John Middlekauff#48 of 87 NFL pundits · Jul 15, 2025
In a mid-July podcast, Middlecoff reacted to the Garrett Wilson extension and Jauan Jennings' contract unhappiness, predicting Jennings is San Francisco's clear No. 1 receiver and will top 80 catches; they also expect the Browns to keep Quinshon Judkins on the roster, ranks Mahomes as the top quarterback, calls Dak a top-12 QB, backs Bo Nix as a top-15 starter, says the Bears should win 10 games but must be ranked behind Denver, and would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni.
Said on air or in an interview · 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast)Hear the original
What John Middlekauff said
I'd be stunned if he got seventy seven balls last year, if he didn't catch eighty plus balls this season.
- Where it was said
- 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast)
- The episode
- 3 & Out - Garrett Wilson signs MASSIVE rookie extension, 49eres WR Jauan Jennings DOESN'T show, 10 QB rankings
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
- SaidJul 15, 2025
- GradedAug 5–Oct 1, 2026
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster Spot Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Positional Finishes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player Season Numbers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Head Coach Rankings | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Power Rankings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Season Win Totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| All | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes, 1 depth chart call, 1 head coach ranking, 1 player season number, 1 power ranking, 1 roster spot call and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 9 have settled, averaging 54.7 out of 100, against 47.8 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
Roster Spot Calls1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
Quinshon Judkins to make the roster
“One thing that I do think is gonna happen is he's going to be on the team and they'll just kind of deal with the you know, I guess the PR”
14 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Quinshon Judkins
- season:
- 2025
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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:
- 14
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 2
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Positional Finishes1 close call · 2 missesShow ▸Hide ▾
Dak Prescott to finish top 12 at his position, by an unstated measure
“I think he's a top twelve quarterback who is really really underachieved in January”
Finished #3called #12 · by passing yards25Miss25 − 0 naive = 25 × 2 difficulty = +50 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 50
- player:
- Dak Prescott
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 25
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- QB
- ranked by:
- passing yards
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 31
- actual finish:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 12
Patrick Mahomes to finish top 1 at his position, by passing yards
“Like I'm sorry, Patrick Mahomes is one. Like I don't even know how you argue”
Finished #12called #1 · by passing yards8.33Miss8.33 − 58.33 naive = −50 × 2 difficulty = −100 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- −100
- player:
- Patrick Mahomes
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 8.33
- baseline:
- 58.33
- position:
- QB
- ranked by:
- passing yards
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 7
- actual finish:
- 12
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 1
Bo Nix to finish top 15 at his position, by passing yards
“But is he gonna be a top twelve starter, fifteen starter half of the league for sure of this year? Yes?”
Finished #8called #15 · by passing yards41.67Close41.67 − 66.67 naive = −25 × 2 difficulty = −50 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- −50
- player:
- Bo Nix
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 41.67
- baseline:
- 66.67
- position:
- QB
- ranked by:
- passing yards
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 12
- actual finish:
- 8
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 15
Depth Chart Calls1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
Jauan Jennings to be 1st on the depth chart
“are you niece torn Ricky Pearsall is already injured? Like I am, clearly the number one wide receiver on this team heading into week one, not even debatable”
No. 1called No. 1 · by receptions100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jauan Jennings
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Player Season Numbers1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
Jauan Jennings to record 80 receptions
“I'd be stunned if he got seventy seven balls last year, if he didn't catch eighty plus balls this season.”
55called 8037.5Miss37.5 − 90.28 naive = −52.78 × 2 difficulty = −105.56 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- naive:
- 52.33
- skill:
- −105.56
- what happened:
- 55
- player:
- Jauan Jennings
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 37.5
- baseline:
- 90.28
- they said:
- 80
- statistic:
- receptions
- difficulty:
- 2
- last season:
- 77
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- position average:
- 27.65
- zero at percent out:
- 50
Head Coach Rankings1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
“I know Sirianni has won the Super Bowl, but I would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni.”
0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- best:
- Mike Vrabel
- skill:
- 0
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- settled by:
- wins above the prior-season baseline
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- coaches ranked:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Power Rankings1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
“There's no way you can have the Bears above the Broncos. It's impossible.”
100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- teams ranked:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Season Win Totals1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
- 11called 1080Hit
80 − 15 naive = 65 × 2 difficulty = +130 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- team:
- CHI
- naive:
- 6.75
- skill:
- 130
- what happened:
- 11
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 5
- accuracy:
- 80
- baseline:
- 15
- they said:
- 10
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Micah Parsons · Miss 0
Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nick Wright · Positional Finishes · Puka Nacua · Close 75
Nick Wright picked the Ravens to beat Houston this weekend even with Lamar Jackson possibly out (leaning on Derrick Henry and Cooper Rush), the Chiefs to win in Jacksonville, and the Rams to beat the 49ers on Thursday night. They also laid out an AFC playoff field of Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts, projected the Chiefs' receiver pecking order once Rashee Rice returns, and called Justin Jefferson the best receiver in football with Puka Nacua a top-five receiver.Rich Hribar · Positional Finishes · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Hribar published their 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how they prioritize drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.Chris Brockman · Positional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Hit 100
Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called their shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.Ryan Tracy · Positional Finishes · Bryan Cook · Miss 0
Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; they name Brian Robinson as their target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10.Pat Gustavson · Positional Finishes · Bijan Robinson · Close 75
Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out their own coaching landing spots.