Scouting the League

It can be a tough time of the year. While scouting reports have been turned in, December Meetings have wrapped up and time at home with family is a little easier - teams across the NFL prepare to make changes as the regular season draws to a close. Neil and I discuss all the rumors, the inevitable and perhaps the surprises that we are expecting to see in the coming weeks. It is no fun talking abou...

For some, the Christmas season means things slow down; for NFL front offices, things are just heating up. Whether you are a team in the playoffs, on the bubble, or have already been eliminated, decisions about 53 and beyond are in full swing. Neil and I ask Eric Stokes all the questions he had to deal with as a college director, scout and assistant General Manager. What factors are teams weighing...

Don't get lost in the sauce. That is a mantra that Nathan Applebaum, Director of Player Personnel at James Madison, clings to as the portal madness gets underway. So how does he make it happen? Neil and I discuss just that, along with much more this week. From his journey back and forth across the country to landing on a roster tasked with replacing 97% of the production. Recruiting the portal wit...

141 days to the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft may seem like a lifetime away, but for the thousand plus prospects whose seasons are now done, the draft process is officially started. Neil and I talk with ESPN Draft Analyst and friend of Scouting the League, Jordan Reid to talk top prospects. From Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty to the full slate of QB's who are vying for the top spot. Top wid...

New York, New York - a catchy song title and 2 franchises that have questions at QB and possibly in the front office. With Joe Douglas out for the Jets and rumors swirling about Joe Schoen, Neil and I dive into what led them to this spot. From draft picks, to trades, free agent signings and a shared vision between the front office, head coach and ownership, there are plenty of places you can point...

The game of football is ever changing. Offenses make changes and defenses catch up, get ahead, and force the offense to one again innovate. And as the game changes, technology gives coaches, front office staffs and those across the NFL more tools in the toolbox. Neil and I sit down with Sports Analytics Writer at ESPN, Seth Walder, to discuss all things analytics. From the Down 8 test, the Down 4...

Last time we talked with Dane Brugler, we were looking at 2023 college tape and projecting guys for the fall season. Since then, Carson Beck has fallen, Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty have risen, and players in the top 50 have been shuffled all over. Dane joins us to give us some insight into his updated top 50 list as talk not just about who the top guys are, but why. From Offensive Line to Pass...

Whether you like them or not, the Cowboys are America's Team. That is in large part due to owner, and essentially General Manager, Jerry Jones. Wearing both hats means criticism comes along, even more than normal. But what does a Dallas front office really look like? How does Jerry operate? And what was it like running the draft in Dallas? A veteran of 27 years with the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Ciskows...

When it is time to start talking about NFL Draft players, it is often obvious, who has done the work, and who is a twitter scout. So, to prepare you for those water cooler conversations, Neil and I dive into all things grade scale, player comparison, stacking a board and so much more. So many philosophies, so many ways to be successful doing it, but follow this outline, and you will at least sound...

Life on the road for any scout is a constant stream of report writing, character digging and changes to the schedule all while trying to keep up with what is going on in your own building and with your own team. When those changes happen at the pace they did in Carolina, good luck. Michael Coe joins us to talk all things football. From his transition from playing to the SR Bowl and eventually the...

The Jets and owner Woody Johnson started the annual firing cycle this week, on the coaching side, but are front office names in jeopardy as well? Joe Douglas is highly respected, does he get to pick the next coach? Neil and Rodrik don't speculate on the potentials, but instead, dig into what the successful traits today's owners seem to be gravitating to. From the media element to what should be st...

The NFL Draft Bible was once one of the hottest guides for those interested in the NFL Draft. But with changes in technology, paper copies went by the wayside, so changes had to be made. Adaptability; that is what today's guest, Ric Serritella, talked about, among other things, as his journey through the football world took him all across the country, and even north of the border. From a start wit...

Are NCAA All-Star games going the way of the dinosaur? Just a short time ago the 3rd game in the pecking order disappeared and now, with questions at the top, the Hula Bowl may be in jeopardy as well. Dane Vandernat, former Director of Player Personnel for the NFLPA Game joins us to talk all star games, dealing with agents, some of the best and worst stories from the game and where he thinks all s...

Leading through challenges is what often separates good leaders from great leaders. Great teams have great cultures, great cultures have great leaders, and somewhere in the midst of it all, is someone who helps drive those leaders in one way or another. Whether he would ever take credit for it, Jack Easterby has been a pivotal part of some of the great franchises we see operating today. Houston, K...

There are many ways to construct, build, adjust and win within NFL Front Offices. Different philosophies and leaders have kept certain franchises at the top of the game year in and year out - and the Philadelphia Eagles, behind GM Howie Roseman, is certainly one of those. From his start on the salary cap side of the front office to his growing role in personnel and evaluation - navigating life wit...

Who drives the culture? The Head Coach? General Manager? Quarterback? Or someone else? Great teams almost always have a great culture and there is always a culture driver. We discuss some of the top cultures in the game of football with someone who has seen, first hand, great cultures in the NFL. Joey Clinkscales, a long time Jet and Raider talks Chiefs, Patriots, Ravens, Brady, Belichick, Lewis,...

Scouting for 1 of 32 NFL franchises has its advantages and intricacies; scouting the entire NCAA and thinking about fit for all 32 takes another level of dedication. NFL Draft Analyst for The Athletic Dane Brugler joins the podcast to discuss just how he does just that. From getting his start with what later became "The Beast" to finding himself saying no to his NFL Dream job (family first!). How...

The East-West Shrine Bowl has solidified itself as one of the two premier all star games for the NFL Draft hopefuls, all while adjusting on the fly and seeking to take the game to new heights. E/W Shrine Bowl Director of Football Operations and Player Personnel Eric Galko joins the podcast to talk about all aspects of the event and what we can expect in the future. From finding new locations in La...

Having the opportunity to work, learn and grow under some of the most highly respected decision makers in the NFL is one thing, taking advantage of all the mentoring is another. Eric Stokes certainly did the latter and discusses it all on Scouting the League. From his days with the Nebraska Cornhuskers under legend Tom Osborne, to joining a Seattle Seahawks staff with Mike Holmgren and Ted Thompso...

Getting into the scouting industry has changed, just a bit, since Tom McConnaughey got his start. But the principles of the game and what it takes to evaluate remain the same. Neil and I talk with Tom about the road he took to get into the NFL and the many changes he saw along the way. From the multiple GM's he sat under to the different Head Coaches and systems he was a part of. Drafting not just...

Starting a new season of Scouting the League with one of the most well known, for good or for bad, agents in the business. David Canter of GSE Worldwide goes unfiltered with Neil and I to talk about the industry, his start and re-start, why he does what he does and the transition to a new agency. If you know David, you know this one will some fireworks, and regardless of what area of football you...

The Baltimore Ravens are at the forefront of scouting stability in the NFL and T.J. McCreight was lucky enough to get his start there.  But the Browns, Cardinals, Colts and Eagles did things well too.  We dive into all things scouting with T.J. and how his multiple stops and roles shaped his scouting and career.  What makes for a successful draft process? How should scouts approach school visits?...

Roc Nation Sports changed the sport representation space when Jay-Z entered the world.  After his playing days were done, philanthropy led to NFLPA certification and eventually a lead role with the Roc Nation for John Thornton.  Neil and I talk with John about how he got his start in the world of representation, how he operates differently than many agents out there and how Roc Nation has continue...

Changes at General Manager often mean changes down the line, regardless of how well you do your job.  Dru Grigson experienced that in Arizona after a long and successful run with the franchise.  Their loss is your gain as Dru jumps on with us to talk all things front office, scouting and the Arizona Cardinals.  How did he get his start and what did he learn as he moved up the ladder?  How did the...

From the top of the Philadelphia Eagles front office staff to one of the top agents in the NFL - Mike McCartney is a football guy.  From his start in coaching to transitioning to scouting - Mike has been around the game.  His decision to balance his life and become an NFLPA Certified agent then became the next hurdle.  But with clients like Kirk Cousins and Aidan Hutchinson among the many others,...