John Middlekauff· Sep 19, 2026
Middlekauff would rank the Ravens as the No. 1 team in the NFL after their win over the Colts, and says Chargers first-round running back Omarion Hampton looks like nothing special for a back taken that high.
“If you told me I had to do an AP top 25 for the NFL, I don't see how you wouldn't put the Ravens one.”
said on air or in an interview · The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast) · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 draft bust call and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
2 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.
- Power RankingsSep 19, 2026
“If you told me I had to do an AP top 25 for the NFL, I don't see how you wouldn't put the Ravens one.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omarion Hampton to disappoint at the next level
“I don't love O'Marion Hampton. I don't think there's that much there... I see nothing special for a first-round back.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Scott BogmanMock Draft Picks · Olaivavega IoaneClose · 71He gave David Bailey to Tennessee at 4, Sonny Styles to Washington at 7, Caleb Downs to Cincinnati at 10, Carnell Tate to the Rams at 13, Denzel Boston to the Jets at 16, Kayden McDonald to Carolina at 19, Vega Ioane to the Chargers at 22, Peter Woods to Chicago at 25, Emmanuel Pregnon to Houston at 28 and Romello Height to Denver at 31, and insisted both Bailey and Downs are top-10 locks.
- Nick ShookTrade and Signing Calls · Breece HallMiss · 0Shook names Breece Hall, Jakobi Meyers and David Njoku as trade candidates, suggesting Hall could land with the Chargers and that the Raiders will move Meyers as sellers.
- Colin CowherdMock Draft Picks · Omarion HamptonClose · 65Cowherd delivered his own top-15 draft board — what he would do as GM of each team — pairing prospects with picks 1 through 15, and separately argued Shedeur Sanders is a far better prospect than Daniel Jones and that Aaron Rodgers should retire.
- Nick WrightSeason Win Totals · Los Angeles ChargersHit · 80Nick Wright gave his early AFC win-total leans: overs on the Jets, Ravens, Jaguars, Chiefs and Raiders, plus projected win ranges for the Dolphins, Texans, Chargers and Broncos, and predicted the Raiders take Ashton Jeanty at No. 6.
- Justin PenikTrade and Signing Calls · Darius SlaytonMiss · 0Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
- Bobby SkinnerTrade and Signing Calls · Darius SlaytonMiss · 0Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates he had listed.
More draft bust calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Albert BreerDraft Bust Calls · Ty SimpsonPendingBreer says the Raiders will hold Fernando Mendoza out until the supporting cast is ready, while Kirk Cousins starts; he also suggests Mendoza may end up as the backup ahead of Aidan O'Connell. He predicts Justin Herbert could make a real MVP run with the Chargers, is skeptical Ty Simpson is a hit at the 13th pick, and expects Aaron Donald, if he returns, to play roughly 30-40 snaps a game in a rotation.
- Kyle SoppeDraft Bust Calls · Xavier WorthyPendingSoppe names four players he considers overvalued for 2026 fantasy football after hot 2025 seasons — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Patrick Mahomes, Rhamondre Stevenson and Harold Fannin Jr. — and argues Smith-Njigba is far more likely to repeat his modest 2024 line than his 2025 explosion, while Xavier Worthy won't justify his first-round draft capital and TreVeyon Henderson takes over New England's lead backfield role.
- Eric CrockerDraft Bust Calls · De'Zhaun StriblingPendingIn a mock war-room debate, Crocker argued the 49ers wasted the 33rd overall pick on Dejean Stribling, comparing him to the Trey Lance gamble on traits and work ethic, and citing inconsistent route-running and trouble playing through contact.
- Chris BrockmanDraft Bust Calls · Ty SimpsonPendingBrockman argued the Rams wasted the No. 13 pick on quarterback Ty Simpson and will regret passing on Reuben Bain or Mekhi Lemmon; he also predicted the Eagles trade A.J. Brown after June 1, that Drew Allar will start the most games at QB for the Steelers, that the Browns finish no worse than second in the AFC North, that the Saints avoid picking in the top half of the 2027 draft, that Jeremiah Love leads the NFL in rushing as a rookie, and that the Giants will have the league's most ferocious pass rush in 2026.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonDraft Bust Calls · Ty SimpsonPendingJohnson argued the Rams' first-round quarterback Ty Simpson will not become Matt Stafford's successor, though he later conceded Simpson could be plugged in given the supporting cast.
- Jim DanielsDraft Bust Calls · Ty SimpsonPendingDaniels called the Rams' quarterback pick at No. 13 a terrible pick, arguing the player could have been had at the end of the second or in the third round.