# Lance Zierlein: Lance says he does not see Riley Leonard as a starter, expects Jayden Higgins to be a second-round receiver, and believes Dominic Lovett can become a starting slot receiver. **Claimed:** Mar 2, 2025 **Pundit:** Lance Zierlein — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/lance-zierlein **Outlet:** Move the Sticks (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/move-the-sticks-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-move-the-sticks-with-daniel-jeremiah-bucky-bro/2025-nfl-combine-recap-qbs-wrs-and-rbs 2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 mock draft pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 58.3 out of 100, against 66.7 for a naive guess at the same calls. > NOW i don't see a starter personally With Riley. LEONARD *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Dominic Lovett to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Dominic Lovett - Verdict: scored 58.33 out of 100, against 66.67 for a naive guess - **Jayden Higgins to be picked “in the second, round”** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jayden Higgins - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Dominic Lovett — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dominic-lovett - Jayden Higgins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jayden-higgins ## What others said about the same people - Derek Brown on Jayden Higgins: Derek Brown laid out a round-by-round target list, projecting Ashton Jeanty as a top-three back and Raiders bellcow, Drake London as a possible overall WR1, and Tetairoa McMillan (his must-have player) as a ten-plus touchdown scorer, with late-round upside picks like Dak Prescott and JJ McCarthy at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fb4dac48-8a62-4706-b0a6-9e6e1af0a3c4 (scored 0) - Sean Kerner on Jayden Higgins: Kerner's top move is Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, though he calls Hunter's WR30 price a bit rich given usage uncertainty. He is all-in on Ashton Jeanty as a workhorse with top-five rookie upside, likes Ben Johnson's arrival for Caleb Williams and rookie TE Colston Loveland, expects DeVonta Adams to boost Matthew Stafford's touchdown total over 22.5, and is heavily drafting Jayden Higgins as Houston's No. 2 receiver. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ec510a56-f0ae-4583-8e26-5b031d8d6d10 (scored 0) - Gregg Rosenthal on Jayden Higgins: Gregg Rosenthal predicted both Ohio State running backs go in the top 50, that Cam Ward has a decent chance to go No. 1 overall and won't fall past the first couple of picks, that Shedeur Sanders is a tier below him, that Jackson Dart won't be drafted much higher than Jalen Hurts' late-second slot, that Brady Cook won't be drafted, and that DeVante Adams is somewhat likely to be cut by the Jets. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/89637841-0be4-414d-9dd0-f380cb679557 (scored 100) - Kyle Crabbs on Jayden Higgins: Crabbs projects all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to Tennessee, Travis Hunter second to Cleveland and Abdul Carter third to the Giants. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e8a40874-e85c-44ec-a4c8-b6f0edbd22d2 (scored 84.09) - Christian Booher on Dominic Lovett: Booher lays out a projected Detroit Lions offensive depth chart ahead of the 2026 regular season, naming starters, backups and practice squad members at every offensive position. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c8fa7c98-626b-413d-ac56-ac6dc7cc764f (not settled) - Derek Brown on Jayden Higgins: Brown names Jayden Higgins a late-round breakout candidate who could be a weekly WR2/3, Tyrone Tracy Jr. a strong handcuff who could be a plug-and-play RB2 if Cam Skattebo misses time, Chris Rodriguez Jr. a nice late-round pick as Jacksonville's early-down back, and Jalen Coker a late-round priority whose ADP gap with Tetairoa McMillan is unjustified. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/95799558-41e2-4165-8987-2eb8f60158d8 (not settled) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0) - Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (scored 100) --- 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=lance-zierlein