Nick PedoneAug 15, 2026
After Cleveland's preseason opener, Pedone expects Deshaun Watson to keep the starting quarterback job over Shedeur Sanders, projects rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston as Week 1 starters, and lays out the likely offensive line configuration with Spencer Fano at left tackle and KT Leveston as the preferred backup guard.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Nick Pedone said
After the opener, it certainly looks like it's Watson's job to lose.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Biggest Takeaways From Browns Preseason Opener Loss in Chicago
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 9 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 8.
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
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season73 calls from 39 pundits between 1 and 2. Nick Pedone said 1. 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Depth Chart Calls9 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Spencer Fano to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fano starting the season at left tackle next to Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins at center, Teven Jenkins at right guard and Tytus Howard at right tackle is likely how the Browns will utilize these linemen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denzel Boston to be 1st on the depth chart
“Since the Browns plan on starting both of these rookies Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they were promptly removed from the game before Watson's day was even finished.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zion Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fano starting the season at left tackle next to Zion Johnson ... is likely how the Browns will utilize these linemen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
KT Leveston to be 2nd on the depth chart
“KT Leveston looks to be Cleveland's preferred backup guard”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Teven Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Teven Jenkins at right guard ... is likely how the Browns will utilize these linemen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tytus Howard at right tackle is likely how the Browns will utilize these linemen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Elgton Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Elgton Jenkins at center ... is likely how the Browns will utilize these linemen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“So much has been made about Watson's quarterback competition against Shedeur Sanders this preseason. After the opener, it certainly looks like it's Watson's job to lose.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
K.C. Concepcion to be 1st on the depth chart
“Since the Browns plan on starting both of these rookies Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.Doug Joubert · Score Predictions · Cleveland Browns · Miss 26
Joubert picks the Browns to win 28-17, saying the Saints haven't improved over the first half of the season despite Cleveland starting Shedeur Sanders.Pat McAfee · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
McAfee picked the Browns, with Shedeur Sanders starting, to beat the Saints in New Orleans.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.Mitchell Eisenstein · Game Outcome Picks · Cleveland Browns · Miss 0
Mitchell gave their Week 9 top-five power rankings, keeping Buffalo first and the 49ers second while elevating the Bears, Jaguars and Lions, and picked a slate of Week 9 games including a Packers win in New England, a Panthers upset of Denver, and blowouts for Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. They also tabbed Jonah Coleman as a late-season Offensive Rookie of the Year pick.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.