Tyler Sullivan· Oct 19, 2026
Sullivan argues C.J. Stroud's resurgent 2026 play has positioned him for a record-setting extension next offseason that could make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. He also expects Jacksonville to move Brian Thomas Jr., sees Todd Monken as the Coach of the Year favorite if Cleveland keeps leading the AFC North, and believes Kirk Cousins keeps the Raiders' starting job over Fernando Mendoza.
“Provided Stroud maintains this play throughout the rest of the season, he'll be one of the many quarterbacks due for an extension that could reshape the market”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 1 coach award pick, 1 contract call, 1 depth chart call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 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.
Where this call stands in the room
Kirk Cousins · 2026 season51 calls from 41 pundits between 1 and 1. Tyler Sullivan 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
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
4 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.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersOct 19, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“I don't think we're close to Klint Kubiak pulling the plug on Kirk Cousins for Fernando Mendoza. So long as they're still in the hunt, I think Cousins keeps his job.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksOct 19, 2026
Todd Monken to win Coach of the Year
“This is the first time the Browns have led the AFC North in Week 6 or later since 2014. If this continues, it's hard to imagine Todd Monken not winning Coach of the Year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsBrian Thomas Jr.Oct 19, 2026
Brian Thomas Jr. to move — “traded”
“I'd be on the lookout for a Brian Thomas Jr. trade, particularly as Jacksonville enters the bye in Week 7.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Contract CallsC.J. StroudHouston TexansOct 19, 2026
C.J. Stroud to become the highest-paid at his position
“Stroud is playing the best football of his professional career and has repositioned himself for what could be the largest contract extension in NFL history next offseason... also reestablishes Stroud as a quarterback not only worth investing in, but also possibly making him the highest-paid player in league history at signing.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Houston TexansClose · 55Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Jared KochGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Koch predicts the Texans will beat the winless Chargers on the road in Week 9 by at least 10 points, with Houston's defense forcing a couple of turnovers to set up a multiple-score win.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Houston TexansHit · 81Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said he wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
- Nick WrightScore Predictions · Houston TexansHit · 83Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside his spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.
- John ShipleyGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Shipley expects Jacksonville to keep Brian Thomas Jr. at the trade deadline while adding two defenders, most likely Derrick Brown, and he thinks the winless Chargers will again come up short against Houston in Week 9.
More coach award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Matt HasselbeckCoach Award PicksMiss · 0Hasselbeck agreed on the Bills and Ravens as AFC division winners, picked the Colts (with Daniel Jones) to win the AFC South, the Broncos to win the AFC West, the Seahawks to win the NFC West, and tabbed Brian Flores for a Coach of the Year-type honor. He also said the Patriots would make a big jump and potentially reach the playoffs, and named Minnesota, Las Vegas, New England and Chicago as offseason winners.
- Richard ShermanCoach Award PicksHit · 100Sherman picked the Eagles, Vikings, Ravens and Bills in their wild-card games, named Lamar Jackson MVP, Patrick Surtain DPOY, Kevin O'Connell Coach of the Year, put Jared Verse in the top three of Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, and gave a Week 18 power ranking with Kansas City first.
- Chris BrockmanCoach Award PicksMiss · 0Brockman argued that Kyle Shanahan deserves Coach of the Year after the 49ers' road win in Philadelphia, a take Rich Eisen partly called an overreaction since it's a regular-season award.
- Pat GustavsonCoach Award PicksMiss · 0Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. His awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year.
- Brandon CarneyCoach Award PicksHit · 100Carney made a full playoff bracket, picking the Bears, Niners, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, then Seahawks and Rams in the NFC divisional, Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, with the Rams beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. He also gave award picks including Stafford for MVP and Vrabel for Coach of the Year.
- Rich EisenCoach Award PicksHit · 100Eisen gave his Week 13 power rankings, with the Rams first, Patriots second and the Cowboys entering at No. 10, and also named New England and Philadelphia as the first teams to clinch playoff spots, picked Seattle to beat Minnesota, and tabbed Drake Maye as an MVP finalist and Mike Vrabel as Coach of the Year.