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Sam Robinson
3:03
Hey everyone, let's get started!
Hollywood Hank
3:11
1) Is Stafford the MVP this year and 2) Will he commit to staying with the Rams without all the drama from last year?
Sam Robinson
3:11
Hollywood Hank, yes, Stafford should win MVP. The first-team All-Pro QB was the MVP every year between Adrian Peterson's 2012 win and Lamar Jackson's 2023. The Allen-over-Jackson pick last year was interesting, even though I agreed with it, since the Bills QB was second-team All-Pro. Stafford will be the first MVP on a non-division-winning team since Peyton Manning in 2008.

After doing what he did this season, I have to think there will be less drama. It was odd to me at the time -- even considering the $$ component -- the sides let this simmer to the point of serious trade talks. Sean McVay's infrastructure gave Stafford a significant advantage compared to a Giants/Raiders landing, and McVay said the team obviously wants him back.

There are four $6MM option bonuses due for the Rams in 2026, but I do expect the sides to work out another new contract. It depends on how long Stafford wants to play, but he gained considerable leverage with this MVP season.
Roger
3:18
Sam, Robert Saleh says he learned a lot from his time as the Jets coach. How do you think he'll do with the Titans? Thanks.
Sam Robinson
3:18
Hey Roger, I expected Matt Nagy to be the Tennessee pick due to his close relationship with Mike Borgonzi. Saleh diving right back in also caught be by surprise, and after he worked for an erratic owner in New York, signing on with an impulsive Amy Adams Strunk is a risk. Strunk's post-2021 decisions have sunk the Titans.

That said, they do lead the NFL in cap space (projected at nearly $100MM right now), with more on the way from a Calvin Ridley cut and other moves. Saleh proved in New York and this year in San Francisco he will have the defense in good shape in the near future. Confident in that. Not as confident in Daboll sans Josh Allen (his pre-Buffalo OC track record/much of his NYG work: not good).

But Cam Ward's rookie deal plus cap space provides a reason for hope. Saleh clearly believes in Ward, as he saw Zach Wilson doom him with the Jets.
Championship Round
3:24
I've been hearing rumblings that the league did not like the bad weather conditions for the AFC title game and is considering holding those games at neutral good weather sites in the future. What are your thoughts? Defeats the idea of home field advantage in the playoffs.
Sam Robinson
3:24
I am staunchly against neutral-site conference championship games. I agree with you in that it would defeat home-field advantage. Not too much to play late in the season if home field covers one game.

We couldn't have the NBA/MLB/NHL deciding their titles at home sites and the NFL's final two rounds contested neutrally. Would feel soulless. Don't get me started on the round of retractable-roof stadiums coming in the 2030s.

The NFL has used the same schedule format for 24 years now, and rumors about stripping division winners of wild-card home games has not taken off during offseason meetings. I think owners would see a neutral field as a bridge way too far. Doubt it goes anywhere. We can't overreact to one bad-weather half.
Josh Allen
3:30
Will Pete Carmichael be a bigger impact on me than my man Joe Brady?
Sam Robinson
3:30
Josh, hope that foot heals properly...no, I don't believe Carmichael will have a bigger impact than Brady. This Saints reunion did catch me by surprise, as Carmichael was not too popular with Saints fans post-Payton and was on the senior assistant level in Denver behind Payton and Joe Lombardi.

Carmichael lasted an amazing 15 seasons in the Saints' OC chair but only called plays for a full season during Payton's Bountygate suspension (2012). He won't be calling plays in Buffalo, minimizing impact.

The Bills promoted Brady for his play-calling acumen and relationship with Allen. As long as Brady is there, the Bills will join the Chiefs, Rams, 49ers, etc., in not losing their play-caller. That will be the impact here. With Brady an offensive mind, it will be Buffalo's DC that has the bigger impact among its coordinators. That hire will be the one to watch.
Jim Schwartz
3:35
Even  though I am under contract with Cleveland is there away I can land with another team without that team having to trade for me?
Sam Robinson
3:35
Jim, sorry about the job...tough break. I'm confident in saying there will not be a coordinator trade. Although the Browns are not known as a smoothly functioning organization under the Haslams, I doubt they would have Schwartz back after he expressed this much disappointment in not landing the HC job. It would be counterproductive. Todd Monken should have his choice in hiring his own DC anyway.

Teams have held coordinators to contracts before. The Panthers blocked Ejiro Evero from leaving upon hiring Dave Canales in 2024. The Browns could do the same, but no reports about extreme Evero disappointment on a Schwartz level emerged.

It would be a bad look if Cleveland forced Monken to keep Schwartz, who could undermine the new HC based on the rumblings we've heard after the hire. It is best for the team to move on now.
Quick turn around
3:47
What are your thoughts on the Sea hawks and Patriots making the Super Bowl so soon after down seasons. Is it weak schedule, good drafting,good signings, good coaching?
Sam Robinson
3:47
QTA, combinations of all these elements exist. For Seattle, the Mike Macdonald hire transformed a defense. His Klint Kubiak hire helped lure Sam Darnold, and the team made a shrewd bet in foisting another declining QB on an AFC West team.

This season has also transformed John Schneider's GM reputation, after the Wilson swap gave the team impact first-rounders (Cross, Witherspoon). It all paid off this year.

The Pats do have a schedule component to thank. They played a top-10 favorable slate since the 1970 merger, beating one team with a winning record. Very hard to do in a 14-win season. They then caught the Texans without Nico Collins and the Broncos, more importantly, without Bo Nix. This feels like a good team that is in the Super Bowl ahead of schedule.

Though, the Pats smartly hired Vrabel and rehired McDaniels. Their defense went from 29th to 11th in EPA/play from 2024-25. The Milton Williams signing mattered plenty. McDaniels will not become a head coach again, providing a huge benefit to Maye
Coordinators
3:51
Who has more control over the offense the pass game coordinator, run game coordinator or offensive coordinator? Seems like a duplication of duties to me?
Sam Robinson
3:51
A subgenre coordinator question. I like it! The run- and pass-game coordinators both serve under the OC. If the Rams lose OC Mike LaFleur to the Cardinals, pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase would be favored to move up the ladder. It would be a promotion.

While the RGC/PGC staffers have voices in the building, they are upper-midlevel assistants compared to OCs -- who are either the play-callers or top game-planning lieutenants (if the HC is the play-caller).
walterj23
4:03
Do you think the steelers could get an additional  draft pick if they traded Highsmith for their backup qb Jones ?
Sam Robinson
4:03
Hey Walterj23, I'm assuming this refers to Mac Jones. Interesting trade idea. This would equip the 49ers with a good/not great EDGE signed through 2027 at a reasonable rate. Considering Jones' contract (two years, $7MM) and positional value -- and Highsmith being 6-8 years older than a draft pick would be -- it wouldn't be a lock the Steelers would get another pick back from SF in such a trade.

Kyle Shanahan said he expects to keep Jones. That would make plenty of sense based on what happened with Purdy this season and Shanahan's own ties to Jones ahead of the 2021 draft. If teams move beyond a third-round pick for him, though, I could see a deal happening. I do wonder how effective Jones would be outside of the SF system given his performance from 2022-24.
South Beachead
4:15
Is there a realistic trade partner for Tua? Who makes sense as a replacement QB aside from Malik Willis?
Sam Robinson
4:15
South Beachead, if there is one, the Dolphins would have to take on a sizable amount of the $54MM 2026 guarantee to facilitate a move. This would be a supersized version of the Jalen Ramsey trade, when then-GM Chris Grier took on some of the CB's freight to move him.

It depends on how teams view Kyler Murray and the non-Fernando Mendoza options in this increasingly maligned QB class. The Steelers have spun their wheels at QB post-Roethlisberger and will have upwards of $40MM in cap space. They may need to view 2027 as their rookie-QB year, so they make some sense.

The Vikings are around $50MM over the cap, but Kevin O'Connell and Mike McDaniel are from the same coaching tree. Now that Minnesota fired its GM, it would seem there will be looser ties to J.J. McCarthy. This makes more sense schematically, but it is hard to see financially.

This is a Willis team to monitor, yes; the GB ties at HC/GM/Hackett point to consideration. Anthony Richardson and Kirk Cousins will be available as well
Aaron Rodgers
4:22
Did the Steelers hire Mike McCarthy to lure me back for one final year? If not me who will they target to add to the quarterback room? Mac Jones?
Sam Robinson
4:22
Aaron, I would hope that isn't the case. Catering to you, all due respect, at 42 is certainly ill-advised. That said, I can see you returning while the Steelers table their QB need for a year.

This could be a team on the Kyler Murray radar, but yes, Mac Jones -- as I should have mentioned in the previous Dolphins question (damn space issues) -- will be a consideration. Ditto Malik Willis, though I'd be careful there. Tua Tagovailoa only if the Dolphins pay much of the 2026 $$. The Steelers will be connected to Ty Simpson and the other non-Mendoza arms in this class, and while they have seen a few bridge QBs deliver unremarkable results, waiting for 2027 to strike may be wise here.

Amazingly, Rodgers should have some pull in Year 22 due to the Steelers' circumstances. Would be a fun reunion, but the team needs to be stockpiling draft ammo for 2027 ASAP.
The Autumn Wind is a Pirate
4:31
I don't pay a ton of attention to general manager comings and goings, but historically, isn't the end of January a weird time to fire your GM? Are you surprised the Vikings made that move today?
Sam Robinson
4:31
It is, but GM firings can happen at different times compared to HC moves. The Jets and Bills respectively fired Mike Maccagnan and Doug Whaley post-draft. The Chiefs (John Dorsey) and Panthers (Dave Gettleman) both fired theirs in summer 2017. The Jaguars fired Trent Baalke on Jan. 22 of last year.

This one is a bit different, yes. It points to considerable disharmony within that organization. While other power brokers may well be involved, Kevin O'Connell and his GM disagreeing on key matters is a clear place to look. J.J. McCarthy's status is something to monitor now.

I am surprised by this on the surface, but the Jon Robinson/Steve Keim firings showed teams can turn around on GMs quickly post-extensions. Adofo-Mensah's drafts have not been great, either. Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth and Ed Ingram (in Minnesota, at least) did not help from Rounds 1-2, and the Vikes are bringing in McCarthy competition. This is an interesting GM opening, but it is safe to say KOC will be the top voice in that building now
Sam Robinson
4:32
Thanks for the questions, guys. We'll call it there for today. We are days away from endless Super Bowl talk. Enjoy the weekend!
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