Tucker FranklinMay 9, 2026
Franklin expects the Chiefs to keep four running backs on the roster — Kenneth Walker, Burchard Smith, Emmit Johnson and Amari DeMarcado — with Jade Nada landing on the practice squad instead.
Said on air, transcribed by us · KC Sports Network (podcast)Hear the original
What Tucker Franklin said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromthey're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco
- Where it was said
- KC Sports Network (podcast)
- The episode
- 21 Questions 5/9: Ranking Every Chiefs Position Group Heading into 2026
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidMay 9
- GradedSep 25
- 1Brashard Smith to make the roster“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
- 2Kenneth Walker III to make the roster“I think they're probably keeping four running backs. Like, they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco.”
- 3Emmett Johnson to make the roster“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
- 4Emari Demercado to make the roster“they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brashard Smith to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Kenneth Walker III to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Emmett Johnson to make the roster3 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Emari Demercado to make the roster4 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 3 hits · 1 waiting | 100 | 66.7 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive4 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls — 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.
3 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 66.7 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 CallsBrashard SmithKansas City Chiefs
Brashard Smith 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:
- KC
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Brashard Smith
- 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 CallsKenneth Walker IIIKansas City Chiefs
Kenneth Walker III 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:
- KC
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Kenneth Walker III
- 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
3Roster Spot CallsEmmett JohnsonKansas City Chiefs
Emmett Johnson to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- KC
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Emmett Johnson
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
4Roster Spot CallsEmari DemercadoKansas City Chiefs
Emari Demercado to make the roster
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 66.7
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.Randy Gurzi · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Hudson · Miss 0
Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.