Joe Haden· Feb 27, 2026
Joe (the Browns-affiliated co-host) argues Shedeur Sanders is still the best quarterback of this class but concedes Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick, and he plays the combine 40-yard dash props on Caleb Downs, Zachariah Branch and Haynes King.
“He's going to be the number one pick.”
said on air or in an interview · Deebo & Joe (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
4 checkable claims — 3 combine measurements and 1 mock draft pick — 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.
3 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 61.7 out of 100, against 28 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2025 season · overall pick17 calls from 13 pundits between 1 overall pick and 1 overall pick. Joe Haden said 1 overall pick. the room's median is 1 overall pick. what happened: 1 overall pick
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question, before the answer existed. The bar is what actually happened. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
4 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Combine MeasurementsZachariah BranchFeb 27, 2026
Zachariah Branch to post less than four three five at the combine
“Then you got zachar Riot Branch. They saying below... less than four three five? ... Yep. Let's get it there, so you go play this. Let's get it. Yep, I'm gonna play. I'm gonna play this.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- claim:
- less than four three five
- drill:
- forty time
- naive:
- the WR median (4.42) misses it
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Zachariah Branch
- result:
- 4.35
- season:
- 2025
- combine year:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Combine results via Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- Combine MeasurementsHaynes KingFeb 27, 2026
Haynes King to post he's going run four five at the combine
“You say you're gonna be more so you think you go run four five? Yeah, he's going run for five.”
Hit · 85Scored 85.09a naive guess scored 33.97+51.12 skillHow this was scored
- off:
- 0.04
- drill:
- forty time
- naive:
- the average QB (4.73, from 56 results)
- scale:
- credit halves every 0.17 — one standard deviation for a QB
- skill:
- 51.12
- player:
- Haynes King
- result:
- 4.46
- season:
- 2025
- combine year:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 85.09
- baseline:
- 33.97
- they said:
- 4.5
- sigmas out:
- 0.23
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Combine results via Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- Mock Draft PicksFernando MendozaFeb 27, 2026
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“So Mendoza zero hate. I hope everything works out successful. He's going to be the number one pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2025
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Combine MeasurementsCaleb DownsFeb 27, 2026
Caleb Downs to post he went under that full four five ... I'm seeing four four four four three four four two at the combine
“I'm gonna watch Caleb down. I'm gonna tell you he went under that full four five... I'm seeing four four four four three four four two.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- WaltMock Draft Picks · Fernando MendozaHit · 100In a running series of coach/GM hiring and firing grades, Walt projects Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick of the Raiders in the 2026 draft and has LSU's Garrett Nussmeier going No. 2 overall in his 2026 mock draft.
- Ross JacksonMock Draft Picks · Caleb DownsHit · 88Jackson predicts the Saints will stay put and pick at No. 8 overall rather than trading up, and after Mickey Loomis' press conference he now leans toward New Orleans taking a defensive back there — either LSU cornerback Mansoor Delaine or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs — while still viewing Miami edge rusher Ruben Bain Jr. as a likely selection.
- Danny ParkinsMock Draft Picks · Caleb DownsHit · 92Danny Parkins presented his one-and-only 2026 mock draft, including trades: Mendoza at 1 to the Raiders, David Bailey second to the Jets, the Cowboys trading up to No. 3 for Arvell Reese, the Bears trading up to 16 for Kadyn Proctor, and Ty Simpson going to Arizona at 32 at the end of round one.
- Nick WrightMock Draft Picks · Fernando MendozaHit · 100Nick Wright unveiled his full 32-pick 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with Avion Terrell to the Seahawks at 32. He also called Carnell Tate the best/safest receiver in the class, projected Ty Simpson inside the top 45, said Mendoza profiles as a low-end top-15 NFL quarterback, and expected the Dolphins to lose 15 games.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Caleb DownsHit · 96Harrison delivers his only first-round mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, projecting all 32 first-round picks (including several trades) plus the rest of Washington's projected class, while noting it is an exercise in what could happen rather than a firm forecast.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Fernando MendozaHit · 100Daniel Jeremiah's final 2026 NFL mock draft, projecting the first round pick by pick (including mock trades), starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with Peter Woods to the Ravens via a trade with Seattle.
More combine measurements
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Field YatesCombine Measurements · Brenen ThompsonClose · 67Yates pegged David Bailey as a top-four pick, called Jeremiah Love clearly the best running back in the class with a draft range from No. 3 overall to the Chiefs at No. 9, put Karnell Tate atop his receiver board, projected Jordan Tyson as a top-15 pick, and expected Brennan Thompson to run in the 4.2s. He also sees both Miami's Mauigoa and Utah's Spencer Fano taken inside the top 15, with Mauigoa having a chance to be the first offensive lineman off the board.
- Bruce FeldmanCombine Measurements · Cole PaytonHit · 100Feldman discussed Fernando Mendoza as the likely No. 1 overall pick to the Raiders, praised Kenyon Sadik and Sunny Styles as combine standouts, projected Ty Simpson as a late-first-round pick, and pegged Cole Peyton for the fourth-to-fifth round range.
- Daniel JeremiahCombine Measurements · Justin JeffersonMiss · 27On Move the Sticks, Daniel Jeremiah gave his views on the 2026 draft class: he set his board (Jeremiah Love as the second-best player, Malinoi 12th, Fano 14th), ranked the top edge rushers Bailey-Reese-Bain, projected draft ranges for several prospects, and forecast measurables for a few players.
- Ayrton OstlyCombine Measurements · Gabe JacasHit · 100Ostley predicts Mississippi State receiver Brandon/Brennan Thompson runs the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine, expects Mac Jones to be traded to the Vikings, and offers combine performance expectations for several prospects.
- nthony Darelle "Booger" McFarlandCombine Measurements · Arvell ReeseHit · 100McFarland projected Ohio State's Arbel Reese to measure in at roughly 6-4 and 240-245 pounds at the combine, and argued Cincinnati and Trey Hendrickson will go their separate ways this offseason.
- Albert BreerCombine Measurements · Kenyon SadiqClose · 65Breer says he would be stunned if Fernando Mendoza did not go No. 1 overall to the Raiders, and he flags Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq as a combine standout who could run in the 4.3s and jump 40 inches.