Donnie Druin#7 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 20, 2026
Druin writes that Jacoby Brissett is the clear starting quarterback for Arizona at least to open the season, with Gardner Minshew as the QB2 who would be first off the bench, and expects Kedon Slovis to be waived before the 53-man roster deadline.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Donnie Druin said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBrissett is the obvious starter, at least for the beginning of the season, after Arizona handed him $15 million in guaranteed money for the last year of his contract.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Cardinals Reveal QB Plan vs. Cowboys With Carson Beck Decision Made
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Kedon Slovis to be cut“given he's not a starter and is likely going to be waived ahead of 53-man roster cuts”
- 2Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart“Brissett is the obvious starter, at least for the beginning of the season, after Arizona handed him $15 million in guaranteed money for the last year of his contract.”
- 3Gardner Minshew to be 2nd on the depth chart“Minshew, as of now, is listed as QB2 on the team's depth chart and likely would be the first man up if Brissett needs replaced during action.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kedon Slovis to be cut1 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Gardner Minshew to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
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
Jacoby Brissett · 2026 season20 calls from 17 pundits between 1 and 1. Donnie Druin 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.
1Roster Spot CallsKedon SlovisArizona Cardinals
Kedon Slovis to be cut
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsJacoby BrissettArizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsGardner MinshewArizona Cardinals
Gardner Minshew to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nathan Jahnke · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
In a Week 9 recap, Jahnke expects Mark Andrews to remain Baltimore's lead tight end but says rookie Matt Hibner is more likely than Josh Cuevas to eventually overtake them, and they anticipate the Ravens acquiring Jacoby Brissett to start at quarterback. They also suggest Brian Thomas Jr. may have played their final game for Jacksonville ahead of the trade deadline.John Breech · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Breech picks the Jaguars to blow out the quarterback-depleted Ravens on Thursday night, and in Week 9 takes the Bengals to outlast the Falcons in a Madrid shootout. They also expect Jacoby Brissett to be a Raven within 48 hours and to make their first Baltimore start in Week 11.Myles Simmons · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Reporting on the Cardinals' quarterback depth chart decision, Simmons suggests Jacoby Brissett becomes an obvious candidate to be traded as the third quarterback ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.John Breech · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
In their Week 8 grades, Breech argued the Bills should be considered the AFC's team to beat if their defense keeps playing well, and suggested the Buccaneers now look like the best team in the NFC South. They also floated that the Colts could move on from coach Shane Steichen, that Arizona might shop Jacoby Brissett before the deadline, and that Raiders back Mike Washington will keep out-snapping Ashton Jeanty.
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.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.