Colin Cowherd#54 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 13, 2026
Cowherd is high on Fernando Mendoza, calling them a first-round prospect who fits none of the bust profiles, and expects Kirk Cousins to open the season as the starter. Among their five bold predictions they have Justin Herbert winning multiple playoff games and Caleb Williams winning MVP.
Said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast)Hear the original
What Colin Cowherd said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromCaleb Williams MVP.
- Where it was said
- The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast)
- The episode
- THE HERD – HOUR 1 – Fernando Mendoza Is Bust-Proof, BOLD NFL Predictions
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 13
- GradedAug 17
- 1Fernando Mendoza to be picked “first round prospect” (picks 1–32)“And he's not wildly overdrafted. Some may have him as amid to a late first rounder... He is a first round prospect.”
- 2Caleb Williams to win MVP“Finally for me, Caleb Williams wins MVP.”
- 3Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs“I have Justin Herbert winning multiple playoff games... his best offensive coordinator at least two playoff wins”
- 4Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“It's interesting that Kirk Cousins is going to start probably week one”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Mendoza to be picked “first round prospect” (picks 1–32)1 | Mock Draft Picks | Went 1 | 100 | 50 | — | |
| Caleb Williams to win MVP2 | Award Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs3 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 1 hit · 3 waiting | 100 | 50 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive4 checkable claims — 1 award pick, 1 depth chart call, 1 mock draft pick and 1 playoff pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 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.
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.
Their call against what happened
overall pickTheir call against what actually happened.
1Mock Draft PicksFernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza to be picked “first round prospect” (picks 1–32)
What happenedWent 1100Hit · naive 50Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero credit this far off:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- first round prospect (picks 1–32)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
2Award PicksCaleb WilliamsChicago Bears
Caleb Williams to win MVP
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Playoff PicksLos Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsKirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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.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.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.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.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.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.