Rich Eisen · Feb 13, 2026
Asked to rank the 2024 quarterback draft class two years in, Rich Eisen put Caleb Williams first, Drake Maye second, Jayden Daniels third, Bo Nix fourth and JJ McCarthy/Michael Penix fifth. He also expects JJ McCarthy to start Week 1 next season and guesses Atlanta finds a way to keep Kirk Cousins.
“I'll go Knicks four, Jaden Daniels three because I don't know what he's gonna look like coming back... I'll go May 2, and I'll go Caleb one.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
3 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.
- Top Player ListsFeb 13, 2026
“Well, obviously, five is JJ slash Penix... I'll go Knicks four, Jaden Daniels three because I don't know what he's gonna look like coming back... I'll go May 2, and I'll go Caleb one.”
Hit · 80Scored 80a naive guess scored 50+30 skillHow this was scored
- naive:
- a coin-flip ordering scores 50
- skill:
- 30
- placed:
- 5
- season:
- 2025
- players:
- 5
- accuracy:
- 80
- baseline:
- 50
- by position:
- QB 5: 80
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- could not place:
- 0
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota VikingsFeb 13, 2026
J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart
“And then there's JJ McCarthy, who I think is gonna start week one of next year.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+8.33 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- MIN
- skill:
- 8.33
- player:
- J.J. McCarthy
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- measured by:
- passing yards
- naive basis:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Kirk Cousins to move to Atlanta Falcons
“If I had to guess, Atlanta's gonna keep him. They'll figure out how to keep him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.