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Sam Robinson
4:00
Hey everyone, eventful week for the Eagles' O-line. Let's get started!
Donkos
4:07
Right decision for Payton to retake play calling duties? I feel for Webb since he only got 4 games to try and settle in, but that offense just looks horrible. They need to right the ship in so many ways that I’m not sure if it’s just play calling that’s the issue right now, however.
Sam Robinson
4:07
I wondered if the Broncos' vicious early-season schedule would prompt a change. Honestly, I didn't like the move for Payton to give up play-calling in the first place. He has a case as one of the great all-time play-callers, and that is a central part of why he's a valuable HC. In a league where Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay give their teams weekly advantages with play-calling, the Broncos taking theirs off the table never made much sense to me.

As you mentioned, the offense is just not functioning on a level its talent would suggest it should be. Being 27th in points and yards (20th in EPA/play) is different than a mid-pack showing through four games. Payton could probably live with a mid-pack showing; this is too much.

Bad break for Webb indeed. Had the schedule broken down differently, this may not need to happen. But Denver's SB aspirations effectively mandate the team beats either the Chargers or the Seahawks (to avoid 2-4). That makes this a good time for a change.
Chargers O-line
4:15
Could the Chargers make a trade to help the offensive line, or is this already a lost season?
Sam Robinson
4:15
The way the Bolts' schedule broke down also effectively mandated they win their first two games (or at least one). After L's against the Cards and Raiders, the Chargers dug a hole that looks too deep to escape. Their next five go Denver-KC-Rams-Texans-Ravens. This looks like an unusual season in which Jim Harbaugh does not coach a contender.

Even though the 1992 Chargers (s/o Stan Humphries) crawled out of an 0-4 hole to reach a six-team playoff bracket, I'd vote for the Texans as the team far more likely to become the second such team (especially now with seven teams) over LAC.

Teams aren't going to be too eager to give up starter-level O-linemen at this juncture, anyway. The Chargers probably need to let Slaughter develop at center. Guard is a place they could target if they are somehow on the wild-card fringe at the deadline. Long term, Slater's health has become a problem. With his 2027 compensation locked in, the LT's big-picture status may be the bigger issue.
Tequila Sunrise
4:23
CJ Stroud has actually been pulling his weight for a team that's gone 0-4.  Could the team's ineptitude affect his potential contract extension?
Sam Robinson
4:23
That is an interesting part of this strange Texans season. Stroud's 8.2 yards per attempt (and 5:0 TD-INT ratio) are much closer to his rookie-year form than the past two seasons. Houston's O-line being seventh in pass block win rate has offered promise, even if the run game is still low quality. One of the reasons I'm not burying the Texans yet.

The Texans' three divisional-round finishes the past three years -- even as Stroud bombed in the 2025 playoffs -- give the QB some chips to play with. How the offense looks with Collins back should only drive up Stroud's price.

I don't see their 0-4 start affecting the QB's value much. It would be a good problem to have for Houston if Stroud stays on this pace and the team misses the playoffs. Considering how badly everything ended with Watson, the Texans having a good answer on Stroud would supersede a one-year step back in the standings
TD-Machine
4:34
Who is your pick for the No. 1 seed in each conference?
Sam Robinson
4:34
I'll go Seahawks in the NFC. Their run game should improve as the season progresses, and we have plenty of evidence their defensive start (second EPA/play through four games) is sustainable. Their two Rams games being in Weeks 16 and 18 is notable re: the 1 seed, but based on what we've seen, can we guarantee Garrett, Donald, Puka and the rest of their stars will all be available then?

The AFC side of this question partially boils down to how real the Chiefs' start is. I'm not there yet, but the early returns are strong -- especially on defense. KC being sixth in points allowed and ninth in EPA/play with a much younger cast continues to show the underappreciated value Spagnuolo brings. But KC still has road games in Seattle, Denver, Cincinnati and against the Rams (and the Atlanta date doesn't look as easy as it did).

I think I'll go Jaguars. They have been proving it weekly since shortly after the Meyers trade. Their schedule is weaker than KC's, and what looks like an underrated staff continues to impress
Big Apple Brad
4:40
Are the Giants actually a contender, or have they just played an easy schedule so far?
Sam Robinson
4:40
I hate to pour cold water here, but I'll say the schedule (home wins over the Titans and Cardinals after the impressive Cowboys showing) is a bigger driver of their 3-1 start. The Dart and Burns injuries just look like too  much in the big picture. That said, I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. The NFC East may not be as imposing as it looked.

I just don't see the Winston rollercoaster putting the team in a favorable spot come December. And I agree with our Adam La Rose on the McCarthy trade; pretty weird from a long-term perspective. Would not be surprised if he is thrown into the fire before too long. That will be a tough sell based on his limited time in New York and scary 2025 output.

Some promising things to watch, though; Arvell Reese in particular. It's just hard to evaluate this team overall due to Dart's unfortunate setback.
Roger
4:48
Sam, do you think the Cowboys should now be considered the favorites in the NFC East? The Eagles offense is in disarray and their defense has been mediocre, Giants are in dire straits at QB, and the Washington roster isn't good even if Daniels stays healthy. I realize the Cowboys defense is still very bad, but their offense looks like the single best unit in the division. Thanks.
Sam Robinson
4:48
Will stay on the NFC East via Roger's latest Q...I do favor Dallas now.

The Eagles lost two Pro Bowlers from their O-line in two days. With Dickerson hurt, Mailata's all that's left from the Super Bowl LIX O-line. Stoutland's exit also hurts (Philly's OL is 29th in run block win rate so far). With Brown gone and Smith and Barkley hurt, this isn't looking like a good setup for Jalen right now.

I might push back that the Eagles' defense -- talent- and staff-wise; have long been a Fangio fan -- is at least in that conversation for the NFC East's best unit, but the Cowboys' offense (now that Smith's back, especially) looks great. Joey Porter Jr.'s crusade to escape the Steelers' old-school contract setup leading him to Dallas could help significantly.

Still not ready to say the Cowboys' firepower will be enough to threaten the NFCW teams in the grand scheme, but for the East, yes they look like the frontrunners by Week 5.
Mike
4:54
Will Marvin Harrison be traded? Bills have a shot?
Sam Robinson
4:54
Hi Mike, we have enough smoke to closely monitor this by now. The Cardinals have built their offense around McBride and Michael Wilson contractually, and while they could extend Harrison too around a rookie QB contract (one that hasn't arrived yet), we need more evidence he is worthy of one.

Harrison being a Monti Ossenfort draftee -- his highest pick as GM -- gives me pause about the Cards cutting the cord on a top-five draft talent so early (even if a new coaching staff is here). If Arizona is eyeing a move, I'd hope they'd try to get MHJ more involved to prevent his value from falling even more than it has.

The Bills being back in the WR buyer group would be interesting, but DJ Moore is already proving unreliable. Buffalo would seemingly in play for MHJ (rookie deal through 2027), but I think they are still evaluating Coleman. If Keon can show more signs of life, Harrison wouldn't be much of a fit here.
Ghost of George Young
5:01
Hey, Sam.  Which Jr. has more trade value right now - Marvin Harrison or Brian Thomas?  Also, what is that value?  Day 2 pick(s)?  Pick swaps? The value of NFL players is so difficult to gauge. A good player might go for a 5th, while a struggling o-lineman might fetch a 2nd rounder (in a future year).
Sam Robinson
5:01
So many juniors right now in the NFL. I'd say the value is similar. Thomas has the best season of the two (by far) but fell so far last season (and into this one) I'd be concerned about plugging him into a new offense. Harrison was viewed as the far better prospect, and teams regularly turn to their draft evals when a high-end talent doesn't pan out with his initial team.

Both being under contract through 2027 -- with a fifth-year option for '28 -- will keep each's value reasonably high. I can't see Harrison being dealt for anything past a Day 2 pick, and would the Cardinals rather move on for a third-rounder or keep trying to develop him? I'd keep trying.

The Jags look to be a real contender. Trading away first-round WR talent just doesn't seem to be a good idea, even if said player is not fitting in Liam Coen's offense. I'd set the over/under at a third-rounder here because of the contract and 2024 season (1,282 yards, 10 TDs). If Thomas is still scuffling by season's end, then he's probably out.
Bibs
5:08
How does it work that the Bears were open shopping Gervon Dexter and can only get a 5th.  After a three-game sample, he's getting an AAV of nearly 20M from the Falcons with over 40M guaranteed?    Is someone crazy?
Sam Robinson
5:08
Hey Bibs, that deal took me by surprise, but the Falcons have been spending aggressively this year (as the Bijan-Drake-Pitts deals and the higher-than-expected Bergeron contract show). An $18MM-per-year deal is now more of an upper-middle-class (at best) contract, but you're not wrong. The Bears only getting a fifth and CB Clark Phillips (zero defensive snaps in Chicago thus far) is a bit out of step with what the Falcons are now paying Dexter.

Dexter is a big body who can rush the passer, and the Falcons did not have much invested on their D-line since the Grady Jarrett release. Dexter also got an early guarantee vesting date, with his 2028 compensation locking in by March 2027. That speaks to the Falcons (and ex-Bears AGM Ian Cunningham) valuing him MUCH higher than Ryan Poles did.

That is an interesting part of this, and in the NFC South where the bar for success is historically low, Dexter is an interesting X-factor. Atlanta is clearly betting his presence will help Walker and Pearce (once available)
Sam Robinson
5:09
We'll end there for today. Thanks for the questions, everyone. Have a good weekend!
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