{"id":871220,"date":"2026-04-21T14:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871220\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T14:00:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:00:26","slug":"hold-on-to-your-butts-using-90s-movie-quotes-to-scout-2026-nfl-drafts-top-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871220\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hold on to your butts!\u2019: Using \u201990s movie quotes to scout 2026 NFL Draft\u2019s top prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL draft.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is going to be a heavy week. But before the commissioner steps to the podium for the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a>, let\u2019s have a little fun.<\/p>\n

For this project, I\u2019m combining two of my favorite things: the NFL Draft and films from the \u201990s. I went through the top 32 prospects on my draft rankings<\/a> and jotted down the first quote from a \u201990s movie that came to mind.<\/p>\n

I know y\u2019all will have some good ones, too, so drop them in the comments.<\/p>\n

Here we go.<\/p>\n

1. \u201cI vote for outer space. No way these are local boys.\u201d \u2014 \u201cTremors\u201d (1990)<\/p>\n

This line could describe multiple Ohio State defenders, but it applies particularly well to edge Arvell Reese, my top-ranked prospect. Growing up, it was hard to channel surf on weekends without stumbling upon \u201cTremors,\u201d one of the more underrated movies of the decade. And the explanation that the character Earl comes up with for the underground monsters was as good as any, and it holds up for Reese as a front-seven defender.<\/p>\n

2. \u201cIt\u2019s the training. It shapes you into a lethal instrument. You react in a microsecond without thinking.\u201d \u2014 \u201cTrue Lies\u201d (1994)<\/p>\n

A \u201clethal instrument\u201d who reacts in a \u201cmicrosecond\u201d is an apt way to describe Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the football in his hand.<\/p>\n

3. Mike McDermott: \u201cI\u2019m going to Vegas.\u201d
Cab driver: \u201cVegas, huh?\u201d
Mike McDermott: \u201cYeah.\u201d
Cab driver: \u201cGood luck, man.\u201d \u2014 \u201cRounders\u201d (1998)<\/p>\n

After the Raiders secured the No. 1 pick, this back-and-forth movie exchange became realistic small talk for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.<\/p>\n

4. \u201cAs far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.\u201d \u2014 \u201cGoodfellas\u201d (1990)<\/p>\n

Arguably the best film of the decade, \u201cGoodfellas\u201d needed to be represented on this list \u2014 and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is a natural fit. A fiery kid, Styles (whose given name is Alexander) was nicknamed \u201cSonny\u201d after hot-tempered movie gangster Sonny Corleone, played by James Caan in \u201cThe Godfather.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. \u201cMy boy\u2019s wicked smart.\u201d \u2014 \u201cGood Will Hunting\u201d (1997)<\/p>\n

A genius-level twentysomething who doesn\u2019t shy from violence when it\u2019s needed can describe both Matt Damon\u2019s titular Will Hunting and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The latter\u2019s drive, quickness and physicality are above average, but his processing and understanding of high-level concepts separate him on the field.<\/p>\n

6. \u201cThis guy\u2019s methodical, exacting, and worst of all, patient.\u201d \u2014 \u201cSeven\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

A movie that is equal parts gnarly and amazing, David Fincher\u2019s \u201cSeven\u201d had multiple quotes that could\u2019ve applied to this exercise. This particular line fits LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane\u2018s disciplined and controlled coverage style.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cI wanna make sure you\u2019re ready, brother. Here it is: Show me the money. Oh-ho-ho! SHOW! ME! THE! MONEY! \u2014 \u201cJerry Maguire\u201d (1996)<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a player-to-player comparison with Will Anderson Jr., one of the best defensive prospects I\u2019ve ever scouted out of college. But on the heels of Anderson\u2019s recent $150 million extension<\/a> with the Houston Texans, this moment from \u201cJerry Maguire\u201d popped into my head while thinking about Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. He likely won\u2019t reach Anderson\u2019s level as a pro, but NFL teams have shown they\u2019ll open the checkbook for players who can affect the quarterback.<\/p>\n

8. Leonardo: \u201cI\u2019m Leonardo.\u201d
Michelangelo: \u201cI\u2019m Michelangelo.\u201d
Donatello: \u201cDonatello.\u201d
Raphael: \u201cI\u2019m Raphael!\u201d
Michelangelo: \u201cAll the good ones end in \u2018-o\u2019!\u201d \u2014 \u201cTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze\u201d (1991)<\/p>\n

Okay, maybe not all good offensive linemen\u2019s names end in \u201c-o,\u201d but arguably the name of the best one in this class does. Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano is a tackle on some draft boards and an interior lineman on others, but his versatility to play at a high level across the line is why he has so many fans around the league.<\/p>\n

9. Mover: \u201cYou hit that guy!\u201d
Happy Gilmore: \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t have been standing there.\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cHappy Gilmore\u201d (1996)<\/p>\n

Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and his contact-driven style of play reminded me of this scene from a seminal comedy from my upbringing. He isn\u2019t a subpar athlete by any means, but Bain is more likely to go through opponents than around them, using his leveraged power.<\/p>\n

10. \u201cDAAAAAMMMNN!\u201d \u2014 \u201cFriday\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

This was the appropriate reaction whenever Ohio State tossed the ball downfield for wide receiver Carnell Tate. Though not a burner, Tate consistently gained a step of vertical separation with his pacing. Even more impressive were his tracking and finishing skills, regardless of the action required to make a catch.<\/p>\n

11. \u201cNow that\u2019s how you supposed to drive! From now on, that\u2019s how you drive!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cBad Boys\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

This quote came to me while watching Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa use his power to drive defenders off the ball (there is also the Miami connection to Will Smith and Martin Lawrence\u2019s buddy-cop classic).<\/p>\n

12. \u201cTold you I\u2019m never going back.\u201d \u2014 \u201cHeat\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

In my head, this is what Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane says to defensive linemen after he uses his stout anchor to grind down and halt pass-rush attempts. There were a few quotes I considered from director Michael Mann\u2019s iconic heist film, but given the way Ioane toys with his opponents, this fit best.<\/p>\n

13. \u201cYou have something they want!\u201d\u00a0 \u2014 \u201cEnemy of the State\u201d (1998)<\/p>\n

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon isn\u2019t the biggest or fastest, but he has a competitive \u201cit\u201d factor that the NFL covets. His manipulation as a route runner is terrific, as are his hands and strength through contact. But above all, his toughness will make him a productive pro.<\/p>\n

14. \u201cGet off my plane!\u201d \u2014 \u201cAir Force One\u201d (1997)<\/p>\n

The best coverage defenders can remove receivers from their vertical plane and disrupt the timing of their routes, either immediately or downfield. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy has the physicality to jam and reroute at the line of scrimmage to quickly gain the upper hand and own that plane.<\/p>\n

15. \u201cOh, Fay, this is so scrumptious. Is this hand-shucked?\u201d \u2014 \u201cWhat About Bob?\u201d (1991)<\/p>\n

I had to squeeze in a \u201cWhat About Bob?\u201d line. I have no idea how Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk feels about scrumptious corn on the cob, but I do know how well he uses his hands to shuck blocks and pursue the football. And with his effort, \u201che\u2019s never gone!<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

16. \u201cI have got to get me one of these!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cIndependence Day\u201d (1996)<\/p>\n

Most teams don\u2019t have tight end among their top needs, but that won\u2019t stop them from considering Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. A dynamic athlete with or without the ball, Sadiq will be high on the wish lists of offensive play callers on draft night.<\/p>\n

17. \u201cSlide! Glide!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cHeavyweights\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

At 315 pounds, Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling makes it look easy in his pass-set slides to cut off edge speed and smoothly adjust on an island.<\/p>\n

18. \u201cI love pressure. I eat it for breakfast.\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cThe Rock\u201d (1996)<\/p>\n

Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman posted just a pair of interceptions in 2025, but both were game-clinching turnovers \u2014 and Thieneman often played his best when the stakes were highest. (I also can\u2019t help but mention the name of Nicolas Cage\u2019s character \u2014 \u201cStanley Goodspeed\u201d \u2014 and Thieneman\u2019s 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash.)<\/p>\n

19. Capt. Frank Ramsey: \u201cWhat is that name, Mr. COB?\u201d
Chief of the Boat Walters: \u201cAlabama, sir!\u201d
Ramsey: \u201cAnd what do we say?\u201d
Walters: \u201cGo \u2018Bama!\u201d
All: \u201cRoll Tide!\u201d \u2014 \u201cCrimson Tide\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

This is a tad on the nose, but offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor was the only Alabama prospect who made my top 32, so it works. The USS Alabama submarine was the setting for 95 percent of this \u201990s military thriller.<\/p>\n

20. Agent J: \u201cIs it worth it?\u201d
Agent K: \u201cOh yeah, it\u2019s worth it. \u2026 If you\u2019re strong enough.\u201d \u2014 \u201cMen in Black\u201d (1997)<\/p>\n

Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is one of the wild cards of the first round. Based on talent, he is a top-12 prospect \u2014 he reminds me of Stefon Diggs with his ability to separate and win the catch point. But durability is the unknown variable in his projection. Some teams don\u2019t have that appetite for risk, while others with stronger conviction believe Tyson is worth taking a chance on.<\/p>\n

21. \u201cHold on to your butts.\u201d \u2014 \u201cJurassic Park\u201d (1993)<\/p>\n

Whenever Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion gets the ball, this Samuel L. Jackson line is the first thing that crosses my mind. There are certain athletes whose speed and burst you can feel \u2014 and Concepcion certainly qualifies.<\/p>\n

22. \u201cI have to remind myself that some birds aren\u2019t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe Shawshank Redemption\u201d (1994)<\/p>\n

At times, we are all guilty of boxing prospects into certain roles based on how they were used in college. Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has those bright feathers, because painting him as a slot-only prospect wouldn\u2019t be wise. He has the speed, play strength and ball skills to flourish wherever he lines up on offense.<\/p>\n

23. \u201cWe have to get that ball back.\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cThe Sandlot\u201d (1993)<\/p>\n

With his ability to always be around the ball, Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is the type of defender who helps get possession back for his offense. Over the past three years, he combined for 13 forced turnovers (eight forced fumbles, five interceptions).<\/p>\n

24. \u201cRun, Forrest, Run!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cForrest Gump\u201d (1994)<\/p>\n

While talking to scouts over the summer and during the season, the key question they had about San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson concerned his speed. He doesn\u2019t look slow on tape, but there were worries he would run in the 4.5s at the combine. Instead, Johnson put those questions to bed with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash.<\/p>\n

25. \u201cUtah, get me two!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cPoint Break\u201d (1991)<\/p>\n

With an Ohio State quarterback-turned-FBI agent played by Keanu Reeves, \u201cPoint Break\u201d was clearly getting on this list (also, it\u2019s a great movie). But this line by Gary Busey\u2019s character (referring to meatball sandwiches) was the perfect fit for the Utah Utes, who have not one, but two, first-round offensive tackles in this class. Caleb Lomu needs time to develop his play strength, but his athletic movements and body control are appealing traits.<\/p>\n

26. \u201cNow that I\u2019m grown, I eat five dozen eggs. So I\u2019m roughly the size of a barge.\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d (1991)<\/p>\n

My 4-year-old daughter would not have approved if I didn\u2019t include one of her movies \u2014 and right now, Belle is her favorite Disney princess. Be it by using his large catch radius or by boxing out defenders, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston works his size to his advantage to be a ball-winner, which should translate well to the league.<\/p>\n

27. \u201cYou tell \u2019em I\u2019m coming, and hell\u2019s coming with me, you hear? Hell\u2019s coming with me!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cTombstone\u201d (1993)<\/p>\n

If you told me Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell talks trash before games by reciting this line, I would believe it, because that is how he plays. He has a \u201cHoney Badger\u201d aura, thanks to the way he constantly rallies to the football and impacts the game. His eight forced fumbles (over the past two seasons) are rare for a cornerback and reflect his play style.<\/p>\n

28. Tommy Callahan: \u201cYou know, a lot of people go to college for seven years.\u201d
Richard Hayden: \u201cI know. They\u2019re called doctors.\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cTommy Boy\u201d (1995)<\/p>\n

To be fair, Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor (who recently turned 25), spent six years in college, not seven. Obviously, though, his age will be a factor for several teams regarding draft projection. There hasn\u2019t been a 25-year-old drafted in Round 1 in the past 10 years, but Mesidor has first-round tape.<\/p>\n

29. John Connor: \u201cSo, what\u2019s the deal?\u201d
Terminator: \u201cMy mission is to protect you.\u201d \u2014 \u201cTerminator 2: Judgment Day\u201d (1991)<\/p>\n

Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller might as well be a robot designed to protect his quarterback at all costs. He doesn\u2019t come off the field (missed only one practice in four years in college), and he maximizes his tools to overwhelm defenders.<\/p>\n

30. \u201cA-B-C. A: Always. B: Be. C: Closing. Always be closing. Always be closing!\u201d \u2014 \u201cGlengarry Glen Ross\u201d (1992)<\/p>\n

Though the mantra from this movie pertains to salesmen, \u201calways be closing\u201d also works for defensive players. With his read-react skills, Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood has a good feel for closing on plays (run or pass) in front of him.<\/p>\n

31. \u201cYou guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?\u201d\u00a0\u2014 \u201cHome Alone\u201d (1990)<\/p>\n

Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker didn\u2019t have the 2025 season most expected. But his motor is always revving and frequently allows him to make plays far away from his starting point. Blockers know they can\u2019t afford to take off a snap against him.<\/p>\n

32. \u201cI\u2019m gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You f\u2014-d with the wrong Marine!\u201d \u2014 \u201cA Few Good Men\u201d (1992)<\/p>\n

Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald is not a nice person on the football field, which is one of several reasons NFL teams are considering him in the first round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL draft.\u00a0 This is going to be a heavy week.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":871221,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[7,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-871220","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116443065134545488","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=871220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/871221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=871220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=871220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=871220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}