# Jerry Markarian: Markarian says Bears tackle Theo Benedet's spot on the roster is essentially secure as the team's top swing tackle, and suggests that if Benedet wins the left tackle job they could command roughly a $5-6 million deal in free agency next offseason, versus a near-minimum deal if they lose out to Braxton Jones. **Claimed:** Aug 28, 2026 **Pundit:** Jerry Markarian — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jerry-markarian **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/theo-benedet-is-the-chicago-bear-with-the-most-on-the-line-against-tennessee 2 checkable claims — 1 contract call and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls. > Bears offensive tackle Theo Benedet is not fighting for a roster spot. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Theo Benedet to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Theo Benedet, Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Theo Benedet: “contract claim: a $5 to $6 million deal next offseason if he wins the starting job; near-veteran-minimum deal if he does not”** - Kind: Contract Calls · About: Theo Benedet, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Theo Benedet — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/theo-benedet - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears ## 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) - Pete Prisco on Chicago Bears: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 100) - Bryan DeArdo on Chicago Bears: DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7b882443-b481-48fb-b19b-e7f989d85e46 (scored 97.62) - Danny Parkins on Chicago Bears: Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/272d1f8a-06f7-4b8b-8480-94d370ae5e6f (scored 100) - “Stanford Steve” Coughlin on Chicago Bears: Stanford Steve said the Bears would beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night, and called a player they referred to as "Yakis" their Rookie of the Year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eb50c9d5-281b-4810-b41b-a5d6da11c438 (scored 100) - Chris Simms on Chicago Bears: Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17eb747a-90b1-472f-bb6d-e71c0c69133a (scored 97.62) ## More contract calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Adam Schefter on Dallas Goedert: Schefter wrote that Dallas Goedert stays in Philadelphia after the deadline and could even re-sign with the Eagles for 2027. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5aaf82a8-c15e-4fad-aa91-5a88d9bd2754 (not settled) - Jack Markowski on Joey Porter Jr.: Markowski argued the Steelers clearly won the Joey Porter Jr. trade with Dallas and suggested Porter Jr. is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Cowboys, with a similar possibility floated for George Pickens. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d014debd-f4d3-4a20-bc71-109bce3968d7 (not settled) - Spencer German on Jared Verse: Picked Houston to beat Cleveland in Week 10 by a final score of 24-20, expecting a one-score game decided by the Texans' pass rush overwhelming a struggling Browns offensive line. Also suggested that a strong second half from Jared Verse would lead the Browns to pick up the fifth-year option. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/89e2488b-27e7-41f5-b3f9-bcd039739d63 (not settled) - John Middlekauff on C.J. Stroud: Middlekauff previewed Week 11, projecting the Commanders to finish with six or seven wins and the Giants with eight or nine, naming four AFC teams as playoff locks, and picking the Chiefs, Texans, Steelers and 49ers to win their games. Also predicted a top-15 draft slot for Charlie Becker and an eventual big contract for C.J. Stroud if the Texans finish strong. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1edc2ab2-a022-40b1-9074-e2f0a4a2e0f4 (not settled) - Tom Pelissero on C.J. Stroud: Pelissero picked the Jaguars as the AFC team to like most, said Lamar Jackson will not be cut or traded by Baltimore, and argued C.J. Stroud is heading for a contract that would make him the league's highest-paid quarterback at around $65 million per year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3131c31e-f020-4e06-a65b-23596d9285e7 (not settled) - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (not settled) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=jerry-markarian