# Jeff Cavanaugh: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 25, 2026 **Pundit:** Jeff Cavanaugh — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jeff-cavanaugh **Outlet:** DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/dlls-dallas-cowboys-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://tracking.swap.fm/track/xt6bq09fJCm8CxP7DUGF/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/822/claritaspod.com/measure/prfx.byspotify.com/e/injector.simplecastaudio.com/d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111/episodes/e7ecae9e-a654-4019-b6b9-2e56b59232e0/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111&awEpisodeId=e7ecae9e-a654-4019-b6b9-2e56b59232e0&feed=4Fqey2NA 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. > So Marquise Bell is making your football team. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Curtis Robinson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Curtis Robinson, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **DeMarvion Overshown to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jalen Thompson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Thompson, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Kenny Clark to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kenny Clark, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **L.T. Overton to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: L.T. Overton, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Malik Hooker to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Malik Hooker, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Donovan Ezeiruaku to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Rashan Gary to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Rashan Gary, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **P.J. Locke to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: P.J. Locke, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jaishawn Barham to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jaishawn Barham, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Quinnen Williams to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Markquese Bell to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Markquese Bell, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Malachi Lawrence to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Malachi Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Otito Ogbonnia to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Otito Ogbonnia, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Von Miller to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Von Miller, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Shemar James to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Shemar James, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Marist Liufau to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Marist Liufau, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tommy Dunn to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tommy Dunn, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Baron to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tyler Baron, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Shavon Revel Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Shavon Revel Jr., Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaishawn Barham to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaishawn Barham, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javon Bullard to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Javon Bullard, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javon Bullard to be 5th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Javon Bullard, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sam Williams to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sam Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Downs to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Devin Moore to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Devin Moore, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **L.T. Overton to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: L.T. Overton, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Devin Moore to be 5th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Devin Moore, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **DaRon Bland to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Curtis Robinson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/curtis-robinson - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - DeMarvion Overshown — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/demarvion-overshown - Jalen Thompson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-thompson - Kenny Clark — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenny-clark - L.T. Overton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/l-t-overton - Malik Hooker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-hooker - Donovan Ezeiruaku — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/donovan-ezeiruaku - Rashan Gary — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rashan-gary - P.J. Locke — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/p-j-locke - Jaishawn Barham — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaishawn-barham - Quinnen Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/quinnen-williams - Markquese Bell — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/markquese-bell - Malachi Lawrence — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malachi-lawrence - Otito Ogbonnia — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/otito-ogbonnia - Von Miller — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/von-miller - Shemar James — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/shemar-james - Marist Liufau — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/marist-liufau - Tommy Dunn — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tommy-dunn - Tyler Baron — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tyler-baron - Shavon Revel Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/shavon-revel-jr - Javon Bullard — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javon-bullard - Sam Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-williams-2090 - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Devin Moore — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/devin-moore - DaRon Bland — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/daron-bland ## What others said about the same people - Nate Tice on Dallas Cowboys: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6211c80-3d1c-46b8-8a0c-151fc0ba92de (scored 100) - Geoff Schwartz on Dallas Cowboys: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/16a6038d-e679-4e3f-98bf-f0371ec25a14 (scored 0) - Michael Irvin on Dallas Cowboys: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/321d5125-d077-43d6-b09a-5ea5886eec68 (scored 0) - Clarence Hill on Dallas Cowboys: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/012c1829-1611-4a5a-b27b-f592577a3e65 (scored 0) - Michael Irvin on Dallas Cowboys: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8c7e90c6-e16b-4ee6-8da6-e4dd4b9adb5d (scored 0) - Danny Parkins on Dallas Cowboys: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1a6d06c4-7bb0-43e7-891d-6f8b688d4f12 (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=jeff-cavanaugh