Malik Willis, Mendoza, Mahomes, Pickens & More | Overreaction Monday w/ Rich & Chris Brockman

It is the first week of May. There is no football. The schedule has not been released. Rookie minicamp clips and a couple of bad ceremonial first pitches were enough to launch a fully loaded edition of Overreaction Monday on The Rich Eisen Show, where Rich and Chris ran through Malik Willis, Fernando Mendoza, division winners, the next Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the running back renaissance, George Pickens, and Patrick Mahomes' Week 1 status.

First overreaction. Malik Willis sailed a ceremonial first pitch in Miami. Should Dolphins fans panic?

Rich's long answer was no. The franchise is rebuilding under a new system. The general manager came from Green Bay and clearly is not going to spend a top-30 pick on a wide receiver just because the loud part of the fan base wants one. Willis, the show acknowledged, has a smaller window than people thought when he signed in Miami. If next year's draft order falls a certain way, the Dolphins will likely take a quarterback at the top.

Rich's short answer was even sharper. Did you see Patrick Mahomes' first pitch?

No dice from a baseball mound. Overreaction.

Next, the MVP debate. Chris noted that of last year's six MVP vote-getters, only two will likely receive votes this season. Rich, fresh off voting for Matthew Stafford in the most contested MVP race in years, doubled down. He called his shot for this year. Stafford and Josh Allen as the headliners. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow back in the conversation. And, just to needle Chris, Dak Prescott in the top five.

Fernando Mendoza was up next. Rich loved the kid. Loved that he handled the White House question by saying he is a rookie, the visit lands on a practice day, and missing OTAs would not be a good look. Loved that the Raiders are not babying him and are putting him under center now. Mendoza taking more snaps under center in rookie camp than he did in his entire college career is exactly the right move.

Chris called offensive rookie of the year. Mendoza, even if he does not start until October. Rich did not push back hard.

Then came the division winners. Last season, seven of eight divisions had a new winner. Chris went eight for eight this year. Bills out, somebody else in the AFC East. Ravens flipping the AFC North. Texans repeating in the South. Chargers flipping the AFC West. Giants out, someone else in the NFC East, with Chris talking himself into Dallas. Packers reclaiming the NFC North. Falcons in the South. Niners back in the West.

The Niners pick had a wrinkle. Chris admitted Kyle Shanahan's recent appearance on the show, breaking down draft strategy with four-dimensional clarity, had moved him from doubter to believer.

Next: the next Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Chris pitched DeVonta Smith. AJ Brown going to New England, in the bit, leaves Smith as the clear number one in Philadelphia under a new offensive coordinator. Rich was unconvinced, but did not call him crazy.

The running back renaissance came next. Chris said five backs would clear 1,600 yards this year, matching the entire previous five-season total. The list got tested. James Cook again. Derrick Henry. Jahmyr Gibbs. Bijan Robinson. Ashton Jeanty. Omarion Hampton, the wild card. Rich liked the names. He stayed skeptical of the pace.

George Pickens setting a Cowboys franchise receiving record. Rich said no. The talent is there, but the share of targets in Dallas, with CeeDee Lamb still on the roster, makes that ceiling almost impossible.

The last one was the only one that mattered. Patrick Mahomes is working out and will participate in mini camps. Will he start Week 1?

Chris said even if Mahomes is ready, the Chiefs should start Justin Fields for September. Rich agreed in principle but laughed at the practicality.

"You think Mahomes starts Week 1? Absolutely I do," Rich said.

The schedule will help. The NFL will frontload Kansas City with cupcakes. The Patriots-Chiefs game, Chris guessed, will land on Sunday Night Football in December.

Rich pinned that one. They will revisit when the schedule drops.