Donnie Druin#7 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 28, 2026

Previewing the Cardinals' final 2026 preseason game, Druin identifies roster bubble players: they favor 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.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

1 of 1calls landed1 hit · 4 waiting

100Average accuracyout of 100, across 1 call

100A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

1 of 5Settled4 still waiting

#7Donnie Druin’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Donnie Druin said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

He didn't make the team in our final roster projections with Eku Leota usurping him.

Donnie Druin, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: 10 Cardinals Facing Make-or-Break Moments in Preseason Finale
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 28
GradedSep 25

1Eku Leota to make the roster“He didn't make the team in our final roster projections with Eku Leota usurping him.”
2Jalen Brooks — “wins sixth receiver spot if Cardinals keep one”“If the Cardinals do indeed keep a sixth receiver, this is a two-way battle that as of now tilts in Brooks' favor.”
3Olisaemeka Udoh to be cut“Udoh has started at multiple OL spots during his career before signing with Arizona this offseason, but likely finds himself on the outside looking in.”
4Elijah Jones to be cut“As of now, Jones is likely the man to be cut with either of Clark or Thomas potentially joining, too.”
5BJ Ojulari to make the roster“He didn't make the team in our final roster projections with Eku Leota usurping him.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Eku Leota to make the roster¹	Roster Spot Calls	3 weeks on a 53	100	100	0
Jalen Brooks — “wins sixth receiver spot if Cardinals keep one”²	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
Olisaemeka Udoh to be cut³	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
Elijah Jones to be cut⁴	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
BJ Ojulari to make the roster⁵	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
5 calls · 1 hit · 4 waiting			100	100

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naive

5 checkable claims — 5 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

1Roster Spot Calls Eku Leota Arizona Cardinals
Eku Leota to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
ARI
skill:
0
player:
Eku Leota
season:
2026
claimed:
he makes the 53
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
2Roster Spot Calls Jalen Brooks Arizona Cardinals
Jalen Brooks — “wins sixth receiver spot if Cardinals keep one”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Roster Spot Calls Olisaemeka Udoh Arizona Cardinals
Olisaemeka Udoh to be cut
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
4Roster Spot Calls Elijah Jones Arizona Cardinals
Elijah Jones to be cut
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
5Roster Spot Calls BJ Ojulari Arizona Cardinals
BJ Ojulari to make the roster
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

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Jesse Holley · Game Outcome Picks · Arizona Cardinals · Hit 100
Jesse predicted the Cowboys finish 10-7 but still win the NFC East with 10 wins, picking Dallas over the Giants, Commanders, Texans, Buccaneers, Colts (loss), and losing to Baltimore, Green Bay, Philadelphia twice, Arizona, Seattle and the Rams.
Garrett Podell · Game Outcome Picks · Arizona Cardinals · Miss 0
For Week 7 of the 2026 season, Podell predicts Daniel Jones plays a clean, turnover-free game against Minnesota's top-ranked defense, Bijan Robinson rushes for 150-plus yards against the undefeated 49ers, and the Cardinals upset the Broncos at home without scoring a touchdown.
Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Arizona Cardinals · Miss 0
In his Week 7 upset alert column, Sullivan expects the Cardinals to score in the low-to-mid 20s and beat the visiting Broncos, whose offense he views as broken under Bo Nix. He also suggests Sam Darnold's turnovers will let the Chiefs win in Seattle and remain undefeated.
Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Arizona Cardinals · Miss 24
Sullivan projects final scores for every Week 7 NFL game, including a comfortable Vikings home win over the Colts, a Jets win over the winless Dolphins, a Browns road win in Tennessee, another Cardinals upset over Denver, and a Bengals win in Baltimore.
Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Arizona Cardinals · Miss 0
Sullivan flagged Week 5 upset candidates, pointing to the Cardinals knocking off the favored Lions and the 49ers beating the Seahawks on the road.

More roster spot calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.
Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
Jason Harmon · Roster Spot Calls · Max Brosmer · Miss 0
Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs.
Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.
Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.