disaster. So Trevor Lawrence, go find your buddy Bryce Young in the hall of number one picks who have not done anything yet. Player is dismissed. All right, counsel, please make your next argument.

9:14Shawn Syed:Brock Purdy has been judged by the court of public opinion before I stepped into this room today. The word system quarterback is thrown around as an attack on my client. Offensive line injuries last season, wide receiver position cursed like the defense against a dark arts job at Hogwarts. Purdy still led a top 10 offense by the numbers. And sure, Kyle Shanahan deserves credit, but when Purdy had to create on his own under pressure, still a top 10 offense. Now, your honor, to my eyes, Brock Purdy is not the same quarterback I thought he was two years ago. The 49ers now face the easiest schedule in all of football that this court has noted multiple times.

9:56Shawn Syed:Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle are ready to go.

10:00Kapadia:All right, all right, George Kittle. Last thing we heard was George Kittle. The court would like to note that the Harry Potter reference could have potentially been taking a shot. at the Honorable Judge Kapadia for the glasses that he's wearing, which you can, of course, see on YouTube and your Spotify app. That's neither here nor there. Brock Purdy. Interesting argument. The court feels that if Brock Purdy plays well again, and if the 49ers play well again, because this has happened before, counsel, a couple years ago, and I don't remember anybody at that time making the argument, oh, it's Brock Purdy.

10:40Kapadia:Oh, Brock. No, no one even would admit that Brock Purdy's good at football. They were given pretty boy coach Kyle Shanahan, even in his older age and the greatest showing, all of the credit as the offensive savant. So I think it is a difficult uphill climb for Brock Purdy. Having said that, there is a chance, to your point, as I see a different wide receiver going down for the 49ers. Every time we take a break here and I check my phone, there is a chance that Brock Purdy will be different for him this year, that he will get that credit and that he will play well and that he will beat up on that easy schedule.

11:19Kapadia:So for now, Brock Purdy will be considered for further argument. So Brock Purdy moves on, will be considered for further argument along with Drake May. Bryce Young and Trevor Lawrence have been dismissed. we still have four more quarterback arguments to get to. We will narrow it down to three and then we will pick a finalist. At this time, we will take a short recess. There is a food cart outside that serves Uncrustables that I hear our counsel is just a big, big fan of. We will come back to the court in 30 minutes and hear the four final arguments. For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters.

12:02Kapadia:Tremphaya offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya, proper training is required. Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them, and liver problems may occur.

12:36Kapadia:Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Trimphia today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit trimphiaradio.com. Evening.

12:57Shawn Syed:Buyer's remorse. Buy a new car? I'll be moving in. Let's get started.

13:03Kapadia:Uh, sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana.

13:06Shawn Syed:You what?

13:07Kapadia:Yeah, great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it.

13:10Shawn Syed:So there's no...

13:11Kapadia:No, no buyer's remorse. More like buyer's rejoice? Ugh, I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations. I mean it. Buyer's rejoice.

13:21Shawn Syed:Buy your car today on Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven-day return policy at Carvana.com.

13:26Kapadia:All right, order in the court, order in the court. We are back. Counsel, please present your next argument.

13:33Shawn Syed:Your Honor, it is my duty under rule 3.3 of the model rules of professional conduct to lead with candor towards this tribunal. And it is time that we all admit a mistake. We were wrong in how we viewed the Chicago Bears situation last year. Receivers weren't put in the best spots and Caleb Williams wasn't even told how he should watch film to prepare for opponents. Williams did have frustrating misses and some running around into pressure, but he also gave us explosive plays against the Colts, accurate throws against the Jaguars, a drive to win the game against the Packers, and now he gets everyone's favorite play caller from the Lions, Ben Johnson.

14:10Shawn Syed:Ben Johnson is going to get Caleb's eyes exactly where they need to be. He's going to have receivers running open, and he's going to maximize this offense behind an offensive line.

14:19Kapadia:All right, all right, maximize the offense. Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams. You know, the court notices a pattern with these number one overall picks who are now being projected to make the leap. The court does not like excuse making in the form of offensive law play calling wasn't good enough. This is what the money is for, for the number one overall picks. Overcome some of those things. Was Caleb Williams doing that last year? When he finished 31st in pressure to sack rate? When the only quarterback who got sacked more than Caleb Williams was Will Levis? How about you get rid of the ball?

15:04Kapadia:How about you scramble and show a little playmaking? How are you supposed to coach a guy who's taken sacks one out of every 10 dropbacks? So I hear your argument, counsel. It is not a horrible argument that perhaps Ben Johnson is an offensive savant. Perhaps the O-line moves work out. Perhaps the supporting cast is very good. However, I see a quarterback in Caleb Williams who will make gradual improvement, but will not make the leap. Player is dismissed. All right, counsel. We have three more quarterbacks to get to. Please make your next argument.

15:40Shawn Syed:We saw a bit of Michael Pennick Jr. last year, and it is hard not to be excited about it. In just three starts, Pennix pushed the ball down the field, aggressively targeted Drake London, and opened up the Atlanta Falcons offense. In limited time, Pennix threw darts on the outside, attacked willingly over the middle of the field, and did what he could to avoid sacks, and gave us a jaw-dropping throw against the Panthers. Now, with a full year of starts ahead of him, Pennix is in the driver's seat, with offensive coordinator Zach Robinson's creative play calling and all of the weapons, including Bijan Robinson in the backfield.

16:22Shawn Syed:There is a chance for a big play to happen on any single play.