# Garrett Podell: A CBS Sports 2026 season preview projecting the last-place finisher in each of the eight NFL divisions (Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Commanders, Vikings, Falcons, Cardinals), along with a handful of depth-chart calls: several Miami rookies starting, Kirk Cousins starting ahead of No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas, and Ashton Jeanty leading the Raiders' backfield.

**Claimed:** Sep 4, 2026
**Pundit:** Garrett Podell — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/garrett-podell
**Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/predicting-last-place-finisher-for-each-nfl-division-in-2026/

9 checkable claims — 9 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 8.

> Miami is playing for 2027, and they'll finish last in the AFC East.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Mike Washington, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Ashton Jeanty to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Caleb Douglas to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jacob Rodriguez to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kadyn Proctor to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kadyn Proctor, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Michael Taaffe to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Michael Taaffe, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Chris Johnson, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Mike Washington — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-washington
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Ashton Jeanty — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ashton-jeanty
- Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza
- Caleb Douglas — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-douglas
- Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins
- Jacob Rodriguez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jacob-rodriguez
- Kadyn Proctor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kadyn-proctor
- Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins
- Michael Taaffe — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-taaffe
- Chris Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-johnson

## What others said about the same people

- Steven Ruiz on Las Vegas Raiders: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 100)
- Nate Tice on Las Vegas Raiders: Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b8378e16-ea5c-4107-a883-28aaf0e71134 (scored 100)
- Chris Broussard on Las Vegas Raiders: Broussard picked the Bills to beat the Chargers in a competitive, higher-scoring game, said the Chiefs will rout the Dolphins, and for upset alert parlayed the Patriots over the Jaguars and the Raiders over the Saints. He also restated his Cowboys-versus-Ravens Super Bowl matchup pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dee7585c-6da6-4afc-9954-ff32cf8de4e3 (scored 100)
- Tyler DeSena on Kevin Coleman: DeSena expects Chris Bell to function as Miami's X-receiver, with Caleb Douglas as the deep-threat Z and Malik Washington in the slot, and considers Bell, Douglas, Washington and fifth-round rookie Kevin Coleman locks to make the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cdf88974-3b99-4342-b7eb-bcf15f82379c (scored 100)
- Alain Poupart on Keith Cooper Jr.: Poupart's third 53-man roster projection of 2026 for the Dolphins names which players make the roster and which are cut at each position group. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/af1013eb-d6fa-476c-b1d9-bc977dff22a5 (scored 0)
- Mike Moraitis on Andre Jones Jr.: Moraitis expects Andre Jones Jr. to hold a spot on Miami's 53-man roster after being signed off Buffalo's practice squad, with a significant special teams role under coordinator Chris Tabor. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/aada599b-129d-4866-bc24-0562e28b735c (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0)
- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)
- Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100)
- Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100)
- Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (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.

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