Todd McShay on Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State's defenders & the Ty Simpson vs Fernando Mendoza debate
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In this episode of The Joel Klatt Show, host Joel Klatt welcomes NFL draft analyst Todd McShay to break down the 2026 NFL Draft class, focusing on top prospects and positional depth. McShay makes a bold case for Jeremiah Love as the #1 overall pick, praising his elite football IQ, versatility, and complete skill set—highlighting his improved pass protection and ability to thrive as a receiver out of the backfield. He emphasizes Love’s value despite the economics of drafting a running back high, noting that Love could be the eighth-highest-paid RB in the league. McShay also lauds Ohio State’s defensive talent, particularly Sonny Stiles and Caleb Downs, calling them not just elite players but future organizational leaders due to their intelligence and leadership. The conversation shifts to the quarterback debate between Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza, with McShay favoring Mendoza for his experience, mental toughness, and clutch performance under pressure, despite Simpson’s impressive early-season play. McShay underscores the importance of college career longevity and situational awareness, citing Super Bowl-winning QBs’ average of 34 starts and 1,400+ attempts. He also praises the depth at edge rusher, offensive tackle, and wide receiver, highlighting players like Cassius Howell, Makai Lemon, and Omar Cooper. The episode closes with McShay’s dream fit: Jeremiah Love in Tennessee with Cam Ward and Jackson Dart, creating a dynamic offensive attack.
Jeremiah Love is a top-1 overall prospect due to his elite football IQ, versatility, and complete skill set—capable of being a top-tier RB and receiving threat.
Ohio State’s defensive talent—Sonny Stiles and Caleb Downs—are elite not just for their on-field play but for their leadership and intelligence, making them organizational assets.
Fernando Mendoza is favored over Ty Simpson due to his experience, mental toughness, and proven performance in high-pressure situations, despite Simpson’s early-season brilliance.
McShay emphasizes that Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks average 34 college starts and 1,400+ attempts, underscoring the importance of experience and development.
The 2026 draft class is exceptionally deep at edge rusher, offensive tackle, and wide receiver, with multiple players likely to go in the first round.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Jeremiah Love: The #1 Overall Prospect
“He is everything that you look for. Just about every team I talk to in the league, he's first, second, and third guy on their board right now.”
Ohio State’s Defensive Talent: Stiles, Downs, and Reese
“He's going to be a CEO. This guy is just as charismatic and, like, easy to talk to as he is intelligent.”
The Ty Simpson vs. Fernando Mendoza Debate
“He picked himself up the mat and he bounced right back. Man, that guy handles adversity well.”
The Importance of College Career Length and Experience
McShay presents data showing that Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks average 34 college starts and 1,400+ attempts, arguing that experience and development are critical. He uses this to support Mendoza’s case over Simpson.
Depth at Edge Rusher, Tackle, and Wide Receiver
McShay discusses the depth in the 2026 draft, particularly at edge rusher and offensive tackle. He praises players like Cassius Howell, David Bailey, and Reuben Bain, while also highlighting the wide receiver class with standout talents like Makai Lemon and Omar Cooper.
“He's going to be a CEO. This guy is just as charismatic and, like, easy to talk to as he is intelligent.”
“He picked himself up the mat and he bounced right back. Man, that guy handles adversity well.”
“I want to see Jeremiah Love in Tennessee. I want to see Dable with Cam.”
Host
Guest
Jeremiah Love
person
Fernando Mendoza
person
Ohio State
organization
Caleb Downs
person
Sonny Stiles
person
Ty Simpson
person
NFL Draft
other
Todd McShay
person
Arvel Reese
person
Joel Klatt
person
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