# John Middlekauff: The former NFL scout expects a wave of veteran movement: Kansas City parting with Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie as trade candidates, Kyler Murray being cut by Arizona, and Chicago moving DJ Moore. He also calls Fernando Mendoza a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders. **Claimed:** Feb 26, 2026 **Pundit:** John Middlekauff — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/john-middlekauff **Outlet:** The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/the-colin-cowherd-podcast-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/the-colin-cowherd-podcast/colin-cowherd-podcast-nfl-draft-combine-mendoza-a-lock-to-raiders-at-1-eagles-drama-chiefs-rebuild 6 checkable claims — 5 trade and signing calls and 1 mock draft pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. > Well, I think it's a one hundred percent lock. Mendoza is the pick. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **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 - **Trent McDuffie to move to Kansas City Chiefs** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **DJ Moore to move to Chicago Bears** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: DJ Moore, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Jones to move to Kansas City Chiefs** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Travis Kelce to move to Kansas City Chiefs** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyler Murray to move to Arizona Cardinals** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Trent McDuffie — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/trent-mcduffie - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - DJ Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dj-moore - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears - Chris Jones — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/chris-jones - Travis Kelce — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/travis-kelce - Kyler Murray — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kyler-murray - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals ## What others said about the same people - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Mike Moraitis on Josh Blackwell: Moraitis names seven Bears as trade candidates before roster cuts, predicting Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills are on the roster bubble and likely to be traded, while Ozzy Trapilo avoids an injured list, and listing several players as locks for the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/07eb40f6-9e40-4a79-b1d4-e2f7e73e104a (scored 100) - Donnie Druin on Jalen Brooks: Druin suggests Jalen Brooks has broken out in Cardinals camp and could land a roster spot as Arizona's sixth wide receiver, though he won't displace any of the top wideouts. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a199c40d-87c8-4034-a6a8-e042c68652f3 (scored 100) - Tom Jensen on Cole Kmet: NFL.com published a list of players it expects to be released by cutdown day, headlined by tight ends Dawson Knox, T.J. Hockenson and Cole Kmet. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7ab5ced6-8d1e-4d59-a06b-9dc7d8125a83 (scored 0) ## More trade and signing calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Bryan DeArdo on Darius Slayton: A CBS Sports piece on the Giants releasing Darius Slayton predicts he will be signed by another NFL team fairly quickly, and lists possible landing spots without committing to one. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/3f1834cd-6520-4f07-9efc-4060a6b5cb1c (scored 100) - Noah Strackbein on Darius Slayton: Strackbein says Pittsburgh views Roman Wilson as its No. 3 receiver behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., but argues the Steelers should add released Giants veteran Darius Slayton as insurance, expecting Slayton to sign cheaply on a veteran-minimum deal, and refers to 2026 as Aaron Rodgers' final season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c6348972-c1bf-48f1-ba03-d5c2ef44561a (scored 100) - Patricia Traina on Darius Slayton: Traina writes that the Giants may make more trades before the roster cutdown and names the players she sees as the most likely candidates to be dealt: kicker Ben Sauls, one of receivers Darius Slayton or Darnell Mooney, offensive lineman Jake Kubas, and linebacker Darius Muasau. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/970d968f-3133-436c-a8a6-114412a9f178 (scored 100) - Devon Platana on Johnny Hekker: With punter Brett Thorson dealing with a hamstring injury, Platana suggests the Vikings have a decent chance of bringing back veteran free-agent punter Johnny Hekker as a familiar fill-in. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/eafcb668-aa60-42b1-8d77-ebdd33d0c2af (scored 100) - Greg Auman on Will Levis: Auman predicts that Will Levis, released by Tennessee, will almost certainly be claimed on waivers by another team. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/55b7732a-4131-430b-adbf-a33c60c47dc0 (scored 100) - John Maakaron on Joe Bachie: Maakaron suggests several Lions players could be cut and land on other rosters: linebacker Joe Bachie, defensive linemen Ben Stille and Chris Smith, and running back Sione Vaki. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6cc7cac4-1a70-4e0a-a762-8c280319c3af (scored 100) --- 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 We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=john-middlekauff