Hondo Carpenter· Aug 5, 2026
Carpenter says Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor and rookie Malik Benson are clearly the Raiders' top three receivers, expects Phillip Dorsett to lose his spot to a younger receiver in the rebuild, and believes UDFAs Chase Roberts, Corey Rucker and EJ Williams have legitimate shots at making the roster. He also predicts QB Jacob Clark develops on the practice squad and that the Raiders will not trade both Aidan O'Connell and Kirk Cousins by midseason.
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Tre Tucker · 2026 season22 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 2. Hondo Carpenter 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
7 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.
- Depth Chart CallsTre TuckerLas Vegas RaidersAug 5, 2026
Tre Tucker to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Phillip Dorsett to make the roster
“When you are a rebuilding team, clearly not in the Super Bowl hunt, you take his spot with a younger receiver like EJ Williams or Corey Rucker”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Corey Rucker to make the roster
“But don't bet against Chase Roberts and Corey Rucker, and keep a close eye on EJ Williams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
E.J. Williams to make the roster
“keep a close eye on EJ Williams; he is Fernando Mendoza's teammate from the Indiana Hoosiers, and I believe both have a legitimate shot at making this team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen Nailor to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacob Clark to make the roster
“While I do like the Missouri State QB and think he will do well developing on the practice squad”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malik Benson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Malik Benson (a rookie from Oregon) are clearly the top three men.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Chris BroussardGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Broussard picked the Bills to beat the Chargers in a competitive, higher-scoring game, said the Chiefs will rout the Dolphins, and for upset alert parlayed the Patriots over the Jaguars and the Raiders over the Saints. He also restated his Cowboys-versus-Ravens Super Bowl matchup pick.
- Richard ShermanGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Sherman ran through the entire Week 2 slate with winners and several exact final scores, picking Seattle, San Francisco, Buffalo, Houston, Chicago, New England, Jacksonville, Dallas, Kansas City, the Rams, Green Bay, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Las Vegas and Carolina. He also called Fred Warner the league's best middle linebacker and floated Parker Washington as a top-five receiver.
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Zach ErtzMiss · 0Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Christian BenfordMiss · 0Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated.