# Jeff Cavanaugh — prediction record Jeff Cavanaugh covers the Dallas Cowboys for the DLLS Dallas Cowboys podcast and appears on The Rich Eisen Show. His work spans roster projections, draft positioning, and player rankings, with a particular focus on defensive personnel and breakout candidates in the Cowboys organization. ## Record - **Accuracy:** 78.34% - **MissedTakes Score:** 20.16 - **Graded articles:** 8 - **Graded individual calls:** 40 - **Clarity:** 92.86% PROVISIONAL: fewer than 10 graded articles. This number is not yet meaningful, and they are excluded from leaderboards. The MissedTakes Score is how much better than a naive baseline they did, not how often they were right. Zero means no better than a strategy requiring no knowledge. A record is counted in ARTICLES rather than individual calls, because thirty picks in one mock draft is one act of judgment rather than thirty. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology ## Graded articles (8) ### Sep 3, 2026 — scored 50 across 2 calls Jeff went game-by-game through the Cowboys schedule, initially arriving at 13-4 before flipping a game to settle on a 12-5 final record prediction, with Dallas beating the Giants, Commanders, Ravens, Buccaneers, Packers, Cardinals, Colts, 49ers, Titans, Eagles (home), plus wins to close, and losing to the Texans, Eagles (road), Seahawks and Rams. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d04cb132-e9f4-4e11-bb0b-cf0982762ad9 ### Aug 26, 2026 — scored 85.71 across 7 calls Jeff projected the Cowboys' offensive 53-man roster: nine offensive linemen (with Bass, Shelton, Leverett and Cornelius as the depth pieces and Nate Thomas and Keegan cut), three tight ends, Javonte Williams and Malik Davis atop the backfield, and five receivers with Mingo in and Camden Brown headed to the practice squad. He also gave reception and passing projections and said Jayshawn Barham will be starting before long. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c7f7c9cc-4c5c-4060-a83b-61416816422c ### Aug 25, 2026 — scored 93.75 across 16 calls Building his projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d20c4eda-eab4-4a8c-ba13-0e120fdd7d91 ### Apr 10, 2026 — scored 91.7 across 1 call Jeff argues Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who is not being discussed as a top-11 pick, has a decent chance of being selected inside the top 11, and he predicts the Cowboys as currently constructed would win eight or nine games. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/44b6f999-063b-4caf-8839-4ae0a6afe46f ### Mar 1, 2026 — scored 50.26 across 2 calls Streaming from the NFL Combine, Jeff pegged safety Dylan Thienemann's draft range at roughly picks 20-35, said LSU safety AJ Halsey would cost a second- or third-round pick, and insisted Sonny Styles' brother would not be a top-50 selection despite a fast 40. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f1f48cc1-f9d5-44ca-b130-2c6447b49bc6 ### Feb 25, 2026 — scored 97.56 across 5 calls Broadcasting from the NFL Scouting Combine, Jeff calls Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles a guaranteed top-12 pick with a good chance of going top seven, expects him to run around a 4.5 forty, pegs Arvell Reese as the favorite to go No. 2 overall behind Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, and says Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods will be a first-round pick. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/67a7ca07-d14b-45bf-83c6-8160192f191b ### Jan 16, 2026 — scored 71.98 across 5 calls Jeff made his divisional-round picks: Denver over Buffalo, Seattle over San Francisco, Houston over New England, and the Rams over Chicago. He also guessed Clemson corner Avion Terrell will weigh around 180 pounds when measured at the combine. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/aec93b7b-9e55-4af6-9b68-31c9b28463a3 ### Jan 8, 2026 — scored 90.26 across 2 calls The host discusses Fran Duffy's mock draft and adds his own takes: he'd take Sonny Styles at No. 12 if the draft fell that way, projects Styles will run in the 4.4-4.5 range, and predicts USC receiver Malachi Lemon(?) will be a first-round pick. He also expects Zachariah Branch to replace the Cowboys' current returner. https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d9f2202c-5e81-4172-b19a-a8ee718770fe --- We grade claims about outcomes, never claims about people. If something here is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=jeff-cavanaugh