Dave Helman

Fun episode of The Athletic Football Show today — DNA Changers. Guys who can totally transform the way their unit looks & feels in 2025. Really great convo with @qbklass.bsky.social, exemplified by the two big additions on Denver’s defense.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

fun programming note:

Starting now, I’m joining @theathletic.com & The Athletic Football Show. I’ll be talking ball with @robertmays.bsky.social & @qbklass.bsky.social, as well as plenty of draft talk with @danebrugler.bsky.social. Basically a dream gig for me, and I cannot wait to get going 🫡

thanks, man!

Mahomes. Jackson. Allen. Burrow. Herbert (probably).

Those are the top five QBs in the league … but who is sixth? It’s a large group of candidates, all with their own unique cases.

@robertmays.bsky.social, @davehelman.bsky.social, and myself got into it.

Show link: podfollow.com/the-athletic...

Neutral Milk Hotel followed immediately by Iron & Wine on the Trader Joe’s sound system feels a little too on the nose to me.

I’m nervous about not having Travis Hunter, but that’s at least a solid exchange for saying “no thanks”

I am not willing to declare the Browns “winners” of anything, because Travis Hunter is amazing and they are still the Browns.

but.

They added a Top 5 prospect in Graham, 2 stud RBs and 2 QBs, one of whom was seen by most as QB2 in this draft. While adding a 2026 1 to invest in a better QB.

It needs to be mandatory that Kevin O’Connell work with a Football Hipster’s Favorite QB every single season.

Minnesota come on down!!!

Don't draft a QB first, Giants — let it ride with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston The Giants are now covered if a top QB prospect doesn't fall to them at No. 3 overall in the NFL draft. David Helman explains why they should draft a non-QB anyway.

I wrote about how I think the Giants are better served in the long-term by riding with Russ &/or Jameis. However funny that might sound on the surface.

www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/...

We simply have to get more teams, brands & athletes to migrate over here because as awful as Twitter has become, you just can’t replicate the juice you get out of some good old fashioned mess, like this Cowboys bullshit that’s happening right now

I think Kelce plays one more year, and I think Taylor is that good. Like I said in the article, OL makes perfect sense but I was trying to think a bit outside the box for all 32 picks

2025 NFL mock draft post-free agency: Raiders, Browns trade up for QBs! Free agency is technically ongoing, but most of the important veterans have found new teams. David Helman provides a first-round mock to help gauge the lay of the land.

free agency is (basically) over, so I tried my best to take a stab at what makes sense in the first round of the draft.

www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/...

Never you, brother

if I text you this, it means we made plans and I’m debating how much I still want to come

Mickey Loomis, every March.

former SEC football player turned program CEO who loves himself a microphone and hasn't adapted to the sport's changing landscape

I cannot BELIEVE I never drew the Jerry Jones --> Dabo Swinney link before right now

Hey so. If Daniel Jones is off the table, who does Minnesota sign to compete with JJ?

what a baller advantage to have an OL coach you trust to turn guys into assets

Mekhi Becton prices himself off your line, no worries. former first round pick will step in and (probably) play like a Pro Bowler.

play date on deck

Fun symmetry that the old "holy shit they're going for it while the QB is still cheap!" team, the Texans, just dealt one of their best assets to the new "holy shit they're going for it while the QB is still cheap!" team, the Commanders.

Life comes at you fast.

well gahdamn

slowly, patiently convincing myself that Greenlaw makes sense for a ton of reasons only for someone to severely outbid them with a fairly modest offer

It’s typically not a good sign if you’re one of the teams that spends a fortune in the early hours of free agency.

… but I really like all the Bears’ decisions so far. competency on the lines is worth overpaying for.

It appears the going rate for "we can put you on the field for tactical purposes at the WR position and it's not an outright embarrassment to the franchise" is right around $10 million

You can’t convince me that the Cowboys doing a special teams signing in the opening hours of free agency isn’t a bit.

A very good, funny bit, to be clear. Still a bit.

it’s certainly among the realistic outcomes!

If the Seahawks’ OL & WR corps are beefed up by the time the draft is over, I’m willing to be optimistic about Sam Darnold in Seattle.That feels like a fair and balanced take.

hopping on with my dudes here in like 5 minutes, fwiw

Words used by a league evaluator/former center to describe new Bears C Drew Dalman to me:

“Tough as hell”

“Athletic”

“Smart”

“Physical”