# Field Yates: In his latest mock draft, Yates has Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Raiders (a pick he says can be etched in stone), the Jets taking edge rusher Arbel Reiss at No. 2, the Titans taking David Bailey in the first round, and the Cowboys selecting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 12 as the first linebacker off the board.

**Claimed:** Feb 19, 2026
**Pundit:** Field Yates — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/field-yates
**Outlet:** NFL Live (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/nfl-live-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP8980731452.mp3?updated=1771539222

5 checkable claims — 4 mock draft picks and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 5 have settled, averaging 83.7 out of 100, against 43.6 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> There is one pick that we can write in stone right now... That is, of course, Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders at number one overall.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Sonny Styles to be picked at number 12**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Sonny Styles, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **David Bailey to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: David Bailey, Tennessee Titans
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Sonny Styles to be 1st linebacker off the board**
  - Kind: Position Order Calls · About: Sonny Styles, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 17.77 for a naive guess
- **Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Arvell Reese to be picked at number 2**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Arvell Reese, New York Jets
  - Verdict: scored 87.81 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Sonny Styles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sonny-styles
- Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys
- David Bailey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/david-bailey
- Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/titans
- Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Arvell Reese — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/arvell-reese
- New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets

## What others said about the same people

- Randy Gurzi on Reddy Steward: Gurzi 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (scored 0)
- Patricia Traina on Arvell Reese: Traina projects the Giants' initial 53-man roster position by position, naming who makes the team and who lands on the practice squad, including keeping Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Evan Neal (with a possible trade), Dalen Cambre over Braxton Berrios, Lucas Patrick as backup center, and Dominic Zvada as the kicker. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8bb1a183-b45b-44db-8a61-23bdd2238a6b (scored 100)
- David Harrison on Sonny Styles: Harrison gives his initial 53-man roster projection for the Washington Commanders: three quarterbacks including Ethan Kalyak Manus, three running backs, four tight ends, six receivers (leaving off De'Ami Brown and Jaden Bradley), nine offensive linemen with Matt Goldman at center, and a defense of six linebackers but only four cornerbacks. He also projects Tunstall and Newton going to IR on Monday with De'Ami Brown and Dietrich Wise re-signed, plus a corner-heavy practice squad. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1d5b2565-5531-47ac-bff8-ccb9b23a980a (scored 100)
- Jeff Cavanaugh on Curtis Robinson: Building his projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d20c4eda-eab4-4a8c-ba13-0e120fdd7d91 (scored 0)
- David Harrison on Sonny Styles: Harrison projects the Washington Commanders' initial 53-man roster if it had to be set today, naming 26 offensive players, three specialists and 24 defenders, and also assigns depth-chart slots at quarterback, running back, the offensive line, the interior defensive line, and the return/specialist jobs. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2e2254ee-daf7-4f82-81d4-2bc73e1b7291 (scored 100)
- Charean Williams on Israel Abanikanda: Williams expects the Cowboys to elevate practice squad running back Israel Abanikanda to the active roster for Sunday's season opener after Malik Davis's hip injury. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1b1ecc54-8c96-4764-b595-85a9f5f0cd76 (scored 0)

## More mock draft picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Lance Zierlein on Jeremiyah Love: Zierlein laid out his final mock draft: Jeremiah Love at No. 3 to Arizona, Sonny Styles at No. 4 to Robert Saleh's team, and Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5. He also called Styles the only first-round linebacker in the class and said Ty Simpson is a lock to be a first-round pick, most likely to Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf600df8-87eb-492b-9d91-f7a2b39104ac (scored 100)
- Nick Shook on Max Iheanachor: Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7d4209aa-2e2d-47a2-b6e5-791d16d209cb (scored 87.81)
- Gregg Rosenthal on K.C. Concepcion: Rosenthal disagrees most with Casey Concepcion being left out of the first round, arguing he could go as high as the top 15 and certainly won't last past receiver-needy teams in the late twenties. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8fae9a3a-7fd8-454c-99cc-0a8400c35d7d (scored 67.71)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Keyron Crawford: In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f60c916c-1b5f-4252-8733-1770c7809577 (scored 80.52)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Carnell Tate: Jeremiah says Denver, not Kansas City, will be the clear favorite in the AFC West this season; he also puts Carnell Tate sixth and Monroe Freeling twentieth on his prospect board, mocks Tate to Cleveland at No. 6, and expects Georgia receiver Branch to be a Day 2 pick after a strong pro day. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/48a1d189-dc0f-4250-aa3b-0e27119c733a (scored 91.7)
- Bucky Brooks on Carnell Tate: In a mock draft covering the first 14 picks, Brooks made the odd-numbered selections: Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1, a Miami offensive lineman to Arizona at No. 3, Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5, Ohio State's Arvell Reese to Washington at No. 7, Carnell Tate to Kansas City at No. 9, tight end Kenyon Sadiq to Miami at No. 11, and Spencer Fano to the Rams at No. 13. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/677f566f-9e38-4dd7-b312-0baad54b440e (scored 80.52)

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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

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