# Mark “Magic Mark” Willard: Mark, largely guessing, picked Justin Herbert for MVP, Ja'Marr Chase for OPOY, Fernando Mendoza for Offensive Rookie of the Year, David Bailey for Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Bears' coach for Coach of the Year and Jayden Daniels for Comeback Player. **Claimed:** Aug 30, 2026 **Pundit:** Mark “Magic Mark” Willard — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/mark-magic-mark-willard **Outlet:** Fox Sports Radio (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports-radio-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/551c44d9-d7e8-4da3-bacd-ae2e0038717f/956be755-0b6f-4484-bc7f-b4b600d94ab5/audio.mp3?in_playlist=be0668fc-1028-4ce5-80eb-ae2e00387188 5 checkable claims — 5 award picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > I'm going to go with Herbert because he's a charger, and we'll see if he can get it done. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Fernando Mendoza to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jayden Daniels to win Comeback Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Bailey to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: David Bailey, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Marr Chase to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Herbert to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Jayden Daniels — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jayden-daniels - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders - David Bailey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/david-bailey - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets - Ja'Marr Chase — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ja-marr-chase - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Justin Herbert — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/justin-herbert - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers ## What others said about the same people - Seth Walder on Kayshon Boutte: Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0263bd78-6c5c-41c5-8615-0467d8ef521a (scored 0) - Garrett Podell on Stefon Diggs: An unsigned CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bc79861b-dbde-474e-9d55-bf50f7b766d2 (scored 100) - Fernando Alfaro-Donis on Kayshon Boutte: Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b988191f-a153-4f4b-a1b8-7b5a7a18265c (scored 0) - Bucky Brooks on Stefon Diggs: In a quarterback rapid-fire segment and later discussion, Brooks named starters for several clubs (Kyler Murray over JJ McCarthy in Minnesota, Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland, Tua in Atlanta, Jeremiah Love as Arizona's starting running back), called Chris Olave a No. 1 receiver, backed Stefon Diggs landing with the Commanders and Aaron Donald returning to the Rams, argued Baker Mayfield belongs among the top 15-17 quarterbacks, and published a top-five defensive tackle list topped by Jeffrey Simmons. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9538b827-fc12-4c2e-8e32-eaa69edc6c2d (scored 100) - Joe Marino on Stefon Diggs: Marino projects DJ Moore to bounce back in Buffalo's offense with over 1,000 receiving yards (talking up around 1,200), and expects rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun (IGB) to win a starting job opposite Christian Benford. He also thinks free agent Stefon Diggs ends up signing with Washington. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/eef9205a-1efb-4b83-821d-a7553d3ad6b4 (scored 100) - Gregg Rosenthal on Stefon Diggs: Rosenthal picked rookies he expects to start right away — a Steelers left tackle and Colts linebacker — said Terry McLaurin is Washington's clear No. 1 receiver, and said he wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders signed Stefon Diggs as a solid No. 2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2ea758f8-ab4d-4480-aaf9-ab24fd822c3f (scored 100) ## More award picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Gregg Rosenthal on Tristan Wirfs: Rosenthal picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Micah Parsons for Defensive Player of the Year, Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Player of the Year, Aaron Glenn for Coach of the Year, Travis Hunter for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bill Callahan for Assistant Coach of the Year and Tristan Wirfs for Protector of the Year. He also made depth-chart calls on Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/88928365-78fb-4f7b-84a4-0dd7856ba9cc (scored 0) - Jourdan Rodrigue on Penei Sewell: Rodrigue picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Jared Verse for Defensive Player of the Year, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year, TreVeyon Henderson for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Abdul Carter for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Jesse Minter for Assistant Coach of the Year and Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f3ba94ea-a935-4534-88e4-bb6027bf87ad (scored 0) - Brandon Sneide on Drake Maye: Snyder picks the Seahawks to beat the Patriots 31-23 in Super Bowl 60, believing Seattle pulls away late, and says Drake Maye will finish second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1cf83e90-e59f-4c8f-941f-c732efcb4c03 (scored 0) - Nick Wright on Rashid Shaheed: Nick picked Seattle to win the Super Bowl 27-17, citing Seattle's defense, coaching against young quarterbacks and schedule strength, and named Rasheed Shaheed as his dark horse Super Bowl MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1fe4abc6-28e3-412b-ab6e-d2f65f25682f (scored 0) - Chris Broussard on Cooper Kupp: Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1247ee30-3338-4940-8fc9-977cc215ff59 (scored 0) - Eric Mangini on Drake Maye: Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/332dce8c-f71c-4f26-a976-8f4615a9f9bd (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=mark-magic-mark-willard