# Brandon Carney: 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. He 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. **Claimed:** Apr 22, 2026 **Pundit:** Brandon Carney — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/brandon-carney **Outlet:** Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/bran-coverage-with-benchwarmerbran-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182919/episodes/19060200-full-first-round-mock-draft-latest-nfl-news-podcast-for-4-22.mp3 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 bet. It names 36 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 18 of 22 have settled so far, averaging 70.4 out of 100, against 47.2 for a naive guess at the same calls. > Fernando Mendoza, number one overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, kicking off what is gonna be a new era for them. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **A.J. Brown to move to New England Patriots** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: A.J. Brown, New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Akheem Mesidor to be picked at number 15** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Akheem Mesidor, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Sonny Styles to be picked at number 5** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Sonny Styles, New York Giants - Verdict: scored 91.7 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Dillon Thieneman to be picked at number 19** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Dillon Thieneman, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 77.11 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Arvell Reese to be picked at number 3** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Arvell Reese, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 91.7 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **T.J. Parker to be picked at number 25** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: T.J. Parker, Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 64.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Francis Mahoney now to be picked at number 11** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Francis Mahoney now, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **K.C. Concepcion to be picked at number 20** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: K.C. Concepcion, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 84.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be picked at number 23** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 21.95 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Spencer Fano to be picked at number 17** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Spencer Fano, Detroit Lions - Verdict: scored 70.71 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Ty Simpson to be picked at number 21** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ty Simpson, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: scored 70.71 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Kenyon Sadiq to be picked at number 27** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kenyon Sadiq, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 62.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Max Iheanachor to be picked at number 31** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Max Iheanachor, New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 64.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 13** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Mansoor Delane, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 73.84 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Caleb Downs to be picked at number 9** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Caleb Downs, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 91.7 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Makai Lemon to be picked at number 7** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Makai Lemon, Washington Commanders - Verdict: scored 56.94 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Colton Hood to be picked at number 29** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Colton Hood, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 70.71 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Browns are last. Steelers are third... I'll go with the Bengals just with the just as, Ty pointed out, continuity sake.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenyon Sadiq to disappoint at the next level** - Kind: Draft Bust Calls · About: Kenyon Sadiq - Verdict: not settled yet - **Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - A.J. Brown — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/a-j-brown - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Akheem Mesidor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/akheem-mesidor - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Sonny Styles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sonny-styles - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/giants - Dillon Thieneman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dillon-thieneman - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Arvell Reese — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/arvell-reese - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - T.J. Parker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/t-j-parker - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Francis Mahoney now — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/francis-mahoney-now - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - K.C. Concepcion — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/k-c-concepcion - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emmanuel-mcneil-warren - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Spencer Fano — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/spencer-fano - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Ty Simpson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ty-simpson - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Kenyon Sadiq — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenyon-sadiq - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Max Iheanachor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/max-iheanachor - Mansoor Delane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mansoor-delane - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Makai Lemon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/makai-lemon - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/commanders - Colton Hood — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/colton-hood - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on Kansas City Chiefs: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 100) - Connor Rogers on New York Giants: Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 100) - Chris Long on Cincinnati Bengals: Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3df9ea25-e57f-4fd7-b20c-c910a1c3633a (scored 0) - Steven Ruiz on Las Vegas Raiders: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 100) - Nate Tice on Baltimore Ravens: Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b8378e16-ea5c-4107-a883-28aaf0e71134 (scored 100) - Sam Monson on Minnesota Vikings: Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b810ffd-fd93-4ea2-a208-b1353dea5fb0 (scored 100) ## More mock draft picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Ryan Wilson on J.J. McCarthy: Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/44cc5859-8b2b-4fbf-b5c0-62c635f2e357 (scored 36.92) - Nick Shook on Avieon Terrell: Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7d4209aa-2e2d-47a2-b6e5-791d16d209cb (scored 29.73) - Daniel Jeremiah on Keyron Crawford: In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f60c916c-1b5f-4252-8733-1770c7809577 (scored 80.52) - Daniel Jeremiah on Carnell Tate: Jeremiah says Denver, not Kansas City, will be the clear favorite in the AFC West this season; he also puts Carnell Tate sixth and Monroe Freeling twentieth on his prospect board, mocks Tate to Cleveland at No. 6, and expects Georgia receiver Branch to be a Day 2 pick after a strong pro day. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/48a1d189-dc0f-4250-aa3b-0e27119c733a (scored 91.7) - Jeff Cavanaugh on Lorenzo Styles: Streaming from the NFL Combine, Jeff pegged safety Dylan Thienemann's draft range at roughly picks 20-35, said LSU safety AJ Halsey would cost a second- or third-round pick, and insisted Sonny Styles' brother would not be a top-50 selection despite a fast 40. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f1f48cc1-f9d5-44ca-b130-2c6447b49bc6 (scored 0.51) - Scott Bogman on Olaivavega Ioane: He gave David Bailey to Tennessee at 4, Sonny Styles to Washington at 7, Caleb Downs to Cincinnati at 10, Carnell Tate to the Rams at 13, Denzel Boston to the Jets at 16, Kayden McDonald to Carolina at 19, Vega Ioane to the Chargers at 22, Peter Woods to Chicago at 25, Emmanuel Pregnon to Houston at 28 and Romello Height to Denver at 31, and insisted both Bailey and Downs are top-10 locks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b0cd1a9-31f7-40d9-9b9e-f52957c10494 (scored 70.71) --- 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=brandon-carney