# Alex Clancy: Known on the show as "Clancy," he expects the Cardinals to win more games than last season while still landing a high pick, believes Ty Simpson goes in the first round and Carson Beck no later than the third, and lays out an Arizona backfield in which Tyler Algeier supplants James Conner while Trey Benson survives camp. He also sides with Michael Wilson in the receiver battle. **Claimed:** Mar 21, 2026 **Pundit:** Alex Clancy — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/alex-clancy **Outlet:** Locked On Cardinals (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-cardinals-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/21b2e1/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/0831a005-6f5d-4f43-bcfd-48944f8a9575/episodes/a3796e39-6e3a-4ac5-bb7d-fae6cdc27a85/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=0831a005-6f5d-4f43-bcfd-48944f8a9575&awEpisodeId=a3796e39-6e3a-4ac5-bb7d-fae6cdc27a85&feed=SRxnlfNZ 9 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 2 mock draft picks, 2 roster spot calls, 2 team draft slot calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 2 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one. > But, yeah, no. I still think the Cardinals gonna win more games this year in the past. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Carson Beck to be picked “no later than the third round” (picks 65–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Carson Beck - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Ty Simpson to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ty Simpson - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - **Michael Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **James Conner to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: James Conner, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Arizona Cardinals to pick “top 15” (picks 1–15)** - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trey Benson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Allgeier to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Arizona Cardinals to pick “top five or top six” (picks 1–5)** - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Arizona Cardinals to finish with ? wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: too vague to check ## Who this take is about - Carson Beck — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carson-beck - Ty Simpson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ty-simpson - Michael Wilson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-wilson - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - James Conner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/james-conner - Trey Benson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-benson - Tyler Allgeier — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-allgeier ## What others said about the same people - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Donnie Druin on Jalen Brooks: Druin suggests Jalen Brooks has broken out in Cardinals camp and could land a roster spot as Arizona's sixth wide receiver, though he won't displace any of the top wideouts. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a199c40d-87c8-4034-a6a8-e042c68652f3 (scored 100) - Donnie Druin on Eku Leota: Previewing the Cardinals' final 2026 preseason game, Druin identifies roster bubble players: he favors Jalen Brooks over Ihmir Smith-Marsette for a sixth receiver spot, expects Oli Udoh to miss out, projects BJ Ojulari to be cut with Eku Leota making the team instead, and names Elijah Jones as the likely cornerback casualty. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5ab6b69b-7514-4c48-9ad4-a6495e981071 (scored 100) - Donnie Druin on Bam Knight: Druin says Bam Knight has effectively locked up the final running back spot on the Cardinals' roster, which contributed to Trey Benson being waived/injured. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c250de4-e1ba-4d79-8ef4-e9d9bda3a89c (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0) - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (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=alex-clancy