Bryan DeArdo· Aug 26, 2026
A CBS Sports piece lists veterans it expects could be traded before the 53-man roster deadline, including quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (with Buffalo floated as a landing spot), J.J. McCarthy and Will Howard, plus Jerry Jeudy, Joey Porter Jr., Tyrone Tracy Jr., Kayvon Thibodeaux, Josh Sweat, Kristian Fulton and Marist Liufau. It also says Mason Rudolph's and Drew Allar's roster spots in Pittsburgh are secure.
“Below is a rundown of the possible NFL veterans who might be traded before Sunday's deadline.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 11 trade and signing calls, 2 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 21 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
3 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 33.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
J.J. McCarthy · 2026 season3 calls from 3 pundits between 2 and 3. Bryan DeArdo said 2. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- J.J. McCarthy
- Minnesota Vikings
- Mason Rudolph
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Drew Allar
- Kristian Fulton
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Jerry Jeudy
- Cleveland Browns
- Josh Sweat
- Arizona Cardinals
- Cedric Tillman
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.
- New York Giants
- Marist Liufau
- Dallas Cowboys
- Will Howard
- Kayvon Thibodeaux
- Joey Porter Jr.
- Anthony Richardson
- Buffalo Bills
14 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.
J.J. McCarthy to move to Minnesota Vikings
“McCarthy's overall potential might be enough to compel a team to make an offer to the Vikings for his services, more than likely as a backup.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- J.J. McCarthy
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he leaves
- was with:
- MIN
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → NYG (from MIN)
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Mason Rudolph to make the roster
“it appears -- based on McCarthy's recent comments --- that his spot on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster is secure.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PIT
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Mason Rudolph
- 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 CallsDrew AllarPittsburgh SteelersAug 26, 2026
Drew Allar to make the roster
“Rookie Drew Allar hasn't thoroughly outplayed Howard, but he's nonetheless done enough to seal his spot on the 53-man roster.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PIT
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Drew Allar
- 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
Kristian Fulton to move to Kansas City Chiefs
“At this point, Fulton appears to be more of a cut than trade candidate.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jerry Jeudy to move to Cleveland Browns
“Jeudy and veteran Browns receiver Cedric Tillman are potential trade options given the young depth Cleveland has developed at receiver.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Josh Sweat to move to Arizona Cardinals
“rest assured that there would be a large market for Sweat if the Cardinals decided to put him on the market.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota VikingsAug 26, 2026
J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart
“McCarthy is slated to enter his third NFL season as a backup after losing his position battle with Kyler Murray.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cedric Tillman to move to Cleveland Browns
“Jeudy and veteran Browns receiver Cedric Tillman are potential trade options given the young depth Cleveland has developed at receiver.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. to move to New York Giants
“his success in the NFL so far would likely lead to multiple teams giving the Giants some considerable return in exchange for him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Marist Liufau to move to Dallas Cowboys
“With Miller now in tow, the Cowboys may now be inclined to trade Liufau to a team that would use him at his natural position.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Will Howard to move to Pittsburgh Steelers
“That's why, if the Steelers don't see Howard in their long-term plans, they may consider trading him while essentially guaranteeing him a chance to be on another team's active roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kayvon Thibodeaux to move to New York Giants
“It may also help compel a team to make a run at acquiring him before Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Joey Porter Jr. to move to Pittsburgh Steelers
“Khan could do so now with Porter if a team is willing to give the Steelers some considerable capital in exchange for one of the NFL's top young cornerbacks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Anthony Richardson to move to Buffalo Bills
“Richardson could be a good addition for a team that needs to strengthen its quarterback depth. The Bills could be a potential trade option, where Richardson would get to play behind and learn from former league MVP Josh Allen.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
- Zach HicksScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Hicks predicts a lower-scoring, field-goal-heavy game with the Chiefs beating the Colts 23-19, citing Indianapolis' red-zone success against Kansas City historically.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- David DroegemeierTrade and Signing Calls · Mekhi BectonHit · 100Drogemeier says the Chargers cutting Mekhi Becton is a foregone conclusion, freeing nearly $9 million in cap space, and only a matter of when.
- Mina KimesTrade and Signing Calls · Mekhi BectonHit · 100Kimes projects Washington receiver Denzel Boston as a second-half-of-the-first-round pick and expects the Chargers to move on from Mekhi Becton.
- Noah StrackbeinTrade and Signing Calls · Darius SlaytonHit · 100Strackbein says Pittsburgh views Roman Wilson as its No. 3 receiver behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., but argues the Steelers should add released Giants veteran Darius Slayton as insurance, expecting Slayton to sign cheaply on a veteran-minimum deal, and refers to 2026 as Aaron Rodgers' final season.
- Patricia TrainaTrade and Signing Calls · Darius SlaytonHit · 100Traina writes that the Giants may make more trades before the roster cutdown and names the players she sees as the most likely candidates to be dealt: kicker Ben Sauls, one of receivers Darius Slayton or Darnell Mooney, offensive lineman Jake Kubas, and linebacker Darius Muasau.
- Greg AumanTrade and Signing Calls · Will LevisHit · 100Auman predicts that Will Levis, released by Tennessee, will almost certainly be claimed on waivers by another team.
- John MaakaronTrade and Signing Calls · Joe BachieHit · 100Maakaron suggests several Lions players could be cut and land on other rosters: linebacker Joe Bachie, defensive linemen Ben Stille and Chris Smith, and running back Sione Vaki.