Kevin PatraAug 12, 2026
In a league-wide training camp notebook, Patra forecasts a slew of depth-chart outcomes — starters at tackle, center, nickel and quarterback jobs, receiver pecking orders and backfield splits — plus Sonny Styles as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate and Aaron Donald returning to the Rams.
Published in writingRead the original
What Kevin Patra said
At this point, I'll be more surprised if Aaron Donald doesn't return. It feels inevitable.
- The piece
- 2026 NFL training camp: Early takeaways for all 32 teams
- 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 | 21 | |
| Trade and Signing Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
How each call scored
23 checkable claims — 21 depth chart calls, 1 award pick and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 40 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 21 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 18.
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
Kirk Cousins · 2026 season3 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 1. Kevin Patra 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 Calls21 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Stetson Bennett to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Stetson Bennett IV continues to run ahead of Ty Simpson as Matthew Stafford's backup”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Riley Leonard to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Riley Leonard has the inside track for the No. 2 QB gig over Anthony Richardson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart
“Travis Etienne has taken most of the early-down reps in team drills with Alvin Kamara taking third downs and passing situations. That feels like it will be the trend into the season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Braxton Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“If he's healthy, I expect Jones to be the Week 1 starter.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Guyton to be 1st on the depth chart
“it's clear that the former first-rounder is in the lead. Nate Thomas must improve significantly to have a shot. Guyton is the front-runner”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Garrett Bradbury to be 1st on the depth chart
“Garrett Bradbury ran away with the starting center gig.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Keylan Rutledge to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rutledge can play center or guard, but the first-round pick feels like the opening-day pivot in Houston.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rico Dowdle appears on his way to taking the lead role in the timeshare with Jaylen Warren.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Andrei Iosivas to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Andrei Iosivas has worked with the first-team offense, likely keeping him as WR3”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Keionte Scott to be 1st on the depth chart
“keep an eye on rookie DB Keionte Scott ... Scott could earn the starting nickel job”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
DJ Moore to be 1st on the depth chart
“It appears Josh Allen might finally have the go-to target he's missed since Stefon Diggs left town.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Anton Harrison to be 1st on the depth chart
“Anton Harrison's move to left tackle appears all but official at this point.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jahan Dotson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Jahan Dotson ... is reportedly "clearly the WR2." This would be a heck of a late bloom if Dotson finally put it together.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“It still feels like Tagovailoa opens the season under center.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tyler Allgeier being placed ahead of Jeremiyah Love caught my eye. I don't believe things will stay that way come September”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ty Simpson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Surely no one will make a big deal about a first-rounder sitting No. 3 on the depth chart.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Stefon Diggs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“The veteran showed he can still play, and slots perfectly opposite Terry McLaurin. ... Adding the WR2 slots everyone in more fitting roles early in the season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kahlil Benson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson seems poised to swipe the starting right tackle job.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins remains the starter. That doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Alvin Kamara to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Travis Etienne has taken most of the early-down reps in team drills with Alvin Kamara taking third downs and passing situations. That feels like it will be the trend into the season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Lomu to be 1st on the depth chart
“Versatility could give the Pats options before the No. 28 overall pick eventually takes over one of the tackle spots.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trade and Signing Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams
“At this point, I'll be more surprised if Aaron Donald doesn't return. It feels inevitable.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Sonny Styles to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“The fit and talent are ideal for a sensational first season. Styles can win DROY if he helps turn around a moribund DC defense.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Stetson Bennett, Los Angeles Rams, Aaron Donald, Riley Leonard, Indianapolis Colts, Travis Etienne, New Orleans Saints, Braxton Jones, Chicago Bears, Tyler Guyton, Dallas Cowboys, Garrett Bradbury, Keylan Rutledge, Houston Texans, Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers, Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals, Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders, Keionte Scott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DJ Moore, Buffalo Bills, Anton Harrison, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jahan Dotson, Atlanta Falcons, Tua Tagovailoa, Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals, Ty Simpson, Stefon Diggs, Kahlil Benson, Kansas City Chiefs, Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders, Alvin Kamara, Caleb Lomu, New England Patriots
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.John Breech · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 90
Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picked seven Week 10 games with final scores, including a Commanders upset of the Giants, Lions over the Patriots in Munich, Chiefs over the Falcons, Packers edging the Vikings, 49ers over the Cowboys, Bengals over the Steelers and Ravens over the Chargers. They also suggested Joe Burrow could win MVP this season.Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.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.