PMT DB
PMT DB
The 2026 NFL Draft kicked off with absolute chaos, and Big Cat and PFT were right there to watch the smokescreens clear. Fernando Mendoza going first to the Raiders was expected, but once the Cardinals got on the clock at three, the script went out the window. Big Cat was baffled by Arizona's logic, specifically their decision to prioritize a ball carrier over a roster that looks like a block of Swiss cheese.
Big CatThe Cardinals taking Jeremiah Love when they have a million roster holes was the wrong call
Arve Reese falling all the way to five — with the Cardinals taking Jeremiah Love. Anytime you have a million holes and you can add a running back, you gotta do it.
While the Cardinals were drawing heat, the Giants were busy building a potential monster. Big Cat loved the haul for Big Blue, noting that their defensive front is getting dangerously deep with the additions of Abdul Carter and Arve Reese. PFT, meanwhile, found himself in the uncomfortable position of having to praise Jerry Jones after the Cowboys landed a player he's been high on all cycle.
PFT CommenterCaleb Downs was the best overall player in the 2026 draft
Caleb Downs was my favorite player in this draft. I have to, like, as of the end of this day, I have to move on and pretend that I've always hated Caleb Downs [now that he's a Cowboy], but I thought he was the best player in the draft.
But the biggest story of the night was Ty Simpson falling to the Rams at 13. It’s the ultimate "rich get richer" scenario for Sean McVay. Big Cat thinks Simpson landing in a room with Matthew Stafford is a match made in heaven for the rookie’s development.
Big CatTy Simpson to the Rams is a perfect developmental situation for a rookie quarterback
What a spot for Ty Simpson. I mean, you can't ask for a better spot for, for a rookie quarterback to go in. You have Sean McVay, you have a very good team. You have Matthew Stafford that you can learn from. ... I'm now drinking all of it. That he's gonna be a stud.
Coach Jon Gruden in Studio
Coach Jon Gruden joined the show fresh off the DraftKings draft broadcast to give his expert film breakdown on the night's biggest picks. He went deep on the Ty Simpson move, explaining that Simpson's draft stock might have been artificially suppressed by health issues late in his final college season.
Jon GrudenTy Simpson's gastritis and injuries down the stretch masked how good of a player he really is
And he really is a lot better player than he played down the stretch. He had that gastritis illness. He lost 20 pounds. He had a shoulder and rib injury. But when he was healthy, he was lighting it up. They had eight straight wins and they beat the hell out of Georgia.
Gruden also provided a grim outlook for Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas. While Cousins is the veteran presence, Gruden knows how quickly the leash shortens when a shiny new first-round pick is sitting on the bench, especially if the Raiders stumble out of the gate.
Jon GrudenKirk Cousins will lose the Raiders starting job to Fernando Mendoza if they drop their first two games
It's tough. We gotta see when the schedule comes out. I think if the Raiders win those two games, I think Cousins will keep playing. But if they lose those two games, you know how this league is — he just went through it with Mike Pennix in Atlanta. And when you lose a couple games, it just is a matter of time before the young kid gets his job.
Carmelo Anthony on the NBA Playoffs
The legend Carmelo Anthony stopped by to talk hoops, and it was a massive moment for Zac, who finally got to interview his GOAT. Melo didn't shy away from the tough conversations, specifically the polarizing playstyle of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While fans complain about the whistle-hunting, Melo sees it as a masterclass in basketball IQ.
Carmelo AnthonySGA's ability to draw fouls is a mastered skillset that defenders are simply mad they can't stop
I really respect how Shea plays and I, the reason why I say that, because it's a skillset to do what he do. Like everybody can't do it. So you get mad at it because you can't do it. It's a skillset that he's worked on over the years to learn how to take advantage of the defender... You can't let nobody be mad at you for what you've mastered and, and become great at.
Despite the Hawks taking a 2-1 lead on the Knicks, Melo isn't panicking for the New York faithful. He believes the series will eventually turn on the grit of the Knicks' big men and their ability to outlast Atlanta over seven games.
Carmelo AnthonyThe Knicks will eventually wear down the Hawks and win their playoff series
Overall, I think the Knicks win the series. I I just think the Knicks wear them down towards the end of the series.
While he's riding with the Knicks, Melo was honest about the hierarchy in the Western Conference. He’s seen enough from OKC to believe they are the clear team to beat, regardless of who emerges from the other side of the bracket.
Carmelo AnthonyNo team in the West is built to compete with OKC in a seven-game series right now
I don't think nobody's in the West is built right now to compete with OKC. Yeah. For OKC to go out there and lose, I don't see too many teams in the west that's going to be able to handle OKC in seven games.
The Story That Won't Die
Things got awkward when the conversation turned back to the Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini situation. More pictures have surfaced, and the guys are struggling with the crisis management on display. Big Cat pointed out that the hard denials are only making the gossip cycle spin faster.
Big CatDiana Russini is handling her current public scandal with the worst crisis management ever
I don't think anyone's had a worse crisis management than she has because like you said, PFT, the story was they both denied and then Vrabel's going to treatment. But Diana's still denying and blaming the media. ... It's just led to more the, the, the story continues forever because there hasn't been, everyone wants their pound of flesh.
Hank, ever the Patriots optimist, was significantly more relaxed after watching Vrabel's press conference. While the rest of the world sees a scandal, Hank sees a coach who is ready to lead the team through a little bit of turbulence.
HankMike Vrabel is safe as Patriots head coach — his press conference reassured me
The press conference happened and I was like, all right, we're good. I think we're good. And he's going to counseling.
We wrapped up with Fyre Fest of the week, where Hank got exposed by a PFT impersonator for a truly horrific high school pitching stat line. Zac also shared his harrowing tale of being locked inside his own apartment for four hours because he refused to prop his door open to grab a salad.
Zac might not know how to spell "their" four different ways, but at least he knows his door is locked.
