The First-Round Conversation

Athlon Sports
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Athlon Sports is proud to present the only NFL Draft podcast you'll ever need. Hosted by NFL expert Luke Easterling.

  1. 11/03/2025

    5 NFL Teams With Big Questions After 2025 W/ EJ Snyder

    Five NFL teams are stuck in QB limbo — we break down who’s fixing it and who’s doomed. There are a handful of NFL teams with some intriguing quarterback situations as they look beyond the 2025 season, for very different reasons. EJ Snyder of Bootleg Football returns to the show to break down a couple of teams who could give up on young passer after just one season, two more teams with aging stars but no long-term plan (yet), and one team that's stuck between a massive boulder and a hard place. As always, Luke also breaks down some of the biggest draft-related storylines from across the league, and shines a spotlight on a random player from draft history. 00:00 – NFL Teams in QB Chaos: The 2026 Outlook 00:56 – Saints & Browns: Rookie Regrets and Rebuilds 01:33 – Aging Legends: Stafford and Rodgers Still Elite 02:08 – Top Of The Board 06:42 – EJ Snyder Joins the Show 07:53 – Rookie QB Decisions for 2026 Draft 08:34 – Tyler Shough & Dylan Gabriel: One-and-Done QBs? 10:03 – The Saints’ QB Carousel & Taysom Hill Factor 12:12 – Why You Can’t Win Without a Top-15 QB 14:11 – Browns’ Quarterback Disaster and Draft Options 15:12 – The Case for LaNorris Sellers or Ty Simpson 16:09 – Cleveland’s Front Office & Stefanski Uncertainty 20:13 – Veteran QBs: Rodgers in Pittsburgh, Stafford in LA 22:55 – Rodgers’ Revival and the Risk of the Cliff 24:15 – Stafford’s Longevity and McVay’s Future Plans 25:59 – Bridge QB Options & Possible Replacements 27:20 – The Dolphins’ Massive QB Dilemma 29:03 – Tua Tagovailoa’s Regression and Cap Nightmare 30:17 – Why Miami Is Trapped Financially 31:12 – Trade or Release? The $99M Question 33:20 – No Easy Answers: Miami’s Toughest Offseason Yet 34:46 – JP Losman Story 38:24 – Where to Find E.J. Snyder & Bootleg Football 👉 Subscribe for weekly NFL Draft analysis, quarterback talk, and offseason previews from the BPA Podcast and Athlon Sports! #NFLDraft #NFLQuarterbacks #BPAPodcast #AthlonSports #AaronRodgers #MatthewStafford #TuaTagovailoa #Saints #Browns #Rams #Steelers #Dolphins #NFLOffseason #QBControversy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  2. 10/20/2025

    SEC QB Stock Report W/ Cole Thompson of SEC Unfiltered

    We're about halfway through the 2025 college football season, and we've seen a ton of changes when it comes to stacking the top QB prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. Some of the biggest names are in the SEC, and there have been a wide range of performances that have their draft stock moving in different directions. Cole Thompson from SEC Unfiltered returns to the show to break down what we've seen from the SEC's top passers so far this season, and what it could mean for their eventual draft value in the offseason. As always, Luke also highlights some of the biggest draft-related storylines from around the country, and shines a spotlight on a random player from draft history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  3. 10/13/2025

    Making Sense Of The Minnesota Vikings W/ Arif Hasan

    The Minnesota Vikings are one of the most intriguing teams in the NFL right now, coming off a 14-win season in 2024, but hitching their championship hopes on a young quarterback who missed his entire rookie season due to injury. Arif Hasan joins the show to break down the results of Minnesota's decision to go with J.J. McCarthy over Sam Darnold, how the Vikings attempts to "quarterback-proof" their team are holding up, and what the future holds for the franchise beyond this season. Luke also breaks down some big developments in the 2026 NFL Draft's quarterback class, and highlights a random player from draft history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  4. 10/06/2025

    NFL'S Top Rookies From Week 5 W/ Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk

    We're five weeks into the 2025 NFL season, and we've already seen some impressive rookies come flying out of the gates to make massive impacts for their respective teams right away. Myles Simmons from Pro Football Talk joins the show to talk about a few of the most impressive rookie performances from Week 5, and how the first month of the season could indicate long-term success for those first-year studs. As always, Luke also highlights a couple of the biggest draft-related storylines from across the football world, and shines a spotlight on a random player from draft history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  5. 09/29/2025

    Why the Eagles Will (or Won't) Repeat as Super Bowl Champions w/Devin Jackson

    Eagles are 4-0 but far from perfect—can Philly repeat as Super Bowl champions? More NFL and Draft Analysis Here:  After winning the Super Bowl in dominant fashion last year, Philadelphia Eagles are off to a 4-0 start this season, thanks to a masterful team-building job by general manager Howie Roseman. Devin Jackson, who covers the Eagles and the NFL Draft for the Philadelphia Enquirer, joins the show to break down how Roseman has constructed a consistent title contender, where he needs to improve, and what could prevent the Eagles from hoisting back-to-back Lombardi Trophies. As always, Luke breaks down some of the biggest storylines across the draft landscape, and shines a spotlight on a random player from draft history. Host Luke Easterling is joined by Devin Jackson (Philadelphia Inquirer) to break down the Eagles’ front office moves, defensive struggles, and offensive inconsistency. Plus: draft talk on Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza, and Ashton Jeanty’s breakout performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min

  6. 09/22/2025

    Detroit Lions Super Bowl Window | 2025 Draft Picks, Injuries & Dan Campbell’s Future w/ Jeff Risdon

    The BPA Draft Show dives into the Detroit Lions: Have they already missed their Super Bowl window, or can Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell, and Detroit’s 2025 rookie class keep them in contention? Host Luke Easterling is joined by Jeff Risdon (Lions Wire & Draft Wire) to break down injuries, roster building, rookie impact, and the future of Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, and more. Plus: 2026 draft prospects like Reuben Bain Jr. (Miami) and WR Eric McAllister (TCU) are rising fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  7. 09/10/2025

    2026 NFL Draft Early Stock Update w/ Trevor Sikkema

    Now that we've got a couple of weeks of college football action in the books, it's time to take a look at who's moving up and down the board as we look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus returns to the show to highlight a few players who have impressed him out of the gate this season, a handful of prospects who have yet to live up to their preseason expectations, and some prospect matchups to look forward to in Week 3. As always, Luke also breaks down some of the biggest draft-related storylines from around the league, and shines a spotlight on a random player from draft history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  8. 09/05/2025

    What We Learned About the 2026 NFL Draft Class in CFB Week 1 w/ Dane Brugler

    The first full week of the 2025 college football season is officially in the books, and we've got some fresh film to watch from the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. To break it all down, Luke is joined by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, who talks about the mixed reviews from this year's big-name quarterbacks, the marquee names who lived up to the offseason hype in Week 1, and the underrated gems who are already starting to emerge from under the radar. There's also some BBQ talk, a breakdown of some of the biggest storylines from around the league, and another Random Player from Draft History to remember. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Athlon Sports is proud to present the only NFL Draft podcast you'll ever need. Hosted by NFL expert Luke Easterling.

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