# Mike Moraitis: Moraitis writes that Denver has two locked-in starting safeties in Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, with newly signed Taylor Rapp competing only for a depth role behind them.

**Claimed:** Aug 20, 2026
**Pundit:** Mike Moraitis — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-moraitis
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/onsi/transactions-former-bills-safety-taylor-rapp-signs-with-one-of-buffalo-s-top-afc-foes

2 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

> In Denver, Rapp will be battling it out for a depth role at the safety position with the Broncos having two clear starters at safety in Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Talanoa Hufanga to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Talanoa Hufanga, Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Brandon Jones to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Brandon Jones, Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Talanoa Hufanga — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/talanoa-hufanga
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos
- Brandon Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brandon-jones

## What others said about the same people

- Keith Sanchez on Deontae Lawson: In his final 2026 NFL mock draft, Sanchez projects the full first round plus several second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Raiders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/430b0c19-30ac-470f-9f96-0a7184ffcdf5 (scored 0)
- Ayrton Ostly on R Mason Thomas: Ausley walked through his final seven-round mock draft, having the 49ers take Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at No. 27, Peter Woods to Houston at 28, TJ Parker to Kansas City at 29, Zion Young to the Chargers at 30, Arvel Reese to Arizona at 3, Dallas trading up to 8, Denver taking Mason Thomas at 58, the 49ers taking Malachi Lawrence at 62 and VJ Payne at 133. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/01ad8fa2-6e16-4d1a-9d0a-a088ab0b6ace (scored 45.85)
- Jaime Eisner on Jake Golday: In a "What I Would Do" 2026 NFL mock draft, Eisner assigns first-round selections for all 32 picks plus several early second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b5ac441b-006d-4e52-b938-402c0b0d8a2e (scored 62.09)
- Derek Brown on Anthony Hill: Derek Brown made picks 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 in the 2026 mock, and also called Kenyon Sadiq the clear TE1 of the class, Carnell Tate his runaway WR1 and KC Concepcion a top-three receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9dba9158-5785-4cc9-921f-5199045e0104 (scored 27.26)
- JP Acosta on Cade McDonald: Acosta gave draft ranges for combine risers — Nussmeier in the third round, Kenyon Sadiq in round one, Chris Johnson in round two — and made picks 2, 4, 6 and every other selection in a post-combine first-round mock draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f4ecf30e-8a7a-43e8-8ba6-de0aae7579bc (scored 0)
- Scott Bogman on Anthony Hill: Bogman's mock picks: Arvel Reese to Arizona at 3, Francis Mauigoa to Cleveland at 6, Keldric Faulk to Kansas City at 9, Sonny Styles to Dallas at 12, Cashius Howell to Tampa Bay at 15, Avieon Terrell to Minnesota at 18, Makai Lemon to Pittsburgh at 21, KC Concepcion to Cleveland at 24, Kayden McDonald to San Francisco at 27 and Anthony Hill to Denver at 30. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04d79fe2-1502-4658-bfa4-b43ab8922c6d (scored 27.26)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Carter Bahns on Shedeur Sanders: Bahns calls it reality that Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, with Deshaun Watson set to fail. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/18802de8-941e-4551-b6e3-df7a752020b6 (scored 0)
- Carter Bahns on Shedeur Sanders: A CBS Sports preseason overreaction column argues Shedeur Sanders will take over as Cleveland's starting quarterback by Week 4, that Ja'Kobi Lane has a real path to a No. 2 receiver role as a rookie, and that Kenneth Walker III is a legitimate lead back atop the Chiefs' depth chart. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e82d31e3-169f-4419-a38c-ceaaa1d053a7 (scored 0)
- Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100)
- 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)

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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.

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