Lance Zierlein#11 of 87 NFL pundits · May 4, 2026
Reviewing the 2026 draft classes, Lance tabbed Tampa Bay's Reuben Bain as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, projected modest rookie receiving production for third-rounder Ted Hurst, and pegged several Day 3 picks for depth-chart roles — Chandler Rivers as a future starting nickel in Baltimore, Parker Brailsford as a future starting center, and Mike Washington as the Raiders' second running back behind Ashton Jeanty.
Said on air or in an interview · Move the Sticks (podcast)Hear the original
What Lance Zierlein said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromAnd as soon as I saw that, I'm like, whoo, defensive rookie of the year.
- Where it was said
- Move the Sticks (podcast)
- The episode
- Teams with the Best 2026 NFL Draft Hauls | Chiefs, Giants, Jets, Ravens and More
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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.
- 1Chandler Rivers to be 1st on the depth chart“I think he's got a chance to become a future starting nickel over there for the Ravens, really good pick for them.”
- 2Ted Hurst to record 5–6 receiving yards“he may only be a five or six hundred yard receiver this year, considering the fact they've got God wanted a Mecca Boo.”
- 3Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart“You've got Mike Washington, who is a high weight, speed running back as the second back behind Ashton Genty.”
- 4Parker Brailsford to be 1st on the depth chart“Parker could end up becoming a future starter for him. He's gonna need to because he's a center only”
- 5Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year“They have Reuben Bain fall to him and they took him... And as soon as I saw that, I'm like, whoo, defensive rookie of the year.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler Rivers to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Ted Hurst to record 5–6 receiving yards2 | Player Season Numbers | — | — | — | — | |
| Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Parker Brailsford to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year5 | Award Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 1 award pick and 1 player season number — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 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
Mike Washington · 2026 season8 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 2. Lance Zierlein said 2. the room's median is 2. 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.
1Depth Chart CallsChandler RiversBaltimore Ravens
Chandler Rivers to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Player Season NumbersTed HurstTampa Bay Buccaneers
Ted Hurst to record 5–6 receiving yards
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsMike WashingtonLas Vegas Raiders
Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsParker BrailsfordCleveland Browns
Parker Brailsford to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Award PicksRueben BainTampa Bay Buccaneers
Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Brandon Carney · Trade and Signing Calls · Mike Evans · Miss 0
Carney predicts Geno Smith signs with the Vikings and starts for them, that at least four of the fringe veteran quarterbacks (Tua, Kyler, Cousins, Fields, Geno) will be starters next season, and that Mike Evans stays with Tampa Bay. They also rank their top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values.Dalton Feely · Trade and Signing Calls · Chris Godwin Jr. · Hit 100
Feenie predicted Chris Godwin stays in Tampa Bay, Josh Sweat reunites with Jonathan Gannon in Arizona, Ronnie Stanley signs with New England, Jevon Holland lands in Indianapolis, Khalil Mack joins Washington, Asante Samuel Jr. goes to San Francisco, Najee Harris to the Raiders and Bobby Wagner to Dallas.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.Eric Mangini · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as their upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated their Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. They also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.Donte Johnson · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.