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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2026 NFL draft: Todd McShay mocks nation's top tackle to New York Giants
The 2025 season doesn't start for a few more weeks, but we've already seen a fair share of "way too early" mock drafts. Now that we've seen a little bit of each NFL team through the first preseason games, draft analyst Toddy McShay released his "appropriately early" mock draft. He and Steve Muench co-host The McShay Show podcast and worked together to scout players that teams might actually draft, rather than shooting in the dark. Based on FanDuel's Super Bowl odds, the Giants are projected to have the third overall pick. With that pick, McShay and Muench predict that the Giants will select offensive tackle Spencer Fano out of Utah. "I think that offensive line's got a chance to be a lot better than people expect. Marcus Mbow they drafted (this year), by the way, Marcus Mbow is having a good camp. That's 'our guy' from Purdue, I think he gets a little stronger and there's something there," McShay said. McShay goes through the top five picks in his mock before getting Muench's opinion on his selections. Muench is very high on Fano. "Violent, athletic, it's not all clean," Muench said. "It's not all clean. But that gives you is the opportunity to see what happens when he gets caught in a bad spot. I remember watching when the Jets took Alijah Vera Tucker out of USC. I remember Joe Douglas, who was the GM of the Jets at the time, talking about 'what happens when Vera Tucker gets caught out of position, how does he recover?' And they were so impressed with his ability to recover. "Man, I see Fano, and when he's clean with his technique, it is beautiful, but when he does things that he's not supposed to, he still wins. And when you're looking at that kind of a talent, I would have no problem taking him in the Top 5.' The Giants' offensive line has struggled over the last few years, but it does seem to be coming together this year. However, aside from John Michael Schmitz, all of the starting offensive linemen have been in the league for a minimum of five years. There's not a ton of youth behind them, either, and Fano could easily slide into the rotation should the Giants actually draft him.
Indianapolis Star
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, top 2026 NFL Draft prospect, a 'wide receiver's dream'
Show Caption Fernando Mendoza has plenty of potential that Indiana hopes he shows in its offense. The 6-5, 225-pound QB had former ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay gushing. Mendoza certainly has flaws, and the reality check came when stacking up against other QBs forecasted in the 2026 draft class. 2026 NFL mock drafts have Mendoza anywhere from a top-5 pick to the fifth round. It didn't take long for a recognizable NFL draft analyst's review of Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza to see his name vault up 2026 NFL mock drafts. When "The McShay Show" published its scouting report of Mendoza, who played two seasons at Cal before transferring to IU, the show's co-hosts, namesake Todd McShay and Steve Muench, had an intriguing title: "What makes the Indiana QB a wide receiver's dream." McShay, recognizable from his days at ESPN, was gushing over Mendoza until a reality check at the end of the show. Mendoza seemed to have an ideal frame at 6 foot 5, 225 pounds. He was third in the ACC in yards passing per game (273.1) and was surrounded by four draft picks. In 11 games last season, he threw for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns to six interceptions and completed 68.7% of his 386 pass attempts. He also ran for 105 yards and two scores, and had 15 yards receiving and a TD. McShay and Muench dove into what they believe are four key factors when evaluating a quarterback: mental makeup (MM), accuracy, release/arm strength and pocket mobility. They rated them from 1 (elite) to 5 (marginal) with a scale to good and below average in-between. Here were their grades: Though McShay is high on Mendoza, a large part of it is due to the leap he thinks he can make under coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan. And Muench said he wants to see Mendoza elevate his game, particularly road games at Oregon and Penn State. He cited that Mendoza's six interceptions "could have been a lot higher," citing a weakness of defenders dropping underneath on passes over the middle. Muench cited three separate instances in different games. Then came the McShay glaze. He cited that Mendoza can see the whole field, goes through progressions quickly, maybe too quickly at times, and that he makes smart decisions when moving the pocket. "I think this son of a gun is tough in the pocket but, as importantly," McShay said, "what stood out to me more than anything on his tape, he knows where to put the football. … He's not perfect, but (a defensive back) with his back to him, he gives his receivers the best trajectory and angle to go up and make the play on the ball (does it on rails, posts, short fades, in middle of field). It was like over and over again. He's unbelievable with back shoulder fades. "On top of that, I do think he's impatient sometimes while he can go through his reads quickly and bail on his reads early, but he's just a pup, man. So I'm expecting a big jump." He labeled it a " (Kurtis) Rourke -plus situation" for IU, an upgrade with a better arm and more mobility. Muench, who wants to see it to believe the potential, pointed out the success Cignetti and Shanahan have had in bringing in transfer QBs three of the past four years: going 8-3 in their first Division-I season at James Madison and then 11-2, each time having the Sun Belt player of the year, and then Rourke leading IU to its first College Football Playoff last season. Though Muench believes Mendoza has fixable misses of missing reads, he does see the potential and likes the fact he makes plays under pressure. "If you're taking something away, he adjusts to it and makes a play with his feet," Muench said. "… I was stunned with how well he runs when he takes off." As the title of the show and McShay eluded to earlier in the podcast, he went deeper on Mendoza's arm talent. "Here's the other thing, snap delivery, crisp. It comes down the back shoot a touch but it's crisp," McShay said. "It's just quick and crisp and the ball snaps off his hand, and he's got good energy. "Not just the placement, it's the trajectory of the placement. He's a (expletive) wide receiver's dream. Not because you underthrew it, because you place it there and he did it over, and over, and over again on tape. His ball doesn't flutter or sail at the end, it comes in." Where Fernando Mendoza ranks among NFL quarterback prospects There were several caveats to the exercise McShay and Muench did toward the show's end. One was an Arch Manning-sized one as they believed he would stay another year in college after taking over as starter at Texas in 2025. The other was they only took into account their scouted QBs, which included: South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Penn State's Drew Allar and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. Muench: Sellers (that's the guy to me), Klubnik, Allar, Nussmeier and Mendoza. McShay: Klubnik, Sellers, Nussmeier, Mendoza, Allar. "I swear to you as we sit here right now, second week in June, I swear to you while they're all different QBs to a different degree … I think they all have the potential to be early draft picks, and I don't think at this point there is a huge difference between them," McShay said. For what it's worth, ESPN's No. 1 pick predictor published July 17 gave Mendoza a 12% chance, behind only Sellers, Klubnik, Nussmeier and Allar — all listed at 15%. And ESPN's Matt Miller and Jordan Reid picked Mendoza third among QBs, ahead of Sellers and Allar. Fernando Mendoza's NFL quarterback comparison McShay laughed at the hypocrisy, "I'm so lazy," he said. He had just gone into the traits he liked about Mendoza when he offered his NFL quarterback comparison: Said McShay: "When this guy decides he's going to see his reads through; I gave him a Jared Goff comp. It's an indictment on me, I'm such an idiot … I went through Goff, started writing up comparisons between the two, I literally gave the comp three hours later and went through my notes and said Goff went to Cal. ... I think it's a good comp, and it isn't a Cal thing." Where Fernando Mendoza ranks in 2026 NFL mock drafts ESPN's Matt Miller (June 30): Mendoza not in first round Pro Football and Sports Network (July 12): Third overall to the Miami Dolphins Fernando Mendoza highlights
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay likes Cade Klubnik's game, gives an NFL player comp
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay likes Cade Klubnik's game, gives an NFL player comp Former ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay had high praise for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik this week, offering a notable NFL comparison as Klubnik prepares for his senior season. On The McShay Show, McShay said Klubnik reminds him of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, noting similarities in their feel for chaos and improvisation. 'I see a lot of Bo Nix in this kid,' McShay said. 'He's great when the play breaks down — climbing the pocket, sidestepping pressure. It's almost soothing for him. He also has that elastic arm. The ball comes out with more energy than you expect.' McShay said he underestimated Nix during his time at Auburn but came to appreciate his development at Oregon. He now sees those same traits in Klubnik — mobility, size, arm flexibility, and poise under pressure — though he made clear that the comparison was about style, not necessarily ceiling. Klubnik enters the 2025 season as a potential first-round pick and legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. In 2024, he threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores. He was one of only two FBS quarterbacks to throw for over 3,500 yards and rush for more than 400. His 43 total touchdowns were second most in the country. In McShay's Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft, he projected Klubnik to the Cleveland Browns at No. 5 overall, calling Clemson's roster 'possibly the most talented Dabo Swinney has had in a decade.' Stephen Muench, McShay's co-host, offered a different comp: veteran NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford. 'I think both Stafford and Klubnik are very tough, very smart,' Muench said. 'He makes confident throws, gets to his third read. That's what you want to see in a next-level guy.' With both arm talent and experience, Klubnik will be a quarterback to watch closely this fall as NFL scouts continue to evaluate one of college football's most intriguing prospects. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Todd McShay: Rookie TE Mason Taylor is perfect for Jets' Justin Fields
Todd McShay: Rookie TE Mason Taylor is perfect for Jets' Justin Fields Tight end was a pressing need for the New York Jets and general manager Darren Mougey entering the 2025 draft. So much so that they were mocked to take a tight end as high as seventh overall by numerous outlets. The Jets ended up taking offensive tackle Armand Membou with the seventh pick, and they still managed to get one of the best tight end prospects in the class, Mason Taylor, with their second-round pick (No. 42). NFL draft analyst Todd McShay is one who praised the team for making the Taylor selection. He recently spoke on the fit between Taylor and the Jets on 'The McShay Show'. "[The Jets] absolutely need it," he said. "And with that quarterback situation, you need security over the middle of the field... and Mason Taylor's perfect for Justin Fields." While Taylor is still developing, and the Jets' QB situation is a bit up in the air with Fields prepping to play for his third team in three years, every indication is that the rookie will get an early chance to be the starting tight end in New York. McShay's co-host on the show, Steve Muench, also likes Taylor's game. He envisions a big role for Taylor in New York. "Mason Taylor is TE1 for the Jets," Muench said. "He's ready to go. The way LSU used him is borderline frustrating. They didn't do enough with him, in my opinion." "I think when you get him to the pros, he's going to be a far more productive pro," he continued. "You look at that skillset, you look at that frame, and I think he's gonna take off if they can get him the ball." Taylor has strong NFL roots in his DNA, with both his father and uncle being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as members of the Miami Dolphins, As the son of Jason Taylor and the nephew of Zach Thomas, it's no surprise that the rookie is both physically and mentally ready to contribute at the NFL level. With veterans Tyler Conklin (former Jets starting TE) and Davante Adams departing in free agency this offseason, almost 200 targets will need to be replaced in the offense. A big opportunity awaits Taylor. As a junior, in his final season of college, Taylor recorded career-highs on catches (55) and receiving yards (546), which was good enough for a third-team selection in the daunting SEC.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Todd McShay sparks major buzz regarding Baltimore Ravens rookie
When you're the smallest guy in the room, you better be the toughest. That's exactly the attitude LaJohntay Wester is bringing to Baltimore — and ESPN's Todd McShay says NFL fans, especially Colorado Buffaloes faithful, shouldn't underestimate what he can become. Wester, a sixth-round pick (No. 203 overall) by the Ravens, stands just 5'10' and 163 pounds. But McShay isn't concerned. In fact, while speaking on his own podcast, The McShay Show, he let it be known he's bullish on Wester's NFL chances. 'He's a tough little nugget, man,' McShay said. 'This guy's going to get in there with the Ravens receiver room… and he's going to look around and be like, 'Hey, I can play on this team.'' Ravens fans may not know him yet, but Colorado certainly does. After transferring from Florida Atlantic — where he posted 108 receptions in 2023 (second-most in the FBS) — Wester quickly became one of Coach Prime's most trusted weapons. In his lone season in Boulder, Wester logged 74 receptions for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging nearly 13 yards per catch. Advertisement While much of the national spotlight stayed on Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, McShay saw something different. 'If they were double teaming or rolling coverage to Travis Hunter, [Wester] showed up,' he said. 'He's been doing it for a while. Just nobody knew about it.' Baltimore's wide receiver room is crowded — but not impenetrable. Zay Flowers is locked in. Rashod Bateman has battled injuries. DeAndre Hopkins is 32 and nearing the end of his career. The fourth-leading wideout in receptions last year? Tylen Wallace — with just 10 catches. Colorado Buffalos wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (10) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images McShay made it clear: there's a role Wester can claim. He's quicker than fast, slippery in space, and built for big moments in small windows. And in an offense designed for creative mismatches, he might be exactly what Lamar Jackson didn't know he needed. Advertisement Buffs fans watched Wester shine when it mattered most. Now, with the Ravens looking for production beyond their stars, it might be time for the rest of the league to finally notice. Related: Shedeur Sanders' shows true colors at Browns minicamp Related: Real reason Shilo Sanders signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers revealed
