Nick FariaOct 9, 2026

Faria argues the struggling Jets will likely trade edge rusher Will McDonald IV before the Nov. 10 deadline, naming the Panthers, Cowboys and 49ers as the most likely landing spots. They also frame Carolina as the team positioned to win the NFC South again and Dallas as the team with the pieces to take the NFC East by default.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

Waiting5 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 5Settled5 still waiting

5Waitingnot graded yet

What Nick Faria said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

it's clear he's not in New York's long-term plans, potentially putting him on the move before the 2026 NFL trade deadline

Nick Faria, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: 3 Most Likely Will McDonald IV Trade Destination as His Jets Outlook Remains Unclear
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Will McDonald IV to move to Dallas Cowboys“2. Cowboys ... McDonald is no Parsons, but he could provide an immediate boost to the group going into the later parts of the season.”
2Will McDonald IV to move to San Francisco 49ers“3. 49ers ... Outside of Nick Bosa, the 49ers could use extra players to aid in their defense”
3Carolina Panthers to win the division“they remain the one team that seemingly is competent enough on offense to win the NFC South again”
4Dallas Cowboys to win the division“the Cowboys seem like the one team that actually has the pieces to win the division by default now”
5Will McDonald IV to move to Carolina Panthers“And that could make McDonald attractive to at least three times around the league. 1. Panthers ... They need a pass rusher like McDonald to put them over the hump.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Will McDonald IV to move to Dallas Cowboys¹	Trade and Signing Calls	—	—	—	—
Will McDonald IV to move to San Francisco 49ers²	Trade and Signing Calls	—	—	—	—
Carolina Panthers to win the division³	Division Winners	—	—	—	—
Dallas Cowboys to win the division⁴	Division Winners	—	—	—	—
Will McDonald IV to move to Carolina Panthers⁵	Trade and Signing Calls	—	—	—	—
5 calls · 5 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

5 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls and 2 division winners — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

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.

1Trade and Signing Calls Will McDonald IV Dallas Cowboys
Will McDonald IV to move to Dallas Cowboys
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Trade and Signing Calls Will McDonald IV San Francisco 49ers
Will McDonald IV to move to San Francisco 49ers
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Division Winners Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers to win the division
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
4Division Winners Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
5Trade and Signing Calls Will McDonald IV Carolina Panthers
Will McDonald IV to move to Carolina Panthers
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

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Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Micah Parsons · Miss 0
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More trade and signing calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

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Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.
Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
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.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere.
Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.
Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.