Bucky Brooks#26 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 30, 2026

Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.

Said on air or in an interview · Fox Sports Radio (podcast)Hear the original

2 of 3calls landed2 hits · 1 miss · 11 waiting

66.7Average accuracyout of 100, across 3 calls

33.3A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

3 of 14Settled11 still waiting

#26Bucky Brooks’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Bucky Brooks said

I think he is the front runner to be the number one overall pick.

Bucky Brooks, the lead quote

Where it was said: Fox Sports Radio (podcast)
The episode: Andy Furman & Bucky Brooks Talk 49ers Madness, Can Allen, Jackson, or Burrow Finally Win a Championship, NFL Award Predictions & More!
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 30
GradedSep 18–29

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Misses	Waiting
Trade and Signing Calls	2	0	0
Roster Spot Calls	0	1	0
Depth Chart Calls	0	0	3
Award Picks	0	0	6
Mock Draft Picks	0	0	1
Coach Award Picks	0	0	1
All	2	1	11

How each call scored

14 checkable claims — 6 award picks, 3 depth chart calls, 2 trade and signing calls, 1 coach award pick, 1 mock draft pick and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 22 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

3 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 33.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

Where this call stands in the room

Deshaun Watson · 2026 season

Bucky Brooks — 1the room — 11 calls from 7 punditsmedian 1

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.

Trade and Signing Calls2 hitsShow ▸

J.J. McCarthy to move to Minnesota Vikings
“What it means is when these things begin to leak out like this, they're trying to soften the blow for when it eventually happens. So... whether they trade or release them, he's not going to be there.”
J.J. McCarthy Minnesota Vikings
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
How this was scored
skill:
200
player:
J.J. McCarthy
season:
2026
claimed:
he leaves
was with:
MIN
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
reported:
traded → NYG (from MIN)
settled by:
a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he stays where he is
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Keenan Allen to move to Indianapolis Colts
“Keenan Allen is a newbie to the Colts. They don't have a long-term tie. I would think that probably could lead to his dismissal.”
Keenan Allen Indianapolis Colts
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
How this was scored
skill:
200
player:
Keenan Allen
season:
2026
claimed:
IND
was with:
LAC
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
reported:
signed → IND
settled by:
a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he stays where he is
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?

Roster Spot Calls1 missShow ▸

Josh Johnson to land on the practice squad
“More than likely, they'll still let him go and hope that they can either save him by putting him on the practice squad”
Josh Johnson Cincinnati Bengals
1 week on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
CIN
skill:
−200
player:
Josh Johnson
season:
2026
claimed:
he lands on the practice squad
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
2
weeks on the practice squad:
2
Think this is wrong?

Depth Chart Calls3 waitingShow ▸

Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's just being very honest with where Fernando is in his development, and that's why Kirk Cousins is going to be the starter.”
Kirk Cousins Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“But Deshaun Watson get the first bite of the apple.”
Deshaun Watson Cleveland Browns
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“There's a quarterback competition. Kyler Murray wins it.”
Kyler Murray Minnesota Vikings
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Award Picks6 waitingShow ▸

Carnell Tate to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Let's go with Cardinal Tate. Let's see if Cardinal Tate can get in the mix.”
Carnell Tate Tennessee Titans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kyle Hamilton to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Let's go Kyle Hamilton from the Baltimore Ravens.”
Kyle Hamilton Baltimore Ravens
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year
“let's go with pukinakua”
Puka Nacua Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Trevor Lawrence to win MVP
“let's be a homer let's go with trevor lawrence”
Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville Jaguars
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kyler Murray to win Comeback Player of the Year
“Kyler Murray. That's the only time Bucky and I agreed on any pick today.”
Kyler Murray Minnesota Vikings
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Arvell Reese to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Let's come out of left field. Let's go with Arville Reese finding a way to get it done.”
Arvell Reese New York Giants
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Mock Draft Picks1 waitingShow ▸

Arch Manning to be picked at number 1
“Does that mean he'll be the number one overall pick? I think he is the front runner to be the number one overall pick.”
Arch Manning
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Coach Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸

John Harbaugh to win Coach of the Year
“Let's go with John Harbaugh.”
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Others on the same people

Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.
Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.
Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.
Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin predicted final scores for seven Week 10 games, taking the Giants over the Commanders, the Lions, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens to win their respective matchups.

More award picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Nick Wright · Award Picks · Sam Darnold · Miss 0
Wright picks Seattle to beat New England in the Super Bowl by a 27-17 final score, describing a semi-comfortable win, and names Sam Darnold as their Super Bowl MVP pick.
Eric Mangini · Award Picks · Drake Maye · Miss 0
Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as their dark horse MVP.
Chris Broussard · Award Picks · Drake Maye · Miss 0
Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as their dark horse MVP.
Willie Colon · Award Picks · Sam Darnold · Miss 0
Colon picked the Seahawks to win 24-14 with Sam Darnold as Super Bowl MVP.
Nick Wright · Award Picks · Rashid Shaheed · Miss 0
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 their dark horse Super Bowl MVP.
Danny Parkins · Award Picks · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Miss 0
Parkins picked Seattle to win 27-16 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Super Bowl MVP.