The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

The offseason strategies of top NFL contenders are in the spotlight. Key teams like the Rams, 49ers, and Chiefs face pivotal decisions affecting their championship aspirations. The discussion unpacks player acquisitions, coaching changes, and the impact of injuries on performance. Special attention is given to the evolving dynamics within squads like the Lions and Eagles as they seek to enhance their rosters. Strategic debates highlight the balance between immediate gains and long-term planning, leaving fans eager for the upcoming season.

Dive into the intriguing challenges of building an all-rookie NFL team and how inexperienced players might fare. The conversation reveals what makes Justin Jefferson a standout talent and how coaching significantly impacts a player's development. Discover bold trading strategies that shake up traditional approaches and the risks teams face in making innovative hires. Additionally, explore how team personality shapes player fit and speculate on how stars would perform in different environments.

Bryce Young's growth as a quarterback is examined, highlighting his improved performance in the latter half of the season. The discussion reveals the Chargers' talent challenges, questioning their future potential due to offense and defense issues. In contrast, excitement builds around the Seahawks' defense, with insights on their key players and strategies for a breakout season. The conversation tackles quarterback dynamics, play-calling intricacies, and the impact of team composition on performance, offering compelling thoughts for fans and analysts alike.

The hosts dive into the playoff potential of teams like the Chargers and Bengals, making predictions and analyzing offseason strategies. They discuss key player movements and their impact, highlighting the Steelers and Vikings' decisions. The conversation shifts to coaching dynamics affecting young quarterbacks and the Texans' defensive signings. Concerns over aging rosters and defensive investments create a mixed bag of optimism and skepticism for the upcoming season. Overall, there's a thrilling exploration of strategies that could define the fight for the playoffs.

Ever wonder what would be the most beneficial second sport for a future NFL player to play on their way to the league? Ever think about how you'd build your own team brain trust if you couldn't poach anyone currently in the job? Ever consider which current coach could've gotten the most out of Jay Cutler? Good news, this edition of the TAFS mailbag is for you! Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen answer each of those questions, and a whole bunch more.Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenWith: Michael BellerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Beller on Bluesky: @mbeller.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's only so much time to indulge our curiosities during the NFL season. What that means is that a number of questions we have in the moment go unexamined because we have to, you know, pay attention to the games that are actually happening. May and June, though? That's when we can let our minds wander. And that's exactly what we're going to do in our Lingering Questions series on The Athletic Football Show. In episode one of the series, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen ask and answer the following questions: What sort of offensive infrastructure is Cam Ward getting dropped into in Tennessee? Why didn't Jordan Love make the leap in 2024? Why did Marvin Harrison Jr. fall short of expectations in his rookie season?Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The impasse between Trey Hedrickson and the Bengals took its most bizarre turn yet on Tuesday when the star pass rusher staged an impromptu press conference on the practice field at the team's facility during OTAs. The Athletic's Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. was there, and he joins Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show to discuss exactly what happened, how it all transpired, how things got to this point, and, ultimately, where it all goes from here.Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenWith: Paul Dehner Jr.Executive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Paul on Bluesky: @pauldehnerjr.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Paul on X: @pauldehnerjrTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next step up the Offseason Buy or Sell ladder takes us to the NFL's middle class. These are teams that oddsmakers project to be right around .500. In other words, these teams harbor realistic playoff aspirations, but there's path for all of them that leads to picking in the top 10 of the 2026 draft. This group includes the Colts, Jaguars, Cowboys, Seahawks, Falcons, Cardinals, Bears and Dolphins. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen make buy or sell calls on each of their offseasons on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownColtsJaguarsCowboysSeahawksFalconsCardinalsBearsDolphinsHost: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mail carrier came knocking and yet again brought us more than our fair share of great questions. Which successful team of the last five years is most realistic for current bottom-feeders to replicate? Are the Steelers still an elite franchise? Why doesn't Sean McDermott get as much respect as Kyle Shanahan? Which quarterback is the best who, in theory, could get traded? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Michael Beller answer those questions, and a whole lot more, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenWith: Michael BellerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Beller on Bluesky: @mbeller.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trade of George Pickens marks a significant shift in the NFL's pass-catching landscape. Several star receivers have changed teams, including Davante Adams and D.K. Metcalf, prompting an analysis of which groups are thriving and which might struggle. The conversation also touches on key roster moves, emerging talents, and how various offenses are evolving. The hosts evaluate the strategic implications for teams like the Cowboys and the Browns, while highlighting intriguing rookie prospects that could reshape the season.