The Schrager Hour

2026 Schedule Deep Dive with Mike North

Mike North is the VP of broadcast planning at the NFL and for 32 years has worked on the making of the NFL schedule. In this episode, Peter and Mike discuss all of the key stakeholders -- Netflix, Amazon, Fox, CBS, Disney, ESPN, YouTube, 32 different NFL teams, coaches, and fan bases-- as well as international partners, and how the schedule was made. This conversation evolves from a football, one to a media, Tech, and big business one. North is excellent and an open book, and the schedule is just the starting point of one that involves satisfying multiple important parties, utilizing AI, and fielding multiple requests from influential voices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Craig Kilborn

Peter gets into the bonanza that has become the annual schedule release week for the NFL and why it's grander than ever before. Craig Kilborn joins to talk Vikings, Timberwolves, Pooh Richardson, Vlade Divac, his career, his life in Hollywood, his favorite movies, his best Robert Evans stories, and the broadcasters and athletes he loves watching today. An absolute thrill ride with an all-time legend of sports media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Bengals HC Zac Taylor

Peter reviews and reacts to the revelations from the new ESPN documentary "The Pick Is In", which had inside access to the Raiders, Cowboys, and Browns war rooms. He, then, highlights why he's so high on Dallas this off-season, and how a lot of it comes from the juice flowing from the hire of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Bengals coach Zac Taylor joins to discuss the Bengals 2026 off-season. Zac takes us behind the Dexter Lawrence trade that was "weeks" in the making, the importance of adding to the defense, the linebacker spot, the return of 11 offensive starters, and the showcasing of three assistant general managers who had previously always been behind the scenes. Peter and Zac talk the new look AFC North, why he doesn't mess with Joe Burrow's off-season whereabouts, and what he hopes to establish in his 8th season as the Bengals HC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

2026 Schrager Hour Draft Recap Bonanza

Peter offers his five biggest takeaways from the 2026 NFL Draft, including an emptying of the notebook on the Rams' selection of Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. He, then, goes through his favorite moments of the entire weekend, culminating in the special shared experience of the Eli Heidenreich selection on Day 3. Peter, then, brings on Arif Hassan, the Chief Writer at the Wide Left newsletter, to do a deeper dive on the "Consensus Big Board" conversation that has boiled to the surface after curious drafts from both the 49ers and Jaguars last weekend. Lastly, Peter has on his resident Jets and Giants fans, Danny from Lot E and Ditro, to talk about the Jets and Giants drafts.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Schrager’s Final 2026 Mock Draft

Late Tuesday Night, Peter submitted his final mock draft to his ESPN bosses.  He reveals his 1 thru 32 picks with some trades mixed in. 0:00 Welcome To The Schrager Hour 1:55 Schrager’s Final Mock Draft 3:45 1. Raiders select Fernando Mendoza 4:00 2. Jets Select David Bailey 5:15 3. Cardinals Select Jeremiyah Love 7:25 4. Titans select Sonny Styles   8:55 5. Giants select Arvell Reese 9:40 6. Browns select Spencer Fano 10:45 7. Commanders select Carnell Tate 11:45 8. Saints select Caleb Downs 12:55 Chiefs Trade Back with Cowboys 14:45 9. Cowboys select Mansoor Delane 15:10 10. Giants select Jordyn Tyson 16:50 11. Dolphins select Francis Mauigoa 17:50 12. Chiefs select Rueben Bain Jr. 19:25 Rams trade back with Lions 20:20 13. Lions select Kadyn Proctor 20:55 14. Ravens select Olaivavega Ioane 21:30 15. Bucs select Akheem Mesidor 21:55 16. Jets select Makai Lemon 22:55 17. Rams select Kenyo Sadiq 24:20 18. Vikings select Dillon Thieneman 24:50 Texans trade up with Panthers 25:30 19. Texans select Blake Miller 25:55 20. Chiefs select Omar Cooper Jr 26:35 21. Steelers select Monroe Freeling 27:15 22. Chargers select Keldric Faulk 27:45 23. Eagles select Max Iheanachor 29:05 24. Browns select Denzel Boston 29:35 25. Bears select T.J. Parker 30:00 26. Bills select Peter Woods 30:35 27. 49ers select Caleb Lomu 31:05 28. Panthers select KC Concepcion 31:45 29. Cowboys select Malachi Lawrence 32:40 30. Dolphins select Jermod McCoy 34:05 31. Patriots select Zion Young 34:35 Seahawks trade back with Cardinals 35:50 32. Cardinals select Ty Simpson 37:30 Wrapping Up Schrager’s Final Mock Draft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]