Overreaction Monday: Draft Week QBs

Overreaction Monday lined up five draft- and quarterback-heavy takes, and Rich pushed back on almost every one of them.

Chris Brockman opened with a proposal: the NFL should pass a rule that rookie quarterbacks can't play in their first year. His argument was development-driven, cite Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes sitting as rookies, call it a fix for a league with a quarterback development problem. Rich called it absurd. Drake Maye got his ass kicked in Year 1 and then finished second in MVP voting. Jayden Daniels was dynamic as a rookie. Caleb Williams used the year as a base to grow. Rich's counter: failure teaches. Mandate is a step too far.

Next, Brockman argued Tai Simpson will start more games in 2026 than Fernando Mendoza. Rich bought it. The Mendoza-to-the-Raiders pick with Kirk Cousins as the veteran lets Vegas be patient. Simpson's landing spot, possibly Arizona or New York, could force him into early action depending on how the Jacoby Brissett situation shakes out.

The Kirk Cousins take: Cousins will throw for more touchdowns than both Falcons quarterbacks combined. Rich pushed back. He likes what Atlanta is building with Kevin Stefanski running the offense for Tua or Michael Penix, with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts as weapons. Cousins in Vegas will be fine, but not better than the combined Atlanta output.

The Jalen Hurts take got the most airtime. Brockman: if the Eagles miss the playoffs, they'll have a new starting quarterback in 2027. Rich thinks Philadelphia is still too talented, but he granted the point that if the Eagles trade AJ Brown and struggle, the behind-the-scenes noise from Hurts's camp will get louder. It's the last year of Hurts's guaranteed money. Rich also noted the weirdness of the Eagles roster, Hurts and Brown reportedly don't love each other, but they went rogue together against Green Bay, which is how Philadelphia seems to operate.

On the Chiefs taking an offensive weapon at No. 9, Rich agreed it's not an overreaction. He'd love to see Carnell Tate drop that far but doesn't expect it. Kansas City has options at edge, corner after the Trent McDuffy trade, wide receiver, and offensive line.

The first-round trades debate: Brockman says more trades than quarterbacks plus running backs combined on Day 1. Rich thinks it's close but expects one QB, one RB, and a handful of trades.

The close was the Lamar Jackson pressure take. Brockman argued no quarterback is under more pressure in 2026. Rich erupted. Lamar lives on Planet Lamar. The pressure is on guys who might not have jobs, on Cousins, on Rodgers, on anyone where Father Time is tapping the shoulder. Expectations are internal, not external. The Ravens' issue the last two years hasn't been Lamar. It's been a defense that can't hold up consistently through Week 18. New head coach, new answer.