THE HERD - Hour 3 - NFL analyst Geoff Schwartz stops by The Herd
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Former NFL lineman and Fox Sports analyst Geoff Schwartz delivers a blistering critique of the NFL's evolving landscape, arguing that the NIL era is creating unsustainable financial pressure on college programs—potentially collapsing the draft's depth in later rounds. He warns that the current model, where schools spend $40 million on rosters without championships, cannot last indefinitely. Schwartz also dismantles the Steelers' quarterback strategy, calling their retention of 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers a 'safe move' that prolongs their 'quarterback purgatory' while refusing to rebuild. He argues that Mike McCarthy’s guaranteed five-year contract makes him the perfect candidate to quietly install young quarterbacks like Will Howard, despite the public facade of loyalty to Rodgers. On the NFL schedule, Schwartz highlights how rest disparity and bye weeks matter more than fans realize, with the Cowboys' favorable break making them a legitimate contender and Kansas City’s brutal schedule—especially a Week 5 bye—potentially derailing their title hopes. He also calls out the 49ers for doubling down on aging, injury-prone players and poor drafting, calling their roster-building a 'failure' that undermines long-term success.
The NIL era is unsustainable: spending $40M per roster without championships will force a pullback in donor funding within 2-3 years.
The Steelers are in quarterback purgatory: keeping Aaron Rodgers for one year is a safe, long-term avoidance of rebuilding.
Mike McCarthy’s guaranteed five-year contract makes him the ideal coach to quietly install young QBs like Will Howard.
Schedule breaks matter: the Cowboys’ favorable schedule and bye week are real advantages that boost their win total.
Kansas City’s Week 5 bye is the worst possible timing—coming before a brutal six-game stretch against six Pro Bowl QBs.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Intro and Sponsor Breaks
The episode opens with multiple iHeartRadio podcast promos, including 'Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends,' 'Help from a Hypocrite,' '1021 Podcast,' 'Soccer Moms,' and 'The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller,' before transitioning to the main segment.
The NIL Crisis and Draft Collapse
“I don't know when that is. So yeah, for the next couple of years, maybe the draft is affected by that. We did see Ty Simpson come out. Now he was a first round pick because he did end up making that money. But there's a lot of talk about he's turned down $7 million to come to the NFL. So we'll see how that goes. But I think at some point there has to be a pullback.”
College Football Playoff Expansion Debate
Schwartz supports a 24-team playoff but warns it will shift the importance of rivalry games to smaller matchups. He dismisses fears of starters sitting out, saying no team will bench stars for a 7-4 game.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Quarterback Purge
“If you asked any coach that had a guaranteed contract going forward, if you said you can start your first year with an old guy at quarterback that you didn't get along with, and it was really ugly, especially behind the scenes... Every single coach ever would take the second option, which is let's see if Drew Aller can play. Let's see if Will Howard can play.”
Schedule Breaks and Rest Disparity
“It's funny on this side of it now, seeing the analysis of the schedule because all the things that people think we care about, that we care about, never once they think about rest disparity, travel schedule. You look at bye week, right? That's important for a mental refresh.”
“I don't like the Niners roster building, man. To me, they're older as you mentioned and there's no depth. And part of that is, I know there was a little bit of arrogance in San Francisco about this but they have not drafted well.”
“I don't know when that is. So yeah, for the next couple of years, maybe the draft is affected by that. We did see Ty Simpson come out. Now he was a first round pick because he did end up making that money. But there's a lot of talk about he's turned down $7 million to come to the NFL. So we'll see how that goes. But I think at some point there has to be a pullback.”
“It's funny on this side of it now, seeing the analysis of the schedule because all the things that people think we care about, that we care about, never once they think about rest disparity, travel schedule. You look at bye week, right? That's important for a mental refresh.”
Host
Guest
geoff schwartz
person
colin cowherd
person
aaron rodgers
person
mike mccarthy
person
kansas city chiefs
other
omar khan
person
san francisco 49ers
other
new york giants
other
mike defabo
person
carolina panthers
other
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