Brandon CarneyApr 22, 2026
Co-hosting a mock draft, Carney made the odd-numbered picks: Fernando Mendoza No. 1 to the Raiders, Arvell Reese No. 3 to the Cardinals, Sonny Styles No. 5 to the Giants, Mekhi Lemon No. 7 to the Commanders, Caleb Downs No. 9 to the Chiefs, and more. They also predicted AJ Brown will be a Patriot, said Kenyan Saddiq will be the first-round bust, and picked the Bengals to finish ahead of the Ravens in the AFC North.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)Hear the original
What Brandon Carney said
Fernando Mendoza, number one overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, kicking off what is gonna be a new era for them.
- Where it was said
- Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)
- The episode
- Full First Round Mock Draft + Latest NFL News - Podcast for 4/22
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidApr 22
- GradedSep 18–Oct 1
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mock Draft Picks | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | |
| Trade and Signing Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Draft Bust Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Power Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| All | 7 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
How each call scored
22 checkable claims — 17 mock draft picks, 2 playoff picks, 1 draft bust call, 1 power ranking and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 36 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
18 of 22 have settled so far, averaging 75.7 out of 100, against 47.2 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
Their call against what happened
overall pickTheir call against what actually happened.
Mock Draft Picks6 hits · 10 close calls · 1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 13
“I guess they might go to Delaine here... I'll go with the lane.”
Went 6mocked at 1373.84Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Mansoor Delane
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 73.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 6
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 73.84
- predicted pick:
- 13
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Akheem Mesidor to be picked at number 15
“we are going with Akeem Mesador”
Went 22mocked at 1573.84Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Akheem Mesidor
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 73.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 22
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 73.84
- predicted pick:
- 15
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
- Went 11mocked at 991.7Hit
mock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Caleb Downs
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 91.7
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 11
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 91.7
- predicted pick:
- 9
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Colton Hood to be picked at number 29
“I'll go Collin Hood here. Just to just positional need.”
Went 37mocked at 2970.71Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Colton Hood
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 70.71
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 37
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 70.71
- predicted pick:
- 29
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Spencer Fano to be picked at number 17
“the way this has fallen, they get Fano”
Went 9mocked at 1770.71Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Spencer Fano
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 70.71
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 9
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 70.71
- predicted pick:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be picked at number 23
“The Philadelphia Eagles at 23... we're going with mister EMW, Emmanuel McNeil Warren.”
Went 58mocked at 2321.95Missmock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 21.95
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 58
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 21.95
- predicted pick:
- 23
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
K.C. Concepcion to be picked at number 20
“So I'm gonna put KC Concepcion.”
Went 24mocked at 2084.09Hitmock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- K.C. Concepcion
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 84.09
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 24
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 84.09
- predicted pick:
- 20
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Arvell Reese to be picked at number 3
“I'm going with Arvell Reese at three.”
Went 5mocked at 391.7Hitmock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Arvell Reese
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 91.7
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 5
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 91.7
- predicted pick:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Sonny Styles to be picked at number 5
“New York Giants here at number five... despite what I said about Sonny Styles, I am gonna pick him here.”
Went 7mocked at 591.7Hitmock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Sonny Styles
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 91.7
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 7
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 91.7
- predicted pick:
- 5
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Makai Lemon to be picked at number 7
“the best receiver on the board is Mckay Lemon, and I'm gonna give them Mckay Lemon”
Went 20mocked at 756.94Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Makai Lemon
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 56.94
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 20
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 56.94
- predicted pick:
- 7
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Kenyon Sadiq to be picked at number 27
“Kenyan Saddique's a 40 niner, baby... this was the kind of move that Shanahan wanted to make here at 27”
Went 16mocked at 2762.09Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Kenyon Sadiq
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 62.09
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 16
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 62.09
- predicted pick:
- 27
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Dillon Thieneman to be picked at number 19
“then we're we're gonna go with Thiemann”
Went 25mocked at 1977.11Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Dillon Thieneman
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 77.11
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 25
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 77.11
- predicted pick:
- 19
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Francis Mauigoa to be picked at number 11
“Miami Dolphins here at number 11... I'll go Francis Mahoney now.”
Went 10mocked at 1195.76Hitmock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Francis Mauigoa
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 10
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 11
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
T.J. Parker to be picked at number 25
“Let's go TJ Parker here from Clemson. He's going to the Chicago Baez at twenty five.”
Went 35mocked at 2564.84Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- T.J. Parker
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 64.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 35
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 64.84
- predicted pick:
- 25
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Max Iheanachor to be picked at number 31
“The New England Patriots at number 31... I'm gonna go with with Iron Eagle. Tackle.”
Went 21mocked at 3164.84Closemock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Max Iheanachor
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 64.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 21
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 64.84
- predicted pick:
- 31
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“Fernando Mendoza, number one overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders”
Went 1mocked at 1100Hitmock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
- Went 13mocked at 2170.71Close
mock order 86.89 − 50 for a shuffle = 36.89 × 1 difficulty = +36.89 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 36.89
- player:
- Ty Simpson
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 70.71
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 13
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 70.71
- predicted pick:
- 21
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 86.89
Trade and Signing Calls1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
A.J. Brown to move to New England Patriots
“Sounds like everybody's in in the league is pretty much operating under the assumption that AJ Brown is going to be a Patriot.”
100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- A.J. Brown
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- NE
- was with:
- PHI
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → NE (from PHI)
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Draft Bust Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Kenyon Sadiq to disappoint at the next level
“I'll go Kenyan Saddiq. I'll say Saddiq. He's the one that kinda concerns me the most.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Power Rankings1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“Browns are last. Steelers are third... I'll go with the Bengals just with the just as, Ty pointed out, continuity sake.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Playoff Picks2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I think them and the Ravens will both be fighting for that and we'll both make the play”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“I think them and the Ravens will both be fighting for that and we'll both make the play”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Mansoor Delane, Los Angeles Rams, Akheem Mesidor, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Caleb Downs, Kansas City Chiefs, Colton Hood, Spencer Fano, Detroit Lions, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Philadelphia Eagles, K.C. Concepcion, Carolina Panthers, Arvell Reese, Arizona Cardinals, Sonny Styles, New York Giants, Makai Lemon, Washington Commanders, Kenyon Sadiq, San Francisco 49ers, Dillon Thieneman, Minnesota Vikings, Francis Mauigoa, Miami Dolphins, T.J. Parker, Chicago Bears, Max Iheanachor, New England Patriots, Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders, Ty Simpson, Pittsburgh Steelers, A.J. Brown, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens
Others on the same people
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.John Breech · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 90
Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Chris Simms · Mock Draft Picks · Malachi Corley · Miss 11
Simms named the Bears the NFL's best overall offense and best rushing offense, the Bengals the best passing offense, Seattle the best total defense, Minnesota the best pass defense and Tampa Bay the best run defense; they also called Tristan Wirfs the league's best offensive lineman, projected Miami's Malachi Toney as a top-15 pick, and predicted a 30-14 Jaguars win in Baltimore.Philip Hughes · Mock Draft Picks · Kyle Kennard · Miss 34
Evaluating edge rusher Kyle Kennard ahead of the draft, the account projected them as a Day 2 selection.Charlie Campbell · Mock Draft Picks · Xavier Williams · Miss 0
Campbell's draft stock report projects Indiana WR Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in 2027, Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones as a first-rounder, Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick, and Texas OT Trevor Goosby as a top-10 pick, while suggesting Arch Manning could still be a first-rounder if they declare.Charlie Campbell · Mock Draft Picks · Xavier Williams · Miss 0
Reviewing Week 7 college games, Campbell projects a slate of draft outcomes: Tennessee's Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick in 2026, Alabama's Bray Hubbard as a Day 2 pick and Yhonzae Pierre as a potential first-rounder, Jeremiah Smith as one of the very first players drafted, Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in the 2027 draft, Colin Simmons and Trevor Goosby as top-10 picks, and Jadan Baugh as a first-round pick.