Scott Kennedy· Aug 11, 2026
Kennedy projects the Falcons' roster locks: Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper and Charlie Woerner are locks at tight end, while Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and Zachariah Branch are all but locks at receiver. He suggests Cash Jones would claim a sixth receiver spot if Atlanta keeps six, and that Muse, Simon and Velling are bubble players.
“Atlanta has three tight ends that appear to be locks to make the roster in Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 8 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 85.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
8 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 CallsCharlie WoernerAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Charlie Woerner to make the roster
“Atlanta has three tight ends that appear to be locks to make the roster in Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Charlie Woerner
- 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 CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Kyle Pitts to make the roster
“Atlanta has three tight ends that appear to be locks to make the roster in Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Kyle Pitts
- 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 CallsDrake LondonAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Drake London to make the roster
“Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Zachariah Branch are all but locks to make the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Drake London
- 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 CallsZachariah BranchAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Zachariah Branch to make the roster
“Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Zachariah Branch are all but locks to make the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Zachariah Branch
- 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 CallsAustin HooperAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Austin Hooper to make the roster
“Atlanta has three tight ends that appear to be locks to make the roster in Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Austin Hooper
- 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
Olamide Zaccheaus to make the roster
“Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Zachariah Branch are all but locks to make the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Olamide Zaccheaus
- 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 CallsJahan DotsonAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Jahan Dotson to make the roster
“Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Zachariah Branch are all but locks to make the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ATL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jahan Dotson
- 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 CallsCash JonesAtlanta FalconsAug 11, 2026
Cash Jones to make the roster
“Jones looks like he could be the guy if the Falcons keep six.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Tyler SullivanRoster Spot Calls · Jack StrandMiss · 0In a rookie quarterback report card following the 2026 preseason, CBS Sports projects Fernando Mendoza opening the year as Kirk Cousins' backup in Las Vegas, Luke Altmyer settling as the Lions' third quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs, and Jack Strand most likely landing on Atlanta's practice squad rather than the 53-man roster.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Cooper RushMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield).
- Jim MoormanRoster Spot Calls · Zachariah BranchMiss · 0Moorman names five undervalued wide receivers to target relative to their current ADP: Jaylen Waddle, Josh Downs, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jayden Higgins and Zachariah Branch, projecting bigger roles and better finishes than their draft prices suggest.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Prisco picks four road/home winners with exact scores: Falcons over Panthers, Bears over Vikings, Jaguars upsetting Broncos, Chargers over Raiders, and Cowboys over Commanders.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Prisco picks final scores for every Week 2 NFL game, with several teams that lost in Week 1 — the Chargers, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers and Rams — bouncing back, and the Bills outlasting the Lions in a shootout.
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.