Bill Huber· Aug 26, 2026
Previewing the Packers' final roster cuts, Huber lays out the linebacker pecking order — Cooper and Franklin starting, McDuffie and Hopper as backups/special-teamers, Niemann a special teams key — says Jonathan Ford has won the nose tackle job, and figures Kamal Hadden has secured a secondary spot.
“Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin will start, Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper will be backups and core players on special teams”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 2 roster spot 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 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Zaire Franklin · 2026 season3 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 1. Bill Huber 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 CallsZaire FranklinGreen Bay PackersAug 26, 2026
Zaire Franklin to be 1st on the depth chart
“Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin will start”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsNick NiemannGreen Bay PackersAug 26, 2026
Nick Niemann to make the roster
“Nick Niemann – who the Packers signed after final cuts last year rather than keeping Welch – will be a key player on special teams again.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsKamal HaddenGreen Bay PackersAug 26, 2026
Kamal Hadden to make the roster
“Because he's played better at cornerback and slot, Kamal Hadden has probably locked up a spot in the secondary.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Edgerrin Cooper to be 1st on the depth chart
“Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin will start”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTy'Ron HopperGreen Bay PackersAug 26, 2026
Ty'Ron Hopper to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper will be backups and core players on special teams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Isaiah McDuffie to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper will be backups and core players on special teams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJonathan FordGreen Bay PackersAug 26, 2026
Jonathan Ford to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jonathan Ford has had a terrific training camp to seize the job at nose tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersHit · 98Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 10Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle.
- Mike KadlickScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 7Kadlick expects an ugly, low-scoring Thursday night game at Lambeau Field, with Green Bay beating Atlanta 10–7 to move to 2–1 while the Falcons drop to 0–3 in Michael Penix Jr.'s return.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 24Dubin picks the Packers to beat the Falcons comfortably on Thursday Night Football, predicting a 23-13 Green Bay win.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 17Dajani gave final-score predictions for eight Week 3 games, picking the Packers, Bengals, Jaguars, Texans, Buccaneers (upset), Ravens, Broncos (upset) and Eagles to win.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.