Jeff Cavanaugh· Aug 26, 2026
Jeff projected the Cowboys' offensive 53-man roster: nine offensive linemen (with Bass, Shelton, Leverett and Cornelius as the depth pieces and Nate Thomas and Keegan cut), three tight ends, Javonte Williams and Malik Davis atop the backfield, and five receivers with Mingo in and Camden Brown headed to the practice squad. He also gave reception and passing projections and said Jayshawn Barham will be starting before long.
“So he stays, and Keegan goes, and we're gonna keep nine.”
said on air, transcribed by us · DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) · read the original →
27 checkable claims — 12 roster spot calls, 8 depth chart calls and 7 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 25 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 27 have settled so far, averaging 85.7 out of 100, against 71.4 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 10 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 9.
Where this call stands in the room
Javonte Williams · 2026 season9 calls from 9 pundits between 1 and 1. Jeff Cavanaugh 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Luke Schoonmaker
- Dallas Cowboys
- Nick Leverett
- Ajani Cornelius
- Camden Brown
- TJ Bass
- Drew Shelton
- Jonathan Mingo
- Jake Ferguson
- Jaydon Blue
- Nathan Thomas
- Trevor Keegan
- Brevyn Spann-Ford
- Dak Prescott
- Joe Milton III
- CeeDee Lamb
- Nick Nash
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Javonte Williams
- Jaishawn Barham
- Javontee Herndon
- KaVontae Turpin
- Ryan Flournoy
- Malik Davis
- Travis Hunter
27 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 CallsLuke SchoonmakerDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Luke Schoonmaker to make the roster
“So Luke Schoonmaker is tied in number three, and everyone else is going home except Michael Trigg.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Luke Schoonmaker
- 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 CallsNick LeverettDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Nick Leverett to make the roster
“Bass Shelton, Leverett. And Cornelius or Thomas?”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Nick Leverett
- 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 CallsAjani CorneliusDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Ajani Cornelius to make the roster
“Cornelius? Yeah. That's what I would do. Cornelius has been better... So he stays, and Keegan goes, and we're gonna keep nine.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Ajani Cornelius
- 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 CallsCamden BrownDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Camden Brown to make the roster
“Is Camden Brown gonna make the 53 initially? No.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Camden Brown
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsTJ BassDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
TJ Bass to make the roster
“TJ Bass makes the team. Right? You're at six.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- TJ Bass
- 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 SheltonDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Drew Shelton to make the roster
“Shelton's gonna make it... They'll keep the draft back. They'll keep Shelton.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Drew Shelton
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsJonathan MingoDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Jonathan Mingo to make the roster
“who serves you better? Mingo or Camden Brown? The answer is Jonathan Mingo... Mingo's on the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jonathan Mingo
- 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
- Player Season NumbersJake FergusonDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Jake Ferguson to record 70 receptions
“You put Ferg around 70.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersJaydon BlueDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Jaydon Blue to record 15 receptions
“Blue's gonna get 15.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsNathan ThomasDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Nathan Thomas to make the roster
“Pick a tackle, Thomas or Cornelius... Cornelius has been better.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTrevor KeeganDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Trevor Keegan to make the roster
“So he stays, and Keegan goes, and we're gonna keep nine.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brevyn Spann-Ford to record 35–40 receptions
“I was gonna go, like, 35 to 40. 35.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersDak PrescottDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Dak Prescott to record 4,500–5,000 passing yards
“I think he'll be in that ballpark... He'll be between 45 and 5,000.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJoe Milton IIIDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Joe Milton III to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Joe Milton's a backup. Right?”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersCeeDee LambDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
CeeDee Lamb to record 90 receptions
“Slam had 75, and he missed four games. You put both of them around 90.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersNick NashDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Nick Nash to record 90 receptions
“Pickens had 93 last year. Slam had 75, and he missed four games. You put both of them around 90.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsLuke SchoonmakerDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Luke Schoonmaker to be 3rd on the depth chart
“So Luke Schoonmaker is tied in number three”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to make the roster
“We'd like to thank Marquez Valdez Scantling for signing just in case George wasn't gonna show up and stuff and hanging out for a bit.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJavonte WilliamsDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Javonte Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
“Javonte, number one. Done and done.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJaishawn BarhamDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Jaishawn Barham to be 1st on the depth chart
“If he doesn't start there, it won't be long.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJaydon BlueDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Jaydon Blue to make the roster
“And so Jaden Blue is in and obviously brings something a little bit different from both of those guys”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Javontee Herndon to record 20 receptions
“Devonte's gonna get 20.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBrevyn Spann-FordDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Brevyn Spann-Ford to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Brevin's fan forward has come along. He has no doubt tight end two. He's gonna play a lot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKaVontae TurpinDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
KaVontae Turpin to be 4th on the depth chart
“Turpin's 4. Turpin's 4.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsRyan FlournoyDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Ryan Flournoy to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Let's get Ryan Flannoy up at wide receiver three.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMalik DavisDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Malik Davis to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Malik Davis is running back number two. He is the primary backup to Javonte Williams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTravis HunterDallas CowboysAug 26, 2026
Travis Hunter to make the roster
“I'll put Hunter over that fullback.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nate TiceScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysHit · 100Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.
- Geoff SchwartzGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Filling in on the chips segment, Schwartz took Jacksonville to beat New England, the Bengals to beat the Steelers, and the Cowboys to beat the Ravens on the Brazil field.
- Michael IrvinGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Irvin went game-by-game through the Cowboys' 2026 schedule and predicted a 13-4 finish, with losses to Houston, Philadelphia (Week 7), Seattle and the Giants in Week 17, and a season sweep of Washington.
- Clarence HillGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Clarence predicted an 11-6 Cowboys season, picking wins over the Giants, Commanders, Ravens, Packers, Cardinals, Colts and Titans while giving losses to Houston, Tampa Bay, both Eagles games, the 49ers, Seahawks and Rams.
- Michael IrvinGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Playing the game-by-game "win loss" exercise, Irvin picked the Cowboys to finish 13-4, with losses only at Houston, at Philadelphia, at Seattle and at home to the Giants in Week 17.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Parkins predicted the Cowboys will finish 11-6, starting 5-1 with wins over the Giants, Commanders and an upset of the Ravens, splitting with Philadelphia, and beating Green Bay and Jacksonville, while losing to the Texans, 49ers, Eagles, Colts, Seahawks and Rams.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Zach ErtzMiss · 0Kerr expects Zach Ertz to be elevated from the practice squad and play in the Eagles' Week 3 Monday night game against the Bears, and to serve as Philadelphia's clear TE1 with Dallas Goedert out.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr's third Eagles 53-man roster projection names the players he expects to make the team at each position, with Cole Payton, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Gabe Hall and Rocco Underwood left off; he also predicts Underwood is exposed to waivers and returns to the practice squad, Deontae Lawson lands on the practice squad, and Eli Stowers is the TE3.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Chance CampbellHit · 100Kerr's updated 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after eight training camp practices, naming which players make the team at each position plus depth-chart placements like Wicks as WR2, Mundt as TE2, Kendall as third guard, Bell as third tackle, and Epps/Carter battling to start at safety.
- Ralph VentreRoster Spot Calls · Christian BenfordMiss · 0Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated.