# Tucker Franklin: 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.

**Claimed:** May 9, 2026
**Pundit:** Tucker Franklin — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tucker-franklin
**Outlet:** KC Sports Network (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/kc-sports-network-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://pdrl.fm/8d7cde/mgln.ai/e/256/pscrb.fm/rss/p/clrtpod.com/m/bluewire.simplecastaudio.com/8bf45406-115f-47da-8dc8-dcc5713f4a83/episodes/86ed8ef1-7d47-40b8-a8d4-bc64b747d4d8/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8bf45406-115f-47da-8dc8-dcc5713f4a83&awEpisodeId=86ed8ef1-7d47-40b8-a8d4-bc64b747d4d8&feed=BJf5DYgc

4 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

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.

> they're probably keeping Kenneth Walker and Richard Smith, Andymit Johnson, Andy Marte DiMarco

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Brashard Smith to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Kenneth Walker III to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Emmett Johnson to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Emari Demercado to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Emari Demercado, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Brashard Smith — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brashard-smith
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs
- Kenneth Walker III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenneth-walker-iii
- Emmett Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emmett-johnson
- Emari Demercado — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emari-demercado

## What others said about the same people

- Chris Simms on Kansas City Chiefs: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 100)
- Connor Rogers on Kansas City Chiefs: Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 100)
- Jake Arthur on Kansas City Chiefs: Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ca7ab74e-ab34-4ed6-a77f-2c7e9f8c8c4d (scored 97.62)
- Zach Hicks on Kansas City Chiefs: Hicks predicts a lower-scoring, field-goal-heavy game with the Chiefs beating the Colts 23-19, citing Indianapolis' red-zone success against Kansas City historically. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ddbaddad-c15e-4e6f-a6ac-f066de6cdc2a (scored 97.62)
- John Middlekauff on Kansas City Chiefs: Middlekauff expects blowout wins for Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami in Week 3, picks Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh in the AFC North matchup, and takes Tennessee over the Giants if Jameis Winston is taking snaps. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8115d255-82e3-442e-aeef-c3eaa3587603 (scored 100)
- Alain Poupart on Kansas City Chiefs: Previewing the Week 3 home opener, he predicted the Chiefs would comfortably beat the Dolphins, saying Miami's defense couldn't contain Kansas City and its offense wasn't ready for a shootout. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e3d70a16-8870-4e5e-80d7-047e5e6206bf (scored 73.81)

## More roster spot calls

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

- Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100)
- Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100)
- Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100)
- Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (scored 0)

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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:
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