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Zach RobertsAug 7, 2026

After the Hall of Fame Game, Roberts wrote that Trevor Etienne has done enough to make the Panthers' roster, that Haynes King belongs on Carolina's roster, and that Kenny Pickett remains the backup quarterback ahead of King.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

1 of 2calls landed1 hit · 1 miss · 1 waiting
50Average accuracyout of 100, across 2 calls
50A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge
2 of 3Settled1 still waiting
1Waitingnot graded yet

What Zach Roberts said

our reading, beside the words we read it from
The former UDFA may not quite be ready to overtake Pickett as QB2, but he proved he belongs on an NFL roster, specifically Carolina's.
Zach Roberts, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below
Where it was published
Sports Illustrated
The piece
Biggest Takeaways From Carolina Panthers Hall of Fame Game Win vs. Cardinals
The original
Read the original
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  1. SaidAug 6
  2. GradedSep 25–Oct 18
  1. 1Trevor Etienne to be cut“Trevor Etienne has a spot on the roster ... he was solid in the return game and as a runner, enough to solidify that he won't be cut.”
  2. 2Haynes King to make the roster“Haynes King needs a spot on the roster ... he proved he belongs on an NFL roster, specifically Carolina's.”
  3. 3Kenny Pickett to be 2nd on the depth chart“Kenny Pickett settled in before leaving the game, so it's hard to say he shouldn't be the backup ... The former UDFA may not quite be ready to overtake Pickett as QB2”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting
VerdictCallKindWhat happenedScoreNaiveSkill
Trevor Etienne to be cut1Roster Spot Calls1 week on a 530100−200
Haynes King to make the roster2Roster Spot Calls3 weeks on a 531000+200
Kenny Pickett to be 2nd on the depth chart3Depth Chart Calls————
3 calls · 1 hit · 1 miss · 1 waiting5050

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive

3 checkable claims — 2 roster spot calls and 1 depth chart 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.

2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 50 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.

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

Kenny Pickett · 2026 season

3 calls from 3 pundits between 2 and 2. Zach Roberts said 2. the room's median is 2. not settled yet

Zach Roberts — 2the room — 3 calls from 3 punditsmedian 2

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.

  1. 1Roster Spot CallsTrevor EtienneCarolina Panthers

    Trevor Etienne to be cut

    What happened1 week on a 53
    0Miss · naive 100
    0this call100a naive guess−100worse than naive2difficulty−200skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CAR
    skill:
    −200
    player:
    Trevor Etienne
    season:
    2026
    claimed:
    he does not make the 53
    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:
    1
    weeks left when called:
    18
    first week on the53:
    6
    weeks on the practice squad:
    0
    Think this is wrong?

  2. 2Roster Spot CallsHaynes KingCarolina Panthers

    Haynes King to make the roster

    What happened3 weeks on a 53
    100Hit · naive 0
    100this call0a naive guess100better than naive2difficulty+200skill
    How this was scored
    club:
    CAR
    skill:
    200
    player:
    Haynes King
    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
    Think this is wrong?

  3. 3Depth Chart CallsKenny PickettCarolina Panthers

    Kenny Pickett to be 2nd on the depth chart

    VerdictWaiting

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?
  4. All

    The take as a whole

    the average of 2 settled calls, each counted once

    50naive 50

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

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