# Ralph Ventre: Ventre reports that Deone Walker is the Bills' first-team nose tackle heading into the season and appears set to keep the starting role. **Claimed:** Aug 20, 2026 **Pundit:** Ralph Ventre — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ralph-ventre **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/onsi/deone-walker-bills-dominant-dt-looking-like-top-10-guy-that-brandon-beane-knew-he-could-be 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. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > The Bills have him penciled in as the first-team nose tackle, and he doesn't appear interested in giving up his role. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Deone Walker to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Deone Walker, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Deone Walker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/deone-walker - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills ## What others said about the same people - Randy Gurzi on Kani Walker: Gurzi predicts the Buffalo Bills' final 53-man roster ahead of Week 1 against Houston, naming every player who makes it, who gets cut, and a few depth-chart outcomes (Damar Hamlin as backup safety, Alec Anderson as a new starter on the offensive line, Shane Buechele back on the practice squad). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/95db61d4-3514-4d17-aa02-ed56a31ecabf (scored 100) - Joe Marino on Kani Walker: Joe Marino gives his final projection of the Buffalo Bills' initial 53-man roster after the preseason finale, naming who makes it, who gets cut, and who lands on injured reserve/PUP, along with several starting-job calls (Kyle Allen as QB2, TJ Sanders starting over Landon Jackson, Maxwell Hairston starting opposite Christian Benford, and Tommy Doman winning the punting job). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65f0752f-5147-4476-be34-4909b3c44bc8 (scored 100) - Randy Gurzi on Kani Walker: In a preseason winners-and-losers piece, Gurzi says UDFA cornerback Kani Walker likely secured a 53-man roster spot, and that Spencer Brown will again be a consistent starting offensive tackle for Buffalo in 2026. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/26add647-eaf0-44aa-8ad6-ea9f9dd134b4 (scored 100) - John Green on Kani Walker: Green highlights under-the-radar Bills camp risers: he suggests undrafted rookie CB Kani Walker could make the roster as a fourth boundary cornerback, sees Geno Stone as a top reserve safety behind C.J. Gardner-Johnson (whose starting job is his to lose), and wonders whether Keonta Jenkins can go from practice squad to the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31dca93b-56de-4f82-b562-dd2dbd9b6474 (scored 100) - Danny Parkins on Peter Woods: Danny Parkins presented his one-and-only 2026 mock draft, including trades: Mendoza at 1 to the Raiders, David Bailey second to the Jets, the Cowboys trading up to No. 3 for Arvell Reese, the Bears trading up to 16 for Kadyn Proctor, and Ty Simpson going to Arizona at 32 at the end of round one. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d98bca2f-5fc3-4f68-8389-30f9a2cb906f (scored 87.81) - Nick Wright on Cade McDonald: Nick Wright unveiled his full 32-pick 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with Avion Terrell to the Seahawks at 32. He also called Carnell Tate the best/safest receiver in the class, projected Ty Simpson inside the top 45, said Mendoza profiles as a low-end top-15 NFL quarterback, and expected the Dolphins to lose 15 games. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c5ad8a4-034f-4abb-8806-20dd9e44b5c6 (scored 0) ## 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) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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