Cody Rourke· Aug 7, 2026
Rourke predicts Zach Allen will make the biggest climb of any Bronco on next year's Locked On NFL Top 100, landing somewhere between 25 and 35, and that Jaylen Waddle will have a huge, explosive season in Denver's offense. He also floats Pat Bryant as a surprise addition and suggests Riley Moss could reach the list with five or six interceptions.
“I very much think he'd be anywhere between 35 to 25 on this list next season.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Broncos (podcast) · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 2 sleeper calls, 1 player season number, 1 pro bowl and all-pro call and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
5 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.
- Surprise Team CallsNew York JetsAug 7, 2026
New York Jets to beat expectations
“I think the jets will be better this year, which bodes well for Garrett.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsPat BryantDenver BroncosAug 7, 2026
Pat Bryant to outplay his draft cost
“could Pat Bryant be like this surprise list next year? ... the biggest surprise could be Pat Bryant.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Riley Moss to record 5 interceptions
“if he could turn those 19 pass defense into five, six interceptions, I think that would have to be the number, five or six picks to put them on this list”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosAug 7, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to outplay his draft cost
“I think that in this offense, I think Jaylen Waddle is going to have a massive impact. I think he's gonna explode.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zach Allen to make Locked On NFL Top 100 ranking between 25 and 35 next season
“Zach Allen probably is going to be the player that has the chance to climb the highest because he's coming in at number 84 in this voting. I I very much think he'd be anywhere between 35 to 25 on this list next season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 10Sullivan picks Denver to beat Kansas City 24-20.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 7Dajani picks the Broncos over the Chiefs, 17-14.
- John BreechScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 5In the Pick Six newsletter, Breech picks the Broncos to upset the Chiefs on Monday night, 23-21.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2The unbylined CBS Sports preview picks Denver to win at Arrowhead in Week 1, 21-20, and expects Kenneth Walker III to be Kansas City's lead back while Jaylen Waddle serves as Bo Nix's top receiving target in Denver.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosMiss · 0Parkins picked the Giants to upset Dallas, the Steelers to beat Atlanta by two scores, the Bears to beat Carolina, the Bills to beat Houston and Denver to beat Kansas City outright; he also said Justin Herbert will win an MVP and had the Bengals as AFC North champs.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Matt Money SmithSleeper Calls · Tre HarrisMiss · 0Smith says Ladd McConkie is a legitimate No. 1 receiver who could post a Jaylen Waddle-like season of roughly 1,700 yards and eight touchdowns, and he predicts second-year Chargers receiver Trey Harris will have a big year under Mike McDaniel. He also expects Philip Rivers to become an NFL head coach and thinks the Chargers offense will be good in the coming season.
- Brandon CarneySleeper Calls · Javonte WilliamsHit · 100Carney predicted AJ Brown would not be back with the Eagles, forecast a wave of free-agent landing spots (Breece Hall to the Chiefs, Alec Pierce to the 49ers, Rico Dowdle to the Saints, George Pickens to the Patriots, Mike Evans to the Bills), and named Week 1 starting quarterbacks for several teams in flux. He also gave fantasy takes on Javonte Williams, Chris Olave and others.
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- Ross JacksonSleeper Calls · Devaughn VeleMiss · 0Ross Jackson agreed to the same Saints mock draft board — Jeremiah Love at eight, Akeem Mesador in the second, Keonte Scott at 73, Keelan Rutledge and Ted Hurst in the fourth, Xavien Harris at 148, Aaron Anderson in the fifth and Bryce Boettcher in the sixth — and also called Devon Vellet a 2026 breakout candidate.
- Greg CosellSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Cosell expects the Nick Bonito vs. Will Campbell matchup to be pivotal, predicts Caleb Williams' future is bright, expects the Chargers' run game to improve dramatically under Mike McDaniel with a good season from Omarion Hampton, and expects Sean Payton not to hide Stidham.
- Andrew EricksonSleeper Calls · Malik NabersMiss · 0Erickson gave his 2026 first-round board, leaning on running backs early with Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja'Marr Chase as his WR1 and Christian McCaffrey slipping to 12. He also touted Malik Nabers as a buying opportunity, projected big touchdown numbers for Burrow and Chase, and called Barkley a buy-low.