Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Feb 13, 2026
Asked to rank the 2024 quarterback draft class two years in, Rich Eisen put Caleb Williams first, Drake Maye second, Jayden Daniels third, Bo Nix fourth and JJ McCarthy/Michael Penix fifth. They also expect JJ McCarthy to start Week 1 next season and guesses Atlanta finds a way to keep Kirk Cousins.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI'll go Knicks four, Jaden Daniels three because I don't know what he's gonna look like coming back... I'll go May 2, and I'll go Caleb one.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 3: Ranking the ’24 NFL Draft QB Class, plus Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway Sr.
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidFeb 13
- GradedAug 13
- 1J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart“And then there's JJ McCarthy, who I think is gonna start week one of next year.”
- 2Kirk Cousins to move to Atlanta Falcons“If I had to guess, Atlanta's gonna keep him. They'll figure out how to keep him.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | No. 1 | 100 | 91.67 | +8.33 | |
| Kirk Cousins to move to Atlanta Falcons2 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 1 hit · 1 waiting | 100 | 91.7 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 91.7 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.
Their call against what happened
Their call against what actually happened.
1Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards100Hit · naive 91.67100this call−91.67a naive guess=8.33better than naive×1difficulty=+8.33skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- MIN
- skill:
- 8.33
- player:
- J.J. McCarthy
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- measured by:
- passing yards
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
2Trade and Signing CallsKirk CousinsAtlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins to move to Atlanta Falcons
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.