Carter Bahns#18 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 23, 2026

A CBS Sports preseason overreactions piece judges that Shedeur Sanders will indeed open the season as Cleveland's starting quarterback, that J.J. McCarthy has slipped below the No. 2 spot in Minnesota, and that rookie Trey Smack has solved Green Bay's kicking problem. It dismisses the ideas that De'Zhaun Stribling wins Offensive Rookie of the Year and that the Jets' defense is fixed.

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

Waiting3 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 3Settled3 still waiting

#18Carter Bahns’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Carter Bahns said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

And after Watson's disastrous showing on Saturday, it is hard to picture the veteran winning the job.

Carter Bahns, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: NFL preseason Week 2 overreactions: Shedeur Sanders will start for Browns, Jets' defense is fixed
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart“Shedeur Sanders will be the Browns' starting quarterback ... Verdict: Reality”
2Trey Smack to be 1st on the depth chart“Packers solved their kicking woes ... It appears that they finally have an answer, however ... Sixth-rounder Trey Smack has been a preseason standout. ... Verdict: Reality”
3J.J. McCarthy to be 3rd on the depth chart“J.J. McCarthy is not Minnesota's second-best quarterback ... Carson Wentz might give the Vikings a better chance of winning games if Murray misses any time. Verdict: Reality”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart¹	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Trey Smack to be 1st on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
J.J. McCarthy to be 3rd on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
3 calls · 3 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

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

Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.

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.

Where this call stands in the room

Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season

Carter Bahns — 1the room — 35 calls from 28 punditsmedian 1

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.

Their call against the room

1They said

1The room (41 pundits)

Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.

1Depth Chart Calls Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Trey Smack Green Bay Packers
Trey Smack to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls J.J. McCarthy Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Jason Harmon · Roster Spot Calls · Max Brosmer · Miss 0
Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere.
Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.
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.
Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.

More depth chart calls

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

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing 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. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.
Donnie Druin · Depth Chart Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Following the Cardinals' decision not to make staff or lineup changes, Druin states that Jacoby Brissett will remain Arizona's starting quarterback for another week, with rookie Carson Beck staying behind them.
Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.