Carter Bahns#18 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 28, 2026
The unsigned newsletter names five big-name veterans it expects to be cut ahead of Sunday's 53-man roster deadline, saying not to be surprised if they are free agents by the end of the weekend.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Carter Bahns said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromA large handful of big-name veterans are on the chopping block, so don't be surprised if these guys end up as free agents by the end of the weekend
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- College football Week 0 picks; NFL roster cutdown day looming; MLB call-up candidates
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 28
- GradedSep 25
- 1Darren Waller to be cut“Darren Waller , TE, Panthers”
- 2Odell Beckham Jr. to be cut“don't be surprised if these guys end up as free agents by the end of the weekend: Odell Beckham Jr. , WR, Giants”
- 3Mecole Hardman to be cut“Mecole Hardman , WR, Bills”
- 4Sterling Shepard to be cut“Sterling Shepard , WR, Texans”
- 5Emmanuel Ogbah to be cut“Emmanuel Ogbah , EDGE, Chiefs”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Waller to be cut1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| Odell Beckham Jr. to be cut2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mecole Hardman to be cut3 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Sterling Shepard to be cut4 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Emmanuel Ogbah to be cut5 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 2 misses · 3 waiting | 0 | 50 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive5 checkable claims — 5 roster spot 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.
2 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
1Roster Spot CallsDarren WallerCarolina Panthers
Darren Waller to be cut
What happened3 weeks on a 530Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Darren Waller
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- 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
2Roster Spot CallsOdell Beckham Jr.New York Giants
Odell Beckham Jr. to be cut
What happened3 weeks on a 530Miss · naive 00this call−0a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- NYG
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
3Roster Spot CallsMecole HardmanBuffalo Bills
Mecole Hardman to be cut
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Roster Spot CallsSterling ShepardHouston Texans
Sterling Shepard to be cut
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Roster Spot CallsEmmanuel OgbahKansas City Chiefs
Emmanuel Ogbah to be cut
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
0naive 50
Who this take is about
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.Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.
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.Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.