Tom Pelissero· May 30, 2025
Pelissero says it wouldn't shock him 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.
“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.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
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 bet.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Cam Ward · 2025 season4 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 1. Tom Pelissero said 1. the room's median is 1. what happened: 1
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question, before the answer existed. The bar is what actually happened. 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
3 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.
Aaron Rodgers to move to Pittsburgh Steelers
“So this is either assuming that Aaron Rodgers comes, which we can feel very strongly about it.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow 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
- Team Draft Slot CallsPittsburgh SteelersMay 30, 2025
Pittsburgh 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.”
Close · 77Scored 77.11a naive guess scored 77.11+0 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- PIT
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- they picked 21 the year before
- skill:
- 0
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsCam WardTennessee TitansMay 30, 2025
Cam 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.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+16.67 skillHow 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
What others said about the same people
- John MiddlekauffGame Outcome Picks · Tennessee TitansMiss · 0Middlekauff 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.
- Colin CowherdGame Outcome Picks · Tennessee TitansMiss · 0The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Tennessee TitansClose · 45Sullivan projects final scores for every Week 3 game, including a Bills blowout of the reeling Chargers, a Chiefs rout in Miami, a Seahawks win over a Mariota-led Washington, and the Saints beating the Raiders in their home opener. He also expects Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all to be sidelined in Week 3, with Marcus Mariota starting for Washington.
- Lane MillsGame Outcome Picks · Tennessee TitansMiss · 0Mills predicts the Titans finish 2026 at 6-11 (2-4 in the AFC South), missing the playoffs, with specific wins over the Jets, Giants, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Colts, and names Wan'Dale Robinson team MVP with another 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown season as Cam Ward's top receiver.
- Bryan DeArdoRoster Spot Calls · Drew AllarHit · 100A CBS Sports piece lays out Pittsburgh's quarterback pecking order: Aaron Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph is the No. 2, rookie Drew Allar sits at No. 3 and Will Howard is fourth, with the Steelers expected to keep all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster rather than trading Howard.
- Jack MarkowskiRoster Spot Calls · Will HowardHit · 100Markowski writes that Howard now appears locked into the 53-man roster, that Pittsburgh is unlikely to move Rudolph, and that Rudolph has the inside track to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers.
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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In 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.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- 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.