# Scott Kennedy: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 11, 2026 **Pundit:** Scott Kennedy — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/scott-kennedy **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/onsi/falcons-making-moves-sign-former-minnesota-vikings-tight-end 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. > Atlanta has three tight ends that appear to be locks to make the roster in Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Charlie Woerner to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Charlie Woerner, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Kyle Pitts to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Drake London to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Drake London, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Zachariah Branch to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Zachariah Branch, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Austin Hooper to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Olamide Zaccheaus to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jahan Dotson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jahan Dotson, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Cash Jones to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cash Jones, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Charlie Woerner — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/charlie-woerner - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Kyle Pitts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyle-pitts - Drake London — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-london - Zachariah Branch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zachariah-branch - Austin Hooper — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/austin-hooper - Olamide Zaccheaus — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/olamide-zaccheaus - Jahan Dotson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jahan-dotson - Cash Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cash-jones ## What others said about the same people - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Jack Strand: In 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d84e8921-bcc5-4864-a4b8-1b0562c2c10c (scored 0) - Carter Bahns on Cooper Rush: A 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). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94f49c83-2307-4f25-b10c-b1cba9df5dbc (scored 0) - Jim Moorman on Zachariah Branch: Moorman 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/744f8eca-c77d-49fe-badc-1410b6f10d92 (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Atlanta Falcons: Prisco picks four road/home winners with exact scores: Falcons over Panthers, Bears over Vikings, Jaguars upsetting Broncos, Chargers over Raiders, and Cowboys over Commanders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/49ffcfc9-5f68-4882-a86f-b835b925412d (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Atlanta Falcons: Prisco 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29185ff4-dec4-498f-aa45-4ca2d72dcbe3 (scored 0) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeff Kerr on Zach Ertz: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7e4fa8de-f88c-4d45-b568-49992a356539 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 100) - Carter Bahns on Jeshaun Jones: A 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/98c7155f-d05c-43cb-8c03-4f50d43211a8 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2120c4ea-7113-4ebf-9ebc-0d4a62d83c3a (scored 100) - Jeff Kerr on Chance Campbell: Kerr'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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/328a952b-d6b4-4065-aac9-0029421fb50f (scored 100) - Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=scott-kennedy