# Ross Jackson: Ross Jackson lays out his early defensive 53-man roster projection for the 2026 Saints, naming five edge rushers, four interior defensive linemen, five cornerbacks, five linebackers and five safeties, plus his kicker, punter and long snapper, and sends Mike Heldman, Chris Rumph and Jackson Sirmon to the practice squad. **Claimed:** Jul 1, 2026 **Pundit:** Ross Jackson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ross-jackson **Outlet:** Locked On Saints (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-saints-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/83ac39/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/26a658f6-15f1-4878-ab5f-d78d7d886aa9/episodes/4472bfdc-f3e2-4800-8535-010fb2901d77/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=26a658f6-15f1-4878-ab5f-d78d7d886aa9&awEpisodeId=4472bfdc-f3e2-4800-8535-010fb2901d77&feed=aKgoC4uX 32 checkable claims — 24 roster spot calls and 8 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 31 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 16 of 32 have settled so far, averaging 93.8 out of 100, against 87.5 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one. > So I have the scenes keeping five safeties, and this is a really strong safety room. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Carl Granderson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Carl Granderson, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Tyree Wilson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tyree Wilson, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jayden Price to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jayden Price, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Kaden Elliss to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kaden Elliss, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Davon Godchaux to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Davon Godchaux, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Justin Reid to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Justin Reid, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Anfernee Jennings to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Anfernee Jennings, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chris Rumph II to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Chris Rumph II, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Pete Werner to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Pete Werner, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Vernon Broughton to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Vernon Broughton, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Martin Emerson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Martin Emerson, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Danny Stutsman to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Danny Stutsman, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chase Young to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Chase Young, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Cameron Jordan to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jordan Howden to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jordan Howden, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Isaiah Stalbird to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Isaiah Stalbird, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Michael Heldman to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Michael Heldman, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Charlie Smyth to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Charlie Smyth, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Julian Blackmon to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Julian Blackmon, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bryan Bresee to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Bryan Bresee, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jonas Sanker to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jonas Sanker, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ryan Wright to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Ryan Wright, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Charlie Smyth to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Charlie Smyth, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Terrell Burgess to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Terrell Burgess, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Isaac Yiadom to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Isaac Yiadom, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zach Wood to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Zach Wood, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jackson Sirmon to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jackson Sirmon, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Reid to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Justin Reid, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kool-Aid McKinstry to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Quincy Riley to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Quincy Riley, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Miller to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Christian Miller, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylan Ford to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jaylan Ford, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Carl Granderson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carl-granderson - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Tyree Wilson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyree-wilson - Jayden Price — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jayden-price - Kaden Elliss — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kaden-elliss - Davon Godchaux — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/davon-godchaux - Justin Reid — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/justin-reid - Anfernee Jennings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/anfernee-jennings - Chris Rumph II — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-rumph-ii - Pete Werner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/pete-werner - Vernon Broughton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/vernon-broughton - Martin Emerson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/martin-emerson - Danny Stutsman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/danny-stutsman - Chase Young — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chase-young - Cameron Jordan — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cameron-jordan - Jordan Howden — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordan-howden - Isaiah Stalbird — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/isaiah-stalbird - Michael Heldman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-heldman - Charlie Smyth — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/charlie-smyth - Julian Blackmon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/julian-blackmon - Bryan Bresee — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bryan-bresee - Jonas Sanker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jonas-sanker - Ryan Wright — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ryan-wright - Terrell Burgess — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/terrell-burgess - Isaac Yiadom — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/isaac-yiadom - Zach Wood — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zach-wood - Jackson Sirmon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jackson-sirmon - Kool-Aid McKinstry — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kool-aid-mckinstry - Quincy Riley — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/quincy-riley - Christian Miller — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-miller - Jaylan Ford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylan-ford ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on New Orleans Saints: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 47.62) - Nick Wright on New Orleans Saints: On his Week 3 pick show, Nick Wright gave straight-up final-score predictions for five games, calling blowouts by Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami, a Jacksonville home win over New England, a narrow New Orleans win over the Raiders and a low-scoring Baltimore win over Dallas in Brazil. He also called Seattle the best team in the NFL with the league's best defense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/afa6070a-4229-4b28-a922-31d609ad1adf (scored 33.33) - Dan Beyer on New Orleans Saints: For his Week 3 survivor pick, he took the Saints to beat the Raiders at home, saying he doesn't see Las Vegas staying unbeaten. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fdedf503-5121-4109-b003-d5c980b00456 (scored 0) - Darrion Gray on New Orleans Saints: Predicted the Saints beat the Raiders 27-17 at home. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/778eb604-cf02-49f1-8468-fbc8b0798375 (scored 45.24) - John Hendricks on New Orleans Saints: Predicted a lower-scoring Saints win over the Raiders, 24-19, with the defense carrying them. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5d6f55b1-d993-4659-a8b9-d95c6942875e (scored 42.86) - Lance Moore on New Orleans Saints: Called for a Saints victory over the Raiders by a score of 27-20. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/92c9e860-f1af-4e13-a82c-80d31fa7be6e (scored 47.62) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100) - Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100) - Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=ross-jackson