# Nick Shook: Shook picked the veterans in several quarterback battles — Kirk Cousins opening the season in Las Vegas before a mid-season handoff to Mendoza, Tua over Penix in Atlanta, Kyler Murray winning the Vikings job, Jacoby Brissett in Arizona — and expects Riley Moss to open as Denver's No. 2 corner, Tyler Guyton and Braxton Jones to keep their tackle jobs, and Calvin Ridley to be moved. **Claimed:** Jul 20, 2026 **Pundit:** Nick Shook — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-shook **Outlet:** Around the NFL (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/around-the-nfl-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-daily/top-35-position-battles-you-should-care-about 8 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one. > I firmly think that it's going to be a month to half of the season before they make the transition. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Braxton Jones to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Braxton Jones, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Guyton to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tyler Guyton, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Calvin Ridley to move** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Calvin Ridley - Verdict: not settled yet - **Riley Moss to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Riley Moss, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Braxton Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/braxton-jones - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Tua Tagovailoa — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tua-tagovailoa - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Tyler Guyton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-guyton - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Jacoby Brissett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jacoby-brissett - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Calvin Ridley — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/calvin-ridley - Riley Moss — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/riley-moss - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Kyler Murray — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyler-murray - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings ## What others said about the same people - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0) - Michael Moore on Shedeur Sanders: In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e26319a3-10aa-49a6-a24d-a257521363f0 (scored 100) - Zachary Pereles on Shedeur Sanders: Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6dad75dd-1818-4a6a-91ea-832f491c2530 (scored 100) - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Jacob Herlin on J.J. McCarthy: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cf4a2992-3760-464e-b540-6182ebc4457f (scored 100) --- 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=nick-shook