Garrett Podell· Sep 10, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports column offering five bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season, including Jordan Love winning MVP, the Saints going worst-to-first in the NFC South, and Omarion Hampton leading the league in rushing.
“With Hampton, a first-round talent, McDaniel will have the Chargers' bell cow back winning the NFL rushing title at the end of 2026.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 1 award pick, 1 division winner and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Omarion Hampton · 2026 season · positional finish3 calls from 3 pundits between 1 positional finish and 10 positional finish. Garrett Podell said 1 positional finish. the room's median is 5 positional finish. 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.
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Who this take is about
3 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.
- Award PicksJordan LoveGreen Bay PackersSep 10, 2026
Jordan Love to win MVP
“Jordan Love wins MVP ... Love could have the opportunity to produce MVP-caliber numbers this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omarion Hampton to finish top 1 at his position, by rushing yards
“Omarion Hampton wins NFL rushing title ... McDaniel will have the Chargers' bell cow back winning the NFL rushing title at the end of 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 10, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“New Orleans Saints go from worst to first to win the NFC South”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris RolingScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 31Roling predicts a lopsided Chargers home win over the Cardinals in Week 1, 30-10, and advises starting Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton in fantasy while sitting Ladd McConkey.
- Jacob WestendorfScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 24Westendorf picks the Packers to win the opener 27-21, with Tucker Kraft leading the team in catches, Christian Watson in yards, Jayden Reed in touchdowns and Josh Jacobs in rushing. He tabs Bo Nix as MVP, the Broncos as the AFC's top team and Super Bowl winner over the Rams, the Lions to win the NFC North, and the Packers to finish 8-9.
- Pete PriscoGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense.
- Shanna McCarristonScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersClose · 45The unsigned CBS Sports preview picks the Chargers to beat the Cardinals 27-17 in Week 1, and expects rookie Jake Slaughter to step in at center for Los Angeles after Tyler Biadasz's injury.
- Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
- Brandon DeutschGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Deutsch streamed the Chargers defense in Week 1, forecasting a blowout win of more than 20 points over the Cardinals.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Daniel DiBerardinisDivision Winners · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. He also gives a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · New York GiantsMiss · 0Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. He also expects Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and he floats the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Cowherd likes Jacksonville, Chicago and Pittsburgh (with DK Metcalf back) in the wild-card round, ranks the league's head coaches with McVay first and Ben Johnson seventh, and predicts Lamar Jackson has about two strong years left. He also names the Rams as a possible team to draft a receiver and floats next year's draft having seven first-round quarterbacks.
- Danny ParkinsDivision Winners · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Parkins lays the points with the Eagles and Cowboys, takes Baltimore to beat Pittsburgh and win the AFC North, picks Carolina over Tampa Bay and Seattle over San Francisco, and says he'd probably pick the Rams to come out of the NFC.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff.