# Lance Zierlein: Zierlein praised the Texans' first-round trade-up for guard Keelan Rutledge, said Francis Manoa has a chance to be a Pro Bowl guard, mocked specific players to the Texans on Day 2, predicted Kevon Thibodeaux will not get another contract with the Giants (only one more year), compared Caleb Downs' ceiling to Jalen Petrie, and predicted the Rams will draft much higher than 13 next year.

**Claimed:** Apr 24, 2026
**Pundit:** Lance Zierlein — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/lance-zierlein
**Outlet:** John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/john-and-lance-espn-houston-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/audioboom.com/posts/8895103.mp3?modified=1777042750&sid=4936948&source=rss

6 checkable claims — 2 mock draft picks, 1 depth chart call, 1 pro bowl and all-pro call, 1 team draft slot call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

2 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 44.1 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> I gave them a tackle in the first round because somebody at NFL Network convinced me.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Christen Miller to be picked at number 38**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Christen Miller, Houston Texans
  - Verdict: scored 84.09 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Kyle Louis to be picked “the next pick the Texans have in the second round” (picks 33–64)**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kyle Louis, Houston Texans
  - Verdict: scored 4.05 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Kyle Louis to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kyle Louis, Houston Texans
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kayvon Thibodeaux to move to New York Giants**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Los Angeles Rams to pick “They're gonna draft a lot higher”**
  - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Francis Mauigoa to make Pro Bowl**
  - Kind: Pro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · About: Francis Mauigoa
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Christen Miller — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christen-miller
- Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans
- Kyle Louis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyle-louis
- Kayvon Thibodeaux — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kayvon-thibodeaux
- New York Giants — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/giants
- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams
- Francis Mauigoa — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/francis-mauigoa

## What others said about the same people

- Sam Monson on New York Giants: Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f4cb7a1e-1380-4f08-b39b-1432b97db846 (scored 0)
- Pete Prisco on New York Giants: Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e142b910-0967-4de9-9429-c342bc079205 (scored 35.71)
- Jared Dubin on New York Giants: Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04562aeb-eccf-4266-be8e-32a3aacfd6fc (scored 42.86)
- Jared Dubin on New York Giants: Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6c19276-74df-4775-8a6e-f67c6d94b773 (scored 42.86)
- Pete Prisco on New York Giants: Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/07b5aad4-57ad-4195-bc69-66b1abec33a0 (scored 35.71)
- Jared Dubin on New York Giants: Dubin predicted final scores for seven Week 10 games, taking the Giants over the Commanders, the Lions, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens to win their respective matchups. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/08184feb-e542-42cf-8898-8074d73513d7 (scored 42.86)

## More mock draft picks

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

- Chris Simms on Malachi Corley: Simms named the Bears the NFL's best overall offense and best rushing offense, the Bengals the best passing offense, Seattle the best total defense, Minnesota the best pass defense and Tampa Bay the best run defense; they also called Tristan Wirfs the league's best offensive lineman, projected Miami's Malachi Toney as a top-15 pick, and predicted a 30-14 Jaguars win in Baltimore. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c0fd4647-2de8-4a5f-bac2-950fed303ee9 (scored 11.46)
- Todd McShay on Keelon Russell: While breaking down LSU's offense, McShay called receiver Jackson Harris a top-50 NFL draft prospect, and later said LSU's Sam Levitt and Alabama's Keelan Russell are potential top-10 picks in a future draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15d40546-2ab9-4ab8-b5bd-ed0ef7f26ae5 (scored 0)
- Philip Hughes on Kyle Kennard: Evaluating edge rusher Kyle Kennard ahead of the draft, the account projected them as a Day 2 selection. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/605a686a-b5f1-4611-82b4-961abf8de93e (scored 33.86)
- Charlie Campbell on Xavier Williams: Campbell's draft stock report projects Indiana WR Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in 2027, Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones as a first-rounder, Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick, and Texas OT Trevor Goosby as a top-10 pick, while suggesting Arch Manning could still be a first-rounder if they declare. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2dd4bf46-e5eb-4dff-8500-95d9fdbd2986 (scored 0)
- Walt on Fernando Mendoza: In a running series of coach/GM hiring and firing grades, Walt projects Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick of the Raiders in the 2026 draft and has LSU's Garrett Nussmeier going No. 2 overall in their 2026 mock draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29bb2d31-fbe3-40db-b378-be5ba5d990b0 (scored 100)
- Charlie Campbell on Xavier Williams: Reviewing Week 7 college games, Campbell projects a slate of draft outcomes: Tennessee's Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick in 2026, Alabama's Bray Hubbard as a Day 2 pick and Yhonzae Pierre as a potential first-rounder, Jeremiah Smith as one of the very first players drafted, Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in the 2027 draft, Colin Simmons and Trevor Goosby as top-10 picks, and Jadan Baugh as a first-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d2c00414-086d-4a40-bb69-7584be496742 (scored 0)

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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:
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