The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

icture this: you're in the warm air of the offseason, you're listening to players talk about how they're in the "best shape of their life," you're watching training camp highlights set to instrumental rock music. It's easy to get carried away with your NFL takes in that environment - and get carried away, we did. Robert Mays, Dave Helman, and Derrik Klassen revisit their coldest takes of the 2025 NFL season on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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 2023 Draft class is proving to be a conundrum at the fifth-year option milestone. Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and Bijan Robinson highlight some of the players with exercised options. But why did the Detroit Lions choose not to exercise Jack Campbell's option? And what can the NFL's decisions around this class tell us about the state of fifth-year options as a whole? Robert Mays and Dave Helman discuss some of the key names and teams on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

Our Buy or Sell Their Offseasons series moves on to The Middle Class, which features a couple of playoff teams from last season. Those teams, the Panthers and Steelers, are outside of the top two groups of teams for understandable reasons. They're joined here by the Saints, Commanders, Colts, Vikings, Buccaneers and Bengals. Did those eight teams do well for themselves during the player-acquisition period over the last three months? Robert Mays and Dave Helman make buy-or-sell calls on all eight of them on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

It's May, dear TAFS listener, and you know what that means: The real NFL offseason is here. We kick it off by opening up the mailbag, and you all delivered once again. Robert Mays and Dave Helman answer questions on the durability of elite defenses, hypothetical teams built entirely of one draft class, possible trades involving non-star players that could move the needle for 2026, and a whole lot more.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

Every team in the NFL is going to have its own approach to the offseason, in part defined by where it sees itself fitting into the league's hierarchy. We in the media must treat their respective offseasons with that same degree of nuance. After all, the Cardinals—coming off an ugly 3-14 season with no plausible case for considering itself a serious contender in 2026—are going to think about the offseason differently than, say, the Broncos, who very well could have won the Super Bowl if Bo Nix didn't get hurt in the playoffs. It is in that spirit that we launch into an offseason staple around these parts, our Buy or Sell Their Offseason series. Four episodes, eight teams per episode, with similar teams grouped together. We kick it off with The Rebuilders, eight teams simply hoping to take a step back toward relevance in 2026. Those teams are...the Jets, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Dolphins, Giants, Cardinals and Falcons.Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

OK, the 2026 NFL Draft is comfortably in the rear-view mirror. We've done in-the-moment reactions, and now-that-we've-slept-on-it reactions. It's done, it's over. So now it's time to ask ourselves, 'If this is what the 32 teams are, what questions do we still have about all of them?' Robert Mays and Dave Helman pose those questions, and then work through them, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

One hundred picks were made across the first two nights of the draft, with each one coming right on the heels of the one that happened before it. When you're reacting to those pick-by-pick, you don't have a ton of time to fully sit with your thoughts. By time you get into the middle of the following week, though, you have had that time to reconsider some of what you thought as the draft was unfolding. And that's exactly what Robert Mays and Fran Duffy from the ALLCITY Network do on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys go back to what they thought as the picks were coming off the board, and reevaluate what they think now that they've had some time to sleep on it.Host: Robert MaysGuest: Fran DuffyExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysTheme 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.

Sometimes, a draft class is more than a draft class. Sometimes, a draft class can tell the entire NFL world what you think about your team. Robert Mays and Dave Helman zero in on the messages some teams sent with their respective 2026 draft classes on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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 NFL Draft has come and gone - or rather, it was on it's way out the door as we sat down to record this episode - and we have much to discuss. Robert Mays, Dane Brugler, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman break down why Jermod McCoy and Garrett Nussmeier slid so far down the Draft board. Plus, which NFL teams earned spots among our favorite Draft classes...and our least favorites? That and more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman, and Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Follow Dane on X: @DPBruglerTheme 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.

Night two of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and, once again, we implore you to go check out our full, pick-by-pick recap on our YouTube channel. If you don't have time for that, though, allow this truncated version to be your guide. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen Dave Helman and Dane Brugler recap the second and third rounds of the draft on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanGuests: Dane Brugler and Bruce FeldmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

Did you miss our first-round livestream on Thursday night? Welp, go ahead and watch it on YouTube. But if you want the Reader's Digest version, we've got it here for you. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman, Dane Brugler and Bruce Feldman recap the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanGuests: Dane Brugler and Bruce FeldmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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 first round of the 2026 NFL Draft may be mere moments away, but we still have time to squeeze in a last few questions before Roger Goodell takes the stage in Pittsburgh. So come join Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman and Dane Brugler for a few final queries on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman, Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Follow Dane on X: @DPBruglerTheme 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 NFL Draft is right on our doorstep, and it's looking likely that some team is going to make Jeremiyah Love a top-five pick. That's right, the running back value discussion is back. But never fear, this is the good version of it. Robert Mays and Bill Barnwell trot out the old chestnut in a new way on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysGuest: Bill BarnwellExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysTheme 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 something soothing about finishing a mock draft...even a mock draft done by six different people. With just picks 26 through 32 remaining, EJ Snyder and Brett Kollmann join Robert Mays to discuss who might sneak into the first round. Who will the defending champ Seattle Seahawks add to their war chest? Who goes to the powerhouse Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and...Miami Dolphins? The guys wrap our On the Clock series on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysGuests: EJ Snyder & Brett KollmannExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysTheme 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.

Another Monday, another time opening up the mailbag. This week, Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen answer your questions about whether NFL GM's are judged on their best or worst picks, whether we should judge prospects on traits or production, the value of special teamers in the draft, and more. But first, Robert Mays interrupts his PTO to break down the Dexter Lawrence trade...why does this make sense for the Bengals and what will the Giants do with their bevy of high draft picks?Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

Jalon Kilgore, Riley Nowakowski, Reggie Virgil, Peter Woods...what do these guys have in common? They're OUR guys. A week ahead of the draft, we're officially planting the flags for our favorite players in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dave Helman, Dane Brugler, and Derrik Klassen call their shot on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Dave HelmanCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Dane on X: @DPBruglerFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.

Dane Brugler put out his full, seven-round mock for the 2026 NFL Draft, and it included eight offensive linemen going in the first round. That would push the record of nine set in 2024. In other words, it's a good year to need some help in the trenches. So who better than Brandon Thorn from Trench Warfare to dig into the offensive line class with Robert Mays and Dane Brugler? No one, we say. That's exactly what the three of them do on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Dane on X: @DPBruglerTheme 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.

Sonny Styles quickly became one of the darlings of this draft class way back in September after Ohio State's first few games. After him, the linebacker class is a mixed bag, as it so often is. Dane Brugler and Dave Helman dig deep into the position on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Dave HelmanCo-Host: Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Follow Dane on X: @DPBruglerTheme 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.

We've reached the "Last Season's Playoff Teams" portion of the 2026 NFL Draft on The Athletic Football Show's On The Clock, though it might not feel like it. The first team up on this episode is the Carolina Panthers, a team that won its division at 8-9. They're followed by the Dallas Cowboys, a team that didn't make the playoffs but holds what would have been the Packers pick thanks to the Micah Parsons trade. We've also got the Cleveland Browns mixed in here, thanks to the Travis Hunter trade they made with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. Mike Renner of CBS Sports joins Robert Mays on this episode to make picks for those three teams, as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.Host: Robert MaysGuest: Michael RennerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysTheme 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.

How big is too big, even for a dyed-in-the-wool sizeist like Derrik Klassen? How good are the Ravens at drafting, really? Which NFL jerseys must be protected at all costs, and which need to go now? That's just a smattering of the questions Robert Mays, Dave Helman and Derrik answer on this mailbag episode of The Athletic Football Show.Host: Robert MaysCo-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerSenior Producer: Katy DuffySocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @RobertMaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_Theme 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.