Chad Jensen· Oct 24, 2026
Jensen expects Denver's starting offensive line to rebound into top-five status now that the schedule eases, and he anticipates left guard Ben Powers leaving in free agency next offseason. He also frames five trade candidates — Jonathan Taylor, Quenton Nelson, Bucky Irving, Vita Vea and Saquon Barkley — as realistic targets rather than moves he predicts will happen.
“With the schedule easing up for the foreseeable future, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the starting five rubber-band back into the top-five status it had entering the 2026 season.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 position group finish and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
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Who this take is about
2 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.
- Position Group FinishDenver BroncosOct 24, 2026
Denver Broncos offensive line to be top 5 in the league
“With the schedule easing up for the foreseeable future, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the starting five rubber-band back into the top-five status it had entering the 2026 season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsBen PowersOct 24, 2026
Ben Powers to move — “expected to depart in free agency next year”
“Current starter, Ben Powers, is expected to depart in free agency next year, and the Broncos drafted Kage Casey in the fourth round this past spring with an eye on being the future at left guard.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Denver BroncosHit · 98Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Zack KelbermanGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Kelberman predicts the Broncos will comfortably beat the Panthers in Week 9, with Denver's offensive line handling Carolina's weak pass rush.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Denver BroncosHit · 98Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said he wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
- Matt HarmonGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Harmon picked the Packers, Bears, Bills, 49ers and Broncos in Week 9, predicted Justin Jefferson would top 100 receiving yards with two touchdowns against Buffalo, and said Minnesota would lose and then trade for Jonathan Taylor.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Tice picked the Patriots to beat the Packers and also took the Bears, Bills, 49ers and Broncos in their Week 9 matchups.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Parker HurleyTrade and Signing Calls · Jessie BatesMiss · 0Hurley argues a Jessie Bates trade to San Francisco is unrealistic because Atlanta remains in the weak NFC South race and likely won't sell, and he expects 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown to depart in free agency after this season.
- Doug JoubertTrade and Signing Calls · Kendre MillerHit · 100Joubert doubts Taysom Hill will return to the Saints for financial reasons and believes Hill has retired from the NFL. He also expects CJ Donaldson to get more carries while the Saints move on from Kendre Miller.
- Randy GurziTrade and Signing Calls · Taylor RappMiss · 0Gurzi argues that, given Brandon Beane's fondness for reunions, recently released safety Taylor Rapp is a realistic option to return to Buffalo for safety depth — though only if the Bills fail to land a starting-caliber safety at the trade deadline.
- Joe MarinoTrade and Signing Calls · Taylor RappHit · 100Marino argues the Bills should and almost certainly will release safety Taylor Rapp to save cap space, saying he'd be stunned if Buffalo kept him.
- Albert BreerTrade and Signing Calls · Jacoby BrissettHit · 100Breer argues the Jaguars should be taken very seriously, seeing a path to 13 wins and the AFC's No. 1 seed with a first-round bye, and he expects the Jacoby Brissett trade to Baltimore to be completed within a day.
- Nathan JahnkeTrade and Signing Calls · Jacoby BrissettHit · 100In a Week 9 recap, Jahnke expects Mark Andrews to remain Baltimore's lead tight end but says rookie Matt Hibner is more likely than Josh Cuevas to eventually overtake him, and he anticipates the Ravens acquiring Jacoby Brissett to start at quarterback. He also suggests Brian Thomas Jr. may have played his final game for Jacksonville ahead of the trade deadline.