John Green· Nov 5, 2026
Green expects Damar Hamlin to hold the starting safety job opposite Cole Bishop for the rest of the season, with Geno Stone sharing the role in a platoon after C.J. Gardner-Johnson's release. He also sees rookie Jalon Kilgore as the eventual long-term starter (though likely not this season) and thinks Te'Cory Couch could take over the nickel corner job permanently from the injured Dee Alford.
“So, for that reason—as well as the ones mentioned above—some sort of platoon between Hamlin and Stone seems to be the recipe for success moving forward.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Damar Hamlin · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 4. John Green 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.
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Who this take is about
4 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsDamar HamlinBuffalo BillsNov 5, 2026
Damar Hamlin to be 1st on the depth chart
“the 28-year-old defensive back appears to be odds-on favorite to start the remainder of the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsGeno StoneBuffalo BillsNov 5, 2026
Geno Stone to be 2nd on the depth chart
“some sort of platoon between Hamlin and Stone seems to be the recipe for success moving forward.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTe'Cory CouchBuffalo BillsNov 5, 2026
Te'Cory Couch to be 1st on the depth chart
“it's possible that Couch takes over that spot for Alford permanently as the calendar turns toward the middle of November”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJalon KilgoreBuffalo BillsNov 5, 2026
Jalon Kilgore to be 1st on the depth chart
“Eventually, Kilgore should take over as the long-term starter opposite Cole Bishop, but will that begin to take shape sometime this season? Maybe not.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Randy GurziTrade and Signing Calls · Taylor RappMiss · 0Gurzi argues that, given Brandon Beane's fondness for reunions, recently released safety Taylor Rapp is a realistic option to return to Buffalo for safety depth — though only if the Bills fail to land a starting-caliber safety at the trade deadline.
- Joe MarinoTrade and Signing Calls · Taylor RappHit · 100Marino argues the Bills should and almost certainly will release safety Taylor Rapp to save cap space, saying he'd be stunned if Buffalo kept him.
- Shanna McCarristonScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsClose · 50She picks the Bills to beat the Ravens in a close game at Highmark Stadium, with a final score of 33-30.
- Ryan WormeliGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Wormley expected the Bills to beat the Ravens and predicted the Jaguars would blow out a demoralized Colts team.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Wright picked Buffalo to beat Baltimore in Lamar Jackson's return game, argued the Bills' much-maligned defense will climb to roughly 24th in the league rather than finishing 30th, expects Jacksonville to beat the Ravens four days later, and said a win in Denver would make 12 wins Kansas City's floor.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners across the Week 8 slate, siding with the Bills over the Ravens, the Lions, Steelers, Jaguars, Bengals, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Rams, Patriots, Commanders and the Bears in Seattle.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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- Zachary PerelesDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
- Nic BodifordDepth Chart Calls · Joe FagnanoHit · 100Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. He also views Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
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- Jacob HerlinDepth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. He also expects Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.