# Garrett Chapman: Chapman writes that rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels has surged past veteran Christian Harris and is essentially assured of the starting linebacker job next to Divine Deablo, with the preseason finale a mere formality.

**Claimed:** Aug 26, 2026
**Pundit:** Garrett Chapman — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/garrett-chapman
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/onsi/falcons-rookie-suddenly-emerging-as-key-piece-of-defense

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> Based on his summer, it may already be a formality.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Kendal Daniels to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kendal Daniels, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Kendal Daniels — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kendal-daniels
- Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons

## What others said about the same people

- Scott Kennedy on Michael Penix Jr.: Kennedy reports that Atlanta is expected to keep three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., and undrafted rookie Jack Strand. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4271fbfe-2320-41d0-a8f0-000ddbb80076 (scored 100)
- Jaime Eisner on Darrell Jackson: A seven-round Falcons mock draft projecting Atlanta's five 2026 picks: CB Brandon Cisse at No. 48, IDL Darrell Jackson Jr. at No. 79, WR Brenen Thompson at No. 112, EDGE Mason Reiger at No. 215, and LB Shad Banks Jr. at No. 231. It also expects Cisse to go inside the top 50 and Jackson to be an immediate early-down contributor. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/01a88de8-cc95-4c6e-b0d5-c9dd4e28fe5b (scored 35.36)
- Keith Sanchez on Malachi Lawrence: In his final 2026 NFL mock draft, Sanchez projects the full first round plus several second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Raiders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/430b0c19-30ac-470f-9f96-0a7184ffcdf5 (scored 33.86)
- Jaime Eisner on Zachariah Branch: In a "What I Would Do" 2026 NFL mock draft, Eisner assigns first-round selections for all 32 picks plus several early second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b5ac441b-006d-4e52-b938-402c0b0d8a2e (scored 26.11)
- Kyle Crabbs on Walter Nolen: In his final 2025 NFL mock draft, Crabbs projects all 32 first-round picks, starting with Cam Ward to the Titans at No. 1 and Travis Hunter to the Browns at No. 2, and including projected trades involving the Bears/Jaguars and a Giants move back into the late first round for Jaxson Dart. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/59fd8433-f3b9-496d-ac9b-0dfd67a55367 (scored 95.76)
- Colin Cowherd on Shemar Stewart: Cowherd delivered his own top-15 draft board — what he would do as GM of each team — pairing prospects with picks 1 through 15, and separately argued Shedeur Sanders is a far better prospect than Daniel Jones and that Aaron Rodgers should retire. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1d3f1be7-f506-422a-af38-e6e32088f3e5 (scored 91.7)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Carter Bahns on Shedeur Sanders: Bahns calls it reality that Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, with Deshaun Watson set to fail. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/18802de8-941e-4551-b6e3-df7a752020b6 (scored 0)
- Carter Bahns on Shedeur Sanders: A CBS Sports preseason overreaction column argues Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, that Ja'Kobi Lane has a real path to a No. 2 receiver role as a rookie, and that Kenneth Walker III is a legitimate lead back atop the Chiefs' depth chart. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e82d31e3-169f-4419-a38c-ceaaa1d053a7 (scored 0)
- Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100)
- 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)

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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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