Mike Renner#28 of 87 NFL pundits · Apr 29, 2026
Renner sorts all 32 NFL teams into 10 tiers heading into 2026, from a "need more talent" bottom group (Dolphins, Titans, Raiders, Cardinals) up to a "reigning favorites" top tier of Seahawks, Rams and Broncos. He also projects several starting jobs in Chicago, Houston and New England.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Pushing the Pile (podcast)Hear the original
What Mike Renner said
It is the reigning favorites tier. These were probably the best teams in the NFL. A year ago, nothing has dissuaded me from thinking that heading into 2026, it's the Seahawks, it's the Rams, and it's the Broncos.
- Where it was said
- Pushing the Pile (podcast)
- The episode
- Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings: Who Are The True Contenders & Who Will Compete For No. 1 Pick?
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Power Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 11 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.
Depth Chart Calls8 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Braden Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
“Braden Smith at tackle. You at least have a better starting five, in my opinion”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dre'Mont Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“Harold Landry, Draymond Jones. Those are your starters heading into”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Devin Bush to be 1st on the depth chart
“You got Devin Bush in there now instead of Tremaine Edmonds.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dillon Thieneman to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kobe Bryant, Dylan Theeneman, that's your new safety group.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Wyatt Teller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Wyatt Heller at guard... You at least have a better starting five, in my opinion”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Keylan Rutledge to be 1st on the depth chart
“Keelan Rutledge your first rounder. Looks like he's gonna be your center or one of your guard positions.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Coby Bryant to be 1st on the depth chart
“they turned over their safety group... Kobe Bryant, Dylan Theeneman, that's your new safety group.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Harold Landry III to be 1st on the depth chart
“I still don't think they have a guy, Harold Landry, Draymond Jones. Those are your starters heading into”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Power Rankings1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“We got 10 tiers... It's called the need more talent tier... It's the Miami Dolphins. It's the Tennessee Titans. It's the Las Vegas Raiders, and it's the Arizona Cardinals... they might be better than we thought tier. And it is the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns... quarterback questions tier... It's the Colts. It's the Vikings, the Falcons, it's the Steelers... head coach slash quarterback buoying mid rosters tier... it's the Chiefs, it's the Chargers, it's the Bengals, and it's the forty niners... the ascending tier... It's the Saints. It's the Cowboys. It's the Giants, and it's the Panthers... shouldn't have been that bad last year... It's the Ravens, the Lions, it's the Commanders, and it's the Bucks... close and status quo... It's the bears, it's the jaguars, and it's the Buffalo Bills... the Texans and the Patriots are in the close and got better category... the back again tier... It's the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles... the reigning favorites tier... it's the Seahawks, it's the Rams, and it's the Broncos.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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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.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
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Fitzmaurice predicted a 24-21 Patriots win over the Packers, said they would not be surprised if Jonathan Taylor were inactive amid trade talk, pegged Jonah Coleman as an RB22 rest-of-season value, expected Evan Hull to be Arizona's backup back, and saw Kerby Joseph returning in Week 10 or 11.
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.