# Richard Sherman: The co-host (called "Mitchell") predicted the Saints will sneak up on the NFC South, win the division and reach the playoffs, expects Fernando Mendoza to start right away for the Raiders with Kirk Cousins reduced to a clipboard-holding backup, and said the Rams will sit Ty Simpson behind Matthew Stafford as Green Bay did with Jordan Love. **Claimed:** Apr 24, 2026 **Pundit:** Richard Sherman — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/richard-sherman **Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/the-richard-sherman-podcast/nfl-draft-reaction-rams-shocker-ty-simpson-pick-seahawks-find-a-rb-49ers-play-it-smart-sherman 6 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 1 division winner, 1 playoff pick and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 1. > I think the snate Saints could sneak up on this division at least and win it and sneak into the playoffs that way. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kirk Cousins to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ty Simpson to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Ty Simpson - Verdict: not settled yet - **Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints - Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Ty Simpson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ty-simpson - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza ## What others said about the same people - Ross Jackson on Juwan Johnson: Ross Jackson gives his final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b43691e9-1673-4236-ba12-7d60ad3b95f5 (scored 100) - Doug Joubert on Will Sherman: Joubert projects the Saints' 53-man roster ahead of the cutdown deadline, naming every player he expects to make the team by position group, plus several players he expects to receive PUP/IR designations, and predicting Torricelli Simpkins will later be moved to the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/80c9bcdf-68ec-49a5-a1d1-e59f4bee2653 (scored 100) - Grant Chachere on Barion Brown: Reviewing the Saints' unofficial depth chart, Chachere says Devaughn Vele is the No. 3 receiver, Barion Brown will be the fourth receiver and a lock to make the 53-man roster, and Travis Etienne will out-carry Alvin Kamara as the lead back. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a21e4240-e93f-4f19-86ee-7190e37e3cfa (scored 100) - Doug Joubert on Kelvin Banks Jr.: Joubert grades the Saints' units after their win at Baltimore and predicts that left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. will be placed on injured reserve, with one of three practice-squad tackles potentially elevated. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6e48166c-9792-4e2b-aae7-fe44b83758e2 (scored 0) - Doug Joubert on Daniel Carlson: Joubert expects Daniel Carlson to win the Saints' place kicker job, as reflected in the site's final 53-man roster projection. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a033fb58-794c-40be-88ea-bc10e06f0617 (scored 100) - Hondo Carpenter on Patrick Johnson: Carpenter says the right guard competition currently favors Jackson Powers-Johnson over Caleb Rogers, though he expects Rogers to get starts at some point this season, and he projects veteran DE Patrick Johnson to make the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ca5f809a-068e-4d04-b0fc-e392ed8f0c13 (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0) - Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=richard-sherman