Tom Pelissero#5 of 87 NFL pundits · Jun 24, 2026
Guest-hosting, Tom Pelicero ran through the top offseason storylines and made a few concrete calls: Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will both still be on Cleveland's roster in September, Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' quarterback job, and Kirk Cousins looks like the Raiders' opening-day starter.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Tom Pelissero said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI'd say he and Deshaun Watson, both on the team in September and quite possibly both play.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 3: Tom Pelissero’s Top NFL Storylines Power Rankings, Brock Lesnar’s Vikings Tryout & More
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidJun 24
- GradedOct 1
- 1Deshaun Watson to make the roster“I'd say he and Deshaun Watson, both on the team in September and quite possibly both play.”
- 2Shedeur Sanders to make the roster“If I were sitting here right now, June 24 and had to make an educated guess, I'd say he and Deshaun Watson, both on the team in September and quite possibly both play.”
- 3Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart“Who's the Vikings starting quarterback? ... If I were sitting here right now and had to take a guess, I'd still say it's Kyler Murray.”
- 4Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“they also bring in Kirk Cousins who, for Kirk, as a part of the deal that brings him there. It seems based on all the public comments, like, he's probably the starter out of the gate.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deshaun Watson to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 4 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Shedeur Sanders to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 4 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 2 hits · 2 waiting | 100 | 50 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive4 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 2 roster spot calls — 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.
2 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 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.
Where this call stands in the room
Kirk Cousins · 2026 season28 calls from 26 pundits between 1 and 1. Tom Pelissero 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.
1Roster Spot CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson to make the roster
What happened4 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Deshaun Watson
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
2Roster Spot CallsShedeur SandersCleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders to make the roster
What happened4 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CLE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Shedeur Sanders
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- 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:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
3Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 50
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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.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.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.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.