Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 10, 2026
Eisen agreed Carson Beck is set up to be the first rookie starter, insisted Deshaun Watson will open as Cleveland's starter, named Cincinnati their top sleeper team who could get back to the Super Bowl, and expects Aaron Donald to come out of retirement and rejoin the Rams.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Overreaction Monday (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI'll just call it here again one more time. Deshaun Watson is gonna start for Cleveland.
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- Overreaction Monday (podcast)
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- NFL Preseason Primer
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The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 12, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
- 1Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams“We're sitting here waiting for Aaron Donald to make the obvious occur... So Donald may be back by the time people consume this portion... We all expect it to happen.”
- 2Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart“I'll just call it here again one more time. Deshaun Watson is gonna start for Cleveland. I've always thought that.”
- 3Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart“He is set up to start first out of the rookie class because the quarterback's chosen in front of him... I don't think this is an overreaction.”
- 4Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl“But I don't think people are thinking the Bengals are gonna make it back to the Super Bowl, and I think that could be potentially happening”
- 5Cincinnati Bengals to beat expectations“And at Cincinnati, which I've already told you is my number one sleeper team this year”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams1 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl4 | Conference Champions | — | — | — | — | |
| Cincinnati Bengals to beat expectations5 | Surprise Team Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 conference champion, 1 surprise team call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 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
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season42 calls from 29 pundits between 1 and 2. Rich Eisen 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.
1Trade and Signing CallsAaron DonaldLos Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsCarson BeckArizona Cardinals
Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Conference ChampionsCincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Surprise Team CallsCincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals to beat expectations
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
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.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
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.Doug Joubert · Score Predictions · Cleveland Browns · Miss 26
Joubert picks the Browns to win 28-17, saying the Saints haven't improved over the first half of the season despite Cleveland starting Shedeur Sanders.Pat McAfee · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
McAfee picked the Browns, with Shedeur Sanders starting, to beat the Saints in New Orleans.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
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.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.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.Mike Moraitis · Depth Chart Calls · Tyson Bagent · Miss 0
Previewing the Bears-Packers Week 5 matchup, they state Tyson Bagent will again start at quarterback for Chicago, while framing Green Bay's receivers, pass defense and return game as threats. The rest of the piece is descriptive analysis of season-to-date statistics rather than forecasts of outcomes.