Michael Hanich· Aug 24, 2026
Hanich projects Seattle's updated safety and nickel depth charts after Bud Clark's injury, naming Julian Love and Ty Okada as starting safeties, A.J. Finley as Love's backup, and laying out a nickel pecking order with Devon Witherspoon first, Noah Igbinoghene third and Nehemiah Pritchett behind him. He also predicts roster outcomes for D'Anthony Bell, Rodney Thomas and Andre Fuller.
“With Clark out, that No. 3 nickel spot likely goes to Noah Igbinoghene, then Nehemiah Pritchett.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls and 3 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 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.
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Who this take is about
9 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 CallsRodney ThomasSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Rodney Thomas to make the roster
“Thomas is likely to make the 53-man roster based on his consistency through the training camp and preseason.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SEA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Rodney Thomas
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsAJ FinleySeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
AJ Finley to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Finley remains the backup behind Love.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Devon Witherspoon to be 1st on the depth chart
“If Nick Emmanwori is still injured, the Seahawks would likely have cornerback Devon Witherspoon go back to where he spent his first two years of his career.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsD'Anthony BellSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
D'Anthony Bell to make the roster
“His experience with the team and how dynamic gives him an extra push to make the roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJulian LoveSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Julian Love to be 1st on the depth chart
“The two easiest spots at the safety positions are Julian Love and Ty Okada, who is coming in as a full-time starter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Noah Igbinoghene to be 3rd on the depth chart
“With Clark out, that No. 3 nickel spot likely goes to Noah Igbinoghene, then Nehemiah Pritchett.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTy OkadaSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Ty Okada to be 1st on the depth chart
“The two easiest spots at the safety positions are Julian Love and Ty Okada, who is coming in as a full-time starter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Nehemiah Pritchett to be 4th on the depth chart
“that No. 3 nickel spot likely goes to Noah Igbinoghene, then Nehemiah Pritchett”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsAndre FullerSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Andre Fuller to make the roster
“He could make a good emergency spot on the practice squad if he doesn't make the initial 53-man roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 31Simms 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 · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Rogers 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.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Monson 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.
- John MiddlekauffGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Middlekauff expects blowout wins for Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami in Week 3, picks Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh in the AFC North matchup, and takes Tennessee over the Giants if Jameis Winston is taking snaps.
- Nick WrightScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 5On his Week 3 pick show, Nick Wright gave straight-up final-score predictions for five games, calling blowouts by Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami, a Jacksonville home win over New England, a narrow New Orleans win over the Raiders and a low-scoring Baltimore win over Dallas in Brazil. He also called Seattle the best team in the NFL with the league's best defense.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Picked the Seahawks to beat the Commanders in Week 3.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.