Chris Roling· Oct 28, 2026
Roling argues the winless Chargers should be sellers at the deadline and that New England is a logical landing spot for both Khalil Mack and Quentin Johnston, while also suggesting the Chargers are on track to land Jeremiah Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft.
“Shipping him to a possible contender would make plenty of sense, even if the return wouldn’t be that big now.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 2 trade and signing calls and 1 mock draft pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 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 below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Jeremiah Smith · 2026 season · overall pick5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 overall pick and 1 overall pick. Chris Roling said 1 overall pick. the room's median is 1 overall pick. 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.
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Who this take is about
3 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.
Khalil Mack to move to New England Patriots
“Elsewhere in the AFC, the New England Patriots might be able to help the Chargers out... Chargers, Patriots trades at deadline make too much sense ... Shipping him to a possible contender would make plenty of sense”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quentin Johnston to move to New England Patriots
“Desperate Patriots Could Help Chargers Offload Quentin Johnston... Even if the Chargers don’t keep rolling with Mike McDaniel’s system for the rest of the year or even into 2027, it wouldn’t make sense to keep Johnston.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiah Smith to be picked at number 1
“especially if they remain on track for Jeremiah Smith at No. 1 overall in next year’s draft”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pat FitzmauriceScore Predictions · New England PatriotsMiss · 14Fitzmaurice predicted a 24-21 Patriots win over the Packers, said he would not be surprised if Jonathan Taylor were inactive amid trade talk, pegged Jonah Coleman as an RB22 rest-of-season value, expected Evan Hull to be Arizona's backup back, and saw Kerby Joseph returning in Week 10 or 11.
- Kevin WildesGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Wildes took Minnesota over Buffalo, predicted a comfortable roughly 10-point New England win over Green Bay, and switched his Super Bowl matchup to Jaguars–Bears.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. He also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated his Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.
- Eric ManginiGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as his upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated his Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Rogers 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 · New England PatriotsMiss · 31Simms 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.
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.
- Sean PaytonTrade and Signing Calls · Taylor RappHit · 100Payton said there is a better than good chance safety Taylor Rapp re-signs with the Broncos, and expects it to happen sooner rather than later.
- 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.