Jeff Cavanaugh· Feb 25, 2026

Broadcasting from the NFL Scouting Combine, Jeff calls Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles a guaranteed top-12 pick with a good chance of going top seven, expects him to run around a 4.5 forty, pegs Arvell Reese as the favorite to go No. 2 overall behind Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, and says Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods will be a first-round pick.

“I think Arbel Reese is probably the favorite to be the number two overall pick behind Fernando Mendoza.”

said on air, transcribed by us · DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) · read the original →

6 checkable claims — 5 mock draft picks and 1 combine measurement — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

5 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 97.6 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.

Where this call stands in the room

Fernando Mendoza · 2025 season · overall pick

Jeff Cavanaugh — 1 overall pickthe room — 17 calls from 13 punditsmedian 1 overall pickwhat happened — 1 overall pick

Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question, before the answer existed. The bar is what actually happened. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.

Their call against what happened

overall pick

guaranteed top 12 pick (picks 1–12)They said

7What happened

Their call against what actually happened.

Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →

Who this take is about

6 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.

Mock Draft Picks Sonny StylesFeb 25, 2026
Sonny Styles to be picked “guaranteed top 12 pick” (picks 1–12)
“the Ohio State linebacker, probable to I'll say guaranteed top 12 pick”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Sonny Styles
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
7
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
guaranteed top 12 pick (picks 1–12)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Sonny StylesFeb 25, 2026
Sonny Styles to be picked “a top seven or so pick” (picks 1–7)
“Starting to seem like he is a pretty good chance he's a top seven or so pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Sonny Styles
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
7
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
a top seven or so pick (picks 1–7)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Peter WoodsFeb 25, 2026
Peter Woods to be picked “first round pick” (picks 1–32)
“you had Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at one podium. He'll be a first round pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Peter Woods
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
29
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
first round pick (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Fernando MendozaFeb 25, 2026
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“the favorite to be the number two overall pick behind Fernando Mendoza”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Fernando Mendoza
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
1
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
1
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Think this is wrong?
Mock Draft Picks Arvell ReeseFeb 25, 2026
Arvell Reese to be picked at number 2
“And I think Arbel Reese is probably the favorite to be the number two overall pick behind Fernando Mendoza.”
Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Arvell Reese
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
87.81
baseline:
50
actual pick:
5
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
87.81
predicted pick:
2
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Think this is wrong?
Combine Measurements Sonny StylesFeb 25, 2026
“He's a cyborg, six foot four, two hundred and forty pounds. He's gonna go run a four five or whatever.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

What others said about the same people

Shannon SharpeProspect vs Prospect Calls · Fernando MendozaHit · 100
Sharpe expects Myles Garrett, now with the Rams, to remain dominant and post at least 14-15 sacks, and he also thinks Micah Parsons will again reach double-digit sacks. He predicts the Dolphins win only two games this season, and says Jeremiah Smith won't go ahead of Mendoza at the top of the draft.
Philip HughesRoster Spot Calls · Sonny StylesHit · 100
Hughes projects Washington's initial 53-man roster ahead of the final preseason game, naming every player he expects to make the team by position group, and slots Athan Kaliakmanis as the No. 3 quarterback behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.
nthony Darelle "Booger" McFarlandCombine Measurements · Arvell ReeseHit · 100
McFarland projected Ohio State's Arbel Reese to measure in at roughly 6-4 and 240-245 pounds at the combine, and argued Cincinnati and Trey Hendrickson will go their separate ways this offseason.
Colin CowherdMock Draft Picks · Fernando MendozaHit · 100
Cowherd is high on Fernando Mendoza, calling him a first-round prospect who fits none of the bust profiles, and expects Kirk Cousins to open the season as the starter. Among his five bold predictions he has Justin Herbert winning multiple playoff games and Caleb Williams winning MVP.
Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Fernando MendozaHit · 100
An unsigned seven-round Raiders mock draft projecting Fernando Mendoza first overall to Las Vegas and nine additional picks, including Denzel Boston in Round 2 and A.J. Haulcy in Round 3.
Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Arvell ReeseHit · 88
An unbylined seven-round Jets mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, assigning specific prospects to each of New York's nine picks, and calling Brandon Cisse a likely top-50 selection.

More mock draft picks

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