Ethan HurwitzAug 19, 2026
Hurwitz says several Patriots starting jobs and roster spots are already settled — Drake Maye at QB with Jared Wilson at center, A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry as pass-catchers, and Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard locked into roster spots. Among camp standouts, they peg undrafted rookie Cameron Dorner as roughly the eighth receiver on a roster likely keeping seven, and says Channing Canada is a strong practice squad candidate if they don't make the 53.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Ethan Hurwitz said
He's building a chemistry with rookie quarterback Behren Morton and might just be the eighth-best receiver on a roster where they may only keep seven.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Several Young Patriots Have Shined Despite Crowded Position Rooms
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 18
- GradedSep 25
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster Spot Calls | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| All | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 4 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
4 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 75 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 4 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
A.J. Brown · 2026 season12 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 1. Ethan Hurwitz 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.
Roster Spot Calls3 hits · 1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
Christian Gonzalez to make the roster
“Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard have their roster spots locked up already.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- NE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Christian Gonzalez
- 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
Milton Williams to make the roster
“Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard have their roster spots locked up already.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- NE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Milton Williams
- 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
Kevin Byard to make the roster
“Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard have their roster spots locked up already.”
3 weeks on a 53100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- NE
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Kevin Byard
- 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
Channing Canada to land on the practice squad
“If not, he's an easy choice for a practice squad addition if he's able to clear waivers in August.”
3 weeks on a 530Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- NE
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Channing Canada
- 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:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Depth Chart Calls5 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Drake Maye to be 1st on the depth chart
“We know Drake Maye will be taking snaps from Jared Wilson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Hunter Henry to be 1st on the depth chart
“A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry catch his passes”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry catch his passes”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jared Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart
“We know Drake Maye will be taking snaps from Jared Wilson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cameron Dorner to be 8th on the depth chart
“might just be the eighth-best receiver on a roster where they may only keep seven”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Pat Fitzmaurice · Score Predictions · New England Patriots · Miss 14
Fitzmaurice predicted a 24-21 Patriots win over the Packers, said they would not be surprised if Jonathan Taylor were inactive amid trade talk, pegged Jonah Coleman as an RB22 rest-of-season value, expected Evan Hull to be Arizona's backup back, and saw Kerby Joseph returning in Week 10 or 11.Kevin Wildes · Game Outcome Picks · New England Patriots · Miss 0
Wildes took Minnesota over Buffalo, predicted a comfortable roughly 10-point New England win over Green Bay, and switched their Super Bowl matchup to Jaguars–Bears.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · New England Patriots · Miss 0
Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. They also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.Eric Mangini · Game Outcome Picks · New England Patriots · Miss 0
Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as their upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated their Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · New England Patriots · Miss 0
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · New England Patriots · Miss 31
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.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.