Former ESPN college football analyst, David Pollack, joins the show to preview the NFL Draft

Former ESPN college football analyst and College Football Hall of Famer David Pollack joins Shan and RJ to preview the 2026 NFL Draft, offering deep insights into defensive talent, draft strategy, and the evolving nature of NFL defenses. Pollack emphasizes the rising value of hybrid defenders like Sonny Stiles and Caleb Downs, crediting the NFL's shift toward multiple, positionless schemes for elevating versatile players. He breaks down the Cowboys' defensive needs, advocating for a balanced approach at picks 12 and 20—targeting elite edge rushers like Akeem Mesidor and cornerbacks like Delane from LSU. Pollack also discusses the Jets' top-two pick dilemma between David Bailey and Arvel Reese, favoring Bailey for his pass-rush prowess. He stresses the importance of flexibility in the draft, supporting trading back to accumulate more picks, especially given the perceived depth in the second round. The conversation wraps with Pollack promoting his new book, 'Everyday Counts,' and his YouTube show 'See Ball, Get Ball,' which focuses on daily accountability and personal growth. Key takeaways include: 1) Hybrid defenders are now essential due to the NFL’s shift toward multiple, skill-based defensive schemes; 2) The Cowboys should prioritize both edge rushers and cornerbacks in the first round to fix their historically weak defense; 3) Trading back can be a smart strategic move to gain additional draft capital, especially when the draft isn’t considered particularly strong; 4) Players like C.J. Allen and Akeem Mesidor offer high upside and leadership potential; 5) The draft’s depth in receivers may create opportunities for teams like Dallas to snag defensive talent later in the first round.