LaQuan Jones · Apr 1, 2026
Jones says drafting George Kittle as a top-five tight end coming off an Achilles tear would be a mistake, preferring healthier options like Oronde Gadsden and Sam LaPorta who are going later, and he ranks Chris Olave as a top-six fantasy receiver. He is also out on Patrick Mahomes and thinks Najee Harris would be fantasy-irrelevant in Seattle. On the draft he expects Carnell Tate to be the first receiver taken and Sadiq to slide toward pick 30.
“George Kittle going off the board as a top five. That's a huge mistake.”
said on air or in an interview · The Rich Eisen Podcast (podcast) · read the original →
10 checkable claims from this
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 PicksOmar CooperApr 1, 2026
Omar Cooper to be picked “first round draft pick, like in the late twenties, maybe even in that twenty twenty five spot” (picks 1–32)
“like Omar to me feels like he should be a first round draft pick, like in the late, you know, twenties, maybe even in that twenty twenty five spot”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Omar Cooper
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 30
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- first round draft pick, like in the late twenties, maybe even in that twenty twenty five spot (picks 1–32)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Position Order CallsCarnell TateApr 1, 2026
Carnell Tate to be 1st wide receiver off the board
“So that's why I think Carnell Tait is the first wide receiver off the board in the draft”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 9.48+90.52 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- naming one of the 36 at random averages 9.48
- skill:
- 90.52
- player:
- Carnell Tate
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- credit halves every two places
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 9.48
- position:
- wide receiver
- class size:
- 36
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual order:
- 1
- predicted order:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Position Order CallsEli StowersApr 1, 2026
Eli Stowers to be 2nd tight end off the board
“Eli Sauers is the second tight end prospect”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 18.72+81.28 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- naming one of the 22 at random averages 18.72
- skill:
- 81.28
- player:
- Eli Stowers
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- credit halves every two places
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 18.72
- position:
- tight end
- class size:
- 22
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual order:
- 2
- predicted order:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Najee Harris to fall short of his draft cost
“it'll be more short yardage opportunity for Naji Harris. If anything, which wouldn't be fantasy relevant on a week to week basis”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksKenyon SadiqApr 1, 2026
Kenyon Sadiq to be picked “possibly get him at thirty”
“I don't think Sadik's gonna go as high as everybody thinks he is... I just don't see them taking him at eleven when you could possibly get him at thirty”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Sleeper CallsOronde Gadsden IIApr 1, 2026
Oronde Gadsden II to outplay his draft cost (going outside that top five)
“there's other pieces out there that are going outside that top five, Rondez Gass and Sam Laporter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
George Kittle to fall short of his draft cost (top five tight end)
“I honestly think like George Kittle going off the board as a top five. That's a huge mistake”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Chris Olave to finish top 6 at his position, by fantasy points
“I still think that I got him right where I got him, you know, in my wide receiver rankings as a top six wide receiver this year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Sleeper CallsSam LaPortaApr 1, 2026
Sam LaPorta to outplay his draft cost (going outside that top five)
“there's other pieces out there that are going outside that top five, Rondez Gass and Sam Laporter, which I want to whisper because man, that ADP is looking juicy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Patrick Mahomes to fall short of his draft cost
“I still have guys like Dak Prescott bo Nix, and I would rather take off the board before a Patrick Mahomes”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.