Lance Zierlein#11 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 18, 2026
Zierlein expects Trevor Goosby, Texas' starting left tackle, to be a first-round NFL draft pick, and thinks Quinn Ewers may struggle to stay on the Dolphins' roster beyond this year. They also predict the Texans' preseason quarterback usage: C.J. Stroud around 10-12 plays, Davis Mills through the first half, and Brett Rypien for the second half. If Tank Dell isn't ready, they think Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall could both make the roster.
Said on air, transcribed by us · John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast)Hear the original
What Lance Zierlein said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromPossibly first round left tackle
- Where it was said
- John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast)
- The episode
- 08/18 Hour 1- Kyle Tucker Struggles in LA & Reacting to Preseason AP Top 25 Poll
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 18
- GradedSep 25
- 1Jaylin Noel to make the roster“I think you'd see Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall both make the the team potentially”
- 2Lewis Bond to make the roster“if if Tank weren't there to start the season, I think you'd see Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall both make the the team potentially”
- 3Trevor Goosby to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)“So at least your left tackle, first round left tackle. Possibly. Possibly first round left tackle... He'll be a first round.”
- 4Marte Mapu to move — “signs with the Astros”“I I could certainly see him making the move, though. I can see it. Making Marte adding Marte.”
- 5Keylan Rutledge to be 1st on the depth chart“He's probably the center.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylin Noel to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Lewis Bond to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 1 week on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Trevor Goosby to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)3 | Mock Draft Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Marte Mapu to move — “signs with the Astros”4 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Keylan Rutledge to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 2 hits · 3 waiting | 100 | 50 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive5 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls, 1 depth chart call, 1 mock draft pick and 1 trade and signing call — 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.
2 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Keylan Rutledge · 2026 season9 calls from 9 pundits between 1 and 1. Lance Zierlein 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.
1Roster Spot CallsJaylin NoelHouston Texans
Jaylin Noel to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- HOU
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jaylin Noel
- 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
2Roster Spot CallsLewis BondHouston Texans
Lewis Bond to make the roster
What happened1 week on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- HOU
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Lewis Bond
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 2
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 2
3Mock Draft PicksTrevor Goosby
Trevor Goosby to be picked “first round” (picks 1–32)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Trade and Signing CallsMarte Mapu
Marte Mapu to move — “signs with the Astros”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsKeylan RutledgeHouston Texans
Keylan Rutledge to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 50
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Houston Texans · Hit 81
Simms 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 they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Houston Texans · Hit 100
Rogers 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.Nick Wright · Score Predictions · Houston Texans · Hit 83
Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside their spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.
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.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.