Brandon CarneyMar 2, 2026
Carney predicts Geno Smith signs with the Vikings and starts for them, that at least four of the fringe veteran quarterbacks (Tua, Kyler, Cousins, Fields, Geno) will be starters next season, and that Mike Evans stays with Tampa Bay. They also rank their top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)Hear the original
What Brandon Carney said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI think Gino's going to the Vikings.
- Where it was said
- Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)
- The episode
- Combine Reactions, FA/Trade Rumors, & Keep 3 Cut 5 - Podcast for 3/2
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidMar 2
- GradedAug 14–Nov 10
- 1Mike Evans to move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers“I'm very much predicting that he ends up sticking with the, with the Buccaneers here.”
- 2Ty Simpson to be picked “not gonna go in the top 10” (picks 1–10)“Ty Simpson could be something, but Ty Simpson's not gonna go in the top 10.”
- 3Geno Smith to move to Minnesota Vikings“I think Gino's going to the Vikings. I think Gino's gonna be their quarterback”
- 4Fantasy Rankings“I would say Chase one. Okay. Puka two. Yep. Lamb three for now. JSN four.”
- 5David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart“you've got this running back who's gonna be the starting running back on in offense with potential”
- 6Geno Smith to be 1st on the depth chart“I think Gino's gonna be their quarterback, and I think he's gonna be okay.”
- 7Wan'Dale Robinson to move“we will likely be seeing Wandel Robinson elsewhere other than New York”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Evans to move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers1 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | 0 | 55 | −110 | |
| Ty Simpson to be picked “not gonna go in the top 10” (picks 1–10)2 | Mock Draft Picks | Went 13 | 87.81 | 50 | — | |
| Geno Smith to move to Minnesota Vikings3 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “I would say Chase one. Okay. Puka two. Yep. Lamb three for now.…”4 | Fantasy Rankings | — | — | — | — | |
| David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Geno Smith to be 1st on the depth chart6 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Wan'Dale Robinson to move7 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 calls · 1 hit · 1 miss · 5 waiting | 43.9 | 52.5 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive7 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls, 2 depth chart calls, 1 fantasy ranking and 1 mock draft pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 43.9 out of 100, against 52.5 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
David Montgomery · 2026 season15 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 1. Brandon Carney 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.
1Trade and Signing CallsMike EvansTampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans to move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
VerdictMiss0Miss · naive 550this call−55a naive guess=−55worse than naive×2difficulty=−110skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- −110
- player:
- Mike Evans
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he stays
- was with:
- TB
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 55
- reported:
- signed → SF
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- 55% of players are with the same club the next season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Ty Simpson to be picked “not gonna go in the top 10” (picks 1–10)
What happenedWent 1387.81Hit · naive 50Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Ty Simpson
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 87.81
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 13
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 87.81
- predicted pick:
- not gonna go in the top 10 (picks 1–10)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
3Trade and Signing CallsGeno SmithMinnesota Vikings
Geno Smith to move to Minnesota Vikings
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“I would say Chase one. Okay. Puka two. Yep. Lamb three for now. JSN four.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston Texans
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Depth Chart CallsGeno SmithMinnesota Vikings
Geno Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Trade and Signing CallsWan'Dale Robinson
Wan'Dale Robinson to move
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
43.9naive 52.5
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
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.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
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.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
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.Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.Mike Fanelli · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Fanelli suggested Keenan Allen may be dealt away from Indianapolis, with Week 9 potentially their final appearance for the Colts.