Bucky Brooks

Bucky Brooks is a former NFL player turned analyst, now in his sixth season with NFL Network and NFL.com. After being drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in 1994, he spent five years in the league primarily as a kick returner before moving into media. These days he co-hosts the podcast *Move the Sticks* with fellow ex-scout Daniel Jeremiah, where the two break down game previews, draft scouting, and whatever else the NFL calendar throws at them. Brooks also contributes weekly columns and video features like "Scout's Take" and "On the Beat" to NFL.com, and he pops up regularly on the Dave Dameshek Football Program to talk drafts and lists. His work covers a wide range — draft projections, MVP predictions, Super Bowl picks, roster rankings — with particular attention to running backs, quarterbacks, and young players entering the league.

Writes at Fox Sports Radio (podcast)

Every take from Bucky Brooks, including the ones still waiting →

Is Bucky Brooks accurate? Across 115 graded calls in 24 articles, Bucky Brooks scores 75.76% accuracy and a MissedTakes Score of 30.6, which means their calls were better than a naive guess on the same claims. That is a limited sample, under thirty graded articles, so treat it with caution.

75.76%

Accuracy

How often they were right.

30.6

MissedTakes Score

Versus a naive guess. 0 means no better.

115

Graded calls

across 24 articles. 132 more not yet settled.

A limited sample — under 30 graded articles.

93.75% of their claims were specific enough to check. Most of what they said committed to something.

Every number here is computed from the published methodology, and every call below shows its own arithmetic.

Graded calls · 115

8 of 24 graded articles on this page, newest first — page 2 of 4.

Brooks argued Ty Simpson's value matches the bottom of the first round or the second round, not a top-six pick, and graded receiver Germie Bernard as a middle-of-the-second-round prospect.2 graded calls · Mar 3, 2026
- Germie Bernard to be picked “middle of the second round” (picks 33–64)
  “I had given him a day two grade, and I think he just kind of slidifies himself as the middle of the second round type of prospect.”
  Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 50
  How this was scored
  draft:
  2026
  naive:
  a shuffled mock scores 50
  player:
  Jeremy Bernard
  season:
  2026
  zero at:
  undrafted
  outcome:
  went undrafted in 2026; has not appeared on an NFL roster
  accuracy:
  0
  baseline:

Brooks called Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love the best prospect in the class and a top-five pick, pegged Arkansas' Mike Washington as a Day 2 (second- or third-round) pick, slotted Ty Simpson as the second quarterback off the board after Fernando Mendoza, and said Omar Cooper is a first-rounder.4 graded calls · Mar 1, 2026

Ty Simpson to be 2nd quarterback off the board
“I think right now depecking order would probably suggest that Ty Simpson is next... But he is certainly after Mendoza to me, he's next in line to come off the board.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 39.7+60.3 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
naming one of the 10 at random averages 39.7
skill:
60.3
player:
Ty Simpson
season:
2026
zero at:
credit halves every two places
accuracy:
100
baseline:
39.7
position:
quarterback
class size:
10
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
actual order:
2
predicted order:
2
weeks left when called:
0
Think this grade is wrong?
Omar Cooper to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)
“Omar Cooper I think helped himself the four to four. He's the first rounder now... He's the safest maybe of all those wide receivers, which will help him get drafted in the first round.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How 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 (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this grade is wrong?
Jeremiyah Love to be picked “top five pick” (picks 1–5)
“To me, Man, we're talking about a top five pick... you could talk yourself in and take him and within one the first four five picks.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Jeremiyah Love
season:
2026
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
3
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
top five pick (picks 1–5)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this grade is wrong?
Mike Washington to be picked “day two, second or third round” (picks 33–100)
“Are we to talk about Mike Washington coming off the board on day two, second or third round. Somewhere in that conversation, his name has to come up.”
Miss · 39Scored 38.56a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Mike Washington
season:
2026
zero at:
32
accuracy:
38.56
baseline:
50
actual pick:
122
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
38.56
predicted pick:
day two, second or third round (picks 33–100)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score

Brooks argues Sonny Styles submitted himself as a top-ten player and calls it a lock he goes inside the top ten, with Washington at 7 and Cincinnati at 8 as natural landing spots. He also locks Caleb Banks into the first round, and says Malaki Lawrence may go earlier than expected. He predicts Brandon Sees can lock in a first-round spot if he tests well.3 graded calls · Feb 27, 2026

Sonny Styles to be picked “within the top ten” (picks 1–10)
“he submitted Himself as a top ten player ... To me, it's the lock that he's going within the top ten”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Sonny Styles
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
7
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
within the top ten (picks 1–10)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this grade is wrong?
Brandon Cisse to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)
“If he shows up and shows out athletically, we'll talk about him locking in his spot in the first round.”
Close · 42Scored 42.04a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Brandon Cisse
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
42.04
baseline:
50
actual pick:
52
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
42.04
predicted pick:
first round (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this grade is wrong?
Caleb Banks to be picked “first round lock” (picks 1–32)
“freak athlete, explosive to me, first round lock you can lock him in”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Caleb Banks
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
18
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
first round lock (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this grade is wrong?

In the joint top-10 mock, Brooks gave the Jets David Bailey at No. 2, Tennessee Arvell Reese at No. 4, Cleveland Spencer Fano at No. 6, New Orleans running back Jeremiah Love at No. 8 and Cincinnati safety Caleb Downs at No. 10.5 graded calls · Feb 16, 2026

Spencer Fano to be picked at number 6
“I'm gonna take Spenser for No with the Citys for the Cleveland Browns.”
Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 70 against a shuffle’s 50+20 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
20
player:
Spencer Fano
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
87.81
baseline:
50
actual pick:
9
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
87.81
predicted pick:
6
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
70
Think this grade is wrong?
Arvell Reese to be picked at number 4
“That's RVL Reese... I'm gonna go with Rvill Reese being a guy that the Tennessee Titans can build around.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 70 against a shuffle’s 50+20 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
20
player:
Arvell Reese
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
95.76
baseline:
50
actual pick:
5
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
95.76
predicted pick:
4
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
70
Jeremiyah Love to be picked at number 8
“you are up with New Orleans... I think Jeremiah Love will be the perfect fit in this situation.”
Hit · 81Scored 80.52 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 70 against a shuffle’s 50+20 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
20
player:
Jeremiyah Love
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
80.52
baseline:
50
actual pick:
3
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
80.52
predicted pick:
8
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
70
David Bailey to be picked at number 2
“I'm gonna give the Jets David Bailey from Texas Tech. I'm gonna give them a pass rusher... David Bailey is a jet.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 85 against a shuffle’s 50+35 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
35
player:
David Bailey
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
2
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
2
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
85
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 10
“Caleb Downs is the pick for the Cincinnati Bengals.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 70 against a shuffle’s 50+20 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
20
player:
Caleb Downs
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
95.76
baseline:
50
actual pick:
11
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
95.76
predicted pick:
10
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
70

Brooks laid out his mock draft: Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1, Arvell Reese to the Jets at No. 2, Francis Mauigoa to the Cardinals at No. 3, David Bailey to the Titans at No. 4, and a defensive back for the Bengals at No. 10. He also expects Shedeur Sanders to win the Browns' starting quarterback job.6 graded calls · Feb 8, 2026

Arvell Reese to be picked at number 2
“Rvil Reese is a dynamic playmaker. He's an off ball linebacker... this is a great way for them to kind of get it going by having Arva Reach joined the lineup.”
Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Arvell Reese
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
87.81
baseline:
50
actual pick:
5
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
87.81
predicted pick:
2
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Think this grade is wrong?
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 10
“They got the tenth pick, who do they go with? Kevin downas to me, is to pick right.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Caleb Downs
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
95.76
baseline:
50
actual pick:
11
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
95.76
predicted pick:
10
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
100
Francis Mauigoa to be picked at number 3
“you said the kid from Miami can be the offensive tackle... whether you go Francis Mauigoa... as we're thinking about the Cardinals and rebuilding this thing”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Francis Mauigoa
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
73.84
baseline:
50
actual pick:
10
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
73.84
predicted pick:
3
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“this is one where you expect shud Doer Sanders to be the starter, but he's going to have to earn it and win some kind of corporate quarterback competition... He still, i would say, is in the driver's seat.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+8.33 skill
How this was scored
club:
CLE
skill:
8.33
player:
Shedeur Sanders
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
91.67
position:
QB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
1
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“You got the Raiders number one and Fernando Mendoz... the Raiders have an obvious needed quarterback. Mendoz is the best quarterback available in this class.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 100 against a shuffle’s 50+50 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
50
player:
Fernando Mendoza
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
1
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
1
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
David Bailey to be picked at number 4
“I have David Bailey edge rusher from Texas Tech... David Bailey is the guy that I picked in this mock draft.”
Hit · 92Scored 91.7 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 85 against a shuffle’s 50+35 skill
How this was scored
draft:
2026
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
skill:
35
player:
David Bailey
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
91.7
baseline:
50
actual pick:
2
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
91.7
predicted pick:
4
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
85

Bucky Brooks Mock Draft Accuracy: Every Pick, Graded, page 2 | MissedTakes