# Donnie Druin: Druin names six under-the-radar Cardinals who boosted their stock in training camp and could make the final 53-man roster, with rookie tackle Jayden Williams described as having secured a spot outright. He also predicts Arizona will rank near the top of the league in tight end usage in 12/13 personnel and that Bam Knight has passed Trey Benson in the running back pecking order. **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Donnie Druin — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/donnie-druin **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/onsi/6-overlooked-arizona-cardinals-who-look-like-final-53-man-roster-locks 7 checkable claims — 6 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 4 of 7 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room. > Williams undoubtedly has secured his spot on the final 53 thanks to strong play we saw on his tape from Ole Miss. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Jayden Williams to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jayden Williams, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Bam Knight to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jalen Brooks to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Brooks, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Eku Leota to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Eku Leota, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Bam Knight to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ihmir Smith-Marsette to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Teagan Quitoriano to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Teagan Quitoriano, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Jayden Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jayden-williams - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Bam Knight — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bam-knight - Jalen Brooks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-brooks - Eku Leota — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/eku-leota - Ihmir Smith-Marsette — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ihmir-smith-marsette - Teagan Quitoriano — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/teagan-quitoriano ## What others said about the same people - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Bam Knight: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04a27c8a-6177-4389-9287-2279e87a6c4a (scored 100) - Greg Jennings on Arizona Cardinals: Jennings put the Cardinals up as his upset alert over Seattle, backed the Texans over Cincinnati and the Bears over Minnesota with chips, put two chips on Denver beating Jacksonville, and wrote a headline of the Packers beating the Jets; he also called the Bengals a playoff team and the Chiefs winners over Indianapolis. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/420d3e29-6224-43a2-8d68-b15c864838cd (scored 0) ## 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) --- 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: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=donnie-druin