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 →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
9 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes, 1 depth chart call, 1 head coach ranking, 1 player season number, 1 power ranking, 1 roster spot call and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 9 have settled, averaging 43.6 out of 100, against 47.8 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
9 checkable claims in this take
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.
- Roster Spot CallsMichael JenkinsCleveland BrownsJul 15, 2025
Michael Jenkins to make the roster
“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”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- a491b193-996a-4660-a9e9-e8bd27799b0b
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 0
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Positional FinishesDak PrescottDallas CowboysJul 15, 2025
Dak Prescott to finish top 12 at his position, by an unstated measure
“I think he's a top twelve quarterback who is really really underachieved in January”
Miss · 25Scored 25a naive guess scored 0+50 skillHow 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
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 31
- actual finish:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 12
- Depth Chart CallsJauan JenningsJul 15, 2025
Jauan Jennings to be 1st on the depth chart
“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”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow 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
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Positional FinishesPatrick MahomesJul 15, 2025
Patrick Mahomes to finish top 1 at his position, by passing yards
“Like I'm sorry, Patrick Mahomes is one. Like I don't even know how you argue”
Miss · 8Scored 8.33a naive guess scored 58.33-100 skillHow 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
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 7
- actual finish:
- 12
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 1
- Player Season NumbersJauan JenningsJul 15, 2025
Jauan Jennings to record 80 receptions
“I'd be stunned if he got seventy seven balls last year, if he didn't catch eighty plus balls this season.”
Miss · 38Scored 37.5a naive guess scored 90.28-105.56 skillHow 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
- Positional FinishesBo NixDenver BroncosJul 15, 2025
Bo Nix to finish top 15 at his position, by passing yards
“But is he gonna be a top twelve starter, fifteen starter half of the league for sure of this year? Yes?”
Close · 42Scored 41.67a naive guess scored 66.67-50 skillHow 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
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 12
- actual finish:
- 8
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 15
- Head Coach RankingsJul 15, 2025
“I know Sirianni has won the Super Bowl, but I would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow 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
- Power RankingsJul 15, 2025
“There's no way you can have the Bears above the Broncos. It's impossible.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow 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
- Season Win TotalsChicago BearsJul 15, 2025
Chicago Bears to finish with 10 wins
“The Bears should win ten games.”
Hit · 80Scored 80a naive guess scored 15+130 skillHow 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
What others said about the same people
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Justin BarronMiss · 0Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player he expects Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. He also predicts Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandMiss · 0Moraitis 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.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
- Ryan WilsonDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100A CBS Sports piece states Deshaun Watson has won Cleveland's starting quarterback job for Week 1 with Shedeur Sanders next in line, while arguing Watson will not play like even an average NFL quarterback and that none of the Browns' current young passers should stop them from drafting a first-round quarterback next April.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano argues the Browns do not have a franchise quarterback and that it's unlikely Watson or Sanders is their long-term answer.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The unsigned newsletter author says Deshaun Watson will start Week 1 at Jacksonville, notes he voted for Jaxson Dart as his breakout QB rather than Caleb Williams, and says newly signed Daniel Carlson is the favorite to win the Saints' kicking job.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich HribarPositional Finishes · Matthew StaffordHit · 100Hribar published his 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how he prioritizes drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaHit · 100Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.
- Ryan TracyPositional Finishes · Bryan CookMiss · 0Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; he names Brian Robinson as his target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10.
- Pat GustavsonPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out his own coaching landing spots.
- JP AcostaPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonPositional Finishes · Christian GonzalezMiss · 0Ochocinco says Christian Gonzalez belongs in the top-five DB conversation, believes Kyler Murray will be elsewhere next year, expects Chase to get a one-game suspension, backs Sam Darnold to bounce back, and floats Jaxon Smith-Njigba reaching 2,000 receiving yards. He also reminds listeners he called the Bears and Panthers as teams to watch before the season.