# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd praised the offseason's biggest moves and made several concrete calls: Bradley Chubb producing about nine to ten sacks a year in Buffalo, Tyler Linderbaum being the second-best center in football, Malik Willis proving to be at least the 17th-best quarterback in the NFL, Fernando Mendoza eventually starting for the Raiders, and their current list of AFC playoff teams (Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Bills, Chargers and probably the Ravens).

**Claimed:** Mar 12, 2026
**Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/colin-cowherd
**Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/the-herd-hour-2-top-5-moves-of-the-nfl-offseason

10 claims — 6 playoff picks, 2 positional finishes, 1 depth chart call and 1 player season number — the 9 we can check 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 the 9 calls we can check have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

The other one was too vague to check, so it is not graded.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

> I think it's very realistic that at some point next year you will feel like Malik Willis is at least the seventeenth best quarterback in the NFL.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Bradley Chubb to record 9–10 sacks**
  - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Bradley Chubb, Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Denver Broncos to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **New England Patriots to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Malik Willis to finish top 17 at his position, by passing yards**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Malik Willis
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Tyler Linderbaum to finish top 2 at his position, by an unstated measure**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Tyler Linderbaum, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: too vague to check
- **Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Bradley Chubb — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bradley-chubb
- Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos
- New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Malik Willis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-willis
- Tyler Linderbaum — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-linderbaum
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza

## What others said about the same people

- Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0)
- Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0)
- 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 (scored 0)
- Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0)
- Pete Prisco on Buffalo Bills: Prisco picked the Bills to win 21-14 at Minnesota. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/baf85732-a389-4d56-8efe-5ce1e77fb8ae (scored 76.19)
- John Breech on Buffalo Bills: Breech picked the Bills to beat the Vikings on Monday night by a score of 24-17. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4d22cd22-c9e2-4e03-ac32-129a116a34d0 (scored 76.19)

## More playoff picks

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

- Dan "Buzz" Wilson on Philadelphia Eagles: Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — they expect them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/afce079c-b986-476b-a872-09905017fc6f (scored 100)
- Craig Stout on Kansas City Chiefs: Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and they expect Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ad5b565-6220-4c30-9371-e55be75a35f0 (scored 0)
- Ross Jackson on New Orleans Saints: Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4dc05898-73fd-4fcb-92c4-a940d7e395ba (scored 0)
- Rich Eisen on Minnesota Vikings: Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29ea2738-79a2-4be9-aa45-e794cd3848fb (scored 0)
- Dwaine Board on San Francisco 49ers: Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/07beb6d4-aadc-4b2d-b131-b889c85204a3 (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on Carolina Panthers: Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. They also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100)

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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.

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