Jordan Dajani#23 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 13, 2026
A CBS Sports preseason piece makes several depth-chart and roster projections: Deshaun Watson wins the Browns' QB job, the Browns' new offensive line starters are named, Chris Johnson starts immediately for Miami, Jacoby Brissett starts for Arizona, Tua Tagovailoa is the Falcons' frontrunner, Fernando Mendoza will start at some point for the Raiders, Brock Bowers is Cousins' top target, and Ventrell Miller replaces Devin Lloyd.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Jordan Dajani said
I'm not going to change my initial prediction that Watson will win this battle, but I'd love to see Sanders make it a tough call for Todd Monken.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- NFL preseason 2026: Eight teams that need August reps the most, from Dolphins to Browns
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
How each call scored
12 checkable claims — 12 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 18 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 12 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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season30 calls from 26 pundits between 1 and 2. Jordan Dajani 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Depth Chart Calls12 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“This will be his only chance to experience those live reps before he's thrown into the starting lineup at some point this season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart
“the versatile Tytus Howard at right tackle”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Teven Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Teven Jenkins at right guard”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jacoby Brissett will likely be the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback this year”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Bowers to be 1st on the depth chart
“We know Brock Bowers will likely be Cousins' top target”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“spent the No. 27 overall pick on former San Diego State corner Chris Johnson, who figures to start immediately”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Spencer Fano to be 1st on the depth chart
“first-round pick Spencer Fano is expected to start at left tackle”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tagovailoa is the frontrunner since Penix hasn't been cleared for 11-on-11 work due to his torn ACL”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“I'm not going to change my initial prediction that Watson will win this battle”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ventrell Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Ventrell Miller is the favorite to replace Lloyd”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders, Tytus Howard, Cleveland Browns, Teven Jenkins, Elgton Jenkins, Zion Johnson, Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals, Brock Bowers, Chris Johnson, Miami Dolphins, Spencer Fano, Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons, Deshaun Watson, Ventrell Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars
Others on the same people
Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.JP Acosta · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.Gregg Rosenthal · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Rosenthal gave their award ballot: Drake May atop their MVP list (though they expect Matthew Stafford to actually win), Myles Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year, Bijan Robinson for Offensive Player of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mike Macdonald for Coach of the Year and Broncos O-line coach Zach Strief for Assistant Coach of the Year. They also expect Kirk Cousins to be cut by Atlanta.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.Mike Moraitis · Depth Chart Calls · Tyson Bagent · Miss 0
Previewing the Bears-Packers Week 5 matchup, they state Tyson Bagent will again start at quarterback for Chicago, while framing Green Bay's receivers, pass defense and return game as threats. The rest of the piece is descriptive analysis of season-to-date statistics rather than forecasts of outcomes.Josh Alper · Depth Chart Calls · Olaivavega Ioane · Hit 100
Alper writes that Cam Jurgens, acquired by trade and in the concussion protocol, won't debut for Baltimore until the following week, leaving Vega Ioane as the likeliest starter at center against the Falcons before sliding back to right guard once Jurgens is available.