If this is indeed the end of the Lingering Questions line this offseason, then we definitely got to indulge our intellectual curiosities. On this fourth, and potentially final, edition of Lingering Questions, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen ask, and attempt to answer, the following questions: Have the Steelers been held back in recent seasons by only their quarterback situation? How good are the players on the Bears' defense, actually? Are the Falcons simply a pass rush away from being a competitive defense?

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even the most plugged-in, tunnel-visioned, 99th percentile football fan can turn into an ineffectual puddle of nothingness when trying to explain the salary cap. And yet, we all understand that the cap plays a huge part in how teams are build and championships are won. So how can we untangle the complexities of the cap? Well, we can start by talking to an expert. Former agent and current CBS Sports contributor Joel Corry, who's major negotiations include John Randle's deal in 1998 and Patrick Surtain's deal in 2005, joins Robert Mays to uncap the mysteries of the salary cap on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

With: Joel Corry

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the AFC is defined by the league's superstar quarterbacks, then the NFC is where the meticulously constructed offenses and elite playcallers can be found. That means the exercise of ranking the supporting casts in the NFC is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, we've got Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen at our disposal. The pair ranks the NFC's supporting casts from worst to first on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Michael Beller went back out to the TAFS mailbox and found another stack of great letters. On this edition of the Mailbag, Robert and Derrik answer questions on the possibility of the QB age cliff shifting (in the wrong direction), whether GMs should get a longer leash before losing their jobs, their ideal—and financially feasible—offensive lines, the new occupant of the Derek Carr Line, and much more.

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

With: Michael Beller

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NFL is a quarterback driven league, there's no doubt about it. But do the Eagles win the Super Bowl last year without their offensive line? Do the Chiefs establish a dynasty without Andy Reid? Are the Rams and Bengals playing in Super Bowl LVI without Cooper Kupp, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins? The supporting casts around quarterbacks matter, too. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen rank the supporting casts in the AFC on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:25 Intro

7:10 Jets

11:02 Patriots

15:06 Browns

18:56 Titans

22:23 Texans

29:21 Chargers

34:34 Steelers

38:32 Jaguars

43:06 Dolphins

48:43 Raiders

54:00 Colts

59:01 Chiefs

1:04:42 Bills

1:08:50 Broncos

1:09:46 Bengals

1:12:46 Back to the Broncos!

1:16:17 Ravens

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

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Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're into June, and we've still got Lingering Questions about the 2024 season that will inform how the coming season goes. On this edition, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen ask, and attempt to answer, the following...Are explosives ever coming back to the Chiefs offense? Is Baker Mayfield's late-20s breakout for real? How much of the Niners' relative slide on offense was about more than injuries?

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

5:34 Are explosives ever coming back to the Chiefs offense?

25:50 Is Baker Mayfield's late-20s breakout for real?

44:48 How much of the Niners' relative slide on offense was about more than injuries?

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

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Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mailbag shifts to Wednesday this week, but it's still chock full of great questions from all of you out there. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen consider each of the following: What are the most consequential league-altering moves of the last 10 years? Which failed head coach was hurt most by his quarterback situation? Could we soon be in a world without bad quarterbacks? Find out the guys answers to those questions, and many more, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

With: Michael Beller

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The league's most faux-uncertain quarterback question finally got its long-expected answer last week when Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers officially agreed to terms on a one-year contract. That's where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin their roundup of all the news that dropped during OTAs on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Frank Ragnow's retirement, the Packers' release of Jaire Alexander, Anthony Richardson's shoulder injury, Mike Macdonald's incredulity, and a whole lot more.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

4:33 Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers

15:13 Packers release Jaire Alexander

23:34 Jalen Ramsey trade still hanging out there

26:54 Frank Ragnow retires

36:54 Terry McLaurin's frustrated with his contract status

39:44 Anthony Richardson sidelined for minicamp with shoulder injury

45:51 Bryce Huff traded to 49ers

49:34 Nick Chubb signs with Texans

51:06 Rashod Bateman signs extension with Ravens

54:17 Jonnu Smith trade chatter

55:39 Saints OL shakeup

58:30 Ricky Pearsall and Joey Bosa out until training camp with injuries

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...

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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @robertmays

Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whenever a player makes a leap—whether that's bad to average, average to good, good to great, or great to elite—it can change his team. Just think of guys like Zack Baun and Derek Stingley last season. Who might make a leap this year akin to what those two did in 2024? Derrik Klassen and Diante Lee from The Ringer highlight their top defensive breakout players on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Rundown

Daiyan Henley

Edgerrin Cooper

Nate Wiggins

Laiatu Latu

Kobie Turner

Brian Branch

Will Anderson

Cooper DeJean

Honorable mention

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

With: Diante Lee

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June is here, and with June comes all things summer. Sunshine, trips to the pool, cookouts...and fantasy football. That's right, fantasy football season is upon us, and we're celebrating that on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Michael Beller sits in once again for the vacationing Robert Mays, and he's joined by Jake Ciely, The Athletic's senior fantasy writer, to dig into the biggest moves of the offseason from a fantasy perspective.

Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

With: Michael Beller and Jake Ciely

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Producer: Michael Beller

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Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

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Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.