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H20man & Friends Sports PodcastAuthor: Howard Waterman
A podcast covering the world of sports with a focus on strategy. The goal: be entertaining and informative. The hosts each have roughly 50 years of experience following and playing organized sports in the New York/New Jersey metro area. Strong emphasis on NFL football. Good friends and one former sports journalist offer commentary with a pretty good chance of good-natured silliness mixed in. Dedicated to the memory of Steven Waterman, who was a passionate, ultra-knowledgeable sports fan with a great sense of humor who loved the NY Giants, Mets, Rangers and Brooklyn Nets, and adored his daughter, Lea and wife Andrea even more. He passed away unexpectedly in 2022 way, way too soon. Language: en Genres: Football, News, Sports, Sports News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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S4 E1 2026 NFL Off-Season Observations
Episode 1
Monday, 16 March, 2026
Segment 1: 2026 Off-Season is Underway, Observations (starts at 0:55) 4 players designated with franchise tags; Daniel Jones later signed a 2-year deal worth up to $100M with the Colts Free agency signings/trades Raiders very busy traded stud edge rusher Maxx Crosby to Ravens for two no. 1 picks...Baltimore canceled after the physical made three major signings quickly, including signing Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum to the richest center contract in NFL history (annual average average) Ravens lost 7 players on first day, apparently weaker on paper pivoted to sign edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (for less than Crosby's contract) plus they pick those two No. 1s AFC East Dolphins: turning over roster with new GM and head coach including cutting QB Tua Tagovailoa signed Packers backup QB Malik Willis (similar deal Justin Fields received from Jets last off-season) hard to believe: half of 2026 salary cap going to players NOT on the roster and dead money: $151 million! That includes almost $100M hit re: Tua and WR Tyreek Hill departures Patriots: cut WR Stefon Diggs, signed former Packers WR Romeo Doubs (4 years/$80M); signed Jets talented OL Alijah Vera-Tucker to nearly $50M contract despite concerning injury history (played in half the games) Bills: traded for Bears WR DJ Moore, resigned TE Dawson Knox Chiefs big move to fix running game: signed Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III (after we taped this traded for Jets QB Justin Fields for a 2027 6th round draft pick); will be interesting to see how they use Fields and his skill set) NFC Niners signed likely HOF Bucs WR Mike Evans for less than TB offered Rams traded for Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie to bolster a very strong D Panthers signed two very good defensive players: Eagles edge Jaelen Phillips and Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd Giants very busy with a bunch of moves including bringing on Ravens TE Isaiah Likely, LB Tremaine Edmunds, CB Greg Newsome II, Commanders S Ar'Darius Washington, resigned LB Micah McFadden (good move) Segment 2: Insights on Jets Off-Season Needs and Moves (17:35) Off-Season Objectives rebuild the D signed and traded for two defensive linemen to stuff the run (a massive problem last season) traded for S Minkah Fitzpatrick (3 year, $40M), potential huge upgrade signed two edge rushers from the Bengals and Packers signed LB Demario Davis, 37, third time with team signed CB Nashon Wright from Chicago (tied for NFL lead with 5 interceptions -- 5 more than the entire Jets D last season) head scratcher: DL Micheal Clemons signed massive deal with the Colts after many penalties and other issues find a starting QB traded for QB Geno Smith for minimal draft capital and Raiders paying most of Smith's 2026 contract secure more offensive weapons franchised talented RB Breece Hall signed Raiders LG Dylan Parham; appeared in 64 games, starting 63; expected upgrade over departed LG John Simpson no major WR or TE additions, so we'll look to the draft next month ??? let very consistent K Nick Folk go to Atlanta, weakening Jets lone bright spot last season: special teams assimiliate 10 new assistance coaches including a new offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator which OC Frank Reich will show up? Super Bowl winning OC with the Eagles, or the coach fired in-season in his last two NFL (head) coaching jobs draft capital April 2026 Draft: two No. 1s, four selections in the top 44, 5 in top 103 received a 4th round pick and 5th round selection as compensatory picks for players lost last season including CB DJ Reed ($48M deal in Detroit) Segment 3: Jets QB Room (31:15) Jets approved on paper but... More to do, including adding another veteran QB and potentially drafting one next month, and playoffs at WR, TE Improvements on D, GM Darren Mougey proving very good at trades Combine performance vs. college game tape in terms of draft positioning (the later is more important though some teams fall in love with athleticism) Leave it to the Jets to have the No. 2 overall pick in a draft with only one certifiable college QB worth drafting that high Jets to take similar approach to the Giants trading up last year in the first round for Jaxson Dart? Alabama QB Ty Simpson apparently flying up draft boards, does not fit the bill (only started 15 games) Goal in draft should be to find starters not necessarily reach for a QB Team has a really good opp to refresh team with top talent and improve the team quickly, plus has 3 No. 1 picks in 2027 Hard for Jets fans to realize many agree they like the moves this month so far..."optimistic"? No head scratching moves...yet (although resigning S Andre Cisco after we taped this and giving average TE Jeremy Ruckert $10M for 2 years could qualify) Fans want the team to start winning during the season, not the off-season Discussed some clear ways to determine if they've improved (being competitive in every game, not always playing from behind two good examples to look for) Segment 4: Where will key free agents like WR Tyreek Hill wind up? (52:04) Imagine Hill joining the Eagles offense? Back to KC? Buffalo? Stefon Diggs? How high will Notre Dame stud RB Jeremiyah Love go in the April Draft? Could be in the top 5
