The Super Bowl is done, and Tony Pauline is back on DraftCast with host Tim Wood to break down what we learned from Seattle’s championship run, the coaching carousel already reshaping the league, and the latest movement inside the 2026 NFL Draft class.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Seattle’s coaching, game planning, and turnover-free playoff run proved coaching still wins championships in the salary-cap era.
• Why the Patriots still deserve credit for their Super Bowl run, and why their future may be brighter than expected.
• Klint Kubiak’s move to the Raiders, why the timing was perfect, and how much leverage he really had in negotiations.
• Why Fernando Mendoza is trending toward the No. 1 overall pick, and why skipping combine throwing is now standard for top QBs.
• How Carson Swessinger’s Defensive Rookie of the Year season could push off-ball linebackers back into Round 1 conversations.
• The latest on Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility battle, NIL implications, and possible draft ripple effects.

Tony Pauline’s latest Big Board updates and rising names from across the country.

Special Guest: Philadelphia Inquirer draft analyst Devin Jackson joins to discuss Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl takeaways, Eagles roster decisions, and late-round prospects who could outperform their draft slot.

📊 Track Tony Pauline’s updated Big Board and scouting reports at EssentiallySports.com

Subscribe for weekly insider NFL Draft conversations, big-board movement, and real scouting intel from the all-star circuit to draft night.

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro / Super Bowl Review

8:52 — Clint Kubiak to Raiders Now Official

12:50 — Question Marks Around Tom Brady’s Ownership Role

15:10 — Mark Davis’ Ownership Style vs Jerry Jones

17:00 — Fernando Mendoza Chooses Pro Day Over NFL Combine

21:42 — Carson Schwesinger’s DROY Impact on 2026 NFL Draft Class

26:42 — Trinidad Chambliss’ NCAA Future in Question

30:10 — ES 2026 Draft Big Board

32:20 — Guest Segment: Devin Jackson (Philadelphia Inquirer)

1:03:10 — The Scout’s Eye: Tony Pauline on Emmanuel Pregnon & Rising Prospects

1:12:21 — Anthony Smith Tipped for 5th Round Selection

1:14:36 — Steve Hutchinson vs Zeke Moreno: Iconic 2001 Senior Bowl Story

1:21:55 — How Sean Payton Landed Bo Nix After Backing J.J. McCarthy Publicly

1:25:15 — Tony Pauline on Being Used for Information in Draft Circles

1:28:22 — Kenneth Walker III Scouting Report

1:32:02 — Gray Zabel’s Role in Seahawks’ Super Bowl Run

1:34:00 — 2026 Seahawks Compared to the 2001 Ravens

EssentiallySports DraftCast delivers insider NFL Draft conversations with veteran analyst Tony Pauline and ES NFL Editor-in-Chief Tim Wood, combining league intel with honest scouting perspective for fans who live in mock drafts and big boards.

The Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl are in the books, and Tony Pauline is back on DraftCast with ES NFL Editor-in-Chief Tim Wood to break down which 2026 NFL Draft prospects really moved the needle — and which ones quietly scared scouts off.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey could be a perfect fit for Robert Saleh’s Titans at No. 4 — and a bad scheme fit for the Jets at No. 2.
• The wild rise of John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery, who cooked a potential first‑round SEC corner after just 2.5 years of real football.
• Senior Bowl standouts Kyle Louis, Cole Payton, Lee Hunter, Darrell Jackson and more defenders who turned Mobile and Frisco into money weeks.
• Why Shrine/Senior one‑on‑ones often matter more than the games — and how some prospects get exposed when everyone’s watching.
• Emmanuel McNeil‑Warren’s decision to pull out of the Senior Bowl and what it might say about his speed and draft stock.
• Garrett Nussmeier: Senior Bowl MVP in the game, but “loser” on the week — plus a Pat White cautionary tale on overreacting to all‑star game box scores.
• Cole Payton as the next “Dakota QB” traits swing and how landing spot and coaching will define his ceiling.
• Ty Simpson, the transfer portal and “legacy”: does staying put really protect a QB’s brand in the NIL era?
• Why player lobbying (Cam Skattebo on Jordan Tyson, vets begging for certain teammates) has essentially zero weight in draft rooms.
• The latest on Fernando Mendoza’s grip on QB1 and how his rise is reshaping how teams think about QB value at the very top of the draft.

📊 Track Tony Pauline’s updated Big Board and 2‑round mock draft at EssentiallySports.com

Subscribe for weekly insider NFL Draft conversations, big‑board movement, and real scouting intel straight from the all‑star circuit to draft night.

About the show: EssentiallySports DraftCast brings you insider NFL Draft conversations with veteran analyst Tony Pauline and NFL Editor-in-Chief Tim Wood, pairing league intel with honest scouting takes for fans who live in mock drafts and big boards.

Subscribe to EssentiallySports for more exclusive Draft analysis! #NFL #NFLDraft #FernandoMendoza #TySimpson #TonyPauline #CollegeFootball #EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports returns with Episode 3 of DraftCast as Tony Pauline and Tim Wood break down Dante Moore’s decision to skip the 2026 NFL Draft, what it reveals about NIL’s growing power, and how quarterback draft economics are being reshaped.

Chapter Breakdown:

2:04 Underclassmen QB News: Dante Moore Stays in School

7:08 Underclassmen QB News: Jets’ Next Step After Moore’s Decision

11:31 Inside the Draft: NIL vs NFL Contract Clock

17:52 Underclassmen QB News: Ty Simpson Rejects $6.5M NIL Deal

20:30 Interviews & Medicals Driving Draft Stock

22:46 Ty Simpson Evaluation Hinges on Senior Bowl

26:31 Top Shrine Prospects: Bell, Hilton, Sapp

30:21 Top Senior Bowl Prospects: Bailey, World, Surratt, Rodriguez

33:30 Inside the Draft: Big Board Risers & Fallers

39:30 Thinking Like Scouts: Beck’s Momentum Test

43:18 Joe Flacco’s Frenzy at the 2008 Senior Bowl

46:00 Joe Flacco’s Senior Bowl Breakout

49:31 Mailbag: Cardinals & Cowboys Draft Paths

53:31 ES 2026 Draft Big Board Live

Note: Explore Tony Pauline’s full 700-player draft board and upcoming mock draft at https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl...

About the show: EssentiallySports DraftCast brings you insider NFL Draft conversations with veteran analyst Tony Pauline and host Tim Wood, ES NFL Editor-in-Chief, pairing league intel with honest scouting takes for fans who live in mock drafts and big boards.

Subscribe to EssentiallySports’ channel for more exclusive Draft analysis!

EssentiallySports is back with the second episode of The DraftCast and this week, our hosts Tony Pauline and Tim Wood discuss the outcome of Fernando Mendoza vs. Dante Moore, the Jets’ strange situation, Ty Simpson’s future, and much more.

Chapters:

⁠0:00 - Ty Simpson’s $6.5m decision, and the Cam Ward blueprint

⁠4:30 – Ohio State defensive stars, and early 2026 first‑round buzz

9:45 – Indiana vs Oregon recap: Fernando Mendoza vs Dante Moore for QB1

16:30 – Is Fernando Mendoza truly NFL-ready?

⁠22:30 – Debunking hot takes: Whitlock/Jason Brown’s “4th–5th round” Mendoza claim

27:30 – Dante Moore’s gamble and if the Jets are actually a bad landing spot

33:00 – Coaching over everything: Jets, Patriots, and Bears examples

35:30 – Trinidad Chambliss’ “It factor,” and Ole Miss’ playoff run

⁠40:30 – Should Chambliss enter this draft?

41:30 – Lane Johnson vs Dion Jordan: the legendary 2013 draft emotional rollercoaster

⁠⁠47:10 – Draft Board and mock draft update

48:40 – Fan Mailbag: Matt LaFleur’s future in Green Bay, AJ Brown’s move away from the Eagles

What’s in this episode?

• Tony breaks down the biggest Black Monday firings, thin coaching market, and what it means for teams hitting the reset button.
• Deep dive into Dante Moore’s decision: Oregon NIL vs top‑3 pick money, how the Raiders and Jets change his calculus, and what his camp is really thinking.
• A look at hidden QB gems and draft risers, including game‑manager vs game‑changer debates, Senior Bowl “kingmakers,” and why some low‑stat defenders still scream first‑round talent.