Tyler Sullivan· Sep 1, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
“With a little more seasoning, he'll be QB1 by season's end in all likelihood.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 15 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 26 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 15 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 12 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 10.
Where this call stands in the room
Carson Wentz · 2026 season9 calls from 9 pundits between 1 and 2. Tyler Sullivan said 2. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. 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
- Deshaun Watson
- Cleveland Browns
- Malik Willis
- Miami Dolphins
- Mansoor Delane
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Roschon Johnson
- Chicago Bears
- Fernando Carmona
- Tennessee Titans
- Jake Slaughter
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Jacob Saylors
- Detroit Lions
- Carson Wentz
- Minnesota Vikings
- Braxton Jones
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- MarShawn Lloyd
- Green Bay Packers
- Kyler Murray
- Eli Heidenreich
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- J.J. McCarthy
- Fernando Mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders
The games in this take
- Browns at Jaguars 38 calls
- Dolphins at Raiders 48 calls
15 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.
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Watson "won" the job, but he hardly looked the part of an NFL starter... Despite all that, he'll be the guy in Week 1”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Deshaun Watson
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- quarterback
- reported:
- named the starter
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Depth Chart CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsSep 1, 2026
Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
“a 14-play, 93-yard drive led by incoming starter Malik Willis in Week 1 of the preseason”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- MIA
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Malik Willis
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- quarterback
- reported:
- named the starter
- naive slot:
- 2
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he keeps the job he had last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Mansoor Delane to be 1st on the depth chart
“Mansoor Delane, the No. 6 overall pick out of LSU, looked primed to slot in as Kansas City's No. 1 corner”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Roschon Johnson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Roschon Johnson is a quality third option behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Carmona to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fernando Carmona Jr., a fifth-round pick out of Arkansas, locked in the starting job at right guard with a strong preseason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Second-round rookie Jake Slaughter will take over, but there are some questions along the interior of the line.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJacob SaylorsDetroit LionsSep 1, 2026
Jacob Saylors to be 2nd on the depth chart
“leaving them with Jacob Saylors potentially as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Carson Wentz to be 2nd on the depth chart
“O'Connell was also wise to make Carson Wentz the top backup over J.J. McCarthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBraxton JonesChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Braxton Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“Braxton Jones appears set to start on the blindside out of the gate”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJahmyr GibbsDetroit LionsSep 1, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart
“leaving them with Jacob Saylors potentially as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart
“That leaves MarShawn Lloyd as the top back, along with Chris Brooks and the recently acquired Kaleb Johnson.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“This quarterback room as it's currently constructed (with Murray at the top followed by Wentz and then McCarthy) is the optimal approach.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Eli Heidenreich to be 3rd on the depth chart
“rookie running back Eli Heidenreich impressed enough to earn the RB3 role behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
J.J. McCarthy to be 3rd on the depth chart
“(with Murray at the top followed by Wentz and then McCarthy)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“with a little more seasoning, he'll be QB1 by season's end in all likelihood”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 10Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In 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.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox 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.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Rashod BatemanMiss · 0In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Jalyx HuntMiss · 0From an Eagles training camp practice, Kerr projects Willie Lampkin as a possible 53-man roster player, Jalyx Hunt as the likely Week 1 starting edge rusher over Nolan Smith, Byron Young as the No. 4 defensive tackle, Jake Elliott as the uncontested kicker, and Darius Cooper pressuring Hollywood Brown for the WR4 role.