Rich Eisen· Feb 10, 2025
Rich Eisen endorsed the idea that Jalen Hurts is a top-five quarterback heading into 2025, calling it not an overreaction after his Super Bowl LIX MVP performance. He also expects Travis Kelce to return to play in 2025 rather than retire.
“He is a top five quarterback in the NFL”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 positional finishe and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Their call against the record
positional finishTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
2 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Jalen Hurts to finish top 5 at his position, by passing yards
“Guess who is the MVP, of this Super Bowl and the top five guy? Not an overreaction. ... He is a top five quarterback in the NFL”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
- Roster Spot CallsTravis KelceKansas City ChiefsFeb 10, 2025
Travis Kelce — “back next year”
“I think Travis Kelce is gonna be back next year. He's not going out like this. I agree.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Aaron LaddMock Draft Picks · Arvell ReeseHit · 96Before the Chiefs' pick at No. 6, Ladd predicted Kansas City had traded up to take edge rusher Arvel Reese. After the pick, he framed Mansour Delaine as the immediate replacement for Trent McDuffie as the Chiefs' No. 1 cornerback.
- JC PearsonMock Draft Picks · Arvell ReeseHit · 96Pearson also expected the Chiefs' trade up to No. 6 to be for Arvel Reese, and after the pick said Delaine would step in as Kansas City's day-one No. 1 cornerback.
- Danny ParkinsMock Draft Picks · Caleb DownsHit · 92Danny Parkins presented his one-and-only 2026 mock draft, including trades: Mendoza at 1 to the Raiders, David Bailey second to the Jets, the Cowboys trading up to No. 3 for Arvell Reese, the Bears trading up to 16 for Kadyn Proctor, and Ty Simpson going to Arizona at 32 at the end of round one.
- Nick WrightMock Draft Picks · Rueben BainClose · 77Nick Wright unveiled his full 32-pick 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with Avion Terrell to the Seahawks at 32. He also called Carnell Tate the best/safest receiver in the class, projected Ty Simpson inside the top 45, said Mendoza profiles as a low-end top-15 NFL quarterback, and expected the Dolphins to lose 15 games.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Kadyn ProctorHit · 84Harrison delivers his only first-round mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, projecting all 32 first-round picks (including several trades) plus the rest of Washington's projected class, while noting it is an exercise in what could happen rather than a firm forecast.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Mansoor DelaneHit · 88Daniel Jeremiah's final 2026 NFL mock draft, projecting the first round pick by pick (including mock trades), starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with Peter Woods to the Ravens via a trade with Seattle.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich HribarPositional Finishes · Matthew StaffordHit · 100Hribar published his 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how he prioritizes drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaHit · 100Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.
- Pat GustavsonPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out his own coaching landing spots.
- JP AcostaPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonPositional Finishes · Christian GonzalezMiss · 0Ochocinco says Christian Gonzalez belongs in the top-five DB conversation, believes Kyler Murray will be elsewhere next year, expects Chase to get a one-game suspension, backs Sam Darnold to bounce back, and floats Jaxon Smith-Njigba reaching 2,000 receiving yards. He also reminds listeners he called the Bears and Panthers as teams to watch before the season.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Puka NacuaHit · 92Brockman claimed the AFC North would send only the Steelers to the playoffs, that the Chiefs will win the AFC West, that Puka Nacua is the NFL's best wide receiver, and that the Jaguars are a top-eight team; he also had a preseason prophecy of the Ravens reaching the Super Bowl.