Bucky Brooks

Much respect to @danorlovsky7 for saying it with his chest. Time will tell which one is better, but it possible the football world might be too high on Mendoza as a No.1 overall pick and too low on Simpson as QB2 (2nd round). The truth lies somewhere in the middle with each QB.. Mendoza doesn’t have a lot of “take over the game” contests on his resume, but he does have a collection of franchise QB moments. He also played for a play designer who routinely scripted “winners” utilizing creative concepts. His IQ, toughness and “clutch” genes stand out as strengths, but he is more managerial than transcendent in his play, which is ok. It’s just not typical of some over viewed as QB1 or the No.1 player in the class. Simpson plays like a clinician from the pocket. His footwork and mechanics are polished, and he flashes plenty of precision in his play. However, his inexperience (15 starts) is a major red flag, based on recent history. Additionally, he lacks prototypical size, which makes his 2025 injuries raise durability concerns. With his slump at the end of season also raising red flags after a sizzling start, it is fair to wonder if he is a “flash in the pan” or a budding star who simply needs more time to develop. Considering how decision makers to judged harshly on the play of the QB (SEE: Vikings’ ex-GM), the team builder handing in the card with either name runs the risk of losing their job if the gamble doesn’t work out. That’s why the anonymous quotes and polls mean nothing unless they’re willing to hitch their jobs to their opinions..

Full disclosure: In an effort to get more EDGE defenders (DE/OLB) recognition, I split the group into two categories. While every team views the EDGE position differently, I put “stand up” in the OLB group and “hand down” in the DE group. I made similar tweaks at WR/SLOT and CB/Star/Nickel. The goal was to give as much shine as possible to the top prospects, in my opinion, in the class ❤️🏈 #NFLDraft

March Madness thought: It’s not a coincidence that the Sweet 16 is loaded with HOF coaches (Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Tom Izzo, Rick Barnes, etc.). Talent is important but tactics and teaching might matter more in a single-elimination tournament. Give the success of these experienced leaders, I wonder if there are some common traits or characteristics ADs can spot to help them determine who to hire or if they have the right guy in place. ❤️🏀

Thanks for having me @MatthewColler Loved the walk down memory lane ❤️🙏🏾

Rest easy, Angelo. I will always remember your words of encouragement and admiration during our post-game shake. My condolences to the family and the Venice HS community on the loss of a legend. 💔🙏🏾

Love the move by the @Vikings to sign the former No.1 pick to compete for their QB1 job. Murray’s talent and KOC’s tactics could get Minnesota back on track. Here’s why:

Which three teams are the best fits for Malik Willis? @BuckyBrooks takes a look -- and provides five sleeper talents to consider in the NFL as 2026 free agency draws near. nfl.com/news/best-nfl-…

Great convo with the head coach and QB1 about their relationship and the @Jaguars next step. #DUUUVAL

The Ty Simpson conversation will be fascinating after the Combine. The desperation for a franchise QB will lead someone to take a flyer on an outlier (size/arm talent/experience) with a top pick. Despite the late-season drop off and durability concerns, teams and analysts will ignore the red flags and push him as a QB1 worthy of Top-15 consideration. The Alabama standout rolled the dice when he elected to enter the draft. Based on circumstances, it could work out in his favor on draft night whether he’s ready or worthy or not…

Given the depth of the 2026 RB class and the Seahawks’ belief in the Shanahan/Kubiak system, which has always viewed RB as disposable assets, the Walker news is not surprising. The ‘Hawks will likely target a RB on Day 2 to replace the SB MVP with a younger and cheaper option…. As they say, “It’s business, never personal.” #NFLDraft

💯 More value should be placed on route running and ball skills (hands and tracking) than speed. The All-Pros are typically elite in those areas.

Looking forward to putting the spotlight on some of the top HBCU players in the 2026 draft. Additionally, I’m excited to see how some of the top HBCUs handle their business on and off the field, and to learn how these programs have been built to last. ❤️🏈

In a perfect world, Louis plays as a “Star” in a defense that features 5+ DBs. With more teams using 3-safety schemes, the old labels of the past are going away..

With Super Bowl LX in the rear view mirror, it’s time to turn our attention towards the 2026 draft and the top players in a solid draft class. Here are my top-five prospects by position: #NFL #NFLDraft nfl.com/news/bucky-bro…

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Mike Macdonald deserves credit for playing the hits. He kept repeating the Overload blitz with Nickel hitting the B gap over and over. Nothing complex, but the Patriots couldn’t pick it up, so there’s no need to change

Seahawks have Maye out of sorts with their combination of pressure and coverage. The constant harassment has quickened his clock, while the “vision and break” coverage has forced him to throw into tighter windows. Overall, the 2nd year looks overwhelmed by it all and his misfires have prevented the Patriots from taking advantage of some favorable opportunities.

Great play on the PBU by Gonzalez despite failing to speed turn when beaten on the post move. He didn’t panic and made the play because Darnold didn’t lead JSN on the throw.

Will Campbell’s playoff struggles continue to haunt the Patriots. The rookie OT is struggling with speed and power off the edges. With the 30 minute halftime break, Josh McDaniels will need to come up with a better plan to help Maye have more time to pass in the 2nd half.

Looks like Walker looked at some of those old Le’Veon Bell tapes at Michigan State. Super patient attacking the line on inside runs..