Brandon CarneyMay 5, 2026
Carney drafted a team of rookies they expect to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)Hear the original
What Brandon Carney said
I will eventually be right about the motherfucking Chargers winning this division.
- Where it was said
- Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)
- The episode
- Best Rookies for Fantasy & Way-Too-Early NFL Predictions for 2026 - Podcast for 5/5
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidMay 5
- GradedSep 18
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade and Signing Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Fantasy Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Coach Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Positional Finishes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| All | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
How each call scored
35 checkable claims — 10 trade and signing calls, 8 division winners, 6 playoff picks, 5 award picks, 2 depth chart calls, 2 positional finishes, 1 coach award pick and 1 fantasy ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 38 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 35 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
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.
Trade and Signing Calls1 hit · 9 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
A.J. Brown to move to New England Patriots
“This is contingent on a certain trade going through that I think we are all very certain is going to go through at this point... as a Patriots fan, I'm so excited to get AJ Brown on board”
100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- A.J. Brown
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- NE
- was with:
- PHI
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → NE (from PHI)
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Tyreek Hill to move to Kansas City Chiefs
“Tyreek Hill, I still just think he ends up on the Chiefs.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Austin Ekeler to move to Seattle Seahawks
“Are you going to Seattle here? Yeah... Ekeler's the best guy out there.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Stefon Diggs to move to Las Vegas Raiders
“So Stefon Diggs, this is the one I feel the least confident about. But just looking at depth charts, like, I put them on your Raiders.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brandon Aiyuk to move to Washington Commanders
“So I've got Brandon Ayuk going to the commanders.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Deebo Samuel Sr. to move to Miami Dolphins
“So I'm gonna put Jennings and Samuel both on the Dolphins”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Calvin Ridley to move to Tennessee Titans
“I think Calvin Ridley is kinda just biding his time before he finds his way, quite frankly, out of the league, but at least off the titans.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Najee Harris to move to Green Bay Packers
“just looking at potential fits for Najee Harris and looking at back fields that have, again, vacancies, I think the Packers make a lot of sense”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jauan Jennings to move to Miami Dolphins
“So I'm gonna put Jennings and Samuel both on the Dolphins, filling different roles here”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Joe Mixon to move to Washington Commanders
“So I put Joe Mixon to the commanders, big asterisk if he's good to go.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners8 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“I went with the Jaguars here. Obviously, it was between them and the Texans.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New England Patriots to win the division
“So I will go with the Patriots for the AFC East.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Minnesota Vikings to win the division
“I'm picking the Vikings... So Vikings in the NFC North.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“starting with the NFC East. I gave some thought to the Cowboys. I went with the Eagles.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“But I'll go with the Chargers and the AFC West.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Playoff Picks6 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“I do have the Bills, Broncos, and Ravens... Wild card, Broncos, Ravens, Bills.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“And then wildcards, Seahawks, obviously... And then I went with the Bears and the Cowboys.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Award Picks5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Joe Burrow to win MVP
“MVP. I'm going with Joe Burrow until I'm right. So I'm going with Joe Burrow.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Jefferson to win Offensive Player of the Year
“My offensive player of the year going along with the Kyler resurgence, is Justin Jefferson.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Maxx Crosby to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive player of the year. Give me a motivated Max Crosby”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“I think love just has so much opportunity compared to everyone. No. I agree.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fantasy Rankings1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“I've got quarterback Drew Aller... Running backs, Jonah Coleman and Caitron Allen. Wide receivers here... Karneltate, Mekhi Lemmon, Jordan Tyson, and then, as my second flex... Casey Concepcion, and tight end Eli Stowers.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jauan Jennings to be 1st on the depth chart
“Oh, he's immediately their number one receiver.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Eli Stowers to be 2nd on the depth chart
“I'll go with Eli Stowers... I think obviously buried behind Dallas Goedder for year one, but should at least see the field occasionally.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Coach Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Liam Cohen to win Coach of the Year
“But to me, the Jags, Liam Cohen was just such a clear runner-up this past year to Mike Grable that if they just run it back and look even better this year”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Positional Finishes2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Carnell Tate to finish top 1 at his position, by receptions
“I think he's definitely, you know, health permitting and all that, gonna be the target leader among rookie receivers.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“you've got a guy like Jeremiah Love who is, I think, highly likely to be at least a high end RB two for fantasy purposes”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
A.J. Brown, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, Austin Ekeler, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Brandon Aiyuk, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Deebo Samuel Sr., Miami Dolphins, Caleb Downs, Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Jauan Jennings, Maxx Crosby, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Carnell Tate, Najee Harris, Green Bay Packers, Eli Stowers, Baltimore Ravens, Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals, Joe Mixon
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.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.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Adam Schefter · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Schefter, as relayed on the show, said they expect Josh Downs to be traded.