# Erik Engle: Engel predicts Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall to the Raiders regardless of combine performance, expects Arvell Reese to potentially be the first edge rusher off the board (possibly No. 2 to the Jets), believes the 49ers will ultimately trade Mac Jones, thinks Tyreek Hill signs with the Chiefs, and views the 49ers as a Super Bowl contender. **Claimed:** Feb 26, 2026 **Pundit:** Erik Engle — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/erik-engle **Outlet:** Locked On 49ers (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-49ers-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/f9f75c/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/0a6076b9-74e2-4b01-846e-5cc0d0b8031c/episodes/cde165d1-0582-4092-8e8f-f0f1d9e2f9de/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=0a6076b9-74e2-4b01-846e-5cc0d0b8031c&awEpisodeId=cde165d1-0582-4092-8e8f-f0f1d9e2f9de&feed=P83yLSb_ 5 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls, 1 mock draft pick and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 2 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. > He could get the lowest score of all time on the Wunderlich, and he would still go number one overall to the Raiders. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Arvell Reese to be 1st edge rusher off the board** - Kind: Position Order Calls · About: Arvell Reese - Verdict: scored 0 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 - **Mac Jones to move** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Mac Jones - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyreek Hill to move to Kansas City Chiefs** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **George Pickens to move to Dallas Cowboys** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Arvell Reese — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/arvell-reese - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Mac Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mac-jones - Tyreek Hill — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyreek-hill - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - George Pickens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/george-pickens - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys ## 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 Kansas City Chiefs: 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) - 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 Las Vegas Raiders: 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) - Jake Arthur on Kansas City Chiefs: Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ca7ab74e-ab34-4ed6-a77f-2c7e9f8c8c4d (scored 97.62) - Zach Hicks on Kansas City Chiefs: Hicks predicts a lower-scoring, field-goal-heavy game with the Chiefs beating the Colts 23-19, citing Indianapolis' red-zone success against Kansas City historically. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ddbaddad-c15e-4e6f-a6ac-f066de6cdc2a (scored 97.62) ## More trade and signing calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Adam Carlson on J.J. McCarthy: Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65e3f9cf-c441-42a2-baaf-7cd3dbebafad (scored 100) - Greg Auman on J.J. McCarthy: Auman argues no quarterback is likely to replicate Sam Darnold's turnaround this season, but names five candidates. He expects Miami to hold a very high pick in the 2027 draft, and thinks J.J. McCarthy will eventually be traded for a late-round pick or cut by the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9b8eb78e-ddfa-4274-ac8f-17b069e6b87f (scored 100) - Bucky Brooks on J.J. McCarthy: Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 100) - Bryan DeArdo on J.J. McCarthy: Named several players as candidates to be traded before Sunday's cut deadline, including Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, Cardinals edge Josh Sweat and Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1efd361e-309f-48ba-ab0a-28d77ff76942 (scored 100) - Bryan DeArdo on J.J. McCarthy: A CBS Sports piece lists veterans it expects could be traded before the 53-man roster deadline, including quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (with Buffalo floated as a landing spot), J.J. McCarthy and Will Howard, plus Jerry Jeudy, Joey Porter Jr., Tyrone Tracy Jr., Kayvon Thibodeaux, Josh Sweat, Kristian Fulton and Marist Liufau. It also says Mason Rudolph's and Drew Allar's roster spots in Pittsburgh are secure. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bd269550-714b-4a52-b6e1-2ba079b58fef (scored 100) - Matthew Coller on J.J. McCarthy: Coller argues J.J. McCarthy's development is far behind schedule and that he will likely end up needing a fresh start with another team rather than developing into the Vikings' answer at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9ffe221e-9c07-4fd5-9e59-a767ffbc691c (scored 100) --- 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=erik-engle