Damian Parson· Aug 12, 2026
Ranks the 2027 class' quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, putting Darian Mensah as QB1, Jadan Baugh as RB1 and Jeremiah Smith atop the receivers, and projects Ryan Coleman-Williams as a first-round pick if he fixes his drops.
“If the 21-year-old prospect continues to play efficiently and shows he can put the offense on his shoulders, he will solidify himself as the class' QB1, much like Cam Ward previously did.”
published in writing · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 3 top player lists, 2 position order calls and 1 mock draft pick — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
- Top Player ListsAug 12, 2026
“1. Darian Mensah, Miami (8.5) 2. Arch Manning, Texas (8.4) 3. Dante Moore, Oregon (8.4) 4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (7.8)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsAug 12, 2026
“1. Jadan Baugh, Florida (8.1) 2. Ahmad Hardy, Missouri (8.0) 3. Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss (7.9)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Order CallsJadan BaughAug 12, 2026
Jadan Baugh to be 1st running back off the board
“Baugh has the buildup speed, power, vision, patience and mental aptitude to secure RB1 during the 2026 campaign.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Order CallsDarian MensahMiami DolphinsAug 12, 2026
Darian Mensah to be 1st quarterback off the board
“he will solidify himself as the class' QB1, much like Cam Ward previously did”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsAug 12, 2026
“1. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (9.8) 2. Cam Coleman, Texas (8.4) 3. Nick Marsh, Indiana (7.9) 4. Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama (7.9)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksRyan Coleman-WilliamsAug 12, 2026
Ryan Coleman-Williams to be picked “much sooner than later during the 2027 draft's first round” (picks 1–32)
“If he does, the receiver's name will be called much sooner than later during the 2027 draft's first round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
- Alain PoupartScore Predictions · Miami DolphinsMiss · 24Poupart predicts the Dolphins upset the Raiders in Week 1 in Las Vegas, 27-24, and also expects Miami to win few games overall in 2026.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Millman backed several week one sides outright: Miami to beat the Raiders straight up, the Jets over the Titans, an underdog money line parlay of Houston and the Giants, and a favorites money line parlay of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit. He also stands by his preseason take that Drake Maye is a top-five NFL quarterback.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Miami DolphinsMiss · 24Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
More top player lists
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jason CabindaTop Player ListsHit · 100Cabinda named the Ravens as the AFC team that has closed the gap on the Chiefs, gave a top-five list of players who play with a fullback mentality, predicted Penei Sewell will be a perennial Pro Bowler, and picked Michael Penix Jr. to break out in Atlanta.
- Rich EisenTop Player ListsMiss · 0Eisen ranked his top five most impressive Pro Bowl campaigns of the season, topped by Sam Darnold, and predicted that Sunday would be Aaron Rodgers' last game with the Jets.
- Rich EisenTop Player ListsHit · 80Asked to rank the 2024 quarterback draft class two years in, Rich Eisen put Caleb Williams first, Drake Maye second, Jayden Daniels third, Bo Nix fourth and JJ McCarthy/Michael Penix fifth. He also expects JJ McCarthy to start Week 1 next season and guesses Atlanta finds a way to keep Kirk Cousins.
- Nick WrightTop Player ListsMiss · 0Nick trusts Josh Allen over the Broncos defense, picks the Bills to win outright in Denver (Bills +1.5 as his lock), picks the Patriots to beat the Texans by more than three, likes the 49ers to keep it close but not win, and predicts the Rams blow out the Bears roughly 42-28 with Stafford throwing about five TDs.
- Rich EisenTop Player ListsClose · 65Eisen argues the Bengals' season isn't over without Joe Burrow, projecting Jake Browning to go a game over .500 the rest of the way for a 10-7 finish that could earn a wild card, and he thinks Cincinnati can beat Minnesota to go 3-0. He also gave a top-five MVP list through two weeks (Josh Allen first) and said Jonathan Taylor is on pace to win the rushing title.
- Mike MayockTop Player ListsHit · 95Mayock says Philadelphia and Baltimore are the two most talented teams in the league, predicts Ravens DT Travis Jones has a breakout year and that Baltimore scores 30-plus points a game, believes Washington is not a one-year aberration with Jayden Daniels becoming a franchise quarterback, and ranks quarterbacks into tiers. He also thinks Aaron Rodgers will land in his 'solid' third tier and help Pittsburgh have a solid year.