Justin Jefferson got *paid* and so we're talking Wide Receivers. We open right away with First Down—$140M/4yrs (00:45). Jefferson absolutely raked it in, and might just be worth every penny. We also take a glancing shot at Jordan Poole. As the resident Vikings fan, Alex isn't surprised at the contract amount. The reason for it starts a heated debate—because Devon doesn't think Jefferson is the clear best WR in the NFL (09:30). With a direct bias callout, we stick to our patterns. We also break down CeeDee Lamb's contract situation for Second Down (19:03). Devon insists Lamb will get more than Jefferson, while Alex thinks the timing changes everything. The conversation goes a bit off track when we examine if the Cowboys will keep Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, and Dak Prescott. (Plus, we take a dig at Deshaun Watson, because that's what we do in the AD's Office.) Back on track, Third Down talks about the WRs who could have gotten more—or the teams who got good deals for their talent (45:13). Jefferson almost signed for much, much less—and the Eagles finessed the market. Do great WRs make bad QBs relevant? We answer it. Then we go Fourth Down—WRs worth their contracts (51:15). Some guys—Amon-Ra and AJ Brown, for example—earn their checks. Guys like Calvin Ridley and Davante Adams, not so much. We wrap with our Out of Bounds play of the week, which covers CJ Stroud's bold take on Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers and the NFL's best RB getting a new contract to leap over... himself?.Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're building super teams—back and forth drafting to build a perfect lineup. We flip a coin to get things started, and—no surprise—Patrick Mahomes is the first overall pick (01:30). Devon stacks his WR room, and Alex builds a versatile attack. Devon's fandom shows up a time or two (or three), too. After a run on lineman, we loop back to fill out the weapons. The LSU to the NFL pipeline fully aligns (07:30), and it's worth noting the Chiefs stack both teams. We pick up some kickers before changing to defense (14:15). The defenses take wildly different shapes, as Alex builds a ferocious pass rush with lockdown corners, and Devon establishes a run-stopping front with fantastic zone options. With the back and forth, the rosters end up pretty even—so we'll leave it to listeners to settle. A few surprises show up, because there are plenty of superstars to go around. .Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 10 is upon us, and we're looking at last year's division winners and debating who's most likely to tumble. First Down comes quickly, as we examine the NFC North (01:30). Devon thinks the Vikings are headed downstream, and Alex's lets his bias convince him the Vikings can beat the Bears. Then it's the AFC North, which is going to be a bloodbath. The Ravens could get MVP-level talent from Lamar, the Bengals have Joe Burrow, and the Browns were good in spite of Deshaun Watson. Then it's Second Down, and we go to the East Coast (11:30). The Giants and Commanders... don't matter. The AFC East has some drama, though. It's the Bills or the Dolphins (probably), and we disagree. Third Down takes us to the NFC South and the Panthers (18:50). It's more about Kirk Cousins than Bryce Young, with respect to Baker Mayfield. The AFC South has four teams with upward trajectories (unless you think Will Levis is bad). Alex thinks the Texans will regress, Devon thinks they're still the class of the division. Then it's our Fourth Down—the Wild West (26:40). The NFC West has some stories, with the Niners and Rams vying for the top spot. The AFC West, though, is all about the Chiefs. We're also high on the Chargers—here comes the Harbaugh effect. Alex takes a shot at Sean Payton (pun intended?), too. Then our Out of Bounds Play of the Week goes way out of bounds, locked in on Joe Burrow's hair (40:00). .Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're headed back to Mount Rushmore—this time, it's the defense. Devon's still denying the existence of the real Mount Rushmore, but he's fully on board with the NFL versions. We kick things off with our First Down—the linebackers (02:40). Some of the most well-known defensive players in NFL history roamed the middle of the field. From Ray Lewis to Dick Butkus, we cover some of the all-time legends. Then it's Second Down—the edge rushers (15:34). We consider the legends—like Lawrence Taylor—against the modern-day ballers like J.J. Watt. We make some arguments against and in favor of different stars, but find agreement eventually. Then it's the defensive backs for Third Down (28:35). Devon has his Mount in a second, and Alex wants to take some time to discuss it. Two of the four come easily, the other two get some debate. Plus, is a nickname crucial for eternal acclaim? For Fourth Down, we wrap up with the defensive lineman (42:10). Alex gets some fun with a Purple People Eater and another Viking on the same list. Aaron Donald makes our job easy for one of the spots, too. Finally, our Out of Bounds Play of the week shows the Lions shelling out to keep a good QB happy (52:18). TL;DR—Jared Goff got paid like he's great, even though he's good, because he isn't terrible..Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In true offseason mode, we explore some of the common debates in football fandom. This week, we build our Mount Rushmores for modern-era quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. First, a short history lesson about South Dakota's pride (which Devon thinks is fake?). Our First Down takes on the greatest QBs, and Tom Brady is the biggest lock of any conversation (05:18). We debate the merits of a few other players, including a sure-fire Hall of Famer, and add a surprising fourth option to our mountain. Second Down accepts the challenge of running back rankings (15:51). Devon's bias for Barry Sanders shows up, and Alex's bias for Adrian Peterson pushes the conversation. We eventually agree on the first three, and mostly land on the same fourth. Then Third Down goes wide receivers, and the all-time list got Mossed (29:03). Jerry Rice still needs his spot, too, but the other two spots we need to iron out. Alex thinks T.O. is third, Devon puts him four—and the last opening feels like an argument for fearsome vs longevity. Or, maybe it's just picking the most athletic player ever. Fourth Down goes for the TEs, and we've gotten to watch two of them 4K (41:30). We don't even need to debate the first three—and we could flip a coin on the remaining player. For the Out of Bounds play this week, we cross over to the NBA and discuss if Austin Rivers said something crazy (49:20)..Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NFL Draft has come and gone, and we have the grades. Your team probably did well—unless you're a Falcons fan. From the Bay (02:20) to the Bears opening the night last Thursday, we talk about all the big moves. Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall, as expected. Devon's not a fan of Chicago's second pick, though. We cover the Bengals and Bills, who just need to refine good rosters built around great quarterbacks. (Also: Burrow has to stay healthy.) We also hit the Broncos and their... puzzling draft (09:45). Taking Bo Nix in Round 1, when Spencer Rattler went next in Round 5, seems questionable. Can Denver really surpass the Chiefs or even the Chargers (14:10) with Nix at QB? We'll see—but we're not putting any money on it. Plus, the Bills traded with the Chiefs—again (18:19). Oh, and tattoos are forever. As we roll through the NFC East, the Cowboys left us scratching our heads. The Eagles, on the other hand, aced this thing. Then we get into the Falcons taking Michael Penix Jr. at 8th overall (28:30). Devon's confused, but Alex isn't going to hold back. The Jets didn't totally act like they're "all-in" with Aaron Rodgers (35:00), and the discussion about the Lions goes exactly as you'd expect. When it comes to draft value, the Vikings crushed Rd 1 (40:05) with J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner. As a bonus, stick around to hear why the Patriots took Drake Maye—and it's not because of their scouting. .Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the AD's Office Mock Draft, at long last. We flip a coin to see who goes first, then alternate picks through the entire first round. Devon opens the episode with an open invite to his home to watch the draft, and we explain how we plan to go through the draft with no trades. The first pick? Easy—Caleb Williams to the Bears (03:20). Will it be quarterbacks 1, 2, 3, even 4? Or will Marvin Harrison Jr.—the potential best overall player in the draft—get snagged by the Cardinals or Chargers? We talk about some trade scenarios, but pick as though everyone has to stay in their spot. We evaluate the QBs and try to predict if J.J. McCarthy is closer to Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye or Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. Alex shakes things up in the Top 5, and catches Devon off guard. Our shared top edge rusher goes off the board early (14:05), and it's probably not who you think. Plus, a big-time QB falls out of the Top 10 picks, which is a major win for the Vikings (even if Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's seat is on fire). Devon admits he cheers for a rival team (22:30), and then dashes some hopes of other teams' fans. We also see some solid drafts that won't get anybody pumped, until the wins start piling up next fall. Brock Bowers tumbles to the back half of the first round, and the Vikings keep the 23rd pick to add some defensive help. We give the Bills some WR help to replace Diggs (45:20), and we see back-to-back Alabama DBs before the defending-champion Chiefs add a big WR target. If anybody says the know what's going to happen, they're lying to you. It's Draft Season, baby..Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to introduce this year's prospects. From the big-name quarterbacks to the insane amount of top-tier offensive tackles, we cover almost everyone you'll need to know. For our First Down, we jump in the deep end (01:35). Will we see four QBs taken to start the NFL Draft for the first time ever? Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix—all going night one? With the top prospect since [insert QB name here], a Heisman Trophy winner, and a national champion on the list, anything could happen. Some teams will overthink things, and some teams will over-draft. Second Down, we're talking playmakers—the wide receivers, running backs, and tight end (not plural) in the draft (23:25). The top-end talent on WR in this class is ridiculous, and 7 or 8 guys could end up getting called in Round 1. Then it's Third Down, where we talk about the Road Graders (40:03). The OT depth is excellent, the DT hype is basically unprecedented, and the few elite edge rushers have coordinators salivating. Then we bring Fourth Down with the Ball Hawks (45:58). Everybody needs a shiny new cornerback. Our Out of Bounds play this week is WR drama, which should surprise nobody (52:10). Guys want to get paid, can you blame 'em?.Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the NFL Draft commences, we take a look at some all-time great draft picks and some all-time busts. On First Down, we name the single greatest draft pick of all time (00:57). (Hint: He was picked No. 199.) Then we quickly hit our Second Down—the worst single draft pick of all time (03:30). Then, it's Third Down with a list of great draft picks, from Joe Montana to Jim Brown (05:38). Oh, and Devon doesn't think Jim Brown counts. We talk through some legendary Hall of Famers and some modern-day stars. We also define what we expect out of draft picks, and why Rounds 1–3 should produce starters. Plus, there's about a 1% chance for Brock Purdy to be a starting NFL player—so he's defying the odds already. Our Fourth Down rips through some of the worst draft picks ever (22:29). As we examine some players, a pattern emerges—and maybe explains why certain teams (ahem, Browns and Jaguars, ahem) have been mostly bad for decades. Then we stumble upon a litany of all-time-bad WRs in the NFC North (31:26). We sprinkle in some Transformers talk, lament missed opportunities, and unmask a serial killer. Seriously. We wrap with this week's Out of Bounds play (40:55). Stefon Diggs has to be a bad teammate, right?.Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NFL Draft is just three weeks away. As we prepare for our Super Bowl, let's take a look at the confidence rating of every team heading into the most important weekend of the offseason. Our First Down hits the A Tier teams—teams like the Chiefs who consistently ace the draft (03:30). Quarterbacks matter more than any other single position, and success—Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, etc.—helps "draft ability" rankings, while whiffing—Zach Wilson, Mac Jones—knocks teams down a few pegs. Devon's bias shows up talking about the Detroit Lions and Brad Holmes, aka the Draft Master. Second Down hits the teams who are pretty average at drafting (12:54). We're talking about consistently good, not flashy drafters—the Baltimore Ravens, for example. Plus, Les Snead and the LA Rams proved "bleep them picks" worked. We also shoutout the 49ers for moving on from overdrafting Trey Lance. Alex hypothesizes that the Buccaneers looked better than they were because Tom Brady makes lacrosse players look like NFL stars. Our Third Down hits the teams who are just hoping for the best (27:15). It starts like this year's draft—with the Chicago Bears. They missed on Justin Fields, so now what? Lots of teams *might* be good at drafting, but their entire rosters are balanced on a razor's edge. Fourth Down hits the teams who aren't good at drafting (39:30). We start the bottom tier with the current-regime Vikings. It stings, but—the last couple years haven't worked out super well. Get a QB who stars for years to come? All is forgiven. For the Broncos? It's pretty bleak. Finally, this week's Out of Bounds play gets a wide receiver involved in a high-speed hit and run (50:23). Offseason, man..Thanks for joining us in the AD's Office, hosted by Alex Larsen and Devon Plecas. Each week, we'll take you through our takes on the NFL. We'll be back every week, recapping everything going on in the League that never rests. Long live football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.