John Middlekauff · Jul 15, 2025

In a mid-July podcast, Middlecoff reacted to the Garrett Wilson extension and Jauan Jennings' contract unhappiness, predicting Jennings is San Francisco's clear No. 1 receiver and will top 80 catches; he also expects the Browns to keep Quinshon Judkins on the roster, ranks Mahomes as the top quarterback, calls Dak a top-12 QB, backs Bo Nix as a top-15 starter, says the Bears should win 10 games but must be ranked behind Denver, and would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni.

“I'd be stunned if he got seventy seven balls last year, if he didn't catch eighty plus balls this season.”

said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →

9 checkable claims from this

Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.

Positional FinishesJul 15, 2025
“I think he's a top twelve quarterback who is really really underachieved in January”
Scored 25a naive guess scored 0+50 skill
How this was scored
skill:
50
player:
Dak Prescott
season:
2025
zero at:
12
accuracy:
25
baseline:
0
position:
QB
ranked by:
passing yards
difficulty:
2
naive basis:
where he finished last season
weeks in the season:
18
naive finish:
31
actual finish:
3
weeks left when called:
18
predicted finish:
12
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart CallsJul 15, 2025
“are you niece torn Ricky Pearsall is already injured? Like I am, clearly the number one wide receiver on this team heading into week one, not even debatable”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
SF
skill:
0
player:
Jauan Jennings
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
position:
WR
naive slot:
1
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
2
measured by:
receptions
naive basis:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Positional FinishesJul 15, 2025
“Like I'm sorry, Patrick Mahomes is one. Like I don't even know how you argue”
Scored 8.33a naive guess scored 58.33-100 skill
How this was scored
skill:
-100
player:
Patrick Mahomes
season:
2025
zero at:
12
accuracy:
8.33
baseline:
58.33
position:
QB
ranked by:
passing yards
difficulty:
2
naive basis:
where he finished last season
weeks in the season:
18
naive finish:
7
actual finish:
12
weeks left when called:
18
predicted finish:
1
Think this is wrong?
Player Season NumbersJul 15, 2025
“I'd be stunned if he got seventy seven balls last year, if he didn't catch eighty plus balls this season.”
Scored 37.5a naive guess scored 90.28-105.56 skill
How this was scored
naive:
52.33
skill:
-105.56
what happened:
55
player:
Jauan Jennings
season:
2025
accuracy:
37.5
baseline:
90.28
predicted:
80
statistic:
receptions
difficulty:
2
last season:
77
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
position average:
27.65
zero at percent out:
50
Think this is wrong?
Positional FinishesJul 15, 2025
“But is he gonna be a top twelve starter, fifteen starter half of the league for sure of this year? Yes?”
Scored 41.67a naive guess scored 66.67-50 skill
How this was scored
skill:
-50
player:
Bo Nix
season:
2025
zero at:
12
accuracy:
41.67
baseline:
66.67
position:
QB
ranked by:
passing yards
difficulty:
2
naive basis:
where he finished last season
weeks in the season:
18
naive finish:
12
actual finish:
8
weeks left when called:
18
predicted finish:
15
Think this is wrong?
Head Coach RankingsJul 15, 2025
“I know Sirianni has won the Super Bowl, but I would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni.”
Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
best:
Mike Vrabel
skill:
0
method:
spearman
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
settled by:
wins above the prior-season baseline
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
coaches ranked:
2
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Power RankingsJul 15, 2025
“There's no way you can have the Bears above the Broncos. It's impossible.”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
spearman
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
teams ranked:
2
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Season Win TotalsJul 15, 2025
“The Bears should win ten games.”
Scored 80a naive guess scored 15+130 skill
How this was scored
team:
CHI
naive:
6.75
skill:
130
what happened:
11
season:
2025
zero at:
5
accuracy:
80
baseline:
15
predicted:
10
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot CallsJul 15, 2025
“One thing that I do think is gonna happen is he's going to be on the team and they'll just kind of deal with the you know, I guess the PR”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?