John Middlekauff#48 of 87 NFL pundits · Mar 1, 2025

Middlekauff predicts Kirk Cousins will be cut within about a week, that Sam Darnold will land a multi-year deal worth roughly $100 million as an immediate starter, that Jaxson Dart will gain momentum as a potential first-round pick, that cam Ward may skip throwing at the combine, and that Derek Stingley will get around $100 million this offseason.

Said on air or in an interview · The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast)Hear the original

2 of 3calls landed2 hits · 1 miss · all settled

66.7Average accuracyout of 100, across 3 calls

83.3A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

3 of 3Settlednone still waiting

#48John Middlekauff’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What John Middlekauff said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

I still think at minimum he's going to get a Baker Mayfield this year, one hundred million dollars type contest, isn't he?

John Middlekauff, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was said: The Colin Cowherd Podcast (podcast)
The episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Matthew Stafford’s Future, NFL Draft Combine, Steph Curry’s Impact On Basketball, Embrace Caitlin Clark
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.

SaidMar 1, 2025
GradedAug 5–Sep 18, 2026

1Kirk Cousins to move“let's face the Colin They're probably gonna cut him in the next seven ten days. Yeah, he's going to get cut.”
2Jaxson Dart to be picked “potential first round pick” (picks 1–32)“I would throw Jackson Darton here, who I think is gonna gain some momentum as a potential first round pick”
3Sam Darnold to be 1st on the depth chart“So I think Darnold would be the one guy that would just get signed and immediately become, you know, kind of not your long term starter, but at least in the immediate next couple of year starter.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Kirk Cousins to move¹	Trade and Signing Calls	Ended up with ATL	0	100	−200
Jaxson Dart to be picked “potential first round pick” (picks 1–32)²	Mock Draft Picks	Went 25	100	50	—
Sam Darnold to be 1st on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	No. 1	100	100	0
3 calls · 2 hits · 1 miss · all settled			66.7	83.3

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive

3 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 mock draft pick and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 3 have settled, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 83.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.

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.

1Trade and Signing Calls Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins to move
What happenedEnded up with ATL
0Miss · naive 100
0this call100a naive guess−100worse than naive2difficulty−200skill
How this was scored
skill:
−200
player:
Kirk Cousins
season:
2025
claimed:
he leaves
was with:
ATL
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he stays where he is
weeks in the season:
18
ended up with:
ATL
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
2Mock Draft Picks Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart to be picked “potential first round pick” (picks 1–32)
What happenedWent 25
100Hit · naive 50
How this was scored
draft:
2025
naive:
a shuffled mock scores 50
player:
Jaxson Dart
season:
2025
zero credit this far off:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
50
actual pick:
25
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
pick accuracy:
100
predicted pick:
potential first round pick (picks 1–32)
weeks left when called:
0
mock ordering score:
only one pick — no order to score
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
SEA
skill:
0
player:
Sam Darnold
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
position:
QB
naive slot:
1
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
2
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
66.7naive 83.3

Who this take is about

Make your own calls.Pick every open claim on Picks →

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.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere.
Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.
Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero expects the Raiders to draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, and says Kirk Cousins will be released March 11 while Tua Tagovailoa will be released before March 13 if Miami can't trade them.
Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.
Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.

More depth chart calls

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

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.