Pat Gustavson· May 5, 2026
Gustafson drafted Jeremiah Love first overall in their instant-impact rookie draft, predicted Buffalo, Denver, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Detroit, the Rams and Tampa Bay as division winners, and named Puka Nacua OPOY, Myles Garrett DPOY and Ruben Bain Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“he's gonna be my defensive rookie of the year, spoiler alert”
said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) · read the original →
26 checkable claims — 7 division winners, 6 playoff picks, 5 award picks, 3 depth chart calls, 2 season win totals, 1 coach award pick, 1 fantasy ranking and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 27 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 5.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season7 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 2. Pat Gustavson 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
- Detroit Lions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Puka Nacua
- Jeremiyah Love
- Arizona Cardinals
- Fernando Mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Rueben Bain
- New England Patriots
- Buffalo Bills
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Myles Garrett
- Cleveland Browns
- Seattle Seahawks
- Omar Cooper
- New York Jets
- Chicago Bears
- Baltimore Ravens
- Jayden Daniels
- Washington Commanders
26 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.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsMay 5, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“I am gonna go the Lions. Okay. I think they bounce back after last year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersTampa Bay BuccaneersMay 5, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division
“I'm gonna go with the Bucks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsMay 5, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“I'll agree with you... the Rams are just they they like you said, they've filled their biggest weakness.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Puka Nacua to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards
“He's the best wide receiver in the game.”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
- Award PicksJeremiyah LoveArizona CardinalsMay 5, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive rookie of the year. Oh, Jeremiah.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to be 1st on the depth chart
“we're talking about a Bell Cow running back in a team where he should get a fuckload of the touches”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“we had the whole debacle last week talking about how I believe he should start week one. And how I believe he will.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersMay 5, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers are my three wild card teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsMay 5, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“I like the Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC North again.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysMay 5, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“Cowboys. I like the Cowboys as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersJacksonville JaguarsMay 5, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“I like Jacksonville as well. I think they're more complete team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDenver BroncosMay 5, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I like the Broncos. I think I just think the defense is so solid.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsMay 5, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers are my three wild card teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksRueben BainTampa Bay BuccaneersMay 5, 2026
Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“he's gonna be my defensive rookie of the year, spoiler alert”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsMay 5, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“And just really quick, Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers are my three wild card teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksPuka NacuaLos Angeles RamsMay 5, 2026
Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Everyone's favorite Nazi Puka Nakula... I think this final year where he's healthy, the Rams click.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsMay 5, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I am gonna go Buffalo just because I do think that... So I'll I'll go Buffalo here, but New England's gonna be very good.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsPittsburgh SteelersMay 5, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers to finish with 9 wins
“I don't like what Pittsburgh is doing necessarily. I think they're destined for another nine and eight year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksMyles GarrettCleveland BrownsMay 5, 2026
Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year
“I'm gonna pick Miles Garrett because I'm lame as shit.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy RankingsMay 5, 2026
“Pat's got Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiah Love, Jadarian Price, Denzel Boston, Skyler Bell, Antonio Williams, Omar Cooper Junior, and Kenyon Saddiq.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksMay 5, 2026
Liam Cohen to win Coach of the Year
“I wrote it down to Liam Cohen... but I'll go Liam Cohen.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksMay 5, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“I'm gonna go with the Seahawks... Cowboys. I like the Cowboys as well... I'll go with the Bears for my third wild card.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsOmar CooperNew York JetsMay 5, 2026
Omar Cooper to be 2nd on the depth chart
“again, he is the clear cut wide receiver too”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsMay 5, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“I'll go with the Bears for my for my third wild card.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsBaltimore RavensMay 5, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to finish with 9 wins
“I think Baltimore is kinda looking at like a nine and eighteen as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jayden Daniels to win Comeback Player of the Year
“Comeback player of the year... I'm going with Jaden Daniels.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms 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 · Detroit LionsHit · 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 · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Monson 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 division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Daniel DiBerardinisDivision Winners · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. He also gives a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · New York GiantsMiss · 0Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. He also expects Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and he floats the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.
- Cynthia FrelundDivision Winners · Houston TexansMiss · 0Freeland's model has the Chargers winning straight up in Dallas, the Texans winning big over the Raiders and going on to win the AFC South, the Lions beating the Steelers by six, the Saints beating the Jets, and the Packers beating the Bears; she also sees the AFC's Super Bowl representative being either Denver or Houston.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though he thinks they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Eisen said the Patriots are still likely to win the AFC East and won't be one-and-done, that the Chargers will end Dallas' season next week, that TreVeyon Henderson should out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, that the NFC East race is over in Philadelphia's favor, and that the winner of the NFC West will be the NFC's No. 1 seed.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year.