# Lance Zierlein: Reviewing the 2026 draft classes, Lance tabbed Tampa Bay's Reuben Bain as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, projected modest rookie receiving production for third-rounder Ted Hurst, and pegged several Day 3 picks for depth-chart roles — Chandler Rivers as a future starting nickel in Baltimore, Parker Brailsford as a future starting center, and Mike Washington as the Raiders' second running back behind Ashton Jeanty.

**Claimed:** May 4, 2026
**Pundit:** Lance Zierlein — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/lance-zierlein
**Outlet:** Move the Sticks (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/move-the-sticks-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-move-the-sticks-with-daniel-jeremiah-bucky-bro/teams-with-the-best-2026-nfl-draft-hauls-chiefs-giants-jets-ravens-and-more

5 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 1 award pick and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

> And as soon as I saw that, I'm like, whoo, defensive rookie of the year.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Parker Brailsford to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Parker Brailsford, Cleveland Browns
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Mike Washington, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Chandler Rivers to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Chandler Rivers, Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Ted Hurst to record 500 receiving yards**
  - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Ted Hurst, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Parker Brailsford — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/parker-brailsford
- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns
- Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers
- Mike Washington — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/mike-washington
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Chandler Rivers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/chandler-rivers
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Ted Hurst — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ted-hurst

## What others said about the same people

- 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)
- 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)
- Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano argues the Browns do not have a franchise quarterback and that it's unlikely Watson or Sanders is their long-term answer. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/80cb396b-8dbf-4e39-bd65-6d25df403db1 (scored 100)
- Joel Corry on Baker Mayfield: The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a840ff4-f1e5-48ca-bec6-ba41e9ef2396 (scored 0)
- John Breech on Deshaun Watson: The unsigned newsletter author says Deshaun Watson will start Week 1 at Jacksonville, notes he voted for Jaxson Dart as his breakout QB rather than Caleb Williams, and says newly signed Daniel Carlson is the favorite to win the Saints' kicking job. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1e520b2b-bf4e-4a82-9743-7cb7bc3ee125 (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Rich Hribar on Malik Willis: Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0ff48079-418b-4d5a-9eb2-6e66b0e6f6e1 (scored 100)
- Randy Gurzi on Jadarian Price: Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/350eed1b-4675-4a2d-aaf5-812e20678283 (scored 100)
- Tyler Sullivan on Malik Willis: 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)
- Greg Auman on Malik Willis: Auman states Malik Willis will be Miami's Week 1 starting quarterback and the player the Dolphins build their season around, despite having only six career starts. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4954ba44-5b36-43a2-9dcf-26538ad31e26 (scored 100)
- Diante Lee on Malik Willis: A Ringer training camp preview posing one question per team; it commits to a few concrete outcomes — Aaron Donald coming out of retirement with the Rams, Kyler Murray winning Minnesota's starting quarterback job, and Malik Willis opening as Miami's Week 1 starter. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d9fd78de-f61e-44e8-8f31-2ddefa840186 (scored 100)
- Jeff Kerr on Jalyx Hunt: From an Eagles training camp practice, Kerr projects Willie Lampkin as a possible 53-man roster player, Jalyx Hunt as the likely Week 1 starting edge rusher over Nolan Smith, Byron Young as the No. 4 defensive tackle, Jake Elliott as the uncontested kicker, and Darius Cooper pressuring Hollywood Brown for the WR4 role. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f314062a-7912-4727-8ff1-9edc813f10e1 (scored 0)

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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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