Jeff Cavanaugh· Aug 25, 2026

Building his projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell.

“So Marquise Bell is making your football team.”

said on air, transcribed by us · DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) · read the original →

29 checkable claims — 22 roster spot calls and 7 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 26 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

16 of 29 have settled so far, averaging 93.8 out of 100, against 81.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

Where this call stands in the room

Caleb Downs · 2026 season

Jeff Cavanaugh — 1the room — 5 calls from 4 punditsmedian 1

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 →

29 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 Calls Curtis Robinson Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Curtis Robinson to make the roster
“the Curtis Robinson can go and, Robert Pattinson or whatever”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
-200
player:
Curtis Robinson
season:
2026
claimed:
he does not make the 53
accuracy:
0
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:
1
weeks left when called:
18
first week on the53:
2
weeks on the practice squad:
2
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls DeMarvion Overshown Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
DeMarvion Overshown to make the roster
“Overshone and Barham is what I say are the first two moving over there.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
DeMarvion Overshown
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Jalen Thompson Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Jalen Thompson to make the roster
“So it's safety, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker. Bang and bang.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Jalen Thompson
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Kenny Clark Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Kenny Clark to make the roster
“I got Quinton making the team. I got Kenny making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Kenny Clark
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls L.T. Overton Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
L.T. Overton to make the roster
“Let's just be honest. We know Overton's gonna be here. ... I just wanted to give him some notes as he makes the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
200
player:
L.T. Overton
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Malik Hooker Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Malik Hooker to make the roster
“So it's safety, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker. Bang and bang.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Malik Hooker
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Donovan Ezeiruaku Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Donovan Ezeiruaku to make the roster
“Put Esaraku and Gary, they can go as numbers one and two.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Donovan Ezeiruaku
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Rashan Gary Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Rashan Gary to make the roster
“Put Esaraku and Gary, they can go as numbers one and two.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Rashan Gary
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls P.J. Locke Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
P.J. Locke to make the roster
“So PJ Locke is in.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
P.J. Locke
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Jaishawn Barham Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Jaishawn Barham to make the roster
“Overshone and Barham is what I say are the first two moving over there.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
200
player:
Jaishawn Barham
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Quinnen Williams Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Quinnen Williams to make the roster
“Put Quentin at the left. ... I got Quinton making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Quinnen Williams
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Markquese Bell Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Markquese Bell to make the roster
“So Marquise Bell is making your football team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Markquese Bell
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Malachi Lawrence Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Malachi Lawrence to make the roster
“Malachi Lawrence gonna be in there.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
200
player:
Malachi Lawrence
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Otito Ogbonnia Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Otito Ogbonnia to make the roster
“But Tito goes to the top. Put Tito Obonia as the right defensive end”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Otito Ogbonnia
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Von Miller Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Von Miller to make the roster
“congratulations to Von Miller on making the football team”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Von Miller
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Shemar James Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Shemar James to make the roster
“Shamar James on the team. Shamar James on the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
DAL
skill:
0
player:
Shemar James
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
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Marist Liufau Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Marist Liufau to make the roster
“I'm gonna say Leofell makes it as a special teamer. I believe I'm with you.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Tommy Dunn Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Tommy Dunn to make the roster
“target for the practice squad, most likely. I would imagine so.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Tyler Baron Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Tyler Baron to make the roster
“And and we're gonna put my man back on the credit squad. Baron?”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Shavon Revel Jr.Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Shavon Revel Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think Rebel's gonna start in front of, Durant.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Jaishawn Barham Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Jaishawn Barham to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starting linebacker, Jayshawn Barham.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Javon Bullard Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Javon Bullard to make the roster
“So if they play a roster game with Bullard ... if you're gonna have him hurt, he has to make it first. ... Put Bullard in as the left defensive end.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Javon Bullard Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Javon Bullard to be 5th on the depth chart
“the fact that he is a proven veteran NFL defensive lineman to me does make him number five in this group”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Sam Williams Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Sam Williams to make the roster
“And, Sam, make sure you do the speed limit as you get up out of here, my boy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Caleb Downs Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Caleb Downs to be 1st on the depth chart
“And we know downs are gonna be the slot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Roster Spot Calls Devin Moore Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Devin Moore to make the roster
“Devin Moore is gonna make the football team, and this is coming from somebody who really likes Devin Moore as a draft prospect.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls L.T. Overton Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
L.T. Overton to be 2nd on the depth chart
“You could put him, r d e two. You can put him r d e two if you want to.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Devin Moore Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
Devin Moore to be 5th on the depth chart
“So I think Devin Moore's quarterback five.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls DaRon Bland Dallas CowboysAug 25, 2026
DaRon Bland to be 1st on the depth chart
“My starters, Kobe Durant and Deron Bland. ... Put Bland and Rebel.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

What others said about the same people

Nate TiceScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysHit · 100
Tice 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 · 0
Filling 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 · 0
Irvin 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 · 0
Clarence 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 · 0
Playing 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 · 0
Parkins 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

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Where this call stands in the room

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29 checkable claims in this take

What others said about the same people

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