Zach RobertsAug 6, 2026
Previewing the Panthers' Hall of Fame Game, Roberts predicts Kenny Pickett starts but plays sparingly with Haynes King getting extensive work, and projects UDFA receiver Ja'Seem Reed and defensive lineman Aaron Hall to make the final 53-man roster.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Zach Roberts said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromAaron Hall is on his way to making the Panthers' roster.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 5 Players to Watch During Panthers-Cardinals Hall of Fame Game
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 6
- GradedSep 25–Oct 4
- 1Ja'Seem Reed to make the roster“It's put him on the path to making the final 53, especially with Chris Brazzell out for the year.”
- 2Aaron Hall to make the roster“Aaron Hall is on his way to making the Panthers' roster.”
- 3Kenny Pickett to be 1st on the depth chart“Kenny Pickett is going to start, but we don't expect him to play that much.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja'Seem Reed to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 1 week on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Aaron Hall to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Kenny Pickett to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 2 hits · 1 waiting | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 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 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 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
Kenny Pickett · 2026 season3 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 2. Zach Roberts said 1. the room's median is 2. 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.
1Roster Spot CallsJa'Seem ReedCarolina Panthers
Ja'Seem Reed to make the roster
What happened1 week on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Ja'Seem Reed
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 4
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 3
2Roster Spot CallsAaron HallCarolina Panthers
Aaron Hall to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Aaron Hall
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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
3Depth Chart CallsKenny PickettCarolina Panthers
Kenny Pickett to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 0
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Carolina Panthers · Miss 0
Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside their spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.Mitchell Eisenstein · Score Predictions · Carolina Panthers · Close 43
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.Cody Rourke · Game Outcome Picks · Carolina Panthers · Miss 0
Rourke predicts the Broncos finish 13-4 in 2026, going 4-2 over a brutal opening six games, sweeping Kansas City again, and losing only at San Francisco, at home to Seattle, at Carolina and on Christmas Day to Buffalo. They also expect Carolina to return to the playoffs.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Carolina Panthers · Miss 2
After the Bears beat the Patriots on Thursday night, Simms said they wouldn't be shocked to see the two meet in the Super Bowl, and then gave predicted final scores for every Week 7 game, including Seattle over Kansas City on Sunday night and Dallas winning in Philadelphia.John Middlekauff · Game Outcome Picks · Carolina Panthers · Miss 0
After the Bears-Patriots Thursday night game, Middlekauff called both Chicago and New England playoff teams, leaned Steelers, Vikings, Panthers, Bengals, Raiders, Packers and Seahawks in the weekend slate, predicted a bleak remaining season for the Chargers, and said Justin Herbert isn't going anywhere.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.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.