Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Jul 27, 2026
Eisen believes Aaron Donald's willingness to undertake a formal return process means they have already decided to come back and play again for the Rams. They also frame the Saints' 2026 outlook around Tyler Shough being the full-time starting quarterback from Week 1, Alvin Kamara sitting behind Travis Etienne on the running back depth chart, and Noah Fant working as the No. 2 tight end.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromthe decision that I'm gonna go through the process is enough for me to figure he's handled the mental part already and the family part already
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 3: Rich’s ‘4-Downs’ Saints Preview, Aaron Donald Prediction, plus Michigan QB Bryce Underwood
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 12, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
- 1Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart“this guy is now second on the depth chart behind Travis Etienne or Etienne Junior... The big free agent splash signing of the New Orleans Saints”
- 2Alvin Kamara to be 2nd on the depth chart“this guy is now second on the depth chart behind Travis Etienne or Etienne Junior”
- 3Noah Fant to be 2nd on the depth chart“because Noah Fant wound up there too. As the second string, as the second string, wide, tight end that's there”
- 4Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart“What does year two look like now that he's gonna be the man from the beginning? All the reps in training camp, all the reps in the off season, and now coming in and getting all the reps from week one”
- 5Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams“part of me just thinks going through the process and just deciding I'm gonna go through a process means he's already decided... And it just seems like would he go through the process if he didn't wanna do it?”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Alvin Kamara to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Noah Fant to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams5 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
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
Travis Etienne · 2026 season11 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 1. Rich Eisen said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
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
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsTravis EtienneNew Orleans Saints
Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsAlvin KamaraNew Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsNoah FantNew Orleans Saints
Noah Fant to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Trade and Signing CallsAaron DonaldLos Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.Ross Jackson · Roster Spot Calls · Zamir White · Miss 0
Ross Jackson gives their final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be.Doug Joubert · Roster Spot Calls · Charlie Smyth · Hit 100
Joubert projects the Saints' 53-man roster ahead of the cutdown deadline, naming every player they expect to make the team by position group, plus several players they expect to receive PUP/IR designations, and predicting Torricelli Simpkins will later be moved to the practice squad.Ross Jackson · Roster Spot Calls · Charlie Smyth · Hit 100
Ross Jackson lays out their early defensive 53-man roster projection for the 2026 Saints, naming five edge rushers, four interior defensive linemen, five cornerbacks, five linebackers and five safeties, plus their kicker, punter and long snapper, and sends Mike Heldman, Chris Rumph and Jackson Sirmon to the practice squad.Ross Jackson · Roster Spot Calls · Jordyn Tyson · Hit 100
Ross Jackson projects the New Orleans Saints' offensive 53-man roster: three quarterbacks with Tyler Shough starting and Spencer Rattler as the backup, four running backs including Alvin Kamara, six wide receivers with Jalen Polk making it, three tight ends, ten offensive linemen with a set starting five, and Charlie Smith at kicker.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.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.