Tom Pelissero#5 of 87 NFL pundits · May 30, 2025

Pelissero says it wouldn't shock them if Shedeur Sanders is part of an open quarterback competition in Cleveland heading into training camp, expects Cam Ward to be the Titans' starter by the preseason, and suggests that if Aaron Rodgers plays poorly the Steelers could hold a top-15 pick in the 2026 draft and target a quarterback.

Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original

2 of 3calls landed2 hits · 1 close call · all settled

92.4Average accuracyout of 100, across 3 calls

56.3A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

3 of 3Settlednone still waiting

#5Tom Pelissero’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Tom Pelissero said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

But it would not shock me at all if we're talking about this Romanian open competition with Shidoor Sanders as a part of it as we, you know, get up towards training camp.

Tom Pelissero, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was said: The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
The episode: Top 5 Toughest NFL Divisions
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidMay 30, 2025
GradedAug 13–Sep 18, 2026

1Aaron Rodgers to move to Pittsburgh Steelers“So this is either assuming that Aaron Rodgers comes, which we can feel very strongly about it.”
2Pittsburgh Steelers to pick “a top 15 type of pick” (picks 1–15)“then the Steelers become a team to watch in the twenty twenty six six draft because you could be talking about ... you might have a top 15 type of pick.”
3Cam Ward to be 1st on the depth chart“And every expectation is that, you know, by the time we get into the pre season, that certainly he's gonna be that guy.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Aaron Rodgers to move to Pittsburgh Steelers¹	Trade and Signing Calls	Ended up with PIT	100	0	+200
Pittsburgh Steelers to pick “a top 15 type of pick” (picks 1–15)²	Team Draft Slot Calls	Picked at 21	77.11	77.11	0
Cam Ward to be 1st on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	No. 1	100	91.67	+16.67
3 calls · 2 hits · 1 close call · all settled			92.4	56.3

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naive

3 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 team draft slot call and 1 trade and signing call — 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.

All 3 have settled, averaging 92.4 out of 100, against 56.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

1Trade and Signing Calls Aaron Rodgers Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers to move to Pittsburgh Steelers
What happenedEnded up with PITcalled PIT
100Hit · naive 0
100this call0a naive guess100better than naive2difficulty+200skill
How this was scored
skill:
200
player:
Aaron Rodgers
season:
2025
claimed:
PIT
was with:
NYJ
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he stays where he is
weeks in the season:
18
ended up with:
PIT
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
2Team Draft Slot Calls Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers to pick “a top 15 type of pick” (picks 1–15)
What happenedPicked at 21
77.11Close · naive 77.11
77.11this call77.11a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
team:
PIT
draft:
2026
naive:
they picked 21 the year before
skill:
0
season:
2025
zero credit this far off:
32
accuracy:
77.11
baseline:
77.11
actual pick:
21
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
predicted pick:
a top 15 type of pick (picks 1–15)
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Cam Ward Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards
100Hit · naive 91.67
100this call91.67a naive guess8.33better than naive2difficulty+16.67skill
How this was scored
club:
TEN
skill:
16.67
player:
Cam Ward
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
91.67
position:
QB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
2
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
92.4naive 56.3

Who this take is about

Make your own calls.Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Shaun Calderon · Trade and Signing Calls · Jeffery Simmons · Miss 0
Calderon argues the 0-5 Titans won't turn their season around, that Cam Ward won't be benched soon, and that Jeffery Simmons stays in Tennessee while Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley are likely trade candidates with modest returns.
Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Rodgers · Miss 0
Eisen ranked their top five most impressive Pro Bowl campaigns of the season, topped by Sam Darnold, and predicted that Sunday would be Aaron Rodgers' last game with the Jets.
Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 60
DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense.
Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.

More depth chart calls

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

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.