# Donnie Druin: Druin names three Cardinals trade candidates on different timelines: Trey Benson now during the preseason (arguing he won't make the roster), Gardner Minshew at the Nov. 10 deadline as a veteran backup for a contender, and Josh Sweat after the 2026 season.

**Claimed:** Aug 9, 2026
**Pundit:** Donnie Druin — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/donnie-druin
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/onsi/3-arizona-cardinals-trade-candidates-who-could-be-moved-now-later-down-the-road

5 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls, 1 depth chart call and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

> Benson is now battling with Bam Knight for RB4 duties — and if you ask us — he's on the outside looking in of the roster.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Gardner Minshew to move to Arizona Cardinals**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Gardner Minshew, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Trey Benson to move to Arizona Cardinals**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Josh Sweat to move to Arizona Cardinals**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Trey Benson to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Gardner Minshew — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/gardner-minshew
- Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals
- Trey Benson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-benson
- Josh Sweat — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josh-sweat
- Jacoby Brissett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jacoby-brissett

## What others said about the same people

- Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: 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)
- Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Bam Knight: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04a27c8a-6177-4389-9287-2279e87a6c4a (scored 100)
- Greg Jennings on Arizona Cardinals: Jennings put the Cardinals up as his upset alert over Seattle, backed the Texans over Cincinnati and the Bears over Minnesota with chips, put two chips on Denver beating Jacksonville, and wrote a headline of the Packers beating the Jets; he also called the Bengals a playoff team and the Chiefs winners over Indianapolis. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/420d3e29-6224-43a2-8d68-b15c864838cd (scored 0)

## More trade and signing calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Fox Sports on Austin Ekeler: The piece reports, citing ESPN, that Carolina is expected to sign veteran running back Austin Ekeler with Jonathon Brooks sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a3aa7c15-e643-4c03-85d9-10aef8b4085a (scored 0)
- Steve Kubitza on Za'Darius Smith: Kubitza suggests that Kevin Stefanski's Falcons may lure veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith away from Cleveland, signing him in Atlanta instead of the Browns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/54fca826-8644-4e76-bc3f-5d8d44bcca23 (scored 100)
- Mary Kay Cabot on Za'Darius Smith: Cabot reported that Za'Darius Smith is expected to sign with the Browns, possibly as early as Sunday, after working out for the team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb50e55-cb33-43c3-a427-d47904beb7bb (scored 0)
- Brandon Carney on Austin Ekeler: Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c4d477da-4fb8-4a25-a904-c5057a249a70 (scored 0)
- Adam Carlson on J.J. McCarthy: Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65e3f9cf-c441-42a2-baaf-7cd3dbebafad (scored 100)
- Greg Auman on J.J. McCarthy: Auman argues no quarterback is likely to replicate Sam Darnold's turnaround this season, but names five candidates. He expects Miami to hold a very high pick in the 2027 draft, and thinks J.J. McCarthy will eventually be traded for a late-round pick or cut by the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9b8eb78e-ddfa-4274-ac8f-17b069e6b87f (scored 100)

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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.

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