Garrett Podell#78 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 4, 2026
A CBS Sports 2026 season preview projecting the last-place finisher in each of the eight NFL divisions (Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Commanders, Vikings, Falcons, Cardinals), along with a handful of depth-chart calls: several Miami rookies starting, Kirk Cousins starting ahead of No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas, and Ashton Jeanty leading the Raiders' backfield.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Garrett Podell said
Miami is playing for 2027, and they'll finish last in the AFC East.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Predicting last-place finisher for each NFL division in 2026: Browns, Raiders, Commanders among possible duds
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 9 depth chart calls — 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 them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 8.
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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season65 calls from 45 pundits between 1 and 3. Garrett Podell said 2. 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Depth Chart Calls9 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 first overall draft pick, may end up marinating behind Kirk Cousins longer than expected to protect his long-term health”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Taaffe to be 1st on the depth chart
“many of them are in line to start as rookies: ... fifth-round safety Michael Taaffe”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“many of them are in line to start as rookies: ... first-round cornerback Chris Johnson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 first overall draft pick, may end up marinating behind Kirk Cousins longer than expected”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. should be a fun one-two punch at running back”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacob Rodriguez to be 1st on the depth chart
“many of them are in line to start as rookies: ... second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ashton Jeanty to be 1st on the depth chart
“Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. should be a fun one-two punch at running back”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Douglas to be 1st on the depth chart
“many of them are in line to start as rookies: ... third-round rookie Caleb Douglas”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kadyn Proctor to be 1st on the depth chart
“many of them are in line to start as rookies: first-round guard Kadyn Proctor”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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.Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.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.