# Henry McKenna: In a set of 12 bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season, McKenna forecasts A.J. Brown leading the league in receptions, Caleb Williams topping 4,000 yards with a Bears playoff berth, the Lions going worst-to-first in the NFC North, Tyler Shough cracking the top 10 in passing, Aaron Donald reaching 14 sacks, Maxx Crosby leading the league in sacks, a Seahawks rookie back winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Dak Prescott winning MVP as Dallas makes the playoffs. **Claimed:** Sep 1, 2026 **Pundit:** Henry McKenna — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/henry-mckenna **Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fox-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/12-bold-nfl-predictions-who-wins-mvp-worst-first-tops-myles-garrett-sacks 12 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes, 2 award picks, 2 player season numbers, 2 playoff picks, 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one. > They’re going to make the playoffs. And when that happens, Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Maxx Crosby to move — “gets traded again before the deadline”** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Maxx Crosby - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Williams to record 4,000 passing yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Maxx Crosby to finish top 1 at his position, by sacks** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **A.J. Brown to finish top 1 at his position, by receptions** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: A.J. Brown, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dak Prescott to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chicago Bears to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javonte Williams to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Detroit Lions to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Aaron Donald to record 14 sacks** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Shough to finish top 10 at his position, by passing yards** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Maxx Crosby — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/maxx-crosby - Caleb Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-williams - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - A.J. Brown — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/a-j-brown - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Dak Prescott — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Javonte Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javonte-williams - Jadarian Price — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jadarian-price - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Aaron Donald — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-donald - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints ## What others said about the same people - John Middlekauff on Caleb Williams: Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a (scored 0) - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/005e6ad1-bc95-49da-9db2-3a9da2d5041d (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Micah Parsons: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c9216871-a4a2-4676-b3d8-2221daa70413 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c1faeb3-7adb-456d-bd42-275be95269e8 (scored 100) - Albert Breer on Seattle Seahawks: Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4d67a8a5-0c05-4abe-b2ca-f0cef8390b1d (scored 100) ## More positional finishes The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Brockman on Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c47d130c-5598-4cd0-b546-1121046b9166 (scored 100) - Ryan Tracy on Bryan Cook: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/18bb787c-4f93-4c95-b8c2-02daeeffe823 (scored 0) - Pat Gustavson on Bijan Robinson: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/06884586-5b21-40c8-9439-e303a3e8a806 (scored 75) - JP Acosta on Bijan Robinson: JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named their own first-team All-Pro roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/660e3494-2b0b-415e-beb7-9e3bf3464e30 (scored 75) - Chris Brockman on Josh Allen: Brockman opened with a series of week-one overreactions: Josh Allen repeats as MVP with Buffalo as the AFC's No. 1 seed, Bills-Ravens is both the game of the year and an AFC title game preview, Aaron Rodgers mirrors their 2021 MVP season with 40 TDs, the NFC Championship is played at Lambeau, the Colts are AFC South front runners, Cincinnati's slow start dooms them, Christian McCaffrey has a top-five MVP season, and the Chargers are the team to beat in the AFC West. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/be6a3b07-690f-47a4-ad43-e4308584eb9c (scored 16.67) - Ndamukong Suh on Nnamdi Madubuike: Asked who is the best at their position in the league today, Suh named Justin Madubuike, saying Jalen Carter is still too raw. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0096de7a-d4fb-4d17-8b94-94802e68d456 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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