Colin Cowherd#54 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 24, 2026
Cowherd argues Cleveland should start Shedeur Sanders over Deshaun Watson, thinks the Browns aren't a playoff team but could sneak six wins, picks Caleb Williams for MVP, classes the Rams as having the league's best roster and the Texans as having the best defense, says JJ McCarthy is a backup quarterback, and predicts Fernando Mendoza is the only quarterback they like in this draft class.
Said on air or in an interview · The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast)Hear the original
What Colin Cowherd said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBears Caleb Williams My bold prediction for MVP
- Where it was said
- The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast)
- The episode
- Browns Should Start Shedeur, From The NFL Back To…College? JJ McCarthy Is A Bust, Seahawks Underrated?
- The original
- Hear the original
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- 1Cleveland Browns to finish with 6 wins“I don't think they're a playoff team, but if they they got kind of a sneaky six wins.”
- 2Caleb Williams to win MVP“bounce back Bears Caleb Williams My bold prediction for MVP”
- 3Houston Texans to win the division“Their coach Demiko Ryans wins divisions”
- 4Position Group Rankings“The Texans, I know, I know you're bored with them. Best defense in the league easily”
- 5Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart“I mean I would have a hard time not starting Shador Sanders.”
- 6Sam Darnold to finish top 5 at his position, by passing yards“Sam Darnold just rated the fifth best quarterback in the NFL by players in the top one hundred.”
- 7J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart“So I think he's a I think he's a backup quarterback.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns to finish with 6 wins1 | Season Win Totals | — | — | — | — | |
| Caleb Williams to win MVP2 | Award Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Houston Texans to win the division3 | Division Winners | — | — | — | — | |
| “The Texans, I know, I know you're bored with them. Best defense…”4 | Position Group Rankings | — | — | — | — | |
| Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Sam Darnold to finish top 5 at his position, by passing yards6 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart7 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 calls · 7 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
7 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 award pick, 1 division winner, 1 position group ranking, 1 positional finish and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season22 calls from 18 pundits between 1 and 2. Colin Cowherd said 1. 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
winsTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Season Win TotalsCleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns to finish with 6 wins
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Award PicksCaleb WilliamsChicago Bears
Caleb Williams to win MVP
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Division WinnersHouston Texans
Houston Texans to win the division
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Position Group RankingsHouston Texans
“The Texans, I know, I know you're bored with them. Best defense in the league easily”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Positional FinishesSam DarnoldSeattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold to finish top 5 at his position, by passing yards
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot 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.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.Donnie Druin · Depth Chart Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Druin writes that despite the 1-3 start and a three-interception game, Jacoby Brissett will stay Arizona's starting quarterback heading into the Week 5 game against Detroit, with Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck remaining behind them.Josh Alper · Depth Chart Calls · Olaivavega Ioane · Hit 100
Alper writes that Cam Jurgens, acquired by trade and in the concussion protocol, won't debut for Baltimore until the following week, leaving Vega Ioane as the likeliest starter at center against the Falcons before sliding back to right guard once Jurgens is available.