# Rich Eisen: 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.

**Claimed:** Feb 10, 2025
**Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen
**Outlet:** The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-rich-eisen-show-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/WWO7485684704.mp3?updated=1739212350

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.

> He is a top five quarterback in the NFL

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Jalen Hurts to finish top 5 at his position, by passing yards**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: too vague to check
- **Travis Kelce — “back next year”**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Jalen Hurts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-hurts
- Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles
- Travis Kelce — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/travis-kelce
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs

## What others said about the same people

- Aaron Ladd on Arvell Reese: Before 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f2d2b760-c7eb-48c2-b5f5-2235ff6868cf (scored 95.76)
- JC Pearson on Arvell Reese: Pearson 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cb64f2a7-5bc0-4a4e-8651-4458a3cc4eb5 (scored 95.76)
- Danny Parkins on Caleb Downs: Danny 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d98bca2f-5fc3-4f68-8389-30f9a2cb906f (scored 91.7)
- Nick Wright on Rueben Bain: Nick 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c5ad8a4-034f-4abb-8806-20dd9e44b5c6 (scored 77.11)
- David Harrison on Kadyn Proctor: Harrison 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5cc44fc1-4ff9-447a-9c32-5f715fa6e9ba (scored 84.09)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Mansoor Delane: Daniel 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0fbc7597-86ee-4037-a1e6-4b062ff9f12c (scored 87.81)

## More positional finishes

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Rich Hribar on Matthew Stafford: Hribar 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9d1e15ad-f96d-457c-ad9f-25882182e28b (scored 100)
- Chris Brockman on Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c47d130c-5598-4cd0-b546-1121046b9166 (scored 100)
- Pat Gustavson on Bijan Robinson: Gustafson 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/06884586-5b21-40c8-9439-e303a3e8a806 (scored 75)
- JP Acosta on Bijan Robinson: JP 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/660e3494-2b0b-415e-beb7-9e3bf3464e30 (scored 75)
- Chad Ochocinco Johnson on Christian Gonzalez: Ochocinco 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c6469c58-b508-48d9-b72f-fe6e0d7d4da5 (scored 0)
- Chris Brockman on Puka Nacua: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/224a89ec-12c3-4755-96d7-07ff3fcd3b25 (scored 91.67)

---

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=rich-eisen
