Noah Strackbein· Aug 13, 2026
Strackbein predicts undrafted journeyman receiver Brandon Smith will keep impressing and make the Steelers' 53-man roster this season, and that he'll be among the first wideouts on the field in the preseason opener against Green Bay.
“So big that, if he keeps pulling off the unthinkable, he's going to end up on the 53-man team this season.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
2 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.
Brandon Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
“Smith has found himself consistently working with Aaron Rodgers and company and will likely be one of the first wide receivers on the field against the Packers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brandon Smith to make the roster
“So big that, if he keeps pulling off the unthinkable, he's going to end up on the 53-man team this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersMiss · 0Wright called the Chiefs the NFL's best team and predicted they'd control the Raiders on the road en route to the 12-5 season he had forecast, while also picking the Steelers, Bills and Vikings in Week 4. He expects Tyreek Hill to return to Kansas City, with his Arrowhead return coming Nov. 8 against the Jets, and sees Josh Simmons missing Week 4 but back by the Seahawks game.
- Ty SchmitGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersMiss · 0Schmidt picked the Steelers to beat the Browns, arguing teams missing multiple offensive line starters play badly against fronts like Pittsburgh's, and he also said he doesn't believe Jerry Jones will pay Joey Porter Jr. right away in Dallas.
- Chuck PaganoGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersMiss · 0Pagano picked the Steelers to win Thursday night in Cleveland, citing Pittsburgh's pass rush against a patched-together Browns offensive line and expecting a low-scoring rivalry game.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersMiss · 0Hawk said his instincts were on Pittsburgh from the start and he stuck with the Steelers to win in Cleveland on Thursday night.
- Connor "Boston Connor" CampbellGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersMiss · 0After flirting with taking Cleveland because of the Browns' Thursday night home history, Connor landed on the Steelers to win the game.
- Anthony “Tone Digs” DiGuilioGame Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersMiss · 0Despite reciting the Browns' dominant Thursday night home history, Tone sided with the Steelers to win the game.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Bahns calls it reality that Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, with Deshaun Watson set to fail.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0A CBS Sports preseason overreaction column argues Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, that Ja'Kobi Lane has a real path to a No. 2 receiver role as a rookie, and that Kenneth Walker III is a legitimate lead back atop the Chiefs' depth chart.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3.
- 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.