# Rich Eisen: Eisen said that although Mendoza has the talent, Cousins looked good in the preseason opener and will be the one who gets the starting job, barring diminishing arm strength or mobility.

**Claimed:** Aug 14, 2026
**Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen
**Outlet:** The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-rich-eisen-show-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP9913894694.mp3

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

> Mendoza has it, but Cousins look nice. And I think, again, he's gonna get the start.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins

## What others said about the same people

- Hondo Carpenter on Kirk Cousins: Carpenter projects the Raiders' 53-man roster will include 10 defensive backs (four safeties and six cornerbacks) and three quarterbacks, with Kirk Cousins kept barring a compelling trade offer. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d646fde9-b295-4ee8-a853-a1b9bfc8fb20 (scored 100)
- Daniel Jeremiah on Kirk Cousins: Jeremiah walked through his mock draft 3.0, slotting Cam Ward first overall to Tennessee, Abdul Carter to Cleveland at two, Shedeur Sanders to the Giants at three and Travis Hunter to New England at four, plus roughly twenty other first-round pairings. He also called Matthew Golden the first receiver off the board, said Tyler Booker would climb back into the latter third of the first round, expected Kirk Cousins to be traded, thought Jaire Alexander's Packers days were numbered, and predicted Cam Robinson would start at left tackle in Houston. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c5de01a8-6e40-436d-9e04-07e1d39e54ae (scored 0)
- Colin Cowherd on Kirk Cousins: Cowherd laid out his full NFC projections: division order in all four divisions, four division winners (Eagles, Lions, Falcons, Rams), three wild cards (Commanders, Bears, Seahawks), and predicted the Falcons, Bears and Seahawks as new playoff teams. He also predicted Tennessee would be a surprise team with Cam Ward. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/70a33017-06a6-46ed-9114-1bcc0c468383 (scored 0)
- John Middlekauff on Kirk Cousins: Middlekauff predicts Kirk Cousins will be cut within about a week, that Sam Darnold will land a multi-year deal worth roughly $100 million as an immediate starter, that Jaxson Dart will gain momentum as a potential first-round pick, that cam Ward may skip throwing at the combine, and that Derek Stingley will get around $100 million this offseason. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dd47dc99-3bd9-4627-909a-d59bb6062385 (scored 0)
- Gregg Rosenthal on Kirk Cousins: Rosenthal made a series of offseason personnel predictions at the combine: he believes Kirk Cousins will be traded away from Atlanta, that Justin Tucker will never play for the Ravens or in the NFL again, that Joey Bosa should/will be released by the Chargers, that Ronnie Stanley will re-sign with Baltimore rather than reach free agency, and that Chris Godwin will re-sign with Tampa Bay. He also expects Jaire Alexander not to return to Green Bay, Jonathan Allen to be traded, Jonah Williams to remain a Cardinal, and Brian Thomas Jr. to improve. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a4aab509-2a3b-4c8a-b94d-29a1aee44baa (scored 0)
- John Middlekauff on Kirk Cousins: Middlekauff predicts Kirk Cousins will be cut within the next week to ten days, and says Jackson Dart will build momentum into becoming a first-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/50dede97-0292-4828-9dd3-21eefd619fb7 (scored 0)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0)
- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)

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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.

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