Bryan DeArdo#4 of 87 NFL pundits · Nov 11, 2026
DeArdo's piece is a historical ranking of past in-season trades; the only forward-looking elements are that the newly acquired Kirk Cousins will start for the 6-2 Vikings and that No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will take over as the Raiders' starting quarterback.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Bryan DeArdo said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromMaking this trade even more notable is that the Raiders, who received a third-round pick in exchange for Cousins, will now give the keys to the offense to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Ranking NFL's greatest in-season trades of all-time: Where Kirk Cousins to Vikings ranks among top 10
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart“Making this trade even more notable is that the Raiders, who received a third-round pick in exchange for Cousins, will now give the keys to the offense to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.”
- 2Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“After a two-plus year hiatus, Cousins will get another chance to lead the Vikings on a possible playoff run.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 2 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
2 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season63 calls from 43 pundits between 1 and 3. Bryan DeArdo 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsFernando MendozaLas Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsMinnesota Vikings
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
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.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.
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.