# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd delivered a mock draft of the first 15 picks based on what he says he's hearing from league sources, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and running through Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to Tampa Bay at No. 15.

**Claimed:** Apr 9, 2026
**Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/colin-cowherd
**Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/the-herd-hour-1-there-is-a-tanking-epidemic-in-the-nba-new-nfl-mock-draft

15 checkable claims — 15 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 30 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 15 have settled, averaging 78.2 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> I'm going to give you the top fifteen draft picks where I think I have a chance to be at least reasonably accurate.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Sonny Styles to be picked at number 5**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Sonny Styles, New York Giants
  - Verdict: scored 91.7 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **David Bailey to be picked at number 3**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: David Bailey, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 11**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Mansoor Delane, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Carnell Tate to be picked at number 6**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Carnell Tate, Cleveland Browns
  - Verdict: scored 91.7 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Caleb Downs to be picked at number 10**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Caleb Downs, Cincinnati Bengals
  - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Francis Mauigoa to be picked at number 7**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Francis Mauigoa, Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: scored 87.81 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
- **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
- **Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be picked at number 15**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: scored 15.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Spencer Fano to be picked at number 9**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Spencer Fano, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Rueben Bain to be picked at number 8**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Rueben Bain, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Monroe Freeling to be picked at number 14**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Monroe Freeling, Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: scored 80.52 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Jeremiyah Love to be picked at number 4**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jeremiyah Love, Tennessee Titans
  - Verdict: scored 95.76 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Makai Lemon to be picked at number 13**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Makai Lemon, Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Jermod McCoy to be picked at number 12**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jermod McCoy, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: scored 2.12 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Sonny Styles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sonny-styles
- New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants
- David Bailey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/david-bailey
- Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals
- Mansoor Delane — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/mansoor-delane
- Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins
- Carnell Tate — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carnell-tate
- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns
- Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs
- Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals
- Francis Mauigoa — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/francis-mauigoa
- Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders
- Arvell Reese — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/arvell-reese
- New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets
- Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/emmanuel-mcneil-warren
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers
- Spencer Fano — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/spencer-fano
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs
- Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain
- New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints
- Monroe Freeling — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/monroe-freeling
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love
- Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/titans
- Makai Lemon — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/makai-lemon
- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams
- Jermod McCoy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jermod-mccoy
- Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys

## What others said about the same people

- Randy Gurzi on Justin Barron: 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)
- Bucky Brooks on Josh Johnson: Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 0)
- Jason La Canfora on Gerad Lichtenhan: La Canfora predicts the Ravens will keep several young players on their practice squad — DL Kaimon Rucker, LB Dominic DeLuca, LB Ethan Burke, CB Amani Oruwariye, OT Gerad Lichtenhan and QB Joe Fagnano — and expects the team to make at least one trade from its surplus of cornerbacks. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6d42cee5-8b2d-4c78-a41b-ed2daab90019 (scored 0)
- Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 0)
- Tyler Sullivan on Deshaun Watson: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/054d7c3e-baca-4414-b3dd-72c4eced2725 (scored 100)
- Ryan Wilson on Deshaun Watson: A 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ff870e69-9992-4166-aa81-9b49d6f77f55 (scored 100)

## More mock draft picks

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

- 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)
- Jeff Cavanaugh on Lorenzo Styles: Streaming from the NFL Combine, Jeff pegged safety Dylan Thienemann's draft range at roughly picks 20-35, said LSU safety AJ Halsey would cost a second- or third-round pick, and insisted Sonny Styles' brother would not be a top-50 selection despite a fast 40. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f1f48cc1-f9d5-44ca-b130-2c6447b49bc6 (scored 0.51)
- Scott Bogman on Olaivavega Ioane: He 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0b0cd1a9-31f7-40d9-9b9e-f52957c10494 (scored 70.71)
- Steve Mensch on Caleb Lomu: Making the even-numbered picks in the mock, he sent Arvell Reese to the Jets at No. 2, Spencer Fano to the Giants at 5, Jordan Tyson to the Saints at 8, a Tennessee cornerback to Miami at 11, Keldric Faulk to Baltimore at 14, Akheem Mesidor to Dallas at 20, Kenyon Sadiq to Philadelphia at 23, Caleb Banks to Buffalo at 26, Ty Simpson to the Rams at 29 and Chris Johnson to Seattle at 32, plus Caleb Lomu to Detroit at 17. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f65851f3-1c53-4ae9-80ef-875db5ce2a3f (scored 62.09)
- Tom Pelissero on Ashton Jeanty: Pelissero says Cam Ward is the Titans' pick at the top of the 2025 draft and that Travis Hunter is most likely the Browns' selection at No. 2; he also endorses Tyler Warren as a top-10 pick, expects Ashton Jeanty inside the top 10, and names five under-the-radar players who could sneak into round one, including Emeka Egbuka between picks 20-25 and Tyler Shough (whom he pegs more likely as a Day 2 pick). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b7089cf4-c63d-4d43-84a4-072b1d2ee328 (scored 100)

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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

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
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