Tom Pelissero· Feb 26, 2026
Pelissero predicts Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall to the Raiders and that Ty Simpson is the only other QB in the class seen as a possible early starter.
“You have a draft where Fernando Mendoza, we all assume and believe he's going number one to the Raiders.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 mock draft pick and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 2 have settled, averaging 100 out of 100, against 44.9 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2025 season · overall pick3 calls from 3 pundits between 1 overall pick and 1 overall pick. Tom Pelissero said 1 overall pick. the room's median is 1 overall pick. what 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 pickTheir call against what actually happened.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
2 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.
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“You have a draft where Fernando Mendoza, we all assume and believe he's going number one to the Raiders.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 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:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Position Order CallsTy SimpsonFeb 26, 2026
Ty Simpson to be 2nd quarterback off the board
“After that, the only other quarterback that somebody might think can be a starter sooner than later is probably Tye Simpson from Alabama.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 39.7+60.3 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- naming one of the 10 at random averages 39.7
- skill:
- 60.3
- player:
- Ty Simpson
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- credit halves every two places
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 39.7
- position:
- quarterback
- class size:
- 10
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual order:
- 2
- predicted order:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 0
What others said about the same people
- Chris BroussardGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Broussard picked the Bills to beat the Chargers in a competitive, higher-scoring game, said the Chiefs will rout the Dolphins, and for upset alert parlayed the Patriots over the Jaguars and the Raiders over the Saints. He also restated his Cowboys-versus-Ravens Super Bowl matchup pick.
- Hondo CarpenterRoster Spot Calls · Patrick JohnsonHit · 100Carpenter says the right guard competition currently favors Jackson Powers-Johnson over Caleb Rogers, though he expects Rogers to get starts at some point this season, and he projects veteran DE Patrick Johnson to make the 53-man roster.
- Hondo CarpenterRoster Spot Calls · Aidan O'ConnellHit · 100Carpenter predicts special-teams linebacker Segun Olubi will make the Raiders' 53-man roster, with Las Vegas carrying five inside linebackers. He also notes projections that the Raiders keep all three quarterbacks, including Aidan O'Connell.
- Hondo CarpenterRoster Spot Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Carpenter projects the Raiders' 53-man roster will include 10 defensive backs (four safeties and six cornerbacks) and three quarterbacks, with Kirk Cousins kept barring a compelling trade offer.
- Hondo CarpenterRoster Spot Calls · Malcolm KoonceHit · 100Covering the Raiders' preseason win over Houston, Carpenter predicted kicker Matt Gay has locked up the lone kicker spot on the 53-man roster, and that UDFA rookie Cian Slone will make the roster as well, while Malcolm Koonce will also make it despite an underwhelming camp.
- Blaine GrisakRoster Spot Calls · Ty SimpsonHit · 100After the Rams' first preseason game, Grisak predicted the full 53-man roster, naming three quarterbacks, four running backs, five receivers, five tight ends, nine offensive linemen, four linebackers, six defensive linemen, four edge rushers, five cornerbacks, five safeties and three special teamers, with Dean Connors headed for the practice squad instead.
More position order calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Nick ShookPosition Order Calls · Olaivavega IoaneMiss · 35Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Rhett LewisPosition Order Calls · Tyler ShoughHit · 100Lewis names Louisville's Tyler Shough as the new QB3 of the class — the third quarterback off the board — and views Milroe as a second-round selection.
- Nick WrightPosition Order Calls · Carnell TateHit · 100Nick Wright laid out his full mock draft 3.0 for the 2026 NFL Draft, pick by pick through the first round, and also predicted AJ Brown would finish top five in the NFL in receiving yards with the Patriots.
- Todd McShayPosition Order Calls · K.C. ConcepcionHit · 100McShay's mock draft 4.0 has Fernando Mendoza and David Bailey going 1-2 to the Raiders and Jets, the Saints trading up to No. 3 for Arvell Reese, the Titans taking Jeremiah Love at 4, the Giants taking Francis Mauigoa at 5 (though he'd now switch to Sonny Styles), the Cowboys trading up to 6, the Jets trading up to 7 for Carnell Tate, and Arizona trading up to 30 for Ty Simpson. He also predicts seven offensive tackles go in the first round and that Love, Styles, Downs and Reese all go in the top seven.
- Keith SanchezPosition Order Calls · Jordyn TysonClose · 71As relayed by Harrison, Sanchez's latest mock draft has Carnell Tate going to Washington, Jordan Tyson as the first receiver off the board at No. 5 to the Giants, Makai Lemmon at 11 and Chris Brasel at 30 to Miami, Sonny Styles at No. 8 to New Orleans, and Caleb Downs at No. 13 to the Rams.
- Field YatesPosition Order Calls · Jordyn TysonHit · 100As relayed by Rich Eisen, Yates' two-round mock draft has Fernando Mendoza first overall, followed by three edge/defenders, Caleb Downs fifth, and a series of other named picks including Eli Stowers to Tampa Bay at 46.