# Joe Haden: 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.

**Claimed:** Feb 27, 2026
**Pundit:** Joe Haden — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/joe-hayden
**Outlet:** Deebo & Joe (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/deebo-joe-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/deebo-joe/deebo-joe-part-2-mendoza-vs-shedeur-nfl-combine-reaction-sonny-styles-is-legit

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.

> He's going to be the number one pick.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Zachariah Branch to post less than four three five at the combine**
  - Kind: Combine Measurements · About: Zachariah Branch
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Haynes King to post he's going run four five at the combine**
  - Kind: Combine Measurements · About: Haynes King
  - Verdict: scored 85.09 out of 100, against 33.97 for a naive guess
- **Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Fernando Mendoza
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **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**
  - Kind: Combine Measurements · About: Caleb Downs
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Zachariah Branch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zachariah-branch
- Haynes King — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/haynes-king
- Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza
- Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs

## What others said about the same people

- Walt on Fernando Mendoza: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29bb2d31-fbe3-40db-b378-be5ba5d990b0 (scored 100)
- Ross Jackson on Caleb Downs: Jackson 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5e323d7a-8d67-43cc-a9f9-a18904a22a18 (scored 87.81)
- Danny Parkins on Caleb Downs: Danny 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d98bca2f-5fc3-4f68-8389-30f9a2cb906f (scored 91.7)
- Nick Wright on Fernando Mendoza: Nick 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c5ad8a4-034f-4abb-8806-20dd9e44b5c6 (scored 100)
- David Harrison on Caleb Downs: Harrison 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5cc44fc1-4ff9-447a-9c32-5f715fa6e9ba (scored 95.76)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Fernando Mendoza: Daniel 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0fbc7597-86ee-4037-a1e6-4b062ff9f12c (scored 100)

## More combine measurements

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

- Field Yates on Brenen Thompson: Yates 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3ac28f94-72fb-46e5-81e3-b524c7c7b841 (scored 67.27)
- Bruce Feldman on Cole Payton: Feldman 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5e1fcde8-99d6-4c8e-811c-eeee574c2a5c (scored 100)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Justin Jefferson: On 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bc772155-d332-4aba-a4c3-a99caa325a2f (scored 27.41)
- Ayrton Ostly on Gabe Jacas: Ostley 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/149c742e-7b2f-4669-9803-c1936efe4f66 (scored 100)
- nthony Darelle "Booger" McFarland on Arvell Reese: McFarland 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c01c6b3d-b24f-4074-b082-e5b10055c15f (scored 100)
- Albert Breer on Kenyon Sadiq: Breer 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5bed1867-11b9-4207-8dbf-27350a1ae00c (scored 64.56)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=joe-hayden