# Carter Bahns: An unbylined piece on the Lions' restructured contracts argues Detroit's new cap space will let it extend both Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, with LaPorta potentially becoming the NFL's highest-paid tight end, and predicts the team will pursue cornerback help via trade or free agency. **Claimed:** Sep 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Carter Bahns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/carter-bahns **Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/cbs-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lions-restructure-two-contracts-salary-cap-flexibility/ 3 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Both should be expected to sign contract extensions, even though negotiations will ensue into the regular season. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Sam LaPorta to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brian Branch to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Brian Branch, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sam LaPorta to move to Detroit Lions** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Sam LaPorta — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sam-laporta - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions - Brian Branch — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brian-branch ## What others said about the same people - Emmett Matasovsky on Christian Izien: Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9715ee92-1646-4ee4-8911-e3e4cbae9027 (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Detroit Lions: Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2bb82ce8-249f-4f77-b543-f84d64882973 (scored 100) - Kirk Herbstreit on Detroit Lions: Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5bc3755c-9b84-484f-b8f2-b18d51a12261 (scored 100) - Matt Dery on Detroit Lions: Derry predicted a Lions win over the Saints by a 24-20 score, with the Saints covering the 7.5-point spread. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fcf586b4-8b78-41d0-9f73-44a6023b8459 (scored 92.86) - Ross Jackson on Detroit Lions: Jackson predicted the Lions beat the Saints 27-20 in Week 1, and separately said he expects New Orleans to start 0-2 while still being a playoff-caliber team. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f1d3fc1-2622-4dcb-b63f-f487b45bd1e6 (scored 85.71) - Mitchell Eisenstein on Detroit Lions: Mitchell picked the Lions to beat the Saints at home, 34-24. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/35222c39-16ed-4f7d-90ee-03fb1d1441bb (scored 78.57) ## More trade and signing calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Brockman on Baker Mayfield: Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d508736e-a824-4fa0-854c-df4ebdd9ef02 (scored 100) - Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 100) - Bucky Brooks on Keenan Allen: Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 100) - Jon Gruden on Baker Mayfield: The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10bb8ff2-886c-488e-b693-fb4ea9dd5880 (scored 100) - Joel Corry on Baker Mayfield: The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a840ff4-f1e5-48ca-bec6-ba41e9ef2396 (scored 100) - Seth Walder on Kayshon Boutte: Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0263bd78-6c5c-41c5-8615-0467d8ef521a (scored 0) --- 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=carter-bahns