Jeff Kerr#68 of 87 NFL pundits · 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. They also say Lemon starts Week 1 and Bell is the right tackle of the future.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Jeff Kerr said
Lemon is expected to play in the preseason finale, but he'll start Week 1.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Eagles Rookie Draft Picks Most At Risk of Being Roster Cuts This Weekend
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 28
- GradedSep 25–Oct 27
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster Spot Calls | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| All | 6 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
How each call scored
15 checkable claims — 12 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 13 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
10 of 15 have settled so far, averaging 60 out of 100, against 60 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
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
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.
Roster Spot Calls6 hits · 4 misses · 2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
1 week on a 53100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Eli Stowers
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 7
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Keyshawn James-Newby to land on the practice squad
“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).”
1 week on a 530Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Keyshawn James-Newby
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 6
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 5
Cole Wisniewski to land on the practice squad
“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.”
1 week on a 530Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Cole Wisniewski
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 6
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 5
Cole Payton to make the roster
“I think Payton makes this roster because the Eagles want to continue to develop him”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
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.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
Makai Lemon to be cut
“6. Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Markel Bell ... Neither are getting waived by this football team by Sunday.”
3 weeks on a 530Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
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.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
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.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
Markel Bell to be cut
“6. Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Markel Bell ... Neither are getting waived by this football team by Sunday.”
3 weeks on a 530Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How 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
Uar Bernard to make the roster
“I think the Eagles are going to stick with the plan here and protect Bernard on the 53.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Markel Bell to be 1st on the depth chart
“Markell Bell is the right tackle of the future.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Makai Lemon to be 1st on the depth chart
“Makai Lemon will start ... he'll start Week 1.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles, Keyshawn James-Newby, Cole Wisniewski, Cole Payton, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, Makai Lemon, A.J. Epenesa, Nolan Smith, Markel Bell, Uar Bernard, Joshua Weru
Others on the same people
Garrett Podell · Game Outcome Picks · Philadelphia Eagles · Miss 0
Podell predicts the Eagles, behind new starting quarterback Joe Milton III, snap their six-game losing streak by upsetting the first-place Giants in Week 9.Zachary Pereles · Score Predictions · Philadelphia Eagles · Miss 17
Pereles picks the Eagles to beat the Commanders on Sunday Night Football, 20-17, expecting Philadelphia's defense to bounce back toward its Week 1 form.“Stanford Steve” Coughlin · Game Outcome Picks · Philadelphia Eagles · Miss 0
Stanford Steve says Atlanta can beat San Francisco outright with Mike Evans out, and that Philadelphia probably wins its Monday night game.Richard Sherman · Score Predictions · Philadelphia Eagles · Miss 17
Sherman went through the full Week 7 slate with scores, picking the 49ers, Seahawks, Packers, Bears, Rams, Vikings, Steelers, Panthers, Texans, Jets, Browns, Broncos and Eagles, and gave a top-five power ranking led by San Francisco.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.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.