The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Dane Brugler's updated Top 50: Arvell Reese, Ty Simpson top the list
Nov 12, 2025
Dane Brugler unveils his updated Top 50 prospects as Thanksgiving approaches. Arvell Reese and Ty Simpson claim the top spots, with deep dives into their standout traits. The podcast discusses the rising receiver class and the underwhelming offensive tackle group. They also evaluate the quarterback landscape, highlighting challenges and potential draft declarations. Surprising risers and fallers in the rankings spark engaging debates, as they ponder the draft class's depth and its comparison to previous years.
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Rankings Are About Projection Not Positional Value
- Dane treats rankings as a prospecting exercise focused on traits and projection rather than scheme fit or positional value.
- He aims for a list he can be proud of years later, stacking the best football players by traits and tape.
Ty Simpson's Tape Outweighs Limited Starts
- Arvel Reese and Ty Simpson rose dramatically, with Simpson debuting at No. 2 due to clean process and traits despite limited starts.
- Scouts worry about Simpson's experience but value his college preparation and readiness.
Factor NIL Into Quarterback Projections
- Consider NIL dynamics when projecting which quarterbacks declare for the draft and how the class shapes up.
- Teams and players will use NIL offers to influence returns or declarations, altering class composition.