# John Middlekauff — prediction record

John Middlekauff is a former NFL scout and former contributor to The Athletic Bay Area. The predictions here come from podcast work: Middlekauff's own show, 3 and Out with John Middlekauff, plus appearances on The Colin Cowherd Podcast and The Herd with Colin Cowherd. The calls cover game outcomes, season win totals, division winners, playoff berths, player movement, draft position, depth charts and player awards. Teams in the mix include the Cowboys, 49ers, Seahawks, Bengals, Bears, Saints, Bills and Chargers; players range from Dak Prescott and Jared Goff to Maxx Crosby and Kyler Murray.

## Is John Middlekauff accurate?

Across 124 graded calls in 40 articles, John Middlekauff scores 65.48% accuracy and a MissedTakes Score of 18.21, which means their calls were better than a naive guess on the same claims. That is an established record: thirty or more graded articles. That ranks #48 of 87 ranked NFL pundits on the MissedTakes leaderboard.

## Record

- **Accuracy:** 65.48%
- **MissedTakes Score:** 18.21
- **Graded articles:** 40
- **Graded individual calls:** 124
- **Clarity:** 95.88%
- **Hedged:** 42.83% of claims
- **Right when hedging:** 70.71% (51 graded)
- **Right when committing:** 57.22% (73 graded)

This is an established record: 30 or more graded articles.

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 (40)

### Nov 6, 2026 — scored 100 across 2 calls

Middlekauff declared the AFC South over and the Jaguars the division champs, while listing several clubs they expect in the playoffs and pegging the Jets for a top-five draft slot. They also leaned Packers and Bears in Week 9 games, predicted roughly five or six wins for Washington, said Brandon Aiyuk is not coming back, and called Tyson Bagent's current deal the biggest they'll ever sign.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5fbf1f78-2f2a-49cf-8052-89897c9a1ff8

### Nov 2, 2026 — scored 100 across 2 calls

Reacting to Week 8, Middlekauff said the Giants would blow out the Eagles next week if J.J. keeps playing well, suggested Jacksonville could rout a Lamar-less Ravens team on Thursday night, and argued the Jets' stockpile of first-round picks will likely include two selections inside the top five.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/38eb2197-83ab-4a64-b4fe-9d3f738106c6

### Oct 30, 2026 — scored 100 across 4 calls

After the Packers' Thursday night win over Carolina, Middlekauff set Green Bay's season range at nine to about eleven wins, said Jordan Love will throw double-digit interceptions this year, and picked Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Jacksonville to win their Week 8 games. They also predicted the Titans win only three games, that Jeffrey Simmons is a lock for another All-Pro if healthy, that the Bears will draft in the 20s, that Cleveland will never give Deshaun Watson another dollar, and they named Brian Flores their Coach of the Year.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e63a8323-5114-4130-a580-3d44feff2698

### Oct 23, 2026 — scored 57.14 across 7 calls

After the Bears-Patriots Thursday night game, Middlekauff called both Chicago and New England playoff teams, leaned Steelers, Vikings, Panthers, Bengals, Raiders, Packers and Seahawks in the weekend slate, predicted a bleak remaining season for the Chargers, and said Justin Herbert isn't going anywhere.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1fb38c02-f63f-488f-95b9-e40daed5a32f

### Oct 16, 2026 — scored 100 across 1 call

Middlekauff argued the Seahawks will still reach double-digit wins once their running backs return, while the Broncos — despite Bo Nix's play — will land in the 10-to-12 win range. They also expected Houston to beat Jacksonville in London and offered availability calls on Snoop Huntley and Caleb Williams.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3b46b5a3-4040-483d-9458-3e547497c7d5

### Oct 9, 2026 — scored 50 across 2 calls

Reacting to the Cowboys' loss to Tampa Bay, Middlekauff said Dallas' defense is so lost that they look like a two- or three-win team. They expect Jacksonville to blow out the Eagles in London, likes the Bears over a Packers team they call a disaster, and figures George Pickens isn't going anywhere in Dallas.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f997029f-290b-40bb-b6fb-61e6c1a096f4

### Oct 2, 2026 — scored 100 across 1 call

Previewing Week 4, Middlekauff leans the 49ers over Denver despite expecting the Broncos to play better, projects Denver as a likely 11- or 12-win team, and expects Trent Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and Nico Collins to be available this week.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/39f9ac56-1fcf-416b-92bd-f0a6b6015b9a

### Sep 26, 2026 — scored 0 across 2 calls

Middlekauff expects blowout wins for Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami in Week 3, picks Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh in the AFC North matchup, and takes Tennessee over the Giants if Jameis Winston is taking snaps.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8115d255-82e3-442e-aeef-c3eaa3587603

### Sep 25, 2026 — scored 33.33 across 3 calls

Reacting to the Packers' blowout loss at Lambeau, Middlekauff said Green Bay's own pick (now owned by the Jets) will land somewhere between 7 and 12 overall, picked Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh and expected Seattle and Kansas City to roll over Washington and Miami. They also guessed Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss would run about a 4.48-4.50 forty, said Seattle won't trade Drew Lock, and expected Sam Darnold to play in Week 3.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/41d65ece-ef1e-4b78-97cc-019c25b1fb2a

### Sep 18, 2026 — scored 66.67 across 3 calls

Middlekauff declares the Bills will win the AFC East over the Patriots, picks the Steelers, Eagles and 49ers in Week 2 matchups, pegs win totals for the Saints, Texans and Buccaneers, has the Cowboys winning the NFC East, expects Nico Collins to miss the Bengals-Texans game, and says Derrick Henry will climb to a top-five all-time rusher.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/69166a3f-c1a7-42c7-a6f5-c0940c616462

### Sep 10, 2026 — scored 100 across 1 call

Previewing the NFL's Australia game in Week 1, Middlekauff picks the underdog 49ers to beat the Rams, arguing San Francisco's long acclimation trip and Kyle Shanahan's edge over Sean McVay make them a live dog.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/581128af-a57f-4ec8-b904-e3f1e7c65e67

### Sep 9, 2026 — scored 100 across 1 call

Middlekauff previews the NFL opener, picking Seattle to beat New England at home while expecting the Patriots to land in the 9-10 win range and miss the playoffs, taking Pittsburgh as their third AFC playoff team over Baltimore and New England, standing by Seattle as a Super Bowl participant, ranking the three head coaches involved, and describing Pittsburgh's receivers as a collection of No. 2s.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d2b70076-c664-4ce6-a492-8cf573931a7b

### Sep 8, 2026 — scored 100 across 1 call

Middlekauff also picks Seattle to repeat as Super Bowl champion, likes Denver to win the AFC West and the AFC with a Bengals-Broncos AFC Championship, and picks Seattle to beat New England in Week 1. They also predict the Falcons will be terrible and doubts Bill Belichick survives at North Carolina.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/410de741-e251-4fca-9bff-c628f5762eea

### Apr 27, 2026 — scored 0 across 1 call

Middlekauff hammers the Rams for taking quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall, arguing Simpson's ceiling is only that of a 10th-to-15th-best NFL quarterback and that the pick can't repay its cost. They also caution against the 2027 quarterback hype, saying that based on last season's play Dante Moore, not Arch Manning, would be their No. 1 overall pick.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4ec14f7-aad6-4b6d-bf47-acda46a976b4

### Apr 23, 2026 — scored 44.63 across 5 calls

On their Three and Out podcast, Middlekauff gave ten bold predictions for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza first overall as the only first-round quarterback, Ty Simpson falling out of round one, Jeremiah Love sliding out of the top five, Sonny Styles to the Titans at four, Omar Cooper as the second receiver drafted, the Lions trading up for a tackle, and Aaron Rodgers' return being announced around draft week.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f7ab7dc3-467c-4874-93d7-f3955928186d

### Mar 9, 2026 — scored 95.76 across 1 call

Middlecoff predicted the Titans would take Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love at No. 4, expected Denver to win 11-12 games again, and named the Saints as their surprise team that wins about ten games.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8dcb79ef-7d11-43dc-963b-78c212a5b23b

### Mar 2, 2026 — scored 94.57 across 5 calls

After the NFL Combine, Middlekauff predicted Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall, that Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love won't fall out of the top 10 (as high as No. 4 to the Giants, no further than the Saints at No. 8), plus top-10/top-20 landing spots for Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate and Oregon's tight end. They also forecast quarterback movement: Tua and Kyler Murray being cut, Kyler as a backup, someone trading for Tyson Bagent, and the Saints becoming a sleeper playoff team if they land Love.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/11086b64-33db-400c-a07d-b51cd232d91d

### Feb 26, 2026 — scored 100 across 1 call

The former NFL scout expects a wave of veteran movement: Kansas City parting with Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie as trade candidates, Kyler Murray being cut by Arizona, and Chicago moving DJ Moore. They also call Fernando Mendoza a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/46fd8071-fbe0-4f49-bed5-e38c8caf9522

### Feb 3, 2026 — scored 58.33 across 1 call

Middlekauff says Sam Darnold is easily a top-10 quarterback in the NFL, and that Fernando Mendoza is a perfect fit for Clint Kubiak's Raiders offense.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c96513ff-7b39-4129-a2f4-a096bc67353b

### Jan 5, 2026 — scored 66.67 across 3 calls

Middlekauff leaned Jacksonville over Buffalo, expected the Rams to beat Carolina, picked Miami over Ole Miss and Indiana over Oregon, and said Fernando Mendoza is a no-brainer No. 1 overall pick who the Raiders will draft first.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c446d96-9b6c-4e22-a48e-1871c889b9a1

### Sep 10, 2025 — scored 0 across 5 calls

Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a

### Sep 6, 2025 — scored 100 across 2 calls

Middlekauff likes Seattle as the best long shot to win the NFC West and expects the 49ers to be solid, while picking Minnesota over Chicago in a low-scoring Week 1 game they estimate around 17-14.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/609185bd-6ee8-40f6-85e1-de55fce35f6a

### Aug 20, 2025 — scored 20 across 8 calls

Middlecoff says Anthony Richardson's Colts career is finished and expects them to be traded within ten days for any value, even a fifth-round pick. They back the Texans to win the AFC South, calls the Ravens, Bills and Chiefs playoff locks with Baltimore and Buffalo winning their divisions, and expects Buffalo to win 14-plus games.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bc7c7ec4-0fb3-4de8-9016-7b35d7059b4c

### Aug 1, 2025 — scored 80 across 1 call

Middlekauff says the Lions have established themselves and will again be a double-digit win team, whatever happens in the playoffs.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e6d073a1-0324-470b-969a-56d550258661

### Jul 31, 2025 — scored 41.46 across 8 calls

In a long mailbag, Middlekauff picked the 49ers to win the NFC West, said they'd lean toward Matt Stafford starting Week 1 despite real concern about the elbow, stuck with Daniel Jones as the Colts' starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson, expected Omarion Hampton to start and put up big rookie numbers with Offensive Rookie of the Year on the table, and thought Denver could win 11-12 games.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/007cf411-d3ac-4cbf-ba68-c4fe95b929e7

### Jul 27, 2025 — scored 40 across 5 calls

On their podcast, John previewed several 2025 storylines: they expect the Cowboys to be roughly an eight-to-nine win team, gives the NFC South to Tampa Bay, picks Green Bay to win its division and make the playoffs, thinks Kyler Murray will be elsewhere by 2026, and says Daniel Jones will start Week 1 in Indianapolis.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/015a0804-74b8-4348-a26d-3e4d4d75e8a7

### Jul 15, 2025 — scored 54.72 across 9 calls

In a mid-July podcast, Middlecoff reacted to the Garrett Wilson extension and Jauan Jennings' contract unhappiness, predicting Jennings is San Francisco's clear No. 1 receiver and will top 80 catches; they also expect the Browns to keep Quinshon Judkins on the roster, ranks Mahomes as the top quarterback, calls Dak a top-12 QB, backs Bo Nix as a top-15 starter, says the Bears should win 10 games but must be ranked behind Denver, and would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32b8564c-773f-4dcf-94bf-654d342ddcec

### Jun 30, 2025 — scored 20 across 3 calls

Middlekauff reiterated their pick of the Packers to win the NFC North, set a nine-win floor for the 49ers while being more bullish on them than consensus, and argued Denver's floor with a dominant defense and Sean Payton is about ten wins.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e067181f-d882-4ab3-b654-6e78d233d435

### Jun 24, 2025 — scored 68.57 across 7 calls

Middlecoff predicts Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs with nine or ten wins, that Zac Taylor's Bengals will fire them and have a new coach in 2026, and that the Patriots make the playoffs. They also expect Jackson Dart to be inserted as the Giants' starter early and thinks the Giants win only four or five games, while believing Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3fe574d6-484e-4aaf-913e-9274abb359a2

### Jun 24, 2025 — scored 66.67 across 3 calls

Middlekoff's bold predictions, as relayed on the show, have the Patriots and Colts making the playoffs; they also argue the Colts whiffed on Anthony Richardson, comparing them to Trey Lance.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eaacd99d-867e-4bab-9c40-015de85caa35

### Jun 10, 2025 — scored 60 across 2 calls

Middlekauff predicts Daniel Jones will be the Colts' Week 1 starter over Anthony Richardson, expects Seattle to finish over .500 (roughly 10-7 again), and picks Bryson DeChambeau as the golfer with the best chance to beat Scottie Scheffler at the US Open at Oakmont. They also say Kevin Stefanski would quit by the end of the year if forced to start Shedeur Sanders.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a825ead6-6d7d-41d6-9dd8-50d28c2a3df8

### Apr 10, 2025 — scored 75 across 1 call

Answering a mailbag question about three young cornerbacks, Middlekoff ranked whom they would rather have on their team: Derek Stingley first, Trent McDuffie second, Sauce Gardner third, calling Gardner the least fluid athlete of the trio.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3e7dedae-728f-44d9-94e7-89f41c2bae23

### Apr 3, 2025 — scored 60 across 5 calls

The former NFL scout says Cam Ward goes No. 1 overall to Tennessee, expects Miami to collapse to four or five wins and a top-four pick with Tyreek Hill possibly traded, sees the 49ers beating expectations at nine or ten wins, and likes the Patriots at eight or nine wins and the Chargers to clear their number.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42f94d36-c2a4-41e0-b184-999e7a7148ca

### Mar 1, 2025 — scored 66.67 across 3 calls

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

### Feb 27, 2025 — scored 100 across 1 call

Middlekauff says Deebo Samuel's departure from San Francisco is now effectively official — they will not be a 49er in 2025 — and pegs their trade value at only a fifth- or sixth-round pick, with a real chance the team simply has to cut them.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/58b7ee0a-10d2-4952-8f52-8622f60f3524

### Feb 24, 2025 — scored 50 across 2 calls

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

### Feb 5, 2025 — scored 100 across 1 call

Middlekauff says Cooper Kupp's release by the Rams is inevitable because their $20 million salary makes them untradeable at age 31 after injuries.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17865ad4-9d31-4529-a832-254bb2bc8661

### Jan 26, 2025 — scored 50 across 1 call

Middlekauff says they cannot envision the Chiefs losing the Super Bowl to the Eagles, effectively picking Kansas City to win a third straight title.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b701af14-57a3-490e-bf55-4d3ca38689dd

### Jan 20, 2025 — scored 0 across 2 calls

Middlekauff calls this the Bills' year — they beat the Chiefs next week and win the Super Bowl — and reorders the league's quarterbacks with Mahomes first, then Josh Allen, Burrow and Lamar Jackson.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/56d5bada-9a08-4996-9a02-4d968dc6ea46

### Jan 7, 2025 — scored 56.25 across 8 calls

Middlekauff agreed with Chargers over Texans, Ravens over Steelers and Bills over Broncos, named five teams capable of winning the Super Bowl, picked Penn State over Notre Dame and Ohio State over Texas, and tabbed a Notre Dame freshman pass rusher as a future top-10 pick.

https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aeabd4b-8944-41bb-9b33-47475bb17e4b


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