# John Middlekauff: Previewing the weekend slate, they expect Bijan Robinson to have a huge game against a 49ers defense missing Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, and believes San Francisco is in serious trouble in that Sunday night matchup. They also view the Titans as headed back toward the top of the draft order.

**Claimed:** Oct 18, 2025
**Pundit:** John Middlekauff — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-middlekauff
**Outlet:** 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/3-and-out-with-john-middlekauff-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/3-and-out-with-john-middlekauff/nfl-week-7-predictions-falcons-vs-49ers-eagles-vs-vikings-patriots-vs-titans

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> And I would expect Bejon to go nuts, and I think the forty nine ers are in major trouble.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Tennessee Titans to pick “destined to compete for the number one pick again”**
  - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Tennessee Titans
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/titans

## What others said about the same people

- Shaun Calderon on Jeffery Simmons: Calderon argues the 0-5 Titans won't turn their season around, that Cam Ward won't be benched soon, and that Jeffery Simmons stays in Tennessee while Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley are likely trade candidates with modest returns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fcfebcd7-04de-406f-aa74-4c404a9f8b0e (scored 0)
- Lane Mills on Tennessee Titans: Mills predicts the Titans finish 2026 at 6-11 (2-4 in the AFC South), missing the playoffs, with specific wins over the Jets, Giants, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Colts, and names Wan'Dale Robinson team MVP with another 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown season as Cam Ward's top receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a2c4e6d-57dd-4dc9-9f27-c1446726f490 (scored 0)
- Nathan Jahnke on K.J. Osborn: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Gennaro Filice on Tennessee Titans: The lone NFL.com pick for Tennessee, projecting a low-scoring 14-13 Titans upset built on their defensive front containing Jonathan Taylor. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/82b9c77a-e26d-4ea7-ac0f-51e169b90170 (scored 88.1)
- Dan Graziano on Tennessee Titans: The lone ESPN pick for Tennessee, taking the Titans to beat the Colts. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3e2b2f7e-ad60-423a-9f5e-6114c8c1c48d (scored 100)
- Tyler Sullivan on Tennessee Titans: Sullivan says it would not surprise them if the Titans beat the Colts for their first win of the season, arguing the line is too big in the divisional matchup. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/df50c99c-c644-4281-a89f-8e4fa9499a42 (scored 100)

## More team draft slot calls

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

- Jake Riepma on Detroit Lions: Filling in on Locked On Lions, Jake Reitma dismisses ESPN's suggestion that Sam LaPorta could be traded, saying LaPorta stays in Detroit as part of the core four. They also break down the edge class ahead of the Lions' pick at No. 17, calling David Bailey the class's top edge prospect with Reuben Bain Jr. next, and picks the Pistons as the NBA's best team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ece8f439-040b-4b4d-bfb3-d443e4129200 (scored 100)
- David Harrison on New York Jets: Harrison proposes and defends a hypothetical trade sending Daron Payne plus a third- and sixth-round pick to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, plus a follow-up trade of the No. 7 pick to the Jets for picks 16 and 33. They also state Fernando Mendoza is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders, and floats the Jets taking David Bailey at No. 7 if they trade up. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/926fe128-ea39-4ffd-8704-90791347ee9e (scored 100)
- Kent Swanson on Cincinnati Bengals: After the Chiefs' 14-12 loss to the Raiders, Kent laid out the resulting draft order: Kansas City picking ninth overall (and 40th in round two) in the 2026 draft, with New Orleans eighth, Cincinnati tenth, and the Raiders holding the No. 1 pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f65d9763-b3d3-476d-9f92-941deb6957ca (scored 26.11)
- Chris Brockman on New York Giants: Chris Brockman said Baker Mayfield will finish no lower than third in MVP voting, named Kyle Shanahan the coach of the year front-runner, and predicted both the Giants and Jets will pick in the top five of next year's draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cdde2d01-017b-4967-b1e9-ecfac647e306 (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on New York Jets: Rich Eisen reaffirmed their pick of the Lions to win the NFC while insisting the Eagles remain the team to beat, predicted the Colts beat the Cardinals on a last-second field goal, said the Chargers will not miss the playoffs, and expects Jake Browning to keep starting in Cincinnati and JJ McCarthy to return as Minnesota's starter. They also praised Jonathan Taylor as the best running back and OPOY-caliber, called Emeka Abuka the offensive rookie of the year, agreed Kyle Shanahan is the coach of the year front-runner, and said the Jets will pick in the top five. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bdb0846e-88b6-4111-b16c-586fd6fc0435 (scored 100)
- Chris Brockman on Cincinnati Bengals: Brockman argued only about five teams can realistically win the Super Bowl, naming the Bills, Eagles, Ravens and Chargers among them; they also picked Justin Herbert as MVP through three weeks, called the Colts a top-five team with Daniel Jones as an MVP finalist, said the Bears will finish top two in the NFC North, said the Bengals' season is cooked and they'll pick in the top 10, said the Rams are the only NFC threat to the Eagles, and said the Bucs have a team-of-destiny feel. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9a980b3d-dd79-4893-80c6-4ee9d9dcd028 (scored 26.11)

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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.

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