# Tom Jensen: After the 49ers' preseason opener, Jensen argued Jordan Watkins has won the battle for the sixth and final wide receiver roster spot over Malik Turner and Will Pauling, and that Sebastian Valdez holds the edge over James Thompson Jr. in the interior defensive line roster competition. **Claimed:** Aug 15, 2026 **Pundit:** Tom Jensen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tom-jensen **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/onsi/49ers-rookies-shine-position-groups-flop-loss-titans 2 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls. > If the Niners keep six receivers per usual Watkins is clearly in the lead for 6th man. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Sebastian Valdez to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sebastian Valdez, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jordan Watkins — “6th receiver / final WR roster slot”** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jordan Watkins, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Sebastian Valdez — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sebastian-valdez - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Jordan Watkins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordan-watkins ## What others said about the same people - Henry Cheal on Jordan James: Cheal predicts Jordan James will make the 49ers' 53-man roster but may sit behind rookie Kaelon Black on the running back depth chart. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f870d5d1-508d-4399-b4ba-817bdbc982f2 (scored 100) - Eric Crocker on Kurtis Rourke: Crocker would keep only two quarterbacks (Purdy and Jones) and only three running backs plus the fullback, cutting one of James/McCormick. At cornerback he keeps Green, Hobbs, Jack Jones, the rookie, and would keep Deion Jones as the veteran linebacker. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ee5c65b4-53e9-44e4-b1e4-ca6f23e9de1f (scored 0) - Big Cat on San Francisco 49ers: Big Cat expected the 49ers to beat the Cardinals easily and the Rams to beat the Broncos, agreed the Seahawks would beat Washington, and said he doesn't think DJ Moore will play. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9a569a60-9da7-494a-8aff-c366d6575d18 (scored 100) - Chris Simms on San Francisco 49ers: Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b (scored 80.95) - Chris Simms on San Francisco 49ers: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 88.1) - Richie Bradshaw on San Francisco 49ers: Bradshaw picks the 49ers to beat the Cardinals in their Week 3 matchup, predicting a final score of 27-14 in San Francisco's favor. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/56e0c2a3-ddff-46f8-8359-2a546546a29c (scored 83.33) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Philip Hughes on Caelen Carson: A NFC East news roundup relays that cornerback is Dallas' weakest unit, with Caelen Carson holding on as the last man on the 53-man roster and Cobie Durant slotted in as the Cowboys' second cornerback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d1535c8f-ca43-4d5e-8f83-3a7104937e16 (scored 100) - Fox Sports on J.J. McCarthy: The FOX Sports report states that the Vikings are expected to keep quarterback J.J. McCarthy on their active roster for the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b907a541-ca75-49be-84dc-6d580dbbf91e (scored 100) - Noah Strackbein on Daylen Everette: With Joey Porter Jr. activated off PUP, Strackbein expects Asante Samuel Jr. to be the Steelers' top backup cornerback — the first depth player used off the bench — and rookie Daylen Everette to round out the cornerback room entering the regular season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/87ee7f81-ccd0-45f7-84d5-0db7310604c0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Kendre Miller: 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) - Noah Compton on Deion Burks: After the Colts' preseason finale loss to Detroit, Compton projected several roster and depth-chart outcomes: Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback, rookie A.J. Haulcy as the starting strong safety, Seth McGowan as the backup running back, and rookie defensive ends George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry making the initial 53-man roster, while receiver Deion Burks appears likely to be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa7eba23-4322-47d7-b21e-7adb82e6b325 (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Tom Kennedy: PFF's preseason fantasy recap projects Colts roles: Keenan Allen as the starting Z receiver with Josh Downs in the slot, Laquon Treadwell as the backup X, and seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan as the favorite to be Jonathan Taylor's backup ahead of DJ Giddens. On the Lions, Tom Kennedy appears to have locked up a roster spot with Greg Dortch next most likely. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/33c062c4-069c-4f3e-a9c9-bcdaa9048149 (scored 100) --- 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=tom-jensen