Jeff Kerr· Aug 28, 2026
Kerr ranks the Eagles' 2025 draft picks by cut risk, predicting seventh-rounders Keyshawn James-Newby and Cole Wisniewski land on the practice squad, while Cole Payton, Uar Bernard, Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers and Markel Bell make the 53. He also says Lemon starts Week 1 and Bell is the right tackle of the future.
“Lemon is expected to play in the preseason finale, but he'll start Week 1.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 12 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 13 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 15 have settled so far, averaging 71.4 out of 100, against 57.1 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Makai Lemon · 2026 season11 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 3. Jeff Kerr said 1. the room's median is 2. 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.
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Who this take is about
15 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Roster Spot CallsCole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Cole Payton to make the roster
“I think Payton makes this roster because the Eagles want to continue to develop him”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Cole Payton
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsJalyx HuntPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Jalyx Hunt to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jalyx Hunt
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Arnold Ebiketie to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Arnold Ebiketie
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Makai Lemon to make the roster
“6. Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Markel Bell ... Neither are getting waived by this football team by Sunday.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Makai Lemon
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsA.J. EpenesaPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
A.J. Epenesa to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- A.J. Epenesa
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsNolan SmithPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Nolan Smith to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Nolan Smith
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsMarkel BellPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Markel Bell to make the roster
“6. Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Markel Bell ... Neither are getting waived by this football team by Sunday.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Markel Bell
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Depth Chart CallsCole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Cole Payton to be 3rd on the depth chart
“he would be the inactive QB3 for most of the season if he makes the team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJoshua WeruPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Joshua Weru to make the roster
“Joshua Weru is also becoming a player the Eagles seriously have to consider protecting on the 53-man roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cole Wisniewski to make the roster
“The Eagles can get Wisniewski on the practice squad and further develop him there -- or give Wisniewski the phantom injured reserve stint to protect him from waivers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Makai Lemon to be 1st on the depth chart
“Makai Lemon will start ... he'll start Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsUar BernardPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Uar Bernard to make the roster
“I think the Eagles are going to stick with the plan here and protect Bernard on the 53.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Keyshawn James-Newby to make the roster
“1. Keyshawn James-Newby (EDGE) -- 7th round ... The Eagles can develop James-Newby on the practice squad if they can get him there (and he should be available).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarkel BellPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Markel Bell to be 1st on the depth chart
“Markell Bell is the right tackle of the future.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsEli StowersPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Eli Stowers to make the roster
“Stowers has struggled throughout the summer and is dealing with a hamstring injury, but he'll be on the team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Matt HarmonScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver.
- Ty SchmitGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0While taking the Bears to cover, he said he expects the Eagles to win Monday night in Chicago in a tight game.
- Darius ButlerGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0He trusts Jalen Hurts over the Bears' quarterback situation and picked Philadelphia to beat Chicago on Monday night.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 33Dubin picked the Eagles to win at Chicago 23-10 on Monday night.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Christian BenfordMiss · 0Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated.
- Thomas MartinezRoster Spot Calls · Patrick HerbertMiss · 0Martinez projects the Chargers' starting lineups on offense and defense for their Week 3 game at Buffalo, with injuries forcing several changes — Oronde Gadsden II at tight end, Trevor Penning at left guard, Jamaree Caldwell at defensive tackle and RJ Mickens at safety — while expecting Ladd McConkey to play and Marquez Valdez-Scantling to debut.
- Tyler SullivanRoster Spot Calls · Jake HaenerMiss · 0Sullivan expects the Giants, thin at quarterback after Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, to elevate Jake Haener from the practice squad for Week 3.
- Ethan HurwitzRoster Spot Calls · Jeremiah Pharms Jr.Miss · 0Hurwitz writes that the elevations of Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Mike Brown likely mean Leonard Taylor III stays a healthy scratch and Joshua Farmer could be one too for the Week 3 game at Jacksonville, and that both elevated players will revert to the practice squad after Sunday.
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Reddy StewardMiss · 0Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player he expects Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. He also predicts Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.