# Brandon Carney: 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. He also ranks his top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values. **Claimed:** Mar 2, 2026 **Pundit:** Brandon Carney — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/brandon-carney **Outlet:** Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/bran-coverage-with-benchwarmerbran-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182919/episodes/18776035-combine-reactions-fa-trade-rumors-keep-3-cut-5-podcast-for-3-2.mp3 7 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 bet. It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 87.8 out of 100, against 50 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. > I think Gino's going to the Vikings. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Ty Simpson to be picked “not gonna go in the top 10” (picks 1–10)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ty Simpson - Verdict: scored 87.81 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Geno Smith to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Geno Smith, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mike Evans to move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **I would say Chase one. Okay. Puka two. Yep. Lamb three for now. JSN four.** - Kind: Fantasy Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Geno Smith to move to Minnesota Vikings** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Geno Smith, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: David Montgomery, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Wan'Dale Robinson to move** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Wan'Dale Robinson - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Ty Simpson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ty-simpson - Geno Smith — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/geno-smith - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Mike Evans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - David Montgomery — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-montgomery - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Wan'Dale Robinson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/wan-dale-robinson ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on Minnesota Vikings: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 90.48) - Steven Ruiz on Houston Texans: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 0) - Sam Monson on Minnesota Vikings: Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b810ffd-fd93-4ea2-a208-b1353dea5fb0 (scored 100) - Marcus Ray on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus predicted a 30-13 Buccaneers win over Cleveland with three touchdowns and three field goals, and picked the Raiders to beat a Jim Harbaugh team to start 2-0. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/aa09b337-f1fa-49b0-bc4b-5e2bbaddb5df (scored 19.05) - Ryan LaVoy on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LaVoy predicted a 28-10 Buccaneers win over the Browns, said even the Falcons would beat Cleveland, and named Detroit, Baltimore and the Rams as teams he expects in the playoffs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/227e256e-a31d-413d-a568-7f7250dcd161 (scored 16.67) - Jaron Spor on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The host predicted a comfortable Buccaneers win over Cleveland, 27-10, picked Jacksonville as an upset winner at Denver, said the Giants could win seven or eight games as a sneaky team, and expected Deshaun Watson and the Browns to part ways soon. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7a7160b2-ca51-4fce-a478-bd9f75323548 (scored 19.05) ## More trade and signing calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - David Droegemeier on Mekhi Becton: Drogemeier says the Chargers cutting Mekhi Becton is a foregone conclusion, freeing nearly $9 million in cap space, and only a matter of when. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c5f92029-fa26-4c4f-9c27-ab127b7301a8 (scored 100) - Mina Kimes on Mekhi Becton: Kimes projects Washington receiver Denzel Boston as a second-half-of-the-first-round pick and expects the Chargers to move on from Mekhi Becton. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/313774ec-4795-434d-9f21-6ec534873000 (scored 100) - Bryan DeArdo on Darius Slayton: A CBS Sports piece on the Giants releasing Darius Slayton predicts he will be signed by another NFL team fairly quickly, and lists possible landing spots without committing to one. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3f1834cd-6520-4f07-9efc-4060a6b5cb1c (scored 100) - Noah Strackbein on Darius Slayton: Strackbein says Pittsburgh views Roman Wilson as its No. 3 receiver behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., but argues the Steelers should add released Giants veteran Darius Slayton as insurance, expecting Slayton to sign cheaply on a veteran-minimum deal, and refers to 2026 as Aaron Rodgers' final season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c6348972-c1bf-48f1-ba03-d5c2ef44561a (scored 100) - Patricia Traina on Darius Slayton: Traina writes that the Giants may make more trades before the roster cutdown and names the players she sees as the most likely candidates to be dealt: kicker Ben Sauls, one of receivers Darius Slayton or Darnell Mooney, offensive lineman Jake Kubas, and linebacker Darius Muasau. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/970d968f-3133-436c-a8a6-114412a9f178 (scored 100) - Greg Auman on Will Levis: Auman predicts that Will Levis, released by Tennessee, will almost certainly be claimed on waivers by another team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/55b7732a-4131-430b-adbf-a33c60c47dc0 (scored 100) --- 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=brandon-carney