# Colin Cowherd: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 24, 2026 **Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/colin-cowherd **Outlet:** The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-colin-cowherd-podcast-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/arttrk.com/p/D5CA5/pscrb.fm/rss/p/prfx.byspotify.com/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/4013d28e-5f67-4885-bff1-ae3300346830/4569d572-f762-4b98-b25c-b4b00002eea4/audio.mp3?in_playlist=e829cf60-fc06-4d61-8691-ae330034683e 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. > Bears Caleb Williams My bold prediction for MVP *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Cleveland Browns to finish with 6 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Williams to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - “The Texans, I know, I know you're bored with them. Best defense in the league easily” - Kind: Position Group Rankings · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sam Darnold to finish top 5 at his position, by passing yards** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns - Caleb Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-williams - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Shedeur Sanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/shedeur-sanders - Sam Darnold — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-darnold - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - J.J. McCarthy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/j-j-mccarthy - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings ## What others said about the same people - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - Patricia Traina on J.J. McCarthy: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b638ed13-01ca-4ea6-9384-ec7130f912c1 (scored 100) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0) - John Middlekauff on Caleb Williams: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0) - Donnie Druin on Jacoby Brissett: Following the Cardinals' decision not to make staff or lineup changes, Druin states that Jacoby Brissett will remain Arizona's starting quarterback for another week, with rookie Carson Beck staying behind them. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cb29b9b6-2fbf-4df8-8438-ac3f0b9b9566 (scored 100) - Jordan Dajani on Drew Kendall: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cad37b83-7924-4f90-9898-82a22fa12331 (scored 0) - Donnie Druin on Jacoby Brissett: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/680ba698-8a2c-4d83-9b6b-9b90e7643a8c (scored 100) - Josh Alper on Olaivavega Ioane: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/275cec01-644f-4b6e-b878-55a46d1a1b51 (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=colin-cowherd