Jacob Richard· Sep 2, 2026
Richard identifies the Browns' five thinnest position groups and lays out how he expects the depth chart to shake out at quarterback, tight end, defensive line, cornerback and linebacker.
“The Browns are the thinnest at the most important position in sports.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 13 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 13 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 10.
Where this call stands in the room
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season65 calls from 37 pundits between 1 and 2. Jacob Richard 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.
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Who this take is about
13 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.
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Deshaun Watson is the starting quarterback and he has not proven he can play the position in six years.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJared VerseCleveland BrownsSep 2, 2026
Jared Verse to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns starting defensive line can be solid in Mason Graham, Jared Verse, Maleik Collins, and Isaiah McGuire.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quincy Williams to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Defensive rookie of the year Carson Schwesinger leads the group followed by veteran Quincy Williams. ... The backups are Winston Reid and fifth-round rookie Justin Jefferson.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“Harold Fannin Jr. put in an impressive rookie season, but had surgery in the offseason... The backup tight ends are Blake Whiteheart and Carsen Ryan.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dillon Gabriel to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Third-string quarterback Dillon Gabriel looked outmatched last season trying to move the football”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Isaiah McGuire to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns starting defensive line can be solid in Mason Graham, Jared Verse, Maleik Collins, and Isaiah McGuire.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Carson Schwesinger to be 1st on the depth chart
“Defensive rookie of the year Carson Schwesinger leads the group followed by veteran Quincy Williams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Harden to be 1st on the depth chart
“Myles Harden is tasked with starting at the slot cornerback.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mason Graham to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns starting defensive line can be solid in Mason Graham, Jared Verse, Maleik Collins, and Isaiah McGuire.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDenzel WardCleveland BrownsSep 2, 2026
Denzel Ward to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns’ first two corners, Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell, are probably the best position duo on the squad.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyson Campbell to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns’ first two corners, Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell, are probably the best position duo on the squad.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Shedeur Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Shedeur Sanders is the backup and may start this season, but his touchdown to interception ratio last season was upside down.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Maliek Collins to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns starting defensive line can be solid in Mason Graham, Jared Verse, Maleik Collins, and Isaiah McGuire.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Cleveland BrownsHit · 100Prisco picks every Week 3 game with exact scores, highlighting upsets by Tampa Bay over Minnesota and Cleveland over Carolina, and expects the Giants to rally behind Jameis Winston.
- Nick PedoneRoster Spot Calls · Isaiah BondHit · 100Previewing the Browns' preseason finale, Pedone says five receivers — Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace — are very likely to make Cleveland's 53-man roster, leaving one final spot open for Luke Floriea and others.
- Nick PedoneRoster Spot Calls · K.C. ConcepcionHit · 100Reading the Browns' first depth chart, Pedone projects Deshaun Watson as the Week 1 starting quarterback, lays out the full projected starting offensive line with Parker Brailsford as backup center, expects KT Leveston to make the roster as guard depth, and names Jeudy, Concepcion, Boston and Bond as roster locks with Tylan Wallace as the fifth receiver.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carsen RyanHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Raheim SandersHit · 100An unsigned PFF fantasy preseason recap makes a series of depth-chart and roster-spot calls: Roman Wilson wins the Steelers' third receiver job over Germie Bernard, Robert Tonyan makes Pittsburgh's roster as the third tight end, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III stick in New England, Mike Washington Jr. is the Raiders' primary backup back, Jalen Nailor stays a Raiders starter, Kaelon Black leads the 49ers' backup running back competition, and Charlie Kolar is the Chargers' top tight end with top-12 fantasy upside.
- Ty KohlerRoster Spot Calls · Winston ReidHit · 100After the Browns' first preseason game, Kohler said rookie Spencer Fano has cemented himself as Cleveland's left tackle, expects Dawand Jones to be a backup this season, and thinks Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Adin Huntington and Julian Okwara will be on the roster.
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.
- 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.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.