The Prospect

Our panel of 15 NFL experts at CBS Sports has made its predictions for the 2020 season. I share mine. And finish the podcast with some words on recent Patriots call-up J.J. Taylor.

Wondering about that undrafted free agent who made your team’s roster? Wonder no more. I provide detailed evaluations of a bunch of UDFA’s who beat the odds to make 53-man rosters after an unprecedented summer. Also, some thoughts on the contract extensions for Deshaun Watson and Tre’Davious White.

New Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette is being looked at all wrong. I explain in this episode. Also, I discuss the finer details of Georgia QB opt-out Jamie Newman’s game and why I’m still high on him.

The Saints trading Alvin Kamara this close to the season? No way. He’s very talented, but the system in New Orleans has helped him a lot. Also, this episode examines the financials in contract extensions for Bengals RB Joe Mixon and Lions OT Taylor Decker.

Derwin James is hurt again. Majorly enormously terrible bummer. Some thoughts on him, briefly touching on Leonard Fournette getting waived and scouting reports for Washington EDGE Joe Tryon and Memphis RB Kenny Gainwell.

Thoughts on the Yannick Ngakoue trade, Ja’Marr Chase opting out of the 2020 CFB season + a deep dive on my top 5 TEs in the 2021 draft class. It’s a fun group with loads of potential.

Time for some scouting reports. Before they play this season, I watched UNC WRs Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome and was thoroughly impressed. Plus, I circle back to thoughts on Pitt DT Jaylen Twyman, who opted out, and USC iOL Alijah Vera-Tucker who won’t get a chance to play for the Trojans in 2020.

This episode is dedicated to everything that’s transpired in Kenosha, Wisconsin surrounding Jacob Blake being shot seven times by a police officer. It’s a watershed moment in American history.

The Rams are primed to surprised in 2020, and Jared Goff has actually become underrated. Also, this episode features a dive into some young RBs and why I was initially underwhelmed by the 2021 WR class.

In watching film over the summer in preparation for my pre-season Big Board, I came away pleasantly surprised by the EDGE class in 2021. It’s a diverse group that’s much more than Gregory Rousseau. The ACC is loaded at the position. Let’s talk about the EDGE prospects I gave a first-round grade.

With my Top 250 Big Board now live at CBS Sports, let’s take an in-depth dive into my first round of prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft

From how I categorize and weigh evaluations at each spot on the field to the additions I give prospects based on positional value, this episode unveils my detailed NFL Draft grading system

I answer mailbag questions in this episode about reliable tacklers, developmental EDGE prospects with high upside for the Vikings, and what the Bills could do to think long-term at key positions

In this episode, I provide the full evaluations for my favorite deep, Day 3 sleeper prospects in this draft class

Starting coronavirus social distancing with a special free-agent episode, that provides my favorite / least-favorite signings during the first wave of free agency

After a quick plug for my recent seven-round mock, I open my scouting notebook and pinpointed my #DraftCrushes at each position

These three top prospects had underwhelming combines (for different reasons), which when factoring in their play styles, leads me to believe there should be lower expectations for them at the NFL level.

With the 2020 NFL Combine starting today, I decided to give my own answers to all the questions NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah got in his combine conference call last week.

I recently wrote a long column for CBS Sports on what hitting and missing on prospects has taught me as an NFL Draft analyst. In this episode, I read that column. Think an audiobook but from a column.

With everyone getting into draft season mode after the Super Bowl, now’s the perfect time to explain my bell curve theory on quarterbacks and why it should change how we view evaluating prospects at that position every year

With the recently release of initial Big Boards and mock drafts from some plugged-in, veteran NFL Draft analysts came a few surprising names in the first round. In this episode, I discuss my thoughts on those players.

Let’s talk about Javon Kinlaw’s dominance and then a handful of sleepers who had strong performances at Senior Bowl practice

While not finalized of course, it’s time to run through my first Top 32 Big Board of draft season.

A phenomenon occurs every year at this time during the pre-draft process...we forget about non-Senior Bowl prospects. I discuss two of my favorites in this podcast. An explosive linebacker and a super-underrated running back.

In this episode, I dive into what I’ve realized is a top-heavy and deep class of edge rushers, including (after Chase Young), A.J. Epenesa, Yetur Gross-Matos, Terrell Lewis, K’Lavon Chassion, and...Josh Uche.

There have been 16 first or second year QBs who’ve played in the NFL this season. This episode features a deep dive on my grades and season evaluations of them heading into Week 14.

The game of Utah’s Tyler Huntley, who’s significantly improved as a passer this year is discussed (0:44) before an in-depth look at rising hybrid defenders A.J. Epenesa of Iowa, and Florida State’s Hamsah Nasirildeen (5:30). Then a sleeper WR prospect from Illinois — yes, Illinois — with an awesome name is put in the spotlight (10:45) and Cowboys WR Michael Gallup and Packers LG Elgton Jenkins are praised for their play in 2019 (14:39).

Performances better than the stats indicate from Tua Tagovailoa and Jamie Newman over the weekend are highlighted (00:28) before a discussion on Oregon’s feisty CB Thomas Graham. Then Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson is praises and it’s explained why Clemson’s Tee Higgins is underrated right now (9:56). An in-depth talk on my season grade for Lamar Jackson finishes the podcast (16:00).

LSU QB Joe Burrow has been awesome but has one flaw you need to monitor against Alabama this weekend (0:51). Rising defenders Troy Dye and Yetur Gross-Matos are discussed (4:03), as is Oregon State receiver Isaiah Hodgins (8:11), and the episode concludes by giving props to a pass-rushing nose tackle Vita Vea, and monstrous wideouts DK Metcalf and Courtland Sutton (10:27)

In a development no one saw coming, Oregon’s Justin Herbert has actually become an underrated, overshadowed QB prospect (0:28), and there are two RBs destined for Day 2 or Day 3 who look poised to outperform their draft position (6:40). Individual plays from top WR prospects are featured (9:41) and the episode finishes by highlighting Bengals’ second-year WR Auden Tate (14:45).

This episode starts with a detailed look at future first-round QB Jacob season (1:15) and likely pre-draft riser Josh Jones from Houston. The dude looks like Tyron Smith on the field (4:27). After that...is Jerry Jeudy slipping. Chris thinks so (7:20). He finishes with evaluations of QBs from the famed 2018 class and how they’re becoming their pre-draft comparisons (12:18).

In this episode, Chris begins with why he believes the Rams are proving money is overrated in the NFL (00:22) then jumps to Joe Burrow’s hot start and explains why it might not vault him into QB2 status (6:08). He then talks about a trio of rising defensive prospects including one with NFL bloodlines (10:50), and finishes by hightlighting a stud rookie DL in the AFC with extreme length and versatility (18:22).

Justin Herbert can just do things other QBs in this class can’t (0:10). Hyping the big Yetur Gross-Matos vs. Tristan Wirfs matchup (4:40), discussing the weird state of this WR class (8:48) and the Jaguars’ second-pro who’s been a pleasant surprise beyond Gardner Minshew (16:50)

Chris gets philosophical with a major development in evaluating quarterback prospects (0:28), discusses a long, lean, and surprisingly powerful EDGE (8:20), goes deep sleeper at the WR spot (10:45), and wraps with Gardner Minshew praise (14:25) before talking about a pair of Year 2 RBs who deserve major love, one of which you wouldn’t expect.

In this episode, Chris touches on Tua, Herbert, and the continued rise of Joe Burrow (segment 1) before explaining what’s changed with Florida State DT Marvin Wilson that has him squarely on the first-round radar (segment 2). He also zeroes in on the polished downfield skills of Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace (segment 3) and goes deep on the plethora of young QBs who’ve played early in this NFL season (segment 4).

Joe Burrow was ridiculous against Texas, and his 471 yards weren't inflated by a ton of easy throws. Chris zeroes in on two other LSU Tigers, discusses the effortless speed of Henry Ruggs and Tylan Wallace, and two overlooked rookies who showed out in big Week 1 road wins.