Albert Breer#35 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 28, 2026
Breer says the Raiders will hold Fernando Mendoza out until the supporting cast is ready, while Kirk Cousins starts; they also suggest Mendoza may end up as the backup ahead of Aidan O'Connell. They predict Justin Herbert could make a real MVP run with the Chargers, is skeptical Ty Simpson is a hit at the 13th pick, and expects Aaron Donald, if they return, to play roughly 30-40 snaps a game in a rotation.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Albert Breer said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromSo it wouldn't surprise me if everything comes together for him that there this year with the Chargers, if he makes a real run. At, at, at the MVP
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Albert Breer on Mendoza’s Struggles, Herbert’s Next Step, Donald Close to Returning?
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Justin Herbert to win MVP“So it wouldn't surprise me if everything comes together for him that there this year with the Chargers, if he makes a real run. At, at, at the MVP and that's with Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator.”
- 2Ty Simpson to disappoint at the next level“I'm not fully sold that that's 100% a hit with the 13th pick, but, um, he's looked good in the preseason.”
- 3Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“They got Kirk Cousins, who of course has got a ton of background in the offense... And I think they're gonna wait until they get to that point to play him.”
- 4Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart“Hampton's back as the bell cow running back.”
- 5Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart“And if he winds up being the backup quarterback there over Aidan O'Connell, I mean they are 1 snap away from that becoming a reality.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert to win MVP1 | Award Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Ty Simpson to disappoint at the next level2 | Draft Bust Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 1 award pick and 1 draft bust call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
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 season50 calls from 38 pundits between 1 and 3. Albert Breer said 2. 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.
1Award PicksJustin HerbertLos Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert to win MVP
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Draft Bust CallsTy SimpsonLos Angeles Rams
Ty Simpson to disappoint at the next level
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsOmarion HamptonLos Angeles Chargers
Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsFernando MendozaLas Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd 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.