Tyler Sullivan#27 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 3, 2026

Sullivan predicts Kyler Murray beats out J.J. McCarthy to start Week 1 for the Vikings, and that Deshaun Watson wins the Browns' quarterback battle over Shedeur Sanders.

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

2 of 2calls landed2 hits · all settled

100Average accuracyout of 100, across 2 calls

0A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

2Games calledeveryone’s picks below

#27Tyler Sullivan’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Tyler Sullivan said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

It's hard not to see Murray coming out on top.

Tyler Sullivan, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: NFL coach rankings are here, plus QB battle predictions and our top 100 players ever
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 3
PlayedSep 13
GradedSep 17–18

1Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart“Players involved: Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders / Prediction: Watson starts Week 1”
2Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart“Players involved: J.J. McCarthy vs. Kyler Murray / Prediction: Murray starts Week 1”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Skill
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart¹	Depth Chart Calls	—	100	+200
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	100	+200
2 calls · 2 hits · all settled			100

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naive

2 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 2 have settled, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.

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.

1Depth Chart Calls Deshaun Watson Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictHit
100Hit · naive 0
100this call0a naive guess100better than naive2difficulty+200skill
How this was scored
club:
CLE
week:
1
skill:
200
player:
Deshaun Watson
season:
2026
claimed:
he starts
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
position:
QB
reported:
named the starter
settled by:
a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Kyler Murray Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictHit
100Hit · naive 0
100this call0a naive guess100better than naive2difficulty+200skill
How this was scored
club:
MIN
week:
1
skill:
200
player:
Kyler Murray
season:
2026
claimed:
he starts
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
position:
QB
reported:
named the starter
naive slot:
2
settled by:
a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he keeps the job he had last season
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 0

The games in this take

every pundit’s pick on each

Who this take is about

Make your own calls.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.
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.
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.

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.
Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.
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.