Overview of NFL Draft With Todd McShay, NBA And NHL Playoffs And We Eliminate Some Teams, Plus Dexter Lawrence Trade And Who's Back Of The Week
This Pardon My Take episode (Mon April 20) covers draft week with Todd McShay (NFL Draft primer and film-room takes), a full reaction to opening-round NBA and NHL playoff action (series calls and notable moments), the blockbuster Dexter Lawrence trade, “Who’s Back of the Week” picks, and a number of off-topic anecdotes (Cubs–Mets outing, a wild bachelor-party recap, golf video meme roast). The tone mixes draft analysis, playoff hot takes, and comedy/banter across the crew.
Main segments and highlights
- Guest: Todd McShay (draft week breakdown — quarterbacks, sleepers, top positions, and how teams may think)
- NBA playoff recap: multiple blowouts, some series “called” already, Nuggets–Wolves and Lakers–Rockets flagged as interesting series to watch
- NHL recap: big Buffalo scene, Sabres comeback upset / Bruins collapse narrative discussed
- Big NFL news: Dexter Lawrence trade to Bengals (for 10th overall pick) + Texans extend Will Anderson (now among highest-paid non-QBs)
- “Who’s Back of the Week”: several returns and comebacks (some positive, some sarcastic)
- Banter/side content: bachelor party stories, Cubs–Mets trip, spring-break golf video meme roundup
Todd McShay — NFL Draft summary (key takeaways)
- Big-picture draft themes
- Strong positional classes: edge rushers and wide receivers are deep; offensive tackle is scarce but crucial — expect a run and several tackles to be taken early (McShay expects ~7 tackles go in round one).
- Deep edge class: Arvel Reese, David Bailey, Ruben Bain (debate about Ruben’s short arms — McShay’s range ~8–14), plus a long list of second-round/third-round edge names.
- Wide receiver tiers: early tier includes Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and Jordan Tyson (Arizona State); deeper value exists into rounds 2–3.
- QB tiering McShay’s personal ranking: Mendoza #1 (Mendoza = high-level tape at Ohio State), Ty Simpson #2, Nussmeier #3, Cole Payton (#4) — but acknowledged variance in how teams will value them.
- Sleeper/“cry” pick: Cole Payton (North Dakota State) — McShay would be upset if Payton isn’t drafted by the 5th round; he sees him as an undervalued developmental QB who can add early role value.
- Offensive line scarcity: expect teams to push to secure tackles early — a run on OL could reorder the board.
- Specific prospects mentioned (as discussed):
- QBs: Fernando Mendoza (projected No. 1), Ty Simpson (very intriguing, but durability/starts concern), Nussmeier, Cole Payton, Pavia (long shot), Carson Beck, Drew Aller
- Edge: David Bailey, Arvel Reese, Ruben Bain, Keldrick Falk, other depth names (Cassius Howells, TJ Parker, Zion Young, Malachi Lawrence)
- Tackles: Maui Noah, Spencer Fano (Utah), Blake Miller, Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Max “Ian” (story arc), Caleb Lomu — McShay: 7 tackles likely day one
- WRs: Carnell Tate, Jordan Tyson, Makai Lemon (fit for McVay), Casey/Kasey Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr., Denzel Boston, Brazzel/Branch/Bell as second-round names
- RBs: comparative ranking (as prospects coming out): Saquon #1, Bijan Robinson #2, Jeremiah Love #3, Ashton Gentry #4 — McShay stressed drafting a RB high should fit team timeline and usage
- Draft strategy notes:
- Teams vary in how they treat outliers (ex: Ruben Bain short arms) — analytics-driven GMs may be wary.
- Chiefs at pick #9 could be a trigger point — what KC does will ripple into 10–12 (Cincy, Miami, Dallas).
- McShay flagged the Jets’ canceled visit with a top prospect as “odd,” but cautioned not to overread some pre-draft maneuvers.
- Fun / interactive bits:
- McShay answered listener hypotheticals (running back rankings), predicted Mr. Irrelevant-style picks (two Broncos picks at the end), and accepted a challenge to record a reaction clip if a sleeper remains undrafted.
NBA playoff takeaways — who they “called” vs. ongoing series
- Series declared (hosts’ quick calls; tone varies from confident to tongue-in-cheek):
- Over/advanced: Boston Celtics (dominant over Sixers), Denver Nuggets? (No — they left Nuggets as ongoing), Spurs (over Blazers), Oklahoma City Thunder (over Phoenix — sweep), Cleveland Cavaliers beating Raptors (easy six).
- Knicks: memes confidently called Knicks, but hosts acknowledged that calling Knicks series over would be premature.
- Series to watch:
- Nuggets vs Wolves — expected to be competitive (Jokic triple-double-but-not-dominant; Rudy Gobert matchup drama; Jamal Murray free-throw dominance noted).
- Lakers vs Rockets — Lakers won Game 1 big without KD (KD ruled out pregame), Luke Kennard breakout; LeBron playing point-guard/facilitator role with Bronny cameo.
- Pistons vs Magic — one wild Game 1 (Magic upset Pistons) — hosts split on whether that’s a fluke vs an indicator; some guarantees (comic) that Pistons win Game 2.
- Individual notes:
- Draymond Green ejection seen as symbolic “end” moment by hosts.
- Jokic’s consistent triple-doubles are still “dominant” even on quiet nights.
- Jamal Murray’s free-throw performance (16/16) vs Wolves’ poor team FT output called out.
- Knicks-Rockets/Knicks trash-talk (nut-shot drama involving Brunson & CJ McCollum) and James Dolan surveillance banter.
NHL recap — quick notes
- Big Buffalo scene and fan energy highlighted (beer sabers, drunken civic pride).
- Sabres vs Bruins: Sabres staged a comeback after being down 2–0; Bruins’ collapse and Swayman’s poor look discussed. Hosts felt Buffalo atmosphere was electric; concerns for Boston going forward.
- Flyers/Flyers-related fandom/banter and other series: Hurricanes shutout, Wild dominated Stars — some series seen as potentially lopsided.
Major NFL news & roster moves
- Dexter Lawrence trade (announced on show):
- Transcript take: Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in exchange for the 10th overall pick (Giants acquired pick). McShay + hosts discussed the move as Bengals buying a proven NT, and Giants getting value (10th overall) to speed rebuild. McShay noted it solves Cincinnati’s drafting-defense problem by acquiring a known quantity.
- Noted ripple: OBJ-to-Cleveland trade link mentioned as a cyclical “ghost pick” anecdote.
- Texans lock in Will Anderson with a massive extension — now among top-paid non-QBs.
- General theme: Some teams will trade high picks for veteran help rather than gambling on rookies (Bengals example).
“Who’s Back of the Week” — notable comebacks & returns
(Multiple “who’s back” picks across hosts; short bullets)
- Bryson DeChambeau — back to old controversial behavior; hosts roast his on-course meltdown and 3D-printed clubs chatter (mostly negative/entertaining).
- Liv (company/brand) — PFT says they’re not dead and have funding/options (not as dire as reported).
- Mark Zuckerberg / AI clones — Zuck experimenting with AI avatars for meetings — PFT flagged it as a CEO move.
- Diana Rossini — credited for climbing a wrecked car and helping rescue an elderly man and dog (positive “who’s back”).
- Sidemen (YouTube group) — massive Wembley charity match, 90k crowd, big charity haul (Big Cat pick).
- iShowSpeed — WrestleMania debut (top-rope splash, high-risk move) — Big Cat praised the athleticism.
- Tottenham — struggling in EPL; hosts discussed relegation odds & recent tie heartbreak.
- Others called in jest: Ravens/Rams jerseys redesign “back” reveal, Braylen / Ryan examples — a mixed bag of serious and comedic picks.
Memorable anecdotes & side content
- Big Cat, Memes, Zach at Cubs–Mets game: Zach (desk partner) dominated Jumbotron and was great in public interactions; small fan encounters; Mets taking losses, manager questions (decision not to walk strong hitters).
- Max’s bachelor-party hangover saga: host recounted multi-day bachelor party / Vegas prep (comic relief).
- Spring-break golf video: the hosts read and roasted YouTube comments (memes got clothing/shirt/belt criticism; belt/tuck banter).
- Comic moments: James Dolan surveillance jokes, LeBron & Bronny father-son playoff moment, Draymond cherries/arrogance, PFT / mic-stand bit.
Notable quotes & lines worth saving
- “If you draft one high, you better be ready to get production out of him for five years.” — Todd McShay (on RBs)
- “If you draft Arvel Reese, have a plan with your coordinator.” — McShay (schematic fit matters)
- “Mitchell Robinson is the best player in the NBA.” — Memes (hyperbolic, comedic take)
- “Best week of the year” — hosts on draft + playoffs convergence
Actionable takeaways (what to watch / follow)
- Draft Week:
- Watch Day 1 closely: Mendoza likely to go #1, Simpson strong candidate for #2; Chiefs at #9 are a major bellwether (their pick could trigger a run on D or OT).
- Sleepers to monitor: Cole Payton (NDSU) — possible third/fourth round value; interior freak athletes like Rene Conga (combine numbers discussed) drawn attention.
- Offensive tackle scarcity: teams needing tackles could change the board early — expect 5–7 tackles to go early.
- NBA:
- Prioritize watching Nuggets–Wolves (series expected to be competitive) and Lakers–Rockets if KD returns,
- Track free-throw and late-game performances for Wolves and Jamal Murray narratives.
- NHL:
- Sabres-Bruins series: how Boston responds in Game 2 (hosts want Bruins to even it up).
- NFL:
- Monitor how teams approach drafting defense versus trading for proven defensive talent (Bengals example).
- Keep an eye on Texans/Will Anderson contract market-shape for defensive pricing.
Quick summary / bottom line
- Draft week is the show’s main focus: Todd McShay gave a detailed positional breakdown (edge rushers & WR depth; OT scarcity; top QBs tiering), called several sleepers (Cole Payton as a key name), and emphasized schematic fits and medical/durability concerns.
- NBA and NHL opening-round action delivered blowouts and a few competitive series; the hosts confidently “called” several first-round exits while flagging key ongoing matchups to watch.
- The Dexter Lawrence trade and Will Anderson extension are the headline NFL roster stories to follow.
- The episode blends serious draft film-room insight with comedy, fan stories, and a lot of personality-driven takes (memes, bachelor-party reports, and a golf-comment roast).
If you only listen to one part: skip to Todd McShay’s segment for a concise, team-by-team draft primer and his quarterback rankings (very useful for Draft Night decision-making and mock-draft context).
