Bucky Brooks· 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.
“I think he is the front runner to be the number one overall pick.”
said on air or in an interview · Fox Sports Radio (podcast) · read the original →
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 bet.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season18 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 2. Bucky Brooks said 1. the room's median is 1. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- J.J. McCarthy
- Minnesota Vikings
- Josh Johnson
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Keenan Allen
- Indianapolis Colts
- Kyler Murray
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Arch Manning
- Kirk Cousins
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Kyle Hamilton
- Baltimore Ravens
- Carnell Tate
- Tennessee Titans
- Deshaun Watson
- Cleveland Browns
- Puka Nacua
- Los Angeles Rams
- Arvell Reese
- New York Giants
14 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.
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.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow 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
- Roster Spot CallsJosh JohnsonCincinnati BengalsAug 30, 2026
Josh Johnson to make the roster
“More than likely, they'll still let him go and hope that they can either save him by putting him on the practice squad”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow 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
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.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow 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
- Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsAug 30, 2026
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“There's a quarterback competition. Kyler Murray wins it.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksTrevor LawrenceJacksonville JaguarsAug 30, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to win MVP
“let's be a homer let's go with trevor lawrence”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksArch ManningAug 30, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersAug 30, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksKyle HamiltonBaltimore RavensAug 30, 2026
Kyle Hamilton to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Let's go Kyle Hamilton from the Baltimore Ravens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksCarnell TateTennessee TitansAug 30, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksAug 30, 2026
John Harbaugh to win Coach of the Year
“Let's go with John Harbaugh.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland BrownsAug 30, 2026
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“But Deshaun Watson get the first bite of the apple.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksPuka NacuaLos Angeles RamsAug 30, 2026
Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year
“let's go with pukinakua”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksArvell ReeseNew York GiantsAug 30, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsAug 30, 2026
Kyler Murray to win Comeback Player of the Year
“Kyler Murray. That's the only time Bucky and I agreed on any pick today.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Baltimore RavensHit · 98Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Cincinnati BengalsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Gregg RosenthalAward Picks · Tristan WirfsMiss · 0Rosenthal 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.
- Jourdan RodrigueAward Picks · Penei SewellMiss · 0Rodrigue 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.
- Brandon SneideAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Snyder 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.
- Nick WrightAward Picks · Rashid ShaheedMiss · 0Nick 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.
- Chris BroussardAward Picks · Cooper KuppMiss · 0Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP.
- Eric ManginiAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP.