Pat GustavsonMay 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.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)Hear the original
What Pat Gustavson said
he's gonna be my defensive rookie of the year, spoiler alert
- Where it was said
- Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)
- The episode
- Best Rookies for Fantasy & Way-Too-Early NFL Predictions for 2026 - Podcast for 5/5
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Season Win Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Fantasy Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Positional Finishes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Coach Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
How each call scored
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 finish — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
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 below the rest of the room on every one.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season21 calls from 20 pundits between 1 and 1. 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.
Award Picks5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year
“I'm gonna pick Miles Garrett because I'm lame as shit.”
—WaitingNot 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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive rookie of the year. Oh, Jeremiah.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“he's gonna be my defensive rookie of the year, spoiler alert”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners7 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I like the Broncos. I think I just think the defense is so solid.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“I like the Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC North again.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“I like Jacksonville as well. I think they're more complete team.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Detroit Lions to win the division
“I am gonna go the Lions. Okay. I think they bounce back after last year.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omar Cooper to be 2nd on the depth chart
“again, he is the clear cut wide receiver too”
—WaitingNot 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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Playoff Picks6 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“And just really quick, Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers are my three wild card teams.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“I'll go with the Bears for my for my third wild card.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers are my three wild card teams.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers are my three wild card teams.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Season Win Totals2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baltimore Ravens to finish with 9 wins
“I think Baltimore is kinda looking at like a nine and eighteen as well.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fantasy Rankings1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“Pat's got Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiah Love, Jadarian Price, Denzel Boston, Skyler Bell, Antonio Williams, Omar Cooper Junior, and Kenyon Saddiq.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Positional Finishes1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Puka Nacua to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards
“He's the best wide receiver in the game.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Coach Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Liam Cohen to win Coach of the Year
“I wrote it down to Liam Cohen... but I'll go Liam Cohen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns, Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders, Omar Cooper, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Rueben Bain, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens
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.Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Daniel DiBerardinis · Division Winners · Atlanta Falcons · Miss 0
Danny 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. They also give a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.Colin Cowherd · Division Winners · New York Giants · Miss 0
Cowherd 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. They also expect Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and they float the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.Cynthia Frelund · Division Winners · Houston Texans · Miss 0
Freeland'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; they also see the AFC's Super Bowl representative being either Denver or Houston.Chris Brockman · Division Winners · Philadelphia Eagles · Hit 100
Brockman 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 they think they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026.Rich Eisen · Division Winners · Philadelphia Eagles · Hit 100
Eisen 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 Brockman · Division Winners · Carolina Panthers · Hit 100
Brockman 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.