# JP Acosta: Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.

**Claimed:** Feb 10, 2026
**Pundit:** JP Acosta — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jp-acosta
**Outlet:** Pushing the Pile (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/pushing-the-pile-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8174667/8174667_2026-04-12-055007.192.mp3?rssID=6037

5 checkable claims — 4 trade and signing calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 40 out of 100, against 65 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> I think John Harbaugh is a good hire that's gonna get him gonna get the Giants from, like, four wins to, like, seven wins in year one, maybe eight.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **New York Giants to finish with 7 wins**
  - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: New York Giants
  - Verdict: scored 40 out of 100, against 65 for a naive guess
- **Brandon Aiyuk to move**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Brandon Aiyuk
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Daniel Jones to move to Indianapolis Colts**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Aaron Rodgers to move to Pittsburgh Steelers**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kirk Cousins to move to Atlanta Falcons**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- New York Giants — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/giants
- Brandon Aiyuk — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brandon-aiyuk
- Daniel Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/daniel-jones
- Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts
- Aaron Rodgers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-rodgers
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers
- Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins
- Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons

## What others said about the same people

- Chris Simms on Pittsburgh Steelers: Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b (scored 14.29)
- Phil Simms on New York Giants: Phil Simms said the Giants can hang with and beat the Rams in their Monday night matchup, citing the Rams' sluggish showing in Australia and the Giants' offensive versatility. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/149102cf-b9f9-4fd8-8a72-b501daece227 (scored 0)
- Steve Kubitza on Za'Darius Smith: Kubitza suggests that Kevin Stefanski's Falcons may lure veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith away from Cleveland, signing him in Atlanta instead of the Browns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/54fca826-8644-4e76-bc3f-5d8d44bcca23 (scored 100)
- Chris Simms on New York Giants: Simms 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 97.62)
- Connor Rogers on New York Giants: Rogers 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 100)
- Richard Sherman on New York Giants: Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03 (scored 100)

## More trade and signing calls

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

- Fox Sports on Austin Ekeler: The piece reports, citing ESPN, that Carolina is expected to sign veteran running back Austin Ekeler with Jonathon Brooks sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a3aa7c15-e643-4c03-85d9-10aef8b4085a (scored 0)
- Mary Kay Cabot on Za'Darius Smith: Cabot reported that Za'Darius Smith is expected to sign with the Browns, possibly as early as Sunday, after working out for the team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb50e55-cb33-43c3-a427-d47904beb7bb (scored 0)
- Brandon Carney on Austin Ekeler: Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c4d477da-4fb8-4a25-a904-c5057a249a70 (scored 0)
- Adam Carlson on J.J. McCarthy: Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65e3f9cf-c441-42a2-baaf-7cd3dbebafad (scored 100)
- Greg Auman on J.J. McCarthy: Auman argues no quarterback is likely to replicate Sam Darnold's turnaround this season, but names five candidates. He expects Miami to hold a very high pick in the 2027 draft, and thinks J.J. McCarthy will eventually be traded for a late-round pick or cut by the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9b8eb78e-ddfa-4274-ac8f-17b069e6b87f (scored 100)
- Bucky Brooks on J.J. McCarthy: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 100)

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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.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

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