Colin Cowherd· Mar 12, 2026
Cowherd praised the offseason's biggest moves and made several concrete calls: Bradley Chubb producing about nine to ten sacks a year in Buffalo, Tyler Linderbaum being the second-best center in football, Malik Willis proving to be at least the 17th-best quarterback in the NFL, Fernando Mendoza eventually starting for the Raiders, and his current list of AFC playoff teams (Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Bills, Chargers and probably the Ravens).
“I think it's very realistic that at some point next year you will feel like Malik Willis is at least the seventeenth best quarterback in the NFL.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
10 checkable claims — 6 playoff picks, 2 positional finishes, 1 depth chart call and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 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 above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season14 calls from 12 pundits between 1 and 2. Colin Cowherd said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
10 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.
Tyler Linderbaum to finish top 2 at his position, by an unstated measure
“I think Linderbaum is second best center in the sport.”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsMar 12, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“Even if you asked me to pick the seven playoff teams in the AFC right right now, Broncos, Patriots, Jags, Bill's Chargers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsMar 12, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“Even if you asked me to pick the seven playoff teams in the AFC right right now, Broncos, Patriots, Jags, Bill's Chargers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“So in this Raiders chief scenario, who are you penciling at quarterback for the Raiders, Cousins or... Mendoza, Mendoza eventually not sure day one, Mendoza eventually”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesMalik WillisMar 12, 2026
Malik Willis to finish top 17 at his position, by passing yards
“Twenty two million makes him the seventeenth highest paid quarterback in the NFL. I think it's very realistic that at some point next year you will feel like Malik Willis is at least the seventeenth best quarterback in the NFL.”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersMar 12, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“Even if you asked me to pick the seven playoff teams in the AFC right right now, Broncos, Patriots, Jags, Bill's Chargers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosMar 12, 2026
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“Even if you asked me to pick the seven playoff teams in the AFC right right now, Broncos, Patriots, Jags, Bill's Chargers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensMar 12, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“I don't have the Chiefs in No, definitely, not in that probably Ravens. Probably Ravens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksJacksonville JaguarsMar 12, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
“Even if you asked me to pick the seven playoff teams in the AFC right right now, Broncos, Patriots, Jags, Bill's Chargers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersBradley ChubbBuffalo BillsMar 12, 2026
Bradley Chubb to record 9 sacks
“Bradley Chubb got picked up by the Bills. I thought that was a decent He's gonna get you about nine to ten sacks a year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Ameer AbdullahHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Elijah SarrattHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Ar'maj Reed-AdamsMiss · 0Gurzi predicts the Buffalo Bills' final 53-man roster ahead of Week 1 against Houston, naming every player who makes it, who gets cut, and a few depth-chart outcomes (Damar Hamlin as backup safety, Alec Anderson as a new starter on the offensive line, Shane Buechele back on the practice squad).
- Spenny PowersRoster Spot Calls · Ethan BurkeHit · 100Powers says undrafted edge Ethan Burke's traits should earn him a spot on the Ravens' roster.
- Ethan HurwitzRoster Spot Calls · Christian GonzalezHit · 100Hurwitz says several Patriots starting jobs and roster spots are already settled — Drake Maye at QB with Jared Wilson at center, A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry as pass-catchers, and Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard locked into roster spots. Among camp standouts, he pegs undrafted rookie Cameron Dorner as roughly the eighth receiver on a roster likely keeping seven, and says Channing Canada is a strong practice squad candidate if he doesn't make the 53.
- Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · J.K. DobbinsHit · 100Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonPlayoff Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — he expects them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
- Craig StoutPlayoff Picks · Kansas City ChiefsMiss · 0Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and he expects Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey.
- Ross JacksonPlayoff Picks · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 0Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Minnesota VikingsMiss · 0Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.