Carter Bahns#18 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 27, 2026

A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield).

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

0 of 9calls landed9 misses · 17 waiting

0Average accuracyout of 100, across 9 calls

88.9A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

9 of 26Settled17 still waiting

#18Carter Bahns’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Carter Bahns said

Here are 20 notable veterans at risk of being cut.

Carter Bahns, the lead quote

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: NFL veterans on the chopping block: These 20 players could be among roster-cut casualties
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 27
GradedSep 25–Oct 11

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Misses	Waiting
Roster Spot Calls	9	11
Depth Chart Calls	0	6
All	9	17

How each call scored

26 checkable claims — 20 roster spot calls and 6 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 41 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

9 of 26 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 88.9 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

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.

Roster Spot Calls9 misses · 11 waitingShow ▸

Van Jefferson to be cut
“He could carve out that same role with the Commanders, but it could be difficult considering the team's wide receiver depth.”
Van Jefferson Washington Commanders
1 week on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
WAS
skill:
−200
player:
Van Jefferson
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
5
weeks on the practice squad:
4
Think this is wrong?
Dameon Pierce to be cut
“now he is seeking to latch on with the Eagles. The problem is that Saquon Barkley exists, while Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are already locked into backup roles.”
Dameon Pierce Philadelphia Eagles
1 week on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
PHI
skill:
−200
player:
Dameon Pierce
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
5
weeks on the practice squad:
4
Think this is wrong?
Darren Waller to be cut
“the question is whether there is room for both Ja'Tavion Sanders and Waller”
Darren Waller Carolina Panthers
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
CAR
skill:
−200
player:
Darren Waller
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Odell Beckham Jr. to be cut
“It is still an uphill battle for the three-time Pro Bowler to stay on the right side of the cut line”
Odell Beckham Jr.New York Giants
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
How this was scored
club:
NYG
skill:
0
player:
Odell Beckham Jr.
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Trevor Penning to be cut
“Considering all it cost to get him was a sixth-round pick, the Chargers can easily cut bait.”
Trevor Penning Los Angeles Chargers
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
LAC
skill:
−200
player:
Trevor Penning
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Jerry Tillery to be cut
“while Tillery is arguably good enough to make the roster, there is only room for so many defensive tackles”
Jerry Tillery Indianapolis Colts
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
IND
skill:
−200
player:
Jerry Tillery
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Cooper Rush to be cut
“Complicating things for Rush is the emergence of undrafted free agent Jack Strand ... Rush remains among the NFL's most respected backup quarterbacks but might have to sign elsewhere”
Cooper Rush Atlanta Falcons
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
ATL
skill:
−200
player:
Cooper Rush
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Ameer Abdullah to land on the practice squad
“would be hard-pressed to justify using a roster spot on Abdullah solely as a returner, so he appears destined for the practice squad”
Ameer Abdullah Jacksonville Jaguars
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
JAX
skill:
−200
player:
Ameer Abdullah
season:
2026
claimed:
he lands on the practice squad
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Laquon Treadwell to be cut
“there is already precedent for his release”
Laquon Treadwell Indianapolis Colts
3 weeks on a 53
0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
How this was scored
club:
IND
skill:
−200
player:
Laquon Treadwell
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
baseline:
100
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
weeks in the season:
18
weeks on the53:
3
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
1
weeks on the practice squad:
0
Think this is wrong?
Khalil Herbert to be cut
“Herbert ... looks to be one of multiple roster-limit casualties, as San Francisco can only carry so much insurance for Christian McCaffrey”
Khalil Herbert San Francisco 49ers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Phillip Dorsett to land on the practice squad
“Dorsett spent the 2025 season on the Raiders' practice squad and is likely destined for the same fate this year”
Phillip Dorsett Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Sterling Shepard to be cut
“so his stay in Houston might be extremely short-lived”
Sterling Shepard Houston Texans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to be cut
“There are probably not enough scraps left to pick up behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and the rest.”
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Dallas Cowboys
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Will Levis to be cut
“Three years after Tennessee made him the first player off the board on Day 2 of the 2023 draft, he could be out the door.”
Will Levis Tennessee Titans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Emmanuel Ogbah to be cut
“the summer acquisition is no guarantee to stick around into the regular season”
Emmanuel Ogbah Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Evan Neal to be cut
“His value has tanked, and there is a new coaching staff in place, so it is entirely possible that Neal goes from a highly touted potential cornerstone tackle to an afterthought on the interior in just four years.”
Evan Neal New York Giants
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Noah Igbinoghene to make the roster
“he might be able to secure a backup cornerback job in Seattle now that he has shown more ability to cover on the perimeter”
Noah Igbinoghene Seattle Seahawks
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Mecole Hardman to be cut
“Three Super Bowl titles and an All-Pro selection as a rookie give Mecole Hardman Jr. an illustrious résumé for someone on the roster bubble.”
Mecole Hardman
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Mazi Smith to be cut
“the Jets have a new-look defense that might not include Smith”
Mazi Smith New York Jets
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Tim Patrick to be cut
“His comeback story might reach a roadblock in New York”
Tim Patrick
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Depth Chart Calls6 waitingShow ▸

Sterling Shepard to be 6th on the depth chart
“Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and now Boutte are all ahead of Shepard in the pecking order”
Sterling Shepard Houston Texans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Saquon Barkley to be 1st on the depth chart
“The problem is that Saquon Barkley exists, while Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are already locked into backup roles.”
Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Cam Ward to be 1st on the depth chart
“Cam Ward is the face of the franchise, and Mitchell Trubisky is the clear choice to be his backup”
Cam Ward Tennessee Titans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Mitchell Trubisky to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Mitchell Trubisky is the clear choice to be his backup given his familiarity with Brian Daboll's scheme”
Mitchell Trubisky Tennessee Titans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Mitchell Evans to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans are the top two options”
Mitchell Evans Carolina Panthers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Tommy Tremble to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans are the top two options”
Tommy Tremble Carolina Panthers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Others on the same people

Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.
Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.
Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.
Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.
Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.

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