Jack Markowski#61 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 21, 2026

Markowski 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.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

2 of 2calls landed2 hits · 1 waiting

100Average accuracyout of 100, across 2 calls

100A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

2 of 3Settled1 still waiting

#61Jack Markowski’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Jack Markowski said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

Though Howard now appears to be a lock for the 53-man roster, it's hard to imagine Pittsburgh moving Rudolph unless another team comes in with an enticing trade offer.

Jack Markowski, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: Report: Steelers Make Will Howard Decision
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 21
GradedSep 25–Oct 1

1Mason Rudolph to make the roster“they seem to be attached at the hip with him and will keep him in all likelihood”
2Will Howard to make the roster“Though Howard now appears to be a lock for the 53-man roster”
3Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart“serving as additional proof that he has the inside track for the backup job behind Aaron Rodgers”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Mason Rudolph to make the roster¹	Roster Spot Calls	4 weeks on a 53	100	100	0
Will Howard to make the roster²	Roster Spot Calls	3 weeks on a 53	100	100	0
Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
3 calls · 2 hits · 1 waiting			100	100

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naive

3 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

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.

Where this call stands in the room

Mason Rudolph · 2026 season

Jack Markowski — 2the room — 5 calls from 5 punditsmedian 2

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.

1Roster Spot Calls Mason Rudolph Pittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph to make the roster
What happened4 weeks on a 53
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
Mason Rudolph
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
4
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
2Roster Spot Calls Will Howard Pittsburgh Steelers
Will Howard to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
Will Howard
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Mason Rudolph Pittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 100

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

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.
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.
Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners across the Week 8 slate, siding with the Bills over the Ravens, the Lions, Steelers, Jaguars, Bengals, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Rams, Patriots, Commanders and the Bears in Seattle.
James Harrison · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Harrison picked the Steelers to beat the Browns in their Sunday meeting, saying Pittsburgh would even the season series at 1-1 after losing the first matchup.

More roster spot calls

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

Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
Jason Harmon · Roster Spot Calls · Max Brosmer · Miss 0
Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs.
Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.
Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.
Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.
Randy Gurzi · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Hudson · Miss 0
Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.